The Lonely Hearts Club (32 page)

Candace watched her walk away and wanted to call after her that that would be the day when she chased after a woman. But she didn’t, because she wasn’t so sure that was true any longer.

“Strike three!” the ump shouted, and Reilly’s team swarmed the pitcher’s mound. Liz lost sight of Reilly in the melee and just clapped along with everyone else. She wasn’t happy to see Parker’s team lose, but she was delighted that Reilly’s won.

“Are you going to wait around for the victorious hordes to get done celebrating?” Candace asked, scanning the field. She couldn’t see Parker, and she suspected that Bimbo Barbie or one of the other blondes had already dragged her off somewhere.

“I told Reilly I’d wait for her,” Liz said.

“Like a date?”

“Well, more or less, yes.” Liz smiled shyly. “I wouldn’t mind spending some time alone with her.”

“Understatement,” Bren muttered.

“What about you?” Candace inquired of Bren. “Got plans?”

“Not really. I have early meetings at the library tomorrow, and I have some writing to finish tonight.”

Candace gave her the eye. “All these years I thought you were home reading, and you were
really
home writing.”

“I’ve
really
been home doing both.”

“I guess you’re not going to let me read it before it’s done, huh?” Candace asked hopefully.

“I’m going to post an excerpt on the website this week.” Bren paused, and Candace leaned forward expectantly. “I’ll email it to you the day before so you can have a sneak preview.”

“I think I’m over being mad at you now,” Candace said. “
Melanie.
”

“Good.” Bren collected her empty soda can and waved goodbye to Liz and Candace. “I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch?”

“I’ll be there,” Liz said.

“Hurry up and finish the book,” Candace called.

“Where’s Parker?” Liz asked, searching the field. Reilly was slapping Sean on the back just as a gorgeous androgynous blonde joined them and put her arm around Sean.

“Probably deep-throating the pitcher in a car somewhere.”

“Who? Oh…the blonde with the, uh, breasts who pitched the first half of the game?”

“That’s the one.” Candace frowned. “Parker seems to have a never ending supply of them.”

“You sound jealous.” Liz gave Candace a quick hug. “And believe me, you have nothing to worry about. Parker’s just playing with them.”

“That’s all she’s been doing with me, too.”

“I don’t think so. When she showed up at the Blue Diamond the other night, the only thing she wanted was to be with you. Of course she was a little too incapacitated to make that clear.”

“She seems to have gotten over that.”

“Candace, sweetie, you went home with someone else that night, remember?”

Candace sighed and looked away. “All right, not one of my better decisions.”

“Why don’t you just tell Parker that you’re interested in her?”

“I did.”

“Let me guess,” Liz said. “I bet you told her you wanted to go to bed with her, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes. What’s your point?”

Liz shook her head. “You know what the point is. When it really matters, it’s about more than sex.”

“Excuse me, but weren’t you the one who was just talking about wanting to get it on with Reilly last night?”

“Damn right. And I still do.” Liz checked on Reilly’s progress. The two teams had lined up and were passing side by side, shaking hands and congratulating each other. Reilly was flushed and exuberant. Happiness looked good on her. “But I want a lot of other things too. I want to know what makes her smile, and what she dreams about, and what she likes to do on rainy afternoons. For starters.”

Candace regarded her without expression. “You’re falling for her.”

“Maybe. Yes.”

“You know I love you, right?”

“I know.”

“Do you think it’s smart,” Candace said, “considering everything?”

“I don’t know. I’m not certain that thinking about it is going to give me any answers. When I’m with her, things seem clearer.”

Candace took a deep breath and tipped her chin toward the players. “Then you should go get her.”

“Thanks. I think I will.” Liz squeezed Candace’s hand. “Are you going to be okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve got a desk full of work at home. The only thing I like as much as women is money. I think I’ll go make some.”

Liz knew that wasn’t true, but she respected Candace’s defenses. She had plenty of her own. She kissed her cheek. “See you tomorrow.”

“Have fun. I mean that.”

“Hey,” Liz said. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“I’ll be fine. All I need is a woman to take my mind off my troubles. I’d look for one tonight, but I think I’m going to swear off softball players for the rest of the summer.” Candace smiled wryly. “Night, darlin.’”

“Night.” Liz watched Candace stride down the slope, lithe and graceful and effortlessly seductive. She might
wish
she’d sworn off softball players, but Liz doubted it was true.

*

Reilly extricated herself from the throng and worked her way through the enthusiastic crowd to the sidelines were Liz waited. When she wiped her face on her sleeve, she left behind a streak of sweat and dust.

“Congratulations!” Liz called, hurrying toward her.

Reilly held out both hands to stop her. “I’d give you a hug, but I’m filthy. It was that slide into home that did it.”

Liz frowned and touched Reilly’s jaw with one finger. “You’ve got a scrape here too. That needs to be cleaned up.”

“If you can wait to eat,” Reilly said, “I’ll go home and shower and then maybe we can have dinner?”

“Why don’t you come over to my place? We’ll get your face taken care of, and then you can jump in the shower while I cook us something for dinner.”

“I don’t think you should cook,” Reilly said firmly. “It’s Sunday night and you’ve had two late nights in a row. You should relax.”

“All right,” Liz said softly, surprised all over again by Reilly’s care. She’d gotten used to a solitary existence, even when she and Julia had still been a couple. Their schedules were so different they rarely ate together, went to bed together, or got up at the same time. “Then come to my apartment now. I’ll order Thai delivery from the car. By the time you’re done with a shower, dinner will be ready.”

Reilly grinned. “You’ve got a deal. I’ll follow you.”

Twenty minutes later, Liz waited in the lobby while Reilly parked. Then she buzzed her in and they rode the elevator up to her condo.

“Hopefully you won’t have any unexpected visitors,” Reilly commented as Liz slid her key into the lock.

“She’s not going to be here,” Liz said.

“Even if she is,” Reilly said, “I’m not leaving.”

“Good, because I don’t want you to.” Liz held the door for Reilly, then gestured for her to follow. “The guest bathroom is down here. I’ll leave a T-shirt and sweatpants in the adjoining bedroom. When you’re ready, call me and I’ll put some antiseptic on those cuts.”

“Thanks,” Reilly said.

Liz hesitated when they reach the bathroom. They hadn’t touched since they’d left the softball field, and she very much wanted to touch her. Remembering the way she’d felt last night, and how difficult it had been to stop touching her, she resisted. Awkwardly, she backed away. “Well, the food should be here any second. Call me. When you’re done.”

“Okay.”

As soon as Reilly shut the door, Liz had the overwhelming urge to join her in the shower. To keep her mind off how good Reilly looked in gym shorts and a tight T-shirt, and how much better she’d look without them, she hurried into the living room to clear the coffee table and wait for the food delivery.

She didn’t have long to wait. When one of the regular delivery guys buzzed the apartment, she told him to come up and met him at the door.

“Thanks, Kenny,” she said, handing him two twenties. “Keep the change.”

Juggling the bags, she pushed the door closed with her foot and turned toward the kitchen. When she saw Reilly standing at the end of the hall in nothing but a bath towel, she almost dropped the food.

“There weren’t any clothes in the bedroom,” Reilly said apologetically.

Reilly’s hair was damp, and the towel didn’t cover much of her. While her arms and legs were muscular, her upper chest appeared surprisingly pale and soft. The slight swell of breasts beneath the towel started an ache in the pit of Liz’s stomach. Liz’s throat was dry and she had to swallow several times before she could speak. “I forgot to put them out.”

“Here,” Reilly said, closing the distance between them. “Let me take those bags.”

Liz backed up until her back hit the door. “I’ve got them.”

Reilly stopped, frowning. “What’s the matter?”

“You. You’re the matter.”

“What have I done?” Reilly asked, panic streaking across her features.

“Either you really don’t know how sexy you are, or you’re a terrible tease.”

“Oh.” Reilly looked down. The towel gaped at the bottom, revealing a lot of thigh and almost quite a bit more. “Oh. Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Liz murmured. “I’m enjoying the view.”

“Uh, clothes?”

“Let me put the food in the kitchen, and I’ll meet you in the guest room.”

Reilly nodded and disappeared down the hall. Liz took a shaky breath and carried the food into the kitchen. After collecting a T-shirt and sweatpants from her bedroom, she continued to the guest room.

“Here you go.” Liz stepped into the room and held out the clothes.

Reilly stood by the side of the bed, still wearing the towel. She extended one arm. “Thanks.”

“I’m going to put these down on the floor and leave now.” Liz set the bundle down.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Liz said quickly. “But if I come within two feet of you, I’m going to forget every single reason I have for not going to bed with you.” She laughed unsteadily. “God, you’re so gorgeous.”

Reilly grinned. “Could you remind me again what the reasons are?”

“My life isn’t exactly my own these days, Reilly,” Liz said gently. “I wish I could be like Candace, and enjoy a woman for a few hours or a few days, and know that we both would come away satisfied.”

“Is that what you want? Easy sex, no strings attached?”

Liz knew she should say yes. There was nothing wrong with it. It was the smartest course of action right now. And why not have pleasant, wild, wonderful sex with someone she enjoyed, rather than a stranger. She wanted Reilly. She knew Reilly wanted her. She could see it in her eyes. She felt it in the way Reilly had kissed her the night before. Why did it have to be anything more than that?

“Yes.”

Reilly skirted around the clothes on the floor and stopped in front of Liz. She loosened the towel and let it fall. Liz backed up and her back hit a door yet again. She glanced down between them, then quickly averted her gaze. Reilly’s naked body was sculpted and firm. Strong and quintessentially female.

“Easy sex, no strings. That’s a place to start.” Reilly braced her arms on the door on either side of Liz’s shoulders and slowly leaned against her. She kissed Liz’s throat, then her mouth.

Reilly’s skin was cool and damp against Liz’s bare thighs. Her mouth was soft, her tongue warm and silky. Liz ran her hands over Reilly’s back, feeling the muscles ripple beneath her fingertips. Breathless, Liz murmured in surprise when Reilly dropped to her knees. Startled to realize her legs were shaking, Liz steadied herself with a hand on Reilly’s shoulder and watched Reilly tug her blouse from her shorts. She was no stranger to sex, even though it had been awhile, but everything she felt, everything Reilly did, seemed new.

“Oh,” Liz breathed when Reilly kissed her stomach. She could see now the swelling below her navel that had never been there before. Reilly framed the area with her hands and kissed her above the spot where the fetus grew. The caress was reverent and tender. Liz sensed her clitoris lengthen and throb, and she moaned quietly.

“Are you all right?” Reilly glanced up as she eased Liz’s shorts and panties down.

“Yes, but my legs are a little untrustworthy.”

“I’ve got you.” Reilly smiled. “Lift your foot. Now the other.”

Liz complied and Reilly guided her free of her clothing.

And just like that, she was half nude. Liz thought fleetingly that she should probably be embarrassed, but she wasn’t. The way Reilly looked at her, the way she touched her, made her feel so wanted. More than that, it made her feel beautiful and desirable and right now, she wanted to give Reilly anything she needed.

“Tell me if you want me to stop,” Reilly whispered.

“Oh, no. No, no.” Liz drew strands of Reilly’s hair through her fingers and closed her eyes slowly as Reilly’s warm breath surrounded her. The first glancing caress of Reilly’s tongue sent a shiver through her. The glide of Reilly’s lips, gentle and hot, made the muscles on the insides of her thighs quiver and jump. When Reilly sucked, she felt the storm rise within, a gathering force too strong and swift to be denied for very long. “Reilly, stop. Stop please.”