“Don’t be nervous,” Felicity whispered close to her ear. Ash hadn’t realised she’d walked round the bar to stand next to her. “Yes, she’s world-famous, but she still sits down to pee, just like the rest of us.”
Ash’s laugh burst from her chest, and she threw Felicity a grateful look.
When Carmen came back into the room, all Ash could do was stare at her beautiful girlfriend. The dress she wore tonight, a shimmering creation of some kind of silky material in a deep bronze shade, showed off Carmen’s shoulders—and legs and arms—to perfection. Ash throbbed with need once more; she knew tonight, if they had some proper time alone, she’d be struggling to contain her desire.
Carmen was closely followed by Tamsyn Harris and the honey-blonde woman who was presumably her fiancée. Ash knew her name was Maggie and that she was an author, but that was all as they’d mostly managed to keep details of Maggie’s life out of the press.
A small, wiry brown dog wriggled past them and dashed straight over to Ash. It sat at her feet, gazing up at her.
“Ash, I’d like you to meet Tamsyn and Maggie. And Gizmo, of course.”
Tamsyn strode over, her hand outstretched. “Lovely to meet you!” She pumped Ash’s hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Nice to meet you too. Obviously, I’ve heard a lot about you too.”
Tamsyn laughed. “I can’t think why.” She winked conspiratorially.
“Hi, Ash, I’m Maggie.” Ash went to shake her hand, but Maggie pulled her into a brief hug. “So glad you came back,” Maggie whispered. “It’s lovely to see her so happy.”
When she pulled back, Ash stared at her, shocked—but also ridiculously pleased.
Maggie’s mouth twitched.
While Ash petted Gizmo, smiling as he hopped up and down at her feet, Felicity greeted the newcomers with cheek kisses and quick hugs, then handed them their glasses of champagne. She raised hers and waited expectantly for everyone to look her way. “To love,” she toasted.
Carmen turned bright pink; Ash was pretty sure her own face was the same colour. Tamsyn and Maggie gazed adoringly at each other, and Felicity simply laughed.
“Cheers!” she said, and everyone drank.
They sat down for the meal about twenty minutes later, by which time Ash’s nerves had settled a little. After chatting to the group, Ash came to realise Tamsyn and Maggie were amazing, but not in a superstar way. They were far more down to earth than she would ever have imagined and both very funny.
When Tamsyn, Carmen, and Felicity began a conversation about a fashion show Tamsyn had been invited to, Ash turned to Maggie, who was seated on her left.
“So, Maggie, what do you write? I mean, I read somewhere that you write under two different pen names, but no one’s ever said which names.”
“Ah, yes, it’s all top secret, you know.” Maggie grinned. “But seriously, I wrote as Jessica Stewart for historical, mainstream fiction for many years. And now I focus solely on my other genre, lesbian fiction, where I write as Maddie Jones.”
Ash’s heart thumped. “You’re Maddie Jones?”
“You’ve heard of me?”
“Um, just a little bit. You’re one of my favourite lesfic authors!”
To Ash’s surprise, Maggie blushed. “Really? Oh, that’s lovely to hear.”
“She’s a fan?” Tamsyn smiled.
“Yes, I am. Big-time.” Ash shook her head. “Okay, this officially just became too much. Favourite actress and favourite author both at the same table.”
Everyone laughed, and Carmen wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Can you cope?”
“Just about.” Ash mimed wiping a fevered brow, and Carmen threw her a look filled with affection and…love? Whatever it was, it took Ash’s breath away, and she had to swallow hard before she could speak again. “This is amazing. But more so because they’re so…real. Ordinary.”
“Don’t let Tamsyn hear you say that,” Maggie said in a stage whisper. “You’ll ruin her.”
“Oh, ha bloody ha.” Tamsyn mock glared at her, then grinned.
After the meal, they had coffee in the living room before Felicity, Tamsyn, and Maggie—and Gizmo—left, sharing a cab home.
Once Carmen had closed the front door, she returned to the room and found Ash slouched comfortably on the sofa, a dazed look on her face.
“You okay?” Carmen asked.
Ash looked up at her. “I am. I’m in a very happy place right now.”
“You look like it. Can I join you?”
Ash held one arm out to the side, and Carmen immediately sat next to her. When Ash wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in even closer, she sighed contentedly. “Ah, yes. Perfect.”
She got a kiss on the top of her head for that.
“They’re lovely,” Ash said. “And I’m so happy I’m going to be at their wedding.”
“I know! I’m so glad you were able to rearrange those three clients.”
“I guess I’m lucky they like me so much.”
“And why wouldn’t they? You do amazing work. And I would imagine they know you wouldn’t change their appointments lightly.”
“Yeah, that’s true. I’ve never done it to any of them before, so I guess the trust was there that it was something pretty important.”
“I’ve read all the reviews of your studio on Google.”
“You have?” Ash looked down at her, surprise clear on her face.
“Yes, of course! And I think trust is definitely at play. So many glowing testimonials from regular customers who are obviously coming back time after time. That’s all down to you and the kind of person you are.”
Ash twisted and tugged Carmen round to face her a little more. There was heat in her eyes, and Carmen’s body responded instantly. When Ash kissed her, her lips moving so sweetly against hers, her arousal soared. And when Ash ran her fingers into Carmen’s hair to tilt her head back, Carmen moaned.
She
