by BL Miller
"I needed to make sure you were all right. When they didn't think you had insurance, they wanted to ship you off to Memorial. I wanted to make sure you got the best care and that was at Albany Med so I lied about the insurance."
"And you were stuck after that?"
"No. Maybe until I had you sign the papers," Ronnie admitted. "But not after that."
"Then why did you keep coming back?"
Ronnie gave the only answer she could, the honest one. "I wanted to see you. To get to know you better."
"You know what I remember about those first few days?" Rose looked toward the ceiling. "It's mostly fuzzy glimpses here and there, just snatches really. They must have been giving me some powerful drugs then."
"They were," Ronnie agreed.
"I remember looking up and seeing you." She smiled warmly and looked at her lover. "There you were, this wonderful woman telling me everything would be all right."
"You asked me if I was an angel," the dark-haired woman added, smiling to herself at the memory.
"You were to me, you know. You were my own personal guardian angel, looking out for me every step of the way. You were my knight in shining armor, my hero." She lifted Ronnie's arm and rested her head against the older woman's chest. "I didn't know why you took such an interest in me but I was grateful." Her voice grew sad. "Now I know."
"No." Ronnie rested her palm against Rose's cheek. "That first night I acted out of selfpreservation and fear but don't ever think that I pretended to care after that." Blue eyes searched green, begging them to understand. "I can't explain it but there was something about you, Rose Grayson. I couldn't stop thinking about you, and the only time I was happy was when I was with you. I think I fell in love with you from that first day you woke up in the hospital."
"What happened to the Porsche?"
"I had it fixed and then sold it. I couldn't bring myself to drive it again." She reached down and began stroking the golden hair cascading over Rose's shoulder.
"Ronnie?"
"Mm?"
"When you realized I was falling for you, why didn't you tell me then?"
Ronnie pulled the young woman closer, holding her secure in her arms. "By the time I realized you were falling for me, I had already fallen for you…hard." Taking a chance, she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss atop the golden head, pleased when she felt Rose lean into it. Turning her head so her cheek rested where her lips had just been, Ronnie continued. "I tried so hard to pretend it wasn't happening, but every day I fell in love more and more. I was scared that if I told you the truth you'd leave me. I couldn't lose you, Rose, I just couldn't." Her voice broke and she had to stop and take a deep breath. A gentle squeeze encouraged her. "When you left…when Maria called me…" Words failed the executive and she tightened her hold.
"I didn't know what to do, what to think," Rose said. "It hurt so much." Her fingers idly stroked her lover's long dark hair. "But as much as that hurt, it was worse not being with you."
"I love you, Rose." She cupped the young woman's chin and their eyes met. "I can't change what happened in the past but I can give you my word that I'll never lie to you again." Her thumb brushed against Rose's lower lip. "I know you can probably never forgive me for lying, but I love you and I know you love me."
"I do," the young woman said earnestly. "I've never loved anyone the way I do you."
"You don't know how much I wish that accident had never happened, that you never had to suffer through all that pain."
"But Ronnie…" She kissed the thumb resting against her lip. "If it never happened then we wouldn't have met. Sometimes things happen for a reason."
"Then can we move on from here?"
"I'd like that." She leaned her head against Ronnie's chest. "Honey?"
The black-haired woman smiled at the endearment and rewarded Rose with a quick kiss on the forehead. "Yeah?"
"Can we just stay like this forever?"
Ronnie smiled broadly and squeezed her lover against her. "Sure."
*****************
"You almost done in there, birthday girl?" Ronnie called from the other side of the door.
"Almost." She fastened the top and looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Honey, don't you think this bikini is a bit…revealing?"
"It's meant to be that way."
"You're a pervert, Veronica Cartwright, you know that?"
"Only with you, my dear." Tired of waiting, Ronnie opened the bathroom door and was treated to the sight of Rose standing there with only the barest of bikini tops on. "Very nice," she drawled.
"Nice for you maybe," the young woman countered, pulling the yellow bottoms on. Gold tufts of hair peeked out from the side. "Great." She pulled them off again and headed for the toiletries.
"Why don't you go on ahead, Honey. I have to take care of something first."
"Sure you don't want any help? I'd be happy to help you."
Picking up the razor, Rose smiled at her lover. "If you 'helped' me, we wouldn't get anywhere near the pool today." She turned away only to feel Ronnie's arms wrap around her.
"So? Would that be such a bad thing?"
"You are incorrigible." She turned to see dark eyebrows wiggling lecherously at her. "I'm certain this bikini is more of a present for you than for me."
"You know me so well."
"Uh uh uh." Rose reached down and intercepted the wandering hands. "None of that right now."
"But it's your birthday. Are you sure there isn't something else you'd like to do besides lounging around the pool?" Ronnie tried to resume the playful fondling but was stopped once again.
"At the moment, no," Rose said. "And you already did that this morning." She looked from her pubic hair to her shaver and back again. "I'm not sure if I need a razor or a weed whacker."
"Yeah? Try having black hair," Ronnie replied. "The slightest stubble shows." Her hand began running circles on Rose's abdomen, steadily heading south. "You sure you don't want help?" she queried while nuzzling the smaller woman's ear.
"Isn't this why we didn't get to go swimming yesterday?" She stepped out of Ronnie's embrace.
"You go take the iced tea out and I'll be down in a few minutes."
Once alone, Rose sat on the toilet and spread her legs to trim the wild patch of blonde curls. Her mind wandered over the events of the last year. A year ago I was working at Money Slasher and didn't have a dime to my name much less anything else. Now look at me…sitting in a mansion getting ready to wear a bathing suit and hang out by the pool. She shook her head in disbelief. Looking down at her bare legs, she found it almost hard to believe that only six months ago they were in casts. I wasn't sure I'd be able to walk again. As it was, it had been over a month since she left the cane behind and it was only when she pushed herself too hard that she felt any pain her legs or ankle. The thin scar on her cheek where the stitches once were had faded into a line so faint it was barely visible. Still Rose knew it was the one spot most kissed on her face, except for her lips, of course. I wonder if she even realizes that she does that, she mused. It was one of the little habits Ronnie had that she found so endearing. My Ronnie…I love you so much. Suddenly feeling lonely without her beloved, Rose quickly finished trimming her pubic hair and pulled on her bikini bottoms. A hasty run of the brush through her hair and she set off in search of Ronnie.
The late August sun beat on the white concrete, causing the barefoot executive to stick to the shady areas while bringing the pitcher of iced tea out to the table. The pool was a brilliant blue, crystal clear and ready for swimming. Setting the tray down, Ronnie walked to the diving board.
Rose arrived just in time to see her lover walk down the length of the diving board. The two piece black thong bikini Ronnie wore hid nothing, much to the young woman's enjoyment. Her own pale yellow outfit was a bit more reserved…but not by much. Instead of being a thong like Ronnie's, Rose's had a small strip that covered the crack of her rear and half of each cheek. The top, however, barely covered her nipples
and she was certain that once again a smaller size was purchased to make her show more cleavage. A present for me, hmm? I think it's more of a present for her.
Lowering herself into the shallow end, Rose watched as Ronnie sprang off the board again and dived into the water with barely a splash. Soon Ronnie joined her and they splashed and played about for a while before retiring to the padded lounge chairs.
Ronnie used a napkin to wipe the sweat off the outside of the glass before handing the iced tea to her.
"Thanks, Hon," Rose said, draining half of the cool drink before setting the glass on the side table. "I can't believe how hot it is out here today."
"The humidity is up," Ronnie replied, wringing the excess water from her hair. "Five minutes and I guarantee you we'll be wanting to go back into the water." She wiped her brow. "I think I'm perspiring already." She took her glass and laid down on the lounge chair, grateful that the umbrella provided shade for them against the burning sun. She did not see Rose fish an ice cube out of the pitcher and gasped in surprise when it landed on her chest. "Whooo, that's cold!" she yelped.
"I thought you said you were hot?" the young woman grinned. The predatory look in her lover's eyes quickly apprised her that she had made a mistake. "Uh oh. Um…Ronnie Honey? You know I love you, right? You wouldn't think of seeking revenge, right?"
"Me?" The tall woman feigned innocence, her fingers digging cubes out of her glass. Rose found herself pinned to the lounge chair before she could move and several cubes were shoved between the yellow bikini top and her skin.
"Oooh, get them out of there. Oh that's cold." She pulled the top up, freeing the ice, which bounced harmlessly to the concrete ground.
"Well, that was worth the effort," Ronnie quirked, her mouth only inches away from the bared nipples made erect by the cubes. "Would you like me to help warm you up, birthday girl?"
"But we're outside." Rose looked around even though she knew no one was nearby.
"Well then I'd better make sure you're covered," Ronnie said.
Rose gasped as a hand covered her left breast and soft lips claimed the other. "Oh Ronnie…Um, wh-what do you think you're doing?"
"Mmm, loving you," came the muffled reply. Rose found herself pressed back against the cushion of the lounge chair and the feelings began to build up within her.
Why am I fighting this? the young woman thought to herself. Reaching between their bodies, her fingers found what they were looking for. Soon Ronnie was breathing just as hard as she was and Rose was certain they were going to make love right there on the lounge chair when the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway caught her ear.
"Damn," Ronnie muttered as she moved off. "Someone's here." She grabbed a nearby towel and wrapped it around her waist while Rose fumbled with her top.
Susan's sons Timmy and John came running around the side of the house. "Aunt Ronnie, Aunt Rose!" the younger boy shouted. "Mommy said we could come over here and go swimming today, isn't that great?" Ricky had his arms full with the PlayStation and obviously was planning on taking over the television for a few hours if the number of games he'd brought with him were any indication. John jumped onto Rose's lap and wrapped his arms around her neck. "Aunt Rose, would you go swimming with me?"
"Sure Hon, but only in the shallow end."
"Okay." His little face beamed. "Can Tabitha go swimming with us too?"
Rose laughed at the thought. "No John. Tabitha is a cat. Cats don't like water."
"Speak of the devil," Ronnie said, nodding her head in the direction of the house. The sliding glass door had been left open and the curious feline wandered out in search of new worlds to conquer. She looked at the boys. "Why don't you two go get changed. There are towels in the pool house." She turned to Rose. "You think you can handle things out here?"
"Sure." She scooted the boy off her lap. "John, I think there's a ball in the pool house that we can play with. See if you can find it, okay?"
"Okay, Aunt Rose." He followed his brother away from the pool. Ronnie watched them leave.
"Looks like we're going to have company for a while."
"Seems that way," the young woman agreed as she stood up. "Why aren't they using their own pool?"
"Susan said something about her pump breaking. Sorry Hon, " she said apologetically. "I know it's your birthday and all, but…"
"No, it's fine that they're here," Rose said. "I just wish I was wearing something else. I feel really naked in this." She tugged at the thin strap of her bikini top.
"I'll get you a tee shirt."
"Make it one of yours or else bring a pair of shorts with you too." Covering herself with the towel, Rose greeted Susan and Jack as they approached.
Ronnie returned a few minutes later carrying one of her tee shirts. She had changed from her two piece bikini to a more appropriate black one piece that covered most of her rear and provided very little cleavage.
"Is that your family get-together suit?" Rose asked when her lover reached her side.
"You think I want to be the subject of my nephew's fantasies?" she asked while handing over the tee shirt. "Hi Susan." She turned and nodded at her brother-in-law. "How are you, Jack?"
"Fine, Ronnie, and yourself?"
"Perfect," she said, flashing a smile at Rose. "Well, since you're here, why don't we have a barbecue? It won't take long to heat up the grill and I'm sure we have something that isn't frozen."
"Sounds good," Susan said, sharing a wink with her sister when Rose was not looking. "It's just a lazy day and you two weren't planning on doing anything, were you?"
"No," Ronnie replied. "I'll go look and see what we have that we can grill up."
An hour later Jack was busy tending the grill while the women and boys played around in the water. Timmy and Ronnie raced each other across the length of the pool while Rose and John splashed around in the shallow end, occasionally playing with the brightly colored beach ball. When the young woman asked Ronnie where Susan was, she received a vague answer about the redhead not being a swimmer. John's fair skin showed signs quickly of turning pink and when Rose offered to take him inside, Ronnie stepped up and said she had to go get something anyway. A few minutes later Jack came over to the pool and whispered something in Timmy's ear, causing the boy to exit and head inside, leaving Rose as the only person in the water.
Feeling awkward, she climbed out of the water and wrapped herself in a towel, thinking to herself that Ronnie had been gone too long. She was headed for the house when Jack stopped her. "Rose, come take a look at these steaks and tell me what you think."
"Sure." She moved over to the grill and looked at the various pieces of meat sizzling over the gas fire. "I hope everyone's hungry. You made quite a bunch here. They look fine, though. Maybe a few more minutes."
"Could you keep an eye on them for me? I have to visit the little men's room." He handed her the turning fork and walked away.
Ten minutes later the steaks were done and there was no sign of Ronnie or anyone else. Rose carefully piled the food on a plate and shut the grill off. "Where is everybody? I thought we were having a cookout," she said to the empty air.
Inside the living room, Susan was supervising the hanging of the final decorations.
"Up a little," the redhead said. "No, that's too high. Bring it down a bit." Ronnie stood on one of the upper rungs of the ladder, thinking that her sister was a pain in the ass when it came to decorating. The banner was perfect where it was before but Susan insisted it would better if it were up just a foot. John, Ricky, and Timmy were busy running multi-colored rolls of streamers around the living room.
"We have to hurry up or she'll see it," the executive grumped. She spared a glance at her watch.
"Where's Maria, anyway? She was supposed to be here with the cake a half-hour ago."
"She'll be here, and if you'd just make it level, we'll be done," Susan said. They turned at the sound of the door sliding open. Ronnie shoved the thumbtack through the banner and stuck it to the wall, hop
ping off the ladder just as Rose stepped through the archway.
"Happy Birthday Rose!" They shouted, echoing the words printed on the banner. The young woman stood there speechless, her eyes wide with surprise. While she had thought it odd no one except Ronnie had wished her a happy birthday, she chalked it up to them not knowing. She had never guessed Ronnie would give her a party. John tugged on her wet shirt. "Aunt Rose, does this mean I can give you your present now?"
"In a little while, John," Susan said, shooing her son away. "We have to eat first."
"Um…uh…oh my." Rose turned her shocked expression to her lover. "You planned this?"
"Maria's on her way with your cake and I think Frank and Agnes are stopping by later," Ronnie replied, crossing the room to stand in front of the overwhelmed woman. "Happy birthday, Honey."
