by Dena Blake
Izzy pulled her glued eyelids open and tried to focus on the ceiling fan above the bed. She felt the warmth against her side and the weight on her shoulder. When she turned her head, blond hair blurred across her vision. What the fuck? She popped up in bed, and the body next to hers flopped to the side.
Dana rolled over and smiled. “Hey, baby. How are you feeling this morning?”
“What happened last night?” She put her hand on her head, trying to stop the throbbing pain. “How much did I drink?”
“I don’t know. You were pretty far along when I got there.” Dana planted a kiss on Izzy’s lips before sliding out of bed. “I brought you home and put you to bed.”
She glanced around the room and caught the trail of clothes on the floor. She lifted the sheet…naked. How the fuck did I get here? Flashes of the bar the night before flew through her head. What the hell did I do?
“Are you going to visit your mother today?”
“I visit her every day.”
“I’d go with you, but you know she doesn’t like me.” Dana poked her head out of the bathroom and shot her a smile. “I’ve got a few things to do, but could we get together later?”
“Can’t. I have to work.” She watched the naked, line-free, bronze woman walk out of the bathroom and cross the room to pull on her clothes. Izzy cringed, knowing the drill all too well. Dinner, sex, and see-ya.
She couldn’t remember anything after the first three glasses of wine, after she’d seen those pictures of Mel and Rick in the tabloid. What the hell is wrong with me? How could I have fallen back into bed with Dana, of all people?
The phone rang and Dana picked it up. “Good morning.”
Izzy pulled the phone from her hand before she could say anything else. She wrapped the sheet around herself and shot through the house out onto the deck.
Tony’s voice rang through the receiver. “Was that Dana?”
“Uh-huh.” Izzy pinched her eyes closed, thankful it wasn’t Mel on the phone.
“I know it’s none of my business, Iz. But if you want any chance with that beautiful brunette who’s been coming around, you’d better get your shit together.”
“Don’t you think I know that?”
“Then how the hell did Dana end up at your house?”
Izzy glanced back toward the house to see her at the kitchen window. “I honestly don’t remember.”
“How much did you drink last night?”
“Two bottles.”
“Between the two of you?”
“I think just me.”
“You’d better lay off that stuff for a while.”
“No kidding.”
“I just called to let you know Momma’s not feeling good this morning. Pop said she’s not out of bed yet.”
“Okay. I’ll get over there as soon as I can. I need to grab a quick shower. Call you when I get there.”
Dana was in the kitchen when Izzy returned. “What the hell was that all about?” Dana said.
“You tell me.”
“We did spend the night together last night.” Dana’s lip quirked up.
“I don’t remember.”
“Well, I do, and you were wonderful.” Dana slipped her arms around Izzy’s waist.
“Stop.” Izzy grabbed Dana’s arms and pried them from her waist. “If anything happened last night, it was a mistake.” Izzy rubbed her forehead. She couldn’t be that much of a shit.
“Don’t say that. We’re good together.” Dana kissed her on the cheek and spun around toward the door. “Let’s stay at my place tonight. Bring home some lasagna.”
“I’m not going anywhere near your place, Dana.”
“Okay, then. I’ll come back here.” She didn’t wait for Izzy to respond.
Izzy grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “I guess I’ll be sleeping at Mom’s tonight.” She chugged down half the bottle, then went into the bathroom and saw her reflection in the mirror. Puffy eyes and dark, matted hair sticking out in all directions. Jesus. It must have been some night.
*
Mel tugged her bag down the Jetway, pausing at the entrance to the plane just long enough to see a young man heaped over the trash can puking his guts out. “Too much fun,” his buddy said with a chuckle as he stood next to him, dressed in a UC Berkeley T-shirt and holding his luggage.
Her stomach rumbled. That’s exactly what she felt like doing, only it wasn’t for the same reason. Mel was sure Izzy had seen the tabloids by now. She’d gotten her phone back from Rick yesterday and left Izzy a dozen messages since then. Izzy wasn’t answering or returning her calls. She should’ve trusted Izzy enough to tell her about Rick, but her contract clearly stated she couldn’t divulge any personal information about him. Mel hoped she would let her explain when she got home.
*
Mel dropped her purse in the entryway of her parents’ house and strolled into the living room, expecting to find her mother in her usual chair by the window, drinking her cup of tea. Instead, she found her father in his, typically empty, chair reading the newspaper. She glanced at her watch and noted it was only a little after six o’clock.
“Hey, Dad. I didn’t expect to see you home so early. Where’s Mom?”
He looked over the paper at her. “She’s meeting with her book group tonight.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.”
“What’s this I hear about your picture being splashed across the front page of some tabloid rag?”
“One of my clients thought it would be good publicity.”
“That’s not the kind of publicity you need.”
“It’s actually bumped the traffic on his website thirty percent.”
“Maybe you should be a little more selective about who you accept as a client. Your brother would never take on someone so brash.”
“He would if the client paid the kind of money Rick pays. Besides, Rick is a friend of mine.” She spun around. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Compare me to Mike. Make me second-guess my business decisions.” She crossed the room and poured herself a drink.
“I’m trying to help you make decisions that won’t prevent your little company from growing. I do have a few more years of experience than you.”
“My little company? You don’t even acknowledge I’ve had any success at all.”
“That’s not true. I know you’re successful, but you can’t compare that to your brother. He’s a partner in one of the most prestigious law firms in San Francisco.”
“You just did it again. I was in the top of my class, Dad. I graduated summa cum laude. Mike only made magna.” She flopped down onto the couch.
“They’re both great honors, Mellie.”
“I’ve got so much work at 365, I can barely keep up.”
“What’s 365?”
“My little public-relations company, Dad.”
“Has it always been called that?”
“Yes, Dad. ‘We’re here for you 365 days a year’ is our hook.” Her voice rose an octave. “I can’t believe you don’t even know the name of it.”
“What do you want from me, Mellie?”
“I want you to acknowledge the fact I’ve built a successful company that serves multiple clients. And I want you to appreciate that I’m damn good at what I do. I want you to be proud of me.” Her voice faded, and the last sentence came out in a whisper.
“Why would you think I’m not proud of you?”
She threw up her hands. “Everything you just said.”
“Contrary to the old saying, things don’t come to those who wait. Success takes work. Hard work and focus. You have a husband to take care of, and someday you’ll have a family.”
“I’m divorcing Jack, so I won’t have a husband for long, and I doubt I’ll ever have a family.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Because you never ask.” The words came out harsher than she intended.
“I’m not good at this, Mellie.” He sat o
n the couch next to her. “Do you think I like working twelve hours a day, every day?” He hesitantly lifted his arm and put it around her shoulder. “Watching you come across that stage at graduation was one of the proudest moments of my life.”
Her gaze snapped to his. “You were there?”
He nodded. “I slipped out to see you graduate, but I couldn’t stay for the celebration. I’ve given up many things to get where I am today.”
“Was it worth it?”
“Perhaps not, but I’ve been doing it for so long, it’s hard to stop.”
Mel studied the creases in her father’s forehead. The years of stress had taken their toll. Maybe she was asking more than he could give. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, Mellie, and I am proud of you. I’ve never intended to make you feel otherwise.” He pressed his lips to the side of her head, and her heart warmed a bit. He’d given her some insight into why he was the way he was. It wasn’t quite what she was looking for from him, but it was enough to know he cared. Enough to make a new start.
*
Mel had been back from her trip for a couple of days now and hadn’t seen or spoken to Izzy. She’d been trying to get things settled with Jack. It had been almost two weeks since Izzy told Mel she wanted to be with her, and she still hadn’t dealt with her own epiphany that she might actually want to be with Izzy too. When she parked on the street next to the restaurant, her excitement was laced with trepidation. She wanted so badly to give Izzy what she wanted but was afraid of the consequences if it didn’t work out. The fallout would leave their friendship broken and her heart irreparably damaged.
She slipped in through the back door and watched Izzy work her magic at the stove. Tony said something funny, and Izzy gave him a wide, dimple-pricked smile, her deep-blue eyes showing only through the slits created as her cheeks rose. Unprepared for the intense dip her stomach took, she spun around and plastered her back against the concrete wall. Just tell her, stupid. Why was this so difficult? But it wasn’t just Izzy’s heart on the line here. Her own heart would be shattered if this didn’t work.
It was now or never. She sucked in a deep breath, pushed off the wall, and went inside.
“Hi, guys.” Izzy stiffened at the sound of her voice.
“Hey.” Izzy rolled her lips together. “When’d you get back from your trip?”
“A few days ago.”
“Oh.” She poured wine over a chicken breast in the pan, tilted it into the flame of the stove, and fire surged into the air. “Been doing damage control?” Izzy sounded aloof and Mel’s stomach dropped.
“Something like that. I’ve still got a few things to work out with Jack.”
“So you’re not through with him?” She slid the chicken breast out of the pan and onto a plate, letting the juices run on top.
“I am, but it’s not that simple, Izzy. We have ten years of history—”
“I don’t want to hear about your history with Jack.” She dropped the pan down onto the stove. “You can tell that to your movie star.” The plate rattled as she skittered it onto the warming shelf.
“Izzy, don’t do this.” This wasn’t going to be easy.
Izzy held up her hands. “Far be it for me to give you marital advice.” The warm blue eyes Mel loved had become frozen.
“Walking away after all these years is complicated.”
“I’m sure it is—”
“I guess this was a mistake.” Mel turned and walked out the door.
She’d just started the car when the passenger door pulled open and Izzy slid into the seat.
“What now?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not really good at showing people how I feel.” The ice in Izzy’s eyes had melted.
“I think you just let me know exactly how you feel.”
“I’m still stinging from those pictures of you kissing that movie star.”
Mel whipped her head around. “He did that, not me. And you’re one to talk. It’s not like your lips have never been where they shouldn’t be.” Mel focused on the rustic sign hanging on the side of the building, remembering what Nancy had said about Izzy having a reputation.
“Listen, Mel. I admit, I’m no angel. I’ve dated, no…” She shook her head. “I’ve slept with more women than I can count and…when I caught Dana cheating, I went right back to it again.” Izzy hesitated. “And then I found you out back that night.”
“That was months ago.” She let her gaze shift to the bottom of the steering wheel, where she swept her finger back and forth across the inside of it.
“Yes, it was.”
“You’re telling me you haven’t slept with anyone since I…?” She let her hand slip from the steering wheel to the gearshift.
Izzy shook her head. “No, I…no one.” She covered Mel’s hand with hers. “Do you think we can start over? Maybe you could come out to my house tonight and we can talk?”
“It won’t be until later. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
“I won’t get out of here until at least nine anyway. Why don’t you bring your laptop with you and work until I get home?”
“I guess I could do that. Will you bring me something to eat?” Mel shot her a soft smile.
“You’ve missed my cooking?”
“Among other things.”
“I’ll bring you anything you want.” Izzy grinned, and the familiar jolt sizzled through Mel’s body. Only silence passed between them for what seemed like an eternity, but Mel was sure it was only a minute or two before Izzy said, “Then I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yes, tonight.”
“The key is under the flowerpot on the porch, and the wireless code is on the fridge.” She squeezed her hand, then got out of the car and headed back into the restaurant.
She didn’t really know if Izzy truly loved her. Mel only knew she didn’t want to live the rest of her life without Izzy in it.
Chapter Eighteen
Mel found the key under the flowerpot exactly where Izzy said it would be. After placing her laptop just inside the door, she noticed a small, hand-addressed envelope on the floor. She picked it up and laid it on the entry table before she carried her bag into the guest room. She hoped she wasn’t being too presumptuous, but she knew it would be late by the time they ate dinner and had a chance to talk. Not that she knew what she was going to say. It would be at least ten when Izzy got home, and Mel was usually fast asleep by then. She’d be too tired to drive home.
She changed into her yoga pants and T-shirt and then hung her beige slacks and white blouse on the hanger she’d brought. After taking her clothes out to her car, she carried in the new pour-over coffeemaker she’d bought for Izzy. It was identical to the one she had in her own kitchen, which she’d seen Izzy eyeing when they’d been at her house. Mel’s plan was to get up early in the morning and set it up as a surprise. She pulled open a couple of cabinets, looking for a place to hide the fairly large box. She finally found a spot at the bottom of the coat closet.
She took her laptop from the chair and set it up on the dining table. She had work she couldn’t ignore. She’d already let a few things slide the past two nights and had to finish them by the end of the week. If she wasn’t ready for tomorrow morning’s meeting, she might be out of a client by the end of the day. Thank God for Nancy. She’d already saved her butt several times this week.
*
Izzy buzzed into the house with a bag hanging from each hand. “I brought you something new tonight. One of Gio’s creations.”
Mel glanced up. “What?”
“Chicken saltimbocca.” She emptied the bags onto the counter.
“Sounds fattening.” Mel followed the wonderful smell into the kitchen.
“It’s Italian. It’s all fattening. I went light on the butter for you.”
“Smells divine.” She reached for the container and Izzy tapped her hand. “I need to take a shower before we eat.”
Mel smiled. She’d expected a certain amount of tension but fo
und only the natural easiness that seemed to always exist between them.
“Then why’d you put it in front of me?”
“I want you to savor the scent.” She cupped her hand above the container and wafted the scent up to her nose. She winked and shot her an incredible smile as she turned on the oven. “After the oven preheats, can you slide these in?” She took the foil containers and a loaf of sourdough bread out of the bag and placed them on a cookie sheet. “They should be warm by the time I’m done.” She turned and headed down the hall.
Before Izzy was out of sight, Mel lifted the top off a container and stuck a finger inside for a taste. The chicken saltim-whatever-it-was tasted just as magnificent as it smelled. The woman was a treasure. Mel could imagine her cooking her dinner every night. She lifted the lid on the other one to find angel-hair pasta.
“Izzy, did you say to put both containers in the oven?” No answer. She pressed the lid back down and took off down the hall to the bedroom. Peeking through the open doorway into the bathroom, she shuddered at the sight of Izzy through the clouded glass doors. She knew she should turn away, but she couldn’t. She looked at Izzy from head to toe and then back up again until she met Izzy’s smiling eyes staring back at her.
“Yes?” Making no attempt at modesty, Izzy opened the shower door farther.
Mel froze for a minute, taking in the sight of Izzy’s glistening, boyish body as she tried to form words. “Uh, the pasta. I just didn’t know if you wanted me to put it in the oven as well.”
“No. Just leave it. I’ll warm it on the stove when I get out.” She slid the glass door closed and leaned back into the stream of water.
Mel couldn’t help but watch her for another minute through the glass before pulling the door closed. She rushed back into the dining room, dropped down into the chair, and stared at her computer screen. “Shit.” She slapped her laptop closed. No way was she going to get any more work done tonight with that vision of Izzy burned into her mind. She hopped up and paced the room. Maybe she should just march back in there, strip her clothes off, and get it over with. No. She couldn’t do that. She’d want her again and again. That couldn’t happen until she was totally free of Jack.