He grinned as he saw me watching him, and with deliberate slowness pulled his t-shirt over his damp chest, so the washed-out fabric clung to him.
I really wanted to pull it off him again but he had to get to work and I wanted to spend a couple of hours working on my next City Beat story.
I’d decided to write about what it was like for military families to move around the country from base to base. I had some experience of that and I knew that Donna had lived in at least three other states and, with Johan, had been stationed overseas twice already with the possibility of another stint in Germany on the horizon.
“Time to get back to the real world,” Sebastian said wistfully. “Maybe I’ll see you tonight?”
“I rather hope not,” I said, truthfully.
Sebastian looked hurt.
“It’s too hard to act normal when you’re there,” I explained softly.
He nodded slowly. “I know what you mean … but I’d still like to see you.”
I sighed and shook my head.
“Well, can I come to your house tomorrow?”
“Sebastian, I don’t think so. You know what people are like around here—all it would take would be for you to be seen coming in or leaving. Or if someone came to the door because they’d seen my car in the driveway and I … we…”
He knew what I was saying and he knew as well as I did which risks were acceptable and which weren’t. We were making up the rules as we went along, but there were still rules.
“When can I see you?” he said, sulkily.
“I’m still free tomorrow. Maybe we could go surfing again?”
“I want to make love to you, Caro,” he muttered, gazing at my fingers as he squeezed them gently.
I took a deep breath as the familiar flickering tongues of love and lust swept through me.
“We could find a motel,” I said, softly.
He looked up, his eyes wide.
“Do you mean it?”
“Yes,” I said. “I want to be with you, too.”
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, a glorious smile spreading across his face.
He pulled me into a hug and leaned his head into my neck. I reached up and stroked his hair, which was nearly dry already.
I dropped him off at the end of the long driveway leading to the country club and watched as he waved once, then jogged along the avenue and out of sight.
I drove home with the sun beating down and all my car windows open. A brief glance in the mirror told me I looked like a cavewoman, with wild, salty hair hanging in clumps. I don’t know how Sebastian managed not to laugh at me.
I showered quickly and sat in my robe to tap out the first few hundred words of my article, keeping one eye open for David’s return.
As soon as I heard his car in the driveway, I snapped the laptop shut and headed to the bedroom to at least look like I was spending time getting ready. David imagined that all women took hours doing their hair and make-up before going out—it was one of his favorite stereotypes. It came in useful when I wanted an extra half-hour of peace and quiet.
I slipped on the new dress, remembering Sebastian’s scorching look as he’d zipped it up. It was a soft chiffon hung over a fitted bustier top and clinging skirt; so plain, it was almost severe, but also elegant and sophisticated.
I dug out my simple, gold necklace that my father had given me and matched it with a pair of plain, gold hoop earrings.
I was just sweeping my hair back to pin it up when David walked into the bedroom.
He stopped and did a double take.
“Is that it?”
“My new dress? Yes.”
“We’re going out to dinner, Caroline, not attending a funeral.”
Once his words would have hurt me; that evening I just stared at him impassively in the mirror.
“It’s a classic little black dress, David.”
“It’s dull.”
“It’s all I’ve got.”
He scowled.
“For fuck’s sake, Caroline. Do I have to supervise everything you do? You can’t even buy a fucking dress that’s appropriate for dinner.”
I didn’t reply. There was no point. Unfortunately, it meant the evening would now start on an awkward note. I hoped he’d be able to hide his annoyance from the Vorstadts—I didn’t want Donna throwing any more pitying glances my way.
Johan’s car arrived outside with typical military precision. David was wearing a dark blue suit with matching tie. If it hadn’t been for his permanently sour expression, he would have been good-looking.
Johan stepped out of the car to open the door, and blinked when he saw me.
“Good evening, Caroline, David.”
“Hello, Johan. Hi Donna.”
“Caroline, darling. Don’t you look gorgeous,” gushed Donna. “Johan, doesn’t she look amazing?!”