Judith was surprised by the remark, since, from where she was sitting, Carmen seemed to be having a wonderful time. "It looks to me like she"s enjoying herself."
"It"s business. She knows how to make people feel good.
Besides, she"s one of the nicest people you"ll ever meet."
"That I can believe. All of you have been so nice to include me in your plans. It"s made this whole weekend something I"ll remember for a long time."
Cathy looked at her seriously for an instant, then smiled as if she had wanted to say something but stopped herself. "I guess I should go run interference for Carmen and see if I can move 77 those folks along."
Judith watched as Cathy filled a plate with hors d"oeuvres.
She then entered the circle and handed the food to Carmen, directing her to another cl.u.s.ter of customers standing near the bar. Cathy always seemed to know exactly what Carmen needed and when, and that went well beyond the typical duties of an administrative a.s.sistant. Clearly, she was very devoted to her boss and friend.
Another half hour pa.s.sed and the crowd began to thin.
Carmen broke free from a discussion and made her way to where Judith was sitting. Without a word, she stretched across the table and s.n.a.t.c.hed Judith"s winegla.s.s. In two gulps, she drained it.
Then she shook herself from head to toe and blew out a frazzled breath. "Thanks. I needed that."
Judith laughed, delighted to get a glimpse of Carmen"s playfulness. "You look like you could use a whole bottle."
"I"ll manage. It"s almost over." She looked at her watch.
"They"re kicking us out of here in a half hour. If you"re up for it, I could use a walk to unwind."
"I"d love it."
Carmen grinned and saluted before returning to her clients.
Judith"s stomach fluttered as she watched her walk away.
Whatever might be brewing between them would reveal itself soon.
Judith closed the snaps on her down parka as Carmen tied the sash of her raincoat. "Are you sure you"re going to be warm enough to walk in that?"
"It has a flannel lining." Carmen opened the coat to show her.
"I zipped it in this afternoon."
They stepped out into the crisp night air, immediately tightening their scarves and burrowing their gloved hands into their pockets. Their pace was moderate, as fast as either could walk 78 comfortably in dress shoes.
"It was a great party, Carmen."
"Yeah, it looked like everyone had a good time. I"m just glad to have it over with for another year."
"You do this every year?"
"We try to. We missed Boston because my niece died that year and I didn"t go."
"I"m so sorry."
"Thank you." Despite the heavy emotion that sort of topic always brought to bear, the lull that followed wasn"t the least bit awkward. "Did you ever lose someone close to you?"
"My dad was killed in a construction accident when I was eleven. I don"t remember much about it, but I know I cried a lot back then."
Carmen nodded as though she understood. "Do you have other family?"
"My mom"s still living. And I have a brother. He"s two years older."
"Which makes him . . . ?"
"Forty-six." Judith laughed softly to herself at Carmen"s not-so-subtle way of learning her age. "They both live over in Brooklyn."
"It"s nice having family close."
"Yeah."
As they turned from the walkway onto Central Park West, Judith could feel the sparks between them. Since her own cards were already on the table-she had told everyone at dinner last night she was a lesbian-it was up to Carmen to take the next step if she was interested.
"I suppose I should have asked you already if you were seeing anybody," Carmen said quietly, looking out into the night.
"I"m not."
"Good." Carmen chuckled. "That saved us both from an embarra.s.sing moment or two."
79.
"All you had to do was ask."
"I"ve been flirting with you for three days." Carmen reached over and took her hand. "Didn"t you notice?"
Even through their gloves, Judith could feel a warm connection. They slowed to a stroll. "I noticed that . . . well, you"ve been very nice to me. But if that"s your idea of flirting, I prefer the sledgehammer approach."
"I have a mortal fear of being shot down," Carmen said, her teeth chattering against the cold.
It was impossible to tell if she was being serious or not, but the idea of Carmen Delallo being shot down by anyone was incomprehensible. "I find it hard to believe that happens to you very often."
"Happens all the time. It"s . . . what can I say? It"s just devastating." She managed to keep a straight face for all of three seconds.
"You"re a terrible liar."
Carmen nodded toward a bench on the sidewalk ahead.
"Want to sit for a few minutes?"
"It"s pretty cold."
"What if I promise to keep you warm?"
"That sounds like an offer I can"t refuse."
She took a seat on the cold bench and Carmen squeezed close, wrapping both arms around her shoulders. "People who live in Chicago have to learn to snuggle."
"I bet you"re pretty good at that."
"I am." Carmen rested her forehead against Judith"s temple.
"I should tell you that this isn"t something I usually do."
Judith nestled her cheek against Carmen"s cold nose. "What is?"
"I don"t usually hook up with women at conventions . . . and I never fool around with clients."
"Then I"m glad I"m not a client anymore."
"So am I."
80.
Carmen tilted her head forward and tipped Judith"s chin toward her.
When they came together, Judith forgot all about being cold.
The only sensation she knew was the silky touch of lips to hers.
Carmen"s tongue lightly raked her teeth, seeking more with each stroke. In all her life, Judith had never been kissed like this, not by someone who seemed determined to bring pleasure to her mouth with warmth and softness. She parted her lips, gently sucking Carmen"s tongue inside.
Approaching voices shattered the moment and they pulled apart. When the people pa.s.sed, Carmen kissed her temple gently. "Will you come back to my room?"
Judith never considered saying anything but yes.
Moments later, they were in a taxi speeding toward the hotel.
As they pulled into the valet circle, Carmen tossed a twenty into the front seat and told the cabbie to keep the change. Together, they rushed inside and strode quickly toward the elevators, oblivious to the people who milled about. They grabbed the first elevator and Carmen pushed the b.u.t.ton before anyone else could board. The instant the door closed, she pinned Judith to the wall with a crushing kiss. "I want you everywhere," she murmured. Her hands snaked inside Judith"s parka to ma.s.sage her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
Judith gave herself up completely to the hungry a.s.sault. If Carmen"s lovemaking was as fierce as her foreplay, she was about to go somewhere she had never been. She clung to Carmen"s arm as they exited the elevator and hurried to the room. Carmen swiped her key card and the door opened into a suite, where cardboard boxes lined the entry.
"Hi, Carmen."
They froze in the entryway. "Raul."
Judith instantly recognized the programmer from his bio on the Web site. It was obvious Carmen had not expected him to be here.
81.
"I was just packing up the last of the terminals. A bellman"s going to pick them up tomorrow morning."
Carmen nodded numbly.
"Hi, Brooke," he said, smiling in Judith"s direction.
She whirled around, thinking someone must be behind her.
When there wasn"t, the truth was slow to grip her.
"Raul, this is Judith . . . Judith O"Shea . . . from here in New York." Carmen"s voice was shaking slightly, and Raul looked as if he had swallowed his foot. "Judith, this is Raul Sanchez. He works for me."
"Pleased to meet you, Raul," she said stiffly, shaking his hand.
"Same here. Sorry about the mistake. I didn"t have my gla.s.ses on. I always wear gla.s.ses."
"No problem." The unfolding scene was almost too bizarre to comprehend, but Judith thought she had the whole, humiliating picture now. "I"m going to get out of here and let you two finish your work."
"No!" Carmen said, her eyes pleading. "Raul was just leaving, weren"t you?"
"Yes . . . yes, absolutely. Out of here." He dashed by her and out the door, leaving behind the most awkward scene imagina-ble.
"I can explain."
"I doubt it." Whatever had sparked between them had nothing to do with her. She should have known someone like Carmen Delallo wouldn"t simply choose her out of a crowd.
Carmen took her elbow and nudged her toward the sofa.
"Please sit down. This isn"t what you think."
Judith felt the urge to just turn and leave it all unanswered, but a small part of her held out hope that Carmen really could explain it away. So she sat.
"Yes, you look like Brooke. But other than that you"re nothing like her."
"But why would you-?" Judith didn"t like the only answer 82 that made sense. "Are you in love with her?"