Read Online Substitute for Love by Karin Kallmaker - Free Book Online

Holly shrugged to hide her sudden discomfort. “I’ll admit that my boyfriend and aunt thought I acted … precipitously. But I don’t.”
    “That’s what matters,” Tish said sagely. “They’re not looking in your mirror every morning. What can I get you?”
    They ordered and Tish heaved herself back to her feet. “If you’re serious, doll, I could put you to work.”
    “Geena’s taking me out tonight, but my body is yours until four.”
    “Promises, promises — if only I had time for that,” Tish said over her shoulder.
    “Tish and I go way back,” Tori explained. “She’s sort of like a big sister. Took me under her wing when I was coming out.”
    “I didn’t know lesbians had mentors.” Holly couldn’t help smiling.
    Tori spluttered into her water. “I never thought of it that way. Tish, uh, showed me the ropes. Because I was clueless about certain things.”
    “I think I understand.” Holly decided that pretending she understood all the nuances was the safest course of action. She felt flustered and foolish and didn’t want it to show.
    “Are you sure you’re straight?” Tori was grinning too broadly for it to be anything but a joke.
    “Same man, eight years — it does add up that way.”
    “If you ever change your mind, I know several single women — nice women, mind you. Good mate material.”
    More seriously than she intended, Holly asked, “Does it happen that way? Do people really just change their mind?”
    Tori’s air of teasing faded. “You’re right, of course. If you hang out much with me you will get teased about being straight, which I suppose is not fair, because I don’t think I’d appreciate having anyone suggest that I could change my sexuality on a whim.”
    “I wasn’t offended,” Holly said quickly.
    Tori was nodding and looking relieved. “Well, no one assumes that heterosexuality is a phase.”
    “I hadn’t thought of that.”
    “But if you ever want to know something, just ask,” Tori said seriously. “I’ll be happy to help you out.”
    Holly snickered.
    Tori flushed. “Uh, okay, that didn’t come out the way I meant it to. What I meant was, just because I was discreet at work doesn’t mean I’m naturally shy about being a lesbian. I’m not. Don’t think you’ll ruffle my feathers if you want to ask something. In fact, most of the gay people I know consider themselves ambassadors to the straight world. Our job is to patiently educate and therefore eliminate fear and hatred.” Tori ended with one hand on her heart and the other in the split-fingered Vulcan greeting.
    Holly laughed again and decided she liked Tori. It was too bad that the corporate culture at Alpha had prevented them from forming a friendship. “My Aunt Zinnia, who is old and has always been disagreeable, believes that the only way gay people can increase their numbers is through recruitment.”
    “Blech.” Tori’s upper lip curled. “I hate that one. I’m sure she also thinks we stalk children. Yuck.”
    Their lunches arrived with extra plates and they quickly divvied up the gnocchi and salad. Holly ate every bit of spinach in its balsamic vinaigrette by way of compensation for the delectable potato dumplings and the heavy cream and cheese sauce. “Tish serves wonderful food,” she admitted to Tori.
    To her surprise, Tori abruptly frowned. “Yeah, but she has this thing about letting anybody in.”
    A shadow fell over Holly’s plate and the next thing she knew a long-limbed brunette was sliding into the booth next to her, not so gently using her hips to bump Holly farther in to make room. “Hey, Tori. How’s tricks?”
    “Murphy.”
    In the prolonged silence that followed, Holly was aware that Murphy was studying her, but Holly looked anywhere but at the woman. Tori was obviously not pleased to see her and Holly didn’t want to interfere.
    “Still holding a grudge? I don’t know why.”
    Tori sipped her coffee, then resumed eating the last of her