Just a Touch Away

by Chris Paynter

  “This is nice.” Lindsey raised her head. “Look at those stars. It never ceases to amaze me how many are up there and how clear it is here.”

  Cloe couldn’t turn away from the look of wonder on Lindsey’s face, the beauty of her long eyelashes, her dark hair.

  Lindsey faced her. “You’re not checking out the stars.”

  Cloe’s voice sounded hoarse to her own ears. “No.” She cleared her throat. “I can’t take my eyes off you.” She couldn’t tell for sure, but Lindsey seemed to be blushing for the second time tonight.

  Lindsey reached for her hand and held it. Cloe felt the warmth. She felt safe. She knew she was falling fast for Lindsey. Without another thought, she stood and approached Lindsey. Lindsey gasped when Cloe straddled her lap, ran her fingers through Lindsey’s hair until she gripped it tight, and pulled Lindsey roughly to her, not hesitating to delve her tongue into Lindsey’s mouth.

  Lindsey gripped her hips and tugged Cloe flush against her, matching Cloe’s tongue, stroke for stroke. Cloe dipped her other hand inside Lindsey’s jacket and cradled Lindsey’s breast in the palm of her hand. She ran her thumb against her nipple until it hardened. Cloe thrust her hips forward to match each thrust of her tongue. Lindsey moaned and moved her hands from Cloe’s hips to take hold of her ass. She squeezed hard.

  Cloe was fast approaching the point of no return, and she sure as hell didn’t want her first time with Lindsey—with any woman ever—to be in a chair on her balcony. She yanked her mouth away with a groan and rested her forehead on Lindsey’s.

  “Jesus, Lindsey. Jesus.”

  Lindsey brushed Cloe’s hair off her face and leaned forward to press her lips to Cloe’s once, twice. “I didn’t start it, but God, I’d love to finish it.”

  Cloe choked out a shaky laugh. “I would apologize, but I’m not sorry.” She grazed Lindsey’s cheek with her index finger. “Who keeps saying she needs to wait until she’s sure?”

  Lindsey kissed the tip of Cloe’s nose. “That would be you.”

  “And why is that?” Cloe slowly rose shakily to her feet.

  Lindsey stood. “You have your reasons, and I respect them. I respect you.”

  “Could you maybe not respect me so much?”

  Lindsey laughed then sobered. “I want you to be sure, honey.”

  Cloe’s heart warmed at the softly spoken endearment. “God, could you be any sweeter?”

  “I wouldn’t say sweet. I’m struggling with my control here.” Lindsey held out her trembling hand.

  Cloe pulled her close and pressed her lips along Lindsey’s neck, along her chin, and to her mouth. “You’re perfect.” She held Lindsey’s gaze for a long time, marveling at the dark blue swirling in her eyes, caught in the inside light that trickled out from the open door. “I want it to be you, Lindsey. I want it to be you when the time is right.”

  Lindsey didn’t speak but gently cupped Cloe’s face in her hands and gave her a soft kiss. She stopped before it became any more passionate.

  After Cloe caught her breath, she said, “Are you ready to work on the book this week?”

  “Yes. Will it be okay if we work at the cabin?”

  “I can bring my supplies over there without a problem.”

  “How about we get started Monday?”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Well, I should go.” Lindsey leaned over and pressed her lips to Cloe’s cheek. “I enjoyed tonight, Cloe.”

  “It was perfect. Thank you for dinner.”

  Lindsey motioned to the sky. “Thank you for the stars.”

  Cloe laughed softly. “You’re welcome.”

  Lindsey walked down the stairs and to her Jeep. “Be careful going home,” Cloe called out. “Text me when you’re there.”

  Lindsey waved.

  Cloe waited until Lindsey was inside the Jeep and pulling away. Then she headed inside. She went to the bathroom and cleaned off her makeup. She entered her bedroom, quickly stripped down, and slipped on a nightshirt. After flipping on her fan, whose steady humming always seemed to calm her nerves, she slid under the sheet.

  About a half hour later, her cell phone chimed beside her bed. She picked it up and read the text.

  I’m home.

  She typed back, Thank you for letting me know. She watched the ellipsis, indicating Lindsey was writing.

  If I didn’t tell you, you looked stunning tonight.

  Cloe smiled. Charmer.

  It’s the truth.

  Thank you. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. . . in case you couldn’t tell. Stars? What stars? She included an open-eyed emoji.

  Lindsey typed back a laughing emoji.

  Sweet dreams, Cloe.

  They will be as long as you’re in them.

  Now who’s the charmer? Lindsey followed it with a smiley face. Come over whenever you’re up and about Monday.

  Cloe hesitated then added an emoji blowing a kiss. She breathed easier when Lindsey sent her one back.

  Chapter 14

  “Come on. You know how much you love to shop.” Paige pushed some dresses aside and pulled out one in her size.

  Cloe snorted. “I think you have me confused with your other best friend.”

  Paige had called her Saturday morning to see if she’d drive into Bloomington with her to shop for a new dress.

  “What do you think?” Paige held the emerald-green dress with capped sleeves against her body.

  “I think it goes great with your red hair.”

  Paige rolled her eyes. “Red hair. I hate the color of my hair. Ugh.” She shoved the dress in between the others.

  Cloe approached her and touched Paige’s hair. “Your hair is beautiful.”

  “Yeah? Why is it that everyone who doesn’t have red hair thinks that it’s beautiful?”

  “Because it is. I love the way the light catches the auburn streaks.” Paige had her hairdresser add subtle light-auburn highlights.

  “That’s it, isn’t it? It’s the highlights you like.” Paige moved to the next rack of dresses and pushed through them in jerking motions.

  Cloe stopped her movement. “You know me better than that. I love everything about you. The red, the highlights, your humor, your kindness.”

  Paige laughed, but it was without humor. “Maybe you’d want to date me then.” She swiped away a tear.

  Cloe pulled her to an out-of-the-way bench ensconced between racks of clothes. “Oh, sweetie. What happened?”

  “Renee. She doesn’t want to date anymore. Said she met someone at work, and she had more in common with her since she’s an attorney, too.”

  Cloe used her thumb to wipe away another tear. She glanced around them. They were still alone, but she’d feel better if they could go somewhere to talk in private, not in a clothing store where someone might walk up.

  “It’s her loss.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re my best friend. You’re supposed to say that.”

  Cloe stood and tugged Paige to her feet. “Let’s find somewhere else to talk.”

  Paige didn’t object as Cloe tucked her arm in the crook of her elbow and led her out of the store. They walked to Paige’s Sonata and got in.

  Paige turned to Cloe. “Where’d you have in mind?”

  “How about People’s Park on Kirkwood?”

  Paige pulled out of the mall parking lot and headed toward Kirkwood. She had to drive around a few minutes to find an open metered parking slot. After she parked, by unspoken agreement, they headed over to a bench.

  Cloe motioned for Paige to sit first. She sat beside her and said, “Tell me what’s going on, Paige.”

  Paige let out a big sigh. “We seemed to be getting on well. Remember? I told you we were headed for the sex date?”

  Cloe nodded.

  “Then this week, when we went out for dinner, she told me over a steak that she needed to break it off. That she was interested in this other attorney in her firm. I guess I should be glad I got one last dinner out of it.”

  �
�Well, shit. Why didn’t she go after her first?”

  “Apparently, this woman was with someone else and recently broke up with her. Renee saw it as her opportunity to pounce.” Paige’s shoulders slumped. “It’s like I was just a stand-in until this other chick was available.”

  Cloe gripped her hand. “Which means she wasn’t the right one for you.”

  Paige kicked a rock in front of the bench. Luckily, no one was walking nearby because the rock flew far with her violent kick. “I’m sick of being second choice.”

  Cloe didn’t say anything. She thought if she offered any platitudes, they’d sound lame and useless. Instead, she draped her arm around Paige’s shoulders. “You’ll find her.”

  “Her?”

  “The one.”

  Paige shook her head. “I thought Renee was the one. I’m beginning to think my original plan of going through women like flavors at a Baskin Robbins is the better way to go. At least it doesn’t hurt like this.”

  Cloe tried to lighten the mood. “You know, if we weren’t best friends, I’d do you in a heartbeat.”

  Paige stared at her then burst out laughing. Cloe joined her in the laughter, drawing some curious looks from passersby. “Thanks for trying to cheer me up. I only wanted to go shopping to get in a better mood. I should’ve known all I needed to do was talk with my best friend. We could’ve done this at home.”

  Cloe swept her arm out in front of them. “What? And miss out on one of Bloomington’s finest parks?”

  Neither spoke as the wind whispered through the nearby trees, couples strolled by hand in hand, and a guy in roller skates darted past at what seemed to be a reckless speed. Then again, any speed would be deemed reckless to Cloe. She’d fall on her ass in seconds if she tried roller skates. She knew her limitations.

  Paige finally broke the silence. “Please take my mind off Renee and tell me about your week.”

  “You know I signed my contract.” Cloe had called her to tell her the good news the second she’d inked her name on the dotted line.

  “As we knew you would.”

  “Lindsey and I went out to celebrate last night. We had the dinner planned, but it became a celebratory one. Lindsey said all along it would be. She was that sure I’d be offered a contract.”

  “Duh.”

  Cloe closed her eyes for a moment as last night rushed back to her full force. She felt her cheeks quickly heat up.

  “Oh. Ohhh. I know that look. You and Lindsey had a heavy make-out session.”

  “Yeah,” Cloe said with a sigh.

  “And? Come on, Cloe. You’re supposed to be cheering me up here. Telling me about you and Lindsey making out will do that.”

  “Paige, I hardly recognized myself last night.” Cloe glanced around her before holding her thumb and index finger less than an inch apart. She lowered her voice. “I was this close to asking her to take me to my bedroom.” She leaned closer to lower her voice even more. “I climbed in her lap for God’s sake.”

  Paige gave her an incredulous look then laughed loud and long. “Oh, my God. You should see the expression on your face.” She slapped Cloe’s shoulder, and not lightly. “You little vixen. I knew you had it in you.” She paused for a moment then laughed some more. She held up a hand. “Sorry, sorry. I’m picturing this in my mind. Cloe goes all full-frontal assault.”

  Cloe tried to keep a straight face but then joined in the laughter. “Yeah, yeah. Make fun of me.”

  Paige grew quiet. “Seriously, are you going there with Lindsey? Of all the women you’ve dated, she sounds like the perfect pairing.”

  Cloe lowered her head and picked at a small tear in her worn jeans.

  Paige patted her knee. “It’s okay to feel this way, my friend,” she said in a soft voice. “Lindsey sounds special. Even more than I first thought.”

  “She is. I told her I was close and was about ready to take a chance. I think she’s the one. I really do.”

  Paige squeezed Cloe’s knee. “I’m happy for you. At least it sounds like you’ve found your ‘one.’”

  Cloe heard the touch of sadness in Paige’s voice. She covered Paige’s hand with her own and interlocked their fingers. “Like I said. Yours is out there.” When Paige started to shake her head, Cloe squeezed her hand. “Just think of me. I wasn’t even looking. It’s so true. It happens when you least expect it.”

  Paige finally managed a smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  * * *

  Cloe whistled while she fried bacon in her parents’ kitchen. She decided she’d surprise them. Normally, she made it over just as her dad was finishing up the “grunt” work on breakfast. Today, she was in such a good mood, she wanted to share her feelings with her mom and dad.

  As she flipped the bacon, she realized she was whistling Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up” and wiggling her butt to the tune. She laughed to herself. You got that right. Lindsey had her nerve endings frayed, her senses on overload, her juices flowing. She groaned out loud. God. Did she just think that? Then she grinned. Yes, she did. Because, you know what? Her juices had been flowing Friday night. She wasn’t kidding when she told Paige she was so close to taking Lindsey to her bed.

  She picked up the bacon with the tongs and added some more to the pan to fry.

  “Look, Chuck. There’s an elf in our kitchen fixing breakfast while grooving to Elvis.”

  Her mother’s voice right behind her caused her to jump and almost drop the strips of bacon she was setting into the pan.

  “Mom, why do you do that? Are you like in stealth mode when you come up behind me?” Cloe turned to her mother. Fiona was grinning at her, as was her father.

  “Honey, it wouldn’t matter if I clomped in here. You were in a whole other world.”

  “Your mother’s right. We’ve been standing here a good five minutes.”

  Cloe was mortified.

  At the look on her face, her mother patted her shoulder. “He’s kidding, honey.”

  Cloe sighed in relief.

  “It’s only been four minutes.”

  “Mom!”

  Chuck and Fiona made their way to the coffeemaker and poured two cups of coffee. They went on to the dining room table and sat in their chairs.

  “To what do we owe this treat?” her dad asked as he took a sip of coffee.

  Cloe finished up the bacon and grabbed the carton of eggs out of the refrigerator. She went about the task of whisking up the concoction for scrambled eggs. “I don’t know,” she mumbled. “Can’t I do something nice for you both without a reason?”

  “Yes, you can,” Fiona said. “In fact, you have. But you’ve never done it with such gusto. You were making some smooth moves to ‘All Shook Up.’ The King would be proud. Any reason for your awesome mood?”

  Cloe turned at the tone of her mother’s voice. She knew that tone. She made a quick decision to not lie. Why not share in her happiness? These were her parents who supported her through everything in her life. She wanted to tell them. In fact, she was bursting to tell them.

  She went back to folding the mixture until the eggs became fluffy. “Lindsey and I had a great date Friday night.”

  “And?” her mother said.

  “And I can see this going somewhere.” Cloe scooped out the eggs onto another plate and carried over the bacon and eggs. “I know I told you I’d keep you posted. That’s where we’re at.”

  “I’m happy for you, honey,” Fiona said. “Not only are you going to be working with her on her book, it sounds like you’re on your way to a wonderful relationship.”

  Her dad held up his mug in a salute.

  Cloe walked back to the refrigerator and brought out the orange juice. She shook the bottle. “Anyone else?”

  Her parents declined. She poured herself a big glass and joined them at the table. They settled in to eat with the scraping of forks across plates the only sound for a while.

  Her dad was the first to finish. “Does anyone mind if I excuse myself? I’d like to get in so
me fishing before it gets any hotter this morning.”

  “Go ahead, dear. Try to bring home some catch for dinner this time.”

  Chuck grunted. “It’s not like I don’t try. It’s been hit and miss all this summer.” He walked around the table to Cloe and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I’m really happy for you. I know I don’t say that enough, but seeing you happy makes me happy. You deserve everything coming to you.” He kissed Fiona and was about to walk away but stopped at the entryway into the living room. “Hey, when will we see Lindsey over here for dinner?”

  Dear Lord, Cloe thought. I just told them it’s getting serious, and now they’re ready for Lindsey to get the third degree over dinner. Because, let’s face it. That’s exactly what would happen.

  “Honey. Stop looking like a rabbit about to get shot by a hunter. Your father and I would like to know Lindsey better. That’s all.”

  Cloe licked her lips and tried to wipe the expression off her face. “I’ll ask her this week.”

  Chuck nodded once. “Good. Wish me luck.” Then he was gone.

  Fiona scooted her chair closer to Cloe’s. “So? Where are you with everything?”

  “Is my mother asking if we’ve had sex yet?”

  “No. Well, kind of.”

  Cloe sat back in her chair. “Is nothing sacred anymore?”

  “We’ve always been very open when talking about sexuality. You’ve told me before how you were waiting for that special woman to come along. That it hadn’t happened so far for you.” She grabbed Cloe’s hand. “Is Lindsey the one?”

  “It’s funny you use those words. I was telling Paige yesterday that I’m pretty sure she is.”

  “I can tell she’s special. You haven’t stopped smiling since you met her. And the rest?”

  “Hmm?” Cloe’s mind was back on the balcony Friday night.

  “The sadness that made her pull away from everyone?”

  Cloe sobered. “It’s something she’s working through. Something we’ve been talking about.”

  “I have no doubt that you’ll be able to help her. And, honey?”

  Cloe looked at her mother expectantly.

  “You’ll know when the time is right on giving yourself to her.”