In My Skin by Cassidy Ryan Page A

are you today?"
    I took the cup in fingers that trembled. “I'm fine, thank you ... and you?” I cringed inwardly—I sounded like a tongue-tied fourteen year old.
    "It's Friday, the sun is shining. Life is good.” She really had a beautiful smile. And skin that looked as soft and smooth as...
    I took a quick drink of coffee to cut the thought off and immediately regretted it as the hot liquid scorched my tongue and throat. I gasped, the cup tilted and coffee splashed over my hand. “ Fuck! ” I put the cup on the table and shook the coffee off my hand. When I looked at her again, I knew that embarrassment had stained my cheeks a deep red. “Sorry,” I muttered. “I'm such a klutz.” Which, actually, was not true at all.
    "Don't worry about it, here; let me see your hand.” Without waiting, she took my hand in hers and gently ran her thumb over the pinkened skin. I sucked in an involuntary breath, and her eyes met mine.
    "Does it hurt?"
    I shook my head. “No, no really, it's fine.” I felt a lame smile turn up my mouth and had to look away.
    "I'll be right back.” She disappeared into the kitchen and returned a moment later with a small ice pack. “Here, this will cool the skin down.” I sat dumbly as she once again took my hand in hers and laid the ice pack on it. I was unable to suppress the shiver that ran through me, but I knew that it had more to do with the touch of her hand on mine than the temperature of the ice pack.
    "You're not going to sue me, are you?” I looked up from our joined hands and found her watching me with a little smile on her wide, full lips.
    I felt an answering smile tug at my own mouth. “No, I won't sue—where else could I get such service?” Wait, was that flirting? Did I just flirt with another woman? Well, that was new.
    While she held the ice pack on my hand, her thumb made absent little circles over my knuckles. The movement did nothing to cool me down.
    "Well, that's good then. I've gotten used to seeing you in here every morning. It would be a shame if you had to start your day with someone else.” Was it my imagination or did her pupils just get larger?
    I suddenly found that I had difficulty swallowing. I had even greater difficulty tearing my gaze away from hers. “I should ... I should get to work.” My voice was low and rough-sounding when it emerged.
    She nodded and removed the ice pack, then dabbed at the damp area of skin with a napkin. “There you go, no permanent damage. I could kiss it better if you like? My mom always swore that a kiss was the best cure for all ails.” A mischievous light entered her eye.
    I think I might actually have made a gurgling sound, and my lips tingled inexplicably. “Your mom sounds like a smart woman.” Okay, that was definitely flirting.
    "The smartest.” She still hadn't let go of my hand, and I found that I was in no hurry to retrieve it. “Are you busy tonight?"
    The question caught me off guard. “Busy? Well, no, not really.” Oh God, was she going to ask me out on a date? I felt ready to start hyperventilating.
    "Why don't you come on by here around seven then? A friend of mine will be reading from her new book. There should be a good crowd in, and you can even have a coffee on the house.” She grinned, and I felt like an idiot. I sent up a prayer of thanks that I hadn't said anything about a date.
    I finally took back my hand. “That sounds great. I'll drop by if I can. But right now I should get to work. Thank you for...” I waved my scalded hand, quickly packed up the laptop and stood.
    "No problem. I hope you can make it tonight.” Was I imagining an intensity in the words that was not there? I hadn't felt this confused since I actually was a teenager.
    "I'll try.” Even as the words passed my lips I knew that nothing short of a natural disaster would keep me away. “Thank you for everything ... I'm sorry, I don't even know your name."
    "Chaise. I'll look forward to seeing you.” She tucked her hands