F: Sorry to hear that. But at least you know I love you.
P: Marvellous. But I can’t scream your name tonight so you’re a bit useless to me!
F: Charming!
Faye grinned and shook her head. Phoebe was a serial dater, something Faye both admired and loathed depending on her mood. She didn’t have the attention span to entertain several women a month. She just wanted that one perfect woman to fall into her lap.
Ugh, my lap!Thoughts of last Friday floated into Faye’s mind. As she expected, she’d woken up on Saturday morning feeling dreadful about her decision to go into that private room. Perhaps Phoebe was right…maybe Fayewasa prude.
As if the universe wasn’t already making life difficult for her, Faye almost choked on her glass of wine as Talia turned around at the bar. She wore tight, black leather pants and a sheer, deep green, sleeveless blouse. Faye’s mouth dried, her lips parting as she watched the woman who didnotwant to date her. And tonight, Faye could absolutely understand why.
Talia was…God, she was way too good for Faye. That woman, without a doubt, knew how to have a good time. It was as though she’d transformed into an entirely different person, but that sweet smile still remained as she acknowledged someone in passing.
Faye did the only thing she could do. She refilled her wine glass and gulped it down. She’d regret it later, but she needed something to occupy her mouth. It was close to hanging open.
And then Talia trained her eyes on Faye, heading in her direction. “Hi. You here with friends?”
“N-no.” Faye stumbled, her eyes lowering briefly to Talia’s impressive cleavage. “You?”
“I was just winding down before I head home. I’ve been to dinner with a friend, but they had to leave a little while ago.”
“Well, it was nice seeing you.” Faye offered her best fake smile, but it faltered when she realised she didn’t want Talia to leave her alone at this table. But the chance of something more wasn’t in the cards for Faye—she had to remember that.
“Is…everything okay? I haven’t seen you at the bistro since Monday.”
“Sure.”If you can call me thinking about you daily ‘okay.’“Busy, you know.”
“You’re not writing there anymore?”
Faye cleared her throat. Talia was looking at her with those concerned eyes, but it didn’t mean anything. It was simply Faye reading into something that wasn’t there. “Change of venue. Different scene.”
“Shame. I was looking forward to that other coffee with you.”
Faye calmed herself. Seeing Talia outside of a work setting was having an even bigger effect on her than she previously thought. None of this was good, not when she wanted to kiss this woman. “I…decided to change venues so I could concentrate. You were nice company and chatting with you was a lovely change from my best friend dragging me places I don’t wish to be, but if I had coffee with you again, it would be for the wrong reasons.”
“Your best friend takes you places you don’t want to go?” Talia quirked an eyebrow. She clearly had no intentions of discussing the latter part of Faye’s statement.
“Mm.” Faye looked down at her glass. She’d never felt so conflicted about a choice she’d made before. Faye wrinkled her nose. “She took me to a strip club last week.”
“So? If that’s what you ladies are into, that’s your own business.”
Faye scoffed. She wasn’tintoit. “Do I look like the kind of person who wants a stripper grinding in my lap?” Wow, that had come out entirely wrong. She had no issues with dancers. Women were free to enjoy whatever they enjoyed. Still, it wasn’t for Faye.
“I-I, uh…guess not.”
“Exactly.” Faye swirled the dreg of wine she had in her glass and poured it down her throat. Talia standing in front of her looking how she did wasn’t helping anything this evening. If Faye focused hard enough, she would say Talia had the same body as the woman in her lap last week.Sweet Jesus!“Can I get you a drink?” Faye got to her feet, stopping when she remembered Talia wasn’t here to drink with her. “You’ve already said no to the drink. Sorry.”
“Faye,” Talia said, stepping closer. “I didn’twantto turn you down. It’s just—”
“You’re not looking. I know.”
“My GOD!” Phoebe bellowed as she approached Faye. “Get me a drink right now before I climb that bar and serve myself.” With her arms wrapping around Faye’s neck, Phoebe dramatically sighed. “I don’t think I’ll ever find a decent date again.”
“Hey, Pheebs.” Faye shot her a look, cocking her head towards Talia. “I was kinda in the middle of something before you came in like a whirlwind.”
“Oops. A little busy, huh?” Phoebe wiggled her eyebrows, releasing Faye from her grip.
As she turned, Faye introduced her. “This is Talia. She works at the bistro. Talia, this is Phoebe. My best friend and number one pain in my arse.”