Era keeps her admiring gaze on Ridge hands that are holding the steering wheel like they are not worth a million dollars.
He kept on talking about some information about himself that she should answer if ever someone asked her at the party. She should listen and remember what he was saying but she could not help but ask in wonderment if rich people handle expensive things differently.
If she's the owner of this expensive car, she would not just sit behind the steering wheel like it was not worth a dime.
"Hey, are you sure you can remember everything I said?"
Era smirked at Ridge.
"What did this girl do to you to be like this?"
"Excuse me?!"
The sudden change in Ridge pitch made Era's smirk wider into a full blown smile, showing the small dimple on the lower corner of her right cheek.
Her dimple is like the tip of a pen, situated right below her lower lip on her right cheek. It doesn't usually show because she does not have a lot to smile nowadays. Except today.
She could not help but be amused by how Ridge was slightly panicking on how he could cram all the information about himself that he deemed important.
"Relax. This is my first job doing this stint but I can assure you that I'm good at reading the atmosphere and I can lie. So, relax. This old flame of yours will regret not being with you tonight."
"What the hell are you talking about? I wasn't informed that you're not right on the head."
Era giggled that made Ridge's nose bridge redden a little.
"I can read between the lines. This girl must have gotten under your skin badly,huh? I mean, for you to resort to getting an escort just so you won't come to this party alone. You must like her a lot."
Ridge didn't reply but the corner of his mouth tightened. His eyes were focused on the road that seemed to be entering a marina.
"I'm sorry if I cross the line. Yes, I remember everything you said about yourself. I'm just a bit nervous. I couldn't help myself to tease you a bit because you seem so strung up."
"No. It's fine. You're right," he said, exhaling a huge sigh of frustration.
"I shouldn't come here and play along with her taunting but I couldn't help it. You're right. She got me real bad. Something that I would never admit even if her brother put a gun in my balls."
Era laughed with how Ridge changed the expression of putting a gun over someone's head.
"You're friends with her brother?"
"Unfortunately, yes. We belonged to the same fraternity back in college and remain close through the years. I had no idea of the witch's existence until last summer. Well, I know Mitch has a sister but I never expect her to be a bewitching witch. I always imagine her to be a kid whenever Mitch talks about his younger sister."
"What's the age gap between you two?"
"Excuse me?!"
The raised of Ridge eyebrow made her giggles.
"I'm asking not because I'm accusing you of being a cradle snatcher but because I want to have a grasp of this bewitching witch who bewitched you so that I can act accordingly."
Ridge stopped the car's engine and twisted his upper body to give her a long look full of amusement.
"You're right. You're good at reading. Not just the atmosphere but people's emotions in general. I could use you in my company."
Era turned serious. "I need fast cash. I have no time to hold an office job."
"Hmm, you're a mysterious one, Mira. But this job I have in mind isn't an office job."
"Thanks but right now, I just need to do this job well and get paid."
"You have no qualms in talking about money done this way?"
"Why should I? This is a job. I do something for you, you give me something in return," she said, shrugging her shoulders, avoiding his penetrating gaze.
She didn't like the way he looked at her. His knowing look was making her uncomfortable.
"Yes, you're right. Let's just survive this night and maybe some other time you can listen to my proposal. I can assure you that you're going to like it," he rushed his last statement to stop her from rejecting it.
"Let's go. Help me paralyzed the witch."
"You can't paralyzed it. But we can confuse her enough to keep her distance from you so that she won't smell your heart doing a little tappy dance whenever she's around."
Era got out of the car without waiting for Ridge to open the door for her. She chuckled, inhaling the sea breeze as she listened to Ridge faint laughter inside the car. He was still laughing when he got out and his easy going demeanor earned him a huge grin.
"Mira, Mira, you're going to be a good companion tonight. Forget the witch, let's just have some fun."
Era sucked in some cold air when Ridge stepped closer to her and tucked the strand of hair that got stuck on her cheek behind her ear as he leaned forward.
Her body went rigid when his expensive cologne which she likes mixed with the salty ocean breeze assaulted her senses. His scent was lethal to her senses.
The hem of her white dress swirled on her feet and she could swear she was in danger of floating in the air.
Streak of sticky sweat ran down her neck as she stiffened her body and waited for him to get closer but he stopped. She could swear she stopped breathing as she closed her eyes afraid that Ridge could see her heart doing an excited tappy dance in her chest.
She released the breath that she didn't know she was holding when Ridge whispered.
"The witch is here and she's watching."
"Hurry up and kiss me," she said with her eyes still tightly shut.
Era could open her eyes but she didn't want to change her mind and lost her courage.
"Hurry it up!" She hissed in between clenched teeth.
Ridge chuckles sent electrifying shivers down her toes which quickly froze when she felt Ridge warm lips on hers.