An odd light flickered in Bess’s eyes. “Is that how you know it’s real? When it hurts?”
“It’s one of the top symptoms.” She opened her eyes again. This time, there was a trace of hope mixed with the tears. “Do you really think he’s unhappy?”
“I know he is. Just talk, Lori. Hear each other out.”
“Maybe.” She gave Bess’s hand a quick squeeze, then reached for her coffee again. “I wasn’t going to dump this on you first thing.”
“What are pals for?”
“Well, pal, we’d better get to work, or a lot of people will be out of a job.”
“Great. I’ve been playing with the dialogue in that scene between Storm and Jade. We want to bump up the sexual tension.”
Lori was already nodding and booting up the computer. “You’re the dialogue champ,” she began, then glanced up. “So why were you late?”
“It’s not important. We’ve got them running into each other at the station house. The long look first, then—”
“Bess, you’re only making me more curious. Get it out of the way, or I won’t be able to work.”
“Okay.” She was all but bursting to tell, in any case. “I was with Alexi.”
“I thought that was yesterday.”
“It was.” Bess’s smile spread. “And last night. And this morning. Oh, Lori, it’s incredible. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”
“Right.” She started to pick up her reading glasses, then looked up again. For a moment, she did nothing but study Bess’s face. “Say that again.”
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”
“Good grief.” On a quick huff of breath, Lori sat back. “I think you mean it.”
“It’s different.” With a half laugh, Bess pressed a hand to her cheek. “It’s scary, and it hurts, and sometimes I look at him and I can’t even breathe. I’m so afraid he might take a good look at me and realize his mistake.” She let her hand drop away. “It’s supposed to be easy.”
“No.” Slowly Lori shook her head. “That was alwaysyourmistake. It’s supposed to be hard, and scary and real.”
“There’s this clutching around my heart.”
“Yeah.”
“And... and...” Frustrated, Bess turned, scooting around a chair so that she could pace the length of the table. “And my stomach’s all tied up in knots one minute. The next I feel so happy I can hardly bear it. When we were together last night...” No way to describe it, she thought. No possible way. “Lori, I swear, no one’s ever made me feel like that. And this morning, when I woke up beside him, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
Lori rose, held out a hand. “Congratulations, McNee. You’ve finally made it.”
“Looks that way.” With a laugh, she threw her arms around Lori and squeezed. “Why didn’t you ever tell me how it feels?”
“It’s something you have to experience firsthand. How about him?”
“He loves me.” She felt foolish and weepy. Digging through her bag she found a tattered tissue. “He told me. He looked at me, and he told me. But—”
“Oh-oh.”
“He doesn’t want me to tell him how I feel.” Hissing a breath through her teeth, she pressed a hand to her stomach. “Oh, God, it hurts. It hurts everywhere when I realize he doesn’t trust me enough. He thinks it’s like all the other times. Why shouldn’t he? But I want him to know it’s not—and I don’t know how.”
“He only has to look at you.”
“It’s not enough.” Calmer now, Bess blew her nose. “Everything’s different this time. I guess I have to prove myself. I do love him, Lori.”
“I can see that. I wasn’t sure I ever would.” Touched, she lifted a hand to Bess’s hair. “You could take your own advice, and talk to him.”
