Page 35 of Not Just Gal Pals

“Okay, now you pretend you’re reading this.” George handed me a copy of The Shining, grabbed my shoulders, and turned me slightly. “Really channel Wednesday.”

I adopted my best surly look.

“And then Blake, you lean menacingly out from the bookshelf behind her.”

Blake followed her directions, and George stepped back, grinning at us. “Perfect!”

George took a few photos, and then, before I knew it, she was handing my phone back and scuttling back toward the other guests.

“I’d better check on the party!” she yelled halfway down the aisle, leaving Blake and me alone. I had a sneaking suspicion that might have been her plan all along.

What had Blake told her about Saturday night? Given the way George’s eyes darted between the two of us just before she ran off, I suspected a lot.

I took a deep breath and looked directly at Blake. I could just make out the gleam of her eyes through the holes in her mask. “So, I guess we should probably talk about Saturday night?”

There was a pause, and then Blake cleared her throat. “Yeah.”

“So, um, I’m not sure how you’re feeling about it. I had a really nice time,” I said. “But as you know, I’m leaving in January, so it probably isn’t a great idea to, you know, do anything like that again.” Ghostface stared at me blankly, giving no indication of how Blake was reacting to my words.

“Not that I’m assuming you want to or anything, but it…” I added, frowning. “I’m sorry. It’s quite disconcerting having this conversation without being able to see your face. Would you mind taking the mask off?”

I watched as Blake reluctantly pulled up the mask and hood.

Goddamn.

I was expecting Blake to look at least slightly disheveled and sweaty. But no. How did she manage to look hot, even wearing a shapeless black serial killer robe? I’d thought the mask was distracting, but this was just as bad, if not worse.

Those gorgeous brown eyes framed by long lashes were staring at me expectantly.

“Thanks. So, what do you think?” I asked, eager to get this conversation over and done with.

“Sorry?” Blake blinked.

Good lord, this was painful. “About Saturday night… Are we… Are we on the same page?”

“Yeah, I think you’re right,” Blake said. “I also had a nice time, but yeah, I don’t think it makes sense to, er…keep doing it. I don’t... I’m not looking for a relationship or anything right now.”

There was an awkward pause.

We stood there, looking at each other, not moving, while sparks zapped around my nervous system.

Shit.

It wasn’t just my body that was electrified. The air between us was wired as well. Charged with attraction, crackling with tension. My breath hitched.

It was the same, full-body vibrating sensation I’d experienced at the barn on Saturday night.

We both stepped forward, and then I was lost in the sensation of Blake’s lips on mine, the heat of her body pressing against me. Blake cupped my jaw in her hand, her thumb brushing my cheek. Our eager mouths explored each other, while our hands roamed over each other’s bodies. I felt drunk, out of control. This was not what I needed, but it was exactly what I wanted.

Eventually, I gently disentangled myself, breathless and dazed.

Well, so much for not doing that again.

Goddamnit. Now I had no idea where we stood, and I couldn’t bring myself to raise the topic again. I needed to regroup.

“We should get back to the party,” I said, slightly panicked.

We walked back down the aisle in silence, Blake pulling her mask and hood back over her face while I reapplied my lipstick, which had almost certainly all been removed by Blake’s mouth. Blake’s soft lips, her inquisitive tongue... Stop it, Jenny!