Sweetness (8 page)

Wanda is jumping
on my bed. Why is Wanda jumping
on my bed? It is too early for this shit. “Wake up, it’s
moving day! Come on, Emma!” I look up with sleepy
eyes and see Wanda jumping like a 5 year old on my bed;
her head coming inches from the ceiling.

“Wanda…What the hell?” I look at the clock
reading 9 A.M. The movers will be here soon but we
don’t have too much to move out so it shouldn’t take
long. I am beyond excited for my date with Dominic
tonight. I also still have to get a dress for Friday that will
fit the bill, so out of bed it is.

“Stop jumping. I’m up. I’m up.”
“Movers will be here in 5, they just called. All the
boxes are marked so this shouldn’t take long since we
really aren’t taking any furniture. I think Max is going to
be moving his stuff in here on Saturday. Mark left a note
saying he spoke to Luke and borrowed one of your
fathers SUV’s to go home get his stuff. Guess he couldn’t
wait to move either.”
“Ok. I need you to come shopping with me later. I
need a dress for Friday and something for my date
tonight. Although…I don’t know where we are going,” I
realize.
I am nervous and anxious and excited all at the
same time. I have dreamt about Dominic and I meeting
again for so long, it feels a bit surreal. I have often
wondered if I would ever run into him again. I really did
like him when we were getting to know each other all
those years ago. My feelings for him were the closest
thing I have ever felt to actual love for a man. He was the
first person I wanted to give myself to. Willingly. Before
him it was only Glen, but that was forced. If I slept with
Dominic back then it would have been MY choice but
Glen stole that from me, too.
“Shopping. Absolutely. Beats moving. I have the
day off today so I’m free.”
“The boxes are marked and the movers will
handle most of it. We should be able to get going soon
after we get to the apartment since everything is basically
set up.”
“Sounds good to me. Being your roommate has its
perks. Rich daddies are something I could get used to.”
Wanda teases.
Being a child of privilege does not come without
its share of problems. As wonderful as it is to be given
the world, it complicates things like personal
relationships, sometimes. Having normal dates or even
simply going out to dinner sometimes can get sticky
when you are being followed by paparazzi looking to get
a money shot of the millionaire hot shots daughter doing
something wrong. Thankfully, by the time anyone knew
who I was I had already gotten past my wild stage. My
family doesn’t know too much about that part of my life.
I’d like to keep it that way.
The doorbell rings and Wanda buzzes in the
moving men. Manhattan, here we come.

Two hours after
the movers arrive, we are packed and
off to Manhattan. I phone Luke to let him know we are
on our way and he gives me instructions to use the
service elevator. He has staff who will be ready for us
once we hit the garage. I grab two suitcases from my car
and Wanda grabs her duffle bag and small box from the
back seat. We head into the lobby and Luke is there to
open the door for us.

“Afternoon, Emma, and…I’m sorry I didn’t catch
your name,” Luke remarks looking in Wanda’s direction.
“I’m sorry. Luke Jacobs, this is Wanda Lopez.
Wanda, this is Luke. He is the head of security and my
father’s personal assassin.” Luke thins his lips and shakes
his head as if he were scolding me.
“You really have to drop the personal assassin
nonsense. Miss Lopez. very nice to meet you. Please try
and keep this one out of trouble,” he mutters to Wanda
and jabs his thumb in my direction. “Can I help you with
your box ma’am?”
Luke is flirting? This is novel. Wanda looks
pleased and bats her eyes. “Please call me Wanda. And
no, thank you Luke, I can manage,” Wanda says as she
blushes and bats her eyes again.
“If you don’t like being called an assassin then you
shouldn’t have pulled your laser pointer on the poor
boy.”
Luke pops both hands on his hips and shakes his
head at me.
“Can you make sure the movers have the info to
come up? They should be here any minute.”
“I will escort them myself. If you ladies need
anything just ring.” Luke turned back to the monitors on
the desk as Wanda and I walk toward the elevator. I
noticed Wanda has a little more sway in her step and I
presume that is for Luke’s benefit. I glance over before
stepping into the elevator and catch Luke watching her
saunter away.
This should be interesting.
“He is freaken hot, Emm. But why do you call him
an assassin?”
“Oh God. I knew you had that come-get-me-look,”
I tease. “When I first moved to the city, Luke drove me
and my friends to a concert. While we were there, a
rowdy bunch of frat boys decided to make some trouble
in the parking lot as we were leaving. Luke saw us
becoming increasingly annoyed and walked over to tell
them to settle down. The boys challenged Luke, but he
kept his cool and walked away. To scare them I told them
he was my bodyguard and a former assassin. They
scoffed at the idea and Luke, being a jokester, pulled out
a laser pointer and aimed it at one of the boy’s heads. The
rest of the group got so scared they ran for cover. The
boy who had the red dot on his head from the laser
pointer actually peed his pants. My friends and I
laughed so hard the rest of the way home. From that
moment on, Luke was officially the coolest guy ever as
far as they were concerned.”
“That shit is funny,” Wanda said, we both
laughed. “He can use his pointer on me anytime.”
“Oh Jesus.” I roll my eyes. “Ewww, Wanda. Luke
is like family, I don’t want to hear about you and his
pointer.”
Wanda and I enter our new apartment. It is as
breathtaking in the daytime as it is at night. I take my
suitcases down the hall to my room and start unpacking
my bathroom supplies. The movers make easy work of
bringing our boxes into our rooms and are gone within
the hour. Unpacking can wait. It’s shopping time.
After a shower and a fresh pair of clothes we’re off
into the city for some shopping and lunch. We decided to
have lunch at a deli nearby that had outdoor seating so
we could watch the flow of people as we eat. After we
placed our order I felt my phone buzz in my purse.

Hey, Sweetness. R u primping for our date? lol. I will
pick you up at 7.
Where do you live?

When I read the text I could almost hear his voice
whispering the words into my ear. A huge smile creeps
up on my face.

“That Mr. Rock and Roll? Judging by the look on
your face, your date is still on.” I nod to her and text him
back.

That is not far from me. Instead of picking me up, meet
me at the 5
^th
Street entrance. We can walk over. The park
is beautiful this time of year.

I am so giddy with excitement. I can’t wait until
tonight. An evening alone with Dominic is my idea of a
good time. I am surprised by his choice of dinning,
though. I would have been fine if he said the Hard Rock
Café, but it seems as though he is putting some
consideration into this date.

It then dawns on me that he has no idea who I
am, other than Emma, a girl he used to make out with.
We never really exchanged last names. When we did
talk, we mostly talked about his music. Making out was
more our communication method. And we NEVER got
into the family bit. He tried a few times to bring it up but
I always shut it down. I didn’t want him to know where I
came from or who my family was. Our town is not
exactly small but people with money, makes circles of
friends seem tighter, and I didn’t want my parents
divorce scandal to be an issue.

I am sure it is hard to believe seeing as though
many millionaires’ kids don’t wear slutty outfits to dive
bars in Jersey and let rockers finger them back stage at a
concert. HA! That’s not true. I am sure I am not the first
one who did this, judging from the daily updates I get on
Twitter about rich kids personal lives displayed all over
the tabloids.

Just after I read his response our food comes.
Wanda is grinning at me like a Cheshire cat as I put my
phone away.
“So, Luke Jacobs, what’s his story,” she asks me

As hot as Wanda is, she doesn’t date much. Work
and school are all she ever had time for. Now that she is
done with school and starts her new internship on
Monday, at a local radio station, I hope her dating life
opens up. It is her dream job but it doesn’t pay well so
she is going to keep her job at the bar for the time being.
She can probably make more at the bar in tips in one
night then she can an entire week at her new job.

I give her a run down on Luke and I encourage
her to pursue him. He is a great guy. I just don’t want to
hear about all the dirty details. I have known him for
years and he is like an older brother to me. He is my
father’s hired help but I think he would still look after
Mark and me even if he weren’t getting paid to do so.
Besides, I think they would like each other, and it would
be nice to see Wanda go on a date.

After we’re done with lunch
we spot a hip boutique not
far from our apartment. We go inside and its red walls
and black lacquer tables are filled with racks of trendy
clothes. I immediately spot a mannequin wearing a short
tight black dress with nothing but black lace over the
breast area, ribbing down the front, and black lace
trimming the last inch of the bottom. It is borderline
lingerie and I feel a little self-conscience even thinking
about trying it on, but Wanda insists.

When I exit the dressing room and look into the
mirror I cannot believe it is me staring back in the
reflection.

Sold!
I also purchase a red satin bra and pantie set to
display under my new dress. I find a pair of black heals
that have thin straps every quarter inch running from the
open toe all the way up to the top of my ankle. The
zipper on the back has a charm with a skull and
crossbones dangling off it. Dominic is going to lose it
when he sees me like this.
We leave the store and walk a few more blocks to
a more sophisticated store to buy a dress for tonight’s
dinner. I am looking forward to a romantic dinner but I
would rather do something fun with Dominic. He is only
in town for two more days and honestly I would rather
eat pizza from a box in my bedroom and screw him 100
different ways, then go out to a stuffy restaurant. But, he
is being a gentleman by taking me to a nice dinner so I
will let him woo me before I have my wicked way with
him.
I settle on a pale yellow, sleeveless, shift dress, and
three inch yellow wedges. It will have to do. I would
much rather wear my black dress but I don’t think it
appropriate attire for the lakeside restaurant.
After washing, shaving, plucking, and
moisturizing I check my watch at exactly 6:30. I have on
my new dress, new yellow shoes, and bring my short
denim jacket just to add a little casualty to the bland
dressed up me. I have curled my hair into loose waves
and pinned them up at the back of my head with a large
clip because it is summer and still hot in the city. Which
also means very little makeup is warranted tonight.
“Wanda, I’m leaving. I will be home later,” I yell
from the kitchen as I put only the necessities in my clutch
from my purse. “and hopefully I won’t be alone.”
“Ut, oh. You better warn me with a text so I am
not sprawled out in the living room eating ice cream in
my PJ’s, killing your mojo,” she tells me entering the
kitchen. After an approval nod she adds, “You look nice,
Emm. I am sure Mr. Rock and Roll will approve of the
demure you.”
“I don’t want him to approve. I want him to rip
this damn dress off and…”
“Whooo…slow down. I think that is more for
tomorrow night’s attire. Judging from where he is taking
you tonight he is trying to impress you. Let him.”
“Something tells me I will be impressed once I get
his clothes off.”
“Chill out, super slut. When was the last time you
got laid for Christ sake? You sound like a horny teenage
boy…or Max.” We both laugh and my nerves ease some.
I may talk a good game but on the inside I am a bubbling
mess. I have never gone out on a date with a guy I liked
this much.
“Wish me luck, mama.” I grab my clutch and keys
then make my way to the elevator. As I descend my
nerves grow stronger by each passing second.

When I arrive at the park
I scour the area for some
resemblance of the man I am meeting. It is exactly 7 on
the dot, but I don’t see him anywhere. I chalk it up to him
running late, although I am really thinking he stood me
up. Perhaps payback for my disappearing act all those
years ago.

As I pace inside the entrance, I watch families
enjoying the park. I am startled when I feel a hand on my
waist and I see a yellow rose coming out from behind
me. I don’t have to turn around to know it is Dominic.
He kisses my hair and my body gravitates to his like a
magnetic force; his front to my back. When I turn around
I am shocked by the difference in him. His sexy rock star
persona is replaced by a man who looks like the boy next
door. He kisses my cheek gently, causing a million
butterflies to stampede in my belly.

“Hi. You looked nervous. Did you think I wasn’t
going to show?”
“A little,” I say meekly.
“Oh, Sweetness, not a chance. I have been over
there watching you.” He points to a row of benches
opposite the park entrance. “I have been here for the past
5 minutes trying to get up the courage to walk over here.
You look beautiful, Emma.”
“You don’t look bad yourself.” I tell him while
devouring every inch of him with my eyes. Dominic,
wearing a pair of black slacks, black oxfords, and a white
neatly pressed slim cut shirt with the top button opened,
is just as yummy as the hot as a rock star he portrays on
stage. Knowing that under that shirt is a hot, tattooed,
sexy, hard body makes very dirty thoughts pop into my
mind.
“Shall we?” He is laying it on thick by extending
his arm so we we’re entwined together. He is very much
the gentleman already. Not that he hasn’t always been
very nice to me, but gentleman by day and dirty talker
with a guitar by night, suits him nicely.