Just a Touch Away

by Chris Paynter

  * * *

  On her drive home, Lindsey replayed the evening in her mind. Cloe’s revelation was surprising if only because of Cloe’s unbridled enthusiasm when they kissed. And tonight on the couch? Lindsey would’ve taken it further if Cloe hadn’t stopped her.

  The question for Lindsey was if she could be the woman for Cloe. Was Lindsey even capable of revisiting all those emotions? She didn’t know.

  But she was willing to try.

  * * *

  Cloe could’ve let the dishes go until the morning, but she needed something to do to occupy her churning mind. She wondered if she’d said too much to Lindsey, if maybe she’d scared Lindsey a little bit despite Lindsey’s assurances. She dropped a pod into the slot in the dishwasher and flipped the lever to heavy wash. She leaned against the counter while the dishwasher filled with water. As she stood there, she flashed back to women she dated in the past.

  There was Belle, the first woman she dated in college. Belle didn’t get it—at all—when Cloe told her she wasn’t ready to take their relationship further unless she was sure it really was going somewhere. That had lasted just a couple more dates when, exasperated, Belle broke up with her. Then Marly, Lynn, and Darla. Darla was the memorable one out of all of them. She tried to convince Cloe that, yes, she was “the one.” Cloe came close to giving in. In fact, she was going to tell Darla she was ready when they were to meet for their next date. But that date never came. Cloe found out from a friend that Darla was seeing someone else the entire time she dated Cloe.

  Darla was the last woman she dated seriously. Since then, she kept it light and carefree—a movie here, a dinner there, with rarely a second date with any woman.

  Lindsey was the first woman who affected Cloe so much that she was more than ready to see where this would go. She shivered, remembering Lindsey’s kisses and touches just moments before. If Lindsey could affect her that much, she could only imagine what it would be like to truly make love for the first time in her life. With her.

  Chapter 10

  “It sounds like it’s getting serious,” Paige said as she grabbed a handful of popcorn. She’d invited herself over for movie night Sunday after Cloe told her about the evening with Lindsey.

  Cloe was about to argue, but she knew better. “It is.”

  Paige looked surprised. “What? No argument?”

  “I told her about my lesbian virginity, as you like to call it.”

  Paige was about to shovel more popcorn into her mouth and stopped abruptly. “Whoa.”

  “Yeah. Whoa.”

  Paige finished munching. “What was her reaction?”

  “She was very understanding. We’re seeing each other again Wednesday night.”

  “Whoa.”

  Cloe laughed. “Is that all you can say tonight? Whoa?”

  Paige stood up and started pacing. “This could be the woman, Cloe. Do you get that? I mean, damn. She’s not only hot, she’s sensitive to your feelings.”

  Cloe watched her friend pace back and forth in her living room. She already paused their movie, although she’d been reluctant to do so. Wonder Woman was one of her favorites. I mean, come on. Gal Gadot? Who could top that? She realized she’d missed the last thing Paige had said. “What?”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’ll see where it goes.”

  “That’s it?”

  “What else am I supposed to do? I’m not going to overanalyze this.”

  Paige sat back down. “But you’re attracted to her, right?”

  “Yes. Very.”

  “Shit. Who wouldn’t be?”

  “Hey.”

  “Please. I’ve already told you what I thought about her looks. Now, I have sensitivity to go along with it. She sounds perfect.”

  Cloe remembered Lindsey’s words about her emotional shutdown at her nephew’s death and being afraid she’d have trouble giving herself again. She decided to change the subject.

  “What about you and this woman you’re dating? Renee? How’s that going?”

  Paige’s face dissolved into a dreamy expression.

  “That good, huh?” Cloe said.

  “She’s special, Cloe.”

  Cloe bumped shoulders with her. “I always knew there’d be a woman who’d catch your fancy.”

  “Catch my fancy? Have you been reading those bodice-ripping romances again?”

  “Nah. Just my lesfic romances.”

  Paige took a sip of her Coke. “As a matter of fact, she’s definitely caught my fancy. I think we’re close to taking it further.”

  Cloe dramatically grabbed her arm. “Wait. You’ve not slept with her yet?”

  “Not unless you count the time we actually fell asleep on the couch watching TV.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “You’re right. We don’t know each other in the biblical sense.” Paige’s mouth pulled into a slow smile. “But we’re getting there. Who knows, though. You and Lindsey might get there first.”

  Cloe didn’t respond. She started the movie again and got lost in watching Wonder Woman Gadot kick ass.

  * * *

  Lindsey sat on the same log she’d sat with Cloe and thought back to that time, which seemed so long ago. She couldn’t help but admit how much lighter she felt since Cloe had entered her life. Even Sylvia had noticed the change in Lindsey. Cloe was already a special friend. If it grew to something more, well, that would be even more special.

  Fred sniffed at the ground around her feet. Suddenly, a doe and her two fawns entered the clearing in front of them. Fred’s ears perked, and he seemed poised to charge after them. Lindsey softly said, “Sit, boy.” He sat at her feet but never took his attention away from the deer. After munching on some leaves from an overhanging branch, the doe and her family strolled away, blending into the woods around them.

  Lindsey was lost in thought. Her cell phone rang. She jumped because the sound was so foreign in the quiet surroundings. She glanced at the caller ID.

  “Hey, Sylvia. I take it my two weeks are up.”

  “They are, but that’s not the only reason I’m calling.”

  Lindsey decided to stay silent and wait her out.

  “I have some good news and some bad news,” Sylvia said.

  “How about the bad news first?” Lindsey rubbed Fred’s ears as she waited.

  “The bad news is Shirley Bradenton is definitely retiring. The medicine for her arthritis helped somewhat but not enough for her to continue her work as an illustrator. The doctors suggested that she and her husband move to a better climate, and that’s what they’re going to do. They planned on retiring in the Phoenix area anyway.”

  Lindsey was disappointed because she’d miss working with Shirley. “And the good news?”

  “Dunham likes your idea for your new stories.”

  Lindsey perked up. “That’s great. I can—”

  “Hold your horses. That’s provided you go back to the Bobby stories at some point in the not-too-distant future. You’ve made too much money for them on those books. I’m not saying you won’t make money on this new idea of yours, but little Bobby was popular. This dog idea is an unknown commodity.”

  “Don’t worry. I have a feeling once I write some of these other books, I can return to Bobby.”

  “Good. As for a new illustrator, I’ll contact Barry Tillers in the art department and see who else is available.”

  “About that. . .”

  “Yes?”

  “I may have someone who could step in.”

  “Oh? Is it someone in the business?”

  “No. It’s someone local. She’s quite good. I haven’t asked her. I was holding back until we got a definite answer from Shirley.”

  Sylvia paused. Lindsey could almost hear her thinking. “I’ll need to run it past Barry. Can she send us some samples? You know, give her an idea of the story and ask her to draw up something? You can overnight the artwork here.”

  Lindsey couldn’t help but be exc
ited about working with Cloe. She only hoped Cloe would go along with it.

  “I’m seeing her tomorrow night. I’ll talk to her then. If she agrees, she can get started on some drawings and we’ll send them on to you.”

  “Good. Sounds like that might work. Listen, I need to get back to it. Ring me before you send the artwork. It sounds encouraging that she’ll agree.”

  “Will do.”

  Lindsey ended the call, looking forward not only to spending time with Cloe the next evening, but also to presenting this promising opportunity.

  * * *

  Cloe pulled up in front of Lindsey’s cabin at six Wednesday night. Lindsey had called again last night, her voice full of excitement over some big news she wanted to share. Cloe had to admit she was curious. She got out of her truck and sniffed the air. The smell of the barbeque was too much of a temptation. She walked around the cabin to the rear. A wooden fence encircled Lindsey’s backyard. Fred was lying not too far from the barbeque, gnawing on a bone. He kept his big brown eyes focused on Lindsey’s every move, probably hoping for an accidental drop of a hamburger.

  Lindsey must have heard her open the gate. Her face lit up as she spotted Cloe’s approach. Cloe noticed Lindsey’s frank appraisal of what she was wearing—a tank top with khaki shorts. She’d gotten enough sun lately to feel a little surer of herself in showing some skin.

  Cloe placed her hand on Lindsey’s hip and leaned in for a kiss. “Hi.”

  Lindsey’s eyes fluttered open, and she held Cloe’s gaze. “Hi. You look great.”

  “Thanks. You do, too.” And Lindsey did look great in her own khaki shorts and tank top. Lindsey’s skin was quite a bit darker than Cloe’s. Cloe couldn’t help but admire the muscles in Lindsey’s legs. “I think you have me beat on your tan.”

  “Helps to have a boat and be a bum for the past couple of weeks.” She flipped the burgers and turned the brats. “I hope this is okay.” She nodded at the food. “I didn’t have any steaks in the freezer. I didn’t find that out until I got ready to barbeque.”

  Cloe kissed her cheek. “It’s fine.” She bent down to pat Fred. “Hey, little guy. Is Lindsey not sharing?”

  Lindsey rolled her eyes. “Please. He knows he always gets a burger. He’s pretending to wilt away right now so you’ll have pity when we eat.”

  Cloe cradled his face in her hands. “You’d never sink so low, would you, Fred?”

  He woofed.

  Lindsey motioned with her spatula. “I think that’s your answer.”

  Cloe took a seat in a lounge chair and watched Lindsey place two foil-wrapped items onto the grill.

  “Corn on the cob okay for you?” Lindsey asked.

  “Yes. Especially Indiana corn on the cob. I always look forward to this time of the year when our crops come in.”

  “It sounds like I’ve planned the perfect meal.”

  They chatted until Lindsey finished grilling the food.

  “What can I do?” Cloe asked.

  Lindsey nodded at a nearby ice chest. “I have some beer in there. If you don’t want that, there’s iced tea and fresh lemonade in the fridge inside.”

  Cloe stood and went to the cooler. She pulled out two Heinekens. “Heineken sounds great. Just one for me, though. I’ll switch to lemonade after this.”

  “Is it okay if we eat out here?”

  Cloe glanced at the table on the patio that already had two place settings. “This is fine.”

  Lindsey placed the burgers, brats, and corn on the cob onto a large serving plate and carried it to the table. Cloe settled into one of the cushioned chairs.

  “Let me warm us some buns, and we’ll be all set.”

  It didn’t take long for Lindsey to warm the buns and bring them over to the table. She sat next to Cloe. “Dig in. No need to be formal.”

  Cloe didn’t hesitate. She had only a small salad at lunch in anticipation of eating this meal with Lindsey. She poured ketchup on her burger and took a big bite. She groaned. She felt Lindsey watching her. “Sorry,” she said as she swiped at her mouth with her napkin. “I’m really hungry.”

  Lindsey’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Good to know you like it.” She took a sip of her beer and set it down. She’d topped off her brat with relish and mustard but hadn’t taken a bite yet.

  Cloe glanced at the brat. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

  Lindsey fiddled with her napkin. She seemed nervous about something. Cloe had hoped they were past the nervousness of their relationship. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  Cloe sensed a “but” was coming, so she waited her out.

  Lindsey ran her fingers through her hair. “Remember I said I had some news to share with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have a proposition for you.”

  Cloe quirked her eyebrow.

  Lindsey chuckled. “Not that kind of proposition. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I’m not interested, but I was talking about something else.”

  Before Lindsey rambled any further, Cloe grabbed her hand. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

  “How would you feel about illustrating my books?”

  Cloe couldn’t have been more surprised if Lindsey asked her to run away to join the Blue Man Group in Vegas. “What?” Gosh, that was profound, Cloe.

  “My books. You know how they’re illustrated?”

  “Yes. Very well, I might add.” Cloe had ordered two online, impressed with the artwork in the print copies.

  “Thanks. I always thought so. Anyway, Shirley, my illustrator, is retiring because of arthritis in her hands.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “I’m disappointed, too. Then I thought of you and what a good artist you are. I remembered those drawings you did of Fred’s little adventure in the water that day. My editor said my publisher is going along with the new stories about a dog. I thought we could collaborate on the books. It will be even easier with us being so close together.”

  Cloe’s heart beat faster, both at the prospect of spending even more time with Lindsey and at the possibility of using her talent.

  “I’m sure your editor and publisher have others they can turn to.”

  Lindsey shook her head. “Sylvia said to run it past you. We can mock up a little story about Fred.” She looked a little sheepish. “That’s what I’ll call the dog in my series. Then we overnight the mock-up to Sylvia and Barry, the art director, to see what they think. I’m confident they’ll agree to hire you. You’re that talented. Who knows? This might lead to even more work for you. That is if it’s something you’d like to do.”

  Cloe sat back in her chair. Something she’d like to do? She’d hoped for a breakthrough with her work. Sure, she sold pieces in Nashville, but this sounded like a steady income. Something she could depend on. She didn’t hesitate. “I’d love to work with you.”

  Lindsey beamed at her. “When do you want to start?”

  “I assume you have a short story we can work with?”

  “Funny you should ask.”

  Cloe laughed. “How did I know you were going to say that?” She thought for a minute. “How about I bring my sketchpad over Saturday night? In the meantime, I’m going to call one of my profs who used to work as an illustrator and get some hints on the business.”

  Lindsey reached for Cloe’s hand and held it. “We’ll work well together, Cloe. I just know it.”

  Cloe had no doubt they would. But how much longer could she resist the temptation to fall even further for Lindsey?

  * * *

  “Mom, you’re sure you don’t mind if I don’t help out today at the store?” Cloe asked Fiona who was cleaning up the kitchen after the morning breakfast. Her dad already left to open the store.

  Fiona stopped what she was doing and came over to Cloe. She wiped her hands on a towel and cupped Cloe’s cheek. “Sweetheart, this is such an opportunity for you to finally use your talent. Why would I mind?”

  Cloe hugged
her. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll let you know how it went when I get home.” Cloe had already called her old professor to set up a time to speak with her. Friday was one of her prof’s open days, which worked out perfectly.

  Cloe hurried back to her apartment, showered, and dressed in her best jeans and cotton shirt. She knew Professor Cindy Powers didn’t expect formal clothing.

  She pulled into a metered slot in front of the Fine Arts Building on the IU Campus. She entered the building and took the elevator to the fourth floor. When she neared Powers’s office, she heard her distinctive southern accent as she finished up a call. Cloe stood in the open doorway and gave a little wave then motioned she’d wait outside. Powers shook her head and waved her in.

  “Mary, I’ll get back with you. My ten o’clock is here.” Powers hung up, stood, and reached across the desk with an outstretched hand.

  Cloe shook it. “It’s so good to see you, Professor Powers. I want to thank you for taking time for me today.”

  “First of all, Cloe, you must call me Cindy. Secondly, I always help out my former students, especially those who are as talented as you.”

  Cloe blushed. “I don’t know about that.”

  Powers pointed at the chair in front of her desk. “You can’t argue a fact, Cloe.”

  “Well, I could,” Cloe said with a laugh as she sat down.

  “True. But that doesn’t change the fact.” Powers steepled her fingers and got right down to it. “We have a couple of decisions to make right off the bat. I have a feeling I know what your answer will be, but I’m going to ask anyway. You can do this digitally with a program like Illustrator or Photoshop.” She held up her hand before Cloe could answer. “Or you can do this by sketching and watercolors, allowing the publisher to scan your work for the finished product. A lot of this will depend on how your publisher does things. In other words, you may not have a choice.”

  “You’re right. I’m sure you know my answer would be to do everything by hand. I think it’d be more artistic that way.”

  Powers laughed. “Don’t let a graphic designer hear you say that.”