The Lonely Hearts Club (6 page)

“Let me guess,” Liz said. “Melanie Richards.”

“I hate that woman,” Candace said vehemently. “First I stayed up half the night finishing her damn book, and then I…well…you know, I was wide awake and horny.”

“I thought we promised we wouldn’t discuss work at these lunches,” Bren said. “And books qualify as work where I’m concerned.”

“I don’t think Melanie Richards’ books quite fall into the category of your typical rare book,” Liz pointed out.

“That’s an understatement,” Candace agreed, waving to the waitress. “Bloody Mary…a double.” Turning her attention back to her companions, she added, “Her books are everywhere you look, now. You should try them, Bren.”

“Still, books are books and I see enough of them all day,” Bren insisted, feeling uncomfortable as she always did when someone mentioned Melanie’s books. She usually didn’t feel guilty about keeping her secret, except when she had to employ subterfuge with her friends. Then it felt like her privacy came at a price she didn’t want to pay.

“I’d give anything to have one night with Jae Blackman,” Candace went on, oblivious to Bren’s discomfort. “God she’s sexy. I
know
there’s something about her that Melanie isn’t telling us, some deep dark secret. And I know it has to do with sex.”

Silently Bren agreed. Jae was more than sexy. She was everything Bren found attractive in a woman—and it wasn’t just that she was darkly handsome and knew her way around a woman’s body. She was also secretly wounded and uncommonly sensitive, and she wasn’t afraid to acknowledge her raw physical needs. As Bren explored Jae’s complex character more deeply with each successive book, she became even more enthralled.

“Candace, honey,” Bren said lightly, “almost everything has to do with sex for you.”

Candace fixed her with a stony glare. “And your point would be?”

“Okay, okay,” Liz said. “We’ve had this conversation before. Cand and I will discuss what we’d like to do with Jae Blackman some other time.”

“God, you’re no fun,” Candace said, pretending to pout. Then she reached across the table and tapped Liz’s hand, an almost-caress. “So. How are you feeling?”

Liz grimaced. “Most days like I woke up in someone else’s body.”

“Morning sickness?” Bren asked.

“It’s a little more like morning, noon, and night sickness.” Liz toyed with the straw in her glass of lemonade and tried to look more upbeat than she felt. “But the good news is, I only have a couple more weeks of it, at least according to everything I’ve read.”

“What did the doctor say?” Bren countered.

“What could she say? It’s normal.”

Candace and Bren sighed simultaneously.

“You didn’t call her, did you?” Candace said.

“I have another appointment next week. And besides, I know what she’s going to say. Avoid spicy foods. Eat crackers before a meal. Drink lemonade—it helps settle your stomach.”

“Baby,” Candace said, using an endearment Liz hadn’t heard her use in years, “this is one thing you can’t be in charge of. You’ve never been pregnant before and, well, you’re…older.”

“Thank you, Candace, for reminding me of that,” Liz said dryly. “I think Julia made that very point very nicely already.”

Bren interjected, “Candace cares about you, Liz. So do I. You have to promise you won’t take chances.”

“I won’t. I promise not to worry you.”

“Liz,” Bren said cautiously after a quick glance at Candace, “do you want this baby? Because we all know it’s not happening the way you planned.”

Liz looked from Candace to Bren. “Oh hell. I really have worried you two, haven’t I.” She leaned forward intently, making eye contact with each of them in turn. “I absolutely want this child. I wanted it before Julia walked out, and I want it now. It’s just that the circumstances have kind of temporarily overshadowed the ‘Oh, hallelujah, I’m having a baby’ part.”

“Good.” Bren bounced a little in her seat. “Because we already have all kinds of fun things planned, like baby showers and fixing up the nursery and a naming party and…things.”

“Thank you,” Liz said, brushing her fingertips over her cheeks to wipe away the quick flood of tears. “God, this is the second time today. This is ridiculous.”

“What?” Candace demanded.

“I’m all over the place emotionally. And you know it’s not like me at all to get weepy.”

“What else happened today?”

“Oh, nothing. I was just telling Reilly about Julia and I got…never mind.” Liz recognized the hawk-like glare in Candace’s eyes. Part was likely Candace’s natural curiosity, but the other looked a little bit like jealousy, and Liz wasn’t in the mood to deflect Candace’s questions.

“Reilly. Reilly.” Candace played with the name as if it were some exotic flavor, then lasered in on Liz. “Would that be the surgeon from last week?”

“Yes,” Liz confessed.

“You didn’t tell us you were seeing her.”

“I’m not
seeing
her.”

“But you saw her. Today.”

Bren murmured, “Candace. Your claws are showing.”

“Oh, bullshit,” Candace snapped. “Nothing exciting is happening in our lives, Bren. We might as well get off on Liz’s.”

All three laughed and the tension dissipated.

“So tell,” Candace demanded.

“It’s hardly sexy. Unfortunately, Reilly witnessed my early morning bout with morning sickness and was nice enough to drive me home afterwards. We got to talking. That’s all.”

“I don’t remember,” Candace said conversationally. “Did you say she was hot?”

“Yes,” Liz said, grinning at the memory of Reilly’s tight body in jeans and a scrub shirt. “She’s hot.”

“So when are you seeing her again?”

“Oh my God, Candace. I’m pregnant, in case you’ve forgotten. The last thing I want is a date.” Despite her protests, Liz thought about Reilly’s casual suggestion that she drop by the ball fields. Casual. She could do casual.

“What?” Candace pounced.

“Nothing. Nothing.” Liz picked up her lemonade and drained the glass. “So how would you two like to go to a softball game tomorrow night?”

“Oh my God, oh my God,” Candace moaned breathlessly. “Why am I just finding out about this place now?”

Laughing, Liz watched Candace’s head swivel rapidly and finally slapped her playfully on the arm. “Stop that, you’re going to hurt yourself.”

“I don’t care.
Look
at the women. I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven. Do you think they need more players?”

“When’s the last time you did anything more athletic than hefting your briefcase?” Bren teased. She closed the top on her black Mazda RX 7 convertible, her one indulgence. Liz and Candace, who had driven to the softball fields in Liz’s Audi, waited by her door. When Bren climbed out and surveyed Belmont Plateau, she finally got the full effect of seven softball fields filled with women. “Oh. Oh my God.”

“That’s what
I
said,” Candace replied archly. She threaded her arm through Bren’s and added conspiratorially, “Besides, doesn’t fucking Angela Howard blind last night count as exercise?”

“It certainly does in my book,” someone replied in a low, husky voice.

Liz jumped at the familiar sound and spun around. There couldn’t be two women in the world with that voice, and one glance confirmed her assessment. Parker Jones, an associate in her law firm, stood behind them, a saucy grin on her face and a predatory glint in her eye. If possible, Parker looked even better in athletic shorts and a tight tank top than she did in her always elegantly tailored business suits. With her windblown chestnut hair, blue eyes, and summer tan, she was model-gorgeous. Liz knew Parker was a lesbian and had always thought her attractive, but their only interaction had been strictly professional. Parker worked in the real estate and property group, so their paths didn’t cross very often, and during business hours, the only thing Liz generally thought of was business. And of course, she had been married. And unlike Julia, she didn’t break her vows.

“Hi Liz,” Parker said, her attention riveted to Candace. “I was just on my way over to the field and I saw you drive in.” She held out her hand to Candace. “I’m Parker.”

Candace did a slow survey before raising slightly hooded eyes to Parker’s. “I’m Candace. I gather you play ball.”

“I’ll play any game you’re interested in,” Parker replied. “I already like the sound of your exercise program.”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” Candace said throatily. “If I’m looking for a workout partner.”

Liz glanced at Bren, who rolled her eyes.

Parker switched her attention to Bren, who still looked amused, and launched another mega-watt smile. “I didn’t get your name—an unconscionable oversight.”

“Hi,” Bren said, extending her hand. “I’m Brenda.”

“Good to meet you,” Parker replied, holding Brenda’s hand for an extra second. “So, what brings you all out here?”

“A friend is playing,” Liz said, suddenly feeling protective of her relationship with Reilly and not knowing why. Maybe it was because she suddenly realized every unattached woman on the wide expanse of playing fields, and some of the not-so-unattached ones, was probably looking for a summer fling. And she didn’t want to be relegated to that category. “I didn’t know you played on a softball team, Parker.”

“It’s a secret vice.” Parker fell into step as they climbed the slope to the fields. “Actually, about half my team is lawyers.” She laughed. “It’s amazing we get anything decided, what with all the debate that usually goes on.”

“And what position do you play,” Candace asked, edging closer to Parker as they walked.

“I pitch. Fastball.”

“I just bet that you do,” Candace murmured.

“Who are you playing tonight?” Liz asked as she realized they were all headed up the grassy expanse toward the diamond at the very top of the rise. Other playing fields were scattered over the lower part of the plateau.

“A team from University Hospital—Angels of Mercy.”

“You’re kidding,” Liz said. “That’s really their name?”

Smiling, Parker nodded. “Ironic, too, because they’re just about the most competitive team in the league. Except, of course, for the Just Hammers.” Her grin widened and she glanced at Candace. “That would be my team.”

“Is that the team Reilly plays on?” Bren asked Liz. “Angels of Mercy?”

“I’m not sure. I didn’t ask her.”

“Reilly Danvers?” Parker asked.

Surprised, Liz said, “Yes. She’s my…our…she invited us.”

“Then you came on the right night. Reilly’s the star hitter for the Angels, and our teams are tied for first place.” She leaned closer to Candace, her voice dropping bedroom low. “And tonight I’m pitching.”

“Well, I just won’t know who to cheer for, then will I?” Candace said sweetly. She turned to Liz. “After all, we
are
here for Reilly, aren’t we?”

“Oh, absolutely,” Liz said lightly. Candace had been probing her for more information about Reilly, and so far she had refused to take the bait. Thinking about introducing Candace to Reilly, she wondered if Candace was Reilly’s type. Almost every woman she’d ever known had been dazzled by Candace’s natural beauty and her playful, seductive manner. Suddenly, Liz was glad they’d run into Parker. At least for a night, Candace might have someone to focus on besides Reilly. Although, of course, if Reilly was interested, there was absolutely no reason why she shouldn’t date Candace. No reason at all.

*

Reilly swung through the pitch, feeling loose and comfortable with her swing, and easily knocked her last warm-up pitch into far left field. As she shouldered her bat, she idly checked out the opponent’s bench. When she saw Liz standing with Parker Jones on the Hammers’ sideline, she stopped so abruptly she blocked the path of the next batter coming around the backstop toward home plate.

“Hey, Reilly,” Sean protested, “out of the road.”

“Oh, sorry.” Reilly side-stepped but kept her eyes on Liz.

“You okay? We need you on your game tonight.”

“I’m fine. I just…never mind.” She had wondered all day if Liz would come tonight, and had been looking for her since she’d arrived at the ball field forty-five minutes ago. But they hadn’t exactly agreed to meet, and she should have figured Liz would be there with another woman. But, Jesus, Parker Jones? Not only was Parker the best pitcher in the league, she had a different woman on her arm every week.

“You sure?” Sean asked.

“Sure I’m sure.” Reilly frowned at her own brief lapse in concentration. Liz was single. It made sense she’d be dating someone. “Don’t worry.”

“Okay.” Sean didn’t sound convinced and her expression changed to concern. “We all want to win, you know, but it’s just a game. If you’re tired—”

“I’m great. And I know it’s just a game.” Reilly grinned. “Just a game where we’re going to kick their asses.”

Sean grinned back. “Damn right.”

Reilly hustled back to the Angels’ sideline and knelt by the players’ bench to make sure all her gear was still together. The Angels were in the field first, and she didn’t want to have to search for her glove when the game started. Pulling off her batting glove, she stuffed it into the back pocket of her shorts. When she stood, Liz was beside her.