“I’m sorry.” Toni cupped Addie’s face in her hands so she could stare into her eyes. “I didn’t think you’d sleep that late, and I left a note.…”
“One my dentist could send,” Addie grumbled.
“You have sex with your dentist?” Toni teased, biting back a flicker of absurd possessiveness.
Addie swatted her arm. “Perv.”
“That’s a no?”
For a moment, Addie simply stared at her, and Toni felt completely ridiculous. “Yes, Toni, it’s ano.Just you. Have I mentioned that? I was fairly sure I had.”
“You did… I think I might like hearing it.” Toni paused before she admitted, “So maybe I’m a little more possessive than I realized.”
“You think?”
“I don’t want you in anyone else’s bed while we are… together,” Toni finished the sentence awkwardly. There wasn’t an exact word for what they were. “Fucking” sounded crude. “Friends who get naked” might be offensive. “I like hearing I’m the only one touching you.”
Addie stared at her and said firmly, “Only you, but I was untouched by any hand but my own until you.… You, however, have had a long string of lovers. SoI’mthe one who probably ought to be worrying here.”
“No worries. You’ve been the only one in my bed since the night we met.” Toni cleared her throat awkwardly. “Maybe we can set a time to talk after the weekend? Makesureyou don’t lose my number again…?”
“Honestly? I deleted it because I was upset,” Addie blurted out.
“I figured that out, Addie. Maybe next time I piss you off, we can try to talk first?” Toni suggested gently. “I was in a bookstore signing my books, and there were too many people around to say anything personal to you.”
“Did I mention that I’m a little impulsive in both good waysandin my temper?” Addie asked with a sheepish smile.
“Worth it.” Toni turned away as she said it, though. Admitting just how much she liked Addie was a danger she couldn’t allow. Addie was precious, and Toni was certain she’d end up hurting her if she tried to get too close.
After a long quiet pause, Addie asked, “Want to go explore the grounds before dinner?”
Toni glanced at her as Addie unplaited her long hair and began to re-braid it, transforming her from disheveled woman to proper lady. Toni felt like she froze that image in her mind, and suddenly understood why the Victorians had invented photography.
Addie was so at ease, so natural, so beautiful.
And in my room.
“Exploring works,” Toni said, sounding raspier than she liked. Luckily Addie didn’t comment. There was something about Addie that made Toni imagine things that were impossible. The flicker of the idea of seeing Addie getting dressed in Toni’s home was a weird temptation, but Toni wanted her. Not just her body. Toni wanted Addie’s presence, her laughter, her bluntness, her ethereal charm.
As Addie braided, Toni pulled on clean underwear and trousers. She left her black tank on, but then she added the stiffly starchedshirt over it. Then a low vest—cut to accommodate her smallish bust without having to have buttons bulge—and over that a tailed dinner jacket with burgundy trim. She was silent up until she added her burgundy cravat.
Then she stood in front of Addie, feeling uncharacteristically awkward, and asked, “Well?”
“Can I unwrap you later?” Addie asked in a voice that made Toni feel both like she was altogether willing to be “unwrapped” right then and like she owed Emily a thank-you gift for sending the suit.
Insecurity fled at the look on Addie’s expression and the tone of her words.
“Yes. Most definitely, yes,” Toni agreed.
“You are gorgeous,” Addie said, gaze sweeping Toni from head to toe and back again. “Smart, bold, beautiful, possessive… and talented. I am obviously already the luckiest woman at this event. Probably in the whole state.”
“Just the state?” Toni teased.
“And you’re so deliciously arrogant,” Addie continued with a small laugh. “Did I mention that I like a confident woman?”
Toni hadn’t felt arrogant over the last few years. Something about her professional mien and busy schedule had kept her from catting around as much, and the release ofThe Whitechapel Widowhad brought out all of her old insecurities about being judged and found lacking. Addie made her feel like she was worthy of attention; she’d reminded Toni that the weight of her family obligations didn’t define her.
As they left the room, Toni offered her arm to Addie.
