Passion and Pearls (The pearl series) (8 page)

Who was that vamp? She had a short black leather skirt with sheer black stockings a deep purple silk tank and purple high heels on. Her hair was now flowing down her back in a ruffled manner with darker more dramatic makeup finishing out the look. Wanda stepped back to admire her work. “That’ll get him going, you’ll be fighting the men off and it’s going to make that man of yours crazy.”

Aqua was still in shock at how she looked when they met up with Amanda and walked in to the Acorn together. They snagged a table in the back and told the waiter to keep their glasses full and the music loud. A comment about the waiter’s backside brought laughs from all three women and caught the attention of several men in the place. Blu and his brother-in-law were among those that were now watching the three women.

“What are they doing here?” Blu asked Amanda’s husband Will.

“Not a damn clue, but it can’t be good,” was his replied. The men drank a little more and watched the women with wary eyes.

Amanda snuck another peek at the men and turned to the other women. “Oh boy are they keeping an eye on us. I think it’s time we danced.” She and Wanda each took one of Aqua’s hands and drug her onto the dance floor. With much laughing and ribbing the three women danced through several songs. They refused the men that came to join them. Even Will was turned away by Amanda. “Girls only,” she told him with a wicked laugh.

Will walked back to his table and downed his beer in one slug. “This is not good and I blame you Blu.”

Blu frowned at him, “What the hell did I do?”

Will watched his wife and her friends for another minute and muttered, “don’t know but we are toast brother, toast.”

Watching the women, especially Aqua, Blu was having trouble hiding his reaction to her. He wanted to be dancing with her and feel her against him, touch him. She looked different tonight, sexier and he wasn’t the only one noticing. He heard other men making comments and watched as the three women shooed away man after man as they danced and laughed amongst themselves.

Aqua was having fun, dancing with her friends and watching Blu frown. She drank more than she normally would
,
knowing the girls had her back. She knew he watched her, could feel his eyes following her. It made the evening even more fun for her. She wanted him to want her, to realize what he was missing.  She chuckled as another man was brave enough to approach the women and asked Aqua to dance. She could literally feel Blu tense up. Aqua wasn’t interested in making him jealous with another man. She just wanted him to accept her and besides, because she loved him, she didn’t want to dance with anyone else.

The music was winding down and the band announced the last dance, a nice slow ballad perfect for snuggle dancing. “Well girls, I think we should put our guys out of their misery,” Aqua said. The three women got up from the table, finished their drinks and headed for the guy’s table. They were wary as each woman took their guy’s hand and lead them to the dance floor. Blu was surprised that Aqua had taken his hand, but he’d been wanting to dance with her and wasn’t going to argue.

“I thought you were mad at me,” he whispered in her ear as he pulled her close and started to slowly sway. “Shhh, I’m still not talking to you,” she replied as she leaned in closer to his big warm body. They were quiet as they continued to dance.

When the dance was over
,
the girls headed out together in the car provided by the Acorn to drive patrons home. They laughed as they pushed the men away and giggled all the way home. Aqua was a little more than tipsy when she got home and stripping down figured a nice long shower would clear her head. It didn’t have the desired effect as she toweled off and slid between the sheets naked. Her fuzzy mind kept thinking of Blu and the one weekend they’d had together. She wanted him here in her bed. He had her heart and she hoped that they could be together again soon.

Blu sat in his apartment nursing another beer wishing he was with Aqua. That woman was making him crazy. He walked around in a daze half the time and hard the rest. How could she think she was psychic and yet be so perfect for him? The more he thought of her the more painful his need of her became. Just as he was about to go take a shower and relieve the need burning in him, his phone rang. It was very early in the morning and he wasn’t on call so he was instantly on alert worried about his Mom or other members of his family.  He hurried and answered with a husky hello.

He heard her soft voice and closed his eyes savoring it before what she said registered in his brain.

“Don‘t you dare, if I don‘t get any release neither do you,” she told him.

“What?!” Blu couldn‘t believe she‘d said that.

“You heard me mister and believe me I will know if you do and that’s all I‘m going to say because I‘m still not talking to you. Goodnight lover boy,” then she hung up the phone.

Blu sat there astonished. That had to be the strangest phone call he‘d ever had. He‘d never understand women, especially that one. He took a long cold shower and headed to bed. Maybe things would make more sense in the morning.

Tuesday
morning Blu was running late but decided to stop at the bakery and get coffee and a cinnamon roll. He walked in and Wanda handed him a bag and steaming cup. He gave her a questioning look. “Aqua called it in a few minutes ago, said you were running late. She also said to check your coat pocket,” Wanda told him. He wasn‘t sure what was going on again but got his wallet out only to discover he‘d used the last of his cash at the Acorn the other night. Wanda grinned at him and with a resigned sigh he slid his hands into his coat pocket and pulled out a five dollar bill. Wanda smiled and took the cash as Blu turned and left the bakery with a very confused look on his face.

Wanda called Aqua laughing. Their plan was working, she just had to slowly keep edging him toward being a believer. Aqua spent the morning handling the normal morning office supply rush. She loved dealing with the people and was pleased with the morning‘s sales. She was becoming a member of the community. This was exactly what she‘d been missing where she‘d lived before. Aqua sent up a quick wish that she would always be accepted this way in her new home town.

That evening Aqua tuned into Blu’s thoughts again but he was thinking about work. Blu was worried about a young boy that he thought might be having trouble at home. It was looking like his father might be abusing the boy, but Blu hadn’t been able to find out anything positive. Aqua quickly tuned back out, she was trying to be respectful of his work and thoughts that were more on the private side. This knowing someone’s every thought if she wanted business was harder than she expected it to be. She knew that it would be hard for her if Blu could read all her thoughts. Especially some of them, like when she was alone in her bed last night. Aqua blushed, even though she was by herself then laughed at how silly that seemed.

Blu decided he’d go to the convenience store for coffee the next morning. He was still a little freaked about by Wanda yesterday morning. When he walked in he was surprised to see Aqua there visiting with the clerk. She smiled at Blu but didn’t say anything to him. While Blu was wandering the isles one of the store’s suppliers pulled up. Aqua offered to man the till while the clerk helped haul the boxes to the back. When Blu walked up to the counter, Aqua didn’t try to visit but she did tell him how much he owed without looking at what he put on the counter. Blu frowned at the woman and handed her some money. She gave the man his change and looked him right in the eyes, hoping he’d say something.

“How are you?” he asked her. She continued to look right at him. That was it?  ‘How are you?’ Aqua was getting angrier by the second and it must have
shown in
her expression because Blu took a step back.

“Fine!” Then she turned and looked out the window, no longer looking at the man she loved. How was she? How was she? The man was exasperating. That’s how she was. She heard him gather his items and head toward the door. “Aqua, I’m…” was all he got out, she still wouldn’t look at him and he really didn’t know what to say. With a shake of his head he walked out the door and headed to work. Aqua wiped the few tears that were trickling from her eyes and tried to smile as the clerk thanked her and she headed to her store to open for the day.

Blu sat at his desk wondering what was going on with him and Aqua. He wanted her. He missed her and whether he wanted to admit it or not he respected her as well. But, the whole psychic thing was making him nuts. Blu tried to think of other women but that did no good as Aqua’s face kept replacing whoever he thought of. He groaned in frustration, what the hell was wrong with him?

Blu pulled out the file on Bobby and went over what he had on the ten year old boy. Unfortunately the file was pretty thin. Blu knew the boy’s father was a mean SOB but he wasn’t sure what he could do about it. So far, there had been hints to illegal activity but nothing he could prove. Blu knew the kid was scared of his dad but the one time he’d gotten him alone Bobby wouldn’t say a word. It was damn frustrating not being able to help the kid. Bobby’s Mom had left the area when the kid was just a baby. Blu couldn’t imagine how a Mom could leave a baby with a man like Bobby’s father. Blu did some further research and spoke with the boy’s neighbors but still found nothing that could help.

Heading back out of the police station, Blu decided to take a walk down
Main Street
since he still had some time left and sitting in the office wasn’t doing him any good. As he wandered down the sidewalk talking to folks, Blu was reminded how much he loved living here. There might be a few rough characters but in general the people were open and friendly. He knew most everyone and felt much better once he’d made the rounds on
Main Street
, climbing into his Bronco to head to the ranch.

He was about 5 miles out when his cell phone rang. He pulled over to answer the call and was surprised to hear Aqua’s voice sounding a little frantic.

“Blu are you ok?”

“Yeah, just headed out to the ranch, why?”

“Something is wrong, very wrong. I’m not sure but I think it’s bad, I feel like there is something scary wrong going on.”

Blu wasn’t sure what to say to her. He was so drawn to this woman, when he was being honest with himself he knew he was well on the way to being completely in love with her. But this psychic business was something he didn’t know how to handle.

“Aqua, everything is fine. Nothing bad is going to happen, don’t worry. Maybe we can get together tomorrow and talk?” He sighed when she didn’t say anything. “I miss you darl’n and really want to see you. Please.”

Aqua couldn’t stop the feelings of dread that were washing over her. She knew he still didn’t believe in her gift. Right now though
,
she just wanted him to be safe. “Ok, how about I cook for you. Lunch at about noon sound good?”

Blu told her he’d be there then got back on the road. He had been driving another 5 minutes when a call came through for him on the police radio. “Dispatch to unit 19, Blu you there?”

Picking up the radio mic, Blu answered “19 go ahead.”

“Blu, you better get over to your place in town, it’s on fire.” The dispatcher was so upset she didn’t even follow radio protocol.

“10-4 on my way.” Blu turned on his lights and headed back to town, Aqua’s warning rolling around in his head. How could she have known
?
  For one second he wondered if she’d started the fire, but immediately he knew she wouldn’t do something like that. She was just too good a person, maybe a little crazy with the whole psychic thing but that was different.

Blu pulled up near his apartment and saw flames through the roof and thick black smoke billowing out the windows. There were people milling around staying back as the fire crews worked to put the fire out. So far the fire hadn’t spread to other apartments but it could at any time. Blu looked around and wasn’t surprised at how many people had gathered to watch the fire, small towns were like that.

Blu was just standing there watching the activity of the firemen
trying to get
control of the fire. The empty apartment next to his was damaged and his was pretty much going to be a loss but, at least there were no people or pets getting hurt. Suddenly, Blu knew that Aqua was near so when she pressed against his back and wrapped her arms around him he didn’t startle. He slid his arms over hers and absorbed her comfort. Eventually he unclasped her arms and pulled her to his side. He didn’t let her go, just rearranged them so that he could hold her his own way. Aqua didn’t say anything, just let him know she was there and let him deal with his emotions.

When the last fireman was finished and there was barely any smoke left, Blu finally turned to Aqua and asked if they could go to her place. Aqua took his hand and they walked the few blocks to the store, around back and up to her apartment. When they stepped into the kitchen Blu just stood there. Aqua knew he was basically in shock. She took his hand again and walked him to her bedroom. When she shut the door behind them Blu blinked and looked around as if he didn’t even know how he’d gotten there.

Aqua began undressing once he looked at her again. Making love to him was the only way she could think of to comfort him and counteract the shock she knew he was feeling. Once she was naked she smiled at him. He hadn’t moved but his eyes were devouring her. She stepped to him and placed her hand on his cheek then slid it down to his shirt and enjoyed the sound of each snap undoing. Once his shirt was open she slid her hands over his chest then pushed the shirt off and onto the floor. She leaned closer and lightly licked then nipped at his nipples. She hear
d
his indrawn breath and kissed her way lower.