It was becoming increasingly difficult for Mira to make eye contact with Chelle in the library without blushing furiously or giving in to the urge to drag her into her office. Everything about Chelle was irresistible, and Mira found it difficult simply being in the same room with her. This certainly made the weekly staff meetings challenging, and the hours when Chelle wasn’t around creeped by at a snail’s pace.
Chelle didn’t work the following Saturday, and Mira was relieved when her shift finally ended after what felt like an eternity. Although she usually found a reason to go into the office and get a few things done – or put out a fire or two – on her days off, the library was closed on Sundays, and that meant there were thirty-six beautiful hours stretching out in front of her, full of possibility.
Mira walked home and dialed Chelle’s number, hoping that she’d want to come over to her apartment again – they could fall into her bed and not get out of it again until it was time to go back to work on Monday.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Chelle answered. “What’s up?”
“I just got off work,” Mira said. “I was hoping my drawer full of take-out menus and I could tempt you to come over.”
“Actually,” Chelle said, “I have a surprise for you. Come over to my place this time.”
“I don’t know,” Mira said, a bit of fear fighting its way up her throat. She’d gotten fairly comfortable with the idea of sneaking Chelle over to the apartment, but she knew letting her guard down would be a mistake. Westbrook was a small town with not much to do except mind other people’s business, and being seen going into the apartment of an employee would be reason enough to start the rumor mill turning, especially if Jack got wind of it.
“Please,” Chelle begged over the phone. “My roommate’s out of town all weekend with her girlfriend and we’ll have the place to ourselves.”
“We always have my apartment to ourselves,” Mira tried to reason, but Chelle was relentless.
“Miranda Lockhart, get your butt over here,” she said sternly. “No one in this neighborhood is even going to know you – it’s mostly college kids who’ve never set foot in the public library. Besides, I spent all day on the surprise that you’re ruining.”
“Okay,” Mira said, flattered that Chelle would spend her day off dreaming something up for her. “What’s your address?”
***
Mira walked home to get her car, then drove to the other side of Westbrook. She found a squat brick apartment building at the address Chelle had given her, just a few blocks from the university. She walked quickly from the street to the building entrance, keeping her head down as she waited for Chelle to buzz her in. She just couldn’t shake the fear that someone would recognize her. Chelle might not think it was such a big deal, but after nearly a decade of working her way up to a director’s position, it was impossible for Mira to forget the stakes every time she met Chelle beyond the library walls.
Chelle had left her apartment door cracked open, and Mira went inside. As soon as the door clicked shut, closing out the rest of the world, she felt better. Chelle came and wrapped her arms around Mira, their bodies pressing together as she kissed Mira’s neck, and the coconut scent of her shampoo was beginning to smell like home.
“Close your eyes,” Chelle said.
“Why?”
“I told you, I’ve got a surprise,” she said, her hands running over Mira’s hips. “I could blindfold you, but I’d rather save the kinky stuff for later.”
“Okay,” Mira said, shutting her eyes. She felt Chelle’s hand slide into her own, and then she was being guided further into the apartment. There wasn’t much light, and she couldn’t help reaching her hand out in front of her, waving it back and forth to keep from knocking into things as they walked.
“I’m not going to let you smack into a wall,” Chelle said as Mira felt herself being guided around a corner. “Trust me.”
This new space felt a little lighter, and Chelle pulled Mira to a stop just a couple of paces into the room. She leaned in close, her breath warm against Mira’s ear as she said, “Open your eyes.”
Mira obeyed, finding herself in a small dining room. The table was covered in a crisp white cloth and two taper candles burned at its center – the source of the light Mira detected. There were dishes laid out all along the table, and two place settings across from each other.
“What’s all this?” She asked, beaming at Chelle.
“It’s your first home-cooked meal in six months,” she said, pulling out a chair for Mira. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” Mira said as she sat down, overwhelmed with the tableau that Chelle had created for her. She noticed that Chelle was wearing a black cocktail dress that perfectly hugged her curves and a pair of red heels that brought out the crimson of her hair, exciting something primal in Mira. As Chelle walked around to the other side of the table, she added, “I think I’m a little underdressed. You look incredible.”
“Well, I am the dessert,” Chelle said with a wink, then sat down. She gestured at two unopened bottles of wine at the end of the table and asked, “Red or white?”
“I guess that depends on the meal,” Mira said, looking over the dishes in front of her.
“Before you get too excited about it,” Chelle said hurriedly, her nerves getting the best of her in the most adorable way, “I don’t cook much. It’s just spaghetti and garlic bread, nothing fancy. So red wine, I guess?”
“It looks perfect,” Mira said, reaching for the wine bottle and corkscrew. She paused for a moment, looking at Chelle. She was practically glowing in the candlelight, and Mira couldn’t believe she’d done all of this just because of an off-hand comment she made over a stack of take-out menus. She smiled and said, “Chelle, you’re amazing.”
“Oh, hold that thought,” Chelle said, miming as if she was looking for her phone in the sleek lines of her dress. “Would you mind repeating that if I get my parents on speakerphone?”
Mira laughed, uncorking the wine and pouring them each a glass while Chelle passed the bowl of pasta over to her. “I’d be happy to sing your praises to anyone who needs to hear it.”