Sweet Chemistry (8 page)

“My name is Kate Rhodes. I have questions about starting a business and I hoped you might be able to help me.”

He smiled at her. “Well, Kate, you’ve come to the right place.”

She pushed her notebook across his desk and held her breath. Her fingernail pushed against a spot on her thumb, rubbing it raw. The most terrifying moment of sharing a secret dream is waiting for someone to laugh. That moment never came.

“Of course, I would suggest you complete an MBA from this fine college, but seeing as how you’re about to graduate, I’m going to assume you don’t intend to spend another two years here.”

Kate grimaced. “Um, yeah. I’m ready to be done with school.”

Dr. Pullman chuckled. “I remember that feeling. So, here’s what you should do.” He grabbed a pen and paper and started scribbling, and then handed the paper to her. “Read these books. They’ll give you an idea about where to go next. You’re well on your way.” He pointed to her open notebook on the desk between them. “I’ve never seen such detail in a business plan before.”

“Well, I’ve had a few days to think about things, and I based the measurements on the kitchen in my dorm.” Her focus on this new project had consumed every waking moment. It was going to be perfect.

“Like I said, it’s incredibly detailed. After you read those books, you should start pricing equipment. You’d be surprised how expensive everything is. Although sometimes, if you find a building that already has all the appliances, you don’t even need to worry about it. You also might want to tour a few kitchens, talk to the chefs and get their feedback. I actually know the head chef for the kitchen here, on campus. I could call him and ask if you could meet with him if you’d like.”

Kate smiled and nodded.

“I can also recommend a bank that might give you a loan.”

“Actually, I’m going to try my credit union first. I’ve got two accounts with them.”

He stood and offered his hand. “It sounds like you’re on your way.”

She had definitely gone to the right place. When she left Dr. Pullman’s office, she had an appointment to tour the campus kitchens on Monday afternoon, right after biochemistry, a list of books to read, and confidence in her plan.

Slowly but surely, James shifted out of her focus, replaced by her passion to make her business plan a reality. It was certainly a healthier choice and involved absolutely no crying.

* * * *

“What would I do without you?” Kate was holding a Cleopatra dress against her body. It was white, low-cut, and trimmed with gold.

“You wouldn’t be a very good Cleopatra, that’s for damn sure.” Meg chuckled. “You’re going to look great in it. Oh, and don’t forget the headband and the arm cuffs.”

Kate put them on and smiled at her reflection. “What time are we leaving?”

“I think the party starts at nine, so how does ten sound?”

“Sounds like I have enough time to get my makeup done.”

As Kate turned to leave Meg’s room, Meg touched her shoulder. “It’s good to see you smile.”

Her secret plan was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell her. “I’ve found a new focus.”

“Good. See you in a couple of hours?”

Kate nodded and slung the white dress over her shoulder. When she got back to her room, she put on a pair of sandals that would be perfect with the costume, but when she tried the dress on, she didn’t like the visible panty line. She slipped her panties off and was much happier with how it looked. The thick golden belt hung straight between her legs, covering the shadowy patch of tight curls.

The front of the dress had two slits, one up each leg, stopping mid-thigh, which would give her plenty of mobility. When she and Meg discussed costumes, they both agreed their costumes would have to be suitable for the dance floor since that was where they were headed. Kate used a picture from the Internet as a guide for her makeup and then clamped the gold arm cuffs in place. As she walked to Meg’s room, she enjoyed the way the material swished against her naked body.

“Holy shit, how did you get your hair to do that?” Kate gaped at her friend who had a perfect beehive hairdo, held in place with a white headband, which matched her knee-high white boots and her thick white vinyl belt. The dress she was wearing was covered with huge, brightly colored flowers, and barely concealed her ass.

“Hairspray and about a hundred bobby-pins.” Meg grinned. “You like it?”

“Love it. You’re the best go-go dancer I’ve seen.”

Meg patted her fluffed hair. “Your makeup is perfect.”

“Thanks. Shall we?” Kate held her arm out to Meg, and when they got to the parking lot, she pulled her keys out of her purse. “I’ll drive tonight.”

The Halloween party at Addiction was in full swing when they got there. They checked their purses at the coat check and Meg slipped the ticket in her bra, claiming it was the safest place. The bar was decorated with splatters of blood, and the bartender, who was dressed as a zombie, stared at their cleavage. “Where’s your boyfriend, or did you wear him out?”

“With
his
boyfriend.” Kate pulled Meg away from him before he could say anything else.

The dance floor was more crowded and the music was louder than normal. Most of the women in the club were dressed like Meg, in sexy short costumes, which made Kate stick out like a sore thumb. As she scanned the room, her eyes fell on a gorgeous pirate, and when their eyes met, she sighed. It was James. Even in costume, she was attracted to him.

“He’s here,” Kate shouted.

Meg’s gaze followed hers and she frowned. “Don’t talk to him. He thought you were a slut who was dating Tim while you had sex with him. Have you forgotten all the crying? I haven’t. He’s a dick, and you can’t let him make you feel bad anymore.”

Meg didn’t know the whole truth. She didn’t know about James’ ex-fiancée, and she certainly didn’t know about their most recent conversation. James wasn’t a dick. He had been hurt.

He was also her professor for seven more weeks.

After an hour of observation, Kate realized James had come alone. Talking required more confidence than she possessed, so Kate clung to Meg, but eventually, thirst overcame anxiety.

“I need water.” Kate shouted to Meg and then moved through the crowd. As she stepped off the dance floor, she tripped and landed in strong arms. Warm hands rolled her body, cradling her waist and the back of her neck, until she was face to face with a devastatingly handsome pirate. “Hi.”

“Ahoy.” James smiled at her, making his eye patch lift off his cheek a little.

“Thanks for catching me. I don’t know what I tripped on.” Kate pulled out of his grasp and straightened her dress as she looked around for the tripping hazard. Her heart was pounding. Falling off the stage and into his arms wasn’t exactly the reconnection she was hoping for.

“T’was the alligator’s tail.” James pointed to a floppy foam tail thrashing around near the edge of the dance floor.

“Oh.” Kate nodded. “I’m going to get a drink.”

“Me’s be goin’ ta get more grog too.”

She led the way to the bar, looking carefully at the ground for more costume accessories. James was a step behind her the whole way. It was comforting to have him so close.

The bartender grinned and licked his lips as he made his way to where Kate was standing. “What can I get you?”

“Two waters, please.”

The bartender filled up two cups and put them down in front of her. “Are you sure you don’t want anything else? I know I’m hungry, and I’d like to eat more than your brains.” The bartender reached across the bar and gripped the band around Kate’s arm.

“Belay that talk and git yer hooks off, ye scurvy bilge rat.” James darted to the side and shoved the bartender’s hand off her.

Her breath caught in her throat. “Yeah, what he said.” She motioned to James, who was still scowling at the bartender.

“Hey, I was just playing around.” The bartender skulked a few feet away.

Kate turned toward James, brushing her arm against his chest. The heat from his skin warmed her. “Thank you for sticking up for me. That guy’s a creep.”

“He needs a proper flogging.” The muscles in James’ jaw tightened as he stared at the bar behind her.

She sighed. It was time to be confident and in control. “Look, this is ridiculous. We’re both adults, we should act like adults. I can control myself, and you can control yourself. Right?”

“Aye.” James gave her a somber nod.

“So, can we just be here and have a good time without feeling awkward?” Awkward sounded better than anxious. He didn’t need to know she was a nervous wreck around him.

“Aye aye, Cap’n.”

Kate smiled and handed him a cup of water. “I like your costume. What happened to your eye?” Her eyebrows knitted together in mock concern.

“Arr, t’was a most unfortunate accident with picric acid.”

Kate snorted. “I almost believed the whole pirate thing, until you got all nerdy-chemist on me.” She touched his arm and a pulse of electricity shot through her hand. Could he feel it too? If he did, he didn’t let on. The feeling remained until she removed her hand.

James laughed. “Yer costume be amazing. Ye look a right saucy wench.”

Her body melted at his compliment. She brushed her hands down the sides of the dress. “Meg is a miracle worker. She’s also a bit tipsy at the moment.” She finished her drink. “Do you want to join us?”

“Aye. That I would.”

Meg’s eyes bulged when they returned, and before she could say anything, Kate leaned toward her and said, “It’s cool. We had a talk.” Meg scowled, but didn’t force the discussion at that moment either.

Kate and James spent the next hour dancing casually next to each other. James continued to talk like a pirate, making Kate laugh, especially when he called another pirate a “son of a biscuit eater.” There were plenty of distractions, which was fortunate, since looking at James too long made her heart pound and her mouth dry. How could his costume make him even more attractive than usual? At one point, Meg got the attention of a very good-looking man dressed as a pimp, who was devoting all his time and attention to her. The last time Kate saw them, Meg was stroking the purple feather in his hat by the bar.

As the club emptied, Kate tried to catch a glimpse of Meg, but had no such luck. There were quite a few people lingering in the parking lot, and James stayed close as they searched for Meg. “I drove, but she’s got the ticket for my purse, which has my keys.”

“Pr’haps she be at yer car.” James scanned the dark parking lot.

“Maybe.” She squinted, hoping to see the back corner of the parking lot without having to actually walk to her car alone. She and Meg had a rule about that. Parking lots were too dangerous to venture in solo.

He slid the eye-patch to the top of his head and his hands fell by his sides. He spoke normally for the first time that night. “I’ll go with you.”

Kate relaxed as they walked to her car together, and smiled as the heat of his hand warmed the small of her back. “Thanks for keeping me company.” The cool night air did nothing to quench the fire inside her.

“No problem.”

“Here’s my car and no Meg.” She sighed. “I guess I should wait here for her.”

“Probably best. It’s like what they tell you when you get lost in the wilderness. Stay with your vehicle and rescue crews will find you.”

“So in this analogy, Meg is the rescue crew?” She leaned against the side of her car, distinctly aware of the distance between them and the absence of his hands on her.

“Don’t forget her pimp escort.”

“Riiight. How could I forget his huge purple feather?” She laughed and looked up at his face. The waxing moon bathed his forehead in cool silver light, hiding his mouth in shadow.

She needed to touch him. Her head swam and she couldn’t fight her urges anymore. When her body collided with his, she wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed when her lips found his. She pushed her tongue into his mouth and he moaned. His arms encircled her waist and gripped at the material of her dress.

Kate struggled to balance her need to breathe with her need to kiss him. She lost her poise and fell backward against her car, pulling him with her. The air was knocked out of her as his body sandwiched her against the cool metal behind her. She gasped as the growing bulge in his pants pressed impatiently against her sex. His tongue thrust into her mouth as his fingers explored the curves of her body.

“Touch me.” Her words came out between gasps.

Electric shocks shot through her as his fingers came in contact with the bare skin of her exposed thighs. He pushed inside the slits of material while she rubbed against him and moaned. She wanted him more than anything else, and in the moonlit corner of the parking lot, it seemed like she was going to get what she wanted.

She spread her legs, making the material taut across her thighs, forcing his hands between them. He was kissing, licking, and sucking on her lips while his fingers ascended, nearly touching the source of heat burning through her body, lifting her dress as he moved.

His body froze when his fingertips grazed against her naked sex. “Fuck. You’re so hot.” He stroked her slit slowly with one hand, while his other hand gripped her ass.

Her mouth formed a circle and her short jagged breaths became moans when his thumb found her clit. When he pushed a finger inside her, his tongue moved into her mouth again, following the rhythm of his hand.

Kate’s head hit the roof of the car as her body arched into his hand. The faster he finger fucked her, the louder her moans got. When her orgasm finally erupted out of her, her pussy strangled his finger. His movements slowed as she came down.

When he pulled away, her eyes snapped open and she watched him wrap his perfect lips around his finger and moan as he sucked it clean.

Kate gasped for air. “Shiver me timbers.”

James gave her a crooked smile.

Distant voices traveled toward the car. Kate tensed and wiggled her hips until her dress fell back in place. James frowned. She scanned the parking lot and saw Meg stumbling through the rows of parked cars, being held upright by her pimp.

Kate gave James a sheepish smile and shrugged. “So much for controlling ourselves.”