“I’m in.”
“Good. I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“You saw me yesterday.”
“Oh, yes, our lunch together in a loud cafeteria was exactly how I wanted to spend time with you.”
“Well,” Melanie felt her eyes sparkling, “I guess you’ll have to make it up to me then, hmm?”
Cameron licked her lips, driving Melanie wild. She was thankful that no one else was at the nurses’ station because she wasn’t sure she could control the thoughts running through her mind much longer.
“How about dinner at the bar after tree shopping?”
“It’s a date.”
“But not officially,” Cameron winked, walking away as Melanie kept her eyes on her until she was out of sight. With a board meeting scheduled for later in the day, Cameron had worn a tight-fitting navy dress with pearl earrings and heels that would have Melanie’s feet ache in ten seconds flat.
It was a stark contrast to what Cameron currently was wearing. Her pink snow boots matched her pink puffer jacket and accompanied her dark jeans well. She had her hair under a Taylor Memorial Hospital beanie, which made Melanie laugh. Especially with the obnoxious white pom-pom on top of it.
“What?” Cameron nervously laughed as she bumped her hip against Melanie’s as they walked behind the kids through the rows of trees.
“Did you buy that goofy hat?”
“I won it at one of those stupid employee meetings that could have been an email.”
“Ahh, so they were just trying to get rid of them.”
“Exactly.” They took a few more steps before Cameron held up a finger. “Wait, does that mean you don’t think I look good in this hat?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“It was implied.”
“Well,” Melanie laughed, playfully flicking the pom-pom, “let’s just say it’s not what I pictured you wearing.”
Cameron smirked, arching an eyebrow as she tenderly placed a hand on Melanie’s chest. She said something—Melanie could tell by the way Cameron’s lips were moving—but she had no idea what she said. Her entire brain was focused on the feel of Cameron’s hand on her boob.
Oh, my god. What does this mean? She had to know she’s doing this, right? Oh, my god. And we’re out in public. Oh, my god.
“Mel?”
“Yeah?” Melanie said at several octaves higher than her normal voice.
“Did you hear what I said?”
Melanie shook her head.
“I said, why don’t you tell me what you were picturing me wearing?”
Leaning in ever so slightly, Melanie knew exactly what Cameron’s intentions were. She was going to kiss her. But suddenly, Melanie became keenly aware of where they were and the possible consequences of said kiss.
“Cameron,” Melanie could feel herself blushing as she took a step back from her, “not here. Not with the kids and probably a hundred eyes from the Cove watching us.”
It was the first time since they’d admitted their feelings for each other that Melanie was keenly aware of the line they had been toeing. Yes, on the one hand Melanie was getting divorced and had no plans to ever be back with Rob. But on the other, she didn’t want to be seen alone with a woman’s hand on her breast as they chatted about intimate things. They weren’t there yet.
“Okay.” Cameron held up her hands as she turned to walk away from Melanie. “I’m sorry.”
“Wait,” Melanie called after her but Cameron didn’t stop, so she went after her. “Cam, wait.”
