the broad shoulders and well-muscled biceps displayed by the tank top.
"Ready to go?" Sam asked. She was well aware of Riley's eyes on her body.
Riley didn't speak as she walked over to stand directly in front of Sam. She
reached up and ran her fingers lightly over the faint yellow bruises and thin scar
caused by the bullet on Sam's shoulder. Sam shivered at the touch.
"How is this? Having any problems?" Riley asked softly as she continued to
stroke her shoulder.
Sam had some trouble making her voice work. All the blood from her brain
seemed to have pooled further south as Riley continued to caress her shoulder.
Finally, she managed with a slight stutter. "It's good. No problem."
They stared at each other standing close together but not touching. Sam wasn't
able to resist the invitation she read in Riley's eyes. She leaned down and
kissed her softly then pulled her into a hug.
"Hi, I'm so glad you could make it today." Sam told Riley when the kiss ended.
Riley looked a little confused. "I've wanted to do that since you walked in the
door." Sam told her.
Riley chuckled softly. "Thanks for inviting me."
She put her hand behind Sam's neck and pulled her into another kiss. This one
escalated quickly when Riley swept her tongue into Sam's mouth. Sam
reluctantly pulled away before things could get out of control. She'd never been
with someone she could lose herself in as quickly as she did with Riley. It was
kind of scary and Jess's warning was rattling around in her head. She knew they
needed to talk; she had lots of questions but now was not the time. Riley
groaned in protest when Sam pulled away. She rested her head on Sam's chest
breathing heavily.
"We better get going if we want to get good seats at the game."
They headed for the door but Riley stopped before they could exit. She went
back into the living room and picked up Sam's cane. When she attempted to
hand it to Sam, she protested.
"I don't need it; we'll be mostly sitting down."
Riley offered the cane to Sam again. "I know we'll be sitting down but there's the
walk from here to the parking lot and from the parking lot at the ball field to the
bleachers and back again. I saw you limping earlier, use the cane."
Sam shook her head no, a stubborn look on her face.
"Doctor's orders." Riley insisted.
"You're not my doctor anymore." Sam said smirking as she turned to head out
the door.
Riley scowled. Using the voice she intimidated residents with she demanded,
"Take the cane McKenna."
Sam turned back at the commanding sound of Riley's voice. She raised her
eyebrow in surprise. Uh Oh, I'm in trouble now she's calling me McKenna.
Seeing the look on Riley's face Sam tried to look contrite.
"Yes Ma'am, Dr. Connolly." She responded then unable to resist, grinned and
stuck her tongue out at Riley.
Sam watched with interest as Riley's face took on a calm placid look. She
beckoned Sam closer to her urging her to lean down. Sam was suspicious but
leaned down anyway. Just as their lips were about to meet Riley reached behind
Sam and pinched her sharply on the ass. Sam yelped and jerked back. She
rubbed her butt where Riley had pinched her.
"Behave." She warned.
Sam saw the sparks flare in Riley's eyes and knew this round had gone to the
little doctor. She meekly took the cane from Riley's hand and ushered her out
the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When they reached the parking lot, Riley headed toward the main parking area.
"My car's this way." Sam said pointing in the opposite direction.
"I'm driving," Riley informed her. Again Sam saw something flare in Riley's eyes
that made her pause and follow her without protest.
When she was settled in the passenger seat of Riley's Toyota Sequoia, she
couldn't help wondering when she'd lost control of the situation. She always
drove when on a date and had never ridden with any of the women she dated.
She shook her head realizing she may have met her match in the little
redheaded spitfire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam and Riley reached the bleachers as several women warming up spotted
Sam.
"All Right! She's back," shouted one of the women.
Three women came running up to Sam. Sam had purposely avoided seeing any
of her friends. She didn't want to be seen while she was injured. Riley stepped
back out of the way, as the women swarmed around Sam hugging her. She
watched as they all asked questions at once. She felt out of place standing there
not knowing anyone. Sam extricated herself from the women as soon as she
could. She stepped over to Riley and put an arm around her shoulder.
"Hey guys, I want to introduce you to my friend Riley."
Riley stiffened slightly when all eyes turned to her. Sam gave her shoulder a
reassuring squeeze before removing her arm.
"I'd like you to meet, Ann, Karen, and Dianne," Sam said indicating each woman
in turn. "This is Riley." She told the women.
"Hi Riley, nice to meet you." Karen offered in greeting. The other women greeted
Riley as well. All three women were dying of curiosity wondering about Riley.
They knew better than to ask Sam. She never said anything about the women
she dated.
"Are you going to flap your gums all day or are we going to play some ball?"
yelled a voice from the dugout.
"Oh gotta go, Coach bellowed." Karen said with a laugh. "You coming out with us after the game Sam?" she asked.
Sam glanced quickly at Riley. "Umm I don't know."
"Any time, ladies," the coach yelled again. "And welcome back McKenna."
Sam waved at the coach and other players on the team.
"See you after the game Sam. Nice to meet you Riley." Karen said before
turning to run into the dugout.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam scanned the bleachers looking for a good spot. She saw Kellie Matthews
and waved. She'd befriended the rookie after finding her pounding a locker in
frustration one afternoon at the station house. Howard her FTO had spent the
day patronizing her and telling her how women cops could never measure up to
the men. She'd been encouraging the woman ever since telling her she just had
to get through 12 weeks with him then she would be assigned a different partner.
Not everyone in the department had such antiquated attitudes.
Kellie waved back pointing to the seat next to her. Sam headed toward Kellie.
Riley had followed Sam's line of sight when she waved. She felt an immediate
surge of annoyance when she saw who Sam was waving to. It was the irritating
blond she'd met in Sam's hospital room.
Sam had forgotten about them meeting before. She made the introductions.
"Riley this is Kellie. She's a rookie at the station house where I work. Kellie this
is my friend Riley."
Kellie stared at Riley. She looked familiar but she couldn't quite place from
where, then it hit her.
"You're Sam's doctor," She blurted out. Several people sitting near by listened to the exchange with interest. Riley felt her face go hot. Sam quickly spoke up
sensing Riley's embarrassment.
"No, she was the surgeon who saved my life. She's not my doctor." Sam told
Kellie adamantly.
A cheer went up from the crowd as the teams took the field. Sam sat down
leaving a space open between her and Kellie. She gestured for Riley to sit in the