Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,41

to provide for her, and I admire her independence. After she is done, I tip her ten bucks, and she’s ecstatic. I walk over to Jamal’s station and sit down.

“Curls, lots of luscious curls. How does that sound?” he asks.

I nod my agreement. “Sounds fantastic. Bring it on. I trust you.”

He gets to work on my hair, and half an hour later my hair is transformed from wavy hair to lots of luscious curls, just like he said.

“Wow. Thank you. I would never to be able to do this myself.”

He blushes, and I stand up to give him a hug. “Now you go get him, tiger,” he winks.

I say my thanks and pay at the till. I insist on paying for the makeup, but Jamal won’t have any of it. Instead, I tip him generously. Once all has been paid, I say my goodbyes and walk out the door.

Stage two is complete. Now, on to stage three—the dress.

I look around a few stores and eventually walk into Bloomingdales, where I try on a few things. In the end, I settle for a lovely, figure hugging, Geranium colored dress, and to my surprise, I also find a nice black and white striped bikini to replace my old one.

I check the time, and it’s four-thirty, so I know I had better be heading back. With stage three complete, I need to move on to stage four, and that means I need to get home with plenty of time to spare.

11

Once back from the mall, I feel refreshed. I also feel a little nervous about what to expect, but I know I have to do this. It’s now or never.

I get to the door, bags in tow, hoping and praying that Jake won’t be in the living room when I walk in.

I tentatively put the key in and hold my breath. I push the door in gently and peek into the vast space. He isn’t here.

My shoulders sag as I breathe a sigh of relief. He must be outside, getting the barbecue ready. I quietly shut the door behind me and rush upstairs. It’s now five-twenty, so the guests will be arriving soon. With that thought, I rush into my room and shut the door.

Mission five is complete. Now it’s time for the hardest part—mission six.

The butterflies are getting stronger now. I’m starting to wonder if I can even pull this off. Who am I kidding? He doesn’t want me, and the more he fights me off, the more I want him with wild abandon.

Is this really hopeless? I have spent all this time and energy today, and people will be expecting me to be there. I can’t back down now.

I check my watch again, and it’s just after six. The sound of the doorbell chimes, making me jump. I really need to get my shit together.

I hold my breath again and stand leaning my ear against the door to see if Jake will answer. To my relief, I hear voices. There’s a greeting from Jake, and the sound of Bill’s voice comes echoing up the stairs. I like Bill. He’s a good guy. At the age of fifty-eight, he’s like the father-figure of the station. He used to be an active officer, but these days, he prefers a desk job. He once told me that he isn’t the young man he used to be anymore, so he needs a quieter life. His wife is more than happy with his decision, and I can’t really blame her. Who knows what will greet a police officer each day he or she goes out on the beat?

“So where is the lovely Ana today?” I hear Bill ask.

I suck in a breath, waiting for his answer. “I’m not sure. She may be in her room getting ready.”

The voices become muffled after, so I pull away from the door. By now, I’m practically hyperventilating.

Get a grip already!

I walk towards my bed and toss the bag with my dress in upside down. It’s a beautiful dress and apt for the occasion. With a sigh, I decide to hit the shower again for a quick wash. It probably isn’t wise, but I’m sweating again and need some light relief.

I put my hair up in a loose bun and step into the shower. Once there, I keep my distance from the water to stop it hitting my hair or makeup and close my eyes as the cool water relief helps ease my tension. As I stand there, I see Jake