How in the hell would that ever work?
I check out my outfit in the window of thecoffee shop. Skinny blue jeans and a white, short sleeve, eyehooked top, a slight tease of my midriff showing. My long blondehair falling down my back and over my shoulders, it’s a littlewindblown, but it gives it an oomph of sexiness.
I pull my sunglasses off as I look around theroom. No sign of Ryan. My heart flutters a little.
I order a cup of coffee and take a seat nextto the window, if nothing else, I can people watch.
I glance at the clock, 12:03.
Then back out the window.
Then back at the clock, 12:05.
This is frustrating. Then I hear his voicebefore I see his face, “Punctual as ever.” I turn around as heglides past the table and sits in the chair opposite me. He puts asingle flower in front of me. An orange stargazer lily. My throatcloses.
“For you.”
I pick up the hefty flower. It’s fullybloomed and smells sweet. I think about that night in the cabana.There was a fresh vase of these exact flowers on one of the endtables.
“You remembered.”
“I remember everything.”
I swallow hard.
Me too.
This is so awkward. All I keep thinking aboutis five years ago and Jack the Stripper.
“Nice to see you came fully clothed,” Iquip.
“Are you disappointed?”
“No.”
Yeah, maybe just a little.
“My clothes only come off at night.”
I frown trying to erase the image of himseducing Emily out of my head.
“Except with you, they can come off any timewith you.”
“Good to know, but I’ve already seen younaked so the mystique is gone.”
He furrows his brow, “I know you’re upsetwith me.”
“Upset is too mild of a word.Full-blown-pissed-off-hurl-something-at-your-head is more likeit.”
“Like a dumpster?” Ryan teases.
I purse my lips, “Talk.”
“Can I get a cup of coffee first before Ispill my guts? I just got up.”
I look at my watch, 12:17. Slacker.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Ryan says.“It’s an occupational hazard.”