Page 68 of Ravished By Her

Lacey grinned at me and then started laughing. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t hear anything you said because you look so pretty right now.”

“Are you trying to make me blush?” I said, slapping my hands over my cheeks to hide my red face.

Lacey seemed to remember that she was cooking and ran back to the stove, saving the steaks in just the nick of time.

“I would eat well-done steak for you,” I said, leaning into her as she set the steaks aside.

“That’s sweet, but thankfully you don’t have to. I’m pretty much ready here, if you want to get plates and drinks and so forth.” Moving around Lacey’s kitchen felt so domestic and I couldn’t deny how much I liked it. Sterling’s voice echoed in my head and I allowed myself a moment of wondering what my life might be like if it had Lacey in it, and not just for these few weeks of finishing the house and getting it on the market.

What would my life look like if I stayed?

I’d never even allowed myself to picture it for even a fraction of a second. I was too convinced that if I let myself consider a different future that I’d get distracted from my goal, so I’d surrendered to tunnel vision.

My goal had been so clear that I didn’t question it. Didn’t wonder if it was even what I truly wanted.

“Gwen?” Lacey said. I’d been frozen in place with a plate in my hand.

“Sorry, zoned out for a second,” I said, giving her the plate so she could serve both of us.

Lacey and I settled onto the couch together with dinner and beer and it was…

“What did you get done today?” I asked, slamming the brakes on my thoughts.

“Finished the engagement ring. I’ll show it to you later. And I drew something new and started fiddling with those stones that we found at the beach the other day. How about you?”

I cut into the perfectly medium rare steak and savored a bite before I answered. Lacey had cooked it in tons of butter and fresh herbs and the bite practically melted in my mouth.

“Cleaned the van and watched while Sterling did maintenance. She’s tried to teach me, but I’m so terrified to break anything that I don’t want to touch anything. Worked on my website. Nothing earth-shattering,” I shrugged and watched her as she carefully cut a piece of steak.

“So the van is all ready for guests now,” she said with a wink.

“I suppose it is,” I said. “How about this? We can go together to book club and then you can come and stay the night in the van with me?” That way I wouldn’t have to worry about cooking dinner for her.

“That sounds great, actually. Just make sure you have enough water, because I am curious to see how the shower works.”

I made a face. “You’re going to be seriously disappointed.”

She laughed. “It’ll all be part of the experience.”

“You know, that’s how Sterling and Kai ended up together. First they hooked up at that lesbian bar, Sapph, and then Sterling parked the van next to Kai’s house and asked if she could use her water. And the rest is history.” Sterling was bold, I’d give her that much. Bold and fearless.

“I’ve heard of Sapph, but I’ve never gone,” she said.

“You definitely shouldn’t go,” I said, making my expression serious.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re so hot, you’d cause a riot and it would be a shame to destroy the only sapphic bar in the state,” I said, and Lacey laughed so hard that she wiped away tears and the warm feeling in the vicinity of my heart spread all the way through my body to my fingertips and toes until it was everywhere and my face hurt from smiling.

“What am I going to do with you?” Lacey said as we lounged on the couch together.

“Anything you want,” I said, stroking her shoulder.

Our eyes met and she smiled slowly.

“Do you recall something I mentioned in our phone call last night?” she asked.

I bit my lip and leaned closer to her. “I think I do.”

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