Tailwind (Love By Design 4)

“Sharon, I’m going out. Call Dr. Peterson to come in.”

She didn’t ask any questions even though I felt the censure in her look. I never left the office, but I already knew my schedule for the rest of the day involved giving distemper shots to a pair of Siamese cats and squeezing Cosimo’s blocked anal glands. I was pretty sure Dr. Peterson could do me a solid favor as I shrugged my coat off and rolled up my sleeves.

“Can you do that?” whispered Winnie, who stopped me with her gentle hand touching my forearm. It nearly made me groan right there in the office.

“Let’s go for a walk.” I slipped my hand down between us and wrapped my fingers up in her palm, pulling her along with me. I could feel the calluses on her skin under my fingertips, and she squeezed her hand in mine, making me focus on walking instead of looking for a stoop I could back her into and kiss her in.

We walked down the block to a vegan café I liked to visit at least once a week. I opened the door, and with my hand on Winnie’s back, I ushered her inside.

“I haven’t been here before,” she murmured, looking up at the menu behind the register and brightly dreadlock haired college student.

“They have great grilled veggie kabobs and quinoa,” I whispered against her neck, dipping in close to her. Her skin tasted like lemonade in summer, sweet and tangy.

“I can’t believe you just made quinoa sound sexual.” Winnie’s smirk brightened up her face, and I realized how much I wanted her beneath me so I could demonstrate something sexual. It must have been Kristen’s interruption and pervy behavior, prompting my own downward spiral. I regretted leaving the office and wondered if making out on my desk would have been a better option instead.

“We could start with the gluten free blueberry muffin.” I slipped a lock of her hair behind the shell of her ear and watched her eyes flutter shut.

“Doctor, you’re making my muffin wet.” The unexpected dirty talk got a rise out of me and was going to get me arrested when I saw Evan, my sister’s fuck buddy step inside the café behind us.

Clearing my throat, I said, “You’re not allergic to nuts, are you?”

She narrowed her eyes, a smile playing on her pink lips. “Is that a trick question?”

I didn’t think Winnie was so I decided to order and get us the hell out of there as quick as possible before I really did get myself arrested for something like indecent exposure.

“We’ll have two organic fair trade Gold Beach coffees with steamed almond milk.”

The kid behind the counter with the flashy name tag identifying him as Jacques gave cups to his co-worker, a blue-haired girl named Monet, and we shuffled to the end to wait. Evan ordered a sandwich and some bakery items to go before leaving.

Monet placed the coffees in front of us, and I took them both to a velvet loveseat in the back of the shop. I waited for Winnie to sit before boxing her in on the seat built for two.

“Cozy,” she murmured, taking the coffee I held out to her, sipping it cautiously.

“I like their coffee here.”

“Yeah, this is definitely better than the other place I first tried. Although I had the dogs and they spilled half of it all over me. That was the day I met you.” She nudged me with her shoulder playfully.

Jacques put a plate down in front of us. “Try it, on the house.”

“Flourless chocolate cake.” The layers of cake looked dusted with milk and dark chocolate, and we both looked at each other and the single fork Jacques left us with.

“Trying to seduce me?” Winnie quipped.

“Is it working?” I held out the single fork to her as an offering, letting her have the first bite. She took the cake between her lips, licking around her mouth slowly.

“It’s a start.” She dipped the fork back into the cake before feeding me a piece of it. Flavor deep and rich mixed with my sip of the coffee infused plenty of inappropriate thoughts in my mind. “You’ve got a…” She took her finger and rubbed a piece of cake from my mouth. I let my tongue sneak out to touch her finger.

“Hmm, come closer.” I pulled her to me, taking her coffee to place it on the table.

“Chase.” It was a husky whisper. Half whimper and groan from Winnie when she said my name. My hand traveled back to her neck, tracing the line of her spine into the messy bun of hair on her head.

“I’m kissing you.” My eyes darted between her clear almond ones and her parted lips with sweet chocolate breath.

“Asking or telling?” I shouldn’t have paused. I should have gone for it, but lesson learned.

“How’s the cake?” Jacques the little shit was standing there grinning. I leaned my forehead into Winnie’s, feeling my frustration on edge.

“Delicious, but I need another taste to fully decide.” Winnie grabbed my face, devouring my lips and my open eyes watched Jacques’ demeanor go from smartass to shock and maybe a little embarrassment by Winnie’s bold move. I let my eyes close, savoring her softness melt into me. Kissing Winnie was tasting a mocha latte for the first time, infused with caffeine and chocolate, a sugary rush that pushed you dangerously over the edge. The hunger for more didn’t stop with the tease of coffee or her sweet lips under mine.