by MJ Duncan
The entire night was so surreal that, were it not for the small hickey on her neck, she might have thought it had all been a dream. But that little mark was proof that all of it had happened, and her pace quickened further as she hurdled the log at the halfway mark around the lake. She had not asked Maeve if she would be waiting for her this morning, but she hoped that she would be.
Joss let out a small huff of a laugh when she spotted George waiting for her just beyond the trees, a four-legged sign that Maeve was indeed somewhere up ahead. She slowed just long enough to give George’s head a quick scratch before she took off once again, calling out over her shoulder for George to join her.
George, sensing a challenge, bolted past her with an excited yelp, and Joss shook her head as she buckled down and forced herself to run even faster. She swore under her breath when George leapt up the stairs and sat haughtily at the top to watch Joss finish the sprint, her tongue hanging out of her wide, dopey grin as she panted in victory.
“Yeah, yeah,” Joss grumbled, patting George’s head as she gasped for air. After the pace she had set for the rest of her run in her rush to see Maeve, that little sprint thoroughly kicked her ass. “You win.”
George chuffed at the validation, and licked Joss’ hand as she got back to her feet. There was a jaunty little hop to her step as she trotted into the house, like she was proving that their race did not affect her at all.
Joss grinned and called after her, “Show off!”
“She doesn’t usually beat you by that much.”
Joss rolled her eyes and looked up at Maeve, who was curled up in her usual chair without any sign of work in front of her. Her smile softened as she made her way over to the table, and she sighed as she braced her hands on the arms of Maeve’s chair and leaned in to capture her lips in a tender kiss. The feeling of Maeve’s fingertips against her cheek, holding her in place, sent a pleasant shiver down her spine, and she hummed contentedly as one kiss became two, and then three.
“Good morning,” Maeve murmured huskily when they finally broke apart.
“Good morning to you, too,” Joss replied, nuzzling Maeve’s cheek and then stealing one last kiss. She licked her lips as she stood up, and shot Maeve a curious look as she moved to take her usual seat. “Not writing today?”
“Not right now, anyway,” Maeve confirmed with a small tip of her head. “How was your run?”
“Fast,” Joss chuckled. “I think I did the whole thing at a sprint.”
“Really?” Maeve purred, relaxing further into her seat, a small, pleased smile quirking her lips. “Any reason why?”
Joss shrugged and sipped at her coffee. “Eh. I might have been just a little excited to see this beautiful woman who always waits for me at the end of it.”
“Well, I can assure you that George was quite excited to see you again, too,” Maeve replied dryly.
“And what about her mom?” Joss sassed, arching a brow in playful challenge.
“Her mom,” Maeve began with an embarrassed chuckle, “was up at five because she didn’t want to miss seeing you.”
Joss’ heart soared at the confession, and she smiled as she leaned over and kiss Maeve softly. “I’m glad,” she whispered, kissing Maeve again. “You know,” she added as she lowered herself back to her chair, “part of me was afraid that you wouldn’t be out here this morning.”
“Why?”
“I dunno.” Joss shrugged. “We were up late last night, and I just…”
Maeve’s expression softened, and she shook her head. “I’ve been setting an alarm for the last month so that I would be out here when you came by. Which says a lot,” she added with a smirk, “because I am not a morning person. At all.”
Joss chuckled with Maeve at that, and bit her lip as she idly stroked her thumb back and forth across Maeve’s knuckles. “Thank you,” she said sincerely after a moment, looking up at Maeve through her lashes, her stomach flip-flopping at the affection shining in Maeve’s eyes. “Seeing you every morning has been the highlight of my day.”
“Mine too.”
They stared at each other for a moment and then Joss blew out a soft breath as she took Maeve’s hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her fingers. “Are we still on for dinner tonight?”
“Of course.” Maeve nodded. “Just tell me what time to be ready.”
Joss bobbed her head side-to-side thoughtfully. She had not actually decided where she was going to take Maeve, but she knew Scott would be fine with her skipping out earlier than usual. “Six?”
Maeve smiled. “You’re leaving work early, huh?”
“Yeah. Scott can handle things.” Joss kissed Maeve again. “Spending the night with you is much more important than working.”
“Charmer,” Maeve murmured, brushing their lips together.
“It’s true,” Joss assured her, shaking her head as the ghost of tear-filled accusations flung at her by her deservedly pissed-off ex floated across her mind. She did not want to be that person again, but she also knew that there would be times that Atramentum would demand most of her attention. She could only hope she remained aware enough to recognize when she was spending too much time at the store so she could take a step back from it all and make sure she did not screw this up.
The alarm on her phone began beeping, insisting it was time for her to get going, and she groaned and shook her head. Brilliant timing. She had just finished saying that Maeve was more important than Atramentum, and she was going to have to leave her now to get there on time to open.
“I’m sorry,” Joss apologized.
“Don’t be.” Maeve got to her feet and used her grip on Joss’ hand to pull her up as well. She smiled as she released her hold and looped her arms around Joss’ neck. “Tonight isn’t going to come if we don’t get the day started.”
“Well, that’s one way to look at it,” Joss said, wrapping her arms around Maeve’s waist and pulling her into a light embrace. “Text me later?”
“Of course.”
Joss smiled, already looking forward to the moment her phone would beep with a message from Maeve. “Can I get a kiss goodbye?”
Maeve pretended to consider the request for a few seconds before she laughed and leaned in closer. “Like I would let you go without one.”
Joss moaned softly at the feeling of Maeve’s tongue sliding lazily against her own. There was no urgency in the kiss, just a quiet affection and desire to enjoy the moment while it lasted, and she sighed when it reached its inevitable end. “I wish I could stay.”
“I wish you could stay too,” Maeve said with a smile. “But you have work to do, and so do I, I’m afraid.”
“See you tonight?”
“Bet your ass you will.”
Joss laughed. “Perfect.”
“Anything special I should wear?”
“Wear whatever you want.” Joss dropped a chaste kiss to the tip of Maeve’s nose.
“So…yoga pants and a hoodie?”
“It’d save me the trouble of dressing up,” Joss quipped as she took a small step back, keeping one arm hooked around Maeve’s waist and pulling her along with her as she started for the stairs.
“Point taken,” Maeve drawled with a small nod. “Then prepare to have your socks knocked off when I see you later, Ms. Perrault.”
Joss laughed and turned her head to capture Maeve’s lips in a tender kiss that was the antithesis of their playful conversation. Her stomach flipped at the feeling of Maeve melting into her, and she nuzzled her cheek as she whispered, “You take my breath away every time I see you, Maeve Dylan.” She pecked her lips softly one last time. “I will see you tonight,” she promised as she pulled away and started down the stairs.
Maeve’s gaze was soft, her smile so achingly beautiful that it was all Joss could do to keep from reversing course and pulling her back into her arms, and she shook her head as she murmured, “Charmer.”
Joss tipped her head in a small bow and blew her the kiss she would much rather have deli
vered herself. “See you at six.”
“See you then,” Maeve agreed softly.
Joss stared at her for a few more seconds, just committing to memory how Maeve looked in that moment, before she turned with one last wave and started for home.
Nineteen
“No, that won’t work,” Joss muttered to herself as she hit the back button on her browser and rubbed a hand over her face. She sighed and clicked the next result, not really expecting to find anything that would help, but hoping that it might spark an idea. She still had no idea where she was going to take Maeve for their date, and Google was failing to help her come up with any ideas.
The bell above the front door jingled, and she shook her head as she backed out of what seemed like the thousandth unhelpful page that promised prospective vacationers plenty of ideas about what to do in Sky at night. Willy Shakes, who had been stretched across the counter watching her work, sat up and swished his tail as he looked at the door.
“Oh God. Did your dinner not go well?” Scott asked, looking and sounding panicked as he stared at her.
Joss’ shoulders relaxed, and she smiled in spite of her frustration. “No. Dinner last night was amazing. It’s dinner tonight that I’m having trouble with.”
Scott held up a hand. “Back that one up a bit, tiger. Amazing?”
“Incredible,” Joss confirmed.
He grinned and pushed the lid of her laptop closed so he would have her full attention. “What happened?”
Joss took a deep breath as she leaned back in her chair and let it go slowly, knowing that the waiting was driving him insane and that his reaction was going to be priceless. She was half-tempted to pull out her phone to record it, but decided to take pity on him. Partly because he had been her biggest supporter over the last month, and mostly because she did not want to piss him off since he knew everything and everybody in Sky and could hopefully help her come up with an idea for her date that was in, she checked her watch, five hours.
Awesome, she thought to herself. Five hours until I’m supposed to pick her up, I still have to figure out where we’re going, and I haven’t even begun to think about what I’m going to wear.
“Joss…” Scott whined, pulling her out of her thoughts and back to the present.
“Maeve kissed me,” Joss said, getting right to the point.
Scott’s exuberant yell was so loud that a few people walking on the sidewalk outside Atramentum stopped to look through the front door, but he was too busy jumping up and down, pumping his fists in celebration to notice.
Joss did, however, and it only made her laugh harder as Willy Shakes looked at them both like they were insane before leaping gracefully from the counter and going in search of quieter digs. “Dude, calm down.”
“I was right!” He pointed at her. “She is into you!”
“It would appear so, yes,” Joss conceded with a smile.
He stopped hopping and stared at her expectantly. “And…?”
“And, what?”
“How was it?”
“It was…” Joss ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “Fantastic. Awesome. Incredible. Insert-your-favorite-superlative-here and it would still pale in comparison to the reality of what it is like to actually kiss Maeve Dylan.”
He grinned and nodded happily. “Good.”
“Yeah.” Joss rolled her eyes. “But now I need your help.”
“I always knew this day would come,” Scott quipped with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “See, Joss, when two people really like each other—”
Joss chuckled. “I know it’s been a while for me, but I’m pretty sure I’ve still got all that down.” Hopefully, she added silently. It’s like riding a bike, right? “Though I am afraid to ask where your font of knowledge regarding lesbian sex comes from.”
“Yeah, best we leave that one alone,” he agreed quickly. “Seriously though, what do you need?”
“Date ideas,” Joss groaned. “She promised to wear something that would, quote, ‘knock my socks off’—and I don’t know that many places in Sky that fall into the category of super-awesome-fancy-date locations.”
Scott’s expression turned thoughtful as he nodded. “O-kay. Right,” he murmured. “Have you thought about taking her to Alpine?”
It had been one of the first places she thought of, to be honest. Alpine was the most exclusive restaurant in town, tucked on a small flat of land carved into the peak of Sky mountain and accessible only by gondola, and it certainly fit all the parameters of a “dream date”. There was just one problem with the restaurant, and Joss shook her head as she pointed it out to him. “I called. Couldn’t get a reservation. Seems they book two months out in advance for the high season.”
“And that, my dear,” Scott declared, “is why you need me.” He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen a few times and did a couple swipes with his thumb, and then grinned as he lifted it to his ear.
“What are you doing?”
Scott held up a finger and winked. “Helping you get lucky. Now, shush.”
Joss made a show of zipping her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair.
After a beat, Scott’s smile widened, and Joss assumed that whoever he was calling finally picked up. “Hey, man. Yeah, long time no talk. How’s it going?”
Joss bit her lip and reached for her laptop. She didn’t have time to listen to Scott shoot the shit with some buddy of his.
Before she could get it open, however, it was pulled from her grip. Scott shook his head and scowled at her as he listened to whoever was on the other end of the line. “I got this,” he whispered. “Chill. No, not you man, sorry,” he added, glaring reproachfully at Joss. “I’m here with a friend. Hey, do you remember Joss Perrault?”
Joss frowned. “Who is it?” she demanded quietly.
Scott blew out a frustrated breath and moved the phone to his shoulder. “Hunter Leblanc. Now, zip-it Miss Bossy Pants or I’m not helping you get any,” Scott whispered back.
Joss’ eyes widened. She had completely forgotten that the Leblanc family owned Alpine. Hunter had been a year behind them in school, but their paths would occasionally cross because he was on the football team with Brock and the basketball team with Herold.
Scott shot her a smug look as he lifted the phone back to his ear. “Yeah, that’s her. Look, I hate to do this, but we were hoping you could help her out. She’s got this big date tonight with this girl she’s been drooling over forever, and…” His voice trailed off and his grin became absolutely shit-eating. “You can? That’d be awesome. Joss, what time would you want a reservation for?”
Joss’ brow furrowed. Was this really happening? “Um…seven?”
“Would seven work?” he asked. “Awesome, man, thanks.” Scott waggled his eyebrows at Joss even as he continued to talk to Hunter. “What? Oh, yeah, I can do pucks again this year. When does the season start? I’ll need to get my insurance and shit lined up.” He nodded along with whatever Hunter was saying. “Right. I’ll get on that soon, then. Cool. Yeah. It’ll be fun. Okay. I will. Thanks.” He tapped his thumb to the bottom of the screen and slipped the phone back into his pocket. “And that, my dear, is how you network.”
“You seriously just scored me a reservation?” Joss gaped at him. “At Alpine? For tonight?”
“Indeed I did.” He blew on his nails and buffed them on his shoulder. “You’re welcome.”
“Thank you.” Joss smiled. “Seriously. Thank you.” She had a reservation at the fanciest, most romantic restaurant in town, now she just needed… “Fuck.”
“What?” Scott asked, eyebrows rising in panic. “You said seven was okay!”
“It is,” Joss said, shaking her head. “I don’t know what to wear.”
He rolled his eyes. “Do we need to close up the store for the afternoon so we can get your shit organized?”
It was a tempting offer, but a family of six walking through the door behind Scott nixed that idea before sh
e could seriously consider it.
“Hey there. Can I help you find anything?” Scott asked.
The mother shook her head as the father said, “Nah. I think we’ve got it. Thanks.”
“No problem. Lemme know if you need any help,” Scott replied.
Once the family had moved out of earshot, Joss blew out a loud breath and picked up their conversation where they had left off. “No matter how much I would like to say yes, we can’t. I am going to have to bail early tonight, though.”
“No biggie.” He shrugged. “I kinda figured as much with a seven o’clock reservation. You want me to have Michelle meet you at your place later to help you pick out something to wear?”
Joss shook her head. She liked Michelle, but she did not know her well enough to feel comfortable having her help with this. “Nah. I’ll figure something out.”
“You’re sure?” Scott asked, looking unconvinced.
Not at all, Joss thought even as she nodded. “Yeah. I’m sure. Thanks, though.”
“Of course.” He tipped his head in a small bow. “I’m really happy for you, Joss. Really.”
“Thank you.”
“Excuse me,” a quiet voice called out uncertainly from behind Scott, and Joss smiled as she looked at the smallest boy from the family that had just come in.
“What do you need, buddy?”
“Do you have any Minecraft books?”
“We do,” Joss said, nodding as she got to her feet.
“Stay here and plan for your big date,” Scott said, pushing her back onto the stool. “I’ve got this.” He turned to the little boy. “You play Minecraft?” When the boy answered in the affirmative, he asked, “What’s your favorite mod?”
Joss watched them go with a smile and shook her head. Scott was right. Their dinner reservation was taken care of, and she knew from Alpine’s reputation that that portion of the evening would be fantastic, but there were still other things she needed to figure out if she was going to make their first date everything that a woman like Maeve deserved.
