Artist's Dream (8 page)

Cassie laughed. “It doesn’t suck, Kim. It’s just different for you. Try it at the fair. Put an outrageous price on it and see what hapŹpens,” Cassie suggested.

“It took me forever to finish. I guess I could ask more than I usually do.”

Cassie took another look at the painting. She normally wasn’t too fond of abstract. She preferred things in their natural state, which meant a seascape should look like a seascape. But Kim had captured the colors of a sunset perfectly.

“You may have found a new niche.”

“You think so? Really?”

“I really do,” Cassie assured her. “Now, let’s eat. I’m starved.”

They settled around the table as Lisa brought out a dish from the oven. She had her favorite apron tied around her waist and looked every bit the homemaker. Cassie and Kim looked at each other across the table, waiting for Lisa’s standard announcement before each meal.

“It’s lentil casserole, and I have no idea how it’ll taste. It doesn’t look too appetizing, if I say so myself.”

“I’m sure it will be great,” they said in unison, as they always did. And Lisa stuck her tongue out at them, as she usually did. Lisa had a penchant for trying new recipes. Whether they turned out good or bad, she seldom tried the same thing twice.

And actually, it was good. Cassie spread butter on the hot rolls and helped herself to seconds. She was hardly a guest in their home anymore, and she would do the dishes afterward while Lisa and Kim sat at the table and filled her in on the latest gossip. It was a routine that Cassie had come to love. After spending nearly every weekend with them after Kim had moved, they had all become accustomed to this time together. Once she had made the move, too, they continued to invite her to dinner at least once a week.

“Oh Cassie, you’ll never believe what we heard,” Kim said. “You remember that gorgeous woman at the fair? The one that bought your eagle?” Then she laughed and shared an amused smile with Lisa. “Luke Winston is her name. You know who I’m talking about?” she asked again.

“I know who you’re talking about.” Cassie gave her a wry glance before shoving the roll in her mouth.

“Know why we’ve seen her around lately?”

Cassie stopped chewing for only a second. It had been nearly two weeks since she had seen Luke, and she had spent that time trying to forget the way her body reacted when she was around her. When she reached for her glass of wine, she was pleased that her hand did not shake.

“She’s moved out here,” Lisa said before Kim could.

“Really?”

It was ironic, wasn’t it? Here they were, dropping this bit of news, Kim probably hoping that she could play matchmaker now, and Cassie not only knew Luke lived here, she had spent the night at her house. Wouldn’t they be surprised?

“Yes. Carl says she’s an architect,” Lisa said.

“Really?” Cassie murmured again.

“Caters strictly to the wealthy, from what I hear,” Kim added. “She’s supposedly loaded.”

“How nice,” Cassie said. But then, she had already suspected that, judging by her home. And her casually dropping two thouŹsand dollars at the festival for her eagle. “Well, maybe you’ll become friends,” she said.

“And just maybe …”

“Don’t start, Kim,” Cassie said, pointing her fork at her. “If you do, I’ll be forced to call up David and ask him out.”

“Oh, please. You no more want to go out with David than I do,” Kim complained.

“You’re right. I don’t. And I don’t want to go out with Luke

Winston, either,” she said.

“Kim,” Lisa warned. “Let her be.”

Cassie did the dishes, only half listening to their conversation behind her. She had been hoping they wouldn’t find out that Luke lived here. At least, not for awhile. But it shotildn’t matter. It wasn’t like they would see her out much. Artists tended to hang together, and she didn’t think that Luke knew anyone here. Their paths might not cross too often. At least, that’s what she told herself. Since Luke had not called her, Cassie assumed that she had changed her mind about wanting to get together. Perhaps it was for the best.

She was tempting fate, she thought, as she sat at a table at the local gay bar in Guerneville that Saturday night. Kim had talked her into it, as usual. And it wasn’t like she hadn’t been out with them before. In fact, she had many times. But when she saw Luke walk in with Jack and Craig, her heart fell into her stomach and she actually felt faint. She had missed Luke, missed talking to her, but running into each other at a gay bar was not how Cassie wanted to resume their friendship. She glanced quickly away, hoping Kim and Lisa had not seen her. She ran her suddenly damp palms across her jeans, then just as quickly, ran her fingers through her hair, nervously tucking the short strands behind her ears.

“Oh, God,” Lisa gave an exaggerated moan and rolled her eyes. “Teresa’s here.”

“Searching out her next victim, no doubt,” Kim added.

Cassie only half listened. Normally, she would be joining in. Teresa never failed to ask Cassie to dance, and Cassie hated having

the encounter with her. She never said yes. She never would. Teresa frightened her. She was over six feet tall, built like a truck and rode a Harley. But right now, there was someone else here that scared her more.

Kim stood and pulled Lisa with her. “We’re going to dance. Will you be okay?” she asked. “You know Teresa will be making the rounds.”

“I’ll be fine,” Cassie said, and motioned for them to go. She looked around, trying to find Luke. Apparently they had taken a table at the opposite end of the bar. She was thankful.

She watched Kim and Lisa as they danced close. She gave a silent laugh and smiled. They really were a perfect match and about as different as you could get. Kim’s hair Was cut very short, bleached nearly white on top where gel held it sticking straight up. Lisa’s conservative brown hair reached to her shoulders, her natuŹral curls tamed somewhat tonight. Kim was thin as a rail. Lisa, like Cassie herself, had to watch everything she ate or she ended up fighting an extra five or ten pounds before she knew it.

Cassie’s gaze followed her friends across the dance floor, and she was lost in thought. That’s why the deep, husky voice startled her.

“What’s a pretty girl like you doing sitting here all alone?”

Chills ran down Cassie’s spine, and she turned her head slowly, not at all prepared for the warm welcome she found in Luke’s eyes. Her bones turned to jelly, and she found herself returning the smile as their eyes locked. Luke pulled out a chair and turned it around, her back to the table. Then she leaned her elbows on her knees and grinned mischievously.

“You know, if you hang out at gay bars like this, people will start to talk.”

Cassie laughed. “Kim made me tag along,” she explained.

Luke nodded. “Me, too. I had dinner with Jack and Craig. They thought I needed a night out.”

“Did you?”

Luke nodded. “I’ve been busy. How about you?”

“Working, yes. Getting ready for the County Fair.”

Cassie pulled her eyes from Luke and focused on the woman approaching. “Oh, no,” she groaned. She reached out without thinking and wrapped her fingers tightly around Luke’s forearm, ignoring the sharp thrill that ran through her. “Stay where you are, please,” she whispered as she locked eyes with Luke.

“If you insist,” Luke murmured.

“Hey, doll. Let’s dance.”

Cassie raised her eyes to the puffy face of Teresa and shook her head. “Can’t.” She motioned to Luke. “Busy tonight.”

Teresa shook a finger at Cassie, her cigarette dancing in Cassie’s face. “One of these days, doll. It’ll be my turn.”

“I seriously doubt it,” Cassie whispered as Teresa walked away. She turned to Luke. “That woman scares me.”

Luke gave an exaggerated shudder. “Shit, she scares me, too. Could be the handcuffs on her belt,” she said and they laughed together.

Cassie looked past Luke again, this time to Kim and Lisa as they made their way back to the table. The fates were definitely not in her corner tonight.

She turned quickly to Luke. “Listen… Kim… she doesn’t know that we’re … that we’ve talked. That we know each other… at all,” she stammered. “And I just can’t deal with it… right now.” She didn’t expect Luke to understand her hesitation, but Luke was nodŹding.

“She would think … that you’re … that we …” Luke said, pointing to first Cassie, then herself.

Cassie nodded. “Yes. You don’t know Kim,” she whispered hurŹriedly. She realized she was still clutching Luke’s arm, and she reluctantly released her.

“Then your secret’s safe,” Luke said quietly. “Although I was hoping we’d have a chance to visit. Maybe …”

“Well, I thought that was you,” Kim said, interrupting them. “Luke, isn’t it?”

Cassie rolled her eyes and watched as Luke and Kim shook hands.

“And this is Lisa.”

“Good to see you again, Kim. Lisa, nice to meet you,” Luke said pleasantly.

“Join us,” Earn invited. “I’ll get you a drink.”

Cassie opened her mouth to say that Luke didn’t drink then closed it just as quickly, but Luke was already standing.

“Thanks, but I’m here with friends. I just saw Cassie and

thought I’d say hello.” She turned to Cassie and touched her

shoulder lightly, giving her a quick wink. “Glad I ran into you

again.”

“My, but she’s attractive,” Lisa murmured.

“Don’t start, Kirn,” Cassie warned without even looking at her. Her eyes were glued to Luke’s retreating back.

“I wasn’t going to say a word,” she said and chuckled. “Not a word.”

Cassie tried to pretend that her shoulder wasn’t on fire where Luke’s hand had so casually rested, but it positively burned. She wanted to touch it, but she didn’t dare. And it wasn’t fair, she thought again for the hundredth time. There was no logical reason for her to have such a reaction to Luke. Well, there was a logical reason, but Cassie refused to name it, refused to accept it. It was just something about Luke. Something that she couldn’t explain. Something that she wouldn’t dare explain.

Oh, but she liked her. She really did. Luke was charming. Luke was attractive and likable. Luke was a woman and a lesbian. Cassie sighed. A woman and a lesbian that she was insanely attracted to.

“It was nice of her to come over to talk, though,” Lisa said, interrupting Cassie’s thoughts.

“Yes,” Cassie said. “She seems nice.” Cassie scanned the dance floor occasionally, hoping to see Luke dancing, thinking she could watch her unobserved. She did see Jack and Craig dancing once, but never Luke.

It was nearing midnight, and Cassie gave Kim ‘The Look’ that said it was time to go. Kim had learned long ago not to argue. Cassie would simply refuse to go out with them the next time.

“Had enough?” Kim asked.

“I think so. Besides, Teresa is giving me the eye again,” Cassie said lightly.

“I see someone else giving you the eye,” Kim teased, motioning with her head.

Cassie looked up in time to catch the smile on Luke’s face as she approached. Her heart fluttered, like an idiot, she chided herself.

“We’re about to go, but I thought I could steal one dance from you,” Luke said.

Dance? Cassie’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “With me? Oh … I don’t … I mean, I’m not very good,” she stammered.

Luke reached for her hand and pulled her up before Cassie could object. “Well, we’ll be not very good together,” she said. “I haven’t been dancing in years.”

“But…”

“Just one.” Luke’s strong fingers locked around her own, ignorŹing her protest.

Cassie was amazed that her legs supported her. She was having a hard time breathing, and when Luke turned and slipped an arm around her waist, she was certain that she was going to pass out.

“Okay?”

Cassie nodded, afraid to speak, and her body turned rigid.

“Relax. You’re all tense,” Luke said.

“I am relaxed.”

Luke smiled and pulled away a little. “You have this very large space around you, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, personal space. Some people don’t need very much, like me. Others need a lot of space.”

“Yes,” Cassie nodded. “I tend to require a large personal space.” In truth, she never allowed anyone close, maybe Kim. Another side effect of her childhood, she suspected, and Luke was much too close.

But Luke pulled her closer again. “Kinda hard to do when dancing, though,” she teased, and Cassie could hear the amuseŹment in her voice.

Cassie’s feet slid along with Luke’s. She was on automatic, she realized. She didn’t want to think. She didn’t want to think about the arm around her waist or the warm hand holding her own. Soft. She didn’t want to think about the strong shoulder that her own hand rested upon. And she certainly didn’t want to think about the breasts that were only inches away from her own. Oh, dear Lord, she thought, I’m going to faint. How embarrassing. Her face was flushed, and she felt as if her skin were on fire. She felt perspiration trickle down her back, and she breathed deeply, her feet still moving along without a care in the world.

“We didn’t get a chance to talk,” Luke was saying, and Cassie managed to nod at her. “I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable in front of Kim,” she teased. “Seeing as how we hardly know each other.”

Cassie smiled and felt herself relax. She was thankful for the conversation. It beat the thoughts running through her head.

“I wanted to invite you over for lunch tomorrow,” Luke said.

“Lunch?”

“I have something to show you.” Luke spun her around quite nicely and Cassie managed to step on her foot only once.

“I sold my house, by the way. I’ve been in the city on and off the past two weeks, cleaning and moving stuff out here. In between that, I’m trying to squeeze in work. That’s why I haven’t had a chance to call you.”

“So you’ll finally move in all the way, then?”

“I brought a few pieces of furniture with me and the rest of my clothes.” Luke spun her around again. “So, lunch? About one?”

If Cassie had any sense at all, she would decline. Maybe seeing Luke and attempting a friendship was more than she could handle right now. Maybe she just needed to get her feelings under control before she saw her again.