Damage Control

by Jae

  “To be honest, I wouldn’t mind either. But I’m going to have to face the rest of the world sometime.”

  Lauren searched her face as if trying to decide whether she should attempt to change Grace’s mind, but then she said nothing and just walked her to the door.

  “So…” Grace jingled her car keys in her hand, unsure how to say good-bye. A hug? A kiss on the cheek? Or…? She glanced at Lauren’s mouth.

  “So…” Lauren shuffled closer, peering at Grace from under a stray lock that had fallen onto her forehead.

  “Don’t work too much, okay?”

  “I won’t,” Lauren said.

  “Liar.”

  Lauren chuckled. It sounded nervous. “Drive safely, okay? And call me once you make it home.”

  “Okay.” Now there was nothing more to say. Grace slid her good arm around Lauren’s shoulder so she could keep her balance as she was about to lean up and kiss her cheek.

  But Lauren, probably thinking she was aiming for a hug, reacted instantly and pulled her close.

  With a mental shrug, Grace sank into the embrace. God, this felt good. Safe, comfortable, and exciting, all at the same time. She burrowed her face against Lauren’s worn T-shirt, washed to a velvet softness, and inhaled deeply. The urge to kiss the smooth skin of Lauren’s neck overcame her, but that was way out of her comfort zone. She pulled back a little and instead aimed for bussing Lauren’s cheek.

  Lauren turned her head in exactly that moment, nearly making their mouths collide.

  They both pulled back before it could happen.

  “Sorry,” Lauren mumbled. “I wasn’t trying to—”

  Grace leaned up a second time to kiss her cheek. Oh, to hell with it. At the last moment, she changed course, brushed her lips against Lauren’s in a fleeting touch, and then moved back, just enough to look into Lauren’s radiant eyes.

  Faces just inches apart, lips parted, they looked at each other.

  Then, as if pulled in by a common center of gravity, they both leaned forward at the same time and their mouths met in a longer kiss.

  Lauren wrapped her arms more firmly around her and pulled her closer.

  A wave of heat rolled through Grace. Her eyes drifted shut. She melted against Lauren, pressing closer as if trying to imprint the feel of Lauren’s body against her own.

  Lauren’s lips were warm and soft and tender. She kissed her slowly, almost shyly.

  With her cast resting along Lauren’s back, Grace’s good hand came up, and she wove her fingers through Lauren’s silky hair.

  A moan from Lauren vibrated against Grace’s lips, sending a quiver through her. She let go of Lauren’s hair and clutched her shoulder to keep herself upright while she deepened the kiss.

  Lauren’s tongue brushed against hers, caressing with gentle strokes.

  Grace’s body felt as if it would spontaneously combust in about three seconds. She pulled back with a gasp and tried to slow her breathing. Despite the growing attraction she felt, she hadn’t expected Lauren to have such a powerful effect on her. Her head might be slow to adapt to the thought of being with a woman, but her body was willing to jump in with both feet. Oh, yeah. Willing. Definitely willing.

  She leaned against the doorjamb and needed a few seconds until she could form a halfway intelligent thought.

  Lauren touched Grace’s cheek with her fingertips. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. Okay. You…this…just…wow.”

  A broad smile chased away the insecure expression on Lauren’s face. “Ditto.”

  Grace’s gaze darted down to Lauren’s lips. It was almost scary how much she wanted to kiss her again.

  Lauren groaned. “Don’t look at me like that, or you won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.”

  And that would be a bad thing…why? Grace shook herself out of her kiss-induced haze. As much as she wanted to, she knew she couldn’t hole up with Lauren forever. Reality was waiting for her on the other side of this door. She had to figure out a way to deal with it. “I’ll call you later.” Before she could change her mind, she pulled the door open and stumbled into the corridor on legs that felt weak. Outside, at a safe distance, she turned.

  Lauren stood in the doorway as if it were an invisible barrier she couldn’t cross. Her gaze was like a caress. She lifted her hand for a silent wave.

  Grace waved back.

  They stood like that for several seconds before Grace finally kicked herself into motion, turned, and walked down the corridor without looking back.

  CHAPTER 29

  On the way to the restaurant where the benefit dinner would be held, Jill bounced in the passenger seat. “Do you think they’ll give us one of those sexy little aprons?”

  Grace gave her a quick glance. “You think they’re sexy?”

  “If the right woman wears them, sure. I bet Lauren would think so too.”

  Grace didn’t comment, not yet sure what Lauren would or wouldn’t consider sexy. She could feel Jill’s gaze on her.

  “How are things going between the two of you?” Jill asked.

  A blush rose up Grace’s neck.

  Jill laughed. “That well, hmm?”

  “We’re taking it slow,” Grace said, hoping Jill would leave it at that. Normally, while she was private, she wouldn’t mind discussing her love life with her best friend, but what she had with Lauren felt like something special and vulnerable that needed to be protected.

  Jill reached over and put her hand on Grace’s cast for a moment, now no longer teasing. “That’s good. Are you okay with it all?”

  “It feels so…different,” Grace said in a near whisper.

  “I’ll have to take your word for it. I never really dated a man, so I wouldn’t know.”

  “I’m not sure that’s what makes it so different. I mean, it’s probably a part of it, but… Most of the men I dated treated me like a goddess. It’s flattering, really, but it’s not… It never felt real. Lauren isn’t intrigued by my Hollywood persona. She wants to be with the real Grace.”

  “Why does that make you frown? I’d think that’s a good thing.”

  “It is.” Grace nibbled her bottom lip. “It’s just that sometimes, I feel like I’ve forgotten who that really is.”

  Jill shrugged. “So you’ll get to rediscover it with Lauren.”

  Another blush warmed Grace’s cheeks at the thought of all the other things she wanted to discover with Lauren. If things continued like this, her blush would soon become permanent. “Yeah. But it makes everything we do or say feel so important, larger than life. There’s no acting or hiding behind my movie star persona with her. It makes me wonder how much longer I can hide this from the public.”

  “Is that what you want to do?” Jill asked. “Hide it?”

  “A part of me does. I’m not sure I’m ready to risk everything—my career, my fans, my relationship with my mother.”

  They reached the restaurant before Jill could ask another question.

  Grace handed her car keys to the valet and turned toward Jill. “Ready?”

  “Yeah. But you aren’t.” Jill reached out and opened one more button on Grace’s blouse. “Now you’re good to go.”

  “Isn’t that a little too much?” Grace lifted her good hand and tried to redo the button.

  Jill slapped her hand away. “It’s perfect. Remember, we’re doing this for a good cause, so you want to earn lots of tips.”

  “Why do you get to keep your button closed, then?”

  “I don’t have that much to flaunt.”

  “Oh, come on. You certainly can’t complain in that department.”

  Jill grinned. “Well, thank you, ma’am. I didn’t think you noticed.”

  “I didn’t… I mean, I did, but not—”

/>   “Relax.” Now serious, Jill looked into her eyes and lowered her voice. “Just because you’re attracted to a woman doesn’t mean you’re attracted to every other female too. Although I am pretty irresistible.”

  “You’re nuts; that’s what you are.” Laughing, Grace followed her into the restaurant.

  The regular restaurant staff had already set up the tables. Everything was ready for the guests who’d start to arrive soon.

  The restaurant owner greeted them with so much enthusiasm that Grace thought he was about to fall to his knees and kiss her feet. He handed them each a white waitress apron.

  When Grace struggled to tie it with one arm still in the cast, Jill took over and did it for her.

  The owner of the restaurant presented Grace with an order pad and a pencil.

  “What about me?” Jill asked.

  “Uh…” The man visibly squirmed. He turned and pointed behind the bar, where the cash register sat. “We thought it might be better if you would mind the cash register. To avoid accidents with the china, you understand?”

  The muscles in Jill’s jaw bunched. “I understand,” she said stiffly.

  Grace stared at him. He wanted her, who had one arm out of commission, to wait tables but not Jill, just because she had MS? “I think Jill would do just fine. Better than me with my arm in a cast.”

  The restaurant owner avoided her gaze. “I don’t mean to offend anyone, but I’m a little concerned about liability if Ms. Corrigan got hurt carrying plates.”

  Jill put a hand on Grace’s shoulder. “It’s okay. I don’t mind manning the register. That way, I can at least keep an eye on you and make sure no one is grabbing your ass.”

  “I think that’s a very good idea,” someone said behind them.

  The restaurant owner used that opportunity to escape to the kitchen.

  Grace whirled around.

  Lauren stood in front of her, wearing dove gray slacks and a baby blue blouse with short sleeves that showed off her athletic arms.

  “Lauren? What are you doing here?” Despite her surprise, Grace couldn’t help beaming at the sight of her.

  A soft smile curved Lauren’s lips upward. “Well, after beating the advertisement drum for this event, I thought I might as well put all the money I make as your publicist to good use and buy myself a ticket too.”

  Grace wanted to hug her, but with so many people bustling around, she didn’t dare.

  “Well, if you tip well enough, I might make an exception for you and let you grab her ass,” Jill said, her voice pitched low so that only they could hear.

  “Jill!” Grace slapped her with the order pad.

  “Don’t worry,” Lauren said. “I’ll be on my best behavior. I hear your mother bought a ticket too.”

  As if on cue, Katherine entered the restaurant, and Grace went to greet her, but not before sneaking another look at Lauren.

  By the time dessert was served, Lauren wasn’t only pleasantly full, she was also exhausted. Keeping her eyes off Grace was a Herculean feat. It seemed everyone else in the room was watching her. The conversation at the table, which Lauren shared with a writer, a physician, and a member of the city council, rushed by her without her contributing more than a few sentences. She was much too busy trying not to watch Grace—and failing miserably.

  With her arm in a cast, Grace couldn’t carry as much as the other celebrity waitresses and waiters, so she was constantly bustling back and forth, serving meals, clearing plates, bringing new beverages. Her cheeks were flushed, and a few damp curls had escaped her ponytail. Somehow, it only added to her attractiveness. She looked so damn sexy in the crisp white apron wrapped around her waist that no one in the room seemed to be able to look away.

  Even some of the other celebrities waiting tables—a local news anchor, a basketball player, two singers, a couple of actors, and several models—were watching Grace work.

  You’d better get used to half the civilized world wanting her.

  As if conjured up by Lauren’s thoughts, Grace stepped up to the table. “Can I get you anything else?” Her question was directed at the entire table, but she looked directly at Lauren.

  How about a kiss? Lauren wanted to say. But, of course, she kept her mouth shut, very aware that they weren’t alone. Grace’s mother was sitting just one table over. Jill’s warning about Mrs. Duvenbeck figuring it out soon still rang in her ears. It was incentive enough to keep her eyes on her grilled snapper fillet and not on that open button on Grace’s blouse that revealed just a hint of her cleavage.

  The other people at the table declined.

  “A cappuccino for me, please,” Lauren finally managed to say. Did her voice sound as hoarse to everyone else as it did to her?

  “Caffeine in the evening?” Grace paused with the order pad resting against her cast.

  “Don’t worry. It won’t keep me up.” Her fantasies about Grace in the white apron maybe, but not the caffeine.

  “All right. One cappuccino, coming right up.” Grace gave her a smile, not the Hollywood one, but a smile that was a little different, without Lauren being able to say what exactly it was that made it so.

  Minutes later, Grace returned, carefully balancing the cup on a saucer.

  Not wanting Grace to hurt herself, Lauren reached out and took the cup from her.

  Their fingers touched.

  It took a few seconds for Lauren to realize that the hot milk froth had spilled over and was now burning her fingers. “Ouch.” She quickly put the cup down on the table.

  “Careful,” Grace murmured.

  Yeah. Careful or I’ll get burned by more than coffee. She wiped her fingers on her napkin. “Thank you.”

  Grace nodded and walked back to the kitchen.

  Lauren managed to keep her gaze on the cappuccino.

  “What the hell was that?” Jill whispered as Grace passed the bar with the empty tray.

  “Cappuccino,” Grace said.

  Jill shook her head. “Something hot was going on at that table, but I’m not talking about the beverages. Lauren tried to hide it, but she looked at you like you’re dessert.” When Grace opened her mouth to protest, she waved her away. “Don’t bother. I’m happy for you. Which is more than can be said for your mother.”

  Oh, shit. Under the pretense of putting the tips she had gotten this far into the register, Grace moved behind the bar and peered over to her mother’s table.

  A lemon sorbet was melting in the glass bowl in front of her mother while she was busy glaring at the unsuspecting Lauren, looking as if she wanted to march over and plunge the fish knife that Grace had forgotten to clear from the table into Lauren’s chest.

  The blood drained from her head, leaving Grace light-headed. “Oh God. Do you think she saw?”

  “Your back was to her, so Katherine didn’t see you make googly eyes at Lauren, but I’m sure she saw Lauren look at you—and let’s just say it wasn’t a gaze I’ve ever gotten from my publicist.”

  “I’d hope not,” Grace muttered.

  Jill looked at her blankly, as if she needed a moment to remember that Lauren was her publicist too; then she laughed. “Jealous?”

  “No, I… Dammit.” Grace ducked behind the cash register to hide her blush from her mother and the rest of the room.

  Jill covered the fingers of Grace’s good hand with both of her hands. “It’s wonderful to see you like this. Don’t let your mother or anyone else spoil this for you.”

  Grace sighed. “I’ll try not to, but—”

  They were interrupted as several guests, including her mother, signaled for their checks.

  “Time to see if your show-some-cleavage strategy worked,” Grace said. She took care of her other table first, ignoring her mother’s and Lauren’s tables for now. Fin
ally, most other guests had left and she couldn’t avoid her mother any longer.

  “What is that woman doing here?” her mother asked, her voice lowered to a quiet hiss.

  Grace didn’t need to turn to see where she was pointing. “She’s my publicist, Mom.”

  “Well, there’s no need for publicity in here, is there?”

  “She’s my friend too, and she wanted to support a good cause, just like you did.”

  The disapproving expression on her mother’s face remained. “You’re too naive, just like your father.” She looked around, making sure no one was listening in on their whispered conversation. “Don’t you understand? She’s one of those women. The way she was looking at you earlier… That’s not how one friend looks at another. I’m pretty sure her intentions toward you are less than honorable. She only wants one thing from you.”

  Grace’s spine stiffened. She started shaking but wasn’t sure if it was anger or fear or a mix of both. “That’s not true, Mom. Lauren is the most honorable person I know. She—”

  “Why don’t I take over here?” Jill said as she showed up next to Grace. “The people at table three are in a hurry to leave. Could you collect their tips?”

  Not managing more than a nod, Grace hurried away.

  Lauren nursed her cappuccino, taking only tiny sips of the by-now cold beverage while she waited for the other guests to leave. She wanted to give Grace her tip without witnesses around.

  Mrs. Duvenbeck was the last one to get up from her table. When she passed Lauren on the way out, she gave her a look that nearly had Lauren ducking for cover beneath the table.

  What crawled up her ass now? She couldn’t possibly know, could she? Their fingers had brushed once, but otherwise, Lauren had been careful not to touch Grace in any way or look at her for too long—at least in comparison to how long she wanted to look at her.