A look of disappointment crossed his face. “You don’t like big band?” he inquired, his voice low.

I pressed my fingers to my collarbone, my skin feeling warm under his gaze. I watched as his eyes followed my hand, further heating me with the intensity of his gaze.

“I love it,” I whispered, and his eyes jerked back to mine in surprise. I smiled a shy smile and disappeared into my apartment, leaving him smiling back at me.

Mimi was still yelling at the delivery guy as I came inside to school Clive, a simpering look on both our faces. Five minutes later, with a mouthful of noodles, I heard Purina yelling something in indecipherable Russian on the landing and his door slammed. I tried to hide my grin, instead playing it off as a particularly spicy bite. No wall banging tonight, I guess…Clive would be so depressed.

At around eleven thirty that night, as I was settling into bed, Simon played me some music through our shared wall. Wasn’t big band, but it was pretty good. Prince. “Pussy Control.”

I smiled in spite of myself, delighted at his wicked sense of humor.

Friends? Definitely. Maybe. Possibly.

“Pussy Control.” I thought of it again and snorted.

Well played, Simon. Well played.

Chapter Eight

THE NEXT EVENING I was headed out to yoga when I found myself face to face with Simon once again. He was coming up the stairs as I went down.

“If I said, ‘we have to stop meeting like this,’ would it sound as trite as it sounds in my head?” I offered.

He laughed. “Hard to say. Give it a try.”

“Okay. Wow, we have to stop meeting like this!” I exclaimed.

We both waited a beat and then laughed again.

“Yep, trite,” he said.

“Maybe we can work out some kind of schedule, share custody of the hallway or something.” I shifted my weight from one leg to another. Great, now it looks like you have to pee.

“Where are you off to tonight? I seem to always catch you when you’re leaving,” he said as he propped himself up on the wall.

“Well, clearly I am headed somewhere very fancy.” I gestured to my yoga pants and cami. I then showed him my water bottle and yoga mat.

He pretended to think very carefully, and then his eyes widened. “You’re going to pottery class!”

“Yes, that’s where I’m headed…ass.”

He grinned that grin at me. I smiled back.

“So you never gave me the scoop on what you heard at brunch the other day. What’s going on with our friends?” he asked, and I didn’t at all feel a flutter in my belly at the mention of the word our. Not at all …

“Well, I can tell you that my girls were quite taken with your boys. Did you know they’re all going to the symphony benefit next week?” I said, instantly horrified that I went there that quickly.

“I heard that. Neil gets tickets every year. Perks of the job, I suppose. Sportscasters always go to the symphony, right?”

“I would assume, especially when one is trying to cultivate a certain man-about-town persona,” I added with a wink.

“You caught that, huh?” He winked back, and we found ourselves smiling again. Friends? Definitely a stronger possibility.

“We’ll have to compare notes afterward, see how the Fantastic Four are doing. Did you know they’ve been going out on double dates all week?” I said. Sophia had confided that they’d been going out constantly, but always as a foursome. Hmm…

“I did hear something about that. They all seem to be getting along well. That’s good, right?”

“It’s good, yes. I’m actually going out with them next week. You should come along,” I tossed out casually. It’s all for the truce, just the truce…

“Oh, wow. I’d love to, but I’m heading overseas. Leaving tomorrow, actually,” he said.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say he almost looked disappointed.

“Really? On a shoot?” I said, and realized my mistake. That knowing smirk came back with a vengeance.

“A shoot? Checking up on me?”

I felt my face go from pink to a lovely tomato red. “Jill ian mentioned what you do for a living, yes. And I noticed the pictures in your apartment.

When my pussy was chasing your Russian? Ring any bells?”

He seemed to shift his weight a little at my choice of words. Hmmm, weak spot?

“You noticed my pictures?” he asked.

“I did. You’ve got a great set of sconces.” I smiled sweetly and looked directly at his crotch.

“Sconces?” he mumbled, clearing his throat.

“Occupational hazard. So where are you headed, anyway? Overseas, I mean.” I dragged my eyes deliberately back up to his, and noticed his were nowhere near my face. Heh, heh, heh…

“What? Oh, um, Ireland. Shooting a bunch of coastal spots for Condé Nast, and then going into some of the smaller towns,” he answered, bringing his gaze back to mine.

It was nice to see him a bit flustered. “Ireland, nice. Well, bring me back a sweater.”

“Sweater, got it. Anything else?”

“A pot of gold? And a shamrock?”

“Great. I won’t have to leave the airport gift shop,” he muttered.

“And then when you come home, I’ll do a little Irish dance for you!” I cried and started laughing at the lunacy of this conversation.

“Aw, Nightie Girl, did you just offer to dance for me?” he said in a low voice, stepping a little closer.

And just like that, the balance of power shifted.

“Simon, Simon, Simon,” I exhaled, shaking my head. Mainly to clear it from the effect of him being so near. “We’ve been over this. I have no desire to join the harem.”

“What makes you think I’d ask you?”

“What makes you think you wouldn’t? Besides, I think that would mess with the truce, don’t you?” I laughed.

“Mmm, the truce,” he said.

Just then I heard steps on the stairs below. “Simon? Is that you?” a voice called up.

At that he leaned back, away from me. I looked down and realized we’d been inching toward each other on the landing throughout our exchange.

“Hey, Katie, up here!” he called down.

“A haremette? I’ll watch my walls tonight,” I said softly.

“Stop it. She had a hard day at work, and we’re heading out to a movie. That’s it.” He smiled sheepishly at me, and I laughed. If we were going to be friends, I might as well meet the harem, by God.

A moment later we were joined by Katie, who I, of course, knew as Spanx. I muffled a laugh as I smiled at her.

“Katie, this is my neighbor, Caroline,” Simon said. “Caroline, this is Katie.” I offered my hand, and she looked curiously between Simon and me.

“Hi, Katie. Nice to meet you.”

“You too, Caroline. You the one with the cat?” she asked, a twinkle in her eye. I looked at Simon, and he shrugged.

“Guilty, although Clive would argue that, in fact, he is an actual person.”

“Oh, I know. My dog used to watch TV and bark until I put on something she liked. What a pain in the ass she was.” She smiled.

We all stood for a moment, and it was beginning to get a little awkward.

“Okay, kids, I’m off to yoga. Simon, have a safe trip, and I’ll fill you in on the gossip from the new couples when you get back.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be gone a while, but hopefully they won’t get in too much trouble while I’m away.” He chuckled as they started up the stairs.

“I’ll keep my eyes on them. Nice to meet you, Katie,” I said, headed down.

“You too, Caroline. ’Night!” she called back to me.

As I walked down the stairs, more slowly than necessary, I heard her say, “Pink Nightie Girl’s pretty.”

“Shut it, Katie,” he fired back, and I swear he swatted her on the butt.

Her yelp a second later confirmed it.

I rolled my eyes as I pushed the door open and headed out to the street. When I got to the gym, I switched my class from yoga to kickboxing.