Page 45 of The Flirtation
“And how does that work, exactly? Do you go out with them a few times and then decide it’s not a match and part ways, amicably? Do you leave it open-ended?”
“It’s always amicable. On my part,anyway.”
“Is that so. How nice. And these amicable women, are they from your neighborhood? Do you meet them through work,or?”
“Oh no, I’d never date a woman that I knew through work.” He wasgrinning.
“Smartman.”
“What is it exactly that you’d like to know,Avery?”
“Only wondering how a busy man such as yourself manages to juggle his work and social life with such…je ne saisquoi.”
He studied my face for a minute, then took my hand. “Look, if you’re wondering whether or not I’m a bachelor—I am. If you’re wondering whether or not there’s someone special waiting for me back in London—there is not. You and I are not so unlike, believe it or not. I am very much work-focused. I must admit I’ve only been dating women who don’t live in England lately, so there would be an easy excuse for the relationship not workingout.”
My heart sank. “Oh.”
He suddenly realized I wasn’t from England. “But that’s not what thisis!”
“No, I know, it’s not even arelationship.”
“That’s not what I meant, I mean I’m not hoping that it won’t work out withyou.”
“You know what we don’t have to talk about it it’sfine.”
“Avery.”
“No really, I totally get it. That’s a brilliant strategy. You go out of town for your little mini-breaks or whatever you call it, with your out of town lady friends and then you go home to work during the week. Cut and dry, black and white. Verysmart.”
“It really is different withyou.”
“Uhhuh.”
“Sorry, I know that sounds like a line. Please believeme.”
“I don’t want to ruin things by talking about it—let’s just—hey you want to meet Mr.Potter?!”
In an attempt to evade a discussion regarding the future of our relationship, I brought out the Magic Wand. I had only intended to hold it up so Luke could see what it looked like, but Luke had something else in mind…I almost passed out…From laughing sohard.
I unplugged Mr. Potter, hid him in the back of my closet, and was about to let Luke give me an orgasm the old-fashioned way when I realized I’d left my laptop at the office. I’d never been without my laptop before. It was like losing a limb. A limb that contained all of my most important documents and contact information for our wealthyclients.
I had only been sleeping with Luke for a few days and I’d already lost mymind.
I was so panicked I couldn’t form sentences. “Nuh! Laptop…office! Ommigod.” I jumped up and ran around like a maniac, putting on my heavy coat, my snow boots. It was still snowing. I was trying to decide if I should order a car or take the subway. “Can’t…you stay. Sleep. Igo.”
“You left your laptop at the office? God. I’ll go withyou.”
“No! You stay and sleep! I’ll order a car, I’ll be like half anhour.”
“Of course I’m coming with you. I’m fine. I feel rejuvenated in your presence. I’m positively buzzing with energy, just like Mr.Potter.”
“Oh no youdidn’t.”
He took my hand. “Oh yes, darling. I did.” He pulled on his coat, wrapped his beautiful grey cashmere scarf around his neck and suddenly I didn’t feel panickyanymore.
The city wasquiet and blanketed in snow and I walked my favorite route to my office hand-in-hand with Luke, because he wanted to walk around town with me. It was romantic and cold, but cozy too—like sharing a hot fudge sundae with your sweetheart. I was so happy and it was easy to imagine what it would be like if he lived there, but it made me nervous to even allow my brain to form those images. Luke always seemed to notice when I was starting to tense up. He’d squeeze my hand, wordlessly reassuring me that all waswell.
He was even more excited to see my office than he was to meet Mr. Potter. He said he’d imagined what it might look like, having only ever seen the scene behind my desktop computer. When he saw my sofa, his eyebrow raised. He removed his coat and scarf, removed mine, put his cold hands under my sweater, and said he would do all the things he’d fantasized about doing to me on my office sofa…after he had a quick nap. He could barely see straight, the poor chap. We both managed to lay down on the sofa—spooning.
