“Sharing dessert is becoming our thing,” Bree said.
Tess smiled at the thought that they had a thing. She’d never had that with anyone before. “Are you worried Gabby won’t hand over the cake without a plan to use the raffle prize?”
“I wouldn’t put it past her to walk off with it herself—not the raffle prize, a third piece of cake.Ourpiece,” Bree replied, and Tess tried not to dwell on theour.
“So we’re saving the kid from chocolate overload,” Tess said, but she was really thinking that there was nobody besides Breethat she wanted to share the raffle prize with.
Bree pulled out her phone and scrolled to the calendar. “Saturday in two weeks? Next weekend I promised Hank that I’d do feline duty and check on The Purrfessor.”
Tess nodded just as Gabby returned with cake. “So, do you have a day for me, or am I going to have to sacrifice and eat this?”
“Sorry, Gabs, but that’s our piece of cake. Saturday after next. Whale watching, dinner, and dancing,” Bree said. “Tess and me,” she added as she smiled at Tess.
Dancing registered as something she hadn’t really considered, but Tess kept quiet. She hadn’t danced in ages. And then it had been those teenage ballroom classes that had left her disliking any thought of dancing. Surprisingly, or maybe not, being held in Bree’s arms, holding Bree in her arms as they swayed together to music…it sounded wonderful. Yes, the thought of dancing now appealed to her if it was with Bree.
They sat and ate the rich dessert, alternating bites as they filled their forks. When they came down to the last bite, Tess gave Bree her most serious look and did an admirable job of keeping the amusement out of her tone. “The chocolate cake consumption statute states we have to arm wrestle for the last bite.”
“The chocolate cake consumption statute?” Bree hooted. “Arm wrestling, huh?” Bree’s raised eyebrows accompanied her cheeky smile. She was obviously enjoying their encounter, and so was Tess. This was entertaining and carefree. So much better than the barbecue that Tess had anticipated when she’d left home. It was also momentous, this connection and chemistry. Nothing to do with their obstacles—it bonded them. Tess had never had it before, and she couldn’t imagine wanting to live her life without it. She didn’t want to ever give it up.
“Winner takes all, that last bite.” Tess infused her declarationwith the most authority she could muster. She probably shouldn’t have brought up their Monterey arm wrestling match, but it was so easy to let down her guard with Bree, and she hadn’t come to the barbecue with her guard up. At least she managed to refrain from mentioning the resultant beach kiss. She even managed not to smile at that memory.
But then Bree leaned in across the table and whispered, “Plus you’re going to owe me the best fucking kiss when I win.”
“Hardball, huh?” Tess cleared her throat. Then, not to appear flustered, she placed her hand on her chin and pursed her lips as if she was taking things under consideration. “Being the more mature person here and thinking this through a little more, I’m not prepared to subject this crowd to a display of your gorgeous biceps in full function mode, so I concede that the last bite’s yours.” She pushed the plate toward Bree. Forfeiting should solve the temptation of wanting that threatened kiss.
“It was my turn for a bite anyway. But that chocolate cake consumption statute states that if you lose orforfeitthe arm wrestling challenge, you owe me a kiss. Collection time at my discretion, unless you insist that I collect it now.” Bree cocked an eyebrow.
Tess felt herself flush as she shook her head. It was so easy to fall into provocative banter with Bree without even thinking about it. And she had no business kissing Bree—it would only lead to trouble.
“Okay. A kiss at my discretion, then.” Bree ate the bite and then slowly licked her fork, a slow, sensual act that demonstrated just how gifted that tongue was. Not that Tess needed proof.
God, what was Bree doing to her? And fool that she was, Tess wasn’t complaining. She schooled a careful smile, not wanting to let Bree know just how much she wanted that kiss. She could try to preserve some dignity.
“It’s getting late, and I have a couple of cats who haven’t had dinner yet. I owe Flo a little dish duty, and then it’s time for me to head home. Tomorrow’s the start of a busy week.” Tess forced herself to shift her focus back to her obligations. Off her desire for more exquisite kissing.
“I never expected to share the afternoon with you, but this has been so good—spending this time together.” Bree finished the last of the beer that she’d been nursing since before dinner, then asked, “Have you ever been whale watching?”
“No, it wasn’t something on the list that would contribute to my future.” Tess knew that her mother would never have seen the benefit. Well, she was discovering that there were some things in life that fell outside the realm of achieving career goals that were extremely gratifying, and whale watching with Bree was likely going to be another one of them. “I’m looking forward to the day too. How about you—have you ever been whale watching?”
“I haven’t,” Bree replied. “My folks had a modest income, and most of our family excursions were less expensive—a day of hiking, camping, visits to relatives. Hank and I always had a good time, but I’m really looking forward to the day on the water with you.”
Tess smiled and then sighed. “Well, the critters are going to report me for animal abuse if I don’t get home and use the can opener. It’s been a total pleasure, Judge O’Brian.” Tess collected her dishes and headed to the kitchen, cognizant that she was adding an extra sway to her hips that was purely to torture Bree.
As Tess stood near the sink, Hank came into the kitchen with a pile of stacked plates that he set on the counter. He studied Tess a moment and gave a slight nod. “Rachelle just informed me that we have to swing by and check on her mom after this. We brought Bree, and if you’ll drop her off, I’ll finish these dishes.”
“What about Gabby? Does she need a ride too?” Tess asked.
“No, she needs to come say hi to her grandmother. So it’s just Bree.”
“I can do that if it’s okay with her.” Tess wondered if this was a setup. Flo first, and now Hank.
“I already mentioned it to Bree, and she’s fine with that plan,” Hank replied.
Of course she was. Tess considered that she should cut the night off now with some excuse of why she couldn’t take Bree home, but her heart did a fist pump and she didn’t. “Okay, I can do that.” Tess wasn’t sure if Bree realized that she was continuing to raise the temperature in that frog pot. Tess sighed. It would probably be another evening of telling Thelma and Louise about her ups and downs. Telling her outlaw therapy cats just how susceptible she was to the allure of Bree.
They pulled into Bree’s driveway, and Bree took the door handle.
“Thanks for the ride. And the family barbecue…it was so much better because of you,” Bree said.
