Sheltering Dunes by Radclyffe Read Free Book Online Page B

had the question put to her, Flynn had never actually considered her answer. But she was staying. Not because she had nowhere else to go, although her choices were somewhat limited. But this town beckoned to her. She felt at home here.
    “Good to hear. I’ll see you around, then.”
    “You will.” Flynn pulled at her beer and watched the activity behind her reflected in the mirror over the bar. A door on the far side of the dance floor opened, and someone came through carrying a cardboard box of liquor. Flynn narrowed her eyes. She wasn’t imagining things. Mica crossed to the bar and carried the box around behind it.
    “Hey, Marylou,” Mica said, “you want me to bring up a case of the Captain next? It looks like you’re low.”
    “Why don’t you just grab a couple of bottles,” Marylou said as she pulled up a draft.
    “Okay.”
    Mica set the box on the bar and started to stack the bottles into racks underneath. She worked quickly, as if she’d done the job before. Tory King had been right. Even in the dim, red-tinged light from the neon brewery signs hanging along the bar, the bruise around her left eye was apparent. She had the beginnings of a shiner that was probably going to be pretty dramatic in the morning.
    Flynn slid down several bar stools, dragging her beer with her, until she was opposite Mica. “I would’ve thought you’d be too sore to work tonight.”
    Mica jumped, her eyes darting rapidly to Flynn before all expression fled her face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “We met early this morning.” Flynn lowered her voice. “When you had that accident on your bicycle.”
    “Yeah,” Mica said, “I know who you are. Like I said then, I’m fine.”
    “Okay. I’m glad.”
    “I’ll bet.” Mica pulled the empty cardboard box off the bar and turned away, threading her way down to the opposite end, where she rapidly pushed her way through a door leading to the alley outside.
    Flynn debated going after her and then decided whatever the reasons Mica had left the clinic, whatever demons chased her, were none of her business. She drained her beer and set it carefully onto the cocktail napkin.
    “Buy you another?” Allie settled onto the stool next to Flynn. She wasn’t in uniform now, and she looked young and fresh in a scooped-neck long-sleeved tee, hip-hugger jeans, and low-heeled boots. Her raven hair was loose around her shoulders.
    “Hey,” Flynn said, looking past Allie around the room. She didn’t see Ash Walker anywhere. “How are you doing?”
    “I’m good. What about you?”
    “I’m good too. Shoulder okay?”
    “It gets stiff now and then, but it’s healed up.”
    “Good.”
    “So, how are we doing?”
    Flynn smiled. “I think we’re doing okay. How are things with Ash?”
    Allie smiled, the kind of smile a woman in love smiles. “You know we had a past, right? Before I went out with you.”
    “Yeah, I figured that from some of the things Ash told me. And—well, the way you looked at her. You couldn’t see anyone else.”
    Allie blushed, a rare sight. “Jeez—uncool of me. Okay, well, I’m sorry about the way things turned out with us—”
    “No, there’s nothing to be sorry for. We had a couple of really terrific dates. And I’m really glad for you.”
    “You’re really scary nice, you know?”
    “No, I’m not, but I can still be happy for you.”
    “Someday you’ll have to tell me why you think you don’t deserve it too.”
    Flynn frowned. “Deserve what?”
    “Happiness.”

Chapter Six
     
    Reese leaned on her elbow, slowly stroking Tory’s abdomen. Tory’s face glowed in the muted light, a softness about her eyes that pulled at Reese’s heart. “You look beautiful right now. How do you feel?”
    Tory turned on her side, keeping her hips slightly elevated on the pillow underneath her lower back, and kissed Reese. “I feel wonderful. How are you?”
    “Sort of”—Reese lightly kissed Tory’s breast above her heart and