“If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it. Spain in general is vastly underrated these days, but it has a lot to offer.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for my trip to Europe this July.”
“Business or pleasure?”
That smile grew. “In some cultures, they still consider marriage a business transaction, first and foremost.”
“Forgive me for forgetting your good fortune. Well, if you haven’t made any final plans yet, you must visit Spain. The beaches in summer can get crowded, but they are to die for. I go at least once a year.” That kind of commitment was a big deal for a busy woman like her. “Congrats on your upcoming nuptials, by the way. I’m sure she’s a lucky woman.”
“The polite thing is to say thatI’mthe lucky one. Certainly, I do think that.” Etta offered to pour another glass for Miquela, who gestured her approval. “If you have a significant other, I suggest taking her to Cape Cod in the summer. I only hear rave reviews.”
“If I had a significant other, I would consider it.” Miquela tipped back her wine and felt it silkily slide down her throat. “As it is, I’m happily single.”
“There are lots of ways to fix that around here. Women don’t stay single for long.”
Easy for the engaged woman to say.Miquela tried not to chuckle.
“Besides, you’ll need a date if you’re to come to my wedding in June.”
“Didn’t realize I had received an invitation.”
“You will now. Everyone gets a plus one. Bring your assistant if you must, but it’s more fun to have a date. Guess you could say I’ve been to a few weddings this past year.”
One business dinner and I’m invited to the woman’s wedding. Americans were certainly open with their invitations. “I’ll be happy to come to your wedding… and I’ll do my best to secure a respectable date.” She would not be going to get one that night. June would probably be offended if she called herrespectable.
Although their remaining time together could not be long, Miquela and Etta managed to eke out a final conversation about dating and women. Etta may have been taken now, but she had an extensive dating history – including her business partner, Adele. Now she was going to be the best woman at her wedding.
What surprised Miquela the most, however, was learning of another notable ex-girlfriend of Etta’s – Madam Monique of the Manoir.
“You are shocked?” Etta tried to pour more wine, but the bottle was empty. “Then you must know what she does for a living.”
Miquela snorted. “I may have been to her place of business a time or two.”
“That so? I helped her fund it when she originally opened the doors. Not that she needs my help any longer. Or her wife’s. Do you know Helen Warner?”
“I have not had the pleasure of meeting her wife yet.”
“She’s a good woman. Way in over her head when it comes to that place. Even I am in absolute awe of what Monique has done with it. Well, you’ve seen it.”
“Indeed, I have.” Miquela wondered if they could have had this conversation with anyone else present, least of all Adele. “There’s a lot to keep a woman entertained there.”
They shared a look of mutual understanding.
Miquela looked at her watch. “I’m afraid I must be going. I have an appointment elsewhere later tonight, and it’s a long drive.”
Etta saw her off. Miquela did not miss another look of understanding in the other woman’s eyes.She knows I’m going to the Manoir and what I’m going there for.The only thing Miquela’s new friend could not have known was who she was off to see.
“Why are you resisting me?” Miquela clutched June’s shoulder, bringing her closer. “You’re so coy tonight.”
June slipped against her, feminine scent killing Miquela inside and out.Don’t do this to me, June.Was she doing it on purpose? Was she feigning how difficult it was to turn her on? Or was it something else? Miquela had come awfully late, even with fair warning. It was after midnight already. Was she tired? Was it other clients earlier that night? June had said there were no other appointments that Friday, but Miquela wasn’t stupid.
“Is it me?” She squeezed June, tighter, hand meandering down her naked breasts and to her wetness below. “You don’t like me anymore.” Miquela teased her, but she wasn’t the greatest actor in these situations. June might have taken her seriously.
June batted her eyelashes. “If it were you, I wouldn’t have been so accommodating, Ms. Bolivar.” Her breath panted past her lips. Miquela tried to enter her again, but June pulled away, suppressing a giggle in her throat.Cute. Really cute. “Coming in here so late… acting as if you own me. You think you get to have me whenever you want? You’re not my patron. Yet.”
She would be the one woman in the world still leading Miquela on in the middle of sex. “I like it when you call me Ms. Bolivar like that. I mean, if we’re playing…” She seized June’s whole body. Her breasts. Her stomach. Her hips and legs spread across Miquela’s lap. For the past five minutes, she had been trying to penetrate her in this position. Now she realized that what the stars intended was pushing her down onto the bed and playing rough from behind.What a sly woman.“Do you want to play with me, June? Do you want to get rough? I had been trying to be nice because I had missed you so much.”
“Did you really?” Her body lowered toward hers, but only slightly. June wouldn’t let her in easily. “I have missed you, too. That’s why I want to make this worth my feelings.”
