by VK Powell
* * *
Grace watched the scene unfold between Dani and Mary Jane from the back door. She desperately wanted to know what they were talking about but couldn’t bring herself to interrupt. Dani was more emotional than Grace had ever seen her, so Mary Jane had touched a nerve. She waited until Dani composed herself before making her presence known.
“Hey, sorry I’m late. Is there any peach cobbler left or has Dani bogarted it all?”
Dani finally turned toward Grace, looking almost normal except for her red-streaked eyes. “You snooze, you lose.”
Grace feigned shock and fell to her knees at Dani’s stool. “Please give me the tiny morsel on your plate. I’ll be forever in your debt.”
Dani glanced between her last bite of cobbler and Grace with a mischievous grin and then offered her hand. “How can I refuse such a beautiful woman? It’s yours.” She slid the plate to her left and pulled the stool out for Grace.
“You are indeed a kind woman.” Grace picked up the saucer, swiped Dani’s fork from her fingers, and raked the last bite of cobbler into her mouth. “Oh my, so good.”
“Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?” Mary Jane pretended to be shocked, but her eyes glinted with satisfaction.
“Sorry, no breakfast or lunch today.” She grinned at Dani and plopped beside her at the counter. “How are you, Doc?” She wanted to touch Dani, to let her know that no matter what she was going through, both she and Mary Jane were there for her, but decided the attention might upset her more.
“Better after my snack. Did you work all night? I heard about the drug bust.”
“Pretty much, but it’s all squared away now.”
“Good. Harry is in the sunroom.” She nodded toward Mary Jane. “We were waiting for you so we could move his aviary from the cottage. Are you still up for it?”
Dani’s concerned tone tugged at Grace, and she placed her hand gently on Dani’s forearm. “I’m fine. Really. Thanks for asking and for bringing Harry home.”
“No problem.” Dani’s voice was thick with emotion as she hurried out the back door toward the cottage.
“What’s going on, MJ?”
“Another time, honey. Let’s keep it light. Sure you’re okay?” When Grace nodded, Mary Jane fell in behind Dani, and Grace had no choice but to follow along.
She’d forgotten how much trouble she and Karla had getting the aviary into the cottage in the first place, so wedging it back through her tight front door took longer than she’d hoped. By the time she and Dani got it to the larger sunroom door, Mary Jane was done.
“Hate to leave you girls, but I need to finish supper or there won’t be any tonight.”
“We’ve got it now, MJ,” Dani said, giving her a quick hug.
Grace stared at the exchange while Mary Jane gave her a wink over Dani’s shoulder. All Grace could do was smile and wonder what had transpired between the two of them to create this sudden bond.
When Dani turned back toward her, she must’ve had a strange look on her face. “What’s wrong, Grace?”
“Nothing.”
“You look like it’s something.”
“You and hugging? MJ? Just surprised.”
Dani looked down and scuffed her leather lace-up boots in the grass. “Well, she said I should call her MJ, and we sort of had a moment. She’s a really nice woman.”
She waited for Dani to expand on the moment, but when nothing followed, she added, “Yes, she certainly is. And just so you know, if you ever need anything, we’ve got your back.”
Dani offered a weak smile and her eyes darkened, showing how much Grace’s offer meant. The air between them shimmered with emotion until Dani said, “Thanks. Let’s get this monstrosity inside.”
They positioned the aviary in the space Mary Jane had cleared on the southwest corner, stood back, and assessed their work.
“This looks perfect,” Dani said.
Grace tried to scoot around her, placed both hands lightly on her waist to pass between her and a nearby lamp, and stopped when their bodies came together. Dani tensed at the initial contact but relaxed when Grace lingered.
“You’re a very touchy person, Grace.” Dani’s voice was a strained whisper.
“I’m sorry. Does it bother you?”
“Just different. Takes some getting used to.” Dani’s tone remained soft, almost wistful.
Grace inhaled Dani’s special blend of shampoo with outdoorsy cologne and placed a light kiss in her hair. She loved the feel of Dani’s body pressed against her breasts and released a contented sigh.
“Uh…Grace?”
“Yeah?” Grace was lost. Her task swept away on a current of emotion. She rested her cheek against Dani’s back and wrapped her arms around her waist. A shot of arousal pulsed through her. “Oh God. Why do you feel so damn good?”
Dani moved one of Grace’s hands up between her breasts. “Can you feel what you do to me, Grace?”
“I want you, Dani.”
“Anytime, anywhere.” Dani swallowed hard. “But shouldn’t we finish this first?”
Grace returned her hands to Dani’s waist, kissed the back of her neck, and finally raised her head. “Oh yeah. The cage. Just one tiny adjustment. The door needs to face this way. Could you turn it a bit?”
“Right.” Dani’s voice was husky as she made the change and then placed one hand over Grace’s and tightened her grip. “How’s that?”
“Perfect,” Grace whispered and once again pressed against Dani’s back. “Just perfect.” Whatever had happened between Mary Jane and Dani had softened her, at least temporarily, and Grace soaked up the comfortable change.
“What’s perfect?”
A voice from behind shattered the moment, and Grace stepped back. “Hi, Jamie. We’re relocating Dirty Harry.”
“I see.” Jamie’s tone implied she’d seen more than a simple birdcage transfer. “It looks great out here. He should like the sunlight and views across the yard.”
Grace regained some of her composure but realized one hand still rested at Dani’s waist. She pulled back slowly enough to appear casual just as a dreadful odor filled the room. She glanced down at Petunia leaning against Jamie’s leg. “You better take her in the front door. MJ won’t like her so close to the kitchen while she’s cooking.”
“Thanks. I forget. She’s like an appendage.”
“Any results from her checkup with Trip?” Grace asked.
“Not yet. She’s still doing tests.”
“Well, good luck. Jamie, have you met Trip’s new vet, Dani Wingate?”
“Of course. We’re both staying here.” Jamie gave her a quirky smile and nodded at Dani. “Nice to see you again and thanks for your help with P the other day.”
“No problem,” Dani replied.
The room grew quiet. Jamie was too discreet to comment on what she’d seen, Dani wouldn’t acknowledge what Jamie had walked in on, and Grace was temporarily lust dumb.
“Okay then. I’m going to shuck this uniform. Got plans. See you later,” Jamie said.
“Yeah, later.” Grace hadn’t changed out of her uniform either, so distracted by Dani that she’d completely forgotten. “I should probably do the same.”
Dani caught her hand as she turned to go and pulled her close again. “Shouldn’t we put Harry in his cage first to let him get acclimated?”
Grace glanced down at their joined hands. “I’d rather stand here and hold your hand for a while, but if you insist.”
Dani’s cheeks flushed. “Do you always say exactly what’s on your mind?”
“Mostly. I quite like the feel of our hands together.”
“So do I, Grace, but—”
She placed her fingers over Dani’s lips, the soft heat flashing through her. “And that’s enough for now. Just let whatever happens happen. Don’t overthink it.” She kissed Dani lightly and forced herself to stop. “Let’s get Harry settled.”
Dani pulled the light covering off Harry’s cage and lifted i
t toward the aviary. He spun around in his cage, looked straight at Grace, and squawked, “Man down. Man down.” He flapped against the side of the small cage until his outstretched wings became trapped in the bars. “Grace. Five-O.”
“Harry, please.” Grace stepped closer, and he screeched louder.
“Grace, I think you should go. He’s not going to calm down with you here.”
The look Dani gave her pulsed with questions Grace had no answers for. The charmed seconds they’d spent together vanished, along with Grace’s hope of an intimate evening getting to know Dani better.
* * *
Dani closed the sunroom door when Grace left to take a shower, thinking it best to protect Harry from any further upsets tonight. Maybe he’d simply responded badly to his new environment, or maybe not. His reaction to Grace had been just as bad, if not worse, than the first time she’d seen the two of them together. Animals had keen instincts about people. Was Harry’s dislike of Grace a warning of some type? Did he sense something Dani had missed?
She glanced at Grace when she returned and pulled out a chair across from her at the table. Her eyes were dark with sadness and confusion. Harry’s continued rejection hurt Grace, and Dani didn’t know how to help.
“Sorry if I kept you waiting.”
“Your timing is perfect, honey.” Mary Jane placed a platter of fried chicken in the center of the table. A bowl of green beans, sweet potato fries, and a basket of freshly baked biscuits completed the meal.
“This looks delicious.” Dani smiled at Mary Jane and then Grace, trying to engage her.
“Yeah, really good.” Grace’s usually sincere tone sounded flat and forced.
“Well, I hope you enjoy it because I have to run out for a while.” She folded her arms and glanced from Dani to Grace. “I don’t know what happened in the last thirty minutes, but you should probably resolve it before you eat or you’ll get indigestion, and that would be an awful waste of my food. Grace, you know what to do with the leftovers when you’re finished.”
“Is anything wrong?” Grace asked.
“Doreen Divine-Dot asked me to come by and give her a hand with arrangements for a wedding this weekend. I shouldn’t be late.” She waved on her way out.
“Okay, bon appetit,” Grace said to Dani.
“I’m sorry about Harry. It must be upsetting not to know why he rejects you, but I’m not sure what else to do.”
“I’m starting to get a complex, but thanks for understanding.”
The hurt in Grace’s voice pierced Dani’s heart. If being rebuffed by a bird upset Grace this much, how would Dani’s departure affect her? Was it more merciful to eventually leave Pine Cone without further explanation of how she felt or to tell Grace the truth? Her leaving would probably hurt worse the longer they continued this dance. The safe, arousing feeling of Grace’s arms around her earlier returned and Dani made a split-second decision. “I can’t be with you, Grace. Get involved with you. Care about you.”
Grace slid her chair back and moved to Dani’s side of the table. “Your eyes are saying something else.”
“They are?” Damn it. She couldn’t even lie convincingly when Grace was near.
“Your eyes are begging me not to believe what your mouth is saying. They’re begging me to kiss you.” Grace scooted Dani’s chair away from the table so they were facing each other and knelt between her legs. “Am I wrong?” Grace slid her hands up Dani’s thighs, kneading her flesh with strong, sure fingers.
Dani swallowed hard and shook her head, unable to admit what she really wanted. But she had to be clear before this went any further. “Grace, you need to know—”
“You’re leaving as soon as you get a job up north?”
“Yes.”
“I’m aware, Dani, but it doesn’t change how I feel. I just don’t want to waste any more time pretending. Let’s get to know each other and enjoy the moment. No pressure, no promises.”
The sharing part terrified Dani, but her choices were to face her fear or push Grace away entirely. The latter scared her more. They would eventually go their separate ways. “We can try.”
“Excellent.” Grace rose and straddled Dani in her chair. “I’d really like to kiss you right now. May I?”
Dani nodded and wrapped her arms around Grace. “I’d like that.” Grace licked her lips and met Dani’s with a touch so light she wasn’t sure they’d connected until Grace’s hot breath brushed the side of her face. “God, Grace.”
“Kiss me. Like you mean it.”
She cupped Grace’s face and slowly brought their mouths together. Determined not to fumble like last time, Dani kissed her lightly, traced her lips with the tip of her tongue and requested entry. The gentleness of their connection set Dani’s body on fire. When Grace opened, Dani claimed her, explored the soft heat of her mouth, poured everything she felt into Grace and prayed she wouldn’t have to explain it in words. She slid her hands under Grace and pulled them closer, rubbing their chests together but resisting the urge to rock her pelvis. “You feel so good.”
Grace kissed the side of Dani’s neck and back to her ear, sucking her lobe and rimming her ear with her tongue before dipping inside.
Dani shivered and the sensations swept through her. “Grace, please.”
“Please what?”
Grace’s hot breath in her ear melted Dani’s insides, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She was so out of her element with Grace, letting her take charge, lead wherever she wanted, and she’d gladly follow.
“Do you want me to stop?” Grace asked.
“Never.” Dani wanted this, wanted Grace more than she’d ever wanted anyone. Grace was fearless, diving into a situation with no net, no promise of anything, and Dani felt weak by comparison.
“If I don’t stop, we might not have dinner.” Grace ran her fingers through Dani’s hair and sniffed the spot where her hairline stopped at her ear. “This smell is so you. I love it right here.” She inhaled deeply and seemed to purr. “So good.”
Dani kissed Grace again but this time didn’t try to control the shifting of her hips against Grace’s bottom. “I need you, Grace.”
“I’m all yours.”
“Well, is this what’s for dinner?” Jamie’s amused voice behind them again brought everything to an abrupt halt.
Dani started to get up, but Grace held her firmly and said, “Did anybody ever tell you your timing sucks, Grant?”
“Not until now. I was a basketball star, and my timing was impeccable. As I said, I’m on my way out and thought I’d grab a chicken leg or something to hold me over. Imagine my surprise.” She motioned toward Grace and Dani.
Grace waved her hand toward the food spread out on the table. “Help yourself to whatever you want.” Then she turned back to Dani. “Are you hungry yet?”
Dani played along. “Absolutely starving.” Grace’s subordinate had found them in a compromising position, but she remained unfazed, unwilling to relinquish her position on Dani’s lap. She had to admire her guts.
“Why don’t I make us a plate and we’ll go to the cottage?”
“Sounds good.”
“Yeah,” Jamie said, “That would probably be more appropriate than the dining room table. After all, I have to eat here and I don’t want to imagine you two…you know.”
Grace gave Dani a quick kiss on the lips and rose as Jamie snagged two drumsticks and headed for the door. “See you lovebirds later.”
“Jealous much?” Grace called after her, winked at Dani, and started filling two plates with food. “What would you like?”
“A little of everything and a lot of you.”
“Good answer, Doc.” She handed Dani her plate, quickly
put away the leftovers, and led the way across the yard to the cottage.
Dani followed in Grace’s powerful current, oblivious to hazards in the deep emotional waters Grace navigated so effortlessly. How would she communicate the things she’d kept buried for years? Was it even nec
essary? Grace said no pressure or promises. Her insides tightened the closer they got to the cottage. When Grace opened the door, Dani was in a full-blown panic and faltered at the threshold.
“Relax, Dani. I’m not a black widow and I’m not asking you to marry me. We’re just having dinner.” Grace waved her inside, threw the sofa cushions on the floor, and turned on a small fan on the corner of the kitchen island. “It’s not much, but it’ll circulate the air. “Sit. What would you like to drink?”
“Beer, if you have it.” Dani chose the cushion closest to the door and set her plate on a small side table. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I’m usually a…”
“A player, free-range chicken maybe?”
Dani grimaced. The words didn’t totally describe her anymore, at least not the way she wanted Grace to see her. Now those descriptors conjured up a sense of being unfinished or lacking, and she didn’t like the feeling.
Grace handed her a beer and settled beside her on a cushion, leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. “Dig in while it’s still warm.” Grace brought her plate closer and started eating. She’d taken a couple of mouthfuls before she noticed Dani watching her. “What?”
“Why do you have furniture if you prefer to sit on the floor?”
Grace’s face turned pink as she sucked a fry into her mouth. “Uh-oh, busted. A habit I picked up as a child. Reminds me of happy times traveling the world with my folks.”
“It’s sort of sexy. I’m a little turned on right now.” Grace’s blush deepened, and Dani wanted her entire body to feel the heat. “You on the floor, fingers in your mouth, sucking on a fry. Damn hot.”
“Thanks?” Grace’s face glowed red. Mission accomplished.
“Did you like traveling with your parents?”
“Loved it. Different cultures, exotic foods, unique animals, wearing next to nothing, and all the diversity. Great times really.” The laugh lines around Grace’s mouth gradually disappeared and a worry line formed above one brow.
“Are you sorry now?”
Grace shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder if the nomadic lifestyle made me want more stability as an adult. I stayed in Pine Cone partly because of the people I met as a child.”