Will to Love (8 page)

It was a couple of minutes before twelve when they got there so the place was still relatively empty of lunchtime patrons.
 
Will suggested a table for two tucked in a corner and put his hand on Clarise's back as he led her to the table.
 
Clarise felt a warm glow travel all over her body at the gesture.
 
She liked it.
 
A lot.
 
All of a sudden, she wanted him to put his arm around her and hold her close just like he did on the dance floor.
 
She shook her head almost imperceptibly, putting a stop to her wayward thoughts.
 
Never before had a simple touch from a man affect her equilibrium.
 

Will noticed.
 
"Anything wrong, Clarise?"

"No."
 
She smiled at him in that lovely, guileless way that affected the way his heart beat.

They ordered their food and started talking about how they each got into their line of work.
 

Lunch proceeded with easy, enjoyable chatter.

Clarise learned that Will played tennis with Mark, Rick and a few other guys every two weeks on Sunday afternoons and this coming Sunday was one of those days.
 

Will was pleasantly surprised to know that the back way he usually took to get to the tennis courts from his place passed through Clarise's street.
 
When she described what her apartment block looked like, he knew which one she was talking about.
 
Casually, he asked her unit number and she told him.

"So tell me, how are Rick and Mark at tennis?
 
Rick seems to take it pretty seriously."

"Well, they're both pretty good although Rick is definitely the more competitive of the two.
 
He's my main rival among the group," Will said with a laugh.

"So I take it you're pretty competitive as well?"

"Yes, I tend to be.
 
I usually throw everything I have for something I really want, and beating those guys in tennis is something at the top of my list of hobbies."

At the mention of Rick and Mark, Will remembered again who Clarise was - the future sister-in-law of his good friends.
 
He was enjoying having lunch with her so much that he almost forgot that little fact.
 
He reminded himself again of his decision.
 
No-go.

Clarise looked at her watch and was surprised at the time.
 
They'd been there for one and a half hours.
 
It didn't feel like it.
 
Fortunately, her working hours were very flexible.
 

Reluctantly, she announced she had to go back to work for another client meeting.

Will insisted on paying and refused Clarise's offer to halve the bill.

As they walked out of the cafe, it was Clarise that didn't want their day together to end yet.
 
But she had a meeting to go to.
 
She decided to take a small leap.

"Will, how about if I give you my mobile number?
 
That way you can call me when you have those brochures organised or... if there's something else you want."
 
She blushed a little bit and licked her lips nervously.
 
She said it innocently enough, not knowing how to flirt well due to lack of practice, but she hoped Will got the message.

Will looked into those beautiful brown eyes and thought he could easily get lost in them. "Yes, that's a great idea."
 
He smiled at her with that gape-inducing smile.
 
He pulled out his smartphone from his pocket and tapped her number as she recited it.

"Why don't you have mine too?" he asked in a low voice, looking into those beautiful eyes.

That crackling electricity was very noticeable again.

Clarise hoped he hadn't notice the slight tremor of her hands as she fumbled with her smartphone to tap his number on it.

For the rest of the day, Clarise thought she was floating on a cloud.
 

For the rest of the day, Will fought with himself - should he stick with his decision that she's a no-go or should he act on their mutual attraction?
 

~~

Will had just finished collating all the travel books, brochures and marketing materials he had available and put it in a box to deliver to Clarise's office first thing on Monday morning on his way to work.
 
He won't call her.
 
He'll just drop it off at reception and maybe that girl Delia would be there.

He had decided when he woke up this morning that she will remain a no-go.
 
He wouldn't be able to look at his friends Rick and Mark in the eyes, especially Rick, if he hurt Clarise.
 
Much as he was attracted to her and much as she seemed like a really nice girl, he did not want a relationship.
 
He knew it would create too much complication and distraction that he neither needed nor wanted.
 

He thought about her attempts to let him know she was interested in him.
 
He smiled at the thought, liking her shyness and admiring her courage when it was apparent she wasn't used to being too forward with men.
 
Warmth spread through him, not from lust, but from something else that he refused to acknowledge.
 
He just wouldn't do for her, he thought.
 
She deserved someone who'd treat her well.

~~

Will was on his way to his tennis game with the boys.
 
Today was a big day.
 
He and Rick would be playing the doubles finals against Glen and Stan.
 
They took their tennis games seriously and enjoyed winning against each other.

Will was approaching Clarise's street and without realising it, he started to drive slowly.
 
He recognised her apartment building from a few meters away and idly wondered if she would happen to be walking outside.
 
He saw a car pull out from a street parking right in front of her building.
 
With split-second decision, he pulled in to that now-available parking space.

He did have that box of travel books at the back of the car to give her, he reasoned.
 
And since he was here, he may as well save himself some time on Monday morning.
 
And since this parking space right in front of her building miraculously became available just at the right time...
 
He nodded, comfortable with his decision.

CHAPTER SIX

Clarise was in a bit of a panic.
 
She bunched up the top she was wearing over her breasts so she could put on a strapless bra.
 
She had already buzzed him in the building so he'd be outside her door in a minute.

Maybe I should also put on a jacket or something.
 
But seeing it was quite hot in her apartment, she discarded the idea.

She looked at the pink sleeveless top that moulded to her body and the short pair of shorts she was wearing and tried to stamp down her nervousness.
 
She was so inappropriately dressed for a business meeting.
 
Well, not that this was a business meeting, he was only going to drop off a box of brochures and then he'd be off.
   

Why didn't he give me any advanced warning?
 
And why didn't I tell him to wait five minutes?

Clarise heard the knocking on the front door of her apartment.
 
She could still tell him to wait.

You're fine, Clarise
, she heard a voice from inside her head.
 
Play it cool.
 
He's just dropping a box and you are not naked.
 
No one would expect you to be in a business suit on a Sunday afternoon.
 
She hastened to the door before she could overthink the situation any further.

She opened the door and there was Will, handsome as ever, carrying what looked to be a rather heavy box.
 
"Hi," she said with a shy smile.

Will stared at her for a long moment with frank admiration before giving her a swoon-inducing smile.
 
"Hi, Clarise."
 
She blushed and licked her lips nervously.
 
Will's attention went to those soft, lush lips.

"Do you want me to take that?" she asked softly, holding out her arms to take the box from him.

"It's rather heavy so how about I put it on a table for you?"

"Okay, thanks."
 
She opened the door wider to let him in.
 

She was debating whether to apologise for her attire when he spoke. "Nice place."
 
He was looking around her apartment as he deposited the box on her coffee table.
 
The moment for an apology seemed to have passed so she didn't mention it.
 
Besides, she wasn't really sure that she should be apologising.

Will looked around approvingly at her place, thinking how cosy and homey it felt, while at the same time having understated elegance.
 
She had great taste in furniture.
 
They were modern and inviting.
 
Not like some showroom type pieces that were nice to look at but seemed like you couldn't be comfortable on them after a stressful day at work.
 
She had two tall bookshelves chockfull of books and picture frames were scattered about strategically.

Then he saw her balcony off to the left of her living room and headed there.
 
"So you love plants."
 
He said, stating a fact.
 
She had about ten or so pots of plants there of different colours and sizes.

"Yes, I do, but don't be fooled.
 
I don't have a green thumb.
 
I just love looking at them and being surrounded by them.
 
I've already had a few plants die on me," Clarise answered with a little laugh.
 

Will asked her about the names of the plants she had.
 
He didn't really want to know, he just wanted her to continue talking.
 
He didn't want to leave yet.
 

Clarise was grateful for this chance to regain her equilibrium so she blabbed on about the plants, pretending to inspect them as she continued talking.
 
She was still flustered from the way Will stared at her after she opened the door.
 
And then he had to smile that devastating smile of his!
 
Damn him for being so good looking.
 

Will found himself pretending to be interested in what Clarise was saying but his attention was glued to how utterly sexy she looked in her tight-fitting top and short shorts that exposed her lovely, long legs.
 
She obviously wasn't expecting company, dressed like that.
 

He could tell she was flustered.
 
Well, it didn't cross his mind that she would be in her 'home alone' clothes when he surprised her with his presence.
 
Should he have given her some advanced warning?
 
But somehow, he didn't feel at all sorry for his spontaneity.
 
And anyway, why didn't she say 'no' or, at least, ask him to wait while she got dressed?
 
He was also glad she didn't.

 
His gaze lingered on the swell of her breasts and continued on to look appreciatively at rest of her body.
 
He forced himself to behave and his eyes went back to her beautiful face.
 
She was still inspecting her plants and talking about some drip-feed system that watered them so she didn't have to remember to do it.
 
But he couldn't focus on what she was saying.
 
He could only focus on the movement of her lips. Will suddenly had the urge to draw her to him and kiss those luscious lips.
 
He felt himself grow hard.
 
If he didn't distract himself, it would be very, very awkward for the two of them and very, very uncomfortable for him.
 

He turned away from her and pretended to inspect a pot behind him, willing himself to cool down.
 
He didn't come here to jump her, he merely wanted to drop the box of travel brochures so she could start with whatever she had to do for that article.
 
For business, he stressed to himself.
 
And she's no-go, remember, Will?
 
So what the hell are you doing standing in her apartment with a hard-on?

"Will?"
 
He heard Clarise call him.
 
"Sorry, I think I'm boring you with my plant talk," she said with a wry smile.
 

"No," he tried to deny it, then laughed.
 
"The first minute was interesting, and then...well..."
 
They both laughed, releasing some of the tension in the room.

"Do you want to show me what's in your box before you go or do you have to leave straight away?"
 
Please say you'll show me what's in your box.
 
I don't want you to go yet.

Will looked at his watch.
 
He really must go.
 
He was already running late for the tennis game as it was.
 

"Sure, I have a few minutes.
 
I can quickly go through the materials with you," he heard himself blurt out.
 
Huh?
 
He gave himself a mental shake.
 
His mouth seemed to have a brain of its own when he was around Clarise.
 
'Dickhead' really applies to you right this minute
, he said to himself, bemused.

"Okay, great.
 
Would you like something cold to drink while you show me your goodies then?
 
I have iced tea, orange juice or water."