“What, do I look that different in my uniform?” she asked playfully.
“No, I mean, yes? How do I answer that without getting myself in trouble?”
Charlie seemed flustered, and Cora enjoyed feeling like she had the upper hand for a change. She welcomed the power coursing through her body as she sat down next to him. She was testing Charlie and grading his every move.
The bartender leaned over and broke the tension. “What can I get for you?”
“I want something ridiculous. How about a silly mixed drink?”
The bartender nodded. “I’ve got just the thing.”
Cora turned to Charlie. “So what’s going on?”
“Nothing huge, I just wanted to talk to you before the gala. Like, really talk to you and not have to worry about Oliver interruptions.”
“Um-hm,” Cora said. “So what would you like to talk about?” She knew exactly what he wanted to talk about.
“Well...” He paused. “The last time I saw you, for starters. In my bedroom.”
“What’s left to say about that? I apologized, and we moved on. We’re back to a friendly professional relationship, right?”
The bartender leaned over and held out a pink drink in a martini glass before Charlie could answer. “Your ‘Blushing Lady.’ ”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said as she took the drink. “Is it that obvious?”
The bartender looked at her questioningly, and Charlie put his hand on Cora’s shoulder and explained, “She blushes. A lot.”
“Younoticed it?” Cora sputtered at Charlie.
“Jesus, Cora, how could I not? You were practically neon the first time I met you. And if it wasn’t so dark the last time, I probably would’ve seen it then, too. Am I right?”
She paused and looked in his eyes. “Actually, no. I wasn’t blushing at all.”
“I bet I can make you blush right now.”
“Go for it.”
He leaned in close, put his hand on her knee, and whispered in her ear, “I was rock hard for hours after you left.”
Cora jerked away and cupped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.
“Excuse me, sir?” Charlie called out to the bartender. “Can you come over here? Look at her, please. Is she blushing?”
He walked over and scrutinized Cora’s face. “She is, without a doubt. Bright pink, all around here.” He gestured to her cheeks.
“And right here, too,” Charlie said as he ran his finger along the side of her neck. Cora shivered, and the bartender turned abruptly, aware that his discretion could impact his tip. She leaned away from Charlie, trying to put space between them, even though their thighs remained touching.
Charlie picked up where he’d left off. “I’m serious. That was, like, the best first kiss I’ve ever had. But it’s complicated, Cora, you have to know that. I mean, the whole Madison thing...” He trailed off.
“Yeah, tell me about that.” Cora sounded bitter and wondered if she had broken the spell.
“I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’m in a long-term relationship with her, and it’s been pretty great but...”
Cora’s heart stopped.Pretty great? Fail.
“But what?”
“But ... I have real feelings for you, too. I tried to ignore them but I can’t.”
