|
CHAPTER TWO Sydney shut of the engine outside her brownstone, and they sat there, quietly for a minute, before she opened her door and stepped out. “Come inside, Nigel.” Nigel cringed and stepped out. This was it, he got his sight back just long enough to watch her put him in traction for the next week and a half. This was so going to hurt. Of course, he would readily brave the abuse as long as she didn’t fire him, as long as she let him keep working with her; he didn’t know what he would do if he couldn’t at least be with her, even if it was just as her assistant. He paused at the bottom of the steps and grabbed the railing, he was going to be ill, he just knew it; the butterflies that had been floating around inside his stomach since he’d walked into her office earlier had grown to the size of condors. Telling her was supposed to be a relief, not a penance, so why did he feel so awful? He had misread all the signals again, and he never should have let himself believe that Sydney felt anything but friendship for him. He realized, suddenly, that more of his heart was involved than he had initially thought and that a beating would be nothing compared to the idea that Sydney didn’t return his feelings, and he was sure that she didn’t. “Nigel!” He jumped, startled and followed her up the steps, waited for her to open the door and hesitatingly followed her inside, wondering if the university covered all medical bills. Sydney closed the door, firmly, shrugged out of her coat and tossed it, her keys and her purse into the nearest chair, before turning back to observe Nigel, who was still standing next to the door, as if hoping for a quick escape. She actually thought he was going to toss his cookies out there on the steps. Was he really so afraid of her? She decided to put him out of his misery. “Get over here.” Nigel meekly obeyed, running wouldn’t do him any good, as Sydney was faster than he. He was only slightly startled, when she grabbed him and pushed him roughly up against the wall. “Not the face!” he pleaded, he didn’t want to risk any further damage to his eyes by having them swollen shut. “Oh, I think, definitely the face, Nigel,” Sydney insisted, pinning him with her body and removing his glasses. “Now, say it again.” “Say…what again?” “How you feel about me.” “Oh, God, Sydney,” Nigel moaned in distress. “Please don’t make me do this, just beat me and get it done with, huh?” “Say it, Nigel. Look me in the eye this time and tell me what you told me at the restaurant, the important part and just leave out all that other babbling crap.” Nigel gathered his courage, what the hell, either way he was going to get a beating. What’s a little more humiliation? He met her eyes, not too difficult since her face was only inches from his own. “I …I do…am… I love you, Syd. I’m sorry if it upsets you and I truly have no ulterior…” The sensational feel of her mouth covering his cut off his words. His eyes widened in shock, and then fluttered closed as she continued to kiss him. It was like…like the time in Rome , when she’d kissed him at that toga/orgy party, or whatever the hell it was, and like that time, Nigel was too shocked to do anything but stand there. “What’s wrong, Nigel?” Sydney asked, pulling back just enough to get the words out. “I’m not pressing!” he squealed, remembering her accusation after the party when he had questioned her about the kiss. “No…there’s no pressing, here.” “Oh, I think definitely pressing,” Sydney assured molding her body to his and claiming his mouth again. Nigel was lost, his brain was turning to mush, his body was liquid fire, and he was scared to death to move. “Nigel,” Sydney sighed, when she finally released him due to lack of oxygen. “I thought you said you loved me?” “I…I do.” “Then do something about it.” She pulled him in for another kiss and this time, Nigel’s body responded of its own volition. Oh God! She actually wanted this, with him? Or was she just letting him down easy? Cate had done that, gave him so much affection, and then the speech, because she felt sorry for him. Nigel pulled back this time, his breath uneven. “Syd, are you…I…I have to be sure. Is…if this is just because you feel badly, I…” Sydney shook her head. “No, Nigel. I want this. I want to be with you. I have for a long time. I just wasn’t sure you wanted me too, and as your boss…well I didn’t want to pressure you.” Nigel groaned in wonder. “Oh, God, please, pressure me!” Sydney smiled and kissed him again, until they were both breathless and Sydney ’s knees grew weak. She pulled back, gasping. Karen had been right, the man could certainly kiss when he put his mind to it, she’d never been kissed quite so thoroughly, or with so much eagerness. “I…Wow, Nigel!” Nigel grinned and flushed. “You…you really want me, Sydney?” “I believe we just settled that, Nigel,” Sydney grinned capturing his lips once more and pressing her body even closer to his, pinning him back against the wall a second time. She could feel that he wanted her to, and it was startling to notice that about Nigel. They had been close, more than close on several occasions, their bodies thrown together in any manner of ways, but she had never taken notice if he had ever gotten aroused by the contact; he’d always maintained the decorum of a gentleman in those situations, as much as he could anyway, but judging from the evidence she was feeling now, she definitely would have noticed. Nigel was somewhat dazed by the time she released him and managed to mutter. “Um….what…what now? I mean…this…this was…is great and fine, if…if you…um… don’t want anything else.” Sydney raised an eyebrow, impressed. “You’d walk out of here, now, feeling like you do without even seeing me naked, and be happy about it?” “I’ve seen you naked.” “WHAT?” “I…I…I didn’t mean that the way…well, damn it, Sydney ! I’m not blind… any…anymore, and you’re always throwing your clothes off in front of me, after all. I’d have to be dead not to… appreciate it…you once and a while.” Sydney smirked and tilted her head, so he could be a little perverted after all? She could live with that. She pressed her hips against him and heard his sharp intake of breath. “Well, you’re definitely not dead, Nigel.” He flushed again and averted his eyes. “And the rest?” “Rest?” His voice was little more than a squeak. “You’d walk away, happy with just…kissing.” Nigel paused for a minute and licked his lips, trying to maintain some of his composure; he wasn’t a bloody teenager after all, all raging hormones. Well okay he did have a high sex drive, but that wasn’t his fault, really. Very seriously he said. “I…wouldn’t say happy, no, I mean I am a man after all, but…well…if it’s all that you want to do, or if…if you want to go slowly and kissing is all we do for now, then yes I’d be content with that; more than content, actually. Just knowing that you finally know how I feel, and…um…aren’t going to fire me or kill me over it, is…well has made me very happy, Sydney . I could die happy on this spot.” Sydney had never heard such sweet and sincere words from anyone in her life. “Really?” “Really, Sydney . I told you, I don’t have any expectations from you…for or about a possible, um… change in our relationship. I wanted you to know how I felt, I couldn’t stand the idea of you…of something happening and you not knowing, but I’m perfectly fine to stay your friend and assistant, well-that goes without saying, I’ll always be your friend, Sydney. As long as you’ll have me anyway, but anything else, any…increase in our…um…affection is totally up to you. Nothing has to change at all, if you don’t want it to.” “So, you’re giving me all the power to decide whether or not we take our…relationship to the next level?” Sydney asked, surprised. “Of course, I’ll do anything you want me to, Sydney . Whatever you’re comfortable with.” “And if I told you to leave? If I told you that we couldn’t work together anymore?” Nigel obviously hadn’t expected that question, his face fell slightly, but he remained persistent. “I…I’d be crushed,” he admitted. “But if it was what you wanted then I would go, but in all fairness, Sydney, I would try and change your mind, because I don’t want us to stop working together, but ultimately, I only want you to be happy.” “Do you think that would make me happy, if you were no longer my partner?” Nigel’s answer was firm. “No. No, I don’t, Sydney . I think you would be just as miserable as I, if we parted ways. Whether you love me or not is irrelevant, because we are great friends and we are even better teammates, and you know we belong together, even if it is only as colleagues.” He shifted his eyes to hers, shyly. “Is it what you want, Sydney ? Sydney smiled and shook her head, winding her arms closer around him. He’d answered honestly and she was relieved that he would at least put up a fight to stay with her, He might seem like a yes-man at times, but he had a hell of a lot more backbone than people gave him credit for and he was probably the only person who dared to stand up to her. “Nigel, I want…” She paused and reconsidered what she was going to say. She wanted to take him back to her bedroom and make love all night long, but she suddenly realized that was her usual, take-charge reaction when she became attached to a man. The sex always came first and that was usually what ended up making the relationship sour, she never really got to know the men she slept with. Was Nigel only after her for her body, like all the others? She couldn’t imagine that, he seemed to see all that to the complete package of who she was, but like he had said, he was a man. “What if…what if I only wanted a night of sex, Nigel? Would you stay?” Would it be enough, Sydney wondered. Nigel took his time considering that question, weighing his desire against his true feelings. He frowned and lowered his eyes. “Is that all you want, Sydney ?” Sydney bit her lip, realizing that she had probably just screwed herself big time, but her pride made her say. “Answer my question first, would you stay?” Nigel continued to stare at a point beyond her for a long moment, before bringing his gaze back to hers; his eyes filled with disappointment. He pushed her away; just enough for her to understand that he was serious. “No.” Sydney stared at him, her heart flipping over in her chest; no other man had ever said that word to her, not when it came to sex. “No?” She had to repeat it; she couldn’t believe he had said it. “No, Syd. I wouldn’t stay if all you wanted was a night of sex, I didn’t reveal my feelings for you just so we could have sex, I could go do that with anyone, and so could you.” Sydney stepped back and gaped at him. “But…I thought you wanted to…” “Yes, yes of course I…I want to, I want you, but I also love and admire you, Syd, and I…if the only change in our relationship is that we’ll start having sex, once in awhile, I’d rather we’d just remain friends, as we are. I don’t need you to fulfill my desires, Syd, but I want you for them. I love you for the desires you cause in me, for how…how loving you makes me feel. That’s what I want, Syd, not an affair, not a fling. I’m tired of all of that, I want something real.” Sydney stared at him and he realized that he had probably gone to far. “I…I’m not asking for a commitment, Syd! I…I mean I…well we just…I don’t mean to pressure you. I…I’m just trying to explain…” He growled. This was all coming out wrong. “It’s okay, Nigel. I understand what you mean.” “You…you do?” Glad one of them did. “Sure, and I feel the same. I’m tired of the shallowness of my relationships. I mean there has to be more than just fabulous, continuous hours of sex, right?” Fabulous? Hours? Nigel groaned inwardly. What was he thinking? He’d seen some of Sydney ’s lovers, how could he possibly compete? “Um…right,” he managed weakly. “So…if we…how do you want things to change then, Nigel?” Nigel swallowed, hard. If she only knew. “Syd, it isn’t about what I want to change, nothing has to change if you don’t want it to. I just…I wanted you to know. I…I would love…I mean…it would be very…um nice if we could…” He growled and pinched his nose. “I don’t know, Syd. I’m awful with relationships, mine never last, and you know that. This…whole idea of change scares the hell out of me because our relationship now is…probably the best and strongest that I have ever had with anyone, I’d hate to ruin it.” Sydney smirked; he had a point, not that her track record was much better. “Maybe we could start spending more time outside work...go to dinner, a movie.” “Well, we sort of do that now, Syd-when we have time.” “Well, this would be different, it’d be like a…date sort of?” She grinned, slyly as she smoothed her hand over the collar of his shirt. “And we wouldn’t necessarily go home…alone after?” Nigel smiled and Sydney knew she had made the right choice. “I…I would like that, very much, Syd.” Sydney returned his smile and wrapped her arms around him again. “So…What do you want to do now, Nigel? And don’t say whatever I want, give me an honest answer.” Nigel wet his lips again, as his hands caressed her hips, thoughtfully. “Well… honestly?” Sydney nodded. “I think we should order some food.” Sydney ’s eyes widened and she smacked at his chest. “Nigel?” She gave him the opportunity to do whatever he wanted with her and he wanted to order food. “Is that all you can think of, food?” “Well, I’m hungry, Sydney . We left before we could eat our meal at the restaurant and I haven’t had anything since breakfast, which I could barely manage because I was so nervous about my eye appointment.” Sydney frowned, she’d forgotten the day that he had, and maybe they did need to slow down. Still, Nigel’s reply was highly amusing, she could not name another man that would have answered the same way if they were in his position. “Pizza?” she suggested stepping away from him and moving back into the living room to reach for the phone. Nigel immediately missed the warmth of her body next to his but said. “Sure, anything you like.” He could tell that he surprised her by asking for food instead of something more physical, but he wasn’t about to do that after basically turning down her offer of sex. Part of him, the raging hormone part, was calling him all sorts of a fool for passing up the chance, and he well knew the sacrifice he had made; his body was still feeling the effects of Sydney ’s kisses. But, he had been honest that he wanted more than just a physical relationship and despite evidence to the contrary, Nigel tended to listen more to that body part than the lower ones. He wiped his suddenly damp hands on his slacks as he realized that Sydney was actually considering dating him. She wasn’t going to fire him, or beat him within an inch of his life, and she had admitted that she had wanted him. Granted wanting him, was not love, but she hadn’t really clarified her feelings; it could mean love. Could even turn into love if Nigel was careful and didn’t screw up the way he usually did. That last thought made him frown. Oh crap. That was the real ticket, wasn’t it? He always screwed things up, or women got bored with him or found someone they liked better than him or…Christ on a bike! What was he thinking, he’d met some of Sydney ’s old beaus, they were all, strong, exciting, virile and seriously masculine specimens of man hood; there was no way he could compete with that. She’d laugh at him. No, Sydney would never laugh at him, but…disappointed. Yes, she’d be disappointed and maybe feel sorry for him. Nigel had seen that look often enough in the women he dated, he was fine for a quick roll in the hay, but they usually had no use for him beyond that and frankly, Nigel never knew what to do with them either. Preston had stolen so many girlfriends from him in the past that he was insecure when it came to his ability to keep one now. Sydney returned, smiling. “Food’s on the way.” She frowned. “What’s wrong?” Nigel glanced at her, startled and hid his suddenly damp hands in the pockets of his jacket. “Wrong? Nothing, why…why would anything be wrong?” Sydney studied him, curious; why did he suddenly look so panicked? Was he changing his mind already? “Nigel, tell me, come on.” She caught his arm and pulled him into the living room, and down onto the sofa beside her. “You look like you just ate your stick deodorant or something.” Nigel released a nervous chuckle. “Really? I…I’m not that hungry, Syd.” “Are you…having second thoughts?” she asked, cautiously. Please say no. “I…no, not…well…maybe just…just a few.” “Wow, that was fast.” Sydney stood up abruptly. “Most guys wait at least, until they’ve had sex with me, first…” Nigel caught her hand. “No, no, it isn’t…it isn’t anything like that. Sydney . I…” He gently pulled her back down beside him. “I…I’m nervous.” Sydney shook her head. “Why?” She smirked. “You didn’t seem nervous when we were making out in the hallway.” Nigel wanted to say that was because was still in shock, but what came out of his mouth was. “I...I’m an idiot.” Sydney grinned and squeezed his hand between both of hers. “You’re not an idiot, Nigel, if you were you would not be my assistant, let me assure you of that.” Nigel returned her smile, shyly, as he stared down at their hands and his thumbs caressed the back of her knuckles. “I know.” He paused, not sure how to explain what he was feeling without digging himself into a deeper hole, talking was never his forte. “Nige?” “Can…can I get back to you on this one, Syd?” he requested, hopefully. Sydney almost laughed; he looked so worried that she couldn’t help but let him off the hook, afraid he’d pass out if she didn’t. “Okay, just this once.” Nigel smiled relieved. She smiled back, her eyes memorizing his face for a moment, before leaning closer. “So…what should we do now?” She nibbled on his ear, more than willing to get back to what they had been doing earlier. Now that Sydney had pretty much been given permission she could hardly keep her hands off Nigel. She’d wanted to touch him in so many ways for so long, but had always had to suffice with a friendly pat on the shoulder or arm squeeze. She’d been overjoyed during two of her recent brushes with death when Nigel had hugged her. “Er…um…ha ha, yes…well…I…I think, perhaps…a little snogging…um…I mean kissing wouldn’t be out of the question? Perhaps, a little…um…cuddling, maybe?” Sydney practically purred against his skin as she nipped his neck, liking the idea. She hadn’t necked since she was a teenager. “I don’t know. Do you have a curfew tonight, young man?” Nigel giggled. “Not that I’m aware of, my…ahem…boss is pretty lenient.” Sydney pushed him down on the sofa, but Nigel immediately sat up, when she went to lie atop him. “Ah…better...um…not to tempt fate, Sydney .” She grinned and settled beside him. “Okay.” Nigel pulled off his jacket and sat facing her, all amusement gone from his face and now he looked at her with wonder. He pushed a lock of her hair away from her face. “You’re so amazing, Sydney . Do you know that? I mean, you’re beautiful, certainly, but you’re so…intelligent and wise and strong and brave and…so many things that there just aren’t enough adjectives to describe you.” Sydney was blushing. “You’re doing a pretty good job so far, Nigel.” That’s what she loved about him; he looked at her and saw past her looks to the whole deal, all of her. Nigel cupped her head and pulled her forward, lightly brushing his lips against her cheek, her temple, and her mouth. “Never change, Sydney . You’re perfect, just as you are.” “Even…” Sydney ’s breath caught in her throat as he trailed kisses down her neck. “When I boss you around or…ahhh…t…toss you into the furniture?” Nigel nodded and proceeded to kiss up the left side of her face. “Yes, I don’t care, I expect it now.” He again came close to her mouth before kissing her chin, her nose; teasing her. “I love everything about you, even that.” Sydney closed her eyes and tried to capture his mouth, but he neatly avoided her and she was shocked to realize that he had done this before; little flirt. “Nigel, please.” “ Sydney ,” he whispered, his voice filled with passion. “My God, Sydney.” Sydney thought she might pass out from waiting, and when their lips met in a sweet, hot fusion she saw colors burst behind her eyelids.
It seemed an age since they had started kissing, and when Nigel pulled back, it seemed over too soon. He had not tried to touch her, other than her face and her hair, his lips doing all the touching; but only above the shoulders and they still had their clothes on. Had this been any other man, Sydney would have been mostly naked and getting a condom ready, but this was Nigel and he said all that he wanted to do was neck, so that was what they did. They kissed and kissed and whispered wonderful words to each other and it was the most innocent and most exciting thing Sydney had ever experienced. The ringing of the doorbell caused them to fly apart, guiltily, and they grinned at each other. A little too much like when they were teenagers. Nigel rose and went to pay for their pizza, while Sydney tried to compose herself. She stood and headed into the kitchen to get them something to drink, pausing in the hallway when she caught sight of herself in the small oval mirror hanging on the wall. Her lips were lightly swollen from kissing, her eyes flashing like starlight and the color in her cheeks! She couldn’t believe her own reflection; she smiled and liked the effect. “You look like a very self-satisfied woman,” she decided and continued into the kitchen. She realized that all she had was water, and was suddenly in the mood for something stronger, like maybe a nice bottle of wine. She returned to the hall to grab her keys just as Nigel finished paying for the pizza. “Where are you going?” “I’m just going to run out for a minute, be right back.” She grabbed her purse and jacket and opened the door. “Do you want me to go with you?” “No, I’ll just be a couple of minutes.” “Okay.” Nigel watched her close the door behind her and started to walk into the living room to put the pizza down, when a horrible sense of dread engulfed him. It was so intense that he dropped the pie on the floor and grabbed the back of the sofa to stay upright. A vision exploded in front of his eyes and he gasped. “Syd!” He rushed outside. “ Sydney !” He vaulted over the hood and ripped open her door, just as she put the key in the ignition and turned it over. He yanked her out of the seat, so hard that they both went tumbling down the steep incline of the street where she was parked. “Nigel! What the hell…” The rest of her indignation was cut off as the car exploded and car alarms started squealing throughout the neighborhood. It was a minute or two before either could lift their head to stare at the flaming vehicle. “Holy…!” Sydney couldn’t even finish the curse, as she noticed people starting to come out of their homes to investigate the explosion. She carefully pulled herself to her knees, and then she remembered Nigel. She glanced behind her. Nigel had landed on his back and had lifted his head to witness the carnage; there was almost no color in his face. He slowly lowered his head again, in both relief and disbelief. “Nigel…” Sydney began as the sounds of sirens headed their way and neighbors rushed over to them, helping them out of the street. She thanked the two men that guided her to the sidewalk and sat her down next to her assistant. She glanced over him; he looked so frightened. “Are you okay?” Nigel couldn’t take his eyes off flaming wreck. Sydney gripped his shoulder. “Nige?” He lowered his head to his hands and started to shake. Sydney wrapped her arm around him as the fire department arrived and extinguished the blaze. Someone wrapped blankets around the two of them, and then they were separated in the pandemonium. Paramedics arrived and checked them for contusions or a concussion. Sydney was trying to keep track from her seat on the back of the ambulance, of Nigel, who had been taken to one of the other vehicles. An unreasonable fear seized her when he disappeared from her view and she was immediately thrown back to the explosion in Egypt . “Nigel!” she cried out, pushing away the paramedic’s probing hands as he attempted to bandage the cut on her forehead. “Nigel!” She shrugged off the blanket and started searching for him, frantically. She could lose him again, not now, not after he’d told her that he loved her. “NIGEL!” “I’m here, Syd!” his beautiful accented voice called from behind her. Sydney spun around and spotted him beside one of the police vehicles, talking to the officer. She hurried over and threw her arms around him. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? I couldn’t find you!” Nigel was startled by her distress and a little embarrassed that she was hugging him in front of the police officer. His concern, as always, won over all other feelings. “No, I’m fine.” He frowned and touched the bandage on her head where a small amount of blood had already made a thin line across the white fabric. “Syd! You’re hurt!” She waved away the comment. “What? No, I’m fine.” “Mr. Bailey was just telling us what happened, Ms. Fox,” The officer informed kindly. “It’s a miracle you both weren’t killed.” Sydney cast him a vague look. It was amazing that she hadn’t been blown to bits and she stared at Nigel, confused. How had he known there was a bomb in her car? They finished giving their statements and the fire department finished putting out the fire, and then towed what was left of Sydney ’s vehicle to the yard for investigation. The neighbors returned to their homes as the paramedics gave Nigel and Sydney a clean bill of health and about an hour and a half later, the suburban street was quiet once more. Sydney opened the door to her house, warily and walked straight to her fridge for a bottle of water, she could really use that wine about now. Nigel followed her inside and quietly closed the door. He moved into the living room, picked up the pizza box that he had dropped, and set it on the coffee table, before heading into the kitchen. Sydney was standing at the sink, her back to him, the opened bottle of water, now half empty, sat on the counter next to her. Nigel leaned against the doorway and folded his arms across his chest. “Are you okay, Syd?” Sydney nodded, but didn’t turn around. “Are you…Why don’t you get some things together and come back to my place, Syd?” “I won’t be chased out of my own home, Nigel.” Nigel could hear the anger rising in her voice and her body was starting to tremble with barely contained fury. He moved closer, slowly, and set his hands upon her shoulders. “Come on, Syd. The police are right, you shouldn’t stay here.” Sydney ignored him and curled her fist around the water bottle. “Syd…look I know how you must feel but…” “This is my house, Nigel. Mine!” she growled. “And that was my car, not yours that I was almost blown to smithereens in, so excuse me if I don’t believe you know how I feel!” “Syd! That isn’t fair!” Nigel knew far more than she realized about how she was feeling. How vulnerable and out of control she was. Had she already forgotten about Egypt and how he had nearly died? “Look, Officer Richards said you should go to a motel or something, at least until they find out what’s going on. My place has security locks at least…so…” She turned on him, a tigress of rage. “You’re not my father, you’re not my husband, you’re not even my boyfriend! You’re just my freaking assistant and you do what I tell you, not the other way around.” Nigel bit his lip and tried to swallow the hurt her words caused him, understanding that she was just lashing out. Still, he found himself hesitant to push her now that the boundaries of their relationship had changed. It wasn’t fair! He had just admitted his feelings for her and something like this happens, something that made him so afraid of screwing up a chance with her, that he couldn’t be the friend she needed him to be. “I…I’m only trying to help.” “How did you know, Nigel?” she asked suddenly advancing on him. “W…what?” “How did you know there was a bomb in the car?” Nigel was startled by the intensity of her attack and he didn’t want to tell what had happened and what he’d seen. She’d start talking to him about seeing a shrink again. “I…I don’t know I…I just had a bad feeling, I suppose.” “A bad feeling? You almost dislocated my shoulder the way you ripped me out of the car, Nigel! How bad was this feeling?” Syd, you’re upset…” “I already told you, you’re…” Nigel snapped on her. “I know!” He had been just as scared as she when that damn bomb went off; he’d had his fill of explosions for the year at least. “I’m not your father, husband, or boyfriend and with the way you’re acting I wouldn’t chose to be! But as you pointed out I am your assistant, so it’s my job to look after you! Now shut up, calm down and go pack a bloody bag or by God, I’ll call the police back here and have you locked in a cell for your own protection!” Sydney gaped at him in astonishment. “Well, go do it! I mean it, Sydney . Do it right now or I’ll carry you out of here on my back. Don’t think I can’t!” “I…alright, Nigel,” Sydney replied meekly, set her water on the counter and headed into her room. Nigel was just as surprised that she obeyed, and he willed his racing heartbeat to slow. “Right…good.” He smirked, shoved his hands in his pocket, and bounced on his heels in victory, before remembering that he needed to call a cab for transportation.
|