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“So you’re staying?”

“For tonight.”

Heidi’s echoing grin warmed Lila’s entire body.

“Ann will be home soon.”

“I figured,” Lila stated as she opened the screen door and let herself inside. “I figure we have some talking to do.”

Heidi took the bag from Lila’s hand and walked toward the back of the house. Lila followed, hesitating. She’d never been inside the house before, and she’d always thought it’d feel somewhat like she was violating some boundary, but instead, all she felt was comfort and a sense of belonging.

They walked down a hallway and turned into a room. Heidi set the bag on the edge of an already-made bed and smiled as her hand rested on the footboard. “It’s our guest room. No one has ever stayed in it.”

“Really?” Lila’s brow furrowed. Surely the house was a three bedroom, and Heidi was saying they’d never had guests. Confused didn’t even begin to cover it.

“We don’t have much family we get along well enough with to invite them out here, and since most of our friends from school are back in Wichita, we go there instead of them coming here.”

“Pity.” Lila frowned. “It’s such a nice room.”

Heidi’s cheeks flushed, and she stared at the floor. “Thanks. I don’t think I quite realized you’d never been here before.”

“No. It was an unwritten off-limits before.” Lila sat on the edge of the bed.

“But not now?” Heidi replied, her tone hitching up at the end as though it was a question.

Lila slowly shook her head. “No, not now.”

“Does that mean…”

“Yes. I wanted to wait for Ann to be here, but whatever. Nothing ever seems to go to plan.”

“And what was the plan, if you don’t mind me asking?” Heidi stayed stoically by the end of the bed, giving Lila all the space she needed.

Yet, what Lila really needed—and wanted—was Heidi up against her. Touching Heidi’s hip, she moved Heidi until she stood between Lila’s legs. “The plan was to stay single until the day I died.”

“Sounds lonely.” Heidi settled her palms against Lila’s shoulders, cupping the sides of her neck.

“Not as lonely as you’d think.”

“Because you didn’t allow yourself to think about it.”

“Probably.” Lila nervously chuckled.

“Lila…”

“Yes?”

Heidi bent down and tilted Lila’s head upward at the same time. Staring straight into those eyes was a little unnerving, but Lila held her ground. She’d made a decision, and she wasn’t one to back down from it. She smiled and pulled Heidi in for a long, sweet kiss.

“I forgot to say hello,” Lila murmured against Heidi’s mouth when she was done.

Heidi grinned. “I like how you say hello.”

“Think I should do it again?”

“Only if this is truly what you want. No pressure, nothing. We want you, but do you want this?”

“This is scary.” Lila pressed a kiss to Heidi’s jaw, moving up toward her ear with a trail of kisses. Heidi hummed in pleasure but didn’t answer verbally. Lila continued down Heidi’s neck, sliding her hands to Heidi’s ass and tugging her in even closer.