My mind boggled, why me...of all the beautiful women swooning at his feet it was me that had caught his eye. He'd show me his caring side yesterday, it was free of joviality, there was no flirting and no mind games. He simply sat beside me until I'd collected myself then went back to work with no fuss, treated me with the same respect in the department...apart from calling me sweetcheeks...and as far as I can tell, kept my breakdown to himself. He'd shown himself to be trust worthy and if all he wanted was to say he'd bagged the boss he was playing an unnecessary long game. I'm almost ashamed to admit he could have had me weeks ago if he'd have pushed a little harder, this was different and that's what was confusing me. I wanted it to be different, I wanted him to be different. Why would he like me and my prickly nature, I was unnaturally complicated, abrasive and guarded.
For the life of me I couldn't understand.
...
Connie could see him across the room as she drifted in, her eyes were drawn to him, his frame made him instantly recognisable but it wasn't just that.
As cliche as it sounded, she felt a closeness with him, since that moment in her office she felt something more than a physical connection.
He was dressed in a suit and tie, he carried it well and it made him look even bigger, stronger than usual. He was a marvel to watch as he entertained the group that had congregated around him, she wasn't surprised that it was mostly woman. She watched him switch from being so engrossed, laughing and joking with his new found friends to distracted, his eyes wandered the room looking for something.
Connie sucked in a breath as his gaze dropped on her, he'd been looking for her, dare she imagine that he'd felt her scrutiny, did he feel the same pull as her?
As he dropped another punchline the tiny hairs on his arms stood on end, like the unwelcome breeze from an air conditioning unit would or maybe...
Jacob looked up scouring the sea of people in search for just one, his body knew when she entered the room, he didn't know why, he couldn't explain it.
There she was, a vision and everything else in the room faded away, he stepped towards her like he was a magnet and her it's opposite.
Dressed in red, Jacob never seen her in anything but white or black before and she shone, especially now as a shy smile graced her lips.
"You look...Connie you look..." Jacob searched for the right word, one that would do her justice. There wasn't one and his mouth flapped as he chose the closest.
Connie chuckled. "I feel I should celebrate...I've finally rendered Jacob masters speechless." Her eyes danced with happiness at her long overdue victory.
"You look amazing and without doubt brightened this dull room." Jacob finally settled, he carefully picked up her hand, bringing it to his lips to place a gentle kiss to her knuckle. The blush she now wore was his reward.
"You scrub up well yourself." Murmured Connie as she fixed his perfectly straight tie.
"So what's this ball all about?" He wondered looking around the room of well dressed people.
"Their awarding funding for research posts but really it's for the stuffed shirts to massage their inflated egos." she explained unimpressed.
"And why are me and Charlie here?" he quizzed feeling a little out of place.
"Well Charlie's here in case I need rescuing from boring conversations..." she joked. "...we have a signal and everything."
Jacob beamed down at her. "...and me?" He pushed.
"Maybe I just wanted to see you in a suit." Connie smiled sweetly as she flirted and once again was please with the reaction.
Jacob grinned, her answer gave him added confidence and the shove he needed. "Care to dance?"
A nervous uncertainty washed over her but with tongue in cheek she nodded and accepted his offered hand.
He held her at a respectable distance but it was still closer than the norm as they swayed together.
"Thank you for the other day..." Connie broached the subject. "...for your...support...it was unexpected..." flustered and lost for words she joked. "...your certainly braver than the rest of the staff...I usually get an uninterrupted hour when I'm in that mood." she lifted her head to see a straight face looking back, he wouldn't let her hide.
"I'm here for you...and for the record...I don't find you scary..." he scooped a curl behind her ear. "...your strong willed...but only on the outside...I see you sweetcheeks." he'd gone to far, he felt her stiffen in his arms and pull away.
"I really should mingle." then she was gone and never alone again for the rest of the dull evening. Jacob could only watch from a distance as Connie elegantly worked the room, a fake smile carved out on her face, she'd done this so many times, he could tell. He inched to help her until he saw her discreetly tap her wrist, Charlie was at her side in the blink of an eye, phone in hand.
She really wasn't joking.