Bending down, she gave Ryan a simple kiss to convey her heartfelt gratitude. She placed her palms against the smooth surface of Ryan’s cheeks and for the first time noticed the cut on her lip.
“What happened to you?” Tobi asked, running her thumb lightly over Ryan’s bottom lip.
“We had some problems with a suspect earlier. She took offense to the fact that she was under arrest. It’s no big deal; I wasn’t paying attention and got caught by a flailing fist.”
“Does it hurt?”
“It’s okay, really. It’s just a little sore.”
“I want you to promise me something, Ryan. I want you to promise me that you will take extra care of yourself out there because I’d be lost if anything ever happened to you.”
Ryan stared into Tobi’s eyes for a brief moment and finally answered, in almost a whisper, “I promise.”
Tobi leaned down and placed a tender kiss against the cut on her lip. With a hand around the nape of Ryan’s neck, Tobi pulled her head gently to her chest and wrapped her arms around her.
Tobi held her tightly for a few minutes then let her hands slide down Ryan’s arms before pulling her to her feet.
“C’mon, let’s go get something to eat,” Tobi said.
Ryan smiled and waited while she locked the door. As they walked side by side, Tobi reveled in the feelings of being loved and protected.
Piercing dark eyes locked on the two women as they entered the elevator. The closing doors swept across his line of vision, breaking his fixation on the women. “And now, I’ve found your weakness,” he spat as he turned and walked away.
fter stopping at Ryan’s house so she could pick up some things, they grabbed some takeout before A heading to Tobi’s. They were both lost in their own thoughts, making the ride home a little subdued. Ryan knew Tobi had to be thinking about the “silent caller.” Although she wasn’t outwardly showing any fear, Ryan knew his calls had shaken her.
Tobi maintained some kind of physical contact during the entire ride, whether it was her hand on Ryan’s thigh or her fingers curled around hers.
Ryan pulled into the driveway, stepped out, and walked around to open Tobi’s door. She grabbed her bag from the floorboard and threw the strap over her shoulder, then lifted the sack of food from Tobi’s lap. Ryan waited for Tobi to climb down from the Jeep, but she sat there for a moment before looking into Ryan’s eyes.
“You really are very sweet, Ryan.”
Ryan smiled and blushed as she held out her free hand for Tobi. Making their way into the front foyer, Ryan put down the bags, closed the door, and turned the locks. She leaned her forehead against the door as she felt the warmth of Tobi’s hands on her back. Tobi’s hands slid around her waist. A sigh escaped from Ryan when she felt the length of Tobi press against her.
Ryan turned in Tobi’s arms and kissed her on the forehead before looking into her eyes.
“You ready to eat some dinner?” Ryan asked softly.
“Yes. Actually, I’m starving.”
Ryan picked up the bag of food, took Tobi’s hand, and led her to the kitchen. Tobi grabbed a couple of plates while Ryan fixed them something to drink.
Tobi dished out the fish and fries along with a side of cole slaw. She set the plates on the small square table and took a seat.
Ryan smiled as she handed Tobi her glass and sat down next to her.
“Mmm, this smells great. I don’t think I’ve ever had their food before,” Ryan said, taking a bite. “This is really good.”
“It’s one of my favorite places. They have the best fried fish.”
As they ate dinner, Ryan carefully avoided mentioning the caller so as not to spoil the meal. After they finished eating, Ryan sent Tobi off to the living room while she cleaned up. She was postponing the inevitable, knowing it would not be pleasant for Tobi. There were questions that had to be asked, and Ryan was afraid they might offend her. Flicking the light off, she walked into the living room and sat on the couch, close to Tobi, but not touching. Ryan needed a clear head and being too close to Tobi would not allow that.
“Do you feel up to a few questions about earlier?”
Nodding her head, Tobi replied, “I knew the law enforcement side of you couldn’t hold out for much longer. Ask away, Sergeant Thomas.”
Ryan smiled gratefully and cleared her throat. “For starters, I’m going to ask the obvious. Is there anyone you are aware of who would have some kind of vendetta against you? Anyone who would have a reason for saying what he did?”
“I thought about that on the way home. In the more than two years that I’ve been at this university, I can’t recall a time when I’ve had such a heated discussion with anyone that it would warrant any kind of revenge. That’s not to say that I haven’t had disagreements with colleagues, but those were professional and nothing of a personal nature.”
“What about any patients? Was there anything beyond the professional realm of things?” Ryan knew this question would not be welcomed, and by the look on Tobi’s face, she was right.
Please, baby, don’t be angry.
Tobi stood and paced a few feet away before turning. “Ryan, if you are suggesting in any way that I had a personal relationship with a patient, then you are wrong!”
“I had to ask,” Ryan responded quietly.
Damn!
Sighing dejectedly, Ryan leaned back against the couch and closed her eyes. She knew this was hard on Tobi, and she hated that she was the one making it harder. Ryan had hoped that Tobi would see the question for what it was, and not as a personal attack on her character. Ryan wondered how long the doctor was going to be angry, but she didn’t have to wait long.
“I’m sorry,” Tobi whispered, slipping onto the couch next to Ryan.
Taking Tobi’s hand in hers, Ryan gently traced the outline of her hand before lacing her fingers within Tobi’s. “So am I.”
“Don’t be sorry for doing your job. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
“Do you think you can answer one more question for me?”
“I’ll answer any questions you have.”
“On a professional level, have you had any complaints from a patient? Were there any disagreements on a diagnosis or an exam with a less-than-stellar prognosis? Is there anything that you can remember a patient becoming upset about?”
“Nothing,” Tobi said, shaking her head. “Nothing comes to mind. It’s not a perfect world, and there are bad things that happen to good people, but I’ve never had someone threaten me.”
“If you think of anything, please tell me, okay?”
“I will. So…where do we go from here?”
“At this point, we just have to wait and see if he contacts you again. I know that seems like a cop out, but there really isn’t anything more we can do until we have more to go on.”
“No, I understand.”
They both remained silent for some time. Tobi laid her head back and closed her eyes while Ryan propped her head in her hand and studied an unguarded Tobi. Her skin, Ryan knew, was so soft, and her features, to Ryan’s eyes, were just so perfect. Blond eyebrows and eyelashes gave her face an almost serene, angelic look.
She is so incredibly beautiful. She could have absolutely
anybody she wanted, so why me? How did I get so lucky?
Ryan glanced at the clock and realized it was getting late and that they should call it a day. She bounced Tobi’s hand lightly in hers and waited for Tobi to look in her direction. When she didn’t, Ryan thought she was sleeping.
“Tobi?”
“Hmm?”
“I thought you had fallen asleep.”
“No, I was just waiting for you to finish ogling me.”
With a startled gasp, Ryan responded, “I was not ogling you.”
“Okay, you were checking me out then,” Tobi said, laughing.
“I most certainly was not checking you out.” Tobi rolled her head toward Ryan and looked knowingly into her eyes. Realizing she was caught, Ryan grinned. “Maybe I was looking at you, but I was not ogling you or checking you out. I was just thinking about how beautiful you are and how lucky I am,” she said, grasping her lower lip between her teeth.
Tobi rubbed her thumb across Ryan’s lower lip. “I’m the lucky one. I didn’t realize what I was missing in my life until the day I met you.” Tobi’s heart was bursting with emotion and this time she was pretty sure it was love. Love for this tough cop in her life. Love for Ryan.
Ryan leaned toward her and placed her lips on Tobi’s as her eyes fluttered closed. She put her arms around Tobi and pulled her down so she was lying across Ryan’s body. The full press of Tobi’s body against her made Ryan’s body tingle in anticipation.
Sweet Jesus she feels good against me!
Tobi groaned in delight and intensified an already hungry kiss.
She slid a thigh between Ryan’s legs, pushing them open a little farther.
“Yes,” Ryan panted and opened her eyes.
Tobi felt Ryan tremble and lifted her mouth away long enough to see arousal darken Ryan’s eyes.
She is so, so beautiful.
Tobi leaned back down and claimed Ryan’s lips in a mind-numbing passionate kiss.
Ryan couldn’t stop her hips from pressing against Tobi. She pulled her mouth away and rested her hot, flushed cheek next to Tobi’s. Feeling Tobi’s moist lips nipping at her neck, she tilted her head back, silently urging Tobi lower.
Christ! I could die now and be happy!
Ryan thought just before Tobi bit the sensitive skin at the base of her neck. A fierce yet pleasurable pain raced down her body, landing with an urgent crash on her clit.
“Oh, God, you have no idea what you are doing to me,” Ryan said in a throaty whisper. She reached between their bodies and raked her palm across Tobi’s breast, making her already awakening nipple even harder.
Tobi gasped and reflexively clenched her legs, trying to ease the heavy ache growing between her thighs. In the corner of her mind she knew they were moving a little too fast and that one of them, reluctantly, needed to slow things down. She was afraid that the strain of the day was pushing their emotions further than either of them was ready for.
“Ryan, wait,” Tobi said hoarsely as she pulled away. “We need to stop. It’s late, and we’ve both had a stressful day.”
Ryan took a deep breath, let it out, and nodded in agreement.
Tobi traced Ryan’s lip and winced. “I think I split your lip back open.”
Ryan ran her tongue across her lip and could feel the faint sting of the open cut. Catching her breath, she sighed, “I’m quite certain this isn’t the most romantic setting, either.”
“No, it’s not,” Tobi said, laughing as she gazed at Ryan’s feet dangling over the edge of the couch.
Tobi lifted her body from Ryan’s and stood. She waited until Ryan was sitting up and then extended her hand to pull Ryan to her feet. Lights off and locks checked one last time, they made their way to bed.
After dropping Tobi off at work the next morning, Ryan drove to the precinct. She had an hour before her shift started, so she thought she might have a chance to talk to Jake. He always arrived early to use the gym, and she had no doubt that he would already be there. Ryan changed into shorts and a T-shirt, closed her locker, and went in search of him. Finding him in the weight room, she strolled over to where he was using the free weights. She leaned against the mirror to watch, and waited until he noticed her standing there.
“Hey there, kiddo. What are you doing here so early?”
“Can’t a girl just come to work out?”
He looked at Ryan cynically before setting the weights down and giving her his full attention.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“You know me too well, my dear friend. I need some insight on something.”
“Go on.”
“Last night, Tobi got a phone call in her office. The man called twice, both times not saying a word. On the third call, he told her, ‘I know who you are, and very soon, you will know who I am.’ It shook her up pretty bad. We talked it over and she couldn’t find a reason for anybody to be calling her and saying that. I don’t know what to think of this, Jake.” Running her hand through her hair, she waited for him to respond. Ryan knew what he was going to say because she kept telling herself the same thing over and over.
“You know there is really nothing we can do until he makes another move. We have no way of knowing who this man is or what he wants.”
“I know, I know,” Ryan said, exasperated. Pacing in front of him, she said, “I just can’t sit by and watch her get hurt. I just can’t do it.”
Jake placed his hand on her arm, and Ryan stopped.
“We’ll do everything we can. If this wasn’t a prank call then he’ll make another move. Hopefully he’ll be a little careless, and we can get some kind of lead to work from. Ryan, they all make mistakes sooner or later. Just hang in there. You need to be strong, if not for yourself, then for Tobi.”
“Thanks, I knew I could count on you to help.”
“Always, honey, and don’t you forget that.”
Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and Ryan swatted him away. “You stink,” she said, laughing.
“That’s not what Tim says when I sweat,” he said with a wink.
“That is way more information than I needed to know, Jake!”
“I’ll see you in report, sweetheart.”
Watching him walk away, Ryan contemplated their conversation. She knew he was right, and she really didn’t have anything else to go on. So, until this man made another move, they would just have to sit and wait.
“Marcy, can you come here for a second?” Tobi called from her office.
“Did you need something, Tobi?”
“Do you know where those reports that I left on my desk last night went to? I was almost certain that I left them here on the corner.”
“I didn’t see any reports when I laid the mail on your desk this morning. Are you sure you didn’t place them somewhere else?”
Tobi thought back to the past evening’s events; her confusion and fear when she left the office kept her from being a hundred percent sure where anything was at this point. Not wanting to alarm Marcy, she decided to keep quiet about the phone calls.
“No, I’m not positive. If I can’t find them, can you reprint them? I know it means extra work for you, and I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not a problem, Tobi. Don’t worry about it.”