The large woman laughed gently and said, "I'm gonna be in a compet.i.tion the weekend I come back from San Diego, so I'm really reducing my body fat. Believe me, you're gonna be glad I'm gone. I'm a real bear when I can't eat any of my favorite guilty pleasures."

"Do you get a lot of enjoyment out of competing like that?" Sara asked, unable to keep her hand still, letting it glide along the shifting muscle.

"I haven't made up my mind," Ally revealed, "but this might be my last meet."

"Really? Why?"

"Mmm... a lot of reasons. I only compete in chemically free compet.i.tions, but in the last couple of years I've begun to doubt that some of the women are really clean. There are so many ways of tricking the system," she said, shaking her head. "It p.i.s.ses me off to be completely free of banned substances, and lose to someone I have my doubts about. A lot of the other women are suspicious, also, and the meets have become big gossip-fests, where people spend their time guessing who's clean and who's not." She made a face and said, "I'm too old for that grade school c.r.a.p."

"I can imagine that's really frustrating," Sara sympathized. "You have to be confident there's a level playing field."

"Exactly," Ally agreed. "But even without the doping controversies, I think I might choose to hang it up. I've spent a lot of years working on my body, and it's begun to feel like I'm too self-obsessed. I want to focus on people other than myself at this point in my life." She looked at Sara and said, "Bodybuilding was the perfect thing for me when I started. It gave me the confidence I lacked at the time, and made me feel strong and powerful. Being proud of yourself for making yourself strong is a very good thing, but losing sleep over your failure to add any bulk to your deltoids is really kinda nutsy. I think the odds are good that I'm gonna move on with my life after the meet."

Sara moved her hand, letting it slide up and down the incredibly well-defined arm. "You won't... just lose this, will you? I mean, I hate to be small-minded, but I'd kinda like to see what a perfect body looks like," she chuckled.

"Come to my meet," Ally urged. "If you like muscles, it's the place to be."

"Well," the chestnut-haired beauty smiled, "I was particularly interested in seeing your muscles. Kind of a private show."

Ally gave her a squeeze, thrilling Sara with the power she felt enveloping her. "They won't disappear overnight. I rather doubt that you'd like the emaciated look I have to have to do well, anyway. I could be wrong about you, Ms. Andrews, but I'd guess you're the sort who likes the feel of muscles rather than just their definition."

"I'm not sure what I like," Sara admitted. "I've never gone out with a woman who was bigger or stronger than I am." She almost retracted her words, but then decided that she didn't want to mention Ryan's name.

"Well, we'll just have to experiment, then, won't we?" Ally said in a husky, s.e.xy tone than nearly caused Sara's knees to buckle.

Her voice was much higher than normal when she managed to say, "I love a good experiment."

It was just 10 o'clock when they found themselves back at Ally's apartment.

They stood in front of the building, but the larger woman didn't invite her in. Instead, she placed a hand on each of Sara's shoulders and pulled her close, tilting her head to place a gentle kiss upon her lips.

Sara's knees almost gave out, even though the kiss wasn't pa.s.sionate in the least. Ally's lips were just so soft, so warm and welcoming, that Sara desperately wanted to throw her arms around her and kiss her for hours. But after just a few seconds, Ally pushed her back into position and smiled warmly. "I had a great time. Can we go out again when I get back?"

Nodding automatically, Sara managed to say. "Have a good time, Ally. I envy you being down in the warmth of San Diego. It's supposed to be cold and rainy here over Christmas."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to a week of warm weather," she agreed. "My sister and her husband live pretty close to the beach, so I might even get some surfing in."

"Have fun," Sara smiled again. She squeezed her friend's large, warm hand and watched her walk into her building. Ally paused at the door, and gave her a wink that made her heart skip a beat. Sara nearly floated back to her car, thinking, Oh, baby, I'm falling hard.

"Hey, Ryan?" Jamie asked as she emerged from the bathroom that evening. As usual, her partner was sitting up in bed, laptop perched upon her raised knees.

"Yeah?" she answered absently, her fingers never slowing their rapid pace on the keyboard.

"I'd like to keep our portfolios going. I think it's fun to have a little something we can compete with each other over."

Raising one eyebrow, Ryan's crooked grin settled upon her face. "You still have to buy me five shares of 3Com, honey."

"I know," she chuckled, crawling into bed and settling close to Ryan's side. "E-mail?" she asked.

"Uh-huh. Writing to my cousin Cait. Just about done."

Knowing that was a polite way of asking for a moment of quiet, Jamie waited patiently while Ryan completed the letter. As she hit the send b.u.t.ton decisively, she turned to her lover and said, "I'd be happy to keep the bet going. But we need a new end-date. How about the last day of spring term?"

"Okay. It's a deal. I ask for one concession. Can we start from the same point again?"

"Of course, sweetie. That's the only way it's fair. I'll transfer some of my holdings to your account so that we're equalized. How's that?"

"As expected, you're generous to a fault."

Late the next morning, the phone rang and Sara picked up on the first ring. "Sara Andrews."

"Hi," said a warm, melodic voice. "I have the names of the friends of mine who play soccer. Would you like them?" Waiting a beat, she added, "Oh, this is Ally."

"I know your voice by now, Ally," Sara chuckled. "It's nice to hear it again, by the way. And, yes, I'd love to have numbers for your soccer contacts."

"It'll cost ya," Ally said.

"Okay. What's the price?"

"Lunch. I'm free until 3. Name the place and I'll meet you."

Sara let out a soft laugh. "You want to have lunch today? That's not much notice, Ms. Webster. It's nearly noon."

"Are you free?" Ally asked.

"As a bird. Do you mind coming to my office? There's a central reception area on the 25th floor."

"No, I don't mind a bit," Ally said, with a touch of hesitancy in her voice, "but are you sure that's what you want?"

"Well, I thought you might like to see my office. But it's no big deal..."

"I would like to see where you work," Ally a.s.sured her. "I just want to make sure you're comfortable having me in your work environment. People who've never seen a d.y.k.e in their lives know that I'm one," she chuckled wryly.

Sara was quiet for a moment, then said, "I wouldn't go out with a woman I was ashamed of or embarra.s.sed to be seen with. I think you're absolutely adorable, Ally, and I don't have the slightest reluctance to have you come to my office."

"Adorable, huh?" Ally asked, her voice low and s.e.xy.

"Definitely adorable. I could go on tossing compliments at you, but I think I'll save them until I see you in person. Ready to jot down my address?"

Ally showed up about a half hour later, looking completely comfortable when Sara arrived in the reception area to pick her up. She was leaning against one of the huge windows gazing out at the view, and Sara snuck a moment of guilty pleasure enjoying the view of Ally's backside. She couldn't actually see her rounded b.u.t.t, since Ally was wearing a black leather coat that came to mid-thigh, but Sara took a great deal of pleasure in the view, nonetheless.

She had never really noticed how broad her friend's shoulders were, but the gleaming black leather highlighted them to perfection. Ally looked so confident, so completely at ease, that Sara immediately felt more at ease herself. "Hi," she said softly as she sidled up beside her and placed a hand on her back.

"Hi."

As usual, Ally's voice sent a shiver down her spine, and Sara found herself grinning like a schoolgirl.

"Ready to go? We can stop by my office on the way down."

"Sure." They started to walk towards the elevator, and Ally commented, "I think this is the tallest building I've ever been in. Actually, my apartment is as high as I normally get - since I stopped drinking - that is."

"I've gotten used to it," Sara commented, "but it sways a little on a very windy day, and I find that a little disconcerting. I try hard not to think of what would happen in the event of a major earthquake."

"Just stay away from the windows," Ally advised. "The building would undoubtedly be fine, but the gla.s.s would probably pop." She started to look a little uncomfortable, then gave Sara a sheepish smile and said, "Could we take off now? I uhm... don't really feel like being in this building any longer."

Charmed by her honesty, Sara took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "You'll have to buy. I left my purse in my desk."

"I'll buy for the whole car if the d.a.m.ned thing would just come!" she said with mock alarm.

"Hey, if it'll make you feel better, we can walk down."

Ally looked down at the short, snug skirt, longish jacket and medium height heels that Sara was wearing. Tilting her head, she asked, "Would you really walk down twenty-five flights of stairs just to make me happy?"

"Of course," Sara said immediately. "Not a problem."

The elevator bell rang, and just before the doors opened, Ally leaned over and whispered, "I think you're adorable, too. Perfectly adorable."

"You know what I was thinking?" Ally asked while they ate their salads.

"No. Not a clue. I don't know you that well - yet," she added.

"I was thinking," Ally said, ignoring the tease, "that you might need a training program if you're going to get back into soccer shape. I'd be happy to help you devise one, or even train you if you think you'd like that."

"Wow, really?" Sara asked. "That would be great!"

"We can get started as soon as I get back from San Diego."

"Okay, but I'll have to find a way to pay you back," Sara declared. Batting her eyes, she asked, "Do I have any skills or talents you think you might like to tap into?"

"Heh heh heh." Ally gave her a s.e.xy leer and said, "I certainly hope you do, but since we're taking it slow, how about if you help me buy and set up a computer instead?"

"You want to upgrade?"

"Yeah. From a pencil and paper," she joked. "I've never had a computer, but I'd like to start using email, and I think I can devise better training programs for people if I can keep track of their progress."

"You've got a deal," Sara chuckled. "We'll go shopping as soon as you come back." She looked at her friend for a moment, then quirked a grin at her and said, "I'm gonna miss you."

"Why do you think I had to come over for lunch?" the larger woman chuckled. "I could have given you those names over the phone, you know."

Sara reached over and traced a few blue veins on the back of Ally's hand, concentrating thoughtfully as she did so. "Are you always so open with your feelings?"

"No," she said honestly. "Actually, I usually don't reveal more than I absolutely have to. You just seem so forthright that I feel compelled to be the same."

"Good," Sara nodded. "That's good. I uhm... have to admit that I'm not usually very open, but I've decided to turn over a new leaf. I want to do things differently this time, Ally. I want to do this right."

"That's exactly how I feel," the larger woman said. "I want to do this right - no matter how scary it is."

Smiling warmly, Sara said, "I can't wait until you come back. I think this is gonna be fun."

"If we do it right, it will be," Ally agreed, beaming a smile of equal intensity at her friend.

Ally insisted on walking Sara back to her office, shrugging off Sara's concern for her. "I was mostly kidding," Ally a.s.sured her. "I was pretty shaken up by the Loma Prieta quake, but I hardly ever think of it anymore. It was just odd being in a big building, and talking about quakes."

"You don't have to come up, Ally. Really."

Looking at her friend for a moment, Ally said, "One of my goals is to face each of my fears and try to break the hold it has over me. This is a little one, but little ones become big ones if you let them."

Sara reached down and gave her large hand a squeeze. "Let me know if you feel uncomfortable, okay?"

"Will do," Ally smiled. They made it to Sara's floor, and walked into her small, but neatly organized office. "Wow, this is really nice," Ally said. "Very lawyerly."

Sara shrugged. "It's all right. I spend so much time here that it seems a little like a tiny prison cell, but it's home."

"Speaking of home, I should get going." Giving her friend a sly smile, Ally pulled the door closed with her foot, then stood in front of it. "How about a goodbye kiss?" she asked, her voice low, and warm and s.e.xy.

Approaching her tentatively, Sara stood in front of the larger woman and waited for her to pull her forward for a kiss, just as she had done the night before. But Ally didn't make a move. She just stood in front of the door, a half smile on her handsome face. Deciding that she'd have to act, Sara stood very close and rose up on her toes, holding onto Ally's shoulders while she inclined her head and brushed her lips across the soft ones that beckoned to her. She paused for a second, then lowered herself to the floor, keeping her hands on Ally's shoulders for another moment. "Hurry home," she whispered, then let her hands slide down the powerful arms, enjoying the definition even through the thick leather coat.

"See you soon," Ally said, giving Sara a s.e.xy wink. She opened the door and strode out, while Sara stood in the doorway, watching her until she entered the elevator lobby.

Oh, boy, she sighed. How can my knees be weak from such a tiny kiss? What would happen if she really kissed me? The smirk that settled onto her face at the mere thought of that scenario remained in place for the better part of the day.

Catherine had just come down into the kitchen on Wednesday morning when Marta answered the ringing phone. "Evans residence," she announced.

Looking at the cook as she spoke, Catherine heard her say, "One moment, please, I'll see if Mrs. Evans can come to the phone." She hit the mute b.u.t.ton and asked, "Will you speak with a Kayla Horwitz?"

"Kayla Horwitz? Who on earth is Kayla..." Catherine's face blanched, and she stood to walk over to Marta, feeling her legs shake as she moved across the floor. "I'll take the call, Marta. Thank you." She placed the receiver against her ear and said, "This is Catherine Evans. What can I do for you, Ms. Horwitz?"

"I was sure you wouldn't take my call, Mrs. Evans. It's... very generous of you to do so."

Catherine didn't respond to her compliment. Instead, she reframed her original question. "Is there something in particular that you wanted?"

"Yes, yes, there is," she said. "I know this isn't my place, Mrs. Evans, and I know that Jim wouldn't be happy with me for calling, but I feel like I have to clear something up."

"I can't imagine what that might be, but go ahead if you must," Catherine said, bordering on being rude.

"I know that you've called off your attempt at reconciling with Jim, and I think that you've misunderstood what was going on between us..."

"Ms. Horwitz," Catherine said, her voice crisp and businesslike, "I hate to be curt, but this really is not your concern."

"Yes, it is," the young woman said firmly. "It is my concern."

"And how is that?" Catherine asked.

"It's my concern because I care very deeply for Jim, and he's in such a deep depression that I'm dreadfully worried about him," she said in a rush.

Catherine let her words sink in, then said, "I see. Well... I certainly don't want to cause pain to either Jim or you, but this is between him and me. It's not something I'm going to discuss with you, Ms. Horwitz."

"I don't want to discuss it, per se," she insisted. "I just want to a.s.sure you that Jim and I have not been intimate for quite some time. He broke up with me early in the fall, Mrs. Evans. We were not together when you saw me in the television shot."