Chapter 44
“Nice TV,” Tara muttered. “Is that what you wanted to show me? You should get a flatscreen.”
Delaney smirked. “One, this still works. Two, I rarely watch it. I’m either at work or, hello? The beach. So until it completely up and dies, it’s staying where it is because three, it’s heavy as shit. And that’s not the best part yet.”
Slowly Tara turned and nodded at the futon. “Is that?” she asked with a knowing grin.
Delaney laughed. “Wicked girl. No. That’s the second best. This…” With a tug of Tara’s hand, she led the way around a corner to the open door of a bathroom. Another sweep of her hand, and she cried, “Ta-da!”
Tara wasn’t sure if she was being teased or not. She looked at Delaney and frowned, then let go of Delaney’s hand to take a step towards the bathroom, trying to look everywhere at once. Sink, toilet, tub…what was it she was supposed to see? She shook her head and admitted, “I don’t…”
Stepping up behind her, Delaney reached in and pointed down at the floor.
Tara followed her finger. The tub wasn’t connected to the wall with grout. In fact, it stood on the tiled floor on four—”Clawed feet?” she asked in surprise. Delaney nodded and Tara squealed. “I’ve never actually seen that in real life! That’s so damn cool!”
“I know, right?” Delaney pushed past her to sit on the edge of the tub. “Beachfront property with a claw-foot tub. Who cares if I’m paying an arm and a leg to live here? It’s so worth it.”
“Wait.” Tara looked around again—something didn’t seem right. Then it hit her. “Where’s the shower curtain? There’s no showerhead, even. How do you take a shower?”
Delaney’s eyes lit up. “Out. Side.”
Tara sat down on the closed toilet lid. “Shut up. You do not.”
With a quick nod, Delaney raised her eyebrows and grinned.
“Oh my God, I love it here!” Tara cried. “I don’t ever want to leave!”
Reaching over, Delaney placed a hand on her knee. “Well, you’re welcome to stay the night. The futon’s big enough for us both.”
“Only if you’re sure,” Tara said. Silently she added, Please, please, please.
Delaney laughed. “Let’s see if I can’t find something for you to change into. Get you out of that wet dress.”
“Sounds great.”
* * * *
To Tara’s surprise, all they didwas sleep. Snuggled together, sure, arms clasped tightly around each other, but there was nothing more than a few drowsy kisses and half-murmured whispers exchanged in the dark. She wore one of Delaney’s oversized T-shirts and a pair of snug panties to bed, and her new friend wore something similar. No nude bodies pressed together beneath the sheets, no frenetic sex between two women who’d just met, nothing raunchy or indecent.
So much for having a wild time on my summer vacation, Tara thought, nestling down between Delaney’s plump breasts. The soft mounds were wrapped in a faded T-shirt with the words Wildwood Girlairbrushed on the front in summery pastel colors that glowed faintly in the dark. Tara could still see them with her eyes shut.
In the morning, she woke alone, splayed across the futon spread-eagle as if it were her own. She lay there a moment, eyes shut, trying to get her bearings. Slowly the night before came back to her—Amanda’s bachelorette party, the Shark Bait, Delaney.
Delaney.
Somewhere in the small apartment she heard the toilet flush, then floorboards creaked and a hand tapped her foot as Delaney passed by the futon, heading for the kitchen. “Rise and shine, morning glory,” Delaney said, stifling a yawn. “I know you’re up. I saw your eyelids flutter.”
Tara rolled onto her side and propped her head up with her hand. In the kitchen, Delaney stood at the counter making coffee, her hair a crazy halo of red curls zigzagging every which way. When she saw Tara watching her, she winked and added another scoop of coffee to the pot. “What do you want for breakfast?” she asked.
Taking a chance, Tara said, “You.”
Delaney grinned. “Not the most nutritious choice. I was thinking French toast. Unless you’re not into gluten.”
“Works for me.”
Laying back against the pillows, Tara pulled the covers up to her chin and tried not to worry. Was it her? The night before, Delaney had seemed interested in her—asking her out after work, then all the touching, the kissing. The beach. But they’d slept fully clothed, which was fine, really. They had just met.