now the woman thinks you don't want to see her. She berated herself. You're
such an ass McKenna. Suck it up and go to her place.
"No Riley I really do want to go out with you. I just thought if you're really hungry
it might be faster to meet somewhere." Sam tried to explain. "I'll be there in
about 30 minutes... okay?"
Riley feeling reassured and reminded of how hungry she was by her protesting
stomach quickly made a decision.
"No Sam you're right it would be quicker to meet somewhere and I am starving.
Where do you want to meet?"
Sam thought quickly. "Do you like BBQ? I know a great place in Normal
Heights."
Riley's stomach rumbled at the though of good BBQ. "OH that sounds great.
Where do I meet you?"
"The place is called Phil's; it's on Washington just off Goldfinch. Do you know
where that is?"
"Yeah I know that area. I'll meet you there." Riley said starting to hang up.
"Wait Riley I need to call ahead or we'll never get anything to eat. The place is
packed on the weekends. You trust me? I can order for both of us."
"Sure Sam go ahead and order for both of us. I'll meet you there." Riley said.
She quickly hung up and grabbed her keys. The day was looking up already.
She never noticed the blinking light on her answering machine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Riley drove slowly past the restaurant looking for a parking space. She spotted a
pay lot and pulled in. She got the vehicle parked and was just reaching for her
purse when someone knocked on the passenger window. Riley jumped in
surprise then smiled when she saw Sam motioning her to unlock the door. She
hit the unlock button and Sam climbed into the truck.
"Hi there."
"Hi there yourself." Riley responded.
Sam leaned over the console and Riley leaned to meet her half way. They came
together in a soft gentle unhurried kiss. When the kiss ended they simply stared
at each other for several moments. Finally, Riley broke the silence.
"I missed you this week."
Sam smiled. "I missed you too."
Riley's stomach chose that moment to remind her of its presence. The sound
was loud in the quiet SUV.
Sam chuckled. "Let's get you something to eat before you fall over. When was
the last time you ate?"
Hum... let me think. I'm pretty sure I might've had some lunch yesterday."
"Riley! You need to take better care of yourself. You need to eat more regularly."
Sam complained.
"It's usually not this bad. I've just been really swamped and I've never quite
figured out how to eat and operate on someone at the same time." She
laughingly told Sam.
"Well come on then you need to eat before that damn thing goes off again." Sam
said pointing at Riley's pager on her belt. Sam's eyes slid down Riley's body to
the space between her legs before coming back up to meet her eyes. "That
thing has the absolute worse timing."
Riley gulped and her face flushed, she remembered well the last time her pager
had interrupted them.
Sam's eye's glowed with renewed arousal. She reached out to touch Riley.
Riley leaned back avoiding Sam's touch. "Sam... we should go into the
restaurant... please. If you touch me I won't be responsible for what happens."
Riley pleaded. She knew if Sam touched her it would be all over. It wouldn't
matter that they were sitting in her SUV in a public parking lot.
Sam shook her head trying to clear away the sexual haze she'd fallen into. She
reminded herself that they were in a very public place. She didn't know what
came over her whenever she was with Riley.
"I'm sorry, you're right. Let's go." She apologized.
Riley reached out and gently squeezed Sam's forearm. "You've got nothing to
apologize for. I just don't want to get arrested for public sex; with a police officer
no less." She teased.
Sam laughed wrapping her arm around Riley's shoulders in a quick hug.
Riley could smell the BBQ as soon as they got out of the truck. Her stomach
growled again loudly. Sam chuckled. Riley's eyes widened as they reached the
restaurant. There was a huge line streaming out the door. Sam saw her look.
"Don't worry, I called ahead. See the other door? That's for people who phoned
in orders."
Riley saw the second door Sam was pointing to and breathed a sigh of relief.
The BBQ smell was making her mouth water.
Sam led the way inside and up to the counter. Riley looked around while Sam
got their food. The restaurant consisted of several small rooms with wooden
tables and chairs. In a frame on the wall was the edition of San Diego Magazine,
which listed them as the best restaurant in San Diego. There was also a framed
tee shirt advertising, "Eat at Phil's". The first room also sported a brick fireplace.
Sam noticed Riley's interest in the room and decor. "It used to be a private home
before being converted to a restaurant." She explained when she approached
with a full tray in her hands. "Come on let's find a seat."
Sam led the way toward the back of the restaurant. As they turned the corner
Riley's attention was on Sam's flexing gluts instead of where she was going. She
ran into someone sitting on a chair as she came around the corner. She had just
a second to see the hat and long beard before the old man slumped into her
arms. Riley panicked as she started to lower the limp body to the ground.
"Sam." She yelped. "Help!"
Sam turned to find Riley lowering the old man to the floor, her face showing her
panic. Sam couldn't help it she burst out laughing. She quickly set the tray down
before she dropped it. Riley looked at Sam in shock, and then glanced down at
the old man. That's when she realized it was a mannequin. Her face flamed red.
The look on Riley's face was priceless.
"I don't think even you can help him." Sam teased. Her laughter rang through the
room. Riley stood and placed the old man back on his chair. She crossed her
arms over her chest and glared at Sam. Riley glanced around seeing several
people chuckling at her encounter with the old man. Sam quickly made her way
back over to Riley. She put her arm around her shoulders and squeezed
consolingly.
"Don't feel bad, he startled me the first time I came here too." Sam assured her.
She led her past the old man and to a table in the next room. "Let's eat. I
ordered us BBQ Broham sandwiches, you're going to love it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lunch had been relaxing and fun despite her run-in with the mannequin. Riley
hadn't realized how much she'd missed having someone to do things with. When
she'd been with Keith, there had always been an underlying tension. She
realized in retrospect that though they had dated for a month she'd never really
relaxed with him. Being with Sam was comfortable; she was free to be herself.
Sam offered her an easy affection she'd never known with anyone else. With the
men she'd dated if she responded to any affection they offered they immediately
tried to escalate it into sex. Though she knew Sam wanted her as much as she
wanted Sam she never felt pressured. It was a liberating feeling.
Riley was disappointed their day had ended so soon. Sam was expecting Kim
and Jess. Sam had invited her to come with them to dinner. She had made an
excuse of still being tired. Truth was she wasn't quite ready to face Jess after the