The latter won.
She threw Ash a quick wave, then spun around and walked in the other direction. Her pulse beat in her head as she increased the distance between them.
The first test of her feelings since admitting she was attracted to Ash had resulted in a highly positive result: definitely still attracted.
The trouble was, she didn’t know if that was a good thing or bad.
Chapter 20
“Did you have a nice time last night?” Sophie asked as she twirled on the desk chair.
Ash’s heart skipped a beat. “Yeah, it was good.”
More than good.
Last night had told Ash so many things, not only about Carmen but also about Ash’s feelings towards her. Ash honestly thought she could talk to Carmen about anything with zero fear. She’d never had that with Leesa. And not with Vikki either. I’m getting close to that imaginary line, aren’t I? The one she’d imposed on herself, the emotional checkpoint that was supposed to stop her getting too caught up in spending time with this beautiful and interesting woman.
The trouble was, they connected so well, in so many ways. Despite their different backgrounds, they had a lot in common. Carmen was easy to talk to, about a variety of topics, and Ash had never felt the need to scramble around for a subject. But that moment after they said goodbye, when Carmen had been watching Ash, what the hell did that mean? Was Carmen into her? Was she not so straight after all? Or was she, just like Vikki, toying with the idea of being with a woman, playing Ash along, willing to hurt Ash to satisfy her curiosity? Somehow Carmen seemed too nice to play such games, and Ash almost felt guilty for suspecting her of being anything but nice.
She pulled her sketchbook from the back of the bench. There was a two-hour lull between appointments. Sketching would take her mind off things, as always. She opened the book and nearly groaned aloud. Facing her, almost accusingly, was the rough pencil sketch she’d made of Carmen a few weeks ago.
I didn’t do her justice.
The sketch was good; she knew that. But it hadn’t captured everything that made Carmen so beautiful. The representation of Carmen’s eyes lacked their true depth, the passion that had flared in them when their heads were bowed so close together over the table. The way Ash had drawn her hair lacked the bounce and play of the curls whenever Carmen laughed. The neck…God, the neck that made Ash think all sorts of erotic things that she had no right thinking about a woman who was supposed to be a platonic friend. No, the drawing did not show any of that.
She closed the book and sighed.
“Are you okay, Auntie Ash?”
Ash looked up, realising her head had been in her hands. “I’m all right, monkey. Just a little tired.”
Sophie snorted. “Did you have too much to drink last night?”
“No, I did not.” Ash gave her a mock glare. “Just got some stuff on my mind; that’s all. Hey, you want to get some food?”
“Yes! I’m starving.” Sophie leaped out of her seat. “But I can go get it, if you like?”
“Sure.” Ash pulled her wallet from her back pocket.
“No, wait. Can I treat you?” Sophie shuffled from foot to foot. “I kind of want to say thank you. You know, for everything.”
Ash was touched. “Aw, you don’t have to do that. You’re saving up for that new iPad, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I am. But I really want to do this.”
Ash dropped her wallet back on the bench. “Then be my guest.” She smiled at Sophie. “I’ll have the special salad from the Greek place, please.”
“Cool.”
Ash watched her go, marvelling at how grown-up she seemed to be all of a sudden. She’d be fifteen in a couple of months, yet she seemed to have matured way beyond that already, especially since confiding in Ash about her feelings for girls. If only Courtney could see that, instead of treating her like a child still. Ash swivelled in her seat.
Maybe that was the problem. In Courtney’s eyes, Sophie was probably still her little girl, the one who ran around the garden with her Barbie dolls and wanted cuddles every five minutes. Maybe I should take that into account the next time I speak to my sister. Try and help her to see what an amazing young woman Sophie has become. If Carmen, a virtual stranger, could see it, then maybe that was the one thing Courtney needed a push with.
Carmen.
Jesus, what am I going to do about that?
“Come on in,” Tamsyn said as she opened the door.
Carmen gave her a smile, stepped into the house, and they shared a quick hug.
Gizmo ran up to greet her, his tongue lolling.
Then Maggie appeared and gave her a longer hug.
Carmen’s emotions threatened to spill over once more. What is it about being in this house with these three that keeps doing this to me?
“So, tell me quickly what you’d like to drink, and then we can get to the juicy stuff.” Tamsyn waggled her eyebrows.
“Have some sensitivity, won’t you?” Maggie slugged her in the arm. “Give the woman a minute to breathe.”
Tamsyn stuck out her tongue at her fiancée, then turned back to Carmen. “So, are you ready yet?”
Carmen laughed. “Get me a gin, and then you can hear it all.”
“You’re too soft on her,” Maggie said, but she smiled.
“Probably. But I can’t afford to lose my top client, so…” Carmen shrugged, and Maggie laughed.
They sat in the living room, on the huge sectional sofa, with Gizmo stretched out on the floor in front of them.
Tamsyn curled her legs up under her and turned to face Carmen. “So, how was last night? You were seeing her again, weren’t you?”
Carmen nodded. “We went to a wine bar.” She told them everything about the evening up to the highly charged
