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Tony
Iwas just as taken aback to see Jude as she was to see me, though I'd purposely hung back to give her a little surprise. It worked, Jude’s cheeks turning as pink at the sight of me as they did when, well, I made her feel other kinds of ways.
Still, knowing Jude wanted to keep things professional until the job announcement, I decided to play it cool. All the same, not wanting to let the opportunity slip, I asked a casual question.
"Hey, fancy having dinner together?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion clouding her gaze. I didn't let that deter me though. Instead, I just continued lavishing attention on Sadie, feigning indifference to her answer. But deep down, I really wanted her to say yes. It wasn't just the physical attraction anymore; I genuinely enjoyed her company. Her wit, her sass, her intelligence, it all drew me in, keeping me perpetually intrigued. Jude definitely had my attention, and I was more than eager to explore our connection further.
Out of the corner of my eye, I couldn't help but admire her. She was dressed casually, a far cry from the polished professional attire she wore at the interview. And yet, she looked just as stunning, if not more. Her jeans hugged her curves perfectly, and the casual sweater she wore did little to hide her enticing figure. Her hair, let loose, framed her face, accentuating her beautiful features. She was breathtaking—a perfect combination of elegance and casual charm.
And it was in that casual, effortless attire that I saw the real Jude, not the professional nurse, not the seductive woman from the cabin, but just Jude—raw, beautiful, and unpretentious. It was a sight that stirred something deep within me.
I found it hard to keep my cool, which wasn't the norm for me. I was always the one in control, the one with the upper hand. But around Jude, all those rules seemed to fly out the window. Her presence set my heart racing, her laughter was like a melody that played on loop in my head, and her eyes held a world I wanted to explore. Jude was an enigma, a beautiful mystery that had me completely enthralled.
Although maintaining my cool was becoming increasingly challenging, I realized that maybe it was time for a change. Time to let go a bit. And if that someone who got me to do it was Jude, well, I was more than happy to oblige.
I could see she was amused by the way I was playing with Sadie. "The deli doesn’t allow dogs inside, and it's a little too chilly for patio dining."
My solution came out before I'd fully processed it.
"Well, in that case, we could go to my place," I suggested, my voice laden with nonchalance. The look on her face was somewhere between shocked and amused, and I quickly backtracked with a chuckle. "Or... your place works too. Probably a little cozier, right?"
Jude laughed then, a wonderful sound that made my insides feel all warm despite the frosty weather. “Yeah, I think we can do that. But I’ll be insisting on no funny business," she warned, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Insisting?" I replied, the corners of my mouth curling into a cheeky grin. "Well, now I'm disappointed. Does that mean it's a yes though?"
“Yeah, it’s a yes. But it’s probably time that we exchange numbers.” She chuckled after she spoke, her laughter joining mine as the absurdity of the situation struck us.
"Alright, shoot me a text with your address," I told her, rattling off my number. She took out her phone and begin to type. Within a few seconds, my phone pinged with her text.
"Do you have any wine at your place?" I asked, picturing us sharing a glass, or two, in her living room.
Her response was immediate, and her tone told me she was on to my game. "Tony, we don't need wine," she admonished playfully. "It seems to get us into all sorts of trouble."
I couldn't contain my laughter, the sound echoing in the cold evening air. Yes, wine and our undeniable chemistry had indeed led to interesting situations.
With a shake of my head, my grin was unwavering. It seemed the evening was already becoming more entertaining than I'd anticipated.
"See you in a few," I said, winking at her in a way that I hoped came off as charming rather than sleazy. She had a sparkle in her eye that hadn't been there before, and it sent a jolt of anticipation through me.
She held up a hand, as if to ward off my enthusiasm. "Just give me about thirty minutes to do a quick clean, okay?"
I shook my head, dismissing her worry with a wave of my hand. "You don't need to clean for me, Jude," I assured her, trying to come across as nonchalant as possible. I meant it too. I wasn't visiting to inspect her housekeeping skills.
Her eyes rolled at my comment and a grin stretched across her face. It was a gesture I was beginning to appreciate more and more.
“All the same,” I went on, “I’ll take my time coming over. And if you wanted to prepare a trail of rose petals leading to the bedroom…”
Jude laughed again, shaking her head. “Alright, enough already. See you in a bit, Okay?”
“You got it,bonita.”
With one more wry look, she headed off, leaving me standing outside the deli with a goofy smile on my face.
As I walked to my truck, I couldn't help but wonder how I was going to keep my promise of staying hands-off. With her charisma, effortless beauty, and infectious laugh, Jude was simply irresistible. And despite the professional veneer we were both trying to maintain, there was an undercurrent of attraction that I didn't think either of us could deny. It was going to be one hell of an interesting evening.
As I drove toward her house nearly thirty minutes later, I realized that she lived just two blocks away. I'd seen her walking Sadie around the block on numerous occasions. In fact, we had walked the same streets, breathed the same air, and yet I hadn't noticed her,seenher.
