by Kay Bigelow
They resumed walking.
“Would you like to get a nightcap?” Jardain asked.
“Where?”
“My home is nearby. Or we could go to yours. It doesn’t matter to me as long as I get to spend more time with you.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls you meet for the first time.”
“Not really. I never take a woman to my home.”
“Why not?”
“Many reasons, all of which seem rather shallow now that I’m about to tell you. Trust me, it’s easier if I take them to their home or, better yet, a hotel.”
“Does it have something to do with a quick getaway?”
“How did you know? Personal experience?”
“None. But if I had to guess, I’d say you don’t spend the night with the women you seduce. As soon as the fucking is done, you’re dressed and out the door. Am I close?”
“Ouch. Too close. I repeat, how did you know?”
“I know a player when I meet one. She’s usually too glib, too practiced, and way too smooth.”
“I’m guessing you don’t like players.”
“You’re right,” Leah said. “They’re too detached for my taste, almost to the point of being cold and calculating.”
“Now you’ve intrigued me. I need to know why you think that and why you think I’m like that.”
Leah laughed. “All right, let’s go to your place.”
Jardain didn’t say anything. By the God, I’ve called the woman’s bluff. What will she do now?
They remained silent as they approached Jardain’s car. Jardain opened Leah’s door for her and went around to the driver’s side. Once Jardain pulled away from the curb, Leah quickly realized they were on their way to her own house. Jardain still hadn’t said a word.
Jardain found a parking place not far from Leah’s building. Jardain got out and opened the passenger door for Leah.
“I’m really sorry the evening is ending like this,” Leah said.
“So am I. I have a lot to think about. It’s not like you’re the first woman to call me a player, but you are the first one whose opinion I seem to care about. And the fact that you have such a low opinion of me and that I care what you think means I need to get myself back into therapy.”
“Doctor, heal yourself?”
“So to speak, yes.”
“Why are you a player, Jardain? Who hurt you so badly you’re scared of getting close to anyone?”
“I’ll answer that question, but first answer one of mine. Why aren’t you a player? Didn’t I read somewhere that your wife betrayed you?”
“Yes, she did. She was never faithful to me. She’d been with a woman before I met her. It was that woman she was sleeping with while we were married. I truly had no idea, no inkling.”
“Do you mind if we don’t stand out here on the street discussing this?”
“Where would you like to go?” Leah asked.
“Your apartment.”
Leah felt a twitch of anticipation at Jardain’s bold statement.
“I promise I won’t seduce you. I really want to hear your opinions on these matters,” Jardain said, obviously trying not to smile.
“What if I want you to seduce me?”
“Be still my beating heart. Being the gentlewoman I am, I guess I’d have to seduce you if you asked nicely.” Jardain smiled a languid, very sexy smile.
Leah laughed. “I’m sure you would.”
Leah took Jardain’s hand and led her to her apartment. What the phuc are you doing? What are you going to do when she tries to seduce you? Sometimes she really hated the voice in the back of her mind—especially when it was right.
Rusty was at the door when they got to Leah’s apartment.
“Good evening, Leah, Doctor Bensington,” Rusty said, using a voice that sounded remarkably like the butlers portrayed in very old movies about the English aristocracy.
“Good evening, Rusty,” Leah said.
“May I bring you and your guest something to drink?”
Leah looked at Jardain, who was staring at Rusty.
“Do I respond to her?”
“She’ll be insulted if you don’t.”
“Good evening, Rusty,” Jardain said hastily.
“Jardain, would you like something to drink?” Leah asked.
“Coffee, black, no sugar, please,” Jardain said as she finally tore her eyes away from Rusty.
“I’ll have tea, Rusty. We’ll be in the library.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Rusty said as she turned away from the two women.
Jardain waited until they were in the library to ask, “Is she real?”
“Real?”
“Is she human?”
“No. She’s robotic—a gynoid.”
“Wow. How does one get one of those?”
“Rusty’s not for sale.”
“You mean someone made her just for you?”
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me who?”
“No.”
“She’s got to be over six feet tall. Everything about her looks real. She’s remarkable.”
“I’ll tell her you said so,” Leah said, smiling at how closely Jardain sounded like a kid on Christmas morning.
“What else can she do besides open the front door and get our drinks from your cook?”
“She’s my cook, too. I can ask her to perform for you, but she’d be highly insulted. And the next time you come over, she may spit in your coffee—or the robotic equivalent of spitting in your coffee.”
“I don’t often envy other people’s possessions, but yours I envy.”
Leah didn’t respond because she didn’t want to spend the rest of their evening talking about robotics.
“I also find you incredibly sexy, beautiful, and intelligent, all of which are a veritable treasure trove of aphrodisiacs for me,” Jardain said.
Leah smiled at Jardain.
“Busted,” Jardain said. “Most women don’t realize they’ve been played until the next morning.”
“Long after you’re gone, right?”
“Right.”
“Your charms are not wasted on me, but I’m not interested in a charming player. I want someone who is real…and charming.”
“I can do that,” Jardain said.
“Can you?”
“I think I can. I used to.”
They continued to talk, and left the topic of Jardain being a player behind. They were able to exchange a great deal of information about themselves in a very short period of time.
Around midnight, Jardain asked, “Are you going to invite me to stay?”
“I’d like nothing better than to invite you to stay, but alas, no. I need to think about what the consequences of sleeping with you will be…and about you as a person before I do that.”
“You know you can overthink some things. And I’m one of those things.”
“You may be right. However, I want more from you than a one-night stand. I’m not sure you can give me more and I won’t settle for less—not from you. So we both have a lot to think about.”
They walked to the front door where Rusty was waiting for them. Leah wondered if Rusty stood by the door all day when she was away. She’d have to ask her.
“Maybe we can do some of that thinking together. Tomorrow is the annual Dragon Boat Races in Victoria Harbour. Will you come with me? I love the races and attend every year. You’ll be safe because my mom was chosen to start the races this year so she can be our chaperone,” Jardain said in a rush.
“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled with that honor,” Leah said, laughing.
“I told you, she likes you.”
“And I like her. So, yes, I’ll go with you to the races.”
“Oh, so you’re going to the races to be near my mother?”
“No, silly. I’m going to the races to be with you. Your mother being there will be an added bonus.”
“Ah, okay. I’ll pick you up at eight. The races sta
rt at nine.”
Jardain leaned in and kissed Leah’s cheek. “I want to do so much more than kiss your cheek,” she whispered.
“Good night, Jardain. Thank you for such an interesting evening.”
“Good night, Leah. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Jardain left the condo. Leah watched her exit the building from her terrace and made sure she reached her car. Jardain put her hand on the door and looked up at Leah’s penthouse condo. She gave a wave, got in her car, and drove off.
Two seconds later, Cots phoned. “How’d your date go?”
“How do you know I’m not in bed fucking her brains out?”
“Because you answered the phone, dummy.”
“Rusty told you she was gone, didn’t she?”
“Yes, she did.”
“You had her plant a tracking device in her car, didn’t you?” Leah asked.
“Yes. You said you wanted to know more about her.”
“You’re right, I did,” she said, unsure whether she wanted Cots to tell her what Jardain should be telling her.
“Just so you know, she’s home.”
“That was quick.”
“She lives two blocks away. And, before you ask, she’s lived there longer than you’ve lived in your condo.”
“Goodnight, Cots.”
“Goodnight, Boss,” he said, laughing.
As Leah was falling asleep, she remembered Jardain hadn’t answered her questions about how she knew so much about her personal life or about who hurt her bad enough she no longer wanted intimacy. Of course, she admitted, she hadn’t answered Jardain’s question about why she wasn’t a player. Thank goodness I wasn’t required to answer that question even though the answer is a simple one—I haven’t been with a woman in the three years since Quinn was murdered. I can’t be a player if I don’t sleep with anyone. Is that the only reason I’m not a player? I don’t think I have the emotional makeup to be a player. Sex isn’t a game regardless of who the other woman is.
But damn, the woman is hot!
Chapter Thirteen
The next morning, Rusty came into her darkened bedroom and gently shook her foot.
“What is it, Rusty?” Leah asked without opening her eyes.
“Your alarm went off ten minutes ago. Are you supposed to be somewhere this morning?”
“No. Oh, phuc! Jardain’s picking me up at eight. What time is it?”
“It’s nearly seven. I’ll get the coffee,” Rusty said as she left the room.
Leah got out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom to shower. When she came back to the bedroom, Rusty had put a large mug of coffee on her dresser. She’d also laid out clothes for Leah.
“Rusty, how do you know these clothes are appropriate for today?”
“Like many people born to wealth, Jardain spoke freely in front of me. She invited you to join her at the dragon races last evening and you accepted her invitation.”
“Jardain likes you. She said she envies me because you work for me.”
“She does?” Rusty asked, sounding a little bit like a kid who has been told the girl she has a crush on likes her.
“Don’t get any ideas,” Leah mumbled. “What do you know about dragon boat racing?”
“Do you want the entire history or the short history?” Rusty asked.
“Short, please.”
“Dragon boat racing began over 2500 years ago. It started in the Pearl Delta of China on Earth. In modern history, it became popular in Hong Kong, a city in China, in 1976. When the survivors of the Great War terraformed New America, it was soon popular there again, and lasted until there was no longer a spring and the lakes didn’t thaw out completely until August. When the Five Families colonized Xing, they brought the tradition of dragon boat racing with them.”
As Rusty was telling her about dragon boat racing, Leah dressed in the clothes laid out for her. Rusty had chosen a pair of casual gray slacks, a pink shirt with a mandarin collar, and a black cotton sweater. She’d also chosen a pair of bright pink socks and black loafers. Perfect. How does a robot know these things go together and would have been what I’d choose? Rusty knows because Cots knows. Phuc. That’s even more disconcerting than having only Rusty know.
At seven thirty, Rusty brought her a bacon and egg burrito. Just as she was finishing the burrito, the doorbell rang. A quick glance at the clock told her Jardain was early.
Rusty answered the door, and said, “Good morning, Dr. Bensington. Leah will be with you in a moment. Would you like a cup of coffee while you wait?”
“No, thank you, Rusty.”
Leah didn’t give Jardain a chance to get comfortable. “Good morning, Jardain,” Leah said as she entered the living room.
“Good morning,” Jardain said as she approached Leah. She kissed Leah on the cheek. “Did you miss me last night?”
“How would I know to miss you? You’re assuming I know there’s something about you to miss,” Leah said with a grin.
“Too true. Are you ready? Mom’s in the car downstairs waiting for us.”
“I’m more than ready. Rusty, don’t wait up tonight.”
It wasn’t until the last was out of her mouth that she realized what a mixed message that was for Jardain. It was already too late to fix it without making matters worse, so she said nothing. She didn’t miss the grin Jardain was wearing. She must be thinking she’s going to score tonight. Fat chance of that happening!
In the elevator, Jardain took Leah into her arms and kissed her. When Jardain let her go, she said, “Sorry. I didn’t think before I did that. I’d been wanting to kiss you since we met in the park.”
Leah almost staggered and resisted the urge to put her hand on the elevator wall to keep from falling over. Oh, my, but the woman can kiss!
“Don’t be sorry. You’ve just given me something to miss at night.”
“We can make more memories this evening, if you wish.”
Thankfully, the elevator reached the first floor and the doors opened so Leah didn’t have to answer Jardain. What would I have said? I’ve no idea, but I would have wanted to say “yes.”
Sitting at the curb at the front door to her apartment was a black limousine. The driver was leaning against the trunk. When he saw Jardain and Leah exit the building, he rushed to the back door of the car and held it open for them. Jardain entered first, followed by Leah. Despite her best efforts not to, Leah couldn’t help but stare at Jardain’s ass as it disappeared into the limo.
“Good morning, Leah. How are you this bright beautiful morning?”
“Outstanding, Mrs. Bensington, thank you.”
“Oh, dear, do call me Amara. We’ll never be friends if you continue to call me ‘Mrs. Bensington.’”
“I can do that.”
“Do you know the story of the dragon races?” Amara asked.
Jardain, sitting on the other side of Amara, shook her head no. Leah didn’t know whether that meant Leah shouldn’t say she knew nothing of the races, or to not ask for the history.
“I’ve only learned about the races recently. My butler gave me the five-minute version this morning as I was dressing.”
“Your butler was with you while you were getting dressed?” Amara asked, seemingly deeply surprised that Leah allowed her butler to watch her dress.
“Yes. My butler is a woman.”
“I see. Since you know something about the dragon races, I guess I don’t need to bore you with more details other than to say my family has had the honor of launching the races every year for three hundred years. Jardain will undoubtedly take over those duties when I die. Did you know that Jardain’s boat won the race three years in a row?”
Jardain rolled her eyes behind her mother’s back. Leah struggled to keep from bursting out laughing. Jardain had looked about twelve years old.
“No, I didn’t. Tell me more.”
Amara gladly launched into the telling of Jardain’s athletic feats with gusto. She was clearly very proud of her daugh
ter. Jardain, on the other hand, stared out the window, apparently embarrassed her mother was telling Leah the stories. Leah was delighted to learn the Jardain she knew—reserved, self-contained, alpha, and professional—at one time was able to, at least for a short while, let herself go. I hope someday she’ll be that free-spirited with me.
“The first time Jardain won the race, she dove off the side of the boat in a display of pride and exuberance. Of course, she had to be dragged back onto the boat in order to take a victory lap around the harbor. Her grandmother was appalled to see her granddaughter standing in the prow of the boat like a modern-day nautical figurehead.”
“Why was she upset?” Leah asked.
“My daughter was wearing a T-shirt and nothing beneath it. Her dip in the water turned her into the winner of the wet T-shirt contest that year.”
“I see,” Leah said, knowing her dreams would be filled with images of Jardain in a wet T-shirt for many nights.
After they arrived at Victoria Harbour, Amara was whisked away by race officials.
“You’ve been unusually quiet,” Leah said, putting her hand on Jardain’s forearm.
Jardain looked down. Leah wondered if she had made a faux pas by touching Jardain. She tried removing her hand, but Jardain held it in place.
“Don’t move your hand. I like your touch. Strangely, I like the feeling that you’re being proprietary about me. Do you understand?”
Leah did understand, and it surprised her Jardain would feel like that. She thought Jardain wouldn’t want to be “owned” by anyone.
Jardain took Leah’s hand and led her toward the water. “C’mon. We need to find a seat to watch the boats get away. The beginning and the end of the races are the best part for spectators.”
“I can feel the excitement of the crowd. This must be something to behold.”
As they followed the crowds of people moving toward the stands, Jardain said, “I’m sorry my mother went on and on about my winning the boat races. Don’t get me wrong; I loved participating in the races and I loved winning even more. But those days are gone.”
Before Leah could respond, Jardain led them in a different direction. “You need to see this from the best vantage point, and that’s in the VIP stands.”
