Sometimes She Gets Lucky Read online

  “I once dated someone who lived here, whose best friend threw underground parties for ladies in the life as she liked to describe it. After the parties ended, we usually would end up at one of the late-night spots. We weren’t together that long, but it was long enough for me to know pickings are slim when it comes to getting a good meal after midnight.”

  “So you once dated someone that lived here. Are you dating anyone now?” Vaughn’s voice shifted to a tone Nona perceived as hopeful.

  Her answer of no sparked a smile. “I am living the single life now. My most recent relationship ended because she was on the road a lot for her job and finding time for me just didn’t seem to be a priority.”

  “I think I was your girlfriend in my last relationship. I focused so much on making partner at my firm, I neglected my actual partner. It’s been close to two years for me,” Vaughn said. “Honestly, between work, volunteering, and traveling with friends, I haven’t really missed having a plus one. But then seeing Baldwin and Dinah so enthralled with each other and so many couples during the reception reminded me of what I was missing.”

  “I agree everyone seemed to be in good spirits except those bitter Betties at our table. So thank you so much for speaking up when you did because all the disparaging they were doing was bringing down my mood.”

  Vaughn tilted her head in acknowledgment. “Glad to be of service. You know your offer to cook something sounds…appetizing. I accept your offer since you spoke so highly of your quick meal preparing skills. Here is the deal, I pick the ingredients, and you will have thirty minutes to make a meal.”

  Nona grinned at Vaughn’s sparkling eyes. This outcome certainly wasn’t what she anticipated her night would bring. She felt certain following the reception she would end up at her cousin’s house, enjoying cable in her pajamas. Now she was on the cusp of entertaining an attractive attorney and demonstrating her culinary skills. Nine was definitely proving to be her lucky number.

  “Challenge accepted.”

  The two walked to the parking lot close enough to hold hands but each holding back. Vaughn being the perfect gentlewoman walked Nona to her car then continued on to hers parked a few rows back. Nona shamelessly ogled her tight bum that reminded her of favorite summertime fruit. Within minutes, a pair of lights flicked, letting her know Vaughn was ready, and the two exited the parking lot heading east.

  Nona fiddled with her radio driving down Market Street to her cousin’s house, hoping to find a musical balm to balance her nervousness about entertaining a stranger. The flirtatious conversation back and forth at the hotel was one thing, but now it was going to be the two of them. It had been a minute since the embers of her desire to connect with another woman had been sparked. Pulling into her cousin’s driveway, she chuckled to herself.

  I hope Vaughn doesn’t present me with a culinary check that I won’t be able to cash.

  Forty minutes later, Nona wore an expectant look on her face and a pair of her cousins’ cartoon character slippers on her feet, waiting for Vaughn’s reaction.

  “I have to say, I’m impressed. What should we call this culinary creation?” Vaughn said as the two sat down to her combination of ham, sweet pickles, pimento cheese, and frozen hash browns on multigrain toast at her cousin’s kitchen table. The low melody of Sarah Vaughn drifted over them from Nona’s phone.

  “I don’t know. I’m just glad you like it,” Nona said over the rim of her iced tea. “I haven’t challenged myself to make a dish like this in a while. Creating it was the best release I have had in a while.”

  Vaughn leaned forward. “Well, I’m glad I could be a part of that process, and I feel the same way.”

  A warm feeling Nona recognized as contentment settled over her. It had been so long since she had felt like this. Looking at Vaughn, she recognized a similar emotion in those nutmeg-colored eyes.

  Three chirps interrupted the meal. Nona registered the sound, but it took a minute for her to react. Finally, her mind shifted to realize her cousin was reminding her to set the alarm she turned off when she arrived. While she responded, Vaughn offered to clean the kitchen as payment for the meal.

  The two moved in harmony, cleaning up the kitchen, and soon found themselves sitting in the living room, sipping cups of cocoa. Nona knew she should say something about it getting late. Both of them were approaching more than eighteen hours of being on their feet, and each of them was discreetly yawning into their mugs.

  “So, Ms. Essex, since you really came through with the great late-night meal, any suggestions about places I should check out tomorrow?

  “Well, my first suggestion is always the aquarium at Fort Fisher. I remember coming down here when I was in school for field trips and found it so fascinating. There is the battleship, and you can always take in one of the guided tours they always have going on downtown.”

  Vaughn appeared to be considering Nona’s suggestions then, taking her hand, said, “You know, they all sound so good, I think I may have a hard time picking just one. How about this? I’m going to head back to the condo and get some rest. Would it be all right if I call you tomorrow, and we go out and do whichever activity you think I would enjoy the most?”

  “I think I can manage that.”

  Vaughn smiled and leaned forward in a way to indicate she wanted a kiss but didn’t want to go too far if the feeling wasn’t mutual. Nona confirmed her instinct was correct and embraced her lips with her own. The minute their lips touched, a whoosh swept through Nona. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things she realized that brought the most pleasure.

  “I have wanted to do that since you sat down, and it was just as I imagined,” Vaughn said. “I could keep kissing you until the sun rises, but I’m going to head back to the condo now so I can get a good night’s sleep and be ready to go out with you later today. You are a fascinating woman, and I’m so glad we were able to meet tonight.”

  Nona agreed and embraced her tightly after walking her to the door. The two kissed again, standing at the door, before Vaughn exited. She stood on the porch, waving goodbye until Vaughn’s taillights disappeared into the pre-dawn darkness. Walking through the house, Nona smiled in the dark at the expectation of what later today would bring.

  Twenty minutes later, Nona reclined in the guest bedroom, freshly showered. Vaughn had texted to let her know she made it to the condo and couldn’t wait to see her later that day. Nona snuggled under the light blanket and welcomed the slight summer breeze drifting in through the bedroom window. Her mind reviewed the events of the evening. She doubted she would be able to have as good of a time as she did. She especially didn’t expect to meet someone as intriguing as Vaughn. While she harbored no illusions that tonight’s connection would automatically lead to them exchanging vows with the ocean in the background, her spirit felt light. She felt herself drifting and realized she still had her contacts in.

  Nona got out of bed and made her way to her purse. Reaching in to get her case, she pulled out the table assignment card she grabbed when she arrived. She smiled then frowned as she took a closer look at the card.

  “Well, I will be damned,” she said, reading the number and table assignment. She thought back to when she arrived at the reception and remembered the hostess seemed a little flustered. Nona realized she had been given the wrong table assignment. Her table assignment was table six, not nine. She pondered how different her night would have been if she had paid more attention and sat at her assigned seating. Nona wondered if the person whom the seat was meant for simply didn’t show up for the reception or had shrugged their shoulders and snagged an open seat at another table.

  She removed her contacts and settled back under the blanket. All that she could hope for was whatever their evening ended up looking like, her outcome promised to be a good one. She looked at the clock and fell into a slumber, anticipating the next time she would see Vaughn. Even though by accident, it seemed nine was still her lucky number.

  THE END

  ABOUT LA TOYA H
ANKINS

  La Toya Hankins is a native of North Carolina and currently resides in Raleigh, NC. A graduate of East Carolina University, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in journalism with a minor in political science. During her college career, she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and later served as second vice president for one of the largest graduate chapters in North Carolina.

  After working as a regional reporter and features editor in the Charlotte metro area for seven years, she entered the world of banking. Presently employed with the State of North Carolina, she divides her time between being a proud pet parent of an 8-year-old terrier named Neo and volunteering in the community.

  Currently serving as the co-chair of Shades of Pride, organizer of the annual Triangle Black Pride, Hankins is an active supporter of LGBT issues and addressing health disparities that affect her community. Her literary influences and loves include Zora Neale Hurston, Walter Mosley, Anne Rice, and Pearl Cleage. Her motto, borrowed from Hurston, is “I do not weep at the world, I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.”

  ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC

  JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!