Katherine Vance awoke with a smile, the memory of her date with James a warm blanket in the cool morning air. She was a little giddy, and it was a strange and lovely feeling. She dressed with more care than usual, choosing her favorite blue polka-dot dress, the one that made her feel most confident.
As she stepped out her front door, two envelopes lay on her welcome mat. A wave of excitement washed over her; she immediately thought they were from James. Her smile faltered, however, when she saw the familiar, elegant script of her mother on the first envelope. It was a letter saying she would be coming to visit later that day. A small sigh escaped her lips. Her mother had a habit of sending multiple letters in different envelopes for a single visit.
She opened the second envelope, her hopes wavering, and a wave of disappointment threatened to engulf her. Then she saw the handwriting. It was James's, bold and confident, with a hint of a smile in the way the letters slanted.
The note was short and to the point: "Meet me in City Park, near the old fountain. Wait for me there."
A wide, genuine smile broke across Katherine's face. She rushed back inside, placing the letters on her hall table, and hurried to work, her heart feeling light as a feather.
After a long day at the publishing house, Katherine went home to change into a more comfortable, simple outfit. She was still smiling, the thought of seeing James again a delightful secret. She made her way to the city park, and just as the note requested, she walked to the old fountain, her eyes scanning the crowd. She saw him standing there, his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the distance. His posture was relaxed, and a small, thoughtful smile played on his lips.
"James," she called out, her voice soft.
He turned, his face lighting up when he saw her. "Katherine," he said, walking toward her. He stopped in front of her, his eyes warm and mischievous. "I was missing you. Can't I miss my only female friend?"
"Your only female friend?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "I doubt that very much, Mr. Anderson."
They both chuckled, the tension of their first meeting completely gone. They started walking along the winding paths of the park, talking about their days, their jobs, and the beautiful weather. "Do you live around here?" she asked.
He nodded, gesturing to a large house a few blocks away. "This is my place.".
The house was magnificent, a mansion of brick and stone. He led her inside, and she was immediately struck by the grand, sweeping staircase and the polished marble floors. It was as grand as she had imagined.
"Wow," she breathed, her eyes wide. "It's pretty cool and tidy."
"Yeah," he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "I like to keep things in order." He led her to the grand staircase and began to climb the steps.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, a small laugh escaping her lips.
He smiled, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "To my study."
"You have a study?" Her eyes widened.
He opened a large mahogany door at the end of a long hallway, and Katherine's jaw dropped. The room was lined with shelves from floor to ceiling, all packed with books. Her eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat. This was not at all what she had expected from the son of the Anderson company.
Katherine Vance stepped into the study, her jaw still slightly ajar in surprise. The room was magnificent, not with the ostentatious luxury of the main house, but with a quiet, intellectual wealth. Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined the walls, each one packed with books. A handsome mahogany desk sat in the center of the room, a comfortable leather chair pulled up to it, and a scattering of open books lay across its surface.
"You really have a collection of books," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "This is so cool."
He smiled, a look of quiet pride on his face. "I took you here because of a specific book," he said, and her quizzical look prompted him to continue. "The novel you said you got inspired by, and the author you liked. I remembered."
Her eyes widened in realization. "You have her novels here?" she asked, a hopeful note in her voice. He nodded, and her face lit up. She loved a good book, and her favorite author, a woman whose stories spoke to her heart, was hard to find in the city.
James walked over to a high shelf, his fingers running over the spines until he found the one he was looking for. He pulled it out and handed it to her. Katherine took it gently, her eyes beaming with happiness. "Thank you," she said, her smile genuine and radiant.
Their eyes met, and in that quiet moment, the air crackled with unspoken tension. She looked at him, and he looked back at her. The books, the room, everything else faded into the background. He leaned in, and their lips met in a kiss that was both intimate and passionate.
Katherine pulled back, her cheeks flushed. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she whispered.
"It's okay," he said, his voice soft. "It was my fault. I wanted to."
Her heart was pounding. She looked at him, a flicker of desire in her eyes, and without a word, she pulled him back to her. Their lips met again, and the kiss deepened, his arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her body flush against his. The kiss was going somewhere, the fire between them growing hotter, when Katherine gently pulled back. "Not too soon," she said, her voice a little shaky.
James smiled, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He pulled back from her completely, still smiling, a quiet confidence radiating from him. "Katherine Vance," he said, his voice low and serious. "I like you. A lot. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Katherine's smile was her only answer. She threw her arms around him, pulling him forward into a fierce, happy hug, and kissed him deeply. Then, without a word, she broke away and ran to the study door. "I'll book a cab!" she called out, turning back for a second to look at him, her eyes shining. "Don't follow me!" With that, she was gone, leaving him standing there, a triumphant smile on his face, a memory of her lips and the sweetness of their kiss playing in his mind.
In the present, James's eyes opened, a sudden realization dawning on him. "She told me about her friend, I can't even remember what happened in the double dinner date last year.