“And…how did that go?”
Jenna rolled her head to her left to study Sawyer’s profile—the strong jawline and perfect nose with the dark-rimmed glasses perched on it, her tousled dark hair—and smiled at her. “Better than you or I would have expected.”
Sawyer looked at her as they sat at a red light. “Really?”
“Really. My brothers got me talking, and my parents didn’t say much, which was exactly what I expected.” Her mind took her back to that moment in the kitchen. “But my mom hugged me so tight, and she told me I seemed happy, and she gave me a pie so I wouldn’t show up empty-handed.”
“Wow.”
“Right?”
The light turned green and Sawyer pressed on the gas. “And are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Happy.”
Jenna had no control over the smile that broke out across her face as she continued to study Sawyer’s gorgeous face. “Very.”
And then it was Sawyer’s turn to smile.
A few minutes later, they were home, and it was by unspoken agreement that Sawyer would stay at Jenna’s. She didn’t even go into her own side of the house, Jenna having already gotten her a toothbrush. Once inside, Jenna’s slight intoxication became a bit more pronounced, and she tipped a bit into Sawyer, who steadied her with a soft laugh.
“Why don’t you head up? I’ll take care of Arnold and the cats.”
Normally, Jenna wouldn’t entrust her boys to anybody else, but Sawyer was different. She kissed the top of her dog’s head and sent him on his way to the back door, then stood at the base of the stairs and watched as her dog and her “girlfriend” headed down the hall and into the kitchen. She could hear Sawyer talking to him, heard the door open and close, then heard her chatting to the cats, who surely had congregated in the kitchen expectantly. The sounds of dishes and utensils came next, and it was all so wonderfully domestic, so normal, that it brought tears to Jenna’s eyes.
With a scoff, she chided herself for having had a smidge too much wine and headed upstairs with a smile on her face she couldn’t seem to shake. Once she finished brushing her teeth and washing her face, she undressed, then pulled out her pajamas…and put them back. She slid under the covers naked just as she heard Sawyer and Arnold coming up the stairs.
“Okay,” Sawyer said as she came into the room. “Everybody’s fed and watered, and Arnie did all his business.” Arnold jumped up onto the bed for some loving from his mommy. “I’ll be right there.” Sawyer disappeared into the bathroom, and Jenna heard the various sounds of her nightly routine. By the time she finished and came back into the bedroom, Arnold had retired to his dog bed in the corner, and Jenna watched her cross the room. She took her glasses off, got in bed, andsaid, “Hoo, what a day. I am ex—” and that’s when she noticed Jenna’s state of undress. “You’re naked.”
“I am.”
“And I’m suddenly no longer tired.”
Jenna grinned. “I was hoping that would be the case.” She reached for Sawyer’s head and pulled her into a searing kiss, then rolled them so she was completely on top. She looked down into blue eyes and whispered, “I’d like to give some thanks…”
Chapter Seventeen
The snow only let up for about a week before it started to really fall, and it was officially winter in Sawyer’s eyes. By the second week in December, the ground was covered, and the temperatures were cold, but she didn’t care because she had Jenna.
She had Jenna.
What an unexpected and surprising thing to know.
She sat at her desk with a big, stupid grin on her face. She knew it was a big, stupid grin because she could feel it. Also because Colton has asked her earlier why she had such a big, stupid grin on her face. She’d said nothing but had continued to grin. Big and stupid-like.
Colton had been in a meeting with one of the higher-ups, and now he walked toward her and their cubicle. When their gazes met, he rolled his eyes in an exaggerated manner and shook his head. “My God, woman, enough with that face.” He flopped down into his chair.
“What’s wrong with my face?”
He made an expression that included a giant dorky smile while he blinked his eyes rapidly.
She burst out laughing. “You look like a cartoon. All you need are little cartoon hearts floating over your head.”
“No, that’s allyouneed,” he said, pointing at her. Then he fluttered his hand over his head, presumably mimicking floating cartoon hearts.
“You’re just jealous,” she said, sticking her tongue out.
