Now You See Me

by S. Y. Thompson

  Riveted by the sight of Erin’s jean-clad rear end, Carson could only stare. “Found it,” Erin said. “One of the bulbs is broken. Can you bring me one of the spares?”

  “Uh, yeah. Sure.”

  When they were finished Carson and Erin stood back to take stock of their handy work.

  “It’s perfect.”

  Erin nodded her agreement. “All it needs are some gifts underneath. I have yours,” she added eagerly and tore off through the house toward the guest room.

  Carson guffawed at the enthusiastic way the normally composed attorney ran on stocking feet toward the bedroom. “I have yours, too,” she shouted.

  It took longer for Carson to retrieve her packages, and Erin beat her back to the tree. When she returned, Erin had already placed two bundles beneath the tree, one was very large and one was very small and rectangular shaped.

  Carson placed her own boxes under the tree before she looked significantly at the smaller package Erin had brought, and then back up to her. “Don’t tell me you gave me cigars, too?”

  Erin easily caught on to the reference of shopping in the mall together. Erin had gone into the cigar store to get a humidor for her father, and mentioned that she had also bought cigars.

  “Nice try, but I’m not going to tell you what’s inside.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “ARE YOU HUNGRY yet?”

  “Famished,” Erin admitted with some surprise.

  She looked at her watch and was shocked to see it was almost five o’clock. Time had a way of passing quickly when she was with Carson, and they had been so busy with the tree that Erin hadn’t even thought about food.

  “How do grilled steaks with sautéed mushrooms sound?”

  “Like heaven, but isn’t it a little cold to grill steaks outside?”

  “Well, it is cold, but I think it’s worth it. I usually step out and light the grill and come back in until it’s ready.”

  “If you’re sure,” Erin relented. “I don’t want you to freeze just for me.”

  Carson shook her head and smiled. “I do this all the time. Sometimes I even sit out on the deck and watch the duck pond. It’s frozen right now, but other animals still play on it.”

  So Carson was a nature lover, and that was why she owned a big old house so far out from the city. From what she knew of Carson’s childhood, Erin guessed she also wasn’t a big fan of large crowds.

  “I’d like to see the duck pond,” Erin said softly.

  “We’re going to need our coats.”

  Erin followed Carson to the coat closet and they bundled up before they went outside. A door off the family room led out to a large wooden deck, and Carson flipped some wall switches as they passed through. Lights came on out on the deck, and Erin was enchanted by the view. The ground sloped away and two hundred yards from the house Erin could see the large pond that was really a small lake. It was frozen, just as Carson had said, and a low mist hovered above it.

  No wildlife was in sight at the moment, but large trees came down to the edge. Erin could imagine in the spring and summer the place would be booming with all manner of wildlife.

  A covered patio table, surrounded by four chairs, took up center stage on the deck. The cushions had been removed for the winter and all but one of them had been tilted so that the backrest was against the table to keep the rain off them. Erin could almost see Carson out here sipping coffee as she relaxed and took in the day. Down by the water’s edge, near where the sea wall was being built, there was an old boathouse, and a dock.

  “Do you go out on the lake a lot?”

  Carson nodded in answer while she concentrated on removing the grill cover. She lifted the lid and pushed the ignition switch. Flames flared in the bottom of the grill, and Carson adjusted the heat control before she lowered the lid.

  “I like to fish when it’s warm enough,” Carson admitted, “but strictly on a catch and release basis. I’m allergic to freshwater fish. Do you like to fish?”

  Erin shrugged and put her hands in her pockets. “It’s been years since I’ve been. The last time my dad took me, I was ten years old, so I don’t remember much about it, just being on the water with him.”

  “Are they pleasant memories?”

  Erin couldn’t detect any hidden meaning behind the question, and guessed that Carson was merely curious. She didn’t seem jealous of Erin’s close relationship with her father, something Erin knew Carson hadn’t experienced with her own father.

  “Oh yes.” Erin grinned. “Once, I remember we were going down the Ohio River on an old bass boat he had restored. My dad insisted he knew the best fishing spot, and it turned out to be a little eddy completely filled with submerged tree stumps. He was standing in the front when the boat hit one of the stumps, and he flew head over heels into the water.”

  Erin laughed at the memory, and Carson chuckled along with her. “I was the only one with him, and he was yelling at me to turn off the motor. By the time I had it shut off, and he swam to the boat, he was exhausted!”

  “You’re very lucky to have memories like those,” Carson said and slipped an arm around Erin’s shoulders.

  For a moment they just stood there and looked down at the pond, each lost in their own thoughts. “Would you like to go fishing again sometime,” Carson asked.

  “I’d love to.” Erin looked at Carson and smiled. “But not until it warms up a little, huh?”

  “Good point. Now, what do you say that we go inside while the grill heats up?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Back inside, they deposited their coats on a chair since they would be needed again, and Erin followed Carson into the kitchen.

  “I’ve already made the salads, and they’re in the refrigerator.”

  Carson lifted some plastic wrap off a bowl, and two of the biggest steaks Erin had ever seen were marinating inside. Carson didn’t notice Erin’s eyes popping, and continued. “I was thinking we could have baked potatoes on the side, and I made a chocolate caramel cheesecake for dessert. That bottle of red wine you brought would go perfectly with our meal.”

  “And after that we could have a heart by-pass,” Erin added dryly.

  Carson looked at her quickly with a question in her eyes. “Would you prefer something else?”

  “I’m sorry,” Erin said instantly contrite. She walked to Carson and slipped her arms around her waist. Carson returned the embrace and pulled Erin’s head onto her shoulder. “It all sounds lovely. I’m just not accustomed to someone taking care of all the details for me.”

  “Does it bother you?”

  “No,” Erin shook her head minutely. “To be honest, I rather like it. It’s just not easy for me to let someone else make the decisions. I’m used to being in charge, and the one that everyone else goes to.”

  Carson held her gently for a few seconds. “You don’t need to be in control all the time with me. I like doing things for you.”

  Erin laughed and pulled away so she could look up at Carson. “Something tells me that you wouldn’t let me get away with it anyway.”

  “You are correct.”

  Something hot and primal flashed between them, and Erin’s breath came faster when Carson’s eyes lowered to her mouth. Erin reached up and touched each side of Carson’s face to pull her down to her waiting lips. As their lips met, Erin tried to reach up with her entire body to merge with Carson.

  The kiss deepened quickly as Erin’s mouth engulfed Carson’s and her tongue pushed gently against full lips. Instinctively Carson parted her lips and a wave of new sensations, more intense than any she'd felt before filled her completely. She moaned involuntarily as her desire expanded.

  For long moments the world around dropped away and Carson absorbed the taste of Erin’s lips and the almost rough stroking of the tongue inside her mouth. Slowly she came back to herself and eased away from the delicious contact.

  Carson’s eyes were dark with desire, and she took deep, open-mouthed breaths to r
egain her equilibrium. Thoughts of dinner went out the window as she tried to capture Erin’s lips again in another heated kiss, but Erin turned her head to the side and embraced Carson instead.

  “Erin?”

  The hesitant question twisted Erin’s heart. She wanted nothing more than to make love with Carson, but she knew it was too soon.

  “I’m sorry, darling. I guess I’m just a little nervous.”

  “It’s all right. I’m nervous, too, but I do enjoy kissing you.”

  Erin clung to her helplessly before she answered with a smile. “I love kissing you, too. That’s what scares me, how easy this is between us.”

  “Easy? At least you’ve done this before. I’m so afraid you’ll decide I’m inept at this, and head for greener pastures!”

  Erin laughed gently and pulled away from Carson. Then she stood on tiptoe and kissed the tip of her nose. “I don’t think you have to worry about that. Your kisses are wonderful, and I’m already hooked on them. Now, how about dinner, and maybe we’ll have more of those delicious kisses later?”

  “All right,” Carson agreed with a small smile. “But, I hope dinner goes quickly.”

  She took a deep breath and stepped completely out of Erin’s embrace. “I’ll get the potatoes ready for the microwave, and then put the steaks on.”

  “Would you like for me to set the table?”

  Carson was pleased to note that Erin’s voice wasn’t very steady. Just the idea that Erin was more affected than she let on helped steady Carson in a way that all the thoughts of having patience couldn’t.

  “That would be great. Wine glasses are in the top cupboard above the espresso machine, and plates are on the opposite side.”

  Erin smiled at her, and the rest of Carson’s tension drained away. Each of them was busy the next few minutes and conversation was deliberately light with comments on the winter storm expected in later that night.

  Carson pierced the potatoes with a fork and put them into the microwave while Erin set the table. Erin even pulled out the wine and opened it up to breathe as Carson took the steaks and a pair of tongs out onto the deck.

  As was her custom, Carson walked out onto the deck in her shirtsleeves. She was very aware of Erin’s eyes on her as she walked outside. The air was cold, but there wasn’t any wind at the moment, and Carson enjoyed the extreme temperatures. She lifted the lid and placed the steaks on the grill before her eyes wandered down to the frozen pond.

  A curious sensation came on her unexpectedly. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling by any means, and she frowned wondering what it could be. Carson closed her eyes to concentrate on the feeling rather than push it away as most people might have done. It was her usual way to solve problems, and always worked for her as it did now.

  The feeling was fear, but it was more specific than that and was directly related to their experiences in Erin’s office building. Goosebumps broke out on her arms and Carson shivered at the memory. She didn’t know why she thought of him now, and guessed it had to do with the frigid temperatures to which she had deliberately exposed herself. Carson had felt a similar cold in the Holcomb Building, but it was a chilly sensation of dread that had little to do with the actual temperature. Dark and dreadful shapes flickered in her mind, and it was the memory of the dead and injured security guards.

  Carson wondered if Erin had thought of the killer again, and hoped not, though she didn’t think it was possible merely to forget it. Memories such as those were not easy to dispel.

  She shivered again, and Erin startled her. “You’re going to freeze to death. I brought your coat. What are you doing?”

  Carson opened her eyes and smiled. “Thank you.” She put her coat on, and answered. “Nothing, just thinking.”

  “From your expression, I’d say they weren’t pleasant thoughts.”

  Carson turned the steaks to buy time. “The steaks will be done in a few minutes. How do you like yours done?” The change of subject wasn’t very subtle, but she hoped Erin would just let it go. Carson wasn’t sure she could articulate what was bothering her, and she didn’t want to worry Erin unnecessarily.

  “Medium rare.”

  “Ah, in that case they will be done sooner than expected.”

  “You like yours medium rare, too?”

  “Yes,” Carson nodded. “I know that from a strictly religious standpoint rare meat is unacceptable, but I think the meat is too tough if it’s too well done.”

  “I agree, and religion has nothing to do with how tender I like my steak.”

  Carson poked at the meat with a fork a few minutes later and announced that they were done.

  Dinner was pleasant, and the wine flowed freely. Carson wasn’t able to hold onto the fear she had experienced on the deck, and it disappeared as if it had never been. Instead, being near Erin brought back the earlier feelings of warmth and heightened sensation Carson had begun to associate with her.

  After dinner, they stacked the dishes in the dishwasher, and settled on the sofa with coffee and dessert.

  “Delicious,” Erin said after the first mouthful.

  Carson concealed her pleased smile as she concentrated on her own dessert. Finally, dessert was finished and they sat back on the sofa to enjoy the fire. Erin surprised her when she snuggled up against her chest. Carson happily wrapped her arms around Erin, and inhaled the scent of her perfume as they stared into the fire.

  “This is nice,” Erin mumbled.

  “Hmm.”

  Erin lifted her head, and Carson took immediate advantage. She closed the short distance and captured Erin’s lips in a soft kiss. For a moment she held her breath, nervously afraid that Erin would pull away, but she needn’t have worried. Erin groaned into her mouth, and the sound set Carson’s blood on fire.

  When Erin moaned, her lips had parted and Carson felt her tongue, warm and gentle, touch her upper lip. Her arms circled Carson’s waist and pulled her into the lean, strong body. Then they were kissing deeply, mouths open and tongues tangling sweetly.

  Carson’s breath came in soft sighs as Erin teased her lips with gentle tugs and tender nips. Her tongue stroked Carson’s soft lips and Carson moaned with desire.

  Carson leaned forward to lay Erin back onto the sofa cushions, and Erin’s arms slid around her neck to hold her tightly. Erin’s legs parted to welcome Carson deeper into her embrace as she circled her hips.

  Carson shuddered at the feel of Erin’s soft breasts pressing against her. She released Erin’s bruised lips and sucked gently at the elegant throat. Carson felt Erin shudder as she panted helplessly and slid the fingers of one hand into her hair.

  “Carson.”

  Carson didn’t respond as she started to caress the soft skin beneath her with one hand. Her mouth explored Erin’s neck then she moved up to lick gently at the shell of the small ear, while her hand moved slowly toward the soft breasts that she had wanted to touch for so long.

  “Carson!”

  Erin tensed, and this time Carson pulled away to see what was wrong. Erin’s eyes were closed, and her tongue darted out to wet her lips nervously. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked up at Carson. Erin raised one hand to Carson’s cheek and stroked softly with the back of her fingers as she smiled tremulously.

  “Do you need to stop,” Carson asked.

  Erin looked away quickly, caught by her hesitance before she looked back up at Carson. “If we don’t, I won’t be able to. Things are going just a little too quickly for me. Is that all right?”

  “I won’t say that I’m happy to stop,” Carson admitted gently, “but I understand. I know you want me, I can feel it and I can taste it in your kiss. Right now, that’s enough. Can you tell me why you are afraid to be with me?”

  “Because there will be repercussions. Carson, you haven’t been with anyone before, and if we do this, there will be consequences. Maybe you’ll think that you will feel more than what you do because of a physical relationship, and then later you’ll regret what happened. I couldn’t bear th
at. I guess I just want you to be sure.”

  Carson pulled away slowly and sat up. Her hands folded between her knees and she stared into the fire while Erin sat up beside her.

  “You sound as though you’ve been through this before, like someone hurt you very much.” Carson looked away from the fire and into Erin’s sad eyes. “But I am not this other woman, and I know how I feel.”

  “I’m sure you think you do,” Erin acknowledged gently. “And it’s true that this has happened to me before. I thought she loved me, I thought we were both in love. Later she told me that it had all been a mistake, and that she wasn’t in love with me. Six months later, she married a man that she worked with. That was six years ago.”

  Carson was torn by the story. On one hand, her heart went out to the woman that she knew she loved completely, but at the same time, she was concerned that Erin would judge her by her ex-girlfriend’s actions.

  “What was her name,” Carson asked trying very hard to keep her voice neutral.

  “Rose. Rosemarie Cantorri.”

  Erin’s expression was so bleak that Carson was sure she was reliving her experience in her mind. Carson was sympathetic to Erin’s fear, but she was also frustrated with passion. What she mostly felt, at that moment, was her own burning need, and her disappointment that Erin was unable to move beyond the past. If Erin wasn’t ready to move forward, Carson had to be content with that but it was important for Erin to look at what was developing between them with fresh eyes.

  Carson put an arm around Erin’s shoulder and pulled her close against her side. She rested her cheek against Erin’s soft hair, and thought about what Erin had told her.

  “All along you’ve been saying that you want me to be sure, but that isn’t true.” Carson said gently. “You want you to be sure. I can’t help you with that, Erin. But, make no mistake, I know how I feel, and I know that I want to be with you. When you’re ready, let me know.”

  Carson’s voice lowered the more she spoke and when she finished it was barely above a whisper. Maybe it was time to call it a night before things got too serious. She squeezed Erin’s shoulders gently, placed a kiss on top of her head, and stood up. Carson looked down at Erin’s bent head before she offered her a hand to stand up.