Mind Over Matter

over now, she told herself as she turned the key to lock both car doors. The filming of the documentary was all but over. She had other clients, other projects, other contracts.It was time she put her mind on them. Shifting her briefcase to her free hand, she turned and collided with David.
    “I like running into you,” he murmured as he slid his hands up her hips.
    She’d had the wind knocked out of her. That’s what she told herself as she struggled for breath and leaned into him. After a man and a woman had been intimate, after they’d been lovers, they didn’t feel breathless and giddy when they saw each other. But she found herself wanting to wrap her arms around him and laugh.
    “You might have cracked a rib,” she told him, and contented herself with smiling up at him. “I certainly didn’t expect to see you around this evening.”
    “Problem?”
    “No.” She let herself brush a hand through his hair. “I think I can work you in. How did the shoot go?”
    He heard it, the barest trace of nerves. Not tonight, he told himself. There would be no nerves tonight. “It’s done. You know, I like the way you smell up close.” He lowered his mouth to brush it over her throat. “Up very close.”
    “David, we’re standing in the parking lot.”
    “Mmm-hmm.” He shifted his mouth to her ear and sent the thrill tumbling to her toes.
    “David.” She turned her head to ward him off and found her mouth captured by his in a long, lingering kiss.
    “I can’t stop thinking about you,” he murmured, then kissed her again, hard, until the breath was trembling from her mouth into his. “I can’t get you out of my mind. Sometimes I wonder if you’ve put a spell on me. Mind over matter.”
    “Don’t talk. Come inside with me.”
    “We don’t talk enough.” He put his hand under her chin and drew her away before he gave in and buried himself in her again. “Sooner or later we’re going to have to.”
    That’s what she was afraid of. When they talked, really talked, she was sure it would be about the end. “Later, then. Please.” She rested her cheek against his. “For now let’s just enjoy each other.”
    He felt the edge of frustration compete with the first flares of desire. “That’s all you want?”
    No, no, she wanted more, everything, anything. If she opened her mouth to speak of one wish, she would speak of dozens. “It’s enough,” she said almost desperately. “Why did you come here tonight?”
    “Because I wanted you. Because I damn well can’t keep away from you.”
    “And that’s all I need.” Was she trying to convince him or herself? Neither of them had the answer. “Come inside, I’ll show you.”
    Because he needed, because he wasn’t yet sure of the nature of his own needs, he took her hand in his and went with her.

11
    “A re you sure you want to do this?” A.J. felt it was only fair to give David one last chance before he committed himself.
    “I’m sure.”
    “It’s going to take the better part of your evening.”
    “Want to get rid of me?”
    “No.” She smiled but still hesitated. “Ever done anything like this before?”
    He took the collar of her blouse between his thumb and forefinger and rubbed. The practical A.J. had a weakness for silk. “You’re my first.”
    “Then you’ll have to do what you’re told.”
    He skimmed his finger down her throat. “Don’t you trust me?”
    She cocked her head and gave him a long look. “I haven’t decided. But under the circumstances, I’ll take a chance. Pull up a chair.” She indicated the table behind her. There were stacks of paper, neatly arranged. A.J. picked up a pencil, freshly sharpened, and handed it to him. “The first thing you can do is mark off the names I give you. Those are the people who’ve sent an acceptance. I’ll give you the name and the number of people under that name. I need an amount for the caterer by the end of the week.”
    “Sounds easy enough.”
    “Just shows you’ve never dealt with a caterer,” A.J. mumbled, and took her own chair.
    “What’s this?” As he reached for another pile of papers, she waved his hand away.
    “People who’ve already sent gifts, and don’t mess with the system. When we finish with this, we have to deal with the guests coming in from out of town. I’m hoping to book a block of rooms tomorrow.”
    He studied the tidy but extensive arrangement of papers spread between them. “I thought this was supposed to be a small, simple