Strings Attached, page 18
Drew’s heart warmed. She knew Geena was fond of her, but this was the first time she’d ever been so candid about their relationship. She was right. They had become friends. Maybe it was crossing a line seeing each other socially, but what the hell. She’d already broken the rule of not getting involved with a student. Besides, she had no other friends to speak of. Since college, she’d devoted her life to her career. She hadn’t kept in touch with her college friends and hadn’t felt close enough to any of them to care. Now her career was stable, but other than her solitary life with her cats, things had grown benign.
“Drew, listen. You want the truth? I think it’s great that you’re dating Nikki. But you gotta have friends, too.”
“You’re right.” Drew sighed heavily. “I’ve become a total bore. I’m even bored with myself. You sure you want to hang out with me?”
Geena gripped Drew’s upper arm. “Yes. I will make it my personal mission to exorcise the boring right out of you. Starting with a hockey game where you can hoot and holler to your heart’s delight and chow down on junk food and all in the company of dykes of all ages. How’s that sound?”
“It definitely does not sound boring.”
“Good.” She released her. “I’ll even drive since I have a parking pass. I’ll pick you up at six. Game starts at seven.”
Drew nodded. “I’m excited.”
“And by nine o’clock tomorrow night, you’ll also be exciting. That is, if you can stay awake that late.”
“Ha ha, very funny.”
“Hey, if you fall asleep on the ride home, I’m never taking you out again.”
“I won’t fall asleep.” She headed down the hall.
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“Get back to work, ya lazy bum,” she said in her best gangster voice.
Geena hollered after her. “You know, I might just resemble that remark, too.”
Drew laughed and slipped into her office to grab her coat. Describing Geena as lazy couldn’t be further from the truth, and the banter lifted her spirits. Life was changing, and it felt good.
***
Drew hit Send on Nikki’s number and buzzed with the excitement that was becoming a regular occurrence whenever she contacted her. She found that she missed her when she wasn’t around.
“Drew McNally’s favorite customer, at your service.”
Drew chuckled. “Do you ever just say ‘hello’?”
“I like to keep people on their toes.”
“You don’t say. I hadn’t noticed, Snow Queen.”
“Oh, please don’t flatter me with such titles. It might go to my head, and then I might be tempted to anoint you as my round-the-clock personal attendant.”
She dropped onto the couch and knew her face had just lit up like a firefly. “Do I dare ask what that would entail?”
“Oh, you never know. You’d have to be at my beck and call to tend to my every whim, need, and desire.”
“So, basically, I’d be your slave.”
“Hey, don’t go putting a negative connotation on it. You don’t know what I’d ask for. It could be something fun and exciting. For both of us.”
Funny she’d used the word “exciting,” considering her conversation with Geena an hour ago. “What makes you think I’m qualified for such duties?”
“Shit. You’re right. I should think this through. I’ll have to put you through some sort of test or initiation.”
Drew’s center tingled as she imagined various initiations she would enjoy, all of which involved them being naked together. She cleared her throat. She’d better change the subject before she said something too provocative and embarrassed herself. “I’ll keep it in mind. Anyway, I called because this week’s contest winner requested a vocal lesson with you.”
“No kidding? When do I report for duty?”
She listed a few days and times the winner provided.
“Nothing tomorrow or Thursday?”
“No. Why? You aren’t free Friday or Saturday?” Fret jumped onto the couch next to her and started kneading her thigh. She scratched her head, and she started to purr.
“Anytime is fine. It’s just that…”
Drew stretched her legs out on the couch, and Fret settled on her chest. “What?”
“Well…” Nikki actually sounded insecure. Was that possible?
Drew shook her head. “Well what?”
“I was hoping to see you before then. Can I interest you in dinner tomorrow night?” Her words sounded rushed.
Dinner with Nikki sounded wonderful. But tomorrow night was the hockey game with Geena. She opened her mouth to invite Nikki to come along and stopped. Geena was right. Even though she and Nikki weren’t a couple, she needed to make time just for friends. As much as she hated to turn her down, she knew it was an opportunity to do the right thing.
“I’d love to, but I already have plans with a friend.”
“Oh.” Nikki sounded deflated.
It felt a bit empowering, if she were to be perfectly honest with herself. Women threw themselves at Nikki, and she had her choice of any of them. And she’s choosing me.
“And I have to work the closing shift on Thursday. How about we schedule the lesson for Friday afternoon, say at four, and we go out afterward?”
“Okay. Yeah, that’ll work.”
She heard the sound of a refrigerator door opening and closing. “So, have you been practicing?” She heard Nikki pouring herself a drink.
“Huh?”
“Your cello lesson.”
“Oh, right. Yes. Over an hour today. I just wish I could get that clear tone like you’re able to get.”
“You’ve only had one lesson. It takes time and practice. You’ll get it.”
“I want to get it now.”
Drew laughed. “You don’t have much patience, do you?”
“I like to be good at what I do, that’s all.”
“You have millions of fans that can vouch that you are very good at what you do.” And I can personally vouch for you being a fantastic kisser. Suddenly, the thought of not seeing—or kissing—Nikki again for another three days seemed like forever.
“If you say so.”
Vinnie hopped onto the arm of the couch behind her head. He dangled his tail so that it tickled her cheek. “Would you like to arrive an hour early so I can help you prepare?”
“That’s a good idea. That way if there’s anything in particular you think I should go over, I’ll be ready.”
“Okay then. I’ll see you Friday around three?”
“You got it, Professor.”
Drew smiled and shook her head. Nikki had her heart dancing again. She was in trouble here. Serious trouble.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Nikki arched and rubbed the crick in her neck before she cursed and shut down the laptop. She’d been on the computer for hours searching for an original copy of the Ella Fitzgerald record Drew so desperately wanted and had come up with zilch. She’d scoured every antique shop within forty miles earlier today with the same results.
She pushed away from the desk and stretched to get out the kinks. It was only four o’clock, but thanks to the end of daylight saving time a couple of weeks ago, it was as dark as night. She hated this time of year. The holidays were supposed to be a joyful time filled with love and family and giving. Humbug.
Not her family. No, for her family it was all about making impressions and decorating the house to look like the perfect home, suitable for a Christmas card photo. Holiday parties for business associates and politicians and their perfect, wax-faced wives. Or the rare female government representative and her clean-cut husband, who usually overcompensated for his lesser position by loudly bragging about whatever shmucky white-collar job he had. Fuck Hallmark and its fucking good cheer.
She and her mother would end up in a fight before every gathering because she’d resist “putting on a good dress” and making nice with the phonies. She’d complied until she was sixteen. That year, before the guests had arrived, she’d snuck into the kitchen, loaded a plate of food, and then disappeared into her room. Earlier in the week, she’d emptied her closet of every dress she had and given them to the charity shop, a move her mother had hated, but at least it had made her feel as if she had some semblance of control over her life. It hadn’t lasted, but it had been a start.
Her phone rang. Drew. Her spirits lifted immediately.
She answered in her sexiest voice. “Hey there, anointed one. Are you ready for your first initiation?”
“Nikki?” It wasn’t Drew’s voice.
She sat up straight. “Who’s this?”
“It’s Geena. From DJ’s?”
Her stomach soured. Something was wrong. “Yeah. I remember.”
“Drew’s in the hospital. She’s all right, but she asked me to call you.”
She shot to her feet and headed to the closet. “Which hospital? What happened?” She yanked her leather jacket from a hanger and stabbed one arm through a sleeve.
“Portsmouth Regional. She got hit in the head with a hockey puck.”
Drew plays hockey? “She what?”
“She’s fine. She’s got a minor concussion, and she has one hell of a goose egg on her forehead. They’re releasing her in a few minutes, but I don’t think she should be alone tonight. She wouldn’t let me call Jerry because she doesn’t want to worry him.”
“I’ll look after her. Should I meet you there or at Drew’s place?”
“You might as well go to her place. We’ll be leaving here shortly.”
The ten-minute drive felt like an hour. She vaulted up the stairs and gave a cursory knock to announce her arrival and went right in. As she rounded the corner to the living room, Vinnie scooted off toward the bedroom.
Geena was kneeling in front of the couch beside Drew. “Hey. You got here quick.”
“I don’t live far.”
Drew was lying on her back, one leg bent and resting against the back of the couch, and she held a giant cold pack on her head. Fret was curled up between her knees. Andres was in his usual spot on his bed in the corner of the room.
Nikki crouched down next to Geena. “What the hell happened? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. You guys are making too much fuss over this.”
“Shut the hell up, and let us take care of you,” said Geena. “The puck flew over the barrier. She was lucky. A couple of people put their hands up to catch it, and that slowed it down. But hotshot here was busy loading cheese onto a nacho and wasn’t paying attention—”
“I stuck my arm up just in time, but it ricocheted into my forehead.”
Nikki placed her palm on Drew’s cheek. “Let me see.”
Drew lifted the pack. Geena was right. She had a large purplish lump about an inch above her right eye. She leaned over and kissed it.
Drew managed a smile. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course I came.”
Her eyes drooped and then closed. “Sorry. Headache.”
Geena stood and backed away. “They already gave her some pain meds. The hospital ran tests and said it’s just a mild concussion. Nothing to worry about.”
“Good. That’s good. Geena, thanks for taking care of her. If you need to get going, I can take it from here.”
“Okay. Thanks, Nikki.” She showed Nikki the discharge instructions from the hospital and went over what to do if she saw any signs of trouble.
Drew called out from the couch. “Hey, are you sure you’re all set with covering the store while I’m out?”
Geena rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Will you stop worrying about work? Jerry and I will figure it out. I don’t want to see you again until Saturday. And you’d better not come in then either if you’re not up to it. Don’t you have any faith in me?”
Nikki held back a laugh at the indignation in Geena’s eyes. She was a spitfire, this one.
“Of course I do.” Drew sighed, her voice slightly muffled with her arm draped over her face.
Geena touched her knee. “Then stop worrying. We’ll handle it.”
Nikki pushed the door closed behind Geena and returned to Drew’s side. She looked pitiful. Nikki wrapped her hands around Drew’s hand that lay along her side. “Is there anything I can get you? A drink of water? Change of clothes?”
“Water sounds good.” Drew’s lip twitched upward, and she lifted the ice pack and gave her a mischievous look. “Are you offering to help me into something more comfortable?”
She leaned over and pecked her cheek. “I’m offering whatever you need.” She retreated to the kitchen for the water.
Drew sat up and took a long drink. “Thank you. Would you mind helping me to the bedroom? I just wanna go to bed and sleep this off, but I’m not feeling very steady on my feet.”
“At your service.” She wrapped one arm around Drew’s shoulders and helped her up. While Drew stopped in the bathroom, she turned down the bed and tried not to think about the fact that she was in Drew’s bedroom.
Drew shuffled in and sat down heavily. “Could you grab me a T-shirt and a pair of sleep pants out of my dresser? Second drawer down.”
She handed Drew the clothes. “I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.” She scooted out before she was tempted to help her change. As much as she’d love to see her naked, now was not the time. She stepped around Fret and wandered into the kitchen to pour a glass of water for herself and refilled Drew’s as well.
She stopped short in the doorway and caught her breath at the cutest sight ever. Drew was curled up under the covers and surrounded by all three cats. Her hair stuck out in all directions, squashed down on one side from the ice pack, and she appeared to be asleep. She set one glass on the nightstand and gently sat on the side of the bed, careful not to disturb the little family.
She couldn’t get over how beautiful Drew was as she slept. She tucked a lock of hair behind Drew’s ear and kissed her cheek.
She whispered, “Good night,” and started to get up.
Drew caught her wrist. “Stay with me?”
“Yes, of course. I’ll be on the couch—”
“No. I mean here. Will you stay and hold me while I sleep?”
She looked into Drew’s eyes. She couldn’t have said no if she tried. “If that’s what you need, I’ll stay with you.”
“It’s more than that.” Drew squeezed her hand. “It’s what I want.”
Nikki nodded. She went into the bathroom and stripped down to her T-shirt and underwear. She slipped under the covers and relished feeling the entire length of Drew’s body next to her own as she pulled her close.
It was surprisingly easy to push away her physical desires. All that mattered right now was that Drew felt safe and cared for.
It didn’t take long to fall asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The lingering dull ache in her forehead was the second sensation Drew was aware of as the remnants of sleep wore off. The first was the soft body wrapped around hers and the warm breath on the back of her neck. Familiar, yet…not. A cat pressed a paw to her cheek, and she forced her eyes open. Vinnie’s whiskers tickled her face as he sniffed her nose.
She looked at the hand that covered hers, adorned with silver and turquoise rings. I’m in bed with Nikki. And it feels wonderful. She brought Nikki’s hand to her lips and burrowed back into her embrace.
“Good morning,” Nikki whispered and tightened her hold.
“Morning.”
“You feel so good in my arms.”
“Mmm,” was all she could manage. She didn’t dare admit just how good she felt being in them. She shouldn’t get used to this. Or should she? Should I stop overthinking this and simply enjoy it while I can?
“How’re you feeling?” Nikki scratched Vinnie’s head—it was a good sign that he was even staying within arm’s reach of her—and then lightly brushed hair off Drew’s face.
“Better. The headache’s still there.”
“You’ll feel better after breakfast and a shower.”
She shifted onto her back and looked up into Nikki’s serious eyes. Her black hair stuck up at odd angles. It was adorable. “You’re probably right.”
“Did you sleep okay?”
“Yeah. You?”
“Better than I have in ages.”
Drew took a moment to ponder why that was the case and shoved aside a fleeting hope that being with her was the reason. Andres and Vinnie hopped off the bed. Fret, who’d been sleeping at their feet, stretched and then walked across on top of them and began kneading her stomach. She giggled.
“Hey, my little sweetums. You heard ‘breakfast,’ didn’t you?” Drew kissed Fret’s head. Fret answered with a meek “meow” and headed off to the kitchen to join her feline friends.
“Tell you what. You get in the shower, and I’ll fix breakfast.”
“You don’t have to do that. You don’t have to babysit me.” She sat up, and the walls seemed to shift.
Nikki was in front of her in an instant.
“Whoa.”
“Are you all right? You’re white as a ghost.”
“I felt a little dizzy, that’s all.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The feeling in her brain subsided, but now her stomach was rebelling.
“Lie back down. You need fluids.” Nikki yanked on her jeans and disappeared. She returned within a minute with a glass of water.
Drew drank the entire glass in several long gulps. “Thank you.”
“Better?”
“Yes, much. I’m okay, Nikki. Really. You don’t have to stay.” She didn’t want her to go but hated for her to feel obligated.
Nikki frowned. “I’m not leaving if you’re still woozy.”
She held out her hand. “Help me up and we’ll find out.”
Nikki pulled her to her feet and into her arms.
Drew released a smile. “See? I’m fine. Who knew you were such a softie?”
