okay, the mark of a good manager is knowing where to use their resources, right?” She raised her voice. “Nice work.”
“Thanks,” came floating back, and Dar could all but hear the smile in the word as she hit the Send key and sent the reply on its way. Then she settled down and plowed through the next several issues, trying to ignore the intriguing scents wafting in from the kitchen, only stopping for a moment as thunder rolled overhead. “Hmm.”
Kerry entered, also listening. “Sounds nasty.” She leaned on the back of the chair. “You finished? Dinner’s ready.”
“So I smell,” Dar agreed as she straightened. “Yep, I told off six people, canceled three meetings, and sent two scathing replies to people who should have known better.” She sighed. “Not a bad day.”
“Did you really?” Kerry gave her a look.
Dar nodded wryly. “Yes, I did.” She stood up and stretched. “But don’t worry, everyone’s used to it. If I didn’t do that, they’d think something was wrong with me,” she advised the blonde woman. “You want everything out here on the table?”
Kerry hesitated, then grinned. “Well, I’ve got this big platter thing. I thought it might be fun if we just use that and share it. It’s got little legs, we could bring it over to the couch and watch the movie.”
“Hmm.” Dar’s voice dropped to a low, speculative growl. “I think I like that idea.” She smiled abruptly. “I wonder if we can do that Lady and the Tramp thing.”
“The wh…” Puzzled blonde brows knit, then cleared. “Oh…oh, you mean with the spaghetti?” Kerry’s eyes lit up. “Well, sure, we could try it.”
She laughed. “C’mon.” They went into the kitchen together, laughing.
“IT WAS A cop-out,” Dar mumbled, gazing at the screen “Bee, my ass.”
Kerry giggled. “C’mon, they couldn’t have them kiss. The world would end, monsters would explode out of everyone’s chest, the Cigarette Smoking man would quit.” She tilted her head back and accepted a gentle assault on her lips. “Glad we don’t have the same problem.”
“Me too,” Dar agreed with a chuckle as she leaned back against the couch, with Kerry’s body cradled against hers as they watched. “God, I’m stuffed, that was really good.”
Kerry stretched back against her and sighed. “Me too. And thanks, that recipe really worked out.” She glanced up, then laughed and reached up to wipe a bit of sauce off her companion’s face. “Except that spaghetti thing was messy.”
“Mmm. So what was the secret of those meatballs?” Dar inquired. “They were so light, did you put feathers in them?” She gave the smaller woman a squeeze, then rewrapped her arms around Kerry’s middle.
A soft snort. “You won’t believe it, but the secret is milk,” Kerry admitted with a laugh.
“Milk?” Dar protested. “You put milk in meatballs?”
Kerry rested her head back against the soft cushion of Dar’s breast and smiled. “Yep. You mix a splash of milk into the pound of hamburger, then add 372 Melissa Good the Italian breadcrumbs to it to soak it all up,” she stated smugly. “And an egg.” A pause and a glance at Dar. “And, um…a little brown sugar.”
Dar laughed. “Milk, eggs, and brown sugar—sounds about my speed.”
She sighed. “Whatever it was, it was great.” She turned her head as the phone rang, and they exchanged looks.
Kerry turn the sound down and picked up the cordless phone. “Hello?”
Her mother’s voice echoed in her ear. “Hello, Kerry?”
Like who else would be answering, hmm? “Hello, Mother.” She kept her voice somewhere between cordiality and wariness. After all, the woman had hung up on her the last time.
“Dear, I’ve been thinking.”
That’s a first. “Yes, Mother?” She held the phone so Dar could hear, not hard since the taller woman was practically wrapped around her.
“Perhaps I was hasty the other night. I’ve spoken with your father, and while he’s very upset, he says he’s sure you’ll calm down and be able to talk with us about this when you come home.” Her mother’s voice sounded smug.
“I’m sure we can come to an arrangement. We understand you must have gotten attached to your new friends down in that place.”
Attached? Kerry glanced down to the strong arms cradling her. “Well, yes, Mother, you could say that. And I am wrapped up in some really interesting things right now.” Dar snorted in laughter, burying her face into Kerry’s neck for a moment and tickling her. Kerry bit her lip to keep from giggling.
“Certainly, certainly. We’re all grown up here, and we’re so looking forward to seeing you. Brian misses you terribly.”
Really? He hasn’t called once since August. “I’m sure he does, Mother,” she replied.
A momentary silence, then her mother cleared her throat. “You seem distant, dear. Am I interrupting anything?”
Kerry tilted her head back as a nibble touched a nerve. “No, no. Um, I was just watching a movie.” She swallowed, then closed her eyes as Dar’s hands wandered up her belly, exposing her skin to the cool air conditioning.
“Oh. Well, we’re watching War and Peace.” A sigh. “Your father does so love that one.”
“I’m sure he does,” Kerry managed to answer. “ I’m watching the X-files.”
“Kerry, you know what I think of that show,” her mother’s voice was disapproving. “Disgusting. So disrespectful of the government. Why, did you know your father once wrote a letter to that horrible man who puts it on, and he got a note back telling him to go and take some drugs?”
Mental note, Dar decided, send fan mail to Chris Carter.
“Well, Mother…” Kerry let her head go limp against Dar’s chest as the gentle nibbling reached around her throat. “It’s, um…just a TV show.” The roaming fingers traced teasing circles around her breasts, and she let out soft, incoherent sound.
“What was that, dear?” Her mother’s voice nudged her.
“Um…just something I was watching,” Kerry replied, giving her lover a beseeching look. “Nothing you’d want to hear about. Oh yeah, did Kyle get home all right?” She put a twist into her voice. “It was so nice of him to stop by while he was down here.”
Tropical Storm 373
There was an awkward pause. “Was he there, dear? I didn’t…well, I’m sure if he was in the area, of course he stopped in to see you. You know how fond of you he is.” There was a muffled sound. “Roger, did you know Kyle was in Florida? You did? Oh … Well, no… Kerry was just mentioning it.
What?”
Blue and green eyes exchanged conspiratorial looks.
“Oh, goodness, the poor man.” Kerry’s mother came back to the phone.
“Poor Kyle, there was a mix-up at the airport. His reservations got lost somehow, and he had to drive to Tampa in order to catch a flight up here.
He’s waiting in Houston right now.”
“Gee. That’s awful,” Kerry intoned sincerely. “Only connecting flights, huh?”
“Apparently so. Well, I’m glad he had a chance to see you.” Her mother sighed.
“Oh yes, it was wonderful,” Kerry replied softly. “He even got to meet my boss.”
“Really?”
“Um-hmm. She was over here working with me on a project. She gave him her business card. Make sure Daddy gets it, okay?”
“Oh, well, of course.” A pause. “Is that normal, dear? I thought you worked in an office.”
“I do,” Kerry replied. “But I had this extra thing going, and Dar takes a very…” She flicked a glance at the tanned face peering over her shoulder,
“…personal interest in things.” The grip around her tightened, and she winced, covering the receiver. “Not so tight, I’ll lose my dinner,” she whispered softly, sucking in a breath as the hold loosened. Then Dar’s hands playfully unbuckled the thin belt she was wearing, and undid the button holding her jeans closed.