Rescue Breathing (15 page)

“
I'm going to take a pass,” I call out to
them as I frantically push the “
close door
”
button.
“See you tomorrow, Marc.” I
shout as the doors slowly start to close. I lean my head back
against the wall of the elevator and close my eyes. “What a
night.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Olivia

Sunlight filters through the curtains and
I groan as I open my eyes.
Oh holy hangover. My head is pounding. I sit up slowly and
look over to the bedside table to see a condom wrapper and a glass
of water. I'm grateful for the glass of water…uncertain how I feel
about the condom wrapper. Memories of last night flood my mind—and
subsequently the area between my thighs. That was really awesome
sex.
Amazing sex.
Bite-your-lip-and-squeeze-your-thighs-together-just-thinking-about-it
sex. I take a deep breath. I need to try and get my head straight
and appreciate last night for what it was. A drunken interlude—one
that will probably not be repeated. I need to just enjoy that it
happened and immediately get rid of the pit-in-my-stomach feeling I
have right now that is generally reserved for school age hookups at
school dances. My phone buzzes and I pick it up. Two missed texts
from Charley.

I fucking told you it would be awesome!

Way to go, Liv! I want details!

And another a half hour later:

You are fucking with me not giving me
details.

I'm assuming you are in a
post-coital coma.

Call me tomorrow! Love you!

I smile at her texts.
She is so cute.
And so persistent.

The third text is from Owen. Oh, he texted
me this morning. My stomach does a flip and my heart
clenches.

I believe I owe you breakfast this
morning.

I'm going to the Starbucks at 4th &
Seneca.

I hope I don
't sit there by myself looking
like an idiot.

I smile.
The time on the text is 9:00 a.m. I quickly look
at the clock. 9:45.

Fuck.

I quickly grab a fresh pair of underwear
and a bra and slip on yoga pants, a t-shirt, and sneakers. I throw
my hair into a messy bun on top of my head, grab my wallet, and
race out the door, headed for Starbucks.

I run through the lobby, stopping abruptly
in front of the revolving door. I have no idea where this place is.
I spin on my heels, scanning the room for help. Shit! I'm going to
miss him! I spot the concierge desk and race to it, pushing other
patrons to the side.

“
Sorry, sorry, sorry!” I say to them all,
not really meaning it. Breathlessly, I lean forward, my face inches
from that of the concierge. “
Starbucks
…”
I
huff,
“Fourth and
Seneca...please… Desperate.”

The concierge grins at me and pulls a
paper map from his desk.
He quickly draws a bright red marker line, showing me the
route. It's two blocks away. He needed to draw me a map for that?!
As he finishes, I grab the paper from his hand and start for the
door.

“
Thanks!
” I yell back at him with a hand wave.

I run the short distance to the coffee
house, stopping a store away to quickly compose myself and attempt
to get my breath back so I don't look like I've been running. I get
to the door and walk in, stopping just inside to scan the room. For
a moment, I don't see him and my shoulders slump. I missed him,
damn it. I knew it! It's so like me to blow an
opportunity.

But then…I see him.
He's sitting at a table in the back, two
plush seats next to a small round table. He is in jeans and V-neck
sweater, and his legs are crossed with his ankle propped on his
knee. He has a little five-o'clock shadow and it looks insanely
sexy on him. His hair is messy, his sun-kissed waves falling over
his forehead. Yes, I have documented all that in my mind in the
space of a second. It occurs to me as I assess him that this man
completely undid me last night. Just from looking at him, it's hard
to not imagine where his hands were, his mouth, his…yum.

He is carefully folding a newspaper, but
he smiles when he sees me at the door.
He cocks his head to the side—an invitation to his
table. I walk toward him, pushing strands of my hair that have
fallen during my run back into my messy bun.

He stands when I get to the table,
slipping an arm around my waist to pull me in for a chaste kiss on
the lips.
He looks into
my eyes and whispers, “Morning,” before letting me go. I blush and
move to sit in the chair opposite him. The amount of heat that has
suddenly flooded my body thanks to this minimal contact is a little
unnerving.

“
Good morning to you,” I murmur, giving him
a shy smile.

“
You look beautiful despite your lack of
sleep. Do you always look this good first thing in the morning?” he
asks, seeming to be really interested in my answer.

“
Um, I'm not sure I'd agree that I look
good, but thank you for the compliment,” I laugh.

We sit and look at each other, awkwardly
for me, for a moment. Finally I take a deep breath and stand. “I'm
going to go grab myself a coffee and something to eat. Can I get
you something?”

He smiles and shakes his head, moving his
gaze toward the two cups of coffee and empty plate in front of him.
“I had something while I was waiting.” He's smirking at me.
Right…waiting.

“
Yeah, sorry about that. I kind of
overslept.”

“
No worries. I'm sure it was for a good
reason,” he smirks and throws me a devilish wink. “Besides, you
caught me before I left.” He smiles warmly at me. “Go get yourself
something to eat.”

I nod and head toward the coffee counter.
I order myself a coffee and a scone and, after preparing my drink,
bring them back to the table. He has been watching me the whole
time, his chin resting on his steepled hands. How, you wonder, do I
know he's been watching me? Because I can feel it. I can feel him,
his eyes. His eyes are like an extension of his arms, and it's kind
of amazing. He's not touching me physically, but he is with his
gaze. I wonder what he's thinking right now. Wonder if I
want
to know what he's
thinking.

“
Penny for your thoughts?” I ask as I sit
down.

He sits back and uncrosses his legs. “I
was just wondering what you had planned today?”

Oh, that's an easy question. “Well, I was
supposed to present today but it got pushed back to tomorrow. So I
think I'll just go to a few poster sessions. I'm a little exhausted
from watching presenters so I'll try that, see if it sparks my
interest.” I take a sip of my coffee and pop a piece of my scone in
my mouth.

He watches my mouth intently as I chew,
and without thinking, I lick my lips.
His breath hitches. Huh—a response. Wasn't
expecting that. I take another bite, this time making more of a
show of eating it seductively. He grins, knowing what I'm doing,
but not commenting on it.

“
What are you doing today?” I ask
him.

“
I'm going to see Travis and Lucy's place
in Bellevue. I promised them I would go see it before I leave.” He
leans forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the table. “What
are you up to tonight?”

Tonight? “Um, actually Charley and I are
going to take another shot at going out. She has some club she
wants to go to. She likes to dance. Actually I like to dance,” I
laugh nervously. “What are you crazy boys going to do
tonight?”

“
You probably won't believe this, but we're
going to a club that has dancing. We're going to Room 73. I haven't
been but I hear it's a lot of fun. You and Charley should come join
us.” He seems very eager about this, his voice lilting at the end
as if anxious.

“
Oh, you don't want us leeching on to your
boys' night out. Aren't you all going to be picking up chicks and
trying to tempt Travis into some naughty blowjob in a
corner?”

He laughs loudly. “Um, yeah, I treasure my
balls too much to let that happen. Lucy is one of the most
beautiful yet scariest women I know.
I won
't
cross her.”

I laugh with him. I like his description
of her. It's respectful and caring, and it says a great deal about
him.

“
As for the other, well… My friends may be
looking for something—or someone—to do tonight. But I'm pretty
satisfied with what I've found in Seattle already.
So, no, I won
't be doing that either.” He smiles warmly
at me and I melt. Wow. Seriously?

“
Oh, well that's good to hear,” I murmur,
blushing again. Why am I blushing so much?

“
Olivia, I had a great time last night.” I
try not to look shocked, but I am. “Why are you making that face?”
he laughs, “Is it that unbelievable to you that I enjoyed last
night?”

“
No, no, I just
… You know… Some guys...One-night stand...That
kind of thing.”

He laughs. “I'm not making a lifelong
commitment here, but I had a good time and I'd like to have more
good times with you—if you're on board with that.” He tips his head
down to look me in the eyes. “You're easy to talk to and I like our
banter. You make me laugh. I like that too. And well, in bed…” He
drops his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Well, I really like
that.”

I can't help but giggle. “Yes, that
was
very nice.”

“
Anyway, come with us tonight. I can't
dance worth a shit, but if it means making an ass out of myself for
a song or two to get your body next to mine, I'm all for it.” He
leans back in his chair, crossing his legs again.

I think this over for a second. Charley
would be all over this. And frankly, what's wrong with going out
and having some fun? I could at least get some action the rest of
the weekend. “I'll ask Charley, but yeah, that sounds like
fun.”

After I finish my drink and take the last
bite of my scone, I dust off my hands and stand, getting ready to
leave. Owen stands too, holding his arm out, gesturing for me to go
before him to the door. We step out into the Seattle morning and I
stop, turning to look at him.

“
So…” I say. He smiles down at me, close
enough for me to smell his cologne mixed with his shampoo. I am
totally caught in his spell.

“
So…” he repeats.

I take one tentative step closer and his
smile fades, his eyes becoming hooded.
I place my hands on his shoulders and lean up on
my tippy-toes. In an uncharacteristically bold move, I reach up to
kiss him, pausing before I get to his lips, looking up at him. He
slowly leans forward and closes the space between us. His lips
lightly brush over mine. We stay like this, lips barely touching as
I run my hands down his arms. He wraps his arms around my waist and
pulls me toward him. His mouth opens as he leans in, kissing me
more deeply, his tongue probing into my mouth, and I let it. We
nibble at each other for an all-too-short minute before he pulls
away. I take a deep breath, regaining my conscious
thought.

I smile at him and start to walk backward
up the sidewalk.
“
Goodbye,
Owen.
”

“
I'll see you tonight,” he says, winking at
me as I keep walking. “Now, turn around so I can watch your ass
walk away in those yoga pants. Jesus, woman, you're killing me.” I
throw my head back and laugh as I turn, exaggerating a sashay in my
hips. I hear him groan loudly. “Wear something fuckable tonight,
Olivia. I enjoy looking at you.”

I cover my face, mortified that he has
yelled that up the very crowded sidewalk. I hear a couple hoots and
hollers from some passersby and, shaking my head, start to jog back
to my hotel, thinking about how anxious I am to get back to my room
and call Charley.

* * *

I get back from the poster session and
plop my briefcase full of pamphlets and papers onto the bed.
Wow, that was a great session.
There is such wonderful work being done out there. My earlier
apathy about this conference has been eradicated and I have a
sudden motivation to be involved. Huh
. Weird.

I pick up my cell phone and dial Charley.
I tried calling her when I got back from Starbucks this morning,
but she was still entertaining the AAA guy from last night. I laugh
at the memory.

“
Liv! He'
s still here! He
's naked! I'm naked!
Gah!”

I grab my cell phone, dialing her number.
She answers on the first ring.

“
Helloooo, Livvy! What's up,
girly!”

I laugh.
“
Hello,
Charley.
AAA guy gone
now?”

She makes a swoony sigh,
“Oh, Liv, Liv, Liv. He was
amaze-balls. Hung like a fucking moose, I tell ya!” She starts to
laugh. “We had the most unbelievable time. I may never hear from
him again, but that's a scrapbooker, I tell ya.”