Tropical Storm - DK1

by Melissa Good

  A smile from her. “Absolutely.”

  A brisk nod, and then Michelle signaled her dogs and left the room. Dar took a breath, then turned and headed back toward her group, who were waiting by the door. The rival team had already left, and she could hear the buzz of interest dying down as she reached their group. “Okay.”

  “Everything all right?” the account lead inquired, glancing after the departing exec.

  Dar straightened her shoulders and nodded. “I think so. What do they want us to do?”

  John handed her the packet, and she scanned it idly. “Oh, these are the information kiosks they have around the parks—touch screen, maps, that kind of thing.” She read on. “They want us to design a proposal to take over the data transmission, improve the speed, deliver the information more efficiently, and enable online reservations?” John nodded.

  Dar sat down at the conference table and took out her pen, writing on the cover sheet for ten minutes, then re-reading what she’d written. “All right.”

  She pulled out her laptop and booted it, then scanned in the document using the slimline scan attachment that slipped onto the back buss. Then she pulled out her cell phone and inserted the phone plug from her modem into the data 188 Melissa Good jack. A click, and they all heard the dialing beeps and the soft hiss of a connection.

  Dar watched the status, then nodded as it completed and disconnected.

  “Okay, here you go. Hang onto this, and don’t let anyone see it, all right, John?”

  With the other team members looking over his shoulder, the account lead read the document. “Dar, this is technogibberish.” He glanced at her. “But I guess you know what it says, and whoever you sent it to does also. Who did you send it to, by the way?”

  “Mark Polenti,” Dar closed up her laptop case. “Well guys, I gotta go. I’ve got a theme park to explore. See you tomorrow morning.”

  “But…” John lifted the paper at her questioningly.

  “Relax.” Dar chuckled. “You’ll have your written proposal tomorrow, and if I play my cards right, maybe something more.” She picked up her case and joined Kerry in the doorway, giving them all a smile before she urged her companion out the door.

  It was a quiet walk to the elevator, and they were alone in it as they rode down. “Wow. That was certainly something,” Kerry remarked, watching the floors go by. “What di—” She stopped when a pair of fingers covered her lips, and she looked at Dar in startled question.

  Dar removed her fingers, then lifted one to her own lips in a shushing motion. “I’m glad you had such an educational experience during the meeting, Kerry,” she stated. “It’s good to understand that not everything you see and hear is necessarily what’s going on under the surface.”

  Kerry got the message. “That’s true. Your methods are very interesting.”

  Dar grinned, then shook her head in silence as the doors opened and they walked out. Once out in the parking lot, she leaned closer. “We know they bug the place like crazy.”

  “What?” Kerry looked shocked. “Why?”

  They got in the car and left the parking lot before Dar answered. “To find out things. They don’t take anyone at face value.”

  “Hmm.” Kerry leaned back and crossed her arms. “You think that conference room was bugged?”

  “Without question. “

  Kerry whistled. “She got an earful then.”

  A soft chuckle greeted that. “Oh yeah. Nice comeback, by the way.” She gave her companion an approving look. “John’s got a good team there, but he’s too nice and too ethical for a dog fight like that.”

  “Yeah, they were all right,” the blonde mused. “Larry asked me out tonight.”

  Dar blinked and swallowed down a completely inappropriate surge of…

  “That was nice of him,” she got out. “Where are you going?”

  “Oh, I’m not. I mean…” Kerry blushed a little. “I told him thanks, but I had a prior offer.”

  Blue eyes regarded her quietly. “Funny, I told Michelle Graver the same thing.” Dar’s words tumbled out unexpectedly. “Weird, huh?”

  Kerry’s eyes widened. “Good god, Dar, you should have said yes! I’m sure you two would have gotten along great and talked about the bid.”

  Tropical Storm 189

  Dar had stopped at a light, and now she turned and looked at her assistant. “She wasn’t asking me out to talk about the bid, Kerry,” she said bluntly.

  Sea green eyes studied her face for a long time in silence, before Kerry sat back. “Oh.”

  Feeling a quiet depression settle on her, Dar continued the drive to the Floridian. That was obviously an alien concept to the kid. Maybe I should have taken Michelle up after all. Kerry wouldn’t have even realized. I’ve risked the account for nothing. God in heaven, Dar…get your head on straight. What in the hell do you think you’re doing? She toyed with the idea of changing her mind, and giving Michelle a call.

  “You mean, she found you attractive, and she was hitting on you?”

  Kerry’s voice startled her out of her morose thoughts, and she glanced to her right in surprise, seeing an unexpectedly thoughtful look on the blonde woman’s face. Dar was rattled, not expecting that calm, interested evaluation.

  “Um, I would imagine…I guess, yeah.”

  Kerry crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head introspectively. “Well, at least she has good taste,” she commented simply.

  Huh? Dar almost went through a stop sign. “Sorry about that,” she muttered as she brought the car to a quick halt, and turned her head to give Kerry a startled look. “She what?”

  Kerry gazed at her as though she were nuts. “Well, yeah, I mean…” She let out a little laugh. “C’mon, Dar…” She turned the rearview mirror to face her boss. “I mean, hello?” She watched Dar’s face intently. “Why, did that bother you, her being interested?”

  A clue flew in the window and hit Dar on the head. “Um. No.” She rubbed her temple, then stifled a relieved laugh. “No, no. I’ve been through that before. I guess I just wasn’t in the mood to play the game tonight.” Holy damn it. She glanced back at Kerry. “Did it bother you?”

  “Me?” Kerry pointed a thumb at herself. “Dar, no offense, but I’m a Republican, not a nun. Of course it didn’t bother me.”

  Dar concentrated on driving for a few minutes as she navigated their way from the administrative offices. A jumble of thoughts were tumbling around inside her head, and finally she paused at a stop sign and looked fully at Kerry. “You’re a Republican?” Kerry gave her a sideways look. Dar chuckled.

  “I’m glad I turned her down.” She shook her head and continued driving.

  Kerry nodded. “Well, I’ll try to make it up to you,” she responded with a grin.

  Dar felt her throat go dry. “Yeah, I’m sure we’ll have fun,” she replied easily. “After all, I promised you Mongolia, didn’t I?” Her breathing settled, and she stifled a grin. We’ll have fun. With or without Mongolia.

  IT HAD DEFINITELY been an interesting drive, Kerry decided, and an even more interesting morning. She took her time changing, stripping out of the wool suit with a feeling of utter relief. She sorted through her clothing, then decided to wear her bathing suit under a T-shirt and shorts. That way if it got too hot over in the park, she could take off her shirt. She briefly considered 190 Melissa Good suggesting the same thing to Dar, then sighed and shook her head. Don’t cross that line, Stuart, she warned herself. She’s your boss.

  Her boss, yes, but someone who was also rapidly becoming a friend.

  Kerry sighed, feeling a touch uncertain. She’d very much felt like she was skirting that line on their drive to the hotel, surprised that the gentle teasing had hinted at something different. Neither of them had asked, but had they both told a little too much? Kerry bit the inside of her lip. She hoped she understood what Dar was pointedly not saying and she was definitely relieved Dar was at least very open-minded. It helped that the idea wasn’t likely t
o freak the older woman out, not after that crack about Michelle.

  Kerry slipped into her bathing suit and adjusted the straps, checking her reflection out of the corner of her eye and giving herself a nod of grudging approval. Besides, she knew the company rules—spelled out in plain language in the huge manual she’d been given on her first day. It was a harmless fantasy, and she suspected Dar enjoyed the flirting banter. Just a little fun, no one got hurt by it, least of all her, so she decided to just accept it and move on.

  It certainly explained the little roller coaster ride last night, though. Kerry giggled a little, remembering how really nice that had felt, and how she’d been halfway hoping Dar would suggest another go around. Ah well, she’d had her chance, and now that they sort of understood each other, tonight should be even more fun.

  God, she thought I wanted to out with supergeek Larry? Good grief. Kerry shook her head. And she could have gone out with Michelle. Kerry slipped on her shorts and leaned on the back of the chair. But she didn’t. Her eyes lifted and met her reflection with quiet introspection.

  Hmm. Maybe she just wasn’t in the mood for something serious. Michelle would be the kind of person who wanted action. With Kerry, maybe Dar knew she was safe.

  That’s cool. I know I’m safe with her too. She nodded at her mirror image. We can just go out, and have fun.

  “Hey, you daydreaming?” The low voice startled her, and she turned to see Dar leaning in her doorway, dressed in shorts and a tied-off sleeveless shirt over a bathing suit. “I called in. Maria is saving the metric ton of crap we’ll have to catch up on next week. Nothing catastrophic is happening other than a tornado watch around the office, and our mail server crashed, so you’re probably going to have to re-download tonight.”

  “Okay,” Kerry agreed. “I checked it this morning. Three of the contracts I was working on have finalized, but nothing else is really critical.” She paused, remembering that this was, in fact, a business trip. “Would it be better if we hung out here and got some work done?”

  Dar glanced down, then pursed her lips in a smile. “No.” Her eyes twinkled. “With any luck, I can get this to count as my vacation, and everyone will leave me alone.”

  “Ah, an ulterior motive.” Kerry chuckled. “Okay. I’m ready, let’s go.” She followed Dar out the door and down the hallway to the elevator.

  “God, it’s hot out.” Kerry leaned against the concierge’s counter as Dar made arrangements to keep their rooms another night. “You want to stop for a Tropical Storm 191

  swim first?”

  Dar finished the arrangements and turned, adjusting the small pack she was wearing around her waist to carry her cell phone and pager, along with her wallet. “I’ve got a better idea.” She handed Kerry a small square of laminated plastic. “Here, it’s your passport.” She rolled her eyes. “How about this instead of the pool?” She handed Kerry a colorful pamphlet she’d picked up at the desk.

  “Blizzard Beach?” The younger woman examined it. It was a water park complete with a huge, 140-foot-tall water slide. “Oh, wow! This looks awesome! You’re on.”

  “YAAAA!” KERRY HOWLED as she sped toward the ground, slipping and sliding across the slick, watery surface before dropping into thin air just prior to hitting the water. Moments later, Dar splashed down next to her, surfacing and shaking her head to clear her wet, dark hair out of her eyes.

  “Whew.” The older woman pulled away from the chutes with powerful, sure strokes. “That’s some drop.” She ducked her head back into the water, then, as they neared the concrete shore, she stood up and let the liquid run off her body.

  “Oh yeah,” Kerry agreed, a little out of breath. “But I won, again.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Dar splashed her. “You’re smaller than I am, so there.”

  “No way, it’s my technique. I know how to catch the curves just right.”

  Kerry moved her hand in a squiggling motion.

  “Listen to you.” Dar snorted. “I bet if we did it again, I’d beat you.”

  “Oh yeah?” Kerry splashed out of the pool, and ran fingers through her wet hair. “How much?” They’d been at the water fun for several hours, and the sun was starting to set, but Kerry wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass.

  Dar had slowly relaxed and opened up a little, becoming almost playful as they tried all the slips, and slides, and pools.

  “I don’t know, what’s it worth to ya?” Dar paced alongside her, steering her back towards the entrance of the slides. “Let’s see…” She tugged Kerry to a halt next to a smiling snowman. “Okay, you’re more than forty-eight inches.

  Just wanted to make sure.”

  “Tch.” Kerry gave her a mock glare. “I hate short jokes,” she warned.

  “Just for that, if I win, you have to sit through the Singing Vegetable exhibit in the Land tonight.”

  “Oh, I’m definitely winning. I’m not getting subjected to dancing broccoli.” Dar shook her head. “All those hydroponic carrots waving their roots in the air. No thanks.”

  “We’ll see.” Kerry smirked as they entered the line, now much shortened as people headed for home or out for dinner.

  Minutes later, she was cannonballing out of the chute, reaching for the water, then pushing up through the surface and whipping her head around, looking for Dar. “Hah!” she chortled, hopping away from the chute entrance, and glancing up at the other one. Seconds passed, and all was quiet. Kerry pushed her wet hair out of her eyes and waited. More seconds passed. Now she edged over, and peered upward in puzzlement. “C’mon, Dar, did you 192 Melissa Good stop to make a cell phone call?” She moved closer, almost at the edge of the chute now and put her hand on the slick surface.

  A surge of water washed against her, and her legs got taken out from under her, ducking her head under the water as she squawked in shock and indignation. Moments later, she was dragged to the surface, dripping and outraged, to face a smug, smirking Dar. “How did you…wh…”

  The executive chuckled, releasing her and swimming away. “I’ll do anything to avoid singing broccoli. Remember that, my friend.”

  “Hey!” Kerry lunged after her, grabbing an ankle. “Hold on there,” She gave a tug and found herself being pulled through the water. “Oh, crudpuppies.” she muttered, kicking a stroke and getting a better hold. “I said, hold on there!”

  Dar grinned and kept swimming. She felt Kerry’s hand slip, then reach up and get a good grip on her suit, her fingers sliding over the older woman’s skin, leaving a gentle tingle behind them. She stopped, then whirled in place, pulling the shorter woman closer. For a moment they just looked at each other, and Dar enjoyed the intense energy she could feel between them, then she smiled, and dunked her companion with a triumphant chortle.

  Kerry got her feet under her and broke the surface, then stood with her hands on her slim hips, dripping chlorinated water everywhere. “I’ll get you for that,” she vowed, but her grin belied her threat.

  “Promise?” Dar answered, startling herself a little, then shrugging and returning the grin.

  They splashed out and got their towels, drying off and walking back to the locker area where they’d stowed their clothing. “This was a great idea, Dar, except I think I got sunburned.” Kerry winced as she touched the back of her neck. “That’s going to be a little hard to explain at a business meeting.”

  Dar put a hand on her shoulder and peered at her skin, reaching out to lift the damp hair up and then touching the sensitive skin with a fingertip. She felt Kerry suck in a breath at the touch and bit off a smile. “Tender, huh?”

  “Uh…yes.” Kerry was startled at how her body had reacted to the simple touch. “Sunburned, right?”

  “A little,” Dar observed, tracing a second line across the back of her neck.

  “Have to get you some cold cream.” She handed Kerry her towel, rented from the facility, then slipped her shorts and shirt on over her suit. “Good thing about this stuff, it dries fast.”

  Kerry s
wallowed. “Yeah, I noticed that.” She cleared her throat. “Might get a little chilly with this sunburn tonight.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe I can pick up a sweatshirt.”

  “Good idea, not like they don’t have seven thousand varieties,” Dar answered innocently, as she handed her companion her T-shirt. “C’mon. After all that, I’m starving.”

  Kerry heard a telltale rumble, and put a hand over her stomach after she slipped her shirt on. “Me too.”

  DAR LEANED BACK in her bus seat, propping a knee up against the seat in front of her and leaning her head against the cool glass of the window. She Tropical Storm 193

  watched the green grass and thick foliage go by, as the vehicle traveled through the property back roads heading from the water park to the more centrally located Epcot Center.

  She stifled a yawn and tried to think about all the work waiting for her when she got back. High as that pile would be, it couldn’t make a dent in her lazy good mood, and she realized this was more fun than she’d had in many years. Just like some damn kid, Dar. But maybe this is just what you needed.

  It certainly seemed to be helping. She felt relaxed and was looking forward to the evening, and her gentle teasing with Kerry had steadied at a pleasant, mild stimulation. She felt very comfortable with the younger woman, who was seated next to her, one warm shoulder pressing up against Dar’s, and she was really glad she’d chosen to take Kerry with her.

  It had been an opportunity too good to pass up, both to get to know her new assistant and to sneak in a little R-and-R at the same time. Dar was cautiously pleased with how it was turning out, and if Michelle Graver didn’t take too much offense to her turning down their dinner date, they had a chance at the bid, too. That reminded her of something, though, and she took out her cell phone and dialed a number. “Mark?”

  “Hey, boss,” the MIS Chief’s voice responded. “Is it true you slugged Minnie Mouse?”

  “I haven’t slugged anyone.” Dar paused deliberately. “Yet.”