Quid Pro Quo

by Sherryl Hancock

  “Oh wow, that’s nuts…”

  Kai shrugged. “It’s war—they don’t want us there, so they do what they can to kill us. Anyway, when this pack moved on us, I couldn’t let my guys kill them. It wasn’t right. They were doing what they were trained to do. Fortunately, the lead dog seemed to focus on me—I guess it was like a mano a mano kind of thing,” she said, grinning. “I knelt down and pulled out some beef jerky I had on me and started talking to the dog. I kept my guys back and told them not to fire unless I ordered it, or they’d answer to me. Not something most of them wanted to do… so…” Her eyes were sparkling. “I finally got the lead dog calm, but when I reached for him he bit me.”

  “Digger,” Finley said.

  “Yep. He’s an Afghan Shepherd, and he was my first dog to train. Once I got him to accept that we weren’t going to hurt them, the rest of the pack seemed to calm. We got out of there, and he followed me back to the base,” she said, smiling fondly.

  “So you were kind of a natural.”

  “I guess. But it definitely got me interested in the dogs and all that they could do. So I started working with some of the K9 units. I learned a lot, and they were eager to have the attention of a lieutenant colonel who could do their unit some good in the resource department. It worked out well, and the next thing I knew, I was in charge of five K9 units.”

  Finley smiled. “And you got to bring Digger home?”

  “Yeah. He wasn’t the property of the Marines, so he was always just my dog, but he was the best trained out of all of them,” she said proudly.

  “I believe that,” Finley said, chuckling.

  Kai’s phone rang then, and she hit the hands-free. “Hello?”

  “Heya, sexy,” came a woman’s voice. “Where’ve you been?”

  Kai grimaced slightly and glanced at Finley, who merely smiled mildly.

  “Hi, Shel, I’ve been sick. So what’s up?” she asked, trying to shorten the conversation as much as possible.

  “Well, you haven’t called me so…”

  Kai rolled her eyes as she shook her head. “Like I said, I’ve been sick.”

  “Well, are you better now?”

  “I am,” Kai said, glancing apologetically at Finley. “I, uh, have someone with me right now, so can I call you later?”

  “Is she cute?” Shelly asked, predictably.

  “Oh yeah,” Kai said, grinning over at Finley.

  “Lucky girl.”

  “Uh-huh,” Kai murmured noncommittally. “So I’ll call you, okay?”

  “You better!”

  “Bye,” Kai said, trying to get off the phone before Shelly said anything else.

  “Bye…” Shelly said, her voice trailing off seductively.

  Kai hung up the phone, glancing at Finley again. “Sorry about that.”

  Finley smiled. “No problem. Is she cute?”

  Kai opened her mouth, then closed it, shaking her head with a grin. “Sorry, it’s something she asks every time.”

  “So is she cute?” Finley asked, amused.

  Kai glanced over at her hesitantly. “Ahh, I suppose she’s cute. Why?”

  “Are you going to call her back?”

  “Probably not…”

  Kai reached over and turned off the stereo then. “I think we need to talk,” she said seriously.

  “Okay…” Finley said, noting the tone.

  “This isn’t something we established ahead of time, so I need to tell you right now that I only date one person at a time, and I definitely only sleep with one person at a time.” Her expression as she looked over at Finley was very serious. “And I expect the same from whoever I’m seeing.”

  Finley stared back at Kai, surprised. She’d figured her for a player, simply because her looks combined with her magnetic personality would have afforded her the opportunity to pretty much get any woman she wanted. She’d assumed that was the case, which was why she’d made a point of being completely casual about the woman who’d just called Kai.

  “So… you don’t really… sleep around.”

  “No,” Kai said. “I don’t. I usually establish that up front with someone I’m seeing.”

  “Before you sleep with them?”

  “Yep.”

  “So last night…”

  “Was something I don’t usually do.”

  “Sleeping with someone before dating them.”

  “Right.”

  “Then why?”

  Kai grinned. “Because I wanted you desperately.”

  “Ohh…” Finley said, her tone indicating that she really liked that answer. “So you kind of threw your usual caution to the wind, huh?”

  “Yeah, you kind of destroyed my caution.”

  “Why do I like that so much?” Finley wondered out loud.

  “I don’t know,” Kai said, shaking her head, then reached over to touch Finley’s arm. “But I need to know if you can do this or not.”

  “Being with you only?”

  “Yeah, giving up the twenty-somethings for a while.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you really want?” Finley asked. “I mean, if you didn’t plan for this…”

  “Fin, I don’t sleep with anyone I don’t mean to, okay? Last night happened because I wanted you far too much to wait, but that doesn’t mean for a second that I had no intention of making you mine eventually.”

  Finley was literally stunned into silence by the admission. What scared her the most was the thrill that went through her at hearing that Kai had wanted her that much and had had every intention of seeing her and being with her.

  “And here I thought I was coming on to you…” she said, grinning softly.

  “I don’t flirt with people I’m not interested in, Fin. Especially not when I’m sick as a friggin’ dog and feel like hell.”

  Finley shook her head. “Boy, you hold nothing back, do you?”

  Kai shrugged. “Why would I? If I want something, I go after it. It doesn’t mean I’ll always get what I want, but it won’t be for a lack of trying, ever.”

  “And you want me?”

  “And I very definitely want you.”

  Finley took a deep breath. She had no idea what to do with such honesty. She’d spent so many years playing games with women, she didn’t have a clue how to handle one as honest and as forthright as Kai was being.

  “You barely know me,” she said, shaking her head.

  Kai looked back at her, seeing the self-doubt in her eyes. “Why do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Doubt yourself so much.”

  Kai pulled over to the side of the road, putting the car in park and turning to Finley, her eyes searching. “Do you know what I saw when I met you?” she said, reaching over to take Finley’s hands.

  Finley shook her head. “No.”

  “When I woke up in so much pain I wanted to scream, I saw your incredibly kind eyes looking down at me, you asking if I was ‘with you’ and calling me ‘handsome,’ and I saw that smile when I answered you. It took my breath away, and I forgot I was in pain for a minute because I just wanted you to smile at me again.” As she spoke, Kai stroked her thumbs over Finley’s fingers, her eyes never leaving Finley’s. “Even when they were putting me under, I heard you talking to me, telling me you’d try to leave a small scar. I knew I had to say something—I wanted you to smile. When I woke up sick from the anesthesia, you were right there, telling me that I’d be okay and that you’d take care of me. That was the most amazing thing in the world to me. You were a stranger, Fin, but I felt your compassion, your caring… and I know it’s not just me. I talked to Remi about you after I came home. She told me how you were with Memphis, and that you put her completely at ease even though she’d just been through hell. You have a way with people, and it’s not something you should ever discount. You say you’re in the wrong business—I say you’re not, I say you’re exactly where you need to be to do the most good with your natural talents. You are an incredible person and an
even more incredible doctor—so why wouldn’t I want to be around you? With you?”

  Finley had tears in her eyes by the time Kai stopped talking. Kai reached up, using her thumb to brush away the tear that had escaped to slide down Finley’s cheek.

  “Just that, huh?” Finley finally managed through the tears clogging her throat.

  Kai leaned across the console, taking Finley in her arms, holding her and kissing the side of her head.

  “I didn’t mean to make you cry,” she whispered in Finley’s ear.

  Finley pressed her face against Kai’s neck. “It’s not your fault. I guess I just don’t know what to do with so many nice things being said about me.”

  Kai sat back, her lips twitching. “You’ve been hanging around too many kids who have no idea how amazing you are.”

  “Maybe that’s it,” Finley said, smiling, but doubting it at the same time. She didn’t imagine there were many women out there like Kai Marou Temple.

  She touched Kai’s cheek, her brandy-colored eyes lit by the sun coming through the windshield. “And I would be honored to date you and only you.”

  Kai smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling. “Good.”

  An hour later they’d dropped the check off at Dakota’s office along with another written on Kai’s personal account for the other half of the money. They were driving back down Sunset when Finley’s phone chimed. She looked at it and let out a stream of expletives.

  Kai laughed, glancing over at her. “Problem?”

  “I totally forgot I was supposed to meet my mom for this stupid dress fitting today,” she said, glancing at her watch. “Damnit!”

  “What’s the dress for?”

  “A fundraiser my mom is doing. All black tie and stuff.”

  “What time is the fitting?”

  “In fifteen friggin’ minutes,” Finley said, sighing. “I’m just going to text her and tell her I can’t make it today.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want to spend my day off with you.”

  “I can take you to the appointment,” Kai said mildly.

  Finley looked indecisive. “Yeah, but my mother will be there…”

  “Okay…” Kai said, her tone indicating she didn’t understand the problem.

  “Oh, Kai, trust me—you don’t want to deal with my mother. She’d test even your patience.”

  Kai grinned bemusedly. “Don’t want me to meet your mom, huh?”

  “No, it’s not that. She’s just… She kind of takes up all the air in whatever room she’s in.”

  “She’s that dynamic?”

  “That isn’t what I’d call it,” Finley said sourly.

  “What would you call it?”

  “Drama queen, attention whore…” Finley said lightly.

  “Oh, come on…”

  Finley gave her a look she didn’t understand. “There’s something you need to know about my mother, especially if you’re going to meet her.”

  “Okay, give me the address of where I’m going first.”

  “It’s Saks in Beverly Hills.”

  Kai nodded, grinning over Finley’s assumption that she knew where that was. “And that’s where?”

  “Oh, sorry. Um… it’s on Wilshire.”

  “Okay, I’ll find it. So what is it you need to tell me about your mother?”

  “Oh, yeah, well, she’d kind of famous…” Finley said, grimacing. “Actually, she’s super famous.”

  “Okay…” Kai said, her lips curled in a grin.

  “Riley Taylor?” She saw recognition dawn instantly on Kai’s face.

  “Oh, well, yeah, she’s kind of famous.”

  Riley Taylor was on par with stars like Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep; her fan base was immense. The idea that Riley Taylor was kind of famous was like saying the Grand Canyon was kind of big.

  “Kind of,” Finley said, shaking her head.

  “Explains why you’re so beautiful though,” Kai said, smiling.

  Finley bit her lip, loving that Kai had said that, but still astounded by all the other things Kai had said that morning. “Thanks,” she said simply.

  “Okay, so what worries you about me meeting her?”

  “Well, people tend to get a little… um… starstruck around her.”

  Kai grinned as she turned onto Wilshire. “Babe, I work with stars all the time, and most of the time they’re crying and begging me to let them quit…”

  Finley’s eyes widened. “In that case, please come meet my mom,” she said, smiling widely.

  Kai laughed. “I think it would probably be bad form for me to make her cry the first time I meet her,” she pointed out. “But I can assure you I won’t be starstruck.”

  “Okay,” Finley said, looking doubtful.

  Ten minutes later they walked into Saks Fifth Avenue and went up to the dress boutique. It was easy to tell where Riley Taylor was because there was a crowd around her.

  “Adoring fans,” Finley said in an aside to Kai, who only grinned, shaking her head.

  Kai’s phone rang, and she looked at the display. “Damn, gotta take this. I’ll meet you over there in a minute, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Finley headed toward the crowd while Kai went to answer the phone, leaning on the nearest wall. The crowd had finally dispersed around Riley by the time Kai walked up. Finley was talking to her mother, but looked over at her and saw the smile on Kai’s face.

  “What?” she asked, noting the excited light in Kai’s eyes.

  Kai smiled. “I’ll tell you later.”

  “Okay…” Finley said. “Mom, this is Kai Temple. Kai, this is my mom, Riley Taylor.”

  Kai extended her hand to Riley, who took it, looking extremely surprised.

  “Kai, is it?” Riley asked, her lavender-blue eyes staring deeply into Kai’s.

  Kai nodded. “Yes.”

  “Is it short for something else?” Riley asked, flashing that million-dollar smile she was known for.

  “Nope, it’s just Kai.”

  Riley nodded, her tongue between her lips as she looked Kai up and down.

  “Mom, could you not…” Finley said, rolling her eyes. “Kai, I’m sorry, my mother doesn’t seem to have any manners at all.”

  “I’m sorry, Finley, honey, but I don’t think you’ve ever dated anyone this attractive before, and she’s certainly not your usual type.”

  “Okay, well, could you try not to run her off with your bullshit?” Finley replied sharply, even as she smiled sweetly.

  Riley smiled widely at Kai. “And she says I’m a drama queen,” she said, winking lasciviously.

  “I tend to think you bring that out in each other,” Kai said evenly, her dark eyes sparkling.

  “Oh, Finley, I like her…” Riley said, widening her eyes.

  “Spectacular.” Finley sounded anything but enthusiastic. “Can we just do this, please?”

  “Fine!” Riley said, exasperated. “You go first.” She wrapped her arm around Kai’s forearm. “Kai and I will wait out here.”

  Finley looked mutinous for a minute, but finally shook her head and walked over to the attendant who was waiting to help them.

  “Why don’t we sit down,” Riley said, her blue eyes sparkling mischievously.

  Kai gave her a level look, searching, but then gestured to the chairs in the private dressing room area. Riley led the way, her hips rolling seductively as she preceded Kai. Shaking her head, Kai wondered how often Riley came on to Finley’s girlfriends, although she’d never heard that Riley Taylor was actually gay.

  Once seated, Riley looked over at Kai. “So, how long have you and Finley been dating?” she asked pleasantly.

  “Less than twenty-four hours,” Kai said, smiling wryly.

  “Oh my, very new then.”

  Kai nodded. “Yes.”

  “How’d you two meet?”

  “Actually, she was my doctor in the ER about a week and a half ago.”

  “Oh my. My very proper doctor daughter
is dating a patient?”

  “Technically I’m no longer her patient,” Kai said, her look bemused.

  “Well, it definitely gives ‘playing doctor’ a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?” Riley asked, her eyes sparkling humorously.

  Kai chuckled. “I suppose.”

  Riley looked back at Kai, searching her face. “You are very exotic-looking, Kai. Has anyone ever suggested that you’d do well in film?”

  “No, in my three years in Hollywood, I haven’t actually ever heard that one,” Kai said, her tone indicating cynicism.

  “I’m not trying to pick you up. Really,” she said, grinning. “But you are definitely a very hot-looking woman. If I swung that way, I’d definitely be looking you up.”

  “Well, I’m with your daughter, so…”

  “Kai!” Finley called from the dressing room.

  “Yeah?”

  “Can you come here, please?”

  Kai stood. “Excuse me,” she said to Riley, and walked over to the dressing room door. “What’s up babe?”

  Finley opened the door and grabbed Kai’s hand, pulling her into the dressing room and closing the door. Kai leaned against the wall, looking down at Finley. She wore a strapless bra and a long crinoline.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be trying on a dress?” Kai asked with a bemused grin.

  “I’m sorry about my mother.”

  Kai shook her head. “Babe, she’s fine. She’s harmless.”

  “I can hear her coming on to you out there.”

  “And she’s harmless, trust me.”

  “Stay in here with me,” Finley said, putting her arms up around Kai’s neck.

  “Honey…” Kai said, leaning down to kiss Finley’s lips softly.

  Finley stepped closer, pressing against Kai, deepening the kiss. Kai moaned softly, but reached up to gently remove Finley’s arms from her neck.

  “Babe, not here…”

  “But…”

  “Babe, it’s disrespectful,” Kai said, her tone still gentle, but firm.

  Finley bit her lip, looking upset.

  Kai tipped her chin up, looking down into her eyes. “I want you right now, believe me, and this outfit isn’t helping,” she said, touching Finley’s bare midriff. “But I don’t think it’s right to do that while your mother is out there. I get that you think she’s trying to get to me, but it won’t matter. I’m into you—just you, okay?”