Intuition

Chapter 1

The jury filed into the courtroom in silence, their faces deliberately expressionless so as not to give the verdict away. The bailiff stood authoritatively in the opposite corner of the spacious mahogany-paneled chamber, and when all of the jurors had finally taken their assigned places, he turned and gave those in the hushed courtroom permission to be seated.

The counsel tables were now cleared of all of the papers and trial materials which had occupied them during the past week's trial, and the attorneys at both the plaintiffs and defendant's tables sat quietly awaiting the reading of the verdict.

It had been a tough civil case, technical at times and quite tedious, but all in all, the lead defense counsel felt reasonably confident about her client's chances of prevailing. That, and the fact that the jury had come back in only two hours. Quick civil verdicts often meant that no monetary award was discussed or factored into the decision. Calculations of that nature generally took a significant amount of time to consider. Given the circumstances, one could comfortably assume that the jury in this case had found no liability on the part of the defendant. In other words, her client had won. A clear victory.

Then again, juries were notoriously unpredictable, and quick Friday afternoon verdicts could just as easily result from a jury eager to conclude its deliberations before the start of the weekend. No one wanted to come back on Monday morning and start jury deliberations all over again. So, one could never really safely assume anything.

The bailiff approached the jury foreman and retrieved the verdict form from him, then stepped over to the presiding judge and handed the folded paper to her for her review. After glancing at the document for a brief moment, the judge returned the verdict form to the bailiff, who promptly delivered it once again to the jury foreman.

Judge Helen Wright folded her hands in front of her and looked expectantly at the jury foreman. "Mr. Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?"

The jury foreman rose, and in a slightly nervous voice replied, "Yes, Your Honor, we have."

Judge Wright fixed her gaze steadily on him. "How do you find?"

The foreman cleared his voice and read from the verdict form. "As to Count One of the complaint, breach of contract, we find in favor of the defendant. As to Count Two of the complaint, breach of warranty, we find in favor of the defendant."

There was a small amount of movement at both counsel tables as the attorneys and their respective clients reacted to the reading of the verdict. At the defendant's table, both defense counsel smiled in victory, while the expression of plaintiff's counsel at the opposing table clearly reflected disappointment. A moment later, all attention refocused on the front of the courtroom and on the trial judge.

"Very well. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the Court commends and thanks you for your service in this case." Judge Wright glanced over at the plaintiffs table, fully expecting a motion to be made.

Plaintiffs' counsel stood. "We move, Your Honor, for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict." He appeared resigned, but nevertheless made the obligatory request, asking that the trial judge overrule the verdict as a matter of law.

"Denied." Judge Wright gaveled the proceedings to a close. "This Court is adjourned."

The bailiff took a step forward. "All rise." He dismissed first the members of the jury, then the remainder of those assembled in the courtroom, as the trial judge stepped down and disappeared through a door behind her bench.

"Whew!" Robin Wilson, a young associate attorney at the defense table, watched as one of the sheriffs led the jury out of sight and back to the jury room. She then turned toward the junior partner standing next to her. "Great job, Jess."

Jessica Harrison, lead trial counsel and junior partner with the law firm of Roberts and McDaniel, grinned happily. "Thanks. You did a great job, too." She stepped over to congratulate her client, Phil Jones, Vice President of Legal Affairs for RSJ Industries. "Phil, I'm glad it worked out well for you."

"Jessica, thank you." Phil shook her hand. "You and Robin tried a terrific case for us. We're very grateful." He glanced quickly at his watch. "If you both don't have other plans this evening, would you care to join me for dinner tonight to celebrate?"

"Sounds great." Jess turned to her co-counsel. "How about you, Robin? Are you free tonight?" An almost imperceptible twinkle accompanied the question.

She's funny. "Yes, I'm free for dinner." the young associate said, accepting the invitation. "I'd love to join you."

"Good." Phil nodded. "And maybe you both can recommend a good place to eat in this town." He waited as Jess and Robin gathered their briefcases, then pulled out his cell phone. "Let me just step out into the hallway so I can give Harry Roberts a call and tell him the good news. I know he's waiting to hear how things turned out today."

The junior partner was secretly pleased. It never hurt to have a client sing your praises to your department chairman. And another trial win would certainly build up good credit with the firm and prove Harry right to have found a way for her and Robin to work together. Who could argue with success? Gordon McDaniel, as managing partner, would be satisfied. Harry's wise leadership would be bolstered. Robin continued to gain valuable trial experience. The client was happy. Jess's own credibility was now restored. Everybody wins. She walked alongside Robin as they exited the large double doors at the front of the courtroom. Yep, everybody wins. The junior partner also knew that through it all, she appeared to have dodged a potentially lethal bullet in finding a way to make things work out while being personally involved with someone at the office. By being involved with Robin. And this trial win was necessary. It was also well-deserved. And most importantly, it was... Jess smiled to herself. Vindication.

You bet. Success sure was sweet.

"That was a good meal." The young associate slid into the passenger seat of the silver Mercedes and adjusted her seatbelt. She and Jess had just dropped Phil Jones back at his hotel after enjoying a leisurely dinner at a trendy new French cafe near downtown. Now, finally, they were heading home. They'd driven together to work during this past week while their trial was in progress, especially since they'd both been keeping the same schedule. No real sense in taking two cars when one would do. A sigh emerged from the tired passenger. "Boy, I sure am glad this week's over." Green eyes glanced at the car's driver. "No offense."

A wry smile. "No offense taken. I agree it was a rather dry and boring trial. Are you sure contract law is right for you? I mean, it's not the most glamorous thing to do."

Robin gave that question some thought. "I know, but I like the challenge. In time, I might give some other areas of practice a try, but right now, I'm really enjoying the moment."

Skeptical blue eyes darted in her direction. "I seem to recall just how much you were enjoying the moment last night when your computer died and you lost the closing argument you were working on."

An audible groan.

"And I further recall just how much you were enjoying the moment when you had to spend half the night rewriting that closing argument."

"Okay, okay, I get your point," Robin playfully conceded. "But that could've happened with anything else I was doing. For now, though, yes, I want to stick with general litigation work, and that includes contract law. Besides, you're a great teacher. I learn a lot from your techniques."

"Well, now." Jess stopped the car at a traffic light. "Such compliments. I'm glad you find my... techniques so beneficial."

Robin couldn't completely see the older woman's expression through the darkness, but in the dim light cast by the nearby streetlights, she had a pretty good idea that those silver-blue eyes were twinkling merrily. She's incorrigible. "Your trial techniques, Jess. I meant your trial techniques."

"Of course." The light turned green, and the junior partner turned onto the next street. "That's exactly what I meant."

The young associate didn't believe it for a second. "Right." She sat back in her seat and regarded the full moon making its ascent into the eastern sky. It gave her a few moments to reflect further on how things had been going lately at work and the progress she and Jess had made in handling their workload together. Things have been good. Actually, better than good. "You know, according to what Phil said at dinner, Harry was extremely pleased with the outcome today. And it looks as if Phil has some new cases he's sending our way."

"Oh yeah, Harry's a happy man," Jess agreed. "For one thing, we scored a win, proving that his decision to put us together as a team was a wise move. For another thing, the client is happy and will be sending the firm even more business. The Management Committee sees all of those future billable hours as dollar signs and will now generally leave you and me alone."

"Even Tim West?"

Jess grimaced, shaking her head in disgust. "Unfortunately, he'll never go away. He's biding his time right now, waiting for an opportunity to make trouble for us, especially for me. He thinks I showed him up at the Management Committee hearing, and he takes personal offense that the Committee eventually ruled in our favor over his objections. Basically, his male ego was bruised. He's the type that if he doesn't win, he keeps gnawing away at it until he finally gets what he wants. That strategy can work well sometimes in the practice of law, but it can also churn out a lot of enemies." And I'm enemy number one.

The young associate sighed heavily, realizing the truth in what Jess said. Well, that burst my bubble. "Let's try not to worry about that for now. Can we just enjoy this win today?"

Damn. Robin was absolutely right. They had both worked hard this past week, and Robin deserved to enjoy this victory to its fullest. Sometimes, Jess simply forgot how thrilling it was to win a case, and for Robin, this had only been her second trial. "You betcha, kiddo. We both did good work this week, and we should be proud of it." Jess steered the Mercedes down the street leading to the large ranch-style house at the end of the cul-de-sac. "You up for a nightcap?"

"Amaretto?"

"Deal." Jess pushed the button on the automatic garage door opener and waited for the garage door to fully rise. She then pulled the silver Mercedes into its usual spot in the garage. "And since your closing argument was so outstanding, you get an extra special treat for your efforts."

"A treat?" Robin perked up. "Like maybe a mint on my pillow?" She unlatched her seatbelt.

"Well, if I told you..." Jess stepped out of the car and met Robin at the door leading from the garage to the kitchen, "...that would spoil the surprise, now wouldn't it?"

The rush of chilled air from the air-conditioning inside the house hit them as they walked into the kitchen, Robin leading the way. She punched in the alarm code on the keypad by the door. "It just so happens that I love surprises." Blonde eyebrows lifted rather suggestively as she moved past Jess. "So surprise me."

Oh boy! Now, who could resist an invitation like that? Surely not one particular tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed, junior partner.

Robin walked into the living room after changing into comfortable cotton drawstring pants and a matching short-sleeved top to find that Jess had already poured them each a small glass of Italian Amaretto liqueur. The only light came from a recessed lamp over the bar near the dining area, casting a faint glow outward into the much larger living room. The younger woman set about lighting a few vanilla scented candles situated on a corner table and then joined her companion on the plush sofa.

Jess, similarly attired, handed the smaller woman a glass of the almond-flavored liqueur. "Hi."

"Hi." Petite fingers grasped the stem of the glass. "You know, I was thinking..."

"Always a dangerous thing," Jess deadpanned.

"Stop." Robin playfully stuck out her tongue. "I was thinking that maybe it would be nice to have a fire tonight."

"A fire? You want a fire tonight?"

"Yes."

"Robin." Jess was incredulous. "It's the middle of summer in Florida. It's a million degrees outside."

"Well, you could just close the little glass door things on the front of the fireplace so it doesn't get too warm, and then maybe you could turn down the air conditioner just a little bit." The blonde woman took a small sip of her Amaretto. "Couldn't you?"

A raised eyebrow. "Why do I get the feeling there's only one answer to that question?"

"Because you're very perceptive, that's why." A sweet smile.

I never win at this game. Jess dutifully adjusted the thermostat, then stepped over to the fireplace and pulled out a couple of small, oak logs from the wood box, stacking the wood on top of a starter log. "I was right."

"You were right about what?"

"Thinking..." A slender finger pointed purposefully at Robin. "...is a very dangerous thing."

A fluffy pillow suddenly flew by Jess, narrowly missing her. "Hey!" Before she had any more time to react, a second pillow followed, this time squarely hitting its mark. "Hey!" She grasped the offending pillow. "You're in big trouble, now, missy."

A giggle emanated from the direction of the sofa. "Ooh. I'm very scared."

"You should be." Blue eyes fixed threateningly on a certain pair of fuzzy bunny slippers resting prominently on a certain pair of petite feet. "When you least expect it, Robin..." Jess deliberately left the sentence unfinished. "When you least expect it."

Robin merely responded with a bored expression, one she'd learned very well from her dark-haired companion.

Jess proceeded on with her task, taking one long stick match from the matchbox she kept on the mantel and lighting the starter log. She gently poked the remaining logs with an iron poker until the fire burned evenly. Once she was completely satisfied, she placed the heavy iron poker back into its holder and closed the glass doors in front of the fireplace to prevent most of the heat from escaping into the room. Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it? Jess gazed for a moment into the fire. It certainly did cast an inviting glow. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Jess retrieved her glass of Amaretto from the coffee table and took a leisurely sip, enjoying its intense, sweet flavor and slightly-warming sensation. Blue eyes smiled across the table at Robin. "Would you like to come down here with me, next to the fire?"

Sea green eyes gently smiled back. "Sure." Robin picked up a few more fluffy pillows from the sofa and joined Jess in front of the fire. With the warm glow of the flames and the soft crackling of the wood behind the clear glass doors of the fireplace, it was easy to forget that it was actually summertime. In Florida. Instead, it reminded Robin of the times she and Jess had spent by the fire when they were first getting to know each other. With that thought, the whole atmosphere in the room suddenly changed, becoming almost magical in nature. She leaned back onto several of the pillows, sliding her fluffy bunny slippers off and placing her feet directly in front of the fireplace. "This is nice."

Jess positioned herself next to her younger companion. "Yes, it is." She tapped a finger playfully on one of the pillows. "You know, I always wondered why they called these throw pillows." She looked pointedly at Robin. "Now I know."

Robin couldn't help herself. She was completely charmed. "You are very clever."

"Thank you." Jess grinned, then gave Robin a very soft kiss on the lips. "I have many skills."

Robin responded with a shy glance. "I know." She and Jess exchanged several small, delicate kisses, the faint traces of sweet Amaretto still lingering on their lips. They weren't deep kisses, but very gentle and tender, conveying a warmth only enhanced by the dancing fire and the flickering candle flames that cast an alluring glow from the far corner of the room. After a short while, Robin hitched herself up on one elbow and rested her head in her hand. "I'm glad it's over now, but I really had a good week."

"Did you?" Crystal blue eyes gazed serenely up into green. "So you enjoy trial work even if the case isn't the most exciting thing in the world?"

"Yeah, I do." Robin held the gaze. "And I learn a lot from you. You're a very good teacher."

"Ah, yes." A hidden smile. "My techniques."

Maybe it was the subtle effects of the Amaretto liqueur, or maybe it was something else entirely, but Robin could have sworn she was falling helplessly into an ocean of magnificent blue. Those eyes were so near to her own, and Jess's charms tonight were capturing her in a spiral of emotions too complicated to even try to explain. "Yes," was all she could say at the moment.

Long fingers reached up to gently touch the younger woman's cheek. "I'm so proud of you." Jess's gaze became very sincere. "I'm proud not just of your professional abilities, which are very good and getting better all the time, but I'm also proud of the person you are." A slight pause. "I admire you."

At first, Robin was surprised by Jess's words, although she really shouldn't have been so surprised at all. The statement was a testament to Robin's strength in the face of adversity, a determination and defiance not so easily conquered or forced into submission. As she realized what Jess truly meant, Robin literally glowed from the compliment. "That means a lot to me. Thank you for saying that."

A slight nod was her only acknowledgement. In the space of an instant, a million emotions seemed to cross the features of the angular face, and the blue eyes gazing up from below intensified their concentration, as if performing some complex mental calculation set on solving an insolvable riddle.

And in that one moment, Robin saw an array of unmasked emotions flash by: everything from the most profound sadness to the sheerest joy. Unable to break the gaze, she watched further as the sadness returned for barely a second longer before safely hiding itself deep within the depths of the intense blue eyes still capturing her own. What was that? It was as if Robin had just seen something she wasn't supposed to see, and it startled her more than she let on. The question now was how to pursue it. "Is everything okay?"

"Perfect." Crystal blue eyes were sparkling once again.

"Because if there's something you want to talk about..."Petite fingers tenderly stroked the dark hair. "You know I'm here."

"I know." But did Jess really want to get into certain things, things that were difficult for both of them to deal with, things that had brought so much pain? "Some things aren't easy."

"No, they're not."

"Have you ever wondered what our lives would have been like if..." Now that she'd opened up the subject, Jess had to see it through. "If certain things that happened hadn't happened?"

Certain things that happened? What exactly was Jess getting at? After a moment, Robin decided she knew. "You mean if I hadn't come to Florida."

"I mean if it hadn't been... necessary... for you to have come to Florida."

"I see." This is about David again. Green eyes closed for a moment. It was clear that Jess, for all her projected confidence, was still plagued by insecurity about what she delicately phrased as, "certain things." What will it take to convince you? "Listen to me, honey. I don't know the answer to that. I don't know what our lives would have been like if those things had never happened. What I do know is that I'm convinced we would have met at some point in our lives. I believe it was our destiny to meet. I wish with all my heart that what happened with David hadn't happened, but I've learned that things happen for a reason, even if we don't see it at the time. You and I were destined to meet, whether it was now or at some other time in the future."

Jess was quiet for a very long time, lost in contemplation. "Sometimes, I can't shake this feeling that the love we share was born of tragedy."

"Oh, no Jess." Robin quickly kissed Jess's forehead and held her close in an attempt to erase all traces of that thought. "Our love is a gift that was meant to be."

"Yes, you're right, I know. My heart tells me that, and most of the time, my mind listens." A gentle smile. "Most of the time."

Robin slid down and pressed her ear against Jess's chest, listening to the strong heartbeat. She then whispered something Jess couldn't quite hear.

"Umn... what are you doing?" Jess found Robin's actions quite curious.

"I'm telling your heart to try harder to make your mind listen." She pointed her finger in stern warning. "Or else it will have to answer to me."

A considerably brighter expression. "I see."

"That's right." Robin laid her head back down on the throw pillow next to Jess. For a long time, they both stared silently into the flames flickering in random patterns behind the glass doors of the fireplace. The orange and gold hues cast by the gently burning fire added a particular comfort and soothing warmth that helped ease away some of the tension created by the intense emotions of the moment.

Jess turned to her younger companion and observed, "It sounds as if Dr. Richmond has been of help to you." Things did seem better, as through the assistance of her therapist, Robin had been making peace with the tragedy that had occurred with David.

"Well, I've learned to deal better with some things, but there are still some things I have to work on." Robin didn't elaborate. She knew that getting past those events and all the consequences arising from them would be a long journey, and she knew that Jess knew this, as well. She also knew that she wasn't the only one harboring unresolved emotions stemming from a painful past. "Jess?"

"Yeah?"

Soft green eyes captured, then held, clear blue. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

The green eyes remained steady. "Do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if certain things that happened hadn't happened?"

For a moment, Jess didn't understand. She had to admit that speaking in indirect terms had its disadvantages. Certain things. They'd already discussed certain "certain things." So what other "certain things" could Robin be talking about now? After reflecting on this, Jess decided she knew. "You mean, if a long time ago, I hadn't been so foolish."

"I mean, if a long time ago, you hadn't been betrayed and hurt by someone you loved."

Jess considered the question carefully. It's been almost eight years. "It seems as if a lifetime has passed since then. But the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that James would have taken off no matter what, whether it was at that particular point in time or later on." The fine muscles in her jaw stiffened as she recalled the moment of his betrayal and the heartbreak that had followed. "It was his personality to use people for his own purposes, and I was just too young and naive back then to see it."

Robin nodded, then finally asked a question that had been haunting the back of her mind since the very beginning of their relationship. "Do you regret that it happened at all?" She could feel piercing blues eyes boring into her own as Jess tried to figure out just exactly what she was asking. "What I mean is, do you wish that he'd been a different type of person, someone who hadn't betrayed you, someone who would have made all of your dreams come true?"

"Oh, sweetheart." Jess gently stroked Robin's cheek. "All my dreams have come true. I was just looking in the wrong place."

Robin nodded. It wasn't exactly a direct answer to her question, and she picked up on that. At the same time, she didn't think there was anything deliberately evasive about it. The response was very sweet, and as sincere and as heartfelt as any that Jess had ever given her. Still, Robin felt unsure. Would you, Jess, have wanted it to have worked out with him if it had been possible? If she hadn't been so afraid of the answer, Robin might have asked the question again. For now, though, she'd have to accept the answer she was given. Besides, just the thought of all the pain and anguish James had caused Jess and the part of Jess's heart permanently torn apart by his betrayal always seemed to provoke such a fierce anger in Robin that any further discussion of the matter threatened to put her in a decidedly bad mood. A change of subject seemed like a good idea. "So..." Petite fingers entwined with much larger ones. "What's my trial surprise?"

Jess let go a hearty laugh. "Leave it to you not to forget."

"I never forget surprises."

"I should know that." A grin. "Well, let's just say I'm working on it."

"You are? Can you maybe give me a teeny, weeny little hint?" Green eyes begged and pleaded.

"Nope." Jess lightly touched her nose against Robin's. "Patience, Robin."

Rats! An internal sigh. My powers of persuasion obviously aren't what they should be.

The swimming pool shimmered in the mid-afternoon sunlight, a beckoning sight on a hot summer's day. A petite blonde figure reclined in a water lounge kept afloat by several Styrofoam arm and foot rests as it drifted lazily around the deep end of the kidney-shaped pool. The porch screen enclosing the brick paved patio and pool area provided only modest shade from the scorching sun, although a pleasant summer breeze made spending time outdoors considerably more comfortable than being inside.

Resting on the arm of the lounge beside its occupant was a waterproof CD player, its earphones firmly in place around the blonde head as petite fingers tapped in synch with the beat of the music. Green eyes were closed, their owner oblivious to all but the sound of the music, the light breeze, and the cooling effect of the surrounding chlorine-scented water. It was a hot day, and certainly one requiring a dip in the pool and a little welcome relaxation after an intense work week.

Near the far end of the patio, glass sliding doors opened, and a taller dark-haired figure emerged, dressed not in typical swimming attire, but in a short-sleeved white polo shirt and well-worn blue jeans. This event went unnoticed as the water lounge and its occupant continued on their leisurely journey, now floating perilously close to one edge of the swimming pool. The jean-clad form strode silently around to the side of the pool and approached the floating lounge, noting with interest the way the cute blonde head gently rocked from side to side and the petite fingers lightly drummed the tops of the Styrofoam arm rests.

For several moments, the unseen admirer stood silently by, surreptitiously enjoying the sight and contemplating all possible options. Settling upon a particular course of action, the dark-haired figure knelt down at the pool's edge and leaned forward. With twinkling azure eyes, the aforementioned admirer reached down and playfully splashed a large handful of cool water across one very lovely, petite knee.

Surprised green eyes flashed open. "Jess!" Robin sat up a bit straighter in the lounge and removed her earphones. ''You rat! I didn't hear you."

Jess merely grinned. "Number one, that was the point. And number two, it's not like you would have heard anything with those on." She pointed at the earphones.

Robin sat back, smiling. "So you decided to sneak up on me."

"Well, since you didn't see me when I came out here, I knew it was a good bet you were preoccupied. I just used the situation to my advantage."

"Remind me to get you back."

"Hey, it could have been worse." Another grin. "I could have doused you."

Blonde eyebrows narrowed considerably. "Let's just say that if that had happened, you'd be in this pool at this very moment."

Jess, still kneeling, laughed at that assertion. "How in the world would that have happened?"

"I'm a lot faster than you think."

God, she's adorable. "And I'm a lot faster than you think, Robin." A dark eyebrow shot up. "Besides, I owed you one for that throw-pillow incident."

"Okay, fine, you made your point."

"I always do." A quick wink.

Robin paddled the water lounge until it rested neatly alongside the edge of the pool. "So, did you get done what you had to do at the office?"

"Yep." Jess stood up, lightly kicking out the cricks from her legs. "Everything's under control. I was afraid things had backed up a lot while we were in trial all week, and that if I didn't go in for a little while today, Monday would be a disaster. But fortunately, there were no fires, so my Saturday is officially saved."

"Cool." Robin lifted a cup of peach-flavored iced tea from the drink holder in the water lounge and took a sip. "Care to come in and play with me?"

"Well, now." A saucy grin. "There's an offer I can't refuse."

"Good. Now go put your suit on, and I'll be waiting."

Jess didn't have to be told twice. She was gone in a flash.

After going inside and donning a navy-colored one-piece swimsuit, Jess appeared a few minutes later outside on the patio, beach towel in hand. She glanced over to see that Robin was once again stretched out on the water lounge, eyes closed and earphones clearly back in place. She never learns. This time, Jess had slightly more mischievous intentions. She set her brightly-colored beach towel down on a patio chair and then strode over to the deep end of the pool, diving smoothly into the cool clear water. A moment later, she popped up at her intended destination, directly beside the water lounge. In one easy motion, she removed the earphones from Robin's ears and set the CD player and the now empty cup over on top of a nearby pool ledge.

"Jess, what...?"

"It's playtime, Robin."

Before Robin could say another word, the pool lounge tipped on its side just enough to send her petite body splashing into the water.

Jess simply waited as Robin resurfaced.

"You..." Robin wiped the water from her eyes, "...are in so much trouble."

"What?" Jess attempted innocence. "I thought we were going to play. I remember one very fun game called 'Dunk the Associate' which we played before, and I thought we'd play it again."

That earned Jess a stern look. "You'd better get moving now, because when I catch you, I'm showing you no mercy."

Uh-oh. The larger body quickly darted off toward the shallow end of the pool with one very determined smaller body not far behind. Jess, of course, knew she was at a temporary disadvantage, and upon reaching the opposite corner of the pool, decided to stand her ground. "I'd be very careful if I were you, Robin."

The young blonde approached quickly and stood opposite her prey. "Oh, I'm being very careful. I'm carefully considering what to do with you." She placed her arms on either side of the older woman. "I seem to remember this other game called 'Capture the Partner' which we played before, and which was also very fun."

Jess merely stood there, blinking the water from her eyes.

"And if I recall correctly, the capturer, that's me, gets to interrogate the capturee, that's you."

One dark eyebrow lifted ever so slightly. "We'll see about that." In a flash, Jess ducked beneath the water and popped up immediately behind Robin, spinning her around and pinning her up against the side of the pool. "Now, I gotcha."

Rats! There was absolutely no way to escape. "How do you do that?"

A seductive smile. "As I said, I have many skills."

"It appears you do." Maybe it was Jess's close proximity, but at that particular moment, Robin felt an exhilarating tingle go through her body. It reminded her of a very similar feeling she'd had the first time she and Jess had played together in this very same swimming pool. "Umn, I have a confession to make."

A confession? Jess was more than a little intrigued. "Spill it, kiddo."

"Well, do you remember the first time we went swimming in this pool?"

How could I forget? For a second, Jess's mind flashed back to their first time in the pool, and all the playfulness and inadvertent touches that had, in turn, led to certain overpowering sensations. "Yes, I do seem to recall that time."

"We were in a similar position, me trapped and all, and I remember being so close to you that I could see the little drops of water running down from your chin and neck." Actually, Robin remembered being particularly fascinated by the flood of sensations she had felt as she watched the water drops making their way captivatingly southward. "This was before we..." Green eyes blinked sheepishly. "It was when we knew we had strong feelings for each other, but before we... you know."

"Yes." The dark head nodded. "I know."

"Anyway, I was watching these water drops fall, and I remember that I found them..." Robin swallowed reflexively. "Interesting."

Cerulean eyes twinkled slightly. "Is that so?"

"Yes. And I also remember thinking about where those drops would end up."

End up? "You mean back in the water?"

"Well," Robin took a breath, and then forced her eyes to focus on the barbecue grill sitting in the opposite corner of the patio. "Actually, I was thinking about where they would go before they went back in the water." Shyly, her eyes came back to rest on Jess.

"I see." The older woman hid a tiny smile. "So what you're saying is that you were... interested in these drops of water between the time they were running down my chin and neck and the time they went back in the water."

"Right."

A pause. "Well, yes, I can certainly understand how that would be very interesting." Jess moved a little closer to Robin, then whispered into a petite pink ear. "Tell me more."

Robin felt a thrill as Jess pressed her further back against the side of the pool. Breathing became just a little bit harder, and her mind became slightly unfocused. "The confession part is..."

"Yes?" Jess prodded, her lips now tantalizingly close to Robin's.

"My... Umn," Sea green eyes captured blue. "My fingers wanted to follow along the path of those drops."

Jess's voice became very sultry. "Did they, now?"

It was really difficult to breathe. Robin could feel the length of Jess's long body pressed up against her own. "Yes, they did."

Jess continued with her line of questioning. "And what, exactly, did your fingers have in mind?"

Oh boy. Green eyes continued to hold their gaze. "I think you know."

"Yes, I think I do." Jess whispered softly. With two fingers, she lifted the petite chin and leaned in for a soft, gentle kiss, removing a tiny drop of water from below Robin's lower lip in the process. "And now?"

"Now?" Robin was spellbound.

"Do you see any... interesting drops of water now?"

"Um..."

Before the younger woman could answer, Jess leaned in again, this time for a more intense kiss, and encouraged Robin's fingers to wander whatever paths those drops of water, real or imagined, might take.

Finally, Robin broke away, breathing heavily. She rested her forehead against the side of Jess's cheek and let her racing heart slow down. Sometimes, she was completely amazed at the overwhelming effect Jess had on her and the magnetic pull she felt whenever Jess was near. "I think this is what got us into trouble that first time."

"I think you're right." There was a lengthy pause as Jess considered all of their options, noting in particular the tall, wooden privacy fence surrounding the pool and patio area. She then hooked one long finger underneath the silky nylon aqua swimsuit strap on Robin's shoulder, tugging at it gently and whispering ever so softly, "Who needs swimsuits?"

Petite fingers lightly traced along the path of a newly discovered and very interesting drop of water. "I completely agree." Soft lips followed the fingers southward. "Who needs 'em?"

Indeed.

Playtime had ended a short time earlier. Robin and Jess had showered and changed into loose fitting clothing, and were now preparing to spend a quiet weekend evening at home. Robin stood at the stove stirring rice pilaf, while keeping a watchful eye on a couple of crab-stuffed salmon filets baking in the oven. She smiled to herself. It was nice just doing the simple things, like cooking dinner, or watching a little television, or reading a book, all the while knowing that someone else was sharing those same things with you. She was so lost in her immediate thoughts that she didn't hear Jess come up behind her.

"Whatcha fixing?" Curious blue eyes peeked over Robin's shoulder.

"Salmon with crab stuffing, rice pilaf, and a Caesar salad. Is that okay?"

"Sounds good." A long arm snaked around a petite waist and the taller woman seized the opportunity to nuzzle the freshly washed blonde hair in front of her. "Smells good, too." Her hair smells like fresh rain.

"I'm glad you approve. Will you set the table and get the wine?"

"Absolutely." Jess set about her assigned task of placing the plates and silverware on the dining room table. She then knelt in front of the wooden wine rack near the bar area and contemplated the available selections. What goes well with salmon? Nothing really stood out. After a moment, she abandoned the impressive collection of red wines and ambled into the kitchen to consider the assortment of chilled wine they kept stacked in the refrigerator. Finally, she decided on a bottle of white merlot. She poured two glasses of the dark pink wine and set them both on the table just as Robin brought out the rest of the meal.

"Help yourself." Robin sat down across from Jess and took a small sip of the white merlot. It was a simple wine, certainly nothing fancy, but it had a unique and pleasantly fruity taste that seemed to accent the flavor of the salmon she'd prepared. "I like this wine."

A smile. "Yes, it's an amusing little wine, isn't it?"

She's what's amusing. "Someone's in a good mood, I see."

"I'm always in a good mood, Robin. It's my sunshiny disposition."

Green eyes twinkled. "Tasmanian Devil disposition is more like it."

Jess merely grinned, then took a bite of her crab-stuffed salmon. "Hey, this is great."

"Yeah, it is." Robin smiled to herself. I know exactly what's coming next.

Jess took another bite. "But you know what really would be great?"

Yep, here it comes. "What's that, Jess?"

"Instead of making salmon with crab stuffing, if they made salmon with—"

"Shrimp stuffing."

"Shrimp stuffing." Jess looked up as she and Robin said the words simultaneously. "How did you know I was going to say that?"

"Jess." The younger woman grinned. "You are so predictable."

An incredulous look. "Predictable? Me?"

A light giggle. "Yes, Jess you."

A crystal blue eye winked in response. This was a clear signal that Jess had been playing all along, although she herself would never, ever admit it. "Hey, I just spoke with my mom on the phone. She invited us over to Tampa tomorrow if you'd like to go."

Delighted green eyes lit up. "Really? I'd love to go."

"Good, then it's all set."

Robin finished the last of her meal, then set her fork down on her plate. "Do you think your nephews will be there, too?"

It was a completely innocent question, yet it required such a complicated answer. A slightly troubled look came over Jess's face. "I don't know."

Robin picked up on the momentary hesitation. "Is there something wrong?"

"I'll have to talk with Peter and see what Peggy thinks would be best."

It was what Jess wasn't saying that was the real problem, and Robin knew it. "You think she might not want the boys to be around us now that she knows about us." A petite jaw stiffened reflexively. "We're not the plague, Jess."

Damn it. Jess got up and stepped around to the other side of the table to kneel beside Robin's chair. "I know that, sweetheart. Listen, I didn't mean to imply that it would definitely be an issue. It's just..." Her blue eyes became guarded. "If Peggy's uncomfortable with our situation, then she might not want to visit or bring the kids over to Mom's when we're going to be there. I have to find out."

Our situation. It was funny, Robin had never thought of her relationship with Jess as a "situation" before. Damn. And she knew that the prospect of Jess perhaps not being able to visit her nephews as frequently as she would like was killing her inside. Truth be told, Robin was terribly saddened at the thought, as well. "I understand."

She let go of a heavy sigh. "After you spoke with your brother the last time we were there, I guess I just assumed that—"

"That everything was okay."

"Yeah." A lengthy pause as Robin reflected on the matter. "You know, those kids are really cute. I loved playing with them that one time." Her voice held a quality that was more than merely wistful. It was as if there was an unvoiced yearning, something that she hadn't discussed with anyone, not even with Jess. "Let's see if we can work something out."

"Okay. I'll speak with Peter again tomorrow. We'll try to work out something, but in the end, it has to be their decision." She forced a small smile. "All right?"

A petite hand lightly touched the older woman's cheek. "All right."

"Here." Jess stood up. "Let me do the dishes since you cooked." She proceeded to collect the plates and silverware, an unsettled silence hanging in the air.

Without a word, Robin stood up and embraced the taller woman. "I love you, Jess."

"I love you, too, sweetheart. Everything will be okay. I promise." It had better be.

The silver Mercedes pulled into the driveway of the Tampa townhouse shortly after noon on Sunday. Fortunately, there hadn't been too much traffic on the road to slow them down, although the nearly continuous road construction on the interstate highway had affected their travel time. What was typically about an hour and a half journey from Orlando to Tampa had turned into nearly two hours. Robin and Jess stepped from their car just as two excited little boys sprang from the front door and rushed anxiously out to the driveway to greet them.

"Jessie!" The older of the two boys hugged Jess around the waist while the younger boy jumped up and down.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite nephews." Jess lifted up the smaller child in her arms and ruffled his dark hair. "You guys remember Robin, don't you?" She turned toward the younger woman, giving her a small wink.

Robin grinned. "Hi, guys!" She knelt down to speak with the older boy. "Have you been playing a lot of soccer, Jeremy?"

Jeremy nodded. "I'm on a soccer team."

"Really?" Robin's eyes twinkled. "I bet you're the star player.

"Uh-huh. Yesterday, I scored a goal," Jeremy proclaimed proudly. "I ran down the field and I went around this other boy, and then I kicked the ball and it went in the net, and the other boy who was over there couldn't catch it." He made little motions with his arms and legs as he was recounting his scoring feat.

"Wow! I'm very impressed." Robin smiled and stood up, turning her attention toward Jess and the younger boy. "Hi there, Michael. You've gotten so big since the last time I saw you." He's so sweet.

Michael smiled shyly. His eyes were such a familiar shade of blue.

Jess touched a finger to Michael's nose. "This big guy will be three in a couple of months." She then looked down at the older boy. "And this one here is going to have a birthday tomorrow. How old are you going to be, Jeremy?" she asked, though she really did know the answer.

"Five." Jeremy held up five fingers as if in proof that it was true. A thought occurred to him. "Umn..." He clasped his hands behind his back and cast his eyes down at the driveway, twisting back and forth bashfully.

"Is there something you want to say, buddy?" his aunt said, smiling at him.

"Umn..." He looked up. "Did you bring my present?"

That drew a laugh. "It just so happens that I have it in the car. When we go inside, I'll bring it to you. Okay, buddy?"

At that moment, the boys' father approached the group, casually sipping a glass of iced tea. "Hi there, Sis. Hi, Robin."

"Hi, Peter." Jess set the toddler down. "Nice to see you."

"Boys," Peter took Michael's hand and guided him in the direction of the front door, "go on inside, and we'll let your aunt and Robin rest up for a few minutes from their trip."

Jeremy sprinted down the sidewalk for the door, then turned right around on his heels and ran back toward Robin, his pale blue eyes looking up at her. "Can you come play with us today?"

Robin grinned widely. "Sure. But maybe a little bit later on, okay?"

"Okay." With that, Jeremy ran off and disappeared inside the townhouse.

Now for the serious talk. Jess paced a little as Peter returned to the driveway. What was the verdict going to be? Were Peter, Peggy, and the boys going to stay for the rest of the day, or were they planning to leave? Jess hated this. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Couldn't they all just be a family without all of this other stuff getting in the way? That, of course, was the sixty-four-thousand dollar question. And rather than have an elephant standing in their midst, she decided to raise the subject first and address her brother without any further small talk. "Is Peggy inside? Did you talk with her?"

"Yeah, she's coming outside." Peter noticed Jess's agitation. "Don't worry. Everything will be okay. She just wants to talk."

Great. Jess's pacing continued. At least they’re all here, so how bad can it be?

Peggy stepped outside and joined them. "Hi."

She sounds fairly cheerful. "Hi, Peg," Jess greeted her. "You remember Robin, don't you?"

Peggy extended her hand to the young associate. "Nice to see you again, Robin." She was polite, but somewhat stiff in her demeanor.

Robin sensed the tension right away and felt a slight awkwardness come over her. "Nice to see you, too."

Jess leaned against the car, bracing herself for the worst, if it came to that. "Peggy, Peter mentioned that he spoke with you about..." Her throat suddenly became dry. "About Robin and me."

"Yes, he did." A long pause while Peggy carefully chose her words. "Listen, I can't truthfully say that I'm very comfortable with this, because I'm not. I don't think that what you're doing is right. However, it's your lives, and you have a right to live them whatever way you want. I will ask a couple of things, though, while you're here."

Uh-oh. Jess cringed inwardly. It was clear that a preemptive move was in order. "Peggy, it's not our intention to cause any problems."

"I know that." Peggy's voice wasn't harsh or cold. In fact, it carried very little emotion at all, almost as if she had practiced what she was about to say. "I'm not going to preach to you or tell you things that I'm sure you already know. I'd just like to set a couple of ground rules, all right?"

Jess deliberately stood very close to Robin, an instinctively protective gesture which also served as a signal that they were both going to be affected by whatever Peggy had to say. "All right."

"First, let me be honest. For me, I think it would be awkward seeing the two of you openly expressing affection with each other. It's just the way I feel. It might not seem fair, but although you certainly can do whatever you want to do privately, I'd personally feel uncomfortable witnessing it first hand."

"Don't worry." Jess stopped her before she could say another word. "We'd never do anything to cause you or anyone else discomfort. You have my word."

Robin stood there silently. She couldn't actually believe they were having this conversation. Being told to censor themselves so as not to offend anyone? What next? Were she and Jess supposed to pretend they were mere acquaintances, sitting an appropriate distance away from each other and standing a suitable number of feet apart, afraid to touch each other even casually? This was family, for heaven's sake. Couldn't she and Jess just be themselves? Couldn't the family accept them? Lord knew, Robin got enough of this senseless attitude from her own family. She didn't really need it from Jess's family, too. She sighed to herself. But perhaps now wasn't really the right time to process all of this. She needed some more time to think. Let Jess handle it. It's her family.

Peggy continued on. "Second, about the boys..."

Here it comes. Jess knew there'd be some sort of stipulation regarding her nephews. Damn it. She mentally prepared herself. "Whatever you want, Peg."

"The boys must not know. They're much too young to understand, and frankly, I don't think it would be wise for them to start asking questions that Peter and I just aren't prepared to answer."

Keep things quiet. Jess considered Peggy's statement for a moment. It really wasn't all that unreasonable, once she thought about it. And it certainly could have been worse. After all, Peggy didn't have a problem with the boys being around her and Robin, and that was a very good thing. Stipulating to keeping things quiet and keeping her nephews from learning of the true nature of her relationship with Robin, at least for now, in exchange for family harmony was a workable solution. AH in all, it was really more than Jess had hoped for. Or perhaps she had just reflexively assumed the worst. She glanced over at Robin. "Is this okay with you?"

Robin nodded. "Yes, of course." But something was bothering Robin about this whole thing. As she thought about it further, she realized that all Peggy was really doing was protecting her family, and who wouldn't want to do that? Then again, were she and Jess something that people needed to be protected from? How ridiculous is that? She wasn't exactly sure what to think about what had just happened, although she knew she felt increasingly uncomfortable about it.

"Look." Peter spoke up again, directing his comments to Jess and Robin. "You're both part of our family. I'm happy that you're happy together. Peg and I... we just want to make sure that we're all comfortable here and that our sons don't have to deal with difficult issues at such a young age. That's it."

Jess acknowledged that there was some truth in what Peter said. God knew, life was hard enough to understand at any age, so why make it more difficult? "I know, Peter, and I think Robin and I both understand where you and Peg are coming from."

"Besides," Peter said, smiling," the boys adore you so much." He cast his warm blue eyes specifically at Robin. "Both of you."

"Yes, they do," Peggy acknowledged. "Inside just now, all they could talk about was playing ball later today with you, Robin."

Robin smiled reflexively and accepted the statement, deciding to reserve further judgment on the whole matter until after she'd had more time to think about it. "They're such cute kids. It's really a treat to be around them."

At that, Peggy returned a small smile, then refocused her attention on Jess. "Perhaps I just need a little time with this."

Jess tried to be understanding. She realized that this whole thing must be very hard for Peggy to accept, given everything her sister-in-law had ever believed and her fundamental religious views. Yes, it's going to take some time. "Whatever you need, Peg."

"Yoo-hoo!" An older woman stood by the front door, calling out to the four adults huddled in the driveway. "Are you children coming inside?" Elaine Harrison had always had a particular way with words.

"Yes, Mom," Peter called back. "Be right there." He glanced around the group. "Are we all okay?"

"Yes," Jess answered confidently. "We're all okay."

On that issue, though, perhaps only time would tell.

The family was assembled in the living room, and all things considered, everything seemed to be going very well. The boys were taking their afternoon naps, and for the time being, at least, the adults seemed to have gotten past their earlier issues. After a while, Peg got up from the sofa to check on the sleeping boys upstairs, and Peter and Robin became involved in an in-depth discussion about Robin's alma mater, the University of Michigan. More specifically, they were embroiled in a spirited conversation concerning the Wolverines' prospects for the upcoming football season and whether or not such teams as the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and Michigan State's Spartans would derail their chances of winning the coveted national championship.

"Jessie." Elaine stood up, taking her daughter's arm. "Come and tell me how things are going with you." She led her into the kitchen, pausing briefly at the pantry for a bag of potatoes.

Jess took a seat at the kitchen table while her mother started making dinner preparations. "Things are good." She looked up. "Actually, they're great. All that mess at the firm is finally over and done with, and work is going well. We even won a trial last week." Jess grinned proudly.

"That's wonderful." Elaine began cutting up some vegetables. "I'm happy for you, dear, and I'm sure your firm's management is very pleased."

"Yes, they are, and Harry Roberts, the litigation department chairman, has been very supportive of me and Robin and our working relationship."

"So people at work accept your relationship, then?" It was Elaine's delicate way of prodding her daughter to get her to open up about how her personal choices had affected her daily life.

"Well, Mom, they understand that we're working together, and most of them understand that we're also living together. Except for one very bitter management committee member who won't let the issue drop, and another senior associate who's made it his business to bother Robin about her personal life, the others seem to have accepted our relationship, both professional and personal."

"I see."

"What?"

The older woman joined her daughter at the table. "Listen, honey." Her voice was gentle, yet held a touch of concern. "I'm glad that you seem to be doing all right at the firm. I just want you to be a little bit careful. There are people who can't easily accept things they don't understand. You may construe their acquiescence as acceptance, when in fact, it's just acquiescence."

Jess considered that insight, and found it valid. No one had specifically come right out and said they'd accepted her relationship with Robin. Most just didn't oppose it. "Yes, I see what you mean, but I still think it's okay. As long as Robin and I aren't made to feel uncomfortable there, I think we can handle it."

"Good." Elaine grasped Jess's hand. "Some people will never understand, Jessie, and some people just need a little time."

Time. "Funny you should say that. Robin and I had a conversation earlier with Peter and Peggy about this same thing."

"Is that what you children were all huddled up about in the driveway?"

"Yeah." Jess blew out a breath. "Peggy wanted to set up some ground rules."

"Yes, I know about that," Elaine said, nodding. "I've spoken with Peggy at length about this situation. I've listened to her side of the story and how she feels, and I've told her what I think and how this family feels about each other. I've told her that Robin is a member of this family now, and although Peggy herself may not understand your relationship, we all need to make an effort to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible around each other. We won't abandon members of this family for any reason, and if Peggy requires some time to sort through all of this, then we will all understand that, as well."

I knew my mother had a hand in working this out. Jess smiled warmly, and quite unexpectedly, moisture came to her eyes. "Thanks, Mom." All other words escaped her. Her mother had insight and wisdom beyond measure. We all need to do our part.

"Things are going to be all right, dear." Elaine squeezed her daughter's hand reassuringly. "For now, Peggy's conditions are reasonable, and who knows? In time she may become more comfortable with your relationship with Robin." She offered her daughter a warm smile. "I'm very happy, Jessie, that you've found someone wonderful to love, someone who cares for you and makes you happy. It seems to agree with you." It was true, and Elaine could see that quite clearly. Jess's eyes held such a bright spark within them, something that had been there ever since Robin had come into her life. It had been missing for far too long. "I was worried about you after that awful man, James, hurt you so terribly."

"I'm over all that. It's ancient history."

"I'm very glad you now have someone you can trust, Jessie. You deserve that, my darling girl."

"I do trust Robin," Jess acknowledged. "And I know I'm safe with her."

"What a lovely thought." Elaine smiled, then stood up. "Now, it's time for me to get busy, otherwise we won't be having our Sunday pot roast anytime soon." She returned to the counter to continue chopping up the vegetables.

"Here, Mom, let me help with the potatoes." Suddenly, Jess spied a small blue eye peeking cautiously around the kitchen corner wall. She hid a grin, speaking out loudly. "Gee, I wonder where Michael is."

Silence.

Silly guy. "I know he must be here somewhere."

More silence.

Jess continued on with her game. "Unless he's still sleeping."

Faster than a speeding bullet, a small boy in a bright red cape flew into the kitchen, landing squarely on the lap of one very amused aunt as she sat at the table. "I'm Superman!" the small voice announced.

"Are you, now?" Jess laughed. "Did you have a good nap, buddy?" She straightened the boy's sleep-tousled dark hair as he nodded his answer.

A second later, Jeremy entered the kitchen holding his soccer ball, his brown hair similarly disarrayed. "Can we play ball?"

Elaine spoke up. "Jessie, why don't you get the boys a drink of apple juice from the fridge, and then maybe you and Robin can take them out in the backyard to play until it's time for dinner."

"Okay, but what about the potatoes?"

Elaine laid her hand on her daughter's dark head and laughed. "Your mother is perfectly capable of peeling a few potatoes. Get the boys a drink and then take them outside. You and Robin can keep them occupied and out of the kitchen while I'm getting things ready in here. All right?"

Jess knew better than to argue with that. "Yes, Ma'am." She got up from the table and gave her mother a quick hug, then winked at her nephews. "We know who's the boss around here, don't we?"

Little giggles erupted.

And why is it that I’m never the boss anywhere?

It had been a very pleasant day, all things considered, and the Sunday dinner Elaine had prepared was, as usual, delicious. After a leisurely dessert of homemade cinnamon-apple pie, French vanilla ice cream, and coffee, Robin and Jess prepared to leave Tampa and head back to Orlando.

"Thanks for your invitation today, Elaine." Robin gave Jess's mother a good-bye hug. "Everything was wonderful."

"You're very welcome, Robin, dear," Elaine responded. "I'm glad you could make it over. You know you're always welcome here." She turned to her daughter. "Now, you two drive carefully on the interstate."

"We will," Jess answered dutifully, then let her voice drop just a little. "Thanks for everything, Mom. We appreciate it." She gave her mother a hug, then she and Robin took their places in the front seats of the silver Mercedes and fastened their seatbelts. Jess lowered the driver's side window so they could both wave to the two small boys standing beside their father in the front doorway. Finally, she put the car in gear and pulled out of the driveway, homeward bound.

It was almost dusk, the evening sunlight now beginning to wane as the sun set below the horizon behind them. Robin had been unusually quiet during the ride home, and Jess started to take notice. She also noticed that the younger woman's posture was unusually stiff, and that there was a tight set to her jaw, something Jess recognized immediately as a sign that Robin was stewing about something. "You all right?"

"Fine."

"Okay." I'm not buying it.

"Are you tired?" Robin asked, not actually looking at Jess. Instead, she kept her eyes firmly fixed on the roadway in front of her. "Do you want me to drive?"

"No."

"Okay." Petite fingers lightly tapped the car's door handle in preoccupation.

All right, what's the matter? "You want to talk about it?"

Do I? Robin wasn't sure this was the best time to get into it. Then again, why not? "I'm a bit miffed."

A light chuckle. "I figured that out." Jess suddenly became serious. "You miffed at me?"

No immediate answer was forthcoming.

Guess that answers that. "What did I do?"

Does she really not know? "Jess, I don't understand how you could just stand there and let your sister-in-law dictate to us how we're supposed to behave in your mother's house." Robin was on a roll. "You let her insinuate that you and I were doing something wrong by being together, and further, that we should somehow have to control ourselves around everyone. I mean, what did she think we were going to do, start climbing all over each other right there on the living room sofa?"

Oh boy. Jess just let Robin continue.

"And God forbid we should inadvertently brush up against one another, or our hands should accidentally touch while passing the potatoes at dinner." Robin was now fuming, becoming more animated as she spoke. "And you didn't even stick up for us. You just agreed with whatever she said. She could have asked you to grovel at her feet, and you would have done it." She looked over at Jess pointedly. "Why?"

That's totally unfair. "If you remember, I asked you whether Peggy's conditions were okay with you, and you said yes."

"That's because you had already made the decision for us."

Had she? Jess didn't think she had overstepped. Besides, Robin wasn't fully aware of all the inter-family workings that had gone on, including her mother's conversation with Peggy which had brought about the compromises and concessions that were necessary, at least for now. "Listen, Robin, there are things you don't understand."

"You're right, Jess. I don't understand." A sense of hurt now replaced the anger, and the more Robin thought about it, the more hurt she felt. "It was..." Green eyes stared unseeing out into the twilight sky. "Demeaning."

Oh dear. Damage control was in order. "Sweetheart, listen to me." Jess glanced over to see whether she had Robin's attention. "I didn't want to cause any scenes right there in the driveway. I had intended to talk with Peggy separately later on, but then I had a conversation with my mother that gave me a new perspective on all of this."

"Go on." She decided to hear Jess out.

"My mother explained to me that she previously had a very long discussion with Peggy. She told me that she made it clear to her that we are all members of this family, you included, and that we should all, as members of this family, try to make each other feel as comfortable as possible." Jess paused to consider her thoughts. "I took that to mean that everyone should do his or her best to make sure that you and I, together, are made to feel comfortable. And by the same token, I also took that to mean that you and I should, likewise, do our best to make sure that others are made to feel comfortable, too. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"It's a two-way street."

"Right. We're all making concessions to ensure that others feel comfortable." Jess glanced once more at Robin. "So it wasn't meant to be demeaning, honey. It was meant to outline a mutual comfort zone."

It was quiet in the car for several moments as Robin pondered what Jess was saying.

"And although our relationship is difficult for Peggy to understand, she's willing to try to accept it and accept us because we're all part of the same family, just as you and I have to try to accept certain things that will make it easier on her."

Robin felt ashamed. I really put my foot in it. "You're right, Jess. I understand now." She let out a remorseful sigh. "I'm sorry I overreacted."

A nod. "And I'm sorry, too, sweetheart. I should've realized how all of this was affecting you."

"Forget I said anything?"

"Actually, I'd rather we discussed things that bother us. If I screw up, I want you to tell me."

Robin smiled. "Deal." By now, the sun had completely set. The dark patch of roadway in front of them was dotted with the red taillights of a few cars up ahead, along with the occasional bright headlights passing them by in the opposite lanes. "Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"I did have nice time today." Petite fingers reached over and gently grasped Jess's hand, which was resting on the center armrest. "The boys are so sweet. Jeremy really loved the birthday present you gave him, you know."

"Well, I figured he'd enjoy a set of Rollerblades."

"And when you put that little helmet on him and the little elbow and knee pads, he looked like he really meant business." Robin chuckled. "I wonder where he gets his competitive nature?"

An unamused blue eye glanced over. "I'm sure I wouldn't know."

Another chuckle. "Hey, Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"So, what's my trial surprise?'

The older woman laughed. "Like I said, kiddo, I'm working on it."

Rats. "Keeping me in suspense, huh?"

Jess responded with a wide smile. "It's better that way."

Oh. Robin decided that her powers of persuasion definitely did need work. "If you say so."

"I say so."

"Fine." I'm going to get it out of her one way or the other. The lights of the city were coming up on them as they drove past the Disney World exits on the interstate highway, and the traffic became a bit heavier. Almost home. "Jess?"

"Yeah?"

A thoughtful pause. "Your mom's very wise."

"I know," Jess quietly agreed. "If it wasn't for my mom, and also Harry, I don't know how I would've made it through some very rough times."

Rough times. Robin knew exactly what Jess meant. James. "I'm glad you had someone you could turn to."

Jess squeezed Robin's hand. "Now I have you."

Yes, you do, Jess. And don't you forget that.

Chapter 2

It was dark. A shadowy figure emerged from beyond the periphery, identity hidden, as it followed its unsuspecting target. Suddenly, the object of the figure's watchful glare became aware of the lone observer's existence and sprinted forth in an apparent attempt to elude surveillance. All to no avail. A chase ensued, rapid footsteps closing in steadily from behind, pounding the pavement forcefully. Amazingly, the lead runner managed to remain just out of arm's reach, as the moments now stretched into what seemed like an eternity. Without warning, though, fatigue set in and the object of the chase was overcome by numbness, legs nearly paralyzed and requiring extraordinary effort just to drag them forward. But for some reason, the chaser could not seem to catch up, instead keeping an even, steady pace just a short distance behind, neither giving up nor getting close enough to capture its prey.

Then, as if by some miracle, a door appeared and the exhausted sprinter darted behind it, firmly bolting it locked. Fists pounded loudly, repeatedly, from the opposite side, breaking down the hollow wood door as easily as if it were merely cardboard. The two participants, now following some predetermined script, stood momentarily frozen in place, only to resume the chase all over again. And so it went, on and on in a never-ending marathon, with no capture and no finish line in sight. Endlessly running.

In pure reflex, a long leg gave a small kick in the queen-sized waterbed as the dark head tossed from side to side in restlessness. Abruptly, silver-blue eyes shot wide open, the racing heartbeat mimicking the pounding footsteps heard within the unconscious mind just moments before.

The blonde sleeping companion awakened at the movements, speaking in a raspy voice. "Jess, you okay?"

The dark woman took a few deep breaths to steady herself, then glanced over at Robin. "Yeah."

The smaller body moved closer. "Was it a dream?"

"Uh..." It was clear that Jess was still somewhat disoriented. "Yeah."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Jess tried to focus. "Umn... well, it was one of those chasing dreams. You know, the ones where someone is chasing you but you never really know who, and they never really catch you." I haven't had one of those in a long time.

Robin rested her hand against Jess's cheek. "I know what you mean." She seems really unsettled. "Everyone has those every once in a while. It seems scary at the time, but it's only a dream."

Jess was silent. God. Robin looked good. Even through the darkness, the familiar, petite body was irresistible. Or maybe it was just the overproduction of adrenaline pumping through her system at that particular moment. Whatever the reason, Jess couldn't help herself. In an instant, she covered Robin's smaller body with her own and kissed her soundly, intensely. Jess was now operating on auto pilot, feverishly running her hands beneath Robin's long nightshirt and all over the well-known curves and tender areas. She had only one intent in mind. All of her energy was now focused on bringing the younger woman up and over the precipice they'd shared together so many times before.

Robin, although momentarily surprised, went with it, and gave Jess what she seemed to need so desperately. Whatever it was about that dream that had spooked Jess so thoroughly, Robin was determined to erase all remnants of it from conscious memory. She tangled her fingers into the long, dark hair and returned the kisses with fervor, speaking just long enough to convey much-needed words of comfort. "I'm here."

Jess, intensely determined in her mission, succeeded, as both she and Robin rocked together in harmony, climbing higher toward their ultimate goal. Their bodies tensed for several seconds, then relaxed as they fell next to each other, tangled in a loose embrace. Jess's heartbeat was pounding for a different reason this time, and it felt good. It felt right. Not scary or threatening or foreboding. Just right. Enough so that it dispelled the lingering unsettled feeling she'd had ever since awakening from her dream. Immediately, her eyelids became heavy once again, and without another word, she snuggled up closer to the smaller woman, letting more pleasant dreams overtake her.

Slender rays of morning sunlight streamed in through tiny openings in the slats of the closed Venetian blinds, making an array of thin-striped patterns across the carpeted floor. This time, the smaller form stirred first, green eyes squinting as they adjusted to the light in the room. Robin tensed her shoulders for a second and then stretched her legs out in an effort to get the blood pumping through her body again, stifling a small yawn as she did so.

Her companion awakened, but elected not to move from her comfortable location nearby. Instead, the clear blue eyes blinked several times, watching with interest as the smaller woman ran through her wake-up routine. "Good morning."

A smile. "Good morning. Any more bad dreams?"

"Nope. Slept like a baby."

A petite finger playfully tapped Jess's nose. "Except for your snoring."

"Snoring?" A disbelieving look. "I'll have you know, Robin, that I do not snore."

A tiny giggle. "If you want proof, I'll put a tape recorder on your nightstand and record you snoring one night."

"All you would get on that tape would be silence."

"I don't think so, Jess." Another giggle. "Your snoring could wake the dead."

"I repeat: I do not snore. I think you must have been dreaming, yourself."

Well, obviously, there was no convincing her of the facts of the matter. Robin offered an indulging sigh. "Whatever you say, Jess."

"Besides, you're the one who makes all these cute little noises when you sleep." Jess decided to deflect attention from herself. And after all, fair was fair.

Green eyes narrowed in concentration. "What noises?"

"Little squeaks and mumbles." It's adorable. "Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night and listen to you."

Oh God. Robin promptly covered her head with her pillow, embarrassed. "Why don't you just wake me up when I do that so I can stop it?"

"Because it's cute." It was an entirely honest answer.

A green eye peeked out from underneath the pillow. "What I want to know is, how did you manage to turn this conversation around on me so quickly?"

A chuckle. "Practice." Suddenly, a slightly troubled look came across Jess's face, and she swallowed nervously.

Noticing the abrupt change, Robin raised her head from beneath the pillow. "Hey." Petite fingers brushed Jess's cheek. "Were you remembering another bad dream just now?"

"No." Blue eyes blinked several times.

"Then what is it?"

"I, um... I think I owe you an apology." Jess had a sickening feeling inside of her.

"An apology?" Robin was perplexed.

Those blue eyes continued to blink, remorse now clearly evident within them. "Last night, I behaved badly. I'm sorry."

Robin thought for a moment, then figured out just what Jess meant. She placed a tender kiss on Jess's forehead. "No, honey." How could she ease Jess's mind? "We're here for each other, remember?"

Jess grimaced, visibly angry with herself. "Not like that. Not like the way I..." She stopped, unable to say the words.

Robin's eyes grew wide at the implication. "Don't you think that, Jess." Her voice was now stern. "You are the most loving person I know."

"It's no excuse for me to..." Jess hesitated again, "take certain liberties with you."

"What liberties?" Robin gentled her tone. "We're here for each other. Always. If I needed you, you'd be there for me. I recall one time when I needed you, when I needed to feel you, to know that you were real, and to try to remember you in my mind, and you were there for me."

Jess recalled that time, too, although Robin had needed her in an entirely different way. It was the night after Robin's father had visited, leaving Robin so hurt and upset that she somehow needed to memorize Jess in her mind. And although Jess didn't understand it, she let Robin proceed with what she was doing anyway. "Yes, I remember that, but the difference is that you asked my permission."

Robin gently kissed Jess's forehead again. "Honey, don't you know? You have my permission." Something, whether it was the dream, or something else, had shaken Jess, and Robin could feel it. It crossed Robin's mind that she'd recently seen signs that something was going on. A certain sadness had peeked out of those blue eyes once, and Robin had spotted it an instant before it could tuck itself away again. Now she studied the eyes once more, trying to find it again, but whatever she'd detected was too deeply hidden to show itself. And yet, her intuition was telling her that something was definitely there.

Jess needed to clarify what she meant. "I want you to tell me right away if there's anything I ever do that you don't want. I want you to promise me you'll do that."

"Okay." A small nod. "I promise." Robin rested her head on the pillow next to Jess. She was very quiet for several moments as she studied her companion. "You're beautiful. How could anyone not be crazy about you?"

Where did that come from? Oddly, it was these words that eased Jess's mind the most. She smiled. "You think so, huh?"

"Yes." Robin gave Jess a look of genuine love. "There's nothing better in this world than being with you. And I mean that in every way."

Long arms embraced Robin and held her close, letting the words sink in. Jess was indeed safe with Robin, just as she'd known she would be. She let herself relax into the loving embrace.

Safe at last.

"This was a great idea." Robin gave the Sea World ticket-taker her admission ticket and followed Jess through the turnstile. "I've never been here." The make-believe lighthouse in the harbor near the front entrance stood prominently, serving as a perfect location for a photo opportunity. "Hey, let's take a picture."

Jess pretended to be reluctant. "Must we?"

"Yes." The blonde woman grinned. "Here's my camera. You take a picture of me, and then I'll take one of you."

"If you insist." Jess dutifully did as she was told, taking a picture of Robin in front of the lighthouse. She then exchanged places with Robin and stood at the designated photo spot. "Can I stick out my tongue?" She removed her silver-mirrored sunglasses.

"No." Robin quickly snapped the picture. "I'm going to frame that one."

Replacing her sunglasses, the older woman approached Robin. "I see I'm going to have to keep my eye on you, otherwise you'll be snapping pictures of me right and left."

"My, aren't we full of ourselves." A giggle. "I ask for one picture, and now you think I'm going to be making a whole photo album of you."

"You're not?" A hurt look, then a smile. "Damn."

They took a park map from the kiosk and then proceeded into the nearest area. Piped-in Jimmy Buffett tunes resonated from high above in the palm trees. "You know, I'm glad we played hooky today. I bet it's more crowded here on the weekend."

"We needed a break, and it just worked out that our schedules were clear today." Jess perused the map, trying to ascertain exactly where they were.

"Look at those pretty pink flamingos." Robin spied a flamingo standing on one leg and snapped a picture. "Cool." She checked her watch. "We have to get going."

"Get going?"

"Yeah, so we don't miss the dolphin show."

"Robin, they have three shows. We can catch any one of them."

"No, because we have to see the sea lions and the Shamu show, and then there's the little pet animal show, and then there's the Clydesdale horses and the penguins and the manatees. Didn't you read the map?"

Didn't I read the map? Well, that was a silly question. Of course Jess read the map. In fact, she was still reading it. "You mean you have everything all planned out?"

"I'm just saying that we have to stick to a schedule or we won't see everything." All this seemed very obvious to Robin.

It was a lost cause, Jess decided. "Fine." She handed Robin the theme park map. "Which way do we go?"

"Left." Robin led the way. They came across a bakery that was giving off incredibly enticing scents of brewing coffee and hot cinnamon rolls. "That smells good."

"Do you want to take a detour over there and get something?"

Robin checked her watch again, then altered her path. "We have a few minutes."

Jess smiled. For food, she has a few minutes. "You know, we do have over a half-hour before the show starts." She followed Robin inside to the bakery counter.

"No, we have to get there early so we get a good seat. If you wait until the last minute, you have to sit in the back."

"You know this?" Jess placed their order, then paid for their cappuccino and cinnamon rolls.

A blonde eyebrow arched. "Of course." It was only common sense.

Okay. Further discussion of the matter was pointless, Jess decided, so they proceeded over to the dolphin auditorium to await the start of the show. And she had to admit, it was a pretty good show. The bottlenose dolphins were certainly trained well. They jumped in unison through various hoops and over colored ropes and did a lot of other tricks. One large dolphin even waved its tail at the audience, and all of the dolphins posed on a small platform to have their pictures taken.

After the show was over, Robin and Jess strolled down the walkway to the dolphin cove. Many of the friendly sea mammals were gathered in a large area designed to allow park visitors to pet them and then feed them small, raw fish available for purchase at a nearby food hut.

"Are you dried off yet?" Jess bought a tray of raw fish, secretly grinning.

"Not quite." Robin bent over to pet a smiling dolphin that had come up close to them, hoping for a meal. "Why didn't you tell me that we were sitting too close?"

"Robin, the sign said 'Soak Zone', so I thought it would be obvious that the dolphins could splash that area." Jess chuckled under her breath as she handed the tray of fish to Robin. "Besides, you seemed to have everything planned. I certainly didn't want to interfere."

The younger woman remained completely unamused. "You didn't say anything about it on purpose." A petite hand held a fish out to the dolphin who had taken up permanent residence in front of them. "And how come you didn't get splashed? You were sitting right next to me."

Jess stood there innocently. "Umn, just lucky?" That particular comment earned her a light slap on the forearm, which made Jess chuckle once again. "So, where to next, kiddo?"

"The sea lions, then we can go see Shamu." Robin bumped shoulders with Jess. "Unless you'd like to do something else."

A wide grin emerged. "Wouldn't dream of it."

After the sea lion show, Jess and Robin followed the path around to the seal and sea lion habitat. Once there, they leaned against the railing and listened to the barking otters begging their guests for food. As before, there was a hut strategically located in the area offering trays of raw fish for feeding purposes. Many of the seals and sea lions were lazily sunning themselves on man-made rock formations, while others were snoozing in the shade or tucked into crevices between the rocks or underneath the walkway areas.

"That one's barking at you." Robin threw the seal a fish as it came up very close to them and flapped its flippers.

"No, he's barking at you. You're the one with the food." Jess peered over the railing and studied a sea otter lounging on its back directly below them. "So, where are we going next?" A small smirk. "According to your schedule."

"Funny." A tiny nudge of the elbow. Robin threw out another fish to one of the recent newcomers. She was attracting lots of attention from her eagerly flapping friends, mainly because she was the only one in the area with fish to feed. "Shamu's next."

"Hey, I have an idea. How about we go to the shark encounter next, then we can go see Shamu this afternoon sometime?" It seemed like a perfectly good suggestion.

Robin gave Jess a look. "You realize this means that we'd have to adjust our schedule."

"Please?" A hopeful expression.

Robin grinned easily. She's such a kid. "Okay, Jess. For you, we'll go see the sharks now." She grinned again. "I suppose I can tweak the schedule."

That settled, they ventured along the path over to the shark aquarium. It was a 120-foot-long Plexiglas tunnel completely surrounded with spectacular views of several species of sharks, from hammerheads to tiger sharks, and even a few fierce looking barracudas and Moray eels. Jess thought it was so cool that she went through the tunnel twice, backtracking on the conveyer belt more than once each time to get a closer look. In addition, there was a restaurant adjacent to the shark tank where visitors could both dine and shark watch at the same time, if they were so inclined.

"You want to go on the roller coaster?" Jess quirked an eyebrow after they'd exited the shark exhibit for the second time.

Loud screams from those riding the serpentine coaster echoed in the distance. "I don't think so, Jess." The sun went behind a cloud, and Robin took the opportunity to take a seat and rest on one of the nearby benches overlooking the vast waterfront.

"Then how about the Atlantis flume ride?" The taller woman joined her on the bench. "You could get splashed again for real." Both dark eyebrows shot up teasingly.

A light chuckle. "No, once was enough, thank you."

Jess surveyed the scene. The waterfront held a long bridge that split into a fork leading to the opposite side of the park where the main attraction, Shamu Stadium, lay. Several paddle boats were out and about on the waterway, and a separate line of visitors stood patiently waiting their turn to go up into the observation tower. The water glistened in the midday sun, and even though it was a summer's day, it hadn't gotten too hot yet to be uncomfortable. Strolling along through the lush and mostly tree-covered theme park seemed almost like being on a tropical oasis, a haven away from the worries of the world. A parade of Clydesdale horses clip-clopped their way along the walkway surrounding the edge of the waterfront, the lively theme song of a popular beer brewing company accompanying them.

As Jess sat silently observing the crowds meandering along in front of them, a familiar sense came over her, something she recognized as sure as she was sitting there right at that moment. It was a reminiscent feeling, she was certain of that, and yet the assortment of immediate sights taken together made little sense in evoking it. Crowds, water, horses, trees, and Robin. Such an odd combination to have caused the impression it made. A whole other world, or so it seemed. And pleasant, in a comfortable sort of way. Or was it just the adventure itself? Jess mentally chuckled to herself. If you could call exploring a well-known theme park an adventure. She glanced over at her adventure-seeking companion. "So, lunch, then Shamu?"

"Yeah." The blonde head nodded affirmatively. "And don't forget the penguins."

"Heaven forbid." Jess nudged Robin playfully. "We definitely mustn't forget the penguins."

"Isn't he cute?" Robin held up the Shamu plush toy she'd just purchased.

Jess scrutinized the object. "It's kind of big. They had smaller ones, you know."

"I know, but this one is cuddly."

"Is it?" An unexplained surge of plush toy jealousy arose. "Tell me, Robin, exactly when do you plan to be cuddling this thing?"

Robin stopped walking and gazed up at Jess quizzically. "Does it matter?"

What a silly question. "Of course it matters." A slight pout.

Robin laughed. "Jess, honey, it's a plush toy. I'll only be cuddling it on the very rare occasions when my primary cuddler is not available." She laughed again. "You're not being replaced. I promise." The whole thing was really quite sweet, now that Robin thought about it.

The statement seemed to reassure Jess somewhat. But still... "Let's make sure we're perfectly clear here." A raised eyebrow. "He," Jess paused and pointed directly at the Shamu toy, "will be on a shelf somewhere, right?"

Robin tried hard not to laugh yet again. "Yes, Jess."

"Good." A sly wink. "Because I have to be careful of my competition."

"Jess..." Robin discreetly grasped hold of the older woman's hand. "You have no competition." It was an absolutely sincere statement. She then released her hold and went back to admiring her purchase.

A furtive look. That thing gets all the attention now. In an effort to shake off her irrational plush toy jealousy, Jess strode over to a nearby pavilion to grab a soft drink. "So, I take it you liked the Shamu show."

"Yeah. I wonder how they train those killer whales to do all that stuff. And did you see that really huge whale? Good grief! He sure could splash."

"I see you managed to stay dry," Jess deadpanned.

Robin shook her head. "I'm never going to live this down, am I?"

"Nope." A quick wink. "No way." They stood in place and watched as the parade of Clydesdale horses made its way past them for the last time that day. "So, where to next?"

Robin checked the park map. "Pick one. Manatees, the pet show, or beer school."

Azure eyes twinkled as Jess slid on her silver-mirrored sunglasses. "You know, I've always enjoyed school."

"Now, how did I know you would pick that?" Not waiting for an answer to her rhetorical question, Robin led the way along the path toward the Hospitality Center, finally passing by the now-stabled horses in the adjacent Clydesdale Hamlet. "Hey, will you take a picture of me in the barn with one of the horses?" She handed over the camera.

Jess smiled, slipping off her sunglasses again. "Okay." She then did exactly as she was instructed, snapping a picture of Robin, plush toy and all, standing next to a perfectly posed Gus still decked out in his parade gear. She gave Robin back the camera. "Beer now?"

"Not quite." The blonde woman put the camera up to her eye. "Go stand over there next to Max. I want to remember this moment." Max was sticking his head out from his stable berth just waiting for someone to snap up his picture. Noticing Jess's reluctance, Robin prodded further, deciding to entice Jess with an offer she knew the older woman absolutely couldn't refuse. "The sooner you let me take your picture, the sooner we can get some beer." An expectant look followed.

Blackmail. "Oh, all right," Jess acquiesced. She went over and positioned herself next to the horse as Robin focused the shot. "Did you take it yet?"

Boy, she's impatient. "I'm taking it now."

Just as the flash went off, Max suddenly nuzzled Jess's neck, clearly upstaging the photo. Or was he just looking for a sugar cube? In any event, the picture was taken, and a surprised Jess stepped aside. She glanced from the horse to Robin, then back again, and then approached Robin. "Promise me you'll burn that picture."

"No deal." Robin was proud of herself. "I'm going to make posters." She exited the hitching barn.

"Robin," Jess said as she caught up to her, "if that picture sees the light of day, I will not be held responsible for what happens to your little cuddly friend, there." Blue eyes fixed threateningly on the Shamu plush toy tucked neatly under Robin's arm.

"You wouldn't dare."

"It's fair warning, Robin."

"Touch one fiber on his fin, and there will be serious consequences."

Serious consequences? Clearly, Robin had gotten better at this game. Jess was forced to rethink her position. "Well , I suppose I'll have to be content with my role as primary cuddler, then."

"That you will." Robin smiled fondly, knowing she'd won that round. "Now, come on." She grinned. "School awaits. Let's go learn all about the finer points of beer tasting."

Saturday. It was a little cloudy, having rained earlier that morning. It seemed that Friday had indeed been the best day to have gone to Sea World. Today, though, Robin and Jess had slept in and then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast together before Jess took off for the office to check on things. The junior partner's neurotic compulsion to make sure that nothing earth-shattering had happened while they played hooky the previous day had apparently gotten the better of her, which left Robin to her own devices for the remainder of the day. The young associate had offered to go on in to the office with Jess, but the older attorney had refused, convincing Robin that anything that needed to be done could wait until Monday. That logic, of course, made absolutely no sense, seeing that Jess was opting to go into the office in spite of her own line of thinking. Ah, well. Jess would be Jess, and there was simply no changing that.

So, in light of the situation, Robin took the opportunity to tidy up around the house, and then considered the possibilities of heading out for an afternoon shopping excursion at the mall. Trains. Somehow, the mall always reminded her of trains. She smiled to herself. Jess loved trains, and the mall's little train around the food court always brought back fond memories. Something about ringing the bell...

She decided she would get a few new items for the house, maybe some new linens for the waterbed and a framed picture print that had captured her eye. It was just a simple attempt to add her own personal touch to the decor of their home, not that Jess hadn't done a great job of matching color schemes and wood tones in the furnishings. Still, Robin wanted to make things more of a joint effort between them, and that included subtle aspects of home improvement. And then, of course, there were all of those sales...

She finished picking up the towels in the bathroom, then moved out into the living room and gathered together the sections of the newspaper from the sofa. Just as she was about to grab her purse and head out to her car in the garage, the front doorbell rang. Great. Who could that be? She stepped over to the door, peered through the eyehole and saw a man with a briefcase standing there, apparently alone. Salesman. She debated whether or not to open the door to him. Of course, if she didn't, she'd have to wait for the guy to leave, or else he'd be sure to see her car backing out of the garage. Rats. Not particularly thrilled about delaying her shopping trip a moment longer, she decided to be direct and get rid of the man once and for all. Then she could be on her way.

She opened up the door. "May I help you?"

He was a tall man with dark hair and handsome features, dressed in a business suit and wearing an expensive Rolex watch on his wrist. "I'm sorry." He seemed a little taken aback. "I was looking for Jessica Harrison. I understood that she lived at this location."

Robin was surprised that the man wouldn't have called instead trying to sell something door-to-door. Don't they do telemarketing nowadays? "Yes, however she's unavailable right now. May I tell her who was here?"

He set his briefcase down beside him on the front porch. "My name's Jay Prescott. Jessica and I had some business dealings a while back. I'm in town right now, so I thought I'd take a chance that she'd be home on the weekend and stop by."

"Oh, I see." Robin nodded. "I'll certainly let her know that you stopped by."

"I'll be in town for another day." He reached inside his jacket pocket and produced a business card, jotting something down on it. "Here." He handed it to Robin. "Maybe you could give this to Jessica and ask her to give me a call at my hotel if she has a chance. The number is on the back." He replaced his pen in his inside jacket pocket. "I have a business proposition that I wanted to discuss with her and see if she might be interested."

Robin glanced at the business card. J.R. Prescott, Prescott Consulting, Inc., Dallas, Texas. Hmmm... what kind of business did Jess have going with this guy? "I'll be sure to give her the message."

"Great." He gave her a charming smile. "Thanks for your time." With that, he picked up his briefcase and promptly went on his way.

Robin closed the door, then casually watched though the front bay window as the man got into his car and drove off. Good. Now to get going. Quickly, she retrieved her car keys from the key holder and gathered her purse, tossing the business card onto the kitchen counter as she did so. She mentally debated which store she should go to first, as several were having special sales events that weekend. And maybe she could stop at that little cafe in the mall for a mocha cappuccino. She punched in the alarm code and stepped outside into the garage.

It was time to "shop 'til you drop."

The office was very quiet, which was quite unusual for a typical Saturday at this firm. Jess made her way through the reception area and rounded the corner, stopping to check the message center for any messages that hadn't been delivered. None; good. She proceeded down the long hallway toward her office, and stepped inside. A pile of mail greeted her from her inbox. Damn. Well, maybe most of it could wait until Monday. She set her briefcase down on her cherrywood desk and booted up her computer, checking her voice mail messages as she waited. Nothing urgent. She'd always had a particular feeling that something would fall through the cracks unless she was right there on top of it. Unrealistic, maybe, but unless she personally saw things for herself, her instinct was to assume the worst. Happily, most of the time she needn't have worried.

Now for the e-mail messages. She sat quietly in her leather chair as the computer ran though its log-on routines and downloaded the network's log-on scripts. Once complete, she pulled up her e-mail program and scanned the messages, clicking on a few that seemed to need immediate attention. Of course, she could have checked all this from home, and taken care of anything that was urgent. But somehow, Jess just had to be there herself. Maybe it was her workaholic mentality, although she'd certainly gotten better about that since she'd known Robin. Or maybe it was something else, perhaps her constant sense that if the work was left alone, it would pile up and disaster would surely strike. Like things were always chasing her...

Chasing. Hmmm. The dream. Maybe that's what it was about. Jess glanced out the floor-to-ceiling window next to her and noticed a flock of blackbirds gathered on the power lines below. Predictably, in the quiet solitude of the nearly empty office building, her internal voices soon made themselves known. Unable to escape the incessant chatter, Jess finally allowed herself to tune in to the conversation.

Howdy doody!

"Howdy doody? You must be on something, " the alternate internal voice quipped back. "So, why are you here? "

It’s nice to know you missed me.

"Just answer the question. I hadn't heard from you in a while, so I figured everything was under control, " the alternate internal voice reasoned.

Was. That's the operative word.

"What's that supposed to mean?" the alternate internal voice questioned. "Everything's been great, and still is great. "

Haven't you been paying attention? I seem to recall a certain apology you made to Robin just the other day.

"When?"

Your innocent routine doesn’t work here. You can't hide. Let me make it plain, since you seem to require that. When you woke up in the middle of the night, you did something, did you not?

"Yeah, what of it? " The usual belligerence returned.

Obviously, it was something you felt you needed to apologize for the next morning.

A dismissive tone. "I don't really want to have this discussion. There's nothing to that. Robin and I have an understanding. "

Do you? Since when is it okay for you to use people?

"I don't know what you're talking about. " The alternate internal voice had absolutely no intention of discussing the matter.

Oh, please! You’re no different than what's his name. The only thing was, he admitted he was using you in the end.

The alternate internal voice took on an outraged tone. "That's not fair. I've done everything I know how to do to treat Robin in the way she deserves to be treated. It's not anything like the way that monster treated me. "

There is a river. We've discussed this before. Go review your geography. You'll find it in Egypt.

"Look, buddy, I had a dream. It shook me up a little. Robin was there for me. End of story."

So, having this dream of yours gave you license to take liberties, as you so delicately put it. Is that it?

Momentary confusion. "No. Yes. Look, Robin and I talked about this. She said it was okay. "

She said it was okay? That's your defense? She said it was okay.

"You're irritating me. Why do you always twist everything around? If she says it's okay, then who am I to question her? "

Fine. Question her or don't question her. Hey, you're the one who has to live with yourself.

Silence.

So, what was this dream about?

A tiny pout. "Why do you care? "

I don't, but you do, so spill it. What was the dream about?

"Fine. I was being chased. I couldn't see by whom. It was dark, but I saw the person coming up behind me, and the faster I ran, the more futile it seemed. Suddenly I felt paralyzed, and I started to slow down. It was so hard to run, as if I wasn't getting anywhere. But still, for whatever reason, whoever was chasing me couldn't catch me. Then, a door appeared, so I went behind it and locked it, thinking I'd be safe. But the person chasing me just knocked it down, as if it were nothing, and started chasing me all over again. It wouldn’t end. I just kept running, and the person just kept on chasing me, until I woke up. "

So, what do you think it means?

"I don't know. " The alternate internal voice considered the possibilities. "I used to have similar types of dreams a long time ago, only not as bad. I never figured them out, and then one day, they just stopped. "

What triggered it this time?

Exasperation. "Haven't you been listening? I said I don't know. "

Put on your psychiatrist's hat. You up for a little dream analysis?

"You must be crazy. "

It would serve you well to check the mirror before making such assertions.

No comment was immediately forthcoming.

All right, let's start from the beginning, shall we? Someone starts chasing you, and you start running. Is that correct?

"Right. "

So, were you running from something or someone, or was something or someone chasing you?

"Isn't that the same thing?" The distinction seemed to escape the alternate internal voice.

Is it? Think about it. Are you running from something or someone?

"No, I don't think I am" The denial was strong.

What about your memories? Are you running from them?

"I suppose there are some things I'd rather forget." It was a vague admission.

Okay. Now, is something or someone chasing you?

"Who would be chasing me? " The alternate internal voice was truly perplexed.

That's what you have to answer.

A rare moment of insight. "David's ghost is always on my tail. "

Good answer. Anything or anyone else chasing you?

"No. "

That you know of.

"That I know of."

Okay, you said that you felt paralyzed, and you slowed down, hardly able to move. Is that right?

"Yes. " The alternate internal voice offered further explanation. "My legs felt heavy, as if I couldn't lift them. "

Were you tired of running?

"Yes, I finally became tired of running. "

Maybe you’re tired of running away from your fears.

"Fears of what?" The alternate internal voice was being deliberately obtuse.

Pick one. David, Robin leaving you, your memories.

"None of the above. " There was that denial again.

Fine. Keep thinking geography.

Unamused, the alternate internal voice grew impatient. "Let's just move on."

All right. Now, you also said that you reached a door and you went behind it and locked it, but whoever was chasing you tore it down easily.

"Right. I thought I was safe, but I wasn’t. "

Who or what is the door?

"What?" The alternate internal voice took on a condescending tone. "In case you don't know, Sigmund, a door is not a who. A door is a what. "

In your dream, the door can be either. So, who or what is the door?

"I don’t know. "

Is the door your defenses? Are your defenses so easily breached?

A long contemplating silence. "I guess I have to think about that. "

Or is the door Robin?

"What?"

Is the door Robin? Do you feel safe with Robin, or do you feel that she cannot or will not protect you in the end?

"That's ridiculous!" The alternate internal voice laughed, albeit unconvincingly. "Robin would protect me with her life. "

Yes, I’m sure she would. The question is, do you really believe it down deep inside, or do you still harbor doubts about your safety with her?

The alternate internal voice attempted to immediately terminate the discussion. "I'm not going to answer that. "

Have it your way. That geography thing again, remember? Refer to your atlas.

"I don't hear you. "

Oh, right. You're five; I forgot. Okay then. Last, you said that the running and chasing never stopped. Is that right?

The alternate internal voice, for whatever reason, decided to answer the question this time. "Yes, it just kept going on. "

It goes on because you won t let it stop. Who 's chasing you?

"I already told you. " The alternate internal voice was now exhibiting infinite patience. "I couldn't see. It was dark. "

Here's a clue. When you figure out who or what is chasing you, or who or what you're running from, then you'll know how to make it stop.

On that note, Jess reached for her stack of client billing sheets. She pulled the pile toward her and proceeded to deliberately lose herself in their lengthy and tedious review. If she could just keep her mind occupied, focused on something external, she'd be able to ignore the war being waged within her and shake the intuition she had that something was creeping up on her.

If she just kept herself busy.

Robin arrived home from her shopping trip to find that Jess hadn't yet returned from the office. First, Robin carried inside the large watercolor print she'd just purchased, complete with a washed oak frame that she thought would go nicely in either the front foyer or the living room, or maybe even near the bar adjacent to the dining room. The print was of a lighthouse situated above a rock cliff, and Robin had always had a particular fondness for the stalwart structures and their pulsating beacons. Next, she returned to the garage and dragged the remainder of her packages through the door, this time heading straight for the back bedroom.

She admired the new waterbed linens, and then set about placing them into the wash so she'd be able to put the freshly laundered sheets on the bed later. She'd also bought a couple of new blouses to go with her new wardrobe of summer suits. She promptly unpacked them from their bags and hung them up in the closet in her own room.

It was still fairly early, and she decided she still had time to relax and get in a bit of reading before it was time to start dinner. She meandered out into the living room and studied the print she'd bought. It was cool. The ragged rocks jutted up from the water while whitecapped waves broke against them along the edge of the cliff. And above all the swirling tumult below, the lighthouse stood tall, its lantern casting its bright beam far outward. A metaphor, perhaps? From beyond the danger of an unseen foe, the light guides the unsuspecting navigator away from a treacherous shore.

So where should it go? Robin had a couple of ideas rattling around in her mind, but she decided to wait for Jess's input before making any final decision. She sat down on the sofa and picked up her book, losing herself in the novel until the load of laundry was finished.

After making up the waterbed, Robin spied her fuzzy friend, Shamu, sitting on one of the shelves of the bookcase over in the corner of the bedroom. Impulsively, she took him from his assigned place, nestled him snuggly against the pillow on her side of the waterbed, and tucked the top cover around his midsection and tail. She grinned to herself, anticipating Jess's jealous reaction. A little joke. But Jess was so much fun when it came to a little joking around. And besides, she does it to me all the time. As Robin admired her handiwork, she heard Jess making her way into the kitchen from the garage. Involuntarily, Robin's heart leapt just a little, and she immediately went to greet her long-lost housemate.

"You're home." Robin met Jess out in the living room. "You must've had a lot to do. I've already been to the mall and back."

"Mostly billing." The junior partner eyed the new watercolor print perched up against the side of the swivel chair. "That's nice."

"Yeah, I kind of liked it. Something about that lighthouse... well, I really wanted to buy it." Robin stood in front of the picture. "So, where do you think it should go?"

"Umn..." Jess surveyed the available options. "Don't know yet. Give me a few minutes, and I'll come back out and think about it some more." She set off down the long hallway, first to deposit her briefcase in her home office, and then on into their bedroom.

After what seemed like a longer time than necessary, Robin went to look for Jess. She approached the bedroom just as Jess had finished slipping into a T-shirt and some shorts. "Hey, Jess, I wanted to tell you that I got some new sheets for the—" Wait a minute. Something was different. Robin scanned the room carefully. What was it? Finally, she saw it. Oh boy. She is definitely in trouble now. "Okay, Jess, where is he?"

"Who?" Blue eyes looked away guiltily.

"You know who. What did you do with him?"

"Him?"

Robin placed her hands on her hips. "Sammy."

"Sammy?" These one-word questions in response to Robin's questions belied the innocence they purported to imply.

"Sammy Shamu." A petite finger pointed to the empty spot on the bed. "I'm on to you, Jess. Where is he?"

Jess now looked directly at the blonde woman, knowing she'd been caught. "Okay. Number one, Robin, we agreed that he would be on a shelf somewhere, did we not? Number two, he certainly doesn't belong there." She indicated the spot on Robin's side of the bed. "And number three, if you had any ideas of cuddling with him, we also agreed that there was already a primary cuddler, also known as the Cuddler-in-Chief." Satisfied that she'd made her point, Jess picked up a hairbrush and started brushing her long hair.

"Not so fast." Green eyes fixed on Jess in the mirror. "That doesn't give you the right to abduct him."

"Abduct? Who said anything about abduct, Robin?" A dark eyebrow rose playfully. "If you look at that shelf over there, you'll see that he's just fine back in his assigned place."

A quick glance to verify the statement. "Do you remember, Jess, when I warned you that if you touched one fiber on his fin, there would be serious consequences? Do you remember that?"

"Umn..." Jess turned to face Robin, blinking several times. "I'm not sure I recall that." It was a deliberate lie, and it was so very obvious.

As it turned out, Robin couldn't help it. She grinned from ear to ear. Jess was so endearingly hopeless. "Cuddler-in Chief, huh?

"Yes."

Robin was having fun. "Any ideas who that might be?"

"You mean you don't know?"

Robin smiled. "I know." She reached up and gave Jess a kiss. "So, come over here, Miss Cuddler-in-Chief, and see these sheets I bought. They're really soft." She grabbed Jess's hand and led her over to the newly made-up waterbed. "See?"

Jess felt the velvety fabric between her fingers. The sheets were indeed incredibly soft. "Yeah, they're nice. I like soft."

"And all the better for the cuddler to cuddle the cuddlee in."

"You're talking about me, right, and not Sammy?" A playful wink.

She's so cute when she's jealous. "As long as you play your cards right." With that, Robin sauntered out of the room toward the kitchen.

As long as I play my cards right? "Hey!" Jess swiftly caught up with her. "I'll have you know that I have a winning hand." She followed Robin into the living room, then returned the kiss the smaller woman had given her just moments before.

Robin felt herself involuntarily sigh with contentment. "You definitely know how to win, I'll give you that." Jess always had such a charming effect on her.

"Okay." The older woman grinned. "Let me grab a drink, and then we can decide where to put that lighthouse."

Robin watched as Jess headed into the kitchen, then pulled the framed artwork out into the middle of the floor. She stood for a moment trying to imagine what it would look like in the various locations around the house she'd previously considered. After a long time had elapsed and Jess still hadn't returned, Robin called out, "Hey Jess, are you coming back?"

Silence.

"Jess?"

More silence.

What's she doing? Robin went to the kitchen in search of her lost housemate. "Jess?" She found her standing very still at the counter, reading a business card. "Hey." Robin stood next to her. "Yeah, I forgot to mention to you that before I went out to the mall, someone stopped by. He left his card and said that he was in town and you could give him a call at his hotel if you wanted."

Jess only stared at the card.

"Something about a business deal, or something like that."

Jess never took her eyes off the card.

"He was saying that he used to have some business with you a while back."

There was still no acknowledgement.

"Jess?" Robin was becoming a little concerned. "You don't have to contact him, you know."

Ever so slowly, blue eyes tracked from the business card over to Robin. "You're saying that this person was here?"

"Yeah, like I said, he stopped by before I went to the mall."

"What, Umn..." Jess swallowed. "What did he look like?"

"Well..." Robin hadn't really made a mental note of the guy's features, but she gave it a try nevertheless. "Let's see, he was tall and slim and had dark hair. Blue eyes, I think. Fairly nice looking. Said his name was Prescott or something. He was well-dressed, with a nice business suit and an expensive watch on his wrist. He was very polite, although he wasn't here for very long." She looked up at Jess. "Why?"

Jess's face was a blank. "No reason." She tossed the business card back onto the counter and brushed past Robin, returning into the living room.

What? Robin knew that blank look well, and she wasn't about to let Jess get away with it. "Oh, no you don't." She took off after her. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

Robin grasped hold of Jess's arm and stopped her progress. "Don't shut me out. Who is this Prescott guy, or whatever his name is, and what business did you use to have with him?"

Jess said nothing, remaining silent as Robin continued to stare at her. Whether it was her defense mechanisms kicking in or something else, Jess couldn't think of the words to answer Robin's questions. So she just stood there.

"Jess? Answer me."

The older woman's breathing increased.

"Jess? Tell me."

For a moment, Jess was silent. Then, in a quiet tone, she spoke. "J.R. Prescott is..." Blue eyes closed and slowly opened again. "Jay Prescott is..."

And then, as clear as day, Robin saw it. Those eyes now told everything, hiding nothing, as the complete story unfolded without another word spoken. In those eyes, she saw Jess's world crashing around her, as Robin's own eyes now caught a quick glimpse of the watercolor print still resting right where she'd left it. The whitecapped waters swirled angrily below the cliff as the stalwart lighthouse above flashed its brilliant beacon in an attempt to warn away those who strayed too close to the jagged rocks partially submerged along its treacherous shore. Robin took hold of Jess's hands and gripped them tightly, trying desperately to keep the looming danger a safe distance away. Sea green eyes searched the blue eyes in front of her for confirmation of what she already knew was true. "Jay Prescott is James, isn't he?"

Jess offered only a weak nod.

Damn. Robin wrapped her arms tightly around the older woman. At the moment, there was nothing more to say. The mission for Robin, though, was clear. She had to protect Jess from the perils of the rocky waters that lay directly ahead. It was a particularly hazardous situation, one which had left enormous destruction in its wake before, and the unfortunate thing was that now it seemed a collision would not be so easily avoided. Robin rested her forehead on Jess's shoulder.

And so it begins...

Chapter 3

Robin turned over in the quiet darkness, and even through the unconscious haziness of sleep, she could sense the empty space next to her. Instinctively, she threw her arm across to the other side of the waterbed, and only confirmed her suspicions. Jess wasn't there. Reluctantly, groggy green eyes opened to visually corroborate the now obvious fact, then glanced over at the digital clock on the nightstand. 2:24 a.m. So, where was Jess at this hour? A petite hand felt the sheets on other side of the bed, finding them cool. It seemed that her sleeping companion had been up a while. At that moment, the air-conditioning unit kicked on, its low hum breaking the peaceful silence surrounding her and prodding her thoughts just a little bit further.

So, should she get up? Robin pondered the idea. Maybe Jess just couldn't sleep, and was up reading or watching TV. Or maybe she was hungry and got up to get a little snack. Or maybe she had some work to do. Or maybe pigs could fly. Right. There was only one reason Jess was up at this time of night, and Robin knew it. James. They'd talked it out at length the previous evening, or so Robin had thought, and Jess was resolved to ignore his recent and unwelcome intrusion into their lives. The now wide-awake green eyes blinked several times. It was funny how one knock at the door could change things so dramatically, and had the potential to spiral those things completely out of control.

How did Robin feel about it, about James's sudden return? Well, she was angry for one thing. Angry that he felt he could just show himself up at their doorstep without any notice. Or warning. And maybe that was his plan all along. Catch your prey off guard. In truth, Robin wouldn't be surprised if there was some other reason for his visit. His stated purpose was that he had some sort of business deal. Yeah, right. And donkeys could fly, too. His visit was purely personal, showing up in his fancy business suit and expensive watch as if he wanted to make a statement. Or an impression. Ah, but even Robin had found him rather handsome and charming during their very brief encounter, hadn't she?

How did she feel? Yes, she was angry. She acknowledged that. Angry at how he had treated Jess all those years ago. At how he had used Jess and deceived her into caring for him. How he had manipulated her into supporting him and paying for his education, giving promises of a future together, all the while scheming to get what he wanted and then take off without so much as an explanation. So, yes, Robin was angry, and by extension, protective. Because tigers don't change their stripes and leopards don't change their spots. That, she admitted, was really it. If James's character hadn't changed in all these years, and Robin was sure it hadn't, then it stood to reason that deep down, Jess's feelings for him might not have changed that much, either.

Once again, how did she feel? Robin's jaw tightened as she lay in the dark. The truth of the matter became undeniable. As angry as Robin was at James for what he had done, and as protective of Jess as she was because of all the pain and heartache he had caused, there was one other primal emotion that had now risen up to bite her, and bite her hard. The fine muscles of the petite jaw tightened even further at the mental admission. Jealousy. There was no escaping it. Robin was jealous. It had been staring her in the face ever since she'd learned that the man who appeared at the front door was James, but she only now recognized it. Of course, she was angry. And naturally, she was protective. But absolutely, positively, and without a doubt, she was jealous.

Having finally had enough of her internal revelations, Robin decided to get up and look for her missing sleeping companion. It was the middle of the night, and Jess shouldn't be up dwelling on the events of the previous day. Robin slipped out of bed and padded over to the far side of the master bedroom, confirming along the way that the bathroom was empty. She then ventured out into the long hallway leading toward the living room. Almost as an afterthought, she detoured around the next corner to check the den, just in case Jess was up doing some work in there. There was no light coming from the office, and upon reaching the doorway, it was clear that no one was inside.

So, Robin continued her search, eventually winding up at the front of the house just inside the entrance to the living room. It was dark in there, too. The television was off, and it was quiet. The vertical blinds in front of the large sliding glass doors were drawn open, and the silvery moonlight glittered off the swimming pool.

Gray-green eyes scanned the spacious room in the semi-darkness, trying to ascertain whether Jess was there. The glow of the moonlight answered Robin's question. Jess was not in the room. Where is she?

Suddenly, something occurred to Robin, and the thought scared her for a second. She turned around and hurriedly made her way through the kitchen over to the door to the garage, opening it quickly. Upon seeing the silver Mercedes still in its usual spot, she exhaled a sigh of relief, glad that Jess hadn't driven off to who knew where. But that still didn't tell her where Jess was. Robin stood on the tiled floor for another minute considering the possibilities. Then she wandered back into the living room and stopped in front of the sliding glass doors, peering out across the screened-in patio. The nearly full moon was bright enough to illuminate everything in sight. And there, sitting in a cushioned lounge chair at the opposite end of the pool, she finally spied the object of her search.

Quietly, Robin opened the sliding doors and stepped outside onto the patio, making her way toward the reclining figure. She felt the silver-blue eyes fix their gaze on her as she approached and sat down on the edge of the lounge chair next to Jess's outstretched legs. "Hey."

Jess cleared her throat. "Hey. What are you doing out here?"

"I could ask you the same question. It's two thirty in the morning."

Jess sat up a bit straighter in the chair. "Is it? I guess I lost track of time." She offered a small smile. "You should go back to sleep."

"I will if you'll come with me." Robin noted Jess's bare legs. "Aren't you chilly out here? It's awfully damp at night." The flannel boxers offered little warmth against the humid night air.

"Nan, I'm fine." Long fingers reached up to gently brush the blonde bangs. "Don't worry."

Right. That was easier said than done. "Come on back to bed, Jess."

"Just give me a few minutes, then I'll be in."

Robin didn't move.

"It's okay, I promise."

Robin grasped Jess's hand. "Honey, it's not okay. It's not okay for you to be out here in the middle of the night." Hearing nothing in response, she sat there quietly, still holding onto Jess's hand.

After a long pause, Jess spoke again. "You know, I've been thinking about something."

That was an obvious statement, but Robin indulged her. "Okay."

"I want you to promise me something."

"If I can," came the cautious reply.

Silver-blue eyes captured gray-green. "Here's the thing. People's feelings sometimes change, and even though they might think they feel one way, sometimes their feelings change after a period of time, and they might feel another way."

What's she getting at? For a brief moment, Robin considered that what Jess was saying was that her feelings for James were somehow changing. In spite of that fleeting and unsettling thought, Robin continued listening.

"I want you to promise me that if your feelings change sometime along the road, and you want to move on to something or someone else, you'll feel free to do that." Jess rushed to elaborate. "I mean, we don't have a legal document between us or anything like that, so there would really be nothing to bind us if at some point you wanted to do that." She swallowed. "Will you promise me?"

Robin didn't say anything. To say she was stunned would have been the wrong word for what she was feeling. Hadn't she and Jess been over this, time and time again? Hadn't they decided that they were going to spend the rest of their lives together? So, what was this? Did Jess really think that Robin was going to change her mind one day and just up and leave her high and dry? Or was it James's reappearance that was bringing out all of these feelings all over again? She answered Jess's question with a question of her own. "Do you think your own feelings will change?"

"No, of course not."

"Then why would you think that mine would?" As the seconds passed, Robin noted Jess's extended silence at her question, which in truth was not a question at all, but more of a statement intended to make a point. Robin continued, her eyes expressing a warmth she hoped the older woman could see. "And besides, honey, we do have something binding us." She rubbed her thumb affectionately across the ring Jess had placed on her finger. "This. This is binding us together. I don't need a legal document to tell me that I'm bound to you. I'm committed to you in my heart."

The dark head nodded slowly. What Robin was saying made sense. Yet, who could really know the future? "But if you ever did decide that you wanted something else, I'd want you to feel that you could pursue it."

Green eyes closed for a moment. Was the damage this man had done that extensive? What would it take to penetrate the walls she could feel Jess putting up, as if bracing herself for the worst? Robin spoke the only words she thought might make a difference. She took both of Jess's hands in her own and captured the silver-blue gaze in front of her. "I love you, Jess, very much. I want to be with you forever. I commit my mind, my heart, my body, and my soul to you, to take care of you, to cherish you, and to love you as long as we live, and beyond." Green eyes continued their hold as Robin made her final plea. "If you'll let me."

A whisper of a breath escaped and lingered in the air. Jess remembered those words well. For as long as she lived, she'd never forget them. They were burned in her memory for eternity. Her thoughts left her for a second and brought her to the place of one indescribable moment. In front of a stunning sunset on a secluded sandy beach one spring evening, as a light sea breeze caressed their souls, Robin slipped a beautiful diamond ring onto her finger and spoke those very same words. And Jess had spoken similar words, making their commitment to each other complete. She responded to Robin exactly as she had before. "Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes," Jess reaffirmed.

"Good." Robin grinned. "Considering that..." She stretched herself out on the cushioned chair alongside Jess. "What exactly was your question again?"

"Umn... I don't think I recall."

"Good answer." Robin snuggled in a bit closer. "And considering that," she tapped her index finger playfully against the older woman's chin, "is there any other part of forever that you don't understand?"

Jess smiled affectionately. "Wise guy." She breathed in the spring rain scent of the golden hair next to her. "I understand each and every letter, Robin."

"Another good answer." Robin placed a hand on Jess's stomach, and they laid there quietly listening to the low chime of the summer crickets.

After several moments had passed, Jess spoke again. "I've changed my mind about something."

That came out of the blue. Robin lifted up in mild alarm. "What?"

"Shh. It's okay. I've just changed my mind about what I'm going to do about James."

"What do you mean?" Robin wasn't sure she wanted to hear this.

"Lie back down. Come on." Long arms guided Robin back into her previous position. "I've decided I'm going to let him contact me. Number one, he won't give up anyway, even if I ignore him. And number two, if I go ahead and see him, I can tell him to get lost." That particular thought held considerable appeal.

I don't like this. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, I'd hate for him to think he could take advantage of you again." Robin's protective instincts surfaced again, and a niggling inside her mind told her she should keep Jess as far away from James as possible. Or, if she was completely honest with herself, perhaps she was just a tiny bit afraid that Jess would be drawn to him all over again.

"I'm not the same person I was back then. Believe me, if anyone's going to be taking advantage of anyone else, he won't see it coming."

Robin still wasn't sure about it, but there was really nothing she could do. Jess was going to do whatever Jess was going to do. Robin just had to make sure that the older woman came away from the whole thing as unscathed as possible—if that was even possible. She stifled a small yawn. "It must be nearly three o'clock by now, Jess. Let's go inside and go back to bed."

Jess nodded in agreement and stood up, taking Robin with her. "You're right, kiddo. Enough thinking for one night." They walked together toward the sliding glass doors in easy silence. Suddenly, the taller woman stopped just before they stepped inside the house. "The same goes for me, you know."

Quizzical green eyes looked up. "What goes for you?"

Jess cupped Robin's cheek, repeating the words she'd said that perfect evening on the sandy beach as the golden-orange sun gently slipped below the horizon over the sea. "I love you, my sweet Robin. I want you to know that you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You've brought so much happiness into my life." She paused slightly, then continued. "I commit myself and my love to you forever. I commit my mind, my heart, my body, and my soul to you, to take care of you, to cherish you, and to love you as long as we live, and beyond." She smiled. "If you'll let me."

All Robin could do was hug Jess tightly. Those words meant everything to her. "Yes." She whispered into her shoulder. "Forever."

Forever. It wasn't exactly a new concept, but with each passing day, it seemed to take on a deeper meaning.

Jess awoke the next morning to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. She turned over, and as she had surmised she would, found the place on the bed next to her empty. She checked the digital alarm clock on the nightstand, making note that it was nearly ten o'clock, late for her by any standard. Of course, she hadn't gotten all that much sleep last night, what with her middle-of-the-night ruminations. But, all things considered, she felt quite good. All the tension from the previous night seemed to have vanished, even if only for a short while. Lazily, she stretched the muscles in her arms and legs out for several seconds to get the blood pumping in her body again, then got up and headed into the bathroom. She checked her reflection in the mirror, noticing a few worry lines in her forehead, then splashed some water onto her face. Once finished with her tasks, she ambled out to the kitchen, finding Robin hard at work fixing their breakfast. Jess stood watching silently for a moment until the master chef noticed her arrival. "Morning, kiddo."

An easy grin. "Morning, sleepyhead."

"Hey, that's usually my line." Jess winked. "I see you're up before me today."

"Yep." Robin decided to have a little fun. "I'm going to have to write this down. Jess sleeps later than Robin. News at eleven."

Jess put on her best bored expression. "Cute." She then focused her attention on Robin's bare feet. "I brought you your slippers." She produced the items. "I figured you forgot to put them on this morning."

Robin took two large mugs down from the cabinet. "Nope, I just decided to go barefoot." She started pouring coffee into the mugs.

"You know, there's this saying about keeping a woman in the kitchen, barefoot and..."

Robin stopped mid-pour, her mouth slightly open.

"Happy." Jess chuckled. "I was gonna say happy."

The smaller woman cleared her throat. "I think the saying says something else, but happy would work, too." She resumed pouring, then stepped over and placed one of the mugs in front of Jess. "So, you'd be okay with happy, or would you want something else?"

Oh boy. "Umn..." Jess fidgeted. "We'd have to decide." It was a good non-answer.

Robin nodded and then let the subject drop. "So," she glanced at the slippers in Jess's hand, "you can go ahead and put those back where you found them."

Jess didn't move, and in fact, had a slightly mischievous look on her face.

"I mean it, Jess." Robin warned. "When I go in there, they'd better be where right I left them." She pointed a plastic spatula at the taller woman for emphasis.

A dark eyebrow arched sharply at the apparent challenge. "Well, they'll be in the general vicinity of where you left them."

In a flash, the lethal spatula came to rest under Jess's chin. "They will be exactly where I left them. Have I made myself clear?"

An incredibly bored expression. "I don't think you're quite in a position to make demands."

The spatula held steady. "You'd better put them back."

A smirk. "It'll cost you, then." After all, Jess did hold the goods.

"What?" Robin initially balked. "Oh, so you're holding them hostage now? Is that it?" Reluctantly, she removed the spatula. "What's the ransom?"

"Ah, now we're getting somewhere." Jess grinned triumphantly. "A kiss." She lightly tapped herself on the cheek with one slender finger. "Right here."

"A kiss?" She is so unbelievably charming. "You want me to give you a kiss? And then you'll return my bunny slippers?"

"Yep." Azure eyes twinkled. "I'm waiting..."

Robin hid a smile. She stood on her tiptoes and gave Jess a peck on the cheek, the warmth of her green eyes penetrating the thoroughly amused sparkling blue in front of her. "Okay. Now, hand them over."

"Fine." Jess did as she was instructed, hiding a smile of her own as she watched Robin slide her feet into the fuzzy slippers. "I thought you didn't want to wear them."

"I can't trust you. You might kidnap them again."

"You're right." Jess winked. "Especially, if you keep on paying the ransom." She took a spoon from the drawer and stirred some cream and sugar into her coffee, then had a leisurely sip. "What's for breakfast this Sunday morning?"

Robin filled two small bowls with chunks of cut up cantaloupe. "I was just about to put some bacon on, and then we can have eggs and toast, or pancakes or waffles, or whatever else you want." She laid a few slices of bacon into the frying pan. "So, tell me, Mademoiselle, what will it be?"

"Ooh, French." Jess set her coffee mug down on the counter. "I love it when you speak French."

"You do?" A golden eyebrow lifted slightly. "And what if I said, Je t'aime?” Robin stood at the stove keeping careful watch over her gently sizzling bacon.

Jess stepped behind the petite woman. "Then..." She lifted a fork and proceeded to turn over one of the crispy pieces, whispering softly into a conveniently placed ear. "I'd say, Je t'adore.'"

Robin nearly melted. Whether it was from the heat of the stove or the heat emanating from behind her, she couldn't exactly say. She wondered how in the world Jess could make cooking breakfast, of all things, seductive. She had managed to do so twice that morning, almost effortlessly. Robin forced herself to focus on the immediate task at hand, remembering her initial query. "So..." Green eyes looked up and locked onto those of gorgeous blue still peering over her shoulder from behind. "Eggs, then?"

A sly wink. "French toast."

Figured.

Having considered all of their options for the day and ruled out any prospects remotely related to work, they decided to take in an early Sunday afternoon matinee. Robin drove to the movie theatre, keeping up a running conversation with monkey Al dangling from the rearview mirror. Most of the commentary had to do with Jess, of course, who sat in the passenger seat, mildly amused but never showing it. She did, however, take minor exception to Robin's characterization of her as a sleepyhead, since the record would clearly reflect that Robin held the world title in that department.

When they arrived home later that afternoon, Jess planted herself in the den to sort through some bills and financial records, something she'd been putting off doing, while Robin situated herself on the plush sofa in the living room to continue reading the book she'd started earlier. She didn't get very far, however, before the doorbell rang. Her immediate thought was that the previous day's unexpected visitor had returned. She and Jess had known he might surface again, considering that he wouldn't likely give up trying to contact Jess. Damn him. If only he would just go away. Robin hesitated, briefly entertaining the thought of not answering the door at all, but clearly he would just keep coming back. Conquering her internal battle, she got up and went over to peer through the eyehole. And just as she had suspected, there he was, dressed as smartly as ever and looking quite confident. Robin hated the man, and that wasn't an emotion she often felt for anyone. Taking a deep breath, she kept her emotions under tight control and opened the door, intent on sending him away.

"Hello again." Jay Prescott smiled charmingly. "I was on my way out of town today, and I thought I'd try once more to catch Jessica at home. Is she here, by any chance?"

Robin greeted him coolly. "I know who you are."

He raised his eyebrows. "Yes, I left my card with you."

"Jess told me about you, James." Robin kept her voice even. "I know what happened. What you did."

His demeanor changed, and he now appeared a bit defensive. "I seem to be at a disadvantage here. You apparently know of me, but I don't know you." Hearing nothing in response, he continued. "Listen, all I want is to speak with Jessica for just a minute."

Truth be told, Robin wanted to strangle him right then and there. She glared at him harshly. "I think you should go. You're not welcome here." At that moment, she felt a familiar presence come up behind her.

"Robin." Jess placed a hand on the younger woman's shoulder and stepped into full view. "I see we have a visitor."

"Jessica." James offered a relieved smile. "I was just telling Robin here that I stopped by on my way out of town hoping for a moment of your time." He was nothing if not refined. "May I speak with you, please?"

Deceptively calm blue eyes stared at him. "What do you want?"

He glanced over at Robin, then back to Jess. "Could you and I have a moment alone?"

Surprisingly, Jess was agreeable to his request. She knew what she wanted to do. "All right."

"Jess," Robin protested, "is this really a good idea?"

"It's okay." The older woman offered her a reassuring smile. "Go on inside, and I'll be in soon."

"But..." Green eyes pleaded. "You don't have to do this."

"Shh," the low alto voice soothed. "I'll only be a few minutes."

James watched this interaction, fascinated.

Reluctantly, Robin turned and went back into the house as Jess gently closed the door behind her. Standing now with James on the front porch, Jess set about finding out exactly what he wanted. But first, she had a few things of her own she wanted to say. "You're unbelievable, showing up like this."

He smiled. "Jessica... Jess, you're looking good."

"Cut the crap. What the hell are you doing here?"

James's features hinted at remorse. "Okay, look, I wanted to see you, to tell you that I'm sorry about everything that happened before, and I want to make it up to you." He lifted his stylish leather briefcase and opened it, pulling out a thin brown envelope. "I have this for you." He handed it to her.

Casually, Jess reached inside the envelope and pulled out a cashier's check made out to her. She raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"

"Everything I owe you, plus interest."

Jess looked at him as if he were insane. She abruptly shoved the check into its envelope and tossed it back at him. "Keep it."

"Wait." James took a step closer. "I really want you to have this. I want to try to make things right between us."

Unable to maintain the calm facade any longer, Jess's blue eyes flashed with anger. "You have the audacity to think that you can throw money at me, and everything that happened before will just be forgotten? You think paying me off will make up for what you did?" She fixed him with an icy glare. "You stole from me. You let me support you and pay for your education. You led me to believe things you never intended to happen." She shook her head in disgust. "Then, you sneaked off without a word to me, like the coward you are. You're lucky I didn't have you arrested."

A look of regret crossed his face. "I'm sorry, Jess. Really, I am. It was wrong, what I did. I realize that now. You have every right to be angry at me. But I've changed. I'm not the same person I was back then, and I really want to make it up to you."

Like hell. "There's nothing you could possibly do." She meant every word of it.

It seemed Jess was angrier than he'd thought she'd be, even after all these years. Nevertheless, he kept on trying. "This check is just a start."

She shook her head again. "I don't need it. The money was a small price to pay for the lesson I learned. I have everything I need right now, so don't bother."

That was an intriguing statement, considering the interchange he had witnessed just a few moments ago. Something else was certainly going on here. "So tell me, who's the blonde?"

Jess's protective instincts kicked in. The last thing she wanted was for Robin to be tainted by whatever it was he was up to. "That's none of your business."

"Roommate?"

"I said it's none of your business, so leave it alone." Jess dared him to continue.

And continue he did. "If you're taking in a roommate, then surely you could use the money." His eyes caught sight of the diamond cluster ring on her finger, and he had to admit he felt a twinge of jealousy hit him at its intended significance. "Nice ring." A pause. "Boyfriend?"

Jess didn't answer.

"Not a husband?"

Jess still didn't answer.

James wasn't exactly stupid, and it certainly didn't take a brick house to fall on him before he seemingly put two and two together, especially considering Jess's continued silence and the curious interaction he'd seen between the two women. He looked at her and cocked his head to one side, raising his eyebrows slightly. "Don't tell me you and the blonde are..." He lifted his hand a little and waggled it back and forth.

Damn it. This was getting way out of control. Jess had absolutely no intention of discussing her personal life with him. She made a quick attempt to put an end to his inquiry. "Leave Robin out of this. This is between you and me."

He was unfazed by her request, however. "You're kidding me. You and the blonde?" He seemed both amused and puzzled at the unacknowledged revelation. "Come on, you can't possibly be happy like this. That type of lifestyle isn't for you." Maybe it was his ego, but he just couldn't seem to accept this particular turn of events. "I know you, remember?"

"You know nothing about me." That statement wasn't entirely true.

James stood there silently for a few seconds, then leaned back against the stucco porch rail. Clearly, his strategy had to change. He blew out a breath. "Okay, I get that you've moved on, and I really gave you no reason not to do that after I left. Here's the truth. The reason I came here is to apologize for everything I did and to try to make things up to you. That's it."

I'm not buying it. A skeptical dark eyebrow rose. "Is that all?"

He placed his hands to either side of him, spreading out his fingers and lightly grasping the top of the hard decorative railing.

"Well, actually, there was one other thing. I also had a business offer for you."

"Really." A dismissive tone. "Not interested."

"Just hear me out, okay?" His pale blue eyes were soft and pleading.

He was persistent; Jess had to give him that. She placed a hand on her hip impatiently. "What?"

Relieved that she'd given him an opening, James put forth his proposal. "My company does architectural consulting, and we're expanding our business. We're opening offices in several cities, one here in Orlando. That's why I've been spending time here, getting things going." He took the opportunity now to make his pitch. "What we really need is to have someone here locally who can manage the office and protect our legal interests. I thought of you right away, and I was hoping that you might consider accepting this particular position with us."

Jess was incredulous. "What in the world makes you think I'd be interested in anything you had to offer?"

"You and I were good together once, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to team up again and make it work, just like we had planned." His ego was truly astounding. "From a business perspective."

"You've got to be joking." Jess shook her head in amazement.

"Seriously, Jess. You'd be the best person for the job. I know you're good at what you do."

"Don't you get it? I want nothing from you."

"Jess..."

"Stop. I've heard enough." It was a hot day, and although the shade of the porch offered a little respite from the sun, Jess was in no mood for any more of this conversation. "Take your money and your business proposition and whatever else you have, and leave before I have you arrested, this time for trespassing."

Persistent as he was, James wasn't about to give up that easily. His intent was to persuade Jess to join him, no matter what it took. "Will you at least think about it?"

"No." Even as she said the word, her intuition was telling her that this was all too pat, too neatly packaged. There was something more going on here. But what? And more important, did she want to find out, or just leave it alone? Knowing James, he would likely keep on bothering her—bothering Robin and her—unless she got to the bottom of whatever it was he was after. And she wasn't about to just let him waltz back into her life after all these years and leave a lot of upheaval in his wake. Again.

"Come on, Jess." James made his final plea, speaking in an all too familiar tone of voice. He looked at her with the utmost sincerity, turning on his abundant charm and reaching gently for her hand. "I'm so, so very sorry for what I did, and I really do want to make it up to you. Look, you don't have to give me an answer now. Just think about it." He released her hand, letting his own hand drop casually to his side, very conveniently overlooking the fact that she had already turned him down. Apparently, no was not a concept he easily understood. "Okay?"

Jess sighed internally, recalling Robin's question a few moments ago. Is this really a good idea? Jess was now certain it wasn't. Listening to James only made her angrier, but nonetheless, something compelled her to find out exactly what he was up to. She didn't respond to his offer, but instead stood there silently contemplating his intentions.

Robin paced back and forth inside the house. This was taking far too long. Jess had been outside for more than a few minutes. This couldn't be good. A worried green eye peered through the small eyehole in the front door to check on what was going on outside on the porch. She didn't like what she saw. James had hold of Jess's hand. That was unacceptable. Completely and totally unacceptable. Robin grew more agitated, nearly wearing a hole in the living room carpet as she paced again. Should she go outside? Should she put a stop to whatever he was trying to do? Or should she plead with Jess to send him away and just come back inside? As Robin was considering her options, the front door opened, and the older woman stepped inside the house. "Jess." Robin ran over to her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She wasn't.

"You were out there for so long." Sea green eyes searched the unsettled blue eyes in front of her, looking for hints of hidden emotion. "What happened? What did he want?"

"Here." Jess led her over to the living room sofa. "Let's sit down." Suddenly, she felt drained, exhausted, as if she had just spent every ounce of energy she possessed confronting the demon that plagued her.

"You're shaking." Robin lightly took hold of Jess's hands. "Tell me about it."

Jess closed her eyes, struggling to maintain her composure as the emotions came rushing forward. She knew Robin understood the toll this took on her, and Robin's sympathetic and caring nature threatened to dissolve the facade Jess had been so carefully masquerading behind. Jess couldn't speak, so she just sat there on the sofa taking several calming breaths.

"Jess, why did you send me inside? I was so worried." There was no answer. "You didn't have to face him alone. I would've helped you." There was still no answer. She's being too quiet. "Jess?" Soft green eyes once again searched the crystal blue eyes in front of her. By now, Robin was an expert at reading them, and although she didn't see everything, she usually saw enough in them to decipher what the older woman was feeling. She gently brushed her thumbs back and forth over the hands she held. "Talk to me."

The soothing stroking was enough to relax Jess. When she got too emotionally charged, she sometimes found it difficult to speak, and usually it took a few moments for the feelings to settle down into a more manageable state. Robin was a safe haven, an oasis, a place to go that gave shelter from the storm, where what was happening in the rest of the world just didn't seem to matter. "Okay."

Robin nodded, a little more relieved. "Tell me what happened."

"Well, he came here ostensibly to apologize for what he did, claiming that he wants to make it up to me. He even offered me a check, which was supposed to pay me back for all the money he took from me." A look of disgust. "Plus interest."

A blonde eyebrow lifted. "He thought he could just give you money and you'd forget about everything?" Pay you off.

"Exactly. I didn't accept it, of course, and I made it clear to him that I wanted absolutely nothing from him, which is the truth." Jess stood up and walked over to the large picture window and stared out into the front yard. "He wouldn't take no for an answer, though, and just kept saying that he was sorry and he wanted to make it up to me."

Robin had an uneasy feeling about this. She went over to where Jess stood. "Why now?"

"He supposedly claims he's changed, and realizes he was wrong."

Robin smirked. "Right. He's seen the error of his ways." A pause. "Do you believe him?" She wasn't sure she really wanted to know the answer to that, but she asked anyway.

"No, no." Jess waved her hand lightly to dismiss the thought. "But he's arrogant enough to think that I would." She turned around and looked directly at Robin. "There's another thing."

Robin was liking this less and less. "What is it?"

"He's opening an office for his business here in town, and he wants me to manage the office and serve as his local corporate counsel."

"What?" Robin sounded both incredulous and alarmed, and she was. Having James so close by and in the same city was—was what? It was certainly unacceptable, that went without saying. But it was also dangerous, and Robin knew it. And as if that weren't bad enough, his wanting Jess to work with him was as ludicrous as it was bold. "You can't be serious."

"That's what he offered. He offered me the position."

Robin took a second to more fully digest the news. "What did you say?"

Jess shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "I told him to forget it, and that he could take his money and his business offer and get the hell out of here."

It couldn't have been that easy, and Jess's demeanor certainly indicated that it wasn't. "But?"

A sigh. "But I don't think he'll give up. I think he'll keep coming back."

Great. Why couldn't this guy stay gone forever? No one needed him here, and it could do nothing but bring heartache. Robin observed Jess and recognized the familiar signs. There's more. "There's something else bugging you, isn't there?"

"Yeah." Jess had a look of intense concentration. "I think this whole scenario is just too convenient. I mean, think about it. He shows up here apologizing and offering me money after all this time, and then when I turn him down, suddenly, he has this business offer for me."

"He's trying to win you back." There. Robin had said it, and it was painfully obvious that it was true.

The significance of the comment, however, didn't fully register with Jess. "He's trying to do something. I just don't know yet what it is."

Robin looked at Jess for a long moment. "You want to find out, don't you?"

It was true. James's visit had made Jess both wary and curious—curious, especially, as to what his game was. "I don't think I have a choice. He's here for a reason, and unless I find out what it is and put a stop to it, he won't go away."

That's what I was afraid of. A petite hand reached up and lightly stroked the taller woman's arm. "So what are you going to do?"

"Play his game. Let him think I'm considering his offer. Lead him along until I find out what's really going on."

"Is that really a good idea?"

There was that question again, and Jess honestly didn't know the answer. She just knew that if she stood by and did nothing, whatever was really going on with James's unexpected return would end up disrupting their lives for the worse. But what if Robin's concerns were valid? "You don't think it's a good idea?"

No. "I didn't say that. I just wonder if sending him packing right from the start will put an end to whatever he thought he could accomplish here." With you.

Maybe, but probably not. Jess gave Robin a small smile. "Don't worry. I know exactly what I'm doing. The only way to stop him is to expose whatever he's up to."

An internal sigh. "You'll be okay?" Concerned green eyes conveyed the unspoken thought. He betrayed you once.

He betrayed me once. "Yes, I'll be okay." Jess nodded. And I'll be damned if I'll let it happen again.

Robin sat quietly on the comfortable sofa in the now-familiar office, tapping her fingers mildly against the cushioned arm. The decor was cheery, yet at the same time calming. Light fabrics and wood-grained furnishings adorned the large area where the sofa, a coffee table, and several side chairs were located. At the opposite end of the office, a modern, clear-topped desk with a computer and flat-panel monitor was positioned diagonally, offering a wide-angle view across the room. The blinds in the windows were wide open, but could be drawn closed if need be, depending upon the occupant's wishes or mood. Robin reached down and picked up a glass of ice water from the coffee table, taking a small sip before returning it to its previous position.

After a moment, the main door to the office opened, and a gentle-looking woman dressed in casual business attire appeared, carrying a folder and a small notepad. "I'm so sorry to keep you waiting, Robin." She approached and took a seat in one of the side chairs. "One of my staff needed my assistance for a minute."

"That's all right, Dr. Richmond."

"So, how have you been doing this past week?" The therapist opened up the folder and glanced at her notes from their previous session.

Where to begin? "Well, to be honest, it's been a tough week so far."

"Oh? How so?"

"Jess's previous boyfriend, the one I told you about, all of a sudden showed up." Robin's immediate instinct was to rush through her tale, getting it all out in the open quickly, but she managed to keep herself evenly paced. "It's been really unsettling."

The doctor raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you mention that he's been gone for quite a while?"

"Over seven years, and now he decides to show up."

Dr. Richmond scribbled something on her notepad. "What did he want?"

Oh boy. Robin exhaled. "He claimed he wanted to apologize to Jess and repay what he stole from her, and then he offered her a position with his company, which is starting up a new office in town." She shook her head uneasily. "I don't understand it."

"Okay." Dr. Richmond laid her folder and notepad on the table and settled back into her chair. "Let's put aside the fact that this man has shown up for whatever intents and purposes he may have." She gave Robin a sympathetic look. "Let's talk about you and how his arrival on the scene is affecting you."

"It's affecting me because I'm worried about Jess. He hurt her once, devastated her, and I don't want that to happen again."

"And you think it might?"

Robin blew out a breath. "Yes... No... I don't know." This was as honest an answer as she could give.

"Is Jess committed to you and only you?" Dr. Richmond prodded.

"Yes, of course."

"Then, if she's emotionally committed to you, and only you, how would his reappearance all these years later hurt her?"

"Because..." Robin fidgeted.

Dr. Richmond gave her an understanding look. "Because why?"

Robin didn't want to admit it out loud. She fidgeted some more as the doctor patiently waited for her answer. "I don't know."

"I think you do know, Robin."

Green eyes looked down, focusing on the droplets of condensation clinging to the outside of the water glass resting on the coffee table. Her voice became barely audible. "Because maybe she might fall for him again." And that was it. The crux of the whole thing.

"You're feeling a little threatened." The therapist leaned forward and rested her forearms across her knees. "It's a natural reaction."

Robin glanced up. "It is?"

"Of course it is. Someone who used to be important to the person you love suddenly resurfaces after a long period of time. You wouldn't be human if you didn't feel uneasy about it."

Visibly relieved, Robin reached again for the glass of ice water on the table and took a long drink, suddenly very thirsty. "I just don't know how to help Jess, how to be there without becoming too possessive."

"Do you believe that she can take care of herself?"

"When it comes to James, I don't really know. I know that she's determined, and when she sets her mind to something, she usually gets it. This time, she's resolved to find out what he wants and why he came back. She thinks he has an ulterior motive for being here."

"What do you think?"

Robin considered the question. "I think he either wants her back, or he has something else he's after and wants to use Jess to get it. Again."

"That's very perceptive. And you could be right about that."

"I feel helpless, though."

"I know, and that's natural, too. But I' m guessing that you'll instinctively know how to be supportive as the situations present themselves. For the moment, let's just see how things go from here on that front, and we can discuss it more in the coming weeks." The doctor reached again for her notepad. "Now, let's talk about a few other things." At Robin's nod, she continued. "How are things going with your parents? Have you spoken with your mother?"

Robin's face went blank. "No."

"You still have that anger. Am I right?"

"I won't let them destroy what I love." It seemed that everything was conspiring to destroy her relationship with Jess.

"We've talked before about keeping anger inside and the effects it can have." Dr. Richmond's voice was non-threatening. "Sometimes, people find that when they release the anger they've been carrying, they feel as if a weight has been lifted."

"I'm not ready to speak with them." Robin wouldn't budge on the issue.

A sigh. "I know you're hurt by what your parents have done, but I want you to think about letting some of that anger go. I'm not saying that you have to speak with them. Perhaps just taking a deep breath, clearing your mind when an angry thought reaches you, would help."

"Okay." At the moment, there was nothing more Robin wanted to say on the subject.

Dr. Richmond made another notation, then reviewed her notes further. "I will say that I've seen progress in how you've been handling what happened with David. I can tell that since your first visit here, you've managed to make some real peace with it."

"Yes," Robin acknowledged quietly. "I wish it hadn't happened, but I'm also grateful that I met Jess. I used to feel guilty that I loved Jess so much, even though David died. Now, I really believe that loving Jess saved me from my sadness. I wasn't responsible for what happened to David." My father interfered. "And I met someone truly wonderful, which I will never be sorry for."

The doctor made a notation. "I'm very pleased with your progress, Robin, and I know you can continue to make progress on the other issues you're dealing with." She smiled compassionately. "You've had a rough time of it, more than your share of heartache and sorrow, but you've also had some good things happen to you, and you realize that, which is a very positive thing. You're a strong individual, and you can overcome these other difficult issues, as well."

"Actually, I do feel better about a lot of things now."

"Good." Dr. Richmond was silent for a moment, before leaning forward again. "Now, there's one other thing I want you to do."

Robin answered cautiously. "Okay."

"In the next week, I want you to pick a church, any church, Catholic, Protestant, non-denominational, any church you want, and I'd like you to try to go inside for five minutes."

No way. "I don't think I—"

"Robin, just see if you can go inside. Sit down in the back if you want, stay there for five minutes, and leave. That's it."

An inaudible sigh. "What's doing that supposed to accomplish?"

"When we have our next session, tell me what happens, and then we can talk about it."

Robin shook her head slowly, not particularly thrilled with the idea. Finally, she relented. "All right." She didn't like it, but she'd do it.

"Good." Dr. Richmond stood up and led Robin toward the door. "I'll see you next week."

The week that followed was mostly uneventful. No James, work had been calm, no crises to deal with. And the mood at the moment couldn't have been better. The evening was early, and dinner was finished. Jess casually sat on the living room sofa reading over a legal brief that was due in a couple of days, while Robin studied the music collection searching for a suitable CD to put in the player. Upon finding what she was looking for, she popped open the case and deposited the disc into the changer, waiting for the tune to start playing before adjusting the volume a bit. Slow jazz. Always soothing, and nicely romantic, too. Truth be told, Robin was feeling just a little amorous tonight.

"Nice music." Jess remained fixated on her brief.

Robin went over to the sofa, positioning herself next to Jess. "You like it?"

A casual nod.

"It's got a nice beat, doesn't it?

Another casual nod.

"Kinda romantic, huh?"

Yet another casual nod.

Hmmm. Robin didn't move for a long moment, gazing at Jess, apparently unnoticed. Then she got up from the sofa and fetched a matchstick from its box above the fireplace, then silently lit a vanilla-scented candle sitting on a nearby end table. She watched the flame burn for several seconds before switching off the lamp under which Jess was steadfastly reading.

"What...?" Jess looked up, confused.

Petite fingers liberated the brief from Jess's hands. "Want to dance?"

"Uh..." Jess was at a temporary loss for words. "Dance?"

"Yes, dance. Want to?" The tune was familiar. Gershwin, the piano and saxophone harmonizing the sultry notes of "Someone to Watch Over Me."

"Okay." The dark-haired woman allowed herself to be pulled to her feet and led into the middle of the room. She glanced down at Robin amidst the faint glow of the single lit candle, swaying gently to the rhythm of the song. Before long, the music started to do things to her, and completely drove the legalese she'd been reading just moments before out of her mind.

"You dance very well," Robin whispered.

Jess smiled. "You think so?" One petite hand rested loosely on her hip, while the other curled gently around the base of her neck. Jess closed her eyes as featherlight fingertips brushed back and forth across the sensitive skin behind her earlobe, tingling her senses and causing her breathing to become just a little more pronounced. "I'm crazy."

"Crazy?" A slightly quizzical look. "I thought you were hopeless."

Intense blue eyes caught and held sea green. "I'm crazy and hopeless." The words were barely a whisper. "When it comes to you."

The moment was almost timeless, neither body moving, yet continuing the dance to the echoes of the song's sweet refrain. Both women stood transfixed, unspoken communication passing between them. Very slowly, their lips met in an emotional, tender kiss as they savored the closeness, the connection, that only they shared.

The sensations came in a rush now. "If you're crazy and hopeless," Robin breathed, "then so am I." She delicately kissed the pulse point of the older woman's neck, then continued downward, placing a trail of lingering kisses along Jess's collarbone.

Jess could feel the soft lips on her flesh, the unmistakable moisture of the tip of Robin's tongue doing things to her body that she absolutely couldn't control. With hooded eyes, she watched as petite fingers gently caressed the hollow of her throat, then slowly descended and set free the first button of her shirt. A small groan escaped her as she felt those same fingers graze her skin, making her feel weak and almost unable to stand. She took a few steps backward and braced herself against the nearest wall, waiting for Robin's fingers to continue their mission.

"Nothing else matters at this moment, Jess." The words were a whisper. "Just you and me." Soft lips kissed the exposed area behind the first button as the second button was subsequently released.

Jess could only watch and feel as the buttons were meticulously undone. She gasped as Robin's fingertips traveled over her satin bra while her lips charted a path for her cleavage. In an instant, her shirt fell to the floor and the petite fingers were nimbly unclasping her bra, dropping it to the floor, as well.

Robin ran her hands lightly over every inch of the newly exposed flesh, then slowly knelt, kissing a path down Jess's stomach and around her navel, her soft lips leaving goosebumps in their wake. Robin was almost lost in the energy between them as she felt Jess's hands come to rest on her head, gently guiding her kisses. She released the fastener of Jess's shorts, slowly and deliberately lowering the zipper as far as it would go. Without hesitation, she slipped the garment past the older woman's hips and down to the floor as Jess stepped free. Strong arms then drew her upright to meet the waiting lips eager to capture her own.

Jess had thought she might faint from the exquisite sensations. She kissed Robin delicately at first, then more insistently, before breaking away, dizzy from the contact. "You," she took a steadying breath before continuing, "appear to be overdressed."

Robin grinned impishly, then whispered, "Do you think you could help me out with that?"

"I may be able to accommodate your request." Jess spun Robin around and up against the very same wall, exchanging positions with her. She then nipped at the petite chin in front of her, trailing her fingers down to Robin's waist and underneath the hem of her top. "First, we'll take care of this." With a swift but gentle motion, the larger hands lifted the shirt up and over the blonde head, tossing it haphazardly onto the floor beside them. "Then," Jess reached around and unfastened Robin's lace bra, "we'll get rid of this." The article joined the discarded clothing on the carpet.

Sea green eyes shut tight as the rush of cool air hit her skin and Jess's fingernails grazed the underside of her breasts, driving her absolutely crazy. I'm crazy. We're both crazy. The easy strains of "Someone to Watch Over Me" continued, the saxophone solo now carrying the magnetic melody. "So..." The green eyes slowly opened. "What's next?"

Jess lightly traced a finger downward to edge of Robin's cotton shorts, eventually coming to rest on the uppermost button fastening them. "Next," she said as her thumb and index finger deftly released the metal button, "these must go."

Robin's breath caught. She felt the buttons one by one being freed and the soft, incidental touches of the older woman's hand. The shorts slid quickly to the floor as petite arms immediately wrapped around Jess, pressing their bodies tightly together. The skin to skin contact was incredible, warm and soft and electrifying, as they ran their hands over each other's flesh.

Jess's knees were about to give out on her. "Bedroom?" she whispered.

"Sofa," Robin indicated, then held onto to the taller woman as they covered the short distance to their destination. Soon, they were lying lengthwise on the sofa, their remaining clothing now removed. They teased and touched and caressed each other, lost in the wonderful sensations. Before she knew it, Robin felt Jess's fingers stroking the inside of her thigh, sending her spiraling out of control. The touches became more and more intimate as they moved together in this new dance. Unfocused green eyes fixed intensely on smoky blue. "Do you feel it?"

The electricity. The connection. Whatever it was, it was there. "I feel it."

Both women were consumed in the moment. The piano and saxophone now merged into another tune, the beat of the deep bass keeping rhythm with their movements. The pressure, unrelenting, built higher and higher, until finally their release came in an explosion of lights, as time stood still and their hearts pounded wildly.

They lay together in the dim light of the lone flickering candle and caught their breath, their heartbeats slowing to a more even pace. Jess grasped the woven afghan blanket from along the top of the sofa and covered them both with it. Contentedly, she rested her head on the throw pillow next to the smaller woman, enjoying the ever-increasing closeness they shared. She drew her hand up and reached for Robin's, interlacing their fingers together. "I'm crazy, you know."

Robin looked at her fondly. "Me too. We're both crazy." A smile. "For each other."

Jess brought their intertwined hands to her lips and kissed the diamond solitaire ring on Robin's finger. "We're bound together." Crystal blue eyes twinkled lightly. "Like Crazy Glue."

A small giggle as serene green eyes twinkled back. "Like Crazy Glue."

Chapter 4

A soft rap on the wooden office door caught the attention of the litigation department chairman, distracting him from his analysis of the firm's quarterly financial projections. His eyes glanced up through his wire-rimmed bifocals to see one of his junior partners standing expectantly in his doorway.

"Got a few minutes?" Jess asked, hoping she wasn't interrupting anything pressing.

"Sure." Harry Roberts set aside his spreadsheet. "Come on in." He relaxed back into his chair. "You know, these damn reports the accounting people send down to me have so much gobbledygook in them that even after all these years, I can barely make heads or tails of them. Why in the world can't they just give me the bottom line and leave it at that?" The most senior member of the firm seemed mildly confounded as he posed his hypothetical question.

The younger attorney closed the door behind her and slid into a nearby chair opposite his desk. "Well, look at it this way, Harry, as long as my clients keep paying their bills on time, a large part of that report is going to be positive."

Hmmm, that's certainly true. Pacified for the moment, he tilted the mug sitting in front of him, peering into it to confirm its emptiness. "Coffee?"

"Sure."

On cue, Harry punched the button on his phone intercom to his secretary. "Betty, would you bring in some coffee for us?" He gave the junior partner a glance. "Cream and sugar?"

A brief nod.

"Make one black, and one cream and sugar." At his secretary's acknowledgment, Harry then turned his attention to his guest. "All right, so what's up?"

Give it to him straight. "You remember when you told me to come to you with any potential situations?"

He stared at her warily. "Yes."

"I had a visitor this past weekend."

The litigation department chairman raised an eyebrow. "Oh, good grief. Not Thomas Wilson again?"

"No. It was..." Jess could feel an involuntary tensing of her muscles. "James."

What? That came as a shock. Harry leaned forward in his chair. "James?"

"He came by the house on Sunday."

Harry shook his head, trying to make sense of the news. "I can't believe it. I can't believe he'd show his face in this town at all, after his deplorable behavior toward you." He shook his head again. "What did he want?"

Somehow, talking about this with Harry became easier. "He had a proposal for me."

"A proposal?" Harry was quite surprised at this, and frankly, he didn't know what to make of it.

A quick knock interrupted them. The office door opened, and as requested, Betty brought in two cups of steaming coffee. "Will there be anything else, Mr. Roberts?"

Harry absently accepted his coffee, taking a brief moment to refocus his thoughts. "Yes, Betty. Will you call Frank Wheeler?" He checked his watch. "See if we can postpone this morning's status conference until later on this afternoon."

His long-time secretary nodded, then left the office, closing the door on the prolonged silence inside.

Harry considered this recent revelation. A proposal. This could change everything. Having known Jess both personally and professionally for more than eight years, he was well aware of her previous feelings toward James. The fact that she'd taken the scoundrel's abrupt departure so hard had indicated to him that they had run quite deep. Deep enough to even now retain some lingering affection? Hmmm. His mind contemplated this idea more fully. And what about Robin, and the effect any potential breakup between them might have on the firm? This could be an absolute mess.

Jess watched Harry carefully, and she could easily see that he'd been thrown for a loop by the news. Patiently, she waited as he tried to absorb the information.

The litigation department chairman took a long sip of his coffee. Personally, he had very strong opinions about James Prescott. The man had few scruples and even less loyalty. Harry sighed to himself. Hell, the man's a menace, for Pete's sake. But this was Jess's life, and he couldn't tell her how to live it. He drank more of his coffee. However, he could certainly try to reason with her and set her in the right direction. The problem, he reluctantly acknowledged, was that in affairs of the heart, reason doesn't always win out. Finally, he spoke again. "All right, so Prescott made a proposal to you. After all this time, what do you think about that?"

The junior partner blinked, slightly confused. "What do I think?"

"Yes. If you're going to accept, we need to consider the personal ramifications of that as well as the professional ramifications here at the firm, particularly with regard to you and Robin. I think you know my personal opinion of the man. I certainly can't tell you what to do, but..."

"Harry, wait." Jess rushed to stop him. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you plan to accept his proposal?" Just tell me.

As she looked at Harry, she saw the grave concern in his eyes. After several seconds, it hit her as to what he was thinking. "No, no. Harry, it wasn't that type of proposal." She shook her head decisively, determined to underscore the point. "If he had come to me on bended knee, I would have spat in his face right after I kicked him in the—" She stopped short, letting the better part of discretion take over.

It was Harry's turn to be confused. "So, what, then? What was he peddling?"

"Well, he claimed he came by to tell me how sorry he was for what happened and to pay back the money he took from me." Unable to help herself, she let out a derisive laugh. "Even presented me with a cashier's check, supposedly to prove how sincere he was."

"Is that so?" Harry took another sip of his coffee, now a little more relaxed. "What did you do?"

"I turned him down. Told him to keep his money and leave."

"Good for you."

Jess picked up her coffee mug from the corner of the desktop and took a long drink. She had to admit that it felt good to get this off her chest with someone who had almost as much history with the situation as she had herself. "Yeah, but then, instead of leaving after I turned him down, he suddenly had a business proposition for me."

"Really?" Harry was intrigued. "What possible business proposition could he have for you?"

"I wondered the same thing. I mean, the nerve of him showing up after what he'd pulled before. Something didn't feel right about it. I was suspicious."

"Absolutely. I think you were right to be suspicious of his motives." Harry nodded his head thoughtfully. "It figures he might have something up his sleeve, especially showing up out of the blue like that."

"Right," Jess agreed. "So, after I turned the money down, he apparently had another angle. He told me the reason he's in town is that he's starting up a local office of his consulting firm here, and then he offered me the job of managing the office and serving as local corporate counsel."

Harry sat back in his chair and whistled under his breath. "Corporate counsel?"

"Supposedly."

A thought occurred to him, and he stiffened slightly. "Am I in danger of losing you to this endeavor?" Is that what you're telling me?

The junior partner gave him a warm smile. "Not for a minute." She paused, and then looked at him sincerely. "Look, Harry, I have no illusions about James. I don't believe he's changed. He's up to something, and I can feel it. I have no intentions of playing whatever game he's dealing."

Something in Jess's voice told him that she was sincere. Still, he knew her well enough to recognize that she wouldn't let this go so easily. "But?" He waited to hear the rest of it.

You know me too well, Harry. "But I've decided I'm going to let him think I might be interested in accepting his offer."

What? "I don't understand. Why would you want to do that, Jess?"

"Because he's determined. I know him. He won't leave me alone until I find out what's really going on and put an end to it."

Harry removed his glasses, set them down on the desktop, and rubbed his brow wearily. "Okay, what's this really about?"

He'd caught her, and she knew it. Just as wearily, she answered him. "What this is about is that I'm afraid he'll make trouble for me, possibly for the firm..." She paused. "And probably for Robin. There's no way in hell I'm gonna let that happen."

"You think he'd go that far?" Harry knew the answer.

"In a heartbeat. He wouldn't just show up here without a motive, and I'm not buying the whole 'I'm sorry' angle. I think he's after something, and until it's absolutely clear to him that he won't get it, he won't give up. Instead, he'll just start making trouble in an effort to get whatever he's after, anyway."

Harry was silent for several seconds, contemplating this unfortunate turn of events. To be sure, Prescott was capable of making trouble, and the last thing the firm needed after that unpleasantness with Thomas Wilson was another mess with Jess's former boyfriend. And very likely a jealous former boyfriend, at that. Furthermore, that left the door wide open to repercussions concerning Robin, which at the moment, he didn't even want to entertain. Good grief. This just got better and better, the more he thought about it. He was also fully aware of the personal toll all of this was having on Jess, although she was doing considerably well at hiding it.

The junior partner spoke up again. "Harry, I really need your opinion on this. If you think it's the wrong thing to do, or that the risks to the firm are too great, just say so, and I'll handle it differently."

He rubbed his eyes again. She deserved his straightforward opinion. "All right. Here's what I think. On a personal level, I don't want to see you get hurt again. I don't think Prescott is trustworthy, and I think he'll say and do anything to fool you into believing him. Those types can be deceptively convincing." He gave her a sympathetic look. "And I just can't afford to have my best litigator torn up again by someone who will only break your heart."

Jess appreciated what he was saying. She knew Harry was truly concerned about her welfare. Most telling was his unsuccessful attempt to cast the issue in terms of her litigation abilities, which she saw through immediately, especially as his sentence ended back in the personal realm.

Harry rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Somehow, something about this just didn't sit right with him. "And on a professional level. I can't allow whatever this man might be planning to potentially infiltrate the firm or affect the working environment here."

Working environment. Jess was aware of what he meant. Robin and me... the team. Harry had a duty to protect the firm in all capacities. "I can assure you that Robin and I are solid, both here and at home. There's nothing to worry about regarding that. We're a team, we're working well together, and nothing that James does or tries to do will impact that. I make you that promise."

He folded his hands in front of him. Against his better judgment, he believed her, even though he knew that affairs of the heart were unpredictable, at best. "All right. Go ahead with your plan to expose him, but proceed carefully. If Prescott even hints at making any type of trouble one way or the other, let me know immediately, then cut your ties and send him back to wherever he came from. No more investigations into whatever he's up to. No more misleading him into thinking you're buying into whatever scheme he's got going. He'd have shown his hand, and any further involvement with him from that point forward would only mean more trouble. If he persists, we'll take whatever legal measures we can come up with to convince him to go play in someone else's garden."

"Okay."

"And one more thing, Jess." He looked her directly in the eye. "Keep him away from here. Do you understand what I'm saying? I don't want him getting ideas about this firm."

She nodded.

"All right. I'll advise the receptionists and building security that James Prescott, or J.R. Prescott, or whatever name he's going by these days, is not permitted on firm premises." The older attorney got up from his desk, stepping around it as the junior partner also stood. "I'm going along with this for now, Jess, but I don't like it. I do, however, understand why you want to know what this man's up to, and from a personal perspective, I understand that you don't want any of it to touch Robin."

For all his old-fashioned ways, Harry could be amazingly perceptive at times. "Thank you."

He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "And I'm sure it wasn't very easy seeing him again."

She gave Harry a small smile. "No, it wasn't, but I let him have a piece of my mind. Hell, I even threatened to have him arrested."

Harry gave a hearty laugh. "I just bet you did." He walked with her toward the door. "Hey, listen, Barbara's been after me to invite you and Robin over for dinner one night soon. Why don't you two talk it over and let me know, okay?"

"Sure." Jess was glad for the brief change of subject. "Give our regards to Barbara and tell her we appreciate the invitation." And perfect timing. A night of distraction might be a very good thing.

The day had been busy, which made a good diversion from more worrisome things. Robin gazed out the large office window into the unwelcome gloom. The rain had started in the early hours of the morning and gave no sign of letting up any time soon. Wish it would clear up. It was almost time for lunch, and her stomach was already starting to rumble. Unfortunately, Jess was tied up in an all day meeting today and couldn't join her. The young associate stared down at the dim outline of the lake with its decorative fountain and contemplated her options, considering the pouring down rain outside and the likely prospect of getting completely drenched. An umbrella definitely wouldn't do its job properly with all of that blowing wind and rain. Rats. It appeared the small cafe downstairs would have to suffice.

"You busy?" Michelle Richards, one of the senior level associates, stepped inside the office doorway.

Startled from her thoughts, Robin shook her head in response. "Just thinking about lunch." She laughed. "I'm getting hungry, but I don't want to go outside in this." She motioned toward the window.

"Looks like it's the downstairs cafe today," Michelle commented. "It'll probably be packed, though. Better leave now before the rush."

Robin nodded. "Did you need something?" She reached across to retrieve her purse from the credenza drawer.

"I was just wondering if you had any good research on comparative negligence and sovereign immunity that I could use without having to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, and work it all up again. I've got a few cases to start with, but I could certainly use a few more, if they're on point."

The younger associate stood up. "I've got some files here with a lot of research I've accumulated on various issues. You're welcome to sift through them and see if there's anything you can use." She paused for a moment. "Hey, want to go down and grab some lunch with me, and I'll get those files for you when we get back?"

Michelle was getting a little hungry for lunch, herself. "Sure, why not?"

After a quick detour to Michelle's office to pick up her purse, they made their way to the elevators. Once downstairs, they placed their salad and sandwich orders at the cafe deli counter. As predicted, the noon rush had started early because of the inclement weather, and the lobby cafe was already crowded. They searched the room and felt lucky to find a small vacant table near the back.

Once they were seated with their lunches, Michelle opened the conversation again. "So, how have you been doing?"

It was a seemingly benign question, but Robin knew there was another unasked question in there. The younger associate was acutely aware that the office grapevine had been working overtime following the events of the Management Committee hearing just a few months ago, and that she and Jess had been one of the major topics of discussion. Lately, though, things had subsided, and Robin hardly noticed the chatter anymore. She acknowledged, though, that human nature being what it was, some gossip came with the territory. "Not too bad, now that things have settled down some."

"That's good." Michelle's voice became sympathetic. "I'm sure it was hard at times, but it seems like most people have moved on and found something else to occupy themselves with."

"Well, that suits me just fine." I just want to forget about it all. Robin took a bite of her sandwich and regarded her lunch companion. Michelle was a nice person and really had been supportive during the more difficult times over the past several months. And Robin sensed that Michelle seemed quite sincere in her attempts at friendship. Not to mention her discretion when she walked in on Jess and me during a rather personal moment. So, considering everything, the younger associate didn't mind opening up to Michelle just a little bit. "You have no idea what a relief it is not to have to worry about hearings and committees and things like that. There was a lot of stress and pressure, and I'm really glad it's over with."

The senior associate nodded thoughtfully. "And everything else is going okay, too? You know... outside of work?"

That question, too, seemed to have another meaning, as if the troubles at work might have taken their toll on things at home. While Robin really didn't mind talking about some of the more personal things with Michelle—to a limited extent, anyway—she wasn't going to get into the whole James matter. It was a major issue and much too personal to discuss. But as for other areas of her life, maybe it wouldn't hurt to talk about them. "Oh yeah, things have been great. I mean, there have been some stressful times, some having to do with work and some having to do with our families, or things that have happened in the past with each of us, but Jess, she's really great. She's so wonderful about everything, and she really lifts my spirits when things get tough." Robin blushed when she realized she was gushing. "You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do." The senior associate took a forkful of her salad, then smiled. "You still have that look in your eyes, you know."

God, I'm so transparent. "What look?"

"That look that says you're so hopelessly devoted to someone that you're floating around on the nearest cloud."

"I think you caught me." Robin laughed. "I obviously don't hide it well."

Michelle laughed along with her. "Damn straight." Suddenly, she stopped, looking a bit guilty. "Sorry."

Robin bit her bottom lip lightly as she considered her thoughts. "No, it's okay. You'd be right. Partly, anyhow."

"Partly?"

"Well, it's hard to explain, the way I feel for Jess. It's not something I would've considered before I met her. Actually, I don't think I would have considered it at all if we hadn't met." Green eyes studied the random patterns on the marble tabletop. "I've just accepted that this is how I feel about her. I can't deny it, and I certainly don't want to go through my life without her. I've come to see that it's the person inside that matters most, not the gender, not the packaging. If you find someone you feel this intensely for, you can't let it slip through your grasp just because it might not be exactly what you expected."

"I've never looked at it that way before, but I can see what you're saying. Still..."

"I know." Robin began eating her salad. "I don't think, unless you've experienced it yourself, you really can understand. Sometimes, even I still don't understand." That was an admission she hadn't said out loud to anyone before.

"But even so, you know in your heart that it's right for you. Is that what you're saying?"

"Exactly. Even though it's unexpected." Robin paused, then continued softly. "I don't think I've told you about this, but I was engaged last year."

"You were?" Michelle was surprised at this revelation. She was happy, though, that Robin seemed to be confiding in her. Often, she'd thought that the things that had been going on, at least at work, must have been very hard to deal with. She felt bad about that, although to all appearances, Robin seemed to be handling these things well.

The younger associate became more somber. "David was killed in a car accident, and I guess you could say that I ran away after it happened. I don't mean that I was there at the time it happened, but afterward, I blamed myself for it, and I couldn't handle coping with everything. So, I took off as far away as I could get from there, and I ended up here."

"I'm really sorry to hear about that, Robin."

"Jess helped me through it all, and in the process, we became... close." That was the condensed version of the story.

"I think it's a very good thing that she was able to help you." The senior associate became contemplative. "You know, I don't know Jessica very well. I've only had limited contact with her. When I came on board with the firm, I saw that she mainly kept to herself and often seemed to have an intimidating effect on those who worked with her. She could be somewhat difficult to deal with and had a bit of a reputation for it." Warm hazel eyes looked across the small table at Robin. "Maybe she just needed you to come along."

Robin accepted the statement as it was intended, appreciating the sentiment. She also knew that it was at least partly true. "I know some people have difficulty working with Jess. I think it's just that she puts such high expectations on herself, and as a result, she also has high expectations of anyone else who's working with her."

"And you're okay working like that?"

The younger associate smiled. "Actually, yes, it works out really well. I can practically read her mind, so I'm pretty clued in to the way she thinks and does things."

The hazel eyes continued to convey a very genuine warmth. "You seem to be good for her."

"And she's good for me." Robin was a little shy about saying that, but at the same time, she really did like talking about these things with Michelle, and it was good to have another outlet besides Dr. Richmond. "Who knows what you'll find in people? Even the most unexpected things can happen. Just look at me and Jess." She paused to gather her thoughts. "I guess what I'm saying is that I thought how I felt about David was everything until I met Jess, and then it all changed for me."

"Hmmm." Michelle arched an eyebrow slightly. "So, then, are you saying you're... flexible?"

"Ha." Robin grinned at that characterization, then blushed. "I suppose you could interpret things that way, although I will say that I'm definitely not flexible now for anyone other than Jess, I don't care what gender they happen to be. If I ever was flexible, I think it was just about the idea of being with her."

"So, tell me..." Michelle winked. "What's it like?"

"What's what like?" The younger associate deliberately feigned innocence.

"You know. C'mon, girl, dish." Michelle stopped. "Unless you mind, of course."

This really was getting personal. Then again, it felt good to talk about the more personal things in a non-judgmental way with someone who seemed to genuinely care, someone who was not invested in any part of her life and had nothing to gain or lose. "Okay. You really want to know what it's like?" A blonde eyebrow lifted playfully.

"On a scale of one to ten," the senior associate countered. "Be honest."

"All right." Robin leaned forward in her chair and whispered conspiratorially. "Twenty." A slight pause. "At least."

Michelle's eyes went wide. "You're kidding."

"You wanted honesty."

Could it be true? A skeptical look. "Perhaps you're just a little biased?"

"Nope."

"But it just seems hard to believe it could be so..." The senior associate let the thought trail off, but the skeptical look remained.

Robin finished the last of her lunch, for a moment ignoring the challenge, before finally trying to explain it in a way that would make at least a little bit of sense. "Okay, I'll admit it has a lot to do with the person you're with and how intensely you feel about them, not just physically, but emotionally. Jess is the most loving person I've ever met, and I know without a doubt she'd do anything in the world for me. And there's this thing, this connection between us that's almost magic. Electric, even." As she said it, Robin had a far-off look in her eyes, until she realized again how she must sound. "I know it seems corny, but it's true. And even when we're not together," she looked across the table shyly, "you know, that way, we still feel it between us. It's all interconnected."

Michelle was fascinated, and maybe just a little bit jealous.

"So," Robin concluded, "I think my assessment is dead on."

Michelle nodded her head slowly, a little closer to understanding. "No wonder you have that look in your eyes."

Robin gave her a knowing glance.

No wonder at all.

Robin snuggled up tightly against Jess in the waterbed, molding herself to her companion's body. She breathed in deeply, then sighed in contentment as the darkness settled around her. "You make an excellent Cuddler-in-Chief."

"Do I now?" Jess was famous for such questions, the primary purpose of which was to seek out additional flattery.

"Yes." A light giggle. "And that's just the way you like it."

"What about Sammy Shamu over there?"

"Hmmm..." Robin pretended to consider that alternative. "Maybe I should go get him." She started to lift herself up.

"Not so fast." A large hand stopped her. "Besides, there's no room for him."

"This is a queen-sized bed, Jess. There's plenty of room for him."

"Do you see any room here?" The older woman indicted the lack of space between herself and Robin.

The smaller body relaxed back into its former position. "Not a millimeter."

"I rest my case, Your Honor."

Another giggle. "You're such a goofball."

"Hey." A long tapered finger reached over and lightly tapped the blonde head. "I resemble that remark."

"And I rest my case, Ms. Goofball." After a few minutes of silence, Robin tilted her chin up and softly brushed her lips across one very enticing angular jaw. "I think Michelle was right."

"Michelle?"

"Yeah, we had a little talk over lunch today. It seems I don't hide very well the fact that I'm hopelessly devoted to someone."

"I see." Jess smiled in the darkness. "And just who would that someone be?"

Robin decided to play a bit. "Sammy Shamu's looking good right now."

That earned her a playful slap on the wrist. "Perhaps you might want to rethink that answer."

Once again, soft lips brushed Jess's jaw. "It's you I'm hopelessly devoted to, which you know very well. Apparently the look in my eyes betrays me."

"It seems you and Michelle had quite a conversation."

You don't know the half of it. "We talked mostly about how things are going now for me...for us, after everything that's happened. It was nice to talk with her and not feel so self-conscious. Do you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I think I do. It's only right that you have friends to confide things in."

"You don't mind, then?" Robin asked timidly.

"Why would I mind, sweetheart?" Jess interlaced her fingers with Robin's, and playfully rocked their hands back and forth. "Just as long as you say lots of nice things about me, of course."

"Then you should be very happy."

"Ooh, do tell. What glowing things did you two talk about, concerning me?"

"Well..." Robin hitched herself up on one elbow. "For one thing, she wanted to know what it's like."

"What it's like?"

"You know." Robin felt slightly awkward. "You and me. What being together is like."

Oh. "Seems a bit personal for her to be asking."

"I think she was just curious, Jess. Not really about you and me in a salacious or gossiping way, but more about what the feelings are."

The dark head nodded. "So, how did you answer?"

"Well, I'm afraid I sounded so totally corny that I think she thought I was flying around up in the stratosphere."

"You? Stratosphere?" Jess quipped. "Certainly not."

"You're such a brat. Keep it up, and Sammy Shamu's coming over."

Over my dead body. "Point made." There was an extended silence before Jess spoke again, this time whispering. "So, what did you say?" For some reason, she was a little bit nervous about the answer.

"Twenty."

Huh? "What's twenty?"

"On a scale of one to ten."

"You mean you rated it?"

"Honey." Robin smiled. "It's a twenty." She let that sink in for a few seconds.

Jess pondered the answer. Oh. She pondered the answer some more. Oh. "A twenty?"

"At least."

At least? "You said that? That's what you told her?"

"Problem?"

"Umn... no, not at all." Jess tried unsuccessfully to keep herself from smiling. It's a twenty... at least. She was pleasantly surprised. "A twenty is more than ten."

"Very astute." A quick peck on the cheek. "A twenty is way more than ten. Off the charts."

Robin could feel Jess's body puff up just a little bit beneath her. A little ego stroking never hurts. "You don't mind me giving my honest assessment, do you?"

"Of course not, Robin. As long as it's your honest assessment, who am I to mind?"

Robin smiled internally. She's so funny. "I didn't get into any details. You know I wouldn't do that. Just how it feels to be absolutely hopelessly devoted to you." Suddenly, the smaller woman felt long arms gather her into a tight embrace.

"I thought I was the hopeless one," Jess whispered into the blonde head, tightening her hold even further.

"And don't forget crazy," Robin whispered back.

About you. "Forget? Never." Silver-blue eyes fixed on gray-green in the darkness. "And I'm afraid they're both incurable afflictions."

Petite fingers stroked the older woman's cheek as the connection between them grew that much stronger. "You say the nicest things."

"So do you, sweetheart." A satisfied sigh. Wow. A twenty.

At least.

"Hey, Jess?" The young associate studied the stack of documents resting on the conference room table in front of her. "Have you seen this?"

"What?" The junior partner glanced up from preparing her interrogatory questions.

"This invoice. You remember when you were saying to follow the money? I've been trying to figure out what Bronson Construction did with most of the money the owner paid them, especially since they didn't pay their subcontractors and now there are so many liens on the project."

"Did you find something?"

Robin slid the invoice across the table. "Here, second line from the bottom. Do you recall a pool being built on that office project?"

"A pool?" Blue eyes scrutinized the paper. It clearly showed a line item for pool supplies. "Maybe the building has a health club."

"Nope. I checked the architectural plans and specifications, as well as the as-built drawings, and no health club was designed or built into the project."

"Hmmm." A slender finger tapped rhythmically on the glass-covered tabletop. "I suppose it could have just been a clerical error."

Robin's expression was doubtful. "Maybe."

"Okay, here's what I want you to do. First, find every single invoice submitted by Bronson. Yes, I know there are thirty boxes of documents. Maybe you can get one of the paralegals to help you, but locate every invoice and request for payment in there. Then, see if any other suspicious charges show up." Jess scribbled something on her legal pad. "Second, draft up a request for production of documents to Bronson asking for all invoices related to the project, all invoices submitted by Bronson to the owner, all invoices submitted by any subcontractors and suppliers to Bronson, and for good measure, all invoices submitted by Bronson to anyone else for any work associated with the project."

"Right." The younger attorney made note of the requests. "So, what are you thinking?"

"I don't know." The tapping on the tabletop continued. "Bronson himself could have passed on some of his personal costs under the name of his business."

"True, but that wouldn't explain the failure to pay his subcontractors."

Jess nodded, deep in thought. "But what if the pool supply charge on the invoice he submitted was put on there in error, and the charge was never meant to be passed along to the owner of the project?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if he's been placing phony charges on invoices to his company, then having his company reimburse him for those illegitimate charges?" A dark eyebrow lifted. "Or what if he's been setting up dummy corporations and diverting some of the money?" Probably to offshore accounts. "That might explain where all this money went."

Robin considered this. "But we can't prove that. He could just as easily been spending company money on his own personal projects."

"That's right." The junior partner smiled, now starting to piece things together. "Either way, he's been embezzling company funds for personal gain."

"You realize, of course, this is all just supposition."

"Ah, but that's where you come in, kiddo. Get me enough suspicious looking invoices to request a court-ordered financial audit of his company. Then we'll see once and for all where all that money went."

Matt Singleton poked his head through the open doorway of the conference room. "Hey, there."

"Hi, Matt." Robin gave him a brief wave.

Jess swiveled around in her chair to greet the probate attorney and member of the Management Committee. "Hey. What brings you over to our neck of the woods?"

He glanced briefly over at Robin, then back to the junior partner. "I left those papers you asked for on your desk. If you have any questions, just give me a call."

"Will do," Jess nodded. "Thanks."

"You two sure look busy in here," he commented, surveying the piles of paper scattered across the rectangular table.

"You know how it is, Matt, never a dull moment." The junior partner grabbed a pile of documents and held it up to him. "Want to help?" She gave him a teasing grin.

"Uh... no, I don't think so." The probate attorney shook his head and backed away quickly. "You guys look like you're handling things just fine."

The young associate laughed. "Actually, we're wading in paper."

He pointed a finger in her direction. "Then don't drown." With that, he scurried off down the hallway.

Robin shook her head at his narrow escape. "Wise guy."

"More like coward." Jess chuckled. "I guess it's just you and me, kiddo."

A blonde eyebrow rose. "And thirty boxes."

"Ooh, sounds like a fun date," the junior partner drawled. "You with those thirty boxes, I mean."

"Bailing on me, are you?"

"Not at all." Blue eyes quickly scanned the hallway outside to confirm it was clear. "I just know how... stimulating you find document reviews."

"Very funny."

"You and thirty boxes. On a scale of one to ten, Robin..." A deliberate wink of a blue eye. "How would you... rate that?"

A faint blush. She's incorrigible. "I have no comment. A girl has to have some secrets." That remark earned her a significant stare from across the table, and Robin had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "Don't worry, you're still ahead."

"You'll let me know when I'm in danger then, will you?" the junior partner quipped, then resumed work on her interrogatory questions.

"Believe me, thirty boxes just couldn't compare."

Jess didn't look up from her notes. "Glad to hear it."

"Forty boxes, on the other hand..."

The significant stare from across the table returned in full force.

Uh-oh. I think I’m in trouble now.

Robin rushed through the garage door and into the house, barely noticing Jess standing in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the evening's dinner preparations. Then she slowed down, pausing to set her keys on the counter as Jess handed her a glass of chilled Chardonnay. "Oh, thanks." She accepted the wine. "Exactly what I needed."

"Hey, there." Jess poured a glass of wine for herself, then set about rinsing a head of lettuce and a large tomato. "I thought you'd be home from the office sooner, especially since I left after you did. Where'd you go?"

"St. Isaac's."

Jess shut off the water. "St. Isaac's?"

"Uh-huh." Robin didn't elaborate. Instead, she crossed the tiled floor and casually flipped through the mail resting in a small pile on the kitchen table.

Jess set the tomato on the cutting board and watched Robin from across the counter for a moment, studying her demeanor. This is curious. "Why did you go to St. Isaac's?"

Turning her attention briefly from the stack of mail, Robin glanced up. "I was just there for a few minutes, then I left. No big deal."

No big deal? Jess took a few steps over to the kitchen table where Robin was still standing. "Okay, but did you have a reason for going there?" This news was quite surprising. As far as Jess knew, Robin hadn't set foot in a church in more than six months, and even then, it was merely to acquiesce to her parents' wishes.

"It was Dr. Richmond's idea, not mine." Robin was being deliberately evasive.

Okay, maybe she doesn’t want to talk about it. Jess went back to the counter and continued preparing the salad.

Several moments of silence stretched between them as Robin sipped her wine and opened up a few of the envelopes, offering no further comment on the subject.

She's being too quiet. Jess knew Robin tended to shut down when she was confronted with things that were uncomfortable for her. This could very well be one of those times. As the silence lengthened, curiosity got the better of Jess. "So, how was it?"

"Huh?"

Jess purposefully set the salad bowls aside and stood at the edge of the counter opposite Robin. "How was it? You know, going there?"

"Like I said, no big deal. I went inside, stayed for a few minutes, and then left." Petite hands restacked the mail into a neat pile. "I really don't know what it was supposed to accomplish. I felt nothing while I was there. It's not like I was going to have a spontaneous conversion, or anything like that."

"You felt nothing?"

"Not a thing. I mean, what did Dr. Richmond think was going to happen?" Green eyes caught Jess smiling. "What?"

Jess kept smiling, a warm and affectionate expression that radiated to her eyes.

"What?" Robin asked again, truly perplexed.

"You felt nothing?"

"That's what I said." Robin stood motionless as Jess stepped forward and gave her a gentle hug. Curious sea green eyes gazed up into warm blue. "What was that for? Not that I mind or anything, but what?"

"Honey, don't you see?" Jess smiled again, then rested her palm lightly against Robin's cheek. "You felt nothing."

It was clear the younger woman still didn't understand.

"No anger, no guilt."

Robin was silent as she contemplated that. And it was true. While she was at St. Isaac's, she hadn't felt any anger or guilt— more of a nothingness than anything else. "I guess that's a good thing then, huh?"

"Yeah, it's a very good thing. It means you're letting some of that pain go." Jess gave Robin another hug. "I'm very proud of you, sweetheart."

A small smile. "And here I thought it was a complete waste of time." Another thought emerged. "But you know, this doesn't mean I'm ready to go back to church."

"Of course not. It just means that you aren't carrying around such a heavy burden with you, which is a wonderful thing."

The blonde head nodded silently.

"Now, go ahead and get changed out of your business suit, and I'll get dinner on the table. Deal?"

"Deal." Robin started to leave, then spun back around. "What are we having?"

"Food."

Cryptic. "What kind of food?"

"Good food."

A frank look. "And this good food we're having wouldn't just happen to involve certain seafood related items, would it?"

Jess was the picture of innocence. "I don't know what you mean."

"Yes you do, and you know it. Spill it, Jess."

"Fine. If you must know, the good food we're having is... chicken."

"Chicken?" Not what I expected. "We're having chicken?"

A dark eyebrow lifted. "Something wrong with that?"

"No, not at all. Chicken's good."

"Just what I said. Good food." Jess watched as Robin turned and headed down the hallway toward her bedroom. Yep, chicken. A hidden smirk. And maybe just one or two of those other things, as well.

"Hey kiddo, come over here and sit by me." Jess grasped Robin's hand and tugged her onto the plush sofa where her own long body was already comfortably seated at the far end.

Robin positioned herself beside her and tucked one leg up underneath herself. "Thanks for making dinner tonight." A smile. "I will say, though, that a few of those pieces of chicken on your plate looked a little suspicious."

Azure eyes blinked several times. "Suspicious?"

"Yes. If I didn't know better, I'd say they looked like jumbo shrimp, but since you very clearly told me we were having chicken, I'll have to take your word for it."

"We did have chicken." Jess was unwilling to accept the fact that she'd been caught.

"Right." An indulgent pat on the arm. "Whatever you say, Jess."

"I say it was chicken." There was tiny wink, accompanied by a poorly-contained smile. She's onto me. Jess fell silent and took a few moments to simply look at the younger woman, wondering how in the world she'd ever managed before she met her. Robin was the most important person in her life. And crazy as it sounded, it was as if she'd always known her, even before they'd met. Crazier still, Jess could have sworn that she loved her even before she met her. Crazy. Okay, really crazy. Jess turned her attention to what she wanted to say. "Honey, I need to talk with you about something."

Green eyes focused on Jess, as Robin sensed something serious. "Okay."

"This isn't a particularly easy thing to talk about." Long fingers reached down and picked up a large manila envelope from the coffee table. Robin can handle this. Look at all the progress she's made in such a short amount of time. "First, I want you to know that I consider you my family."

"As I do you." A small, but curious smile followed.

"And we said we're it for each other forever, right?"

"Yes." I'm so glad your heart knows this, Jess.

It was time for Jess to lay her cards on the table, once and for all, no holding back. She opened the envelope and pulled out several papers. "In light of that, I've taken some steps."

"Steps?" Robin wasn't sure what Jess was getting at.

"A while back, I asked Matt to draw up some estate planning documents for me, and he dropped them off today."

Robin merely listened, staring at the papers. She knew exactly what estate planning meant.

"Are you with me, sweetheart?"

The blonde head nodded slowly.

"Okay." Jess continued. "I need to talk about some things with you, see what you think, and then get these papers back to Matt." Jess wasn't exactly sure how to proceed without getting into territory that might be alarming to Robin, but this needed to be done, so she went on with her delicately worded explanation. "The first thing I have here is..." Her voice faltered, and she sat there for a moment unable to go any further.

"Let me see." Slowly, petite fingers grasped the edge of the document, turning it slightly. The words were clear. Last Will and Testament. "It's a..."

"A will."

Green eyes closed as a rush of anguish came out of nowhere, and then they reopened. "Okay."

Jess proceeded cautiously. "First, I should explain that my mother and Peter and my nephews are taken care of. I haven't told you a whole lot about my father because, quite frankly, I haven't heard from him in so many years that I don't keep track of him anymore." There was more to the story, but this wasn't the time to get into it. "The last I heard, he's somewhere in New York, and his attorneys have communicated to us that he has set up several trusts and inheritance vehicles for both Peter and me. My mother was generously provided for in the divorce."

Robin continued listening. There would be time to discuss Jess's father some other time.

"Anyway, in the event that something happens and those trusts and inheritance vehicles as they relate to Peter, and by extension, the boys, don't materialize, or if my mother is in need of further support, I've put a provision in this will for them to receive something." Jess was starting to ramble. "And I also had to take into consideration that should those trusts and inheritance vehicles materialize as planned, then my own estate will have grown considerably, and there are certain things I need to do in regard to..." She caught herself. Damn. Here she'd planned to have a simple discussion about an uncomfortable subject and then be done with it, and instead, she found herself getting caught up in all the little details. She knew beyond any doubt that Robin wasn't concerned with details. Robin would only be concerned with the larger picture, the one that attempted to contemplate the unthinkable. That, and only that, was the important point in all of this. "Bottom line, aside from the provisions I mentioned, you're the beneficiary. You're already on the deed to the house, so we don't have to worry about that, and I've named you on the life insurance policy. But everything else will be yours, including my partnership interest in the firm."

Robin tried to process this. She tried to separate herself from her immediate feelings and the devastation that would surely come from such an event and look at things from a more detached perspective. But that didn't work, and she should have known it wouldn't. There was just no way in the world she could disconnect herself from the inconceivable notion of what this particular will anticipated. She and Jess were not disconnected. They were definitely connected, even interconnected. After a long moment, she gave voice to her thoughts. "I don't think I could accept it, Jess."

Accept what? "The money?"

Robin spoke very softly. "The fact that you wouldn't be here."

Of course. Jess understood. She'd known Robin would have trouble with that. Robin's whole reaction to what had happened with David told Jess this. Maybe it was too soon to bring this up. A large hand covered Robin's. "Nothing's going to happen, sweetheart. We just have to be prepared, that's all."

Prepared. A brief nod. "I know." And in her mind, Robin really did know that on a practical level, it would be irresponsible not to put the proper planning in place. But her heart... well, her heart was anything but practical at the moment.

Jess offered her a small smile, more in an effort to reassure the younger woman than anything else. "You all right?"

No. I don't want to think about this. "Yes."

"Okay." Jess carried on with her task. "Now, I have a favor to ask you, but it would be completely up to you."

"A favor?"

"Actually, a couple. The first is that I'd like to name you as the personal representative for this will. That way, you'd have the final determination over everything, and you could see to it that the provisions I've specified are carried out. Will you do that for me?"

Would she? How could she not? "Yes." Robin nodded, bracing herself against her own emotions, which were threatening to overwhelm her.

Jess could see how difficult this was becoming for Robin and resolved to get it over with as soon as possible. "Thank you." One down. "Okay, here I have another document. It's a Power of Attorney form giving you full authorization to act on my behalf in all financial and legal matters in the event that I can't." Jess looked up from the paper. "Do you agree?"

Again, Robin nodded her consent. "Yes." But none of this is going to be necessary.

Jess took a deep breath and then held up the third document. This one's going to be difficult. "Next, I have my Living Will, which I've signed." Blue eyes glanced at Robin. "Are you familiar with what a living will says?"

Robin read the document. No life support. The lump that had been slowing forming in her throat grew larger. Unreadable green eyes stared blankly at Jess. "No extraordinary measures are to be taken."

Quite unexpectedly, Jess's eyes began to water. It was the way Robin had said it that nearly broke her down. "Yes." Her voice became hoarse. "This is just so you know."

Inside, Robin was barely composed. She was nervously bouncing her foot on the edge of the coffee table in a valiant attempt to keep her emotions under control. All that kept running through her mind was that there was no way that any of this was going to happen, so why were they discussing it? Jess wasn't sick or hurt or anything. There would be plenty of time to talk about this stuff later. Much later.

Sensing the younger woman's growing agitation, Jess stopped. Something wasn't right. Robin wouldn't look her way and only stared straight ahead, focusing on the vacant fireplace. What is she thinking? But Jess knew. The pain of David was still too raw, too near the surface. Damn it, Jess. Damn it. She wasn't ready. "Oh, come here, honey." She enveloped Robin into a tight hug and whispered. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to upset you." Her hold tightened further. "It's just that I wanted you to be the one to take care of things for me, but it was selfish of me to put that burden on you." Blue eyes sought out and caught distressed green. "I'll ask Peter to do it, okay?" Jess hastily gathered the documents together and began placing them back into the envelope.

No, I can't let her down. She needs me. "Wait."

The older woman froze.

Very gently, warm petite hands covered the larger ones still grasping the papers, as sea green eyes bravely conveyed their silent affirmation. I'll do it.

Pale blue eyes communicated their grateful understanding. Thank you.

"I, Umn..." Jess cleared her throat, which was suddenly raw with an emotion she hadn't known existed and couldn't even begin to define. "I have one final thing." She handed Robin the last document. "May I designate you as my medical surrogate?"

Robin hesitantly took the document, silently studying the language on the paper. She knew what Jess was asking. Would she make her medical decisions if Jess were unable to do so? Even the ultimate decision. "You want me to?"

"You're my family, the person I trust with my life." It was as simple as that, and as complex.

"But I..." As she considered the full meaning, Robin tried to summon as much strength as she could. "How could I possibly...?" She couldn't say the words.

Long fingers gently brushed Robin's cheek. "If this would be too hard for you, honey, just tell me. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do. My thinking in asking you is that you're the one I trust the most to know the best thing to do in a situation like that. We're connected. You know my heart. You're the one who has my heart." Jess placed a very soft kiss on her forehead. "No matter what happens, Robin, you know I'll never leave you."

I've heard those words somewhere before. The younger woman tilted her head slightly as her mind contemplated what Jess had just said. In a very profound way, it was the greatest honor for Jess to have asked her to handle this. Robin lifted her hand up to Jess's face and slowly traced the outline of her cheek, then along her jaw to her chin. Her thumb and her forefinger rested there as she glanced up and met the anxious blue eyes silently waiting in front of her. Her breath caught for a moment. It was true. She and Jess were each other's family, and they had to take care of each other, no matter what. "Yes, I will take care of these things for you. You can count on me."

A sigh of relief escaped before Jess could censor herself. She wrapped her arms around Robin. "Thank you."

"I have a request, though."

A request? "Anything, sweetheart. What is it?"

Serious green eyes fixed onto blue. "These papers..." She gestured to the array. "We ask Matt draw up similar ones for me. You're the one I want to take care of things for me, too."

Jess nodded her agreement. "Absolutely. I promise with all my heart I'll do the same for you." Pain rose inside her as the thought penetrated her mind. Then, as if all the emotion had somehow become intensified, she felt an overwhelming need to be as close to Robin as possible. Shifting her position, Jess stretched her long body out along the length of the sofa, pulling Robin down alongside her.

For a long time, they were both very quiet, each reflecting on what they'd just decided. It seemed odd to be talking about these things, but in a practical sense, they had made their commitments to each other, so it was only right that they legalize those things they had control over.

Robin placed her head on Jess's shoulder and took hold of her hand, squeezing it just a little more tightly than necessary. You're not going anywhere. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why did you decide to do this now? It's not as if we talked about it." She wasn't being judgmental, just curious.

Jess didn't have to think hard about this at all. There was only one answer: it was simply the right thing to do. In a very quiet tone of voice, she started to explain. "Before you came into my life, it was just me, and having certain legal provisions in place wasn't an important issue. I knew that Peter and my mother would take care of things for me, and that was fine." She placed a light kiss on Robin's forehead. "Then you came along, and everything changed. You're the person who's closest to me now, and the most important. I know we're committed to each other, but unless I went ahead and formalized things legally, you wouldn't be protected by the law."

Robin knew this was true.

After several moments of silence, Jess looked at her. "You're it for me, you know."

Robin's heart skipped a beat. Her grip on Jess's hand tightened again. "You're it for me, too." That conveyed everything.

Slender fingers brushed the blonde bangs away from the smaller woman's eyes. "You okay?"

Considering what they'd just discussed, Robin was doing pretty well. And as strange as it sounded, she felt an odd sense of peace come over her. "Yeah. I'm good."

A look of complete and total understanding passed between them, and Jess brought their entwined hands up and nestled them underneath her chin. "So, now that we've gotten that settled..." A grin slowly emerged. "I believe I still owe you a trial surprise. Am I correct about that?"

Green eyes lit up. "A trial surprise?"

"Unless you've forgotten?"

"No way." The smaller woman hitched herself up on one elbow. "So, what is it?"

"A little anxious, are we?" The grin widened considerably.

"Yes. So spill it, Jess."

"How about I just give you a few hints?"

Hints? Good grief. A light giggle. "You sure enjoy torturing me, don't you?"

A beat. "I have absolutely no comment on that, Robin." The voice was low and unexpectedly sultry.

Oh, my. The blush on Robin's face was plainly visible. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Anything you want," came the predictable retort.

A golden eyebrow arched. "You're incorrigible."

"So I've been told."

A small peck on the cheek for added encouragement. "Proceed."

"What I have in mind involves the four S's." Jess was being deliberately vague.

It's official. She enjoys torturing me. "The four S's?"

"Sun, sand, sea, and surf."

"Ooh." Robin liked the sound of that. "The beach?"

"Very perceptive." Cerulean eyes took on the color of the ocean. "We have reservations for this weekend at a resort on Cocoa Beach. You think you might be interested?"

"Oh, yeah." A weekend getaway. "I'm totally there."

"Good." An adoring smile. "Because I was totally counting on that."

Robin was amazed at how Jess could come up with the sweetest things at the most unexpected moments. "Have I told you that you think of the best trial surprises?"

"Do I, now?" She's delightful. "As you know, I aim to please." The dark haired woman was suddenly silenced by a gentle kiss on the lips.

At that moment, life was good. And with all of their planning and anticipation of the weekend to come, they'd almost forgotten all about James.

Almost.

Chapter 5

Robin slipped the thin key card into the lock and unlatched the hotel room door, nudging it wide open to reveal an enticing view of their deluxe mini-suite. As she stepped inside, she saw that it had the distinct advantage of an attached balcony that overlooked the ocean and the beach below. She set her travel bag on the floor and continued taking in her surroundings while Jess came in behind her. Directly inside the doorway to the left was a small sitting area with a sofa, a coffee table and two comfortable-looking chairs. To the right was a mini-kitchen complete with a microwave oven, a small refrigerator, and a coffee maker. Several packets of gourmet tea and coffee were arranged neatly on the countertop nearby, along with a wicker basket of fruit. A round table and two chairs were situated a few steps away, for in-room dining. Separated from the front area by a partition were a king-sized bed, a large wooden armoire, and a television. Two plush, white terrycloth bathrobes were perfectly folded and placed at the foot of the bed. Sliding glass doors at the back of the room led out onto the small balcony, where a lounge chair and an upright chair were located, a glass-topped small table positioned between them.

Robin grinned widely. "This is perfect."

"You like it, then?" Jess grinned back, pleased at her shrewd hotel selection.

"You bet." Robin grabbed hold of Jess's hand and led her outside onto the balcony. "The view from here is incredible. How did you manage this?"

It was easy to supply the expected retort. "I have many skills."

A gentle smile. "That you do." Although it was already late afternoon, the sunlight still glistened brilliantly off the waves below. Several children were playing in the surf, and the beach was moderately crowded with adults sunbathing or casually sitting beneath their colorful beach umbrellas. "It's a good thing it didn't even take us an hour to get here. We still have a little bit of daylight left."

The dark head nodded in agreement. Cocoa Beach was a mere forty-five minutes' drive east of Orlando, and the Atlantic Ocean summoned many from the more inland areas of the state to make weekend beach excursions to the coast. "It's Friday, and we're here until Sunday, so a weekend of leisure is a mandatory requirement."

A golden eyebrow rose sharply. "Then that laptop you insisted on bringing will remain in its case?"

"Umn..." Jess had been caught. "A little e-mail checking will be harmless."

Silently, Robin went back inside, procured the offending laptop and quickly tucked it out of sight in a drawer in the armoire. "It's off limits."

"But..."

Unfazed by the apparent protest, Robin went about unpacking her travel bag, offering only one more comment. "Beach and ocean don't mix with laptop and work." The way she put it made it sound quite obvious.

"It's not work, Robin." Jess pled her case. "Just keeping up with things."

Robin took a few items and hung them up in the closet, then smiled sweetly. "You should get unpacked so we have some time to go out on the beach."

It was a lost cause, Jess realized. She really didn't want to do any work this weekend, anyway. There was something about being here with Robin and having nothing else in the world to worry about that made the older woman's heart feel light. And she definitely liked that. "That's your last word on the subject, then?"

Petite fingers zipped up the now empty travel bag. "Let me make it clear so there's absolutely no confusion." Green eyes twinkled as they settled on her companion's. "During this weekend, laptop, work, and e-mail are bad words. Beach, sun, and ocean are good words." A hint of a smile. "Any questions?"

Jess was charmed. She took a step closer to Robin. "Well, now, let me see if I understand. If I were to say that I wanted to check my e-mails, that would be bad." She grasped Robin's fingers and brought them up to her lips, giving them a quick kiss. "And if I were to say that I wanted to go sit on the beach, that would be good." She gave the fingers another light kiss. "Have I got that right?"

She makes me melt sometimes. "You're a very quick learner."

"Thank you." Jess grinned, then released Robin's fingers. "That's just what I said, then. A weekend of leisure is a mandatory requirement."

Robin tried not to laugh. Jess had a very endearing way of making everything seem like it was her own idea. "Absolutely. No work whatsoever."

"Good. I'm glad you agree with me."

An indulgent nod. "I do. Now that we've got that settled, hurry up and unpack your bag so we can go out on the beach." With that command, the younger woman set out for the balcony, leaving Jess to complete her newly-assigned task. Robin stood casually at the railing and watched the activity on the beach for a few minutes, silently enjoying the sea air that carried with it the scent of the ocean and a hint of salt spray. It was a gorgeous view. There was a sailboat off in the distance, with its billowing, bright white mainsail extended and its red and blue spinnaker deployed to catch more of the waning breeze. Above, a few seagulls hugged the shoreline, occasionally dipping down to the water's surface to snatch up a minnow or two.

"It's pretty," the alto voice noted.

"Umn..." Robin was startled from her thoughts as Jess came up alongside her. "Yeah." Robin took a breath. "See that pier over there?" She pointed over to the right. "It looks like it has some shops and places to eat."

Blue eyes scanned the area. "And there's a fishing pier further down, at the other end." A brief pause. "We could take a little walk, if you'd like."

One thing was certain. Jess was very considerate, and Robin noticed that. She would always phrase things in an inclusive manner, asking Robin's opinion and seeking her input, never assuming anything. Robin nodded slightly and stood for a moment, watching Jess as the intense azure eyes gazed eastward across the ocean. Strands of dark hair moved gently in the light breeze, framing the well-defined face as the white loose-fitting linen shirt Jess wore contrasted wonderfully against her tanned skin. The late afternoon shadows cast by the buildings crept further across the cream-colored sand, and the shade of an occasional palm tree jutted in the direction of the ocean. The sound of the waves, first hitting the shore then receding, along with the deep blue color of the ocean itself, had a mesmerizing effect. Robin wasn't sure if it was just the setting, or something overwhelming that rose up inside of her, but the sight of Jess against the backdrop of the sand and the ocean captivated her. She couldn't take her eyes away. I think I've always known you.

A few seconds later, Jess turned, observing the sea green eyes fixated on her. "You okay?"

Robin blinked and looked away, a little embarrassed. "You caught me staring."

"Did I?" A small smile. "What's there to stare at?"

"You." It was out before Robin could stop herself. "I mean the view. It's beautiful." That was certainly true.

"Beaches have a magic to them," Jess agreed. "You ready to go for that walk now?"

"Give me a minute, and I'll be good to go." Robin quickly ducked back inside their hotel room.

Jess watched Robin leave. Hmmm. Was it the beach that held the magic, or was it the person you were with? She silently contemplated that concept.

Ahoy there, matey!

"Ahoy?" The alternate internal voice couldn't believe the cerebral chatter had chosen this particular moment to surface. " What do you want? Can't you see I’m busy right now? Robin and I are going for a walk. "

Listen, skipper, not to let the wind out of your sails or anything, but a little sand and sea won't get rid of ol' Jimbo P.

"I'm really not in the mood for any of your lame rhymes.''' This was already getting tiresome.

To rhyme or not to rhyme? That is the question. Doesn't matter. Running away never solves anything.

"I'm doing no such thing, least of all running away from him." The alternate internal voice absolutely refused to say his name.

Did the boom hit you on the head already? Surely, you can't be that dense. Or can you?

"There's nothing wrong with taking a little downtime with Robin before things start to get ugly." The alternate internal voice rationalized. "Besides, we deserve it. "

Justify it all you want. You’re the one steering this ship.

"Damn right. "

And if you crash on the rocks? What then?

Typically, the alternate internal voice became defensive. "I know how to navigate this channel just fine. "

Port is left, starboard is right. Red light to port, green light to starboard. Which way, sailor?

The alternate internal voice grew testy. "What do you mean which way? "

You’re the captain. You must have a compass to guide you.

"I have a compass, and I know which way I'm going, " the alternate internal voice confidently assured, then seemed to make an executive decision. "Green light. Full steam ahead. "

But can’t you see the storm clouds brewing on the horizon? You've got to pull this ship into shore. There's a safe harbor close by. if you'll only recognize it.

The alternate internal voice had to admit that the idea was tempting. It would be easy enough to reverse tack and head back into port. "You seem to think I'm not capable of commanding the helm.”

“Because, Admiral, you're ignoring the treacherous waters ahead. Batten down the hatches.”

"Good grief." An internal eyeroll. "You're chock full of clichés today.”

“Here's one more, and you would be wise to listen to it. There's a lifeboat ready for you. All you have to do is take it.”

By all reasonable standards, it made perfect sense, but the alternate internal voice remained steadfast. “No lifeboats necessary. Steady as she goes!"

Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum. You're determined to walk the plank on this one.

"Another rhyme. Don't you ever give up?” It was a rhetorical question. "Listen, Bluebeard... " By now, the alternate internal voice had absolutely had enough of this conversation. "Give it a rest. I get all the metaphors, and I can assure you that I'm fully aware of what I’m doing. So stow it, and let's set this ship on course. "

“Aye aye. Captain. Hoist the mainsail!”

"I'll tend the wheel," the alternate internal voice cheerfully supplied.

Shiver me timbers.

"You ready?" Robin poked her head out onto the balcony where Jess was still standing.

Without missing a beat, Jess tucked away all the doubts that had somehow surfaced and gave Robin a dazzling smile. "You betcha, kiddo. Lead on."

Anchors aweigh!

The sun was close to setting as Robin and Jess strolled along the beach in the waning moments of daylight. They had browsed through some of the shops on the long pier and then stopped at one of the restaurants for some dinner before taking their leisurely sunset walk. It was a calm evening, and no threats of the typical late-day summer thunderstorms were to be found, for a change. The beach had largely cleared out, and the intermittent sounds of the splashing waves and the high-pitched squawking of the seagulls were all that permeated the quiet shore.

"Isn't this great?" The comment in the form of a question was left unanswered as green eyes gazed out across the open ocean. "What are those lights?"

Jess followed Robin's line of sight. "Looks like one of the cruise ships heading out from Port Canaveral. I know they have some weekend cruises over to the Bahamas."

The blonde head nodded contently as the rush of the advancing and retreating water edged perilously close to their path. "I like the way the waves are higher here. There's more atmosphere than over at the Gulf, though the sunsets there are pretty." Robin recalled one sunset in particular, when she and Jess had exchanged rings and made their commitment to each other just as the glowing orange disk sank into the water. It was a moment she would treasure forever.

A warm smile appeared, as if Jess were thinking the exact same thing. "I'd say both the Gulf and the Atlantic have different benefits." Although not terribly obvious, something seemed deliberately cryptic about how she put that. "The sky's pretty tonight. Lots of orange and red."

Robin studied the sky. The uneven buildings lining the beachfront slipped further into shadowy silhouette as the lower edge of the sun began to dip behind them. It really was very calming, and she took a few moments just to take it all in.

"You sure you had enough to eat back there, kiddo?" Jess smiled.

"I'm good. I will say, though, that I'm very surprised at your choice of dinner entree."

A look of mock consternation. "Something wrong with broiled flounder?" An ebony eyebrow arched.

A small giggle. "No. It's just that it wasn't you know what."

Jess bent down and picked up a cone-shaped seashell, examining it up close before tossing it back into the ocean. "I don't know what you're talking about." Actually, she did.

"Jess, you know they had many of that other type of dish to choose from. I just thought you might have liked one of them." A pause. "But broiled flounder's good, too."

A quick retort was now long overdue. "I'm very happy to know that my dinner selection has received your stamp of approval, Robin."

Robin gave Jess a dubious look, then shook her head. "You do this just to get attention, don't you?"

A quick wink. "I can assure you that if I wanted your attention, I wouldn't need to use dinner entrees to get it."

Oh. Robin had to admit Jess was right. "You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?"

A charming smile was her only response. Jess had a way of making her point without so much as saying a word. Playing was fun, Jess mused. "So..." She decided to change the subject. "Want to go out on that fishing pier up there and watch the rest of the sunset?"

The night breeze was picking up, and their walk had been extremely pleasant. "Yeah, I think we can get a better view."

The sturdy, wooden-planked pier showed a few signs of weathering, but it had a solid railing along its sides and several board benches to sit on. A lone fisherman stood off at the far end, casting his line out into the gently rolling sea. As Robin and Jess approached, several seagulls were diving repeatedly into the water in front of him, searching for food. Apparently, his bait had attracted company. Letting out a small sigh, he packed up his rod and reel, grabbed his tackle box, and sauntered back toward the darkening beach, whistling lightly as he went along. A single white pelican, perched attentively on a corner piling, remained.

"Let's sit here." Jess indicated a bench that faced back toward the beach, offering them a panoramic view of the skyline behind the beachfront hotels.

"A little pink and purple in the sky now," Robin commented, situating herself comfortably next to Jess on the wooden seat.

"I..." Jess hesitated, then found her voice again, whispering softly. "I have something for you." She reached into the pocket of her cotton shorts and pulled out an object.

Green eyes, once so fixated on the vibrant sunset, fixed now onto blue. Petite fingers felt the object as Jess placed it gently in the palm of her hand. "A velvet box." Robin took a breath. I know what that means. "Jess?"

"Open it."

The younger woman paused, then did as she was told, slowly raising the hinged lid of the soft velvet case. Inside, she found two small diamond earrings, a quarter carat each, set with solid gold posts. "Jess, these are beautiful." Even in the diminished lighting cast by the backlit sky, the diamonds held a faint, yet definite, sparkle. "But," Robin looked again at Jess, "I don't have anything for you."

It was one of the sweetest things Jess had ever heard. "Sweetheart, you're all I need."

Robin bit her lower lip, then looked once more at the earrings. "Did I miss an occasion?" She knew it wasn't her birthday, or any major holiday.

Jess smiled. "No, you haven't missed any occasions. I just wanted you to have these." Actually, Jess had a speech prepared, but now, somehow she didn't know where to begin.

"These are beautiful," Robin said a second time, her voice filled with wonder. She gave a faint chuckle. "You seem to be giving me diamonds a lot." The hues of the sunset deepened as she reflected on the diamond heart pendant Jess had given to her last Christmas and then the gorgeous diamond ring Jess had placed on her finger under the setting sun, while committing herself to their love forever. The symbolism of it all was beginning to become apparent.

Jess took moment to gather her thoughts before speaking again. "Diamonds are forever." It wasn't just some clichéd saying. To Jess, it was what she felt in her heart. She took Robin's hand in her own. "These earrings are meant to be worn together, as a pair. Diamonds are strong, you know, stronger than anything else in the world." God, I'm not making any sense. This wasn't sounding as articulate as she had planned. "I'm not sure I'm saying this right." She looked away, a little embarrassed at her apparent lack of eloquence.

Sea green eyes searched for and then held steadily onto crystal blue. "I know what you're saying." It was quite profound. "You're saying that diamonds are forever, and are stronger than anything in this world, and that these diamond earrings are a pair, meant to be worn together, one never without the other."

It wasn't like Jess to become so emotional over simple prose, but hearing these words, the sentiment she herself had tried to express, coming from Robin made her eyes moisten. "Yes."

Robin looked around them, and seeing that they were alone on the pier, leaned over and gave Jess a delicate kiss. "They're beautiful, Jess. Thank you."

"You're welcome." The sun had now set, and all that remained of the sunset was the dusky blue tint of the sky above. "Sweetheart, things are likely to be difficult for a little while. I've got to do some things that will be unpleasant. But no matter what happens, remember that I'll love you forever. Like diamonds."

That sounded a bit more serious than Robin was comfortable hearing. Was this a foreshadowing of something, or just her imagination working overtime? Whatever it was, it was making her uneasy. "I wish you could forget about James, and not get involved with him again." She sighed. "But I can understand why you want to find out what he's doing here. I agree that we can't be looking over our shoulders every day wondering when and where he might show up again. We need to get him out of our lives once and for all." And away from you.

"I promise that will happen."

Robin nodded, then closed the lid on the velvet case and tucked it safely away in her pocket. She stood up and went over to the near side of the pier, resting her forearms on the wooden railing and looking out into the twilight over the sea.

Jess joined her. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah." Petite fingers grasped hold of the larger hand resting on the railing nearby, though green eyes never left the horizon. "I love you, Jess."

"Same here, honey." As understatements go, that was a big one. Several silent moments passed, and Jess somehow found herself peering down into the black water near one of the pier's thick round pilings.

The intense interest in the water below didn't escape Robin. "Umn... Jess?" The smaller woman scrutinized the water's surface. "What are you looking at?"

Blue eyes blinked. "Nothing."

The blonde head cocked sideways. "Did you see a fish?"

"No."

"Then what else is down there?"

"I just thought I saw..." Jess shook her head. "Nothing."

Robin didn't know a whole lot about fish, but she suspected what little things tended to hang around pilings at night. She stared further into the water. Nothing was there. "I don't think you saw any of those, Jess."

"Probably not." A pause. "Besides, I'd need a flashlight to shine in their beady little eyes to be sure."

Good grief. "I knew you shouldn't have had that broiled flounder tonight. You're in shrimp withdrawal."

"Hey." An indignant look. "I resemble that remark."

An exaggerated eyeroll. "Come on, silly. Let's get back to the hotel room so I can try on my new earrings." Robin tugged at Jess's arm.

"Right." Jess lingered, though, taking one more quick look into the dark water below. But if I just had a flashlight...

"Do you have the sunscreen over there?" Robin searched the area underneath their beach umbrella for the turquoise bottle of lotion. The sun was hot, even though it hid at times behind some passing puffy clouds, offering a little reprieve.

Jess had just returned from taking a dip in the ocean and had taken her place on the large, brightly-colored beach towel laid out on the sand next to Robin's beach chair. "You getting burned?" She handed Robin the bottle.

"Maybe a little. Will you put some on my shoulders?" Robin turned her back toward Jess.

"Sure." Jess's fingers glided easily over Robin's skin, liberally coating her petite back and shoulders with the white lotion and gently rubbing it in. "You'd better put some on your nose, too. Looks a little red."

"Yes, Mom." Robin giggled. "Did you have a nice swim?"

"The water's great. Cool but not cold. Nice waves today." The taller woman leaned back on the beach towel. "So, what were you doing while I was away? Reading a little?"

Robin picked up her book, looked at it, then returned it to its location under the umbrella, taking her water bottle instead. "I was just watching the people." She chuckled. "See that little boy over there?" She pointed over to the left of where she and Jess were sitting.

"Yeah." The kid couldn't have been much more than about two years old.

"I was watching him and his father. The father had taken him down to the edge of the water, just where the waves wash up, to get his feet wet. His mother was back up on the beach taping them with the video camera. After a minute, the father left the little boy standing at the water's edge while he ducked himself underneath for a second. Then all of a sudden, this big wave came up and splashed right in front of the little boy, knocking him down." Robin smiled and shook her head. "The mother, who had been taping all of this, dropped the camera and ran like lightning over to make sure the boy was okay, pointing her finger at the father and scolding him for not watching their son. But the child was never in danger, and he was totally unfazed. He got himself back up like nothing had happened and started playing in the sand and the foam from the waves. Meanwhile, the mother was still scolding the father."

"Sounds a little scary," Jess noted.

"Well, you had to see it. It was kind of funny and really cute."

Jess saw the look on Robin's face as she spoke. Even though those green eyes were hidden behind sunglasses, her expression was apparent. There had also been a kind of wistful quality to Robin's voice as she relayed the story, something that was hard to miss. She wants children. It was patently obvious, and Jess had observed this for some time. The thing was, Jess wasn't sure she was ready to think about that just yet. Too many things going on. But was that fair to Robin...?

Her thoughts were interrupted as Robin stood up, blocking the sun's rays as she did so and casting a slight shadow upon the beach towel. "My turn to go in the water. Watch my stuff." With that, the petite body turned and sashayed toward the waiting waves.

Watch your stuff. The older woman smiled to herself. As attentive blue eyes followed Robin's retreating form across the sand, Jess was indeed watching her stuff.

The weekend had been great. Lots of sun, only one small thunderstorm late on Saturday, and plenty of relaxation. And now... Well, now it was back to work. It had been a very long day. The first day back always seemed that way. Jess had been so buried in work, deadlines, putting out fires, and just overall case management issues that she'd barely gotten around to any of the things she had really wanted to do. And so it stood at 5:30 p.m., a busy day with little to show for it. Unfortunately, it looked as if it would take a late night tonight just to catch up. Damn. Things never go the way you want them to.

Resigned to her fate, the junior partner grabbed the pleadings folder of the case she was working on and studied its index. For some reason, it was not caught up to date. Discovery had definitely come in. She'd seen it, but it was obviously not where it should be. Jess grew annoyed at the situation. She'd need to speak with her secretary soon about this. Angie was usually pretty good about keeping the files current, so why were things getting so lax? Just as Jess went into full grumble mode, there was a light knock at her office door. "Come in."

Robin poked her head inside. "You leaving soon?"

A sigh. "Afraid not, kiddo. It's been the day from hell, and I need to stay for a while and get some things done that I should've done already. You go on, and I'll see you later."

The young associate stepped over and knelt on one knee next to the cherrywood desk. "Sorry." She offered a sympathetic smile. "Can I help?"

"Thanks, but there are just some tedious things I have to plod through myself." The junior partner tapped the folder in front of her. "And I've got to hunt down some missing documents. They're probably here under these piles somewhere." She waved one hand to indicate the stacks of papers covering her desk and the floor near her credenza, then flipped through one stack in particular, distracted.

"Well, if you're sure..."

"I'm sure."

Robin wished there was something she could do, but she'd come to recognize when Jess's mind was made up. "Will you be late?"

"I hope not. I'll try to be home at a decent hour." A small frown. "No promises, though."

"Okay." The younger attorney stood up to leave, then turned back. "Should I keep dinner for you?"

"Nope. I'll grab a sandwich or something from the vending machines." Jess was decidedly unenthusiastic about the idea, and it showed.

Robin gave her a reluctant nod. "See you at home, then." She left the office, leaving the door partially open.

Less than an hour had passed as the junior partner plowed her way through the papers in the pile closest to her, oblivious to much of anything else. The law firm was quiet, since almost all of the staff had gone home more than an hour earlier. It was then, as she studied the ridiculous settlement proposal from an opposing counsel, that a low clearing of the throat sounded from the direction of her doorway. Blue eyes glanced up, focusing on the long form leaning casually against the wooden frame.

"Thought I might catch you here." The figure smiled, looking impeccably dressed and very at ease.

Damn it. I don’t need this. "What are you doing here, especially at this hour?"

"Come on, Jess. Is that any way to say hi?" James took a seat in the chair nearest the large floor-to-ceiling window, making himself comfortable. "I tried to reach you this past weekend, but you weren't home."

"I went to the beach." A bored look. "Not that it's any of your business."

"Ah." He appeared to contemplate that response. "Have a good time?"

A visible eyeroll. "Cut the small talk. Why are you here?"

James sighed. This was going to be a little bit harder than he thought. "Look, I just thought I would check in with you and see if you've had time to consider my offer."

Now that the situation had sunk in, Jess remembered Harry's warning about keeping James away from the firm. "Listen, you're not authorized to be here. If you want to discuss your personal business ventures, it'll have to be somewhere else." I've got to get him out of here.

"All right." He seemed to agree, nodding slowly. "Let's go get some dinner, and we can discuss it." It had turned out to be a pretty good opening for him.

The junior partner cast her eyes over the piles of paper strewn about her desk. Shit. What were her choices? Having James hanging around where he didn't belong, or letting her work go so she could get him out of here? Bad options all the way around. "Fine. Let's go." She stood up hastily and grabbed her briefcase. "But make it quick. I don't have all night."

They left her office and rounded the corner near the reception area, taking the first elevator car down to the building's lobby before anyone could see them.

Or so Jess hoped.

The small booth at the bistro a few blocks from the firm provided a cozy setting for dinner. Actually, it was a little bit too cozy. The lighting could have been brighter.

Steely blue eyes studied James from across the table, then lightened just a little. Jess knew she'd have to make this good in order for him to believe her. "You wanted to talk, so talk," she offered casually.

"Wine?" He avoided the subject.

"Merlot."

"Good choice." Once he had placed their order, James leaned back in his seat and attempted to engage in some idle chitchat. It was an icebreaker, and besides, there was no use in getting into business just yet. "You're looking tan. The beach must've agreed with you."

"It was relaxing." A dark eyebrow edged up. "Too bad that ended."

Touché. "Which beach did you go to? Daytona or Cocoa?"

Why all this interest in how I spent my weekend? If she had thought about it hard enough, the answer was probably quite obvious. "We went to Cocoa. Any more questions?"

"You and... Robin, is it?"

This was territory Jess was absolutely not getting into with him. "Robin is off-limits when it comes to you. If you want to talk about something with me, then do that, but don't bring her up again."

Defensive. "Hey." He held his palms out directly in front of him. "Sorry. I just didn't think you'd have a problem talking about," he smiled, rather amused, "your girlfriend."

He's trying to get to you, Jess. She mentally reminded herself just what a jerk he could be. "What I have a problem with is your inappropriate interest in things that don't concern you."

The wine arrived, and he grasped the stem of his glass, taking a long sip. "It was just conversation, Jess."

Right. "I believe you wanted to discuss something with me." She looked at him expectantly. "I'm listening."

James opened his menu and studied it. "Can't we have dinner first, and talk business later?" It seemed to him to be a perfectly reasonable request. "The T-bone looks good."

Let's not make this too easy for him. "Look, I've got things to do. I don't have enough time to waste it with you. If you want to talk, we'll talk. Otherwise, I've got better places to be."

"Fine." Resigned, he turned his full attention to her. "I was hoping you'd had an opportunity to consider my business proposal."

"So far, I've heard nothing to convince me to leave my present employment."

"Fair enough." He casually took another sip of his wine. "I've scheduled a meeting at the end of next week here in Orlando for the personnel who will open the new office, along with the principals of the company. Perhaps you might be able to attend."

Jess contemplated her response. "I'll need to check my schedule."

"If you attend, you'll be able to see firsthand the scope of the operation and the responsibilities associated with managing the office. Additionally, it will afford you the opportunity to meet the staff and then determine additional staffing requirements as necessary, including legal staffing."

"Just to be clear," Jess said as she set her menu aside, "I'm not making any promises. Even if I do go to that meeting, there are many factors to consider, one of which is whether I'd even enjoy working in a corporate environment."

"Here's what I'll do. I'll ship you a prospectus and a copy of our corporate earnings statement prior to the meeting. You can decide what the risks are, and then, depending on what you hear at the meeting, you can determine if it might be something you would consider." James was saying all the right things, and he knew it. The hook was almost set.

Before they could continue their conversation, the waiter appeared, and after rambling through the evening's house specials, took their orders. It must have been the time of evening, because the lights in the bistro seemed to dim even further as the sunlight outside finally faded from view.

Jess refocused her attention on the issue at hand. "Did I understand you to say that as manager and corporate legal counsel, I would have discretion over the staffing decisions for this office?"

"Absolutely."

"And I could hire anyone I wanted, including legal personnel?"

James gave her one of his most charming smiles. "You'd have carte blanche." That should seal it. Something told him he was on the verge of victory.

"And salary requirements?"

"Pay them market rates. You, naturally, would receive a generous base salary, which would be negotiable, plus a percentage of the net profits the office brings in under your management."

What's he scamming? This all seemed too good to be true. "I wouldn't be cheap."

"Understood." He slowly swirled the richly-colored wine in his glass, then set the final bait. "You can even hire Robin, if you'd like. I'm not adverse to any type of nepotism arrangement." He glanced up, catching her blue eyes in his. "Not that she would exactly be considered family."

He's trying to provoke me. Jess paused, then calmly responded. "What Robin is or is not isn't any concern of yours." I’ll be damned if she's getting anywhere near this. "She has her work to do, I have mine." That wasn't true, but James didn't know it.

He leaned forward, all business pretenses aside. "Come on, Jess. What's really going on with you and the little blonde? You can tell me."

Jess hadn't expected such a blatant attempt at gaining personal information, but considering everything, she should have. "Have I not made it clear to you, when you came to my home unannounced and then during this entire evening, that Robin is none of your business?"

"It just seems so out of character for you." He appeared to be considering the situation. "I mean, she's kind of cute, I suppose, if you go for that type. But, Jess, you've always been so much more... aggressive."

Jess tried very hard to keep herself under control. "Let me be perfectly clear, because you seem to have trouble understanding this." She placed her forearms stiffly on the table, speaking succinctly to him. "I am not going to talk with you about Robin. You'll need to get your jollies someplace else."

Ouch. Definitely defensive. "Okay." He let the matter drop. "Whatever you say."

She relaxed, having made her point. "Besides, you're in no position to make any judgments about me, considering your own less than stellar track record."

And still bitter, I see. James didn't respond, having gained from the exchange pretty much what he wanted, anyway. He did raise an eyebrow, though, offering Jess a subtle smile that seemed to convey that he had won something. "More wine?"

Damn it. Jess cringed inwardly, now second-guessing herself. Had she just made a critical mistake? In her attempts to keep Robin out of play, had she instead put her right smack into the middle of all of this? And by doing so, had she revealed her own weakness? It was apparent that James had some strange fascination with her relationship with Robin. Or perhaps he was just curious. Men were like that. Or could it be that he saw Robin as some form of competition? A dark eyebrow lifted. Men were like that, too. But surely he'd gotten the message that he's no longer in the picture, and that his previous actions were unforgivable. Hadn't he? The uneasy feeling lingered. So, what's he after? What, indeed?

Robin had spent a largely uneventful evening at home by herself. She had warmed up some leftover lasagna and spent some time relaxing in front of the television watching the nighttime game shows and a not very funny situation comedy. It was lonely without Jess, and even though she tried to make the best of it, she didn't succeed. She hated spending evenings by herself when Jess was working, which fortunately for them, had been few and far between lately. There was something about the quiet and stillness of the nighttime that made it uncomfortable for Robin to be alone in the large house at night for any length of time. The sounds seemed to be amplified, and she could hear every creak and groan. Furthermore, she didn't like the fact that Jess was holed up at the office without even a proper dinner.

She let out a sigh. One other thing was bothering her this evening: the matter of another little message on their answering machine from her mother, one of many over the course of the past several months. Up until this time, Robin had ignored her mother's messages or refused outright to speak with her, too angry at her mother's deceptions about her father's intentions toward Jess. But now that some time had passed, and things had played out a little bit more, perhaps Robin was being unfair. She reflected on this further. It was entirely possible that her mother hadn't actually known about her father's blackmail scheme and the resulting ultimatum to Jess. Maybe she should give her mother the benefit of the doubt...

She picked up the cordless phone from the living room coffee table, her index finger traveling absently across the keypad. It was definitely a debatable subject, one which Robin now decided to consider more fully. A short conversation with her mother would stop the continuing messages, and maybe even make a little peace in the process. And hadn't Jess been encouraging her to talk with her mother? Maybe it would be a good thing. On the other hand, it might aggravate an already bad situation, especially if the tone of the conversation turned combative. I'm not in the mood for an argument. Finally, after much internal debate, she dialed the number.

"Hello." Colette Wilson answered the phone.

"Mom, it's Robin."

"Oh, Robin dear, I'm so glad you called." Colette's voice sounded extremely relieved. "It's good to hear from you."

"I received your latest message tonight, and decided to call you, but please, Mom, I don't want an argument." It was best to set the parameters of the conversation right away.

"Me, either." Colette agreed. "I've been worried about you."

"I've been fine."

There was an awkward silence before her mother continued. "I'm sorry about what happened."

"Do you mean that?" What's changed?

"Yes, I do. I didn't know what your father had in mind when he left here that day, and if I had known, I would have done everything possible to stop him. I thought he just wanted to speak with your friend and make sure that you weren't going to be hurt."

"Well, guess what? He was the one who did more to hurt me than anyone else could have. And to even think that Jess would hurt me in any way, after I had explained the situation to you both..." Robin stopped herself before the conversation could deteriorate any further.

"I know that, dear, and I told him that I was very upset at his tactics, especially since what he did made you so unhappy. That's not what either of us wants for you."

"Do you know how much trouble he caused for Jess at the firm? Do you know what she had to go through with the Management Committee, all because of me?" The tears started to come, and Robin was helpless to stop them. "He tried to humiliate her and destroy her career and reputation."

"Robin, I don't approve of what he did, and I told him that. I hope you believe me."

Robin regained her composure, but her voice was shaky. "And she was willing to give everything up just to spare me. Do you know that she was ready to sacrifice everything for me and what that cost her?" I almost lost her that night.

"I'm very sorry about that." Colette did indeed sound sincere.

"Don't apologize for him, Mom. I've already told him that if he continues his obsessive need to interfere in my life, or if he hurts Jess in any way, he won't see me ever again."

"I think your father understands that now. He doesn't want to alienate you." A brief pause. "Nor do I."

Robin let out a breath. Her mother seemed to have conceded. "Okay, but as I told him, it's going to take me some time to get past this."

"I understand that, and it's enough that you called tonight."

There was so much more to talk about, but now wasn't the time to get into everything. There was, however, one last thing that needed to be said. "For me to move past this, you will both have to accept my relationship with Jess."

There was another silence.

"Mom, we can't move on unless that happens."

After a time, her mother spoke. "I know that she is important to you and that you want to be with her, but just like you're going to need a little bit of time, I'll need a little bit of time with this, too." It was as honest as Colette could be. "If you're truly happy, then I'll accept that this is what you've chosen," she added.

Robin sighed. It's not a ringing endorsement, but it's a start. "Fair enough." Her voice became very soft. "Mom, Jess is the most wonderful person I could ever hope to meet. I'm committed to her. I love her with all my heart, and I really want you to love her, too." This was an admission Robin hadn't voiced before, or even acknowledged to herself.

There was an audible sigh. Colette knew her daughter's feelings for this woman ran very deep. "I'll give her another chance, Robin. It's the best I can do right now. Let's just give this some time. The important thing is that you're happy."

Robin couldn't figure out whether her mother really believed that, or if she was just placating her in the hope that as time went on, the relationship with Jess would eventually end. "I am happy, and you and Dad have to believe and accept that." And not interfere.

"Are you taking care of yourself?" Colette changed the subject. "I worry about how you're coping with things."

Perhaps it was a good time to end this part of their conversation and let things settle down a bit. "I'm fine. I've been going to counseling, and now that it's been almost a year since David died, I'm starting to handle things a little bit better."

"That's good to hear." Colette was well aware of how traumatic those past events had been.

Robin suddenly felt very weary, the conversation having taken its toll on her. "I need to go now, Mom. Jess will be home soon."

"Okay, dear. I'm really very happy that you called. Please take care of yourself."

"I will. Good-bye." Robin clicked off the phone. God, that was draining. Had they made any progress? After everything was said and done, Robin couldn't be sure. Her mother seemed to be remorseful about her father's actions, and that was good, but what bothered Robin most was that her mother still seemed unsure about Jess. She said she would try to accept their relationship, but that was a far cry from accepting Jess as a person. But why? What was it about Jess that was so objectionable? Robin couldn't for the life of her figure that out.

There was a nuance there, and what Robin didn't understand was that her mother accepted that she loved Jess as a person but not as a woman. Perhaps that was simply going to take some time.

Robin returned the cordless telephone to the coffee table and glanced up at the clock on the wall. 9:45. Where is Jess? Why isn't she home yet? She briefly debated whether to pick up the phone again and dial Jess's direct line at the office, but then thought better of it. After all, since Jess was working, she probably wasn't having a good time, and Robin should just let her get her work done and come home as soon as she could. And it certainly wouldn't help get her home any sooner if she was distracted, or nagged about working late. Next time, I’m staying to help her no matter how stubborn she is.

After another hour passed without hide nor hair of Jess, Robin finally went to bed, the aftereffects of the phone call with her mother ultimately getting the better of her.

Besides, surely Jess would be home soon.

The door leading from the garage into the kitchen opened quietly. Jess disabled the alarm, then reset it after she was safely inside the house. The place was very quiet, with a small lamp in the corner of the living room providing the only light. She surmised that Robin must have gone to bed, and she couldn't blame her, considering the hour. Easing her way over to the sofa, she took off her suit jacket and fell back onto the cushions. God, it had been a long day. She was tired, uncomfortable in her business suit, and her feet hurt. She noted the time on her watch. 11:20. Later than she would have liked.

And to top it off, she hadn't gotten much work done tonight. After the excruciatingly long dinner with James, she had retreated back to the firm to attempt to do some work, but instead, found her mind wandering, unable to concentrate on much of anything. She'd barely made a dent in all she had planned to do. Not to mention that she was now having doubts about whether or not she could pull off her plan with James. What an arrogant jerk he is. It had been nagging her all night long, after their lengthy dinner and her subsequent hasty departure. His interest in Robin bothered her, plain and simple. If his stated mission was to entice Jess into working for him, what was it with all of the questions about her relationship with Robin? Unless he was just curious. It could be nothing more than that. But still...

Weary from thinking about it for the better part of the evening, Jess decided just to go to bed and start a brand new day tomorrow. She'd be able to think more clearly and maybe find a way to piece this puzzle together.

She got up from the sofa and shuffled her way back toward the master bedroom, her suit jacket draped over her arm and dress shoes in hand. Quietly, she opened the door and tiptoed over to the walk-in closet, letting herself free of her confining clothing and changing into her more comfortable Calvin Klein boxers and T-shirt. She dashed into the bathroom for several minutes before tiptoeing around to her side of the waterbed and gingerly slipping underneath the covers.

Careful as she was, the motion woke Robin. "Jess." A groggy, gray-green eye noted the time on the digital clock. "You're home. I was getting worried."

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you."

Robin edged herself over alongside the larger form. "I bet you're tired."

You can say that again. "Yeah. Long night."

"Did you get everything done?" Robin mumbled into Jess's shoulder.

"Umn... no, not as much as I wanted."

"I'm sorry. I promise I'll help you tomorrow."

A weary smile. "Okay." There wasn't any protest.

"And you didn't even get a good dinner. That vending machine food is terrible." Robin, now a tiny bit more alert, raised up slightly on one elbow. "If you're hungry, I could fix you something to eat."

As worn out as she was, Jess could have cried. "Sweetheart, I'm okay. I managed all right. Go on back to sleep."

The smaller body snuggled up again against Jess, a petite hand resting comfortably on Jess's waist on top of the Calvin T-shirt. Silently, soothingly, her thumb lightly brushed back and forth over the soft fabric. "I'm glad you're home. I almost called you a couple times."

"I'm sorry I was later than I expected." Jess drew the covers up around them both.

Robin kept up the soothing motion with her thumb, attempting to dispel any stress that may have lingered after a work-filled evening. "Was there that much to do?" It was meant to be more of a statement rather than a question. "You should have let me stay and help you."

"Well, at least one of us had a relaxing evening."

Not really. "Actually, I spoke with my mom tonight." Robin paused, not particularly wanting to think about that subject anymore.

Jess became a bit concerned. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I'll tell you about it tomorrow."

An unexplained wave of emotion caught Jess off guard. She wrapped her arms around Robin and pulled her close, a protective gesture that either stemmed from wanting to shield the younger woman from her family troubles, or perhaps to defend her against other, more sinister forces. He's not getting anywhere near you.

"Did you run into any problems tonight?" Robin seemed almost prescient.

Jess kissed the top of the blonde head resting on her shoulder. "Nothing I can't handle."

There had been several opportunities for Jess to tell Robin about her dinner with James, yet she had chosen not to do so. So why had she kept silent about it? Why had she... lied? But it wasn't exactly a lie, Jess rationalized to herself. More like an omission of fact.

Right.

Well, whatever it was, it just wasn't the truth.

Chapter 6

Fog. It was so thick and murky that from the impressive floor-to-ceiling windows in her office, the junior partner couldn't see even the faintest outline of the building next door. Just white nothingness. It was early morning, before most of the attorneys and staff had started to arrive for work, and Jess had gotten herself up, dressed, and out of the house before Robin had stirred awake. Just like yesterday. And the day before that. There was a restlessness about her that wouldn't go away. An uneasy guilt. Something that had kept trying to niggle into her conscious thinking, and had now succeeded to the point of unyielding distraction.

Smooth move.

Although tempted to ignore the unwelcome intrusion, the alternate internal voice relented. "What?"

You know what.

Fog had blanketed more than just the physical realm. "I have nothing to say.”

That's the point. You didn't say what you should have said.

The alternate internal voice already regretted entering into this conversation. "I don't want to listen to you.”

Ignoring the obvious was always your strong point.

Apparently, the alternate internal voice was in no mood for a lecture. "I can't hear you."

Are you five? Covering your ears won’t block out the noise you hear in your head.

Perceptiveness, obviously, was not a strong point, either. "Look, pal, you got something to say, fine, then say it. "

Honesty.

"What the hell does that mean?" But the alternate internal voice already knew.

You should tell Robin about your dealings with James.

"Absolutely not!" The alternate internal voice was defiant.

Why?

"Look, it's complicated. You wouldn’t' understand.”

Secrets will eventually come back to bite you.

The alternate internal voice knew it was true. "I'm going to tell her, just not now."

Then when?

"When it's safe."

And when will that be?

It seemed patently obvious. "When he's gone. "

Why wait? Get everything out in the open now. It's for the best.

"See? " An internal sigh. "I knew you wouldn't understand. "

Robin can handle anything you have to tell her. Don't sell her short.

"I'm not worried about Robin." An uneasy pause. "I'm worried about him. "

What do you think you have to worry about with him, especially by telling Robin?

"Evidently you’re even more clueless than you seem, " the alternate internal voice lashed out harshly.

Then maybe you should enlighten all of us with your great wisdom.

"I'm protecting her, " the alternate internal voice asserted.

How noble. So that's what you’re telling yourself?

"It's the truth," the alternate internal voice lied.

Truth. What a strange concept, coming from you. So, you’re protecting her by not telling her?

"Yes."

How is that protecting her?

"Are you dense? " The alternate internal voice was incredulous at the question. "The moment she knows I'm playing up to James..."

She'll confront him.

"Bingo." The point was brilliantly made. "And she'll want to help me, and that'll give him an opening to get to her. He's already showing far too much interest in her as it is. I don't need to make it even easier for him."

So, what are you planning to do?

"Keep a wall of separation between them, " the alternate internal voice logically reasoned. 'He stays away from her, she stays away from him, and I have time to find out what the hell he 's really doing here. "

You've got it all figured out.

"Damn right. The less interaction he has with Robin, the better. "

Why not just tell him to get lost, that you’re not interested in his little business venture, if that's what it really is. and get him out of both of your lives right now?

"Because he won’t go away. He'll keep trying and trying to get what he 's after. ' A moment's reflection. "See, I know what he 's like. He won't give up so easily, and we'll always wonder what he's going to pull next. It's better to call him out on whatever his game is and then get rid of him once and for all."

Good story. Or are you really afraid of something else?

The alternate internal voice had been caught dead to rights. "So, you think there 's more?" It was not an innocent question.

Your plan is too convenient. You're covering for something.

"I most certainly am not." The protest was totally unconvincing.

There's that truth thing again, or lack thereof.

"You're starting to really annoy me. I told you. I'm not covering anything," the alternate internal voice vehemently insisted. "So drop it."

Hello. Is anybody home? The lights are on, but no one's minding the store. You're not fooling anyone.

The outrage that followed could not be contained. "Listen, pal, if you're impugning my motives, you'd better have damn good proof."

Whoa! Take it easy.

"You take it easy! You show up here and accuse me of lying and being devious and who knows what other nefarious things, when all I'm really trying to do is protect Robin from that snake. He uses people for his own purposes, then discards them after he's gotten what he wants. He did that with me, but he's not getting anywhere near Robin with his games. Take it to the bank. I won't let it happen. "

That's brave talk, but you're not so brave as you seem. You were hurt by him once. It still smarts, even after all these years, doesn't it? Maybe you want a little payback.

"So, what if I do?" the alternate internal voice self-righteously shot back.

So, maybe you’re keeping it a secret from Robin because you know she wouldn’t approve.

The alternate internal voice scoffed at the notion. "Not true in the least little bit. "

Oh, please. Be honest with yourself. In your heart, you want revenge, pure and simple, and you know full well Robin wouldn’t approve. That's why you're keeping your dealings with James hidden from her.

"All right, maybe that's so, to an extent. But I'm also protecting her. He'll use her to try to get to me "

Just like he used you, crucified you, back then, just to get what he wanted?

"Yes...no, it's not the same thing. " A moment's self-reflection. "You see, I... " The alternate internal voice suddenly fell silent, the words not easily forthcoming.

You what?

"I screwed up," the alternate internal voice reluctantly admitted. "The other night at dinner with James, I made a mistake. "

What happened?

"I let him see that Robin was a weakness for me. He baited me, and I fell right into his trap. Damn. I was such an idiot. "

So now you’re worried.

"You bet I'm worried, " the alternate internal voice confirmed. "I'm worried that he'll use her and hurt her just to get to me. "

And you also want revenge for what he did to you before.

"Yes."

A double whammy.

"Do you understand now why I can't say anything to Robin, and I have to keep this to myself? The alternate internal voice valiantly pled the case. "It's the only thing I can do. "

You’re trying to convince yourself of that, but lies have a way of coming back at you.

"It's not a lie. Just an omission of fact. It's not the same thing." Amazingly, the alternate internal voice seemed entirely confident in making such an assertion.

Does it make you feel better to think that?

"Of course, " the alternate internal voice insisted, "because it's the truth. "

Truth. This is where we came in. It seems ignoring the obvious is still your strong point.

Another internal eyeroll. "I'm not listening to you anymore."

Right. Five year olds...

The smell of freshly brewing coffee permeated the hallway, its enticing aroma too much for a mere mortal to resist. The young associate breezed her way toward the apparent source, her favorite coffee mug in hand, ready to be filled. The only question was would the flavor of the day be hazelnut or chocolate macadamia nut? Hmm. She caught another whiff. Time to find out. Robin entered the small kitchen located on the far side of the law office, suppressing a yawn as she stood waiting for the gourmet coffee to finish brewing. She was tempted to lift the carafe and sneak some of the unfinished brew, but since it was nearly full now anyway, she opted to wait just a few moments more for the payoff. As she lingered near the coffeemaker, her mind fixated on only one thing: how do they make coffee beans smell so good? She was so lost in her senses that she didn't hear the footsteps behind her.

"So, what's the flavor today?"

Startled, Robin whirled toward the voice. "Paul." Great. Still wary of his intentions, she really didn't want to engage him in conversation, however innocuous. "It's chocolate macadamia nut."

"Good." Paul Franklin offered her a thin but polite smile, still smarting from the last encounter he'd had with her. He had tried to reason with her and explain all of the misery she had the misfortunate to endure just because she happened to get mixed up with Jessica Harrison. But his most recent efforts were to no avail. "With all that fog outside, I could sure use some chocolate coffee today to get me started."

The young associate grabbed the carafe and filled her ceramic mug, keeping silent as she watched the rich, auburn-brown liquid reach just below the rim. The last thing she wanted to do was get involved in another conversation with Paul about her personal life. Without saying anything more, she quickly put down the pot and stepped to the side of the counter to allow him access to it.

He figured he might as well keep things friendly between them. One never knew when fortunes might turn. "Things going okay?" He poured some coffee into a cup.

"Fine." The younger associate gave no further response, preferring to add cream and sugar to her coffee in silence.

As it turned out, Paul was privy to some interesting information, and although he didn't want to jump too quickly to conclusions and interpret things in the wrong way, he felt he had a duty to at least offer Robin a little hint. She deserved to be clued in and on the lookout if things turned out to be not so "fine" in the end. "Been busy?"

"Not too bad." She snatched up a plastic spoon and stirred her coffee briskly, then attempted to make her escape.

He stepped over ever so slightly to stop her progress, careful not to appear threatening. He knew he'd have to be subtle, particularly if he wanted to convey the impression that he was someone who would always be there for her. He harbored some suspicions about Jessica's behavior, and after what he'd seen a few nights ago, he wasn't about to turn a blind eye to it. Whoever the man was that he saw Jessica leaving the office with, it was obvious that they were pretty close. A familiarity had exuded from both of them as Paul had silently watched them step off the elevator and leave the building together, headed straight for the little bistro down the street. Trouble in paradise. It figures. He resumed his conversation. "Not keeping many late nights, then?"

What's he after? "Not recently. We get home early enough for dinner most nights." She was quick to imply Jess's presence in her nightly schedule.

Paul nodded. "Good." A pause. How to phrase this? "You know, sometimes things can be deceiving, and aren't quite as quiet as they seem. Like they say, there's always a calm before the storm. And when it rains, it pours." He laughed slightly, as if he was trying to make a joke about having too much work. "Just look at my desk. Last week it was clear. Now, I can barely see over it."

Okay. "I'll keep that in mind." Robin deftly moved around him. "See ya." She left the kitchen and made her way down the hallway back toward her own office. What was that all about?

It was nearly six o'clock, and the number of office personnel around the firm had begun to thin out, as was usual for that time of the evening. The sounds of the busy workplace had all but subsided, replaced by the beginning of a steady quiet that would soon linger throughout the hallways. The young associate closed the deposition transcript she had been reading, acutely aware of the hour, and opened her e-mail program. It was time to go home, and she hoped Jess would be ready to leave soon. She typed in her message:

J-I'm leaving now. You ready, too? R

She packed up her briefcase, adding few items to take home with her as she waited for the response. The reply came barely a minute later.

R - Sorry. Revising our Motion for Summary Judgment, due tomorrow. Go on. I won’t be late. J

Robin sighed. Rats. She didn't particularly want to spend another evening at home alone this week. She thought for a moment. Maybe Jess could bring home whatever she had left to do and work on it there. No law said that all work had to be done in the office building. And perhaps the junior partner just needed a little in-person persuasion on the subject.

The young associate got up from her chair and walked briskly down the hallway, through the reception area and around the corner to Jess's office, clearly set on her mission. The door was already open, so she walked right on in without so much as slowing down.

Surprised, Jess glanced up from her computer screen, her fingers still in mid-type. "Something wrong?"

"You're coming home with me."

Jess was quick with a retort, smirking just a bit. "Now that's an offer a girl doesn't get every day."

"I'll ignore that." Robin planted herself in the nearest chair. "Listen, Counselor, you're dedicated, and that's admirable, but the world doesn't revolve around work."

Huh? The junior partner swiveled around to face Robin directly. "The world may not revolve around work, but this motion is due tomorrow, and I have to make the final revisions."

"Can't you do it at home? Last time I checked, your laptop was in pristine working order."

A lengthy pause, then long arms folded across the cherrywood desktop. "What's really going on, kiddo?"

Now, Robin felt a little foolish. She knew she was being selfish in wanting Jess to come home, and that she shouldn't try to push her into feeling guilty about having to work on some occasions. They both knew how important their legal work was, and deadlines were deadlines, no matter how inconvenient they were. "It's nothing. I'd just really wanted to spend the evening at home with you tonight, not alone." She smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. I know you have to finish the motion."

It was kind of sweet, Jess decided. She'd never had anyone before who cared whether she worked late or not, or came home at a decent hour or not. She'd always worked for as long as she'd wanted and then gone home whenever she'd wanted. But that was before Robin, and now she'd give anything to be able to just toss her work aside and leave this instant.

"Here's what I'll do, then. I'll finish up the revisions tonight and save the exhibits and the case law for tomorrow. There'll still be plenty of time to pull it together and file it before the end of the day. That way, I can get home in say," the junior partner glanced at her watch, "a couple of hours." Dark eyebrows lifted hopefully. "Will that work?"

Robin grinned widely. "That'd be great." Maybe this night can be partially salvaged after all. "I'll heat up the chili we had the other night for dinner and keep it on the stove for you until you get home."

"Love some." The older woman smiled warmly. "Hey, I'll need your help on a research assignment in the next couple of days, on whether or not the statutory principles of sovereign immunity apply to a new case that just came in. Our client was the consulting engineer on the design and construction of a roadway where an accident subsequently occurred. The plaintiff is alleging that a guardrail should have been erected. The contention is that it might have prevented the accident."

"Sure. I'll get on it with you tomorrow, after the motion is filed. Let me know if you're going to need any last minute help with the exhibits and case law." The young associate finished talking, but did not get up from the chair as expected. Instead, she sat there for a few seconds looking at Jess, her head cocked to one side and her brows furrowed just a bit. A feeling had come over her just now, but she couldn't pin it down.

The junior partner saw the expression. "What?"

"Um..." Blonde eyebrows furrowed a bit more. "Something seems off."

"Off?"

"Yeah, something seems off with you."

"With me?" Jess was famous for answering questions with questions. "Like what?"

"I don't know. I can't put my finger on it." What is it? Maybe it was all the talk about work that brought it out, or maybe it was nothing in particular, but something didn't feel right, and there was no way to explain it. Robin sighed. "It's just that you've been leaving so early in the mornings, and now you're working late several nights this week. It just seems different."

Distracted is more like it. "No, I just have a lot of deadlines to get through, but then things will calm down and get back to normal, I promise. Don't worry about it, okay, kiddo?"

The calm before the storm. Why did that expression pop into her mind? Robin nodded, unconvinced. "All right." She got up from the chair. "See you at home, then, in a couple of hours."

"You bet." Jess watched Robin step toward the door. "And save some of that chili for me. Deal?"

"Deal." With that, the young associate left the office, heading for her own office to grab her briefcase and shut down her computer for the night.

Once Robin was out of sight, Jess fell back heavily into her leather chair, letting out an audible sigh. Damn it, Jess, be careful. Robin's not an idiot. She’ll catch on soon. She knows you too well. The junior partner cringed inside. Keeping quiet about her plan was going to be even more difficult than she had thought. She turned her chair back toward her computer to continue working on the motion, determined to focus on the task at hand. Minutia and legalese could be wonderful things. Besides, staying busy kept her from being distracted and kept those pesky voices at bay, which was exactly what she needed right now.

About ten minutes passed. Jess was sending off a quick e-mail to a client when she heard someone approach the office door. As she glanced up, a tall form appeared in the open doorway.

"I'm glad you're still here." The voice, although familiar, still took her by surprise.

Shit. "James. What are you doing here?"

He stepped further inside the office. "I just wanted to drop off the documents for the start-up meeting next week, so you'd have them to review." He produced the referenced items. "I was going to leave them up front, but there was no receptionist."

"They leave at six." You knew that. I bet you timed it perfectly.

He casually settled into the chair Robin had just occupied. "Since no one was out there, I thought I'd come by and give them to you personally if you were still here."

He has got to stop showing up like this. "Look, James, I told you before that you're not authorized to be here." She tried to keep the alarm from her voice. Twice in one week. Harry cannot find out about this. "Next time, call."

"Hey, no problem. I just thought you could look over the documents, and if you had any questions or anything like that, you could let me know and we could talk about them." He smiled, seemingly in a polite attempt to lighten the mood. "I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed to get up to speed in time for the meeting."

Considerate. "You could've mailed them to me." This, although true, was not really the point at all. He was here for a reason, and it wasn't just to drop off some papers. What does he want?

"True..." James dragged the word out. "But then we'd still have to discuss the preparations for the meeting. Why not get it all done in one step?" It seemed like a logical argument to him. "And besides, everyone's counting on the start-up going smoothly." He sensed her increasing reluctance. "C'mon, Jess."

She closed her eyes. He was definitely persistent, and that fact made her even more determined to find out what he was really after. Against her better judgment, she relented. "Fine, let's talk about it and get it over with."

"Gee, Jess, you make it sound so... distasteful." He made an unpleasant face to accent his statement.

She got up from her desk, ignoring his antics. "Let's go."

"Go?" Looking somewhat surprised, he stood up. "Where?"

"The coffeehouse around the corner." Jess cast a look back at her computer. The motion. Damn. She grabbed her purse from inside her desk drawer. "Let's make it quick. I've still got a lot of work to do tonight."

He'd take whatever she offered him. "All right, the coffeehouse it is." James followed Jess out of her office, happy for any small victory.

The junior partner checked and double-checked the hallway. Now, to get him out of here—again—before anyone sees him.

The problem was, someone already had. Twice.

Robin set her briefcase down on the concrete deck of the parking garage, next to her blue BMW, and unlocked the car door. She was already starting to get hungry, her stomach grumbling at the thought of the chili she was planning to heat up for dinner. Not surprisingly, that fact seemed to make her move a bit faster and provided just a little more incentive for her to make it home this evening without too much delay. Hoping traffic wouldn't be too bad, she quickly loaded her purse and briefcase into the back seat of the car and started it up, buckling her seat belt and flipping on her favorite radio station.

Carefully, she backed out of her parking space and ventured down the three ramp levels to the garage's exit. The lone parking attendant in the visitors' lane sat idly, the five o'clock rush hour having passed some time ago. Robin placed her parking card against the magnetic reader, just as she'd done countless times before, and waited for the gate arm to lift. Once clear, she edged forward to check for on-coming traffic. She looked left, then right, then left again. If she had been thirty seconds earlier, or thirty seconds later, she would have missed them. But as luck would have it, she was at the right place, at the right time. Maybe luck wasn't exactly the right word. Just as she turned her head to look left for the last time, she caught sight of two figures emerging from the lobby of the adjoining office building.

Robin blinked, then gazed at them, her mind trying to process what she was seeing. There, several yards away, a tall, dark-haired man stood holding open the large exterior glass door, waiting as a tall woman with long dark hair exited. Once the woman had stepped outside, the man casually placed his hand against the small of her back, gently guiding her forward. They proceeded onward and away from their observer, chatting in what appeared, from a distance, to be an amiable fashion. The events, almost surreal, unfolded in slow motion, or so it seemed to Robin. Green eyes were fixed intently on the two retreating forms, taking note of their every move. The tall woman nodded at something, then gestured ahead, her movements graceful even at a distance. The man let his hand drop from its place on her back, but the smile never left his face. He was smartly dressed and had an air of confidence. They continued on with their conversation as they walked together down the brick-paved sidewalk, turning the corner at the end of the block and disappearing out of view.

Jess. It was unmistakable. I'd recognize her from a mile away. Robin's heart sank in her chest. Jess was leaving with... James. But why? What about the work, the motion? Robin stared at the now empty sidewalk. Where were they going? When did he get back in town? And more important, what was Jess doing with him? Tonight. Well, Robin could see what Jess was doing with him, and it was obvious that neither one of them thought the other was particularly unpleasant company. Robin took a deep breath to steady herself, but her hands began to shake as they rested on the steering wheel. She didn't understand this. The loud beep of a car horn sounded from behind, jarring her. She checked the rearview mirror to find another car in back of her, its driver impatiently trying to leave the parking garage. Gathering her wits, Robin pulled out into the street and let the other car exit. What to do? Too distracted to drive, she pulled into a parking lot on the next block and stopped the car. Briefly, she considered turning around and going after Jess, taking her aside and finding out what in the world she was doing with him. With him.

Conflicting emotions washed over her as she sat in her car, trying to make some sense out of what she'd just seen. A sense of panic came over her. James was back. Jess was going somewhere with him. Robin gripped the steering wheel more tightly, trying desperately to stay calm and think this through. They were headed away from the building, so they obviously weren't taking Jess's car. Maybe they were taking his. The panic increased. She was with him. Robin brought her hand up to her forehead, her elbow now resting against the center of the steering wheel. She closed her eyes tightly. She was with him. Robin couldn't let herself think about what that might mean. Oh, God.

Then a sense of protectiveness replaced her full-blown panic, and reason emerged to clear the fog. It had been obvious from the start that James was after Jess again. He wanted her back. Anyone could see that. Why else would he be here? And as sure as anything, he'll hurt her. Look what he did before, and all the damage it caused. Intense anger welled up inside Robin. Jess had irreparable scars from what this man had done, to this day having moments of doubt as to whether or not Robin would ultimately leave her. He's no good. He can't be trusted. Robin wanted to send him away. Away from the both of them. Forever.

She continued to consider the situation. There had to be a rational reason for why Jess and James were together tonight... wherever they were going, and Robin figured she shouldn't leap to any conclusions. Imagined fears were often worse than the reality. All she had to do was wait until Jess got home, and then Jess would explain everything to her. Jess loved her and would never betray her. That was a given. So, there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for all this. Right? She also remembered that Jess had talked about some plan she had, to try to find out what James was up to. This could be dangerous. Robin didn't like the idea. Never had. I've got to keep her safe from him.

Panic warred with protectiveness and in the end, protectiveness won. Jess was going to come home and tell her what was going on, and together they'd figure out how to get James out of their lives once and for all. And maybe I'll pay him a little visit just to be sure he gets the message. Robin shifted the car into drive, now more confident in what had to be done, and began making her journey home. She and Jess were going to work through this thing. Together.

The two prospective business associates reached the coffeehouse and took a table near the front of the cafe, overlooking the street. The shadows cast by the tall downtown buildings kept the angle of the sun's glare from reaching inside, although what remained of the long summer's day still contained plenty of daylight. The cool air-conditioning was a welcome relief, even at this time of the early evening. The aroma of gourmet coffee permeated the cozy confines of the trendy coffeehouse. Jess ordered a tall latte, while James ordered a double espresso, and they waited in relative comfort for their beverages to arrive.

James took some papers from the large envelope he had been carrying and spread them out on the table, turning them toward Jess for her review. "Here are the financials." He indicated documents on the left. "And these are the contracts we have lined up, once start-up has been completed and operations get underway." He pointed to the stack directly in front of her.

The junior partner merely nodded.

"We've got signed contracts for engineering and design consulting work totaling fifteen million ready to go, with another ten million in contracts at the bidding stage. We've got a team of civil and structural engineers already on board, and I've brought over two of our project managers from Texas who've agreed to relocate to Central Florida. What we need now is staffing to go with the team we're establishing."

Jess listened as patiently as she could while he rambled on. None too soon, their coffee arrived, and she gratefully accepted her latte, stirring in a spoonful of sugar and taking a welcome sip.

The server placed a cup of espresso on the table next to James. Without acknowledging him, James continued with his presentation. "I've already discussed this with the chief legal counsel at our home office, and we'd like you to start by reviewing all the new contracts to make sure the provisions comport with Florida law and, of course, offer any suggestions you might have on the content specific to the local customs and practices. We also intend for you to handle any litigation arising from any of the projects pursuant to those contracts. We know it's almost a certainty that in this business, people are going to sue for one thing or another, and we also want to protect our own rights. In light of that, we feel we must have an arbitration clause in the contracts, and even contemplate including a pre-suit mediation provision, if possible. We'd like your legal opinion on these issues based on the laws and the legal climate in the State of Florida."

After thinking for a moment, Jess spoke. "Since I'm not on your payroll yet, I can't offer you any legal advice. What I will tell you is that, although there are clearly certain advantages associated with formal arbitration verses litigation as a means of contract dispute resolution, there are also certain risks. It would be something your Board of Directors would need to carefully consider."

"We understand. Once you're on our payroll, the Board will want a legal analysis and your legal opinion before they make any final determination one way or the other."

"That would be prudent." Jess deliberately kept things as noncommittal as possible. In order to effectively play the game, however, she would have to seem somewhat interested in his venture. "What exactly is the purpose of the meeting next week?"

"To assess the staffing requirements, begin recruitment, coordinate office setup configurations, and then make sure we're in line to meet our target opening date. As manager of the office, you'll need to be aware of the status, even though you'll have a full staff to handle the day-to-day administrative work. You'll also have input into the framework of the operation and can offer any suggestions you might have for things such as staffing and office policy."

"I see." She took another sip of her latte. "It appears as though you have everything going in the right direction." She was trying to do what she could to placate him for the time being. He's got to think I'm seriously considering this.

"Yeah, it seems to be coming together quite smoothly. Take the next few days to look over the financials and make sure you're completely comfortable with them." James settled his gaze on Jess. "By the way, people in the business know me as Jay." He shrugged his shoulders, offering a brief smile. "It's less formal."

Jess, appearing entirely unaffected, had no comment.

It's not easy getting a rise out of you, is it Jess? "So, do you have any other questions?"

"Not at this time." She took another sip of her coffee. "I'll let you know my decision after the meeting." And I know you’re not going to like it.

"Great." He eased back comfortably in his chair. Let's try this. "So... what's Robin say?"

What? That caught Jess completely off guard. "Robin?"

Gotcha. "Sure. What's she say about coming on board with us."

Jess shook her head, nearly flabbergasted. "Whatever gave you the idea that Robin was going to be involved with this?"

"I just presumed—"

"Don't presume anything," she shot back, attempting to set him straight. "Robin is not going to be a part of your business."

"Oh." James appeared surprised. "I didn't think she'd turn it down, especially since she'd have the opportunity to keep on working with you." He noticed Jess's somewhat uneasy expression. "Ah, I see. You haven't told her."

Jess didn't reply. She simply finished off her latte.

Now, this was certainly an interesting development. He was almost amused. Keeping secrets, huh, Jess? "Hire her, Jess. She'd make a great asset to the team."

That did it. He was good at pushing her buttons, so much so that Jess nearly lost her composure. The only team Robin was going to be a part of was with her and her alone. End of story. There was absolutely no negotiation about that. And James was definitely not part of the package. "Robin is staying at the firm. You want me, anyway." Jess didn't recognize the double entendre until she heard the words come out of her mouth.

A faint smirk, then James leaned forward. "What I want is the best team available, and that means you and Robin."

"Sorry. She's not part of the deal. She's staying with the firm."

"Don't you think you should let her decide that for herself?" His mental wheels were spinning. James was sure this turn of events could work to his advantage. "I mean, she might have other ambitions."

Not with you. "Look, you've made an offer to me. You've told me I can hire anyone I want. I do not want to hire Robin. Is that clear enough?"

He downed the rest of his espresso. It really didn't matter to him how he got the advantage, only that he did. And now it appeared that he had. "Okay. You can always change your mind after you see how things are running, and offer her the position then."

Was this man dense? "I will not be doing that. Robin is perfectly happy at the firm, and that's the way it's going to stay." Suddenly, Jess stopped herself, but it was already too late. He had done it again. She'd fallen into his trap and revealed too much. Too much about not telling Robin. Too much about her desire to keep Robin at a safe distance from him. Too much about... her own weakness. Damn. She looked back, and it was amazing. Every single conversation she had ever had with this man, since the first day he showed back up in town, always somehow ended up being about Robin. Why was he so interested in Robin? That thought began to scare Jess, even panic her, and her mind ran wild. He has plans to use her for something. What other explanation could there possibly be? She tried not to let the creeping panic control her. "Are we finished here?"

"Sure." He gathered the papers from the table and stood up, handing them to her. "I'd tell her, though, if I were you. Could be a beneficial situation for both of you."

I seriously doubt that. Jess really didn't want to acknowledge it, but there might have been an implied threat in there somewhere. Her protective instincts took over briefly, and she tensed, trying to stem the dangerous level of panic that had come over her. Something about this whole deal didn't feel right, but she couldn't pinpoint it. In fact, things were feeling more and more wrong with each passing hour. He’d better stay away from her if he knows what's good for him. Panic, in full force now, warred with protectiveness, and this time, panic won. "Don't worry. I'll make sure Robin knows everything she needs to know." And she sure as hell isn't going to know anything about this—at least not now.

Robin paced the living room floor, going over and over in her mind the scene she'd witnessed earlier that evening. James had looked far too comfortable with Jess. He had something up his sleeve, Robin was sure of it. She had managed to eat a little bit of chili when she got home, but her stomach just wasn't into it. And that was saying something. Now, she was waiting anxiously for Jess to come home and tell her what had happened with him. It wasn't especially late, but it was late enough, and she hoped to hear Jess come through the door at any moment. After another twenty long minutes had passed, Robin heard the familiar garage door opener kick in and a car enter the garage. Finally. Robin dashed to greet Jess just as soon as she stepped inside the house.

"Hi." Jess set her briefcase down in its usual spot.

"Hi. How'd it go tonight?" Robin couldn't stand not knowing for a single second longer.

"Fine." Jess breezed by, poking her head inside the kitchen and seeing the pot of chili on the stove-top. "I'm glad you saved me some." She gestured toward it. "Let me get changed, and then I'll eat." She tossed back a glance. "Have you eaten yet?"

Blonde eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah, a little."

Without saying anything more, Jess continued back toward the master bedroom to change clothes.

Robin stood in place for a second and then followed her, entering the bedroom just as Jess was pulling on a clean T-shirt. "So, what happened tonight?"

Jess quickly slipped into some shorts. "I didn't quite finish the revisions, but it'll still be okay. I don't think it'll take me too long to get it done tomorrow." She lifted her long hair out from beneath the T-shirt and headed back to the kitchen.

She's acting as if nothing happened. Robin trailed her again, now starting to get confused. She watched as Jess casually ladled red chili into a bowl and got herself some crackers.

Jess was completely oblivious. "Would you like to have some more?"

"No."

Sitting down at the kitchen table, Jess idly flipped through the day's mail while she ate. "So, listen, tomorrow, I'll finish revising the motion, and then if you can get the exhibits together, copies of the case law cited, and prepare a case law index, we can put it together. I'd like to have the judge's copy spiral bound with a clear cover. Same with opposing counsel's copy." She got up from the table and poured herself some milk, then went back to eating her chili. "Let's keep a copy for us and send a copy to the client. Bind that one, too."

Robin just looked at her.

"Angie can probably help with labels and tabs and getting the packages together." After finishing her meal, Jess strode over to the sink and rinsed her dishes. "Since tomorrow's the deadline, we'll have them hand delivered instead of mailing them."

What's going on? Green eyes watched as Jess sauntered into the living room and took a seat on the plush sofa. Those same eyes watched further as she picked up the newspaper and began reading the front page as if she hadn't a care in the world.

To an informed observer, it was obvious that Jess was trying a bit too hard to make things seem as normal as possible. Inside, though, she was wound tighter than a drum. She put her bare feet up on the coffee table and tried to relax. It was time to decompress after that stupid, stupid evening, and frankly, she didn't want to think about it or James anymore tonight.

Robin had other plans. She sat down next to Jess and looked directly at her. "How did it go tonight?"

Hadn't Robin already asked that? "Like I said, almost finished, but we'll wrap it up tomorrow." She grasped Robin's hand and squeezed it gently. She knew that Robin was getting pretty tired of the long evenings lately. "I'm sorry you were alone here for a while tonight." More than you know. Considering everything, Jess would have given anything to have avoided it. "After we get through tomorrow, I promise things will ease up, and we can spend some quality time together during the evenings. I'd really like that." She gave Robin a warm reassuring smile, then settled back into her seat and continued perusing the newspaper. It served as an effective distraction from more troublesome thoughts.

It was plain that something was up, and Robin started to get scared. Did James do something to her? The thought of blackmail crossed her mind, but Jess seemed unfazed, and she certainly wouldn't keep anything like that a secret. Would she? The primary question remained. What could be so big that Jess would not want to mention it, and would pretend that it didn't even happen? Robin's greatest fears were close to being realized, or so she thought. Am I losing her? She reminded herself again that imagined fears were often worse than reality. But what if they weren't imagined at all? The panic she had kept so carefully contained all evening now materialized in full force, so much so that it threatened to overcome her. I need to think. Quickly, wordlessly, she got up from the sofa and started down the long hallway. Without stopping, she passed by the master bedroom and headed for her own room. Darkness surrounded her. She flipped the switch on the wall, turning on a small lamp that stood on the corner of the dresser. It offered little illumination, either to the room or her heart. She sat down on the bed, quietly trying to make some sense, any sense, of what was happening.

Sometime later, although Jess wasn't sure exactly how long it had been, she noticed that Robin had left the room. The house seemed quiet, which for some reason was unsettling. After waiting several more minutes, Jess decided to find out where Robin had gone. As she made her way down the long hallway, she caught sight of a faint light emanating from Robin's room. Maybe she wants to be alone. Concerned, but not wanting to disturb Robin too much, Jess cautiously approached the door. She could see her sitting on her bed, her head buried in her hands. Has something happened? Jess gently cleared her throat to alert the younger woman to her presence. "Robin?"

She didn't look up.

"Robin?" Jess entered the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Are you sick?"

Green eyes lifted slowly, fixing on the blue eyes Robin loved more than anything else in this world. For a third time, she asked the question, now very softly. "How did things go tonight, Jess?" Please tell me.

We've already been through this several times. Jess kept her voice soft, as well. "Fine, but like I said, there's a little bit more left to do."

The green eyes closed hard, and Robin's breathing became very rapid. Panic had now taken full control and was not letting go. Imagined fears were no longer imagined.

Jess could plainly see her building distress, and she reacted. "Honey, what's the matter?"

Robin opened her eyes again, this time pinning Jess with a stare so penetrating and intense that Jess, unnerved, was forced to turn away. Petite fingers reached over and caught the older woman's chin, slowly and deliberately bringing it back toward her own. The pressure was firm, and there was no escape. "Is there something you want to tell me, Jess?"

"I, um..." Blue eyes averted. After all, guilt had a way of revealing itself. "I... don't know what you mean." Actually, Jess was starting to realize exactly what Robin meant, and that the charade was fast coming to an end.

Intent on hearing the truth, whatever that was, Robin was determined not to let Jess get away with any more evasion. Her eyes captured Jess's once again and held them with everything she had. She asked the question one more time. "Is there something you want to tell me, Jess?" She braced herself for the answer, hoping against hope that her ultimate fear was not coming true. Tell me if I'm losing you.

"I, Umn... I don't... I..." It was useless. Jess just couldn't do it any longer. The look in Robin's eyes, even in the dim light, was too much. She was so frightened, and it broke Jess's heart. Nothing was worth that. She could feel the trembling of Robin's fingers against her chin, the stillness that hung in the air as they played this drama out, the hush that existed between them while Jess found the words to say what Robin already knew. There was something else in those green eyes, a hurt that Jess knew she had caused, and the realization made her feel physically sick. I'm so sorry.

The air conditioner cycled on, and the cool breeze from the vent above blew against Robin's skin, causing her to shiver slightly. She waited, noticing the fine details of Jess's face, looking for clues to the answer she knew that was coming. She could see Jess warring with herself. Her own fingers still grasped Jess's chin, refusing to let go. It seemed like an eternity passed as the seconds stretched on, and Robin became even more fearful of what she was about to hear. Am I losing you? She held her breath.

It was over. There was nothing Jess could do to avert the disaster that was coming. She had arrogantly thought she was in complete control of this whole affair, but in truth, she was merely a pawn in a game of someone else's choosing. She could see Robin waiting for her answer, fingers tenuously clinging to her chin, anxious and afraid and... wounded. I did this. She felt her stomach clench at the thought. The room was deathly still, save for Jess's heart thundering inside her. Finally, she spoke, her voice rough and unsteady. "James stopped by tonight."

"I know." By now, it was a painfully obvious statement.

"How?" It was spoken in a whisper.

Does it matter? Petite fingers released Jess's chin, and Robin let her hand fall heavily to the bed. "I saw you. When I was driving out. You and James were leaving the building together."

It was Jess's turn to close her eyes. She had been so concerned about someone seeing them inside the firm that she hadn't even considered that someone... Robin... might see them leaving.

Hesitantly, Robin asked another question that had tormented her all evening long, although she had refused to give in to it. "Where were you going with him?" Were you planning to see him all along?

It was well past time to come clean. As much as it destroyed Jess's plan, and put Robin at risk, there was no use in pretending about anything anymore. "We went to the coffeehouse."

Coffeehouse? That answer was a little unexpected. "Why?"

"He's having a meeting next week to finalize start-up plans for his new office, and since he offered me a position there and asked me to attend, he wanted to give me some documents to review ahead of time." She saw Robin waiting for the whole explanation. "Harry told me to keep James away from the firm, so when James showed up out of the blue tonight, I had to get him out of there. We went to the coffeehouse. It was the easiest place to go." Jess shook her head. "I'd already told him he wasn't authorized to be at the firm, but he still showed up tonight. I had no choice." Both she and Robin knew that last part wasn't entirely true.

Robin nodded slowly, but didn't really understand. "Were you going to tell me about it?"

Now, that was a tricky question. "Eventually, yes, I would have told you."

Robin took a sharp breath. "Eventually?"

"After he was gone." Jess stated simply. And he was no longer a threat.

Robin got up from the bed and went to the window. It was dark outside, only a sliver of moonlight casting a faint glow against a nearby sable palm. She tried to work through the whole scenario. What to make of it? Weren't she and Jess a team? Not to mention the fact that James, of all people, couldn't be trusted. So why keep this a secret? What possible reason could Jess have for keeping this from her? There were so many problems with this, on so many levels, that Robin couldn't begin to wrap her mind around it. "So, you were going to hide this from me all that time?" It was said more as a statement than as a question.

Jess went over to the window where Robin stood. She reached out and placed her hand lightly on Robin's shoulder, immediately feeling it stiffen at the touch. My touch. She pulled her hand away. Oh. God. What have I done? "May I explain?"

There was the barest of nods.

"It was clear to me from the first time I saw him again that he was up to something. You know that. As time went on, he seemed to be inordinately interested in you for some reason, and as much as I tried to steer it away, he always found a way to turn the conversation back to you. That bothered me. It seemed very strange that he would be so interested in you, and in our relationship. Too interested. And even after I told him that I was not going to discuss you or our relationship with him, he still persisted. At first, I thought it was just perverted curiosity on his part, but now I think he's got something else in mind."

Robin turned around to face her. "Like what?"

"I don't know. That's the problem. I haven't figured it out yet, but I'm worried he has plans to use you for whatever he's up to. He sealed it tonight by presuming that you were part of the deal and were coming along with me to work at his new office. Of course, I'm not accepting his offer, but he thinks I am. He told me I could hire anyone I wanted for the office, and he thinks I should hire you. In fact, he was pretty insistent on it."

"What did you tell him?"

"That you were going to be staying with the firm. That he wanted me anyway, so it shouldn't matter to him if you were staying put. But it did."

He wants you, that's for sure. "But why not tell me about this, especially since it affects me?"

Jess took a deep breath, trying to formulate her answer. "I'm worried, Robin." Her eyes softened. "If he intends to hurt you, then..." Her shoulders slumped.

Finally, it dawned on Robin why Jess had done all this. "You're protecting me."

Embarrassment took over. "I had hoped to, yes. I wanted to figure out what he was up to and get rid of him before he could do anything that might hurt you."

Convoluted as it was, Robin understood Jess's motivations. "He also has a history of hurting you, Jess, and I don't want that to happen again. If you had told me about all of this, then I could have been on the lookout for him, too." She stopped her train of thought as she saw that Jess wasn't looking directly at her anymore but instead was focusing her gaze on the floor. "And this would be a problem?"

Jess gently took hold of Robin's hand, this time feeling no resistance. "I was afraid that if you knew, you would have confronted him, and that would put you at risk. I don't want that to happen."

Robin didn't know whether to be appreciative of the sentiment, or angry. "We can't be deciding for each other what the other should know, even if we think it's for the best reasons."

Wasn't that the kicker? James had implied almost the very same thing. "You're right." The taller woman suddenly looked away, now struggling with something else. "It's my fault, you know."

"What is?"

"This whole thing." Jess sighed. "I played it all wrong. I let him see that you were my weakness, and now he has the opening he needs to get to me by using you."

How in the world could all of this have been going on without me knowing about it? This was too big. Robin could feel it. There had to be more. But what? Imagined fears were alive and well again. Robin asked the one question that scared her most. "Do you... still feel anything for him?" The words were surprisingly hard to say, and she bit her bottom lip to steady her resolve. "I need to know."

Now, that was another tricky question. Jess thought hard about it and decided that as long as she was getting things out in the open, she had to be completely honest about this. There was a long pause, much longer than needed for such a simple word, and then she gave her reply. "Yes."

The answer rung in Robin's ears, and she drew back sharply. No. A lump formed in her throat, and her eyes clouded with unshed tears. "I've lost you?" One tear fell, then another.

Immediately, Jess closed the gap between them. "No!" She held Robin's face in her hands, tears welling up in her own eyes, threatening to spill over. "Not for a second."

"Then...?"

"What I meant is that I have strong feelings, but they're not ones I'm proud of." Slender fingers wiped away a tear from Robin's face, then gently stroked her cheek. "You're the one I love." So much. Jess looked at the floor yet again, ashamed and unable to meet Robin's gaze. It was hard to admit this next part out loud. "What I feel... I want revenge, Robin. I want him to pay."

"You want him to pay for what he did to you." Watery green eyes found Jess's and held them. "So do I."

"You do?"

"More than you know." He's a rat. At last, Robin confessed her fears. "When I saw you with him tonight, I didn't know what to think. I saw him. He looked happy to be with you. He had his hand on your back as you walked out the door. He was almost possessive of you. He was smiling like he really meant it. And you..." It was Robin's turn to look at the floor. "You seemed comfortable around him, as if maybe you felt like it was old times."

Jess could have cried. "No, I was playing up to him. That's all."

Robin tried hard to process all of this, and it wasn't easy. The whole thing was so tortuous that only the mind of a master manipulator could have dreamed it up. James. But something about this was still bothering Robin, eluding her. It was just an intuition, but it was there. She remembered a phrase Jess had used only moments before. I'd already told him he wasn't authorized to be at the firm. As far as Robin had known, Jess had seen James only twice, once at the house and once tonight. So when...? She gasped, pulling away from Jess as if stung.

"Robin, what is it?"

Robin was visibly shaking. The doubt had returned. She covered her mouth with her hand. "You've been seeing him."

"What? No. Why would you say that?" This had gotten way too far out of hand. Jess was becoming scared. She hadn't meant for any of this to happen.

"When did you first tell James he wasn't authorized to be at the firm?" It was a direct question.

Oh, God. Jess's internal voice had been correct. That secret had come back to bite her. She should have known it all along. This is what happens when you tell the truth in pieces. "Now, Robin, it's not like that."

"When, Jess?"

"Monday night," Jess finally admitted.

Robin rubbed her hands against her face and paced the floor, clearly agitated. "When you were working late?"

"He came by the office. I had to get him out of there, just like tonight."

"So you went to the coffeehouse, just like tonight?"

"No." Jess whispered. How could this have gotten to where it is now? "We went to a restaurant a few blocks away from the office."

"A restaurant?" Robin couldn't believe what she was hearing. "When I thought you were working and hadn't had anything good to eat?" She shook her head in disbelief, anger even, ultimately coming to the conclusion she had up until now steadfastly refused to reach. "You lied?"

"No. It wasn't a lie. I didn't want to get you involved, so I just didn't tell you about it." Jess blew out a breath and tried to explain the unexplainable. "I started getting a really bad feeling about things, so I wanted to keep some separation between you and him. I didn't want him to hurt you if he got too close."

"But you lied."

There it was again, that word. Doesn't she understand what I'm saying? But it was a losing battle, and Jess, after trying for so long to deny its existence, finally realized it. She had brought this on herself, and now she had to try to repair the damage. If that was even possible. There was a cloud, a heaviness in the air, of emotions stirred up and obscuring the landscape from view—a fog that needed to be cleared away. "All right. Yes, I lied." Her remorse was evident. "I thought I could protect you from this man, spare you from what he had planned." Jess's eyes grew watery with genuine sadness at the price her actions had cost them both. "I was wrong."

In those blue eyes, Robin saw the truth of what she was saying. After all, this was Jess. She'd sooner cut off her right arm than deliberately hurt her. Robin should have known that all along. She did know that. The anger slowly dissipated as she heard the words Jess spoke from her heart.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me?"

Tears ran unchecked down Robin's cheeks as she watched and listened. She knew Jess was sincere. She saw it, and she felt it deeply. When it came down to it, Jess was guilty of poor judgment more than anything else. There was no malicious intent. With Jess, there never could be. Robin nodded, too caught up with her own emotions to speak. Besides, words weren't necessary to communicate what she wanted to express. It’s all right.

Jess knelt in front of the smaller woman, looking up at her with deep sorrow and regret. There was fear, too, in those repentant blue eyes, fear that everything had been destroyed. "Robin," Jess choked back a sob, "don't leave me."

That was all Robin needed to hear. She knew exactly what that meant to Jess. It was the one thing that paralyzed her, brought on by scars that it seemed would never fade. Instantly, Robin dropped to the carpeted floor and gathered Jess in her arms, hugging her tightly. For both of them, their greatest fear was that the other would leave, and that simply was not going to happen. "I will never leave you." Dependency issues aside, they were meant to be together. A petite hand caressed Jess's face amid the tears which now came fast and unabated, gently wiping them away. "And yes, I forgive you." She whispered the words softly, then kissed Jess's cheek so lovingly that the bond that had seemed nearly broken just moments before was now stronger and more solid than ever. Their love was resilient, and if this turmoil proved anything, it proved that. She kissed Jess's cheek again. "I love you, Jess."

Jess took welcome comfort in the featherlight kisses and the words of reassurance. It occurred to her that she should be the one comforting Robin, after what she had just put the younger woman through. And yet, here was Robin comforting her. She placed a soft kiss on Robin's forehead and then one each on her golden blonde eyebrows. "I love you, sweetheart, and I promise with all my heart that I will never give you cause to question my love again. Ever." She held Robin close for several moments, almost afraid to let go, then whispered. "Where are your earrings?"

"What?" Puzzled green eyes looked at Jess.

"Your diamond earrings, where are they?"

"In the dresser, first drawer on the left."

Jess got up to retrieve them, fumbling around inside the drawer for a moment before sitting back down on the floor next to Robin. She opened the velvet case and revealed the diamond earrings she'd given Robin during their recent trip to the beach. A faint sparkle from the incandescent light of the lamp across the room reflected from their facets. "Here." Jess held up the earrings so Robin could see, leaning in close and pointing at the stones. "Believe me." Believe in my love.

At first, it didn't make sense, but as she studied the earrings, Robin thought about the words Jess had said when she'd handed them to her. Diamonds are forever. These earrings are meant to be worn together, as a pair. Diamonds are strong, stronger than anything else in the world. No matter what happens, remember that I'll love you forever... like diamonds. And suddenly, it all made sense. Perfect sense. She remembered that Jess had given her the diamond earrings as a way to always remind her that their love was strong, stronger than anything else in the world. The diamond earrings were a pair, just as she and Jess were a pair, never one without the other, forever. She brushed a fingertip across the stones. I know this. It was all so profound, she realized. Everything Jess had done, from the diamond pendant heart necklace... she gave me her heart... to her commitment ring... she gave me her soul... to the deed to the house... she gave me her property... to the legal documents and the will... she gave me her life... and now most recently, the diamond earrings... she gave me her love, forever... all showed that Jess was entirely devoted to her, and her alone. "Yes." Robin nodded. "I do believe you."

That brought Jess's first smile all night, and she breathed an unsteady sigh of relief, one she was sure she didn't deserve. "Come on. Let's sit up on the bed. It's much more comfortable, don't you think?" She helped Robin to her feet.

Without answering, Robin carefully set the earrings on the nightstand and scooted onto the bed, taking Jess along with her. They leaned back against the headboard next to each other, neither one saying anything for several moments, until Robin turned and rested the palm of her hand lightly against Jess's face. She didn't say a word. She let her touch communicate what she felt in her heart.

And Jess began to cry. She had come so close to losing it all.

"Shh, Jess, honey." Robin held Jess tightly until she calmed. "I understand. I understand what you've been trying to show me all along." It just took me a while to truly see the big picture.

"I'm so sorry."

Robin knew Jess was being harder on herself than she would ever be on anyone else. While she didn't agree with the way Jess had gone about it, she understood her motivations. "It's all right now." Sea green eyes tried to convey as much reassurance as possible. "I know what you did and why you did it." A slight pause. "But no more secrets, okay?"

Jess nodded, then managed a smile. "I'm an open book."

That earned her a smile from Robin in return. "Good. Then let's turn to chapter one." She gave Jess a sweet kiss. "It's a story about a beautiful princess with many skills and a killer attitude."

A light chuckle. "Yes, but chapter two is much, much more exciting."

"Why is that?"

"It has pictures."

Robin grinned. Of course.

It was dark. It was rare for them not to sleep in Jess's bedroom, but Robin and Jess had both decided that after such a stressful evening, they would stay put in Robin's bed and get some much needed rest. Neither one of them really wanted to move, cuddled comfortably underneath the covers next to each other, so they changed their routine for the night. Sleep was elusive, though, their minds spinning too quickly to let pleasant dreams overtake them.

"Jess?" Robin hitched herself up on one elbow. "What are we going do about him?"

Jess thought about that, but came to no immediate conclusion. "I honestly don't know. I guess I'll continue to play along with his game, for now."

Petite fingers brushed strands of dark hair from Jess's forehead, as Robin studied the chiseled features of her face, from the soft skin to the silvery, indigo eyes to the well-defined jawline and cheekbones. "What do you think he really wants?"

The fingers were gentle, soothing, and Jess let the feeling wash over her. Her eyelids fluttered. "I don't know. If I had to guess right now, I'd say he wants to get to me, for some reason." It wasn't just her ego talking. The man wouldn't have made contact with her if he couldn't have cared less about her. "He's after something."

He's after you. The fingers traced one dark eyebrow, then the other, as gray-green eyes locked onto silvery blue. The feelings were intense, and the fear, although somewhat dissipated, still hovered close to the surface. A sense of possessiveness was not far behind as the fingers slowly retraced their previous path. "But you're mine. He can't have you." Robin suddenly realized she'd said those words out loud. Her fingers stilled in place, then were swiftly caught by Jess's hand, and Robin felt herself being swept up into a strong embrace.

It was the most beautiful sentiment Jess had ever known and also the most unsettling. She realized even more than before just how much she had endangered with her secrecy, how threatened Robin must have felt, and how frightened. And they hadn't even discussed the issues of trust, and what Jess's actions may have damaged in that department. "Sweetheart, I'm yours forever. Only yours."

Robin seemed to relax at this verbal confirmation, although it shouldn't have been necessary at all. Jess nestled Robin alongside herself and wrapped her long arms around the smaller frame. She then placed a tender kiss on Robin's forehead, lingering for just a moment. I'll spend the rest of my life making this up to you. A fleeting thought entered Jess's mind just before she let sleep overtake her.

James couldn't have planned what happened tonight better if he’d tried.

Chapter 7

As crest and fall of tempest tides And weary days grow longer That which seeks to test our will Does often make us stronger

Daylight pushed through the darkness, the haziness of sleep still present as one green eye half-opened then quickly shut to avoid the morning's intrusion into what had been a welcome escape from reality. Sleep was a blessed thing. Besides, it was much too early to be awake. Robin mentally surveyed her situation, then cautiously opened her eyes and let her gaze roam about the room. Her room. It all came rushing back, even as she tried not to remember. To be sure, the sadness at what had happened the previous evening was still there, but with the morning's light came an understanding that was new. Events can conspire to destroy, but as persistent and relentless as those events may seem, some things were simply indestructible, forged of a rare strength. The bond between her and Jess was just such a thing. And those conspiratorial events, from her father's meddling to the Management Committee hearings to her grief over David and now to James's return and the secrets that came with him, would never break that bond. Robin was sure of it, more sure than she'd ever been of anything else in her life. Something niggled at the back of her mind, something Jess had once told her, that helped to put it all in perspective:

The love we share is eternal, like the sands of the desert and the waves of the sea. indestructible even to the most mighty, ancient yet still not born.

And so it was. And would always be.

It was then that Robin realized she was alone in the room. Where's Jess? The aroma of brewing coffee tickled her nose, and she closed both eyes, now more at peace than she'd been in what seemed like a very long time.

Within seconds, the door to the room opened wide and Jess entered, carrying two mugs of a steaming hot beverage. As if on a mission, she swiftly crossed the carpeted floor and set the items down on the nearer nightstand. Robin appeared to be still asleep, and Jess watched her, the barest hint of a sober smile forming across her face. She sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, unsure of how to wake Robin or whether that was even wise. Robin looked peaceful, and their lives had been anything but peaceful lately. Several moments passed, and finally long fingers reached over and lightly brushed Robin's cheek.

The petite woman jerked slightly, and realized that she must have dozed off again. Sea green eyes fluttered open, then squinted at the bright morning light, ultimately spying with interest the mugs resting on the nightstand. "One of those better be for me," she mumbled.

That brought a wide smile. "Absolutely."

Sitting fully upright, Robin stretched her muscles, feeling the last vestiges of tension ease, then relaxed back against her pillow. A mildly uncomfortable silence followed.

Jess looked away, years of practiced avoidance paying high dividends once again. Finally, though, she forced herself to confront the elephant planted squarely in the middle of the room. Sincere blue eyes caught and locked onto Robin's. "I'm... I'm so sorry."

Without a second's hesitation, Robin leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Jess's shoulders. "I know." Robin didn't let go. Instead, she tightened her hold. "But we've worked through it."

The hug felt good, almost too good, and Jess was sure she didn't deserve it. "I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

Robin released her, but they remained just inches apart. "I remembered what you told me that one time, about how our love is strong and enduring, like the waves of the sea and the sand of the desert, and about how it's indestructible."

Jess listened attentively.

"I believe that. I believe that no matter what tries to tear us apart, we're stronger." Her voice held a note of defiance. "They won't win."

A look of understanding passed between them, and then Jess squeezed Robin's hand. "You okay?"

"Yeah." A smile. "But if I don't get some of that coffee soon, I'm going to be in a very, very bad mood."

"Well, we certainly can't have that." Jess retrieved one of the mugs from the nightstand and handed it to Robin, glad for the normalcy of the light banter. "How about if we finish our work today and then spend some quality time together tonight?"

Robin took a sip. "And I can have you all to myself?"

"No one else exists but us."

"Deal." An impish grin.

Uh-oh. Jess knew she was in trouble. "You're making plans, aren't you?"

"I'm going to borrow a phrase you're very fond of."

"What's that?"

Another impish grin. "I plead the Fifth."

Robin stepped off the elevator at the firm and headed toward her office. The job today would be to get the work done and get the motion filed with the court. After that, there would be nothing standing between her and Jess having some much needed time together for themselves. Thank goodness for the weekend. Preoccupied, she breezed through the library and rounded the corner, nearly plowing right into a wandering Paul.

"Whoa!" The senior associate stopped in his tracks.

Robin sidestepped him. "Sorry."

"Everything all right?" He was, after all, still enamored with her.

"Fine."

Unable to let it go, he continued. "You look tired."

Good grief. "Paul, I'm okay, but I have a lot of work to do today, so if you don't mind..."

Trouble in paradise? Perhaps this could be an opening for him. "If there's anything I can do to help—"

She cut him off. "Jess and I have it covered, thanks."

Work wasn't exactly what he meant. Should he tell her about her beloved Jessica stepping out on her? After all he'd seen with the junior partner and that guy, twice this week no less, perhaps he should say something. He'd be doing Robin a service, really. She should know what was going on. And just what was going on? Two-timing, that's what, and he didn't like it. Robin deserved better. Even though she had spurned him, he still had a glimmer of hope that she'd eventually turn his way. Besides, how long could a relationship like that with Jessica last, anyway? He decided to ride to Robin's rescue. "May I speak with you privately?"

When will he give up? "Now's not a good time. Perhaps next week."

"It's important."

I really don’t need this today. "If it's not urgent, next week will be a lot better for me."

Reluctantly, he relented, deciding to choose his time carefully. Revelations like this needed the right moment and the right place. In due time. "All right." He stepped back to let her pass by.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Robin cut around Paul and made a beeline for her office. Trying to be polite and professional while you were feeling uneasy was a very difficult feat. She flung her briefcase on the nearest chair as she entered her office, and looked up to find something most unexpected. There, placed in the center of her desk, was the loveliest assortment of long-stemmed roses she had ever seen. Two dozen, in fact. Multicolored roses of red, yellow, white, pink, orange, coral, and even lavender filled a large decorative glass vase. The buds were just beginning to open, and tiny beads of water were sprinkled across their velvety petals. She leaned forward and took in their sweet fragrance, then picked up the card and read it.

The most stunning of sunsets Could never compare to the beauty that is you.

Jess

Robin blinked several times, her eyes growing misty at the sentiment. She knew it was Jess's way of trying to make amends. Petite fingers gently grasped one of the red roses to lift it from the vase, careful to avoid any hidden thorns lurking at the top of the stem. Surprisingly, not one of the roses had any thorns, or even looked as if its thorns had been removed. Amazing. And knowing Jess's penchant for symbolism, she was sure each one of those rose colors was meant to signify a specific element of their relationship. Robin mentally ran down the list: red for love, yellow for friendship, white for purity, pink for gentleness, orange for fascination, coral for desire, and lavender for love at first sight. Wow.

Briefly, the young associate contemplated dialing the phone to express her thanks. Then, driven by a strong desire to see the sender of the flowers in person, she instead sped from her office directly toward that of the junior partner. Rounding the corner, she approached the office door, knocking lightly before entering.

Blue eyes glanced up immediately. "Hi."

Robin was beaming. "Thank you."

"They arrived?" Jess smiled.

An affirmative nod. "And they're beautiful." Robin moved toward Jess's desk, lowering her voice slightly. "The card is beautiful, too. Who knew you could be so poetic?"

"I have my moments," came the quick, yet almost bashful reply.

"You certainly do." A pause. "No thorns."

"I requested varieties without them."

There was a hidden meaning there. Robin had learned Jess was prone to such things. Nothing to hurt me.

Nothing to hurt her. "Glad they were to my specifications."

There was an understated affection in the simple gesture of sending those roses, one with tons of meaning and yet also filled with so much beauty. "I love them." Robin glanced over and for the first time saw a large bouquet of flowers on the credenza off to the far side of the cherrywood desk. "I see I'm not the only one receiving flowers today." A blonde eyebrow lifted. "Who are they from? A client?"

The junior partner paused for a second. "Umn, no." The answer was barely audible.

Without hesitation, Robin stepped forward and took the card from its holder, reading it to herself.

Welcome aboard! James

She looked up but said nothing, her eyes almost demanding an explanation.

"Now, Robin..."

"Is there something you haven't told me? I thought you hadn't accepted his offer."

Jess sighed. "I haven't. It's his arrogant way of assuming he has the upper hand."

Robin thought very hard before eventually making her demand. "Get rid of them."

"What?"

"Get rid of them."

"I'm sure they cost him quite a large chunk of change. Might as well let them sit over there and brighten up the place," the older woman reasoned. "Besides, he needs to think I'm impressed."

The blonde head nodded slowly, an internal war going on that kept her on edge. Yes, it was critical to the plan that James think he was in control. Still... those flowers symbolized a familiarity with Jess that was unacceptable to Robin. "I still think you should get rid Of them."

"They mean nothing."

They mean nothing? "Jess," Robin's voice rose a bit louder, "don't you understand? Flowers always mean something."

Outside the office, Angie sat at her desk. Since the door was open, she could hear what sounded like much more than a normal discussion going on. Trouble in paradise? She listened harder, but could only make out something about the flowers that had arrived earlier that morning. Then the office door closed abruptly. Darn! She picked up the phone and punched in a few numbers. "Betty, it's me. I've got a scoop for you. Meet me in the break room in five minutes." A slight pause. "All I know is that Jessica got flowers today from someone, and Robin's none too happy about it. See you in five."

Inside, Jess stood next to Robin. "Why do you say they mean something?"

Robin took in a breath. How to explain this? "The roses you sent me... they're beautiful."

"Thank you."

"The colors are so vivid, the hues of a sunset, and your card tied into the symbolism of those roses, with each color signifying an element of our relationship." Petite fingers grasped Jess's hand. Even though it was totally inappropriate in a business setting, Robin didn't care. "And there are no thorns."

"My specifications."

"Exactly. Your flowers you sent me have layers of meaning. What makes you think that his lilies and carnations and daisies and freesias, and whatever else is in there, not to mention his card which purports to welcome you aboard, mean nothing?"

"It's just his way of manipulating the situation." Jess, though, was starting to get the picture. "But yes, I see your point. He thinks he owns me."

Bingo! "He's stepping in where he shouldn't be." That territory is taken.

Jess could have slapped herself. And here she had thought the flowers were just a manipulative ploy. Jess, you're an idiot. She strode over to the credenza, picked up the bouquet and tossed it unceremoniously, vase and all, into the nearby trash can. "Is that good?" She smiled at Robin.

The younger woman smiled back. "Don't you want to stomp on them first?"

Jess grinned wider. "We probably shouldn't make a mess, should we? Besides, they're not worth the effort." She eased back around her desk and into her leather chair. "So, you okay now, kiddo?"

"Better."

"Good. Give me about an hour, and I'll have the first half of the motion ready for you to prepare the table of cases and exhibits. Deal?"

"Deal." Robin felt more at ease. "May I interest you in lunch later on?"

Jess was right on cue. "You always interest me."

"Flirt."

"Hey!" A look of mock indignation. "I resemble that remark."

The young associate laughed, then stepped to the door. "You, me and lunch, when you get to a good stopping point. No excuses." With that direct order, she left the office.

The junior partner leaned back in her chair, staring ahead at nothing in particular.

The most stunning of sunsets...

Back in her office, Robin started to feel agitated all over again. Although Jess had finally understood the true significance of the flowers James had sent, Robin was sure he had many more tricks up his sleeve. And to be honest, this was all growing very tiresome. But what to do about it? The young associate stared out the window at the man-made lake below, watching the large fountain spray its symmetrical design on the shimmering water's surface. From high above, a rainbow effect appeared on the fine mist blown about by the light breeze as the water fell gently in its predetermined pattern. Small white swan boats, their occupants oblivious to all distant onlookers, paddled lazily in meandering patterns around the perimeter.

Okay, so James was arrogant, possessive, devious, manipulative, calculating, and all sorts of other diabolical adjectives, but he still must be somewhat intelligent in order to have built what appeared to be a successful business. Perhaps Jess could just reason with him, tell him he didn't stand a chance, and make him see the light. Right. And donkeys can fly. So, how to get him to back off? There must be a way. Petite fingers tapped in rhythm on the desktop. After considering her options, Robin flipped open the phone book and scrolled down one of the pages with her index finger, searching for the correct listing. On finding it, she dialed the number beside it, waiting patiently as the receptionist connected her to her party and her call was answered. "This is Robin Wilson. I need to see you as soon as possible." A brief pause. "Good. I'll be right there."

She hung up the phone, feeling surprisingly better about things already. At least she had a plan. And it was clear that Jess was certainly going to need some help in this department. Jess was brilliant to be sure, but she was too close to the situation to see the big picture. Or at least see how the big picture was developing. It was time to get serious. Something needed to be done and fast. Robin got up from her desk and grabbed her purse, fishing out her car keys. She checked her watch. I've got just under an hour before I need to be back.

Fifteen minutes later, Robin had reached her destination. She breezed through the revolving door of the impressively tall building and proceeded across the stylish lobby, heading straight for the elevator banks off to the far left-hand side. As the doors closed, she punched the fifth floor button and waited for the elevator car to bring her to the selected floor. Suite 520. The doors reopened, and Robin followed the corridor around the corner, quickly finding the number she was after. She poised herself in front of the door, then knocked.

A second later, the door swung open. "Robin. It's nice to see you again."

Without much of an acknowledgement, she strode inside and stopped when she reached the center of the room.

Mildly amused, James "Jay" Prescott held back a grin. "Sorry for the mess in here." He hastily gathered together some papers from the circular table near the window. "I'm working out of the hotel suite until our office space is ready." He motioned toward one of the chairs, but Robin made no effort to accept his invitation to sit. Okay. "Would you like some coffee? It's fresh."

"No, thanks." Robin stood her ground, if only figuratively speaking.

"All right." The niceties were out of the way. Now on to the good stuff. "So, tell me, to what do I owe your visit?"

She was wound up tighter than a drum, but Robin kept herself in check, remaining cordial. She had a mission to accomplish, and it was imperative that she not betray her true feelings for this man. "Jess told me about your job proposal to serve as office manager and corporate general counsel for your company. She also told me that you've given her the authority to hire anyone she wants."

A raised eyebrow. James was intrigued. "Yes, that's true." A pause. "As long as whoever is hired is qualified, of course."

"Of course." Arrogant does not even begin to cover it. "She also told me that you've suggested she hire me."

Ah. so Jess spilled the beans. Frankly, he was surprised it had happened so soon, but he went with it. "Yes. I think you'd be an asset to the company and a great addition to the team. I understand that you and Jess work well together, and I can't see splitting that up. From a business perspective, I'd like to gain the full benefit of your working relationship."

"I accept."

Stunned, James creased his brow. "The last time I spoke with Jess, she was adamant that you were staying with the firm."

"I've reconsidered."

Interesting. "Then you'll be joining us?" He didn't wait for a second confirmation. "Excellent." Something suddenly crossed his mind, and it was juicy. "Where's Jess? I would have thought she'd be here to share in the good news."

Robin was quick to answer. "She's busy with a court filing today."

"I see." Even more interesting. He proceeded to feign nonchalance, as if that issue was of minor importance and nothing but a mere technicality anyway. "Well, there'll be time enough to go over the details later." Definitely juicy. Jess is totally clueless about this. It was a major feat to keep the smirk from his face. As it was turning out, things were falling into place faster than he had envisioned. Wasn't the morning was full of surprises... and fascinating ones at that? He smiled broadly and stretched out his hand. "Welcome aboard, Robin!"

Playing her part, she shook his hand firmly. "Thank you. Also, I'll be attending the meeting with Jess later next week."

Spunky. "Actually, that meeting is for the upper management. We're going to hash out the operating budget, office configurations, contract obligations, and set up the official kickoff targets and first year fiscal goals."

Robin took a step closer to James. This is non-negotiable. "You said that Jess and I work well together and that you want to gain the full advantage of our working relationship." She offered a small but determined smile. "If that is true, then it would be advantageous for us both to be apprised of the kickoff specifics to ensure a smooth start-up."

Touché. Seeing that Robin was not about to budge on this point, he decided to let it go. If he was right, and he was sure he was, Jess was going to blow a gasket. Agreeing to Robin attending the meeting would only enhance that event. How could he resist? The little blonde had played right into his pocket. "You have a valid point. We'll look forward to your being there and offering any input you feel would assist us."

"Great." She turned to leave, then turned back. "One other thing..."

Definitely spunky. "What's that?"

"No more flowers to Jess at work."

"So they arrived?" He looked pleased. "It was just a small token to welcome her to the company."

I'm wise to you. Those flowers were anything but a small token of anything. Robin really, really didn't like this guy. She made up an excuse. "It's just that Jess hasn't told anyone that she may be leaving the firm, and receiving... tokens of that nature could invite questions."

"Hmmm." James pondered what Robin said. The little blonde is ticked. I'm sensing possessiveness. "Okay, I agree. No more flowers to Jess at the office."

"Good." Satisfied, Robin continued on toward the door. "Jess and I will see you at the meeting next week, then." Now to explain this to Jess.

"Thanks for stopping by." James watched the door close as Robin left the suite. A grin slowly emerged, followed by a light chuckle. Well, well, well. Wasn't that a bit of interesting dialogue? And it all fell right into his lap, without him lifting a finger. Now, how long to wait to make the call? He glanced at his watch. Fifteen minutes should do the trick.

Precisely fifteen minutes later, the ringing of the phone broke Jess from her concentration. Should she let it go to voicemail, or answer? She was pretty far along with the final revision of her motion, so what harm could it do to take the call? She lifted the receiver. "Jessica Harrison."

"Jess! Hi." Came the exuberant voice across the line. "It's—"

"I know who it is. What do you want, James?"

"Aw, don't be such a party-pooper, Jess. Didn't you receive the flowers I sent?"

Blue eyes darted across the office to the trash can situated in the corner, the edge of one lonely lily limply visible above the rim of the wastebasket. "Yes, I did get them. And I can assure you I've put them in a most appropriate location." A smirk.

"Good. Just a small token to welcome you to the company."

Small token, my ass. "I haven't accepted yet."

"Ah, formalities." Unaffected, he set the bait. "So, isn't it great?"

The man was ridiculous. "Look, I'm busy. I haven't got time for games today. Say what you want to say, and then say good-bye."

"C'mon, Jess. I just thought the three of us could celebrate or something."

Check that. The man was not ridiculous, he was on drugs. "What are you talking about?"

Gotcha! "Robin, of course. Isn't it great? Hey, how about we all meet for dinner tonight?"

Jess's antenna went way up. Either the man was certifiable, or something sinister was at play. Either way, she didn't like it. "Number one, there is absolutely nothing about Robin to concern you. Number two, the three of us will not be doing anything together, ever. You got that?"

"Hmmm..." He stopped on cue, his voice carrying a deliberately perplexed tone. "That's strange."

Jess knew she was going to regret it, but she asked anyway. "What's strange?"

Time to reel her in. "Since Robin's coming on board, we're all going to have to work together."

Okay, that settled it. The man was ready for the loony bin. Bring in the white coats. "I thought I made this abundantly clear to you last night. Robin's not coming on board. She's staying with the firm. End of story. What part of that don't you understand?"

"Well," James let the cat out of the bag, "I suppose the part where Robin's accepted a position with the company."

"She has not. Where in the world would you ever get that idea?"

This was almost too much fun. "From Robin." He paused for effect. "Of course."

"From...?" Jess had grown weary of this game. Either James was delusional, or he was up to some sort of trick, and quite frankly, she didn't have the time or the inclination to play. "Look, I've got better things to do right now. You want to indulge in some fantasy, go right ahead, but I've got a deadline to meet."

The extent of her denial is amazing. "Now, I'm really confused, Jess."

"Not exactly a newsflash."

"Robin clearly accepted a position with the company."

"You're dreaming. And just when was this supposedly to have happened?"

Now James knew that what he was going to say next would send Jess completely over the edge. "Earlier this morning, when she came by my hotel."

All the blood instantly drained from Jess's face, and she went as white as a sheet. This was no game anymore, and he had definitely crossed the line. Unfortunately, she had a sinking feeling that everything he was saying was true. And at the moment, she just couldn't fathom what that meant.

"Jess? Are you there?" He waited patiently for the anticipated explosion, but it never came.

Jess found her voice, though it was raspy and barely audible. "She... she came by to see you?"

"Right. She said she had reconsidered and had decided to accept the position with us." James then added the final assault. "She also said she'd be joining us at the start-up meeting next week."

Stunned silence followed. Jess couldn't think of anything coherent to say.

She must be in shock. "Hey, I'm sorry, Jess. I was sure you knew." That, of course, was not the truth.

"What... what time was Robin there?"

"I'd say she left here about twenty minutes ago. She should be back by now." He supplied the last part helpfully.

Slowly, Jess took a deep breath, and then another. Then, with a calmness she absolutely was not feeling, she spoke again. "I'm going to have to go now. We'll discuss this later."

"Fine, but I'm scheduled to leave in about an hour for the airport, and won't be back in town until late Sunday night." He pretended to be annoyed with the unsettled nature of the situation. "Listen, I don't know what's going on with you two, but I need to know who's in and who's out. Time's getting short, and there are dozens of people counting on this operation. We can't go into startup with personnel issues."

"I understand."

"Gotta go now, Jess. We'll talk more on Monday." With that, he hung up the phone, rather pleased with himself. To his mind, the conversation had gone extremely well, and he was quite proud of his powers of manipulation. He only wished that he could be a fly on the wall of a certain young associate's office starting in—he glanced at his watch—about two minutes. That would be priceless. Damn, I should get a bonus for this.

Tricky. Jess stood up from her desk. Handling what came next was going to be tricky. She was torn between anger and fear, and right now, fear was winning. Robin had done something extremely foolish, and not only would there be minefields to navigate in dealing with James, but there'd also be personal repercussions. Robin had placed herself squarely in the crosshairs of James's virtual rifle, and she didn't even realize she'd made herself a target. All the effort Jess had gone to in order to shield Robin as much as possible from James, the success of which was largely debatable, had now been blown away in an instant. Why did Robin do it? What in the world was she thinking? And Jess wasn't fooled for an instant by James's supposedly innocent routine. That phone call was orchestrated down to the very second the phone rang. Right now, though, as devastating as the call had been, for so many reasons, every intuition Jess had, including the fine hairs that stood on end at the back of her neck, told her Robin was in danger.

Surprisingly composed, by all appearances, at least, Jess left her office and walked swiftly down the hall and around the corner to Robin's office. She stopped in front of the open door and then entered without a sound, waiting until Robin looked up from her computer screen.

The younger woman had returned about five minutes earlier, and had just had time to read a few of her e-mails before Jess's arrival. "Hey." She smiled. "You got part of that document ready for me?"

Without saying a word, Jess closed the office door behind her. She stood on the opposite side of the desk and just looked at Robin. Then, her azure eyes caught sight of the array of multicolored roses sitting in a vase on the credenza against the opposite wall. The most stunning of sunsets...

"Jess? What is it?" Robin had a distinct feeling that she already knew.

After another long moment, Jess spoke, her voice betraying her heightened anxiety. "To quote something someone recently said, is there something you want to tell me?" The question and tone now presented was one of extreme concern.

"I—" Before Robin could answer, Jess continued.

"I had a phone call just now."

Robin leapt from her chair and met Jess on the other side of the desk. "Jess, I need to explain."

The older woman was finding it very difficult to speak. "Sweetheart, what have you done?"

Quickly, Robin grasped Jess's hands in her own. "I... I was going to talk to you about this tonight, after we got through with our work today."

God, it was hard to focus. The walls were closing in. "No, let's talk now." Jess glanced around. "But not here. The park. Outside."

"But Jess, the motion..."

"Damn the motion. Right now, you're my priority. Let's go."

They silently walked out into the hallway and toward the elevators, ultimately making their way to the ground floor. Once downstairs, they exited the building and turned the corner, heading to the small park behind the old courthouse building. The mid-morning sun hadn't gotten too strong yet, and the shade of several tall live oak trees covered a large area of the park. They found an empty bench beneath the shade of one such tree and sat down together, neither one sure of exactly the best way to begin.

Robin spoke first. "Please let me explain."

Jess simply nodded.

"I had this gut feeling that you were getting into trouble. You had been focused on James for so long, and all the little tricks he's been playing were tying you up in knots. But there seems to be bigger picture. He's throwing up smokescreens, keeping you distracted, all the while he's putting some other plan into motion. So, it seemed to me that the only way to protect you was if someone got your back. I got your back. The only way to do that was from the inside."

Jess listened, half of it making complete sense and the rest... well, the rest was making her nauseous.

"So, to get inside his operation, I accepted the offer." Green eyes held Jess's. "You can't do this alone. He'll blindside you with something, and you'll be too distracted to see it."

Oh, Robin, you played into his hands. "Sweetheart, I know the risks I'm taking, and yes, I've been distracted and made a few admittedly poor decisions, but all the while, I was the target of his game. And it was clear that his aim, at least in part, was to use you to get to me." Jess grasped Robin's hands, not caring who might be watching. "Now, by putting yourself out in front of him like that, you've made yourself a target, too."

"A target of what? What are we targets of?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out, and I'm getting closer. I can feel it. I think by this meeting next week, I'll have it figured out. I just need a little bit more time."

"And I'll be there with you every step of the way, Jess. Like I said, I've got your back."

The older woman sighed wearily. What was done was done, and there was nothing she could do about it. It was time to try to make sense out of everything, if that was possible, and analyze the events so far. "Here's what I see happening. He's been playing me against you, trying to cause friction between us, for what purpose, I don't know. Just look at his unexpected visits to the house and the office, his job proposals, dinner, coffee, and now the flowers, all designed to manipulate me into doing things I'm not proud of, to come between us and make you distrust me."

Robin agreed it was true. But she knew the real reason for all this. He wants you back, and I'm in the way.

"Now, in addition to playing me against you, he figures he can play you against me and cause double the trouble." Jess reflected some more. "Look at when you went to oversee him this morning. He probably thought the gods were smiling down on him to have you show up there like that. Then, he timed his call to me precisely to the moment when he knew you'd be back in the office, just to let me know all about how you went over there to see him and what you did. He deliberately taunted me, trying to get me to lash out in anger at you for what you had done and the fact that you did it without discussing it with me, which, by the way, you did and which I really, really wish you hadn't."

The blonde head nodded. "You could've gotten angry at me, and I really wouldn't have blamed you."

"I did, for about half a second. Then I remembered we were dealing with a master manipulator. And although I wish you had discussed this with me before you went over there, considering my behavior of late, I'm not really one who can throw stones." People in glass houses. A hint of an apologetic smile. "So, we need to be smarter than he is, and from now on, work together. Deal?"

The younger woman gave her a small smile back. "Deal."

"Good. I guess now we're both in this thing, and as the saying goes, don't let the snakes know who's in the nest until you're good and ready."

"Then you hit them right where they live."

"Exactly, and that company is where he lives." Jess put an arm around Robin's shoulders. "He can't come between us, I promise. No matter what delusions he has."

I believe that. "So, what's our first move?"

"Originally, I thought I could get close enough to figure out what he's really after by pretending I'm interested in his job offer and then sniffing out his true intentions firsthand." Dark eyebrows creased together. "Now I think we need to be proactive and flush him out, instead."

Makes sense. "Okay, what's the plan?"

"Follow my lead." The wheels were turning feverishly. "He wants to come between us. So, let's let him think he's succeeding. He's just arrogant enough to believe it."

"Okay, I'm in." Robin leaned a little closer to Jess. "So, we're having big troubles, huh?"

Jess gently stroked Robin's face as she answered with mock seriousness. "The worst."

Just then, a gray squirrel ran in front of them, stopping to forage for some long-lost buried acorns in the ground before racing off to another tree and scurrying up one of the lower branches. This simple activity was enough to break the two women from their mild trance, and they once again became aware of their surroundings.

"Umn," the younger woman whispered, "I think people are staring." Indeed, a few passersby had cast more than a casual glance at them.

"Let them," Jess whispered back, then winked. "I doubt we'll make the headlines." She stood up from the bench, pulling Robin along with her. "Ready to go, kiddo?"

"Yeah. But do we still have time today to finish the motion?"

"We'll make a heroic effort."

As Robin and Jess got off the elevator on the sixteenth floor back at the office, Harry Roberts came around the corner from the direction of the library. "Jess, good. I've been looking for you. May I see you for a moment?"

Not the best timing. "Actually, Harry, I've got to get something out today."

"Now, Jess. My office." Judging from Harry's demeanor, there'd be absolutely no debate about the matter.

What now? Blue eyes cast a quick look over at Robin. "I'll have that document for you very soon." Jess watched the young associate leave, then followed Harry down the hallway to his office.

"Sit." He gestured toward one of the chairs and promptly closed the office door. "I'll get straight to the point. There's a rumor going around... No, make that two rumors, and I'd like an explanation."

The junior partner cringed internally. If James had so much as thought about calling Harry and spewing his crap, she was going to be forced to take more drastic measures. "Okay," she replied cautiously.

Harry leaned back against the front edge of his desk. "The first rumor is that you and Robin are having personal issues, which as you know, by the very nature of your relationship and the working arrangement you have here, are fuel for the grist mill. Something about someone else giving you flowers and Robin and you having a quarrel about it here in the office. I heard this from my secretary, who heard it from yours. True?" He raised a questioning eyebrow.

What's with this gossip? Those people know nothing. "Look, Harry, it's James. He sent the flowers, knowing Robin would see them and become upset. He's trying to cause trouble between us, but Robin and I are dealing with it."

Harry lifted his index finger and pointed it firmly at Jess. "I told you that man was trouble. I told you to keep his business out of this firm." He shook his head. "Now I want you to put a stop to it. Cut your ties, and be done with him once and for all."

"I'm close to figuring out what's going on. I need one more week." Once again, the junior partner pled her case. "Just one more week."

I ought to be committed for letting this persist. "I really do not like this, Jess, especially taking into consideration the second, more serious rumor I've heard."

Oh, great. "What's that?"

"That you've accepted an offer and will be leaving this law firm very soon to go work for an architectural design consulting firm, which I assume is his."

Where in the world had Harry hear that? And more important, where had whoever told Harry about it get the information? It had better not be from James. "That's not true. I'm not going anywhere, Harry. I would have discussed anything of that nature with you first." Jess tried desperately to make him understand. "As you know, James made me an offer. I have not accepted, and I won't. He may presume I'm going to accept, but that's his problem. You see, in order for me to get rid of him, and believe me, I want that much more than you know, I have to at least seem as if I'm interested. It's true I've been playing along, but only until I have things figured out."

Harry sighed heavily. It had been a long week, and it was getting longer by the minute—and it wasn't even lunchtime yet. He tapped the intercom button on his phone. "Betty, please bring me in some coffee." He paced the floor trying to figure out what to do. "I know it's the nature of law firms to have their fair share of gossip. I can't have word getting out, however incorrect it may be, that one of our top attorneys is jumping ship. Internal rumors can turn to external rumors, especially in the legal community. And then external rumors lead to widespread speculation that the firm may not be doing well, or that it's splitting up entirely, and soon the word on the street is that people are leaving here in droves, and we're not the firm we used to be, etcetera, etcetera. Then our client base starts questioning our abilities to represent them, and without proper handling, the whole thing snowballs." He gave her a serious look. "I don't have to tell you this."

"No." Jess now realized that James had been planting tidbits of information with various sources within the firm, and perhaps even throughout the local community, implying that she was jumping over to his company. Son of a bitch. Was there no end to his tricks?

After considering the situation a few moments longer, Harry gave Jess a stern warning. "All right, one week. You've got exactly one week to put an end to this. This firm's good name will not be damaged by this scoundrel. If you think you had a tough time with the Management Committee before, just wait. I won't be able to protect you from them this time if something goes wrong. You have ethical and fiduciary responsibilities to the other partners of this firm, and they will have your head if they think you've conspired with Prescott to take down the firm and deplete its client base."

Damn it! I never saw this coming. Jess had been so concerned with keeping James away from Robin that she never even imagined he was out there behind the scenes, working to make it impossible for Jess to remain at the firm, even if she wanted to do so. What was it Robin had just been telling her? I've been distracted and unable to see the big picture. The urgency of the situation had ratcheted up, and it was becoming a crisis. Before James could do any further damage, Jess was going to have to take care of business. And that meant coaxing him into revealing his true intent sooner rather than later. "Harry, I'm sorry. I'll handle this, and you have my word that it will end within the week."

The older attorney relaxed, if only a little, as a knock on the door signaled the arrival of his coffee. Betty placed his favorite ceramic mug on his desk, turned and gave Jess a disapproving look, then left the office. "You see what I'm putting up with?" He commented, after noticing the foregoing exchange. His eyes then softened. "So, are you doing all right?"

The junior partner knew he meant that from a personal standpoint. "I'll be honest and say it's been a rough few days. Robin and I have... well, we've been tested. James has really mixed things up for both of us, but we're back on the right track."

He nodded. "You need to be careful, both personally and professionally. Men like Prescott don't care who they destroy as long as they get what they want. You know the type. Robin's father is another one of them. Both you and Robin need to be very careful about how you handle this situation." He took a long sip of his coffee, then set the mug down on the desk beside him. "Now, is there anything else I should know?"

Jess debated whether to mention anything about James's unexpected after-hours visits to the law firm's offices. Up until now, she had thought those visits were just due to his arrogance, and that his manipulative intent had been directed solely at her. But after today's events, she wasn't so sure. James could have an ulterior motive. While it might be paranoia on her part, at this point she didn't want to take any chances. She owed Harry the truth. "There is one other thing."

"Oh? Should I be sitting down for this?"

The junior partner grimaced. She was testing the limits of Harry's good nature, and she knew it. "James came by the office a couple of times this week, after hours."

The litigation department chairman stiffened. "Here? He's been here?"

"It's okay. I got him out quickly both times. He knows not to come back."

"You'd better believe it." Harry was clearly annoyed. There were confidential client files all over the place, and he couldn't afford any breaches. "I'm putting building security on notice. He'll be arrested for trespassing the next time he steps foot on the premises, and you can tell him that. I will not stand for this, Jess. Keep him away from here. I mean it. He will not make trouble for this firm just to get to you. Are we clear?" The harshness of Harry's tone caught the junior partner off guard, but she knew he was only protecting the firm's interests.

"Yes." There was nothing more to say.

"Good." He stepped around his desk and took a seat in his chair, rubbing the corners of his eyes. "What a mess. I ought to have my head examined for agreeing to go along with this." He knew, though, that it was Jess's personal life that was the most in jeopardy. She had to handle Prescott herself. No one else could do it, even if she destroyed herself in the process. And for everything she'd been through, and he was one of the few people who knew the emotional toll it had taken on her the last time that snake was in town, he sincerely hoped she could come through it this time mostly unscathed. "All right, I expect this to be resolved in a week's time." His voice held a note of resignation. "If you have any problems, you come to me." Be very careful, Jess.

The junior partner nodded. She got up and went over to him, gently taking his hand. He'd not only been her mentor, but a father figure as well, and this time was no exception. "Thank you. I appreciate having your support."

He nodded in return and gave her a warm look, clasping his free hand over hers. "Now, get back to work. I believe you have something due today."

"I'm on it." She turned and left his office, smiling just a little on the inside. He really is a softie.

The sound of easy listening music filled the room, and Jess and Robin sat upright in the large waterbed sipping glasses of cream sherry and enjoying casual conversation. Had the day really come to an end? It had been one of the longest weeks in memory, and chances for relaxation and downtime had been virtually non-existent until that moment. Lots of anxiety, hurt, and just plain stupidity. At last, Robin and Jess could reconnect with each other and spend an entire weekend doing nothing but that. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a mood of contentment, in spite of the upheaval that had precipitated the early evening, and the cozy bedroom offered respite from the troubles of the outside world.

"More sherry?" Jess offered to refill Robin's glass.

"Thanks." An impish grin. "Are you trying to ply me with alcohol?"

"If it works," Jess quipped.

"Actually," Robin said, as she set her glass on the nightstand and inched over closer to Jess, "I have very specific plans for you tonight. Remember?"

"Ooh. Do tell."

"Well..." Robin leaned in a little closer. "It involves me lying down..."

"Okay," came the drawled reply.

"And your very skilled hands..." Petite fingers gently lifted one such hand. "In certain strategic locations."

A raised eyebrow. "I see." Blue eyes bored into green. "Care to elaborate on that?"

"Sure." Another impish grin. "A backrub, Jess. It's time for you to get busy. And it had better be good."

Jess casually sipped her sherry, then countered with a sultry reply. "I can guarantee, Robin, that what I have in mind for you will definitely be good."

A slight blush, followed by a light giggle. "You are the most seductive person I have ever met."

"I have a reputation to uphold."

"And you do it so well." Robin's voice took on a more serious tone. "I'm sorry for all the trouble this week."

"I'm sorry, too, sweetheart." Jess cast her eyes a little downward. "I hope you can still trust me."

Robin hooked two fingers under Jess's chin and lifted it so their eyes met again. "I trust you with my life."

Jess reached over and set her wineglass on the night table. She'd had some recent insights, and she wanted to share them with Robin. "You know, I've been thinking a lot about this, and sometimes I wonder what I would do if you weren't in my life." She touched the diamond cluster ring that Robin had given her. "You fill In the gaps."

"Gaps?"

"In me." It was something Jess was realizing more and more. "The pieces come together with you, and when I don't see something, you fill in what's missing." Slender fingers brushed the blonde bangs from Robin's eyes. "You truly are an amazing person."

Robin took the compliment. Sea green eyes then caught sight of the arrangement of multicolored roses positioned on the corner of the dresser, studying their appearance intently. She had insisted on bringing them into the bedroom instead of leaving them out in the living room, so she could enjoy them to their fullest. Hues of a sunset... and sunsets held very special meaning for both of them.

Jess noticed the attention to the bouquet. "They don't hold a candle to you."

The younger woman smiled. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

"I sure hope so." Jess smiled back, then placed a gentle kiss on Robin's lovely lips. "I love you, honey." There was an overwhelming swirl of emotions lying just below the surface. "I will love you forever. I... have loved you forever." I know this. She wasn't sure how she knew it, but she knew it, nonetheless. She could feel it.

"I think I know what you mean. It seems as though we've been here before, been through everything people could throw at us, maybe even lifetimes of facing challenges, but through it all, we've always been together." Robin caught a glimpse of something in Jess's eyes, and it gave her the courage to say the next part. "I think our souls are linked together."

Jess wasn't one for extra-spiritual beliefs, but she couldn't deny the intense connection they both felt. "You mean like familiar souls?"

"Exactly."

The dark head nodded. "I could see that." Although it was unusual, what other explanation could there possibly be?

The younger woman lightly bit her bottom lip as she thought of something. "I have a confession to make."

Ooh. "Spill it, kiddo."

"I'm afraid I kinda was a little bit jealous about the flowers you got from you-know-who today. That's one of the reasons I wanted you to get rid of them."

Jess's voice was warm and soothing. "I know that, Robin."

"I'm also afraid that I kinda said something to him about it."

Secretly, Jess was intrigued. "Oh? And what did you say?"

Robin hesitated, then blurted it out. "I told him not to send you any more flowers at the office."

A smile. "Did you now?" A slender finger trailed a path down Robin's neck.

"Yeah. People might misunderstand."

"Indeed." The finger made its way to a petite collarbone.

"Besides..." Robin was becoming distracted. "If anyone's going to be sending you flowers, it had better be me."

The top button of her nightshirt came undone. "That's my girl."

"And then..." Robin's breath caught as the next button conveniently popped open. "Everyone will know they're from me." She sank down further into the pillows.

"Damn right." The remaining two buttons were systematically unfastened, dancing fingers grazing the silky soft skin below and leaving little goosebumps in their wake. That took care of the first one-third of the nightshirt. No more buttons, but still plenty of fabric to impede progress. Not to be dissuaded from their immediate mission, the fingers instead traced tiny circular patterns on the uncovered flesh beneath them, frequently dipping in and out of the loose cotton material and teasing places well out of view.

"It occurs to me..." Robin's breath caught for a second time, "that this is a just clever diversion to keep you from giving me my backrub."

"Au contraire, Robin," an unmistakably seductive voice whispered into a conveniently placed ear. "My fingers are just warming up." A slight pause. "Now, take off your nightshirt and turn over."

Immediately obeying the command, Robin divested herself of the nightshirt and turned over onto her stomach. Soon, she could feel Jess's strong hands expertly kneading the muscles of her back, and what was left of the day's stress quickly evaporated under the welcome touch. It was heavenly, and the sherry she'd had only served to enhance the whole experience. Suddenly, she felt a hand brush away the hair from the nape of her neck and moist, heated breath instantly replace it. She became lost in the intoxicating sensation. "You're not playing fair."

"Fair?" A lingering kiss to the newly exposed area. "Who said anything, Robin, about playing fair?"

Helpless, Robin gave in to the jolts of electricity that followed. Oh, boy. I'm in big trouble now.

Gentle waves lapped against the sandy shore, their tranquil sound accompanying them as they rushed up the beach before quickly receding. Seagulls, their distinctive cries echoing across the shallow waters, flew lazily above, dipping occasionally down to the almost glasslike surface for food. Small brown and white birds raced up and back across the glittering seafoam left by the waves, stopping to peck at the wet sand and perhaps find a meal of their own. A fitting end to the day.

By now, this particular portion of the beach was largely deserted, as the sun had started to wane and nightfall was not far off. There were only a few remaining stragglers trying to soak up the last remnants of the day, as several others strolled leisurely along the water's edge. Save for an early afternoon thunderstorm, which had quickly passed, it had been a beautiful day that promised to become an equally beautiful evening.

"I love the smell of the salt air." Robin took in a deep breath as she walked along, her bare feet sloshing ankle deep through the few inches of water between the beach and the sea. "It makes you feel so alive."

"Did you enjoy your day?" Jess ambled along beside her, glancing back now and then to watch their footprints wash away with the waves.

"Yeah, I did. I'm so glad we came over here today. I know it's a little bit farther away to drive, but I think the Gulf of Mexico is my favorite. The Atlantic is nice, but the Gulf has more of a relaxing feel. Maybe it's the gentler waves, but it's just so soothing here."

"Soothing?" A small smile. "I seem to recall a few choice words earlier this afternoon when someone, whose name I will not mention, got rained on."

"Hey, if you would've hurried up and unlocked the car, I wouldn't have gotten so drenched."

"And if you would've hurried up and finished eating lunch back at that restaurant, we would've been in the car ages before the storm hit."

"I was hungry," Robin defended herself. "And besides, how was I supposed to know it was going to rain?"

"Maybe the thunder was a tiny hint." Jess winked. "Just a thought."

"You are so mean to me."

"So I've been told." She snaked an arm around Robin's waist. "It looks like the evening's shaping up, though. Should be a nice sunset."

Robin stopped and turned to face Jess, gazing into the bluest eyes she had ever seen. "Sunsets are our thing."

There were the loveliest flecks of gold in those sea green eyes staring back at her. A reflection off the water? Jess was captivated. Or highlights visible from just the right angle? She could gladly spend a lifetime trying to figure it out. "I would definitely agree with that."

They continued their stroll along the beach, dodging a few of the more aggressive waves as the tide started to come in, until the moment approached when the sun was about to begin its descent. What could be better than a beautiful end to a wonderful day? The outline of the two figures stood in silhouette against the backdrop of the setting sun and circling seagulls. It was a picturesque scene worthy of capture on canvas, as a few distant seagulls crossed single file directly in front of the bright orange ball making its way toward the water.

"It occurs to me that nearly every time we watch a sunset, you give me jewelry," Robin commented playfully.

"Is that so?" Jess stepped close behind Robin. "You looking for more?"

A giggle. "A girl always looks for more."

Long arms encircled her. I could get lost in this moment. "Well, then..." she offered a warm smile, "I guess I'll need to file that away for future reference."

Robin tipped her head back and gazed into those mesmerizing blue eyes again. A wayward thought of sapphires popped into her mind. Jewels. "See that you do. It's very important to have our priorities right."

"Duly noted."

A contented sigh. "I wish we could stay here forever." Robin gave voice to what they had both been thinking. Surely this moment didn't have to end. "Can we move here?"

"Move?" Jess had to admit the idea had a certain appeal. "Are you serious about that?"

Robin gave it more thought. "Only half serious. I know I'm just trying to escape the bad stuff we've been through." She did that a lot. Escape. When times got tough, Robin seemed to want to run away. She ran away after David died, and now that James was back, she wanted to run away again. "But I know that it's not the answer."

Good girl. "You're right, sweetheart. We need to confront our troubles, and if we want to move somewhere else someday, we'll do that on our own time and for a reason we decide."

"I think if we ever do decide to move, here would be a great place." Robin couldn't imagine a more beautiful setting.

"Yes, it would."

"And your mother's not too far away, and your brother and nephews..."

"Sold," Jess whispered into Robin's ear. "Now let's watch. The sun's going down."

They stood silently, motionlessly, as the main event unfolded. Hues of bright red, gold, white, pink, orange, coral, and deep lavender slowly filled the evening sky as the sun's disk dipped ever further toward the horizon's edge, casting its colorful pathway across the sea. Sounds of waves lapping the shore and seagulls' cries over the water helped form a scene so serene it was hard to imagine the chaos and turmoil left far behind, at a distant place and another time. It was magnificent.

Robin felt Jess's arms tighten around her, and her low, alto voice speak the next words softly into her ear.

"The most stunning of sunsets," Jess murmured, repeating the sentiment she had expressed with those roses so carefully chosen, "could never compare to the beauty that is you."

Robin spun around in Jess's arms, not caring for a moment if anyone lingering on the beach was watching them, and gave Jess a tender, heartfelt kiss. Then another. Robin couldn't deny it. Intuition was a powerful thing. She was so taken with Jess, felt so connected to her in ways she couldn't even begin to explain, that she truly believed they were, in fact, familiar souls. I've known you forever. "Has anyone ever told you..." Her voice was one of complete amazement, "...how incredibly romantic you are?"

Jess graced her with an adoring smile. "Just you." It will always be you.

After several minutes, the sun in its entire splendor sank beneath the sea, but for them, the glow of that moment did not fade or disappear from memory. The crest and fall of tempest tides had now turned tranquil, and a new strength had been forged, indestructible to the most mighty, and as enduring as the sea.

Chapter 8

Knock knock knock. Hel—lo! Knock, knock. Hel—lo, in there. What kind of an idiot are you, anyway?

There was no response to the sudden internal barrage.

You might as well answer.

A silver-blue eye half-opened and peered blearily at the digital bedside clock. "It's 5:56 a.m. Go away. "

You'd like that, wouldn't you? However, this matter requires your immediate attention. Again, what kind of an idiot are you?

"Objection. " The alternate internal voice took offense at that question. "Presumes facts not in evidence."

You want facts? Exhibit A: Roses. Exhibit B: Poetry. Well, such as it was, anyway. And Exhibit C: Apologies out the you-know-what.

"What the hell are you talking about? "

You think a few dozen roses, some lines of mush, and professed confessions of guilt will get you off the hook. They won't.

"You forgot the sunset.'''' It was a nice touch, the alternate internal voice rationalized proudly, and well worth the effort.

You’re a piece of work.

"Thank you, " came the smug reply.

It wasn't a compliment.

There were at least thirty more good minutes of shut-eye remaining. If only this conversation would come to a merciful end... "Is there a point here, or can I go back to sleep? "

Oh right. You need everything spelled out for you. Okay, then, here 's the point. You haven't fixed anything. You've glossed over everything that's happened with superficial mumbo jumbo, but nothing's changed.

It might have been early, but that comment set the alternate internal voice right off. "Number one, buddy, you know nothing about anything. Number two, everything is all worked out. And number three, Robin understands and forgives me. "

Really? So much so that she went over to what 's-his-face 's hotel without telling you? What do you think that was all about?

"Just what she said. I've been distracted, and she wanted to cover me and get my back. " It was a lame attempt at an excuse for what the situation had become.

Now, think very hard about this. Didn't she forgive you just a little bit too quickly? Didn't she?

No answer.

Didn't she?

"No. " The response was barely a whisper.

I'm sorry. I can't hear you.

"No, " the alternate internal voice repeated, more forcefully.

Obviously, we have a lot of work to do here. Those thirty minutes of sleep will have to wait for another day. Does Robin trust you?

"She does," the alternate internal voice answered confidently. "Absolutely. "

So, let's say a situation arose again where you felt uneasy about Robin being involved. Would you discuss it with her anyway?

A slight hesitation. "Yes. "

You had to think about that. What was your visceral reaction? And don't equivocate.

"I wouldn't like it. "

You’d hate it. Admit it. You’d hate it.

"All right," the alternate internal voice acknowledged. "I'd hate it. "

And you'd do everything you could to protect her from anything uncomfortable.

"Yes, I'd want to do that, but I'd still tell her about it. "

The whole thing? You’d tell her the whole thing?

Another hesitation. "Yes."

You wouldn't tell her just what she needed to know, or needed to hear?

"No. Even though I wouldn't like it, I'd tell her everything. "

Protecting her is a laudable goal. There 's nothing wrong with that. You’d have her best interests at heart.

Put that way, the alternate internal voice reasoned, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea not to mention a few things. If necessary. "So you’re saying it's okay to protect her by not fully informing her about a situation, so she doesn’t get hurt. "

Gotcha'.

"What?"

You just so much as admitted that when it comes to Robin, you can't help but want to protect her at all costs, even if it means invoking your will, not hers. After all, tigers don't change their stripes and leopards don’t change their spots.

That realization stung more than it should have. "But I might be privy to more information than she would be, and better able to handle the situation. "

And that's the crux of it, isn't it? By not informing her, you deprive her of the ability to handle the situation. You are not the all powerful diviner of information who can dole out portions of the truth as you see fit, much as you may believe it will protect her. You do not get to decide that.

Appropriately chastised, the alternate internal voice considered that advice. "Okay, I admit I made an error in judgment. "

Praise the Lord and Hallelujah! We have seen the light!

"Funny. " The alternate internal voice was not amused. "But I did it for the right reasons. "

Laudable, but nevertheless wrong.

"Yes, I know that, and I've tried to make it up to her. I sent her roses that had underlying meanings to them, and I explained what she means to me on the card. And, I told her I'm sorry. "

Don't forget the sunset.

"Yes, exactly! See? She knows I'm going to be better about this from now on. " The alternate internal voice had it all figured out.

Does she trust you?

Well, all figured out except that. "What?"

Does Robin trust you?

"I... yes. " The alternate internal voice's response was less confident this time.

Is that why she went to see James without telling you first?

"I already told you this. She went to see him to cover me, to get my back. "

And she went there because she trusts you implicitly to include her in what's happening.

"Yes. I mean... " The alternate internal voice seemed to be at a loss. Maybe Robin didn't totally trust her to tell her what was going on. A slight wince. "Couldn't there be another explanation? "

Remember? Think hard. What did she tell you?

"That I've been distracted, and she wanted to be there to get my back and protect me. " The irony of them trying to protect each other was not lost in this internal cross-examination.

So, the question for the jury is this: did Robin go to see him to get your back, because you've been distracted, or did she go over there because she doesn't trust you to tell her the whole truth about what's really going on?

"Damn. " That stung, big time.

Has Robin forgiven you?

"Yes" The alternate internal voice knew this for certain. "Yes."

Does she trust you?

"I... I don't know. " And that was the worst sting of all.

Then maybe you should work on that, so there's no question.

An internal nod. "Okay, you've made your point. "

Your Honor, the prosecution rests.

Two blue eyes opened in the faint pre-dawn light and wandered slowly about the bedroom, finally coming to rest on Robin's slumbering form, no more than a few inches away in the waterbed. The alarm would sound at any minute, but for now, those blue eyes fixed on the serene face of the petite woman so peacefully asleep and oblivious to the foregoing internal debate. Jess turned her head sharply to hide her tears.

It was time to take control of this situation, once and for all.

The alarm sounded right on cue, the perky music of Orlando's favorite radio station's Monday morning program spilling out in full chorus into the bedroom while the show's host mentioned something about rising and shining. A petite hand darted out and slapped at the snooze button, putting off the chore of getting up for at least another few minutes. There is positively no way I'm gonna rise and shine. Instead, Robin scooted over next to Jess and snuggled up close, her eyes easily resisting any conscious need to open. It was very comfortable, warm and secure in this cozy little nest, and for several seconds she toyed with the idea of just staying put for the day. To hell with the rest of the world. And to hell with menacing old flames masquerading as business sharks harboring secret intentions. With a gentle motion, she casually brushed the side of Jess's face, then withdrew her fingers abruptly. There was moisture present, and Robin was very sure it shouldn't have been. She instantly opened both eyes. "Jess?"

There was no immediate reply.

Robin inspected the older woman's face. "'Have you been crying?"

Jess cleared her throat roughly. "I'm fine."

"That may be so." Robin's light touch drew Jess's chin toward her own. "But that wasn't an answer. What is it?"

"Nothing."

Sometimes, getting things out of Jess was a heroic feat. "Are you upset? Is it something I did, or—"

"Shh." Jess cut her off. "No, sweetheart, it's nothing. I promise."

It's not nothing. Robin thought back and tried to figure out what this could be all about. Sure, the past week had been stressful, and they had both done things they wished they could take back, but what could be upsetting enough this morning, especially after the beautiful sunset they shared last evening, to cause these tears? She sighed inwardly. There was one thing, and maybe she should have mentioned it earlier, but she thought it had already been resolved. Or maybe she just hoped it had. I guess not. She hitched herself up on one elbow and looked sincerely at Jess. "I think I owe you an apology."

What? It was almost funny. Jess had been mustering up the courage to apologize to Robin for betraying her trust, and here Robin was trying to apologize to her. Whatever Robin wanted to say, it was not necessary. "What would you need to apologize for?"

"I've felt bad about this since last week, but I thought you would know that I never believed it. Not really."

Believed what? Jess registered confusion.

"What I mean is..." Robin was having difficulties of her own putting what she was trying to say into words. "I'm sorry for doubting you, for doubting your love for me, and for thinking..." Green eyes looked away, focusing instead on the Venetian blinds as tiny slivers of the first sunlight peeked their way in through the horizontal slats. "For thinking that I had lost you..." Her voice became a whisper. "To him."

Jess's blue eyes, barely dry, became watery all over again. She lifted her hand and cupped the younger woman's cheek with infinite tenderness. "My sweet Robin, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who betrayed your trust... caused you sadness and pain. My actions put those doubts there, and I am so, so sorry. I will be sorry about that forever."

"I know it sounded as if I had lost faith in you... in us, even for only a split-second, but in my heart, I never really believed it."

Robin kissed the palm of Jess's hand. "I know we're connected to each other. Forever." She smiled gently. "Like Crazy Glue."

That drew a small smile in return. "Like Crazy Glue." Jess sobered quickly. "I want to earn your trust again. I want to prove to you that you can always trust me."

"I do trust you, Jess. I trust you with my life." There was something, though, that still seemed unsaid or at least unaddressed, and Robin, being fairly perceptive and relying on her intuition, finally realized what it was. She closed her eyes and laid her head on Jess's shoulder, wrapping her arm snuggly around her waist. Then, she spoke very deliberately. "I went to see him without telling you first, not because I didn't trust you to deal with the situation, or to tell me about it, but because I wanted to help."

Jess placed a kiss on the side of Robin's forehead. "And you knew I would have resisted you going over there because I didn't want you to become involved."

"Partly. And I also knew you'd be more distracted if you knew I was going. I really thought that the two of us dealing with this would be better than just you alone, since we could help each other out." Robin tightened her grip around Jess's waist. "But also, to be completely honest, I guess I didn't tell you first because I needed to feel I had some control over the situation, too."

Jess could be perceptive, too. "Because you'd been left out."

A small nod. "Are you mad?"

"Mad?" The older woman dipped her head to look squarely into Robin's eyes. "No." She grasped Robin's hand and interlaced their fingers. "I'm lucky."

There was something between them, indeed a connection, that transcended the present, or so it seemed. Robin, gazing into Jess's sparkling blue eyes, could have been charmed all over again if the conversation hadn't been so serious. Or maybe she was charmed anyway. And Jess could have sworn some guardian angel had shown her the depth of an unconditional love more profound than one could ever have imagined, and since the day Robin had come into her life, a love so rich that it had carried her crashing head-first into a new dimension of living.

Or so it seemed.

Jess entered the hotel through revolving doors, sidestepping a bellman who was pulling a large luggage cart through the lobby to the curbside valet station. Upon entering the grand atrium, she headed for the elevator banks to the left of the registration area. The hotel was unusually busy for a Monday morning, and a group of people wearing nametags congregated inside the adjacent restaurant area making good use of the complimentary breakfast bar. Must be a convention.

She turned her attention to the reason for her visit and pressed the button for the next elevator. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied a familiar figure standing at the far end of the lobby perusing a newspaper. As she watched, the figure folded the newspaper in half, placed it under one arm, and then exited the hotel, handing the valet a bill before retreating into a waiting car. Son of a...

Jess reached into her purse for her cell phone, speed-dialing a direct line to the office. She stepped over to a quiet corner and waited as her call was connected.

"Hey." Robin recognized the familiar phone number on the display immediately. "Have you met with him yet?"

"Just about to go up." Jess hesitated for a moment, then continued. "Robin, did you know your father was in town? I just saw him leaving the hotel."

A deep sigh. "Yeah, he called me a few minutes ago. He's here on bank business and wants to have lunch."

Oh. That wasn't exactly good news. "Did you agree?"

"I'm really not in the mood for any of his lectures about my life, but yes, I did agree to meet him if he promised not to pass judgment on my choices. He assured me that he's sorry for everything that's happened and just wants to spend a few moments with me while he's in town."

"You know, you really don't have to put yourself through that." Jess knew she was interfering, but knowing that man, a confrontation with Robin would only set her back. "You could tell him you're unavailable."

"Jess..." Robin understood the junior partner's sentiment. "He knows I'll get up and leave him sitting right there in the restaurant if he starts in on me. I really feel that if he's honestly going to make an effort to put the past behind us, even if he isn't ready to fully accept our relationship, I can at least try to give him a second chance."

Well, this was a new twist. What had changed? Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that Robin adamantly refused to speak with her parents, even on the phone? But she did eventually speak with her mother. And Jess had encouraged that, so why was she so opposed to Robin trying to make peace with her father? Because I don’t trust him. that's why. And after every malicious thing he had done, all of the trouble and destruction he had left in his wake, suddenly Robin could overlook all of that and give him another chance?

Jess decided to try to see it from a more mature perspective. One last chance to make peace, and if that meant not having to continually dredge up hard feelings and endure constant criticism, maybe it would be worth it. Especially if it meant that Robin could let go of that baggage. Ah, but, there was one problem. This was personal for Jess. That man had single-handedly put Jess's career and her most cherished relationship at risk, and on multiple occasions had wounded Robin so terribly that it had taken months of sessions with Dr. Richmond just to restore Robin's faith and help her move beyond the pain. But, then again, if Robin could give her father a second chance, then even though Jess really, really hated it, maybe she should just leave it in Robin's hands. It was a tough call, and definitely no easy sell. "If you're sure you'll be okay..."

"I will. Please don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

The junior partner still didn't like it. The uneasy feeling lingered, making her stomach clench. "I could meet you there," she offered.

"Honey, that wouldn't be a very good idea." It would complicate things immensely, Robin thought, although she appreciated Jess's concern. "I have to do this myself. I have to do what Dr. Richmond says. I have to try to put the past in the past, and if my father can try to do that, how can I not try to do the same thing?"

Jess sighed heavily, reluctantly giving in. "Okay. But you call me if you need anything."

"I will. Now, you'd better get up to your meeting before you're late."

"All right. I'll see you later on this afternoon?"

"Count on it, and I'll tell you all about it." Robin gently hung up the phone, crossing her fingers. Now if lunch just goes okay...

No sooner had Jess rapped on the door than it opened wide and a smiling J.R. Prescott eagerly ushered her into the hotel suite. The table against the back window was stacked high with paperwork and a laptop computer sat open alongside a set of rolled up blueprints.

Another set of blueprints lay unfurled on the small sofa that stood against the adjacent wall.

"Office space not ready?" Jess remarked, cutting past him and taking a seat at the table. "Behind schedule?"

"Nice to see you, too, Jess." James discarded the unfurled blueprints and positioned himself on the sofa directly in front of her. "Glad you could come by this morning. We have some things to discuss."

"You sounded a bit... tense when I spoke with you earlier this morning." She arched an eyebrow. "Things not going well?"

He waved it off. "Just the usual last minute frenzy."

"I'm sure your staff has everything under control," Jess tried to placate him.

"So," James seemed to regain his usual confidence, leaning back against the sofa cushion, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing them at the ankles. "Have you been able to resolve your little domestic issue?"

He really has a way of ticking me off. "If you mean have Robin and I come to an understanding about her working for your company, then I would say that Robin apparently is making her own decisions. For whatever reason, and against my advice, she has decided that she wants to work for your company. It's not what I would have recommended, but there you have it." Jess was deliberately misleading him, and she could tell by his reaction that her performance was starting to pay off.

He sat forward, interested. "But you're not happy with that."

"Look, I can't tell her what to do. She has a mind of her own. In my opinion, it would be best for her to stay put at the firm for a few more years before moving on to something else. There's no substitute for experience." Jess shook her head as if the whole idea was baffling to her. "However, since she wants to do this, so be it."

"It sounds as if you may have a problem with this whole arrangement."

She pinned him with steely eyes. "What I have a problem with is your inserting yourself into my life. I specifically told you that Robin was off limits. I specifically told you to leave her out of this. Yet the minute she steps foot in here, you can't wait to get her on board."

"As you said, it was her decision. I can't help it if she failed to discuss it with you first."

Bingo. He had taken the bait. "She has no clue what's best for her. She sees this as an opportunity for her to work with me and for us to work together in perpetuity. That's not how it works."

Sounds as if there's a whole lot of trouble in paradise. "You two aren't having problems, are you?" He asked the question casually, even though his curiosity was practically killing him.

Jess feigned a sigh. "That's none of your business."

I was right. "I beg to differ. If you two are having domestic difficulties, how can you work together without bringing those problems into the office? I need a team."

"Robin and I are fine. I assure you, we'll have no trouble working together professionally." Jess did her best to sound intentionally unconvincing.

"So you've agreed, then?"

"I wish she had talked to me first, but if this is what she really wants to do, then yes. I've agreed, albeit reluctantly."

"Good." He nodded thoughtfully. "I really think you'll eventually see that this is a great arrangement. It'll be a win-win for all of us." Well, it would definitely be a win for him. And if he continued to play his cards right, he'd earn his pay and get his trophy, too. Life is sweet. "Hey, how about you and I get together for dinner again tonight? We can go over some of the last minute business arrangements before the start-up meeting later on this week."

She gave him what appeared to be a very genuine smile. He's playing right into my hands this time. Turnabout is fair play. "I suppose I could do dinner again. Besides, when I reviewed your paperwork I found a few things I think we should talk about."

"Excellent!" He sounded as if he had just won the jackpot. To his mind, she was definitely warming up to him. He could feel it. "I'll pick you up at seven."

"Seven it is." Jess stood to leave, then gave him a glance. "And choose someplace expensive."

James didn't respond, but instead just watched as Jess left. The trophy was well within his reach.

It was almost noon when Robin entered the fashionable downtown restaurant amid the babble of conversation from the bustling lunch crowd and the clinking sounds of silverware. Greeting her at the door, the hostess led her directly to the table where her father was seated. He rose as she approached, and waited for her to be seated.

"It's nice to see you." Thomas Wilson retook his seat. "Thanks for meeting me."

Robin nodded, then opened the menu, pretending to study it.

"Your mother misses you."

She glanced up. "I spoke with her not too long ago."

"Yes, she mentioned that. She was very grateful that you called."

The conversation was stilted and awkward, but it was a start. Robin took a sip of her ice water. "How long will you be in town?"

"Until the day after tomorrow. I have meetings today with some colleagues, and I'm giving a talk at a banking industry seminar tomorrow. I'll be flying back to Detroit first thing the next morning."

There was a long silence, which lasted until the waitress appeared at their table to take their orders. After she left, Thomas Wilson continued their conversation, such as it was. "How are you?"

You mean after you practically destroyed Jess's and my lives? Robin took a deep breath to clear the negative thoughts from her mind. "I'm fine."

"And work?"

"We have a few cases set for trial down the road, unless they settle first, which Jess thinks they will." She couldn't stop herself in time. She knew the mention of Jess's name would set him off, but then again, Jess was a fact of her life, and he was just going to have to accept that.

He raised an eyebrow. "Nothing else on the horizon?" He was sure there was more.

What else could he mean? "Just the usual things. Perhaps some travel for some of our cases. Oh, and I've been admitted to practice in federal court, middle and southern districts."

Thomas smiled. "That's great. I'm proud of you, honey."

He hasn't said one word about Jess. It was like waiting for an explosion that never happened. Robin didn't know whether to be grateful or suspicious.

Her father kept probing. "So, you're happy?"

Robin smiled broadly, mostly for his benefit. "Very happy."

Thomas knew his daughter well, and he knew things probably weren't quite as rosy as she was making them out to be. "Are you taking care of yourself?"

"Yes." She had to make her point to him, if only just one more time. "And Jess is taking care of me, also."

He looked uncomfortable, but nodded. "That's all I can ask, that you're happy and healthy."

Okay, what happened to the real Thomas Wilson? This was definitely unlike her father, but since he was being so docile, maybe she could take a chance and be a bit more open in her conversation with him. "I want you to accept me and accept my relationship with Jess. That's what would really make me happy."

He tapped the table cloth idly with his index finger. "I know. Your mother said the same thing. I want you to know that we're both going to give it a try."

Give it a try? This could not possibly be the same Thomas Wilson who, not long ago, had tried to sabotage her relationship, who had nearly destroyed Jess's career, and who had tried to blackmail Jess into leaving her. Robin wasn't sure what to make of this change in attitude. Maybe Mom's gotten to him. "If you're sincere about that, I would really like it."

"You have to understand it's not easy for us, but we're willing to try. We don't want to lose you."

She nodded slowly, trying to absorb this turn of events.

"And Robin, I want you to know that if, for whatever reason, things here don't work out, you'll always have your mother and me. We're your family."

He just couldn't leave well enough alone. "Jess is my family, too." I told you this before. "And things are working out very well with her."

He flinched. He was trying to keep it together, but the constant mention of that woman's name was eating at him. "I just meant that your mother and I will always be here for you. We know this past year hasn't been a particularly easy one for you. We just want what's best for you."

There it was again. Thomas Wilson always thought he knew what was best for her. Interfering in her life had become commonplace. She started to get angry, but then realized that he was trying to make amends in his own way. Even if that way is a bit overbearing. "I appreciate that you want what's best for me. So does Jess. I'll let you know if I need help with anything."

Thomas bit his tongue and decided not to respond. His daughter would get tired of that woman sooner or later, and he was positive it was going to be sooner. In the meantime, he would bide his time and try to appear as supportive as possible.

For now.

Robin changing changed out of her work clothes and then rummaged around her bedroom for her favorite bunny slippers. They appeared to be missing. Or were they just misplaced? She hunted some more, checking every nook and cranny without success, and then decided to look for the real culprit in the missing slippers caper. Embarking on a vitally important mission, she headed down the long L-shaped hallway and into the living room, fully expecting to find the dastardly slippers thief. "Jess..." She stopped short. Instead of the expected perpetrator, she found another guilty party, sitting casually on the sofa and obviously waiting for something. Or someone.

"Hello, Robin." James gave her a charming smile. "How are you?"

Surprised to see you, to say the least. Robin fought off the urge to beat him over the head. What in the world are you doing here? At a minimum, however, she had to be civil. After all, he did think she was going to be working for him. "I didn't know you were coming over tonight."

Before he could come up with a response, Jess breezed into the living room and stopped next to her. "Dinner. We're going to have dinner to discuss business."

"Okay." Robin nodded, considering this new development. "I can be ready in just a minute." She turned to leave, but Jess gently caught her arm.

Blue eyes captured hers. "Just James and me."

A few seconds passed without any noticeable reaction. What is she doing? "May I speak with you for a moment?" She cast a quick glance at James, then turned back to Jess. "Alone?"

"Sure," Jess answered, then walked over to where James was sitting. "I'll be right back." She grasped his hand and squeezed it, then turned and followed Robin into the kitchen.

Once they were safely out of the room, Robin whispered, "I'm losing sight of your plan, Jess. What are you trying to do, flirt him into leaving town?"

Jess rolled her eyes. "Look, sweetheart, I've got him right where I want him. His ego's big enough for him to think he's winning."

"But dinner? Again?" Robin sighed. "This is getting predictable."

"Whatever works. Now, you play your part, and we'll get what we want. Ready?"

A nod. "Ready."

Jess raised her voice. "Listen, Robin, I don't understand why you're so upset. It's just business. Boring business. Nothing more."

Likewise, Robin increased the volume of her voice. "It's not just business, and you know it. How many times have you been out to dinner with him? It's bad enough you're going to be working with him day in and day out, but now you have to spend every other night having dinner with him, too?"

James' ears perked considerably. He could hear what sounded like an argument coming from the kitchen. Yes, this is juicy. And exactly what I thought. Trouble in paradise.

Jess responded to Robin. "You're going to be working with him, too. Have you forgotten that little fact? The one where you went over to see him without my knowledge, and unilaterally decided that you would accept his job offer? You didn't even discuss it with me, and I'm supposed to be the one doing the hiring."

"Don't change the subject. Why can't I go with you tonight?"

"Because we're going to discuss management issues, Robin. Nothing that concerns you. Unless," she paused dramatically, "you don't trust me."

Stony silence.

"I see." Jess had to admit that Robin was good at playing her part. "Fine. I don't have anything more to say to you about this right now. We'll discuss it later."

"You better believe we will." Robin took a step closer to Jess and leaned in, speaking for Jess's ears only. "If I don't find my slippers by the time you get home, you are so dead."

An impeccably sculpted eyebrow lifted, then fell back into place. Jess whispered her response close to Robin's ear. "Check the freezer."

Robin stepped back, giving Jess an incredulous look.

A wink, then a whisper. "I'll see you later, kiddo." Jess then raised her voice one more time. "Don't wait up for me." She turned and stormed out of the kitchen.

Once alone, Robin bolted to the freezer and opened it. There, resting on a lower rack, were two perfectly frozen bunny slippers. Oh. she is so dead.

His eavesdropping over, James stood up as Jess entered the living room. "Everything okay?"

"Peachy." She brushed by him. "Let's go." He smirked to himself. I just bet it is.

The salmon looked good on the menu, and so did the rack of lamb. True to her request, James had selected a very expensive restaurant, and Jess intended to make the most of it. It was a damn good way to overspend his money.

"Decided?" He glanced up from his own menu.

"Lamb," Jess answered, sounding distracted.

That was the opening James had been waiting for. He closed his menu. "Want to talk about it?"

His attempt at concern was actually funny, and she had to keep herself from laughing out loud. "No."

"C'mon, Jess. You can talk to me. I know that incident with Robin upset you. I can tell."

Nothing gets by him. She'd made it obvious enough. "I have it under control."

"Fine, but if you need to vent, I'm here."

Well, she might as well play it up. "I simply don't understand what the big deal is. Robin knows you and I are discussing business. That's all it is."

If that's what you’d like to think. He was convinced Jess was in denial about her resurrecting feelings for him. "Maybe Robin's just a bit insecure. I'm sure she'll come around."

"I've had just about enough of it. She's not my keeper."

James put forth his best sympathetic voice. "I'm sorry, Jess. If I'm interfering..."

"No." A troubled look. "It's just that these are things Robin and I have to work out."

"Can you work them out? I mean, you're supposed to work together. How can you do that with all this stuff going on between the two of you?"

Changing his tune so fast? Jess was sure this was part of his plan. "What are you saying? You don't want her working for you now?"

"For you, Jess. She'd be working for you."

"I haven't accepted yet."

"Just a technicality." He waived his hand dismissively. "By the way, I need a formal decision from you. For the board, of course." He needed to report to his board of directors about his progress on the new office start-up. And as far as he was concerned, Jess was already on the payroll.

"Here's the deal. I'll attend the meeting later this week, and by close of business on Friday, you'll have my formal decision."

He held back a grin, as if it was their little secret. "Right."

The waiter approached, set a bottle of cabernet sauvignon on the table, uncorked it and offered James a sample. After it was approved, he poured each of them a glass, then took their dinner orders, and was gone.

Jess studied the wine label. "Expensive selection. Good year."

"Nothing but the best. I promise you, we're going to get everything we want from this venture." He raised his glass in a toast. "To success."

She smiled back at him and raised her wine glass to his. "To success." The sound of their clinking glasses brought a more feral smile to her lips. To my success at destroying you.

"Feeling better?"

You have no idea. "While we're talking business here, there are a few things I wanted to go over with you."

His arrogance returned in spades. "Shoot."

Don't tempt me. "I noticed from the financial statements you provided that your company recently received a large cash infusion."

"For the start-up of this office," he explained.

"Where did it come from?"

He leaned forward and smiled. "It's just a minor investment."

She repeated her question. "Where did it come from?"

"Look, from time to time we have investors who want to reap a return on their capital without having to become involved in mundane day-to-day operations. When we started the South Florida operation two years ago, we had a similar investment from a former partner who had been in charge of a smaller company down there before we eventually merged together. He'd recently retired, but wanted to remain significantly vested in the success of the new company." James paused. "At this time, our investor prefers to keep a low profile and has asked that we not disclose his identity."

Low profile? "So he's anonymous?"

"Yes, I suppose you could say he's anonymous to everyone except the board of directors. His identity would be disclosed only on a need-to-know basis. That was a condition of his investing. He's basically a private person who doesn't like publicity and wants to remain out of the public eye."

"You and your board of directors agreed to this?"

"Why not? So what if the guy's a bit eccentric, and doesn't want to draw attention to himself? We needed the seed money he provided in order to get the Orlando operation going."

"But how do you know where this guy's money comes from? Have you checked it out? Is it legitimate?"

"Stop worrying," James assured her. "It's all legitimate."

"But how do you know? Do you know this investor? Do you know his business? How do you know the money's not ill-gotten?"

"Are you asking if some Mafioso is backing our business?" James asked, snickering. "C'mon, Jess. Quit being so paranoid."

This was either very interesting or very bad. Some secret investor dumps significant capital into a company that has a start-up office, but refuses to be identified. Why? Why the need to remain out of the public eye? A competitor, perhaps? "Look, I'm not a fan of cloak-and-dagger operations. Do you know exactly where this money came from, or not?"

"Yes, and I can assure you that everything is totally on the up-and-up. This investor anticipates a significant return on his investment, and so do I. That was the primary reason for his investment in the first place."

Jess was going to have to dig into this. It wasn't passing the smell test. "If I'm going to stick my neck out with this enterprise, you'll have to do a better job of convincing me. I haven't accepted yet, remember?"

"What can I say? The money is completely traceable and legitimate. No Cayman or Swiss bank accounts, no Colombian cartels, no crime bosses, no big guys named Guido or Vinnie." He held up his right hand. "Promise."

It still didn't smell any better, but Jess decided to let it go. As far as James was concerned, anyway. "Fine. If you've thoroughly vetted this, then I'll accept your assurances." For now.

"Good." He relaxed back into his chair. "Anything else?"

"Not at the moment." She took a long sip of her wine and pondered what to do with this new information. It was probably nothing. Surely, James wouldn't have given her those financial reports to look over if he'd had something to hide. But still...the smell of this thing lingered. Perhaps a few well-placed phone calls would yield some results.

J.R. Prescott poured himself another glass of cabernet. Poor Jess. First that thing with Robin, and now she thinks we’re in bed with the Mafia. He smirked to himself. If she only knew...

It was still relatively early that evening when Jess quietly slid into bed next to Robin. The smaller woman had heard her come home a few minutes earlier, having just turned in for the night, even though she still hoped to find out what had happened at dinner. The suspense was killing her.

"I'm awake." Robin rolled over to face Jess. "I'm glad you're home."

"Me too."

"So, tell me about it. What did you two discuss?"

"Well..." Actually, Jess wasn't very tired. "It was mostly small talk. I think he just makes up excuses to go to dinner to get me alone."

No kidding. Robin touched her index finger to Jess's nose. "Very astute there, Snoopy."

Jess had to smile. She grasped Robin's finger and held on to it. "Everything's on schedule. The office space is coming along, staffing is nearly all in place. You know, the usual business-speak stuff." She released the petite finger slowly, lost in thought.

"Something's bothering you." Robin could always tell.

"It's just that when I looked over his financial statements, I saw that they'd recently recorded a somewhat large cash infusion. When I asked him about it, he said it was seed money from an anonymous investor. I thought I'd at least get some general information about it, but he refused to tell me who the investor is, or exactly where the money comes from."

"That sounds a little suspicious. Why would this person want to remain anonymous?"

"He said that it was a condition of the investor, who according to him is a private person who wants to stay out of the public eye." Silver-blue eyes darted back and forth across the darkened bedroom. "It seems strange, though, and he wouldn't tell me the source of the funds Just that it was all supposedly legitimate."

Robin inched closer to Jess. "Do you believe him?"

"Not for a second. Even if the transaction was perfectly valid, the anonymity of the backer is a cause for concern. I'd like to know the people I'm supposed to be doing business with, as I think anyone would. He must have known I'd see it in the financials and question it."

"Maybe it's nothing. Just some guy who has nothing better to do with his money." Robin considered the situation. "Like that one guy we represented a few months ago, who had so much money he went around buying run-down hotels and trying to turn a profit by fixing them up. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't."

"Yeah, maybe." Jess was still unconvinced. "I'm going to look into it, though. It feels like there's something else there." Like perhaps a competitor trying his hand at a bit of corporate espionage. "Hey, by the way, good show earlier, kiddo. James bought our supposed staged argument hook, line, and sinker."

The ruse worked. "It was kind of fun. And if it gets him out of our lives sooner, I'm up for doing it again."

"We may have other opportunities. You played the part well, and I reinforced it at dinner. He's convinced we're having," Jess made little quote marks with her fingers, 'domestic difficulties.'" Satisfied that at least one part of the evening had gone according to plan, she snuggled up to Robin and changed the subject. "So, tell me more about how lunch with your father went today. We didn't get much time to talk about it earlier."

"It went okay, I think. We didn't get into any arguments, and he was respectful and seemed genuinely interested in my happiness." Robin shook her head slightly, thinking back on their conversation. "But I don't know whether he's trying to meet us halfway or if he really hasn't changed."

"What do you mean?" Jess grabbed Robin's index finger again and kissed it.

"I mean, he kept referring to how he only wants what's best for me, and that if things don't work out for me here," Robin paused, "and with you, he and my mom are always there for me. To be honest, it made me a little uneasy."

He'll never accept me. I'll never be what he had in mind for his little girl. "He just wants to be first in your life, sweetheart, and he resents that he's not that anymore."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I told him flat out that I was very happy, and that things are working out really well for us, so he didn't need to worry about that."

I bet that made his day. Jess cringed to herself at the knowledge that Robin had to keep defending their relationship. Damn. And I bet he could tell she 's been under some strain lately. "If he sensed, somehow, that you've been stressed..."

"No, Jess." Robin's voice was both gentle and stern at the same time. "I know what you're doing. You're taking the blame for something my father insinuated, which isn't even true, and I won't let you do that."

"But we did hit that rough spot because of my—"

Robin cut her off immediately. "Because of your what? Your protectiveness? Honey, that's one of the things I love most about you." She propped herself up on one elbow and focused tightly on Jess's silver-blue eyes. "We're good, Jess. I told him we're good, and I meant it."

In her heart, Jess knew it was true. She felt it, and was more sure of it than of anything else in her life. Nothing, no matter what, would ever, could ever, destroy what she and Robin had with each other. Jess encircled Robin with her arms and guided her head to rest on her shoulder. "How did you leave it with him?"

"I think it's an amicable truce."

They were quiet for a few moments, snuggled together, each lost in thought about so many things. Finally, Jess attempted to take their minds off the serious stuff. "So, tell me, sweetheart, did you happen to find your slippers?" An eyebrow arched in the dark and a tiny laugh escaped.

She is so dead. Robin stretched her hand over to a cup on the nightstand and reached inside, pulling out an object. With lightning speed, she slipped her hand and the mystery object under Jess's Calvin sleep shirt and directly onto Jess's bare stomach... Jess's suddenly extremely cold bare stomach.

Jess gasped and jerked straight up. "What?!" It took her a moment to register what had happened. She grabbed Robin's hand, which was still holding the object in question. "Ice? You got me with ice?" Her expression was priceless.

Robin was giggling uncontrollably. "Payback, Jess, for freezing my slippers."

Not funny. "I trust they've thawed," Jess remarked dryly, tossing the ice cube aside.

"Yes, finally. No thanks to you." Robin reached for the cup on the nightstand once again, but Jess grasped both her wrists and pinned her to the bed. "Hey!" Robin protested.

"Ice is not nice." Jess enunciated the words slowly.

Robin could feel warm, moist breath from above caress the side of her cheek as the larger body pinned her firmly in place. "Frozen slippers are not nice, either."

"Slippers..." Jess's lips were not more than an inch from Robin's. "Can't feel the cold. I can."

It was a good point. But not good enough. "The person wearing the slippers can feel the cold, frozen slippers, especially when said slippers are supposed to be warm, as slippers are intended to be." Robin attempted to wrest herself free from Jess's grip, but it was no use. "Besides, there was frost all over them."

"They'd defrost." A slight chuckle. "In time."

Robin had to admit the gentle pressure of being pinned was a little exciting. "But I wanted to wear them right away."

"You could've worn socks instead." It was a perfectly acceptable solution.

"Obviously, you're failing to understand my point." Yet again, Robin made a valiant effort to liberate herself, almost making it to that all important cup on the nightstand. But she was stopped. Yet again.

Jess grinned and grabbed the cup, holding one of Robin's wrists and pinning the rest of her underneath her larger body. "Let's see, what have we in here?" She peered into the cup. "Quite a supply. Too bad you won't get to use it." She dug out one of the objects from the cup and held it up mischievously. "Ice, anyone?"

It was hopeless. Robin was thoroughly trapped. "You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I?"

The warm, moist breath now traveled past Robin's ear and down her neck, giving her goosebumps. The frozen tip of the ice cube suddenly brushed across her chin, then her jaw, and the combination of the warm and cold sensations was surprisingly exhilarating. Both women stilled for several seconds, breathing heavily from their struggles... or maybe from something else. Robin's gray-green eyes locked firmly onto Jess, and she whispered softly, "You're so dead."

Damn. This game-playing is sexy as hell. Jess flung the ice cube to the floor, then dipped her head and kissed Robin soundly. "Yep. I'm definitely a goner."

After all, ice had multiple uses.

The red light on the coffee maker glowed brightly as the water slowly heated and trickled over the ground Arabica beans, then through the cone filter and into the waiting glass carafe. Jess absently watched as the dripping came to a stop while she quietly munched on a whole wheat bagel in the stillness of the house. She poured herself a cup of the coffee, stirred in some sugar and cream, and perused the morning newspaper spread out on the countertop. New federal courthouse. It's about time.

After several leisurely minutes of headline reading an article skimming, she glanced up at the clock on the microwave. It was later than she'd thought, and time to get going to work. There were at least three matters today that required her immediate attention, along with several other looming deadlines. She grabbed her suit jacket from the kitchen chair and slid into it, fussing at length with the collar. It never laid right. It occurred to her, almost belatedly, that the house was too quiet. Robin should have been up and ready by now. She set her empty coffee mug in the sink and ambled down the long hallway toward the master bedroom.

"Hey, Robin. You up? You're going to be late." Jess entered the room and found Robin still in bed. Didn't the alarm go off? She stepped over to the younger woman's side of the bed to wake her, gently stroking her arm. "C'mon, sleepyhead. Time to get up."

Green eyes opened slowly, then quickly closed again. "I don't think I'm going in today, Jess."

"Are you sick?" Jess was immediately concerned. She knelt beside the bed and felt Robin's forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever. What is it? Are you coming down with something?"

Robin rolled onto her side, away from Jess. "I'll be okay tomorrow. You should go, or you'll be late."

There was something in the tone of Robin's voice, a flat emotion that indicated to Jess that whatever was wrong with her was more than a mere physical ailment. She gently eased her fingers through the blonde hair at the back of Robin's head. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Robin was silent for a long time. How could she explain it? She shouldn't be having this reaction, and she was embarrassed by her own weakness.

"Honey, look at me." Jess tugged on Robin's nightshirt until the smaller woman finally turned back around, listless green eyes now staring straight into blue. "Please tell me what it is." Damn. Did I screw something up?

"It's..." It was difficult to say.

Slender fingers smoothed the bangs from Robin's forehead. "It's what, honey?"

Robin drew in a deep breath, the words she spoke barely audible. "It's... been a year."

"A year?" Jess tried to process two words that made all the difference in the world this morning.

Robin simply nodded.

As Jess studied the green eyes in front of her, she saw something she recognized. She hadn't seen it in a while, but it was back again today. Pain, guilt, regret. It was all there, and now Jess knew exactly what Robin meant. It had been a year. It had been exactly one year. Jess's heart broke. Oh sweetheart. I should have calculated this. Today was one year since the accident. The terrible tragedy that had scarred Robin so badly. "A year." Jess repeated sadly, then reached out and gently cupped Robin's face with her hand, lightly brushing her thumb back and forth, trying to soothe a troubled soul. Her thumb caught a tear that had escaped the corner of Robin's eye, and that did it. She gathered Robin in her arms and held her tightly. "Shh, sweetheart. It's okay. Let it out." What Robin couldn't see was that Jess had tears in her eyes, too. Tears for the sadness that this day represented for Robin; a tragic day that in the greatest of all ironies had led to her ultimately meeting... and loving... Robin. It was something Jess was still not at peace accepting.

"I'm okay." Robin dried her eyes and rested back against the pillow. She was embarrassed that she hadn't been able to handle this any better. "You should go to work now, or you'll really be late."

Silently, Jess stood up and removed her suit jacket, then slid onto the bed next to Robin, kicking off her shoes. "Work can wait. You're my priority." Or maybe she was presuming too much? "Unless you'd rather be alone, of course."

"No, I wouldn't, but don't you have things you need to do today?"

In one fluid motion, Jess picked up the cordless phone from the nightstand and dialed the office. "Hi, Angie, it's Jessica. Listen, something's come up, and I may not make it in today. Could you call Evan Spencer and reschedule our conference call for tomorrow, if possible, or the next day? Then ask Paul to file the Breckinridge appeal today, and see if Harry can have lunch with Stuart Frazier to pitch the possibility of our handling their products liability work. I'll be available on my cell phone if anyone needs me. Great. Thanks." Jess hung up and turned toward Robin. "See? Done. No problem."

"You didn't have to do that, you know. I'll be okay tomorrow."

It was funny how one day could make such a difference. Jess wrapped her arm around Robin, then hooked a finger underneath Robin's chin. "Tomorrow will take care of itself. Today, we'll take care of you."

The blinds were still closed, although slivers of sunlight streamed in through the spaces, and it was comfortably cool inside the house. The bedroom was quiet, except for the sound of a few birds happily chirping outside one of the windows. But Robin couldn't be cheerful. Not today. She curled up next to Jess. "I'm sorry about this."

Jess was confused. "Sweetheart, what are you sorry about?"

"I should be able to deal with this better. I thought I could. But when I woke up today, it hit me hard. It was like somebody punched me in the stomach. I didn't want to face the day. I just couldn't do it."

She shouldn't be ashamed. "What did Dr. Richmond say about how to handle it?"

"She said to just let what happens, happen."

"Then that's what you'll do." Jess kissed the top of the blonde head. "If you need to let it out, you let it out. If you need to talk, I'm here. If you need to be quiet, we won't say anything. And if you need to be alone..."

Robin rushed to answer. "No. Don't leave."

"I'm here, and I won't go anywhere unless that's what you want."

Robin wrapped her arm around Jess's waist almost possessively. Stay.

"You know, I should have known about today. If I hadn't been so distracted lately, I would have."

"No, Jess. You're here, and that's what matters most." Robin became reflective, or maybe she was just trying to put things into perspective. "In the beginning, when I first moved here, I didn't know anyone and that was the way I wanted it. I wanted to be away from the past and everything familiar, so that I'd forget. But I couldn't forget. You may not know this, but I was drowning." Sea green eyes captured pristine blue. "You saved me."

Jess kept listening.

"Who would have thought that such an important lawyer, a partner in the city's most prestigious law firm, would give me the time of day? But you did." Robin smiled, amazed even now. "You did that and so much more. You were my angel, and you still are."

"You captured my heart, sweetheart, when I wasn't looking. One minute I was trying to one-up you into attending a document review in New Orleans, and the next, I was sleeping in the chair and taking care of you when you had the flu." Jess rolled her eyes playfully. "It was so out of character for me."

"You were my angel then, too."

A fond smile. "I remember. I guess you could say that you saved me, too. Do you know what my life was like before I met you?"

God, it was cozy. It always was with Jess, and Robin melted into her warm embrace. "Only what you've told me."

"Let me tell you some more. I kept to myself, mostly. I didn't want to be involved with anyone because I had more than learned my lesson about trusting people. I was a workaholic and made a lot of demands on people. In reality, I was not a very nice person to be around, and most people steered clear of me. The only friend I had was Harry, and he was more like a father to me."

Robin's hand slipped under the bottom edge of Jess's blouse and came to rest on her stomach, stroking it softly.

"The first day I met you, I remember being fascinated by your eyes, and I knew almost instinctively from them that you were someone I could trust. Do you know what a big step it was for me to let myself trust someone again?" Jess tightened her hold. "I became a different person because of you."

"I knew from the beginning I could trust, you, too. I knew that night you stayed with me when I was sick that I didn't have to be hurting inside anymore. I knew you'd take care of me and protect me."

"And I always will, Robin. I'll always protect you."

"I know," Robin said simply. "I trust you."

She does trust me. The question, so long ago asked, analyzed, and further analyzed, was now definitively answered, once and for all. And believed. She does trust me.

Robin fingered the collar on Jess's blouse. "You must be uncomfortable in your work clothes."

"You're right." Jess stood up. "I'll change and come right back." She gathered her suit jacket and shoes. "While I'm up, would you like me to get you some tea?"

"Mint?"

A warm smile. "You bet, kiddo."

"Hey, Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm feeling a little better now."

Another smile. "That's wonderful, sweetheart."

"Hey, Jess?"

The tall woman glanced again at Robin. "Yeah?"

"Your halo is showing."

That produced a sly wink and a devilish grin. "Just wait till tonight, when the horns come out."

Robin found herself grinning from ear to ear. It was amazing how Jess could make everything seem better. Today would be all right. Tomorrow, and all that came with it, would take care of itself. And tonight... Robin felt an unexpected thrill... tonight those horns would be coming out.

Oh, boy! I think I’m in very big trouble.

Chapter 9

Robin rushed into the house after an unusually long commute home from work. Her stomach growled for something substantial to eat, or at least a small snack before dinner. She examined the slim pickings in the pantry, mentally noting that she and Jess needed to establish a more regular grocery shopping routine, and settled on a fruit bar to hold her over until dinner. After a detour to her bedroom to change out of her business suit into more casual clothes, she headed back into the kitchen to scrounge up something passable for dinner. Her first thought was of pasta. They had leftover tomato sauce and some salad fixings, along with a box of rigatoni that always worked well in a pinch. So, pasta it was. Lots of carbohydrates, and definitely not low-calorie, but exactly what she was in the mood for. Just as she made her decision, the door from the garage opened and Jess breezed in.

"Hey." Robin grabbed a large pot and began filling it with water for the rigatoni. "I thought you were supposed to be right behind me."

Jess set her keys on the counter and started flipping through the mail. "Got stuck behind a train." A grimace. "I hate trains."

A hidden smile. "You love trains."

Two gorgeous azure eyes glanced up from the mail. "I love to ride trains. I love the Casey Jones Cannonball Express. I love the historic old west iron horse trains. I love the choo-choo of the whistle. I love the chugging of the engine." A deliberate pause. "But I do not love getting stuck behind slow-moving, ugly-looking, long, noisy freight trains that go on and on and on for fifteen minutes when I'm trying to get home at night." A dark eyebrow rose sharply. "Are we clear on the difference?"

Robin nodded indulgently. "Perfectly."

"Good." Jess smiled, then stepped over and gave Robin a long hug, speaking into her ear. "Because you see, the longer I was stuck behind that train, the longer I had to wait to do this." She tightened her hold.

Jess's characteristic woodsy scent made Robin snuggle further into the embrace, all thoughts of rigatoni completely erased from her mind. "Dastardly train."

"Dastardly, indeed. So, how are you doing, sweetheart? Better today?"

"Much." Robin lifted up on her toes and gave Jess a peck on the cheek. "I wish I'd seen more of you today, though. How did your settlement conference go?"

"Not much progress. How do you demand two million dollars without any proof of damages?"

She knew it was a rhetorical question, but Robin answered anyway. "Huff, puff, and bluff?"

Blue eyes twinkled. "Someone's been studying."

"I learned from the best." She went back to fixing their dinner. "Pasta okay with you tonight?"

"Great." To be honest, Jess didn't really have a preference as to what they ate. Robin could have heated up a frozen dinner, and Jess would have thought it was fantastic. It really was as simple as that. Whatever it was, wherever it was, whenever it was, as long as Robin was there beside her, everything was great. "Let me go change for dinner."

As she walked toward the bedroom, Jess heard the doorbell ring behind her.

"I'll get it," Robin shouted down the hallway.

"If it's one of the local kids selling candy bars for school, buy a box," Jess yelled back as she turned into the master bedroom. She never advertised the fact that she always bought whatever the neighborhood kids were selling. At one point, she had twelve boxes of cookies in her pantry from one school sale and enough car wash tickets to wash her car once a week for three months from another. Jess let her mind continue on that path for a second. Kids had always been great when they were someone else's responsibility. That thought stopped her cold. It was time to examine how she really felt about the subject. Well past time, in fact. Do I want this responsibility? It was becoming clear that Robin did, although they hadn't really talked about it. Maybe it's time we had that talk.

She pulled on a cotton shirt and some shorts, still preoccupied, and started back for the kitchen. She stopped just outside the entrance and watched as Robin stirred the sauce, then tried to imagine what it might be like with little feet scurrying about the house. In her mind's eye, she saw young ones at the kitchen table, Robin cutting their food and feeding them small bites. She also saw herself there, and the amazing thing was, she was doing the same thing. They were a family, together, and it was good. Really good.

Robin turned and saw her standing there. "These came for you."

Jess had been so lost in her musings that she had completely missed seeing the gorgeous vase of two dozen red roses sitting on the far end of the countertop. "Oh?" What she didn't miss was the hard set to Robin's jaw as a petite hand pointed in the roses' direction. Uh-oh. "Who are they from?"

Three guesses. "I didn't read the card," was all Robin could manage to say.

It was evident to anyone with half a brain cell exactly who the roses were from. Jess retrieved the card and read it silently.

Unable to resist any longer, Robin poked her head around Jess's shoulder and read the words on the card out loud. "Looking forward to spending more time together. James."

Unlike the last time flowers had arrived from him, Jess didn't hesitate. "Trash?"

Robin didn't answer. Instead, her face held a bewildered look. "But he agreed not to send you any more flowers."

Cautious blue eyes focused intently on Robin. "Did he?"

"Yes. I told him not to send you any more flowers, and he agreed."

"Exactly what did you tell him?"

"I told him..." Blonde eyebrows knit together. "Not to send any more flowers to you..." A sigh. "At work."

Jess cupped her hand around Robin's face. "Sweetheart, he's slick. He did exactly what you asked, not what you meant. And believe me, he knew the difference."

Sea green eyes stared at the roses. Red. They were red roses. They weren't a generic assortment of meaningless flowers like last time. They were red roses, and there was no mistaking their significance.

"So, trash?" Jess asked again and started to take the roses from their vase.

"No." Robin quickly stopped her. The roses hadn't yet begun to open, their tips only hinting at the soft, velvety petals that lay tucked away inside. A deliberate gesture? Robin knew Jess was all about layers of meaning, and she was sure James knew it as well. "They're lovely roses." She marveled at them. "Flawless." Too perfect. Robin was fascinated by them, but there was also an undisguised sadness to her voice. "You should keep them."

"Keep them?" Jess was definitely confused. "Why? I don't want them."

Although it had taken a moment, Robin's practical side took over. "You should keep them in case he's over here again, so he can see you've displayed them. It work for our plan."

I suppose so. "Are you sure?" It didn't feel entirely right.

"Yeah. Besides, they're too pretty to waste."

Two slender fingers removed one of the roses from the vase as discerning blue eyes studied it. "Look. It's exquisite, isn't it? See how there's only the tip of what will be a deep red, silky soft petal once it fully opens? It's delicate, yet immensely beautiful, even captivating." The fingers twisted the rose stem slightly. "But see these thorns, too, hiding beneath the leaves? Most florists would have selected varieties without them or removed the thorns before delivery, yet these were deliberately left on. They're not easily noticed and are a threat to those who are unsuspecting." Those discerning blue eyes cast a glance over at Robin. "In reality, something disguised as beauty can be quite treacherous."

Robin now looked at the roses in a completely different light. That manipulator had sent them as a veiled warning, almost daring Jess to decipher their true meaning. Or did he really send them to provoke jealousy? Robin did have jealous instincts, though she tried to keep them under control. To some extent, at least. All of a sudden, the roses weren't so beautiful, and Robin's own protective nature kicked in. "I would never give those to you."

A smile. "I know that."

"Let me take them and put them someplace where we can't see them. If he comes over, we'll display them then, as part of our plan." Robin carefully replaced the rose in its vase and vanished with the entire bouquet to parts of the house unknown.

James would get his due soon enough.

Meeting day. All the participants were assembled in a conference room, around an oval glass table that stood in the newly completed office space. It was an impressive suite of offices situated in the trendiest part of downtown, and commanding an impressive view of the lakefront and surrounding park. The price per square foot was surely through the roof. Contemporary furnishings and earth tone decor gave the impression of an accomplished architectural engineering firm branding its mark on new territory. Competition in an expanding field planning for downtown residential condominiums and commercial high-rises, in addition to new developments in the attractions areas, was sure to make the whole city take notice of the latest newcomer in town. Jess and Robin had taken seats along the far side of the conference table opposite the door, a strategic move Jess had deliberately made in order to more effectively observe the meeting and the arrival of its attendees.

James "Jay" Prescott opened the kickoff meeting with the usual introductions. "Thank you all for being here today. First, let me take a moment to introduce two people whom most of you may not have had the pleasure of meeting yet." Gesturing toward Robin and Jess, he continued. "We have extended an offer to Jessica Harrison to serve as our office manager and local corporate legal counsel, and sitting next to her is her associate, Robin Wilson. Should Ms. Harrison accept our offer, and I hope she will..." James smiled charmingly, "...Ms. Wilson and Ms. Harrison will be working together on our legal affairs."

It was all Robin could do to keep herself from rolling her eyes.

He explained further. "Because we have a short ramp-up time with several pending contracts already in place, and multiple potential bids to prepare and submit for other work, we needed to expedite our staffing. Therefore, I invited both Ms. Harrison and Ms. Wilson to meet with us today to become familiar with everyone here and get a jump-start on our business operation."

Given his personal interest in Jess, the way he could turn the situation into something even resembling professional was amazing. Robin wondered what Jess was thinking.

"Ms. Harrison has assured me..." he smiled at her again, "that she is seriously considering our offer and will provide us with her formal decision by the close of business tomorrow. Although we won't be discussing the specifics of bidding or any trade secrets today, I would ask that everyone keep what is discussed here confidential."

Jess's facial expression was neutral, but her eyes held a hint of amusement. I've seen a truckload of financial information on this company and probably know more about its financial condition than all of these people here put together. But I have to hand it to him. He's a showman. To Jess's experienced eye, however, he appeared to be a bit off his game, as if something else was on his mind. He covered it well, though.

"Okay, let me introduce the crowd." James started to his left and went around the table. "Jose Rodriguez is our Comptroller. Next is Evelyn Arthur, Human Resources Director. Our Technology Supervisor is Ian McNally. Nathan Langford is our Project Coordinator. Marti Westfield is our Chief Estimator. Alicia Jennings is our Director of Marketing. And finally, but not in the slightest way least, Ken Christopher is our Vice President of Design Services for the Central Florida region."

At this point, James stood up and helped himself to some coffee from the nearby credenza, then turned back to the assembled group. "Does anyone have any questions?"

Ian spoke up. "One thing, Jay. Could we get the office assignments as soon as possible? I've got phones and computers to hook up, and I really need to know who's going where. Otherwise, we're going to be under the gun to get the servers and routers up and the phone extensions completed."

James nodded. "I've got the floor plan, which I'll hand out at the end of the meeting." He cast a glance around the room, noting with interest that Jess was very quiet. Truth be told, she seemed almost bored. That should change. "I have a..." he paused for a second, "a situation I need to make you all aware of."

That did indeed pique Jess's interest, although she didn't show it in the least.

His voice became a little stilted, and he looked slightly pale. "I received a call this morning from our home office. It seems we've come under a bit of scrutiny of late from a couple of different directions. Our legal department has been apprised of the matters and is handling them capably. However, I wanted to make you all aware of them in case you hear of anything, or are asked about anything related to them. Once again, I ask that you keep what we talk about today confidential."

Robin noted that Jess's facial expression remained neutral.

James leaned back stiffly against the credenza, his eyes focused on some distant point. "For some reason, and I'm not entirely sure why yet, we are now the subject of an informal federal inquiry into our business practices and have also been notified that the IRS has decided to conduct an audit of the company."

What? Robin's mouth fell open, but she recovered quickly. She nudged Jess's elbow, but Jess merely raised her eyebrows ever so slightly.

"I've been told to expect a subpoena for our financial records. Jose and Alicia, you may receive some questions from the press, or others if they get wind of it, which may have already happened. Just report to them that the company is cooperating fully and is confident that any and all matters will be resolved very shortly, and in a manner favorable to the company. Now, I'm told this is just a preliminary inquiry, and that once our records are reviewed, there should be no further investigation. I can assure you that the company is in full compliance with all federal and state regulatory requirements and there is nothing to worry about."

An IRS audit and a federal inquiry did not exactly qualify as nothing to worry about. And judging by the looks on people's faces, they were thinking the same thing. Robin watched Jess carefully. There was no shock, or alarm, or surprise in the junior partner's expression. There was, however, something Robin had never seen before in those very cool blue eyes. What is it? There was an uncharacteristic hardness to them, but also something else. Steely, yet satisfied; callous, yet gleeful; menacing, yet strangely pleased. After a long moment, Robin recognized it for what it was. Revenge. Awareness of what that look meant put everything into perfect perspective. She knew. And as Robin watched Jess further, she came to an even deeper realization. Not only did she know, she caused it. The young associate was surprised by that. Robin wouldn't have suspected it, but confronted with the evidence, it made absolute sense. She had to admit she was impressed. Remind me never to get on her bad side.

As an uncomfortable silence settled upon the room, James cleared his throat and took his seat once again. "Okay, back to the reason we're here. Let's get a department report from each of you, and then we'll address any outstanding issues that require our attention before the start date next week."

From that point forward, the meeting dragged on. Midway through, Jess thought briefly of making an excuse to leave early, but decided to stick around and continue her observations instead. It was a shame that some of these people might be hurt by the actions this company had taken and the investigations that were underway, but people were resilient, and it was better that they got off a sinking ship before it ended up dragging them down along with it.

Whether the company survived or not, at a minimum, James "Jay" Prescott would go down, and go down for good. And she was just the person to see to it that it happened.

It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Robin followed Jess out of the office building after the meeting concluded. The older woman was unusually silent, having not said a word since they bid their good-byes to the rest of the group. She did, however, look like the cat who had just swallowed the canary. As they approached the silver Mercedes, Robin just couldn't keep her thoughts to herself any longer. "You knew."

Jess reached her side of the car and unlocked the door. As she slipped inside, her only response was a faint smile.

"You did that. What he was talking about in there. You made that happen."

"I can't take all the credit."

"But how did you get it done so quickly?"

"It pays to know people in the right places." The silver Mercedes backed out of the parking space and headed toward the law firm. "And it helps if you can call in a few favors. Even so, I still wasn't sure if anyone would look into what was going on."

"Doesn't it usually take a long time to get agencies going on things like this? I mean, isn't this rather fast for government work?"

"Remember, this is just a routine audit and an informal inquiry. If they think there's something there, they may launch a formal investigation, but until then, an inquiry letter... or two," Jess smiled to herself, "should be enough to keep James off his game."

"Do you think he's bothered by it? He seemed as smug as usual, most of the time."

"Oh, I guarantee you, he's worried. That anonymous investor deal stinks to high heaven, and he knows it."

It was about time James got what was coming to him. "Have I told you that you're a genius?"

"Not lately." A wide grin, and then a wink. "But thank you."

Robin really did admire the way Jess's mind worked. "So what are they looking into, specifically?"

"The IRS is likely looking into the company's reporting of its financial transactions. And the federal inquiry may be related to wire fraud or RICO."

"RICO?"

"You never know. Money laundering, bribery, criminal associations, extortion..."

"You think?" This had never occurred to Robin.

"Maybe, maybe not. But until this deal is adequately vetted, who can be sure?" The older woman shook her head in disbelief as she mulled things over. "That arrogant SOB. He gave me the financials. He knew the transaction was in there. He was practically daring me to find it, all the while sure I would miss it because I'd be so overwhelmed by his charm and renewed interest after all of these years. That was a game he was betting he'd win just to prove he could. But his ego blinded him."

"When are you going to tell him we're not taking the job?"

The car came to a stop at a red light, and Jess glanced over at Robin. "The plan is tomorrow, late in the day." She put on a mock serious expression. "Having given it a lot of thought, I regret to say that what with these new inquiries and the uncertainty of the situation, not to mention the risk of being tainted with the broad brush of potential impropriety, there's no way I can possibly accept any position with the company now."

"Perfect." Robin smiled broadly. "And James gets a whole boatload of trouble for the foreseeable future." Robin let out a satisfied sigh. "Serves him right."

"Oh, the fun's just beginning for him. He hasn't seen anything yet. Remember what I said back when we first started this? That I'd strike him where he lives and he wouldn't see it coming? This is just a taste of what's in store for him. When I'm through with him, at the very least he'll have to resign from his own company. He'll be too much of a liability for his board of directors to allow him to stay."

Although Robin fully enjoyed seeing James get his due, she was a little worried by Jess's enthusiasm. The last thing she wanted was for her to be consumed with retribution. "Honey, pull over in that parking lot for a second."

"Why?"

"I just need to talk for a minute."

Reluctantly, Jess did as Robin asked, then stopped the silver Mercedes and put it in park. "Okay, we're here."

Petite fingers curled around Jess's hand. "Are you all right?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"I was watching you in the meeting when all of this came up. I saw the way you looked. I've... well, I've never seen that before."

"Never seen what?" Jess had no clue what Robin was talking about.

"In your eyes... that look of revenge. I remember thinking that I was really glad it wasn't directed at me."

"What?" Jess's adrenaline had been pumping on overdrive since the meeting, but hearing Robin's words brought the high she'd been feeling to an abrupt and definite end. She came crashing right back down to earth.

Robin continued. "It was just a little intense when I realized—"

Jess finished for her. "That I'd be capable of destroying someone for the sake of revenge?"

The younger woman nodded slowly.

She's afraid of me? "Are you afraid of me, Robin?"

"No." Robin rushed to assure her, then squeezed her hand. "No, I'd never, ever be afraid of you. What I'm afraid of is that you'll become consumed with getting back at him. Can't we just get him to go away and then forget about him?" It was easier said than done, and Robin knew what she was asking.

Jess gave her a sad smile. "I've wanted revenge ever since he came back to town. That's been no secret, and I know I've let it get the better of me on more than one occasion." She grasped and held onto both of Robin's hands. "I promise you, though, I do know when to stop."

"Okay." Robin felt better. "Because I want him gone more than anything."

"So do I, sweetheart, and we will make that happen. I think this is just the ticket we need to do that, but if you think I'm getting off track, you pull me back in line. Okay?"

"You got it, Jess."

"One more thing I want to say." The older woman had a strange expression on her face. "I don't ever want you to be afraid of me."

"I'm not, honey. I worry about you, but I'd never be afraid of you."

"Because no matter what may happen in our lives, revenge will never, ever enter my heart when it comes to you. You have my word on that." Jess was more sincere about what she'd just said that she'd been about almost anything else in her life. In truth, she was terrified that she had opened a dark part of herself for Robin to see, one that rarely emerged, and that Robin might want to back away from her because of it. Or worse yet... leave.

And Robin knew it. She scooted over and hugged Jess fiercely. She kissed her cheek, then held Jess's face in her hands and peered into such engaging blue eyes. "You sweet, sweet woman. I know your heart. You gave it to me, remember? And I know that it is capable of such enormous love that there's no room in there for anything else. I will hold it forever and never be afraid. How could I be? It's your heart that protects me."

Jess had a hard time swallowing, and emotion threatened to overcome her right there in the parking lot. "Yeah." It was all she could manage to say.

Robin kissed Jess's cheek again and then released her face, smiling gently. "Yeah." She sat back in her seat, giving both of them a few moments to regain their composure. "I guess we should get going."

Still contemplating their conversation, Jess nodded and put the car in gear. The previous delight and glee at the fulfillment of revenge was gone, replaced with a new knowledge of the ever-deepening bond that she and Robin shared, even when it seemed as if they couldn't become any closer. And curiously, because of that, Jess felt surprisingly giddy, which was not something she was prone to feel in the middle of a parking lot in the middle of the city in the middle of the day. "You up for some lunch?"

Robin looked over at her, then chuckled. "Obviously, that was a rhetorical question."

That earned her a playful grin. "Obviously."

"Actually, I'm starving."

"Now, how in the world did I know that?"

Back at the office, the junior partner typed away at her computer, working on a brief that was due the following week. She was finding it hard to concentrate, her earlier talk with Robin making her more unsettled as the day wore on. Jess hadn't really thought about the consequences of the actions she had taken in her quest for revenge, and how they would appear to Robin. Would she really be afraid of me? She paused as she considered that. No, not really. She was sure Robin knew the difference between being protective and being deliberately malicious, and Robin had even assured her that she knew what was in her heart. Besides, it felt damned good to give James a little bit of what he had coming to him. Both she and Robin were satisfied with that. So why did Jess feel so uneasy? There was something in the back of her mind, annoying her and telling her that things were not so straightforward as a little funny business with secret investors and questionable business transactions. Intuitively, she sensed there was something more there. But what?

The ringing of the phone broke her into thoughts. She recognized the number on the Caller ID display. Ah. Guess who? She picked up the receiver. "Jessica Harrison."

"Jess. Good, I caught you." James spoke with his usual air of confidence.

"Shouldn't you be meeting with your lawyers right about now?" Jess smirked.

"No worries." He downplayed the earlier events. "Everything's being handled, and I wanted to talk with you further about the things we discussed this morning." He purposely left the nasty little issues of audits and inquiries out of his vocabulary selection.

Jess faced a dilemma. Should she play along, or just turn him down right away? Since she still had that uneasy feeling hanging around in the back of her mind, it might serve her well to play along for one more day and see if she could get any more out of him. "Fine, but I'm a bit busy right now. How about tomorrow?"

That wasn't quite his plan. He needed to make sure she was still on board. "How about dinner?"

This guy was as predictable as the sun coming up. "Dinner?"

"Tonight. We have some business to discuss. Besides," he said, his voice softening, "I'd really like to see you."

Jess could have gagged. He had some nerve, she had to give him that. Or maybe it was just his ego, as usual, talking. Whatever it was, it was brazen. She rolled her eyes at the phone. Just get me through one more day. "All right, I can do dinner tonight."

"Great." That would give him a chance to firm up her commitment both to him and to his company. "Robin won't mind you being gone this evening, will she?"

He can't leave her out of this. Why not? "It won't matter. I don't have to clear my schedule with her." Jess made her comment sound deliberately cold.

You two still haven't made up, huh? And that worked perfectly for him. "Okay, then. I'll pick you up at seven."

"Seven it is."

"I'll let you get back to work now. Thanks again for attending the meeting this morning. I think everyone appreciated your support."

The junior partner recognized this ploy for what it was. A way to put on pressure while doling out praise. She frowned. She hated to disappoint innocent people, but unfortunately, some things just had to be the way they had to be. "You're welcome. See you tonight at seven."

He hung up the phone, confident that his mission had been accomplished. He knew exactly how to work the situation to his advantage. Or so he thought.

Jess opened up her e-mail program and typed in a brief message.

R - Guess who just called and wants to have dinner tonight? J

She clicked the send button, momentarily distracted. Only one more day of this charade, and then it would be over. And if she played her cards right, the snake would slither away for good. After a few more moments, the junior partner received a reply to her e-mail.

J - You’re kidding. Dinner? Apparently he doesn’t have an original thought. Good luck. R

Jess smiled to herself. James was the one who needed the luck. He had absolutely no clue what was in store for him if he didn't cut his losses and get the hell out of Dodge.

Quickly.

The upscale restaurant was designed to impress, which was exactly what James had intended. He needed to reinforce Jess's commitment to the company, especially since she hadn't formally made one yet. But that was a mere detail. One that very soon would be resolved. He sipped his cabernet and fixed his eyes on her as she sat across the table from him.

Jess was not in the least impressed. If I didn't know better, and I sure as hell do, I'd swear he was some lovesick schoolboy.

Oblivious, he made his pitch to close the deal. "Let me first reassure you that everything is completely under control, and there is nothing at all to worry about. Our Texas legal counsel tells us that this is just a minor fishing expedition by some overzealous local U.S. Attorney, out to scrutinize newcomers to this area."

"I see."

"After we serve our response letter and they conduct whatever audits they want, this whole thing will be nothing but a distant memory."

You wish. "I imagine it would be rather unpleasant having the government's team of forensic accountants scouring your books."

"A nuisance, maybe, but it'll all blow over quickly." He sighed. "It's just the cost of doing business."

Right. And the moon is made of green cheese. "What if they shut you down?"

He laughed. "Don't be silly. They won't find anything to warrant that." He could see she wasn't entirely convinced by his reassurances. "Call the home office tomorrow and speak with our lead counsel, Roger Overman. He'll explain everything to you."

Jess sipped her wine, but didn't respond.

He let it drop. They would enjoy their dinner, and he'd have more time afterward to work his magic on her. "I'm really glad we could spend some time together tonight."

For the second time that day, Jess nearly gagged. "Since you're buying, how could I turn you down?"

"That's the Jess I know. Always a great comeback." James relaxed back in his chair, choosing his next words carefully for the maximum effect. "So, Robin was okay with your going out tonight?"

What is it with him? His fascination with Robin is getting to be ridiculous. Jess realized he was goading her, and somehow managed to keep herself in check when all she really wanted to do was lunge across the table and choke the life out of him. She lifted an eyebrow, forcing a hard crease in her forehead as if his question had provoked an annoying thought. "As I said, I don't have to clear my schedule with Robin. She's a big girl and can look after herself. So can I."

This renewed indication that Jess and her little friend were still on the outs was great news. A rift, and with any luck a permanent one, would be just the ticket to his prize. "I'm sure she'll come around soon." He sounded patronizingly sincere.

Picking up on his tactics, Jess continued to mislead him. Besides, a little ego stroking would make it easier to pry any final bits of information out of him. "By the way, the roses you sent are very pretty. I put them in the living room to show them off."

Yes, thorns aside, they were beautiful. And I bet the annoying little blonde was beside herself when they arrived. "Yes, I saw them when I came by to pick you up earlier this evening. I'm glad you like them."

"How did you find a florist that stocks such perfect roses?"

He leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "I have contacts for just the right occasions." The old Jess would have picked up on his little riddle with the thorns. But the new, off-her-game Jess was too distracted to get the meaning. He had been banking on that, and his test proved him right. He was practically running his plan right under her nose and she had no idea he was doing it. Too bad it wasn't such a challenge for him, but his eyes were fixed on the ultimate prize, anyway. Jess was just a way to obtain it.

They carried on with dinner, Jess evading his questions about her intention toward the company and James making insignificant small talk, sure he had the winning hand. For her part, Jess made it through the evening thinking about getting home to Robin and snuggling up cozily together. What a contrast that was—the warmth and peace that came over her when she thought of Robin, and the wary tenseness and desire for retribution that filled her when she thought of James. Robin was her safe harbor, and right in the middle of an outrageously expensive dinner with James, all she could think about was melting into her embrace.

God. I miss her right now.

The journey home seemed like it took forever, and Jess was more than ready to jump out of the passenger seat when James pulled his rental car into the driveway of the ranch-style house and turned off the ignition. The thought of spending any more time with him tonight was distinctly unappealing to her, especially since she knew Robin waited for her inside, but she also knew she had a mission to accomplish. This was a prime opportunity to get to the bottom of whatever it was he was trying to do. Resigned to getting the job done once and for all, she braced herself for the continuation of a very tedious evening.

James jingled his car keys lightly, sending a not so subtle signal that he didn't want the evening to end so soon. The deal was nearly closed. He figured Jess needed just one more little nudge, and then he could collect his winnings.

"Would you..." Jess cleared her throat as the words almost stuck. "Would you like to come in for a few minutes?"

Now that was the offer he had been waiting for, and it was definitely one he wasn't about to refuse. "Sure."

They entered the house through the front door and foyer. Everything was very quiet inside. Jess casually checked the garage and saw that Robin's car was still there. I hope she's asleep, or at least watching TV in the back.

"Where's Robin tonight?" James's question came right on cue.

That settled it. His obsessive interest in Robin was unnatural, and raised red flag warnings clear across the state of Florida. "Asleep, maybe. Does it matter?"

He shook his head, then took a seat on the sofa. He decided to get right to the point. "Listen, Jess, why drag this out any further? Why don't you just give me your formal answer tonight, and then we can start making our plans for the future?"

As if! Perhaps it would be best to let him down now. The faster he got the picture, the faster he'd give up and get out of town. And she had plenty up her sleeve to make him believe it would be in his best interest to do just that. She stood several feet away from him, refusing his implied invitation to join him on the sofa, and braced her hands on the back of the chair located in the opposite corner of the room. "Okay, here's my formal answer. I've considered your offer very carefully, and it's quite generous." She noted his smug expression, then continued. "However, considering recent developments, I really don't think I can accept."

J.R. Prescott's jaw dropped. "What?" Surely he couldn't have heard that right.

"It's just too risky at this time. I've got a reputation to protect, and I can't have it be tainted by association with federal inquiries, even if it turns out there's nothing there."

"Oh, c'mon, Jess!" He was flabbergasted.

"My mind's made up."

"But I've told you we've done our homework, and there's nothing to worry about."

"If that investor deal of yours is half as rotten as it smells, you're in for a heap of trouble."

What had gone wrong? He'd planned it all so carefully to his advantage. "Look, we've got it covered. It's perfectly legitimate, and any auditor will see that."

"Perhaps so, but I won't be there."

James stood up and approached her. "Jess, c'mon." He was starting to whine. "You and I make a great team. We were always good together, and now we can be even better." He saw she wasn't moved by his attempts at persuasion, so he tried harder. "The sky's the limit for us. We have the whole world in front of us. You're obviously not happy with the way things are right now, so make a change. What have you got to lose? You and Robin were never right for each other, and you know that now. Look at the problems you're having just because you were considering coming on board with me."

Problems you tried to instigate. Jess folded her arms and let him carry on.

"Let her go, Jess. She can go back to her family, where she'll probably be better off, especially so soon after the accident, and you can get on with your life the way it was meant to be. She'd only be in your way."

What a load of... Jess's head snapped up. Wait a minute. "How did you know about the accident?" She approached him. "Did you have her investigated?"

"What?" He was perplexed. What did this have to do with anything?

"You heard me. How did you know about the accident?"

"I... I..."

"You had her investigated, didn't you." It was an accusation.

"No, of course not."

"Then how?" Jess's eyes were very intense. "And don't you lie to me."

"I'm sure you must've told me about it."

"I didn't."

James really didn't see what the big deal was. "You must have."

"I didn't. I was very careful not to mention anything about Robin's private life to you. I'm sure you will recall many conversations in which I told you in no uncertain terms that Robin was none of your business."

"Then Robin must've said something."

"She didn't." How the hell did he find out?

"You don't know that. We had conversations when you weren't present, or have you forgotten that already?"

"Oh, I do know. Robin would never tell you, of all people, about that." The pieces were starting to fall into place, and she definitely didn't like where they were headed. Jess closed the remaining gap between them and got right up into his face. "Now, I'm going to ask you for the last time. How did you know about the accident?" Her eyes shot daggers at him, and a dangerous, fierce expression was chiseled on her face as the intensity turned to anger, boiling up inside of her.

"I..." Upon seeing this reaction, James started to feel afraid.

Without warning, she grabbed his tie and twisted it back, choking him as she whirled him up against the wall and pinned him there with an arm across his throat, using strength she hadn't realized she possessed. Those self-defense classes all those years ago were paying off. "You will give me an answer."

"You're choking me, Jess," he gasped.

She was nearly out of control with quiet rage. Her blue eyes flashed, and her breath encircled him with a fiery fury. "You listen to me. You had better give me an answer in three seconds, or..." She glanced down for an instant and right back up into his face. "Or I guarantee you'll be leaving here a soprano. Now spill it, and make it good."

His face was turning red, and he could hardly breathe as his collar became a noose. "Jess, let go."

She only tightened her hold. It all became a blur, as if she was on autopilot. Something inside her seemed to have a mind of its own: untamed, feral, and absolutely lethal.

James started to slide down the wall, his knees buckling under him, and was only kept in place by the force of Jess's body pressed up against him.

"One." She twisted the tie tighter. "Two." Her arm pressed harder against his throat.

"What's going on in here?" An unexpected voice interrupted them from the opposite side of the room.

Startled, they both turned toward the sound, its familiarity echoing through the fuzziness in Jess's head. Robin.

Robin took in the scene. She had heard the commotion from all the way at the back of the house and had come out into the living room to see what was causing it. What she saw would have been frightening if she hadn't known Jess so well. She hurried over and placed a gentle hand on the taller woman's shoulder. "Jess, honey, it's okay. Let him go."

There was a slight hesitation, then a semi-calm came over Jess as the soothing voice and touch brought her fully to her senses once again. She stepped back just a bit and loosened her hold on James's tie, though she kept it firmly in her hand.

James took several deep breaths and rubbed his throat as Jess continued to clutch his tie in place at mid-chest.

Robin still didn't understand what she had walked in on. "Tell me what's going on."

"James here was just about to tell me something very interesting."

"Really?" Robin raised an eyebrow. "I'd like to hear that, too."

Jess looked at Robin apologetically, both for what she had just witnessed and for what James was about to say. "He was about to tell me how he knew about... the accident, Robin. You didn't tell him, did you?"

The accident? "No, of course not."

"Neither did I. So, go ahead, James. Tell us who told you."

"I can't say."

Wrong answer. Blue eyes glanced over at Robin and then glared back at James, a hint of their former fury returning and deepening their shade. "Let's try this again, shall we?" Jess gave his tie a forcible tug, reminding him what would happen if he evaded the question any longer. "The name, James. Who told you?"

He coughed as the tie jerked roughly against his neck and his collar tightened all over again. How could this be happening? Things had gotten so far out of control so quickly that he'd better cut his losses fast. Before she chokes me to death. He coughed again, then rasped the words she wanted to hear. "Thomas Wilson."

Robin brought her hand to her mouth and stood frozen in place.

Jess got up into his face again, not letting her grip on the tie loosen a single millimeter. "And just so we're clear, who's your anonymous investor?"

"You know I'm not at liberty to disclose that."

She yanked the tie taut, the barely controlled wild look in her eyes warning him not to resist. "Who?"

"Jess..." He gasped for breath as the noose tightened, realizing that any further protest was futile. There was no point in being choked to death over a deal gone bad. "Thomas Wilson."

Jess was too focused on James to see Robin back away in disbelief, trying to process the full implication of these revelations.

Bastard. "Why?" Jess questioned James further. "Why all of this?"

He grabbed at his collar, extremely relieved when she gave him a little more room to breathe. "Isn't it obvious?" He rubbed his throat again. "He wants his daughter back."

"So you and he concocted this little scheme?"

"No, he came to me. One day, out of the blue, he called and introduced himself and said he wanted to meet."

"Convenient." Icy blue eyes narrowed. "What was the deal?"

"Very simple. He'd provide investment capital, some kind of arrangement from his bank, and I'd make you an offer to join up with me. Robin would finally see that things would never be right between the two of you, especially given the history between you and me, and eventually go back home to her family."

Too neat. "That's crap and you know it. Try again."

"Jess..." James protested.

She was deceptively calm, but her voice became deathly serious. "You have just one more chance, and believe me, I mean that." She twisted the end of the tie around her fist menacingly.

"Okay, okay." James was afraid of what she might do if he didn't give her the truth. "I was supposed to tempt you to come back to me, make you sneak around and hide things from Robin, make her jealous, and make you do things that she couldn't forgive you for. When that had happened, her father believed she'd see who you really were and come to her senses and leave you."

Robin stepped up to him, stared hard at him for a long moment, then slapped him across the face. "Leave? Like you did?" Once she got going, it wasn't easy for her to stop. "You are one of the most despicable persons I have ever met, second only to my father. You would cause anyone trouble for the sake of your own ego. When Jess put her trust in you all those years ago, paid your way, put you through school, cared about you, how did you repay her? You betrayed her. You got what you wanted, and then you up and left without a word. That's what you did."

"That was a mistake." He now realized how thoroughly he had miscalculated. "And I apologized."

Robin continued. "Your mistake was thinking that you could come back here and carry on as if none of it had ever happened. Your mistake was thinking that your alliance with my father would be to your benefit, and that your scheme could ever have worked. Your mistake was thinking that I would be anything like you. I would never hurt her like that."

Something else occurred to Jess. "And what if your plan had worked? What if Robin had actually left, and you and I were teamed up in your business, just as you wanted? What then? What did you get out of that, other than the benefit of her father's investment capital?"

"That you and I would carry on like we had planned to do before."

"That's more of the same crap." Jess was at the point of losing what little patience she had left, until she felt a familiar, steadying hand squeeze her shoulder. "Spill the whole story, James, or so help me..."

"All right, all right." He swallowed hard. After all, Jess still had his tie wrapped around her fist. "I was supposed to get a personal payout from him on the back end if I succeeded."

"So it was all about money." Jess's eyes flared, and she seemed to breathe fire at him. "Every single last bit of it. And after you had won your little reward, you and I were supposed to do what? Go off into the sunset together?"

He kept silent.

"Come on now, James, I'm dying to hear how this turns out."

"Okay, yes, that's how it was supposed to be," he answered. He had never seen this menacing side of Jess before, and it was definitely not pleasant.

"What you really mean is that I was your trophy for a job well-done. Isn't that right?"

"Let me go, Jess. I can hardly breathe."

She released his tie abruptly. "You disgust me."

"Aw c'mon, Jess." James quickly loosened up his tie and shirt collar. "Was it really all that bad? Everyone would have gotten what they wanted. You and I would be doing what we had planned to do all those years ago, Robin would go home to a family who cares for her, and her father would get his daughter back. It was a win-win."

"Don't try to justify the indefensible to me. You did it for the money, plain and simple, and to prove to yourself and your ego that you could still manipulate me. And then, after you had gotten tired of your little victory, you would have moved on to something and someone else." Jess raised a sarcastic eyebrow. "Am I close?"

"No." He wouldn't admit it to her, even though he knew it was possible it could have happened that way. "You ignore the fact that it was working. You obviously still care about me, Jess, because you and Robin are having problems. So how good could it really have been between the two of you?"

Blue eyes cast a look over at Robin. "Sweetheart, are we having problems?"

He creased his eyebrows together. Sweetheart?

"Problems? Why, no, Jess." Robin's voice was one of total innocence. "Why would anyone think that?"

"But... but..." he stammered. "I thought you said you were having some difficulties. You told me that several times, and confirmed it only a few hours ago. Look at what's happened. You kept our meetings secret, you were having dinner with me on a regular basis, and she failed to tell you that she came to see me about accepting our job offer. The list goes on and on."

"Things you carefully manipulated," Jess snapped.

James was entirely confused. "But you even had arguments over these things. I heard you."

Blue eyes glanced again at Robin. "Sweetheart, do you know what he's talking about?"

Robin placed an arm conspicuously around Jess's waist. "I haven't a clue."

"All right. Wait a minute. What's going on?" Slowly, it dawned on James that he'd been duped. "You made it all up? You were playing me?"

"Oh, please." Jess could hardly contain herself. "This, coming from the king of manipulations and deceit. You're just mad at yourself for being a victim of your own game." This conversation, as revealing as it was, had become exceedingly tiresome. It was time to lay it all out on the line. "So, here's what's going to happen." She poked James in the chest. "You're going to shut down your little operation in town, leave here, and never come back again."

"But I've got people. I've got contracts and commitments. I can't just close shop."

"Then find someplace else, just not here." Jess poked him again. "No one says you have to be local to design a building."

"We'd be at a disadvantage over local firms."

"Robin, I'm starting to hear little violins, aren't you?" It was a rhetorical question made purely for satirical effect. Jess continued. "Maybe you're not understanding me, so let me spell it out for you." There was that certain glee in her eyes again, the same look Robin had seen at the kickoff meeting earlier that day. "You're going to walk out of here tonight, and believe me that is a privilege considering everything you've done, and you're going to shut down your local office, leave, and never set foot here again." She gave him one last poke in the chest. "Because if you don't, you'll have to hire more legal staff to handle all the new federal inquiries you'll be receiving." She paused a moment to let that statement sink in.

James's mouth fell open as the realization hit home. "That was you? Jess, how could you?"

"Easy," she quipped. "I've got the district attorney on speed dial."

He was truly flabbergasted. He had totally underestimated her. The Jess he had known was trusting and easily managed. He had known what she would do even before she knew she was going to do it. But this Jess... this Jess was different. Totally unpredictable, capable of just about anything, and clearly out for blood. He didn't realize that he had made her exactly what she was. "You would jeopardize all those people's livelihoods for a little revenge?"

"Don't give me that," she spat. "This investor scheme of yours and Thomas Wilson's is a time bomb waiting to explode. You caused it, not me, so don't even suggest that your problems are somehow my fault. Anyone who works for you deserves to work for a company that's not involved in shady dealings. They'll be better off when everything's been fully scrutinized."

"You had no right to call in the feds." He became indignant. "You were privy to confidential information. I trusted you."

Trust. The irony of his statement was not lost on Jess. How does it feel? She remained unmoved by his petulance.

"But what will I tell my board of directors?" Why he was at a loss to handle a disaster of his own making was a mystery, one that Jess had no interest in solving.

"Not my problem." Jess led him to the front door and opened it. "So let's make sure we're perfectly clear. You're going to shut down your operation here, you're going to leave town, and you're never going to come back again. And furthermore, if either Robin or I ever see you again, or even hear through the grapevine that you're back in town—and that applies to so much as changing planes at the airport—you'll not only be dealing with federal regulators, but I will also have the State Attorney General all over your case."

Damn. How was he going to explain this?

"It also means that if by some unlucky coincidence, Robin and I are in another state or country, and you happen to be where we are purely by chance, you will turn around and walk away. Fast. Because if either of us merely gets a glimpse of you in the same area code as we happen to be in, the State Attorney General will be only seconds away from my itchy speed dial finger." She grabbed the end of his tie and stuffed it into his top pocket, tapping it lightly. "You got that?"

He nodded, defeated. He'd have to find a way out of this mess.

"Good." Jess gave Robin a satisfied look, and Robin, knowing Jess, took it as Jess's way of saying she had resolved the problem.

Directing her attention to James once again, Jess meticulously smoothed the newly-formed wrinkles from his shirt. Her tone of voice became deceptively soft. "Now, I would suggest that you get out of here while I'm still in such a good mood." She ushered him outside and slammed the door behind him.

Robin and Jess stood and stared for a long moment at the closed door, then just looked at each other.

"Sweetheart?" Jess lightly touched the younger woman's shoulder as Robin stared blankly out the picture window into the dark night sky. "How are you?"

"Fine." It wasn't the truth.

Long arms wrapped around Robin from behind. "I'm so sorry."

"So am I."

"Are you sure you're all right?"

The petite woman nodded silently, then turned around and faced Jess.

Jess could see the tear that had just escaped, and captured it on the tip of her thumb. "Oh, honey." She drew the younger woman in close. "You don't deserve this."

"Neither do you. I know what his coming back here meant for you. It sickens me that my father brought this on and dredged up all of this for you."

"Let's sit down, okay?" Jess led the smaller woman to the sofa. "It's over now."

"It's not over," Robin replied sadly. "It will never be over. My father will never stop trying to control me by whatever means he can." A few more tears fell as Robin cupped Jess's cheek. "As long as I'm with you, he will not stop."

What is she saying? "He doesn't matter."

Robin brushed her fingers against Jess's cheek then slowly eased them through her dark hair. "He'll keep trying to hurt you because of me. Look what he's done. He's tried to blackmail you, ruin your career, turn the firm against you, and now he's conspired to make you relive a terrible time in your life. All for what? To break us apart?" Robin shook her head. "How can I let this go on?"

Don't feel guilty for him. "It hasn't exactly been a picnic for you, either, sweetheart." Jess gently wiped the tears from Robin's eyes. "And you're not letting anything go on. I'm choosing to be with you, remember? Your father comes with that territory. I understand that, and I freely accept it. Robin, if you don't know this by now, I'd walk across hot coals just to get a glimpse of your face and look into the sweetest green eyes I've ever seen in my life." In fact, Jess, right at that moment, couldn't tear her gaze away.

"But is it worth it? Is it worth all the pain and trouble?"

"If you're asking me whether loving you is worth the problems your father's interference causes, then let me say this: loving you is worth everything." It was an understated sentiment, but the magnitude of the emotion was astounding. "I've never known such happiness."

"Even after what he's done?" He’ll keep hurting you.

"It doesn't diminish my love for you, or my desire to spend the rest of my life with you."

Robin curled up next to Jess on the sofa and was quiet for a very long time, thinking about what Jess had said. It was hard for Robin to see the person she loved so much be assaulted, time and time again, just for the fact that the person chose to love her back. And then there was the primary betrayal and deception by her father. All the empty words and manipulative ploys he had used to lull Robin into thinking he was trying to accept her relationship with Jess and that he wanted to make amends, only to be scheming in the worst possible way behind her back. "He's dead to me now."

Jess held Robin tight. "I know it hurts."

"I told him last time that if he tried to come between us, he'd never see me again. And then I started to trust him again. That was a big mistake. He just can't let me be who I am."

As angry as Jess was at James, and it was definitely serious, it didn't even come close to the deep rage she felt toward Thomas Wilson. And she was sure that all of this maneuvering nearly one year to the day after that terrible accident was no mere coincidence, either. It makes sense now, why I saw him that day at James's hotel. All bets were off. If Jess even got a hint that Thomas Wilson was anywhere near Robin, ever again, she'd destroy him. His deceptions and deliberate misrepresentations may have set Robin's faith in everything back months, just when she was making real progress.

"Don't let what he did control you, sweetheart. You're in control of your own life. You make the decisions and choices that are right for you, and if anyone doesn't agree, it's their problem, not yours."

"But he takes it out on you."

Jess gently hooked two fingers under Robin's chin and lifted it so their eyes met evenly. "Hot coals, Robin. Just remember that."

She's being so wonderful about this. Robin was enchanted all over again, even under the circumstances. The sentiment Jess expressed was so... what was it? So romantic that it nearly made Robin melt right then and there. "I'll remember."

"Good." Jess gave her a tiny kiss.

"You know..." Green eyes held steadily onto blue. "The way you were tonight... I've never seen that side of you."

Jess knew she'd gone over the top. She had let her anger consume her and display itself aggressively and physically. She grimaced. I frightened her. "Honey, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. Something snapped inside of me when I realized what was going on. Part of it was because of the sick game James had played, with yet another betrayal, and the other part was that I knew your father's involvement would hurt you deeply. I just lost it." Jess was at a loss to explain it further, and it showed.

I recognize that expression. "You're thinking that you scared me, aren't you?"

"Did I?" Jess held her breath, waiting for the answer.

"What I saw was a very brave woman protecting us from the evil that had invaded our world. You had every right to be angry."

"I totally lost it, Robin. I swear I could have strangled him with my bare hands for what he'd done." And I nearly did.

Petite hands gently took hold of the larger ones resting loosely nearby. Robin then placed a tender kiss on each one. "These are the hands of a protector. I know that for a fact. He deserved everything you gave him and more."

The dark headed nodded. He was damn lucky to leave here without so much as a scratch.

"You're my hero, Jess." Robin meant every word. "And don't you ever forget that."

Jess didn't argue with the characterization, although she was sure she didn't deserve it.

"Where did you learn those moves? You had him totally pinned."

Jess shrugged, as if it was a mystery to her, as well. "I took some self-defense classes several years back, just something to keep me from spending my entire life at the office, which I would otherwise have done." She became a little reflective. "And perhaps also to work through the aggression that lingered after the last time James was here and pulled his stunts on me. I guess from that."

"I'm glad you did," Robin stated simply. There was still more left to be said, but it would have to wait for another day.

They were silent for quite some time, both of them contemplating all that had just transpired. Finally, Jess spoke again. "You ready for bed now, kiddo?" I've wanted to hold you since dinner.

It would be good to snuggle up in loving arms, safe and secure, free from the villains who sought only to destroy. "Yeah, I'm ready." It would definitely be good to get past this day.

And finally let this nightmare end.

Chapter 10

"Now that..." Robin paused to catch her breath, while her heart rate slowly returned to normal. "Was definitely a twenty."

"Out of a possible ten?" Jess held the younger woman close.

"Absolutely."

"It seems I should be aiming for a twenty-one." One should always aspire for better. "At least."

"Nope." Soft lips caressed Jess's neck. "Twenty's perfect."

"What happens if it's a nineteen?"

"Jess..." Robin giggled lightly. "You realize twenty's a metaphor, don't you?"

Jess pretended to think about that. "You mean a twenty's not a twenty?"

"A twenty is a twenty." Robin smiled lazily and repeated what she'd said a moment ago. "A twenty's perfect." A petite finger traced an imaginary path from the hollow of the older woman's throat all the way down her bare body and past her navel.

"Well, then." Supreme logic kicked in amidst the intensifying sensations. "It seems a twenty-one would be even better."

"Silly." Robin couldn't get enough of Jess. She knew the older woman was teasing her, but the game they were playing was unbelievably enchanting. "Twenty is a metaphor. Twenty is perfect. It can't get better than that."

"So, then..." The larger body quickly covered Robin's smaller form. "A twenty-one isn't possible?"

"No." Robin was succumbing to Jess's charms all over again.

"Well, how about a nineteen? Would a nineteen be possible, Robin?"

"Umn," A momentary distraction as tiny kisses rained across the sensitive skin of Robin's chest and abdomen, lingering in a few strategic locations for maximum effect. "There's no such thing as a nineteen."

Jess rested her chin on Robin's lower abdomen, and blue eyes gazed upward. The flickering candlelight in the room highlighted petite woman's face in the loveliest way. "So let me make sure I understand. On a scale of one to ten, a twenty is perfect, but twenty-one and nineteen aren't possible."

"Correct."

"Would, say, a ten out of a possible ten be merely okay then?" Jess wanted to make sure she completely understood this system. "Because you know, it's not humanly possible for things to be a twenty every single time." This last part was said with a little bit of uncertainty.

"Come up here." Robin waited for Jess to comply. She wanted to look directly into Jess's eyes for this. "Being with you is a twenty every time because I can't imagine anything more wonderful. If you're asking about the physiological part, then I suppose things work out a little more intensely at some times than at others, but it's still a twenty to me, way off the charts, because the feeling couldn't be any more powerful."

That was a most eloquent way of putting it, Jess decided, and the sentiment wasn't a stranger. "I couldn't have said it better, sweetheart. That's exactly the way it is for me, too."

"The fact is," Robin blushed slightly. "I get a jolt just from being pressed up against you like this."

Now, that was too irresistible to pass up. Jess nibbled on a tender earlobe while drawing tiny circles on Robin's shoulder, then let her fingers travel slowly downward. "Is that so?"

Robin sucked in a breath. "Yeah."

"You mean our bare bodies touching each other..." Jess's voice was deliberately seductive. "Skin to skin, feeling the heat between us?"

"You are so bad. Yes."

"Well then, I will be very happy, Robin, to provide you with as many jolts as you would like."

Oh, boy. "I have a confession to make." Although it may have seemed to be a change of subject, it really wasn't one at all.

"Spill it, kiddo."

"Well, the way you were with... you know who the other day..."

Jess stopped her motions, unsure of where Robin was headed.

Petite hands gently brushed the hair from Jess's forehead. "When you totally outsmarted, outwitted, and dominated him so aggressively..." She felt Jess relax almost imperceptibly. "To be entirely honest, even though I was feeling many different emotions at the time, seeing that side of you was, well..." How could Robin express it other than the way it was? "It was exciting."

Oh. That wasn't at all what Jess had expected to hear. "It was?"

"Yeah." Robin giggled slightly. Maybe it was that raw, rugged look she had seen on Jess, but whatever it was, it evoked a definite thrill every time she thought back on it. "I guess I'm attracted to the wild side of you. Who'd have figured?"

That brought a deep, throaty chuckle. "If only I'd known."

"So..." Robin gently rolled Jess over onto her back. "Now that we've established that, let me show you my admiration in a more tangible way." Feather light touches trailed up and down the length of Jess's bare chest and abdomen, finally relocating to the inside of her thigh, where the delicate caresses resumed. Soft lips dipped and kissed all the right places, tantalizing but leaving no doubt as to the ultimate intent.

The older woman tensed, her hands tightly grasping the sheets of the bed as a muffled cry escaped her lips. Her body arched sharply as her senses were sent into a fusion of time and space. She let go another muffled cry, then felt the distinctive tingle of endorphins coursing through her veins. Time seemed to stand still, almost as if in a supercharged eternity of sensation, until eventually the tremors subsided.

As Jess stilled, Robin crawled up on top of the long body, interlacing their fingers, her green eyes focused intently on the still dazed cerulean eyes now in front of her own. "Twenty?"

"Oh, yeah." Jess smiled contently. "Definitely a twenty." She whispered into a nearby ear, "And that goes for the physiological part, too."

Perfect.

The petite form stirred, then snuggled against the larger figure. The sun was already strong this Sunday morning, and had been for quite some time, though neither occupant had noticed. Finally, a groggy green eye opened and sneaked a peek at the bedside clock, noting the lateness of the hour. Not a major concern. Their weekend in progress was delightfully relaxing and mostly their own, save for a few hours when Jess needed to go into the office later on in the day. So why not sleep in a little?

"You awake?" A rough voice caught Robin in the midst of her musings.

"Yeah, just now." The younger woman placed a small kiss on Jess's collarbone and promptly snuggled even more closely against her companion.

Instantly, Jess became aware of an interesting sensation. She took a quick glance beneath the covers, then captured Robin's eyes with her own. "I guess we forgot about the pajamas last night." She gauged Robin's reaction, knowing that Robin preferred to wear something to sleep in.

"Yeah, I thought about it, but I was much too comfortable to put them on."

It was true that they had fallen asleep in each other's arms rather late into the night. "You slept okay, then?"

"Perfect." That response was deliberately reminiscent of the previous evening.

A gentle smile. "Me too."

A moment's reflection. "You know, I kind of like waking up with you like this."

Jess couldn't help herself. She gave Robin one of her trademark comebacks. "You just like getting me in compromising positions."

A chuckle. "Absolutely." Robin flexed her arms a little and gave her muscles a stretch, then hitched herself up on one elbow. "And don't you forget it."

"Heaven forbid."

Sea green eyes focused on the older woman for a long moment. "Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think maybe we could go over to Tampa and see your mom and your nephews sometime soon?"

Good idea. "Sounds like a plan, Stan. I'll give my mom a call and see when might be a good time." It occurred to Jess that Robin most likely wanted some relief from the recent madness. And after everything that had happened, it really wasn't all that surprising. It was obvious that Robin needed a sense of family, and although Jess tried to provide as much of it as possible for her, nothing could replace the warmth of a caring parent figure and the contagious laughter of children. But Robin seriously lacked a caring, accepting parent at the moment, so it was only natural that she would seek out Jess's mom to fill the void. Mom would certainly make a great stand in. And being around Michael and Jeremy would definitely be good for her. Which brought up another point, one that she and Robin really did need to discuss. Now was as good a time as ever to do that. "You really love the boys, don't you."

"Of course! They're so sweet."

"'Would you... I mean... have you thought about maybe one day having children of your own?" There, it was out, and Jess was sure she knew the answer.

Green eyes gazed into unreadable blue. "I would love children one day. What about you? Have you thought about it?"

"Not until after we met. Before that, it never entered my mind. Now, I think having kids around might be nice."

The blonde head nodded. "I would love to have your child."

The expression on Jess's face was priceless. With a puzzled look in her eyes, she took another quick glance beneath the covers and then focused back on Robin. "Umn, I may have many skills, Robin, but that would not be one of them."

"No, silly." Robin blushed a little. "I've been thinking about something, kind of an idea I had." She was a little unsure of just how to approach the subject. "I don't know what you might think of it."

Jess was intrigued. "You can tell me anything."

"Okay." A slight nod. "Well, first, you know we'd need a male donor."

"I'm with you so far."

"Then, well, I don't know if you'd like just one child, or maybe two, but if we wanted two, then we might want to have the same donor for both. That way, both children would be biologically related, which might be good in a way." Robin watched Jess carefully, but couldn't get a clear read of how she was receiving this.

It's obvious Robin's thought about this a lot. "Being biologically related might be an important consideration."

"So, one of us, whichever we decide it should be, would be the one to carry the child. Since we'd need a donor, and we'd have to undergo a procedure anyway, the other one of us, whoever is not going to carry the child, could supply the biological component." Perhaps Robin wasn't explaining this very well, because Jess wasn't saying anything one way or the other. "Sort of a like surrogacy thing, where one of us would be the birth mother and the other would be the biological mother... if it works out."

Jess remained silent.

"And then, if we wanted a second child, maybe if things do work out, we could switch roles but still use the same donor as before." Robin looked at Jess cautiously, still unable to gauge her reaction. What is she thinking? "I know that in this State, we couldn't legally adopt each other's children, but this way, we'd both be the children's actual mothers, either biologically or by birth, and have that connection that no law, or lack of one, could take away. The children would truly be both of ours, and also biologically related to each other." There. It was all out. Everything Robin had been thinking.

But Jess still didn't say anything.

Robin sighed. Well, it was just an idea. "Umn... you don't like it?"

After an endless moment of processing the information she had just heard, Jess gathered Robin up in her arms and held her tight— really tight—and then whispered in a voice hoarse with emotion, "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard."

"Really?"

A smile. "Yeah. I love the idea. It's something I never would have thought of, but it makes perfect sense. It's so... amazing to think of."

Robin relaxed visibly. "I'm glad. I've been a little nervous about talking to you about it."

"Why, sweetheart?"

"I wasn't sure what you'd think." The smaller woman became frustrated with herself. "That's so silly. Our relationship is probably the closest thing imaginable, so why would I be nervous about telling you what I've been thinking?"

Jess placed a kiss on Robin's forehead. "For the same reason I've been avoiding talking with you about the same thing."

"You have?"

"Yeah. I've only recently worked out in my mind and in my heart how I feel about what it all would mean to have that responsibility, and I think maybe you sensed it."

Robin gave that some thought. "You may be right. We do seem to instinctively sense what the other is feeling, kind of like an intuition thing."

"And just so we're perfectly clear..." Long fingers brushed the blonde bangs from Robin's forehead. "I would love to have children with you someday."

Mesmerized sea green eyes held firmly onto those of such incredible blue. "So would I."

"Then that's settled."

"Yeah." God, I was an idiot for being nervous about talking to her.

"Do you have an idea of when you would like to start?" A sense of peace had come over the older woman, as if there really wasn't a doubt in the world as to whether or not this was right.

"Well, not too soon." Soft lips grazed Jess's chin. "I still want a little more time to have you all to myself."

"That goes both ways, kiddo."

"So now you know what I meant when I said I'd love to have your child." A sudden chuckle. "I can just imagine a little Jess running around here. Oh my god, that would be a handful."

A totally outraged look. "And why, may I ask?"

"For one, we'd need an endless supply of shrimp. Second, I'd definitely have to keep my slippers under lock and key. Third..."

A large hand gently covered Robin's mouth. "Not another word, Robin."

But it didn't work. The words came out loud and clear. "Third, I'd never hear the end of Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah."

Well, fine. Jess figured two could play at that game. "On the other hand, first, a little Robin would eat us out of house and home. Second, I'd have to endure the ridiculous sight of not one, but two, pairs of floppy-eared bunny slippers day in and day out. And third, it would take us a minimum of three days to hang tinsel on our Christmas tree, putting it on one agonizingly slow strand at a time."

"Very funny, Jess."

A fond smile. "A little Robin would be cute. I bet you were really cute as a kid."

"I bet you were cute, too." An impish smirk. "In your own holy terror sort of way."

Another outraged look. "What, pray tell, is that supposed to mean?"

"You're busted, Jess. Your mother told me all about your foot-in-the-paint-can episode when you were almost three."

"Ah-ha! I knew I was right to be suspicious of you two. I can't believe she gave me up to you." A sudden thought. "What else did she say?"

"Is there more?"

"Uh... I take the fifth."

"Fine." I'm going to have to get some more dirt on her from Elaine. "You know these things have a way of coming out."

Not if I can help it. "Mom will back me up."

An indulgent pat on the arm. "Whatever you say, Jess."

"Just as long as we're clear."

A hidden smile. "Perfectly." Robin wrapped an arm firmly around the larger woman's waist, then snuggled up close and rested her head on Jess's shoulder.

"And by the way, sweetheart, just for the record, I refuse to be in competition with Sammy the whale over there..." Jess gestured with her hand toward the other side of the room. "For our child's attention."

Robin glanced at the plush toy whale in question and then snuggled further into Jess's embrace. "I think we've already established that although the whale is certainly very cuddly, you're still the Cuddler-in-Chief of this house."

"Good." The scent of Robin's hair was always so appealing. Spring rain. "Because I intend to make very good use of my esteemed status."

"I'm counting on that."

"Besides," Jess continued, "house rule number nine states that plush toys cannot receive more attention than the real people living here."

"Well, then we will certainly make sure to be in full compliance with all house rules, especially house rule number nine," the petite woman replied, a very serious expression on her face. "Your esteemed status as Cudder-in-Chief will be well preserved, I assure you of that." Was there anything better than the sense of complete happiness Robin was feeling right at this moment? She didn't think so. Being with Jess was pure magic. Robin's cares had simply floated away in the time it took have the previous conversation. "Just as long as you're up for the task."

Oh, yeah. Jess smiled to herself. I'm up for that and so much more.

Their typical Sunday routine was mostly in place, although Jess had gone into the office earlier in the afternoon to spend a few hours wading through a pile of mail and to answer a collection of e-mail, leaving Robin alone for a while to tend to some badly neglected household chores. Just as she had finished making up the bed with fresh linens, the doorbell rang. Perhaps one of the neighborhood kids, selling something for school? She grabbed a few bills from her purse on her way to the door and opened it.

Maybe she should have looked through the eyehole first.

"Hello, Robin." Standing on their front porch was none other than Thomas Wilson. "Can we... talk?"

She was torn between slamming the door in his face and giving him a piece of her mind. "You should have called first."

"Would you have agreed to see me?"

Good point. "No."

"Look, I know Ms. Harrison's not home. I thought this might be a good time for you and me to talk."

"How do you know she's not here? Are you spying on her?" I wouldn't put anything past him right now. Robin was getting angrier by the second. Her father was such a control freak.

"No, there is no spying, Robin. I saw her leave earlier, that's all. I drove by here a little while ago, and as I considered whether or not I should come and talk with you, I saw her leaving. Anyway, I stopped into a coffee shop first to think things over. After a while, I finally decided to give it a try with you." He hesitated, since the look on her face was certainly not inviting. "May I come in?"

She really wanted him to go away, but she couldn't help herself. She had some things she wanted to say to him, things he had better understand, and now was the ideal opportunity to do that. Robin silently opened the door a bit wider and gestured for her father to enter the house.

That was easier than I thought it would be. "Look, Robin, I want to explain to you the reasons why I did what I did, and—"

"Stop." Robin glared at him. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say. There is nothing you could possibly explain to me that would justify what you've done. Besides, I've heard it all before. It's a pattern with you. You won't let me live my life without interference."

"Robin, that's not fair. I had very good reasons for my actions."

That set her right off. "I want you to listen to me. The only reason you are in this house right now is so that I can tell you to your face that you will never see me again. You have no daughter anymore."

"That's a little extreme, isn't it, Robin?"

"Extreme? What's extreme is your interference and sadistic cruelty toward me and the people I care about, particularly Jess. Extreme is blackmail. Extreme is threatening Jess with bar investigations. Extreme is digging up a hurtful event from the past.

bringing it back to life, and thrusting it in Jess's face all over again. All for what? To break us apart?"

"It wasn't like that."

"Wasn't it? You just don't get it. No power exists that can break us apart."

He was flabbergasted. "But you deserve better than this."

Robin closed her eyes for several long seconds, trying to gather the patience to tell him, once and for all, the way it was going to be. "I make the choices in my life. You don't get a say."

"I just want what's best for you, honey. It's all I've ever wanted."

This was getting repetitive. "That's exactly what you said at lunch that day, when you deliberately misled me into thinking you were trying to accept my relationship with Jess, or at least not oppose it. That was all a lie."

"I was hoping you'd eventually get tired of playing house with that woman and come home to your family."

Her jaw clenched. Hard. Just the way he phrased that statement belied his professed concern for her well-being. "You haven't heard a word I've said." She shook her head slowly, amazed at his inflexible way of thinking. I guess I'm not surprised. "But you have got to understand that Jess is my family now."

"Your mother and I have been your family since you were born. No one cares more for you than we do." Why was this so difficult for Robin to understand?

I am so over this. She crossed her arms firmly, her body language effectively shutting him out. "I told you the last time that if you continued to interfere, you would never see me again. I meant what I said. You blew it, and I don't ever want to see you again."

"Look, Robin—"

"No, you look. You have no idea of the hurt and pain you caused both Jess and me by bringing James back into her life. That man practically destroyed her all those years ago, left wounds that will probably never heal, and now you dredged him up purely for the sake of somehow proving to me that I wouldn't be able to trust her once she got a glimpse of him again."

"She's using you, Robin, but your judgment is too far gone to see that. Someone has to protect you from people who seek to prey on you. You're still vulnerable over what happened only a year ago with David's accident, too trusting of people who want to take advantage of you, and it'll wind up getting you hurt in the long run."

This was about as clearly as he could possibly explain things. It was as plain as day.

Why do I bother? "I don't want to hear another word. These are my decisions to make, not yours."

"You're my daughter. How can I watch you ruin your life like this without trying to do something about it?"

"'A parent does not deliberately set out to hurt his own child and the people she cares about." A thought suddenly occurred to Robin. "Did Mom know about your plan? Was she involved in it, too?"

He shook his head. "No, I didn't mention it to her. It would only have upset her, and she's been upset enough ever since you left last year. She misses you terribly."

Despite this blatant attempt at provoking her guilt, Robin was relieved. At least Mom didn’t go along with this. "You need to listen to me. I can tell you for certain that I will never try to control my children the way you've tried to control me. I don't ever want you around me, Jess, or any of our children."

"Your children?" And just how would that be possible, under these circumstances?

"Yes."

"What children? Are you...?"

He was so totally unbelievable it was almost laughable. "No. But Jess and I are planning to have children someday."

"And how would you do that? Some anonymous donor? You'd have no idea who it is or what stock he comes from. Is that what you want for yourself? A laboratory experiment?"

Robin was very, very angry. Angrier than she'd been in a long time. "You..." She took a deep breath to keep herself from shaking. "Have no idea what you're talking about. What I do and how I do it is none of your business. You have no daughter anymore, no daughter to control or worry about, no daughter to scheme against and lie to, so you need to leave here now."

This had gone from bad to worse. He really had only wanted to talk some sense into Robin and try to put what happened in the past. He had been convinced, in hindsight perhaps unrealistically, that she'd eventually see his side of it. He sighed internally. But from what he'd heard, it appeared that things had gotten too far out of hand for that. All because of that woman. Her influence and seduction had confused Robin when she was at her most vulnerable, and had brainwashed her into thinking that this living arrangement and so-called romance was an acceptable life. "Robin, listen to me, it's still not too late. Come home with me and let your family look after you, and help you get back to your old self."

He was infuriating. And above all, the irony of his argument was that she didn't want to be her old self. Her new self, the person she was with Jess, was the only person she wanted to be, and this was the only life she wanted. "As I said, Jess is my family now. You need to leave both of us alone from now on. I really mean this. Don't interfere again."

He certainly wouldn't describe his concern for her as interference. He said the words one last time. "I just want what's best for you."

"Jess is what's best for me. I've told you this before, but you won't listen." It was time to make things abundantly clear to him, and if nothing else, to give him fair warning. "All through your interference, Jess has taken everything you dished out. Even after you blackmailed her, threatened to sabotage her career, and now brought a lot of pain back from her past, she always looked the other way and didn't fight back against you out of respect for me and who you are to me." She looked at him pointedly. "That will change from now on. If you think what she dealt James was bad, you don't know anything. If you interfere in our lives again, I won't be able to stop her, nor would I even try. So you need to leave us alone."

Threats never sat well with him, and were even more difficult to swallow coming from his own daughter. Robin was so completely under that woman's spell that he was beginning to fear that she was gone for good. There has to be a way to stop this. But he'd have to leave it for now. There would be no getting through to her. Not today.

Returning a bit earlier than expected, Jess pulled the silver Mercedes into the driveway of the Ranch, a little annoyed that an unfamiliar car was blocking her entry into the garage. She pulled up alongside the mystery vehicle and got out. Who's visiting? She sidestepped the rear bumper and made her way up the sidewalk to the front door, opening it and entering the house through the foyer. As soon as she was inside, she heard voices coming from the adjacent living room and decided to investigate.

Startled in the midst of her conversation by the sound of the front door closing, Robin saw the taller woman appear from around the corner. "Jess."

Jess silently took in the scene in the living room, and didn't like what she saw. In fact, to say she didn't like it was a significant understatement. Blue eyes first hardened, then became icy, and then fixed themselves directly on the form of Thomas Wilson, who was standing near Robin. Simultaneously, in contrast with the icy glare of her eyes, a red hot rage boiled up inside of her, not unlike the rage she had felt toward James a very short time ago.

I know that look. It was the same look of revenge Robin recognized from the turmoil of events over the last several days.

A stark silence fell as Jess and Thomas Wilson engaged in a mutual stare-down, until she finally spoke. "Get out." She gave him the terse command, her voice even, hiding even the barest of emotion. "You're not welcome here."

The younger woman rushed over to Jess, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "He was just leaving." Robin then looked directly at her father. "Isn't that right?"

He nodded, resignation on his face, and made his way toward the door.

But Jess wasn't through. "Don't come back, or I'll have you arrested for trespassing... among other things."

I will not be threatened. This woman's manipulation of his daughter was disgraceful. However, Thomas had learned over the years to pick his battles, and now was not the time to fight this particular one. Besides, there was always the possibility that Robin would eventually come to her senses, and see through the woman once and for all. Well, one could hope so, at least. He exited the front door without another word, saving the battle for another day, and left Robin and Jess alone in the living room.

Jess, blue eyes guarded and intense, watched him like a hawk as he left. Once satisfied that the imminent threat was gone, she turned back toward Robin. Those blue eyes now softened noticeably, filling with worry and concern. "Sweetheart..." She studied Robin's face, running her hands up and down the length of the blonde woman's arms, searching for any signs of distress. "Are you all right?"

"I'm okay."

"What was he doing here?"

Robin let go a sigh. "He stopped by unannounced."

"And you let him in?"

"I..." What explanation could there possibly be? "I thought I could get him to leave us alone." It had been a futile attempt, as now was evident. A helpless look emerged. "I had to try."

"I know." Jess embraced her. "As long as you're okay."

A long moment passed before Robin spoke again. "I got angry with him."

Damn it! What did he say to her? "Tell me why, sweetheart."

Robin looked at her apologetically. "I told him we planned to have children someday and that I'd never let him see them."

"What?" They had only made the decision earlier that morning.

Noting the stricken look on Jess's face, Robin rushed to clarify. "I didn't give him any of the details. I just mentioned it in general."

God, he'd better not interfere with this. As if that man hadn't done enough damage already... much more than either of them should have had to endure. "And what did he say to that?"

"He called it a laboratory experiment. So I got angry."

Jess nearly lost it, herself. Could he be any more hurtful? And this was coming from Robin's own father. "You had every right to be angry." She gently lifted Robin's chin, so that their eyes met. "Your idea is such a beautiful one. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You and I will do what is right for us, and whatever we do is none of his business."

"That's what I told him, but he just wouldn't listen. No matter what I said, he wouldn't listen."

And therein was the problem, in a nutshell. They had dealt effectively with James, and that was a significant accomplishment, but Robin's father was another story altogether, one that would not go so quietly into the night...

And remained another battle yet to fight.

The front door to the Tampa townhouse opened wide, and Elaine Harrison excitedly greeted her two favorite girls, who had just come all the way from Orlando. And this Saturday was a hot one, too. The temperature must have been at least ninety-five degrees in the shade, with the late summer's sultry humidity making spending more than ten seconds outside absolutely miserable.

"Hi, Mom." Jess gave her mother a hug.

Elaine reached for Robin and gave her newest daughter a hug, too. "Quick, come on into the house, you two. It's much too hot to be standing outside on the porch."

The townhouse always looked just the way Jess remembered it, which was remarkably comforting. It was a sort of refuge from the hectic rest of the world, a place that had a familiar warmth that only her mother could provide. No wonder Robin wanted to come back here. "How are you, Mom?"

"I can't complain." Elaine placed a few coasters on the living room coffee table. "Sit. Let me get you girls some iced tea. I just made it fresh, with a little bit of mint." The mint was a special ingredient she'd used for as long as she could remember. She stepped into the kitchen, and within a few moments returned with their iced teas. "Tell me, how are things with you girls?" She joined her daughter and Robin on the sofa.

Where to begin? Up to that point, Jess had refrained from telling her mother the gory details of the past several weeks. It was a difficult subject to get into without stirring up still raw emotions. "We've had a bit of a situation with James again."

"Oh, dear." Elaine scowled. "Not that scoundrel again." It was true. That man had caused her daughter much more than her share of heartache in the past, and Jess hadn't been the same since. "What's he done now?"

"Well..." Jess glanced at Robin. "To make a long story short, Robin's father hired him to come back to town and cause trouble for Robin and me, for the purpose of breaking us up."

"What on earth...?" Elaine studied the girls for a minute. They seemed to have weathered this storm, but they both looked very weary. "I'm sure I'm not going to like this story."

"I made some bad decisions during all this, I'll admit that, trying to keep him from infecting our lives," Jess reflected. "And when we found out that Robin's father was behind everything, well, it was a pretty big shock."

"Tell me what happened, Jessie."

Jessie. Jess felt calm come over her at hearing her mother call her by her childhood name. Robin was right. This is the place we need to be. "James came back and invited me to manage his firm's new office and to serve as local counsel. That was a ruse. His objective was to get close to me, and therefore cause friction between Robin and me."

"Friction?"

"Umn..." Jess was a little embarrassed.

Robin spoke for the first time since the conversation had started. "He set out to make me jealous and distrustful of Jess." Robin felt entirely comfortable grasping Jess's hand in her own as she recounted the sordid events. "It was all a game to him. He wanted to see if he could pull it off."

"That sounds terrible." Elaine shook her head. "And he did this to try to break you up?"

Robin sipped her iced tea, a diversion meant to hide the hurt that welled up inside of her just thinking about the elaborate scheme he and her father had cooked up. "Yes, at my father's instigation. To be fair, it wasn't James's idea. It was my father's doing from the start. James was just his errand boy."

She seems so sad. "That's such a shame," Jess's mother empathized. "Although your father may not like the choices you've made in life, he really should accept your happiness with what you're doing."

"I wish it was like that, but he just won't listen to me, and keeps interfering." Would it always be like that? Would her father always get in the way? She had to admit it was a bit overwhelming to think about any further repercussions of his continued interference, down the road.

"But things are resolved now, aren't they?" Elaine asked.

"James has definitely gotten the point." Jess left the statement deliberately cryptic. "We caught on to him and gave him an ultimatum to leave town, which he's done."

That scoundrel really was a self-serving good-for-nothing, Elaine thought. He had done nothing but wreak havoc right from the beginning. And now to have Robin's father intent on finding ways to cause trouble... Well, there was only so much a person could take. And it was apparent even to Elaine that at the moment, Robin needed some extra special care. "Is there anything I can do for you girls?"

"Thanks for asking, Mom, but all Robin and I really need right now is to get away, which is one of the reasons we came over today. The other is that we've booked a week-long cruise, which leaves from the Port of Tampa tomorrow." Jess smiled playfully at Robin. "I hear we have a hot date with a Caribbean island."

Robin sighed with anticipation. Nothing but the sea and those tropical drinks with the little umbrellas in them as they watched the islands leisurely drift by... Heavenly was the only way Robin could describe it. "Yeah, and I've already told Jess that there's at least one island with our names plastered on it."

"That sounds lovely. I'm sure you'll both have a well-deserved break and a wonderful time." Elaine was happy that the girls had a distraction planned. "You'll be staying here tonight, of course."

"Of course," Jess responded.

"Good." Her mother got up from the sofa. "Peter and the boys should be here any minute, and then we'll all have a nice visit before dinner. Sound good?"

Sounds great. Robin and Jess had the same thought, and couldn't keep the grins from their faces. In only a short while, Elaine had eased the burden they were carrying, and the warmth of home brought both of them the contentment they had so long been seeking.

Just what the doctor ordered.

"Can I help with anything, Elaine?" Robin stood at the counter as Elaine began dinner preparations. Peter and Jess were busy catching up in the living room, while the kids, Michael and Jeremy, played outside in the backyard.

"That's all right, dear. Everything's under control." Elaine noticed a lightness in Robin's eyes that wasn't present earlier. Perhaps the thought of Caribbean islands put that look there. Elaine didn't know that just the time spent around Jess's family was brightening up things for Robin. Jess's mother sighed to herself about the situation. It was such a shame that Robin's own family wasn't supportive, and was instead causing her so much unhappiness. She and Jess deserved much better than that. "I want you to know that you always have a place here with us." She gave Robin a gentle hug. "I've always wanted a second daughter."

What a kind thing for Elaine to say, Robin thought, and gave her a genuine smile. "Thank you for saying that. I really feel at home every time Jess and I come to visit. And it's nice to stop thinking about all the stuff that's been going on."

"I bet it is, dear." Elaine pulled the makings of shrimp cocktail from the refrigerator.

Ah, her mother plays the shrimp game, as well. "I see you're well prepared for Jess's visit." Robin nodded toward the shrimp and chuckled. "She'd probably be in shrimp withdrawal today, otherwise."

"Let me tell you a little secret." Elaine whispered conspiratorially. "Jessie probably wouldn't even notice if it was missing."

"You're kidding."

"Don't let on, but she only makes a fuss about shrimp to get some attention." Elaine raised an eyebrow, characteristically like her daughter's.

Robin smiled. "Actually, I had that figured out."

"Jessie thinks we don't know what she's up to." Elaine continued. "So we play along and humor her."

"Yeah, I've tried that."

"Now, you watch, she'll make a big fuss about the shrimp, but in reality, she'd never miss it." Elaine glanced over to make sure no one was approaching, then lowered her voice. "I've considered omitting the shrimp during one of her visits just as a little test. What do you think?"

"I think you should do it. You'd catch her at her own game." They both had a good laugh, and then Robin had another thought. "I've been meaning to ask you if you have any more scoop you could give me on Jess when she was a kid. I'm sure there's more, because when I let on that I knew about her foot-in-the-paint-can episode, she was absolutely mortified that I might know about something else. Any idea what that could be?"

"Well, let's see." Elaine thought back. "Aside from the paint can incident, there was the lawn mower escapade."

"Oh, I've got to hear this."

Elaine recounted the tale as she went about arranging the cooked shrimp on a platter. "Jessie was about fourteen. When Peter went off to college, she decided to take over the lawn cutting jobs he'd done for the neighbors and make a little extra money for herself. Back then, we lived on a canal, and many of our neighbors did, too. One day, she came home without the lawn mower. I asked her where it was, and after trying to evade the question every single way that she could, do you know what she finally told me?"

"I can't wait to hear." Robin giggled, eager for the rest of the story.

"She said it was in the water."

"Oh, no!" Robin giggled harder. "How did it get in water?"

"That's what I asked her. Her answer was that it somehow 'got away' from her and went over the seawall." Elaine raised a skeptical eyebrow.

Robin was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

"And I'm sure you know that once something is submerged in salt water, it's pretty much out of commission. So there she was, with all these lawn cutting jobs to do, and no working lawn mower.

She had to spend all the money she'd made to buy a brand new lawn mower."

"That's so priceless." Robin's wheels were spinning furiously. "Thanks, Elaine. I'm sure this story will come in very useful, someday." Very useful.

Both Elaine and Robin were so busy laughing amongst themselves at Jess's childhood antics that they barely noticed Jess come up and stand poised in the kitchen doorway, taking in the scene in front of her with interest. Something's going on. And from the sound of it, Jess didn't like it one bit. Just what I thought. It's a conspiracy against me. "I see you're having fun in here. What are you two talking about?"

Her mother and Robin abruptly became silent, and Elaine nonchalantly went back to assembling the shrimp platter. "Nothing, dear. Just getting some appetizers together."

Suspicious blue eyes glared at them. I bet.

Robin muffled a giggle. "I'll go and keep Peter company."

Ever suspicious blue eyes watched as the younger woman left the kitchen. "Okay, Mom, what were you two talking about?"

"Like I said, dear, nothing." Elaine repressed a smile. "Hand me that bottle of cocktail sauce, will you?"

Traitor. "You know I'm gonna find out."

"Whatever you say, Jessie. Now, see here, I have some shrimp for you." Elaine remarked, with all due seriousness. "I wouldn't want you to miss having it."

"Thanks." Jess replied absently, shrimp the furthest thing from her mind. Just then, she caught a glimpse through the kitchen window of Robin and Peter outside with Michael and Jeremy, kicking the soccer ball around. Robin seemed really happy, laughing and playing. "So, where's Peg today?" It would be best to know if there were any land mines to negotiate later on.

"I'm afraid her mother's taken ill, and she had to travel to New York to help take care of her for a little while. She's left Peter to tend to the boys for a week or so."

Jess nodded, distracted by the scene in the backyard. Finally, she blurted out a question, unaware until it happened that she had done so. "What do you think of having more grandchildren?"

"More grandchildren?"

Jess was caught off guard herself by having her own question asked back at her. "What I mean is, if Robin and I were to decide to have children one day, what would you think of that?" She wasn't sure of the answer she would receive, so she held her breath.

"Oh, Jessie, that would be lovely! Does Robin want to have children?"

"Yeah." Jess smiled as she watched Robin playing with the boys outside. "She really does."

"And what about you?" Elaine asked, continuing with her dinner preparations.

"I think it would be really nice. We've talked about it, and we've agreed that someday we'd like to have some kids and be a family together. Maybe not right away, but someday."

"Well then, that's a very good thing. I think the both of you would make wonderful parents."

Jess smiled. She didn't go into Robin's ideas of how exactly that was going to happen. She figured she'd wait until the time came, and if she and Robin still felt the same way and everything worked out as planned, they'd tell the details to the people they wanted to know. "Robin would be a great mom. See how good she is with the boys, out there?" Jess was infatuated by the scene unfolding outside.

Her mother looked up. The expression on Jess's face did not escape her in the least, and the sight of Robin playing with Michael and Jeremy outside warmed her heart. "Any children of yours and Robin's will be very lucky to have you as parents."

That was good to hear. Her mother was definitely one in a million. And it was certainly a contrast to what Robin had relayed about Thomas Wilson's reaction to the news. To hear of their children being referred to as laboratory experiments was more than Jess could tolerate. But she knew he'd just said it to get Robin's attention. It would definitely be for the best if he never had contact with any of them. I wonder what Robin's mother thinks of the news. Thank God Jess's mother was so warm and encouraging, enough for both Robin and Jess to appreciate. "Thanks, Mom." And she really meant it.

"Okay, you go on outside with the others while I finish up in here."

"Are you sure you don't need any help?"

"Absolutely not," Elaine scoffed gently. "Go on, now."

Jess gave her mother a big hug. "Yes, ma'am."

Yes, ma'am, indeed.

Sparkling turquoise water glistened in the midday sunlight as long palm fronds swayed and rustled in the gentle sea breeze. Several tall coconut palms created a breathtaking backdrop for the brilliant white sandy beach, which was dotted with straw huts, colorful beach chairs, striped beach umbrellas, and of course, the oh-so-necessary beach bar. Small sailboats and wave runners crisscrossed the horizon, while a few of the more adventurous among the occupants of the island parasailed high above.

This was the cruise line's private island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, not too far from the U.S. Virgin Islands, and a mere day's sail from Jamaica. The cruise passengers had just finished a lunch of barbecued chicken and ribs and every other picnic food imaginable, and had set out for an afternoon on the beach. For those who preferred less sun, but still wished to experience the island's tropical ambience, hammocks were strategically placed in areas shaded by native palm trees. These island fixtures were ideal for leisurely watching the beach and water happenings or just dozing off for an afternoon nap.

"Your Piña Colada."

Robin glanced up from her beach chair as Jess handed her the drink. "Thanks." She took a long sip of the frozen cocktail. God, that's good. She twirled the little umbrella that came with it between her fingers. They had even put it in a souvenir cup.

Jess sat in her own beach chair, close beside Robin's. Rum punch. Not bad for a tropical drink. And there was the rest of the day for them to enjoy the sun and the beach, or even snag a couple of hammocks later on. She cast a glance at Robin through her mirrored sunglasses. This was the life. She lifted her cup lightly and tapped it against Robin's. "To our future, kiddo."

That produced a grin. "To our future, Jess." And it would be a good one, at that. "Want to try some parasailing?"

"Aren't you the adventurous one." The older woman leaned back in her beach chair and relaxed.

"Hey, it looks like fun. What do you think?"

Why not? "All right, kiddo, you're on."

"Great." Robin sipped her Piña Colada, a small grin easing its way across her face. "And then tonight you can explain to me all about..." A deliberate pause. "The lawn mower escapade."

Long fingers slowly lifted the mirrored sunglasses above entirely unamused blue eyes. I knew there was something going on. "Not another word, Robin."

"Because it seems to me that lawn mowers don't just end up in the water by themselves."

"Robin..." Jess warned.

"Especially over seawalls."

"I would definitely stop now." Jess gave her one more warning.

"When they somehow suddenly 'get away' from you."

That's it! "You had better watch out, Robin."

"You can tell me what really happened later on. I promise I won't laugh."

Bright azure eyes that reflected the color of the water narrowed considerably. "I think it's a little too late for that." Jess picked up her drink and took a long sip, contemplating her response. "I'd say that as of this minute, those slippers of yours are in serious jeopardy."

"Threats, Jess?" Robin drained the rest of her drink, smiling to herself. "When are they not?" She loved this side of Jess. Totally endearing. "So, you ready to hit the parasail?"

A raised eyebrow. A challenge. How could she refuse? "Yep. And let's just see who can make the softer landing."

Exactly. From that point forward, they hoped their future would hold plenty of tropical breezes, high rides, and very soft landings.

Whatever lay ahead.