Suddenly, Kelly felt like she’d hit a raw nerve. “Sorry, I meant no offense.”

A mischievous glint twinkled in Lucy’s eyes. It was a sassy look Kelly had come to recognize.

Anticipating Lucy’s next words, Kelly flung open the door and bolted out of the car.

“Don’t play c…”

The thud of the car door drowned out the last word along with Lucy’s raucous laughter. Kelly stood on the sidewalk grinning so broadly her cheeks hurt.

Lucy was an interesting mix of confidence and vulnerability that turned Kelly on.

*

Inside, with the heavy drapes pulled and the only light coming from a lamp in the corner of the small living room, the atmosphere was more subdued. The time for jokes and innuendos over.

After lowering the volume on the iPod dock, Kelly selected shuffle and hit play. When the lyrics Take It Easy filled the room, the irony wasn’t lost on her.

Watching Kelly from the sofa, right leg crossed over her left, Lucy quirked an eyebrow. “You never cease to amaze me, Kelly. Weren’t the Eagles a little before your time?”

Ecstatic Lucy recognized the song, Kelly sauntered across the room.

“That’s rich coming from a woman only four years older than me who recognized the old timers immediately.” Kelly slumped onto the sofa, close enough that their bodies brushed together. As strong as the temptation was to pull Lucy into her lap, Kelly resisted the urge.

“You got me,” Lucy said. “To be honest, I prefer soft rock, especially from the seventies and eighties.”

In the dim light, Kelly glanced up at the picture of her father hanging on the wall. “My Dad loved the Eagles. I find their music soothing.”

“I’d love to hear all about him one day, but…”

“Now’s not the time,” Kelly finished for Lucy, sparing her from an uncomfortable moment.

“Agreed.” Lucy tucked a lock of her black hair behind her ear.

For the first time that evening, Kelly noticed Lucy wore tiny ruby-red earrings. The studs barely bigger than a pinhead.

After a beat, Kelly decided to dive right in. “Okay, that night.”

No longer looking so confident, perhaps because they were on Kelly’s turf, Lucy’s throat worked as she swallowed.

Taking a fortifying breath, Kelly soldiered on. “I made a huge mistake.”

“I don’t blame…”

Not wanting to be absolved quite so fast, Kelly held up a hand. “Please, let me finish.”

“Okay.” Lucy plucked at an invisible thread on her beige top.

“As you found out the hard way, I’m into Kink, or BDSM, call it what you will. However, I’d never force myself on anyone, so, for that, I am truly sorry.”

A bead of sweat trickled down the back of Kelly’s neck. She hadn’t realized how difficult it would be to utter the words.

Without a trace of humour, Lucy asked, “May I speak?”