Twist of Fate

by Parker, Syd

  “Sarah, it’s okay. You’re right about one thing. I’m a cad. I always have been and I guess I always will be.” Remy stood up and walked towards the door. “But, you’re wrong about one thing, Sarah. You are special, whether you choose to believe that or not. Thanks for letting me hang out here and for the company. I enjoyed it. At the very least, I think there’s a chance we can be pretty good friends.”

  Sarah watched Remy leave too quickly for her to respond. She did like Remy, but there was no way she could open that door again. It had taken too long to get over her the first time. Right now, with Evan leaving her for another woman, she didn’t think she could stand to be hurt again.

  Chapter 8

  “So, rough night last night?” Sarah teased.

  Parker groaned and let her head rest against the seat. “I have never been twisted in so many positions by anyone. Holy hell, they weren’t joking when they said Latin lovers were the best.”

  “That good, huh?” Sarah chuckled.

  “Oh my fucking God. I can honestly say that parts of me hurt so good this morning.” Parker pulled her sunglasses up and regarded Sarah thoughtfully. “What about you? Get into anything fun last night?”

  Sarah colored slightly. “Umm, no. I had dinner, drank a beer and fell asleep watching tv.”

  “By yourself?” Parker’s tone suggested she knew something she wasn’t saying out loud.

  “Of course. Who would I be hanging out with?”

  “Oh, no one. Remy might have mentioned that she was going to run by after we kicked her out.” Parker cocked an eyebrow and smiled like the Cheshire cat.

  “Okay, fine. Yes, Remy came by. We had dinner and chatted.” Sarah’s voice went up an octave, a sign that she was not being completely truthful.

  “Hmm. Sounds fun. TV, huh?”

  “Yes, dinner and TV.” She glared at Parker. “That’s it, nothing happened.”

  “If you say so.”

  “So, tell me about last night, besides the pretzel sex.”

  Parker laughed out loud. “Okay, sex aside. She could be the one.”

  “Kind of early to make that determination, don’t you think?”

  “Mmm, maybe, if I were you. But, since I don’t have to analyze pages and pages of statistical data to ascertain if we are a mathematical match, and I can just go with my gut, I can honestly tell you that I knew the first time I saw her.”

  Parker dodged the empty cup Sarah threw at her. “Sorry, hun, it’s true. You over think everything. Tell me one time in your life you did something without thinking.”

  “Remy.” Sarah threw her name out without thinking and instantly wished she could retract the rash comment.

  “What?!”

  “I mean this. I became a storm chaser right after the first time I ran into Remy.” Sarah stammered, trying to explain something completely different than what she meant. There was a time she had jumped without a second thought. Look where it had gotten her. Completely naked with a woman she had just met. But, God, she had wanted Remy, and damn it if she wasn’t feeling the same way lately, much to her chagrin.

  “Uh—huh.” Parker’s tone implied she didn’t believe that explanation for one second. “You’re sure that’s it? Doesn’t seem so crazy. It’s a job. People jump careers all the time. And you did want to be a meteorologist anyway, so this isn’t really all that different, just more extreme. I still stand by the fact that you don’t do anything without analyzing it to death.”

  Sarah sighed. “I will admit I am that way in a lot of things. But, I can be spontaneous too.”

  “Oh yeah?” Parker cocked an eyebrow. “So, be spontaneous. Do something crazy.”

  “Okay, fine, I will.”

  “Do something crazy…like sleep with Remy.” Parker quipped.

  “That’s not crazy. That’s just stupid. I’m not even attracted to her.” Sarah’s hands tightened on the wheel and her heart jumped into her throat. “Besides, I’m just not a one night stand kind of girl.”

  The second the words left her mouth, she wished them back. Once, she had been that kind of girl. She couldn’t help it though. She wanted Remy, and she had wanted her bad. The woman was a walking orgasm. Tall and lanky, with long, fluid muscles. Her piercing green eyes had looked deep inside Sarah’s soul and turned her completely inside out. The lock of unruly sandy blond hair hung perpetually in her face, and Sarah had wanted to brush it out of her eyes the moment they had met. She hadn’t just been attracted to her, Sarah had been head over heels in lust with her, and she couldn’t have behaved that night even if she tried.

  “That’s funny. The blush on your face tells me otherwise.” Parker teased. “I know she’s attracted to you. You can see it in her eyes and the way her body talks to you. It’s like her skin is longing to feel your body against it.”

  “That’s crazy.” Sarah protested with a wave of her hand. She knew it was just as it had been all those years ago. “You can’t get that from seeing us together a couple of times.”

  “Can’t I?” Parker’s tone was suddenly serious. “She is easy to read. More so than you and we are related. I know she’s interested, whether you want to believe it or not. So, again, I say do something spontaneous. I’m not asking you to make a commitment. God knows I wouldn’t do that, not after the whole fiasco with Evan. But, for God sake, have some fun for once in your life.”

  You mean twice in my life, don’t you? Sarah’s mind flashed to Remy’s naked body pressed tightly against her. She had given herself completely that night, a wanton woman. And, she had loved every minute of it. Remy’s tongue had elicited wave after wave of intense pleasure and left Sarah longing for more.

  She had lied to Remy earlier. She thought about that night all the time. And her traitorous body still reacted to her touch after all these years. She shouldn’t have, but she had to admit there were times when she had been with Evan that she imagined Remy instead just to come. Maybe that was one of the reasons things had never been perfect with them. She couldn’t give herself completely when so much of her mind was still occupied with thoughts of someone else.

  “Let’s just drop it for now, okay?” Sarah pleaded. “Maybe, I’ll surprise you one day.”

  “Maybe.” Parker said cryptically. She had watched Sarah’s face and the myriad of emotions that flashed across it. She knew as much as Sarah protested, there was a part of her that was attracted to Remy, and maybe open to doing just what Parker had dared her to do. Maybe, just maybe, Parker would be around to see it.

  “So, anyway, back to you.” Sarah suggested. “Tell me about Carmen and why she’s the one. I mean might be the one.”

  “She reminds me of Mom.”

  Sarah crinkled her brow. “Your mom? She’s about as Irish as they come. Carmen is Puerto Rican. How on earth could she remind you of your mom?”

  “Mmm, true. All that aside, she’s one of the sweetest people I know.” Parker’s face lit up in a goofy grin. “Do you know she asked me if she could kiss me last night? And, she said please. Nobody’s ever asked me if they could kiss me. They just assume because I’m a butch that I’m supposed to do the asking. Or, I’m just supposed to take the lead. It’s sexy as all get out when a beautiful woman takes charge.”

  “Okay, polite, that’s one thing. Although, I’m not sure you can build a relationship on just a please here and there.”

  Parker rolled her eyes. “Uhh, hello, don’t you think I know that? Not only is she sweet, she has a great sense of humor. I’ve laughed more with her than I have in forever.”

  “Hey, I’m funny.”

  “Looking.” Parker snorted. “Family is really important to her. And, she is insanely attractive. She makes my knees weak just looking at her. Then there’s this thing she does with her…”

  Sarah stuck her fingers in her ears. “La, la, la, I don’t want to hear this.”

  Parker burst out laughing. “Fine, Cuz. I’ll spare you the details. I just know she makes me feel more special than anyone ever has.”
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  “Well, I guess that’s got to count for something.” Sarah conceded. “So, I’m guessing you have their itinerary for the next couple of days.”

  Parker’s face turned red. “Maybe.”

  “Which way are they headed?”

  “Back up to Kansas. Remy said there was a cold front moving in from Canada, and it was going to run into a warm front that was headed up the Gulf. Figured there would be pretty good storms up that way.” Parker pulled up the radar and scanned the Midwest. “Nothing right now except a few smaller rainstorms moving through Michigan. It’s totally clear here.”

  Here was just south of Little Rock, Arkansas. They had gotten a late start. Partly due to Sarah not moving around very well this morning. After Remy left the night before, Sarah had finished off the six—pack she left. That meant she had five beers, three more than normal, and she was feeling the residual effects. Advil and lots of coffee had helped, but Parker’s incessant giddiness was difficult to stomach.

  They had only been on the road for three hours, and she was already tired of driving. “Do you mind driving?”

  Parker’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “Drive? Me? Have you lost your mind?” Sarah didn’t let her drive. At least she hadn’t up to that point. Curiosity almost pushed her to ask why the sudden change, but she could see from the crease in her cousin’s brow that she was obviously not up to par.

  “Maybe. I don’t know that I can trust Chevy to your unskilled driving.” Sarah teased.

  “You okay?” Parker was suddenly serious.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little headache. I just need to close my eyes for a while.” Sarah pulled the car over and turned on the flashers as she slowed to a stop. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  Parker shook her head. “Mind? Are you kidding? I’ve already changed my status on facebook. Finally driving Ms. Daisy.”

  Sarah laughed and got out when there was a break in traffic. “Just shut up and drive.”

  Parker got in and immediately pulled the seat up. She was a good four inches shorter than Sarah, and her feet barely reached the pedals. She eased her way back onto the road and joined the steady flow of traffic on I—40. It turned into an interstate just a few miles outside of Little Rock, and she was glad to leave the two—lane road and the slower speeds behind.

  Like her life, which she lived on fast and faster, her lead foot had her riding in the passing lane for most of the trip. She wasn’t sure where they were heading yet, and rather than bother Sarah, who had already nodded off, she kept driving west on 40. Two hours later, they pulled into a travel stop just outside Oklahoma City. Her bladder was screaming at her, and she needed a Mt. Dew badly.

  Though she had tried to ease into a spot and stop without waking Sarah, when she shut off the engine, Sarah’s eyes popped open. “Where are we?”

  “Just outside Oklahoma City.”

  “Oh wow, you should have woken me up. I didn’t mean to sleep the whole time.”

  “It’s cool, you looked like you could use a little power nap.”

  Sarah rubbed her eyes tiredly. “Yeah, maybe so.”

  Parker opened her door and started to get out. “You want anything?”

  “Oddly enough, an Icee.”

  “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my cousin?” Parker teased. “An Icee? We haven’t had those since we were kids and snuck out of daycare at the church and ran to the Seven—Eleven.”

  “I don’t know. Crazy, huh?”

  Parker walked into the gas station shaking her head. She walked up and down the aisles till she found a King Size Snickers, a bag of Nacho Combos and a Mt. Dew. She hadn’t seen an Icee machine and wasn’t sure what to get instead. She settled on a fountain Cherry Coke.

  When she handed the drink to Sarah, she shot her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, no Icee. Cherry Coke okay? If not, I’ll run back in and grab you something else.”

  Sarah took a long swig of her drink, surprised to discover it quenched her thirst quite well. It was cherry after all. “No, this is good. Thank you.”

  Parker held the Combos out to Sarah, but she only shook her head no. “Snickers?”

  “No, thanks. I’m not really hungry.” She took another drink and lay back against the headrest. “You know I’m not feeling Kansas. Something’s brewing here. I pulled up the radar. There’s a small string of storms a couple of hours west of here and there’s already some rotation in the cells. Let’s head a little south of the city.”

  Parker nodded quietly. She knew they would miss Carmen, and although she had only left her hours before, she already missed her.

  Sarah was fighting her own inner struggle. Her mind wanted to give in and follow Remy to Kansas, but her gut told her to stay put. No matter what her feelings were regarding Remy, and honestly, she hadn’t been able to put a name to them, this took first place. She felt safe knowing that Remy would have made the same decision. Or, at least, she thought she would. After all, Remy was here because she honestly believed she could help people.

  Parker navigated through the late afternoon traffic around Oklahoma City with ease. As much as Sarah liked to keep hold of the reins, Parker had always been comfortable behind the wheel. She’d been driving since she was knee high to a grasshopper, as her Grandmother had once said. Growing up in a small farm town meant pitching in with family chores, and that included driving the family tractor from very early on.

  They hadn’t spoken since the gas station. Sarah wasn’t sure if it was just because she was tired or if Parker was upset with her for choosing to stay here. “I’m sorry, Parker.”

  “It’s okay.” Parker winked. “There are plenty of places to stop between here and there.” She turned south on 35 and watched Sarah’s face, waiting for her to signal when to stop.

  “This is good.” Sarah pointed at the sign for Norman. “Pull over here and get comfy. We’re gonna be waiting a while.”

  Parker shut off the engine and reclined the seat. She pulled her ball cap over her eyes and yawned loudly. “Wake me up when the show starts.”

  Sarah chuckled softly. Parker could fall asleep anywhere, and in the same time it took a puppy to fall asleep. All she had to do was close her eyes and she was out.

  Sarah pulled her Kindle out of the glove box and powered it up. She was knee deep in Gerri Hill’s latest thriller set out west. Several minutes into the book, the story line of the two heroines fighting their mounting attraction had her mind wandering to Remy. It didn’t matter that she tried hard to forget her, and the more she tried, the more she thought about Remy.

  “How long have you been doing this?” Remy leaned in and Sarah caught her breath. Up close, her green eyes were even more alluring.

  “Not…not long.” Sarah managed to stutter. The breeze was carrying Remy’s scent into her nostrils, and she forced herself not to lean closer. She smelled of summer and rain and sex. Sarah wasn’t completely naïve, but nothing could have prepared her for the way Remy had her heart racing. She tried to back up, but her knees hit the bed, and she started to fall backwards.

  Before she could blink, Remy’s arm wrapped around her back, and she pulled her body tightly against hers. “You have the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen.”

  Sarah swallowed a lump in her throat. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

  Remy shook her head from side—to—side. “No, only you.” If it were possible, Remy pulled her body even closer. Her hazel eyes were dark green with desire. Her gaze dropped to Sarah’s lips, and she leaned in closer.

  Sarah waited for the alarms to go off in her head, but they didn’t. The only sound she heard was her own shallow breathing and her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She licked her lips subconsciously, and Remy took that as her cue. She pressed her lips against Sarah’s softly, caressing them until Sarah’s lips opened and allowed her entry.

  Remy ran her tongue along Sarah’s lower lip and she felt her quiver in her arms. She smiled to herself, amazed at how easy it was
to kiss this woman she had only known a few hours. When their tongues met for the first time, she felt her own heart hammering inside her chest. She deepened the kiss as her hands started to roam over Sarah’s back lightly.

  Sarah’s body leaned into Remy’s, aching to feel her naked skin pressed against hers. She ran her hands under Remy’s shirt and swallowed the moan that escaped her lips. The need for Remy’s touch was growing within her, and she needed to quench it. Not normally one to be the aggressor, Sarah felt her body take over. She ran her hands over Remy’s stomach and over her small, perfect breast. She wasn’t surprised to find no bra, and she suddenly knew that she obviously wasn’t planning to stay dressed for very long tonight. The thought made her even more hungry.

  Remy felt Sarah’s hand cup her breast and run over her nipple, the pressure making her hard. She deepened the kiss and cupped Sarah’s bottom, pulling Sarah’s hips against her aching clit. She eased her leg between Sarah’s legs and ground into her clit, eliciting a deep moan. If Sarah was anywhere near as turned on as she was, her first orgasm was close. She ran her hand over Sarah’s hips and eased her fingers under her waistband.

  The aching need in Sarah’s aroused core made her want to come out of her skin. She rode Remy’s thigh, the seam of her jeans rubbing against her hardened clit and making it vibrate with pleasure. She needed to assuage the ache deep within. She pulled her hands from Remy’s perfect body and opened her jeans, shoving Remy’s hand into her panties. “I need you to touch me now.” She didn’t recognize her own voice. It came from somewhere outside her body. But it didn’t matter, the voice gave life to her needs.

  “Oh fuck, you’re so wet.” Remy ran her tongue over Sarah’s neck and dipped inside her ear, sending shivers up and down Sarah’s body.

  Sarah was close, she could feel her muscles contracting around Remy’s fingers and she closed her eyes, waiting for sweet release to overtake her.

  Sarah jumped, a loud knocking waking her up. She looked past Parker, who was still sleeping and saw a state trooper peering in the window, motioning for them to roll down the window. She punched Parker in the leg and ducked when a hand came flying towards her face. “Wake up!”