Sitting back in her seat, Carla took another sip of her coffee, sucked on her cigarette and returned her attention to her newspaper. Skim reading the pages, her eyes flicked over the lines of text without taking in their content. Lost in a world of her own, she ignored the mass of humanity that buzzed purposefully around her. She absently ground the stub of her cigarette into the ashtray in front of her. Pausing only to take another mouthful of coffee, Carla turned the page then reached for her bag. Seconds later, with the filter tip of another cigarette between her lips, she flicked open her lighter and brought the flame towards the end of her cigarette. She inhaled deeply before expelling the smoke from her lungs with a sigh.
A voice intruded itself into her awareness. "Carla?" it said, "Carla Stevenson? Is that you?"
Puzzled, Carla looked up. A man, about the same age as herself, stood at the other side of her table. He had a friendly smile and his dark, brown eyes shone out from an attractive yet strangely familiar face. "I'm sorry," said Carla, trying to collect her thoughts and figure out where she knew this person from.
"It's me, Andy, Andy Rodgers" said the man, "We were at University together."
"Andy, of course," said Carla warmly, putting her newspaper down, "I'm sorry, I didn't recognise you.
Andy shrugged. "Well, it has been at least six years since we last saw each other so that's understandable, he said. "You haven't changed a bit," he added. "Mind if I join you?"
"Be my guest," replied Carla, folding her newspaper and putting it in her bag. "What brings you here?" she asked.
"Work," replied Andy with a shrug. "I work for the company that owns this hotel," he said, "I'm here for a couple of days doing an audit. What about you?"
"Much the same in a way, I guess," said Carla, "My boss is advising a local firm on their pension scheme and I'm helping out. This is where I'm staying while I'm in town."
"So where's your boss now?" enquired Andy.
Carla shrugged. "Out being wined and dined by the company's directors," she replied.
"While you're away from home, alone," said Andy, smiling warmly.
"C' est la vie," replied Carla, answering with a smile of her own.
Andy pulled out a chair and sat down at the table next to Carla. They drank and chatted, filling each other in about the events of the last six years. Carla learnt that Andy's sister, Avril, had got married to someone she'd met at university and was now living in Glasgow. She told Andy how she and another friend from University, Jane had shared a flat for a couple of years before she'd moved to America shortly after getting married.
"So you and Craig never did tie the knot then?" Andy enquired.
"No," replied Carla, "it finally fizzled out about four years ago. We're still very good friends and our paths still cross a couple of times a year." She smiled, wickedly. "He's still good for a damn good shag now and then."
"Some things never change," laughed Andy. "I was always slightly envious of him, you know?"," he added.
"Oh," said Carla, raising an eyebrow enquiringly, "Why?"
"Well, can you blame me when he had one of the hottest girls in our year for a girlfriend?" Andy teased.
"Nice of you to say so," replied Carla, "But I thought you and Sandra ..."
"Yeah well, there was Sandra," Andy said, cutting Carla off, "but that didn't go anywhere really."
"Really?" asked Carla, her surprise clearly evident, "you seemed quite a good match."
"Well, yes, I suppose we were, sort of" replied Andy, "we even kept it going for about six months after graduation until we realised that it was really just a physical thing. It was exciting but it was never really anything more than a bit of fun."
"But if you wanted to enjoy yourself more why didn't you? I mean, you were, and still are a good looking guy"
"Thanks," replied Andy with a shrug, "Dunno really, lack of confidence I guess."
Carla smiled and put a hand, consolingly on Andy's shoulder. As they'd talked, Andy had slowly pulled his chair closer to Carla's and Carla was aware, albeit, distantly, of Andy's knee brushing occasionally against her own.
Carla yawned. "I'm not boring you am I?" asked Andy. There was a note of apprehension in his voice.
"No, no! Not at all," replied Carla reassuringly, "It's just been a long day and it's starting to catch up with me a bit."
"Well," began Andy, enquiringly, "if you wanted too, I could grab a couple of bottles of wine from the bar, then we could head upstairs and carry on chatting?"
The suggestion had been casual, friendly even, yet Carla had to fight back a momentary surge of excitement before answering. "Sure," she said, pleased with herself that her voice sounded normal, "I'd like that."
Pausing only to collect two bottles of wine and a glass each from the bar, they made their way to Andy's room. Once inside, Carla shucked off her coat and sat down as Andy uncorked one of the bottles and filled their glasses. Handing one to Carla, Andy took a long sip of his own drink then sighed deeply. "Make yourself comfy," he said, "If you don't mind I think I'll grab a quick shower before I do anything else?"
"Go ahead," replied Carla, "Oh, but before you go, can I get out onto the balcony? I could do with a smoke."
"Still got some of your bad habits, I see," said Andy, laughing. He quickly unlocked the balcony window. "There you go," he said, "I'll only be a couple of minutes."
"Ta," said Carla as she watched Andy make his way to the bathroom. She stepped quickly out onto the balcony, dug her cigarettes out of her pocket, placed one between her lips and lit up. As she drew the smoke into her lungs she wondered where the evening was heading. Had she read more into Andy's invitation than there actually had been? Could Andy be looking for nothing more than a friendly chat? Carla didn't know. She had always had a bit of a soft spot for him at University but they hadn't been particularly close friends. Something in Andy's manner had suggested that he wanted more than just to spend the night talking about old times. Finishing her cigarette, Carla made her way back inside. Shutting the balcony window behind her, she poured herself another glass of wine and sat down at the table to wait for Andy.
Andy emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, dressed in a hotel bath robe. Carla smiled. "Company perk?" she teased. Smiling, Andy refilled his glass then crossed the room to sit next to Carla.
The wine, Carla found, had ignited a warm spot deep down inside her. The warmth slowly spread to engulf her. She found her gaze being drawn repeatedly to the opening in the front of Andy's dressing gown, an opening that grew tantalisingly wider every time he leaned forward to pick up or put down his glass. Tentatively, she reached out and put a hand on Andy's thigh. "You ... you don't mind do you?" she enquired.
Andy smiled. He could sense Carla's arousal. Her breathing had deepened, the skin around her neck was flushed. Andy opened his mouth to speak then, finding the words wouldn't come, he closed it again. He caught Carla's gaze, held it with his own and tried again. "Carla, I ..." Before he could say another word he found himself in Carla's arms, their lips pressed firmly together. Carla's hands slid inside Andy's dressing gown to caress and explore his body while Andy tugged at the buttons of Carla's blouse.
Their passion quickly grew. Their kisses became more urgent, their tongues exploring each other's mouths. Andy shivered as Carla's fingertips ran lightly up his spine. "Oh Carla!" he gasped, briefly breaking their kiss, "I must confess I've wanted this for a long time."
"Sshh!" replied Carla before silencing Andy by pressing her lips firmly against his once more.
Having undone Carla's blouse, Andy reached behind her to unhook her bra as she began to nibble lightly on his neck. He felt Carla's hand, warm against his chest and let out a soft sigh in response. "Mmm," he purred, "your hand is so soft."
Carla tried to struggle out of her blouse. Andy paused then helped her to remove it. He kissed Carla's cheek then stood up. Holding out his hand he said, "C'mon, let's go through to the bedroom." Carla nodded, took Andy's hand and stood up. Her bra joined her blouse on the floor. Kicking off her shoes, she undid her skirt and let it fall to the ground. Carla stepped out and let Andy lead her towards the bedroom.