Chapter 20

Kelsey glanced over at Isabella as she feverishly tapped her keyboard.

"Anything else?" Isabella asked.

"I think that's it," Kelsey said. "I'm glad Carmen changed next month's trip from Valentine's Day to the month of love."

"Yeah, I like the idea of keeping our trips to about the same week every month. Coming back for Valentine's Day would've been too soon," Isabella said.

"Does it make it easier for the boys' schedule?" Kelsey asked.

Isabella nodded. "Yeah, they're back and forth between mine and Spencer's house a lot as it is, but this makes it easier for me to schedule with Spencer."

"The boys will be happy to see you today," Kelsey said.

"Yeah, I miss the little terrors."

Kelsey laughed. "They're not terrors."

"That's because you talk to them on the phone when they want something."

"What do they want from me?" Kelsey asked.

"They are always asking about you and the girls. They want to know when we all get to go on vacation together."

"I'm looking forward to that, too."

"Are you sure you want to spend several days with two little kids? You've already raised yours," Isabella said.

"That doesn't matter. I suspect the boys are excited to spend time with Dana and Emma. They'll have someone to play with," Kelsey said.

Isabella chuckled. "I think we're fun to play with."

Kelsey smiled. "Do you think we could figure out a way to see Liz, Riley, and Alex more than just once each trip?"

"Oh, so that's where you want to play," Isabella said, wiggling her eyebrows at Kelsey.

"Ha ha," Kelsey deadpanned. "It's not that. If we were coming here on our own?—"

"We'd be over there all the time," Isabella said, finishing her sentence.

"Yeah, we would."

Isabella tapped on her keyboard once again and closed her laptop just as the flight attendant asked her to put it away to prepare for landing.

Kelsey gazed at Isabella and frowned. "It's back to our everyday lives."

"Yeah. I know every trip won't be the same, but some things will. I'm walking you to your gate and waiting until you board your flight," Isabella said.

Kelsey grinned. "Okay. I'll send you a picture of me when I get to my seat."

"And you'll call me when you get home," Isabella added.

Kelsey nodded. Things between them were back to their casual playful ways since their dance last night. They'd had a meeting with Carmen that morning to go over the highs and lows of the trip. Kelsey and Isabella had each given her their concerns about next month's trip and how they wanted to portray the resort as well as the islands.

They had come to an agreement to wait until the week after Valentine's Day for the next trip. Carmen was very pleased with the first trip and the buzz Isabella and Kelsey had created so far.

Kelsey had begun to feel a cloud of melancholy descend over her the closer they got to Charlotte. She remembered feeling much the same the last time they'd done this. It surprised her in that she knew she'd be seeing Isabella again in a matter of weeks. They would talk and text just as they had the last month.

She was supposed to be feeling relieved to have the opportunity to put some space between them until she could figure out these feelings that kept getting stronger. But that was far from what she was feeling or wanted to do.

Kelsey reached over and squeezed Isabella's hand. "I'll miss you," she said quietly.

Isabella looked over at her and smiled. "I know."

Kelsey raised her eyebrows and chuckled. "You know!"

Isabella chuckled. "Yes, because I already miss you." She sat up and looked at Kelsey. "What is wrong with us?"

Kelsey stared into Isabella's bright blue eyes. "I know I can text or call you anytime, but there's something about seeing this pretty face." Kelsey reached over and grabbed Isabella's cheeks with her hands.

Isabella laughed and put her hands on Kelsey's, holding them there.

The plane landed and once they were through the walkway, Isabella fell into step next to Kelsey.

"You don't have to go to baggage claim this time," Kelsey commented as Isabella put her arm through hers.

"Nope."

"How was it only taking one bag?"

"It was okay. You're teaching me your laid back ways, Kels."

Kelsey chuckled. On this trip there were times when she'd felt anything but casual around Isabella. The woman could make her heart pound with a look or that soft smile.

"Here we are," Isabella said as they stopped at Kelsey's gate. "It looks like they're already boarding."

"I wonder how Carmen does that?" Kelsey said.

"I don't know." Isabella shrugged. "I'd stay with you until you're on the plane anyway."

Kelsey sighed. "You know you don't have to do that."

"But I want to," Isabella said then she gasped. "One of these days you need to stay an extra day with me and the boys."

Kelsey raised her eyebrows. "That sounds like fun. Maybe you and the boys can come out to Denver to visit us."

The gate attendant announced the next group to board.

"That's me," Kelsey said.

"Don't forget?—"

"I'll text you a picture and call you when I get home," Kelsey said.

Isabella smiled and reached up to put her arms around Kelsey's neck. Kelsey closed her eyes and sank into the moment as they hugged.

They began to pull away and Isabella said quietly, "Some things stay the same."

Kelsey felt Isabella's lips touch hers. It was a brief kiss, yet it was soft and sure. The first time Isabella had done this Kelsey could feel the uncertainty and timidness. Not this time. It was over almost as quickly as it had begun, but Kelsey's lips tingled where Isabella's had touched hers.

"See you next month," Isabella said.

Kelsey watched a soft smile turn to a hint of a smirk on Isabella's face.

"See you next month," Kelsey replied with a smile of her own. She walked towards the tunnel to board the plane, but turned to get one more look at Isabella.

She was standing there, giving Kelsey her winning smile.

All Kelsey could do was smile back as her heart pounded in her chest and warmth raced through her body. Good luck getting your emotions in check.

Isabella stared at the picture Kelsey had texted her. She had just called to let Isabella know she'd made it home safely. Neither of them mentioned the kiss and Isabella didn't know what she would've said if Kelsey had brought it up.

She smiled and ran her finger along Kelsey's cheek in the picture. "What have you done to me?" she murmured. Isabella rested her head on the back of the couch and closed her eyes. She couldn't remember a single time when she'd been attracted to another woman. There had been friends growing up, in college and before she got married. She had been close to a lot of women at different times in her life.

But she'd never felt like this. The first time she'd kissed Kelsey it had been spontaneous. She had felt so uneasy and tense, but as soon as their lips touched all was in balance again. Isabella remembered thinking their hearts were having a moment.

This time Isabella knew she was going to kiss Kelsey. Although it was a little unfair to Kelsey, Isabella had to know what this attraction she was suddenly feeling was all about. She thought Kelsey would be surprised once again, but when she pulled away, Kelsey was smiling and her eyes sparkled.

Isabella scoffed. Is this attraction really all that sudden? She looked back at the picture and Kelsey's smile. "The bigger question is," she said quietly, "what's going on in your heart, Kelsey Kenny?"

Isabella sighed and put her phone down. What am I doing?

Three weeks later Isabella and Kelsey were back in the Virgin Islands. They had done the romantic Valentine's Day events with two lucky couples which earned them an afternoon to themselves and of course they wanted to spend it at Peaches.

Isabella lazed on the beach in a lounge chair with Riley next to her. They were watching Kelsey and Alex paddle board in the water behind the bar.

"I saw your posts about the day of romance yesterday," Riley said.

"It was something," Isabella replied. "Carmen surprised two couples who were staying at the resort. We took them for a day of fun at the beach, and then Sylvie took each couple on their own romantic tour of the island."

"Oh, I'm sure they loved that."

"It was challenging for Kelsey and me because we needed the videos, but we didn't want to infringe on their romantic day too much," Isabella explained.

"What did they do for dinner?" Riley asked.

"They each had a private beach dinner, complete with a serenade and music. It was so romantic," Isabella said. "After that, one couple decided to go to the club at the resort and dance. The other couple stayed on the beach."

"Did you have to stay with them?"

"No. We took a couple of quick videos then Kelsey and I had a working dinner with Carmen. It was the longest day," Isabella said.

"Do you have everything figured out for your next month?" Riley asked.

"Yep. Sylvie took us around to several beaches. We're doing three days of parties at different beaches for the spring break trip. I hope I can last," Isabella said.

Riley chuckled. "Oh, come on. You can still hang with a bunch of twenty year olds."

"We're going to spend one day here. Kelsey and I plan to sit on the patio at the bar and watch them have fun."

"You'll have a good view with plenty to post and video," Riley said. "This part of the beach will be one big party."

"Perfect," Isabella said as she watched Kelsey. "We want to spend more time with all of you."

"Do you go back tomorrow?"

"Yeah, this was a quick trip. We did one day with the couples and today was for us to get everything planned for the next trip."

"You'll be here longer next month?" Riley asked.

"Yes, we're trying to make each trip a little different. Some are longer than others. This one is the shortest. We'll do one of these again later in the year," Isabella explained as she watched Kelsey paddle boarding. She couldn't keep from smiling at how easily Kelsey navigated the small waves bringing her back to the shore.

"Hey, Riley, have you always been attracted to women?" Isabella had decided to come on this trip and figure out this attraction to Kelsey. This was new for her. She had no idea what she was doing and had no one to talk to about it.

"Yeah. It took me a minute to figure it out when I was a teenager," Riley replied. "How about you?"

Isabella sighed. "I've never thought about another woman that way…"

"Until Kelsey?"

Isabella looked over at Riley and widened her eyes. "Am I that obvious?"

"No, but you have been watching her rather closely all afternoon." Riley chuckled.

"I mean, look at her!" Isabella exclaimed.

"The woman paddling with her caught my eye," Riley teased.

Isabella chuckled. "Alex is a beautiful woman, but Kelsey…" She sighed. "I don't know when or how it happened. One minute we were laughing and having a good time as friends and the next my heart was pounding and I was weak in the knees."

"I'm sure she feels the same way," Riley said.

Isabella whipped her head around and stared. "What?"

"Have you talked to her about it?" Riley asked.

"No!" Isabella exclaimed. "I wouldn't know what to say. Besides, I don't think she feels the same way."

"Why do you think that?"

Isabella shrugged. "I don't know. The last time we were here she said we had to be more careful of the impression we gave our followers. I hadn't even considered it, but she's right. We're two single moms showing folks how wonderful the resort is and how to vacation in the islands."

"Hmm, I can see how that's important, but…" Riley trailed off.

"But what?"

"You look and act like a couple and Kelsey knows that," Riley said with a smile. "Maybe she is feeling the same and doesn't know how you feel."

Isabella gasped and looked at Riley in surprise. "You think? Oh my God!"