Counting on Love
Page 24
When the doorbell rang at seven thirty, Reyna was in the middle of changing her outfit for the fourth time and wondering if Zoe was actually coming. She had initially decided on a pair of casual slacks and a soft, velvet shirt, changing to something a little more formal when she realised that might not have looked very keen. She then worried her outfit was far too businesslike and boring, changing into a cocktail dress, which, at the last minute, she had determined to be horridly suggestive, discarding it in a crumpled pile as she flicked through her wardrobe in despair. Hurriedly shrugging back on the first outfit, Reyna padded to the door as the bell rang again, barefoot and tucking in her shirt.
She opened the door to a nervous-looking Zoe, dressed in a simple blue dress and holding a bottle of wine.
“Come in,” Reyna said, ushering her inside. “We’re having Indian.”
“You know how to cook Indian? That’s impressive,” Zoe said, following Reyna down the hallway, and then stopped clearly taking in the array of takeaway containers Reyna had spread across the kitchen table.
“I definitely don’t know how to cook Indian, but I remember you said you liked it when we were in Alice Springs, so I got a bit of everything.”
Zoe laughed. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I think I did. My cooking skills aren’t exactly up to date standard.”
“So this is a date?” Zoe looked at her from under her eyelashes and Reyna felt her heart skip in her chest.
“I hope so,” she replied softly and took Zoe’s hand. Reyna intertwined their fingers, tugging Zoe gently toward her. “In fact, I’m hoping it will be the first of many. If you’d like that.”
Zoe’s brown eyes were hesitant. “This is a bit of a change to your tune, Reyna.”
“I know. There’s a lot to talk about. But these last five weeks have been…hard. I’ve tried to just get on with things, but all I could think about was you. I told myself it would pass, but everywhere I looked, everything I did, every place I turned, I saw your face. I felt your eyes on me. I heard your voice in my head. When I saw you at the school yesterday, it was as if the sun had finally come out after five weeks of darkness. I know my life is pretty crazy right now, but I’m making some changes so that it doesn’t have to be this way forever. And if you’re still interested, I’d like to see where things could go for us.”
It was a long speech and Reyna waited for Zoe to say something, searching her eyes for a response. Finally, Zoe stepped forward, caressing Reyna’s cheek with the back of her fingers.
“I’d like that too,” she said and grazed her lips against Reyna’s.
Reyna shivered, pulling Zoe in close, wrapping her arms around her waist. “So can we do some more of this then?” she asked, claiming Zoe’s mouth with her own and deepening the kiss. When they broke off, Zoe smiled coyly and shook her head.
“Food’s going cold.”
“It’s better that way,” Reyna replied, kissing her again.
In the morning they sat on a bench in Reyna’s backyard, drinking tea and eating toast in the soft yellow sunshine.
“We didn’t do quite as much talking last night as we probably should have,” Zoe said, taking Reyna’s hand.
“No,” Reyna agreed, wrapping her arm around Zoe’s shoulder and nibbling her ear. Her heart felt light and happy in a way she wasn’t sure she had ever experienced before. She was almost giddy with joy and relief. “Do you have plans today? We could do some more…talking?” she said with a coy smile.
“Oh yes,” Zoe said, snuggling in closer under Reyna’s arm. “We definitely need to do more talking.”
Reyna caught Zoe’s eyes with her own, feeling suddenly serious. “Things might be a bit tricky at first, Zoe, until I’ve got the business under control, but if you’re willing to stick with me, things are going to be different. I’ll have more free time on my hands. Hopefully I’ll just be working like a normal person, maybe even nine to five.”
Zoe gasped in mock horror. “No! Nine to five? For Reyna Azoulay? That’s unheard of.”
Reyna looked sheepish. “I think I can do that. I really want to for Holden’s sake as well.”
“Speaking of,” Zoe said, turning her gaze to the garden as she took in the soccer nets and cubby house. “Will this be a problem for him?”
“No,” Reyna replied. “He really liked you. He’s always known I’m gay. Gay old Aunty Rey,” she said with a grin. “You could meet him properly if you’d like to stay for dinner tonight?”
“Hmm, but that would mean we’d have to spend all day together.” Zoe narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“I do,” Reyna admitted, “but I can try to catch up tomorrow.”
“You know what? I also have some work to do. If you have a spare computer lying around here we could both squeeze in a little work at some point today.”
“Ooo, I can’t decide if you’re a dream come true or a terrible enabler,” Reyna said, nuzzling her face into Zoe’s neck. “But you smell like a dream come true, so I’m going with that one. Does that mean you’ll stay for dinner?”
“I will.”
Bella Books, Inc.
Women. Books. Even Better Together.
P.O. Box 10543
Tallahassee, FL 32302
Phone: 800-729-4992
www.bellabooks.com