A Trip To Remember

His name was Caleb, according to the napkin, and his phone number in my pocket sang to me like a siren song, distracting me completely from this session.

But in no world could “Debugging Software and Why It’s Important to Your Business” compete with the images running through my mind: him freezing midstep when he saw me, him returning my smile, him smirking as his legs ate up the distance between us.

I had texted Sara about him during the midmorning break, and her excited what-ifs had only served to rev up my imagination. Caleb’s lack of bright-orange lanyard assured me he wasn’t attending the conference, but soon he was every man I looked at.

Across the table from me, he was smiling that amazing smile, and then his eyebrows wiggled as he cocked his head to the side in an invitation to step out with him.

And I would do it.

He’d pull me into a service closet, rasping my name against my neck as he pressed me against the door. I’d protest, afraid that someone would hear us, but he’d silence me with his luscious lips. He’d kiss me until I forgot what my objections were.

When I’d push him away because I had heard footsteps, he’d use the space to reach down and slide my skirt up to my waist, slipping one leg between mine and pinning me to the door with his thigh. He’d rip open my shirt, sending buttons flying, before he palmed my brea—

“Excuse me?”

I blinked and turned toward the voice that just ripped me from my steamy fantasy. “Huh?”

“Can you please pass the water?” The man on my left pointed to the pitcher that was on the table.

“Oh, uh, yes, of course.” Using two hands, I tried not to spill, but my trembling fingers made that difficult.

What is wrong with me?

Schooling my face into what I hoped was an attentive look, I did my best to focus on the female presenter and no one else for the rest of the session. As soon as we ended for lunch, I escaped to my room, where I immediately called Sara.

“What do I do?” I wailed as soon as she picked up.

“Uh, you text him, you dummy!” was her unsympathetic reply.

“I can’t. I don’t know what to say—he’s so hot! Why is he even interested in me?” I paced as I lost my composure.

“Okay, you’re spiraling, and you need to stop. He likes you because you’re hot. You’ve got this. Just text him. You’re only in town for a few days, you don’t have time to play it cool. And besides, you promised me you’d SAY YES to any social invitation.”

After I grunted out my discomfort, Sara sighed. “You need this,” she said. “It’ll be a massive confidence boost, trust me. I’ll even help you out. Hang up and text him. Just say hi. I’m sure he’ll lead you where he wants you to go.” And with that, she hung up.

I spent the rest of lunch staring at my phone like it might bite, but I couldn’t text him. As I entered the first afternoon conference session, however, I got a text myself—confirmation of a waxing appointment made by Sara on my behalf at the salon in the hotel.

This had done wonders to ease my mind because I hadn’t thought of doing that, but by the time I got to the last session of the day, my mind’s desire to fantasize had gone into overdrive.

And these slowly dragging sessions weren’t helping.

When another Caleb fantasy threatened to intrude, I pulled out my phone and held it in my lap under the table. I stared at the napkin, took a breath, and entered his number into my phone. Then I started a text.

My breath hitched in my throat, but I stopped it before it became a gasp. This was so much more forward than I had been expecting. What happened to drinks, or dinner, or a little romance?

That’s not what you’re here for, a voice inside chided. ~Say yes.~

The time until the evening both lasted forever and passed too quickly. Before I knew it, I was waxed, fed, showered, and shaved, staring at my open suitcase for any semblance of sexy attire.

But this went well beyond my wheelhouse, so I video-called Sara. As expected, she answered on the first ring.

“What do I wear?” The words came flying out of my mouth as soon as I saw her face.

“Well, you could always answer the door naked,” she teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

I glared at her. “I’m not doing that!”

“Okay, okay. I was just saying you could.” She raised a hand in surrender then glanced at her watch. “We don’t have time for lingerie shopping—we’ll do that tomorrow—so what did you bring with you? Show me.”

About to say that I would not be buying lingerie for this guy, I decided against arguing with her and instead said, “Okay, hold on. I must have something in here.” I set her down where she could see and began pulling out clothes.

We went through every item for the second time today. I had already worn the flirtiest thing I brought, so she suggested we try to sexy it up. After putting it back on and moving to the mirror, I propped the phone so Sara could see me while I used both hands to adjust myself.

After a day of meetings and some running around, my clothes were wrinkled, but my body at least being ready for this—with my newly bare mound and hair-free legs and pits—offered me great relief. Of course, there was no way was I sharing this with Sara.

“First of all, lose that skirt,” she instructed.

“And put on what?” I spun my head toward her.

“Nothing. Your shirt’s long, right? Leaves a little to the imagination, but not too much.”

I shook my head. “No way. Answer the door with no pants on? Are you crazy?”

Sara jerked her head back and scoffed. “I’m sorry, what are you supposed to not be saying? Was that a ‘no’ I just heard come from your mouth?”

Sighing, I grumbled back, “Well I didn’t know you’d tell me to walk around with no pants on.” Grudgingly, I slipped out of the skirt and smoothed down the shirt.

“Okay, now undo a few more buttons. Top and bottom.”

Still skeptical, I did what she said before turning to view myself. The shirt hit me at the tops of my thighs, making my legs look somehow longer. The neckline fell open across my collarbone, showing more skin than I was used to but drawing the eye directly to my cleavage.

Sara, with her artist’s eye, really knew what she was doing.

“I think it’s perfect,” she said. “Just change into your sexiest underwear, and you’re set.” After some final words of encouragement, Sara let me go to finish getting ready.

Luckily, I did bring one set of matching panties and bra, but I had never worn them before because they were thin, lacy, and unlined—they did nothing to cover my nipples and pussy lips.

And after seeing how exposed I was with them on, I balled my hands into fists so my fingers wouldn’t rip them off.

Then I took a breath and reminded myself that I could be anyone at this conference; no one knew me here. For all Caleb would know, I was always like this: wearing revealing clothing, fully shaved and waxed, comfortable in my own skin, and self-confident.

In a flash, a determination came over me not to be my shy, uncomfortable, and self-conscious self.

Caleb would be here any minute, and, finally, I was ready for him.