Free Paid in Full by Ann Roberts Page A

was actually happening. Ari caressed her face, and their foreheads touched. “I want to get to know you, Molly.”
    At the sound of her name, Molly became rooted to the carpet. Her hand dropped from the doorknob and she stood motionless, feeling much like a tree trunk. She closed her eyes, sensing Ari’s kiss before she felt the soft lips against her own.

Chapter Seven
    Tuesday, June 19
    7:48 a.m.
     
    “Fourteen, twelve,” Jane announced as she served the ball into the left corner. It bobbed between the two walls and Ari managed to bounce it off the back glass before it struck the ground. They mercilessly pounded the racquetball, attempting winning shots, until Ari smashed one so low that it skidded across the hardwood. While she won the point, Jane won the game on the next serve, and proceeded to bellow a few bars of the Rocky theme and do a little victory dance.
    Ari started to pack up, pretending to be disgusted by her antics. Jane would never win any good sportsmanship awards. They were equally matched and both hated to lose—only Ari didn’t dance when she won. Dripping in sweat, they retreated to the locker rooms. Playing racquetball with Jane was a catch-22— she hated exercising, but she loved the energetic high that followed a workout. If only there was a way to feel that good just from lying on her patio lounge chair.
    Standing stark naked, Jane put her hands on her hips and confronted Ari. “Now, I want to know what’s on your mind. That was the most apathetic racquetball game we’ve played in a long time. You weren’t there and I want to know what you’re thinking about. Is it Bob?”
    At the mention of Bob’s name, a wave of guilt came over Ari. She should have been thinking about Bob, but instead her thoughts were about Molly and their kiss, which apparently wasn’t very good. She just shrugged her shoulders and prayed Jane would let it go. Half of the time Jane lost interest in a subject almost as quickly as it was mentioned, so Ari used the shoulder shrug on a regular basis.
    “Well, I’m waiting. You know how much I like to win, but only if I feel it’s a righteous victory.”
    Ari rolled her eyes. “God Jane, it was a racquetball game, not a civil rights march.”
    Making no effort to put on any clothes, Jane sat down on a nearby bench and stretched out. “If it’s not Bob, then it’s a woman.” Ari didn’t answer. She continued her methodical routine for dressing, working from toe to head. Jane actually liked watching Ari dress. Although she didn’t want to date Ari, she certainly loved looking at her perfect body, and with Ari’s dressing system, her breasts were almost always the last to be covered.
    Ari pulled her shirt over her head and sighed. Jane was staring at her. Clearly, Jane wasn’t losing interest. “Okay, the lead detective on Bob’s case is totally hot, and we had a few unpleasant run- ins, and I think she kinda blames me for Bob running off, but I think she’s attracted to me too. She’s sort of threatened to arrest me if I don’t stop interfering, but we made up. Anyway, she came over to my apartment last night and we kissed and then she just ran out the door without saying anything.”
    Jane sat there, her mouth open.
    “Well?” Ari asked.
    “I’m processing. Give me a moment.”
    Ari watched Jane formulate questions in her mind and reject each one. At one point, she started to open her mouth, and then she closed it. She knew that Ari hated to talk about her love life, so she needed to choose her questions carefully. Finally she smiled and asked, “What do you like about her?”
    Ari sat down next to her friend and Jane saw she was blushing. “Everything. I mean I think she’s gorgeous, but what really gets me is her personality.”
    Jane rolled her eyes. “Oh, God. That response means nothing. It’s just the politically correct statement. What specifically do you like about her—and remember, you’re talking to me. So if you’re only attracted