It wasn’t till she went to climb into her car that she remembered he still had her panties.
* * *
Reality returned the next day with a job interview. Nearing completion of her law degree, she’d been sending out resumes all over the place. Today she had an interview at one of her top three picks for where she wanted to work.
It took every bit of control she had to push Carter to the back of her mind and focus on the interview questions, and on the questions she asked them.
When she emerged from the office building onto the sunny sidewalk, relief made her feel as if she could float away. She hoped it had gone well. They’d been impressed with her work in South America, at least.
She dug her cell phone out of her purse and turned it on, and it immediately beeped, signaling a text waiting.
Where are you? Carter.
She smiled.
Downtown.
Come to the shop and I’ll take you for dinner.
Her steps slowed as she walked to her car, gazing at the phone in her hand. It was five o’clock. He shouldn’t just assume she had no dinner plans like that. She had half a mind to text him back and tell him no.
But why play stupid games, when she didn’t really have plans, and she really did want to see him again?
Okay. Be there in five.
She found a parking spot just off Cabrillo, around the corner from Karma Coffee. When she walked into the shop, though, Carter was nowhere to be seen.
“Can I help you?” The barista was young and pretty, with spiky short dark hair and a name tag that read “Juliet”.
“Is Carter here?”
“Yes, he is, he’s down in his office. Do you want to go down there?”
“Sure.” Juliet indicated the door that led to the stairs, which Danya already knew, and she started toward it, but just then, Carter emerged. She loved the broad smile that flashed when he spotted her.
He looked her up and down. “Wow,” he said slowly.
She looked down at the ivory suit she wore—slim skirt, fitted jacket buttoned up, pearls at her throat.
“You look different.” His eyes fell to her feet. “Love the shoes.”
She liked the shoes too, tan stiletto pumps that flattered her legs. She loved heels, though she rarely wore them.
“I had a job interview.”
“Really?” He lifted a brow. “Tell me about it over dinner.”
“Okay. Where are we going?”
“Well, I thought Amigos, but now seeing you, I think we’ll go to Insatiable.”
“We’ll never get in there.”
“Sure we will.” He grinned. “I know the owner. They serve Karma Coffee there.”
She gave him a slow smile back. “You’re quite the entrepreneur, aren’t you?”
“I try.”