Page 46 of Pursuit of Happiness

She laughed to deflect his inquiring gaze. She’d managed to keepStevie’s visit a secret from everyone except Jen and Erica, and there was nosense blowing it now. “Just anxious, I guess.”

“No need to be. You’ve got this. I’m so sure, I already had themload the teleprompter with the victory speech. I expect we’ll get a call fromLankin in a few minutes. The rest of the field will clear out after today, andhe won’t be long behind. He was counting on Georgia and Texas to get himthrough to the convention.”

Meredith spent the trip to the ballroom trying not to feel guiltythat she was feeling more excited about seeing Stevie than she was abouttonight’s landslide. She took the call from Lankin, gave her speech, and shookthe hands of all her big donors, but every movement was rote, born of years ofpractice. What she had no practice for was the building anticipation she feltas she counted the minutes until she saw Stevie. She’d never felt this way, andit both excited and terrified her. When she finally was able to make her escapeand slid into the back seat of her car, all she could think about was that justa short while ago, Stevie had been sitting here too. What was she thinkingright now? Had her hesitation dissipated, or was she ready to take the nextstep, whatever that may be?

When Meredith finally reached her apartment door, she took acalming breath and vowed that whatever the night held, she’d be grateful Steviewas here and expect nothing more than the opportunity to spend someuninterrupted time with her. She walked through the door to find Stevie asleepon the couch. She tiptoed her way toward the bedroom, intent on changingclothes, but halfway there, Stevie shot upright.

“Oh my God, I fell asleep,” Stevie said.

“It appears you did.”

Stevie rubbed her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I was sitting here, and Iwas going to read for a bit, and then the next thing I knew I was dreaming andnow you’re here and I’m…rambling. That’s what I’m doing.”

Meredith sank into the space next to her and reached a hand up toher face. “You might also be drooling. You know, sleep drool. It’s cute.”

Stevie pulled away, a look of mock horror on her face. “And that,folks, is how you start the perfect date.”

“Oh, you had a perfect date planned did you?”

“Planning might be an overstatement, but isn’t a celebration inorder? Before I so sexily drifted off to sleep, I heard the news. I should’vethought to get some champagne.”

“A celebration is definitely in order, but I don’t need anychampagne.” Meredith breathed in the woodsy citrus of Stevie’s cologne. “I’vebeen thinking about you all day.” She leaned closer and nipped at the corner ofStevie’s mouth. Stevie’s lips parted, but Meredith sensed a trace ofhesitation. “Is this okay?”

“It’s incredible.”

Stevie drew in a breath and Meredith could tell there was more.“But?”

“Should we talk for a minute? Before you got here, I was thinkingwe should talk for a minute.”

Meredith kissed her again. “And now?”

Stevie turned in her arms and whispered in her ear. “And now I’mthinking talking is overrated.”

Meredith didn’t wait for more. All her apprehension about howStevie would or could fit into her life faded into a hazy cloud of desire wherelogistics were a distraction to be ignored. In this moment, she knew exactlywhat she wanted, and this moment was the only thing that mattered. She stood,held out her hand, and prayed Stevie would come with her.

Chapter Fifteen

Stevie held tight to Meredith’s hand and followed her pastseveral rooms, no longer bothered by the fact her entire house would fit into acorner of this space, or wondering how her quiet existence would fit into thecircus Meredith’s life had become.

Meredith paused in a doorway and turned to face her, the hint ofa question in her eyes.

“Are you worried I’m going to judge you if there are clothes onthe floor?” Stevie asked with a smile.

“Maybe,” Meredith said with a grin. “I haven’t been here in awhile.”

“I can’t judge you if you don’t let me in.” Stevie stood on hertoes to peer over Meredith’s shoulder, and Meredith rose to meet her. A secondlater, they were locked in a kiss. Stevie moaned as Meredith’s lips presseddown softly at first and then harder as her tongue traced the line betweenthem, urging her way in, melting away her doubts. “You are an amazing kisser,”Stevie said when they broke for air.

“You are.”

“Let’s call this one a tie.” Stevie circled her arms aroundMeredith’s waist, pulled her closer, and took a leap. “I want to do more thankiss you.” She tugged Meredith’s blouse from her skirt and eased her handsunder the cloth and along her soft skin. Meredith shuddered in her arms. “Morethan this.” She used one hand to slowly unbutton Meredith’s blouse whiletracing circles on her skin with the other, and when the shirt was open, shedropped her head to Meredith’s cleavage and nipped a trail of kisses along herlacy black bra.

“You’re making me crazy,” Meredith groaned.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Only if you stop.”

“I have no intention of stopping.” Stevie pointed at theperfectly appointed four-poster bed. “Can you actually use that thing or is ita display piece?”

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