Forbidden Heat

“He’s gone back to his room to shower. Jake and I catch a flight at eleven thirty and we were wondering if you’d like to share a cab. When does your flight leave?”

She glanced at him. “Mine leaves at eleven thirty, too. I never asked where you’re living now.”

“Jake and I both live in Carleton Falls.”

Which meant they’d be flying to Albany, which was about thirty minutes from Carleton Falls. Her stomach quivered and she sat down on the bed.

“How about you?” Trey asked.

“I live in Phoenicia.”

Which meant they were on the same flight.

It also meant seeing Trey and Jake again was not out of the question.

Unless, of course, this was just a one-night thing for them and they didn’t want to see her again. Her stomach fluttered again, and for the life of her, she couldn’t decide if what she felt was disappointment or relief.

Danielle took another bite of her croissant, smeared liberally with strawberry jam.

“I can’t believe you live so close to us and we didn’t know it.” Jake sipped his coffee.

The three of them had checked out of the hotel and headed to the airport as soon as they were all showered and ready, allowing them enough time to get breakfast at one of the restaurants at the airport.

“I didn’t think you’d both still be in Carleton Falls.”

Ever since Trey had told her both he and Jake lived in Carleton Falls, Danielle had found herself wondering why they had ever broken up, and if someday they would get back together again. She could still sense a closeness between them that she believed went deeper than mere friendship. She was tempted to ask, but she didn’t want to make them feel awkward.

“Carleton Falls is a nice place to live,” said Jake. “Trey rides his bike to work every day he can, which is basically from April through December.”

“You make it sound like that’s a bad thing.” Trey pointed his toast at him.

“No, definitely not a bad thing.” Jake gazed at Trey’s chest and Danielle followed suit, remembering the feel of those tight hard well-defined abs under her fingertips.

No, definitely not bad at all. No wonder Trey was so fit.

“I wish you’d kept in touch,” Trey said. “Then maybe we could have gotten together before this.”

Danielle swallowed a sip of her tea, guilt niggling through her.

“It was so busy after I transferred, then I had all the extra TA work. . . .” She shrugged, but she knew those were just excuses. The real reason was that she’d assumed they’d all forget about her once she was gone.

“Well, now that we are in touch again, maybe you can come and visit sometime.” Trey grinned. “Maybe check out the university for nostalgia’s sake.”

She nodded. “Sure, that would be great.”

Did he really want her to visit, or was he just being polite? She sipped her black currant tea.

A voice over the speaker system announced that their flight would be boarding shortly, so they finished up their breakfast and headed for the gate. As they approached the desk to check in, Danielle slowed a bit.

“What’s wrong, Danielle?” Jake asked.

“We won’t be sitting together on the flight so . . . I guess this is goodbye.”

“Forget about that.” Jake plucked the ticket from her hand and stepped up to the desk.

A few moments later, he turned around and handed both her and Trey a boarding pass. They were in adjacent seats.

She grinned broadly. They want to spend more time with me.