Chapter Five: And Then He Kissed Me

There was something between them or she wouldn’t have agreed to dinner. He stared at his skin in the mirror as he re-dressed. He hated to admit he was wrong, but already he looked more, well, alive as cliché as it may have sounded.

The massage had done wonders. She had hands of a goddess, and quite frankly he was interested to see what else they could do. She had a sweet self-confidence about her that drew people in. He'd been wrong before, and he wasn’t at all sure he could handle another awkward date where he had to pretend to be interested in what a woman had to say for three plus hours—but it didn’t feel like she would be that kind of date. 

She was clearly nervous about going out with him and he knew he came with a lot of baggage. What had worked well for him and Dorothea was being apart from each other for long periods of time. Was that a way to run a marriage? No, but it worked for them—until it simply didn’t. The times they were together became disjointed instead of a homecoming. It had been largely his fault for letting it get that way, and even now he wasn’t sure if he was ready to change. He’d dated some of New York’s elite women, but the problem was…he wasn’t sure what he was looking for.

He was used to being alone, and it was hard to fit anyone inside his schedule. Devon was the first woman to make him even want to try.

She really had done an outstanding job on him so far. He swiped a hand over his face. He wasn't a guy that did the treatments thing, but she’d made it a little too easy to become accustomed to. And that made her a smart woman, and possibly a dangerous one.

He did wonder why he hadn't heard of her before. SoHo was as incestuous as the Hamptons crowd. Even without his ear to the ground, he’d heard about the hot spots over various dinner conversations. His cheek, which had been cleansed, steamed, polished, and moisturized, felt softer than his son’s bottom when he was born.

He buckled himself up in time for her to knock on the door. "Lunch is ready."

"Lunch?" He didn't remember talking to her about lunch. He opened the door, and this time he noticed the way her apron cinched at her waist showing off her hourglass curves.

"Feel better? Look at this?" She stepped forward, dragging the pads of her first two fingers over his chin. “What a difference.”

He wondered if she would be this forthcoming on their date tonight. He liked to touch and under the right circumstances liked to be on the receiving end even more. "I look like I actually got twelve hours of sleep, instead of the rolled-right-out-of-bed-after-four-hours-and-slapped-soap-and-water-on-my-face look."

She shut her eyes tightly. "Dear, God, if that's what you wash your face with, I'll die."

He winced and laughed. "I'll try and do better." He leaned against the door frame. He had to admit he enjoyed towering over her. "If you promise to personally stock my medicine cabinet."

All female and sweet candy scent—she'd reapplied that distracting gloss to her lips leaving them tempting enough to kiss. Her gaze locked with his and he inched closer. One more step and he could taste her. Her eyes were wide and he swore he could hear her heart pounding.

"So, you were saying something about lunch?" He eased back and deserved a medal for doing so. 

She cleared her throat, smoothing the already perfect fold of her apron. "Right…yes,” she cleared her throat, “it's included in your package since you’re here all day. I ordered in some salads and fresh fruit.” Her chin lifted and her demeanour slid back into business. “I'd also request that you didn't smoke until the end of the day. Just so your whole body is detoxed. There is also some organic-iced tea in there."

"Sounds good." He was surprised to actually be telling the truth. He was actually relaxed and not fiending for a smoke. Flicking the end of her apron strings, he grinned. "Are you joining me?"

"Ah, no. I have other things to see to while you do that and then I'll shape your hair up a bit before your acupuncture." 

She was backing away again, but he had tonight to turn things around. Maybe she'd relax away from her shop, or maybe she'd squirm a little more. She seemed fine when she was the one initiating any contact, but it when he did it she quickly grew edgy and he decided he kind of liked that.

"I’m in your hands." She led him around the back to a sunny kitchen area with double green doors like the ones at the front of the shop, except these opened up into a small courtyard. "Nice.” Japanese maples and bamboo plants scattered around a simple water feature in the middle. “This is prime real estate. The lease can't be cheap," he mused, admiring the simple Zen garden.

"We get by."

Like pulling teeth. She had to be in her mid-thirties and to be running a salon like this in the middle of Soho would have taken some serious cash to set up. Perhaps Mom and Dad helped, or perhaps she worked her ass off to get where she did. He wouldn’t know because the woman wouldn’t talk about herself. Another thing that both intrigued and bothered him. He was used to women hold up most of the conversation.

"And you live upstairs? That's smart." He really did like her set-up. She utilized all of her space well. Her utilities would be covered by the business, and she could write off the tax as part of her business. Very smart actually. 

"It's  handy. I've done most of the work myself, it but it still needs a little more.” Before he could draw more out of her they came to a sturdy table. “And here is your lunch. This is the staff area, so you may see people from time to time. Don't worry they're all very professional."

His brow shot up at the extensive platter of cut fruit and antipasto. "All for me?" He reached for a wedge of melon. "You always let clients in your workers area?"

She chuckled. "Only the ones that wouldn't appreciate being out in the main area on display. I hope this is okay."

"More than okay. I’m happy to stay out of the way." He needed to check his phone, it never stopped buzzing these days.

"Help yourself, but remember to relax.” She nodded to his cell already in his palm. “I'll be back in about thirty minutes to collect you."

He sat down, stretching out his legs. The sun filtered into the alcove and for he ignored his phone and enjoyed the peace and quiet.

~

Devon's heart raced as she rushed back to the clinic, sliding behind the reception desk. She scanned through the appointments, but couldn’t process a word. All she kept seeing was his mouth so close to her own. A few more inches...God, she couldn’t even think about what would have happened if he’d closed the distance. Yup, she’d officially lost her mind agreeing to go out with him. Why was she so jumpy?

She'd kept herself anchored for years with her eye on the success of her shop. One day around Jon was like throwing herself into the spin cycle of a washing machine.

"How's lover boy?"

She jumped slapping a hand to her chest. "Oh God, Jonathan!"

He rubbed her shoulder. "Relax love, what's going on?"

She gnawed on her lip nervously. "I've done something and now I'm not sure it's such a good idea."

He clapped his hands together excitedly. "You're having dinner with him aren't you?"

She hated that he had sixth sense when it came to her. "How do you know that?"

"Because your naturally poised, calm self is about to jump out of your skin."

"I am not!" She cupped her face in her hands. "Ok, so I am. I don't know why."

Jonathan grabbed her wrists. "Because you like him and you're trying desperately not to."

Was she that obvious? She did like him, but it didn’t mean it was a good idea to date him. She didn’t put herself out there for a reason. But the secret woman inside her wanted out. She’d locked that part of her life away for a long time. Consuming herself with the clinic had worked for so long—maybe too long.

Most days the business was enough, more than enough. But even she had to admit sitting with accounts every night was getting to be a bit much. What if she enjoyed him too much? Her version of reality was much easier to live with.

“I should never have agreed to it, Jonathan.”

“Nonsense. You deserve to have fun. Now, more importantly, what are you going to wear? And your hair?”

"What about my hair?" She fingered the ends. She'd make it tidy and gloss herself up a bit. What if he expected more? No, she wasn't going to let a casual dinner spiral out of control.

"Relax.” He shook her hands. “We’ll just give you a little sparkle. Where are you going? That's what's important."

"I don't know. Just somewhere for dinner. I don't know if it's such a good idea now." She picked up a pen, tapping it against her appointment book. 

He flattened his palm over her twitching hand until the pen laid flat in the binding. "Stop it. You're going to go on this date and you're going to enjoy it."

"Did someone say date?" Kelly, one of her chief stylists dropped her glasses down her nose. "Get out of town! You're actually going on a date!"

"Shhh! Jesus...God, Kels. It's just a casual date."

Jonathan grabbed Kelly's wrist. "A casual date? I suppose you could call having dinner with Jon Bon Jovi casual, sure."

Devon winced as they both screeched like a couple of teenagers. God love them they were rallying around her like friends did and they meant the best. "Guys shhh. Jesus!" They were getting a few questionable looks from the clients. She took a deep breath, then one more for good measure. "We're going to remain calm here. Jonathan, I'll be fine. Kels, you’ve got client. This is still a business."

Kelly nodded and tucked back a flaming red curl from her face. "Right, remain calm."

"Devs, why is Jon Bon Jovi on our patio?" Emma bounced in blonde curls dancing around her face. 

Kel pushed her glasses back up her face. "He's here now?"

"Yes, he's having some work done, and you've all just confirmed that was the right decision the way you're all carrying on. We are going to be professional like I promised him."

Emma elbowed Kelly. "Yeah, professional until after hours." They both giggled and Devon rolled her eyes. She was never going to win.

"Oh, stop. Can't you see we're upsetting poor Devon." Jonathan put his arm around her shoulders.

"Why thank you Jona-"

"I bet she'll give him a good polish later," He said with a wink.

Her face burned. "Out! Everybody out! This conversation is over." They dissolved into giggles and disappeared. That was her family, she blew out another calming breath. She was going to do this, even if she had to throw up five times before she got out the door with him.

She checked her watch and walked back to collect Jon. He was busy talking on his phone. Kicked back in the chair, his thigh muscles filling his battered jeans. Best not to go there. Resolutely, she stacked dishes, bringing them back into the kitchen and setting them in the sink.

"Hey." 

She looked up. He leaned against the doorframe, folded his arms, one ankle crossed across his calf. He looked more relaxed than before he started the day. That alone was a victory. She dried her hands on the handtowel. "Hey, yourself. Is your back okay from the massage table?"

He shrugged. "It's a little tender, but nothing your guy can’t manage."

She smiled and checked her watch. "He’ll be ready for you, I’ll take you through."

He stepped back in the doorframe so she had to squeeze past to show him the way. He cupped her elbow and trapped her, took a step forward and pressed his lips against hers.

Barely a second later, he was back in the garden.

"Um..." Her fingers touched her lips and she frowned, fighting for something resembling words. Say something, god say anything!

"The back guy?" He rolled his bottom lip behind his teeth and that was the only shred of reaction he had.

Maybe kissing a woman was as natural as a smile to him. Maybe she was so far out of her league that she should cancel right then and there. Instead, she heard herself mimic his words. "Back guy.” She shook her head lightly. Pull yourself together. “Of course, right this way."

She stepped out in the hall, not sure if him walking behind her was such a good idea. Would he grab her again? Kiss her again? Her heart leaped at the thought. It was then that she realized one small kiss was far from enough. She wanted to kiss him again.

She was so screwed.