Page 28 of Tailored for Them

Taylor brushed their lips over mine, lingering. Then, they began nipping at my lips, tasting and tugging. I was getting dizzy; the scrape of their hand on my face made excited, nervous feelings erupt in my stomach again. Eventually, I parted my lips for them. Desperate to taste them more, to taste myself that lingered.

Before the goodbye kiss turned into a full-fledged make-out, they gently pulled back. Their nose brushed mine, and I thought I felt them shiver before detaching their body from me.

Taylor stepped back abruptly, before saluting me with a friendly grin and disappearing into the hallway of my apartment building.

I stood there, both frozen and warm from that kiss, before I finally closed the front door and sagged against it.

Shit.

I was out of my league here.

I couldn’t handle being with someone like them.

I definitely shouldn’t hook up with Taylor Desmond again.

Chapter Eight

NICOLE

The next night,I knocked on Signe Lange’s apartment door before the heavy thud of her steps echoed on the other side. A moment later, she swung her door open, smiling widely.

I looked up at her, returning her smile and thankful to step into the safe space that was her studio apartment. She reached down to hug me immediately, and I reached up to reciprocate. Signe was a tall woman, almost six feet tall if I remember correctly. Probably taller than Taylor.

Don’t think about them.

Right. Girls’ night.

After Signe released me, she stepped aside so I could enter her space.

This was the last girls’ night the women of the office were having before Violet Thompson moved about twelve hours north, starting her new position working on Moore Farms and overseeing the launch of the first solar-powered, self-driving tractors. The blue-haired systems engineer was already perched on the floor of Signe’s living room/bedroom.

Air mattresses, blankets, pillows, and snacks were already gathered around.

I’m part of this, I reminded myself,these women can be my people.

“Are you all packed and ready to go?” I asked Violet, plopping down to take a seat next to her.

“Nope, but we’re getting there,” Violet shrugged. “We leave in just a couple of days, but we live in a small unit, so it won’t take too long.”

I nodded. Violet had been anxious for the last few months about forcing her daughter to move across the state and into a new home. A new life. Even though Violet’s contract only said she needed to stay on-site for about a year.

“And your dad is still excited to go with you?” I pressed.

“Yeah,” She grinned, “He’s watched a lot ofYellowstone, so I think he’s excited to fulfill his small-town fantasy.”

I laughed when another knock sounded on Signe’s door.

Mary and Jamie walked into the apartment, hand in hand, before settling in on the mass of pillows and blankets, too.

“Jacqueline’s here too,” Jamie giggled.

“She just hasn’t detached herself from Leo’s face yet.” Mary rolled her eyes. She was thrilled for Jacqueline and her cousin but often pretended to be completely grossed out by the idea.

“Okay, hopefully she hurries because—what the hell?” Signe was walking toward all of us with a fresh bag of Oreos when she suddenly stopped, “Is that—oh my god—”

I glanced down at where Signe’s eyes were staring wide and unblinking, but all I saw was Mary lifting a finger to her lips. She gave Signe a pleading look before saying, “Wait until Jacqueline is here.”

Signe’s mouth was hanging open, then snapped closed. An excited squeal sounded behind her tight lips before she plopped down next to Jamie.

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