“Did you see Brett? She’s back to her old tricks, sleeping with every gorgeous woman she can find. Who can blame her? That redhead is a knockout.” Taylor tried to let the carelessly spoken words bounce off her as she entered the bathroom. She couldn’t help overhearing the two women’s conversation.
They abruptly stopped talking when they saw her, but that didn’t stop Taylor from calling them on their gossip.
“It’s really too bad that you don’t know Brett at all. She’s a generous and honest lover. She would no more sleep around on a partner than I would. You should be careful what you say. Slander can be very expensive.” The two women fled the bathroom while Taylor smiled sweetly at them as she exited the bathroom stall. She saw a grinning Rachel leaning against the sink. She looked delectable in a dark navy gown, her large breasts all but overflowing the low-cut bodice. Taylor couldn’t help but let her eyes linger momentarily before looking up into Rachel’s laughing eyes.
“Nice dress.”
“Thanks, same to you. Nice slam.” Taylor raised her eyebrows as she washed her hands. She didn’t know how to respond. “You were right though. Brett would never ever cheat on you. She’s madly in love with you. She has been since the first night she met you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she told me. Brett and I have known each other for years. We only slept together once in awhile, and it meant nothing to either of us. We haven’t slept together since before her accident.”
“Why?”
“Because Brett didn’t want to sleep with other women after you broke it off.
You underestimated how much you hurt her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Her reputation was all hype. She didn’t sleep around all that much even before she met you, but afterwards, she refused to let anyone touch her. There were only a couple of women before she was injured.”
“You sound like you care about Brett very much,” Taylor remarked, watching Rachel carefully.
Rachel laughed softly. “Oh I do, but not in the way you’re implying. Brett is the most loyal friend a person could have. She’s never once refused when someone asked her for help. She came to my rescue a couple of times. I want to see her happy. You’re the one woman that makes her happy. She loves you.”
“I love her.”
“I know you do.”
“She still doesn’t believe she deserves to be with me.”
“Then convince her.” Rachel grinned as she walked out of the bathroom with Taylor. “You’re a smart girl.”
Taylor flashed a quick grin Rachel’s way. “Yes, I am. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Taylor approached Brett who stood talking to a group of people about the charity for children. She was taking her hosting job very seriously and continued to solicit donations. As Taylor approached, she saw a particularly stunning bru-nette slide her hand around Brett’s waist up under her jacket. Taylor saw red as the woman’s hand started to slide familiarly over Brett’s backside. Brett’s hand reached back and caught the woman’s hand pushing it discreetly away from her.
At the same time, she turned to the woman, her eyes clear and direct as she spoke softly, just loudly enough for the woman and Taylor to hear.
“Do you mind? The only person who can touch me like that is Taylor.” Brett reached behind her and gathered Taylor close to her, her arm around Taylor in a possessive grip. Taylor looked up into the brown eyes that held her captive and she moved closer, her smile for Brett alone. She couldn’t have been more pleased with Brett’s actions.
It was after two-thirty before their driver dropped them off at home, and by that time Brett was almost out on her feet. Her legs ached from standing all night, but nothing could tarnish her feelings. The night had been perfect. She and Taylor entered the dark house in silence, the magic of the evening still shimmering around them. The ball had been a tremendous success clearing over eight hundred thousand dollars in checks in one night for the children’s charity. Brett’s mother would be pleased with the results.
“Taylor,” Brett stopped inside the front door and took her hand pressing it against her heart as she spoke. “I had a wonderful evening with you.”
“I did too.” Taylor waited and watched as Brett just stared at her.
“Can I kiss you goodnight?”
Taylor smiled at the nervous woman, moving up close to her. She needed to kiss her. “Yes.”
Brett moved slowly, her hands sliding up to hold Taylor’s face as she softly pressed her lips against Taylor’s. Taylor whimpered as Brett’s tongue drifted over her top lip before entering her mouth. Slowly Brett loved Taylor’s mouth until Taylor was trembling. Taylor’s fingers played in the hair at the nape of Brett’s neck as her body molded to Brett’s. Brett took her time kissing Taylor until she couldn’t stand anymore. Then she moved gently away and held Taylor in her arms.
“I want to be with you so badly, it hurts,” Brett whispered, as she looked into blue eyes full of passion.
“I want to be with you.”
“Can we wait a little longer? I want to be someone you can be proud of and I’m working very hard to make that happen.”
“I am proud of you, Brett.”
“I need you to believe in me. You told me that. I want to get my life back and be with you for the rest of it. I’m going to work as hard as possible to get healthy.
I called the head of the U.S. Ski Team, and they’re interested in me as a coach.
But I have a lot of work to do before that can happen. Will you help me?” Taylor knew this was the moment of truth for her and Brett, and she didn’t hesitate for a moment. “Yes, I will help you.”
“Do you mind waiting a little while longer?”
“Yes I do, but I understand.” Taylor grinned back at her.
“I love you, Taylor. I’ve always loved you.”
“I love you, Brett, and I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
“Thank you.” Brett began to cry softly. Her tears revealed to Taylor more clearly than anything else how deeply Brett loved her.
CHAPTER 15
Brett and Taylor’s world revolved around working out, spending time with Roselin, and reacquainting with each other. Roselin’s health was slowly failing, her strength disappearing as the cancer ravaged her body. She refused to do anything other than manage the pain, which at times was excruciating. Brett finally talked her into moving into the other upstairs bedroom in her home. She didn’t want her mother alone in her house. Roselin and Brett talked for hours, recognizing that time was precious, and Taylor often joined them.
Brett woke up early and went to bed late, working out religiously. Many nights she slept with ice bags or heating pads to alleviate some of the pain from overworking her body. Taylor cautioned her about working too hard, but Brett continued to press herself, never once complaining. This was the Brett that Taylor had first known. Driven and competitive, undaunted by anything that stood in her way, she was going to be the best ski coach in the world. Taylor believed in her and knew she would be successful.
“Hey, Taylor, how’s Brett?”
“Good, Jeb, she’s downtown doing some shopping.”
“Good for her.” Jeb was a man who loved a good sale.
“I just called to check in. How’s business?”
“Going gangbusters, we’re going to have a record quarter.”
“Excellent! I’m sorry I’m not able to be of more help.”
“No worries, honey, you trained your staff well. Hey, are you guys up for me to come for a quick visit? I have some business I need to review with you and I’d love to see Brett again.”
“Let me check with her. Her mother is getting worse every day, and I don’t want to upset her routine. I think Brett would love to see you, though, and I miss you like crazy.”
“I miss you too. Why don’t you talk it over with her and then get back to me?”
“Jeb, is everything okay?”
“Ev
erything is fine. I just want to see my best friend and talk over a new idea I have.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to Brett tonight. She’s taking me to the movies.”
“Are you two doing okay?”
“We’re doing fantastic, other than that we aren’t sleeping together yet.”
“You’re kidding me!”
“I wish! She wants to wait until she has things a little more together. She’s had a rough couple of months.”
“How’s she doing with the sobriety thing?”
“Really well. She doesn’t seem to have any issues with not drinking, but then we rarely go anywhere where alcohol is the main attraction.”
“Did you tell her I’m an alcoholic?”
“No, that isn’t my business to tell.”
“Oh, honey, you can tell her. I’m not ashamed of it.”
“I know that.”
“She’s going to have a very tough time when she loses her mother.”
“I know. Roselin is such a lovely woman. You’d really like her. She’s just so gracious and honorable, and she loves Brett without reservation. Brett is so much like her.”
“I’d like to meet her.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Good. Say hello to Brett, and tell her about me. It might help her.”
“I will.”
It wasn’t until after Helen started preparing dinner that Brett returned home.
Taylor hadn’t heard from Brett since early afternoon. She had tried to reach her on her cell phone several times, but Brett was not picking up. Taylor was beginning to get vaguely uneasy.
“Taylor, sit down and eat with me. Brett probably got held up in traffic.” Roselin suggested as she watched Taylor move restlessly around the living room.
Taylor tried to mask her feelings as she slid into a chair at the dining room table across from Roselin. Roselin’s face showed nothing but a welcoming smile but she too was beginning to get worried about Brett.
Brett had finished her shopping hours earlier but as she was loading her pack-ages into her SUV she ran into a couple of World Cup skiers who spent part of the year training in Boulder.
“Brett, my God, how long has it been? Where have you been, girl?”
“Hi Max, hey Lucas, how are the two of you?”
“Pumped! We are rippin’ up the slopes this year. How are you, girl? We haven’t seen you around forever.” Max was a daredevil of a giant slalom skier who’d been on the ski circuit for years. Lucas had just started skiing the year before Brett’s accident.
“I’m doing well, thanks. What’s your placement this year?”
“Seventh—can you believe it? There are a few youngsters wreaking havoc with the standings, but I think this year is going to be good for me.”
“I’m listed eleventh,” Lucas responded with a grimace. Standings on the circuit did one of two things. They gave everyone a snapshot of how well a skier was doing, and the higher the placement in the standings, the more a skier was offered sponsorship. Sponsors paid for skiers to compete, and the more sponsors one had the more money a skier made. Brett had been rated number one for the last three years she skied and had turned away some of the lucrative contracts other skiers would have jumped through hoops to have. She didn’t need the money and her only goal was to win a gold medal in the Olympics. Taking money from sponsors could be very distracting with all of their demands for time.
And Brett hadn’t wanted to be distracted from her goal.
Both men knew about Brett’s accident. Everyone associated with skiing had heard about it and mourned for the loss of such a talent. Max’s heart had broken at the thought of the charismatic skier being so badly injured.
“Brett, how’s the recovery? You’re looking terrific.” Brett flinched at the question. She knew that news of her accident had spread through the ski circuit like wildfire. “I’m doing well, thanks.”
“Hey, come on. Let’s go to the Downslope and get a drink. We’ll catch you up on all the gossip”
The Downslope was a tavern known for its food and drinks and popular with the skiing set. Run by an ex-skier from the seventies, the walls were covered with pictures of world-class skiers. Brett had all but lived there while in Boulder before her accident.
“Sure.” Brett thought about calling Taylor and letting her know what she was planning. She was afraid to. Shouldn’t she be able to make decisions like this on her own and be trusted?
“Come on, girl, I can’t wait to tell you what happened in Austria last month.
You’ll love it. We got crazy.” Max threw his arm affectionately around Brett’s shoulders as the three of them headed down the sidewalk toward the restaurant and bar.
They found seats in the crowded bar area and before Brett knew it she had a full glass of Scotch in front of her. Max and Lucas filled her in on the last couple of years on the ski circuit. She didn’t take a drink from the glass, but her eyes kept glancing down and she felt the pull deep in her body. What would it hurt to have a glass of Scotch? She was getting better and could handle it. She was an adult, wasn’t she?
For almost an hour the glass sat untouched in front of Brett while she laughed and visited with the two men. She missed skiing so much, and the conversation fed her need to hear about what was going on in the world she had once been so much a part of.
“Brett, drink up. It’s time for another round.” Lucas nudged her and tried to catch the eye of the waitress.
Brett placed her hand around the glass and imagined drinking the Scotch. Her mind was saying no, but her body was saying yes.
“Brett, is that you?” Rachel approached the table.
“Hi Rach.”
“Hey Max, Lucas, how are you?”
Rachel was also a regular at the Downslope. She had partied with many of the skiers on the circuit.
“Good, Rach, grab a chair.”
“I will, but I need to talk to Brett for a minute. Can you excuse us?” Rachel was shocked to see Brett in town at a bar, especially without Taylor.
Rachel tugged on Brett’s arm to get her to stand up. Brett placed the drink back on the table and followed Rachel to the women’s restroom.
“Brett, what are you doing here?”
“What do you mean? I can go wherever I want,” Brett snarled.
“Where’s Taylor?”
“She’s at home.” Brett hung her head when she uttered the words. She was ashamed of herself.
“Brett, honey, go home. You love Taylor and she loves you.” Rachel also knew that Brett was struggling with alcohol. She wouldn’t let her friend slide back into a bottle. “Did you drink?”
“No. I thought about it but I didn’t drink.”
“Good, go home. Everything you want is at home. Don’t be an idiot and risk losing Taylor. Why would you hang out at a bar when a beautiful woman is at home waiting for you?”
Brett began to cry. “I miss skiing and being on the circuit. That was my life and now it’s gone.”
Rachel reached out and hugged Brett tightly. She’d lost so much. “You’re going to be okay. I know you miss it but you’re going to be okay. Come on let’s get out of here.”
Rachel pulled Brett out of the tavern and with her arm slung around her waist they headed down the sidewalk. “Where’s your car parked?”
“Two blocks down Main.”
“Come on.”
They got within half a block before either woman saw Taylor leaning against Brett’s car, her eyes focused intently on them. Worry and pain had made them glassy, her face pale. She didn’t say a word. She just stood up and started to turn away from them.
“Taylor, wait! This isn’t what it seems.” Brett cried as she realized what Taylor was thinking. Taylor kept walking.
“Brett, stay here.” Rachel took off running in order to catch up with the devastated woman. Taylor was crying as she moved quickly to Roselin’s car. Seeing Brett with Rachel had shocked her. She had really believed in Brett. Rachel caught up wi
th Taylor and grabbed her arm. “Taylor, wait.”
“Let go of me!” Taylor whipped around and pulled away from Rachel.
“Not until you listen. Brett wasn’t with me. I was walking her to her car. I found her in the Downslope Tavern.”
“She was drinking?” Taylor’s face grew white, her concern for Brett overcom-ing her anger.
“No, she didn’t drink. She had a full glass of Scotch in front of her, but she didn’t drink.”
“Why?” Taylor’s face was covered with tears.
“She ran into two guys she used to know when she was skiing. They were catching up on the gossip. She misses skiing, Taylor. It was her life, her dream, and now it’s gone.”
Taylor’s respect for Rachel was renewed. “She has been working so hard. She wants to be the coach of the U.S. Ski Team.”
“Good for her. She needs to stay connected to skiing.” Rachel relaxed as they spoke. Taylor had stopped crying. “She didn’t do anything wrong, Taylor.”
“We were worried about her. She didn’t call and we couldn’t reach her on her cell phone.”
“Then go chew her ass off for not calling you!” Taylor grinned at Rachel. “I’m beginning to like you an awful lot.” Rachel laughed. “I like you. I like Brett with you. She loves you. Go chew on her. I’m going to leave the two of you to figure this out.”
“Thanks Rachel.”
Rachel shoved Taylor in the direction of Brett’s car, where Brett stood watching them uneasily.
Taylor walked the half block back, her eyes locked on Brett. Brett didn’t know what to say as she watched Taylor approach her. She waited to see what Taylor would do. Taylor saw raw fear on Brett’s face, and her anger dissolved.
“Brett, are you okay?”
“Yes, I didn’t drink. I’m sorry I was gone so long.”
“You should have called to let us know you were going to be late. Your mother and I were very worried.”
Magic in Our Hearts Page 11