elbow on the
table, setting his megawatt smile on her.
Collin should have been a sales rep, and maybe he had been
in another life. He could charm anyone into believing the words that fell from
his lips. He was funny and smart, with the most beautiful bright-blue eyes and
dark hair. If Nicole had met him when she’d been single, he’d have had to fight
her off. Instead they’d worked together amicably with only minor harmless
flirting.
“I run a small company that specializes in helping companies
go green, as well as disaster management.” Tanya folded her hands in her lap
and the corner of her mouth kicked up in what Nicole was coming to understand
as the woman’s mischievous nature showing through. Tanya was not a woman who
followed the norms of society.
“I don’t think I understood half of that. Care to explain it
to me? Can I buy you ladies a drink?” Collin chuckled and propped his chin up
on his fist.
“We have wine coming,” Nicole replied.
“Well let me buy your next round.” Collin rested his hand
briefly on her knee, an innocent gesture, really.
“Basically I help companies reduce their carbon footprint,”
Tanya began.
Tanya had given her the whole spiel the day before. It was
actually a very ingenious business plan she had going. She helped companies
figure out how to put in rooftop gardens, find ways to cut costs and have a
better impact on the environment. In addition, she tapped into her background
doing humanitarian work and assisted in organizing natural disaster cleanup and
rescue. It was a big bag of tricks, but Tanya seemed to thrive doing it.
The waitress set the next round of wine down in front of
them and Nicole cradled her new glass, more than happy to sit on the sidelines
and sip her alcohol while Tanya dazzled Collin.
She made the appropriate replies when spoken to, when the
lull in conversation necessitated she offer a comment, but otherwise she was
happy to be a spectator. Three or maybe four glasses of wine into the evening,
she felt herself easing into the mood. Laughing came easier and her worries
faded into the background.
“Hey, do you need me to drive you home?” Collin leaned close
enough she could smell him again. She liked that he didn’t spray it on too
strong, not like some men. Jake smelled nice. Like soap, shampoo and man. She
was going to miss that about him.
“I know, honey,” Tanya muttered to her before turning to
Collin. “You know, Nicole only lives a few blocks from me. I think I can handle
it.” Tanya hoisted Nicole up and out of her chair, plucking the wineglass from
her hand.
“Is it time to go?” Nicole blinked around them, startled to
find they were some of the last left in the bar. Had they really been there
that long?
“It is. Come on. Give me your purse.”
Why was Tanya acting as if she were drunk? She was totally
sober.
“Here, I’ve got her on this side.” Collin took her other arm
and wrapped an arm around her waist.
The trio made it out of the restaurant and onto the sidewalk
without incident, though the room did seem to have taken on a warm glow and
something was up with her shoes. They wobbled oddly as she walked.
“I can drive myself. I’m totally fine.” Nicole leaned
heavily on Tanya and the trio shambled to the left.
“You are, but I’m a concerned friend,” Tanya replied,
chuckling as she spoke. “This is me right here.”
Collin helped Nicole into the passenger side seat of Tanya’s
sporty wagon. He leaned down as she settled and fumbled with the seatbelt.
“Here.” He pulled the buckle out and leaned across her to
fasten it.
She caught a whiff of his scent again, something rich and multilayered.
His hand skated over her outer thigh and bells clamored in her head. Once or
twice was an accident, but that was intentional, and she was a married woman.
“Thanks for helping us,” Tanya said far too loud.
“Let me know you ladies get home, okay?” Collin continued to
stand in the door.
“Sure
table, setting his megawatt smile on her.
Collin should have been a sales rep, and maybe he had been
in another life. He could charm anyone into believing the words that fell from
his lips. He was funny and smart, with the most beautiful bright-blue eyes and
dark hair. If Nicole had met him when she’d been single, he’d have had to fight
her off. Instead they’d worked together amicably with only minor harmless
flirting.
“I run a small company that specializes in helping companies
go green, as well as disaster management.” Tanya folded her hands in her lap
and the corner of her mouth kicked up in what Nicole was coming to understand
as the woman’s mischievous nature showing through. Tanya was not a woman who
followed the norms of society.
“I don’t think I understood half of that. Care to explain it
to me? Can I buy you ladies a drink?” Collin chuckled and propped his chin up
on his fist.
“We have wine coming,” Nicole replied.
“Well let me buy your next round.” Collin rested his hand
briefly on her knee, an innocent gesture, really.
“Basically I help companies reduce their carbon footprint,”
Tanya began.
Tanya had given her the whole spiel the day before. It was
actually a very ingenious business plan she had going. She helped companies
figure out how to put in rooftop gardens, find ways to cut costs and have a
better impact on the environment. In addition, she tapped into her background
doing humanitarian work and assisted in organizing natural disaster cleanup and
rescue. It was a big bag of tricks, but Tanya seemed to thrive doing it.
The waitress set the next round of wine down in front of
them and Nicole cradled her new glass, more than happy to sit on the sidelines
and sip her alcohol while Tanya dazzled Collin.
She made the appropriate replies when spoken to, when the
lull in conversation necessitated she offer a comment, but otherwise she was
happy to be a spectator. Three or maybe four glasses of wine into the evening,
she felt herself easing into the mood. Laughing came easier and her worries
faded into the background.
“Hey, do you need me to drive you home?” Collin leaned close
enough she could smell him again. She liked that he didn’t spray it on too
strong, not like some men. Jake smelled nice. Like soap, shampoo and man. She
was going to miss that about him.
“I know, honey,” Tanya muttered to her before turning to
Collin. “You know, Nicole only lives a few blocks from me. I think I can handle
it.” Tanya hoisted Nicole up and out of her chair, plucking the wineglass from
her hand.
“Is it time to go?” Nicole blinked around them, startled to
find they were some of the last left in the bar. Had they really been there
that long?
“It is. Come on. Give me your purse.”
Why was Tanya acting as if she were drunk? She was totally
sober.
“Here, I’ve got her on this side.” Collin took her other arm
and wrapped an arm around her waist.
The trio made it out of the restaurant and onto the sidewalk
without incident, though the room did seem to have taken on a warm glow and
something was up with her shoes. They wobbled oddly as she walked.
“I can drive myself. I’m totally fine.” Nicole leaned
heavily on Tanya and the trio shambled to the left.
“You are, but I’m a concerned friend,” Tanya replied,
chuckling as she spoke. “This is me right here.”
Collin helped Nicole into the passenger side seat of Tanya’s
sporty wagon. He leaned down as she settled and fumbled with the seatbelt.
“Here.” He pulled the buckle out and leaned across her to
fasten it.
She caught a whiff of his scent again, something rich and multilayered.
His hand skated over her outer thigh and bells clamored in her head. Once or
twice was an accident, but that was intentional, and she was a married woman.
“Thanks for helping us,” Tanya said far too loud.
“Let me know you ladies get home, okay?” Collin continued to
stand in the door.
“Sure
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