“Hope that wasn’t an antique,” Nina said, and they exchanged naughty grins. “Speaking of new beginnings.” She reached into her pants pocket and handed Daphne a business card.
Daphne’s eyes bulged as her mouth formed a circle of surprise and delight. “Nina Colombo, Adjunct Professor, Connecticut University? Are you kidding me? How did you keep this a secret?”
Feeling humbled, Nina bowed her head. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“Mission accomplished.” Daphne jumped up, landed in Nina’s lap, and linked her arms around her neck.
“I didn’t have the balls to quit my job or anything like you,” Nina said. “But I’ll be teaching Business Ethics with a focus on women in business every Monday night for the fall semester. If all goes well and I find it’s a good fit, who knows where it can go.”
“I’ve always wanted to sleep with a college professor.” Daphne gave her a warm smooch. “I’m so friggin’ proud of you,” she said, enveloping Nina in a hug.
Nina pulled back and stroked the hair off Daphne’s forehead. “I never would’ve done this if it weren’t for you.”
“Me? I just mentioned it to you once or twice in passing.”
“You planted the seed,” Nina said sincerely. “I’ve loved being a mentor, but for some reason, it never occurred to me that I could be a college instructor and reach groups of young people instead of just a few a year. Until you and your vision board.”
“Wow.” Daphne beamed. “Who knew that thing had such power?”
“It wasn’t just that. As I watched you take that enormous leap into something so new and so uncertain, you lit a fire inside me.”
“Uncertain?” Daphne clenched her teeth in pretend panic. “You said it was a sure bet.”
Nina giggled. “Will you stop? The shop is doing fine. Sales are on a slow but stable trajectory for a new business.”
“I’ve had to dip into my savings twice, but I’m not panicking. Someone really smart and really sexy once told me you just have to dig your stilettos in and hang on for dear life during the first year of any new business.”
“Sound advice.” Nina glanced around the kitchen and examined the vision board still occupying almost an entire wall. She smiled at the large checkmark in glittery gold marker that sliced through the number-one item, the antique shop. “Would you like more unsolicited business advice?”
“It’s never unsolicited from you. I’d love to spend a whole day rooting through that brilliant brain of yours.”
“In that case, you could ease a great deal of your financial worries by consolidating households. I mean, why pay for one mortgage when…” Nina waited to see if Daphne would catch on.
“Wait.” A glimmer of understanding flickered in her eyes. “Consolidating households? Like…”
As she spoke, Nina stood up, uncapped the gold glitter marker, and drew a check through item number two, Marry the Love of My Life. “Is moving in with her the same thing?”
“Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“It makes more sense,” Nina said playfully. “My house is a lot bigger than yours.”
“And my new neighbors are noisy,” Daphne said, inching closer.
“And clumsy,” Nina added as she slid her hand around the back of Daphne’s head and drew her in for a sensual kiss.
“Is that the only reason you want me to move in? Pragmatism?”
Nina rolled her eyes. “I should say yes, just because you’re being a wiseass. But the truth is, I can’t think of a more gorgeous way to start each new day than to open my eyes every morning and see your face.”
Daphne’s radiance was almost blinding. “This has been the single most spectacular dinner of my life.”
Nina took that as a “yes.”
* * *
The next morning, Daphne carried the OJ and prosecco over to Nina’s for Sunday breakfast. No point in losing a wonderful tradition. It just needed some updating. Sophie would’ve wholly approved.
They had gathered around the table for a feast of Belgian waffles, at Noah’s insistence. Nina pulled the second set of fluffy golden squares from her waffle maker and slid them onto Daphne’s plate. When Daphne began drizzling syrup across them, Noah looked at her in dismay.
“What’s the matter?”
“You don’t want butter on them?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Daphne said. “I don’t usually put butter on waffles. Should I?”
“You have to when they’re homemade,” he replied. “They’re dry.”
“I beg your pardon,” Nina said with a grin.
“Just kidding,” he said as he slowly pushed the butter across the table like it was a train car.
“Would you stop playing and just give it to her,” Nina said with a glare. She folded her arm, spatula still in hand, and watched.
When the butter dish finally arrived at the station in front of Daphne, she lifted the lid and found a dainty, oval-cut diamond engagement ring sticking out of it. With a combination of shock and confusion, she stared at Noah.
“Will you marry my mom?” He tried to keep a straight face, but a smile itched the corners of his mouth.
Nina got down on one knee, plucked the ring from the butter, and wiped it on her napkin. “What he said,” she offered shyly.
Daphne clapped both hands against her mouth as strange squeals of happiness emanated from behind them.
“Sorry about the butter,” Nina said. “Noah said I should trust him.”
“No, no. It’s magnificent,” Daphne said, almost breathless. “It’ll help the ring slide on.”
“You can say no if you think it’s too soon,” Nina said from her knee. “I mean, we don’t have to do any—”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Daphne shouted as she leapt from her chair and swept Nina up into an embrace. She kissed Nina so hard she thought she might leave marks on her cheeks and lips.
“I’ve never been happier, Daphne, not since this guy was born.” She pointed at Noah, now more involved with his waffles than with their deal. Lifting Daphne’s left hand, she slid the ring onto her finger. “This is one merger I know will be an epic success.”
Daphne held onto Nina, muffling her whimpers of happiness into Nina’s shoulder, practically squeezing the air out of Nina’s diaphragm. She then thought of her vision board. “That moves number three up in rankings on my board.”
“Greece,” Nina said with an air of recognition. “What a perfect locale for a honeymoon.”
As Daphne continued to study and gush over her engagement ring with its vintage look, a thought struck her. “Nina, this ring looks familiar. Where did you buy it?”
Nina played it cool with an arched eyebrow. “From a guy I know.”
Daphne’s eyes fell from Nina to the ring again. “This isn’t…” The rest of the sentence caught in her throat.
“Will said Sophie would be thrilled at the idea of me putting it on your finger.”
“Oh, my God,” Daphne said, almost in a squeak. As tears spilled down her cheeks, she wrapped her arms around Nina again.
“You are my treasure, Daph,” Nina whispered in her ear. “Forever.”
About the Author
Jean Copeland is a multi-genre lesfic author and educator from Connecticut. Her novel, The Revelation of Beatrice Darby, won an Alice B. Readers Lavender Certificate and a Goldie award for debut author. Her other novels, The Second Wave and The Ashford Place, received Rainbow Awards honorable mentions.
When not writing novels, Jean enjoys blogging and chatting with the women on The Weekly Wine Down podcast. Her urban fantasy novel, Spellbound, co-written with Jackie D, is available everywhere.
Books Available from Bold Strokes Books
Death Overdue by David S. Pederson. Did Heath turn to murder in an alcohol induced haze to solve the problem of his blackmailer, or was it someone else who brought about a death overdue? (978-1-63555-711-4)
Entangled by Melissa Brayden. Becca Crawford is the perfect person to h
ead up the Jade Hotel, if only the captivating owner of the local vineyard would get on board with her plan and stop badmouthing the hotel to everyone in town. (978-1-63555-709-1)
First Do No Harm by Emily Smith. Pierce and Cassidy are about to discover that when it comes to love, sometimes you have to risk it all to have it all. (978-1-63555-699-5)
Kiss Me Every Day by Dena Blake. For Wynn Jamison, wishing for a do-over with Carly Evans was a long shot, actually getting one was a game changer. (978-1-63555-551-6)
Olivia by Genevieve McCluer. In this lesbian Shakespeare adaption with vampires, Olivia is a centuries old vampire who must fight a strange figure from her past if she wants a chance at happiness. (978-1-63555-701-5)
One Woman’s Treasure by Jean Copeland. Daphne’s search for discarded antiques and treasures leads to an embarrassing misunderstanding, and ultimately, the opportunity for the romance of a lifetime with Nina. (978-1-63555-652-0)
Silver Ravens by Jane Fletcher. Lori has lost her girlfriend, her home, and her job. Things don’t improve when she’s kidnapped and taken to fairyland. (978-1-63555-631-5)
Still Not Over You by Jenny Frame, Carsen Taite, Ali Vali. Old flames die hard in these tales of a second chance at love with the ex you’re still not over. Stories by award winning authors Jenny Frame, Carsen Taite, and Ali Vali. (978-1-63555-516-5)
Storm Lines by Jessica L. Webb. Devon is a psychologist who likes rules. Marley is a cop who doesn’t. They don’t always agree, but both fight to protect a girl immersed in a street drug ring. (978-1-63555-626-1)
The Politics of Love by Jen Jensen. Is it possible to love across the political divide in a hostile world? Conservative Shelley Whitmore and liberal Rand Thomas are about to find out. (978-1-63555-693-3)
All the Paths to You by Morgan Lee Miller. High school sweethearts Quinn Hughes and Kennedy Reed reconnect five years after they break up and realize that their chemistry is all but over. (978-1-63555-662-9)
Arrested Pleasures by Nanisi Barrett D’Arnuck. When charged with a crime she didn’t commit Katherine Lowe faces the question: Which is harder, going to prison or falling in love? (978-1-63555-684-1)
Bonded Love by Renee Roman. Carpenter Blaze Carter suffers an injury that shatters her dreams, and ER nurse Trinity Greene hopes to show her that sometimes hope is worth fighting for. (978-1-63555-530-1)
Convergence by Jane C. Esther. With life as they know it on the line, can Aerin McLeary and Olivia Ando’s love survive an otherworldly threat to humankind? (978-1-63555-488-5)
Coyote Blues by Karen F. Williams. Riley Dawson, psychotherapist and shape-shifter, has her world turned upside down when Fiona Bell, her one true love, returns. (978-1-63555-558-5)
Drawn by Carsen Taite. Will the clues lead Detective Claire Hanlon to the killer terrorizing Dallas, or will she merely lose her heart to person of interest, urban artist Riley Flynn? (978-1-63555-644-5)
Every Summer Day by Lee Patton. Meant to celebrate every summer day, Luke’s journal instead chronicles a love affair as fast-moving and possibly as fatal as his brother’s brain tumor. (978-1-63555-706-0)
Lucky by Kris Bryant. Was Serena Evans’s luck really about winning the lottery, or is she about to get even luckier in love? (978-1-63555-510-3)
The Last Days of Autumn by Donna K. Ford. Autumn and Caroline question the fairness of life, the cruelty of loss, and what it means to love as they navigate the complicated minefield of relationships, grief, and life-altering illness. (978-1-63555-672-8)
Three Alarm Response by Erin Dutton. In the midst of tragedy, can these first responders find love and healing? Three stories of courage, bravery, and passion. (978-1-63555-592-9)
Veterinary Partner by Nancy Wheelton. Callie and Lauren are determined to keep their hearts safe but find that taking a chance on love is the safest option of all. (978-1-63555-666-7)
Everyday People by Louis Barr. When film star Diana Danning hires private eye Clint Steele to find her son, Clint turns to his former West Point barracks mate, and ex-buddy with benefits, Mars Hauser to lend his cyber espionage and digital black ops skills to the case. (978-1-63555-698-8)
Forging a Desire Line by Mary P. Burns. When Charley’s ex-wife, Tricia, is diagnosed with inoperable cancer, the private duty nurse Tricia hires turns out to be the handsome and aloof Joanna, who ignites something inside Charley she isn’t ready to face. (978-1-63555-665-0)
Love on the Night Shift by Radclyffe. Between ruling the night shift in the ER at the Rivers and raising her teenage daughter, Blaise Richilieu has all the drama she needs in her life, until a dashing young attending appears on the scene and relentlessly pursues her. (978-1-63555-668-1)
Olivia’s Awakening by Ronica Black. When the daring and dangerously gorgeous Eve Monroe is hired to get Olivia Savage into shape, a fierce passion ignites, causing both to question everything they’ve ever known about love. (978-1-63555-613-1)
The Duchess and the Dreamer by Jenny Frame. Clementine Fitzroy has lost her faith and love of life. Can dreamer Evan Fox make her believe in life and dream again? (978-1-63555-601-8)
The Road Home by Erin Zak. Hollywood actress Gwendolyn Carter is about to discover that losing someone you love sometimes means gaining someone to fall for. (978-1-63555-633-9)
Waiting for You by Elle Spencer. When passionate past-life lovers meet again in the present day, one remembers it vividly and the other isn’t so sure. (978-1-63555-635-3)
While My Heart Beats by Erin McKenzie. Can a love born amidst the horrors of the Great War survive? (978-1-63555-589-9)
Face the Music by Ali Vali. Sweet music is the last thing that happens when Nashville music producer Mason Liner, and daughter of country royalty Victoria Roddy are thrown together in an effort to save country star Sophie Roddy’s career. (978-1-63555-532-5)
Flavor of the Month by Georgia Beers. What happens when baker Charlie and chef Emma realize their differing paths have led them right back to each other? (978-1-63555-616-2)
Mending Fences by Angie Williams. Rancher Bobbie Del Rey and veterinarian Grace Hammond are about to discover if heartbreaks of the past can ever truly be mended. (978-1-63555-708-4)
Silk and Leather: Lesbian Erotica with an Edge edited by Victoria Villasenor. This collection of stories by award winning authors offers fantasies as soft as silk and tough as leather. The only question is: How far will you go to make your deepest desires come true? (978-1-63555-587-5)
The Last Place You Look by Aurora Rey. Dumped by her wife and looking for anything but love, Julia Pierce retreats to her hometown, only to rediscover high school friend Taylor Winslow, who’s secretly crushed on her for years. (978-1-63555-574-5)
The Mortician’s Daughter by Nan Higgins. A singer on the verge of stardom discovers she must give up her dreams to live a life in service to ghosts. (978-1-63555-594-3)
The Real Thing by Laney Webber. When passion flares between actress Virginia Green and masseuse Allison McDonald, can they be sure it’s the real thing? (978-1-63555-478-6)
What the Heart Remembers Most by M. Ullrich. For college sweethearts Jax Levine and Gretchen Mills, could an accident be the second chance neither knew they wanted? (978-1-63555-401-4)
White Horse Point by Andrews & Austin. Mystery writer Taylor James finds herself falling for the mysterious woman on White Horse Point who lives alone, protecting a secret she can’t share about a murderer who walks among them. (978-1-63555-695-7)
Femme Tales by Anne Shade. Six women find themselves in their own real-life fairy tales when true love finds them in the most unexpected ways. (978-1-63555-657-5)
Jellicle Girl by Stevie Mikayne. One dark summer night, Beth and Jackie go out to the canoe dock. Two years later, Beth is still carrying the weight of what happened to Jackie. (978-1-63555-691-9)
Le Berceau by Julius Eks. If only Ben could tear his heart in two, then he wouldn’t have to choose between the love of his life and the most beautiful boy he has ever seen. (978-1-63555-688-9)
My Date with a Wendigo by Ge
nevieve McCluer. Elizabeth Rosseau finds her long lost love and the secret community of fiends she’s now a part of. (978-1-63555-679-7)
On the Run by Charlotte Greene. Even when they’re cute blondes, it’s stupid to pick up hitchhikers, especially when they’ve just broken out of prison, but doing so is about to change Gwen’s life forever. (978-1-63555-682-7)
Perfect Timing by Dena Blake. The choice between love and family has never been so difficult, and Lynn’s and Maggie’s different visions of the future may end their romance before it’s begun. (978-1-63555-466-3)
The Mail Order Bride by R Kent. When a mail order bride is thrust on Austin, he must choose between the bride he never wanted or the dream he lives for. (978-1-63555-678-0)
Through Love’s Eyes by C.A. Popovich. When fate reunites Brittany Yardin and Amy Jansons, can they move beyond the pain of their past to find love? (978-1-63555-629-2)
To the Moon and Back by Melissa Brayden. Film actress Carly Daniel thinks that stage work is boring and unexciting, but when she accepts a lead role in a new play, stage manager Lauren Prescott tests both her heart and her ability to share the limelight. (978-1-63555-618-6)
Tokyo Love by Diana Jean. When Kathleen Schmitt is given the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of AI technology, she never thought a failed robotic love companion would bring her closer to her neighbor, Yuriko Velucci, and finding love in unexpected places. (978-1-63555-681-0)
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