“That’s nice,” Sadie said. “You have a lot to catch up on.”
“She was like, ‘I leave for a few weeks and everything goes to shit.’”
“Seriously.”
A new text from Perry popped up.
This has your vibe.
He’d included a link to a listing for a storefront available for lease in Knollwood Village. It was in a charming vintage building that looked like it had most recently been a juice bar. Aged brown brick, big picture windows…
“Babe?” Joan said, setting her phone on the island.
“Hmm? Sorry, I was looking at something Perry sent me.”
“What is it?”
“A Sadie’s Café option.”
Joan moved beside her to take a look. The scoop neck on her top gaped to reveal her perfect little breasts waiting for Sadie’s attention. A deep throb pulsed in her lower abdomen.
“That’s really cute,” Joan said. “It reminds me of you.”
“Perry said it has my vibe.”
“It does. We should check it out.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Where is it?”
“Knollwood Village.”
Joan pressed a soft kiss to Sadie’s temple. “You love shopping there, right?”
“I used to,” Sadie said. “It’s been a while, but I did get a lot of my clothes and décor from the little shops tucked along the side streets.”
“We can make a day of it tomorrow.”
“Monday funday.”But first, tonight fun-night.
She glanced at the listing again. Her heart gave a tiny flutter. It was cute, but rent in the Village was notoriously high. It was probably way too out of reach. And anyway, her dream was on hold until everything going on in the city calmed down.
Joan sampled Sadie’s tea. “I don’t know how you make chamomile not taste like hot weeds.”
“Fresh lemon and a pinch of grated ginger root,” Sadie replied.
“You’re a genius.”
“You’re…” She set her phone down and swiveled the barstool to face the full vision of Joanie’s toned body in loose clothes. No word could describe the ache in Sadie’s bones to touch her other than, “Mine.”
A delicious chuckle rumbled in Joan’s throat. “All yours, sweetheart.”
Sadie leaned in and placed a slow kiss on Joan’s warm and welcoming lips. Joanie wrapped her arms around her. Sadie slid her fingers over the stubble of the undercut above Joan’s neck.
Their tongues met languidly, familiar and wonderful. Her favorite taste in the world was Joanie Maloney’s mouth. Well, second favorite to another special place on Joanie’s body.
Joan pulled back, tilting her head and taking in a deep breath. What she had to do to move all the fire roiling around her body to her heart. She looked at Sadie with so much love and tenderness, it almost melted her anyway.
