Page 93 of Guava Flavored Lies

CHAPTER38

In the dark,Sylvie waited on the front step of her villa dressed in a simple black dress and gold leather flats. In the gym bag hanging from her shoulder, she had two pairs of high heels, a shawl, a hair iron, and her make up kit. Depending on what nonsense Lauren had planned, she could elevate her look in minutes.

Part of her, a large part, hated not knowing where they were going. Hated the lack of control.

Reflexively, she’d almost told Lauren that she refused to go anywhere unless she divulged her plans. But there was that sliver. . . that tiny little part of her that was excited at the prospect of a surprise. That part had tossed her phone on the bed and jumped in the shower in a rush to get ready.

The sight of Lauren’s red Jeep, its bright lights illuminating the dark street, was a jolt to Sylvie’s chest.

Ugh, I’m so pathetic. Who gets butterflies over a stupid car?

Lauren whipped around so the passenger door was facing Sylvie’s house. When Lauren opened her door, the cabin light illuminated her dark figure.

If the Jeep had given Sylvie a start, actually seeing Lauren almost gave her a coronary.

With her long, wild waves coaxed into a tight, low bun, and her eyes painted with dark shadows, Lauren was quite literally stunning. Her long neck was exposed by a highly starched tuxedo shirt, left partially unbuttoned, that showcased Lauren’s ample cleavage. The black dress pants she’d worn highlighted her most dangerous curves. The slim fitting fabric cropped at the ankle bled into the highly-polished, black Doc Martins she’d obviously kept in pristine condition since high school.

Until that moment, Sylvie never thought of herself as having a type. Apparently, she’d been wrong. Whatever combination of masculine and feminine Lauren was serving was her new sexual identity.

“Ready?” Lauren’s hand extended toward her yanked Sylvie out of her trance.

Sylvie wanted to respond with something snarky, but that part of her brain was sitting there with its mouth hanging open just like the rest of her. Instead, the pathetic truth slid right past her lips.

“You look incredible,” Sylvie whispered.

Lauren smiled, unleashing both dimples at once. In her mind, Sylvie staggered back, clutching her chest, the assault was too intense. Too sustained. She needed room to retreat.

Lauren climbed the front step, her dark eyes trained on Sylvie making breathing an impossibility. “You look incredible,” she confessed, her voice low and husky before kissing her under the porch light.

Normally, Sylvie would shy away from such a public display in front of her house. But as she melted into Lauren’s lips, she couldn’t find a care to give. Her stuffy old neighbors could think whatever the hell they wanted.

When Lauren slipped away, Sylvie was left buzzing. Her entire body in a limbo state, torn between stunned and exhilarated.

“Are you coming, Campos, or are you gonna do your best garden gnome impression all night?”

The barb cleared the pink, sweet-scented, fog engulfing Sylvie and restarted the connection between her brain and her body.

“That depends on whether you’re going to tell me where we’re going. Why are you taking me to a second location, huh? Trying to make sure there are no witnesses?”

Lauren’s laugh was a soothing tonic, warm and comforting as it settled the nerves suddenly throwing a rave in her belly.

“Are you accusing me of plotting your murder, Sylvia?” Artificial light danced in her eyes, converting the porch light into a thing of beauty.

“I don’t know.” She raised the eyebrow she’d plucked while waiting for the hair remover cream on her legs to set. “Why do you sound so guilty?”

Lauren’s grin was cemented on her full lips. “I guess you’re just going to have to trust me.”

Pretending to be suspicious, Sylvie took the hand Lauren extended for a second time. She relished the way her fingers felt sliding in between hers. “Just so you know, I’ve left a note that I’m going out with you. You won’t get away with any shady business.”

Lauren opened the car door for her. “Duly noted.”

Thanks to the practice she had getting into her own Jeep, Sylvie climbed in with moderate grace.

Lauren pirouetted into the driver’s seat and glanced over at her before shifting into drive. “Ready?”

The blinding excitement in Lauren’s face snatched the air from Sylvie’s lungs. Lauren’s eyes reflected the wild buzzing building in Sylvie’s body. She couldn’t remember a time she’d been so giddy. Felt such weightless happiness in every fiber of her being.

“I guess.” She shrugged, looking out the window to hide the grin she bit back.

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