“Yes. Guess the eleventh try is the charm.” She turned to pat Lucy’s head. “You’re the brains.”
“No, no. We all are.” Recharged, she continued: “Well, assume it’s right, shall we? Now read mine! For me, please. And for my Scott.”
“Scott? Oh yeah, Scott, right. Fine, let’s make him happy too.” Shelley was enjoying the encounter. She wasn’t aroused (when she was, her inner eye concocted a chimera that fused Gavin and Astrid) but she was touched by the younger woman’s evident attraction. And she admired her growing assertiveness--behavior she’d adored in Astrid and had ever since sought to emulate.
Lucy rotated 180 degrees, and took a firm backward step toward Shelley. She felt two warm hands spreading her shoulder blades like pulling apart a fragrant orange.
“Let’s see then. It’s—wait. T
