Chapter 1
Catherine was wearing a tan gabardine skirt and jacket. She said hello and joined me, standing against the wall at the Christmas party. The partners threw a good party. Everyone had come to work without a car and would go home in paid transportation.
"You look every inch the modern lawyer in those clothes. Associate slavery is not too awful?"
"It sucks. They don't want people who can't perform under pressure." She handed me her glass and I retrieved two full ones. Her hip was warm against mine. She was one of the new associates from last summer's class. I was from the year before.
"I heard one of the girls in the john say you are the hottest guy around, Chris."
"I haven't had a date in months. Told myself abstinence was the price of getting ahead. You only have one more month to go."
"Would you like to take me to dinner before we get as drunk as these others? Doesn't have to be a date. I'll even pay." The hip rubbed a little harder. I carefully shifted her in front of me so her neck was available for little kisses.
"Is that a yes?"
My fingers eased us forward, testing the muscles in her butt.
It was the kind of party where you didn't have to say goodbye, and we were walking down the sidewalk before I thought to ask, "You have a place in mind?"
"I do, but would really like to get out of these work clothes. Is there any possibility we could stop for takeout and eat at my place?"
I raised her hand with mine and kissed it. "So far, this is a great date. Lead on."
At the deli, I said the food was on me, since she was providing the place to eat.
Her house rental was about a mile from work, a bungalow in a row of tidy homes. I followed her inside and found an airy space, with a minimum of furnishings.
"You know why it looks like this, don't you?"
"One notch above college dorm, waiting to find out if you get to stay."
"I'm headed for a quick shower. There is wine and beer in the refrigerator."
She was halfway to the far doorway when she turned and said, "Do you need a shower too? We might have to share to have enough hot water."
It was some kind of dare, I thought. The kind I didn't refuse.
Back to me, she efficiently stripped all the way down in her pretty bedroom and headed into the bath. I was as quick as she was, and pinched the luscious rear.
Under the shower spray, her arms around my neck, she said, "Better. Lots better. I'm not really throwing myself at you. Just seemed like the thing to do. A little Christmas fun." She handed me the soap.
Plates were warming as I opened two beers. The hip was back against mine, this time covered by a soft terry robe.
Still looking efficient, she served, glancing at me to ask, "Enough?"
"Plenty." The shower made her pink, but there was still a bit of reserve. After rejecting the kitchen and the living room, we ended up on her bed, plates balanced in our laps.
The conversation was light, dancing around lawyering, the difficulties of working for partners who treated new associates like slaves, our nonexistent social lives. I could tell the date was winding down. The extra beer and the food and the warm bed were sending Catherine to dreamland. Her eyes closed, then opened. "Oh dear, I'm losing it. Please stay with me, please?"
I kissed her gently and tucked her in. Then collected the dishes and padded silently to the kitchen. Washing by hand, wondering what was going on. The diplomatic thing to do was follow her wishes, but it didn't feel like a one night stand. I brushed my teeth and slid carefully in along her backside.
The smell of fresh coffee arrived along with Catherine. "I'm not used to bringing breakfast to men in my bed." She smiled down and handed a mug to me. "I'll be back with more."
Minutes later, we were munching on toast and she said, "I'm still screwed up from last night. What possessed me to bring you home?"
I finished a few more bites and asked, "Why did you bring me home? I'm being treated more like a brother than a boyfriend."
She put the tray to the side and pressed me flat. Her ear listened to my heart.
"Can I rent you for the weekend? I've never been any good around guys and I guess it is showing."
My fingertips massaged her scalp and she wondered about another nap. Fifteen hour days at the firm left you sleep deprived by Saturday.
She took a deep breath and asked, "Is it true that a guy like you, finished with school, won't date someone who doesn't put out?"
I left to use the bathroom and came back with my briefs and tee shirt on.
She sat up and pulled the robe closed. "I guess the answer is yes"
"Spend the day with me and we will talk about it. We can pack a lunch and go for a hike."
By late morning, we were ambling along the top of a ridgeline leading away from the parking lot. I said, "There is a grove of trees with some benches in about a mile."
Catherine hesitated to restart their conversation. The sun was warm and she wasn't feeling good about what she had said. Chris seemed like a nice guy and maybe she had already queered a possible boyfriend. He'd spent the night in her bed and not made a move on her, which said something. She wondered what.
They got to a shaded bench before she said, "We don't have to talk about relationships if you don't want."
"Sit," he said, gray eyes boring into her. "You haven't been around men much, have you?"
She thought about the one time she had been intimate. Seven years ago. It had been quick, mechanical, and accomplished its goal of ending her virginity. She hadn't even dated the guy afterwards. And thought badly of herself for thinking she needed to do it that way.
She took a bite of sandwich and munched. Looking down at the sandwich, she said "No."
"You have smart, professional parents who are ambitious for their daughter?"
She answered, with a hesitant smile at him, "Who has been too busy working for A's to have a dating life?"
He wrapped an arm around her. "Know the feeling, Cate. You have company."
The trail meandered in a wide loop, and they were most of the way back when she stopped under a big oak. He rested against it and pulled her to him. "You are easy to talk to, and a good hiker."
"Am I going to spend tonight at your apartment, learning about guys?" Her tone wasn't very confident.
He kissed the back of her head. "I have an idea, what about a little mutual learning? Not too rushed?"
His hand was under her shirt, tickling ribs and inching higher.
