“Because she’s beautiful and she didn’t take herself or her money too seriously.”
“Definitely have to meet them now.”
“I’d love for you to. We could go to their place and I could show you all the good hiding places.”
“Better people than me have tried to resist that, I’m sure. But back to breakfast. You want to come back to my place? I actually have food. And beverages.”
“Better people than me have tried to resist that, I’m sure,” Summer parroted, earning an elbow jab to the ribs. “I would be happy to eat your food.”
“Better,” Renny said with a mock scowl. “If you want you could hang out till it’s time to go over to Keile’s,” she said with studied casualness.
Summer nodded. “That would be great. And not because it would save me a trip back over here.”
Renny tilted her head to the side, her smile deliberately flirtatious. “Should I be flattered that you showed up early and you want to spend more time with me?”
“I don’t know. Is the truth flattering or is it fact?”
Renny shook her head. “No philosophical questions until I’ve had at least another cup of coffee. Maybe two.”
“Where’s the fun in that? The best philosophical discussions take place in the realm of pre-wakefulness. You know, when you’re not asleep and yet not fully awake, so your mind is freer to consider the impossible.”
“I haven’t visited that realm since I became sober. Looking back, I don’t think the impossible is all it’s cracked up to be.”
“You haven’t been doing it right.”
“I’m not touching that one.” Renny whistled for Chazz. “I’d need at least three cups of coffee for that.”
Summer retrieved her bike and fell into step with Renny and Chazz. “Was that a challenge?”
She pursed her lips, gave Summer a sideways glance. “You’re different. More confident. I like it.”
“My foundation’s been shored up. I’m not so afraid a misstep will lead to a complete collapse. Changes everything.”
“Not who you are underneath, I bet,” Renny said, getting a firmer grip of Chazz’s collar as they approached a couple walking a black Lab. “Bet it didn’t change your heart.”
“Okay, maybe not everything,” Summer conceded. “Can I assume you’ve recovered from the date from hell?”
“Enough to finish the book.”
“Renny, that’s wonderful! Here I am going on and on about me and you have this great news. You should have said something sooner. You must feel great.”
“It’s only the first draft,” she cautioned. “I’ll let it sit, then give it a good edit. But yeah, it feels effing great to have pumped it out and way ahead of schedule.”
Summer gave Renny’s hand a quick squeeze. “I should be taking you out to breakfast to celebrate. We’ll do dinner one day this week. Toast it with sparkling grape juice.”
“You know they don’t sell that in restaurants, right?”
“I’ll bring my own. In a discreet brown paper bag.”
“Please don’t think you have to abstain from drinking alcohol around me. I can handle it.”
“Not drinking isn’t a problem for me. I haven’t touched alcohol in three years. I never was much of a drinker anyway.”
“Just know it doesn’t bother me.” As they made the left onto her street, Chazz picked up his pace. “He always does this. Like all of sudden he realizes he’s been away from home.”
“Wow, a purple door,” Summer said as they walked up the driveway. “Do you use that as a landmark?”
“Courtesy of my grandmother.” Renny unlocked the front door and motioned for Summer to enter. “As you can see, she liked the colorful.” She pointed to the bright yellow walls of the foyer. “I haven’t had to do much to the house. She kept it in great shape. For me, I guess.”
Summer took off her jacket and handed it to Renny. “Love the hardwood floors.”
“Feel free to look around while I go throw something together for brunch.”
In the kitchen, Renny arranged the foodstuffs on the table. She’d stopped by the store yesterday on the way home from Summer’s place with this occasion in mind. Because of that, she put more effort into making the small kitchen table look like something she’d seen in a magazine.
“I like your house.” Summer entered the kitchen with Chazz at her heels.
“Again, most of the credit goes to my grandmother.” Renny motioned at the table. “Please join me.”
“This looks nice.” Summer pulled out a chair.
“If you’re not hungry at least eat the doughnuts and spare my ass. If it gets any bigger it’ll need its own zip code.”
“Leave your ass alone. I happen to like it.” Summer transferred two chocolate-covered doughnuts to her plate. “The little bit that I managed to see,” she added, then took a big bite.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” Bagel temporarily forgotten, Renny propped her elbows on the table, cradled her chin. “I get it. You woke up Summer, didn’t you?”
“More Summer than I’ve been and possibly less Summer than I will be.”
Summer’s tone was matter-of-fact, but Renny wondered what emotional price the new discovery carried. She studied Summer’s eyes, found them clear and decided the price must have been just right. “I think that deserves champagne more than me finishing my first draft.”
A smile played at Summer’s lips. “You would. But once again we’re talking about me. How many people show up to your book signings more interested in Renny the child star than Renny the author?”
“More and more they’re interested in the author.” While they ate, Renny shared some of the funnier stories from her book signings.
When Summer stood to take her empty dishes to the sink, Renny waved her back down. “Nope. You get the first-timer’s pass. Next time, though…” She mimed washing dishes.
“Am I allowed to let Chazz out?” Summer motioned with her head to where Chazz was sitting patiently by the back door.
“That you may do.” She put away the food, then loaded the dishwasher. “It might actually get warm enough to cook out later,” she said, watching Chazz find a spot to sun himself. “Maybe sit on Keile’s deck.”
“I can entertain myself if you have things you need to do.”
“And here I was thinking you were going to entertain me.”
“Yeah?” Summer put her arms around Renny’s waist and rested her cheek against Renny’s back. “I guess I owe you for feeding me. Not sure what my bill is up to now. What’s more than a diamond?”
She laughed, enjoying the warmth Summer’s body was generating in a certain area. “A whole diamond mine. And no blood diamonds.”
“Gotcha.” Summer nipped at Renny’s neck. “But what can I do until then? For entertainment purposes, I mean.”
Renny turned so they were face-to-face. “I seem to remember getting interrupted yesterday. Any chance you remember where we were?”
The kiss started slow and easy, a gentle reminder of the morning before. Then deepened as tongue met tongue in a duel of need. All Renny felt was the softness of Summer’s lips and the heat of their combined fire. It was intoxicating. But more, it was arousing.
“I think I remember,” Summer huffed and sucked in a breath. She rested her forehead against Renny’s. “If I promise my mom won’t drop by, will you help me take off my clothes again?”
Renny gave her a quick hard kiss. “Maybe. For future reference, ‘Mom’ and ‘taking off clothes’ should not be mentioned in the same sentence.”
“Scout’s honor.”
“Then follow me.” Renny led her out of the kitchen, down the hall that separated the dining room from the living room and up the stairs with the natural wood banisters. Renny’s room was in the back—a master suite with a large bathroom and a walk-in closet that could easily have been a guest room.
“This takes up half the floor. Nice.” Summer’s gaze moved from the boo
ks overflowing the small bookcase to the Georgia O’Keefe paintings adorning the walls and stopped at the huge bed. “Your grandmother had good taste.”
“Not important.” Renny tugged on Summer’s jeans. “Okay, now you need to strip.”
Summer kicked off her shoes and wiggled out of her jeans. “Hey, you too.”
She shook a finger. “I watch you, then you watch me. Win- win.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Summer removed her polo shirt. “I’m not dancing around a pole.” She stood in matching panties and bra with her hands on her bony hips, tall and thin and, in Renny’s eyes, a beautiful survivor.
“Smartass.” Renny pushed her back onto the bed and straddled her. “I thought I was in charge.” She undid the front clasp on Summer’s bra and squeezed her breasts, watching the pink nipples harden as she rolled them between her fingers.
“You’re breaking the rules.” Summer’s complaint was half-hearted at best. She sucked in a breath and raised her hips when Renny’s mouth found a nipple. “You get a pass this time.”
“Yeah?” She kissed her way to the other nipple, licked, then sucked before she sat up and pulled off her sweatshirt. She stood and quickly removed the rest of her clothes.
For a moment, Summer could only stare. Renny’s body was lush, the epitome of femininity. To her eyes, no diet was needed. She exhaled and only then did oxygen get to her brain. “Turn around,” she ordered, her voice husky. “That’s definitely not big enough for a zip code, but it does deserve an award. Best in show.”
“You just won the bonus round,” Renny declared and rejoined Summer on the bed.
“Wrong.” Summer ran the back of her hand along the side of Renny’s face. “I won the grand prize.”
“I’m the writer here.” Renny brought Summer’s hand to her lips. “You can’t go stealing my lines,” she added, punctuating each word with a kiss until she made her way to Summer’s lips.
“You’re the writer,” Summer agreed and threaded her fingers through Renny’s hair, bringing their lips back together. They shared kiss after kiss, stroke for stroke, taking their time in this new dance.
“I want to touch you.” Renny rolled to her side and trailed her hand down Summer’s body to the top of the brown curls, then back up to play with her nipples.
“What a tease.” The touch of Renny’s long fingers was like liquid fire that burned, but didn’t hurt. “Touch me.” She gasped when Renny complied and lifted her hips to get closer to pleasure. It had been so long. Too long since she’d felt the boiling of her blood, the rush as it coursed through her body. “Harder.” Reaching out blindly, she closed her hand over Renny’s to deepen the pressure, to bask in the bombardment of sensations. At Renny’s request, she opened her legs wider and could only shake her head from side to side as Renny slipped inside. In and out and at the same time keeping the pressure on the center of her desire.
“Yes,” she said as the pressure inside her spiraled around her, tighter and tighter until it was almost unbearable. Until every nerve called to her, louder and louder. She came on a sob of pleasure, riding the waves as ripples of release shook her body and filled her mind. Struggling for breath, she snuggled against the luscious curves of Renny’s breasts and waited for her heartbeat to return to normal. “Wow,” she finally managed. “Just wow.”
“Yeah, wow. Despite being pale and skinny, you’re not so bad.”
Summer managed a smile. “Overwhelm me with compliments, why don’t you?”
“I try my best.” Renny ran her fingers through Summer’s hair. “Probably not the right time, but the streak…Natural?”
“If something coma-induced is natural. Would you throw me over if it was dyed?”
“Probably not. Just wondering what it might look like someplace else.”
Summer opened her eyes. “Kiss me, you romantic fool.” The amusement died away at the touch of Renny’s lips against hers, the feel of Renny’s body stretched on top of hers, skin against skin. She smoothed her hands down Renny’s back and cupped her behind, pressing center against center.
“Yes,” Renny moaned against the side of Summer’s neck. “Yes.”
Summer angled a thigh between Renny’s legs, felt the wetness as Renny pressed against her thigh. She remembered this dance, this give and take. Reaching up, she brought Renny’s mouth to hers, exchanging slow, intoxicating kisses, made sweeter by the movement of Renny’s hips.
Eventually it wasn’t enough for Summer. Not nearly enough. “On your back,” she whispered and maneuvered until Renny was where she wanted her to be. “I want to see you when I touch you, when you come.”
With her mouth, she loved Renny’s breast and trailed a hand past the stomach and through her glistening curls. Renny’s sigh was music to her ears. As she stroked, she felt the silkiness against her fingers, watched Renny’s eyes narrow, darken and saw the beauty of pleasure arrayed on Renny’s face. “Beautiful,” she whispered as Renny fell over the cliff with a quiet gasp.
Summer rested her head against Renny’s chest, listened to the drumming of her heart and felt satisfaction.
“You get an A-plus for entertainment.”
“Didn’t do it by myself.” Summer sat up, took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Ditto on the A-plus. Hey, where’re you going? I’m not finished.”
Renny walked to the closet and took a robe off the hook on the door. “I could use some liquid refreshments and I need to let Chazz in. Coke okay for you?”
“Water. I need to rehydrate before I go at you again.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Plenty of water. I plan to take my time with you.”
“Be right back.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Later that evening Summer collapsed in a heap, letting Chelsea catch her before she reached the finish line. She was working off the huge dinner she’d consumed by having crawling races with Chelsea. Kyle had declared himself too old to participate, so he and Renny were playing with Legos.
“I think we have another babysitter,” Keile said. She was sitting on the sofa snuggled next to Haydn. They were admiring Summer’s sketches of their children.
“She has plenty of energy and enthusiasm,” Renny said with an innocent smile.
“Why do I get the feeling she’s talking about something else?” Haydn put a finger to her chin, looking like she was giving the thought considerable consideration.
“Could it be the redness of Summer’s cheeks?” Keile asked.
Summer considered her ringing phone a lifesaver. She frowned at the caller ID, but answered anyway. “Summer…Yeah…But—…Okay. Twenty minutes.” She gave Chelsea a squeeze and breathed in her baby scents to remind herself there were some innocents left. That some girls did get a childhood. “I…” She cleared her throat and tried again. “Looks like my reprieve is over. They need me at the police station.” She tried to smile, seeing the worry in Renny’s eyes.
“I’ll take you.” Renny stood as if to signify it was a foregone conclusion.
“Do they have something new?” Keile asked after a quick glance at Kyle.
“They, uh, they want me to try something again.”
“Is that safe?” Haydn crossed to take Chelsea. “Seems like you’ve been through a lot this weekend.”
“Maybe this isn’t the best time,” Renny said, reaching for Summer’s hand. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”
“I’ll be fine.” She gave Renny’s hand a squeeze. “And Dani will be there to keep the cops in line.” Summer wondered if her smile looked as plastic as it felt. She didn’t want to go, but couldn’t not go. Not when there was a chance she might pick up something off of Georgia’s toy.
“I’m still going.”
This time Summer’s smile was real. Renny looked cute in her bulldog stance. “Figured. What’s bigger than a whole diamond mine?” At Keile’s and Haydn’s puzzled expressions, she said, “Long story.” Then, “I’ll be okay. Really,” she added, and this time she sounded sure. “There’s a little gi
rl out there waiting to be rescued. I have to handle this.”
“What is it you didn’t want to say in front of them?” Renny asked once they were in her house. They stopped off so Chazz could be fed and, at Renny’s insistence, to get coats.
“The dogs found something in the wooded area near Constitution. A body. They’ve identified the remains as a girl who went missing in Florida about six months ago. She fits his type.” She shook her head. “Oh God, Renny. There are other remains, bones, they haven’t identified yet. Bone structure suggests they’re all young females.”
Renny put her hands on her hips. “What do they want you to do? I know you’re not going there to link with a dead body. No fucking way. Over my dead body.”
“No, Renny. No. They want me to try to link with Georgia again. I know it didn’t work last time, but they’re desperate. They haven’t had any hits off the sketch and the multiagency team they pulled together is getting a lot of pressure. And the feds are here now that it’s interstate.” She rubbed her temples. “Juan and Carla went back to the hospital to talk to the grandmother. She told them about the stuffed monkey Georgia always slept with. It was the last gift from her parents before they died. Something that means a lot more than the pony.”
“So they expect you to get some vibes from that. So what? The kid’s not going to know where she is and you already have his face. What’s this going to get them aside from more heartache for you?”
“I have to try, Renny. Maybe I’ll see more of the truck or the front of the house. Or maybe I’ll just be able to know she’s still alive. If she’s alive, she can be rescued. That has to be worth more than a little heartache.”
“Don’t try to placate me. It won’t be a little heartache.” She pulled Summer close for a hard hug. “Don’t think I’m letting you out of my sight. I don’t give a shit what those cops say.”
Summer leaned into the hug and found some strength. “Like static cling.”
“You’re supposed to say glue.”
“I’ve never been accused of being common.” Her laugh was only a little shaky when Renny pulled a face.
The ride to the station was made in silence. Summer spent the time focusing on the good things in her life. Whatever she got off of Georgia’s toy she would remember the great day she’d spent with her parents, the joy in Chelsea’s eyes and the strength of Renny’s support. After the headache and the horror faded, she’d have that to fall back on, to prop her up. And she’d have Renny right by her side, ready to help her slay dragons.
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