The next day, Sarah found herself once again making a mad dash for her apartment door and shuffling through her keys as her phone rang off the hook. After letting herself in, she threw her keys into the bowl next to the door and tossed her backpack onto the floor. The phone was on its fifth ring as she lifted the receiver out of its cradle.
"Hello?" Sarah asked, hoping it would be David on the other end.
"Hello, beautiful," said a familiar silky British accent. At the sound of his voice, the butterflies once again started making their rounds inside her stomach. "How are you doing, love?"
"You know, for a Monday, I'm doing pretty good ... especially now," Sarah said flirtatiously, trying to keep the nervous shake out of her voice.
"Really? I know my day has gotten much better now that I've called you," said David. After a brief silence in which he knew that Sarah was blushing, he continued. "So, I'm wondering when you will be able to model for me?"
Sarah thought about it for a few seconds, still nervous about the prospect. "Well, how about we meet again this Sunday? I work everyday this week, plus with classes on top of that, I don't have much free time," she said.
"That sounds good although I'd really hate to wait that long to see you again," David replied. "How about meeting me for lunch on Wednesday? That's if you don't have anything else going on."
The butterflies began to pick up the pace in Sarah's stomach and she had to calm herself down before responding.
"I don't have anything going on. My last morning class ends at noon and I don't go into work until 2 o'clock. Does that work for you?"
"Perfect. I could meet you around 12:30? A student told me about a great pizza joint called Tony's just a few blocks away from campus if that works for you? My treat," he said, smiling at the prospect of seeing Sarah again.
"Yeah, I know that place, it's pretty good. Sounds like a plan to me," she said.
"Great, I'll see you Wednesday at 12:30. Until then, I'll be thinking of you," David replied smoothly. He could almost hear Sarah's blush over the phone.
If only you knew in what ways I'm thinking of you, Precious, Jareth thought with a slight smile on his lips.
"Well, I better take off so I can get everything ready for my next class. I'll see you Wednesday though, love," David said.
"I look forward to it ... bye," Sarah replied before hanging up the phone, her heart pounding in her ears.
That afternoon as she sat in her business ethics class, Sarah stared out of the classroom window, chewing on the end of her pen. As the professor droned on in front of the classroom, Sarah was once more daydreaming about David's kiss the night before. If it hadn't been for Mrs. Davenport, she really didn't know how far things would have gone; and would she have stopped them from happening? She smiled at the thought.
As she continued to look out the window, Sarah thought she spotted a man across campus dressed all in black leaning against a tree. Although she couldn't see his face, Sarah had an odd sensation that he was watching her.
That can't be possible, she thought. I barely even noticed him standing there; it's highly unlikely that he would have noticed me through these windows.
Within the blink of an eye, Sarah looked back in the direction of the tree and he was gone. She shook her head and chalked it up to her rampant imagination.
"Sarah?" she suddenly heard the professor calling her name, startling her out of her reverie.
"Sir?" she turned her head to the front of the classroom.
"Would you like to answer the question or do you prefer I leave you to your dreaming?" Professor Bloom said. All the other students were looking at her.
"I'm sorry, professor, could you repeat the question?" Sarah replied as she heard titters from around the classroom.
The professor gave her a stern look. "I asked what kind of laws is price fixing a violation of?"
"It's a violation of antitrust laws, sir," Sarah responded and the professor looked satisfied.
"Thank you, Miss Williams," he said as he continued on with his lecture about how antitrust laws worked.
Sarah turned to look back out of the window, expecting to see the man in black again, but there was no one there.
You're cracking up, Williams, she thought as she sighed and began jotting down notes.
That Tuesday at work, Sarah was busy waiting on tables when Jasmine approached her with a large smile on her face. Anytime Jasmine looked like the cat that ate the canary put Sarah on her guard. She knew how impish Jazz could be; it was one of Jasmine's traits she enjoyed so much.
"Wha-a-at?" Sarah asked cautiously, scrutinizing the look on her best friend's face.
"I'm just wondering if your pheromones are working overtime or something," Jazz replied and her smile got even larger. Sarah looked at her with a surprised look on her face before laughing.
"What are you talking about?" Sarah asked as she placed some drinks on a tray to carry to one of her tables. Jasmine leaned back on the counter next to her.
"Well, first the professor and now ... that," she said, one slender finger pointing to a lone figure sitting at one of the tables. "I went to wait on him, but he requested you. Do you know him?"
Sarah's eyes followed Jasmine's finger to the handsome, dark-haired stranger who was casually looking through a menu. The memory of the man she thought she had seen on campus the day before came back to her.
"I have no idea who that is. Did he actually request me by name?" she asked.
"No, he just pointed to you and asked for you. God, I wish I was you right now," Jasmine sighed.
Sarah was surprised herself that the man had requested her over Jasmine. Sarah always felt like she was no competition next to her best friend who reminded her of a statuesque African queen. Jasmine was tall and slender with long black hair and flawless caramel-colored skin. She was always well-dressed and carried herself like a runway model. Men were always flocking to her like dogs in heat.
Sarah gestured to the tray of drinks in front of her.
"Could you deliver these for me while I go and see what he wants?" Sarah asked and Jasmine nodded.
"Lucky little devil," Jazz teased as Sarah squared her shoulders, took a deep breath and walked over to the table, pulling her pad and pen out of her apron pocket.
"Hi, my name is Sarah and I'll be your waitress tonight. What can I get you to drink for starters?" Sarah asked as she tried to keep her nervous voice in check.
A pair of chocolate-colored eyes met Sarah's as the man looked up from his menu. Jasmine was right; he was gorgeous with short, dark hair that was slicked back from his face. He looked put together in a black suit tailored to fit him just right. Under the suit jacket he wore a dark gray button up shirt with a black and gray striped tie.
"Ah, yes," he replied in a smooth British accent.
What's with the British guys? Sarah couldn't help but think; however, she found herself getting lost in those dark eyes.
"I think I'll have a glass of iced tea, thank you," he continued.
"I have to say, the iced tea here is excellent," Sarah said truthfully. "Is there anything else I can get you or do you need a couple of minutes to decide?"
Oh, I know what I want already, thought Talbot. He turned his eyes away from Sarah to look back at the menu.
"I think I'm ready now," he said. He laid the menu on the table and pointed to the item he wanted to order. "I'm going to have the mushroom ravioli."
Sarah hurriedly jotted down his order before looking back up at him. After having worked at the same restaurant for the last nine years, she had everything from the menu memorized.
"That comes with garlic toast and a side salad. What kind of dressing would you like? We have ranch, Italian, French, balsamic vinaigrette, caesar, thousand island or bleu cheese."
"I think I'll go with the vinaigrette," he answered, closing the menu and handing it to Sarah who reached for it.
Before Sarah could turn away to place his order, she heard him speak again.
"By the way, what did you say your name was again?" he inquired.
"Oh, um, I'm Sarah," she replied and he smiled.
"Beautiful name. I'm Aaron Thomas; nice to meet you," he said, reaching his hand out to her.
Although she had been hit on before by annoying customers, Sarah found her encounter with this patron to be different; she was actually entranced by this dark stranger.
"Nice to meet you, too," Sarah replied as she reached out to shake his hand. Instead of a handshake, he brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss across her knuckles, making her blush.
Is this a British custom or something? she couldn't help thinking, but she kind of enjoyed it.
"Well, uh, I better go put your order in," Sarah stumbled over her words, causing him to smirk. She turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Very nice, Jareth. I have to admit, you have good taste, Talbot thought as he watched her walk away.
As Sarah arrived in the kitchen to place his order, Jasmine glided up to her again.
"So?" she asked. Sarah turned to look at her with a large smile.
"Oh my God, Jazz, he ... is ... hot. His name's Aaron Thomas and he's also British although I haven't found out anymore than that," Sarah said dreamily before a slight frown crossed her features. "Is it wrong for me to be interested in another man and still see David?"
"Sarah, you've only had one date so far with David. You're still young; there's nothing wrong with playing the field. Just have fun ... but not to the point of being a slut," Jasmine teased and Sarah smacked her in the arm, laughing.
Jasmine walked away to check on her tables while Sarah filled a glass with some ice and tea, placing a lemon wedge on the rim. She poured some more into a carafe and carried them over to Aaron's table.
"Here you go, some fresh iced tea," she leaned over to place the glass in front of him and sat the carafe to the side. "Anything else I can get you while you wait for your food?"
I can think of a couple of things, Talbot thought dirtily.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could take you out sometime," he replied, appraising her with his dark eyes.
Sarah didn't know how to respond; she knew that she had just met David, but she didn't feel right to accept Aaron's offer despite what Jasmine told her. She finally made her decision.
"I've actually just started seeing someone," she said although she couldn't help but like the attention Aaron was giving her. The smile on his face turned to disappointment.
"I hope he knows what a lucky man he is," he said almost through gritted teeth; how dare this mere girl turn him down? He schooled his features back into a smile before she noticed something was amiss. Grabbing the napkin beside his plate, Aaron took the pen out of his suit pocket and jotted on it. "Well, it never hurts to ask, but if things don't work out with this other guy, here's my phone number."
Sarah took the napkin from him and slid it into her apron pocket.
"I'll definitely keep you in mind," she said flirtatiously.
What am I doing? she admonished herself.
Before any more words could be exchanged, one of Sarah's other customers was summoning her to his table.
"Sorry, I have to go check on my other tables, but your food should be done in a few minutes," she said.
As Sarah made her rounds, Talbot quietly sat at his table, drinking his tea and watching her with interest. When she brought his order to him a few minutes later, he just nodded at her and said "thank you" silkily as she placed the plate in front of him. Although he instinctively knew Sarah was attracted to him, Talbot knew better than to be too forward with her; scaring her away would be no good for the plans he had in store for her and, ultimately, Jareth.
Later, when he was almost finished with his meal, Sarah came back around to lay his check on the table. He placed some cash into the check holder and gave her an appreciative look. Standing up, he gripped her free hand and placed a kiss across her knuckles.
"Keep the change and remember, if things don't work with this other guy, think of me," he said, before turning to grab his coat off the back of the chair and making his way out of the restaurant. Sarah watched him leave, feeling like she was going to melt into the floor.
Once he was out in the cool evening air, Talbot couldn't help but smile. "I'm definitely going to have fun with your little plaything, brother," he said before putting his coat on and walking down the street, hands in pockets.