Hearts of Emerald Bay

by D G Barnes

  Mac’s breath quickened, and her heart raced as Dana’s torturous tongue resumed its play. A moan escaped her lips when the button popped and the zipper slid on her shorts. Fingers hesitated for a moment at the band of her underwear before slipping underneath. Mac gasped and pushed her hips up when Dana cupped her center. She was on fire, and as Dana softly stroked her, she didn’t know how long she could hold on. The pressure grew in her abdomen, and she gripped the blanket.

  “Dana, please,” she heard herself whisper.

  Dana stopped, and Mac instantly missed it. Then she was inside her. One finger then two pushed in and retreated only to returned. Mac rolled her hips against the hand looking for greater contact. She moaned, and Dana understood. “Come for me,” she coaxed and moved her thumb, pressing firmly where Mac needed it most.

  Mac arched her back and cried out as Dana pushed her over the precipice. Colorful lights danced behind her eyes as she rode out each and ever powerful wave that hit her, one right after the other. Finally, she collapsed onto the blanket, sucking in much need oxygen. Dana had stayed with her, her hand gently stroking, bring her back down.

  “Oh, fuck.” Mac’s voice quivered between breaths.

  Dana slowly pulled her hand away and moved up beside her, kissing her softly on the corners of her mouth, then her nose and back down to her lips with another soft kiss. Mac’s eyes fluttered open, and she took a deep breath.

  “That was, well. Intense,” Mac said with a grin.

  “I gathered as much, given the noises you were making. I think you may have scared away the wildlife,” Dana said with a chuckle and snuggled against her.

  Mac wondered why, with all the women she’d been with over the years, none of them made her feel like Dana did. Not one. She gave her a squeeze and kissed the top of her head before rolling her onto her back once again. She pressed her mouth to her swollen lips, kissing her softly. She felt her tongue tease against her bottom lip and Mac parted hers, inviting her in. There was a soft moan, and Mac wasn’t sure which one of them made it. She moved her body against her, wanting more of her, needing to feel her body closer. Mac’s hand quickly found the hem of Dana’s shirt and tugged it upward. Dana gasped when Mac broke the kiss and leaned back long enough to pull the shirt up and off her body.

  “Jesus, Mac.” Dana gasped.

  She found Dana’s mouth again and mashed their swollen lips together. Her hands roamed Dana’s body, pulling at her clothes until every piece lay scattered around them.

  Chapter Nine

  Dana wore a light pink buttoned shirt, its cuffs rolled up once past her wrists, blue bikini briefs, and a pair of white socks. She had woken well rested and in a creative mood, and dressing had not been a priority. After a quick trip to the bathroom to freshen up, then the kitchen for coffee and a muffin, she plopped down in front of her keyboard and began to type.

  The ideas that had been playing in her head appeared on the screen before her, bringing her great satisfaction. She had been struggling with how the heroine, Jessica, was going to come out to her very conservative mother now that she knew she could no longer hide her feelings for Cassandra, the woman she had fallen in love with.

  Now that the perfect scene was complete and Dana knew the happily ever after was not far off, she clicked save and closed the laptop. Standing, she gave herself an imaginary high-five and sashayed to the sound system, humming as she went. Powering it up, she selected a playlist from her phone and started the music.

  A Latin beat filled the room, and Dana moved to it. With a hand on her belly and the other in the air, she swayed her hips in rhythm with the music. She danced about the space, lost in her own interpretation of the Samba. When the opening notes of an iconic Bob Seger song played next, she knew exactly what she had to do. She hurried down the hall only to turn and rush back, sliding across the floor on sock feet, an invisible microphone in hand. She was sure Tom Cruise would be proud, after all, she had dressed for the part.

  The song ended as a familiar chime sounded. One which told her Mac had sent a text. Her good mood jumped a notch as she dashed over and scooped up her phone.

  Good morning, beautiful. What are you up to today?

  Dancing around in my panties.

  Oh! That I’d like to see.

  You could always come over.

  No can do I’m afraid. Working the bar today.

  Dana frowned for a moment, then had an idea. She unbuttoned her shirt. Sans bra, she made sure her nipples remained covered but still showed plenty of skin. She shook her head giving her hair a wild, unkempt look–she was sure it already was after all the dancing–then she made a pouty face and held the phone above her head and took the selfie.

  See what you’re missing. She included the picture and hit send.

  Several moments past before Mac replied. OMG! You do realize this is entirely unfair. I’ll never get any work done now!

  Dana laughed out loud. Just think of it as an incentive to work faster. The sooner you’re done, the sooner you can come out and play.

  Right! I’ll deal with you later. Talk to you soon.

  Later gator.

  Dana was buttoning up her shirt when the unexpected sound of an incoming call made her jump. Glancing at the phone, the caller ID told her it was her brother, Jason.

  “Hey, big brother. Long time no chat,” she said in way of a greeting. Picking up her coffee cup, she headed for the porch swing.

  “Hey, Punk. How’s the sabbatical going?”

  She sighed at the nickname he had given her when they were kids. As they got older, she thought he would have grown out of the habit but no such luck. Still, she was happy knowing it was now merely a term of endearment.

  “I think you need to look up the definition of sabbatical,” she said.

  He laughed. “I was talking to mom the other day, and she told me you were working on a new book. I thought you went to Emerald Bay to get away from writing for a while.”

  “That was the intent.” She paused for a moment as she settled onto the swing. “What can I say; when inspiration strikes, you go for it. But not to worry, Jason. I’m only spending a couple of hours in the morning writing. The rest of the time, I’m out and about. Relaxing.”

  “Good to hear. So, is that all you’re doing? Relaxing?” There was a hint of mischief in his tone, and she could imagine him waggling his eyebrows.

  If you can call making out with a beautiful redhead and having sex on a secluded beach relaxing, then yeah; that’s what she was doing. Of course, she wasn’t about to tell him that. “Umm. I’m not sure what you mean,” she said, trying not to give away anything.

  He laughed. “That’s what I thought. You don’t lie very well? Mom told me you sounded different when you talked to her the other day. She said you sounded happier than you have in a while, and you just confirmed it.”

  She sipped her coffee. “I plead the fifth.”

  “We don’t have a fifth. I know; I’m a lawyer. So, spill. What’s her name?”

  “What makes you think there’s a her?” she said innocently.

  “Dana, please,” he replied with a sigh. “This is me you are talking to. Your all-knowing big brother.”

  “All knowing, huh?” She snorted and shifted her position on the swing. “Her name is Mac. She owns The Rusty Anchor, a tavern here in town.”

  “Mac?”

  “Mac as in Mackenzie.”

  “Makes sense. So, you like this Mac?”

  “Yeah, I do.” The reply came without forethought.

  There was a pause before he spoke again. “It’s serious then?”

  She shrugged, not really knowing the answer. “Jury is still out.”

  “Well, I’m happy that you’ve met someone. Let me know when the verdict is in, okay?”

  He sounded happy with the idea of her seeing someone, yet she detected a hint of concern in his voice, and she loved him for it. “Will do, Jason.”

  “Anyway, I called to see how you were. You have yours
elf a great day, Punk, and I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Thanks, Bro. Talk to you later.”

  Dana set the phone on the table and tucked her feet underneath her. She looked out over the gently rolling ocean waves as she replayed her brother’s question in her mind. It’s serious then?

  ***

  Mac sat on a stool behind the bar munching on an apple. It was late morning and three couples who had stopped in for brunch occupied tables near the windows. At the bar, Gary and Mark sat in their regular chairs chatting away about this year’s fishing season. The pair were a couple of old friends who stopped in every day to chat, usually discussing sports or politics over a couple of beers. They had come to be as much a part of the décor as was the old ship’s bell that hung above the bar.

  As the two old men debated the new government fishing quotas, Mac carried on with some friendly banter of her own with Dana via text. She gasped audibly at the image Dana sent her. Gary and Mark stopped talking and turned their attention to her.

  Holding up a hand, she shook her head. Her cheeks burned, and she was sure the two confused men could see her blush. “It’s okay,” she croaked. They shrugged and went back to their conversation. A pleasant warmth spread from her face straight to her center as she typed her reply.

  Their chat over, she slipped her phone into her pocket as Ricky rounded the corner.

  “Mac. You have a phone call in your office.”

  She looked at him and blinked, momentarily confused by the statement. “Who would be calling on that phone?”

  “Not sure, but she sounded very official. Asked for Ms. Taylor Mackenzie.”

  “Huh.” Her curiosity piqued. The landline in her office seldom rang and when it did, it was always a wrong number. All her personal and business contacts had her cell phone number. She kept meaning to have the old phone disconnect but never got around to it. “I better see who it is then. You have the bridge, number one,” she said with a chuckle, and Ricky nodded, joining in on the conversation with the two fishing buddies.

  Mac closed her office door and sat at her desk. “Hello?” she said after putting the receiver to her ear.

  “Yes, hello. Is this Ms. Taylor Mackenzie?” The voice was soft and calm, an older woman Mac guessed.

  “Yes, it is. May I ask who’s speaking please?”

  “This is Elenore Bradshaw from child services.”

  Mac’s stomach lurched, and her mind raced. What the fuck? She took a breath. “Okay,” she replied hesitantly. “What can I do for you?”

  “Ms. Mackenzie, a complaint came into our office yesterday, and when I saw your name, I took the case. You may not remember me, but I handled that incident four years ago when your brother and sister-in-law passed.”

  She thought back, remembering the stink Doris had raised over custody of Ellie. She also recalled the woman, if not her name, from child services who had been kind and understanding, reassuring her that Doris’s accusations had no merit. However, bureaucracy being what it was, they still had to go through the motions, up to and including an appearance in front of a judge.

  “Yes, Elenore, of course. How have you been? And please call me Mac,” she said sitting back in her chair. The knot in her belly relaxing a bit.

  “I’m well, Mac. Thank you,” Elenore replied. “Would it be possible for us to meet this afternoon and discuss this complaint? I’m not far from Emerald Bay now. I could meet you at your work or home if you like. Say at two o’clock?”

  “Two would be fine. Let’s meet at The Rusty Anchor. We can talk in my office.” She tried to hide the anger. She wasn’t mad at Elenore, and though she hadn’t told her who had filed the complaint, she knew. Doris.

  “That would be wonderful. I will see you then, and, Mac, don’t worry; this is just formality,” Elenore said.

  “Thanks. I’ll see you then.” Mac hung up the phone.

  “Fucking bitch!” She slammed her fist down on the desk, sending a container full of paperclips flying. Groaning, she leaned back in her chair, palms pressed against her forehead. What the hell was Doris up to now? She rested for a moment, took a deep breath to calm herself, then headed back to the bar.

  At five minutes to two, the front door of The Rusty Anchor opened. Mac looked up from the crossword puzzle she was working on and gave a friendly wave to the woman who approached her. Elenore wasn’t tall, only about 160 centimeters. Her dark hair was styled and showed hints of gray. She wore a cream-colored blouse under a tailored dark blue business suit.

  Mac came from behind the bar and extended a hand to her. “Elenore, nice to see you again.”

  Elenore smiled as they shook hands. “And you.” She glanced around the bar. “The place looks good, Mac. Keeps you hopping, I bet.”

  “Thanks, and, yes, it does. You caught us on a slow day, which isn’t typical this time of year. Shall we go to my office?”

  Elenore nodded, and Mac led her to the office and offered her a seat. “Can I get you anything from the bar? A cold drink? We have tea and coffee too.”

  “I’m good, thanks,” she said, pulling a file from her attaché. “As I said on the phone, this is just a formality. If it were up to me, I would have tossed this in the garbage the moment I saw it.” She held up the file in question, giving it a little shake.

  Mac felt relieved. That was a reassuring sign. “Who filed the complaint?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say. Then again, I probably don’t need to,” she said giving her a nod.

  “So, what horrible thing have I done to my niece this time?”

  “The complainant witnessed Ellie walking along Main Street in the company of a woman she didn’t know,” Elenore summarized. “The complainant is concerned that you were allowing such behavior, and she was also concerned that this woman was not the sort of person Ellie should be exposed to.” She paused. “Because she is gay.”

  Mac shook her head and groaned in frustration. Hell, she wanted to bloody-well scream. She was glaring at Elenore, but she understood the woman was merely doing her job. Closing her eyes, she took a calming breath. She opened her eyes, looked at Elenore and sighed.

  “The woman in question is Dana Lawson. A well-known and respected author. She’s also my girlfriend.” The corners of her mouth rose. “Dana has been helping Ellie with a story she is working on for a contest at the library. They were out for ice cream when they had the run in with Doris—sorry, the complainant,” she said, using air quotes with the last word.

  Elenore nodded, jotting down a couple of notes. “That’s wonderful. Where is Ellie now if I may ask?”

  “At her grandfather’s store. She works there in the afternoons.”

  “Nice. Good experience for her, and some spending money to boot. Why didn’t you put her to work here with you?”

  “Liquor laws.”

  “Right,” she said, “Would it be okay if I stopped by the store and had a quick chat with Ellie?”

  “Sure. I’ll call her grandfather and let him know you’re coming.”

  “Perfect.” She stood, put the file back into her attaché and offered Mac her hand. “Thank you for your time, Mac. It’s been nice seeing you again, and I’m glad things are going well for you and Ellie.”

  “Thanks. It’s been nice seeing you too.”

  “And don’t worry about this report. Nothing will come of it. I promise you.”

  They shook hands and Mac led her out of her office and back to the tavern proper. They said their good-byes, and Mac took up her spot behind the bar. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she dialed her father’s number.

  ***

  It was a couple minutes before five when Mac pulled into the driveway of her parents’ home. She raised a surprised eyebrow when she spotted Dana’s BMW parked there. Her mood improved immediately, and a smile touched her eyes. She could use Dana’s embrace today, and some of those to die for kisses would be nice too.

  Stepping inside the small two-story home, pleasant aromas wafting from the kitchen
greeted her. “Hello,” she called out, kicking off her sneakers and crossing the short distance from the entryway to the kitchen. Her mother was standing at the stove, stirring something in a pot. Dana was standing beside her, cutting up carrots.

  “Hi, sweetheart.” Cait Mackenzie looked over her shoulder at her. “How was your day?”

  “Good for the most part, Mom. Not too busy.” Her eyes moved down Dana’s body. She wore a pair of tan Capris and a stylish short-sleeve shirt. Her hair was pulled up in a loose bun. A comforting warmth washed over her when Dana set down the knife and turned toward her, a huge smile on her face. Crossing the short distance, Dana put her arms around her waist and leaned in for a slow, sweet kiss. The worries of the day slowly melted away as she deepened the kiss. She wrapped Dana in a tight embrace and laid her face against her neck. Holding her close, she let herself linger in the warmth of her skin and the scent of her Jasmine shampoo. It felt wonderful to hold Dana like this. She could stay here, just like this, forever.

  After several moments, Dana pulled back without taking her hands away from her waist. She looked at Mac, her eyes searching her face. “Mac? Are you all right?”

  The tension gone, Mac gave a nod. “I’m fine. We can talk about it later okay?” She gave her a quick kiss. “But, hey. I didn’t expect to find you here.” She glanced at her mother who had stopped stirring and was watching them, a grin on her face. “Not that I’m complaining.” Dana studied her for a moment longer, and her concern touched her.

  “I ran into your dad at the bookstore yesterday, and he invited me to supper,” Dana said. As she pulled away, her hand traveled down Mac’s arm, across her palm, and over her fingers until just their fingertips touched. Then with a wink, she turned and went back to her cutting board.

  “Good thing I did too. Your mother has been waiting for you to bring your girlfriend by,” Joe called from the living room.