Tonya swallowed down the compliment and decided to move past it. She glanced at Haley’s T-shirt. “What’s Warehouse 13?”
“Geeky TV show on Syfy. Does some great things with history.”
“You have a closet full of those kinds of shirts, don’t you?”
Haley grinned. “Sure do.”
A small group of young women eased up around Haley. One of them nudged her. “What’s taking so long? There’s twenty other people waiting for pool tables. So the sooner I start kicking your ass…”
The other women laughed. Haley’s forehead scrunched. She looked irritated. “Well, start without me, then. I’m still waitin’ to order.
Tonya watched them quietly. Haley hadn’t even indicated to the bartender or waitstaff that she wanted anything. Tonya turned and glanced toward her table to get Stephanie’s attention, but she wasn’t there. She looked around and found Tracy and Stephanie standing together staring right at her. That wasn’t good. That wasn’t good at all. The questions and the teasing…so much fun. Tonya turned back to the bar, but their gazes burned a hole between her shoulder blades.
“Fine. Whatever, just hurry up,” one of Haley’s friends said.
Haley shrugged, and a few seconds later, the group walked away.
“Was that your entourage?”
“Unfortunately. You wanna save me?”
Tonya couldn’t help but laugh. Officer Jordan was laying it on a bit thick. It was getting hard to breathe, and not in a good way. “I know you haven’t been a police officer for long, but it’s probably best that you don’t save people and then hit on them later.”
Instead of looking offended, Haley’s expression was thoughtful. “I didn’t save you. You did that yourself. I was just along for the ride, so to speak.”
“Interesting justification.” My God, was she going to have to go pour her own drinks?
“Isn’t it? And I won’t apologize for hittin’ on you. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, so I took this as a sign.”
“I’m sure there are plenty of other women here—”
“Obviously.” Haley smiled.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.” Haley fluttered her eyelashes.
“That’s a vodka gimlet and a rum and Coke. Sorry ’bout the wait.” The bartender interrupted with his ever-perfect timing. He sat the drinks on the counter in front of Tonya.
This girl was a clown, but that still didn’t make her any less intriguing. Tonya reached for the drinks and had every intention of saying her good-bye’s and leaving. “I’m sure you’ll find a few that listen to Linkin Park, play video games, and tweet until their thumbs are sore,” she said instead.
Haley nodded and raised a brow. “Probably, but who’s Linkin Park?”
Tonya stared and just barely kept a smile from forming.
Haley held up her hands in surrender. “Okay, fine. I know a few songs, but they’re so passé. Should I be insulted that you reduced my generation to a sentence or two?” Her eyes flashed. She crossed her arms over her torso, making her muscles appear more prominent.
“No more offended than I should be, considering how we met. Flirting with me doesn’t feel a little weird to you?” Tonya answered. She recognized the challenge in Haley’s gaze and in her stance.
Surprisingly, Haley shook her head. “Nope, but maybe I shoulda just started out with offerin’ to buy you a drink.”
“You’re old enough?” Tonya couldn’t help herself.
Haley’s eyes narrowed. Then she threw her head back and laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I am.” She didn’t look insulted at all. Her gaze was heated but soft at the same time. “I think runnin’ into you and this conversation are gonna be the most interestin’ things to happen to me tonight.”
Tonya tightened her grip on the drinks. Their coolness provided contrast to the warmth that pierced her. She wasn’t sure how to take Haley’s response. “Was—”
“It was a compliment…definitely. I think I should probably get back to my friends.” Haley backed away.
Suddenly, Tonya really didn’t want this to end. “I thought you were starving?”
Haley smiled, teeth and all. “I am.” She cleared her throat. “It was nice seein’ you. Have a good one.”
Tonya held her gaze and offered a tight smile in return. “You too.” She watched Haley walk away, disappointed to see her go. Tonya barely had time to take a breath before Stephanie and Tracy closed in on her.
“Okay…okay, what was that? Better yet, who was that?” Stephanie asked. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you chat anybody up.”
“For real! Never had the pleasure of seeing you on the prowl at all. So you like ’em butch. I don’t blame you, especially if they look like that. And did you see her arms?” Tracy grinned. She looked impressed.
Tonya was used to Stephanie’s poking, and she was used to giving mundane answers in return. But her sister’s curiosity she found interesting and a little disconcerting. Tracy never pressed, and Tonya gave nothing in return. In fact, she could count on her hands the number of times Tracy had been out with them…period. Then again, they usually went to places like Good Friends and Oz, so the possibility of Tonya being approached was always slim.
“I wasn’t prowling. This isn’t the jungle, and I’m not a damn cat. It’s not what you think. She was the cop from Thursday morning, and she was just saying hello.”
“Mm, looked like a hell of lot more than hello to me.” Stephanie studied her but didn’t say anything else. She took her drink out of Tonya’s hand and sipped.
“Fine. Let it get rusty. See if I care. Next person down there is going to need a sandblaster,” Tracy told her.
Stephanie laughed. Tonya shook her head. Really, what was with this sudden interest in her sexual exploits?
Feeling slightly offended, Tonya asked, “So…did you think I was just going to drag somebody to the bathroom or go to their car?”
“Shit. Why not? I would,” Stephanie said.
Tonya glared at her.
“What? I would. Live a little.” Stephanie stirred her drink and took a sip.
“I would never do something like that, just to make that clear to both of you, no matter how crappy my day has been.” Tonya looked from her sister to her best friend.
Stephanie seemed to deflate a little. Her shoulders drooped. “Fine. Okay, maybe that was a bit much. I was just trying to help, especially after the week you had. Plus, I kinda like this GrrlSpot thing. It’s not as pretentious as I thought it was gonna be.”
“Maybe.” Tonya wasn’t sure what to make of it yet. She could feel Tracy’s gaze on her and glanced her way. “What?”
“Nothing. I’m…still liking all of this.”
The night, so far, continued to be full of surprises. Tonya was seriously thinking about a third drink; without realizing it, she’d almost drained the one in her hand. The back of her neck tingled again, and before she could stop herself, she was looking around. Haley was easy to spot. She stood by one of the pool tables. The cue was in her hand, and as she polished the tip, she stared right at Tonya.
When their eyes met, Haley smiled like she knew a secret. Then she leaned forward, stretching her torso across the table. The muscles in her arms stood out in sharp relief. Her first shot was powerful. The balls scattered, and several made their way into various pockets.
Tonya needed another drink. The remains in her glass were nowhere near enough to alleviate the sudden dryness in her mouth.
Chapter 9
“You like it?” she asked Darla, or was it Dawn? Haley couldn’t remember.
“Fuck yes!” Her fingernails dug into Haley’s shoulders, setting her skin on fire, but Darla wasn’t faring any better. The grip Haley had around her waist was going to leave bruises, but she continued to tighten it, controlling every movement and drawing Darla in to match her own rolling hips. Her breasts bounced in Haley’s face. She flicked one with her tongue.
“Fuck! I’m—”
A tiny bolt of pleasure shot through Haley, but it was just enough to call this whole thing satisfying. She shortened her thrusts but kept them deep. Haley shook her head violently to keep more sweat from falling into her eyes, but it didn’t help much.
Darla stiffened and then went wild, growling and trembling as another orgasm caught up with her. Haley loosened her hold and guided Darla’s hips into a slow, rhythmic grind.
“Yesssss.” Darla went limp, and her damp red locks trailed over Haley’s face as she leaned forward.
After a minute or two passed, Haley gave her an affectionate pat on the ass and squeezed.
“Mmm.” Darla lifted her hips, and Haley was free. She slid off Haley’s lap, but not before giving her a light kiss. “You got any beer?”
“There’s a Kentwood Springs water cooler in the kitchen. Cups are already on top.” No. No more drinks. Haley didn’t want her staying any longer than necessary.
Darla chuckled as she looked around for her clothes. “This was fun, Haley, but don’t get all nervous. I don’t wanna cuddle or have an early breakfast.”
Naked from the waist down, Haley sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. She spied a pair of panties under the coffee table. Using her big toe, Haley pulled them from their hiding place. “Hey, Darla, you lookin’ for these?”
“What did you just call me?”
Dammit. Haley knew this was going to happen. “Uh, sorry.”
“It’s Dina, by the way, Ha-ley.” Dina’s eyes narrowed. “I know what this is…” She pointed at herself, then back to Haley. “But you can at least be personable about it.”
Haley agreed. She was usually more on top of it than this. She held Dina’s gaze. “You’re right, Dina, I’m sorry.” Haley stuffed as much sincerity into her tone as she could.
Dina’s mouth opened like she was about to say more, but her eyes widened instead. She probably wasn’t expecting an apology. She looked a little sheepish. “Thanks.”
Haley grinned. “You’re very welcome.”
Dina’s expression warmed, complete with dark eyes and a satiated smile. Several more minutes went by before her guest was completely dressed. Dina smiled wickedly as she looked down and tweaked the head of the dildo still standing proud between Haley’s legs.
“Later,” she said.
It was enough to make Haley smile again. “Later.”
Then she was alone. Her smile fell and Haley realized that she’d been right: seeing Tonya had been the most exciting thing to happen to her all night. She had no idea what to do with that information.
* * *
“You were a mistake! There’s no way I’d have a child this useless!”
Tonya stood her ground. Her head was down, and her fists were clenched. The tension in her body was the only weapon she had against her mother’s words. In the back of her mind, Tonya knew they weren’t true, but each syllable scalded her and left welts like boiling-hot water.
“Just tell me what you need, Mama.”
Nicole’s face was flushed with anger. Her dark curls were frizzy and all over the place like she had been pulling at them. “I did! Ten times already. I shouldn’t have to keep saying the same—”
“No, you didn’t.” Tonya’s tone was soft. She took a step forward.
Her mother’s expression shifted to utter confusion. “That wasn’t you in my room just now?”
Tonya shook her head.
“Oh! I’m sorry. We have a guest, then.”
“I think she just left.”
“That’s a shame.”
Just like that, her mother calmed down. The redness in her face went away, leaving her pale once more, and her green eyes didn’t look as wild as they had a few seconds ago. She was beautiful again.
“But Daddy and Tracy will be home soon. Why don’t we get cleaned up? I know how you like to look good for him.”
Her mother nodded and smiled. “I do, and Tracy’s so pretty.” She took a step toward Tonya. “You both are.”
Tonya reached out to her, but there was only empty air.
From behind, someone’s hand tangled in Tonya’s hair and pulled hard enough for tears to spring to her eyes. She gasped and then cried out as she was slammed into the wall. Tonya recognized the man’s face immediately.
He grinned. “You gone show me what you did to get dat car, ma.”
His partner appeared. They looked at each other and laughed. “Look at her. She not all dat. I can get a better piece of ass on any street corner in da East.”
“No!” Tonya lashed out at the man closest to her, scratching at his eyes.
“Leave. Her. Alone!”
Tonya whipped her head around at the sound of the familiar voice. Haley stood a few feet away with her gun drawn, and beside her stood an angry-looking Nicole Preston ready to pounce.
Gasping, Tonya bolted upright. She was drenched in sweat, and the covers were tangled around her legs. After several deep breaths, she was more aware of where she was, though her heart continued to race. This was her bedroom. Tonya turned on the bedside lamp to further confirm it.
After putting on her glasses, she scanned the area, looking toward her feet first. Those were her pale purple, five-hundred-thread-count sheets, one of many sets, and the down comforter she’d purchased just last year. Her gaze took in the rest of the room, painted in soothing, warm earth tones. Her heartbeat slowed, taking with it the last vestiges of fear and anxiety.
Dreams about her mother were common. Some were memories and others were her subconscious fabricating the mother she wanted…a mother who fought for her. The rest of it was certainly not what she was used to. So it begins. “Great. Just great,” Tonya whispered. She’d been through a traumatic event, and there were bound to be some repercussions. Hopefully, nightmares would be the worst of it. Tonya leaned toward the nightstand. She pulled her journal from the drawer, then paused and stared at the photo album that remained. Tonya swallowed, closed the drawer, and began to write the details of her dream. In frustration, she scribbled out the first few lines. They didn’t capture what she wanted to say. She needed to be candid and clear. Dr. Finn would want to know everything. Several minutes later, sunlight began peeking through the windows.
Tonya stopped writing when she got to Haley. She was involved in the whole ordeal. Her appearance couldn’t be that unusual. Tonya recalled the fierceness in her eyes. No one had ever looked at her like that…no one had ever looked like that for her. It was just a dream. Maybe it was because she had been drinking. Maybe it was because she’d seen Haley. Maybe it was because of the impending confrontation with her father. Tonya didn’t know. The one thing she did know was that she wasn’t going back to sleep. When she finished writing, she put her journal away. In the process, Tonya glanced at the one picture of her mother she kept beside her, taken just a few years ago. Nicole’s dark, curly hair was peppered with gray, and her haunted green eyes looked even brighter due to the paleness of her skin. She’d heard her father joke one time—back when he did joke—that she was the palest white woman he’d ever seen. Both she and Tracy had inherited their mother’s good looks. She sighed and got out of bed.
The smell of coffee wafted up as she made her way to the stairs. Her father was up. When she entered the kitchen, sure enough, he was sitting on one of the stools that lined the island. He glanced up at her as he turned a page in Gambit Weekly. Instead of smiling, he looked back down at his paper.
“Morning,” Tonya said anyway.
Robert got up then and went to the cabinet, pulling out another mug. Quietly, he poured a large portion of mocha-flavored creamer into the cup before filling the rest with coffee. He pushed it toward her and sat back down. That wasn’t how she liked her coffee, but she didn’t say anything.
“Sit.”
She did and started drinking from her mug. Tonya tried to read him, but all she saw was the tension in his body. Each movement was slow, like he needed to wind up before he could complete it.
Finally, h
e sucked in a deep, audible breath. “You could’ve been really hurt. At least maybe NOPD woulda called. Let me know something.”
Tonya set her mug down. The sound it made was loud, almost jarring. She swallowed. “But I wasn’t. I didn’t see a point—”
He slammed his fist on the granite countertop.
The resulting smack made Tonya jump.
Her father glared at her. Hurt and confusion swirled in his eyes and all over his face. It was the most emotion she’d seen from him since his wife, her mother…
“What is wrong with you?” Robert asked softly, enunciating each word carefully. It would have been better as an indignant scream.
Tonya stared at him. Something coiled in her chest. She had to clench every part of her body to keep it from springing forward. “Nothing.” Hiding, denying…they were knee-jerk reactions.
“That’s some bullshit!”
“I am not a child. You don’t get to talk to me like that…” Tonya let her words trail off as she tried to get a hold of the sudden surge of emotions.
“What, in your house? Is that what you were gone say?” He stood.
Tonya blinked and deflated a bit. “No…what?” His resentment was clear. It wasn’t her fault that he’d lost the store and the home she grew up in. How much had he been holding on to? Was it all going to come out right here and now? She took a breath. “This is your home too. I would never say otherwise.”
He looked away and rubbed a hand over his bald head. “No matter what, you still my child.” His voice was hoarse.
That other thing was probably something he wasn’t ready to tackle, and that was just fine with Tonya. “I know that, Daddy.”
“After all we been through the past couple years, what you did was like a slap in the face.”
They had been through a lot more than he was willing to admit, but Tonya stayed quiet. Maybe this was what they needed. Maybe things needed to be broken even more in order to fix them.
He was still standing, and his hands were fisted at his sides. “You don’t think I care. Do you?”
This was a very loaded question. He did. Tonya knew he did, but she’d been waiting for what seemed like forever for him to show it in some concrete way. She’d watched him with her mother. She’d watched him with Tracy. He had always been so different with them. More demonstrative…more everything. Tonya looked heavenward. She smiled, but there was no humor in it. “I know you do.” But how could she share her emotions—how could she share herself—with someone who had discarded and ignored them for so long?
Between the Lines Page 7
