Chapter Thirty Seven

Not that one twelve-ounce Diet Coke can was going to make much of a difference. No, if she really wanted to cool off, she might as well go downstairs to the bookstore and try to do some work on her laptop. At least the bookstore had air-conditioning. And there was even food in the break room and an honest-to-goodness coffee pot.

She stood there for a while, battling with the decision of either staying at home and continuing with her book, or going to work. Finally she decided to do the former. So she took the day off to rest, it wasn't a big deal. She deserved to rest a bit after all she'd done. Besides, the work wasn't going anywhere. It would still be there when she finally went to the office.

That decided, she hurriedly went to the bathroom to take a quick shower, then she headed downstairs to the bookstore.. By 1:00 pm, she went out to get some groceries and food stuff. She returned home an hour later, then hopped back on her bed to continue reading her book.

Chloe read in bed for an hour, trying desperately to focus on the erotic book in front of her. Not an easy task. She had been enjoying the book until she got to a romantic scene, now her concentration was fading and Instead of enjoying the story, she was turned on.

She thought about Timothy. He was probably preparing to leave now. If he hadn't left already. He was always in her thoughts and she hated that. If he was okay with them not seeing each other any more, she had to find a way to put him out of her mind. Maybe going out with other guys would help, she thought, and decided that she would try to give Matthew a chance. She would call him later that evening and tell him that she was willing to go out with him tomorrow evening.

But it was still such a shame, she thought as remembered that incredible night with Timothy. Such a shame that they weren't going to be that way again... Because it was so wonderful.

She sighed, her fingers stroking a decadent illustration showing a woman touching herself intimately. A man—hidden in the shadows—gazed at the woman with lust in his eyes. The artist, who’d used a mixture of blacks and grays to draw out the shadows, was unknown, and Chloe couldn’t help but wonder if there really had been a model. Had she been spread out on the chaise, just so?

Did she know the man was watching her? Did she fantasize that he would move slowly toward her and then press his hands on her breasts, her belly, trail fingertips down her until he cupped her sex, finding her wet and wanton, turned on by nothing more than the direction of her own thoughts? Chloe's body quivered, as if she could make the fantasy her own. With a little smile, she dropped the book and stood up from the bed. Time to make dinner, Chloe thought as she put the book away and headed for the kitchen. As she took out the pot from the drawer, she was halted by a knock on the door.

"Urgh" she thought. Who could that be? One of her neighbors? A friend? She had been hoping to have some time to herself before going out with people and having them come over. She hadn't even called Matthew yet about their date and she sincerely hoped that it wasn't him at the door.

She strolled barefooted to the door and opened it. She wasn't expecting to see the person standing on the other side. Okay, she wasn't even sure who she was expecting it to be, but it definitely wasn't Timothy Packard.

"Timothy" she gasped in surprise as she stared at him.

"Hi" he replied calmly, almost as if standing in front of her door was something he was quite used to and Chloe began to feel like her surprise reaction had been a little too dramatic. He smiled and lifted his hand to his neck. He looked... Unsure. Nothing like the ever confident Timothy she knew.

When she didn't say anything, he continued : "I'm sorry. I know you weren't expecting to see me here and I know it's a bit crazy.. Now that I see that look on your face, I think it's a bit creepy too... You know... For me to just show up like this. I'm actually beginning to wonder why I didn't think this through. I should have called…Anyways, I wanted to see you... I wanted to surprise you so I asked Evan and he gave me your address.... Reluctantly though... He didn't want to but I... Well, anyways.. Can I come in?"

"Oh I'm sorry. Yes sure you can come in" Chloe said as she realized that she had been standing in the doorway. She stepped out of the way so he could come in and his scent drifted up her nostrils as he brushed past her. She was suddenly very aware of herself as she was putting on very little. The bum shorts she was putting on barely covered her butt, and she knew that the white singlet she was wearing wasn't doing much to cover up her nipples. Her hair was messy and she had it piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She didn't even want to think about what her face looked like.

She watched Timothy as he took a few steps into the house, then he stopped in the middle of the living room and turned back to face her. Chloe didn't move. Her feet seemed rooted to the spot so she just stood there and watched him, wondering why he had come.

He seemed to read her mind because he said, : "I'm sorry for stopping by this way. Like I said before I know I have no business showing up at your place like this. I hope I'm not interrupting anything"

Chloe finally found her tongue. "Ermm. That's alright" she said, "Although I won't deny that I'm surprised to see you here. I mean, I thought you would be leaving today... Or... Is something wrong... With our agency and your company?"

He saw the concern in her eyes and took a step towards her. "Oh, everything is fine. Don't worry about that. Believe me, my presence here has nothing to do with work."

Her eyes seemed to ask, 'Then why are you here?'