by Lynn Ames
“Well, Fred, she’s got eggs, bacon, and...” She spied a bag of English muffins on the counter. “It’ll have to do, my friend.”
Fred waited patiently for something to drop, and, wanting to be sure he had the best angle, he did so by sitting on his new friend’s feet.
Laughing at his antics, she commented, “Fred, you are one beautiful specimen, but your mama, buddy, now she is sensational.” Jay noted that he didn’t seem to be too crushed at the prospect of coming in second best.
Putting the food in the seldom-used oven to keep it warm, she went back upstairs to wake the injured woman. Arriving at the bedroom door, she knew immediately that something wasn’t right; Kate was thrashing around wildly on the bed, clearly in the throes of a nightmare. Running the rest of the distance to the bed, Jay called, “Kate, wake up, it’s just a dream.” Getting no response, she leaned one knee on the bed and tried talking to her again. The sleeping woman’s discomfort was increasing by the second. Her eyes moving rapidly under her lids, she screamed out in terror. Reaching out, Jay gently grasped Kate under the shoulders, being careful not to jar her injuries. She slipped in behind her, holding her and restraining her at the same time, fearful that her thrashing would worsen her wounds. She whispered nonsense words of comfort, rocking her in a soothing motion.
Awakening with a start, Kate was momentarily disoriented. Slowly she registered the fact that she was lying on her own bed, then she realized what had happened and that Jay was holding her. Embarrassed, she sat bolt upright, apologizing and moving away; both women felt the loss of contact acutely. Kate covered her disquiet by pointing out that she needed to get in the shower; the limo would be arriving soon.
Jay let her go, padding downstairs to the library, where she tried to focus on the books on the shelves. In reality, all she could think about 48
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was the way it had felt to hold Kate in her arms, to feel that power and strength. She sensed that the older woman was neither used to, nor comfortable with, anyone seeing her vulnerabilities. She wished with all her heart for Kate to trust her enough to let her in anyway.
Kate stepped out of the shower, having spent some extra minutes trying to wash away the residue of the nightmare in which she saw the little boy’s face again, his dead eyes staring upward in plea, his body crushed under a portion of the first-floor ceiling. She wondered if she would ever get past some of the horror of what she had seen in the previous twenty-four hours. But she didn’t need to burden her young companion with that.
After throwing on some worn jeans and a t-shirt, she packed a garment bag with the outfit she would wear on the networks later that morning. She exited the bedroom, feeling badly about the abrupt way she had dismissed Jay earlier. Noticing an enticing smell coming from the kitchen, she followed her nose.
When she didn’t find her companion in the kitchen, she poked her head into the library. Jay was standing in front of one of the bookshelves, looking gorgeous in an off-white Armani pantsuit; Fred was lying at her feet. Kate took a moment to admire the writer while she was unaware of the scrutiny; she seemed lost in thought and a little sad, which made Kate feel even worse about her actions.
“Hey,” she said as cheerfully as she could, “I smell something mouth-watering.”
“Yeah.” Turning, Jay smiled at her friend. “I thought you might be hungry, and I always am, so I whipped a little something up. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind? Are you kidding, I’m starving.”
Making their way into the kitchen, the two women sat at the table in companionable silence eating the meal Jay had prepared.
“Thanks for cooking. You didn’t have to do that, but it was fantastic.”
“Judging from your refrigerator, I’d say it’s safe to assume that if I didn’t do the cooking, it wasn’t going to get done.”
“Ayeah, that would be too true,” Kate said sheepishly.
At that moment, the limo pulled up outside; it was exactly 3:30 a.m.
Looking at Jay, Kate said, “Showtime, I guess.”
“You’re going on network television looking like that?”
“What, you don’t like my favorite jeans and t-shirt?”
Given permission to stare frankly, Jay was happy to oblige. The jeans hugged every contour of Kate’s shapely legs and narrow hips, and the tshirt revealed the outline of high, firm breasts, well-developed arms and 49
Lynn Ames
broad shoulders perfectly. “Oh no, they look great on you. I’m just not sure it’s the image you’re looking to project.”
“Ooh, good save, Jay, well done; you have a future in the BS business to be sure.” Her eyes twinkled; it felt good to get back on safe ground after the nightmare fiasco. “Actually, I brought my clothes with me so that I wouldn’t wrinkle them before America got to see them.”
“Oh great, so you’ll look beautiful and I’ll look like a shar-pei,” Jay complained. This she said while bending over to say goodbye to Fred, who was presently wrapped around his mother’s knees. She whispered in his ear, “I hope I get to see you again soon, buddy.”
“First of all, I think you look fabulous, and, second, the entire country is not going to be watching you. Now come on, our chariot awaits.” With a hug and kiss for Fred and a gallant bow, she followed her guest out the front door.
Making her way down the steps, Jay asked, “What happens to Fred while you’re gone?”
“Oh, you needn’t worry about the king, his minions take care of him and treat him like the royalty he believes himself to be.” At Jay’s perplexed look, Kate clarified, “The kids next door and their parents are gaga over Fred, they come in and feed him whenever I get hung up. You couldn’t see it in the dark, but the entire backyard is fenced in with a doggie door into the garage and the mudroom. They’ll let Fred out so that he can play and wander to his heart’s content. In fact, most likely the kids will spend most of the afternoon throwing the ball for that pleasure hound. By the time I get home, that boy will be blissfully exhausted, well fed and well cared for.”
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CHAPTER FIVE
he driver was standing at attention outside the limo’s back door Twaiting when the two women emerged from Kate’s house. His instructions had said that there was only one passenger, but it was all the same to him, especially when both of his charges were as absolutely stunning as these two were. They were like yin and yang; the one tall, dark and intense, with the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. The other woman was completely the opposite, six or seven inches shorter, blonde, and approachable, with sparkling eyes the color of emeralds. The smaller of the two lacked the overt power of her taller companion, but she was slender and graceful like an athlete and clearly in great shape. Yeah, he thought to himself, it’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it.
Jay smiled at the uniformed driver as her dark companion stepped aside to allow her to get in first, then, just as she was about to slide in, Kate pulled her back. “Oh no you don’t. I refuse to be responsible for you looking like a shar-pei,” she winked. “Off with the suit jacket.” The writer shook her head good-naturedly and complied. Underneath, she wore a simple sleeveless black shell, the top clinging to her breasts and accentuating her slim waist, the lack of sleeves showing off her muscular arms to good advantage. Kate was inordinately grateful that she could occupy herself hanging up the jacket; she was sure she must have been drooling. Katherine, she admonished herself silently, you’ve got to get a grip here.
When they were settled in the car and the driver had raised the privacy glass, the anchorwoman turned to the blonde. “I’m really glad you’re here, Jay. I still can’t believe you found me.”
“You could’ve knocked me over with a feather when I turned on my TV set and saw you; I hung up on my editor in mid-sentence. Of course,”
the writer chuckled, “she’s always in mid-sentence.”
They both grew quiet then, the motion of the car and the l
ack of sleep catching up with Jay. Her eyes closing without permission, she slumped unconsciously against her friend’s shoulder as sleep claimed her.
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Smiling, Kate regarded her affectionately. “You look a bit uncomfortable to me, Jay.” Her smile turned to a full-fledged grin. “I think I can fix that.” Scooting back into the corner of the seat, she gently pulled Jay with her. She settled the blonde’s head against her chest, resting her cheek on the soft hair, surrounding her with long arms and joining her in peaceful slumber.
Jay was having the nicest dream. In it she was resting in Kate’s arms, listening to the steady beat of her heart. It was the safest, most content she’d ever felt. And then it dawned on her that dreams usually didn’t involve the sense of smell. She inhaled again the delicious scent of Shalimar perfume that she identified so strongly with Kate. Hesitantly she cracked open one eye, her heart rate soaring as she took in her position nestled against the anchorwoman.
She wasn’t quite sure how she had gotten where she was, but she knew that she never wanted to move. She could feel Kate’s rhythmic breathing ruffling her hair and the thump, thump of a heartbeat against her ear and thought about the fact that she probably should move. The problem was, her body didn’t want to go anywhere at the moment. So, with a blissful sigh, she closed her eyes again and drifted back to sleep.
The world intruded gradually on Kate’s all-too brief nap; her wounds were making themselves felt and her eyes were gritty. Taking stock of her location, she noted that Jay remained where she had been when she had fallen asleep, tucked tightly against her body. Kate’s arms were wrapped securely around her, and the blonde’s arms were resting on top of her stitched and bandaged ones. The pressure accounted for some of the injured woman’s pain, but she had no intention of letting that dampen her enjoyment of her position in proximity to her friend.
It occurred to Kate that Jay would soon awaken and she probably should move before that happened; in considering her options, however, it quickly became clear that to do so would mean either propping the writer against the seat or letting her fall to the floor. Since she found both of those possibilities unacceptable, she settled for owing her an explanation when she regained consciousness, which, as it turned out, didn’t take long.
Feeling Jay stir and her breathing pattern change, Kate lifted her cheek from the blonde head below hers. “Hi,” she began. Jay made no effort to move. “Um, I hope you don’t mind too much. You see, you fell asleep in an awkward position and I didn’t want you to be stiff and sore when you woke up, I figured I would be a decent pillow, and...” She 52
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stopped and released a breath. She was babbling uncharacteristically and she knew it. “Anyway,” she finished weakly, not knowing what else to say.
She couldn’t see her friend’s smile. “That’s okay, you make a great pillow and that’s the best rest I’ve had in a long time. Thanks.”
Kate let out a relieved breath and released Jay from her grasp. Only then did the writer realize where her arms had been. “Oh my God, Kate, did I hurt you?” Moving away, she sat up so that she could see her friend’s face.
Seeing her companion’s distress, Kate hastened to assure her that she was fine, even as her arms were throbbing.
At that moment, the limousine pulled to a stop. Kate looked out the window at the lightening sky and the NBC peacock logo, then back at Jay. “First stop, are you ready for the circus?”
The door swung open on the curbside and the driver helped the smaller passenger from the car. Following behind, the anchorwoman grabbed Jay’s jacket and her own garment bag. Addressing the driver, she said, “Are you going to wait for us?”
“Yes, ma’am, my instructions are to take you to each network, and then anywhere else you have to go today until such time as I drop you at the airport. By the way, I was told to tell you that you are booked on a 2:30 p.m. commuter plane out of LaGuardia.”
“Okay, thank you. I’m going to leave the lady’s garment bag and briefcase in the car. Is that all right?”
“Yes, ma’am, that’s just fine.”
“Good; see you in a bit, then.” Moving to the curb, Kate helped her friend into her suit jacket and grasped her gently by the elbow, escorting her into the Rockefeller Center studios of NBC’s Today Show.
They were met at the reception desk by a harried-looking producer.
Barely glancing at Jay, the woman gave Kate’s outfit a disgusted look and grabbed at her arm to hustle her away. She was surprised when the tall, clearly underdressed woman didn’t move. She looked up at her impatiently. “I’m Katherine Kyle,” the raven-haired woman said with a barely disguised sneer; already she didn’t like the producer. “And this is Ms. Jamison Parker.”
“I know who ya are, lady, that’s why I’m hea.”
Kate ignored both the woman’s interruption and her grating accent.
“Ms. Parker is with me. Would you please make sure that she is made comfortable and given something to eat and some coffee while I’m getting ready?” It was more a command than a request, and the producer knew it.
“Yea, yea, I’ll take care a’ it, okay, now let’s go. They’re waitin’ on ya in makeup.” When Kate still didn’t budge, the woman sighed in 53
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exasperation and turned to Jay with a plastic smile. “Um, would you please come wit’ me, too, Ms. Pawka?”
Jay smiled right back at her, though the expression never reached her eyes. “Why, of course, thank you for asking,” she said in her sweetest voice. Behind the woman’s back, she could see Kate’s smirk.
Satisfied that her friend was being well cared for in the green room, Kate relaxed into the makeup chair. “Good morning,” she said to the man who smiled at her in the mirror.
“Hey there, sweetie,” he enthused. “Oh, this is gonna be fun. Any last requests before I get started?”
Kate couldn’t help but smile at the man’s upbeat attitude; she knew she looked like hell. The small cuts and abrasions on her left cheek were going to be hard to hide completely, and her normally vibrant eyes looked tired. “Sorry for the major reclamation project,” she said, “but you should see the other guy.”
Her makeup stylist laughed delightedly. “Honey, it’s gonna be a pleasure working with that gorgeous face and hair, believe me. Last week I had to make up Phyllis Diller. Don’t even ask.”
Half an hour later, Kate emerged from the chair and stopped the nearest official-looking person. “I need a phone,” she said.
“There’s one in the green room.”
“Okay, let me go change my clothes, and then could someone point me in the right direction?”
“No problem. I’ll wait outside the dressing room for you.”
Taking the garment bag with her, Kate disappeared behind the indicated door, emerging ten minutes later and following the waiting lackey to the green room where guests sat until it was time for them to be on the air.
Swinging open the door, she spied Jay sitting on the opposite wall in a comfortable-looking leather armchair with her eyes closed and a cup of coffee close at hand. Padding into the room quietly, she gazed down at the adorable blonde head. A lock of hair had fallen into her eye, and Kate eased it off her face. “Jay,” she breathed. “Jay, honey, it’s time to get up.”
Jay mumbled something unintelligible before realizing that she had nodded off. Her eyes snapped open and she stared open-mouthed. “Holy mother...” She couldn’t censor herself. Kate stood before her in a fabulous navy blue silk suit that had to have been custom made; it fit her like a glove, the skirt stopping at mid-thigh, showing off her incredible legs. Her pale blue blouse was open at the neck, revealing an expanse of lightly tanned skin and just a hint of cleavage; sheer navy pantyhose and matching navy pumps completed the outfit. Her hair was glossy and loose down her back and cascaded over her shoulders. Her jewelry 54
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consisted of a
two-carat diamond solitaire necklace and a pair of sapphire and diamond stud earrings.
Gone was the exhausted-looking young woman in the faded jeans and t-shirt; in her place was this magnificently sophisticated, drop-dead-gorgeous model. Jay had to remind herself to breathe. Only the bandages that protruded from Kate’s sleeves gave any indication about the ordeal that she had been through in the previous twenty-four hours. “You look amazing,” the petite woman gushed sincerely.
Kate gave her companion a brilliant smile revealing rows of perfect, white teeth. “Thanks, Jay, coming from you that means a lot.” And that was the truth. Oh, people told her how beautiful she was all the time, but it rolled right off her. With Jay, it was different; with her it mattered. “I just need to make a phone call and then it will be time to go, okay?”
The writer nodded.
“How’s the coffee, any good?”
Jay nodded again.
“Are you always this talkative in the morning?” Kate kidded.
“I’m not really a morning person,” Jay confessed sheepishly.
Moving over to the phone on the side table, the anchorwoman dialed a number from memory. “Hi, it’s Kate. What’s the latest?” She listened intently for a few minutes. “Okay, I’m going to give one of my contacts a call over at SPD and see if I can’t get anything more solid on the incendiary device. I doubt he’ll give me anything, but you never know.”
A few more seconds of listening and then she hung up the phone.
Looking at her friend, she said apologetically, “I’m sorry, I just need to make one more call. I want to make sure I’ve got everything there is to get on this story before someone asks me a question I can’t answer.”
“No problem,” Jay smiled at her encouragingly. “You just do what you need to do.”
Kate dialed another number from memory. “Good morning, Peter. I didn’t wake you, did I?” She knew perfectly well that Peter Enright had been up all night helping the state police department sort through the rubble of the capitol to determine exactly what kind of explosive had been used, how much, and by what method it had been smuggled in and detonated. This type of case was his bread and butter. He was an expert in explosives and security and was the man governments turned to when they needed answers and help. Very few people knew about Peter, but Kate had made his acquaintance when she had been working on a story on security at the governor’s mansion as a street reporter several years earlier, before she became the evening news anchor. She and Peter had become good friends.
