The Kiss Read online

  The Kiss

  Synopsis

  Kate Willis’s marriage to a possessive, abusive woman is the biggest mistake of her life. Worried about her three-year-old daughter’s emotional state, Kate attempts to convince her wife they need marriage counseling, fails, and files for divorce. Moving from Ohio to start a new life, she settles near her sister in Michigan and joins a hiking group where she meets Leslie, and they share the most incredible kiss ever.

  Leslie Baily runs the family restaurant she’ll one day own. On days off, she hikes. The last thing she expects is to meet an intriguing woman she can’t stop thinking about, let alone be kissed senseless.

  Kate has a child to support, is waiting for her ex to sign divorce papers, and has absolutely no business falling for Leslie. When her wife refuses the divorce and begins to stalk her, threatening not only her chance at happiness but her life, Kate realizes to protect Leslie she has to let her go, even if it breaks her heart.

  The Kiss

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  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

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  By the Author

  Edge of Awareness

  The Courage to Try

  Imperfect Truth

  Love Came Calling

  Through Love’s Eyes

  Love’s Truth

  The Kiss

  The Kiss

  © 2022 By C.A. Popovich. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-080-0

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: January 2022

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editors: Victoria Villaseñor and Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design by Jeanine Henning

  eBook Design by Toni Whitaker

  Acknowledgments

  Maybe it was the pandemic and the importance of family it highlighted that prompted me to add a child to my book. I’ve never written about children, and I know very little about them, so I turned to my psychologist sister for help. Who knew there was something called a toddler bed? I thank her for helping me get the life of a three-year-old woven into the story. And, once again, I thank my editors and all the hardworking folks at Bold Strokes Books for giving my stories a home. Thanks to Sandi for feedback on my first draft. I hope readers enjoy the story and feel the love.

  Dedication

  To Love

  Prologue

  Kate Willis took a deep, settling breath and quickly peeked out her daughter’s bedroom window searching for moving shadows. She saw nothing amiss and heard no unusual noises, but she edged away from anyone lurking outside and used her body to shield her daughter from view as she tossed the last of her three-year-old’s toys and clothes into boxes. Her thoughts raced with hasty plans to flee. Leaving in the early morning hours had worked the last two times, and she prayed she could get away permanently this time. She’d lived with guilt, shame, and fear for so long she’d almost convinced herself she’d never escape. She forced away the fear threatening to paralyze her and concentrated on the task of getting them to safety. If her ex caught them leaving again, she was certain there would be worse repercussions than last time. This time, she’d leave the state and go to her sister’s house in Michigan. She choked back tears as she tossed boxes into her car and went to retrieve her daughter. She vowed she’d keep her safe no matter what.

  Chapter One

  One year later

  “What are the chances?” Kate whispered and moved out of the way of the women streaming into the room. She studied the tables set end to end that formed a large square in the middle of the spacious room while she kept an eye on the woman she’d spent the past half a year thinking about.

  Six months after she’d moved in with her sister, she’d gone on a hike with a local lesbian group. Leslie had been one of the hikers, and they’d hit it off right away. They’d laughed, talked, and hunted mushrooms for Leslie’s restaurant. And in an unexpected moment of spontaneity, she’d kissed Leslie. It had been the kind of kiss written about in fairy tales, the kind that curled your toes and made your heart race.

  And then she’d run. There wasn’t a place in Kate’s life for that kind of complication, but she’d never stopped thinking of that kiss.

  Now, six months later, Kate was part of the organization of a speed-dating event fundraiser. She’d decided to participate, hoping to meet someone to test her resolve to trust again. She never thought she’d run into the one whose memory lingered and had slipped into her thoughts unbidden nearly every day since they’d shared that moment of beautiful intimacy.

  She pushed away the memories and concentrated on the moderator who’d begun to explain the rules. Folding chairs lined each side of the tables spaced three feet apart and centered between makeshift dividers placed on the table to separate the couples and offer a semblance of privacy. She snaked her way through the crowd toward one of the seats at the end of a table.

  “You will each get five minutes to spend with the potential love of your life before the bell rings and you move to the next woman in line.” She continued with details and codes of conduct before wishing the group luck and starting the timer for the first five minutes.

  Kate sat across from her first date and glanced at the list of questions she’d made. The term speed date took on new meaning as she’d hardly begun the conversation and the five minutes of information exchange was over. She moved to the next woman and repeated the process while feigning calm as she got closer to Leslie, who was at the end of the line. She dabbed the sweat off her upper lip with a tissue and took a few deep breaths as she slid into the seat across from the woman she hadn’t been able to purge from her memory. Would she recognize her? Would she remember? Kate pushed aside the ache of loneliness that had settled in the pit of her stomach since her arrival in the state. The ache that had convinced her to participate in this event, now that her world had seemed to come to rest in a calmer place. Leslie sat across from her and offered a sad smile.

  Distrust and uncertainty clouded Leslie’s gaze. “You’re back, I see.”

  “I’m so sorry for leaving so abruptly, but I had a huge personal issue to resolve. It turned out I wasn’t ready.”

  “Yeah. Well, here we are.” Leslie looked conflicted as she toyed with the sheet in front of her.

  “Yes, we are. I’d like a date with you.” Kate reminded herself to breathe.

  “Will you tell me why you left the way you did?”

  Would she? After a year of counseling, she knew she had to be open if she wanted to be close to anyone. “Yes.”

  “I look forward to it.” Leslie stood and walked away when the buzzer sounded.

  Over the past year, she’d managed to push aside her mountain of mistrust and this event was an opportunity to risk dating again. She couldn’t quit now that she might have a chance with Leslie. Uncertainty churned in her gut and warred with anticipation, and she reminded herself it was only a date.

  The only person she’d shared her crush with was her friend Joy. They’d met at the same Meetup hike where she’d met Leslie, and they’d been friends ever since. At least she could keep friendships. She turned in her date choices to the moderator and took her time leaving in hopes of connecting with Leslie on her way out. She only caught a glimpse of her back as she walked out the door.

  Kate helped the cleanup crew fold tables and chairs before she thanked the moderator and left. She took her time walking home to her two-bedroom apartment in Ferndale, Michigan. She’d chosen the location to be near her sister and the LGBTQ community center where she volunteered. She enjoyed the satisfaction of helping to raise funds to keep the doors to the community center open. Their many programs and support groups for lesbians, gay men, and LGBTQ youth and transgendered folks were lifelines, and she took pride in her ability to help them thrive. It also gave her a sense of purpose and a place of safety.

  She had an hour before she’d pick up Portia from her sister’s, so she made herself a cup of coffee and sat at her kitchen table to sort her notes on the various women she’d met. She put Leslie at the top of her imagined triangle, and the others she arranged in order of preference along the sides. She lined the bottom with ones she probably wouldn’t consider and ignored a stab of guilt that her divorce wasn’t officially final. Kate had feared Wendy’s rages after she’d served the divorce papers and she’d still refused to sign. Wendy had no idea where Kate lived now, but she had been to her sister’s with her several times, so Kate worried she might look for her at Deanna’s. But aside from her not signing the papers, the last year had been quiet, and she could only pray Wendy had moved on. Wendy had never threatened to hurt Portia, but she’d never cared about her either. She checked the time and left to pick up her daughter from her s
ister’s place.

  “Mommy!”

  All her angst disappeared with one word from her little girl. “Hi, baby. Did you have fun today?” Deanna and Rob had taken her to the zoo with their sons.

  “I saw lions and lelephants.” Portia’s sea green eyes, so like her own, sparkled with delight.

  “That’s great, honey. Are you ready to go home and tell me all about it?”

  “Hi, Kate,” Deanna called from the dining room. “You guys want dinner before you leave?”

  “I’m sure Portia had lunch, and I’m good. We’ll have spaghetti when we get home.” Kate looked at Portia who had settled on the floor with a small plastic dinosaur. “It looks like she got a souvenir from her zoo trip.”

  “Of course. The boys each got something, too. You know how hard it is to get past the gift shop without stopping.” Deanna grinned and shrugged.

  “Thanks again for keeping her today. The speed-dating event went well. I think everyone had a good time.”

  “How about you? Meet anyone interesting?” Deanna sat at the dining room table as if they had all evening to talk.

  Kate wasn’t ready to talk about Leslie yet. It still felt new and fragile. “I’m going to get Portia home. Can we talk about it tomorrow?”

  “Sure. But don’t think you’re going to get away without giving me details.” Deanna stood and hugged them both.

  “Talk to you tomorrow.” Kate put a jacket on Portia and carried her and her new toy to her car. She smiled at her babbling about the animals and snakes she’d seen until she dozed off in her car seat. She gently lifted her out when they arrived home and carried her to a play area she had set up in the corner of the living room.

  “How about a bowl of spaghetti?” Kate poured milk in Portia’s cup and gave it to her before heating a small cup of spaghetti and some creamed spinach. She might outgrow it, but it was a combination Portia liked now. “Okay, honey. Dinner’s ready.” She set her in her booster seat at the table where Portia rattled on between bites about the bears and the bear fountain in the zoo. Her favorite turned out to be the kangaroos in the new exhibit. She could barely keep her eyes open by the time she’d finished eating, and Kate followed her to the bathroom for another lesson in brushing her teeth. She helped her with the buttons on her fish pajamas and tucked the covers around her. Portia was already asleep by the time she kissed her good night, and her phone rang as she settled on the couch with a glass of wine.

  “So, how did it go?” Joy’s enthusiasm made her smile.

  “It was fun. I think it brought in a substantial amount of much needed funds for the center, too.”

  “Great. So, was Leslie there?”

  “She was. And she wasn’t happy with me. I apologized and promised to tell her why I left so abruptly when we have a date.”

  “So, you both agreed to a date? They’re all secret, aren’t they?”

  “Yeah. The moderator will get all our picks and there’s no guarantee the person we choose will have the same choice, but Leslie will go out with me. To get an explanation if nothing else.” Kate shrugged as she spoke.

  “I hope it works out for you two. I like you both. So, no word from the ex?”

  “No.” Kate took a deep breath to suppress her anger at her soon-to-be ex-wife. “She was supposed to sign the papers and mail them to my lawyer last week.”

  “Well, she has to sign eventually, doesn’t she?”

  “Not since the advent of no-fault divorces. But if she doesn’t, I can file it as a default divorce. I’ve had her served, and I can offer proof if needed. I need her out of my life so I can move on.”

  “Well, hang in there. Things will work out as they’re meant to.”

  “I suppose. Thanks for calling.” Kate disconnected the call and booted up her computer. She’d told Wendy she could email copies of the signed divorce papers, as she wanted as little face-to-face exposure with her as possible. The violence, the threats, the anger, and possessiveness were in her past. She was finally looking toward her future, and even hoping to find love again. The empty inbox stared at her as her curser blinked. Maybe tomorrow. She closed down her computer and finished her wine.

  Chapter Two

  Leslie sat on her couch and propped her feet on her coffee table before taking a sip from a cup of green tea. She reviewed the notes she’d scribbled about each of her seven five-minute dates. Only one stood out. She knew she would when she saw her seated at the end of a table. Memories of the softness of her lips and the quiet sigh when they’d broken their connection sent yearning through her chest. She put Kate’s card off to the side. She’d be her first choice for a date, and she hoped Kate would keep her promise to tell her what happened. Why she’d run off that day without a word. A huge personal issue, she’d said.

  She reviewed the other potential dates, trying not to compare them to Kate. There was no comparison. She took her time with each one recalling their voice, the color of their eyes, and the level of interest reflected there. Any one of them would be worth spending at least one date with. She noted the absence of Meetup events on her calendar. Morel mushroom season was long over, and she hadn’t been able to muster her usual enthusiasm for the hikes after Kate left that day. They’d only spent an afternoon together, but their connection was strong. She’d never had a kiss that had affected her so deeply, so quickly. When Kate had run, Leslie couldn’t help but wonder what she’d done wrong.

  She sighed, accepting that at thirty-nine she might end up being alone for the rest of her life. At least she had her family and her friends. The thought reminded her how long it had been since she’d spent time with her friend Alex. Her very married friend who hated mushrooms. She smiled at the memory of the few excursions on which she’d joined her. Her discomfort with the cool spring weather was evident, as was the intense scrutiny necessary to find the concealed mushrooms, but she’d never complained. She made a mental note to call her soon.

  She put her date list aside and held her cup in both hands as she took a swallow of her tepid tea. Kate told her she’d explain her disappearance, so she allowed herself to feel the anticipation at seeing her again. It troubled her that she expected anything from someone who’d kissed her as if she were precious and then left without a word. She put her empty cup into the dishwasher and put on a jacket before heading out the door.

  “Hey, Mom. You busy?” Leslie called from the door to her parents’ house before entering. They rarely locked the door despite her insistence they do. Fortunately, they lived practically next door, their houses completing a perfect triangle with the restaurant.

  “We’re in the kitchen, honey,” her mother answered. “You’re just in time for fresh baklava. It’s still warm.”

  Leslie grabbed a couple of potholders and helped her mom retrieve a huge baking pan from the oven. “It smells great.” She set the pan on a cooling rack on a large table set against the wall like she’d done so many times before. She’d worked at her family’s Greek restaurant since she was old enough to carry dishes. “What’s the occasion?” Any food made for the restaurant was cooked in its kitchen, not at her parents’ house.

  “I had a taste for it, and you know it’s your father’s favorite. It’s best warm, so get out the plates, please.” Her mom efficiently cut the pastry into perfect two-inch squares and lifted them out of the pan onto a huge serving tray. Leslie placed two pieces on a plate as her father entered the kitchen.

  “Hi, honey. Are those for me?” he asked and kissed Leslie’s cheek.

  “Yep. How are you feeling, Dad?” Her father had been fighting a cold for a week.

  “Much better. I’m staying away from the restaurant for another couple of days and drinking enough hot tea with lemon to float a boat.” He grinned and gave her mother a kiss on her cheek.

  Leslie relaxed with a piece of baklava, feeling as much at home there as she did in her own kitchen.