Chapter 22

Hollis caught the bartender's attention and ordered another glass of wine for Jen and a water for her. Pride swelled in her chest as she looked around the busy restaurant, knowing that every design detail had been her choice. It had turned out even better than she'd imagined.

"Thank you for coming tonight," Hollis said to Jen. "This is the most fun I've had at one of these unveilings in a long time."

"You should invite me more often. I've enjoyed it, and this place looks amazing. All the subtle nautical touches. I'd forgotten how good you were."

"Thanks."

"I was here years ago, and it just didn't have any atmosphere. The food was excellent, but now, with this redesign, they're going to have a waitlist."

Hollis nodded. "It was a fun project. It helped that the owner let me run with my own ideas on this one."

The bartender came back with their drinks, and Hollis excused herself. "Be back in a minute." She'd worked on far more homes than businesses, but this would do wonders for her when it came to landing commercial clients.

Hollis weaved her way through the crowd until she reached the back of the restaurant and pulled the restroom door open. She stopped in her tracks, hardly believing her own eyes. "Kate?" Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Kate's familiar figure, dressed in tight black pants and a form-fitting tank top that showed off her toned arms. "What are you doing here?"

Hollis noted that Kate didn't look half as surprised to see her. She must have spotted her earlier.

Kate opened her mouth, but Hollis shook her head as she glanced to her right, checking that all of the stall doors were opened.

"It doesn't matter," Hollis murmured as her heart raced. In one swift move, she tossed her clutch onto the counter and crossed the distance between them, pressing her lips against Kate's. Months of longing culminated in this one impulsive moment, her hands cupping Kate's cheeks as their kiss deepened.

Hollis could feel Kate's hands on her waist, pulling her closer as she sighed into the kiss. Kate's lips were so soft, and when she slid her tongue over Hollis's, it set off a spark inside Hollis, awakening all of the feelings from that weekend together that she'd so desperately tried to forget.

Hollis ran her fingers through Kate's hair as she matched the intensity of Kate's kiss. The familiar scent of Kate's perfume filled her senses, bringing her right back to their first night together.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were panting, their foreheads pressed together as they caught their breath. Hollis's heart was still racing, but she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.

Kate's eyes mirrored her own desire, and her hair was slightly disheveled from Hollis's fingers. "I thought I'd never see you again," she said, her voice wavering.

"I never stopped thinking about you," Hollis said, letting her hands fall to Kate's bare arms.

"What about the woman you're here with? You're not together?" Kate's eyes searched hers.

"No. That's Jen. My best friend." Hollis swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. "Are you… Are you seeing anyone? I shouldn't have just…"

"No," Kate said, shaking her head. "I'm still trying to figure out how to get over you," she said with a sigh, her voice a mixture of frustration and longing.

"Please don't." Hollis bit her lip. There were so many things she wanted to say, but she was aware of where they were and the fact that they could be interrupted at any moment.

Kate took a step back, her hands sliding away from Hollis's hips, and Hollis instantly missed the warmth of her touch. Kate held out her hand. "Give me your phone."

Without hesitation, Hollis reached for her clutch and popped it open, pulling out her phone.

Kate took it, her fingers brushing Hollis's. "I don't trust you," she stated bluntly, and Hollis simply nodded, watching Kate dial her own number. Then Kate's phone was vibrating in her pocket. "I'm going to use this," she declared, handing Hollis back her phone. "Is that okay?"

"Yeah." Hollis pressed her lips together. "Kate, you have no idea how many times I wanted to text you."

"Why didn't you?"

"I'm still technically married, but I'm tired of waiting. Just today, I was ready to cave in. I was going to contact you. I uh… I found out my husband's been cheating on me, and I have proof." It felt so strange saying it out loud. "I'm tired of putting my life on hold for the sake of this divorce. If I get caught? I won't lose any ground."

Kate visibly swallowed. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, I want to see you." Hollis felt her lips sliding into a smile as she spoke. "I've turned into a workaholic trying not to think about you. I keep going back and forth. Was it just an incredible weekend together? Would that connection be gone if we met again?"

"I think it's safe to say that it's not." Kate reached for her hand. "I know we'll have to be careful, but I want this too."

"Come back to the bar with me and meet Jen."

"She knows?"

"Yes. She's the only one who does." Hollis ran her thumb over the back of Kate's hand. "I came out to her a few months ago, but I actually only told her about you earlier today."

A slow smile came to Kate's lips. "You really were going to text me."

"Yes, I was." Hollis leaned in and brushed her lips over Kate's again. Hollis slipped her free hand underneath Kate's tank top, unable to be this close to Kate without exploring, without refreshing her memory of how incredibly soft her skin was. Kate moaned into the kiss as Hollis's hand gripped her waist, sliding up further until she was cupping her breast through her bra.

Kate pressed her body against Hollis's, deepening the kiss before pulling away. "We can't. Not here. I'm not capable of being sensible when I'm around you," she said, taking a step back and putting some space between them, their hands falling away.

"Neither am I." Hollis turned to the mirror and opened her clutch to find her lipstick which badly needed to be touched up.

Kate ran a hand through her hair and adjusted her tank top.

"Ready?" Hollis asked as she took one last look at her reflection.

"To meet your best friend?" Kate asked with a laugh. "Not at all."

Hollis's heels clicked across the tiles as she pulled open the door for Kate. "You coming?"

"Just admiring the view." Kate's eyes trailed up her body as she spoke. "That dress is…"

Hollis bit back a smile. "I can't wait to get you in my bed again."

Kate followed her back to the bar, and when Jen turned, it was like she knew. It must have been written all over Hollis's face.

"Jen, I'd like you to meet Kate. Kate, this is Jen."

Jen smiled as her gaze moved from Kate to Hollis. "The Kate?"

Hollis could feel herself blushing beneath her makeup. "Yes."

"Wow. How did this happen?" Jen asked, looking from one to the other. "Do you work here, Kate?"

"No." Kate shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she looked at Hollis. "Do you know the friend I was with that weekend that we met? Lexi? Her girlfriend actually works here, and when Lexi saw you, she called me."

Hollis could see Jen grinning like a fool out of the corner of her eye.

"And I rushed over," Kate said. She looked down at her clothes. "Which is why I look like this."

Jen was still smiling when she spoke. "Well, you look great. And it's a good thing that both of you have such good friends."

"It is," Kate agreed.

"What do you do, Kate?" Jen asked as she reached for her wine.

"I went back to college. I just have a year left, and then I'm hoping to get into social work. But right now, I'm working at a sports bar not far from campus."

Hollis turned when she felt a light touch on her arm. It was her personal assistant. "Am I wanted?" Hollis asked.

Her PA nodded. "The table in the back corner with four gentlemen. They're interested in having their office space redesigned."

"Duty calls," Hollis said, giving her attention to Jen and Kate again. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"I'm going to get going," Kate said with a smile tugging at her lips. "We'll be in touch?"

Hollis melted at the mixture of longing and hope in Kate's eyes. "Yes. We will," she answered, unable to resist reaching for her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"It was lovely to meet you," Kate said to Jen. Her gaze lingered on Hollis before she turned, weaving her way back through crowd gathered by the bar.

Hollis watched her go until she was completely out of sight. There was an ache in her chest, but it was so different than the one that had settled there these last few months. There was hope now. Anticipation. Kate hadn't moved on.

"She's young," Jen said, taking Hollis away from her thoughts.

"Hm. I know."

"But not immature. That's an important distinction."

"You barely spoke to her."

"Yeah," Jen said with a shrug. "But I trust your judgement, and you can get a feel for someone in just a few minutes. Social work? That's not a job for the faint hearted."

Hollis had filed away that bit of information, that Kate was in college. It could have struck Hollis as a negative, that she could potentially be dating a student, but it hadn't. Going back to college was a big deal, and she wanted to ask Kate more about it. Why she wanted to get into social work? Had something happened to her in her youth that was motivating that career choice?

"You were gone for quite a while," Jen said as she sipped her wine.

"I ran into Kate in the restroom."

Jen laughed. "Well… That explains the rosy cheeks."

"Alright," Hollis said with a roll of her eyes. "I have to go mingle."

"Take your time," Jen said with a smile.

Hollis made her way over to the table her PA had pointed out, her stride confident, her heart light. Things might just be working out for her after all.