Tropical Storm

Chapter Thirty-three

HER PAGER WENT off at nine, and Dar had to force her eyes open, as her body complained heartily about leaving the warm, somnolent nest she was snuggled into. The thin curtain in the room was blocking most of the daylight, and it was nice and dark inside.

“Ugh,” she groaned softly, blinking the sleep out of her eyes and peering down at the still sleeping Kerry. The blonde woman was sprawled half across her, and Dar could see the strain and exhaustion that still marked her friend’s face.

Poor kid. Dar absently stroked the soft golden hair lying across her chest. I can’t believe they did that to her. She didn’t deserve that. Kerry had been very withdrawn since they’d left her parents’ house, and Dar knew she was probably still in shock. Dar took a moment to reflect on the last twenty-four hours, scarcely able to believe what they’d both been through. “Damn.” She muttered softly to herself. “I’ll be glad to get home.”

“Am home,” Kerry mumbled, letting out a sigh and tightening her grip, still mostly asleep.

The taller woman smiled, then rubbed her lover’s back. “Ker?” she called softly.

Pale green eyes very slowly fluttered open and focused on her. “Uh?”

“We’ve got a plane to catch,” Dar told her, half apologetically, smoothing the fair hair back from her forehead.

“Oh, right.” With an obvious effort, Kerry pushed herself up on her elbows, then let her head drop and rest on Dar’s arm. “Oh god, I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.” She moaned.

Dar yawned. “Me too, must have been all the excitement.” She rolled over and paused, catching her breath as the bruises she’d collected a few hours previous made themselves known. “Ah…whoa.”

Kerry slid over and took her arm. “What’s wrong?” she asked anxiously,

“Are you okay?”

Her taller companion slowly straightened. “Just a few aches, I’m all right.” She stood up and cautiously stretched out her body, then trudged over to the bathroom and flipped on the light, running water into the sink. “Jack offered to buy us breakfast. We can do that, then head for the gate and get out of here.” She splashed water on her face and exhaled. “We unfortunately have to change planes in Detroit.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Kerry murmured. “The sooner the better.” She sighed. “Detroit, huh? Well, I can get a Lions sweatshirt. I always liked them.”

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Jack poked his head in the door between their two rooms. “Did I hear my name?” The Navy pilot inquired brightly. “And something about a Lion?”

They washed and headed off to breakfast.

THE FLIGHT WAS uneventful. Kerry was happy to sleep through most of it, curled up in her first class seat near the window, with Dar’s comforting presence on the other side of her. The slanting sun woke her, and she peered out the window to see an endless sea of grass spreading out beneath the plane’s wings, the patchwork of green interspersed with the odd ripple of dark blue and forest green. She turned her head and gazed at Dar, who was staring off into the distance, her eyes half closed. “Dar?” She reached over and touched the taller woman’s arm.

The blue eyes turned to meet hers. “Hmm? Almost home.”

Kerry nodded. “We’re over the ’glades. What’s the weather like?”

A smile. “Lower eighties, sunny, chance of showers tonight.”

“Oh, an odd day.” Kerry smiled back, letting her fingers move lightly over Dar’s tanned skin. “You look really wiped.”

“I am,” Dar admitted. “I couldn’t sleep night before last, then I had that early flight. We ran around playing football and all that yesterday, then last night…” She exhaled. “I’m running on nothing but cussedness right now.”

Kerry leaned over and rested her cheek against Dar’s arm. “Lend me some cussedness for a while, then, okay?”

The plane continued its descent, and the greens of the Everglades slowly morphed into cinderblock buildings, then the paved lots of the outer-rim warehouses. Then the heavy industrial section flowed under the wings, storage buildings directly in the flight path of the airport. Lower and lower, and finally Kerry saw the distinctive arch of the 826 freeway pass under them.

She settled back against the leather seat as the plane dropped to the ground and landed with a soft hop on the long, sun-bleached runway. Green trees surrounded them, and Kerry felt a sense of relief as the plane taxied up to the terminal, nudging into place at a gate.

They got their luggage, and Dar handed her claim ticket to the valet service. “Easier than parking myself,” she commented to Kerry, who had been very quiet. “You want me to drop you at your place, or…?” She was a little uncertain, knowing what she wanted Kerry to do, but not wanting to push her lover if Kerry felt like some time alone to think about things.

The blonde woman was silent for a bit, then she looked up as the Lexus was brought around. “Um, to be honest, Dar, I don’t know if I want to be by myself right now,” she admitted. “No one’s going to be around my complex, and…” She let her eyes rest on Dar’s face. “And I think I need a shoulder to lean on.”

A smile crossed the taller woman’s face. “I know a little island you might be interested in,” she commented quietly. “I think I even have some turkey roll.” Kerry nodded. “I’d love that.” She knew the reaction to everything would hit soon, and the peace of Dar’s condo was very enticing. She certainly didn’t want to face Colleen or her other friends with explanations yet. They got in the 444 Melissa Good car and Dar pulled out cautiously.

DAR WENT IN first, holding the door open for Kerry to follow, then shutting it behind them as the cool peace of the apartment surrounded them both. “Well.” Dar tossed her bag down on the couch, then took Kerry’s from her and held it for a moment.

Kerry walked over to the sliding glass doors and peered out, pressing her fingertips against the glass and absorbing the huge expanse of green stretching to the horizon. “It’s so pretty out there,” she commented softly.

Dar studied her, then chewed her lip a bit. “Um.” It was horrible timing, but… “Kerry?” she called, tentatively.

The blonde woman half turned, peering at her. “Yeah?” She peered at her lover, surprised by a sudden, perceptible awkwardness that was painfully evident to her. “What’s up?”

“Um, you know, you spend a lot of time here and I…” Dar focused her eyesight on the tile. “I mean, I hope you spend a lot more time here, but it’s…

I mean it’s kind of senseless to be carrying things back and forth all the time, so I thought…” She found herself uncharacteristically fumbling for words. “I thought maybe you’d… Well, I have all those spare rooms upstairs, and I thought maybe you’d like to sort of keep some…stuff…um, here.”

Hands covered hers where they rested on the bag, and she looked up in startlement to see Kerry gazing at her from a very short distance. She took the duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder, then took Dar’s hands in her own.

“That’s incredibly sweet and generous of you, Dar. I know how much you value your private space.”

Dar searched her face for a minute. “Does that mean yes or no?” She managed a half smile.

“I…um, I… Yes,” Kerry finally got out. “I’d really like that. Thank you.”

“Good.” The taller woman exhaled in relief. “You can, um, pick out whichever one you like, though I kinda thought you might like the one on the end.” She rubbed her neck. “I’m going to get some coffee going; I think we both could use it.” She rubbed her neck and pretended an offhandedness she simply didn’t feel.

Kerry nodded. “Good idea, I’ll just go…um…” She patted the bag. “Put stuff away.” She smiled at Dar. “Be right back. “

Dar watched her disappear up the stairs and allowed her face to crease into a relaxed, delighted grin as she turned and made her way back into the kitchen. It wasn’t like… Okay, so it was a tiny step towards Kerry moving in with her, but she knew they both weren’t ready for that. This seemed a good first move, though, and it was practical. It would let her test out the idea of actually living with someone, which she certainly wasn’t used to.

She knew she loved Kerry, there wasn’t any doubt about that, but Dar was also a realist, and she knew herself pretty well. She’d been living alone for many years, and adjusting to a roommate, no matter how beloved, would be a trial. Wouldn’t it?

Dar nibbled on a bit of dried apricot she’d taken from the refrigerator and put on a pot of coffee, using the newly delivered flavored blend she’d gotten Tropical Storm 445

before she left. Hazelnut; she sniffed approvingly before peeking in the refrigerator again, and was relieved at seeing a somewhat meager but adequate variety of groceries. “Ooo.” She leaned forward and examined a neatly packaged bunch of ripe green grapes, then checked the crisper for the small baby finger carrots she’d asked for, knowing Kerry loved to nibble on them.

“Wonder if she’d like those dipped in chocolate?” Dar mused absently, selecting one and examining it. “No, that probably defeats the purpose, right?” She bit the end off the carrot and chewed it. “Hmm.” She rolled the sweet pulp around in her mouth and swallowed it. “That’s not too bad,” she admitted, “for a vegetable.”

She checked the rest of the groceries, then wandered into the living room, considering. “Have to have that second ISDN line dropped in up there, that second room could be another office.” Dar chewed another piece of apricot thoughtfully. “This could work.”

KERRY GOT TO the top of the stairs and stopped; she leaned against the wall and just closed her eyes. It was just all happening too fast, she realized, her mind was still whirling with the situation regarding her family, and now this.

“Okay.” She shook the hair out of her eyes and tried to settle herself. “It was just a really, really nice thing for Dar to do, probably because she knows how weirded out I am right now.” She found a smile twitching her lips up anyway, and she moved slowly from room to room, peering into each one until she reached the last one.

She nudged the door open and peeked inside, remembering the wide, open space and beautiful view. Yep. Kerry walked all the way inside, feeling the carpet thick and comfortable under her feet, and looked around. The room was a pale shade of greenish-blue, with pale wood furniture in it. There was a tall dresser with six drawers tucked into one corner, and a long set of drawers across the length of the room, with a neatly framed mirror in the center. A door in the corner led to a walk-in closet larger than her kitchen, and on the other wall was a door which led into an eggshell-and-cobalt bathroom, complete with a corner stall shower and a large whirlpool-equipped bathtub raised up for easy entrance. “So.” Kerry leaned against the wall and gazed at the room. “You think I’d like this one, huh, Dar?” She walked over to the tall dresser, and pulled a drawer out. “You’re right, I do.”

She unpacked her bag and put everything away, then went to the window and let the ocean’s mellow movement calm her. A nutty scent distracted her, however, and she turned and made her way to the door, running her fingers through her hair to order it a little, and almost collided with Dar. “Whoa.”

The taller woman held out a cup. “Here,” she offered. “Everything okay in here for you?”

Kerry took a sip of the fragrant beverage and swallowed it. “Mmm.” She glanced behind her. “Of course it is, and you know it.” She exhaled. “Thanks.”

She looked up and noticed Dar’s bloodshot eyes and weary expression.

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“C’mon.” She tucked a hand into the crook of her lover’s elbow. “I need to go sit down.” They walked downstairs, and Kerry settled in the corner of the couch, sipping her coffee and letting her head rest against the soft leather while Dar hunted out the remote and flipped on the large-screen TV.

“How are you doing?” the taller woman asked as she seated herself next to Kerry on the couch, putting her coffee down and clasping a hand over the blonde woman’s knee.

Kerry stifled a yawn. “Oh, I’m all right, I guess,” she answered softly. “I just keep trying not to think about it.” Her father’s angry, disgusted voice echoed loudly in her ears. “You know, I…I’m not sure what I expected,” she mused. “Anger, yeah, I thought he’d yell, and scream, but…” A pause. “I didn’t expect that.”

“How could you have?” Dar asked reasonably.

“Oh, I don’t know, Dar. Surely I should have seen that coming,” Kerry responded bitterly. “It was pretty naïve of me to think we’d just be able to talk this out, huh? That he’d listen to reason, or…” Her shoulders slumped. “Or that I’d matter to him as a person instead of window dressing,” she finished in a low voice.

“You couldn’t have predicted that,” her lover insisted. “Hell, I didn’t predict that, and I always expect the worst from people, not the best, like you do.” Kerry sighed. “I don’t know, maybe you’ve got the right idea.”

Dar tipped her chin up a bit. “Don’t let them take that away from you, my friend. I’d rather you think the best of people, not the worst. After all, where would I be if you did?”

The blonde woman rested her head against her hand. “In Washington, enjoying your holiday,” she muttered. “Instead of here, tired, hurting, and having to listen to my hard luck story.”

“Kerry.” Dar put a sympathetic hand on her back. “I wouldn’t trade where I am right now for anything.” Hooded green eyes peeked up at her.

“Honestly,” Dar commented softly, “I know it’s hard for you, and I’m sorry you had to go through this, but I don’t regret one single second of the past twenty-four hours, for my part of it.”

A tiny smile. “You’re a good friend, Dar.” Kerry reached out and took her hand, bringing it up and pressing it against her lips. “You’re the best friend anyone could ever hope for.” She felt the tears starting to well up, and she closed her eyes, fighting it. “And they can’t understand why I love you.” A sob escaped her. “Oh god.”

Dar pulled her close. “Easy, easy. I got you.”

“After everything he’s done,” Kerry whispered, “everything he’s taken from me, I couldn’t let him take you too.” She felt her composure shatter, and a wall of emotion swamped her senses. “I need you so much.”

Dar swallowed, feeling Kerry come apart, her words dissolving into hiccupping sobs that wrenched her body with little shudders. She took a deep breath and just hung on, murmuring reassurances and rocking Kerry in whatever comfort she could muster.

Kerry needed that. She needed Dar’s touch and the warmth of her body, and the comforting scent which surrounded her. “They hate me,” she got out.

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“Dar, I don’t want them to hate me for this.”

Dar’s jaw clenched, and she exhaled slowly. “I know.” She felt Kerry’s body jerk as she tried to catch her breath, and a soft moan escaped her.

“Shhh.”

“S’not fair,” Kerry whispered.

“No, it’s not,” Dar replied, rubbing her back.

A long pause, and Dar could feel the sobs slowly subsiding. She kept up her gentle petting until Kerry’s breathing evened out and steadied, and she could sense a calm returning to her lover.

“Was that stuff you told him true?” Kerry finally whispered in a hoarse tone.

Dar hesitated, not wanting to hurt her friend further. But lying, at this stage, would be pointless. “Yes. I was able to isolate those two pieces of information. I…you can look at it later if you want to.”

Another long pause. “Who’s Pamela?”

“Kerry, you don’t need to talk about this now. Wait a while,” Dar pleaded. “The information’s not going anywhere. Just rest. It’s been a hell of a long day, and we’re both exhausted.”

Red-rimmed green eyes peered up at her. “Just answer.” She sniffled, wiping at her eyes with one hand.

Dar sighed. “A woman your father’s been supporting for twenty years.

She has three kids, two boys and a girl. They’re his.”

Kerry’s jaw dropped.

“Yeah, and he has the balls to say anything about you,” Dar stated darkly. “That alone would blow his career out of the water.” Her eyes narrowed. “I hate hypocrites.” She gently dabbed at Kerry’s eyes with her sleeve.

“Wow,” Kerry breathed softly. “I can’t imagine that, no wonder he turned white when you said her name.” She felt better all of a sudden. “How do you know those kids are his?”

A soft snort. “DNA test results entered in the computer.”

“Oh.” The blonde woman closed her eyes. “Can I take a look at all that stuff later?”

“Sure.” Dar eased back into the corner of the couch and gently pulled Kerry down with her, tucking the smaller woman in between herself and the couch back. “Just relax now, you’re safe here.”

Kerry nodded “I know. Dar?”

“Mmm?”

“Do you think I should tell my mother about that?”

Whoa. Loaded question. “Let’s get some sleep before we talk about all this, okay?” Dar told her. “I’m too tired to think that through right now.”

Kerry looked up and gave her a little, weary smile. “Sorry, my head’s just spinning. You’re right.” She closed her eyes, and nestled closer. “I love you.”

Dar felt a wall of sleep overwhelming her. “Love you too,” she murmured, surrendering to her body’s demands.

Sea green eyes regarded her with wistful pride, before they too, closed.

Kerry woke near sunset, opening her eyes to see Dar still fast asleep, her body tangled around the blonde woman’s. That was all right, it gave her a 448 Melissa Good while to just sit and think, allowing herself to absorb fully the last twenty-four hours.

It hurt, she acknowledged, even though she’d resented her parents and dreaded flying home for those far-too-long holidays. But in a way, it was also kind of a relief to finally have it out in the open, and not have to pretend, or put them off constantly. She was free to live her life and do whatever she wanted to do.

Even if that whatever included this tall, beautiful woman who had pretty much put herself on the line for Kerry, in more ways than one. She sat thinking about Dar actually getting into the cockpit of a fighter jet just to come and find her, and a silly, incredulous smile edged onto her face. It was like a fairy tale, really. No one ever did that in real life, right? Of course not. And yet, she had, making nothing of it as though it were an everyday occurrence for her. “My hero,” Kerry whispered softly, curling a dark lock around one finger as she gazed at her sleeping lover’s face.

Her eyes fell on the neat bandage taped across the cut the stool had made in Dar’s neck, and she pursed her lips. She’s lucky she moves as fast as she does, Kerry reflected wryly. I would have clobbered her otherwise, poor thing. She felt very protective of Dar suddenly and felt a fierce surge of simple affection for her, beyond their physical relationship.

Idle words formed in her head, and she let them chase themselves around a little, ordering and reordering them. Finally she smiled wistfully to herself.

“Haven’t done that in a long, long time,” she whispered, winding her fingers around Dar’s, which were resting on her hip. “Didn’t think I even remembered how, but there’s something in you that touches something way down deep inside me, Dar. And it makes me feel things so strongly, it’s like seeing life in a million colors suddenly, instead of just a few.” The words floated by again, and she closed her eyes and recited them silently, tasting their depth.

The winds of life are circling

Over grass and under trees,

Touching my heart and lifting me up to soar.

And as my eyes fall upon you,

an ancient song surrounds me

Binding our souls together with sure hands.

The future lies an uncertain path

Under dark and stormy skies,

But I will walk in sunlight beside you forever.

Kerry smiled in silent wonder, then her eyes flickered open as a fingertip traced her lips. “Oh.”

“What’s so funny?” Dar inquired curiously, her voice husky from sleep.

“Life,” Kerry answered softly. “You don’t have to get up. Go back to sleep, Dar. You still look pretty tired.” She smoothed the disordered hair back out of the taller woman’s eyes. “I’m going to root around and scare us up some dinner.”

A frank, lazy grin appeared. “Scare is probably the appropriate word. I Tropical Storm 449

think I’ve got grapes, milk, some frozen pizzas, and a can of fruit cocktail,”

Dar admitted. “Maybe we should order in.”

“Ah ah ah.” Kerry shook her finger playfully. “Where’s the challenge in that? I like this, Dar. I get a chance to use my imagination. Give me a minute, okay?”

Blue eyes gentled. “You feeling better?”

Kerry exhaled. “Yeah, now that the shock is kind of over. I just want to get on with my life, you know?” She played with the edge of Dar’s sleeve. “It’s weird to realize I don’t have to worry about their opinions anymore.” A shrug. “And, I think it was also that I was just really tired, my defenses were sort of shot.”

Dar relaxed back into the soft leather and let her hands wander down the denim-covered leg resting over her own. She could feel the muscles tensing as she explored, and she put strong hands to use in a gentle massage. “Maybe in time they’ll change their minds,” she offered. “Kerry, no matter what, you’re still their daughter.”

Kerry exhaled slowly. “Do you think your mother will ever change her mind?” She looked up, right into Dar’s eyes.

Dar’s gaze dropped to the surface of the couch. “That’s different. She’s angry with me because she thinks I don’t understand how much she loved him.” Dar spoke quietly. “I told her… We got in a big argument after he died when I told her he’d gone the way he’d always wanted to, and she should just let him go.”

“Mmm.” Kerry twined her fingers with Dar’s.

“She told me I didn’t understand, and probably never would.” Dar remained silent for a moment. “Maybe she was right.”

“She must have loved him a great deal,” Kerry murmured.

“He was everything to her. She’d look at him, and it was like he was some god or something.” Dar sighed. “She knew, before they came to the house.

She’d been beside herself all day long.”

“Maybe, maybe they were soulmates,” Kerry said hesitantly, the word tasting sweet but strange on her tongue. “You know that old story—two halves, that kind of thing.”

A long moment of silence while Dar considered her words. “I…I never believed in any of that stuff, but…” She shrugged. “Who knows?” Her eyes studied the blonde woman. “Do you believe in that, in there being such a thing?”

Kerry kept quiet, thinking about the question. “I didn’t used to,” she admitted finally. “I never considered myself a romantic person, or someone who believed in great, mythical love.” A pause. “But, I don’t know, it’s a really nice kind of possibility, you know?”

“Yeah,” Dar murmured.

“When I was up in Michigan, I got to talk to an old pastor of mine, Pastor Robert. He used to talk about that all the time, so…” Kerry carefully kept her eyes on her hands. “And, um, well, he kind of told me about that, and how he thought you could tell. I mean, if you’ve found yours, that is.”

“Yeah?” Dar cleared her throat. “Just for argument’s sake, what did he say?” She propped her head up on one hand, and paid close attention to a 450 Melissa Good seam in the leather.

Kerry lifted her eyes and studied the dark, bowed head. “I, um…he…um, he said you can tell, because when you look at that person, you see everything you need to complete yourself.” Faintly startled blue eyes lifted and met hers.

“Which sorta makes sense, I guess,” Kerry added in a low mutter.

Dar simply breathed for a long instant. “In-interesting theory,” she finally managed to say, clearing her throat when her voice came out a touch hoarse, her eyes still locked with Kerry’s.

“Isn’t it?” Kerry replied softly.

“It, um,” Dar rubbed the back of her neck and exhaled, “…has a certain logic to it.” She pursed her lips, then glanced up into Kerry’s eyes again. “Did you say something about dinner?”

Kerry smiled, feeling a happy little jolt in her chest. “Uh, yeah. Let me go see what I can find.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips against her lover’s, enjoying the tingle of heat that stirred up in her guts. “On the other hand…” she murmured, delighting in the distraction as her body forgot about dinner and concentrated on something equally as tasty.

Dar’s hand slid slowly off her hip, and she felt a teasing touch exploring her ribs under her T-shirt. “Mmm,” Kerry murmured softly, unbuttoning Dar’s cotton polo and tugging it loose from her belt. “By the way, have I told you how inspiring you are?”

Teeth nibbled her ear teasingly. “Inspiring?” the deep voice inquired curiously. “How so?”

“You ignite my dreams,” Kerry replied softly, her hands exploring hungrily. Dar’s skin was amazingly soft, and had a warm, silky texture she really liked. The muscles felt thick and strong under their light layer of softness, and the blonde woman traced their contours with sensual delight.

“I do?” Dar sounded a bit surprised. “Imagine that.” She let her hands slide down Kerry’s waistline, long fingers working loose the top button of her jeans with a soft pop. “Coincidentally…” Another pop, as the second button came free. “You…” A third. “Dominate mine.” The last button loosened, and she slid her hands under the heavy fabric. “I’ve been dreaming about us together since before that trip.”

Kerry arched her back, feeling the jeans slide slowly down her thighs, and the cool air of the room brush her bare skin. “So have I,” she whispered as she unbuckled the belt holding up Dar’s Dockers. “Guess it was just meant to be.” She ducked her head to allow Dar to pull her T-shirt off as she nudged the cotton pants off her lover. “Mmm,” Kerry growled softly as they slid together, and she kissed Dar’s belly button, working her way teasingly up from there.

A slow, teasing touch traveled up her thigh, and Kerry let out a soft groan as her body shuddered, anxious for her lover’s attentions. Dar had pushed her gently back and slid a leg between hers, and Kerry leaned into her, reaching for the soft skin that was so tantalizingly close. Every touch just made her want more, and she rapidly felt her senses forgetting where she was and focusing on the touch, taste, and scent of her partner.

Until the knowing nips and nibbles and touches wound her body up to the breaking point, then released it into a thundering wash of sensation that left her panting in a helpless shiver. “God.” She pawed weakly at Dar’s chest, Tropical Storm 451

as the taller woman gathered her in and wrapped her in a loving embrace. Her heart was pounding, and she clung to Dar, catching her breath.

Dar nuzzled her neck, rubbing her side gently. “You okay?”

“Ungh.” Kerry took a deep breath and released it. “Oh yeah. I’m great.”

She nibbled lightly across Dar’s bare collarbone and then moved lower. “So, where’s this scar from?” She licked the mark in question, near the taller woman’s shoulder.

“Mmm.” Dar found it hard to focus as Kerry slid an exploring hand down her belly. “Fishhook caught…oh…me.”

“Uh huh, and this one?” Kerry moved lower, across the curve of her left breast.

“Uh…”

Kerry continued her exploration, as her fingers felt muscles jump under her touch. “Uh? I don’t think I know what an ‘uh’ is,” she teased gently.

“Fell off my bike,” Dar managed to say, faintly.

“Oh yeah?” Kerry chuckled, moving in for a better angle. “Did it hurt?”

Dar had no idea what she was talking about as her body shamelessly abandoned itself to Kerry’s inquisitive touch. “No, it feels wonderful,” she finally muttered, finding a smiling pair of lips that captured hers, then slipped away and continued on their way.

THE SOFT SOUNDS of motion from the kitchen floated to her ears as Dar lay limply on the couch, about as totally relaxed as a human being could get and not dissolve into jello. She kept her eyes closed and let her mind drift from subject to subject, nothing really making an impact on her conscious mind.

Kerry, though relatively inexperienced, certainly seemed to have her number down pat. Dar stretched a little and relaxed again. That had never happened before. Usually it took time, to get to know the other person’s likes and dislikes, and have hers learned as well. Not this time.

Dar put her hands behind her head and exhaled, glancing down at her half-clad body. It was almost as though they were just…

“Hey.” Kerry poked her head out and smiled, letting her eyes linger over the long, bare legs extended on the couch. “You hungry?”

Dar enjoyed the look, indulging her ego guiltily. “Are you?” She lifted a saucy eyebrow and broke into a laugh as Kerry blushed a deep red. Dar found the mixture of gentle innocence and barely veiled desire incredibly attractive, and she rolled up and off the couch, padding over to where her lover was standing. The green eyes dropped as she approached. “Hey.” She gently laced her fingers through Kerry’s hair and tipped her head back up. “You’re beautiful when you blush.”

Kerry gazed at her, lips twitching a little. “I am?” she murmured softly.

Dar traced the flushed skin, watching Kerry’s eyes flutter closed as she leaned into the touch. “Yes, you are,” she answered honestly, smoothing the fair hair back. “But I’m sure you’ve heard that before.”

Kerry shook her head. “No, I usually get described as, um, ‘cute.’ ” She let her eyes open and smiled at her taller companion. She wrinkled her nose.

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“Now you, on the other hand…” She reached up and brushed a fingertip over Dar’s cheekbone. “Wow.”

She was rewarded with a faint blush of her own. “Don’t you tell me you’ve never heard that,” Kerry chided with a grin.

Dar put her arms around her lover. “Never from someone I really wanted to hear it from before.” The words slipped out, startling her, and exposing a rawness she hadn’t really intended.

Kerry just hugged her back, giddily flattered. “C’mon, I’m going to burn something.” She slipped an arm around Dar’s waist and pulled her into the kitchen.

“So, what did you conjure up?” Dar asked as she sniffed interestedly at the pot bubbling away on the stove. “Looks like stew.”

“Ooo.” Kerry patted her. “Right guess, first time. Well, given what I had to work with, it was all I could really do. It’s got those two packages of the shish kebab meat you had in the freezer in it, some canned vegetables, and soup you had back in the hurricane supplies.” She peered at Dar. “Tomorrow, we’re going to go shopping, okay?” She tapped Dar on the shoulder with her serving spoon.

“Good idea,” Dar deadpanned, “I’m almost out of Frosted Flakes.” Her eyes twinkled as she dodged a mock blow. “Hey, I got you those little carrots and fresh fruit. Don’t I get points?”

Green eyes slid sideways and regarded her as Kerry stirred her creation.

“Actually, yes, you do. That was very thoughtful, Dar,” she commented.

“Makes me feel right at home.”

Hands settled lightly on her shoulders and squeezed. “Good,” Dar answered with a chuckle. “Can I drain those noodles for you?”

They took their dinner out onto the patio and set it down on the small stone table that faced the ocean. Dar disappeared inside and returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses, setting them down and opening the bottle with a graceful motion. She poured Kerry a glass and then herself one, then she sat down, propping her bare feet up on the spare chair. “Nice night out.”

Kerry leaned back in her chair and appropriated the fourth one as a footstool. “Very. Not too hot but not cold, either.” She picked up her bowl of noodles and stew and started eating, her eyes watching the moonlit horizon.

“Look at those lights. Are those cargo ships?”

Dar leaned over to see where she was gazing. “Mmm. One of them is; the other two are cruise ships. I think that one’s the Norway.” She shifted a little so their shoulders were brushing, then settled down with her dish.

“I always wanted to go on a cruise,” Kerry commented, biting a piece of stew meat in half and chewing it. “I’d love to take you on one, but I guess both of us disappearing at the same time for a week would be a little conspicuous, huh?”

Dar chuckled wryly. “Just a little. Pity, because the last bonus Alastair sent me was two tickets to an Alaskan Passage cruise.” She took a mouthful of noodles. “This is wonderful, by the way. You’re amazing.”

“Thanks.” Kerry smiled. “Alaskan passage, huh? Wow, I’ve always wanted to see inside a glacier.” She munched on a string bean. “I’ve seen the Northern Lights twice, when we had sunspots, and you could just see them at Tropical Storm 453

night up in Michigan. But I’d like to see them in their proper place, and I’ve heard you can hear them, too.”

Dar nodded, resting her head against the wall and gazing up at the huge, full moon. “They hiss, supposedly, kind of like the surf on the beach.” The thought of spending a week with Kerry exploring Alaska suddenly seemed very, very attractive, and she sighed quietly to herself. “Yeah, it is too bad.”

“Mmm,” Kerry mused, “do you like hiking?”

A chuckle. “As long as there’s a comfortable lodge at the end of the trail, sure. I’m not much for rough camping,” Dar replied. “Another reason the military was probably not a good idea.” She paused. “Maybe we could work a long weekend in, go up to Colorado and hike around a little. They’ve got good horseback riding there, too.”

Kerry grinned. “Ooo, I’d like that. I haven’t been riding since forever, I miss it.” She took a sip of her wine and swallowed. “Wow, that’s nice. Hey, have you ever been up to the wine country, in California?”

Dar shook her head. “No, can’t say I have, I hear it’s nice up there, though. Have you?”

“Twice. Maybe that can be another long weekend. You can take a tour of all the vineyards, and it’s really pretty,” Kerry replied enthusiastically. “I’ve always wanted to go back there.”

Dar felt a silly smile crossing her face. She masked it by lifting her glass and drinking a deep swallow. “That sounds fun,” she agreed soberly. “You interested in some diving tomorrow? Weather’s supposed to be nice.”

A nod. “After we go restock your kitchen.” Kerry pointed her fork at her.

“Even my creativity has its limits. I don’t think there’s much I can do with grapes, milk, pizza, and peanuts.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand how you haven’t just keeled over from scurvy or whatever it is people get who live on ice cream.”

Dar chuckled. “I take vitamins,” she admitted. “We should probably get you a BC that actually fits and a weight belt. That one you’ve been using is too heavy. Tell you what, we can go out to the dive shop and stop at the big Publix off Washington. How’s that?”

Kerry finished off her portion of stew and licked her fork. “Sounds good to me,” she agreed readily. “Though, I don’t know, give me a few months, and I think I’ll need that heavier weight belt.” She gave Dar a rueful look as she patted her stomach. “Not that everyone, with the exception of my mother, hasn’t told me how good I look,” she conceded.

Dar studied her. “To hell with what everyone says, how do you feel?” she asked bluntly.

There was a long pause as Kerry gazed out over the ocean. “Great,” she finally answered in a reflective voice. She let her hand fall to her bare thigh, flexing it and watching the muscles move under her skin. “Getting a lot more of these, I think, instead of just more padding,” she admitted. “Feels kinda good, actually.”

Dar reached over and extended her hand, smiling when Kerry took it, and curled her fingers around the taller woman’s. “Well, in my opinion, you look fantastic, and I’m the one who gets to see you naked the most, so…”

Kerry burst into an embarrassed giggle. “Dar!”

454 Melissa Good

“Hey, it’s true,” her partner protested with a smile, then she turned her attention to the water. “Can I interest you in a little walk in the moonlight?”

A squeeze on her fingers. “Absolutely.”

Dar stood and collected their bowls. “C’mon, I hear a hot fudge sundae calling me down at the market.”

Kerry latched on to the back of Dar’s shirt, following her inside. “Where you go, I go,” she assured the taller woman lightly.

They both stopped and looked at each other, twin shivers going down two spines. “Well,” Dar finally said softly. “I think I like that idea.”

Kerry nibbled her lip, wondering where the words had come from.

“Mmm, yeah, me too.” She smiled. “Guess we’d better put on some shorts though. Meet you back down here.” She trotted up the stairs, leaving a quietly reflective Dar behind.