Chapter 90
"Well, it's about time you came home on time," Alanna said as I walked into the door of our apartment later that night. "To what do I owe this honor?"
I slipped out of my coat and hung it on the coat rack near the door. "You wouldn't believe it if I told you."
Alanna squealed, her voice raising three octaves. "You have a date?!"
I smiled. "And that's the first thing you thought of." I walked into my bedroom, shaking my head.
I had closed the door behind me, but Alanna burst through and plopped onto the bed. "Okay, spill!"
I laughed. "What? Are we back in college now?"
Alanna lay back onto the bed and flailed her arms and legs, beating up my bed. "Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!"
"My goodness, girl!" I said, laughing as I crossed the room to my closet. "Stop assaulting my bed!" I flung open the closet door and wondered what in the world I was going to wear. Then, I remembered the outfits I had picked up in New York. I picked out a short, black dress that zipped up the back and accented every curve. Then, I picked out matching black high heels and turned toward Alanna, who was now kneeling on my bed, waiting expectantly. "Yes. I have a date."
She squealed. "I knew it! Now, tell me about him! Who is he?"
I let out a deep breath as I slipped into the dress. "Well, his name is Curt Davis, and he's a business investor and entrepreneur from New York. We met at the party."
"What does he look like?" she asked, sliding to the edge of the bed.
"Don't you have somewhere to go tonight?" I asked as I zipped up the dress.
"No!" she said eagerly. "Well, not right now, anyway. So, spill! What does he look like?"
My eyes widened. "Well, he has light brown wavy hair and blue eyes. He's tall and has muscles that won't stop."
"Wow!" she said. "He sounds perfect!"
I shrugged. "I don't know about that, but he's very nice and generous. In fact, I need to talk to you about something," I said, sitting on the bed beside her. "He wants me to move to New York for business, to set me up with a consulting firm. I can also do contracts there, too."
Her eyebrows pulled together, suddenly serious. "Wow! This guy doesn't mess around!"
I raised an eyebrow.
She laughed. "You know what I mean. So, are you going to do it?"
I let out a deep breath, lost in thought. "I'm not sure yet. If I do, you and I would still be in business together." I shrugged. "I'd just head up the branch in New York."
She smiled. "You can tell yourself that, but we might lose touch."
I took her hands into my own and looked into her eyes. "Never. Look, Alanna. We've been in business together for a long time, and I don't intend to change that now."
"Well, never say never." She pulled me in for a hug and squeezed tightly. "I'm going to miss you."
I pulled back to look into her eyes. "Now, wait a minute! I haven't made any decisions yet. Besides, tonight is strictly business."
She looked at the length of my dress and the necklace that I slipped around my neck, a diamond pendant suspended on a silver chain. "Yeah, tell me another one." She slid to the edge of the bed. "Now, listen. This is the first date that you've had in a while, so I want you to enjoy yourself. Forget about everything else, business included, and just have fun. You deserve it."
I smiled. "Thanks, hon. I appreciate that," I said as I pulled her in for a hug." Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "Well, that's him now."
"What?" she said, digging in my closet for something appropriate to wear. She pulled out one of my pants suits and shimmied out of her lounge pants and T-shirt. "You didn't tell me he was coming here!" She quickly slipped into the outfit and was presentable within the matter of minutes. Alanna was one of the only people I knew who could pull something together at the last minute and look fabulous.
I laughed as I quickly slipped into my black strappy heels. "What are you so worried about?"
"Hey," she said. "I'm not going to let anyone see this " She motioned up and down her body. " looking frumpy."
"Besides me."
"Well, you're special," she teased as she blew me a kiss.
I laughed as I walked casually through our condo and opened the front door. Curt was waiting on the other side, dressed in a black suit with a gray shirt beneath. The flecks of gray in his black tie blended beautifully, setting off his deep blue eyes. "Curt! You look great! Please, come in. I'd like you to meet my roommate, Alanna Keel," I said, gesturing toward her. "Alanna, this is Curt Davis."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, smiling as she folded her arms across her chest.
"The pleasure is mine," Curt replied, and then turned to me. "You look fabulous."
"Thank you." I blushed.
"Shall we?" he asked, offering me his arm like the gentleman that he was.
"Have fun!" Alanna said behind us.
I looked over my shoulder, and Alanna mouthed "He's hot!" behind his back.
I scrunched my eyebrows at her and shook my head, but she would never embarrass me in front of him. Alanna was too good a friend to ever think of doing such a thing.
"It was a pleasure to meet you," Curt said.
When he turned around, Alanna smiled casually. "The pleasure was mine."
I waved to her over my shoulder and then closed the door behind us.
"You look great," Curt gushed as he slid my arm into his and guided me toward the elevator.
I smiled, blushing. "Thank you. So do you."
"Oh. This old thing?" he teased.
I laughed. "Where are we going tonight?"
His eyes suddenly sparkled. "That, my dear, is a surprise."
I let out a nervous breath, feeling like I was dating for the first time. And, in a sense, I was. This was the first date that I'd had since Logan. Curt was the first guy that had even turned my head. But I quickly pushed the thought of Logan from my mind, determined to enjoy myself.
In front of my condo set a limo, and the driver was waiting at the door. "Miss," he said, nodding as he held the door open for me.
I nodded as I slid in, and Curt slid in beside me. He reached over and took my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. I didn't pull away.
