“I could do more,” she said aloud, to herself or no one in particular since she was alone, but decided on a quick shower instead.
When she got out, an unfamiliar electronic guitar riff called her attention, and she tracked it down to her new phone on the bedside table. There was a message from Eamonn: I’m downstairs, forgot the front door would lock me out.
Press #32 on the intercom and I’ll buzz you in, she texted back, and by the time he was knocking at her apartment door, she’d figured out how to change the alert sound on the phone.
“I’m guessing you found the Coffee Witch?” she asked as he came in with a paper bag balanced atop a drinks tray. The Coffee Witch Café was the nearest source of caffeine, two blocks away, and she couldn’t imagine he’d walk farther.
“Nice place. They, ah, had more than one kind of chai, so… I picked the marzipan chai for you. That okay?” He lowered everything onto the kitchen table, set the paper bag aside, extracted one to-go cup from the tray and handed it to her.
My favorite. “Perfect, thanks.”
And then he held out another cup, clear plastic and full of something that looked like a sunrise, red at the bottom swirling up to orange at the top. “Yesterday, I promised you a better breakfast than doughnuts. The Coffee Witch barista said these smoothies are popular and have protein and antioxidants and stuff, so…”
Nell couldn’t stop a wide smile from spreading across her face. “How did you read my mind? I love these!” A marzipan chai latte in one hand and a tropical dawn smoothie in the other was essentially her definition of a perfect morning. Maybe this relationship thing is okay.
“There are scones in the bag too, if you want one.” He laughed, with a self-deprecating twist to his mouth. “The smoothie is… surprisingly good, and the coffee is fantastic, but I just can’t get through the morning without something solid.”
“Maybe later. I’ve got all I need for now — thank you!” And before she’d thought it through or even made a conscious decision, she closed the gap between them and planted an appreciative kiss on his cheek. It wasn’t a sexy kiss, though the chemistry between them seemed to be always simmering and ready to flare up; no, the tender brush of her lips against his skin and the soft prickle of hair on his jaw felt unexpectedly, purely, and almost unbearably romantic.
A pleased flush spread over his face, and his eyes seemed brighter and more intensely blue than ever as he looked down at her with a bemused smile. “I like making you happy, Nella-bella.”
What happened to the cocky pool player from the Frog and Ball? It was as though she’d peeled an onion and discovered a mango inside — pleasant, but disconcerting. “People catch feelings from oral sex,” she blurted out, turning away from him to go sit on the couch. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
“I already caught feelings for you a while back, so don’t worry, nothing’s changed.” As he flopped down next to her, his wry grin told her that he didn’t much like that she’d said it doesn’t mean anything. “Or were you talking about yourself?”
I don’t know. Nell shook her head. “I’ve got too much on my mind right now. I’ve got to send out resumes, find a job. I’ve got to talk to Master Simran about picking up more teaching hours, and I should call the MMA gym to see if I can put my membership there on hold until I’m working again. I—”
He stopped her with a gentle finger touching her lower lip. “It’s okay. I’ll head out and let you get stuff done. What’re you doing tonight?”
“I’ve got a self-defense class at five, then I’m teaching until eight.”
“I’ll pick you up after.” He stood up. “Same place as your sparring class, right?”
She nodded, and when he leaned down to kiss her, she tilted her head up for him, parting her lips for his tongue as the heat between them flared up immediately. So good. She found herself standing, swept up into his arms, both of them trying to get more of each other.
“If you didn’t have stuff to do, babe, I’d take you back to bed and keep you there all day,” he said, his lips next to her ear as he licked and kissed her neck and earlobe. “But I know you’ll feel better once you’ve checked some things off your list, so I can wait.” And with a final nip at her lower lip and then one last kiss on her forehead, like a blessing, he released her and walked to the door. “I’d really like to stay. But I’ll see you tonight.” And he was gone.
She sat back down, biting her lip. Well.
Long minutes later, she could still feel the phantom imprint of his kiss on her forehead. His self-control and the consideration he showed for her needs and day were definitely a turn-on, to the point of distraction.
She worked her way through the dozen job applications she’d started, adding her new phone number and submitting them. Then she found another three possibilities and applied for them too, even though one was a long shot and one wanted qualifications that she didn’t quite meet. Can’t hurt to try. But she kept thinking about Eamonn.
Every time she looked at the time display on her tablet or phone, more time had passed than
