by Tamara Lynn
“Wait,” Kate interrupted. “I have a question.” She sat up and began to spin the knife through her fingers as she was thinking.
Daniela’s eyes were glued to the knife. Kate was spinning it like a drummer spins a drum stick. She was both impressed and a little unnerved.
“The dichotomy of power. When it comes to the ship, Anne is in control. She’s the boss’s wife, right?” Kate continued to spin.
“It’s more than that. She has real influence. In the comics, Jack amasses a fleet and has her command one of the ships. But that’s later in the story. Regardless, that’s the level of power she has.” Daniela still couldn’t take her eyes off that knife.
Kate took notice and put the knife down. “But when it comes to their relationship, I mean their attraction, Reed has the power.”
“Exactly,” Daniela nodded. Her dark hair was framed by a soft glow from the sun outside the window.
“Okay continue,” Kate said. She leaned back, and Buddy took that as an invitation to jump on her lap.
Daniela smiled. This was heaven for her. Kate. Buddy. The Lake House. Sharing her work with someone who really understood it.
“Every time Calico Jack visited the island where he kept his treasure, the crew would get the day off. They’d anchor just off shore and spend the afternoon drinking rum on the beach, while Jack hid his treasure.” Daniela paused to make sure that Kate was still with her.
“I’m following,” Kate assured her.
Daniela smiled, “Good because I’m getting to our part.”
Our part. Kate liked the way that sounded.
“When they arrived at the island, Reed took Anne in the rowboat. They rowed away from the ship and around to the far side of the island. There she prepared a picnic for Anne.”
Kate nodded and smiled, “Go Reed! Get your girl!”
Daniela laughed and then continued. “After their picnic, the two of them go for a swim, and they have their first kiss in the water.”
“That’s the scene we’re doing?” Kate raised an eyebrow.
“I’m going to have to do this scene with each of our potential Annes,” Daniela explained. “It’s the perfect chemistry test.”
Kate stood up and paced nervously as the hiccups returned. “I don’t know,” she stammered. “I mean.” She couldn’t find the words. At the heart of her confusion was Wyatt and how he would feel about this.
Daniela was shocked by her reaction. “It’s just acting. It’s not Daniela and Kate. It’s Reed and Anne.”
“You’re right,” Kate blushed. “I’m sorry.” She must think I’m so unprofessional.
“This was a bad idea,” Daniela closed the script and tossed it on top of her bag. She took Kate’s reaction as a personal rejection. Worse yet, a rejection of her art. She’d grown far too close to Kate and was beginning to regret letting her guard down.
“No, it’s a good idea,” Kate, still hiccupping, followed her. “We work well together.”
Daniela shook her head. “I’m not feeling it. I can’t get into character. I’m just going to shower and get ready for dinner.”
“Please,” Kate persisted. “Forgive me. I just wasn’t expecting that.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Daniela held up a hand and gently blocked Kate from getting any closer.
Refusing to give up that easily, Kate took Daniela’s hand and intertwined their fingers. She wove her other hand into Daniela’s hair and pulled her in for a kiss. It was a forceful kiss dripping with desperation.
Realizing that the kiss may not be consensual, Kate leaned her forehead against Daniela’s and pulled back. For what felt like an eternity, Kate hovered, not even an inch from Daniela’s lips, as she waited for a reaction.
She could feel Daniela’s chest rise and fall with every breath.
Just as she was about to give up and pull away, Daniela lifted her lips to Kate’s. With the lightness of a butterfly, Daniela slowly rubbed her upper lip across Kate’s bottom lip.
“Reed would take the lead,” Kate whispered.
“Shut up,” Daniela moved to pin her against the wall. As soon as she placed her lips on Kate’s she began laughing.
“Oh my gosh, this is so not working,” Daniela said and hugged Kate.
“Come on,” Kate pleaded. “It can though.”
Daniela continued laughing. She kissed Kate on the head. “We’re good. Seriously. Thank you. I really have to shower if I’m going to look presentable for dinner.” She walked in to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Kate sat down on the bed and closed her eyes. How could I have possibly screwed that up so badly?
◆◆◆
Christmas dinner was a formal affair, and Kate felt like she didn’t have enough time to get ready for it.
“Do you mind zipping this?” Kate asked as she pointed to her back.
Daniela smiled and walked across the room toward her. Kate looked resplendent in her long red gown. When her hands touched Kate’s back, she noticed a small shiver. “Sorry, my hands are always as cold as ice. It’s a thing.”
“Remind me of that next time I’m hungover,” Kate requested.
Daniela took a step back and took a good look at Kate. “You are stunning.”
“Thank you,” Kate smiled. “As are you. That gown looks like it was made for you.”
“It was,” Daniela confessed. “I wore it to The People’s Choice Awards.”
Wyatt knocked on the bedroom door. He’d come to escort the two of them down the hall to the formal dining room.
When they entered the room, Kate gasped. The decorations were the most beautiful Kate had ever seen. Boughs of holly cascaded down the center of the table. Pinecones and small white glittery feathers were sprinkled down the middle. Five large silver candle holders held cranberry colored candles. Suspended from the chandelier above the table hung a variety of red and silver ornaments.
To keep with the elegant theme, a simple piano version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas played quietly on well hidden speakers.
Wyatt and Kate sat directly across from Daniela and Carl. She tried not to stare, but Kate was suddenly aware of her conversation with Heidi. Carl and Daniela were both so ridiculously attractive that Kate found herself star struck. The anxiety began creeping back. A hiccup escaped her lips and everyone stopped talking and turned toward her.
A moment of uncomfortable silence hung in the air and then Dixie began laughing. “Pass the girl some wine!”
Wyatt placed a hand on Kate’s thigh and leaned in to whisper, “You look so good that I don’t think I’ll be able to eat.”
Kate smiled and handed him the bowl of mashed potatoes.
“Okay, yeah, I can eat,” Wyatt said as he took the bowl. “But you do look hot.”
Daniela shot him a glance of annoyance. Hot? Is that the best he can come up with? His girlfriend was absolutely breathtaking. He’d better marry this woman before she got away.
“How did you two meet?” Kate asked Otis and Dixie. “Was it in the music industry?”
“Oh no honey, Otis was around long before I started singing,” Dixie smiled and reached for her husband’s hand.
“I’ve loved her since kindergarten,” Otis kissed Dixie’s hand.
“He followed her around like a puppy dog,” Betsy added.
“Thanks, Karen,” Otis glared at his sister-in-law.
Carl pointed with his knife at the two of them. “See he does that when she annoys him. He will purposefully call her by the wrong name.”
“Shut up, Carl,” Otis and Betsy said in unison.
He raised his hands in surrender and then turned his attention back to his dinner.
“Otis has been my best friend from the beginning,” Dixie continued the story. “He’s my constant. My safe home. I don’t think I would have been able to make it in country music if it wasn’t for him.”
Kate noticed the look of admiration in Daniela’s eyes. She clearly adored her parents.
Dinner continued for hours. Once everyone was done eating, they stayed at the table to talk. They would have stayed there all night, if the sound of Daniela’s phone ringing hadn’t brought them back to the real world.
“Excuse me,” Daniela smiled as she stood up. “It’s Cody.”
They’d both been so busy over the last week that they really hadn’t found the time to talk. While on the phone, she walked down to the beach so that she didn’t have to worry about the family eavesdropping.
◆◆◆
Once the evening began to wind down, Kate went looking for Daniela. She just wanted to make sure that everything was okay.
“Hi,” Daniela smiled when she turned to see who was walking down the beach. Kate was coming toward her, still dressed in the red gown. Moonlight reflected off of the gown’s sequins, accentuating Kate’s every move.
“It’s so beautiful,” Kate said as she looked at the calm dark waters.
“Exquisite,” Daniela didn’t take her eyes from Kate. “I’m not ready for this week to end.”
“I know, I wish I could stay here forever,” Kate draped an arm across Daniela’s shoulders. “Dance with me.”
“We have no music,” Daniela pointed out.
“I’ve got this,” Kate was undeterred. She’d already had a song queued up on her phone. Kate set the device in the sand as Pentatonix “Hallelujah” began to play.
“You picked this because it’s my favorite song,” Daniela said as she placed her hands on Kate’s hips.
“Our favorite song.” Kate moved both of her arms to Daniela’s shoulders and played with her hair as they danced.
Together, they moved slowly in the dark. The beauty of it all was too much for Daniela. This time it was her who had tears in her eyes. She pulled Kate close, her tears wetting Kate’s soft hair.
When the song came to an end, Kate threw out another idea. “We should go for a swim.”
Daniela looked down at her own gown and paused for a moment, unsure if she wanted to leave it on the sand. She loved this dress. “Why not?” She sucked in a deep breath of air and reached for the zipper under her arm.
“You know what I like about this?” Kate was already free of her dress, and wading into the water. “We don’t have to worry about sharks, stingrays, or jellyfish!”
“Wait for me!” Daniela stepped out of the gown and ran after her. She splashed into the gentle waves.
Kate popped her head up out of the water and swam over to Daniela. “Can you reach the bottom?” Daniela was a good foot taller than Kate.
“Barely,” Daniela said. She found her footing in the sand and stood up. The waves were just over her shoulders.
Kate reached out and wrapped her arms and legs around Daniela, anchoring herself.
“This is perfect,” Kate’s voice was quiet but determined. “Reed and Anne have their first kiss in the water.” She leaned forward slowly and placed her wet lips on Daniela’s.
Under the waves, Daniela’s hands found Kate’s waist. She was getting ready to push Kate away when Kate looked her in the eyes and whispered, “Trust me.”
Daniela paused for a moment and considered Kate’s request.
She looked away, took a deep breath and plunged under the water.
She emerged from the dark waters as Reed. Reaching through the water she found Anne’s hand and pulled her close.
“You are my siren,” Reed spun the two of them in the water.
Tears sparkled in Anne’s green eyes. “I’ve wanted you from the moment I met you.”
With her thumb, Reed wiped away Anne’s tears. Her gaze moved slowly from Anne’s eyes to Anne’s lips and then back again. Delicately, she moved her thumb to Anne’s lips. “You are the most radiant thing I’ve ever seen.”
With a light touch, Reed’s thumb guided Anne’s lips to open. She looked at Anne’s mouth like she was opening a present, unsure of what she’d find inside, but fully confident that she’d like it.
The tip of Anne’s tongue moved forward to taste Reed’s thumb, and that action drove Reed over the edge. She gripped Anne’s waist and pulled their bodies tightly together.
“Your hands feel like home,” Anne said as she wrapped her legs around Reed.
Reed kissed Anne and felt the electricity of their chemistry shiver through her body. She bit gently at Anne’s lower lip before continuing their kiss.
“I can’t stand seeing you in his arms,” Reed admitted as she pulled back from the kiss. “He’s not worthy of you.”
“And you are?” Anne teased.
“What do you think?” Reed knew the answer before she asked the question.
“I think that every time you come near me, I can’t breathe. The hairs on my arms stand tall. I feel your presence radiate throughout me. I feel you in my soul,” Anne looked her in the eyes as she spoke the absolute truth.
After an hour of kissing in the lake, their skin was beginning to shrivel, and they were feeling the exhaustion of their emotions. Hand in hand they emerged from the water and gathered up their gowns.
Neither of them said a word. There was nothing left to say. The moment would forever be etched on their hearts.
By the time they reached the house, everyone had already gone to bed. The music stopped and the Christmas lights were off. Daniela led Kate by her hand though the darkness.
When they made it to the bedroom, she loosened her grip to let Kate go, but Kate intertwined their fingers, refusing to break the connection.
With only one hand free, it was difficult to get changed for bed, so they had to help each other through it. They even held hands as they brushed their teeth. Though they didn’t exchange words, there were plenty of looks rich filled smiles and desire.
When they got into the bed, Daniela curled in behind Kate and spooned her. As she held her in the darkness she quietly cried. Christmas was over. But she’d found her Anne.
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If you enjoyed this story, here are some additional books I have written:
To Make Her Feel My Love
With Every Piece of You
Winter Games
Under the Pines