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mind swim. It was only a brief kiss, over before she had time to realize what he was going to do. But the electric charge that sparked when his lips touched hers, lingered slightly and moved softly against her willing lips, made her mind spin. She almost dropped the bottle of wine she was holding with her right hand.
    The kiss only lasted a moment, but when it ended she wasn’t sure if she was standing, sitting or floating on a cloud. When he lifted his mouth from hers and stepped back to the table, Sabrina looked around at the expectant faces of her neighbors. Forcing a smile on her face, she glanced around. “Who needs another glass of wine?” she asked, breaking the silence. Instant laughter and applause followed that comment but then everyone moved on to a new subject, some lifting their glasses for more wine, others demanding one dish or another, all with great cheer and warmth.
    “Come on over here, darlin’” Janice called, waiving her empty wine glass in the air. “Personally, after that kiss, I think I’m going to need something to cool down,” she chuckled.
    Everyone laughed and Sabrina sank gratefully into her seat while the wine was passed down the table. She was thankful for the support of the chair since she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her any longer. She could wholeheartedly agree with Janice’s comment. Sabrina could definitely use a cold shower right now. That kiss had left her heated and bothered, desperate to feel more and knowing that she never would.
    Although the conversation continued, Sabrina didn’t hear any of it. She glanced down the table at Sid and her heart skipped a beat when she realized he was looking right back at her. He caught her glance and winked, raising his glass slightly in a salute. She quickly looked away, feeling like a high school girl after her first kiss. Well, who wouldn’t? she chided herself.
    A half hour later, Sid stood up. “I’m sorry to leave, but I need to get back to work.” He looked down the table at Sabrina. “Could I speak to you for a moment?” he asked formally.
Sabrina stood up on shaking legs. “Of course,” she said professionally and followed him out the door.
    The night was dark so she was able to hide her shaking hands behind her back as she followed him out the door. The rest of the guests laughed at a joke Bill was telling and she was glad no one was paying them a great deal of attention.
    It was quiet and cool outside, the temperature only about fifty degrees at this time of the year. She walked beside him to his car, a magnificent dark green Maserati Spyder with camel interior. Sabrina loved cars. She’d found an old 1965 red mustang in a dump, with no engine and most of the parts missing. She’d had it towed to her house and had completely revamped the engine and interior. It now purred like a kitten but it was nothing compared to how lovely his Maserati probably drove.
“Nice car,” she said in the tense silence as he looked down at her.
    “Thanks,” he replied and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. He watched her for a long moment, trying to decide what would be the best way to proceed. He could tell she was nervous and he didn’t know how to help her get over her nervousness around him.
To fill the continuing silence, she gathered up her nerve and smiled up at him. “Thank you for coming by. I think my friends really liked you.”
     
He smiled slightly, noting the way she could only look at his chin or hold his eyes for a few moments at a time. “Thanks for inviting me. Your friends are nice,” he said.
     
“Yes, a little nosy,” she laughed, wondering if any of them were peeking through the window.
     
Sid nodded, reading her mind. “Janice just moved away from the window,” he said, confirming her suspicions. “I think she wants me to kiss you again.”
    Sabrina chuckled nervously, hoping the darkness hid her red cheeks as well as her shaking hands. She desperately wished she could be