“Okay,” said Cray, sitting back in his chair. “So, I don’t have to go with you, but who are you taking to the shindig? Do you have a real date? Have you decided to emerge from your cave? Is the real Reilly getting ready to come out and play? Tell me!”
“Give me a break,” said Reilly. “This is the real Reilly.”
“I mean the fun Reilly.”
Reilly just stared back at him. She couldn’t believe that he had just said that.
“You know what I mean,” laughed Cray. “The Reilly that used to go dancing with me. The Reilly who made all the ladies cream their thongs when she walked into the room.”
“Gross,” said Reilly, a little upset that he thought that she was boring now. “I’m still that Reilly, Cray. The dancing one, not the creaming one,” she clarified. “I’ve just been working. And before that I was… readjusting.”
“Well, I’m glad that you’re back,” he said and leaned forward to give her arm a reassuring pat. “Who are you going to the dinner with?”
“Drew.”
“I knew it!” he crowed, pounding the table so hard that the silverware clattered.
“Knew what?” asked Reilly. She pretended to right her silverware, but knew full well what he was talking about.
“That you were totally hitting that!”
“I am not hitting that.”
“Yeah. Uh huh,” said Cray, nodding his head to tell her he did not believe her.
“I’m not!”
“Okay. You’re not. But you want to.”
Reilly was quiet for a second. She didn’t mean it to be an affirmation, but that was how Cray took it.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Yes and no,” admitted Reilly. She did want to be with Drew. She had since the first time she had met her. But it was more than that, and so admitting to Cray’s suggestion that she wanted to hit it wasn’t it at all.
“Well, if you want to, you should go for it,” said Cray.
“I don’t know—”
“This is so weird, Reilly. Seriously. You used to dive without fear into things—especially women.”
“This is different,” said Reilly. Then it hit her. She knew why she was so afraid of Drew. It wasn’t about potentially being turned down as far as sex went, though there was a little bit of that. It was mostly her heart that she was afraid for. Drew mattered to her, and she had never put her heart on the line before.
“If it makes any difference, I’m pretty sure she’s into you, if that’s what you’re scared of,” said Cray, still thinking that Reilly was just out of practice in the scoring department.
“I’m not scared that she’ll turn me down,” lied Reilly. “You really think that she’s into me, though?”
“Hell yes,” said Cray. And his emphatic affirmation made Reilly’s stomach flutter. “It is most definite that she has a thing for you.”
“She does not. Does she?”
“Totally. The entire time I’ve known her, she has always been so… so…”
Cray struggled to find the right words while Reilly could think of a thousand words that would accurately describe Drew.
“Serene? Composed?” she suggested, sticking to words Cray would use, as terms like “enticing”, “sexy” and “delicious” floated in her head.
“Yeah, both of those,” he said, his furrowed brow smoothing. “When you’re around, she’s not serene or composed. I’ve never seen her like this. She gets nervous and kind of twitchy. It’s pretty cute.”
Reilly digested what Cray told her. It took a moment for her to get up the nerve to ask him what she was wondering.
“She doesn’t date?”
“Oh, she dates,” said Cray, as if that were a stupid question. The previous feeling of encouragement that Cray had given her evaporated. Her mind filled with images of the line of women Drew probably had waiting around the corner for her. “She dates a lot. But I’ve never seen her like she is with you.”
“A lot, huh?” asked Reilly, wondering why she had asked. She didn’t want to know the truth. That Drew had her pick of women. Nice women. Women without a past.
“Yeah. You’ve seen her. She’s gorgeous,” said Cray. He had no idea how his response affected Reilly. But when he continued, she wished she hadn’t asked. “The ladies dig her. And she has an endless supply to choose from in the line of work she’s in.”
“Oh,” responded Reilly, feeling dejected and wishing the conversation had never taken place.
“I’m telling you, though. You should go for it,” advised Cray, taking a sip from his water and trying to pretend that he didn’t see the growing group of people that milled around the front of the restaurant.
Reilly hid her disappointment and hoped that they’d be able to slip out the back.
“We’ll see,” she said as she gathered up her bag.
Wish Me Luck
IT WAS LATE DUSK ON FRIDAY night, and Reilly’s car pulled up in front of Drew’s house. The branches of the pepper tree swayed in a slight breeze and the string of path lights leading up to the lighted porch cast a warm glow over what little of the front yard she could see through the low front gate. Some of the light reflected from the surface of the dark water in the tiny stream, changing the lush area from a verdant picnic spot to a romantic grotto in Reilly’s imagination.
She sat in the car for a moment trying to settle her nerves as she watched the rosy light in the sky beyond the swaying branches. One of the reasons that Reilly had asked Drew to accompany her to the dinner was because of the calming effect Drew had on her. She needed Drew’s peace to give her the confidence to face her first working social appearance since the accident. But it appeared that her plan was backfiring. The prospect of going on a date-that-wasn’t-really-a-date with Drew was more frightening than the event itself. She tried to remind herself that it wasn’t supposed to be a date. But it sure felt like one.
She smoothed the flat front of the simple black dress she wore and adjusted the strap to her shoe, knowing that she was killing time, avoiding making that scary walk up to the front door.
“Rye? You okay?” asked Alison. Reilly saw concerned eyes watching her in the rearview mirror.
“I’m fine, Al. Just getting up my nerve.”
“Jeez, girl! You’re the hottest game in town. She’s the one who should be nervous,” said Alison, and Reilly loved her friend a little more.
“Thanks, Al. You’re a bit biased, but I’ll take the encouragement,” said Reilly grabbing the handle of the door. “Wish me luck.”
“You got it. You don’t need it, but you got it.”
Reilly got out of the car, took a deep breath of the August evening air, and made the short walk up to the front door of Drew’s house, where she hurried to ring the bell before she lost her nerve. Her finger hadn’t even left the button before the door swung open and Drew stepped out.
Reilly took a breath and didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t a date, but Drew had dressed like it was. She was seductive and elegant, in a diaphanous black wrap-around tunic, and flowing pants. The sleeveless top showed off her toned arms and her only jewelry was a thin black bracelet with a single silver charm dangling from it. Her hair was swept up into a knot on the back of her head, accentuating her long neck, and inviting Reilly’s mind to wander. Reilly was glad that she had put some thought into her own outfit. As simple as the dress was, she had tried on at least two dozen before she found the perfect fit. She knew the halter top with plunging neckline showed off her shoulders and the bare back was sexy as hell, or so Alison had said when she had picked her up.
“You are stunning,” said Reilly, and she realized that she had never said those words to another woman.
Drew smiled.
“It’s impossible to compete with you, but I’m glad that you think so,” said Drew, and Reilly felt a light blush creep up her chest and neck.
Drew smoothed her hair and shifted her weight to her other foot, but she didn’t drop the hold that she had
on Reilly’s eyes.
Reilly cleared her throat.
“Ready to brush elbows?”
“Let’s go, beautiful,” said Drew, taking Reilly’s arm as they turned toward the car.
The Dinner Party
LOCATED AT ONE OF LOS ANGELES’ finest hotels, high on the side of a hill facing the L.A. Basin, the dinner party wasn’t as bad as Reilly had imagined it would be. The venue was elegant, with tasteful table arrangements and seating around the pool area. The band was decent, the food was excellent, and most surprising to her, the other guests, many of whom she knew, were pleasant to talk to. And she didn’t need alcohol to get through it. The evening went by faster than she thought it would, and near the end, she decided that she was glad that she had come.
Preparing to leave, Reilly excused herself from Drew and the others seated at their table. She was on her way back from the ladies’ room when she happened to catch a glimpse of the Los Angeles city skyline casting its world famous sparkle into a clear indigo sky. She paused at the railing for a moment to appreciate the scene. A trillion lights bathed the valley floor and surged up the surrounding hills while the jagged shapes of the downtown buildings thrust up through the center of it all. A bright moon shone down upon the landscape to complete the perfect postcard setting.
A soft breeze, cool from the winds sweeping in from the distant coast blew Reilly’s loose hair back in gentle gusts while it skimmed the bare skin of her arms and shoulders. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Without turning, she felt Drew walk up the path behind her.
The impact of the moment and Drew’s arrival sent a small shiver through her.
“Cold?”
Reilly felt soft hands run down her arms and then back up to rest on her shoulders. If it was a gesture meant to chase away the cold, it worked better than a warm coat. Where Drew touched her, waves of heat began, spreading in radiating pulses through every inch of Reilly’s body. It did more than just erase the cold. The caress electrified every nerve in her being.
“No, I’m not cold,” she managed to say, afraid that Drew would remove her hands. But Drew didn’t take them away. They traveled back down her arms and then moved around her waist. Reilly’s heart raced, and she dared to lean back into the embrace. They stood like that for several minutes, enjoying the view, but Reilly’s attention was focused on the new feeling of Drew’s body pressed against her back.
“Thanks for bringing me with you tonight, Reilly. I’ve had a great evening.”
Drew’s voice was close to Reilly’s ear and her warm breath tickled Reilly’s sensitive skin. The faint scent of cinnamon drifted by.
“It’s me who should be thanking you. You made it possible for me to be here tonight,” said Reilly, trying to sound calm even though Drew could surely feel the pounding of her heart. Reilly tried to distract herself by playing with the charm on Drew’s bracelet. She called upon the silver ohm symbol to give her the peace that she needed so that she wouldn’t fly apart from the tsunami of sensations that whirled within her.
“Why’s that?” asked Drew, resting her chin on Reilly’s shoulder. The soft length of Drew’s throat rested on Reilly’s bare skin. The gesture was intimate in its simple casualness, and Reilly had never felt the kind of connection it elicited in her.
“Being near you grounds me,” confessed Reilly, though in that moment it was doing the exact opposite. “You exude a sort of peace. I felt it the first time I saw you. This is the first public event I’ve attended since…” Reilly shrugged her shoulders to finish the sentence and it caused Drew to adjust her position. Reilly felt soft lips glance across her shoulder before Drew’s chin settled back in place.
“Then I’m honored that you asked me.”
“Everyone in this town seems to think they have the right to know everyone else’s business,” continued Reilly. “When you’re around, I don’t feel that pressure.”
“Has anyone made you feel uncomfortable tonight?” asked Drew. Her voice was calm, but Reilly heard a protective tone in it that made her feel safe and cared for.
“No,” said Reilly, surprising herself with her next words, giving voice to a feeling that she had only felt deep within her own self. “Though I wonder what’s worse.”
“Worse than what?”
“Worse than knowing that I don’t deserve protection.”
Drew brushed her chin along Reilly’s shoulder, and Reilly could sense that Drew was thinking that comment over.
“You think that people are protecting you? And that you don’t deserve it?”
“Some of them, yes,” answered Reilly, after a half a moment’s consideration. “Some of the others avoid the issue to make sure that they keep getting invited to these things. They don’t want to rock the boat. But give them enough to drink and they’ll start to say what’s really on their minds.” Even as she spoke, Reilly thought that she sounded bitter. That’s not how she wanted to come off. She tried to smile. “But I signed up for it. It’s all part of the game of who gets to take down the reigning kings and queens of Hollywood. It makes it easy when we do it to ourselves.”
“Hmmm…”
“God, that sounds so cynical, or, worse yet, self-important.” And I’ve turned a perfect moment into a downer, she added in her head. She needed to shut up.
Drew’s arms tightened around Reilly’s waist, and Reilly dropped her gaze to them, wondering what Drew was thinking. She could feel every curve of the woman behind her. The warmth of the firm softness felt better than she had ever imagined. She waited for Drew to pull away.
Without removing her arms from Reilly’s waist, and in a single graceful motion, Drew slid around so that she was standing between Reilly and the railing. They were face to face. The distant city provided a canvas of twinkling lights around the beautiful face before her, and Reilly watched a single strand of hair flutter across Drew’s smooth forehead. Drew’s silver gray eyes shone in the reflection of the lights from the hotel as they searched Reilly’s. Neither woman spoke.
Reilly reached up and smoothed the loose hair behind Drew’s ear, and her fingers lingered against the long length of Drew’s neck.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” whispered Drew, as her eyes swept down over Reilly’s mouth and then moved back to Reilly’s eyes. She paused, which had the effect of making Reilly’s lips begin to burn with the ache of wanting that kiss more than anything she had ever wanted before.
“Yes,” she heard herself say as Drew moved closer. When Reilly felt Drew’s mouth claim hers, the electric current that she always felt buzzing between them became a rush of energy that pulsed, heightening every one of her senses. The kiss was different—better—than anything she had ever imagined.
It was gentle at first, as Reilly learned the texture of Drew’s lips. Every fantasy she’d had about kissing Drew paled in comparison to that kiss. Reilly’s breath caught, and a small groan escaped her as she closed her eyes and sank into the sensations coursing through her. Every inch of her reacted to the feel of Drew’s body pressed to hers. The hand that had been on Drew’s neck slid, almost of its own accord, behind Drew’s head, and she pulled Drew to her, deepening the kiss. Reilly’s mouth opened and she shivered as Drew’s soft tongue met hers. An almost desperate intensity crept over her, as an internal voice told her to slow down before she lost control. She had already lost that battle, though, and she leaned into Drew, trying to close any distance left between them.
Reilly felt like they were just getting started when Drew eased away and rested her forehead against Reilly’s. Her eyes flashed with an intensity that Reilly had never seen in them, and then they closed. Reilly felt like she was in that moment of suspension before falling from a cliff.
“I’m—” began Drew, in a low voice.
“Don’t say you’re sorry. Please, don’t say you’re sorry,” whispered Reilly, out of breath, her voice deep with the feelings that welled up within her. It terrified her that Drew might already regret their kiss.
Drew opened her eyes and smiled.
“I was about to say that I’m relieved to have finally kissed you. I’ve wanted it for so long. It’s been killing me.”
Reilly released the breath that she had been holding and pushed her fingers into Drew’s hair, releasing more of it from the clip.
“I’ll bet you say that to all the girls,” said Reilly, resorting to glib humor, afraid of the truth.
“Nope. Just you,” said Drew, which was the perfect answer. “And now that I’ve done it, I want to do it again.”
Drew stroked Reilly’s back, and Reilly closed her eyes as Drew lowered her head to kiss her again. Their hands and lips revealed the desire that each of them had been holding onto. Unable to resist it, Reilly brushed her lips down to trace a path across Drew’s jaw and down her throat, wanting more, needing more. Drew lifted her head and bared the full expanse of her neck, a gesture that sent Reilly reeling. She ran her lips along the pulse that ended just above Drew’s collarbone, breathing in the scent. Reilly continued to kiss and taste along her path of discovery. She couldn’t get enough and there was so much left to explore. Her fingers sketched the trail that her lips meant to travel, and when she ran into fabric, she pushed it away. She was surprised when gentle hands guided her head back up. Through half-closed eyes she met Drew’s gaze, and Drew moved back in for another long, slow kiss. A dazed smile trembled across Drew’s beautiful face when they parted.
“Sorry, but I was just about to let you get us into trouble out here,” murmured Drew. “If I let you keep going where I think you were going… where I hope you were going…”
Reilly blinked, and Drew’s words filtered through the haze enshrouding her brain. The tips of her fingers were still inside the top of Drew’s silky shirt, resting between Drew’s breasts. If Drew hadn’t stopped her, Reilly had no doubt that she would have had one of Drew’s nipples in her mouth, and her lips tingled at the thought. She sketched small circles in the heat between Drew’s breasts, while her eyes searched the silver ones locked onto her.
Life in High Def Page 23