“She was just saying the reason why she got a late start,” said Tom. “It’s because she’s sober. Cara doesn’t drink like we do
n’t drink. We met her in a twelve-step program.”
“I was wondering,” David smiled easily. “That makes sense because you don’t seem rock-and-roll, which ironically makes you very rock-and-roll in my book. That’s okay. I’m a big believer in lime juice.”
He could see she looked vulnerable and didn’t want to add to her discomfort.
“Well, then,” he said. “You know where everything is.”
Tommy and Marissa headed for the kitchen. Cara lingered. David drank her up.
“Night,” he whispered softly to her.
Her phone buzzed.
“Is that him?” he asked. “Is he texting you again?”
“No” she shook her head. “Yes, it’s him, but he’s calling.”
“Did he dump you or did you dump him?” he asked.
“Me—he dumped me,” she said.
“Another girl?” asked David as the phone buzzed again.
“Lots,” said Cara. “Lots of other girls.”
“May I?” asked David. He reached for her phone.
Her sweet face lit up, and she handed him the phone.
“What’s his name?” he asked.
“Gary,” she replied.
David made a face at his name, which he would have done no matter what it was, just to make fun of the guy.
“Gary,” he answered the phone boisterously.
Now, he put his arm around Cara and drew her in. He almost lost his cool inhaling her perfume.
“This is David Hansen.” He covered the phone and filled her in. “Gary is expressing his doubt,” he said to Cara. He resumed his conversation. “Did you not get the pictures?” he asked. “Listen, forget all that. What gives you the right to bother this beautiful woman? You had your shot. Now hit the road, dude.”
Cara giggled against him.
“Listen, Cara is my girl now,” he said and winked at her. “Yeah, we’ve been up all night, and now we’re going to bed. That means we don’t need you blowing up her phone. Here’s what I want you to do. I want you to hang up and really think about the mistake you made.”
David turned to Cara.
“He’s asking if he sorry, can he have you back?”
Cara and he both shook their heads ‘no’ at the same time, and when they stopped he really wanted to kiss her.
He waited until Gary said what he had to say.
“So that’s a ‘no’ on getting her back. But Gary, I want you to listen to me. Don’t you ever, not ever call this beautiful woman a whore again. Sure, she’s a lady in the living room and a beast in the bedroom, but gentlemen never tell.”
David adored that he could feel her blush.