Mindy slid her hand over Shayna’s skin and over her bra, running the heel of her palm over Shayna’s nipples over and over until she could feel them standing up even through the dense fabric. Then she unbuttoned and unzipped Shayna’s jeans and yanked them, together with her underwear, down past her hips.
“Mindy,” Shayna whispered as Mindy lightly stroked her thighs. “How do you do this to me?”
“I know what you like.” Mindy laid open-mouthed, wet kisses up Shayna’s thigh, moving closer and closer toward her center until she cried out, writhing.
“Mindy, please!”
Mindy breathed hard on Shayna’s vulva, liking the way she squirmed, liking the way her breathing sped up. Then she pushed a finger inside her and curled it, finding the sensitive spot inside, at the same time as she found the most sensitive spot outside with her lips.
She took her time, teasing and withdrawing until Shayna was screaming her name. She knew she had things to do, knew she had a deadline, but she couldn’t tear herself away from this gorgeous, lush woman, the woman she loved.
Finally, the sound of Shayna’s begging echoing in her ears, she allowed her to finish, then sat up, sucking Shayna’s juices off her fingers. Shayna lay still, panting, for a moment, then reached up and grabbed Mindy by the shoulder. She hauled her down and kissed her hard.
“You’re so amazing,” Shayna said breathlessly. “Even when I’m mad at you, I want you.”
“Are you mad at me now?” Mindy rubbed her nose against Shayna’s.
“No. Not right now.” Shayna kissed Mindy softly, then harder and harder, pulling her tight against her body. Mindy allowed herself to melt into Shayna’s body, to let time pass without worry, to bask in the pleasure of Shayna.
Finally, they rested, then sat up, allowing Shayna to readjust her clothing. “We should talk now,” she said, buttoning her jeans.
“Oh, I see how it is.” Mindy gave her a teasing nudge. “You only talk to me if I make you come first.”
Shayna swatted her on the shoulder. “I’m relaxed now. This is as good a time as any.”
Mindy put her arms around Shayna, resting her chin on her shoulder. “If it’s just going to upset you, we don’t have to talk. We don’t have to talk until you’re ready. But when you’re ready… I guess we have to talk.”
Shayna smiled. “If I’m not ready now, I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready, and I don’t want to keep putting this off. I love you, and I want to be with you, but this isn’t going to work out so well if we can’t have a conversation about money.”
Mindy sat up. “You’re right. Okay, this is a good start. Is it really about money?”
“I think so?” Shayna fidgeted, looking around as though seeking something to pick up and not finding it. “I do feel like if I rely on you for money at all, that will just push us apart.”
“And I feel like that’s a really depressing way to look at the world.”
Shayna looked up and into Mindy’s eyes. “Maybe it is, but that doesn’t change the way I see things. I’m a selfish bitch, Mindy, and—”
“You are not,” Mindy interrupted her.
Shayna smiled. “Okay, I’m just a selfish JAP, then. I grew up with money, all the money I could have wanted whenever I wanted it, and anything I could want that could be bought with money. I still have that.”
“I get that,” Mindy said, resisting the urge to argue with Shayna about being a JAP again—that would just get them off the important topic. “I never wanted for money growing up, either.”
“But you had to get a job to put yourself through college,” Shayna said. “You learned the value of hard work.”
“And you didn’t? Look at you on the derby track.”
Shayna shrugged. “Derby is different. I can’t get there with money. I think that’s one of the reasons I like it. Anyway, you didn’t see me making the all-star team, did you?”
“No, but—”
It was Shayna’s turn to interrupt her. “I didn’t work hard enough, Mindy. I knew I didn’t, and that’s why I was upset, but not totally heartbroken, when I didn’t make the team.”
Mindy shook her head. “Okay. I guess I won’t argue with you there.”
Shayna grinned. “Look at us, having a productive conversation about money and not getting mad at each other at all.”
Mindy couldn’t help smiling back, and she put her hand over Shayna’s on the couch. “But what are we producing? I don’t want to harass you about moving in, but I really would love to have you here, and it would solve some of our problems. If it’s about the apartment, we could move to a different place, a place that’s just ours.”
Shayna shook her head quickly. “It’s not the apartment. I love your place. Haven’t I said that before? It’s so you. It might not be the fanciest place in the fanciest neighborhood, but you’ve made it a home.”
“Well, good. Because I really love my apartment and I wouldn’t want to leave. But I would for you, if that’s what you needed.”
“It’s not what I need.” Shayna turned her hand over so they were palm to palm. “I think what I need is time. I’m just scared.”
Mindy sighed. “I love you, Shayna. There’s nothing to be scared of.”
“I know.” Shayna nodded, biting her lip. “I know, I believe you, but I’m scared that I’m wrong about you. You seem too good to be true.”
Mindy laughed. “Me? I don’t cook and I have a big noisy family and I ignore you for hours at a time while I’m working.”
Shayna leaned forward and kissed her softly. “And all of those things are part of what makes you wonderful. In addition to the way you give me all your attention when you can give me attention, the way you and that noisy family accept me unconditionally, and the way you turn me on so hard I can’t control myself.”
“You do make me sound pretty good.” Mindy thought she might be blushing.
Shayna laughed. “You are amazing. I’m the one that’s messed up.”
“You’re perfect,” Mindy said fervently. “You deal with my crap and you push me when I need to be pushed and you’re so smart and you have this incredibly gorgeous smile. And these incredibly gorgeous tits.”
Shayna snorted with laughter. “But I won’t move in with you.”
“I wouldn’t want you to move in with me if you weren’t so perfect.”
“But you’re okay with waiting?”
“If that’s what you need.” Mindy shook her head. “I admit, it doesn’t really make sense to me. You hate relying on your parents, so what you need is a way to stop relying on them.”
Shayna nodded. “I know. But I don’t think that relying on you instead is the way to go forward. I need to find a way to not rely on anyone before I can feel comfortable enough to live with you. Otherwise, I feel like I’d always be holding part of myself back. Does that make sense?”
“I guess so. Do you feel like you’re holding part of yourself back now?”
“No. Not deliberately. But much as I don’t like the way I’m living now, I’m still used to it. Change is hard, you know?”
“I know.” Mindy squeezed her hand. “I guess it is selfish of me to want you to move in here, so that I have to change as little as possible.”
“Yeah. But we already talked about that.” Shayna smiled. “And since we’re just rehashing ground we’ve been over already, I think it’s time for me to let you get back to work. I’ve taken up enough of your time.”
“Are you sure, sweetie? I can keep talking to you forever. I never get tired of it.” Mindy did want to get back to work—she felt alive with creative energy—but it was so hard to get up off this couch, let go of Shayna’s hand, stop gazing into her beautiful brown eyes.
“I’m sure.” Shayna stood up first, taking her hand out from under Mindy’s, making Mindy stand reluctantly as well. “You said you had a lot of work to do. I have a very strong suspicion that every minute we spend talking is not one less minute for you to work, but actually one less minut
e for you to sleep.”
Mindy laughed. “You may be right about that.”
“See? I know you. And I’m going to drag you out of bed in the morning no matter what, because I forgot to buy flour, so unless you bought ingredients in the last three days, I want to go out for breakfast somewhere.”
“I don’t think I have anything besides carrots, pretzels, and coffee in the house right now,” Mindy admitted. “But I know the perfect place to go for breakfast.” The bakery where she’d worked to put herself through college was only a couple of blocks away—she knew Shayna would love it. She could get her carb fix and Mindy could show her off, since she hadn’t been to the bakery since before they started dating.
“Wonderful. Go.” Shayna gave Mindy a little push. “I’ll finish my fortune cookie and clean up. You get drawing.”
Mindy bent and gave her a hard kiss. “You are the absolute best.” Then she went to her desk, got her headphones on, and went to work.
Chapter 22
Mindy got so into her work that she ended up staying awake into the wee hours again. When she reached her bed, Shayna was already in there, asleep, so warm and snuggly in her pajamas that Mindy lay down, put one arm around her, and fell asleep instantly.
She didn’t wake or dream until the smell of coffee assaulted her nose once again; she sat up to find that Shayna was already dressed and sitting on the bed, holding a cup of coffee out toward her. “You promised to take me out to breakfast,” she said, “and it’s already eight-thirty.”
Mindy wanted to groan and grumble at the early hour, but even though she hadn’t gotten that much sleep, her girlfriend was like a heavenly angel with her beautiful face and her incredible coffee. So instead she smiled, said “You’re the best” again, and drank some coffee.
“Okay,” she said when she was a little more awake. “Let me get dressed.”
“You are perfectly free to get dressed,” Shayna said, grinning at her.
Mindy leaned forward and kissed her. “Thank you.”
She got up, put on the nearest clothes, and combed her hair for a few strokes before deciding that it was a lost cause without conditioner. She could go to the bakery with a bird’s nest for hair—no one there would judge her.
She grabbed her coffee and tilted her head back to finish the cup. “Ready to go?”
“I hope this is good,” Shayna said, taking both coffee cups and carrying them to the kitchen.
“I don’t promise to blow you away,” Mindy said. “Just to feed you and maybe to introduce you to a few people.” She got her coat and held out Shayna’s to her.
“Okay,” Shayna said, raising her eyebrows, but she put on her coat and didn’t ask any more questions.
The morning was dim and gray, or maybe Mindy just wasn’t used to being up this early. It wasn’t freezing, though, so that was a bonus as they quickly walked the few grimy, industrial blocks to the bakery. Mindy was sure Shayna couldn’t be impressed with the neighborhood; once spring arrived, she would take her to the park, which was only a few blocks in the other direction.
“Here we are,” Mindy announced at the bakery door. She held it open for Shayna. “Enjoy.”
Shayna took a deep breath as they entered; Mindy couldn’t help doing the same, even though the warm, moist air made her hair frizz up and she had, as she’d told Shayna, been unable to stand the smell of bagels for years after working here. She’d gotten over it—the smell of fresh yeast made her think food again, not sweat.
“Mindy, shayna!” cried the heavyset, middle-aged redhead behind the counter—Ruth, who’d been Mindy’s boss for three years. “You don’t even call for months, and suddenly you show up when we have nothing for you?”
Mindy laughed. “Out of food today, are you? So sorry to hear that. We’ll come back another time, then.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Ruth came around the counter and gave Mindy a hug. “And who’s the shayna maidele?”
Looking utterly confused, Shayna blurted out, “You already know my name.”
This unforeseen development made Mindy laugh so hard she was gasping and both Ruth and Shayna were staring at her like she’d grown an extra head. When she could calm herself down, she finally said, “Ruth, this is my girlfriend, Shayna. Yes, that is actually her name. Shayna, this is Ruth, who used to be my boss. I told you about the bakery I used to work at when I was in college? This is it.”
Ruth gave Shayna another big hug, to which Shayna responded with a tentative pat on her arm. “This is where you worked? I thought you hated it.”
“I don’t hate the bakery. Just working in the kitchen.”
“Look at you,” Ruth said, patting Shayna on the cheek. “So pretty. A good match for our Mindy, not like that Hannah. She had no patience.”
Mindy rolled her eyes. “Can you not compare my current girlfriend to my ex?” Her hand found Shayna’s, and she gripped her fingers.
Shayna grinned. “I don’t know, I like being compared favorably, and told I’m pretty, of course. I don’t know that I have all that much patience, though.”
“Are you kidding?” Mindy looked at her. “You’re like an angel with me.”
“An angel for our little angel, of course. Larry, come out here! Mindy is here and she’s brought her girlfriend. Mindy, did you want food or did you just come to say hi?”
“Shayna needs breakfast. I was thinking bagels and cream cheese. Unless you want a pastry, Shayna?”
Shayna shook her head. “A bagel sounds perfect.”
Mindy paid and Ruth went back behind the counter to get their bagels. The shop’s owner, Larry, came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. He beamed at Mindy, the happy expression transforming his round, greasy-haired face. “Good to see you again, Mindy. Life treating you well?”
“Very well, thanks, Larry.” Mindy squeezed Shayna’s hand. Shayna squeezed back.
“Not too well, I hope,” Ruth said, handing over the two bagels, each on a plate with a healthy dollop of cream cheese on the side. “If we’re lucky, you’ll come back here.”
“It just hasn’t been the same since you left,” Larry said, nodding. “Our last assistant, Richie, we had to fire him. He stole sixty dollars from the cash register.”
“I think he was smoking dope,” Ruth said in a stage whisper as she handed Mindy two plastic knives.
Mindy gestured for Shayna to join her at one of the small tables. The heavy chairs scraped loudly in the small shop as she and Shayna pulled them out; most of the time, the line was too long to sit at the tables and have a conversation with the people at the counter, but they seemed to have arrived between rushes.
“Do you not have an assistant, then?” Mindy asked, spreading cream cheese thickly on her bagel. “I thought it was just the two of you for a slow Sunday.”
“We have nobody.” Larry shook his head ponderously. “I’m spending all my time baking, we don’t have time to interview anybody.”
“I put an ad on Craig’s List, but Craig didn’t find us anybody,” Ruth said.
Mindy held back laughter, catching Shayna’s eye, but Shayna wasn’t looking at her. Instead, she was staring fixedly at Ruth, only a single bite taken out of her bagel. “Do you do all your baking here?”
“Of course,” Ruth said. “In at four in the morning to bake everything fresh. Young people don’t want to get up early these days.”
“I don’t mind getting up early,” Shayna said.
Mindy stared at her. Then her eyes widened. “Of course!”
“Of course what?” Larry said.
“You’re coming back to work with us again?” Ruth said hopefully.
“No, but Shayna can. You’ll teach her all the baking skills and she’ll be a pretty face for up front.”
“All the boys would come to look at that face. Not like my face.” Ruth laughed.
“Are you a hard worker, Shayna?” Larry asked.
“The hardest worker I know,” Mindy said. Shayna was looking petrified.
“This is perfect,” Mindy said quietly back. “You want to learn to bake, right? They do cupcakes, too.” She pointed to a glass display case that held cake, cupcakes, and some early hamantaschen for Purim next month. “And aren’t these bagels great?”
“These bagels are amazing,” Shayna said.
“You can take home some of what we don’t sell,” Ruth said.
“See? We’ll save money on food, too.”
“I…” Shayna took a deep breath. “It just sounds too good to be true.”
“It’s hard work,” Larry said.
“We’ll give you a trial period,” Ruth said. “You can work here for a week on lower pay, and if any of us hates it, you can go back to your old job. You can take a week’s vacation, can’t you?”
“And so what if it doesn’t work out?” Mindy said. “You’re a hard worker. You can always find a good job.”
Shayna shook her head. “Why would you hire me? You don’t know me. This isn’t a real interview—you haven’t even seen my résumé.”
“Well, that’s the benefit of being a family business.” Larry smiled again. “When your workers are family, you can turn their family into family, too. I’ve got to go back in the kitchen—Ruth, you figure things out with miss… Shayna?”
“Shayna Wechsler,” Shayna said. “Thank you, sir.”
“No sir,” Larry said, waving his hand over his shoulder as he headed back to the kitchen. “You call me Larry.”
Mindy polished off her bagel. “So how much warning do you need to take a week off from your job, Shayna?”
“Uh, I’m not sure. Can I get back to you, Ruth?”
“Get back to me soon,” Ruth said. “We need an assistant. Remember, four in the morning, six days a week. I don’t know how you keep the Sabbath, but we’re closed then.”
Shayna nodded. “That sounds really perfect. Mindy, are you ready to go?”
“Sure. See you later, Ruth.”
“Be well, shayna! And Shayna!” Ruth laughed as she waved them out of the bakery.
“Are they a couple?” Shayna asked as they walked back down the street.
Head Over Wheels Page 18
