Sarah's phone buzzed late Thursday morning, signaling a new text message. When she checked it, a grin crept onto her face as she saw who it was from.
"Good morning," it read.
"Hey," she replied.
Her morning had been slow, and she was more than grateful to hear from Regina. They hadn't spoken the previous day, and she'd be lying if she said it hadn't bothered her. Still, she hadn't wanted to come across as clingy or needy, so she'd given Regina her space. After all, she didn't owe her anything.
"I just wanted to check in and see how you and Jack are doing. I'm sorry I didn't call or text yesterday—some things came up. I hope I'm not disrupting your work by reaching out in the middle of the day," Regina texted.
"No, you're not. There's not much going on here anyway. Either everyone is suddenly following the law, or I'm getting really bad at my job," Sarah replied.
"I doubt you'd be bad at anything ;)" Regina answered.
"Well, Miss Mills, flattery will get you... somewhere ;)" the blonde replied.
"Hopefully ;). Can I propose something?" Regina asked.
"Yeah, sure. Shoot," Sarah typed, smiling at her phone.
"I don't know if it's possible, but... would you like to have lunch with me?" Regina typed nervously, pausing for a moment before hitting send.
"Are you asking me out on a date, Miss Smith?!" Sarah replied, playfully.
"Maybe. We'll see. For now, let's not make a big deal out of it—it's just two adults spending an hour together, eating and getting to know each other better," Regina responded.
"It's totally a date!" Regina's phone buzzed again with a reply from Sarah. Always childish, she thought to herself, her heart full of fondness and admiration.
A few seconds later, a second message came through.
"And sure, I'd love to have lunch with you. Where?"
"Just text me the address to your office and I'll pick you up—if that's okay," Regina replied.
Let me know if you'd like this version more playful, romantic, or fit for a specific format (like screenplay or novel).
TWO WEEKS EARLIER
Regina sat in their lavish living room in a luxurious estate. Afternoon sunlight filtering through tall windows. She was dressed casually, lounged on the couch with a book. Karen, impeccably dressed and composed, entered holding a glass of wine.
"Regina, put that book down for a moment, will you? We need to talk" her mother said
Regina sighed without looking up. "Let me guess... another charity event? Or have you decided I should take up polo again?"
Karen sat opposite her, crossing her legs. "Don't be cheeky. This is important. I had lunch with the Fairbanks today. You remember Richard, don't you?"
The younger brunette raised an eyebrow "Vaguely. Tall, arrogant, uses "networking" as a verb?"
Smiling tightly, Karen responded. "Successful. Sophisticated. Comes from an impeccable family. He's asked about you"
Regina groaned. "Of course he did. Probably trying to expand his empire through marriage. What did you tell him?"
"That you'd be thrilled to have dinner with him next Friday. At the Oakland. Eight sharp"
Regina Sat up, stunned "You did what?"
"Oh, Regina, don't be dramatic. It's just dinner. A chance to reconnect. You two are cut from the same cloth"
"I don't want to be "cut from the same cloth" as Richard Fairbanks. Or his mother. Or his trust fund. I'm not interested" Regina said.
"You don't have to marry him tomorrow. But eventually, you'll need someone who understands our world—who belongs in it" the older woman retorted.
"Our world? You mean your world. I never asked for this, Mother. I don't want to live my life on a schedule you curated" Regina responded.
Karen said sternly, "You think love will pay the mortgage on a Paris flat? Will love maintain a name, a reputation, a legacy?"
"I'd rather rent a studio and sleep peacefully than marry a man I can't stand just because he fits your fantasy" Regina replied
Lowering her voice, Karen said, "You're being reckless. One day, you'll thank me for protecting you from... commonness"
"I'd rather be common and happy than gilded and caged" Regina said quietly but firmly
Karen snarled, "You're being ungrateful"
"And you're being controlling. My life isn't an investment portfolio. I won't be traded like a stock for family prestige" Regina said.
Karen stood up abruptly, "You're being foolish, Regina. You'll see that soon enough"
Regina replied, "Maybe I will. But at least it'll be my mistake to make"
Karen exited in silence, stiff and fuming. Regina picked up her book again, calmer but resolute.
PRESENT
Lunch had been a lovely affair, and now, as they waited for the bill, the two women continued the conversation they'd been engrossed in for the past hour.
"So, you haven't really dated anyone since Jack was born?" Regina asked.
"No, not really," Sarah replied. "After Nelson, I decided to focus entirely on Jack. He was—he is—the most important thing in my life. What about you? I'm sorry for unloading all of this on you. I'd totally understand if you ran the other way as soon as we step outside that door. You invited me to lunch and I've spent the whole hour talking about the mess that is—or rather, isn't—my love life. I don't usually talk about this stuff, not with anyone… but enough about me." She smiled softly. "Tell me something about you. Aside from your love of horses, do you have any ex-boyfriends worth gossiping about? Who is Regina Smith?"
They both rose from the table just as Regina settled the bill.
"I asked you to lunch so we could get to know each other—that's what I said, and I meant it. So no, Miss Bennett, I won't be running anywhere," Regina replied with a warm smile. "And to answer your question… Regina Smith is a lover of literature, art, and horses. As for boyfriends—there was one, a long time ago. He wasn't terrible, but it didn't end well."
As they slid into the back of the car, the same short man Sarah remembered from the stables took the wheel.
"That's it? What do you do for work?" Sarah asked, settling in beside her.
"I work in finance," Regina answered, glancing sideways at her.
"I should've guessed. The power suits—you look really hot in them, by the way—" Sarah cut herself off, suddenly aware of what she'd just blurted. "Sorry. That was inappropriate. So… about the boyfriend?"
Regina smiled, brushing past the moment. As the car headed toward Sarah's office, she began to share details of her one serious relationship—the one her mother had strongly disapproved of, ultimately leading to their breakup. Sarah listened with empathy and quiet affection. Reaching over, she gently took Regina's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"And just like you, there wasn't anyone else in my life for a long time. Until…" Regina trailed off as they pulled up outside Sarah's office building. She didn't immediately let go of Sarah's hand, and when Sarah didn't pull away, Regina knew she wasn't the only one hesitant to let go.
"Well, that's a story for another day," she said softly, smiling as Lee opened Sarah's door, forcing them to part. Regina stepped out and circled around the car to join her.
"I didn't get a chance to see your office earlier. Do you mind if I walk you in?" she asked.
"Sure," Sarah replied, still caught in the emotional residue of the conversation—and the electricity of that hand-hold.
Her office was on the first floor, so the walk was brief. As they entered the lobby, several heads turned—most notably Regina's striking presence drawing more than a few stares. Sarah couldn't blame them. She simply smiled as they walked past her assistant's desk.
"Any messages for me, Andy?" she asked.
"None, boss," Andy replied cheerfully, her eyes flickering curiously toward the woman beside her boss.
"Oh, by the way, this is Regina Smith. A… good friend," Sarah said, hesitating slightly over the label.
"Nice to meet you, Andy," Regina said, her smile dazzling.
"The pleasure's all mine, Miss Smith," Andy replied.
"Please, call me Regina."
After the introductions, Sarah led Regina into her office. The brunette followed, closing the door softly behind her. But she didn't move from the door, and for a long moment, they just stared at each other.
The silence was heavy, intimate.
"So… are we still on for Saturday?" Sarah finally asked.
"Yes, of course. Is Jack excited?" Regina answered.
"That would be the understatement of the century," Sarah laughed. "He's over the moon. He even asked me what he should wear."
Regina chuckled—a sound Sarah found herself addicted to.
"I'm glad to hear that," Regina said, looking down at her hands. "I should let you get back to work. Thank you again for inviting me."
As she leaned against the door, Regina made no move to leave. And honestly, she didn't want to. Sarah stepped closer, so near now that Regina could smell her perfume—subtle, but utterly intoxicating.
"Thank you. I had a lovely time," Sarah murmured.
"Yeah? I did too," Regina said. Then, almost without thinking, she turned the blonde and gently pressed her back against the door. Her hand lifted to rest above Sarah's head as her gaze dropped to her lips.
She wanted to kiss her again—God, she wanted to—but she didn't want to rush her.
"Yeah," Sarah whispered, just before their lips met again.
Regina responded instantly, one hand sliding around Sarah's neck to pull her closer. Their bodies pressed together, and she teased Sarah's lower lip with her tongue. The blonde parted her lips, welcoming her in, and soon their kiss deepened into something fierce and consuming.
Somehow, they made it across the room to Sarah's desk, lips never parting. When the back of Sarah's thighs bumped into it, Regina gracefully lifted herself up and pulled her skirt higher, allowing Sarah to step between her legs. The world outside that office faded away—there was only this moment, this fire, and their bodies tangled together in growing desire.
Their exploration of one another was slow, sensual, and breathless. Regina learned every subtle reaction of Sarah's body—the way her hands moved, the way her breath hitched when touched just right. And by the way Sarah responded to her, she knew the feeling was mutual.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathless, their foreheads pressed together as they caught their breath.
Regina couldn't stop staring at her. She couldn't get enough. She didn't want to get enough. The way Sarah made her feel was unlike anything she'd experienced in years—and it scared her, how deeply she already cared.
"Umm…" Sarah tried to speak, but the words didn't come.
"Yeah," Regina said with a soft laugh, squeezing her hand.
"That is definitely becoming my favorite sound in the world," Sarah said, brushing a strand of hair from Regina's face.
"What is?" Regina asked, brow raised.
"Your laugh."
Regina blushed, not sure how to respond. "Thank you. I really should get going," she said, hopping down to smooth her wrinkled skirt.
"And thank you again—for everything."
"As I said, no need to thank me. I had a great time," Sarah said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips.
They walked hand in hand to the door. As Sarah opened it, Regina lifted their joined hands and kissed them. It was simple, but deeply tender.
Realizing they hadn't let go, they both laughed.
Regina leaned in and kissed Sarah's cheek before finally letting go. "Say hi to Jack for me?"
"I'll have him call you when he gets home," Sarah replied.
Regina winked, then disappeared into the lobby, leaving Sarah smiling—happier than she'd felt in what felt like forever.
When she looked up, she found Andy staring at her with a smirk.
"Don't even—" Sarah began.
"Wasn't gonna," Andy said, grinning knowingly. Truth be told, in the year she'd worked for Sarah, she'd never seen her boss look this radiant. And she had no doubt the stunning brunette had everything to do with it.
On her way back to the hotel, Regina couldn't stop smiling. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this light.
Actually, she could. And that's what scared her the most.
What if it all fell apart again?