few strands that just wouldn't cooperate. She had sprung for a professional hairstylist to take care of it for her, but that was hours ago, and the strands were doing weird things. Her hands were shaking so much that she could barely hold the bottle of hair spray while pumping the nozzle at the same time.
Hair and makeup finally done, only dressing to go. Five minutes and counting. She pulled the first pair of thigh high stockings out of the package, and while pulling them up, she put her index finger clear through the nylon material, causing a big hole.
Cursing, she pulled out her backup pair. Good thing she had thought ahead. Very carefully this time, she pulled them up her legs, straightening the seam in the back as she went. She clipped the stockings to her garters, then pulled on her layered chiffon skirt, followed by her matching layered chiffon tank.
She fastened her necklace and put her earrings in. She slipped her shoes onto her feet, and walked to the full length mirror. She stared at her reflection; all dolled up like this, she almost looked as though she belonged on a red carpet. She hoped she would be as pretty as some of the girls that Ashton could have taken to the show. Kaylee checked the clock and was thankful that Ashton was a few minutes late.
As if on cue, there was a knock on her door. She grabbed her perfume from the counter and sprayed a light mist in front of her, then walked through it. She put the bottle back on the counter and reached for her purse. She looked in the mirror one more time, staring at her hair, then her lips, then her outfit. She wanted to fuss over it all night, but she had done all she could do...she would just have to hope that Ashton liked the way she looked.
When she got to the door, she took a deep breath before turning the handle. The door opened wide, and she was glad she had taken that breath a few seconds ago. Seeing Ashton took her breath away. His blond tipped hair was spiked and gelled to perfection, giving a whole new meaning to the messy, bed head look. His gray satin-like shirt flowed over every ripple of his muscled body, and his black pants fit him to perfection.
When Ashton saw Kaylee, he was stunned. She looked phenomenal in her deep purple outfit. She looked like Kaylee, but at the same time, like an entirely different woman - like a grown-up and sophisticated version of the girl he thought he knew. In that moment, he knew he had been right in asking her to be his date.
He had to clear his throat a few times before finding his voice. "Ready to go?"
"Absolutely. Are you ready?" she asked.
Ashton knew that she meant more than she asked. She looked right into his eyes, almost daring him to look away. They stared at one another for a moment, and then the moment became too long, and then the gravity of the situation became clear. This wasn't just another night with a piece of eye candy on his arm. This was a night with Kaylee, and she was so much more than all those other women who had sailed through his life for a night or two.
"I'm nervous, but I'm ready," he said.
He was charmed by the way she blushed. He held his elbow out to her, which she took right away. They walked to the elevator together, and when they got there, they both looked at their reflection in the floor to ceiling mirrors that made up the elevator doors. For the first time, they saw themselves as a 'couple'.
He knew instantly that he liked what he saw. The realization of that should have frightened him a bit, but he was surprised to find that it didn't bother him at all. What he had said to her was true - he really was ready. Nervous, but ready. He knew that this was his chance to show Kaylee that he could be the man she had been looking for. He knew that he had to give this 'date' everything that he had, to show her that they could be good together.
A few months ago, if someone had told Ashton that he would be feeling like this right now, he would have said they were crazy. But tonight, he just wondered why it had taken him so long