Chasing a Brighter Blue, page 14
“Can I get another?” she asked as she slid her empty toward him.
“Sure. But don’t worry. Mr. Sutton is a great guy.”
Reagan turned back, meeting Shelby’s gaze as she came nearer. Shelby looked composed—calm—and it helped settle her nerves somewhat. She returned Shelby’s smile, then turned her attention to her father.
“Dad, this is Reagan Bryant, Josh’s sister,” Shelby introduced.
Reagan shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”
Mr. Sutton studied her for a moment. “You’re the photojournalist, right?”
“Yes, sir. I’m kinda…taking a break,” she said.
“Dad, what would you like? Scotch?”
“Please. On the rocks,” he said. He motioned to Reagan’s drink. “Is that what you’re having.”
“Yes. And thanks for the open bar,” she said with a smile.
Zach was already on it, and Shelby found a fresh gin and tonic that he had placed in front of her. She took a sip before turning back to Reagan.
“Dad, by the way, Reagan is the one causing Mother fits,” Shelby said with a laugh.
Reagan’s eyes widened.
“I told him about the dress,” Shelby explained. “Or lack of, I should say.”
“Well, I, for one, think you look quite dashing in a tux,” Mr. Sutton said. “It gets my vote.”
Reagan felt a blush on her face, and she nervously took a sip of her whiskey. Dashing?
“I hope you won’t mind if Reagan and I dance later,” Shelby continued.
“Of course not. There are no secrets here, right?”
Shelby smiled. “Right. But to prevent Mother’s stroke, you may want to shield her.”
Mr. Sutton laughed at that statement and Reagan assumed his sense of humor matched Shelby’s and not her mother’s. “Quite the contrary. I think the two of you would make a stunning couple out on the dance floor.” He took his drink off the bar and raised it to her. “Nice to meet you, Reagan. Enjoy the dance.”
“You too. Thank you.”
He leaned over and kissed Shelby on the cheek, then whispered something into her ear. Shelby’s eyes met hers and she smiled.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Shelby said to him. As soon as he walked away, Shelby moved closer to her. “Why do you look so nervous?”
Reagan gave a shaky laugh. “Do I? I thought I was hiding it well.”
Shelby tilted her head. “Are you nervous of my dad or of me?”
“Both, I think.” She took another sip of her drink. “So how was Dougie?”
Shelby rolled her eyes. “You’re right. He’s obnoxious. His hand on my back was getting dangerously close to my ass.”
“Oh, that’s Dougie,” she said, surprised by the jealousy she felt.
“I can’t totally blame him,” Shelby said. “My mother didn’t help matters. He apparently asked her if I was really gay, and she told him I hadn’t met the right guy yet.”
“Your mother has a crush on him.”
“I know.” Shelby took the drink from her hand and put it on the bar. “And I’m ready to dance with you.”
Reagan swallowed nervously. So they really were going to dance? She let her fingers entwine with Shelby’s as Shelby led them out onto the dance floor. The lights were dim, but even so, Reagan imagined all eyes were on them.
“Relax,” Shelby murmured.
Yes, relax, she told herself. Easier said than done, though. Shelby moved closer and put a hand on her shoulder.
“You did say you would lead, right?”
Reagan took a deep breath, then slipped her arm around Shelby, her hand touching her bare back. Shelby’s skin was warm and smooth, and she spread her hand out, touching more of it as she pulled her closer. The song was a slow one, but not overly so. For the life of her, Reagan couldn’t recall the name or artist or even from what decade it was, but it suited them just fine. She relaxed and tried to forget that her hand was touching Shelby’s bare back as she moved with her across the floor. Their dance was fluid and graceful—for that she was thankful.
“Do you think people are staring?” she asked, her eyes darting around them.
“I don’t really care,” Shelby said. She pulled back. “Do you?”
“I don’t care for me, no. I was worried about you.”
Shelby met her gaze. “The only person who would have an issue with this is my mother,” she said. “And since she’s apparently forgotten that I’m gay, I don’t mind that she sees us.”
The song ended all too soon, but it blended into another one, this one slower than the one before. Shelby looked at her questioningly, and Reagan pulled her closer, their bodies meeting fully for the first time. She missed a step, then laughed quietly as Shelby chuckled in her ear.
“Relax,” Shelby said again.
“Easy for you to say,” she countered.
Shelby pulled back a little. “I can’t believe you’re so nervous. I still keep going back to your proposition that first day.”
“Yes, well, I was completely out of my mind,” she said.
She thought back to that day, only a week ago. Yes, she’d been out of her mind with grief, with guilt. She’d only wanted someone to take her away from that for a few hours. What if Shelby had said yes? Would they be having this dance right now? Probably not. If they’d had sex that first day…and then found out later that they were each sisters of the bride and groom…well, she could only imagine how awkward that would have been. No, they wouldn’t be having this dance. They wouldn’t have become friends. And Shelby wouldn’t have tried so hard to reach her, to urge her to talk about the pain she was feeling. And a week later, she would most likely still be eaten up with guilt, with grief.
Instead, she felt good. Content in some ways. She realized her guilt had been misplaced, and she’d embraced her grief instead of wallowing in it. Her mind felt clear for the first time in over a month. Clear, yes, but she still had no desire to pick up a camera.
So she pulled Shelby a little bit closer, feeling Shelby’s hand on her shoulder move slightly, touching her neck, her fingers brushing her hair. She relaxed, allowing herself to enjoy the dance, enjoy this closeness with Shelby. She breathed deeply, savoring—memorizing—the scent that she’d come to associate with her. It was a light cologne, very subtle, almost as if she wore nothing at all. And it was so very intoxicating.
“You’re a very good dancer,” Shelby said, breaking the silence.
“Thank you. You are too.”
“Shame we haven’t danced under any mistletoe though.”
Reagan recognized the teasing in Shelby’s voice, and she smiled, spinning them around dramatically, causing Shelby to laugh in her ear. She hadn’t danced in years and was quite proud that she hadn’t faltered in the spin. She pulled back far enough to meet Shelby’s gaze, returning her grin. She had an almost uncontrollable urge to kiss her, right then and there. Shelby’s beautiful eyes turned a darker shade of blue, and as she stared into them, she stopped dancing entirely. Shelby’s gaze dropped to her lips and Reagan’s breath caught. Would they kiss? Here? But the song ended, breaking the spell. She pulled away, looking around them, expecting stares. But conversation and laughter—and more dancing—continued with no one seemingly paying them any mind.
“That was fun,” Shelby said.
“Yes. And no one seemed fazed by our dance.”
Shelby smiled at her. “Then I’ll expect several more.” She leaned closer. “I love being in your arms,” she whispered.
Reagan felt her pulse spring to life, and she raised an eyebrow. “Are you flirting with me again?”
Shelby laughed quietly as she linked arms with her and headed back toward the bar. “Just stating a fact, Reagan, that’s all.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Shelby sipped her water, watching as Reagan made her way across the room to her mother, who had waved her over. The woman next to her mother was an aunt Reagan hadn’t seen in years, she’d said. So she leaned back against the bar, forgoing another gin and tonic for water. She was already feeling too relaxed, too placid. Another dance with Reagan and she might forget where they were…in a public setting. Because the look in Reagan’s eyes said she wanted to kiss her. Shelby let her gaze travel over Reagan once again. She already knew that she was attracted to her, but the way she looked in that tuxedo, she simply wanted to devour her. And she couldn’t remember the last time she’d thought that about another woman.
“Hey…there’s my beautiful sister,” Stephanie said, her voice singsong and tinged with amusement as she came closer. “And I see who you’re staring at.”
Shelby smiled, noting the empty champagne glass she was holding. “Enjoying the champagne fountain, are you?”
“The fountain is flowing. However, Zach has the good stuff back here.” She set the glass on the bar. “I’ll have another, please.”
Shelby shook her head. “You’re going to have a headache in the morning,” she warned.
“I don’t care. Right now, I feel too good and I’m having too much fun.” Her voice lowered. “I saw you and Reagan dance.”
“Did you now.”
“You look so cute together,” she teased, her voice once again singsong. “So what’s going on?”
“Nothing’s going on, Steph,” she said.
“Liar, liar,” Stephanie said with a laugh. “I can tell something is going on with you two.”
“It was just a dance,” she insisted.
“That was more than a dance, Shelby.”
“Oh, come on. I danced with Doug earlier too. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Admit it, Shelby…you like her.”
Shelby nodded. “Yes. I like her fine. She’s very nice. We get along great.”
“That’s not what I meant. You like her,” she teased.
Shelby sighed. “What are we, Steph? Back in high school?”
“She’s so cute. Isn’t she?”
“You didn’t think so. You said she was manly,” she reminded her.
“Well, she’s in a tuxedo, Shelby. That is manly. But she looks almost feminine in it, doesn’t she?”
Shelby laughed. “I think Reagan would be insulted by that statement.”
“You know what? I think you would look fabulous in a tuxedo too.” Stephanie leaned closer. “That would solve the whole bridesmaid issue. Instead of you both wearing dresses, you could both wear a tux. What do you think?”
“Sure. And then afterward, we could both go visit Mother in the hospital,” she said.
Stephanie laughed loudly. “Oh, I know. That would do it, wouldn’t it? You in a tux.” Then Stephanie elbowed her. “Here she comes,” she whispered.
“Yes, I see that,” Shelby said, her eyes on Reagan as she walked toward them.
“Aunt Martha,” Reagan explained. “Haven’t seen her in six or seven years.” She turned to Stephanie. “Having fun?”
“A blast,” Stephanie said. “And you, my new sister-in-law…look absolutely gorgeous.” She pointed at the tux. “I want you to wear that to the wedding.”
Reagan raised her eyebrows. “But your mother said—”
“No,” Stephanie said, holding up her hand. “It’s my wedding, not hers. Besides, Shelby will talk to her.”
Shelby frowned. “Why me?”
“Because you’re the oldest.”
“So?”
“So? You can talk to her like that, I can’t. Tell her it’s a done deal. I want Reagan in the wedding, Josh wants Reagan in the wedding.” She smiled. “She looks so beautiful. You two look beautiful together. I think you—”
“Okay, okay,” Shelby said, interrupting her. “I’ll tell her. And now you should probably go mingle with your guests, maybe find Josh,” she suggested.
Stephanie picked up her champagne glass again, which Zach had dutifully filled. “I should mingle. You two should dance again.” She leaned over and kissed Reagan’s cheek, then did the same to Shelby. “Love you guys. You’re so cute together.”
When she left, Shelby turned to Reagan. “Too much champagne,” she explained.
Reagan nodded, then glanced at the water bottle in her hand. “I think I’ll have water too.”
“Good. Because the next slow song that plays…you’re mine.”
Reagan surprised her by leaning closer, her voice low. “Yes. I’ll be yours tonight.” Their eyes met. “All night, if you want.”
Reagan’s voice had a huskiness to it that sent shivers down her spine. Was Reagan saying what she thought she was saying?
She held her gaze, trying to read Reagan’s eyes. She saw what she needed to see. She nodded.
“Yes. I think I want that,” she whispered.
Reagan smiled slowly. “Then let’s dance…and see what the night holds.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Reagan literally trembled as Shelby moved into her arms. She closed her eyes, wondering if she’d ever been so affected by someone before.
“Relax,” Shelby whispered once again to her.
Reagan tightened her hold on her. “I want to kiss you. I want…I want to touch you.”
She heard Shelby’s quickly drawn in breath, felt Shelby’s hand move into the hair at her neck, gently stroking, but she said nothing. She simply moved closer to her.
“If you don’t stop, I’ll end up embarrassing us both,” she warned.
Shelby pulled back, enough to meet her gaze. Her blue eyes were dark, smoldering. Reagan couldn’t help it…she fell right into their blue depths, knowing she was in danger of drowning there. She didn’t care.
Then suddenly, Shelby stopped dancing and pulled out of her arms. Reagan looked at her questioningly. Had she done something wrong? Shelby took her hand and led her off the dance floor and back to the bar. But she didn’t stop. She went behind it, tossing a glance at Zach.
“Need to borrow the closet for a minute,” she said.
Zach grinned and nodded. “Sure.”
Confused, Reagan followed her, wondering what was going on. The closet proved to be a small room filled with bar supplies. Shelby closed the door and locked it. Reagan had no time to contemplate what was about to happen. Shelby moved closer.
“You said something about a kiss,” Shelby murmured.
There was no pretense from either of them, no easing into the kiss, no hesitation. Reagan pressed her against the wall, her thigh sliding up between her legs as she found her mouth. Shelby moaned into the kiss, her mouth opening and their tongues meeting in a crazy dance.
Shelby’s arms circled her neck, one hand cupping the back of her head, pulling her closer. Reagan’s hands moved across Shelby’s bare back, then slipped lower, cupping her hips and bringing her up higher against her thigh.
Shelby pulled her mouth away, gasping for breath, then came back, kissing her once again, her tongue sliding into Reagan’s mouth. They were moving together wildly, hands roaming at will. When Shelby’s hands slid inside her jacket and cupped her breasts, Reagan’s hips jerked hard against her.
Jesus…God…how far were they going to go in this closet? But when her hand slipped inside Shelby’s dress at her back and moved lower, when she heard Shelby’s deep moan, she knew they had to stop.
Her mouth left Shelby’s, moving to her neck where she left tiny kisses, then to her ear. “Not here, Shelby,” she whispered.
Shelby groaned, then separated from her. Her eyes were as dark a blue as Reagan had ever seen. She stared into them, then pulled Shelby closer again, finding her mouth once more. But this time it was Shelby who slowed things down, easing their kiss from frantic to calm, from mouth and tongue to lips before finally stopping altogether.
They were both breathing hard, fast, and she leaned against the wall beside Shelby, their shoulders touching. Shelby turned her head, a smile on her lips.
“Wow, Reagan…you do just dive right in, don’t you?”
Reagan smiled too. “I’m thinking this was your doing, not mine.”
Shelby shook her head. “Your fault. You were flirting with me on the dance floor.”
“You were flirting with me before the dance,” she reminded her.
Shelby turned to her, straightening her tie and then her jacket. Then she ran a gentle hand through Reagan’s hair, pausing to brush her fingers against her cheek. Shelby met her stare, never blinking.
“I’m quite aroused, in case you didn’t know,” Shelby said quietly. “It’s been a really long time since that has happened.”
Reagan wasn’t sure it mattered, but she wanted to tell Shelby anyway. “It’s been…well, a few years since I’ve been with anyone.” She shrugged. “Three, four. Maybe longer.”
Shelby’s expression softened, her fingers tracing a lazy path along her cheek. “Why?”
Reagan ducked her head. Why? She didn’t really know why. How could she explain the emptiness she’d felt the last few times she’d taken women—strangers—to bed? Or worse, not a stranger but a colleague that she didn’t even like as a friend, much less a lover. She looked up, meeting her gaze again.
“I got tired of the emptiness,” she said truthfully. Shelby seemed to understand and instead of asking more questions, she moved closer, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and pulling her into a tight, intimate hug.
“There’ll be no emptiness tonight, Reagan. I promise.” Shelby kissed her lips gently, lingering slightly before pulling away. “We’ll make love. It won’t be a meaningless encounter.” Shelby let out a heavy breath. “Because honestly, I’ve had my share of those too.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
It had been an endless night, and Shelby was ready for it to be over with already. She’d suffered through a handful of dances, even one with Duke, Reagan’s cousin. But Doug stayed clear and she’d seen him dancing with Holly several times. Reagan, too, stayed away, visiting with her family for most of the evening instead. That’s not to say that they didn’t find themselves watching each other on several occasions. Shelby couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Reagan.
And now she was wondering how she was going to get Reagan up to her suite unnoticed. She didn’t want to answer questions from Stephanie or her mother. And she didn’t want Reagan to have to answer questions from her family. She didn’t want to broadcast what was happening between them. It wasn’t anyone else’s business, she reasoned. She only wanted to share the night with Reagan, alone…and naked.
