by Lynette Mae
Mac spotted her and waved, smiling broadly as her companion spoke directly into her ear. The woman Mac had her arm around and was obviously planning on spending time with this evening was none other than Jillian Gray. Damn. The last thing Devon wanted to do was to watch these two in the midst of an overt seduction ritual. Plus, she had no idea how Mac was going to react when she found out that T.J. was actually Jillian, and she hadn’t gotten around to telling Jill that she knew Mac, either. Double damn. Devon groaned out loud and forced a smile in Mac’s direction. Escape was not an option now.
Mac met her halfway and gave her a big squeeze. “I was beginning to wonder if you were still coming.”
Devon tried to hide the rising tension by holding a smile that she hoped seemed natural.
Mac pulled back to study her. “You all right?” She tilted her head and waited a beat. Then she remembered her companion. “Oh, Dev, I want you to meet someone. You’ll never believe who’s here tonight.” She grasped Devon’s elbow and pulled her toward the woman seated at the bar. The barstool swiveled, bringing Jillian and Devon face to face. Mac dropped an arm casually on Devon’s shoulder. “Jill, this is my best friend, Devon.” She gave Devon a squeeze. “Can you believe the luck? It’s T.J. Well, Jill actually.” Devon and Jillian stared silently at one another with Mac’s head bouncing side to side between them, her bright smile fading in obvious bewilderment. She studied Devon carefully. Her brow furrowed in thought and slowly the light came on as the truth of the situation hit her. Mac narrowed her eyes, speaking very slowly, as if her words were navigating a minefield. “Jill. This is Jillian?” She cast a sidelong glance at her companion before returning her quizzical look to Devon. “The Jillian?”
Devon nodded, feeling extremely uncomfortable as an awkward silence enveloped them. Mac turned to Jillian, who was suddenly engrossed in the label on her beer bottle. Devon wished somebody would say something because the tension was killing her. As the reality sank in, Mac slumped back onto the barstool and motioned to the bartender. “Whiskey. Make it a double.”
The music shifted to some popular dance mix and a roar went up from the revelers on the dance floor behind them. When Mac didn’t speak for long moments, Devon’s anxiety grew. She stole a quick glance in Jillian’s direction, but Jill wouldn’t look up. Devon touched her arm. “Could you give us a minute?”
“I’ll...uh...find the ladies room.” Jillian melted into the crowd.
“You could have told me, ya know.” Mac’s focus remained on the surface of the bar.
“I was gonna tell you all about this when I got back home,” Devon tried to explain. When Mac didn’t respond, she looked past her, watching Jillian make her way across the bar.
After a long silence, Devon pulled a stool close to Mac’s and sat. “What are you thinkin’?”
Mac stared pensively at the now empty shot glass. She pushed it around on the bar a few more times then laughed. “Judging from the fact that you two didn’t fall over from shock at this meeting, I’m guessing that you’ve seen each other this week. She was at the class, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah. She was one of the instructors.”
“I don’t even know what to think, to tell you the truth.”
“I know.”
“Since you know, why don’t you enlighten me?” Mac’s tone was flat and the disappointment in her eyes made Devon feel sick inside.
“This looks bad from your perspective, I get that. I’m a total ass for not telling you, but honestly, I was going to talk to you about it all as soon as I got back.”
“Did you know the entire time?”
“No. Not until after I’d gotten here. Believe me, Jillian’s appearance was a shock. For both of us.”
“And here I thought when I called you the other day that you were all brain-dead over Jessie. Couldn’t have been more wrong, could I?”
“You weren’t wrong.” She grasped Mac’s arm and waited for Mac to look at her again. “Listen to me. I was all frazzled over Jessie—still am, for the record.” She let that fact sink in. Mac signaled for another shot as Devon continued. “So, I’m thinking about how to ask her out, trying to get my head right for this school, sizing up my classmates, wondering who might know this woman you met. T.J. Then Jillian appears out of nowhere. It was like somebody lobbed a grenade into my world. That’s why I didn’t call Jessie and why I wasn’t chatty with you on the phone. How the hell was I supposed to know how to handle that?” She downed the rest of her beer and set the empty on the bar.
Mac offered no answer to the question.
The bartender appeared and Devon pointed to her bottle, then turned back to Mac. “There’s only one question really on your mind. I know it would be for me. So, let me settle this for you. Jill and I covered a lot of ground this week, there’s loads of baggage between us, as you know. But nothing else happened, and nothing else will for many reasons—not the least of which is that Jillian is interested in you.”
The corner of Mac’s mouth twitched with the hint of a grin.
Devon cocked her head to look her friend directly in the eye. “It’s true. Ask her if you want. Better yet, spend some time getting to know her better. You’ll see. As far as you and I? Our friendship is far too valuable than for me to risk it on some roll in the hay for nostalgia’s sake. So, put that out of your mind, okay?”
Mac frowned and rested her chin on her fist.
“Now what are you thinking?” Devon poked her lightly.
“I was thinking that only jackasses sleep with their best friend’s ex.”
“Now, don’t do that to yourself.”
“Why not? This is what I get for my lack of self-control. I see a beautiful woman. I go for it. Christ.”
“And how could you have known who she was?”
“What if I hadn’t done it? Would that have made a difference to you this week?” Mac shook her head in disgust. “Dev, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Mac, stop. No. It wouldn’t have mattered. Jillian and I both realize there’s no going back for us. Like you said once, we’re completely different people now. It’s just a really small, fucked up world.”
That made Mac chuckle with her and Devon felt enormously relieved. “Forgetting about Jill’s past, do you regret what happened between you two?”
“No.” Mac answered without hesitation.
“That’s what I figured. You want to know what I think?” Devon caught sight of Jillian making her way back across the bar. She put her hand on Mac’s shoulder.
“Yeah, I do.”
Devon cocked her head toward the woman in question. Jillian was wending her way through the throng of women, and as always, turning heads everywhere she went. “I think you should make your move before someone else does.”
Mac glanced in the direction Devon indicated and grinned when she caught sight of Jill. She was still smiling when she looked back at Devon, “If you’re sure…”
Devon laughed out loud. “Boy, I really had to twist that arm.” She punched Mac in the shoulder.
Mac shifted on her stool as Jillian appeared beside them. She glanced at Devon before turning her attention to Mac. “Everything okay?”
“Yep,” Devon said as she stood. “A-okay. Really.” She looked pointedly at Mac and then winked.
Mac smiled gratefully and then said to Jill, “Excellent.”
Jillian reached across to pick up Mac’s beer from the bar, taking a long pull from the bottle. Mac raised an eyebrow in response, but didn’t move to stop her, evidently amused by Jillian’s audacity. She chuckled when Jill handed back an empty bottle. Devon watched the two of them interact with interest. Mac was clearly charmed and Devon was even more surprised to see that Jillian appeared equally enamored with Mac. She quickly realized that they were oblivious to anything going on around them. Devon cleared her throat. No response. Mac had slipped her arm around Jillian’s waist, pulling her more closely to her. The DJ transitioned to a slow song and Jillian twirled her fi
ngers in the hair that touched the back of Mac’s collar. Devon laughed to herself, recognizing her cue to go.
“So, I’m pretty tired.” She placed her own empty bottle on the bar and stepped away.
“Aww, c’mon, it’s early,” Mac protested. “I want to hear all about the class.”
“Yeah,” Jillian chimed in. “Stay for another.”
“You won’t even know I’m gone.”
“Sorry,” Mac said. “We’ll behave.”
Devon rolled her eyes in response. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer of the company, but I’m beat. We had this freakin’ slave-driving instructor who was kicking our asses all week. I’m heading home.”
“Slave-driver?” Jillian challenged. “I went easy on you, James. I let you win the grappling scenarios to build up your confidence.”
“Oh, you did? I remember it a little differently. I think there was a bit of give and take on both sides.”
“Agreed,” Jill said. The meaning went much deeper than the classroom and they both knew it.
Devon started to pull some money out of her pocket, but Mac stopped her. “Oh, no. I’ve got it. I feel like I’m getting the best end of this deal.” She hugged Devon tightly.
“I hope that’s true, my friend,” Devon said into her ear.
She stepped back and turned to Jillian, still amazed by the fact that she was standing in front of her and even more amazed that she felt at peace. “It was good to see you, Jill. I got more out of this week than you’ll ever know.”
“I think I might have some idea.”
Devon extended her hand and Jill took it, only to pull her in for a quick hug. “Take care, Devon.”
“You, too.” A long missing piece of Devon’s life slipped into place. She dug her keys out of her pocket and spoke quietly. “She’s very important to me.”
Jillian met her eyes. “I know.”
Devon gave a brief nod and headed for the exit, feeling good about the way they’d all left things. Mac dating Jillian would take a little getting used to, but what the hell. That was for her to work out. Devon wasn’t going to stand in their way. Besides, what was wrong with two of the most important women in her life being together? If it made them happy, who was Devon to argue? Walking in long strides to the Jeep, Devon’s thoughts shifted to the drive home, her mind already filled with thoughts of Jessie. She had wanted to race right back to Tampa after class, and only agreed to meet Mac out of loyalty. Now all she really wanted was to get back home to see Jessie. Mac caught up with her just before she reached the Jeep, stopping Devon with a hand on her arm.
“What’s up?” Devon asked.
“Just wanted to make sure we’re good.”
“You know we are,” Devon said as she climbed into the driver’s seat. “I already gave you my advice. She’s worth it. So, go.” She pointed at the club. “Meanwhile, I’m taking a good friend’s advice, too.” When Mac gave her a puzzled look, Devon explained, “I have a pretty girl waiting in Tampa.”
“You do. And I also said don’t blow it this time,” Mac called over the starting of the engine, already backing away from the Jeep toward the club.
“I won’t. Same goes for you,” Devon shouted, pulling out of the parking lot toward the interstate. She watched in her rearview mirror as Mac opened the door of the club, and considered the combination—the two fast-living, free-wheeling players who had never met a pretty woman that they couldn’t conquer. What were the odds they would somehow find each other? The Jillian-Mac combination would either be a perfect fit or a natural disaster. Devon marveled at the craziness of the universe.
She shifted into fourth gear, merging onto the interstate and jumping into the fast lane. Images of Jessie flashed through her mind bringing a silly grin to her face with Lita Ford’s guitar licks blazing from the radio, her voice inviting, “… kiss me deadly…”.Devon drummed on the steering wheel feeling the rush of promise pulsing through her veins as the Jeep rocketed west down the freeway. She snatched her phone off the passenger seat to call Jessie one more time. It rang in her hand and surprised her.
“How did you know I was just thinking about you?” Devon asked.
“I’m clairvoyant.”
“Really?” Jessie only laughed in her ear, making Devon wish she could erase the distance between them. “I’ll have to be careful then, huh?”
“Depends on whether you’re thinking good thoughts or bad thoughts.”
She could hear Jessie smiling. Devon laughed as she returned the playful volley, “Now that depends upon what you consider bad.”
“How was the school?” Jessie dodged, suddenly sounding shy. Devon made a mental note to return to the previous line of thought in the near future. She pictured Jessie sitting cross-legged on a couch twirling locks of her hair with her fingers.
“It was good. I really learned a lot.” Not that she owed Jessie any explanation about Jill—at least not yet—but the subject wasn’t something she wanted to get into right now, and all of her thoughts about the school related to Jillian. Conversations about your former lover were not the best way to impress a new lady. Devon decided to just go for it. “So, about having dinner. I mean, assuming you still want to…” All of the sudden it wasn’t coming out as smoothly as she’d hoped. She drew a deep breath to collect herself.
“Yes, I’d like to have dinner.”
“Good.” Jessie’s answer felt like a lifeline and Devon laughed in nervous relief. “Is tomorrow night too soon?”
“I have to work this weekend.”
“Figures.” Devon mentally ran through her own schedule. “I work Sunday too, then I teach at the academy on Monday, and I’ve got SWAT training on Tuesday. Damn. What about Wednesday? Please say you’re off.”
“Wednesday is great. You want to come here? I know a wonderful place on the water for dinner.”
“Sounds perfect.” Devon’s voice was soft and low.
“See you around seven?”
“Seven it is.”
“Five days is a long time.” Jessie was playful again. “How do I know you won’t forget?”
“Because I’m gonna call you every day.”
“I’d like that. And I also wouldn’t mind if you called to say goodnight.” Jessie’s voice flowed through her like warm honey.
“Then I’ll be sure to do that. Sleep well, Jess.”
“You, too.”
Devon disconnected the call and pumped her fist in the air jubilantly. “Yesss!” She cranked up the radio again, tingling with excitement at the prospect of going out with the one woman who had somehow awakened her inside. She had no explanation for this powerful connection growing between her and Jessie, but she sure as hell was going to see where it led. It was frightening and exhilarating at the same time.
Later, when she finally climbed into bed and relaxed, she replayed parts of the conversation in her mind. On impulse, she picked up the phone and punched in what she hoped would become her most dialed number.
“Hi, are you okay?” Jessie sounded sleepy but concerned.
“Yeah. I just called to say goodnight.”
“Hmmm.” It was a satisfied sound, like a purr, wrapped in a yawn that made Devon feel warm all over. She indulged herself with an image of Jessie lying in her arms surrounded by soft sheets and fluffy pillows. “You’re sweet. Thank you. So, you’re home?”
“Yes, and you’re welcome.”
“Call me tomorrow?” She sounded as though she was dozing again.
“I will. You get some rest.”
“You, too.”
“'Night, Jess.” Devon waited until Jessie hung up and then did the same. Good thoughts or bad thoughts. “Definitely good.” She rolled onto her side and hugged the pillow tightly, slowly drifting off to sleep with the sound of Jessie’s sweet voice in her head.
Chapter Twelve
SUNDAY EVENING, JUST as Devon, Steph and their recruits finished their dinner break, a call came in regarding a possible stolen vehicle that had
been dumped and set on fire. As the corporal, Devon didn’t normally ride with trainees. Her job was to be the assistant supervisor for the sergeant and to handle the administrative work for the field-training program. Technically, she was the lead trainer. She would be called upon to pair up with a struggling recruit, either identifying his or her deficiency and correcting the problem, or sometimes recommending termination. Police work wasn’t for everyone, after all. That wasn’t the case here. One of the training officers on the squad was out sick and Devon was simply filling the void for the night.
“Adam Four responding,” Devon said.
“You think this is gonna be related to Kelsey’s case?” Steph asked as they reached their patrol cars, parked side by side in the rear lot.
“I’m not sure, but most kids don’t torch a car after they’re done riding in it. If they don’t wreck it, they just ditch it somewhere.” Devon stood in the open door frame waiting until her trainee started the car. As soon as he did, she pushed the button to open the passenger window, letting a little air circulate around the sweltering interior. The interior was hot, but more than that, she was stalling. She hated being in the passenger side of her own patrol car.
Steph laughed at her. “You act like you're claustrophobic. Get in the car.”
“There’s no room on this side,” Devon complained goodnaturedly. “The damn computer is practically in my lap and I can’t press the brake pedal from over here.”
“Control freak. How else are you supposed to grade him in driving?” Steph asked.