Off Limits

Chapter III.

I've been sitting here, glossy-eyed, for the last two hours.  I texted Delilah three hours ago and told her not to come over because I was spending time with my dad before he left tonight, which is technically the truth.  She replied twenty seconds later with a quick okay, just let me know when's a good time :).  I didn't respond.  

Dad took his friend, or Alexander as my father insists I address him, on a tour of the estate about an hour ago and I haven't seen them since.  I've never met or even heard of, Alexander until today yet my dad seems to know him well.  It's weird.  

It's almost 4:30 and our dinner reservation is at 6:00 so I might as well start getting ready.  I slip out of the kitchen into the living room, hoping I can find Maggie before I head up to my room.  

"Maggie, come on girl!  I need your opinion on what to wear," I call to my pup as I search through the hallways.  "Where are you?  You were just sitting with me, how did you disappear so quickl-- There you are," I muse, following her into my dad's study.  

As soon as I walk through the door frame my face connects with a sturdy wall that I didn't even know was there.  

"Umph," I mutter, reaching for my tender nose.  Ouch, that hurt!  What kind of an architectural genius puts a wall in the middle of a walkway?  My eyes tear up and I begin to wipe them when I hear a warm, velvety voice.  

"Oh, Grace!  I'm so sorry."  

I look up to match the voice to the wall.  

Wait, walls don't have voices...  

People have voices.  But the man standing in front of me isn't a person, he's a god.  From his carefully gelled mocha hair to his pristine white Vans, he intoxicates my every sense.  His chiseled face brings a new definition to the word handsome.  No.  He brings a new definition to the word handsome.  I bet I'm staring into his eyes like an i***t, but I can't look away.  There's something about him that pulls me in and I can't escape it.  His eyes are wonderfully fascinating and draw me in closer as I'm trying to determine what shade of brown they are.  They're too enticing to just be normal brown, yet I can't pinpoint what they are exactly.  And his eyes aren't even the best part... His eyelashes are so dark and full as they curl down to his cheekbones, feather-like whenever he blinks.  It's mesmerizing to watch his every feature.  

"Grace?  Grace! Are you okay?"

And all of a sudden I'm back to the situation at hand, remembering that I just face-planted against Alexander's chest.  How embarrassing.  

Eyes widening, I ramble, "Yes.  Sorry I should have been paying better attention I didn't know anyone else was in the house."  

Yes, crushed it!  Maybe I could have handled that better but... it's too late now.  

"Grace?"  

"Uh.  Oh.  Yes?"  

"Where did you go just now?  I've been asking you questions but I don't think you heard me.  You seemed kind of spaced out," he says, worry filling his tone.  

He's right.  I did space out.  But only because I'm focusing on the faint traces of stubble that line his jaw and following the way his lips move around each word.  I wonder what they feel like.  Soft? Firm? Smooth? Who knows... I would love to.  

"Okay, that's it.  I'm going to have to check you out.  Come here," he commands gesturing for me to climb into his arms.  

Raising an eyebrow I stare at him in disbelief.  

"Um, I hate to disappoint but I don't get handsy with guys I've just met.  I'm flattered, really, but I'm going to have to pass especially because you and my dad seem to be really close and it would be weird for me to get involved with one of his friends."  

"Best friends," he replies, smirking at me clearly amused by whatever word vomit just spewed from my mouth.  

"What?" I question, now genuinely confused.  

"I'm one of Michael's best friends, if not the best."  

"Oh.  Um, okayyy."  Great. 

"And I was going to check you out for a concussion because you seemed to have hit your head, or rather your face, a bit hard and you weren't responding to any of my questions, almost like you blacked out, so I thought that I should check you for a concussion."  

He watches my face twist from uncomfortable to horrified as I process his words.  I am such an i***t.  Of course, he wouldn't be interested in me I'm his best friend's daughter.  Not to mention I look awful, in no way presentable for anyone.  

"I'm so sorry I guess I just got ahead of myself I don't know what came over me.  As for the concussion, I think I'm good.  I've had a few concussions in my lifetime so I think I would know, thank you anyways.  See you at dinner."  And with that, I pivot and march toward the stairs before sprinting up the flights in embarrassment.  

I'm never going to be able to show my face again.