Page 23 of Always Another Sunset

When she had said Chris left for the mainland while JC stayed, and that was why they split, she never guessed Bella would take the statement to heart. Their situation was different, but JC hadn’t wanted to take on the tough topic last night and in hindsight kicked herself a little. What the two of them were going to do needed to be addressed soon. Instead, they had stuck to light topics. Like Roxie, for example.What a good dog,she thought, paddling through the small waves.She’s so calm.JC knew from experience most dogs weren’t. She would have expected Roxie to be nervous or restless at least, but instead, she rested on her bed beside Bella’s work table. It could have been the drugs, but those would have worn off long ago.Maybe she’s been different today.A hint of worry tickled at JC. The last thing she wanted was for Bella to be stuck at the house with an unruly dog.

As they slipped onto the sand at the other shore, JC quickly disembarked. Her phone was in her dry bag lashed to the tip of her kayak, but she couldn’t dig it out until all her clients were safely standing on the sand. While she was helping each of them along, Blake came up beside her. “Everything okay?” he said under his breath, making JC pause. A look around, and she realized her movements had been rushed and even bordering on unfriendly.

With a sigh, she nodded. “Sorry,” she said. “Yes, everything is fine. Just eager to check in with Bella.”

Blake grinned. “And that’s what I wanted you to say,” he said. “She makes you happy, so I get it.”

Unable to resist his smile, JC returned it. “She really does,” she said, feeling a sense of longing to be near Bella again. “All I want is to be with her.”

“Well, I don’t think she was much into kayaking,” Blake said. “So maybe you need to take a couple of extra days off.” JC started to protest, but Blake waved it away. “The new guy Shaun has been looking for some extra time on the water, and the groups are small the next few days.” What Blake said was true. Considering the time of year, the bookings were slower than usual. Normally, JC would be concerned, but she welcomed the opportunity to take some extra time under the circumstances. Even though neither said it the evening before, Bella’s nights in Oahu were numbered. If they had to separate soon, JC wanted to make the most of the time they had left.

JC nodded. “Thank you, Blake,” she said. “I will take you up on that offer.”

Clapping JC on the back, Blake smiled ear to ear. “Good,” he said. “What will you do?”

Thinking about his question, JC thought of a few things she would like to do with Bella, but those only made her feel a blush coming on. Instead, she focused on the more tangible. “Maybe a drive around the island,” she said. “We could take Roxie in the jeep and spend the day exploring.” The idea grew on JC by the second. “I don’t think Bella has seen the North Shore or anything beyond the South Coast.”

Blake scoffed. “Then that’s a no-brainer,” he said. “Turtle Bay, Waimea Valley…” He laughed. “Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck!”

JC laughed with him. The man was spot on. Taking Bella, and of course, Roxie too, to more remote and more beautiful places than Waikiki and Hawaii Kai seemed almost mandatory.Especially if she is leaving soon, she thought, but then pushed it away. Her goal would be to enjoy every minute they had left. Bella had yet to mention what her plans were, and for the moment, JC would hope for a lot more time together.

23

Relaxing on one of the loungers beside JC’s pool, Bella tried to resolve the many questions swirling around in her mind. When and how she would tell JC her predicament was foremost. She could not deny the literary conference was coming up. Bella knew her editor was right and that she must go, but now nine days to get ready for the event was not a long time. Although she would rather swing home to Portland and pick up some fresh clothes, that would shorten her time in Hawaii with JC and Roxie even more.But am I overreacting?she wondered.Just because I have to go back to the mainland for a while doesn’t mean we are over. Lots of people have long-distance relationships.Still, a part of her worried. Especially with the sudden addition of Chris, JC’s ex, to the equation. Although they steered clear of serious topics the night before, tonight looked like it would need to be different. It seemed such a shame for what looked to be another beautiful evening in paradise.

Closing her eyes to soak up the last bit of late afternoon sun, Bella was surprised to hear the sliding doors from the house open. Even Roxie let out a little “woof” at the unexpected visitor. Sitting up to look, Bella saw JC coming out onto the patio, and she carried a glass of white wine and a beer. “Hey there,” she said. “Didn’t mean to spook you two but Blake sent me home early.”

Bella smiled, trying desperately not to feel self-conscious that she was in a small two-piece swimsuit. “It’s a great surprise,” she said and couldn’t help but scoop up her beach towel on the lounger beside her and rest it across her midsection. “I wasn’t expecting you home for another hour at least.”

JC joined her, handing over the glass of white wine before settling in the lounger beside Bella. “I know,” she said with a shrug. “And I should have sent a text, but I kind of wanted to surprise you a little.” She smiled playfully, but Bella noticed a bit of heat too. “Maybe catch you sunbathing, just like this.”

Fighting off her self-consciousness, Bella tossed her head, feeling a blush come on but liking JC’s line of thinking. “Oh really?” she asked. “And why is that?”

“Because you’re sexy as hell,” JC replied without hesitation before taking a sip of her beer. “And I can’t stop thinking about you.” This time, Bella couldn’t hold back the blush or the tingle that ran through her body at the woman’s words.

Daring to be bold, she held JC’s gaze. “So here I am,” she said. “What are you going to do about it?”

Just then, JC’s cellphone rang in her pocket. “Shit,” JC muttered, fishing it out. “Sorry.” Bella watched her look at the screen and frown. “Seriously, Bella, I am so sorry. But it’s Blake, and I need to take this.”

Disappointed at the bad timing but knowing it wasn’t JC’s fault, Bella nodded. “Of course,” she said. “I hope everyone is okay.”

JC answered the call. “Hey, Blake,” she said. “What’s going on?” The woman listened for a minute. “Oh, okay, hold on.” She stood and started toward the house. “I have that on my laptop here.” She glanced at Bella. “Two minutes,” she mouthed and then was gone. Bella sighed but knew JC was worth the wait and looked at the still blue water of the pool. The evening was warm, and JC’s comments only made her feel warmer. The water seemed to call to her suddenly.

She looked at Roxie. “I think I need to cool off,” she said to the dog, and Roxie raised her eyebrows but otherwise didn’t respond. Bella laughed as she stood. “And you stay right there.”

Bravely leaving the towel behind, Bella walked to the steps leading into the pool. In a moment, she descended into the cool water. It felt good against her hot skin, and she sighed. Having a swimming pool was a perk she truly appreciated. JC had made a good choice picking the little house where she lived, and although Bella didn’t know what the place looked like before the renovation, she loved the house now. It was the best environment she had for writing in a long time, if not forever. Leaving, even if temporarily, would be hard.

Easing through the water, Bella heard the patio doors open again and looked to see JC walking toward her. “That looks fantastic,” JC said, stripping off her tank top to show the bikini she always wore for work and her fantastic body. “Mind if I join you?”

Bella took in the sight of the sexy woman who for some reason truly seemed to desire her. “I don’t mind at all,” she said. “I would love it.”

Not sure ifit was the warmth of the evening, the heady smell of plumerias filling her backyard, or seeing Bella in a bikini in the pool, but suddenly JC wanted the woman more than ever. They had been flirting with having sex for what felt like forever, and she wasn’t sure she could hold back any longer. The shared kisses on the couch, the heated looks over dinner… they all added up to an ache inside JC that would not subside.

Tossing her shirt aside, JC moved to the edge of the pool and made a shallow dive into the water, gliding under the surface until she reached Bella. Coming up for air beside her, they were face to face. Looking into Bella’s face, the woman was biting her lip, and JC saw the same desire she felt reflected in her eyes. “Hi there,” JC breathed as the cool water dripped down her face, unsure what to do next.

A sultry smile crossed Bella’s face. “Hi,” she said. “Did I mention I’m glad you’re home early?”

“Mmm hmm,” JC replied, moving a little closer while holding Bella’s eyes. “You did.”

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