Hunter's Way (20 page)

Then Tori’s mouth was at her ear, her breath echoing inside.

“There’s a guy watching Julie,” she said softly. “Can’t take his eyes off her, in fact. I’m going to turn you around. He’s at the third table. Dark hair, blue shirt.”

Sam nodded, wondering how Tori could possibly be concentrating on work after that dance. But Tori turned her slowly and she opened her eyes, peering over Tori’s shoulder. She found the guy. Small, thin. Odd looking. He was indeed locked on Julie.

“I see him.”

“Mmm.”

“Mmm?”

Tori chuckled. “Nothing.” She tightened her hold on Sam.

The song ended, and Tori loosened her grip. Sam let her arms fall from Tori’s shoulders and she shyly looked up, meeting her eyes.

Then Tori bent down, close to her ear. “You’re a fabulous dancer.”

“I think it was my partner.”

Tori smiled and took her hand, pulling her back to the bar. This time, Tori sat and pulled Sam between her opened legs. They leaned back together, watching the crowd and Tori allowed her fantasy to grow as she circled Sam’s waist with her arms. She closed her eyes for a second, thinking it would be so easy to pretend this was a real date. Pretend that Sam wanted to be here with her, wanted her touch. Then she sighed as Sam’s hands moved over hers, resting lightly against them. Tori opened her eyes, staring at the back of Sam’s neck. It would be so easy to lean forward and put her lips there. Her skin would be soft, warm.

Then Sam shifted, moving between her legs, and Tori had to stifle a moan. She took a deep breath, trying to focus on their assignment. She let her fantasy slip away and again scanned the crowd. She finally found Annette. She was talking with an older woman, telling her something that made the other woman laugh. Annette was only eighteen. She wondered if this was the older woman that Belle said she was seeing.

Sam turned quickly, her face only inches from Tori’s. Their eyes met. Tori shivered as Sam’s gaze dropped to her lips. She watched Sam’s lips move, trying to form words.

“Annette… over there,” Sam murmured. Oh God. She raised her eyes back to Tori’s. They were smoky black. She shivered. Then she felt the hands at her waist tighten. For one second, she wanted to close the gap between them. She wanted to feel Tori’s lips, taste her mouth. Then she came to her senses before she did just that. She looked away from those tempting dark eyes, turning back to the dance floor and again settling between Tori’s legs.

Tori leaned forward, putting her mouth at Sam’s ear. “I see her. That must be her date.” She felt Sam nod. “Julie’s over here at the bar. So is our guy.”

Sam turned her head slowly, finding Julie, trying to ignore the mouth that was still so close to her. She nodded again, unable to speak. She had a hard time focusing. She couldn’t even remember why they were here anymore. All she could think of was this woman and the way her body was reacting to Tori’s nearness. She finally closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing her mind back to the case. The guy was standing three bar stools away from Julie. He was even smaller than he had appeared at first glance. Barely five-five, Sam suspected.

“Well, well. What do we have here?”

Sam turned her head toward the voice. It was Charlotte Grayson. She stiffened, but Tori’s hands kept her where she was, between her legs.

“Hello, Counselor,” Tori drawled. “What brings you out slumming?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing. When you said you were partners, I didn’t think you meant partners,” she said.

“Doesn’t the Department frown on these things?”

“We’re working,” Tori said.

“How convenient.”

Tori only shrugged, looking away, dismissing the other woman.

“You really should call me sometime, Tori. Maybe we can… schedule something.”

Tori felt Sam stiffen, saw the glare that she gave Charlotte Grayson, and Tori smiled.

“I don’t think so, Charlotte. I’ve matured a little since the last time. I’m not quite so easy.”

The other woman had the grace to blush. “Pity. Your loss.”

They both watched her walk away, looking quite the executive in her business suit. She joined three other women at a table, all dressed similarly to herself.

“I don’t like her,” Sam hissed. “Not one bit.”

Tori chuckled but agreed. Charlotte Grayson was a predator. “Don’t worry about her.” She looked back down the bar. Julie was gone, but their guy was still there. “Look at our guy. Who does he look like he’s watching now?”

Sam casually looked down the bar, then followed the man’s eyes, right to Charlotte Grayson. She looked away when she felt the man’s eyes slide to her. She moved close to Tori. “Now he’s looking at us,” she whispered.

Tori pulled her close, as if in an embrace. “Why do you think he was watching Charlotte?”

Sam slid her arms around Tori, her mouth still pressed to Tori’s ear. She forced her mind to focus on something other than the woman in her arms. “He looked like he recognized her. Maybe he’s run across her in court?”

“Mmm, maybe.”

Then their guy put his drink on the bar and strode quickly from the club. He looked back once, at Charlotte, then disappeared outside. Sam reluctantly let her arms fall from Tori’s shoulders.

“Come on.”

Sam followed closely behind Tori. When they reached the door, Tori pulled out her cell phone. “Sikes? Follow that guy.”

“What guy?”

“Short guy. Dark hair, blue shirt. He’s walking south.”

“I see him.”

“Follow him. We’re staying here with the girls. Call me back.”

“Now what?” Sam asked. “I mean, he was a little weird looking, but so what?”

“Yeah, I know. But… something about him, the way he looked at Julie, the way he nearly freaked out when he saw Charlotte.”

“Let’s ask her. Maybe she recognized him,” Sam suggested. “Do we really want to go back and ask?”

“No. But it would be the wise thing to do.”

“You’re right. Come on.”

Chapter Twenty-six

Samantha stifled a yawn as she waited for Amy. She was already on her second cup of coffee. Staring out the window, she casually watched the passersby as she mentally went over their case. Charlotte Grayson had no idea who had been watching her, and Sam wished they had not gone back to ask. Sam didn’t like the woman and admitted she felt a little threatened by her. And as far as they knew, all their girls made it home safely. Sikes and Ramirez had followed the guy they had targeted to a men’s bar and stayed until it closed at two. The guy left with someone, but they didn’t follow them. She and Tori had stayed until Annette and her date left at closing. They watched them get into a car together, then Tori drove them back to the station to get Sam’s car. She sighed. They knew nothing more than they had before.

But Sam had definitely learned some things about herself last night. And about Tori. She closed her eyes, remembering the dances they had shared, the innocent touches that, by the end of the evening, were becoming much too instinctive, much too natural. She found her hands sought out the other woman without conscious thought. She didn’t want the evening to end.

She admitted that she had been… aroused. On more than one occasion, she wished that Tori would just kiss her and get it over with. God, she had come so close herself. She wondered if she’d imagined the look in Tori’s eyes, the dark, smoky look that hinted at desire. Sam didn’t want to analyze her feelings. She was afraid of the conclusion she would come to. But Tori excited her. She couldn’t deny it. It was the truth. Sam enjoyed looking at her, she enjoyed touching her. She wondered what Tori must think of her. Did she assume it had all been an act? Just part of the job? God, she wasn’t that good an actress.

“Hey, morning.”

Sam pushed her thoughts away and smiled at Amy. “You’re late.”

“Just barely. Had a late night,” she explained around a yawn as she pulled out a chair.

“You and me, both. I didn’t get in until after three.”

“Three? Did you see Robert?”

Sam shook her head. “I was working.”

“I bet that went over well. Second Friday in a row?”

“Robert and I had a talk,” Sam admitted. “I… sort of ended things with him.”

“Are you serious? I thought you were going to give it some time?” She looked up as the waitress walked over. “Coffee, please.”

“I was, but he was at my apartment Thursday when I got there. He was all hysterical over the shooting.”

Amy’s eyes widened. “What shooting?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Tori and I were staking out a club Wednesday night when she saw a drug deal going down. We… kinda broke it up. Well, she did, mostly. One of them got a shot off. Tori got hit.” Sam looked up shyly. “It was meant for me.”

“Oh my God! Is she okay? I didn’t hear anything about it.”

“She’s fine. Wouldn’t even stay at the hospital overnight. It was on her side,” Sam said, pointing to her waist. “Just a flesh wound, really, but it scared the shit out of me.”

“So Robert heard about it and went crazy?” Amy guessed.

“Yes. Apparently, if we lived together, it would all be better,” Sam said. “I had to tell him, Amy. I told him I didn’t think we wanted the same things out of life. I also told him that I wasn’t going to marry him. Ever.”

“Samantha, what has gotten into you? Just like that? Not let’s see how it works out? You just end things? Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Amy, it’s not just like that. I told you, I’ve been feeling this way for months.”

“I bet he took it hard. Men always do.”

“Yeah. Although he’s convinced I’ll come to my senses, so he says he’s not giving up.”

“He’s not going to like, turn into a stalker or something, is he?”

“No. Robert is not like that. I just don’t want to hurt him. I wish he would accept this and move on.”

“So, you’re sure this is what you want?”

Sam nodded.

“It just seems kinda sudden, Samantha.” Amy watched her for a second. “You can tell me it’s none of my business, but are you seeing someone else?”

Sam’s eyes widened. “No, of course not. Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know. You’re fidgeting.”

“I am not fidgeting. I’ve just got a lot on my mind,” Sam said.

“Okay. So, you’re not going out with Robert this weekend. You want to do something? I would suggest a movie, but I know your feelings on that when it’s so pretty outside.”

“Actually, I’m going to Tori’s boat later.”

“Again? Why?”

“It’s her birthday today.”

“She’s having a party?”

“No. She doesn’t really…” Have friends, she was going to say.

“She doesn’t celebrate her birthday. She may not even remember that I know.” Sam shrugged. “But I’m bringing a cake.”

Amy nodded. “You’ve become quite fond of her, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I have. Quite fond.” Sam squeezed her eyes shut for a second, wondering how much to confide to Amy. “Amy, you’re my best friend and you’ve known me for years. Can I ask you something?” she said quietly.

“Of course.” Amy leaned forward. “What is it?”

“In all these years, did you ever once think that I might be… gay?”

“What? Where did that come from?” Amy shook her head. “No, of course not. Why? Is it this case? I know you’ve been going to lesbian bars. Did someone hit on you or something?”

“No, it’s not that.” Shit, she should have just kept quiet.

“Your partner? Has she hit on you?”

“No, Amy, she hasn’t. But… I’m thinking I wouldn’t mind if she did.”

“What?” Amy gasped. She leaned forward again. “What is going on with you?”

Samantha shrugged and stared into her coffee. Yes, what’s going on with me?

“Is this why you ended things with Robert. Because…”

“No, Amy.” She finally raised her eyes, meeting those of her friend. “Robert doesn’t… move me,” she said.

“And this woman does?” Amy whispered.

“I think she could,” Sam admitted. “Amy, you know as well as I do that before Robert, there really wasn’t anyone. I dated, but never anything serious. None of them ignited any passion in me. I had begun to think that it just didn’t exist. And Robert was handsome and nice and we got along and I thought it was enough. But it’s not. I can’t live the rest of my life with a man… that doesn’t excite me.”

“So who excites you? What excites you?” Amy asked hesitantly.

Sam squeezed her eyes shut, thinking she had said far too much already. But she so needed to talk about it, to voice her thoughts to someone.

“The other night when we were out, it was the first time I’d been in a gay bar. I was watching two women together, kissing and touching… and something happened to me,” Sam whispered. “I felt a connection with what they were doing. It seemed… it looked so natural.”

Amy stared. “I don’t know what to say to you. You actually think you might be
gay
? You’re thirty-four. Don’t you think you’d have realized it before now?”

“Would I? It never occurred to me. I was brought up to look for a man to marry. I never considered I should be looking for a woman.”

“Samantha, it would have come up. You would have seen someone, made a connection before this…
something
. Just because you haven’t met a man that excites you, doesn’t mean you’re gay, for God’s sake!”

“Last night, Tori and I were pretending to be a couple, to fit in at the bar. We held hands, we danced… we touched.” At Amy’s gasp, Sam smiled. “Not like that, Amy. But it was so
natural
for me, you know? It should have felt odd, strange,
something
. But it didn’t. I could have easily forgotten we were working and only pretending to be on a date. It could have been so real.”

“What does she say about this?”

“Tori? Oh, no, I’ve not said a word to her. No, she’s never said or done anything to make me think… well, other than a few teasing comments, but really, she’s not done anything that would be considered inappropriate.”

Amy shook her head. “I don’t know what to say.” Amy stared. “So, you’re… attracted to her? Like… sexually?”

“Yes… like sexually.”

“And you can actually see yourself touching her, letting her touch you?”

“I know you don’t understand… but yes… God, yes.”