Summer Rainault brushed her hands over her dress again, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles from the fabric. Tonight was the culmination of months of hope, weeks of planning, and days of daring activity. She’d get her freedom back, and win the heart of someone she cared about very much.
Even if they’d never met yet. If he didn’t reject her at the door.
She turned the lapis lazuli bracelet on her wrist, fingertips sliding over the heart charms dangling from it. The blue of the stone set off her pale green dress, and she hoped the signal would be clear enough, between bracelet, earrings, and cabochon choker. Taking a deep breath to subdue the butterflies in her stomach, she hung her keys from the strap of her tiny shoulder bag, and pushed away from her car.
Waiting would only make her more nervous. She tossed her red hair over her shoulder, squared them, and marched up the driveway. Another deep breath to steady herself, and she pushed the doorbell to the house where Isaac Lahey lived.
“Hi,” she said softly, when he opened the door.
When the doorbell sounded, he didn’t think anything of it. Still he hopped down the stairs, calling out that he’d get the door since Scott was in his bedroom and Melissa was working a shift.
He opened the door without a second thought.
“—hi.” He had been expecting a solicitor or maybe one of the UPS guys dropping something off, not an attractive red head dressed like she was about to go on a date.
“Can I—” he cut off a voice crack and cleared his throat instead. “Can I help you?”
Oh. He didn’t realise yet … her heart beat hard, and one hand crept up to finger the lapis disc at her throat. This was going to be so much harder than she thought, with his blue eyes actually fixed on her. Actually seeing her, for the first time.
Especially after basically flirting with him for a week through notes. Oh, god, this was a stupid idea. She should’ve just let Jesse have his way; this was going to end so badly, and the forfeit would be worse than simply giving in … ”I, uh, I’m your secret admirer.”