Page 45 of The Wedding

Etta relaxed against her. “Was waiting for you to say it first.”

Jamie turned against her chest, leaving soft kisses on her chin as her hand wrapped across her girlfriend’s shoulder. “I love you,” she muttered. “I really could have no other but you.”

Etta secured her in a firm embrace. “I love you, too.” After a quiet minute, she continued. “You’re the only woman who has made me this happy. I’ve been thinking about that lately.”

Jamie intertwined their fingers together. It was the most intimate thing either of them had experienced in too long of a time.

“But, you know…” She was snapped out of her reverie when Etta sighed against her. “I wouldn’t mind if you… you know…”

Oh, so she’s coynow? Jamie rustled beside Etta’s body. “Is that an order, ma’am?”

“Think of it more as a request. Just know that I’d spoil you even more if you heard me out on this one.”

There were a million silly things Jamie could say at the moment.“One strap-on in the ass, coming right up, ma’am!” “Roger-dodger, that’s the fiery lube right on your clit, ma’am.” “Really? Hot wax on your nipples? If you insist, ma’am…”

Jamie knew what Etta wanted. All she had to do was take her place on top of her girlfriend, straddling her waist as she touched herself and got all bothered again.

And when it was Etta’s turn to spread her legs on the bed, Jamie helped her take off the rest of her clothes and dove her head between two hot, comfortable thighs that always welcomed her with ahappy, wet kiss.

Or maybe that was Jamie’s eagerness getting the best of her. Again.

Chapter 15

“Nobody loves provolone as much as me, shut up.” Natasha held up one hand while the other shoveled a sandwich down her throat. “You don’t understand,” she said between rounds of chewing. Flecks of sandwich fell from her mouth and landed on her plate. “If I could, I would put it on everything.Everything. One day, when I’m elected president, I will change the world by declaring provolone be on everything.”

Jamie chuckled as her friend inhaled her lunch.I already ate.A big breakfast that Beatrice had waiting two hours ago when Jamie came downstairs on that fine Wednesday morning. She had planned to stay home, but a text came from Etta halfway through a round of pancakes. “Would you be able to join me at the office after lunch?”When Jamie inquired what this was about, Etta merely said she would greatly appreciate it. So here Jamie was. Etta had yet to return from her business outing, so Jamie accompanied Natasha on her lunch break to the cafeteria on the ground floor of Etta’s building. Apparently, someone loved provolone.

“So, got any idea what Etta wants with me?” Jamie asked. Natasha was still eating, albeit listening. “She’s being hush-hush about it, and that can be dangerous.”

Natasha shrugged. “I barely know what’s going on with her. I field her calls and track visitors. She’s been getting a lot of those lately.”

“Yeah, I know. Looking for a new partner.”

“No kidding. The tension in the office is overwhelming. The whole building is feeling it. I know what’s going on better than most around here, but even I’m wary. She’s not… planning on laying people off, is she?”

“What? I highly doubt that. Etta’s looking for someone to help share the workload. She can’t do it all by herself anymore. Ever since… that woman…”

They both fell silent. Nobody wanted to bring up Jacqueline if they could help it. As far as Jamie knew, Natasha never dealt with the full brunt of that woman’s creepiness, but she had certainly interacted with Jacqueline plenty of times.She seemed to like brunettes, so maybe that’s why she left Natashaalone.

“No, don’t worry about losing your job. Or anyone else for that matter. If she does go around firing people? I’ll personally tear her a new asshole.”

“Good. I don’t dare bring it up with her.”

“Probably a good idea.”

Natasha finished up her lunch and accompanied Jamie back to the executive office. Since half the crew was either starting lunch or still had yet to get back, the whole place was quiet, save for the fountain splashing in the background. Jamie glanced at Amanda’s desk and saw it as meticulous as ever. Natasha caught her gaze and said, “I haven’t noticed anything.”

“Hm?”

“I know what you’re thinking. You don’t have to worry about Amanda. If she’s interested in Ms. Coleman at all, she hides it well. Helps that she talks about you a lot.”

Jamie perked up at that. “She does?”

“She makes Amanda remind her all the time to reply to your texts if you can believe it.”

“That… sounds very much like Etta.” So busy that she had to put off non-emergency texts until she had time. Except when she had some time, she was likely to forget the little things and jump right into thebigthings. Back when Jamie was her assistant, she was always leaving Etta reminders to call her mother back or something of the sort.I still haven’t met her mother.Jamie barely knew her name.

Something beeped in the intercom on Natasha’s desk. “Oh… she’s already here.” Natasha pushed a button. “Yes, Ms. Coleman?”