by Melissa Good
She went still and didn’t resist as Dar turned her around, and she met the pale blue eyes now gentled as they studied her face. “You know, when you came in here, I was wondering what in the hell I was going to do if you did decide to go home,” she murmured softly. “And I was trying to figure out how someone I’ve known for less than a month could become so important to me.”
“Oh,” Kerry replied.
“So, no, it wasn’t presumptuous. It’s nice that you care,” Dar added shyly. “It feels kind of strange, but I think I like it.”
Kerry let out a relieved sigh. “That’s good.” She reached up and interlaced her fingers with Dar’s. “Because I can’t help feeling that way, and I’d hate to be driving you crazy or anything.”
Dar gave in to the insidious craving and hugged her. “Nah.” She released her and stepped back, then smiled. “Let me go finish.” She turned and left the kitchen.
Kerry sucked on the end of her spoon in thought as she turned back to her sauce, and a small, incredulous smile slowly inched its way across her face. Dar went back to the desk and dropped into the chair, propping her chin onto her hand and peering at the screen. She let her eyes scan over the words three times before any of them penetrated. Then she let her eyelids flutter shut and just took a moment to collect herself, feeling a wealth of conflicting emotion battering at her. Half of her was scared shitless. The other half, which was this strange, new, alien-from-outer-space half, wanted to drop to her knees and pledge lifelong devotion to this poor woman she barely knew. “I’m a little old for this hormonal crap, aren’t I?” she muttered to herself wryly. “I haven’t felt like this since I was twelve and had my first crush.”
She rubbed her eyes, then forced herself to concentrate on the screen, this time actually reading it. “Oh, nice job,” she complimented the absent Kerry.
“Yeah, I like it.” The response was very reasonable and politely worded. “Of course she’s gonna know I didn’t write it.” Dar chuckled softly. “But that’s Tropical Storm 371
okay, the mark of a good manager is knowing where to use their resources, right?” She raised her voice. “Nice work.”
“Thanks,” came floating back, and Dar could all but hear the smile in the word as she hit the Send key and sent the reply on its way. Then she settled down and plowed through the next several issues, trying to ignore the intriguing scents wafting in from the kitchen, only stopping for a moment as thunder rolled overhead. “Hmm.”
Kerry entered, also listening. “Sounds nasty.” She leaned on the back of the chair. “You finished? Dinner’s ready.”
“So I smell,” Dar agreed as she straightened. “Yep, I told off six people, canceled three meetings, and sent two scathing replies to people who should have known better.” She sighed. “Not a bad day.”
“Did you really?” Kerry gave her a look.
Dar nodded wryly. “Yes, I did.” She stood up and stretched. “But don’t worry, everyone’s used to it. If I didn’t do that, they’d think something was wrong with me,” she advised the blonde woman. “You want everything out here on the table?”
Kerry hesitated, then grinned. “Well, I’ve got this big platter thing. I thought it might be fun if we just use that and share it. It’s got little legs, we could bring it over to the couch and watch the movie.”
“Hmm.” Dar’s voice dropped to a low, speculative growl. “I think I like that idea.” She smiled abruptly. “I wonder if we can do that Lady and the Tramp thing.”
“The wh…” Puzzled blonde brows knit, then cleared. “Oh…oh, you mean with the spaghetti?” Kerry’s eyes lit up. “Well, sure, we could try it.”
She laughed. “C’mon.” They went into the kitchen together, laughing.
“IT WAS A cop-out,” Dar mumbled, gazing at the screen “Bee, my ass.”
Kerry giggled. “C’mon, they couldn’t have them kiss. The world would end, monsters would explode out of everyone’s chest, the Cigarette Smoking man would quit.” She tilted her head back and accepted a gentle assault on her lips. “Glad we don’t have the same problem.”
“Me too,” Dar agreed with a chuckle as she leaned back against the couch, with Kerry’s body cradled against hers as they watched. “God, I’m stuffed, that was really good.”
Kerry stretched back against her and sighed. “Me too. And thanks, that recipe really worked out.” She glanced up, then laughed and reached up to wipe a bit of sauce off her companion’s face. “Except that spaghetti thing was messy.”
“Mmm. So what was the secret of those meatballs?” Dar inquired. “They were so light, did you put feathers in them?” She gave the smaller woman a squeeze, then rewrapped her arms around Kerry’s middle.
A soft snort. “You won’t believe it, but the secret is milk,” Kerry admitted with a laugh.
“Milk?” Dar protested. “You put milk in meatballs?”
Kerry rested her head back against the soft cushion of Dar’s breast and smiled. “Yep. You mix a splash of milk into the pound of hamburger, then add 372 Melissa Good the Italian breadcrumbs to it to soak it all up,” she stated smugly. “And an egg.” A pause and a glance at Dar. “And, um…a little brown sugar.”
Dar laughed. “Milk, eggs, and brown sugar—sounds about my speed.”
She sighed. “Whatever it was, it was great.” She turned her head as the phone rang, and they exchanged looks.
Kerry turn the sound down and picked up the cordless phone. “Hello?”
Her mother’s voice echoed in her ear. “Hello, Kerry?”
Like who else would be answering, hmm? “Hello, Mother.” She kept her voice somewhere between cordiality and wariness. After all, the woman had hung up on her the last time.
“Dear, I’ve been thinking.”
That’s a first. “Yes, Mother?” She held the phone so Dar could hear, not hard since the taller woman was practically wrapped around her.
“Perhaps I was hasty the other night. I’ve spoken with your father, and while he’s very upset, he says he’s sure you’ll calm down and be able to talk with us about this when you come home.” Her mother’s voice sounded smug.
“I’m sure we can come to an arrangement. We understand you must have gotten attached to your new friends down in that place.”
Attached? Kerry glanced down to the strong arms cradling her. “Well, yes, Mother, you could say that. And I am wrapped up in some really interesting things right now.” Dar snorted in laughter, burying her face into Kerry’s neck for a moment and tickling her. Kerry bit her lip to keep from giggling.
“Certainly, certainly. We’re all grown up here, and we’re so looking forward to seeing you. Brian misses you terribly.”
Really? He hasn’t called once since August. “I’m sure he does, Mother,” she replied.
A momentary silence, then her mother cleared her throat. “You seem distant, dear. Am I interrupting anything?”
Kerry tilted her head back as a nibble touched a nerve. “No, no. Um, I was just watching a movie.” She swallowed, then closed her eyes as Dar’s hands wandered up her belly, exposing her skin to the cool air conditioning.
“Oh. Well, we’re watching War and Peace.” A sigh. “Your father does so love that one.”
“I’m sure he does,” Kerry managed to answer. “ I’m watching the X-files.”
“Kerry, you know what I think of that show,” her mother’s voice was disapproving. “Disgusting. So disrespectful of the government. Why, did you know your father once wrote a letter to that horrible man who puts it on, and he got a note back telling him to go and take some drugs?”
Mental note, Dar decided, send fan mail to Chris Carter.
“Well, Mother…” Kerry let her head go limp against Dar’s chest as the gentle nibbling reached around her throat. “It’s, um…just a TV show.” The roaming fingers traced teasing circles around her breasts, and she let out soft, incoherent sound.
“What was that, dear?” Her mother’s voice nudged her.
“Um…
just something I was watching,” Kerry replied, giving her lover a beseeching look. “Nothing you’d want to hear about. Oh yeah, did Kyle get home all right?” She put a twist into her voice. “It was so nice of him to stop by while he was down here.”
Tropical Storm 373
There was an awkward pause. “Was he there, dear? I didn’t…well, I’m sure if he was in the area, of course he stopped in to see you. You know how fond of you he is.” There was a muffled sound. “Roger, did you know Kyle was in Florida? You did? Oh … Well, no… Kerry was just mentioning it.
What?”
Blue and green eyes exchanged conspiratorial looks.
“Oh, goodness, the poor man.” Kerry’s mother came back to the phone.
“Poor Kyle, there was a mix-up at the airport. His reservations got lost somehow, and he had to drive to Tampa in order to catch a flight up here.
He’s waiting in Houston right now.”
“Gee. That’s awful,” Kerry intoned sincerely. “Only connecting flights, huh?”
“Apparently so. Well, I’m glad he had a chance to see you.” Her mother sighed.
“Oh yes, it was wonderful,” Kerry replied softly. “He even got to meet my boss.”
“Really?”
“Um-hmm. She was over here working with me on a project. She gave him her business card. Make sure Daddy gets it, okay?”
“Oh, well, of course.” A pause. “Is that normal, dear? I thought you worked in an office.”
“I do,” Kerry replied. “But I had this extra thing going, and Dar takes a very…” She flicked a glance at the tanned face peering over her shoulder,
“…personal interest in things.” The grip around her tightened, and she winced, covering the receiver. “Not so tight, I’ll lose my dinner,” she whispered softly, sucking in a breath as the hold loosened. Then Dar’s hands playfully unbuckled the thin belt she was wearing, and undid the button holding her jeans closed.
As fingers started a gentle, soothing massage, “Better?” a ghost of a word reached her ears.
“Mmm.” Kerry relaxed and pressed the phone to her ear. “What was that, Mother?”
“I said, did you get the tickets?” Now her mother sounded a bit annoyed.
“Yes,” Kerry replied. “I got them the other day.”
“All right, well, I’ve got to go make some coffee for your father. We’ll see you on Wednesday, dear.”
“G’night, Mother,” Kerry replied politely, then hung up, and put down the phone as she reached behind her and tangled her fingers in Dar’s hair.
“You’re a troublemaker.”
A low, sexy chuckle made little shivers go up and down her spine. “You betcha.” She captured a tasty earlobe and bit down on it gently. “Was that an apology from your mother?”
Kerry shrugged. “I guess, she hates conflict.”
“Hmm.” Dar rested her chin on Kerry’s shoulder. “Hell of a way to spend Thanksgiving.”
Kerry wrapped her arms around Dar’s and sighed. “I get a stomach ache just thinking about it,” she admitted. “I wish I could pack you in my suitcase and take you with me. It’s going to be the longest five days of my life.” She 374 Melissa Good thought about not going, again, and spending the holiday with Dar instead.
Oh boy. It was like a little puppy inside her started wagging its tail, and she had to stifle it. “It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion.”
Dar fought off an almost overwhelming desire to protect her lover from the anger and strife she knew she was walking into. “I wish you could pack me in there, too,” she quipped wanly. “I’d love to see their faces when I popped out.”
Kerry started laughing. “Jesus, that’s a mental picture.” She paused. “So, tell me about this place you’re going to?”
“Well, like I said, Gerry’s an old friend of the family. By the way, he’s the one who gave me those two contracts that saved Associated,” she said. “He invited me up for the weekend. He’s got a son I get along with really well. His family’s sweet, in an old-fashioned, service family kind of way. I don’t know.
“Is his son cute?” Kerry inquired curiously.
“Mmm, yeah, if you like the crew-cutted earnest type. He’s a Navy pilot who just got assigned carrier duty,” Dar replied. “We more or less grew up together. I know Gerry would like it if we were closer, but…” She chuckled.
“You know how that goes.”
“Mmm.” Kerry sighed. “I think you’re going to have a much better time than I am.”
I doubt it, Dar mused silently. I’ll be worried about you the whole time. “Well, next Thanksgiving, we’ll have everyone over at the Island, how’s that?”
Kerry paused in silence for a moment, then she turned her head and regarded Dar with a shy smile. “All right,” she agreed. “That’ll give me something to think about while I battle through my parents’ plans.” She half turned and snuggled into Dar’s chest, playing with the taller woman’s buttons idly. “Damn, I wish this coming week were over with already. I’d give anything for it to be next Sunday night…with all that behind me, and…” A sigh. “I’m so dreading this.”
Dar stroked her hair awkwardly. “I know. Hell, it’s almost even giving me a stomach ache,” she responded. “But hey, it’ll be over in a week, then…we can…um…” She cast around for something she knew Kerry would like. “Plan a Christmas party, okay?”
Kerry slid her eyes up the long, firm neck, and over the bump of Dar’s jaw, up until she was meeting those pretty blue eyes. “Mmm. How about a birthday party?”
Trapped. Augh. “Bu…” Dar nibbled a lip. “Ke…” The green orbs gentled and pleaded with her. “Oh, okay.” She sighed, defeated.
Kerry smiled and patted her chest. “Nothing on earth would make me miss that.” She hugged Dar close. “To hell with Thanksgiving.”
Dar grinned fiercely to herself. Now that was worth having a birthday for.
Chapter
Twenty-nine
“DAR?”
MARIA’s VOICE penetrated her thoughts, and she looked up, a little startled. “Yes?” She stopped turning the pencil over in her hands and exhaled.
“Here are your tickets for tomorrow.” The secretary bustled across the carpet and put the folder down near her hand. “Did Kerry go all right?”
“Yeah, I dropped her off before I came in,” Dar replied. “Her flight was at eight AM.” She checked her watch. “She should be there in a little while.”
“So nice.” Maria smiled, then her expression changed a little. “No?”
Dar looked up from where her attention had been drawn to her new fish.
“Oh, yes, I’m sure it’s fine. I was just thinking of something else, sorry about that.” Her body was, actually busy remembering the fierce hug Kerry had given her before she’d gone off to her gate, and the quiet, whispered “I’ll miss you.”
With a sigh, she pushed the thought aside and smiled at Maria. “So, how do you like Bert and Ernie here?” She’d just brought them in that morning, having given the two fractious fish a few days to settle in at Kerry’s apartment before she introduced them into the office.
Maria studied the fish. “They are very pretty,” she admitted. “I was thinking to get a goldfish for me, but I’m always to dropping things around my desk. I would be spending too much time in fishing them out.” She knelt to examine the tank. “This is nice.”
Dar propped her chin up on one hand. “I thought so,” she agreed.
“Um…I’ve got an executive committee meeting after lunch today, is there anything pending I need to look at before then?”
“Si.” Maria handed her the other folder she had been carrying. “The new building plans,” she told her. “You have first meeting next week.”
Dar flipped open the folder and studied the cover sheet. “Right, the lease is up on this building next year, and José thinks he found us a new location.
Hmm.” She studied the document. “Well, I don’t…ah.” Her lips t
wisted sardonically. “Now I see the picture, his brother-in-law owns it.”
Maria rolled her eyes. “Dios mío, does it always have to be games?”
The executive sighed and shook her head. “And I hate the location. Looks like another battle royale in the making.” She glanced at the fish wryly.
“Maybe I should have called them Dar and José. What do you think?”
“Si.” Maria smiled. “I am going out to the bank during lunch, Dar. You want I should bring you something back? It is turkey in the cafeteria, I think you will have enough of that this weekend.”
376 Melissa Good The dark-haired woman leaned back and made a face. “No, thanks. My stomach is kind of upset today. Something I had last night maybe,” she advised her secretary. The truth was she hadn’t been able to swallow so much as a cup of coffee since the morning, and even thinking about it made her stomach churn. She swallowed hard against the sensation and sighed.
It had been a tough week, all the more so because she hadn’t seen much of Kerry, who had been busy packing for her trip. Monday night she’d been tied up in meetings until past eleven, and last night she’d had to force herself to be present at a business dinner to work on a new client of José’s.
So she’d shown up a little early that morning to pick Kerry up. Well, okay, a lot early, and had been treated to the sight of sleepy green eyes that brightened perceptibly when they recognized her. Kerry had dragged her back into the bedroom and they’d spent an hour snuggling before the rising sun nudged them awake again in time to go to the airport.
Dar sighed, then glanced up at Maria. “Maybe I’ll take a walk downstairs and get some club soda or something.” She stood and stretched, then settled her jacket over her shoulders and headed for the door. At the elevator she bumped into Duks, who was also headed down. “Morning,” she commented, leaning back against the elevator wall. “Ready for the meeting this afternoon?”
“Don’t ask me that.” Duks rubbed his eyes. “I’ve been going over financials for the last two days. I have such a headache, I can’t tell you,” he complained grumpily. “What about you? They’re going to hit you with those facilities additions, you know.” He studied Dar’s face, noticing that the tense lines and faint shadows that used to characterize it had faded, replaced by a noticeably more relaxed expression. “Let me guess, you have all the answers already.”