Open Spaces Read online

  “Tease,” she breathed, and Summer straightened to touch a fingertip against Lauren’s clit, nothing more, just to make the accusation true.

  She had missed this too, the playfulness of being intimate with a lover—one-night-stand, whatever. Now was not the time to worry about semantics.

  “I guess I am,” she said, repeating the caress another time. This time, Lauren sounded more frustrated.

  Summer moved downwards on the bed to find a comfortable position. “Don’t worry,” she whispered against the soft skin of Lauren’s inner thigh. “It’s not all I am.”

  “Thank God,” Lauren said with emphasis.

  There weren’t any more words, just sounds of pleasure rising as Summer made good on her promise, devouring her in every way she’d planned to. Changing pace, slowing down her movements every time Lauren got too close to that magic moment—until she begged her, “Please” and Summer could no longer deny her. The taste of her still on her lips, Summer leaned over Lauren and kissed her deeply, feeling her body shiver underneath her.

  “I can’t believe it’s been two years.” She couldn’t believe she’d said that out loud either.

  “Believe me, it didn’t show.” Lauren was quick to assure her, but she was visibly amused at Summer’s frank statement.

  It all felt right. More than that, amazing, and wondrous, and righteous. At some point, Lauren put on a shirt to get some bottled water for the two of them. Summer enjoyed the sight, the shirt failing to cover Lauren’s backside entirely, leaving her legs exposed. It never occurred to her that there could be something awkward about lounging naked in the bed of a woman she’d just met hours ago, something she’d never done before.

  Lauren returned with the water, two glasses and an ice cube she ran down Summer’s spine, making her squeal in a rather undignified way. She made it up to her though by replacing the cold sensation with warm kisses along the same path.

  “Sorry about that. I’ll warm you up,” she offered, and she did, several times that night, and once after she’d shown Summer the new toothbrush and the guest towels in the master bathroom. Summer didn’t stop to think about whether this situation had occurred a lot in Lauren’s home.

  She had never felt comfortable sleeping naked, but after they had enjoyed each other’s bodies once more, Summer simply curled up into Lauren’s embrace, and she fell asleep that way. If she couldn’t remember ever feeling this exhausted, comfortable, and safe, maybe it was because she never had.

  Chapter Two

  Lauren woke with a faint sense of disappointment when she found the space beside her empty. Bit by bit though, other sensations alerted her to the fact that it didn’t mean what she’d first thought it did. Summer wasn’t gone.

  Judging from the delicious smells wafting up from the kitchen, she was making breakfast. Coffee. Bacon. Lauren’s stomach growled. She smiled to herself as she surveyed the room, dresses thrown over a chair, her own underwear near the top of the stairs. She remembered getting out of her shoes as soon as they had walked in.

  Lauren got up to retrieve a pair of briefs from the dresser, and the shirt she’d put on last night at some point, the occasional twinge an unmistakable though pleasant reminder of the recent activities. There hadn’t been a lot of sleep for either of them.

  She wondered briefly if the interaction to come would be awkward, but decided it didn’t matter. They had both earned some sustenance. Food was priority at the moment. Later she would ask herself how it could happen that she had brought an attractive stranger with her, who was now making herself at home in her kitchen. Lauren was even more surprised she didn’t mind, then again, she could never be anything but grateful for someone who cooked for her. 10:11 a.m. It had been a while since the last real meal.

  “Good morning,” she said, leaning over the railing. “Something smells good.”

  Summer spun around from where she was standing at the stove, nearly dropping the spatula.

  “Hey. I hope you don’t mind. I was so hungry.” She sounded concerned, but there was a smile in her voice as she no doubt remembered how exactly they had worked up an appetite.

  Lauren wasn’t sure what the correct protocol for this situation was. She hadn’t had many one-night-stands, and even so, those days were long gone. She joined Summer in the kitchen and kissed her cheek quickly.

  “I don’t mind. Thank you.” The brief contact came with a rush of heat, and she made distance between them, wondering where they’d go from here, after…a hearty breakfast, Lauren realized as her gaze went to the table. Who cared? She was starving.

  “Oh, and I took this from the bathroom,” Summer said, indicating the short robe she was wearing. “I can wash it if you—”

  “Stop it. It’s fine.” This time, the kiss wasn’t just on the cheek, and for a moment, Lauren regretted that they hadn’t woken up together. Maybe she could convince Summer not to leave right away after breakfast.

  The sound of a cell phone ringing startled them apart.

  “It’s mine,” Summer said with obvious regret. “You were still sleeping. I checked it earlier and forgot to put it back. It’s DeeDee,” she added after a quick glance at the display. “I never even thanked her for the invitation.”

  “Go ahead, take it, I’ll finish up here,” Lauren offered. She winked. “Tell her thanks from me too.” Somehow she’d known Summer would blush at that before she turned away to answer the call.

  “Dee, I’m sorry I didn’t say bye. No, I didn’t get kidnapped. Yes, I was going to call you. I…I’m kinda not home right now. Okay. See you later.”

  Summer disconnected the call with a heartfelt sigh before she joined Lauren at the table.

  “Everything okay?” Lauren asked. It was starting to sink in, that she knew next to nothing about the woman she had spent those wonderful hours with—except it had been a while for her, just as for Lauren. Well, she knew enough to know she didn’t have a single regret.

  “Yes. I think she was just worried. It’s a long story.”

  Lauren hesitated, unsure whether she should ask Summer to keep what happened last night a secret. She decided to leave it up to her.

  “Don’t worry,” Summer said. “I’m not going to tell her.”

  “You can. I don’t mind.” Where did that come from?

  “No, really. It’s okay.”

  “Sure. Whatever you want.”

  She watched Summer take a first sip of coffee, sighing in bliss. Lauren was both amused and turned on at this reminder of pleasures other than caffeine. There was no doubt she’d need a long—glacial—shower sometime today. Becoming aware of Lauren watching her, Summer looked away, self-conscious.

  “Don’t. I like looking at you. I promise I’ll have something more smart and eloquent to say after I eat. My last meal was a working lunch with new clients where you can never finish, and at the museum…well, you know. Every other person I talked to wanted to toast to the new wing.”

  “Yeah.” Summer smiled ruefully. “Those tapas weren’t exactly dinner. I didn’t plan on drinking that much, and…never mind. Congratulations on the opening. It was a big success for you.”

  “That it was.” Everyone, including her team, had rolled their eyes at her when she’d made calls securing a couple of new clients two hours before the opening. They had told her to party, and let loose for a bit. She wondered what they’d say if they knew about how her night had developed.

  “Since you had an invite, you probably know a bit about me, but I don’t know anything about you. How did you and DeeDee meet?”

  A more or less subtle way to check the competition. Wherever they went from here, and Lauren hoped they could go somewhere, she wanted to know where she stood. She was certain her beauty sleep hadn’t been the only concern on Summer’s mind when she took the phone down with her, and that it was no coincidence the first call had come from DeeDee.

  “We’re friends,” Summer said. “Since college. She’s been trying to make me go out more often since…wel
l, forever.” A shadow crossed her face, and she looked away once more, this time, not from self-consciousness, Lauren assumed. “My mom had to go into a home earlier this year. That’s why I brought the phone—it’s not like they call me all the time, but I wanted to make sure that if something happened…I’m sorry. You don’t want to know all of this.”

  “That’s okay.” Truth be told, Lauren hadn’t prepared for any heavy-handed subjects, but she had asked after all. “Whatever you want to tell me. Can I ask…?”

  “It’s Alzheimer’s. My Dad died when I was eighteen, and I have no siblings, so we’ve been living with this for a while, but it got worse over the past two years, and I went back to school too.”

  Lauren tried not to wince. She was grateful to have both her parents alive and in good health. “Looks like DeeDee was right,” she said, opting for an uplifting tone. “You deserve a bit of a timeout. What’s your subject?”

  “English Literature. I’m a TA with the university, and I got a second job at the library.” Summer sighed. “I’m afraid I’m not doing this right. You must be so bored by now.”

  Leaning back into her chair, Lauren studied the woman she had first spoken to in the museum’s restroom, of all places. She had found her attractive right away, that was why she had decided to lurk in the hallway and lure her away from the party. That part had worked out perfectly. She sensed a kind and caring person beneath the pretty exterior. Boring did not come to mind.

  “What you told me sounds challenging, and sad, in parts. Boring, not so much. I haven’t exactly changed the world.”

  “In a way, it’s what you do. You build spaces. That’s a little more exciting than doing all the research for someone who’ll put your name in the footnotes on a good day…not that I’m complaining,” she said quickly. “I’m happy to be able to study, finally get it done.”

  “It’s brave,” Lauren said. She meant it. There had always been a beaten path in her life, and she hadn’t strayed from it much. Her parents would have liked if either she or her brother had chosen the medical profession, but when Lauren’s talent emerged in another field, they had never hesitated to support her. An A student all her life, she had fulfilled every expectation. “There are many spaces I still want to build,” she said, startled at the longing in her tone.

  “I understand,” Summer said, and maybe she actually did. She poured another cup of coffee for both of them. “I’m afraid I’ll have to go soon.”

  It was now or never. “Can I see you ag—”

  “Yes.”

  Lauren hadn’t known how much depended on this answer until she had it. “Okay. Great. When would be good for you? Wednesday maybe? I assume you go see your mom on the weekends?” She was rambling. Slow down, she told herself. Summer was still there—and she’d said yes. Truth be told, she hadn’t chosen the day just out of concern for Summer’s schedule. She didn’t want to wait until the next weekend, regardless of how busy they both were.

  “I go on the weekends, and Thursdays. Wednesday is good.”

  “Perfect.” Given Summer’s easy acceptance, Lauren wished she had gone for something sooner. At least, she had something to look forward to.

  * * * *

  The day was dawning over the city when Lauren walked into her office on Monday morning, enjoying the stillness of the place only interrupted by the sounds of birds when she opened the windows wide. She was usually here before the rest of the team, like the mom taking a moment to herself before the family woke up and filled the home with talk and laughter. As she leaned against the window sill, first cup of coffee in hand, she had to laugh at her silly thoughts. She was looking forward to the workday, the week to start. Lauren wasn’t fooling herself. It wasn’t just because of the new contracts and new challenges that came with signing them.

  A busy Monday meant that she was even closer to Wednesday evening.

  Maryse came in, still wearing headphones, singing alone to the song playing on her iPod. She jumped when she realized she wasn’t alone in the office.

  “Damn, I should have known.” She sighed. “The one day I manage to sneak in early, you’re already here. Don’t you have a home?”

  Lauren took her friend’s griping in stride.

  “We have a busy week coming up. I wanted to make sure everything’s in place.”

  “Every week is busy—and I know you’re a morning person, but do you have to be so chipper at this time of day?” She yawned as she took off her jacket and hung it over her chair.

  Did it show? Lauren wondered, amused. “I slept in on Sunday.”

  Realization dawned on Maryse’s face which was more, and much sooner, than Lauren had intended. “Hang on a second. You didn’t hook up with Jennie again?”

  “No, I didn’t hook up with Jennie again,” Lauren said, imitating Maryse’s tone. “Not that it’s any of your business…but, if you must know, I met someone.”

  Had she lost her mind? Just because they’d had great sex and agreed to do it again, it didn’t mean it was time to meet friends and family. In fact, her latest relationships had made Lauren wary about introducing anyone to her loved ones.

  “No way!”

  “Way. Now let’s get some work done, shall we?”

  Maryse rolled her eyes at her, but she had already powered up her computer.

  “You know you’re not getting away that easily, right?”

  Josh and Corbin walked in at the same time, their arrival making sure Maryse would drop the subject for the time being.

  “Guys. I’m so glad to see you,” Lauren told them. “We have—”

  “A busy week ahead,” a choir echoed back at her.

  “How did you know?”

  Maryse let her off the hook for the next couple of hours, but one time, she leaned in close as they were discussing specifics of their newest project, a hotel/spa complex on the outskirts of town. “How good was she?” she whispered.

  “Sexist. Unnecessary. I repeat, none of your business,” Lauren murmured back to her, but her face was burning. Add to that the heat in other places. Wednesday couldn’t come soon enough.

  She snuck away when Josh ordered lunch for all of them, hiding out in the break room to send a quick text message.

  “Just wanted to say hi. How are you?”

  Okay, that wasn’t all she wanted to say, but it was a start. The answer came a couple of minutes later.

  “Good. You?” With a smiling face. Definitely a start.

  “Can I call you?” Lauren typed, letting her finger hover over the “send” button for a moment.

  “Lauren, do you want a salad? It’s included in the lunch menu.”

  “Salad is fine,” she shouted back before she sent the message, waiting. Two minutes passed by, then five. Maryse stuck her head inside.

  “What are you doing in here?” she inquired. The ringing of her cell phone saved Lauren from having to answer. She waved to Maryse who grinned and closed the door.

  “Hey.”

  “I’m sorry,” Summer said. “Someone knocked on the door and…I thought instead of texting you again, I’d call you back.” She paused. “Did something happen? About Wednesday, if it doesn’t work for you, we can find another day.”

  “No, no, that’s not what I meant. I was just wondering…how’s tomorrow night? I mean, it would be a late dinner, since we have to work late every day of the week anyway, so it doesn’t make a difference. I miss you.” It took a few heartbeats to let it sink in what she’d just said, leaving Summer with a dubious choice of interpretations. She’d probably communicated clearly that she couldn’t wait for them to get naked together once more, and she might have sounded a bit creepy doing it too. “Please, don’t listen to me. I don’t know where that came from. I hope you still want to see me.”

  She wasn’t used to stumbling through conversations like this either, but to Lauren’s relief, Summer seemed to get the meaning.

  “I’d love to see you,” she said. “Tomorrow is even better.” There was a s
mile in her voice.

  “Okay. You’ll find your way? We could order in. I’m afraid I’m not as good a cook as you are.”

  “I made you eggs and bacon.” Summer sounded amused now. “It’s okay though. I am a pretty good cook.” She lowered her voice as if there was someone else around not supposed to hear her next words. “You are good at other things.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I’m looking forward to…” Making you say my name again like you did last night, but she couldn’t say it out loud, not even when there was no one else in the room.

  “Me too,” Summer said. “I can’t wait.”

  * * * *

  Summer laid the phone on her desk and jumped to her feet, nearly knocking over her coffee mug next to a stack of papers she’d finished grading. This was the kind of adrenaline jolt she did not need. Come to think of it, she couldn’t put her mind to Tuesday night either, not yet. She had two more classes to give, one to attend, prepare posting the grades and finish the application for a grant. No time to be idle, or dwell on the fact that Tuesday was real soon.

  Since she didn’t go out often, it was perfectly okay to have one little black dress for the rare occasion. She hadn’t planned on picking up anyone at the museum, but thanked the universe for her foresight to wear lingerie with it. Her underwear drawer didn’t exactly overflow with it either, and now that they were going to meet again…Why hadn’t she thought of this earlier? The answer wasn’t that hard. For too long, she couldn’t bring herself to care. Everything was still so new, unexpected. She was out of her depth, with the way they’d started out, with the question of what a woman like Lauren Schaeffer was doing with her anyway, and for how long she’d want to do it?