Page 41 of Side Piece

“Good lord, why aren’t you fucking him?” Joan blurts out and crosses to her desk.

I shrug. “Timing. Two days earlier, and perhaps I’d be knee-deep in this man.”

He laughs and hugs me deeply. He even smells like sticky, hot sex. I say to him, “What are you doing here?”

“I fucking snagged him. He’s mine. Or at least for two books and an option. Let’s drink.” Joan pops champagne. I’ll pretend to toast. I only drink champagne once a year.

Carlos takes the chair across from me. “It’s good to see you, despite our brief but tawdry moment.” I smile. I can’t help it. He’s in worn khakis and a rich, bold blue button-down that makes his dark eyes pop. I wish I had girlfriends to set him up.

“How are you alone?”

“Oh, I’m not alone. I only wished for a deeper taste of you, Tess.” Then he laughs. “This gentleman of yours, the mystery man as Joan names him, he appreciates you?”

“Very much,” I say. I hope.

Joan toasts. “To a hell of a catch! Fuck, I’m happy you finally caved.”

“You’re a formidable and relentless woman, Joan. And beautiful to boot.”

“You’re full of shit, but I’ll take it. L’chaim!” They sip, and my phone dings.

Carlos says, “Before you make plans to leave me again, I hear you play tennis.”

I perk up. “Yes. Do you?”

“Not to Tessa Guare standards, but grant me a game. I have a court tomorrow.”

Joan pipes up. “You got whites here? You can have the loft.” I keep clothes at Joan and Darrell’s house for occasions like this, and there’s always another train back to Philly tomorrow. I can’t back down from a challenge.

“Even with a borrowed racquet, I’ll kick your ass.” Carlos slaps his knees and throws his head back a little. I’m crazy competitive on the court. I’ll taunt him that I’m still on the bestseller list. If I don’t beat him, I’ll sulk for like two weeks. But fortunately, almost no one can beat me.

“I’ll get Darrell to change your sheets. I’m not hiking to the top of the fucking brownstone. He can do it and call it cardio.” I glance down at my phone.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Lunch now.

31

Tess

Intriguing, it’s an LA number.

TESS: I believe you have the wrong number.

UNKNOWN: Jesus, Distraction. It’s me. I’m in New York.

I react a little too strongly. My heart is racing. Is Alex here? Is he ok? I respond to Mikey and add his contact info.

TESS: Nuisance! Is he with you?

MIKEY: I’m not enough? You’re a dick. NO. Do you think he’d be in a 100-mile radius of you and not be inside you?

TESS: Sorry, I just got excited.

I look at my watch and companions. “Joan, do you need me?”

“No, get your skinny ass out of here. I’ll see you for supper. I got a couple of hours of staring at this cocoa dreamboat planned.” I roll my eyes.

“Ms. Joan, I only want the forbidden.” He looks at me, and I shiver. Sexy man.