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“I’ll dry off.” She smiled, her dimples flashing.It would be so much easier for me if she didn’t have those Goddamn dimples,I thought. “Better now than last week. Imagine the diseases I could have caught if she’d splashed the dirty water all over me.” She was absolutely drenched, her hair plastered to the sides of her face, water still dripping down her nose. Just standing there. Continuing to smile at me. As I looked at her, the smile slowly faded, replaced by a look of uncertainty. Uncertainty and something else. Anticipation? Concern? I couldn’t tell. Her gaze flicked down to my mouth and she swayed toward me. It was too much. I reached out slowly, pushing a thick strand of wet hair behind her ear. She stayed completely still, allowing me to touch her silky-smooth skin. Stroking a finger down her cheek, I took her chin in my finger and thumb, leaning in.
Our lips met, just the lightest brushing of my lips against hers. But then her scent wafted over me, delicate and sweet, and it went straight to my head. Pushing my fingers into her hair, I tilted her head, increasing the pressure of my lips. She responded instantly, sliding her arms around my waist, melting against me when I deepened the kiss, tangling her tongue with mine. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her tight against me, drowning in the kiss. I forgot that I wasn’t supposed to be attracted to her. That I was meant to be resisting. That I was working for her. She was irresistible.
Finally, I slid my hands up her back, cupped her face, broke the kiss. Her eyes fluttered open, dazed, confused, and dark with desire. There was a good chance mine looked the same. Pulling back, she gave herself a shake as she crossed her arms across her middle. Now she definitely looked uncertain, and a little shy.
“I, ah, I didn’t intend for that to happen.”WTF? I could have kicked myself the moment the words were out of my mouth.
“Okayyy.” Her face instantly went blank, carefully guarded.
“But I’m not sorry it did.” I blurted, catching myself by surprise. Because it was true, I absolutely had no interest in getting into anything with anyone. But I couldn’t stand the look on her face. The brief flash of hurt before she slammed her guard up. My heart did a slow tumble in my chest when she smiled. The dimples peeping out again just slayed me.
“Okay,” she said again.
“It’s just that I’m not really looking for anything right now.”Or ever, I said to myself.
“Right. Me either.”
“So, it’s probably better if it’s just a one-time thing?”
“I agree.”
“You do?” Jesus, now I was disappointed.
Zara straightened her spine. “Yeah. Look, it’s just that I’m coming out of a really messy divorce and everything is pretty fucked up right now.” Twisting her hands together, she hesitated before going on. “I’m not really the one-night stand, casual—” Before she could go on, Bess scrambled out of the pond and gave herself a thorough shake. Zara squealed and I instinctively pulled her into my arms, turning us so I could shield her from the spray.
When Bess was good and done, I let my arms fall, feeling a little bereft when Zara stepped away. She didn’t look at me as she put on her hoodie and slipped white sneakers onto her feet. Then she went to collect the pond cleaning equipment, attempting to pick up the pump, the empty acid bottles, and the rubber boots all at the same time. Wow, she really wasn’t one for asking for help, was she? I came forward, reaching out to take something, anything. Jutting out her chin, she had a determined glint in her eye. Wordlessly, I raised an eyebrow and, seeming to realize how foolish she would look carting everything back to the house while I walked alongside her empty-handed, she finally and very grudgingly allowed me to take the pump from her. There was no further discussion about the kiss, or anything else. And that was just fine with me.
Or so I told myself.
But the silence became more than a little awkward as we made our way slowly back to the house. Looking for a way to fill it, I said, “I’ve been thinking.”
Zara shot me a wary look.
Realizing that she thought I was going to start talking about the kiss again, I immediately barged on, “I don’t think you can get this whole garden sorted out by yourself.”
She was quiet for a long minute, then sighed. “No, you’re right. I’ve been trying to avoid admitting it, but realistically, I guess not. It’s alotof work.”
We arrived at the house and I went into the garage, placing the pump on the floor in the corner. “I know a guy that can help you out. Might even give you a special deal.” I smiled as I saw the objection forming on her lips. “Okay, fine, no special deal. You want me to give him a call?”
“Yes, please.”
I followed her into the house, feeling her eyes on me as I called Gabe, spoke with him briefly, then hung up. “He said he’ll come by in the next hour or so. He’s just finishing up a job.”
“Oh wow, thanks. I’ll, ah, I’ll just go and get changed, I guess.” Then she was gone, leaving me standing in the kitchen on my own. I heard the sound of a familiar car coming up the drive and rolled my eyes. Going to the door, I watched as my sister Lucy pulled up, flashing me an innocent look and batting her eyes as she got out of the car. “Dad said you might want these samples that just arrived, so I thought I’d drop them over.”
“Very kind of you.”
Lucy grinned. “I thought so.” Of my three sisters, I’d always felt the closest to Lucy. We had a natural affinity and I’d always felt like she understood me. However, the downside of that was that she was painfully perceptive, and I was pretty sure she was here on a fact-finding mission. About Zara. “You’ll have to come and get them from the trunk.”
“Sure.”
“Is Zara around, by any chance?” she asked as I hefted the box of samples.
“Yes, Luce, she’s inside.”
“Great. Here, I’ll help you with these.”
“Of course you will.”
