Page 20 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

“No.” Bea shook her head, and Bunny wondered what the hell was going on? Were they even having the same conversation? “I don’t want her to hook up with anyone, not even Piper. But she needs to see that people like her for exactly who she is.”

“Ah.” Bunny nodded with understanding. “You listened to what I said after… after the other night.”

“I’m not stupid, Bunny,” Bea said. The severe hardness on her face softened just enough for Bunny to remember the feel of those lips on her skin. “And I’m not cynical enough to believe everyone has some hidden angle, but I’m not going to just ignore good advice when I get it.”

“Angles don’t have to be hidden.” Bunny was certain she hadn’t said hidden. Why couldn’t she just shut up sometimes? And when those blue eyes focused on her, she couldn’t be entirely certain of each word she had said. Words left her brain, replaced with the hot arousal she hadn’t been able to shake.

“Of course they do. The whole implication of an angle is some hidden nefarious agenda.”

Bunny laughed hard, and tried to tear her gaze from Bea so that she wouldn’t see her true reaction. But she couldn’t move away. “Who’s the cynical one now?”

“Look.” Bea closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again. The storm within had definitely calmed, but Bunny sensed very little wind would rile it up once more. “I love my sister, but she doesn’t always see the value of who she is over what she can do for someone. If Piper likes her for her, then I’m willing to do my best not to go ten rounds every time we get together for Jo’s sake.”

“How very magnanimous of you.” Bunny would have snorted, but she sensed that might set Bea off on another tirade.

“If you somehow twist this into some other bullshit angle, I’ll take the whole thing off the table now.”

Bunny laughed. Despite herself, she really did find Bea a fascinating woman and not just a sexy beautiful one-night stand. Bunny always was a sucker for an icy woman who knew exactly who she was and what she wanted. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Good.” Bea nodded as though that were the full stop at the end of their newfound arrangement.

“All right, well I’m going to go to the bathroom before the two of them return, and we can start singing other people’s songs in small-ass booths.” Since when had she decided to stay? Bunny would figure that one out later.

“Ah, there’s the cynicism I’ve come to know.” Bea pointed at Bunny and waggled her finger back and forth.

Bunny shoved her hands in her pockets, shrugged her shoulders, and followed the signs toward the bathroom. She didn’t need to dip her toe any deeper into that well of disaster.

Turning the corner to hopefully the last hallway leading to the bathroom, Bunny stopped and stared.

Jo’s back was pressed against the wall, pinned there by none other than Piper. Piper’s hands were curled into Jo’s hair, and their lips moved against each other’s. Bunny failed to see exactly where one of them stopped and the other started.

She grinned wildly and quietly stepped back around the corner to give them their peace. She could hold back the realization a bit longer.

“That was quick,” Bea said as Bunny sat back down.

“Was a long line. I didn’t want to wait.” Bunny wasn’t sure why she didn’t just tell Bea what she had witnessed, but she supposed if they weren’t even bothering to go into the bathroombefore making out, it wouldn’t be long until Bea came across them the same way Bunny had.

Or someone else did.

“You’re smiling,” Bea accused from across the table.

“I do actually do that, quite regularly.”

“Want to share?”

If someone else did figure them out, that could cause a lot of issues for the Bunny and Piper brand. They had to be more discreet, and for that to happen, Bea and Bunny were going to have to work together. Bunny looked Bea directly in the eyes, making her point clear. “I was just thinking how I am totally up for civility between us to help Jo and Piper spend a little more time together.”

“Good,” Bea said, but her look said she knew Bunny wasn’t telling her everything.

But Bea didn’t need to know all the things that had crossed Bunny’s mind. Including some personal reasons to encourage Jo and Piper to spend more time together. And definitely not including the fact that she had yet to forget Bea’s tangy flavor.

Piper would owe her later.

And maybe—just maybe—this would balance out the whole sister-in-law fiasco.

SEVEN

bea

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