“While I love the Hallmark moment we’re having, I think I need to explain something here, Em. If nothing else, one thing we can count on is that there is always going to be an eight-year-old girl sleeping nearby. She doesn’t ever go away, I can promise you that. That’s just part of being a mom. If you’re afraid to touch me with her in the house, well, then we may be headed for a very polite friendship. Do you think your parents never had sex with you in the house?”
“Yikes, really? You cannot say things like that to me.”
“Think about it.”
“Okay. Not helping.”
Sarah grinned at her patiently. “My point is that we have to live out our lives too. Just like anyone with kids.”
“And if she wakes up?”
“We listen for her and stop. I can always hear when she’s up. It’s like a sixth mommy sense. Though, I should concede that the couch is probably not the best location. Bedrooms have doors and locks we can use…if we wanted to.”
Silence.
Emory raised her gaze. “Do we want to?”
She slipped her hands under the back of Emory’s shirt, moving them up the warm skin of her back while she slowly began to kiss her neck, conveniently at the perfect height for her mouth. “I don’t know, do we?”
“Yes,” Emory breathed. “We really do.”
When they found each other that night, Sarah was more nervous the second time around. She did more thinking this time, wondering if she was doing everything correctly. She felt adventurous but too hesitant to give in to all her impulses. She knew one thing, however. She could never get enough of Emory’s body. It was a wondrous thing. And when Emory touched her in return, all bets were off. She lost track of everything, including her own name. Sex, she decided, was more than deserving of all the attention the world paid to it and then some.
As she awoke, Sarah heard the water in her master shower running. She raised her head and stared at the clock. Just after seven a.m. She pulled on a T-shirt and walked down the hall, peeking in on Grace, who was curled up and happily dozing. As it should be.
It was Grace’s last day of summer vacation and Sarah planned to let her enjoy a leisurely morning free of chores or errands. Maybe she would make her pancakes. Knowing Grace wouldn’t rise for at least another hour, giving Emory plenty of time to get ready for the day, she made her way back to her own room and knocked quietly on the bathroom door. When she didn’t receive an answer, she poked her head in. “Em?”
“Morning, sleepyhead.” Emory pulled the shower curtain back. “I was wondering when you were going to wake up.” Standing under the stream of water, Emory’s near perfect body glistened, prompting Sarah to remind herself to play it cool, which was easier said than done. True, Sarah had seen Emory in a state of undress before, but never all at once like this when her head was clear. It was a sight to behold. “Come in here with me? We could save water. It’s important to be conscientious.”
“Um, tempting, very tempting but…”
As Sarah trailed off, Emory tilted her head. “But? Tell me.”
“I don’t know why I’m shy all of a sudden. It’s not like you haven’t seen me naked before and then some.”
“And then some,” Emory reemphasized, smiling wickedly at her. “Get in here, so I can show you how amazing you look without clothes on.”
Sarah nodded silently, but still didn’t feel entirely sure of herself. She knew she was decent enough looking. A solid six. Maybe a seven on a good day. Lucy, from the restaurant, now she was a ten. Emory was a seventy-nine.
Sarah gathered her confidence. Time to turn off her overactive brain. She could feel Emory’s eyes on her as she slipped the T-shirt over her head. She stepped into the shower and underneath the stream of hot water, feeling a little bit better once Emory’s arms encircled her waist.
“Do you realize that I’m more attracted to you than I have been to anyone in my entire life?”
Sarah blinked at the lunacy of the comment. “That can’t be true.”
“By a long shot, actually. You’re a mystery to me, Sarah Matamoros. There are times when you seem like the most self-assured woman on the planet, and others when you seem to doubt yourself for reasons I can’t fathom. I’d give anything for you to understand how wonderful you are across the board and sexy for days.”
“Sexy too?” Sarah was starting to get into this. She cupped Emory’s ass and nipped lightly at her chin.
“Very sexy,” she said through hazy eyes. “In fact, I’m scheduled to meet Lucy in twenty minutes at the office for a work session. And because I can’t seem to keep my hands off of you, I’m going to be good and late.”
“First time?”
“Actually, yes.”
“Do you think the sun will still rise?”
“I’m finding I really don’t care.” Emory offered Sarah a smile that would keep her heart soaring for the remainder of the day and then some.
Chapter Thirteen
It was the week after Labor Day and Sarah loved life. School had started, and there was that new sense of purpose in the air that always came with it. The weather was turning colder, and she could hardly wait for full-fledged, leaves-falling-from-the-trees autumn to finally arrive. It was definitely her favorite season and always managed to get her blood pumping. Maybe she would purchase a new leather jacket for the occasion, something a little more cutting edge than her green cotton windbreaker. Who knew?
Grace seemed to be enjoying her first week in the fourth grade and had taken up with a whole new crop of kids. Emory still got first dibs on all the latest developments in her social life, but Sarah comforted herself in the fact that Grace still seemed to choose her for almost everything else.
Shaking herself from her thoughts, Sarah focused instead on the visitor in her office.
“One last question and I think we’ll have all we need for the article.”
Sarah nodded and smiled politely at the friendly looking young man who sat across the desk from her. In actuality, she was thrilled to be getting a feature article in the Union-Tribune about Immaculate Home’s expansion and would sit and talk to this reporter until the cows not only came home, but took off again. The exposure from the write-up could give the business an incredible shot in the arm, and she knew she had Emory and her press release of wonder to thank for it. It turned out there really was something to this newswire business.
The young reporter pushed his glasses up on his nose and scribbled a few notes before continuing. “So just to wrap things up, what makes Immaculate Organization different from say California Closets or The Container Store? You offer very similar services.”
“That’s true, we do.” Sarah came around and perched on the corner of her desk. She loved this question because the answer was the lynchpin in what made her mother’s parent company successful. “There’s a certain amount of hands-on, personal attention that our clients have grown to expect and depend on. It’s this component that’s kept our company growing each of the twenty-six years we’ve been in business. That one-on-one relationship transfers to this branch of the company as well.”
The reporter reached across the desk and switched off his travel-sized voice recorder. “I think that just about does it. Thank you so much for your time, Ms. Matamoros. The article should run next week.” He picked up his attaché case and headed for the door. “I think we’ll approach your story as the little engine that could and then did. Hometown little guys making good always seem to do well with our readership, and it doesn’t hurt that you’re as passionate and likable as you are. Get ready. Sometimes these feature stories can attract more attention than you realize. I hope you have the manpower lined up once that phone starts ringing.”