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“Well, sure,” she said. “I mean, I’ve got to have something to post today.”
“Well, I admire your dedication,” I admitted. “But I don’t get it. Wouldn’t you prefer to have something you enjoyed than just have something good to post?”
Jamie sighed. “I guess I just love my phone more than I love life,” she said.
“Your phone?” I inspected my own. I’d had almost twenty texts and missed calls from people in the business since I’d sat down to speak to Jamie. But I’d turned my phone on silent to talk to her and get to know her better. Try as I might, I couldn’t stand smartphones. It was a pet peeve of mine. Everybody has to be on their phone nowadays. When could you stop?
“I’ve been addicted to mine since I was a teenager,” she admitted guiltily. “It used to drive my mom crazy. But I hope she’d be proud of me now.”
I nodded. “I’m sure she would be,” I replied, as the bill arrived on her table. I wanted to say more—I knew Jamie’s mom had died when she was a teenager, killed in a tragic car accident. But I felt it would be too much.
Jamie stretched out her hand to look at it, and I did at the same time. As our hands accidentally touched, I felt a spark of warmth travel up my arm from where my hands had brushed her delicate skin.
“Oh, please,” I said. “My treat.”
“Are you sure?” Jamie pulled back her arm like she’d just been shocked.
“I am,” I said, looking into her eyes again. I could get lost in a pair of eyes like that, their vibrant green color. It was an antidote to the gray, wintry skies of Boston this evening.
I paid for our drinks, and we left. The alcohol in my bloodstream made me feel a little more relaxed as we left the bar and rode the elevator down to the street.
“Well, I guess I should get back,” said Jamie. “How long has it been dark?”
“We’ve been talking for a while,” I admitted, a little guiltily. “Going my way?”
“I live in Back Bay,” she replied.
“What? You’re going home? Not doing something else tonight?” I asked.
“Uh, no,” said Jamie, looking around.
“I just thought you’d want to celebrate,” I said. “Seeing as you’ve landed a job today.”
“Oh my …,” said Jamie. “Eric, seriously?”
“How could I refuse?” I asked. “We’ll talk more when I get back from South America next week. But for now …” I extended my hand. “Congratulations.”
Before I knew it, Jamie had flung open her arms and stepped towards me. She embraced me and rested her head on my shoulder. Her soft hair brushed against my neck, and I felt a tingle in my lower half.
“Hey,” I said, patting her gently on her back. I didn’t know how to react. The feeling of her light, slim body pressed up against mine was almost more than I could bear. “You earned it. I’m excited to see what you have to offer.”
“Thank you, thank you!” said Jamie, pulling away from the hug. When she saw the look in my eyes her cheeks went completely pink. Was it from the cold? Or was Jamie Reed feeling something more than just excitement about her new job?
“Not at all,” I said. “Come on. If you’re going that way, I might as well give you a ride. My hotel’s in Back Bay.”
“You’re staying at a hotel?” Jamie said.
“It’s a bit more convenient,” I said. “I work all hours of the day.”
“Isn’t it expensive?” said Jamie. “Why don’t you just get an apartment?”
“I guess I’ve never found anywhere I want to call home,” I laughed. “You know, we should probably go up the street. It’s pretty difficult to get an Uber around here.”
“No need,” I said. “I’ve called my driver. And here he is.”
A silver Merc had pulled up on the sidewalk a few feet down from where we were standing. I opened the door for Jamie, and she got in, adjusting to the comfortable, warm leather seats. I sat next to her and closed the door.
“The Hiltman Hotel, please,” I said.
