Page 35 of Champagne Kisses
There. I return to the bar and Denise and I celebrate my upcoming date and newfound confidence with shots. Adam is too hot and the attraction between us is too strong to ignore. Fetish, phase, or otherwise, I'm not letting this opportunity slip through my fingers.
Chapter seventeen
Adam
An instrumental version of Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'" comes through the ceiling speakers. In the mostly-empty department store, we pass a display of mannequins enjoying beach day in the Hamptons before reaching the Home section. Salespeople hover just one rack over, ready to pounce.
Peaking through dishware at Maya, I realize now that my lunch date plan was fatally flawed. How am I supposed to get her alone again when we're miles from my apartment, in the middle of the day, and I have to be back at my office for a 3:30 PM meeting? Registering for wedding gifts hardly yields the same opportunities for seduction and innuendo as late night dinner and dancing, but I couldn't wait to see her again.
Even under the harsh fluorescents, her skin looks like the most decadent milk chocolate and my mouth waters at the thought of letting her melt on my tongue. The honeyundertones of her skin are accentuated by a teal skirt and white peasant blouse. Today, she wears her hair in a pattern wrap with gold hoop earrings that make her look like Nefertiti. Her neck is long and slender, begging to be touched. She looks so utterly feminine that I have to control my urge to knock her over the head and drag her to my cave to have my way with her. Instead, I’m stuck wandering around a department store with a scanner looking for candelabras and mixers.
She surprised the shit out of me when she texted me after playing it so cool the other night. I could've sworn she was blowing me off with the "lets just see where this goes" bullshit. That's usuallymyline, and I really wasn't digging the role reversal.
It was a pleasant surprise, though, seeing as how she’s responsible for one of the best orgasms of my life and we haven’t even had sex yet. She’s going out of town this weekend too. Damn.How does she have me jonesing this bad already?I think to myself. Then our eyes meet, my mouth goes dry, and it makes total sense.
“Adam?! Adam, is that you?” Oh shit. Not now! Making her way toward me is Candy. She’s a curvaceous redhead and a former member of my roster until a few months ago when she tried to spend the night. As usual, she's decked out head to toe in lululemon to show off a body she earned teaching Zumba six days a week.
Because my karma is for shit, Maya sees Candy the same time I do and turns to watch the whole scene unfold, eyebrow raised. This is not going to go well for me.
“Candy, hi!” I say through practically clenched teeth. Maya presses her lips together to suppress a smile and pretends to be engrossed in the napkin rings. She's still within earshot, though. Candy goes in for a hug and I step back to give her a handshake instead. Both her and Maya notice.
“I tried to call you a few times but it kept going to voicemail." I clear my throat and look anywhere but at her. "Are you avoiding me?” She’s using a pouty, baby voice which used to sound cute but now sounds like nails on a chalkboard. I guess we didn’t do enough talking for it to bother me before.
“No. I've just really busy with work." I want to end the conversation as soon as possible, but I don’t want to be a dick. I doubt that would go over well with Maya watching. "How are you? How have you been?” Hopefully we’ll wrap up the small talk and she’ll be on her way. I take a step towards Maya, who's been doing her best to hide behind the espresso machines.
“As you can see, I’m still teaching." Candy twirls around so I can see her body fully. Christ, this is awkward. "Equinox even gave me another class on Thursdays.”
“That’s awesome,” I say, moving even closer to Maya. I take her hand and intertwine our fingers. Luckily, Candy doesn't notice Maya's split second flinch at the unexpected contact. “Maya and I are here helping a friend get registered.”
Candy turns to see Maya for the first time. I can see the wheels turning behind her eyes, trying to figure out who Maya is to me.Me too, Candy. She pastes a bright smile on her face and extends her manicured hand. Maya shakes it politely.
“Great to meet you, Maya. How do you know Adam here?"
I look at Maya with pleading eyes, hoping she sees fit to spare me from further humiliation. Hers are mischievous and I hold my breath.
"We actually met…online…a few weeks ago," she says, her eyes still smiling. My heart resumes beating at her willingness to play along, and I see Candy's smile fray around the edges.
"Wow. A few weeks." Candy looks a bit dazed. "And now you're on a date…during theday?" Fucking great. Maya must think I'm "Mr. Booty Call" now. Which…I suppose…was true withCandy…and a lot of other women.But things are different with Maya.
Maya looks at Candy with sympathy and her hand loosens in my grip. Shit.
"I wouldn't say—"
"I'm sorry, Candy," I interrupt, squeezing Maya's hand tighter. A sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach says she was about to sayI wouldn't say it's a date, and it's time for a Hail Mary. Both women look at me expectantly.
"I wasn't always a gentleman when we…used to hang out." Candy's smile is completely gone now, probably because I referred to six months of late night hook ups as "hanging out". But itfeels like the truth is way overdue. The expression on Maya's face is unreadable, but she hasn't pulled her hand away.
"But now you are? Two months since we last spoke andnowyou're ready to date?"
"I…" What am I supposed to say? I can't admit that time had nothing to do with it. That a date never occurred to me before…Well, before Maya. "I'm sorry."
Candy lets out a tired sigh before pushing the corners of her mouth up and turning to Maya.
“It was great to meet you, Maya. If you're ever in the area, I teach classes at the Columbus Circle Equinox on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The other days, I’m at the Bryant Park location.”
"It was nice to meet you too, Candy."
Candy practically jogs away from us. Maya turns to me with an eyebrow raised.
