The Wedding Date

Be Real (J)

Joe smelled her before he saw her. An odd thing to occur to him, but with his eyes closed, he realized he'd grown quite partial to the smell of her shampoo. Or maybe it was her perfume. Could be a combination.

Whatever it was, it was uniquely her and he felt like the luckiest person in the world to be able to smell it before the rest of his senses woke up.

Slowly blinking his eyes open, he took in his surroundings, momentarily distracted by the strands of red hair blocking his vision.

Definitely shampoo.

He felt his cheeks heat up as he glanced down, noticing Dianne's bare shoulder peeking out from under the covers, instantly reminding him of their activities from the night before. His muscles had a delicious ache, reminding him of how long it had been since he'd done that with...well, anyone. But especially someone he had real feelings for.

It was surprising to him, how quickly he'd fallen for the redheaded Aussie who was now snuggling deeper into his chest. And how quickly they'd fallen together...literally, into her bed. He didn't do this. Ever. In his younger years, if he had feelings for a woman, he'd usually stumble over his words or make too many dumb jokes or drown his sorrows in alcohol before he could embarrass himself further.

He'd left out that detail the night before, when explaining why he worked at First Rate Escort. He hadn't told Dianne that part of the reason he hadn't left the escort service, was because he liked who he was when he was in escort mode. He wasn't nervous or self conscious. Those women were paying for him to be there, paying him to help them. It gave him confidence, and let him be the person he wanted to be, without threat of anything deeper than a night of fake flirtation and acting.

Real feelings seemed unattainable, though it wasn't for lack of trying. Oh, he'd tried. Gone on date after date through his 20s, while never making a deeper connection than some lighthearted conversation and surface level banter. His friends were convinced he wasn't trying anymore, and honestly, they were right. He'd given up looking for the right person, because he was convinced she didn't exist. He had decided to focus on work and spending time with his friends and his family and that would be enough for him. Love just wasn't in the cards.

At least, that's what he had convinced himself of until he'd seen Dianne, frazzled and nervous at the airport in London.

He blinked back into reality as she shifted on his chest again, the warmth of her body against his making his heart beat just a tad faster. She mewled in her sleep, and he couldn't help but let out a low chuckle at how adorable she was.

"Joe?" she murmured, eyes still closed, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Hm?" he hummed quietly, unsure if she was really awake or not.

"You're naked," she muttered, her arm beginning to reach under the blankets, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud at her bluntness, reaching down to stop her wandering hand. If she touched him any lower, he might not be responsible for his actions, and it was too risky in the daylight with her parents just down the hall.

"So are you," he leaned down to peck her temple, grinning when she opened an eye to glare at him. "In your parents house, tsk tsk Buswell."

Dianne wrestled her hand away from his to pinch his arm, and he only laughed harder.

"Shh, before they come in here," Dianne whined, reaching up to cover his mouth, though he was pleasantly surprised she had not moved away from him. He had been a bit worried she'd wake up absolutely freaking out, but it seemed she was just as comfortable as he was.

"I mean, as far as they know, we are dating," Joe smiled, noticing the way she had closed her eyes again.

"Still doesn't mean I'm okay with them seeing us naked in my childhood bedroom," Dianne muttered, before sighing, "But I'm too comfy to move."