Part 11 (1/2)

”I wouldn't do that.”

”Then what?”

”I didn't tell you before because I didn't think it made any difference. Offi cially, I'm on medical leave until September. He's holding the paperwork until then, in case...”

”In case you change your mind? In case you want to go back over there?”

”No-well...” Reese rubbed her forehead, frustrated. ”I'm sure that's what he thinks. But I didn't have any plans. It's just bureaucratic paperwork and-”

* 88 *

Winds of Fortune ”Then why didn't you tell me?” Tory was glad she had an excuse to speak softly, because she didn't want Reese to hear the tremble in her voice. She was angry and she was hurt, and most of all, she was confused. ”You've never kept secrets from me before.”

Reese looked stunned. ”No! Oh, baby, no.” She cradled Tory's face and kissed her. ”I didn't think of it that way. Christ, so much has been going on since I got back I just-I'm sorry. I don't know why I didn't think-”

”Okay,” Tory said quickly, her anger dissipating at the rising torment in Reese's face. G.o.d, she's so vulnerable right now and I'm not helping. It frightened her beyond belief that she could be so blind to the fact that Reese was not herself. Reese had been through an experience that would break some people, and yet she refused to even break stride.

And despite Reese's insistence that she was all right, Tory knew she wasn't, and she could hardly expect her to behave the way she had before she went away. Wanting to turn back time, wis.h.i.+ng that Reese could somehow be miraculously unscathed, was cowardly on her part and incredibly unfair to Reese. ”I'm sorry, darling. I know you would never intentionally keep something important from me. It's all right.”

”I haven't called him. I haven't done anything, Tor,” Reese whispered.

”You said you wouldn't without talking to me.” Tory kissed her. ”I believe you.” She kissed her again. ”I'm sorry. I love you. G.o.d, I need you so much.”

With a m.u.f.fl ed groan, Reese pulled her close and buried her face in Tory's hair. ”I don't want to hurt you.”

”Never. Never,” Tory said fi rmly, caressing the back of Reese's neck. When Reese shuddered, Tory s.h.i.+fted until she was holding Reese.

Stroking Reese's shoulders and back, she murmured, ”You need some sleep, darling.”

Across the room, Bri stirred and sat up. ”Did something happen?”

She blinked, stared at Reese and Tory for a second, and then looked away. ”Sorry.”

Reese straightened and rubbed her face. ”Hey. Tory's going to check on your dad, and if everything is okay, I'm going to take her home.”

”I should get Caroline home too,” Bri said as Caroline sat up, murmuring sleepily.

* 89 *

RADCLY fFE Tory gave an exasperated snort. ”If Nelson is stable, everyone is going home.” She pointed at Bri. ”No arguing. You can't stay here the entire time he's in the hospital. Everyone needs to take a break.”

Caroline put her hand on Bri's knee. ”She's right, baby.”

Bri's shoulders relaxed and she leaned against Caroline. ”Okay.

But I want to see him fi rst.”

Tory crossed the room and took her hand. ”Come on. Let's go talk to the nurses.” She glanced back over her shoulder at Reese. ”If you really love me, you'll fi nd coffee.”

When Reese stood, an amused grin lifting one corner of her mouth, Tory knew she would do anything in the world to keep her smiling that way. As she threaded her arm around Bri's slender waist, she considered that perhaps love was as simple as the desire to make another person smile.

y Deo rolled over to an empty bed and the tantalizing smell of coffee.

Her eyes felt gritty beneath her closed lids. Two nights of very little sleep had caught up with her. A subtle s.h.i.+fting of the bed signaled that she was not alone, and she opened her eyes. Allie, naked and smiling, held out a mug of coffee.

”Hi,” Allie said before leaning down to kiss her.

It was a good morning kiss, a h.e.l.lo kiss-a nice kiss. Deo pushed up in bed and took the coffee. ”What time is it?”

”Almost eight.”

Deo winced.

”Late for work?”

”Yeah.” She took several healthy swallows of the strong black brew and set the mug aside on the nearby bedside table. ”Good thing I'm the boss.”

Allie pulled one leg up onto the bed and edged closer until her thigh rested along Deo's. Then she skimmed her palm over Deo's stomach.

”Sorry. I don't have to be in until ten so I didn't set the alarm.”

”It's only fair. I made you late yesterday.” Deo trapped Allie's hand against her middle. She always woke up just a little bit h.o.r.n.y and the double whammy of Allie naked and touching her was a lethal combination. Pleasantly lethal, but still a test of her self-control she * 90 *

Winds of Fortune doubted she would win for long. ”How's Chief Parker?”

”How did you know I checked already?”

”You're up. You wouldn't have gone out there in the middle of the night if he didn't mean a lot to you.”

”I talked to Bri a few minutes ago. He's not awake yet but he's doing okay.”

”That's great.” Deo noted the turmoil in Allie's eyes. ”You're tight with Bri, aren't you?”

”Bri. Yeah. She's special.” Allie laughed shortly. ”I guess I have a thing for falling in love with the wrong girls.”

Deo stroked Allie's forearm and Allie's hand started moving on her stomach again. ”That's tough.”

”No. It's okay. I'm only halfway in love with her now.” Allie scratched her nails down the center of Deo's stomach and laughed when Deo jerked. ”But I'm still a lot in l.u.s.t with her. Kind of like with you.”

Allie was beautiful and s.e.xy and Deo was getting harder and wetter by the second. She was losing track of the conversation but she heard the word love loud and clear. ”With me? You're talking about the l.u.s.t part, I hope.”

”What do you think?” Allie leaned forward and nipped at Deo's lower lip before slipping her tongue into her mouth.

Groaning, Deo grasped Allie's waist and pulled her over until Allie was stretched out on top of her. Allie's thigh rubbed between her legs, producing nearly unbearable friction along the length of her already pounding c.l.i.t. She slid both hands up and squeezed Allie's b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Allie whimpered and sucked on Deo's tongue. They kissed and ground against one another until Deo was on the verge of coming against Allie's leg. Then she dragged Allie further up the bed and captured a nipple in her mouth.

”Oh baby, yeah,” Allie moaned, half sitting up as she spread her legs on either side of Deo's stomach.

When Allie rocked her center against Deo's skin, her wet heat scorched Deo's brain and Deo's only thought was to be inside her. She brushed her fi ngertips over Allie's c.l.i.t and another fl ood coated her belly.