Wallbanger (Cocktail #1)(41)
Author: Alice Clayton

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 f**ked-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 Wallbanger?

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

Wallbanger 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

There’s nothing soft about me, Caroline.

And we’re back…

Caroline?

Yep

See you tomorrow

Yep

Text between Caroline and Sophia:

Can you give me the address again to the house

so I can plug it into the GPS tom?

No

No?

Not until you tell me WHY YOU’RE HIDING JAMES BROWN.

Jesus, it’s like having 2 more mothers…

This isn’t about sitting up straight or eating more vegetables, but we do need to have a conversation about your posture.

Unbelievable.

Seriously, Caroline, we just worry.

Seriously, Sophia, I know. Address please?

Let me think about it.

Not gonna ask you again…

Yes you will. You want to see Simon in that hot tub. Don’t lie.

I hate you…

Text between Simon and Caroline:

You done with work?

Yep, at home waiting for you.

Now that’s a nice visual…

Prepare yourself, I’m taking bread out of the oven.

Don’t tease me, woman…zucchini?

Cranberry orange. Mmmm…

No woman has ever done breakfast bread foreplay

the way you do.

Ha! When are you coming?

Can’t. Drive. Straight.

Can we have one conversation where you’re not twelve?

Sorry, I’ll be there in 30

Perfect, that will give me time to frost my buns.

Pardon me?

Oh, I didn’t tell you? I also made cinnamon rolls.

Be there in 25.

“I’m not listening to this.”

“Like hell. It’s my car. Driver picks music.”

“Actually, you’re wrong about that. The passenger always picks music. It’s what you get when you give up driving privileges.”

“Caroline, you don’t even own a car, so how could you ever have driving privileges?”

“Exactly, so we listen to what I pick,” I chided, sitting back after changing the radio station for the hundredth time. I hit the iPod and scrolled until I found something that I thought would please us both.

“Good song,” he admitted, and we hummed along.

The trip had been great so far. When I first met him—heard him—I never would have predicted it, but Simon was quickly turning into one of my favorite people. I’d been wrong about him.

I glanced at him: humming along to the song, drumming his thumbs along the steering wheel. As he was concentrating on the road, I took the opportunity to catalogue some of his more swoon-worthy features.

Jaw? Strong.

Hair? Dark and messy.

Stubble? About two days’ worth and nice.

Lips? Lickable, but lonely looking. Maybe I could check them out, do my own little tongue inspection…

I sat on my hands to stop myself from launching over the console. He continued to hum and drum.

“What’s going on over there, Nightie Girl? You look a little flushed. Need some more air?” He started for the air conditioner.

“Nope, I’m good,” I answered, my voice sounding ridiculous.

He looked at me strangely, but resumed his hum drum. “I think it’s time we broke out that cranberry-orange bread. Hit me,” he said a moment later as I was indulging in a fantasy about how exactly I could maneuver myself into his lap while still maintaining a good highway speed.