Page 18 of Champagne Kisses
There’s a pause and I wonder if the call got disconnected.
“Hello? Did I lose you?”
“No, I’m still here," he says tentatively. "I’m just surprised you’re still in the area. I thought you'd be back in the city by now.”
“Driving at night isn’t my favorite, so I decided to stay and check out a few venues in the area.”
More silence. Why did he call if he wasn't going to talk?
“So…Was there a problem with the flutes?” I ask, eager to wrap up the world's most awkward conversation.
“The favors were a hit. I, uh…I was actually calling to apologize for my rudeness yesterday. I’m normally more charming, I promise.”
I’m even more confused now, because Adam sounds downrightnervous. And this is the first time a client has ever called to apologize, though I also don’t normally give out my phone number. I'm not sure how to respond.
“Uh, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“No, it’snotfine,” he says more firmly. “That’s why I called."
"OK…Well…Apology accepted," I say. I can hear movement, like he's shifting in his chair.
"I was hoping…since you're still around…maybe I could make it up to you with a coffee before you head out?...Or lunch? If youhave time.” He clears his throat, obviously nervous now. Could this be the return of "Flirty Adam"? I don't answer right away, and he quickly backpedals.
“It’s no big deal, really. I just know my Mom would have my butt if she knew I didn’t at least offer after you drove all this way.” That gets a chuckle out of me and I soften towards this chivalrous near-stranger.
“Ok," I reply. "I guess I have to eat.”
We set a time and a place before disconnecting. What do I wear to breakfast with the leading man in one of my steamiest fantasies?
Chapter nine
Adam
Iarrive ten minutes before Maya and I are scheduled to meet to ensure we get a good table and to calm my nerves. I can't afford to freeze again when I specifically invited her to breakfast.
Maya shows up to the beachfront restaurant wearing a navy skirt that twirls around her generous hips when she walks. She wears a cream top that hugs her breasts and threatens to turn me into Slick Joe McWolf drooling over Red Hot Riding Hood. The gray cardigan from yesterday is gone, and her ample cleavage tests my ability to maintain eye contact. As she gets closer, I can see that her skirt actually has tiny white ship anchors on it to match her shirt. She’s got her hair half up-half down today, and I’m pleased to see it reaches all the way to her ample bottom. I wipe my hands on my khaki board shorts before offering my hand.
“Does that mean you’ll shake my hand today?” she asks, though I can tell by the glint in her eyes that she’s mostly teasing. I smile sheepishly and pull her chair out before sitting down.
“Yeah. Again, I’m sorry about that. I was just…”caught off guard, I finish silently. “I mean, I just didn’t want to let Bryan down. I’ve known him forever but I was still surprised he picked me as his best man. This wedding stuff is hardly my forte.” That was actually the truth. She smiles and grabs the menu and I’m relieved I don’t have to keep groveling…though I totally would if it looked like she was going to leave.
"So any wedding bells for you and the blonde?" She scoots her chair closer to the table and I nearly go cross-eyed trying to avoid watching her breasts jiggle with the movement.
"Who?"
Maya pauses from reading her menu, her expression curious.
"I thought you might be with the blonde from yesterday. The wedding planner?"
"Oh my God! No. That's Emily. She's the wedding planner, but we're not together. Bryan would kill me."
Maya shrugs and picks back up her menu. How could she think I had a girlfriend after all that flirting before? Hmmm…Actually, I guess there is no shortage of cheaters in NYC, but that's not my style.
Is she single too? I don't see a ring, but she could still be with someone. What kind of boyfriend would let his girl spend the weekend alone in Cape Cod?
"What about you?" Maya looks up from her menu.
"What about me, what?"
