Love Times Four Read online

  "I appreciate that. I told the school board I was gay before they hired me. But I don't want to announce it at school. I don't want the students and teachers to know about my private life."

  "You should probably not spend too much time around me then."

  "Why do you say that?" Melinda looked at Emma with a puzzled expression.

  "Guilt by association." Emma teased her with a grin.

  "I don't think that's a problem."

  "Oh no? Last year I began talking to our janitor in the evening when I worked late and my students started a rumor that I was having an affair."

  "Were you?" Melinda's eyes told Emma she was teasing.

  "Excuse me?" Emma sniffed in humorous disgust. "Our janitor is a sixty-three-year-old man. And he is five-feet-two."

  Melinda burst out laughing. "What did you do about the rumor?"

  "I told the janitor about it, and he and I shared a laugh. Then we ignored it."

  Melinda laughed heartily over Emma's declaration. "Have you ever had any problems at school over your being gay?"

  "No, I've always been out, so it hasn't been an issue."

  "What about a partner?"

  "Well, I don't have one. And if I did, I wouldn't keep it quiet. Enough questions about me, what about you?"

  "What about me?" Melinda turned away from Emma.

  "Melinda, don't think you can give me the third degree and not get it in return."

  "Okay, what do you want to know?"

  "Is Julie your girlfriend?"

  "Julie? Heavens no, she's my best friend. I don't have a girlfriend. I'm single."

  "How long have you been single?" Emma almost grinned when she heard Melinda's response.

  "About a year, my last relationship ended badly. I haven't really dated much after that."

  Emma nodded her head as she listened. She understood what Melinda was saying. Dating was hard work.

  "So do you need my friends and me to introduce you to some single women?" Emma teased Melinda, but she was praying that Melinda would say no. Her attraction to Melinda was bubbling all through her body. "What type of woman are you looking for?"

  Melinda chuckled at Emma's suggestion. "No thanks, I think I'm fine right now. Besides, didn't you just say you were single?" Melinda's eyes dared Emma to respond.

  Emma looked her straight in the eye. "Do you want to date me?"

  Melinda started to say she wanted to get to know her better. She knew it wasn't smart to date someone from her school. But Melinda couldn't lie to herself or to Emma. "Yes."

  Emma's face lit up with a smile as her heart leaped in her chest. "Okay, when do you want to start dating me?"

  Melinda grinned as she responded. "Tonight."

  "Darn, if I had known tonight was a date I would have brought flowers and worn something different." She leaned into Melinda and nudged her. "Aren't you supposed to tell me it's a date?"

  Melinda was enjoying Emma's wonderful sense of humor. "I just did, and I like what you are wearing."

  "Thank you. Now, let's get this dating thing cleared up. Would you like to go out to dinner and a play with me on Friday night? I have season tickets to the Fifth Avenue Theater."

  "I would love to go."

  "Good. I'm glad we've got this dating thing out of the way." Emma sighed dramatically as Melinda grinned at her. "You'd better eat up. We have a ton of food here."

  The two of them visited quietly as they enjoyed their dinner. It was surprising how easily the two of them got along. They talked about school, music, and art, enjoying each other's company as they got to know one another.

  "Do you want to sit in the living room? I'll fill our wine glasses."

  "Thank you." Emma wandered into the living room and curled up on the end of the couch. As Melinda entered the living room to join Emma, she stopped as she caught sight of her. Emma's hair was loosely gathered over her shoulder in a thick dark brown curtain. She had her legs tucked up underneath her, and was seated comfortably against the corner of the couch. Emma was wearing a slim knit dress that was just a slightly darker gold then her eyes. Her light golden eyes glowed as she watched Melinda enter the room. Melinda's stomach fluttered as her eyes traveled up Emma's long legs and body to her beautiful face.

  Emma smiled as she watched Melinda hesitate before entering the living room. She admired the way that Melinda carried herself. She walked with determination, with long strides that ate up the ground. She reeked with confidence as she went about her job at work. But Emma had seen the flash of attraction on her face, followed by the indecision. She found that small show of weakness infinitely more appealing then the very capable woman she interacted with at work.

  "Here's you go." Melinda sat down on the couch, leaving a wide space between her and Emma.

  "Melinda, tell me why you moved to Seattle?" Emma asked softly, turning to face her.

  "They offered me the job."

  "The real reason, please." Emma tapped Melinda on her arm.

  Melinda sighed and turned to face Emma. She wasn't sure how to begin. "I was principal at a very large high school in Portland for about four years. At the beginning of my fifth year a new English teacher joined our staff. She was young, with only three years of experience, but had impeccable recommendations."

  Melinda stopped speaking and placed her wine glass down on the coffee table. Emma didn't have to be told that Melinda's memories were very painful.

  Emma put her own wine glass clown and grasped Melinda's hands in her own. Squeezing gently, she smiled, but remained silent.

  "I should have seen the signs but I didn't. I was too wrapped up in my job. Rita was pretty, outgoing, and a lesbian. Somehow she found out I was gay and began to pursue me. It was flattering and I was attracted to her. I had been single for such a long time." The heartbreak in Melinda's voice made Emma's own heart hurt. She slid closer to Melinda as she continued speaking. She let go of one of Melinda's hands and slid her arm around her shoulders, hugging her gently. Melinda smiled at Emma.

  "Rita was everywhere, and within a month we were sleeping together. At first the relationship was fine, but after a month, Rita started showing up at my house every night. If I had a late meeting she would accuse me of seeing someone else. If I didn't answer the telephone in my office when I was working late, she would fly off the handle. It just got worse and worse. She would interrupt meetings at work and cause embarrassing scenes. Finally, I told her I didn't want to see her any more and she flipped out."

  Melinda's eyes glistened with tears as she looked at Emma. Emma pulled Melinda into a gentle embrace to comfort her. Emma hated to see anyone hurt but Melinda had, in a short space in time, found a spot in her heart.

  "Honey, it's alright." Emma murmured into Melinda's hair. "You don't need to say anything more."

  "But I want to, please." Melinda whispered as she pressed her face against Emma's. She pulled away from her and smiled. "I can't believe I am telling you all this."

  Melinda's fingers traced Emma's cheek as she began to speak again, their faces inches from each other's. Melinda's touch had thrown Emma, as heat unfurled in her body. She wasn't surprised at her reaction. But the strength of it was unsettling. She trembled as she tried to keep it hidden.

  "Rita went nuts when I broke it off with her. She began to stalk me. She broke into my house, my car, and my office. And she followed me everywhere I went, threatening my friends and co-workers. And then she threatened me. I had to get a restraining order against her. She sent horrible letters to the school board, and they placed me on leave while they investigated whether I had behaved inappropriately."

  "Melinda, I'm so sorry." Emma couldn't keep the horror out of her voice. It was the very worst thing that could happen to a gay teacher or school administrator. Every one of them was fearful of just that kind of situation. It could ruin a career and wreak havoc with a person's life.

  Melinda's eyes welled up with tears and they slowly slid down her cheeks. "I never wanted to do anything else but ru
n a school." Her voice was husky with emotion.

  "I know, honey." Emma's soft lips kissed Melinda's tears away as she held her face in her hands. "I know."

  Emma's gentle touch melted Melinda as she slid her own lips along Emma's chin. Emma's lips found Melinda's in a soft tentative kiss, and then she pulled away. The last thing in the world Emma wanted to do was to frighten Melinda. But, Melinda wasn't frightened she was caught under Emma's spell. Melinda smiled at her as she pulled her tightly against her body. Her mouth caught Emma's in a kiss, and Emma moaned with pleasure as the heat roared through her body. Melinda's kisses were pure heaven to Emma, and she feasted on Melinda's mouth and tongue. A dam burst in Melinda's heart as Emma's lips tasted her mouth, her tongue, and covered her face with sensuous kisses. Her lips traveled along her jaw, before sucking on Melinda's lower lip, drawing a gasp from her before she opened her mouth to Emma's tongue. Melinda pulled away from Emma's mouth and buried her face in her neck as she tried to catch her breath. Emma held Melinda tightly in her arms as she attempted to calm her wildly beating heart.

  "I'm in trouble." Emma whispered in Melinda's ear as she stroked her hair.

  "Why?" Melinda turned to look at her.

  "I think maybe I am going to like dating you." Emma's remark made Melinda smile.

  "Do you mind if we keep this between the two of us? I'm still a little fearful about being too open at work."

  "Honey, what you and I do outside of work is our own business and we're under no obligation to let anyone know at work. I promise you, we'll be very careful." Emma understood how difficult the situation was for Melinda, and she would do anything to make it easier on her.

  "Thank you for being so understanding."

  "Honey, what that woman did to you was not only appalling, it was a crime." Emma's face showed her anger and her compassion for the woman she held in her arms.

  "It's over now, and right this minute it is the last thing I want to talk about." Melinda smiled as she gathered Emma in to her arms.

  "Honey, what do you want to talk about?" Emma teased, her lips sliding behind Melinda's ear and feathering down her neck.

  Melinda shivered as she responded. "I don't want to talk. I want to kiss your fantastic mouth all night." Melinda hungrily kissed Emma while they once again enjoyed the pleasure of deep moist kisses, and the sweet taste of each other. They traded kiss after kiss, holding each other tightly as the evening grew late.

  Emma was the first to pull away as she glanced at her watch. "Melinda, it's after midnight, and we both have a long day tomorrow. I need to get home."

  Melinda hugged Emma before she stood up. "I can't remember the last time I necked on my couch for two hours." Her eyes twinkled at Emma.

  "Honey, if we did it right you shouldn't have anything to compare it to." Emma grinned, kissed her quickly, and stood up to slip her shoes on.

  "Believe me I can't even think when you kiss me." Melinda reassured her with a laugh.

  "The feeling is mutual." Emma slid her arm around Melinda's waist. "Now, walk me to the door and kiss me goodnight, please."

  "With pleasure."

  And pleasure it was, as the two of them stood tightly in each other's arms, kissing for another twenty minutes.

  "No more kisses, I have to go. Goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow."

  "Yes, you will." Melinda grinned, hugging Emma one last time. "Goodnight."

  Emma slipped out of the door and headed down the hallway. She turned and waved to Melinda, who stood watch in her open door. Melinda waved as Emma entered the elevator and then shut and locked the door before heading for her bedroom. She whistled as she walked she was so happy. Her conviction about not getting involved with Emma was completely forgotten. The evening had been a surprise. She found kissing Melinda overwhelming. She knew she was attracted to her, she'd known that since the day she'd met her. Emma was smart, beautiful, and very sexy. But it wasn't until she and Melinda kissed that Melinda knew the depth of her attraction. It scared and thrilled her all at the same time. She'd never felt this strong a physical pull before. She quickly prepared for bed and slid into a pleasant night of sleep.

  Emma meanwhile, was having some difficulty with her feelings. "Great Emma, you just spent the evening necking with the principal of your school. What were you thinking?" Emma muttered as she ran through every excuse she could come up with before admitting that it was lust, pure and simple lust. She was angry with herself for jumping so quickly into a physical relationship, because she knew going back to friends was not so easy to do. Besides, she didn't want to go back to being Melinda's friend. She just wasn't sure how to keep this new relationship in perspective.

  Sighing heavily, Emma pulled into her garage and turned her car off. She headed into her house and went straight to her bedroom. She needed sleep. She would figure things out in the morning when she wasn't so tired and still vibrating with pleasure. Things would look differently in the morning. Besides, hadn't she decided not to get involved with Melinda? Maybe she needed to walk away from this before it became messy. She didn't want to be involved with anyone, especially if her heart was involved. She just was so attracted to Melinda.

  Chapter Seven

  Things did look better in the morning. Not only had Emma rationalized her reaction to Melinda, she decided that it was due to a long spell of no dating and no sex. What other reason could it be? She didn't catch a glimpse of Melinda all day long. She actually began to think that the evening hadn't meant that much to Melinda since she hadn't even bothered to stop by to say hello.

  By late afternoon, Emma was beginning to feel more than a little put out that the evening had meant so little to Melinda. She headed for her car, intent on going home and making it an early night. She planned on having a quick bite to eat, finishing a few chores, and then off to bed.

  She rapidly prepared a light dinner and while eating, paid her bills. She sorted clothes and started a load of wash, before running a vacuum through her house, and doing some dusting. The house was always kept spotless, but Emma was feeling extremely vulnerable and when she felt that way she cleaned. Emma's confidence was lagging and she couldn't believe that the evening she'd spent with Melinda had meant so little to her. Checking her watch, she decided to change into her pajamas and crawl into bed. She was restless and irritated, not her normal mood. She had just sat down on her bed to change when the telephone next to her elbow rang.

  "Hello."

  "Hi." It was Melinda.

  "Hello." Emma's heart beat quickly.

  "I need to confess something to you." Melinda's voice was very quiet.

  "What?"

  "I intentionally avoided you all day."

  "Why?"

  "Because I thought if I avoided you. I wouldn't think about you all day."

  "Did it work?"

  "No."

  Emma grinned happily. "How was your day?"

  "Good, busy, but good. I missed seeing you."

  "I missed seeing you. How's this going to work?"

  "I think we need to take it day by day and let everything work its way out."

  "Melinda, I like you a lot. But if it's too difficult for you, I'll understand if you don't want to date me."

  "It's not too difficult, and I promise I won't ignore you anymore."

  "I could have sought you out today. I was just as scared."

  "We sure are a pair. I really did miss you today."

  "Meet me in my office tomorrow at seven-thirty and I'll share my coffee with you."

  "That's a deal."

  "Good. Now, go get some sleep."

  "Emma, thank you."

  "For what?"

  "For just being you. Goodnight."

  "Goodnight." Emma smiled as she hung up the telephone. She was really beginning to like Melinda.

  Emma arrived at work thirty minutes early intent upon having fresh coffee brewing and being settled in her office before Melinda arrived. Melinda apparently had other plans. She'd already been there, and left pastrie
s, a bouquet of flowers, and a card on Emma's desk. Emma smiled as she prepared the coffee. She sat at her desk and opened the card. It was a simple message, handwritten on a blank card. 'I missed you. Melinda.' It went straight to her heart. Emma couldn't help sighing, flowers, a card, and breakfast. It was a sweet thing to do and it touched Emma deeply.

  "Good morning." Melinda stood just inside Emma's office door.

  "Good morning. Come in and sit." Emma and Melinda's gaze locked on each other. Emma's body filled with warmth as she allowed her attraction for Melinda to wash through her. "Let me pour you some coffee. Melinda, the flowers are beautiful, and thank you for the pastries, and the card.