Out Of Love Part 29

She glanced at the clock on her way to her desk, then locked eyes with Todd as she walked past his office. She usually took a full thirty minutes for lunch, but made it back today in only twenty-two. Todd had given her grief about not coming on Sat.u.r.day, but she didn't care. She would have her forty hours in by the end of the day tomorrow, and she was spending Sat.u.r.day with Carmen.

Her boss suddenly appeared in the entrance to her cubicle.

"I've been thinking about what you said a couple of weeks ago . . .

about paying the lower commissions on existing clients. I've changed my mind."

"What?"

"You can have the higher commission on all of your clients.

200.

But you're going to have to enter all of them into the new system so when they call in, it goes to you."

"I can do that." She almost let out a laugh. Apparently, he interpreted her staunch refusal to work on Sat.u.r.days as an indication that she wasn't going to go quietly along with his plans.

No problem with that. She was the senior agent in the shop, after all, and she brought in more revenue than anyone else. He needed to keep her happy.

As he returned to his office, her phone rang.

"Rainbow Getaways. Judith O'Shea."

She was startled to hear Cathy Rosen's voice. She never even got a word in as Cathy rattled off instructions.

"Yes, I can pick it up. It's on Seventh Avenue, about three blocks from where I live." Cathy had sent a package for Carmen.

No problem. She had time to collect it, drop it off at her apartment and still meet Carmen's train at seven.

"Noon tomorrow . . . and she already knows about this call?"

A reminder for a conference call. "I can set an alarm for her, or if you want me to call her just before-"

Apparently, Carmen's forgetfulness when it came to turning on her cell phone was a chronic problem. "I'll make sure it's charged and turned on when I leave for work. And I can leave her a note about the time . . . no, believe me. She won't be able to miss it."

As Cathy spoke, Judith wrote down all the information about Carmen's return flight, and took two phone messages to pa.s.s on.

Then she gave Cathy her home phone number, her cell number and her e-mail address, just in case she needed anything else.

The last bit was nice, Cathy thanking her for helping to keep Carmen organized. It was a big job, she said. "I'll help you how-ever I can. What would she ever do without you?"

For some reason, that set off a fit of laughter on the other end of the phone. Then Cathy collected herself and said good-bye.

201.

Chapter 16.

Carmen blinked a few times, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings in the dim light. She was comfortable on the futon, much more than she had expected. Who knew these things gave such good back support? Or that sleeping with Judith would be so restful? Between the new environs and sharing a bed, she hadn't antic.i.p.ated such a good night's sleep.

Of course, being totally worn out probably had something to do with that.

By the green digital display next to the bed, she had seven minutes before the alarm went off. Judith was facing her, asleep on her side. She was the very picture of morning, with her hair mussed and her face puffy and white. Smitten didn't even begin to describe what Carmen was feeling.

She couldn't believe how excited she had been to see Judith last night. They had rushed back here and fallen right into bed.

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Their lovemaking had been adventurous and fulfilling, even sending them to the floor in laughter when Carmen had gotten tangled in the sheets. Judith was the first lover ever that seemed to share her att.i.tude about the bedroom-that it wasn't just about o.r.g.a.s.ms and pa.s.sionate ecstasy. It was about fun.

"My whole apartment smells like s.e.x," Judith mumbled, not opening her eyes.

"It d.a.m.n well ought to."

They both began to giggle as Judith snuggled close. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did. But whether I can still walk or not is a whole different question."

"Good thing you don't walk on your b.r.e.a.s.t.s, huh?"

"No kidding. Sitting may be hard enough."

"You can soak in my tub."

Carmen poked her in the ribs. "You don't have a tub."

"Oh, yeah. You can soak in my sink."

"Perfect. One cheek at a time. I'll be all better before you know it."

"At least you don't have to get dressed and go out."

"There is that. Will you bring me a latte before you go to work? I'd be ever so grateful."

"And I was thinking how nice it would be for you to do that while I was in the shower."

"I'm afraid I'd get lost. I'd be wandering around in New York . . . naked . . . with coffee."

"And a banana nut m.u.f.fin." Judith stretched across her to turn off the alarm. Her nipple was within millimeters of Carmen's mouth. "Don't even think about it."

"But the m.u.f.fin thing got my mouth all watery."

"I'll go get us coffee. You lie here and think about ways to thank me . . . much, much later . . . when I've recovered."

"Mmmmm." Carmen pulled the covers up to her chin. "I like being spoiled."

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Judith kissed her on the nose. "You deserve it. Now go back to sleep for a little while."

Carmen rolled toward the window and snuggled deeper into the bed. She could hear Judith getting dressed, and eventually, going out.

She couldn't imagine how a place so foreign could feel so familiar. Between rounds of explorations last night, they had talked about this room, what Judith did here most nights, how she spent her time. The neatness, organization and efficiency bore Judith's stamp, and that's what made it familiar.

With every day they spent together, Judith seemed as much a best friend as a lover. Carmen was embarra.s.sed to even think that because they had known each other barely a month. But Judith not only encouraged her to be herself, she demanded it.

After being strong and responsible for those around her for so long, Carmen rarely felt free to relax and let someone else do for her. Cathy was the only friend truly inside that sanctum. Until now.

On the surface, she had always considered Brooke her best friend. But beneath the layers of friendship was a barrier that separated what they were from what they could never be. The deepest parts of her lay beneath that barrier, out of Brooke's reach.

Judith could get all the way inside. She had shown herself to be a kind person, a person she could trust to take care of . . .

The keys jingling in the door startled her awake.

"This is your wake-up call."

"I was hoping for a magical kiss that would turn me into a beautiful princess, and then let me sleep all day."

Judith presented her with coffee and a m.u.f.fin, and a sweet kiss on the lips. "Looks like you got your first wish."

Carmen groaned and sat up in bed. "I'm actually looking forward to working here today. I rarely take a day at home, but when I do, I get so much done."

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"You're welcome to come here and work anytime you want.

I'll even guarantee breakfast in bed."

"I like dinner in bed too, and snacks."

Judith sat on the edge of the futon and devoured her m.u.f.fin.

"I have a whole stack of menus in the kitchen. They all deliver.

You can call out for lunch if you want, or you can have last night's leftovers."

"That's fine with me."

"But you have to eat something. And don't forget you have a conference call with the San Diego people at noon. Where's your phone?"

"It's in my purse." She pointed to her handbag on the chair.

"And your charger?"

She had to think about that one. "My briefcase?"

Judith rummaged in the leather attache and produced the charger, then dug the phone from her purse. "I'm going to plug this in next to the table in the kitchen. Cathy said for me to tell you not to turn it off."

"Yeah, yeah." It was funny that Judith seemed to be taking over as her a.s.sistant in Cathy's absence.

"All your printouts are in the FedEx box. You can use my printer if you need to, but it's slower than the Six Local. Paper's in the bottom drawer of my hutch." As she talked, she pulled off her clothes and went into the bathroom. "If you wait until about nine to take your shower, you'll have plenty of hot water."

"What if I come in there with you right now?"

"It'll be like your b.u.t.t cheek in the sink."

" . . . two nights in Barcelona, returning to Madrid on the fifteenth. All that for twenty-two-eighty a person."

Judith typed in her client's personal information on the screen as Todd appeared in the entry to her cubicle. He motioned for her to come see him, and she nodded her under-205 standing.

"You want me to book it? I'll need credit card info from all four of you . . . That's okay. I can put a hold on it, but I leave at five thirty, so try to call me back by five."

Judith printed the specs and placed the form in a folder. She wondered how Carmen was doing at home and was tempted to call her. Then she remembered her boss.

"Did you need something?"

"Come on in and shut the door."

That was a first. Todd usually made a public display of his interactions with the agents, whether for praise or criticism.

Judith complied and took a seat opposite his desk.

"I just wanted you to know that I've been getting some com-plaints from the others about you not working Sat.u.r.days. You know how this business is. People need us to be here on the weekends when they have free time."

In the last five weeks, Judith had missed three Sat.u.r.days completely, plus the one when Carmen came to New York and she worked for only a couple of hours. Of course people were upset, but she wasn't going to miss being with Carmen for their sake.

"It fits my schedule better to get my hours in during the week, Todd. It's not like I'm sitting around burning the clock. I'm productive during my time."

"I know, but it isn't just a question of you. When Pauline and Raja see you skipping out on weekends, they want to skip out too. I can't let everyone just decide not to work on Sat.u.r.days."

"Fine, don't do it for everyone. Do it for me and tell them it's because I'm your senior agent. Tell them I've paid my dues and I deserve a more flexible schedule. When they've been here seventeen years, you can give them a few perks too."

"I wish it was that easy."

"Why isn't it?"

"Because I can't have two sets of rules. Nothing sinks employee morale like a double standard."

206.

Judith fought hard not to roll her eyes at his MBA recitation.