“Well, at the risk of sounding smug, it does seem I may have been right about her reciprocating the attraction, hmm?”
“Maybe.”
Felicity snorted. “And if I am right, then I think there’s still a good chance you and Ash can work this out. No one kisses someone like that unless there are some kind of feelings involved, do they?” Her voice was quiet. “Believe me, I’m not trying to get your hopes up unnecessarily, but…”
“I know. And yes, I want to believe that’s true.” Carmen sighed. “I’m happy that she and I didn’t dissect it afterwards. But I suppose we need to, don’t we?”
“You probably do. And soon. Before too many doubts creep in. For each of you. I know you. You’ll throw yourself back into your job in a heartbeat if you think things are too difficult with Ash.”
“Sometimes I hate that you know me so well.”
Felicity chuckled. “Sorry, sweetheart. That’s what over twenty years of friendship will do.”
“I know. And I’m only joking. I’m so thankful I have you to talk to. I couldn’t do this without you.”
“Oh, pish.” The emotion in Felicity’s tone belied her throwaway words. She cleared her throat. “And I want regular reports, madam. None of this keeping me in the dark for days on end.”
“We really need to get you a date.”
“God, no. Living vicariously through you is much more fun.”
Carmen leaned her head in her hands and sighed.
Ash awoke on Monday morning with her eyes full of sleepy dust and her head muzzy. Her night had been crap, to say the least. For starters, getting to sleep had been troublesome as her brain insisted on replaying the kiss, from the delicious start to the reluctant finish, on a continuous loop.
Why did I kiss her? Why did I just confuse things even further?
She hauled herself out of bed and jumped straight in the shower, hoping the cool water would wake her. Or knock some sense into her. As she soaped her body, memories of Carmen’s hands gripping her waist assaulted her. Carmen had kissed her as if she couldn’t get enough. The heat between them had been intense, and it scorched her body even now.
Ash moaned and for a moment seriously considered doing something about the arousal that flared anew at the memories. Then she stopped her wandering fingers. It didn’t seem right somehow.
I can’t offer her anything, despite that kiss. Well, not a relationship, anyway. She finished washing and turned off the shower. Maybe it would be okay, though. Ash was a lot wiser after surviving Vikki. She was going into this with her eyes wide open. Maybe Carmen and I won’t last long, but we can enjoy it while we have it . It didn’t need to get serious. No investment of her heart, which she could surely keep locked away tightly. Perfectly doable.
Feeling much better, both from the shower and the processing, Ash dressed and had a cup of tea. She’d just finished planning what she needed to do in the studio to get it ready for reopening on Friday, when her phone pinged with a text from Sophie.
Mum says she’ll b home by 6 tomorrow but if u want 2 come early that’s ok 2 xx
Ash pinged off a quick ok in response and put the phone back down. She and Sophie had messaged a few times while she was away, so Ash knew all was still okay for her niece with her situation at home. She and Courtney were, in Sophie’s amusing words, circling each other like two lions forced to share the same cage. So the invite from Courtney, sent via text message on Sunday evening, to have dinner with the two of them on Tuesday had been a pleasant surprise. Was it a good sign? Was Courtney thawing a little?
God, I hope so.
Thankful for the distraction and suddenly realising what the time was, Ash puffed out a breath and stood. She was meeting Damian for brunch, and it was time to go. She gathered up her keys and wallet and left the flat. Talking with Damian all about Kruger and his plans for his next trip was exactly what she needed to take her mind off everything else.
Damian was waiting for her in their favourite greasy spoon café on Essex Road and already had a large mug of tea waiting for her. “You look tired, mate. Bad night?”
Crap, I was hoping it wasn’t that obvious. “Yeah, probably the heat.”
“It wasn’t that warm last night.”
“Ah, but you’re an Aussie, so you’re used to it being hot. Us Brits wilt as soon as the temperature gets high enough to not need a jumper.”
He laughed. “Yeah, that’s true. So, what are you having? The usual?”
“You bet.”
Damian stepped up to the counter and ordered their food—full English each, with extra toast—and returned to the table with the cutlery and paper napkins.
They passed an easy hour talking about the sights she’d seen, ordering second mugs of tea, and taking their time. Damian wasn’t working until he started a contract in Edinburgh the following week, and she could go to the studio any time as it was still officially closed.
“Hey, what happened with that chick you met?” Damian asked after downing the last of his tea.
“Hayley?”
He blinked at her. “Who’s Hayley? No, I mean the posh one with the fancy name. Carmen?”
“Nothing happened.” The words left her in a rush, and she couldn’t meet his gaze. An instant later, she knew she was busted.
Damian sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “What have you done?”
She glared at him, her defensiveness on the rise. “What do you mean? I haven’t done anything.”
“Nah, you’re hiding something. Oh jeez, you didn’t sleep with her, did you?”
“No!”
“But you want to.”
Her life would be so much easier if he couldn’t read her like a bloody book. She huffed out a breath, knowing there was no use in pretending any longer. “I kissed her. Yesterday.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake.” He
