by Giselle Fox
Lexi’s eyes shot up. “I know. You had every right to kick me out of your room the other night.”
“As if I ever would,” Cate said. She’d only felt relief when she realized Lexi was beside her. “I still can’t believe this is all happening. It’s like a dream.”
“It’s real,” Lexi said. Behind all the devious allure, her eyes were tender. “Now I just have to figure out the best way for us to move forward.” She closed her eyes and turned her face to the sun. “We have a little time.”
“Well, being here with you is way better than traveling around on my own,” Cate said and reached across the table for her hand. Beneath the table, their legs slid together. “You usually get what you want, don’t you?” Cate whispered.
Lexi nodded. Their eyes stayed locked together. “Most of the time.”
Cate leaned forward. “So do I.”
They stared at each other for another moment and then Lexi burst out laughing. “Not bad - but I saw that.”
“Saw what?” Cate said, trying to look as innocent as she could.
“You switched the credit cards. Lunch is on me, remember?”
Cate tossed Lexi’s card back onto the table. “I really thought I had you.”
“The distraction was better that time but your hand needs to be faster.”
Cate cocked an eyebrow. “Do you think I should work on my side to side motion or is it my up and down stroke that needs work?”
Lexi shook her head and laughed.
Cate leaned across the table. “I may never be a master like you, but I can still think of a few ways to distract you.” She slid the tip of her finger down Lexi’s arm. “I’m still dripping from the little kiss you gave me in the bathroom,” she whispered.
“I can help you with that,” Lexi said and licked her lips. She glanced over her shoulder again.
The man at the table behind them was engrossed in his book. Either that or he was very good at pretending, Cate thought.
“It’s my turn next,” she said and stared hard at Lexi. “You know ... for the last six months, I thought about all sorts of things: how much I missed hanging out with you, how much I craved your insanely hot body. I’d even look at women in my gym and try to imagine what it would be like to be with someone else. But it always came back to you. You made me love pussy - what can I say? I mean, here we are in Barcelona. There’s beautiful architecture, amazing music, fantastic food, the weather is even gorgeous and all I can think about is this.” Cate reached under the table and slid her hand up Lexi’s thigh. “Want to go back to the room?”
Lexi swallowed. “Sure.” She reached for the bill and then laughed as soon as she had it in her hand. “That was a lot better.”
Cate smiled proudly and then flipped Lexi’s credit card over in her hand. “Who’s Galina Montevega?”
“Just a name,” Lexi said simply. She eyed Cate with a half smile.
“How many of these names do you have?”
“A few. It makes moving around easier.”
Cate stared at the name on the card again. “Can I have one?”
Lexi grinned back at her. “You don’t need an alias to be on vacation.”
“I know but I want to be called something exotic like Galina Montevega. How did you come up with that?”
“It just popped into my head. One name is as good as the next.”
Cate shook her head. “A hot woman with a name like this is going to attract attention. Is that what you want?”
“Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends.”
“How about right now?”
Lexi glanced around her again. “I’m on a business trip. I’m here to do some networking and see some sights before attending a conference in London.”
“What’s happening in London?”
Lexi shook her head. “Something we can’t talk about.”
“Can I go with you?” Cate asked. She already knew the answer.
“Not this time,” Lexi said softly.
Cate sat back in her chair. “So that’s where it’s happening - London?”
Lexi nodded.
“In two and a half weeks?”
Lexi nodded again.
Cate sat back and played with the edge of her napkin. “Things are beginning to make sense.”
“What is?”
“You came for me in case something bad happens,” she said quietly.
Lexi stared back at her. “Cate.”
“Tell me the truth.”
“There’s always that possibility.”
Cate took a deep breath and tried to calm the nerves that had taken hold in her belly. “Why do you have to do this, again?”
Lexi shook her head.
“You can’t tell me, I know. It’s not money, right?”
“No.”
“No, it seems like you have enough of that,” Cate said. “Is it the challenge? I’m just trying to understand.”
“No,” Lexi sighed. “Believe me, I would be much happier if it was less of a challenge.”
“What are your chances? Honestly.”
“Better than anyone else’s,” Lexi said.
“Because you’re that good?”
Lexi shrugged. “It’s not the first time we’ve done something like this.”
“We,” Cate repeated. She leaned forward in her chair again. “If you don’t trust anyone, who do you work with?”
Lexi stared back at her.
“I already know,” Cate said.
“Maybe you do,” Lexi said softly.
“Will you tell me if I’m right?”
Lexi stared back at her. “I have a feeling I won’t have to.”
“I’ve seen how you are with people, how you always stand back and watch what’s going on. You’re about the biggest loner I’ve ever met and yet people in your profession would have to trust others completely to pull off the kinds of things you do. It’s obvious - to me at least.”
“Who?”
Cate leaned forward and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Your own flesh and blood.”
Lexi said nothing.
“Are they like you?”
“We’re all different but similar in a lot of ways.”
“So I’m right?”
Lexi sighed. “I sure hope I’m right about you, Cate. Our future is in your hands now.”
“That must make you feel … nervous,” Cate said softly.
Lexi nodded, her eyes didn’t waver.
“Well ... you don’t need to be. Knowing just makes me want to protect you, even though I have no idea what I’m protecting you from. The last thing I want to do is lose you again. I’d be more inclined to ask if there was anything I could do to help.” She looked up at Lexi again. “What is my part in this?”
“You don’t have a part,” Lexi said.
“But I think I do,” Cate said. “Even if it’s just to keep you relaxed before it all happens. Or maybe I’m your cover story, Ms. Galina Montevega.” Cate stared back at Lexi hoping her eyes would give her any kind of clue.
“You were always going to be here. I’m the one deviating, Cate. You don’t have a part in this.”
Cate sat back in her chair. “So, Galina is here to take in some attractions and she just happened to meet up with, what? an old friend?”
“Another lonely female traveler,” Lexi said simply. “We met at the hotel and had a drink. We hit it off well enough to spend some time together.”
“Until you have to leave for your conference.”
Lexi nodded.
“What do I do when that happens?”
Lexi leaned forward in her seat. “Do what you would have done anyway. Stick to your plans. Talk to your friends and family but don’t ever mention me, not until this is over. Then we can work on a story that’ll make sense if anyone digs deeper.”
“No one in my family will dig. They’ll have enough to get over with the fact that you’re a woman. My sister will be relieved.”
“Why do you say that?�
��
“Because the biggest scandal to rock my family in the last five years was the fact that she moved to Nova Scotia. Me becoming a lesbian tops her defecting to Canada, I’m pretty sure. My parents won’t ask questions, nothing deep anyway. They thrive on light conversation.”
“Good to know,” Lexi said with a smile.
Cate thought about her family. “It’s hard to imagine you ever meeting them. Like ... as if you’ll ever hang out with my dad in the backyard by the grill, drinking beer and talking sports all afternoon. That was one of the few things Peter did really well. My dad loved him.”
“I can do that,” Lexi said. “If it’ll make things easier for you.”
Cate looked back at her. “You would do that?”
Lexi leaned forward and put her elbows on the table. “I have even a better idea,”
“What’s that?” Cate asked.
“When this is all over, why don’t we rent that cabin you told me about on Lake Michigan. It’ll be fall, the leaves will be beautiful. You can invite your parents up for the day and I’ll make them dinner on the grill. I can talk sports if I have to. I’ll be charming - you’ll see.”
Cate smiled at her across the table. “I think I may have just fallen for you, Galina Montevega,” she whispered.
“I know this is going to be hard on you, Cate and I’m sorry for that. But when it’s done, things will be different.”
“Maybe one day, you can explain all of this to me,” Cate said hopefully.
“One day, I will.”
Lexi’s eyes were kind and apologetic. Then they turned loving and sweet. Lexi’s leg nested into hers under the table once more. Beneath all the secrets, the real Lexi was genuine and honest. Cate reminded herself that she was only being kept in the dark for her own safety and what was wrong with that? She wished she could transport them both into the future, to a cool fall day when the leaves were already changing and they were both back on safe ground. She imagined the introduction to her mother and father, what she would tell them once she was allowed to say anything at all.
“Your family knows about your taste for women?” she asked.
Lexi smiled. “Yes, they definitely do.”
“When did you tell them?”
“A long, long time ago.”
“Was it a big deal?”
“It was a big deal to me but I don’t think it was to my grandparents. My sister Charlie sort of ... beat me to it.”
“Like, she outed you?”
Lexi laughed. “No, no. She’d been telling everyone she was a lesbian long before I ever came out. Kinda stole my thunder.”
It was hard for Cate to imagine anyone stealing Lexi’s thunder since she’d been leveled by it so many times. “When will I get to meet your sisters?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Iowa, USA
“I put the cooling fan kit in the trunk,” Mama called from the kitchen.
Taylor stood in front of the bathroom mirror and tried to wrangle her long hair into something that was attractive and practical.
She tried braiding it into a long braid but then pulled it out as soon as she was done. It had been a year since she’d worn her hair like that and she wasn’t about to start again. She twisted it up and then pinned it, hoping the few strands that broke free around her face looked elegant rather than messy.
She applied a little lipstick and then kissed most of it off onto a tissue and went for gloss. With a few final checks: eyebrows, cheeks, teeth, and then a side view to make sure her t-shirt was flattering while not giving too much away, she flicked off the light and strolled into the kitchen.
“You look fetching,” her mother said dryly.
Taylor had expected as much. “Oh hush.”
“Is that lipstick?”
“Just a little for color,” she said.
Her mother flashed her the - I know damn well what lipstick is for - look. “Mmm hmm.”
Taylor picked up her purse. “I shouldn’t be too late.” She kissed Max on the cheek. “Be good to Grandma, baby. No fussing.”
“He goes down easier with me anyhow,” Lucinda said. “He knows who’s boss.”
“Thanks, Mama. I’m off.”
“Git ‘er done,” her mother called.
Taylor stepped out onto the porch and locked the front door behind her. It had been a year since she’d left them for anything longer than a quick trip to the grocery store. She took a look around: at the street out front, at the driveway where her old car sat, washed and ready for more tinkering. She scanned the houses on the street and the cars that were parked along it. It was business as usual in the quiet neighborhood.
Mr. Daliday was watering the roses at the front of his house. Taylor waved to him. “Beautiful night.”
“It is indeed,” he said as he watched her walk to her car. “Nice night for a drive.”
“I’m heading over to the high school for a car workshop.”
“I heard about that,” Mr. Daliday replied. “Have fun.”
The neighborhood was such a contrast to the last place they lived, a dingy apartment above an electronics repair store. They’d moved after only a few weeks because of noise from the bar behind. There hadn’t been a lot of choices for them in the last year and they’d pretty much had to take what they could get.
She started up her Coronet and backed it slowly out onto the street. Mr. Daliday waved again as she passed.
Taylor took it slow through the neighborhood. There were enough kids playing in their front yards to be watchful. She was still early for the workshop though she hoped to be the first one there.
When she pulled in behind the high school, Jericho was standing outside. She waved as soon as she saw her.
“Pull in right there,” she called. She motioned toward the open bay door.
Taylor pulled the Coronet inside.
“You’re the first one here,” Jericho said when she climbed out.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a night to myself. I guess I left a little early.”
Jericho gave her a long look from head to toe. “Your hair looks great like that,” she said.
Taylor liked that Jericho had taken time with her appraisal. “Thanks.”
“Um, so ... I guess we should get under this beast.”
“Let’s do it,” Taylor said.
Before long, the other women in the class arrived. Jericho made her way to the front.
“Alright, everyone. This is Taylor, she’s new in town and she brings us this ‘68 Coronet 440 to get humming again.” Jericho glanced over at the chalkboard where the others had written down their issues. “Looks like Yvonne needs her starter replaced and Grace has a loose clutch pedal. Anyone else?”
A woman in the back put up her hand.
“Yes?”
“I’ve got this weird sound that I keep hearing whenever I’m in third gear.”
“Alright,” said Jericho as she rubbed her hands together. “Mysterious sound diagnostics we can do.”
The class got to work. Taylor offered to help with the starter replacement since it was something she’d done a few times before. The mysterious sound turned out to be an exhaust issue and required a new part before anything could be done about it. That left Taylor’s car for the remainder of the class after the break.
“Thanks for this,” Taylor said again.
Jericho waved it off. “How long have you had this thing?”
“I only got it last year. It belonged to my Uncle Pete.” Taylor said.
“Did he …?”
“He died almost ten years ago. My Auntie Del drove it until she got sick and couldn’t anymore.” Taylor sighed. “So, I traded in my old heap that wouldn’t run for something that would.”
“Good trade.”
“Yep,” said Taylor.
“You don’t see a lot of these around. You could probably get some decent money for it if you ever wanted to sell.”
That had been Taylor’s contingency plan but she wasn�
��t quite ready to go there yet. “I could trade it in for a minivan,” she said. They both looked at each other and then began to laugh.
“Did you go to this high school?” Taylor asked.
Jericho grinned. “We all did.”
“Are there any pictures of you around?”
Jericho nodded toward the door. “Want to take a little walk?”
“Absolutely,” Taylor said and followed her out of the shop. “Tonight when I was driving through the neighborhood, seeing all the old folks chatting to each other and the kids out playing - I can see why you’ve stuck around.”
“It’s a good place,” Jericho said. “The neighborhood has had its hard times. A lot of the old folks tried to sell at once. That’s why your place didn’t go. But, every town has a story, right?”
Taylor knew that better than most.
They walked down the main corridor toward a wall of pictures. She swept her eyes over the images. “You’re in here somewhere?”
“I am,” Jericho said.
“I bet I can find you.” She stepped closer and checked the years at the bottom of the frames. Her eyes focused on a girl with dark hair and the young woman beside her.
Taylor stepped back. “I thought that was you for a second but it’s not.”
Jericho grinned. “You’re close though, that’s my sister Charlie.”
“What? Are you twins?”
“Nope. Right beside her is my sister Lexi.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped. “Okay, whoa. Triplets?”
Jericho nodded.
“So where are you?” Taylor scanned the picture again. “Hang on. There you are.”
“That’s me.”
“You haven’t changed a bit.”
Jericho leaned in for a closer look. “The hair.”
“Okay, the hair has definitely changed. Look at you ... you’re stunning, all of you.”
“Thanks,” Jericho said.
Taylor felt warmth rise to her cheeks. “Um ... so that’s it, just the three of you? There’s no quadruplet or a quintuplet hiding anywhere?”
“No, it’s just us three.”
“Man, I can tell you from experience, there is nothing easy about having one baby. I can’t imagine having three all at once. Hats off to your mother.”