Page 25 of Liquid Courage
Chapter 8
Kat hadn’t been kidding when she told her date to dress warmly early Sunday afternoon. They met about two blocks away from the docks, and the sea wind carried enough chill to freeze Vivian in the marrow of her bones.
Good thing she had worn the nicest sweater dress in her arsenal and winter-ready leggings within her knee-high boots. She even had a matching wool hat, muffler, and mitten set to ensure she was fashionable and still warm while she stood outside a café, waiting for Kat. Vivian’s date arrived right on time, wearing a baggy coat over her jeans and long-sleeve shirt. She was hardly perturbed by the sea air, and probably for good reason – she worked around there, didn’t she? Kat was used to the chill.
“Look at you,” Kat said with a whistle through her teeth. “Putting me to shame.”
“You’re the one who looks like she was able to just roll right out of bed. In the good way.”
“C’mon. It’s been thirty seconds and you’re already talking about me in bed.”
“No!” Vivian laughed into her muffler. “That’s not what I meant!”
“You sure?”
Don’t get me wound up already.Maybe, if they were close to Kat’s apartment. Then Vivian could coolly suggest they go into that heated space and Netflix and chill. But nope. They were by the docks. Walking distance of Kat’s place, but they weren’t going to end up there on accident. It would be 100% on purpose. This time, Vivian would be ready.
But that would come later. First, Vivian wanted to enjoy this date for what it was.
“So what are we doing here?”
Kat gestured to the wooden path leading toward the beach. The only people enjoying the sand and waves that day were locals who weren’t perturbed by a little chill. The tourists would either come back in the summer or spend their weekend holed up inside, doomed to enjoy the views without becoming a part of them.Good thing I wore my boots today.Vivian stuck her mittened-hands into her coat pocket and enjoyed the bright sunshine illuminating the choppy sea.
“One of my friends owns that place with the great balcony. I get a discount.”
“So I’m a discount date?”
“If it turns you on, sure!”
Vivian laughed as she followed Kat down the wooden trail. Someone’s hyperactive retriever took off past them, a stick in his mouth and a harried owner chasing after him. Vivian had to move over to keep from being doggy road kill, and it sent her straight into Kat’s awaiting grasp.
“Did you plan this?” She didn’t fight to escape Kat’s hold. If anything, having a warm arm wrapped around her ensured that she didn’t freeze to death in the wintery air. It might not snow at sea level, but the biting wind was enough to make them shiver if they weren’t close enough to feast upon another woman’s body heat.
“What? For a dog to run by so I would have an excuse to put my arm around you?” Kat scoffed. “I was gonna do it anyway.”
“You were?”
“Hell, yes. Don’t know who else might be around here. Need to make sure every woman on this beach knows that you’re mine today.”
Vivian hid her blushing cheeks in Kat’s jacket. “Only today?”
“One day at a time, Viv.”
“Vivi.”
“Right. Vivi.”
“What?” They walked slowly enough for Vivian to stay in step with Kat’s longer strides. “Don’t you think it suits me?”
“It definitely makes you sound cute.”
“You don’t like cute?”
“I like whatever you’re peddling. Cute, sweet, sexy… over the top erotic… it’s all good.”
They stumbled toward the café on the beach. At that time of year, the place was all but empty save for the hardiest locals eating their fish and chips and shrimp salads. The menu touted that every piece of seafood was freshly caught, and the greens were driven in from the nearest farms. The tourist-tax made sure Vivian knew that this was one of the most expensive cafés they could visit.
The only waitress on duty sat them by the window after Kat conceded it might be too cold to sit outside. They removed their top layers and gazed upon each other’s frozen faces while awaiting their waters and the crackers to go with the soups they ordered.
