by Dena Blake
Chapter Fifteen
Nancy dragged Mel out of the car and into the kitchen at Bella’s. “You two need to talk.” Izzy opened her mouth to say something, but Nancy didn’t let her get the words out. “She’s thinking about going back to that slimeball husband of hers.”
The stunned expression on Izzy’s face dissolved, and she turned to the dish she was cooking. “And you brought her here because?”
“Jesus. Not you too.” She grabbed Izzy’s hand and pulled her away from the stove.
“Hey, I can’t just—”
“Yes, you can.” Nancy looked over at Tony. “He can take over for you, right?” Tony nodded. She opened the back door and shoved them both outside. “Now talk.”
“What the hell!” Izzy stumbled out the door, then spun around and was face-to-face with Mel.
She shrugged. “I’m sorry about this.”
“It’s good to see you.” Izzy’s grimace melted into a soft smile. “How have you been?”
“Okay. Just working a lot.”
“Yeah, me too.” She took Mel’s hand and led her to the concrete barrier they so easily used as a bench. Mel propped herself up on it, and Izzy stood in front of her. “So you’ve decided to make a go of it with your husband?” Izzy’s tone was soft, and Mel could hear the vulnerability coming through.
“Possibly.” Mel watched her feet as she bounced them off the concrete.
Izzy raked her hand down her face. “Why in hell would you do that?”
Startled by Izzy’s unsteady voice, Mel snapped her gaze back to Izzy’s.
Mel opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She had no words to explain the inner battle she was experiencing.
Izzy raked her teeth across her bottom lip. “Can I ask you something?” Izzy spoke softly again and didn’t wait for an answer before she moved closer and took Mel by the shoulders. Mel flinched at the heat of her touch. “Does he make your nerve endings tingle every time he looks at you?”
Mel stared into her darkening blue eyes. No. That would be you.
Izzy fired the next question at her. “Is he the first person you think of in the morning and the last person you think of before you go to sleep at night?”
Again, you.
She leaned close to whisper in her ear. “Do you get wet just at the thought of touching him?”
Mel felt the heat of her breath, and liquid gushed to her panties. Only you.
The warmth of Izzy’s cheek pressed against hers sent a hot, arousing jolt through Mel. She didn’t know how much more of this she could take. She shrugged out of her grasp. “I don’t see you out there getting any of that.”
“Apparently, you don’t see much.” She took Mel’s face in her hands, and the familiar ache afflicted her belly as Izzy’s gaze flickered from her eyes to her lips. “I don’t want any of that from anyone else. I want it from you.”
The softness of Izzy’s lips touched hers, and she felt them part slightly. That’s all it took. Mel had been longing for this ever since she’d kissed her that day at the beach. When Izzy’s tongue slid across her lips and dipped into her mouth, Mel was lost in her. She pulled her closer, pressing herself against Izzy as she twined her legs around her. Her hips ground into her as Izzy rocked against her. God, this felt so good. Mel couldn’t stop the moan from escaping her lips as Izzy’s hand moved up her side and her thumb slid across her nipple. The cloudy haze lifted slightly, and Mel ripped her lips away.
“I can’t do this.”
“Then tell me you don’t want me.” She trailed her tongue down Mel’s neck and back up to meet her lips again, kissing her hard, possessively. Mel let her eyes flutter closed as Izzy’s hand cupped her breast, her thumb flicking the nipple. She knew just what to do to her. Izzy pulled the shirt from Mel’s pants and slipped her hands underneath. Her fingers sizzled against her skin.
The sound of a skateboard scraping against concrete yanked her back to her senses. “Stop.” She shoved her away and pulled her shirt down. “For God’s sake, Izzy. Stop touching me like that.” She pushed herself farther back on the concrete, trying to clear her head. “Don’t you know what it does to me?” The heat lingered on her lips. It was too much, too fast.
“I thought so, but then why would you consider going back to Jack?”
“I have to get this stuff with him settled.” Mel could hardly breathe, and she could see the speed of Izzy’s pulse from the throbbing vein in her neck.
“But you want me.”
“I can’t be with you while I’m still married to Jack.”
“You and me.” Izzy waved her hand between the two of them. “We could be really good together.”
“Not like this.” Mel couldn’t deny she wanted her, but no matter what Jack had done, she couldn’t be with Izzy while she was still tied to him. “I’m sorry, Iz. I wish things were different.” Legs shaking, body tingling, Mel slid from the concrete. “I have to go.” Mel didn’t look at her. She couldn’t. She could hardly walk. She felt literally kissed senseless. The wave of raw need coursing through her was more powerful than anything she’d ever imagined.
“Figure out what you want, Mel. But don’t take too long. I won’t wait forever.”
She rushed through the restaurant, avoiding all the strange looks shooting her way. By the time she reached the car, Nancy was right on her tail. Mel yanked on the car door handle. “Unlock the door.” She yanked again. “Now…please!” Her eyes welled, tears threatening to spill out.
Nancy fumbled with the key fob she took from her pocket and clicked the button. The BMW beeped twice and the door unlocked. Mel pulled open the door and slid into the passenger seat.
Nancy slipped into the driver’s seat. “I’m sorry. I honestly thought talking to her would help.”
Mel saw Izzy coming out the front door. “Just get me out of here, please.” She wouldn’t be able to keep the tears in much longer, and she didn’t want Izzy to see her cry.
Nancy fired the engine and shot out of the parking lot, leaving Izzy behind, standing in the empty parking space.
*
Izzy watched the car drive away. There was nothing else she could do. They’d gone from ninety to nothing in three seconds flat. She went back in, through the kitchen, and out behind the restaurant.
The screen door slapped closed behind Tony as he followed her. “Is she going back to her husband?”
“I don’t know, Tony.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“So you’re just going to let her go?”
“She doesn’t know what she wants, Tony. She needs time to think.” She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I need her to decide.”
“That doesn’t sound like the sister I know.”
“She’s different. I can’t be an experiment for her. If she wants me, she’ll come back.”
“What if she doesn’t?”
“Then I’ll wish her well. Life will go on.” I’ll know she didn’t want me enough, and I can’t just be friends with her.
“Damn it, Izzy. I hate it when you act so grown-up.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
Chapter Sixteen
Mel’s meltdown had been huge, and she knew Nancy felt terrible for causing it. They hadn’t discussed it at all, except for Nancy’s explanation of why she’d taken her to see Izzy. Nancy wanted her to remember how strong her feelings were for Izzy, and Mel had remembered all right. All of the strange, new, wonderful feelings had come flooding back with such impact, she felt like she’d been jettisoned from ten thousand feet. She hadn’t gotten out of bed for two days.
Over the past week, Mel had thought long and hard about what she was going to do next and concluded she needed some space. The timing of their trip to LA couldn’t have been more perfect. Hopefully, the distance would help her clear her head. She hadn’t met with Jack but had made her decision about their marriage. It was done. She couldn’t untangle her feelings for Izzy while
she was still close enough to touch. She’d never felt like this about anyone before and seriously wondered if it was even normal.
The two of them would take some time in LA with Rick to hammer some specs out. Then she would have to decide what she planned to do about her feelings for Izzy.
“I don’t understand why we couldn’t take a later flight.” Nancy dropped her suitcase into the trunk of Mel’s BMW. “It’s not even light out.”
“You can sleep on the plane.”
“For the half hour between takeoff and landing? I doubt it.”
“Then you can take a nap at the hotel.”
“Did you request early check-in?”
“Yes. Now let’s go.”
Mel slammed the trunk closed and got into the car.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?”
“I did something really stupid.” She twisted to look behind the car as she backed it out of the driveway.
“What?”
“Izzy kissed me that day you took me to the restaurant to see her.” God, did she kiss me. She shifted the car into drive and stared straight ahead at the road. “And I kissed her back.”
“I knew it.” Nancy slapped her hand to her leg in satisfaction.
“It’s not that simple, Nance.”
“Oh, I see. The Catholic guilt is getting to you again.”
Mel shook her head. “This has nothing to do with religion. I’m just not the kind of girl who starts one relationship without ending another.” No matter how much I want to.
“But you admit you like her.”
“I don’t like her. I think I’m in love with her.” She slid her hand from the wheel to the gearshift. “Is that crazy?”
“No, it’s not.” Nancy covered Mel’s hand with hers. “Love isn’t something you can control. It’s like a meteor that crash-lands in your heart. You just have to let it burn.” Nancy smiled. “You should ease up on the reins a little and try it. You might actually like it.”
“I don’t know if I can.” She moved her hand back to the wheel and gripped it. “I like being in control.”
“And with Izzy, you’re not?”
“Not even close. Just the thought of being with her makes me want to drop everything and go to her. I don’t even want to work.”
“Jeez, Mel. I had no idea you had it that bad for her.”
Mel rested her head back against the seat and blew out a slow breath. “I’ve never felt so intensely for someone before, and I don’t know what to do about it.”
“If you feel this way about her, why are you running away?”
“I don’t want to mess it up.”
“Mess it up how?”
“By sleeping with her.” Mel’s voice rose, and she took the corner too quickly.
“That should only bring you closer.”
“What if it doesn’t?”
“Will you answer something honestly for me, Mel?”
She nodded.
“Let’s see. How can I say this gently?” She planted her elbow on the console between them. “When we were together, you never really wanted to…uh…go down on me.”
Mel was certain Nancy saw the horrified look on her face.
“Don’t get me wrong here. You were great with your hands, but you weren’t really interested in anything else.”
“We were so young then, Nance.” She shook her head.
“Have you thought about that? Are you going to be able to do that with her?”
“Actually, I’ve thought about it a lot.” Mel blew out a breath. “Probably way too much.”
“And?”
“Yes. I want her in every way.” Even now, just thinking about it made her body warm. “But what if I’m not good at it?”
“You kissed her, right?”
“Yes.”
“How was that?”
“Amazing. I’ve never felt so sexually charged.”
“And she liked it too?”
“I think so.” It certainly felt like it.
“Then you don’t have anything to worry about, sweetie.”
“Except Jack.”
“That’s a whole other story.”
“It may be, but that’s why I can’t tell her how I feel. That wouldn’t be fair.”
“Then get it done.”
Mel pulled the ticket from the machine and slid it onto the dash as she drove into the covered long-term parking lot. She found the closest spot to the shuttle stop and popped the trunk. Nancy took the bags out, and they walked the short distance to the shuttle area. They were both silent on the short ride to the terminal and as they went through security and on to the gate. The airport wasn’t very crowded. Getting to the gate two hours early made for easy seating. Mel found a couple of spots across from the window and rolled her suitcase up in front of the seat next to hers.
“I need a cup of coffee,” Nancy said.
“I could use one too.” Mel reached for her wallet.
“I’ll get it. Just black, right?”
“Yep.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
Nancy came back with two black coffees and a white paper bag. “Banana or blueberry?”
“Blueberry.”
As Nancy sat down, Mel saw her glance at the brunette sitting in the seat across from them. She handed Mel one of the coffees and a blueberry muffin.
“What would you do if you weren’t still dealing with Jack?”
“Honestly? I probably would have already slept with her.”
“When are you going to get your divorce?”
“I told Mike to have Jack served with papers last week.”
“Jesus, Mel. Why didn’t you tell me?” She leaned closer. “How’d he take it?”
“He’s not happy. Now he knows I’m not backing down. He can threaten me all he wants, but I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“He knows you know about the reporter, doesn’t he?” Nancy’s voice rose, and the brunette across from them glanced up from her book. “Sorry,” she whispered, shifting in her seat.
“Yes. Mike said he would give him the choice whether to make it messy. He’ll have to decide how he wants to move forward.”
“What do you think he wants?”
“It’s all about money.”
“You’re not going to let him get his hooks in the company, are you?” Nancy screeched, prompting the brunette to look up again.
“Not a chance. It’s always been in my name.” She smiled. “And now yours.”
The call for first-class passengers came over the speaker, and Mel collected the empty coffee cups and bag and headed for the garbage can. On her way back, she watched the woman across from them gather her carry-on. She handed Nancy something and proceeded to the boarding area.
“What was that?”
“She gave me her card, said to call her if you needed help.”
“That was nice.”
Nancy continued to watch the woman as she glanced back over her shoulder and smiled.
“What else did she say?”
“She said she’d love to have a friend like me. I should call her anyway.” She chuckled.
“Oh my God.” Mel rolled her eyes. “You are just a magnet.” Mel grabbed her bag and pulled the handle up. “Come on. You can flirt with her on your way to business class.”
*
It was pouring down rain when they arrived. They managed to pick up the rental car without difficulty, made it to the hotel, and were checked into their suite by ten. Next on the agenda was a room-service working lunch with Nancy.
Since lunch was on the company, Nancy had pretty much ordered one of everything. Thankfully, the room included a mini-fridge, and she would be able to munch on the leftovers later instead of ordering more. After they squared away all the details for their meeting with Rick, Mel jumped into the shower to freshen up before meeting him for dinner. When they arrived, they’d had a message from him at the front desk to meet him at some sushi restaurant in Beverly Hill
s at nine o’clock. Mel wasn’t a big fan of sushi, but usually she could find something on the menu she could stomach. Nancy, on the other hand, didn’t like sushi and had complained about it all afternoon.
Mel let the hot water run down her face as she thought about the conversation with Izzy behind the restaurant the week before. It wasn’t the first time today her mind had wandered there, and it wouldn’t be the last. The kiss she and Izzy shared was so intense she’d been unable to think. All she’d wanted to do was lose herself in it and let all of her insecurities go for just one night. She knew Izzy was hurt. She hadn’t called, and Mel knew she wouldn’t after the way they’d left things. Mel sat on the couch and blotted her hair dry as she flipped through the TV channels.
She heard the beep of the door lock, and Nancy came bustling in. “This is ridiculous!” she said, setting two cups of Starbucks coffee on the table. She slipped her soaking-wet coat from her shoulders and threw it over a chair. “It’s been raining since we got here.”
“Thank you,” Mel said, popping up to get her latte. “You’d better get moving if you’re going to take a shower.”
“Look at me! I’ve already had one.”
Mel laughed. “Well, you might want to at least do something with that wet mess on your head. Especially if you’re planning to see that cutie from the airport while you’re here.”
“Oh yeah. Where’d I put her card?” She scanned the room.
“It’s right here on the table.” Mel held it up in the air, and Nancy tried to swipe it from her hand.
“Uh-uh. Not until after you get ready.”
Nancy grumbled and headed to her room. “Jesus. I look like Carrot Top.”
“Told you,” Mel said singingly.
*
“Well, what do you think, Mel?” Nancy asked.
Mel pulled her brows together.
“The wine. Isn’t it wonderful?” Nancy zeroed in on her glass.
Mel picked up her glass and took a sip. “It’s lovely.”
“Where did you learn so much about wine, Rick?” Nancy took a sip.