Miss Match Read online

  “Stop that.” Lucinda dragged her thumb across Samantha’s lip, pulling it from her teeth before pressing a kiss to them and whispering, “They’re terms of endearment for me, so it’s special.” She kissed Samantha slowly once more and pulled back, while still staying close.

  Samantha opened her eyes. “Well, I feel very special then.”

  “You should.” Lucinda contemplated leaning back in to suck on those full lips again when she was interrupted by an unwanted guest.

  “Well, you two look mighty cozy.” Claudette Frost’s voice was as warm as dry ice. “I hear you’re using Ms. Moss here to assist with that White mess. Dating the help, are we, Samantha?”

  Lucinda watched Samantha stifle a lip curl before turning to address Claudette. “What do you want, Claudette?”

  “I want you to do the job you’ve been paid to do and find a match for my darling son. Perhaps fewer…distractions would be advised. What will your clientele think?” Claudette smiled and walked away.

  Although Lucinda doubted Samantha would let her professional poise falter, her body language suggested that she was considering following Claudette.

  Lucinda placed a soft but firm hand on her forearm, holding her back. “It’s not worth it,” Lucinda stated quietly, her tone not quite matching the death glare she was casting at the back of Claudette Frost’s head. She was trying to remain calm, but the thinly veiled threats against Samantha put her on edge in a way she hadn’t been in years.

  Samantha let out a huff, Lucinda’s contact seemingly grounding her. “Who the fuck does Frosty the Snow Bitch think she is, calling you the help?”

  “Hey.” Lucinda’s tone was firm as she ducked her head to catch Samantha’s eyes. “It’s really adorable that you’re upset about me and my feelings, but it’s not a big deal. I’m sure Alec spoke volumes about me embarrassing him on the dance floor at the wedding.”

  “Of course he fucking ran back to Mommy.” Samantha grumbled and attempted to pull her arm out from Lucinda’s grasp, unsuccessfully. “And it does matter.”

  Lucinda paused at Samantha’s comment, touched by the sentiment even though it was obscured by Samantha’s palpable anger. She loosened her grasp on Samantha’s arm, stroking the skin with her thumb until Samantha looked up at her. “Thank you for that. I don’t want to cause you any trouble, Samantha.”

  Samantha let out a slow, angry breath. “I’m here with you tonight because I want to be, Luce. I don’t care who knows it.”

  Lucinda saw a mix of emotions flash across Samantha’s face, “Come on, let’s grab our stuff and head to the front. I’ll take you to pet the sharks another day.”

  “Promise?” Samantha teased as she scrunched her face in mock disapproval.

  “Oh yeah, absolutely. It’s a definite now.” Lucinda slid her arm to Samantha’s waist and walked her down the ramp.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Samantha wandered around the gift shop, looking at the magnets and collectable snow globes featuring some of the aquarium’s most popular exhibits: penguins, seahorses, stingrays. Lucinda was retrieving their purses and her shawl from the coat-check area and had left Samantha to her own devices. She let her fingers dance over delicate pieces of colored sea glass that hung from fishing line to make a beautiful wind chime. She found a fact book on the aquarium and thumbed through the pages with one hand while her other ran over her lips, remembering.

  The last time she had been attracted to a beautiful blonde was in high school during a cheer camp stint between junior and senior year. It was a relationship that was fast and intense and raw. She’d kept in contact with Adriana for a while during senior year but eventually they lost touch. They crossed paths again in college at a cheer competition and rekindled the flame over one crazy weekend, but Adriana ended up marrying her college sweetheart—some guy—and Samantha dabbled a bit before she eventually crawled back to what was comfortable and socially accepted, dating men. It wasn’t that she denied her desires; it’s just that she hadn’t really found another woman that piqued her interest like Adriana had. Until now.

  She liked kissing Lucinda Moss. She liked feeling special enough to use a nickname with her if she chose to. She liked that Lucinda was affectionate but respectful of her space. She liked the darkness in those blue eyes when they tracked down to her lips. She liked how completely comfortable she felt in Lucinda’s presence, even if she made her nervous sometimes, but it was a good sort of nervous, like butterflies nervous. She liked that Lucinda was able to step right back into the soft, tender moments they shared before they were interrupted as if seeing Claudette didn’t faze her. Maybe it didn’t, and that made Samantha feel that much more appreciated, like she was worthy of Lucinda’s attention and affection.

  At the same time though, she had to admit to herself that she was a little anxious. Claudette’s influence in certain circles was significant and her tone had been threatening. It was true that Samantha wasn’t ashamed of being caught kissing Lucinda Moss, but she wasn’t exactly looking for a fight either. She needed to maintain as many contracts as possible to repair the damage her break-up had done to the company’s finances and reputation, a fact she intended to keep under wraps. The spectacular failure of her relationship was not something she could afford getting out. It could literally ruin her. And the idea that the woman who knew all of her secrets was currently also making her question whether she should be dating again at all…well that was a totally different struggle altogether.

  She couldn’t deny her attraction to Lucinda. But Lucinda also had the power to expose her secrets to the world. Secrets that at this point had closed her off almost entirely from engaging in any sort of relationship with another person. Should she really even consider dating with all of the consequences it might bring her? Was opening up to Lucinda really the smartest choice here? If she had learned one thing in her matchmaking business, it’s that timing was everything. The real question was whether she could resist her growing attraction to Lucinda before it was too late. Maybe it already was.

  “Find something you like?” Lucinda asked her quietly as she stepped up next to her.

  “Yes, I have.” That was true, she really did like Lucinda, “But about this? Just looking.”

  “You’re cute. I’ll keep you.” Lucinda smiled and stepped closer to Samantha, her hand affectionately resting at Samantha’s waist.

  Samantha turned and ran her fingers along Lucinda’s elbow. “I’m ready whenever you are,” she said as her eyes continued to dance over the toys and books surrounding them.

  Lucinda nodded and draped the shawl over Samantha’s shoulders, shuffling the purses to one arm as she slid her hand into Samantha’s. Samantha repositioned their hands into a more comfortable position to entwine their fingers. She liked playing this game with her, learning which way was most comfortable. Lucinda seemed to prefer to hold with her left hand, Samantha’s right. It was convenient that Samantha was left-handed—they fit so well that way. The thought settled in her stomach with a warm flutter.

  They moved slowly through the doors to a large bronze statue of a sea turtle suspended above a few large fish, swimming in tandem. It was beautiful and well over eight feet tall. Samantha leaned in to examine the fine details carved into the seaweed at the base. Her attention was drawn to the gold-plated plaque attached to the base of the statue. “This statue is brought to you by the generosity of the Andiamo family,” she read aloud. “This statue is from Massimo’s family?”

  Lucinda nodded, her eyes trailing over it. “Yes, it’s a few years old now.”

  “How did you meet them?”

  “Well, she danced into our lives, didn’t you, Luce?” Massimo supplied as he walked up.

  “Something like that.” Lucinda laughed and quickly changed the subject, “Where to, Mass?”

  “How about a little Italian tonight? We’re right by the North End and I have been dying to try a new place Silvia recommended.” He creased his brow in thought. “Speaking of which, I should
probably call my lovely wife and tell her I’m escorting two beautiful women.”

  *

  They hailed a cab and took the short ride to Boston’s North End. Lucinda loved the juxtaposition of trendy nightspots and restaurants scattered amongst the historic sites of the American Revolution and the likes of Paul Revere’s house. It was one of her favorite places to unwind after a dance competition with Dominic because of all its charm and energy.

  Massimo held Samantha’s arm as she navigated the cobblestone streets on very high heels, while Lucinda walked by their side laughing at their conversation and smiling to herself. It had been a long time since she’d had so much fun. She had missed Massimo’s quirky sense of humor and she absolutely loved Samantha’s naturally husky laugh. She looped her arm into Massimo’s and let him lead them to a small Italian bistro tucked behind an ivy-covered trellis at the side entrance of a bakery, the kind of place you would walk right past if you didn’t know it was there.

  They were seated in the back in a round booth with Samantha in the middle. Massimo ordered white wine, a martini for himself, and a few seafood appetizers as they chatted about his presentation. He told Samantha about his love of all things aquatic and how he advocated for inner-city education at the aquarium. At some point between glasses of wine, Samantha slid her hand into Lucinda’s under the table and pulled them onto her lap. She let her fingers trace the lines in Lucinda’s palm as she spoke animatedly with Massimo about her work and her partner Andrew. She told them that Andrew had been a close friend since high school who had reconnected with her shortly after college. They started the business as a side project originally but it got away from them and took off on its own.

  Lucinda listened with half attention as she focused on the things Samantha was doing to her hand, gliding her fingers up to the tips of Lucinda’s and slowly dragging her nails back down to the center of her palm. Lucinda almost dropped her wineglass the first time as she shuddered, her stomach knotting with each swipe of Samantha’s fingers. If Samantha noticed, she didn’t let on, or let up, continuing to slowly manipulate Lucinda’s hand with her own. After a particularly slow drag, Lucinda closed her fingers around Samantha’s before releasing them and turning her palm over so it was resting on Samantha’s thigh.

  She gently squeezed the muscles underneath her hand and was rewarded with a slight pause in Samantha’s conversation with Massimo as she sucked in a short breath. Massimo was mid-laugh and missed the exchange before excusing himself to the restroom. Samantha wore a sly grin as she sipped her wine, eyes directed out to the restaurant. Lucinda took it as a taunt and a challenge which she countered by sliding her palm up slightly so her fingers could work the hem of Samantha’s dress a bit. That got an immediate response.

  Samantha set her wineglass down and licked her lips before turning to face Lucinda. She arched her eyebrow, let her eyes drop to Lucinda’s lips, and spoke directly to them. “I like the way your hand feels in mine.”

  Lucinda pushed up the hem of Samantha’s dress a little. “And how about the way it feels on your thigh?”

  “Yes, that too.” She leaned forward, stopping just millimeters from Lucinda’s lips.

  Lucinda closed the distance, this time letting her teeth catch Samantha’s pouty bottom lip and tugging a bit before soothing it with her tongue.

  Samantha moaned against Lucinda’s mouth and parted her lips in response. Lucinda nibbled her lips once more before pulling back, leaving Samantha in a haze with bruised red lips. She knew their tablemate would be returning soon enough.

  Samantha seemed to understand and nodded, turning her face away to gain some composure. Lucinda squeezed her thigh once more and slid her hand up to her knee to give each of them a chance to breathe. She wanted to keep touching Samantha’s leg, all of her really, but if she was going to get through the rest of this dinner she had to cool off. The flustered look Samantha wore betrayed a similar state.

  Dinner was easy and fun. They kept their hands to themselves and stayed out of any real trouble. They talked about work and Massimo’s new wife, Silvia. He had an upcoming sea voyage that would take fifty days and she was already starting to worry. Lucinda did her best to ignore the worry she too felt, instead nervously toying with her napkin as Massimo reached for the check. After Dominic’s death, she had shut down from all of her relationships, withdrawing into herself. Reconnecting with Massimo tonight had been a pleasant change of pace, but even the slightest notion that he might be in danger made Lucinda feel anxious. She had had enough loss.

  *

  They took a cab back to the aquarium and parted ways with Massimo. Samantha had overheard him tell Lucinda that the family missed her, as though Lucinda had somehow lost touch with him. It struck Samantha as odd considering how friendly they were together. Their interaction was effortless and she could see the affection between them.

  Samantha noticed the sad look in Lucinda’s eyes as she watched Massimo walk away.

  She stepped closer, reaching out and touching the crossed arms Lucinda had over her chest, holding her emotions in. “You okay?” Samantha asked quietly.

  “Yeah. I’m fine.” Lucinda shook her head and stood up taller, uncrossing her arms and flashing a weary smile at Samantha. “I’m good.”

  “You don’t have to be, if you aren’t.”

  “I’m with you, and I couldn’t be happier about that.” Lucinda’s small smile satisfied Samantha for the moment and she let it go. She would pursue it later, if the circumstance arose. “You ready to go home now, Cinderella?” Lucinda joked and smiled, seemingly easing the sad cloud off her shoulders.

  Samantha paused, and watching the moonlight reflect off Lucinda’s beautiful blond hair, she reached out and ran her fingers along it lightly. “Let’s go, pumpkin driver,” she said with a grin, pulling gently on a loose curl and letting it spring back up.

  Lucinda laughed and waved the valet forward with her classic car, opening the door for Samantha before walking to the driver’s side and slipping into her seat. She pulled away from the aquarium, casting one last glance in the rearview. Samantha watched her look back like she had left something behind and she frowned to herself again. Something was haunting Lucinda Moss and she had no idea what.

  *

  They drove back to Samantha’s high-rise in peaceful silence, Lucinda reaching her hand from the shift to Samantha’s lap when she wasn’t changing gears. Touch was important to her; she needed it to feel grounded. She appreciated the comfortable quiet she was having with Samantha; it let her think about tonight’s unexpected dinner. She considered how Massimo had encouraged her to reach out to the family and to call him soon. It made her stomach knot with emotion. She needed to be better about this. She really needed to reconnect with them. She hated the way just talking to Massimo made her want to cry. She wanted to blame it on the wine, but she had stopped drinking hours ago. No, this was deep seated and festering. She missed them. She missed the family. She missed Dominic. Lucinda wondered if she would ever again risk exposing herself to the vulnerability of losing someone so important. The tired but content sigh from Samantha next to her drew her attention back to her passenger. The warm hand holding her own challenged her to be brave.

  When they pulled up to the valet she squeezed Samantha’s hand and put the car in neutral. She reached into the back and retrieved her purse before climbing out of the car and walking toward her passenger door, beating the attendant to the door and waving him off politely as she lent a hand to Samantha, helping her out and through the doors to her building.

  Samantha had a permanent blush on her cheeks as she ducked her head to avoid the eyes of the night concierge and tugged Lucinda through the lobby to the safety of the elevator before saying, “You know, I can walk myself up.”

  Lucinda grinned wider, waiting for the elevator doors to close before whispering into Samantha’s ear, “As if I would kiss you good night on the sidewalk outside.”

  “As if.”

  “I’ll at least wa
lk you to your door, like a gentlewoman.” She winked and pressed her lips to Samantha’s briefly as the doors opened behind them.

  Samantha broke the kiss to step out of the elevator and wrapped her fingers in Lucinda’s, pulling her down the hall with haste. When they got to her door she slowed, not sure what was going to happen next. Should she invite Lucinda in? Say good night? Offer to make coffee?

  Before she could panic any longer, Lucinda turned her gently on the spot and walked her silently backward until she could feel the wall behind her. Lucinda pressed against her, hand on her hip, the other brushing the hair off her face as she pressed a hard kiss to Samantha’s lips. The force of the kiss caught Samantha off guard and she gasped, opening her mouth in surprise. Lucinda took the opportunity to suck Samantha’s bottom lip between her own, running her tongue along the flesh until Samantha leaned closer and deepened the kiss. Their lips moved against each other slowly, like an elegant dance, before impatience set in. Samantha opened her mouth wider, dropping her purse to the floor as she slid her hands into Lucinda’s hair, pulling her face closer.

  Lucinda’s tongue teased at Samantha’s drawing out a low moan from her throat. All Samantha could feel was the heat of Lucinda’s mouth on her and the hand clutching at her hip, holding her firmly in place against the wall, fingers kneading softly into her flesh. They kissed like this for what seemed like forever, until Samantha couldn’t breathe without gasping. Lucinda smiled against her lips, short of breath herself, before pressing one final kiss against the corner of her mouth.

  “I got you something,” she whispered as Samantha blinked her eyes open slowly, her jaw still cradled in Lucinda’s hand. Samantha’s hands slid down from Lucinda’s now messy hair to her shoulders, where they clasped loosely behind her neck.

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah.” Lucinda leaned forward to kiss her again, one firm kiss as she guided Samantha’s hands between them. She held Samantha’s hands with her right while the other pushed Samantha’s hair behind her ear. Her fingers slowly traced down Samantha’s face, resting at her collarbone, playing with the soft material of her dress. Samantha was warmed by the touch, her eyes fluttering closed as she felt Lucinda’s fingers slowly dance along the bone. Samantha’s eyes opened at the sensation of Lucinda stepping back a few inches, giving her room to breathe.