"The trail follows the stream," Ginny said and they walked in silence, past the picnic table where they had shared lunch.
"Ginny?"
"What?"
"You’re awfully quiet. Is everything okay?" Kara asked.
"Yes, of course. I just wanted you to see the stream." She managed a weak smile as Kara’s eyes peered into hers and she finally looked away, afraid. "I don’t know about the colors, though. Probably too dark in the woods," she said, continuing.
They walked on, the shadows lengthening as they followed the small stream. Ginny seemed nervous and Kara wondered why. Was she afraid to be alone with her? No. Ginny was the one who had suggested the walk, not Kara.
Ginny tried to keep her breath even and steady as she walked, but this woman’s nearness wrecked havoc on her system. The walk had been a mistake, she realized now. She had simply wanted to spend time alone with her, without Nana. Time to talk. But they had been doing very little talking. Instead, their glances had collided time and again.
Kara’s hand on her arm stopped her and she looked up.
"In the spider web," Kara said softly and motioned with her hand. A butterfly had been caught in the web and its legs were captured, but it continued to struggle to escape.
"Let’s save it," Ginny said and reached for it. Kara stopped her.
"It’s probably dinner. And breakfast," she said.
"But it’s too pretty to leave," Ginny said, her eyes turning sad at the thought of the beautiful butterfly becoming dinner for a spider.
Kara agree and reached up to untangle the butterfly, trying not to disturb the web. The butterfly wrapped around Kara’s finger and she gently pulled the web free.
"Oh," Ginny breathed. "Let me see." She reached for Kara’s hand and brought it to her, the butterfly still clinging to Kara’s finger.
As they watched, it flew away into the trees without a second look to its rescuers. Kara lowered her hand, Ginny’s fingers still wrapped around it. They stood there for seconds, minutes before their hands finally drew apart.
Ginny was aware of her heart beating, pounding in her ears and she forced her eyes from Kara. Why did this woman affect her? This woman. Ever since Ginny had laid eyes on her, her mind and body had asked a thousand questions. Questions that she struggled to answer.
"Come on," Kara said quietly and continued down the trail.
Ginny watched her, her feet still firmly planted. Kara looked completely at home in her jeans and hiking boots. Comfortable. Loose jeans that were snug on her backside, gently swaying as Kara walked and Ginny found she couldn’t pull her eyes away.
"Are you coming?" Kara called, breaking Ginny out of her self-induced trance. Well, not entirely self-induced. The woman in the jeans had something to do with it. Ginny finally moved, walking briskly to catch up and they continued along the path in silence, both fumbling with their thoughts, looking for something safe to say.
"Is it too dark here?" Ginny finally asked.
"It’s nice. Pretty." She stopped where boulders had fallen and formed small rapids in the creek. "This would be nice at night, the moon overhead," Kara said softly. "The trees would make perfect shadows on the water."
Ginny wasn’t watching the water. She was watching Kara, watching as her chest rose and fell with each breath. She lowered her glance, settling on the soft swell of Kara’s breasts. She wore no bra. Her eyes found Kara’s nipples as they strained against her T-shirt and when she realized she was staring, she tore her eyes away, her lids slamming shut for a brief moment and she took a deep breath, savoring the smell of the forest and trying to come to her senses. What are you doing?
"I thought you might like it," she finally managed to say.
"I do. It’s very beautiful," Kara said quietly, but her eyes were fixed on Ginny, not the stream.
"Nana will be waiting for me to start dinner," Ginny said, but she made no move to go, aware that Kara was watching her. She kept her eyes glued to the stream.
"Yes," Kara murmured. "We should go. Thanks for showing me this. I can appreciate beautiful spots like this without having to paint them."
Ginny looked up and let her eyes settle on Kara’s for a moment, then turned and led the way back.
CHAPTER TEN
KARA CALLED GINNY at the store two days later. She had stayed away, hoping to give herself time to quell the budding attraction she felt between them. Attraction that she knew now was not one-sided. Ginny’s eyes were too expressive to hide that. But Kara would take it no farther. That was a line she would not cross. Instead, she would try to be a friend to Ginny. She knew that Ginny was having some issues with her relationship with Phil. Maybe she just needed a friend to talk through them. Kara could do that.
"I’m having an early dinner," she said. "Want to join me?"
Ginny hesitated only a moment before agreeing. She realized she had missed Kara.
Kara fussed over the lasagna most of the afternoon, thankful there was some garlic bread in the freezer. She had not shopped with the intention of having a dinner guest when she’d left Seattle but her homemade lasagna was one of her favorites.
They sat on the porch while the bread heated, sipping wine and Ginny watched as Kara lit her cigarette.
"You don’t smoke much, do you?"
Kara laughed. "I’ve been in the process of quitting for several months now. Does it bother you?"
"No," Ginny said. She wondered if it had bothered Marsha. "Do you date?" she asked suddenly. If Kara was surprised by the question, she didn’t show it.
"Some," Kara said. "You?" Kara raised one eyebrow as she watched Ginny.
Ginny smiled and looked away. "No."
"Still holding out for Phil?"
"Well, there aren’t a lot of eligible men out here in Chiwaukum," she said.
"Oh."
"Not that I’ve been looking," Ginny added quickly. "I mean, technically, Phil and I are still an item," she said.
"But?"
"But, like I said before, there should be more. You know?"
Kara nodded.
"He’s a wonderful man, and I should be thankful that he wants me, I guess."
"But you’re looking for that maddening desire?" Kara asked with just a hint of teasing in her voice.
"Yes. You probably think I’m silly," Ginny said.
"Not at all. Everyone should hope to find that," Kara said.
"What about you? Are you still looking for it?"
"I guess we’re all looking," Kara said and shrugged.
"Has there been anyone since Marsha?" Ginny asked.
"In my life or in my bed?" Kara asked with a grin.
"Both?"
"Well, I’ve dated, if that’s what you mean. And a few have stayed the night, but none that I wanted to start a relationship with."
"Do you get lonely?" Ginny asked.
"Not really. I’ve always been a loner. I’ve never felt the need to surround myself with people, friends. That’s where Marsha and I differed. She always had a lot of friends."
"And when you painted?"
"She left and went out with them," Kara finished. "I didn’t mind, really."
"Do you miss her?" Ginny asked gently.
Kara shrugged. "Sometimes. I’m not certain if I miss her or I just miss what we had."
"Does it bother you to talk about her?"
"No. I’m past that. It has been a long time."
"Were you still in love with her when she left?" Ginny asked.
Kara leaned forward and smiled. "You certainly are full of questions tonight," she said.
"Were you?" she asked again.
Kara sat back and inhaled deeply on her cigarette, letting the smoke out slowly. "I guess I thought I was," she finally said.