Page 24

She forced herself away from the mirror and checked the clock on the nightstand in her bedroom. It was 11:49. Then she noticed her bed.

Shit!

Earlier, Megan had agonized about what look to choose for this non-date, wanting something that had a relaxed sexiness to it; an outfit which said I’m ready to chill at the beach or I’m ready for you to throw me on the bed and have your way with me. You pick.

After trying on what seemed like countless combinations of items, she had finally decided on a pair of tight denim cut-off shorts and a light-olive green cami top that she could wear braless.

However, even though she had finally settled on an outfit, the search had left her bed looking like a delivery truck from Forever 21 had simply disgorged its contents onto it. To make matters worse, she now heard an engine just outside her condo. Going to the window and looking down, she spotted a red Jeep coming to a stop. That had to be Vanessa. Firstly, who else would be stopping in front of her condo? Secondly, Vanessa just seemed like a Jeep girl.

Shit!

In a panic, Megan began scooping up all the clothes on her bed and tossing them in the closet, not caring that the resultant heap of tops, dresses, jeans, shorts and skirts, not to mention their hangers, was going to take forever to sort through and put away later.

She had hurled the last armful of garments into the closet and shut the door when the doorbell rang.

“Hey!” Megan said downstairs when she opened the door.

“Hey, yourself,” Vanessa greeted. “You look great!”

Megan warmed at the compliment but was finding it a little hard to speak.

Vanessa’s grey tank had a scoop neck and Megan’s eyes lingered on Vanessa’s clavicle. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to softly kiss the hollows there, wondering if that would be enough to get Vanessa to moan. And, good god, the tank was snug! The way it was practically glued to Vanessa’s breasts…

Oh my God!

“You look great, too,” Megan finally managed to say, feeling her center react.

So great.

Megan blinked, realizing Vanessa had said something else.

“Huh? I’m sorry, what?” Megan stammered, feeling the blush that started at her neck move its way up to color her face.

Vanessa smirked.

“I asked if I should come in.” she said. “Or did you change your mind about the wine and just want to head straight to the beach?”

Fuck the beach.

“Yes, of course,” Megan said, supremely embarrassed at forgetting her manners. She stood aside to let Vanessa enter.

“God, I love all the art!” Vanessa enthused, stepping into the living room and twirling around, looking at everything Megan had on display. “Are all of these yours?”

Happy that Vanessa seemed to like her place, Megan spent some time pointing out which works were her creations and which were prints of her favorite artists.

“Oh my God, these are beautiful!” Vanessa gushed when Megan pointed out a series of nudes she had drawn a couple of years ago. Vanessa spent several moments admiring them before looking at Megan with an arched eyebrow.

“Was this a girlfriend?” she asked.

Megan shook her head.

“Just a local model I hired,” she answered. She opted to leave out the fact that she had wished Emily could be a girlfriend because Emily was stunning but, alas, straight.

“Let’s get that wine,” Megan said. She decided to be forward and took hold of Vanessa’s hand as she led her into the kitchen. She didn’t know about Vanessa, but the contact sent electric tingles up Megan’s arm.

“Do you have any of that wine we had last night?” Vanessa asked.