Page 66 of Beautiful Dreamer

Elizabeth swallowed. She was caught off guard by the pointedquestion, but listen, she wasn’t complaining. Neither was the rest of her. Theparts of her that hadn’t touched Devyn in a handful of days now. They usuallytook a few moments to warm up to lines like that, but today felt different.Devyn did, too.

“Um. Well. You wouldn’t have guessed this from our veryprofessional reputation at On the Spot, but we do on occasion offer suchservices for special cases. Yes.”

“Is it very expensive?” Devyn walked farther into the garage untilshe stood, face-to-face, with Elizabeth. She smelled amazing. Cucumber andcitrus. All Elizabeth could do was steal glances at her lips. She loved thebottom one especially, and the way Devyn used it to punctuate so many of herexpressions. She probably didn’t even realize she did it.

Elizabeth nodded. “We’re running a special.”

“This is a really great coincidence I came today, of all days,then.”

“Isn’t it, though? Let’s get started.” Elizabeth leaned in andpressed her lips to Devyn’s. They stayed that way for a moment, in the bliss ofjust that initial contact, until Elizabeth readjusted, parting her lips todeepen the kiss. She heard Devyn murmur against her mouth, which was, withoutquestion, incredibly hot. They were a hot couple. Had she ever been part ofsuch a hot couple before? She forgot the question altogether because, sweetJesus, Devyn’s tongue was in her mouth and she could no longer feel her ownlegs.

“You taste really good.” Devyn wrapped her arms around Elizabeth’swaist and, oh man, with their bodies pressed together and their lips dancing,there were things happening lower that Elizabeth couldn’t quite find words todescribe. The more time she spent with Devyn, the more she craved her, thoughtabout her, and wanted more time. She wanted that opportunity. She wanted toexplore what they were like…as athem.It was the first time she’d admitted that to herself.

“The clock is ticking,” she said, breathless, as she pulled hermouth away from Devyn’s. The words were out in the universe before she realizedit. Why did she do that? Her arms still rested on Devyn’s shoulders with herfingers laced behind, but now she felt awkward and nervous. Why did she have togo there? Just enjoy the moments they had. That was all she had to do.

“What clock?” Devyn asked, glancing around the garage.

Elizabeth bit the inside of her lip. Well, she might as well sayit. She’d already half gone there, like an idiot. “Ours. Is it crazy that I’msuddenly very aware of it? That our time together is dwindling?”

Devyn rolled her lips in and appeared to figure out how to tacklethis one. “I know. How do we set that knowledge aside?”

“I’m not sure. Jill is getting better, which is exactly what I wantto happen, but that comes with a chain reaction, the implications of which…makeme sad. I don’t want you to leave.”

Devyn nodded and kissed the underside of Elizabeth’s jaw beforemoving away. “I don’t know what to say to that.” She placed her hands on top ofher head. “It’s not like I’m disappearing off the planet when I head back toPhiladelphia.”

“That’s true.”

“We’ll still be…”

Elizabeth could tell she had no idea how to finish that sentence.She took control of the conversation. She had to. “At first we were justfriends who flirted. Then, we were friends who hooked up.” She paused, musing.“I’ve never said ‘hooked up’ before.”

A grin spread across Devyn’s face. “I’m really proud of you.Another milestone for today. That, and the kissing special.”

She tilted her head, getting right to it. “Are we still justhooking up? It’s okayif we are, I’m just…needing to know, for my own piece of mind.”

“I like you, Elizabeth Draper.”

“Why do you so often call me by my first and last name?”

“You would rather I didn’t?”

“I call foul. That’s two questions in a row you haven’t answered.”She smiled. The lighthearted tone that had settled over the conversationsomehow made all of this easier.

“You’re very observant and very beautiful. Especially in yourelement like this.” Devyn gestured around them.

“And now you’re trying to charm me off the topic. Focus.”

Devyn scoffed. “I wouldn’t do that. I’m a straight shooter. Ijust…don’t have the answers you’re looking for. This is new territory for me,okay?” For the first time, Devyn appeared a little bit vulnerable.

Her answer made sense but still frustrated Elizabeth. She droppedher head back and stared at the ceiling, studying the splatter of paint thathad somehow made its way up there. What did she expect Devyn to do? Profess herundying love, quit her job, and move back to Dreamer’s Bay, the one place shecouldn’t stand? She sighed. “I’m overthinking, aren’t I? I should relax.”

Devyn walked back to her and took her hand. “You’re not. You’rebeing a normal human with feelings and concerns. Generally, all things thatwould send me running and screaming.” She raised a finger. “That’s a newdiscovery for me, by the way.”

“That feelings terrify you?” She laced their fingers and studiedtheir intertwined hands. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, Dev. I’m probablythe most harmless person on the planet.”

Devyn paused, letting the comment land. “I like it when youshorten my name.”

“You lengthen mine, and I shorten yours.” Elizabeth laughed andstepped in. “How about Big D? Even better?”

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