Chapter Three
The rest of that first week was easier, Alice met her team and she knew they would work well together. Kincaid was no longer a problem and the others did not know the undercurrents, at least Alice saw no indication that they knew that she and Jasper were involved. Thursday morning they were given a project, a new office building in Fremont. They had to do research and prepare a proposal to present to the client in two weeks. Jasper had met with the client already and came to the meeting to give them an overview of what the client's desires were.
The team, met in the smaller conference room. Jasper came in a few minutes later. He laid out the vision that the client had, and told them the ideas he had given the client. The building was supposed to hold administrative offices as well as an onsite daycare, state of the art cafeteria, exercise facility and green spaces. The client was a health care organization. This building would have to reflect their emphasis on healthy living and preventive approaches to keeping the whole family healthy. Thus the exercise facility and day care.
Alice sat back and listened to the back and forth of ideas, she had a few of her own, but she wanted to see others going through the process so she held back.
"Any ideas Alice?" Kincaid asked.
"I have a few."
"Please don't hesitate to voice your opinions." Jasper encouraged.
"Well, to be honest, I'd like to take a trip out there. I'd like to see the site, what surrounds it. So I can get a feel of how the building should be orientated."
"What do you mean?" Kincaid asked.
"Well, for example, if the site is close enough to the hills, I would like to make use of the view. And include some quiet spaces, like meditation lounges; little small spaces where people can go to relax and re-energize. I know Fremont has wonderful soft hills and I would like for the design to incorporate that view. Also I would like to see green spaces inside and out. During the winter, when people can't go outside it would be nice to have an alternative "green space" like an atrium, or something along those lines." Kincaid nodded encouragingly and she elaborated.
"In terms of the actual design of the building I would like to springboard off the 'California Mission' style. Maybe not take it quite that literally but a design with a nod to old California. I think it would be fitting. White walls, wrought iron, cloistered gardens, archways, which will give that cool calming feel to the space. But like I said I would really like to go and see the site first."
"What do you think, Kincaid?" Jasper asked.
"I like those ideas, all of them. Great job, Alice."
Jasper turned to the other architect. "Aleksandr? Any ideas?"
"Yes. I have a few." and he went on to talk about his vision for the space. After about another half hour of brainstorming, Jasper ended the meeting.
"Well we can meet back here next Thursday at nine, I'll get an update. And, Alice. I'm going out to there on Monday, so you can come with me to take a look at the site."
"Sure. What time?" Alice opened her planner and prepared to jot down the time.
"Sometime in the early afternoon, I have a morning meeting. Maybe around two, okay?"
"Yes." She started scribbling the information.
Jasper raised his voice and spoke to the whole room. "By the way, folks, Halloween is coming up so our annual costume party is on for Friday at six, in the lobby. Costumes everyone, let's show our community spirit." Everyone left the conference room and Alice hung back to talk to Jasper.
"There's an annual costume party? What's that about?"
"Well it's a charity fundraiser, everyone pays fifty dollars and the money goes to Children's Hospital. Other companies in the building participate, we usually raise at least a hundred grand. The company that raises the most money gets to donate in their name. In addition, it's good for networking and it gives people something to look forward to." He waggled his eyebrows. "There is a first prize for 'most creative' costume."
"What's the prize?"
"A suite at the Claremont, any weekend you choose."
"What a fabulous idea! But I'll be out of the running for the prize, I don't have much time to find anything, let alone make something creative. What costume are you wearing?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out." His blue eyes twinkled, as he look down at her, causing her hear to skip a beat.
Alice cocked her head in an innocent gesture. "Well don't blame me if, in the heat of the moment, I rub up on and kiss some masked man, thinking that it's you."
Jasper laughed and gathered up his papers and laptop. "I'll have my eye on you, don't worry."
"Fine, I won't tell you what I'm wearing either, let's see who finds who first." She stuck out her hand and he shook it.
"You're on." He left the room with a little chuckle.
Alice returned to her office and started sketching ideas for the Fremont project. Before she realized it she had skipped lunch and it was six o'clock. She was pretty happy with her ideas, but she was still in the dark, without seeing the location. She pulled her jacket over her white shirt and smoothed her black mini skirt over her hips. Her black leather ankle boots added that touch of danger to her otherwise conservative outfit.
She left the office to wait by the elevator. A few dedicated employees were still toiling away, although it was much quieter than during regular hours. The elevator came and it was virtually empty. Only one woman was on it. Alice got in, she had been hoping to see Jasper tonight, she was missing him. He had been out of town on business in Seattle since Tuesday night, this morning's meeting was the first time she had seen him since Tuesday's lunchtime tryst. Her mind was suddenly revisiting all the pleasure she had found in his arms and she was missing him even more.
She walked off the elevator and started briskly towards the glass doors when she heard someone call her name and her head whipped around.
"Oh my God Sam, where have you been?" Alice found herself engulfed in a huge bear hug. Then she was picked up and swung in a circle. She giggled with surprise.
The big burly bear of a man set her back down, grinning cheerfully. His auburn hair a curly mess, his full beard making him look like a younger version of Grizzly Adams. "I just got back from Anchorage. I've been there for the last two years working."
"Working for whom, polar bears?" Alice tugged on his bushy beard.
He laughed and informed her, "I'm working for Environmental Action. It's a non-profit."
"I would have never expected that." She laughed. "What about the football scholarship?"
"Life happened." He shrugged. "I got injured and met a great girl who turned me on to nature conservancy. It's my job and my passion."
"That's wonderful, Pookie."
"Please no old nicknames, ASS."
"For the last time, my initials are not A-S-S, it's A-V-S."
"If I'm Pookie, then it's A-S-S."
"You guys were such a bunch of idiots."
"Blame your boy Jake, he came up with the rumor that your name was Alice Swimming Swan. I guess he had to bring you down a peg or two.
"Yeah, Jake the jerk. Do you work here, in this building?"
"Yep. They have a small office here, but I don't work here, per se. I'm usually out in the field. I make documentary films aimed at our donors, you know, to get the money rolling in." He hugged her again. "You haven't changed a bit, Al." She remembered that in high school he had had a massive crush on her. One night he had gotten drunk and serenaded her outside her window. He was such a sweet guy, she liked him immensely and had tiptoed gingerly around letting him down easy. "God it's so good to see you. Last I heard you were in New York with Jake, still with him?" He asked casually, way too casually.
"No. Jake's a liar and a cheating sonofabitch. He's still in New York, fucking around. I'm back home in Berkeley. Actually I finally got my degree in architecture and came back a couple months ago. I just started a new job, here in this building."
"I want to get out of here. Do you have plans? Can we hang, go for a drink and talk?" His sweet brown eyes lit up.
Alice had been hoping to see Jasper tonight, but never touched base with him, so the only plan she had was going home to relax.
"Well, just one drink. I don't want to go home sloshed. Mom will kill me."
"Don't tell me you're back at home with Renee?" He chuckled. All Alice's friends were simultaneously intimidated by and admiring of Alice's mother. Most of them had been at the other end of her cutting wit at least once.
"Well I have no choice, I just started working, and have you seen the ridiculous rent they charge now? Believe me I can deal with Renee if it means living rent free."
"Yeah. I know. I'm looking for a place, too, but no luck. I just need two months 'cause I'm heading to Saskatchewan next." They exited through the lobby doors, Alice was walking arm in arm with Sam, and they bumped into Jasper.
"Alice? I've been waiting for you." Jasper eyed Alice's arm questioningly as it nestled wrapped around Sam's.
"Oh. I didn't know you were waiting. Jasper, meet Sam- an old high school buddy. Sam this is Jasper, my guy." The two men shook hands. "Jasper can we grab a quick drink with Sam?"
"Sure. Just a quick one though, I made dinner reservations for seven."
The threesome walked to Spanky's bar, right down the street. There were no available seats, the place was packed and Alice and Sam talked as she leaned back into Jasper's chest. Distracted by the noise and the feel of Jasper's body behind hers, she barely heard a word of what Sam was saying as she sipped her scotch and soda.
Thirty minutes later she got Sam's number and promised to call as she and Jasper headed out to the street to hail a taxi.
"Where are we eating? I'm starving." Alice inquired as she cuddled up to Jasper in the back of the cab.
He gave her a long drugging kiss. "We're not going out to dinner. That was just a ruse to get you away from your friend. We're going home… to bed." He kissed her again then whispered in her ear, " I've fuckin' missed you."
"What you really mean is that you've missed fuckin' me." she teased him.
He tucked his lips into her neck, "I've missed you, Alice. Everything about you."
"Jasper, I've missed you too but, man, I need some food. I didn't have lunch and those drinks went straight to my head."
He sighed his surrender, "Fine, where do you want to go?"
"Anywhere there's food. I'm not familiar with this area. I'd be happy with whatever you suggest." They found a place and grabbed two ten inch philly cheesesteaks and fries and walked the rest of the way to Jasper's place.
Alice sat at the barstool at the kitchen island and ate the luscious, spicy sandwich. She talked between munches. "I'm beginning to realize that to you I'm a cheap date. I just want you to know that I'm not."
"What do you mean?" Jasper had finished his sandwich and was tidying up.
"Well I think you feel you don't have to wine me and dine me, because sex is guaranteed." She eyed him as she munched.
"That's nonsense." He paused by the sink, "I want to wine you and dine you, but I want to make love first."
"Don't make the mistake of taking me for granted, Jasper. I like the little pleasures in life that every other woman does. Don't forget it."
"Okay, next time no sex without a proper date, okay?"
"Okay." She smiled, biting into her sandwich happily.
He joined her at the island and pulled her into his arms. "How about the big pleasures in life, hmm?" He nuzzled her neck. "Can we enjoy those now?"
"Let me finish my f..." She let out a surprised squeal and held on to a couple of fries as he hoisted her up over his shoulders and carried her to his bedroom. Once there, he let her slide down to stand and he kissed her greedily.
She pulled her mouth from his. "Undress me, Jasper. Slowly." she whispered as she stood in front of him near the bed.
He unbuttoned her black jacket, and slowly removed it. Then he unbuttoned her white silk blouse and peeled it off her shoulders. He ran his fingers along the edge of her black lace bra and pulled one cup down to expose her nipple and bent to pull it into his mouth and he whispered, "Let me taste your little red hots." And he circled it with his tongue and sucked. "Mmm so good." He reached around her waist and unzipped her black skirt, it fell to the floor. "Oh Alice, if I'd only known!"
She stood there in her black stiletto boots and black bra and black garter belt and black silk stockings. No panty in sight.
"If only I'd known what was waiting for me, I would have thrown you on that conference room table and screwed you 'til you passed out." He picked her up and placed her on the bed. "Sweet thing, open for me."
Alice's thighs opened and he expertly navigated his lips up her inner thigh to her pleasure spot. His tongue circled teasingly and then he lapped at it, and as she cried for more he pushed his fingers in her wetness. "Mmm, again," she begged as her legs moved restlessly on the bed. Her green eyes closed in ecstasy, she clutched the sheets in her hands. "Please Jasper, please. Put it in me, now." He moved up to suck on her bottom lip. He breathed in her mouth, and licked his tongue inside. She tasted her juices and sucked it off his tongue. "Mmm, now Jasper." He pushed into her with one big hard thrust. And she felt full and tight. He moved hard and fast and her nub that was still quivering from the tongue assault now felt the full force of his thrusts.
She was quivering inside, and her spine felt like jelly. "Oh my god, oh my god. Jasper don't stop. Right there, that feels so good." she groaned and her head moved from side to side on the pillow.
She screamed through her orgasm and heard his grunts as though he was far away. Through half-opened lids she saw him looking at her with wonder. "Why is it so good with you?" he asked her. Then he bent to kiss her lips and he released his seed into her warmth.
#
They lay in bed, holding each other, Jasper stroking her back and Alice running her hands over his chest hair. They were each wrapped in their own private thoughts. "Stay with me all night tonight." he asked her.
She shook her head. "No. I have no clothes for work in the morning."
He squeezed her waist and held her tightly to his side. "I'll take you home in the morning so you can change and we'll come in together."
"Jasper, don't be silly. We'll be very late." Alice kissed him and slid to the edge of the bed and stood up. She found her bra and her skirt and pulled them on. Her jacket was on a chair and she couldn't find her blouse anywhere. "Jasper, help me find my blouse, please?" They searched and found it wrapped in the sheet.
"Alice, why don't you get an apartment here in the city?" Jasper was pulling on his pants.
"Too expensive." she replied, preoccupied with fastening her buttons.
He reached for his own shirt which had been thrown to the floor. "I'll pay for it."
"NO!" She put her hands on her hips and looked him squarely in the face. He looked surprised by her vehemence.
"Why not?" He asked, yanking on his shirt.
"Because then you'll think you own me." She sat on the bed and zipped up her sexy stiletto ankle boots.
"I would never think that. I just want to help you."
"I don't want to live in San Fran anyway. Too many buildings and cars and not enough green. I love Berkeley, it's my home." she stood up fully dressed. "I'm ready."
Jasper slipped his arms around her waist. "Alice, I want all night with you. Not always a few stolen hours here and there."
"My, my you're getting clingy all of a sudden." Alice playfully tapped his cheek and kissed his chin.
"I've an idea. Come away with me, this weekend. Let's go down the coast to Big Sur. We can stay overnight and we'll come back on Sunday night."
Alice reached up and pulled Jasper's head down to kiss him. "Mmmm. Sounds like fun. Let me think about it."
#
It was after ten when Jasper pulled up across the street from her house. He walked her up the stairs of the purple victorian and bent to kiss her goodnight. In the shelter of a corner of the dark porch, Alice snaked her arms around his neck and opened her mouth. She slid her tongue over his and their mouths devoured each other. Alice felt him getting hard and she reached into his zipper to stroke him. The sensuous movement of his tongue and the feel of his silken tip had her moist in seconds and she raised one leg and wrapped it around his hip. He held that thigh in one hand and ground himself into her. His other hand slipped under her skirt and stroked her nub. She cried out, moving her hips and squeezing her eyes shut. He was too fucking good, with a mere touch of his long fingers he had her nearing orgasm. Alice did the unthinkable and guided his tip into her and they both grunted when he thrust inside and filled her completely. They found themselves having sex right there on the porch. He moved his mouth from hers to kiss her throat and she ran her hands through his already messy hair.
"Alice what are you doing to me?" He panted breatlessly.
Pulse beating in her throat, Alice gasped out, "I'm screwing you, Jasper. Doesn't it feel good?"
He groaned in response."So good." Then he dropped his forehead onto her shoulder and started moving faster.
Alice was carried away by the sheer depravity of the moment. She wanted more, more. She wanted him to bend to her. "The best? Ever?"
"Yeah. Ever."
Jasper and Alice were moaning and seconds away from ecstasy when the front door suddenly opened and Renee Swan and Bella stood in the doorway. The light from the hallway streamed out onto the dark porch and shone brightly on the lovers.
"Jesus Christ, Alice!" her mother's shock was evident in her low swearing. Jasper let go of Alice's thigh like it was hot. She straightened up and tried to break free of him. He continued to hold her hips in a vice grip and it dawned on her that he was trying to hide his cock. His face was in her neck and he was pulling for air.
"Mom, can you give us a few minutes, please?" Alice whispered huskily.
The front door slammed and Jasper and Alice slowly separated. Jasper's face was flushed and dazed as he tucked himself in and zipped up. He leaned against the wall, his breaths were slowing from the rapid panting of a minute before. "Fuck, Alice. You're either going to get me killed or get me arrested."
Alice grimaced. "Sorry. I guess I got carried away."
"You weren't the only one." He smiled weakly.
"Well now you have to come in and brave the gorgon." His brows knitted. "I mean you'll have to come in and meet my mother and sister."
Jasper rubbed his face with both hands. He was still flushed. "I guess I have to. Give me another minute, Alice. I have to calm down."
"At least you don't have to meet an angry father, he died seventeen years ago in a motorcycle accident. You only have to meet my mom and my sis." She hoped to calm him by her chatter. "My mother's name is Renee and my sister's name is Bella. She is a little sweetie, but Renee, she's another story. Be on your guard. She is a killer attorney and tough as nails."
"She's brought quite a few guys to their knees so be warned. Ready?"
Alice turned the knob and they walked into the small foyer. She hung her jacket on the coat tree. A door to the left led into the living room. A comfy floral couch was tucked under the bay windows and two large armchairs were covered in cheerful floral chintz. Lots of throw pillows a center table and side tables with lamps gave the room a soft welcoming charm. A fire had just been started and was crackling cheerfully in the fireplace.
Alice and Jasper sat on the couch and waited; he couldn't help feeling as though he would shortly be facing his executioner. Bella came in and Jasper noticed that Alice's younger sister was a bit taller than Alice with darker hair. Her skin was golden honey and her long, dark, straight hair hung down her back past her waist. Her eyes were a rich clear golden color. But her heart-shaped face was almost an exact replica of Alice's, with full lips and a narrow pert nose. Projecting an air of grace and calm, she reminded Jasper of an exotic fairy tale princess.
Jasper stood up and Bella shook his hand and said, "Hello, I'm Bella, Alice's sister." her voice was soft and shy. "Mom will be coming down soon."
She sat in one of the armchairs. "We were on our way to Safeway, mom has a headache and I was driving her to go get aspirin. She didn't want me going out alone this late at night." Bella rolled her eyes, indicating that she knew her mom was overprotective.
Renee came into the room and Jasper stood up. She was a tiny woman, much shorter than her daughters, only five-one or so, slim and curvy with short black curls, deep brown eyes and an olive complexion. He felt a little shame when he realized she wasn't much older than he was. To anyone she would appear to be in her thirties, but, he calculated, based on what he had learned from Alice, that she was forty-three. He was thirty-eight, nearer her age than Alice's.
"Good evening, Mrs. Swan, I'm Jasper Hale."
"Hello Mr. Hale. How are you?"
She sat down and he did too. Alice wound her arm through his elbow and held his hand.
Renee eyed the clasped hands. "Mr. Hale I understand that you are the owner of the firm where Alice works."
"Please call me Jasper. Yes I am the owner of Hale Designs."
"So Alice tells me you two are having a relationship. She's one of your employees, isn't that unethical and risky?" Renee went in for the kill immediately.
Jasper's brows furrowed and he blinked in surprise, "I don't think it's unethical. We went into this with our eyes open. I know that Alice is honest and I know I am. I won't ever treat her unfairly because of our relationship."
"You say that now, but what if she no longer wants to have a "relationship" with you? Hmm? Or you with her? What then? You can fire her and she'll be unable to do anything about it, she's signed a waiver."
Jasper unwound his arm from Alice's and leaned forward slightly. "Mrs. Swan, I understand your concern for your daughter, but don't worry. Firstly, I wouldn't fire her. She's a wonderful architect whose talent I truly admire. Secondly, I signed a statement as well. Alice cannot be fired for any reason, she will have to resign."
Renee practically snorted. "Please Mr. Hale, there are many ways around that. You can make the work environment so unbearable for her that she will resign. We all know that..."
Alice interrupted. "Mom, do you want me to quit this job? Start looking for another? Will that make you happy?"
Renee and Jasper turned to Alice, who was bristling with barely contained annoyance. "Of course not Alice." Her mom shook her head, dismissively.
Alice continued to make her point. "Then, I'm not understanding your point. Jasper and I have worked it out to our satisfaction, end of story. I don't need my mommy looking out for me. Whatever happens, happens. Worst case scenario, Jasper and I have a bad break-up and I resign. So what? I'll take my lumps, I'm a grown woman. I'll move on. I know I'm a good architect and I won't be without a job for too long.
"You think it'll be so easy to get another job? Especially if…"
"Please let it go, for christ's sake, can we please talk about something else? I'm sick of this subject." Renee and Jasper both stared in surprise at Alice's outburst.
After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, Jasper cleared his throat. "So, Mrs Swan, Alice tells me that you're an attorney." Jasper said quietly. "My father was a judge until he retired a few years ago. Maybe you've met him, Nick Hale."
"I have heard of your father, though I've never met him. I think Judge Hale was in the criminal courts, I do civil litigation. My specialty is family law and ADA suits. I'm an advocate for children's rights and the rights of the disabled and mentally ill."
"That's sounds like a very rewarding endeavor." Jasper responded. No one can shut down a conversation like Renee Swan. There was a huge silence.
"Jasper," Alice changed the subject, "Bella is at the culinary institute in Napa, she's studying to be a pastry chef. How is school coming Bella?"
"Fine. A little more challenging than I anticipated, but I like it. I'll finish next June and start looking for a position. I can't wait."
Renee joined the conversation in praise of her younger daughter, "Bella is a wonderful chef. She'll be making Thanksgiving Dinner this year. Chris is coming home, so we've invited him and his parents. I hope you and Jasper can come."
Alice immediately became suspicious, Was Renee really trying to bring Jasper into the fold? Or was this a trick?
Alice turned to Jasper, "Chris is Bella's sweetheart, he's at Villanova, his parents live around the corner." Alice explained to Jasper before answering her mother. "I'll be here, mom, but Jasper may have plans. Let's not put him on the spot. But," she smirked at her mother, "speaking of plans, Jasper and I are going away this weekend, to Big Sur."
Renee's face tightened, and Alice felt a surge of triumph.
Jasper squeezed Alice's hand. "Big Sur is beautiful and Alice says she's never been there." Alice wondered how much of Big Sur she'll get to see from the window of the hotel, she could tell that her mom was revving up to give her opinion on the getaway, so she abruptly brought an end to the chatter, by standing up and tugging on Jasper's hand.
"Well, Jasper has to go home, he has a big meeting in the morning. Night Bella, night mom." Renee blinked at Alice's sudden dismissal.
Bella got up and said, "It was nice to meet you Jasper. Have fun in Big Sur. Chris and I went this past summer and we stayed at this wonderful bed and breakfast. We loved it. Do you want me to find the name of it for you? I think it was something like the 'Seacrest' or something like that."
"No, but thanks for the offer. I've been to Big Sur before and I have a buddy who owns a bed and breakfast, I usually stay there."
"Goodnight Mr. Ha… Jasper. It was a pleasure." Renee's tone did not match her words. She turned without speaking to Alice and went upstairs.
Alice walked Jasper to the door. "Pay no attention to her, she has a prejudice against you."
"Thanks Alice, that makes me feel good."
"Well it's nothing to do with you or me, it's her baggage."
"What's the prejudice?"
Alice ticked the reasons off on her fingers, "Well, for one, she thinks you're too old for me. For another, she's angry because I slept with you the first day I met you. Third, you already know her opinion on sleeping with the boss. Fourth, we were petting in the car last week and now she's caught us out on the porch in flagrante delicto. She hates PDAs, can you imagine how much she hated seeing that? And the fifth and most important reason she won't like you is because she has someone in mind for me."
"What? Are you kidding me?"
"No, I'm dead serious."
"Who?"
"A Pakistani- American doctor. One of the partners in her law firm has a nephew who is a doctor and mom has met him and fallen in love with him, on my behalf. She has tried every which way to trick us into meeting and I've managed to escape each time. She is hell bent on this. I guess my mother is no different from every other mother who wants her daughter to marry a doctor. So there is nothing you or I can do about her disliking our relationship."
#
The following day went by quietly. That morning at home Alice packed an overnight bag and a garment bag with her costume. With no time or opportunity to get a costume she wound up borrowing one of Bella's belly dancing outfits. Bella had taken belly dancing lessons since she was twelve and she had been performing in Margo's troupe since she was sixteen. Bella was a size six now but a couple years ago she was a size four. Fortunately she had held on to the costume and it fit Alice perfectly.
It was blue and green. The bodice was an emerald green velvet bra with cobalt blue satin piping. The skirt hugged her hips and fell to her feet in jade, emerald, turquoise and cobalt silk panels. When she walked the panel fell apart to reveal her legs. Bella gave her the green scarf to cover the lower part of her face, and a blue scarf to cover her hair. She would secure these with hairpins. Jasper would not be able to recognize her. She had no intentions of going barefoot so she decided to wear strappy gold sandals with a kitten heel.
Her overnight bag was harder to pack. She was tempted to pack only lingerie, since she felt sure that she and Jasper would never leave the bed. But just on the off chance, she packed day clothes. The weather this time of the year in Big Sur was hard to predict and even the weather channel wasn't accurate when it comes to predicting the varying weather in the micro-climates.
In addition to her slinky nightwear, she packed a pair of jeans and a pair of black slacks. Two ribbed knit sweaters and one slinky red dress. She was hoping that Jasper would take her out to dinner, finally.
The bags were stowed away under her desk. She had a meeting at nine and then she worked all morning. Shortly before one o'clock there was a knock at her door and Jasper poked his head in. "Are you free for lunch?"
She looked at him and her heart skipped a beat. He had on a dark blue suit and navy tie, with a cobalt blue shirt that matched his eyes. Mmm he looked good enough to eat, yummy. "Is this a date?"
"Yes, it is."
"Well, usually I require a little more notice."
"Sorry, but I had back-to-back meetings and couldn't call."
"You're forgiven. But, don't let it happen again. Where are we going?"
"Aqua. Come on, let's go." He held out his hand, impatiently.
"What's the rush?"
"We have reservations for one, it's almost that now."
She grabbed her bag and held his hand as she hurried to keep up with his long legs. They waited for the elevator. "Maybe you should have told me, I would have gone on ahead."
"I told you that I didn't have a chance." He stabbed the button. "Anyway, we'll only be a few minutes late. By the way, I've got my costume. There's no way you'll figure it out. I'm sure I'll find you first."
Alice challenged him. "We'll see."
"Maybe we should bet on it." He said slyly.
"Bet what? Money?"
"How about candy, red hots." He teased with a wink.
"But you can have all the red hots you want, anytime you want." Alice couldn't help it that her voice dipped seductively. Jasper had a direct connection to her desire and he could pull that string without even trying.
They stood there talking quietly, innuendos and double entendres peppering the light banter, totally forgetting that the receptionist, Jessica, was watching and listening.
The elevator came and they were holding hands as they entered, happy to be going out to lunch together. Rumors spread like wildfire through the office while they were gone.
They had good food and good flirtatious conversation. Alice asked Jasper why the sudden lunch invitation.
His voice lowered for her ears only. "You said no more sex without a proper date. And I fully intend to have sex with you tonight. I wasn't sure that the Halloween party would count as a date."
"It wouldn't have." she whispered back.
"Would you have told me "no" tonight?" he whispered the question in her ear, his lips grazing the sensitive shell.
"We'll never know now, will we?" she said coyly.
They took a cab back to the office and when they got off the elevator, all eyes were on them. Jasper's cell rang and he stopped to answer it, Alice walked to her office with a slight smile on her lips.