by Dena Blake
She pulled open the patio door and stepped outside. “Why are you doing this to me?” she shouted, looking up into the darkened sky. “Is this some kind of test?” She flopped down into one of the loungers on the deck and closed her eyes. After about ten minutes, she heard Izzy in the kitchen.
“Mel, you out here?” Dressed in pajama pants and an oversized T-shirt, she came outside. Mel pulled her knees up close to her chest, and Izzy plopped herself down on the bottom of the lounger. “The tide is pretty high tonight.”
Mel watched her as she watched the waves, wet, dark locks falling on her shoulders, full lips, and long black lashes. She was a natural beauty.
“I like to sit out here at night and listen to the waves whisper.” Izzy leaned back against Mel’s legs. “Close your eyes and listen for a minute. Do you hear them? Slow and steady, they never stop. Rushing in and out, each time stealing a small sliver of the beach. They captivate your soul with their steady chant and work magic on your mind. They make the impossible seem achievable with their subtle, unsolicited advice. The ocean’s vastness makes any problem seem insignificant.”
“Izzy. How do you do that?” Mel had been out here alone and had heard the waves only as white noise. She certainly hadn’t heard them in any way close to what Izzy described.
“I try to look for the beauty in things.” She sat up and gazed back at Mel. “Like the sunflower flecks in your eyes.” Izzy’s eyes were dark, full of desire. Mel broke eye contact. Izzy put her hand on Mel’s knee and let it slide down to her ankle. “Hungry?”
“Umm, yeah,” Mel choked out, swinging her legs to the other side of the lounger and jumping up. “I’ll get the plates.”
Izzy gazed up at her with her blue eyes, hazy in the moonlight. “You want to eat out here?”
“No,” she answered quickly. The mood out here was way too romantic. If they stayed here by the ocean in the moonlight, she’d be a goner. “Oh, by the way, you got a card from someone today,” she said, hoping to hide the obvious effect Izzy was having on her.
“Who’s it from?” She headed into the kitchen and took the bread out of the oven.
“Don’t know. There’s no return address.” She grabbed it from the counter and handed it to Izzy.
Izzy ran her finger under the flap, slipped the card out, read it, and then tossed it into the trash.
“Who’s it from?”
“No one. It’s just one of those time-share invitations,” she said, carrying the sourdough loaf to the table. “Want some bread?”
“Of course. I’m starving.” Sliding the foil container across the table, she pried the lid off a little at a time, her fingers stinging from the heat. “You’ll be lucky to get some tonight.”
“That would be lucky, wouldn’t it?” Izzy tugged her lip up on one side, and Mel felt her cheeks heat, knowing exactly what she meant.
After putting the plates in the dishwasher, Mel collected the containers and had started to drop them into the trash when she saw the card Izzy had tossed away. All it took was one look to make Mel’s insides twist.
It was really good to see you the other night. I miss you, lover…Dana
She tossed the containers into the trash on top of the note. Lover! Man, this chick has nerve. Mel wasn’t at all surprised at who it was from, just at her audacity in sending it. Dana had seen the two of them kiss on the beach; she had no reason to assume they weren’t together. She headed for the living room but stopped at the doorway.
What was she doing? Izzy had thrown the damn thing away. What good would it do to let her know she’d invaded her privacy? Still, why did Dana keep coming around? Would Izzy ever get together with her again? Mel finished cleaning up before settling in on the couch next to Izzy. As the leather cushion sank, Izzy slid across the slick surface and up against her, already asleep. Mel thought about getting up but put her arm around Izzy instead, letting her tumble into the crook of her shoulder as she lay back on the couch next to her. She stole the remote from Izzy’s fingers and flipped through the channels until she found a do-it-yourself show.
When Mel woke up, she focused on the bright-red digital numbers on the cable box—one thirty. She didn’t want to move. Izzy had snuggled in close, with a leg draped across hers and an arm hooked around her waist. She really should get up and go to bed, but Mel wanted to just stay there wrapped up with Izzy and take in everything about her, from the soft feel of her body to the subtle scent of her skin. She’d never felt this close to anyone, especially not Jack. She stayed there entwined with her a few minutes longer, but she had to be in the office early to finish some work in the morning, and six a.m. would be here too soon. Mel tried to wrangle out from under her, but Izzy’s hand moved up her side, dipped under her back, and pulled her closer.
“Stay,” she murmured into her shoulder, and Mel couldn’t refuse.
The next time Mel woke, it was five o’clock. She slipped out from under Izzy. Other than taking a deep breath, she didn’t stir this time.
*
“Shit.” Izzy lifted her head after she thudded to the floor. She glanced up at the old clock on the mantle, which was stuck on twelve o’clock, as usual. Pushing herself up, she rested against the front of the couch and rubbed her cheek to relieve the sting from hitting the hardwood floor.
“Mel.” No answer. “Mel,” she shouted louder. She got to her feet, moved down the hall to the guest bedroom, and knocked. The door swung open. Gone. “Damn.” She had a little pang in her stomach.
The phone rang twice before the machine picked up, and Mel’s voice resonated from the speaker. “Wake up, sleepyhead. This is the third time I’ve called.”
Izzy picked up the receiver. “I’m up.”
“I was beginning to wonder if you were already on your way to the restaurant.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I left really early, and you looked so peaceful I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.” She shuffled into the kitchen and saw the time on the microwave. Nine fifteen. Shit! She was never going to make it over to see her mother this morning. She needed to let her know; Bella would be expecting her any minute. “Hey, can I get back to you in a little while? I need to call my mom.” She flew down the hall and into the bedroom. “Better yet, can you just come by the restaurant later?”
“Sure. Is your mom okay?”
“She’s fine. I’m just running late, so I’m going to have to go see her after the lunch crowd instead of this morning. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Okay, bye.”
Izzy tossed the phone onto the bed, then threw on some clothes and splashed some water onto her face. She swung through the kitchen and grabbed a protein bar from a box in the pantry, jamming it into her back pocket. She stopped when she saw the shiny red coffee machine on the counter. A half-pot of coffee was in the decanter, and a yellow Post-it note was stuck to the front of the machine. She pulled it off and read it out loud, “Your kitchen needs some color. I hope you like red.” Smiling at Mel’s thoughtfulness, she took a travel mug from the cabinet and filled it before she left.
As she made the thirty-minute drive to the market, Izzy ran through the previous night in her head. She’d caught Mel watching her in the shower. The woman was definitely curious. Her stutter had given her away. Izzy really hadn’t meant to give her a show, but when an opportunity arises, one must take it. Izzy couldn’t mistake what she’d seen in those deep-green eyes. It was pure unadulterated desire. And out on the deck when Izzy had touched Mel’s leg, she’d seen it again.
*
Mel stood in the doorway watching Izzy work as she sang along with the radio. She was so natural and easy-going. Mel loved to cook but didn’t know how Izzy dealt with the pressure of making dish after dish, all with different ingredients and all cooked to perfection. Izzy flipped the chicken breast and turned to the refrigerator.
Her lips pulled into a soft smile when she saw Mel. “Hey. You snuck out on me this mor
ning.” She pulled the refrigerator door open and took out a bowl of lemons, then chose one and sliced it in half. Squeezing it over the pan, she strained it through her fingers, catching the pits. “What time did you leave?”
“Around five.”
Izzy gave her a strange look. “I don’t even remember that.”
“I tried to leave earlier, but you had me trapped and asked me to stay.”
“Oh, yeah.” She smiled. “I thought that was a dream.”
“I had to go home first and change.” Mel dropped her purse on the counter. “Big meeting this morning with a client.” She didn’t dare tell her it was with Rick Daniels.
“You shouldn’t have bought the coffeemaker.”
“Do you like it?”
“I love it, but it’s too much.”
“You feed me all the time. Let’s call it even.”
“Deal.”
Mel’s brows pinched together as she moved closer. “What happened to your face?”
“I rolled off the couch this morning.” She dried her hands.
“God. I’m sorry.” Mel let out a small chuckle as she brushed her thumb across the raspberry. “I would’ve stayed if I’d known it was so dangerous to leave you alone.” She backed up slightly. “But it was probably good that I left. I might have ended up on the floor with you.”
“Would that have been so bad?” Izzy lifted a brow. “The two of us tangled up together on the floor?”
“All show and no go.” She stood firm, daring her. “You are such a flirt.”
“You’re calling me a flirt?” Izzy took a step forward. “Why didn’t you just come into the shower last night? We could’ve cut right to the chase.”
“What fun would it be without the chase?” Mel’s heart thudded like it might leap out of her chest. She never was good at flirting.
“Are you chasing me?” Izzy’s voice rose. She kept eye contact as she trailed her finger down Mel’s bare arm and took her hand. “I can certainly make the catch a little easier.”
The back door swung open. The voices of Tony, Carlos, and Miguel filled the room as they entered.
“We’ll have to pick this up again later.” Izzy gave her a steamy look as she pressed Mel’s hand to her lips, then released it. “So, how’d it go?”
“What?” Mel murmured through the erotic fog clouding her mind. She could hardly think.
Izzy chuckled. “The meeting.”
“Oh, the meeting went grea—” Mel heard a crash and snapped her head around. Carlos had dropped to the floor.
“Carlos!” Izzy rushed to him.
Mel knelt down and slapped at his face softly. “What’s the matter with him?” She rolled up a dishtowel and put it under his head.
“I don’t know. He was fine a few minutes ago,” Izzy said.
Mel repeated the question in Spanish, and Miguel responded.
“He didn’t eat this morning,” Miguel spewed in his native language. “He has low blood sugar.”
Mel pulled another towel from the counter and threw it at him. “Wet this and get me a glass of orange juice.” She rattled off the orders in Spanish without losing a beat.
“Is he going to be all right?” He handed her the wet towel.
She blotted his forehead and he started to rouse. “Help me get him up.”
Miguel lifted one shoulder as Mel got the other, and they rested him against the stove. Izzy handed her the orange juice, and she held the glass to his lips. “Come on, Carlos. Drink some of this. It’ll help.”
He opened his mouth and let her pour some inside.
“Good. Now another. How are the spots?” Mel said, still speaking in Spanish.
“They’re gone now.” He started to get up and she held his shoulder, keeping him pinned to the stove.
“Finish the juice first.” She handed him the glass. “You know you can’t skip any meals with low blood sugar, Carlos.”
“I was running late today.”
Izzy squatted down next to them. “Maybe you should take the day off. Go home and rest.”
“No. I’ll be fine.”
She searched Mel’s eyes for reassurance.
“He’ll be all right in a few minutes. You should probably fix him a sandwich or something.” She’d switched back to speaking English now. “My mom has low blood sugar occasionally. It’s not an issue if you’re prepared for it.”
“Oh,” Izzy said thoughtfully. “I didn’t know you spoke Spanish?” Her voice rose.
“Fluently.” Mel’s lip pulled up. “Did I forget to tell you that?”
“Yeah. You did.” A hot rush of color washed up Izzy’s neck. “So you’ve understood everything these guys have said to me?”
Mel nodded. “And everything you’ve said back.” She smiled and let the amusement flicker in her eyes.
Raking her hand across her neck, Izzy blew out a heavy breath.
“I’m very flattered.” Mel added.
“But?”
Mel quirked one side of her mouth into a half-grin and shook her head. “No buts. Except maybe we should clarify who’s chasing whom.”
Izzy moved closer, and suddenly Mel wished there weren’t so many people in the room. “I think—”
“I think you should make Carlos something to eat before he passes out again.”
She turned to see Carlos pulling open the fridge. “Is anyone else hungry?”
“Carlos, sit down. I’ll make you a sandwich.”
“Will you make me one too?” Mel slid onto a stool and smiled.
“I’ll make you anything you want.” She pulled out the Italian salami and provolone cheese.
Mel reached for her purse, took out her wallet, and slid a small envelope from the fold. “I snagged a couple of tickets to the Warriors game tomorrow night. You want to go?” She held the tickets up, and Izzy snatched them from her hand.
“Courtside. These are like gold.” She examined one and then the other. “Where’d you get them?”
“Just some of the perks of having Rick Daniels for a client.” She smiled, totally amused at Izzy’s reaction. “So, do you want to go?”
“Like there’s even a question.”
Mel gave her a wide grin as she held her hand out for the tickets.
“Maybe I should hang on to these,” Izzy said, handing Mel the tickets and then pulling them back.
“Uh-uh. My client. My tickets.” She snatched them out of her hand and put them back in her wallet. “Carlos might faint again and convince you he needs a night out.”
“Not a chance.”
Chapter Nineteen
Mel wasn’t sure how Izzy would take the change in plans for tonight. She’d misunderstood Rick when he’d given her the tickets. She’d explained the situation to Nancy, and she’d agree to go, but Mel was nervous about how to explain it to Izzy. She was probably reading too much into it. She took a deep breath, trying to convince herself Izzy would be okay with it.
“Hey, Iz,” she said, strolling into the kitchen.
“Hey.” A smile covered her face. “What’re you doing here?”
“You remember my friend Nancy, don’t you?” Nancy followed her into the kitchen.
“Hi, Izzy. It’s good to see you again.”
“Yeah, you too.” She gave her a nod. “What are you ladies up to today?”
“Give me a minute, will you?” Mel said, turning to Nancy before taking Izzy’s hand and leading her out the back door. “Listen, there’s a new plan for the game tonight.”
“I knew I should’ve held on to those tickets.”
“I didn’t lose the tickets. Rick wants us all to go with him.”
“But you only have two tickets.”
“I guess I misunderstood him. He has four altogether and wanted me to give the extra two to a couple of friends.” She took them out of her purse. “He wants to be surrounded by women. It’s a publicity thing.”
“And he wants you on his arm?”
“I don’t know about that. But
he is my client, and they are his tickets.”
Izzy frowned. “Mel, you shouldn’t have to do that.”
“I know how much you were looking forward to the game, and Nancy loves basketball too. So, I thought we could all go together.”
“Mel, I don’t know—”
“Come on. It’ll be fun.”
“It’s just one night.” Mel shot her an undeniable smile. “The seats are all together.”
“All right. But if it’s a disaster, don’t blame me.”
Mel knew she’d put her in an awkward position. She also knew Izzy wouldn’t hurt Nancy’s feelings. “Great.” Mel took her hand and pulled her back into the kitchen. “The game starts at eight.” She held up the tickets. “Who’s going to hold onto these?”
“I’ll take them.” Izzy slid them into her pocket.
“Rick will have a limo. We’ll pick you up at your house at six.”
“I can just meet you at the game.”
“It’ll be better if we all go together. The limo will take us to dinner and then to the game.”
“Okay. Then just pick me up here at the restaurant.”
“I’d like to meet here too, but I don’t really want to drive home later,” Nancy said.
Izzy handed her an order pad. “Write down your address. I’ll pick you up.”
“Thanks, that’s very sweet of you.” Nancy shot her a smile as she wrote, and Mel’s stomach lurched. That meant she’d be taking her home too. We’re friends. Just friends.
“It’s my pleasure.”
They held eye contact longer than Mel thought was necessary, and she cringed. She cleared her throat. “Well. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you both here at six.”
Izzy broke eye contact with Nancy to look at Mel. “We’ll see you then.”
*
Izzy didn’t like to be at anyone else’s mercy to get home, but it might be nice to be chauffeured to the game. She wouldn’t have to worry about traffic, parking, or even walking to the arena. Even though she’d really been looking forward to going to this game alone with Mel, tonight might not be so bad after all.