the ladies' room before we go."
"Sure, I'll meet you at the elevator."
Claire made her way to the bathroom. She needed to freshen up before she faced Jane across the lunch table. It would be stupid to fool herself into thinking she could hide something as monumental as sleeping with Ryan from her friend, but it wouldn't stop her from trying.
*****
"Crap. What's with everyone rushing about?" Jane asked as they jostled their way through the crowd over to the little café they'd discovered last week.
"It's the lunch rush I guess." Claire shrugged. "Mind you, the city streets are always teeming with people. I guess this summer heat has everyone hurrying to get things done so they can get back into their air-conditioned offices."
"You could be right." Jane pulled the front of her blouse away from her chest and fanned herself with it. "This summer has been a scorcher."
"According to the weatherman it isn't about to cool down anytime soon either."
They reached the café and waited to be seated. When the waitress gave them a choice of inside or out they spoke together.
"Inside."
"Inside."
Laughing, they followed their waitress as she led them into the cool interior. Depositing menus on the table she asked, "What can I get you to drink?"
"Iced water, thanks," Claire said.
"Mmm…I'll have a fresh orange juice, thank you." Jane picked up her menu and handed it back to the woman. "And I already know what I'm having for lunch. Greek salad and the grilled chicken, please."
"Oh, that sounds good. I'll have the same, thanks." Claire handed over her menu and turned to Jane. "I take it you've been here a few times since the other day."
Jane grinned. "Guilty. I think I've had lunch or dessert here four times since then."
"You'll be getting a frequent flyer discount soon," Claire joked.
"You mean like this?" Jane pulled a card from her wallet and held it up.
Claire laughed. "You've got a loyalty card?"
"Yep. I get a free dessert every time I spend thirty dollars." She popped the card and her wallet back in her handbag. "And we both know it's all about the dessert."
The waitress placed their drinks on the table. "Your meals will be out shortly."
Jane waited until the woman had walked away. "So, enough of this chit-chat. Tell me who you got it on with last night."
Claire choked on her water and wondered if it was Jane's new aim in life to kill her at the lunch table. Using her serviette to hide her embarrassment, Claire mopped at her mouth and stalled for time.
Jane just grinned at her. "Stalling won't make the question go away, Claire."
For the first time in her life, Claire couldn't think of what to tell her best friend.
"Oh, my God!" Jane leaned forward. "You did Ryan. Hot damn! You go girl."
"Shh, keep your voice down." Claire looked around them.
"Relax. No one knows us or who we're talking about." Jane grabbed Claire's hand. "I'm so glad you took my advice."
"How do you know—?"
"Please, I know you better than anyone, including you sometimes."
Jane was right, they told each other everything—had since pre-school—and if anyone could pick up on a change in Claire's behavior it would be Jane.
"I'm not sure I want to talk about it yet. I still don't know how it happened but Jane, I swear, last night was the best night of my life."
"That good, huh?"
"Better than good. Better than any fantasy I've ever dreamed up. The man knows what he's doing, and isn't afraid to do it."
"Good. It's about time you let loose and enjoyed yourself."
"Enjoy is too tame a word for last night." Claire's body tingled with remembered pleasure.
They fell silent as their meals were delivered to the table and talk became secondary to eating lunch. Claire couldn't help thinking about Ryan. What did he want? Was last night a one-time deal? Could she cope with it if it was a one-night stand? She was no closer to answers when she took the last bit of chicken off her plate.
"Stop over thinking it."
Claire's gaze met
"Sure, I'll meet you at the elevator."
Claire made her way to the bathroom. She needed to freshen up before she faced Jane across the lunch table. It would be stupid to fool herself into thinking she could hide something as monumental as sleeping with Ryan from her friend, but it wouldn't stop her from trying.
*****
"Crap. What's with everyone rushing about?" Jane asked as they jostled their way through the crowd over to the little café they'd discovered last week.
"It's the lunch rush I guess." Claire shrugged. "Mind you, the city streets are always teeming with people. I guess this summer heat has everyone hurrying to get things done so they can get back into their air-conditioned offices."
"You could be right." Jane pulled the front of her blouse away from her chest and fanned herself with it. "This summer has been a scorcher."
"According to the weatherman it isn't about to cool down anytime soon either."
They reached the café and waited to be seated. When the waitress gave them a choice of inside or out they spoke together.
"Inside."
"Inside."
Laughing, they followed their waitress as she led them into the cool interior. Depositing menus on the table she asked, "What can I get you to drink?"
"Iced water, thanks," Claire said.
"Mmm…I'll have a fresh orange juice, thank you." Jane picked up her menu and handed it back to the woman. "And I already know what I'm having for lunch. Greek salad and the grilled chicken, please."
"Oh, that sounds good. I'll have the same, thanks." Claire handed over her menu and turned to Jane. "I take it you've been here a few times since the other day."
Jane grinned. "Guilty. I think I've had lunch or dessert here four times since then."
"You'll be getting a frequent flyer discount soon," Claire joked.
"You mean like this?" Jane pulled a card from her wallet and held it up.
Claire laughed. "You've got a loyalty card?"
"Yep. I get a free dessert every time I spend thirty dollars." She popped the card and her wallet back in her handbag. "And we both know it's all about the dessert."
The waitress placed their drinks on the table. "Your meals will be out shortly."
Jane waited until the woman had walked away. "So, enough of this chit-chat. Tell me who you got it on with last night."
Claire choked on her water and wondered if it was Jane's new aim in life to kill her at the lunch table. Using her serviette to hide her embarrassment, Claire mopped at her mouth and stalled for time.
Jane just grinned at her. "Stalling won't make the question go away, Claire."
For the first time in her life, Claire couldn't think of what to tell her best friend.
"Oh, my God!" Jane leaned forward. "You did Ryan. Hot damn! You go girl."
"Shh, keep your voice down." Claire looked around them.
"Relax. No one knows us or who we're talking about." Jane grabbed Claire's hand. "I'm so glad you took my advice."
"How do you know—?"
"Please, I know you better than anyone, including you sometimes."
Jane was right, they told each other everything—had since pre-school—and if anyone could pick up on a change in Claire's behavior it would be Jane.
"I'm not sure I want to talk about it yet. I still don't know how it happened but Jane, I swear, last night was the best night of my life."
"That good, huh?"
"Better than good. Better than any fantasy I've ever dreamed up. The man knows what he's doing, and isn't afraid to do it."
"Good. It's about time you let loose and enjoyed yourself."
"Enjoy is too tame a word for last night." Claire's body tingled with remembered pleasure.
They fell silent as their meals were delivered to the table and talk became secondary to eating lunch. Claire couldn't help thinking about Ryan. What did he want? Was last night a one-time deal? Could she cope with it if it was a one-night stand? She was no closer to answers when she took the last bit of chicken off her plate.
"Stop over thinking it."
Claire's gaze met
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