Page 50 of Rookie Days

“How do you feel about it?”

“It is a nice surprise for me as well.”

Ellie shifted on her stool as her stomach fluttered, bubbles of excitement rising that she was not used to feeling often.

“Cool.” She beamed, figured she must look like a total fool, and mentally shrugged it off. “Can I tell you something?”

“Please,” Janet murmured invitingly.

“I enjoyed having dinner with you. And kissing you. A lot. And I don’t care that saying this makes me sound like a five-year old with a crush.”

“Or a rookie?”

“Or a rookie, yes.”

Janet watched her with glittering eyes and an attractive line of color across her cheeks.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Ellie. What you just said is beautiful and very refreshing.”

The idea of one beer before going straight home was totally forgotten now. Ellie was in unchartered territory, going by sheer instinct and feel, on the edge of an abyss of pure panic. If she let herself look down…

“It’s late,” Janet noted softly.

There was her‘Out’,Ellie supposed, if she wanted it. She did not give her brain time to kick in, all the reasons why this may be a bad idea, before she stood up and held out her hand.

“One dance for the road?”

???

She’s stealing all my lines…And Janet relished every second of the experience. She gave Ellie her hand and let herself be led to the dance floor. Tracy Chapman’sBaby Can I Hold Youwas playing. Extremely appropriate, and Janet rolled her eyes inwardly as she remembered Lia’s quip about the universe. Curious as to how this would turn out, here and now, she suppressed a delighted chuckle when her dancing partner adopted a leading stance.But of course, she would…

“Do you mind?” Ellie murmured.

She held her confidently, competently, with the palm of one hand resting at the small of her back and the other one cradling her fingers.

“No, I love it,” Janet replied honestly. “And you obviously know what you’re doing.”

“Honestly winging it, more like.”

“Well, then you must be a natural at this too.”

Ellie was taller by a couple of inches. Their bodies fit nicely, easily, hinting at tantalizing possibilities. Janet kept her left arm curled around her shoulders and she was careful not to lean too hard into her. As it was, the faint pressure of Ellie’s breasts over hers was enough to make her tingle.

“It’s a long time since I danced like this.”

Janet gauged the remark accurately; there was no sadness in it, just a touch of wonder and amusement. So, she knew it must be safe to joke a little.

“Did she break your heart? I assume it was a woman.”

“Yes, a woman.” Ellie chuckled. “But I didn’t lose any skin in the game.”

“Spoken like a true romantic.”

Janet teased, which in a way was a defense mechanism for her. If she dropped her guard, she might fall hard. She liked Ellie too much for this game to be totally devoid of consequences. She sighed, even as she found that she enjoyed brushing her fingers through the thick strands of hair at the back of her neck.

“Okay?” Ellie whispered.

“Yes. I just need to know…” Janet looked into her eyes and was struck once again by the sheer openness of Ellie’s gaze.Such an alluring contradiction...