by Robin Hicks
Almost under her breath, Randi came back with; "I'll show you little."
"What was that Sparky?"
"Nothing, want another beer?"
"No, I'm going to be driving us home."
"Ok then, I'll have another. Sure you can handle my big truck?"
"Yes Rand," Laney said with an exaggerated eye roll. "I think I can handle it."
'I like it when she calls me Rand. The way it rolls off her tongue is…'
"Oh come on Blue! He was safe!" Laney wasn't standing, but she was yelling just as loud as Randi had done only moments ago causing the shop owner to burst out laughing.
"Face it 'Thing', he wasn't safe. You having fun?"
As Laney turned to face her, and gave her the most beautiful smile Randi had ever seen in her life. Her breath caught as her heart picked up double time.
"Rand, I can honestly say, this is the most fun I've had in a long, long time. I'm really glad you invited me."
Randi couldn't take her eyes off of the intense blue of Laney's, and in a raspy voice she replied; "It was my pleasure Laney."
'No. I think the pleasure is all mine.' Laney quickly looked away as she felt her cheeks go aflame, as well as her southern region. 'Christ, she's going to know exactly what you were thinking Jacobs.'
'I would give a million dollars to know what she was just thinking of to make her blush like that. She is going to be the death of me yet, I want to be with her so bad…'
Chapter Twenty Eight
The Tides ended up winning 5-4. Randi was grinning, and Laney was sulking. They gathered up their belongings including the pink 'Tides' hat that Laney bought for Randi on one of her bathroom trips.
Exiting through the gate, Randi felt Laney lightly place her hand at the small of her back, guiding her through the mass of people leaving. She smiled to herself and decided to just enjoy the moment.
It took them twenty minutes just to get out of the parking lot, and another ten to the interstate going back to Virginia Beach. The traffic was just crazy, and Randi was secretly glad that Laney was driving through it all and not her, since she tended to get a little road rage every now and then.
"Why don't I buy you a cup of coffee Detective?"
"I'll do you one better. Why don't you come over and I'll make some fabulous French Vanilla coffee?"
"Mmm, French Vanilla. A woman after my own heart."
'Yeah, you could kind of say that.' "So that's a yes?"
"That is most definitely a yes." 'Absolutely, positively a yes...'
As Laney was making coffee, Randi was in the living room looking at some pictures that were sitting on the bookshelf that was in the corner by the big bay window.
The one that had caught her attention was an old photo of a young Laney between a man that could not deny being the tall detectives' father, and of a statuesque brunette who looked like she could have graced the covers of model magazines. 'Well, she was bound to grow up beautiful, look at her parents.'
"My parents and I when I was seventeen." Laney stated as she walked up behind the Antique Shop owner.
"Your father is a very good looking man, and your mother is beautiful. You get your good looks honestly."
Laney blushed, and bent to sit the coffee on the table to try and hide it. "Um, thank you."
Randi just smiled and acted as though she hadn't notice the blush. "Thank you for the coffee, it smells yummy."
"It is yummy, sit down and try it. It's my own recipe."
Randi took a taste and emitted a soft moan causing Laney's throat to tighten. As Randi closed her eyes to savor the taste, the look on her face held Laney spellbound.
Randi opened her eyes and locked onto Laney's. Neither looked away for what seemed an eternity to Randi, until finally she spoke. "You've mentioned your father before, but what about your mother?"
"She passed away almost eleven years ago."
"Shit, I'm sorry Lane…'
"It's ok. We weren't really that close, but it hit me pretty hard when it happened. Kind of like why didn't I do this, why didn't I do that, that sort of thing. It was a long time ago though, so I'm alright with it now…"
Looking around the living room and appreciating the way that Laney had decorated her new house the young blonde smiled. "You really have a touch for decorating Laney; I should take pointers from you about my own place."
"I think your place is rather cute; well…except maybe your lavender dining room."
"Hey, what's wrong with lavender?"
Nothing's wrong with lavender; I personally like the color, just not for a dining room. A bedroom wouldn't be too bad."
"My bedroom is a pale yellow."
"Now pale yellow is pretty." 'Especially the pale yellow leather outfit you wore when we went out.' This thought brought an instant blush to Laney's cheeks, and once again she turned her head to try and hide it.
'I wonder what made her blush this time?'
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
The two women talked about many topics, from childhood stories, antiques, baseball, likes and dislikes on different foods. Before either of them noticed it was already 10:30. Randi rose to take her coffee cup into the kitchen.
"Crud, its getting late and I need to open the shop in the morning."
'I don't want her to leave yet. I don't want her to leave ev…' "Um… alright. Thank you for inviting me to the ballgame Rand, I really had a great time. I'll walk you to the door."
"No, thank you for going with me Detective; I too had a great time." Randi smiled and grabbed her new hat that Laney had bought her.
Randi turned to face Laney as she got to the front door and regarded the almost fearful look on the older woman's face. 'Is she afraid of something? Why would she… Oh God, I just need to turn and walk through this door without looking back.'
Before she could consciously think about what she was doing, the younger women took the two steps forward to close the distance between them. Reaching up, she placed a hand on Laney's cheek, and then stood on her tip toes to place a soft butterfly kiss on her lips.
Pulling back to leave, she was surprised to feel Laney leaning in to return the kiss. Several kisses actually. Just soft feather like touches at first, but when she felt Laney's lips part she thought that she would pass out from sheer lack of oxygen reaching her brain. 'Oh sweet mother…'
As the kiss intensified she reached her hands into Laney's hair. Randi felt the taller woman place her hands on her butt and pull her into her pelvic. At the sound of Laney's whimper, Randi knew she needed to pull away right then or she wouldn't be able to hold any of her emotions back.
"Laney. Laney Honey…we need to quit now."
"What…why?" Laney was breathless and her heart was beating so hard that it almost hurt.
Placing both hands on the taller woman's face, she made her look into her eyes. "Because you are not ready for what is going to happen if you don't quit kissing me like that."
"I…I'm sorry."
"Don't you dare apologize Laney Jacobs. Don't you dare, and please don't regret showing your feelings. You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that, and you have no idea how close I am to taking your hand and leading you to your bedroom.
"Like I said though, you are not ready yet and to tell you the truth, I don't think I am either. I know what my heart and body wants, and it definitely wants you. I hope I get another chance, but if not I'll savor this moment for the rest of my life."
"You Miz Daniels, are a sweet talker. Please drive careful, there are assholes that don't know how to drive around here and I don't want to get a phone call saying you were in an accident."
"Can I call you in the morning?" Randi reached for the door handle and opened the door.
"If you feel the want."
"Oh don't you worry about that Laney Jacobs, I FEEL the want." Randi leaned in and placed the most sensuous kiss on her lips then drew back.
"Go Rand." Laney managed to croak out and lightly push the shop owner to the door. 'Please
go, I'm about to die of embarrassment because of my desperate behavior.'
"I'll call you tomorrow." With that, Randi was out the door.
Chapter Twenty Nine
The tall detective leaned against the door when she closed it. She could not believe what she had just done. 'Shit…I kissed a woman. Not just any woman Jacobs, Randi Daniels. Sweet, beautiful, sexy Randi Daniels.'
"Christ, what in the hell am I going to do? I can't believe I just did that." She spoke out loud to the lamp sitting on the table in the hallway. 'I can never let that happen again. Never, ever again. She won't understand; what is she going to think of me?' "It doesn't matter Jacobs, just make sure you end anything before it even starts…"
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
The detective tossed and turned for the better part of her sleeping hours. Thoughts of the young shop owner kissing her, was plaguing her mind and she just couldn't seem to stop her brain from hitting the rewind button to view those kisses over, and over again.
Richard had never invoked the feelings in her that Randi seemed to do. Even in the early part of their relationship had she had never felt the hot desire that she felt just being in close proximity to the woman.
She didn't really understand any of this and wondered if she should even try. Randi was after all a beautiful and desirable woman, why wouldn't she be attracted to her. 'Because I have never been attracted to a woman before…Well, I can't really say that… Just not in a way that I wanted to be with them. Sexually that is.'
When morning finally came around, she wasn't the least bit surprised that she was in a cranky mood. As she sat at the kitchen table drinking her coffee, she contemplated calling the younger woman so she could explain why there couldn't be anything more to what had happened the previous evening. Just then, she was jarred from her thoughts when the phone rang…
"Hello?"
"Hi beautiful, can I come over so that we can talk?"
"Um, hi Rand." 'Maybe I don't have to be the one to say anything. Maybe she has realized that this cant be.'
"Ok," was all that she could muster up to say at first. "If you haven't had coffee yet, I'll make you some when you get here."
"Are you ok Lane? You sound a little off this morning."
"Of course I'm ok. Just didn't sleep to well last night." 'Oh great Jacobs, why don't you just blurt out why you didn't sleep well.'
"Are you hungry? I was going to stop by and pick up some bagels."
"Oh man, you just made my stomach growl that sounds wonderful. And Rand?"
"Yes?"
"Hurry, now I'm starving."
"You got it Honey, be there shortly, bye."
With the last line being said, the blonde hung up the phone. She had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach and wondered if Laney was regretting what had happened. 'You'll just have to accept whatever it is she has to say ole girl. Please don't tell me that you regret it Lane…'
Before Laney even had a chance to fully open the door she found her arms full of the soft yet firm compact body of the shop owner. "Um, hi Ra…' She found her sentence cut off by the extremely soft lips pressing into her own.
"Before you say anything Laney, please let me say something first?"
"Alright, but first can I have a bagel?"
The blonde laughed and softly placed a quick kiss on the detectives' cheek. "Sure, come on. I'm starving myself and I had a hard time not eating one of those on my way over here."
The two women ate in silence except for the soft moans the detective was making over the taste of the soft blueberry bagel she was eating, which caused the younger woman's mouth to go completely dry.
'God, she can be so sensual and she doesn't even know it. Her ex was a fucking fool to cheat on her, an absolute fucking fo…'
"More coffee Rand?"
"Sure, that would be great. You know, you are going to spoil me with your coffee. I'd even turn down Starbucks for this every morning.' 'Uh oh, I guess I shouldn't have said that.' Randi contemplated the look on the detectives' face.
"Look Laney, what I wanted to talk to you about is what happened last night. Wait Lane," Randi said quickly when Laney went to speak. "I don't want to push you into anything that you aren't ready for or don't want."
"Randi I…I have never been wi…"
"Another woman. I know this Honey, that's why I want to take this slow for you if this is something that you even want to try."
Laney looked at her friend for a moment before she spoke, deciding that she needed to be truthful with this woman. "I'd be lying to you and myself if I said that I wasn't attracted to you Rand. You are a very beautiful, caring, and sexy woman."
'She thinks I'm sexy? Oh man is this lady something or what?'
"I'm a little frightened of my feelings for you; I've never felt this way towards another woman before." 'Towards anyone but I'm not telling you that.' "Can you give me time?"
"Honey, I'd give you anything in the world that I possibly could. Um… You are absolutely the best kisser that I have ever met."
The taller woman's face turned a crimson red and Randi chuckled to herself. 'I so love it when she does that. It brightens her eyes and brings such a sparkle to them.'
Randi stood and looked the detective in the eyes. "Ok, I have to go open the shop. I just wanted you to know that I won't push you into anything but know this Laney Jacobs; I will not give up even if it takes me a lifetime. You got that?"
"Yeah, I got it." Laney smiled and walked the younger woman to the door. 'This morning wasn't so bad after all Jacobs. I'm surprised that she didn't go running for the hills.' She was pulled out of her musings when she felt the soft lips touch her own.
"Have a good morning Detective, I'll call you later."
"Bye Rand…"
'So much for telling her that this couldn't go any further.' "Shut up, I couldn't help myself." The tall detective argued with herself after the younger woman left her house.
'Yeah well, you didn't even try. You were too busy playing suck face.'
"I said shut up!"
Chapter Thirty
"I have to tell you something Silvers' but you need to promise not to be smug or tell me you told me so." Laney told Koty when it was just the two of them sitting at their desks' before anyone else had shown up.
Koty looked at her partners' serious expression and knew that this wouldn't be a good time to tease her about whatever it was she was going to tell her.
"What's up Laney is something wrong?"
"Yes…well no nothing is really wrong so to speak, I… well I… shit this is kind of hard for me."
"Out with it Jacobs, whatever it is I promise I won't be smug or tell you I told you so."
"I kissed Randi Saturday night."
Laney saw Kotys' surprised expression as her eyes went wide.
"And Sunday morning."
Koty was silent for such a long time Laney didn't think that she was going to say anything. "Say something Dakota."
"Wow. Um… you said night and morning… did you two umm…"
"NO! Shit Koty I was scared to death just kissing her. She stayed for coffee Saturday night after the baseball game and it just happened. She brought over some bagels yesterday morning before she had to open her shop. "
"Well did you like it? I mean going by the flaming red color of your face, which suits you by the way, I'm just assuming that you did."
The detectives face turned even a darker shade as she remembered just how much she liked it. "Yes I did." Laney said softly. She blushed again then leapt from her chair.
"Shit Koty what am I going to do about this? You're the expert here."
"I'm hardly an expert on this, and I can't tell you what to do. This has to be something that you decide to do on your own Laney. It has to be something that you really want. If it is something you want to pursue with her I will be here for you to talk to.
"I will even give what advice I can and help you anyway that you need. Hell, I think she's a hotty myself. If I wasn'
t married I would…"
"Watch it buddy."
Koty laughed out loud at the slight look of jealousy on her partners' face. 'Now that is just fucking cute as hell.'
"This isn't funny Silvers don't laugh at me."
"I'm not laughing at you Laney I was laughing at the jealous look on your face."
"What!? I DO NOT have a jealous look on my face that's just bullshit!" Laney realized just how loud she had said that and blushed hotly as two other detectives walked into the room.
"Can we discuss this later? This is so embarrassing to me."
"We can discuss it later but Laney, please don't be embarrassed by this at least not with me ok?"
"Yeah fine…"
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
The tall detective couldn't get Randi out of her thoughts. She still thought that this was a really bad idea but couldn't seem to help herself. She slapped Koty on the shoulder when her partner busted out laughing when she caught Laney blushing furiously.
"Quit laughing at me Silvers."
"I'm not laughing at you Laney, I just think it is cute as shit."
"It would be cute if we were in first grade. I'm 38 years old damn it!"
"Well, it's still cute if you ask me but I'll try not to laugh anymore."
"See that you don't. You and Kasey are going to Jamie's party tonight right?" Laney said trying to change the present subject they were on.
"Oh yeah, I wouldn't hear the end of it from Jamie or Kasey if I said that I wasn't. You're going right? I know Kase will be upset if you don't."
"Yeah I'm going, I promised that I would."
"Good. Why don't we pick you up so you don't have to worry about driving? That way you can have a few extra drinks."
"Yeah, that would be cool, can't have an officer of the law driving around this city intoxicated now can we?"
"Nope, we sure can't." Koty laughed as they drove towards Virginia Beach Blvd…
The two detectives and doctor walked into Jamie and Trish's house which already had about fifteen people there around seven pm. "Sweetheart, why don't you and Laney go ahead and find somewhere to sit and I will bring you two something to drink." Kasey told Koty as she rubbed circles on her back.
