San Francisco Series- Complete Edition

by Nicole Pyland

  “We didn’t do that.” Keira moved closer and spoke more softly. “We spent all night together on Thursday and then all day together yesterday here, working on the event. Then, we went back to my place, had dinner and just talked.” She paused and smiled at the memory. “It was nice. It was really nice, Katie. I really like her and how she kisses…” She touched two fingers to her lips.

  “That good?” Katie asked with a smirk.

  “Yes, it was that good. Then, we just held onto each other all night, woke up together, and it feels really good to do that with someone again.”

  “It’s been a while for you.”

  “But it’s more than that. There’s something else. She’s something else.” She turned back to see that Emma and Angela were still talking. “I know I’m bound to have stiff competition. Just look at her. She’s gorgeous. She’s smart and funny. I like the way she holds my hand and genuinely wants to know about me and my life. I want to know everything about her.”

  “You’re kind of crazy about her,” Katie said.

  Angela gave a small wave to Emma and walked away, ending their conversation. Keira didn’t see them exchange numbers or pull out their phones, which made her happy. But then she remembered that Emma told her Olivia had already given her Angela’s number. So, the number exchange was unnecessary. She took a deep breath and turned back to Katie.

  “I have to go check on a few things. I’ll see you later?”

  “You do that. Check on some things,” she mocked. “And yeah, I’ll see you later.”

  Keira walked in the direction of the donor tent and ensured that everything had been wrapped up as it should have been by now. Then, she checked in with a few of the vendors she needed to provide receipts to. By the time the event had passed its official end, their space in the park was nearly empty. The vendors had packed up quickly and driven off. Only the cleaning crew and stage crew that were working on tearing it down remained. Ivy and other employees from Emma’s office had left long ago, but they’d each said goodbye to her, going out of their way to track her down and tell her how well she did, which meant a lot.

  The only one she hadn’t seen in a while was Emma herself. The sun had set. Keira placed her own belongings in her car, which they’d driven over in together. She turned and scanned the open field for her passenger but couldn’t see Emma. She pulled out her phone, deciding to call. She considered that maybe Emma had decided to go somewhere with Angela, forgetting about their plans for the night.

  “I ran into Katie over there, and she gave me these,” Emma said. Keira turned to see her walking from the right, carrying two bottles of wine. “She said they were leftovers and already paid for and that you and I could use them. I told her she was right; we could. I assume you mentioned us to her.”

  “I may have done that earlier today. And hi. I was looking for you.”

  “I got a call from Hailey. Then, I ran into Katie.”

  “Hailey?”

  “Yeah, she just wanted to tell me some good news. She and Charlie are both more than fertile. That’s how she described it.” She laughed and sat both bottles of wine in an open box in the trunk. “Close this?” she asked and had her hand on the trunk. Keira nodded. Emma closed the lid. “They got their results back. Everything looks good. They’re in the next phase now.”

  “Next phase?”

  “Deciding who has the first one. They want several. I am so ready to get out of here and get off my feet. Are you still good going to my place? We can open the wine and order in. We can eat in bed and watch something on TV until we both inevitably crash from exhaustion.”

  Keira smiled wider and reached for Emma’s hips.

  “Can we also shower?” she asked and then clarified, “That came out wrong.”

  “We can shower separately. I get it.” Emma placed her hands on top of Keira’s. “I’ll even let you go first.”

  “That’s kind of you.”

  “Well, I want you to owe me a favor, so it’s not, really,” she teased.

  “A favor? What kind of favor?”

  “You’ll know it when I ask.” Emma leaned in. “I’ve wanted to kiss you all day.”

  “Let’s get out of here. Then, you can kiss me all night if you want,” she replied, pulling away slightly.

  She wasn’t sure why. She’d wanted to kiss Emma all day, too. She’d had a hard time doing her job because she kept thinking about Emma Colton and how her lips felt pressed against her body; how that body felt pressed against her own. There was something though, and it made her want to wait until they were out of this park. In the park, Emma and Angela seemed to get along so well after spending only two minutes together. What did that mean for Keira and Emma? Maybe Emma wasn’t done with the date, get bored, and date someone else cycle after all.

  CHAPTER 17

  They arrived at Emma’s apartment and brought up Keira’s overnight bag and the bottles of wine along with some of the leftover food Katie had given Keira. Emma dropped the wine and food off in the kitchen while Keira went into the bathroom to take a shower. While the shower ran, Emma took the time to straighten up her apartment by putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher and opening the first bottle of wine so it could breathe. Keira emerged, but she wasn’t wearing a towel as Emma had hoped she’d be.

  “You’re dressed.”

  “I remembered to bring my clothes in this time,” Keira stated as she walked to the kitchen dressed in a t-shirt and flannel pajama pants.

  “Still cute, but I think I would have enjoyed the towel more,” Emma teased her. “Wine?”

  “I was kind of thinking about maybe just calling it a night.” Keira moved to sit on the side of Emma’s bed.

  “I thought we were going to drink a little and eat this food Katie gave you while we watched a movie or something,” Emma replied, a little confused.

  “I’m suddenly completely exhausted. I don’t think drinking is a good idea.”

  “Okay. I’ll cork it.” Emma did just that and made her way to the bed to sit next to Keira. “Everything okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah, everything’s fine,” Keira answered. “It’s just been a very long week.”

  “How about I tuck you in and take a quick shower?” Emma suggested. “I’ll climb in when I get out.”

  “Yeah, okay,” Keira replied, and Emma took the opportunity to touch her still wet hair.

  “I’ll be five minutes.”

  “Take your time.”

  Emma showered quickly, but all the while she wondered what had gotten into Keira. She’d been so excited earlier today about coming back here and spending their night together. It was early, yet she was proposing they go to sleep. Emma washed her hair, climbed out, dried herself and changed into her sleepwear. She brushed her teeth, thinking this night had not gone as planned, and headed back out.

  “You asleep?” she whispered.

  “No, not yet,” Keira answered in a hushed tone.

  Emma moved to the other side of the bed and pulled back the blanket to slide in beside her.

  “Are you sure everything’s okay? If it’s not, you can tell me.”

  “Everything’s fine. I’m just exhausted. I’m sorry. I know you wanted to do something tonight,” she explained.

  “No, this is fine. I’m just happy you’re here,” Emma replied honestly. She didn’t care what they did. She just wanted Keira to be there. She ran her fingers across Keira’s tired face as they lay side by side in her bed. “Oh, I totally forgot to tell you. Remember that woman I told you about that wanted my number?”

  Keira perked up a little and replied, “Yeah.”

  “Angela?”

  “Right,” Keira said.

  “She was there today. She’s a teacher and brought the kids from her class.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, we talked for a while.”

  “You did?”

  “She’s nice. She told me a story about how one of the kids kept asking for carnival food because she thou
ght today was a carnival. She was disappointed when we didn’t have cotton candy and elephant ears.”

  “That’s cute.” Keira laughed and rubbed her nose to scratch an itch, which Emma found adorable.

  “So are you.”

  “Stop it.” Keira blushed.

  “I speak the truth,” Emma stated.

  Keira’s expression grew serious at that comment, and Emma’s eyes went big in confusion.

  “I should then, too.”

  “Huh?” Emma asked.

  “I saw you two talking earlier while I was helping Katie.”

  “Angela and I?”

  “I tried not to spy, but I failed,” she confessed. “I didn’t hear anything. I was far away. But I watched it, and I’m sorry.”

  “You watched us talk? Why?”

  “Because I recognized her. I remembered you mentioning the thing about speed dating, and I got curious.”

  “You got jealous,” she stated.

  “I did not,” Keira retorted.

  “Yes, you did,” Emma replied and gave Keira’s shoulder a playful shove, moving into her a little more. “Wait. Is that why your mood changed tonight? At the park, you were acting strange.”

  “I was not.”

  “Yes, you were. Were you worried about Angela?” Emma asked and leaned up on her elbow.

  “I don’t know. Maybe,” Keira admitted reluctantly.

  “Why?”

  “Because I know her, or at least I know of her. And you’re right – she is nice, she’s attractive, and she’s sweet. She’s one of those women you can bring home to mom and dad, and she’ll impress the hell out of them. And–” Keira must have seen the expression on Emma’s face. “Oh, Em! I’m so sorry. That was really stupid.” She reached her hand out to touch Emma’s cheek.

  “It’s okay,” Emma replied at the memory of her parents, long deceased. “Really, it’s okay.”

  “This is why Angela is a better option. She’s probably smart enough to not make a comment like that.”

  “Hey.” Emma moved over even more, pressing her forehead down against Keira’s as she still rested on her elbow. “Angela’s nice, but I’m not into her.”

  “You can be. We’re not exclusive or anything,” Keira replied.

  Emma recognized this moment as an important one and moved again so that she was on top of Keira. Her arms were on either side of Keira’s head.

  “Wow,” Emma remarked mostly to herself.

  “What?” Keira had a look of confusion mixed with a little fear on her face.

  “You’re gorgeous,” Emma stated. “I had this vision of what it would be like, to be on top of you like this. And wow is the best word I could come up with to describe the reality.”

  “You had a vision?”

  “Not like that. I had this picture in my mind. I wanted to see you from above like this. Keira, your eyes are remarkable. Your lips are perfect.” She leaned down and captured them, but only briefly. “I love your cheeks and how they blush when I compliment you.” She stared down at her. “Like right now, for example.” She let out a light laugh while Keira rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to go out with Angela. Even if you and I weren’t doing this right now, I still wouldn’t.”

  “But, the other day, you said–”

  “I know. I considered it when I heard what Olivia said about you and the Kellan situation. But that was because I liked you. I didn’t want to not like you. And if I thought you’d treated a woman like that–”

  “It would have made you not like me.”

  “I don’t think I would have wanted to date you, at least,” Emma replied honestly while still staring down into those baby blues. “But it was more of a way to protect myself than anything else. I could have called Angela if I felt like you and I weren’t going to happen, but that would have been wrong. I would have just been doing what I said I wasn’t doing anymore.” She paused as she considered this. “I like you. You know that. I don’t want Angela. I don’t think that I want anyone else, but I’m not exactly ready to call this official yet.” She decided to be completely honest. “I want more time to get to know you. I’d like to have more nights like this and see where it goes. Is that okay? The not being official part?”

  “We’ve been on two dates, Emma. Of course, it’s okay. I’m sorry I acted so weird. It was just seeing you with her in front of me – it kind of caught me off guard. Can you maybe make me a promise though?”

  “Sure.”

  “Can you not date anyone else in front of me?”

  “What?” Emma laughed.

  “Like today, I had to see it. I know nothing happened and that it wasn’t a date, but I don’t think I want to see you with anyone else or even know if you are, unless it turns into something and you and I don’t or–”

  “Keira, I’m not interested in anyone else. I don’t plan on dating anyone. I’m not going out trying to meet someone. I thought it would take me forever to find anyone I was even remotely interested in. And you show up right when I get here.” Emma leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I promise I will be honest with you and that I will not mislead you. I’ve never met anyone like you. I just want to see where this goes.”

  “Me too,” Keira replied, and her arms went around Emma’s back and under her shirt. “I wasn’t exactly expecting to meet you either, you know?”

  “Maybe that’s why it happened. Neither of us was expecting it.”

  “Sounds kind of romantic when you say it like that,” Keira told her.

  Emma felt a light pressure on her back as Keira pulled her down and into another kiss. It was another one of their slow kisses that turned into a heated one all too quickly. Emma’s hand slid up Keira’s shirt but remained on her abdomen. She wouldn’t take it further than that. She just needed to touch her skin. Keira’s hands were also on the move. They made their way up and down Emma’s back, lifting her shirt higher and higher, then wrapped around to the front and slid onto her stomach, applying light touches before moving to Emma’s neck. Emma couldn’t take it anymore. It was too good. She wanted more. She felt like a teenage boy who just wanted to touch the girl beneath her everywhere. This wasn’t a girl though, and she didn’t just want to get into her pants. This was a woman, a beautiful woman. And Emma wanted more than just sex.

  “Okay. Okay.” She pulled her lips away from where they’d moved to Keira’s neck. “We have to stop because I don’t want to stop.”

  “I know. I know. Sorry,” Keira replied. “We don’t have to stop though. We can keep going,” she added, and Emma’s eyes were locked on Keira’s in a second.

  “You wanted to wait.”

  “I know, but I don’t think I want to anymore.” She moved to lift Emma’s shirt.

  “Hold on.” Emma sat up and straddled Keira. “That might just be the hot make-out session talking.”

  Keira sighed deeply and dropped her hands to the bed.

  “I know. You’re probably right,” she replied, disappointed. “I do want to, though.”

  “I know. But I think we’re right to wait a little bit, or at least not do anything tonight. We’re both so tired. I don’t want our first time together to–”

  “You don’t want to fall asleep in the middle?” she asked with a tired smile.

  “Something like that.” Emma slid off Keira’s body to lay beside her. “Let’s get some sleep. We can talk about everything tomorrow.”

  “Okay,” Keira agreed.

  “Come here.” Emma lifted her arm and Keira moved so that her head was resting on Emma’s shoulder, allowing Emma to wrap her arm around Keira. “This is more than good enough for tonight.”

  There was a sound that resembled a muttering of agreement that came from Keira, but Emma didn’t check for clarification because moments later, she realized Keira had fallen asleep.

  ◆◆◆

  When Keira’s eyes opened, she was staring at a ceiling that was not her own. It took her a moment to remember that she’d spent the night at Emma�
��s. Her lips formed into a smile. She closed her eyes again to take a moment to appreciate that fact. They’d spent the past two nights together and most of those days as well. In her past, Keira often struggled to spend that much time with one woman all at once like that. But as she listened to the even breathing coming from Emma beside her, she thought about the fact that they’d have to say goodbye today and each go to their jobs tomorrow. They wouldn’t be working together anymore. They’d likely see one another less. She was not a fan of that at all.

  She opened her eyes and turned only her head to see that Emma was asleep on her stomach with her head facing away from Keira. The blankets were somehow only around her waist, revealing that her shirt had ridden up slightly, allowing Keira to see the skin beneath. She was tempted to reach out and touch her, but she didn’t want to wake her. There was a battle going on inside her head, as if she had an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other; one telling her to let the tired woman sleep and the other telling her to reach out and touch the skin she was dying to feel against her fingertips. The battle remained undecided because Keira’s phone vibrated from where she’d left it on top of the kitchen counter. She turned again to see that Emma was still sleeping soundly and tried to slide out of the bed without waking her. She made her way over to her phone on her tiptoes, despite the fact that the sound of her footsteps would have been hidden by the carpet. She recognized the number as that of a client and looked at the clock on the phone, which told her they’d slept for nearly twelve hours. She didn’t have a place to take the call privately in the apartment other than the bathroom. She opened the door, entered, and closed it behind her with a light click again to keep from waking Emma.

  “Hello?” she greeted in a somewhat hushed tone.

  “Keira?”

  “This is she.”

  “This is Eric from Time Works.”

  “Hi, Eric. What can I do for you?”

  “Listen, I hate to call you this early, and on a Sunday, but I have some bad news.”

  “Oh?” She moved the phone from her right to left ear, which, for some reason, she always preferred when she was on the phone.