Chapter 5 #2
“You guessed black,” Keena said quietly.
“Yeah, you look like someone who thinks flavored coffee with all the additions are unnecessary.” Brice shrugged, but the twinkle in her eyes was bright.
“You’ve been judging me?” Keena arched an eyebrow at her.
“I mean you always have such a serious expression, I didn’t take you for a caramel latte with extra caramel and whip cream type of girl.” Brice giggled and tried for an innocent expression.
Keena laughed. The sound surprised both of them. Brice blinked before her grin widened even more.
“There it is,” she said proudly.
“What?” Keena took a sip of the coffee. It was perfect.
“Your laugh,” Brice said. She leaned against the counter and studied Keena.
“I don’t laugh that much,” Keena admitted.
“I’ve noticed,” she said. She took another sip and sighed.
Keena didn’t know what else to say at the moment. It wasn’t that often she put herself in social situations anymore. She preferred the quiet and the solitude of her cabin when she wasn’t working.
“Thank you,” she decided to say. The coffee was really good. It was rich and smooth. It was hot enough to chase away any lingering chill from outside.
Lizzie used to tease her relentlessly about black coffee.
One day I’m going to convince you to have some fun with coffee. Live a little, babe.
Keena’s fingers tightened slightly around the mug. Brice noticed immediately.
“Is it too strong? I can make you another cup,” she said.
“No, it’s fine.” Keena cursed mentally.
Brice studied her for another second before nodding. She pushed off the counter and crossed to the living room. Instead of sitting on the couch, she grabbed two enormous floor pillows stacked neatly in a basket in the corner. She dropped one of them onto the thick rug before claiming one herself.
“Come. Sit with me. I never sit on the couch when the fire is burning,” she said. She tucked one leg beneath herself and leaned comfortably against the front of the sofa. “It’s much cozier down here.”
She patted the empty pillow beside her. Keena stared at it, then at Brice then the fire. Her wolf gave an eager little nudge.
Against every instinct that screamed she should leave, Keena crossed the room and lowered herself onto the waiting pillow. She just hoped that she looked normal while doing it. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been invited somewhere to socialize.
She realized that she was close enough to feel Brice’s body heat, but far enough to where their shoulders didn’t touch. Her wolf grumbled, she wanted to be closer to Brice.
“This is my favorite spot in the entire apartment,” Brice said. She curled her hands around the mug and took a sip. Her eyes shifted over toward the window.
“I can see why,” Keena murmured. Outside the windows, snowflakes drifted lazily beneath the streetlights.
“I love just watching the snow. Or when it rains, pulling up a pillow and enjoying the gloomy days,” Brice sighed. The silence that settled between them wasn’t uncomfortable.
Keena pulled her eyes away from the windows.
She took in a few picture frames that were resting on the coffee table.
One picture caught her eye. It showed four smiling faces with one of them being Brice.
It had to be her family during Christmas time.
There was a massive fully decorated tree behind them.
“That’s my family,” Brice said. She leaned forward and snagged the photo.
A wistful smile appeared on her face as she gazed down at it.
Keena leaned over and took in the handsome family.
Brice appeared younger, in it her smile was just as bright.
Beside her stood another woman with similar features and a silly grin. “This is my sister.”
“Carmella,” Keena murmured.
“She insists she’s the sister with all the good looks.”
Keena looked between the two sisters and shook her head.
“I think she’s mistaken,” Keena said softly. Not that Carmella was ugly or anything. She was a beautiful woman, but Keena’s attention was captivated by the woman who sat next to her.
“Well, thank you,” Brice said almost shyly. She pointed to the couple standing next to her and Carmella. “These are our parents.”
“They still live in Boston?” Keena asked.
“Yeah and can you believe my mom will mail me coupons,” Brice chuckled.
“Coupons?” Keena didn’t understand. Why would her mother randomly mail her coupons? For what?
“She apparently thinks that even though I am thirty-three years old, I don’t know how to bargain shop. So when she finds good coupons, she sends them to me.” Brice rolled her eyes and groaned. She placed the picture frame back on the table.
“Do you know how to shop?” Keena asked. Her mother had been deceased for years. Maybe Brice’s mother had picked up on something that was lacking regarding her daughter. Keena was sure mother’s always meant best.
“I’ll have you know I clipped three coupons on my own back around Thanksgiving. Saved me three dollars and fifty-five cents!” Brice exclaimed dramatically.
“So your mother was right?” Keena arched an eyebrow at her. Brice gasped even more dramatically.
“Are you taking her side?” If Brice had pearls on, Keena was sure she’d be clutching them by now. Her eyes were wide and filled with a devious glint.
“No…I mean…don’t mothers know things about their kids?” Keena was flustered. She was enjoying herself and even felt her lips curved up in a smile again. How had Brice done this?
“You have a beautiful smile. You should do it more often,” Brice said softly.
Keena wasn’t prepared for that. She glanced over at Brice and didn’t know how to respond. It wasn’t the first time someone had told her that. Her hand tightened on her mug. She glanced down at the dark brew and inhaled slowly before blowing out her breath.
“Thanks,” she whispered. The past five years had been a struggle. She just didn’t understand why the Moon Goddess would bring such light and warmth into her life only to take it away.
The logs settled with a sharp crack and orange light danced across the room. They fell into a comfortable silence where music flowed over them along with the warmth from the fire.
“What about your family?” Brice asked softly.
“My parents passed away a long time ago,” Keena replied. “My father was killed in a pack incident when I was about twenty. My mother died a few months later.” Keena sniffed. “They said my mother died of a broken heart.”
“Oh, my…I’m so sorry.” Brice’s small hand landed on her knee. It was a simple touch, but it conveyed her true sorrow. Keena glanced over at her and didn’t see pity in her eyes. There were tears balancing on her eyelids. “I’m sure they’re together.”
“I know they are. They were fated mates.” Keena smiled softly at the memory of her parents.
She motioned to the room. “If they were here, they’d be dancing.
My mother loved this time of year. They both had a love for music.
I grew up listening to the Temptations, the Stylistics, Al Green, the Spinners… ”
Her voice faded off as more memories of her childhood flooded into her thoughts. Brice gave her knee a squeeze before letting go.
“Your parents had good taste. My parents played the same. I think that’s why most people say I have an old soul when it comes to music. I have no problem blasting The O’Jays, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Minnie Riperton—she’s a favorite of mine.”
“Mine too. I can listen to Teena Marie all day,” Keena admitted. It had been a while since she’d played any kind of music. Her wolf sat up upright. For some strange reason her animal was pleased that she was opening up with Brice. Keena held back rolling her eyes at her animal’s huff.
“Oh, my God! I love Teena!” Laughter bubbled out of Brice. She wiped the lone tear that had escaped her eye. She grinned and that sparkle was back in her eyes. “Who would have thought you’d be a Teena fan!”
“They would have liked you.” The words escaped Keena before she could stop them. She fiddled with her mug. “My mother would have had you playing different songs while my dad would be talking your ear off about books.”
That man had a love for reading. He would have been in her store as much as Lizzie. He’d have her ordering all the classics that he hadn’t been able to get his hands on.
“I would have loved that,” Brice said.
The apartment grew quiet again. Outside the snow continued to fall.
It had picked up a bit and was coming down heavier.
She glanced around the apartment and realized that for the first time in a long while, she wasn’t counting the minutes until she could leave.
She wanted to stay exactly where she was.
Beside the fire.
Beside Brice.
The realization stole her breath. She turned without thinking. Brice had tucked one bare foot beneath the opposite knee and was absently tracing the rim of her mug with her thumb while she gazed into the fire. Firelight painted her brown skin in warm amber tones.
She was beautiful.
Not because her wolf was declaring it, simply because she was.
Brice looked over at her suddenly. Their eyes met. Neither of them looked away.
“What?” Brice asked softly.
Keena realized she’d been staring. She should apologize or say something.
“You’re beautiful,” she whispered. Neither of them moved. The fire crackled softly behind them. Donny Hathaway’s voice floated through the apartment. Keena’s heart pounded. Her wolf had gone utterly still.
Keena slowly set her empty mug on the floor beside the pillow. With a tenderness that surprised even herself, she reached up and gently brushed her fingers along Brice’s soft cheek. Her fingers lingered there. Brice leaned into the touch.
“So soft,” Keena murmured. Brice smiled, her eyes locked in with Keena’s.
“I’ve been keeping up with my skincare routine better lately,” Brice whispered. Keena bit back a chuckle. It was obvious that Brice was nervous, but hell, so was she.
Keena closed the last inch between them. This time, when she kissed Brice, she meant it.