A laugh slipped from Debra’s lips. “You know, you text like someone who knows exactly what she’s doing.”
“Do I?”
“Mm. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing…” It wouldn’t surprise Debra if Billie confirmed her suspicions. This woman knewexactlyhow to draw every ounce of attention someone possessed towards her. “Is it something you’re used to?
“Texting?” Billie asked. “As far as I’m aware, texting is one of the most common forms of communication these days. It’s not my preferred method, but who am I to complain?”
“Texting women, Billie. You know exactly what I’m saying.”
“I can assure you that texting women is not something I do. I couldn’t tell you the last time I did.”
Debra narrowed her eyes at the screen. “Hmm.”
“You have my word, Debra.”
God, that tone. The gentleness threaded through Billie’s reassurance.
“Okay.” Debra smiled. “What are you doing?”
Billie sighed. “Sitting at my desk, pretending the cold coffee in front of me is doing something for me.”
“Long night?”
Billie paused, but Debra could almosthearthe flicker of a smile. “You know it was.”
The ache that settled inside Debra was utterly ridiculous. “I wasn’t sure you’d be so…”
“Honest?” Billie replied.
Debra flushed. “I was going to say forward.”
“That too, apparently.”
Silence settled over them, delicate yet electric, as though stepping away first would mean admitting last night had changed something between them. Debra felt as though it had, but Billie wasn’t exactly easy to read.
Debra tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you always like this the morning after?”
“No.”
That surprised Debra. Surely Billie didn’t sleep with women and then just drop them. “What’s different now?”
Billie cleared her throat. “You. You’re different.”
Heat curled low in Debra’s stomach. “Meaning?”
“Well,” Billie said, pausing for a moment. “There isn’t usually a morning after. And when there has been, maybe two or three times over the last decade, I certainly don’t sit around waiting for their replies. And I absolutely don’t sit here hoping they’ll call.”
Debra gripped the edge of the counter at that. “Well, then I’m glad I didn’t disappoint.”
A low hum vibrated through the phone. “You didn’t.”
“Good.” Debra bit back a grin. “It was nice seeing you in that light last night.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Billie added, a hint of her armour slipping back into place. “I’m not suddenly domesticated.”
“That’s a shame. I think you’d look very good a little domesticated.”
“If you keep saying things like that, I may have to punish you,” Billie spoke low down the line. “Dangerous woman.”
