Ready for Love (15 page)

“They’re really good, and no, I haven’t eaten them all…only one.”

†

While eating cookies, LJ really looked at Kylie for the first time in two weeks and couldn’t believe her eyes. Her face was drawn and her body was thinner. “Look at you.” She caressed Kylie’s cheek.

“My friend Lynne had the same expression on her face when I met her earlier. Do I look that bad?”

“It appears as though you haven’t slept or eaten in days,” LJ said softly. “Did I do that to you?”

Kylie turned away. “I was such a fool for throwing myself at you, and then when you didn’t want to even see me….”

“You didn’t make a fool of yourself. I was the one who was running away from what I was feeling for you.”

“Why?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I’m a good listener.”

LJ caressed Kylie’s cheek. “I’m too raw to tell you, and it would take more energy than I have right now. I will tell you, though, just not today.” She let her fingers run circles over Kylie’s cheek. “I promise. Is that okay?”

“Of course it is. I understand exactly what you’re saying. Isn’t it funny how we both came unraveled at the same time?”

“What do you mean?”

“I was so miserable with what was going on between us that I had to talk to someone. So I asked one of my best friends to meet me.” Kylie smiled. “I told her I was falling for a woman, and she didn’t bat an eyelash. She told me if I didn’t speak with you and tell you what I was feeling, you had no way of knowing.”

“She sounds like a wise friend.”

“Yes, she is. That’s why I came back, and I’m glad I did.”

“I am too.” LJ stood. “I guess we’d better get back to work.”

“Would you like to come for dinner tonight? Ryan has been asking about her new friend Lgie ever since you were there two weeks ago. I think she’s really taken with you.” Kylie rubbed LJ’s arm softly. “Kids have a way of knowing who is or isn’t worth it. Did you know that?”

LJ shook her head. “No. I really don’t know much about kids.”

“From what I saw when you were with Ryan, you’re a natural. Kids have a way of letting adults be one of them.”

LJ pulled Kylie closer. “Can we do it another time? I just don’t think I’m up to it just yet.”

“Of course, just tell me when.”

“Kylie, please know I meant it when I said another time. I will not shut you out again. I do want to explore my feelings for you. Right now it’s just complicated.”

Kylie wrapped her arms around LJ and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “I want that too, and I’m willing to wait for you to be ready as long as I know there is a future.”

“There will be.” LJ yawned. “I think I could sleep for a week.”

“Maybe you should take the rest of the day off and just go home and relax.”

LJ grinned and it felt good. “I will if you will.”

“Deal.”

“Hello, LJ, are you here?” Max’s voice echoed from the workroom.

Kylie and LJ rolled their eyes.

“Damn. Why is she here?” LJ grumbled.

Kylie tried to tamp down her jealousy. She knew exactly why Max Dylan was there. “I’ll leave you to it, then.” She tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I think I will take you up on the offer and go home.”

“Kylie….”

“It’s your life, LJ, and you can—”

“There you are.” Max entered the office and looked between the two women. “Oh, am I interrupting something?”

“No, I was just leaving.” Kylie looked at LJ. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She nodded, then walked toward the door.

“Darling, why are you looking so miserable? Never mind, I’m here now and I’ll cheer you up.”

“Max, not today.”

“What’s got you in such a snit? That assistant of yours?”

“Leave it,” LJ snapped. “I said today isn’t a good time. Will you please leave?”

“You don’t mean that,” Max protested.

Kylie sucked in a cleansing breath before leaving the room.

LJ took a step backward as Max advanced on her and ran a finger down the cleft between her breasts. “I said stop it!”

Max cocked her head and frowned. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Please leave.”

Max laughed. “Give me a call when you’re over whatever it is.”

“Don’t come back.”

Max shrugged. “Okay. Your loss, but I know you don’t mean it.” She lifted one side of her mouth in a smug smile. “I saw how your nipples hardened just now. You want me and you
will
call me.”

As soon as Max left, LJ pulled her phone out of the back pocket of her jeans and dialed Kylie’s number. When Kylie answered, she blurted out, “She’s gone. I wanted you to know.”

“I know, I’m watching her get in her car.”

“Want to come back inside?”

“No. I think we both are too exhausted right now.”

“You’re probably right. Can I call you later?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Chapter Thirteen

Kylie walked into the workroom the next day and was surprised to see LJ sitting at the table piecing together what looked like a bowl. She stood there for several minutes as the tender feeling in her heart warmed her all over. LJ was a complicated woman whom she suspected someone had hurt deeply. It would take time to work past all LJ’s defenses, but she was willing to wait.

“Does this mean I’m out of a job?”

LJ looked up and grinned. “No. I thought I’d spend the day with you. I missed our time together.” Doubt crossed her face. “If that’s okay with you.”

Kylie walked over to LJ and placed her hands on her shoulders. “That would be more than okay, it would be wonderful.” She smiled. “I too missed spending time with you one-on-one.”

“Look what I’ve found here.” LJ held up the piece she was reconstructing. “Do you see it?”

Kylie leaned over her shoulder and studied the bowl. “Yes. It’s that glyph again, but it’s slightly different in some way. I’m just not sure how.”

“If you look closely to where the sun is”—she pointed to an area—“you’ll see that unlike all the other ones where the sun was at the top, this one is off to the side. What that means is a mystery at this point.”

“This is a first, then.”

“Yes.”

“What is your best guess at what it means?”

“Ah, that’s the question of the day. There’s clearly a winged being heading for the sun, but the sun is at an angle unlike the others. This is from a Wari’ tribe that lived in the highlands of Peru.” LJ sat the piece on the table, her eyes bright. “There is every possibility that this was an attempt by a novice at bowl-making. Or…this could be from an offshoot tribe of Wari’ yet to be discovered. Imagine what that would mean to the archaeological community.”

The excitement emanating from LJ was palpable, and the air in the room crackled with electricity. Kylie, still standing behind LJ, patted her shoulder. “You’re going to do it. I can feel it, can’t you?”

LJ leaned into Kylie’s hands, which were still resting on her shoulders. “You know you are playing with fire, right?”

“I know what I want. I’ve thought of nothing else for the last two weeks.”

LJ rubbed her hand over her face. “Do you have any idea how hard I’ve tried to resist you?” She blew out a breath. “You’re straight, for God’s sake.” She got off her stool and turned to face Kylie.

“Apparently I didn’t get that memo.” Kylie grinned. “Truth be told, I’ve always found women attractive and alluring. They are who draw my attention, not men.”

“You’ve thought about them sexually?”

“Not until recently.”

“You don’t understand. Looking and maybe even fantasizing is completely different from having a sexual relationship.” She wrapped Kylie in her arms, pulled her close, and rested her forehead against hers. “The world isn’t that accepting.”

“I don’t care about the world, LJ, I only care about—”

A door in the distance slammed, and Kylie and LJ took a step back.

“Hello, ladies. How are things going?” Rob Ludlow asked as he entered the workroom. “Kylie, I was worried about you when you didn’t come in yesterday. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Come take a look at what we’ve discovered,” LJ said.

Rob’s eyes focus on Kylie, and she looked away.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Kylie? You look like you’re not feeling well.” He glared at LJ. “What’s going on here?”

Kylie approached the curator. “Rob, I’ve had a bug or something for a few days, but I’m all better now. LJ was just trying to convince me that I should go home, and I was telling her I’m fine.”

“You really should go home.” LJ turned to Rob. “She took the day yesterday, but I was just telling her to go rest until she’s completely over whatever she has.” She lifted her arms in a gesture of helplessness. “She won’t listen.”

“Young lady, we can’t have one of our employees infect everyone in the museum, so I want you to leave right now and don’t come back until you’re better,” Rob said with a stern expression. “You look awful.”

Kylie bowed her head. “I suddenly began feeling much better yesterday afternoon.” She lifted her eyes and saw a smirk on LJ’s face. “I don’t have a fever, and if we’re going to figure out this possible new branch of the Wari’ tribe, I have a lot of work to do.”

Rob’s eyes widened. “A new group?”

Apparently her physical well-being was no longer a concern as he focused in on the artifacts LJ held in her hands.

“I think it’s a distinct possibility. Let me show what we found.”

Kylie stood next to LJ and listened to the cadence of her rich voice as she enthusiastically explained what it was and why it was significant. LJ’s heady smell flowed through her senses, making her wish Rob would leave. What she now recognized as desire was creeping through her body, and she would no longer deny it.

LJ watched as Rob left the area and waited until she heard the door shut before looking at Kylie. “You are bad.”

Kylie touched her chest. “Me? Why?”

“I saw that look in your eyes, and it’s a good thing Rob’s attention was elsewhere.”

“What look would that be?”

“Kylie, are you sure this is what you want?”

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. The question for me is…what do
you
want?”

With a tenderness she didn’t know she still had, LJ kissed Kylie. “Does that answer your question?”

“Not sure. I think you need to explore it further.” Kylie cupped LJ’s face and kissed her.

LJ pulled away. A multitude of conflicting thoughts and feelings were bombarding her from all directions. She wanted Kylie in a way that was foreign to her. Yet it seemed so right. Kylie was offering her a lifeline, and all she had to do was to reach out and take hold.

Kylie took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I can see all the wheels spinning in that pretty head of yours. Tell me what you’re thinking. Maybe I can help.”

“What you’re offering me is confusing and overwhelming, and I’m trying to get my head around everything I’m feeling.” LJ’s heart was racing.

“Like what?”

“Desire.” She lifted a shoulder. “Terror mainly.”

“You’re afraid of me?”

“I’m terrified of how much I want you…need you.”

“And you think I’m not? This is all new to me, but the rightness of it is too compelling to ignore. I know now that I was trying to rush things with you. What do you say to us taking it slow and seeing where we go from there?”

LJ blew out a breath. “That sounds wonderful to me.”

Kylie smiled. “Good. So what do you think about having dinner with us tonight?”

“I’d like that.” LJ could feel her heart thawing a little more. “I suppose that means Barbie will be there.”

“Afraid so.” Kiley leaned in and kissed her before stepping back. “There is also the possibility of more kisses.”

“With an offer like that, how can I say
no
?”

“Great.” Kiley smiled broadly.

LJ locked her gaze with Kylie’s, and the sensation of happily drowning in the pools of gray warmed her body. “I guess we should get back to work.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Maybe we’ll find that new glyph again if we concentrate in that same area.”

“That means we’ll be working side by side. Can you handle that?” LJ winked at Kylie.

“Oh, I’ll try, that’s the best I can do.”

For the next three hours, LJ sat contently next to Kylie.

†

“Dinner will be ready in ten minutes. You two need to wash up,” Kylie called up the stairs.

“Mom, we are having fun.”

“Yeah, Mom, we’re having fun,” LJ echoed, sounding amused.

“Act like the adult, LJ.” Kylie laughed as she walked back into the kitchen. After finishing work and going home to prepare dinner, she waited in anticipation for LJ’s arrival. The woman who showed up at her door wasn’t the coldhearted person she’d met when she started working at the museum. This LJ was relaxed and open, just as she’d been when they worked together that morning.

“What can I do to help?”

Startled, Kylie turned and saw LJ standing right beside her. “Oh.” She held a hand to her heart. “I didn’t hear you come in.” Her eyes tracked over LJ’s shoulder. “Where’s Ryan?”

“Washing up.” LJ pulled her close. “I was faster so I could have a few minutes alone with you.”

“You did, did you? What exactly did you have in mind?”

LJ shrugged. “Hugging you and feeling you close to me. It wasn’t until I thought I lost you that I realized just how much I needed you.”

Surprised by the openness of the comment, Kylie caressed LJ’s cheek and smiled before hearing Ryan bound down the stairs. “At least she’ll never sneak up on us.”

LJ let her arms drop. “Want me to set the table?”

“Nope, already done.”

“Mommy, can Lgie stay the night?”

“We’re lucky we got her to come for dinner. Let’s not push our luck, sweetheart.”

“Sorry I can’t tonight.” LJ knelt to be at eye level with the small girl. “Would it be okay if I spend the night some other time?”

“I want you to stay tonight.” Ryan stomped her foot and crossed her arms over her chest.

“None of that, young lady,” Kylie cautioned.

“But, I want Lgie to play with me some more.”

Kylie wiggled her eyebrows. “So do I.” She winked at LJ.

“Promise, I’ll spend the night sometime and we will play with Barbie some more.”

Ryan wrapped her arms around LJ’s neck. “You can be Ken next time.”

†

LJ listened to the voices that drifted down the stairs and smiled. For the first time since her self-imposed exile from Kylie, she was relaxed. The feeling bubbled up inside her, and even if she wanted to, she couldn’t stop the happiness flooding her. Having a family was something she had never considered. But after being with Kylie and Ryan in their home, LJ knew she was exactly where she belonged. However, a modicum of fear and doubt still hid in her heart, refusing to go away.

She had warred with herself and sought out the affections of others to try to forget her fascination with Kylie, even though she knew it was more than a physical attraction. It was a bone-deep need she had buried so well since Holly’s death that she’d forgotten it existed. Once Kylie came into her life, that need began clamoring to break free and see the light of day.

Can I take that chance?
Could she allow herself a measure of happiness and risk heartbreak again? She looked up, saw Kylie coming down the stairs, and had her answer.

“Come sit with me.” LJ patted the couch cushion next to her.

Kylie sat so their thighs were touching and rested her head on LJ’s shoulder. “Is this okay?”

“Perfect.” LJ lifted her arm, put it around Kylie’s shoulders, and pulled her closer. “Thank you. The meal was delicious.”

Kylie laughed. “We both ate like we hadn’t eaten in weeks.”

LJ lifted and eyebrow. “I don’t think we had.”

“You’re right about that. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Being here with me.”

LJ felt Kylie tremble and looked at her. “There is nowhere else I want to be.” She stroked Kylie’s cheek. “I’d like to kiss you.”

“I won’t throw myself at you this time.”

LJ swallowed hard. The annoying monologue that had constantly been in her head warning her of impending disaster since meeting Kylie found its voice again. “I don’t know if I’m ready for more than kissing,” she whispered.

“Not a problem.” Kylie kissed her cheek. “Despite what happened the last time you were here, I don’t think I’m ready for more either. My body might be, but I think we have a lot to talk about first. I want it to be the right place at the right time.”

LJ could feel her body relax before she leaned in to Kylie’s lips and kissed them long and slow. All her pent-up emotions were in that kiss, and despite her misgivings she knew what was happening between her and Kylie was exactly as it should be. She pulled away when Kylie moaned. “I think we better stop now.”

“Aw. Can’t we kiss a little longer?”

“You look just like Ryan when she pouts.” LJ tapped her on the nose.

“Your kisses make me feel things in my body that I had no idea existed, and I want more.” Kylie looked at her. “More kisses, nothing else. Promise.”

“Yes.” LJ leaned in and captured Kylie’s lips again.

That night when LJ went home it was with a sense of hope and a belief that she had a future.