Under the Stars (Sequel to Across the Pond)

Chapter 33

Brooks insisted on having his family driver come pick me up, but I rejected the idea, and decided to drive myself instead.

Mom is waiting excitedly at the bottom of the stairs for me like I'm going to prom or something. I guess having dinner at the Caldwell residence is pretty comparable.

"Don't you just look like a vision?" she remarks with her palm pressed against her chest as I descend the stairs, one step at a time.

I ended up pairing my green dress with these gold peep-toe heels that I bought last summer. I'm wearing gold bangles on my wrist and my red hair is half-up with a rhinestone barrette holding the two pieces together. I'm sporting a red lip because...duh, and I feel pretty. I feel like myself, which is something that I haven't been feeling a lot of lately.

"Thanks, mom," I say once my feet hit the last step.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?"

"No, thanks. I don't want to make you drive late at night to come pick me up."

"Late at night?! How long are you going to be there for? Remember, you have work tomorrow, honey."

"I know," I smile at her, letting a deep breath out. "I just want tonight to go perfectly."

"It will, sweetie. Just be yourself."

"You mean my loud, chipper self?"

"Exactly. There's only one Remi Baker. Make sure she shines tonight."

I press down on my lower lip, pushing it out into a smile. "I will."

There's some traffic getting to Brooks' house, but I'm almost over the bridge, which means that I'm about 5 minutes away from my destination.

I finally pull up to the long driveway, but the ironclad gate prohibits me from entering.

I ring the bell on the intercom, and the lady on the opposite end says, "Caldwell Residence."

I keep my finger pressed down on the button as I speak into it. "Yes, hi, it's Remi Baker. I'm here for Brooks."

"Ah, yes, Miss Baker," she says before buzzing me in.

I park my car to the side of the driveway because it definitely doesn't belong in this moshpit of Range Rovers, Mercedes, and Bentleys, then grab my purse from the passenger seat.

When I make my way to the front door, I notice Brooks already waiting for me.

I think my jaw drops in front of him because he starts to chuckle in the cutest way imaginable.

He's dressed in tailored grey pants with a cream-colored sweater and black leather dress shoes. His light brown hair is perfectly manicured, and his eyes are so blue that they pop out in the darkness.

I make sure to take my steps slowly because Brooks' driveway is the pebbled kind and the last thing that I need to do is trip over myself when Brooks is standing a few feet away looking like a damn Ralph Lauren model.

Before I can even take another step, he's making his way towards me. And the second that he gets to me, he reaches for my waist, gently placing his hands there. He kisses me before I can even say something.

"Sorry," he whispers once he's pulled away, and my eyes search his features.

"What are you sorry for?"

"For acting on impulse. The second that I saw you; I knew I had to kiss you."

"Yeah?" I smile. "Well, it's a good thing I like a guy who knows what he wants."