She’s still writing when she asks, “So, have we had sex?”
I choke on air, having to pound my chest to take in a breath. “Not that I remember?”
“Your family, would they think we have? Sleeping arrangement wise, what do you think is expected?” She talks like that was obviously her meaning, but I have the feeling she likes toying with me, not that I mind.
“Separate rooms,” I say almost immediately. Sleeping in the same bed as her? Yeah, I doubt I’d survive that. Even the thought of her body pressed against mine has me hot all over.
“Great. They think you’re a virgin loser.” She nods and writes it down word for word.
“Are you this mean to all your clients?”
“Just you.” A wicked grin captures her mouth.
“Thanks for the special treatment.”
“I think it’s smartest to ground our story in facts. We met because our roommates kicked you out of your apartment while I was working at the bar and I was generous enough to take you in for the night. The only difference is the timeline, I’m thinking we say it was in September instead, though. Thoughts?”
“I don’t see any problems with it. And you’re good with being there for the full week?”
“Yeah, any particular plans I should be aware of?”
“There’s a winter sports competition and party after on Christmas Day, but nothing else that I can think of.” It’s a fundraiser the resort is known for and tends to go over well, but the build up to it can be a touch chaotic.
Henri and I continue to talk about our plans up until the barista starts to pointedly wipe the tables around us. Looking at the clock on my phone, I find that hours have slipped by and the shop is about to close. We head outside, but neither of us walks away.
As the wind cuts by, Henri shivers and I note how her nose and the tips of her ears almost immediately turn pink against the cold. I have the sudden urge to pull her to my chest and warm her up, but of course I don’t because like most of my thoughts about her, that would be wildly unprofessional.
She shifts her weight back and forth. “I should get going, but could you send me the flight info whenever you get it? And if I have any incidentals, should I email receipts to you or someone else?”
“Send it to me. I’ll make sure it gets through the right channels.” Those channels being my credit card, because at this point, that’s the only way I can get this to work.
I want to take care of this for her. I fucked up, now I’m fixing it.
10
Henri
Another date with Liam?” Iris asks as I fuss with the buttons of my cream, strawberry-spotted cardigan in the mirror. Usually I don’t wear the clothes I really love out with clients. Knitwear with little fruits on them don’t exactly screamI’m a professional liar and can be trusted with all your insecurities. But after how Liam and I initially met, I doubt it will make him see me any differently.
Now I have to decide, one button undone or two?
“It’s not a date,” I say. “Well, it’s not arealdate.”
“Last time I checked, you usually only go on two or three with them. Seems disingenuous to lie for his article.”
Over the last two weeks, Liam and I have seen each other four times.
Beyond the initial coffee shop meeting where we discussed our initial plans and accidentally ended up staying until closing, we went shopping for his family, because I refused to show up empty-handed. He came and sat at Fender to talk about scheduling, but we ended up talking until close.
Then there was three days ago at Rockefeller Center, where he pretended he wasn’t good at ice skating before I called him on his bullshit for trying to make me feel better about falling every ten feet. And once he actually let himself skate, I couldn’t look away. Usually he’s curled in on himself, but on the ice, he was nothing short of graceful.
Afterward, hot chocolate in hand, he told me about the frozen lake by a cabin his family sometimes uses. The way that he’d skate until his legs gave out and then just lay on the cold slab of ice ringed by trees that stood watch over him like ancient noble guardians.
“It’s not just about the article,” I say. “And one of those times was because he came by with Jasmine, so those don’t count.”
“So thereisanother reason?”
Heat floods my cheeks as I settle on one button. “Yes. After the first article, I’m scared people will be hypervigilant about last minute holiday dates. So I’m spending extra time covering my bases.”
