Tonya Muir - Exposure Season 1

Following my instructions, she dons the helmet.

"And this," I hand her my leather jacket after I shrug it off.

"But you’ll be-"

"I’m fine. Naturally warm blooded." An understatement, I know. "Put it on."

Without another word, she shrugs into the thick black leather and lets me zip it up for her. I have a sudden vision of a small Kelsey, being dressed up for her first day of school. I catch myself about to kiss her forehead. Gruffly, I say, instead, "Now, hike up your skirt and hop on." Ah, things that sound dirty, but aren’t. That could be a fun Jeopardy category.

Behind the smoky visor, I’m guessing she’s glaring at me again. After a moment, she does as I’ve instructed and settles behind me. Slowly, her arms snake around my midsection and I pat her linked hands.

With a rumble, we’re off. Her arms tighten around me and I can’t help but grin at the warmth of her body so close to mine. Oh, the things I would do.

Too soon we pull up to the hotel only the place has turned into a media circus. I even see one of our own trucks outside and we catch comments about the prostitution ring and it being the biggest high class bust to date. Great.

Kelsey pulls off the helmet, still seated behind me, and looks into the lobby which is buzzing with reporters and cameras. She sighs.

"Put the bucket back on," I tell her, making my decision. As much as I enjoy teasing Kelsey, that doesn’t involve public embarrassment and ruining her career. Especially when her career and mine are so intertwined at present.

"Huh?"

"Do it."

***

"So, this is where you live?"

I don’t respond since it’s a dumb question. I am, after all, putting a cover on my bike in the parking lot of an apartment building.

She follows me silently to the elevator. Once we’re headed up, she looks to me. "Thank you."

I brush it off. Despite how I may seem, I’m not one to hold a kind act over someone’s head. I didn’t do it so she would feel indebted. I did it because, on some level, I do consider her my friend. I know she doesn’t feel the same about me.

"You think the computers are fixed?"

"Maybe."

"I should tell my friend I’m okay. She’ll be worried."

"What kind of friend is she?" I raise my eyebrows.

Kelsey sighs and shakes her head. "Just a friend."

"Whatever," I think she’s fibbing but I’m not interested in getting into a fight now that we’re stuck with each other. Instead, I lead her down the hall and open my apartment door, shoving her through quickly.

"Wha-" She’s baffled by my quick actions.

"Cat." I point to the feline in question who loves to slip out into the hallway. He’s watching us with those green eyes when I turn on the living room light.

"He’s beautiful," Kelsey whispers.

I shrug. He is. He’s a red Abyssinian from a show cattery. He came to me after he’d been retired. He belonged to a friend of my parents and, even after the pounds I’ve added to him, you can tell he’s not a mutt cat. He has sleek short fur that’s a rich auburn color, his limbs are long and tapered. Those green eyes watch us curiously.

"What’s his name?"

"Trouble."

"Really?"

I nod, removing my jacket from her shoulders and placing it in the closet. I put our helmets there, too, before closing the door.

"I love animals," she announces.

I roll my eyes. There’s a shocker. "Do you have any?"

"No. Too busy." She sounds deflated.

"Cats are easy, Kels. He was an adult when I got him, so no destructive kitten phase. You could do it."

"I suppose. Is he friendly?"

"Oh yeah. Have a seat on the couch. Are you hungry?"

She’s eyeing me suspiciously and I know she’s not sure how to take this side of me. I’m not pushing her or teasing her, not demanding anything from her. And my social skills are impressive and unimpeachable.

"It’s been a long day, Kels. No strings, I promise. Have a seat, you look beat."

Warily, she agrees and makes her way into the living room. Trouble is on her lap almost before she sits down. When I come back into the room with cold pasta salad, bread and cheese, she and Trouble have bonded. When I bring in a bottle of wine and two glasses, Trouble, the shameless flirt, is stretched up against Kels’ chest, pressing his cat nose against her human nose, and purring loud enough to wake the dead.

Hell, if I was stretched up against Kels, I’d be purring too. So would she.

We eat in silence, once Trouble acquiesces to moving away from her chest for a few minutes. He remains huddled close to my partner. I watch as Kels mindlessly strokes her fingers through the cat’s fur. Never in my life have I wanted to be a cat so damn bad.

"Thanks for dinner," she says softly as she sips her wine.

"You’re welcome. I’m guessing you and ‘your friend’ didn’t get to have dinner?"

"Umm, no. We didn’t." She looks at her watch. "It’s nearly two-thirty. Wonder if I should try calling her again."

"Well, it depends, Kels," I offer as I pick myself up off the floor and place myself down on the couch, on the other side of Trouble. Trouble gives me a dirty look, as if his private turf has been invaded. "Will she be worried about you?"

"Un-huh."

I pick the cordless up and hand it to her. "Then call her."

She gives me a wary look as she fingers the phone.

I stand up and collect the dishes. "I’ll give you some privacy." As I move to the kitchen, I thank God for my good hearing. I know I shouldn’t eavesdrop, but, damn, it’s killing me not knowing.

I hear her talk to the hotel operator for a moment. I assume since she’s not ripping into them, that the computers are fixed and she’s being connected.

"Beth?" She pauses for a moment before I hear her voice hitch and she continues. "No, no. I’m fine really. Just tired and embarrassed about this whole mess that happened. I’ll explain everything later. I just don’t want anything to screw up our…."

She lowers her voice a bit and now I have to strain to hear. She’s not making it easy. So what’s new?

"Yes, honey, you’ve got my car and keys…"

Honey? Honey? She lowers her voice again and now I can’t hear her, but I did definitely hear ‘honey.’

"See you soon," she ends louder, stronger, happier.

I take a deep breath getting control of the jealousy I’m feeling. Where in the hell is this coming from anyhow? I do not get jealous. Well, I didn’t used to get jealous. I shake it off and head back into the living room. "Get a hold of her?"

"Yeah, thanks. I hope you don’t mind, she’s going to come here to pick me up. She’s on her way. It shouldn’t be long."

"Umm, no, that’s fine." YES! I’m gonna get to see Beth. I’m gonna get to see what type of woman lights Kels’ fire. This should be interesting.

"Harper?"

"Hmm?" I take my seat on the couch again and I, too, give Trouble a couple of strokes.

"I don’t know what will happen when she gets here, what will be said. I … Beth and I are more than old friends. She was an occasional lover during college." I watch as she drops her head.

Straight, my ass. Yes! Confirmation from Kelsey herself. I know she’s neglected to mention that she went to the hotel to screw Beth’s brains out tonight – I’m shocked she thinks I’m that dense – but I accept this admission for the offering of trust that it is.

I can see she’s searching for more of an explanation, knowing how lame it sounds, so I let her off the hook. "You don’t have to explain anything to me." I smile gently as I look at her. "It’s not like we’re going steady or anything."

"But, hey, I did let you carry my books." She laughs a little as she looks up at me. "Thanks for everything."

"You’re welcome."

"I’m sorry if I ruined anything for you. I mean if you had company or…." She glances at what she assumes to be my bedroom door, wondering if I have someone lying in my bed, waiting for me.

"No. Actually, I was sound asleep."

With the knock on the door twenty minutes later, it’s all I can do to keep from leaping over the back of the couch to get to the door. Somehow I manage to walk over and pull the door open. Aww, shit! She just had to be beautiful. Stunning, actually. Oh man, I could be a happy filling in a Kels and Beth sandwich.

"I’m looking for Kelsey Stanton."

"Ah, yeah, she’s right in here. Sorry." I step back and allow her to come in watching as she makes her way to Kels and kneels by the couch.

I look as I close the door and she runs her fingers through Kels hair and murmurs to her. "You okay, sweetheart?"

Kels nods, but then the tears start and she moves closer to the woman who folds her up in her arms, moving up on the couch to comfort her. As I observe this scene, I notice an ache in my own arms. Snap out of it, Harper!

"Let’s get you back to the hotel and let you get some rest."

I watch as Kels nods and Beth helps her up. She straightens as she wipes her eyes and looks to me. The jig is up and she knows it. She gives me a look and all I can do is offer a smile. I was right, but now is not the time to rub it in.

Kels takes a deep breath and smiles at me before turning to Beth. "Before we go, let me introduce you to my new partner."

I move closer to them.

"Harper Kingsley meet Elizabeth Hill."

I extend my hand. "It’s a pleasure. Wish it could have been under better circumstances."

"The pleasure is mine." She takes my hand and I can understand why Kels likes the feel of them on her body. Mine would be better though. "Thank you for helping my girl tonight."

Your girl? Your girl? When in the hell did she become your girl? "No problem. That’s what friends do for each other." I give Kels a glance. "Right?"

Kels nods. "Right."

Beth wraps her arm around Kels’ shoulders and starts for the door. "Well, I’m going to take her back to the hotel and let her get some rest. Thanks again for your help, Ms. Kingsley."

I don’t correct her and tell her to call me Harper. I hope she won’t be around that much. "Anytime." Oh, hell, I can’t resist all temptation. "Hey, Kels!"

"Yeah?"

"The next time you get busted, try to do it before midnight, huh?"

She laughs a little as she steps out into the hallway. I scoop Trouble up because I know that he’s going to try and make a break for it. I lean against the doorframe watching them go. Kels stops and turns around to me. She smiles and gives Trouble a little scratch on his head (eliciting a major suck-up purr if I’ve ever heard one) before she leans forward and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks again, Tabloid. Don’t know what I would have done without you tonight."

"No problem, Little Roo." I watch as they disappear onto the elevator then I close the door. I look at Trouble. "I need a cold shower. And, you sure don’t act like you’re fixed."

The sun is going down and it will be late by the time we land. I’m not looking forward to it. We’ll have to argue over who drives the rental car and who gets which room in the hotel. The rest of the crew, who are now scattered throughout the plane, will watch and keep silent as they always do.

She requests a glass of water immediately upon boarding. She’s been really irritable today. For someone who spent most of the weekend getting laid, she’s awfully cranky. Apparently, Elizabeth didn’t do it right. I chuckle at the thought as the stewardess approaches.

"Let me get that for you, Ms. Kingsley."

I smile at Teresa as she takes my garment bag with a wink, her fingers caressing the back of my hand. She was kind enough to give me a private tour of the VIP lounge, well at least part of it, before our flight.

Kels shoots me a look as she takes her seat near the window. I ease in next to her, settling my long frame into the cushions. I can feel her eyes on me and I look over. "What?"

"Have you no shame? My God, Harper, you just had sex with that woman in the airport lounge."

"Nah, technically it was," I glance at my watch, "almost an hour ago. And it was more like the supply closet. See, we have something in common, Kels. We’re both recently out of the closet," I whisper this last part.

Kelsey levels a mean stare at me.

Teresa returns, handing Kels a glass of water. She turns and smiles down at me. "Can I get you anything?"