Free Paid in Full by Ann Roberts Page B

to her enormous breasts or her marvelous ass, that’s okay.”
    Ari chuckled. “Well, I don’t know her enough to say exactly. She was just impressive, yeah, I guess that’s the word. And I felt like there was something between us immediately.”
    “Okay, don’t quit your day job. It’s apparent you’re never going to be a novel writer because you suck at description.”
    “Look, I can’t explain it, okay?” Ari shrilled.
    “So she’s a knockout?” Jane teased.
    “Well, I think so, but I mean, she’s not your stereotypical beauty.”
    “You mean like you.”
    “Right,” Ari retorted. She grabbed her gym bag, avoiding Jane’s gaze.
    Jane knew the conversation was practically over. She rose and dressed quickly, not worrying about which item of clothing went on first.
    “So, you kissed her and nothing happened,” Jane summarized, slamming her locker shut.
    “Well, I thought the kiss was great, but right after it was over she bolted out the door.” Ari paused, remembering the look of panic on Molly’s face. “Maybe I’m not her type,” Ari concluded. “I kissed her and she just ran out. She didn’t do anything.”
    “Did you? Did you try to stop her?”
    Ari smirked. She hated it when Jane used logic, which occurred as often as a Halley’s Comet sighting.
    “As hard as it may be for you to believe this, Ari, you might have to be the aggressor. It’s very possible she’s intimidated by you.” A few women strolled by in various states of undress. Jane’s eyes followed a shapely brunette to the showers.
    Ari shook her head. “Why would anyone be intimidated by me?”
    Jane’s head spun back to Ari. “You’re kidding, right?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Ari, you’re perfect. Perfect looking, perfect personality, perfect home, and you rarely do anything stupid.” When Ari started to protest, Jane held up a hand. “Answer one question. Do you, or do you not, arrange your spices in alphabetical order?” Ari fidgeted. “I rest my case. You are totally anal, and everything you do is just so . . .” Jane searched for the word.
    “Boring,” Ari stated.
    “No, that’s not what I was going to say. You’re just so right .”
    “I don’t believe this.” Ari hoisted her gym bag over her shoulder and walked toward the exit. The summer heat assaulted her the minute she opened the door. It was almost criminal to be this hot at nine in the morning, she thought.
    Jane fell in step, choosing her words carefully. “Honey, it’s nothing you do intentionally. It’s just who you are, and the fact is, some people are uncomfortable.”
    “That is ridiculous,” Ari argued with little enthusiasm.
    Jane smiled smugly. She’d made her point. “Are you coming to the office today?”
    “No, I’m going home to change, and then I thought I’d visit with Russ Swanson. I’ll call you later,” Ari said, closing the truck door.
    However, her plans quickly changed when the secretary informed her that Mr. Swanson was with a detective. Ari could only imagine who that was, and she had every intention of staying out of Molly’s way, at least in the professional sense. Most likely, she wouldn’t have much luck romantically either. Molly had responded to Ari’s pass with total disinterest, almost revulsion. Or had it been something else? Maybe she wasn’t ready for a relationship, or Jane’s theory might be correct, and Ari would have to take charge.
    She checked her watch. It was nine o’clock, and the Speedy Copy would be open. If she couldn’t speak with Russ Swanson, she’d talk to Kristen Duke, the person who saw Bob before Michael Thorndike’s murder. Bob had said that he was training her for management, and since the Tempe store was the largest and most important in the chain, it was possible that he had checked in with her.
     
    Ari headed for Tempe, Phoenix’s neighboring college town and home to Arizona State University. The two cities were separated by the Salt River, a