“Intrigued? Exactly how intrigued are you?” Gray asked.
Lizbeth was losing all her inhibitions. She was having an almost out of body experience. She felt as if she was watching herself with no control over her actions. Some unseen force was pushing her to behave in a way that seemed inconceivable to Lizbeth, but she could not resist it. She looked Gray straight in the eyes when she said, softly, “Very.”
Gray took a sip of wine and turned her body so she was facing Lizbeth. “Lizbeth, I may have misread you, but I didn’t think you were gay.”
Lizbeth was not a big drinker and the wine was giving her the giggles. She said, “My friend, Molly, says all women are straight until they’re not.” She laughed.
Gray chuckled at Lizbeth. “I guess she’s got a point there.”
Lizbeth was nervous, causing the giggles to worsen. She knew exactly where this conversation was going. It frightened her and exhilarated her at the same time. With every sip of wine, her courage was building. It was false courage, but courage nonetheless. She wanted this woman to kiss her. She wasn’t sure what else she wanted, but the awakening between her thighs was a good indication. Lizbeth turned up the wine glass and downed its contents.
Gray watched, but didn’t say anything, as Lizbeth poured more wine into her glass and then refilled Gray’s with the remainder of the bottle. The sun had disappeared below the horizon now. Only the glow of the day remained. Above them stars began to twinkle in the indigo sky. The moon wasn’t up yet, but the ambient twilight still bathed them in a soft blue light. Gray was obviously waiting to see what Lizbeth would say next.
Lizbeth smiled down at the sand and then looked over at the beautiful woman beside her. At that moment Lizbeth made the decision to follow her heart and damn the consequences. “You make me nervous, Gray.”
Gray grinned. She knew what Lizbeth was saying, but she toyed with her. “Why? What am I doing that makes you nervous?”
“You don’t have to do anything, you’re just being you. I’ve never met anyone like you,” Lizbeth answered.
“I hope that was a compliment.”
“It was… Gray, you have no idea how attractive you are, do you?”
Now it was Gray’s turn to flush red. Even in this dim light, Lizbeth could see the compliment embarrassed Gray. “Thank you. I’m glad you think so.”
Lizbeth said with much enthusiasm, “Oh, I do,” and then tried to reel it back in, but it was too late. She attempted to cover with, “I’m sorry, it’s just I’ve never I’ve never been interested in a woman before. It’s quite unsettling.”
Okay, it was out. She’d said it aloud. Lizbeth waited for Gray’s reaction.
Gray tried to get Lizbeth to relax. “I’m honored to be your first girl crush.”
Lizbeth had never been the type of person to question things. She spent her life doing what was expected. Never asking anyone why she felt this way or that, Lizbeth had gone along pretending she was happy with the way things were. Then after the divorce, she gained self-confidence and a voice. She would never have had this conversation with Gray four years ago, even if she had found her attractive. She would have been afraid to say the things she wanted to say, but she had learned not to miss chances when they came along. This felt like a chance.
She gazed into Gray’s smiling face. Their eyes studied one another. Lizbeth let out the breath she realized she had been holding and said, “So what happens next?”
“What do you want to happen?” Gray asked slyly.
“I don’t know. You’re the experienced one here. What do you usually do when a woman tells you she’s attracted to you?”
Gray chuckled again. “Probably kiss her, unless she’s unattractive, but that’s not a problem in your case.”
Lizbeth’s body flushed again at the compliment. She smiled at Gray and said, “What’s the problem, then?”
“Well, the last time I touched you, you fainted.”
“I won’t faint this time… I don’t think I will anyway. Will I?”
Gray laughed and kicked off her flip-flops. She stood up and stuck her hand out for Lizbeth to take. “Let’s just try holding hands first.”
Lizbeth took Gray’s hand and let Gray help her stand. Gray was strong and lifted Lizbeth to her feet with ease. Lizbeth kicked off her sandals and followed Gray, who was leading her toward the water. Gray stopped to pick up a skinny stick of driftwood and walked into the Sound. Lizbeth didn’t know what Gray had in mind, but she felt so safe with her, she’d probably follow her into hell. She had never felt so absolutely secure with another person. Just holding Gray’s hand made her feel protected and cared for. It was an overwhelming sense of peace that had engulfed her the moment Gray took control.
They waded out a little where the water was about two feet deep. Neither woman had said a word. Lizbeth was engrossed in the warmth of Gray’s hand and didn’t feel the need to speak. She quietly observed as Gray looked down in the water, as if she were looking for something. The little stick Gray had picked up had tiny twisted twigs clumped at one end. Gray put that end of the stick in the water and then turned to Lizbeth, still holding her hand. She pulled Lizbeth closer.
“Watch this.”
Gray frothed the water with the stick. The water she disturbed filled with blue-green phosphorescent sparkles. It was beautiful.
Lizbeth gasped. “That’s delightful. What is it?”
Gray continued to froth the water. “It’s microscopic phosphorescent plankton. They emit a glow when the water is disturbed.”
Lizbeth squeezed Gray’s hand. “That’s amazing. Thank you for showing it to me.”
Gray stopped frothing and let the stick fall into the water. She turned to Lizbeth, smiling. “There are a million amazing things in this water. If you’re interested, I’ll show you some of them. At least the ones you can see from a boat.”
Lizbeth would have let Gray show her how to fold towels, if that’s what she wanted to do. Her growing awe and infatuation with Gray seemed to know no bounds. “I’d like that very much.”
Gray squeezed Lizbeth’s hand tighter. Lizbeth thought Gray might kiss her for a second, but she didn’t. Instead, she pulled Lizbeth toward the shore. When they reached the beach, Gray let go of Lizbeth’s hand and repacked the cooler, leaving nothing behind. Just before they left the seclusion of the isolated beach, Lizbeth grabbed Gray’s hand again, turning Gray to her.
“Gray, this was beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here. I had a great time.”
Gray smiled down at her. “It’s my special place and it was my pleasure.”
Lizbeth flirted. “Do you bring all your women here?”
Gray winked. “You’re the first.”
The magnitude of that statement hit Lizbeth like a ton of bricks. Gray had brought her to her special place. She didn’t bring other women here. Gray must feel some of what Lizbeth was feeling. Lizbeth knew Gray was feeling it when she looked into her eyes. That moment of recognition seemed to happen to both of them at the same time. They stayed frozen there for an instant, before Gray leaned down and kissed Lizbeth ever so softly on the lips. It was a sweet tender kiss and was over too quickly for Lizbeth. There was no parting of lips and hungry tongues, just the soft brush of Gray’s lips on hers, and it had been the most powerful kiss Lizbeth had ever experienced.
Gray seemed pleased with the affect the kiss had on Lizbeth. She didn’t say anything, just pulled the stunned Lizbeth by the hand, guiding her through the patch of trees and back onto the street. The walk home was quiet. Both women were lost in thought on the way. Lizbeth was simply staggered by the way Gray’s kiss had made her feel. The village was going to bed by the time they reached Lizbeth’s doorstep.
Gray opened the door to Lizbeth’s porch for her, but didn’t attempt to follow her in. Lizbeth turned back and asked nervously, “Do you want to come in? We could have coffee.”
Gray, smiling broadly, said, “Miss Jackson, you have absolutely no idea how much I’d love to com
e in there with you, but I’d better leave you here and say goodnight.”
Lizbeth was being left at the door. This wasn’t what she had expected from a Casanova like Gray. She had thoroughly expected to have to fight her off, which Lizbeth knew by now wouldn’t have been much of a fight, but here Gray was trying to be a Southern gentleman, for lack of a better term. After the initial shock, Lizbeth realized how incredibly sweet the gesture was. Gray was not going to let Lizbeth rush into anything. She was giving Lizbeth time to process what was happening. Gray was being kind.
Lizbeth stepped back on the top step and extended her hand to Gray. Gray took it, but remained on the ground. Lizbeth squeezed Gray’s hand and said, “This evening was magical. Thank you.”
Gray grinned. “Are you available tomorrow? I’m sure I can find something else to show you.” She winked.
Lizbeth assumed her Scarlet O’Hara accent. “Gray O’Neal, I do believe you’re trying to court me.”
The charm oozed from Gray when she said, “Why yes, Miss Jackson, I believe I am. May I call on you tomorrow?”
Lizbeth, grinning broadly by now as well, said, “I look forward to seeing you,” followed by a wink.
Lizbeth let go of Gray’s hand. She moved up onto the porch and Gray let the door swing shut. They took one more moment to look at each other, and then turned at the same time, Lizbeth opening her front door and Gray crossing the street. Lizbeth looked across the street before shutting the door. On the top step to her porch, Gray stopped and turned back to Lizbeth. Her face erupted in a smile when she saw Lizbeth watching her.
She called out, “Good night, Lizbeth,” and then laughing, disappeared into her house.
Lizbeth closed the door and then leaned her back against it. She said aloud to the empty room, “My god, she might be right. If I react like that to just her lips brushing mine, I might faint if she really kisses me.”
Chapter Five
When Lizbeth’s eyes opened in the morning, she saw Gray sitting on the edge of her bed looking down at her.
“Hey, sleepy head,” Gray said, grinning from ear to ear.
Lizbeth wasn’t sure if she was awake or not. She looked around and realized she was on the little day bed on the porch. She checked to make sure she was clothed and discovered she was wearing only a spaghetti strapped, short nightgown with a thin blanket pulled over her. It all began to flood back to her at once.
Lizbeth had been so wound up by the events of the previous evening she could not sleep. She tried reading a book. She even attempted to work on her paper, but couldn’t concentrate. She laid in bed, staring at the ceiling for hours, her mind spinning with thoughts of Gray. It was almost three when she came out on the porch and sprawled on the day bed. Listening to the chorus of nature had finally lulled her to sleep. It appeared Gray had come looking for her and found her there.
Gray tried again. “Lizbeth, are you awake?”
“I am now.” Lizbeth sat up, pulling the blanket up to cover the thin material of her nightgown. The move wasn’t lost on Gray.
“Now you get bashful, after laying out here for all to see,” Gray teased.
Lizbeth was embarrassed, but more amused by Gray than shamed. “I couldn’t sleep. I came out here to get some air and I must have dozed off.”
“Yeah, I saw you this morning when I went to work.”
Lizbeth rubbed her eyes. “What time is it?”
Gray stood up and looked at her watch. “Quarter after eight.”
Lizbeth squinted up at Gray and said, “Oh my God, I’ve only been asleep for five hours,” and with that, she fell back on the pillow and closed her eyes.
Laughing, Gray said, “Get up. I want to show you something. Meet me at the dock at nine o’clock.”
Lizbeth didn’t move. “Okay, I can sleep longer though. It’s not that far.”
Gray yanked the blanket off Lizbeth. “No, you can’t. You need to eat. No fainting, remember. And besides, if you come down there with your hair like that you’ll scare the tourists.”
Lizbeth’s eyes popped open. Suddenly seized with what she must look like, her hands flew to the top of her head. Her hair was sticking out in all directions. She had slept hard after she finally passed out. She probably looked like hell. Now she was truly embarrassed. She snatched the blanket back from Gray and covered her head.
Gray chuckled. “Too late. I’ve already seen it. The image is burned into my brain.”
From under the blanket, Lizbeth said, “Go away.”
Gray pulled the blanket from the top of Lizbeth’s head, so she could see her face. She leaned down and was inches from Lizbeth when she said, “No. Not until you get up. Come on, you have to see this.”
Lizbeth caved. She had to. Gray’s eyes were dancing with delight. She evidently thought it was important to share something with Lizbeth. Lizbeth couldn’t resist her.
“Okay, I’m up. Just go away while I get dressed.”
Gray was excited. She started toward the front of the porch. “Okay, meet me at the dock, just before nine.”
Lizbeth stood up, self consciously wrapping the blanket around her. She called after Gray, “Wait. What should I wear? Where are you taking me?”
“I’m taking you on the boat. Wear whatever you want.” She stopped at the corner of the porch, just before disappearing out of sight. “Glad we got that out of the way.”
Lizbeth, confused, asked, “Got what out of the way?”
Gray’s infectious grin returned. “I already know what you look like when you wake up in the morning.” Then she disappeared around the corner, her laughter staying behind, ringing in Lizbeth’s ears.
#
Lizbeth rushed around making a bowl of microwave oatmeal and eating it standing at the counter. She quickly showered and dressed. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail, and then covered her body in sunscreen before putting on her two-piece, tropical colored bathing suit. It wasn’t a tiny bikini, but it was sexy enough for her age, she thought. She slipped a pair of blue Russell workout shorts over the bottom of the suit and grabbed her oversized white oxford to put on over the top. She rolled down the top of the shorts and rolled up the sleeves of the oxford, leaving the front unbuttoned, exposing her flat stomach. Lizbeth had decided to play hardball with Gray. She was trying to look as sexy as possible, while looking very casual about it. The straw hat and sunglasses made her appear mysterious. Just the effect she was going for.
With a couple of water bottles, sunscreen, and a towel in her canvas bag, she met Gray at the dock at five till nine. Eight very excited Asian tourists, ranging in ages from toddlers to grandparents, surrounded Gray. It appeared to be one family. One of the parents, with a toddler in her arms, was translating for the group, and not doing so too successfully. Gray was trying to explain something, using her hands to demonstrate and speaking loudly, as Americans tended to do when attempting to have a non-English speaker understand them. Lizbeth thought it would be a miracle if the Asian woman could understand Gray through her thick Carolina brogue, especially with that Texas accent thrown in the mix.
When Gray saw Lizbeth, she stopped talking in mid-sentence. She froze there, her mouth hanging open, staring at Lizbeth as she approached. The outfit had had the desired effect. One of the tourists turned around and saw Lizbeth.
The middle-aged man got very excited and quickly grabbed his camera. He aimed it at Lizbeth and started snapping wildly, while repeatedly shouting, “Ashrie Judd! Ashrie Judd!”
Gray started laughing. She doubled over and grabbed her knees. Lizbeth couldn’t help but laugh, too. She approached the man and was finally able to convince him, through the interpreter, that she was not, in fact, Ashley Judd. Gray gradually stopped laughing, but an occasional giggle still seized her while loading passengers on the boat. She placed Lizbeth on the double bench seat at the console, while she made sure the kids were safely in life vests, comfortable, and ready to go.
Gray cranked the dual Yamaha engines and then went to the front
and untied the dock line from the bow. She returned to the stern, untying its dock line and then sat down beside Lizbeth behind the wheel. Gray backed the boat away from the dock and then turned the bow toward the channel leading out of the harbor. As they slowly crept across the slick surface of the sheltered harbor, Gray turned to Lizbeth, still giggling.
“You do kinda have that Ya Ya Sisterhood, Ashley Judd thing going.”
Lizbeth, who had developed quite a skill mimicking accents, said in her best Louisiana drawl, “I’ll take that as a compliment, suga’.”
This cracked Gray up again. She was still laughing when they cleared the harbor and she stood up to navigate the channel. Gray gradually fed gas to the throttle until they were skipping across the chop on the surface of the Sound, heading for Ocracoke Inlet. Lizbeth had to keep her hand on top of her hat to keep it from blowing away. Gray occasionally smiled down at Lizbeth, but mostly kept her eyes scanning the top of the water.
From her vantage point, Lizbeth had a perfect view and even though the beauty of the shoreline and sea surrounded her, she couldn’t keep from looking at Gray. Gray was in her element. The love of what she was doing radiated from her pores. Lizbeth thought Gray had been correct when she said some people were just born where they should be. Gray O’Neal was born to be on this water.
As they neared Portsmouth Island, Gray banked the boat to the left, slowing to a crawl when she reached the middle of the smallest stretch of water between Ocracoke and Portsmouth. Gray was focused on the water, searching for something. In a moment, she saw them and gave the boat some gas. Soon the boat was in the middle of a pod of bottlenose dolphins.
Lizbeth saw them about the same time the tourists did. One of the tourists stood up to film with his digital camera, but Gray made him sit down using hand signals. She shook her head and smiled at Lizbeth. Lizbeth knew what Gray was thinking and mouthed the word dingbatter to her. Gray started laughing again. Gray was finding Lizbeth exceedingly funny this morning.
Waking Up Gray Page 7