Chapter Twenty One

"Relax." Chloe said, and flashed a smile at him. "I mean, it's good to know that you care. But I can hold my liquor, thank you very much, and I didn't come with my car for your information. So no, I will not be driving home."

"Of course you can hold your liquor," Timothy said sarcastically. "Don't even make me remind you of the time that you got really drunk at Patrick's house party and I literally had to sneak you into your house so you wouldn't get in trouble with your parents."

Chloe smiled at the memory. "Yeah, I remember, but my parents would have been mad anyways…Even without the drinking. I snuck out, remember? Those were fun times indeed," But that was then and things weren't the same anymore. In fact a lot of things were different now, she thought. The last time she was here, they had been a couple and she couldn't deny that it was one of the times in her life when she had been genuinely happy. They had talked and made plans for the future... None of those plans were actualized. She lifted her drink to her lips again. This time, she finished the entire content of the glass before she turned back to Timothy, needing to control her thoughts. "So, I can't believe you still come here"

Timothy narrowed his gaze and studied her for a second. It was unnerving as he slowly raised an eyebrow. "Well, you are here too, aren't you?" he asked.

Chloe giggled and pushed her glass forward to be refilled. "I'm looking around because it's been a while since I have been here. That's different. You on the other hand... You can go some other place... I don't know... Classier... Because you know... you are you."

He was smiling back now and he couldn't help it. His lips curled with amusement as he watched her as she rambled on and tried to find the right words.

Chloe wanted to look away, but she couldn't. He had the most beautiful smile…He always had, and as she stared at him, she came into the conclusion that she was still very much attracted to Timothy. Which sucked because the last thing she wanted to do was to ruin things for Golden gate communications and feeling almost breathless whenever she was around Timothy certainly wasn't going to help in any way.

Except deep inside her something flipped. A miniscule seed long crushed now sparked into a tiny wistful ache for adventure. The heady scent of his perfume hit her senses. When she had been mad at him the last time they saw each other, it had been a bit easier to suppress the odd mixture of emotions Timothy's presence had been stirring in her body. But now that they were sitting side by side, it was impossible for her to ignore her own attraction to this man. It was simply undeniable. She was starting to crush on him all over again. He was still her ex boyfriend from high school, but now things were different because he was all man and she was no longer a girl, but a woman fully aware of her desires and what she wanted. She wanted him.

Who could blame her? The man was tall and handsome and whenever she got within a few feet of him, her body chemistry went haywire until it felt like it was about to short circuit. She wondered what he would do or how he would react if she told him what was going on in her head.

Would he push her away? Or would he agree to the both of them having just one night of wild, mind blowing sex?

Timothy was studying her as if he were assessing a new business deal. That damned smile flickered around his mouth again and the dimples on his cheeks danced—all teasing temptation. "I come here because I like it here, Chloe." His soft emphasis of her name whispered over her skin and she found it a little hard to concentrate on what he was saying. He was so —so charming, so perfect.

"And I like it because it's… familiar. I know almost everyone who hangs out here so I don't have to worry about agencies trying to get me to go into any kind of business with them" he concluded.

"Oh, you poor, rich, famous man" Chloe said mockingly while making a funny face. "It must be hard being so rich and popular that everyone wants to work with you"

Timothy could help but giggle. Chloe certainly hadn't changed... At least in some ways, he thought. She always teased him and her doing it again after so many years made him feel good for some reason... Maybe because it brought back some really good memories

Chloe watched as his eyes drifted down to her lips and she couldn't help but wonder how incredible it would feel to be kissed by him again, to be held by him again. To hold his hand again. Knowing how important this account was to Evan, she knew it would be wrong but she felt what she felt and she couldn't help it.

Thankfully Timothy changed the topic and she could breathe properly again. "Have you talked to Bryce Collins"

"Yes" she said, "he wants to go through the papers and I'm arranging to get us both tickets to the season opener so you can meet him then"

"That's great. I can't wait to meet him" Timothy said, "Dad's really looking forward to this being a success too"

"I will let you know as soon as everything is ready"

There was some silence before Chloe lifted her glass, emptied it, and suddenly said : "So, Tim...How long am I going to sit here with you before you ask me to dance?"

Timothy was taken by surprise by how forward she was. Chloe had always been the type of person who always said exactly what she was thinking. At school, she never hesitated to voice her thoughts and feelings and even he wasn't spared when she wanted to give him a piece of her mind. But tonight, after all these years, he was surprised for some reason.

"You're drunk" he said stiffly. That had to be the reason for her statement. It had to be. "How many drinks have you had since you came here?"

"Hmmmm.... Just these two" Chloe replied, pointing at her now empty glass.