The game lasted for a couple of hours before they shared a picnic lunch. After everyone had eaten, the crowd sat around and told hilarious stories about one another. It was a family that teased each other and joked, and they welcomed Van into their fold with open arms.
"I'll never forget the first time Cara discharged her weapon as a police officer." Archie volunteered, with a sly look on his face, poking his partner in the arm.
"Archie cut it out." Cara groaned as the group began to laugh hysterically.
"She shot the rear tire of her own police car." Archie volunteered as Van grinned at him.
"It was an accident." Cara admitted. "I caught the hammer of my gun on my jacket."
"And thankfully didn't shoot anything more valuable then your rear tire."
"That was over eight years ago."
"Well, Van should know what a klutz you are."
"I'm not a klutz."
"Who fell off of the roof during our last training session?"
"The damn ladder broke."
"Who wrecked the last police car?"
"I wasn't even in it when the guy hit it."
"You're a klutz."
"I am not." Cara responded with an indignant look.
"She's a klutz." Archie poked Van in the arm, while she sat next to Cara enjoying the banter.
"I like klutzes." Van admitted with a sexy smile.
"Okay, maybe I am a klutz." Cara gloated to Archie with a sexy smile of her own. "Come on, Van, let's get out of here before they tell you any more lies."
"Hey, partner, work at seven-thirty. We have a meeting at eight." Archie called as Cara and Van headed for her car.
"I'll be there."
"I had a great time."
"So did I. They like you."
"I like them."
"I'm glad. If you're going to date me it would be nice if you liked the people I work with."
"I am, and I do." Van tucked her arm in Cara's, as they reached the car. "That Archie's something else."
"He said the same thing about you. He really likes you."
"I like him. Cara, do you need to go right home?"
"No."
"Would you like to come in for awhile?"
"I would love to."
They were quickly back at Van's condominium and standing in each other's arms in the kitchen. Cara ignored her insecurities as her attraction for Van swelled through her body. She really liked the person she was getting to know.
"So are you going to keep going out with me?"
"Yes. I want to spend more time with you."
"How does your week look?"
"Not bad tomorrow. I'm preparing for a trial, so I have several meetings to attend. This time of year is usually very busy. The holidays don't bring the best out in everyone."
"What are you doing for Christmas?"
"Probably working."
"Would you spend Christmas Eve with me? Emma and Melinda are having a small dinner party early that evening. I'd like you to go with me."
"I'd love to. How's Emma doing?"
"She's doing really well. Maybe after the party we can come back here and spend the evening together?"
"I'd love to, but I would like to see you before then."
"Tuesday night I could fix dinner, and we can watch a movie?"
"Perfect. I'll give you my cell phone and my home telephone number in case you want to talk to me before then."
"Before you leave, I'll give you my cell phone number."
They kissed for quite a while, enjoying holding each other, before Cara prepared to go home. "I don't want to leave, but I need to get some laundry done before tomorrow."
"I don't want you to leave, either." Van admitted. "Could you call me later?"
"I will, and I'll see you Tuesday night."
They shared one last wonderful kiss before Cara headed out the door. Van settled in to doing a few chores, cleaned her bedroom, and then called Anna. She needed to tell someone how she was feeling.
"Hello."
"Anna, its Van."
"How was your date?"
"Which one?"
"What do you mean which one?"
"Last night or today's date."
"You went out again?"
"Yes, we went to her work picnic. Did you know Cara's a member of SWAT? She's a sharpshooter."
"You're kidding!"
"I'm not."
"You like her?"
"A lot."
"Van, are you telling me you bit the dust?"
"Anna, I'm falling in love with her."
"What's the problem?"
"She's older than me, and she's a policeman." That wasn't the entire story. Van wasn't at all sure of herself when it came to her personal life. She tended to shy away from serious relationships in order not to be hurt when it ended.
"Van, she's a policewoman." Anna sighed. "Is she senile?"
"Anna."
"Well, are you going to talk yourself out of this chance?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. Are you going to give Cara a chance, or are you going to stop it before it gets started?" Anna knew Van very well. Her pattern was to keep her relationships superficial, and she never allowed emotions to dictate her life. She thought it would keep her from getting hurt again.
"I don't think I have a choice."
"It's about time you fell in love. Honey, you deserve this. You're a wonderful, beautiful, loving woman, and I just hope she deserves you."
"She's perfect. She's beautiful, sexy, funny, smart, and very sharp. Anna, she wants to keep seeing me." Anna could here the self doubt in Van's voice.
"Why wouldn't she, you're a prize catch? When do I get to meet her?"
"On Christmas Eve at Emma's."
"She must be very special for you to bring her to Emma's on Christmas."
"She is, Anna. I think she's the one." Van's voice had a slight catch in it when she spoke.
"I'm glad for you, Van."
"Thanks, Anna. I can't wait for you to meet her."
Van's evening was busy as she wrapped some Christmas gifts, and prepared for work. She had a very busy Monday with three customer presentations, back to back. All three were large accounts and there had been an enormous amount of preparation put into these meetings. She also needed to think about her feelings for Cara. Admitting them to Anna had helped, but not much. She was scared to death. The telephone rang a little after nine as she was folding some clean clothes.
"Hello."
"Hi." It was Cara.
"Hi yourself."
"I called to say goodnight."
"Cara, do you have family to spend Christmas with?"
"My parents are gone, and my brother lives in Tucson. So I'm on my own this year." Cara usually worked during the Christmas holidays. Since she didn't have a family to spend it with, it made sense that she would work while others with families stayed home.
"Would you stay with me on Christmas Eve, and go to my mother's home for brunch?"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Cara, I want to spend Christmas with you."
"Then, I would love to. Thank you."
"So what do you want for Christmas?"
"Absolutely nothing."
"We'll see. Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"As ready as I'll ever be. What about you?"
"I'm swamped in the morning, with three back to back meetings. If I call you in the daytime should I call you on your cell phone?"
"Yes, it's always on, and it's easier then calling the office number."
"Good. Can I call you tomorrow?"
"I would love that."
"Have a wonderful day."
"You too, and Van, I had a terrific weekend with you."
"I did too. I can't wait to see you Tuesday."
"What about lunch tomorrow? Do you have time?" Cara held her breath, waiting for Van's response. She couldn't wait to see her again.
"I'll make the time."
"I'l
l call you in the morning and see what time's best for you."
"I can't wait."
"Goodnight."
"Sweet dreams." Van smiled as she prepared for bed herself. She wanted to see Cara again. She wanted everything with Cara. Her heart and mind were decided, this was the one. She slid into sleep easily.
Cara wasn't quite so lucky. She sat by the telephone deep in thought about Van and her weekend. Who would have thought someone like Van would come along. She was beautiful, and sexy, and she wanted to date Cara. Cara looked around her stark bedroom and the doubts crept back in. She didn't have the elegant furniture, a condominium, or the money like Van. Van would take one look at her apartment and know that Cara wasn't good enough for her. She struggled with her feelings as she crawled into bed. Maybe she should stop seeing Van before she found out.
Chapter Eleven
Van's day started out badly, and just kept getting worse, and it was still morning. By nine-thirty she had put out umpteen crises, and soothed two very angry clients. That was the part of her job she didn't like, but was a very necessary component of it.
"Is it a full moon today or what?" She sighed, speaking to her assistant, Eric Reynolds. He sat patiently at his clean desk, his suit pristine, and not a hair out of place on his head. Nothing ruffled his calm demeanor, and he was exactly what Van needed. She tended to bounce from crisis to crisis. He kept her organized.
"It's the holidays, it makes everyone crazy."
"Are they all here in the building today?" Van headed for her office. "Eric, please try to hold all but urgent calls unless it is Emma or Cara. I need to get some work done."
"Will do, boss."
"Eric, quit calling me boss. Call me Van, hey you, or honey, but please, do not call me boss." Van demanded as she swung through the smoke glass door of her office. She glanced around the large space before heading to her massive rosewood desk. Her office was meant to impress and it did. It was modern, with bold slashes of art hanging on the walls, and a killer view of downtown Seattle. Van settled comfortably in her high-backed maroon leather chair, before attending to the mound of work currently residing on the top of her desk.
Eric just grinned as Van disappeared from view. Van was a very talented advertising executive who, at times, could be demanding. She was also a very fair and affectionate boss. He had begun working with her eight months earlier, and he loved her dearly. Today, Van was uncharacteristically high strung, and he suspected it had everything to do with a woman named Cara. He knew Van very well, and if he wasn't mistaken, she had a girlfriend. He grinned happily, Van needed a girlfriend. She was too special to be alone. He found working with her challenging and fun. He genuinely respected her talent, and he knew she cared deeply about him.
Forty minutes later Eric interrupted Van. "Cara is on the telephone."
"Thanks, Eric." Van smiled as she picked up her receiver. "Hi."
"Hello, are you still able to have lunch with me?"
"I can. Do you want to meet somewhere?"
"How about I bring lunch to you? I can be there by eleven-thirty with a picnic lunch."
"That sounds perfect. Do you know where my office is?"
"Of course I do, I'm a very good detective."
"I remember. A very smart and beautiful one, I might add."
"You got that right." Cara laughed. "I'll be there soon."
"I can't wait." Van grinned as she hung up. Sharing a picnic lunch with Cara was very appealing.
Stepping out of her office, she called to her assistant. "Eric, could you block out my schedule from eleven-thirty until one. I'm having a private lunch in my office."
"Will do, do you want me to order something for you?"
"No, lunch is coming to me." Van grinned at him. "Thanks, Eric."
"You're welcome." Eric chuckled as his boss swung back through the door of her office. She looked very pleased with herself.
He would bet his monthly paycheck that Cara was the one bringing lunch to his very happy boss. He couldn't wait to meet her, and he got his chance at eleven-thirty. A very pretty black haired woman approached his desk, carrying two full bags in her arms. She had a blinding smile on her face, and oozed with authority. She was wearing a pair of olive green slacks and a crème colored sweater. She also wore a navy-blue letterman's jacket, and as she approached Eric, her engaging smile was directed at him. She was, in a word, beautiful. And she certainly didn't look like a police officer. Eric smiled at her. He couldn't wait to see her and Van in the same room together. They would look unbelievable side by side, both with such startling good looks.
"I am going to guess you're Cara."
"Good guess, are you a psychic? Is Van in her office?" A chuckle followed her comment as she grinned down at Eric.
"She's expecting you." Eric chuckled in return, standing up. "Here, let me help." He took one of her bags.
"Thanks." As Cara relinquished one of her bags to him, Eric saw the gold badge hanging on her belt, and the gun in her shoulder harness. She really was a detective.
"Follow me." Eric knocked on Van's door quickly, and entered the office. "Van, lunch has arrived."
Van's smile was enormous as she looked up from her desk at Cara. "Hello, lunch."
"Hello."
"Eric, this is Detective Cara Rhodes. Cara, this is Eric, my very talented, and nosy assistant."
"It's nice to meet you, Eric." Cara grinned as she saw Eric's irreverent reaction to Van's comment. Eric rolled his eyes at Van's remark. He knew she was being affectionate.
"It's nice to meet you, Detective."
"Please, call me Cara."
"Cara then, can I get either one of you anything?"
"We're fine, Eric. Thanks."
"Enjoy your lunch." Eric shut the door quietly and sat down at his desk. The electricity between Cara and Van made the room crackle. He laughed out loud. His boss was in love. And if he had read the signs correctly, Detective Rhodes was in love with his boss. He wondered if they'd figured it out yet. It would not be a passive relationship. There was nothing passive about Van, and Cara didn't appear to be a wilting violet. He turned to his computer with a grin as he thought about Van and her new girlfriend. If he wasn't mistaken, she had finally met her match.
"What did you bring for lunch?" Van asked, as she came out from behind her desk to kiss Cara hello.
"Lots of good things." Cara's arms went around Van's neck, and they shared a deep, sexy kiss.
"I am so glad to see you."
"So am I. Please excuse my wearing my gun. I'm still on duty, even though I'm out for lunch."
"It's okay, honey, it's who you are." Van hugged her. "Have a seat and let's see what you brought for lunch."
"Your office is impressive, certainly much different then mine. It looks like you." Cara's eyes wondered around the large, sumptuous room. It was a far cry from the dingy detective squad and Cara's battered metal desk. She was lucky she had a working chair.
"I liked your office. It was busy, and everyone was dealing with real problems. This office is designed to impress our clients, more then being functional."
"Well, I like it, you belong in it." Cara responded as she sat down across from Van. The office made the disparity in their lives even larger. She and Van prepared to eat their lunch. "Archie says hello. He sure was impressed with your football abilities yesterday."
"Ha, that's only because I blew by him and caught a pass."
Cara was busily emptying the bags she had brought. "You're right, he hates to get burned." Cara grinned, handing Van a vase holding a single beautiful orchid. "Here, this is for your desk."
Love Times Four Page 11