Thanks for all the feedback. You know I looooove it!
Emma went through the next few days in a fog. At Saviors, she'd start her menu planning for the week, head into the walk-in freezer to check on inventory, and suddenly forget why she was in there. During Tuesday's prep, she doubled the honey in the cranberry-apple gastrique she was making, and her browned butter with white truffle oil came out looking a little grey.
August looked over her shoulder at the murky mixture Emma had concocted and smirked.
"So, Swan… anything you want to tell me?"
"Not sure what you mean," Emma said, feigning indifference.
"I think you know exactly what I mean. I have never seen you like this, so that can only mean one thing. You've got a crush."
Emma pulled the pan off the heat, turned off the burner, wiped her hands on a towel, and turned to face him.
"I'm don't. I just have a lot on my mind."
"Yeah, like getting laid," August shot back. "Which I wholly endorse. It's been—what—two years, with another human being, I mean?"
"Look, I'm interested in someone, but it's much too soon to call it anything, and I'm not going to jinx it by talking about it."
"How come Ruby gets to know?"
"What the hell is this, high school? Ruby gets to know because she's my best friend, and unlike some people, she doesn't have a big fucking mouth."
"Pfft. That's bullshit, man. I'm going to get to the bottom of this. This is juicy. I can tell."
"A little space, August. Why don't you make yourself useful and brown me some butter with white truffle oil?"
Emma shot him a look and headed to the dining room to do some mindless prep work. Cleaning the silver, making sure the wine glasses were spotless—that she could handle.
—
"Emma, you've been wiping down the same fork for five minutes," Ruby said, nudging the blonde's shoulder playfully. "August says you've been like this for two days. Girl, did this woman cast a spell on you, or what?"
Shaking out of her daze, Emma looked up at Ruby.
"I don't know, Red. I can't stop thinking about her. Maybe she did put me under a spell. It sort of feels like that. Plus I don't even know what I'm going to wear tomorrow, and what if I pull an Emma and totally fuck this up by being, you know, myself. You know I'm more than capable of doing that."
Ruby grabbed Emma's hands firmly in her own and pulled her closer.
"Emma, from what you told me, this woman isn't after you for your looks or your success and god knows not your money. She saw something in you from a very young age that wormed its way into her heart (which makes me love her by the way), and now you're a grown ass woman. A successful, talented, fucking gorgeous, sexy, funny, caring woman. She'd be an idiot not to date you. If I wasn't into dudes, I would have dated you myself a long time ago. You're sensational."
Emma smiled at Ruby gratefully and pulled her in for a hug.
"I love you. You are seriously the best."
"I love you, too, sweets. Oh, and I brought you some options for tomorrow night. I wasn't sure if you were going for casually sexy or make-her-want-to-rip-your-dress-off-with-her-teeth sexy. So I brought both. You can bring them all home with you and see what works."
At first Emma laughed, but then her face grew pale.
"What?" Ruby asked.
"Ugh, I haven't had sex in so long. What if she? What if I—"
"You know what, baby girl? You're totally overthinking this. Don't even worry about all that. It sounds like the two of you have crazy chemistry, so you'll know what to do. Plus—bonus—the two of you have the same basic parts, so I have a feeling that big brain of yours will figure out how to get her off," Ruby said, tapping on Emma's head.
"It's good that you're terrified. It means you really like her. If you weren't all worked up, I'd think you were as apathetic about her as everyone else you've ever gone out with. This one seems special. I heard this thing on Oprah once that I totally buy into. Are you ready for it? I'm about to blow your mind with some wisdom."
"Never more ready."
"It's wonderful to be loved, but to be understood is a revelation. Maybe that's what you've got brewing here, you know? How you like them apples?"
"That's really good, and I think that's what has me tied up in knots."
'It'll be ok. Just be you. It's like Bull Durham."
"Huh? The baseball movie? You've got my head spinning today."
"Yeah, Kevin Costner. He tells the pitcher that he's overthinking baseball. 'It's a simple game: You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball,'" Ruby says, grinning.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, but message received. I'm going to shut off my brain and just focus on looking hot tomorrow night."
"Boom! Gimme some, girlfriend," Ruby said, pointing to her cheek and letting Emma give her a kiss. "Later, blondie."
—
By 4 pm on Wednesday, Emma had tried on the three outfits Ruby brought her twice, and yet she was flopped on the bed in her tank top and boy shorts, an arm draped over her eyes. She wanted to be excited, but there was a steady refrain running through her mind along the lines of This woman is so out of my league.
And that's when her phone buzzed.
Regina: Can I guess what you're doing?
Emma: I don't know, but I kind of hope not.
Regina: You're ripping your closet apart trying to figure out what the hell to wear.
Emma: Jesus. You so have my number. I'm pathetic and predictable.
Regina: No. It's unbelievably cute. But I'm going to rescue you right now.
Emma: Yes! Put me out of my misery. Let me guess. You're canceling our date because you forgot The Voice is on Wednesday nights.
Regina: Oh hell no. You're not getting off that easy, Swan. But here's how I'm saving you. Put on jeans and a sweater, maybe brush your hair and teeth, and then come over to my house. Henry is sleeping at a friend's house tonight (yes, on a school night), and I am making us dinner.
Emma: That's the best news I've heard all day. Thank you for preemptively saving me from myself. ;)
Regina: My pleasure. See you at 7, Swan.
Emma: Can't wait, Mills.
Emma tossed her phone on her desk and did a nerdy little fist pump, the giddiness finally overwhelming the nervous butterflies. 7 couldn't come soon enough.
—
But by the time she pulled up to Regina's house in her yellow bug, armed with a bottle of Miner Vineyard Oracle that she'd been saving from her trip to Napa, her stomach had once again started to churn. Her heart raced as she walked up to the door, looking sleek in skinny jeans, boots, and a gauzy green sweater that she knew made her eyes look even brighter. She stood there for a moment, working up the courage to ring the bell.
Breathe, Emma.
But suddenly the door swept open, revealing Regina, fresh-faced, wearing a simple red v-neck and jeans, barefoot, and never more beautiful. She took Emma in, and her cheeks seemed to pink, her eyes seemed to warm.
Regina reached for Emma's hand, pulled her across the threshold, and took the bottle of wine from her, setting it down on the table behind her. She took Emma's coat and hung it in the closet. Then she returned her eyes and attention to Emma, connecting their eyes and reading her thoroughly.
"Hello, Emma," she said, taking a small step toward her.
Emma was completely mesmerized. Maybe I am under a spell. But she matched Regina, moving toward the brunette. And another, until they were three inches apart.
"Hi, Regina."
"Emma?"
"Yes, Regina?"
"Is it too early in the date to kiss you?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Emma said, her pulse doubling.
Regina wound herself around Emma, arms reaching behind her, pulling her flush against her body. She tented their heads together, just reveling in being in the blonde's space, breathing her air.
"You feel so good to me," Regina whispered.
"So do you," Emma breathed back.
Then Regina tilted her head and captured Emma's lips, kissing her soundly but languidly. Emma opened her mouth for Regina's tongue, and the two of them shared the most sensual, sweet, desirous kiss either of them could ever remember.
Regina pulled back, both women panting lightly.
"Emma, I think I have to stop touching you now, or we're not going to make it out of the foyer," Regina said, chuckling against her mouth.
Emma smiled, stepped back, and took her hand.
"Ok, show me the rest of the house," she said.
—-
Regina gave her the tour, showing her the living room, library, and dinning room, and Emma was slightly in awe of just how majestic the home was. But when they got to the family room, the feeling of the place changed. The furniture was cozier and more casual. And with pictures everywhere of Henry and Regina—sledding, laughing, dressed up in Halloween costumes, performing as a pirate in a play—the room felt much more intimate.
There was one picture in the far corner of the room that Emma couldn't take her eyes off. The picture was taken at the same school play, but the photo was of Regina watching Henry. She was watching the little boy with so much devotion, so completely in the moment, her eyes sparkling with tears, that the picture was a clear doorway into her heart. And Emma loved it. She traced the picture with her finger, looking up to smile at Regina.
"You're beautiful," Emma said, watching the blush creep into Regina's cheeks.
"I think dinner's ready," she said, offering Emma her arm. "Shall we?"
Emma looped her arm through Regina's.
"Lets see what you got."
Regina led Emma into the kitchen, which was lit with tall candles and smelled of the most alluring array of spices that Emma couldn't put her finger on. Regina pour her a glass of The Oracle, which she said would go perfectly with what they were eating.
"Can I help?"
"Not a bit. It's all ready. Please sit down."
Regina pulled out a tangine of aubergines with honey and stewed lamb with cumin and chestnuts, and the aromatics alone had Emma's mouth watering.
"Oh, wow. Regina. This looks incredible."
Regina sat down and poured herself a glass of wine.
"I hope you enjoy it. You set the bar pretty high, Emma," she said, raising her glass. "To our first date and the promise of many more."
They clinked glasses, and took a sip, avoiding the bashful smile that was threatening to creep across her face.
"Tell me about the food."
"I lived in Granada for a few months with Henry. I wanted to learn Spanish, but also I was trying to escape the confines of my life. There was this little restaurant there called Colina de Almanzora that I used to go to all the time. I loved the food there, and the woman who ran the restaurant was like my fairy godmother. She got the sense for what a bad time I was going through, and she'd watch Henry sometimes while I'd go to class or just so I could get out for a walk to the Alhambra and clear my head. She taught me this dish, but I've never made it since then… before tonight."
Emma smiled warmly at Regina. This woman.
She took a bite and couldn't help the moan that escaped her mouth.
"Oh my god. That's incredible. Mmm, Regina. You're amazing. You've been holding out on me."
Regina took a bite and nodded happily at the food.
"That's yummy. I wasn't holding out on you. It just hasn't come up yet. I don't think about it too much now, honestly, but I used to be a very promising chef," Regina said, wistfully enough that Emma decided to drop it.
Instead, she went back to moaning at her delicious dinner, oblivious to the impact this was having on Regina, who was watching her closely, an eyebrow quirked in fascination. Emma finally caught on and laughed.
"Sorry. It's just really good. So, you speak Spanish then?"
"Si. Yo puedo hablar muy bien Español."
Emma took another sip of her wine, looking across at Regina from under her eyelashes.
"Say something to me. I mean, you know, say something else."
Regina looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, and once again Emma wished she could be a fly on the wall of this woman's brain so she could be privy to her most private thoughts.
"Ok then. No tienes idea de lo hermosa que eres sin ningún tipo de esfuerzo. Quiero tomarte en mis brazos y nunca dejarte ir."
Emma felt a chill run through her, and she shuddered visibly.
"What did you say to me?"
"I promise to tell you before the night is over."