JENNIE
"Here's to your first job being a huge success," I say, raising my glass to Lisa's.
"Thank you, I'm so relieved and happy." Lisa is beaming, her smile so wide that it's infectious. She came straight here after she finished unloading, stealing a moment with me as Jackie is looking after Lily until five. We've taken a bottle of champagne down to the beach and are sitting on the shore, the tide washing over our bare toes. I feel so complete when she's with me that I wish I could see her all the time. "I have another couple of jobs booked in and Jackie put me in touch with a stager who has five jobs in July. Hopefully some more events will come from this one too, so I can quit my job at Pool Masters and focus my energy."
"That's great news." I wrap an arm around her waist and kiss her cheek. "I'm proud of you."
Lisa blushes as she stares ahead. "Really?"
"Yeah. You've done an amazing job at building a life and setting up a business while being a single mom. I admire you."
"Well, I'm proud of you too."
I shoot her a puzzled look as I feel like I've literally accomplished nothing in my thirty-nine years. "For what?"
"For being you. For having the courage to be true to yourself. For discovering who you are." She chuckles. "You're awfully wholesome for a princess."
"Hey, I'm not a princess," I say, nudging her bare arm. "But thank you for saying that." The sleeves of Lisa's shirt are rolled up, showing a subtle tan line as she hugs her knees and turns to me. I'm rewarded with another flirtatious smile that makes me want to kiss her again and again. Everything about her is insanely attractive and I wish we had more time today. "You know you can bring Lily here, right? I don't want you to miss out on time with her just because you're meeting up with me." When she doesn't reply, I quickly add: "Sorry, it's probably too soon, I shouldn't have mentioned it."
Lisa "Yes, it's soon," she says softly. "But I'd like her to get to know you better. I mean, I don't think we should sleep in the same bed when she's around just yet, but we could just hang out and have fun."
"I'd like that." I'm overcome by emotion, knowing I mean enough to her to bring me into her daughter's life. "And I'd love to get to know Lily better too. She seems like a very sweet and clever girl."
"She is. I don't know what I'd do without her." Lily pauses and locks her eyes with mine. "But honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you either." She puts her champagne flute to the side, takes mine and lowers me into the sand, then lies down beside me and strokes my cheek. "It's strange… I haven't even known you for that long. And I've tried to fight it—trust me, I have—but the attraction was just too strong to ignore."
I nod and brush my lips against hers. "I feel like I was meant to meet you. Does that sound silly?"
"No, not at all. I think I was meant to meet you too. I was drawn to you from the minute we met and knowing now that it was mutual, well, it's just too beautiful to be a coincidence. I thought this would be difficult, between you and me, but so far, it's not."
"It's blatantly simple," I whisper, pulling her closer. The sand tickles my cheek, the sun caresses my skin and Lisa's electric touch and soft lips send a sizzling sensation through my body when she kisses me. Parting my lips, I let her in and as always, it evokes arousal beyond belief, years of pent-up repression released each time we make out. Lisa shifts on top of me, and I sigh as I roam my hands under her shirt, finding her warm skin. Her weight and the pressure of her thigh against my center causes fireworks in my core and I lower my hands to her behind to draw her tighter against me.
We hear voices in the distance and Lisa pulls away before it gets too heated. "I want you all the time," she says in a husky voice. "All the time."
"You have no idea how you make me feel." I bring my fingertips to my lips that are swollen from the heated kiss, our eyes meeting in an unspoken promise of much, much more to come. "When can I see you again?"
"I can come over Wednesday morning, or with Lily on Saturday. Unless you're volunteering?"
"No, I have Monday, Tuesday and Friday on my schedule for next week, so both would be perfect." I raise myself back into a sitting position and brush the sand out of my hair. "What's her favorite food? Any games I should get? Anything for the pool, or the beach?"
"If you want to get her on your good side, she loves ice cream," Lisa says with a chuckle. "I'll bring some pool toys for her so we can chill, and I should probably talk to her before we come. Prepare her, you know?"
"Are you going to tell her we're together?"
"I'm not sure yet, but she's very intuitive. Lily will sense something is going on between us so it's best if I ease her into it. She's always had me to herself; I don't know how she'll react, knowing there's another significant person in my life."
"I hope she'll be okay with it." I suddenly feel nervous, as if I'm going to be put through a test of some sorts.
"Hey, it will be fine," Lisa says, taking my hand. "You're lovely and Lily will see that too."