John lifted his hips, pulled out his wallet and tossed money on the bar. If it was the wrong amount, Marissa would tell him about it next time he saw her, but for now, he needed to be outside, in the night, with Mary.

They got jostled as they pushed their way through the crowd, but neither of them seemed to care. John led the way, his hand back, laced with Mary’s. When they finally made it out the door of the bar, they both laughed into the muggy air.

“Somehow, I was expecting a breath of fresh air when we finally got out of that sweatbox,” Mary said, shaking her head.

“Not in Brooklyn in midsummer,” John said with a laugh. As hot as it was outside, he felt the absence of her weight against him, and he gently tugged her forward. She leaned into his side. “Cab?” he asked. “Train? Walk?”

“It’s only ten blocks.”

Somehow, they’d decided to go to her house without either of them having to discuss it.

“Can you walk it in those heels?” He looked down at the electric-blue skyscrapers that were precariously strapped to her feet.

“I can do lots of things in heels, John,” she said with a sexy, laughing look on her face, backing away in the direction of her apartment.

He gulped. He got a sudden flash of Mary standing naked in nothing but those heels. Another flash and then there she was, digging those heels into his back. He didn’t let her get far before he was beside her again. They walked so fast they both breathed hard. Their fingers laced, as much to keep a connection as to tug one another along, as if they were both nervous the other might change their mind at the last second.

Mary’s shop was tucked in for the night, glowing sedately behind its brand-new security gate. She jammed her keys into the red door beside the gate, the one that led up the stairs to her apartment. They practically sprinted up the stairs after he locked the bottom door behind them. And then there was just her lone door at the top of the stairs. The last real obstacle that John could foresee tonight.

She jabbed with her keys, missing twice. Her hands shook, the lock wouldn’t give, John couldn’t wait.

His hands on her hips from behind, he pushed with one set of fingers and pulled with the other. Mary spun, her back against the door, her head falling back.