Hummingbird Cove

by Giselle Fox

  The situation was ripe enough that Keira knew she could do something about it if she’d wanted. But she decided to wait. Why rush? Allowing things to mature made them so much better. Fruit became sweeter and juicier. Wine gathered depth and body. Women and attraction were no exception.

  And as for whether her gaydar was working, it most certainly was.

  Daisy returned with her mug, placing it gently on the coaster in front of her. For a brief moment, as Daisy’s hand was still outstretched, Keira considered grabbing hold of it, of pulling Daisy onto her lap and slipping a hand around her breast, peeling back her layers of clothing piece by piece. Perhaps her thoughts were conveyed through her smile, since Daisy paused, smiled back, eyes squinting just a little with suspicion. Then she asked, “what?”

  Keira smiled. They both suspected something now. She knew Daisy had figured out who had written the book but had also chosen to stay quiet about it. She knew Daisy was aware she was having big girl impulses. It seemed only a matter of time before both truths revealed themselves. And for that, Keira couldn’t wait.

  ~~~

  Daisy smiled down at her. Keira was giving her that look again, the one filled with secret and potentially filthy thoughts. She knew she wasn’t imagining it. Most women saved looks like that for special occasions. Eye contact and another low-cut top had worked, and now there she was, smack in the middle of a bigger question—do I pull back now or keep going with this development?

  It wasn’t about work anymore. It was about sex and whether she wanted to have it with a woman she’d just met. As surprising and sudden as it was, the attraction between them was palpable. Daisy knew herself well, knew that wealth, kindness, and good taste were potent aphrodisiacs in the hands of a hot woman.

  Mmm, hands, she thought as she sashayed back to her pit of cushions, thinking what a perfect spot it would make for sex. She stripped off her cardigan. A sun beam crept up her legs and bathed her arms in heat. She sat back and picked up Keira’s book again. She’d already read the pre-sex scene many times but decided to give it another go around. This time, out loud.

  She cleared her throat. “She moved like the boughs of a willow tree, painting spirals in the air.” The fire crackled to her left. From the periphery of her vision, she saw Keira pull her sweater over her head. She read aloud again. “Of all the dancers in the room, there was only one I wanted to watch.” She looked back. Keira was still watching her. “How long since has it been since you read this?”

  “I don’t know... years.” Keira stood up and walked to the fire. She shifted one of the burning logs with a metal poker until it landed on the grate with a thump and showered sparks up the flue.

  “Should I keep reading?” Daisy asked.

  Keira was crouched down, balanced on the balls of her feet with the poker in her hand and the fire raging. She turned, looking over her shoulder. “Sure.”

  Daisy read while Keira moved slowly to the window and stood there, listening, her hands in her pockets. Daisy glanced up periodically, to watch the subtle shifts in Keira’s body as she read the flirtatious dialog between the main character Zoey and her sexy paramour, Andi, out loud. When the chapter ended, Keira looked back at her and smiled. “You read that well. Thank you.”

  “My pleasure,” Daisy replied.

  Keira walked to the piano, took a seat, and began to play. Daisy listened as she skillfully accompanied the ambient electronic music playing above them. She sat up and walked to the bookcase where the rest of K.D. Maitland’s books waited.

  “If a story is never told, does it exist?” she whispered. She looked back and smiled at Keira. “I already know I want to read the next one.”

  Keira smiled at her. “Take it.”

  Daisy pulled the book from the shelf and smoothed her fingers over the embossing on the cover. Keira was watching her still, she could feel it. “I’m curious about something.”

  A few seconds passed before Keira replied. “What are you curious about?”

  Daisy sat back on the floor and crossed her legs, the book in her hand. “You write so beautifully. Why did you stop?”

  Keira looked down at the piano keys. “No one wanted to read them.”

  “Do you still write, for yourself?”

  “I haven’t written for myself in a long time.”

  “Can I ask why?”

  “I don’t know. I just… haven’t. Not until today, actually.”

  Daisy smiled. “Maybe one day I’ll get to read it.”

  Keira smiled back at her. “Maybe.”

  She didn’t ask any more about it. If Keira wanted to talk—and Daisy suspected she soon might—she wanted to let it happen on its own time. Personal revelations meant so much more when they came naturally.

  She rose from her place in front of the bookshelf and stepped close to the piano, listening as Keira’s fingers placed notes within the delicate soundscape around them. “I’m just… fascinated by writers—by all artists, actually. I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable.”

  “Not at all. I’m glad you’re enjoying the book.” Keira played a few more gentle chords, letting them fade out before she closed the lid and went back to her desk.

  Daisy watched her move, noting the lithe, sexy form beneath the clothes. The sun had burst through the bank of charcoal clouds into a wedge of blue sky. In that moment, it felt like spring had arrived. Tiny birds flitted between the tall trees that framed the view. Daisy realized they were hummingbirds.

  She opened the door onto the deck and stood in the sunlight, feeling the combined strength of its heat and the cool ocean air on her legs and bare arms. She held her face to the sun and closed her eyes. She felt thrilled in a way that reminded her of childhood, of seeing the world with fresh eyes. She felt inspired. Joyful. There was so much art everywhere. So much creative force. The natural world, the real world, the sky and the earth, books and music. It all felt as though it had come together in that moment, striking her like an explosion.

  She breathed in the air, pulled it deep into her lungs until it rushed through her arteries in little ecstatic bubbles. She felt energized and connected. Her body began to sway. She lifted her arms above her head, stretched her fingers into the air. Hummingbirds buzzed around her, hovering close enough for her to look them right in their curious little eyes. They zoomed up, away, and then back again. They were dancing with her; she knew it.

  She turned. Keira was typing furiously. She looked up to smile at her, eyes glowing, cheeks flushed from the warmth inside the room. Then she returned to her work and kept going. Daisy turned, smiling, and looked back over the water, listening to the landscape and the fingers working behind her.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Daisy went back to her side of the cove to take a nap, something she’d been trying to fight off for an hour before she finally gave up. What she really wanted was to fall asleep in the pillow pit, but she decided it was too soon to risk waking in front of Keira in a pile of drool. She thanked Keira and ambled back to her cabin, hypnotized by the sunbeams, fresh air, and sparkling water. She curled up in her bed with thoughts of Keira and their lazy afternoon together dancing in her head. Then she fell into a deep and intoxicating sleep.

  She woke a while later with a start, fearing she’d overslept and that Keira had left for the meeting without her. As her mind cleared, she realized how improbable that was. Something was happening between them, and Daisy already knew that Keira would never leave her behind.

  She was right. When she rose from her bed and went to the window, she saw Keira sitting out at the end of her dock with her legs crossed and a large open journal on her knees. She was looking out into the sun and drawing. No, writing. That made Daisy smile. When she opened the screen door and stepped out onto her sagging balcony, Keira looked up. Daisy waved down to her.

  “Hello,” Keira said, smiling, eyes squinting against the light. Her hair was tousled—thicker on one side where her fingers had been laced through it. Adorable, Daisy thought. She felt re
sted from her afternoon nap, something she hadn’t done in years. The slower pace was already suiting her. She wrapped her blanket-scarf around her shoulders and tipped her face up to the sun. The air smelled of spring. So fragrant. So alive.

  She heard footsteps crossing the dock. Keira was walking back along it. When she opened her eyes again, she had an impulse. “Is there somewhere we can have a fire?”

  A short while later, they had climbed up onto the ridge behind the cabin. “I didn’t realize this was here,” Daisy said.

  “It’s hard to see from the water.”

  Daisy looked around the flat granite top. “With a little clearing, this could be great.”

  “I agree,” Keira said. “It’s really the only spot that gets any sun at this time of year.”

  Daisy looked out to the line of trees that were blocking the view of the water. A good pruning could have opened it right up. “The view would be spectacular.”

  Keira smiled. “If this were my land, I would pull down the cabin and build a split-level structure. Have the main living space up here.”

  Daisy could picture that immediately. “A panoramic view.”

  Keira struck a match and held it to the small pile of paper and wood chips that she’d carried up in her sack. Crouching on her knees, she fed the fire slowly. “Everything gets so dry here in the summer. You can’t have fires at all once the rain stops.”

  “The whole island could go up, I guess.”

  Keira nodded. “There was a fire here, years ago. It almost wiped out the town. It leveled the church. They built a new one. That’s where the meeting will be held tonight.”

  “Do you ever go to church?” Daisy asked, grinning.

  “I have nothing against it,” Keira said. “But no, not really.”

  “Do you have any friends here?”

  Keira shook her head. “Not anymore.”

  “What about in Vancouver?”

  Keira exhaled. “I know some people there, but-”

  “You know me, now. If you ever decide to visit…”

  Keira grinned back at her. “Yeah, that could be fun, right?”

  The fire began to crackle. Keira pulled a mat from her backpack and spread it out. They sat side by side with the flames at their feet. The sky above them was turned hues of crimson, purple, and orange.

  “It’s going to be a nice day tomorrow,” Keira said softly.

  “I feel lucky. There’s been so much rain on the mainland.”

  “Mmm,” Keira nodded.

  “Are you hungry? I brought sausages, pretzel buns, and French wine mustard.” Daisy reached for her shopping bag of provisions.

  Keira smiled. “Perfect.”

  They ate in front of a glowing fire as the sky slowly darkened. Daisy wrapped herself tight in her blanket-scarf and bit again into the thick, meaty bun. A dribble of seeded mustard slid down the side of her chin. She’d given up trying to be dainty about eating since it seemed impossible. Keira had, too. They both smiled at each other while they devoured their dinner. “This was a good idea,” Daisy said. She hadn’t had a cookout in years—longer than she could remember. Something about it seemed special. “If this was my land, I’d be up here all the time.”

  “Would you?” Keira asked with a slightly disbelieving tone.

  Daisy nodded and then laughed. “If I owned this property, I would do a lot of things.”

  “Like what?” Keira asked.

  “Like… replace that deathtrap of a dock.”

  “Good call.”

  “Tear down the house.”

  “Uh… yeah,” Keira laughed.

  Daisy grinned. “Clip these trees down. Frame the ridge. Build a split-level, eco-modern home up here with steps down to the water and a floating dock.”

  “Nice.”

  “Then you’d have something nice to look at instead of Kirby’s house of horrors.” Daisy winked back at her.

  Keira returned the smile. “I wouldn’t mind that.”

  “The question is,” Daisy said, leaning her shoulder against Keira’s for a moment. “Would you actually want a neighbor? You’ve had this cove to yourself for a long time.”

  “I wouldn’t mind a neighbor at all,” Keira said, smiling into the flames. “If she was the right one.”

  It was late by the time they’d climbed down from the ridge and got things cleaned up. Daisy met her again at the top of the path. Keira was already warming up the ATV. She handed Daisy a helmet.

  “I’m excited,” Daisy said. She wasn’t lying. Taking a ride on an ATV through the forest in the dark with a hot lesbian writer warranted a little excitement.

  The ride out to the road took longer than she’d expected. Keira’s property extended far back and the path she’d cut through the forest diverted around rocky outcroppings, giant fallen cedars, and low-lying ditches. When they finally arrived at the gate, Keira jumped off an unlocked it.

  “Do you get many people wandering through here?”

  “Not when the gate is locked,” Keira replied. “Kirby and his buddies drove their trucks through here after I first had the road put in. The gate and the boulders beside it put a stop to that.”

  She jumped on the bike again. They continued down the gravel road and out onto the narrow highway that led in to town. Soon, they reached a small town center with the marina on one side and a string of shops on the other. The church stood back on a grassy rise nested up in the trees. There were people milling around outside. Daisy felt her phone buzz in her bag.

  “Family,” she said, looking back at Keira. “I’ll meet you up there.”

  “What’s up?” she answered. It was her brother. She’d been expecting his call.

  “Oh, nothing, just thought I’d check-in. How is Keira Maitland?”

  “She’s great,” Daisy replied. She watched her walk up the church steps, turn, and then smile back at her. Daisy smiled too. Keira stuffed her hands in her pockets and waited on the landing with the rest of the people. No one talked to her. Then Daisy realized that Colin had asked her a question. “Sorry, I got distracted. What did you say?”

  “Does she want to sell?”

  “Err, no, I don’t think so.”

  Colin exhaled. “We have to find something to get her to-”

  “To be perfectly honest, I’m not even sure the development is a good idea. This place is…” she looked around at the scene in front of her. “It’s not ready yet.”

  “Well, when it is ready, we’ll be, too. See if you can find a leverage point for Maitland. She must have one.”

  Daisy looked back at Keira again. “Sure, right.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Why?”

  “I don’t know, you just sound a little… different, that’s all.”

  “I’m not different. Why would I be different?”

  “I don’t know, just saying. I spoke with Kirby Brock again yesterday. He asked-”

  There was movement in front of the church doors. “It looks like they’re starting. I should go,” Daisy said. People were filing in.

  “Okay. Good luck in there. Do what you do.”

  “I’ll call you later.” She disconnected and stuffed her phone into her bag. She met Keira on the steps.

  “Everything okay?”

  Daisy nodded. “Yes. Everything is fine. They knew I was coming here. Wanted to make sure nothing had eaten me.” She grinned at Keira. Keira grinned back.

  They walked through the church and found a seat close to the front. People were greeting each other, hugging and shaking hands. There were lots of smiles and a friendly sense of community warmth. Daisy caught a few people eying her and Keira as they’d sat down together. No one had said hello. As far as Daisy could see, Keira was being given the stranger treatment.

  She spotted Kirby watching them from one of the display tables. His face showed zero signs of friendliness—probably because she was with Keira and not him, Daisy figured. A young woman was at his arm. She was smiling up at
him, trying to get his attention, but he just kept scowling in their direction. Eventually, the woman turned and scowled too.

  The whole unfriendly situation pissed Daisy off. “Is there a washroom here?” she asked Keira.

  “In the back, on the right. Take the stairs down,” Keira replied.

  Kirby finally moved, following along the far aisle to the back of the church until they converged. Daisy greeted him with a nod. “Hello, Kirby.”

  Still no smile. “I would have picked you up.”

  Daisy shrugged. “No need. I came in with Keira.” She continued walking passed him toward the stairs, but he caught up with her.

  “You know, I was talking to the developer in Vancouver again. He said after this meeting tonight, the market might pick up again so if you’re thinking of buying my cabin-”

  “I’m not,” Daisy said, turning to him, not caring that it sounded abrupt. She didn’t like his tone, his face, or his shitty attitude. Even if his falling apart, mouse-infested cabin was the last piece of waterfront property on Earth, she didn’t want to give him a cent for it. “Excuse me.” She kept walking, and so did he.

  “Wait, I’ll make you a deal,” he said.

  “I don’t want a deal,” she replied without looking back at him.

  “It’s because of Keira, isn’t it? What did she tell you?”

  Daisy stopped walking. “Why would my decision have anything to do with someone I just met yesterday? Talk to your guy in Vancouver, maybe he wants it.”

  Kirby made an exasperated sound. “There’s a list of signatures over there in favor of bringing the ferry dock into the marina. The owner is willing to sell off his frontage to make it happen.”

  That was important news that her brother didn’t have. “So? What can I do about it?”

  Kirby leaned in and looked around. “Give me a break. I know who you are.”

  Daisy stopped. “What are you talking about?”

  “No one’s been to my place in years and suddenly you come along? I saw your picture.” He pulled a folded piece of paper from his back pocket and opened it in front of her. It was a page from Boulevard, the free business magazine they ran a monthly ad in, and there she was, standing with the rest of her family in her Yaletown office.