“Can’t say I have,” Jenna said.
“Well, you definitely could if you ever got tired of your job.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.”
“Tell me about this job of yours. It hasn’t been long and already Danielle is telling me crazy stories. I bet you must have tons of them.”
Jenna felt Brianna’s leg brush hers under the table and knew it wasn’t accidental. She was sure enough to presume Brianna preferred women, and she glanced at Danielle as she mused on the subject. Brianna certainly wasn’t acting like anybody’s girlfriend, and Danielle seemed unconcerned with it as she chatted with Sasha, but she still couldn’t say she was confident of what the two were exactly.
She knew Brianna was still talking to her, still pointedly admiring her, but she couldn’t seem to keep her attention on it despite Brianna’s overtly sexual presence. Most of the women Jenna had been with in the past had been confident, sexual women. Women closer on the spectrum to Brianna than Danielle. That probably had a lot to do with her preference not to get involved too deeply. Relationships were just too complex. The second her love life started to bleed over into her home life, problems started, and she’d finally decided she simply couldn’t do both properly. So why did her focus keep wandering away from Brianna, who fit the mold of a fun-only night, and who wasn’t a coworker, and over to Danielle who was entirely off limits?
Chapter Ten
“I’m so glad you came,” Sasha said.
Danielle heard the words, but it somehow took her a long time to realize they were directed at her. When she turned and saw Sasha waiting, she put it together.
“Of course,” Danielle said. “You’re all so nice for doing this for me. Kind of a big show for one little person. I appreciate it.”
“Don’t worry, we like it,” Adam said.
Danielle was still trying to recover from seeing Jenna outside of work for the first time. She was casually leaning back in her chair in a tank top and jeans. Her hair fell in loose curls instead of the straight locks Danielle was used to seeing, and the emerald color of her tank top played beautifully against her light skin. She was striking beyond belief, and even though Danielle had known she was beautiful, the full force of it had never hit her like a train the way it was now. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t seem to stop the impact Jenna’s gaze was making on her each time their eyes met.
It didn’t help that Brianna had nearly tripped her to make sure to sit next to Jenna and had been drooling over her ever since. She couldn’t say she was surprised, of course. Brianna loved the hunt, and Jenna was a prize anyone would brag over, but she couldn’t continue to watch every word of the exchange.
She pulled away and noticed there were three people she’d never seen before at the table. Sasha seemed to read her mind.
“Danielle, this is Val, Suzie, and this is Cole.” They each nodded at her.
“Well,” Val said. “Now that the guest of honor is here I think it’s time for shots.”
“Oh, no thanks,” Danielle said. “I don’t drink much.” A collective groan circled the table, Brianna leading the charge.
“Just one?” Val asked. “Something light?”
“Something light,” Danielle conceded.
Val flagged down the server and ordered eight shots, but Danielle missed what they were. Val turned back to Danielle and Sasha.
“So, you two found a body? What the fuck?”
“Oh God,” Sasha said. “Not again.”
“Well, it’s not every day you find a damn body, Sash, come on. That hasn’t happened since…” She paused and looked up. “Shit, since Jenna did CPR on that one chick.”
Danielle looked to Jenna. “You did?”
“Yeah,” Jenna said. “Same thing, almost. Overdose. Except she was still alive when I found her.”
“And you saved her?” Danielle said.
Jenna shook her head. “No. Tried, but she died.”
“I’m sorry.”
The darkness in Jenna’s expression felt like it was physically pulling Danielle to her. Her hair was just past shoulder length, and Danielle found she couldn’t stop sneaking glances along Jenna’s collar and to the curve of her breasts. Her head swirled as she realized she was decidedly in forbidden territory. She tried to shake it off. What was wrong with her?
The server showed up with the tray of shots and set them all in the middle of the table. Danielle couldn’t possibly guess what it was, but it looked like straight liquor, not something light. Everyone reached for a shot, and Danielle knew she had to go along. No one would understand or believe she was killing her entire tolerance in one gulp. She wouldn’t be a mess, but she would be as drunk as she cared to get.
Sasha held up her shot. “To Danielle. The good ones always start with a bang.”
Danielle watched Jenna and Brianna each take the shot effortlessly, then threw hers back, being sure not to make a face. Something spicy made its way down her throat. Danielle forced the cringe to disperse through her skin in a shudder. The burning almost seemed to intensify as time went by, and she wished she had water. She wanted to think she was imagining the way Brianna already seemed to be managing to touch Jenna quite a bit, but she knew she wasn’t.
The group discussion quickly broke down into side conversations, and Sasha kept grabbing her attention. She should be glad. She usually was when she had someone trying to make conversation with her. It beat the hell out of sitting alone awkwardly trying to appear comfortable while also not look like she was intentionally isolating herself. But she found Sasha’s voice kept failing to hold her attention. She kept losing track of the sentence before it finished, and damn it, she couldn’t stop looking at Jenna’s shoulders or the way Brianna was plotting to touch them. All Danielle could do was watch it happen out of the corner of her eye.
Brianna successfully lured Jenna into chitchat a couple times, but kept losing her again to the rest of the table. It seemed no matter the group, no matter the conversation, everyone always ended up calling for Jenna to join in. She had a story about everything, was friends with everyone, and was the energy in any group she joined. She was vibrant and comfortable in a way Danielle couldn’t imagine being.
“Anyone need another?” Brianna asked, pointing around the table. Half of them raised their hands, and Brianna enthusiastically repeated everyone’s choice of drink, then touched Jenna’s shoulder. “Want to help me with a bar run?”
“Sure.” Jenna graciously followed her inside to the bar. Danielle forced herself not to look after them or show her frustration. Jenna would never go for Brianna. And even if she did, that wasn’t any of her business. Jenna was her boss. She repeated the words in her head a thousand times. Maybe it would even be better if Jenna did go for Brianna. It would take her mind off this impossible and inappropriate fixation she seemed to be developing.
Danielle turned back to Sasha and saw she was clearly waiting for Danielle to answer a question she hadn’t heard. Danielle finally realized Sasha was wearing makeup and usually didn’t. Her blondish brown hair had been trimmed and styled.
“I’m sorry, what?” Danielle felt her cheeks flush.
“I was asking how you and Brianna know each other.”
“She was trying to figure out if you’re gay,” Adam mock whispered across the table. Sasha smacked his arm hard enough a loud thwack sounded, and everyone burst into laughter.
“You don’t have to answer that,” Sasha said. “Adam’s an idiot.”
“It’s okay,” Danielle said. “No. Well, yes, but no.”
“Okaaay.”
Danielle chuckled. “No, Brianna and I aren’t a thing, if that’s what you were getting at, but I am gay.”
“Your loss,” Brianna said from behind her. Danielle shook her head, but a round of laughter circled the table. Brianna started setting drinks down in front of people. Danielle suddenly felt warmth on her right side and the smell of campfire hugged her. When she looked over, Jenna was leaning down, placing
a clear, bubbling drink in front of her.
“Oh, I really can—”
“It’s soda water,” Jenna said quietly. “Lime for effect.” Jenna gently touched her shoulder before moving past and taking her seat again.
Danielle’s fingers automatically moved to return Jenna’s touch, but she was already gone, leaving the warmth of her hand branded on Danielle’s skin.
Chapter Eleven
“I bet they snuck off for a quickie,” Adam said.
“She said they weren’t involved,” Sasha said.
“So?”
Jenna watched the two bicker about where Brianna and Danielle had gone. She’d been curious for ten minutes before either of them had noticed. When Val, Suzie, and Cole split off for the bar a few minutes later, they finally saw the group had gotten much smaller. It caught Jenna’s attention immediately because it had been Brianna who’d gotten up first, and it was a relief to have her personal space back. Danielle had gone after her a few minutes later, but she didn’t look happy, not the way Jenna guessed she might if she’d been going after a quickie.
“I’ll be back,” Jenna said and got up.
“Not you too,” Sasha said.
“I’m just going to get some air.”
“We’re outside,” Adam sneered playfully.
“You know what I mean.”
“I really don’t, but okay, beautiful.”
Jenna laughed and hugged him on her way past. She pushed through the crowd in the bar. It was filling up inside, and she knew she stood little chance of spotting them. Instead, she just went to the parking lot to confirm Danielle’s car was still there. It was. A ripple of relief made its way through her body. She really should get some air before she saw Danielle again.
When she made her way over to the benches that were probably meant to be a smoking area, a muffled voice cut through the quiet. She followed the sound until she could tell it was two voices, female voices. The sounds were indistinct, maybe not even words. Jenna’s stomach jolted as she wondered if Adam was right after all. She took another step and had to suppress a laugh. It wasn’t the sound of sex; it was puking.
Jenna circled the Jeep that hid them and saw Brianna curled over, puking in the grass while Danielle held her hair and scolded her.
“Doing okay over here?” Jenna asked and smiled.
Danielle looked up miserably, and Jenna couldn’t contain a chuckle. She knelt by the two of them and put her hand on Brianna’s back.
“Let it go, girl,” she said.
Brianna flashed the rock ’n’ roll horns without lifting her head.
“I better get her home,” Danielle said.
“Oh,” Jenna said. “Okay.”
“No way,” Brianna said. “Give me five minutes and I’m good for another drink. No big deal.”
“You don’t need to drink more,” Danielle said.
“’Kay, Mom.” Brianna sat up and flipped her hair over her head. “Voila! Let’s get back in there.”
Brianna grabbed each of them, swaying both directions before she was confident enough to let go.
“Good as new,” she said. “Really.” Brianna headed back inside without waiting for them. Jenna was surprised to see her go after the way she’d clung to her all night, but she was relieved. When she looked back to Danielle she saw anger in her face.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said. “She just does this every time. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s okay.” Jenna laughed. “I’ve seen way worse, trust me. You should have seen my twenty-third birthday.”
“Thanks,” Danielle said. “Well, I should start trying to talk her into leaving.”
“Why?” Jenna asked. Danielle looked surprised by the question. “She’s drunk, but she’s fine. None of us are going to let her get into any trouble. Don’t bother yourself with it.”
Danielle seemed to think it over before she finally nodded. “Yeah, I guess I could just let her do whatever, couldn’t I?”
“Sure.” Jenna shrugged. “Want another drink?”
Danielle met Jenna’s eyes like she’d just asked something very serious. Jenna let Danielle stare into her, not sure what she was looking for. Was she taking it as an advance? Was it? She had to get her mind under control.
“Could we bring it back out here?” she finally said. “I’m just not sure I’m ready for the crowd again yet.”
“Sure,” Jenna said. “I’ll get the drinks.” Jenna’s heart started pounding as she saw Danielle sit on the bench outside, though she wasn’t sure why. She turned and headed for the bar, ordered their drinks, and looked at Danielle through the glass door while she waited. Danielle was absentmindedly combing her fingers through her hair, and Jenna craved the tangles around her own fingers. This was exactly why she’d been afraid to come out tonight. She couldn’t be swept up in this. She couldn’t start her career this way. Or end it this way, more to the point. She should bump into the others and bring them outside with her. She should come up with a reason to leave.
But she didn’t. She accepted the two drinks from the bartender and headed back outside. Danielle was standing now, staring up at the sky.
* * *
“Good stars tonight?” Jenna’s voice reached up from behind her and encircled her. Danielle felt the ocean sway of her buzz from the shot of mystery liquor and slowly turned as she tried to pull together enough composure to answer.
“Good moon,” she said.
Jenna handed her a glass, and they each downed a couple of sips. The warmth of the alcohol traveled down her center and pulsed through her. Jenna took a seat on the bench that was just far enough away from the entrance of the bar that it was quiet. Danielle looked down from the sky and came to sit by her.
“I think it’s great you take care of your mom and sister,” Danielle said.
She could see Jenna was caught off guard by the remark, and a second passed before she answered.
“Thanks,” she said. “There are plenty of people who disagree. Sasha thinks I need to kick Callie to the curb and make her grow up.”
Danielle raised her eyebrow. “I can’t imagine kicking my brother out. If he lived with me, that is.”
“I didn’t know you have a brother.”
Danielle looked down into her drink self-consciously, then glanced up again. “I guess I didn’t tell you much that first day when you asked about my family. It’s kind of a bad situation. But I do have a little brother I love to death. He’s going to be a doctor.”
“That’s awesome,” Jenna said. “Doesn’t sound like a bad situation. I would kill for Callie to have that kind of ambition.”
“Li is great. My parents are the bad part. My dad, really. He disowned me when I came out.”
“Oh, Danielle, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Danielle said. It wasn’t okay at all, and she knew she wasn’t doing much to hide that. The pain still felt raw and fresh, despite the two years that had passed.
“What about your mom?” Jenna asked.
“She does what he says. She comes from a traditional Chinese family. She feels the need to honor his wishes, so she doesn’t talk to me either. Li still does, but we have to hide it.”
“That’s awful.”
The words were simple, but Danielle could somehow feel so much more in them than was on the surface. She met Jenna’s eyes and wished Jenna would touch her, but she knew that wouldn’t happen. Just because they were outside of work didn’t mean there weren’t still professional boundaries. They were starting to feel rather thin even without them touching.
“You and Brianna seem close,” Jenna said. “Like you’ve been friends for a long time. Surrogate family?”
Danielle stared at Jenna a long time trying to dissect the question, trying to figure out if there was more to it or not. Was she interested in knowing if she was attached? Or if Brianna was? Or was it just what she said? Trying to explain her relationship with Brianna was somehow proving to be fruit
less. She couldn’t make the words come out. She was embarrassed to admit the inappropriate, busty, barfy flirt who’d been attached to Jenna’s hip all night was her ex. She barely wanted to claim her as a friend, and she couldn’t bear imagining what Jenna would think when she told her they used to go out, what she would think of their living arrangement now. She would have to have her doubts about them being strictly platonic, and even though that shouldn’t bother her, it did. But she was way ahead of herself. She didn’t owe an explanation of the people in her life to her boss, and thinking she did meant she was crossing a line.
“Yeah,” Danielle finally said. “Surrogate family, you could say that. We’ve been friends a long time. Since before my parents disowned me, and we moved in together after. It did feel a little like family, I guess, just being around someone who had known me so long.”
Jenna nodded. “I’m glad you have her, then.”
Danielle felt the pressure of Jenna’s gaze crushing into her and felt the need to lighten the mood, but as soon as she spoke she just kept bringing it crashing down. “She has a crush on you, you know?” Danielle said. “Brianna.”
Jenna laughed. “I don’t know about that. She seems like the flirty type that doesn’t mean much by it.”
“She is the flirty type,” Danielle said. “But trust me, she wants you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Danielle laughed softly. “I mean look at you, for one. You’re gorgeous.” She wanted to reach out and gather the words back up, but it was too late.
She felt like she could actually see the adrenaline race through Jenna’s skin, and even though she knew it was wrong, she couldn’t help the thrill it gave her to rattle Jenna just a little.
“Well, thanks.”
“And like you said, we’ve known each other a long time. I know how she acts when she’s interested.”
“And that’s bothering you?” Jenna asked.
A jolt traveled through her own skin at the remark, and her heart thundered in her chest. Was Jenna actually inviting her to cross the line? Or had she just had too much to drink?
Secrets On the Clock Page 7
