Just a Touch Away

by Chris Paynter

  Lindsey shut off the car and pulled out the keys. “We’ll always have our Oreos and milk, won’t we?”

  “You got that right.” Cloe winked at her.

  Lindsey took hold of Cloe’s hand. By the time they approached the step leading up to the porch, the front door opened. David stood there with his arm around his wife’s shoulders. He opened the screen door. “Come in, come in.”

  Lindsey led Cloe inside. “David, Gayle, this is Cloe Parsons.”

  Cloe liked that Lindsey continued to hold her left hand. She held out her right.

  “We’ve heard so much about you,” David said.

  Cloe thought he and Lindsey looked a lot alike in the photos she saw, but in person, they could almost be twins. “I’ve heard many great things about you both.” Cloe took Gayle’s hand. Gayle quickly enclosed it in her other.

  “Welcome, Cloe.”

  Cloe immediately liked them both, just as Lindsey promised.

  David said, “Please have a seat. We thought we could break open a bottle of wine before dinner.” Lindsey and Cloe made themselves comfortable on the couch. David and Gayle left for the kitchen and returned with three glasses and the wine. Gayle had a can of ginger ale in her hand. “A nice zinfandel from Oliver Winery.” He held up the bottle.

  “Sounds wonderful.”

  David passed around the glasses and sat next to Gayle on the loveseat.

  “Lindsey said you met when you brought over her groceries,” David said.

  Cloe held Lindsey’s hand. “I brought them over for a few weeks, and we’d have occasional chats on the front porch in the rockers.” She took a sip of wine. “Then there was the infamous Fred swimming incident.”

  “Oh, I heard about that.” Gayle set her can of soda on the coffee table. “You rescued him, didn’t you?”

  “It wasn’t like that. Fred swam over to the shore, and I only helped him out of the water.”

  Lindsay added, “And you brought him back home.”

  David put his arm around Gayle. “From his swim in the lake, you got the idea for writing the new children’s book.”

  Lindsey glanced at Cloe. “Cloe’s artwork was what gave me the idea. She drew these amazing pictures of Fred and his adventure. It was like a comic strip. I wasn’t getting anywhere with the Bobby books.” Lindsey’s voice softened. “I’ll go back to those. Just not now.”

  David and Gayle gave her sympathetic looks. Gayle said, “We understand.”

  They talked for a little longer with Gayle getting up to check on dinner.

  “We’re having pork roast, parsley buttered potatoes, and vegetables. I hope that’s okay,” Gayle said.

  “I love all of it,” Cloe told her.

  “Good. Because I think it’s ready.”

  They took their drinks into the separate dining room.

  “Do you need help, Gayle?” Lindsey asked.

  Gayle waved away her assistance. “David will help carry everything in.”

  They brought in the food, four more glasses, and a pitcher full of ice water.

  David started passing around the food. “So, Cloe. Tell me about how you got your start in art.”

  Cloe picked out a slice of roast pork and forked it onto her plate. “I’ve been drawing since I was a kid. I kept up with it through high school. I went on to major in art at IU and later got my master’s. I have to admit I’ve enjoyed helping my parents out at their store, but at the same time, I kept up with my art.” She took the bowl of parsley buttered potatoes from Gayle and spooned some out.

  Lindsey said, “She sells her work in Nashville. She’s very talented.”

  Gayle turned to her. “You’ll need to show us sometime.”

  They talked over dinner with David teasing Lindsey relentlessly.

  “Did she tell you about her pet frog?” David asked Cloe.

  “Yes, she did. She said she got into a lot of trouble because of Herbert.”

  She winked at Lindsey, who said, “He did help me write some awesome short stories.”

  As they finished their dinners, Cloe said, “Everything was wonderful, Gayle.”

  “Thank you.” Gayle stood and started gathering dishes. Lindsey and David began to help, but Gayle stopped them. “Cloe and I have this. Right, Cloe?”

  “Yes. You two relax.” Cloe had a feeling Gayle wanted some privacy with her.

  She followed Gayle into the kitchen with a stack of dishes. They placed everything on the counter, and Gayle began scraping off the scraps. She wiped her hands on a towel and turned to Cloe. “I want to tell you how pleased David and I are that Lindsey met you. She’s come out of her shell.”

  “We’re happy together. She’s a special woman.”

  Gayle twisted the towel in her hand. “I’m sure she’s told you about Eric.”

  “She did, and I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you for that. We all went through a dark time. He was such a lively little boy. I mean, it’s hard whenever you lose a child, but he was so healthy right up to the day he was diagnosed.” Gayle’s eyes shimmered with tears. “David and I went to therapy and turned to our church for guidance. But we were the only ones who could make ourselves forge through the darkness.” She shook her head. “Lindsey was so devastated. She closed herself off from everyone, including Elise.” A fleeting look that appeared very much like displeasure passed over her face. Cloe wondered if she didn’t agree with how Elise treated Lindsey. “Until you came along. It’s like someone shined a light in her life again. She’s not the same person.” Gayle smiled. “And that’s a good thing.” In what was probably an unconscious move, she stroked her stomach.

  Cloe wasn’t sure if she should broach the subject but decided to anyway. “Lindsey shared with me your good news. I hope that’s okay.”

  Gayle stopped the motion of her hand. Her expression that had been sad changed over to one of bliss. “It’s absolutely okay. We want to shout it from the mountaintops, but we’re still careful with who we tell. Lindsey was the first to know.”

  Cloe lightly touched Gayle’s arm. “I’m happy for you and David. Lindsey, too.”

  “Oh, yes. Another young one for her to spoil. I don’t know if she told you how much she spoiled Eric.”

  “She did. That doesn’t surprise me.”

  Gayle started stacking the dishwasher. “And you’re working together. I’m assuming that’s going well?”

  “It is.” Cloe handed her the dishes. “We’re already more than a third of the way through the book.”

  “We can’t wait to see the results.”

  As Cloe helped Gayle finish up, an overwhelming sense of belonging washed over her like a gentle spring rain. It was a good feeling.

  * * *

  Lindsey pulled her car into Cloe’s drive and killed the engine.

  “What do you think of David and Gayle?”

  “I like them very much, just as I knew I would.” Cloe tipped her chin toward her apartment. “Do you want to come up?”

  Lindsey did, but it was getting harder and harder to keep her hands to herself. Until Cloe agreed to take their relationship to the next level, she would restrain from pushing it.

  The look on Cloe’s face said she understood. “Walk me to the door?”

  “That’s a given.” Lindsey got out of the Jeep and went around to open the passenger door. She took Cloe’s hand and walked with her as they headed up the steps. When they reached the door, Cloe turned to her. Her gaze dropped to Lindsey’s lips. That was all the incentive Lindsey needed to pull Cloe in for a long, gentle kiss. She didn’t trust herself to make it more passionate.

  Cloe ended it and caressed Lindsey’s cheek with her fingertips. “I’ll see you this week?”

  “How about Wednesday afternoon? That will give you time to finalize some of the artwork you’ve started.”

  “Is four okay? We can get started on the next pages.”

  “Four is fine. Thank you for agreeing to dinner with the family tonight. In cas
e you didn’t notice, they loved you.”

  “No need to thank me. I think we’ve reached the point where our families need to see us together to know this is serious.” A look of doubt flickered across Cloe’s face. “It is, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. I hope there comes a time soon when all doubt is out of your mind.”

  “I’m there, Lindsey. Was checking in that you are, too.”

  Lindsey kissed her again. “I’ve been there for quite some time.”

  A slow smile spread across Cloe’s face. “Good. I’ll see you Wednesday.”

  Cloe unlocked her door and stepped inside. She gave a little wave before shutting the door. On the way down the stairs to the Jeep, Lindsey couldn’t get over how light her steps felt. Life was good again.

  Chapter 18

  On Wednesday afternoon, Cloe came over. They decided a short walk with Fred would be fun before they shared a late lunch. After they returned, Lindsey heated up some homemade vegetable soup. She kept asking Cloe if she wanted a sandwich to go with the soup, but Cloe declined.

  “Sorry. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact you fixed homemade soup.”

  “Very funny,” Lindsey said and set two bowls onto the table.

  Cloe giggled. “I can’t resist getting some digs in. Ever since you told me you didn’t really cook, you’ve gone out of your way to prove otherwise.” She dipped her spoon into the soup, blew on it, and took a tentative taste. Her face lit up. “Lindsey, I’ll never believe you now about your cooking prowess. You’re full of it. This is delicious.”

  “An old family recipe.”

  “Really?”

  “Nah. Got the recipe on YouTube.”

  “Wherever you got it, you did it justice.”

  They ate until their spoons scraped the bottoms of the bowls. “More?” Lindsey asked.

  Cloe patted her stomach. “This was enough. Thank you.”

  After Lindsey cleared the table, she brought over two cold bottles of water. Cloe had already started setting up her sketchpad and pencils. Lindsey showed her the next pages of text she had come up with for the story.

  “I thought this would be a good place to have a ‘day in the life of Fred the dog.’” She waited for Cloe to read through what she’d written. “You can draw him a little older now to show he’s growing.”

  “I thought you might say that. I had already started on some sketches at home. I patterned them off of what we initially sent Sylvia, but a little younger.”

  Cloe lowered her head and began concentrating in earnest on her drawing. Lindsey watched for a couple of minutes then sat and thought about what would come next in the book. After she came up with some text, she went to work. The two of them made progress for the next few hours. When Lindsey came to a point where she couldn’t think of the next step in her writing, she stared at the blank wall in front of her, hoping for inspiration. But soon her attention returned to Cloe.

  Lindsey got lost in watching Cloe’s delicate hand move the pencil on the paper. It was magical. Sensual. She wondered what those hands would feel like on her own body. She noticed Cloe had stopped drawing and was watching her with a bemused expression.

  “Sorry,” Lindsey murmured.

  “Don’t apologize.” Cloe motioned at her drawing. “Want me to show you some tricks?” At Lindsey’s upraised eyebrows, Cloe laughed. “Not those kinds of tricks.” She stood up and pointed at the chair. “Sit here, and I’ll take you through drawing the woman I’m sure you’ve noticed has a lot of your features.”

  “I can’t even draw a stick figure.”

  “Come on, and give it a try.” Cloe handed her the pencil and stood behind her, placing one hand gently on Lindsey’s shoulder as she used her other hand to lightly grip Lindsey’s holding the pencil. “Relax, and follow my lines.”

  Lindsey tried to do as she was told, but Cloe stopped her after only a couple of seconds. She rubbed Lindsey’s shoulders that Lindsey didn’t know had tensed up.

  Cloe repeated in a whisper to Lindsey’s ear, “Relax. If you’re tense, you won’t be able to do this.”

  Lindsey wanted to say, “Good God. Just keep rubbing my shoulders like that. I don’t care about the damn drawing.” But she shook out her hand and made a conscious effort to hold the pencil loosely.

  “Better.” Cloe moved the pencil, sketching the outline of a woman. “Keep moving the pencil, and allow the flow to take over.” Cloe leaned closer as she spoke, her breath brushing Lindsey’s ear with each word, her breast pressed into Lindsey’s side. “Bring it around the curve of her hip up to the outline of her chest, the long line of her neck. The face doesn’t need to be defined yet.”

  The only words that Lindsey registered were hip, chest, and neck. She didn’t realize they’d stopped until she felt Cloe’s breathing quicken, her breast pressed even firmer against Lindsey’s shoulder. So much so that Lindsey felt the hardness of Cloe’s nipple.

  “Cloe?” It surprised Lindsey she could even speak.

  Cloe’s voice came out as a hoarse whisper. “Yes?”

  “I don’t want to sketch anymore.” Lindsey turned to find Cloe’s face inches from her own. Cloe’s hazel eyes had darkened. Lindsey knew it wasn’t from the lighting in the room.

  “I don’t, either.” And with that, Cloe’s mouth claimed hers in a fevered rush.

  Lindsey quickly stood. She pushed Cloe against the wall, thrust her thigh between Cloe’s legs, and began a rhythm with her hips. She lowered her hand to Cloe’s breast and cradled it in her palm. When she rubbed her thumb against the nipple, Cloe groaned.

  Lindsey pulled her mouth away and dropped her hand. She needed to find out where this was going. . . or where it wasn’t. “Please don’t ask me to stop. Please.” She brushed her fingertips along Cloe’s cheek and gave Cloe a gentler kiss as she met her gaze. She looked for the answer in the hazel depths.

  Cloe shook her head. Lindsey’s stomach dropped, thinking Cloe was saying no.

  “I don’t want you to stop.” Cloe gave her a tremulous smile. “I want this.”

  Cloe took Lindsey’s outstretched hand. Her heart pounded in her chest with each step they took down the hall to Lindsey’s bedroom. When they entered the room, Lindsey pushed the light switch beside the door. As Cloe was about to ask for the lights off, Lindsey used the dimmer to darken the room. She turned to Cloe and smiled tenderly. “I want you to be comfortable and thought you might like it a little darker.”

  “Thank you.”

  Lindsey approached her, tipped Cloe’s chin up, and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Cloe’s heart that had been pounding a staccato beat slowed with the gentle kiss. She felt a surge of trust rush through her body, knowing Lindsey would take care of her.

  Lindsey’s hands shook as she started unbuttoning Cloe’s blouse. Seeing that Lindsey was nervous helped ease Cloe’s nerves even more. She took both of Lindsey’s hands and lifted them to her mouth, placing a soft kiss on each palm. Lindsey’s blue eyes bored into hers as her lips touched Lindsey’s skin. “I’m ready for this.” She placed Lindsey’s hands back on her chest.

  Lindsey took a deep breath and released it before unbuttoning the top button. Her fingers were sure now as she continued her task. When she undid the last button, she opened the blouse.

  Cloe looked down at her white, utilitarian bra. She made a face. “Not exactly sexy. I didn’t wear my lace bra, obviously. I wasn’t expecting—”

  Lindsey stopped her with a touch to her lips. “It’s perfect.” She leaned over and skimmed her lips along Cloe’s chest. Cloe sucked in a breath, and her nipples hardened. “May I?” Lindsey asked as she began to slide the blouse off.

  “Yes.”

  Lindsey pushed the blouse to the floor. She looked at Cloe expectantly as she brought her hands around Cloe’s back to the clasp of her bra. Cloe nodded once. Lindsey unsnapped the bra and slid the straps down until it fell to the floor. As she stared at Cloe’s breasts, she licked her lips. “You are magnificent.”

>   I don’t know about magnificent. But then Lindsey took a nipple into her mouth and cupped the other breast. Sweet Jesus. Okay, I can go with magnificent if she keeps doing that. With each sucking of Cloe’s nipple and each squeezing of her breast, the pool of moisture in Cloe’s panties grew. Cloe was so caught up in those sensations, she didn’t notice that Lindsey dropped one hand to the button of her shorts. Cloe gripped Lindsey’s head when she switched to Cloe’s other breast. Before she knew it, she stood completely nude in front of Lindsey.

  Cloe found her voice. “What about you?” She dropped her hands to the bottom of Lindsey’s T-shirt. “I want to see you.”

  Lindsey stepped back. Cloe pulled Lindsey’s T-shirt over her head. She attempted to be as smooth as Lindsey in taking off her bra but quickly grew frustrated. She furrowed her brow when she noticed Lindsey wore a sports bra. There’d be no clasp.

  Lindsey grinned and quickly yanked it over her head. Cloe stared at Lindsey’s small, well-defined breasts. Her gaze dropped to those killer abs she’d first seen when Lindsey wore her two-piece. She couldn’t help it. Her fingers took on a life of their own, first cupping both breasts then dropping down to rub across Lindsey’s abs.

  She looked up when Lindsey’s stomach trembled at her touch. Knowing she was having this effect emboldened Cloe. She asked the same question Lindsey had asked her. “May I?” she said as she reached the button of Lindsey’s jeans.

  “Yes, please.”

  Cloe unbuttoned the jeans, pulled down the zipper, and pushed them to the floor. Lindsey stepped out of them and kicked them to the side. Cloe reached for Lindsey’s briefs and hesitated. At Lindsey’s quick nod, Cloe tugged them down. Before she had a chance to take in all of Lindsey’s nude body, Lindsey backed her to the mattress and gently laid her down. Cloe’s stomach once again quivered with nerves as she thought about what came next. Her face must have given away her fears.

  Lindsey lay beside her and caressed her cheek. “We can stop at any time, Cloe,” she said softly.