CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

By six-thirty, Pat was pacing back and forth in her living room. The day had been endless. She had started it with her usual run, then went to the taco stand on the main drag for breakfast. And, acting like a tourist, she stopped at the city's birding pond, just in case something interesting was there. She knew she should listen to the hotline, especially during migration, but she couldn't stand to hear Mrs. Davenport's voice for that long. Maybe they had an online version.

She was surprised to see the RV campground filling up. It was only mid-May and The Winter Texans had gone back north, but surely, it was too early for the summer crowd.

The birding center was well kept and Pat usually enjoyed her visits there. Native plants and flowers lined the sidewalk and disappeared where the reeds and cattails took over. A wooden walkway parted the reeds and the pond appeared. Pat stopped in her tracks. A hundred Mrs. Davenports were on the platforms and walkways, all with scopes and binoculars.

" Jesus Christ, " she muttered. At first, she assumed some news had hit the hotline, but they all appeared to be looking at different things. So, Pat stayed where she was, her binoculars scanning the pond but finding only a few duck stragglers that hadn't left yet. During the winter, thousands of ducks and shorebirds fed here and she could only identify a handful of them. She was too embarrassed to whip out her field guide in front of the birders. She could imagine them pointing at her and whispering. Maybe she could drag Carly out here in the winter and she could be her living field guide. That thought brought a smile.

She spotted one of the alligators that lived in the pond. She didn't want to think about what they ate. She'd never seen them do anything but lay in the shallows, but surely, they ate. Probably, those cute little ducks.

She had spent her afternoon doing laundry and cleaning her cluttered house. Then, on impulse, she pulled her Jeep into the sun and washed it. For this, she had donned her bikini top and enjoyed an hour in the sun.

But now, she was getting restless. She should have asked Carly to come early and they could have visited some before going to dinner. She loved Angel and Lannie's company, but she would much rather spend time alone with Carly.

The knock on the door came only a few minutes later. Pat tried to wipe the huge smile from her face before opening it but she didn't succeed.

" Hi, " she greeted Carly. Shorts. Good. Her eyes moved up Carly's legs, finally meeting the amused green eyes looking back at her. " Come on in."

Pat was wearing shorts, too. Long, baggy shorts that nearly reached her knees. Carly couldn't resist inspecting Pat, much as Pat had done her.

" Want me to turn around? " Pat teased. " Give you a back view? "

" No, thanks. I've seen you from behind."

Carly walked past Pat and stood in front of the large windows, looking out.

" You've got a great view. I imagine you love sitting on the deck."

" Yes. But I can't take credit for it. Aunt Rachel bought it for me about seven years ago. She wanted to buy that monster on the corner, but I told her I wouldn't have use for four bedrooms."

Carly nodded. " This suits you. Warm, casual. Nothing fancy."

" I think I should be offended."

" I didn't mean it to be offensive. You drive a Jeep. You dress for comfort. There's nothing pretentious about you. It was a compliment."

Pat shrugged. " Okay. I can be not fancy with the best of them." Then Pat casually took Carly's hand and pulled her to the door. " Come on. They'll be waiting."

Carly followed Pat through town, ending up on the bay side of the island. The house Pat stopped in front of was small, with close neighbors. But the yard was impeccably neat. Two palm trees, still small, were surrounded with blooming hibiscus. Other flowers crammed the beds on both sides of the porch. The porch itself was littered with pot plants and two very beautiful hanging baskets of bougainvillea.

" I somehow doubt Angel's the one with the green thumb, " Carly said.

Pat laughed. " Lannie doesn't allow Angel anywhere near her plants. Come on. You'll like them."

Pat knocked only once then opened the door when a voice called to them. Unlike Pat's house, this one was crowded with furniture and knick-knacks. On one wall was a large framed print and Carly suspected it was one of Pat's.

" Hey girls. Come on in, " Angel called from the kitchen. " Carly, I'm glad you came. This is Lannie."

Carly smiled and took the hand of the very tall woman standing before her. Her hair was so blonde, it was nearly white. But friendly blue eyes smiled back at her.

" Nice to meet you, " Carly said. " Thank you for inviting me."

Lannie laughed. " It's just nice not to have to try to fix Pat up with someone. She must be very difficult. I can't get any woman to go out with her more than once."

" Thanks a lot, Lannie. I already told her I have no bad qualities. Now what's she going to think? "

" She's going to think you've been lying, " Carly said. " Why won't anyone go out with you more than once? "

" She's difficult, " Angel said. " Stubborn."

" Tell me something I don't know."

" Are you all quite through? "

Carly laughed, noticing the slight blush on Pat's tanned face. God, she was beautiful. Then blue eyes glanced up and captured hers and Carly couldn't look away. Pat's eyes darkened and Carly feared Pat could read her mind.

" Beer? Wine? A drink? Plain old Coke? " Lannie offered, ending her teasing for the moment.

" I'll have a beer, " Pat said. " Carly? "

" That's fine."

" Come on out to the deck, " Angel said. " I'm about to put the steaks on. Later, if you want, we thought we'd start up a card game."

" That's sounds fun, " Carly said. " Spades? Hearts? "

" Spades. Pat refuses to play Hearts."

Pat glared at Angel, but Angel only grinned back at her.

" Doesn't work on me, remember, " she told Pat.

Carly couldn't resist. " Why don't you like Hearts? "

" I like it just fine. It doesn't like me."

" I don't think Pat's attention span can handle it, " Lannie said.

" And I call you two friends, " Pat said. " I simply don't like something that requires that much...concentration."

Carly laughed, enjoying Pat's discomfort. She never imagined this unflappable woman would get flustered by the teasing of her friends.

" Let me guess. You hate to lose, " Carly said.

" Lose? Please. I get lots of practice. I think it's just the women they insist on pairing me with. Underneath it all, I'm sure I'm a very good card player. They're the ones with the problem."

" I'm a great card player, " Carly told her. " So if we lose..."

" Well, shit, Carly, is there anything you can't do? "

Carly grinned. " I can't take pictures. That's what I have you for."

Lannie and Angel laughed and Lannie stood behind Pat with hands on her shoulders.

" Pat, I think you have your hands full with this one."

It was Pat's turn to laugh. " I wish I had my hands full."

Carly blushed. " I'll get you for that."

" Promise? "

" Oh, I promise, all right, " Carly threatened. " A dunking in the bay, perhaps."

But the look in Pat's blue eyes sent chills over her body. She felt as if they were positively caressing her. She accepted a second beer from Lannie without pulling her eyes away from Pat's. She couldn't. They held her.

All Pat wanted to do at that moment was close the distance between them and kiss Carly senseless. If she didn't think that Carly would kill her, she would do just that. But Angel got up to turn the steaks and Carly finally looked away from her.

They moved inside when the steaks were done. Lannie pulled four potatoes from the oven and Angel motioned to the bar.

" We'll eat here. We're really informal, " Angel told Carly. " I hope you don't mind."

" This is perfect, " Carly said. " Can we help with anything? "

" Yes. Pat, show her where the plates are."

Pat and Carly set out plates and napkins and they all set down to a simple meal of steak, baked potatoes and green beans. Lannie opened a bottle of wine and filled four glasses, then lifted hers in a toast.

" To good friends. And new ones, " she said, glancing at Carly.

" Thank you."

The card game started before they had even cleaned up from dinner. Angel said they would get it later, despite Carly's protests.

" I always feel like we should smoke cigars or something, " Pat said as she shuffled the cards. She looked across the table at Carly and winked. " I'll apologize now for the many stupid plays I'll make."

Carly leaned her elbows on the table and grinned. " Do you not grasp the concept of Spades? "

" Oh, I grasp it. But I'll want to look at you instead of the cards and I'll end up just tossing one out and inevitably, it'll be the wrong one."

" I thought it was because you couldn't concentrate? "

" Well, with you sitting there, I won't be able to concentrate."

" You are so full of shit, you know that."

" I'm hurt. It's the truth."

" Is that the same line you use with everyone? "

Angel saved Pat having to answer. " No, she's usually bored to death and never pays attention."

" Ah, well then, I'm flattered, " Carly said.

" You should be, " Pat told her.

Their teasing continued throughout the game and they lost badly. Angel and Lannie were fantastic players and it was obvious they knew each other's moves. But Carly couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun.

" You weren't lying, " she told Pat. " You're awful."

" Thanks. You're not so good yourself."

But their eyes met across the table and both softened. Carly had the strangest impulse to reach across the table and kiss Pat. She managed to control her impulse. Just barely.

" I should be going, " she said. " I've had a wonderful time. Thank you both for including me."

" We enjoyed you being here. Come back any time, " Lannie offered.

" Let me help with the dishes? "

" Of course not. That's what Pat is here for."

" Yes. It's my job, " Pat said. " Let me walk you out."

The evening was warm, the ever-present breeze tossing the fragrance of the flowers around them and Carly felt Pat's presence beside her. She was frightened. Part of her wanted Pat to take her in her arms and kiss her like no one before had ever done. But the sane part, the part that knew she couldn't handle that, prayed Pat would do no such thing.

" I'm glad you came tonight, " Pat said. " I had a great time with you."

" Me, too. It was fun."

The streetlights cast a soft glow around them and Carly finally gave in and met Pat's eyes. She wished she hadn't. Her blue eyes were warm, compassionate, just hinting at the desire that simmered beneath the surface.

Pat stepped closer, leaving little room between them. Carly's hands came up and pressed against Pat's shoulders, stopping her forward progress.

" Oh, God, Pat...please don't, " she whispered.

" Sorry. But you know I can't help it, Carly."

Carly decided it was the way Pat said her name that melted her completely. Her hands relaxed as she allowed Pat closer.

Pat felt Carly's lips yield under her own, felt as they opened to her. Carly's lips were soft, warm, responsive. The hands at her shoulders stopped pushing and relaxed, fingers digging into flesh instead. Pat wanted to grasp Carly's hips and hold her close. She wanted to feel Carly's tongue against her own. But she didn't. She pulled away, leaving Carly as breathless as she was.

" Please drive carefully. I'll see you next week."

Carly watched her walk away but she still stood there, stunned. No woman should be able to do this to her with just a kiss. Her body was on fire. It had taken all of her strength not to wrap her arms around Pat and beg her to touch her.

" You are in such big trouble, " she told herself.

Pat closed the door and leaned against it, trying to collect herself.

" What's wrong? " Angel asked.

" Nothing."

" Why haven't you told us about her? " Lannie asked. " She's great. How long have you been seeing each other? "

" We're not seeing each other, " Pat said.

" You mean you're not...involved? Come on."

Pat walked to the bar and sat down. " I think I could be in trouble here, " she said. " I think I'm in love with her."

" I thought you weren't seeing each other? "

" We're not. That's why I'm in trouble."