Market Street (22 page)

“I hope I can boost sales this week.” Cassie pushed the newspapers away. “I’ve been brainstorming all weekend and I haven’t come up with anything.”

“There’s nothing like good sex to clear the mind.” Alexis got up and stretched her legs. “I’m going to take Poodles to Golden Gate Park. He’s in love with a little papillon. Care to join us?”

Cassie shook her head. “I’m going to stay here and worry.”

*   *   *

Cassie sat
in the conservatory after Alexis left. She hadn’t mentioned James’s kiss to Alexis. There had been so many things to talk about: the emporium, Aidan, Princess Giselle.

Cassie twisted her wedding ring on her finger, admiring the tiny diamond flanked by two small sapphires. She remembered when Aidan handed her the Fenton’s jewelry box and she opened it, startled by the ring’s delicate beauty.

“I’m not a big fan of Fenton’s but I want you to wear a ring that makes you happy.” Aidan pulled her close. They were sitting in the living room, listening to the Beatles and drinking an Oak Knoll Cabernet.

“It’s gorgeous.” Cassie slipped it on her finger. She had been expecting a plain band or an antique ring from a shop on Telegraph Avenue.

“You’re my angel.” Aidan pushed back her hair and kissed her on the mouth. He unbuttoned her shirt and placed his hand on her breast.

“Aidan, Isabel’s upstairs,” Cassie whispered. Isabel had been seven and often wandered downstairs to get a glass of water or complain she couldn’t sleep.

“You’re going to be Mrs. Blake soon.” He pushed his other hand down her pants, rubbing her underpants with his fingers.

“Aidan, stop,” she protested. She remembered hearing Isabel on the stairs, Aidan squeezing her hand like a co-conspirator. After Isabel went back to bed, Aidan led Cassie up to the bedroom and pulled her down on the king-sized bed.

He stripped off his shirt, peeled off his pants, and gently opened her legs. He hovered above her, stroking her with his fingers, covering her cheeks with kisses. When he finally entered her, his hands cradling her head, she thought she would never stop coming.

*   *   *

Cassie looked
at her phone. It was almost noon and she had four missed texts. She scrolled through them, jumped up, and called Alexis.

“I just got a text from Aidan. He rescheduled his flight, and he’s arriving this evening.”

“I can’t hear you. There’s a rottweiler barking at Poodles,” Alexis yelled into the phone.

“Aidan will be here tonight. I’m not ready,” Cassie replied, walking into the marble bathroom.

“Of course you’re ready. Take a bubble bath, douse yourself in Obsession, and slip on a La Perla teddy.”

“We haven’t had sex in four months,” Cassie moaned. She studied herself in the mirror. Her hair was damp and her cheeks were flushed from the steam room.

“It’s like riding a bike,” Alexis replied. “I have to go. This rottweiler is trying to turn Poodles into lunch.”

*   *   *

Cassie stood
at the arrival gate at San Francisco Airport clutching a box of Twizzlers. She wanted to give Aidan a present, something silly that showed she had been thinking of him. Aidan used to go through a whole box of Twizzlers grading papers. She had to buy them in bulk from Costco.

Cassie wore a floral cotton dress with white espadrilles. The fog had come in as she left the city, but she wanted to wear something springlike and sexy. She wanted to sit across from Aidan, sip iced coffee, and pretend last winter never happened.

She saw him walking down the ramp toward her. His skin was tan and he had a day’s stubble on his chin. He wore a white shirt and flared pants with a wide leather belt. He swung his leather jacket over his shoulder and carried a jar of green olives.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be here,” Aidan said, burying his mouth in her hair.

“I got your text a few hours ago,” Cassie replied. She pressed her body against his, feeling his heart beating in his chest.

“I was tired of Athens.” He pulled away and took her hand. “Hot and noisy and no taxis. I brought you something.” He handed her the jar of olives. “I wanted to bring you Greek yogurt but customs took it away.”

“I brought you something too.” She blushed and handed him the box of Twizzlers.

“Don’t remind me of the papers I have to grade,” Aidan groaned. “I missed junk food and American coffee. European coffee is too strong. I couldn’t sleep and I had no one to talk to. I missed you, Cassie.”

“I missed you too.” Cassie held his hand tightly. “I’m glad you’re home.”

“I can’t wait to put on a pair of thick socks and stand in our own kitchen. I walked for hours in Athens.” Aidan stood at the baggage claim. “You look beautiful. I’d fuck you right here if there wasn’t a couple of hundred people watching.”

“Aidan.” Cassie blushed. She kept her hand in his while they waited for the luggage. She leaned against him and smelled avocado shampoo and Old Spice aftershave.

“Let’s stop on the way home and pick up a couple of steaks. All I ate on the plane was cardboard pizza and shriveled grapes.” Aidan retrieved his bag. “Then we’re going to bed and I’ll have you for dessert.”

“Aidan,” Cassie hissed, “people can hear you.”

“In Italy, couples tell each other they want to make love all the time.” He stopped in front of the glass doors and touched her cheek. “Is it a crime to want to have sex with my wife?”

Cassie looked at his black eyes. She remembered his white teeth and the dimple on the side of his mouth. “It’s perfect.”

“Where did you park?” He bent down and kissed her on the lips. “I’m starving.”

*   *   *

“I have
a surprise,” Cassie said as they drove through San Francisco. The fog swirled around them. Cassie turned on the headlights and rolled up the windows. “We’re not going straight home.”

“Cassie.” Aidan’s face turned hard and his lips formed a thin line. “You’re coming home with me.”

“Of course I am.” Cassie felt her cheeks flush. “I thought we could have a special night, without Isabel or laundry or dishes.”

“I’ve been traveling for two weeks.” Aidan’s voice was tight.

“It will be fun, I promise.” Cassie pulled into the driveway of the Mark Hopkins. Uniformed doormen stood at the ornate double doors. Women in long skirts hopped into taxis. Men in suits strolled into the lobby, carrying briefcases and newspapers.

“What are we doing here?” Aidan didn’t move.

“I wanted your homecoming to be special,” Cassie said, turning off the engine. “I booked a room for the night, with a couples massage and dinner at Top of the Mark.”

“The Mark Hopkins, Cassie? Did your mother pay for this?”

“I’m working.” Cassie’s voice trembled.

Aidan tapped his fingers on the dashboard. He finally looked at Cassie and smiled. “As long as I have you and a king-sized bed I don’t care where we are. But I’m not putting on a jacket and tie.”

“We could skip Top of the Mark and order room service,” Cassie volunteered.

“Deal.” Aidan nodded. “Lead the way.”

*   *   *

Cassie glanced
around the hotel lobby at the giant potted palms and the deep red velvet sofas. She remembered coming to the Mark Hopkins as a child and filling her pockets with peppermints. Every New Year’s Eve her mother took her to Top of the Mark and she stood at the window, looking down at the twinkling lights of San Francisco. Sometimes even the fog lay beneath her, and she walked around the restaurant pretending she was in an airplane.

“Nothing changes,” Cassie said as they waited at the front desk. “I think the bellman has been here my whole life. The wallpaper is exactly the same.”

“Sometimes I forget I married a San Francisco heiress.” Aidan rested his elbows on the polished marble counter.

“You’ll love it.” Cassie blushed. “The rooms have wonderful views, you feel like you’re in an airplane.”

“I was in an airplane for twenty hours. I want to be in bed.”

“We’ll be in bed,” Cassie promised. “I’ll rub your back and massage your feet.”

“That sounds better.” Aidan put his hand on the small of her back. He rang the bell and tapped his fingers on the counter.

“Miss Fenton, lovely to see you.” The desk clerk approached them. “We have a gorgeous room on the eighteenth floor. Please sign here, and give your mother my best. She came in for tea last week, she’s never looked better.”

“I’ll tell her.” Cassie signed the slip and took the gold room key.

“Sean will show you to your room. Let me know if I can be of assistance.”

*   *   *

“Christ, Cassie.
He called you Miss Fenton. I think we should stick to our side of the bay,” Aidan said when they were alone in the hotel room.

The bed was covered in a velvet bedspread and there were heavy gold curtains on the window. Cassie put her purse on the bedside table and looked down on the street. She watched cable cars glide down the hill like pieces in a toy train set.

“He’s known me since I was in the fifth grade.” Cassie had her back to Aidan. She suddenly felt this was a bad idea. They should be home eating soup and brussels sprouts from her garden.

“I’m being grumpy.” Aidan pulled her against his chest. “I’m just hungry.”

“I can order room service.”

“Tell them to bring up a couple of steaks and baked potatoes.” Aidan fingered the thin straps of her dress. “But have them deliver it in an hour. I want to savor you first.”

*   *   *

Cassie spent
a long time in the bathroom brushing her hair at the mirror. She unzipped her dress and slipped on the silk robe hanging in the closet. When she walked into the bedroom, Aidan was already in bed, naked against the satin pillows.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, tugging the robe off her shoulder. He untied the belt and let the robe drop to the floor. She stood at the foot of the bed and he pressed his mouth against her nipples, rubbing her thighs with his free hand.

Suddenly Cassie froze. She closed her eyes and saw Molly Payne as clearly as if she was in the room. She let out a little gasp and Aidan pressed himself harder against her, clutching her buttocks with both hands.

Cassie squeezed her eyes tightly and Aidan’s hands moved over her body, touching all the familiar places. He put his hand between her legs, stroking her with his fingers, and she felt her knees buckle.

Aidan pulled her down on the bed and kissed her breasts. He kept his fingers between her thighs, rubbing her with his thumb until she thought she would explode. She gripped his shoulders and he climbed on top of her, gently opened her legs, and plunged himself inside her.

After he came, holding her fiercely and rocking back and forth, Cassie lay facedown on the pillow. Aidan sleepily draped his arm over her back and she felt a jolt like an electric current. She closed her eyes, wondering how anything could feel so good and how she had managed four months without it.

*   *   *

They were
awakened by the buzz of the doorbell. Cassie slipped on her robe and opened the door. A uniformed bellboy rolled in a cart holding dinner plates covered with silver domes, a basket of bread rolls, and a bucket of cold champagne.

“I admit this was a good idea.” Aidan sat on the bed, cutting a thick slab of filet mignon.

“Being in bed with you is a good idea.” Cassie bit into a soft herb bread roll. She felt light and happy. It was dark outside and the only noise in the room was silverware scraping against porcelain plates. Aidan poured the champagne and she watched bubbles rise to the tops of the crystal flutes.

“Being anywhere with you is perfect.” Aidan cut his baked potato, covering each half with a pat of butter.

“Tell me about the conference,” Cassie said, taking a sip of her champagne.

“Florence is beautiful, I could spend days at the Palazzo Medici.” Aidan ate a large bite of steak. “Verona was charming: laundry hanging out of windows, tiny cars that looked like they belonged in a toy box.”

“You went to Verona?” Cassie asked.

“They arranged some day trips.” Aidan shrugged. “I was too lonely to enjoy them. Next year we will travel together: Florence, Rome, Venice. They loved the paper, Cassie. I’m going to expand it into a book.”

“That’s wonderful!” She smiled, then drained her glass. The bubbles seemed to sink straight to her toes.

“I’ll be very busy this summer. I’ll need your help editing and making sure Isabel stays out of trouble.”

“I’m not quitting Fenton’s,” Cassie replied, putting her champagne flute on the silver tray.

“The grand opening is over,” Aidan said quietly. He finished his steak and placed the fork on the plate. “Turn it over to your mother or Alexis or that architect.”

“The food emporium is mine, and it’s just getting on its feet.”

“Are you saying you’re going to spend twelve hours a day at Fenton’s?” Aidan demanded.

“I’ll be home by five o’clock.” Cassie tried to keep her voice even. She avoided Aidan’s eyes and looked at her plate. “I’ll edit at night.”

“Cassie.” Aidan moved the tray off the bed and took her hands. “Look at your mother. She didn’t remarry; she never had time for you. I’m trying to tell you I love you.”

“I love you.” Cassie gulped. “I can do both. It won’t interfere with our lives.”

“What about Isabel?”

“Alexis needs an assistant, Isabel would be perfect. She can drive in with me.” Cassie fiddled with her robe.

“It would be good for Isabel to have a real job.” Aidan nodded thoughtfully. “This can be a pivotal summer in a girl’s life. There are so many temptations, she needs something to focus on.”

“Isabel has a real fashion sense, I think she’d enjoy it,” Cassie agreed. “And Alexis is a drill sergeant, she’d work her hard.”

Aidan took a sip of champagne and kissed Cassie on the mouth. He untied her robe and slipped his hand between her thighs.

“I knew I married well.” He pulled her down on the bed. “Beautiful and smart. How did I get so lucky?”

*   *   *

Cassie heard
her phone vibrate and stumbled into the bathroom to answer it.

“I have some exciting news,” Alexis announced.

“What time is it?” Cassie asked. She glanced at herself in the bathroom mirror. Her hair was tousled and her cheeks were flushed. Her lips were slightly swollen as if she’d been stung by a bee.