Page 85 of Blossoms of the Heart
When she did see me she jumped out of her chair and clutched her hand to her chest.
She wore a jumper today that didn’t show any cleavage but made a different show of enunciating how round her breasts were.
She pulled the ear phones out of her ears. “You scared the life out of me.”
“What are you doing here at this hour?” I’d sobered up a lot on the way here. The pure night air had cleared my mind too. Made me wish I’d taken my bike and not that awful taxi. As luck would have it, the driver was a Frank Sinatra fan. I nearly got out and walked, but decided against it.
“I’m working, what does it look like I’m doing? Lounging around as you put it?” Her blue gaze was turned amber by the candlelight.
“Come we’re going to check out the fuse first then I’m taking you home.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m working and I’m on a roll. I’ll stay for as long as I need to, even if it takes all night.”
“You’re a pain in the ass you know that?”
“Well I guess it takes one to know one because you’re a pain in my ass too.”
It was dark enough for me to discourage me from looking but the minute she said ass my eyes went straight to it, even though she was facing me. And, because I couldn’t see her ass completely I was looking at her crotch.
Then I remembered what I said to her and the slap she gave me.
She picked up a box of Kleenex and threw it at me when she saw the way I stared at her.
“You are such an ass.”
“Fuck, can you please stop saying that word?”
“You’re the perv, plus I’ve never known anyone who could sayfuckthat much.” This was too much for my nerves. It was also the epiphany of the conclusion I’d come to earlier.
That animal hunger for her pulsated through me, raw and primal. Forceful.
“Phoebe, I had too much to drink today. Far too much. Please stop saying ass, and don’t say fuck. Just please. Now whatever it is you’re doing can wait until tomorrow.”
She stared at me for a few seconds then ran her hands down her thighs on the silky material of her skirt.
Another skirt.
“I’m on to something and I don’t want to be accused of being lazy.”
“You aren’t lazy, we can all see that.”
“You think I’m lazy.” She pointed out.
“Where in the hell did you get that idea from?”
“You practically called me lazy last night.”
“I didn’t call you lazy. I was just…” Jealous.
She folded her arms and waited for me to finish talking. “Then you brought up the past, and you didn’t come in today.”
“I’m amazed you noticed with dear Scott to attend to your every need.”
“He was just being nice.”
“He wants to get in your pants, skirt, whatever.”
“Well at least he didn’t kiss me, and push me away and tell me it’s complicated leaving me feeling like shit after.” She glared at me.
