CHAPTER SIX
Ainsley
I went back home feeling strangely disconnected. I had loved seeing Drake and spending time with him. And discovering he was still vegetarian, at least, had been a funny kind of relief.
It's been eight years and we still do exactly what we always did.
That was the weirdest part. How quickly the past eight years had gone ceased to be important, replaced by the joy we took from being together again.
“I wonder if we should go for coffee?”
I asked it of my reflection on the way past the mirror. I shrugged. Why not? But did I really want to go opening all this up again? All this hurt?
I sat down on the sofa with my feet up and considered the problem. As I sat there, I heard my phone make a message noise.
Could it be..? I checked. Sure enough, it was Drake.
Hi Ainsley. I hope you're not mad at me. See you for coffee at Roast and Ready tomorrow?
I felt my heart start to beat faster. I was excited, despite my misgivings about Drake. I messaged back. Great. Eleven am? It's my treat. You won the bet.
I sent it and then wondered if I was being too candid too soon. After all, this new Drake wasn't the guy I remembered. Or was he? I was actually too curious to miss the opportunity of seeing him again.
In a few seconds a reply flashed back.
Awesome. See you then.
I felt my cheeks lift in a big smile.
At ten-forty the next day I was driving down the road, worrying yet again if my hair looked right. I'd tried something a bit different – a kind of plaited bun that I was hoping was sophisticated and un-frumpy. Come on, A. You look fine. Let go of that rubbish Keith said. I was doing my best to do that. I had dressed in a new cream blouse, smart slacks and a tan leather jacket. With all that and the hairstyle, I was aiming for a sophisticated but simple elegance. I glanced in the rear-view mirror, hoping I'd managed that.
“Roast and Ready...here we go,” I glanced at my GPS as it directed me down Flagler Street and to the place in question. “Right. Now where to park?”
Fifteen minutes later, my heart in my stomach, I was standing on the doorstep of the stylish modern cafe, looking to see if I could spot Drake.
Stay cool, Ainsley.
My hands were sweating and my heart was thumping and I felt as if all the butterflies in Florida had taken residence inside my tummy. All the same, I would have to look cool, calm and collected. I took a deep breath and headed over the threshold. Looking for Drake.
There!
I spotted a head of curly black hair in the back, bent over an iPad. I licked dry lips, stilled my beating heart and headed across the floor toward the table.
“Hello?”
Drake looked up absently. Then he saw me and smiled. He was wearing a semi-formal suit, jeans and a cardigan. He looked amazing.
“Hi,” he said. He stood and shook my hand and we sat down.
I looked around at the other stylish-looking patrons, composing my thoughts. Journalists swapping leads, businesspeople taking a break and a magazine-issue family. The place was quiet and genuine. A nice choice.
“It's a nice day,” I commented, inclining my head toward the windows on my right.
“Yeah.” Drake smiled at me in that special way he had – eyes crinkled at the corners, brown depths glowing softly. “Glad you could make it.”
“I'm glad too,” I said. Dammit, my throat was getting tight again and my tummy all fluttery.
“Ready to order?” The waiter said, rescuing me temporarily from my awkwardness. Why did the infernal man across me have to be so stunning? It was distracting.
“Um, yeah.” Drake looked at me and I nodded. “Two cappuccinos, please.”
It was only after the waiter had gone that I glanced sideways at Drake. “You remembered,” I said.
He laughed. “Of course I remembered,” he said softly. “How could I forget the sight of you with cappuccino foam on the end of your nose?”
I felt my heart melt. “You remember that?”
“Of course,” he nodded. “You were so mad at me.”
“Only because you left it there!” I was laughing now, the memory as clear as if it had been yesterday. “I walked around town like that for a couple hours before I saw it in the mirror.”
“I couldn't tell you – it was too cute.”
We both laughed at the memory. I had blown up at him and refused to talk to him for about fifteen minutes, and then we had looked at each other and both burst out laughing. It had been a lovely day. And then that night we had...
I stopped. I very much didn't want to think about that now. Didn't want to remember lying under him on the bed with him thrusting slowly into me, seeking out all my special spots with his slow, careful penetration. It had been the most amazing night. My body still shivered at the thought of it.
“Ainsley?”
“Uh...what?” I asked. My voice was hoarse and I cleared my throat, frustrated with myself.
“I just wanted to ask if you were working this week?”
“Um, no,” I said. The waiter appeared and left the cappuccinos in front of us, bringing two nice-looking cookies as well. He seemed to sense our closeness for he disappeared without a word.
“Oh.” Drake smiled. “Well, then. If you're not busy, could I tempt you to a dinner?”
I stared at him. Swallowed on a throat gone dry with sudden excitement. “I don't see why not,” I said, with an attempt at coyness. He laughed.
“Well, then. That's settled. Tonight at seven-thirty. At The Drover?”
“Sure,” I nodded. “I've heard good things about that place.”
“It's very good,” he said, taking his coffee and taking a big sip, sighing appreciatively. “Ah. That's really great.”
He took his teaspoon and ate a little of the foam and I tried hard not to watch the spoon disappear between those well-shaped, mobile lips. I tried even harder not to imagine them clamped on my nipple, as they had been in the past, but I failed. My whole body shivered at the thought.
“It's a work-related thing?” I asked, trying to distract myself from the overwhelming sexiness of the man.
“Um, no,” he said, setting the spoon aside with a click on the saucer. “I just wanted to see you.”
“Oh.”
I felt my body glow with pleasure. I wanted to see him too, I realized. So much. I wanted to bring him back into my life. But I also wanted to understand what he'd done with his life.
Just then, his phone rang. He looked at it, then frowned. “Sorry, Ainsley,” he said. “I got to take this.”
“Sure,” I said, shrugging. He headed outside with the phone. I couldn't hear anything he said, but as I watched him through the long window onto the sidewalk I could see his posture was hunched and worried.
I wonder what that's all about. Probably some issues with his clients.
I let my mind wander as I sat there with my cappuccino held loosely between my hands. I allowed myself to contemplate, just a little, those wonderful memories of being with Drake. The sweet naughty things he did to me with his hands and tongue and mouth. The way he had held me as if I was precious and valuable. The way he kissed me with such passion and pushed inside me with all the longing I could imagine.
I sighed aloud. One of the customers looked at me oddly and I flushed with delicious shame.
I was still sipping my coffee – trying to make it last – when he came back. He smiled in my direction but I could see he was worried about something. His eyes had that hooded look and his jaw was set.
“Sorry about that,” he repeated, drawing back his chair and sitting down opposite me. “Something came up at work. Something urgent.”
“Is it bad?” I asked, feeling a sudden sadness. “I mean – should you go deal with it now, or something?”
“No,” he said with a big sigh. “It's not that bad. I don't think it's something that deserves my Sunday. Especially not this one.”
I felt a glow of warmth, like a candle was burning in my chest, melting my insides. “Oh.” I smiled.
He nodded as if he'd read my mind. “Indeed.”
Lifting his cappuccino, he took a big drink and then set it down. He smiled at me. I could see he was trying not to laugh.
“What?” I said indignantly, though my cheeks were also lifting in a grin.
“Should I tell you?” he asked, his lopsided smile warming my heart. “Or should I just fix it?”
He fished into his pocket for a tissue and, reaching across, dabbed my nose. I felt my heart soften and then I was laughing too, though it was a laughter tinged with nostalgia.
“Oh, Drake,” I sighed when he had finished. “It's been too long.”
“Yes,” he said with a smile. “It has.”
We sat looking at each other for about a minute and the whole cafe could have caught on fire just then – I don't think either of us would have noticed. There was so much to say and no words to say it – just the look was enough.
“So,” he said raggedly. “I'll see you tonight, will I?”
I swallowed. “Yes.”
We finished our coffee and ate the cookies. Crumbly and buttery, they were remarkably good. I felt relieved as it took the edge off my hunger. Not that my hunger for something else wasn't suddenly growing and building inside me. I wondered idly if I'd ever have the chance to satisfy that one.
“Ainsley?” he said softly.
I flushed, worrying that perhaps he had read my mind and seen all the naughty things I was imagining right then. “What?”
“Shall we get the bill?”
I laughed. “Don't you dare, Mr. Leblanc. I'm paying. It was my bet, remember?”
He smiled at me with peculiar sweetness. “Okay,” he said. “If you insist.”
“I do.”
We hailed the waiter and he came over and I paid. Drake laughed. Then, with my soul soaring, we headed out together onto the sidewalk.
Outside, Drake turned toward me.
“See you tonight?” he asked.
I gulped. This was the closest he'd stood to me in eight years. He took his hand in mine and I didn't resist.
“Yeah,” I said softly. “See you then.”
He nodded and leaned closer and for a heart-stopping moment I thought he was going to kiss me. Then he turned quickly away, heading up the sidewalk.
I watched those broad shoulders disappear into the crowd and felt a tingle building up deep inside my belly, lifting and growing and spreading right through me. I was going on a date with Drake after all.