by Ronica Black
“Yes, you totally fucked me,” Jayden said, finishing her own beer. She motioned for the waitress to bring her another. They were taking a break for dinner at Gina’s Bar and Grill, the place they liked to frequent when they had time. Gina’s was lesbian owned and most of the clientele was gay, so Mel liked to go there to pick up women. “I came on to her, Mel. Like full on. I almost kissed her.”
“Holy shit.” Mel grinned. “You’re an idiot.”
“It’s your fault. I thought she was one of yours.”
“Oh, no, you don’t get to blame this on me. This is all you, Beaumont.”
“Bullshit. You’re always sending them my way, telling them to flirt with me—”
“Did she flirt with you?”
Jayden hesitated. “Well, no. But—”
“Did she do or say anything to lead you on?”
Jayden laughed a little and squirmed. She didn’t like being pinned to a wall. “No.”
“Jesus, Beaumont. You hit on a woman just walking in to get her dog? Poor thing must’ve been scared to death.”
“That’s just it…she didn’t stop me. I mean eventually she did. But for a few seconds, I think she might have…liked it.”
“Whoa, hold up. What makes you think that?” She tore off a piece of soft pretzel and dipped it in cheese.
“She responded. I could feel it. Her breathing changed and she shuddered.”
“Yeah, probably with fright. A five-foot-ten lesbian was putting the moves on her. She was probably shitting herself.”
“Are you done? I’m being serious here.”
“So am I. You better hope she doesn’t send some maniac after you.”
“Oh, my God, knock it off. If I want drama, I’ll talk to my teens, thank you very much.”
“No, for real. Some of these straight women get really freaked out.”
“We’re not talking about the ones you hit on.”
“Right, we’re talking about the one you hit on.”
Jayden rolled her eyes and drank her beer. “I don’t care what you say. I know she felt something.”
Mel pushed the remainder of the pretzel her way. They’d both ordered grilled chicken salads, but they were staving off hunger with the soft pretzels as an appetizer.
“So how did you leave things?” she asked.
Jayden waited until she was finished chewing. “I sort of asked her to volunteer.”
“You did what?”
Jayden shrugged. “Gus actually suggested it. I just agreed.”
“Wait a minute. Gus?”
“She knows some of the boys. She’s a librarian at the middle school they attended.”
Mel slapped the table and bit her lower lip mischievously. “You’re telling me you hit on a straight librarian?”
“I’m not sure she’s straight.”
“Oh, this is good, Beaumont. This is so good. You’ve done crazy things before, but this one. This one might actually take the cake.”
“Stop it.”
“So you cold hit on her, almost kiss her, and then ask her to come back for more? Are you crazy?”
Jayden tore off another piece of pretzel. “You know, you might be right. I should probably call her to apologize and to reassure her that it won’t happen again.”
“Have you lost your mind here? No, you do not need to call her. You need to leave her alone.”
“She might not come back if I don’t call.” And Jayden really wanted her to come back.
“Right. And that’s a good thing. You want her to forget all about this little escapade. Otherwise her husband or boyfriend or God knows who will come banging on your door.”
“She’s not married,” Jayden said, more to herself.
“Do you hear yourself?” Mel paused, smiled at the waitress, and then forked a bite of her chicken salad. “I’m telling you, leave the poor woman alone.”
Jayden forked her own bite. “I’m not sure I can.”
Mel chewed, swallowed, and then motioned with her head. “See that woman over there?”
Jayden turned slightly and caught sight of a beautiful woman looking their way. “Yes.”
“She’s staring at you.”
“She is not. She’s looking at you.”
“Oh no, my friend. Her eyes are on you. And I’ll prove it.” She took a sip from her beer and grinned. “I’ll get up and go to the bathroom. If she follows, then she’s after me. If not, then you have to get up and go.”
“We’re having a conversation here, Mel.”
“Right, about a straight woman. Boring. I’m going.”
“Really, Mel? Don’t you get tired of this?”
“Never.” She rose and gave a little wave and disappeared around the corner to the restroom. Jayden continued to eat, not really caring if the woman followed her or not.
“Hi.”
Jayden looked up as the woman slid into Mel’s chair. Jayden stared for a moment, not quite sure if she was annoyed or not. The woman was beautiful, her smile coy and captivating. Though Jayden noticed, she realized her mind jumped right back to Kassandra. The woman who had mesmerized not only her but her teens as well. So much so, she considered asking this woman to leave so she could finish her meal.
“I thought she’d never leave.” The woman laughed a little, pushed back her thick raven hair, and smiled. “I’m Nora.”
Jayden took her hand but felt nothing but obligation. “Hello.”
“Please tell me that isn’t your girlfriend.” Her full lips were pink and glossy, and her skin was like creamy mocha. She was beautiful, and normally Jayden would be somewhat intrigued.
“She’s not, but—”
“You’re not looking, right?”
Jayden thought for a moment. She could say yes and Nora would go. And considering how she was feeling about Kassandra Haden, it would probably be wise. She opened her mouth to speak, but Mel interrupted.
“No, she does not have a girlfriend.” She grinned and raised an eyebrow at Jayden.
“Oh, well that’s good news.” Nora rose, showing off her impossibly tight T-shirt and loose hip-hugger jeans. Jayden knew if she sank her hands into her pockets, her underwear would show. A rush of heat shot through her, but not for Nora. She was imagining Kassandra in a similar pair, the olive skin of her midriff teasing her.
“Let me give you my number.” Nora waited for Jayden to retrieve her phone. She did just so she would leave. Nora leaned in and whispered the number in her ear. She smelled like Burberry cologne, and despite thinking of Kassandra, Jayden’s pulse reacted. “Call me. Soon.” She walked away and Mel took her seat, obviously pleased with herself.
“Told you so.” She took a bite and hummed a little, rubbing it in.
“Shut up.” Jayden hated it when Mel was right. She always rubbed it in and she never, ever let her live it down.
“You gonna call her?”
Jayden didn’t want to answer. She didn’t feel like arguing; she just wanted to eat in peace. She didn’t dare tell her that what she really wanted to do was to call Kassandra.
“Can we just eat, please?”
“Fine. Yes. Let’s eat. By all means.”
Jayden ate her salad and pushed the remainder aside. She never took it with her because they usually got a call and the food often spoiled. She drank her water and mulled over how she was going to get Kassandra to come back. She just had to see her again. But more importantly, she had to talk to her, to apologize, to throw herself at her mercy. She had to do all this without sounding like a creepy stalker.
“By the way,” Mel said, having finished her meal as well, “there might be another woman coming by.”
“Excuse me?”
“You know, the one I was trying to tell you about today?”
Jayden scowled. “Yeah, the conversation that got me in trouble. Somehow I remember it.”
“She’s interested in meeting you.”
“Mel, no, really. Tell her no. Tell her I’m seeing someone.”
“Can’t. She’s already sold on ya. Said she would come by sometime soon.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to make sure I’m unavailable.”
Mel tipped her beer at her. “Suit yourself.”
“No more women, Mel. I mean it.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Swear it.”
“I swear.”
“Swear it on the Chili Peppers.”
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were their favorite band as teens. They’d been swearing on them for years.
“I swear on the Chili Peppers.”
Jayden sighed, knowing that swear was sacred. She sipped again at her water as a call came in. Another dog in danger. They leafed out cash for their meals and rose to leave. As they headed for the truck, Jayden hoped that this would be their last call of the evening, because all she could think about was calling Kassandra.
Chapter Seven
Jesus, you’re right on. How did she find you? Where did she find you? I want to know so I can go there all the time.
Kassandra tossed and turned, but the words kept replaying in her mind, along with the look of sheer desire that Jayden Beaumont had given her. Her skin came alive again, and the throbbing in her center was back. She squeezed her legs together, hoping that would help, but it only intensified.
What did this mean? What was happening to her body? How could words alone do this to her?
Scott had said many things to her to try to turn her on, but she’d never reacted really at all. And certainly never like this.
She turned and hugged her pillow close. Things with Scott had never been passionate or even very intimate. Sex had been an obligation and she’d never found it pleasurable. His hands had been rough and clumsy, and he had always done the exact same thing time and time again. Kiss the left boob, kiss the right boob, then intercourse. She’d lain there until he finished, which never took very long, but still, she could’ve done without the whole thing.
So why was she reacting now? And why with Jayden Beaumont? She blinked into the night and recalled Jayden’s strong jawline, prominent cheekbones, and mysterious eyes. She thought of her black-as-night hair and the way it fell into her eyes, causing her to run her hands through it. There was something about her that made her want to stare. Her coloration, the contrast, her bone structure, she wasn’t sure. She just knew she looked…androgynous. Yes, that was it. She looked androgynous.
Kassandra sat up, heart racing. The realization had stirred her all over again. Why was she so…excited? She flopped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. Light filtered in through her locked bedroom door. She’d left the two lamps on in the living room and had placed alarms on all three of her doors. If anyone opened them from the outside, the alarms would beep loudly, waking her and hopefully scaring off any intruder. Even with all that in place, she still didn’t feel safe.
She reached down beside the mattress and felt for the hilt of the knife she’d placed there. She knew it was only a pacifier, but having it there made her feel a little better. A gun was out of the question, so the knife was the only option. Whoever had broken into her home had gone through everything, and she felt violated and vulnerable. Knowing someone else had touched her clothing, her jewelry, her possessions…it creeped her out, and now she felt like this person knew her. Knew all about her. Knew that she lived alone. And though she wasn’t sure, she suspected that some of her intimates were missing. Panties, bras. It made her panic to think about it. Should she tell the police? Or would they think her paranoid?
Lula stood and walked to her, as if she could sense her growing anxiety. She gave her kisses on the chin and settled down next to her. Kassandra wished she had someone there lying next to her. Not Scott or any other man she knew, but someone else. Someone like—
The phone rang from the night table.
Kassandra reached for it, thinking it might be Katelynn or Wendy. She hadn’t yet called them, too confused about Jayden to know what to say.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Ms. Haden?”
Kassandra knitted her brow, concerned. “Yes.”
“Hi, it’s Jayden Beaumont.”
Kassandra sat up again and palmed her chest. “Jayden, yes, hello.”
“Am I calling too late?”
“No, no. I, um, was just reading.” She went to bed earlier than most, and for some reason she was embarrassed to admit that to Jayden.
“I would’ve called earlier, but we had a couple of rescue calls.” There was a pause, and Kassandra found herself struggling for words.
“Anyway, I just wanted to call and apologize again for what happened today. I—there’s no excuse, at least not one that will make sense, and I want you to know I’m not like that. I mean, I wouldn’t just come on to you like that. I mean—it won’t happen again.”
Kassandra’s heart fell a little in her chest. “It won’t?” Why was she disappointed? Did Jayden not mean all the things she’d said? What exactly had happened? And why was she still reacting to this woman?
“No, it absolutely won’t. I need you to know that because I’d really like it if you came to work with us.”
Kassandra’s mind spun. She wasn’t sure what to think or what to feel. At the moment, she felt offended and let down. As if she had indeed been a pawn in some game. Yet she also felt a little thrilled at being wanted.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
Kassandra couldn’t help but smile. “What exactly would I be doing?”
“Well, you would be helping with the dogs, playing with them, socializing them. I need a good people person to interact with families. But mostly, I need someone who’s good with the teens. I have ten who currently work with me, and to be honest, I can’t spend the time I need to with them. These kids are all in some sort of legal trouble. Graffiti, auto theft, truancy, gangs, breaking and entering. I don’t take violent offenders and I don’t tolerate drug use, so you don’t have to worry about that. Their parole is conditional, meaning they have to work with me so many hours a week in order to remain out of juvie. Many of them need counseling and lots of one-on-one attention. I do my best to guide them through hard work and perseverance, but I don’t have the sensitive touch that you seem to have. Bottom line, these kids need people who care about them. And from what I saw today, I’d say you definitely do.”
Kassandra felt her mouth open. “I, wow, okay.”
“You’ll do it?”
“I’ll give it a shot.”
“Great. Thank you. The boys will be thrilled. I can’t wait to tell them.”
“When should I come by?”
“Whenever you’re free. The teens work weekends and after school on the weekdays.”
“Okay, I would come tomorrow, but I’m still putting my house back together after the break-in.”
“That’s right. I was so sorry to hear that happened to you. Are you okay?”
Kassandra laughed a little. “Physically, I’m fine, yes. And most things are replaceable. But I still feel…”
“Violated?”
“Yes. I don’t feel safe.”
There was a pause before Jayden spoke. “I’ve got a great German shepherd mix who’d love to protect you. He gets along great with little dogs.”
“Thanks, but Lula likes being the queen of her castle.”
Jayden laughed as if she knew the type. “Let me know if you change your mind. Dax is wonderful, so I’d be happy to let him come stay with you for a while. At least until you feel safe.”
Kassandra lay back and relaxed a little. It was nice to know that someone other than Katelynn and Wendy cared. “I’ll talk to Lula about it.”
“I’m sure she’ll say yes.”
There was another pause and Kassandra wished she could talk to her all night long.
“I should probably let you go.”
Again, Kassandra’s heart fell. “Okay.”
“Have a nice night. I look forward to working with you.”
“Thanks, you have a nice night as well.”
Kassandra ended the call and placed the phone on her chest. She hugged her pillow and closed her eyes and dreamt of what it would be like to have Jayden Beaumont lying next to her at night.
Chapter Eight
Jayden stared at her phone after hanging up with Kassandra. She turned up the television and put her bare feet on the ottoman. The conversation had gone better than she’d expected, and she was thrilled that Kassandra was coming back. But her heart ached a little at hearing Kassandra say she was scared. Every fiber in her being wanted to tell Kassandra that she could call her anytime, day or night if she needed to, but Jayden had held back. She had to put a distance between them now and be professional.
Kassandra was not a flirting lesbian; she wasn’t one of Mel’s relentless girls. Jayden rolled her eyes and sipped her beer. Mel meant well, but lately it was getting old. Mel didn’t like her to be alone and she worried about her, Jayden knew that. But she was going to have to find a different way to do things.
Jayden thought of blind dates and she shuddered. No way. Mel would just have to let her handle things. She padded into the kitchen and a few of her dogs followed. She opened the fridge and pulled out the cold lemon water. She’d had her limit for beer, and now she needed to hydrate for tomorrow. She often had to work for hours in the desert heat, and staying hydrated was very important. Most of the time she stuck to water or green tea. Beer, she reserved for slow days only.
She poured herself a glass and returned to the living room. She switched off the television, extinguished the light, and made her way down the hallway. This time all of her dogs followed, and she slowed as she eyed the framed photos on the wall. She stopped and touched the one of her grandmother, Rose. She loved her no end and missed her so much. She’d been the one to take her in after the sudden death of her mother. She’d put up with her through all the trouble she’d caused, loved her, nurtured her, guided her. And then she’d kicked her in the ass, insisting she spend her free time working with abandoned animals. Jayden had fought it at first, not liking her free time being taken away. But rather quickly she found herself growing attached to the animals and concerned about their well-being. Soon she’d spent most of her time at a large ranch, working with the animals and doing chores for the owner. Oftentimes, Grandma Rose had to insist she come home for the evening.
