“I love it,” the woman answered. She had shoulder-length brown hair and a friendly face. “Much more my style. I’m Nicole, by the way, and this is my wife, Fiona.” She gestured to the blonde beside her.
“Nice to meet you,” Fiona said in a crisp British accent.
Josie found herself enchanted by the pair of them, sipping wine in matching turquoise wedding bands. “Do you still live nearby?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Nicole told her. “We split our time now between our house in New Jersey and a cottage in the French countryside. This one hates cities.” She nudged Fiona, who smiled into her wine. “But I still make her come here with me a few times a year. I can’t help it. This city is in my blood.”
“I don’t hate it as much as I used to,” Fiona said, giving her wife an affectionate look.
Josie laughed. “This city has a way of winning people over if you spend enough time here.”
“It sure does,” Nicole agreed. “And maybe Fi will be easier to convince next time, now that we know this place is here.”
“Perhaps,” Fiona agreed, glancing appreciatively around the bar.
“Well, I certainly hope so,” Josie told them. “Because I’d love to see your faces here at Dragonfly again.”
“I’m sure you will,” Nicole said with a laugh.
Josie was still thinking about them as she climbed the stairs to her apartment that night. She’d never been in love or even had a serious relationship, never given marriage much of a thought one way or the other. But Nicole and Fiona seemed so…happy, so relaxed, so at ease with each other and the world around them.
And yeah, maybe Josie did want that for herself someday.
As she crawled into bed with the sun rising outside her window, she was missing Eve like crazy. It felt like an eternity since she’d shared Josie’s bed, since they’d even shared a kiss. So when she woke just past noon on Sunday morning, she sent Eve a quick text.
How’s your weekend?
It took several long minutes for Eve to respond.A lot quieter than last weekend.
Was that an invitation? Josie decided to treat it as one.Stop by tonight?
Tempting, but I can’t.
Hot date?Josie asked, adding a winking emoji so Eve knew she was joking.
I’m attending a gallery opening.
Josie took a moment to imagine Eve wandering through a gallery in one of her exquisitely sexy dresses, art admiring art. And Josie wished for the opportunity to experience it with her, to see her in her element, to let Eve educate her on the finer points of fine art. If only Josie didn’t work every goddamn night. Thank God for Mondays, and speaking of Monday…
Dinner tomorrow?she asked.
Sure, Eve replied.
Josie rolled onto her back, heart racing at the promise of seeing her again.You pick this time. Just let me know when and where to meet you.
Okay.
Can’t wait. Josie added the emoji face blowing a kiss, hit Send, and climbed out of bed, feeling significantly more energized about the day ahead now that she had a date with Eve to look forward to tomorrow.
22
“Interesting choice,” Josie said, eyebrows raised as she walked toward Eve outside O’Doul’s Pub. She had on skinny jeans and a slinky black top, and Eve’s pulse was already skyrocketing just looking at her. She drew her in for a quick kiss. Josie tasted sweet, like she’d eaten candy on the way here.
“How so?” Eve responded, hands sinking into Josie’s back pockets as she drew them together, breasts meeting on each exhale.
“It seems more my style than yours,” Josie said, leaning in to kiss her back.
“You think I can’t do casual?” she murmured against Josie’s lips.
