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  “I wanted to change departments because…” Michelle chuckled again. “I can’t believe it.” She took Diane’s hand in her own. “I have feelings for you too,” she said it so softly that Diane almost missed the words on the sounds of summer. “And I think based on what you said, you have feelings for me.” Don’t tell her you love her. She’ll think you are nuts.

  Diane grinned. “I do. I thought you figured it out and that’s why you wanted to change jobs.”

  Michelle pulled Diane into a strong hug. “I’ve been sick for a week.”

  Diane held her at arm’s length. “Is that what happened at the zoo?”

  Michelle nodded as a tear dropped onto her cheek. “I was watching you and Anna with the giraffes.” She took a deep breath. “You looked up at me and I knew.”

  “Knew what?” Diane asked wiping away the tear.

  “That I was in love with you.” You said it. Why? ”I thought when I broke up with Jillian it was because she couldn’t fully commit to me, but it was because I already had feelings for you that I didn’t even know I had.”

  “Oh, Michelle.” Diane pulled her close not feeling the awkwardness she thought she would feel. “I’m in love with you too. I kept telling my heart not to go there, but I couldn’t stop the fall, Michelle. I just couldn’t.”

  “But I work for you. We can’t do this and work in the same department.”

  “Who says? I’m the CEO,” Diane grinned. “I can do whatever I want.” Kiss her. She glanced at Michelle’s lips before both their heads came forward kissing. As the kiss deepened, their bodies moved intimately close. They broke away a few minutes later. “Anna,” Diane said softly.

  “You’re right.” Michelle took Diane’s hand and sat back on the lounge chair again. “I thought you were going to take that poorly.” Diane giggled at her words. “Why didn’t you tell me before?” She turned looking at Diane.

  Diane took Michelle’s hand across the small table that separated them. “Because I never dreamed that you would have any interest in me. I didn’t want to risk losing your friendship if you couldn’t feel the same way about me.” She kissed Michelle’s hand. “Thank god you had the strength to say something.”

  “It wasn’t strength, Diane. I couldn’t stand seeing you every day and knowing I couldn’t be with you.”

  Diane got off her chair and sat on the edge of Michelle’s lounge chair. “I couldn’t stand not seeing you every day either.” Her lips brushed over Michelle’s softly. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” Green eyes stared into blue eyes amazed that they both felt the same way. “So when you made the suggestion in DC, you already had feelings for me?” Diane nodded at Michelle’s question.

  “I knew I liked you, but it never entered my mind that we could be anything other than friends.”

  Michelle squeezed Diane’s hand. “We have to keep this a secret.”

  “If that is what you want. I don’t have a problem letting people know we are a couple.”

  “If I change departments, I wouldn’t care if people knew.” Michelle sat back on the lounge chair. “Maybe I should leave the company?”

  “Is that what you really want to do?” Diane waited for Michelle to answer her. It’s not what she wanted her to do, but it was ultimately Michelle’s decision.

  “No.” Michelle answered softly. After spending almost a year seeing Diane almost every day, it would be impossible not to keep doing that.

  “Michelle, we haven’t even begun to date officially. The first time we kissed was only a half hour ago.” Diane watched Michelle’s eyes soften. “Suppose we date and see where this relationship goes before we make decisions that we might regret later.”

  “You don’t think we can make a go of this?” Michelle asked as her eyes saddened.

  Diane moved over on the lounge chair and patted the seat next to her. Once Michelle was pulled tightly against her body, she said, “I think we will be great together.” Diane looked down into Michelle’s face and grinned. “We’ve been doing great so far even though it hasn’t been official. I enjoy our time together whenever we are together.”

  Michelle poked Diane’s stomach with her finger. “Maybe I should just go back to seeing Jillian?”

  “What?” she asked shocked. “I already had to go through hell when you were seeing her knowing she was the one holding you. The one that was kissing and making love to you. I couldn’t take it again, Michelle.”

  “Good, because I don’t want that either.” Michelle pressed her lips to Diane’s giving her a kiss that would tell her she wanted no one else but her.

  “Mommy,” a voice called from behind them.

  “I guess we’d better attend to your daughter,” Michelle said with a laugh as she began to extricate herself from the lounge chair.

  *

  Michelle felt excited and weird walking into her office Monday morning. The door to Diane’s office was open and she was on the phone. She walked over to the coffee pot and poured Diane a cup of coffee since her cup was still there. As she stepped through the doorway, Diane looked up with a smile and motioned her over.

  “Phil, we have got to find a better way to do that. If you review my report, you will see what we are required to do.” Diane’s eyes never strayed from Michelle’s as the coffee cup was placed in front of her. “Of course it’s going to cost more money, but we don’t have a choice.” Diane’s arm went around Michelle’s waist before she could escape. “Phil, review the report and then call me back.” She hung up the phone with a bang. “How are you?” she asked, turning Michelle toward her.

  “Fine. You?” Michelle asked, suddenly feeling shy.

  “What’s the matter? You’re acting all shy and blushing.” Diane now pulled Michelle to her body.

  “This feels weird.” Michelle moved away from Diane’s grasp. “We can’t do this in the office.”

  Diane took Michelle’s hand and walked them toward the door. Instead of allowing Michelle to go back to her desk, she closed the door. “I know we have to be careful, but you are not leaving here until I get a kiss.”

  “Really?” Michelle asked as Diane pressed her body against the back of the door. Her smile told Diane that she wanted to kiss her too.

  “Really.” Diane’s face hovered over Michelle’s face before her lips pressed soundly in a sensuous kiss. “Now isn’t that better?” she asked, stepping away from Michelle.

  “No.” Michelle grinned. “It only makes me want to stay in here all day and get those kisses from you.” Diane smiled. “I can’t believe I thought you were cold,” Michelle said, embarrassed that she admitted it to Diane.

  “I was. Everyone called me cold.” Her hand rested against Michelle’s cheek. “Until you came into my life.” Michelle didn’t know how she had affected Diane when she began to work for her. She didn’t realize how much Michelle’s friendship meant to her. This small brunette with the beautiful green eyes had worked her way into Diane’s heart without even realizing it. She had found love, but always thought that it would remain unrequited. “I thought that day at the zoo you realized that I had feelings for you and that is why you were so upset.”

  “It was so strange. You see a person for so long and then the moment our eyes met, I knew I was in love with you.”

  “Now that we have that settled, let’s get back to work so we can get out of here.” Diane dropped the hands she had been holding. “You will come over after work for dinner?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Michelle said with a smile as she reached for the door knob.

  *

  Cecilia began to clean up the dinner dishes and Diane looked at her daughter who began to fade. “I should get her ready for bed.”

  “Where is Irene?” Michelle asked, noticing that she had not been around all evening.

  Diane chuckled. “I gave her the night off and she tore out of here as if she were on fire.” She picked up Anna. “Time for bed, sweetie.”

  Michelle loved that Diane had lea
rned to show her daughter affection. She didn’t know if it was her influence or Diane finally realizing what a treasure that little girl was. “Can I help?”

  “Yeah, Mommy. Can Shell help?” she asked as she laid her head on Diane’s shoulder.

  “Of course.” They walked up the stairs to Anna’s room. Diane undressed the little girl as Michelle pulled back the covers on the bed.

  “Shell, are you going to sleep over?” Anna asked as Diane laid her on the bed.

  Michelle leaned over and cupped Anna’s chin. “No, honey.” She looked at Diane over her shoulder. “Not tonight,” she said with a wink.

  “Maybe we can convince Michelle to sleep over another night.”

  “Yes, Shell. Another night.”

  Diane kissed Anna’s cheek. “Sweet dreams, baby.”

  Michelle kissed her too and Anna wrapped her arms around her neck. “Good night, sweetie.”

  “Night, Shell.”

  They both tiptoed out of the room knowing it wouldn’t be long before Anna was fast asleep. Diane led them to the living room and to the couch. “Sit for a bit,” Diane said patting the seat next to her.

  “I thought you would never ask,” Michelle answered, sitting so close to Diane that their hips touched.

  Diane heard the back door close signaling that Cecilia had left for the evening. “Alone at last.” Her hand went to Michelle’s thigh. “Now what shall we do.”

  “I don’t know about you, but I want to continue what we began in the office today.” Michelle leaned into Diane’s body and captured her bottom lip with her own. Each kiss became more and more intense. She was moaning into Diane’s mouth and her hand went to Diane’s breast. Before she could go any further, Diane pulled away holding onto Michelle’s hand.

  Blue eyes met the uncertain green eyes. “I want you, Michelle. So much, but I don’t want to rush this.” Diane’s eyes lowered. “I know Jillian took you to bed quickly, but I don’t want us to just be about sex.”

  Michelle leaned over and kissed Diane’s cheek. “You are something else,” she said smiling.

  “Is that good or bad?”

  “Good. Very good.” Michelle poked Diane. “I won’t be able to wait too long.”

  “Neither will I. Believe me.” They both stood up knowing the evening had ended. “How about you pack a bag and come over Friday night for the weekend?”

  “I thought you wanted to wait?” Michelle asked confused.

  “I just want to spend the weekend with you. There are five other bedrooms in this house beside Anna’s and mine.” She intertwined their hands. “Unless you don’t want to.”

  “I would love to. Why don’t you give Irene and Cecelia that time off too?”

  “You don’t want an audience?” Diane asked chuckling.

  “I’m trying to protect your reputation, Diane,” Michelle said lowering her eyes for a moment. When she raised her eyes, Diane was grinning. “And I don’t want an audience.”

  “Whatever you want, honey.” Diane kissed Michelle softly. “Text me when you get home so I know you arrived safely.”

  “I will.” Michelle stole another kiss. “See you in the morning.”

  CHAPTER 19

  The week ended, and Friday just before five, Michelle walked into Diane’s office. “Are you staying?”

  “No,” she said with a smile. “I’m ready to leave.”

  “I’m going to go home, change and pack a bag for the weekend.”

  Diane stood next to Michelle and kissed her softly. “Bring a bathing suit.” Michelle nodded. “We can hang out at the pool tomorrow.”

  “I’ll see you in an hour.” Michelle grabbed her things and they left the office together.

  Donna arrived home as Michelle was packing her things for the weekend. “Where are you going?” she asked, watching her pack.

  “I’m spending the weekend at…” Michelle stopped suddenly realizing that she couldn’t tell Donna where she was going.

  “Is it a secret?” Donna asked raising an eyebrow.

  “I can’t tell you, Donna. Not yet anyway.” Michelle knew she sounded strange as she told her friend this information, but she had no choice.

  “Is she married or something?” Donna asked moving closer.

  “No, but you have to trust me. I will tell you when the time is right.”

  “Are you happy, Michelle?”

  Michelle smile opened wide. “Very. I’m in love, Donna. For the first time in my life.” Her face was radiant as she spoke to her friend.

  “But you can’t tell me who it is?”

  Michelle grabbed her bag off the bed. “I love you, Donna,” she said kissing her cheek as she walked by her.

  “You know I’m good at keeping secrets.” Donna followed her out of the room.

  “I know you are and that’s why I said I would tell you. Just not right now.” Michelle opened the door. “Have a good weekend.”

  “I’m sure mine won’t be as good as yours is,” she said laughing as Michelle walked down the hallway.

  Michelle arrived at Diane’s door and was greeted by Anna. “Hiya, honey,” she said, picking up the little girl.

  “Hi, Shell. Mommy says you are staying for the weekend.”

  “I am. Is that okay?”

  “Yes,” Anna said kissing Michelle’s cheek. “I wish you could stay here forever.”

  “Thank you, sweetie.” Michelle lowered her to the floor and Diane appeared in the foyer. They walked toward each other and Michelle kissed Diane’s cheek.

  “I wish that too.” The two women stared at each other smiling. “Dinner is almost ready,” Diane said as her hand casually floated into Michelle’s as they entered the living room. The coffee table held the ever present coloring book. They watched as Anna took her place on the floor.

  “Donna asked me where I was going,” Michelle told Diane as they sat on the couch.

  “Did you tell her?” she asked with her eyes flicking back and forth in worry.

  “No. I told her I would tell her soon, but I couldn’t tell her yet.”

  Diane chuckled. “I bet that went over well.”

  “I know I could trust her with the information, but I want it to be just us for a while.” Diane squeezed Michelle’s hand. “I told her I was in love.” Michelle watched as a smile appeared on Diane’s face.

  Diane leaned into her ear. “I love you too.” Her lips pressed against Michelle’s ear before she moved away.

  Cecelia entered the living room. “Dinner is ready, Ms. Baker.”

  “Thank you, Cecelia. You can go home now.”

  “Good night,” she said before stepping out of the room, but not before eyeing Michelle with a frown.

  “She doesn’t like me,” Michelle said in a whisper.

  “She doesn’t know you.” Diane slipped her hand through Michelle’s arm. “When she gets to know you, she will love you too.”

  “Me love Shell,” Anna said taking Michelle’s hand.

  “I love you too, sweetie,” she said to the little girl who was holding her hand.

  “See, we are all in agreement. You are stuck with us,” Diane said through a laugh.

  After dinner the two women put Anna to bed before returning to the living room. “How about a movie?” Michelle asked.

  “Sure. Let’s go to the theatre room.”

  “You have a movie room?” Donna nodded and picked up the baby monitor. She led Michelle to a room downstairs. The room was painted a dark red with gold trim. Movie posters adorned the wall encased in frames. The chairs were leather and could seat at least twenty people. A glass display held candy and treats and a popcorn machine. “If I had this room at home, I’d never leave here.”

  “I take it you like movies,” Diane said with a chuckle as she loaded the popcorn machine.

  “I love movies. All kinds. Old ones, new ones.”

  “If you open those doors,” Diane pointed. “You will find a good selection. Help yourself.”

  Michelle opened
the double doors and walked into a small walk-in closet that held thousands of movies. “My god, Diane.”

  Diane appeared in the doorway. “My husband was a big movie buff. He even invested in some of these flicks.”

  “What do you feel like watching?” Michelle asked turning to Diane.

  “I don’t care. You choose.” Michelle chose an old Bette Davis film and Diane loaded it into the machine. “You surprise me, Michelle.”

  “Why?” she asked quickly.

  “You are so young and you chose a movie from the forties.”

  “I told you that I like all kinds of film.”

  They carried the popcorn to their seats and Diane used the remote to start the film. Both women munched away as they stared at the screen. Before the movie ended, Michelle looked over and saw that Diane had fallen asleep. When the movie ended, she brought the lights up and gently shook Diane.

  “Time to go to bed,” Michelle said whispering in her ear.

  Diane kept her eyes closed. “I’m very comfortable here.”

  Michelle giggled and lifted Diane out of the seat by the arm. “I’m sure your bed is more comfortable than this.”

  Diane walked to her bedroom with half closed eyes. “Pick any room you want, Michelle.”

  “What would you say if I wanted to share your room?”

  Diane opened her eyes at that statement. “You are very welcome to share my bed.” She pointed to the large bed. “There is plenty of room for two.”

  Michelle patted her arm. “Get changed and I’ll go get my things.”

  By the time Michelle came back into the room, Diane was under the covers. “The bathroom is right there,” she pointed with her hand.

  As Michelle shut off the lights and crawled into the bed she could hear Diane’s even breathing knowing she had fallen asleep. I guess it is not going to happen tonight. She smiled as she slid across the bed so she was touching Diane’s body with her own.

  Diane was still sleeping when Michelle opened her eyes the next morning. She quietly crept into the bathroom. Michelle moved the brush through her hair and brushed her teeth before she went in search of some coffee. She walked into the kitchen, but instead of an empty room, she found Cecelia there. “Good morning,” Michelle mumbled, entering the room.