“Maybe what?”
“It kinda meant something.” I chance a glance at her. She’s looking at me, waiting to hear more, so I go for it.
“It meant something to me. If it didn’t to you, I’ll understand. Or I’ll try to. But I don’t want that to be just a moment. I want more moments with you.”
“I think?—”
“We can avoid talking about it for now and just enjoy the night,” I say, interrupting her to stop her from overthinking this and shutting down any chance we have before we even get started, especially if all she needs is time to adjust to the idea of us together. “We’re friends who have reconnected and are attracted to each other. And we both need to eat.”
She hesitates but, thankfully, changes the topic. “So, how were the TWA offices yesterday? Did you find the six million in savings everyone is talking about?”
A server arrives to get our drink order just in time. If Blair knew her name was on that cost-savings list, I’m not sure she would be here with me right now, especially since it was my idea that generated the first draft of employees who would be impacted. It never occurred to me that her contract would expire so soon.
“What do you think about all this change happening at TWA?” I ask her, trying to change the subject a little.
“I’m hopeful it’s good. The industry is changing, which means the way we all do business has to change. The Manhattan Group has a fantastic women’s sports portfolio. That’s promising.”
“Would you ever consider shifting your focus to represent athletes?”
“No. I mean, never say never, but I don’t even really want to stay at TWA forever.”
“Really?”
“Don’t look so surprised. You know how I like to champion women.”
“I do. You say that like you don’t do that every day, though.”
“It’s getting harder.”
“So, if not TWA, what would you do?”
“The dream is to open up my own shop, one where the only focus is women and other underrepresented groups.”
“An advocate for the snubbed and disregarded.”
“Well said.” She raises her glass to toast mine, and I relax a little. Maybe getting laid off might not be such bad news to her after all. Maybe it’s just the push she needs.
We spend the rest of dinner catching each other up on what our lives are like now. I share more about Jake, what it’s likeworking with my dad, and how watching Sophia blossom into a star has been so surreal. She tells me more about Jess, and I can tell that Jess probably knows more about me than I realize. I find myself laughing more than I have in a long time, and I don’t want this night to end.
“Let’s take a walk outside.”
I lead her out to the back of the restaurant, where a deck stretches out over the beach. On the right, casual lounge seating crowds the fire pits, which radiate heat to chase the chill away. We walk to the left for a little privacy and to take in the ocean’s view under the full moon.
Blair props her elbows on the rails, and I stand next to her, close enough to feel the heat of her body, but I keep my hands in my pocket so I’m not tempted to rip that dress off of her.
“It’s a beautiful night,” she says.
I keep my eyes on her. “It sure is.”
She turns and looks up at me, and I pull one hand out of my pocket and place it on the railing, slightly caging her in.
“Thank you for dinner. This was fun.”
Being this close to her is intoxicating, and I lean down to kiss her.
She welcomes my lips, and the kiss starts soft and sweet. My lips brush gently across hers with the message that I can be patient and this is real.
She turns toward me, and my hand goes to her hip, squeezing and pulling her close to me. I lean back and look at her to make sure she’s ok, and she brings her hands to my chest and tilts her head down.
