Chapter 20 Greta
Greta
When Greta disconnected, she found a possibly too posh hotel in Center City and reserved a room with a king bed for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.
It had a modern version of a claw-foot tub, pillow-top beds, and a view of the city.
Plus, the hotel had twenty-four-hour room service, two restaurants, and a spa on site.
Maybe Kaelee would be offended by the fact that Greta was fond of luxury hotels; some people were turned off by that.
Maybe spending several days together would let them discover they were actually incompatible.
Maybe it would ease the tension between them.
I doubt that.
“Headed out early for the weekend,” she told Ian as she closed down everything. He was at his desk outside her office. Few people were still here, but when she worked, he worked.
“At noon? Did you decide what to do? Are you going to visit family? Friends? Stay in the city?” Ian was seemingly checking if she needed somewhere to go, and she appreciated it. They weren’t outright trying to declare themselves bosom buds, but there had been a definite turn toward friendship.
“None of that. I’m going away with someone I went … that I saw on a couple … nights out,” Greta blurted out. “I’ll have tracking off on my phone.”
“Oh? Do tell.” He followed her into the office and shut the door, so whatever they discussed wouldn’t be overheard. “What’s she like?”
“She gorgeous, very my type, smart but works out a lot.” Greta sighed before she could stop herself. “Just … everything I want in a woman.”
“And you’re going away for the long weekend,” Ian clarified.
“She lives in DC.” Greta stared at him as if she could somehow transfer the information into his brain without saying it. “It’s complicated.”
“Oh?” He raised both brows. “How complicated, Greta?”
“Complicated,” she repeated. “We met before … before we knew we had any connection. She’s a writer, actually.”
“I see. That could be awkward if you were to run into her at work or something and it was a surprise.” He shook his head. His tone was half questioning as he said, “Like ‘people awkwardly running to the bathroom to figure it out’ awkward?”
“Exactly like that.” Greta felt like her face was on fire. In for one detail, in for all of them. She blurted out, “The lunch with Emily was to discuss this. She deserved to hear it from me.”
Ian made a sympathetic noise.
“I’ll have a handle on it by next week.” She shook her head. “I thought I was done with relationships or even situationships, but I want this to work. Maybe it’ll turn out to be nothing, but I need to go find out. Either way, I will need you to step up as her editor.”
Ian nodded. “Oh, on unrelated notes, I do have an editorial letter and line notes on K.C.’s second book ready to go.”
Greta laughed at his wide-eyed, faux-innocent expression.
“I didn’t even realize I was ready to move on, but I am.
I want … I want the big romance, the person who is my automatic holiday party date, and all of it.
I also want her to be that person. I mean, maybe we won’t click if we are together for four days, though. ”
“Go get your mystery date,” Ian encouraged. “She’s a lucky woman to catch your eye. I hope she knows it.”
“Maybe it’ll be nothing, but…” Greta smiled at him, letting her hope leak out more. “I rarely click with people so quickly. I have to see what that means. If I don’t, I’ll kick myself later.”
After she left, Greta headed home and packed lightly, taking no work at all with her. This weekend she was not an editor, especially not Kaelee’s editor. She was a woman who just wanted to be loved, to be held, to matter because of who she was.
A few hours later, she was standing in a hotel lobby, thinking back to another hotel where she sat and waited for Kaelee. This time, Greta checked in and sent the room number to Kaelee over text with a message to come up when she arrived.
Kaelee: About twenty minutes out.
Greta: Dinner out or room service?
Kaelee: Room.
So Greta gave in to her impulses, ordered a few options on room service, and asked for it to be delivered in forty minutes.
Then she unpacked. Once that was all settled, she still had ten minutes left, so she drew a nice bath and flipped through the hotel television options.
Her nerves were less settled than when she’d met Kaelee as a stranger, less even than when she’d met her at the train station.
Now, everything was different. They’d chatted, talked about mundane and important things.
This was real, though, for both of them.
We both have the power to wreck the other’s career.
Neither of us would. I believe that.
But it was a leap of faith, trusting each other, hoping that trust was not misplaced.
Greta mulled it over as she debated the far less weighty topic of pulling on one of the plush robes.
She decided she’d keep on her dress instead.
She’d peeled off her tights and boots so she had on only a dress and underthings.
Once room service had come and gone, she’d be able to take off her dress and get more comfortable.
Fifteen minutes later, a light tap on the door announced Kaelee’s arrival.
Greta looked through the peephole and then opened the door.
Foolish or not, Greta drank in the sight of her.
She had a gym bag, a garment bag, and a backpack, but no actual suitcase.
Her eyes were weary, and she looked even more muscular, as if she’d been taking her stress out at the gym.
“Hey.” Greta leaned in and brushed her lips over Kaelee’s in a brief kiss. The mere touch of lips ought not make her heart or body sing, but she’d thought they’d never kiss again. Her heart tightened in joy.
Kaelee’s smile came over her face like she was dropping worries aside. “Hey yourself.”
Greta didn’t offer to take her bag, remembering her tension over that last time. “Long drive?”
“Not as bad as I expected for the night before Thanksgiving. I guess I left early enough in the day to miss the post-work chaos.” Kaelee’s expression belied the casual words.
Greta opened the closet for Kaelee to deposit everything. “I ordered a mini buffet for dinner. Should be here in about ten.”
Kaelee smiled widely. “You’re perfect. Have I told you that today?”
“There’s a bath ready, too. Should be cool enough by now,” Greta continued.
The smile on Kaelee’s face morphed into something less affectionate and more ravenous. “Is it big enough for us both?”
“It is.” Greta stepped back, slightly out of reach now. “I suspect answering the door naked is not a great idea, though, so I need to wait on room service before I can join you.”
“Do you mind if…” Kaelee glanced at the bathroom door.
“Not at all. I can bring you something to eat when it gets here.”
“You are a goddess. Do you hear me?” Kaelee stepped forward, grabbed her by the hips, and pulled her close. “Is this okay? I mean, you kissed me, but … tell me your rules.”
“No rules.” Greta tilted her head upward. “This weekend I am just a woman who went away with someone she hopes will seduce her.”
Kaelee stared at her for a second. “So this is just a weekend reprieve?”
Greta shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I hope it’s more, but can we see how we get along? Maybe we aren’t as compatible as we thought.”
The look Kaelee gave her was somewhere between amused and sympathetic. “Because weeks of texting about everything didn’t clarify that?”
“I like you, Kaelee Carpenter. I like talking to you and texting, and I like that I was the person you called today. And if you’re willing to have Ian as your editor—”
“I am,” Kaelee interrupted.
“Then we can start with the weekend,” Greta finished.
Not breaking eye contact, Kaelee said, “I’ll take it. I already want more than a few days. You get that, right?”
“Even though neither of us do that?” Greta whispered. “I have spent so many hours trying to make sense of us.…”
Kaelee tightened her hold on her hips as she slanted her mouth over Greta’s and kissed her. The feel of her body clutching Greta like she was a life raft in a storm was enough to erase any lingering hesitation. Physically, they were aligned. That was a truth unchanged.
Greta’s hands found themselves on Kaelee’s shoulders, and then one hand snaked upward to hold Kaelee in place, making their kiss last just a moment longer.
When she pulled back, Greta admitted, “I have been so worried about you. I don’t know why they’re back in your life or what will happen, but after your binge drink—”
“I am right here,” Kaelee said. Her voice was rough as she added, “Not drinking. Not running far away from you. Right here with you for the next few days. I need to hide for a few days and think, too, and I’m grateful you’re here with me while I do that.”
“Then get naked and relax in the tub while I get you dinner,” Greta suggested. Once Kaelee nodded, Greta added, “Let me take care of you tonight. We can talk or you can share whatever you had in that envelope, or—”
“Or you’ll let me have tonight just to have you?” Kaelee interrupted. “I want to have control over my life, clear my head, and sex does that for me.”
“If that’s what you need.”
“I need you, Greta. Can I have you?”
Greta nodded. “First, soak away the aches from driving in holiday traffic. Then, I’m all yours.”
“Gladly.”
Once Kaelee went into the bathroom and shut the door, Greta leaned against the wall with a huge smile on her face.
She wants more, too. I’m not in this alone.
Her feelings bubbled up like a well of happiness, and she stayed that way for several moments.
Kaelee had called her, sought her out, and she was here.
When the knock at the door and call of “Room service” came, Greta looked out the peephole again and then cracked the door. She held out her hand for the slip, but she kept her body half in the doorway, so she was standing with one foot behind the door. “I have it from here.”
The man said, “Of course. If you prefer, I could wheel it in to—”
“No need. Just leave it right there.” Greta signed the slip, keeping the door barely opened still. She didn’t expect Kaelee to step out of the bathroom, but just in case, Greta was being careful.
Once the man left and was several doorways away, Greta pulled the cart into the room.
“Food’s here,” she called out. Then she tossed the locks on the door.
She poured two glasses of water and grabbed a bowl of fresh berries.
Tapping on the door to the bathroom, she asked, “Can I join you? Or do you need—”
“You can come in,” Kaelee called out.
Greta paused just inside the door of the massive bathroom.
The vision before her made her need to pause and take it all in.
Kaelee was naked in the oversized tub. Her head was tilted back, resting on the side of the tub.
Her eyes were half closed in relaxation, and the swell of her breasts was visible above the water.
“You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?” Greta met Kaelee’s amused gaze.
Kaelee laughed. “Not at all. I have plans for you.” She sat up, water sluicing over her breasts as she lifted herself partway out of the water. “What’s that?”
“Berries. Water. I thought you might want a nibble before you got out.”
Kaelee smirked. “Happy to nibble on you. You ought to get naked first.…”
“Be good.” Greta laughed and held out a raspberry.
Watching Greta the whole time, Kaelee came to the opposite side of the tub, so she was kneeling in front of Greta, and parted her lips. She sucked the berry into her mouth and then said, “I need you closer than this.”
“I’m trying to take care of you,” Greta protested. “Hot bath. Healthy meal.”
“Not what I need, darlin’.” She reached up with a dripping wet hand and cupped Greta’s breast. “Not what you need either, is it?”
Greta’s breath hitched.
Kaelee slid her other hand under the skirt of Greta’s dress and upward until her hand was over Greta’s panties. “Here I am all naked and wet, and you’re out there fully dressed. Something’s wrong with this situation, don’t you think?”
“You’re terrible,” Greta breathed.
“No, I’m not. Let me remind you how good I am. Take off the dress, darlin’. These things hiding all that lusciousness away from me are already wet. No sense keeping them on now.”
Greta peeled her dress off and tossed it behind her.
“Look at that.” Kaelee smiled. “My fingerprints are right there. Do you see that?” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Greta’s underwear. “Right there. What was the expression?” She paused like she was thinking. Then she put a hand on Greta’s hip. “I licked it; now it’s mine.”
“Kaelee…”
Then Kaelee leaned forward and licked Greta over her panties. “I licked that, Greta. It’s mine now.”