Take Your Time

by VK Powell

  “No, thanks, MJ.”

  “Guess I know why our guest bolted through the kitchen like a cat with her tail on fire.” She waved toward Grace. “Look at the state of you.”

  Grace poured herself a glass of tea and sat at the island opposite Mary Jane. “What’s wrong with the state of me?”

  “You’re not exactly trying to cover your assets. You probably scared the poor woman half to death.” She shook her head but stopped short of tsking.

  “Trust me, she can handle it. Besides, these are perfectly presentable clothes for a stroll down Main Street.” She tried for a contrite look, but Mary Jane’s expression said she wasn’t buying it. “Okay, maybe I was testing the waters a bit.”

  “You know what they say about horses and water.”

  “The same thing they say about fish and worms? You can’t make them take something they don’t want. And just for the record, I think you’re right. I probably came on a little strong.”

  “Then why do I sense a but at the end of that sentence?” Mary Jane asked.

  “Because I don’t want to give up on her yet. I can’t really explain why. I just know I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t try.”

  Mary Jane hugged Grace and swayed like she used to when Grace was a kid. “I’ve seen people come and go in your life, honey, and you’ve never gone wrong listening to your gut.”

  “Thank you. I’ll probably need a few more of these heart-to-heart sessions along the way, but right now, I need to talk to you about something else.” She took a sip of tea and caged the glass in her hands. “It’s about that crazy bird Karla left at the cottage.”

  Mary Jane nodded. “I wondered what was going to happen to him.”

  “Dani and I discussed the sunroom as a possibility. What do you think?”

  She was quiet as Mary Jane glanced toward the sunroom and then walked through the space. She waited patiently until Mary Jane was ready to deliver her decision, knowing that either way Harry would have to adjust to a new environment.

  “I think it can work, with one condition,” Mary Jane said.

  Grace wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed. “What?”

  “He has to learn some new words and forget the colorful ones Karla taught him. I can’t have him alienating the guests.”

  “I’m not sure parrots can forget words, but I’m willing to give it a try if you are.”

  Mary Jane grinned. “He’ll be a unique addition to the place, something people will talk about and that could draw others in. This might be good for everyone, especially Harry and you.”

  “Me? He’s a bird, MJ.”

  “He’s a living thing that deserves a happy home and someone to care for him.”

  Mary Jane was right, as usual. Grace hadn’t been able to turn her back on Harry at first, and she couldn’t do it now. He was becoming part of the family like it or not. “Of course.”

  Mary Jane started toward her room but stopped and turned back. “You going over to Trip’s tomorrow to help with the cookout preparations?”

  “Yeah, I’ll direct cars to the house with traffic cones, cordon off the stairs to the second floor, and schlep a ton of food from downtown. You need something before I go over?”

  “Nah, just checking on my girl.”

  “Thanks, MJ. And thank you for Harry too. I was running out of options.”

  “We always seem to manage, but in this case, you should probably thank Dani.”

  She might not have the nerve to face Dani again after tonight. It hadn’t been a calculated move, but once Dani scooted closer and leaned into her, she hadn’t been able to resist trying for one kiss. Now that Dani knew she was interested, Grace could slow down and let things progress naturally.

  Chapter Nine

  Dani walked slightly behind Michelle from the clinic to Trip’s house for the cookout. She’d grown weary of the long drives to Savannah for companionship and decided to check out the local options. She chugged a beer, enjoying the view of Michelle’s firm ass in bikini bottoms and the pale expanse of skin between the top and the flare of her hips. The woman was hot and knew it but tried too hard for Dani’s taste, unlike Grace who highlighted her assets without flaunting them. Dani didn’t want to show up at the cookout with Michelle, but didn’t want to arrive alone either, not after almost kissing Grace last night. Despite her attempts at distraction, she’d thought of little else since. She enjoyed the excitement Grace brought to a room, the way she looked at her, and the compassion in her voice when she talked about townspeople or Harry.

  Michelle reached back for her hand as they approached the house. “Ashamed to be seen with me?”

  “Of course not. I just don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression. And I don’t do handholding. Go on in, and I’ll see you in a minute.” Michelle hesitated, but Dani walked away to gather her courage before facing Grace.

  She’d behaved like a scared novice when Grace leaned in to kiss her. She’d hungered for that kiss too, but not the fallout. Grace would’ve made more out of it, and Dani couldn’t afford to leave any damage when she left, especially not involving Grace. Grace and Trip were good friends, and Dani needed an impeccable referral when she applied for her next job.

  Decision made again to keep her distance, Dani walked up the front steps of Trip’s large two-story house. People crowded the front porch and the screened porch on the right side, overflowing into the backyard around the pool. She hadn’t expected so many people, but that could be a good thing. Maybe she’d meet someone who made the frequent trips to Savannah unnecessary.

  When she entered the living area, two massive seating areas off to each side were flooded with mostly women and a smattering of men already drinking and competing to be heard. She caught the glance of a couple of potentials and gave a quick smile. When she entered the combination dining, kitchen, and sunroom area, Trip and Clay walked toward her.

  “Glad you made it,” Trip said, patting her on the back. “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to blow me off.”

  “Wouldn’t think of insulting my boss. What a crowd.”

  “Greatest show on earth.” Trip jerked her thumb toward the woman beside her. “Don’t think you’ve been properly introduced, but this is Clay Cahill, resident artist extraordinaire and part-time tow truck driver and grease monkey.”

  “We’ve bumped into each other,” Dani said.

  Clay shifted a paper plate loaded with quesadillas, chips, and salsa to her left hand and offered a half wave. “Welcome to the best cookout in three counties. I see you brought a date.” She nodded toward Michelle who was getting a drink at the bar.

  “Not a date,” Dani said.

  “Good to hear. I’d hate to bust your chops for dating the underage help.” Trip nudged her as she passed on the way to greet other arrivals.

  “Underage? But she looks—”

  “Looks can be deceiving, but she’s not really underage, just acts like it sometimes. See you around,” Clay said.

  “Yeah, see you.” Dani scanned the room but didn’t have time to register if she knew anyone else before Michelle was by her side, sliding her arm through Dani’s.

  “I missed you,” Michelle said.

  Dani edged away. “Listen, I like you, but I’m not interested in anything else. I agreed to come with you to the cookout as friends and colleagues. Whatever you’re hoping for beyond that isn’t happening. Understand?” Why couldn’t she be as straightforward with Grace?

  Michelle’s smile altered only slightly as she slowly released Dani’s arm. “Sure. I just thought you’d like a good time. Obviously, I misjudged you. I’ll be around if you change your mind.” Then without warning, she cupped Dani’s face and kissed her before heading toward another woman standing alone in the kitchen.

  When Dani looked up, she met Grace’s incredulous stare across the room. Great, she’d alienated two women at the same time without even trying, a personal worst. She couldn’t do anything right with Grace, which was probab
ly a good thing considering her earlier resolution to stay clear. She needed a drink in the worst way, scanned the space for the bar, and walked to the outside patio near the pool. “Beer, please.”

  She took two long pulls from the bottle, turned back to the crowd, and came face-to-face with Grace. She gasped and sucked beer down her windpipe, which caused a coughing fit. Sputtering, she grabbed a napkin from the bar and wiped her mouth. Grace slapped her on the back, and Dani felt her face heat.

  “All right?” Grace asked nonchalantly before addressing the cute bartender. “Can I get a glass of zinfandel, please?” She retrieved her wine and turned back to Dani with an amused smile on her face.

  “Yeah, fine, just went down the wrong way.”

  “Karma perhaps?”

  “For?”

  “Dissing your date so publicly.”

  “Why does everybody assume we’re dating? We just walked over together after work.”

  Grace held up her hand. “You don’t need to explain to me. Just an observation about how it looked to an outsider. And you can bet there will be a big breakup story going around town before nightfall.”

  “Doesn’t the truth matter?” Dani took a smaller sip of beer mainly to distract her from Grace’s focused gaze.

  “Not usually.”

  Grace raked her fingers through her wavy hair and let it fall to her shoulders, making Dani wonder if it felt soft and fine or course and thick. Grace’s white shorts and bright green sleeveless blouse were crisp and summery like an exotic flower, and Dani caught a whiff of her floral perfume on the light afternoon breeze. The sexy fragrance sent her stomach into a tumble.

  “Well, guess I’ll see you later. A couple of people are trying to crash the emergency tape and escape upstairs,” Grace said and turned to leave.

  Dani’s startled exit from their near kiss last night had sent normally cordial and engaging Grace into cautious mode, and Dani didn’t like the cooler version. “Wait…I…” She grappled for something, anything to get Grace to stay.

  Grace stopped but searched the room as if she was looking for someone before she called out to the couple near the stairs. “Hey, upstairs is off limits. Don’t you see the tape?” She returned her attention to Dani, pinning her with an amused stare. “You were saying?”

  “I was…just wondering how you, Trip, and Clay became such good friends.” Lame, but impersonal and engaging. Grace’s expression said she was enjoying her discomfort.

  “We’ve known each other since we were kids. Growing up in a small town has that effect. And we came out to each other one Christmas when we were freshmen in high school and went caroling together.”

  “How did singing Christmas songs bring up being gay?”

  “Not Christmas caroling. We were all dating women named Carol. Sort of became obvious when we showed up at the seasonal play arm in arm with other girls.”

  Dani almost sucked another mouthful of beer down her throat. “I see.”

  “I should mingle. I’m one of the cohosts. Have a good time, Dani.”

  She wasn’t ready to let Grace go, and before second-guessing herself, she brushed Grace’s arm. “Could we talk a bit more?” The heat from their touch surged through Dani, and she jerked away. She didn’t reach out first. She didn’t chase women. And she certainly didn’t ask to talk, ever. What was going on with her? Grace’s cheeks tinged pink and she licked her lips. She’d felt the connection too. Dani raised her hands and backed up. “Yeah, see you later.”

  She watched Grace walk away, and the sway of her ass made Dani’s throat dry and the rest of her wet. What was it about Grace that tempted Dani to chase after her, drag her to bed, and never let her leave? But Grace wouldn’t allow anyone to drag her anywhere. Maybe the challenge was part of Dani’s attraction.

  She’d been such a coward not to kiss Grace when she had a chance and now Grace wanted nothing to do with her. As Grace worked her way through the crowd talking and laughing with guests, Dani felt an unfamiliar sense of loss.

  * * *

  “Not exactly what we talked about, Grace,” Trip whispered in her ear. “You’re supposed to be your usual charming and charismatic self, not some slightly muted version of an ice queen. I felt the chill way over here.”

  “Charming and charismatic Grace sent her running for the hills, so I’ve just toned it down a notch. You don’t chase a spooked horse, do you, Trip?”

  “Depends on the horse, and that one is definitely in heat. Her eyes were tracking you the whole time Clay and I were talking to her and she’s still watching every move.”

  “But when I’m around, she’s standoffish and weird.”

  Trip steered her toward a group of other women. “Maybe you need a teaser.”

  “For God’s sake, stop talking in animal terms and speak plainly.” Grace tried to free her arm from Trip’s grasp, but she held firmly and aimed them toward a particularly cute butch with buzzed hair and a buff body accented by swim trunks and a tank top.

  “Jay is the best teaser in the county. She flirts with everybody, acts like she’s the biggest whore dog around, but is basically harmless.”

  “What are you talking about, Trip Beaumont?”

  They stopped just out of earshot of Jay, and Trip continued. “A teaser is a horse that breeders use to stimulate the mare, but he’s not the stallion that will ultimately mate with her.”

  “Seriously, Trip? You’re comparing me to a breeding mare?”

  “You’re missing the point, Gracie. Dani is a stallion with eyes only for you. Trust me, she won’t like some other stud sniffing around. Just go with it. Talk with Jay for a bit and let this play out. I know what I’m doing.”

  Grace shook her head but refused to move when Trip nudged her closer to Jay. “I don’t like games, Trip.”

  “You’re just being my very sociable cohost. Clay and I have our hands full working the femme side of the crowd.”

  “Hey, Grace.” Jay had walked up behind them while she was debating with Trip. “I’ve been trying to get a minute alone with you since I got here. Walk with me?”

  “See you later,” Trip said, winking at Grace, and disappearing in the throng of women.

  Grace sighed, still uncomfortable with the situation, but she could at least be friendly. “How’ve you been, Jay?”

  “Not too bad.” Jay offered her arm, and Grace looped hers through as they walked toward the backyard away from the pool and the noisy crowd. “You might’ve heard Cynthia and I broke up a couple of months ago.”

  Grace rubbed her hand down Jay’s arm. “Are you okay?”

  “Getting there. She was cheating with a woman in Savannah.”

  Savannah, sin city to the folks in Pine Cone. Any kind of deviance you wanted thrived there, and those temptations had ended many good marriages and relationships—hers included. “I’m so sorry, Jay. What a horrible thing to do to another person.”

  Jay’s eyes glistened and her bottom lip quivered. “Yeah, never saw it coming.” She took a couple of deep breaths trying to contain her emotions.

  Grace put her arm around Jay’s shoulder and felt the slight trembling of her body. “It’s okay, Jay. Let it out.”

  “Can’t…afraid I…won’t stop. I loved her…so much.”

  Grace pulled Jay close and guided her head onto her shoulder, blocking her face from prying eyes. “You’re a good person who deserves better.”

  Jay bit back a sob, but then cried softly. “But we don’t always get better, do we?”

  “No, we don’t. Sometimes life just sucks big green donkey dicks.”

  Jay chuckled against Grace’s shoulder. “You’re one of the best people I know, kind, considerate, optimistic, but you still got hurt.” She slapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. “I’m so sorry, Grace. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Nothing wrong with telling the truth. But if we don’t push through the pain and disappointment, we’ll never find true love.” Good advice but she hadn’t managed to follow it
yet either. She scanned Trip’s backyard and spotted Dani leaning against the fence staring right at her. Grace started to release Jay, but she held firmly, her tears soaking the front of Grace’s blouse. She couldn’t leave a friend hurting no matter how Dani might interpret their embrace. She held Jay until her crying stopped and looked around again, but Dani was gone.

  After a few more minutes, Jay straightened and wiped her eyes. “Thanks for listening and for letting me cry on your shoulder. I’m not usually like this, bad for my butch image.”

  “Your secret is safe. You know where to find me if you want to talk again.”

  “Maybe we can go dancing in Savannah one night, as friends. Might do us good.”

  “Sure, Jay. Give me a call sometime.” Grace left her by the back gate to compose herself and headed toward the bar. “Could I get another zinfandel, please?” She reached for the glass, but Dani cupped her elbow and guided her into the house and down the hall. “What the—?”

  “Will you please come with me?” Dani asked, leading her toward Trip’s office door. “We need to talk.”

  Clay spotted them and started toward her. “You okay, Grace?”

  “I’m fine. Really. Go back to River.”

  Trip elbowed her way through the room toward them as well, but Grace waved her off with her free hand.

  Grace finally pulled her arm loose, stopped abruptly, and just stared at Dani. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I want to talk to you.” Her voice was a low raspy growl, as if the words pained her.

  “Well, this isn’t how it’s done. You ask a woman if you can talk to her or you just talk. You don’t put your hands on her. That behavior is called assault, not to mention rude.”

  Dani stepped closer and lowered her voice. “I’m sorry. Please, Grace, can we talk?” Dani’s eyes turned dark, and she inclined her head farther down the hall.

  Grace hesitated, trying to name the odd look on Dani’s face, then nodded and followed her into Trip’s office. The women outside the door were too loud for Grace’s liking, so she led Dani into the adjoining half bath, and waited for her to close the door. “What is this about?” The space was so small with Grace’s heels against the wall and Dani’s butt touching the sink they were almost nose-to-nose.