Applause and the noise of chairs being pushed back as women stood assaulted Jordan’s ears. She walked numbly to the podium where Brie stood, waiting with the big trophy. Brie’s eyes shone and her warm hands covered Jordan’s cold ones as she handed it to her. Brie leaned in, kissing her on the cheek, and the crowd whistled and cheered. Jordan stood absolutely still, feeling the warm mouth on her skin, stunned at the gesture. Dannie jammed the mike in her face.
“Uh,” Jordan began and heard her team laugh.
Dannie grinned. “I know you can talk, Carter. I’ve heard you yell out there on the field. Okay, the name of your team, the team that won the championship?”
“Whitney’s,” Jordan managed.
“And your league?”
“Greenlake,” Jordan said as the spell on her tongue broke. “The best team in the city this year.” She took the mike and turned to the room. “I’m sorry, I was just a bit overwhelmed for a moment.” She touched her cheek. “This is a tremendous honor and I want to thank my team because without them, I am nothing. Also, our sponsors, the league, the association, Dannie and…” She turned to Brie with a smile. “Niki’s girl.” She held the mike away and leaned in, whispering, “Are you aware you flashed the crowd? Have you no modesty?” Brie’s hand flew to her chest and she blushed as Jordan walked back to her table, handing the trophy to the first woman sitting there so everyone could have a moment with it.
“Congratulations, Carter,” Bev said. “The rest of us would have committed murder for that.”
“It’s a beautiful trophy,” Jordan said.
“No, that kiss, dummy.” The whole team clapped and Jordan could feel her cheeks warm. She looked up, right into Brie’s eyes, and got the most intriguing smile she’d ever seen.
“Damn,” she said, eyes locked with Brie.
Kay nudged her. “You’re staring again.”
“And at a woman,” Bev pointed out. “Are you going to ask her out, Miss Straight MVP?”
“I could,” Jordan said.
“Maybe you should, because you’re drooling again.”
“She’s just a woman,” she said, feeling cocky, remembering that her team didn’t know that she knew Brie.
Kay pulled a fifty dollar bill out of her wallet and tossed it in the middle of the table. It was followed by a flurry of tens, fives, and other bills from the rest of the team. “We dare you,” Kay said and the women at the table began tossing money at Jordan.
“I repeat, it’s just another woman,” Jordan said, shaking her head at the money accumulating on the table.
“Not that woman,” Bev said, laughing.
Slowly, with a very cool smile, she stood and made her way to the front once again. Brie had been watching the table and raised her eyebrows at Jordan.
“Brie?”
“Yes?”
“Can you do something for me without being terribly obvious?”
“Maybe.” Brie raised an eyebrow.
“Look over my left shoulder,” Jordan asked.
“Do you mean that pile of money that’s scattered in the middle of your table?”
Jordan nodded and checked out Dannie, who was talking to the association president. She still wasn’t sure this wasn’t a date.
“They bet I wouldn’t walk up here and ask you out.”
Brie’s face opened up in a surprised grin. “Are you?”
“I am. Will you go out with me?” Jordan’s gray eyes were warm and happy. Brie realized how tired she was of sad eyes, something everyone but Jordan seemed to have when they looked at her.
She took a card out of her purse and wrote on the back of it, handing it to Jordan. “The answer is yes, because you’re going to run interference for me with Vet and Peg this Saturday night.” She handed the card to Jordan. “Do you remember our bet?”
“Of course.”
“This is kind of after the fact, isn’t it? Since we’ve already slept together.” Brie smiled innocently.
“Brie!” Jordan exclaimed. She could feel her face warm.
“What?” Dannie said, paying close attention to Brie and Jordan. “Did you really?” Dannie looked at Brie, surprised.
Brie held up both hands. “We took her kids and went camping at the cabin, last weekend.” She gave Jordan an extra-warm smile. “I’m sorry. I was just joking. Let’s have some fun with your team, a little razzamatazz. Put that cocky grin back on your face and toss this card on the money. Tell them that I’m worth a lot more than that.”
Sauntering back to the table, Jordan held the card up to her team, tossed it on the money, and flashed a big grin. “Girls, she says she’s worth a lot more than this.”
They all grabbed for the card and threw more money out, holding it up to Brie, laughing.
Kay picked up the card and read out loud: “Sounds like fun. See you at seven thirty. Brie.” She looked at Jordan with wide eyes. “For Christ’s sake, Carter, how’d you do that?”
“She’s just a woman, like you and me,” Jordan said calmly but looked back at the head table. “Use the money on the table for the team dinner next year.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Done,” Jordan said, and slid the hammer into her tool belt. She headed outdoors into the late Saturday morning, air so fresh that all she could do was take a big breath as she surveyed the construction yard. “Where are you, Bix?” she said, looking for her foreman. Finally, she spotted the gray-haired woman sitting on a stack of lumber.
“We’re finished,” Bix said as Jordan scooted up next to her. Bix was one of the first women her dad had hired, and Jordan had grown up around her.
“I need a favor.”
“Sure,” Bix said a little warily. “Something wrong?”
“No, not at all. I’m taking a woman out tonight and I need—”
Bix choked on her coffee and looked hard at Jordan. “A woman. You?”
Jordan ignored the choking and continued. “Here’s the story. A good friend of mine is a lesbian. A very pretty lesbian. She’s going out to eat with some friends of hers tonight and they’re pressuring her to get back out into the dating scene. I want to go along and kind of…” Jordan stopped. How did she want to say this? She frowned. “Hell, Bix, I’m just going, all right? Anyway, I’ve never done this before, been out on a date with a woman, and I need your advice.”
“Are you sure this is a date and that she’s a lesbian?”
“A date? Okay, a meal out. I know she’s a lesbian because we’ve talked about it.”
“Why would her friends pressure her?”
“Her lover was murdered. She needs help.”
“Murder?” Bix gave a low whistle. “Maybe her friends are just trying too hard.”
“You should meet my mom,” Jordan said in a low voice. “She made my life a living hell after Pete was killed. She pushed one guy after another at me.”
Bix grinned and screwed the cap back on the top of her thermos. “How can I help you with this ‘date’?”
“I’d like to do this right, so for openers, should I wear any special clothing? I want to blend in.”
*
Brie navigated the screaming ambulance up the hill, cars scattering in front of her. Sean checked his seat belt and held on, molded to the seat.
“We’re almost there, Brie.”
“Check the address again. I haven’t seen a fire truck or a cop, and we had the farthest to go.”
“They probably used the freeway,” he said.
Brie grinned when she saw that his eyes were closed. It was her first time driving the ambulance on a real call and she careened around a corner. They were lifted out of their seats as they topped a sharp hill and Brie hiccupped as they hit bottom. She’d get them there safely.
“There it is,” Brie said, hitting the brakes and angling the ambulance to block the road.
Two cars were in shambles in the middle of a busy surface road and they saw a third, off to the side in a ditch. An ambulance, two fire trucks, and the police were alre
ady there and everyone was out on the road. Brie and Sean grabbed equipment, going toward the mess on the pavement.
“Brie.” She turned to see Vet running from the first ambulance toward her. “You and Sean take the car in the ditch. Stay away from here.” Brie changed direction and adjusted the backboard in her hand. The car engine was steaming. She leaned in and turned the ignition off. An elderly lady lay quietly across the seat of the older model car, eyes closed. Her seat belt held her in an awkward position and Brie bent quickly to her face and chest, catching a whiff of an old-fashioned sachet. A narrow line of blood laced across the woman’s face and she had a good-sized bruise on her forehead. A cut intersected the skin. Brie checked the victim’s neck alignment and spoke clearly. “Are you all right? Can you hear me?” Two firemen finished stabilizing the car with wood blocks and one leaned in with a questioning look at Brie. She nodded an okay at him.
“What happened?” The woman’s words were faint and reedy.
“I think you were run off the road,” Brie said reassuringly as Sean began to take vitals.
“Brie, Sean,” Vet yelled across the road, “how many?”
Sean held up one finger, indicating the single victim as Brie continued talking to the woman, gathering information. The woman was alert but they checked her again before they eased the board underneath her body. They prepared to transport and Brie noticed that Vet was still there. She looked at the crashed cars and knew it was serious. Brie pulled the rig carefully away from the scene.
*
The accident had made Brie late, and she began taking clothes off as soon as she was inside the house. Jordan would be here soon. She stepped into the shower, thinking of Vet at the scene of the accident. Vet had kept her away from what appeared to be a serious crash, trying to protect her. She ducked her head under the water, scrubbing her hair. Somehow she’d have to convince Vet that she wouldn’t shatter. She took a deep breath and rinsed her hair. “Maybe tonight, when we’re out,” she said, toweling her hair as she went into her bedroom and stood in front of her closet, naked.
Nothing leapt out at her as she trailed her fingers along the hangers. Dress or pants? Pants, she decided, more casual. Something caught her eye and she pulled a light yellow outfit out of the closet. She liked the slight flare at the bottom of the pants. The top was a white camisole with a sweater that matched the pants. She could wear both if they just ate, but if they went out later, it would be too warm. Was this camisole too daring? She put it back and then pulled it out again, remembering the swimming suit. She’d certainly worn less around Jordan. She slipped into the camisole and looked for jewelry.
The long gold earrings would do and she took them from the jewelry box. No. Niki had bought these for her. She searched further and found the new ones she had bought for herself last spring. Quarter-sized gold hoops with a tiny crystal teardrop. New earrings for a new friend.
She grabbed a brush and headed to the bathroom. Just as she applied light, faintly pink lip gloss, the doorbell rang. “Crap. My clothes are all over the living room,” she said, and raced down the hallway. She gathered everything and tossed it into the closet.
Jordan was jingling the car keys nervously in her fingers when Brie opened the door and they stood, assessing each other.
“You don’t like it,” Jordan said, frowning.
“Yes,” Brie said a little breathlessly, pulling Jordan inside. “Oh, yes I do.”
Dark brown leather pants caressed Jordan’s hips like a whisper, and they hit her matching half boots perfectly. Brie murmured, “Oh my.” The white collarless blouse fit Jordan superbly, finished off by a gold pendant hanging between the open top three buttons. Perfect breasts. Brie swallowed hard.
“Your turn,” Jordan said. “Wow…Brie.”
“Thank you,” Brie said absently, enchanted by what she was looking at.
Neither moved for a moment until Jordan finally asked, “Do we have time for a beer?”
Brie blinked. “Of course. Vet’s going to be late. She and I were on a call for Omni this afternoon.” She gathered herself. “I’ve got to call Peg and tell her that Vet’s going to be late.” She turned quickly, going to the phone in the kitchen. She leaned against the wall, unbelievably nervous.
“Why am I so jittery?” Jordan said under her breath as Brie disappeared into the kitchen. “We haven’t even left yet.”
*
Dinner went well and they lingered over the last of their wine, deciding if they were done for the night. They had talked about everything from books to sports, and the food had been wonderful. Peg and Vet obviously liked Jordan, talking easily and laughing.
“How are you, after this afternoon?” Vet leaned toward Brie, talking softly.
Brie knit her eyebrows. “Fine.”
“We had a bad afternoon. Did she tell you?” Vet said to Jordan.
Jordan looked at Brie with a question on her face. Brie gave the barest of shrugs but Vet interrupted before she could say a word.
“We had an accident call out on State Street, one fatality.”
“Vet—” Peg began but Vet lectured on.
“Brie, you have to talk about this.”
“You never even let me get close to the primary scene. I’m sure the woman we transported to the hospital will survive. I stayed until her husband got there.” She set her glass down deliberately. “I’m okay. Otherwise, I shouldn’t be doing the job.” She left a little warning in her voice and held Vet’s gaze.
Vet nodded slightly and shifted her focus to Jordan. “Did you grow up in Milwaukee?”
“On the north side.”
Vet finished her wine and looked at Peg. “After today, I need some dancing and my girl in my arms. Could we go to the bar for a drink?” She looked at each of them for confirmation.
*
Loud music blasted them as they opened the door to the club. They stood for a moment, letting their ears and eyes adjust. A yell turned them all to the bar. Most of Niki’s softball team was suddenly upon them, grabbing Brie and rolling her physically into the group. Jordan walked to the edge of the mob scene.
“Better grab your girl,” Vet said into her ear.
“I’ve probably played against most of them,” Jordan said, standing straighter.
“Jordan,” Brie yelled from somewhere in the middle. Brie saw Jordan looking at the group, deciding her next move. Their eyes found each other and Brie wanted to gather her close, hold her. Show her off?
“Jordan Carter,” a tall woman said and the whole group looked in Jordan’s direction. “Come on, Miss MVP. We only beat you, we don’t bite.” Jordan waded through the women and the moment broke with laughter. Brie put her arm around Jordan, smiling. She wanted them to see her with someone else and imprint it on their minds. Especially this someone.
The Ravens’ first baseman handed them each a beer. Brie felt a bit giddy as she explained they were with Vet and Peg, and guided them back to the booth.
“That was a moment,” Vet said.
“It had to happen, sooner or later,” Peg added.
Brie glanced at Jordan from under her eyelashes. “Sooner is nice.”
“Been in here before?” Vet asked.
“No, this just opened,” Jordan said, taking a drink of beer.
Brie looked at her, surprised. How had she known? She didn’t even know about this place, and she raised an eyebrow as Vet and Peg left to dance.
Jordan inched closer to Brie. “You okay?”
Brie nodded.
“How am I doing?”
Brie studied her before she spoke. “You’re good. Confident, interested, just the right amount of attention. Almost too good,” she said, narrowing her eyes with a tease.
“Maybe I’m just good.” Jordan grinned. “You know what’s coming next, don’t you?”
Brie shook her head.
“She’ll want to know why she hasn’t seen me before if I grew up here.”
“Tell the truth, that you were married. Talk ab
out the kids.”
“This is too much fun. Can’t I just wing it?” Jordan said with a sassy grin.
“Okay, I’ll play along, but you could just tell them. They would accept it,” Brie said, looking at Vet and Peg on the dance floor.
“If they ask, I’ll tell the truth,” Jordan said. “I’m having such a good time, Brie.”
Jordan got up to find the bathroom and Vet stayed on the dance floor, talking to some women. Peg sat with Brie and they both watched Jordan walk away. “Look at that cute little butt. Where in God’s name did you find that luscious woman?”
“That’s the woman I crashed into in the park,” Brie said, her eyes still on Jordan. She covered her face with her hands. “You won’t believe this. Can you keep a secret?”
Peg grinned at her, fanning her face.
“She’s straight.”
“What?” Peg sat up, eyes wide. “No way.”
“She’s a widow with two great little kids. If she’s gay, she doesn’t know it.” They both laughed. “I’m trying to get her to tell you, but she hasn’t been out like this in years. She’s having a good time, and you know what, I am too. Thanks for tonight, Peg.”
*
Jordan threaded her way through the crowd of women, looking around at the club. This certainly wasn’t a dinky little bar like the Crow’s Nest. This was a true club with a what’s-happening ambience, lots of mirrors, leather, and plenty of room. She didn’t recognize the music, but she liked it. The women were dressed to kill but she hadn’t expected all that sexual energy and good looks.
Some of Niki’s ball team had given her knowing smiles. They had thought Brie was hers. She walked a little straighter, feeling good about the moment, and grinned to herself as she stepped aside, allowing several women to exit the bathroom. It was empty, or so she thought until she heard breathy words and some heavy-duty moaning. She listened for a moment and tried to wait them out but finally just said to hell with it and flushed the toilet.
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