Accidental Love (38 page)

She set the beers and glasses on the coffee table just as Rose was getting ready to transfer herself from the wheelchair to the couch. "Here, let me help."

"I can do it."

"It's easier if I help." She stepped forward and lowered her head. It had been too long since Rose let her help and she missed the feeling of holding the young woman in her arms. One arm slipped behind the back and she felt smaller arms wrapping around her neck.
Yes, that's right, hold me.
As she put her other arm under Rose's legs and lifted she nudged the wheelchair out of the way with her knee. Instead of putting her precious bundle down right away, Ronnie held Rose safely in her arms and gazed down at the face she loved.
If only things were different,
she thought as her eyes fell upon the soft pink lips so close to her own. In the back of her mind she knew that a kiss would not be protested. As fate sometimes found the need to be cruel, Rose had to shift, causing the hard plaster of her cast to rub against Ronnie's forearm. It was an instant reminder to the executive of all the reasons not to act on her feelings. She set her friend down quickly but gently, turning away before she changed her mind. She walked around to the other side of the couch and sat sideways on the far cushion. A quick twist of her wrist and the beer was open. Ronnie didn't bother with the glass, taking several deep swallows straight from the bottle. "Do you want some background music?"
Oh, that's bright. It's Valentine's Day. All the stations will
be playing love songs.

"Sure." To Rose, anything was better than the deafening silence. Ronnie fiddled with the different remotes until she found the right one. She adjusted the volume to a point where they could barely hear it, then set the remote on the table. She opened the other beer and poured it into a glass without comment, then passed it to Rose. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Ronnie settled back against the arm of the couch and took another tug on her beer. They looked at each other, silently hoping the other would begin. A song started and ended without a sound from either woman. "Well, this is productive," the executive finally said.

"Maybe we should just drop it for tonight," Rose said.

"No. We need to get this out in the open." She gave a deep sigh and reached for her beer. To her surprise it was already empty. "Wow. I haven't downed one like that in a long time."
Why am I so
nervous? I know what I have to do.
"Rose, you mean a great deal to me, you know that." She forced herself to meet the young woman's gaze, hoping her words did not sound as fake to Rose as they did to her own ears. "But I made a decision long ago that the business comes first."
Even
over my own heart.
"I can't go back on that."

"Chris hurt you that badly?"

"Yes she did." Ronnie had been looking down at her lap and picked her head up in surprise at the gentle touch on her outstretched ankle. "It's more complicated than that, but…"

"Your truck is parked in the garage and it isn't going anywhere," Rose offered. Her words earning her a heart-warming smile.

"Something like that. I need another beer. How about you?"

"I'm doing fine with this one." She took another sip and watched Ronnie leave the room.

Now alone, Rose felt the nervousness she was trying to hold in check burst forth. Her sips became swallows and her glass was nearly empty by the time Ronnie returned. She watched the tall, lean body fold up onto the cushion and look expectantly at her.
I guess it's my turn now,
huh?
She took another swallow, the alcohol bolstering her courage. She looked up at gentle blue eyes. "I don't know what I want," she whispered. " I've never felt this way about anyone else, Ronnie." She looked away and finished her glass, her heart pounding painfully within her chest. Rose had no idea how they had started on this conversation but she knew they could not turn back from it now.

"So where do we go from here?" Ronnie's voice wavered, betraying the strong emotions fighting inside her. "I don't want to lose what we have."
I don't want to lose you.

"I don't know." She looked longingly at her friend's beer. Ronnie smiled and handed it over.

"Thanks." Rose took several sips from the bottle before returning it. "I guess things can just stay the same. I mean, we're still friends, right?"

"Best friends," Ronnie corrected, passing the beer.

"Best friends." The blonde woman smiled. "And best friends can sleep next to each other and it doesn't have to mean anything."

"Right, and best friends can still hug."

"Absolutely." Rose was encouraged by the direction of the conversation. "And sometimes…" The pink blush began to rise on her cheeks. "…if it's a special occasion…they might even kiss." Her ears burned bright red and she didn't dare look up. If she had she would have seen the arched eyebrow and smirk directed at her.

"Yes, if there's a special occasion I see no reason why best friends can't kiss." Ronnie's mind went back to the blissful kiss under the mistletoe. She cursed herself for taking it down after the holidays.

"I'll tell you a secret," Rose still could not look at her. "Earlier, when you picked me up? I um…I thought…I mean I hoped….you would kiss me." She said the last words so low Ronnie almost missed them. She upended the beer and handed the empty bottle back. "Sorry, I didn't realize I was that thirsty."

"Don't worry about it. There's plenty of beer. You want another one?"

"No…yes. Please."

Ronnie rose from the couch and knelt down next to Rose. With one hand she reached out and turned the young woman's face to her. "I'll be right back." Her thumb brushed against a far too soft lip. " I wanted to kiss you too." She stood up and pressed her lips to the crown of golden hair. "You want that eclair now?"

With her fear dissipating, Rose found that her hunger had returned. She nodded and watched Ronnie leave the room.
You wanted to kiss me too?
She reached up and touched the spot where her friend's lips had touched her hair. When Ronnie returned, Rose rewarded her with a beaming smile and fingers trailing over each other as the bottle was exchanged. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she said while returning to her seat. She knew she was treading a dangerous line but she could not stop herself. "Happy Valentine's Day, Rose." She held her bottle out, noting that the young woman had poured hers into the glass.

"Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Ronnie." The glass clinked together and they both took a healthy drink. "You remember in grade school when we used to give out valentines to everyone in class?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, back then we'd ask our friends to be our valentines, right?"

"Right, I remember that." Ronnie smiled. "Rose Grayson, are you asking me to be your valentine?" She received a shy smile in reply. "I'll be your valentine on one condition." She set the beer down and moved closer. "You have to be mine, too." She was kneeling on the cushion next to Rose, their faces less than a foot apart.

"Ronnie?"

"Mmm?" Her focus was solely on the young woman's lips.

"Would Valentine's Day…be considered…a special occasion?" Caution deadened by the beer, Rose reached up and curled her left hand around the back of Ronnie's neck, the long dark strands sliding through her fingers. There was no answer, only a smile and the lowering of lips to hers.

Ronnie's memory of the Christmas kiss paled in comparison to reality. The soft, gentle brushing of lips together made her hungry for more and she returned, nipping Rose's lower lip with her own several times before slipping her tongue out to taste the softness. She pulled back and received a soft whimper of protest.
Oh yes, I could easily lose myself in you, Rose Grayson. Very
easily.
"Happy Valentine's Day." Ronnie moved back to a 'friendly' distance and retrieved her beer. To her immense pleasure, it was another second before green eyes fluttered open and focused.

To Rose, all the stories about fireworks and bells going off were true. She felt absolutely dizzy and could not figure out if it was from Ronnie's kisses or the amount of alcohol she had consumed. The tingling sensation on her lips screamed its choice and her heart pounded in agreement. "H-happy Valentine's Day to you too." She looked over and saw the Cheshire-cat grin on Ronnie's face. "What?"

"I've never had my kisses leave someone breathless before." She reached out and took the younger woman's hand in her own.
Look at the way you look at me. If you knew the truth…

Ronnie glanced at the clock, noting it was far too early to feign being tired. "You want to watch a movie?" Without waiting for an answer, she reached for the remotes. A second later the music had stopped, replaced by Chevy Chase bumbling through a Vacation movie. "There we go."

Rose glanced at the television then back at the woman who had just kissed her senseless. Ronnie refused to look her way.
You're not fooling me. That movie just isn't that interesting. What are
you afraid of? I would never hurt you like Chris did, I swear.
She understood that her friend needed some space and Rose was willing to give it. The evening had answered many questions. She now knew that her feelings were reciprocated, at least partially. The kiss had been the proof. Her fear of going further had been assuaged by Ronnie's declaration that she did not want to take their relationship to that stage, but right now Rose needed…something. "Ronnie? Can I lie down on your lap?"

"I'd like that." They settled into the familiar position, Rose's head on her lap and her hand lightly stroking the golden hair beneath it. The touch carried with it a new meaning now, in light of the recent revelations. The gentleness was still there, but wrapped in a layer of love that moved from one to the other. Ronnie's fingers strayed to trace the outline of the small ear hidden by Rose's hair. The hand resting on her knee began to move as well, tracing lazy circles through the thick cotton of her sweats, making Ronnie wish she had worn shorts so she could feel those fingers moving across her skin.
Oh God, how am I going to do this?
She looked down at Rose.
If you
only knew how much I want to make love to you right now. I don't know if I can do this, being so
close to you and not being able to touch you the way I want to.
Her index finger traveled the jawline down to the pointed chin.
I love you so much, Rose.

At the end of the evening, it was time for another test. The house was locked up and the lights were all turned off for the night save the small lamp next to the bed. Rose was getting ready to get into bed when she felt Ronnie's strong arms wrap around her and lift her up. "I figured I'd help again."

"Uh huh," she noted the tall woman made no effort to release her, not that she was complaining.

"I suppose I owe you some sort of reward for helping me?" A smile tugged at the corner of Ronnie's mouth.

"Well, you don't 'owe' me one but if you'd like to give me a reward, I certainly wouldn’t mind." She lowered them to the bed, her mouth scant inches away from Rose's. Both women were fully aware of the way their upper bodies were pressing together.

"I don't mind." She smiled as their lips met, amazed at how perfect it felt. When Ronnie pulled back, she pushed forward, prolonging the contact for another second. Too soon for her comfort, the weight above her moved, replaced by the warm blanket.

"Good night, Rose." Ronnie settled in next to her, the long arm wrapping around her waist as usual. She smiled in the darkness. As nerve-wracking as it was, the day had turned out far better than Rose had thought it would be. In their own way they spoke of their fears and feelings and now they were lying together like they did every night. Although she knew that some things had changed between them, there was so much more that had stayed the same. She brought her hand down to intertwine her fingers with the larger ones. "Night," Ronnie's sleepy voice murmured as she squeezed their fingers together.

"Night."

**************************

In the month that followed, both women adjusted to the new facet of their relationship and all it entailed. The revelation and acknowledgement of their feelings allowed them more freedom when it came to showing affection for each other. There was far more touching and both were quite creative when it came to defining the term 'affectionate friends'. For Ronnie, there was nothing more enjoyable than an evening spent exchanging soft touches and gentle kisses with Rose curled up in her arms. She continued to tell herself that she was not breaking her promise to her father since she and her golden haired goddess were not lovers, Yet with every look, every touch, Ronnie knew that she was lying to herself. She was bewitched by the young woman with the gentle smile and soft laugh and there was nothing that could change that.

"Penny."

"Hmm?" She looked down to see smiling green eyes looking up at her. They were in her favorite position sitting on the couch with Rose curled up in her lap. It had been almost a week and a half since the right cast was removed and the left one shortened down to just below the knee. The weight difference was a blessing on Ronnie's thighs and the softness of her companion's body was also quite welcome.

"A penny for your thoughts. You seemed to go away there, for awhile."

Ronnie brought her hand up to cup the younger woman's cheek. "Nothing, just thinking."

"About? Or should I guess?"

"You," she said simply, drawing a beaming smile from Rose. "I care about you very much. You…" Her thumb traced over the razor-thin scar on her companion's cheek, a grim reminder of the hidden truth. "I am so glad you stayed with me. I'm very lucky."

Rose smiled and nuzzled her cheek against the large hand. "I'm the one who is lucky." Locking blue eyes with her own, she continued. "I'll never understand why you took me in, a complete stranger, and did everything you could to help me." She snuggled closer, resting her head on Ronnie's chest. "but I'll always be grateful to you for that. And this." She waved her hand to indicate their intimate position. "You don't push me or make me feel uncomfortable."