by Julie Cannon
“Very charming too.”
A surge of jealousy trailed down Matt’s spine. It would be just her luck that a woman she was finally interested in would want to be with Sandra instead.
“But she’s not my type,” Kelly added, as if she could read Matt’s mind.
“With as much action as Sandra gets, she’s everybody’s type.”
Kelly laughed. “Lucky girl. What’s your type?” Kelly asked a few seconds later.
Matt’s mind went blank. What was her type? It had been so long she wasn’t sure she remembered. “I’m not sure.”
“You’re not sure?” Kelly asked.
“Well, it’s been a while, and, as I said, I’m a little out of practice.” And more than a little embarrassed to admit it, she thought.
“I’m sure it’s like riding a bike. It’ll come right back to you as soon as you hop on.”
The thought of hopping on Kelly and riding her was very vividly playing in her head.
“My friends are harmless. They mean well. Don’t take them seriously.”
“I’m on vacation. I don’t think seriously when I’m in a bikini.” She winked at Matt.
“Funny,” Matt said, letting her eyes dance over Kelly’s bare skin. “I can’t think seriously when you’re in a bikini either.”
Kelly gave her a long, appraising look, and more than a little heat spread through Matt and settled between her legs.
“Good, because I’m not into serious. I just want to relax and enjoy myself.”
“Becca and Sandra said I needed to get laid.”
Kelly slowly turned her head and stared at Matt, amusement and a bit of something else in her eyes.
“Jesus, the heat must be getting to me already. I can’t believe I just said that.” Matt dropped her head into her hands, mortified, her face hot with embarrassment. Whatever had possessed her? It was true, yes, but it wasn’t something you typically spewed out of your mouth right after meeting someone. God, she was pathetic. Maybe she should just go back to the room, crawl back under the covers, and start the day over again. Maybe she’d wait till tomorrow.
“I don’t sleep with someone within,” Kelly glanced at the clock on her phone, then dropped it into her bag, “within forty-nine minutes of meeting them.”
The sizzling look Kelly was giving her made Matt flush all over with another kind of heat.
“But I’m thinking with you, I might make an exception.”
Matt wasn’t sure she was able to speak. She didn’t know what to say. Okay? Thanks? Let’s go to your room because I have two nosy roomies? Kelly studied her, and Matt knew she had to say something, anything to keep this conversation going. Kelly had lobbed her interest out there, and unless Matt said something, it would crash and burn.
“I…uh…need to cool off,” Matt said before thinking. She needed to get away from Kelly’s direct, straightforward proposal before she embarrassed herself in front of this beautiful woman.
“I’ll be right here when you get back,” Kelly said as Matt forced herself not to run full speed into the cool water.
✥ ✥ ✥
Kelly enjoyed watching Matt walk the twenty yards to the water. She was wearing a pair of loose swim shorts and a bikini top, not the traditional tankini or sports bra most of the other women on the beach had on. Women in sports bras did nothing for her. It wasn’t that she wasn’t into sports or athleticism. On the contrary, she played lacrosse every Saturday in a mixed league. It was a great way to unwind and clear her head from the challenges of her week. She preferred women in beachwear that was attractive as well as functional. And Matt was definitely attractive.
Her legs were firm, the muscles in her calves accentuated by the effort it took to get through the thick sand. She had great posture and moved gracefully across it. It wasn’t just her obvious physical attraction to Matt that caused her to want to spend much more time with her inside than outside. It certainly wasn’t rebound sex. She wasn’t bouncing from Suzanne to Matt. She was long over her. It was Matt’s rusty charm that had caught and held her attention. There was much more to Matt Parker, and Kelly wanted to know every inch of it.
Chapter Eleven
“Can I get you ladies something for lunch?”
Kelly looked up from her book to see a tall, gorgeous woman in the hotel uniform of shorts and a pale-blue tank top standing in front of her. Her name tag said Doreen, and she was holding a menu in her outstretched hand.
Her stomach growled. She turned to Matt and asked, “Would you like to have lunch with me?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Matt teased her, taking a menu from Doreen.
“I’ll give you a few minutes to decide. Can I freshen your drinks?”
“Absolutely,” Kelly said, handing Doreen her empty tumbler. “I’m on vacation.”
“Same as last time?” Doreen asked. This was Doreen’s third time refilling her drink.
“I like the way you think,” Matt said, nodding her agreement for another.
“What do you recommend?” Kelly asked Doreen, referring to the menu.
“The pizza is great, and any of our bar food is delicious. The wings are kind of messy though. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
They decided to split a pizza, and when Doreen was out of earshot Kelly asked, “Is everyone on this island drop-dead gorgeous?”
“Must be a requirement to be hired here,” Matt commented.
Kelly glanced around. “What happened to Sandra and…I’m sorry. I forgot. What was your other friend’s name?”
“Becca.” Matt looked at the women in the chairs surrounding them, then out toward the water. “I have no idea. They’re around here somewhere. Sandra’s undoubtably making time with some beauty, and Becca most likely has her nose in a legal brief.”
Matt’s statement contained no judgment, just facts. “It sounds like Becca needs to take some lessons from Sandra.”
“Trust me. Sandra’s tried. Becca’s as straight as they come. She has a very serious boyfriend.”
“And she came to a lesbian resort?”
“According to her, she was the one who suggested it. She said she didn’t need to ruin her vacation fending off, in her words, ‘sleaze balls hitting on her.’”
“But surely a few women will do the same,” Kelly said. “This is a lesbian resort,” she repeated, “and lesbians are everywhere, and she’s very attractive.”
“She gets hit on all the time when we all go out. It doesn’t bother her. She politely declines and has a good laugh over it.”
“And her boyfriend is okay with this?” Kelly asked.
“Oh, yeah. Kevin’s a great guy. Sandra and I think he’s going to ask her to marry him anytime.”
“Will that change the relationship among you three?” Kelly had sensed the three women were tight-knit.
“Becca wouldn’t let it. Her friends are too important to her. She dated this guy once who was stupid enough to say she needed to spend less time with ‘those women.’” Matt used finger quotes to make her point, “and she told him to go piss up a rope.”
Kelly laughed. “Good for her.”
“Yeah. Neither of them takes any shit from anyone. They’re the strongest, most confident women I’ve ever met.”
“And you? Do you not take shit from anyone?”
“I try really hard not to. Sometimes I’m not the sharpest one in the room, but eventually I figure out what’s going on.”
“I’m surprised at that.” Matt raised her eyebrows and looked at her. “I have no idea how I know that. It’s just a feeling. Call it gut instinct.” Kelly’s gut was telling her lots of things about Matt, one of which was that she was an excellent kisser.
“Well, thanks, but it’s the truth. I’ve also been told that sometimes I need to be hit over the head with a stick for me to catch on to something.”
Kelly liked it that Matt could poke fun at herself, because not many people could. She could also take good-natured ribbing from her friends
, which, in her mind, was also key to a great friendship.
Kelly thought about her friends. Since her breakup with Suzanne, they were few. Most had been Suzanne’s and had stayed with her. The exception was Hillary, who had been outraged when Kelly had told her what she’d walked in on.
“She was what?” Hillary was a buyer for a large department store, and they’d met for drinks at a tavern not far from Kelly’s house. Kelly lived near downtown Atlanta, in a forty-year-old house with lots of potential. She’d bought it and had spent the next two years renovating it to perfection. It wasn’t long after she and Suzanne had started dating, when Suzanne began dropping hints that they should live together, and Kelly’s place would be perfect. It was big, airy, and had tons of natural light. It was close to mundane things like the dry cleaners, grocery stores, and the nightlife Suzanne was so fond of. Even during the weeks she’d spent at Suzanne’s house making love practically nonstop, Kelly had never been tempted to give in. She did, however, now know she’d made a mistake by giving her a key.
“In your house, in your bed, with Lorraine?” Hillary asked, shucking the jacket to her suit and tossing it onto the seat to her right. Hillary was, what she claimed as, geographically challenged, meaning she was barely five feet tall. She compensated by wearing four-inch Jimmy Choo’s that made her legs look fabulous.
“Yes, on all points.”
“Man, that sucks,” Hillary said, shaking her head in disgust. “How could Lorraine do that to you? I really liked her. I thought she had more integrity than that,” Hillary said.
“So did I,” Kelly said ruefully.
“I’d never do anything like that,” Hillary commented. “From either direction. That’s just wrong.”
Kelly didn’t have anything to add.
“Well, I’ve known Suzanne for over ten years, but I can’t be friends with someone who does that.” Hillary put her hand on Kelly’s arm. “I’m here for you, Kelly. Whatever you need.”
Kelly’s heart stopped. Was Hillary implying what she thought she was? Was she hitting on her three days after she dumped Suzanne? What was wrong with people?
Kelly’s expression must have conveyed her thought because Hillary yanked her hand away.
“No, no, not like that! I mean you’re attractive and all that, but that’s not what I mean. I’m not hitting on you to get into your pants. God, no!”
“I realize that,” Kelly said apologetically. “I’m sorry. I’m just jaded right now.”
“No one can blame you,” Hillary said calmly. “But that’s not me. I’m your friend.” Hillary laughed. “Well, I guess that word means nothing to you.”
“I thought it did,” Kelly said sadly.
“And it still does, to those that matter, those who are truly your friends. I guess it was a double whammy to lose not only your girlfriend but your best friend as well.”
“You’re right, but after I got over the initial shock, I realized I’m not terribly broken up over Suzanne,” Kelly admitted. “I think that situation had fizzled a while ago.” Kelly dropped her head into her hands. “God, and to think I told Lorraine I was having second thoughts about our relationship. She must have seen that as a green light.”
“Don’t you dare give her or Suzanne permission to do what they did. If you want out of a relationship, you say so. You can fuck whoever you want minutes later, but you always get out first. And you never, ever sleep with your best friend’s ex. That’s just not allowed in the lesbian friendship manual. Ick.” Hillary underscored her last word with a shudder.
Doreen returned with their pizza, napkins, and two plates, pulling Kelly back from her thoughts. They chatted while they ate, and when Doreen came around again to pick up the remains of their lunch, Kelly declined another refill. She ordered water instead.
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking on and off about inconsequential things, and during several long stretches they had no conversation at all. Kelly was comfortable with only the sounds of people on vacation in one of the most beautiful places in the world. She people-watched, and a woman walked by with an orthopedic boot on her ankle. How was she going to get all the sand out of that? A few minutes later, another strolled by with a bright-blue cast on her right wrist. Kelly hoped that had happened before they came to the island, not during an excursion of some type.
Finally, she’d had enough sun for one day. The sand was white, the water crystal clear, but she needed to get inside, take a cool shower and maybe a serious nap.
Reluctantly she said, “I’ve got to go in. If I don’t, I’ll be worthless for the next few days.” She gathered up her things and dropped them into her orange beach bag.
“I guess I’ll see you around then?” Matt asked.
Kelly looked at Matt, and her body answered for her. “Count on it.”
Chapter Twelve
Kelly was talking to the concierge as Matt, Sandra, and Becca walked toward the lobby. They were catching a cab to go into town and wander around and find a place for dinner. Matt was suddenly nervous and tried to think of an excuse to go back to the room, but the sight of Kelly drew her in.
Kelly’s hair was down, and she was wearing a sundress with spaghetti straps, exposing her newly tanned shoulders. Her sandals were flat and showed off her manicured toes. A small bag was slung over her right shoulder.
“Isn’t that Kelly?” Becca asked.
Matt pretended she hadn’t already seen her, and that her pulse wasn’t racing like she’d just finished the hundred-yard dash in the Olympic finals. “Oh, yeah. I think it is.”
“You’re such a bad liar,” Becca said as they approached. “Come on. Let’s see if she has dinner plans.”
Before Matt could protest, Becca and Sandra grabbed her by the arms and pulled her along with them.
“Kelly, hi,” Becca said.
Kelly turned and returned their greeting, her gaze stopping on Matt.
“Ms. Howser, your taxi will be here any minute,” the concierge said pleasantly.
“Thanks, Carol,” Sandra replied, then turned to Kelly. “We’re headed into town to grab something to eat.” She jabbed her elbow into Matt’s side.
Kelly was about to say something when Becca jumped in. “What our friend here,” she tilted her head toward Matt, “would say if she had a brain in her head at this moment is, would you like to join us?”
Kelly looked at her, and Matt blushed with embarrassment. “I can speak for myself, thank you very much. Yes, would you? I mean, if you don’t have other plans.” Jeez, she sounded like she was asking a girl out for the first time.
“I don’t want to intrude on your girl time.”
“Nonsense,” Sandra said. “We’d love to have you. Right, Mattie?”
“Yes, of course,” Matt said suddenly, more than a little brain-dead. What had gotten into her? She was a successful author, but she could barely put two words together right now. She’d done fine earlier on the beach.
Kelly looked at Matt for confirmation. She was only able to nod. God, how virginal, she thought, mortified.
“If you’re sure,” Kelly said again, addressing Matt.
“Absolutely.” Sandra poked Matt again. “Don’t know what’s gotten into our friend here, but she seems to be tongue-tied at the idea of having dinner with a beautiful woman.”
Matt finally protested. “I am not. I just can’t get a word in edgewise with you two around.”
“Then we’ll be sure to make ourselves scarce later,” Becca said as their taxi pulled up.
“So, Kelly, tell us about yourself. What do you do for a living?” Becca asked after their waiter had taken their order. At the recommendation of their driver he’d dropped them off at a small restaurant tucked out of the way in a strip mall. Danny Bouy’s, as the sign read out front, had the best fish tacos, the chilliest air-conditioning, and the coldest beer in town. Matt hated fish tacos and was the only one at the table to order something else.
They sat on the patio in front of the restaura
nt, their waitress arriving seconds later. Veronica was dressed in a referee shirt and shorts that Matt’s grandma would describe as vagina shorts. The uniform definitely fit with the sports-bar theme catering to men.
“I’m an electrician.”
The image of Kelly in a hard hat and climbing gear was sexy. “Like a climb-up-a-pole electrician or the come-to-your-house kind?” Matt asked, hoping to shift the focus off her lustful thoughts.
“I’ve done that, but no. I have a small electrical company, and we work primarily on new construction. We do some remodeling work, so, yeah. I would definitely come to your house. I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to see you again.”
Matt’s stomach flip-flopped at the not-so-subtle inuendo and the very obvious look of interest in Kelly’s eyes. Sandra must have seen it too, because she bumped Matt’s leg under the table. She was starting to feel in over her head, but it wasn’t as scary as she thought it would be.
“How did you get into that? There aren’t many female electricians, are there?” Matt was intrigued. “I’m sorry. That sounded really bad, but I admit I’ve never seen one.”
Kelly laughed, making Matt’s stomach do funny things.
“That’s all right. Most people say the same thing. I got into it like anyone else. It caught my interest.”
“How does one get to be an electrician?” Sandra asked.
“A few years of school, then a lot of hard work.”
“I can do a lot of things around my house, but that I leave that to the pros. Too much chance to get hurt,” Matt said. Her brain had begun to work again, and she didn’t need her friends to carry the conversation.
“Most people think that way.”
The waiter came with more chips and their second round of beers. When he left, Matt said, “So, tell me more about being an electrician. Tell me about your company.”
“Well, I have sixteen employees, all female.”
“Really? That’s cool. How did that happen?”
“After my apprenticeship, I worked for a while for a company and got tired of getting hit on by everyone and being given all the shit jobs. Sexism still exists in the trades, unfortunately.” Kelly looked like she had a bad taste in her mouth. “So, I struck out on my own. Pretty quickly I realized I needed an extra pair of hands, so I got in touch with one of the other women in my class and offered her a job. We hire right out of the trade school, and we’ve been growing ever since.”
