Page 13 of Sweet Love at Bayside
“Then we’re definitely going to drive each other crazy.”
Desiree’s heart raced at the prospect of staying for the summer and spending time with Rick, while getting to know Violet better. Both were as exciting as they were nerve-racking. “We might. Unless we both agree to try.”
“If you’re asking me to try to be more schedule-oriented, I can pretty much tell you I’ll suck at it.”
“Yeah, me too. I won’t do well without a schedule.” Her chance at a relationship with her sister was slipping through her fingers, and suddenly it felt like herlastchance. Like if they couldn’t be friends now, it would never happen, and that brought a wave of panic. “But what if we didn’t drive each other crazy? I mean, my friend Emery is a wild woman and I adore her. We get along great.”
“Awild woman.” Violet nodded, as if she were mulling over the idea. “Emery, as in the girl who jumped out of a moving car? You think she and I are alike?”
“She was twelve, and in her defense, the car had been rolling to a stop and her favorite bag had fallen out the window, but yes, the one and only Emery. And I’ve never thought of you two being alike, but she’s pretty wild, so maybe a little alike.”
“I’m willing to give it a try,” Violet relented. “I guess if we want to kill each other, we can always nix the idea and reevaluate.”
Desiree let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Great!”
Violet pointed to the sign on a door in the back of the store. “‘Your personal discovery awaits.’ Interesting. Want to make bets on what’s back here?”
“Nude paintings?”
She followed Violet into the back of the shop, and they both fell silent. A pink bar ran around the perimeter of the room about a foot from the ceiling, from which hung dozens of negligees, panties, bras, and other sexy paraphernalia. Beneath were tables with various adultpleasure enhancers. Desiree had never been inside apleasureshop, much less seen so many things she couldn’t imagine doing anything with. Fuzzy handcuffs and G-strings dangled from decorative iron trees like holiday ornaments.
“Whoa! Lizza owns a sex shop!” Violet picked up a giant purpletoy. “This could cause some damage.”
“Put that down!” Desiree whispered, her cheeks burning like the Sahara.
Violet turned it over, inspecting it while Desiree was secretly hoping to evaporate into thin air.
“Ohmygosh.” Her eyes shifted around the room. “I don’t even know what half this stuff is, and you’re away in third-world countries most of the time andyouknow?”
“Because I’m not a prude.”
“That’s a crappy thing to say. I’m not a prude. I’ve just never met anyone who I’d want to explore these kinds of things with. It takes trust and the right person.”
“Babe,” Vi said. “You are obviously an overthinker. Don’t you ever just let your body decide what you’ll do? Go with the moment?”
“Yes. I did that earlier, when I let Rick kiss me.” She winced inwardly at her confession. She’d wanted to shock Violet, but it felt funny saying it aloud.
“He kissed you?” Violet picked up a plastic box, looking over the funky objects inside. “You didn’t share that little piece of intel. How was it?”
A thrum of electricity darted through her. “You know that moment right before you kiss, when you can’t think and your whole body is buzzing with anticipation?”
“I usually fly right through that sucker to the good stuff, but sure.”
“My body’s still buzzing.” Desiree inhaled a lungful of courage, and her eyes moved over the table, taking it all in. “I would be too embarrassed to go into a store and buy these kinds of things.”
“Why, if they’re used for consensual, pleasurable sex? You’re not buying slaves.” Her sister picked up another box and read the side of it.
Desiree walked around the table, thinking about how limited her sexual experiences had been. “Sex is private.”
“Plenty of married couples use pleasure enhancers.” Violet put the box down and her gaze softened. “Please tell me you’re not a sex-with-the-lights-off-only girl.”
Desiree cringed. “Do candles count?”
“Okay, new plan. We’re working together until you’re so comfortable with these things, you can sell them to Rick’s grandmother.”
“That isnevergoing to happen.” She waved her hands, walking backward. “I’m not even sure I can sell this stuff toyou.”
“Give me the leash,” Violet said, and Desiree gave it to her. “Put your hands out.”
