She got up and lightly squeezed my arm. She went over to Chloe and took the glass from her hand. “I’m taking this to go.”
Jess went off to go get ready, and Gina wrinkled her nose.
“Where’s she going?”
I opened my mouth to tell her, but Chloe spoke first. “You and I, love, we’re going to spend the night together. I got crackers, chokkie, and marshmallows to make s’mores out on the porch.”
“Yum!” Gina said.
I said a silent “thank you” to Chloe. Gina wouldn’t ask questions about Jess going out when she clearly had better plans than us.
Jess was ready for six on the dot. She wore a white dress with a subtle pink and purple floral pattern along the edges of her curves. Her tanned skin made her eyes pop. Her hair was in soft waves around her face. I couldn’t wait to touch her silky hair. I booked a hotel room just in case she wanted to get some alone time tonight, but I would let her be the one to suggest it. Tonight was all about her.
“You look beautiful,” I said and kissed her.
Chloe and Gina were already preparing the s’mores outside on the porch, so we had a few stolen moments together before we left.
She pressed her hands against my chest and deepened the kiss. When she broke it she said, “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
I went with a simple white button-down shirt, no tie, and a jacket. As the nights were cooler, I wanted the opportunity to offer it to Jess when the time came.
“Shall we?” I asked. “Our car is waiting.”
“Our car?” she asked.
I smirked. “I want us both to feel comfortable if we want a drink or two.”
She kissed my lips again, lingering there. I had to stop the kiss before I took her right there on the kitchen table.
“Thank you,” she said.
I lifted the bouquet of flowers that I had delivered while she was in the shower. “You’re welcome.”
She smiled down at them in her arms. “These are beautiful.”
I kissed her cheek and took her arm in mine, leading her to the front door.
After Gina insisted on gushing over Jess’s dress, we were off. I rented a black sedan for the night to drive us around to where ever Jess wanted.
The driver already stood at the door waiting for us. He greeted us, and
we got into the car. The leather seats squeaked under us, and the interior had that new car smell.
“Where are we going?” Jess asked.
“Water’s Edge Trattoria,” I said.
“What?”
“Water—”
“No, I heard you. How did you know about that place?”
“Your mom?” I was confused as to why she was so surprised. Was it not a good place to go? “We can go somewhere else.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just—it’s one of the more expensive places in Mona Vale.”
“She said the view was beautiful,” I said.