Falling for her, p.16
Falling for Her, page 16
Kim nodded. “You couldn’t get me out of this bed if you tried.” She licked her lips and looked at the clock. It was a little past eleven. “Shouldn’t you be asleep? You have to be up early tomorrow. Or... well, this morning.”
“As late as it is, it would probably be easier to just stay awake and catch cat naps in my trailer.”
“So you’re going to just lay there and watch me sleep?”
Marisa shrugged. “You got a better idea?”
“One or two.” Kim rolled onto her back and pulled Marisa onto her.
***
Marisa did end up falling asleep shortly before three in the morning. Kim held her, listening to the quiet sounds of her breathing. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness of the guest house. The bedroom was part of a larger space, with a living room across from the bed and a kitchen along the north wall between them. Marisa murmured and pressed herself tighter against Kim, and she turned her head into the hollow of Kim’s shoulder. Kim stroked her hair, now dry after their tryst in the water, and got used to the feeling of having a woman in her arms again.
In ten months since her last partner, she got used to sleeping alone. She even told herself she preferred it. She touched Marisa’s back and brushed her fingers down her curves. If she had to share a bed for the rest of her life, if she had to learn to deal with stolen covers and never again got to sprawl, she felt it was a good trade off. A wonderful trade off.
“Kim... Kim.”
“What is it, baby?” Kim asked.
Marisa sighed, shifted against Kim, and settled back to sleep.
Kim smiled, realized that Marisa had been talking in her sleep. She kissed the top of Marisa’s head. “I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”
***
“Marisa,” Kim whispered. She ran her hand along Marisa’s upper arm until Marisa’s eyelids fluttered and she slowly woke. She focused on Kim and, after a moment of confusion, smiled sleepily. “Hey. Sorry. It’s almost five.”
“Oh,” Marisa rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand and said, “I guess I fell asleep after all. Sorry.”
Kim smiled. “You were pretty exhausted.”
Marisa chuckled and pulled away from Kim. “God. I really should have just stayed awake.” She put her hand on Kim’s thigh, rubbing it through the blanket. “I probably would have enjoyed it more.” She groaned, pushed her hair out of her face, and said, “I have to be at the studio in half an hour. Damn.”
“Want me to call in sick for you?”
Marisa chuckled and stepped out of the bed. She opened the closet door and pulled out a robe, putting it on as she walked around the foot of the bed. She left it hanging open, her body on full display in the dim light. Kim hungrily took in the sight, letting her eyes linger on the important spots. Marisa said, “There’s a shower through there... I’m going to get started on breakfast. Come on in once you’re presentable.”
Kim looked down at her body, draped in the blanket with one naked leg stretching out toward the edge of the mattress. “This isn’t presentable?”
Marisa picked up Kim’s foot, kissed the ball, and let it drop. “Andrew may be there. So as much as I like the idea of drinking milk off your naked stomach...”
“Tease.”
“How do you take your eggs?”
“Over easy. Lots of toast.”
Marisa nodded. “I think I can handle that.” She stopped at the door. “Kim, last night was...” She bit her bottom lip and looked at the floor. After a moment, she said, “Last night was really special for me. It was something I had given up on. Thank you.”
“And all I get in return is eggs?”
Marisa laughed and grabbed Kim’s foot, giving it a shake. “Hey, come on. I’m pouring out my heart here.”
Kim pulled her foot from Marisa’s grip and climbed out of bed. She cupped Marisa’s face in her hands, kissed the corners of her mouth, and then embraced her. She pressed her face into Marisa’s hair and said, “I love you. I think I have since the moment I first saw you.”
Marisa laced her fingers together in the small of Kim’s back, pulled her close, and put her face against Kim’s shoulder.
“Marisa? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. No one’s ever said that to me before in real life.”
Kim smiled. She lifted Marisa’s head, kissed away a rolling tear, and then kissed her lips. “Go make me eggs and I’ll tell you again.”
Marisa smiled.
They parted with a reluctant sliding of limbs, Kim’s hands brushing the silk that didn’t feel half as luxurious as Marisa’s skin. Kim went into the bathroom, and Marisa left the guesthouse to start on breakfast. Kim leaned into the shower stall, turned on the hot water, and went to the mirror to wait for the water to heat up. She bent down to get a towel from under the sink and, as she rose, caught her reflection in the mirror. The bleary look in her eyes countered by the stupid grin on her face. She chuckled at herself, draped the towel over the rod, and climbed into the shower stall.
***
The walk of shame wasn’t that shameful, Kim thought, wearing the same clothes as the night before as she crossed the lawn. The sun wasn’t high enough to top the buildings, but its glow was spread all across the eastern sky. She carried her boots in her left hand, her feet sinking into the cool, dewy grass as she went to the back door of the house. She wiped her feet on the mat provided and went inside.
Andrew was in the kitchen when she came in, standing by the stove. He said, “Hey, Mar, are these eggs for...” He froze when he saw who it was, eyes wide and mouth hanging open for a moment. “Oh.”
“Uh, hey.”
Kim looked frantically for Marisa, for evidence that she had been invited. She chose that moment to appear, coming down the stairs in a scoop neck white blouse and tights. She had put her hair up, a few tendrils hanging down around her face and shoulders as she took the stairs two at a time. She saw Kim, smiled, and then noticed Andrew standing in the kitchen. She hesitated on the bottom step and said, “Oh. Drew.”
“I knew you spent the night in the guest house,” Andrew said, “but I had no idea you had company.”
“Didn’t know I had to consult you.” Marisa brushed Kim’s arm as she passed, going into the kitchen to check their eggs. Andrew was still looking at Kim, grinning like a fool. “Next time I’ll hang a tie on the door or something.”
“Next time?” Andrew said, still looking at Kim with an expression of shock and happiness.
Marisa glared at the back of his head. “Don’t you have to be at work?”
“Huh-uh.” He crossed his hands over his chest and leaned against the counter. “So this little thing is going full steam ahead, huh?”
Marisa transferred the eggs to a plate, grabbed the back of Andrew’s belt, and hauled him backward. He stumbled, and Marisa took his place at the counter. She put the plate down in front of Kim and turned so Andrew was out of her line of sight.
“I just got a call from Solomon. He needs me there bright and early, so I’m going to have to abandon you.”
“That’s fine.” Kim started to slip off the stool. “I can skip--”
“No, go ahead and eat your eggs. I’ll call you tonight, okay?”
Kim nodded. Marisa leaned across the counter and kissed Kim on the lips. It wasn’t overtly passionate, but the meaning behind the kiss made it stronger, better. She retreated, whispered, “Thank you,” and backed slowly away from the counter. Andrew was carefully reading a takeout menu off the fridge, ignoring Marisa when she passed. Kim heard her hiss, “Leave her alone,” before she disappeared into the entry hall.
When the front door closed, Kim felt alone for the first time in twelve hours. It was not a welcome feeling.
Andrew slowly made his way over to her. He struck an incredibly casual pose and tilted his head at a totally casual angle. “So...” His tone was not convincingly casual at all.
She poked at her eggs with a fork. “I’m not sure Marisa wants me to kiss and tell.”
He held up his hands in an insincere surrender. “Okay. Okay. But be... careful. This isn’t a fling, some little...”
“No.” There was no hesitation in her voice, because there was no doubt that she was in this for the long haul. “Not even a question.”
Andrew nodded. “I don’t want to tell stories out of school, and it’s not my place to tell you this. But it’s been a long time since Marisa trusted herself with anyone. I’m still a little gobsmacked that you’re here. Was she okay last night?”
“Seemed fine,” Kim said, suddenly tense.
“Okay. Well... Just be careful with her. She’s been in a fragile state for a long time.”
Kim said, “She told me it had been a while, but I just thought... I thought she was like me. In a dry spell.”
Andrew shrugged. “You could say that.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and said, “I’m going to be upstairs online. You can let yourself out whenever you’re ready to go.” He put his hand on top of hers. “I saw the two of you at the party the other night. And the way she’s been since she met you. Kim said this, Kim does that, Kim has the coolest jacket. Frankly, I’m a little sick of hearing your name around this place.” She laughed and he winked. “Keep that up and I think... I think you might be very good for her.”
Kim nodded. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do you know which jacket she was talking about?”
He laughed. “Sorry, kid. You’ll have to ask her.”
“I’ll do that.”
He wished her a good morning and went upstairs, leaving her alone. She looked down at her eggs, wondering what had happened to Marisa in the past and how she could help her get past it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Donny, the part-time clerk Mabel hired to fill in when she had to be away from the store, was at the counter when Kim got home. She flashed him a friendly smile and fled up the stairs, counting her blessings that she wouldn’t have to explain to Mabel why she was just getting home and why she was still wearing the same outfit as the night before. She undressed in her apartment and took a long shower, unable to stop her brain from replaying scenes from the night before. She was fairly sure she and Marisa had made love in their sleep a few times; half-awake movements, awakening briefly to quiet grunts and a body on top of her... it made her shiver.
Kim washed her hair a few times, making sure she had gotten all the chlorine out in Marisa’s shower, and wrapped herself in a towel before she went back out into the living room. She sat on the window seat and looked out at the city. She smiled, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She wasn’t sure what she was crying about, but as long as they were happy tears she didn’t mind. She rested her head against the wall and let the tears come.
She didn’t fall in love. She never allowed herself to. There was just too much at stake on both sides for a relationship to be anything but a fling. But somehow, long before she ever clung to Marisa in the pool, they had gone far beyond fling. Marisa’s touch was electric, the feel of her breath on Kim’s neck sent every synapse into overdrive. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. And the sex... she still could barely believe she’d had sex with Marisa.
Andrew’s advice was wholly unnecessary. She was going to do everything in her power to show Marisa how much she was loved. If she got even a fraction of that in return, she wasn’t going anywhere.
***
Break had knocked on the apartment door with his foot, his hands occupied by the cooler full of beer. Kim stepped aside to let him in, but made no move to help him carry it. “Thought maybe if I got you liquored up I would... fare better.” He frowned at her as he walked into the apartment.
“Keep dreaming, Break. What’s with the sour puss?”
“Nothing.” He put the beer on the counter between the living room and the kitchen, then turned and looked at her. “Did you get laid?”
Kim’s eyes widened and she said, “What are you talking about?”
“You look different. You either got laid or you’re already drunk.”
“I’m already drunk.”
Break smiled widely, showing teeth. “Now I know for sure. Who was it? Tell me you didn’t hop back on the Tina wagon. Please, Kim.”
Kim rolled her eyes. “I haven’t spoken to Tina in eight months.”
“You broke up ten months ago.”
“Who are you, Columbo? Let it go, Break.”
Pluto knocked on the open front door. “Is this a private party, or can anyone join?”
“Come in here.” Break nodded at Kim. “Little Kim got laid.”
Kim swung at Break and hit his shoulder.
“You’re kidding,” Pluto said. “Was it--”
“Someone who is in the closet,” Kim said, cutting him off before he could say a name.
Pluto bit down on his next words, nodded, and slapped Kim on the back. “Good for you, kid. I’m happy for you.”
“I’d be happy for you, too,” Break said, exploring her kitchen for food. “If I knew who the hell it was. Come on, Kim, spill.”
Kim said, “I can’t betray her confidence, Break. Sorry. She’s going to stay in the closet until she’s ready to come out.”
Break dropped into a seat and put his feet up on the table. “Gonna drive me bonkers.”
Lincoln arrived a few minutes later with bags of chips, and Break forgot all about Kim’s conquest as he tore into them.
Kim went into the kitchen, and Pluto followed her. He tapped her on the shoulder and, keeping his voice low, said, “The woman we spoke about?”
“Yeah,” Kim said, her lips inadvertently spreading into a smile.
Pluto smiled. “Good for you, little girl.” Kim blushed and handed him a bowl for the chips, still smiling. He looked at her smile and raised an eyebrow. “Wow. You may want to try keeping that goofy look under control. You’ll lose your reputation as a badass.”
“Either that or you guys will never know whether or not I have a good hand.”
“Trust me, your poker face is inscrutable as it is.” He took a bottle of beer, toasted her and went back into the living room. Kim forced her smile down, and followed Pluto out to the table.
***
“Come on, Jonas, we don’t have all night here,” Kim said, staring at her cards as Jonas played with his chips.
“What’s the rush, you got a hot date or something?”
“Well, actually,” Break said.
Kim said, “Shut up, Break.” He snickered and fanned his cards out again, having already bet. She sighed and picked up her cell phone to check the time. As soon as she picked it up, the phone vibrated with an incoming call. The unofficial rule was that no cell phones calls were taken at the table, but seeing Marisa’s number pop up made her throw the rule out. It was her house, after all, and her game. She dropped her cards and stood up. “I’m out.”
“Ahh, speak of the devil. The mystery woman,” Break said.
Kim ignored him and waited until she was at the window seat to answer. She lowered her voice so the guys wouldn’t overhear, and flipped the phone open. “Hey. What’s up?”
“Hi. Can you talk?”
“Not freely.” Kim looked at the reflection of the poker game in the window. Break was trying his best to act like he wasn’t watching her. “I’ve been thinking about you today.”
“No wonder my ears were burning. Listen, I won’t keep you long, but I wanted to know if you’d done anything for dinner.”
Kim thought back to the sandwich she ate before the game. “No, not really.”
“You could come over and have dinner with me and Andrew, if you’d like. I’m just leaving Transom right now, so give me a few minutes to call for Chinese...”
“Sounds great,” Kim said. “Get me anything with chicken and broccoli, lots of rice. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
“I’ll see you then.”
Kim hung up and went back inside. “Guys, I’m going to have to duck out early tonight.”
“Whoa, hey...” Break said. “Tradition. You can’t just walk out on a game.”
“It’s fine by me.” Jonas tossed his cards down and crossed his arms. “Probably be cheaper for me in the long run.”
“Pluto,” Kim said, “I’m leaving you in charge. Make sure the place is locked up and everything is just this side of a war zone.”
He nodded. “Where are you going all of a sudden?”
“Dinner.” Kim ducked into the bedroom before she could hear their jokes. Let them mock. It was just one of the many things she was willing to put up with for having Marisa in her life.
***
Kim arrived to find Marisa’s driveway was almost full of cars; the Prius, a red sports car she assumed was Andrew’s, and another black SUV with the back sticking out into the street. She parked next to it and peered in the window as she walked to the door, trying to guess who it belonged to. She knocked on the door and it was answered quickly enough that she assumed Marisa was standing on the other side watching for her. She had already changed into faded blue jeans and a college sweatshirt, wearing glasses instead of contacts. “Kim.”
Kim hesitated, unsure of the etiquette. Were they allowed to kiss on the front porch? Were the neighbors trustworthy? Marisa solved the problem for her by kissing her on the cheek and pulling her into an embrace. “Glad you’re here. Sorry I’m so frumpy.”
“You look beautiful,” Kim said. “Rocking the Clark Kent look again. I like it.”
Marisa smiled and slid her hand down to Kim’s. She guided Kim into the house and shut the door behind her.
Andrew and another man were in the kitchen, standing over a group of Chinese takeout containers. The mystery guest turned, and Kim had to stop herself from gasping. She recognized him from pretty much every movie and television show she had watched in the past decade. His hair was going gray at the temples, but his sparkling blue eyes hadn’t lost any of their power. He smiled and Kim held out her hand to him. She couldn’t stop herself from gasping, “Nathan Worth.”
“What a coincidence,” he said. “That’s my name, too.” He smiled and shook her hand.
“Sorry. Uh, Kim Greer. What are you doing here?”
“As late as it is, it would probably be easier to just stay awake and catch cat naps in my trailer.”
“So you’re going to just lay there and watch me sleep?”
Marisa shrugged. “You got a better idea?”
“One or two.” Kim rolled onto her back and pulled Marisa onto her.
***
Marisa did end up falling asleep shortly before three in the morning. Kim held her, listening to the quiet sounds of her breathing. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness of the guest house. The bedroom was part of a larger space, with a living room across from the bed and a kitchen along the north wall between them. Marisa murmured and pressed herself tighter against Kim, and she turned her head into the hollow of Kim’s shoulder. Kim stroked her hair, now dry after their tryst in the water, and got used to the feeling of having a woman in her arms again.
In ten months since her last partner, she got used to sleeping alone. She even told herself she preferred it. She touched Marisa’s back and brushed her fingers down her curves. If she had to share a bed for the rest of her life, if she had to learn to deal with stolen covers and never again got to sprawl, she felt it was a good trade off. A wonderful trade off.
“Kim... Kim.”
“What is it, baby?” Kim asked.
Marisa sighed, shifted against Kim, and settled back to sleep.
Kim smiled, realized that Marisa had been talking in her sleep. She kissed the top of Marisa’s head. “I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”
***
“Marisa,” Kim whispered. She ran her hand along Marisa’s upper arm until Marisa’s eyelids fluttered and she slowly woke. She focused on Kim and, after a moment of confusion, smiled sleepily. “Hey. Sorry. It’s almost five.”
“Oh,” Marisa rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand and said, “I guess I fell asleep after all. Sorry.”
Kim smiled. “You were pretty exhausted.”
Marisa chuckled and pulled away from Kim. “God. I really should have just stayed awake.” She put her hand on Kim’s thigh, rubbing it through the blanket. “I probably would have enjoyed it more.” She groaned, pushed her hair out of her face, and said, “I have to be at the studio in half an hour. Damn.”
“Want me to call in sick for you?”
Marisa chuckled and stepped out of the bed. She opened the closet door and pulled out a robe, putting it on as she walked around the foot of the bed. She left it hanging open, her body on full display in the dim light. Kim hungrily took in the sight, letting her eyes linger on the important spots. Marisa said, “There’s a shower through there... I’m going to get started on breakfast. Come on in once you’re presentable.”
Kim looked down at her body, draped in the blanket with one naked leg stretching out toward the edge of the mattress. “This isn’t presentable?”
Marisa picked up Kim’s foot, kissed the ball, and let it drop. “Andrew may be there. So as much as I like the idea of drinking milk off your naked stomach...”
“Tease.”
“How do you take your eggs?”
“Over easy. Lots of toast.”
Marisa nodded. “I think I can handle that.” She stopped at the door. “Kim, last night was...” She bit her bottom lip and looked at the floor. After a moment, she said, “Last night was really special for me. It was something I had given up on. Thank you.”
“And all I get in return is eggs?”
Marisa laughed and grabbed Kim’s foot, giving it a shake. “Hey, come on. I’m pouring out my heart here.”
Kim pulled her foot from Marisa’s grip and climbed out of bed. She cupped Marisa’s face in her hands, kissed the corners of her mouth, and then embraced her. She pressed her face into Marisa’s hair and said, “I love you. I think I have since the moment I first saw you.”
Marisa laced her fingers together in the small of Kim’s back, pulled her close, and put her face against Kim’s shoulder.
“Marisa? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. No one’s ever said that to me before in real life.”
Kim smiled. She lifted Marisa’s head, kissed away a rolling tear, and then kissed her lips. “Go make me eggs and I’ll tell you again.”
Marisa smiled.
They parted with a reluctant sliding of limbs, Kim’s hands brushing the silk that didn’t feel half as luxurious as Marisa’s skin. Kim went into the bathroom, and Marisa left the guesthouse to start on breakfast. Kim leaned into the shower stall, turned on the hot water, and went to the mirror to wait for the water to heat up. She bent down to get a towel from under the sink and, as she rose, caught her reflection in the mirror. The bleary look in her eyes countered by the stupid grin on her face. She chuckled at herself, draped the towel over the rod, and climbed into the shower stall.
***
The walk of shame wasn’t that shameful, Kim thought, wearing the same clothes as the night before as she crossed the lawn. The sun wasn’t high enough to top the buildings, but its glow was spread all across the eastern sky. She carried her boots in her left hand, her feet sinking into the cool, dewy grass as she went to the back door of the house. She wiped her feet on the mat provided and went inside.
Andrew was in the kitchen when she came in, standing by the stove. He said, “Hey, Mar, are these eggs for...” He froze when he saw who it was, eyes wide and mouth hanging open for a moment. “Oh.”
“Uh, hey.”
Kim looked frantically for Marisa, for evidence that she had been invited. She chose that moment to appear, coming down the stairs in a scoop neck white blouse and tights. She had put her hair up, a few tendrils hanging down around her face and shoulders as she took the stairs two at a time. She saw Kim, smiled, and then noticed Andrew standing in the kitchen. She hesitated on the bottom step and said, “Oh. Drew.”
“I knew you spent the night in the guest house,” Andrew said, “but I had no idea you had company.”
“Didn’t know I had to consult you.” Marisa brushed Kim’s arm as she passed, going into the kitchen to check their eggs. Andrew was still looking at Kim, grinning like a fool. “Next time I’ll hang a tie on the door or something.”
“Next time?” Andrew said, still looking at Kim with an expression of shock and happiness.
Marisa glared at the back of his head. “Don’t you have to be at work?”
“Huh-uh.” He crossed his hands over his chest and leaned against the counter. “So this little thing is going full steam ahead, huh?”
Marisa transferred the eggs to a plate, grabbed the back of Andrew’s belt, and hauled him backward. He stumbled, and Marisa took his place at the counter. She put the plate down in front of Kim and turned so Andrew was out of her line of sight.
“I just got a call from Solomon. He needs me there bright and early, so I’m going to have to abandon you.”
“That’s fine.” Kim started to slip off the stool. “I can skip--”
“No, go ahead and eat your eggs. I’ll call you tonight, okay?”
Kim nodded. Marisa leaned across the counter and kissed Kim on the lips. It wasn’t overtly passionate, but the meaning behind the kiss made it stronger, better. She retreated, whispered, “Thank you,” and backed slowly away from the counter. Andrew was carefully reading a takeout menu off the fridge, ignoring Marisa when she passed. Kim heard her hiss, “Leave her alone,” before she disappeared into the entry hall.
When the front door closed, Kim felt alone for the first time in twelve hours. It was not a welcome feeling.
Andrew slowly made his way over to her. He struck an incredibly casual pose and tilted his head at a totally casual angle. “So...” His tone was not convincingly casual at all.
She poked at her eggs with a fork. “I’m not sure Marisa wants me to kiss and tell.”
He held up his hands in an insincere surrender. “Okay. Okay. But be... careful. This isn’t a fling, some little...”
“No.” There was no hesitation in her voice, because there was no doubt that she was in this for the long haul. “Not even a question.”
Andrew nodded. “I don’t want to tell stories out of school, and it’s not my place to tell you this. But it’s been a long time since Marisa trusted herself with anyone. I’m still a little gobsmacked that you’re here. Was she okay last night?”
“Seemed fine,” Kim said, suddenly tense.
“Okay. Well... Just be careful with her. She’s been in a fragile state for a long time.”
Kim said, “She told me it had been a while, but I just thought... I thought she was like me. In a dry spell.”
Andrew shrugged. “You could say that.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and said, “I’m going to be upstairs online. You can let yourself out whenever you’re ready to go.” He put his hand on top of hers. “I saw the two of you at the party the other night. And the way she’s been since she met you. Kim said this, Kim does that, Kim has the coolest jacket. Frankly, I’m a little sick of hearing your name around this place.” She laughed and he winked. “Keep that up and I think... I think you might be very good for her.”
Kim nodded. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do you know which jacket she was talking about?”
He laughed. “Sorry, kid. You’ll have to ask her.”
“I’ll do that.”
He wished her a good morning and went upstairs, leaving her alone. She looked down at her eggs, wondering what had happened to Marisa in the past and how she could help her get past it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Donny, the part-time clerk Mabel hired to fill in when she had to be away from the store, was at the counter when Kim got home. She flashed him a friendly smile and fled up the stairs, counting her blessings that she wouldn’t have to explain to Mabel why she was just getting home and why she was still wearing the same outfit as the night before. She undressed in her apartment and took a long shower, unable to stop her brain from replaying scenes from the night before. She was fairly sure she and Marisa had made love in their sleep a few times; half-awake movements, awakening briefly to quiet grunts and a body on top of her... it made her shiver.
Kim washed her hair a few times, making sure she had gotten all the chlorine out in Marisa’s shower, and wrapped herself in a towel before she went back out into the living room. She sat on the window seat and looked out at the city. She smiled, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She wasn’t sure what she was crying about, but as long as they were happy tears she didn’t mind. She rested her head against the wall and let the tears come.
She didn’t fall in love. She never allowed herself to. There was just too much at stake on both sides for a relationship to be anything but a fling. But somehow, long before she ever clung to Marisa in the pool, they had gone far beyond fling. Marisa’s touch was electric, the feel of her breath on Kim’s neck sent every synapse into overdrive. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. And the sex... she still could barely believe she’d had sex with Marisa.
Andrew’s advice was wholly unnecessary. She was going to do everything in her power to show Marisa how much she was loved. If she got even a fraction of that in return, she wasn’t going anywhere.
***
Break had knocked on the apartment door with his foot, his hands occupied by the cooler full of beer. Kim stepped aside to let him in, but made no move to help him carry it. “Thought maybe if I got you liquored up I would... fare better.” He frowned at her as he walked into the apartment.
“Keep dreaming, Break. What’s with the sour puss?”
“Nothing.” He put the beer on the counter between the living room and the kitchen, then turned and looked at her. “Did you get laid?”
Kim’s eyes widened and she said, “What are you talking about?”
“You look different. You either got laid or you’re already drunk.”
“I’m already drunk.”
Break smiled widely, showing teeth. “Now I know for sure. Who was it? Tell me you didn’t hop back on the Tina wagon. Please, Kim.”
Kim rolled her eyes. “I haven’t spoken to Tina in eight months.”
“You broke up ten months ago.”
“Who are you, Columbo? Let it go, Break.”
Pluto knocked on the open front door. “Is this a private party, or can anyone join?”
“Come in here.” Break nodded at Kim. “Little Kim got laid.”
Kim swung at Break and hit his shoulder.
“You’re kidding,” Pluto said. “Was it--”
“Someone who is in the closet,” Kim said, cutting him off before he could say a name.
Pluto bit down on his next words, nodded, and slapped Kim on the back. “Good for you, kid. I’m happy for you.”
“I’d be happy for you, too,” Break said, exploring her kitchen for food. “If I knew who the hell it was. Come on, Kim, spill.”
Kim said, “I can’t betray her confidence, Break. Sorry. She’s going to stay in the closet until she’s ready to come out.”
Break dropped into a seat and put his feet up on the table. “Gonna drive me bonkers.”
Lincoln arrived a few minutes later with bags of chips, and Break forgot all about Kim’s conquest as he tore into them.
Kim went into the kitchen, and Pluto followed her. He tapped her on the shoulder and, keeping his voice low, said, “The woman we spoke about?”
“Yeah,” Kim said, her lips inadvertently spreading into a smile.
Pluto smiled. “Good for you, little girl.” Kim blushed and handed him a bowl for the chips, still smiling. He looked at her smile and raised an eyebrow. “Wow. You may want to try keeping that goofy look under control. You’ll lose your reputation as a badass.”
“Either that or you guys will never know whether or not I have a good hand.”
“Trust me, your poker face is inscrutable as it is.” He took a bottle of beer, toasted her and went back into the living room. Kim forced her smile down, and followed Pluto out to the table.
***
“Come on, Jonas, we don’t have all night here,” Kim said, staring at her cards as Jonas played with his chips.
“What’s the rush, you got a hot date or something?”
“Well, actually,” Break said.
Kim said, “Shut up, Break.” He snickered and fanned his cards out again, having already bet. She sighed and picked up her cell phone to check the time. As soon as she picked it up, the phone vibrated with an incoming call. The unofficial rule was that no cell phones calls were taken at the table, but seeing Marisa’s number pop up made her throw the rule out. It was her house, after all, and her game. She dropped her cards and stood up. “I’m out.”
“Ahh, speak of the devil. The mystery woman,” Break said.
Kim ignored him and waited until she was at the window seat to answer. She lowered her voice so the guys wouldn’t overhear, and flipped the phone open. “Hey. What’s up?”
“Hi. Can you talk?”
“Not freely.” Kim looked at the reflection of the poker game in the window. Break was trying his best to act like he wasn’t watching her. “I’ve been thinking about you today.”
“No wonder my ears were burning. Listen, I won’t keep you long, but I wanted to know if you’d done anything for dinner.”
Kim thought back to the sandwich she ate before the game. “No, not really.”
“You could come over and have dinner with me and Andrew, if you’d like. I’m just leaving Transom right now, so give me a few minutes to call for Chinese...”
“Sounds great,” Kim said. “Get me anything with chicken and broccoli, lots of rice. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
“I’ll see you then.”
Kim hung up and went back inside. “Guys, I’m going to have to duck out early tonight.”
“Whoa, hey...” Break said. “Tradition. You can’t just walk out on a game.”
“It’s fine by me.” Jonas tossed his cards down and crossed his arms. “Probably be cheaper for me in the long run.”
“Pluto,” Kim said, “I’m leaving you in charge. Make sure the place is locked up and everything is just this side of a war zone.”
He nodded. “Where are you going all of a sudden?”
“Dinner.” Kim ducked into the bedroom before she could hear their jokes. Let them mock. It was just one of the many things she was willing to put up with for having Marisa in her life.
***
Kim arrived to find Marisa’s driveway was almost full of cars; the Prius, a red sports car she assumed was Andrew’s, and another black SUV with the back sticking out into the street. She parked next to it and peered in the window as she walked to the door, trying to guess who it belonged to. She knocked on the door and it was answered quickly enough that she assumed Marisa was standing on the other side watching for her. She had already changed into faded blue jeans and a college sweatshirt, wearing glasses instead of contacts. “Kim.”
Kim hesitated, unsure of the etiquette. Were they allowed to kiss on the front porch? Were the neighbors trustworthy? Marisa solved the problem for her by kissing her on the cheek and pulling her into an embrace. “Glad you’re here. Sorry I’m so frumpy.”
“You look beautiful,” Kim said. “Rocking the Clark Kent look again. I like it.”
Marisa smiled and slid her hand down to Kim’s. She guided Kim into the house and shut the door behind her.
Andrew and another man were in the kitchen, standing over a group of Chinese takeout containers. The mystery guest turned, and Kim had to stop herself from gasping. She recognized him from pretty much every movie and television show she had watched in the past decade. His hair was going gray at the temples, but his sparkling blue eyes hadn’t lost any of their power. He smiled and Kim held out her hand to him. She couldn’t stop herself from gasping, “Nathan Worth.”
“What a coincidence,” he said. “That’s my name, too.” He smiled and shook her hand.
“Sorry. Uh, Kim Greer. What are you doing here?”
