Athena smiled. “Hurry, because I need in there next. I’ll pour us some wine, and we can pick up where we left off.”
“Purrrfect.” Flash brushed her lips, sending a fresh wave of desire rushing through her. She hurried back and settled on the couch, taking a sip of wine while she waited for Athena. Oddly, her thoughts drifted back to yesterday, when Athena visited the firehouse.
Athena radiated strength and passion when she returned, her hair down and brushed to a gloss, her pullover blouse revealing part of one shoulder.Did she take her bra off in there? What does she have on under those capris? Panties, a thong … nothing?
But could Flash stay on task? No. She had to ask. “Did Edwards get in trouble? Yesterday, after the meeting, he left without a word to anyone, so …”
Chapter 14
“Not exactly,” Athena answered as she slid onto the couch beside Flash. The date had been magical, and she was so ready to spend hours worshiping Flash’s body and being carried away on the wings of her lovemaking. She’d dispense with this question and move on to the main event.
“But you weren’t kidding about that one,” Athena continued. “After going through a slew of excuses, Edwards finally confessed that the reason he omitted the evidence you pointed out was so he could prove that he was in charge and not you.”
“What?” Flash gaped, blinking her gorgeous brandy eyes as they heated like Baltic amber over hot coals. “That’s just …” She blinked, stunned, words failing her.
“Highly unprofessional?” Athena supplied.
“You’ve got that right,” Flash muttered. Downing a sip of her wine, she set the glass on the little coffee table and slouched against the cushions. “But they didn’t fire him?”
“No. Captain O’Riley is sending him for further training, and, I suppose, based on his prior record, they’re giving him a second chance.”
“That’s fair.” Flash stared out the window across the room, the romantic winds seeming to have fallen from her sails. Athena needed to reinflate them. She scooted closer, purposefully rubbing her leg against Flash’s.
“I know you would make a far superior lieutenant to clueless, insecure Edwards. You could easily edge him out and take his job, stay with the crew you love, and run things much more efficiently.” Athena’s roaming fingers toyed with Flash’s hair, where it fell above her ear. “I don’t understand your reluctance to seek promotion. You’d be great—”
Flash shot off the sofa, stomping a few feet before spinning around. “I’m not good enough for you, is that it?” she fumed, her face reddening and a vein pumping in her neck. “Embarrassed to be with a blue-collar worker?”
The sudden outburst shocked Athena, immediately throwing her onto the defensive. “Flash, what are you talking about? You’re more than good enough for me, and what’s that supposed to mean?” Athena fought to keep her composure, truly baffled and a little scared.
“You keep hinting at it,” Flash stormed as she paced, raking long fingers through her short sweep of hair. “If I were an officer, we’d be on more equal footing, not that I could ever rise as high in rank as you have, nor will I ever make as much money.”
“Money!” Incensed, Athena sprang to her feet. “Do you think I give a flip about money?”
Flash laughed. “Of course you do! Look at your car, your wardrobe, your mansion and bank accounts. You’re a freaking millionaire and I live paycheck to paycheck. I can’t even buy you a gift because what can I give the woman who can buy anything she wants herself?”
“How dare you! What have I ever said or done to make you think I’m that shallow and elitist?” Athena, wounded by the sharp barb, prowled after Flash in the tiny condo living room. “Nobody but you even knows I own that house. OK, Cam. But we’ve been best friends for years. Sure, I have a reliable car and nice clothes because I need them for my job.”
“Reliable?” Flash scoffed. “And, no, I’m not accusing you of being an elitist. I’m merely pointing out why you’re going to dump me down the line, because I don’t measure up.”
“Youdon’t measure up?” Athena shouted incredulously. “You embody physical perfection, while I’m finding it hard to get off the floor anymore. You can run circles around me.”
“And you’re drop-dead gorgeous,” Flash roared back in an accusing manner, “so don’t even try to play the physical card with me. You’re brilliant, and will soon be bored with me. And even if we both have dangerous jobs and work crazy hours, I can’t imagine you find mine appealing. I don’t want to get hurt even more down the line. I really wanted this to work … but, if you don’t respect me, what’s the point?”
“Flash, I respect you just fine, but it seems you have no respect for me if you think all I care about is money and status.” Athena planted her feet and crossed her arms, a resolute ferocity on her face. “So, what do you want me to do? Give it all away? OK, sure, fine then.” She threw her hands in the air. “I can give it all to charity, even sell the nice house, if it makes you happy. The only reason I’ve kept the money is as a safety net. When you’re staring at fifty, you have to think about medical bills and contingencies. Even with insurance, a major illness or off-the-job accident could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars in no time. What if I need a knee replacement or get cancer or something? It’s just nice to know I wouldn’t have to worry or go into debt up to my eyeballs over medical expenses.”
Flash finally stopped pacing, shoulders slumped in a defeated posture. Lifting a palm and her gaze, she responded, “I don’t want you to do that. It’s nice to hear that you’re willing to, but then you’dreallygrow to resent me. It’s not that I mind you having money—and everything you said is true—it’s just … I don’t know. I want to be able to provide for you, to take care of you, and it bothers me that I’ll never be able to do that. Besides, every other relationship I’ve tried has failed. Why will this one be any different?”
Athena exhaled, her shoulders relaxing. “First, there are other ways to take care of someone you love besides with your wallet. I can assure you, money doesn’t keep me warm at night, nor does it give me a shoulder to cry on or a hand to lift me up when I fall. Money might be necessary, but it isn’t the most important thing. I’m insulted that you think I’d look down on you for the lack of it.” Athena didn’t even try to mask the hurt in her eyes as they met Flash’s.
“A lot of women would jump at the chance to have a sugar mama to buy them jewelry and expensive gifts, but I don’t care about any of that. I’m sorry. It’s just … all these doubts and worries, and everyone telling me I need to do this, and I need to do that.” She plopped onto the couch with a weary sigh. “And second?”
Roundingthe coffee table, Athena slid onto the sofa a foot away from Flash. “Maybe your previous relationships failed because they weren’t with the right woman, or perhaps you engaged in a heap of self-sabotage. Didn’t we just enjoy a perfect evening?”
“Yeah, and I had to blow it,” Flash admitted, burying her face in her hands.
“Maybe all these hidden feelings and fears needed to come out. I can’t know what’s going on inside your head if you don’t tell me, and we can’t deal with issues if I don’t know you’re struggling with them.”
Athena, with more life experience behind her, understood how crucial brutal honesty was in a relationship. Maybe if her husband had been truthful with her all those years ago, he wouldn’t have been blown to bits. Or, even if it hadn’t mattered, at least she would have been better prepared to handle the fallout. How would things have been different if she had been honest with her parents about her sexuality? Would they have cut off her inheritance, or would they have developed a closer relationship? Athena couldn’t answer those questions; she only realized that Flash held some reservations, and maybe she did too.
