Destined by Chance

Chapter 22

Neil couldn't look away. He was bowled over. For sure. His Miss Mouse looked nothing like the nickname he had given her. She looked ravishing. Absolutely stunning. The color red was her color. It suited her as if it was made for her and that dress, so simple and yet elegant became her. The makeup perfect. Even her hair. So, she had taken his advice and done something about it. And he was floored.

He had to revise his opinion. She was a beauty with a beautiful personality. He was so stunned to see her he just stared at her. He could sense her nervousness. He felt her unsurity. And all he could do was smile. She was Miss Mouse after all. How could she be unsure of herself looking the way she did? But then this was her first trial, her experiment and she wasn't sure of the result. Though she should be. He was positive there wouldn't be another in that room who would hold a candle to her. Oh man. He hadn't expected this. God he hadn't expected anything.

She walked all the way to where he stood and looked up at him. Her soft fragrance wrapping itself around him, and he had to resist taking a deep breath and drawing it all the way to his lungs. She was still short. He was sure she was wearing heels below but well, he was six feet two. Up this close he could see the fullness of those lips painted red. She wasn't wearing any ear rings. But she didn't have to considering her necklace was perfect. Anything else would have been a bit too much. She was on the thinner side no doubt but the dress fit her perfectly accentuating her curves at the right places.

"What do you think?" she asked in a low voice.

Her voice. He had been a fan of the soft lilting quality since the time he had heard it. And the husky tone right now was killing him.

"You want my opinion Simi," he said just as huskily and she nodded her head, "I am yet to recover from seeing you," he said and saw confusion mirror in her eyes. And he laughed lightly. "You are nervous aren't you," he said.

"Yes," she replied shyly.

"You shouldn't be," he said as his fingers lightly traced the curve of her cheek, "I should be the one who should be nervous tonight," he told her.

"Why?" she said with a slight frown, "You look amazing," she told him.

"Not as amazing as you," he said and saw the confusion vanish from her eyes being replaced by happiness, "after all I am supposed to escort such a beautiful lady to a ball," he said and winked at her.

Simi smiled. And Neil felt his throat constrict for the second time in a day. Her eyes shined with happiness. Her smile full of confidence. She seemed radiant. And he was hooked. It wasn't good, a reminder came from somewhere inside. The pull to her was getting stronger. And it wasn't good for him. He didn't have time for relationships. He didn't want them even if he did. And he would make the biggest mistake by falling for someone like her who was very much into commitments. Hell, she was looking for someone to get married to. And marriage had never been on his agenda. And yet he found himself not worrying too much.

He was glad she had taken his advice, look what it did for her. She was nervous yes, but there was a confidence to her too. She wouldn't change overnight. It never happened. But she would get there. Someday. Only he won't be there to see it happen. Tomorrow was Christmas. And they left the next afternoon. To contemplate a lifetime association in such a short time was impossible. At least for him. But he wasn't contemplating a lifetime association was he? The question almost made him frown. But he didn't. It was her evening. And he wanted her to enjoy it. He didn't want to know why it mattered to him. But it did. And for just tonight he was ready to indulge a little. To not worry over the prospect of some very valid questions his head was churning out. He could always resolve them later. With that he smiled.

"So, Miss Mouse, are you ready," he asked as he offered her his arm.

"Miss Mouse?" Simi asked as she smiled and linked her arm through his.

"Yeah, sorry, but I really likened you to one when we first met," he told her a bit sheepishly. He hadn't meant that to slip but since it had, he felt obliged to explain.

"So you think I am a mouse," she said sportingly, "I didn't know mice looked the way I do," she told him.

"Neither did I," Neil said warmly and saw her color. He laughed. "Well, I don't know why I felt that way, I hope you don't take it any other way but I thought it suited you," he told her and opened the door of the suite.

"Hmmm, I will think about it," she told him teasingly.

She was feeling so good that knowing what he had nicknamed her she didn't feel any pinch. And he had said it with so much warmth she had felt the excitement rise within her. There was no malice in the name and she could guess why he had given her that name. She took it in spirit because she didn't want anything to dampen her mood. Besides one of the most famous characters in the world was a mouse. Right?

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