must?”
Bryce shrugged at her. “To have someone to fight for you. To love you that much that they are yours and yours alone.”
“Have you never had that with anyone?”
“No.” Bryce shook her head emphatically. “I don’t know if I could cope with all that emotion.”
Scarlet chuckled. “When the feelings are mutual I’m sure it makes the burden much easier.”
“How about you? Have you ever had anyone you’ve felt that way about?”
“Not yet,” she answered simply. She couldn’t help but let her eyes linger on Bryce’s face, memorizing every sharp angle to her cheekbones and the dimple in her cheek. “But I’m open to the possibility.” She dared to take the bull by the horns. “Would you like to go out with me tonight?”
Bryce stopped in her tracks. “Me?”
Scarlet laughed at her surprise. “Yes, you.”
“What kind of going out are we talking about? You in need of more plastering?”
“I’m asking you on a date, Bryce.” Bryce’s eyes widened. She appeared stunned. “I thought maybe dinner, a drink or two, some sparkling conversation.”
“Why?” Bryce didn’t look at her.
Scarlet was taken aback by the solemn query. The dull light in Bryce’s eyes was haunted by dark shadows, and Scarlet desperately wanted to banish them away. She caught Bryce raising a hand under her ever-present cap to run her finger over the scar that marred her forehead. Scarlet recognized the unconscious nervous gesture and her heart ached.
“I’m asking you out because I think you’re fascinating and gorgeous and are someone I want to get to know more about.” The startled look Bryce shot her at the mention of her looks gave Scarlet a reason to pause. Doesn’t she see that scar doesn’t change anything? It doesn’t alter the fact she’s still an attractive woman at all. She folded her arms across her chest and gave Bryce a playful scowl. “I’m not without interested suitors, you know. I have it on good authority that the minute I miraculously turn straight Gregor will be the first gentleman caller pounding on my door.” She was delighted to see a smile tug at Bryce’s lips.
“His wife might have something to say about that.”
“Well, she’s safe because it’s going to be a very long time before I hand in my lesbian card.” Emboldened by Bryce’s smile, Scarlet reached out to stroke her cheek. Bryce froze at her touch and Scarlet let her hand linger just a little more. “So, what do you say? Will you come out with me?” She trailed a finger down Bryce’s neck slowly, feeling the steady pulse that accelerated at her bold move.
Bryce captured her hand and Scarlet thrilled to her touch. Bryce’s work-roughened fingers were warm against her own and their strength was obvious.
“I’m not very comfortable out in public.”
“Then I’ll pick somewhere quiet and intimate. I’d like to spend time with you outside of work. If it becomes too much for you we can always leave.” Scarlet squeezed Bryce’s hand. “What do you say? Please say yes.” Scarlet watched as Bryce wavered for the longest time then finally capitulated.
“If that’s what you want.”
Her low tone made Scarlet’s insides tremble. “So, can I pick you up at seven?”
Bryce shook her head. “Tell me where you want to go and I’ll meet you there.”
“Bryce, I can come and pick you up. It’s no bother.”
Bryce hesitated, appearing to be at war with herself. Scarlet waited, eyeing her closely, watching the indecision darken her face. Finally, Bryce spoke.
“I don’t ride in cars, Scarlet. I can’t yet. I just… .can’t .”
Startled by this revelation, Scarlet finally realized why her father had asked for her to drop Bryce’s tools over at Trent’s house. She had been visiting her grandma anyway and hadn’t initially thought anything of it. Her father obviously knew though and was sparing Bryce’s feelings. It certainly explained all the buses Bryce traveled to and from work on.
“How
Bryce shrugged at her. “To have someone to fight for you. To love you that much that they are yours and yours alone.”
“Have you never had that with anyone?”
“No.” Bryce shook her head emphatically. “I don’t know if I could cope with all that emotion.”
Scarlet chuckled. “When the feelings are mutual I’m sure it makes the burden much easier.”
“How about you? Have you ever had anyone you’ve felt that way about?”
“Not yet,” she answered simply. She couldn’t help but let her eyes linger on Bryce’s face, memorizing every sharp angle to her cheekbones and the dimple in her cheek. “But I’m open to the possibility.” She dared to take the bull by the horns. “Would you like to go out with me tonight?”
Bryce stopped in her tracks. “Me?”
Scarlet laughed at her surprise. “Yes, you.”
“What kind of going out are we talking about? You in need of more plastering?”
“I’m asking you on a date, Bryce.” Bryce’s eyes widened. She appeared stunned. “I thought maybe dinner, a drink or two, some sparkling conversation.”
“Why?” Bryce didn’t look at her.
Scarlet was taken aback by the solemn query. The dull light in Bryce’s eyes was haunted by dark shadows, and Scarlet desperately wanted to banish them away. She caught Bryce raising a hand under her ever-present cap to run her finger over the scar that marred her forehead. Scarlet recognized the unconscious nervous gesture and her heart ached.
“I’m asking you out because I think you’re fascinating and gorgeous and are someone I want to get to know more about.” The startled look Bryce shot her at the mention of her looks gave Scarlet a reason to pause. Doesn’t she see that scar doesn’t change anything? It doesn’t alter the fact she’s still an attractive woman at all. She folded her arms across her chest and gave Bryce a playful scowl. “I’m not without interested suitors, you know. I have it on good authority that the minute I miraculously turn straight Gregor will be the first gentleman caller pounding on my door.” She was delighted to see a smile tug at Bryce’s lips.
“His wife might have something to say about that.”
“Well, she’s safe because it’s going to be a very long time before I hand in my lesbian card.” Emboldened by Bryce’s smile, Scarlet reached out to stroke her cheek. Bryce froze at her touch and Scarlet let her hand linger just a little more. “So, what do you say? Will you come out with me?” She trailed a finger down Bryce’s neck slowly, feeling the steady pulse that accelerated at her bold move.
Bryce captured her hand and Scarlet thrilled to her touch. Bryce’s work-roughened fingers were warm against her own and their strength was obvious.
“I’m not very comfortable out in public.”
“Then I’ll pick somewhere quiet and intimate. I’d like to spend time with you outside of work. If it becomes too much for you we can always leave.” Scarlet squeezed Bryce’s hand. “What do you say? Please say yes.” Scarlet watched as Bryce wavered for the longest time then finally capitulated.
“If that’s what you want.”
Her low tone made Scarlet’s insides tremble. “So, can I pick you up at seven?”
Bryce shook her head. “Tell me where you want to go and I’ll meet you there.”
“Bryce, I can come and pick you up. It’s no bother.”
Bryce hesitated, appearing to be at war with herself. Scarlet waited, eyeing her closely, watching the indecision darken her face. Finally, Bryce spoke.
“I don’t ride in cars, Scarlet. I can’t yet. I just… .can’t .”
Startled by this revelation, Scarlet finally realized why her father had asked for her to drop Bryce’s tools over at Trent’s house. She had been visiting her grandma anyway and hadn’t initially thought anything of it. Her father obviously knew though and was sparing Bryce’s feelings. It certainly explained all the buses Bryce traveled to and from work on.
“How
Similar Books
