Do you really want to keep on like this?”

The Marketing VP held up a hand. “Truce,” she agreed readily.

“It’s too late and I’m too tired,” she said. “Let’s start fresh on Monday.”

“Have a good weekend.” Kerry smiled, then left, with Mark at her heels.Eleanor sighed. “What the hell,” she said. “How long can it last, anyway?” She sipped her coffee and relaxed.


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IT WAS COOL out on the patio. Dar stood, leaning against the stone wall, her elbows resting on it’s top as she gazed out over the water. The salty wind blew her hair back, and she caught a whiff of wood smoke, from the barbeque they were having down at the beach club.If she turned her head, she knew she’d see Kerry sprawled in the loveseat, busy with her ancient pen and a piece of parchment, writing something she refused to let Dar see. ”Tomorrow’s soon enough,” she’d told her lover, huddling over it.

Tomorrow. Dar looked down and regarded her hands quietly, absently fingering the golden band around her finger. She wasn’t nervous, exactly. After all, it was just a few words spoken by someone she didn’t even know. She would have preferred that it were just the three of them, but she couldn’t grudge Kerry’s wish to have people there.

Grumpy old antisocial beach bum. She chastised herself, semi humorously. C’mon, it’s not that big a step, and it’s only Duks, Mari, Maria, and Colleen. Get over it.

Her page to her father had gone unanswered, and though part of her was concerned at that, another part was secretly relieved, and that was warring with the big slice battling off disappointment.

Well, they’d take pictures. He’d like that. Dar sighed, and straightened. The Jacuzzi caught her eye, and she decided a nice warm soak was a good idea. A thought occurred to her. Bet Kerry would like that too.

Another thought. We have fresh raspberries and whipped cream.

Brightening, Dar went back inside.

KERRY PUT THE last touches on her poem, then untangled herself from a snoozing Chino and trotted upstairs to put the parchment carefully away. Then she examined the white, casual outfit she’d picked out for the morning, cutoff denim shorts, and the soft white shirt that tied across her ribcage, exposing her belly.

Casual, yeah. Kerry faced her reflection in the mirror and smiled.

Dar had picked a worn, stonewashed pair of short overalls, with a white shirt underneath it. It was impossibly cute on her, especially with her tan, and the fact that she intended to remain barefoot.

Kerry laughed gently, then opened her top drawer, and pulled out a wooden box, neatly carved and purchased at Bayside just the day before. She opened it, and exposed the soft, plushly velvet interior, where the two crystals were nestled, the soft lamp light glistening against both them and the brand new golden chains draped about them.

The jewelers had polished the stones, causing them to reflect the light in brilliant prisms, and she smiled as she imagined giving Dar hers the next morning.


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Soft footfalls alerted her, and she tucked the box away, just in time to turn and greet her wind disheveled lover as she peeked inside the room. ”Hey.”

Dar entered, riffling her hair with a negligent hand. ”I was wondering if you’d like to share a bowl of raspberries and a hot tub with me.”

Kerry grinned hugely. ”Would I? What kind of a silly question is that? You betcha.” She grabbed her bathing suit from the rack and gave Dar a gentle shove. ”Meet you out there?” Dar’s eyes twinkled, as she nodded, and ambled out, Chino stumbling at her heels.

Kerry pulled her shirt off, and tugged on her suit, pulling at the straps to settle the thin fabric. Then she grabbed a towel and trotted downstairs, in time to meet Dar coming out of the kitchen with two plastic containers and a smudge of whipped cream on her face. ”Mm.”

Kerry stood on tiptoes and licked it off, getting a startled squawk from her taller companion. ”Who needs berries?”

They went outside, and eased into the bubbling Jacuzzi, as Dar put the containers on the edge of the pool. ”Mm.” She stretched out long legs and leaned back. “Nice night.”

“Beautiful,” Kerry agreed. “Mark said TGIF, but boy, today really is TGIF for me. I am so looking forward to this weekend.”

“Me too,” Dar agreed. “Did you hear about Fabracini?” She watched Kerry’s face as her partner settled down in the water. “José fired him.”

“I did,” Kerry said, seeing the twinkle in Dar’s eyes. “Did you have something to do with that?” she asked. “He sounded like he was totally in charge of that.”

“I did,” Dar mimicked her tone. “I promised you I’d try another way, didn’t I?”

Kerry gazed at her. “Wow,” she said. “Thank you.” She leaned over and gave Dar a kiss on the lips. “I know this is going to be a tough transition. I appreciate you making it a little easier for me though.”

“Anytime.” Dar smiled. “I think it might make things easier for me too,” she admitted. “I think I have to learn not to run roughshod over everyone all the time.”

“Learn something new every day.” Kerry kissed her again, then pressed her forehead against Dar’s as she looked into her eyes. “I’m so looking forward to spending my life with you.”

Dar’s face lit up with delight.

Kerry rubbed noses with her and then she settled back down in the water, extending her arms out and sighing in complete contentment.

Dar wiggled her toes in the water and cleared her throat. ”That was quite a workout tonight. I’m not sure what got into Ken and I. We were like wild weasels,” she changed the subject.

“It was fun watching you,” her partner agreed amiably. “Probably a lot more fun than getting my butt kicked by you like Ken did.”


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Melissa Good

Dar regarded the bright stars. It had all come back, as she’d executed a flickering, almost dazzling move that had dumped poor Ken on his butt so hard he bounced. She’d stood there, blood pumping fiercely, and remembered just how good that felt.

”I told Ken I’d be willing to give a little, local match a try,” Dar commented, idly tracing the patterns in the sky with her eyes. ”There’s one in May. I think I’m gonna enter.”

Kerry regarded her speculatively. ”Awesome, I think you’re going to kick everyone’s butt.”

A shrug. ”Well, I don’t know about that, I’m getting a little old for this, but we’ll see. It’ll be a small thing, maybe I can win a few rounds.”

Kerry splashed over and laid her cheek against Dar’s shoulder, gazing up at her with puppy like adoration. ”Would you win me a trophy?”

Wide, round, blue eyes stared at her. ”Um...what?”

”I always wanted someone to win a trophy for me. I used to have Brian try it at the State Fair, but to tell you the truth, he was more uncoordinated than I was, and I’m pretty bad.”

Dark lashes blinked. ”You’re not uncoordinated.”

”Not now, no,” Kerry agreed. ”How about it? Is that too romantically gooshy for you?”

”Romantic?” Dar ran a hand through her hair, confused. ”Kerry, it’s a flipping karate trophy. I don’t know if I can. I mean…I’m sure there’ll be better...I...”

Soft, green eyes gazed at her trustingly.

A sigh. ”You want a martial arts trophy.”

Kerry nodded. ”Mm, I really do,” she assured her lover. ”And I’m going to get a t-shirt with your picture on it so I can cheer you on.”

Dar made a noise somewhere between a cluck and a sneeze.

”Kerry!” she squeaked, truly alarmed.

Kerry chuckled softly. ”Gotcha.” She gently nibbled Dar’s arm.

”Sorry, whenever you go on about how old you are I have this irresistible urge to pull your chain a little.”

Dar scowled engagingly.

”Tch, that is such a cute look.” Kerry put a fingertip against the pouting lips. ”Seriously, Dar, Ken was totally impressed tonight. I heard him talking to that kid you usually work with.”

”Mm,” Dar grumbled. ”I just don't want to...” she hesitated, ”I guess I don’t want to get my own expectations up.” She played with the water a bit. ”The last time I did this, I was really good, Ker. I know I can’t match that now, and I’m trying to convince myself it doesn’t matter.”

”It doesn’t.” Kerry put her arms around her friend. ”But you’re really competitive, aren’t you?”

A rueful nod.

”You’ll do fine, Dar. No one’s going to expect everything from you Hurricane Watch

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after all the time that’s gone by. Just have fun.” Kerry rubbed her belly comfortingly. ”I’m looking forward to being there.”

”Hmm.” Dar produced a smile. ”Yeah, you’re right. I guess I’m just being a little bit squirrelly tonight.”

Kerry rested her head against Dar’s arm again. ”Mm.” She glanced up. ”You nervous about tomorrow?”

”No.” Dar brushed the thought off. ”Oh, well, a little nervous about getting all those people on the boat and out of Government Cut without ramming into Sovereign of the Seas, but other than that, no.” She nuzzled Kerry’s hair. ”They’re going to stock the galley with breakfast for everyone.”

”Mmm.” Kerry moved closer, sliding her arms around Dar’s body.

”Did you decide on what you wanted to say?”

An unseen smile lit Dar’s face. ”Yes.”

”Ooo...gonna tell me?” Kerry coaxed, easing an adventurous finger under Dar’s bathing suit strap.

”Nope,” Dar responded. ”You’ll find out tomorrow.” She bent her head and nipped a line across the back of Kerry’s neck, feeling the soft rise of goose bumps on her skin. Playfully, she reached behind her and dipped a finger in the whipped cream, then put a blob on Kerry’s damp nose.The green eyes crossed slightly as Kerry tried to focus. ”Yah.”

Dar leaned over and removed the blob, then moved down and kissed her, exchanging a bit of the sweet stuff while Kerry giggled.

”Like that?”

Kerry went back for another taste, easing over and straddling her lover as she floated in the water. After a moment she paused. ”That answer your question?”

A dark brow arched. ”Want some berries?”

”Later.” Kerry leaned forward and brought their bodies into contact, creating a gentle friction in the water. Dar’s hands slid across her back and increased the pressure, as their legs intertwined and she felt a touch wander down her hip and tickle her thigh.

She slid a strap down on Dar’s suit, and heard a chuckle as her fingertips brushed against newly uncovered flesh. ”Hope no one’s got the binoculars out,” she breathed into a tanned ear.

Dar got both Kerry’s straps off at once, and slid the sheer fabric down, exposing her body to the water’s currents, a sensual moment.

”They’ll just think it’s a full moon.” She tweaked Kerry’s behind with a twinkle in her eyes, then arched her back as Kerry worked her own suit off. ”Bite me.” Kerry ducked her head under the water and took a nibble, feeling Dar’s whole body jerk in reaction. The combination of subtle touches and the water’s stimulation was incredible, and she wanted more of it. Hands slid around her ribcage and pulled her up, and she found Dar’s lips waiting. Dar rocked back, and started a slow, 350

Melissa Good

teasing expedition that Kerry enthusiastically joined in on.

The stars chuckled overhead.

”YOU READY?” KERRY leaned on the kitchen counter, watching Dar suck a comforting glass of warm milk. The tall, dark haired woman was dressed in her overalls, and had her hair pulled loosely back into a knot outlining her angular profile. The dim light in the room caught her pale eyes, and Kerry could smell the clean scent of the soap Dar used, and a soft hint of sun dried cotton.

”Yep. I called the ferry dock, and left the names,” Dar replied, licking a few droplets of milk off her lips. ”I told them to escort everyone down to the marina. I figured that was easier than meeting here, then trooping over. Besides, there’s parking there.” Dar put the glass into the sink and exhaled. ”Let’s go. I want to get the boat ready.”

Kerry picked up a small rope bag, which held the crystals and the parchment, and slung it over her shoulder as she followed Dar out the door.Almost. ”Hey!”

”Yelp!” Chino’s head almost got caught in the door, and the puppy complained vigorously.

”C’mon, honey, you stay here, okay? I don’t think you’d like boats.” Kerry told the animal.

”No.” Dar put a hand on her shoulder. ”Let her come, she’s family.”