AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I get home in just a few minutes, relieved that today was all about getting to know the children, the classroom, and having a little fun – despite Mrs. Knox’s opinions – so there’s no school work for me to check. I’m surprised by how tired I feel, and I’d rather get ready to see Tanner and enjoy my evening, than fret over anything to do with work.
I wash my travel mug, ready for the morning, then fix myself a coffee and take it with me into the bedroom, placing it on the nightstand before I get undressed, examining that splash of red paint on my pants, and carrying them back out to the tiny laundry room, where I put them straight on to wash. The paint should come out, but I don’t want to risk leaving it, and I return to the bedroom, sipping at my coffee and then go back out into the bathroom.
It doesn’t take me long to shower, and afterwards, I take my time choosing a dress. I’m torn between a plain pink one, in a wrap-around style, or one that’s essentially blue, although the flowers printed on it are purple. It’s more formal than the pink one and is strapless, with a flowing skirt. I’ve always thought it looks really feminine. More than the other one? I can’t be sure about that, but I like it, and pull it out of my closet, laying it on the bed.
I’ve never been able to walk very well in heels, as a consequence of which, I don’t own any. But I have a pretty pair of ballerina flats, in the perfect shade of blue, and I find them in the bottom of the closet, check they’re clean, and put them out on the floor by the bed.
I’ll have to switch purses. My regular one is black, and won’t work at all, but I’ve got a blue one, and I go back out to the kitchen, bringing back my black one and emptying the contents onto the bed, so I can transfer everything I’ll need for the evening. My phone lands face-up, and I’m surprised to find I’ve got two text messages. They’re from an unknown number, but I pick up the phone anyway and click on them, a smile forming on my lips when I read…
— Can’t wait to see you tonight. T
That’s obviously from Tanner. But there’s a second message, and I wonder what more he can have to say. It can’t be any better than that… surely.
— This is Tanner, by the way. I thought I should make that clear, in case you know a lot of people with the initial ‘T’. And I still can’t wait to see you. T
I chuckle and lie back on the bed, my phone clutched in my hands as I type out a reply…
— I guessed it was you. I know a few people whose initial is ‘T’, but I’m not seeing any of them tonight. Z
I quickly add him to my contacts list, under ‘T’ for Tanner, and put down the phone, letting out a sigh, although I snatch it back up almost immediately, and tap out a second message.
— Can’t wait to see you, too.
I’m fizzing with excitement, but I’m also still naked and I get up, wandering to my dresser and pulling open the top two drawers.
Underwear…
This is one of the few areas of my life – other than books – where I don’t mind spending a little extra cash to get what I want. And when it comes to lingerie, I want it as soft as possible. For tonight, I also need the bra to be strapless. That gives me two choices: white or black. They’re both the same style, and I select the white one, because I have a matching thong. I find that and hold it up, smiling. This thong is so comfortable, I have it in every color available… except black, which I’ve never been able to get hold of. I have bras to go with the other thongs, in blue, pink, red, and cream… or ‘peacock’, ‘bubblegum’, ‘scarlet’, and ‘champagne’, as the manufacturer calls them. None of them are strapless, though, so white it is…
I wander over to the bed, putting down my underwear, and finish my coffee, which is almost cold, then I make my way back to the bathroom and clean my teeth, before returning to the bedroom to dry my hair, leaving it loose around my shoulders, in the softest curls I can manage. That just leaves makeup. I don’t want to use too much, but I want it to look like I’ve made an effort, and when I’m happy with the effect, I get dressed.
I hope I haven’t gone too far, and as I put on my shoes and glance at myself in the mirror, I wonder if I’m overdressed. I don’t even know where we’re going tonight, but I’ve already noticed there’s only one restaurant in town. There’s the hotel, though… and a bar on the corner of Main Street. If that’s our destination, I’ve definitely gone overboard, and I wish I’d asked now, instead of making such a fool of myself over Tanner’s invitation to dinner. My only excuse is relief… that he’s not married, and I don’t have to nurse a broken heart. But that doesn’t help me right now.
I yelp at the sound of the doorbell and glance at the clock beside the bed.
It’s seven already? But how? Where did all that time go?
Either way, it’s too late to think about changing, and with a mixture of fear and excitement, I leave my room and head for the front door, pulling it open.
Tanner’s jaw drops open and he whispers, “Oh, my God.”
“It’s too much, isn’t it?” I say, looking down at myself. “I’ll go…” I step back into the house, but he grabs my hand.
“Don’t you dare. Don’t even think about changing a thing. You look…” He sucks in a breath, letting it out, and tilts his head, his eyes wandering up and down my body, making me blush. “You look perfect.”
“Perfect?”
“Yes. More beautiful than I could ever have imagined… and I’ve got a very vivid imagination.”
“I’m sure you have.” He smiles and I take in his dark suit and white shirt, open at the neck, and the delicious aroma of his body wash, letting my own imagination wander for a moment or two before he coughs, bringing me back to reality.
“I hope it’s okay, but I didn’t bring my car. I thought we could walk.”
“That’s fine. I just need to grab my purse.”
He nods his head, releasing my hand, and I rush back inside, stashing everything I need into my purse, cursing myself for not doing it earlier, and then adding my keys from the breakfast bar before I rejoin him on the doorstep.
“Ready?” He offers me his hand again, and I take it, pulling the door closed behind me. “Thanks for your messages,” he says, looking down at me. “I wasn’t sure you’d reply.”
