Read Online Fortune Is a Woman by Francine Saint Marie - Free Book Online Page B

her hand on someone’s hip, leading him to anywhere. To the moon. To Japan. “I guess so.”
    “Which? Find me on the moon? Or call me in Japan?”
    She shot Venus a shy look. The knee was acting up today. She put her hand over it protectively. It was hot.
    “How is it?” Venus asked.
    “Still giving me some trouble.”
    “Heels, girlfriend.”
    “Yeah. They don’t help.”
    “Will you call me in Japan?”
    There was little chance of that. “I, um, don’t–”
    “Or do you want me to apologize first? Because I will if you need me to.”
    “Angelo? Apologize? For what?”
    Venus leaned forward. “The locker room?”
    “The lock–the–you mean the–?”
    Venus nodded and flashed her grin.
    It had been too much to hope that Venus would never mention it. “No…of course not.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    On the other hand, she didn’t want to hear her apologize for it, either. “No, don’t–you don’t owe me a–”
    “That I lost my nerve.”
    “Ah,” Lydia murmured. She had indeed lost her nerve. Lydia respected her for saying so. She lifted her hand from her knee to signify she was leaving. “I think I’d better go. Let you get back to your work. You must have an awful lot to do before you leave.”
    Venus was poised to beat her to the door. “Five more minutes. Just five. It can wait.”
    Lydia rose from the chair. Five more minutes when she could think of nothing coherent to say was too long. She walked quietly to the door, placed her hand on it and then, feeling Venus behind her, dropped her arms to her sides. “Goodbye, Venus. I wish you a very safe and very prosperous voyage.”
    “Turn around,” Venus whispered. “Please.”
    Lydia felt her breath warm on the back of her neck. The knee was shot now, her body heavy on it. “No,” she said without turning.
    “C’mon, Lydia. Hit the ball.”
    “Angelo, I can’t. It’s not–”
    Venus kissed the nape of her neck. “You can. You know you can. Turn around, Lydia. Kiss me goodbye. One kiss is all I’m–”
    One kiss leads to another and another. Anyone would know that much. She took hold of the doorknob. It was cool in her palm. “I–”
    “Won’t,” Venus finished, folding Lydia’s arms in front of her and holding her close. “One goodbye then.”
    “Venus.” She threw her head backward. “Venus . ”
    “Lydia. ”
    “Goodbye.”
    Lydia was tilting. Venus balanced her with her body. “Three goodbyes, then.”
    “I have to go now. Helaine’s–”
    “Not yet.”
    Lydia covered her breasts. “Yes yet.”
    They rocked together.
    “Yes yet?”
    “No, no.”
    “Will you miss me? Say yes, Lydia.”
    Venus had her by her belt buckle. “Venus…don’t.”
    “Lydia… do. Turn around.” The lights were too bright. Venus flicked the switch.
    Lydia turned them back on again. “Goodbye, Venus. That’s three. Now I have to go.”
    “Lydia Beaumont.”
    Her belt was loose.
    “Turn around,” Venus pleaded. “Kiss me. Just once.”
    Saturday and Helaine would be home for lunch. “I just…I can’t.”
    “Can . ”
    The knee felt weaker and weaker.
    “At least tell me that you want to.”
    “I–” the belt came undone.
    “Want to.”
    “I want to go. This minute.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    Lydia reached for Venus and the belt. She reached for the door.
    “Turn around, Lydia.”
    It was a Saturday. Helaine was home for lunch on Saturdays. She had to go home for lunch. “We can’t do this,” Lydia said, grabbing the doorknob. “This feels…very wrong.”
    Venus took her hand. “Lydia, I lo–”
    “Don’t do that to me. Don’t do that.” She pushed at the door with both hands.
    “Okay,” Venus said, stroking her back. “Okay.” Those shoulders were hard and tense–“It’s okay, Lydia.”–her stomach warm through the skirt.
    The skirt zipped in the back. Venus undid the button.
    “Honey,” Lydia whispered. “I really, really have to go.”
    The ring on Lydia’s finger shone brilliant in the