Chapter 15 Far From Average

***Just a little picture of Momma and one of her babies. 🙂***

No one was perfect and I knew that better than anyone. I was who I was and I never tried to hide it. I had never had a reason to. But now, at this moment, I didn't want to broadcast it either.

Tell me anyone in the initial 'getting to know you' stages who wanted to do so by laying all of the negative things about themselves out on the table. I knew the answer had to be pretty much no one. And I was one of those no ones.

The beginning should be lighter and more fun with focus on the attraction and the silly stuff like what is your favorite color, favorite movie, favorite food. It shouldn't be about what causes your anxiety attacks and what makes you uncomfortable. Those questions could wait for the fourth or fifth date at least.

I stumbled mentally to a stop.

Date?

I floundered at the direction of my thoughts. Why I was suddenly thinking of this luncheon as a date? When had my mind crossed the boundary from work to personal? Was it even what I wanted?

"You look unusually pale, Jackson," Pierce commented, squatting down beside me.

I jumped, startled by his voice so close. I took a quick sip of the cold water, trying to buy myself a few seconds before answering. I couldn't very well answer honestly, but I wasn't a good liar either. I chewed at my bottom lip indecisively.

"Granted," Pierce started talking again, his hand rising up, his finger barely grazing across my cheekbone. "You already have a uniquely pale complexion, so it could just be the lighting."

I stayed still as his warm soft skin lightly stroked across my face. His soft touch combined with his proximity and strangely flattering words revived the impulsive prickly sensation that only he could draw forth.

I sipped again at the water trying to hide any tell-tale movements of my body that would reveal the effect he had on me.

At least now I understood what the electric shiver was and what it was caused by. I may not necessarily like it or even understand it clearly and I definitely had my doubts about what to do about it, but I could at least recognize it for what it was. I was absolutely attracted to Pierce. If I had any doubts before, his touch now proved it.

Thankfully, Pierce withdrew his hand and stood to his feet. He stepped around the glass table and sat down across from me, watching. His eyes roamed my face and I swear I felt his visual touch as much as I had his fingertip moments before.

"Your entire appearance is unique, I think," Pierce admitted conversationally.

I swallowed. Though he talked as if it were about the weather, his eyes revealed his greater interest. The sudden dawning understanding that Pierce was just as attracted to me as I was to him hit me out of the blue.

The realization was both flattering and surprising. In comparison to Pierce, I was as average as they came. I couldn't help but feel curious as to his thoughts.

I watched him as he continued to talk, his eyes still drifting occasionally from my eyes to flitter over my face as he spoke.

"Which parent is Korean?" he asked, surprising me.

"My father," I answered.

I quickly realized I shouldn't be so surprised at his knowing. First off, it was clear I wasn't completely Caucasian and of course it was my eyes that gave me away. I was very surprised though that he had guessed correctly about which nationality.

I had learned long ago that most people couldn't differentiate between Asian countries when it came to looks. Asian's tended to be lumped into one group. I had always appreciated the few people that had taken the time to either notice or ask. It spoke volumes to me about the kind of person they were.

The fact that Pierce not only noticed the difference, but knew exactly my heritage made me feel... soft and buttery inside. I had him pegged as a close-minded jerk, but every encounter he showed me more and more that he was anything but and it only made me more curious about him.

He nodded his head and frowned a bit as if thinking.

"That's unusual isn't or am I being stereotypical?" he asked with genuine curiosity.

I didn't take offense. It was a legitimate question.

"My mother traveled for work. She is an interpreter. She met my father in South Korea. They fell in love and he chose to immigrate here for her career."

Pierce looked suitably impressed.

"That's an amazingly romantic story," he responded.

I scoured his face looking for signs of sarcasm but couldn't find any. He looked genuinely touched by my parent's story.

"Was it all as simple as that?" Pierce queried, looking legitimately interested.

I nodded my head.

"It really was. My dad is good with numbers and was able to make a good career for himself here. My mom said it was love at first sight for her. She had always watched Kdramas and she said she knew when she had found her oppa," I answered with a small smile.

My mom never failed to make me smile when she talked about meeting my dad for the first time and their date that had followed. Though I had never been interested in finding love it didn't mean I couldn't appreciate and be happy for those who had. The fact that they were my parents made it even more special. No broken home for me. It had always made me feel secure.

"So, you must take after him, then?" Pierce asked, eyeing me.

I shook my head. "Not at all," I murmured. "Why would you say that?"

"Jackson you are amazing with numbers! It was an easy jump considering what you just said about your dad."

I blushed at his unintended compliment. The fact that he saw and readily appreciated my talent was unexpectedly satisfying.

"Oh," I said trying to not show how happy he had made me feel. "I guess that's true but that's where it stops. My Dad looks like he could star in one of those dramas my mom watches. I... don't," I finished somewhat lamely.

It was the easiest way to say it though. Dad was six feet one with pale flawless skin and looks most Kdrama stars went under the knife to get. Not my dad. He was one hundred percent flawless Korean with perfect genes. I just didn't happen to get any of them.

Pierce smiled.

"Is he tall?"

I nodded.

"Very. I'm not," I added unnecessarily.

Pierce laughed and I flushed. I ducked my head down in embarrassment.

"Don't misunderstand me, Jackson," Pierce said around his chuckles. "I wasn't laughing at you."

I nodded, glancing up at him from beneath my lashes. I didn't think he was; it was just this entire conversation was kind of embarrassing. I'd never given my looks much thought. There had been a few occasions when family from my dad's side, not pleased with his marrying an American woman and moving away, had made the snide comment or two about my lack of eye-popping looks. It hadn't bothered me much then. I wasn't sure why it was bothering me a bit now.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I'm averagely average," I said, feeling the need to point out the obvious.

In the back of my mind I needed to say this out loud. Despite my recent discovery that Pierce seemed to be attracted to me, I needed him to take a realistic look now. I couldn't imagine taking this further to only have him be disappointed in some way by me in the future.

Pierce laughed again and I frowned this time. Had he taken that second look after all and discovered I was right? I raised my head and looked at him head on. The smile lingered on his lips and his eyes dared me to look away from his once they made contact.

He finally spoke.

"You may not be the stereotypical six-foot oppa, but you're far from average, Jackson. Far from average."

There was heat in his stare, thirst in the eyes that glanced down at my poorly abused lip. I felt fascinated by his gaze that watched me so fiercely. It was new to me. No one had ever looked at me in such a way. I couldn't look away though I wanted to. I felt ensnared by the crisp clear gaze that seemed to be compelling me to believe his every word.

Despite myself, I did.

The sudden rapping of knuckles against the wooden door startled us both. I jolted as Pierce flinched. We stared at each other a second longer before Pierce suddenly rose to his feet and strode to the door.

He opened it wide and two men entered. One carried a large tray with a clear lid and the other carried a few bags containing smaller trays and various bottles. I could smell the scent of fresh baked bread. My stomach growled. Hunger had set in.

The various trays were placed on the table in front of me. The smaller trays and bottles were removed from the bags and displayed strategically around the larger tray containing meats, cheeses, and bread. As they removed the lid the smell of deli became stronger and my stomach grumbled a second time. I saw Pierce smile and knew he had heard. Thankfully, he refrained from making any comment.

Once the food was arranged the men walked out leaving us alone once again. Instead of pursuing our previous conversation Pierce ordered me to dig in. I figured with my mouth full I could quite possibly survive the rest of this lunch. Without needing to be asked twice I set about creating a sandwich that had my mouth watering.

I picked up the sandwich with both hands and was about to take a bite when I caught Pierce's fascinated expression. He wasn't looking at me though. He was looking at my sandwich.

"What?" I asked, pulling the sandwich back away from my mouth to ask.

"My God! Did you learn to make sandwiches from watching Scooby Doo or something?"

I looked down at the layered food in surprise. I looked back up at Pierce and his expression, my sandwich and his words succeeding in doing something I seldom ever did. I laughed.

At first it was a small chuckle that escaped past my lips in a surprising puff. The second and third followed faster and then faster, the sound stunning me at the unfamiliarity but it didn't stop it. The chuckles turned to laughter and I smiled back at Pierce with eyes brightened with mirth. The silliness of the moment and the reference of a child's cartoon by Pierce of all people, tickled me in a way I rarely ever was.

I plopped my sandwich back down on my plate and reached for a napkin to dab at my eyes.

"Was it that funny?" Pierce asked with his half-tilted smile that I was starting to get used to.

"Coming from you," I said, "Totally!"

Pierce gave a bemused scrunch of his face in response.

"I'm not sure if I should be flattered or insulted by that."

I shrugged back in response.

"Take it any way you want," I answered feeling oddly mischievous.

I quickly grabbed up my sandwich and took a giant bite, to disguise my nervous energy.

I didn't tease. I never teased. But right then with Pierce I had wanted to poke instead of run. I had wanted to play instead of work. Most of all, I had wanted to keep that smile on his face.

It was an expression I was not only getting used to, but was starting to really like.