“Well, Iwouldbe offended if you decided to leave me alone.”
Amelia leaned in and pressed a kiss to Jo’s cheek. Soft, slow,devastatinglygood. A shiver worked its way down Jo’s spine, her whole body catching fire in its wake. God, sheprayedAmelia hadn’t noticed.
“Thank you for not judging me for being here.”
Jo gave Amelia’s thigh a gentle squeeze. “You know I’d never.”
As Amelia rose from the couch and made a beeline for the bar, Jo wasn’t entirely sure what she had just invited in. Had the ground just shifted beneath them? Shehadtouched Amelia before, but it had been nothing more than a shoulder squeeze, or a hug, or a hand held in comfort. But this? This felt charged in a way Jo hadn’t prepared for. It wasn’t lost on her that Amelia had kissed her cheek as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Like she belonged here. Like maybe Jo wasn’t the only one whose world had tilted tonight.
She watched as Amelia leaned over the bar, her hair catching the golden lights above, those lips enchanting to watch as she placed their order. And then Jo caught the pendant that glinted red against her chest.
She sipped the last of her whiskey, the slow burn no match for the rush of heat dancing beneath her skin. Maybe it was the sex. Maybe it was still Lia. But maybe not.
Oh, you’ve fucked up here!
Amelia returned with two fresh glasses—wine for herself, another whiskey for Jo—and took the seat beside her again, this time sitting just a little closer than before. Their knees brushed, but Amelia didn’t move away. “I hope this one’s strong enough,” she said, handing Jo the glass with a small smile. “You looked like you needed it.”
“I do,” Jo murmured as she took it from Amelia. “Thanks.”
They both drank in silence, the music around them low and rhythmic, the pulse of the place still beating steadily even as the night crept on. The other women nearby were talking in clusters, some flirting and laughing, others making their way towards the various rooms, or returning from them with contented, slightly dazed expressions. Jo knew her own face probably looked similar. Still a little dreamy. Stillveryoverwhelmed.
She knew Amelia was studying her. She could feel those eyes searching forsomething.
“You’re quiet,” Amelia said.
“I’m just thinking.”
“About Lia?”
Jo nodded, staring at the closed door of the dark room she’d left some thirty minutes ago now. “She makes me feel like…someone new. Not just sexy. Not just desired. But like I’mallowedto want things again. Things I thought I’d locked away.”
Amelia turned slightly towards her, cradling her wine glass in one hand, the other resting on her knee. “Then I’m glad she’s part of your story, even if it’s only a chapter.”
That surprised Jo. The one thing she hadn’t expected was for Callum’s mum to be open to the idea of Jo getting her kicks with strangers. It just didn’t seem like who Amelia was. But then again, Jo had only ever known herasCallum’s mum. It had only been a recent development—a few months at best—that they’d crossed the line into a full-blown friendship. “You really mean that?”
Amelia regarded her with a gentle smile. “Of course I do. Watching you sit in the shadows of your life for the last several months…it’s been hard.”
Jo looked down into her drink. “You’ve seen me like that?”
“Every time you visit.”
A lump rose in Jo’s throat. She didn’t know what to say to that, so she sipped her drink instead. Her hand trembled slightly as she set the glass back down on the table. “I’m okay. I’vebeenokay.” That wasn’t quite the truth, Callum had stripped away who Jo was the moment he left her, but she hated feeling so vulnerable around Amelia. She didn’t want to come across that way. The woman was drop-dead gorgeous, for the love of God. “Life moves on, right?”
Amelia reached out and placed her hand over Jo’s. Just for a second. Just long enough to remind her that she was here, that she saw her…even when Johadbeen lost. “I think maybe you’re not meant to be in the shadows, Jo.”
“Please don’t.” Jo laughed. “I might start crying and ruin my reputation.”
Amelia slowly drew her hand away, but it didn’t move far. “Wouldn’t be the worst thing.”
Jo shifted and faced her fully. “Why are you really here tonight?”
“Because I wanted to be.” Amelia didn’t look away. No, that stare pinned Jo in place.
“Because I mentioned it once? Or because you were already planning on it?”
Amelia hesitated and eventually cleared her throat. “A little of both. I wasn’t sure if I’d actually walk in…until I saw you sitting here.”
Jo exhaled slowly. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of that comment. “And now that you’ve seen me?”
