THE ACCIDENT

By: Lorelai Huffman

Ten people; family, friends, co-workers and strangers…none of them knew on that morning on that bridge their worlds would collide.

Ten people going about their lives and then one morning an accident on the bridge in front of them causes a tractor trailer driver to lose control. A bank robbery, a fight and a police chase set up the scenario for these people to be on this bridge.

Will any of them survive? Will new love found be lost? Will old friends be reunited? Will any of them walk away from The Accident?

Chapter One

Katy and Jeff

Katy had her legs waxed and bought a new outfit for her date tonight with George and he had just called and said he had to cancel. Katy was ready to hit the town and decided then that George had lost his chance for a second date with her.

Katy went to her favorite bar that just happened to only be a five minute walk from her apartment and sat down and bought herself a drink.

Jeff Reynolds had called his best friend Ronnie and told him that he got a promotion today and that he and some other friends were hitting the town. Ronnie told him there was this great bar down the street from his apartment that had a lot of hot women so they decided to go there.

Jeff and his friends walked right behind Katy without noticing her. She had ordered herself a second drink and was talking to her friend Mick, who was the bartender. She knew things wouldn't pick up for an hour or so yet.

The waitress took Jeff's credit card and got the drink orders for their table. They each ordered a beer and a shot to toast Jeff's promotion.

"So do you get a bigger office now?" Ronnie asked finishing his beer.

"No same office, but more money…"

"And more responsibility," Chuck finished as he called the waitress over for another round.

They had another round of beers and shots as Chuck said that Jeff was going corporate on them and he wouldn't be able to goof around with them anymore.

Katy was looking around the bar and spotted someone she knew. When Katy and Jeff's eyes met she gave him a quick smile and then turned away.

What is he doing here?

Ronnie elbowed Jeff, "Are you listening to me?"

"Oh sorry I was looking at…"

Ronnie turned his eyes to the bar, "I can see what you were looking at, nice eye."

"I'll be back in a minute." Jeff walked across the bar toward her.

Katy had just accepted a drink that a semi cute guy had bought her from the other end of the bar. She didn't see Jeff until he sat on the stool next to her.

Jeff pulled in the stool and leaned toward her since it was starting to get loud in there, "Can I buy you a drink?"

She gave him and awkward look and said, "Why?"

"I was just sitting over there with my friends and saw you sitting here and thought that you might want some company."

"No I'm good, but thanks."

Jeff motioned for the bar tender to get her another drink even though she had a full one in front of her.

"Just one drink couldn't hurt right?" he asked her and smiled.

"Jeffrey you just don't let up do you?"

He was shocked that she knew his name. The look of confusion on his face amused her, "You don't know who I am do you?"

He was quiet for a few seconds looking at her face and trying to come up with a name.

Was she someone I met one night? Is she someone I turned down…no way I would never walk away from someone who looked like her?

He had no choice but to admit that he didn't know who she was.

"No I don't," he said as Mick handed her the drink.

She held out her hand to shake his and he reached for hers, "Katy Nickson…I used to be Katy Nickson Reynolds."

Jeff stopped dead, stunned that he didn't recognize her…his ex-sister-in-law.

"Oh my…Katy?"

"It has been a while Jeff, but I always thought I was unforgettable."

"I'm sorry…you look…different."

Katy smiled, "How's your brother?"

Mick sat a beer in front of Jeff.

"He's in Paris with Amanda…Katy I'm sorry. I feel like an ass."

"It's been almost ten years Jeff."

"Still you were married to my brother for two years and I should have recognized you."

"Ok, then we both agree that you are a shallow ass."

Jeff smiled.

"So what have you been up to Mr. Reynolds?"

"In the last ten years…hmm I graduated high school and moved out of Mom and Dad's house and then they made me grow up. Pretty much it sucked."

Katy laughed.

"Are those your friends over there staring at us?"

Jeff turned around and his friends all waved like maniacs.

"You better get back to them."

"Katy, may I make it up to you by buying you lunch tomorrow?"

"Jeff you don't have to."

"I know I don't, but I feel like an ass and I want to make it up to you."

"Ok, where and when?"

Jeff pulled out his cell phone, "Give me your number and I will call you in the morning and let you know where, but I think when should be noon."

Katy took the cell phone from him and put in her number, "There you go."

"I will call you tomorrow."

Katy smiled and Jeff nodded and took his beer and headed back over to his friends.

"Hey man I had high hopes for you," Ronny said elbowing him.

"Ron, remember that girl Brandon married just before he graduated high school?"

"That little cheer leader girl…Kathy or Katy something wasn't it we got drunk at the reception?"

"Yes...Katy."

"Yeah, they were together like…what?"

"Two and a half years."

"Why?" Then it sank in, Ronnie looked at the bar and got a big smile on his face, "No way...you hit on your sister-in-law!"

"Ex-sister in law," Jeff corrected.

Katy sat and watched Jeff and his friends for a few minutes. She figured Jeff told them who she was because they seemed to be making fun of him. She was surprised that Jeff hadn't recognized her because he looked exactly the same.

Katy finished her two drinks and then headed home. It was starting to drizzle just as she reached the outside of her building. She dashed inside and up the stairs.

*****

When she unlocked and pushed open the door her roommate Lilly was sitting on the couch.

"Did you have a good night with Georgie Porgie?"

"No, Georgie canceled so I went out for a drink by myself."

"How lame."

"Thanks."

Katy poured herself a glass of orange juice.

"So did you meet anyone interesting at the bar?"

"Well as a matter of fact…"

Lilly looked up at her, "Hmm we met someone?"

"No, it's nothing."

Lilly walked over to the counter and looked into Katy's eyes, "Come on spill."

"This guy bought me a drink, but…"

"But what?"

"I can't see him."

"You are talking in circles."

Katy walked into the living room and pulled her photo album off the shelf. She opened up to the sixth page and turned around and showed the page to Lilly."

"That is your ex-husband and his family right?"

"Yes, that is my ex-husband Brandon and on the right this is his little brother Jeff."

Lilly looked up at her, "You made a pass at your brother-in-law?" Lilly started laughing hysterically.

"No I didn't…he made a pass at me."

"That is just sick."

"He didn't recognize me."

"So what did he say after you told him who you were?"

"He asked me to lunch tomorrow."

"You slut," Lilly said laughing and pushing Katy's arm.

"It isn't like that."

"Are you or are you not going to lunch with the brother of your ex-husband?"

"I'm not going to a motel with him."

"No, that comes on Sunday."

Katy closed the album and put it back on the self and shook her head at Lilly and finished her orange juice. Katy took a shower and got ready for bed. While she was brushing her teeth she was calculating how old Jeff would be now in her head.

He was eighteen when Brandon and she divorced that would make him twenty-eight now almost twenty-nine. And apparently the fact that she was thirty-two hadn't bothered him. Katy crawled under the covers still not sure why she had accepted Jeff's invitation to lunch. She hadn't spoken to anyone from the Reynolds family for years.

She and Brandon had grown apart after she had her miscarriage. They had gotten married because she was pregnant and they tried to make it work for a long time. She didn't love Brandon she had loved the idea of being with him and his family and having his child. The divorce was quick and easy and they parted as friends, and they had only spoken once since then. She had spoken to his mother a few times when they would run into each other, but then when Katy moved and went to college that wasn't an issue any more either.

******

Katy was still asleep at eight thirty when her cell phone rang. With her eyes still closed she grabbed it off the bedside table and put it to her ear.

She sleepily said, "Hello."

"Good morning," she heard Jeff say.

"Is it morning?" she asked as she pulled the covers over her head.

"Yes, I was out running and I was wondering if you would be interested in having breakfast with me."

Katy rubbed her eyes and tried to wake up. She yawned and slid up onto the pillows and opened her eyes and looked at the clock while Jeff waited patiently on the other end of the phone.

"Are you aware Mr. Reynolds that it is only eight thirty?"

"I am and in my defense I was up at six and waited until now to call and invite you to breakfast."

"Where?" Katy wasn't sure why, but she wanted to have breakfast with Jeff and she agreed without even thinking that there might be consequences.

"How about Chico's on fifth at nine thirty?"

"Ok…but I will most likely be late and I hate you right now."

"No problem…I will see you there at nine forty-five-ish I guess."

"Goodbye Jeff."

"Goodbye Katy."

Katy slid back down under the covers sat the phone on the bed next to her.

Running at six in the morning after being out drinking all night…he is nuts!

A few minutes later Katy rolled out of bed and drug herself into the kitchen. Lilly's door was still closed and Katy was tempted to bang pots and pans and make sure she was up too, but then she would have to discuss why she was having breakfast with her ex-brother-in-law."

Katy drank a glass of juice and took two aspirin before she jumped into the shower. She remembered a few years ago seeing the announcement of Brandon and Amanda's wedding in the paper. Amanda was beautiful and she came from a rich family. Katy had never wished for anything, but happiness for Brandon he had always been good to her.

By the time Katy came out of the bathroom Lilly was sitting on the couch drinking coffee.

"Good morning Sunshine!"

"Bite me Lil."

"What the hell are you doing up at this hour I never see you until at least noon on Saturdays?"

"Apparently I am being punished for something."

"And showered," Lilly said snickering. "Didn't you just shower a few hours ago?"

"Shut up Lil I'm tired," Katy said walking to her room to get dressed.

Katy slid on a pair of shorts and a lace top that she knew she looked good in and was looking for shoes when Lilly knocked on the door.

"Go away!"

Lilly pushed the door open, "Does this have anything to do with the brother-in-law?"

"Stop calling him that."

Lilly sat on the end of the bed, "You are asking for trouble girlfriend."

"By eating breakfast?"

"Ok Kate my girl I wasn't born yesterday and the guy in that picture is hot and I bet ten years didn't hurt."

Katy finally found the sandals that she was looking for and she picked them up and walked right passed Lilly and into the living room. Katy loved Lilly and she knew Lilly was only kidding with her, but Lilly was right she must be crazy to do this.

Katy and Lilly met in college and then got an apartment together when they graduated and have been best friends ever since and Lilly has never said anything to Katy that wasn't true and in Katy's best interest.

Katy hugged Lilly, "I will see you later."

"Have fun," Lilly said smiling and going in to make another cup of coffee.

Katy picked up her purse along with her sunglasses and keys by the door.

Katy walked down Central and turned onto Fourth. On the next block she turned down Wyatt and came out on the corner of Wyatt and Fifth right in front of Chico's restaurant.

Lilly and Katy ate there all the time and Katy loved the food, but she had never experienced Saturday breakfast there because she was always sleeping.

Jeff was sitting at one of the outside tables waiting for her. It was nine twenty-five and he was sitting there smiling with two glasses of orange juice and two menus sitting on the table in front of him.

He stood up when she walked over to the table, "Good morning...again."

Katy smiled as Jeff pulled her chair out for her.

"You go running at six in the morning?"

"It's too hot during the summer to run any other time."

Jeff handed Katy her menu and she sat her purse down and opened and looked at the menu. After a few seconds she realized that Jeff wasn't looking at his.

"You already know what you want?"

"Yes, I looked at the menu while I waited for you."

"So have you been to Romeo's before because I don't remember ever seeing you there?"

"No, my friend Ronnie recommended it; I had never been there before."

"And Ronnie recommended Chico's too?"

"Why yes he did. I usually stay over his apartment on Friday nights when we go out because we usually hang out on Saturdays. I assumed that you wouldn't go to a bar that was too far from where you live so Ronnie said Chico's served an awesome breakfast…and well here we are." Jeff smiled very proud of himself.

"May I ask you a question?"

Jeff smiled at her, "Sure."

"Did Ronnie say anything to you about having breakfast with me…what I mean is…?"

"You mean because you were married to Brandon?"

Katy smiled because she didn't have to explain, "Well…yes."

"Yes, he had a good time with it last night and then again this morning."

The waitress walked up to the table, "You guys ready?" "Hey Katy…where have you been? Do you want a BLT with double bacon, hash browns and a side of pancakes?"

Jeff snickered, "Gee Katy come here often?"

Katy smiled, "Yes, Nancy and could I please have some fresh fruit."

"No problem," Nancy said writing down the fresh fruit. "And you sir?"

"I'll have the same, but could you add two scrambled eggs and put them on the BLT please?"

"Sure, I will be right back with your fruit." Nancy picked up the menus and headed inside to get their order ready.

"Why did you order the same thing as me?"

"Because my dear Katy you apparently come here a lot and you must know what's good so I just followed suit." Jeff took his sunglasses off and sat them on the table. Jeff was never around when Katy and Brandon were dating and when they got married they had moved to the small cottage on the back of Brandon's parents land so she never real saw Jeff unless there was a major holiday so she never had a chance to notice how blue his eyes were.

"So Katy Nickson what have you been up to the last ten years?"

"You know I divorced your brother, moved away, went to college and had to grow up, it sucked!"

Jeff laughed and took a drink of his juice.

"No really?" He leaned in to wait for her answer.

Katy got butterflies in her stomach from the way those blue eyes were looking right through her. Luckily Nancy brought back the fruit and it broke the moment and it gave Katy something else to concentrate on.

"So how about we go for a walk in the park, our lunch reservation isn't until one o'clock?" Jeff asked smiling and popping a grape into his mouth.

"Lunch? We are eating breakfast together."

"Yes, but they were two separate invitations so just because you agreed to have breakfast with me doesn't mean you can un-agree to have lunch with me."

"Is that a fact?"

"Yes, it is because we live in a civilized society and that would be an incredibly rude thing to do right here to my face."

Katy laughed and shook her head at him as she took a drink of her juice.

"Are you sure you want to walk in the park it is supposed to rain today?"

Jeff looked up in the sky and held up his hands, "Not a cloud in the sky."

"Jeff Reynolds I am starting to think that you always get your way."

Jeff didn't respond, but he did move his fruit dish out of the way because he saw Nancy coming out with their food.

"Will there be anything else?" she asked as she sat the ketchup on the table.

"Thanks Nancy I think we're good," Katy said to her after Jeff nodded that he was fine.

Katy put ketchup on the plate next to her hash browns and then Jeff held out his hand for it. When he took the bottle from her and their fingers touched for a second and Jeff decided that he did make the right decision asking her to breakfast. He thought about her all night and he couldn't sleep. Ronnie wasn't happy when Jeff woke him up this morning to ask where to take her for breakfast, but the food was worth it.

"So Katy, are you seeing someone?"

After Katy swallowed her piece of pancake she said, "You mean like dating?"

"Yes."

"Why do you ask?"

"You were at the bar alone last night so I was just curious." Jeff knew that wasn't what she meant by her question, but that is what she was going to get for now.

"I actually was supposed to be on a second date last night, but he canceled at the last minute."

"So you went out anyway?"

"I did," she said smiling.

"Good for you," Jeff said smiling. Even better for me.

"So Jeff where are you working now?"

"I work at Cline and Cline advertising. I was just promoted to marketing director."

"That's awesome. When was your promotion?"

"Yesterday as a matter of fact."

"So you were out celebrating last night."

"I was."

Katy liked the way Jeff smiled with pride at his accomplishment. She also liked the way the breeze blew his hair off his forehead. "Then breakfast is on me."

"I can't let you do that Katy."

"Well I am the one on the first name basis with the staff here so try and stop me."

Her smile was amazing and Jeff couldn't stop staring at her.

"Well if you catch my hand in your purse later I will have been slipping the money for breakfast in there."

"You are too much."

They were both quiet while they ate the bulk of their breakfast until Jeff interrupted the silence.

"So what have you been doing?"

"I got a Master's Degree in Fine Arts and I minored in Art Education. During the school year I teach art at the middle school and on my off hours I paint."

"Really?"

"Yes and I have sold six of my paintings."

"That is incredible Katy." As he said it he touched her hand and then decided not to take it away to see what she would do.

"I like it. I think that you have to do what you love in order to feel fulfilled."

Jeff was happy that she hadn't moved her hand, "Yes sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and go after what you want."

"Are you finished?"

Jeff was confused for a second, "Oh you mean eating?" Katy smiled at him because he was laughing at himself. "Yes, you ready to walk in the park?" His heart was racing because she hadn't moved her hand away.

"Sure…as soon as I pay the check," she said with an evil smile.

Jeff used his free hand to signal for the check.

"Here you go guys, you have a nice weekend." Nancy walked away figuring she would come back in a minute to get the check.

Katy gently pulled her hand out from under his because she needed both to get the money out for breakfast. She put in a nice tip for Nancy and placed the check holder on the table.

Jeff stood up and pulled out her chair for her. Her long blonde hair brushed across his hand as he did. He wanted to reach out and touch it, but he knew not to push it. He was having an incredible time with his brother's ex-wife. She was amazing and he was drawn to her and at this point he didn't care what anyone thought.

Katy was glad that her sandals had no heel because of the walk to the park. It was less than a mile and she was happy that it was downhill. Unfortunately that meant walking up hill on the way back. Katy listened as Jeff talked about his promotion and what his new responsibilities were going to be. He showed genuine excitement in his voice as they walked to the park.

"So do you run every day?"

"I try to. I had the flu last year and couldn't run for four days."

"You poor thing," she said making a fake sad face.

"You don't understand if I don't run I get these nasty love handles because I eat well like…"

"You were still in high school?" she asked interrupting his thought process.

"Hey missy we all can't be like you. We all can't look as great as we did in high school."

"Oh please."

Jeff cut up between the trees so they could walk toward the ball field and he offered her his hand so she wouldn't trip over the big roots. Her hand was soft and warm and Jeff didn't want to let go of it.

Katy was careful not to trip on the big roots, but she was concentrating more on how nice her hand felt in his. He was strong and adorable and was obviously attracted to her, but she didn't know if she should let him know she felt the same.

After they were through the trees Katy gently pulled her hand out of Jeff's. They were walking over toward the ball field. There was a man painting lines so they assumed there would be a game later that day. Jeff sat on the end of the bleachers and patted next to him for Katy to sit down.

It was getting a little cloudy so he pushed his sunglasses up on top of his head. Katy in turn pushed hers up so she could look into his eyes.

Jeff was looking at her with her long hair falling around her shoulders and her big green eyes looking into his, "So no second date for the guy who canceled last night huh?"

"Yep."

"So I guess that meant he warranted a second date?"

"Yep."

"So what does one have to do to get a second date with you Miss Katy?" Jeff was very aware that his knee was touching hers and he wanted to hold her hand, but he didn't want to give her a reason to pull away from him.

Katy smiled, "Well the first thing would be not to wake me up early on a Saturday morning."

"Ouch!" Jeff faked falling off the bench as if she had slapped him.

Katy couldn't help, but laugh at his silliness. She noticed that the sky was getting a little dark.

"Maybe we should head back," she said touching his arm with her hand.

He placed his hand on hers so she wouldn't take it away, "What's wrong don't you believe in my weather detecting abilities?"

"I believe in your abilities Jeff, I am just saying that it is a long walk back if the skies open up."

Jeff knew at any second she was going to stand to go so while they were sitting so close he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, "Ok, let's go."

They hurried across the field and through the trees and had made it back to the main path when they heard the thunder. Katy could almost see the shower of rain as it raced across the street and through the park.

Jeff took her by the arms and shouted over the rain, "I will get us a cab."

Katy stood there in the pouring rain watching him try to get a cab. It was the funniest thing she had ever seen. The rain wasn't bothering her because the day had been hot and there wasn't much she could do about it now she was already soaked through. She had a good laugh at Jeff's expense.

However, she was stunned that after he finally got the cab that he ran back and picked her up into his arms and carried her to the cab. They crawled in the back soaking wet as the rain started to let up.

Jeff started to give the cab driver an address, but Katy interrupted him, "Eighteen thirty-two Pine please."

Jeff was laughing at her soaked hair and running make-up as he put his hands up and said as he was laughing, "I…am sooo sorry."

Katy just shook her head and laughed, "The second date guy is looking better all the time."

It only took a few minutes for the driver to pull up in front of Katy's building. By then the sun was back out.

Jeff paid the driver and they slid out onto the sidewalk. Jeff touched her arm as she unlocked the outdoor door, "Katy I'm really sorry."

Katy spun around and gave him a peck on his cheek, "Don't worry about it...its only water."

The little smile she gave him made his heart race. He held the door open for her and followed her up to the second floor and watched her unlock her apartment door.

"Lilly are you here?" she called as she pushed the door open. Lilly's door was closed, but she didn't respond so Katy figured she must have gone out. "Let me get you a towel."

Jeff closed the door and stood and waited for Katy to bring him a towel from the bathroom. She handed him the towel and he dried off his hair. He was watching her towel off her hair and he used his towel to dry her arms. When she turned around to face him she was wrapped in his towel.

Jeff leaned down toward her and she didn't pull away so he put his lips onto hers and kissed her gently. He felt Katy drop her towel so he dropped the one he had her wrapped in and pulled her against him.

Her kiss made him tingle all over. Jeff felt her shiver and he didn't know if it was his touch or the fact that they were standing there in soaking wet clothes, but he didn't care. Katy's lips were warm and welcoming and that was all that filled his mind.

Katy lightly touched his wet hair with her fingertips as she let Jeff pull her closer and closer. She had never thought of Jeff as anything, but Brandon's little brother who was wild and always running the streets. And now her mind was full of places and things that she wanted to share and do with him.

Jeff didn't want the kiss to end he was half afraid she would throw him out if it did so he scooped her up into his arms and sat on the couch with her.

Neither one of them had any idea how much time had passed on the couch as they held each other and kissed each other. Then Jeff's cell phone rang.

He gently pulled back and looked into her eyes, "I can let it go to voicemail."

Katy leaned up so he could reach the phone and as he answered it she walked into her room to change out of her wet clothes.

"Yes Mom," he said answering the phone as he watched Katy walk into her bedroom and close the door.

"Jeffrey, don't forget that you are supposed to join your father and me for dinner tonight."

"Mom, I totally forgot and it's a forty-five minute drive can I do it next week?"

"No you may not. I am calling you early enough to remind you that you promised and I expect to see you here at seven."

"Yes ma'am."

"Goodbye Jeffrey."

"Goodbye Mom."

Katy threw her clothes on the back of her chair and slipped on a t-shirt and shorts. She didn't realize how transparent her lace top was until she went to change.

Mental note…not a good top for rain.

She quickly redid her makeup and then walked back out into the living room.

"Well you look all dry and beautiful," Jeff said walking across the floor to meet her.

"Lilly's brother Carl leaves extra clothes here, how about if you change and I will throw yours in the dryer?"

"Ok," Jeff said moving closer to her and leaning down and kissing her on the lips

Katy smiled and she went into Lilly's room to find something of Carl's out for Jeff. She hated how nice and neat Lilly kept her room. It looked like something out of a magazine and her bed was always made. She told Lilly all the time that she hated her for being so perfect.

Katy's room had all her art supplies and her make-up everywhere and her closet couldn't fit another piece of clothing or another pair of shoes. She was always running late in the mornings when she worked so her bed wasn't usually made. But she loved laundry day when Lilly would put a fresh sheet on her bed and make it for her. The covers were always so smooth and smelled so good.

"Here you go," Katy said as she pulled Lilly's door closed and handed Jeff the shorts and t-shirt.

"Thanks." Jeff smiled at her and then went into the bathroom to change. Katy grabbed her clothes from her room and tossed them in the dryer and stood outside the bathroom and waited for Jeff's.

"Come on clothes mister, I don't have all day," she jokingly shouted through the bathroom door.

Jeff cracked the door and handed out his clothes.

"Thanks." She took them and tossed them in the dryer.

Hmm boxers.

"I think we are going to miss our reservation," Jeff said coming out of the bathroom.

"So that is your plan to get a second date huh? You insist I pay for breakfast and then you have a little rain get you out of lunch so that you still owe me one…I get it."

Jeff ran over and started to tickle her, "Made you pay for breakfast did I?"

"Ok…ok I give."

"So what do you want to do about lunch?"

"Boy you eat a lot."

"That is why I run every day my dear," Jeff said patting his muscular stomach. "I have until five-ish so I will take you out after my clothes are done if you so desire."

"Five-ish huh, you have another date?"

Jeff pulled Katy to him and kissed her long and slow.

"Wow was that a yes or a no?"

"I unfortunately have a pressing engagement that I can't get out of."

"The phone call?"

"Yes, the phone call. I apparently in some drunken stupor promised my mother that I would have dinner with her and Dad tonight and she won't let me out of it."

"So we have until five-ish then how about if we order in?"

"Sure."

Katy walked into the kitchen and pulled the menus out of the drawer. As she was sorting through them her cell phone rang. It was sitting in the top of her purse so Jeff picked it up and handed it to her.

"Thanks," she whispered to him.

"Yes Miss Perfect, what do you want?"

"Are you coming home for dinner?" Lilly asked.

"I am home and yes I will be here for dinner. Where are you?"

"I am at the market because…"

Katy smacked herself in the forehead, "Because it was my day to go and I…"

"Yes, you went slutting around instead. Speaking of that why are you home, didn't you have lunch plans with the brot…:"

"Don't say it."

"Anyway how about cheeseburgers?"

"With your special ingredient?"

"Of course!"

"How long will you be Lil? Jeff and I are ordering lunch here because we got caught outside in the rain and his clothes are in the dryer?"

"Is that some kind of code for take a while because he is sitting naked in the living room?"

Katy couldn't help but laugh, "No I gave him something from Carl's crap to wear."

Katy saw Jeff smile because he was imagining what Lilly was saying to her.

"I will be about half an hour at the store."

"You want me to order you something?"

"Sure you know my faves."

"Love ya Lil."

"You too woman, see you soon."

Katy hung up the phone and carried the menus over to Jeff, "So what do you want?"

Jeff smiled at the innuendo in her voice. He pulled her and the menus down onto his lap.

He kissed her on the nose, "Katy Nickson where have you been all my life?"

"Well about thirteen years ago…" The rest was muffled as he kissed her.

Katy showed Jeff the menus for the *good places* that deliver fast and they decided on Chinese.

Katy tried to get money from her purse after she was given the total and Jeff took the money out of her hand and stuffed it back in her purse.

"That will be enough of that young lady."

Katy leaned against the wall next to her purse and pulled Jeff close to her, "What are we doing Jeff?"

He touched her cheek, "I don't know Katy, but I do know I want to see you again."

"But…" Jeff put his finger on her lips and shook his head.

"Can I see you tomorrow?" Jeff smiled. "If I promise to let you sleep until at least nine?"

Katy's phone rang and she slid away from him to answer it. She looked at the caller I.D. and then hit ignore and put the phone back on the counter.

"Did you need to get that?" Jeff asked leaning against the wall.

"No…no I don't think that I do," Katy said walking over toward him and not caring for one second that she didn't take the call from George. Jeff wrapped his arms around her and gave her a tight squeeze.

The house phone rang, "Boy you ladies are popular."

"It should be the food. They can't get into the building."

Before Katy could even walk over to the phone Jeff was out the door and down the steps. Katy got out two glasses and poured them each a drink to go with food. She knew Lilly would be here any minute, but that she would make her own drink because she poured it over ice and then threw out the ice because she wanted her drink cold, but not watered down.

Jeff pushed the door opened and sat the food on the counter next to where Katy was standing. When he sat them down Katy pushed him against the refrigerator and kissed him hard.

"Wow what was that for?"

"Lilly will be here any minute and I…"

"You don't want to kiss me in front of her?"

"Jeff please understand that…"

"Hey...I get it."

"But, the answer is yes."

"I hope that question was whether or not I can see you tomorrow."

Jeff pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. "I am making that my goodbye kiss since I don't think I will get one later."

Jeff helped Katy get the food out and by the time they had their plates filled Lilly was coming in the door. Jeff quickly sat his plate down and took the bags from Lilly and Katy moved the glasses so he would have somewhere to place the bags.

"Lilly this is Jeff Reynolds."

Katy expected her friend to say something jokingly about him being Brandon's brother, but she didn't. Lilly shook Jeff's hand, "It is nice to meet you Jeff."

"You also."

The dryer buzzer went off and Katy sat her plate on the arm of the couch and retrieved Jeff's clothes for him.

"I will be right back," he said and headed into the bathroom to change.

"How was your day?" Lilly asked after Jeff had closed the door.

"It was good."

"He is adorable Katy."

"Lilly…"

"Hey, I was kidding you earlier, you deserve to be happy."

Katy sat down her plate again and hugged her best friend.

"I love you Lil."

"I know."

Lilly started to make her plate as Jeff came out of the bathroom back in his own clothes.

Lilly smiled at Katy.

"Kay, I have some calls to make so I will be in my room."

Jeff stopped Lilly before she got to her room, "Lilly, you don't have to do that."

"Let's just say Mr. Reynolds that now you owe me." Lilly smiled and walked to her door. Then she stopped and turned around. "Oh my drink."

Katy made Lilly a drink as Lilly went into her room and sat down the plate. Jeff watched Katy make the drink and then hand it to Lilly. Lilly blew Katy a kiss and then closed her door.

******

Jeff showered and changed for dinner with his parents. He wanted to call Katy and talk to her one more time before he got dragged into this dinner, but he knew if he heard her voice he wouldn't hang up and he wouldn't make dinner.

Jeff splashed on some cologne and jumped in his car.

He drove the twenty minutes from his apartment to his parent's house and he couldn't believe his eyes when the main gate opened.

She didn't.

There were cars parked all along the driveway. His mother had invited a lot of people over to celebrate his promotion. Jeff wanted to turn the car around and drive back out the gate.

He pulled up to the door and Rupert opened his door and took his keys. Jeff walked around to the side so he could have a minute before he went in.

He pushed speed dial four on his phone.

"Shouldn't you be eating dinner or something?"

"Katy I want to tell you something."

"Ok…shoot."

"I understand that a long time ago you were married to my brother. And that situation probably would matter to some people but it doesn't matter to me. All I care about is how I feel and since I saw you last night you have filled my every thought. I didn't cause you to divorce my brother and he is happily married to someone else. What I mean is…I want to give us a shot and I was wondering if you felt the same way."

Jeff stood there leaning against the side of the house waiting for her to answer.

"Jeff." There was a long pause and he was about to burst when she said, "Jeff when you are finished with your dinner tonight will you come back and talk to me?"

"It might be late."

"Then bring a toothbrush."

Jeff got this big smile on his face, "I'll see you in a few hours."

"Bye Jeff."

"Bye." He closed his phone and could hear his mother talking inside.

"So where is he, I doubt he dropped off his car and then walked home?"

"Mom," Jeff said walking in the side door.

"Oh darling it is so nice to see you." Antoinette Reynolds took her son by the shoulders and kissed him lightly once on each cheek.

"Family dinner mom?" he said looking at all the people.

"I don't believe I used those exact words, anyway mingle everyone is here to congratulate you on your promotion."

"Mom it just happened yesterday, you organized a party in less than twenty-four hours?"

"Don't worry about it dear." She saw Charles Dewitt and his three daughters so she took Jeff by the arm and drug him over to them.

"Oh Charles welcome," she said putting on the fake smile that Jeff knew all too well as she shook hands with Mr. Dewitt. "Jeff these are Charles' daughters; Andy and Michaela and this is Shawna." Antoinette took Charles by the arm and they walked off leaving Jeff standing there with the ladies.

"Good evening ladies it is nice to meet you…can I assume that your father wanted boys?" Jeff said flashing his perfect smile.

"Gee Jeff that is the first time we have heard that one," Andrea Dewitt said smiling sarcastically at him.

"Ladies shall we check out the terrace?"

Jeff led the Dewitt ladies out to the bar and had the bartender give them each a drink and then he excused himself.

He found his father snacking on caviar in the dining room.

"Hey Daddy."

"The man of the hour," Christopher Lyndon Reynolds said popping another caviar covered cracker into this mouth.

"You know you could have warned me."

"And then your mother would have taken it out on me and I don't think so."

"Daddy can I talk to you about something?"

"Jeff, I can't stop her from parading all these women in front of you."

Jeff pulled out a chair and turned it around backwards and faced his dad. "Dad do you remember Katy Nickson?"

"You mean little Katy, Brandon's wife?"

"Yes."

"Of course I remember her Jeff, I'm not senile your brother was married to her for almost two years."

"Dad you have always been fair and a little more level headed then Mom so I want to ask you something."

"There you are darling," Antoinette said from the hallway.

"Come out onto the terrace with me I want to introduce you to some nice young ladies."

Antoinette wrapped her arm around Jeff and pulled him outside.

******

Lilly picked up Katy's cell phone, "It's George again." Lilly tossed the phone to Katy as she sat on the floor in front of the couch. They were playing cards and Lilly was coming back from the kitchen after pouring each of them a margarita.

"Hello George."

"Hey beautiful I have been trying to reach you all day. I took off all day tomorrow so that I could make last night up to you."

"I'm sorry George I have plans for tomorrow that I can't get out of. Can I call you next week?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds, "Ummm…well ok then."

"Bye George."

"Bye Katy."

Lilly fluffed the pillow that she had behind her back and then finished shuffling the cards.

"What time is he coming back?"

"I don't know." Katy cut the cards and then stretched out her legs.

"He really is a babe."

"What am I doing Lil?"

"Trying to find happiness. It has been a while since I saw you smile so much."

"Is it wrong?" Katy played her card and then sat her hand face down on the floor.

"Are you doing it to hurt the Reynolds family?"

"Of course not."

"Do you think that you might be able to have real feelings for Jeff?"

Katy bit her lip and shook her head that she could.

"Then no Katy, I don't think it's wrong."

"What about Brandon?" Katy pulled her leg up under herself. She was being fidgety.

"You mean Brandon who you have been divorced from for ten years, the Brandon who is happily married to someone else and who you haven't spoken to for years?" Lilly smiled at her friend. She wanted Katy to find happiness and if Katy wanted Jeff then Katy had her full support.

Lilly picked up two of the cards in the discard pile and used them to complete her hand and discarded her last card. "Rummy."

Katy rolled her eyes, "I think you cheat."

"Yes, but thinking doesn't prove anything so unless you can prove it…well then I win."

Katy tossed her cards at Lilly. Lilly scooped them up in a pile, "Ok another round it is."

Lilly was shuffling when her phone rang. "Carl," she said to Katy before answering. "Hey bro what can I do you out of?"

Katy took the cards and started shuffling them as Lilly talked to her brother.

"Really…you going to pick me up?"

Katy slid off the floor and onto the couch and waited for Lilly to get off the phone.

"No just me…it is none of your business what that wild woman Katy will be doing tonight." Lilly looked up and smiled at Katy. "Oh and Carl I am staying at your place so don't make any plans to stay here." She listened for a few seconds, "Yes I know that, but tough...ok see you in an hour."

Lilly closed her phone, "I will be staying with Carl tonight all I ask is that if anything happens in my room that you toss the sheets in the washer."

Katy pulled the pillow out from behind Lilly and hit her with it. "You and Carl can come back here you know this is your home."

"No, we will be fine and you and Jeff have a lot of something to do."

"You do mean talking right?"

Lilly stood up, "Well maybe."

Lilly walked into her room to get ready and Katy started cleaning up the mess they had made in the living room. It was eight thirty and Carl would be picking Lilly up at nine thirty so Katy put the dishes in the sink to soak and folded up the blanket from the back of the couch and sat it on the end of her bed.

She decided since she had to wait for Jeff that she would work on a painting that she had been putting off. She felt inspired.

******

Jeff watched from the stairs as his mother said goodnight to a few of her guests. He wasn't trying to hide from his mother he was just trying to keep from being seen by her until he could leave.

He felt someone walk down the steps and sit next to him. It was Andrea Dewitt.

"Are you hiding?" she whispered.

Jeff made the sign for 'just a little'.

"It was a nice party," Andy said smiling at Jeff.

"Thanks I do believe my mother planned and implemented it in about twenty-four hours."

"She's great."

"I'm sure she thinks so," Jeff said looking down the steps at his mother waving goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Garrett.

"I wanted to make sure that I congratulated you on your promotion. Your mother was raving about your successes."

"Thanks Andy I really appreciate it."

"I noticed that there were a lot of young and very beautiful women here tonight."

"Yeah I think Mom gave them each a number so that I could rate them later."

Jeff smiled which made Andy smile.

"She wants you to be happy."

"No, she wants me to be married."

"Would that be so bad?"

Jeff let his thoughts wander and in his mind he saw Katy in a long white wedding dress with flowers in her hair.

"No, Andy it wouldn't suck, but I want to do things in my time not hers."

Jeff saw his father walk from the dining room and head toward the study. "It was a great pleasure to meet you Andy Dewitt, but I have to talk to my Dad for a minute."

Jeff stood up and offered his hand for Andy to stand. They walked down the stairs together and then Jeff took a sharp left to go and talk to his dad and Andy walked through the dining room and out onto the terrace to let her father know that she was ready to go.

Andy Dewitt was very attractive with her flowing auburn hair and big smile, but all Jeff could think about was Katy. Whether his father gave his blessing or not Jeff planned on pursuing and capturing Katy Nickson.

He kept thinking about how she had invited him to come and spend the night talking to her. The guests were starting to leave so Jeff was hopeful that he could escape soon and race to see Katy.

Jeff tapped on the door of his father's study.

"Come in Jeff."

Jeff peeked in the door, "How did you know it was me?"

His father motioned for him to come in and close the door behind him. Christopher sat in his large leather chair drinking a glass of bourbon.

"So Jeff what did you want to talk about?"

Jeff sat in the large chair across the desk from his father.

"Dad…"

"What does this have to do with Katy Nickson?"

"Dad I ran into Katy…"

"At the market?" Christopher interrupted. He already had a pretty good idea what Jeff was going to say so he thought that he would torture him a little.

"No, Dad at a bar."

"Was she dancing on a pole?"

"Dad…"

"You want to know what my opinion is of you dating Katy Nickson Reynolds."

Jeff looked defeated as Reynolds came out of his father's mouth.

"Jeff, your mother and I want you to be happy. Well your mother wants grandchildren, but I want you to be happy."

Jeff smiled. Then he got up and poured himself some bourbon and sat back down across from his dad.

"I always liked Katy. She was very respectful and she loved your brother very much. She was always good to him. Has she changed?"

Jeff took a drink of his bourbon, "She looks very different, but she has a great heart and an incredible smile."

"You know that no matter what I say and no matter what your mother says that Brandon isn't going to like it?"

"He has Amanda."

"Yes, but …"

"I know Dad."

"She was his wife and he loved her Jeff."

"And now he is married to Amanda."

"I know that…and not only because I paid for the wedding." Christopher smiled at his son. "Jeff, if Katy makes you happy then who am I to say that you shouldn't be with her? Just remember that it won't be easy and make sure that what you feel is real and that it is worth having issues with your brother over." Christopher finished his drink and sat the glass on his desk, "Do you want me to talk to your mother?"

"Not yet, I need to talk to Katy and make sure that she is just as willing as I am to go forward."

"Don't push her Jeff."

"I won't."

"She was the one who was married to Brandon and she was the one who miscarried and even though it wasn't her fault she could possibly blame herself for the break-up of their marriage."

"She wasn't to blame."

"No one was to blame Jeff, they were young and it happened and they grew apart."

"Any chance I can get out of here without seeing Mom?"

"None what so ever," Chris said standing up and walking across the room. Jeff and his father walked out into the hallway and Antoinette was standing at the door saying goodbye to the Dewitt's.

Andy waved at Jeff as she went out the door. Jeff saw the edge of his mother's mouth go up into a sly smile after she saw the wave. Jeff figured she was probably morphing his and Andy's faces in her mind so that she would know what her grandchild was going to look like.

"Be brave," his father whispered and pushed Jeff out in front of him.

"Jeffrey sweetie." Antoinette gave him a kiss on his cheek. "I have something for you." Jeff walked with his mother into the dining room and she handed him a small box.

"Mom you didn't have to do this."

"Of course I did, you are my baby and you have made a great life for yourself and I am very proud of you."

Jeff unwrapped and opened the box. It was a plague for his desk with his name and new title on it.

"You had this done between yesterday and today?"

"You're welcome."

Jeff gave his mother a big hug, "I love you Mom."

"I love you too Jeffrey."

"I have to get going."

"That Andy Dewitt is a really pretty girl. She is a bit younger then you, but she is quite stunning."

"Mom, I have no interest in Andy."

"We'll see."

"Goodnight Mom."

Jeff walked into the hallway and waved goodbye to his father as he went out the door.

"It was a nice party," Chris said putting his arm around his wife and kissing her on the cheek

"I love him so much."

"He knows."

******

Katy took a shower and washed all the paint off her fingers. Then she put on her night shirt and her comfortable shorts. It was almost eleven thirty when her cell phone rang.

"Hey."

"Hello Mr. Reynolds."

"What are you doing?"

"Waiting for you."

"I guess it is a good thing that I am here then."

"Why didn't you just say that?"

"Because I like to be entertaining."

"Would you like me to come down and let you in?"

"Please."

Katy hung up the phone and headed down to let him in. She cracked the door and smiled at him, "What's in the bag?"

"Well I was going to get you flowers, but the florist was closed so I owe you flowers, but…"

"Are you going to tell me sometime tonight what's in the bag?"

"Not known for your patience are you?"

Jeff handed her the bag. She looked in and found a half gallon of her favorite ice cream along with her three favorite toppings.

"Jeff." She looked at him a little choked up.

"Did I get it wrong?"

"How did you know?"

"I just remembered."

"From twelve years ago?"

"Yep."

Katy gave Jeff a big hug.

Jeff took her hand in his and they walked up the stairs to the apartment. Katy pushed the door shut and locked it. Jeff took the bag from her and unpacked it on the counter.

Katy took Jeff's bag off his shoulder and put it on the couch.

Jeff looked her up and down, "You look…comfortable."

"Do you have something to change into that is…comfortable?"

"Well it took me like ten minutes to pick out this outfit so that I would look comfortable and studly at the same time, but…"

"You are too much."

"Would you like some ice cream?"

"Of course goof. But I will make it, you get comfortable."

Jeff grabbed his overnight bag and took it into the bathroom with him. Katy made a bowl of ice cream for both of them and made them each a glass of tea.

Katy stopped and couldn't help but stare when Jeff came out of the bathroom. He was wearing just a pair of gray cotton shorts. Looking at his bare chest made Katy's heart do flip flops.

She held out his bowl of ice cream to him.

"Young lady it looks like you have more ice cream then I do."

"Of course I do."

Katy handed him the tea and she took her bowl and glass and sat on the couch.

Jeff sat down on the floor by her feet and made himself comfortable. She slid down next to him and sat her bowl behind her. Jeff looked into her eyes and couldn't help, but touch her cheek with the back of his hand.

"I missed you Katy."

Jeff leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips.

"I love my ice cream."

"I'm glad."

Katy picked up her ice cream and starting eating it.

"Where's Lilly?"

"I paid her to disappear."

"Really?"

"Of course not silly."

Jeff watched her eat her ice cream. "You want to talk?"

"We will."

"Ok."

"How was your evening?"

"Well my family dinner turned into a dinner party where my mother shamelessly paraded women back and forth in front of me."

"Did she give them numbers?"

Jeff started to laugh, "I kid you not I said the same thing."

"So did you choose one to mate with?"

Jeff pushed his bowl out of the way and wrapped his arm around her, "Oh yes." He pulled her up onto the couch with him and she slid easily onto his lap.

Her lips were so soft and welcoming and her tongue was chilled from the ice cream. They were both wrapped in her long hair. Jeff kissed along her jaw line and down her neck. He could hear her breathing become more erratic.

"Katy I have to tell you something."

She opened up her eyes and looked at him.

"Katy…I was attracted to you back then."

"It doesn't matter Jeff."

"I needed you to know."

"Ok." She pulled him to her and kissed him again.

"Oh Katy." His mind was spinning and he couldn't get enough of her. Jeff laid her back on the couch and positioned himself on top of her.

Her kisses met his with the same intensity and passion. Jeff was excited by her finger nails gently running down his back. Jeff gently pushed up her t-shirt and kissed her belly.

She giggled because her stomach was ticklish. Jeff shifted on his arm and used his free hand to gently ease up her top.

"Jeff."

His eyes quickly went to her face, "I'm sorry am I going too fast?"

"No you are pulling my hair."

Jeff jumped up off of her, "I'm sorry."

Katy picked up her tea and took a drink. Jeff knelt down on the floor at her feet and leaned against her knees.

"You have great eyes," Jeff said touching her knee.

"I know." They both laughed

"Katy I want to make this work. I had no idea how empty I was inside. I haven't even been looking for someone. I think that I have been doing the exact opposite because of how my mother has been acting." He ran his fingers through his hair, "But Katy…I know it is…fast and I know that…we were…a very long time ago…related, but none of that matters to me."

Katy could feel his breath on her knee as she pushed his hair away from his face, "What about Brandon?"

"He has Amanda." Jeff rested his head on her lap. "I talked to my dad tonight and he said to make sure that I don't rush you and to make sure that what I felt for you was real." He looked up into her eyes, "Katy it is real to me, but I need to know where you stand."

Katy ran her fingers through his hair. She was incredibly attracted to him, but everything was happening too fast. "Can we talk about it tomorrow?"

Jeff smiled at her, "You want to sleep on it?"

"Is that alright?"

"Sure."

"Will you snuggle with me?"

"I don't know you might try and take advantage of me."

Katy smiled, "And if I do?"

"I will warn you right now if you try and take advantage of me I will let you."

Katy went to brush her teeth and Jeff put his bag next to her bed and turned down the covers. As he looked around he noticed that she had a lot of things stored in her room. He turned her easel around and looked at the painting she had been working on. The painting looked like it had been a landscape and then she had painted him into it.

Jeff was flattered and Katy was talented. He heard her open the bathroom door so he slipped out of his shorts and crawled under the covers wearing his boxers.

Katy turned off the bathroom light and then came in and turned off the overhead light in her room.

"Do you need another pillow?"

"No I'm good." Jeff patted his chest and Katy crawled under the covers with him. She put her head on his chest and took in every second of how good it felt to snuggle with him. She didn't know if he was wearing cologne, but she couldn't get enough of how enticing his smell was.

Jeff was so warm and he wrapped his arms around her and she felt so safe and so tired. It had been a really long day. Katy fell asleep in just a few minutes.

******

Jeff was dreaming about running on the beach in Hawaii when he was awakened by Katy kissing him. He could see on Katy's clock that it was twenty minutes after three. She rolled herself on top of him and was kissing his neck and his chest.

Katy could feel him stirring under his boxers. She ran her fingers lightly over his lips.

"Katy."

"Yes Jeffrey."

"How far do you want this to go?"

"Why?" she said pulling her t-shirt over her head.

"I don't want to frighten you," he said looking at her body in the moonlight.

"Are you that wild or just that modest?" she asked sarcastically.

"Katy, I don't want you to do anything that you don't want to do and I don't want you to have any regrets."

She lay down on top of him and kissed his chin, "Jeffrey Reynolds I have many, many regrets in my life and I just can't imagine that spending the night with you will ever be one of them."

Jeff rolled her over and laid her next to him. He was dumbfounded by the thought that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Her long hair covered the pillows and he gently touched her cheek with his hand.

"Jeff...you there Jeff you seemed to have floated away?"

"I'm here."

"Jeff if you don't want to we don't have to."

Jeff's conscious was bothering him now and he didn't know why. He didn't know if it was because of Brandon or because he felt like he was rushing her even though coming over had been her idea and her taking off her shirt had definitely been her idea.

Katy leaned up and kissed him on the lips. There was no denying the passion between them she just didn't understand his hesitation. So she decided that she would show him there was no need for hesitation because of her.

Katy slid off her shorts and underwear and dropped them to the floor.

Jeff smiled at her, "You don't make it easy to be a gentleman."

"Is that so?" she said pushing back the blankets and running her fingers along the edge of his boxers and pulling them down. She tossed them across the room with an evil smile, "How about now?"

"I think you are making things harder."

Katy looked at Jeff's erection, "Well stated Captain Obvious." Katy took her hand and lightly stroked Jeff's erection. He closed his eyes and sucked in his breath. "So you were saying about being a gentleman?"

Jeff grabbed her and tossed her gently onto the bed. He rolled on top of her with no space between their bodies, "You are a very bad girl Katy Nickson."

Katy ran her fingers through Jeff's hair and looked into his eyes, "Then I guess you should punish me Mr. Reynolds."

******

Jeff opened his eyes and the morning sun was coming in the window. It was almost seven thirty. He had been asleep for a little over two hours.

They had made love until neither one of them could move any longer. Katy was incredible and she had made him feel things that he didn't know was possible.

She was sleeping curled up in the sheet on the other side of the bed. Jeff quietly slid out of bed and jumped in the shower. His back was sore from where she had clawed him, but he didn't regret last night and he hoped that with the morning light she wouldn't either.

Katy had taken control the first time and Jeff was happily wrapped around her finger. He could feel her touch and see the magic in her eyes even now.

He wrapped himself in a towel and slid back into the room to grab his bag so he could brush his teeth.

Jeff picked the bag up and tried not to make a sound, but when he looked up she was staring at him.

"Good morning Mr. Reynolds."

He sat the bag on the edge of the bed and walked around to sit next to her.

"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't the pipes in the shower rattle my wall when it first comes on."

"Sorry, I didn't know that either."

"You will for next time."

There was that smile again that Jeff couldn't resist.

"I was going for a run is it ok if I take your key so that I can get back into the building?"

"If you need more exercise…" She started to pull back the sheet.

Jeff took her hand into his, "Lady you are going to be the death of me." "You sleep for a little while and later I will take you up on your offer."

"I might not offer later."

"Yeah right." He leaned over and kissed her. "You are amazing."

"You are pretty flexible yourself," she said smiling.

"That isn't what I meant."

"Go for your run."

Jeff kissed her hand and then picked up his bag and headed for the bathroom.

Katy watched him until he closed the bathroom door. She was at peace with her decision to be with Jeff last night. He made her feel alive. She rolled over on his side of the bed. The pillow smelled like him and she fell right back to sleep with a smile on her face.

******

Jeff felt exhilarated during his run. In the last few days he had received his promotion which came with a hefty raise and he had found the girl of his dreams. Who could ask for more?

He ran for about an hour and then he headed back into the apartment. Katy was still sound asleep. He jumped back in the shower hoping that the pipes wouldn't wake her this time and they didn't.

He was standing in the doorway watching Katy sleep. It was almost ten when he heard a key turn in the front door and Lilly came in.

Jeff quickly pulled the bedroom door shut.

"Good morning," Lilly whispered.

"Good morning."

"Is she still sleeping?"

Jeff nodded.

"Would you like a donut? I picked up a dozen I like to rub them under Katy's nose while she is trying to sleep then after she kicks my ass and throws a few at me there is still a few to eat."

Jeff smiled, "Sure…thanks." "How long have you known Katy?"

"We met in college after her and Brandon split. When we graduated we moved in together. She is my best friend and I won't let anyone hurt her ever."

"I understand."

"Can we talk?"

"Sure," Jeff said taking his donut and sitting on the couch.

Lilly made herself comfortable and settled down to talk to Jeff about her worries.

"First of all I support any decisions that Katy makes. It is her life and even if I don't agree with what she does I have her back no matter what."

"Sounds like you are a good friend. Are you against her being with me?"

"No."

Jeff waited for Lilly to elaborate, but she didn't say anything else. "Just no."

Lilly nodded. "Jeff she hasn't had the easiest life. You haven't seen her in a long time, but I have been here for her."

"I care about her Lilly."

"I am sure that you do. When we were in college she talked a lot about your family and she truly loved every one of you."

"She was full of life back then…until…" Jeff was lost in his thoughts.

"Until the miscarriage."

Jeff was looking down at his hands, "We were rough housing in the pool."

"Jeff." He looked up at her. "You know that you didn't cause that miscarriage right? No one could have done anything differently. The outcome would have been the same."

"Brandon loved her so much."

"But now he is married to someone else."

"Yes…and I know that he loves Amanda…but…"

Lilly waited for him to finish the statement, but he seemed to be lost in his own memories. She took a bite of her donut and gave him a minute to work through what he was thinking about.

"You ok?"

"Yeah…it is just that Katy was his first love; she was the one he wanted forever with, the one he wanted to have children with."

"And if they would have decided to stay together they could have had more children. They were young and they made their decisions."

"There's something I haven't told Katy." Jeff looked up with guilt in his eyes.

"Something she should have known before you slept with her?"

"I don't think it would have made a difference, but I feel that I should have told her that Brandon cried and I mean cried for weeks after she left."

"But, he signed the divorce papers."

"He did, but he didn't want to. When she left he wanted more than anything to make her come back."

"Jeff, does he still love her?"

Jeff took a breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't think that he is 'in love' with her anymore and he does love Amanda."

"But?"

"But four years ago before he married Amanda he and I went away for a few days. We went to Florida and hung out on the beach and drank way too much and one night he brought up Katy."

Lilly didn't say anything she just waited for him to continue.

"He said that he loved Amanda, but that he didn't love her as much as he loved Katy."

"May I ask you a question?"

Jeff met her eyes. She could see the stress on his face as he nodded yes.

"Did you think to ask Katy if she had any feelings for Brandon? Because no matter what your brother may or may not still feel for her I think it is Katy's feelings that you should be interested in."

"I don't think that last night would have happened if she still had any feelings for Brandon."

"I agree."

Lilly stood up and walked in the kitchen. She poured herself a cup of juice.

"Jeff you seem like a really sweet guy and I don't trust a lot of people. I am going to tell you something that I swore that I wouldn't repeat. And I don't take my promises lightly."

Jeff stood up and walked into the kitchen with her.

"The trip to Florida was the first weekend of June four years ago right?"

"Yes."

"We were visiting a friend of ours at Georgetown and it was a Saturday night and we had just got back to the room from a really rowdy party. Like I said it was the first weekend in June four years ago…" Lilly took a deep breath.

"Lilly, did he call her that night?"

Lilly didn't say anything, she was regretting telling him.

"Did he?"

"Yes."

Jeff ran both hands through his hair, "Oh god."

"Jeff he still married Amanda."

"But, he loves Katy."

"Yes, he told her that he still loved her and that if she would come back that he wouldn't marry Amanda."

"What have I done?"

"Jeff, you followed your heart and she followed hers."

"She loves Brandon."

Lilly put her hand on his arm, "No she doesn't…not anymore."

"Did she consider going back to him and keeping him from marrying Amanda?"

"For about five minutes and then she cried for five more and then she went on with her life and Brandon went on with his."

"Fuck." Jeff just stood there shaking his head.

Lilly took a drink of her juice, "Do you think that you could love her?"

Jeff's eyes met Lilly's, "I think that I already do."

"Jeff, it was years ago and she made her choice and so did your brother."

"I want to be with her so much."

"Then make the decision right now that the past doesn't matter and the only thing that matters is what started yesterday."

"I used to peek at her when she would sunbathe by the pool."

"Well you were sixteen and she was a blonde, hottie cheerleader so that isn't shocking."

"I love my brother, he has never said an unkind word about me and he has always been there no matter what I needed."

"And now you feel like you are betraying him?"

"I don't know what I feel."

"You want her, but you don't want to hurt him." Jeff poured himself a glass of juice and threw his paper towel away. "Jeff." Lilly put her hand on his arm again. "You and I both know that you have already made up your mind. You chose her and we both know it. You want to feel guilty and you don't and that is why you feel guilty."

"Am I that readable?"

"Love is that readable."

"I won't hurt her."

"But, you are afraid that hurting Brandon will hurt her."

"Yeah."

"Jeff…dude just take it one day at a time. When does Brandon come back from France?"

"I don't know, sometime next week."

"Well then this week how about you and Katy test the waters and make sure you have what you think you have and if not you can go your separate ways and Brandon never has to know."

"You are so smart," he said winking at her.

"I try. But, I do need to say one thing to you in all seriousness."

Jeff looked at her for a second before he said, "Ok shoot."

"The very second you decide that this isn't for you and she isn't what you want…and I'm not saying you will, but the very second you decide be honest with her and you let her go."

Jeff held out his hand to her, "Deal."

Lilly got out another glass and poured Katy a glass of juice as she refilled her glass. "Jeff she is very easy to love. She is a good person with a big heart."

Lilly handed him the juice to take in to Katy, "She will get mad if we let her sleep all day but you wake her up just in case she still thinks it's too early."

Chapter Two

Chip and Brent

Chip was leaning on Brent's car right where Brent told him to be at two o'clock. Chip watched Brent say goodbye to the girl driving the mustang and kiss her goodbye. Brent waved as the girl drove off.

Chip nodded, "That's not the same girl you were with the other day."

"No that's plan B." Brent motioned for Chip to walk around and get in the car on the passenger's side.

"What do you mean plan B?" Chip asked as he put on his seat belt.

Brent backed up the car and pulled out onto the road. "Sandy from the other night works at First National Bank on Beach and Chelsey works at Westland Bank and Trust over on Crain highway."

"So if you don't get the information from one you get it from the other."

"Exactly."

"The pillow talk with both of them has been very interesting and I think we are almost ready."

"Won't they want you for questioning after?"

"Why would they?"

"Whichever bank we hit afterward the cops will ask them questions and it might come up."

Brent stopped at the red light. "You mean they were screwing some guy who never drove his own car, who never took them to his place and who was using a disposable phone and who used cash to pay for everything?"

Chip nodded that he understood Brent was covering his tracks pretty well.

"The other night while I was rubbing Chelsey's back in bed she was complaining about how on Mondays her boss comes in late and how she has to do a walk-through of the bank and make sure it is empty before she switches the shades letting all the bank employees know that it is safe to enter."

"Can we be ready in two days?"

"Maybe, but in the tub the other night Sandy was more than willing to talk about the layout of her bank and they are expecting a shit load of money the Monday after next."

"How do we decide?"

"We are meeting with Hunter and the boys tonight to decide and I have dates with both the girls tomorrow to see if anything tips the scales. I was hoping to convince them how exciting it would be to get screwed in a bank vault but I think that might be pushing it."

"I don't know Brent that night at the club you convinced all three of those sisters to go out to the car with you."

Brent smiled, "Yeah I bet after that family dinners were pretty interesting."

"You want to get some lunch we aren't meeting them for a few hours?" Brent asked turning the corner.

"How about Chico's they are generous with their cheese steaks?"

"Sounds good to me."

Brent and Chip drove to Chico's and parked in the rear parking lot. Brent was still bragging about how much information he had received with his pillow talk and didn't notice the dark colored Chevy that had followed them down Fourth.

They sat at one of the outside tables under an umbrella. There had been a quick summer shower earlier that morning, but everything was dry now.

They ordered their lunches, but neither one of them brought up anything about the robbery because they didn't know who might overhear.

"So Chip you still have that dream of going back to school?" Chip shrugged. "I'm not downing you man, I think that at any age there is always more to learn."

"Maybe I'll be a lawyer."

"Well then bro I am sure I could drum up a lot of business for ya."

They both laughed.

"You know I do have that extra bed if you want it you don't have to stay at that halfway house."

"No I'm good man, the less people seen coming and going the better."

"Well if you change your mind it has clean sheets on it and everything."

"Thanks."

"Here you go gentlemen, two cheese steaks with the works," Nancy said putting down their plates. Then she handed Chip his side of fries and Brent his side of onion rings. "Is there anything else I can get for you gentlemen because the fella over there says your meal is on him?"

Nancy pointed to the far table on the end and Chip and Brent both looked over to see Hunter Davenport was sitting there drinking a large glass of tea.

"We're good for now Nancy thanks."

Nancy nodded at Brent and went back inside.

Hunter stood up and walked over to them, "Are we enjoying our little break gentlemen?"

"I'm surprised that you are even showing your face out here so close to the…event."

"I am always keeping an eye on my fellow…planners." Hunter picked up the chair that was between Brent and Chip and moved it to the other side of the table so that his back wouldn't be to the street.

Hunter took a drink of his tea. "My tech guy says that there is a signal being broadcast from Westland B&T."

"Hunter, I think this conversation can wait until this afternoon when we meet."

"Well I don't know you guys are sitting out here in the bright Saturday afternoon sun so I thought I would join you and when I want to talk business we talk business," Hunter said with a stern look and then a smile.

"So the signal?" Chip said. "Where is it from?"

"He is working on that, it could be nothing. Hell it could be another crew, but I want to know before we decide which one."

"When will he know?" Brent asked as he took a bite of his sandwich.

"He is working on it now so he might be late for the meeting. When do you see your assets again?"

"I have plans with both of them tomorrow."

Hunter stood and placed a hundred dollar bill on the table, "I will see you gentlemen at the warehouse this afternoon." Then he walked away without another word. He put on his sunglasses and walked across the street. As he reached the other curb a car pulled up and he slid into the back of it.

"That guy is everywhere," Chip said as he took a bite of his fries.

"Yeah."

"Where did you find him?"

"Better you not know. The less we know about them the better for us. Finish your lunch."

Chapter Three

Ryan and Jenny

"Good morning," she said with sleepy eyes when she rolled over and he had been watching her sleep. "What time is it?"

"The alarm will be going off in about ten minutes."

She snuggled up next to him, "Do we have to go in today?"

"No it wouldn't be suspicious at all if both of us called out. Striker would just love having to replace two officers on the task force."

"Yeah, yeah...details...details."

"Jen, can I talk to you about something?"

She leaned back and looked into his dark brown eyes, "I think you know you can."

"I want us to move in together."

"Ryan, you know I do too, but we have to think..."

He put his finger on her lips, "I think you're worth the risk."

"Ryan, you know I love you, but I love my job too and if anyone found out."

"Jen, we have been together for almost eight months and no one has found out yet."

"I think that part of that is because we don't live together."

"Jenny."

"Do you want them to separate us?"

"Of course not, but on nights that I have to come back to my place alone I hate it."

"Can we talk about it tonight I have to get in the shower?"

"I'm on surveillance tonight."

"That's right I have to go through all the tapes from the banks to make sure we aren't missing any players."

"Our guy is good and hopefully next week he will be back with his family and Hunter and his crew will be behind bars."

She slid out from under the covers and he watched her walk into the bathroom to shower. Some days he joined her but he was frustrated this morning because she wouldn't commit to moving in together.

He had known Jennifer McDermott for almost a year. She had transferred in and was assigned to him. They had been partners for almost four months before he had expressed his feelings for her.

Jenny is a great cop and she takes her job very seriously. He curled up with his pillow and waited for the alarm to go off. He didn't want to risk their jobs or lose her being his partner, but the engagement ring he had purchased last month was burning a hole in his pocket and if she wouldn't agree to move in together she wasn't going to agree to marry him.

It only took a minute for Jenny to wash her hair. She had cut it short when she transferred almost a year ago. She heard the alarm go off as she turned off the water and stepped out onto the area rug that she had purchased for Ryan Blankenship. She loved him so much, but their commanding officer would split them up in a heartbeat if he found out they were together. Ryan always acted like a real ladies man and bragged about the women he spent the weekends with so that no one would get suspicious.

Ryan was with her every minute that he could be. Whenever the guys invited him out he would go. She would be invited and sometimes she would go and sometimes she wouldn't, but she knew on those nights he would go to his own apartment. The only real problem they had encountered since they started dating was William Trent.

He had started to pursue her and wasn't going to take no for an answer. Jenny couldn't say she was seeing someone because then there would be questions that she couldn't answer. She had politely told him no thanks, but he was determined. In the locker room one morning he had made the mistake of saying 'I'm going to thaw that thing one way or another' in front of Ryan.

Ryan shoved him against the lockers 'that's my partner you ass...never say anything like that about her again!' It took a while for Jenny to get Ryan to tell her what had been said. She knew there had been an altercation between the two of them and that it was about her, but no one wanted to tell her what was said.

She chuckled as she brushed her teeth because ever since that day not only has Will never hit on her again, but he is extra polite when he sees her. Jenny often wondered if Ryan had said something else to Will that no one but them knew about. Because Will really backed off from a shove against a locker.

She came out of the bathroom ready to put on her uniform and he was still lying in the bed with the pillow over his face.

Jenny sat down on the bed next to him and kissed his stomach, "I love you...you know that right?"

He pushed the pillow to the side and looked at her. She was beautiful and he knew that she loved him. He sat up and kissed her on the cheek, "I know you do." Then he slid off the opposite side of the bed and walked around the bed and into the bathroom.

They would have to solve this issue later because they had to get to work. They had been assigned to a task force to bring down a gang of bank robbers. They had a man on the inside that was funneling them some information, but they knew the robbery would be taking place soon. They had information that the entire team would be getting together tonight to decide which bank and what date so they were on duty all day today.

She put on her uniform and was ready to go. Her car was parked two blocks over so no one would see it in front of his building. Jenny didn't have the energy to watch him pout this morning so she wrote him a little note and left it on the kitchen counter and she left. She would see him at the station in less than an hour and they would both have on their 'we are only partners' faces on.

The apartment was quiet when he came out of the bathroom. He had shaved and showered and brushed his teeth and was ready to start the day. He dressed and threw two pieces of bread in the toaster before he saw her note on the counter.

I love you Ryan with all my heart and I want nothing in the world more then to be here with you and wake up with you every morning. But, in return I couldn't be your partner any more. So you think about which you want more because as long as I have you in my life I can be someone else's partner.

Jen

He smiled and then got out the butter for his toast that was popping up. He and Jen worked in the same station and if she moved in and agreed to be his wife then he might be willing to let her be someone else's partner…anyone but William Trent.

Ryan was out the door ten minutes later and heading to the station.

******

Jenny walked in the door and Lieutenant Striker looked up, "Good morning, we will all be meeting at ten, but for now can you look through some of the surveillance footage?"

She took the seat opposite her boss. They had been watching the two banks that they thought Hunter and his group were going to hit. But no one that they knew was in his crew had set foot in the bank.

Jenny knew that Officer Donaldson was holding a birthday card in his locker for the undercover cop's wife. He would deliver it on Monday just like he was asked to do so that Melanie knew that her husband was thinking about her on her birthday.

Jenny had been watching the footage for about twenty minutes when Officer Chan stuck his head in the door, "We are ready in the conference room sir."

Lieutenant Striker nodded and paused the tape that he had been watching. Jenny had a lot of respect for her boss. He worked just as hard as the men and women who reported to him. If they were knee deep in mud he was usually waist deep.

Jenny paused her tape and then followed her boss down to the conference room.

"Good morning," Lieutenant Striker said to the eight members of his task force.

"Good morning," they said in unison back to him.

"We have been informed that they are meeting tonight and it is possible they will decide which bank then."

Jenny raised her hand and Striker pointed to her, "Will we still keep the other bank under surveillance?"

"Yes, just in case they know we have someone on the inside. Hunter's team has gotten away with three other robberies in three other jurisdictions we will get them this time."

Ryan was sitting in the back of the room looking at the back of Jenny's head. The Lieutenant was going over the same information that he had yesterday and handing out assignments for the next two days. Ryan wasn't really listening he was deep in his own thoughts.

******

Ryan and Jenny had been partners for four months and they got a call on a two eleven in progress at the Drug All pharmacy on Twenty-seventh and Court.

Ryan had motioned for Jenny to circle around the back of the pharmacy and he took the front counter. With gun drawn he carefully walked along the front until he saw the pharmacist and the cashier lying on the ground.

Then he heard a noise behind the booth. The subject was filling a bag with narcotics. Ryan pushed the small gate to the side until he could get a good angle on the suspect.

"Police, put your hands on your head," he yelled.

The guy stopped and turned around. He had a gun tucked into his belt.

"Drop the bag."

As the subject dropped the bag there was a loud noise and the glass shattered behind Ryan's head. The guy had a partner who luckily for Ryan was a bad shot.

Jenny had told him that she saw him as he raised the gun, but he had fired so quickly that she couldn't stop him. But Jenny had him on the ground and in cuffs in about ten seconds.

Once his partner was down and the suspect knew he was outnumbered he gave up without incident. Ryan remembered that he and Jenny went out that night to drink and celebrate that the suspect was such a bad shot.

"He could have killed you," Jenny said as they walked back to his car.

"Yeah, but he only got one shot off because of you. His next one could have been deadly."

"I was afraid for you."

"You are supposed to be you are my partner," Ryan said touching her shoulder.

"Can I come and hang out at your place for a while?"

"Sure."

They drove in silence to his apartment. He really wished that he knew she was coming there he definitely would have cleaned up a little.

"Can I get you a drink I have soda and vodka?"

"What a combination."

"I wasn't planning on mixing them for you."

"I'll take water, you do have water right?" she asked kicking off her shoes and plopping down on the couch.

"Yes ma'am right out of the tap. Would you like some ice?"

"Yes, please."

Ryan sat his vodka and her water down on the coffee table in front of them on napkins. Then he sat sideways on the couch and looked at her.

"I'm fine you know?" He held up his hands and turned back and forth, "Look no bullet holes."

Jenny shook her head.

"Not funny huh?"

"It was just the first time since we became partners that…"

"That my life was in your hands."

"Well yeah."

Ryan took her hands in his, "My life can be in these hands any day." Ryan had found his partner incredibly attractive, but he was always careful not to let it show.

She had always treated him like a brother and he was good with that, but that night when he took her hands in his he had seen something else in her eyes.

"Ryan."

He remembered that he let go of one of her hands and touched her cheek. She leaned forward and he took that as an invitation. He pulled her to him with both arms and kissed her.

His heart raced with the hunger of her kisses. Apparently she was even better than he was at hiding her feelings. Jenny had stripped off all her clothes as she kissed him passionately on the couch.

She kissed him over and over until she had nothing left on and then she straddled him and he looked into her eyes.

"Ryan, I want you. I want you here and now."

She moved to the side so that he could stand and remove his clothes. His shirt was the last to come off and when it hit the floor he remembered that she stood up and pushed him down on the couch.

He inadvertently smiled at the thought of how she took charge and how that was the most incredible night of his life. He had found his soul mate and he didn't want to give her up as a partner, but he was willing to if she would agree to be his wife.

Within ten days the task force should have all the suspects in custody and then he would go to Striker and ask for a new partner and then that night he would get down on one knee and ask the girl of his dreams to marry him.

Ryan was brought back to reality by everyone standing after the Lieutenant had adjourned the meeting.

Jenny walked up to him, "Hey partner we have surveillance duty today you ready?"

"I thought you had video duty."

"Boy one day you will listen during a briefing and Hell will freeze over." She smiled at him and then headed out the door.

They took over the surveillance from the night shift and followed their suspects to Chico's restaurant. The suspects parked in the back so they pulled around the corner.

Luckily the suspects chose a table outside so it was easier to watch them.

"Do we know where the meeting is being held?" Jenny asked as she watched them order.

"Not yet all we know from our man on the inside is that it is this afternoon."

Ryan and Jenny were both watching the men as they waited for their lunch and then Ryan noticed a man cross the street two cars in front of them.

"Jen is that…"

"Oh shit that's Davenport."

"What the hell is he doing out of his cave?"

Jen pulled her camera out of the bag and took shots of him. He sat at the table on the end closest to them and placed an order with the waitress.

They were under orders for passive surveillance only because they didn't want to give away that they knew anything about the plan, but Jenny wished she could get closer so she could hear what they were talking about.

"Why is he sitting away from them?" Jenny asked almost to herself.

Then the waitress brought out the food and she pointed over to Hunter. Hunter held up his glass to them and then he got up and joined them at their table.

"What are you up to Hunter?" Jen said as she snapped the pictures of the three men together. After a few minutes Davenport left. His car drove passed the surveillance car and picked him up about twenty yards from them.