by Vicki Essex
“I’m right here.” Her head popped up next to Simon’s, and she smiled at him.
Blood rushed southward at the sight of her. He made a pretense of setting his tools down while he readjusted himself.
“Awfully hot in here to be studying, isn’t it?”
“We needed a break, and Simon said he had to check on the kittens.” The mewls of the quickly growing kittens chorused together and she said, “No, not that way, little guy.”
“You two be careful up there.” He fought the urge to climb up and join them, but he didn’t want to look like he was trying to avoid her, either. He ended up dawdling on the ground level, pacing and looking for something to keep him occupied.
“Jeez, Dad, lighten up. I promise I won’t throw any tools down or nothing.”
“How did your quiz go?” he asked.
“Okay. Animal Farm is a lot more interesting than The Tempest.”
Tiffany popped up holding a black kitten. “‘Four legs good, two legs bad,’” she bleated, waving the kitten’s feet in the air.
Simon laughed, picked up his own kitten and countered, “‘Four legs good, two legs better.’” They dueled with the two kittens and their extended paws.
Chris laughed. He climbed the ladder and found the rest of the kittens frolicking around the seated pair, sniffing their visitors and nipping at their heels. Shadow was probably off stalking a mouse somewhere.
Tiffany was wearing a sky-blue cotton T-shirt and khaki shorts with roman sandals. Her hair had been tied back into a ponytail. A black kitten nestled in her lap. It yawned and snuggled deeper as she rubbed its belly. Damn lucky animal.
“I think he likes you,” Simon said.
Chris whipped his head around. Was he that obvious? He realized then that his son had meant the cat.
“He’s such a sweetie,” Tiffany cooed, stroking the little guy’s head. “He’s so gentle, too.”
“He’s in need of a home,” Chris said, looking to Simon for confirmation. “You could adopt him, Tiffany.”
Simon nodded eagerly. “Yeah, that would be cool. We’re going to have to give these guys away....” He rubbed a gray tabby under his chin and laughed as the kitten chirruped and purred.
“Well, not all of them,” Chris said. “You’ve done a really good job with them, Simon. They all made it, they all look healthy and you kept the loft clean, too. I said I’d let you keep one. Shadow could use some help keeping the mice out of the barn.” His son’s face lit up. “Take your pick.”
“This one,” he said without hesitation as he snuggled the tabby closer. “I’ll name her Clover, like the horse in Animal Farm.” He grinned up at his father. “Have you read it? It’s a great book.”
Chris could have sworn he heard the “Hallelujah” chorus. He never thought he’d hear those words out of his son’s mouth. “It’s been a while. I’ll have to see if I can find my old copy.”
Tiffany met his eyes, smiling with pride.
“So, what do you think, Tiff? That little guy there is yours if you want him,” he told her. “I know you’d take good care of him.”
Her smile softened. “I can’t.” She lifted the bundle out of her lap, hugging it and then setting it back down. The kitten tried to climb back into her lap but Tiffany stood and swept the straw from her shorts. “I can’t take him to my parents’ house. My mother’s allergic to animal fur. And I won’t be able to bring him back to New York with me.” The kitten butted his head against her ankle and meowed in protest. She smiled ruefully at him. “It’ll be hard for me to find a place that’ll accept pets. And even then, he won’t have a place like this. He’ll have four walls and if he’s lucky, a window where he can watch a brick wall age. It wouldn’t be fair.”
She was being practical, he knew, and he expected practical from Tiffany. As he watched regret and longing play across her face, he’d never realized how easy, in fact, she was to read. He’d always thought of her as being stony and stoic. But there were tiny tells. When had he started to see them?
Or was he seeing something he wished he could?
“Well, if you change your mind...”
“I won’t.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s getting late. I promised my grandmother I’d help with dinner tonight, so I better get back. Good work today, Simon.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow.” He picked up Clover and waved goodbye with her tiny paw as the kitten meowed her own farewell.
Chris watched her cross the loft, her steps slower than usual and...was she swaying her hips? She climbed down the ladder and got as far as the bottom rung when he hurried after her.
“Wait.” He clambered down, then gestured toward the door. They exited together. “We can work something out if you really want him.”
Her eyes locked with his. A flush rushed into her cheeks and she glanced up...at his lips? He licked them, throat suddenly dry. “Of course I want him.” The words came out a little breathy.
A surge of lust kicked Chris in the abdomen. She went on forlornly, “I’ve always wanted a cat. But I can’t make that commitment. I can’t take him with me.”
“Cats can have very fulfilling lives indoors.” Though he had a hard time imagining any of the barn cats being cooped up inside some tiny apartment.
“I wouldn’t want Simon to know Mack’s stuck inside all day. And then there’re all the food and vet bills...” She shook her head. “It’s more trouble than it’s worth. I really, really like him, but I can’t keep him.”
“Mack?”
She lifted a shoulder. “He plowed straight into my ankle like a little truck and nearly knocked me over. The name stuck.”
“Well, that’s a sign if ever I’ve seen one. Naming an animal you’re going to give away? You two were meant to be.”
“I can’t.” She pouted, making Chris want to kiss her frown away.
“That’s too bad. He would have been good company.” Tiffany could use an animal companion in her life. Someone she could lavish her affection upon, who’d love her back unconditionally and not judge her. She needed that in her life.
“Do you think...” she said. “Would it be okay if I came over to play?”
Trapped in her softly imploring gaze, Chris stared as her lush lips parted slightly and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, fingertips tracing down her neck.
Were they still talking about the cat? Something weird was happening inside him. A spring coiled in his abdomen. But this was way stronger than simple lust. He swallowed hard, trying to push down the feeling.
“Chris?” She tilted her chin. “What do you think?”
“Of course,” he replied a little too brightly, a little too loudly. He shoved his trembling hands into his pockets to keep from reaching out and hauling her into his arms. “Anytime. Come play with us. Him.” He bit his tongue as he blurted, “The kitten. Come and play with the kitten anytime you like.”
Her smile was wide and sly, and she lowered her eyes. “Thank you.” She reached out and touched him, her fingertips lightly sliding along his forearm, electrifying his bare skin. “I love how soft he is. I don’t know if I can help myself if I start stroking him. I can’t wait to come again.”
She turned and walked away then—no, more like prowled—with only the briefest glance over her shoulder as she said, “’Bye.”
Chris couldn’t move. He was afraid if he did, he’d trip on his hanging jaw.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“DANNY BOY!”
Daniel looked around at the sea of faces in the arrivals area at Grand Central Station. It took him a moment, but he finally recognized his old college roommate. “Isaac, my God, man. You’ve lost weight.”
“It’s the rat race that keeps me thin,” he said with a hearty laugh. They clapped each other on the back. “C’mon, my car’s this way.”
“Thanks for putting me up for the weekend,” Daniel said as they made their way out of the station. He knew he needed to get away from his thoughts about Selena, and his class reu
nion was a good enough excuse to take a few days off from the diner. Although, in hindsight, coming to the city she lived in was probably a poorly thought-out strategy.
“Hey, I’ve been waiting to christen that guest bed for months, and you’ve turned down all my invitations to hang out so far. I wasn’t even sure if you were coming to the reunion.”
Daniel grimaced guiltily. He hadn’t kept up with his friend nearly enough. “I wasn’t sure I could get away.”
“You must have one hell of a restaurant empire for you to be so busy.”
Daniel felt small. “Just the one restaurant, actually. Family owned and operated.”
“Must be doing well.” Isaac didn’t hold it against him one way or another.
“Oh, it is.”
“You could open a second one here in Manhattan, start a franchise. I saw this property for lease in Nolita that would be perfect.”
That was Isaac, always looking to grow, to expand. He lived large, dreamed big and never went halfway with anything. “The cost and competition would be too high here.”
“Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I helped open a small chain of roti restaurants in Brooklyn. They’re taking off. Here’s my car.” He hit the automatic lock button on his key chain and the late-model Mercedes blinked and bleeped as the alarm disabled.
“Nice. You lease?”
“Comped. Lot of perks for working at Halo.” It was one of the largest marketing and PR firms in the country, and had been built up from a grassroots organization that had made its money helping small businesses become big ones. “I keep telling you to come back to the city.”
Daniel shrugged. “I’m not sure it’s for me.”
“You won’t know till you try it. Did I mention I get a bonus for hiring on anyone who stays with the company for more than six months?” He flashed a wide grin. “I wouldn’t mind making it to Maui before I turn thirty-five.”
They pulled out of the station and into city traffic. It was a nice car, sure, but Daniel wondered whether it was worth owning a vehicle in Manhattan. They caught up along the way, talking about old times, old friends. Isaac announced he’d taken the whole weekend off to host his old roommate. Daniel’s guilt tripled—he’d barely made time for a drink the last time he was here. Mostly because he’d been visiting Selena.
“So, are you still dating that doctor?” Isaac asked on cue.
It took a moment for Daniel to get his throat working. “No. Not really. We’re kind of in the middle of... No,” he finally admitted.
“Aww, man. Sorry to hear that. Was it recent?”
“Last Monday.”
“Ouch. What happened?”
“It just didn’t work.” He didn’t want to hash it all out in the car. This weekend was supposed to be about forgetting Selena and rediscovering himself. He’d decided moping wouldn’t help him get over her. Coming to the city, reconnecting with his college chums and finding a decent hookup was exactly what he needed.
Isaac must have sensed the direction of his thoughts because he knew exactly what to say. “Some of the old gang are meeting up at a pub down in midtown tonight. We’ll get some food, then head out for some drinks. Sound good?”
“Sounds perfect.”
They dropped off Daniel’s stuff at Isaac’s swank condo, went to their favorite deli from their college years, then hit the pub.
A few of the guys were already there and well into their cups. Daniel nursed his whiskey and soda slowly as he listened to the guys tell stories about their jobs, their families, their various sexual conquests. More people showed up and their party grew until their graduating class had commandeered a quarter of the pub’s seats. Many of the guys had brought their significant others to the city, but had left them at their respective hotels. This night was about getting the old boys together.
The drinks flowed freely. People exchanged whiskey for martinis, martinis for beer, beer for shots. The waitresses came around frequently, smiling and flirting. Guys in nice dress shirts and well-tailored pants were where the tips were at.
By ten-thirty, Daniel was starting to get a little tired. “I think I’m going to go,” he told Isaac.
“What? So early?”
“You stay. I can get your key and leave it with the concierge.”
“Danny boy, don’t do this to me. I finally get you back in the city and you’re already crying off like you have to go study. You never have any fun, man.” Isaac slid an arm around his shoulder and squeezed. “You’re always leaving early to do some work, going home to your parents, acting all responsible. I’ve never even seen you drunk.”
“That’s ’cause you always pass out before I do,” he countered. “Remember that one time after finals at Carl’s place? I was the only one left standing.”
“So you claim.”
“Well, I was the only one who still made it to the bathroom before the tequila came up.” He’d also been the only one sober enough to make sure no one was drowning in their own vomit. It was one of the many reasons why he didn’t drink like that anymore.
Isaac ignored his arguments and turned to address the whole table. “Guys, guys—is Daniel too serious?”
A chorus of yeses and hell, yeses came back.
His friend fixed him with an arch look. “Look, man. I don’t want you hanging out all alone in my big, empty apartment nursing a broken heart. You need to be out here. You need to loosen up, drown your sorrows, find a soft bosom to smother them in. Besides—” he grabbed Daniel’s chin and pointed his face toward a group of young ladies watching them from the corner “—I need a wing man for those fine Asian honeys.”
“You are such a rice king.” Daniel pushed him off. The girls giggled and waved them over. Isaac made a whimpering sound and gave him big, pleading puppy-dog eyes. “Fine. I’ll stay for one more drink.”
“One more drink!” Isaac hollered, and the guys at the table all cheered. He pushed Daniel onto a stool and a line of shot glasses full of clear liquid appeared. With a shrug, he picked one up, toasted to his memory of Selena and downed the tequila.
* * *
IF HE FOCUSED HARD ENOUGH, Daniel was certain he could regain control of the ship he was sailing and ride through smoother waters.
Or was he on a plane? That dippy up-and-down feeling in his stomach suggested he was, but maybe the boat was crashing through some waves.
The world weaved and blurred before him. Helluva storm. He kept on swimming—flying?—though, and knew he’d get to where he needed to be soon. He could never forget this street, never forget her. She was his true north, his guiding star....
The stoop was solid beneath the soles of his shoes. He climbed to the top, experiencing a tremendous sense of achievement when he managed to find the right buzzer and push it. It was a miracle he could even hold his finger on the button the way the boat was rocking.
“Who is this?” a voice rough with sleep snapped.
“Hey, babe. Open the door. It’s me.”
A long pause. “Daniel?”
“I...I came to talk to you....” He leaned his forehead against the blessedly cool metal plate of the intercom speaker. Selena’s voice buzzing through the perforated surface was like the softest kiss. He smiled and mashed his face harder against the speaker.
“What the hell? It’s three in the morning. Are you drunk?”
“Don’t be silly. I’ve got the constitution of a horse. A sea horse. Neeiigh.” He belched, tasting the deli sandwich he’d had at dinner.
“Goddammit, Daniel...”
“Listen, listen, listen...I came to New York to find myself and...and I couldn’t. I’m lost, Selena. Lost without you.”
“For God’s sake...hold on.” The intercom went abruptly silent. Daniel leaned harder on it, wishing Selena was still bussing him on the cheek. He missed her.
The door opened and someone clamped a strong hand over his arm and hauled him inside. He tripped over his own feet as Selena pulled him up the stairs, landing hard on his butt
on the third step.
“Don’t you make me carry your ass up,” she hissed. “And don’t make me yell at you in the middle of the hallway, either. People are trying to sleep.”
He put his finger to his lips, giggling, sealing his promise to shut up and behave. He dutifully got to his feet, grabbed the banister and climbed the stairs to Dr. Selena Worthington’s apartment.
Even tipsy, Daniel remembered every inch of this place. Mostly because they’d made love across every inch of it. Right here in the doorway, he’d pressed her up against the wall as they’d stripped each other naked. They’d barely been able to pull their shoes off. They’d taken it from there to the living room couch, then the floor, then the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen...
As soon as she’d shut the door behind them, she glared at him, arms folded across her chest. Her wavy dark brown hair was a mess, but her eyes flashed with fire. A short black satin bathrobe was wrapped tightly around her, but he could see her bare legs. He’d forgotten she liked to sleep nude.
“Why are you here?”
He tried to recall, but then it came back in a sobering rush. “I came to tell you...I’m sorry. I’m not worth it, and I should have seen it earlier.”
The lines between her eyebrows deepened. “You came to tell me this at three in the morning?”
“I don’t have a watch.” He pointed at his wrist, but then saw that he was, in fact, wearing a watch. “Oh.”
“You’re drunk,” she observed stonily.
“I only had a few drinks. Wee little ones like this.” He pinched the air. “Great stuff. Grows hair on your chest, see?” He pulled at his collar, trying to show her, but his fingers caught on the button and it popped out and hit her in the face. Uh-oh.
Selena huffed and pushed him toward the couch. “Sit. Or lie down, I don’t care. But if you’re going to vomit, you get to the bathroom, you hear? I don’t want stains on my sofa or carpet.”
“You never worried about stains before.”
Her cheeks tinted pink and she spun away and headed for the kitchen. She came back shortly with a tall glass of water and a sleeve of saltines. “Here.”