Page 22 of She’s a Big Deal

In her high-rise, kick-ass, business tycoon office, the powerful, older, wiser woman stabbed the intercom button on her desk for the third time in under an hour.

“Is she here yet?”

“Not yet, Ms. Michaels.” Libby was wise enough herself not to let any impatience she may feel at the constant interruptions pierce through her reply. “I will let you know the very second Ms. Bianchi arrives in the building, as instructed.”

“Right.”

Grace frowned at her watch and she stood up again to pace the office. She’d tried to work but simply could not concentrate. Lack of focus due to impatience… Since when did she— Don’t. She stopped abruptly as she remembered the last time she had felt this way. Happy… Excited. It was on that fateful Christmas Eve, of course. There had not been a cloud on her horizon as she prepared to meet her girlfriend. It was their first Christmas as a couple. They’d been on the edge of coming out and spending the rest of their lives together. How much she had wanted it… Stop, Grace repeated to herself. The past was over and gone now. She owed it to herself and Olivia to dwell in the present. Though another glance at her watch made her wonder if it were broken. For Christ’s sake! Had her driver decided to detour via the West Coast on his way back from the airport? Then…

“Ms. Michaels,” Libby called. “Your guest has arrived and is on her way up.”

“Send her in ASAP.” Grace was not going to greet her lover in the main office in front of curious staff.

A couple of minutes later, Libby finally knocked and ushered Olivia in. Alright… Grace held back on a purr of satisfaction at the sight of her in tight black jeans, polished boots, and a white Henley that made it pretty obvious she must be bra-less underneath. She’s gorgeous.

“Is there anything else you—”

“That’s it.” Grace waved Libby off.

“Thanks,” Olivia told the PA, who smiled at her in polite acknowledgment. She turned to Grace as the door closed softly behind her assistant and raised an amused eyebrow. “Hey, that was rude.”

“What was?”

“Cutting her off like that. Dismissing her with such a casual wave.”

“What was I supposed to do?” Grace smirked. “Bow?”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Olivia said with a chuckle. “Maybe just nod. Anyway.” Her eyes softened. “Hello, Ms. Michaels.”

“Hi.” Grace stepped up close. “How was your flight?”

“It was—”

◆◆◆

Before she could say, Grace flashed a brilliant smile of her own and cut her off in style. Olivia found herself backed up tight against the door. Smooth hot lips latched onto hers, teasing her into opening her mouth. Not that she needed much prompting. Warm hands slid under her shirt to tickle her ribs. Olivia would have smiled, but she did not have time as Grace moved to her breasts, fast and sure. She cupped her in both hands, fondled her enticingly, and rubbed her thumbs over her already erect nipples.

“I knew it,” she declared with a hint of triumph.

“Uh—what?”

“No bra. For me?”

“Ah. Yes… I—" Olivia gasped when Grace swallowed her words with another heated kiss.

This time it was deep, slow, possessive. It almost blew the top of her head off. Good thing she had the door at her back for support, really, or she might have dropped. Her knees had turned to water, and Grace apparently was intent on inducing oxygen deprivation. Even so, Olivia was sorely disappointed when the kiss stopped.

“Wow.” She panted. Blinked. Chuckled. “Wow…”

“Hmm.” Grace caressed her cheek with a sexy, almost feline smile. She traced a smooth finger across her lips and gave her a quick, mischievous lick. “I’ll say.”

Charmed, her heart racing from the kiss, her touch, and just the sheer pleasure of being close to her again, Olivia looked at her. Blue eyes pulsing with… What? Joy? Desire? Wickedness? All three, she decided. And wondered what Dana might make of Grace’s entrancing welcome. Olivia knew for sure that she loved it.

“Missed me?” she asked.

“I did,” Grace answered. “You look surprised.”

“A little. I thought I might have to tease it out of you.”

“And how would you do that? ”

“Very well. Want me to show you?”

“Why not?”

“Okay.” Olivia grinned. “Maybe later then.”

She relished the sound of Grace’s laughter, loved catching that flash of appreciation in her eyes at this little tease. It was great to know she had missed her too. Though they’d only been apart for ten days, Olivia had felt every minute of the separation.

“How’s work been?” Grace inquired as she walked across her office space, taking it all in.

“Great.” Olivia nodded. “Managed to get ahead of schedule on a new project, so I can enjoy being here this weekend without a hint of guilt.” She spread her arms wide in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Phew! Look at this awesome view!”

Behind her, Grace made another low and sexy approving sound. “Oh, I am. The city’s not bad either.”

With a smile, Olivia turned back to her. Grace looked every inch the commanding executive in a flowing black pantsuit and mint-green silk blouse. Needle-like heels and a flash of black bra, perfect hair, and subtle makeup, highlighted natural good looks that required very little extra.

“You’re not bad yourself.”

“Glad you think so.”

“Grace…”

Forgetting her resolve to tease her by playing hard to get, Olivia closed the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around her neck, holding her, and silently asking to be held at the same time.

“I’m here,” Grace murmured. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. But I did miss you. A lot.”

Dammit. Olivia had promised herself on the way over here to lay off the mush. She knew instinctively that being too candid, too quickly, might put Grace off. Yes, they’d grown very close in the past few weeks. Grace had flown over to Red Falls frequently to spend time with Charlie and see to business at the resort. She insisted on keeping a room at the hotel, though Olivia had spent all but one of the nights with her there. Might as well stay at my house… But she understood her lover’s need for independence, so she did not offer. It was that control thing again. Once or twice when they were together, and intimate, she had felt her hesitation. A touch of reluctance. It seemed that her inner battle was still going on. Strength vs vulnerability… Intimacy vs freedom. Of course, she could have both. Olivia did not want to push too hard and make her think otherwise. She was aware that she could be intense in matters of relationship. Committed. All in. The U-Haul lesbian of her ex-partner’s nightmares.

“It’s alright.” Grace kept her close with one arm around her waist. With her free hand, she brushed her fingers through her hair and caressed her cheek. “We can be honest with each other. I told you I appreciate this in you.”

“Yes, but I don’t want to be too much.”

“Nonsense.” Grace flashed that cocky grin again. “Who said that to you? That you’re too much?”

“Um… My ex,” Olivia admitted.

“Well, you’re with me now. I can take it.”

Can you really ? Olivia stared, feeling her own heart about to burst. Did Grace mean the other part? You’re with me now… Did she mean it the way Olivia understood it? Wary of breaking her promise not to make things heavy for the second time, she did not push for specifics. The woman had just told her again; she appreciated her honesty. And Grace did not lie or fake it either. So, Olivia accepted another kiss, meant to soothe and reassure. She smiled in return and hugged her tight.

“Are you very busy?”

“I’ve cleared this weekend for us,” Grace announced. “Just thought if you came to the office first, I could show you my holographic design program.”

“Oh, I would love that!” Olivia exclaimed.

She had been dying to experience the tool since Grace had first mentioned it to her. And what a treat it was to stand in the middle of the room, call out any features, styles, or textures she wanted to see, and have them materialize right in front of her eyes!

“This is great!” she declared eventually.

“Well, yeah.” Grace shrugged. “I created it.”

Olivia could sense her amusement, the smug, playful smile under the arrogance on show. She felt her softer side, bubbling humor, qualities people must often miss. Grace seemed to intentionally hide these endearing traits.

“I hope this is patented?” she prompted.

“Of course.”

“Are you going to commercialize it?”

“I might. Little busy with other ventures at the moment.”

“You’d make millions,” Olivia observed and watched that smug, attractive smile flash once more on Grace’s lips.

“Already have plenty. So.” She wrapped her arms around her and kissed her on the lips. “What would you like to do here this weekend?”

“Spend time with you. I haven’t thought about much else.”

“That’s it? You’re easily pleased,” Grace commented when Olivia nodded.

“Are you pleased?”

That look again was deep and thoughtful, with just a touch of wonder, as if Grace had analyzed her own thoughts carefully before speaking and might have been a little surprised at what she discovered. But her answer came quickly, all the same, and with a beautiful smile.

“Yes, I’m very happy you took the time. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Grace grabbed her phone and keys off her desk. Then, after a brief hesitation, took her hand in hers and led her out across the main office. No one dared to gawk and stare at them directly, but Olivia noted more than a few curious furtive glances aimed in their direction.

“Libby,” Grace said, prompting her assistant to rush to her side.

“Yes, Ms. Michaels.”

“I’ll be off-comm until Monday. Only contact me in case of an emergency.”

“Got it.” The woman could not stop her eyes flashing down to their entwined hands. She seemed fascinated.

“Any questions?” Grace almost dared her to ask.

Libby’s gaze snapped up in a hurry. “None whatsoever, Ms. Michaels. Ms. Bianchi.” She nodded to her. “Enjoy your weekend.”

“You too,” Olivia told her.

She felt the eager eyes of the entire office on their back as they headed to the elevator. Grace burst out laughing as soon as the doors closed behind them. “Well, that was fun.”

“You like teasing your people.”

“Sometimes I do, yes.”

◆◆◆

It seemed obvious, but Olivia appeared unsure. Grace surprised herself by how much she wanted to make her position clear.

“You know how it is.” She nodded. “People are always very curious about their boss’s private life. This will provide excellent water cooler gossip.”

“I suppose.” Olivia chuckled. “Especially when the big boss does not follow the traditional model, uh?”

“Correct. And even more so because I hate gossip about my personal life. I don’t make it a habit to stroll through the office holding hands with my lover.”

Understanding dawned, sheepish pleasure bringing color to Olivia’s cheeks. Finding it increasingly difficult not to hold her when they were close, Grace pulled her back into her arms.

“I’ve never done this, in fact. You are a first, Olivia.”

“I’m so glad... This weekend is a first for me too. I rarely feel inclined to drop everything; work, puppy, and any other commitments, to jump on a plane and travel to another state for a mini-vacation.”

“Don’t you?”

“Absolutely not. My friend Dana will tell you that I’m always reluctant to take a break from home and work. I just never feel the need, you know?”

“You love your life. And your work is your passion.”

“Totally. It takes a special woman to lure me away.”

Grace experienced a quick flutter in her stomach, a touch of the usual anxiety at this frank admission. But only for an instant, before joy and excitement flooded back.

“We’ll take it easy this weekend,” she promised. “And also make it count. Sound good?”

“It sounds perfect!”

Miami was an art’s lover paradise. From splendid museums to cutting-edge art installations, and quirky neighborhoods filled with eclectic street murals, the city had it all. And Grace knew all the best spots. They stopped at the new Helix in Wynwood, the area’s first luxury hotel. The complex also housed works by Splash Collective co-founders Alessia Allengro and Jon Milacci, and an exhilarating exterior mural by Miami-based artist, Elyos.

“Very esoteric,” Olivia commented and went still when she noticed the dizzying contrast with the entrance lobby. “Ruthless minimalism in here.”

“Do you approve?”

“Definitely.”