In the garden…
Ellie and Jasper are sitting on a bench.
"Isn't that Sarah?", Ellie asked Jasper.
Jasper narrowed his eyes toward two dark silhouettes. "How can you tell in the dark?"
"I recognize the dress.", Ellie responded with a smirk.
"Hmm… that explains why she told us not to go toward the stables.", Jasper said and paused. If Sarah and Aiden want privacy to get frisky, isn't it better to go to their room? Two of them sneaking through resort grounds does not sound right.
Ellie continued looking toward two departing figures. "But… that is not Aiden."
Jasper can see that Ellie is worried. "Do you want us to go after them and make sure that Sarah is OK?"
Ellie thought for few seconds before responding. "I grew up next to Hill sisters and I learned that if they tell you to stay away from some area, you should stay away. Also, they know how to take care of themselves."
Jasper can tell that Ellie has her reasons for saying this, but he can also see that she is concerned. "If you believe that, why do you look so tense? How about this… in five minutes if she is not back, we go and check it out."
Ellie smiled. "Sounds good."
"Do you want to tell Aiden what we saw?"
Ellie inhaled. "He either knows about this or he doesn't. If he does, there is no point in telling him. And if he doesn't, I have no intention of being the one to inform him that I saw Sarah going with another guy toward the dark and secluded area of the resort. Her steps are even and steady. She is not under any influence and definitely does not look forced, so she is going with him willingly… Do you want to be the one to tell that to Aiden?"
Jasper agreed with Ellie.
From this talk Jasper found out something about Ellie, and he wanted to know more. "Besides noticing dresses and steps, what else gets your attention?"
"You know that I'm in the fashion industry, right? So it's not unusual that I pay attention to clothes, shoes, posture and way of walking."
"I also know that your boss is not a good man." Jasper could not stop himself from making this remark.
Ellie burst into giggles.
Jasper loves when Ellie is in a good mood, but he is uneasy whenever he sees Ellie's reaction at the mentioning of her boss. He plans to bring up that man any chance he gets until he has a clear understanding of what Ellie's relationship with her boss is. "Am I wrong to say that you have a strange reaction whenever I mention your boss?"
Ellie didn't deny it. "No, not wrong. But I would not call it strange. I'm just amused. You are judging the man, and you don't even know him. Some people call him a workaholic, but in my personal opinion, he is a nice person." Ellie needs to put in few good words about herself.
"He does not let you take time off from work when you need it. How can you label him as a nice person?"
Ellie burst into laugh again. It took her some time to calm down enough to talk.
If she knew that Jasper's jealousy is increasing with every second of her laughing, she would stop laughing long time ago. Or maybe she would clarify that she is her own boss.
Ellie saw that Jasper's expression darkened and decided to stop teasing him. "Who said that he is not giving me time off? He gave his approval so that I can neglect work tomorrow afternoon."
Jasper was surprised to hear this. They were together all the time, so…"When did you contact him?"
"I have my ways." Ellie smiled playfully.
Jasper was confused for few seconds, but then decided not to probe into it. The important point is that she just confirmed: she is willing and available, so they will spend the afternoon (and evening) together. A date!
"My opinion of him improved. But just a little bit." Jasper decided to let go of any thoughts about Ellie's boss (for now), and to focus on the topic at hand. Once Ellie falls for him, she will not talk about that boss ever again.
Jasper cleared his throat and flashed a smile. "For tomorrow, where do you want to go?"
Ellie looked at him innocently. "Why are you asking me? The date was your idea… you should plan for it. Make it something local to Los Angeles. Besides few shopping areas, I'm not familiar with Los Angeles."
Jasper was happy that she gave him few hints, but he wants to use this as a chance to clarify their relationship status. "Oh? So you are giving this task to me? Listen... I have no problem with planning, but you are the one who said that you need a date before I can say that you are my girlfriend."
"No. I said that we need to have a date before you say that we are dating." Ellie smiled at his stunned expression and turned to lean her back on him. She was happy that she didn't let him take control of the conversation, unaware how insecure he is.
Jasper paused while her words sank in, just how she sank into his embrace.
"That… is correct.", he murmured before placing a kiss at the back of her head. So, the date is only for them dating… and that means that she IS his girlfriend. Ha! He wished that the guys can see him now! And they said that it will take time! But he has no time for gloating, he needs to plan for a date!
Jasper repeated few times in his mind: 'It's not a casual meeting between two people... it is an official DATE!'
…
About halfway between the garden and the stables…
"I saw you dance with Aiden before dinner.", Aaron told Sarah.
Sarah was surprised that Aaron brought up Aiden, again. Isn't he supposed to seduce her, or something like that? How is he going to do that if he always talks about Aiden? But she didn't hide her smile. "Yes. We love to dance."
"Is it true what they say about dancers and lovers?"
Sarah's expression conveyed that she does not understand his question. "What do they say?"
"That good dancers are good lovers… like, it's all in the movement of the hips."
Sarah shook her head. "I wouldn't know."
Aaron chuckled. "Don't tell me that you didn't sleep with him."
"That is not what I said. But in order to answer your question, I would need to compare him with someone… and I don't have anyone to compare him with."
"Oh, so he was your first?" Aaron was surprised.
"He is my first in many things." Sarah smiled gently while lowering her gaze shyly.
Aaron looked at Sarah and thought how Aiden is a lucky bastard. What did Aiden do to deserve such a nice girl like Sarah? She is beautiful and smart and innocent… and she jumped over those two rocks so gracefully that he thought he is looking at a fairy… Aaron inhaled sharply and stopped his train of thoughts forcefully. 'Just what am I thinking!? How can I think well about this girl when I need to use her to punish that worthless man?!'
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