by Dena Blake
Suddenly feeling stupid for crying, she swiped her hands across her face to dry her cheeks. “I didn’t cheat on Shay.”
The ice bag clanked as Rachel dropped it into the sink and turned around. “So, the woman at the hospital is just some crazy stalker?”
“No. We’re involved, maybe, but probably not anymore. I don’t know.” She went to the table and sat in one of the chairs, motioning for Rachel to do the same. “It’s a long story that I’m not sure you want to hear.”
“Oh, I definitely want to hear it.” Rachel relaxed in the chair.
“Shay and I have been separated for the past six months.”
Rachel’s eyebrows rose. “So, she was aware of the other woman?”
“Yes.” She shook her head and chuckled. “You may not believe this, but Shay’s the one who had the affair. After a while, I just moved on.”
Rachel’s face went blank, and she shifted in her chair. “I don’t believe you. That woman out there is head over heels in love with you.”
“I know, and I was head over heels in love with her a year ago.”
“That’s why you’ve been so sketchy.”
Chloe closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. “This whole situation has been pretty fucked up.”
“You’ve been having to act like it never happened.” Rachel shook her head slowly and widened her eyes. “I can’t imagine dealing with that. I’m so sorry. I’ve been judging you this whole time for something you didn’t do.” She glanced toward the deck where Shay was lying in the lounger with her eyes closed. “Wow.”
Chloe still felt the need to protect Shay. “Please, don’t hold it against her. She doesn’t remember.”
“And you’re not going to tell her?”
“I want her to remember on her own. I don’t want to put her through what I went through. It was such a shock, and with what she recalls now, it’ll be for her as well.”
“It would be devastating.” Rachel spoke softly, as though she was still processing the information in her head.
“I don’t want to set her recovery back in any way.”
“So, you’re just going to suck it up and take care of her?”
“We are still married and her mom’s an ass. So yes.” Chloe got up and went back to the sink to get the ice.
Rachel followed her. “I have to say my respect for you has increased considerably.”
“Thank you, but that’s not why I told you. And you can’t treat Shay any differently than you have been.” She wrapped the ice inside the towel, creating a cold compress.
“So, green light to continue flirting?” Rachel raised her eyebrows.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “If it makes her feel good about herself, then yes.”
Rachel studied her for a moment. “What about you? Are you still seeing that woman?”
“Of course not. I’m not the heartless bitch you seem to think I am.”
“That must be hard.” Rachel seemed skeptical.
“Not as hard as you might think.” Chloe brushed past her and took the ice pack outside. She’d already shared too much and refused to talk about her current situation with Erica. She would deal with it when the time came or, more accurately, when Erica pressed for more.
* * *
Shay climbed into bed and watched as Chloe took off her jewelry and laid it on the dresser. She took a few pieces of clothing from the drawer and walked into the bathroom. The whole situation was weird. Since when did Chloe feel the need to change her clothes in private? What was she missing? Chloe came out dressed in yoga pants and a baggy T-shirt, then gave her a smile and a slight glance as she padded to the doorway. They weren’t going to have any physical contact again tonight. Chloe would end up sleeping in her studio or on the couch like she had for the past week.
“Can we talk for a minute?” Shay asked.
Chloe stopped in the doorway, turned around slowly, and leaned against the door frame like she was afraid to come any closer.
“You always seem to be in such a hurry these days.” She patted an empty spot on the bed beside her.
Chloe hesitated a moment before she crossed the room and sat down. “Just trying to get some pieces ready for the gallery. I’ve sold a few, and it’s starting to look a little empty.”
“That’s awesome. I’m so glad everyone has finally found you. I always knew once they did, you wouldn’t be able to paint fast enough.” Shay had always appreciated Chloe’s art.
Chloe’s lip pulled up on one side. “Well, thank you for that. It seems you were right.”
They sat in silence for a moment, Chloe waiting patiently while Shay tried to find the words to ask what she wanted to know. Shay wanted to touch her so badly but rolled the blanket between her fingers to keep them busy instead.
She released the blanket and smoothed it across her lap. “We’re good together, right?” She let her gaze skitter away from Chloe’s. “I mean…sexually?”
Chloe nodded. “Yes, we’ve always been good together that way.” She rolled her lips in and looked away for a moment. “It’s just lately we haven’t had a lot of time.” Her voice sounded melancholy, sad even.
Disappointment settled deep in Shay’s chest. They hadn’t been having sex. That’s why Chloe was so distant. “Seems I’ve got nothing but time now.”
Chloe brushed her hand across Shay’s thigh. “But I have a painting to finish.” She didn’t wait for a response. She was up and out of the room before Shay could counter.
Shay flopped into her pillow. What am I gonna do about this? They’d always had a lot in common and never lacked conversation. But sex had been a large part of their life together, and the lack of it signified something bigger was happening in their relationship. No matter what differences they’d dealt with in the past, they’d always been able to come together and embrace their connection in bed.
Chapter Fifteen
Shay forced her eyes open. It wasn’t early, but the sun was already blazing through the windows. She slid her hand over Chloe’s side of the bed—empty. The sheet was cold, so she’d either not come to bed again last night or she’d gotten up early. The door to the bathroom clicked open, and Chloe quietly entered, already completely dressed.
“Where are you going?” Shay asked.
Chloe seemed startled. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I want you to wake me.” Shay heard the neediness in her voice slip out.
“I’ve been up for a while.” Chloe took a pair of earrings from her jewelry box on the dresser, flipped her hair over her shoulder, and put one in, and then with the same motion inserted the other.
A memory flashed in Shay’s mind. Chloe’s hair gathered in her hands, kissing her neck—Chloe giggling and telling her to stop, they needed to go. Not that she hadn’t done that a thousand times before, but the look in her eye at that moment when she’d turned around in her arms had been so full of desire, there was no way they would’ve made it on time to wherever they’d been going.
“Since we’ve moved to the beach, I’ve become an early riser,” Chloe said as she sat on the edge of the bed.
A different image of Chloe in a T-shirt coming across the room toward her and bouncing onto the bed flew through Shay’s mind. “You have, haven’t you? You used to sleep much later than me.”
Chloe looked at her curiously. “You remember that?”
She nodded. “I saw you in the sunlight coming back to bed.”
Chloe smiled as though remembering the same scene. “I like to be up with the sun, so I can catch beautiful sunrises on canvas.”
Shay smiled and nodded. “Pieces of it, anyway.” She saw the look on Chloe’s face change. To what, she wasn’t sure, but it looked more like concern than happiness. “Can you help me fill in some of the blanks? I’d like to remember, and I’d rather do it with you than alone.”
“The doctor said not to push it. Let it come back naturally.”
“What I just saw seemed like it would lead to the most na
tural thing in the world.” She reached over, cupped Chloe’s shoulder in her palm, and let her hand glide slowly down her arm.
Chloe watched the motion, and when their eyes met again, she saw the look in Chloe’s eyes change. The kiss that came next was soft and seeking, like a kiss after a spectacular first date. It quickly morphed into something spawned out of pure need. They hadn’t kissed with such urgency since…forever. Chloe was almost completely on top of her with her leg pressed to her center when a soft moan came from her mouth, fueling the desire bubbling inside her even more. She smelled of oranges and spice. God, she’d missed this contact. Every part of them touched—thighs, stomachs, breasts—and she wanted more. She reached up under Chloe’s shirt, cupped her breast in her hand, and was rewarded with another moan, only louder this time. Receiving the signal loud and clear, she tugged at the waistband of her leggings, needing better access. Suddenly Chloe broke the kiss, cleared her throat, and stood up.
“I can’t do this. I have to get to the gallery.” Chloe’s words were staggered as she fought for breath and straightened her clothes.
Shay watched her walk away, counting each step as she increased the distance between them, hoping she’d stop and come back. But Chloe was out of there before she could form a word, let alone a coherent sentence. She touched her swollen lips and let the feeling of being kissed so thoroughly wash over her again. What had just happened? She hadn’t mistaken the want she’d seen in Chloe’s eyes, the desire as Chloe had pressed her body to hers. Everything had rushed to her center, and she’d been ready for the woman she loved to take her. She didn’t know what to feel—Anger, disappointment, fear. She’d been abandoned again.
* * *
The surge of wetness had made it perfectly clear that Chloe’s attraction to Shay hadn’t diminished. She’d had to get out of there, escape the impending trap she’d set for herself. Walking to her car had been challenging, Chloe’s legs were so shaky, she’d barely been able to move when she’d left the room. Thankfully, she’d already loaded the paintings into the back of the SUV.
Driving to the gallery had been a lame excuse. She’d have to apologize and, most likely, explain further when she got home tonight. What she would say and how she would say it was a mystery to her.
Suddenly she was at the gallery. Autopilot was getting to be a bad habit. She drove around to the back and parked. Whitney was already there waiting for her. She’d called her on the way and told her she needed to talk.
As soon as she was out of the car, Whitney pulled her into a hug. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“I think so. I just don’t know what to do.” She searched for the key in her purse. “Can you help me unload these?” She didn’t want to explain everything outside, where anyone could overhear.
“Sure. I brought coffee. Let me get it.” Whitney rounded her car and took a coffee carrier along with a small bag from the front seat.
Once the door was unlocked and the alarm turned off, they unloaded the paintings from the back of her Chevy Tahoe and locked it.
Whitney didn’t waste any time asking for information. “Okay, so now spill.”
Coffee and a croissant miraculously appeared in front of her as she sat at the small table in the back of the gallery.
“I almost had sex with Shay this morning.”
“Almost?” Whitney pulled a piece of croissant loose and put it into her mouth.
“She remembered something about me coming back to bed. The look on her face was just so sweet and innocent.”
“And then she kissed you?”
“No. I kissed her, and my emotions were all over the place.” She took a sip of coffee. “I felt like I was thrown back in time to when we’d first started living together. You know, the period when you have sex every day, sometimes twice because you can’t get enough of each other.”
Whitney raised an eyebrow. “Twice? Really?”
“The little voice in the back of my head brought me to my senses, and I got the hell out of there.” Thank God.
“You left?” Whitney’s brows drew together. “What did you tell her?”
“That I had to get here, to the gallery.”
“She accepted that excuse?” Whitney stuffed another piece of croissant into her mouth.
“I didn’t stay long enough to discuss it.” She closed her eyes briefly. “You have no idea how hard it was to leave her like that.”
“I can imagine.” Whitney looked thoughtful as she sipped her coffee. “You started it. Why did you leave?”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “I want what we used to have. I just don’t know if that’s possible.” She got up, took two smaller paintings from where they were hanging, and leaned them against the wall. “I’m so mixed up right now.” She retrieved a painting she’d brought and held it up against the wall in the newly bare spot.
“Have you gotten past everything else?” Whitney asked as she stood behind her, checking the spacing.
“I think so. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s hard to forget. Especially when her physical therapist flirts with her all the time. Since she overheard me talking to Erica in the hall that day, I think she’s trying to make me jealous.”
“Have you told her what happened?”
“Some of it, though she probably still thinks I’m having an affair.” She used the claw hammer to remove the two nails and pound one into the middle of the space she’d just created, then hung the larger painting.
“You should tell her the whole story, and then make her back the hell off.”
“You think so?” She picked up the two smaller paintings and assessed where to put them, then carried them to another wall.
“Hell, yes. Shay is still your wife, and apparently, you’re still in love with her.”
The paintings thudded as she dropped them against the wall on the other side of the gallery. “I wish I’d never caught her or could erase the last six months of my life.”
“Do it. Shay has. You should just move forward and let what happens, happen.”
“Maybe I should. It’s been so many days since I touched her, and she’s still all I dream about. That certainly hasn’t changed for me.”
The bell on the door rang, and she looked up to see a customer enter the gallery. She let the conversation stop there. It was clear Whitney thought she should give Shay another chance.
* * *
Shay was thrilled when Rachel had told her during her therapy session the day before that she could ditch the cane and try walking on her own. She’d said to still be careful and not put too much stress on her leg, but she was progressing much better than Rachel had anticipated. When Chloe had called earlier and suggested they go out to dinner and celebrate her progress, that made her week even better. Maybe a change of scenery would do them both good. She’d dressed in khaki shorts and a light-blue V-neck shirt. Any worries she’d had about dressing too casual vanished when they’d arrived. Her choice seemed to be just a hint above the rest of the diners’. It was definitely a come-as-you-are place, which was fine as long as the food was good, and from what Shay could recall, it was.
“It’s good to see you both here together tonight,” James, the owner said, and his wife Kim walked over from the bar to welcome them as well.
The first time they’d been in for dinner, he’d come to the table and introduced himself. He had a place on the beach not far from theirs, and he and his wife Kim had quickly become good friends with them. They didn’t have any children and spent most of their nights at the restaurant. She and Chloe had eaten at least one meal a week at the Marina Cantina ever since and had been invited to their home on numerous occasions as well.
“It’s good to see you too.” Shay hadn’t missed the meaning in his words. Just who had they been frequenting the restaurant with, if not each other?
“We have your favorite table out on the deck ready for you.”
Shay looked at Chloe and scrunched her eyebrows together.
“I c
alled ahead,” Chloe said as they followed Kim to the table by the railing. “I know how much you love the view.”
And a beautiful view it was. The table looked right out onto the marina. While white lights hung in a zigzag pattern with torches filling the spaces between on the railing, the lights from several buildings on the other side glistened on the water. The weather was perfect, with just a slight breeze to keep the heat at bay. She remembered it being one of her favorite places to dine. At one time they’d even discussed getting a boat. Wait, had they? “We don’t have a boat, do we? Did I miss that too?”
Chloe chuckled. “No. We decided to put that off another year until work slowed down.”
“Your work or mine?”
“Both.” Chloe smiled and then gave her attention to the menu.
Kim appeared again. “Can I get you ladies a drink or an appetizer?”
“Yes. We’d like a bottle of the Porer Pinot Grigio.” Chloe glanced at Shay momentarily, seeking her approval. She nodded, and Chloe continued. “And I think we’ll get the ceviche to start. It was so good last time. Shay loved it.”
“I did?” She glanced at the menu. Fresh lime, ahi tuna, shrimp, scallops, vine-ripe tomato, avocado, and red onion. “You’re sure I liked it?” She lifted an eyebrow.
“Trust me. You did.” Chloe flashed her the beautiful smile that made her insides turn to goo.
“Okay.” She set down her menu. “I have complete trust in you.” And she did. She didn’t trust anyone in the world more than Chloe.
“Then I’ll go ahead and order.” Chloe tilted her head, smiled, and rattled off both their dinner orders for the night.
James brought the wine to the table and filled both their glasses. Chloe immediately took a sip and closed her eyes. “Perfect.” Then she took another drink and relaxed into her seat. “I’d forgotten how beautiful it is here.”
“What’s been keeping us from coming?”