THIRTY NIGHTS OF REKINDLED FLAMES

turn around. The sound of the man's voice may

me as my air condenses close to my collarbone. That is when all the memories flash through

guish in my voice by tightly c

tempting to conceal?

be honest. And

My stomach is now filled with a group of irate hummingbir

ring. Does he notice that my face is getti

to vanish like a seductive man-mir

the slight hump in the middle, the bump I used to gently kiss before he went to sleep at night and in the morning. On an otherwise model-han

lick my parched lips out of anxiety and want, an

was I un

at six feet, three inches. He looks so good, God.

s not

seems to contain his muscles. Underneath, he's wearing a white shirt with the first button undone. No tie, since I get the

ertently. He didn't wh

es at me and rocks back and forth on his heels as I gasp f

ack again? As if he's shy, flirty, or uneasy? It's a performance. I am aware of th

tell myself not to let

, and his mouth cor

ubt that he knows

peek at Diana, who is staring at us with a slack jaw. She is aware of the chemis

somewhat afraid of w

o have paused. My stomach starts to feel h

nto a wide, seductive

xpected." This morning, my voice is the reverse of the air. the exact opposit

breath for a few seconds while the dimples on his cheek

sti. It was the moniker he would whisper in m

ip so hard that i

I say ace

e to mention my name? You'v

ident named Gregory. I had a phone conversation with that person. Of course, I had no id

ghter, and then gives a small smile. Your meeting with my VP to

multibillion-dollar equity firm had the time for such a

nts personal at

I can do to help? H

y lips. Indeed. How

g out my hand. Though I'm attempting to act professional, all I trul

ke my hand?" I inqu

ery moment has led to this, even though I've spent years talking about our

to stand motionless. Our explosive, unavoidable chemistry. The flavor of his skin makes my mouth swim a litt

ves me t

e a real estate emp

young man I used to know. But when he flashes that menacing smile once more, the expression

raging. But I can manage my businesses from any location. even in this place. I take it that a newspaper t

n enough, we'll discuss the embarrassing state of affairs involving my comp

raduation, I haven't seen you. He gestures toward her protruding belly with well-co

you look amazing. I'm impress

nd sighed. "All right. It's time t

hair behind my shoulder and cast a sidelong peek at him. "Please excuse the, um, pirate." I carefully skirted the do

he door for us by reaching up and around my body. I feel the thrill of longing go through me, but I

I've got the door," reaching f

uilding because his expensive-looking wingtip slides. I give him

perfect method

g, I notice that the air smells like mildew. What new and terrible issue is this? It's not from where t

e as pie. His mouth twists. Cute as pie. His expression

ng cabinet with two drawers has an open box on top that contains a gre

ers ar

night editor personally or if it was covered by the newsroom

," using my former monicker for him. "Perhaps you recal

ho have only ever worn ill-ironed blue button-down shirts, drunk cheap draft beer, and spent their free time reading the AP Stylebook, which

en. People are taking notice of us. I'm sure people will believe I'm trying to

rs to have gone three days without taking a shower, grinning and maintaining a cool, colle

Despite his disheveled, Jimmy Buffet meets skid row drunk fashion se

in a newsroom, it's normal for employees to act quite inappropriately towar

, he flips his wrist. I suppress the des

many employees does the Times currently

n assignment." Alternatively, I refuse to elaborate; they haven't arrived yet because they're too sleep

It's a significant decrease from ten years

n the same. We continue to aim for high-caliber r

urge of emotions that cause my skin to tingle. My eyes sting a little,

ive

f my neck is pricked by sweat. I have to gather my thoughts quickly. We can do business together even thoug

rr

? Is t

she usually claims that a lady never talks about her age or weight, I'm not quite sure how old she is. All I

es home from our first year of school. It seemed as

ces her name in Spanish, trilling the r at the end of the word "amor," and throws the little woman into a strong hug. His

ck on our enjoyable mom

om 1985. Caroline's only attendance at work these days is when she feels lik

course, be

break together, Caroline and James clicked right away. Caroline an

fter our breakup, All of a sudden, I feel old. I reach dow

Whoa, that's right. Now you're in a bad situ

genuinely believe th

gently. "Well, that'

_