Джерри Хилл - Gulf Breeze

"Damn the woman," she murmured.

But when Pat reappeared, she still looked like a drowned rat. It was Carly's turn to laugh.

"Have you looked in the mirror?"

"No. In my mind, I still look perfectly groomed."

"Trust me, those words do not fit this…look," Carly said with yet another smile.

"I believe you. Now, if you're done having your fun with me, can we turn on the heat? I'm actually freezing to death."

Carly noticed the flushed appearance and saw that Pat was actually shivering. She frowned. The woman would be lucky if she didn't come down with the flu."

"You need to get out of those clothes." As soon as the words left Carly's mouth, she saw the grin Pat flashed her.

"If you insist. I thought you would never ask."

Carly decided to ignore the comment. It was safer that way.

"I have nothing that will fit you, though. And unfortunately, the washer and dryer won't be installed until the utility room is finished downstairs."

"How about those cute baggy sweats you had on the other day?" Pat asked.

Cute? They were her oldest pair.

"And a pair of socks," Pat added.

Carly looked down at Pat's feet. "You wear what? Size twelve?"

"Nine."

Carly pointed at her own feet. "Seven."

"That'll do."

Carly shrugged. She hadn't washed the sweats, but she doubted Pat would care. They were at least dry. She found a thick pair of socks, knowing they would still be small.

Pat disappeared into the bathroom. Carly poured them each a glass of wine, then found two cans of soup and heated that. When Pat returned, she couldn't help but laugh. The sweats reached just below her calf and the socks were stretched tight over her feet.

"May I borrow your camera?" Carly asked.

"No, you may not. And you're not to tell anyone about this."

"You actually look adorable," she said before she could stop herself.

Pat's reply died on her lips. Her blue eyes locked on green and she saw embarrassment, followed by confusion in the other woman's eyes.

"Well, I thought they looked adorable on you, too," Pat said quietly.

Carly didn't try to hide the blush this time. She simply handed Pat a glass of wine and went to stir the soup.

"I thought a bowl of hot soup might warm you up some."

"That'll be great."

"Do you think any of the shots will turn out?" Carly asked, trying to find a safe subject to talk about. She cursed her traitorous body. She wanted to ignore the attraction she felt for this woman but inappropriate thoughts seemed to form words and leave her mouth without her even being conscious of it. Adorable? What are you thinking?

"Maybe. The light was better than I thought. But I never got the young. The mother was completely on the nest."

"Well, I'm sorry I made you do that. Especially if we don't end up using them."

"Maybe later, when they're older, we can take more. You can always use them in your next brochure," Pat suggested.

They sat across from each other at the small table, eating the soup silently. Carly refilled their glasses for the third time. She felt she was giving Pat the wrong signals. She had been practically flirting with her. Well, as much as Carly knew how to flirt. Actually, she wasn't flirting. She was just reacting. But she had to stop things right now. When Pat got up to put her empty bowl in the sink, Carly took a swallow of wine before speaking.

"I think we should talk," she said.

"Talk?"

"I just wanted you to know that I'm not…well, I'm not interested in you," she said.

Pat leaned against the counter and crossed her arms, waiting for Carly to continue.

"I think we can be friends," she said. "Despite the outcome of our first couple of meetings," she added with a small smile. "But, I'm not interested in anything else. Just in case you were."

"In case I was interested in you?"

"Yes. I just wanted to make sure you were clear about that. I'm not…I'm not attracted to you. At all," she added. "So, in case you were thinking that I was…"

"Well, it's not really up to you, is it?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I am attracted to you. You don't really have a say in that."

"Of course I do! There will never be anything between us. Trust me."

"Okay, I trust you," Pat said. But she walked purposefully to Carly and bent down, kissing her full on the mouth before the other woman knew what was happening. "I've got to go. Thanks for the dry clothes. And the soup."

Carly sat there, stunned. Absolutely stunned. She heard Pat leave the bathroom, presumably with her wet jeans, heard her walk quietly down the stairs, heard the front door open and close, heard the Jeep start up and leave.

Only then did she dare raise her fingers to her mouth and touch it where Pat's lips had rested. The kiss had been too brief, too hard to be passionate. It was a kiss of possession, of ownership.

"Shit. I can't believe she did that."

But yes, of course she could believe it. She had no doubt Pat Ryan would go after whatever, whomever she wanted.

"I'm in big trouble," she murmured.

It took Pat forever to get warm. Even a hot shower did little to chase the chill. She poured a small glass of brandy and huddled in her own sweats, covered with a blanket.

"You actually kissed her. What in the hell were you thinking?"

She was actually thinking that Carly Cambridge was the first woman she'd been attracted to on more than a sexual level. There was certainly that, she noted with a smile. But, there was an energy between them. Carly excited her. She doubted she would ever be bored in her company. And that had always been the problem. When she was younger, she'd try to have relationships. But beyond the sex, there was nothing there. And she soon lost patience. She grew restless. She needed their conversations to be as passionate as their nighttime activities. And they never were.

Pat knew she attracted her fair share of women just on her looks alone. And years ago, when she had the energy, she took advantage of that. But she always craved more. She wanted what Angel and Lannie had. A home. Someone to share her life with. Someone she could relate to on all levels.

And for the first time, she'd met someone who actually stirred her soul. And she was scared. What if Carly had been telling the truth? What if she wasn't attracted to her?

"That would hardly be fair," she said out loud.

Carly was dreading the trip to Corpus. She'd made up excuses in her mind to call Pat and cancel. But, she had to meet the printers. And Pat had the prints.

Now, as she sat on the ferry and crossed Aransas Bay, nervousness set in. She wanted to be angry with Pat. In fact, when she'd gotten up that morning, she was angry. But as the hours passed, so did her anger. It wasn't fair to blame Pat. She knew nothing of her past. She didn't know that Carly had vowed to never give herself to another soul ever again.

Oh, but that kiss. The more she thought about it, the longer it lasted. And it was never long enough.

"Shit."

She drove off the ferry, grabbing her scribbled directions. She found the streets with ease, finally pulling up behind Pat's Jeep. Before she could get out, Pat bounded down the stairs. Shorts today. Great. Just what I need. Those long legs tempting me. Carly noted that Pat had her sweatpants in her hands, neatly folded.

"Hi," Pat greeted. She slammed the door and Carly backed out without saying a word. "Beautiful day, isn't it? I never thought we'd see the sun again."

Carly kept her mouth closed. She could at least pretend to be angry.

"Flu symptoms haven't set in, in case you were worried," Pat offered.

Carly only nodded.

"Oh, please. You can't possibly still be mad about last night."