Chapter 545 The Lady I Love....

Although a part of Jade was still mad at Harry for threatening to end whatever they had if she showed up at his date with Aurora, she raced all the way from her bedroom down the stairs, and by the time she got to the foot of the stairs she was breathless.

She paused at the foot of the stairs to catch her breath and compose herself before walking to the front door.

As she walked from the door to meet Harry, who was waiting for her in his car, she reminded herself of everything her dad and mom had said.

She was going to consciously put away every feeling of insecurity and inadequacy. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she would make conscious efforts. She needed to start acting it by carrying herself properly. She was not going to make a fool of herself or give Harry the wrong impression about her anymore.

By the time she stopped by the passenger door and knocked lightly on the window to get Harry's attention, she was feeling more in control of her emotions.

Once Harry saw her standing there, he got out of the car and went around to join her, "Hey!" he greeted as he gave her an unhurried once over.

"Hi! Candace said you wanted to see me," Jade said calmly, not letting her face or tone give out her excitement at seeing him.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked with concern as his gaze roamed over her face.

"Yeah," Jade said, as she dipped her hands into the pocket of her combat to keep herself from embracing him or touching him as she craved to do.

"Are you sure? Did you cry?" Harry asked with concern, and Jade raised a hand to her face self-consciously.

"Why?" She asked, wondering if something was wrong with the light makeup she had applied. He wasn't referring to her new hairstyle and lashes, was he?

"I don't know. I guess your eyes just seem a bit dull," Harry observed.

"I'm alright. I was sort of busy before Candace came to get me," she said, and Harry nodded.

"I see. So what were you busy with?" he asked conversationally.

"Spending time with my dad," Jade said, and Harry nodded as he stuck his hands in his pocket.

"I see. Your hair is different. It is longer," he noted.

"Mom said she loves it long, so I'm considering regrowing it. We went to the spa," Jade explained.

"You look beautiful," Harry said softly.

"Thanks. Why did you want to see me?" she asked, curious to know so she could get that out of the way before telling him all she had in mind.

"Are you still mad at me?" Harry asked, and Jade raised a brow.

"I never said I was mad," Jade pointed out, even though it was true that she was still a bit miffed by his earlier threat.

"You didn't have to. Besides, if you aren't mad why didn't you show up today? And why did you tell Candace that I won't be seeing you until after the anniversary? Are you going somewhere?" Harry asked, and Jade scoffed.

"I didn't show up at your house because I had no reason to visit a place where I'm not welcomed. And no. I'm not going anywhere. I'm just not going to visit you or randomly show up in front of you until we become an item officially," Jade said, while Harry continued to observe her.

"Why?"

"Why? Did you just ask me why?" Jade asked, glaring at him.

"Yes. Why won't you visit me until you become my girlfriend? And why do you think you're not welcomed at my apartment?" Harry asked calmly.

Although he had come to apologize to her for being harsh earlier, he wanted to know exactly what she was mad about and to see how upset she was and how she would express herself.

Jade took a deep breath. She was not going to be unreasonable. She was going to behave like the reasonable and intelligent young lady she was.

"Tell me something, Harry, am I forcing myself on you?" she asked, and Harry frowned.

"Of course, not! Why would you ask me such a question when you know how well I feel about you?"

"How you feel about me?" Jade asked with a scoff.

"I'm honestly not sure I know how you feel about me. Lately, you've made me feel like I'm forcing myself on you," Jade said, and before Harry could speak, she shook her head.

"I'm not done yet. I realize that I may not have been on my best behavior lately, but that doesn't mean it is okay for you to boss me around or push me around. You can't push me away one moment, and be trying to pull me back the next. I'm not your puppet or plaything," Jade said, and Harry raised a brow.

"When did I boss you around or treat you like my plaything?"

"When? You make use of every opportunity to remind me that I'm not your girlfriend yet. And you, Harry Jonas, you asked me to leave your apartment because you needed space. You also threatened to not have anything to do with me if I showed up at your date. So pardon me if I don't understand why you are standing in front of me right now and asking me why I'm not coming over to your place. Isn't that the same way kids discard their toy when they don't have use for it and pick it up when they miss it? Quit giving me mixed signals, Harry Jonas. It's either you want me in your life or you don't. You may be old-fashioned, and love to do things the old-fashioned way, but I am not. I'm a 21st-century lady. Being old fashioned is your choice, not mine. So don't you dare expect me to walk down that path with you or put up with your shit anymore. I won't always get my way? That is fine by me, but don't expect to always have your way either. I won't let you shove your principles down my throat, and if you can't stand that, then you can shove your stupid principles and your so-called love up your ass," Jade said poking his chest as she paused to catch her breath, while Harry smiled as he watched her, the fire back in her eyes.

"I want to believe my anger is not amusing to you," she hissed at him, and Harry chuckled.

"I just caught a glimpse of the old Jade. It's attractive. And it's good to know you still have that fire in you," Harry said, and she raised a brow.

"What are you talking about?" Jade askedwith an annoyed scowl.

"I will rather keep that to myself. I didn't come to fight with you esquire. I came to see you because I missed your presence, and I also wanted to apologize for being too strict with you earlier," Harry said, and Jade snorted.

"Missed seeing me? Didn't you say I was a nuisance and you needed time to recuperate from me?" she asked grudgingly, and Harry took a step closer to her.

"I never said you were a nuisance. I could never call you a nuisance, Esquire. However, I meant it when I said that you bothered me so much and I needed time to recuperate. That wasn't meant to be an insult. If you didn't leave, I have no idea what I could have done to you last night. You have no idea what you do to me or how I feel when I'm with you, esquire. I forget everything else when I'm with you. I've never been more tempted to throw away my principles as I've been since you got here," Harry said, as he touched her face gently.

Although Jade's breath hitched at both his touch and confession, she slapped his hand off her face, "Keep your hands to yourself. You are not my boyfriend yet," she hissed at him, and Harry smiled grimly as he dipped his hand into his pocket and moved away from her.

"Alright. I can see you're still mad about a lot of things, and there is a lot I need to apologize for. I will listen quietly while you express yourself, that way I can know what I'm apologizing for," Harry said as he relaxed his back against the car while Jade faced him with her back to the house.

"If I bother you that much, why are you here? Don't you want to recuperate anymore?" Jade asked grudgingly.

"I think I can handle this much of your presence. I just really wanted to see you, but I don't want to be with you in private."

"Why didn't you come inside if you didn't want us to be alone?" Jade asked and he shrugged.

"Because I would have had to talk to everyone else. I would rather spend the time talking to you, and go in to say goodbye to them when I'm ready to leave," Harry said, and Jade smiled reluctantly.

"But we are alone right now, aren't we?" Jade pointed out.

"You can hardly call this private. We are out here in the open. And we are not alone either. Your mom and Lucy's mom have been watching for some time. Don't look at them abruptly," Harry told her, since he had sighted the ladies at the window when he got out of the car to join Jade.

Jade smartly went to stand beside him, with her back against the car while looking at the windows in front of the house where she could see more than two heads.

"They are not the only ones spying," Jade said with a shake of her head.

"Do you mind spending some time with me? Maybe we could go for a little drive around and talk?" Harry asked, and Jade looked down at her fluffy slippers and the tank top, and the combat shorts she was wearing.

"Do I need to go in to change?" she asked, and Harry shook his head.

"It's dark already. We are not going to any public place," Harry said, and Jade eyed him reluctantly.

"Are you certain you want to do that? We are going to be alone if we drive away from here," she reminded him.

"Get in the car, esquire," Harry said as he held open the passenger door for her to get in.

"Alright," she said as she got into the car and Harry shut the door before going to get in the driver's seat.

Harry did not say a word as he drove far away from there, and it wasn't until he had driven a safe distance that he parked the car by the quiet roadside, and turned to Jade.

Jade was slightly startled when Harry suddenly pulled her close to himself and covered her lips in a hungry kiss. At first she wanted to push him away, but she was too drawn to him to resist the urgency of his lips on hers, so she kissed him back with equal fervor.

Unable to think straight as he drowned in the kiss, Harry used what little self-control he had left to break the kiss and pulled away from Jade leaving her wishing he had not stopped kissing her.

His kiss made her thirsty, and it wasn't for water. She wanted more. More of his kiss, more of his touch. More of him.

"You see what I was talking about? Only you can make me act this way, esquire," Harry groaned breathlessly as he looked into her face, and Jade raised a finger to her lips.

"I thought I asked you to keep your hands to yourself until you become my boyfriend?. You can't be having boyfriends benefit when we are not dating yet," Jade murmured under her breath.

"I did keep my hands to myself. You said nothing about keeping my lips to myself," Harry said with a grin, and Jade tried hard not to laugh but she couldn't stop the smile.

Damn her heart for being unable to stay mad at him. "Keep your entire body to yourself," Jade muttered.

"I feel hot. Let's step out of the car," Harry suggested as he got out, leaving the headlight on as he went to open her door.

He led her to the car trunk, and lifted her off the ground effortlessly so that she sat on the trunk of the car while he stood between her legs.

"I'm deeply sorry I was harsh earlier," Harry apologized, and Jade cocked her head to the side.

"Isn't being harsh sort of your thing?" she asked dryly.

"Hear me out, esquire," Harry cut in, so she wouldn't interrupt him.

"I'm sorry I said all that the way I said them. I had no intention of disrespecting you or hurting your feelings. I understand that was no way to talk to the lady I love and respect. I promise to work on my bluntness. I really do not want to hurt your feelings in any way," Harry said, and Jade sighed without saying a word. She had no idea what to say.