"Later."

Tyler maneuvered through the maze of toys, boys and moms, saying her good-byes to all as she walked through the backyard and into the house.

Ashley handed Kelly a drink and asked, "Tyler leaving already? I didn't get a chance to apologize."

"Yeah, she said she's tired and needs to get ready for work tomorrow," Kelly lied. She didn't want to discuss Tyler with Ashley. She had done enough damage for now. "You don't happen to keep a journal do you?" Kelly asked, raising her gla.s.s to her lips.

"Yeah. Why?" Ashley responded, giving Kelly a puzzled look.

"Oh, no reason. I was just wondering."

Tyler pulled her head out from under the sheet, whipping the sweat-matted hair from her face.

"Oh, that was nice, Baby," a silky voice said from under the covers, pulling Tyler back under.

"You like that, huh?" Tyler said, her voice raspy from s.e.x. "Well, I'm not done with you yet, so you better settle in for the long haul." Tyler settled between the slender legs, kissing the soft skin under her.

The smell of s.e.x in the room filled Tyler's nostrils as she took a deep breath, relishing the intoxicating aroma. Tyler picked up the s.e.xy brunette on the way home from Kelly's quite by accident. A stop at the gym to work out her aggressions and the next thing she knew, she was following the beautiful aerobics teacher to her house. Tyler licked one salty nipple, her tongue leaving a trail around it, then moved to the other, biting the tip. Blowing on the erect nub, she could feel Cindy's p.u.s.s.y clinch on her finger. Again, she sucked the nipple into her mouth and swirled her tongue around the hard nipple.

Tyler felt a hand on her head pushing her down the hard body to the triangle of hair where her fingers were buried. A soft moan made Tyler smile as she worked her fingers faster in the wet p.u.s.s.y.

"Wait." Cindy grabbed Tyler's wrist stopping her progress. "I want you to take me from behind."

"Okay, you're the boss." Tyler said, watching Cindy flip on to her stomach and lift her a.s.s in the air. Cindy spread her knees and waited for Tyler.

"Lick me first, Baby. It makes me so hot thinking of you taking me from behind."

The request wasn't as weird as others Tyler had partic.i.p.ated in, and she was always happy to oblige a s.e.xy woman's fantasy. Tyler slid her tongue between the silky lips that had opened when Cindy spread her legs. While Tyler couldn't quite reach Cindy's c.l.i.t, that didn't seem to be an issue for Cindy. Slowly, Cindy started rubbing her c.l.i.t with a vigor Tyler thought would hurt the woman.

"f.u.c.k me, Baby." The command came out as a barely audible whisper.

Tyler wet her fingers and slid one, then two fingers into the wet opening. Before she could do anything else, Cindy began to rock back and forth on Tyler's hand. The slow rock started to speed up as Tyler pumped into the wet p.u.s.s.y. Reaching around, she rolled a hard nipple between her fingers, then squeezed and gently pulled on the hard nub. Each time she squeezed, Cindy's p.u.s.s.y clamped down on her fingers. Tyler found her g-spot and rubbed the engorged area until she felt Cindy's muscles begin to spasm, announcing the impending o.r.g.a.s.m. Tyler felt Cindy push harder on her fingers, her o.r.g.a.s.m spreading throughout her body, giving Cindy goose b.u.mps everywhere.

Cindy slipped off Tyler's wet hand and fell limp on the bed. Tyler lay down next to the sweaty body and wrapped her arms around her. Burying her nose in Cindy's hair, she took a long, deep breath and relaxed. She didn't need to come to be satisfied. In fact, there were times when Tyler didn't want to be touched s.e.xually, she just needed to touch someone else. A soft thigh draped across Tyler's hips, as if taking possession of her body. Tyler had seen this type of behavior before and she knew she would end it like she always did, promising to call, promising she would see her lover again and then never doing either. She was a cad and she knew it. What surprised her was that most women didn't know how detached she was emotionally. But then again, she was good at her job and she threw herself into it heart and soul, never letting on they wouldn't be getting what they wanted. At least that's what she told herself every time this happened.

"Hmm, Cindy, I-"

"Cynthia. My boyfriend calls me Cindy and I hate it," Cynthia said, snuggling closer.

"Boyfriend?" Tyler said, suddenly feeling like someone had just punched her in the stomach as she gasped.

"Yeah, I thought you knew."

"No, if I had known I would have used protection." Tyler scrubbed her face. "I'm a.s.suming since you're not monogamous that your boyfriend isn't either. Right?" Tyler closed her eyes as she waited for the answer she knew was coming.

"Well..." Cynthia said, picking at a lint ball on the blanket.

"Great."

"Wait, you didn't think this was going to lead to something did you? I mean, you weren't planning on us dating or something, were you?"

The words had a sting to them that Tyler hadn't expected. Cynthia was at least ten years Tyler's junior, but that hadn't stopped her from taking what was offered. No, she was p.i.s.sed that Cynthia was using her own lines on her and it smarted.

"Trust me. A long term relationship was the farthest thing from my mind," Tyler said, sitting up.

"Oh good. I thought maybe you were going to ask me out. That would be awkward, you know?" Cynthia said, stretching then yawning.

"Yes, that would be awkward now, wouldn't it?" Tyler rolled her eyes as she grabbed her jeans. Clearly, the young woman lived life without a care for her partners. The least she could have done was tell me she had a boyfriend, but no. Tyler shook her head as she realized she was getting mad at the woman for doing what she did all the time.

How does it feel, Tyler, when the shoe's on the other foot? Tyler thought as she slipped her bra and shirt on. Turnabout was fair play, but she felt stupid that she didn't know the woman had a boyfriend. Looking around the room, the telltale signs were everywhere. Pictures of the couple, men's clothes tossed on a chair, and the faint smell of cologne all a.s.saulted Tyler's senses. All were lost in the throes of pa.s.sion as Tyler was more worried about getting the woman's clothes off than where she was. She would have to be more careful in the future. She didn't want to accidentally face a p.i.s.sed off boyfriend or husband.

After tying her boots, she went to say something to her bedmate, but was met with snores. Tyler didn't know what was worse, the sleeping woman or the indifference she showed Tyler. There she was again, getting mad for being treated the same way she often treated other women. A taste of her own medicine was making her sick, but she knew eventually this day would come. But did it have to come from someone with that body? Tyler thought. She could have easily made another date with the s.e.x-starved woman. It was obvious her boyfriend wasn't giving her what she wanted. That didn't matter now. Tyler had been bested at her own game.

Locking the door as she left, Tyler grabbed her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts.

"Drs. Smith, Hartsock and Wilson, Ob-Gyn, can I help you?"

"Hi, I need to make an appointment?

Chapter Nine.

Ashley lay on her bed, the covers tossed off. The heat in her bedroom was stifling. The silk camisole and panties felt like a second skin so she shed them, favoring the cool breeze that gently caressed her skin. The rare heat wave had pushed more than a few people past their breaking point and Ashley had to work overtime that week to handle the overload. Still amped from her shift, she slipped off the bed and headed to the kitchen for something cool to drink. Rummaging through the endless supply of condiments, take-out containers, and pudding packs, she found a single can of root beer and an imported beer. Grabbing both, she placed one on the counter and wiped her forehead with the other. It was hot enough the can sweated immediately, leaving a moist trail everywhere she wiped.

Picking up the bottle of beer, she nearly gagged as she remembered the smell of it on her ex's lips. Her relationship with Leslie had started off beautifully, but it didn't take long for the abusive woman to show her true colors. Ashley berated herself for not seeing through Leslie's lies sooner. Love had clearly shaded her view of the woman and it had taken months to disengage herself from the spiteful b.i.t.c.h. She still got the occasional text from Leslie, but nothing compared to what she received when they broke up. It had gotten so bad that Ashley had to get a restraining order. Being a cop meant nothing to Leslie and in her threats she had made it clear that Ashley would pay for breaking up with her. She never stopped looking over her shoulder and she never stopped worrying that Leslie might pop up unexpectedly.

Rolling her shoulder, Ashley still had a small stabbing pain from the broken collar bone she had gotten in one of their many fights. Ashley felt a fine sheen of sweat break out on her neck, goose b.u.mps covered her arms. The memories still vividly played out in her mind. She tried to quell the rising bile in her throat, but felt herself sicken. Erratic flashes of Leslie's anger started to a.s.sault Ashley. Her body readied itself to take a punishing blow she had felt before but now, thankfully, wouldn't come. Covering her head, another memory flashed in her mind. Another slap that never materialized whisked past her. She tensed again as she prepared to fight off Leslie's vicious attack. She had all the signs of post-traumatic stress. Her counselor had told Ashley it would take time to work through the inner turmoil her body felt when she remembered Leslie. Still, she couldn't believe that she had been so stupid as to ignore the warning signs that had started almost from the beginning. The gentle push that morphed into a shove, the slap on the a.s.s that turned into more, or the vicious names that came out of the mouth of someone who supposedly loved her. Two months, two very long and unsettling months was all they lasted, but the repercussions still could be felt as she rubbed her shoulder. Being a police officer taught her how to recognize the signs of someone being abused, but it never dawned on her she would have to recognize those signs in her own life.

The sheer panels in front of the window fluttered in the cooling breeze. Leaning against the window frame she popped the can of root beer and took a long swallow. Sputtering as the carbonation burned its way down her throat, she rubbed the can between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in an attempt to cool herself. It had taken her a long time to be able to relax in her home again, but new locks, a dog, an alarm and a gun worked wonders on her mental state. The fact she had seen a counselor didn't hurt either. Twisting a strand of hair between her fingers, she enjoyed the quiet as Mongrel, her German Shepherd, rubbed against her leg.

"Can't sleep either, boy?" Squatting down, Ashley scrubbed the dog behind the ear. "Come on, I'll give you something to cool you off and then off to bed with you."

Walking back into the kitchen, she dropped her empty can in the recycler and washed her hands. The cool blast from the freezer felt good on her chest. Grabbing a couple of ice cubes she walked over and dropped them into Mongrel's water bowl.

"There you go, boy. Cool and wet." Mongrel lapped at the floating cubes, trying to catch one with his teeth.

Sleep had evaded Ashley long enough and the trip down nightmare lane did nothing to help her prepare for bed. Her journal lay open on her nightstand. The last entry was from several days before when she had attended the birthday party for Kelly's son. Strange that Kelly would ask her if she kept a journal. Picking it up, Ashley read the entry and smiled.

Today was like every other day I have at work, with one exception. I attended my first birthday party for a five year old. What a wild, crazy party. I don't know how Kelly does it, all those boys, the noise and the non-stop action. My head was spinning by the time I left. G.o.d Bless her. She has the patience of a saint. It makes the parties the boys in blue throw look like a baby shower. Hahaha. Then there were all the mothers. I had nothing in common with those women who talked non-stop about preschool, house decor, and the stuff of straight women. Saw Kelly in a whole new light, too. Great Mom!

One big surprise, Tyler Jackson was there, which wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't just given her a ticket half-an-hour before the party. Can you say uncomfortable? Tyler Jackson is a conundrum. She's striking to look at, seems to have a great personality. If it wasn't for the p.i.s.s on the world att.i.tude, I could definitely give someone like that the time of day, or night. Grrrr!

Ashley remembered watching Tyler play with the boys at the party. She was built for children, Ashley thought to herself. Tyler was a completely different person at the party, playful, funny, and loving. Nothing like the player she presents to the outside world, or the throw-caution-to-the-wind firefighter Ashley had seen at the house fire earlier in the week. Although, she did save those kittens, Ashley remembered. She can't be all bad.

Ashley closed the journal and stuffed it in the drawer of the nightstand. Tyler would have to stay a mystery. Ashley had sworn off bad girls after Leslie and Tyler was definitely a bad girl, albeit a handsome bad girl. Life throws all kinds of curve b.a.l.l.s, her father used to say. How you handle them is a measure of the person you are. Ashley wondered what kind of person Tyler was before losing Jill. Well some things will remain a mystery, Ashley thought turning off the light.

Chapter Ten.

Tyler stood in front of the barber shop watching the older men chat. Running her fingers through her long hair, she had made a decision and she wanted to get it over with before she changed her mind. It was time to start putting things in the past, changing what she could and leaving behind any baggage that was starting to weigh her down. A haircut might just be a haircut to some people, but she wanted a new look to help go with her changing att.i.tude. Even during her overseas tour, she had managed to keep the long locks. But now she was tired of the time it took to wash, dry and put it up. Besides, it would make riding her motorcycle easier, she justified. Jill wasn't around anymore to squash her protests about the up-keep and this was part of that "baggage" she wanted to ditch. Nervously, she ran her fingers through her soft locks once more. Jill wasn't baggage, Tyler reasoned, she was a beautiful memory that deserved respect as her wife, but she needed to move on. The last few weeks had taken their toll. h.e.l.l, that last year had exacted a price she hadn't realized until just recently.

Tyler couldn't put her finger on it, but she suspected her G.o.dson's birthday party had been the spark. His young, naive face and innocence had touched a place in Tyler that almost made her cry when she was playing with him. That unconditional love a child shares with those around him made Tyler realize she wanted a family. But more importantly, she wanted someone to share that family with. She wanted, no needed to establish roots of something bigger than she was. Funny that something as innocent and simple as a birthday party could make her think of something bigger than herself. Tyler shook her head and smiled briefly. Twisting a lock of hair around her finger, she ran the end of it through her mouth, just as she had when she was a kid. Her mother's voice was ringing in her ear.

"Tyler, stop that. It's not very lady-like, Honey." The gentleness in her mother's voice wasn't condemning, but the exact opposite, loving. "Tyler, Honey ..."

"Tyler?" A gruff voice replaced the loving tenor of her mother's. A firm hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality. "I'm ready when you are."

"Right," Tyler said, standing and shaking off the dusty memory.

The barber shop smelled of aftershave and clipper oil. It was the same shop her dad had brought her to when she was younger. Once a month he had a standing appointment with George, the older man who whisked away the remnants from the last customer.

"So, what'll it be Tyler? Trim the ends?" George positioned the plastic shield around her neck and turned her to face the mirror.

"No ..." Tyler looked at her reflection in the mirror and she knew what she wanted to do. "Cut it all off, George."

"What?'

"You heard me. I want a haircut." Tyler fingered the hair out of her eyes.

"Tyler, you know this ain't no fancy hair salon. If you want some smart up-do then you need to go down to the mall and get it done." George started to pull on the plastic bib around Tyler's neck.

"I don't want a fancy up-do, George. I want a haircut." Tyler stopped his hand before he could pull the Velcro on the bib. "My dad's been coming here since I was a little girl, my brothers come here, and I'm just fine having you cut it. So, George, here's what I want." Tyler explained how short she wanted it and how she wanted her hair cut. A half an hour later, Tyler brushed the last bits of hair from her sleeve and admired her new look in the mirror.

"You're gonna make some child happy with the hair, Tyler," George said, holding the long pony tail in his hand.

"Well, it's made me happy for a long time, but it was time for a change, George." Tyler ran her fingers through her hair for the umpteenth time trying to get used to the shorter style. She looked different, younger and a bit more boyish. Not exactly what she was going for, but it would work for now. Besides, it's only hair, she reasoned.

Stepping out in the sun, Tyler pulled her ball cap from her pocket. She had brought it just in case she didn't like the new look. The lack of hair made the cap practically rest on her ears, so she readjusted it and rolled the bill into the perfect "softball roll", as she liked to call it. Tyler accidently stepped into the path of a kid walking his bike across the driveway.

"Sorry, Sir."

Tyler stopped dead in her tracks. "Did he just call me, Sir?" she thought looking up at the young man.

"Oh. Sorry, Ma'am. I thought with the hat and the short hair you were a ..."

Tyler held up her hand and stopped the young man from further embarra.s.sing himself. "It's fine. No harm done. Easy mistake," Tyler babbled, just as embarra.s.sed.

Tyler looked in the window and tried to see what would make the young man think she was a guy. She rubbed her fingers along her jaw. A strong jaw is what her mother called it. But, looking now, she saw more of a square face. Obviously, it was hidden behind all that hair, she mused. Looking back at her reflection, she realized she looked more like her father now. When she was younger, she was never considered girly, whatever that meant, but now she was definitely more handsome than pretty. Letting out a deep breath, she wondered if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.

"Great. Now I have to walk into a fire station full of brutally honest men. My life is going to suck for the next few shifts," Tyler muttered to herself, walking back to her car. "Screw 'em. I like it."

Chapter Eleven.

Ashley sat at her desk finishing up the report on an accident involving a drunk driver and a tree. Lucky for the driver, he had an air bag that saved his life. Not that he was going fast, in fact the exact opposite. Ashley laughed as she remembered driving up on the accident. The driver was leaning, or better yet swaying, against his truck, trying to light a cigarette.

"Sir, is this your truck?" Ashley asked, as she looked in the truck, her flashlight exposing what was left of two deployed air bags. Looking over at Kelly, she shook her head and smiled at the look she got back from her partner. The front of the car rested on the sidewalk and the backend was pitched up in the air, balanced on the bent over tree trunk.

"Nope. I was just walking and I saw the truck like this. I thought I would see if someone needed some help and look, there's no one in there," he said, pointing his cigarette at the ground.

"I see. So this isn't your truck?"

"Nope."

"And you don't know whose it is?"

"Nope."

"And I suppose you don't know how you got a b.l.o.o.d.y nose?

"Nope." The driver dabbed at his face with the two fingers that held his cigarette. "I got a b.l.o.o.d.y nose?"

"Yep."

Ashley had a hard time trying to figure out exactly how the truck had ended up on top of the tree. The only thing she could imagine was that the driver had put it in four-wheel drive and practically driven up the young tree, bending it down enough so the truck could climb it.

"Hey. You done with that report?" Ashley felt Kelly tap her shoulder.

"Almost. Why don't you go home? I got this." Ashley typed the last line and hit save on the computer. Ashley hated paperwork, but it was part of the job. Stretching, she looked at Kelly and waited for an answer.

"Why don't we go get a drink?" Kelly asked, thumbing through the stack of folders on her desk.

"After what you saw tonight, you still want a drink?"

"Really? You can't be serious. We see s.h.i.t all the time that if we let it get to us we wouldn't eat, sleep, or drink anything. So yeah, let's go and get a drink. I'm buying."

"An offer I can't refuse," Ashley said heading to the women's locker room.

Within half an hour both women had showered, changed, and were sitting in Ashley's car.

"So anywhere in particular you want to go?" Ashley asked, pulling out from the station.