Two days later, I was sleeping soundly when the phone rang at a quarter after one in the morning. "Hello?"
"Alexa? Hi, it's Jess."
"What time is it?"
"Oh, holy shit! Alexa, I'm so sorry! I guess I'm still on Milan time."
I laughed, stretching and yawning at the same time. "That's okay."
"I'm at the airport. I don't suppose that there's any way you could come get me, is there?"
I was bushed. I'd spent an inordinate amount of time doing work the past evening and I had to get up early to do a presentation. Glancing at the clock, I noticed that I'd have to arise in four hours. "I'd love to, Jess, but I'm afraid that I'd crash on the way. Can you catch a cab?"
"Yeah, but I only have twenty bucks."
"I have some money. Buzz me when you get here and I'll come down." Thirty-five minutes, the buzzer sounded and catapulted me into wakefulness. I pulled on my robe, grabbed my purse and keys and took the elevator down to the first floor. Jess was waiting outside with the cab driver and I gave him forty dollars in addition to her twenty. When we were inside, I headed back to the elevator, leaving her to follow.
"Alexa? Are you mad?"
"No. Just very tired."
"I'm sorry. I tried to call Henrie ... "
"She's in Philly on business and Bob went to Indianapolis with Tom." I opened my apartment and stumbled in, tossing the keys and my purse on the table, shucking my robe and heading straight for my bed. "I'm sorry, Jess. I'm exhausted. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Could I stay here?"
I was half-asleep when her question seemed to bore through the veil. "Sure, Jess. Just don't snore, please?" I knew what I'd mumbled but I slipped quickly back into sleep. I don't know how long it was before I was jarred slightly awake by the weight on the bed but I blinked awake when her soft, warm body molded against my back, her hard nipples deliciously scraping against my skin.
"Alexa?"
I tried. I really tried to deny the emotion in her voice but I just couldn't. I had been working so hard to keep her off of my mind and but no amount of mental exercise could keep her from my body. I'd slept poorly the last two nights, my half-waking dreams filled with the soft touch of her lips and the memory of her innocent blue eyes. I lifted my head and turned to her, my breath suddenly shortened as her golden hair, now silvery in the pale moonlight, slid over my shoulder as she bent to kiss me.