Jacob kissed her. Hannah said “Aww,” while Adam shook his head.
“It’s a little too sweet over here,” Adam said.
“But I thought you liked sweets,” Hannah said.
“Only as a food group.”
“Don’t let my clients hear you say it. They’ll give you an entire lecture on food groups.”
“But will they give us samples?” Aviva asked.
“I’ll ask them the next time they come in, Avs.”
Everyone laughed. Beneath the table, Jacob’s leg entwined with hers. She raised her head to meet his gaze. The warm brown of his eyes met hers. Inside, something clicked into place. He picked up her hand and held it, his thumb drawing lazy circles around her wrist, his fingers interlaced with hers.
She rubbed his palm with her thumb. His glance smoldered.
“Ahem.”
They turned toward Adam. “Sorry to disturb you two, but anyone hungry? For food, I mean.”
Aviva wanted to hide under the table, but everyone else’s laughter was infectious. Once she joined in, she couldn’t stop.
Hannah whispered in her ear. “Need a bathroom break?”
She shook her head and took a deep breath. “I would love something to eat, Adam, thanks.” Turning to Jacob, she raised an eyebrow. “What do you recommend?”
Adam snorted, Jacob’s eyes bulged and Hannah gave her a hug. “Nice one, Avs.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
The band returned from their intermission. During the second half, the guy on bass guitar played a solo. Adam whooped when it was over.
When the musicians finished, Adam spoke. “We never ordered food. Anyone hungry?”
Jacob and Aviva looked at each other and shook their heads. “Not really.”
“I am,” Hannah said.
While she and Adam made plans to eat, Jacob leaned forward. “Want to go for a walk?”
Aviva nodded. “Let me just make sure Hannah doesn’t mind if I leave.”
He grinned. “I think she’s pretty well set.”
Adam shifted his chair around so he sat closer to Hannah. Their knees touched. He was focused on her, nodding to whatever she said.
“I still want to check.”
Jacob held out his hand to Aviva and pulled her toward him. “For all of his obnoxiousness, Adam is a nice guy. His bravado is just a front.”
She clasped her arms around Jacob’s waist and rested against his shoulder. Hannah looked comfortable and happy. Adam looked besotted.
“I believe you, really. But I don’t like to leave my friends in the lurch. Han?”
Hannah turned her head. “Yeah?”
“We’re going for a walk. Need anything?”
“No, I’m good. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Jacob, it was nice meeting you.”
“You too, Hannah. Adam, see you later.”
They wrapped their arms around each other and walked outside. Spring in Hoboken was mercurial. Aviva shivered at the unexpected chill. She leaned into Jacob, who hugged her tight.
“You’re not too cold?”
“Not with you,” she said.
They strolled down Washington Street, peeked in shop windows still lit for the evening, listened to the mélange of eclectic music as they passed bars, and smelled the variety of food odors emanating from a multitude of restaurants. They paused in front of a T-shirt shop and pointed out some of the funny sayings. They ducked into a music store and compared musical tastes. When they got to a used bookstore, they turned to each other with identical looks of desire.
“Want to go in?”
“Sure.”
Together, they meandered the aisles, pulling books they’d read or wanted to read, discussing likes and dislikes. Aviva ran her hands over the spines of the books in the literature section. The smell of vellum and leather enticed her. She inhaled deeply. Shakespeare, Brönte, Conrad. She passed her favorite authors and walked to where Jacob browsed.
“Faulkner?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “He’s my favorite author. You?”
“I don’t really like him. I prefer Shakespeare and Joyce.”
“Good choices. Someday I’ll have more time to read them.”
Not if you’re going to work at a big firm. She swallowed the thought. They continued into the Biography section.
As they passed by the Rs, Jacob grabbed her hand. He dragged her into an empty corner. Backing her against the shelf, he took her face between his hands and kissed her. His lips ravaged hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He smelled of sandalwood and spice. Warmth pooled in her belly. His lips were firm, yet gentle. His thumbs caressed her ears, while his fingers played with her hair. She couldn’t get close enough to him. She whimpered in frustration.
He pulled away, rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve wanted to do this all evening.”
“I’m not sure what Roosevelt would think if he saw us make out in front of him.” She pointed to a shelf of books about the former president.
“I think he’d try to get in on the action.”
Aviva was about to respond when a sound in the next aisle interrupted them. They froze. He opened his eyes wide, she smiled and he drew her to him. She buried her head in his shoulder and stifled a laugh. Looking up briefly, she spotted an older woman passing their aisle. Aviva waited a few extra moments before she spoke. “I’m not sure I’m up to this sneaking around.”
He stroked her collarbone. Goose bumps ran along the back of her neck. “So why sneak?” He tipped his head and kissed her again, long and deep. Their tongues danced, a fire burning deep in her belly.
She didn’t want to stop, but the fire got hotter and brighter. She pushed him away and stepped to the side. “I can’t do this here.”
“Then let’s go somewhere else,” he said.
She leaned in, took his bottom lip between her teeth. She didn’t want to hide out in the stacks, but she couldn’t stand to be away from him. His hands cupped her bottom. She rose on tiptoe, rubbing her hips against him. He groaned and held her tighter. Electricity zinged up and down her body. His breath feathered her neck, making her shiver with longing.
“We have to stop,” she pulled away.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bookstore. The cool air slammed into her, making her gasp. Her senses were on high alert, yet she felt woozy. The wind sent chills down her spine; her clothes irritated her skin; his hand heated hers. The hum of car engines grated on her ears. She shook her head to clear it.
“Let’s go to my place,” she said.
He stopped to look at her. His eyes burned with desire, his jaw tight. “Is that okay?”
She nodded. They walked along the crowded sidewalk hand-in-hand. Every jostle from a passing pedestrian caused her body to lean into him. Every contact made her feel like his body burned a hole in hers. When they finally arrived at her apartment, she unlocked the door with shaking hands. The place was dark and she flicked on the lamp. The sudden onset of light blinded her. One hand in his, she held the other one in front of her as she led him toward her bedroom. Her bed jutted out from one wall. The sight of it, pillows fluffed and wrinkle free, jolted her out of her desire-fueled haze. “Um, wait.”
He stopped, put his hands on her shoulders, and leaned down. He was about to kiss her. His lips tempted her, his eyes drew her in, his jaw with its five-o’clock-shadow begged to be stroked. But her bed. Her bed made it all real. It made it immediate. It made it have consequences. Consequences she wasn’t yet ready for.
“What?” His eyes were dazed; his chest rose and fell rapidly. The erection she’d felt earlier? It was still there. She’d waited too long to say something. She’d gotten carried away without fully processing the direction they were heading.
“I can’t do this,” she whispered as she pointed to the bed.
He stepped away from her and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Drawing deep gulps of air, he paced the room.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know I should have said
something earlier, but…I got carried away. I didn’t think. I didn’t mean to lead you on.”
He frowned at her.
“I really like you,” she continued. “I love kissing you. Maybe I can do more at some point, but I’m not there yet. We’re brand new. I’m sorry.”
Somehow, during her conversation, she’d ended up backed against the bed. She didn’t mean to end up there. She never meant to taunt him with it. Now she had to get away from it. Except, he blocked the door. He looked at her like he was on a mission and she was his target. Aviva edged further from the bed, her gaze switching between Jacob and the door.
“Avs?”
“Yes?”
“Stop.”
She stood still, arms wrapped around her waist, trying to not tremble. She watched him walk closer and closer to her. He ran his hands up and down her upper arms. “Relax, Avs. We’re not having sex. You don’t have to apologize.”
The weight in her chest lightened. A nervous urge to laugh bubbled in her chest. Instead, she exhaled.
“Can we sit?” He nodded toward the bed.
She sank down. He followed. This time he left plenty of space between them but kept a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m beyond attracted to you. But I’d never want to do anything to make you uncomfortable. You can invite me here without my expecting sex. We can even fool around and not have sex. But you get to set the pace, okay?”
She leaned into him in relief. “I’m not a tease,” she whispered. “I’m just not ready to have sex with you. I want to know you better before I ‘know’ you. I want it to mean something.”
“Me too. I want us to be on the same page when and if we finally decide to have sex. I don’t want you to ever feel pressured into it. Why did you apologize?”
“Because you looked angry.”
“I wasn’t angry. I was surprised and caught up in the moment. Your ‘no’ made me switch gears. That’s what you saw. Don’t be frightened of me. I’ll never hurt you.”
He kissed her gently on the lips. His whiskers tickled her upper lip. She smiled against him. With a slight push, he followed her as she fell onto the bed. Legs dangling off the edge, one hand clasped in his between their bodies, she played with his hair as her lips tasted his. Her quilt lay beneath her cheek, smooth and soft. His hair was silky beneath her fingertips, his scalp warm. Need built inside her again but didn’t overwhelm or frighten her.
He traced her jawbone, down her neck, across her collarbone and to her breasts. She inhaled as his fingers stroked the flesh above her bra, dipped beneath the fabric and flicked over her nipples. She arched into his hand. He laughed, his voice husky with desire.
“I love making you react to me,” he whispered.
“Two can play this game.” She rolled over, ran her hands down his chest. Slipping them beneath his shirt, she played with his chest muscles. She traced the line of hair until it disappeared beneath his pants. As her fingers dipped beneath his waistband, he inhaled. His stomach muscles rippled. With a laugh, she withdrew her fingers and ran her hands across the front of his pants. He hardened beneath her hands. He sucked in a breath when she dipped her hand between his legs.
“You’re going to kill me,” he ground out.
She climbed on top and dragged herself against him until she reached his lips. With a groan, he flipped them so he was on top. He ravaged her mouth. Although fully dressed, they rocked against each other, matching each other’s rhythm.
Her breath caught in her throat. She pulled away, panting. “Then we’ll both die happy.”
****
That night, Jacob stared at the ceiling in his bedroom. Muted traffic sounds from the street, dulled by the closed windows, provided a background white noise, which should have helped him fall asleep. Inky black sky and pale buildings showed in the muted moonlight. The sight was boring. It should have made him want to close his eyes.
But every time he closed them, Aviva appeared before him and chased sleep away. He wanted her. No, want wasn’t strong enough. He hungered for her. He could still taste her on his lips, still feel her against his body, still smell her. His body hardened uncomfortably. Turning on his side, he stared at the wall.
More than a physical attraction, he cared for her. The more time he spent with her, the deeper his desire for her. He wanted her to be a part of his life. She’d been a huge help as a sounding board about the Croft Firm. He respected how she’d kept her opinions to herself when he discussed whether or not he should take the next steps with them. He suspected she’d prefer him to work at a small firm with better hours, but she’d limited her questions and comments to what was best for him.
What was best for him? He thought Smith Kane was, but there was something intriguing about Croft. He wasn’t sure if it was ego—the idea of being pursued—or their firm itself, but a small part of him wanted to see where this led. Aviva understood. She hadn’t thought he was being unethical by checking them out, in spite of the offer from Smith Kane.
His mind drifted to the band. His hands tapped out the music on the bed. They’d been good, but being with Aviva, Adam, and Hannah had been better. He couldn’t explain his earlier reaction to Adam, but tonight his jealousy had evaporated. The four of them had a great chemistry together. He’d laughed more than he had in months. Hannah seemed great for Adam. Adam seemed to like her. When Aviva interacted with Adam, it clarified things for him. She didn’t treat Adam the same way she treated him. Her feelings for each of them were crystal clear. While she seemed to like Adam, she was able to cut through his bull and brush off his teasing, or give it right back.
He stifled a laugh at her double entendre. So unexpected, yet so perfect. Perfect. She was perfect.
He sat in bed, eyes wide. He fisted the sheets in his hand. Perfect? When he was with her, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. When she was gone, he missed her. She could make his body ache with a look. Her kisses? He couldn’t imagine a sweeter way to die.
“I want to know you better before I ‘know’ you. I want it to mean something.” Those words she spoke were more powerful than any others he’d heard. He could have been angry. He should have been frustrated. But all he could be was honored. Honored she could bare herself to him that way, that she valued herself, and him, enough, to wait. To make it mean something.
Raking a hand through his hair, he fell against the pillow. He wanted to mean something to her. A lot of “something,” if he was honest with himself. He would continue to learn to manage his time and wait. Because anything worth having was worth waiting for.
****
A line of tourists stretched around the Liberty Science Center. Aviva smiled to herself from the back of the Town Car. She and Meryl were meeting their client in the Governors Hall to scope out the scene of the gala. The car pulled around to the side entrance, and the two women gave their names to a security guard. He let them in and led them to a waiting area where their client sat.
“Russell, how are you?” Meryl walked over. She shook his outstretched hand. “You remember Aviva?”
He smiled. Aviva nodded. While they waited for the events representative to meet them, Aviva examined the plans for the gala. The three of them discussed the latest additions.
“Hi, Meryl?” A woman in her thirties walked into the waiting area and looked at Aviva and Meryl expectantly.
“Yes, I’m Meryl.”
“I’m Lacey. I’ll be handling your gala for you.”
“This is Russell Newton. He’s our client, the host of the event.”
Lacey and Russell shook hands. She led the way into her office. “Please sit down. Now, I believe you have reserved Governors Hall for July thirty-first, is that correct?”
Aviva nodded.
Lacey continued. “About how many people do you expect?”
Aviva ran her finger down the spreadsheet. “Approximately six hundred.”
“Perfect. You want to do a sit-down dinner, correct?”
“Yes.”
&nb
sp; “Good. The room seats up to seven hundred comfortably, which will work well.” She leaned across her desk and pulled out a stack of papers. “Here are the menu options. Take a look at them. Everything is self-explanatory. I’ll need your food choices by June fifteenth and a final guest count by June thirtieth.”
Meryl handed the menus to Russell and Aviva.
“I also have music options, lighting, linen, and centerpieces. These choices will also be needed by June first. Do you have any questions before I take you to the room to show you around?”
“Do you have any photos of the site set-up for a party?” Russell asked. “I’m having a hard time picturing what it will look like.”
“Of course. I have a photo album. I’m actually going to take it with us so you can see what they look like in the room. I find it’s easier to work this way, if you don’t mind.”
He nodded. They rose and followed Lacey to the elevator where they took it to the second floor of the science center. Rather than lead them through the crowded galleries, she took them behind the scenes, through the employee corridors until they came to an industrial-looking fire door. She pushed it open. Aviva expected alarms to ring.
“Here we are.” Lacey led them to the opposite side of the room. “Your guests will enter the science center via our main entrance and will be led via red carpet to this point in the gallery.” She pointed to a door over her left shoulder. “Cocktails will be served opposite the atrium”—she pointed in front of her—“with a bar back here. Dinner will be in the center. The room has many lighting options. You can see them in the pictures I’ll show you.”
Aviva followed as Meryl led Russell around the room, pointing out areas for different parts of the evening. She scribbled notes her boss suggested, as well as some of her own. All around, tourists and groups of students wandered through the exhibitions, took photos and tried out various experiments. It was perfect, or would have been, without the throngs of people.
In the park below, verdant trees, green grass, and winding pathways perched at the edge of a thriving metropolis. It was warm enough to spread a blanket on the grass and picnic. People sat on benches and walked or jogged on the pathways. It was a beautiful view. She wondered what the view was in the opposite direction. Could the people outdoors see inside or did light play tricks and block their view? She’d bet the night view for those outside would be spectacular.
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