Monday, April 10, my wish finally came true. It had to be the longest day in creation, but as the eleventh-plus hour drew to a close on an endless parade of presentations, there was no doubt that our team had knocked it out of the park. We hosted a dinner that evening for our highly regarded energy client at an elegant and exclusive DC steakhouse. It was a very respectable affair, although thankfully alcohol was served and I made sure to place my order early, though not too often. I just needed to get through this one dinner, and I’d be free of Peter Morgan for good.
I had to admit the man was a genius at his job. Peter was a smooth operator. He was well versed on our client’s position in a growing industry (thanks to my hard work), and he had a confident air about him that told the client, and everyone involved in the project, that not only did he care about their success, he was passionate about it too. Who knew, maybe he was. I, for one, was over it. I wanted nothing more than to light candles and go without energy for a solid week. No phone, no computer, no one bugging me, period.
What I really needed, however, was to get home at a reasonable hour, put on my tightest jeans and a hot, sexy low-cut shirt, and go dancing. And get laid. God, it had been way too long! I was horny as hell and now that this was over, I was going to do something about it. I was itching to take my cell phone out and text a message to Aaron. However, my chair at the table was directly in Peter’s line of vision, so I didn’t dare.
One of the servers assigned to pour water and keep clean napkins and a fresh supply of bread on the table, brushed against my arm. I ignored the gentle nudge until he passed by and brushed by me for the second time. Casually, I looked up in time to catch his wink. I did a quick double take. He was young but pretty in a cute college-boy sort of way with wavy dark curls that covered his right eye enticingly. I felt myself grow hard in response to his mild flirtation. Damn! I was really hard up if a little ole wink was all it took to get my motor running. In fact, he may have just had something in his eye, and I was horny enough to think it was my hot bod he was after.
The third time he jostled my arm, I knew he was trying to tell me something. I smiled up at him, letting him know I was interested in as discreet a manner as possible. I’m not sure exactly what I was thinking would be gained by ogling the waitstaff but hell, I had a client on either side of me, and both had talked ad nauseam about their families over dinner. If nothing else, it was a harmless flirtation. When I was sure waiter boy understood my meaningful smile, I turned my attention to the table, suddenly aware of the weight of a heavy stare. Peter Morgan was looking at me with another one of his inscrutable glances. Only this time, I saw something more. Curiosity? Warning? I couldn’t tell. Had he seen the interplay between the server and me? It seemed highly unlikely, unless he was paying very close attention to me. I felt a warm flush creep over my skin. Maybe I wasn’t so paranoid after all.
After dessert and coffee was finally served, we began the lengthy departing process. We shook hands and backslapped our clients, fervently thanking them for the opportunity while we waited for the valet service to bring our cars around. I said my good-byes and excused myself to use the restroom, hoping to make contact with the curly-haired cutie. The young man in question entered the small corridor in between the kitchen and the restrooms and slipped a piece of paper in my hand. I didn’t stop to say a word, just put it in my pocket, washed my hands in the bathroom, and left the restaurant to retrieve my car from the valet.
Once I was in my car, I took the folded sheet from my coat pocket. He’d written his name and phone number next to the number ten. Shit, I hoped I could stay awake until ten. I was horny, yes, but I was also tired as hell. I called Aaron on my drive back to my Dupont-area condo.
“You have to be kidding me! You’re really asking if you should call him?” Aaron’s disbelief was honest and funny. I laughed out loud.
“I guess you’re right. I am pathetic. I don’t know if I remember how to do it… what if I fall asleep? Times like this, I wish I was still with Ricky. Having a boyfriend right now who I could rely on for steady sex when I need it would be nirvana.”
“No, Ricky was not nirvana. You’re just horny, not hard up. And you’ve been working too hard, which is the only reason you haven’t been out doing your thing. You, my friend, need to get laid. Call that boy now!”
“You’re right. I’m going to. I’m almost home. I’ll call him from there.”
“No. Call him now. I know you. You’ll get inside, get into something more comfortable, lie down on your big, yummy down comforter, and fall the fuck asleep. Call him now, so you aren’t tempted to blow it off. Let him blow you instead.”