She purposely pretended she didn’t hear the stealthy steps until they were almost upon her.
“We’ve been apart way too long, lover,” she said in a sultry voice. She smiled as she heard her stalker abruptly stop. She completed her last leg lift, but still didn’t turn around. “And I’m glad you’re here.” She reached to point out a spot on the back of her neck. “I really need a kiss right there.”
After she felt warm lips caress the back of her neck, she closed her eyes and turned her head to capture those same lips with her own. Her eyes flew open when she realized the mouth tasted familiar, but not like Skyler’s.
“Wow, I should go out of town more weekends if that’s the greeting I’m going to get when I return.”
“Tory! I… I didn’t know. What are you doing out here so early in the morning?”
The vet’s grin began to fade and confusion washed over her face. “I got in late last night, but I just had an emergency call out this way so I thought I’d drop in. I knew you’d be up here starting your daily routine.” She began to frown. “If you didn’t know it was me, exactly who did you think it could be?”
Jessica’s mind raced. She hadn’t had time to think about how to tell Tory they could only be friends.
The tall vet stiffened at Jessica’s hesitation. “I know we just had a few casual dates, but I thought you would have mentioned if you were seeing someone else, too.”
At that moment, the gymnasium door swung open. Jessica rolled her eyes. Apparently her workout had become Grand Central Station. Skyler hesitated when she saw Tory.
“Tory just finished up an emergency out this way.” Jessica knew her voice sounded strained.
Tory’s green eyes turned angry as realization dawned. “Oh, I see. I’m gone only one weekend and the resident fox has been in the hen house.” She started for the door.
“Tory, please wait,” Jessica pleaded.
Tory stopped her retreat and paused for a moment before turning around. The hurt was evident in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Jess,” she said stiffly. “But don’t come looking for me when Skyler jumps to the next woman. I don’t take her leftovers. It would keep me way too busy.”
“Okay, I deserve that,” Skyler said. “But, Tory, this is not like that.”
“Are you telling me I’m mistaken, and you two aren’t sleeping together?”
“No, but—”
“That’s all I need to know.” Tory strode out the door.
Skyler crossed the room and took Jessica in her arms. “That didn’t go too well, did it?”
“It’s not your fault.” Jessica relaxed into her lover’s embrace. “I should have told her.”
“Don’t worry, babe. Tory has a good head on her shoulders. After a while, she’ll realize that we are really in love. She’ll understand that this has nothing to do with her. Besides, she has women lining up. Someone will take your place.”
“I didn’t think I could be that easily replaced.”
Skyler laughed at her pout. “Speaking as your lover, you, my delicious vixen, could never be replaced.”
“Good answer,” Jessica purred.
“But, speaking as your trainer, you have to get back to work and I have a barn full of horses looking for their breakfast.”
“Slave driver,” Jessica replied, tilting her head for another kiss.
At lunchtime, Jessica limped up the stairs to her bathroom to inject her knee before Rampage’s afternoon gallops. The knee was swollen and bruised from the constant injections. But it was only a few months until Christmas, and, after the holidays, Rampage’s workouts would begin to grow shorter so that he would peak at the March trials.
When her knee began to numb, she headed for the kitchen to make a sandwich. As she placed the makings on the kitchen island, she noticed Kate sitting alone on the patio. She had taken Charlie’s leaving very hard, and seeing her and Skyler so happy together probably made her feel even more alone. Jessica frowned. She’d been pretty insensitive.
She grabbed a couple of sodas from the refrigerator and went to join Kate.