Sometimes, you didn’t even have to wait a lifetime.


Epilogue

KERRY SWUNG GENTLY in the hammock, doing nothing more strenuous than watching the seagulls. She lifted a hand and took a swig from a longneck bottle of beer, finding an interesting patch of clouds wandering its way across the clear blue sky. “Hey, Dar?”

The other occupant on the hammock grunted in her ear incoherently.

“Y’think I should check my blood pressure right now?”

“Does that mean I gotta get up?” Dar mumbled. “I think your pressure’s fine. I can hear your heartbeat. It’s whistling Dixie.”

“Mmm,” Kerry agreed. “I feel very, very relaxed.” She lifted her other hand, linked with Dar’s, and kissed her partner’s fingers.

“Coming back here was a really good idea.”

“Uh huh.”

“I could stay here for weeks.”

“Uh huh.”

“There’s a rabbit on your hip.”

“Cool.”

Kerry turned her head and indulgently watched Dar’s mostly asleep profile. There was a dusting of beach sand on her cheek, and the dark hair, slightly overgrown, was hiding almost all of one eye.

“Would you like to take the bike out and ride naked down US 1

with me?”

“Sure.”

“I think that idea sounds better than it really is.” Kerry blew a lock of Dar’s hair back. “It’s gnat season.”

One blue eye opened. “Ew.”

“Mm.” Kerry pushed against the porch railing, swinging them both gently. “I was joking about the nude riding, but we could go down the road a bit and watch fireworks tonight.”

“We could do that,” Dar agreed sleepily. “How about we bring that bottle of champagne with us and toast the New Year out on the beach?”

“Ooh.” Kerry rubbed the side of her nose, which itched. “You missing not going to the company party?”

Dar just snorted. “Only thing I’m gonna miss is not getting to Terrors of the High Seas 367

dance with you in front of all of them,” she grumbled. “And we can do that here without having to suffer through high heels.”

“Okay.” Kerry rolled onto her side and sprawled over Dar, drawing in a breath full of cocoa butter and apricot body scrub. “I’ll bring my MP3 player with us on the bike.”

“Does it have speakers?’

“I intend for us to share the ear buds.”

“That means Who Let the Dogs Out isn’t on the playlist, right?”

Kerry chuckled happily. “Ah, now this is a vacation, Dar.” She nuzzled her partner’s ear. “Just you and me. No pirates, no land sharks, no snooty but curiously ineffective private eyes.”

“Uh huh. A vacation from our vacation,” Dar said. “From now on, we’ll just take ’em two weeks at a time: one week to get into trouble, one week to recover from it.” She turned her head slightly and kissed the lips that had been nibbling her ear. “Mm. You taste like hot peppers.”

Kerry licked her lips. “Those were very tasty mud bugs.” She held up her beer. “I’ve been trying to cool down my mouth since we had lunch.”

Dar tasted her lips again. “There’s a little redneck steak joint about three miles south of here. Wanna join me there for a very low class New Year’s Eve dinner?”

“Is this the kind of place where you get a side order of butter with your deep fried garlic bread?”

“Uh huh.”

“And they serve brown gravy with the fries?”

“That and cheese sauce.”

“I’m there.” Kerry glanced over her shoulder at the sun. “Let’s go grab a shower and dress down,” she suggested. “We can laugh about poor Mark in his tuxedo.”

Dar took her time getting up, wrapping her hand around the back of Kerry’s neck and giving her a thorough, passionate kissing first. Then they eased out of the hammock and went inside, still attached to each other.

SHOWERED AND DRESSED, Kerry perched on the wicker stool next to the kitchen counter and studied the envelope in front of her. She picked up her black, permanent marker and wrote on the manila face, carefully penning a name and address.

When she was finished, she picked up the battered, much folded piece of laminated plastic and spread it flat, pressing it between two pieces of cardboard. She taped it in place, then slid the entire thing into the envelope.

“Bob, I’d like to believe you’re on the up and up, but you know, you’re pretty skunky,” Kerry said as she sealed the envelope. “And 368 Melissa Good as much as you praised your friend Tanya, I gotta wonder about anyone who would either hang out with you, or hire you to do something.”

She picked up the stamps she’d gotten at the local post office and affixed the proper number of them to the packet. “So, I figure the one person who actually should get this will probably know what the best thing to do with it is.”

Dar came out of the bedroom, tucking a pristine white heavyweight T-shirt into her worn jeans. “Ready?”

“Yep.” Kerry held up the envelope. “I need to call Richard and thank him for agreeing to deliver this to the nursing home for me.”

“He’s a good guy,” Dar agreed, picking up her leather jacket and slinging it over her shoulder. “He’s also agreed to help her out if she needs it. He’s got a criminal guy he works with, if it turns out that way.” She gestured to the door. “There’s a mailbox in town.

We can drop it there.”

Kerry picked up her own jacket and followed Dar out the door.

The bike was already waiting for them, and she shrugged into her jacket as they walked over to it “Hey. I wanna drive.”

Dar paused and eyed her.

“C’mon, c’mon.” Kerry handed her the envelope. “It’s just a few miles, remember?”

“Uh huh.” Dar held the bike steady while Kerry climbed on, then she settled herself behind her partner, her longer legs able to hold the machine up despite her perch. “Y’know, Ker…”

“I know. I know.” Kerry hopped up onto the seat. “Humor me.”

Dar chuckled.

“Watch it, Dixiecup,” Kerry warned. “Or I’ll have them put tiny tires on this so I can reach.”

Dar kissed the back of Kerry’s neck. “You’re so cute.” She handed her partner her helmet. “Here.”

Kerry started the engine and waited for Dar to wind a long arm around her middle before she started off, heading for the road and turning onto it carefully. “Where’s the post box?” she asked, getting used to the difference in balance with both of them on the bike.

Dar’s hand pointed, and she directed the bike toward it, pausing there long enough for her partner to drop in the envelope.

“That’s that,” Kerry called behind her. “Let’s go have some fun!”

She felt Dar’s other arm wrap firmly around her, and she gunned the throttle. “How fast does this go, anyway?”

“I don’t remember,” Dar answered. “Why?”

“Let’s find out!” Kerry opened the bike up. With a roar and a back blast of sand, they headed off toward the sunset.


FORTHCOMING TITLES

published by

Yellow Rose Books

Dark Dreamer

(Heartstopper Series)

by Jennifer Fulton

"Jennifer Fulton has rescued the romance from formulaic complacency by asking universal questions about friendship and love, intimacy and lust."

The Lesbian Review of Books

Best-selling horror author, Rowe Devlin has had two flops in a row and keeps falling in love with straight women. Seeking inspiration and a fresh start, she abandons life in Manhattan for an old Victorian house in Maine. But Dark Harbor Cottage is a far cry from the tranquil writing environment she envisioned. For a start, the place is haunted and the ghost is none too friendly. To make life even more difficult, her neighbors are a huge distraction. The Temple twins, Phoebe and Cara, are identical and profoundly alluring, and Rowe is soon under their spell, unable to decide which of the two she is more in love with.

Just when it seems things can't get any worse, she finds herself embroiled in a mystery more bizarre and frightening than anything she's ever written.

Intrigue, passion and suspense combine in this taut paranormal thriller/romance, the first in Jennifer Fulton's new Heartstoppers series.


OTHER MELISSA GOOD TITLES

published by

Yellow Rose Books

Eye of the Storm - Just when it looks like Dar Roberts and Kerry Stuart are settling into their lives together they discover that life is never simple—especially around them. Surrounded by endless corporate and political intrigue, Dar experiences personal discoveries that force her to deal with issues she had buried long ago and Kerry finally faces the consequences of her own actions.

Red Sky At Morning - This fourth chronicle in the Dar and Kerry series continues where Eye of the Storm ended. The lives of Dar Roberts and Kerry Stuart seem to get more complex rather than moving toward the simpler lifestyle they both dream of.

Thicker Than Water - The fifth entry in the continuing saga of Dar Roberts and Kerry Stuart finds Kerry forced to acknowledge her feelings toward and experience with her folks and Dar determined to support Kerry in the face of grief and hatred. They must face down Kerry's extended family with a little help from their own.


OTHER YELLOW ROSE TITLES

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When shy software developer, Regan O'Riley is dragged into a straight bar by her workmates, the last person she expects to meet is the woman of her dreams. Off-duty cop, Mel Raines is tall, dark and gorgeous but has no plans to enter a committed relationship any time soon. Despite their differing agendas, Mel and Regan can't deny an instant, overwhelming attraction. Both their lives are about to change drastically, when a tragedy forces Mel to rethink her emotional isolation and face inner demons rooted in her past. She cannot make this journey alone, and Regan's decision to share it with her has consequences neither woman expects. More than an erotic road novel, Infinite Loop explores the choices we make, the families we build, and the power of love to transform lives.

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