Cassidy Lane by Maria Murnane Page A

established that you’re the one who never spoke to me .”
    As they made their way toward the subway entrance a block away, she wished the sidewalk ahead of them would magically elongate to prolong their time together. She stole a glance up at him as they walked, imagining once again what it would feel like to touch the stubble on his face. At the reunion she’d found him physically attractive, but tonight she’d been surprised by his intelligence and sense of humor. More than anything, the playful banter that had sprung up between them had caught her off guard. There was something undeniably magnetic about being able to joke around with a man she also wanted to kiss, and she wanted more of whatever it was stirring up inside of her. She wanted to suggest they go for a stroll around the West Village, or stop for coffee, or grab another drink, anything to keep this night from ending.
    But she couldn’t bring herself to speak up and make it happen.
    Then again, he wasn’t making it happen either.
    Maybe that was her answer. If she’d learned anything about men over the years, it was that when they were interested in a woman, they usually made it known.
    But not always.
    Which left her at square one.
    Much to her chagrin, they reached the stairwell leading down to the subway. She stepped to one side so as not to block pedestrian traffic, then looked up at him to say good-bye.
    They might as well have been standing in front of her high-school locker, given how nervous she was.
    “Well, I guess this is where we part ways,” she said with a shaky smile. “When do you fly out?”
    “Tomorrow morning. I have to meet a client back in Palo Alto in the afternoon.”
    “Got it.” New York will miss you , she thought.
    She stood there for a moment, wishing he would do something, anything, to indicate that he was interested in her. She couldn’t be the only one feeling all this chemistry, could she? Was that possible? She didn’t believe in one-sided chemistry.
    He put his hands in his pockets. “It was really good to catch up. Get home safely, OK? Watch out for those armpits on the subway.”
    She smiled and stood on her tiptoes to give him a brief hug. “I’ll do my best. Have a good trip back to California.”
    “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”
    She waved a bit awkwardly, then turned and quickly descended into the subway without looking back.
    She swiped her MetroCard at the turnstile and walked toward a bench flush along the wall facing the track. She plopped herself down with a sigh, and as she waited for the next uptown train to arrive, all she could think was one thing.
    I’ll be in touch?
    What in God’s name does that mean?

    Twenty minutes later Cassidy exited the subway at Seventy-Second Street and walked slowly toward her building. The entire ride uptown she’d been replaying the night’s events in her head, reliving the conversation, trying to figure out what it all meant, if anything.
    Date or no date, after spending two hours with Brandon she was certain of one thing: she liked him.
    Liked him liked him, high-school style.
    She balled her hands into fists. Damn it.
    This is not convenient.
    She was half a block from her building when she heard a man’s voice. “Hey, Cassidy.”
    She looked up and saw her neighbor walking toward her. “Hi, Harper. Where are you off to?”
    “Headed to the Ale House for a beer. Don’t you look nice tonight. Are you coming from a hot date?”
    She laughed weakly. “I’m not sure.”
    “Say what?”
    “We went to high school together. He was in town for work and asked me out for a drink, so I think maybe it was a date, but to be honest, I don’t really know.” She frowned. “I’m so stupid about men.”
    Harper held out his arms. “Does Cassidy need a hug?”
    She put her hands on her waist. “Don’t tempt me. You know how much I love your hugs.”
    He put his arms around her and squeezed her tight. “Want to come have a brew with me? It’s still