Authors: Jessica Gray
As Clara left the shower room, she scanned the lounge, finding Nigel sitting in a booth on the far side looking out over the tarmac. She felt his gaze on her body like a soft caress and was surprised to see him holding a fashion magazine. Sara’s fashion magazine to be specific.
God, I still can’t believe I am going to New York at Sara Newsom’s invitation!
Choking back her enthusiasm, she slowed her walk and offered Nigel a small smile. The way he stared at her had her heart racing faster. She licked her lips and then chewed on her bottom lip nervously.
Should I just thank him politely and leave? The only reason I’m in here is because I told him to buy me a coffee!
As she drew level to the booth, she noticed the magazine once again. A burst of cold water crushed her libido.
Of course, I finally meet an awesome looking man and he has to be gay!
None of the straight guys I knew would be caught reading a fashion magazine. Not even if someone paid them to!
Her smile faltered when she realized she imposed herself on this poor man. He’d just happened to have the bad luck to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I should just excuse myself and leave.
Clara’s inner voice was screaming in her head, but the wishful part of her brain tried to come up with a plausible excuse for why this gorgeous man read a fashion magazine.
Maybe it was all they had available?
The full magazine rack to her right captured her attention and she mentally shook her head.
I am so out of luck!
She stopped next to the booth, her glare wandering back to the magazine. Nigel’s gaze pulled away from staring at her lips and followed her eyes to the magazine.
“I was catching up on some reading. I need to keep an overview of the fashion magazine landscape for my job. Have a seat.”
“Are you sure?”
Nigel just stared at her and gestured to the other side of the booth, appraising her outfit when she slid into the seat besides him, “It looks like most of the coffee came out?”
“Yes, it did. The receptionist gave me a stain pen that did the trick. I don’t think you can see where the coffee spilled, can you?”
Nigel looked at her admiringly and said, “You look delightful.”
Delightful?
She tried to remember if anyone had ever used that particular word when speaking about her. No one!
He thinks I’m delightful. Is that good or bad?
She felt awkward now and rather than relaxing in the comfortable chair, she found herself sitting on the edge of the seat, trying to figure out how to leave without seeming ungrateful or rude.
I can’t believe I asked him to buy me coffee! God, he must think I’m such a forward woman!
“I think I should just go and find someplace to wait until the plane arrives. Thank you so much for letting me come in here and…”
“What are you doing?” Nigel asked, leaning forward. “You don’t really want wait out there in that mess of people. Please stay and have lunch with me.”
“Well, I really…”
“…should. We could…”
“Excuse me, sir. I just wanted to let you know that they’ve updated your departure time.”
“Oh, great! And that will be…?”
The receptionist looked very apologetic when she said, “The confirmed departure time is three hours from now.”
“Three hours?” Clara queried.
Nigel ignored her quest and answered to the receptionist. “Thank you miss. Would you be so kind to send the waitress over so we can order lunch.”
The receptionist offered us both a smile and then turned to retrieve a tray from the barman standing behind her, “We will inform you when you’re ready to board. Meanwhile please accept this as our apology for the delay.”
This
turned out to be two glasses of champagne.
Clara looked at the glasses, amazed at the provided service. For free! She definitely needed to find a way to move up in the world and travel first class all the time.
When Nigel handed her one of the glasses, their fingertips touched and it she almost dropped the glass. It was like a bolt of electricity running between them!
I’ve never felt that before!
When she looked up, she could tell that she wasn’t the only one sensing the chemistry between them. Nigel had a look in his eyes that made her warm up inside, and a little shaky.
She averted her eyes, sipping from her glass and trying to still her racing mind.
Okay! So, he’s not gay, but a guy with his looks must have a girlfriend or a wife waiting for him
.
But the butterflies in her stomach just wouldn’t calm down.
Focus! You need to focus!
, She was here to land a job in New York, not to pick up some random guy in the airport. And after they got off the plane, she’d probably never see him again.
He’s great eye-candy, but that’s where it ends!
Her resolve to make that last thought stick faded away as she consumed the delicious champagne. Clara wasn’t a big drinker, and the alcohol relaxed her to the point that she was no longer feeling awkward or like she needed to cut and run.
The alcohol had given her brain a break from the worrying and thinking, and she unwound enough to enjoy Nigel’s company. They ordered lunch, and as they ate, she observed him, wondering what kind of man he was.
His clothing was definitely designer label. Very classy with just the right amount of understatement. The suit featured a tiny hint of avant-garde in the design, to make his owner appear less businesslike. It was subtle, and to the untrained eye, probably not even noticeable.
Fantastic design! And he has the standing to wear it!
Not the type of suit you’d see on a businessman, especially not a conservative banker or lawyer.
As lunch progressed, they both relaxed and talked. They didn’t exchange their last names, because there was not reason to do so, nor did they talk about their jobs. Instead, Nigel asked her where she was living, “What part of California do you call home?”
“Santa Clara. I’m heading to New York to meet a friend there.”
“Have you ever been to the Big Apple before?”
“No,” she answered, hearing the excitement in her voice and hoping it didn’t come across the wrong way.
“You’ll love it. There is so much to do. Whether it’s arts or music, or enjoying the night life…New York has something for everyone.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it.”
“Well, there are some things you absolutely must see during your visit. Central Park is a virtual playground of fun, with the zoo and the botanical gardens. It might be a little chilly this time of year, but on a sunny day, there’s nothing better than a walk through the park.”
“That sounds fun, but I’ve heard bad things about it when the sun goes down.”
“Well, that’s probably true about most big cities. But New York is a great place, even at night. You might want to view a Broadway show, visit Times’ Square, the Empire State Building…the list goes on and on.”
Nigel continued to tell her different attractions in the city she might want to see. She felt the enthusiasm and love he had for the city he lived in. When he spoke about the Twin Towers Memorial, she put a big check mark next to that particular place. She’d been in middle school when the terrorist attacks had occurred, but she still remembered the feeling that the world had changed.
Clara was absorbed in her thoughts about the places she wanted to see when the receptionist approached to tell them the flight was now ready to board. She looked down at her watch and couldn’t believe how fast time had gone by!
Three hours had flown by as we talked!
Nigel helped her into her jacket and asked, “May I have your phone number? I’d love to see you again.”
Clara blushed at the look on his face and realized they’d never even discussed their relationship status. G
uess, he’s not married or dating someone!
“Sure,” she said, placing her phone into his hand. Nigel deftly sent himself a text message from her phone and then handed it back. He answered his own text, sending a reply to her phone, ensuring that they both had each other’s numbers.
He uses an iPhone as well.
She wasn’t sure why that thought was so encouraging, but it was nice to see that they had even more in common.
“Sir, they’re ready to board first class now,” the receptionist, reminded him.
Nigel nodded, “That’s me.” They exited the VIP lounge, heading back towards the gate that would take them one step closer to New York City.
Clara stopped at the edge of the waiting area and smiled when Nigel nodded at her and then headed down the ramp towards the plane.
He has my number, but I won’t be disappointed if he doesn’t call.
Nigel took his seat in first class, accepting the glass of champagne from the stewardess with a smile. He settled into the soft-as-butter leather seat, his mind fixed on the young woman he’d left standing by the check-in counter.
Clara
.
She shone with such brightness. Part of her allure was the intense beauty she possessed, a true beauty that emanated from the inside out. And even though she didn’t have a model size figure, she was a million times more beautiful than some of the women touted as being so.
Her smile was genuine and warm. Over the course of their conversation, he had picked up on her enthusiasm for fashion. An enthusiasm that wasn’t overdone, or misused, but was heartfelt.
Her dark brown eyes showed warmth, her vibrant wavy black hair was silky, and he’d caught the faint whiff of lavender as he’d walked next to her. Normally not a smell he’d consider sexy, but the subtle fragrance made him want to bury his head next to her ear and just breathe! And that little dimple in her cheeks when she smiled was something he wouldn’t mind looking at time and again!
He shook his head as he realized he’d fallen for her; hard and fast. It was amazing! He’d bumped right into her and even though she’d shot angry glances at him, because he’d ruined her suit with her coffee, he’d wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her right away.
I must be overworked!
He sat there; amazed about himself, because he’d never felt that much attraction for a woman. Yes, he’d had more than his share of beautiful women. In his profession as designer and recent founder of a new and trendy fashion label didn’t pass a day where they weren’t throwing themselves into his arms.
The models who wanted to be discovered. The young designer aspirants who wanted to work for him. Shoot, even the young and old society ladies who adored him for making them look their best. Their attentions had been unwavering and were growing old.
He’d never had a shortage of women wanting to sleep with him. And he’d taken what was offered.
What red-blooded male wouldn’t?
But after over ten years in the business, he’d grown tired of empty and meaningless sex.
After a few disappointments with girls who just used him to gain fame, he’d made it a rule to never again have a fling with someone who worked for him. Business and sex just didn’t mix well. Especially in an industry where sex was used like a piece of clothing. It was readily donned, each and every day, in an effort to sell something to a public that otherwise might not be interested in buying!
After crying off those meaningless relationships, he’d spent a considerable amount of time trying to find someone to share life with. But in the fashion industry, it was next to impossible to find real and genuine people.
I guess that’s what I love about Clara! She’s authentic and true in everything she does and says.
“Sir, if you please fasten your seatbelt, the pilot has announced we’re ready for take off.”
He’d been so absorbed in his thoughts; he hadn’t even heard the announcement. Now he nodded his compliance to the stewardess, latched the seatbelt low across his lap and looked out the window.
Sometimes he envied his good friend and former mentor Sara Newsom. She’d married Gordon Shaw years earlier, but still used her maiden name for business reasons. As he watched the tarmac move by, he realized he was jealous of her. She’d found true love with her current husband and whenever they got together, he witnessed them exchange looks like freshly in love teenagers. Even though they’d been married for more than a decade now.
That’s what I want! A relationship that will last longer than this season’s current trends. A lifetime.
His last conversation with Sara came to mind and he remembered that they had scheduled a meeting in two days. He’d told her he was looking for an assistant designer for his new women’s line. He was stepping out and breaking the mold. His new line would be designed for the real and curvy woman, not for the skinny model types.
A woman built like Clara! She’d make a perfect model for what I have in mind, if she was a bit taller
.
Sara had been her ever-helpful self, mentioning a friend of her new acquired daughter-in-law. She had an amazing eye for talented people and Nigel looked forward to meeting that young woman. If anyone else had suggested he meet with a completely unknown and inexperienced designer, he’d have laughed in their face. But since Sara had mentioned her, he was willing to take the risk. He trusted her opinion, and if the young woman had impressed Sara, he prepared to be blown away!