Fated to be Yours by Jodie Larson Page A

along with my silver hoop earrings. She leans against the wall as I put on the finishing touches, spraying a fine mist of my favorite perfume across my body.
    “Perfect.”
    I roll my eyes. “Not quite but it’ll do.”
    “Whatever.” She glances at her watch. “And with minutes to spare. Come on let’s not keep the handsome man waiting.”
    My hands nervously fidget with my dress the entire way to the lobby. Kara looks over at me and shakes her head.
    “Will you knock that shit off? You look hot. You couldn’t look any hotter if you tried.” She pulls at my hands and holds them steady as we exit the elevator. I can feel my breathing start to pick up and the onset of a panic attack slowly rises through my body.
    “Look, there he is. Go get him, Tiger.”
    Kara pushes me playfully into the open space and I stumble forward. Then I just stop. Andrew is sitting in one of the wingback chairs, reading the newspaper. My hand hovers over my heart as I watch him nervously chew on his thumb, my eyes drawn to his mouth. He’s dressed in a pair of khaki pants paired with a green sweater that clings to his chest, giving me an excellent idea of what lies beneath.
    The rapid beating of my heart pounds a tattoo against my palm. He’s just so elegant and refined, sitting there so calm and collected. The nasty thought of why he’s interested in a nobody like me enters my head and my hands begin to twist into each other.
    But then he looks up, sapphire eyes locking onto mine. Time stands still as he smiles in my direction. Andrew’s entire face lights up as his eyes hover over me and I can almost feel his attraction from here. The air becomes thick making it almost hard to breathe. Or it could just be me as my breath is stolen from my body when he stands to his full height, gently placing the folded newspaper onto the table in front of him.
    Kara nudges me from behind even though I’m rooted to the spot. My eyes never once leave his as he approaches us, moving with the same refined elegance I was admiring while he was just sitting there. He’s completely out of my league.
    “Good morning, ladies,” Andrew says. The sound of his deep masculine voice washes over me, causing heart palpitations once again. My eyes roam over his features now that he’s standing within arm’s reach of me. Clean shaven, hair impeccably styled, unwrinkled clothes. Just sheer perfection in my book.
    My eyelids flutter slightly as the first smell of his cologne hits my nose. The knots in my stomach pull tighter and I swallow past the newly formed lump in my throat.
    “Well, good morning to you, Andrew. You look very handsome today. Doesn’t he Tessa?” Kara says, elbowing me in the back.
    It’s then I realize that I have been mute and statuesque the entire time. But my body doesn’t seem to want to cooperate. All I can do is stand there, silent, and look at him. He leans in close, giving my body another reason to tremble.
    “Tessa, you look even more beautiful than yesterday,” he says, grasping my hand. My eyes follow his lips as they gently land upon my skin, leaving a trail of warmth and fire in their wake when he pulls up. Heat rises in my cheeks, making me glad I skipped applying blush today, probably knowing I wouldn’t need it as long as he was around me.
    “Thank you, Andrew,” I say quietly on an exhale. He smiles and once again my body reacts to the sheer beauty of him near me. He keeps my hand in his as Kara clears her throat behind me.
    “So glad you could make it this morning. Unfortunately, I have a conference call I was made aware of at the last minute so you two are on your own.”
    My head twists to the side, trying to see if she’s doing this on purpose or not. Although knowing her, she’s lying so Andrew and I can be alone together.
    “I wasn’t aware of a conference call.” She smiles her mischievous smile and shrugs her shoulders.
    “Like I said, it was last minute. So I’ll leave you two to it. Ta-ta!” she