Fated Love (22 page)

"Can you teach me to do that?" Arly asked intently.

Coloring instantly, Quinn's eyes dropped to Arly and then back to Honor in apology. "I...uh..."

"I'll bet she can. But not right now."Honor ruffled her daughter's hair. "Aren't you supposed to be practicing those drills?"

"Are you coming to dinner
tonight,
Quinn?" Arly made no move to leave.

"Well..."

"Quinn and I need to talk," Honor interjected seriously. "And
you
need to get back to your practice. Go on, go finish."

Arly hesitated for another second, then ran off.

"I'm sorry about that remark," Quinn said abjectly. "It just slipped out."

"It's fine." Honor laughed and clasped Quinn's hand briefly. "It wasn't anything serious enough to worry about. It's not like she doesn't know that some girls like girls and some girls like boys, but I don't even think she noticed."

Quinn glanced over to where the children were practicing. Parents stood around in small groups, conversing and occasionally calling out encouragement and praise to their children. There were a fair number of same-sex couples present. "Does she know about... I don't know, you know...the difference between being straight and not?"

"Not exactly in those terms. She knows that some kids have a mom and dad, and some kids have just a mom or just a dad, and that some kids have two moms or two dads."

Shaking her head, Quinn chuckled. "I'm not sure I could keep all that straight."

"The reason that she goes to the school she does is that there are a lot of other kids from alternative families, too, so she's not different." Honor smiled. "And having Robin and Linda and Kim and Dennis as part of the family really helps."

Quinn wanted to ask if Arly knew about Terry, but it didn't seem to be the time or place. She wasn't even sure why she wanted to know, except that everything about Honor
and
Arly interested her. She cleared her throat.

"So, did you just come to watch practice?"

Honor shook her head. "No, I came to find you."

"Oh?"

"How much longer until practice is over?"

Quinn glanced at the Timex watch, the one that her father had given her when she'd left for college. "Another fifteen minutes or so. But I have to make sure all the kids get home all right, so I might have to wait a few minutes until their rides show up."

"How about I wait, and then we grab a bite to eat somewhere. I'd like to talk to you."

"I'd need to change first," Quinn said, indicating her sweat-stained T-shirt and shorts.

"Robin can take Arly back with her kids, and I can take you to your place. Will that work?"

"It's a bit of a mess." Quinn considered that a blatant understatement, but at least the sofa was accessible, and she had orange juice in the refrigerator that she could offer as refreshment.

"I think I can handle that."

Before Quinn could reply, she heard her name being called. An instant later, warm fingers wrapped around her wrist and then slipped down to her hand.

"Quinn! How's your shoulder?" Mandy smiled a brilliant smile as she entwined her fingers with Quinn's.and swung her right arm lightly. "We just finished an officials' meeting to finalize the game schedule, and I saw you over here. That was a nasty fall you took on Saturday." She pouted prettily. "You were gone before I could even see how you were doing."

"It's fine. Much better." Quinn tried to extract her hand as she glanced quickly at Honor, whose brown eyes had darkened to a dangerous simmer.

Following Quinn's gaze, Mandy spared a brief look in Honor's direction. "Oh, hi."

"Hello, Mandy," Honor said steadily as she contemplated dismembering her.

Mandy turned back to Quinn. "You know, my
other
day job is working as a massage therapist. I'm a
very
good Swedish masseuse." Her voice dropped low as she placed her other palm lightly in the center of Quinn's chest and rubbed gently. "I schedule sessions at the gym. It would be great for your shoulder."

"Actually," Honor interjected conversationally, "it wouldn't. Right now, too much direct muscle stimulation is only going to produce more swelling. So I think you should probably desist from the laying on of hands."

"Oh Honor, still as serious as ever, I see. You never
did
have a very good sense of humor." Eyes locked on Quinn, Mandy moved her hand from Quinn's chest and brushed it slowly down the injured arm in question. "We could start off with something nice and easy. Maybe in the hot tub. Call me."

"Thanks," Quinn said, finally managing to extricate her hand and stepping back out of reach.

"Any time." Mandy smiled a little too sweetly at Honor and sauntered away.

"I'm going to kill her someday."

"Why?"

Honor turned bright red, not realizing she had spoken out loud. "Could you pretend you didn't hear that?"

"Absolutely not," Quinn said with a laugh. "What's her crime?"

"Let's just say that she has an annoying habit of putting her hands, and other body parts, where they aren't necessarily welcome."

Quinn's eyes narrowed, no longer laughing. "Has she been after you?"

"No," Honor murmured thoughtfully, watching Mandy smile and wave to almost every lesbian on the field. "Terry."

"Ah. Well, I can't imagine that Terry would have bothered to look at her when she had you."

Honor met Quinn's gaze, and she wasn't thinking about Terry. She was thinking about the soft rumble of Quinn's voice and the way it made her heart race. She smiled and when she spoke, her voice was throaty. "Very smooth, Maguire."

"I meant it."

What about you? Do you feel that way, too?
Flushing with pleasure now, Honor said softly, "I think practice is breaking up."

"I should go help."

"I'll wait."

"Thanks. I won't be long."

After walking Arly to Robin's car, Honor contented herself with observing Quinn. She moved easily among the children, answering their questions patiently and seriously while urging them to stow their gear, and then chaperoning them individually or in small groups to waiting vehicles. Finally, Honor and Quinn were alone on the field.

There was still an hour until sunset, and as Honor stood in the golden glow of the waning light slanting across the lush green, she experienced the pure and simple pleasure of a particular woman's smile. Quinn came toward her, her easy gait and confident carriage striking in itself, but it was the look in her eyes and the lift of her lips that caused Honor's legs to weaken.

"All set?" Honor asked softly.

Quinn nodded, thinking that in that moment there wasn't a single thing she could imagine wanting other than Honor's company. "Yep." .

"My car is right over here." Honor started walking, resisting the urge to take Quinn's hand. She had to remind herself that she had come with a specific purpose in mind, and that issue wasn't personal. It was business, and business that might very well turn this pleasant interlude into a difficult evening. But despite her resolve, being around Quinn made it easy to forget everything except her.

Once settled in the car, Honor started the engine and headed toward their neighborhood. "How's your shoulder really?"

"Not bad. It's stiff, and I probably
could use
a massage."

Honor cut her a look, and Quinn laughed.

"A
shoulder
massage."

"Well," Honor commented acerbically, "unless you want to spend the time fighting off not-so-subtle advances
or
getting a whole lot more than your shoulder tended to, I'd suggest you make an appointment with someone other than Mandy."

Quinn angled her head and studied Honor's profile. Her teeth appeared clenched and a muscle bunched at the angle of her elegant jaw. "You
really
don't like her, do you?"

Honor turned her head and met Quinn's eyes for long seconds before glancing back at the road. "She put her hands on what was mine. I don't tolerate that from anyone."

The lethal conviction in Honor's voice made Quinn's stomach tighten. There'd never been anyone who had claimed her, or even anyone who had
wanted to.
It wasn't anything she'd ever considered needing or desiring. The intensity in Honor's voice changed her mind. There was something incredibly erotic about imagining a woman possessing her that way.
Not just
a
woman. Honor.

"Sorry. I didn't intend to bring up old business." Honor tried to lighten her tone. Talking about Terry with Quinn was becoming so easy that she hadn't even considered that Quinn might not want to hear about her past.

"That's okay," Quinn said quietly. "I'm surprised you let her live."

Honor flashed her a grin. "If there's ever a next time, I won't."

Quinn's heart flipped, but she told herself that Honor was just joking—-not really paying attention to what she was saying. That had to be the case, since Honor had made it very clear just a few days before that another serious relationship was not in her future.

"I'm right over here," Quinn said, pointing to a cream-colored house with ornate Victorian cornices and maroon detailing.

"I remember." Honor pulled to the curb, cut the ignition, and turned in her seat, "It meant a lot to me to talk to you the other night, Quinn. I just want you to know that."

"You never need to worry about discussing Terry with me. Or anything else." Fleetingly, Quinn touched Honor's thigh, then drew her hand away. She undipped her seat belt, opened her door, and slid one leg onto the sidewalk. As she eased out, she turned and looked back inside, meeting Honor's eyes. "You coming in?"

Through a throat tight with emotions that she didn't dare examine too closely, Honor whispered, "Yes."

Chapter Eighteen

O nce inside her apartment, Quinn hastily cleared a spot on the sofa and gestured to Honor to sit. "Can I get you something to drink? Soda or orange juice?"

Smiling, Honor shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

"Okay." Quinn backed up a few steps, barely able to believe that Honor was sitting in her living room.
Such as it is.
She grinned foolishly. "So...uh...what should I wear?"

Honor frowned. "Wear?"

"You know. Clothes? Where are we going for dinner?"

For the first time, Honor realized that this was coming very close to a date. It hadn't been what she'd intended. But she couldn't deny that the prospect of spending a few hours alone with Quinn, away from work, out of the house, without friends or family in attendance, was exciting. Immediately, she thought of the small neighborhood restaurant that was actually one of the best-kept secrets in the area. There were only eight tables, very elegant in an understated way, with excellent food and friendly service. And the best thing about it was that despite the intimate decor and a fine menu, the atmosphere was still casual. She was wearing the slacks and silk tee that she'd worked in. "Whatever the next step up from jeans is for you."

"I won't be long. There's a newspaper on the coffee table... uh...which is under those three boxes, if you need something to do."

Honor just grinned. "I thought I'd use the time to explore your apartment."

Quinn paled.

"I'm kidding," Honor murmured, taking pity on her. "Get going. I'm starving."

Quinn backed up another step, her eyes on Honor. She was almost afraid if she went into the other room to shower, that when she came out, Honor would be gone. "Just one minute. Okay?"

Something of Quinn's uncertainty showed in her voice, and that small vulnerability tugged at Honor's heart. Softly, she said, "I'm not going anywhere."

"All right. Okay." Nodding briskly, Quinn disappeared around the corner.

Honor walked into the kitchen and stood at the back door, looking pensively out at the deck. Only two nights before, she had sat on those steps outside telling Quinn about a precious piece of her heart. Standing on the inside now, listening to the shower run in the room next to her, she thought of how effortlessly Quinn had come into the very center of her consciousness. Quinn hadn't pushed, she hadn't pried, she hadn't pressured Honor in any way. She'd simply listened, and in the process, had awakened long-forgotten pleasures. The anticipation of an evening spent sharing secrets, the thrill of a certain voice speaking your name, the rush of heat beneath a particular touch. Simple pleasures made profound because of the presence of a singular woman.

Honor jumped at the sound of a husky voice behind her.

"All set."

Hoping to seem casual, Honor turned and knew instantly that she had failed. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks and knew that her reaction must be obvious, even in the waning light. Quinn wore dark chinos, so blue they were almost black, with a thin silver-buckled belt at her waist and a plain white shirt with the top two buttons open. Casual loafers, the flat, plain watch that she always seemed to wear, and wet hair nonchalantly combed. She was six feet away, and Honor could smell a hint of her cologne, dark and sharp.

At the first look, a wave of pleasure broke through Honor's depths. As the seconds passed, an avalanche of sensation followed close behind—lust and longing and shocked surprise all rolled together.

"Something wrong?" Quinn questioned quietly. She wasn't sure whether to stay or disappear. Honor had the strangest look on her face, as if Quinn were a stranger. "Honor?"

Honor gave a small start and an embarrassed laugh. "No! Nothing's wrong. You look great. Let's go."

Still uncertain, Quinn stepped aside so that Honor could pass. The kitchen was small enough that Honor's shoulder brushed Quinn's arm, and the brief contact sent goose bumps dancing along her skin.

"Where are we going?" Quinn followed Honor through the apartment, grabbing her keys from the small side table inside the door on the way out.

"A little place a few blocks from here." Honor stopped on the porch and turned to Quinn. "We can walk...if you don't mind."

"No," Quinn replied instantly. "I'd like to walk. I'm still getting a feel for the neighborhood."

Honor laughed. "Then let me be your tour guide."