Jamie flashed a signal and Petunia sat and quieted, but her lips still curled up to show her fangs. Jubal’s gaze flicked down to take it in.
“I just wanted to tell you to come by the clinic tomorrow morning and pick up your pup. He’s going to be a big boy, but a real sweetheart. I already neutered him and took care of his first shots for you.”
He glared at her. “I didn’t win.”
“But this pup can win if you come get him. I told the lady at the shelter about Buster, how you took great care of him for fifteen years until he passed in his sleep a few months ago. She thought you would chain him in the front yard and make him mean. I told her that you and I had fenced your entire yard years ago for Buster. I explained to her that you only needed a dog that looked fierce to protect your mother when you were out. This pup needs you, Jubal.”
He rubbed the back of his hand against his chin for a moment, then looked up into her eyes, and she saw the man she knew as a friend. “You still open at eight thirty?”
Trip smiled and held her hand out for a fist bump. “Yeah, but bring Brenda a ham biscuit from the diner and she’ll let you in at seven thirty.”
Jamie elbowed Trip to take the center of attention. She made a show of scanning the young men surrounding them, then pointed to the kids who were waiting by the building to see if they needed to run or stay and play basketball. “These kids need all of you like that pup needs Jubal,” she said to them. “This is your neighborhood and those are your neighborhood kids.”
“Nobody protected me,” one guy said, spitting on the ground. “What’s in it for me?”
“I want a dog like Jubal,” another said.
“Me, too.” Seemed everybody wanted pups.
“Okay,” Jamie said. “A hundred hours of volunteer work here at the club for a pup and veterinary care for the lifetime of the animal.”
Trip sputtered. “Lifetime?”
Jamie smiled and nodded.
Trip looked around her. The men’s faces filled with distrust a second ago had turned hopeful. “Okay, but I don’t crop ears, and Jubal has to vouch that you’ll provide a good home before I’ll hand over a puppy.” She slung her arm over Jamie’s shoulder. “Also, Deputy Grant will be holding puppy training classes here each week. I’d suggest that you take advantage of them because once you get your pup, she’ll pop by your home periodically to check that you’re taking good care of your animal and to help you with any training issues you might be having.”
It was Jamie’s turn to sputter, but her glare held little heat.
“A hundred hours is a lot. And I ain’t cleaning no toilets,” Blueberry said.
“A full-time job is forty hours, so it’s just like two and a half weeks of a full-time job,” Jamie said. “And I promise no toilet duty.”
Their lure was working, so Trip decided to set the hook to haul them in. They put the guys and kids to work stripping rust and old paint from the goal posts, then spraying them with bright white paint and hanging new orange nylon nets. They sprayed the weeds that were pushing up through almost every crack in the concrete, but she’d send a contractor out later to see if the court could be repaired or would need to be replaced. The kids were collecting empty paint cans and sweeping up paint chips while Millicent was getting contact information from Jubal’s gang. Trip tensed when an arm went around her waist, then relaxed when Jamie’s voice filled her ear.
“The puppy card you had up your sleeve was the game changer,” she said.
Trip sagged into Jamie. Even though she was a few inches taller, Jamie was solid and strong. “You had the winning game plan on the court.” Trip smiled at the instant replay in her head. “Our old mojo came back like it was yesterday that we wore college uniforms.”
Jamie pushed her away playfully. “You think so? You’re a little slower, Beaumont. But I was able to adjust.”
“Slow?” Trip put her hands on her hips. “If I was slow, it was to allow you to keep up.”
Jamie snorted. “In your dreams.”
“How about you prove it with a little one-on-one. First to reach twenty-one.”
“You’re bluffing. You know the paint on the backboards won’t be dry enough until tomorrow.”
“Not here. I know where there’s another court, a better indoor court. Just us.”
Jamie hesitated, her eyes searching Trip’s. They both knew the powder keg waiting for them to light.
Please, Jamie. Take this chance with me.
Jamie nodded.
“Follow me.”
* * *
Trip slid the door to the barn back, and Jamie stepped onto the gleaming court. “My grandfather built it,” she said, “but I’ve recently updated everything and put in a new floor and goals. This is where he taught me to play.”
“No wonder you were so good when you showed up for our freshman year.”
Trip shook her head. “I got the basics from him, but he only knew old style. When I began to play with you, a whole new world opened up for me. Those first few months at school, I stayed a lot of evenings to study the film our recruiters had of your high school games. I learned so much from you.”
“I thought your late nights out were because you were changing the definition of “sorority rush.” Jamie shifted her feet and scanned the building. Or was she avoiding Trip’s gaze? After a minute, she strode over to the rack of balls and bounced a few before choosing one and snapping a pass to Trip’s belly. “You have first in.”
Apparently, Jamie wasn’t ready for verbal exchange, so they’d fall back to the language that had always worked between them.
They measured each other during the first ten minutes, testing fakes, rolls, and fading jumpers, then the play became more physical. They bumped to create space, spun around each other, clashed under the basket, raced and dove after each ball. Trip matched her to protect the goal side as Jamie streaked down the court, but found herself defending empty air when Jamie spun at the last minute and laid the ball in on the opposite side.
“You didn’t learn some things from me.” Jamie scooped up the ball and slammed a pass at Trip’s gut.
“Like what?” Trip took the ball out and back in quickly and fired off a long three-point shot as soon as Jamie cleared the foul line. Jamie whirled, waiting for the first indication of where it would bounce if it wasn’t true, but Trip already knew it wouldn’t go in. She’d intentionally shot it too hard and spun it so that it should bounce off the rim to the left side of the court. By the time Jamie read its direction Trip was already there, catching the rebound and sinking a short jumper.
“Like bedding the entire volleyball team.”
Trip stared while Jamie took the rebound back to half-court. “They were on target to win a national championship, and the coach asked me to tutor them in math. I’m good in math, but that’s not a character flaw last time I checked. Who told you I was sleeping with them?”
Trip moved to thwart Jamie’s drive toward the goal, then blocked her shot. They both scrambled for it, but Trip snatched it away when Jamie’s foot slipped. She took a few steps and cocked her arm to shoot, but Jamie had recovered and swatted the ball out of Trip’s hands from behind, followed it, and threw in a reverse layup. She trotted to half-court to wait for Trip to pick up the ball and bring it out to reintroduce it.
Trip fumed over her unanswered question. “Who told you I was sleeping with the entire volleyball team?”
“And the tennis and rowing teams,” Jamie said without turning to face Trip.
Trip crossed the half-court and turned to face Jamie. “I wasn’t a virgin when I arrived on campus and I dated, but I can count on one hand the number of women I slept with the three years I went there.” She turned her back and worked her way down court moving left and right, pushing Jamie back with small bumps. “Who told you I was sleeping with half the campus?” Trip switched into high gear with a double fake and dunked the ball. Jamie was too far under the basket to defend the shot and had to jump back when the ball
slammed through the net.
“Suzanne. My girlfriend who you were always flirting with.” Jamie snatched up the ball and stalked toward half-court.
“She was always flirting with me.” Trip’s frustrated response echoed in the cavernous building.
The score was tied at nineteen-all. Jamie turned when she reached half-court and faced Trip. “I guess that’s why you jumped at the chance to climb in our bed. Because she was chasing you? Why should I believe that for one second?”
Before Trip could reply, Jamie executed a triple fake and broke free. Trip scrambled to catch up, then reposition for a block when Jamie pulled up at quarter-court and rose to fire off the winning jump shot. Off balance and too late, Trip crashed into her midair and they fell to the floor. Trip took advantage of her momentum and rolled them to lessen the impact, but they slid the last couple of feet before coming to a stop with Trip’s weight pinning Jamie.
Trip rose to her elbows and searched the hurt, anger, and something else battling, swirling in Jamie’s eyes. “It was a poor decision made by an immature teen. But I didn’t know what else to do. I was desperate to get you to look at me as something other than a friend and teammate. I knew Suzanne was sleeping around on you, but not with me. I was never interested in her. I wanted you, Jamie. I only ever wanted you. And after all these years, I still want you.”
Trip lowered her head to rub her cheek against Jamie’s, then closed her eyes and took a chance. She caressed Jamie’s lips with hers, peppered Jamie’s neck with small kisses, then returned to her lips. When Jamie didn’t respond, Trip withdrew. She rolled off and onto her feet. “Lock up when you leave, please.” She strode out of the barn and was almost to the pool when Jamie called out.
“Trip, wait.”
Trip stopped and, after a heartbeat, turned. Jamie had closed the barn door, but stood there uncertainly.
“You know what else hasn’t changed, Jamie? You’ve never wanted me the way you wanted Suzanne. Don’t worry. We’ll still be friends. I just…I just need a few days.” She turned before she further embarrassed herself by breaking down into tears and continued toward the house. She’d taken only a few steps when Jamie slammed into her back, propelling them both into the pool.
Trip was struggling to orient herself under water when Jamie’s hands grasped her T-shirt and yanked her to the surface. Trip coughed, then sucked in air, but Jamie didn’t release her hold.
Jamie shook Trip. “Let me tell you what hasn’t changed—you are wrong. You’ve always been wrong. Suzanne was who I settled for.” She yanked Trip to her and took her mouth with a hunger that left Trip reeling. When neither had a wisp of breath left in her lungs, she reluctantly withdrew, soothing Trip’s ravished lips with gentle kisses. “You were the one I really wanted. Suzanne convinced me that you were out of my league.”
“I don’t want to talk about her anymore,” Trip said, grasping Jamie’s face. Jamie’s mouth was so sweet as Trip explored it, her tongue so gentle as it roamed Trip’s mouth. The spotlight over the barn clicked off, and Trip slid her hands under Jamie’s basketball shorts and underwear to caress her smooth hips.
Jamie’s hands caught Trip’s. “Wait. Where’s P?”
“Essie just let her in the house. Didn’t you see the spotlight go out and hear the door close?” Trip nuzzled Jamie’s neck.
“I thought it must be a motion light, and I can’t hear anything but…uh…the fireworks in my head.”
Trip scooped Jamie up and sat her on the lip of the pool, then pulled off Jamie’s water-filled shoes and wet shorts. Jamie’s shirt and sports bra were next, then all of Trip’s clothes quickly followed. She groaned when she drew Jamie into the bathwater-warm pool again, their slick skin sliding together, nipples touching, hips pressing, legs entwining. Jamie was long, smooth muscle under caramel skin as soft as down.
Jamie closed her fingers around Trip’s nipples and squeezed while guiding her back against the pool’s side. Trip gave herself over, letting Jamie explore with hands and mouth. She needed to be Jamie’s, maybe even more than she hoped Jamie would be hers. She pressed her thigh between Jamie’s legs and urged the thrust of Jamie’s hips. Trip gasped when Jamie’s deft fingers found her begging clit and stroked it with a rhythm that matched her thrusts. Trip called to whatever gods would listen when Jamie slid inside to claim her. But when years of contained emotions exploded free to wash through her, and Jamie’s soft cry of release joined hers, Trip held back the tears of surrender she feared would scare Jamie away. Instead, she let Jamie hold her until she could breathe again, until the shuddering aftershocks of her orgasm faded.
Trip nipped at Jamie’s ear and whispered into the stillness. “Come inside with me.” When Jamie didn’t immediately answer, she added persuasion. “You might as well stay. Essie has your dog. Do you want to face her right now after we’ve just been howling at the moon out here?”
Jamie dropped her head to Trip’s shoulder. “Christ. I’ll never be able to look her in the eyes again.”
Trip squeezed her and stood, lifting Jamie off her feet and setting her down on the first step to get out of the pool. “Essie knows how I feel about you. She’s known since I came home with my tail tucked between my legs after you joined the service.” And left without saying good-bye. She shook her head. “If it hadn’t been you out here, she would’ve flipped on all the yard lights and yelled, ‘Tripoli Miranda Beaumont, quit acting like an alley cat in heat…we’ve had indoor plumbing for years so if you want a bath, drag yourself inside like decent folk instead of flashing your possibilities for the entire countryside to see.’”
Jamie held her sides, she laughed so hard at Trip’s very authentic imitation of Essie’s voice. “Tripoli Miranda?”
Trip nodded solemnly. “TM. Trademark Beaumont. Tall and blond. That’s what Daddy said. Grandpa is responsible for the Tripoli, though. Everybody thought it was because of his family’s military service in either the marines or navy, but he told me his favorite dog from his childhood had been named Tripoli.”
Jamie smiled. “That sounds like something you’d say.”
Trip forgot to breathe for a second when she realized the college student she had loved no longer existed. Before her was a woman she wanted to know. Jamie was stunning in the pool lights, with her raven hair slicked back and her latte skin and contrasting hazel eyes. Even as they stood together naked and Trip reveled in Jamie’s beauty, she knew that wasn’t what drew them together. The irresistible pull between them was something soul deep. They could have both been men or a heterosexual pairing in some other life. It wouldn’t have mattered. She would never worry that she’d lose interest if Jamie suffered a disfiguring or disabling disease or accident. Jamie would always be at the root of her heart. They were alike, yet so different. Two parts meant to fit together. It was true in college, and no less certain now.
Trip took Jamie’s hand and tugged her up the steps and into her arms. “Stay tonight. Please. I want my mouth on you.”
“I have to work tomorrow.”
“We’ll set an alarm, but I usually get up at five to run before breakfast at seven thirty.”
Jamie kissed her. “That’s perfect if you loan me some clothes to run with you.”
Trip stopped Jamie when she reached to gather some of their wet clothes. “Leave them or you’ll ruin some of Essie’s fun. If you think I’m kidding or just being a princess, wait until morning and you’ll understand.”
They crept into the house and found a note on the kitchen table.
The dog is sleeping with me. Try to keep the noise down and use those towels. I don’t want to find water tracked all over my floors when I get up. And don’t make me drag you out of bed naked for breakfast. You know I will.
Trip grabbed one of the big, plush towels and began to dry Jamie’s shoulders and back. When Jamie turned, Trip gently dried her breasts and stomach, then knelt to dry each leg. She brushed her nose and lips through the curls at the apex of Jamie’s taut thighs. Jamie’s legs
trembled, but a towel dropped to cover Trip’s head. “You better dry off fast because I’m not going to wait for you long, and you will not track water on Essie’s floors.”
Jamie was already halfway up the stairs by the time Trip had the towel off her head and one leg dry.
* * *
Jamie took advantage of Trip’s delay to use the facilities and finger-comb her hair. She felt Trip’s presence before she saw her in the doorway watching her. They’d been naked together many times in many locker rooms, but this felt different. You never devoured your teammates with your eyes like Trip was doing now. Jamie turned to her as Trip pushed off the doorframe and moved toward her.
Trip’s hands were warm where they cupped her buttocks and lifted so that Jamie instinctively wrapped her long legs around Trip’s hips. Then they were in the bedroom and Trip lowered her onto soft white sheets, followed her downward, and mapped Jamie’s mouth with her tongue. Jamie stroked Trip’s silky locks, brushed along the buzzed hair at her nape, and then she closed her eyes to focus on the wonderful things Trip’s mouth was doing to her right breast, no her left breast…both breasts. She couldn’t decide because she was distracted by the maddening fingertips alternately rubbing and tweaking her left nipple while others stroked lightly up and down, up and down her leg, then tickled the back of her knee—a move that surprisingly made her belly clench and roll in a tiny pre-orgasm—before moving up the inside of her thigh. She wanted to grab that hand in frustration when it diverted to trace the crease where her leg joined her torso and along her hipbone.
She was so intent on the path of that hand, she hadn’t felt Trip’s shoulders slip under her thighs, lifting and parting her. “Please. You’re killing me.” She caught Trip’s hand in hers. “We can go slow later.”
The promise of later proved to be the gate Trip was waiting to open. She swiped the flat of her tongue over Jamie’s turgid flesh, then sucked Jamie into her mouth as she filled her with one, then two fingers. The slight scrape of Trip’s teeth as she sucked matched the thrust of her fingers and Jamie fought to extend the crest of her pleasure as she rode it impossibly higher and higher until she could hold back her orgasm no longer and snatched up the pillow beside her head to muffle her scream when it all shattered into a million electric shards that tore through her and left her gasping and weak.
Take a Chance Page 20