Part 9 (2/2)
”Let's just say I don't have the need.” Deo dropped her voice.
”Last night took care of that for quite a while.”
Allie gave Deo a heated look. ”G.o.d, you're good.”
”I think you mentioned that.” When Allie laughed, some of Deo's earlier melancholy evaporated. With Allie, she knew that what she offered was enough, and even if they never slept together again, what they'd shared was still special. ”I'll drive you up and wait for you. You take as long as you want. I'll feel better, and the roads will probably be safer if you're not driving half asleep.”
”You sure?”
”Yeah. Really.”
”Pick me up at the station at eleven, then.”
”I'll be there.”
”And Deo,” Allie said, causing Deo to halt as she started to turn away. ”We're cool if it's just a ride ride, right?”
”Yeah, totally.” Deo winked. ”For tonight at least.”
Then Deo slipped off into the crowd to the sound of Allie's laughter.
As she walked the mile and a half toward her condo at the far west end of Bradford, she refl ected on her night with Allie and smiled. Now and then she hooked up with a woman for a few weeks, but more often than not, one or two nights was the norm. She had a feeling with Allie there could be more. Allie seemed to be up for a friendly relations.h.i.+p that involved good s.e.x, and they for sure had the good s.e.x part down.
But for some reason, she was okay if the only thing she and Allie ever shared again was friends.h.i.+p. She liked s.e.x, sure, and the connection she felt for those few brief hours when she made love to a woman quieted some dark, angry place inside her. For a little while, she didn't feel alone. But Allie wasn't one of the strangers in town for a week who she could f.u.c.k and forget. Allie was a woman she liked, who she was going * 78 *
Winds of Fortune to run into regularly. Most importantly, she might be a friend. Joey and Pia were about her only friends, and they were family. Maybe sleeping with Allie again would screw up a chance for anything else.
”Jesus,” Deo muttered, her hands in her pockets as she strode more quickly along the less congested streets in the West End. ”Since when did you worry about whether you're going to sleep with a woman or not?”
And just that fast, she was back in the hallway outside Nita Burgoyne's offi ce feeling angry and baffl ed as to why Nita wouldn't even accept an invitation to dinner when the look in her eyes said she was interested. In fact, for a few seconds Nita's expression had said she was much more than interested. Just remembering the fi ery gaze made Deo fl ush with heat and s.h.i.+ver with the familiar churning in the pit of her stomach.
Nita had said no-not once, but twice-and that ought to be enough. If Deo needed a few hours with a woman to settle her inner unrest, Allie was most likely willing and if not her, someone else. So why did she want the one who didn't want her?
”Because,” Deo whispered, ”because I know she's lying.”
Nita Burgoyne had said no, but her eyes had betrayed her. No matter what else was going on, Nita was interested. Deo didn't know why Nita refused to acknowledge that, but it was a challenge she couldn't let go of.
y When Deo and Allie walked into the crowded intensive care waiting room just after midnight, Bri's face lit up at the sight of Allie.
With Caroline in tow, she hurried to meet them. ”What are you doing here?”
”Just wanted to see how you were doing.” Allie gave Bri a quick hug and smiled almost shyly at Caroline ”Hi.”
Caroline returned the smile, resting her hand in the center of Bri's back. ”I'm glad you came.”
”Hey, Deo,” Bri said.
”Sorry about your dad.” Deo noticed that Bri's eyes were red-rimmed but clear. ”How's he doing?”
”The nurses say everything looks good tonight,” Bri replied.
* 79 *
RADCLY fFE When several offi cers who Deo recognized as members of the Sheriff's Department approached, Deo stepped back while Allie talked to them. Scanning the faces of the others gathered around, she saw Reese and Tory, Reese's mother and her partner, and a couple of other law enforcement offi cers. With a jolt, her eyes met Nita's. When she nodded, Nita tipped her head briefl y in acknowledgment before looking away. Clearly having been dismissed, Deo leaned against the wall and watched Nita. As she had at the party, Nita appeared apart from the others. Not awkwardly or uncomfortably alone, Deo realized, but alone by choice. The circ.u.mstance was so different than Deo's own isolation that she couldn't help but be fi lled with questions. Questions and curiosity and an involuntary surge of sympathy. Alone was alone, and even if by choice, sometimes it spelled loneliness.
Driven by an appreciation for their shared discomfort, Deo sidled through the people who stood talking quietly in pairs or small groups until she reached Nita.
”Long day,” Deo said.
”I was just leaving.” Nita picked up a leather bag and slung it over her shoulder.
”Stay for a minute.”
Nita blinked. ”Why?”
”I like your company.”
”How much have you had to drink?” Nita asked sharply.
”Two beers, six hours ago.”
”Then you have me confused with someone else.” Nita stepped sideways and Deo lightly grasped her arm. ”What?”
”I don't want to have to chase you down the hall again. It's bad for my ego.”
”I don't imagine anything puts a dent in your ego.”
Nita's voice held an edge, but the barest glimmer of a smile showed for an instant and then disappeared. It was the fi rst crack in her facade that Deo had seen, and encouraged, she leaned closer and lowered her voice. ”Having you turn me down two days in a row hasn't been so good for it.”
”It's in very poor taste to make overtures to a woman with your girlfriend standing a few feet away.”
”My girlfriend?” Deo said, honestly confused. She followed Nita's * 80 *
Winds of Fortune gaze to where Allie huddled with Reese and Bri and the other offi cers.
”She's a friend.”
Nita sighed. ”There's no need to explain, although considering you disappeared with her last night after the party, I'd say your defi nition of friend and mine are slightly different.”
”The way I see it, we're just talking.”
”Really? You weren't going to renew your invitation for dinner?
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