Gabe walked in and found me standing up and waving him over. He looked dashing in his fireman’s uniform. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.
He sat down. “Sorry I’m a little late. I had to wash my last clean shirt this morning. Normally I change at work, but somehow laundry piled up on me.”
“No problem. Besides, you wear it well.” There was no way him being late was annoying, not when he looked like that.
“Looks like you’re off to work after this, like me,” he said.
“Yep. In fact, I was thinking of ordering an early dinner.”
“Me too. Well, actually, it’s more like lunch.” His dimples framed his perfect smile.
We placed our orders. After our drinks arrived, I sipped my sweet tea, not sure where to begin the conversation. I could look at him all day long. His sandy-brown hair fell in layers around his face—not too long, not too short, but the right length for me to imagine running my fingers through it.
“Have you always lived in the city?” he asked, breaking my trance.
“I moved here from California.” I sat up straighter, focusing on the conversation. “And you?”
“I moved here from Ohio years ago.”
“New York seems like a different world. I’m still adjusting to it,” I admitted.
“It took me some time to acclimate too. The city can be overwhelming. When did you move here?”
“Earlier this year.”
“You were a newbie when I ran out of the pub and caused that tray of beer to spill on you. Damn! I probably was proving the rude New Yorker stereotype that day. Catholic guilt over my behavior has been eating away at me since.” He sighed. “It wasn’t a good day. I took it out on you. I owe you an apology.”
“You did save me from a fire.”
His lips turned upward. “True, but I was doing my job.”
“Still, I could have died.”
“Then consider this a bonus.” He pulled the pub’s takeout menu from his pocket. “I had the guys circle some orders for when you’re back up and running.”
“Perfect timing!” I looked at it and found four orders marked. “Tonight’s the first night we’re opening again.” How thoughtful of him to bring it.
We continued talking throughout the meal, each of us asking questions. Neither of us were talkers, so the conversation had an easygoing pace. I found I did talk a bit more than he did. I didn’t mind.
He had a roommate and lived not too far from me. He hoped to get on the day tour soon, after being on the night tour at his job for a few years. The time passed quickly. When it was time to go, it came too soon.
“So, when do you want me to bring that order by?” I asked. I looked forward to seeing him again.
“Tomorrow, anytime between five thirty and seven would be good.”
Gabe reached for the bill when the waitress dropped it off.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, taking a twenty out of my wallet.
“I know, but I invited you out. I am a gentleman. Put your money away. It’s no good here.”
“Thanks.” I put the money back in my wallet.
“I’d like to see you again. Would you like to go to the movies sometime?”
“Sure!” I wanted to say “hell yes,” but I held back.
“I’ll call you later, then.”
We parted. We didn’t kiss or hug. We said a simple “see you later” and then went our separate ways. It didn’t matter, though, because I had the thought of a future date with him. The dark cloud of doom and gloom that had covered me since I had moved to New York lifted and dispersed, thanks to Gabe.
Damn, way to turn things around, city!
Chapter 26
When I came home from work on Wednesday, Fiona was in her PJ’s, sipping tea. The bags under her eyes were less pronounced. Her hair had been freshened up by a recent cut. The layers looked sharp. Blond highlights gave dimension to her red hair.
“I love your new color!” I said, putting my purse on the kitchen table next to an envelope with my name on it.
“Thanks,” she said in a monotone voice. She smiled briefly then took another sip of tea. She was melancholy, but not as distraught as before. Her eyes weren’t red from crying anymore. Fiona’s visit with Daisy seemed to be the medicine Fiona’s soul needed. “Daisy insisted on taking me to her gal to have it done. She tried to cheer me up. Sweet as she is, the only thing that will help is time. A lot of it.”
Picking up the envelope, I heard running water in the bathroom. “Are you going to shower?” I asked.
“I’m running a bath. You can use the toilet if you need to.”
“No, I’m good. Just curious.”
I opened the envelope and saw a check from Fiona. In the memo were the words for a trip back home.
Fiona came over and hugged me tightly. “After we fought that day, I felt awful. I had snapped at you too many times. I wanted to make it up to you. I’m so sorry we fought!”
I choked back sobs. “Fiona, this is amazing.”
“You’re the amazing one,” she said, letting me go. “You were here when I didn’t know where Cam was. You’ve done so much.”
“It’s too much money.” I shook my head. “Couldn’t you use it to take a couple more days off of work?”
“I’m going back tomorrow. Besides, I have to face reality at some point. Going back to work will be good for me. It’ll force me to think about something other than Cam. I wouldn’t give it to you if I couldn’t spare it. Please, Amber, cash it.”
I missed my sister and my niece, but Cam was just buried on Monday. It felt too soon to leave Fiona and go on a vacation. “Maybe, if I left in a week or so.”
“Good.” She smiled. “That will give you time to do me a favor before you go.”
“Anything.”
“Go with me for moral support when I sell my car back to the dealership.”
“Oh, are you sure you want to do that?” My eyes widened.
“Positive. Cam gave it to me as a gift. It was the most extravagant present I ever received. Everything about it reminds me of him. I don’t want to drive it anymore. Plus, the cost of keeping it in that garage is absurd. Let’s just say I’m going to save a lot of money in fees by getting rid of it. My budget was always tight because of that, and I don’t really need a car in the city. I should have known better than to accept a gift that was so expensive to keep, but it was from him. I didn’t have the heart to say no.”
“I’ll go with you.”
∞ ∞ ∞
Gabe called and arranged for our next date on Sunday night. I met him at The Steak House restaurant in Greenwich Village. I wore the green dress Fiona had Daisy designed for me. It was the most elegant dress in my closet. When I looked up the restaurant we were meeting at on the web, I saw the perfect opportunity to wear it.
I took a cab, since my heels wouldn’t be comfortable for walking. I arrived and found Gabe looking sharp in dress pants, a nice shirt, and a green tie.
“You look dapper,” I said to him, admiring the tie, which brought out the highlights in his hazel eyes.
“You too. We even match.” He ran his fingers over his tie. My dress did match the green in it.
We were seated within a few minutes, since we had a reservation. The hostess pulled my chair out for me to sit. I did and put the white napkin in my lap. “This is wonderful.” I looked around at the black-and-white decor. All the tables, chairs, plates, and linens were white. Black-and-white Tiffany lamps hung at different lengths from the ceiling.
“I’m glad you like it. It’s my treat. Get anything you want.” He put his hand on top of mine briefly.
The waiter took our drink orders. I opened the menu and saw the expensive prices. If he was willing to pay for such an elegant meal, I was pretty sure he liked me as much as I liked him.
“Tell me about your family. Do you have any in New York?” He put the menu down after glancing at it.
“No, but there is Henry, a famil
y friend. I came here to work in his father’s pub. I worked with him in California. He offered me a job when I desperately needed a change of scenery. So, I left and moved here. Fiona, my roommate, is his cousin.”
“That must have been hard, moving to such a big city and not knowing very many people. It’s also incredibly brave.”
“Thanks.” I smiled. I looked down at the menu. “Do you recommend anything?”
“I’ve only been here two other times. My older brother took me here to celebrate when I got my job as a fireman. The other time was for his engagement dinner. The ribeye is delicious, or the duck.”
I blushed, honored he thought a date with me was on the same level as the two special occasions before. “The duck it is,” I said. “Did you always want to be a fireman?”
“Pretty much. My uncle was one. My dad was close to him, so we spent a lot of time at his house. I’d hear stories about the fires they put out.”
The waiter came over with our drinks, and we ordered.
“What did you do in California?” he asked. “Were you a waitress there, too?”
I realized he must have insisted our date was his treat because he probably figured I could never afford a place like this. Either that or he was being a gentleman. “No, I was a chef there. At the pub, I’m a cook. I was waitressing that day we first met because the cook I was replacing hadn’t left yet. It worked out for Fiona if I came sooner rather than later to help with the rent. Henry is planning on making me a supervisor.”
“That’s great.” He smiled, and his eyes lit up. “Do you have brothers and sisters?”
“One sister, Isadora, and a niece, Camille. And you?”
“I’m the youngest of four. I have two older sisters and one older brother. My brother, Steve, lives in Brooklyn. Susan and Moira live in New Jersey near our parents. I wouldn’t mind moving to Brooklyn one day and commuting to the city. I’ve also thought about transferring to one of the Brooklyn firehouses.”
“I can see the appeal of that.” I took a sip of my potent espresso martini. “My friend Darlene lives in Westchester. I visited her recently. Her neighborhood was quiet and peaceful. I do like being able to walk to work, but I wouldn’t mind the commute if it meant getting away from the city’s frantic pace.”
“I told my roommate I’d live in the city for another year before I moved.” He drank some of his wine. “I’m trying to get on the day tour at work. I put in two requests at other firehouses in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. All of them have lieutenants who are getting close to retirement.”
“You’d probably prefer Brooklyn so you wouldn’t have to commute, huh?”
“Yeah, but I’d take either one.” He shrugged.
I wondered, if Gabe and I kept dating, if Henry would switch me to the day shift at work. “I hope you get it.” I also hoped we’d keep dating, even if it meant only seeing each other here and there.
“I know I asked you to a movie, but I took a chance that you’d like to see a Broadway musical and got us tickets for Chicago.”
My breath hitched as he showed me the tickets.
“Wow!” I smiled. “One of my favorites!” I looked at them and saw they were in the tenth row. “You sure do know how to impress a lady.”
∞ ∞ ∞
When we left the theater, he asked if I wanted to go back to his place for a nightcap, but I wasn’t prepared. I had no toothbrush or change of clothes if we got hot and heavy and I spent the night. I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t interested, so I said yes.
We rode in a cab back to his place. When we arrived, we took an elevator to his floor.
“I live in a walk-up. This is a nice change of pace,” I said.
“I lived in one of those for a few years. It doesn’t take long to get used to this, though.”
We got off the elevator and walked to his door. He unlocked it, looked back, and said, “My roommate is out of town, so don’t worry about waking him.”
We went inside his place. We walked past the kitchen. The industrial look of white cabinets and stainless steel gave it a modern look. The place was pristine.
“Your place looks great. It’s so clean,” I said.
“My roommate pays for a service that comes a couple times a month. He occasionally entertains business associates here before they hit the town. Actually, it’s kind of stressful living with such a neat freak.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” We went into the main living area. Above the fireplace was a flat-screen television. The white Chesterfield sofa sat low to the ground. Next to it was a matching chair. “Still, it’s very chic.”
“He has a modern style. Hell, I couldn’t afford furniture like this on my own.” He loosened his tie. “You don’t mind if I get more comfortable, do you?”
“Not at all,” I said, wishing he’d take off more than just his tie.
“I have bourbon, vodka. I could make you a white Russian.”
“Sure, sounds good.”
He made our drinks while I admired his small record collection on a shelf. Below the albums was a record player with speakers on each side of it. “Do you mind if I look through these?” I asked.
“Sure. Maybe we can listen to one.” He looked over with a grin.
I pulled one out of the group. Barbra Streisand looked beautiful on the cover. I pulled another one out, Frank Sinatra. Each one was an artist from many years ago. The most recent music was from the eighties.
“Here you are,” he said, handing me a drink.
I sipped it. My eyes widened.
“Too strong?” he asked.
“No, it’s good.” I took another sip of the smooth drink. I’d be tipsy, but not too drunk to remember the details of our night together. I could see myself falling for Gabe—unlike Leo. I couldn’t see past being his friend.
“Want to listen to one of my favorites?”
“Sure.”
Leaning close by me, Gabe set his glass down on the side table by the couch. I smelled his arousing aftershave, inhaling the lemon scent. It left me invigorated. I longed to use that energy to crush my lips against his. For the sake of not coming on too strong, I held back, reluctantly.
He brushed against me and took the Frank Sinatra album out of the sleeve, his lips inches away from mine. I froze, yearning for them to meet. When he put the record on the turntable, I exhaled. It was getting harder and harder not to jump his bones. The song “The Way You Look Tonight” started.
“May I have this dance?” he asked.
I nodded and put my drink down next to his. His arms extended out in the formal dance position of a waltz. My hands met his. The dimmed lights of the kitchen cast a soft glow on his face.
Our bodies touched. It made time stand still. I soaked in the moment. We moved in unison as the smooth sounds of the music swept us away. His eyes penetrated my soul. A connection between us formed, even though no words were spoken.
He leaned over, put his cheek against mine, and pulled me deeper into his embrace. He slid his arms down until we were dancing in a more relaxed way. He wrapped his arms around me. I closed my eyes and felt his rapid heartbeat against my own.
I ran my fingers through his gorgeous locks. I leaned back, and our eyes met. We were about to kiss for the first time. My lips grazed his, and I savored the sensation of his soft mouth on mine. His lips were so supple that mine seemed to melt into his. He parted his lips, and I did the same. As my tongue entered his mouth, he pulled away, only giving us a brief moment to enjoy it.
“I have strong feelings for you… I just want to take it slow.” His warm gaze sank deep into my soul. “I need to take it slow.”
“Slow is nice.” I nestled my head into the crook of his shoulder while moving back and forth to encourage him to keep dancing.
“It’s late. Why don’t you stay the night? I can sleep on the couch, and you can sleep in my bed.”
My heart sank. I wanted to fall asleep in his arms. Even though he was a gentleman, my attraction to him made
me long for more. “What if we slept together?” I held my breath, hoping I didn’t push too hard.
“You mean fall asleep in each other’s arms?”
“Exactly.” I looked up into his eyes. Even though I wanted more than that, I respected his wishes to take it slow.
He kissed me on the lips. This time, it was almost long enough for me to slip my tongue into his mouth. Before I could, he ended the kiss and said, “That sounds like heaven.”
And it was.
Chapter 27
Afew days later, the dream of Gabe giving me a mind-blowing orgasm proved that I’d fallen for him. Just as I climaxed, I woke with moist panties. Panting, I stared at the ceiling and ran my fingers through my sweaty hair.
I curled up in the fetal position, wishing the body pillow was Gabe’s muscular body next to mine. Squeezing the soft fabric, I growled into it, knowing I’d be away from him for days.
I showered. In the middle of reminiscing about the erotic dream, Leo entered my thoughts. It must have been caused by the guilt I felt for not making sure he understood we were just friends. I needed to talk to Leo before Gabe and I became lovers.
I had kissed Leo once. It was a sweet kiss meant to console his broken heart after Marta’s death. Even though he never asked me on a date, we had met for dinner a couple of times and gotten to know each other better. I made sure he had recovered from losing Marta, who was a close friend of his. By the time he made a full recovery, we had become good friends. I couldn’t see him being anything else to me. He was destined to stay in my friend zone. Because he occasionally flirted with me, I got the impression he wouldn’t mind crossing over into the boyfriend side, but I never encouraged him.
It was just a matter of time before Gabe and I became intimate. I owed it to my friend Leo to let him know that we were just friends. I didn’t want to lose him as a friend, but this was going to be tricky. After all, his emotional state would be vulnerable after dealing with his brother’s death, and I needed to be careful.
City in the Middle Page 17