Ryan had been thinking about that very issue, finding that she was less and less comfortable with the idea the longer she thought about it. "Um…generally, I'd prefer that we discuss things like this beforehand. I uh…don't think you'd like it if I decided I wanted to get to know Jack better and asked him over."
"Bu…but…he was my fiancé," Jamie gaped, grabbing onto Ryan's arm to stop her progress. "I had the distinct impression that you and Ally had a much more casual relationship than that."
Feeling intensely uncomfortable discussing her feelings for the other woman, Ryan consciously decided to back off. "We were much more casual than that, Jamie. I'm not saying that I don't want her to come-I'm just saying that, as a rule, I'd prefer to agree on things like this beforehand. Is that really asking for much?"
The blonde shook her head. "No, it's not. I'm sorry, Ryan, but my curiosity just took over. Why don't you call her and tell her that something came up? It's not worth doing if it makes you uncomfortable."
"No, it's fine," Ryan said, even though she wasn't at all sure that it was fine. "She was an important person in my life, and I do want to maintain the friendship, so now's as good a time as any."
They took a short detour on the way home, stopping in front of Rory's Scoop Shop. Looking up at the sign, Jamie asked, "Ice cream? This close to home?"
"Yeah," Ryan agreed. "It's good. Probably my second favorite place. They mix up Oreos and M & M's and other kinds of candy into the ice cream. I think you'll like it."
Grabbing her arm once again, Jamie looked up at her with an amused smile. "You mean to tell me that we could have been coming here for all of these months? This is three times closer to home than Double Rainbow!"
"I know," Ryan agreed, "but I like Double Rainbow about…oh, I'd say five percent more."
Jamie shook her head and took Caitlin out of her stroller, telling her, "One day when you grow up you'll be able to drive your boyfriend or girlfriend just a crazy as Ryan makes me. Won't that be fun? Yes!" she smiled as the baby enthusiastically agreed.
Jim Evans fought through the choked traffic around National Airport late on Sunday night, cursing himself for not sending a limo. He was early, much earlier than he usually was for appointments, but he had been nearly out of his mind with boredom and loneliness for the last three days and couldn't wait to leave his hotel.
Why did I come to Washington three days before I absolutely had to?
he grumbled to himself as he steered the car around the unfamiliar airport.
If I'd waited until today I could have come out with Kayla and had someone to keep me company.
His thoughts focused on the young redhead, smiling to himself as he recalled her elation at being asked to accompany him to Washington. He didn't let himself believe that she was that ecstatic just to be in his company. Kayla was as determined and as ambitious as he had been at her age, and that was saying a lot. Being a junior legislative aide to a United States senator was a very prestigious opportunity for a young woman not two years out of law school, and he knew that Kayla would throw herself into the job with all of her usual passion. He gave himself credit for at least sleeping with a hard-working, bright young woman.
I probably would have offered the job to Kayla even if we weren't involved,
he thought to himself.
Of course, we'll never know at this point.
He found a short-term lot close to the United terminal and quickly ran to the building, his anxiety palpable.
She'll think you're out of your mind if you act as excited to see her as you really are,
he chided himself.
Women don't like to be smothered. Especially young women. You think you would have learned that lesson from Jamie.
The flight was on time, and he consciously forced himself not to crowd around the gate to greet her. He was sitting in a chair, acting as though he was reading "The Economist" when she approached. "Senator Evans," she said, her voice cordial and respectful.
He almost stood and kissed her, then remembered that he was now a public figure and might be recognized at any time. Mentally slapping himself, he raised his voice in case anyone was eavesdropping and said, "Kayla. Good to see you again."
"Always a pleasure, Senator," the redhead smiled. "Ready to get to work?"
"I am," he agreed. "Shall we?" He shouldered her laptop, leaving her to organize her claim checks for her baggage. As soon as they had retrieved the three large bags, he asked a skycap to bring the bags to the curb and went to get the car. They pulled out into the heavy Sunday night traffic, the young woman sitting quietly until they were near the airport exit.
"Pull over," she said, her voice calm but determined.
He raised an eyebrow, but did as she asked, pulling into a no parking zone for what he assumed would be a quick stop. "What is i…" he began, but before he had completed his thought she had maneuvered herself against him, pinning him to the door. Her mouth crushed against his, her tongue slipping past his open lips as her body squirmed against him.
"I missed you," she murmured, her head lifting briefly before she dove back in.
Her touch felt so good…his body ached with longing, needing to feel her skin against his. "I missed you, too," he sighed, squeezing her tightly. "Let's go to the hotel."
"I can't wait." She slid back into her seat after giving him a look so filled with desire that it nearly made him numb.
He shook his head roughly, trying to focus. "Remind me to order a limo next time, will you, Kayla?" he asked wearily as they shared a smile. "I don't think I'm in any shape to drive right now."
On Monday evening, Ryan was sitting on the steps outside the gym buckling up her roller blades when Jordan sidled up. "Hey."
Looking up, the dark-haired woman replied in a similar fashion, waiting a beat to ask, "What's up?"
"Not much. Got any dinner plans?" The tall blonde looked like she felt a little awkward, but she obviously had some goal in mind.
"Not really. You?"
Jordan blinked and pursed her lips as she said, "Oh. I thought you'd be going home…"
Now Ryan let out the laugh she'd been holding in. "Come on. We've always got room for one more hungry mouth. Let me call Jamie."
It took a little longer than normal to arrive home, since only one of the pair wore blades, but Jordan did a good job of running alongside, even after an enervating practice. When they arrived, Jordan plucked at her shirt and asked, "Can I borrow a T-shirt? Mine somehow got drenched on our leisurely walk."
"Sure. You know where they are by now, don't ya?"
"Yep. Be right back."
Jordan took the stairs two at a time, managing to find herself in front of Mia's room even though it was further down the hall than Ryan's. Knocking lightly on the open door, she popped her head in as Mia looked up from the book she was reading. "Hi. Ryan invited me for dinner. Are you going to be eating with us?"
Mia graced her with one of her best smiles, hopped off the bed and walked to the door. "Yep. I was just going to go down. You look healthy today," noticing her friend's red cheeks. "Hey, you're dripping wet! Did that Ryan make you run all the way over here?" Mia now wore a fierce scowl as she said, "Don't let her push you around, Jordan. She's going to make you catch a cold running around like this. Do you want a T-shirt? How about some sweats?"
"Do you have a shirt that's big enough?" she asked, looking hopeful, even though she knew where an entire drawer full of extra-large shirts was just waiting for her.
"I think I can fix you up." She rummaged through her chest of drawers, finally pulling out one that she wore as a sleep shirt. "This one goes almost to my knees. It should work."
She handed it to the lanky woman, expecting her to put it on, but Jordan looked around and asked, "Bathroom?"
After pointing in the proper direction, Mia shook her head and said to herself,
She's a tough one to figure out. I don't know anybody that's afraid to change shirts in front of me-especially an athlete. Don't they get dressed in front of each other?
After dinner, Ryan went upstairs to study while Jamie staked out her usual position in the library. Jordan and Mia took off for a walk, so the house was quiet when the phone rang at about nine o'clock.
"Hello?" Ryan said absently, trying to figure out a chemistry problem that had been vexing her for 20 minutes.
"Ryan?" the deep, rather formal male voice asked.
"Yeah."
"It's Jim Evans," he said, immediately making her heart pick up its beat.
"Hello," she said. "Would you like me to get Jamie for you?"
"Yes, in a minute, Ryan, but first I wanted to congratulate you on how well you played this weekend."
"How well I…played," she said slowly, thinking that his private detective must still be on his payroll.
"Yes. I subscribe to the Cal Bears report, and I specified that I want information about women's volleyball and golf. I get a report after every game. Very good work against BYU, Ryan. You should be proud of yourself."
"Thanks, Jim. Thanks a lot," she said, pulling the phone away from her mouth to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. "Shall I get Jamie now?"
"Yes, please. Thank you, Ryan," he said, his tone friendly and very casual.
As Ryan ran down the stairs she muttered to herself, "This guy has not presented the same face two times in a row. Will the real Jim Evans please stand up?"
When Jamie came up to retire, Ryan was undressed and sitting in bed, working on her correspondence. She was wearing a cute little grin that grew in intensity as she finished up the e-mail she was writing. "What's up?" Jamie asked, slipping into bed and trying to read the screen. "You look like the cat that ate the canary."
"I uh…was just telling Aisling a funny story," she said. "I forgot to tell you this, but I think someone made a pass at me at the game on Friday night."
"What?" Jamie shouted. "You tell your cousin before you tell me?"
"It was no big deal, Hon," Ryan assured her. "I'm not really even sure that it was a pass," she added with a little glimmer of a twinkle in her eyes.
"What do you mean you're not sure? You've had enough passes thrown your way to know when someone is doing it."
"Well, it was hard to tell because they didn't speak and I couldn't see their eyes."
"What?" Jamie repeated. "What in the hell are you talking about? Were they under the stands or something?"
"No. They were right next to me and kind of grabbed my butt every chance they got."
"Why do you say 'they'?" Jamie asked.
"Well, I'm not sure what sex they are," Ryan replied innocently, batting her deep blue eyes.
"Ryan, spill it or I'll tickle you until you cry!" she threatened as she began to do just that.
Through her laughter Ryan finally cried, "Okay, okay! The female Oski Bear kept putting her paw on my butt!"
"Oh Jesus, even the school mascots are hot for you?"
"Not the male, Jamie, just the female," she proclaimed self-righteously through her giggles. "Even a bear can tell that I'm a lesbian!"
"You just wait until the next home game," Jamie threatened ominously. "She's
so
gonna wish she had kept her paws to herself. It's hunting season, Baby, and I'm loaded for bear!"
Getting up to brush her teeth Jamie commented, "Daddy pointed out something when I spoke to him that I think we should consider."
"What's that?"
"He thinks that I should take some money out of my trust…kind of as an experiment."
"Huh?"
"Well, I think he has a good point," the blonde said. "I'm worried about taking everything that I'm entitled to-mainly because it's so much money and I'm too busy to decide how to invest it. But as he pointed out, I'll never get comfortable until I do it. If you don't object, I might take out a portion of the distribution I'm entitled to and spread it between a couple of different money managers. That will let me try a few people out to see what kind of relationship develops."
"Honey, I have no right to object…"
"Yes you do, Ryan," the blonde said firmly. "It's our money."
"Okay," Ryan smiled. "I give you my explicit permission to do anything you wish with our money. How's that?"
"Sneaky, very sneaky," she chuckled. "I'm going to call Mom and ask her for some recommendations." She grinned at Ryan and informed her, "Daddy didn't even try to make a suggestion on who I should use. Weird, huh?"
"I think we should have his DNA tested," Ryan decided. "He's clearly not the same guy."
Ryan walked down the hallway the next morning, absently packing her school supplies into her backpack. As she turned to descend the stairs she saw her roommate pinned in the corner of the love seat, Jordan looming over her. The taller woman was kneeling on the cushion to improve her angle, Mia's face captured between both of her hands. She was working on Mia's mouth with a determined intensity that looked like it was on the verge of getting out of hand. Mia, however, looked more than happy with this state of affairs. Her hands were laced through Jordan's silky hair, pulling the willing blonde to her as firmly as possible.