Hummingbird Cove

by Giselle Fox

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Despite having spent much of the early morning hours awake, Daisy bounced out of bed at dawn. She threw another log in the wood stove, onto the already smoldering pile of coals left from her 3 am composting toilet visit. A thin line of smoke was curling up from the chimney on Keira’s side of the cove. Daisy smiled. They were building fires and sending signals.

  She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. The morning air felt more damp than cold, but it was already settling into her bones. There was still some hot water left in her thermos for tea. Coffee was next.

  She slipped her wool-socked feet into her boots and stepped out on the deck, letting her screen door bang shut behind her. A few moments later, she saw movement in the big glass windows across the cove. Then, the deck doors opened and Keira stepped out.

  They waved to each other; Keira from the closest edge of her balcony and Daisy from the nearest railing of hers. She lifted her cup. There was no sense in pretending she didn’t want Keira’s company again, starting as soon as possible. “I have water boiling for coffee. Wanna come over?”

  Keira smiled back at her. “Sure.”

  A few minutes later, Keira was tromping up the path toward her cabin, glancing out over the cove as she walked. Daisy stood near the top of the steps, half-bent with her elbows on the rail. A heron had landed on the tip of a sunken log and was preening the feathers beneath one of its great wings. She felt Keira’s weight on the stairs and smiled down at her. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.” Keira took a lean beside her. They both watched the heron take off and arc over the water and then return to its log.

  “She’s hunting,” Keira said. “Her nest is right up there.” She pointed a finger at a clumped mass inside the tall firs. “See it?”

  “Mm, yes,” Daisy replied, leaning closer to Keira’s outstretched arm. They smiled at each other again. “I guess you know most of the animals that live around here.”

  “We all keep an eye on the neighborhood.”

  “Wonder what they think of me moving in.”

  Keira smiled. “I’m sure they don’t mind.”

  Daisy heard the kettle inside make the sound it made before it was ready to boil. “I finished your book last night.”

  Keira seemed surprised. “You did? That was fast.”

  “I liked it. A lot.”

  “Good. There’s more.”

  “Yes,” Daisy said. “Two more, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  Daisy propped the screen door open with a log and went inside to make coffee. “Black, right?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Keira replied from the doorway.

  A few minutes later, they were sipping their coffee in silence, both staring out over the water. The heron lifted off for another diving pass.

  “So… I was thinking I might try going for a swim today,” Daisy said.

  Keira grinned. “Wow. Okay.”

  “But… I kinda feel like I should do it soon before I change my mind.”

  “Sure. Morning is the best time.” They smiled at each other again.

  Daisy was inside her cabin deliberating, again, over which one of the two bathing suits she’d brought would be best for freezing to death in the Pacific Ocean. “I brought you along for a hot tub,” she said, lifting the black one up for closer inspection. “But since there are no hot tubs here...”

  She disrobed quickly, her skin prickling against the chill. Was it better to get warm again or to try and get used to it? She decided to pull on a hoodie over her swimsuit.

  Keira was already down at her dock. “I can’t believe I’m going to do this,” she called.

  Keira smiled up at her. “It’s okay if you change your mind. I’m going in, anyway.”

  “No, I feel like I have to try it at least once.” Daisy worked her way down the brushy path, her bare feet cold inside her sneakers, until she stepped onto Keira’s groomed side of the waterfront. The sun was doing its best to warm things, but it still had a long way to go. Keira pulled her sweater over her head and hung it on the hook beside her towel. Then she stripped off her sweatpants and hung them beside it. She swung her arms in windmills and took a few deep breaths.

  “Does that help?” Daisy said as she slowly unzipped her hoodie. Her body recoiled against the cold air. “Oh, my gosh. What am I doing?” she laughed. She hung the hoodie on the hook beside Keira’s and pulled off her shorts. She looked down into the green water, questioning her reasons for wanting to go in. She shook her arms and legs the same way she had before swim meets when she was a teenager.

  She smiled at Keira, looking delicious in her deep red two-piece, and not the least bit shy about standing on a cold dock in such a state of undress. Daisy took a few deep breaths and coached herself. It’s going to get worse before it gets better, so suck it up and stand up straight. It won’t kill you.

  She shook her arms beside her again and thought warm, happy thoughts. Hot tub, Keira, sauna, Keira’s bum, mmm Keira’s bum. It wasn’t the most enlightened mantra, but it was all her brain could come up with. She took a small step back and stole a few more peeks at it, curving nicely from her long muscular legs.

  “Have you ever just… jumped in before?”

  “I have and I don’t recommend it for beginners.”

  “Too shocking?”

  Keira nodded. “It’s pretty intense.”

  Daisy crouched down and put her hand in the water. “It doesn’t feel too bad from up here.”

  “Good. Keep telling yourself that.” Keira swung herself down onto the ladder and stepped onto a lower rung. Her knees were covered. Daisy did her best to keep her surreptitious peeks at her breasts to herself, but after the third time of not being able to help herself, she gave up. She began cycling through her warm thoughts again. A few seconds later, Keira let herself fall back and then pushed off the ladder. She glided away from the dock without a gasp.

  Daisy didn’t want to get left too far behind, so she stepped down onto the ladder and then took another step down. She almost screamed when the water hit the backs of her knees. She felt her whole body shrivel upward the further she stepped in. Keira was treading water and watching her, taking deep breaths. “You can do it. It’s better once you’re in.”

  “Promise?”

  “I promise.”

  Daisy stepped down again until the water covered her bikini bottoms. There was no going back now that her stomach was wet. She allowed herself to fall in, trying to look as graceful about it as Keira had, though her body went completely rigid. The shock came like the death drop on a roller coaster, stealing away her voice. Her breath stopped. It was too cold to scream. Then, as she glided across the top of the water in a state somewhere between utter panic and shock, she felt Keira’s hand on her arm, checking-in, reassuring her.

  Finally, in a desperate need for air, she let out a high-pitched, gasping wail that echoed off the trees. Having no way to control it, the cry erupted from her body again, and once more after that. Even to her own ears, it sounded like the cries of an orgasm. Keira began to laugh. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes!” Daisy wailed, trying her best to tread water and find a natural cadence for her breath. She took a few quick strokes out into deeper water, dipping her face in just to get it all over with. She sputtered to the surface. “Oh my God!”

  “It’s nice isn’t it?” Keira flipped under, rolled over and then dove down and arched back up again. Daisy felt the panic in her core settle and relax. The water was definitely cold but not unbearable. Keira was somehow playing like a porpoise below her, rolling and spinning in the water. She laughed and then tried to do the same.

  The water covered her head, her ears, and her neck. She was surrounded in icy cold, but the inside of her body felt like it was glowing with warmth. As she dipped below the surface, she imagined herself as a little ember, sliding through the dark green water. She arched upward and broke through the surface of the water into the cool morning air. �
��This is incredible,” she said. “I’m so glad we did this.”

  Keira was treading water, watching her, smiling. Her eyes were sparkling, water dripping down her forehead. “Are you ready to get out?”

  “Yes!” Daisy said. There was no need to prolong it. Cold was cold and humans didn’t belong in it. They swam back to the ladder.

  “Go ahead,” Keira said.

  Daisy didn’t hesitate. Her work was done. She pulled herself up onto the dock and grabbed both their towels.

  Keira stood dripping wet beside her. Her skin was prickly from top to bottom, but her muscles were toned and tight. She slicked her hands through her hair, pressing the water out until it ran in streams from the ends and splattered onto the dock. Daisy handed her a towel and watched as she casually slung it around her shoulders.

  Their eyes met again. Keira smiled. “Feel good?”

  “I feel great,” Daisy said. It was true, she did. Her skin tingled. Her mind felt clear. She was cold but somehow only on the surface. The depths of her body felt warm and alive. She toweled off her hair as Keira watched her. They smiled at each other again.

  “More coffee?” Daisy offered.

  “We could do breakfast, if you like. Unless you have plans.”

  “No plans,” Daisy said quickly. “Should I come over to your place? It’s so much nicer.”

  “Sure. That sounds great.”

  Daisy threw on her hoodie and wrapped her towel around her waist. She slid her feet into her sneakers. Keira slipped her sweater over her head and did the same with her towel.

  “See you soon.” Daisy slid her hand down Keira’s arm for good measure. A little physical contact between friends was nice, and between lovers, it was mandatory. She bolted up the path toward her cabin. When she looked back, Keira was still watching her.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Daisy had two things on her agenda for the day; one was to find out more about Keira Maitland, the writer, and the other… well, the other involved more of Keira on the whole. More hands, more eyes, and a lot more lips, of which, so far, there’d been none—a detail that was feeling more urgent by the second. What else was there to do for four more days?

  She stripped off her cold, wet bathing suit and toweled herself dry. She slid her chilled body into comfortable, athletic wear and checked herself in the mirror. Then she frowned. “Nuh, uh.”

  She ransacked her suitcase and then went for the things she’d hung in the closet. “Dress for the job you want,” she whispered. The job in her imaginary scenario, was to sit in Keira’s library in the morning sun, reading, perhaps even jotting down a few words in her journal—if she managed not to be wholly distracted by Keira typing away behind her. If she wanted to look enticing enough to segue from breakfast into less platonic activities, flopping on Keira’s couch in sweats and fleece was probably not the best place to start. She wanted Keira to steal glances at her from over the top of her computer screen. What did she want her to see?

  “This,” Daisy said as she held up a summery cotton dress, one that could be dressed down or up; offering the perfect amount of exposure once it got too warm in front of the big glass windows. “Skin,” she said deviously. Women loved skin. Showing it. Admiring it. Consuming it.

  The minute she stepped onto the other side of the cove and found Keira looking down at her from her balcony, wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt picked for fit rather than cozy practicality, she knew the dress had been a good choice. Keira’s eyes told her she agreed.

  “Would you like a cappuccino?” she asked.

  “Yes, I would,” Daisy replied, with an equally lascivious curl to her lips. She climbed the wood steps and walked in through the waiting open door. Keira met her in the hall.

  “I want to make you breakfast this time,” Daisy said. “I brought eggs, bread, a nice cheese, and a tomato.”

  Keira slid her hand through her damp hair. The short ends at the back had curled into little spiky waves. Daisy caught the scent of something spicy—a blend of oils, perhaps. The local islands were filled with potion makers. “You smell good. What is it?” she asked, holding eye contact long enough to make Keira flash another shy smile.

  “Um, I’m not sure. I picked it up at the farmer’s market.”

  “It suits you,” Daisy said. She slipped out of her boots and jacket, watching Keira’s eyes for more signs of appreciation. She caught her looks; bold, hungry. It made her smile. Their bodies were only a small step apart. How easy it would be to close that gap and plant a kiss on her cheek, Daisy thought. They both wanted it, that was certain. Tension was building around them. With the forest and ocean, their warm breath and sunlight streaming in through the big cedar door, it felt as though their attraction was blooming like spring.

  She held onto the idea of the kiss, saving it for an after-breakfast treat when there would be nothing else to do but… whatever their mood dictated. Flirting was fun, anyway—one of Daisy’s favorite things to do, in fact. And Keira, with her confident and relaxed grin, seemed to be enjoying it just as much.

  They moved from the entranceway into the kitchen, into more sunlight streaming in from the skylights above, filtering through the ancient trees. It came from the water side, too, dancing and sparkling across the tops of tiny waves before breaking through the front windows. Keira got busy making cappuccinos, and soon the kitchen was filled with the earthy smell of roasted beans. She frothed the milk and poured it into their cups in the shapes of fir trees.

  “Mmm. Oh my gosh, this sure beats the sulfur blend at my place,” Daisy said after taking a sip of the frothy brown heaven. “What other shapes can you do?”

  “Clovers and hearts,” Keira replied.

  “Did someone teach you?”

  “Yes. I spent a little time in Italy.”

  “Another friend?” Daisy asked, smiling.

  Keira smiled back.

  Daisy helped herself to the kitchen, directing Keira to a barstool to watch. She whipped together a simple cheese, tomato, and onion omelet, while feeling Keira’s eyes on her back—and other places. Each time she turned around, her suspicion was confirmed. Keira sat with her back straight and her legs relaxed, her feet up on the footrest of her stool.

  Daisy divided her creation and slid the halves onto two plates. Then she took a seat at the bar. Keira turned, pivoting her body closer. “Thank you,” she said in a low, amused tone. She dug into her half of the omelet and forked a good morsel into her mouth. “Mmm,” she said, cupping her hand over her mouth, “This is perfect.”

  Daisy felt satisfied. The day was progressing nicely. There was just one more thing to put into place. “So,” she ventured, “what are your plans for the day?”

  They dropped their breakfast dishes into the dishwasher and carried their second rounds of cappuccino out of the kitchen. The big doors to the library were wide open and spring sun streamed in through the windows. Daisy stepped out onto the balcony in her bare feet. She set her cup and saucer on the railing and took a deep breath of the verdant air. When she turned, Keira was standing just behind her, looking up at the tree above their heads.

  “What are you working on today? More white papers?” Daisy asked, unable to hide her grin.

  Keira lowered her eyes and smiled back. “Yeah, maybe.”

  “Unless another story pops into your head?”

  Keira eyes flashed at her. “Maybe.”

  Daisy turned back and looked at the water. “A woman makes a new friend then finds out she’s a very talented writer.”

  “Sounds plausible,” Keira said after a short pause. Then she walked back inside.

  Daisy followed her in and took her place on the sunken cushions. Keira was at her desk, reading something on her monitor. Daisy was dying to know what, but she stayed as she was. She remembered Keira’s book was still in her bag, so she pulled it out and took the two steps out of the pit and over to the shelf. She slid it into place then pulled out the next K.D. Maitland book. Another lesbian heroine; a story set in P
aris. Perfect, she thought. Her eyes dropped to the two long rows of bestsellers beside it. “You must really like Kay Ember.”

  “Sometimes,” Keira replied.

  Daisy pulled one of the books out from the center of the stack and held it in her hand. It was titled Midnight Son, and had the kind of cover romance novels had. “Would you recommend?” she asked, holding it up with a smile.

  Keira regarded it. “A lot of people liked it.”

  “What about this one?” She held up K.D. Maitland’s second book, her eyebrow arched.

  “That one’s pretty good. The next one is better… I think.”

  Daisy pulled out the last of Keira’s books and sat down on the floor with all three. She read the back cover of Midnight Son, the bestseller from Kay Ember. It was set in Sweden. The heroine, Lacey, was the lone survivor of a float plane wreck in the Northern forest, lost until she meets the hero, a ranger named Gabriel. Daisy was more interested in tucking herself in with more lesbian romance than a mainstream one, so she slid it back onto the shelf. Keira’s eyes followed her as she carried the books back to the couch and made herself comfortable again.

  Only two days had passed. Daisy counted them again. Her body still tingled from their morning swim. She felt more relaxed than she had in years. As she watched Keira pound away on her keyboard, fascinated by the speed at which she could transfer her thoughts to the page, Daisy realized she had what was looking more and more like a wild crush on her neighbor.

  She stepped out of the cushion pit and walked back out onto the balcony. Day one had seemed so straightforward; go to Read Island, convince Keira to sell her chunk of Hummingbird Cove, get back to Vancouver ASAP. By the eve of day two, that plan was already a no-go. There would be no development, at least not in the cove. A part of her felt relieved about it. There was something special about that place; something that deserved preservation. Her decision to stay had one purpose only. Now there she was, on day three, plotting the best way to get Keira naked.

  She curled her fingers around the railing and spread them open again. What are you doing? She asked herself. If Keira knew who you were, none of this would have happened. You lied to her.