I simply stared at him. I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to step through. Perhaps some magical gateway that would escort me from this world of weird and into a fairytale of opulent perfection.
He rolled his eyes. “Step through the perfume. If you spray it directly on your skin, it will be too overpowering. You are supposed to glide through the mist.” He sprayed again and sashayed through the perfume like the queen he was. Then he turned and sprayed once more. Someone behind me, Lionel I think, nudged me forward. I sneezed. “Yesh, it’s like playing dress up with my brother all over again,” Casey groaned.
“Time to go!” squealed Bella.
“I’m not going anywhere ‘til ya’ll tell me what the heck is going on here.” I crossed my arms and stood stubbornly in front of them all. They were a conniving bunch of old women. I had no idea what they had planned, but I was growing quickly tired of the charade.
“You either walk down those stairs, or I’ll carry you over my shoulder,” ordered Bradley.
The thought of being tossed over his shoulder reminded me of Decker, and I suddenly didn’t want to dress up and go out. I wanted my sweats, my messy hair, and my slippers. I wanted to curl up on the couch and disappear in a book, where someone else’s miserable love life could make me feel better about mine.
“Trust me, Cinderella, you need to do this.”
Casey reached out his hand and I grudgingly took it. I’m not sure what they felt I needed to do, but they had promised me this was important, and I promised if it was really important, I would play along. With my fingertips poking out my cast, I picked up the bottom of my dress and smiled at the boots that peeked out from underneath.
“You can take the girl out of Texas...” Casey smiled at me.
I nudged his shoulder affectionately. “But you’ll never get her boots,” I finished for him, smiling back at him.
As I stepped out onto the street, the slight chill that was starting to invade the end of summer wrapped around my naked shoulders. I wasn’t cold though. Nervous, anxious, scared? Heck yes. I pulled my gaze from the pavement and stopped dead in my tracks. Oh hell, he was so freakin’ handsome it hurt. Like a punch to the gut. The devil in disguise, clean shaven, finger combed hair, his perfect suit molded to his perfect body that I knew intimately. And that smile, that cocky yet honest grin, the one he saved for me alone. It wasn’t his womanizing, turn you into a puddle of mush gaze. No, this was a gaze of awe-struck wonder.
“Hey,” I murmured nervously, wondering what the heck he was doing here.
“Hey,” he replied, anxiety obvious in his own, monotone reply.
“Awww, they’re struck speechless, so sweet. I need a photo!” rambled Casey, pushing me forwards.
I was shoved, unceremoniously, beside Decker, who carefully placed his arm around me, his hand a possessive brand on my lower back. I forced a smile through gritted teeth at Casey, who I just wanted to smack over the head right now. A number of flashes flooded my vision and Decker chuckled. The sound reverberated right through my body and down to my soul. That laughter, that sound, god how I missed it. Still struck mute, I was turned to face a limousine. A young man, who didn’t look old enough to drive, opened the door and I slid across the leather seat, Decker following behind me. As the car pulled away from the curb, Decker gave our friends a quick wave. Me, I was as still as a statue, shocked into a state of conscious submission so it seemed. The awkwardness that filled the small space was all-consuming.
“So, this is a nice limo, but is the driver old enough to drive? ‘Cause I’m not sure he’s shaving yet, and as far as I’m concerned, you should not be able to operate a vehicle if you haven’t learned to manipulate a razor.” Decker didn’t answer and I grew more uncomfortable under the silence. I ended up casting him a sideways glance, and he grinned.
“I missed your rambling.”
I quickly looked away, unwilling to let him see the pain his words caused me. I missed rambling on to him, but the image of Melody on her knees in between his thighs was not only burned into my retina, but also my heart. I tried valiantly to concentrate on the passing scenery, but Decker’s very presence was overwhelming. I could almost feel the heat coming off his powerful body that was sitting far enough away to give me my personal space, but close enough to give me a hint of musk that clung to him. The rest of the trip was made in silence. When the limousine pulled onto a dead end street, I gave Decker a confused look. The boy driver opened Decker’s door and he slipped out with a powerful yet easy grace, his hand stretched back, palm up, as in an offer of trust.