“For a first timer, you were pretty spectacular.” I grab hold of her leg and stretch it over my lap, massaging her calf through her jeans.

She scrunches her lips into a pout. “Then we must test to see if it wasn’t beginner’s luck.”

“Oh, luck was definitely involved. If those smoke detector batteries hadn’t died, we would never have met.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking throughout that sleepless night every time that annoying beep woke me up. I’m about to encounter an incredible stroke of luck. It’s what kept me going.” She brings her hand to her neck. “I so want to ask you about your first time, but my mind is too preoccupied right now.” She sucks her lip into her mouth.

“How about I tell you all about it later? After the experiment?”

“Hm-mm.” Camille bends her legs, pushes herself up, and is on top of me in a matter of seconds.

Chapter Eight

“Are you a woman of leisure now?” Caitlin asks.

“No. I’m about to head to the office. I was just dropping Camille off at the apartment. I need a strong coffee before I start my work day.”

“I waited for your call all weekend, but none came.” She winks at Josephine behind the counter.

“I was otherwise engaged.”

“I bet you were.”

“What did you do yesterday?” Josephine asks.

“I showed her around Sydney.”

“Mainly the area around Balmain, I suspect,” Caitlin says.

“Here you go. With an extra shot.” Josephine hands me my tall black coffee.

“I’m too tired to play coy.” I glance at the smug smile on Caitlin’s face. “I wish I had the kind of job where I could just call in sick. I was up half the night with Camille and every second of it was utterly glorious.”

“You are stretching the concept of a one-night stand to its limits,” Caitlin says.

“I know, but she’s leaving in three days. Speaking of.” I sip from the coffee, in desperate need of a hit of caffeine. “Would you two like to have dinner with us?”

Caitlin brings a hand to her chest. “Such an honor to bestow upon the modest non-French likes of us.”

Josephine shakes her head. “Don’t mind her, Zoya. We’d love to. I’m free tomorrow night.”

“That works for me,” Caitlin says. “You’re buying, though. You owe me for making that magical booking for you and Camille.”

“It’s a date then.”

“And don’t worry.” Caitlin’s Monday morning energy is enviable and enervating at the same time. “We won’t waste too much of your time.”

“Morning.” Sheryl has approached us. When she sees me she quirks up her eyebrows. “Someone’s had an interesting weekend, I hear.”