Doing much better now that the 15th has passed. Thanks for checking on me!
I punctuated it with a smile emoji and hit Send.
“There,” I said to Leo, who was lounging on the floor in a square of sunlight beaming in through the window. “That’s better. Now I’m less of an asshole.”
I set the phone down and had barely turned away from it before it beeped, letting me know there was a text.
“Damn it,” I muttered, and picked it up. Sure enough, a text from Amy.
I’m so glad! Got time for dinner or drinks tonight? Or both? And then about twelve smile emojis.
“No good deed, Leo. No good deed.” I stared at the phone for a long moment, trying to figure out the best response. Finally, I typed, I’m so sorry. I have plans. Another time? I hit Send and braced myself.
Sure. And then twelve not-quite-frown emojis.
Feeling a little guilty but also reasonably sure another response was not required, I set my phone down and went back to dusting. The guilt didn’t last long, though, because really, Amy and I didn’t owe each other anything. We’d never gone on a single date. Not to mention, my thoughts turned fully to the gorgeous redhead I was going to dine with that night. As I cleaned, I mentally went through my closet, wondering if I had something that would stop Alicia in her tracks for a moment.
This could be fun.
* * *
My full-length mirror had been given a workout, as had Leo, with me constantly changing outfits and asking for his opinion every time. He was obvious in his boredom, stretched out on my bed like a prince, barely taking the time to even look at my outfit before turning away to wait for the next one. The mirror, however, was a huge help, and together, we decided on the little black dress I’d purchased for an evening wedding last fall that I ended up not going to, thanks to a sneak attack of the stomach flu. It had been hanging in my closet for more than six months, price tag still dangling, just waiting for the right occasion.
This was it.
The butterflies started as I stood there, turning to one side, then the other.
The dress was made of a snug, stretchy fabric and hit just above my knees, and while I wished I had a bit more of a tan, it didn’t look bad. I had my mother’s legs, and that was a good thing—one of my better features, I knew. The sleeves were long, and that was also a good thing. The temperature was predicted to be in the low sixties but would drop a bit through the evening, and with these sleeves, I could get away with no jacket. A small blessing, as I didn’t have one that would go. The neckline wasn’t exactly plunging, but it was low and showed much more cleavage than was normal for me. Strangely, I felt a little self-conscious and a little sexy at the same time. The fact that—based on the dip of the neckline and the shortness of the dress’s hem—I knew my father would hate the dress only made me think Alicia would love it. I hoped she did. It was important to me, I realized in that moment. I wanted her to see me and be struck speechless for a moment. Was that weird? I hoped not…
I fastened a simple silver necklace around my neck to fill in the expanse of skin left by the dress. Matching earrings and some silver bangle bracelets completed the accessorizing, and I slipped my feet into what I referred to as my Special Occasion Heels. I hated wearing them, hated walking in them even more, but damn if they didn’t look terrific with my dress. One more glance in the mirror to inspect my makeup and my hair and I was pretty sure I was good to go.
Leo hopped off the bed and followed me down the stairs into the kitchen. I got a cookie out of his treat jar, bent to kiss the top of his head, and gave it to him. “Okay, pal. I’m off. Wish me luck.” I grabbed my black clutch and my keys. “Be a good boy. Hold the fort. No parties, no strippers,” I instructed my dog, as I exited my house and locked the door behind me.
The butterflies kicked into high gear.
Stavros was packed, just as I suspected. I walked into the lobby and up to the hostess station, which was unoccupied. I squinted into the restaurant and didn’t see Alicia anywhere in my view, but I did see a petite blond woman carrying menus, two people following her. I took in my surroundings as I waited, noting the way the restaurant seemed upper class and welcoming at the same time. Hard to pull off, I thought. A large bar with a brass foot rail and brown leather stools ran along the wall to my left, the bartender dressed in a white oxford and black tie and shaking what might have been a martini. Mirrors lined the wall behind the bottles, making the place seem much more spacious. The tables were round and covered with chocolate brown linen tablecloths, and the lighting was as dim as I’d expect from a nice restaurant. I was scanning the patrons when the hostess returned and asked if she could help me.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m here to meet someone, and I believe she made a reservation. Under Wright?”
The hostess smiled, showing me a mouthful of very white teeth. “Oh, you’re with Alicia.” She said it like they were old friends. Maybe they were. “She’s not here yet, but I’ll seat you. Follow me.”
The hostess led me on a maze, weaving around and between tables until we were at the very back corner of the restaurant. Private without being completely removed. I wondered if Alicia had specifically asked for this table. The idea put a flutter in my stomach. The good kind.
I sat and the hostess handed me a menu and a wine list. “I’ll send Alicia back as soon as she arrives.”
I thanked her and watched her go, then scanned the tables around me. To my left, I could see mostly couples, along with two families of four, a family of three, and one table of five women, which made me smile at the thought of Girls’ Night Out. I could see some of the bar, and before I could scan the tables to my right, my eye was snagged by a spot of bright blue.
Alicia.
She was walking toward me, and I swear to God, she walked in slow motion. She waved to the bartender, who waved back, causing the two men sitting at the bar to turn and look. They continued to look as she walked past them, as did the table of four men dressed in suits and a couple of the women at the Girls’ Night Out table. And who could blame them? Alicia was absolutely stunning. Her royal blue dress had capped sleeves and a V-neck, and it hugged her hips like it was sewn specifically to do so. She smiled at a waiter, then her eyes found mine and locked, and the rest of her approach was just for me. Her hair sparkled in the dim lighting, and I did my best not to look her up and down like some creeper, but I almost couldn’t help myself. She reached the table and suddenly a waiter was there, materializing out of nowhere to pull her chair out for her. She sat and thanked him.
“Wow.” It was all I could manage in the moment.
Her smiled made it worth it. “I was about to say the same thing. I can only see half of you, but you look gorgeous.”
“And you…” I picked up my water glass and took a sip. “The guys at the bar got whiplash. You’re beautiful.”
She blushed prettily and we sat there, holding one another’s gaze for a long beat.
“Hi,” she said quietly and propped her chin in her hand.
“Hey, you.”
And then there was a lot of quiet looking at one another.
Our waiter broke the spell by introducing himself—he was Mark—and asking if we’d like to start with a cocktail. Alicia ordered us a bottle of Merlot without ever opening the wine list, and once Mark had left, I raised my eyebrows at her.
“Impressive.”
“Yeah? Good. That was my plan. I actually have no idea what I ordered.” She unrolled her napkin as I laughed. “How was your day? You didn’t work in your office, I noticed. Good for you.”
“The first Saturday I didn’t in about six weeks.”
“What’d you do?”
“I cleaned,” I said with a chuckle. “I did laundry. I got groceries. I took Leo for a walk. All the things that get put on the back burner during tax season, I catch up on in April. It’s all very glamorous.”
“And it was a gorgeous day. That had to help.”
“It did. Sunshine always
puts me in a good mood.”
Mark arrived with our wine, showed the label to Alicia, and opened it with his wine key. He poured her a taste, she approved it, and he filled our glasses, recited the specials, and left us to our decision-making.
“What did you do today?” I asked as I opened my menu. Alicia didn’t open hers. She simply continued to look at me. To the point where I almost squirmed in my seat. “What?” I asked, my voice quiet.
“Nothing,” she said, shaking her head, her chin propped in her hand again. “I’m just enjoying the view.”
I felt my face heat up, a combination of being self-conscious and being flattered, and I smiled my gratitude as I twirled my hair around a finger.
“That means you’re nervous,” she said, as she picked up her menu.
“What does?”
“When you twirl your hair like that. You do it when you’re nervous.”
“I do not.” But I could feel my own half grin, because I knew she was right. “Fine. I’ve done it since I was in kindergarten,” I admitted, feigning annoyance.
Alicia laughed lightly. “Well, I like it. And your hair looks fantastic like that, all wavy and…” She cleared her throat then, almost as if she’d said more than she meant to, and turned her focus to her menu.
For the next few minutes, we both pretended to be engrossed in the dinner selections, and when Mark returned, I ordered the pecan-crusted salmon. Alicia went with chicken Florentine and ordered us an appetizer of spanakopita. Mark topped off our wineglasses and was off.
“You didn’t tell me what you did today,” I pointed out.
Alicia dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “I worked. My life is riveting.”
“You know, you give me a hard time for working too much, but you’re no better.”
She nodded, didn’t argue. “I know.”
“I think I’m going to have to start paying attention to your hours now,” I teased.
“I’m totally okay with that,” she said, and she looked happy enough that I was pretty sure she was telling the truth. “How’s my boyfriend, Leo?”
“He’s good, but his life is hard. He spent most of today sleeping in the sunshine. Then he acted as my fashion consultant as I tried to decide what to wear tonight.”
Alicia picked up her glass and let her eyes wander to my cleavage. Again, I was hit with a small zap of self-consciousness, but this time, it was followed by a large wave of arousal. “Stop it,” I whispered.
“Stop what?” she whispered back.
“Looking at me like that.”
“I can’t. Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.” My blush deepened.
“No, I’m not.”
I’d never been in this situation before. I realized it in that moment. Sure, I’d dated. I had a relationship with Leanne. I had one before her. I didn’t know Alicia that well, but what I did know, I liked very much. I wanted to know more. But I was having trouble getting past the crazy-hot levels of arousal she created in me, and I wasn’t sure what to do about that. It was beyond distracting.
And oh so sexy.
“What did you work on today?” I tried again. I gave her my best pleading look, and she seemed to get it.
“We have a new potential client. A big one. So, I spent the day brainstorming some ideas, doing some online research on the company to see what they’ve done in the past.”
“Alone?”
She nodded as Mark brought our appetizer, set it in the middle of the table, and left. Alicia took a bite of the spanakopita and made a humming sound of approval that made my stomach flutter. “While I love having a staff, and brainstorming with them is always beneficial, sometimes I like to work by myself. I can focus a bit more without having other people’s ideas distracting me. You know?”
I nodded as I took a bite of the little puff pastry.
“I could’ve used Leo, though. Just having him in the office is oddly helpful. I have no idea why.”
“He wears many hats, that boy of mine.”
“He’s got some depth, that’s for sure.” Alicia stabbed another pastry. “Also, how good are these?”
“God,” I said, chewing. “So good.”
“You have a house?” Alicia asked me.
I nodded. “Small, but cute. You?”
“Town house. New, though. It’s nice. You should come see it.” She held my gaze and I knew exactly what she was saying.
“I’d like that.”
“Maybe tonight.”
“Maybe tomorrow.” I arched an eyebrow at her teasingly.
“Oh. Hard to get. I see.” Her smile was wide and the glint in her blue eyes was completely, utterly sexy. “Okay. I can handle that.”
“I have no doubt.”
A staff member removed our empty appetizer plate as Alicia and I sat there, making direct, intense eye contact with each other. I swear to God, I’d never been so turned on in my entire life, and I almost told her so. Instead, I used my wine to keep from talking. I couldn’t let her know how much power she had over me.
Our dinners arrived, and our conversation went back to safer topics. Thank God, because I didn’t think I could even touch on anything sexual again without crawling across the table and kissing Alicia senseless.
“Are you from Philly?” I asked, in an attempt to tamp down my raging libido.
Alicia nodded. “Wyncote.”
“Your parents still there?”
“No, they’re both gone now.”
It took me a minute to realize she meant they were dead. “Oh, Alicia. I’m so sorry.”
She shrugged. “What about you? You from here?”
“Flourtown. My parents still live there.”
“And is there just you and Scott?” Alicia cut her chicken and took a bite.
“Just the two of us, yup.”
“I’ve gleaned a little about your relationship now,” she said with a wry smile, “but did you get along growing up?”
I chewed a piece of salmon, loving the texture of the pecans, while I looked for the right words. “Well, you’ve met him. You got a good dose of his personality. He hasn’t changed much since we were younger. I mean, he can be kind of a dick, but he’s my big brother. He’s a pain in my ass, but he’s always there if I need him. You know?”
Alicia nodded and a shadow zipped across her face, but it was gone so quickly, I wondered if I’d imagined it. “What do you like to do when you’re not working?” she asked.
“Oh, a topic shift,” I said with a grin, trying to lighten a mood that felt like it had gotten a little heavy somehow. “Okay. Let’s see. I like reading, though I haven’t done much of that lately. I like walking. A lot. I’m kind of a wanderer. Leo and I go all over the place. And I love Spruce Street Harbor Park, but it’s closed until next month. One of my favorite things to do is take a book and find an open hammock in the park—they’re all over the place, as I’m sure you know. Then I just swing and read and people watch and breathe in the fresh air.”
“That sounds awesome. Maybe we should go when it opens.”
“Maybe we should.” I smiled softly at her across the table and whatever had been weighing her down was obviously gone. The smile she returned to me was nothing short of radiant. “God, you’re beautiful,” I whispered, not meaning to say it out loud, but glad I had when her cheeks turned pink.
We finished up our dinners in the midst of conversation about mundane things because—and I’m only speaking for myself here, but I was pretty sure Alicia was in the same boat—we couldn’t seem to focus on anything deeper. Our brains were very, very preoccupied.
Alicia wouldn’t let me pay for my dinner. “No, I invited you. I pay. Those are the rules.”
“Whose rules?”
“My rules.”
I laughed. “Oh, I see.”
“Good. I don’t want to have to explain them again.”
There was that eye contact again. We sat at the table and said nothing for what seemed like hours. Just held one ano
ther’s gaze. I loved her eyes. They were big and expressive; I was sure I could figure out everything she was thinking just by staring into those eyes. And the color. Like when the ocean is the deepest blue it can be. That shade of blue.
Mark returned with the check for Alicia to sign and thanked us both. She signed quickly and we stood. She held an arm out, indicating I go first, but I could feel her fingertips on the small of my back, not so much guiding me…more like staying tethered to me. It made me feel warm and mushy inside. The same men were at the bar, and the same men turned to regard us as we passed them. The bartender waved again and I heard Alicia say, “Bye, Jeff.”
My car was closer, and Alicia walked me to it, where we stood quietly, nervously—at least on my part. The air had gotten chilly and I saw goose bumps break out on Alicia’s bare arms.
“Aren’t you cold?” I asked.
She nodded with a gentle laugh. “I am. But I don’t have a wrap that goes with this dress.”
“I’m very fond of that dress,” I said, and my voice had a husky quality to it that surprised us both.
“I was hoping you would be. I could say the same for yours…though ‘fond’ isn’t the right word. I’m not ‘fond’ of that dress, I’m ridiculously turned on by that dress.”
A throbbing began in my lower body. “Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Good.”
Alicia leaned forward then and kissed me and it wasn’t gentle. We were way past gentle. Her tongue pushed into my mouth immediately, and I pushed back with mine, my hands grabbing her waist and pulling her closer. I wanted her to feel my body heat against her, wanted to warm her up in the best of ways.
We might have kissed for a year. It might have been thirty seconds. I had no idea, but when we wrenched apart, we were both breathing heavily, and we stood there looking at each other, my hands on her hips, hers in my hair, both of us all swollen lips and dilated pupils and flushed faces.
“Come home with me,” Alicia whispered.
“I can’t. I have Leo.”
“Right. Okay. I’ll go home with you.”
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