younger man who had the energy and stamina to keep up with her.
Yeah, right. All she needed right now was for Tray to come back so she could proposition him. She needed a few more nights – or days – with him to feel like she was back in the saddle. Then she could take that knowledge back to her office and not feel so cut off from her clients’ concerns. But Tray hadn’t left a number or even a note. It was Chet all over again. Except Chet had left after sixteen years and Tray after one night. Maybe that’s the way it was done in the clubs. Have one hot night together, slam, bam, not even a thank-you-note ma’am.
She could go back to the club looking for him, but she didn’t want to appear desperate. He probably felt he was doing her a favor anyway, taking an older woman to bed. Maybe he’d just taken pity on her. Isabel’s face flushed with shame. She didn’t want to think of herself as that desperate.
The chime of the doorbell yanked her out of her self-pity. Glancing at the clock, Isabel headed for the door, hoping that Tray had somehow read her thoughts and come back.
CHAPTER TEN
Isabel opened the door to find Jenny standing on the other side, holding takeout coffee and a bag of pastries. She felt a little disappointed, but also pleased to have something to distract her from her dark thoughts.
“Latte anyone? Pain au chocolate?” She smiled, brushing past Isabel into the living room.
“Mais oui,” Isabel quipped, stepping aside to let Jenny in, suddenly glad she’d taken the time to remove her bra and blouse from the back of the couch.
Jenny sailed into the kitchen, plunked the coffee down onto the island and pulled out a stool. “The pastries need to go in the toaster oven for a few minutes. They come from that little pastry shop on Fourth – I love that place.”
“I know it,” agreed Isabel. She dug under the counter for a pan and set the toaster oven to preheat.
“So…” probed Jenny. “Do tell what happened with the fine doctor last night?” She propped herself onto a stool and leaned into the counter.
Isabel knew Jenny well enough to know she would not let this go easily, but last night had been so delicious that Isabel wanted to savor the experience and keep the details to herself.
“The last I saw of you, you were almost doing the horizontal dance – in a standing position, no less – with that young blonde.” Jenny’s eyes sparkled and danced with anticipation.
Isabel shrugged and grinned, turning away to put the pan of pastries in the toaster oven. “We just got tired of the music and went somewhere quieter to talk.”
“Oh, come on, Isabel! Things were pretty steamy between you two. I’m not buying that story for a minute.”
“Well, we went for a bite to eat.”
“I’ll bet,” interrupted Jenny, laughing. “You can’t fool me, girlfriend. I haven’t seen that light in your eyes for several years. You got lucky last night.”
Isabel felt the heat rising in her cheeks and cursed her light coloring. Blushing was something she’d never been able to control, it always gave her away when she most wanted to keep things to herself.
“Uh huh. I knew it,” cried Jenny triumphantly. “Do tell. You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.”
Isabel laughed and, surrendering, pulled out the stool across from Jenny. She removed the top from the take-out latte and breathed deeply of the rich aroma. Taking a sip, she smiled impishly at her friend. “Well, I did bring him home.”
“You brought him here?”
“I didn’t know what else to do. It was late, and, well, I hadn’t really thought that far ahead.” Isabel knew she’d taken a chance bringing him home, but Jenny’s reaction underlined that. Jenny was far more experienced in the world of single dating than she was.
“Well, you’re still here, so nothing to worry about. When you’re done I have something important to tell you about him. You used a condom, right?” Jenny asked,
Yeah, right. All she needed right now was for Tray to come back so she could proposition him. She needed a few more nights – or days – with him to feel like she was back in the saddle. Then she could take that knowledge back to her office and not feel so cut off from her clients’ concerns. But Tray hadn’t left a number or even a note. It was Chet all over again. Except Chet had left after sixteen years and Tray after one night. Maybe that’s the way it was done in the clubs. Have one hot night together, slam, bam, not even a thank-you-note ma’am.
She could go back to the club looking for him, but she didn’t want to appear desperate. He probably felt he was doing her a favor anyway, taking an older woman to bed. Maybe he’d just taken pity on her. Isabel’s face flushed with shame. She didn’t want to think of herself as that desperate.
The chime of the doorbell yanked her out of her self-pity. Glancing at the clock, Isabel headed for the door, hoping that Tray had somehow read her thoughts and come back.
CHAPTER TEN
Isabel opened the door to find Jenny standing on the other side, holding takeout coffee and a bag of pastries. She felt a little disappointed, but also pleased to have something to distract her from her dark thoughts.
“Latte anyone? Pain au chocolate?” She smiled, brushing past Isabel into the living room.
“Mais oui,” Isabel quipped, stepping aside to let Jenny in, suddenly glad she’d taken the time to remove her bra and blouse from the back of the couch.
Jenny sailed into the kitchen, plunked the coffee down onto the island and pulled out a stool. “The pastries need to go in the toaster oven for a few minutes. They come from that little pastry shop on Fourth – I love that place.”
“I know it,” agreed Isabel. She dug under the counter for a pan and set the toaster oven to preheat.
“So…” probed Jenny. “Do tell what happened with the fine doctor last night?” She propped herself onto a stool and leaned into the counter.
Isabel knew Jenny well enough to know she would not let this go easily, but last night had been so delicious that Isabel wanted to savor the experience and keep the details to herself.
“The last I saw of you, you were almost doing the horizontal dance – in a standing position, no less – with that young blonde.” Jenny’s eyes sparkled and danced with anticipation.
Isabel shrugged and grinned, turning away to put the pan of pastries in the toaster oven. “We just got tired of the music and went somewhere quieter to talk.”
“Oh, come on, Isabel! Things were pretty steamy between you two. I’m not buying that story for a minute.”
“Well, we went for a bite to eat.”
“I’ll bet,” interrupted Jenny, laughing. “You can’t fool me, girlfriend. I haven’t seen that light in your eyes for several years. You got lucky last night.”
Isabel felt the heat rising in her cheeks and cursed her light coloring. Blushing was something she’d never been able to control, it always gave her away when she most wanted to keep things to herself.
“Uh huh. I knew it,” cried Jenny triumphantly. “Do tell. You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.”
Isabel laughed and, surrendering, pulled out the stool across from Jenny. She removed the top from the take-out latte and breathed deeply of the rich aroma. Taking a sip, she smiled impishly at her friend. “Well, I did bring him home.”
“You brought him here?”
“I didn’t know what else to do. It was late, and, well, I hadn’t really thought that far ahead.” Isabel knew she’d taken a chance bringing him home, but Jenny’s reaction underlined that. Jenny was far more experienced in the world of single dating than she was.
“Well, you’re still here, so nothing to worry about. When you’re done I have something important to tell you about him. You used a condom, right?” Jenny asked,
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