Tropical Storm

Chapter Fifteen

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT had started out as a small airport, with one terminal. As Miami grew, so did the airport, adding more terminals and more concourses as more airlines wanted to fly out of it. Now, being the gateway to South America and the Caribbean, it moved an unimaginable number of people twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so much designed as grown, and the concourses were long, endless corridors with no moving sidewalks that seemed to go on forever. The airport was always full of people, with a dozen languages to be heard and overhead announcements in Spanish as well as English.

An overnight bag slung over her shoulder, Dar strode through the crowd while she examined the travel documents Maria had handed her, couriered over by their corporate travel agency. “Where in—Jesus! She booked us inside the damn park.”

“Really?” Kerry was working to keep up, and she peered over her boss’s elbow curiously. “Oh, wow! That’s supposed to be a nice place, I’ve seen pictures.”

Dar gave her a look. “We won’t get much of a chance to see it,” she warned, then hesitated, seeing the veiled look of disappointment in those interesting green eyes. “Well, maybe a little,” she relented. “We can have breakfast with Mickey, anyway.”

Kerry smiled. “I’ve never been to Disney World. I always wanted to go, and we were planning a trip sometime at Associated, just a bunch of us going up one weekend, but we never got the details ironed out.” She dodged a hurrying skycap as they arrived at the security checkpoint. They both put their laptop cases on the moving belt, and Dar dropped her cell phone and pager into the small bowl the agent held out. Then they passed through and picked up their things at the end of the X-ray belt. “You know, I have less trouble getting through security here in Miami than when I board a plane in just about any other place,” Dar commented as they started the long walk down the concourse. “I had my entire case searched in Iowa. They even made me turn the laptop on and dial a number on the cell phone.”

Kerry chuckled as she pushed herself to keep up, making a little skip now and then to compensate for Dar’s much longer stride. “Guess they’ve got more time on their hands than these guys.” She was glad they’d gotten to change and were flying in casual clothes, since they’d have until tomorrow before meeting the prospective clients. She felt a lot better in her baby-soft green flannel shirt tucked into stone-washed denims and her short-topped hiking Tropical Storm 165

boots. She eyed her companion; Dar looked casually elegant as usual in a crisply pressed beige shirt and embroidered black vest over button-fly jeans and comfortable-looking sneakers.

Just roll your suit up and put it in the overnight bag, Dar had told her wryly. Even if you carry it in a garment bag, it’ll still need pressing, so you might as well save yourself the trouble of carrying the damn thing.

That works, Kerry had agreed, and also packed her bathing suit and some shorts, just in case.

Just in case. She grinned to herself. I bet I can get her to go to MGM, at least…

By the time they got to the gate, the flight was boarding. They handed the gate agent their boarding passes, then walked down the carpeted boarding ramp and into the 727. They took their places in first class, put their bags overhead and settled down in the wide, comfortable seats. “Well,” Kerry said, as she buckled her seat belt, “this is traveling in style.”

Dar settled back and extended her long legs, crossing them at the ankles.

They were in the front set of seats, with extra legroom before them.

“Intercompany courtesy.” She gave a little shrug. “We do all of their hardware and software support, so we get pass riding privileges, and if there’s space, we go up front.” She gave the steward a smile as he sidled over.

“Hello, welcome aboard. Can I get you something to drink before we start?” His crisply efficient manner was reserved, but friendly.

Dar exhaled. “Do you have any chocolate milk?” she asked innocently.

Kerry gave Dar a little nudge and rolled her eyes. “You’re awful.” She looked up at the waiting steward. “Orange juice for me, please.” He nodded and moved off to fill their requests.

One dark brow lifted, and Dar pointed at her own chest. “Me? Milk is very healthy for ya, Kerry.” She flexed an arm, the muscles moving smoothly under the soft cotton fabric of the casual khaki shirt she was wearing. “Makes you nice and strong.”

“It’s squeezed out of a cow,” Kerry reminded her.

“And that’s so different than squeezing something out of an orange? At least the cow survives the process,” Dar retorted. She glanced up as the steward returned with crystal glasses filled with the requested beverages then turned back to Kerry. “Citrus killer.”

Kerry studied her glass for a moment. “God, I hope this doesn’t have pulp in it.” Dar snickered.

Kerry put her glass down and crossed her ankles. “You really like milk?”

“I swear by the stuff,” Dar insisted, taking a swallow. “Mmm…” She licked her lips. “Mmmmiillllk.”

Kerry caught the playfulness in her voice and went along with it. “You must own a cow, then. Where do you keep her?”

Dar laughed and raised her glass, clinking it against Kerry’s. They both took a sip and their eyes met for a moment before Dar’s dropped to the travel documents she’d left lying on her thigh. “The Floridian, eh? Well, it’ll be a drive in the morning, but at least I know we’ll have hot water.” She reconciled herself to her fate. “And they have great banana-stuffed French toast for breakfast.”

166 Melissa Good Kerry leaned on her armrest and lifted a brow. “Banana-stuffed French toast?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Dar nodded, with a quirky grin.

“I love bananas.” Kerry covered her eyes. “I’m in trouble.”

Dar chuckled, and leaned back, sighing as she relaxed into the leather of the seat. Maybe it won’t be so bad. There‘s a little water park near the hotel. Maybe we can take an hour off between meetings and take a quick splash, it might be fun.

Yeah. Dar let her head rest against the soft surface. It will be fun, bid or no bid.

“THANK YOU.” KERRY smiled at the guide who had led them to their rooms as he bowed out and let the door close after him. She looked around curiously, giving the room an approving nod as she took in the light, airy décor and the crisply clean linen. The room had one large bed in it, a dresser flanked by a tall console that contained a television, and a small refrigerator.

One wall was glass, covered by drapes which were drawn halfway, exposing a view that sparkled with color. Kerry put her bag down on the bed and walked over, to draw back the fabric and peer out. “Ooo.”

A dark lake stretched in front of the hotel, the lights of the building winking fuzzily on its surface. Boats, likewise covered in lights, were crossing the small body of water, and across the way, the glowing, light bulb-chased pattern of Main Street. Beyond that the silvery spires of Cinderella’s castle reached skyward. Kerry pressed her nose against the glass, watching the cheerful sparkle of light. Across the water to the other side she could see a glimmer of torchlight on an island in the center of the water, and she could see other torches lining the far shore.

She was so busy looking, she didn’t hear the connecting door between her room and the next open, and was startled when a warm presence materialized at her back. Kerry looked up and saw pale blue eyes watching her in the reflection of the glass, and she smiled, meeting them. “Oh, hi. You spooked me.”

“Mmm.” Dar turned her gaze to the outside. “Well, well, the old castle’s looking pretty good.”

Kerry exhaled. “I have to plan a trip up here, it looks like so much fun.”

She paused. “Hey, we’ve got a couple of hours. You want to go over there?”

“Oh no.” Dar chuckled, shaking her head. “I’ve got reports to study.”

Oh well, good try. “I guess I should do that too.” Kerry smiled. “It’s probably crowded and noisy, and we’ve got an early start tomorrow, right?”

Dar nodded. “Exactly.”

Hmm, let’s just try one more tack. “Besides, you’re supposed to be taking it easy. Better if you just hang out here and relax,” Kerry told her innocently.

“You don’t want to overstrain yourself.”

A dark brow edged up. Kerry moved back into the room and opened her bag. “I’m going to call the valet for this suit. Want me to have them get yours, too?” Dar folded her arms and gazed out at the glowing spires. “You know, on second thought, it might be better to take a look around.”

Twinkling green eyes regarded her back. “No, it’s late, Dar, and you’ve Tropical Storm 167

had a really long day.”

The taller woman swung around and eyed her. “Late?” She snorted softly. “It’s barely prime time, Kerry. I think it would be a good idea to at least check the park out. But if you’re not up to it, you can stay here.”

Somehow, Kerry was able to keep a grin off her face. “No, I can manage…if you think it’s important.”

Dar gave her a nod and headed back towards her room. “I do. Besides, it’s nice weather out there for a change, might as well take advantage of it.”

She disappeared into her own room with a decisive closing of the door.

Kerry polished her nails on her shirt, then chuckled. “Watch out, Pluto, here I come.”

THE HOTEL CONCIERGE cheerfully provided two tickets, and they ambled through the lobby, passing throngs of people laughing and relaxing.

The lobby held several bars and casual restaurants, and Kerry suddenly remembered that she’d forgotten to eat dinner. Well, I’m sure there’ll at least be popcorn over there. She sighed and followed Dar’s tall form across the carpet, and up to the monorail station.

It was crowded with people heading to and from different parts of Disney World, and the murmur of voices rose to a din. “Whoa.” Kerry edged back against a low railing, peering down the track and looking for the train.

“It is crowded.” She glanced at the people around them, and sighed.

Dar glanced around from her more comfortable six-foot-plus height, then put a hand on Kerry’s shoulder as she stepped past the barrier and leaned close to the neatly dressed and smiling attendant. “Excuse me.”

The man turned. “Yes, ma’am?” His smile grew a bit wider as he looked at Dar. “What can I do for you?”

“Pilot car?” Dar returned the smile. “My friend here’s never been.”

The man stood on his tiptoes and peered past them. “Sure.” He stepped back and motioned them forward. “Always glad to help a first-timer.” He grinned at Kerry as they walked past into a small, enclosed area near the control booth. “There you go, ladies. Have a great time.”

Kerry looked around at their conspicuous isolation. “Dar?”

“Hmm?” The taller woman looked down, but was saved from further questioning by the arrival of the monorail. It hissed quietly into the station with an electronic whine and pulled to a stop with its nose about six feet from where they were standing.

The attendant popped open the driver’s door and motioned to them, and Dar put a hand on Kerry’s back, gently shoving her forward. “Go on.”

In mild disbelief, Kerry entered the pilot’s cabin and smiled at the young man seated there. The roughly triangular space had padded benches along the Plexiglas front nose, and she slipped into one as Dar relaxed on the other.

“Isn’t this different.” She peered ahead at the track.

“Hi, folks. Welcome to Monorail Purple,” the driver cheerfully greeted them. “Next stop is the Magic Kingdom.” He looked to one side as the door slammed shut, then he put the train in motion, pulling out from the hotel along the tracks. “You folks come far?”

168 Melissa Good Kerry watched the approaching lights in fascination. “No, we’re from Miami.”

“Oh, fellow Floridians. That’s great. My family is from West Palm Beach.

We just moved up here last year,” he chattered happily. “Isn’t the weather great? It’s perfect for walking around the parks.”

“You ever get tired of going around in circles all day?” Dar asked, her face half in shadow, and her arms crossed over her chest.

“Oh no.” The boy shook his head. “It’s different every day. Sometimes we go around one way, sometimes the other, and they also rotate us on the other line. If you’re qualified on the mono, you can get parking tram runs in the morning. They’re fun.”

Dar and Kerry exchanged glances. “So, it’s like a ranking, right?” Kerry asked, as the monorail started to slow, preparing to enter the station at the Magic Kingdom. “Are the monorail drivers on top?”

He giggled. “Oh no, that would be the lake pilots…who drive the launches.” He stopped the train and pressed a button, opening the door for them. “Wow, it’s been great talking to you. Hope you come back soon to Monorail Purple.”

Dar stood and gave him a brief grin. “Thanks, have a nice, um…” She rotated her finger in a circle. “…ride.”

Kerry slipped past her and ducked outside the door, waiting for her boss to follow her and catch up before she laughed softly. “Omigod, what do they put in the coffee here?”

“They’re all like that,” Dar assured her. “I think it’s corporate policy.

Though your notion of drugs in the water fountains has also occurred to me.”

She followed Kerry down the long sloping ramp, then through the electronic turnstiles which took their tickets and spat them back out.

“Souvenirs.” Kerry held hers up and tucked it in her pocket. She took a deep breath and started forward, under the train station and towards the glimmering lights of Main Street.

Her smile half hidden in the darkness, Dar entered the park behind her younger companion. In front of them was a town square, with the train station at the front, two large buildings on either side which had signs indicating they were the fire station and City Hall, and the long street of shops heading down on the far side. They crossed the cobblestones, and turned down the main street, and Dar took in a breath as the castle rose before them, brilliant with light. On either side of them, old-fashioned store facades heralded shops of all kinds, and Dar stopped short at one. “Hey.”

“Wh—” Kerry watched her duck into a doorway and she followed. She was struck in the face with a strong blast of air flavored with taffy and chocolate. “Oh boy.” She ducked around a scurrying attendant and spotted her boss, leaning against the glass partition and watching a machine pull long strings of fragrant taffy out, over and over again. A case of chocolates caught her eye, though, and she detoured, finding herself in front of a neatly stacked display of assorted squares. “Fudge.”

Dar’s voice sounded just behind her. “Is that a conclusion or a curse?”

“Yes,” Kerry sighed. “I love fudge.” She smiled at the attendant, who gave her a perky grin. “Could I get a piece of the chocolate, please?”

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“Only chocolate?” her boss teased. “They have peanut butter there, too.”

“Nope, I’m a purist.” Kerry took her purchase and passed the girl the payment. “Thanks.”

The girl addressed Dar. “Anything for you, ma’am?”

Dar studied her choices. “A half dozen of those,” she pointed at the peanut butter cups, “a bag of the chocolate-covered cherries, and some toffee.”

Kerry tried not to follow suit. She folded her arms across her chest and balled her fists, one hand grasping the bag of fudge. “Boy, you’re a wild thing in one of these places, huh?”

“Don’t worry.” Dar tucked her packets away. “I’ll share.” She sauntered toward the door, dodging a few running children along the way.

Kerry sighed. “I was afraid she’d say that,” she murmured, but shook her head and followed as they returned to the street and walked along it. The air was filled with the smell of cotton candy and popcorn, mixed with pine and the warm scent of the tarmac under their feet. “Nice night.”

Dar didn’t answer for a few steps, as she looked around them. “Yeah,”

she said. “You hungry?”

“A little,” Kerry demurred. “I forgot to grab dinner.”

“Me, too.” The taller woman picked up her pace and headed for the tall, well-lit castle in the center of the park. “C’mon.”

“Okay. Hey,” Kerry pointed, “there’s a hot dog stand over there.”

Dar snorted softly. “No Pluto Pups and no Astro Burgers, okay? Those are my rules here. C’mon.” She led Kerry across the square at the end of Main Street and right up into the castle, where she abruptly turned into a small alcove, almost causing Kerry to crash into her. In front of them was a small stand, with a perky dressed woman in Medieval garb.

“Hi there, folks. Welcome to Cinderella’s Banqueting Hall. Would you like to have dinner tonight?” The woman greeted them. “We’ve got a table available just for you!”

“Two.” Dar informed her, with a smile, as Kerry tugged on her sleeve.

“Hmm?”

“There’s a restaurant here?” the blonde woman whispered.

Dar grinned. “Mmm-hmm. I hope you like prime rib.”

“Prime rib?” Kerry followed her as they made their way to an elevator and got out at the second floor. “But this is Dis…” She stopped, surprised. The second floor contained a wide, open dining space surrounded by tall windows. Sturdy wooden tables with pewter plates and cups were placed on two different levels, and quite a number of diners were already seated around the room. “Oh. Cool.”

The hostess led them to a small table near the windows, which was lit by a candle and already set. “Your waiter will be right with you,” she told them.

“Have a great dinner.”

Kerry took a moment to look around them as she opened her napkin and laid it neatly across her lap. “This is adorable,” she murmured. “It’s got really nice, um…”

“Ambiance?” Dar gave her a wry grin.

“Atmosphere,” Kerry asserted. “Have you eaten here before? I guess you have.”

170 Melissa Good Dar held off answering as a waiter came over, removing a pad from his apron and preparing to write.

“Evening, folks. What can I get you?”

Kerry glanced at the menu. “Hmm, wow. Okay, I’ll take the prime rib, I guess.” She deliberately bypassed the chicken from a sense of occasion. “With the potatoes, and some punch, please.”

“Same.” Dar leaned back and studied her. “Not everyone knows this place is here. It beats the fast food stuff they mostly sell. There’s also a good chicken and fish place near Liberty Square, but I was in the mood for beef tonight.”

“No arguments from me.” Kerry glanced up as a basket of rolls and butter was set before her. She examined the butter. “Oh, Dar, look. It has little Mickey Mouses stamped into it.” She picked up the pewter plate and showed her companion. “Isn’t that cute?”

Dar ruthlessly kidnapped a hapless Mickey and spread it on a roll.

“Adorable,” she agreed, munching on it. “Any place in particular you want to see, now that you conned me into coming over here?” Her blue eyes glinted gently.

“Me?” Kerry pointed her own chest. “But, boss, it was your idea!”

However, she grinned impishly at Dar. “Thank you for indulging my somewhat childish whim.”

The candle on the table flickered in the air movement and threw interesting shadows across Dar’s planed features. The blue eyes moved around a lot as the taller woman watched the crowd, and the skin around them wrinkled and smoothed as she did so. Her dark hair fell gently over her shoulders and framed her face and Kerry suddenly became conscious of the fact that she was staring. She found something else to look at, picking up a wide, two-pronged fork and turning it over.

Dar cleared her throat gently. “So, was there someplace you wanted to see?” she repeated.

Kerry thought about that. “Why don’t you suggest something? You seem to know this place well enough. I mean, the roller coasters would be fun.”

“Ah. Space, Thunder, and Splash Mountain. Okay, we can do that in a couple of hours,” Dar agreed. “Park’s open until midnight. It’ll get quieter after the parade goes by.”

As if on cue, a brassy march filtered through the windows, and Kerry pressed her nose against one, peering out through the wavy glass to see a band going by.

Dar watched her with an indulgent smile, taking the opportunity to study her companion’s gentle profile. Kerry had a small, straight nose, and a firm, even chin, with rounded cheekbones and soft, fair lashes. Right now, those lashes were fluttering as she studied the parade, catching the odd glint from the candle, which also caught the faint wrinkles at the corner of her mouth as she smiled.

It is, Dar acknowledged to herself, nice to just sit across the table from someone who is cute, and intelligent, and has no ulterior motive in sharing dinner with me. Whoa. Her breath caught, and she went back over that statement.

Intelligent, yes. Kerry was certainly that. Cute? Where did that come from? She Tropical Storm 171

peeked at the younger woman, who was still engrossed with the sight outside.

Well, she is cute, the executive reasoned. Just all kind of sweet, and nice and, well…cute.

Her eyes traced the curve of Kerry’s ear, and she lowered her gaze to the plate in front of her, the roll taking on a sudden fascination for her.

C’mon, Dar, quit fooling yourself. You know she’s cute, and more than that, or it wouldn’t have been an image of her in that bathing suit that you used to pick up the old heartbeat this morning, hmm? The executive let out a breath wryly, and dismissed the thought. Well, she’s not your type, so find something else to look at.

Kerry cleared her throat. “Catchy tune.” She indicated the music outside.

“Your bread okay?”

Dar looked up, startled. “Yeah, I was just thinking.” She straightened sheepishly. “Sorry.” Green eyes suddenly met hers and she noticed the little golden flecks in them for the first time. They were interesting eyes, reminding her of sunlight underwater, and she studied them curiously until the raising eyebrow made her realize she was staring . Okay, enough of that. “Interesting parade?”

Kerry cocked her head. “Parade?” she asked softly, then she blushed a little. “Oh, yes, it’s very cute. They just had a float with Mickey and Minnie dancing on it.” She looked up as the server arrived with their dinner. “Good grief.” She eyed the plate as it was set down. “My god, that cow must have been the size of an elephant!”

“It’s actually Dumbo, ma’am,” the waiter stated in a smooth, even voice.

“He stepped on Minnie’s tail, and it was just all over for him.”

Both women stared at him, then burst out laughing. “Jesus, did your medication wear off?” Dar snorted.

“They don’t give it to us,” the man confided, placing Dar’s portion in front of her. “We have to handle steak knives and hot plates. It could be dangerous.” He made a little bow, flicking his long sleeves out of the way, and backed off. “Enjoy your dinners.”

It was difficult to know what to make small talk about, Kerry thought.

They could talk about work, but somehow she just didn’t feel like doing that tonight, so she cut a piece of her steak and nibbled it, gathering her courage before speaking. “Dar?” Those amazing clear blue eyes looked up at her, and the brow raised, which, Kerry realized, meant Yes? “Can I ask you a personal question?” she inquired shyly.

The darkness hid her flush, for which Dar was extremely grateful. “Um. I can’t guarantee I’ll answer it, but yeah, go ahead.” She felt a gentle nervous flutter hit her stomach.

Kerry leaned forward. “Is your name short for something, or is it just Dar?” “Oh.” The dark-haired woman speared a roasted potato and popped it in her mouth, giving herself a chance to think. She could just say ‘it’s just Dar,’

since legally it was. However… “Well, my mother was—is still, I suppose—an addict of Spanish romance novelas. She had a favorite character, Paladar. I’m named for that.” The executive cleared her throat in embarrassment. “I hated it. I had it legally changed when I turned eighteen.”

Kerry propped her chin on her hand, fascinated. “Paladar…I don’t know, 172 Melissa Good I kinda like it. It’s got a nice ring to it.” She watched the look of alarm spread on Dar’s face. “Don’t worry, though, I won’t use it, not if you don’t like it.”

“B…um, well…” Dar fiddled with her fork. “It was just so stupid. I mean, the character was this insane woman who ran around falling in love at the drop of a hat and getting into trouble. I just…I didn’t see any likeness, so…”

She shrugged. “And the kids my age knew where it came from. I got teased a lot.” She speared another cube of rare prime rib and dipped it in the small boat of gravy. “What about you? Is Kerry short for something?”

A charming smile edged the younger woman’s face as she regarded her companion. “Kerrison. It’s a family name. Usually it’s given to the eldest boy, but my father was determined to give it to his firstborn regardless, so, I have to live with it.”

Dar considered the name. “I like it,” she announced. “Fits you somehow.”

“You think so?” Kerry sounded doubtful. “I never did.” She bit a green bean in half and chewed it. “I don’t use it much. Even my résumé has Kerry on it, and all my official work documents.”

“Mmm, I know. That’s why I asked.” Dar glanced up with a grin. “I could have just logged in and found out otherwise.”

Kerry’s brows knit. “That’s so weird. You know all that stuff about me, and I…it’s just strange.” She laughed a bit. “I mean, it’s not like I can just log in and find out about you.”

Dar gazed at her, a tiny smile playing around her lips. “Kerry, you already know more about me than you’d find in the company computers,” she answered quietly. “Most of your co-workers would be astonished to know what my house looks like or that I’m a diver, or what my real name is, for instance.” She glanced to one side. “Or that I eat Frosted Flakes for breakfast.”

Kerry felt a little out of breath for a moment. “Oh.” She blushed, this time more noticeably in the low light. “Well, yeah, I guess you don’t…” She fell silent.

“Socialize.” Dar completed her sentence with a faint smile. “It’s all right,”

she reassured her companion. “I don’t. I’ve just learned along the way the more you let out about personal stuff, the more it comes back to bite you in the ass.” She saw Kerry’s eyes jerked up to meet hers, the faintly hurt look swiftly hidden. “Sometimes.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Kerry murmured. “You know, not to bring up a sore subject, but your real name reminds me of something.” She changed the subject, a trifle awkwardly.

“Oh?” Dar took her own drink and sipped it. “What’s that, a package of marshmallows? That was a popular version when I was younger.”

“Oh, like Mallomar?” Kerry laughed softly. “Well, it’s sweet and tasty.”

This time the blush made her fair eyebrows stand out, and she winced in reaction. “Um, that’s not…I mean, I wasn’t, um…”

Dar chuckled softly. “Yeah, yeah. Relax, I know what you meant.” She paused. “ What else were you thinking of?”

“Um.” Kerry rubbed her face as though trying to rub away the flush.

“Paladins, actually. The other day I was reading a story that had them, and it, um…” She glanced at Dar, who looked puzzled. “Oh, right. You probably don’t read that kind of book. Sure, well, Paladins are knights, but they’re Tropical Storm 173

especially good kinds of knights. They stood up for people not for reward, but just because it was the right thing to do. That was what they were—people who just did things because they were right, not because it was good for them personally to do it.”

Dar leaned forward. “Kerry, I am not any kind of good guy, trust me, okay? I eat people for lunch. I fire people at the drop of a hat. I restructure companies to maximize profit for our company. Everyone hates my guts. So, try to remember that, huh? Or you’re in for a shock when we go into those meetings.”

“Not everyone,” Kerry replied quietly.

“Hmm?” Dar looked at her questioningly.

“Not everyone hates you.” The blonde lifted her chin. “I don’t.”

A silence fell between them as Dar stared at her. “You haven’t known me that…long,” she finally answered. “I don’t want you seeing me as something I’m not, Kerry. I’m very serious about that.”

They looked at each other for a lengthening moment, until Kerry shrugged faintly. “All right. I’ll try not to.”

“Okay, just so long as we’ve got that straight,” Dar replied with a nod.

“Right,” Kerry agreed. “As long as you don’t get mad when I say what I do see.”

Dar sighed. “I’m not any kind of a half-assed good guy.”

Kerry’s eyes held a very grave twinkle in them. “Dar, the one thing for sure is that you’re not a half-assed anything,” she said. “And you’ll never convince me otherwise, okay?”

“If you say so.” Dar rolled her eyes and went back to her steak.

“I do.” Kerry ate the last of her prime rib, took a sip of her punch and wiped her lips. “Boy, that was good.”

Dar popped her last potato into her mouth and nodded, leaning back as the attentive busboy scooted over to take away their plates. “Beats Pluto Pups, huh?”

“Oh yeah.” Kerry took a breath to protest as the busboy returned bearing two plates full of strawberry shortcake. “Oh lord.” She gave a chuckling Dar her most exasperated look. “I give up. I’m just going to reconcile myself to looking like Miss Piggy, and have done with it.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll walk it off. This place is really spread out,” Dar reassured her. “Space Mountain first?”

Kerry started on her dessert. “Sounds good to me. Did someone really ever get their head cut off on that?”

Dar snorted softly. “It’s an urban legend, but it’s a good one. You always hear it from someone who has ridden before the victim and saw the head arrive several cars before the rest of the poor bastard.”

“Ugh, I’ll try not to think about that.” Kerry made a face. “And tighten my seat belt.”

“Oh, well, you don’t…” Dar stopped, considering. “Well, now that I think about it…” A thoughtful smile crossed her face. “You’ll be pretty safe.”

Kerry glanced up at her curiously, wondering what she meant.

174 Melissa Good EVERYONE WAS WATCHING the parade. That meant there was only a short line, and Kerry grinned as she joined it, putting her hands on the railing that kept the snaking path of humanity in check. Space Mountain was a tall, conical structure in the middle of Tomorrowland. It had a white roof and spire, and conspicuously posted, ominous warnings against riding the roller coaster for pregnant women, children, short people, people with heart conditions, and Mormons… No, wait, Kerry reread the notice. “Oh…new mothers. Right. Like anyone would take a newborn child on this.”

“Don’t laugh,” Dar’s voice came from a point just behind her. “I saw someone try to take a guinea pig on here once, for a bet.”

Kerry turned right around. “You did not,” she accused, with a laugh.

“Get out of here, Dar.”

“Yes, I did,” her boss insisted. “They had it in a backpack, and they were in front of me. It stuck its little pink nose out and was wiggling it.”

“What did you do?” Kerry asked curiously as they moved forward.

“Made sure I wasn’t behind them when it puked,” Dar replied dryly. “Go on, down that way.” The path divided and they headed down a ramp to a neon-lit boarding area. She studied the cars as they were filled, and realized each car was split into two seating areas. A rider could go solo in a big one and just sort of brace herself or ride double and let the person behind her hang on to her.

Ooo, dilemma. Kerry glanced up at her companion, who was watching the proceedings with a mildly interested look. “Um.” She didn’t have to pretend the embarrassment. “Can I ask you a favor?”

Blue eyes turned violet in the neon dropped to her face. “Sure.”

Kerry nodded toward the cars. “Would you mind a whole lot if we went double? I love roller coasters, but they spook me a little.” Was that a grin that flicked on and off Dar’s face? It was far too dark to tell, really.

“Sure, no problem,” Dar answered in a normal voice. “You should go to Busch Gardens—now those are roller coasters.”

“Ah.” Kerry moved forward to where they were loading the next set of cars. “Been to one out of state and went on the one where you are clamped on from overhead. Did you know that when you vomit on one of those you can actually hit your own foot when you’re upside down?”

Dar worked out the physics of that. “Wow. No, I didn’t,” she admitted as they were ushered into their car. She settled back against the backrest as Kerry seated herself somewhat gingerly between Dar’s legs. “Did you do that?” she asked, more to distract them both than anything.

“No. My sister did.” Kerry took an irregular breath as the car moved to make room for the next set to be loaded. She slid back a little and felt Dar’s knees press around her, a warm grip that swiftly penetrated the fabric of her jeans. It felt nice. She tipped back her head and watched as the car started to move, and they inched forward onto a track, then turned a corner into the darkness and started up. “Uh…” Kerry realized she wasn’t going to be able to remain upright without some serious holding on.

“Relax, lean back,” Dar’s voice reassured her, patting her shoulder. “I can take it.”

The incline increased, and Kerry had little choice. She loosened her hold Tropical Storm 175

on the sides of the car and settled back against the taller woman’s chest, feeling Dar take a secure hold around her waist.

“Okay, I got you,” the executive told her cheerfully.

Yeah. Kerry absorbed the sensation. You sure do. She felt her heartbeat pick up, a subtle thunder in her ears as she fought a feeling of mild panic, unsure of where it was coming from. “Wow. Guess I’m a little nervous,” she murmured.

“Relax.” Dar’s voice was inches from her ear. “It’ll be over in a few minutes. I’m not that bad, am I?”

Bad? Kerry fought to slow her breathing down as the angle got a little steeper and she felt Dar take a snugger hold of her. Like it was a completely normal thing to do. Kerry felt a little ashamed of herself and she forced her body to relax, pushing aside the nervous feeling until she could set aside the circumstances and look around her again . It’s okay, her conscience reassured her . It’s no big deal, nothing unusual, it’s…nice. Like we were old friends. She smiled and relaxed a little more, watching the fake stars overhead as they inched to the top of the incline. She could feel Dar breathing, a slow, steady motion, and stopped resisting both the tug of gravity and Dar’s grasp, letting her head drop back against the dark-haired woman’s collarbone, a line crossed so easily and almost without her notice.

She closed her eyes and was startled when a flash of her dream from the storm morning came to her. It had felt…yes, a little like this. Just a little.

They reached the top of the incline, and the car shot forward, starting the ride. It was dark and twisty, and there wasn’t really much to see so she just kept her eyes closed and let gravity war with Dar’s powerful grip.

Unsurprisingly, Dar won. She kept hold of Kerry as the car rushed in a tight circle and over a last series of hills, the bottom dropping out a few times until they rattled into the end of the ride, and the dark dissolved into a blast of blue light, and it was over.

It felt a bit too soon, in fact. Kerry exhaled as they shuttled into an ending platform, and Dar released her. “Wow, that was fun.” She got up and hopped out of the car, the taller woman following along behind. “It was so dark, though. Are they all like that?”

Dar shook her head. “Thunder Mountain isn’t. I’ve never been on the other one, but I don’t think it is. That’s more water than anything.” They exited out into a starlit night, where the faint strains of the parade music were still floating in the air.

Kerry smiled at her. “Thanks for keeping me safe.”

“No problem,” Dar replied with a brief grin. “I’d hate to tell you what I’d have to go through in Personnel if I lost you on a business trip. Mariana would have my head if I let you lose yours.”

They both chuckled, then Dar motioned to the right. “This way. We can sneak around back through Frontierland to get to Big Thunder.”

“Oh, is that where that Country Bear Jamboree is?” Kerry suddenly asked. “I’ve seen that on TV so many times.”

Dar gave her an indulgent look. “Okay, I get the hint. C’mon.” She gave her a sideways glance. “I’m surprised you didn’t want to see the Haunted Mansion.”

176 Melissa Good

“Ooo.” Kerry made a face. “I forgot about that. Is it around here?”

Dar just laughed as she changed direction again. “C’mon.”

THEY WERE ON about the last monorail out and happy to settle in a regular seat as the sleek train pulled out of the park and headed back toward the hotel. Dar leaned against the window and peered out, half shaking her head about how she’d spent the night.

Good grief. It better not get back to anyone, or I’ll never hear the end of it. She watched the lights of the boats below go by and exhaled, watching her breath condense on the glass. Wasn’t so bad though...and it wasn’t like we really had anything else planned for the evening. I’d already gone over most of the reports before we left Miami, and the other option was just finding some entertainment in the hotel.

This, s he decided, was just as good, and all the walking certainly was healthy.

Somehow they’d managed to hit all the major areas in under two hours and had walked down Main Street as the park was closing, watching Mickey Mouse balloons float aimlessly up from the hands of sleeping children.

She glanced to her left, hiding a grin at the bags tucked under her companion’s arms. From one peeked a stuffed buffalo, its crossed eyes and tiny pink tongue comically protruding. From the other emerged a happy-looking Pluto nestling comfortably against Kerry’s shoulder, his floppy ears showing black against her blonde hair. Dar found herself unexpectedly charmed by the sight. “It’s a dog’s life, huh?” she addressed the stuffed animal. “Aren’t you a lucky puppy.”

“What?” Kerry turned and looked at her. “Did you say something?”

“Nope.” Dar sat back and folded her hands together. “Nothing at all.”

Kerry had, to her bemusement, fallen in love with Buff, the animated, wall-mounted buffalo in the Country Bear Jamboree, and wouldn’t be satisfied until she’d scoured the Frontierland Trading Post and found one to take home with her. She’d tried to convince Dar to get a coonskin cap, but the executive had taken one look at the fuzzy tail hanging over her ear and plopped it up onto the top of a rack, out of Kerry’s reach.

She’d stuck with just her candy, though a filigreed, hand-blown glass dolphin on a cresting wave in the glassmaker’s shop had tempted her. She’d finally decided the figurine would probably only get broken and so she decided not to buy it. She’d momentarily lost Kerry, only to have her turn up a few minutes later with Pluto, and a satisfied look on her face. The Emporium, shop of last resort for frantic souvenir hunters, was always the last place to close, and they wandered through there on their way out. Dar succumbed to the overwhelming marketing pressure by purchasing a crisp black polo shirt with a silver Mickey embroidered on the breast.

“Oh, that’s festive,” Kerry had teased.

Dar chuckled wryly. “Calculated plan of attack. I’ll wear it at the meeting tomorrow, under my jacket.” Her eyes twinkled wickedly. “Good psychology.

This Disney crowd’s an odd lot. They’re businessmen, but there’s still a strong element in there of the old, family-centered franchise. They’re very loyal to the brand name, and they like to see some enthusiasm for their product.”

“Hmm, interesting.” Kerry considered that as they’d walked out. “What Tropical Storm 177

do they consider their product to be?”

Dar had looked at her. “If you had asked Walt Disney, dreams.”

NOW, SHE SETTLED back in her seat and stretched out her legs, resting them on the bench facing them. They were almost alone in the car, and the train had several stops to make before it went the entire circuit and ended back up at the Floridian. They passed through the Contemporary, a huge block canyon of a place, and the Hawaiian-style Polynesian, before they slowed to a stop at the stately white Grand Floridian. “This is our stop.” Dar stood and stretched, then ducked out the door and entered the lobby.

People were still milling around, mostly near the bars, and the elevators were fairly crowded as they made their way up to their rooms. Dar slipped her door open and ambled over to the dresser, depositing her bag of goodies before she turned and noticed the message light blinking on the phone. “What the hell is that?” She pulled her cell phone from her belt and checked it. “No, I thought this was on. Who in the hell would leave me a message here?”

She shook her head as she sat down and started pulling at her sneakers with one hand while lifting the receiver with the other and dialing the operator for the message. “Yes, this is Dar Roberts, I have a message?” She wrote down the name and number on a scratch pad left by the phone and thanked the operator, then hung up. “Well, John…” She picked up the receiver and dialed again, listening as it rang. It was picked up on the fourth ring. “Hello, John, you said to call when I got the message, so…”

“Oh. Oh, Dar. Yes. Thanks.” The man’s voice sounded harried. “I was just putting the last bit of a new proposal together. Listen, I’m glad you’re here.”

That’s new. “What’s up?”

“They’ve asked us to come in with a bid tomorrow, but they’re bringing us and the team from IBM in at the same time. Kind of like a face-off.”

“Oh, really.” Dar pulled off her other sneaker and rubbed her toes.

“That’s different. They expected us to arm-wrestle it out or something?”

“I don’t know,” John answered with a sigh. “But I’ve been getting my tail kicked by their team leader. I understand you know him?”

“Oh yeah.” Dar chuckled. “You could say that. He certainly won’t be glad to see me, let’s just put it that way.” She unbuttoned her vest and stood up.

“Listen, mail the proposal over to me, and I’ll take a look at it. What time’s the meeting tomorrow?”

“It’s at ten, at the admin center,” he answered with audible relief.

“Michelle Graver’s in charge of their negotiating group. Dar, she’s vicious.”

He cleared his throat. “In today’s session, she brought up every major failure we’ve had in the last ten years. Not sure where she got the info from.”

“Probably from Jerry Andrews,” Dar replied as she pulled off the vest, and then unzipped her briefcase. “So it’s that kind of dirty pool, eh? All right.

I’ll give the office a call and see what reciprocal dirt I can dig up. They’ll be loaded for bear tomorrow.” She paused. “Do they know I’m here?”

“Not that I know of. Unless they track our corporate bookings in their central res system,” John replied, sounding a good deal more cheerful.

“Damn, I’m glad you’re here, Dar. Tomorrow it’ll be like walking in with an 178 Melissa Good Uzi under my arm.”

Dar snorted. “Thanks.” She plugged in the laptop and connected the modem cord to the spare jack on the side of the phone. “Actually, make sure there’s room for two more. I have my new assistant with me as an observer.”

“Oh? Great!” John replied. “Even better, we’ll outnumber them, then.”

He hesitated. “And it’ll make a better mix on the team. I’ve only got guys on this one, I think that’s annoying Michelle.”

“What about them?”

“Are you kidding? At this level bid? All guys, all blue suits, all white shirts, black ties, black shoes, and IBM tie tacks.” The account rep chuckled.

“At least we’re wearing different colored underwear.”

“Should be fun.” Dar sighed. “Send it over. I’ll be dialed in.” She waited for him to hang up, then replaced the receiver and instructed her laptop to complete a connection.

“Problems?” a soft voice asked, and she looked up to see Kerry in the adjoining doorway, dressed in an overlong T-shirt with a large, obnoxious Tweety Bird on it and not much else. “I heard that start to connect.” She pointed at the laptop.

Dar got over her gut-level response at seeing her assistant in her underwear and shrugged. “Could be. Apparently the IBM team is playing dirty pool. Not that we wouldn’t if we could, of course, but they’ve given the people here some inside info about us, and John’s having a rough time of it.”

She glanced at the screen, and then waved Kerry inside the room. “Sit down, he’s sending me over his new bid to look at.”

Kerry willingly did so, curling up on her side on the bed and handing Dar a piece of the fudge she’d been nibbling on. “What kind of inside info?”

Dar checked the download indicator. “Damn, I must have a meg of mail.

We’ve only been gone for seven hours, what’s going on down there?” She ate the fudge, then licked her fingers. “Mmm, that’s pretty good.”

“I don’t know, I left my laptop picking up. I had a bunch too,” Kerry advised her, as she handed over another piece.

“Hey, that’s yours,” Dar protested, but took the fudge anyway. “The inside info was screw-ups of ours—times when we promised something we couldn’t deliver, or had to void out of a contract due to non-performance, that kind of thing.” She started a terminal session and typed in a request. “C’mon, c’mon. Goddamn analog piece of shit lines.”

Kerry muffled a grin. Dar had taken off her sneakers and vest and tugged her shirt out, and it was appealingly rumpled-looking. “What are you going to do?”

“Get some dirt on them,” Dar replied absently, sending a bot out searching the huge database Programming had custom written for them. “Fire with fire, and all that.”

Golden lashes fluttered. “Why not just put in the best bid?” she inquired.

“Or is that an incredibly naïve question?”

Dar’s blue eyes lifted and twinkled. “Well, not naïve, just a little too, um…optimistic.” She placed the laptop on the bed and stood, stripping out of her shirt and reaching for her bag. “In an ideal world, we’d all be judged on our merits. This isn’t an ideal world.” She glanced at Kerry, who was Tropical Storm 179

studiously looking elsewhere, and managed a wry grin.

“And?” Kerry seemed to find the bedside clock fascinating.

“And I know that.” She got into her baseball shirt and pulled off her jeans, folding them neatly and tucking them inside the bag. “So you take any advantage you can find, including knocking down the other guy any way you can.”

“Hmm.” Kerry gave a small nod. “It sounds very antagonistic.” She finally looked up and pushed a bit of hair behind one ear.

“It can be,” Dar agreed, relaxing onto her side and extending her legs across the bed, while she checked the progress of the bot. She thought a minute, then started another bot, this time searching for information on Michelle Graver. She’d vaguely heard of the woman in passing. Was it with Merrill Lynch? But they’d never met, and she knew nothing about her. Not a good way to go into a bid meeting. “The IBM lead negotiator almost came over the table at me the last time we met.”

Kerry’s eyes widened. “Really? God, Dar…that’s terrible.”

“No.” Her boss looked up with a devilish grin. “It was hilarious. He couldn’t do it because when he stood up, he split his pants, and he had to sit right back down or flash the client with his big white butt.” She chuckled at the memory. “I almost hurt myself laughing.”

Kerry bit back a laugh. “I would have died. Is he going to be surprised to see you?”

“Ooo, yes.” Dar chuckled again, not a nice sound. “It also helps the makeup of the team. John thinks Michelle Graver, the lead rep for Disney, is ticked off because both we and IBM brought in all male groups.” She glanced up at Kerry. “She’s been giving John a hard time.”

“You think she’ll give you a hard time?”

Dar studied the results of the second bot. “Hmm. She might.” Her brows rose. “She’s pretty formidable on paper. She’s got a doctorate in psychology in addition to a masters in business. She’s been with them for ten years and is viewed as one of their top talents.” She turned her laptop around for Kerry to view. “Here, take a look.” She watched Kerry read, her eyes flicking back and forth rapidly. “See anything interesting?” A little test, one she suspected her intelligent young friend would pass.

“She’s a skydiver,” Kerry murmured, touching the screen with a fingertip. “That shows a certain kind of personality, doesn’t it? Someone who looks for adrenaline highs?” She said, “A risk taker.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Dar gave her an approving smile. “Good catch.”

“So, that means she probably thrives on conflict, which is why she’s staging the meeting like that tomorrow, right?” She glanced up. “It gives her a thrill to watch you guys go at each other.”

“Could be,” her boss admitted.

“So, your best bet is to stay cool, right?”

Dar chuckled. “Exactly. She’s depending on one or the other of us to lose it and give in to our tempers. And that, my friend, is not going to be me.”

My friend. Kerry liked the sound of that. “I just sit quiet and take notes, I assume?”

“If you’ve got something to say, Kerry, you say it,” Dar answered 180 Melissa Good seriously. “But think of these people as sharks. They’re looking for tidbits.

And bear in mind, no matter how civilized they seem, that there are no friends in there.”

She smiled. “Except us.”

Dar looked up from her screen and smiled back. “Yeah.”

Kerry glanced down to the bedspread, then back up. “Thanks for doing the park with me tonight, Dar. I know this is a business trip, but I had a great time.”

Dar let her head rest on her hand. “I had a good time too. Tell you what, if these damn meetings let out at a decent time tomorrow, we’ll do Epcot, and I’ll treat you to dinner in Mongolia or someplace. How about it?”

A quiet smile edged her lips. “You don’t have to do that, I can always come up here another time.”

Dar drew a pattern on the fabric, then looked up at her through dark eyelashes. “I know you can, but I also know that I won’t, so let me have my little self-delusional excuse for a quasi-vacation, okay?” she replied wryly.

“Oh, oh, sorry. Okay, I get it.” Kerry gave her a sweet smile. “Don’t worry. I promise I’ll never tell anyone you actually have fun sometimes.”

“Thanks.” Dar chuckled. “And, um, listen, thanks for going with me this morning. I really appreciated having a friendly face there.”

“No problem, I’m just glad everything turned out okay,” Kerry replied honestly.

“Me too.” Dar rolled over onto her back, but kept her head turned towards Kerry. “Feels good not to have to worry about that. I’ve always been half scared that valve would blow out on me underwater or something.”

Kerry squirmed a bit closer. “Why didn’t you have it checked out before, then?”

Dar shrugged. “Didn’t want to know, I guess.” She laid a hand on her stomach, tapping idly with the edge of her thumb. “Stupid.”

“Human,” Kerry disagreed. “No one likes to hear bad news.” She paused, then sighed. “Well, if tomorrow’s going to be a big battle, I’d better get some sleep.” She stood up and raised a hand. “ ’Night, Dar.”

Thoughtful blue eyes regarded her. “ ’Night.”

After Kerry left, a silence settled over the room and Dar was conscious of the soft hum of her disk drive as it accepted the downloads, and the gentle clicking as the air conditioning cycled on and off. Her brow creased in mild confusion. The room seemed so empty now with the kid gone. She found herself wanting Kerry back near her, even if it were only to be studying the files quietly in the corner, or standing around just talking, or… Or just being close by.

She thought hard about that. Okay. She took a deep breath and released it.

I’m attracted to Kerry. That wasn’t any big deal. It happened often enough, and Kerry was as safe as a baby in a crib from any hint of impropriety from her or anything like that. Company rules were company rules and that was one line Dar Roberts never, ever crossed. She’d had relationships inside the building, sure, most of them embarrassing failures, but none in her own space. No way.

No way, not with Kerry. Dar found herself looking at the door between their rooms.

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And, after all, her new assistant was good looking, smart, had a great sense of humor, nice eyes, and nice body…who wouldn’t be attracted to her?

So that was normal. No problem. She could deal with that, it would disappear in time, and Kerry would never know the difference.

Dar thought about that for a long moment. It was true, she’d be able to dismiss the attraction, but there was something else there going on she wasn’t sure she could set aside so easily, not and keep working like she’d have to with Kerry. Something was pulling them together on a much deeper level. She could feel it, and she suspected Kerry could too. It had nothing to do with carnal desires, and everything to do with the peaceful, contented feeling she’d gotten on that very brief ride, with Kerry’s body snuggled against hers as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

She ached to feel it again. And that…that was scaring her. Physical attraction she could deal with. This was something else entirely. She just wished she knew what it was.