Page 46 of Love Is…?
“Now, Ms Connor. You used your stern teacher-chaperone-nanny voice on Monday night,” Jayde said, softly, falling into Tessa’s brown eyes. “It’s very attractive by the way. Use that voice in your next practical flirting lesson.” Jayde smirked, but her heart, dipping its toe into that pond of romance, froze, and glared, because suddenly the idea of Tessa flirting with a stranger, going home with a stranger, having sex with a stranger, felt so wrong. Her turmoil must have been written all over her face.
“Are you okay?” Tessa’s voice was full of concern.
Jayde blinked away the thoughts. “Yeah. I’m okay,” she replied, and held Tessa’s gaze, then smiled. “So, in that attractive bossy voice, you told me that I wasn’t allowed to choose a restaurant based on its plethora of stars, but I did.”
Tessa tilted her head, and narrowed her eyes. “You did? Here?” She pointed to the market. Jayde hummed, thanked the sky gods for the cloudless night, then, taking hold of Tessa’s shoulders, she turned her so they faced away from the lights of the trucks, and looked out towards the darkness of the Botanic Gardens. Jayde, standing behind Tessa, feeling the warmth from her body against her own, bent her head, and murmured into Tessa’s ear.
“Look up.”
Tessa’s chin lifted, the back of her head gently resting against Jayde’s shoulder.
“Oh,” she breathed.
“I was never good at listening in class so when you?—”
“Ssh.” Tessa reached behind and grasped Jayde’s hand. “We’re being romantic.”
Jayde chuckled, then Tessa released their hands and turned. “A plus, Ms Ferguson.”
They grinned at each other, then Tessa smoothed her hand down Jayde’s sleeve. “No, seriously. This is a lovely gesture. Thank you.”
“Your dad’sjokes are much better than yours.” Tessa plucked out a chip from their shared paper cup, dunked it into the tomato sauce, and popped it into her mouth.
“My jokes are winners.” Jayde pointed her fork.
“They’re something.” Amusement coloured Tessa’s voice.
Jayde chuckled, then looked at Tessa. The lights, strung between each food truck as if waiting for a giant toddler to pull them along, cast shadows across her face. She was beautiful. Her high cheekbones, fine features, entirely kissable lips, the fringe straight across her eyebrows. On absolutely any other occasion, she’d be encouraging Tessa to come home with her to engage in hours of wonderful pleasure.
But that wasn’t going to happen. Jayde had to prove to Tessa that she could romance someone without any agenda except…romance.
“So, a shared cup of chips with tomato sauce. Probably the most pedestrian meal ever. What’s next?” Jayde looked around.
Tessa reached across and held Jayde’s hand. “There are rules.”
Jayde dropped her head. “More rules?” she whined into her chest, and Tessa giggled.
“Yes.” Tessa squeezed Jayde’s hand, as Jayde raised her head. “We need to buy food which is shareable.”
“Oh! That rule!” Jayde scoffed. “I’m all over that rule. See?” She gestured at the hot chips. “I’m crushing this romance business.”
Tessa’s steady gaze held hers. “Yes, you are.”
There was a pause, a lot of eye contact, a shared smile which was really just quirked lips but there all the same. Jayde breathed very carefully. Oh, this was not good at all.
“I’m not one for breaking rules, so?—”
“You’re not?” Tessa asked, her head tilted to the side, a cheeky smile playing on her lips.
Jayde flushed. “Well, I might when situations arise, but that is not the point. Are you allergic to anything?”
“Misogyny, corruption, billionaires, and hand railings at train stations.” Tessa blinked innocently, and Jayde cracked up, nearly tipping off her seat, so she clutched at their little round table they’d found at the edge of the forecourt.
“Come on. Food choices, Tess.”
Jayde hadn’t really meant to shorten Tessa’s name. It had simply fallen out of her mouth, sounding very comfortable as it landed.
“Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean?—”