When they broke from the kiss, Jessica shook her head in wonder. Brooklyn had the power to turn her day on its head without notice. An evening that felt burdensome and long had been transformed into something unexpectedly awesome in the course of thirty minutes.
Brooklyn made life spark into color.
“What? What are you smiling about over there?” Brooklyn asked.
“How much potential life has right now. It feels endless.”
Brooklyn broke into a smile that could light up any room. “It does, doesn’t it?”
The phone on the desk next to them rang. Recognizing its origin based on the extension, Jessica held up a finger and took the call. “What’s up, Bent?”
“I don’t want to interrupt, but did you still want to go over the performance reviews tonight?”
Jessica absently intertwined her fingers with Brooklyn’s and stole a look at the beautiful woman in front of her. It wasn’t even a choice. “Let’s hold off on those until Monday. I have a dinner to flirt my way through.”
Brooklyn kissed the back of her hand and raised a seductive eyebrow.
When they boarded the elevator to the lobby, they found themselves sharing it with two very buttoned-up businessmen. Jessica stared at Brooklyn, her thoughts tracking back to the day they’d been stuck in the elevator together. She marveled at how much things had changed. Brooklyn caught the look and smiled at her knowingly, holding her gaze the length of the ride down.
As they headed into the night, hand in hand, Brooklyn paused on the sidewalk.
“What is it?” Jessica asked, turning back.
Brooklyn studied her seriously. “I could get used to this. To all of it. Is that crazy?”
Jessica smiled at the sentiment. “It’s not. In fact, it might be one of my favorite things you’ve ever said to me.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhmm. So does this mean that you might want to visit me at work again?”
“I thought the first time went well.”
Jessica smiled, her stomach tightening reflexively at the memory. “It did.”
Brooklyn closed the distance between them. “But next time I’m in charge. Are you by chance free Monday?” Jessica took in air, the wheels in her head already turning. Suddenly Monday was her new favorite day of the week.
*
It was snowing the next morning when Jessica woke. Not full-on accumulation caliber, but those were definitely tiny flakes floating past her window. A mid-season dusting, she thought. Well, at least it wouldn’t cripple the city.
Her body felt warm and wonderfully sated after the night prior, and a smile crept onto her face at the alluring memories. Life was good. She stretched lavishly, enjoying the looseness of her muscles, and rolled over to find the spot next to her empty.
She was alone and it was disappointing.
But not entirely, she noted, because there was still stuff. And stuff, she was finding out, came attached to Brooklyn. She surveyed the scene. A glass of water by the bed. Lip gloss, two quarters, and a small wallet on the dresser. Several items of clothing leading from the bed back to the living room. Well, okay, that last part was her doing, but still. It was endearing, the stuff. Because, in contrast, she didn’t come with much. Her life was streamlined, simple. The messy jumble Brooklyn came with was kind of refreshing.
She climbed out of bed and slipped into a T-shirt, hot on the trail of the wonderful aroma of coffee that wafted in. What she found in her living room was utterly adorable. Brooklyn, already dressed for the day, in her clothes, she might add, snuggled up on the couch watching what looked to be I Love Lucy.
Brooklyn’s face lit up when she saw her standing there. “Hey, sleepyhead. Good morning. Lucy’s on. Lucy’s my favorite. Sam’s too.”
“She is, huh?” Jessica gave Brooklyn a once-over. “Those are my jeans. That is my Boston hoodie. Your own shoes, but I believe those are my socks. And I never sleep this late.”
Brooklyn glanced down and pulled the hoodie tighter around her in a cozy display that caused Jessica’s heart to do that little flip-flop thing. “They fit kinda perfectly. You may not get them back. And, yes, you seem to be making lots of changes lately,” Brooklyn said knowingly. “Sleep looks good on you. You’re all fresh-faced and radiant.”
Jessica reflected on the state of things. How different her life seemed from just a couple of months prior. “Whoever would have thought I’d be in charge of a teenager? We’re lucky she’s still alive. She is alive, right?” She sank into the couch. Brooklyn grabbed her ankle and proceeded to pull Jessica’s legs across her lap.
“The teenager is not dead. She’s doing great, in fact. I know this because I just said good-bye to her and Leslie, who I like, by the way. They went down to the deli for breakfast and are heading to the park with friends to enjoy the snow. She’ll be back after lunch for homework. I hope that’s okay. I didn’t want to wake you to ask. You looked angelic.”
“I never look angelic.”
“You do. It’s a fact. Can you imagine if the world knew the truth?” She leaned over and captured Jessica’s mouth with hers. “And that’s what I’ve been waiting to do since I woke up.”
Jessica stroked Brooklyn’s cheek with her thumb. “Wake me next time. We can do lots of that.”
“Really?”
“Really. I wouldn’t give up sleep for many things, but making out with you happens to be one of them.”
“Good to know.”
After a little more kissing, Jessica forced herself to focus on the day ahead and moved into the kitchen for the coffee that taunted her. “What’s on the schedule for you today?”
“Work.”
“That’s vague.”
“It is.” Brooklyn sighed. She turned around on the couch to face her. “I never really know how to handle the topic of work where we’re concerned. We’re playing tug-of-war with a very important account, Jess, and one of us is going to lose. How’s that going to go exactly?”
She sidestepped the inclination to make a playfully competitive remark because the look on Brooklyn’s face told her she was sincere. “I think we have to agree to keep business just what it is, business. If the account goes to you guys, it’ll be hard for me, yes. But if I know I have you at the end of the day, I’ll be just fine. Trust me.”
Brooklyn took in the words. Jessica was putting her first, making her the most important thing, above all else, and it flooded her with a feeling she couldn’t name. “I do trust you.”
“And to help matters, I’ve asked Tina to take the lead on the last pitch. I’ll assume more of a background role. I think it’s better that way. For all of us.”
It made sense, and it would make things a tad bit easier if they weren’t going head-to-head personally. Brooklyn flashed a playful grin. “You know you’re going down though, right?”
Matching her, Jessica smiled sweetly. “Just know that my shoulder, and other parts of me, are here for you when that final decision is made.”
“You’re so generous.”
“And sexy?”
“Generously sexy is what I meant to say.” She stood. “I have to head out, but I was hoping you were free for a little get-together at Showplace tonight. It’s a little bar in Soho.”
“I have dinner with Ashton probably around six thirty. What about after?”
“Perfect. I’ll set it up. Mallory’s going out of her way to do this for me, so be nice.”
Jessica pulled a face. “Am I ever not nice?”
“You’ve perfected the art of cool and aloof in Mallory’s presence. I’ve seen it firsthand. And that’s the only side she’s ever experienced. I’d like her to see the rest.” Brooklyn crossed the short distance for a kiss. “I’ll see you tonight, Miss Generously Sexy. No pressure.”
Once she was on the elevator, Brooklyn exhaled dreamily. The more they were together, the more she seemed to crave that time. She almost felt the need to shake herself awake, because she was having a hard time believing how well they
fit together when they let themselves.
As she strode out onto the street in the late morning she paused. Tiny flakes fell from the sky and dotted the nearby surroundings with touches of white. It wasn’t cold enough for the snow to stick, but its presence was just enough to make the world look beautiful. Brooklyn’s heart sighed at the visual.
She reached instinctively for her phone and dialed. She needed to share this. Jessica answered on the first ring. “Forget something again?”
“Not exactly. You have to come down here. I need to kiss you.”
There was a chuckle on the other end of the line. “You need to kiss me? Earlier wasn’t enough?”
“In the snow. I need to kiss you in the snow.”
“I have to say, I don’t get a lot of kissing invitations inspired by weather.”
“Thank God. Now get down here.”
When Jessica emerged from her building, she tilted her head to the side and studied Brooklyn curiously. She wasn’t wearing a coat and instinctively wrapped her arms around herself against the cold. The wind caught her hair and blew it back from her face, and her mouth, that generous mouth, quirked in amusement as she eyed Brooklyn.
“It’s gorgeous out here,” Brooklyn said without missing a beat. “It’s not like we could miss it. Like I could let that happen to us.”
Jessica moved to her and took in their surroundings. “I like that you see the joy in things like this. A simple morning that most people wouldn’t notice. But you, you latch on, revel.”
“How could I not revel? We’re standing on a beautifully lined street in the West Village of New York City and delicate snowflakes are dusting anything and everything with the most perfect white accents ever. How can anyone not be excited about that?”
“Sometimes it’s easy to forget to pay attention. I admit, I’ve been guilty of that.”
“But now you have me to remind you to look around once in a while. The world is a pretty captivating place, Jessica Lennox.”
“I’m beginning to understand that.”
“Oh, good.”
“You’re a pretty powerful life force, you know that?
Brooklyn let the compliment settle. “I didn’t, but I accept the challenge.”
Jessica stepped into her, smiling, and grasped her by the lapels of her jacket, a move she admittedly found a little thrilling. Jessica turned her face up to the sky, prompting Brooklyn to do the same. The tiny flakes floated side to side before settling delicately on their shoulders, hair, and faces. Jessica’s eyes found hers and the smile gradually faded. The kiss that followed was the kind of kiss that promised so much more. And God almighty, Jessica could kiss like no one else. It curled Brooklyn’s toes and made her stomach do somersaults in the most wonderful way. She loved those somersaults. She loved Jessica.
Whoa. And there it was again. The ominous L word. But this time, she felt it all over. It moved through her in big warm waves. She knew the truth of her feelings and just had to find a way to properly express them.
She delicately plucked a flake from Jessica’s eyelash. “I hope you have a fantastic day. And I can’t wait to see you tonight.”
“You too. Bye, Brook.”
“Bye, Jess.”
She backed away from Jessica before turning fully and heading off down the street to the train. There was an extra spring in her step that had never really been there before. And she knew why. A new door was standing open, and all she had to do was walk through it.
She smiled, loving the possibility in front of her.
Chapter Eighteen
What had started out as a picturesque dusting had turned into a full-fledged snowstorm by the time evening descended on the city. And not just any snowstorm, Jessica thought, but an angry-act-of-God snowstorm.
“So I’ve set out some microwave popcorn and you’ll find sodas in the fridge.”
Ashton nodded. “Got it.”
“We promise not to burn your place down,” Leslie added. She was a perky little blond kid, always smiling.
Jessica tossed Ashton a sideways look. “That’s a joke, right.”
Ashton grinned. “Totally. Relax, Jess. Go have a good time and say hi to Brooklyn for me. Oh, and ask her what time she wants to go to the museum next Saturday.”
“You two are making plans?”
“We are.”
“Interesting. I’m a little jealous.”
Leslie patted her shoulder. “It’s good for you.”
Jessica eased into her heavy coat, as lord knew she was going to need it. “What are you two planning to watch tonight?”
“Notting Hill,” Ashton said. “Hugh Grant is my husband.”
Jessica nodded. “And here I thought you were single. Lock the door behind me?”
“Roger that.”
Thirty minutes later Jessica trudged her way up Lafayette Street toward Showplace, where she was set to meet Brooklyn and her friends. But it was no easy feat. Due to the traffic jams that snarled the city as a result of the weather, she opted for the train instead. Now, she found herself walking against the wind in a battle for the ages. Flurries were slamming into her face and eyes at such a rapid pace that it was impossible to see more than five feet in front of her. The horizon looked like a sheet of white paper. Mean white paper, in fact, that froze her cheeks and made her eyes water.
It was rough weather to be out in, but she was determined to make tonight happen. It was important to Brooklyn and thereby important to her. Plus, she didn’t want to give Mallory any further ammunition. This was her shot to extend some sort of olive branch, and she didn’t intend to miss it.
Hence, her trek. When she arrived at Showplace, she was surprised by how many people had also braved the weather for an evening out. The bar was fairly crowded, and what a cool place it was. She understood why Brooklyn liked it so much. She scanned the room for any sign of her. Though she came up short, she was able to spot Sam and Mallory at a table just past the bar. They were laughing at something the way friends did, clearly enjoying themselves.
She took a deep breath. She could do this.
She’d faced way scarier people than little Mallory Spencer. Who knew? Maybe given some time, she’d even like her.
“Jessica!” Samantha said as she approached. “You found us. And you didn’t die on the way here.” It was a warm greeting, which was helpful, as she was frozen solid from her trip. She unwound the scarf from around her neck and shrugged out of her coat to find herself pulled into an embrace from Sam. She wasn’t hugged on a daily basis, she realized.
“Barely, but yes. How are you, Sam?”
“Fabulous.”
“Mallory, it’s good to see you.”
Mallory smiled, but it was difficult to assess what she was really feeling, and Jessica did wonder. She didn’t get up, which kind of said something. “Likewise. I’m glad we’re all getting together.”
She glanced around as she took a seat. “So no—”
“Brooklyn?” Sam supplied. “Generally, always late. I’m guessing you’re starting to figure that out. She means well, but she has her own clock. I left her in her closet, where she’d created a mountain out of sweaters.” She covered her mouth. “Not sure I was supposed to say that.”
“It’s okay.” Jessica laughed at the visual, knowing how accurate it probably was. “So we may or may not see her.”
“Oh, we’ll see her,” Mallory countered. “The question is, in which sweater?”
Okay, so they were relaxing into some conversation. This was good. Now if Brooklyn would just arrive, it would be even better. Jessica ordered a Scotch and water, then noticed Sam and Mallory were drinking martinis. How was it that she was still somehow that less-than-secure kid in high school, trying to keep up with the cool girls? Scotch and water was a perfectly acceptable drink, she told herself.
“A Scotch girl,” Mallory noted.
“I tend to mix it up. The weather had a little something to do with this,” she said, holding up the glass.
“Now you’ve made me jealous,” Sam said. “It is a cozier drink. That’ll be my next one.” She was really beginning to like Samantha.
“So how’s life at the office?” Mallory asked.
“Busy. As I’m sure you can sympathize with.”
“Well, the final pitch is in two short days.”
Okay. So they were going to go there. “It is.”
“Do you all feel ready?” She said it like small talk, but the direction of the conversation was anything but.
“More than ready. What about you?”
“I think we’re getting there.”
Sam and Mallory seemed to zero in on someone behind her. Please be Brooklyn. Please be Brooklyn. Please be Brooklyn.
Sam inclined her head in the direction of the girl approaching their table. “Jess, I don’t think you’ve met Hunter yet.”
She stood and turned, coming face-to-face with a girl who could only be described as a stunning beauty with a hipster edge.
“So this is the famous Jessica,” Hunter said with an easy smile. Her calmness put Jessica at ease. Almost a lack of judgment, a charm.
“Nice to meet you, Hunter. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I’ll buy you a drink and tell you the truth later.”
“You will not,” said a voice from behind them. Two hands snaked around her waist, and in that moment, all was right with the world again. “Promise me you won’t fall in love with her like everyone else does,” Brooklyn whispered playfully.
“I’ll do my best.”
And then softer, “Hey.”
“Hey,” she said, looking down at the smile that could end wars.
“I’m sorry I’m late. And I’m sorry for dragging you out in a blizzard.” She stole a quick hello kiss that only steadied Jessica’s ship all the more. As they turned to sit, she caught Mallory’s gaze on them, which she quickly refocused elsewhere.
“It wasn’t my easiest commute, but it was worth it.”
“You’re my favorite.”
“That was the goal.”
“Have you guys had a chance to chat?” Brooklyn asked, glancing from one face to the next. She still had her arm firmly around Jessica’s waist, which Jessica happened to enjoy.
Kiss the Girl Page 26