Forevermore (24 page)

“Don’t throw your innocent act around me. You know I don’t buy it.”

She fluttered her eyebrows. “Don’t I know it.”

“It’s not a topic that comes up on a construction site.”

“You could maybe drop a hint that you live in Lady Town and see how she reacts.”

“Lady Town?” I started laughing.

“Lady Land? Female Frontier? Lassie Metropolis?”

“Stop.”

“Is she a hottie? A fit, handy, construction hottie? What’s she look like?”

“Molly.”

“Come on, Viv, no one is going to be as gorgeous as you, but if she’s hot, she’ll do.”

My head pushed back at the compliment. She didn’t normally get hung up on looks like our friends Joanna and Brandy could. It kinda drove me nuts that appearance garnered easy compliments. Like it meant something to be beautiful instead of a good person with a pleasant personality. The personality I was responsible for; the looks I had nothing to do with.

“She’s very nice,” I responded.

“And hot?”

“Focused, patient.”

“And ultra-hot, right?”

“Pretty.”

“Pretty hot?”

That got me laughing again. “Yeah, okay, pretty hot.”

“I knew it!”

“Hey, Viv, hi, Molly,” Glory called out as she approached with Lena, Mei, and a dark-haired woman I’d never seen before.

“Hey, guys,” Molly greeted as I tipped my chin at them.

“Do you know Miguel’s wife, Marcela?” Glory gestured to the unfamiliar woman.

“He does great work,” I told Marcela, shaking her hand, wishing again that Natalie and Miguel were still working Lena’s project.

“He enjoyed working with you. First time he’s come home and not complained about work,” she said, making us laugh.

Just as they were about to head off to their table, Miguel and Natalie came into the restaurant. Glory introduced both to Molly. I felt my face grow warm as Molly recognized Natalie’s name and very obviously went about checking her out. Natalie barely glanced at her, happy to let Lena tell Molly about the project.

“So?” Glory asked, looking at Natalie, but it was Miguel who answered.

“She aced the exam!”

“Hey, congrats, Nat. Does this mean we’re filling out paperwork tomorrow?”

Natalie smiled, shooting a quick glance at me. “Let’s go for it.”

Glory’s hand bumped my shoulder. “You hear that, Viv? Natalie’s getting her own shop.”

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Glory could talk almost anyone into almost anything. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been hoping Natalie would make this decision. I wouldn’t have to worry about this project anymore, and I could stop turning down client meetings for renovation work. If I were being honest, I could say that Natalie was saving my career, at least in the short-term. I was going to have to find a way to thank her.

“That’s wonderful, Natalie. Congratulations,” I said, reaching out to squeeze her arm. She was blushing to the tips of her ears with all the attention. My eyes were riveted by the sight. I could tell she wanted to dash away from the focus, and I felt compelled to help her. “I’ll expect you on the jobsite tomorrow morning.”

The mock order did the trick. Everyone laughed, and Glory started ticking off everything that needed to be done before Natalie could officially start work. The list sounded lengthy and tedious. Glory looked jazzed about it—the nerdling—but at least no one was gushing over Natalie’s accomplishment anymore.

I stole a glance at her. She chose that moment to shift her gaze to me. Her eyes shined with her smile. The look pulled me in. I couldn’t wait to get to know her better whenever she could start back to work.

“Is Monday morning soon enough?” she asked.

“Monday is great.” I watched them head off to their table to start an impromptu celebration. When I turned back to my dinner mate, she was beaming.

“Pretty hot is right. She looks like that British actress.” Molly’s eyes were still on the group as they sat at their table.

I glanced discreetly over my shoulder at Natalie again. Her hair was styled tonight, some product giving body and muss to the four inch strands, and she had bangs that reached past her right eyebrow. With the hats she wore to work, I’d never noticed her bangs before. Molly was right about her being pretty hot. “Which British actress?”

“The one in all those movies.” Molly tended to gloss over details.

“That’s specific.”

She looked over and laughed. “That one. Damn, I can’t think of her name. Now it’s going to bug me all night.”

“Emma Thompson?”

“What? She doesn’t look anything like Emma Thompson.”

“I know, but she’s a British actress in a lot of movies.”

“But she looks nothing like her. Okay, wait, I’ll think of her.” Her brown eyes squinted. “Something with a K.”

That was about as specific as she’d get. “Kate Winslet?”

“Nope.”

“Kate Beckinsale? Cate Blanchett?”

“Now you’re just naming Kates, and that last one is with a C and Australian.” She laughed, and I joined her. “I can’t think of her. It’ll come to me tonight, and I’ll call you. The point is she’s pretty hot. I didn’t know you went for that type, Viv. If short hair is your thing, look no farther, baby.”

I laughed again. Molly had an intensity to her that was laser tight. We’d never work as a couple, but I always enjoyed her flirty nature.

Life Rewired

“Want to keep the theme going tonight? Watch a little Rockies for some inspiration?” Molly asked as we pulled out of the softball field’s parking lot.

“Sure.” I didn’t feel like going home. A few more hours with my friend would be a great way to spend the evening.

“Do you need a shower as much as I do?” She read my mind when I parked at her condo and we headed upstairs.

“Could I?”

“Be my guest. I’ll order pizza and get the game on.” She went to retrieve a fresh towel out of the hall closet for me. I grabbed clean sweats from my duffle and took the towel. Contentment filled me with how easy I was here in her home.

“Pizza should be here in twenty minutes,” Molly said when I surfaced from her bathroom, feeling fresh and relaxed. “The game’s already on. I’ll be ten minutes.” She headed to the bathroom for her shower.

“Take your time.” I sank down onto her couch and fought the urge to fall asleep all cozy and warm.

The knock on the door woke me up. Molly grinned down at me as she rounded the sofa to answer the door. She shook her head and droplets of water from her wet hair helped wake me from the snooze I’d taken.

“Hey,” I protested, wiping the drops from my face and sitting up so I didn’t immediately succumb to the comfort of her couch again.

“Pizza’s here.” She grabbed money from the counter and passed it off to the pizza guy when she opened the door. Seconds later, she was back sitting beside me. “Hungry or just sleepy?”

“Didn’t mean to fall asleep, but damn your couch is comfy.” My hand rubbed the back cushion, the motion lulling me into a daze.

“I know. I crash out here almost as much as I sleep in the bed.” She handed me a slice and gestured toward a beer she’d placed on the coffee table for me. She brought another slice up to her mouth and took a bite.

My slice was gone in six bites. I didn’t realize how hungry or tired I was. I’d spent the day installing reclaimed wood floors in the upstairs of Vivian’s house. The workday and expended energy worrying about playing softball for the first time in years had worn me down. I’d be lucky to finish another slice and drive home without falling asleep again.

“Stay here tonight. You’re dead on your feet, lady.” Molly’s hand patted my thigh. “I had the day off. You were tired before we even started the game.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all.” She turned back to the screen and made a gesture at the TV when the Giants first baseman looped a line drive into center, scoring the go ahead run.

I watched her annoyance with amusement. She didn’t feel the need to fill the silence between us with useless chatter. After being forced to listen to cellmates yammer on to abate their boredom, it was nice to find a friend that cherished the quiet when merited.

An inning later, it was clear the Rockies were going to lose unless they had unprecedented scoring in the ninth. Molly clicked off the television and shook her head in disgust.

“At least we won,” I reminded her of our softball victory. “It’s a good team you’ve got.”

“Been playing with them a few years. The guys aren’t arrogant pricks, and they can play. The women are fun. Not as good as my Sunday squad, but now that you’re around we might win a few more.”

“Thanks.” I wished I could be as free with compliments as Molly was. She had a way of making all her friends feel better with a simple positive observation. It was a skill I now coveted.

She glanced at me. “You’re bushed. Get some sleep.”

I would have protested if she weren’t right. I watched her get up and go over to the closet for extra sheets. We worked together to get a makeshift bed ready. I tucked in the bottom sheet as Molly ran back to her bedroom and grabbed a pillow.

“Thanks, Mol.” I took the offered pillow, sitting back down. “I think I would have fallen asleep on the way home.”

“You’re always welcome to crash.” She speared me with an intense stare to make sure I understood how genuine she was with her invitation. “Sleep well.”

She leaned down for a hug. I was still getting used to the physical contact, having been so cautious over the past seven years. It felt good to drop the fear, and I looked forward to the hello and goodbye hugs from Molly.

Pulling back, she said, “Goodnight, Falyn.”

“’Night, Molly.”

She swooped in for a peck. I expected to feel a flicker of softness, a hint of moistness, a fleeting pull of suction. That’s what hello and goodbye kisses were. That’s what kisses from friends felt like. That’s what a quick peck on the lips was supposed to be.

What I got instead was a thunderbolt that went from my lips to my chest to my stomach to other points south. Holy smokes. That did not just happen.

I was taking stock of my elevated pulse and audible breaths as I glanced up at Molly. Her dark brown eyes glittered, but I couldn’t tell if it was shock or alarm. It definitely wasn’t indifference.

Before I could chalk up my reaction as something unexpected, Molly knelt onto the couch next to me. My heart rate kicked up as she reached forward and slid a hand along my jaw.

Her lips parted, eyes searching mine. She cupped my face with her other hand. “Jesus, Falyn.”

I barely registered her anguished tone before she listed toward me, bringing her mouth to mine again.

Also enjoy excerpts from Lynn Galli’s other romance novels:
Uncommon Emotions
and
Full Court Pressure.

Uncommon Emotions

Raven pulled her car into the Paul Industries parking lot. Mine was the only vehicle left, so she didn’t need to ask where I was parked. “Ahh, modern,” she teased of my Lexus.

“Boring but functional and an automatic.”

“Is your ankle still bothering you?” She couldn’t hide the worry from her tone.

“No, but automatics are much easier with all the traffic around here.”

We got out to load my share of the desserts into the back seat of my car. The process took a couple of trips, and we only bumped into each other once. When I surfaced from my last drop off of takeout boxes, Raven stood a foot away. The look in her eyes halted my sidestep.

She held my coat but made no move to give it to me. Her gaze didn’t shutter the emotions this time. She took a step closer before glancing at my mouth. When her eyes returned to mine, I knew without doubt that she wanted to kiss me. This was so different from the men who’d dropped me off after a date in the past. They would look at me with determination; they were
going
to kiss me. Nothing in their gazes could be mistaken for this kind of wanting. No, the men let me know what they were going to do. This, this look was of a desire to kiss, a craving to kiss, a near Victorian yearning to kiss me. I felt my breath desert me as suddenly as when I’d fallen off her horse.

Unlike with the men on similar occasions, my heart thumped erratically and something of a ruckus roared through my ears. I felt hot and cold and trapped and free all at the same time. Never once had I experienced this strong of a reaction to anyone. Desire had always been an elusive emotion for me. If I were being totally honest, I’d have to admit that I’d never felt it. Until now.

I wanted this. I wanted her to kiss me like I’ve never wanted anything in my life. Not because I wanted another woman to kiss me for comparison. No, I wanted
this
woman to kiss me. This incredibly smart, sexy woman.

I should do something. Give her a signal to tell her that she could turn her desire into action. If I looked down at her lips, maybe that would be enough of an invitation. Instead, I stared at those eyes, feeling her breath barely touch my face from her spot inches away. Why couldn’t I move my eyes from hers? Give her the simple go ahead, or better yet, tip my head forward and capture those sensuous lips to taste what I knew could become addictive? Perhaps it was my stupid sensibility stopping me; or maybe my concern for her that if we kissed and I felt nothing, as per usual, I’d hurt her desperately. God, I hate being sensible almost as much as I hate being emotionally bereft.

Before I could break the spell and reach for my jacket, Raven stepped back as suddenly as if she’d been yanked by some unseen force. She shook her head and offered my coat, not meeting my eyes. When I took the garment, she waved and hurried around to the driver’s side of her car.

“Goodnight, Raven,” I called out weakly as the door was closing. Her tires didn’t exactly squeal as they left the parking lot, but the escape was no less dramatic.

Full Court Pressure

“Do you miss Washington? Leaving anyone special behind?” Darby’s blue eyes sparkled.

“I used to be okay with living in three different cities while I played because of the offseason coaching or the overseas leagues, but ever since I retired, I’ve really taken to living in one place. Washington was great, but it’s nice to be back on the west coast.”