Nicole appeared in the doorway carefully securing her diamond earring. “Agh! Let me help you,” she walked toward him and fixed the bow tie. “There.” She smiled as their eyes met for a single second before he pulled away from their gaze, “Now you get to help me.” She turned around exposing her bare back. “Zip me please?” Austin’s breath caught as he stared at her soft skin. He followed the opening of her dress down to below her hips. Cautiously he reached for the zipper on her white silky dress and slowly slid it upward. His hands brushed across the small of her back as he felt her tense up. His fingers lingered after the dress was secured before she turned around, “Well what do you think?” she smiled at Austin showing off her white spaghetti strap dress. The chest was cut low exposing her cleavage that begged for attention by a strategically placed necklace. The dress hung conservatively to her knee and her back was exposed above her shoulder blades.
“You look,” Austin wet his dry mouth, “Very nice Nicole.”
“And you,” Nicole leaned in running her perfume covered arm across his face, “Very hot.”
Austin was lost in the scent of her perfume. She smelled like heaven and tonight she looked like an angel. Laughing nervously he pulled away slowly, “I wish Sami could be here.”
Nicole tried to hide her irritation at the mention of the vixen’s name, “I don’t see what is so great about little miss Sami.” She mumbled under her breath but Austin caught it. “I love her Nicole, can you please try to respect that. I don’t comment on your relationship with Victor.”
Nicole grabbed her jacket and quickly put it on, “Look Austin, I don’t deny you think you love Sami, she can fool anyone.” She stopped to meet his gaze, “But can you honestly tell me you aren’t in love with her kid instead?”
“I—Nicole—no, I love Sami and Will.”
She shook her head in defeat, “Fine, one day you will believe me, I just hope it is not too late.”
They rode in silence to the restaurant. Austin could not get Nicole’s words out of his mind. ‘Of course she makes me happy, I enjoy being with her, I love her, do I?’ He stole a glance at Nicole who was peering out the window. ‘I wonder why Nicole is with Victor? She is so young, so sexy, so beautiful in that dress—“
“Austin? Hello! Anyone in there,” Nicole waved her hand in front of Austin’s face.
“Sorry. What Nicole?”
“We are here.” They paid the cab fare and went into the restaurant. They were escorted to a remote table dimly lit by candles.
“Nicole, this looks—“
“Romantic, oh come on Austin, lighten up, please!” She dragged him toward the table as they sat down and opened the menus and ordered. As they sat sipping their wine Austin began, “Nicole can I ask you a question, a personal question?”
Nicole stopped, her glass halfway to her mouth looking at him in shock, “I thought our relationship was purely business.”
“It is, I mean it was, but since you seem to be inquiring about my personal I only find it fair.”
She put her glass down and let out a small laugh, “You’re right Austin. An eye for an eye. Does this mean we are friends?”
“It means that while you find it necessary to comment on Sami that I would like to be able to comment on your relationships, namely Victor. You do know you appear to be a gold digger right?”
“Are you done criticizing me?” Anger was spreading through her face.
“Yes.” He waited for her response but none was granted. “Nicole?”
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears, “Can we talk about this later tonight. We can have a bash fest about each other’s partners.” She forced a small smile.
“Sure.”