Page 49 of Minha Dona

“I’ll bet.” She walked to the window… more of the skyline, the sun setting now, the city starting to light up for the evening. “This view. You wake up to this every morning?”

“Every morning.”

“And you still managed to be miserable about not hearing from me?”

Helena smiled. “A nice view doesn’t fix everything.”

Caitlin turned and grinned at her. “I’d like to stay in here with you. If that’s not too much too soon, of course?”

“Definitely not too much too soon. You can use the home office if you do want your own space at all. The offer’s always there.”

Caitlin walked back over to face her, her expression suddenly serious. “Thank you for bringing me here and letting me see your real life. The apartment, the family money, all of it. I could tell you were nervous to show me that.”

“I didn’t want you to think I was showing off.”

“I don’t think that. I think you’re someone who works hard and happens to come from a privileged background, but for some reason is slightly embarrassed about the second part.” Caitlin took her hands. “I don’t care about the money, Helena. I care about you. And this apartment, this city, your family… it’s all part of you. I want to know all of it.”

Helena kissed Caitlin in her bedroom, in the golden light of a São Paulo sunset, and something deep down felt absolutely right, in a way that nothing ever before had quite felt right. The reality of Caitlin was even better than the remembered version of her had been for the last nine months, in every single way. Funnier, more engaging, more charismatic, more beautiful… simply more wonderful. A part of her had worried that the reality in Miami would disappoint, but this was quite the opposite… this was falling hard.

“Welcome to São Paulo, Gatinha,” Helena murmured against her lips.

“It’s good to be here, Minha Dona,” Caitlin smiled. “Now, are you going to show me this rooftop terrace or not?”

Helena laughed and took her hand.

She had a week. A whole week with Caitlin in her life.

She intended to make every second count.

Chapter 19

The apartment felt different with Caitlin in it. It wasn’t as if anything had actually changed, yet somehow it seemed that way. It was Caitlin, here, now, scarcely believable, it was her presence and the knowledge that she was here for one reason and one reason only… she was here because she’d chosen Helena.

Caitlin was stood on the balcony, leaning against the railing, looking out at the São Paulo skyline. She’d showered after the journey and was wearing one of Helena’s t-shirts and nothing else, her dark hair worn loose and still damp, her legs bare. The necklace, that necklace, sat at her throat, catching the last of the daylight.

Helena stood in the kitchen and watched her for a moment through the open doors, two glasses of wine poured and waiting on the counter. She felt something wonderful in her chest at the sight… this woman, this force of nature, standing barefoot on my terrace, in my clothes that she chose to wear without even being told, looking out at my city as if she were imagining herself into it.

She picked up the glasses and walked out.

“Here.” She handed Caitlin a glass and they clinked, a quiet sound against the background noise of the city.

“Thank you.” Caitlin took a sip and looked out at the view again. “I still can’t get over this view. How do you manage to tear yourself away from this for work each morning?”

“Most mornings I’m too busy running late to notice it.”

“That’s criminal.” Caitlin turned to her. “Promise me you’ll look at it properly, each day I’m here. Actually look at it.”

“I promise.”

They stood together for a few minutes, drinking their wine, watching the city light up as the dusk deepened. The silence was comfortable… they were two people who could be in each other’s presence without filling every moment with talk. Helena pointed out a few of the sights, and she couldn’t help noticing that as she did Caitlin moved closer and didn’t back away again, their feet touching, bare skin against bare skin on the warm terrace tiles. It wasn’t much, but it sent a thrill through Helena regardless.

“Are you hungry?” Helena asked.

“Starving. The airline food was… well, airline food.”

“Even though you were at the front of the plane?”

“Still airline food, just fussier. Although they did serve an ice cream sundae from a trolley that was good.” Caitlin turned to look at her and smiled. “But yes, I’m hungry.”