“Rain check, then.”

“Deal,” Deo agreed as Allie jumped from bed.

“I’ll be ready in ten minutes,” Allie called as she disappeared across the hall into the bathroom.

Deo stretched, fi guring she had a few minutes to spare while Allie showered. Then she’d drive Allie to the station, grab a fast shower at home, and head over to the main job site. The guys knew what to do so she wasn’t worried about work not getting done just because she was a couple of hours late. Thinking about the job brought back her conversation the night before with Nita about her new house.

Nita. Nita was like the thunderclouds that had fascinated her since she was a child, seething with anger and passion and beauty. She had been mesmerized by storms, by the combination of danger and unbearable splendor. She had never wanted to come in off the boat no matter how much it rocked in the wind or how high the seas that lashed over the decks had risen. The fear was thrilling and exciting in a way that nothing else was. She still loved storms. Nita was the fi rst woman she had ever met who hinted at the same power and fury. Thinking about Nita stirred the turmoil in her depths that she had so recently quieted while riding the crest of Allie’s pleasure.

She didn’t even want to consider that she was fucking one woman to forget about another. With a sigh, Deo pushed back the covers and got up in search of her clothes.

“Something wrong?” Allie asked as she paused in the doorway, toweling her damp hair.

Deo blushed. “No. Just thinking about work.”

• 93 •

RADCLY fFE

“Mmm hmm.” Allie draped the towel over the back of the wooden chair that sat in front of her dressing table and pulled open the closet door. Extracting a pressed uniform wrapped in plastic, she said, “I’m going to be so busy at work I don’t know when I’ll see you again. But if you want company…”

“I’ll hunt you down like I did last night,” Deo said, pulling up her pants. “I’m glad I stayed. Thanks.”

Allie grinned crookedly. “I’m absolutely certain I’m the one who should be saying thank you.”

Deo shook her head. “No. You’re amazing.”

“For the record, I feel the same way about you.” Allie strapped on her gun belt and regarded Deo seriously. “Sometimes the fact that I can’t sleep with Bri and I still want to…it fucks up our friendship. I’ve been trying to work on that.”

Deo waited.

“I hope the two of us can still be friends even though we did fuck.”

Allie sighed. “Jesus, it’s really confusing.”

“It is, but I know what you mean.” Deo kissed her. “We’re okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. And for the record, you’re fucking hot in that uniform.”

Allie wrapped an arm around Deo’s waist as they started toward the door. “Well, I’m glad you think so. Because it’s the only thing I’m going to be wearing all summer.”

• 94 •

Winds of Fortune

CHAPTER TEN

Nita,” Tory said, “don’t you have an appointment for your walk-through tonight?”

“I rescheduled.” Nita set aside the lab report she was reviewing and leaned back in her desk chair. “Are there always this many walkins during the summer?”

Tory smiled wearily. “More, usually.”

“I can’t even begin to imagine how you handled it by yourself.”

Tory settled on the small loveseat that Nita had placed in the corner of her offi ce and rested the heel of her sneaker on the edge of a low wooden coffee table. “Before Reese and Regina, I pretty much only worked. I didn’t really mind how busy I was then because I didn’t have much else in my life.”

Nita appreciated what an escape work could be. After the blow-up with Sylvia, she’d worked extra shifts just to avoid seeing her family or friends. Sometime in the year since her life had taken a turn in the wrong direction, she’d come to welcome working fi fteen hours a day.

She didn’t have to think about what a fool she had been. Cowardly, perhaps, but comfortable. Discomfi ted by the realization, she changed the subject. Something else she had grown adept at when conversations veered too close to harsh truths. “Do you want ice for that ankle?”

“You can tell it’s swollen from across the room?”

“I’m not that good,” Nita said. “But I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sit down before, and I know I’ve never seen you put your leg up.”

She glanced at her watch. “You’ve been on your feet for twelve hours.

And that’s just today.”

“What day is it—Thursday?” Tory shook her head. “The last thing I clearly remember is the ride to Hyannis on Monday morning with Nelson. I haven’t lost track of time like this since I was a resident and spent thirty-six hours at a stretch in the hospital.”

• 95 •

RADCLY fFE

“Stay there,” Nita said as she rose. “I’ll get you a cold pack.”

Tory leaned back and closed her eyes, grateful not to be moving for just a few minutes. The last time she’d been this exhausted and her leg had acted up so badly that she could barely walk, Reese had been the one to take care of her. Reese had been so matter-of-fact about her injury, so completely without the stifl ing pity that so many others heaped upon her. She had simply done what needed to be done, and Tory had fallen in love just that quickly.

“Are you awake?” Nita whispered, kneeling down next to Tory.

“Yes, just daydreaming.”

“It must have been a nice dream.” Nita gently pushed up Tory’s jeans and released the Velcro straps on the plastic bivalve splint she wore to stabilize her nerve-damaged ankle. “You had a very happy expression on your face.”

Tory laughed. “I was thinking about when I fell in love with Reese.

She was doing pretty much what you’re doing right now.”

Nita glanced up. “Hopefully it was her and not the activity. Because as much as I like you, there’s no way I’m taking on Reese Conlon for your affections.”

“Don’t worry, you’re safe,” Tory said, appreciating Nita’s teasing tone. They so very rarely had the opportunity to talk about anything except work, and it was nice to see a less serious side of her new associate. “I take that to mean that your interest is in women, then? I’ve never asked.”

“Since I was old enough to fi gure out that I had an interest in anyone.” Nita settled next to Tory. “How long have you and Reese been together?”

“A little over fi ve years. I wasn’t looking for anyone,” Tory mused,

“and now I can’t imagine life any other way.”

“I think that’s how it works out when it’s right.”

Hearing a note of sadness in Nita’s voice, Tory said carefully, “No one on the horizon for you at the moment?”

“No,” Nita said quickly and dismissively. “Moving here, adjusting to private practice, getting a new house ready to live in…I’ve got plenty to keep me busy.”

“When was your appointment with Elana?”

“Elana? Oh—the realtor. Six. But I knew I wasn’t going to make

• 96 •

Winds of Fortune

it so I called her to postpone.” Nita shrugged. “She said she might still be around for a while, but—”

“It’s not that late. You should stop by the real estate offi ce and try to catch her. She’s often there in the evening, and you can still do your walk-through.”

“We’ve got at least twelve patients still waiting. I’ll stay until we clear—”

“No you won’t,” Tory said fi rmly. “I’m going to sit here for fi ve more minutes because the ice is really helping, and then I’ll be fi ne to fi nish up. I know how much extra work you’ve been doing all week.

And unfortunately, I have another favor to ask.”

“Anything.”

“I was on the phone with Nelson’s cardiologist right before I came in here. In fact that’s what I came by to tell you. He’s got a fairly substantial aneurysm just distal to the takeoff of the coronaries. They want to operate on him tomorrow.”

“Oh God, that’s too bad,” Nita said. “Of course I’ll cover for you.

I’m sure we can postpone the closing—”

“Absolutely not. It’s scheduled for what…three?”

“Three thirty.”

Tory nodded. “Excellent. I’ll be back by then. Surgery is scheduled for seven thirty and I’m sure they’ll be done by noon. Then I can stay with Bri for a couple of hours after, and I’ll still be back here in time to fi nish up the afternoon hours.”

“Are you sure? I know he’s like family.” Nita hesitated. “And that really matters.”

“He is, and Bri is special.” Tory laughed. “Sometimes I feel like she’s a younger version of Reese, the Reese I never got to meet before the marines really got to her.”

“How are you doing?” Nita asked gently. “With Reese home now?”

Tory regarded her curiously. “Most people just assume that her coming home solved everything. Of course, having her here is everything.”

“I imagine you both feel pulled in a million directions. If Reese is the same kind of marine as all of my family are cops, she probably wants to turn right around and go back.”

• 97 •

RADCLY fFE

“God, how did you know?”

“Oh,” Nita said with a sigh, “because that’s who they are. It’s what makes them feel good about themselves. And because they have a very deep sense of loyalty to their fellows. All the things you already know, I’m sure.”

“All the things I knew,” Tory said hesitantly. “But things I never really appreciated until this happened. She’s a little bit at sea right now, and I’m not sure how to help her.”

“I’m lousy at advice, but just the same, I’ve had some experience with this.”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s probably not what you want to hear, but I think if she wants to go back, you need to let her. It may be the only way she can feel whole again.”

Tory blinked at the sudden and frightening rush of tears that fi lled her eyes. “I don’t think I can. I don’t think I can stand it.”