“All set?” Andrew asked as I approached with my purse and key fob in hand.
“Yes, thank you for waiting.”
As we walked along the sidewalk leading to the parking lot, my heels clicked, making both of us laugh.
“You must be a killer in the courtroom,” Andrew mused. “All you have to do is walk around and arch that eyebrow of yours.”
I thought back to all my years as a defense attorney in Denver. I was sure to some degree the heels and looks had worked.
“They perhaps used to. But being a corporate attorney now, I don’t have to win over judges or juries. So the only time my heels get to work is here at the club.”
We came to a stop behind my SUV, and I noticed that Andrew’s was parked two spots down from mine.
“Thank you for walking me out, Andrew.”
“Yeah, no problem. Thank you for spending time with me tonight. I enjoyed it.”
“I did too. Since your mind is hyperactively thinking lately, be sure to think about what we talked about.”
“I will.”
As I turned to get into my SUV, he spoke up.
“Would you like to have dinner tomorrow?” I turned to face him, and he added, “Mistress Tabitha.”
“I would love to have dinner with you, Andrew. And unless we’re inside Oxygen, please call me Tabitha.”
He smiled and nodded.
“I’ll text you some restaurant options tonight.”
“I’ll eagerly await your text.”
My mind replayed everything from this evening on the drive home. I felt as though our bond might have been strengthened tonight. Even though he masked his fears and needs in the form of what-if questions, I still picked up on them; any experienced top at Oxygen would. Andrew needed to hear answers to his questions, and he needed to voice his concerns. I was confident I had calmed some of his worries. He wanted to play again, and he needed someone who knew what the fuck they were doing.
No matter how long it would take for him to be ready, I would wait.
6
Andrew
Tabitha’s place wasn’t too far from mine—I mean, Josh’s place. I was going to take her to the BBQ place near the beach where Josh was a surf instructor. The restaurant was close by, the food was amazing, and it had the most spectacular view of the ocean.
I pulled up to her house around five thirty, and I wasn’t at all surprised by the curb appeal. Some people just seemed to go with their houses, while others made you look down at the address to make sure it was right. Like James or Sam. Their houses fit their personalities. Josh, on the other hand, didn’t. Tabitha had a single story with immaculate landscaping and bright flowers in planters that matched a wreath on her door. I rang the doorbell and took a step back to glance down at her doormat. The doormat had a design of daisies sporadically strewn on it.
The door opened, and my eyes quickly moved from her doormat to just beyond the threshold to her black, pointed-toe heels. I could tell she was wearing dark jeans, but I didn’t want her to see my eyes working their way up from her shoes. I blinked slowly, and when I opened my eyes again, I was staring into hers.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hey, Andrew,” she greeted me energetically as she stepped outside.
Tabitha already had her purse strap slung over her shoulder. As she turned her back to me so she could close the door, I took advantage of the moment to let my eyes roam down to those heels.
“Were you waiting by the door? You were all ready to go,” I teased her as we walked toward my SUV. Her heels clicked on the brick path connecting her house and the main sidewalk. I loved the sound of her heels and felt she could easily distract me just by walking.
“Hey, I’m not going to lie. After working almost a sixty-hour work week and a handsome, younger man invites me out to dinner on a Saturday night, I’m leaping at that.” We both laughed as I opened the door for her. “And he’s a gentleman too.”
“He was raised right.”
