Page 89 of Cat Sloan is Swirling

“I didn’t think you liked this place,” she said to Cat.

“What? I’ve always loved Talia’s bar. You should know that.”

Hattie grimaced.

“Hey, Hattie,” Cory said with a bite to her voice.

Elena saw Vi gently place her hand on Cory’s arm and she immediately calmed. They definitely had a connection. Elena remembered times like that with Dean and suddenly realized she had those moments with Cat as well. Theirs might be a look or a hint of a smile, but the connection was there.

“Hattie, this is Vi Valdez,” Cat said.

“Hello,” Vi said with no emotion.

Hattie smiled at Vi and turned back to Cat. “I’d be happy to buy you a drink and talk about the house.”

Cat shook her head. “No thanks. We’re out having fun.” She smiled at Elena and squeezed her hand.

Hattie smirked and walked away.

“Well played, sister,” Cory said with a big grin.

“I’m not playing. We’re having fun and I want to dance again.”

Elena could see Hattie staring at them out of the corner of her eye and leaned over and gently kissed Cat. “Me, too.”

These soft kisses were turning into something Elena wanted every day. She could get used to this.

When Elena leaned in and kissed Cat with those soft lips she couldn’t help but think this was real. Or were they still pretending? They danced to several more slow songs and Cat even got Elena to stay on the dance floor for a faster song.

But it was the slow dances that had Cat’s heart pounding. She marveled at how their bodies melded together and there was never an awkward step. There were times when she had danced with other women and there was always a step the wrong way or a bump here and there. Once Cat placed her arms around Elena’s neck, if felt like they were in sync. She didn’t think about where to step or how to move, she simply let her body flow with Elena’s.

Cat liked to play with the hair at the nape of Elena’s neck and felt Elena nuzzle her hair more than once. The touch was intimate in a way that felt like anything but pretend. Cat had to stop herself from kissing Elena’s neck several times and longed to nibble her ear lobe. She sighed in Elena’s arms and held her a little closer.

“Is everything all right?” Elena asked softly.

“Mmm.” That’s all Cat dared to say.

When the song ended they leaned back and stared into each other’s eyes. Cat couldn’t stop herself. She leaned up and softly pressed her lips to Elena’s. Elena’s fingers dug into her hips and her lips slightly parted. Cat ran her tongue over Elena’s bottom lip and when their tongues touched Cat felt a rush of heat melt her body. She moaned and tightened her fingers in Elena’s hair. Cat didn’t want the kiss to end, but she suddenly realized they were on the dance floor in the middle of Talia’s bar. The kiss had taken her away from everything. It was only her and Elena.

This time when they pulled away, Cat saw a darkness in Elena’s eyes she’d never seen before. Elena took a shaky breath and Cat wondered if Elena had felt the same thing she had.

Without a word Cat took Elena’s hand and led them back to the table. Cory and Vi gave them a questioning look but didn’t say anything.

“Uh, I just realized Hattie is gone,” Cat said, looking around the bar.

“Yeah, she left a while ago,” Cory said.

Cat looked at Elena and then to Cory and Vi. “Thank you for this evening. I’m having such a good time I didn’t even notice she left.”

Elena smiled. “That’s a good thing.”

Cat nodded. She has no idea how good this evening has been, Cat thought.

23

Afew days later Cat saw Hattie walk into the bookstore.

“Where’s your girlfriend?” Hattie asked, standing at the other side of the counter. “I thought she was here all the time.”

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