“Nothing concrete ties them together. What happened with the house sitter could’ve been a typical attempted breakin. What happened at the Jessups could’ve been Noah visiting his girlfriend. The other one Antoine investigated could’ve very well been the woman’s husband who sneaked back after the fight to see if his wife was sleeping with someone else.” Kirsten sighed. “I’m not sure I can make anything out of what Carla said about her flowerbed. She’s an attention hog. She likes to be in the middle of everything, and peeper rumors were already going around when she called us. I don’t think I’m being dismissive where she’s concerned. Someone reported a bear was tearing up their fruit trees, and suddenly, Carla had a bear. They aren’t common around here. Someone reported that they left their car unlocked, and things were stolen out of it overnight. Carla reported the same thing. So I may only have three incidents.”
Rusty acted as though she were shoving a box out of the way. “All right, we have the lid on that. I assume you’re trained to consider all possibilities, and that’s what you’re doing. Instinct plays—where did this salad come from?” Rusty picked up her fork, dug in, and after a bite, she made what sounded like a mewl. “This is outstanding.”
“Glad you like it. Now what were you saying?”
“You’re having a hard time trusting your instincts because you have some strong personal issues at play. Put those in a mental box and just examine what your gut tells you. What kind of lettuce is this? How would you handle this if everyone agreed with your hypothesis? Oh! An olive.”
Kirsten watched in fascination as Rusty tore through her salad as though she were in a contest to see who could eat the quickest. “I can’t, that’s the problem. When I try to clear my head and string everything together, I get uptight. I don’t want to be wrong. That would make my dad think he was right about my judgment being clouded because I’m a woman. I’m the first female chief. I feel like he wants me to fail, so he can say a woman shouldn’t hold that position. That’s the way he makes me feel.” Kirsten tapped the table with her finger. “This is the crux. That still makes me the weak link. I’m being motivated by pride and fear, and I have to get a handle on that.” Kirsten picked up her fork, filled it with salad, and shoved it into her mouth.
“You need stress relief. That’s why I think we need to have sex.”
Lettuce rained down on the table as it shot from Kirsten’s mouth.
“All right, that was blunt. I realize now that I shouldn’t have blurted out what was going through my head.” Rusty regarded the mess on the table. “Let’s shelve that discussion for now because I can see that you’re not ready to mentally grasp the proposal I have drawn up in my mind.”
*******
Kirsten was shocked into silence for a moment or two by Rusty’s stress relief advice. The tables around them gradually began to fill up, and Kirsten felt it wasn’t a good idea to revisit the topic until they were alone. Rusty went back to chatting about the flowers she and Stella had planted and how she’d really begun to enjoy working with her hands and being outside.
Kirsten had found Rusty extremely alluring the moment they met. As their friendship grew, Kirsten became more attracted to Rusty’s sometimes bizarre personality. The growing interest came to a halt, though, when she found out that Rusty was in Ancelet Bay for a limited time. Kirsten erected an emotional partition then.
When their dinner arrived, Rusty attacked the fish with the same enthusiasm she had the salad. Kirsten had chosen the small filet with crab meat, and at any other time, she would’ve devoured the meal just as fast as Rusty. One suggestion seemed to change everything. Concerns that Kirsten had when they sat down at the table were forced into the back of her mind as arousal and intrigue took center stage. Her appetite for food switched to an immediate craving for something else.
The server arrived to collect Rusty’s empty plate the moment she took her last bite. Kirsten smiled up at him and said, “I think I filled up on the salad, would you bring me a box, please?”
“Is your food bad?” Rusty asked with concern. “I’ll order you something else.”
“No, actually, it was delicious. It’ll make a great lunch tomorrow. Look, I want to pick up the tab because I ordered one of the most expensive dishes.”
“I invited you, and I’ll take care of the check. That’s how it works,” Rusty said with a smile. “Besides, you’ve helped me with a lot, and I want to show my appreciation.”
*******
Kirsten wasn’t accustomed to being treated like a lady. She was the one who opened doors and paid for meals, so her step faltered a bit when Rusty opened the door to her car again and held it. She nodded and said, “We need to talk.”
“Oh, yes, we do. I want you to hear my proposal. It includes performance bonuses,” Rusty said giddily as Kirsten got into the car.
Kirsten looked a little dazed as she gazed up at Rusty. “I’m…I’m not a hooker.”
“Of course not, you’re the police chief.” Rusty closed the door and quickly went to her side of the car and got in. “Bonuses don’t all have to be monetary.”
Kirsten was still stunned. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
“You’re single, I’m single, we’re both dealing with stressful issues, and sex could be a very pleasant way to reduce said stress. Anything emotional would just convolute what can be a very pleasurable experience. Therefore, we should sit down and hammer out the details of our contract before any action takes place.” Rusty waved a hand casually as she drove out of the parking lot. “Orgasm requirements, what’s off-limits, whether or not we should sleep over, things like that.”
Kirsten was staring straight ahead at the road and burst out laughing. “You have a wicked sense of humor. You’re so funny. You’re so…” She glanced at Rusty, who was not laughing or even smiling. “Oh, my God, you really are serious.”
“I don’t joke around when I’m making a deal.”
“How many of these deals have you made with women?”
“This is my first, and I’ve learned when you’re approaching something for the first time, you make a lot of mistakes. I’m trying to circumvent that by contemplating all angles. That’s why we need to sit down and make a list of our requirements.”
“You seriously want to put pen to paper on something like this?” Kirsten asked, completely flummoxed.
“No, I’ll type it up, then we’ll both go over it before we sign. You’ll have a copy for your records, and so will I.”
Kirsten fluctuated between moments of stunned silence and hysterical laughter. “I’ve never…I don’t…I can’t think.”
“Do you want to go to my place and write this up, or do you have a computer and printer at your house?”
“Rusty, I…I…this is so formal.”
“I really need to know which way to turn here,” Rusty said as she stopped at an intersection. “Your place or mine?”
“Um…mine.”
“Do you have a printer?”
Kirsten’s brow shot up. “Well, yeah.” She scrubbed her face and started talking to herself. “My mind is blown, it’s gonna take me days to process this Rusty logic.”
“Consider this. Let’s say I go inside with you when we get to your house. I hold and kiss you, seduce you, and we sleep together. After the experience, you would have questions. You’d want to know what my expectations are, what the act meant. Don’t you want to know that ahead of time, so you can thoroughly enjoy the experience without doubts?”
“I guess what’s throwing me is the businesslike approach to a very intimate and sensual thing that usually happens spontaneously,” Kirsten said as Rusty turned into her driveway and parked.
Rusty took off her seat belt. “All right, I’m going to kiss you, and maybe you’ll feel more relaxed.”
“No…no, you’re not.” Kirsten got all tangled in her own belt as she squirmed around. “This just feels—it’s wrong.”
“Why?” Rusty’s brow shot up. “Do you find me unappeal
ing?”
“No, that’s not it. I need time to process this.” Kirsten frantically searched for the clip to the seat belt. She inhaled deeply once she was free of it.
“Take a day or two to consider my offer, but I still want to kiss you. I think that would help because you would know then if we have chemistry.”
“This is so clinical, I feel like I need to go inside and dissect a frog.”
Rusty looked confused. “You need to do what?”
Kirsten laughed to dispel the tension she felt. “Your logic fascinates me.”
“Wait until I show you the rest of my skills, you’ll be more than fascinated. Come here.”
“No.” Kirsten pressed her body against her door. “I have to take the lead on something, damn it. You’re making me feel like a virgin.”
Rusty shrugged. “All right, you kiss me.”
Kirsten stared at Rusty a moment and realized how rapidly she was breathing and her pulse was pounding in her head. Before she changed her mind, she grabbed the front of Rusty’s shirt and pulled her close. She hesitated only a second before covering Rusty’s mouth with her own. The kiss was hard, almost bruising, and definitely not one of Kirsten’s best. She pulled away but kept a grip on Rusty’s shirt. “Let me do that again,” she said before meeting Rusty’s mouth gently. She stroked Rusty’s lips softly with her own before their tongues met. Rusty’s hands wove into Kirsten’s hair and held her in place as the kiss deepened and had more of an effect on her than she figured it would.
Rusty looked a bit dazed when Kirsten released her. She sank back into her seat and said, “Kirsten, think hard.”
Kirsten got out of the car quickly. “I will.” She was about to shut the door when Rusty stopped her.
“Yes, I was looking at your butt earlier, and it’s adorable,” Rusty said with a grin.
“Good night,” Kirsten said with a sigh and closed the door. She jogged up the stairs, knowing if she didn’t hurry inside, she’d get right back into Rusty’s car.
Rusty waited until Kirsten opened her door before she drove away.
Chapter Nineteen
It was a long time before Rusty fell asleep that night, and even after she did, she tossed and turned as sensual dreams filled her sleeping brain. The fingers of a faceless woman trailed down her stomach, and just before she got to the spot Rusty craved to be touched, the dream switched. She was standing in the living room of her condo, and Lydia was at the window looking out over the city. Women had come and gone from Rusty’s life, but Lydia was the most recent ex. Rusty was drawn to the way the late afternoon sun illuminated her fair skin. Her gaze drifted over Lydia’s backside accented by a tight skirt that led down to beautifully shaped calves.
Rusty was still in a state of arousal. She wanted Lydia, but there was something that kept telling her not to close the gap between them. Lydia wasn’t safe.
“What are you going to do for me?” Lydia asked as she continued to gaze out the window.
“Whatever you want. Do you see me?”
Lydia didn’t answer the question. “I want connections, I want you to introduce me to every influential person you know.”
“All right, fine,” Rusty said, more than willing. “Look at me.”
“I need money, a place to live, a car.”
“You already have those things,” Rusty said in confusion.
“It’s not enough. What are you going to give me?”
“What’re you going to give me in return?” Rusty asked.
Lydia turned then and gazed at her, eyes cold. “Nothing.”
Overcome with disappointment, Rusty found herself back in front of the house that haunted her dreams. It was no longer just a frame. Wooden walls had been erected with cutouts for the windows. She gazed up at it in wonder as her sadness dissipated.
“It’s coming along great now, isn’t it?” Neil poked his head out of one of the window openings.
“Did you do this?” Rusty asked.
“I want to help, but you’re the one really making this happen.” He lowered his voice and said, “There’s an old woman in here wearing a hat. Who is she?”
Stella poked her head out of another window then. “Hey, this is my room, Achmed. We need more flamingos.”
“Oh, no, none of those in there. Stella, how did you get here?”
“You invited me. Who’s the bald guy?”
“I’m Neil,” he said with a smile and waved. “She invited me too, nice to meet you, Stella.”
“Back at you, baldy.” Stella returned her attention to Rusty. “Achmed, you really need to get to work if you’re gonna invite all kinds of people in here. You need to come inside.”
“Yes, you do,” Neil agreed.
Rusty tried to take a step but found herself welded in place. “I want to, but I can’t.”
“You just walk in, it’s easy,” Stella said. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I don’t know,” Rusty said, totally confused.
“She does, but she won’t admit it, not even to herself,” Justine said as she appeared in the fog.
Rusty refused to face her mother and closed her eyes. “Don’t start on me. I’m too tired to fight you anymore. You’re never going to understand me, and I can’t understand you.”
“You’ve given up then,” Justine said coldly. “Admit it, you’re a failure.”
Rusty gazed up at Stella and Neil, hoping they would jump to her defense, but neither spoke a word. Both stared at her expectantly. She felt heavy beneath a burden she couldn’t see.
“Go inside, Rusty.”
Kirsten’s voice was all around, but she was nowhere in sight. “I can’t. I can’t make myself move.” Rusty looked around, desperate to see her. “Is Kirsten inside?”
Neil shrugged. “I don’t know her.”
“I hear her, but I don’t see her,” Stella said.
“Admit your failure,” Justine insisted.
Rusty shook her head as anger surged within her. “I will not! My world is green, I’m building my house, and you don’t like it. Taunt me all you will, but I won’t stop until you’re forced to see that you failed to stop me.”
Neil smiled. Stella banged her flamingo on the window frame and yelled, “Give her hell, girl!”
Rusty continued to look around for Kirsten because she could still hear her softly imploring her to go inside. “Why won’t she show herself?”
“She’s close,” Stella said. “She only wants what’s best for you. I think you know that already.”
Rusty sat straight up when a loud clap of thunder jolted her awake. It was after sunrise, but the bedroom was dark. She got out of bed and peeked through the blinds and watched as rain pounded the window.
*******
Kirsten sat at her kitchen table, chin in hand, watching torrents of rain splash on her back deck. Exhausted from all the things whirling in her mind, she’d fallen asleep when her head hit the pillow. When she awoke, though, her sole focus was on Rusty and the deal. Kirsten knew she was going to accept, but that didn’t stop her from wondering what it might cost her in the long run.
In unguarded moments, Kirsten thought she noticed warmth in Rusty’s eyes when she gazed at her. They were comfortable with each other, talked freely without fear of judgment. Kirsten believed something was growing between them, and it wasn’t just lust. Kirsten deduced that Rusty had taken whatever burgeoning feelings she might’ve had and applied her logic to make the situation best fit her needs and wants as though she were buying a car. With that in mind, Kirsten knew it wasn’t wise to get involved with Rusty intimately, but there was a tiny sliver of hope in the back of her mind that Rusty might begin to consider what Kirsten was becoming more convinced of—they could be good together.
Kirsten picked up a pen and held it above a piece of paper poised to write what she wanted from the deal. Her intent was to show Rusty that she could be equally as emotionally removed, even though it wasn’t true. “Write something,” she said aloud, angry th
at she couldn’t think of anything. Finally, she tossed the pen aside and crumpled the paper before she went off to shower.
*******
Rusty had bathed and dressed, then wondered why she’d gone to the trouble as she lay on her couch staring at the TV. The power flickered when lightning lit up the room and thunder clapped almost at the same time. She toyed with her phone and wondered when she would hear from Kirsten and what she would say. Unlike Kirsten, however, Rusty didn’t mull how she might feel when it came time to say goodbye. She’d learned after years of disappointment to shut off her feelings in that department. She felt as long as she stayed focused on what Kirsten might allow her, she could keep emotion locked completely out.
She reasoned that had she done that with Lydia, they’d probably still be together. Lydia had never misrepresented herself; she’d demonstrated from the start that she was incapable of offering Rusty even a sliver of her heart. Lydia was also a businesswoman and worked every bit as hard as Rusty did. That was the first thing Rusty noted they had in common. The second was a voracious sexual appetite, and Rusty felt like she had finally met her match. Problems arose when Rusty developed a need for genuine affection. She was more surprised by that than Lydia was. What confused Rusty even more was she knew she didn’t love Lydia, but she still wanted to be made to feel special. Lydia couldn’t make that happen, and all of Rusty’s sexual interest vanished like a wisp of smoke on a breeze. Once that happened, there was nothing left between them.
Rusty jumped up when someone banged on the door. When she opened it, she found Kirsten dripping wet on her porch with her hands stuffed in the pockets of her jeans. “My answer is yes,” Kirsten said. “I’m not signing anything, though. That’s just too strange for me. We have a level of trust between us already, can you accept that?”
“Yes.” Rusty opened the door and allowed Kirsten inside. “You need to take off those wet clothes.”
“Okay, you know what? I’m gonna need a minute to shift into that particular gear.”
Rusty Logic Page 14