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An ache in her chest at the loss of something that hadn’t had a chance to grow before being snuffed out, Carmen neared the elevator. Free hand extended, she was going to hit the elevator call button when the doors opened on their own before she touched it.
With a smirk, Lola held the elevator doors open.
Carmen had never been so relieved and elated to see Lola in a damn elevator. She sauntered inside, even though she wanted to do a fancy ballet jump.
“Funny meeting you here,” Carmen joked, noticing Lola had already hit the floor for her firm.
Lola rolled her eyes at Carmen’s tired line, but as soon as the elevator doors closed, she kissed her. Kissed her despite the lip gloss they were both wearing. Kissed her like they only had seconds to live.
“We have a lot of floors to go.” Carmen snaked her hand up Lola’s dress. “With all the foreplay moments we’ve had in here… we should go all the way.” She smiled against Lola’s lips. “It’s early and I can be very fast.”
“Not judging by last night. Or this morning…” Lola kissed her back like she was considering it, but when the elevator stopped, they pulled away and tried not to look guilty. A moment later, the garage side doors opened and an icy wind blasted the small space.
In a stunning blood orange blazer with perfectly exaggerated shoulder pads and a matching pencil skirt so tight it followed every breath-taking curve of her full body, Lola’s boss stepped onto the elevator in sky-high royal blue suede heels.
Carmen had only ever seen the woman from far away in passing, but up close, she was like a supermodel who’d given up the game to work a normal job. She was incredibly out of place in the mundane setting and Carmen considered averting her gaze from the women who’d been an empress in a past life.
The moment the woman turned her gleaming brown eyes on Carmen, she felt the true power of an intimidating gaze.
“Hey, Natalia,” Lola said, sounding so completely unlike herself that it forced Carmen out of her frozen state. “This is Carmen from the law firm.”
Recognition sparked in Natalia’s eyes before her gaze bounced between them. It was like she was rewinding security footage to see what they’d been doing before the doors opened.
“Hi,” Carmen said uselessly, resisting every urge to fix her lips and smooth back her hair. Carmen didn’t give herself away. She’d faced down irate judges and unscrupulous lawyers. She could handle a woman in an elevator.
Next to her, Lola’s anxiety was coming off of her in waves. Was Lola afraid of this woman? Giving in to the overwhelming desire to do something in the tiny and increasingly awkward space, Carmen sipped her coffee.
“Are you drinking my latte?” Natalia asked, silky voice masking the rudeness of the question.
Carmen shifted her gaze to Lola, who looked like she wanted to give the woman her coffee and beg for forgiveness. Lola’s fierceness, the fire she wore around her like a living mantle, faded in Natalia’s shadow.
Oh, fuck no.
Stepping forward like she might ignite Lola’s spirit if she blocked her boss from view, Carmen made direct eye contact with Natalia, even if it was like staring into a solar eclipse. Holding her gaze, she took a sip so big that it scorched her tongue. It was worth it to prove her point.
Natalia’s face barely moved. She registered no expression when she said “very cute,” and turned her attention to the phone in her hand.
When Carmen turned back to Lola, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked like she might convince her to fool around in the elevator if they were alone.
Giving her a little smile, Carmen wished she could tell her that she’d stand in the line of fire for her any day. That she already missed her, and they hadn’t even been apart yet. But it was too much, even if her boss wasn’t standing like an iceberg two feet away.
When the elevator stopped on her floor, Carmen turned to Natalia and smiled. A move that obviously confused her, but not enough to do more than glance up from her phone.
Aware that Lola was in front of her boss, Carmen didn’t kiss her or say anything other thanbye. As soon as the doors closed, she pulled out her phone.
Carmen:Dinner later?
The response came almost immediately.
Lola:I’ll have to look at my schedule.
Carmen’s stomach sank. Had breathing the same oxygen as her boss really been enough to throw away the last week they’d spent together? If they couldn’t get out of the elevator without falling apart, they really didn’t stand a chance. Maybe it was better then if they didn’t—
Lola:Leonie has a table for us at ten. Unless you’d rather do something else?
Her stomach backflipped into place, causing a wave that sent her heart racing in her throat. She wanted to go back to the rooftop restaurant, but was more interested in somewhere that made it easier to talk. Somewhere less crowded and loud. She wanted Lola all to herself. Wanted to know everything there was to know about her.
Carmen:Or I can cook?
