JENNIE

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I hadn't expected a party this big. I'm not sure why, but I'd envisioned a few dozen people, a makeshift petting zoo, and a cotton candy machine. But there were hundreds of people milling around, a pretty big Ferris wheel, street-style vendor carts all over the place, and Christmas-themed performers.

I walked around for a while and checked things out, but Lisa was nowhere in sight. A woman approached me holding literature. She smiled. "Are you a Big? I don't think we've met yet."

"Oh no. I'm not part of the program."

She held out a pamphlet. "I'm Joy, the director here at Pia's Place."

"Hi. I'm Jennie. I'm actually meeting someone here."

"Oh, okay. Well, it's a great program. Can't hurt to check out the information. I think you'd find it very rewarding."

I took the pamphlet. "Thank you."

"My number is on the back, if you have any questions. Have a great afternoon. Enjoy the carnival."

She started to walk away, but I stopped her. "Joy, is there any chance you know Lisa Manoban?"

"Of course."

"Have you seen her around? I'm supposed to meet her here after two, but I can't seem to find her."

Joy smiled. "She got started late." She looked over her shoulder a moment. "But it looks like she'll be finishing up soon. The line is finally getting smaller."

My brows furrowed. "Line?"

She pointed. "For Santa Claus."

I looked over at the area I'd passed by twice and squinted, examining the people. Taking a long look at Santa Claus, my eyes widened. "Oh my God. Is that…"

Joy laughed. "Only her grandmother could get her into that getup. It's the first time she's playing Santa for us. Her grandfather has played the part for the last twenty years. I guess they're passing the baton."

After Joy walked away, I stood watching from a distance. The woman was certainly an enigma. She wore custom-tailored suits, made everyone sit up a little taller when she walked into a meeting, and had an abrupt, standoffish way about her. Yet here she was on a Sunday afternoon, wearing a Santa suit and lifting kid after kid onto her lap. The more I watched, the bigger my smile grew. Especially when they put a little girl on her lap—one about two or three—and she immediately started to cry. I actually chuckled to myself and watched how Lisa handled it.

Lisa tried in earnest to get her to calm down, even lowering her beard so she would see there was a woman underneath, but the little girl wasn't having it. The look on Lisa's face was pure stress until an elf finally helped her out. As I continued to watch, the line whittled down to only four kids, so I decided to join it.

Lisa shook her head and laughed when she saw me waiting behind a five year old. Our eyes caught a few times as each kid ahead of me took their turn. I couldn't seem to get the smile off my face. The entire scene was just so amusing. When the other kids were done, I walked up and plopped my ass down on Santa's lap.

I wrapped one arm around her neck and patted her stuffed belly. "Big lunch?"

"I was supposed to be done with this shit before you got here."

I gave a little tug to her beard. "I kind of like it. You can pull off white hair. I bet you'll look hot when you get a little salt and pepper going."

"Glad you think so, because some of these kids gave me a few grays today."

I chuckled. "I saw the little girl in the pink dress. She wasn't a fan."

"I was doing fine at the beginning because I had a bag of candy next to me. When the damn thing ran out, I had nothing to bribe them with."

"You must be hot in that suit."

"I am. I should go get changed before any other little monsters get in my line."

I smiled and wrapped my other arm around her neck. "Don't I get to tell Santa what I want for Christmas?"

"She already knows. More Disney DVDs."

I laughed and went to get up, but Santa held me in place. "So let's hear it. What do you want for Christmas, little girl?"

"Hmmm." I tapped my finger to my lip. "Whatever package Santa wants to give me."

"Oh, Santa wants to give you her package, alright. Anything else?"

I'd been feeling kind of down before I got here today because of something that came in yesterday's mail. "How about a zoning variance?"

"Zoning variance?"

I sighed. "Yeah. I opened my mail this morning, and I had something from the City. They issued me a stop work order on my construction. Apparently an inspector came by and realized the contractor built my garage a foot too close to the road, and now I need zoning variance approval to keep it. Or I need to get rid of the garage. I called the architect to see what it would take to get the approval, and he said we should get it without a problem. But the City is backed up, and it will be a few months before we could get the required hearing. Oh, and I had a fight with the contractor over it, and he quit on me."

"That sucks. What will you do?"

"I don't know. I need to think about it." I stood. "But let's go get you changed. I can feel the heat radiating off your body."

Lisa nodded and led me over to the main building. She waited until we were inside to take off the hat and beard. "I could use a shower, but I'll have to settle for a change of clothes for now."

We navigated through the building until we came to an office. Lisa took keys out of her pocket and unlocked the door. Inside the large space was a duffel bag on the desk. She unzipped it and pulled out some clothes, then started to take off the Santa suit.

I leaned against the desk and watched her unbutton the red jacket. "I met someone named Joy who was giving out literature on the program. She said this was your first time playing Santa."

Lisa peeled off the jacket and tossed it on the desk, then started to step out of the red wool pants. She shook her head. "My grandmother may look like a sweet, old lady, but negotiating with her is impossible."

She tossed the pants on top of the jacket. Underneath she wore a pair of gray sweats and white T-shirt. Thinking nothing of it, she grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it up and over her head.

"I think it's sweet you…" I stopped mid-sentence as my jaw dropped. Holy crap. I'd felt her arms and chest underneath her sports bra, so I knew she was physically fit, but my Lord, the woman was ripped. Her abs were all carved muscle, and she had an four-pack without even flexing.

Lisa looked over and found me staring. Completely oblivious, she looked down to see what I could be gawking at. It seemed like she expected to find something wrong, as if she needed a big welt or something on her chest to make a person stop and stare. Confused at finding nothing, she looked up at me for an explanation.

I pointed to her abs. "Umm…that's just not fair."

Her brows lifted, and she chuckled. "Are you saying you like what you see?"

Was she joking? I wanted to lick what I saw. "You're…just beautiful all over."

She'd gotten a clean T-shirt from her duffel bag, but she tossed it to the ground and walked over to me. She put one hand on either side of the desk I leaned against and looked me up and down.

"I'm glad you feel that way, because the feeling is mutual." Lisa wrapped a hand around the back of my neck, using it to bring my lips to meet hers. She kissed me passionately, her warm, hard chest pressed up against my soft.

Things were really heating up when the door behind her abruptly swung open.

"What the hell?" a voice said.

Lisa stopped the kiss, but stayed put and shut her eyes while shaking her head. "Shut the door, Leo."

"Who's the girl?"

"Leo!" she raised her voice. "Shut the door. We'll be right out."

I looked around Lisa at a boy who seemed no more than eleven or twelve. He waved, flaunting an ear-to-ear grin. "She's too pretty for your ugly ass."

Lisa's head dropped, and she chuckled. "Get out, Leo. And watch your language."

The door slammed shut, and I looked to Lisa. "He could have come in."

Lisa looked down, and my eyes followed to find a bulge in her sweatpants.

I covered my mouth and giggled. "Oh my. Yeah, I guess that was a good call."

She grabbed her T-shirt and pulled it on. "Leo's my Little."

"Oh, that's right. You told me about him. I can't wait to meet him."

Lisa slipped the gray sweats down her legs and stood in a pair of black boxer briefs. The considerable bulge on display had my mouth watering. It had been a long time—too long, apparently. She pulled on her jeans, managed to zip up and over the swell, and then stuffed everything back into her gym bag.

"He was supposed to see his mother this weekend, but she canceled on him. Which is a good thing, if you ask me. He'll be back in here within two minutes if I don't go outside. He's as impatient as my dick feels tucked into these pants at the moment."

I laughed and planted a chaste kiss on her lips. "Okay, let's go."

Lisa made the introductions in the hall, and Leo said Lisa's grandmother had been looking for her because Pops needed to go to the bathroom and was kind of confused right now.

"She wants you to go with him," he said.

"Shit. Okay."

Leo smirked and pointed. "Language, Lisa."

Lisa shook her head. She looked to me. "I'll be right back. Why don't you two go grab something to eat, and I'll meet you at the picnic tables."

After Lisa disappeared, Leo walked me to the food area. We decided to just get ice cream, so we got in line.

"So Lisa's your Big Sister?"

"I guess so. But we see each other more than most kids see their Big in the program."

"How long have you two been paired up?"

"As long as I can remember. She used to watch me a lot when I was little. Before my sister got sick."

My smile fell. "Oh. I'm sorry your sister got sick."

Leo shrugged. "It's okay. She's a lot better now. It's not like when her and Lisa were married."

The people before us in line walked away, and Leo moved up. I was still stuck in place. "Your sister was married to Lisa?"

Leo nodded. "Yeah. My sister is Lily."

My eyes widened. Lisa had mentioned Lily, and she'd mentioned Leo, too. But I guess the connection between the two hadn't come up. The times we'd spoken about her ex-wife, it had seemed like she wanted nothing to do with her. So I found it interesting that she was the Big Sister to her real little brother. From what she'd told me, their mother was mentally ill, so this little boy had at least two unstable women in his life.

When it was our turn to order, Leo chose a double twist cone of vanilla and chocolate dipped in sprinkles, and I ordered a single scoop of chocolate dipped in chocolate crunchies. We went to sit at a nearby picnic table, where Lisa met us a few minutes later.

Lisa straddled the bench, swiped the cone out of my hand, and took a big lick. "Chocolate on chocolate." She winked. "Good choice."

"Everything okay with your grandfather?"

"Yeah. He's just getting tired, so my grandmother is going to take him home. He seems to get more confused when he's wiped out."

"I'm sorry I didn't get to meet her or see your grandfather again. But I understand." I stole my cone back from Lisa.

"She's not going to be happy when she finds out I brought someone to the carnival and she didn't get to meet you. But if I'd told her, she would've insisted on coming over. I figured Pops needed to rest more than she needed to interrogate you."

I smiled. "Maybe she won't find out I was here."

Lisa looked over at Leo. "Not a chance."

The three of us chatted for a while, and then I noticed two women looking over. The first one I didn't recognize, but the other I definitely knew.

"Isn't that your sister, Jisoo?"

Lisa looked over. "Yup. And my other sister, Dara. If we get up and run the other direction, we might get out unscathed."

I laughed. "I'm sure you're exaggerating."

She shook her head. "You're about to find out."

The two women walked over. "Hi," Dara said. "Aren't you Jennie Yanggun, the early morning news anchor?"

"I am. And you're Dara, right?"

"I am. It's nice to meet you."

Jisoo's eyes flicked to Lisa and back to me.

"How are you, Jennie?"

"I'm good. Enjoying the carnival. Everyone looks like they're having such a good time."

"It's a fun day." She tilted her head. "Are you a Big Sister?"

"No, but I met Joy earlier, and she gave me some information on the program. It sounds amazing, so I'm looking forward to learning more. I just came to meet Lisa."

Jisoo squinted at her sister before returning her eyes to me. "Business meeting on a Sunday?"

I shook my head. "No. Lisa and I are…dating, I guess."

Jisoo's eyebrow arched, and she and her sister immediately sat down at our table. "Dating, huh? Lisa doesn't tell us anything personal. How long has this been going on?"

Lisa hung her head and mumbled. "Should have made a run for it while we could."

I elbowed her. "A few weeks."

"Interesting. And you're on the new committee Lisa is spearheading, right?"

"I am."

"Were you two together before the new committee, or did that come about after?"

If Jisoo was trying to be discreet about digging for something, she wasn't doing a very good job. And I had a pretty good idea what she was getting at. I'd been suspicious of Lisa's motives as well.

"After."

Jisoo deepened her squint and glanced over at her sister, who completely avoided any eye contact.

She smirked. "Such a coincidence. She formed a committee, and now you're dating."

I chuckled. "Yeah. A big one, isn't it?"

Jisoo and I laughed with an unspoken understanding that broke the ice. After that, we talked for almost an hour. Lisa and Leo disappeared to go play some carnival games, and when she came back alone, Lisa didn't take a seat.

She looked at me. "You ready to get going?"

"Ummm… Sure." I smiled at Jisoo and Dara. "It was really nice getting to talk to you."

"Let's have lunch one day soon," Jisoo said.

Lisa rolled her eyes.

"I'd love that."

"Want me to give Leo a ride home?" Lisa asked Jisoo.

"No, I got him. You two go have a nice evening."

We went to find Leo and told him we were leaving. In the parking lot, Lisa took my hand, which gave me that warm feeling in my belly again.

"Where are you parked?" she asked.

I pointed. "All the way in the back. It was packed when I got here."

She walked me to my car. Bringing our still-joined hands up to her lips, she kissed my knuckles. "Come back to my place for a drink?"

"Aren't you sick of me yet? We spent the last two evenings together."

Lisa's face fell. "No. Are you sick of me?"

I squeezed her hand. "I was teasing. Not at all. And I'd love to come back to your place. Did you mean the boat?"

She nodded.

I pushed up on my toes and pressed my lips to hers in a soft kiss. "I'll meet you there."

The entire drive over, I felt an excited sort of nervous giddiness. I knew Lisa had said she wasn't sure how she'd be in a relationship, but she'd introduced me to her sisters and Leo, and I'd already met her grandfather. For someone who wasn't sure about where she thought things could lead, it sure felt like we were taking steps in the right direction.

Still, Lisa made me nervous; she had from the very start. Which was why I'd said I wanted to go slow. I knew in my head that was the right thing to do. The only problem was, I wasn't sure my heart was listening.

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"I was beginning to think you were going to stand me up," Lisa said from the back of the boat. She'd changed into shorts and a T-shirt, and her feet were bare. Something about her in bare feet just made me smile. It seemed very un-Lisa-like.

I held up a white bakery box. "I have the worst craving for cheesecake. I had to get some. Wait. Do you like cheesecake? I'm not sure we can see each other if you don't."

She held out a hand for me to climb the stairs and board. "Cheesecake is good. Though I'm not a big dessert eater." After I was on the boat, Lisa kept my hand and used it to tug me to her. She wrapped her other hand around my neck and pulled my lips to meet hers. "Unless you're on the menu."

My body reacted to the intimacy with a flush. Her kiss literally knocked the wind out of me. When her lips moved to my neck, I dropped the cheesecake on the ground.

Her voice was strained. "It's not easy to move slow with you. You bring dessert, and all I can think about is smearing it all over your body and licking it off."

Oh. My.

I'd just arrived, and already she had my panties wet.

Lisa devoured my neck. I wasn't even sure how I remained standing.

But then the sound of nearby voices made her groan and pull back. People had come outside on the boat next door. Lisa dragged a hand through her hair. "Fuck. You better stay out here while I get some wine. Privacy might be dangerous for you."

I bit my lip. "Or...I could help you inside."

Lisa's green eyes darkened to almost gray. They raked down my body and back up again. "You sure about that?"

I swallowed and nodded.

Lisa bent to pick up the cheesecake and smirked. "We'll be needing this."

It was only a few steps to get inside the cabin of Lisa's boat, but in the time it took to go from the stern to the door, all of my desire seemed to turn into nerves. Lisa shut the door behind us, and the outside world went quiet.

I looked around and noticed the shades were drawn. I remembered she'd told me she had different shades. These were most definitely the blackout ones, though the lights were on inside.

Lisa caught my eye. "I closed them before you got here because the late-afternoon sun heats up the inside, not because I was planning on luring you in here. I can open them if it makes you more comfortable. The view of the sunset is going to be nice soon anyway."

I thought about the sunset we'd watched a few days ago. The view was spectacular. But if I were being honest, the view standing before me was pretty incredible, too. I took a few steps toward Lisa and fisted her T-shirt in both of my hands. "I think I prefer privacy right now."

Lisa's pupils dilated as she looked down at me. "Oh yeah?"

I nodded.

She looked back and forth between my eyes. Seeming to find what she was looking for, she lifted her chin toward the couch. "Go sit. We'll have dessert."

Something in the tone of her voice told me she wasn't just planning on bringing me a piece of cheesecake. It made my entire body zing with anticipation. Taking a seat on the couch, I watched as Lisa sliced open the red string on the box and cut two pieces of the creamy cheesecake. She put both on one plate, took a fork from the drawer, and walked over to me, offering it.

"Only one plate and one fork… Are we sharing, or are you giving me two pieces?"

Lisa didn't answer. Instead, she lifted the fork from the plate in my hands and scooped a big piece from one of the slices. She brought it to my lips, and I opened for her. The cake was delicious, but the way Lisa was looking at me had me more focused on her than anything. She had a devilish glint in her eye as she watched me chew and swallow. I licked my lips, even though she hadn't made a mess.

"Good?" she asked.

"Delicious. Try some."

Her smile was positively wicked. She set the fork on the plate and used two fingers to swipe a big piece of the second slice. Slowly, she brought her hand to my mouth, but when I parted my lips for her to feed me, she shook her head.

"Don't be greedy. You already had some." She smeared the cheesecake on my neck, trailing a slow line down over my throat, continuing on to my chest and down into my cleavage.

I gasped when her mouth swooped down to lick the creamy mess. She took her time, starting at my neck and licking and sucking as she slowly glided toward my cleavage. When she got to the upper swell of my breasts, she teased and flicked her tongue. The rise and fall of my chest sped up in unison with my labored breathing.

Lisa looked up at me with hooded eyes from under her dark lashes. "You're right. Excellent cake."

I somehow managed to restrain myself from shoving her head back down when she sat up and took the fork in her hand again. This was her game, and I certainly didn't mind playing. Lisa fed me another spoonful of cheesecake and again watched me chew and swallow. Her eyes never left my lips.

When I finished, she set the fork back on the plate and scooped another piece with her fingers. My legs were crossed, and she used her free hand to cup under my knee and uncross them. She gently pressed at my knee to guide them open.

My breathing quickened as she took the cake and smeared it from the inside of one thigh just above my knee, all the way up to the sensitive skin right below my shorts. She looked up at me with the sexiest damn smile as she leaned forward to follow the trail.

This time, she wasn't as gentle as she'd been with my neck. She sucked and licked and nipped. Each little bite sent a bolt straight to my clit. By the time she'd worked her way up to the hem of my shorts, I was wiggling in my seat. I wanted to take her head and move it straight between my legs.

The wicked smirk on Lisa's face as she lifted to upright told me she knew exactly what she was doing to me.

I breathed out. "You're a tease. I wouldn't have taken you for one."

"A tease is when someone offers you something and doesn't give it to you. I'm happy to give you anything you want." She tilted her head. "Tell me what you want, Jennie."

A million things went through my head. I wanted her to not stop at the top of my breast. I wanted her to nip at my nipple the same way she'd just done on the inside of my thigh. I wanted her to suck on my clit like she did my neck.

"I…I don't want you to stop."

She smiled and took the cake plate from my hand. "Lean back, but bring your ass to the edge of the couch."

Lisa got on her knees in front of me. She took her thumb and rubbed it over my clit through my shorts. "Let's take these off."

My hands shook as I undid the button and pulled down the small zipper to my shorts. She smiled. "Lift."

I did, and she slid my shorts and panties down my legs and tossed them aside. Sitting before her bare, I suddenly felt very exposed.

"Open your legs wide for me."

I hesitated, and she looked up at me. "I've wanted to taste you since the minute I laid eyes on you." She paused and looked down. "Wider, Jennie."

Ignoring the urge to do the exact opposite, I spread my legs as wide as I could. Lisa flashed a cocky smile of approval and licked her lips before burying her face against me. She licked me from one end to the other and flicked her tongue over my clit in delightful torture. Whatever shyness had me keeping my knees close together went out the door when she sucked my clit. My hips writhed, and I dug my fingers into her hair and pulled. It felt so incredibly good that tears started to prickle at the corners of my eyes.

"Oh, God." I jerked when Lisa thrust her tongue inside me.

"I want to drink every bit of your juices. Come on my tongue, sweetheart."

The vibration of her words against my tender skin made my body tremble. Lisa licked her way back up to my clit and then suddenly two of her fingers were pushing inside me. It all became too much, too fast, and she groaned and coaxed me to come in her mouth.

When I lifted my ass from the couch and dug my nails into her scalp, Lisa held me in place. She curved her fingers inside me while increasing the suction. "Oh God…oh…yes…yes."

My orgasm ripped through me almost violently. I thrashed my head from side to side as Lisa massaged and stroked the tender spot inside of me until every last pulse rippled through my body. I felt boneless as I came down, panting and seeing stars through closed eyelids.

Eventually Lisa stood up, only to lean down and scoop me off the couch, gathering me in her arms. She cradled me against her as she sat down where I'd been seated. I leaned my head against her chest, and a goofy smile spread across my lips.

"That was the best cheesecake ever."

Lisa chuckled. She pressed her lips to mine. "You taste better than any dessert."

I blushed, even though the woman's head had just been buried in the most intimate of spots. "I'm sorry I'm sort of useless at the moment. I just need a minute to get my bearings, and then I can take care of you."

Lisa's eyebrows drew together. "This isn't tit for tat, Jennie."

"I know…but I haven't even touched you."

She pulled her head back to look in my eyes. "I'm fine. Don't get me wrong, I'll be taking a long shower later. But the first time I come with you, I want to be buried inside of you. I pushed my way to what just happened here, but I won't push for that. When you're ready, you'll let me know."

I sighed. "Honestly, I wouldn't have stopped you if that's where things had gone just now."

"Your body was ready," she paused and tapped one finger against my temple. "But how about this?"

I wanted to tell her she was wrong, but she was one hundred percent right. My body wanted her, but my head hadn't gotten there yet. The fact that she cared about the two being aligned meant a lot to me.

I smiled. "Thank you."

"For the orgasm or for not pushing you?"

"Both."

A little while later, Lisa went to the bathroom, and I got myself dressed and lifted the shade to look outside. The sun was starting to go down. She really did get spectacular sunsets here at the marina. Lisa came back and wrapped her arm around my waist. She kissed my shoulder. "Want to go outside and watch the sunset? I'll cut you a fresh piece of cheesecake and let you finish it this time."

I smiled. "Okay."

We sat on the bow of the boat in comfortable silence. Lisa leaned against one of the mast poles with her knees bent, and I sat between her legs, leaning back against her chest. We sipped wine and pointed out things we saw in the clouds. We hadn't really talked about today at all, since we went straight to getting out some pent-up frustration when I arrived, and I was curious to learn more about Leo—though I didn't want to look like I was needling now that I knew Lily was his sister. So I started with something more playful.

"So…your sisters were really nice."

Lisa sighed. "They're ball busters and were loading up with as much ammunition today as they could."

I smiled. "You mean like how your sister was suspicious that you'd created an entire committee so we would have a forum to spend time together?"

She shook her head. "I'm never going to live that one down. Honestly, I have no fucking clue what the hell came over me to pull that shit."

"So you're finally admitting you made up that committee just to have a reason to call me?"

"No. That committee wasn't even a thought when I called you. I just wanted to talk to you. I figured seeing how things were going your first day back would be reason enough to reach out. But you had to call me out on it, asking if I called any other employees to check how their days were going. So I panicked and made that shit up while I was on the phone."

I tilted my head up to look at her and smiled.

"Don't gloat, sweetheart. You're putty in my hands as much as I am in yours. I just don't lord it over you."

"I am not putty in your hands."

"No? Then give me that mouth, and let's see if you stop me when I'm feeling you up for all the neighbors enjoying the sunset to watch."

"You're an ass."

"Maybe. But I still would bet this boat that if we start kissing, you wouldn't stop me from slipping my fingers into your shorts and fingering that sweet pussy of yours."

My jaw dropped open.

Lisa leaned down and kissed my chin. "Careful," she whispered in my ear. "You keep that mouth open too long, and I might fill it."

I wanted to tell her she was nuts, but honestly, even hearing her say "fingering that sweet pussy" had between my legs tingling again. So she wasn't that off base. Rather than challenge her, I turned my head forward and settled against her chest.

"So Leo and you have an interesting rapport."

"Kid's new hobby is being a pain in my ass."

I laughed. "He said you've been his Big for a long time."

Lisa was quiet for a moment. "He's my ex-wife's half brother. They share the same mentally unstable mother. He was born in the hospital while his mother was a patient in the psych ward. Father is some guy she met when they were living in a halfway house. She went off her meds when she got pregnant and wound up back in a psychiatric facility. Kid was in foster care by the third day of his life."

"That's tough. And he's still in foster care?"

"He's living with his father's aunt, who's had temporary custody the last few years. But she's older and not really equipped for a teenager. I tried to get custody at one point a few years back when he'd gotten in trouble for stealing, but family trumps a single, non-blood relative who lives on a boat and works sixty hours a week."

I liked how honest she'd become with me, and that I didn't have to pry things out of her like at the beginning. But I really loved that she was the type of girl who'd try to get custody of a troubled kid who was the sibling of her ex-wife. I turned around and looked into her eyes, pressing my lips to hers.

"What was that for?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I just like you. The more I get to know you, the more I find to like."

Lisa looked away for a moment. "You know how you said you don't always see things so clearly when you first date a guy, and you have a habit of picking assholes?"

"Yes."

She looked directly into my eyes. "You're doing it again."

My face wrinkled. "What do you mean?"

"Fairytales have a Prince Charming and a bad guy. Life isn't so black and white. Sometimes Prince Charming is both."

"I…I don't understand."

Lisa shook her head. "I don't want you to be disappointed."

"But why would I be disappointed?"

"Jennie, I'm the kind of girl who brings women to an apartment I don't live in to fuck them."

I blinked a few times. "Okay…well, you've mentioned that. But I'm here right now. And you know you could have pushed things and slept with me when we were downstairs. Yet you didn't."

She stared at me. "I don't want to hurt you, Jennie."

"Okay. I believe you. But I'm a big girl. If you do, I'll live. You don't need to keep warning me away."

Lisa closed her eyes. After a solid minute, she opened them and nodded. "Okay."

The mood definitely changed after that little chat. I had to work early in the morning, so once it got fully dark, I told her I needed to get going.

Lisa walked me to my car. "Thank you for coming to the carnival today," she said.

"I had fun. You're leaving for a business trip tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah. I have a seven a.m. flight."

"We'll both be up at the ass crack of dawn then," I smiled.

She leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on my lips. "I'll talk to you during the week."

"Okay."

The entire ride home, I went over everything that had happened that day. It had seemed like such a perfect afternoon, followed by a mind-blowing orgasm in the evening, and a picture-perfect sunset. Yet Lisa couldn't seem to leave things that way. She had to tell me what a bad girl she was, even though everything I'd witnessed so far in my time spent with her had shown me just the opposite. I went round and round, analyzing and overanalyzing where things had taken that turn, and I came back to one commonality. Every time we talked about Lisa's ex-wife, she took a step back.

There had to be a piece to the puzzle I was still missing.

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