The road to love (editing!!)

Chapter 13 - Stolen kisses (edited)

Jessie

My phone rang and I jumped at the sound, almost dropping the mascara I was trying to apply in my rearview mirror while sitting in traffic this beautiful Monday morning. I was late to work today, because I overslept. I overslept because I could hardly get to sleep last night. I could hardly get to sleep because Dean had been chatting with me through a messenger app all through Sunday, successfully keeping me smiling and floating on cloud nine. We discussed so many topics, one just flowing naturally into the other, that I felt I'd known Dean longer than a few weeks. When we finally said goodbye, it was after midnight and my eyes were stinging from looking at the tiny screen all day. My thumbs were seriously cramping from typing so much too. Yet, when I'd put off the light and tried to go to sleep, my mind kept replaying our kisses by the lake. I had to make myself think of work things to calm down enough to sleep.

So here I was, desperately trying to make myself resemble anything other than a rush-job, fixing my hair and makeup in the tiny mirror, while keeping a watchful eye on the slow moving traffic in front of me. I still had to put on my shoes and jacket, both currently lying on the back seat, and my jewelry was waiting its turn on the seat next to me, but at least I was on the road. Hoping Dean would call, I'd remembered to attach my hands-free kit to my cell phone at the last minute before racing out of our driveway.

"Jessie, hallo" I said into the little speaker while coating my lashes with another coat from the tubular bottle and brush in my hand.

"Let me guess," I heard his voice ringing through my ears, sending shivers right to my core. "You're late this morning?"

I smiled. "How'd you know?"

"Look to your right." I looked over, only to see an equally flustered Dean in the lane next to me, waving an electric shaver at me and grinning widely.

I burst out laughing. "You too? I overslept!

"Yeah well, guess we should both learn to read time then."

I stuck out my tongue at him for his comment. "I know how to read time, Dean. Someone just kept me up past my bed time with all his texting."

His smile grew wider as he continued to use the shaver while speaking on the phone through his car's system. "At least say it was worth being kept up so late?"

I blushed. "Yes, it was worth it. My turn-off is coming up and I still need to grab my shoes. Talk later?"

"OK. Just glad to see I wasn't the only one enjoying our chat. Later, Jes." He waved at me, then moved along with his lane while I took my turn-off. I may be late, but at least I was smiling about it!

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The next 2 weeks went by in a flurry of morning traffic hallo's and late night cellphone chats. In between we met for coffee, lunch or dinner whenever Dean's busy schedule could allow it. He even sent me a beautiful, colourful bunch of flowers to the office, effectively sending Sharon in a dizzy spin about how we had the perfect storybook romance, while claiming godmother duty to our non-existent first born child. That one had me doubling over in laughter. I mean, we're just sorta, kinda seeing each other, right? Nothing serious. Just some fun with a great guy. I was still kind of stunned how a well-known social player like Dean Parker could even be interested in normal, hardworking little old me.

We had another meeting with Parker & Sons scheduled for today, this time at their offices. Mark insisted I go along with him and one of our junior designers to the meeting, as we would be discussing the final touches to the add campaign with Mr Parker and Dean and he wanted my "valuable" input.