“Yes. But, girl, it looks good on you!” Sarah reached out and wrapped Victoria in a hug, squealing and bouncing.
“Okay, okay, we’re going to jinx it! Calm down.”
Sarah raised her fingers and hummed in false meditation.
She had to get back to work, back to reality. Victoria let out one last laugh, grabbed her order pad, and returned to the real world, resigned to not be overly smitten the rest of the day.
From table to table, Victoria smiled and laughed with the patrons like she’d never done before. She ogled babies and didn’t charge for the extra cheese or meat her tables ordered. Maybe it made her a bad employee, but she was happy. And she was passing it on to everyone she encountered. Her mind was flying. Finally, she was wanted by someone she wanted back so bad it hurt. But you have to take it slow. They’d already screwed up the order of things, but damn if she wanted to take any of it back. Their moments of intimacy had flipped a switch in her. Something made her possessive and strong when he was around. Victoria let out a distracted squeal as she rounded the corner back to her tables with refills. A new start, new relationship, new phone number to remember. A number he’d given her a couple of times now. The same one she’d made fully sure was deleted from her inbox as well as her phone. She definitely remembered where he lived, but she couldn’t show up there instead of a call…could she?
The customers who had been present for Gabe’s display congratulated her on finding a good one and wished her well. Young couples fought over it. Girls argued the romanticism of it all, while the guys shook their heads, stating plainly that they’d never do it. It was different, an odd feeling, to have her love life so open to strangers. Todd had never wanted public displays of affection, let alone a whole restaurant to know how he felt. He’d been so reserved, never wanting more than hand-holding in public.
But Gabe had lifted her chin with enough care that her body tingled, and she wished she could have pulled him into the kitchen for a taste test. Her mind traveled back to their night together. How confident she’d felt with him, how she’d bared herself to him so completely and quickly. She’d never acted that way with Todd. He would have thought it was too forward, a turn off. Victoria realized her knuckles were white from holding her tray too tightly as she meandered back through the restaurant, lost in her haze of thoughts. Coming through the door to greet her was the girl relieving her shift for the day. Thankful for the chance to leave, Victoria cashed out her tables and stashed her apron in her cubby, more than ready to get home.
* * * *
Hot water scorched her feet, bubbles burst at the touch. It was the perfect bath in her newly rendered quiet apartment. Candles flickered around the base of the porcelain tub as Victoria slowly sat down into the water. The burning would stop soon, her body would become used to the temperature, and she’d be relaxing in its steam in no time. Muscles that had been tight all day finally released. Victoria let her head hang back and breathed in the crisp cool air from outside the steam-filled bath.
She closed her eyes and pictured what today would have looked like if she had been a fly on the wall. Gabe coming in with Ti, sitting in her section. His eyes narrowing as he no doubt saw her attempt to escape his gaze. The way he stormed the front to get to what he wanted. The level of his voice loud, serious and demanding. She’d listened without thought. It scared her that he held it over her, that he could beckon and she would come. But I held out on his calls. He deserved one chance to be heard. And boy, did he use the hell out of that one chance. Victoria’s lips curved into a smile, shivers running through her body at the memory of the sound of his voice. Her body remembered the anticipation that came with his touch. She may as well be one of Pavlov’s dogs. Gabe had already trained her body to respond to him with little more than a look.
The sound of her phone ringing shook her from her daydreams, but her phone was nowhere in sight. From the other room, she could hear the ringtone carrying on. Gabe! Her feet hit the mats around the tub and sloshed water onto the floor. She didn’t bother to towel off more than her hands in her race to the phone.
“Hello?” She breathed heavily without looking at the ID.
“Victoria? Why are you out of breath?” Her mom’s voice rang through the other side. Victoria felt herself fall into disappointment that wasn’t well-meant. She loved her mom, it just wasn’t who she was hoping to talk to.
“Hey, Mom. Sorry, had to run out of the shower to grab my phone. What’s up?”
“Nothing much, just calling to chat. You weren’t in the tub with Todd were you? Not that I don’t think you’re sleeping together, but tubs are dirty. They can cause infections, you really should be careful.”
Victoria laughed. Her mom had always been honest and to the point. Her warning was nothing new. “Todd’s not here. Actually, we broke up, so you don’t have to worry about bathtub sex.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. Are you okay?” Her mom was trying to ask what happened without having to ask. Classic mom move on her part. Victoria had learned her game years ago and found herself answering without hesitation.
“Yep! I’m really good, actually! It’s been over for a while. I finally got the kahunas to kick him out now.”
“Huh. Well, you know what’s best for you. And hell, there’s always batteries. Lord knows that’s how I’ve made it all these years. You don’t need a man for anything, sweetie!”
Victoria fought back a cringe at her mother’s open sexuality. After being divorced and single for fifteen years, she guessed you’d have to be doing something. Not to mention her mother’s concerns with STDs and infections, it wasn’t hard to believe that her mom found a real man being more hassle than he was worth.
“Thanks for that, Mom. All right, well, I’m soaked, so can I talk to you later?”
She hung up the phone feeling free and loved. Her mom had raised her on her own, even before the divorce was final, and she was prepared to fight tooth and nail to keep her guardianship. Little did Victoria or her mom know at the time, her father didn’t even plan on fighting for her. He signed over his rights at the first exit. Victoria frowned for a moment, remembering hearing he didn’t even argue. How could you not want your daughter? After rubbing the excess water from her body, Victoria kept the towel on and sat down at her computer. She couldn’t call Gabe without his number, but he’d surely sign on tonight.
He wasn’t in the chat room yet, so Victoria clicked around on band pictures and bios, things she’d read before. She checked the threads on the new song and couldn’t believe the response. Why the hell did I delete that e-mail? New members and old members alike were weighing in; it was the best song Banshee Exodus had come up with yet. Her cheeks flushed. Gabe had all but told her the song was about her. Hell, it was the reverse of her screen name, and when she called him out on it, he never argued that it wasn’t. Even if it hadn’t been written about her, she still felt immense pride for Gabe. He’d written a hit they’d never had before. The ding inviting her to a private chat made her jump before she clicked Yes as if her life depended on it.
*
WriterGuy: Hello there, Siren.
SongSiren: Hello.
WriterGuy: I feel like there’s something I need to tell you. I really like talking to you, but you should know the truth.
Gabe smiled as he typed in the words. They were starting over. He wasn’t changing his status to “in a relationship” just yet. After all, she didn’t even know his name.
SongSiren: Uh-oh, what is it?
WriterGuy: My name is Gabe. I’m not just the site administrator. I’m also the lead singer.
Gabe paused a second, wondering what her reaction was across the wires. Was she upset that he’d brought it back up? Or did she feel he was finally doing what was right? There was no way of knowing at this time, so Gabe told himself she was reading it with a daring smile. Imagining her grin, he added…
WriterGuy: I also wrote Siren’s Song…about you.
He waited for a response, rolling
his fingers in rhythm across the keyboard. He began to doubt that she was smiling. Maybe he’d made it worse. As he began to type in an apology, Victoria’s reply popped up.
SongSiren: Wow. You’re really him? I better watch what I say about you then, wouldn’t want you getting the wrong idea. And you probably say you write songs about all the girls you’re trying to sleep with.
Gabe’s jaw dropped. What was she saying? And she knew who it was…sarcasm. But angry sarcasm or funny, he couldn’t tell. He sat with a finger on his bottom lip, wondering how to proceed.
SongSiren: Kidding. But thanks for the clarification. Funny, I was in the tub wondering how I could get a hold of you. God bless the internet!
Gabe’s jaw dropped even farther. The visual of Tori surrounded by bubbles, naked in the water, flooded his brain. He pictured her hair pinned up messily, strands of it falling with only the tips getting wet. Her delicate skin softening and wrinkling in the hot water. Holy shit. Gabe wondered how awkward it would be to ask her to describe her bath to him. Not that it would help the already thickening hard-on he was getting by hearing only minute details.
WriterGuy: I would have loved for you to have gotten a hold of me in your tub.
Gabe let out a small groan. Their night together had been wild and fun, and she had been as ready to go again as he had in the morning. What would their relationship be like? Exhausting. He answered himself with a grin. But so worth it.
SongSiren: Gabe! I just learned your name, and you’re trying to get in my tub?☺
God, Yes. No, he had to keep pace. Starting over, learning about each other, the things that built relationships. Those were the things he needed to focus on, not the way they had started last time. But damn was it good.
WriterGuy: Can we meet tomorrow? I promise to stay out of your tub.
SongSiren: I’d like that. Rock Bottom?
WriterGuy: Are you off for lunch? Or dinner?
SongSiren: Hmm…afternoon deli—never-mind. Yeah, I’m off for lunch. Meet there at 1?
WriterGuy: Sounds good. Hey, Siren?
SongSiren: Yes?
WriterGuy: You never told me your name.
SongSiren: I’ll tell you. Tomorrow.
Gabe smiled, they were on the same page. Excited and ready to put everything they had into this new relationship. The best part might even have been that there was no awkwardness about what it would feel like to disrobe in front of each other, no worries they wouldn’t fit. The highlight of being together was clear from their conversations. They wanted each other mentally and physically. How could he ask for more?
Chapter 16
“Sarah! It’s noon! You still good to cover the rest of my shift?”
Sarah came around the corner, making a face. “Oh yuck, yes, I will definitely cover for you! Go get,” she motioned her hands around Victoria’s shoulders and face, “all of this taken care of. What did you do, roll out of bed and come in?”
There was no time to act offended. She knew she was working with the bare minimum. After all, it was best to start with a blank canvas to make a masterpiece. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll talk to you later!” Victoria started to run away before turning back and throwing her arms around Sarah’s neck. “Thank you!” Then she turned and ran from the restaurant.
Bland colors and boring cuts met Victoria’s eyes as she whipped through her closet. She tossed blouses and plain-colored T-shirts onto her bed, scrambling through her collection of leggings and skirts. Holding a shirt to her face, she screamed with frustration into it. “There has to be something I can wear!” She glanced at her cell phone. She had ten minutes to get changed if she was going to make it to Rock Bottom on time. She had curled the ends of her hair and painted her eyes with a light gold; all that was left was clothes. A tight, black V-neck and dark denim jeans caught her eye. Simple.
The sun shone brightly, but there was a chill in the air. Living near the city had advantages. A taxi appeared and Victoria got in. She would make it on time, maybe a minute late.
On her request, the taxi dropped her off at the end of the block. For as much as she had rushed to be there on time, during the drive she thought it might be better to let Gabe stew a little. Let him see her walk in instead of being overanxious and waiting on him. A few people milled about the street, but in the middle of a work week, she had missed the bulk of the lunch crowd. Nerves fluttered about her insides, excited for the date, nervous for the future. The restaurant’s clear wall of windows showed her the parties already seated; businessmen and women and a few tourist-looking couples. She didn’t see Gabe despite her late arrival, but she pushed through the door anyway.
Darkness overwhelmed her in big spots as her eyes adjusted to the dim interior lights.
“Are you dining alone?” a college-aged host asked with little enthusiasm.
Victoria scooped her hair to the side, gathering it and fingering the curls to make sure they retained their bounce. She looked up at the host and tried not to stutter. What if he doesn’t show? She cleared her voice. “No, I’m here with Gabe. I’m not sure if he’s here…” She glanced around but still caught no sight of him. When she returned her gaze to the host, his eyes had widened.
“Of course, he’s right this way.” The host gestured and led her around a curtained-off corner. The added curtains darkened the room, allowing the flickers of candlelight to bounce off the glass centerpiece. Half-moons of luminescence marked the makeshift walls. Victoria took a deep breath as she looked around. Gabe moved from the table, meeting her in easy strides, and an equally easy smile spread on his lips. The host disappeared, but it was possible the whole world had disappeared with him. In the candlelit room, Victoria focused everything she had on breathing as Gabe’s lips grazed her knuckles. Her knees trembled, heat building in her core. Gabe held her hand loosely, leading her to the table.
“Gabe, this is…not the first date I was expecting…even with a friggin’ prince.” Victoria couldn’t believe the transformation the room had taken or that Gabe would go through all of the hassle for her. Especially on their first official date.
Gabe chuckled. “I know we’re starting over, so you don’t want to hear it, but I know I screwed up bad before. This time we do things right.” His hands still held hers, his smile aimed at her, but not as bold as it usually was. Victoria looked down at their hands and back up to his eyes before she got sidetracked on his lips.
“You didn’t have to do all of this.” Her voice was low, hushed.
“To be honest, I asked for privacy. When they curtained us off, we needed light.” Gabe’s head cocked to the side, an embarrassed smile taking the place of his tentative one. “The candles gave the light. I had no idea it’d look this good.”
She knew he was trying. It would have been easy for him to take credit for the whole thing. She lowered her head, taking in the perfection of the moment. “Well, it seems things fall into place sometimes.” Inside of her, something was happening. It felt as if the words weren’t just for him, but a truth she was finding in herself as well. She released one of her hands and ran her fingers down the lapel of his black suit jacket. The fabric rushed beneath her fingers, stopped by the first of the undone buttons, and she flattened her palm against his chest. She dared try to look him in the eyes but failed. Gabe’s pink lips were open as he breathed in at her touch.
A waitress appeared at the room’s entrance, clearing her voice softly. Victoria didn’t even need dinner at this point. No longer did her body require food to keep moving; it was in perpetual motion set off by his touch.
When the waitress nodded to her, she ordered the first thing she saw on the menu. In her peripheral vision, Gabe sat with one hand on the table, seemingly open for hers. His face turned to watch her. Heat creeped up her neckline and into her cheeks, but the fire coursing through her was far hotter in other parts of her body. Confidence returned under his steady gaze, and she brought her hand above the table to slide it comfortably into his. His thumb rubbed hers once before it jer
ked suddenly away. What had she done wrong? The feeling of him leaving her so quickly had her fighting to control herself, wanting to ask what she’d done—how she could fix it. Still, the feeling of being disregarded lingered. Her eyes focused on the fabric of the tablecloth, trying to ignore that he had turned his back to her and was fumbling around for his phone. Gabe kept the phone low on his lap but started sending what she could only assume was a text message. She’d made it at least one solid year with Todd, but Gabe couldn’t pay attention to her for the whole of one date? The rhythm of her heart slowed. In a small act of defiance, she pushed her shoulders back. He wouldn’t see her being tortured by his random act of disregard.
*
Gabe pressed Send without hesitation. He could tell she was hurt by his during-dinner text, but it had to be done. When her phone beeped, he watched the roll of her eyes as she reached for her purse. Her eyes creased, another smile coming to her full lips. She squared her shoulders, turning to him.
“Very funny.” She may have tried to sound serious, but her smile was evidence enough. She shook her cell phone at him. “I won’t delete it this time.”
Gabe put his hands out. “Hey, I’m just saying. I don’t want you to get back into that tub without being able to get a hold of me.” She looked sleek in dark colors with her hair all curled around her. The storm in her eyes held the promise of a golden sunrise. He looked at her, not shying away when she caught him looking. Tori turned her face away. Gabe’s gaze dropped to her shoulders. Her collarbones were visible in the wide V-shape of her shirt.
“Ahem.” Victoria mockingly called his attention back to her face. Damn.
“It’s not my fault you’re entirely too distracting.”
“Oh, hush!” Victoria laughed.
As they ate, Gabe noticed he wasn’t the only one having a hard time concentrating on their course. Every time he looked to her, they seemed to meet halfway like a sick game of cat and mouse, both of them begging for a role.
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