by Carrie Carr
Lex loved Amanda’s sudden blush. “Maybe I should have pulled you onto my lap and kissed you senseless. That would have given the old bat something to stare at.”
Amanda glanced around them. The other chairs in the waiting area were occupied by people who were focused on their on families and flights, or were biding their time by reading or napping. The irritated woman seemed to be the only person paying any attention to them. “Lex,” she gently chided her partner, “you’re so bad.”
“I thought that's what you liked about me.”
“As a matter of fact, it's one of your better qualities.” Amanda squeezed Lex’s hand. “You must be feeling better. The color is coming back to your face.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I really didn’t think it would be so bad. Were you able to get our passes?”
“Actually, I got them and something extra. I explained our situation to the lady at the gate, and we're going to get to board early, before the plane gets crowded.” Hoping to make Lex feel even better, Amanda pointed to a nearby cart. “And I also procured transportation for our fine luggage.” With her foot, she nudged the duffel bag resting beside her. I really didn’t see any need to pack much. I have plenty of clothes in Los Angeles. Besides, Mother will have little green kittens when I show up without matching luggage. I might as well take my points where I can. “We still have to check this stuff.”
Standing up, Lex offered her hand to Amanda, who was still seated. “Right, boss. Well, let’s get this over with.” She pulled Amanda up, then grabbed several bags and loaded up the cart.
AMANDA GRINNED, QUITE pleased with herself. She had managed to sweet talk an older couple into exchanging seats with them so Lex would have easier access to the lavatory, just in case. Sneaking a sideways glance at her silent partner, Amanda was gratified to see that Lex appeared to be doing okay, other than the death-grip she had on Amanda’s hand. Whatever works. I’d sit on her lap if I thought it would help. Unable to help herself, she giggled softly, Face it, Mandy. You’d sit on her lap even if it didn’t help. Oh, I’ve got it bad, all right.
“What’s so funny?” Lex asked, turning her head to face her friend. She took a deep breath when the plane lurched slightly. “Umm, nothing, really.” Amanda gave Lex’s hand a comforting squeeze. “Just thinking.” Lex gave her a look that said she didn’t believe it was just nothing. “About what?”
Amanda leaned over and placed her lips very close to Lex’s ear. “I was wondering if these seats would comfortably fit two. I’m seriously considering crawling into your lap and—” Her last few words were spoken almost too softly to hear, and were punctuated by a light nibble on a tasty earlobe.
But Lex understood, and the words, coupled with the feel of Amanda’s teeth on her skin caused her face to flush. “Ahem.” She cleared her throat in an attempt to control the surge of desire rushing through her. “I think that would certainly help me keep my mind off flying. Airplanes, anyway. You have a delightfully wicked mind, my love.”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
Oh, boy. Lex felt another shiver of excitement travel down her spine. I don’t know what has gotten into Amanda, but I think I like it.
A friendly voice over the intercom interrupted their banter. “Attention, ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We will be landing in approximately twenty minutes. It’s a beautiful seventy-eight degrees in Los Angeles—”
“I can’t believe we’re already about to land. You’re the best medicine I’ve ever had, Amanda,” Lex said over the captain’s rambling voice. She pulled their linked hands up and kissed her partner’s fingertips. “Guess now you’ll have to fly with me all the time.”
“Such a terrible price to pay.” She placed her free hand on her forehead, palm out. “Oh, dear me, I guess I’ll just have to suffer.” Then she gave the rancher an impish look, “Like I would ever let you out of my sight long enough to take a flight alone.”
The look that crossed Lex’s face was a serious one. “I don’t know how I ever survived anything before you.” Her words were spoken from the heart, as were the quieter words after them. “I love you, Amanda.” Not realizing or caring where they were, she leaned forward and kissed Amanda.
They pulled apart slowly, each content to sit and enjoy the strong feelings coursing between them.
Lex had one more anxious moment as the plane touched down, but Amanda held her hand tightly and leaned close, whispering soothing words of comfort to the visibly shaken woman.
“Focus on my voice, Lex. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. That’s it.” Using her free hand, Amanda caressed the arm she held, feeling it begin to relax. “I’m here with you, love. We’re okay. I love you, Lex. Concentrate on me…” She continued to speak in a soothing tone.
So absorbed was she in Amanda’s quiet words, Lex never felt the plane land or come to a stop. Hearing excited voices around her, she opened her eyes to see people gathering their personal items and crowding the aisles, eager to exit the plane. Turning her head, a surprised Lex was captured by smiling eyes at very close range. “We’re here?”
“Yep. And in one piece, too. How are you doing?”
Lex paused to give the question some thought. “Great. My stomach doesn’t even hurt anymore.” She took a cleansing breath and gave her lover a heartfelt smile. “Thanks for being my security blanket.”
“Hmm. Do I get the usual perks?”
“Perks? What kind of perks are we talking about here?”
“Well,” Amanda ran a teasing finger up Lex’s arm, “normally, security blankets get to be taken everywhere, snuggled, cuddled, and held tightly all night.”
Lex laughed. “I think something could be arranged.” She looked around the plane. They had played and joked until almost everyone had disembarked. “Ready?” Standing up and stretching her arms over her head until her fingertips touched the top of the cabin, Lex almost laughed again as Amanda took the opportunity to tickle her ribs. “Be careful what you start, lil’ bit.”
“Oh, yeah? You really don’t want to start a name-calling contest with a realtor. We can be very creative, Snookums.”
Lex nearly dropped the bag she was pulling from the overhead compartment. “What?” Letting the bag fall into her seat, she put her hands on her hips. “Where in the hell did that come from?” She leaned menacingly over her lover, who was getting more enjoyment out of the word play than she should have. “Snookums?”
“How about, Sugar Lips?” Amanda kept the bag between her and the now beet-red rancher.
“Amanda.” Lex took the bag away from her partner, leaving nothing between them. “I’ll show you ‘Sugar Lips’.” She flipped the bag onto her shoulder and stepped closer.
Reaching for her own bag, Amanda batted her innocent eyes at her would-be assailant. “Umm, have I told you lately how much I love you?”
Those words did the trick. The word game forgotten, Lex stepped into the aisle to allow her lover to get in front of her. “I love you, too.”
“Sugar Lips!” Amanda chortled, then rushed down the aisle with her lover hot on her heels.
“IS IT ALWAYS this, ah, hazy?” Lex asked, looking up at the sky. They were on the road out of the airport in a shiny red Mustang convertible.
Amanda looked above them. After so many months in a small town, she had forgotten how bad the pollution could be. “Actually, it’s pretty nice today. You can breathe without choking.” Sparing a glance at her companion, Amanda came close to laughing out loud. Lex was fighting a losing battle with her hair, trying to keep it out of her mouth and eyes. “Problem?”
“I knew I should have worn my hat.” Grimacing, Lex wiped another strand of dark silk away from her mouth. Although she wanted to make a good impression with Amanda’s parents, she had been wearing her western hat when they had left earlier in the morning, much to Martha’s consternation. The housekeeper took away the dilapidated headwear and promised to care for it properly until they returned. No amount of pleading or
bribing could sway her, and Lex was still perturbed about the losing the argument.
“Do you want me to put the top up?”
“No!” Lex turned to look sheepishly at her friend. “I’m really enjoying the semi-fresh air.” At the airport, they had nearly driven the poor car rental agent crazy. He tried to talk them into a luxury car or import. Lex wanted something big with lots of headroom, and Amanda wanted something sporty. So they compromised on a convertible, with Lex only agreeing to the smaller car on the condition that they could drive with the top down.
Having tied her own hair back before leaving the airport, Amanda used one hand to dig through her purse. “Here.” She handed Lex an elastic hair tie. “I always have a ton of these in the bottom of my purse.”
Taking the offering thankfully, Lex quickly pulled her wind whipped hair into a ponytail. “Thanks. I was about ready to cut it all off with a rusty pocketknife.”
“You’d better not! I love your hair.” Amanda turned sideways to glare at her partner.
Lex noticed the cars stopped ahead of them, and pointed. “Amanda? Do you want to keep your eyes on the road, please?”
Amanda hit the brake, then quickly glanced up into the rearview mirror, hoping no one was directly behind them before she slammed her foot down harder. “Damn!” Whew. She bit her lip and gave Lex an embarrassed look. “I’m sorry about that.”
With one hand braced against the dash and the other gripping the door's armrest, Lex tightly closed her eyes and silently prayed they’d make it to where they were going in one piece. She had never seen so much traffic in her life, not even when she’d traveled to Dallas or Austin. “No problem—” she croaked. Finally, she opened her eyes and relaxed back into her seat. “There aren’t any bridges on the way to your parent’s house, are there?”
“None that I can think of, why?” Amanda answered automatically, before finally realizing what Lex was asking. “Now wait just a damned minute. That wasn’t my fault.”
“Of course not. Just because that bridge had been standing for as long as I could remember without mishap, then suddenly collapsed the first time you drove across it, I don’t see any connection whatsoever.”
Amanda snorted and waived her arm dramatically. “Oh yeah. I had to time it just right, too. Getting that tree to hit at just the right moment was a pure stroke of genius on my part. But—” She reached over and grabbed Lex’s hand, “—the best part of my plan was making you jump into the creek after me, and then getting you to take me home with you.”
“I like the way you think.” Lex pulled Amanda’s hand up and kissed it.
Amanda’s family’s house was nestled snugly in the hills surrounding Los Angeles, off a tree-lined road. She brought the car up to a large iron security gate and pressed a code into the keypad next to an intercom. As the gate creaked open, she looked over at her companion, who had a thoughtful look on her
face.
“Seems kinda sad to live like that,” Lex observed.
“Like what?” Had she noticed the homeless people we passed on the street on the way out here? She didn’t say anything at the time.
“Spending all that money for a big expensive house, then having to lock yourself away.” Lex shook her head. “Why live like that?”
Navigating the rental car down the winding road that eventually led up to the house, Amanda sighed. Why, indeed? “I guess that’s why I spent so much time in Somerville,” she said quietly. “This place has never felt like home, more like an expensive hotel.”
Lex turned sideways in her seat, and took her lover’s hand in hers. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“No,” Amanda reassured her, “it’s all right. I was always sent to the best schools, had everything a child could want, but it wasn’t until the summer that I actually lived. I had a really great childhood with my grandparents. And if I hadn’t spent so much time with them, I may never have met you.”
“Well, then. Maybe I should thank your parents for letting you come to Texas,” Lex drawled. When the house came into view she was struck speechless. Three stories of light-colored brick gave it an almost marble-like quality. The six marble pillars in the front helped with the illusion. Huge trees covered the landscape, and a wide brick walkway completed the picture. “Damn.”
“Yeah. Ostentatious, isn’t it? I still get lost in there sometimes.” Amanda pulled the car up into the circular drive and parked in front of the walk. She took a final look at the house, before she climbed out of the car. “Come on, let’s get this started.”
“Oh, boy.” Lex walked up the brick steps next to Amanda, who stopped at the door and rang the bell. Before Lex could question that action, the massive oak doors opened inward, and a slender woman in a maid’s uniform opened the doors.
“Miss Amanda? Welcome back!” she exclaimed.
Amanda stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the woman in an exuberant hug. “Beverly, you look fantastic.” Amanda stepped back to study the woman. “Good grief! You must have lost fifty pounds.”
Beverly laughed at her. “Fifty-four, to be exact.” She then turned to the open doorway, where Lex stood watching the interaction silently. “Oh, my.”
“Sorry about that.” Amanda grabbed Lex by the arm and pulled her into the gleaming marble foyer. “Beverly, this is Lexington Walters. Lex, this is Beverly, who actually runs the house.”
Lex moved forward and held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” She saw the maid look at her strangely before accepting her hand.
“It’s really nice to meet you, Ms. Walters.” Nice woman, but I hope Mr. and Mrs. Cauble don’t catch her being this friendly with the household staff. They’ll just make her stay here miserable.
“Call me Lex,” the rancher requested. “Ms. Walters sounds like a school teacher.”
“Miss Lex.” Beverly turned her attention back to Amanda. “Miss Amanda, your father is in the library. He’s expecting you.”
Amanda rolled her eyes. “Thanks, Beverly. What kind of mood is he in?”
The maid shook her head as she closed the front doors. “He’s been upset all day. Mr. Cauble spoke to his father this morning and has been in the library ever since.”
Lex looked up at both women, torn between wanting to stay, and wanting to protect her lover. I bet I have a pretty good idea what the argument was about. She let out a sigh. “Maybe I should just bring your bags in, then go get a hotel room.” She started for the door. “I don’t want to cause any more trouble for you with your family.”
Amanda grabbed the back of her friend’s belt. “Oh, no you don’t.” She pulled hard. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Beverly took the opportunity to leave, stepping quietly into the next room. She had been trained to allow the family their privacy, although all she wanted to do was see who won the battle of wills in the entryway.
Lex turned around slowly. “Amanda, you know I’d do anything in the world for you. I just don’t want you to be forced to choose between your family and us. That’s not fair to you.” She stepped closer and gently cradled Amanda’s face in her hands, not really caring where they stood.
“There would be no decision to make. I’d choose us every time.” Amanda looked down at the expensive floor, then put her hands on Lex’s waist. “You’d make me face them alone? Are you ashamed of me? Of us?”
“Of course not. Never!” Lex used her thumb to wipe a fallen tear from Amanda’s cheek. “I just, I was trying to, aw, hell.” Lex leaned down and kissed Amanda. “I’ll stand beside you for as long as you want me.” She pulled her into a firm embrace. “I’ll never leave you, I swear.” Lex waited until both their hearts stopped pounding before she pulled back. “But would you rather visit with your father alone at first? I could wait outside the door for you.”
Amanda inhaled, trying to pull Lex's soapy clean scent deeply into her lungs. “I don’t want to see him alone.” She looked up into Lex’s concerned eyes. “But I guess it would be the decent t
hing to do, huh?”
Lex noted the fear and sadness in the younger woman’s face. She looks scared half to death. We’ve never really talked about her folks. I just thought her father would be like Jacob, not someone she’d be afraid of. How can I ask— “Amanda? Are you afraid of him?” She felt Amanda snuggle closer. “Are you afraid he’s going to hurt you?” If she says yes, I won’t let her out of my sight for an instant.
“No. He’s never hurt me.” When she looked up and saw the angry set to Lex’s face, Amanda knew she had to do a little damage control. “Really. He just gets a little loud sometimes, and it makes my ears hurt.” When the look didn't fade, she patted Lex's stomach gently. “Are you okay?”
“Hmm?” Lex answered, somewhat distracted. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Damn. To be that afraid of your own father. Dad and I didn’t always get along, but I was never afraid. She grimaced inwardly, remembering. But I think he was, a time or two. “How about you? Is there anything I can do?”
Amanda placed a quick kiss on Lex’s lips, then stepped back. “You already have.” She grabbed Lex’s hand and pulled her first across the foyer, then into an elegant corridor. “I want to introduce you to my father.”
Lex allowed herself to be led down the well-furnished passageway. Their hall has more furniture than my entire house. She also saw the ease in which Amanda moved through the expensive home, and suddenly realized just how vastly different their lifestyles were. Stop it. Just because their house is fancier, that doesn’t make them any better than you. Her mental chastising halted when Amanda stopped in front of a pair of closed French doors.
“Well, here we are.” Amanda turned and looked back at the woman she had dragged all over the house. “I’ve changed my mind. Would you come in with me, please?”
Running a hand lightly down Amanda’s face, Lex felt her own nervousness dissipate. “Sure. Just give me a sign if you want me to leave. Otherwise, I’m your shadow.”
