My eyes sprang open, and the night before came back to me in a rush: the horror, the pie, the nook. I reached backward with my right foot, sliding it along the bed until I felt it stop against something warm and hairy. Although I was now more sure than ever it wasn’t Clive, I poked with my toe, inching my way higher until I heard another chuckle.

“Wall banger?” I whispered, not wanting to flip over. True to form, I was spread-eagled diagonally across the entire bed, head on one side, feet practically on the other.

“The one and only,” a delicious voice whispered in my ear.

My toes and Lower Caroline curled. “Shit.” I rolled onto my back to take in the damage. He was huddled in the one corner my body had allowed him. My bed-sharing habits had not improved at all.

“You sure can fill a bed,” he noted, smiling at me from under the little bit of afghan I’d left him. “If we’re going to do this again there’ll have to be some ground rules.”

“This won’t be happening again. This was in response to a terrible movie you inflicted on both of us. No more nooking,” I stated firmly, wondering how dreadful my morning breath was. I cupped my hand in front of my face, breathed, and gave a quick sniff.

“Roses?” he asked.

“Obviously.” I smirked.

I looked at him, exquisitely rumpled and in my bed. He smiled that smile, and I sighed. I allowed myself a moment to indulge in a fantasy where I was then quickly flipped and ravaged to within an inch of my life, but I wisely got control of my inner whore.

“What if you get scared tonight?” he asked as I sat up and stretched.

“I won’t,” I threw back over my shoulder.

“What if I get scared?”

“Grow up, pretty boy. Let’s make coffee, and then I have to get to work.” I whacked him with my pillow.

He slid out from under the afghan, taking care to fold it, and carried it with him into the kitchen where he set it gently on the table. I smiled, thinking of him saying my name in the night. What I wouldn’t give to know what was running through his mind.

We moved about the kitchen with quiet economy, grinding beans, measuring coffee, pouring water. I put the sugar and cream on the counter while he peeled and sliced a banana. I poured granola, he milked and banana-ed the bowls for us. Within a few minutes we were seated next to each other on barstools, eating breakfast as though we’d been doing so for years. Our simple ease intrigued me. And worried me.

“Plans for the day?” I asked, digging into my bowl.

“I need to stop by the Chronicle office.”

“Are you working on something for the paper?” I asked, surprised at the level of interest even I could hear in my voice. Would he be in town for a while? Why did I care? Oh boy.

“I’m spending a few days on a piece about quick getaways in the Bay Area—weekend drives kind of thing,” he answered through a mouthful of banana.

“When are you going to do that?” I asked, examining the raisins in my bowl and trying not to look too interested in his answer.

“Next week. I leave on Tuesday,” he replied and my stomach was instantly queasy. Next week we were supposed to go to Tahoe. Why the hell did my stomach care so much that he wouldn’t be going?

“I see,” I added, again fascinated by the raisins.

“But I’ll be back before Tahoe. I was planning on just driving straight there when I finish my shoot,” he said, looking at me over the rim of his coffee mug.

“Oh, well, that’s good,” I answered quietly, my stomach now bouncing all around.

“When are you headed up, anyway?” he asked, seeming to now be studying his own bowl.

“The girls are driving up with Neil and Ryan on Thursday, but I have to stay in the city to work until at least noon on Friday. I’m gonna rent a car and drive up that afternoon.”

“Don’t rent a car. I’ll swing through to pick you up,” he offered, and I nodded without a word.

That settled, we finished our breakfast and watched Clive chase a stray piece of fluff around the table over and over again. We didn’t talk much, but whenever we met each other’s eyes, we both grinned.

Text between Mimi and Sophia:

Did you know Caroline is working with James?

James who?

James Brown, obviously. Who else?

NO! What the hell?

Remember she mentioned she had a new client? She neglected to mention who he was.

I’m gonna kick her ass when I see her next. She better not cancel on Tahoe. Did Ryan tell you he was bringing his guitar?

Yep, he told me you wanted to have some kind of fucked-up singalong.

He did? Haha. I just thought it would be fun.

Text between Neil and Mimi:

Hey, Tiny, are we still bowling with Sophia and Ryan tonight?

Yep, and you better bring your A game. Sophia and I are pretty severe.

Sophia knows how to bowl? Wow.

Why is that wow?

I just wouldn’t have expected her to bowl is all. See you tonight.

Text between Neil and Simon:

You still planning on heading up with us this weekend?

Yep, but I’m coming a little late, have a shoot

When are you coming up?

Fri night sometime, stopping thru the city on my way

Why the hell are you going back into the city? You’re doing that shoot in Carmel, right?

I just need to pick up some shit for the weekend.

Dude, pack your shit and get your ass to Tahoe.

I will, but I’m picking up Caroline.

I see.

You see nothing.

I see everything.

You sure about that, Big Boy? What about Sophia?

Sophia? Why is everyone asking me about Sophia?

See you in Tahoe.

Text between Mimi and Caroline:

You have some splainin’ to do, Lucy…

Oh no, I hate it when you go Ricardo on me.

What the hell did I do?

Explain to me why you didn’t tell me about your new client.

Caroline, don’t ignore my text! CAROLINE!!

Oh, settle down. This is exactly why I did NOT tell you.

Caroline Reynolds, this is news that obviously

I should have known about!

Look, I can handle it okay?? He’s my client, nothing more. He’s going to spend an obscene amount of money on this project.

I frankly don’t care how much he’s spending.

I don’t want you working with him.

Listen to yourself! I will take on whatever new client

I damn well please! I have this under control.

We’ll see…Did I hear a rumor that you’re driving

up to Tahoe with Wall banger?

Wow, subject change. Yes, I am.

Good. Take the long way.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Mimi?? You there??

Damn you, Mimi… HELLO??

Text between Caroline and Simon:

Wallbanger… come in Wallbanger

Wall banger isn’t here, only the exorcist

Not even a little bit funny.

What’s up?

What time are you picking me up tom?

I should be back in the city by noon.

If you can knock off work we can beat rush hour.

Already told Jillian I’m taking a half day.

Where are you right now?

In Carmel, on a cliff overlooking the ocean

Boy, are you a closet romantic…

I’m a photographer. We go where the money shot is.

Oh man, we’re not discussing money shots.

Besides, I thought you were the romantic one

I told you, I’m a practical romantic.

Well then practically speaking, even you would appreciate this sight—waves crashing, sun setting, it’s nice Are you alone?

Yep

Bet you wish you weren’t.

You have no idea

Pfft… you old softie