Brace for Impact

by Becky Harmon

  “In some ways it’s easier than a regular job. When I go to work, I can put on my mask and be anyone I want to be.”

  “Easier—because it keeps people at a distance, I’m guessing. They never know the real you.”

  Lucy shrugged.

  As the relaxed look on Lucy’s face began to fade, she knew the conversation had reached its limits. She wasn’t sorry she had pushed, but she wished she could bring the good feeling back again. Her desire to know Lucy better wasn’t diminished, though. She stood, motioning Lucy to stand.

  “Let’s go check out those falls,” she suggested.

  “Oh yeah. I’d almost forgotten.”

  “Distracted by the pizza or me?” she asked without thinking.

  Lucy studied her for a second, and then without answering, she made her way between the tables toward the restaurant exit. She sighed and followed her. She wasn’t able to identify the look that had crossed Lucy’s face. She was positive she had seen desire, but there was something more. Maybe…insecurity? Still, she felt like she was starting to break through the hard exterior Lucy worked so diligently to display. She liked the tough side, the one that suggested she could tackle whatever her job might throw at her, but she liked the softer side even more. Lucy was complex, but she was more than eager to convince her they could fit together. They had already proven that they fit together pretty well sexually. That wasn’t the problem. Stopping Lucy from running from anything that hinted at more than a one-night stand was her challenge.

  She was a bit surprised when Lucy waited for her at the top of the escalator. She hadn’t been sure if their day would continue or not. They rode down together in silence, and Lucy moved right out the door when they reached the bottom. She paused, taking a deep breath before pulling her jacket tighter around her body. The cold hit her square in the face as soon as the door opened. The wind swirled around the patio as it made contact with the building behind them, whipping her hair around her face. She quickly pulled it into a ponytail and stuck it in the back of her jacket. Lucy pulled up her hood, making Dex laugh as she tightened the string around her face, leaving a small opening for her eyes.

  “The woman at the desk said the incline cars run year round,” Lucy explained as she practically ran up the sidewalk to the Falls Incline Railway. Dex didn’t argue as Lucy purchased both of their tickets. She was eager to be inside the car and out of the wind. When the attendant motioned them to board, she didn’t wait to see if Lucy was following. Her face was numb and she wondered if they would be able to stand the wind once they got to the overlook.

  She hoped so. Though she had been to Niagara Falls many times in her life she had never been here with someone who had never seen them. She was looking forward to seeing the falls through Lucy’s eyes. Her uninhibited enthusiasm was endearing and provided a surprising contrast to the normal seriousness she displayed. She remained standing, holding on to one of the handles hanging from the ceiling of the car as they began to move. She could see the top of the falls; all but the center of the river appeared to be frozen. Frozen stalagmites stretched toward the sky, making little miniature cities at the edges of the river. There had been a light dusting of snow the night before and now it too was frozen.

  She led the way through the observation building and out the other side. A huge mist rose up from the base of the falls, and although she could see it moving extremely slow it never moved away from the hole in front of them. She approached the edge, being careful to avoid touching the ice-covered stone railing separating them from the cliff below. Chunks of ice in varying sizes floated into the moving waters as the force of the river pried them away from stationary pieces closer to the edge. She heard Lucy draw in a breath as she approached the edge, getting her first unobstructed view.

  “That’s amazing.”

  She nodded, her attention on Lucy as her eyes took in the millions of icicles and ice sculptures formed as the water met air at the crest of the falls. Exactly as she would expect a full-time observer to do, Lucy took in every inch in each direction before turning to face Dex. The small amount of Lucy’s face she could see was flushed with excitement and cold. Moving without thought, she reached out and cupped Lucy’s cheek, sliding her fingers into Lucy’s hood and threading them through her hair. Before she could stop her actions, she pulled Lucy toward her and their lips met.

  She didn’t think her frozen lips would feel anything, but when they connected with Lucy’s, she felt their warmth burn through her. The sound of children’s laughter brought her back to reality and she slowly took a step back. The cold instantly enveloped her again, and she shivered. As Lucy’s dark eyes searched her face, Dex hoped she was seeing the truth of what she felt. Because she wasn’t ready to put anything into words, and she knew Lucy would run screaming if she even tried.

  “Let’s head back inside,” she said, her voice hoarse from arousal as much as from the numbing cold.

  Lucy nodded. They walked through the tourist shop, seeing many of the same items the earlier store had carried. The last shop on the end was filled with photographs in varying sizes. She stepped inside and purchased two identical postcard-sized pictures in black and white. The frozen ice clearly displayed in white as it would have been in a color photo stood out in contrast to the black of the surrounding area.

  She didn’t need a reminder of the feelings that Lucy invoked in her, but she wanted the photo anyway. Lucy had left an imprint on her heart in ways no one ever had before, and she wasn’t through trying to reach her. It was no doubt that Lucy was a mystery at times, but giving up wasn’t an option. With each chance Lucy took for them to be close, she showed she was waiting and maybe hoping Dex would be more than she expected.

  Lucy didn’t ask what she had bought so she waited until they were back inside the main building and riding the escalator before handing her one of the copies.

  “To remember your trip,” she said as she passed her the photo.

  Lucy studied it with such an intensity that Dex placed a hand in the small of her back, guiding her off the escalator and away from the flow of people.

  “Do you like it?” she asked. “I thought the black and white brought out the view better than the color photos.”

  Lucy nodded as she looked up at Dex. To distract herself from the burning desire to kiss Lucy again, Dex took a moment to untie the string holding Lucy’s hood closed. Lucy’s crooked grin was in full display as Dex pushed the hood off her head. The mischievous glint in her eye was back and Dex took a step back to put an appropriate amount of space between them.

  Lucy glanced around at all the people and gave a sigh. “I thought you were going to kiss me again.”

  “You say it like it’s a bad thing,” she teased.

  “I know Canada is more liberal than most of the US, but it still would be awkward making out in the middle of the mall.”

  Hearing Lucy say the words sent a chill through her body. She lowered her voice. “If that’s the problem, then I know somewhere we can go where no one will see us.”

  Lucy chuckled. “Not so fast, Captain. I haven’t been in all the shops yet. Besides—”

  “I know. You don’t sleep with pilots.”

  Lucy put her arm around Dex’s waist, guiding her toward a shop with Christmas ornaments and decorations filling the display window. “I was going to say I’ve been dying to go into this store.”

  “Right. That’s what you were going to say.”

  She felt Lucy’s laughter without turning around. And just like that Lucy’s relaxed demeanor was back. Lucy was having fun and she liked that she was kind of the cause of it. She also liked the heated frozen kiss they had shared by the falls. Could she penetrate Lucy’s resistance for a shared room tonight? One more night. To touch her and hold her. Would it be enough?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lucy finally pulled herself away from the shops but not before she had purchased several T-shirts and a pair of sweats from the Roots store. They were probably the softest pi
eces of clothing she had ever owned and they all sported a cute little black beaver, the store logo. Dex had tried on a few things, but her purchases numbered many fewer than Lucy’s. It was clear Dex was hanging out with her for the company and not for the shopping experience.

  Everything about that statement scared the crap out of her. Being with Dex was like the high she got from running. Everything around her was clearer. Kissing Dex beside the falls with the roar of the water in her ears had blocked out the rest of the world. And made her feel things she didn’t want to feel. Things she swore she would never feel. In the past her desire to see a woman again, even if she resisted, was always based on the good sex. Now, Dex felt like a drug she couldn’t live without. Dex made her laugh. She made her feel like she could relax and be herself without the fear of being caught in a position she didn’t want to be in.

  Even if she didn’t want to admit it, she knew she had revealed too much of herself already. The purchase of the stuffed moose had opened a window to her softer side and a door between her and Dex. Without even knowing her reason for making the purchase, Dex hadn’t questioned her impulsiveness. This evening’s walk through the Christmas lights would be magical too, she knew, and it would take everything in her power to resist holding Dex’s hand. That would be her first challenge and when they returned she would battle the temptation of spending the night with Dex again.

  “Did you spend every penny you have?” Dex asked as they walked over the enclosed bridge back to their hotel.

  “Probably.” She smiled. “But it was worth it.”

  As they entered the glass passageway that hung over the street below, she saw the sun had set and the last rays of light were beginning to fade. Christmas lights were already glowing up and down the street. On every building and street sign. As they passed through the hotel lobby, a rack of brochures for local attractions caught her eye. She pulled one that showed several lighted animals on the cover. While they waited for the elevator, she began to read the pamphlet out loud to Dex.

  “The Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights is proud to celebrate thirty-five years of making Christmas memories, transforming Niagara Falls into a palette of breathtaking color with millions of sparkling lights and animated displays, located within Niagara Parks, Dufferin Islands and the surrounding tourist districts.”

  “Did you say millions?”

  “Yep. Three million to be exact.”

  Dex leaned closer to look over her shoulder and Lucy smelled a spicy scent of citrus with a hint of something else. Maybe lavender. It flooded her senses, making it hard to breathe. She stepped into the elevator as soon as the doors opened, putting space between them. She felt Dex’s eyes follow her escape, but she didn’t care. Resisting the pull Dex had on her meant keeping her at arm’s length. She tucked the brochure into her back pocket to prevent Dex from stepping close to see it again.

  “Should we meet back in the lobby after we drop our shopping bags?” Lucy asked.

  “I’ll just follow you to your room and then we can go to mine. Since it appears we’re on the same floor.”

  Did she hear something more in Dex’s voice or was that her imagination? Or maybe her own longing? She stepped out of the elevator and made a beeline for her door, determined to drop her bags inside the door without letting Dex cross the threshold. Her attempt almost worked, but when she spun to leave her body crashed into Dex’s. That spicy scent attacked her again, and she staggered to the side, catching herself with a hand on the wall.

  “Hey,” Dex said, placing a hand on her shoulder to steady her. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I’m starving so I want to get going. I heard there were food vendors along the light path.”

  Dex stood for a few moments longer, and Lucy could feel her studying her face. She avoided eye contact, looking beyond Dex and into the hallway. “What’s your room number?”

  Dex took a step back into the hallway and led the way to her room, which was a few doors down. When Dex entered, she pushed the door completely open, ensuring there was enough time for both of them to get inside the room before it automatically fell shut again. Lucy chose to remain outside the door, but she almost wished she hadn’t when she saw the look of teasing on Dex’s face when she returned.

  She didn’t give Dex a chance to say anything, though. Pulling the brochure from her back pocket, she appeared to study it. “I think we should take my car. I’d thought about walking since it’s only about three miles, but it’s not recommended. We can enjoy a little of the downtown scene if you don’t mind walking to the Misty Dog first, though.”

  “Seriously, the Misty Dog. That’s the best place you can find to eat?”

  Dex appeared serious, but the hint of a smile that played on the edges of her lips gave her away.

  “They have sweet potato fries.”

  She didn’t wait to see if Dex would follow as she returned to the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, she rested her back against the wall and began reading aloud from the brochure again. “The decorations are located over a three-mile area.” She glanced at Dex to see if she was listening. “We can drive through most of it. We have to see the three-dimensional Canadian wildlife display on Murray Hill plus the road is lined with Christmas snowflakes. I’d like to walk through Dufferin Hill, though. There are more than fifty trees wrapped in lights.”

  “That’s fine. I’m following you.”

  “Okay then. We’ll start downtown so we can grab some dinner,” she said as she stepped through the door Dex held open for her. She quickly wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck. The air was frigid, but at least the buildings blocked the breeze blowing off the water. “Okay, now I’m glad I’m not walking the entire course. It’s freakin’ freezing out here.”

  “You’d planned to walk the entire thing?” Dex asked, falling into step beside her.

  “I thought about it.”

  “But changed your mind when I decided to join you?”

  She glanced at her to see if she was teasing or really offended. Dex’s face sported a half grin so Lucy shrugged.

  “You think I’m not capable of making a three-mile walk?” Dex asked.

  “You said it, not me.”

  Dex nudged her shoulder. “You’re lucky I don’t take offense easily, but I can assure you that I’m fit enough to walk three miles.”

  “I’m well aware of how fit you are,” she said softly. Her words were surprising even to her, but they were honest. Dex had an amazing body. For a short moment she considered skipping the lights in favor of returning to the hotel with her. A door to one of the many restaurants along the street opened and the scent of cheese and spices drifted past her. She remembered how hungry she had been two minutes ago. Taking Dex back to the hotel wasn’t a good idea anyway—for too many reasons to count. She was only slightly relieved when the Misty Dog came into view. Tracer lights raced around the outer edges of the neon sign, inviting patrons inside. She eagerly pushed open the door into the brightly lit restaurant.

  * * *

  “Great pick,” Dex said, casually placing her hand on Lucy’s waist as she guided her toward the line waiting to order. Along with a variety of fried foods and hot dogs, the restaurant offered a bountiful supply of soups.

  She listened while Lucy changed her order of sweet potato fries to baked potato soup with cheese and bacon. Then she placed her own order for butternut squash soup garnished with bread crumbs. It didn’t take long for their order to be prepared and they carried their disposable bowls back outside to get away from the crowd.

  They circled the block and headed back toward the hotel while they ate. The chill around them was warmed by their bowls of soup, and Dex felt no need to force any conversation as they walked through the streets filled with Christmas lights. She stood beside Lucy when she stopped to watch a video display cast onto a hotel in the distance. Stretching the width of the hotel, it covered the top fifteen or twenty floors.

  “What was that all about
?” Lucy asked as they started walking again.

  “I’m sure it told a story, but I think we caught the end of it. I’m not sure which one it was.”

  “The dragon was cool. Especially the way it moved up and down the building.” Lucy nudged her. “Need to brush up on your Canadian history.”

  “Funny, but no, I don’t,” she said, pretending to be offended again. “I know plenty of Canadian stories from the past.”

  “Really? Tell me one,” Lucy suggested as she dropped her dinner trash into a nearby can and held the flap open for Dex to do the same.

  “Okay. How about the story of the falls?”

  “Excellent,” Lucy said, sliding her arm through Dex’s and pulling her closer.

  Her breath caught at the unexpected touch, and she took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Once upon a time—”

  “Really?”

  “Do you want to hear the story or not?”

  She could barely see Lucy’s grin in the glow from the Christmas lights that were strung nearby. A pleasant warmth flooded through her at the closeness of Lucy’s body and she tightened her arm where Lucy held it.

  “Once upon a time there was a Seneca Indian tribe that lived along the Niagara River. Their chief had a daughter named Lela-Wala—”

  “Lela-Wala?”

  “Honestly, can you be quiet for more than a minute?”

  This time she could feel Lucy’s chuckle. It made their shoulders bump together and she felt Lucy’s grip loosen a little. She wanted nothing more than to hold on to this second. Tightening her arm to keep them close, she reveled in how good it felt to joke and play. Her feet were no longer touching the ground. She was floating on the joy that filled her. She wished she could share these feelings with Lucy and hear her agree. But Lucy had been completely honest about the way she felt. She had never imagined feeling this way. Maybe Lucy’s beliefs were changing too. She hoped so.

  “Lela-Wala’s husband had died and she was inconsolable. One day she was paddling her canoe on the river without thinking and she found herself caught in the current. Soon the rough waters pushed her over the falls. Heno, the God of Thunder, lived behind the falls, and he caught her in his hands and took her back to his quiet cave. He and his sons tended to her and soon her broken heart healed, allowing her to fall in love with one of Heno’s sons. She was finally happy again, but she never forgot her people.”