Page 28

Leah puts her racket in its case while watching Emily do the same and thinks about how quickly all their training sessions together pass. She loves tennis and normally time flies when she's on a court, but with the lawyer, she feels it slipping through her fingers.

"I'm exhausted," Emily comments, wiping sweat with her towel, unaware of her trainer's thoughts.

"Have dinner with me?" Leah blurts out, causing Emily to turn, surprised by the question.

The lawyer wants to break into one of her enormous smiles, but forces herself to contain it because she isn't sure that dining with Leah—despite how much she wants to—is appropriate given the current circumstances between them.

"I want us to talk about something," Leah clarifies as if reading her mind and guessing her doubts.

"Okay," Emily accepts, a bit nervous, remembering that Leah went to see Stella. What if she's had second thoughts and hasn't broken up with her?

An irrational fear tightens her chest, but she decides to hide it, going against Dr. Mitchell's advice.

"Great," Leah experiences a sudden tingling in her chest just thinking about an evening with Emily, but works hard not to show it. "Do you like fusion cuisine? I know a restaurant where I can order..."

"Actually, I prefer a double cheeseburger with everything on it," Emily interrupts with flushed cheeks.

Leah stops mid-sentence and ends up smiling at the lawyer's honesty while imagining her holding one of those burgers that drip sauce everywhere, requiring more napkins than anyone could possibly use.

"Burgers it is," the tennis player concludes. "Any place in particular?"

"Surprise me," Emily says.

Leah gives a crooked smile and nods.

"In that case, I'll expect you at my place at eight-thirty. Does that work for you?"

Emily is so punctual arriving at Leah's house that she doesn't want to seem desperate and lets a couple minutes pass before ringing the doorbell. The tennis player opens the gate and Emily crosses the property to the house, where Leah waits with the door open, dressed in linen pants and a loose tank top that exposes one of her shoulders. The lawyer loses focus at this sight just as she's climbing the porch steps.

Leah can't do anything about the scene unfolding before her because it happens so quickly that she has no time to react. Emily trips over her own foot and her body lurches forward at the same speed as her purse, which Leah—stunned—watches fly past her and slide across the floor inside her house while Emily lands in front of her feet with a small cry of surprise.

"Oh my god, Emily," she says, immediately crouching down to help her up.

She grabs her under the shoulders and pulls her up, finding herself face-to-face with her radiant smile as soon as she's standing.

"Sorry, my clumsiness knows no bounds," Emily says, looking at her palms, reddened after landing on them.

Leah takes them delicately.

"Did you hurt yourself?"

Emily shakes her head with a quick movement that makes her hair dance, sending the fruity smell of her shampoo toward Leah, who can't help pulling her close enough to give her a soft kiss on the lips that sends the lawyer's heart racing while simultaneously throwing her off balance.

"You shouldn't, Leah..." she says, dazed, touching her lips with her fingers as if Leah's were still there. "We had a deal."

"And I fulfilled my part," Leah responds, looking at her intently.

Emily needs a few seconds to understand what she means.

"You broke up with Stella?" she asks, about to spit her heart out of her mouth.

"Yes, I went to see her for that, Emily," she reminds her and narrows her eyes. "Which means I'm free to..."

Leah can't finish explaining because Emily lunges at her mouth and tangles her tongue with hers while pushing her into the house. The tennis player doesn't even close the door when they enter, she simply grabs Emily's waist to guide her toward the couch and, before lying on top of her, the lawyer has already removed her shirt.

There are no preliminaries or tender kisses or electrifying caresses. Suddenly they realize that the waiting has been consuming them and the need to satisfy themselves becomes an urgency they must address before continuing to talk.

Leah has no trouble lifting Emily's dress skirt and moving her underwear to the side, nor does Emily struggle to slip her hand into Leah's pants. When Leah penetrates her, Emily releases a pleasurable murmur that makes the skin on Leah's entire body prickle and nearly makes her come.

"Am I doing okay like this?" she asks, maintaining a soft, steady rhythm, dizzy with pleasure while Emily touches her.

"Perfectly," the lawyer answers between broken sighs.

The living room fills with the sound of their increasingly loud sighs and the smacking of desperate kisses before the moans arrive and, finally, a guttural cry escapes from Emily's throat when she comes while Leah muffles hers against a couch cushion.

"Damn, I didn't know I needed this so badly," Emily says after a couple of minutes relaxing, her gaze fixed on the ceiling while caressing Leah's back, lying face down beside her.

The tennis player smiles against her shoulder and nods.

"I agree," she affirms and lowers the strap of Emily's dress to give her a soft kiss that makes her shiver.

They're ready to continue without the initial rush, but the sudden growl of Emily's stomach makes them both burst into laughter.

"Better have dinner," Leah says, sitting up, "I wouldn't want to be responsible for you fainting."

"Those burgers will be cold," Emily says with a strange grimace.

Leah stands up and offers a hand to help her get up.

"Yes, you'll have to settle for a sandwich," she answers and arches an eyebrow.

"Only if I get dessert afterward," Emily says, devouring Leah with her eyes.

The tennis player feels a current run through her and swallows hard as they walk to the bathroom to wash their hands.

"You can have all the dessert you want, now let's go to the kitchen."

"How did Stella take it?" Emily asks while Leah, as she prepares the sandwich, summarizes her conversation with Stella.

"Well, it didn't take her by surprise. I guess she knew as well as I did that our relationship was living on borrowed time. Still, it's not pleasant to go through this, I cared about her a lot."

"I can imagine," Emily says, nodding with a look of understanding.

"But now it's done and I don't want to keep talking about that," Leah serves the two plates on the table and turns to Emily before they both sit down. "I like you, Emily," she blurts out, making the lawyer stop breathing. "I wasn't counting on this, but it happened, I like you so much."

Emily, red as a tomato because she wasn't expecting this, grabs her by the waist and winks at her.

"Do you like me as much as Emma likes Mia or vice versa?" she asks, trying to reduce the tension a bit.

She gives her a kiss on the lips and turns toward the table, desperate to bite into that sandwich, but Leah frowns, not quite understanding the question.

"What do you mean?" the tennis player asks.

Emily's lips curve and her eyes shine with pure amusement.

"You don't know?" she asks without stopping smiling, sitting at the table with a mysterious air.

Leah follows her and sits across from her with a questioning expression.

"Know what, Emily?"

Emily, who loves gossip, allows herself a moment of glee when she realizes she possesses information that Leah doesn't yet know. She takes a bite of her sandwich and savors it with delight while staring at her intently.

"Are you going to tell me?" Leah asks impatiently.

Emily wipes her mouth and delicately places the napkin next to her plate.

"Mia and my cousin slept together."

Leah's jaw nearly drops and Emily smiles, enjoying her expression.

"When?" she asks, perplexed.

"The night Aaron ran away. Can you believe it? You and I were looking for him while these two were rolling around on the couch," she jokes, drawing a laugh from Leah.

"Mia hasn't told me," Leah says, "but knowing her, I'm not surprised either. Now she must be traumatized from sleeping with the posh Harris girl."

Emily laughs again.

"Emma told me this morning if that's any consolation. I hope they figure out their silliness," she says seriously. "By the way, I forgot to mention that tomorrow you should all come by the office. I mean you, your mothers, and Mia. I'm sorry to tell you with such short notice, but it completely slipped my mind. I hope it's not a problem."

Leah scratches her head, thoughtful.

"No, we'll manage, don't worry. Why do we need to go?" the tennis player asks.

"To prepare you for the questions the judge will ask when she talks with you. It's just a formality, but it's better to do it. It'll give you confidence and an idea of what to expect," Emily explains.

"Sure, we'll come as soon as I organize everything at the club."

"Good, in that case, can we move on to dessert now?" Emily fires back, and Leah's throat goes dry.