Kiss the Girl

by Melissa Brayden

  “Well, as your business partner, I can assure you that I have everything under control. And as your friend, I would have hoped you’d show me the tiniest bit of support.”

  Mallory shook her head in disbelief. “You hid this from me for I don’t know how long, and you’re honestly playing the friendship card right now? She’s our biggest competitor. You’re jeopardizing everything we’ve worked for.”

  Okay, when she put it that way it didn’t sound so fabulous. “I’m sorry, but I knew how you’d react, and I wanted to be sure that what was happening between us warranted the trouble. I needed to get my head sorted out.”

  “So you are sleeping with her then?”

  Brooklyn sighed because Mallory wasn’t giving an inch. “God, Mallory, yes. I’ve had sex with her. We’re seeing each other. Legitimately.”

  “The same woman who would sell her grandmother to advance her career, that’s the woman you’re now pursuing a relationship with? Do you see the error in logic here?”

  Brooklyn rolled her eyes. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Ask her about how she got the City Shapewear account.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because she practically stole the account from Amy Davison’s firm by pointing out an arrest Amy had for drug possession in college some fifteen years prior. Lennox knew the CEO was an anti-drug activist and used it to upend their relationship with Amy. It was something a mudslinging politician would do, not an advertising executive. Ask her, if you don’t believe me. It was a shady thing to do. How do you know she’s not in bed with you to find some way to neutralize us with Foster?”

  “Come on, Mallory,” Samantha said gently. “Let’s not go there.”

  “I can handle this,” Brooklyn shot at Sam, perhaps too aggressively, but she was fired up now. “Let her say what’s on her mind.”

  Sam held up both of her hands in exasperation. “Excuse me for trying to help the situation. Carry on with your petty squabble.”

  Mallory wasn’t deterred. “I’m only saying what we’re all thinking. Even Hunter thinks it puts the business at risk.”

  “Don’t bring me into this,” Hunter said.

  Mallory pushed forward, her eyes flashing. “I don’t think you have your wits about you when it comes to Lennox. And I’m trying to save you some heartbreak.”

  “Wait.” Brooklyn shook her head in feigned mystification. “I thought you were talking as my business partner. So confused right now.” She turned to Hunter. “And if you have an opinion, I’d wish you’d express it directly to me next time.”

  Hunter tilted her head in acquiescence. “I think there’s some validity to Mal’s concern. Jessica has a track record for questionable business practices. We shouldn’t just ignore that, especially now that she’s a day-to-day factor in your life.”

  “There’s no we in the equation. That’s what you guys don’t seem to understand. This is my life.” She turned to Hunter. “And whatever happened to all that advice in the park? ‘Go slow, Brooks. Baby-step the hell out of it.’”

  Mallory sent Hunter a look. “So let me get this all straight. Everyone knew about this turn of events but me?”

  No one said anything.

  “Perfect. Wow. That’s just wonderful. You know what? I think I’m gonna work from home today. I need a break from you three.” But just before she reached the door, she turned back, her eyes holding fast to Brooklyn’s. “Ask her about Emmaline Leos. That’s a good story. And there’s a lot more where that came from. I just think you should have all the facts before you embark upon corporate and emotional suicide.”

  Brooklyn watched Mallory leave, and the full brunt of the conversation settled over her. She wanted to hit something or cry. She wasn’t sure which. She looked from Hunter to Samantha. “Thanks for having my back, you guys. Truly. Now that’s friendship.”

  *

  Jessica was just about to head to bed when she heard the knock at the door. It was kind of peculiar, that knock, the way it didn’t really contain any pauses. What in the world had someone so keyed up? She swung the door open in time for Brooklyn to breeze past her, and it was clear from her expression that everything was not okay.

  “I’m sorry. I know it’s late, but I need you to tell me about Emmaline Leos and anything else you think I should know about you.” She was wearing yoga pants and a white T-shirt. She looked cute and cuddly, and while Jessica wanted to touch her, Brooklyn’s arms were folded across her chest with keep-your-distance vibes shooting off her like fireworks.

  Forcing herself to focus on the question, Jessica ran the name over again in her head. “Uh, she’s a former employee.”

  “Okay. I didn’t know that. Can you tell me what happened with her?”

  “Sure. As soon as you slow down and explain what’s going on. Unless the whirlwind version of an inquisition is what you had in mind.”

  Brooklyn ran a hand through her hair and took a deep breath. “Right. This probably seems…” She quickly moved her hand across the air as if to erase an imaginary chalkboard. “Mallory and I had it out today and it was horrible and for whatever reason I can’t stop thinking about some of the things she said. Things that make sense. A little. I’m rambling.” She took a breath. “She told me to ask you about Emmaline. So here I am. I’m asking. And I’m hoping you’ll answer.”

  “Do you want to sit?”

  Brooklyn pushed herself onto the kitchen counter in typical Brooklyn fashion.

  “Okay, that’ll work. Emmaline was an account executive who worked for me several years back. She was good at her job. For whatever reason, she got tangled up with one of her married clients, who happened to be a big fish and the point person for the largest account on our books. When things went south with their affair, he refused to work with us as long as she was on payroll.”

  Brooklyn narrowed her eyes in accusation. “So you just fired her because some creep she was sleeping with told you to?”

  “Of course not. I fired her for sleeping with him in the first place. We have a strict policy against it and always have. If she’d been honest with me, I could have assigned someone else to the account. Hell, I was even willing to work with her after the fact, but she continued to lie to me about it. I felt like I couldn’t trust her. Plus, she’d placed us in a really compromising position with our client.”

  “I’m guessing that’s not how she tells it.”

  “Yeah, well, I imagine she’s still pretty ticked off. That tends to happen when you fire people. And Emmaline’s always been into high drama, so I’m not surprised that she told Mallory all about it the second she was given the chance.”

  “I imagine that’s exactly what happened.”

  Jessica nodded, already imagining the conversation. “So Mallory thinks I’m less than scrupulous and is not thrilled about you seeing me.”

  “Right. But she didn’t use as big a word.” Brooklyn attempted a smile, but it didn’t make it past a flicker.

  Jessica walked to her and placed her hands on Brooklyn’s knees, looking up at her sincerely. “This is the thing. She’s not completely wrong. I need to be honest with you about that. There was a time when I lost myself in what I was doing, and that time only ended very recently.”

  They stared at each other for a moment. “Did you land a client by exposing a competitor’s police record?”

  Jessica closed her eyes, hating what she was about to say. “Yes.”

  Brooklyn met her gaze, incredulous. “What else?”

  “You need more?”

  “I just need to know who I’m dealing with, Jess.”

  “I’ve never broken the law. I’ve never been dishonest, and I’ve never set out to be malicious to other people, though sometimes it came off that I did. But I have taken advantage of the position I’ve found myself in on occasion.”

  “Like preying on the weaknesses of others?”

  “I’m not proud of it, but yes, like that.”

  �
��What about sleeping with your competitor to land the account you want? Is that in the realm of something you would do?”

  Jessica stepped back and took a minute. She had to in order to steady herself against the force of the implication. She couldn’t blame Brooklyn for wondering, but it still felt like she’d been slapped in the face. Finally, she raised her gaze to Brooklyn. “No. That’s not something I would do.”

  She rested against the counter across from Brooklyn and tried to figure out how to explain. “When I met you, something changed for me. That’s the best way I can describe it. My list of priorities was tossed into the air and everything was drastically reordered. Looking back, I don’t like the way I’ve conducted myself. But the gist of it is this: the world looks different with you in it. With an us. It sounds like such a clichéd thing to say, but that doesn’t make it any less true.”

  Brooklyn pushed off the counter, the serious contemplation still apparent on her face. “So what’s the takeaway?”

  “That I’d run away and start a bed-and-breakfast with you. Leave advertising behind, if that’s what you wanted.”

  That seemed to resonate. “So I make that kind of a difference?”

  Jessica ran a hand through her hair and nodded. “You make all the difference.”

  “But I don’t want to start a bed-and-breakfast.”

  “I don’t really either, but it was a cozy example.”

  Brooklyn blew out a breath and walked to just behind the couch where she could see the water, still trying to get her mind to reconcile what she knew with what she felt. “You cannot make underhanded moves anymore. Do you understand me?”

  Jessica came up behind her. She knew this from the tingling sensation across the back of her neck, the way her body instantly hummed. “Yes.”

  “And you should probably volunteer at a soup kitchen or something to atone for your past practices.”

  Jessica chuckled quietly. “If you want me to ladle soup for strangers, that can be arranged.”

  Brooklyn felt her hair pushed aside, and warm lips descended softly on the nape of her neck and kissed slowly around to its side. She closed her eyes as a delicious shiver moved through her.

  “And no individualized attacks. The personal lives of your competitors and employees shouldn’t be any of your concern.”

  Jessica’s arms circled her waist, and she kissed up to just below her ear. “So I should stay out of your personal life?” Her hands slipped beneath Brooklyn’s shirt and moved upward, stopping just short of her breasts. “Because I’d rather not do that. God, you’re warm.”

  Brooklyn hitched in a breath and locked her knees, as that was the only way she was going to stay upright. “I think there are exceptions. You know, um, extenuating circumstances between you and me.”

  “I do know.” Jessica turned her around and slowly removed the T-shirt that encumbered her efforts.

  As the air touched Brooklyn’s skin, it was nothing compared to the heat she felt emanating from Jessica just inches away.

  “We’re supposed to be talking this out. Coming to some sort of understanding. Not taking each other’s clothes off.”

  “Can’t we do both?” With one arm around Brooklyn’s waist, Jessica lowered her head and kissed her breast through the fabric of her bra. And with that, she lost track of everything. What it was they were discussing, the time of day, her name. All she knew were the wonderful sensations flying through her. She wanted, no, needed, Jessica’s hands on her now.

  “Take it off,” Brooklyn managed.

  Jessica lifted her head; her blue eyes shimmered a shade deeper. “Almost.” She slid the straps of the bra from Brooklyn’s shoulders to her elbows, trapping her arms there. Jessica dropped her head again, pulled the cups of her bra down, and set to work driving Brooklyn crazy.

  Brooklyn heard herself moan and wanted desperately to glide her hands into Jessica’s thick hair. Incapable of executing her plan, she instead pushed herself more fully into Jessica’s mouth as little shots of pleasure coursed through her. Unable to take any more, and hyper-aware of the throbbing between her legs, Brooklyn waited until Jessica pulled her mouth away and then caught it in a kiss that had them both refocused and hungry.

  They stumbled into the bedroom because in there they’d find room to explore, to luxuriate, and to finish what they’d so aptly started.

  *

  It was the wee hours of the morning, but they’d yet to go to sleep. Jessica was too content right where she was to drift off just yet, no matter what the effects would be on the day ahead. Naked and tangled in sheets, they’d spent the last hour quietly talking and laughing about anything and everything.

  Brooklyn traced lazy circles across the plane of her stomach. “The thing is everyone thinks Hunter’s this hard-core player, but really she’s just this total softie who loves to draw and play with her dog. I think she goes out with so many woman because she doesn’t like to disappoint anyone.”

  “So she gets hit on a lot?”

  “You have no idea. Gorgeous and Hunter mean the same thing, if you were to look them up in the urban dictionary. Who did you go to prom with?”

  Jessica laughed. “I love your non sequiturs.”

  “Get used to it. It’s how my mind works. Now answer the question.”

  “His name was Cruz and—”

  “I’m sorry. Did you just say Cruz? Was this a soap opera? Did you go to prom on Days of Our Lives?”

  Jessica tickled Brooklyn for that one and pulled her over until she was partially on top. “Do you want to hear the story or make fun of me some more?”

  Brooklyn’s eyes danced as she stared down at the body she’d never get tired of looking at. “I plan to do both. Please continue.”

  “He bought me a corsage, the wrist kind, and we went to the Olive Garden with two other couples. It was entirely fancy.”

  “Oh, I know. They have unlimited breadsticks.”

  That earned her another poke in the ribs, to which she laughed and squirmed and finally caught Jessica’s wrists, pinning her down. “I’m sorry for making fun. Truly. I promise to behave and not mock the chain restaurants of your youth, but I’m highly ticklish, and if you continue your assault, I might die.”

  Jessica loved the playful side of Brooklyn. “I’ll see what I can do. I’d rather you lived. Shall I press on?”

  “Mhmm,” Brooklyn said, and placed a slow kiss at the base of Jessica’s neck as she listened.

  “We danced the night away to Pearl Jam and the Backstreet Boys.”

  “Oh, this just keeps getting better and better,” Brooklyn murmured, and continued to kiss up the column of Jessica’s neck, which was pulling several notable reactions from Jessica. “Keep going. Then what?”

  But it was getting harder and harder to concentrate. “We didn’t have a curfew because of prom, so we made out in his car at one of those clichéd lookout points.”

  Brooklyn slipped her thigh purposefully between Jessica’s and pushed upward. “Yeah? Were you into it?” She arched into Brooklyn automatically, needing more, her senses in overdrive.

  “Not at all.” At the answer, she felt Brooklyn smile against her collarbone before delving lower, pulling a nipple into her mouth and circling it slowly with her tongue. When she resurfaced, her eyes settled on Jessica’s.

  “Who were you into?”

  “Anna Beth Thatcher.”

  Brooklyn raised an eyebrow, her eyes wide. “A girl? No!”

  “Stop it.” But she couldn’t help but laugh at the overly shocked facial expression Brooklyn sported. God, she was cute.

  “Did anybody know back then about your secret crush?”

  “Nope. I’ve never told a soul about Anna Beth and her penchant for hair twirling during chemistry class.”

  “Ohhh, hair twirling is the worst kind of teasing.” Brooklyn began to rock ever so slightly against her.

  Jessica closed her eyes at the instant onslaught. “Oh, I can think of others.”

  “
I like that I’m learning your secrets.” Brooklyn’s playfulness faded then, and her eyes held sincerity as she brought things between them to a stop for a moment. “Even the less-than-flattering ones.”

  “Me too.”

  “I want to know you, Jess. All of you. Promise that you’ll always tell me the truth. Even if it’s hard. Even if it’s something you think I won’t like.”

  Jessica reached up and brushed the hair back from Brooklyn’s forehead so she could see her better, this woman that had come out of nowhere and changed everything. “I promise.”

  They made love again then and fell asleep shortly after, wrapped around each other in the most wonderful way. There was something cathartic for Jessica about the conversation they’d had that night. She wasn’t a perfect person, far from it. But Brooklyn made her want to be better. And she would be.

  *

  Brooklyn opened her eyes and took stock. The early signs of daylight crept in from the great big windows in Jessica’s bedroom. She’d stayed over, she realized, blinking several times to orient herself.

  And they’d ravished each other. Twice. A slow smile took hold and grew as she remembered the details one by one. Because it had been beyond good. Otherworldly was a better term. The best sex of her life, and that was a tall order.

  She stretched as best she could without disturbing Jessica and closed her eyes as sleep once again descended. But it wasn’t working fully as a noise was tugging at her from the here and now. In her still clinging-to-sleep state, she picked up on a very distinct knocking sound from the front of the apartment, and then she understood. Someone was at the door.

  “Jess?” she whispered. “Baby, I think someone’s at your door.” Jessica stirred against her but gave no acknowledgement, no sign of cognizant response. Deciding to let Jessica sleep, Brooklyn took the initiative. She grabbed the thick white robe on the back of the bedroom door and headed to the front of the apartment, tying it around her as she went. The knocking only grew in tempo and intensity as she approached, inciting her to move quicker. She opened the door to find Ashton standing there, tears streaming down her face. She didn’t wait for Brooklyn to speak.