“I once read in a magazine that if someone tells you that she is not good to be involved with, heed her warning and run in the other direction. She told me in the beginning that I probably didn’t want to get involved with her, but I was only twenty-three at the time and very naïve. Anyway, I plunged in full speed ahead.
“Those three years were some of the most hurtful times of my life, but I did learn a lot. She was never happy with herself or anything I did. Whenever I got a promotion or achieved something, she would become jealous and berate me for it, instead of being happy for me. She seemed to be competing with me on 51
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everything. It was like having a competitive roommate instead of a lover.”
“She cheated on you? After hearing all that, I wouldn’t think less of you if you were the one who stepped out on her.”
“Like I said, I was very naïve. I didn’t understand her behavior. I spent nearly three years blaming myself for all our problems. Then one day, she admitted that she was having an affair and thought I was supposed to be understanding about it. She actually had the audacity to think I should hang around in case things didn’t work out with the new girl. Needless to say, I dropped her ass like a hot rock and never looked back.
“Now, it’s your turn, Tristan,” Claire said with a grin. “Tell me about your last long-term relationship.”
Tristan cast a sideways glance as she lit a cigarette. “You’re going to be really disappointed because there is not much to tell. I have not had the pleasure of a long-term relationship. The longest lasted only a few months, and she broke it off with me.”
“Are you trying to tell me that you’re a hit-and-run lover, Tristan?” Claire tried to sound lighthearted, but she could not help but be alarmed by Tristan’s admission.
“Don’t get the wrong idea, Claire,” Tristan said, seeing the tension on Claire’s face. “I have not really dated a lot of women.
My work schedule truly does put a cramp in my love life. The women I have dated did not take too kindly when I had to cancel dinner plans to get an injured man off a boat.”
Claire was relieved by her answer, desiring more than a fling with Tristan. She was weary of the dating scene and was looking for something more substantial. Fully knowing she could get hurt, Claire could not make herself slow down. So drawn to the woman sitting across from her, she was willing to take the risk of jumping in headfirst and refused to analyze why.
After a few more glasses of tea, Tristan felt clear-headed again.
They drove back to Claire’s place, and Tristan accepted her invitation to stay for a while. They sat on the sofa, each with a glass of wine, and before long, Tristan began to feel the power of the grape.
Claire watched in amusement as Tristan’s eyes became glassy, as they had been at the restaurant. Feeling the effects of the alcohol, as well, Claire felt her inhibitions slip away and wondered what it 52
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would be like to run her hands up and down the smooth thighs nestled so close to hers. The drink had not dulled her fear of making the wrong impression on their first date, and Claire wished that Tristan would give her some indication that she felt the same.
“I can’t have any more of this, Claire. Please take it away. I would take it to the kitchen myself, but I seem to have lost some motor control.”
“You are a lightweight, Tristan Delacroix!” Claire chided.
“Yes, I am and proud of it, thank you very mush ... I mean much.”
“I hope you have no pressing reasons to get home, Tristan, because you are staying here with me tonight,” Claire called over her shoulder as she took the glasses to the kitchen.
Tristan watched the sway of Claire’s hips and bit her lip trying to stave off the feelings of desire. Claire was not someone she could simply enjoy, then walk away from. She wanted more, and she knew if she gave into her feelings of want, she would end up running out on her as she had the others.
“I don’t want to impose on you. How about you let me sleep it off on the couch?” Tristan asked, hoping Claire would not think she was trying to work her way into her bed on the first date.
“It’s no imposition at all. Now, you have no excuse not to have more wine,” Claire said as she paused in the doorway and held up the glasses.
Tristan looked at Claire with a pair of bloodshot eyes. “Are you trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me?” she asked before bursting into a fit of laughter.
“Woman! You are really drunk, aren’t you? I can’t believe how easy it is to get you lit.” Claire was genuinely amused.
Tristan giggled. “I know, it’s pitiful, isn’t it? My grandmother, God rest her soul, could drink nearly an entire bottle of bourbon and be seemingly unaffected. I drink a few margaritas, and I’m a basket case.”
“Let’s go get you something to sleep in.” Claire chuckled as she pulled Tristan to a standing position and led her to the bedroom.
She made her woozy date sit down while she dug in her dresser for a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. She turned to find Tristan lying across her bed with her arm draped across her eyes.
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“Hey? You feeling okay?” Claire crawled onto the bed next to her.
“Yeah, I’m fine, but I think I’m going to be hurting in the morning. I hope I haven’t made too much of a fool of myself tonight. I have never really been able to drink that much.”
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself tonight, Tristan. You’ve been wonderful company. To be honest, I think you’re absolutely adorable when you have a buzz.”
Before she realized what she was doing, Claire leaned down and kissed Tristan. Reveling in the softness of the lips that met hers, she could not resist slipping her tongue into the mouth that opened, giving her permission to continue. Lost in the taste of Tristan’s mouth and the silkiness of her tongue, Claire’s hands took on a life of their own. She slid her hand under the shirt that had long been untucked and enjoyed the feel of Tristan’s abdomen quivering under her touch. Both women were breathing heavily when Tristan pulled away. “Claire, I don’t want this.”
Claire stood up quickly, stunned and hurt.
“Wait!” Tristan grabbed her arm. “That’s not what I meant at all, Claire. I have only two brain cells that are sober, and right now, forming a sentence is a little tough. I think about you twenty-four hours a day. When we’re together, I have to resist the urge to touch you. I’m not sure what you want from all this, but I want a relationship. You have become very special to me already, and I don’t want to mess this up.” Tristan sighed. “I don’t want to be drunk the first time with you, either.” Then, she hiccupped.
“Sorry. Damn wine. Actually, I feel a lot better, and I think I should go home tonight.”
Claire started to protest, but the fear she saw in Tristan’s eyes was enough to silence her. “Umm, okay, I understand. I only have one request, though. I want to make you some coffee, and I would like you to wait a little while before you leave just to make sure your head is clear enough to drive.”
Tristan reluctantly agreed. She desperately wanted to run at that very moment to the safe haven of her empty house where she could sort out the feelings that had just jumped from her mouth and surprised her. Claire fell asleep on the couch next to her as Tristan sipped her second cup of coffee. She gently got up, careful 54
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not to disturb the sleeping blonde. She slipped out the door into the night, eager to be as far away from Claire as she could get.
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CHAPTER FOUR
Claire awoke the next morning on the couch alone. She immediately regretted kissing Tristan the night before. Obviously, she had been too forward and was furious with herself for possibly scaring away the first woman she had been interested in for a long time. Even though Tristan had babbled something about a relationship, Claire could not shake the fear she saw in Tristan’s eyes. She continued to berate herself as she ate her breakfast and showered.