by RJ Nolan
Sam strode toward them with Jess, dressed in military fatigues, at her side. With Sam in her Baylin costume, their striking facial resemblance was muted, but the tall, broad-shouldered build and long-legged, confident stride they shared was readily evident.
As Jess reached them, she wrapped her arm around Kim’s shoulders and pulled her close. “You doing okay? Not standing too much?”
“I’m fine.” Kim cupped Jess’s cheek for a moment, then inclined her head in Riley’s direction. “Our ghost wrangler is here.”
“Drive up okay?” Sam asked.
Very aware of Jess and Kim nearby, Riley kept her gaze on Sam’s face. “Traffic was really light. I got hung up at the hospital and ended up leaving later than I planned.”
“We know how that goes, don’t we, Kim?” Jess said with a smile. “Thanks for coming to help out.”
Riley peered at Jess and saw only friendliness in her eyes. “I’m happy to.”
“Did you guys get the light problem solved?” Kim asked.
“All set,” Jess said. “One of the spider’s feet got caught and pulled a connection loose.”
“Spider?” Riley shuddered. Great. Just had to be a spider.
“Oh, yeah. A huge, hairy one.” Sam smirked. “Mutant size. Want to see?”
Riley adamantly shook her head. “Sorry, no can do. I’m going to help fill treat bags.”
“Come on, I’ll protect you.” Laughing, Sam draped her arm across Riley’s shoulders. “Or I’m sure I could find you a big book around here.”
Narrowing her eyes at Sam, Riley said, “Are you sure there aren’t any mannequins in there that need saving?”
Sam threw back her head and laughed. “Touché.”
“Would one of you like to clue us in?” Kim asked.
Riley and Sam exchanged a look and then shook their heads in unison.
“Long story,” Sam said and winked at Riley.
* * *
“Baylin. Jed.” A dark-haired little girl waved as her foster mother tried to corral her toward the door of the community center.
Riley laughed to herself, remembering how panicked she’d been the first time one of the kids had asked her name. She thought she’d done a pretty good job coming up with a cowboy name on the spur of the moment.
The girl darted away from the woman and ran to Riley. “Jed. You got the ghosts?” She reached into Riley’s open jacket and touched the black bag hanging at her waist. The bag writhed beneath her fingers, making her squeal.
“Careful. Don’t let them loose.” Riley smiled at the little girl. Wish I could remember her name. She had met so many children and foster parents tonight that the names had all blurred together.
The little girl grinned at Riley. “You catch some more?”
Riley shook her head. “Not tonight. I think I got them all.”
“Darla.” Her foster mother smiled at Sam and Riley as she reached for the girl’s hand. “It’s time to go.”
“No.” Darla pulled away, her lips set in a stubborn line. She tipped her head back and peered up at Sam, her dark eyes brimming with tears. “Don’t go, Baylin.” She flung her arms around Sam’s thigh.
Sam patted her back. “I have to, sweetie—”
“No. Please.” Darla buried her face against Sam’s thigh and clung to her.
“The party’s over,” Darla’s foster mother said. “Baylin has to go, honey.”
“No. Baylin stay.” Darla’s voice was muffled by Sam’s pants. She locked her arms around Sam’s thigh.
Panic flashed across Sam’s face. She looked helplessly at Darla’s foster mother.
“No, Darla. Baylin has to leave. Come on now, it’s time for us to go home.” The woman reached for Darla’s hand.
Riley forestalled her with a “one minute” gesture. She knelt down next to Darla. “Baylin stopped by tonight because she really wanted to see all of you and make sure that you were safe and taken care of. But now she needs to go, so she can save some more children and make sure they’re safe too.” She ran a gentle hand up and down Darla’s back. “You want her to do that, right?”
Darla lifted her head and looked at Riley. Her face was streaked with tears. She gazed up at Sam. “You save them?”
The look of hope and too many disappointments on her face nearly broke Riley’s heart.
Sam nodded. “Yes. I will. I promise.”
“’Kay.” Darla released her.
Her foster mother scooped up Darla. “Thank you,” she mouthed before carrying Darla away.
“Thanks for the save,” Sam said as soon as the pair was out of earshot. “My God, did you see the look on her face? Made me want to cry. I don’t know how these foster families do it, day in and day out.”
Riley stepped close and rubbed Sam’s back. “Just remember all the joy you brought these kids tonight. Even if it was only for a little while, you made them feel special.” She shook her head. “Sure gave me some perspective. Compared to what some of these kids have been through, my time with my aunt and uncle was a walk in the park.”
“Hey, you two,” Kim said as she came up. “I want to thank you both. You did a wonderful job tonight.” She gave Sam a hug, then smiled at Riley and pressed her hand. “I bet the kids are going to be ghost hunting for days. And they were just over the moon about Baylin being here. Everyone has been raving that this was the best Halloween party ever. Is it too soon to ask if you’ll both help next year?”
Sam laughed. “I’m in. How about you, Riley?”
Guess my Halloween jinx is over. She couldn’t wait until next year. “Count me in. Although I don’t know how we can top this year.”
“I’m sure Melvin will come up with something,” Sam said.
“You need to introduce Jess and me to Melvin. I thought my Dracula was good, but with you two around, the kids barely looked at me.” Kim smiled. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind, but it would be fun to see what he could come up with for the four of us.”
“No problem,” Sam said. “I’m sure Melvin will set us all up next year.”
Riley smiled. It felt surprisingly good to be included in the group.
“Last of the kids are gone, so we’re done here,” Kim said. “The clean-up crew will take care of the rest. Are we still on to meet for a bite to eat?”
Glad she suggested a restaurant. While Riley was more comfortable with them than she had expected, she still wasn’t ready to go to their home.
“What do you think?” Sam asked. “It’s been a long day. You too tired?”
Riley glanced at Kim, then back at Sam. She appreciated Sam giving her an out if she wanted one. “I’m okay. I could use a bite to eat.”
“Great.” Kim smiled. “I got to thinking, though, a lot of places may be pretty busy. What do you think of meeting at the restaurant in your hotel?”
“That’s probably a good idea,” Sam said.
Jess strode up, her combat boots ringing against the tile beneath her feet. “What’s the verdict? We going to eat? I’m starving.”
“Yeah,” Sam said. “You guys going home to change first?”
“Definitely,” Kim said. “We need to let Thor out. And I want to get this makeup off. I wouldn’t want to ruin Dracula’s image by being seen eating a burger or something.”
“It could be a bloody raw burger,” Sam said.
Kim shuddered. Her hand went to her stomach.
Jess glared at Sam and wrapped her arm around Kim’s shoulders.
Sam grimaced. “Sorry.”
Riley frowned and looked between them.
“Sam didn’t tell you?” Kim asked.
“Tell me what?”
“You told me not to tell anyone,” Sam said.
“It’s okay. You can now. We told the folks.” Kim turned to Riley. “I’m pregnant.”
Oh. Wow. Riley smiled. “Congratulations. That’s wonderful.” She elbowed Sam in the ribs. “How could you even mention,” she caught herself, “that kind of burger.”
<
br /> “Yeah!” Jess said.
Sam laughed. “Oh. Now we’re having a gang-up-on-Sam night?”
“Yes,” three voices answered in unison.
“Fine. Be like that.” Sam crossed her arms over her chest.
Laughing, Riley tugged at her arm. “Come on. I’ll follow you back to the hotel. I know you must want to get out of that outfit.” She allowed her gaze to sweep Sam, lingering for just a moment on her enticing cleavage. I’m going to be sad to see Baylin go. Watching Sam in the skintight outfit all night had been a guilty pleasure. She forced her attention off Sam and back to Kim and Jess.
Kim arched an eyebrow at her and winked.
Riley’s face burned with the heat of her blush. Busted. Her gazed darted to Jess. A very familiar little half smirk made an appearance. “So…um…we’ll meet you in the hotel restaurant.”
“See you there,” Kim said.
Chapter 42
Jess tossed her socks on the bed and then padded barefoot into the bathroom to see what was taking Kim so long.
Kim stood beneath one of the double heads of the large walk-in shower, her hands braced on the tile. Eyes closed, she tilted her head back as she rinsed shampoo from her hair. Water and suds cascaded down her back and over the cheeks of her ass.
Mesmerized, Jess found herself shucking her clothes before even being aware of making the decision to join her. Steam wafted out as she tugged open the shower door and stepped inside. “Need some help?”
Kim’s head jerked down. She moved out of the direct spray. “I forgot what a pain it was to get this black gel out of blond hair.” She slicked back her wet hair. “I thought you weren’t going to take a shower.”
“I changed my mind.”
Just the sight of Kim’s body ripening with their child was enough to make Jess ache for her. She wrapped her arms around Kim’s waist and pressed against her back. Trailing her hands over Kim’s belly, she longed for the day that she would feel their baby stir beneath her fingers. Jess slid her hands up until she reached Kim’s breasts. Smiling, she gently cupped the abundant flesh. “Hmm…not that you were lacking to start with, but I love how your breasts have filled out.” Her thumbs softly stroked Kim’s nipples, bringing them to stiff points.
Kim whimpered and pushed her ass into Jess’s groin.
“And you’re so sensitive now, I bet I could make you come just by caressing your breasts.”
“As much as I’d love that,” Kim said, her voice gone husky, “Sam and Riley are waiting for us.” Despite her words, she made no attempt to move out of Jess’s embrace.
“Then maybe I should just help you with your hair?” Jess reached around her and put a dollop of shampoo in her hands. She rubbed her hands together, then slid one hand down Kim’s abdomen.
“That’s not the hair that needs washing.”
Jess nuzzled the slim column of Kim’s throat, interspersing open-mouth kisses with tiny bites. “I’m just being thorough.” She massaged the shampoo into the curly hair at the apex of Kim’s thighs.
Groaning, Kim shifted, spreading her feet wider apart.
Jess smiled and allowed her hand to slip lower. She found Kim’s clit and stroked it in a circular motion, increasing the pressure with each pass. “Come for me,” she whispered close to Kim’s ear.
Kim bucked in her arms as she climaxed. “Jess.” Her thighs clamped shut on Jess’s hand.
Jess tightened her hold around Kim’s ribcage, careful not to put too much pressure on her sensitive breasts. Once she was sure Kim’s legs were going to hold her, she loosened her grip and guided her to the bench seat inset in the wall of the shower.
Kim looked up, her eyes still hazy with passion. “I love you.” She kissed Jess’s belly. “Please don’t take this wrong. I’d like to return the favor, but I’m starving and need to eat before I get faint.”
Jess smiled. “I love you too. And don’t worry about it.” After having to stand by helplessly while Kim was plagued by recurring bouts of nausea during the first three months of her pregnancy, she was more than happy to hear Kim say she was hungry. She dispensed a generous amount of shampoo into the palm of her hand. “Let’s get this black gel out of your hair before the hot water runs out, then I’ll get you a snack to hold you until the restaurant.” She worked the shampoo into Kim’s shoulder-length curls. “I still can’t believe that Sam got her hair cut off like that again. I just about fell over when she came in.”
“Hmm…” Kim’s eyes slipped shut for a moment, then opened. “I know what you mean. I mentioned it to Riley, and she said she’d been shocked at first too. Sam and Riley sure were the hit of the party.” She stroked Jess’s thighs and peered up at her. “So, what did you think of Riley?”
Jess knew exactly what Kim was asking, but she wasn’t ready to admit she’d judged Riley unfairly. “That costume and her whole ghost-wrangling act were great.”
“That’s not what I was talking about.” Kim slid her hand across Jess’s ass and pinched it. “And you know it.”
“Ow!” Caught, Jess grinned. “Okay. I wasn’t around her too much, but Riley seemed really nice. She was wonderful with the kids.” She tipped Kim’s chin up and turned her head from side to side. Dark remnants of the gel tinted the skin around her hairline. “And you were right about Sam. She couldn’t keep her eyes off Riley.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Kim asked.
“Close your eyes.” Jess carefully scrubbed the skin at Kim’s hairline. “Yeah. I talked with Sam quite a bit while we were between groups in the haunted house. All she talked about was Riley. She doesn’t seem to have a clue that she’s even doing it.” Jess couldn’t help comparing Sam’s behavior to her own when she became friends with Kim. You were just as clueless. She urged Kim to her feet. “Rinse.”
Kim washed the shampoo out of her hair, then shut off the water. She pushed open the shower door, stepped out, grabbed a thick towel, and passed it to Jess. After snagging a second towel for herself, she dried off.
“You spent time with Riley,” Jess said as she wiped the water from her body. “What did you think? Is she interested in Sam?”
“No doubt about it in my mind. She watched Sam like a hawk all night. I thought I was going to have to offer her a drool bib.”
“Right. I almost forgot. Riley’s face was so red when we spotted her eyeing Sam’s cleavage, I thought she was going to spontaneously combust.” Jess laughed, then sobered. “You don’t think a fling is all Riley is interested in, do you?”
Kim wrapped her towel around herself. “Let’s talk while we get dressed.” She walked into the bedroom.
Jess followed in her wake.
“No. I didn’t get that impression,” Kim said. “Like Sam talking about Riley, all Riley could talk about was Sam. It’s clear to me that they care deeply for each other. I don’t know why they haven’t acted on their feelings yet.”
“Makes me wonder what we don’t know.” Jess sat down on the side of the bed with a sigh. “I don’t want to see Sam get hurt again and decide to go back to meaningless affairs.”
“All we can do is be as supportive of her relationship with Riley as we can.” Kim’s stomach growled loudly.
Laughing, Jess hurriedly buttoned her shirt. “We better get you fed.”
Chapter 43
As Jess began to regale them with another work story, Sam pushed her empty plate away and glanced over at Kim.
Kim smiled and sent her an unobtrusive wink.
She had been quieter than usual during dinner. Earlier, she had ushered Jess into the seat opposite Riley, giving them ample opportunity to connect.
Now I know she’s doing it on purpose.
Riley laughed, drawing Sam’s attention back to Jess’s story.
“Ah. The bane of senior residents, I-know-it-all-itis,” Riley said. “Infects them all at some point.”
“Exactly. So I presented a case of a male patient with severe hip pain,” Jess said. “The residents were moaning and groan
ing, not paying attention to the fact that I hadn’t given them the patient’s age or any other history. ’Cause how boring, right, hip pain?” She laughed. “So I cued up the AP film of my dog’s hips.”
“Your dog?” Riley asked. “Wouldn’t that be pretty obvious?”
“To a vet, sure.” Jess grinned. “But not a resident, not when the dog is a two-hundred-pound Great Dane.”
Riley gulped. “Wow.”
Sam reached over and patted her leg. “No worries. He’s really a gentle giant. You’ll love him.”
At Riley’s skeptical look, Kim said, “Sam’s right. Thor really is incredibly gentle. Although I will admit I was a bit taken aback the first time I met him.”
Sam still remembered the look of confusion on Jess’s face as she described Kim and Thor’s first meeting. Thor had, in his own way, acknowledged what a special woman Kim was to become to both of them.
Riley turned back to Jess. “So what did your residents make of Thor’s films?”
“Their guesses were all over the place—congenital deformities, bone dysplasia, endocrine imbalance.”
“Did anyone ever figure it out?” Riley asked.
“Believe it or not, yes.” Jess laughed. “But he had an unfair advantage. His parents used to raise Great Danes.” Her expression turned serious. “It was all in fun, but it’s also an important lesson for the residents. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, medicine is all about attention to details. Never assume anything.”
Riley nodded. “Not just residents. All physicians would do well to remember that.”
“I think that’s true of any profession,” Sam said. “You get complacent, and that’s when you start making mistakes.”
“All right, you three,” Kim said. “This is getting way too serious. It’s Halloween. How about some ghost stories or something?”
The waiter arrived at the table. “Excuse me, ladies. Could I interest you in some dessert? Our special tonight is graveyard chocolate fudge cake topped with ghost meringue.”
“Oh yeah, I’ll have that,” Sam said. “Kim, you in?” There was no point in asking Jess. Her sister didn’t share her and Kim’s love affair with chocolate.