by Gerri Hill
“Kate, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?”
They all turned as Robin approached, linking arms with Kate as she smiled at Lee.
“Of course. Robin, this is Lee Foxx, local sheriff. And this is her friend, Trudy.”
“So you’re the sheriff,” Robin said, dismissing Trudy.
Lee shrugged. “That’s me.”
“I understand you’ve taken my Kate hiking.”
“Brenda’s had me being tour guide,” Lee said, flicking her glance to Kate. “But I’ve heard a lot about you, Robin.” Lee offered her hand and Robin took it, squeezing gently. “Welcome to Coyote.”
“Thanks. It’s a charming little town.”
Lee nodded, looking again at Kate. “Wonder where Brenda ran off to with my wine?”
“Right here, darling,” Brenda said, handing Lee a glass. “It’s delicious, as always.”
“You make wine?” Robin asked.
“Yes. Sangria. It’s not like I stomp grapes or anything.”
“It’s all on the bar, Robin. Why don’t you get you a glass? And one for Lee’s friend too. Show her where the bar is.” Brenda leaned closer to Lee. “I’m assuming she’s of age, darling,” she whispered as Robin and Trudy walked away.
Lee laughed. “I expected that question from Kate, not you.” Then Lee locked glances with Kate. “So that’s your Robin.”
Kate nodded.
Lee shook her head. “Not what I expected.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing. She just doesn’t seem your type.”
“My type? And just what is my type?”
Lee shook her head. “She’s way too feminine for you.”
“What?”
“Well, she is.”
“I tend to agree with Lee,” Brenda said.
Kate glared. “Well, you would.” Then Kate faced Lee. “And I suppose you’re going to say that Trudy is of legal age?”
“Twenty-two. But she’s cute, isn’t she?”
Kate patted Lee’s stomach as she walked by. “Children are always adorable,” she murmured.
Lee stared after her, her hand absently going to her midsection where Kate had touched. She wondered if Kate knew how often she did that. Touched her. Then she smiled at Brenda. “She’s very funny.”
“Oh, yes, darling. An absolute comedian,” Brenda said with a laugh. “And you two do enjoy sparring, don’t you.”
“Simone, this mushroom dish is so wonderful. You must get the recipe,” Harmony said over dinner.
Robin nudged Kate. “Who’s Simone?”
Kate smiled. “Brenda.”
“I don’t understand.”
Kate shook her head. “Neither do I.”
“I’ll have Sophia write it down for you, Harmony. I’m glad you enjoy it.” Brenda glanced at the others. “Can I get anyone else a second helping?”
“I’ll have a scoop of that chicken, please,” Trudy said as she held out her plate to Brenda.
Lee looked across the table at Kate, waiting only a moment before Kate looked up, locking glances with her. Then Lee slid her eyes to Robin, who was staring blankly at her plate, as if lost in thought. She shook her head. No, they didn’t go together at all.
“I hope everyone has saved room for dessert,” Brenda said. “Sophia makes the best apple pie you will ever eat. And, for those who wish to indulge, there is vanilla ice cream.”
“Oh, Simone, I will never turn down apple pie.” Kate stood. “I’ll get it, Brenda. Sit.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
Lee stood too. “I’ll help.” Then she grinned. “I’ve got dibs on the ice cream.”
As soon as the kitchen door swung closed, Kate turned. “I could have managed, you know.”
“Probably.” Lee moved to the freezer, finding the ice cream. “But we haven’t had a second alone.” She placed the ice cream on the bar, then faced Kate. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course. What do you mean?”
“I just haven’t seen you in awhile. I guess you’re happy Robin is here.”
“Why shouldn’t I be?” Kate asked defensively.
“Just asking.” Lee glanced over her shoulder at the door, then back to Kate. “Why exactly are you dating?”
“Dating? We’re not dating. We live together. Perhaps I should ask you the same question.”
Lee grinned. “At least there’s hope for Trudy. But you and Robin. Geez, Kate, you don’t go together at all.”
“Oh, and I’m supposed to take dating advice from you? Trudy’s like the tenth woman I’ve seen you with.”
“You know you’re exaggerating. And we’re talking about you. Robin’s like a lipstick lesbian.”
“And? So?”
“So? Who’s going to fix stuff?”
“Fix stuff? What the hell are you talking about?”
“If the toilet leaks or if the door hangs or any number of things. Who’s going to fix them?”
Kate stared. “We live in an apartment. We have a maintenance man.”
Lee shook her head. “She’s just not for you. Like I said earlier, she’s too femme.”
“Oh, so now you’re playing the butch-femme card. And your little Trudy girl fits perfectly into your vision of the ideal lesbian couple,” Kate said, her voice rising. “Well, for your information, I think that’s a load of crap!” She pointed her finger at Lee. “There’s no way in hell that you can possibly have any sort of a relationship with someone who is young enough to be your daughter!”
“She’s twenty-two!”
“She looks sixteen!”
“And what business is it of yours?”
“Exactly my point! Stay out of my business, I’ll stay out of yours.”
“Like I care who you sleep with.”
“You must,” Kate muttered. “You’re critiquing her.”
Kate walked away, only to be pulled back around by a hand on her arm. Kate’s breath caught as their eyes held. It was only then she realized they were both breathing hard. She swallowed, watching Lee, watching her hazel eyes turn dark.
When Lee moved closer, Kate was powerless. She stood there, her eyes still locked with Lee’s as Lee’s arms pulled her. The few feet that separated them disappeared quickly. Kate didn’t resist— couldn’t resist—when Lee moved closer. Her mouth opened, meeting Lee’s seeking lips without hesitation. She felt herself melting, heard herself moaning as Lee deepened the kiss. It was only when she felt her hand slide up Lee’s arm, when she felt her body try to mold itself to Lee as Lee cupped her hips, did she come to her senses.
She finally pulled away, her eyes wide.
“I can’t believe you did that,” she hissed, her fingers touching her lips where only seconds before Lee’s mouth had been. “Robin is just in the next room!”
Lee shook her head, but she didn’t know what to say. She had no idea what had possessed her to kiss Kate.
Kate shoved the ice cream at Lee, pointing to the door. “Out!”
“I thought you quit smoking, darling.”
Kate turned in the darkness, watching as Brenda walked quietly along the deck. The cigarette burned and Kate watched the smoke as it drifted above them.
“I have. I did,” she said quietly.
“Where’s Robin?”
“Sleeping.”
“Are you okay?”
Was she okay? No, not really. Robin had wanted to make love. Kate couldn’t think of a reason not to. And as Robin touched her, as Robin’s mouth suckled her breast, all Kate could think of was Lee. All she could think of was Lee’s kiss. And as Kate climaxed, it was Lee she felt, not Robin. And no doubt, at this very moment, Lee was in bed with a young woman named Trudy.
“No, not really,” she said as she took a drag on her cigarette.
“Want to talk?”
“I just feel out of sorts is all,” she said.
“Tell me if it’s none of my business, darling, but is it Lee?”
Kate turned quickly. “Why would you think that?”
“Your voices were raised in the kitchen.” At Kate’s horrified look, Brenda shook her head. “We couldn’t hear what you were saying. But when you came out, you both looked so . . . well, very strange.” She took the cigarette from Kate, stomping it out with her foot. “You had an argument, obviously. Is there anything I can do?”
Kate smiled. “Lee and I seem to have a volatile relationship. That’s not anything to worry about.”
Brenda studied her, noting that her eyes wouldn’t quite meet her own. Perhaps Sunshine was right. Perhaps there was something between the two of them after all.
Lee sat alone on her deck, watching the moon as it hovered overhead. She’d dropped Trudy off with barely a good-bye. She was still in shock.
You kissed her.
“She kissed me back,” she said out loud to the big sky spread out over her.
In fact, Lee would swear she’d heard Kate moan. But hell, who would know? Lee’s heart had been pounding so hard, she could hardly hear a thing. You’ve lost your mind, that’s all there is to it. You actually kissed her.
She shook her head. “And Robin, God, they are so wrong for each other.” They’re probably in bed right now, touching, making love.
She held her head in her hands. “No. No, no, no. Do not go there.”
But the fact remained. She kissed her.
And now there would likely be hell to pay.
Chapter Twenty
“Darling, are you going to miss dinner again this week?” Kate looked up from her laptop. “What time is it?”
“After six. There’s still time, if you want to go.”
Kate hesitated. Lee would be there, no doubt. And Lee would be there with a date. But she’d avoided her all last week. She couldn’t very well hide out indefinitely.
“Okay. Let me grab a shower.” She closed up her laptop, swinging her legs off the chaise lounge.
“If you don’t mind my asking, how far along are you?”
Kate grinned. “Chapter twenty-one. And no, they’ve not had sex.”
“Good God, woman, what are you waiting for?”
“I’m waiting for the right moment. They haven’t really talked about it, you know. I mean, Jordan knows that Jennifer is looking at her. And Jennifer knows that she’s about to explode any time Jordan comes close. But, they’ve not talked.”
“Sometimes action is better than talking anyway.”
“Well, it would all be wonderful if I knew how to write a romance. So, I’m kinda making this up as I go.”
“Maybe you should let me read it, darling. I mean, surely you need someone to read it first.”
“You can only read it if you pretend to be a housewife from the Midwest.”
“Oh, pooh. I’ll pretend to be a housewife. But I refuse to be from the Midwest.”
“Fine. Maybe tomorrow I’ll let you read it.”
“You look troubled, Ariel.” Sunshine placed a crystal into Lee’s palm. “Squeeze tight. Feel the energy.”
Lee did as she was told. What could it hurt?
“You wish to talk?”
Lee shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. You are fighting the Fates, Ariel. I warned you not to.”
“What are you talking about?”
Sunshine looked past her to the young woman sitting on the sofa alone. “Who have you brought this time, Ariel?”
Lee followed her gaze. “That’s Missy.”
“And you found her where?”
Lee grinned. “She’s staying at the lodge. You remember Trudy? She’s a friend of hers.”
“It’s futile.”
“Oh, I don’t know. She seems willing.”
Sunshine reached out, placing her palm on Lee’s chest, above her left breast. “Your heart already knows, Ariel. Yet you fight it still.”
Lee stared. “What are you talking about?”
Sunshine lowered her voice. “You know who I speak of, Ariel. She fights it as well.”
*
Kate’s eyes widened as Brenda slipped a white envelope into Lee’s Jeep.
“What are you doing?”
“Payment.”
Kate raised her eyebrows. “For?”
“Wine, darling. She’s refused to accept money from me. I’m hoping she’ll take this. It’s a gift certificate.”
“Why won’t she take money?”
“I’m not sure. I think she feels almost burdened by this recipe she has.”
“Why won’t she just share it so everyone can make their own?”
“It’s secret, darling. She’s bound by a promise. Sunshine says a Pueblo chief gave her the recipe.”
“Well, as much as you all drink of it, I think everyone should pay her.”
“I agree, although Lee can be stubborn.”
Brenda knocked once on the door, then entered. Kate was again drawn to the atmosphere that Sunshine and Harmony had created. Tonight, music from the Beatles drifted through the speakers.
“Oh, wonderful,” Brenda said. “Harmony says they have the entire collection of Beatles records.”
Kate nodded, but her eyes had already found Lee. She was sitting on the sofa, smiling at a young girl whose arms were wrapped around her shoulders.
“My God, must it always be someone new?” Kate murmured.
Brenda laughed. “I don’t have to ask who you’re talking about. Lee’s Lee, darling.”
“That she is.”
Lee looked up, feeling her presence and hating the fact that she did. But Kate had already slid her eyes away. Lee turned to Missy, the girl’s arms still wrapped around her. She slowly untangled them.
“You want something to drink?”
“Just a Coke. Or water. I’m not really a drinker.”
Lee nodded. “I’ll bring you a Coke. Be right back.”
Lee felt the urge to talk to Kate, to apologize, if nothing else. Whatever had transpired, Lee had initiated it. She’d hoped to talk to Kate last week, but Kate hadn’t joined Brenda for their weekly dinner, and Lee couldn’t work up the nerve to go to their house. But Kate was here now.
As soon as she walked into the kitchen, she found herself face to face with her. They both stopped, staring.
Then Kate moved out of the way, intending to sidestep Lee. “We should talk,” Lee murmured.
Kate stared. “Why?”
Lee lowered her head. “I should apologize.”
Kate smiled, patting Lee’s stomach as she walked past. “Accepted.”
Lee whipped around. “What? That’s it?”
Kate shrugged. “Is there more?”
Lee grabbed her arm, pulling her into the hallway. “Of course there’s more. You kissed me too.”
“I most certainly did not.”
Lee’s eyes widened. “What? You deny it?”
“Why on earth would I kiss you?”
“Well, I don’t know. Why on earth would I kiss you?”
“Look, it doesn’t matter. And obviously you’ve moved past it. Who is it tonight? Barbie?”
Lee blushed. “Missy,” she said quietly.
“Missy. How cute.” Kate turned to move away but Lee grabbed her arm again, stopping her.
“I take it Robin enjoyed her stay here?”
Kate shrugged. “I suppose. Brenda took her shopping down in Santa Fe. I assume that was the highlight of her trip.”
Lee shook her head. “She’s not right for you. What do you have in common?”
“Don’t start that again, please. Before you start criticizing my love life, perhaps you should look at your own.”
Their eyes met, both searching.
“You can’t possibly be in love with her. I watched you. You don’t look at her like you’re in love with her. I never once saw you touch.”
Kate bristled. “If touching is a requirement, then you must be in love with half of the children staying at the lodge.”
“No. And just
because I may bring a date to these functions, doesn’t mean that I’m sleeping with them.”
“Oh, please, you really don’t expect me to believe that?”
Lee smiled slightly. “What? Are you jealous of them?”
“Right. I’m as jealous of them as you are of Robin.”
Their eyes met and held. Kate swallowed nervously at the look in Lee’s eyes. The hazel eyes darkened, just like they had before. I swear, if she tries to kiss me . . .
“Are you two arguing again?” Brenda walked between them, smiling. “I’ve never known two friends to go at it as much as you. Lovers, yes, but not friends.” She linked arms with them both. “Now, Lee, how about you introduce us to that pretty young girl you have.”
Lee and Kate exchanged glances, both wondering what Brenda might have interrupted.
Chapter Twenty-One
Kate paced, watching as Brenda’s eyes were glued to the laptop. She didn’t like anyone reading her work until it was finished, but she knew this time she’d have to make an exception. And who better than Brenda. But still, for the past two hours, she’d been pacing as Brenda read.
“Well?”
Brenda sighed. “Darling, I’m not going to comment every time I turn a page.” She waved her away. “Now, go do something. I can’t even enjoy it with you breathing down my neck.”
But Kate didn’t want to do anything. Whenever she wasn’t working on Jennifer’s love life, she was worried about her own. And whenever she was alone, Lee inevitably crept into her mind. She wanted to get past the kiss. She wanted to be able to see Lee as her friend—they were friends—without having to explain and justify what happened that night. Because, truthfully, it was all a blur.
What wasn’t a blur was Robin. That night was probably the best sex they’d ever had. The only problem was, it wasn’t Robin who brought her to orgasm.
And she had to do something about it. She felt a need to confess to Robin, to tell her that she had a nearly uncontrollable attraction to Lee. She knew what kind of person Lee was, she knew how many lovers she had. But it didn’t matter. Her body still reacted to Lee like it hadn’t to any other woman before. And yes, she found that she was jealous of all the young women Lee paraded around.