Love Times Four Read online

  "No. I'm married to my job." Melinda smiled as she responded, but Emma couldn't help but notice what looked like a brief flash of pain pass through Melinda's eyes. "What about the two of you?"

  "I'm married and have two children, a two-year-old little boy and a four-month-old little girl." Chuck's voice was full of pride as he spoke. He pulled a wallet out of his pocket to show them pictures. "Here they are."

  "There're beautiful and congratulations. What about you, Emma?"

  "Blissfully single." Emma smiled uncomfortably as she spoke.

  She had told a very big fib. There was nothing blissful about being single. She couldn't remember the last time she had a date, let alone had sex. She wanted to find someone to be with. She just hadn't found the right woman. And Emma hated dating. She wanted more than anything to find someone and live happily ever after. It just wasn't easy to accomplish. Emma didn't have the same confidence in her personal life as she had in her career. Emma's doubts about her appearance made her shy away from meeting other women.

  Melinda smiled at Emma almost as if she knew what Emma was thinking. Emma felt the tingle in the pit of her stomach as she gazed at Melinda. Great, now she was developing a crush on the new, probably very straight principal. No one had to tell Emma how inappropriate and dangerous that could be.

  Chapter Three

  The next two weeks flew by while Emma and the rest of the staff prepared for their first day of school. She and Melinda crossed paths repeatedly, and Melinda frequently came in to beg for a cup of coffee. She offered to pay Emma, but Emma just laughed, refusing to take anything, and filled her ugly cup. Melinda was way too appealing for her own good. It amused Emma so much that she still used the same old ugly plastic travel mug. She finally purchased a colorful ceramic cup one evening for her, placing it on Melinda's desk early one Friday morning along with a bag of coffee and a note.

  "Here's some tasty coffee for the weekend. Enjoy, Emma."

  It was after nine in the morning before Melinda entered Emma's office with her new coffee mug in her hand and a big grin on her face. As she glanced up from her computer, Emma couldn't help but admire the lightweight summer suit that Melinda was wearing.

  "Thanks so much for the beautiful coffee mug and the bag of coffee. That was very thoughtful of you." Emma continued to gaze at her slender body in the pale yellow outfit. She looked professional and elegant.

  "You're welcome. Besides, I couldn't stand to watch you drink such good coffee from such a funky mug." Emma teased her with a grin.

  "Funky mug, huh?" Melinda's eyes filled with amusement.

  "Really funky. Are you ready for Monday?" Emma asked as Melinda sat down in the chair across from her.

  "As ready as I'll ever be." Melinda laughed. "I always get a little nervous before the first day of school."

  "I know the feeling. I love the start of the year. There's always so much potential, so many new faces."

  "And possibilities. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness."

  "You're very welcome. Now, let me fill that pretty cup." Emma smiled as she leached for it.

  The rest of the day flew by and it was after six in the evening before Emma headed for her car and home. She looked forward to a hot bath and an early night of sleep. She was exhausted and needed to rest up. She'd made plans to meet Van, Tia, and Anna Saturday night for a little dinner and a lot of dancing. She was looking forward to the evening. It had been a long time since she'd gone out for a little fun. She was way overdue.

  "What are you still doing here?"

  Emma turned with surprise to see Melinda approaching her car. "Probably the same thing you were doing, checking on last minute details."

  "You're right." Melinda agreed with a chuckle. "Typical type A personality, but right now I want to eat dinner, climb into my pajamas, and go to bed early."

  "My plans exactly. Would you like to have dinner with me? I have plenty of food. And my place isn't too far from here."

  "I'd love to. I have to admit, I hate cooking for one."

  "So do I. Why don't you follow me?"

  Melinda climbed into her very sporty red Mazda convertible and Emma chuckled as she started her car. Melinda was a very interesting and appealing woman. The fact that she drove a sports car showed a completely different side of her. At least they could be friends. There just was so much that appealed to Emma. She pulled out of the parking lot and drove her more conservative Acura carefully to her home in the Greenlake area. She'd purchased the small, well cared house a little over two years earlier, and it was her pride and joy. She put all of her energies and her money into the place and it was starting to come together. She had refinished each room slowly, with care, and lots of help from her friends.

  She pulled into her driveway and motioned for Melinda to park behind her. She headed for her front door and started to feel a tad bit awkward about inviting Melinda to her home. What if Melinda didn't know that she was gay? It might bother her or make her feel uncomfortable. Besides, Emma reacted way too much to Melinda and it was very unnerving.

  "Your yard is beautiful, I like all the flowers." Melinda commented, joining Emma on the front porch. The house was completely surrounded by huge flower beds brimming with blooms, the grass freshly mowed and edged.

  "Thanks, I love working in the gardens. It keeps me sane." Emma unlocked her front door and turned off the alarm. "Come on in."

  Melinda followed Emma into her home and glanced around the small, but elegant living room while Emma turned on a lamp. The living room was tiny, but perfectly decorated. Two small couches were angled to take advantage of the gas fireplace and the large picture window facing the front yard. Art work hung on the walls and knick knacks sat on the low coffee table.

  "Would you like a glass of wine or something?" Emma tried to hide her nervousness as she headed through an arched doorway into the kitchen and formal dining room area.

  "I'd love one, can I help with dinner?" Melinda couldn't help but grin when Emma stepped out of her high heels. Melinda would like to have done the same thing. Her feet were killing her.

  "Yes, you can talk to me while I cook." Emma grinned as she led the way into the small, well-appointed kitchen. She opened a cupboard and pulled out two wine glasses, then moved to the refrigerator before placing a bottle of wine on the counter next to the glasses. Riffling though a drawer, she pulled out a corkscrew. "Do you mind opening the wine while I start dinner?"

  "Not at all." Melinda settled herself on one of the kitchen stools and expertly removed the cork from the wine bottle.

  Emma rummaged through the refrigerator piling things on the counter. As the pile grew larger Melinda began to laugh. "What are you planning on fixing?

  Emma turned around to face Melinda grinning. "I thought I would make fresh pasta and salad."

  "Can I help?"

  "How are you at chopping vegetables?"

  "I wield a mean paring knife."

  "Then I leave the salad in your very capable hands." Emma felt that same little tingle in the pit of her stomach as she stared at Melinda. She was in deep, deep trouble.

  For twenty minutes the two of them visited about school as they prepared their dinner. The colorful kitchen made Melinda feel right at home along with Emma's obvious competence, her easy conversation, and her light hearted humor. Melinda found herself relaxing and enjoying herself, and that was entirely too rare for Melinda.

  "Do you want to eat in the kitchen or the dining room?" Emma asked as she finished preparing the pasta.

  "Let's eat in here at the counter."

  Emma placed the dinner plates on the counter and refilled the wine glasses before settling on a stool next to Melinda.

  "Can I make a toast?" Melinda picked up her glass of wine and turned to face Emma. "To the chef."

  "Thanks, but don't you think you'd better taste the food first." Emma teased, her eyes twinkling.

  "Oh, I don't think you'd do anything halfway, Emma." Melinda's eyes glistened as she smiled at her
, a glass of wine held up waiting for Emma to respond.

  "Cheers." Emma forced herself to look away from Melinda quickly. She couldn't put her job in jeopardy. She loved it too much. Making a pass at her new, probably straight principal would not be a wise career move. But her body wasn't listening to her mind, as her heart raced and her skin tingled.

  The meal was delicious and very enjoyable as Emma quizzed Melinda on how she ended up in Seattle. They were fast developing an easy rapport with each other.

  "Melinda, what brought you to Seattle?"

  "I needed a change from Portland. I was a principal at the same junior high for seven years and I wanted to do something different." Melinda responded, holding back a lot of the details. She wasn't ready to share everything with Emma. It was such a painful and embarrassing time in her life.

  "So you moved to Seattle to be principal of our esteemed junior high."

  "It was a good move for me." Melinda's eyes momentarily darkened with pain. There was more to the story, but Emma wouldn't push.

  "Well, Portland's loss is Seattle's gain. You chose a very good school."

  "They actually chose me."

  "Good for them. It's going to be a terrific year."

  After another half hour of visiting, centered on the start of school, Melinda stood up and prepared to leave.

  "I have overstayed my welcome." She smiled at Emma as she spoke. "Thank you for the marvelous dinner. I would like to return the favor once I get my kitchen unpacked and I can find something to cook with."

  "You're welcome, and I'll look forward to having dinner again. Thanks for joining me." Emma was serious. Something about Melinda appealed to her. Straight or gay, she liked Melinda an awful lot. Emma walked with her to the front door.

  "Goodnight." Melinda turned and touched Emma on the arm before heading out of the house.

  Emma watched her walk to her car and climb in before she closed her front door. She needed a hot shower and a good night's sleep. And she needed to shake the feelings she was having toward Melinda.

  Melinda climbed into her car and dropped her head on to her steering wheel. "Melinda, what is wrong with you? You haven't been in Seattle for a full month." She muttered as she held her head in her hands. "You just got out of a mess and now you're putting yourself right in the middle of another one."

  She started her car, Backed out of Emma's driveway, and headed for home. She needed to crush her feelings toward Emma and quickly. What made everything so tough was that she'd felt an instant reaction to her? Tall, gorgeous, sexy Emma, whose smile made her knees weak, and laugh made her shiver. She had tried to avoid her but was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame. But Melinda knew better than to even think of getting involved with someone she worked with. She had learned a very painful and valuable lesson the last time. She wouldn't go through anything like that again.

  Chapter Four

  The first week of school zoomed by while Emma was caught up in getting her students settled. She and Melinda repeatedly passed each other in the halls and she couldn't prevent the tickle of excitement she felt whenever she looked at her. She began to rely on a quick smile and a hello. She was entirely too preoccupied with work. Besides, the halls were filled to the brim with hundreds of junior high students, highly energetic, and loud.

  Melinda was terribly busy and worked from six in the morning to seven or eight at night. Her contact with Emma all week long was limited to very brief encounters in the hall. She intentionally avoided her because every time she saw her she felt the same jolt in the pit of her stomach. The one that told her she should avoid Emma at all costs until it went away. She didn't need or want the distraction. But it didn't keep her from thinking about her all the time. Every night when she crawled into bed and she waited to fall asleep her thoughts would return to Emma. She was attracted to her ready smile, her talent and commitment to her students, and her beauty. She was six feet of gorgeous, sexy woman, and Melinda reacted to her every time she saw her. Thankfully, Julie Marks, a very dear friend, was coming to town for a visit for the weekend. She needed to be able to relax for an evening. She also needed to stop thinking about Emma.

  "Come on, Emma. We're going to be late." Tia reminded her as they climbed into Tia's car. "You aren't your usual bubbly self, honey. What's going on?" Tia knew something was terribly wrong with Emma. She looked tired and was way too quiet.

  "I am a little distracted. Nothing serious."

  "Come on, I'm driving, so talk to me, girlfriend." Tia patted Emma's arm affectionately. They'd always been able to talk about anything. Besides, Tia could be relentless.

  "I seem to have developed a serious attraction to my new principal."

  "What's the problem with that?"

  "I think she's straight."

  "Geez, Emma. You can't flirt with a straight woman? You know that's crazy."

  "I'm not flirting with her and I know it's nuts." Emma shook her head in agreement. "I'm not doing anything with her. I just can't help the feeling I get whenever I see her."

  "Well, my friend, I suggest you focus your attention on getting a real girlfriend."

  "You're one to talk." Emma snorted. "When is the last time you had a date?"

  "A century ago and I am in lesbian pain, but we were talking about you." Emma and Tia got out of the car and headed to the restaurant entrance.

  "We'll talk later. Let's go join the rest of our family. And Tia, thanks."

  Tia hugged Emma quickly. "Hey, I am your best friend. What are friends for? Let's go find our other two best friends.

  "Ladies, it's about time you got here." Van and Anna were seated at their usual table. Van and Anna had been happily visiting in the elegant restaurant. The room was quietly filled with people sharing their day. The sound of conversation and the dining had made the two women feel welcome.

  "Anna, Van, give me a hug." Tia demanded as the four of them exchanged hugs and kisses.

  "Tia how's your new job?"

  "Crazy, busy, fun, hard, tell me again why I took the job."

  "Because you're talented, and better at it then anyone else." Anna reassured her with a grin.

  "Besides, you love your job." Van reminded her as she poked her in the arm.

  "Thank you, I needed to hear that." Tia sighed. "Now, how does someone get a drink around here?"

  "We ordered for you. They're on their way." Van responded. "Emma, how's school?"

  "Good, it's a great bunch of kids this year."

  "You say that every year. Emma, tell them about your principal." Tia demanded as the waiter placed four glasses of wine on the table.

  "Tia." Emma groaned with embarrassment. She really hadn't been ready to share her feelings with everyone.

  "Talk girl." Anna demanded as the others waited for her to speak.

  "I am attracted to my new, straight principal."

  "Emma." Van cried out, disturbed by Emma's declaration. "A straight woman?"

  "You know nothing good ever comes from being interested in a straight woman." Anna reminded her. They all knew from experience. They had seen first hand how devastated Van had been.

  "I know, I know. It's not like I've done anything. I just get this fluttering in my stomach whenever I'm around her."

  "Oh, honey." Van clasped Emma's hand in her own. "I'm sorry."

  "It's not a big deal." Emma squeezed Van's hand in return, appreciating the support.

  "Can you believe this? Four beautiful, talented lesbians, single, and very celibate, what is this world coming to?" Tia sighed dramatically. Tia's remark drew a bark of laughter from Anna and then hysterical laughter from all four women. It was several minutes before they settled down, grins still on their faces.

  They were a rarity among lesbian women. Most of the time, in a group of lesbians there was at least two of them who had been lovers, but this wasn't the case. None of them had ever been involved with each other as anything more then friends. Unconditional support and love were what they provided each other, and they'd been d
oing that for over five years. They loved and trusted one another completely, and it showed in the way they listened intently to each other.

  "Come on, let's eat. I haven't eaten all day." Van complained, as she waved at the waiter.

  "That's because you take horrible care of yourself." Anna reminded her.

  "I'm still starving."

  "Okay, okay." Anna laughed good naturedly. "Let's order."

  Within twenty minutes, all of them were happily eating and visiting. They never got tired of talking to each other. They shared everything, oblivious of the growing crowd around them. The restaurant had begun to fill up with its usual dinner crowd. It was a very popular restaurant owned and operated by two gay men, and catered to a large gay and lesbian clientele. It was located in the heart of Capital Hill and very well known in the community. It was a very upscale and busy establishment. The table of four well-dressed, gorgeous women captured quite a few glances and gazes as the crowd grew larger. They were such an animated group, humor and love made them even more attractive than their looks.