Page 78 of Harbor Lights

“Doc, come and do a duet!” Tierney shouted from the stage.

Jacky held out two pints and Con grabbed hers and waved it. “Need to lubricate my voice first.”

Tierney shrugged and launched straight into The Killers’ Mr. Brightside, a crowd-pleaser.

Shiv waved off the proffered pint and turned to a water jug and empty glasses on a side table. She filled a glass and joined Con, who was shouting out the words to the chorus along with the rest of the crowd.

It was all a little noisy for Shiv, but she was prepared to stick it out and do whatever she must in order to escape back to her quiet cottage at the end of the evening. With Con.

Con grabbed her hand and held it aloft, swinging their arms along to the tune. Shiv smiled back at her, hoping her enthusiasm wouldn’t ruin the chance of an early exit.

They had so much to talk about. Whatever was ahead of her tonight, she would be ready for it. But if Con backpedaled and decided she wanted to keep their relationship platonic, she wasn’t sure how she would cope.

When Con drained her glass and ran up onto the stage to join Tierney, Shiv watched in awe. They launched into a duet to a roar of approval from the audience and sang passionately to each other. As the song drew to a close, Con turned and sought out Shiv. She aimed the last line directly at her.

“I got you, babe.”

Shiv hoped with all her heart she did, because if Con didn’t catch her, she wasn’t sure what would stop her falling.

TWENTY-FIVE

Con tookShiv’s warm hand as they walked carefully down the dark lawn toward the cottage at the water’s edge. The storm had passed and the stars spread like a blanket above them.

She stopped to stare up in wonder. “My throat hurts.”

“I’m not surprised. You didn’t have to try and keep up with Tierney.”

She could feel Shiv watching her as she stared up at the points of light. “We had a duty to keep that shrieking woman off the stage.”

“She was pretty terrible.”

Shiv’s hand was still in hers, and the sensation of her thumb running over the back of her knuckles almost made her shudder. Every nerve was on high alert. She just wanted to drag Shiv into the cottage and tear off all of their clothes.

So, what was stopping her? Why was she still standing on the lawn, staring up at the stars, when she’d been waiting for this moment all evening? She knew exactly why, if she probed deeply enough. There were too many questions. Doubts. Not about how much she wanted Shiv, but whether she was up to it. What if she’d forgotten how to do this? What if Shiv didn’t like her so much, out of her tailored clothes and naked? And what if when Shiv got what she wanted, she walked away?

She forced her gaze away from the heavens and back to Shiv waiting patiently with gentle eyes. There was nothing to fear here. She was safe with Shiv. She knew that in her soul, but the treacherous voice in her head kept up with the stream of questions.

Shiv squeezed her fingers. “Hey, let’s go inside. I’ll make tea. We can talk. It doesn’t need to be anything more. Not if you don’t want to.”

“I do… want it. You. I want you.”

She leaned in and touched her lips to Shiv’s. Then it all disappeared. The voices fell silent, and she knew she was where she should be, kissing Shiv under a starry sky.

Shiv was the first to pull back, and Con blinked to clear her thoughts, which had turned to mush.

“The cottage is ten steps away. I think we can make it.” Shiv slid an arm around her waist and pulled them both toward the subdued light glowing to show the entrance.

Con wanted to drag her feet and make this moment of anticipation last forever. She also wanted to get inside and take Shiv to bed. They took the last few steps at a half run. Shiv closed the door and leaned back against it.

“Are you sure? We can talk for a while?”

“Are you fucking kidding? I haven’t been able to think about anything else for the past twelve hours. I want you.”

She grasped the back of Shiv’s neck and closed the gap between them.

Shiv’s hands landed on her hips, and as their kiss deepened, they slid up her ribs. She froze when Shiv cupped her breasts.

Shiv pulled back a little and lowered her hands. “Sorry.” Her words tickled Con’s cheek. “We’ll do this at your speed. You’re just so… irresistible.”

---