“You sure?” Brooks asked.
“Positive,” Trina said smiling. She loved when he behaved like a gentleman.
“Alright then. Give me a call, and let me know when you make it home. Don’t forget,” Brooks said pulling another bottle of beer out of his cooler. He was ready for them to leave as well. Trina was messing up his action by constantly hugging and kissing him around the other prospects.
“I will.” Trina pulled Ivy by the arm.
“Bye,” Ivy and said looking one last time at Nicola before they walked out the door.
“Arrivederci,” Nicola said watching Ivy walk hesitantly out of the door. He bit his lip at the thought of her warm mouth.
“What the hell was that?” Brooks asked sitting down on the couch once the girls were out of sight.
“That was perfect timing, mi amico.” Nicola wiped his lips. He had a distinct feeling that he had just begun the biggest chase of his life. It was a good thing that he had on his running shoes.
Chapter Three: Someone Borrowed
Chapter 3
SOMEONE BORROWED
I should have given him my number.
The recurring thought made Ivy sit up in bed. It had been two days since her encounter with Nicola, but she all she could do was think about the next possible time she would see him. She would give anything to just say, “Call me sometime.” Unbelievably, Nicola had struck a chord in her heart that she didn’t know existed.
Curiosity was a feeling that Ivy had never experienced for anyone except Grey, until now. She wondered a hundred things about this mysterious man with a great kiss and God-like body. Was he really single? Did he have kids? What did he like to do? What was his middle name? Where was he from? What was he like in bed? Oh no! She shook her head. The thought had crossed her mind several times. Every time she let her mind roam, she found herself recalling his touch and the warm sensation it sent down the depths of her soul.
Ivy laid her head back down on her pillow and looked at the phone. Too bad she hadn’t slipped her number to him before she left. Agitated by her own shyness, she rolled over and stared at the wall. She heard the voice of sanity creep into her head.
Just go back to sleep. Think about how you’re going to mend your relationship with Grey. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she tried to concentrate. In her last attempt to keep from thinking of Nicola, she got out of bed and kneeled down on her knees. She would simply pray until she fell asleep.
“Lord...” Interrupting her last line of defense, the phone rang. Ugh!
“Hello?” Trina said looking at her caller I.D. “Hey,” Listening. “Yeah, she’s here.” Listening. “No, she’s awake. I don’t know why, but she’s up. Hold on.” Trina turned on her lamp and shook her head at Ivy. “It’s Nicola,” she smirked. “He wants to talk to you. Both of you are getting on my nerves.”
“Nicola?” Ivy whispered with her hands still clasped together. Trying to control herself, she took a deep breath before answering the phone. “Hello?” She turned quickly away from Trina’s glaring eyes.
“Ivy?” Nicola said unsure of how she would receive his call.
“Hi,” Ivy said overjoyed.
“I hope that I didn’t wake you.”
“No,” her response was too quick, but she didn’t care.
“Good. Look, I’m sorry for calling so late, but to be honest I just had talk to you again. You left so suddenly the other night; I didn’t get a chance to get your number or anything. Brooks gave me Trina’s number and said I could reach you here. I hope that you don’t mind.” Unable to see him face-to-face, Ivy couldn’t detect Nicola’s nervousness.
“No, It’s fine. You wouldn’t believe it, but I was just sitting here thinking about you.” Why did she let that slip out?
“Really?” Nicola smiled. So, I did leave a good impression.
“Yeah,” her voice softened.
“Well, I was thinking about you, too. Actually, I’ve been thinking about you since you left.” His voice became more confident, and he was suddenly glad that he called. “I would love to see you again.”
“I would love to see you, too,” she was glad that he had finally asked.
“How about tomorrow night?” Ivy’s fiancé crossed Nicola’s mind. He prayed his persistence would not scare her away, but he had to take a chance. After five years, he was sure that this man would not stay out of the picture too long without trying to mend the relationship.
“Tomorrow sounds great.” She was surprised but pleased by his aggression. If he had asked to see her tonight, she doubted if she could have denied him.
“Good. Well then, I’ll see you tomorrow at eight.” Nicola couldn’t believe that it had been so easy to persuade her to see him again.
“Goodnight then.” Ivy said finally feeling like she could get some rest.
“Goodnight,” he said hanging up the phone.
Nicola was pleased that she didn’t want to prolong their conversation. Anticipation was the key to any good date, but most women wanted to go through the get to know you session before the date, which made everything less exciting.
“I can’t believe that you just made a date with that man,” Trina said eavesdropping. “What about Grey? If he should come over tomorrow then what?” She didn’t want Ivy caught up in a lot of confusion, but she could see it coming with Nicola in the picture.
“Look, Grey is on some old bullshit, okay. I didn’t deserve to be treated the way he treated me. So what if he comes over tomorrow, and I am not here. Well, I guess I just won’t be here.” Ivy was tired of Trina taking Grey’s side.
“Yes, Grey was dead wrong for what he did. But mark my words, you’re running to this
