“Jesus, can you do that?” Colleen blurted. “I mean, why are you… That was the report number the cops gave us.”

Kerry nodded in understanding. “It will exist locally here, but not be updated to the federal system. That was really smart, Dar, thank you.”

Dar smiled briefly. “When you move the data, you control it,” she told Colleen quietly.

“Wow.” Colleen regarded her respectfully. “Remind me not to piss you off, you do our payroll transfer.”


Tropical Storm 355

That got a chuckle from Dar and a smile from Kerry. “I don’t generally do that sort of thing, but I think it would be better for Kerry. And it doesn’t hurt anything, since they didn’t find any fingerprints or MO, and that’s what the federal database checks.”

Kerry leaned her head against Dar’s shoulder. “My hero.” She dared Dar to refute her in front of Colleen, and was pleased when all the taller woman did was reach out and tweak her nose.

“You really think it was that stinker Kyle?” Colleen asked, watching them with a gentle smile.

Kerry sighed. “The fish…and the door wasn’t forced open. Did you notice that? Someone keyed in. And when I checked the doorlock, it had my code in it.”

“Ew, change it,” Colleen advised.

The blonde woman nodded wearily. “I did. But the only people with it are the building manager, you, and my family.” She paused and glanced up.

“And Dar, but she was with me the whole night, so that knocks her out as a suspect.”

“Only that?” Dar’s brows lifted teasingly.

“Well, that and a few other things,” Kerry admitted. with a smile. “But…

Well, I told my mother I wasn’t going to move back home last night. The timing’s just too coincidental.”

“Mmm.” Colleen pulled her lip. “Kerry, that sucks.”

Kerry sighed. “No kidding.” She sipped her chocolate, enjoying the smooth taste as it warmed her insides. “This is the only thing you can cook, isn’t it?” she asked Dar, who laughed softly. “I knew it. This, coffee, and what else?”

“Eggs,” Dar supplied briefly. “And ice cream.”

Kerry smiled. “Dar, ice cream doesn’t require cooking.” She shook her head in disbelief, then flicked on the television. “Oh, look, the crocodile guy!”

“Good gravy, what is he doing to that fish?” Colleen yelped.

Kerry settled back to watch, feeling a lot better. It was good to have friends around, she decided as she felt Dar’s arm slip around her waist and tug her closer. She leaned back and gazed at Dar. “Thanks.” She sighed.

“Thanks for being here, and helping, and cheering me up.”

A wink of a very blue eye. “That’s what friends are for, right?” Dar replied softly.

“You bet,” Kerry replied, then she hesitated. “Listen, Dar, you don’t have to get involved in all this. It’s not your business, really.”

“Sure it is,” Dar replied, her voice shielded by the rounded vowels of the TV character they were watching. “You are my business.”

Kerry felt a gentle chill run down her spine. “Am I?”

“Of course.” Pale blue engulfed her. “I love you,” Dar stated with quiet sincerity. “That makes you my business.”

Kerry just sat there, breathing for a long moment. “Oh,” she finally said, faintly.

“Does that bother you?” Dar inquired.

Kerry shook her head. “No.” She studied Dar’s face. “I guess that means you’re very much my business, too.” She exhaled, then settled into the crook 356 Melissa Good of Dar’s arm as the crocodile man went through his antics. It had been Kyle, she knew it. She felt his slimy fingers in the whole thing, and she knew he’d be back. Her eyes lifted to see the sharp profile above her, and she smiled grimly.

He didn’t know what he was getting into this time, though, and she was glad.

He’ll lose. This time.


Chapter Twenty-eight

KERRY WOKE UP with a sure, comfortable grip around her, and she kept her eyes closed as she absorbed the sensation of being naked and tangled in Dar’s embrace. It was warm, and she could feel the gentle rhythm of the taller woman’s breathing moving against her where Dar was pressed up against her back. She thought about her dream. It was strange; she’d had a few of these weird ones lately, where she seemed to be seeing through someone else’s eyes, in situations completely unfamiliar to her, but which seemed as comfortable as the nice well of contentment she found herself in right now. Weird. She exhaled, feeling Dar’s grip tighten a little, and she lifted a hand to lazily stroke the powerful thigh tucked in back of her own . It felt nice, the skin all soft and velvety over the strong muscles that shifted a tiny bit under her touch. She felt Dar’s skin pressing against hers, the contact increasing and relaxing ever so gently as her lover breathed in a comforting rhythm she found almost hypnotic. Nice.

Kerry let her eyes drift open a bit, taking in the morning sunlight that bathed the room and judging it to be about nine o’clock. She glanced around, remembering what the room had looked like last night, and managed to retain a good feeling about how her friends had so carefully returned it to its original state. Even the clothes pulled out of her drawers had been neatly folded and put back. Probably more neatly than they were originally, she wryly admitted. She should feel horrible, she knew that—and her poor fish. Kerry imagined coming home to all that alone, and she shivered, glad of Dar’s close presence.

It was nice to have someone she could share things with.

A tiny tickle edged around her ear, and she giggled in startlement. That was followed by a low, almost soundless chuckle that echoed perfectly the one in her dream. “That tickles,” she accused, enjoying the sensation thoroughly.

“I know,” Dar replied, nibbling further. “How are you feeling?”

Kerry hummed deep in her throat. “Nice,” she replied dreamily. “I like waking up like this.” She sighed contentedly. “Especially after last night.”

“Glad you postponed your scuba lesson,” Dar commented, moving further down her neck and smiling a little as the blonde woman’s body arched against her. “We have fish buying to do.”

Kerry rolled over and snuggled closer, letting her hands roam freely over Dar’s body, curiously exploring the planes and curves of it. “What’s that from?” She traced a long, thin scar that started just below the taller woman’s breast and ended near her hip.

“I was tree climbing,” Dar admitted, glancing down wryly. “I went to 358 Melissa Good jump for a branch and missed. I scraped up against the trunk. There was an old nail there and I sliced myself up pretty good.”

“Oh.” Kerry ducked her head and kissed the spot. “Bet that hurt.”

“I was screaming like a banshee, yeah.” Dar chuckled. “I’ve never liked hospitals—had to go get stitches and a tetanus shot the size of a harpoon.”

“Ouch.” Kerry winced, then continued her exploration. “Can I ask you a personal question?” She peered up at her companion, who raised an eyebrow at her. “Well?”

“Sure,” Dar replied with a grin. “How much more personal can we get here?” She traced a line down Kerry’s throat, tickling her pulse point.

“How old are you?” Kerry rested her cheek on Dar’s belly and blinked at her.

A sheepish grin covered the dark-haired woman’s face. “I’ll be thirty in about a month or so.”

“Son of a bitch.” Kerry laughed. “I knew it. You just act like you’ve been running the world for years.” She paused. “When’s your birthday?” she coaxed.

“Uh-uh, I never tell anyone what day it is.” Dar shook her head.

“Why?”

“Just because.” The pale blue eyes flickered. “I don’t like fusses.”

“Mmm.” Kerry drew a circle on the soft surface she was resting on.

“Please tell me?” she asked quietly. “It’s no fair, you know mine.”

Life isn’t fair, Dar almost retorted, then she sighed. After all, what did it matter if Kerry knew? She’d probably actually get a card or something from her. That would be different. “Christmas Day.”

The blonde blinked in surprise. “Really?”

Dar nodded. “Yep. So you could say I’ve never really had a birthday, because there’s no point in making anything separate. You know?” She’d gotten over feeling bad about that years and years ago. Right?

“Hmm.” Kerry drew another circle, then watched her hand move in idle patterns on the tanned skin. “Would you be really pissed off at me if I made you a party?”

Dar remained quiet for a bit, then she raked her fingers through Kerry’s pale hair. “It’d be a pretty damn small party,” she told her friend. “I think I’d rather celebrate Christmas.”

Kerry held her peace. For now. “Okay. Well, I guess some breakfast is in order. I think I have some cinnamon toast left.” She rubbed Dar’s skin.

“Mmm. We could be adventurous and let me cook,” Dar replied playfully. “And you’ll see why I always have corn flakes for breakfast.”

“Those.” Kerry poked her, “aren’t,” another poke, “Corn Flakes. They’re Frosted Flakes, and they are so unhealthy for you.”

“Yeah, but they taste g-r-reat,” Dar shot back immediately, rolling the R’s on the great and sounding very much like the commercial. “And besides, I’ve been eating them since I was a kid, and it certainly didn’t stunt my growth.”

She spread her arms out and indicated her tall frame. “Now, you, on the other hand…”

“Uh uh, don’t you start!” Kerry warned, with a laugh. “I always got told drinking alcohol would stunt my growth. I didn’t touch a damn drop until I Tropical Storm 359