No! She tamped down her frustration. None of this was Paul’s fault, and he was right. What harm could it do to be civil?
Her heart would get involved, that’s what, and it was a risk Lisa wasn’t willing to take. She shook off the thought.
“How’s Emma?”
“Great, she’s just started saying duck, but it doesn’t sound a lot like that right now.”
Lisa nudged him playfully, grateful he’d lifted her mood. “Are you sure you’re not teaching her bad words?”
“My wife would kill me.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re not.”
His boyish grin was infectious.
***
Saturday night, after taking out second place in the pool final, Lisa arrived home with a smile on her face and a trophy in her hand. She set it down, guzzled a glass of water, and peered out the kitchen window.
Stars dotted the sky; a light was on in the house backing onto her yard; otherwise all was quiet. She put her glass in the sink, wandered through the living room, and did an about face when she heard Bella’s car. Yes, she was weak.
The curtain called to her. Half-drunk, she didn’t bother fighting it. She’d been surrounded by good people all night, but she suddenly felt incredibly alone and a tiny bit sad.
She peered through the drapes, waiting for the porch light to go on, but it didn’t. Bella left the car running, headlights bathing the backyard in a golden glow.
When she tripped and fell, Lisa was out the door before she could think twice about it. She jogged up Bella’s driveway just as Bella pushed to her feet.
“Arrr!” Bella screamed, hands up protectively. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“It’s only me.” Lisa approached slowly.
Bella’s chest rose and fell as she sucked in air. She wore a snug-fitting black dress, a waist-length jacket, high heels and stockings that now had a hole in the knee. Her green eyes looked almost black in the dim light, and her chestnut hair flowed over her shoulders.
“Are you okay? I saw you fall.”
“I will be, once my heart slows down.” Bella rubbed her knee. “Lost a bit of skin, but nothing I can’t handle.”
No, you like a bit of pain, don’t you? Lisa shook her beer-fuddled head.
“What’s in the suitcase?”
“Nothing important.” Bella shrugged. “Thanks for checking on me.”
The rational side of Lisa’s brain told her to walk away, but the pull of desire kept her rooted to the spot. She never should’ve broken her own rule. It would’ve been safer to stay on her own side of the fence.
Bella lifted the suitcase off the ground, holding it by the handle.
“Have you thought about having security lights installed?” Lisa asked.
“I can’t afford them.”
“It’s not about the cost. It’s about keeping you turned on.”
The air crackled between them like someone had exposed a live wire. It would be dangerous to get too close, but Lisa couldn’t leave Bella standing there in the dark.
“I’ll wait until you’re safely inside.”
“Thank you.” Bella headed back towards her car.
For a split second, Lisa considered lunging for the suitcase and popping it open, but that would be a breach of privacy. Watching Bella come and go was one thing; invading her personal property was entirely something else.
Bella glanced up at the porch light. “I’ll get someone to take a look at that.”
“I could take a look for you. I’m qualified,” Lisa said, feeling a sense of pride.
“You followed your dream.” Bella’s face lit up, and Lisa’s heart softened ever so slightly.
“You remembered?”
“Of course. I remember everything about you.”
She stared at Lisa’s mouth, or maybe that was her imagination. It was hard to tell in the dim light.
“The way you looked at me at swimming sports. The way you kiss…”
Okay, Lisa hadn’t imagined it, but as tempting as it was to flirt, the ring on Bella’s finger and the work boots by the back door stopped her. “On second thought, get your husband to fix it. It’s his job to keep you turned on.”
“I told you, it’s not what it looks like.”
“And I told you, I don’t care.” Lisa strolled down the driveway before her walls could crumble. Once she was back on her side of the fence, she sprinted inside and slammed the door.
She never should’ve gone next door. Bella had tripped. So what? She still cared, that’s what. And that terrified her, especially now she was pretty sure Bella was telling the truth about not being married.
So what were the boots and wedding ring about? Oh, fuck. Lisa’s stomach somersaulted when the thought hit her. Bella could be a grieving widow.
Maybe she moved back to her hometown to escape the memories she’d made somewhere else with her husband.
What other memorabilia had she kept? Was her house lined with photos of the happy couple? Maybe Lisa should’ve accepted that coffee after all.
Then again, maybe not. Even so, knowing Bella was alone brought out the protective instinct in her. She would go over tomorrow, while Bella was out doing whatever it was she did at seven o’clock on a Sunday morning, and repair her porch light. It was probably only a blown bulb, anyway.
“Check you out—stepping up from spying to trespassing.” Great, now she was talking to herself. Okay, she would wait until Bella got home, then go over and offer to fix her light.
It’s not about the cost, it’s about keeping you turned on. She shook her head at the ridiculous line. The minute the words left her mouth, she realised how lame it sounded, but it was too late to take them back.
The desire that sparked between them had been undeniable. Lisa had seen beneath the surface. The part of Bella that she tried to hide from everyone else was still there. The desire to give herself to Lisa.
Too bad. She’d had her chance. Everyone deserves a second chance. Shut up, brain. She flicked out the light and headed for bed.
Chapter 6
The following day, the second Lisa heard Bella arrive home, she swallowed her pride and walked up her driveway. “Hi,” Lisa called out, not wanting to spook her like she had last night.
“Oh, hi.” Bella looked on-guard, and Lisa couldn’t blame her.
“I wondered if you wanted me to take a look at your light?”
“It’s fine. My brother will be around later. I’ll get him to take a look.”
“Oh, okay.” The snub hurt, but she was damned if she was going to show it. With a shrug, she thrust her hands in her pockets.
Bella towed the vacuum cleaner towards the house, the wheels bumping over the uneven concrete path.
“You work a lot,” Lisa said, wondering if Bella was in a hurry to get away before Lisa asked more about where she went at night.
“Oh, you’re still here?” She arched an eyebrow.
Lisa was tempted to call her a brat, but she didn’t have that right, and she couldn’t tell if Bella was surprised she hadn’t gone home or if she was giving her a subtle hint to leave.
She spun on her heels and crawled home with her tail between her legs. Not literally, of course, but she felt like a kicked puppy.