"How much have you had to drink, L?"

"Ha-ha. Play all toughie with everyone else, but I know what you did."

I quirked my eyebrows at her. No? She couldn't actually know, could she? "Don't know what you're talking about, shug."

"Yes, you do. You made Jordan disappear so that Elise wouldn't be uncomfortable anymore. You took a woman that you don't like out on the dance floor and made her think she was the only person in the world. You're a good woman, Jessamine Ximena, even if you won't let yourself believe it." Lauren pressed closer, moving our bodies with ease. "One of these days, I'll make even you see it." She tilted up and kissed my cheek before detaching herself to walk away.

Five seconds pa.s.sed before I realized the song had ended.

Blessed Twice There were about a million other things I could be doing right now. Playing tennis, reading a mystery, calling my son at summer camp, working out, rollerblading, base jumping, banging my head against a low hanging beam, and all would be more pleasant than my sixth first date. Cripes, my friend Caroline knew a lot of women. A lot of women who were so wrong for me.

This one's name was Polly, and she worked as a court clerk. After her third cup of coffee-I'd learned never to commit to anything that would last several courses-I could sum up Polly's personality with one word: drama. Or, issues. Or, get me the h.e.l.l out of here, please!

"And then I was, like, 'what do you think you're doing with my stuff, b.i.t.c.h?' I mean, like, can you believe she was walking out on me and expected to take the one and only gift she, like, bought me in the entire two months we'd been together? I was, like, 'you didn't even pay me rent for two months, you're not taking my Maroon 5 with you.'" Her pretty green eyes stared expectantly at me, asking me to agree.

Still stuck on some of the other intimate details she'd shared prior to talking about a ma.s.sive blowout over a piece of plastic that costs twelve dollars, I merely nodded then shook my head. I didn't know if she expected me to say, "Yes, I completely agree, even though you're a loon," or, "No, that's just awful, especially since there's no way you could ever replace such a priceless item. Unless, of course, you walked into any music store, or better yet, downloaded the songs so no one can walk out of your life with her love and your CDs."

"You're so easy to talk to," she jabbered on after I'd apparently given the appropriate response. "I can't believe Caroline never introduced us before. I'm having so much fun." Yeah, because drinking coffee is a riot a minute. "So, like, what's your story?"

Well, I've never used the word "like" as a verbal pause, I've never moved in with someone after one night together, and I've never considered a CD worth the effort of an argument. Oh, and I now deem dating a soul draining experience.

"Briony?"

I looked up and felt my stomach plunge as swiftly as if I'd been pushed out of an airplane. M was standing by my table, iced coffee in hand on her way out. She was in casual clothes, showing a hint of midriff, envious calves, and just the barest promise of cleavage. "Hey there, M." I hoped she caught the relief in my tone. Wow, she looked good. No makeup today and her hair was a little more chaotically styled but wickedly attractive. Beyond, actually, more like hot. Yes, hot suited her just fine. Why wasn't I on a date with her? Oh, c.r.a.p, Polly. "This is Polly. Polly, my friend and colleague, M."

Polly must have picked up on my blatant interest in M, because the next thing I knew, she was telling her, "We'd invite you to join us, but we're on a date."

I didn't know who cringed more, me at the idea that this could really be counted as a date or M at the rude dismissal.

My eyes snapped up to hers in apology. Before I realized what I was doing, I made the ASL sign for "help." It was one of a few words I'd learned for when my son spent time with his hearing impaired best friend. This was the first time I'd ever used it, and I never imagined I'd be using it for evil instead of good.

"Pardon the intrusion, but I thought we said two o'clock?" M asked me with the perfect amount of urgency and innocence. "I grabbed a table up front and left all the lecture notes and business plans there. It's a few hours of work, and I've got plans tonight, but if you need a little more time, I understand."

"Is it two o'clock already?" I brought my wrist up to check the time on my watch. "Gosh, I'm sorry, Polly. I didn't mention this work thing because I never thought we'd still be here. You just made the time fly by." Two hours that I'll never, ever get back.

She beamed at my compliment but disappointment showed through. "Caroline said you were a workaholic, but we can work on that." She reached for a hug, which I made lightning quick, and finally, the sixth date on my path through h.e.l.l was over. Polly banged through the coffeehouse doors with all the drama she'd expressed during her diatribe.

"Thank you for saving me."

"Think nothing of it." M said it like she believed it when I was considering erecting a life-sized shrine and lighting a candle every night. Her eyes darted to the door as her customary introversion returned. "Nice running into you, Briony. Enjoy the rest of your weekend."

"Tell me about those plans you mentioned," I blurted before she could disappear.

"I lied," she admitted with a shy smile. "I figured if I didn't give a limited window of time, she might think she could get us to postpone our work meeting."

Strangely, I felt more relief hearing this than getting out of my date with Polly. "So, you've got nothing going?" She shook her head. I smiled and stepped toward her. "You do now."

I couldn't think of a better way to spend my Sat.u.r.day than with this beautiful, enticing woman. Not really a date, but far better than anything my friends could set up for me.

Full Court Pressure "Do you miss Washington? Leaving anyone special behind?" Darby's blue eyes sparkled.

"I used to be okay with living in three different cities while I played because of the offseason coaching or the overseas leagues, but ever since I retired, I've really taken to living in one place. Washington was great, but it's nice to be back on the west coast."

"You must miss your friends? Boyfriend? Girlfriend?

Both?"

Both? Yeah, I'm a hussy like that. "I do miss my friends.

I had a great coaching staff working with me. Kristine, James, and Rebecca were close friends by the time I left.

They were pretty angry that I made this move, but since Kristine is now the head coach, they'll get over it."

She laughed softly, the sound rolling over the table in featherlike waves. "You managed not to answer the question I wanted you most to answer." She smiled broadly at my furrowed brow. "Boyfriend or, please let it be, girlfriend?"

My mouth nudged ajar. Something about her question didn't seem like idle curiosity. And certainly not the way she asked if I had a girlfriend.

"C'mon. You're among friends. I've always had a vibe about you."

"Vibe?"

"You know, a gay vibe." The statement came out with certainty. I didn't have time to be startled. "You can tell me, Gray. I'm sure you know I'm a lesbian, and you have to know I'm interested in you."

Holy...

"You're my fantasy woman, have been for decades since I first met you. So, spill, tell me you're going to make my fantasy come true."

...h.e.l.l. I was someone's fantasy? Hers? This beautiful woman whom everyone liked and so many l.u.s.ted after? Did the world turn upside down as soon as I crossed into the Pacific Time Zone? "Fantasy?" I managed with a dry mouth.

"I'm coming on too strong, aren't I?" A touch of worry marred her expression. "My sisters always tell me that I need to tone it down, but I can't help it with you. After all these years, I finally have you in the same city and permanently. So, I'm putting it all out there tonight. I didn't want there to be any confusion about what I want."

"What you want?" GAH! Could I please stop repeating everything she said?

"You."

One word, sounds like sue, only less litigious. She wants me. d.a.m.n, that even sounds weird just thinking it. Why would she want me? I'm not a person who brings out wanting in people, or I never have been, or I've been oblivious to it my whole adult life.

Jeez, I mean, this was only my eighth date, if this was a date. And I know, eight dates, right? But, like I said, when you're really good at something, other things fall by the way side. My love life foremost among them. Since I'm pretty convinced I was born without a s.e.x drive, I hadn't ever felt like I'd missed much. Why date when I felt nothing? Okay, this time, maybe I didn't feel nothing, maybe this time was a little different, and it wasn't because she was a woman when the others had been men. This time was different because it was Darby. Was she my fantasy woman, too?

Honestly, no, but only because I didn't have fantasies of that nature. I must be broken. Everyone else had fantasies, right?

Why didn't I? Maybe I just needed to think about it. I could try to fantasize about her. Hmm, that might work.

"Gray?"

Try later. "Huh?"

"Shocked?" She smiled understandingly, and my, was it a beautiful smile. "I wanted to be upfront about this. I want more than just friendship from you, have for a long time."

"This is...I mean, that's very flattering."

"Oh, G.o.d." A panicked look came over her face. "You're not going to say that you're flattered but it's not me it's you, are you? Just lie to me and say you've got a boyfriend. I can handle unavailable but don't crush my ego by telling me you're the biggest lesbian on the planet, but I do nothing for you."

My head shook, trying to snap all the whirling thoughts to attention. "I don't know what to say."

"That's better than turning the tables over and racing from the restaurant, I guess." She reached across and grasped my hand. The touch felt comforting. "Just tell me I have a chance?"

"I haven't thought about dating in a while." If she knew how long of a while it might put a stop to this before it had a chance to get started. "You've thrown me for a loop. I'm still trying to catch up."

The smile that surfaced on her face brought out sparkles in her blue eyes and added definition to her sleek cheekbones. "I'm still in the running, then. Good. Enough pressure for tonight, we'll save that for our second date."

Second date? In way over my head here, but it felt pretty good.

end.