“Okay. I understand. So, what do we do? Why can’t you just tell him we’re friends if he sees us?”
Zoe turned to Marcy and looked her over. “Because you look… well, let’s face it, you look gay, and there’s a big chance I won’t come home tonight. They’ll figure it out.”
Marcy nodded and pointed to a bar. “Then let’s wait in there until he’s gone.”
“Are you sure?” Zoe asked. “I’m so sorry about this.”
“Don’t be.” Marcy walked ahead of her so she wouldn’t instinctively reach for her hand again. Inside, Zoe chose a window table. “Let’s wait here. I want to make sure he’s on his way home.”
Marcy ordered two beers and they watched the passengers get off the ferry. Ten minutes later, a man with a captain’s hat came off. “Is that him?”
“Yes, that’s my dad.” Zoe smiled as she watched him pass the bar with a spring in his step.
“He looks so chilled.”
“Yes, he’s always in a good mood,” Zoe said. “Really easy going, and he loves his job, even if it’s probably one of the most monotonous jobs in the world.” She pursed her lips as she watched him disappear. “I think he would be okay if I told him.”
Marcy smiled and placed a hand over Zoe’s. “Maybe he already knows.”
49
“Champagne?” Zoe smiled when the immaculately dressed waiter poured them a glass of champagne to start their evening with. “You don’t need to go all fancy on me.” The small restaurant on the pier was simple and elegant, serving fresh seafood and local dishes. She’d been wanting to come here since her return to Spain, but it wasn’t really a place to dine alone. The white tablecloths, candles in deep pots, delicate silverware and the sound of soft, Spanish guitar music brought a romantic touch to the small terrace, where only ten tables were placed by the waters’ edge.
“Yes, I do; I want to impress you,” Marcy said, rubbing her leg against Zoe’s under the table.
Zoe leaned in on her elbows and shot her a flirty look. “And why is that? Because you’re hoping I’ll come home with you tonight?”
“No, actually.” Marcy leaned in too, mimicking her body language. “I mean, I wouldn’t mind that,” she said, shaking her head with a chuckle. “Of course, I want you to come home with me. The sex is pretty amazing.”
“I can’t disagree with that,” Zoe whispered. Marcy licked her lips as she stared at her, causing an intense stir between Zoe’s thighs. As nice as this was, right now, she wouldn’t mind skipping dinner altogether and heading straight for that big bed of hers.
“But mostly I want to impress you because I think you’re amazing,” Marcy continued. “And I feel like I need to convince you that I’m not the womaniser you think I am. Not anymore.”
“I won’t deny that I’m slowly starting to change my mind about you.” Zoe twirled the champagne around in her glass and took a sip, carefully considering her words. “You’re sweet and fun, not to mention sexy and charismatic and I obviously think you’re amazing too. But I can’t help but wonder how long it will take for you to get bored of me. You move on. It’s what you’ve always done.”
Marcy nodded, her eyes meeting Zoe’s in a loaded exchange. “Are you willing to take the risk and stick around so I can prove that my intentions are sincere?”
Zoe hesitated as she held her gaze. “I don’t think I have a choice. It’s hard to stop doing something that feels so good.”
“So good,” Marcy repeated, her lips curling into a smile. “You make me feel all sorts of new and wonderful things.” She took Zoe’s hand over the table and squeezed it. “Thank you for giving me a chance. I want to get to know you.”
Zoe glanced down at their hands, aware that they looked like a couple. She didn’t mind that as long as she didn’t start believing in it herself. It was nice, though, to be wined and dined by someone she loved being with, and Marcy was the perfect date; attentive, courteous, and incredibly nice to look at. Her blue shirt brought out the colour of her eyes and her toned buttocks looked great in the khaki chinos. “Then tell me about yourself first. Why have you always been so scared of commitment?”
Marcy sat back and thought about it. “That’s a good question. I never thought there was a reason. I just assumed I was who I was; that some people like to be free and I’m one of them.” She paused. “But it’s true that I have trouble letting people in. I’d rather have superficial relationships than to go deeper, because I already know it’s not going to work out.”
“You give up before you’ve actually tried.”
“Yes. I hate hurting people, and if I can’t see myself with them long-term it’s easier to never get serious than to leave after a while,” Marcy said. “And it’s not that I don’t like the idea of a relationship, because I do. I’ve just never met someone…” She paused. “Someone like you.”
Zoe swallowed hard as she let Marcy’s words sink in. “Someone like me? I don’t get what’s so special about me.”
“Everything,” Marcy said. She had a tremble to her voice as she fiddled with the stem of her glass. “You’re gorgeous and sexy, funny and kind. You’re a whizz with herbs, and butterflies want to be near you. Your team loves you, you’re a talented and passionate chef, a loyal daughter, a great kisser and you make me feel… well, you make me feel excited and happy and I just want to be near you all the time. I’m seriously falling for you.”
Zoe’s breath caught, and she was silent as she let Marcy’s words sink in. God, how she wanted to believe her. She wanted nothing more than to enjoy these moments without having to wonder if it would be their last time. But it was too soon for that, especially with someone like Marcy. “It’s just a crush, we barely know each other,” she said sounding unconvinced. “But I do feel the same about you and I promise I’ll be open to more, as long as we can take it one day at a time.”
“I can do one day at a time.” Marcy looked relieved, as if she’d been dying to get this off her chest. “We can do this any way you want.”
“Thank you.” Zoe smiled. This wasn’t what she’d expected to happen since she first night she’d spent with her, and she wasn’t prepared for Marcy’s sudden out-of-character behaviour. But maybe Marcy was right. Maybe she just hadn’t met the right person. And maybe, just maybe, she was that person. “And for the record,” she added, “I do want to come home with you tonight.”
