“No reason. Having you here just makes me happy, happier than I’ve been in a very long time.”
“Then, I look forward to an abundance of these happy mornings,” Tobi replied, kissing her cheek. She left a hand against Ryan’s cheek and whispered in her ear, “I love you.”
Tobi wrapped her arms around Ryan and felt her tremble. She hoped her comment about more happy mornings was making Ryan shake in a good way. With Ryan’s cheek resting against hers, Tobi could hear her breathing and knew that she was trying to calm herself. Knowing Ryan and the things she had shared about her past, Tobi was almost certain the intensity of the night before and this morning must have surprised her. As she leaned back in the circle of Ryan’s arms, Tobi finally noticed the chilly morning air.
“Why don’t we get dressed and you can call your mom,” Tobi said.
“What, you don’t like what I’m wearing?” Ryan asked, mischievously
Tobi ran a hand over Ryan’s skimpy T-shirt before responding. “Oh, I like it all right. That’s the problem. If you don’t get dressed soon we’ll never make it out of here.”
“Okay, okay, I see your point.”
“Ryan, you don’t think she’ll mind my coming over and camping out for the day, do you?”
Laughing, Ryan replied, “Mom? No, she won’t mind at all.
She’ll probably welcome the chance to quiz you for more details.”
“Details?”
“About us, honey.”
“I see, and what exactly would you like me to tell her?”
“Anything you want. I trust you.”
Tobi regarded her silently.
I trust you.
Those three little words conveyed more than Ryan would ever know. They went from taking small steps to giant leaps; it felt a little overwhelming, but it was a welcome feeling nonetheless.
“C’mon, honey, let’s get dressed,” Tobi said, taking her by the hand.
“I’ll give Mom a call and then—,” Ryan stopped abruptly when she entered the bathroom and caught Tobi’s reflection in the mirror. Tobi was completely naked except for the flirtatious grin on her face.
“And then?” Tobi teased without turning around.
Ryan couldn’t look away from her image even if she had tried.
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Tobi, cupping a breast in each hand. She rolled puckered nipples between her fingers and pressed her body into Tobi’s.
Tobi gasped and fell back against Ryan. “And then what, Ryan?”
Ryan swung her around and then lifted her onto the vanity.
She moved between Tobi’s thighs, pulling her hips closer at the same time. She leaned forward and licked a path up Tobi’s neck to her ear.
“And then this,” she whispered and proceeded to show Tobi the affect that saucy smile had on her. The delay was more than worth it.
Ryan glanced at the clock, knowing she didn’t have much time before she needed to head into the precinct. She grabbed the phone and sat in the recliner, curled one leg under the other, and placed the call to her mom.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Mom.”
“Well, hello, honey. What a pleasant surprise hearing from you today. What’s up?”
“Can’t a girl just call and talk to her mother?” Ryan asked indignantly.
Grace laughed as she replied, “Ryan, as long as you’ve been old enough to talk, I’ve never known you to make small talk on the telephone. You just aren’t a phone person. So, as I said, what’s up?”
“That’s spooky, Mom. You know me too well.”
After Ryan filled her in on the details of Tobi’s attack, the break-in, and phone calls, Grace readily agreed to have Tobi stay with her as often as she wanted or needed.
“Thanks, Mom. We’ll be over shortly.”
“You’re welcome, honey. I’ll see you soon.”
Ryan clicked the phone off, laid it on the end table, and relaxed against the chair. She used her free foot to set the chair rocking and sighed, as she thought about all that had transpired in the last few months. What a wild ride it had been, but she wouldn’t change a thing, except for this psycho stalking Tobi. She wouldn’t have believed it possible to be in love with someone and feel the way she did about Tobi in such a short time.
Ryan peered up as she felt a hand caress the top of her head and met her lover’s eyes. With a smile, Tobi walked around the chair and perched herself on Ryan’s lap. Ryan wrapped her hands around Tobi’s waist and smiled in return.
“Is your mom all right with me coming over?”
“Of course. I told you she wouldn’t mind. Matter of fact, she’s looking forward to it.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Hmm, maybe.” Seeing the startled look on Tobi’s face, Ryan grinned. “No, my mom really likes you, Tobi. I think she’s looking forward to getting to know you a little better.”
“Ah, so I should turn on the charm a little, huh?”
“Honey, you don’t have to do anything differently; she likes you just the way you are.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
Ryan leaned forward and took Tobi’s lips in a slow passionate kiss. Nibbling her bottom lip, Ryan coaxed her mouth open, and their tongues met. Tobi slid her hands up Ryan’s arms and around her neck and pulled her closer so their chests were touching. Ryan could feel her nipples become taut, and her body was on fire. Tobi ended the kiss and took a deep breath, resting her forehead against Ryan’s chin. Ryan placed a kiss on her forehead, and began rocking again. With Tobi’s head resting against her chest, she closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the chair.
“I can feel your heart beating,” Tobi said, breaking the silence.
“I’m sure you can; it tends to beat a little faster and harder whenever you’re around.”
“Good to know, Sergeant, good to know.” She kissed Ryan’s chin and stood up. “We’d better get ready. You have to get to work, and I have a date with your mother,” Tobi said flippantly while heading up the stairs. Ryan laughed and pulled herself up to follow.
“Remember, if there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to call.”
“Ryan…” Tobi and Grace said in unison.
“Okay, okay…I’m going.”
Almost shyly, she leaned in and kissed Tobi. Folding Tobi within her arms, Ryan whispered, “I love you,” in her ear before releasing her.
Tobi whispered back, “I love you, too.”
Ryan hugged her mother, turned, and with a wave was gone.
Grace closed the door and turned to fix her gaze on Tobi.
“Tobi, please make yourself at home. I’ve got to do some things in the kitchen, so you can visit with me if you want, or you can just watch TV. There are some books on the shelf there. Help yourself if you’d like.”
“That’s very kind of you, Grace. I really appreciate everything. Would you mind if I sat in the kitchen with you?”
“Not at all, honey. C’mon.”
Tobi followed her into the kitchen where Grace motioned for her to have a seat. “Would you like something to drink?”
“You don’t have to wait on me.”
“All right, sweetie, the glasses are there,” Grace said, pointing,
“and you can help yourself to anything in the refrigerator. I also have a fresh pot of coffee.”
Tobi took a cup down and fixed some coffee before settling into a chair at the counter. As she sipped her coffee, Tobi watched Grace place various spices in a crock pot.
“How are you feeling?” Grace asked, glancing briefly over her shoulder at Tobi.
“I’m really not too bad, a little tired and a headache that comes and goes, but overall, I feel much better.”
“If you need to lie down, please do,” Grace said, turning around completely. “It won’t bother me a bit, honey.”
“Thank you, Grace.”
“Oh, you don’t have to thank me. You’re important and special to Ryan, and that makes you important and special to me.”
After wiping her hands on a dishtowel, Grace tossed it back on the counter before moving to Tobi’s side. “I’ve never seen Ryan take so quickly to someone as she has to you. I’ve always worried about her because she’s my baby but even more so after her last breakup.”
“With Stacey,” Tobi said, nodding her head.
“You know about her, huh?”
“Ryan told me what happened, yes.”
“I never liked that girl. She never wanted to spend time with our family, and when she did, she acted so put out. George kept telling me I wasn’t giving her a chance, but a mother can just sense these things.” George was Ryan’s father, and from what she had heard of him, he was the fairest man a person could ever meet.
“Seems like you were more than justified in the way you felt.”
“I wish I hadn’t been. To see my baby hurt that way…” Grace blinked her eyes rapidly, and Tobi knew she was fighting off tears.
“I understand, Grace, believe me. I’ve had some purely evil thoughts where that woman is concerned.”
Grace patted Tobi’s hand as she smiled tremulously. “I’m so happy you’re in her life. Please take care of her; she’s so very important to me.”
“I will do my absolute best.”
“Now then, do you like chicken and noodles?”
“Mmm, I love chicken and noodles,” Tobi said, practically drooling.
“It’s one of Ryan’s favorites, that and-”
“Mint chocolate chip ice cream,” they said at the same time.
Laughing, Grace walked around the counter and wrapped Tobi in a motherly hug. “I really like you, Tobi. I can see that you’re going to be very good for my daughter.” After placing a kiss on the top of her head, Grace took Tobi’s face between her hands and looked into her eyes.
“You look tired, sweetie. Why don’t you go lie down on the couch and rest for a while?”
“I am a little. I also have a slight headache,” Tobi admitted.
“Do you have something you can take?”
“Yes, Mom, I do,” Tobi said, smiling gently.
Grace chuckled as she rubbed her thumb lightly against Tobi’s cheek before motioning with her hand, “Well, get to it then.”
Tobi took a pain pill from her pocket and swallowed it with a sip of coffee. Grace waited for her to hop down from the chair before showing her into the living room.
“Go ahead and lie down, sweetie. After Ryan called earlier, I brought a pillow and blanket out for you in case you wanted to rest.”
Tobi curled up on the couch and shifted the pillow more comfortably under her head. Grace pulled a blanket over her and tucked it around her shoulders before reaching under the blanket to slip her shoes off and tuck her feet in.
“Sleep well, Tobi,” Grace said with a fond caress to Tobi’s hair.
“Thank you,” Tobi murmured before falling fast asleep.
As Grace stood there watching for a few more moments, she slowly smiled to herself.
Oh, Ryan, did you ever hit the jackpot
with this charming young woman.
Moving toward the doorway, she looked one last time at the sleeping form on the couch before disappearing into the kitchen.
yan, why don’t you just call her? You know it’s going to drive you nuts if you don’t,” Jake said as they R pulled to a stop at a red light.
Ryan tapped her foot and shifted in her seat. “Jake, if I keep calling, my mother is going to think I’ve lost it. I’ve called twice already, and everything is fine.”
Jake turned the police radio down a notch before turning his attention to Ryan. “Then, why are you so damned fidgety?”
“I can’t help it,” she said, glancing out the car window. “This whole thing is starting to grate on my nerves something fierce. I don’t like knowing that psycho son of a bitch is still out there.”
Ryan turned back to look at Jake, threw her hand out in exasperation and said, “What’s more, I don’t even know who the hell he is.”
“I know, but just calm down. We’re going to get him.”
“When, Jake? When it’s too damned late to do anything about it?” Frustrated, Ryan ran her hand over her hair and stared out the side window of the patrol car. She knew Jake was right but damned if she could help what was going on inside her head. Ryan wanted this bastard, and she wanted him now. “I’m sorry. I’m just scared for Tobi. It’s getting too dangerous, and I feel so helpless.”
Jake patted her leg before taking the wheel again to move through the green light. “I do understand. I know it’s difficult sitting back and not being able to control any of this right now, but we will get him. We’ve sent in the request for the phone records; now, we just have to wait.”
“I know,” Ryan sighed. She needed to take her mind off the situation. Changing the subject, she asked, “How is Tim doing?”
“He’s doing great. The flower shop has been booming with business. He hired another lady to help him out during the day since he’s gotten so busy. She’s in her seventies, but he swears she runs circles around him,” he said, laughing.
“Now, that I find hard to believe. I’ve never met a person with more energy than Tim. He wears me out just watching him.”
“He thinks the sun rises and sets around her. She is very good, though. Her bouquets are absolutely beautiful. Speaking of which, you should send something to Tobi.”
“That’s not a bad idea, Jakey,” Ryan said, lightly punching him in the arm.
Two hours later, after dealing with a drunk and disorderly who decided to puke in the back of the car, Jake decided it was time for lunch.
“Jake, how can you eat after the smell in that car?”
“I’m hungry, what can I say?”
As they slid into a booth, a waitress appeared to take their order.
“I’ll have the cheeseburger platter and a large Coke, please,”
Jake replied. Ryan was completely shocked because Jake was always so fanatical about eating healthy. It took a few seconds of prodding from the waitress before she gave her order.
“Uh, just a chicken Caesar salad and an iced tea, thanks,” she said, handing the waitress the menu. She waited for her to leave before starting in on Jake.
“What the hell? You never order food like that. What’s going on?”
“Ryan, you don’t eat every meal with me. Besides, I’m happy and I’m starving.”
“Yeah, but…are you sure nothing is wrong?”
“I’m positive. Look, I’m just in a peaceful stage in my life right now. I’m with the man of my dreams, and one of my best friends has finally found the woman of her dreams. I’ll pay for it later, but right now, I’m going to enjoy it.”
“She is pretty amazing, isn’t she?” Ryan said with a huge smile.