"I would be willing to do that." Ariel glanced away for a second, swallowing nervously before saying, "This dating thing--I don't wish it to include sex--at this time." Ariel realized she left the door open for the possibility of sex occurring in the future. A little devil part of her said, "Well, you never know," while her angel of reason warned, "Danger. Enter at your own risk."
Kiernan said, "I don't expect that. I won't pressure you, and I'll take your lead in that matter."
If Kiernan was willing to include the physical, Ariel needed to stay on guard. She cleared her throat. "I guess that's all I have to say."
"May I go first and ask you out on a date?"
Suddenly feeling shy, Ariel blushed, "Yes."
"I know this little place over in South Cleveland called Jimmy Mac's where they make the best chicken and dumplings I ever had, and I thought I might take you there for dinner tomorrow."
Ariel wondered how someone of Kiernan's social station would ever hear of a place like Jimmy Mac's, let alone eat there. She grinned from ear to ear. "I've been to Jimmy Mac's with my Harley group, and they do have the best chicken and dumplings. And yes, I'll go out with you tomorrow."
Kiernan gave a wry smile as if picking up on Ariel's thoughts and the reasons for it. "I happen to know all the places in the vicinity for great home cooked vittles and barbecue. Hands down they all beat anything places like Le Pierre's have to offer. One other thing--the World Equity Foundation is hosting its annual fundraising dinner in Atlanta--well--Marietta--in a couple of weeks. It's a dress occasion, semi-formal to formal."
"Oh, I'm--umm, I've never been to anything that fancy before." Especially with you, was the rest of the thought that Ariel wisely kept to herself.
"Don't worry, you'll do fine, and I'll be there with you."
Ariel knew Kiernan would take care of her, if she needed it. She also knew she was capable of taking care of herself--in any social situation.
Chapter Twenty-Two
KIERNAN TOOK ANOTHER bite. "Mmm, these dumplings melt in your mouth," she enthused.
Ariel managed to agree around a mouthful of Jimmy Mac's World Famous Chicken and Dumplings.
Ariel had volunteered to drive them in her Ferrari, and Kiernan sat in the passenger seat enjoying the way the car hugged the curves at the faster than normal speeds. After a couple of Ariel's more daring maneuvers, Kiernan glanced over to see Ariel giving her a quick assessment as if to gauge her reaction. She gave Ariel a wide grin and received one in return. They'd arrived at Jimmy Mac's a few minutes before noon, beating the rush of Sunday churchgoers, and got a booth in a corner that would give them some anonymity.
After a few more bites of food, Ariel said, "I sent my application to Georgia Tech's Aerospace Engineering Department."
Kiernan swallowed her food. "Oh, Ariel, that's wonderful. When do you expect to hear back?"
"It should be in a couple of weeks. I want to start spring semester in early January. I already have the basic required courses--you know, English, humanities, math, others, and of course physics. I need fifty-two credit hours in the major to obtain an undergrad degree in Aerospace Engineering. I can do it in a year by taking three straight semesters."
"I'm sure you'll be accepted into the program. We can get you an apartment close to campus for those times when you have laboratory classes."
Ariel glanced furtively around and lowered her voice. "Er--Kiernan, we've never set a date for when the baby--you know--the implantation of an ovum."
Ariel bringing up the subject caught Kiernan by surprise. Since it had been upsetting to Ariel when mentioned in previous conversations, Kiernan hadn't planned to address it any time soon. Now she jumped to talk about it. "I'm thinking this coming July would be a good time. That's a year before I turn forty and will provide us plenty of leeway to plan."
"Then I should be able to obtain my degree three or four months before the baby is due."
Kiernan noticed Ariel always referred to their future child as the baby and not our baby, as she thought of her, evidence Ariel still hadn't reconciled with her role in this agreement. Or was it Kiernan's role as the child's other parent Ariel had a problem accepting? Now wasn't the time to go into that, so she put it out of her mind. "We need to plan a time to discuss an obstetrician and any birthing methods you want--things along those lines. We have time yet--to think about it--before we sit down and do that."
"We can ask Mom. After having me and the twins, I'm sure she'll have some advice on the subject."
"That sounds like a good idea. Now, how about I order us some of Jimmy Mac's peach cobbler, and when we finish that, you let me drive your Ferrari back home."
"Do you have the required license to drive vintage vehicles?"
"Of course I do. I'll have you know I've owned a 1965 Mustang convertible, 1972 Trans-Am, a 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP, and various other vintage vehicles."
"Only if you promise to drive carefully and not drive it like a flitter racing around in the Asteroid Belt."
"Ha! And this coming from a woman who rides a--what is it called--a suicide machine?"
Ariel rolled her eyes. "Oh, okay. And remember, just because the Ferrari has a radar detector doesn't mean the highway patrol doesn't have other ways to catch you speeding. In fact, I heard from a member in my Harley group the Smokies cruise the roads in unmarked vehicles, clocking your speed by keeping behind you and using their odometers."
"Oh, goody. We can see how fast we can leave the Smoky behind." Kiernan smirked evilly and said, "Eat my dust, Smoky."
Ariel tried to deliver her an admonishing look, but failed and burst out laughing, Kiernan joining her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
"SORRY, MOM," ARIEL said. "I'm planning on taking Kiernan for a motorcycle ride on Saturday, but I'll come over Sunday and visit."
Joanna's surprise was obvious over the telecom screen. "Oh, is this part of the--dating--you two are doing?"
"Yeah, she took me out to eat Sunday, and I'm inviting her for a ride Saturday."
"Gee, Ariel," Joanna said dryly, "you sure know how to show a girl a good time."
Ariel stuck her tongue out, then said, "I think so--" A knock interrupted her. "Someone's at my door. I better let you go."
"Remember to ask Kiernan about Thanksgiving."
"I will. I'll talk to you later."
"I love you."
"Love you too, Mom, bye." Ariel watched as the image on the screen faded, before looking up from her desk toward the door. "Come in." She was surprised to see Kiernan enter.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
Ariel pushed her chair back and stood. "Not at all. You're home early."
"My four o'clock conference call with the Baltic Federation cancelled at the last minute, so I called it a day. I thought instead of playing pool tonight after dinner we could watch the opening game of the Vols women's basketball team. They're playing Florida tonight at seven."
For the last three nights after dinner they had played pool in the recreation room. "I wouldn't miss it." Ariel said, "So, you're a women's basketball fan?"
"Not any women's basketball fan, I'm a Tennessee Volunteers women's basketball fan."
"Of course, watching any other teams play against each other is like watching a pickup game at the local park."
"You got that right."
"Why don't you take a seat? There's something--actually, two somethings--I want to discuss with you."
Kiernan hesitated, and Ariel saw uncertainty pass across her face before she said weakly, "Sure."
Kiernan took the chair, sitting alertly, and Ariel dropped across from her on the sofa. "Mom called and wants me to bring you over for Thanksgiving." A surprised, shocked expression appeared on Kiernan's face. Ariel said, "You know we're coming up on the holidays and haven't discussed any plans."
"I have Thanksgiving with Uncle Theodore and Jack. They usually have Jack's family over. It goes without saying you're invited. As for Christmas, I invite Theodore and Jac
k over on Christmas Day for dinner."
"I would really like for you to join me and my family for Thanksgiving," Ariel said with sincerity.
Kiernan looked away and pursed her lips as if considering her invitation.
Ariel knew Kiernan would need more persuading and probably felt uneasy accepting the invitation given the situation with her mom, not to mention the whole deal with the marriage. "Mom wouldn't have invited you if she didn't mean it." Ariel was surprised that the next words that popped out of her mouth were, "After all, you're family." But it was true. No matter the circumstances, Kiernan was her wife, and they would have a child, Joanna's grandchild, together. That made Kiernan family.
Kiernan's eyes widened slightly, before she said, "I'd be honored to go. But only on the condition that Joanna, Leigh, and Seth come here for Christmas Day."
"I'm sure they would accept."
"Good. Ah--there's something else you wanted to discuss?"
"I was wondering whether you would like to go out with me--er--go riding with me Saturday."
There was excitement in Kiernan's eyes and voice. "In your Ferrari?"
"On my motorcycle." Seeing Kiernan's face freeze, Ariel hurried on to say, "I thought we could take a leisurely ride through The Cherokee National Forest."
"I've never ridden on a motorcycle. It seems quite dangerous."
"No, it won't be. I'll give you some pointers before we go. All you have to do is hold on to me and enjoy the scenery. I've taken the twins for a ride, even Mom, and we've never had any issues."
"Er--but I don't have a helmet, or jacket."
"No problem, I can go over to Harley-Davidson in Chattanooga and get you those things." Ariel saw that Kiernan was still hesitant. She put on her most winning expression and persuasive voice. "Come on, Kiernan, I know you'll like it."
For a couple of seconds, Kiernan gnawed the bottom corner of her lip before a slow grin spread across her face. "All right--but I want a black helmet and a black jacket."
"That's a given-- when you ride a Harley."
Chapter Twenty-Four
ROBERT PLACED TWO breakfast plates on the table in Kiernan's sitting room along with a pot of coffee and a carafe of orange juice. He asked, "Is there anything else I can get you, ma'am?"
"No. Thank you, Robert," Kiernan said and he exited the suite. She was waiting for Ariel to join her before she seated herself. The smell of the bacon, scrambled eggs, and big, flaky biscuits made her mouth water, and she glanced expectantly toward the door leading to Ariel's suite, debating whether she should knock. A light rap on the door, and she said, "Enter."
Ariel carried two boxes, both wrapped in black and orange Harley-Davidson gift paper. Ariel was dressed in riding boots, a pair of jeans, and a long-sleeved black shirt with the Harley Eagle clutching the logo emblazed on the front.
Kiernan was already dressed in a black wool pullover sweater, black jeans, and a pair of her old, black, above-the-ankle flitter racing boots that she'd dug out from behind her shoe rack.
Ariel placed the packages on the sofa and headed toward the table.
"What's in the packages--or need I ask?" Kiernan already guessed it was a helmet and jacket.
"The necessary equipment for the adventure we're about to embark on after breakfast."
Kiernan saw the eager look Ariel directed toward the plates of food, and said, "As you can see, breakfast is ready." Kiernan took her seat, and Ariel sat across from her.
Ariel chewed a piece of bacon. "Mmm, yummy."
Kiernan smiled at Ariel's enthusiasm and forked up some eggs. After a few minutes, Kiernan took a sip of her coffee and said, "You'll drive carefully, won't you? I don't want you whipping around the curves at ninety miles an hour and flinging me off the back of that thing."
Ariel swallowed her piece of biscuit. "This is coming from the woman who rode a rocket engine and won how many Asteroid Belt Runs--three?"
"It was four Asteroid Belt Runs and three Moon Races. You must not have been one of my fans if you don't know how many wins I had."
"To tell you the truth--I was a fan of Valerie Krantz."
"Fly-by-her-pants Krantz?" Kiernan placed both hands over her heart. "You wound me. She only won three events in the ten years she was racing. What was the big attraction?"
"She had--"
Kiernan hastily put her hands up, palms out. "Wait. Don't tell me. Let me guess--it was those skintight black cat suits she wore that left nothing to the imagination."
"Geez, Kiernan, I was only twelve years old when she started racing. I didn't think about those kinds of things."
"Ha! Sure you didn't. Perhaps not at twelve--though I doubt it--but later on at thirteen, fourteen--twenty?" She waggled her eyebrows.
Ariel's face tinged pink and she giggled. Kiernan had never heard Ariel giggle and thought it adorable.
Ariel said, "Well, yeah, maybe at fourteen. But that wasn't the main attraction. The main attraction was her flitter--Darth Raider. At the time I thought it was mega supreme."
"What's so mega supreme about black paint with some logo of a half-naked alien girlie holding a light saber painted on the nosecone? My flitter, Solar Flair, was prettier--and faster."
"It was pretty, I agree--"
"And faster."
"That too. And that little dancing female flame thingy logo was--cute--but--it wasn't kick ass."
"Well it sure kicked Krantz's ass--and other asses too. She only beat me once. And that by a millimeter after I had to detour around a damn media ship that strayed into the race lane. The only other wins she had came after I retired."
"That's true. And if you hadn't retired, you'd have probably continued to beat her." Ariel paused. "Do you mind me asking why you retired?"
"Grandmother died, and it was time for me to grow up and take charge of Stellardyne. Besides, I had too many narrow escapes out there. I'm sure I squandered eight of my nine lives and it was only a matter of time before my luck ran out and something bad happened. God, half of my competitors, some of them were friends, are only so much stardust now. So, I quit while I was ahead of the game."
"Do you miss it?"
"For a time I did, but not anymore." Kiernan paused, moving uneasily in her seat, wondering whether it was the right time to broach a subject that had been on her mind for the last few days. No time like the present. "Ariel, there is something I would like to discuss with you."
Ariel cautiously asked, "Yes?"
"I would really like for you to stop riding your motorcycle while you're pregnant, and for a while after our child is born." Holding her breath, Kiernan hoped it didn't sound like an order. If Ariel refused, would she make it an order? No. She needed to remember she agreed to refrain from telling Ariel what to do.
Ariel's expression became thoughtful, and she dropped her gaze down at the tabletop before looking back up at Kiernan. "To be honest, I hadn't considered doing that, but I think you're right, at least on the pregnancy part. I won't ride while pregnant. I'll have to think about how long I would give up riding after our baby is born."
Kiernan stilled for a second. Ariel had said 'our' baby and not 'the' baby as she had in the past. Was she seeing them together as a family? Dare she hope?
But it was too early for that. She thought about arguing the point of Ariel riding after the baby's birth, but since she looked forward to spending the day with Ariel, she didn't want to cause any friction that might put a damper on their time together. To tell the truth, she didn't want to do or say a thing that strained the amiable relationship they were developing.
Smiling softly, she reached her hand across the table, took Ariel's hand, and squeezed it lightly. "Thank you."
STANDING TO ONE side, Ariel watched as Kiernan put on the black Tefla-hide jacket in front of the mirror in her sitting room. "How do I look?" Kiernan asked as she spun from the mirror, giving Ariel a rakish grin.
"Great! It fits you really well." Ariel gave Kiernan the once over, thinking she looked better than great, much
better. Her thoughts flashed to the memory of the well-toned and attractive body beneath the jacket--and beneath her. She blushed. "Er--you did put on some long underwear, didn't you?"
"Yes. And wool knee-high socks--extra thick. What about rain gear? There's a thirty percent chance of rain today and sixty percent this evening."
"We should be back before it starts to rain. Besides, I have only one rainsuit, and somehow the rain always manages to find a way to get in. Here--try on your helmet." Kiernan slipped on a black helmet that was identical to Ariel's, and Ariel helped her fasten it. "How does it fit?"
Kiernan moved her head from side-to-side and pushed the face shield down and back up. "Fits well." She took the helmet off and studied it closely. "What's this button on the chin area for?"
"That's for the com-unit built into the helmet. We'll be able to communicate with each other while riding. I had the Harley shop program it to the frequency in my helmet so no one can overhear our conversations. You can also use it to call anyone's telecom or IMP by saying 'activate telecom' and reciting their name or number."
"That's a good idea."
"You'll let me know if you have to stop or anything."
"Sure."
"Let me go and get my jacket and helmet, and we'll be ready to roll."
"I'm ready when you are--I think."
Squeezing Kiernan's forearm, Ariel said, "You'll be okay. I'll take care of you."
"Of that, I have no doubts."
THE HARLEY TOOK another sweeping curve, and Ariel felt Kiernan's hold tighten around her waist. After instructions from Ariel, Kiernan had caught on fast about leaning into the curves and not pulling against them. She had even informed Ariel that she found the scenery more enjoyable from her seat behind her than when she rode in a car.
They had spent the day touring the Cherokee National Forest and riding along the Ocoee River, stopping at scenic sites. At a picnic area they pulled their lunch from the Harley's saddlebags and enjoyed a Thermos of coffee and roast beef sandwiches Ricardo had made for them.
The Dreamer, Her Angel and the Stars Page 21
