Page 60 of High Note

Skyla fought the urge to duck her head, hide her face. It wasn’t reasonable to be ashamed.

Kirsten obviously wasn’t. She was fine in her shearling coat and heavy boots, her rainbow earmuffs. She looked like what she was. An out and proud lesbian woman out for a stroll with her girlfriend.

And dammit, if Kirsten could do it, so could she. Because she wanted this to be real.

“What kind of coffee are you going to get?” Kirsten talked to her like she was something special.

“Mmmm. Something with white chocolate.” She wanted that caramelized flavor.

“Ooh… I’m having peppermint white chocolate mocha with whipped cream.”

“Spoiled!”

“I worked hard last night.”

“You really did.” She grinned, because that was so evil but true.

“Uh-huh. My poor tongue…”

She almost tripped, Kirsten made her laugh so hard.

“It needs refreshment.” Skyla giggled madly, reaching for Kirsten to steady herself.

That strong arm was the perfect way to hold herself up.

“You know it. It needs chocolate and possibly flaky pastry.”

“It does. Maybe a massage later. With my tongue.”

“Ooh… I do like the way you think, girl.” Kirsten bumped their shoulders together, waggling her eyebrows.

“I knew you would.”

“Hey, you two!” Kiley came at them from the opposite direction, her border collie loping over to say hi to Reba. “Heading for coffee?”

“You know it. I’m desperate for caffeine.”

“Mind if I join you? There’s a conference at the hotel this weekend, so Brit is all over the place working.”

Kirsten glanced at her, and she smiled. This was what she’d wanted—a hometown feel. Friends. “Sounds great. Come on.”

“Love it.”

Skyla followed along, and she was so tickled to see the dog-friendly patio closed in with screens and window covers, heaters out for them to sit with the puppers. “This is an amazing patio!”

“Right? Perfect for the dogs, isn’t it?”

“It is. Wow. This is too cool.”

“Why don’t you sit with the dogs, babe? Kiley and I will go get the coffee and brekkie.”

“I get the easy job. Come on, ladies.” Skyla took the dogs to a table.

She sat, and it wasn’t long before there was someone standing nearby and staring.

Dammit.

She didn’t need?—

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