Caroline

The shopping trip took so long that I only have time to hop in the shower and then dress fast before having to bolt back out the door. I put on my new sweater dress but don’t inspect my appearance in the mirror until I have my flats on too. Judging an outfit without shoes is like asking how the Thanksgiving turkey is without the gravy.

I assess the outfit critically. It’s great for a chill night out between friends, conveys exactly the message I want, which is “I look put together,” not “I can’t wait to put out again.”

Briefly, I wonder if I should bring up our night together after all, clear the air. Even in my mind, the conversation would sound awkward. 

Daniel, even though this was the best night—

Even though you gave me two orgasms and they were by far— 

Hmm... maybe I shouldn’t lead with that. I can see how I might give off the wrong impression if I do. Best not to bring the subject up after all.

I leave my building with a pep in my step, taking in the beautiful October evening surrounding me. Clutching my matching red purse under my arm, I stride with purpose. I live in a rather crowded section of the Richmond district, with residential units so close to one another it’s borderline claustrophobic. But I’m just a few blocks away from the Presidio, or if I’m in the mood for a long walk, I can hike up to Golden Gate Park to the north.

Some twenty minutes later, I arrive at the 14th Avenue gate entrance and find Daniel already there, pacing, hands in his pockets. He doesn’t see me approach, and I take advantage of this to study him. He appears lost in thought, a frown creasing his forehead, his five o’clock shadow more pronounced than usual. The impulse to replace that frown with a smile hits me hard. He’s not mine to make happy. Not mine. 

“Hi!” I announce myself, stopping right next to him. Daniel snaps out of his thoughts, turning to me. His handsome face breaks into a wide smile, all traces of the frown gone. Excellent.

My heart skips a beat as he bends to kiss my cheek, lingering with his lips on my skin. He presses a hand at the small of my back. An electric charge jolts right through me. Oh, God. The touch isn’t intimate at all, but maybe the details of our night together are still too fresh in my mind. I swear every nerve ending springs to life. When we pull apart, my entire body is buzzing. Way to go, Caroline. I was not expecting this assault on my senses.

I do a full turn, sashaying my hips playfully.

“Both the dress and the shoes are courtesy of your credit card and Christa’s impeccable taste.”

He assesses my appearance, a playful twinkle in his eye...

The twinkle just turned scorching hot. I can almost read the question on his lips. How about the lingerie?

Better get that out of the way. “Not wearing the lingerie you bought me. I never wear new lingerie without washing it first. Too many germs.” 

There. Nothing unsexier than germs.

If I thought that would turn him off, man, was I wrong. The corner of his lips twitch. Right, moving on.

“Let’s go before our reservation expires.”

We hike on a trail with towering trees on either sides. The smell of eucalyptus hangs in the evening air, energetic and fresh. The restaurant is chock-full when we arrive, but thankfully the wall opposite the entrance is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, which are all open. 

Feeling optimistic about the weather, I request to be seated at a table nearest to the door. Daniel is wearing a suit, so he should be fine, and I stashed a jacket in my purse.

“How was lunch with your dad?” he asks after we order.

“Nice. We’re both psyched that Niall will be here in two weekends. We’re moving the opening party of the bookstore to that Saturday, by the way.”

“Good to know.” Leaning slightly over the table, he narrows his eyes. “I’m still invited, right?”

“My dad invited you, so I can’t revoke it,” I say playfully.” Besides, you’re his top adviser. You’re basically a guest of honor. But I understand if you can’t make it. The change is very last minute.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Thanks. I’m so happy Niall will join us too. It’s been so long since we saw him.”

“He doesn’t call often, does he?”

I shrug, trying to downplay this. “He’s busy. Works like a hundred hours a week.”

“You can always make time for family.”

Well, dang. What can I say? He’s perfectly right.

The waiter arrives with the food, and damn the aromas are killing me. I ordered roasted chicken salad with sweet potato fries, and Daniel ordered a steak. Sighing, I dig into my sweet potato fries, and we spend the next fifteen minutes or so in companionable silence as we wolf down our food. When my plate is empty, I still feel like voicing one more thought. I didn’t say anything today to Dad or Niall because I didn’t want to make them sad, but I need to say it out loud.

“I miss Mom so much.”

“Tough thing, losing your mom. Lucky you’ve got mine, who fusses over you just like my sisters. She was all over me this week. ‘Don’t forget to call her. Buy her a nice present. Cheer her up. It’s her first birthday without her mom.’” He mimics his mother’s tone, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Ah, so that’s why you bought me presents,” I say playfully, touched at Jenna’s thoughtfulness.

He wiggles his eyebrows. “The lingerie was all my idea.”

“I bet.” I shift a little in my chair, feeling heat heading low in my body like an arrow. Suddenly, the table feels tiny. Is there really less than a foot between us?

Under the table, Daniel cradles my legs between his. There are two layers of fabric between us—his pants and my pantyhose—but the contact electrifies me as if it were skin-on-skin.

I change the subject before we head into dangerous territory, turning the tables on him.

“How are you doing?” I inquire. “Troubles at work? You looked worried when I arrived.”

“You got that?”

“Yeah.” A gust of wind rustles the trees around us, and I retrieve the flimsy jacket from my purse, shrugging into it. Doesn’t help much, unfortunately.

“You’re the birthday girl, so no talking about me.”

“Not fair. I can’t go on talking about me the entire night.”

“Oh, this is going to be an all-night event?” He flashes me his best grin, the one that sends my senses into overdrive.

“Not what I meant. Came out wrong.”

His grin becomes even wider. “Freudian slip?”

“Daniel!”

As another gust of wind rushes past us, I shudder. My flimsy jacket is useless. I run my hands up and down my arms to warm myself up, but it’s not working. Then Daniel rises from his seat, draping his own jacket over my shoulders.

“It’s not so chilly,” I protest, but oh boy, is the jacket cozy. Smells like him too, which is a bonus.

“It is, and you’re cold,” Daniel says in a tone that allows no argument. “You still don’t know how to dress weather-appropriate, I see.”

As my gaze meets his, I am certain he’s rehashing the same memory I am. Our first night together, the walk home where he gave me his jacket and his socks. The hot shower, the even hotter sex.

“Don’t worry. I won’t invite myself into your shower. Unless you want me to.”

I let out a nervous laugh, averting my gaze. “This escalated quickly.” My own fault, I suppose, for thinking we could keep this platonic. Squaring my shoulders, I gather my wits around me and look straight at him. “I’m the birthday girl, remember? You’re not allowed to make me uncomfortable.”

“Whatever the birthday girl wishes.” A smile is playing on his lips, and I instantly become suspicious. He’s letting me off the hook too easily, but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Since neither of us wants dessert and the walk to the edge of the park will take a while, we decide to call it a night.

“I’m walking you home,” Daniel announces as we reach the exit of the Presidio. Maybe not the best idea, but I’m not ready to say good night yet.  

“It’s seven blocks away. We can walk or take a cab. Unless you came with your car?”

“Nah, cab. Let’s take one.”

On the way home, I talk his ear off about the neighborhood, then point out my school, which is halfway between the park and my apartment. By the time we climb out of the cab in front of my building, I’m still not ready to say good night. But it’s the smart thing to do.

I shrug out of his jacket, hand it back to him.

“Thank you for the jacket and the evening. And the presents, of course. It was a fantastic birthday. I didn’t have much time to be melancholic about Mom, thanks to you.”

Daniel smiles warmly. “That was the point.”

“Wow, so you did have a master plan behind the shopping spree idea. And here I thought you were just hoping to see me in sexy lingerie.”

“I was. Still am.” He steps so close our chests almost touch. A shiver runs through me, and I’d love to blame the chilly wind for it, but it’s Daniel’s fault. It’s all Daniel. He rubs my arms with his hands, resting one on my shoulder, feathering his thumb in the crook of my neck. My mouth goes dry... unlike other parts of me. My pulse quickens. Oh God, can he feel it?

***

Daniel

I remember the first time I realized the connection between Caroline and me was more than friendship. Blake had been in a minor accident because of a fraternity dare. I was outside the campus infirmary, and the waiting was turning me insane. Caroline joined me the second I told her what happened, and just having her with me made everything so much easier. She said the right things to put me at ease, even made me laugh. She knew exactly what I needed, and I realized she was more than a friend.

After Blake came out, with a bandaged arm and a shit-happens attitude, Caroline came with us to the apartment I shared with Blake. It was late, so I suggested she sleep in my bed. In the second it took me to add that I’d sleep on the couch in my room, her cheeks were red.

Just like now. 

There are two things I love about Caroline’s Irish heritage. One, her clumsy attempts to perform traditional Irish dances at weddings. She’s hopeless at it, but adorable to watch. Two, she blushes like a redhead. Even though she inherited her father’s dark hair, her mom was a redhead, and Caroline inherited her light skin. Right now, even her scalp has a reddish hue.

“Which one’s your favorite?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“The lingerie. Which set is your favorite?”

She clears her throat, fiddles with her thumb. “The black one.”

“My favorite is the white set.”

Exerting self-restraint while choosing her presents wasn’t easy. I wanted to buy the entire damn floor. I saw the white set first and knew it was perfect for her. I can easily imagine her wearing it. My favorite part is the bra clasp in the front. I’d flick it open, and her breasts would spill right into my mouth.

“I was sure. You were always a fan of clasps in the front.” 

When our gazes cross, she makes a small noise at the back of her throat. Fuck me. She’s thinking the exact same thing.

“I bet the red one looks sexy as hell. All that lace,” I continue, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her breathing becomes more labored when my thumb brushes her neck. “Is it comfortable? Or does it... graze your skin?”

I trace a small line up her neck, and she presses her thighs together as if she felt my touch straight there. Oh fuck, fuck, fuck. It was a light reaction, but I saw it, and she knows I did.

“It’s comfortable. There’s no lace on the inside. Just cotton.”

“Everywhere?”

She swallows hard, avoiding my eyes and laughing nervously. “Everywhere.”

A few drops of rain splatter on the asphalt. One lands straight on her nose, making her jump.

“Head inside before you catch a cold,” I say.

Her eyes widen in surprise. I bet she was expecting me to push more, ask her to invite me upstairs. Any other time I would, but this has been an emotional day for her, and I won’t take advantage. She’s so responsive to me that I know how easy this night could end between the sheets. But that’s not what I want, or what she deserves. Our connection is still here, always has been, we just fought hard to ignore it. It’s how I knew she needed a distraction today, how she could tell I’m worried without even asking. We’ve had another incident with photos leaking, and I’m coming to a conclusion I don’t like at all.

“Yeah, sure. Okay. Have a nice evening.”

“Any other plans for tonight?”

She grins. “Oh yeah, I have a date. Really hot dude. Potty mouth, six-pack, hypnotic blue eyes. Pity he’s on screen and doesn’t even know I exist.”

“You still binge-watch TV shows?”

“Of course. Once a TV junkie, always a TV junkie.”

“I’ll leave you to your date.”

Taking her hand, I kiss her knuckles, then watch her enter her building.

We need to have that conversation, but I promised I wouldn’t bring it up today, and she’s still the birthday girl. For a few more hours.