Dress. No.
I own a lot of jeans and cargo pants, but neither is catching my attention and after going back and forth between capris and cutoffs, I go with the latter. They’re a blacked denim style with the pockets falling out of the leg and I pair it with a black and white tie-dye shirt that I’ll knot at the waist.
“My black converse will work just fine.” Tossing the items on the bed, I flick my eyes to my bedside table and let out a low fuck me. It’s now 8:35 a.m. and I’m not even showered. I also didn’t respond to his last message! “Next time, he needs to let me know of said plans to kidnap me a day in advance.”
In the shower now. Don’t be late. ~Gabriella
I almost trip in my haste, catching myself at the last minute. The phone pings as I push my hair back from my face, already exhausted and we haven’t even left. Being a girl is hard.
Another text alert and I open them once I’m inside the bathroom and have the water in my shower running. Steam begins to billow around me while my grin widens. Such a man.
I’m already downstairs and waiting. ~Theodore
Although I’m suddenly tempted to stay in and have a drink. I’m parched. ~Theodore
My response back is a picture of my hand under the water and then I toss the device aside, taking the fastest shower known to mankind. Literally in, lather, rinse, and out without enjoying the pure bliss that is standing beneath the near-boiling water while you contemplate life.
I’m inside less than ten minutes and have another two messages when I step out.
Would you forgive me if I break and enter? ~Theodore
I’ll buy your forgiveness in the form of art supplies and my services as a personal assistant for forty-eight hours. ~Theodore
“Very tempting offer,” I muse, towel wrapped around my body as I walk out of the bathroom and into my bedroom. Usually, I’d lie in bed and air dry for a bit, loving the cool breeze over my skin after a hot shower, but today I have no time and run the towel down my body.
It takes me another fifteen minutes to get dressed, perfumed, and then add the tiny bit of makeup I use. Just some winged liner and a bit of cherry tinted lip-gloss to make my full lips a little plumper. My hair though is the one thing I have no idea what to do with, but decide last minute on two French braids with the ends laying on either side of my neck and down to the top of my breasts.
“That’s as good as it’s going to get.” I hope he likes it.
“You brought me to the zoo?” I ask, a little awe in my tone when he comes around my side and opens the door. We’re at the Woodland Park Zoo and I’m as giddy as a kid at Disney. “Really?”
“Is that okay?” He knows the answer, though. The smirk on his face says it all. He’s pleased with himself. “Or would you rather go—”
“You can go if you want, but I’m staying.”
“Good girl.” Theodore offers a hand which I take, letting him pull me out of the reserved spot near the entrance. We don’t get in line to purchase tickets, but instead walk right through the main gate while employees nod at him. It’s a bit odd, but I don’t ask and choose to believe this is all part of being rich.
He probably donated money to an exhibit, and they let him in for free. “Which area are we heading to first?” I ask, grabbing a map from one of the tourist stations. “Are we going to begin in Africa and work our way through or...hey!”
“We don’t need this, sweetheart.” At my perplexed expression, he taps my nose with the tip of his index finger. “I know the place well, Gabriella. I’ve also set us up to have the Rainforest area to ourselves. You’ll have all the time you need to study predators, draw if you like, while I get to watch you in your element.”
“Really,” I squeak a bit, beyond excited. “That's amazing...” but then my excitement dies just as quick “...wish I’d known. I would’ve brought my sketchpad with me; I was actually working on a jaguar this morning when you sent the first text.”
“Come with me.” Theodore intertwines our fingers, tugging me along behind him as we walk toward some area of the park. I’ve been here a few times in the past, a long time ago on school field trips, and still have no clue where he’s going. The people around us turn our way, a few murmuring to themselves, but he pays them no mind and doesn’t stop until we reach the entrance to the Rainforest attraction. “Do you trust me?”
“I do.” Not a lie. Something inside me begs me to, without hesitation.
“Then you should know I’m a man who’s always prepared, and that includes our date.” My heart flutters at that word. That he describes our little outing with an intimate connotation. “I have everything you’ll need inside.”
“Still letting it slip you were a Boy Scout, I see.” I’m smiling so big—probably look insane—but I’m so touched that he went to all this trouble for me. “Or is this part of being a CEO?”
“More like I want you to be happy.” Christ, that answer makes every muscle below my belly button clench. There’s something so attractive about an attentive man. It’s sexier than his looks. “Ready to head in?”
“Lead the way.” If he notices that my voice came out a bit breathy, he doesn’t mention it. Instead, Theodore walks us into the closed for a private tour exhibit and goose bumps rise as the first grunt of an animal is heard. It’s a playback of some sort coming through the speakers, but it has the same effect.
The first thing I see after crossing the threshold is a small table and two chairs set up with art supplies atop it. He wasn’t kidding that I’d have everything: charcoal, colored pencils, regular pencils, paints, a few brushes, and even three large canvases sit atop.
My lips part and I shift my eyes to his. “Wow.”
“Told you.”
His smug expression makes me want to pinch him, but I don’t. Instead, I roll my eyes while waving the hand not in his, in front of me while fighting back a giggle. “I definitely see.”
“But are you ready?” He picks up a leather-bound notebook and a set of mechanical pencils, the same ones I have at home. All the while my hand remains in his, he refuses to let go or doesn’t notice. I’ll also be damned if I tell him. “The yellow anaconda should be feeding soon.”
“Are you serious?” I ask, even though by now I shouldn’t be surprised. “We get to see that?”
He nods, his amusement clear to see. “Two words.”
“Private tour?”
“More like date 101.”
“The 101 of that answer isn’t a word.”
Even his careless shrug is attractive. “Well, I’m treating it as one.”
