by Julie Cannon
“My father raised me better than that. He’d come back to haunt me if I let a beautiful woman walk to the door unaccompanied.” Elliott placed her hand on the small of Lauren’s back as they climbed the few stairs to the front door.
Lauren’s mind raced as she unlocked the deadbolt. Was this a date? What do we do now? Is she going to kiss me? After several moments it was apparent that Elliott didn’t know the answers either. “Thanks again for a lovely evening, Elliott. Good night.”
Elliott was surprised and relieved when Lauren closed the door. Her mind and body had been in direct conflict over what she wanted to do, standing with Lauren on her porch. She battled over whether or not to simply say good night or kiss her senseless. Lauren had given no indication of her preference, and Elliott sensed she would not be rejected if she moved toward her. But before one could overrule the other, Lauren had taken the decision out of her hands by saying good night. With sharp realization Elliott recalled Lauren’s words: I won’t approach you again. As she strolled back to her car, she understood that Lauren meant exactly what she’d said.
*
“Mark, I’ve told you before, I don’t want you in my office if I’m not here.” Her brother-in-law had his ass in her chair and his feet on her desk. She wanted to slap the smug look off his face but refrained. She was just about to her limit with him, Stephanie be damned.
“Good afternoon to you too, Elliott.” He didn’t move.
Elliott walked around her desk and batted his feet off the polished cherrywood. The momentum made him stand up, and he strutted to the chair across from her. She often thought he walked like a stuffed peacock. “What do you want?”
“No small talk, El? No how are you, Mark, or how are Stephanie and the kids? Tsk, tsk. I know you have better office etiquette than that.”
She hated it when he called her El and hated it even more when he reminded her he was married to her sister. She pasted a look of boredom on her face and didn’t answer him.
“I came by to let you know I had the preliminary marketing materials drawn up on the Gallien deal.”
The Gallien deal was a multi-million-dollar investment proposal that Mark had pitched unsuccessfully to her several weeks earlier. As she’d listened to his proposition, she detected more than the usual amount of greed in his eyes. Apparently Mark hadn’t heard what he didn’t want to hear.
“I told you that Foster is not going to recommend Gallien to anyone.”
“Elliott, this could mean millions to our clients and to us. We could write our ticket with this one.”
You mean millions to you. “We already have our ticket. It’s built on things like honesty and integrity. I’m not going to endorse a deal that doesn’t meet our standards.”
“I don’t understand.” Mark was trying to keep the edge out of his voice but she knew him better than that. “You read the prospectus, you saw the numbers. It’s cash in the bank.”
She didn’t have time for his bullshit and was not interested in pacifying him. “Mark, the answer is no.”
His expression turned ugly. “Elliott, you’re making a mistake. Gallien is going big, and the board is going to want answers as to why we didn’t get involved.”
She refused to take the bait. She would not have Mark’s insinuations of going to the board determine what she did. This was a bad deal and she knew it. “Is there anything else, Mark? I’ve got things to do.”
His answer was to slam the door behind him. A split second later it opened again and Teresa entered. “Rebecca’s here.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Christ.” Elliott’s stomach seized. This was not going to be pretty.
“Do you want me to get Ryan on the phone?” Teresa offered.
“No, he’s in Cancun with his family. Go ahead and show her in. If no one comes out after ten minutes, call 911. Okay?”
Teresa gave her a grim smile. “It’s your funeral.”
Elliott steeled herself. She had just started to kid herself that Rebecca was out of her life for good, scared off by the FBI and exposed by the media. But the blond bombshell walked in like she owned the place and sat in one of the wingback chairs in front of her desk. She was wearing an expensive suit, and the skirt bared most of her thigh when she crossed her legs. It never crossed Elliott’s mind to sneak a peek.
“Rebecca,” she said by way of greeting. It was too soon to guess at her mood, so she remained on high alert.
“I’ll get right to the point,” Rebecca said. “I was thinking about our last chat.”
Chat was not the word Elliott would have used. “What about it?”
“We ended things badly. I don’t think you understand my position, Elliott.” Her voice was soft and sweet.
“Refresh my memory.”
“I hate to talk about money. It is just so uncouth.” Rebecca fancied herself as upper crust when in fact she had simply traded
on her looks to leave the trailer park behind. “But thanks to you, my husband is divorcing me, and that’s a problem.”
“Shit happens.” Elliott relaxed back in her chair and smiled.
An eerie sense of calm settled over her. She could handle Rebecca. Every last trace of desire had vanished. She allowed her eyes to drift over the body that had once distracted her so completely. Something had changed about Rebecca’s appearance. Maybe she’d lost weight or had “work.” Her eyes seemed flintier and her nose more porous. Her mouth looked puffy instead of pouty. Elliott didn’t even find her attractive, let alone irresistible. Knowing she finally had the clear-sightedness to deal with her appropriately, she listened to the latest demand.
“So I’m owed some sort of compensation. I’m now suffering because of you. If it wasn’t for who you are, I wouldn’t have television reporters pestering me.”
Elliott shrugged. “You would not have hit on me if it wasn’t for who I am, either. Or attempted to blackmail me.”
“I’ve dropped the lawsuit and I’m not talking to reporters, just like the FBI said. And they took away my computer, so I can’t do anything with those e-mails. What more do you want?”
“I want you to walk away,” Elliott said. “Just get out of my life.”
Rebecca’s eyes glittered and she smoothed her tight top down over her ample breasts. “Then we can do each other a favor. I’m willing to leave San Diego if I have enough money to get settled somewhere.”
“Sounds like more blackmail to me,” Elliott noted.
“Call it whatever you like. I call it buying peace and quiet.”
Elliott leaned her elbows on the desk and steepled her fingers under her chin. “My life will be peaceful if I pay you to be quiet. Is that how it is?”
“I knew you would see it my way.” Smug satisfaction plastered Rebecca’s face.
“No, I don’t.” Elliott picked up the phone. “Teresa, please show Ms. Alsip out.”
“No?” Rebecca’s voice became as hard as the glare in her eyes. “I don’t think you want to do that.”
“Why, because you’ll call me names to my board?” Elliott laughed. “Be my guest. I told you, they know I’m a lesbian, and anyone who forgot has seen it in the newspaper by now. My clients also know, and as far as they’re concerned, as long as I continue to make them rich, they don’t care.”
“They will when I put a video of us on the Internet.” Rebecca announced her trump card with tangible glee.
Elliott had no idea if Rebecca had kept her most embarrassing evidence until last or if she was simply inventing a new lever now that the FBI had prevented her from going public with the damaging e-mails. It no longer mattered. She reached calmly under a stack of papers and pulled out the small recording machine she habitually used to record her thoughts about various projects. Teresa later converted her ramblings into coherent notes.
“You don’t have an edge, Rebecca. You have a cliff, and I have what it takes to push you over. I’m calling your bluff. I’m going to give this tape to the FBI and you’ll be out of my life for
good. You know, Rebecca, I don’t think they’re going to be happy to know you acted against their instructions in a matter of national security. But relax, I’m sure you’ll make new friends in prison. You might even learn how to fuck better.”
Rebecca blinked uncertainly. “You wouldn’t do that to me.”
From the doorway, Teresa spoke up. “Ms. Alsip, may I call a taxi for you?”
“Elliott?” Rebecca finally seemed to understand she had no bargaining chips. Her chest heaving, she stood. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t work.”
Teresa snorted.
“There is one thing I will do for you, Rebecca,” Elliott said in a benevolent tone. “You’re asking me for money because we had sex, correct?”
Rebecca nodded uneasily. “If you put it that way.”
“Hookers are entitled to be paid for their services. I will admit, I wasn’t aware that our arrangement was supposed to be professional, but I know my responsibilities.” Elliott opened the side drawer of her desk and pulled out a stack of bills, then rose and walked around her desk to stand in front of Rebecca. She tossed the bills in her lap. “This is what you’re worth. Now get out.”
Rebecca didn’t say another word. She put the cash in her Gucci purse and walked out.
*
“She seems to be a great kid,” Elliott observed as she and Lauren waited outside the dressing room for Tonya to finish trying on jeans. Their discussion earlier that morning had turned into lunch and a shopping spree.
Lauren smiled. “Yes she is. She’s come a long way.”
“I’m sure you’re the reason. She obviously looks up to you.”
Lauren acknowledged the compliment. “Thanks. It’s a big responsibility, but Tonya’s done all the work. I’m just enjoying myself helping her get there. We haven’t missed a scheduled day the entire time we’ve been together. It’s important to both of us.”
“You continually surprise me,” Elliott said, thinking out loud.
“I’ll take that as a compliment…I guess,” Lauren teased.
Further conversation was thwarted when Tonya emerged from the dressing room, determined to find a shirt to match the jeans in her hand. “And Lauren needs a swimsuit,” she announced eagerly.
“I can help with that,” Elliott offered. “I have swimsuit expertise.” She looked long and hard at those areas on Lauren’s body that would be covered by a suit. The tinier the better.
“I’m sure you do.” Lauren waited until Tonya was distracted by a display of swimwear, then elbowed Elliott sharply. “Stop it. You’re making me—” She almost said “wet” but inserted, “nervous.”
Elliott’s bold stare and raised eyebrows only made matters worse, and Lauren took refuge in the racks of skimpy costumes. Under relentless pressure from her companions, she finally agreed to try on a suit that Tonya picked out. It took several minutes of cajoling and outright begging by Tonya to get her to come out and model the suit. I can’t go out there dressed in this! Actually, I can’t go out there undressed like this! Lauren took one last look in the mirror and spoke so only she could hear. On second thought, maybe I should.
Elliott was sitting next to Tonya, both of them giggling, when Lauren stepped out. The giggling ceased and her wide-eyed audience stared in silence.
Elliott’s breath stopped in her throat. Holy Mother of God. Her blood pounded and her ears roared as she surveyed the expanse of skin left uncovered by the bikini. She was thankful to be sitting down, because she began to feel light-headed as her eyes locked on the bronzed body that was so close she could touch it. She gripped the bottom of the seat to keep from reaching out and caressing the beautiful form. As Lauren performed a slow turn, Elliott felt a gush of arousal dampen her panties.
Bingo! Lauren was in no doubt of what she saw in Elliott’s eyes, and she was proud to know that she could make her react this way. She knew Elliott had desired her once, and there was always a level of flirtation between them, but until this moment she had been uncertain of her true feelings. The undisguised desire in her eyes was as loud and clear as if she’d shouted it from a mountaintop. Lauren’s body grew hot in the places where Elliott’s eyes traveled and she knew her nipples had grown hard when Elliott’s eyes widened at that spot.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Tonya stepped in front of Lauren to show her another suit before either of them could act, and Lauren wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed. She stepped back into the dressing room on shaking legs. She had never felt as bare as she had when she saw the look of burning longing in Elliott’s eyes. She took her time dressing, reluctant yet anxious to come face-to-face with the woman who had ravished her with her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed when she returned to her companions and when her eyes met Elliott’s she felt as naked as she had a moment ago, even though she was now fully clothed.
Elliott was subdued for the rest of the shopping trip and kept her distance from Lauren to ease the temptation to reach out and touch her. If she acted on her urges, she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop and that frightened her. As they wandered from store to store, Elliott distracted herself by talking with Tonya and taking charge of the increasing number of shopping sacks.
“How about I take you two beautiful women out to dinner?” She directed the question to Lauren when everyone had agreed their feet were killing them and it was time to stop.
Tonya excitedly accepted, and after a dinner of hamburgers and ice cream they took her home, then Lauren drove Elliott back to her office parking lot to pick up her car.
“I had a great time today,” Elliott said as Lauren parked. “I can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun, especially shopping. I generally hate shopping.” She rolled her eyes expressively.
“You hate shopping? Elliott, that’s almost un-American!” Elliott laughed and Lauren continued. “If you hate shopping, why did you want to come along?”
Elliott hesitated a few moments as she thought about her answer. She decided that honesty was the best policy. “Because it sounded like fun.” Okay, a half-truth was still honest.
“Well, I know Tonya enjoyed having you along. Thanks for agreeing to meet with her.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Elliott’s voice seemed tense, and Lauren turned to face her. She’d noticed that Elliott had withdrawn from her after the swimsuit display and she tried not to speculate on the reasons. In a way, it was a relief. Lauren knew she would not be able to drive away alone if she caught another glimpse of that naked desire. She knew she should be pleased that the comfortable Elliott had returned, but she felt let down and slightly bitter.
Trying not to show it, she said, “I had a good time too.”
There was a moment of awkwardness in the interior of the car before Elliott got out and closed the door behind her. She leaned in through the open window. “One more thing.” Her eyes grew dark and sultry. “You looked really hot in that suit.” She said good-bye to a bright red Lauren.
*
I can’t do this! I can’t do this! Lauren’s face flashed in front of her eyes, and Elliott rolled off the naked brunette lying beneath her. “I can’t do this, I’m sorry.” She quickly gathered her clothes and was out the door before the woman got out of bed.
She didn’t stop moving until she’d parked her car in an empty lot eighteen blocks away. Her heart pounded as she turned off the ignition and sat in silence, leaning her head back on the headrest. Oh my God, what did I almost do? She opened her eyes and looked through her windshield into the black night. The panic that engulfed her when she was about to make love to the woman had subsided. Her breathing was returning to normal and her head was starting to clear. As it did, she struggled to sort through her thoughts. What in the hell is going on with me?
But she knew exactly what the problem was. She had allowed Lauren to drive off. They should have spent the night together. All it would have taken was for her to to tell Lauren the truth, that she wanted her and cared about her. It didn’t seem that complicated, ye
t she had chosen the safe and familiar path, an evening in a bar with strangers.
After several drinks she was sitting close to a brunette who had a body she wanted to get lost in, and for at least ten minutes Elliott had felt like her old self. The woman was more than willing and had her hands all over Elliott the minute they were inside her apartment. Unfortunately, from that point on, everything went to hell.
Elliott started her car and got back on the road. She wasn’t in the mood to go home to her empty bed, so she headed for the nearest source of comfort and support. Twenty minutes later she was sitting on a red leather couch with a large mug of coffee, and Victoria’s soothing pronouncements.
“So, let me get this straight—no pun intended. You’ve met this wonderful woman, a woman like you’ve never encountered before, who challenges you, is interested in you, and just so happens to be beautiful. So…tonight you went out and drank too much and slept with someone else? Did I get it all right?”
Ouch. “I didn’t sleep with her,” Elliott clarified.
“Elliott, you were naked in bed on top of her. Let’s not quibble over semantics.”
“I felt like I was cheating on her.” Elliott was shocked to hear herself saying this. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I want to know everything about her, what she does, what she thinks, what she likes for breakfast, and where she likes to go on vacation. Does she cry at sad movies, what’s her favorite ice cream…” She trailed off and rubbed the back of her neck. “I want to be a better person for her.”
“That doesn’t sound like you.” Victoria frowned. “You haven’t had an accident or something, have you? Maybe a head injury…”
“You think I’m crazy?”
“No, I think something has knocked some sense into you at last. I was just wondering how it happened.”
“I might have known I’d get no sympathy from you.” Elliott paused, lost in thought for a moment, trying to analyze the problem. “I don’t know what to do, Vic. I mean, my God, we’ve gone out a few times, and apart from the very beginning, we’ve barely kissed. If I don’t have a woman in bed by the second date, I move on.”