Free Moments In Time by Mariah Stewart

Philadelphia as possible.
    “Hi,” Lindy said as he sat down, “I’m Lindy Burton.”
    “J.D. Borders.” He smiled and turned his attention to Maggie, whispering, “How long do we have to stay here?”
    She shook her head, seeing the light in his eyes and replied, “Not long.”
    He ordered a drink, and Maggie watched as he furtively admired Lindy from across the table. When his eyes strayed back to Maggie, she’d raised an eyebrow to let him know she’d caught him giving her friend the once-over.
    “She’s Daily’s type, not mine,” he confided into her ear, “lean, mean, and flashy. And frankly, I’m wondering how we’ll get rid of her.”
    Before Maggie could respond, Rick appeared out of nowhere, and J.D. grinned broadly, knowing that he need not be concerned about having Lindy on his hands for the rest of the evening.
    “Can I get one of those?” Rick asked the waitress as she put J.D.’s drink on the table and he pulled up a chair and sat down. “I’ve been sent as a one-man delegation to talk you two into joining us back at the hotel. The rest of the guys think it’s criminal that you’ve kept Maggie to yourself these past few days. You’re welcome to come, too, of course,” he added to Lindy, not for a second oblivious to the beautiful blonde with the million-dollar smile and the big blue eyes seated next to Maggie.
    They sat and talked but were constantly interrupted by fans passing the table who could not resist stopping and telling them how great the show had been. After a long fifteen minutes, J.D. turned to Maggie and said, “Let’s go home.”
    “Oh, Maggie …” Lindy pleaded with her.
    “Doesn’t mean you have to leave, Lindy. You want to come over to the hotel with me?” Rick flashed his best smile.
    He didn’t have to ask her twice. With a wink in Maggie’s direction, Lindy rose and draped her jacket over her shoulder. Rick appeared bewitched as all five feet ten inches of the perfectly proportioned leggy blonde emerged from the chair.
    “Last chance, J.D.” Still mesmerized by the incredible legs barely covered by Lindy’s short skirt, Rick obviously couldn’t have cared less at that point what J.D. would do with the rest of the evening.
    “Thanks anyway.” J.D. shook his head. “Ready, Maggie?”
    Traffic was heavier than she’d anticipated. The long line of cars waiting for the br idge seemed to take forever to move, the river of headlights flowing slowly to the roadway below. They stopped at a light, and J.D. put his hand on the back of her neck, tracing little circles on her skin with his fingers. She felt the heat from him in even the small touch and wished the light would turn. That dizziness he always made her feel washed over her, her body responding down to her toes.
    “Are we almost there?” he asked, the twinkle in his eyes clearly in dicating what was on his mind.
    She cleared he r throat. “A few more blocks.”
    “Good.”
    By the time she’d unlocked the apartment door, the anticipation was unbearable.
    They were half in the hallwa y, half in the doorway to her bedroom. The hall light was on, the rest of the apartment in darkness. He pushed her jacket off over her shoulders, and she left it on the floor where it landed. He reached for her, and they held each other.
    “I do not want a beer, just in case you were about to ask,” he teased, then kissed her ne ck, starting under one ear and moving around her throat to th e other, then kissed lower on her neck, then lower. She thought she’d die from the ache that was growing rapidly i nside her. She moved backward into the room, backed up to the bed, and he took every step with her, still kissing her, his hands undressing her and hers undressing him. She prayed she would not black out, as she feared she might, from the unbelievable r ush that was overtaking her.
    Afterward, they lay in the darkness with only the light from the street lamp outsi de the window to illumine the room, listening to each