For Now, For Always by Marianne K. Martin

Author:Marianne K. Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bywater Books
Published: 2011-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

The moment Olivia opened her door she knew. Renee’s valiant attempt at a smile, a flicker that lifted the corners of her mouth then dissolved into a serious line, fell far short of convincing.

“Come on,” Olivia said, offering her hand. “I’m making lunch for us.”

Renee took Olivia’s hand and stepped into the apartment. A few steps into the living area, she stopped and gently pulled Olivia back to her. She leaned forward and kissed Olivia tenderly. “Thank you,” she said.

“You haven’t eaten it yet,” she replied. Her body warmed with a desire to return the kiss, conflicting with her respect for Renee’s emotional state.

“Thank you for having me over even with the chance that I wouldn’t be very good company.”

“Good company is relative. Don’t you know that by now?” She locked her eyes onto Renee’s and welcomed the shot of electricity they delivered to the middle of her chest. “I want to spend time with you because you’re you. I feel quite lucky.” She watched the way Renee’s brows pinched quickly together and released when she was questioning. “Lucky, because I really don’t like the whole dating thing. It’s a ridiculous waste of time, trying to break through the façade someone works so hard to impress you with, and then finding out it’s not much at all like the real person. You saved me from that.”

“Even if I had time to create one, a façade wouldn’t hold up long at my place. Five minutes is all Jenny needs to literally air the dirty laundry, and Rachael—”

“Is just a very observant six-year-old pointing out the obvious anyway.”

Renee nodded. Her gaze lingered over Olivia’s face, fine touches of a watercolor brush washing a pink blush everywhere it touched.

“Some things,” Olivia said softly, “no façade can hide.”

“Like what I’m feeling right now.”

“And every time I’m around you.” Olivia stepped close and circled her arms around Renee’s waist. “Kids or no kids, three hours or three minutes, it makes no difference. I just want to be with you.”

Renee’s arms held her tightly, her face nuzzled against the side of her head. “Even if it’s complicated? Living and loving between court hearings?”

Olivia pressed her lips into the smooth, warm valley just below Renee’s ear and whispered, “Even if.”

She lifted her mouth to meet Renee’s, waiting and warm and not in the least hesitant. This time there would be no censure diverting her desire, nothing stopping what they both clearly wanted.

Their kisses said it better than words—tender seductive touches that probed and titillated until they moved with passion and parted with need. Olivia pressed her hips tighter into their embrace, welcoming the sear of heat, and drew her breath over Renee’s ear. “I feel a little guilty,” she whispered. “I haven’t asked you about court.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” she replied, taking Olivia’s face in her hands. “And, right now, it doesn’t matter.”

“Come with me.” Olivia led Renee through the apartment without a second thought that where they were headed was exactly where she should be. Something

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