Red Sky At Morning - DK4

by Melissa Good

  “Dar?”

  “Mm?” The blue eyes shifted and focused on her. “Sorry. Not much of a story to it. Just something I…once I was getting a decent paycheck I tried a few things.”

  Kerry could sense the discomfort, so she gracefully abandoned the question. “Like I did when I got here.” she agreed. “Know what I did when I realized you’d given me a raise when you hired me?”

  “Tried stone crab?” Dar hazarded a guess.

  “No. Went out a got new nerd toys.”

  Dar laughed, relaxing against the tree. “Yeah, I think I did the same thing,” she admitted. “Problem was, after they promoted me they had no idea what to do with me in those senior management meetings in my motorcycle boots.”

  Kerry covered her face and stifled a giggle.

  “One of the other managers finally dragged me into Macy’s,” Dar said. “Told me I had more brains than South Beach had boob jobs but I wasn’t going to last in the company if I didn’t at least try to look the part.”

  “You obviously learned fast.” Kerry turned her head and watched her partner’s profile. “You’ve got an amazing sense of style. I remember that time you took me into Macy…oh, my gosh. You did take me into Macy’s!”

  Dar smiled.

  “Same Macy’s?”

  “Yep.”

  “Good grief.” Kerry covered her eyes again. “I was blown away, Dar. You picked stuff that not only looked good, it looked good on me.”

  Dar exhaled. “Yeah, well, thank about six months of reading the stupidest most puerile fashion magazines I could find and watching video tapes of the worst nighttime soap operas that made my brain almost dissolve.”

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  “You’re kidding me?” Kerry asked in a dumbfounded tone.

  “No.” Dar shook her head. She took another sip of root beer. “I felt like one of those chimpanzees you see on Discovery, learning to ride a bike.”

  Kerry turned all the way around, and braced her weight against one hand as she looked at her partner. In the half darkness, Dar’s face was mostly in shadows, but she could see the furrow in her lover’s brow even so. “That must have been really strange for you,” she finally said.

  “It was,” Dar replied. “Still is, sometimes. I felt like a fraud then and sometimes I do now, too, but not the same way.” She paused, then a wry grin appeared. “It didn’t hurt that I figured out the silk suits didn’t look bad on me.”

  She remembered being in the dressing room, surrounded by the smell of silk and expensive perfume. To her right was a hanger full of sophisticated clothing, and directly ahead was a full length mirror that reflected back the scruffy beach rat she knew herself to be.

  “Madame, do you require any assistance?”

  Dar glared at the closed door. “No thanks. I can dress myself. Can you?”

  Bad enough she’d had to suffer the skeptical looks of the salespeople on the floor and the careful counting of the hangers by the attendant. She sure didn’t need some jerkass snoot face wanting to dress her.

  With an aggrieved sigh, she stripped off her T-shirt and let it drop on top of the padded bench, then unbuckled her jeans, kicking off her sneakers, and adding the worn denim to the pile as well.

  What was she doing in here? Dar debated simply walking out, then she recalled David waiting outside, and turned to remove the first suit he’d picked out from the hanger.

  It was silk, and a rich burgundy color. She dubiously slipped on the shirt, making a face as the fabric bound her around the arms and shoulders. “That’s not gonna work.” she muttered, but buttoned it up anyway, adding the skirt after that and tucking the shirt into it. “I don’t get what this is supposed to accomplish.”

  “What was that, Dar?” David’s voice came from outside. “Need something?”

  “No.” Dar ground her teeth, as she donned the jacket and turned to look at the mirror with a scowl. “I don’t…”

  She blinked at the reflection, one eyebrow lifting. The jacket outlined her athletic body relatively well, and she found herself unexpectedly liking what she saw.

  Totally different than her usual chinos and polo, or the vests she tended to wear.

  The cream of the shirt offset her tan, and the sophisticated cut of the suit made her almost unrecognizable in her own eyes—and she suspected, her coworkers as well.

  “Dar? You all right?”

  92 Melissa Good Dar pulled the jacket lapels straight and turned to regard a surprisingly sleek profile. “Well, damn it.”

  “Dar?”

  “Would you please shut up, David? Go find a damn espresso cart or something,” Dar growled back. “Leave me the hell alone!”

  Footsteps retreated, and she was left in peace. Dar turned and put her hands on her hips, making a face at the fit of the jacket. She sighed and went to the door to the changing room, opening it and sticking her head out. “Hey,”

  she called out to the attendant. “Buddy.”

  The man turned and managed not to frown too much. “Yes, madame.” He stopped in mid word, his sandy eyebrows lifting in surprise at the unlikely vision before him. “That color does suit you, Madame.”

  “Do you have someone who can make these things from scratch?” Dar asked, ignoring the compliment.

  “Madame?” The man came closer. “What things, the clothing?”

  Dar opened the door all the way, and came out, extending her arms. The sleeves of the jacket were halfway to her elbows, and it was visibly tight across her shoulders. “I’m betting you don’t have anything that’s gonna fit me off the rack with these wings.”

  The attendant, encouraged a bit, studied the problem. “We could offer you a larger jacket, I suppose, but it will probably blouse here, and…” He plucked at the lapel. “We do have a tailor, of course, but getting this pattern custom will be very expensive.”

  “How expensive?”

  The man tapped his fingers against his lips. “Probably a thousand dollars over the cost of the suits.” He watched Dar’s face like a hawk. “At minimum.”

  Dar ducked back inside the changing room and grabbed the suits off the rack. She popped back out and handed them to him. “Can he do all of these?”

  The salesman blinked hard. “Ah…well, certainly.”

  “Can I get them delivered to my house?”

  “Well, yes, I’m sure we can arrange that.”

  “He here now? Get his ass in here,” Dar said. “I don’t have all day.”

  “Bh…uh…yes, madame, of course, ah, let me...I’ll put these over here and just give him a call, do you, ah…”

  Dar handed him her brand new platinum card. “Here.”

  He took it, his attitude morphing so fast he almost resembled a piece of silly putty being pulled. “Of course, Madame. May I call one of our shoppers for you, since you are in a rush?”

  “Shoppers?” Dar’s ears perked.

  “Yes,” the salesman said. “We have a service, you see, someone will be glad to go and pick out accessories for you, shoes, a belt, a purse perhaps…” He caught Dar’s expression. “Perhaps not, but other things?”

  “This person will do my shopping?” Dar said. “Pick stuff to go with that stuff?”

  “Yes.”

  ‘Bring ’em on.”

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  The salesman positively beamed at her. “Would madame like some coffee while the tailor comes up?”

  “Got any ice cream?” Dar countered, beginning to enjoy herself just a little.

  “I am positive we can get some.” The salesman picked up the phone. “And if you would like to come with me, we have a private fitting room for our special customers.”

  Ah. So this is what that ‘how the other half lives’ thing is all about.

  “Lead on.”

  Kerry laughed, bringing her back to the present. She glanced down at her partner, who was smiling back at her. “What’s so funny?”

  “You are.” Kerry gave her a pat on the leg. “
Of course you look good in silk suits, Dar, you look good in everything.”

  “Glad you think so.” Dar gave her a hug. “I have to admit I was laughing to myself when you asked me to help you pick clothing, though.”

  “You did a great job.”

  Dar snorted. “Like anything I picked wouldn’t have looked good on you?”

  Kerry pondered that. “Well, I’m sure you could have found something in mustard yellow that wouldn’t have been flattering,” she allowed. “But I was too busy being freaked out that you knew exactly what size I wore.”

  Dar chuckled.

  “How did you do that?” Kerry turned and looked up at her curiously. “Don’t tell me you looked it up in some obscure database we manage for megalithic department stores—most of my stuff was privately tailored at home.” She nudged Dar. “What was the trick?’

  Dar stared off into the waves for a long moment, nibbling at her lower lip with a pensive expression, then she glanced sideways at her companion, a wicked twinkle appearing. “I guessed.”

  “You did not.”

  “I did.”

  “Dar, c’mon.”

  “I did.” The dark-haired woman insisted. “Or would you rather me tell you I’d already undressed you in my mind and figured out all your angles?”

  Kerry blushed, a sudden heat that made her blink. “You didn’t.”

  “I didn’t. I really did just guess.” Dar allowed, then paused. “The undressing part didn’t happen until you were in the changing room.”

  Kerry stuck her tongue out at her. An instant later, she found it caught between Dar’s teeth as it was gently nibbled and tasted, then lips brushed hers and disappeared, restoring the view of the ocean to her.

  “Ooh.” Kerry enjoyed the tingling. “That was erotic.” She turned her head. “Can we do it again?”

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  “Only if you’re interested in making the front page of the Lifestyles section of the Herald.” Dar indicated the strolling passersby. “On the other hand, I know a hot tub that might be willing to look the other way for us.”

  “Eeoorwl.” Kerry emitted a contented gurgle and stretched. “I could go for that. You can tell me more about this petty person who’s giving you such a migraine. Do I need to come down to the base again and have a chat with her?”

  Dar stood, tugging Kerry up with her, and they started back toward the church parking lot. “No. The chief’s all right. At least she knows what she’s doing and understands base ops. I just get the feeling she’d like to bump me into the two-hundred-pound hamburger grinders and give herself a mark for reducing chow costs,” she said. “I feel like I’m walking around with a slightly rabid dog trotting around after me, ready to clamp on at any second.”

  “Hmm.” Kerry’s nose wrinkled up as she smiled. “I think that’s how people feel about you sometimes, you know.”

  A sigh. “I know.”

  “Not really nice, huh?” The green eyes twinkled.

  Dar gave her a look. “Are you laughing at me?”

  Kerry pulled her closer, tucking her hand around Dar’s arm. “I’m not laughing at you. I was just thinking that it must be strange for you to be faced with the kind of challenge that you usually present to other people.” She felt Dar sigh again. “Why don’t you try making friends with her? I’m sure you two have something in common.”

  THEY APPROACHED KERRY’S car, and she used the remote to unlock the door, then muffled a smile as Dar opened it for her. She got in and paused as her lover leaned on the window and watched her get settled. “Meet you at the ferry?”

  “Drive careful,” Dar told her, then closed the door. She walked around the back of the Mustang and got into her own car, starting it and pulling out after Kerry onto the main street. They drove along the beach road and turned right onto the causeway that led home, navigating the relatively sparse traffic in tandem. They reached the first bridge and rolled over it, reaching the top and starting down the other side.

  It took Dar’s mind a frantic second to confirm that the headlights coming toward them were really in the wrong lane, a half-ton of truck barreling down toward Kerry, who was starting to react, throwing her wheel hard to the left and sending the Mustang bolting toward the green center island.

  For a second, Dar froze, her eyes caught in the glaring headlights bearing down on both of them. Then she reacted with pure instinct, gunning the engine of the Lexus and roaring past Kerry, putting herself between the oncoming four-by-four and the skidding Mustang as she Red Sky At Morning 95

  slid into a sideways block.

  The oncoming blue vehicle jerked to the right, then suddenly made a hard turn, skimming Dar’s front bumper as it clawed its way over the center island and bounced into the eastbound lanes, missing a taxi by a hair and roaring off down toward the beach.

  Dar slowly unclenched her fingers from the steering wheel and pushed back, her heart slamming so hard in her chest it threatened to squeeze between her ribs and escape. She jerked the door open and tumbled out of the car, hanging on to the edge of the window for a long moment as her shaking legs refused to hold her up. Then she took a breath and forced herself into a run to where Kerry’s car was half up onto the center island, her engine off and her headlights shining wanly into the tropical foliage.

  The door opened as Dar reached it, and she yanked impatiently, dropping to her knees beside the seat as Kerry leaned halfway out.

  “Hey.” She hugged Kerry to her in mindless relief, feeling the shaky breath as Kerry buried her face against Dar’s neck. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” Kerry nodded. “Just scared the holy pooters out of me.”

  “Me, too.”

  Kerry released her and got out of the car, leaning on Dar’s shoulder as she glanced around and examined the damage. Though the other car hadn’t touched her, climbing onto the center island had done evil things to a car not intended as a four-wheel-drive vehicle. “Erf.”

  Dar got to her feet and regarded the apparently broken axle. “Well, that’s it.”

  Kerry was leaning against the side of the car. “That’s what?” She turned and gave her lover a puzzled look. “I’m sure they can fix this.”

  “You’re getting a new car,” Dar responded matter-of-factly. “If that thing had hit you, this would have folded like a used piece of tin foil.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that, Dar. It always seemed pr—” Kerry got a good look at Dar’s face, and cut her sentence off in mid-word.

  “Well, I was thinking about a new one the other day. Maybe it’s a good idea.” She walked over and leaned against her partner. “Can we call a tow for this, and go home?”

  “Good idea.” Dar took out her cell phone as they walked toward the balefully crouching Lexus, its hazard lights flashing as traffic drove cautiously around it. “We can go car shopping on the web when we get there.”

  Kerry let out a slightly hysterical chuckle. “Honey, we don’t have to do that. Besides, I think I want to check out one of these for myself.”

  She patted the SUV. “It’s nice and solid, right?”

  Dar glanced up from her conversation. “I was thinking maybe a Hummer.” She went back to the phone and gave directions.

  “A what?”

  “Unless maybe Dad could get a Humvee.” Dar closed the phone, tapping it against her chin thoughtfully, her face completely serious.

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  “He probably could.”

  Kerry knocked on her chest. “Hello? Earth to Dar? I’m not driving an armored personnel carrier around Miami, so I hope you’re joking.”

  Dar nudged her into the car, then closed the door and got in on the driver’s side. “Deny that it wouldn’t be handy in afternoon traffic.” She started the car and shifted cautiously into drive. “Maybe a tank.”

  “Dar.”

  “What? They come in surplus, and Dad loves tinkering with the engines.”

  “Dar!”

  “Hell to park, though.”


  “You are joking, right?”

  Pale blue eyes regarded her as they waited in line for the ferry.

  “Yes.” Dar finally smiled. “I tend to say stupid things when I lose my mind.”

  Kerry lifted a hand and they interlaced fingers, a gesture that always brought a sense of warm familiarity to both of them. “Well, I was completely safe. I had this huge Lexus between me and the kamikaze wackos. They’d have probably bounced off and ended up in Biscayne Bay.” She was rewarded by another smile. “Crazy people.”

  Dar nodded, leaning back in her seat in quiet relief. The draining of the adrenaline that had raced through her body left her almost sleepy, and she didn’t feel like moving, not even when the ferry docked and she had to maneuver the Lexus onto its lightly shifting deck. She kept her eyes half-closed and rubbed Kerry’s fingers with her thumb as they rode over to the island. Then she turned and gazed at Kerry’s profile. “You sure a Hummer’s out of the question?”

  “Dar.”

  “They come in nice colors.”

  “Blue, gray, and green.” Kerry regarded her amusedly. “And black.

  I’d like something a little lighter.”

  “Hmph.” Dar leaned her knee against the steering wheel. “The tank comes in desert camo. That’s light.”

  “Dar,” Kerry started laughing, “would you just cut that out? I’m not getting a tank.”

  They were both quiet for a few minutes.

  “Can you imagine the gas mileage those things get?” Kerry finally spoke up. “It’d cost a fortune.”

  “No problem. I’ll give you a raise to cover it,” Dar responded instantly. They looked at each other, then they both burst out laughing in relief. “Think of the impression you’d give, pulling up to a consolidation in that,” Dar got out.

  Kerry just kept laughing.

  Chapter

  Six

  THUNDER ROLLED SULLENLY in over the ocean, lightning flashes outlining the whitecaps that scurried up the beach and ruffled the water’s dark surface.

  Most of the island was still dark, the condos squatting on the edge of the land silent and brooding, their windows blank and featureless in the predawn hours.

  From one outward facing window, however, a faint light poured.