Mandy wanted simple. That she could do.

“You’re right,” Jett said. “I’m not interested in complicated. I’m just not as ready as you think I am right now.”

“You’ll call me when you are.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Maybe. I’m not making any promises.”

Mandy smiled and kissed the tip of her finger, then pressed it to Jett’s mouth. “I wasn’t asking for any.”

Tristan sat on the edge of the couch trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. She was so used to being awakened during the night by a phone call informing her of some emergency, and needing to be instantly awake and alert, that even the alcohol she’d consumed couldn’t suppress her natural reflexes. The quiet click of her apartment door closing behind Jett had been enough to rouse her. Her first instinct had been to go after her, and then her rational mind caught up to her libido and some sanity returned. She was out of control where Jett was concerned. She needed to get a grip.

Head still fuzzy from lack of sleep and the scotch, Tristan stumbled into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stepped in after leaving her clothes in a pile on the floor. She twisted the dial to cool and washed her hair and body, waking herself up and clearing the cobwebs from her mind. After briskly toweling off, brushing her teeth, and downing a glass of orange juice, she pulled on nearly threadbare jeans, deck shoes, and a light blue short-sleeved shirt. Feeling more human, if not quite herself, she stepped out onto the back porch and leaned against the railing. Finally, she let herself replay the few minutes with Jett.

She saw herself folding into Jett, letting herself be held, letting herself be soothed when what she wanted—at least, what she’d thought she’d wanted—was a different sort of comfort. From the signals her body was still sending, despite the shower, a big part of her had definitely wanted sex. She was still vibrating from the sexual charge of Jett’s hands on her neck, in her hair, coursing over her back. She smelled Jett’s skin, tangy and rich, and recalled the long, hard planes of her body and the surprising softness of her breasts when Jett had embraced her.

After the catastrophic night she’d had, her guard might have been down, but she hadn’t been lying when she’d said she wanted Jett to fuck her. That was exactly what she’d wanted then, and having a clearer head now didn’t change her mind. She couldn’t deny it any more than she could quite explain it.

Until the last few weeks, Tristan had been accustomed to being in charge when she was with a woman, and that’s how she liked it.

No surprises, no disappointments—for anyone. But Jett called to a completely new and different part of her, one she was only beginning to embrace. She craved Jett’s solid strength, thrilled to the hardness of her body, and hungered for that intense, dark gaze and all it promised.

She wanted, perhaps had always wanted, to be the singular focus of that kind of intense passion.

“Why not just admit it,” Tristan muttered to herself. “You want her to do to you what she was doing to Mandy.” She shook her head.

She couldn’t see herself as Mandy, but she could see herself opening to Jett, taking her in, taking her deep, and the idea downright terrified her as much as it turned her on.

One thing she was clear about. She needed to see her. Jett had come to her with the offer of friendship, and she’d been too fucked up to appreciate it, or to thank her. She needed to fix that right now.

Tristan was halfway down the stairs before she realized she didn’t know where Jett lived. God damn it. She stopped, considering her options. The hospital might page Jett for her, but they wouldn’t give Tristan her home number. Neither would the business office. And what

if Jett wasn’t wearing her beeper or had turned it off? Tristan didn’t want to wait. Couldn’t wait. She had to see her.

Linda. Linda must know how to reach her. Tristan took the rest of the stairs two at a time and shoved through her front door. She sprinted toward the sidewalk, then slowed when she saw Jett’s Jeep parked a few houses away. At least she thought it was Jett’s.

If Jett was still around, where was she? Who had she gone to see?

Mandy lived in the neighborhood somewhere. The thought of Jett with Mandy, holding her, caressing her, made Tristan’s head ache. The idea of Jett going to Mandy for what she hadn’t found with Tristan made her half crazy. Tristan forgot all about her destination while she tortured herself with images of Jett backing Mandy up against a tree, kissing her, dominating her, taking her the way Tristan had wanted to be taken.

She groaned aloud.

“Tristan?”

The picture of Jett and Mandy dissolved and the world snapped back into Technicolor focus. Tristan turned and Jett was there.

“Hi,” Tristan said.

“Hi.” Jett shot her a half grin. “Couldn’t sleep, huh?”

“I heard you leave.”

“Sorry.” Jett ran her hand through her hair and sighed. “I probably shouldn’t have come over. Company was probably the last thing you nee—”

“Wrong.” Tristan kissed her, then moved back quickly before Jett could touch her. She didn’t trust herself if Jett touched her. “That’s for the coffee and doughnuts. Thanks.”

Jett’s eyes were hungry as they swept over Tristan’s face. “Next time I’ll bring sandwiches.”

“I’ve got a better idea,” Tristan said, determined not to let her get away. She didn’t want her out of her sight. “Let’s get out of here.”

She pulled her keys from her pocket and gestured to her Saab, parked two cars behind Jett’s Jeep. “I’ve got a place an hour from here in the mountains. It will be at least ten degrees cooler up there.”

“I don’t think so,” Jett said, her voice low and gravelly.

“I’ve got to be back tomorrow for practice at two.”

“I’m flying tomorrow night,” Jett said.

“I’ll have you back by one at the latest.”

“I need to shower, change clothes.”

“No, you don’t. I woke up thinking about the way you smell. The way your skin tastes.” Tristan moved into Jett again, sliding her hand over Jett’s shoulder and down her arm. “You’re just fine the way you are.”

Jett grabbed Tristan’s hand. “What are you do—”

“Hey, Tristan!” Arly came racing up, nearly colliding with them as she skidded to a stop. “Quinn’s sleeping, but my mom is taking me to the park for practice. Are you coming?”

Tristan eased back from Jett and smiled at Arly. “Not today, sport. I’m the Saturday coach, remember?”

“I know,” Arly said, “but sometimes Quinn—”

Honor caught up to Arly and put her hand on top of her head.

“Honey, Tristan might have other plans for today. Hi, Tris.” She held out her hand to Jett. “I saw you at Linda’s party, but never got a chance to talk to you. I’m Honor Blake.”

“Jett McNally.”

“I know. Linda flies with you and can’t stop talking about how great it is.” Honor frowned. “I’d appreciate it if you stay away from the rest of the ER nurses.”

Jett was silent for a second and then laughed when Honor’s frown turned into a warm smile. “Quinn already warned me about that. I promise the ER is officially a no-fly zone.”

“Oh, I can see exactly why Linda left,” Honor said with a shake of her head. “You’re slick.”

“Yeah, she’s got a way about her,” Tristan said, grinning at Jett. “How are you feeling, Honor? And how is Jack?”

“He’s great. He’s with his grandmother right now.” Honor took Arly’s hand. “We are having a play date while Quinn sleeps in. I needed to get out for a while. If I walk slowly I don’t feel a day over eighty.”

“Can I drop you somewhere?” Tristan asked.

“You two look like you were headed out. And we’re doing fine,” Honor said.

“We’re headed up to the mountains,” Tristan said, casting a sideways glance at Jett.

“Nice. Have a great time.” Honor tugged on Arly’s hand. “Come on, honey. Let’s go to the park.”

Arly went with her mother, walking backward a few steps, her gaze riveted to Tristan. “What about Saturday’s practice? We have that big game next week and Quinn said she might have to work that day.”

“Got you covered, no problem,” Tristan called after her. “I’ll be there Saturday and I’ll give Robin a hand with the game next week too.”

Arly grinned back. “Okay. Have fun.”

Tristan laughed. “She’s got Honor’s looks, Quinn’s persistence, and probably both their smarts. She’s going to give some boy or girl a run for their money one day soon.”

“I think she’s got a crush on you,” Jett said.

“Girls always get crushes on their coaches. It’ll pass.”

“Not always.”

Tristan gave her a look. “You’re right.” She opened the Saab with the remote. “You ready to get out of here?”

Jett looked at the car, then back to Tristan. “This is crazy.”

“No,” Tristan said softly. “Pretending we don’t want to would be crazy.”

Jett didn’t say anything, she just got into the car. That was enough for Tristan, for now.

Chapter Seventeen

Tristan started the engine and powered down the convertible top. “No pets, right?”

“Pardon?” Jett still didn’t entirely believe she was about to go off who-knew-where with a woman who by turns pissed her off and turned her on and made her want things she’d never thought of having.

Like quiet moments in the sun and the sound of another heart beating in the dark. When she took in Tristan’s bold sharp profile, her dark hair still wet from the shower and gleaming in the sun, she didn’t feel as if she were with a stranger. Weathering a crisis together and struggling through the aftermath had a way of stripping away the veneer and letting you see people for who they really were. She’d seen Tristan under fire, more than once, and she knew her to be fearless and brave.