Page 13 of She’s a Big Deal

“So,” she prompted with a hint of teasing laughter. “What now, Ms. Bian—”

Grace had wondered if the woman had it in her to surprise her. Olivia showed that she did by stepping into her, nice and bold, and framing her face in both hands. She pressed her lips to hers, cutting her off in style. Surprisingly warm hands. Hot lips softly parted. She lingered just long enough for the moment to register, then pulled back and blinked a couple of times as if she’d shocked herself with the gesture. But then she smiled and raised a cool eyebrow.

“It’s Olivia to you, Ms. Michaels. Rememb—”

It was Grace’s turn to interrupt in her own style. For sure, two could play this game, and she stopped trying not to react. Granted, it was no longer such a conscious decision. Just a case of… Fuck it. And go with the flow. She grabbed the woman by the lapels of her new jacket, spun her around, and pushed her back against the railing.

“Uh…” Olivia gasped in surprise and disbelief, though a grin of approval quickly replaced this. “Grace,” she started to say. “I—"

“Shut up,” Grace ordered, and she kissed her back.

There was a muffled ‘Umph’, and Olivia stiffened at first. Just in more surprise, Grace understood, rather than reluctance at the intensity of the kiss; or she would have stopped instantly. At the back of her mind, she did warn herself to take it slow. But even despite it, the kiss was hard and commanding in equal measures. Feeling Olivia relax into her, Grace moved one hand to the side of her neck, her thumb resting on her cheek. Smooth skin burned and tingled tantalizingly under her fingertips. She deepened the kiss and felt a thrill when Olivia responded. But as she automatically brought her arms up around her, Grace clasped her wrists and brought them firmly down. The message, though unspoken, was crystal clear. ‘I’m in charge here.’

Olivia obviously received it perfectly and responded with a soft moan that had the small hairs on the back of Grace’s neck standing up. A pleasurable tingle shot between her legs. Somehow, she was already pushing between Olivia’s strong thighs. Gosh.. . She ached to touch her. Did the new outfit include a bra under that V-neck? Or would she encounter more heated bare skin? She could feel Olivia’s pulse on the side of her neck, pounding attractively. The kiss gathered momentum and intensity. It grew fiercer and more demanding on both sides until, through a haze of arousal, Grace suddenly perceived voices in the background. People were coming out. With that, reality flooded back in, as well as a startling awareness of the situation. Jesus! What am I doing? A little more of this, and she would end up going too far. Would Olivia stop her? The jury was definitely out on this one, so Grace had to. Stop right now, for Christ’s sake ! She wrenched her mouth away and felt instant loss. Disappointment flared across Olivia’s eyes in a similar fashion. They were huge; her pupils were fully dilated, almost black with arousal .

“Steady up,” Grace instructed in a murmur.

Just as she turned, her brother Jeremy walked out onto the balcony.

◆◆◆

Olivia picked up her glass of whisky. She could not remember putting it down. The Michaels twin was accompanied by a tall, lanky woman in a shimmering black dress, who seemed to only have eyes for him. When he settled it on his sister, Jeremy's gaze was as nasty as his scowl.

“Grace.” His eyes swept over her, and then Olivia felt a chill as he took her in with the same look of condemnation and distaste. “Huh. Typical,” he snorted.

Was he referring to her? Or what he could read on her face? Olivia had just had a second to compose herself between one of the most exciting exchanges of her life and having to pretend that she was not on fire, still burning from head to toe. If Grace had not stopped when she did… Olivia was not sure how much further they might have gone. Just that she had not wanted her to stop.

“Picking up right where you left off, huh?” Jeremy went on with a dark sneer.

Olivia was already no stranger to Grace’s cool glances and sometimes wintry comebacks. But never had she seen in her eyes such coldness as her brother’s stare provoked. Grace took a step aside to stand just slightly in front of her, an obvious protective move that made Olivia want to reach for her hand in return. Keenly aware that Grace might not need or want her support, she just allowed her fingers to brush against the back of her hand. The gesture was as brief as it was subtle. Feather-like. In the shadows, no one would see. And though Grace did not look at her, Olivia was vindicated when she spotted a tiny sign of relaxation in the set of her shoulders. She breathed a bit better. She had no idea what family drama may be going on between the two siblings, but she felt protective, too.

“Let’s go back inside, Olivia,” Grace said.

“Not so fast.” Jeremy stepped in front of her, deliberately blocking their way.

Calm and collected, Grace met his gaze. “Yes? What do you want?”

“Your little take-over bid ain’t gonna work,” he spat.

“Are you talking about my proposal to Chloe?”

“Yeah. Plotting behind mine and Reece’s backs? You have no fucking right to get involved. By law, you have no right! And you know it.”

“Unless I’m asked to help out, of course. And don’t worry. The proposal is more like a rescue package deal. If it were a take-over bid, brother, you wouldn’t know it until I’m sitting behind your desk.”

Olivia suppressed a smile at the way she so easily put him in his place and established superiority. Grace also spoke in such a casual tone that some might miss the edge of steel underneath. It was obviously not lost on Jeremy.

“Keep your hands off my business,” he snarled. “Stay out of my life. And you.” Olivia was surprised when he addressed her directly, with a finger pointed at her chest. “She’s dangerous, you know? And a coward as well.”

Vicious words designed to hurt his sister and plant seeds of destruction in her own mind. His date sniggered. Olivia all but felt the effort it took for Grace not to react to this, though when she spoke, her voice was firm and steady.

“Let’s go, Olivia.”

Olivia ignored the man’s last taunting smile as she walked past him and followed Grace back into the reception hall. It was still full of people mingling, chatting, and connecting. Having a good time.

“Dammit, I left my drink behind,” Grace muttered.

“I’ll get you another,” Olivia was quick to volunteer.

“No.” Grace clasped her wrist and squeezed. “Dance with me.”

Oh, shit. Panic and elation hit as Grace led her to the dance floor, turned to face her, and laced a commanding arm around her waist. Elation, because being pressed against the woman’s strong slender body was fast becoming her favorite thing. And panic because Olivia knew even less about dancing than she did about string theory.

“Close your eyes,” Grace instructed.

“What? No, I… Why?”

“Because you’re tense. So, close your eyes and follow me.”

“You like this, huh?” Olivia grumbled as she complied.

“What?”

“Leading.”

“Oh, yes…” Grace’s chuckle was an alluring flutter against the side of her face. “In all things.”

All…? Olivia’s racing mind went nicely blank in wonder. And then, somehow, it was all fine. She managed not to trample over Grace’s designer shoes, her biggest fear. She allowed herself to tune in to her movements and to follow her lead. Relaxation came easily, and enjoyment, too.

“You’re a natural at this.”

“You’re kidding.” Amazed, she opened her eyes.

“Of course not. Why would I?”

“Because you— Oh…"

Olivia lost her words as Grace sent her spinning on a daring double twirl and caught her expertly on the rebound. Standing behind her now, still holding her nice and secure, and bending at the knees. What the…

“Go with it,” she invited. “What feels natural.”

Olivia’s hips seemed to know perfectly what to do, even if the suggestive swaying circle that Grace prompted her into had her blushing a little.

“Nice. Now you have it, Olivia. It’s the spirit of the dance. Don’t be shy.”

Grace never broke eye contact as she shimmered and glided all around her, dispensing useful encouragement and frequent smiles. She always looked supremely at ease in her own body, and the dance only made this more apparent. Olivia reflected that she was one hell of a good teacher. And the dance floor was obviously a safe space for Grace. As the music shifted from a lively Latin number to one she actually recognized, Grace gave her a final twirl, then tugged her back into her arms. The embrace was close and tight. Olivia was reminded in that instant that Grace was slightly taller. Mushy as it may be, she could not help liking it.

“I love this song,” Grace murmured.

“Wicked Game. So do I,” Olivia approved and watched her blue eyes sparkle.

Some guy in an ill-fitting tux jacket must have failed to read the signs as he tapped Grace on the shoulder.

“May I?” His smile was directed at Olivia.

“Uh… No, thank you,” she answered.

On a chuckle, Grace had her halfway across the room, like waltzing on a cloud, even before the guy could shut his mouth from the shock of surprise.

“Grace. We’re being rude.”

“Yeah? I don’t care.”

Olivia laughed at the reply, so typical of the woman, while in the background, Chris Izaak sang tantalizingly of not wanting to fall in love.

“Anyway, this guy obviously didn’t think I was too butch, huh?” she prompted.

Just an innocent, off-the-cuff comment, she figured. But the reply was a little dry.

“To be honest, I think he was drunk.”

“Ah…” Olivia raised a shoulder in a light shrug. “I guess.”

Grace went on. “You told me you made an effort to look good tonight.”

“Not for some random guy.” Hadn’t she said that already?

“Yes.” Grace nodded with a thoughtful and lingering smile. “But you can’t blame other people for noticing. You obviously have no idea of how well you succeeded in your attempt, Olivia. I’d say the fact that you’re genuinely not aware of it is even more attractive.”

Oh... Okay! This was one hell of a compliment wrapped up in that statement. Olivia relaxed. Don’t be so bloody nervous! She probably just needed to get used to Grace’s style. She could be so serious and focused at times… But also funny, with frequent flashes of flamboyance.

“Attractive enough for you to want to kiss me,” she smiled.

“You kissed me first,” Grace reminded her.

“Because you teased me into it.”

“Oh?” A teasing eyebrow immediately arched up. “Is that right?”

“Yes. Totally. ”

“Only because of that?”

Gosh… Olivia could never pretend, not even for fun.

“No, Grace,” she murmured. “I wanted to kiss you. Teasing only gave me an excuse.”

They may as well have been dancing on the moon or in the middle of space at this point, for all that Olivia was aware of the rest of the room and the people in it. She was only focused on the woman who held her, the light in her eyes, and the sudden, more intimate turn of the conversation. Such a rush, all of it! She did recall her friend’s words of advice and warning about not going too deep. Well. Too late for that… Dare she tell Grace she’d been thinking of little else but kissing her since their first encounter at Charlie’s house? As Olivia held her gaze and hesitated briefly, her feelings must have been all too obvious. Dana was always telling her that she was like an open book. Grace reacted before she could say anything else. Olivia noticed a telling shift in her expression. The instant tightening of her pupils, a flash of regret and surprising sadness across her eyes. Oh, no…

“Grace, I—”

But the music stopped, the dance was over, and her partner released her. The gesture was as abrupt and significant as the close, warm, and natural embrace.

“Beautiful!” Charlie appeared out of nowhere to pull them both into a hug. “Oli, I didn’t know you were such a talented dancer! You two looked great out there.”

“Oh, I’m not really a—”

“Very fluid,” Grace countered as if annoyed that she might try to deny it. “Catching the right moves instinctively. Talented, yes.”

As Olivia stared, a little surprised at her intensity, she could feel Charlie looking from her to Grace and back again with undisguised curiosity.

“Darling,” she prompted, “have you told Olivia about your upcoming trip to Ottawa?”

“No.” Grace was frowning, discontent pouring out of her in waves.

Obviously used to this sort of thing, Charlie just went on blissfully. “I’m sure she would love it. Grace, I think the two of you should go together.”