“Wow,” she managed after her eyes had gone all the way from Taylor’s toes to finally meet her eyes, after a short detour around the chest area. She smiled. “You look great.”
“You clean up pretty well yourself,” Taylor said, a slight blush covering her neck and her cheeks. “I’m so used to seeing you in sweats, or dressed for work.”
“Or topless,” Callie said with a wink. “Don’t forget topless.”
“So that’s how this night is going to be?” Taylor stepped out onto the porch and pulled the door shut behind her,
God, yes, if I have anything to say about it.
Chapter Seventeen
Red Lobster was Taylor’s favorite restaurant, so she was happy when Callie suggested it for dinner before the hockey game. In fact, Callie had even called ahead and left her name so they wouldn’t have to wait so long for a table.
After a short ten-minute wait, she found herself following the hostess—and Callie—to their table. She almost tripped over a chair because she was so busy watching the view in front of her. Callie turned to see if she was okay, and Taylor felt her face heat in embarrassment. Once seated, the hostess gave them their menus and left.
“You were watching my ass,” Callie said with a smirk.
“I was not,” Taylor lied.
“It’s okay, you know. I don’t have a problem with a gorgeous woman lusting after my ass.” Callie raised her menu so Taylor couldn’t see her face.
“I was not lusting after your ass, or anything else about you,” Taylor said again, at a loss for what else to say. She too raised her menu, but after a moment of looking at it, and not really seeing any of it, she set it down on the table again. “Has anyone ever told you you have a huge ego?”
“A time or two,” Callie answered with a shrug.
“You are so infuriating.” Callie sat back in her seat. “I was not staring at your ass.”
“Staring? Who said staring? I think you just gave yourself away.” Callie chuckled. “So you weren’t just watching my ass, you were staring at it. And actually, you never answered my question from the first day I was at your house. Do you like the view?”
“Keep this up and I might start to hate you.”
“But I’m charming. You said so yourself.”
“Hello, can I get you ladies something to drink?” the server asked with a smile as she stood next to their table.
They ordered their drinks, then both went back to their menus, Taylor hoping Callie would change the subject and not continue along the same tack. Unfortunately, she wasn’t so lucky. Callie reached across the table and took her hand. Taylor was too surprised to pull it back immediately which gave Callie the time she needed to get a better grip so she couldn’t pull away.
“What are you doing?” Taylor asked.
“Sharon told me the other night she doesn’t believe we’re a couple because we aren’t very affectionate with each other,” Callie said, her thumb rubbing lightly against the back of Taylor’s hand. “I’m practicing. Besides, she could be here for all we know.”
Taylor started to pull away, but she knew Callie could be right. She resisted looking around the restaurant to see if they were being watched. It occurred to her she liked Callie holding her hand, and the flutter in her chest and belly wasn’t entirely unwelcomed, even though it wasn’t something she’d experienced in quite a long time.
“Just admit you like holding my hand.”
“I don’t have a problem admitting it,” Callie assured her with a grin that caused more fluttering. Taylor really liked being on the receiving end of that grin. “Do you?”
“I never said I liked it.”
“But you do, or else you would have pulled away.”
“Whatever,” Taylor said, rolling her eyes.
Thankfully, Callie had released her hand when the waitress brought their drinks. They ordered their meals without having really looked at the menu much, but Taylor had known exactly what she wanted before they got there. One of the perks of going to a favorite restaurant.
“I’d like to share an observation with you, but I don’t want you to get mad,” Callie said, suddenly serious.
“Okay,” she said. Taylor wasn’t sure she liked serious Callie. She worried about what she might be about to say. She tried to be patient while she waited for Callie to go on, and then Callie took a deep breath, leaning her forearms on the table.
“I told Andrea on your wedding day it was a good thing she was marrying you because otherwise I’d steal you away from her.”
Taylor just stared at her, not having a clue as to how to respond. She sat there, waiting. It wasn’t an observation, so Callie must be about to say more.
“Shortly after, she informed me you didn’t like me. That you hated me, actually. She never invited me to your house again, and I never questioned it.” Callie took a sip of her beer. “Until I’d been shot, and you told me you’d never said it.”
“I’m still waiting for the observation,” Taylor said, seriously wondering where this was going.
“I’m getting there,” Callie assured her. “Andrea never really had much self-confidence when it came to women. I thought she’d overcome her insecurities with you, but now I’m wondering if she only told me what she did to keep me away from you. Like she thought I might really try to steal you away.”
“Wow,” Taylor said, finally pulling her hand away. “Your ego isn’t just huge, it’s monstrous.”
“No, it’s not my ego,” Callie said, shaking her head. “I never would have tried to steal you away, it was just a joke I made in passing, but looking back at it now I think she might have taken it seriously.”
“She would never have thought I’d prefer you over her,” Taylor said, but she thought back to the time she’d told Andrea she found Callie attractive. It had been early in their relationship, and it hadn’t occurred to her that Callie hardly ever spent time with the two of them together after she said it. Damn it, was it possible? Could Andrea really have been so insecure in her abilities to keep her happy? No, they’d talked about her insecurities, and Taylor was positive she’d successfully assured Andrea she was completely happy with her. But, she remembered, Andrea had told her the same thing. Callie doesn’t like you, she’d said. Damn it, why was she just now recalling that?
“That’s not even what I’m trying to say,” Callie said, obviously becoming frustrated with the conversation she herself had started. “Never mind. Forget I even brought it up.”
Taylor felt bad now. Callie was trying to get to the bottom of something that was bothering her about the woman who’d been her best friend, and Taylor was succeeding in making her feel bad for bringing it up in the first place. She sighed and decided to let her off the hook. She just hoped she wouldn’t live to regret it.
“I’m sorry,” she said, covering Callie’s hand with her own. “Don’t let this inflate your ego any further, but when she and I started dating, I told her I thought you were cute. So even though I never considered what you’re saying, I have to admit you might be right.”
She wasn’t sure what kind of reaction she’d been expecting, but she was surprised when Callie pulled her hand away and looked everywhere in the restaurant except at her. She spent a lot of time studying the décor on the wall next to their booth.
Their meals came, and they proceeded in silence. Callie was pushing her food around on the plate and didn’t eat much. She’d lost her appetite. She felt gutted to think she may have caused Andrea to doubt herself any more than she already did. Andrea certainly hadn’t deserved that, but she’d honestly thought she knew Callie was only joking. They’d literally just been married, for God’s sake.
“Hey,” Taylor said after a few minutes. Callie finally managed to meet her eyes. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“That I’m an ass,” Callie replied.
“Well, yeah, that goes without saying.”
Callie laughed in spite of herself. For a moment, she worried it might turn i
nto a crying jag, but the moment passed rather quickly. Taylor was smiling too, and Callie felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
“Gee, thanks,” Callie said.
“You said it, not me.”
“You think I’m cute.” Callie grinned. She shoved some shrimp in her mouth and pointed at her with her fork, loving the embarrassment making itself known in the blush on Taylor’s cheeks.
“I did then,” Taylor said with a shrug. “I never said I think it now. You were, what? Mid-twenties? A lot of women were cute back then.”
“Uh-huh.” Callie nodded. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
“Andrea may not have had much self-confidence, but you have enough for the both of you, and then some.”
They finished eating, mostly keeping topics fairly safe, with the bulk of the conversation being about Christmas and what kinds of family traditions they had. When Callie finally cleaned her plate, she sat back with a contented sigh.
“I want to thank you,” she said. Taylor looked at her, one eyebrow raised in question.
“For what, exactly?”
“For making me laugh. For making me feel not so bad about things.”
Taylor shrugged as though it was no big deal. “You have a nice laugh,” she said. “You should do it more often.”
“I’m paying,” Callie said when Taylor tried to take the check.
“I can pay for myself,” Taylor said, refusing to let go.
“I’m sure you can, but you’re taking me to the hockey game. The least I can do is pay for dinner.”
“You do recall the tickets were free, right?”
“So, what’s your point?”
Taylor shrugged again and let go of the check. When the waitress came back with her change, they left the restaurant with plenty of time to get to the arena before the game started.
“Thank you for dinner,” Taylor said.
“You’re welcome.” Callie took her hand and was relieved when Taylor didn’t object. Maybe this could actually turn into a date before the night was over.
Chapter Eighteen
At some point during the second period of the game, Taylor realized she’d taken hold of Callie’s hand. Her first instinct was to pull away, but she was surprised to realize she didn’t really want to. It felt nice, and she’d gone way too long without any physical contact with another human being. Holding hands with Callie felt good. But even more, it felt right. Callie looked at her and smiled.
Her inner voice screamed at her, asking what the hell she thought she was doing. She wondered if she was sending some kind of signal to Callie, and worried she might be. Yet she felt absolutely no desire to disengage their hands, which were now resting quite comfortably on Callie’s thigh.
When the Amerks scored with less than thirty seconds left in the period to go up by one, they stood and cheered along with everyone else in the arena. When they sat back down, Taylor was a little disappointed when Callie didn’t reach for her hand again.
“You want anything from the concession stand?” Callie asked when the period was over. “I need something to drink.”
“I’ll go,” Taylor offered.
“You sure?” Callie reached into her pocket for money, but Taylor stopped her before she could pull it out.
“I’ve got it.” Taylor stood and looked down at her. “You can buy next time.”
Taylor wondered where that had come from, especially when she noticed the goofy lopsided grin Callie gave her. Would there really be a next time? Taylor found herself hoping there might be, but she kept her expression as close to neutral as she could.
“Next time, huh?” She nodded once and got comfortable in her seat again. “I just want a Coke, and maybe some popcorn or something if that’s okay.”
“Be right back.” Taylor made her way past the other people in the row to get out, and was so preoccupied with her thoughts of Callie, she almost ran right over a man walking down the steps. He gave her a dirty look but said nothing. “Sorry.”
All day long she’d been wondering what tonight was. A date? Just a couple of friends hanging out at a hockey game? She wasn’t sure when she started hoping it was the former, but it certainly seemed like a date. Callie picked her up, which meant she’d have to take her home too. The compliment about how she looked, and Callie opening doors for her added to the feeling of a date. Then there was the hand holding. And had she actually mentioned a next time?
There wasn’t a whole lot about Callie not to like. She was gorgeous. She was funny. Charming. Sexy. She shook her head to try to dispel the last thought. When was the last time she’d had that thought about anyone other than Andrea? Taylor assumed she would have at least been uncomfortable at seeing someone in that light, but instead it simply gave her a warm feeling. All over. All over. The realization made her smile.
There wasn’t much to cheer about in the third period, as the IceCaps tied it up. The Amerks won it in overtime though, so it was a good night for the home team. On the way to Callie’s car, she reached for Taylor’s hand, and Taylor didn’t even flinch. She laced their fingers together and Callie squeezed gently.
“Is this okay?” Callie asked.
“Yes.” Taylor got that warm feeling again and was thankful Callie had asked. She added thoughtful and caring to the growing list of things to like about Callie. Strangely, there was only one thing on the list of things not to like about Callie—her job. Was it something she’d be able to overlook? “It was a good game.”
“It was,” Callie agreed as she opened the car door for her. “You can’t ask for much more than a win. And the fact it went to OT makes it even better.”
There was very little conversation on the way back to her house, which only served to give Taylor time in her own head to wonder what might happen once they got there. A part of her wanted to invite Callie in for a drink, but she worried it might send the wrong message. She closed her eyes for a moment and barely managed to not scoff at the idea. What would be the wrong message, exactly? Taylor wanted Callie, and the thought scared, but at the same time excited her.
It had been so long since she’d even thought about sex. Her life was full, or so she believed. But obviously there was something missing if she was considering this. What could it hurt to have a night of fun? To just go with it. She was sure it was all Callie would be interested in, so that made it an even more appealing notion.
But then there was the other part, the part of her that worried she’d be making a huge mistake. She’d never been good at casual sex. Maybe it would be best to simply send Callie on her way after she dropped her off. Yes, that was what she had to do. Then there’d be no reason to second-guess what she’d done afterward. Satisfied with her decision, she resolved to thank Callie for a nice evening, and send her on her way.
When she pulled into the driveway, Callie put the car in park but didn’t shut off the engine. Taylor breathed a sigh of relief that Callie wasn’t expecting to be invited in.
“Thank you for taking me to the game,” Callie said.
“You’re welcome. I had a good time.”
“Me too.”
Taylor took a moment to look at her profile while Callie was staring through the windshield. She really was a beautiful woman. She reached for the door handle but then hesitated. She surprised herself by saying what had been on her mind the entire ride home.
“Would you like to come in for a glass of wine?”
Callie looked at her, the surprise evident in her eyes. Taylor wanted to kick herself for putting her thoughts to voice, but she forced a smile, and after a few seconds, Callie nodded once, then cut the engine.
Once inside, Taylor let Blaze out before grabbing a bottle of wine. She turned to Callie and held it up to her.
“Maybe I should have said I only have red wine,” she said. “I hope it’s okay.”
“It’s perfect,” Callie assured her. Her palms were sweating again, and she resisted the urge to wipe them on her jeans. She watched
Taylor open the bottle and pour some into two glasses, wondering what it meant that Taylor had invited her in. Her heart was racing, and she was more nervous than she’d been on her very first date with a woman. Taylor was important to her, and she didn’t want to screw anything up with her. She took the glass Taylor offered her and followed her out to the living room. Just as they had for most of the time Callie was staying with her, they sat on opposite ends of the couch.
Callie let her eyes wander around the room, not knowing what to say. She wanted to know why she was there. Why Taylor had invited her in. But she couldn’t ask those things. She was actually afraid she couldn’t speak at all. She wanted to be sitting next to Taylor. Wanted to hold her hand, caress her face, to kiss her again. She took a sip of her wine and almost choked on it, her throat was so tight.
“Are you okay?” Taylor asked.
“Fine,” she managed to say. “Just went down the wrong way.”
“You seem nervous, but I would think after the time you spent here you wouldn’t be.”
“I told Grace we kissed.” Callie winced as soon as the words were out there. She’d never intended to admit it, but she couldn’t take it back now.
“What? Why would you tell her?”
“I’m sorry.” Callie set her wineglass on the coffee table and turned in her seat to face Taylor. “Grace is one of my best friends. She promised me she wouldn’t tell Quinn, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Taylor didn’t say anything in response, but simply stared at her. She’d expected Taylor to be angry, but she didn’t appear to be. She seemed calm, which for some reason worried Callie.
“It doesn’t matter if she does tell her,” Taylor finally said. She held Callie’s gaze, and Callie felt her pulse quicken at the intensity of it. “It doesn’t have to be a secret.”
“Okay,” Callie said slowly. She stayed in her seat while Taylor got up to let Blaze back inside. This was not what she’d expected to be talking about. The weather, the newest movies, the hockey game. Those were all relatively safe subjects. The kiss was not, in Callie’s opinion. And those safe topics were exactly what they talked about over the next half hour. Callie looked at her watch and saw it was after eleven o’clock. She stood and smiled at Taylor. “It’s getting late. I should probably go.”
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