Free Warming Trend by Karin Kallmaker Page B

between was the interesting face, and that smile that Ani abruptly realized she’d been yearning to see again. As Eve got closer, Ani remembered that she’d not been able to decide if Eve’s eyes were blue or gray. Now, clearly, they were blue, like the morning sky through wisps of cloud.
    “I love peonies,” Eve said, without preamble. “Do you have a favorite place in the garden?”
    Ani didn’t want to admit that botanical gardens weren’t exactly her first pick as a hangout. “Not really.”
    “Follow me, then. I know a spot that’s usually in the sun.”
    It was a typical Fairbanks July day. The temperature was pushing eighty, but the shadows were cool. People were out in droves, and it was easy to tell tourists from residents tourists had tans. Eve was wearing denim crop pants and Ani really liked the way the pale smoothness of Eve’s calves was wrapped with Grecian style straps from her gold sandals. They were the kind of shoes that could only be worn for a month or two out of the year. Ani much preferred her sturdy boots, choosing a pair each day based on the amount of traction she thought she might need on the ice. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate sexy sandals on another woman. And sexy they were, like the legs they decorated, legs that led to…
    “This okay?” Eve gestured at a bench in the sun, facing down the slope of the gardens toward the children’s pond. Beyond that, rows of experimental peonies blazed scarlet in the afternoon sun.
    Ani knew she was blushing. Eve had nearly caught her checking out her ass, and it was a fine asset. “It’s, um, great.”
    Eve gave her an amused look. “Why do you look guilty?”
    “I’m hungry. I was ogling your picnic basket.”
    “You’re worse than Tonk.”
    “That hurts,” Ani said in mock pain. “I’ve not slobbered on you.”
    Eve didn’t say, “Yet,” but Ani still heard it in the awkward silence that fell between them. She fought down another blush and accepted a half of a wax-paper wrapped sandwich. She couldn’t just blurt out, “I don’t slobber, really!”
    The sandwich could have been shoe leather and she’d have said it was good, but she was being completely honest when she said, “You make really good egg salad.”
    “I think you just like eggs.” Eve finished her half sandwich and reached for the bag of homemade cereal mix and nuts.
    Ani licked her fingers. “What makes you say that?”
    “It was my deviled eggs that brought us together.”
    Ani didn’t care that she blushed again. Together sounded nice. Eve looked a little surprised at her choice of words, but she didn’t amend it. She handed Ani the baggie of nuts and savory seasoned cereal.
    “I like this, too.” Ani fished out a couple of cashews and wheat cereal squares.
    “Thank you. And I thought I’d have to break out my killer lemon bars to impress you.”
    “You have killer lemon bars in that basket?” Ani made a show of peering, but Eve slammed the lid shut.
    “Maybe. If you behave.”
    Not sure where she got the boldness from, Ani asked, “Are you sure you want me to behave?”
    Eve didn’t exactly blush, but her cheeks took on a hint of pink. “I’m not sure.” This time she did say, “Yet.”
    Ani thought it wise to look out across the pond, else Eve might have seen the glee she was certain showed in her eyes. Her heart felt tight and she couldn’t breathe without feeling like something inside would burst. Nothing in all the serious flirtations and light-hearted bedroom encounters of her past had been anything like the tingle that was making her palms itch.
    They finished the contents of the basket and kept to safe subjects. The lemon bars were indeed killer. Eve explained about curd and butter, and it all tasted like ambrosia to Ani. Her father and she hadn’t spent a lot of time on culinary niceties, but her palate knew the difference between store-bought goods and the melt-in-her-mouth pastry Eve had made.
    When Eve asked how