Jet glanced at Sebastian, seeing the loyalty and dedication for his partner on his face. She could see that Sebastian was one of those people that was handy to have on your side. She reached up, clapping him on the shoulder, nodding.
“So, Middle East, yes,” Jet said, as Sebastian grinned at her.
“Middle East?” Jericho asked as she and Zoey walked up to the barbeque.
Sebastian nodded toward Jet, “She was in the Middle East.”
“With?” Jericho asked, looking at Jet.
“The US Army,” Jet said, grinning, “I understand you’re from there.” She said, extending her hand to Jericho, “I’m Jet Mathews.”
“Kashena’s new team member,” Jericho said, nodding, “She was trying to get you for months.” She said, sounding impressed.
“I was a bit entangled in some undercover work for a bit,” Jet said, “But I’m here now.”
Jericho nodded, “Good to have you.” She said, then gestured to Zoey, “This is Zoey, my fiancée’.”
“Lot of that going around,” Jet said, grinning as she extended her hand to Zoey, her smile charming. “Good to meet you.” She said to Zoey.
“A lot of what going around?” Jericho asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Engagement,” Jet said, touching the ring on Zoey’s left ring finger.
“When you meet the right one, you know,” Jericho said, leaning over and kissing Zoey’s shoulder.
Jet nodded, her eyes taking on a faraway look for a moment, then smiled at Jericho.
“So you’re from Iran, right?” Jet said, making Jericho smile at the fact that Jet knew how to say Iran correctly, not like ‘I ran’ with a soft ‘i’.
“I am,” Jericho said, nodding.
“Farsi?” Jet asked.
“Bale, man Farsi harf mizanam?” Jericho asked in Farsi.
“Bale, ye kam,” Jet replied, her accent once again perfect, saying she spoke it a little. “I’m still working on my Arabic too,”
“Impressive…” Jericho said, seeing why Kashena had wanted this girl.
“I was Military Intelligence,” Jet said, “It came in handy that I have a good ear for languages.”
“I’d say so,” Jericho said, nodding again.
Later, Jet was standing near the pool, her eyes staring unseeing at the water, she was in a different time and place in her head.
“Don’t jump,” came an Irish accented voice from behind her.
Jet glanced over her shoulder, seeing the red headed butch she’d seen a few times that night.
“Brought you a real beer,” Quinn said, handing Jet a Guinness.
Jet looked at the bottle and nodded, lifting it to her lips and taking a long swig.
Quinn nodded, the new butch was okay with her if she could chug a Guinness.
“Quinn Kavanaugh,” Quinn said, extending her hand to Jet.
“Jet Mathews,” Jet replied, taking Quinn’s hand and shaking it, she looked at Quinn’s arm, “How are the boys in green doing this year?” She asked, having seen the Irish national soccer team tattoo on Quinn’s arm.
“They’re doin’ alright,” Quinn said, “You follow football?”
“Watched it some when I was in Iraq,” Jet said, “Rather play than watch.” She said, grinning.
“Would ya now?” Quinn said, grinning, nodding to her girlfriend as she walked over, “I like this one,” she told Xandy.
“Don’t mind Quinn,” Xandy said, grinning at her girlfriend, “You were in when you drank Guinness without complaint. I’m Xandy,”
“I know,” Jet said, her light green eyes sparkling, as she stared into Xandys’ lavender blue eyes, “Like your music,” she said, “More so now that you’re out.”
Xandy could see what everyone at the party was talking about with Jet Mathews, the woman did have a way of staring right into you, and it was very disconcerting.
“I,” Xandy stammered, blinking a couple of times, “Thank you,” she said.
Quinn looked between her girlfriend and Jet, shaking her head slowly, Jet Mathews was a menace to lesbian society.
“Easy there…” Quinn said, her grin indulgent.
Quinn was quite confident with her place in Xandy’s life, even so, she found it necessary to take Xandy’s hand to pull her closer. She caught Jet’s quick grin, and knew that she’d been doing it to get to Quinn. Quinn’s eyes connected with Jet’s, she narrowed her eyes, even as she grinned widely.
“Yer feckin’ dangerous,” Quinn told Jet, “Gonna get yer ass knifed if yer not careful.”
“I’m always careful,” Jet replied, her tongue between her teeth, as she widened her eyes.
Quinn laughed out loud at that, shaking her head.
“What’s going on over here?” Jovina asked, “Did I hear soccer?”
“Play or watch?” Jet asked, her tone full of innuendo.
“She does both,” Cat inserted as she walked up behind Jovina, her eyes on the newcomer, her look inscrutable.
“Says the one that swings both ways,” said Quinn with a chuckle.
Now Jet’s eyes moved to Catalina, “Both ways?” She asked, her light green eyes curious now.
“Don’t get too nervous,” Cat said, grinning, “She means between butch and femme.”
Jet looked quizzical, raising a jet black eyebrow, “That could be interesting…” Jet said, her voice trailing off.
“Not if you want to live through it,” Jovina said, her look sweet, even as her words said the opposite.
“Ohhh…” Jet said, her look non-pulsed, “A hot tempered Latina…” She said, her look on Cat.
“Oh, I don’t think I’d dismiss her too easily,” Cat said, grinning.
Jovina looked at Cat with narrowed eyes, Cat winked at her letting her know that she was letting Jet bait her.
Jet caught the exchange and knew that Catalina Roche′ was quick, she liked her already. Her lips curled in a knowing grin. Cat looked over at Jet, narrowing her eyes slightly, but then nodding a grin of her own on her lips. Jet was a new and interesting addition to the group, that was for sure.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to have a house like this?” Natalia asked, looking around at the pool and the grounds to the house, her tone wistful.
They stood at the far edge of the grounds looking back at the house.
Raine looked around them, then looked down at Natalia, “Doesn’t matter to me, as long as I’m with someone I love.” She said, smiling down at her.
Natalia reaching up, brushing a rich red curl back from Raine’s cheek, “I love your hair like this,” she said.
“That’s the only reason I’m putting up with it.” Raine said, grinning.
Natalia bit her lip, smiling up at Raine, “Me haces muy feliz,” she said, saying that Raine makes her very happy.
“Espero que siempre hago,” Raine replied, saying ‘I hope I always do.’
Natalia breathed a sigh, she could never get over how amazing it felt to be able to communicate with Raine in her language, and that Raine would always understand her, no matter what. It said so much and it felt so very right.
“Would you come home with me?” Natalia asked, her voice soft.
Raine looked back at her for a long moment, “Honey, we live together.” Raine said, grinning.
“I meant to Mexico,” Natalia said, “I want you to meet my parents.”
Raine looked back at her, “I will go anywhere with you,” she answered simply.
Natalia smiled, even as tears sprang to her eyes. She’d wanted to take Julie home to her parents once when their relationship was good. Julie’s response had been “Why would I want to go there? They don’t even speak English.”
Raine’s answer had been, as always, exactly what she’d needed to hear.
“I love you so much…” Natalia said, leaning into kiss Raine’s lips.
Raine pulled her close, her hand sliding into Natalia’s hair, caressing her neck, and deepening the kiss. Natalia moaned softly against her lips, pr
essing closer.
“There ya go!” Quinn yelled, whistling.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Cat yelled, clapping her hands.
Everyone started cat calling and clapping, and Natalia and Raine started to laugh, both of them embarrassed, but not willing to break their embrace.
It was a good party.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sherryl D. Hancock lives in Sacramento, California. Even though this is her fourth published novel, “When Love Wins”, “When Angels Fall”, “Break In The Storm”, “Turning Tables”, she has been writing since she was a teenager. Including this work of fiction she has written 17 other lesbian romance stories. These stories as well as her earlier works are in the process of being published. In the earlier body of works are 12 stories including one series.
Marking Time (WeHo Series Book 4) Page 19
