Page 29 of Together at Ruby's

Nikki raised her eyebrows. “Why me?”

Liza waved her hands around. “Because you’re in on this,” she said before pushing past them and out of Ruby’s.

Nikki’s eyes met Tate’s. “Is there something specific going on here, or is it still the same thing?” she asked, and Tate sighed as she started to walk out the exit.

“It still the same old mess. But I’m going to walk with her.”

Before she could pass, Nikki put a hand on her arm. “I’m not saying you should tell her about what you did today, but you need to tell her the rest. It will help clear things up.” Tate thought for a moment about her friend’s words.Maybe she’s right, she thought.Maybe the right thing to do is to just confess everything to Liza. We shouldn’t have secrets like this.

With a nod, she started for the exit. “I will,” Tate said, and then hurried outside to find Liza. The woman was already to the corner and waiting for the light, so Tate jogged in her direction. “Where are we headed?”

“No place in mind,” Liza said as the light changed, and she started walking without seeming to care if Tate followed or not.

“Those are the best walks,” Tate said. “And this might be just what we need, because I have something that I need to tell you.” She put a hand on Liza’s arm. “Something I should have told you a while ago.”

Liza slowed and looked over her shoulder. “Then tell me,” she said. “Please.”

Tate took a deep breath. “I hate to admit this actually,” she said. “I honestly don’t know how it happened, but…”

“What?” Liza asked, exasperation clear in her voice. “What has happened?”

“It’s about Aurora Price,” Tate said. “I think… no, I know it.” She grit her teeth before forcing out the next sentence. “The woman is sexually harassing me, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

21

With a steady throbbing at her temples, Liza rolled over in the soft bed and let out a little moan. When she bumped into a warm body, her eyes opened. In the early morning light, she saw Tate’s head resting on the pillow beside hers and realized exactly where she was—home. She was in their beautifully decorated bedroom in their king-sized bed, and it felt wonderful.I didn’t realize how much I missed this,she thought. Waking up beside Tate was all Liza ever wanted, and she was sorry it had taken her so long to realize it. After talking with Tate for a couple of hours the night before after they were home, Liza understood so much more. Even through the haze of alcohol, she felt Tate’s confusion and pain over Aurora Price, but also the lost promotion, and it made Liza a little crazy.

While they were still on the sidewalk near Ruby’s, Liza had wanted Tate’s phone. Furious, she had every intention of calling Aurora Price and giving her a piece of her mind. There was no way she was going to let some woman make Tate feel so horrible. Being her usual levelheaded self, Tate asked Liza to calm down and think. “Let’s go home and talk about this,” Tate had said, taking Liza’s hands in her own. “We need to handle this delicately. Aurora is currently the person I’m reporting to, which makes her my boss. I can’t accuse her of things I cannot prove.”

Liza had wanted to argue, and the alcohol did not help, but she could see the pleading look on Tate’s face and so relented. For the moment. She had every intention of discussing it again today, but as she lay in the bed beside Tate, she studied the woman’s face. She was still asleep and looked so relaxed Liza could imagine what she was like when she was younger. All the lines of worry were gone, and Liza realized she didn’t appreciate how much stress Tate was under all the time. Reaching, she touched Tate’s cheek and the woman’s eyes fluttered open. Turning her head, their eyes met, and Tate smiled. “Good morning,” she said. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have you here right now.”

“It means a lot to me too,” Liza said, snuggling closer while Tate wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Liza rested her head on Tate’s chest and heard the familiar sound of the woman’s heartbeat. “I missed you.”

Tate kissed the top of Liza’s head. “Thank you for listening last night.”

“I should’ve listened sooner,” she said, but Tate shook her head.

“You didn’t know.”

Liza lifted her head and looked into Tate’s face. “I should’ve pressed harder sooner,” she said. “Instead of getting upset like I always do. I should’ve insisted on the facts instead of jumping to conclusions.”

“And I should never keep that kind of secret from you,” Tate said.

Liza thought about the woman’s words and could not help but wonder about the day before. They still hadn’t talked about where Tate was, and she still wanted to know, but she also didn’t want to spoil their special moment. Still, she had to clarify one thing. “Tate,” she said. “I understand you don’t want to talk about yesterday, but can you please promise me it has nothing to do with what is happening to you at work.”

“I promise,” Tate said and kissed Liza gently on the lips. “And when the time comes you will know everything. I promise.”

Liza hesitated for a beat as she looked into Tate’s eyes. “I trust you,” she finally said and kissed Tate again. Harder and more passionately than before. The heat from Tate’s lips on hers sent a warm glow through Liza’s body.

Breaking the kiss, Tate ran a hand over Liza’s hair. “I want to wish you a happy birthday,” Tate said. “I know we are not celebrating, but I need you to know that I remember today is your day.

Liza tilted her head and gave her girlfriend a sexy smile. “There are some aspects of my birthday I wouldn’t mind celebrating.”

“Oh?” Tate asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I mean I do want one thing from you on my birthday. It’s important to keep up some traditions,” Liza said shifting her leg over Tate’s hips until her body was on top of Tate’s. “Don’t you agree?”

Tate smiled and wrapped her arms around Liza’s body to pull them closer together. “I could not agree with you more.”

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