Page 17 of Finding Wonderland

But the question running through her mind was why? Why would Vera want to kiss her? Vera was brilliant and a doctor and probably lived in a house and not a shitty apartment. She deserved someone better than Isla; someone who didn’t come with baggage. Isla couldn’t offer her any of that. Hell, she could barely offer her dinner. She’d nearly burnt the sauce earlier as her nerves got the best of her.

Then there was the question of why Isla wanted to kiss Vera. She was gorgeous, there was no question about that. But she was her doctor. Maybe her friend. Hopefully her friend. Isla didn’t have any other friends in town, so she needed to not mess things up by kissing her.

Right?

Isla didn’t know. All she knew was that she wanted to kiss Vera.

Can women do that? Just kiss other women?

It was another question Isla didn’t know the answer to. Although she knew she was bisexual, she had never been with a woman before. Heck, she’d never kissed another woman before. She had no idea how to kiss a woman; especially when she wasn’t positive how to bring up the topic. Being gay or even bisexual wasn’t normal in society, or so had been Isla’s experience. But maybe Moonflower Cove was different. Maybe Vera was different.

There was only one way to find out.

Or, well, subtly try and find out.

Isla twirled her pasta around her fork as she looked at Vera. She was focused on a conversation with Mason about who was the better princess: Belle or Ariel. Mason was staunchly on Belle’s side, while Vera was playfully arguing why Ariel was better. The entire exchange was beyond amusing to Isla.

“And Ariel can swim,” Vera said with a firm nod as if that was the winning argument.

But leave it to Mason to retort with, “We don’t know Belle can’t swim.”

“She’s got you there.” Isla chuckled as she took a bite of the pasta. Vera smiled over at her, letting Isla know she was enjoying the easy banter with Mason.

It relaxed Isla, who’d been worried how the two would get along. Mason hadn’t been around many people the last year or so. Mostly because Isla was too worried to have her out of her sight after what happened with Blake. Clearly, though, she didn’t have to worry about Vera and Mason hitting it off. They were going to be best buds, Isla could tell.

“And Belle has a library,” Mason dramatically put her hands on the table. “Ariel can’t have a library under the water. All her books would get wet.”

“Unless,” Vera smirked as she pointed her fork at Mason, “her library is at the prince’s castle.”

Mason seemed to try and think of a retort, but shrugged instead as she went back to eating her pasta. “I guess,” she mumbled with an eye roll.

Vera winked at Isla, which made her smile. Mason was a great kid, but she didn’t take a liking to just anyone. And it was clear that, despite their current disagreement, Mason was comfortable with Vera.

Clearing her throat, Isla decided it was time for a change of topic.

“So, Vera. Tell me more about yourself. Are you married?”

She knew the question was blunt, but didn’t care. Her mind had to know the answer to the burning question.

Vera blushed as she dabbed at the corner of her lips with her paper napkin. “No, I’m not married. Or engaged. Or in any kind of committed relationship.”

“Interesting.”

“How so?” Vera cocked her head at her and suddenly Isla lost the ability to form a response.

“Oh, well, um, I just mean that,” she paused, trying to think of a less jumbled response. “I’m just surprised a doctor like yourself hasn’t been swept off their feet yet.”

“Who’s to say I haven’t been swept off my feet by someone already?”

Under the table, Vera placed her hand on Isla’s knee. The simple touch sent shockwaves and heat through Isla’s entire body. She tried not to show it; especially with Mason still at the table. But Vera’s touch and the implication that she—single mom Isla Mackenzie—had swept Dr. Vera Forsyth off her feet.

How???

Isla resisted the urge to blurt out the question. Instead, she nodded and slowly moved her hand under the table. She covered Vera’s hand with her own, squeezing gently as the two maintained eye contact. It took all the strength Isla had not to push the table out of the way and kiss Vera. If Mason hadn’t been there, she probably would have done just that.

“Mommy?” Mason’s voice pulled both Isla and Vera out of the eye-locked moment and Isla turned her attention to Mason. “Can we watch a movie after dinner?”

“Um, yeah. Sure, sweetie. We can watch a movie.”

---