The phone dropped out of my hands as I sat back in the chair in shock. I reached up to cover my mouth and eyed the phone suspiciously. I knew that I was looking at my phone, but I was imaging it with sharp teeth ready and waiting to bite. I was trying to calm myself but the quick mix of panic and joy I felt when I read the text left me on the verge of passing out if I didn't get my breathing under control. I had to take a couple of controlled breaths to calm myself down. I rubbed my face vigorously, no doubt smearing my makeup in the process.

I peeked through my fingers and looked at the phone again, "Come on Stephanie, woman up."

Wow what a pep talk, I leaned forward over the desk and turned the phone to unlock it.

Stephanie: ?

Carlos: Tonight, 7pm?

Stephanie: What's at 7?

Carlos: Babe?

Stephanie: Why?

Carlos: Have plans?

I just looked at his last text, I was battling with myself to give in to him and if he can be all aloof and mysterious then so can I. I finally hear from him, not a phone call or in person, but in a text with no explanation. The first couple of days after he left, I shot him a quick text saying hello but I never received a response.

I put my elbows on the table and held my head down staring at the phone. I admit that I was stuck, I have had no experience in this type of situations. I've barely had a relationship with other guys, some didn't want to commit and other I just wanted to scratch an itch. I must have taken awhile to respond because the phone dinged and vibrated on the table.

Carlos: Stephanie?

Stephanie: Yes, Carlos?

Carlos: 7pm?

Stephanie: Sorry, kind of busy can I text you later?

The little blue box with the three dots flashed up on my phone and then disappear. Could I have been any more confusing? I spent this past week hoping and wishing that he would at least call and when he does, I somehow play the game of hard to get. I really don't think I'm good at this game, because all I wanted to do was pick up the phone and call and shout out yes to him.

I pushed back away from the desk and twirled around spinning. I knew for sure I was going to be distracted thinking about him. And no work would be done if I sit here and continue to think about his messages. I looked at the time, it was a little bit after 11:00am so I got up and cleared my desk, locked up the files, and shut down my computer. I picked up the remaining cake and took it with me as I left. I walked through the bullpen to more congratulations, stopping to say goodbye to Uncle Joe before leaving and hurrying to my car.

I drove around, somehow ending up at Quaker Mall. I had no preference to where I wanted to go so I aimlessly walked around looking at the different stores. So lost in my thoughts, that I ended up at the salon and in a chair. When the hairdresser asked what I wanted, I just shrugged my shoulders and told her to do whatever. I knew that my hair had gotten longer because I had been wearing it up in a bun lately because of the humidity from summer. In hindsight, I should have paid more attention but when the chair turned around, I looked on in shock at my hair. There were these gorgeous tamed chestnut curls flowing down to the middle of my back. I had a genuine smile on my face, I perked up a little. My hair was beautiful, the color was lighten and the curls were soft and manageable. I actually like what I saw, I thanked her profusely and bought some of the hair products that she recommended and walked out the salon with a skip in my step.

I made my way to several other stores in the mall, I was on shopping mission. For some reason I has this crazy thought that I had to have a new wardrobe to match the new hair. This Jersey girl use retail therapy as a coping mechanism and it has proven to brighten my mood. And after my trip to the salon my day was looking up, so I started to shop.

I stopped at Macy's, Dillard's, and even Victoria's Secret; my cards were being put to work. I was so focused on shopping that the smells from the food court couldn't distract me from shopping. I did feel this tingling sensation on the base of my neck while I shopped but thought nothing of it.

I was making my way to my car loaded down with several bags and a big smile on my face. I was in such a good mood that I could whistle and skip to my car. I heard my phone ring in my purse, I was in no position to answer it, so I let it go to voicemail. I was at the trunk of my car when I felt like I was being watched, my mood quickly changed. I tried to quickly put the bags in and cursed when they didn't quite fit. I sped up as the feeling intensified and started stuffing the bags in. A black badass truck with tinted windows was parked to my left, somehow, I knew that someone in that car was watching me fumble with my keys. I didn't feel unsafe, I just had the same tingling feeling as before and the feeling of eyes watching me. I literally jumped in my car, quickly started it, and burned rubber as I made my way out of the parking lot.

I made it home in record time, before, I never locked my doors because I was on my dad's property and it's pretty secure. But after Carlos left last week, my doors were locked, and my family knew to call before coming over.

It was still a little early in the afternoon and after the two trips unloading the car, I was a little hungry. I skipped steps as I went up the stairs eager to try on my purchases. I manage to purchase almost an entire new wardrobe, even this late in September the weather was changing so I didn't feel bad about the new clothing. I also got a great deal on shoes, boots, heels, and some new trainers. The last of the bags were some of the new lingerie that I purchase, sets, bralettes, and lounge wear, which is something that I live in.

I had managed to try on all the clothing, but my stomach started to growl. I remembered that I had brought up the left-over cake, it was on the nightstand next to my phone, which I had yet to check and see who called. I quickly grabbed it and started to eat the cake with my fingers.

I was standing in the middle of my bedroom topless in a pair of sky-blue lace panties when I felt a tingle on the back of neck.

"Babe." His voice was flat and unrecognizable.

Fuck, I was faced towards the floor length mirror watching as he walked into the room. I froze up, staring as he came to a stop behind me, I watched as he placed his hands at my waist. Watching him through the mirror as his eyes went down then came back up, his eyes are almost black. He moved in closer closing the gap, wrapping his arms around my waist pulling me into his body. I sunk into his arms, literally, my body melting and molding to fit the shape of his body.

The piece of cake that was still in my hand totally forgotten, didn't make it to my mouth. It slipped out of my fingers landing on my chest. We both looked down as it slowly descended down to my nipple.

"Shit, Carlos." I reached down trying to wipe the cake off my breast, but his arm came up to stop me.

He reached up, grazing my nipple before wiping the cake off leaving a trail of icing. His hand came up to my mouth offering me the cake, my mouth closed around his fingers. While I was chewing the cake, I stared at Carlos in a daze as he licked the icing off his fingers.

I went to move out of his arms, but they tighten and hugged me more into his chest.

"Carlos?" I looked at him, and then pointed to his arms. He slowly unwrapped his arms from around my waist.

I lowered my head as I moved away, if I were to look at him, I knew that I would be tempted to jump his bones. But right now, I was more disappointed than angry from his little disappearing act. And I honestly do not think that I was being irrational.

I walked into my bathroom, grabbing a washcloth and wiping the remaining icing off my chest. Of course, he followed me and quietly watched as I stalled and walked around my bathroom avoiding his glaze.

"Babe?"

"Hmm?" I was over by the laundry basket placing the washcloth on top of the wicker opening.

"Look at me." The way he said it sounded more like a question and less like the command he was going for.

I turned to face him folding my arms to cover my chest, "Yes, Carlos?"

He looked at me eyes narrowed, I swallowed nervously and peeked up at him through my lashes.

"Problem?"

"No."

"Something's going on."

"Not with me."

"Ok." He nodded his head, sighed and walked towards me. There was nowhere for me to go, he had me trapped in the little closet back against the tiled wall.

I placed my hand on his chest to stop him from moving any closer, his arms dropped to his sides. I looked down at my feet.

He tilted my chin up "Stephanie tell me what's wrong."

I shook my head and leaned back to rest against the wall and slowly looked up at him. I was internally battling with myself on what I should tell him. Should I tell him how I felt waiting for any sort of contact from him, or just lie and deny anything was wrong.

Ok, here goes.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing, that's what I've gotten from you."

"Babe…"

"No Carlos, what did you tell me hmm," I tipped my chin, "Oh yeah, that nothing would happen as long as you're around. Well you were no where to be found. I wanted to respect the fact that you were working but I didn't even get a good morning or a good night. Something that I texted or left on your voicemail the first couple of days. And you want to know the worst part."

I poked his chest, "You gave me hope. You exceeded all my expectations and more and then left me hanging. If this was not what you wanted, I would have respected you more if you would have been truthful with me."

I walked around him, grabbed a sweater and tried to place it over my head but somehow it kept getting stuck. I felt his hands help me get my head and hair through, arranging my hair around my shoulders.

He turned me around in his arms, "Babe I owe you an apology."

"No shit."

"I've been told that I should work on my communication skills. I was busy, and I am sorry for not at responding to your messages. But I could have done better."

I just looked up at him, he rubbed my arms then hugged me to his chest.

"Babe, I want to say that I never want you to doubt us. I cannot imagine a world without you in my life."

I gasped, "Carlos what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I could easily see myself falling in love with you."

I stood on my toes and kissed him, "I'm already there."

"Babe?"

"Carlos, I love you."

"Babe…" I placed my fingers on his lips.

"Shhh, you don't have to say until you're ready."

"I will, so 7?"

I laughed and nodded yes before hopping into his arms and continued kissing.

"I'm fully expecting you to gravel."

"Oh Babe, just you wait."

We still a few hours before tonight, so I walked him down to his car. Which coincidentally, was the same black badass truck parked at the mall.

"Umm, Carlos were you at the mall today?"

"Would you believe me if I said no?"

"Nope."

"First, I was not following you, I just happened to be driving next to you before you turned into the mall. I tried to get your attention, but you were already turning at the light. Babe, you were like a woman on a mission, I tried to catch up with you, but I lost you when you were in the lingerie store."

"You know you scared me right, I thought I felt someone watching me."

He leaned down to kiss me, "Sorry babe, but it's good that you were being aware of your surroundings."

I watched as he jogged to his truck, the window was down and from the smirk on his face he saw me jump when the engine roared to life. I shook my head and went inside making my way to kitchen when I heard my home phone ring.

It seems like I would never get a chance to eat, I was starving.

"Hello?"

"Hey Pumpkin."

"Hi Dad"

"Was that Carlos that just left?"

"Yeah, but he's coming back later. Why?"

"Oh, I didn't recognize the car. How many do that guy have?" I shook my head and laughed, "Pumpkin, I was calling to see if you wanted to come up for a late lunch."

My stomach growled, "Be right up."

I spent the next two hours up at my dad's house eating and talking. He had whole lot of questions about Carlos. He noticed that I wasn't myself this past week, and I told him how lonely I felt even in their company. My dad was very observant because he also said that when I spent time with them, I seem distracted and down. My dad and I could always sit and talk about boys and I didn't feel uncomfortable enough to tell him about Carlos's communication skills. He was glad that we got to talk and that I was much happier than I was this morning and it showed. When I mentioned that I love him, my dad immediately wrapped me in his arms. He told me he was proud of me for being brave enough to tell Carlos how I felt.

"Pumpkin, I don't want to put you out but it's fifteen minutes after 5, don't you have to a date with Carlos?"

"Oh, I have to get ready," I kissed my dad on the cheek and ran out the door shouting, "LOVE YOU!"

"LOVE YOU TOO, HAVE FUN!" he shouted back.

6:45pm

The time on the phone flashed up at me. I was dressed in a new royal blue high neck dress, black heeled boots, and a matching leather jacket. I was pacing around my dining table, every so often looking at the door. Fifteen minutes and he would be ringing the doorbell. I snorted, more like picking the lock and just walking right on through.

6:50pm

I heard a noise at the door and hurried to the sofa and sat down. The doorknob turned and I was smoothing out my dress when he walked into the door. I looked up as the door clicked shut and watched him come towards me arms reaching out to me. I hopped up and ran into his arms, he sighed and hugged me tighter.

"Hi."

"Hi."