More Than a Fling? by Joss Wood Page A

sex like nobody I’ve ever
encountered. It’s an amazing method of stress relief.’ She examined her
fingernails, her expression mischievous. ‘Why do you think that Justin and I are
so...how do you English say?...frigid?’
    ‘Chilled,’ Ally replied, before putting her hands over her
ears. ‘And I so didn’t need to hear that.’
    ‘Sex releases endorphins....’
    ‘La-la-la-la.’ Ally stuck her fingers in her ears. ‘Heard of
the expression too much information , Sabine?’
    ‘Between friends? Mother and daughter? Non! ’ Sabine stood up, walked around the desk and placed her cool
hands on either side of Ally’s face. ‘Darling girl, you need a man. You need
sex. You need fun. You need not to work so hard. You need to let people in. You
need to chill. And, mon Dieu , you need to eat!’
    Ally covered those hands with hers. ‘I know that you think you
know best...’
    Sabine’s frown warned her to be careful.
    ‘But I am fine—I really am. I’m busy and productive. I’m
happy.’
    Sabine removed her hands, but not before tapping Ally’s nose
with a red-tipped finger. ‘This grew bigger with that lie, Alyssa.’ She shook
her head in frustration before walking across the room to the door. ‘I’ll order
lunch to be sent up to you from the deli on the corner.’
    Sabine needed to fuss and to nurture and Ally was happy to let
her order lunch if it made her happy. ‘Thanks, Tante Sabine, that would be
great.’
    ‘Any chance of showing me the card?’ Sabine asked hopefully as
she reached the door.
    ‘No.’
    ‘Zut!’
    As soon as Sabine had closed the door behind her Ally reached
for the card and ripped the envelope open. After much cursing—had they used
superglue to seal the flap?—she yanked the plain white card out of the envelope
and flipped it open, her stomach quivering with anticipation.
    He’d scanned his note and sent it to the florist, who’d pasted
it onto the card. His handwriting was strong and masculine and untidy.

    Blue... I’m noticing it a lot lately and not
one shade matches your eyes. Maybe one of these flowers will.
    Ross

    Ally hiccupped a laugh and buried her face in the fragrant
bouquet, her heart pounding a staccato beat. So he was thinking of her...had thought of her enough to make him order a
bouquet of expensive blue flowers.
    Her stomach was fizzing with pleasure—a very pleasant change
from the scorching heat of heartburn.
    It was a thoughtful, lovely, sexy gift and it deserved at the
very least a response. His business card was attached to her stationery jar and
on it was his personal e-mail address. It would be so easy to drop him a quick
line...
    Ally reached for her laptop and thought a while.

    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    Subject: Nice surprise.
    I didn’t realise that my eyes had made such an impression on
you...
    Ally.
    PS The bouquet is stunning. Thank you so much.

    It wasn’t a minute before his reply appeared in her inbox.

    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    Subject: Re: Nice surprise.
    Your eyes are amazing but your boobs, butt and legs are even
better. You are the reason I toss and turn at night.

    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    Subject: Um...
    Not sure what to say to that except that we did—do—seem to have an
unexplainable and hectic chemical reaction.
    My sleep has also been disrupted by certain memories...and
fantasies.

    The mouse hovered over the ‘Send’ button as she debated whether
to send it or not. What the hell? she thought, but immediately wished she could
pull it back as it winged off. What was the point of exchanging flirty, sexy
e-mails with a man so far away? What could they do about it except become
increasingly frustrated?

    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    Subject: Re: Um...
    Am about to go into a meeting and now have a hard-on. Thanks a
bunch.
    When are you going to give me one I can actually use? With
you?

    Holy