Sweet Chemistry (14 page)

She and Liz shook hands again, but Kate didn’t leave right away. She tucked her notebook under her arm and went into the bookstore next door. A bell chimed over her head and a friendly female voice called from the back room, “I’ll be right with you.”

Kate scanned the room, noting that it was probably as big as the restaurant next door, only instead of being divided by tables and chairs, it was separated with towering bookshelves. A surfboard was leaning against the wall next to the front door.

“Are you looking for something specific?” The woman behind the counter had a shock of purple in her hair and when she smiled, her right cheek dimpled.

“Actually, I’m looking at the restaurant next door, you know, to get it up and running.” Saying the words out loud, even to a stranger, was immensely powerful.

“Great! We just love being here. Mr. Crane is a great landlord.”

Kate relaxed. “I’m Kate.” She held her hand out, and the woman shifted a stack of books in her arms to shake it.

“Brandie. We knew the guy who ran the restaurant before.”

“What happened?” Kate swallowed hard.

Brandie shook her head sadly. “His mom developed dementia, and he couldn’t juggle taking care of her and the restaurant. It’s a real shame too. He made the best gyros in town. What do you make?”

“Pastries and other stuff. I’m going to open a bakery.”

Brandie scowled. “Great, now I’m going to have to try everything. If I get a fat ass, we’re going to have words.”

Kate laughed.

“Are you moving in upstairs too?” Brandie walked to a small table and put the books down.

Kate nodded and then scanned the room for the entrance to the apartment. “You live here?” Brandie nodded. “How do you like it?”

“It’s great. There’s a grocer around the corner that always has the freshest produce, we’re close enough to the university to get plenty of foot traffic, and I
hear
there’s going to be an amazing bakery on the block soon.”

Kate laughed again. “I hope it lives up to your expectations. With any luck, I’ll be seeing you around.”

Brandie waved. “I look forward to it.”

On her drive back to the dorms, Kate found herself in the parking lot of James’ apartment. She pulled out her phone and thought about calling him, but decided to dash up the three flights of stairs and surprise him.

“Just a minute,” James called through the door. When he opened it, he was holding twelve dollars. “That was fa—”

Kate beamed at him and then her mouth was on his. His arms wrapped around her body as he dragged her inside his apartment.

When he pulled away from her, he had a silly grin on his face. “I thought you were the pizza guy.”

Kate shook her head. “Nope, definitely
not
the pizza guy. Unless you let him kiss you too.” She narrowed her eyes.

James laughed. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

“Better day?”

“Yeah, about that…” Kate held his face between her hands. “I wanted to thank you for last time. You were so wonderful.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

“You were very helpful. Sorry for bursting in on you. If you’re busy, I can go, I just had to thank you.”

“I’m just taking a break from grading for dinner. Would you like to join me?”

Kate smiled. “That would be lovely. I won’t stay too long.”

James shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen.”

“No, no, no.” Kate shook her head. “I’m not going to distract you while you grade. I have rules against that.”

“Fine, be that way.” James pouted.

Kate kissed him again, and James stopped pouting.

The next time James answered the door, it was the pizza guy, whom he paid twelve dollars, and did not kiss.

James talked about his day while they ate. Kate was quiet about her good news. Talking to Meg and a woman in a bookstore about her plans was one thing, but discussing them with James was something entirely different.

“So, Thanksgiving is just a couple weeks away. Are you still willing to come with me to Jeff and Heather’s?” His leg bounced under the table, making a muted taping noise on the linoleum floor.

Kate touched his leg and smiled. His leg stilled. “Of course. Just tell me what you want me to bring.”

“I usually bring pie.”

“What kind?”

“Pumpkin and pecan.”

Kate nodded her head. “Done. Do they know I’m coming?”

James laughed. “Yes. I may have mentioned it once or twice.” His leg started bouncing again.

“What’s going on? I’ve never seen you so nervous.”

He cleared his throat. “I thought, um, maybe after dinner with my family I could take you to a place in Santa Barbara for the long weekend. There’s a vineyard I always wanted to tour, and some really beautiful places on the beach to explore. If you’re up to it,” he added quickly.

Kate had just taken her last bite and nearly choked on it as she tried to swallow it in one piece. Her day just kept getting better and better. She nodded and held up her finger. When she was done coughing she smiled. “I’d love to.”

James relaxed and smiled too. “Excellent. I’ll take care of the plans. What are you doing this weekend?”

Kate shrugged. “I’m not sure yet.” She planned to call Ms. Watts first thing in the morning to make another appointment to discuss her loan.

“Keep me posted?” His eyebrows rose, nearly meeting in the middle.

Kate nodded. It might’ve been the perfect moment to tell him about the bakery, but she decided to show her gratitude instead.

“Before I go, I’d like to thank you for the other night.”

James frowned. “You already did that.”

She dragged him away from the table and pinned him against the nearest wall. “No. I didn’t.” Her fingers danced across the button holding his khakis closed. “This one doesn’t involve words.” By the time she had his zipper down, and the flap of his boxers open, his cock was hard in her hands.

Kate kneeled between his legs and tilted her head to smile at him. His face was slack. She held on to his leg with one hand and gripped his dick by the base with the other while she breathed against the head. His eyes closed slowly. Her flat tongue caressed every inch of his hard length. James moaned. When she rolled her tongue against the smooth ridge around the head, his moan turned into a word.

“
Fuuuuuck
.” His fingers played with her hair.

Kate grinned, exposing her teeth. She scraped them against him, causing his hips to jerk off the wall. She sucked him in as deep as she could and moved up and down his shaft, swirling her tongue around his head.

The muscles in his legs tightened, and as she continued to suck hard and fast, their eyes met.

“I’m. Gonna. Come.” His words fractured and his eyes glazed over.

Kate had no intention of stopping, and when his cock swelled in her mouth, she swallowed everything he had to offer. After the tremors running through his body subsided, she tucked him back inside his clothes and buttoned his pants. She kissed his lips lightly. “Thank you.”

James was still panting. “Thank
you
.” His floppy arms encircled her body.

She hugged him. “Thank you for dinner too. Now I’m going to go, as promised, so you can finish grading. See you in class tomorrow.” With one last kiss, she left.

* * * *

Kate knocked on Meg’s door. “Meg, it’s me.”

“You look like you have good news. Do you have good news?” Meg was nodding her head and smiling.

“I found it. The perfect place!”

Kate and Meg hugged and squealed like schoolgirls. “When can I see it?”

“I’m going to go see it again Saturday before I go to my credit union, and I was hoping you would want to go with me.”

Meg nodded. “I’d love to. What time?”

“How’s ten sound?”

“Great. I can’t believe this is happening.” Meg hugged her again. “I can’t wait.”

Sam made a point of trying to get information about James’ mystery woman every time they were in the same room together. James was too smart to tell him about Kate, so whenever he brought it up, James changed the subject, and he finally found a subject worthy of distraction.

“Sam? When did you get tenure?”

“A few years back, why?”

“Lloyd’s been busting my balls about staying on track, but I’m just trying to keep my head above water.”

“Don’t let him scare you. Lloyd means well, but he can be a bit overwhelming. Listen, I’d be happy to help you out.”

“Thanks Sam. That would be great. Can I see your folder?”

Sam nodded, and they planned to go over it on Wednesday after their department meeting.

As much as it pained him to miss a night with Kate, he buckled down and put his work first. Their meeting turned into dinner and drinks, and by the time they were done, his tenure track wasn’t intimidating anymore.

“There’s only so much you can do,” Sam said, as they got ready to go. “The rest is getting on the right committees and staying on the good side of the powers that be.”

“Right, and that means sucking up to Lloyd.”

“And the dean, and it wouldn’t hurt if you got to know the provost too. David’s a really nice guy. We’re playing racquetball tomorrow. You should come with me so I can introduce you.”

“I haven’t played racquetball in years.”

“So you’ll come?”

James shrugged. “Why not?”

“I’ll stop by your office to pick you up at eleven.”

“Thanks Sam, for everything.”

Sam nudged his shoulder. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

“This is above and beyond being a friend. Really. Thank you.”

James was sure he was harboring a swarm of butterflies in his stomach as he and Sam walked across campus to the gym. It was only the second time James had visited the gym, and he was surprised to find a dozen racquetball courts. Six of them were enclosed with a glass wall and had an observation bench outside. Sitting on one of the benches was a man with a full head of salt and pepper hair. He was just finishing tying his shoes when Sam and James walked up.

“David.” Sam smiled.

“Sam, I’m so glad you could make it.” David stood and shook Sam’s hand and then pulled him into a half hug.

James lagged behind, waiting for Sam to introduce him.

“David, this is our new biochemist, James Baker.”

“David McKay.” David nodded and shook James’ hand. “I remember when we hired you. How are you liking the university so far?”

“It’s beautiful.”

“So, James Baker, did you come to play?” David looked him square in the eye.

James nodded. “I’ll wait though, until the two of you have a chance to play.”

“Nonsense. I’m sure we can find someone to play doubles with us.” David looked around and found a man coming out of a room next door. “Excuse me, young man, would you please join us for a game of doubles?”

“Sure. My name’s Jon.”

David held his hand out. “Jon, it’s good to meet you. I’m David, this is Sam, and this is your partner, James.”

When James shook Jon’s hand, he laughed nervously. “You’ll have to forgive me. I haven’t played in years.”

Jon leaned close to him. “Don’t worry. I’m on the racquetball team. I’ll cover you.”

James sighed. Maybe this wouldn’t be a disaster after all.

They were well into their second game before James got back into the groove of playing. Jon had picked up most of his slack, and even though they lost the first game, it hadn’t been by much. Jon and James bumped chests when the tables turned and they claimed victory on the second game.

All four men were breathing hard and talking loudly when they exited the court.

David suggested they all go to lunch together, and when Jon agreed, James bought him a beer. Before too much longer, Jon had to go, but promised if they ever needed a fourth, he was their man.

James, Sam, and David stayed and talked until David had to run to a meeting. “James, it was great to meet you, and Sam, always good to see you. Are you both coming next week?”

James agreed, and they shook on it.

Sam nudged James with his elbow after David had left. “Talk about good first impressions!”

James shook his head. “Jon saved my ass out there.”

“Maybe a little at first, but you really held your own. See? David’s a great guy, and it doesn’t hurt to be friends with the provost.”

“Right you are. It also doesn’t hurt to be friends with an inorganic chemist with connections.”

“True. I’m glad you came, and I’m happy you’re coming next Thursday.”

“I’ll be there.”

James had been busy with Sam over the last two days, and by the time Thursday night rolled around, he was feeling the pressure to get his grading done. He kept checking his phone to see if Kate had tried to call. His disappointment didn’t last long when she showed up in person. He had been anxious to talk to her about going away for the weekend after Thanksgiving dinner, and when she agreed to go with him, he got to work making reservations the minute she left. He couldn’t get his mind back on grading until everything was planned for their weekend getaway.

His ride into work on Friday was perfect. The forecast called for rain, but the sky was clear, so he rode his bike the mile in. As he was pushing his bike down the hall to his office, Lloyd called out to him.

“James. Have you got a minute?”

“Sure, let me put this away.” James parked his bike in his office and his cycling shoes clacked as he made his way down the hall. “What’s up?”

Lloyd looked up from his desk, taking in the sight of James in his riding gear. “You could’ve changed first.”

“I wasn’t sure how long you’d be here, so I thought I’d just see you first.” James smiled.

Lloyd smiled back. “I wanted to tell you how impressed Provost McKay is with you. I had a meeting with him yesterday afternoon, and he pulled me aside to share his excitement over getting to know the new biochemist.”

James chuckled. “Sam introduced us. We played racquetball yesterday. The provost is a great player.”

“Yes, I’ve heard Sam has taken you under his wing. Seems like you’re well on your way to learning the ropes around here.”

James continued to smile. “Sam has been incredibly helpful. Thank you again for the space in the research lab. I have ideas for research projects I can do next semester.”