“Correct. And it’s his responsibility to ensure her safety. My point is that if you were worried about her, too, or vice versa, because you’re…” Reese searched for a word that she could tolerate saying, “…involved, then”

“Involved! You mean like girlfriends?”

“Well, yes.”

“We’re not. Jesus.” At the sight of Reese’s raised eyebrow, Bri hastened to add, “Sorry. I mean, we’re friends. But we’re not., .why did you…?” She suddenly had a mental image of herself and Allie arriving at the station on her motorcycle that afternoon her in the clothes she’d worn the day before, not counting her uniform shirt, which she’d balled up and stuffed into her motorcycle bag, and Allie wrapped around her wearing what she always wore. Skimpy little bits of nothing that Bri had yet to figure out how Allie kept on her body at all. It looked like they’d just crawled out of bed, which they had, except it looked like they’d crawled out of the same bed. Oh fuck me.

Bri had learned something from growing up on the brunt end of her father’s tendency to jump in with both feet, or perhaps she’d merely absorbed it unconsciously. But somewhere, somehow, she’d learned to wait one extra second before saying what was on her mind. She had nowhere near the control that Reese had, but she was trying for it. She took a long, long breath, because after the first wave of acute embarrassment, she was righteously pissed. How could Reese think that I would treat Carre that way? Doesn’t she trust me at all?

Before the bitter words could erupt, Reese spoke into the quiet, dense air of the suddenly crowded space. “I’m sorry. I should’ve known better.”

“I…uh…” Apologies were foreign to Bri, at least in the heat of the moment, and she had no way to answer. “Okay.”

“No, it isn’t,” Reese replied firmly. “If it had been someone else with Allie, other than you, then the conclusion I came to would’ve made sense,” She looked to Bri again, her blue eyes dark with regret. “But it wasn’t someone else. It was you. And I know how much you love Caroline. I’m sorry for forgetting that.”

“Oh man,” Bri muttered and turned her face to the side window, seeing nothing outside. The tears were back, and there were so many reasons for them she wasn’t sure she could handle them all at once. She wanted to cry because she missed Caroline so much. Because Reese cared enough about her, about them, to get angry when she thought Bri was fucking up. Because someone believed in her feelings, believed in how much she loved Caroline. She bit her lip and waited for the tight fist that was squeezing the air from her lungs to relax enough for her to speak. “You know I almost did screw up, with Allie…last spring.”

Reese waited, silent She had a brief image of a much younger Tory and KT and chased it from her mind.

“I slept with her. Sorta. Seeing the way Carre hurt…the way I hurt her,” Bri went on, the words sticking in her throat and finally coming out raspy and raw. She turned anguished eyes to Reese. “I could never do that to her again. Never.”

“I believe you. And I know Caroline does too.” Then, Reese did something she’d never done with a recruit in all her life. She reached across the space between them and rested her hand on Bri’s thigh. She squeezed gently. “You’re doing fine, Bri. I’m proud of you, on all counts.”

Bri stared down at the hand on her leg, her own hands resting on the seat on either side of her body. She didn’t move a muscle. Her voice was barely a whisper. “Thank you.”

Reese put her hand back on the wheel. The tension that had been riding along her spine since she’d seen Allie and Bri together suddenly disappeared. “So, let me tell you about Counselor Trey Pelosi.” She tossed a grin in Bri’s direction. “And look sharp, because this one will kill the weak first.”

KT still lay on her back, still staring at the ceiling, but now Vicki was draped across her body, her head resting on KT’s chest and one leg drawn up over her thighs. The redhead breathed softly, rhythmic excursions that sent soft puffs of warm air chasing across KT’s left nipple. It felt oddly uncomfortable to hold her this way, perhaps because it was much more intimate than the hot-and-heavy sex they’d recently enjoyed. No sooner had KT’s orgasm peaked than Vicki had climbed onto the bed and straddled her stomach, bracing herself with an arm on either side of KT’s shoulders as she rubbed her wet, swollen clitoris over KT’s skin until she’d come. Or perhaps what was the most unsettling was Vicki’s vulnerability as she dozed in the aftermath of the orgasm that had had her crying out in an agonized scream of triumphant pleasure before collapsing on top of KT.

For the first time in longer than she could remember, KT wondered what these last few hours had meant to the woman in her arms. She fervently hoped it had been only pleasure that Vicki had been seeking, because she knew that she had nothing more to give.

“Hey, baby,” KT whispered, running her hand through the thick tresses that spread across her chest in a fiery blanket.

“Mm?”

“I have to go.”

Vicki burrowed her face into the hollow of KT’s throat, kissing her neck as she snuggled closer. “Stay, can’t you? I want you again.”

KT laughed softly. “You might be able to get it up again, but I’m pretty sure I’m done for the night.”

“Oh, I can get it up for both of us,” Vicki murmured as she smoothed her hand down the center of KT’s abdomen, between her legs, and into the waiting wetness. “And I know you’ll like it.”

Despite the fact that her legs tensed and her stomach clutched at the swift surge of pleasure, KT shook her head. “I’m beat. You wasted me.” She kissed Vicki’s forehead and shifted away from the teasing hand. “Plus, I’ve got an early-morning appointment.”

Vicki raised her head and peered across the bed to the clock on the night table. “It’s early. Sleep a little while, and I promise I’ll wake you up nicely.” As if to underscore her promise, she slid her fingers on either side of KT’s clitoris and stroked languorously.

“Jesus,” KT breathed in shocked surprise as she felt herself stiffen. “Keep it up, and I’ll have a heart attack.”

“Better yet, why don’t you let me put you to sleep,” Vicki crooned as she shifted and started to move down the bed. “I know just the thing to relax you.”

KT caught Vicki’s arm and held her back. Suddenly struck by an overwhelming need to leave, to be alone, she said as gently as she could, “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“You’re serious.”

“Yeah,” KT said softly as she stroked Vicki’s cheek with her good hand. “You were great.”

Vicki smiled, turned her head, and softly bit the base of KT’s thumb. “Uh-huh. So were you.” She sat up and pushed her hair back with both hands, regarding KT intently. “I’ll be here for the rest of the weekend, but something tells me I won’t be sleeping with you again.”

KT held her gaze. “No.”

“Wife back home?”

“No,” KT said with a bitter laugh.

“But there is someone, isn’t there,” It wasn’t a question.

“No,” KT repeated with finality. “There isn’t anyone at all.”

“Hi, Kate.” Tory greeted her mother-in-law with a kiss on the cheek. “Sorry I’m late.”

“No problem,” Kate Mahoney replied as she ushered Tory into the small cottage situated behind her art gallery on Commercial Street. “Jean and I just finished dinner. It’s Jean’s Portuguese stew, and there are plenty of leftovers. Hungry?”

“Come to think of it,” Tory said, “I’m starved.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “Forget lunch?” She knew that Tory often forgot to eat or simply didn’t have time for a meal while she was working. She’d also known that Tory had been at the clinic, because Reese had told her so when she’d dropped the baby off earlier that day. They hadn’t had much time to talk, but she’d sensed Reese’s worry.

“Busted.” Tory laughed. “How’s the baby?”

“Gorgeous,” Jean Purdy, Kate’s lover, announced as she walked into the living room with Regina in her arms. “And perfect, of course.”

“Is she ready for a feeding?”

“When isn’t she? Ready for a nap again, too.” Laughing, Jean handed the baby to Tory. “Here you go. I’ve got some work to finish in the studio. Don’t forget to say goodbye before you leave.”

“Thanks. I won’t.” Tory took her daughter into the adjacent bedroom to feed her. When Regina had finished, she put her into the baby seat to sleep and joined Kate in the kitchen.

Kate cradled a cup of tea between her large, paint-smeared hands and studied Tory while she ate. There were faint smudges beneath her eyes, and unlike most women who still carried some of their extra pregnancy weight at two months postpartum, Tory was thinner than she had been before she’d become pregnant. It occurred to Kate that her daughter had reason to be worried. “When’s Dan’s last day?”

“Today. In fact, he’s already left for Boston and a late flight out to Pittsburgh tonight,” Tory replied.

“So you’re going back to work,” Kate said carefully.

“Yes.” Tory put down her soup spoon and regarded her mother-in-law. “Did Reese tell you?”

Kate shook her head. “No, but she told me you’d gone into the clinic today because Dan was leaving earlier than expected.”

“I’m trying to find someone to take his place so I won’t have to work full time.”

“Any possibilities?” Kate knew that even part time for Tory would be very nearly a full workload by anyone else’s standards.

Tory picked up the spoon and turned it between her fingers, thinking back to the morning. “KT O’Bannon came over from Boston this morning to interview for the position.” She raised her eyes and met Kate’s. “You remember her, of course, from when Regina was born.”

“Yes. She seemed very capable.” Kate regarded Tory steadily. “You have some history with her, don’t you?”