More Than a Song
Page 23
“Anything.”
A twinkle appeared in Liz’s eyes. “We will never ever own any C.J. James music.”
Dani laughed. “Okay, okay. That’s a reasonable request.”
“The woman wrote a song about you. I mean, how can I compete with that?”
“You don’t have to compete, because there’s no competition.” She leaned in and gave Liz a soft kiss, a reconnection to what they shared after the time spent apart. She pulled back and caressed Liz’s cheek. “Don’t you know our love means so much more than a song?”
As the words left Dani’s lips, tears welled in Liz’s eyes. A low rumble of thunder sounded above, and a gentle rain began to fall. The sun pierced the clouds with heart-stopping clarity, and a rainbow dropped down into the lake before them. Dani stared at Liz’s face glistening with tears and rainwater, and she was overcome with Liz’s beauty. Liz met Dani’s gaze and smiled.
Just as on the first day they met, Liz’s eyes whispered to her of hope and promise for the days ahead. Caught up in the joy that drummed a staccato beat inside her chest, Dani smiled back and pulled Liz close for another kiss.
This time... this time Dani would hold onto that promise and never let it go.
Photo credit: Phyllis Manfredi
Author Chris Paynter with Buddy the Wonder Dog, June 2013
About the Author
Chris Paynter is the author of eight novels, including the Playing for First baseball series. Her Survived by Her Longtime Companion was a 2013 Lambda Literary Award Finalist and winner of the 2013 Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award. Her short stories have appeared in Regal Crest’s Women in Uniform: Medics and Soldiers and Cops, Oh My! (2010) and Cleis Press’s Love Burns Bright: A Lifetime of Lesbian Romance (2013). After earning a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, Chris worked as a general assignment reporter and sportswriter until accepting her current position as the editorial specialist to a law journal. A sports junkie, you can find her screaming at the TV during a Colts game or living vicariously through her Cincinnati Reds. When not writing or editing books, Chris loves to get lost in a good romance. She resides in Indianapolis with her wonderful wife, Phyllis.
Visit her website: www.ckpaynter.com
Email her at: ckpaynter@ckpaynter.com
Visit her Author Page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChrisPaynterAuthor
Find her on Twitter: @ckpaynter
If you enjoyed the characters of Erin and Corey in More Than a Song, be sure and check out their story in And a Time to Dance (2013) from Companion Publications...
They parked in the lot at the dude ranch and followed couples strolling hand in hand to the corrals in the back. Overhead lights draped over a stage set up to the rear. To their right, several long tables overflowed with buckets of iced beer and bottled water for those not inclined to drink alcohol.
“If I remember right, you like Coors.” Erin reached in a bucket and lifted out an ice-cold bottle dripping with water. She handed it to Corey and grabbed one for herself.
The band played the open notes of a fast country tune, and couples took to the dirt dance floor.
Erin challenged her. “Ready?”
Corey grimaced and held up her bottle. “Can I at least down this to get some courage?”
“Then no backing out, ya hear?”
“Oh, I hear all right.” Corey sipped her beer as she watched the dancers.
Erin watched, too, tapping her toe to the beat. By the time the song ended, Corey had finished her beer.
“Nervous?” Erin asked, with a smile.
Corey opened her mouth to answer when something behind Erin caught her attention.
“Erin, how are you?”
Erin turned to see Lee ambling over. She was wearing a short jeans skirt with a denim shirt tied at the bottom over a white ribbed top. Her full breasts filled out the top, showing plenty of cleavage. She wore her cowboy hat low, cloaking her face in shadow.
“Lee. Hi.”
Lee raised her chin at Corey. “What was your name again?”
“Corey,” she answered with an even voice.
The two women stared at each other like gunslingers ready to draw their six-shooters in the middle of town.
“Corey and I were about to dance. She’s never two-stepped before.”
“Why don’t you and I show her how it’s done, Erin?”
Erin was about to protest, but Corey silenced any refusal. “I’ll wait, Erin. Go ahead.”
Lee didn’t need any more incentive. She grabbed Erin by the hand and pulled her toward the center of the dance area.
“You know, you were kind of rude,” Erin said as the music started.
“She’s a big girl. Besides, she needs to let two pros show her the moves.”
Erin didn’t say anything as she concentrated on following Lee’s lead. She had to give Lee this much. She was good. Erin got lost in the music, not paying much attention to who she was dancing with. She searched for Corey who had drifted into the shadows. She seemed to be following their every move. Erin couldn’t tell if she was concentrating on getting the steps down or if it was something else.
The song ended, and the band quickly started on the next.
“How about another go?” Lee asked.
“No, I promised Corey I’d show her how to two-step.” Erin pulled out of her embrace and walked toward Corey. “Got your courage up yet?”
Corey set her beer on a nearby table. “One-and-a-half beers gave me enough gumption.”
Erin held out her left hand and Corey took it. She placed her other hand loosely on Corey’s shoulder.
“Since I’ll be leading, put your left hand on my arm here. You’ll be able to feel which direction I’m headed when I squeeze your other hand.”
“Okay.” Corey lifted her head and gave a small sniff. “I smell lilacs.”
“Uh... that’s my perfume.”
“Good. I mean it smells good.”
“Thanks. Did you catch on any to the dancing?” Erin asked in a rush.
“Not much.”
“First of all, don’t let the experienced dancers scare you.” She nodded toward couples doing fast spins around the dance floor. “I’ll teach you the basics. Watch my feet at first. I’ll lead. It’s two quick steps forward. That’s two quick steps back for you.” She moved forward. “And then two slow steps. The beat is quick-quick-slowslow, quick-quick-slow-slow.”
Corey’s brow furrowed, and the tip of her tongue stuck out of the side of her mouth.
God, she’s adorable, Erin thought as they moved haltingly with the other dancers. Corey uttered an occasional “damn it” when her steps faltered.
“Now, don’t look at our feet,” Erin said.
“Are you crazy? If not, I’ll fall on my ass.”
“No you won’t. Trust me. Raise your head and focus on me.”
Corey met her eyes as another fast song drifted through the night air. The face lined in concentration had slipped away, and a much more heated expression had replaced it. This time, Erin stumbled. She quickly righted her steps.
They moved now with a smoother gait, almost as if they’d been dancing together for years. The music ended, and they stopped as the band led into a slow song. A lot of the couples left the dance floor. Erin still held Corey’s right hand in her left with her other hand on Corey’s shoulder.
Without thinking, she drew Corey closer and dropped her hand around Corey’s waist. They swayed gently to the mournful country ballad. Eventually, Erin rested her cheek against Corey’s. Corey trembled at the move. Erin wanted the song to last forever but had to settle for a few minutes of bliss in Corey’s arms.
She reluctantly withdrew from the embrace when the song ended. “That was... nice.”
“It was,” Corey said in a soft voice. She shook her head slightly as if to regain her composure. “Do you mind if I sit the next one out? Lee’s coming this way. I think she’ll want to dance with you again.”
Erin was about to say she didn’t wa
nt to dance with another woman, but Corey had already drifted from under the overhead lights and into the darkness.
Make sure to check out these other Companion Publications titles by Chris Paynter:
From Third to Home.....978-1-942204-13-8
To Love Free.....978-1-942204-11-4
And a Time to Dance.....978-1-942204-10-7
Survived by Her Longtime Companion.....978-1-942204-08-4
Two for the Show.....978-1-942204-06-0
Come Back to Me.....978-1-942204-04-6
Playing for First.....978-1-942204-02-2