The Long Shot

by A. L. Brooks

  You two look SO good together! I didn’t catch that first nasty reveal last night, but I’m glad because tonight’s pictures show me the true story. Can’t wait to meet her. xx

  Jenny returned to the table, a glass of something vividly blue—matching her hair color this evening—in one hand, Adrienne’s wine in the other.

  “Here you go,” her assistant said, placing the wine in front of her.

  “Is that a real drink, or are you and the bartender having some fun making them up?”

  Jenny snorted, then mock glared. “Of course it’s a real drink! It’s called a Blue Lagoon, and it’s awesome.”

  Shaking her head, Adrienne reached for her wine. “I’ll stick to this, thank you.”

  They drank in silence for a minute or so, then Adrienne finally asked the question that had been on her lips all evening.

  “So do you know anything about how Cindy’s runner managed to end up talking to Patty from CBS?”

  Jenny nearly sprayed her blue concoction all over the pristine white tablecloth. She wiped at her mouth, her eyes wide, then slumped in her chair.

  “I couldn’t let them get away with it,” she mumbled, not meeting Adrienne’s eye.

  “Jenny, I’m not mad at you.”

  Jenny’s head whipped up. “You’re not?”

  “Not really.” Adrienne sighed, then rolled her eyes. “I can’t lie. Knowing Cindy’s in some trouble over it does give me more than a little satisfaction. I want to be a better person than that, but much to my surprise, I find I can’t be, given the circumstances.”

  Jenny stared at her, then they both burst out laughing.

  Morgan finally completed her last circuit of the room and almost jogged back to her table in relief. Maybe I don’t want to win any more majors. I had no idea how much extra work it was after picking up the check. She snorted softly at herself. Yeah, right.

  She found her mom in what looked like earnest conversation with Lou Thomson, Cindy’s father, of all people. Morgan wondered about staying away until her mom caught her eye and motioned for her to join them.

  “Darling, you remember Lou, don’t you?”

  Lou stood and shook Morgan’s hand. “Fantastic win, Morgan. I’m so pleased for you.” His words were heartfelt, but there was a sadness in his eyes as he spoke.

  Morgan regained her seat next to her mom. “Thank you, Lou.”

  Lou sat back down again on her mother’s other side and clasped his hands together on the table. “I was just telling your mother how sorry I am for what else has happened this weekend.” He sighed and blinked a few times. “My daughter…” He shook his head. “She always wanted to be the best, I know that. I guess I just didn’t realize how hungry she was and what she’d do to get ahead. I’m very sorry, Morgan.”

  Morgan placed one hand over his joined ones and squeezed gently. “You don’t have to apologize for her. But thank you.”

  He nodded. “I just hope she learns a lesson from this.”

  “She’s young,” Morgan’s mom said gently. “She has plenty of time to learn.”

  Lou nodded again, then pushed back his chair and stood. “Well, I just wanted to say what I’ve said. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  “That was sweet of him,” her mom said as he walked away.

  “It was. Makes you wonder how Cindy turned out the way she did with a father like that.” Morgan sipped at her water.

  Her mother sighed. “I know. But you—”

  A throat cleared nearby. Her mom turned her head to look over Morgan’s shoulder, and her eyes widened.

  Morgan swiveled in her seat to find her father standing behind her. Everything in Morgan tensed as he looked from her mother to her.

  He motioned to the chair Lou had just vacated. “May I sit?”

  Morgan looked at her mom, one eyebrow raised in silent question.

  Her mom nodded.

  “Sure,” Morgan said, sounding much calmer than she felt.

  What does he want now?

  Silence fell over them as he took his seat.

  Her father’s face, set in its usual cast-iron mask when he’d first appeared at the table, now seemed to soften slightly, and he shifted in his seat. “I just wanted to say that was very well played today, Morgan. You held your nerve in a tight situation and deserved the win.”

  Morgan’s breath stalled in her chest. It wasn’t the most glowing of praise, but he actually sounded like he meant it. For the first time in her life.

  Her mom let out a small gasp and laid a hand on Morgan’s forearm.

  “Th-thank you,” Morgan said.

  He fiddled with an empty glass left on the table. “Yes, well. Praise where it’s due.” He sat up a little straighter, his glance flicking between Morgan and her mom, and cleared his throat once more. “I have been doing some thinking this week. I hope to prove to you that I’ve made some progress on the things you asked me to think about. One of them is your game, Morgan. I’ve spent a lot of time with Lou and my other colleagues this week, and they have all told me the women’s game has more than I probably gave it credit for in the past and—”

  And there it was. The kicker.

  “Dad,” Morgan said, shaking her head. “I think you’d better stop right there. I accept your congratulations, but I won’t sit and listen to you tell me that now, because all of your male colleagues have told you how good our game is, suddenly you’re a changed man.” She snorted. “Seriously? You’ll believe their opinion over mine and any other woman playing the tour? Do you not see how little that indicates to me that you’ve made any progress at all?”

  He blinked rapidly, confusion etched on his weathered face.

  “Oh, Gordy,” her mom muttered, also shaking her head, a sad smile on her face.

  “What?” he said sharply, staring at his wife. “I just said I know the women’s game is better than I previously thought and—”

  Morgan sighed and pushed back her chair. “Nice try, Dad, but you’ve got a long way to go. Excuse me, I’m tired and I’d like to spend some time with Adrienne before the evening is over.”

  She kept her tone as polite as she could manage, but her shoulders ached with tension. Would there ever be a time when her father didn’t have this effect on her?

  She looked up, and her gaze was held by a pair of beautiful deep-brown eyes. Adrienne tilted her head in concern, but when Morgan nodded, she visibly relaxed.

  “Morgan, I—” her father began, his voice showing his irritation, but his wife’s hand on his arm stopped him mid-flow.

  “Have a lovely evening, darling,” Morgan’s mom said, smiling warmly. “Perhaps we can meet for breakfast tomorrow?”

  Morgan nodded. “As long as you don’t mind sharing me with Charlie and Adrienne?”

  “Not at all.” Her mom gave her a quick nod, then turned back to Morgan’s father.

  Morgan stepped away but risked one look back. What she saw made her chuckle.

  Her mom had a stern expression on her face and ticked off whatever points she was making with Morgan’s father on her fingers.

  Morgan almost felt sorry for him.

  Chapter 23

  “You must be exhausted,” Adrienne said, as she and Morgan made their way, hand-in-hand, to the elevators.

  “I think I’m having an out-of-body experience,” Morgan replied and laughed.

  “What happened with your father?”

  Morgan sighed and shook her head. “I’ll tell you later.”

  “Okay.”

  Adrienne squeezed her hand, then pressed the call button. They waited in silence until the elevator doors opened. They had the car to themselves, and Adrienne reached over to the panel to press the numbers four and five.

  “Adrienne,” Morgan said softly.

  “Hm?” Adrienne faced her.

 
“Why did you press for both floors?” There was, despite her obvious tiredness, a sparkle in Morgan’s eyes.

  Adrienne chuckled. “Because you need some sleep. We’ll have plenty more opportunities to spend the night together in the—”

  Morgan’s lips on hers cut her off, then Morgan’s tongue, gently seeking permission to enter, stopped any thoughts she may have had about protesting.

  The kiss was incendiary. Morgan’s hands roamed firmly over Adrienne’s torso as her mouth owned Adrienne. Her fingers brushed scandalously close to Adrienne’s already hard nipples.

  Adrienne moaned into Morgan’s mouth, and it only seemed to spur her on.

  Morgan cupped Adrienne’s breasts, rubbing her palms over Adrienne’s nipples, until the ping announcing they’d arrived on the fourth floor pulled them apart.

  Morgan grabbed her hand and pulled her from the elevator. She strode down the hallway, tugging Adrienne along with her, toward Adrienne’s room.

  “Key card,” Morgan said as they reached the door.

  Adrienne fished it from her purse and handed it over, lost in a daze of desire, all thoughts of insisting Morgan get some sleep left behind in the empty elevator car that now rode a lonely journey up to the fifth floor.

  The door was open, they were in the room, and Morgan had her pinned against the wall next to the bathroom, her hands insistent at the zipper on the side of Adrienne’s dress.

  Morgan stepped back slightly and kicked the door closed, then said, her voice husky, “Off. God, Adrienne, I need to touch you.”

  Adrienne’s knees weakened as she obeyed Morgan’s command. She wrestled the zipper down, then quickly peeled the dress from her shoulders to pool at her feet.

  “Jesus,” Morgan hissed.

  Her gaze raked Adrienne’s body, taking in the red lacy bra and panties and the black pumps that still adorned her tired feet.

  The need in Adrienne, sparked by the kiss in the elevator, ramped up under the heat of the look on Morgan’s face. Everything, everywhere, ached for Morgan’s fingers, her mouth.

  “Morgan, touch me. Now.”

  Morgan didn’t need telling twice. She bent forward and ran her tongue swiftly over a lace-covered nipple.

  Adrienne arched her back and cried out softly as sweet pleasure rippled down her body to settle somewhere deliciously low and deep. Morgan did it again and again, and Adrienne’s pleasure reached fever levels in a ridiculously short span of time.

  “Morgan…” she begged, though for what she wasn’t really sure.

  It didn’t matter. Morgan understood.

  She dropped to her knees. With her nose first, then her lips, she nuzzled Adrienne’s belly, just above the waistband of her panties. Then she licked delicately at the skin at the top of Adrienne’s thighs, where the lace edge of the panties lay, and Adrienne reached out blindly to find Morgan’s shoulders.

  “Morgan, I’m not sure I…can stand…for…”

  Her protests died on her lips the moment Morgan swept her tongue downward over the lace, stroking softly yet insistently. Small moans of delight escaped Morgan’s throat as Adrienne bucked against her. Then Morgan’s fingers pushed the lace aside, and her tongue met Adrienne’s wetness unimpeded, and Adrienne knew her lover was about to set her world on fire once more. Seconds later, embarrassingly quickly in her opinion, Adrienne fell apart as her orgasm turned her entire body to molten liquid.

  She stumbled unceremoniously toward the floor, Morgan helping to ease her down before covering her with her own body, her hungry mouth plundering Adrienne’s once more.

  After a minute or so, Morgan broke the kiss and gazed down at her. “I…I love you. I love you so much.”

  There was a hint of fear in her eyes.

  Adrienne reached for her, cupped her face with one hand, and pulled her even closer with the other.

  “I love you too. Completely. Utterly.”

  Morgan gave a small cry, then held Adrienne to her, their hearts pounding in perfect synchronicity.

  The loud, insistent buzzing pulled Morgan from sleep. She reached behind her to switch off her alarm clock, then realized her clock was missing and sat up in confusion. A few moments later, her brain caught up.

  Oh, yeah, I’m in Adrienne’s bed. Last night.

  Oh, yeah…

  “Wassat noise?” Adrienne mumbled.

  Morgan smiled down at her sleepy lover and planted a soft kiss on her shoulder. “I think it’s your phone, my love.”

  “Ugh.”

  As Adrienne made no move to move, and as her phone kept buzzing, Morgan sighed and pulled herself out of the bed. She found Adrienne’s phone in her purse and blinked as she read the caller display.

  “Um, Adrienne. It’s Daniel. I guess you’d better take this?”

  Still not opening her eyes, Adrienne held out one hand above the covers.

  Grinning, Morgan returned to the bed and pressed the phone into her hand.

  “Daniel,” Adrienne said, her head half buried under the sheets. “Yes. Yes. Really? Well, okay then. Sure. Bye.”

  Adrienne held out the phone again, and Morgan took it, bemused. “Well?”

  “Still have a job.”

  “Yes!” Morgan leaped onto Adrienne, who grunted in protest as Morgan kissed what parts of her face she could actually see.

  “Ugh, stop being so…young this morning,” Adrienne growled.

  Morgan threw back her head and laughed.

  “How are you feeling?” Adrienne asked Jenny as they made their way out to the Evian Resort Golf Club for the final time. The last two weeks, since all the drama in England, had passed in a blur, and Adrienne, for one, couldn’t wait for it all to be over. “After today, the project is pretty much over, and we’ll have to return to the office.”

  “I’m happy! I know everyone says travelling for your job is glamorous, but it really isn’t. I’m sick of living out of my suitcase. I want to go home. I’m really ready.”

  “Yes, me too.”

  “And how are you feeling?” Jenny asked. “Going out there today to watch her try and do it again?”

  “You know, not as nervous as I was at Wentworth. Not because I think it’s a foregone conclusion—we both know anything can happen on the course. But more because she’s just so perfectly in the zone this week and yet so relaxed, that whatever happens, she’ll be fine.”

  “I’m so happy it’s all working out.” Jenny blushed. “I’m really pleased for you both.”

  “Thank you.”

  They met Toby and Diane, ran over the schedule one more time, then got to work. Adrienne kept one eye on the filming and one eye on Morgan, marveling again at how effortless she’d made golf seem these past few weeks.

  By the time Morgan played—and birdied—the fifteenth, it was obvious that nothing short of a meteorite strike on the course would keep her from winning her second major in a row. When her final putt dropped on the eighteenth, and the crowd erupted with joy on Morgan’s behalf, Adrienne made her way slowly through the throng of people between her and her love with a broad smile on her face.

  Morgan swept her up in her arms, lifting her a few inches off the ground.

  “Good God, put me down,” Adrienne exclaimed, shaking her head as the cameras flashed all around them.

  “All right, all right. Spoilsport.” Morgan grinned and kissed her softly.

  “Well done, my love,” Adrienne said quietly, then kissed her back.

  “Thank you.”

  The presentation, interviews, and evening event all passed in one big, tired haze for Adrienne. She was exhausted—the last few weeks had been a physical and emotional rollercoaster.

  Morgan was feeling it too. Adrienne had seen her this morning, pushing herself to be as awake and alert as possible. But as soon as she’d gotten out on the course again, she’d found some hidde
n depths and pushed on through to claim the top prize once more.

  Back-to-back majors. Astonishing.

  As the formalities began to wrap up at the end of the post-tournament dinner, Adrienne caught Morgan glancing more than once at her watch.

  “Got a hot date?” she asked.

  Morgan colored, and Adrienne feared her heart would stop. “No, not that, but…” Morgan glanced around. “Can we get out of here? I really need to be alone with you.”

  Adrienne’s libido tried to stir but didn’t quite manage it. “I’m happy to leave, my love, but I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I’ve got the energy for anything more tonight.”

  “What?” Morgan looked confused for a moment, then her blush deepened. “Oh! No, I, um…that isn’t quite what I meant.” She sighed. “Can we just go?”

  Even more confused than she was a minute ago, Adrienne nodded and allowed Morgan to take her hand and lead her from the room.

  Charlie threw them a wave as they passed, smirking knowingly at them.

  They took the stairs up one floor to Morgan’s room. Once they were inside, with the door closed behind them, Adrienne couldn’t hold back her nervous curiosity a moment longer.

  “Morgan, please, what’s going on?”

  Morgan held up one finger, then walked to the desk by the window and pulled a large envelope from the top drawer. She twirled it in her hands as she walked back over.

  “I was…” she began, then cleared her throat as her voice croaked. “I was doing some thinking yesterday before we met for dinner. I’m pretty sure you’re as tired as I am after the last few weeks, yeah?”

  “I am.” Adrienne grinned wryly.

  “So I was thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a little break now? I was penciled in for the first tournament in China, but I’ve made my apologies and will join the Asia circuit at the second one in three weeks’ time.”

  “Oh?”

  Morgan nodded and took one step closer, then held out the envelope. “So here’s the thing. I kind of booked us a trip. Together. Starting Thursday.”