Isabella met Liv at the going away party of J. Wilbanks. Isabella worked for Wilbanks and had been fighting off his efforts to get her in bed for three years. She had stayed with the company because Molly worked there, and she liked being with her best friend. She liked the job. She didn’t dislike Wilbanks; she just had no interest in sex with him.
Liv showed up with a date, of course. The date was a pretty little blonde waif with a flat chest. She followed Liv around all evening, hanging on to the woman’s every word. Belle certainly understood why. She’d had a hard time not watching every move Liv made herself. Liv was wearing a black one piece dress that hugged her thighs. The globes of her breasts spilled out of the bodice of the strapless dress. The material left little to the imagination.
They met entirely by accident. One moment, Isabella had been hanging near the back of the crowd, watching Liv work the room. The next, Liv had been standing next to her. Belle had turned, her eyes searching for the woman, and stumbled into her. Belle’s drink had dropped, splashing all over Liv and her tight dress.
“I’m so sorry!” Belle exclaimed, immediately dabbing at the moisture with the small cocktail napkin she had been carrying. “It won’t stain. It was just ice water.”
“It’s all right,” Liv had answered. “It serves me right for trying to hide.”
Belle did not look up, still trying to dry the woman’s skin. She was acutely aware of Liv’s smell. “Who are you trying to hide from? You’ve been the life of the party all night. Wilbanks will be jealous.”
“Wilbanks will get over it; he always does. And that’s what I’m hiding from. It takes a lot of work to be witty and charming.” A shiver ran down Liv’s spine. “That water was certainly cold.”
Belle’s eyes dropped farther, noticing the goose bumps on Liv’s exposed flesh and the faint outline of large nipples against the dress. She blushed fiercely and dropped her hand. “I’m sorry,” she repeated, dropping her hand, even though some moisture remained.
“Accidents happen,” Liv answered with a warm smile. “I’m Olivia. I hate the name. My friends call me Liv. So should you.”
“Isabella,” Belle answered. “My friends call me Belle.”
“Then I’ll call you Bella,” Liv answered, her voice husky and filled with promise. Belle lifted her eyes slowly, trying to determine Liv’s intention. Liv’s eyes were cat green. They only met for a moment, and then Liv turned. “I believe I owe you a drink.”
“Oh, no!” Belle exclaimed, following Liv through the people. “It was my fault. I should have your dress cleaned.”
“You already told me it was just water, so there is nothing to be cleaned. My replacing your drink will cost me nothing and give me an excuse to be in your company a little longer.”
Belle faltered at Liv’s words. She didn’t think of herself as particularly pretty or charming, so she was always surprised when someone wanted to spend time with her. Liv’s back was already disappearing into the crowd, so Belle hurried after her new friend. Liv stopped at the bar, and then turned to Belle. “This party is really a drag. All people are going to be doing is getting more drunk and lying to Wilbanks about how much they will miss him. Are you going to miss him?” Liv did not give Belle time to respond, but read the look on the other woman’s face quickly. She laughed. “I didn’t think so. Neither will I. Why don’t we go someplace and order something besides finger foods?”
“What about your date?” Belle answered, searching the crowd for the small girl.
“She’s boring as hell,” Liv answered. “And she laughs at all my jokes. My jokes are not funny at all. Who do you think I was really hiding from? When she notices I’m gone, she’ll latch onto the nearest available person, or animal, and have a wonderful time.” Liv took a step toward Belle, her swollen breasts brushing Belle’s arm. “I’ll go get my coat,” she said in that same husky, promise-filled voice.
Belle gasped as if burned as Liv walked away. She stood dumbfounded for a moment, watching Liv’s butt move in the tight dress. A grin touched her lips. She found Molly in the crowd, looking equally bored. “I’m going,” she said.
“Great,” Molly answered. “Let me get my purse.”
“No,” Belle said, waving Molly away. “I’m not leaving alone.” Molly did a double take. “Her,” she whispered, pointing to Liv waiting near the door. Liv, a cell phone tucked beneath her ear, smiled and waved. Molly knew what Belle’s sexual preferences were, but she had never known Belle to act on an attraction so willingly. Belle kissed Molly’s cheek and weaved through the crowd.
Liv was driving a rental car, but it matched her dress. It was small, sleek, and black. They settled into the Corvette and rode with the windows down. Belle did not ask where they were going. For some reason that she did not understand, she was willing to release control to someone else for awhile. She enjoyed the sound of the motor humming, the wind tossing her hair away from her face, and the closeness of Liv’s hand to her knee as Liv changed gears.