by Kay Bigelow
They approached an area that was reserved for the special few. Leah could tell by these people’s dress that they didn’t really come to see the races; rather, they came to be seen. Leah was a little disappointed to have left the people in the main seating area because the vibes of this group of people were entirely different than those of the larger crowd: less excited, more sedate.
Jardain had to let go of her hand in order to climb the gently sloping stairs. There was an area blocked off with a sign that read “Bensington.” Jardain opened the gate and entered the reserved space. No one was there. The view of the harbor, the boats, and the race course was nothing short of spectacular.
“What would you like to drink? My favorite is a lemon squash. They’re non-alcoholic. Think in terms of a lemonade fizzy.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Leah said. She didn’t tell Jardain she’d been drinking lemon squashes practically from her first day on the planet. Peony had introduced her and Cots to the drink, and Leah had been hooked ever since.
While Jardain went to the bar set up in the rear of their enclosure to fetch their drinks, Leah looked at the boats. Each boat seemed to be made of wood, each had a dragon’s head at the prow, and each head was painted differently. Rusty had told her to watch the dragons to tell the competitors apart. Each boat had dozens of people milling around the prow.
Jardain returned with two lemon squashes. “What do you think?” Jardain asked.
“The boats are beautiful. They’re bigger than I thought they’d be. How long are they?”
“These are nearly forty-one feet long and only forty-five inches wide at their widest point. And they’re only eighteen inches deep. Historically, they were made out of wood, but these are made of synthetic materials to make them lighter for racing.”
“Why are there so many people around the boats? They can’t all fit on the boats, can they?”
Jardain smiled. “No. Some of the people are sponsors who are allowed access to the boats on race day. Most of the others are relatives and friends of the rowers.”
Leah asked several more questions about the boats and the people who would be racing. Jardain answered each question patiently and thoroughly. As Leah ran out of questions, most of the people at the boats moved away. Many of them joined Leah and Jardain in the pavilion. The people remaining on the shore began pushing the boats into the shallow water. The rowers climbed into their vessels. The remaining people kept pushing the boats away from the shore. Finally, there were twenty-two people in each boat: twenty rowers, a helmsperson, and a drummer.
It was truly a spectacle. The dragon boats raced smoothly over the still waters of the harbor, oar blades flashing every time they were lifted from the water, the rowers working in tandem with one another. Finally, one boat pulled away from the others. An excited Jardain stood and cheered on the boat, as did several other people in the pavilion—including Jardain’s mother, who had entered the space quietly and without fanfare. When the boat soared across the finish line just nosing out another, Jardain turned to Leah and gave her a bear hug and a second kiss that left Leah’s knees shaky. Wow, the woman can kiss. I bet she’s good at everything she does.
“That’s my boat, the NuLong,” Jardain said with obvious pride in her voice. “I was a team member for three years. Now I’m their sponsor. It’s the only all-women team on the water. Let’s go down to congratulate them.”
Leah glanced at Amara to see if she’d seen the kiss. She had, of course. She smiled broadly at Leah, who couldn’t help but grin back at her. Then Jardain took Leah by the hand and hurried them down the stairs, past the bleachers, and out onto the sand leading to the water.
As they passed several of the other boats, team members called out to Jardain, and one even said, “We’ll beat you next year!”
“Bring your best or stay home,” Jardain told the opposing team member.
Most of the rowers were still slumped over their oars trying to catch their breath, and few, if any, were making an effort to get out of the boats.
At the NuLong, Jardain climbed on board and held out her hand to Leah to help her onto the boat. Two hours and too much champagne later, Jardain and Leah were heading back to the limousine. Amara was nowhere to be seen until Jardain opened the back door. Amara and another woman were in the back seat. The woman sat up straighter, straightened her clothes, and buttoned her shirt. Leah wondered whether they’d been making out. Hadn’t Jardain said she and her wife had a monogamous relationship?
“It’s about time, you two showed up. We were about to come looking for you,” Amara said as she began buttoning her own shirt.
“I can see you were bored to tears,” Jardain told her mother.
“We had to do something while we were waiting for you.”
The other woman moved to the door to leave the car when Amara caught her by the hand. “Stay with me.”
“Leah, this is Alexandra,” Amara said, stealing a glance at Jardain. Leah saw Jardain raise an eyebrow.
“She’s a friend of mine,” Amara added.
“Hi. I’ve heard a lot about you over the last couple of weeks. If I were the jealous kind, I think I might have to challenge you to a duel,” Alexandra said.
Leah was unsure who the woman was talking to—her or Jardain.
“And I bet you’d lose that fight,” Jardain said lightly.
Amara and Leah looked at one another and shook their heads. Leah thought if Amara had been less than one of the most famous women on the planet, they might have left Alexandra and Jardain to duke it out in the back seat of the car.
Instead, Amara asked, “Is anybody hungry?”
“Starved,” Alexandra said.
“The team has invited us to join them for lunch, so if you’ll drop us off at Leah’s building, that’ll be great,” Jardain said.
Leah said nothing. The team had not seriously invited them to join them at the team victory party. Leah sat back to watch the dynamics of familial interaction. She was pretty sure Alexandra was not Amara’s wife, but beyond that she wasn’t sure of anything that was going on.
Jardain was quiet on the ride from the lagoon, and neither Leah nor Amara nor Alexandra tried to engage her. Leah had reached out to take Jardain’s hand and hold it in a gesture of silent support in the face of Amara’s bad behavior. She had, after all, known Jardain and Leah would make their way back to the limousine or risk being stranded at the harbor.
Chapter Fourteen
The driver dropped Leah and Jardain at the entrance to Leah’s building.
“Would you like to come up with me?” Leah asked even as the voice in the back of her mind was saying, Oh no, you did not just invite her up!
“I’d like nothing more than to spend time with you. I’m not sure what kind of company I’ll be, though.”
“I don’t care what kind of company you’ll be. I want to get to know you.”
There was no kissing in the elevator this time—much to Leah’s disappointment.
Once they were in Leah’s condo, she asked, “Who is Alexandra? She’s not old enough to be Amara’s wife.”
“Alexandra was a one-night stand of mine who thought so highly of herself she was convinced she’d be asked to become a Bensington. She didn’t handle her disappointment well at the time.”
“Does Amara know that?”
“I doubt it. I didn’t tell her. I’m not sure what is going on between Amara and Alexandra. Honestly, I’m not sure I want to know. Alexandra knows who Amara is so she may be trying to seduce Amara to get even. But Amara has done what she wants to do. Now can you see why monogamy doesn’t work for me? I thought my mother and her wife had a happy marriage.”
“Who’s to say they don’t have a happy marriage? What does your mother’s monogamy have anything to do with you or your own monogamy?” Leah asked.
Jardain, who was standing at a window staring out, turned and looked at Leah, who couldn’t decide whether she was thinking about what she’d said, or was angry that she’d said it.
/> “Can we talk about something other than my mother’s love life?”
“Certainly. What would you like to talk about?”
“You.”
“Me?” Leah asked as she led them to the sofa facing floor to ceiling windows that looked out over the vastness of the ocean. Leah loved this room and the view.
“Yes, you. I know so very little about you. I’d like to even the playing field.”
“What do you mean?”
“I feel like you know so much more about me than I know about you.”
“I know you’ve researched me—you said as much when we first met. If you dug deep enough to find out about my relationship with Quinn, then you know everything you need to know about me,” Leah said.
“Hardly. Let’s start with the easy stuff. What’s your favorite color?”
“Really? That’s what you want to know?”
Jardain smiled. “It’s one of the many things I want to know about you.”
“What are some of the others?”
“I know you were married while on New America. Are you dating here?”
“No.” I really don’t want to talk about my sex life with this woman. It’s too embarrassing to be so lacking while this woman is so…so active.
“Why?”
“I haven’t been interested in dating until recently,” Leah said.
“What changed your mind about dating?”
“Meeting you.”
“Honestly?” Jardain asked.
The question surprised Leah. Does the woman not know how attracted I am to her? How could she know? How could she not know? When every woman she meets is fascinated by her? How could she know if I don’t want her to? I’m assuming she’s not a mind reader.
“Yes. Why does that surprise you?” Leah asked.
“It surprises me because someone as beautiful and intelligent as yourself isn’t usually unattached,” Jardain said.
“Why aren’t you attached? Have you ever been in a relationship?”
“I was, but she died. I was devastated. After that, I didn’t want to love that deeply ever again. The pain of losing someone I loved was too hard. So when I started dating, it made sense to me to play the field.”
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that. How long ago was it?” Leah asked, trying hard not to sound like she was interrogating Jardain.
“Five years.”
“You don’t miss the connection, the intimacy? Or even miss holding hands?”
“What makes you think I haven’t had that?”
“With your one-night stands?”
“Point taken, but I could have had intimacy with those women,” Jardain said.
“Intimacy in two or three hours of fucking?”
“At the time, it felt intimate enough. At least I was dating.”
“I’d rather wait until I’m ready for a relationship than to fuck just to be fucking,” Leah said, not wanting to sound as judgmental as she knew she was.
“Ouch. You think that’s what I was doing?”
“Don’t you?”
“I guess I was. Are you ready for a relationship now?” Jardain asked.
“Maybe, if it’s with the right woman.”
Jardain sat watching her for a minute, and then whispered, “Am I the right woman?”
“You could be, Jardain. But I won’t be just another notch on your bedpost.”
“What if I’m ready to be intimate and in a relationship with you?”
“Are you?”
“I think so.”
“Do you think I’m the right woman for you?” Leah asked, not entirely sure whether she wanted to know the answer this soon.
“You could be, Leah. But I won’t be just another notch on your bedpost.”
Leah laughed at having her own words thrown back at her.
“Well, when you figure out if I’m someone you could love, let me know,” Leah said softly.
Jardain took Leah’s hand and kissed her palm again. The tingly sensation and the softness of Jardain’s lips made her wonder if this woman was worth taking a chance on after all.
Jardain surprised her by saying, “I’m starved. We didn’t have lunch. How about we get takeout?”
“What kind of takeout?”
“Good question. What are our options, do you know?”
“Hang on a second. Rusty can help with this issue.”
“Really?”
“Rusty, what are my options for really good takeout?”
“Close by, there are two really good restaurants offering takeout. One is Mexican and the other is Chinese,” Rusty said from the door.
Jardain looked at her and said, “How did she know what you asked?”
“Long story. Does either of those activate your taste buds?”
“Not as much as you do, but I love Chinese.”
The printer started spitting out pages. Rusty retrieved the printouts and handed them to Leah. “Will there be anything else?”
“No, thank you, Rusty.”
“Why didn’t Rusty send the menu to your computer?”
“There are times when she likes being a Luddite.”
“Really?” Jardain asked, laughing.
“Here’s the menu. Why don’t you decide what you want?” Leah said.
“How did she know we’d need a menu?”
“She knew because I’ve not been to that restaurant so it would stand to reason I’d need to see a menu before ordering.”
“How much did you have to pay for her? I want to start saving my money so I can afford one just like her.”
“I told you, Rusty isn’t for sale.”
“How did you get her, then?”
“I know the developer, and he gave her to me as a housewarming gift.”
“Care to introduce me to him?”
“Not on your life.”
“Spoilsport.”
The restaurant had a delivery service—for an extra fee, of course. They decided they really didn’t want to go out again so they had dinner delivered. As they were eating, they kept the discussion light. After dinner, they returned to Leah’s library.
“Where were we when we were so rudely interrupted by your hunger pangs?” Leah asked with a smile. “Oh, yes, we were talking about Rusty.”
“I’m no longer interested in Rusty,” Jardain said, pausing. “I am but I’m interested in other things right at this moment.”
“What might those ‘other things’ be?”
“I’m more than a little surprised at how much I want you. I want to touch you, kiss you until you can’t stand up, and then fuck you until your brain turns to mush.”
“You really know how to woo a girl, don’t you?” Leah asked with a laugh.
“Woo? Did you just use the word ‘woo’?’”
“I did. Do you need me to define it for you?”
“No. I know what it means, but I think I may have forgotten how to do it.”
“Are you telling me that was a line you use on the other women in your life? And it works?”
“I can’t remember the last time I was turned down, so I’m guessing it works.”
“It doesn’t work on this woman.”
“Obviously. By now, I’d have the other women in the bedroom, undressed, and on the bed.”
“I guess you expect me to be impressed?”
“Just a little.”
“Nope. Not even a little,” Leah said with a smile.
“Damn. I must be losing my touch.”
“Would that be a bad thing?” Leah asked.
“To lose my touch?”
“Uh-huh.”
“It would be a fucking disaster.” Jardain looked at Leah. “I think I’ve said something terribly wrong, haven’t I?”
“No, you haven’t—if it’s the truth. But it’s nothing I wanted to hear. Reading between the lines, what I heard you say is that you’re happy with the life you lead. That were you to ‘lose your touch’ at picking up women, it would be disastrous. A
m I wrong about what I think I heard you say?”
“Damned if I agree with you, damned if I don’t.”
“Poor baby,” Leah said smiling. “You need to make up your mind about whether you want to continue your life as a player or if you want me.”
They sat looking at one another, neither really able to tell what the other was thinking. Leah knew she was right about Jardain, and suspected Jardain knew she’d struck out with her and should quit the field before she made matters worse.
“I need to call it a night, Jardain. I’ve got to be at the office early tomorrow morning for a meeting. I had a wonderful time today. Thank you so much for introducing me to dragon boat racing,” Leah said as she stood up.
“My pleasure. Can I take you to dinner again, please?”
“Of course.”
Leah turned to leave the room and walk them to the front door where Rusty was waiting for them.
At the front door, Jardain put her hand on Leah’s neck with her fingers curled around to her nape. It was oddly intimate without being sexual. It made Leah’s heart beat faster.
“I’m really sorry this day is ending on a sour note. I need to do some heavy thinking about what I really want. I know I want you as I’ve wanted no other woman. I need to figure out if I can give you what you need.”
“When you figure that out, we’ll talk again.”
After Jardain walked out, Leah went to her bedroom and sat on the bed. Did I just make the biggest mistake of my life letting her leave? God, I hope not.
Chapter Fifteen
On Monday morning, Leah got up still suffering from a night spent tossing and turning, and was groggy from too little sleep. She felt like she hadn’t even had Sunday off. She had, but she didn’t accomplish much except to overthink everything having to do with Jardain. She hadn’t heard from her and she was sorely disappointed. She decided that maybe a shower would help her wake up and get going. When she entered the shower, she was hoping the hot water would help clear her mind of the cobwebs that had taken up residence there.
As she dressed, she knew she had to get Jardain out of her mind. She needed to focus on the Bensington murder if they were going to be able to determine who killed Sarah. Jardain would have to wait. Of course, she hadn’t heard from Jardain, and Leah wasn’t sure what to think of that. Maybe she’d decided she didn’t want to quit her lifestyle.
