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It was a joke among Riley’s friends that she was too picky with the women she chose to date. The truth was Riley knew what she wanted in life. She wanted someone who would love and support her ambitions while also having their own career and life that Riley could support. She never understood the couples who became each other’s whole world once they were together. Riley’s world was already whole, she just wished she could share it with someone.
And that person was definitely not going to be Harlow Hawkins. It didn’t matter that Harlow’s tanned body and windblown hair were distracting Riley from anything else. It also didn’t matter that Harlow’s piercing blue eyes had been locked in Riley’s mind since the first day she saw them. There was something so captivating about them that she’d imagined looking into them again for weeks.
Those damn sunglasses.
Rolling her eyes, Riley decided to swim a few laps back and forth on the pool’s deep end. Coincidently, it was right in front of Harlow. Not that that was Riley’s plan. She just needed to exercise and swimming was an excellent way to accomplish that. That was all.
Getting Harlow’s attention wasn’t on her mind at all. Riley had never been a particularly great swimmer, but she only hoped that she didn’t look like a floundering fish to the people watching. Not that she thought people were watching her. They could be, but that was all up to them.
Oh, my god, Riley. Stop.
Planting her feet on the bottom of the pool, Riley breathed a deep sigh. She had to clear her head, but how? It would be damn near impossible to get Harlow out of her mind, especially knowing she’d be spending the next few weeks with her. Maybe Riley should just make a move. But that could make things awkward if Harlow said no. And Riley didn’t need any more awkwardness in her life.
Dinner. Maybe I can ask her to dinner. That’s casual, right? Friends go to dinner all the time. Yeah. Dinner would be good.
Riley swam over to the ladder and looked at Harlow. She was still reading, seemingly on the same page she was when Riley first noticed her. Maybe she was a slow reader or the book wasn’t that interesting. Walking over to the chair where she’d discarded her belongings, Riley picked up the towel and stepped into her flip flops as she walked toward Harlow.
She was trying to think of what to say when her flip flop broke and she tripped. Riley tried to regain her balance but it only made matters worse when she stepped on the towel and tumbled onto the empty lounge chair beside Harlow.
Harlow pushed her glasses into her brown hair as Riley tried to act like nothing happened. She sat on the edge of the chair and smiled at Harlow.
“Do you always make dramatic entrances?”
“Unfortunately,” Riley grimaced as she noticed the water droplets dripping off Harlow’s face and onto her book. It was then she noticed the way Harlow’s breasts looked in the bikini top. Riley took her towel and began dabbing it on Harlow’s chest. “Did I get you wet? I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to get you wet.”
Harlow pushed Riley’s hand away as she sat her book down. “It’s fine. I needed to get out of the sun anyway. I’ve been here most of the afternoon.”
Swinging her legs to the side of the chair, Harlow began packing her things. She had her book, of course, along with her phone and some wireless earbuds. Their bare knees were touching and Riley didn’t dare move. Neither did Harlow. Maybe that meant she didn’t hate her.
“So, are you ready for the tour?”
“Might as well be. We leave in two days.”
“I’m excited.”
“I can tell,” Harlow laughed. It sounded a little sarcastic, but it was a laugh nonetheless. Riley counted it as a win.
Standing, Harlow put the tote bag onto their shoulder and crossed her arms. She looked down at Riley, and smirked. Riley was at a complete loss for any words. Harlow was extremely more beautiful than Riley had noticed before. Her piercing, ice blue eyes were the most stunning Riley ever seen and her playful smirk sent dirty thoughts straight to Riley’s brain.
“I’ll see you later.”
Harlow put on her Chacos and turned to leave while Riley stayed frozen in place. She watched Harlow walk a few feet away as she tried to think of anything to get Harlow to stay. Riley wanted to be friends with her, and there was only one way to do that and that was talking. But it was clear Harlow wasn’t interested in that.
Is it me? Is she not interested in me?
Riley didn’t know why it mattered if Harlow wasn’t interested in her. It would make work confusing if they were to start anything anyway. And besides, Harlow was too good for her. She was older and wiser and prettier, and Riley didn’t have a chance, even if Harlow was gay. Which, currently, Riley didn’t know. But she had her suspicions. After living in Moonflower Cove her whole life, her gaydar had been finely tuned.
Forcing herself to stand up, Riley hobbled a few feet in her broken flip flop after Harlow. Riley caught up with her at the bottom of the stairs.
“Harlow?”
She turned around to face Riley. “Yeah?”
And again, every word Riley knew left her brain. She was mesmerized by Harlow’s eyes and the way there was a slight redness to her cheeks. Riley mused how lucky the sun was to kiss her cheeks.
Riley Diane DeLuca, get your shit together.
“Do you have plans for dinner tonight?” Riley blurted out.
