Page 86 of In Her Own Way
“True, but I do hope the Tyttle Foods job works out.” He smoothed his hair down and almost looked as nervous as Victoria felt.
“Wait,” Victoria said, her spidey senses tingling. “I missed something. Who is it?”
Tillman recoiled and looked away. “Another Domme’s sub, I’m afraid. Not JB.” He looked a bit forlorn and added, “I’m not going to pursue. I’m not like Bobbie.”
Victoria scoffed and rolled her eyes for her friend’s benefit. With nothing else to do, she picked up her nervous pacing where she’d left off.
“Stop pacing,” Rikki called from the front door, which she was holding open for Bernadette. “You’re wearing my floors out.”
Victoria simply waved her off good naturedly. Everyone knew she was nervous, and that was okay because shewasnervous. “Thanks for having this today.”
“It’s becoming a tradition now,” Bernadette said as she hung up both their coats.
“Heavy load coming in,” a big booming voice announced at the door. Jaleesa came in first, carrying several bags, and still held the door open for her five subs to pass through. Each one carried at least two pizzas. DeShawn, the only guy, carried three.
Victoria watched as Tillman stood a little taller. “Oh, shit,” Victoria said. “Which one? There’s five of them.”
“Shut up,” Tillman said. “No one. I’ve got enough trouble.”
“Fine, have it your way.”
And thensheappeared, and Tillman was forgotten. Jessica was saying something to DeShawn that had them both smiling and Victoria melting.
“You are so gone, man,” Tillman said.
“Yep,” was all Victoria could manage.
Jessica had her hair up in a messy bun. Delicate tendrils of loose hair had fallen, and Victoria wanted to brush them off Jessica’s neck and kiss the revealed skin.
Jessica’s smile changed when she saw Victoria. It softened, and she seemed to relax. Victoria hustled over.
“Hi,” Victoria said, feeling like a shy little kid.
“Hi, yourself, hot stuff.” Jessica let Victoria help her off with her coat. Once relieved of the coat, Jessica asked, “No regrets?”
“About what?” Victoria was confused.
“Me.”
Victoria exhaled loudly, leaned down, and wrapped the gorgeous woman in her arms. They steamed up the front windows as she kissed the woman in her embrace. “None,” she said as she released her.
“Good.” Jessica reached for Victoria’s hand. “Me, neither. Shall we start date number two in the name of taking things slowly?”
“Yes.” God, this woman made her nervous. Victoria willed herself to chill out and led Jessica to the table with the carnations. “Today’s theme.”
“Aww,” Jessica said. “That is so sweet.” She leaned down and smelled a couple of them. “Where did you find these in December? On a Sunday?”
“I’m resourceful.”
“Are you now?” Jessica said with a slightly flirty lilt.
Victoria felt her cheeks flare up with warmth. She hadn’t felt this puppy love feeling in so long that she wondered if she’d ever felt it before.
Shanice and Marta breezed in next, and for a fleeting moment, jealousy flashed through Victoria at the sight of Marta. She took a deep breath. Everyone has exes or former play partners, she reminded herself. She herself had over a hundred. Hypocrite.
Jessica pulled up their clasped hands and kissed the back of Victoria’s. She must have sensed Victoria’s momentary unease. “She’s walking,” Jessica said, pointing to Shanice.
“It’s incredible. I’m glad I’m here to see it.”
