The Brass Ring (20 page)

"Barely managed to ask you to dance," CC confessed as her body tingled from Jamie’s touch.

"I couldn’t believe how nervous you were," Jamie said with smile as her fingers continued to lightly caress CC’s neck and then drifted to her broad shoulders. "That still amazes me."

"What’s that?" CC sighed as her eyes fluttered shut her body tingling from Jamie’s delicate touch.

"That underneath your tough cop image, you’re shy," Jamie explained softly.

"Am not," CC grunted as she blushed slightly.

"You’re sensitive and kind and gentle," Jamie cooed softly as her fingers drifted down CC’s body and began to draw light circles across CC’s firm abdomen. "Even when you were gone and I thought that I hated you, I still missed your touch."

"Did you miss me?" CC inquired with uncertainty as she captured Jamie’s hands as they were about to find their way under her shirt. CC opened her eyes to find herself lost in the look of love Jamie was giving her.

"Yes," Jamie responded with sweet sincerity. "I missed your smile. I missed your laugh. I missed the way you get all shy when someone gives you a compliment. I missed the way you act like an overgrown kid. I missed the way you try to hide your tears when you watch a sad movie. I miss that look of sheer exasperation you get when I ramble on like an idiot. I miss the way you run your fingers through your hair just before you say something."

"I do all that?" CC uttered in surprise.

"And more," Jamie said tenderly. "For twelve years I just could not understand how someone so sweet and wonderful would just walk away from what we had without a word." Jamie paused as she collected her thoughts. CC tightened her hold on Jamie’s hands, feeling the pain she had put the young doctor through. "And now I want to know why you waited all this time to tell me the truth," Jamie said in a sad voice.

CC brought Jamie’s hands to her mouth. She turned them over and kissed the palms. "I thought about it so many times over the years," CC began slowly. "I just couldn’t seem to get you out of my mind. It would be easy enough to track you down to find an address and send you a letter. I did run a check several times and I could have written to you."

"Why didn’t you?" Jamie questioned her as CC began to kiss each one of her digits slowly.

"Every time I would work up the nerve to do it, I kept seeing you kiss that girl," CC finally choked out.

"She didn’t mean anything to me." Jamie sighed as her fingers trembled against CC’s mouth.

"That doesn’t make me feel better," CC responded honestly. "I loved you. You were everything to me. I fought to keep my career and then to get my body back in shape. Then I found myself fighting to get custody of Stevie. I was an emotional wreck having to face my mother in court. Knowing that she didn’t care enough to come to me when I was in the hospital." CC could see the tears beginning to pool up in Jamie’s eyes. "Then I went to you and had to face the reality that I had lost you. And I was angry that you could move on and forget about me so easily. I felt betrayed."

"Moving on with my life was anything but easy," Jamie choked out a bit harshly. "But I had to do it."

CC kissed Jamie’s hands once again, enjoying the warmth she found there. "I know," CC said softly. "It hurt just the same." CC reluctantly released Jamie’s hands. She reached up and brushed away the tear running down Jamie’s cheek with her thumb. "And now by some miracle we’ve found one another again. And I am terrified that I’ll find someway to screw this up."

"You are not alone on that one," Jamie said as she smiled. "Still . . ." the blonde added playfully as she swayed her hips once again.

CC gasped as their bodies pressed together. CC felt as if she was falling when Jamie’s eyes darkened with desire. "Are you suggesting that while we get to know one another again, that we refrain from getting to know one another?" Jamie teased as her hands found their way up under CC’s top.

"You’re not making this easy." CC panted as Jamie’s fingers teased her skin.

"Neither are you," Jamie said softly. "I know we shouldn’t," Jamie concurred as her hands drifted further up CC’s body. "I just can’t help myself. Even in my sleep I want to touch you. I dreamt about you last night."

CC could only whimper in response. She knew that she was helpless to stop what was happening. Her body was on fire and there was only one person who could extinguish the flames of desire. Jamie was the only one she wanted and she was straddling her body. CC groaned as Jamie cupped her breasts. She felt Jamie lower her body. Jamie was now lying on top of her as her hands felt the swell of her breasts.

"Would it be so wrong to give in just this once?" Jamie whispered hotly in her ear just before she dipped her tongue inside.

CC groaned loudly as she clung tightly to Jamie’s body. Since the night of the fire, the policewoman had been strung out. She needed Jamie’s touch and now she was trying to convince herself that Jamie was right.
‘Would it be wrong to just give in to her desire?’
her mind debated.

From outside the doorway she heard laughter. Jamie’s body stiffened at the sound. Both women scowled in disgust. "This is not fair," Jamie growled as she lifted her body slightly. CC smiled in agreement as her mind and body took notice that Jamie’s hands were still pressed against her breasts; her eyes were still clouded over in a smoky haze. CC smiled as she moved quickly and flipped the small blonde over onto her back. Jamie squealed in surprise.

"This is why we never spent time at my apartment when we were dating," CC teased her as she balanced herself over Jamie.

"I always wondered about that." Jamie giggled lightly.

"It was too tempting being alone with you," CC confessed as she leaned down to steal a quick kiss. "We need to get up and have breakfast with our sisters."

"I hate being an adult," Jamie grumbled.

"Sucks, don’t it?" CC laughed lightly as she climbed off Jamie.

Jamie bounced up off the bed. "You are certainly in a good mood this morning," CC noted as she pulled her hair up in a ponytail.

"I am," Jamie said as she tried fixing her rumpled blonde locks. "I haven’t slept that well in ages. Thanks for letting me crash here."

"Anytime." CC yawned once again.

"Sorry about feeling you up in my sleep," Jamie apologized with a slight shudder.

"It’s okay," CC conceded. "I just need to remember that you’re a big pervert."

CC inhaled quickly as the doctor’s hand swatted her hard against her stomach. "Ouch!" CC complained.

"Suck it up, you big baby," Jamie teased as CC yawned once again. "Someone needs her coffee."

CC nodded slightly before flashing a big pout. She fought back the laughter as Jamie rolled her emerald eyes in disgust. "Come on, hot stuff. Let’s get you caffeinated."

"I’ll be out in a second. I just need to change," CC explained quickly.

CC watched the confused look on Jamie’s face change into a full-fledged blush. "Sorry." The blonde chuckled.

"No, you’re not." CC scowled as the doctor dashed out of her bedroom. "Jamie, what am I going to do about you?" CC muttered as she dug out a clean pair of sweats. The policewoman changed quickly and joined the others in the living room.

"Good Morning, Sis," Stevie greeted her.

"Coffee," CC stated flatly.

"Glad you could join us," Stevie continued.

"Coffee," CC repeated, not understanding why her younger sibling failed to comprehend the urgency of the matter.

"Did you sleep well?" Stevie continued to taunt her.

"Coffee," CC growled.

"I’m sorry. Did you want me to make you some coffee?" Stevie inquired with a tone of mock confusion.

‘Finally!’
CC’s mind screamed triumphantly. "Yes," CC grunted indignantly. Stevie folded her arms across her chest and stared at CC.
‘Oops.’
CC cringed. "Please," she managed to squeak out meekly.

"I’ve already put it on," Jamie announced from behind her.

CC turned to find Jamie and Meagan sitting on the floor playing with Emma. "Baby." She grinned eagerly.

"No," Stevie grumbled. "My daughter will never learn to walk if you keep carrying her around."

"But…," CC began to protest.

"Jamie and Meagan are playing with Emma," Stevie scolded her.

"She’s seems to be very focused first thing in the morning," Meagan commented.

"Yup. Coffee, baby, toss in a shiny thing, and my sister’s morning is complete," Stevie grumbled.

"Actually I was talking about Emma," Meagan responded lightly as CC sneered at her.

CC was far from pleased at the way Jamie snorted with laughter. The blonde stood and walked over to her. "I’ll get your coffee if you promise to behave," Jamie said softly as she placed a comforting hand on CC’s stomach.

"Okay," CC conceded as Jamie began to rub her stomach in an all-to-pleasing manner.

"Funny. You seemed pretty wide awake back in the bedroom," Jamie whispered in her ear before removing her hand and making her way into the kitchen.

CC sighed contentedly, watching the sway of Jamie’s hips as she left the room.
‘I really like starting my day this way,’
she thought blissfully. "Are you enjoying your visit, Meagan?" CC inquired as she watched Jamie’s sister play with her exuberant niece.

"I’m having a great time," Meagan responded brightly. "Well, except for what happened yesterday."

"What happened yesterday?" Stevie inquired.

"One of Jamie’s residents was murdered," Meagan explained in a hushed tone.

"Oh my God," Stevie gasped.

CC chewed on her bottom lip as her mind began to review the case. Jamie handed her a mug of coffee. "Thank you," she said softly. "Speaking of which, I really need to talk to you about Sandra," CC said before enjoying her first sip of coffee.

"I figured as much." Jamie sighed heavily.

"What can you tell me about Dr. Fisher?" CC began slowly, not really liking that she had to disrupt the morning by bringing up business.

"Isn’t that the guy who has a crush on you?" Meagan asked.

"Yeah," Jamie responded. CC could hear the discomfort in her voice. "What does he have to do with any of this?"

"Nothing I hope." CC shrugged. "I just need to go over some stuff with you since you were her supervisor," CC lied, not wanting to alarm Jamie with her suspicions. "Why don’t we talk about this later? "

CC was happy when the subject changed. The four women relaxed and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. Of course, Jamie occasionally brought up the subject. CC normally admired her overwhelming curiosity, this time it was working her last nerve.

Later after Jamie and Meagan had departed, CC and Stevie cleaned up. CC was feeling anxious since Meagan was leaving for home that afternoon. She didn’t like the idea of Jamie being alone. After Emma had been changed, Stevie set her down on the carpet and allowed her to explore. "So what is it about Dr. Fisher you don’t want Jamie to know?" Stevie inquired as they both kept a watchful eye on Emma.

CC grimaced at the question. "He has a crush on Jamie," she stated bluntly.

"And?" Stevie prodded.

"He isn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer," CC continued thoughtfully. "He showed up on her doorstep late last night."

"That’s a little creepy," Stevie commented.

"There’s something about him that makes me uncomfortable," CC added. "We gave him the impression that we were a couple just to get rid of him, since ‘take a hike’ wasn’t working."

"Uh huh." Stevie chuckled. "I bet you just hated acting like Jamie’s girlfriend."

"He didn’t react very well," CC said with concern.

"I don’t like where this is going," Stevie said as she inhaled quickly.

"I think I scared him," CC said, not really believing what she said.

"You didn’t hit him, did you?" Stevie groaned.

"No." CC shushed her. "I choked him." Stevie’s brown eyes widened as they filled with shock. "Just a little," CC said, defending her actions. "He tried to attack me."

"You’re afraid that you might have pushed this guy a little closer to the edge, aren’t you?" Stevie stated fearfully.

"Yeah," CC admitted. "Would you mind keeping an eye on things while I’m at work tonight? I’m going to suggest that Jamie crash here again."

"Not a problem." Stevie instantly volunteered. "How did sharing a bed go?"

"Not bad." CC shrugged, recalling how wonderful it felt to awaken with Jamie in her arms. "We didn’t have sex if that’s what you’re wondering."

"Who me?" Stevie scoffed. "So what does Jamie’s stalker boy have to do with the murder?"

"Nothing, I hope." CC cringed as she spoke. Her fears were unsettling enough without having to say them out loud. "It’s just that the victim looked a lot like Jamie."

"Jesus Christ." Stevie’s voice trembled as she spoke. "Well, that settles it. After Meagan leaves, Jamie is staying here until this case is over."

"James will never agree to that," CC argued.

"You’ll think of something," Stevie reassured her.

CHAPTER THIRTY

C
C DID THINK OF something. Oddly enough it was the truth; not the complete truth but enough for Jamie to agree to spend a few more nights at CC’s place. CC was never one to play games. She had lost more women in her life because she refused to fall into that trap. As CC found herself taking yet another cold shower, she prayed that her willpower could withstand being so close to Jamie night after night.

Once she was dressed and ready to head out to work, she found her sister waiting for her. "Caitlin, I’m going out to dinner with Jamie," Stevie explained.

"Oh, is that why the peanut is all bundled up?" CC cooed as she tickled her niece.

"Jamie said you should take her car," Stevie continued, ignoring her sister’s silly facial expressions. "The keys are on the counter."

"She offered me her car for the night?" CC questioned.

"James said that she knew that you were worried about leaving me without a car just in case anything happened with Emma," Stevie said with a smile.

"That was very nice of her to do." CC smiled at the thought.