Watching Jane maneuver their car into a space in the vast parking lot, Lisbon shook her head. The man was just asking for them to get caught. If he wasn't, he'd still be burning rubber down the highway at a nice clip as they had been. Not stopping at a mega mall on the outskirts of L.A. Less than four hundred miles between them and Sacramento wasn't nearly far enough in her opinion. Not far enough at all.
She resisted the urge to tell him to hit the road as it wouldn't do any good. Like it or not, Jane was in charge of the whole operation. She was just along for the ride praying every step of the way they made it to goodness only knew where. Lisbon was mildly surprised she wasn't worried about their final destination. She trusted Jane to get her somewhere safe...as safe as she could be under the circumstances. She wasn't sure why all things considered. She just did.
"Out." Jane commanded rudely more to head off the Lisbon protests he knew were coming than any real desire to be discourteous.
"What are we doing here?" She asked as she unfastened her seat belt.
"We need a few things. This is as good a place as any to get them." Jane informed her.
"Do you think that's smart?" Lisbon asked as she rose to her feet and closed the door.
"Yeah, Ginger, I do." Jane said as he draped his arm lightly around her waist ignoring her slightly startled expression. "I'm Greg and you're Ginger. Remember it." Jane whispered in Lisbon's ear looking for all the world like he was kissing her ear instead. "We will get caught if you don't play along. Now get with the program." He said as he nuzzled her neck in a way that had Lisbon blushing before leaning limply into his embrace exactly as he intended.
"Lead the way, Greg." Lisbon accepted his words were true.
"Listen carefully. You have a thousand dollars in your purse." Lisbon gazed at the small clutch hooked to her wrist by a dainty strap that was admittedly quite pretty but too impractical. She wouldn't have bought the sucker. Not yesterday, today, or ever. It was much too girly girl. "Spend as much as you need. There's more where that came from."
"I won't need that much." Lisbon assured him. There was no way she was spending a thousand dollars of Jane's money on clothes she didn't want or need. It wasn't right.
She'd be cleared and back in her cozy apartment wearing her serviceable suits before either of them could say boo. She was sure of it. Red John's ploy wasn't going to work. Everyone would quickly figure out this was all just a terrible misunderstanding. That she was being craftily framed. She was too by the book to do anything as disreputable as take a man's life in cold blood. Even if he was a soulless murdered. Everything would get straightened out soon. It had to be. Truthfully, it probably already was. But, Lisbon wasn't ready to put her money where her mouth was. She wasn't about to call Minelli to find out. Not yet. She didn't want to know if it wasn't.
No part of Teresa Lisbon was ready to accept she'd stepped from her neat, orderly life into her worse nightmare.
Not until there was no other choice.
"Ginger, none of that matters." Jane spoke firmly into her ear conveying he was privy to her thoughts though she hadn't said a thing. "All that does is we're hitting the mall at the busiest time of day. We're getting what we need and we're paying with cash. We aren't engaging the store clerks so it's highly unlikely anyone will remember either of us if it ever gets that far.
Buy whatever you'll need for the next two weeks in terms of slacks, jeans, shirts, and a nice dress or two. Better yet, I'm going to help you pick things out before moving on to get what I need.
Don't spend an excessively large amount at any one register. Make several trips to different check outs throughout the store and we'll be fine. Meet me right over there by that bench in an hour once you're done." Jane said as he escorted Lisbon into a major department store.
"I'll be there." Lisbon wasn't at all surprised when Jane plucked a pretty patterned crimson silk sundress similar in cut to the one she was wearing off the rack in passing.
Nor was Lisbon all that surprised fifteen minutes later to find herself standing at the register purchasing three pretty dresses, one of them a shocking bling encrusted animal print in tawny shades of gold blending nicely with her hair, three pairs of slacks in colors and patterns she'd never pick along with several coordinating mix and match jewel tone blouses, a couple of skirts, four brightly colored bejeweled tanks, a black jacket and a pair of matching black slacks she refused to do without. Paying for her purchases, Lisbon decided the nicest part of all was most of her take was from the clearance racks so she hadn't made a substantial dent in her stash. No one batted an eyelash as she counted out several hundred dollar bills. They were in a more upscale store. Purchases in her price range were common everyday occurences.
Moving to the next department, she selected three pairs of brand name jeans, a coordinating jean jacket, a couple of belts, a couple of vividly colored cashmere blend crew neck sweaters, a basic black cardigan, three casual button down shirts, and a casual jacket that would go with anything. After paying for her purchases at a different register, she moved on to buy a couple of pairs of pajamas, panties, bras, socks, hose, and trouser socks in lingerie before hitting the mother lode in the shoe department. Fortunately, her feet were commonly sized so buying tennis shoes, loafers, sandals, and pumps wasn't a major undertaking and she soon had at least one pair of each in her possession. She even managed to snag a simple black bikini, a one piece, and a cover up along the way. Glancing at her watch, her hour was all but up. While traffic was steady, she'd not had to stand in line more than a handful of minutes anywhere.
Hoisting her take, Lisbon made her way to the secluded bench five minutes early fully expecting her companion to be nowhere in sight. To her surprise, he was already waiting. Rising to his feet, Jane seized half her load and nestled Lisbon into his side as he herded her in the opposite direction from the one in which they'd come. Wisely keeping her mouth closed as they didn't need any unwanted attention, Lisbon decided to go with the flow. She'd know where Jane was taking her soon enough.
Exiting the mall at the opposite end from the one they'd entered, Jane stood on the sidewalk studying Lot G for a moment before guiding Lisbon in the direction of a particular aisle. Stopping in front of yet another moderately price luxury car, Jane punched several numbers into the key pad. Reaching beneath the seat he withdrew the key ring. Watching Jane press another button, Lisbon wasn't at all surprised to watch the trunk lid rise. Nor was she all that shocked there were several matching suitcases inside.
"We'll put things where they belong later. For the moment, we need to get a move on." Jane said softly as he stowed their bags in the trunk and closed the lid before walking around to open Lisbon's door.
Sliding into her seat she fastened her seatbelt and waited for Jane to get situated.
"Tommy sends his love." Jane said as he cranked the ignition.
"Do not tell me you've involved my brother in this mess." Lisbon said resisting the urge to take a swipe at the man as soon as he confirmed her suspicions.
"Not really." Jane replied as he pulled out of the tight parking place aware that Lisbon's eyes were on his every move.
Watching him expertly back out, Lisbon was glad she wasn't driving. Her heart was beating so fast she couldn't drive if she wanted and she so did not want to be driving. Not now and not any time soon. Maybe when they got a state or two over she'd be ready. At the moment she'd see a cop around every turn and react accordingly with disastrous results she was sure.
Truthfully, she'd fully expected to be taken into custody at any time. Even with her light red gold hair wearing the low cut sundress and strappy sandals no one would ever expect to see here wearing. Teresa Lisbon so didn't flash boob even if was the tiniest bit of cleavage. More importantly even with curl free dark haired Jane wearing slacks and a cobalt silk shirt she'd never expect to see him wear in a million years super glued to her side like a freshly minted lover. Fortunately, it seemed no one else did either which she supposed was a good thing. A three piece suit would certainly have given them away immediately even with the changes they'd made.
"Talk, Jane." Lisbon demanded.
"Tommy's not really involved, Lisbon. Nothing beyond the fact I let him know we would be gone until this whole sordid mess got sorted out." Jane stated as he adeptly manovered around the conflicted fool in front of them who clearly didn't know if he was coming or going.
"What else did he do?" Lisbon asked.
"He and James brought the car down and left it here." Jane admitted.
"What do you mean he and James brought the car down and left it here?" Lisbon was not happy with this latest turn of events. Jane had involved her brothers in a clear cut case of obstruction of justice at the very least. He was so dead as soon as he pulled over somewhere she could kill him. She'd worry about hiding the body somewhere later.
"Tommy picked this car up from an old friend's lot and brought it here. He walked through the mall to the other end where he exited into the North parking lot. From there your brother James picked him up and they road off into the sunset. They were long gone before we ever got here. They don't even know if we were here at all, if we picked up the car, or if someone else did. They're clueless to the change in our appearances. End of the story and the end of any involvement of the Lisbon brothers in our schemes." Jane clarified.
"Our schemes? Your schemes you mean as usual, Jane." Lisbon reminded him. "What if they're on video camera? What if we're on video camera picking the car up? We'll all get busted. You have to know they'll be searching the whole state of California." Lisbon said.
"That's why we aren't hanging out too long in any one spot. Besides, they haven't got this far yet even with modern technology. Besides, this is the oldest part of the parking lot, Lisbon. While the mall will never come clean and admit it as they certainly don't want the public to know, Lot G is the one place their new camera system doesn't cover yet. They're working on the problem; but, they haven't gotten it fixed yet. It seems there's been a down turn in profits lately and it's a very expensive little glitch to correct so it'll be a while before the video works in this sector. Needless to say, we have nothing to worry about." Jane reassured his companion the only way he could.
"I don't want to know how you found that out." Lisbon said.
"No, I don't suppose you do." Jane confirmed as he merged into interstate traffic.
He also wanted wasn't telling her that he'd met with Tommy and Annabeth in person at a taco stand to lay the groundwork for his plan. Lisbon wouldn't appreciate that tidbit at all. She'd box both of his ears for getting her family involved and probably rightly so. Unfortunately, there was no one he trusted with this stage of the plan except her family. That being said, he'd not really had a choice. He'd done his best to involve them only marginally while still getting the help he needed.
The only down side to his plan had been the conversation he'd had with Annie. That kid was far too astute for her own good. She was a mini-Lisbon in too many ways. He'd not had an answer for her when she'd outright asked him why he was willing to lose his only decent lead to Red John for her Aunt Reese when he was finally getting closer than he'd ever been. Jane had given her the only answer he could. He trusted the team to keep Lorelei safe in his absence as he trusted them to help clear Lisbon's name when the time came.
The truth was far more convoluted and he wasn't going there. All Jane knew was when everything was said and done, Lisbon was worth it. If she wasn't, he'd have let Sheriff Hardy take her out and gotten Red John a long time ago. Nope, he wasn't going there. It was what it was and that was all there was to it.
"Then I won't ask. I'd hate to have to kill you." Lisbon said venomously as she tilted her seat back and closed her eyes.
"That's a smart thing to do. Shopping takes a lot out of a girl." Jane said as he settled in for a long drive. The 'as did getting so angry with him' wisely remained unsaid.
They wouldn't be stopping for anything but fast food and potty breaks from here to their destination. Given his ability to fully function on minimal sleep, a twelve or thirteen hour drive total wasn't all that wearing. Lisbon, however, needed to rest. Stress was taking quite the toll on her. She was seeing bogey men around every turn and that wouldn't do at all. Not if they wanted to make a clean getaway as they did.
#
"Where are we?" Lisbon blinked her eyes open to a totally unfamiliar place and quickly decided they weren't in Oz anymore. They probably weren't in California either given the looks of things.
"Phoenix. Actually Scottsdale if you want to be specific." Jane said as he unfastened his seat belt.
"What are we doing here, Jane?" Lisbon asked as she noted the resort sign.
"We're spending one night of our honeymoon in an upscale place that's low key enough not to have video cameras in every corner so as to insure their guests' privacy." Jane informed her.
"Do what?" Lisbon didn't believe what she'd just heard.
"I said we're spending one night of our honeymoon at this lovely establishment." As Lisbon was clearly knocked for a loop by his words even after repeating them, Jane decided to show her instead.
Drawing the black velvet box from his pocket, he opened the lid to expose the simple emerald and diamond band. While nothing particularly eye catching at first glance, the ring made a definite statement upon closer examination. None of the stones were all that large, but each was of a consistent size and quality that spoke of serious money.
"That ring's expensive, Jane. How did you get your hands on the cash for all of this so fast?" Lisbon asked as he slid the embellished gold band on her finger. She almost choked when he lifted her hand to his lips before letting it go.
"Lisbon, you know what I was in my other life. Suffice it to say I had substantial funds socked away in case of emergency. Funds I've never touched in the years since my family died so they're far more than adequate for our needs." Besides, it had always been easier and more fun to make his money the good, old fashioned way duping a willing mark.
He'd never had to touch the mad money secreted away within easy reach. Only what was in his legitimate bank account when needed. As he'd not accessed any of that in preparing for their flight, all that was missing from the accounts law enforcement could access was his usual monthly expenses. While everyone would all but know he was with Lisbon, they couldn't be totally sure. He might have chosen to suddenly disappear on a great Red John hunt that happened to coincide with Lisbon's disappearance. It was a rather weak hypothesis; but, it was there and it was enough to cast a small amount of reasonable doubt on his whereabouts.
"I see." Lisbon honestly wasn't sure how she felt about living on Jane's dime; but, it wasn't like she had a whole lot of choice.
"I certainly don't mind sharing what I have with you, Lisbon. Truthfully, we both know I owe you more than I can ever repay." Jane flicked a glistening tendril off her cheek.
"Whatever." Lisbon chose to ignore that remark as she had a lot of them over the last few weeks. Anyways, she didn't like Jane talking that way. He honestly didn't owe her anything. "How long has your ring been gone, Jane?" Lisbon asked noticing the bare appendage for the first time and mentallly kicking herself in the fanny for not being more observant.
"Since before I met you at the Carlson. It wouldn't do for someone to recognize my wedding band. It doesn't matter there's a million others just like it out there. That ring is unique to me and everyone knows it." Jane reminded her.
"I guess it wouldn't. It would be one more thing indicating you might possibly be Patrick Jane in spite of the physical changes." Lisbon agreed.
"That's why I got this one." Jane removed the second box from his pocket and opened the lid to expose a plain wider gold band matching hers without the stones.
"I suppose you want me to put that on your finger." Lisbon stated somewhat dubiously.
"That would be nice." Jane agreed.
Removing the ring from the box, Lisbon awkwardly slid the band on Jane's finger finding the whole situation surreal. A part of the ruse, it didn't mean a thing; but, her heart was racing again. She so wasn't going there.
"I'm not kissing your finger, Jane." Lisbon said as she released his hand.
"Do you really think that's fair?" Jane asked with a disturbing twinkle in his eye.
"Bite me." Lisbon scowled at him not at all pleased he found her discomfort amusing.
"Lisbon, open the glove compartment and take out the manila envelope." Jane commanded. "Now, look inside."
"Ah, Jane, what's all this?" Lisbon looked at the jumbled mass she'd tipped into her lap.
"What does it look like it is?" Jane asked.
"A driver's license and passports along with a few other things like a very real looking marriage license dated and signed yesterday." Lisbon said.
"If anyone checks, I can assure you that signature is the epitome of real." Jane reassured her.
"You blackmailed the Clerk of Court?" Lisbon asked.
"Lisbon, look at where we got married. Do you honestly think I had to threaten anyone?" Jane asked.
Sin City.
She'd supposedly run off and married Jane in Sin City? Lisbon rolled her eyes quite eloquently. How corny could he get? She so wouldn't get married in Vegas under any circumstance. Wait, it wasn't so bad. Actually, it was Kimberly Anne Finkelstein who'd married George Jonathan Yates in Sin City. Not Teresa Lisbon and Patrick Jane.
Yeah, given that last name she'd probably take a pig farmer up on his offer to wed in order to change it if he'd been the first to ask for her hand. George Jonathan Yates wasn't all that great either. Where did Jane come up with those names? Oh, yeah, she didn't want to know. They'd probably died in 1750 or 1858 if the truth was known. That was how these things were often done.
"Yes, well, it's in our best interest to have our cover look as real as possible. As I've already said this isn't like it was with that fool Carmen. Red John's behind this mess. It won't be nearly as easy to get you out of. Accept that you're Kimberly Yates and I'm your husband, Jonathan, from Bakersfield, California. We're on our way to Atlanta to accept new jobs and we're taking the scenic route. I'm in medical equipment sales and you're a housewife finishing your teaching degree.
When we get where we're going, you'll be Amber Rhodes and I'm Jack Jones. We're lovers a bit on the oil and water side, but definitely lovers. Of course, Sammy and Pete and a few others will know the truth; but, as far as the rest of the crew is concerned, we're just Amber and Jack." Jane said. In fact, his old friends were in possession of the various bits of plastic they'd need to prove their new identies once they'd been absorbed into the fold.
"We're running off to join the circus?" Lisbon wasn't sure she'd heard Jane right. The big reveal was they were becoming carnies? She didn't know the first thing about carney life.
"Can you think of a better place to hide in plain sight?" Jane asked.
"Do you think that's wise? The truth will eventually get out." Lisbon said.
"Yeah, it might. But, carnies are better than most at keeping secrets and if it does come out they don't give up their own. Not the handful that will know the truth. We have a past going back a long way. The things I know on them could land them a stent in jail. The things they know on me, well it's the same.
None of that really matters, Lisbon. It isn't about any of that. It's the code and the fact we're all family. Family doesn't turn on family and they'll keep the newbies in line." Jane reassured her.
"You left, Jane, and I'm a cop." Lisbon reminded him.
"Yeah, I did, Lisbon; but, I paid a terrible price. All's been forgiven a long time ago. There might still be a punch or two out there waiting for me; but, that's about the extent of it." Jane's body language was as confident as he sounded. He was looking forward to being among old friends after being away so long. Lisbon wasn't sure she felt the same. "As for you, you let Danny go. That's enough of a start for Sammy and Pete. Where they lead, the others will follow. Besides, you're not a cop at the moment and you surely aren't interested in busting anyone's chops for whatever they might be doing."
"No, I'm not. I'm just not sure I can pull it off, Jane. I'm not sure I can be carney." Lisbon said.
"Lisbon, stop worrying. I'll be standing beside you showing the way." Jane promised. "For now, you need to hand me that license and take your own. The rest you can put back in the glove compartment. We don't need marriage certificates and passports at the moment." Jane said.
Doing as she was told, Lisbon turned to Jane for further instruction.
"Where are we meeting?" Jane didn't have to ask what Lisbon meant.
"Oklahoma. From there we'll do a tour through the Midwestern states." Jane informed her.
They'd need much warmer clothes before that happened. But, he'd wait until they got where they needed to be before initiating another impromptu shopping expedition. Between what they'd bought in California and what they would buy, they'd be prepared for anywhere the circus might go.
"I see." The thought of stepping into the unknown unsettled Lisbon more than she felt comfortable admitting.
"Lisbon, everything will be fine. At the moment we have more immediate things to worry about like getting past the check in desk to our room. We just got married yesterday. We've got to act like it. I'd suggest being a lot more touchy feely in public than you're comfortable being." Jane sagely said. "We'll start with this."
Unfastening her seatbelt, Jane drew Lisbon into his arms. Reminding herself she had no idea what Jane had noted that she hadn't, Lisbon resisted the urge to pull away and opened her mouth beneath his deciding going with the flow was her smartest course of action for the moment. If it proved unfounded, she'd smack the snot out of Jane for his presumptuousness. It wasn't like she'd never thought about kissing Jane anyway. She had though such thoughts were her guilty little secret. She'd just never really considered he'd thought about kissing her.
And though Jane was a consummate actor, none of this felt like an act. In fact the tongue dancing quite erotically against hers seemed intent on nothing so much as coaxing the heartfelt response she was willingly giving against her better judgment. Wrapping her fingers through his hair, Lisbon was never quite sure if she crawled into Jane's lap or if he pulled her there. The one thing she did know was that wasn't a gun in his pocket and she did not need to sitting in exactly the position she was. She was much to vulnerable. Feeling her stiffen, Jane released a thoroughly kissed Lisbon allowing her to scamper to her side of the car putting a comfortable distance between them.
"Uh, what was that for?" Lisbon said calmly as though they hadn't just gotten much too carried away in the midst of a kiss meant entirely for show.
"See the college kid manning the door? We've been sitting out here long enough to start attracting his attention in a way that isn't good. Now, he won't think anything as he takes our luggage to our room except we were having some kind of stupid lovey dovey conversation like honeymooners do ending in a passionate kiss promising more hanky panky to come as soon as we're in a more private location." Jane said as he finger combed Lisbon's well mussed hair before pulling a comb from his pocket to address his own. "You look quite beautiful, Lisbon. I'm sure he'll think so, too." Leaning over Jane kissed the end of her nose before opening his door and walking around the car to open hers.
"There isn't going to be any hanky panky, Mister, so get that thought right out of your mind." Lisbon whispered in his ear just in case the man had a similar voice in his brain to the one whispering in her head.
It had been a long time since a particular hunger had been sated and that kiss had promised delights worth sampling. Actually, it was more the inadvertent straddling of a certain part of his anatomy that promised unknown delights. Delights she wouldn't mind sampling under other circumstances. Say, if Jane wasn't her consultant. Shaking her head, Lisbon forced that thought right out of her mind. Jane might not be broken any more; but, she so wasn't going there. This was all a ruse to clear her name and that was exactly what it was going to remain.
"That's a shame, Lisbon. It really is." Jane teased before grabbing their suitcase from the trunk. He must have transferred a few outfits from their shopping bags to the case on one of their rest area stops. She'd been much too drowsy to notice.
"Hmph." Lisbon said as Jane closed the trunk and wrapped his arm around her waist. Lisbon responded by planting her hand in that spot between his lower back and his nicely shaped derrierre. Jane whispered in her ear that he really wouldn't mind her hand drifting lower and laughed out loud as he got the responding blush he'd wanted. The woman was much too easy to play; but, now one could doubt there performance was real.
Lisbon decided she wasn't looking forward to spending the night with her mentalist in close quarters. He was already enjoying himself much too much. She could already tell the man was going to be a pain. But, at least from the looks of the place, she'd get a hot shower and some good food out of the deal. The bed might even be comfortable for a change. Even if she had to share it with Jane.
#
Lisbon looked across the candle lit table at her partner in crime. Actually, she wasn't looking across anything as she was sitting beside him with his hand on her crimson silk clad thigh. Exactly as he'd said, they'd checked in without a hitch and followed the college aged kid who'd occasionally flashed a knowing leer in their direction every now and then. Lisbon had longed to smack that perverse expression off his dirty little face. He had no right to be imagining them writhing nakedly. Jane had taken it all in stride as just another indication his ploy was advancing nicely.
An hour later, they'd found themselves showered, changed, and sitting in a secluded corner of the resort restaurant being catered to by the non-intrusive wait staff and eating the best food she'd tasted in years. Actually, Lisbon was being fed the best food she'd eaten in ages by an overly attentive Jane in true honeymooner style. She'd even gotten used to hearing herself called Kim and calling him Jonathan.
Not that she could really gripe about any of this. She was enjoying feeding her imaginary lover as well. There was something about carefree Jane she found as entrancing as brooding Jane and that was a dangerous realization. She sternly reminded herself it was all for show. She'd be wise to remember that. Her companion was a master at hiding in plain sight and it behooved her to follow his lead. That was as far as it was going.
Lisbon came out of her thoughts to see Jane offering her the last bite of decadent chocolate raspberry cheesecake. Opening her mouth she allowed him to feed her the last bit savoring the intense flavor before swallowing the creamy offering. There was something incredibly sensual about the way Jane had teased her with the most succulent nibbles of perfectly cooked filet and bites of butter laden sweet potato all night. There was something about the look in his eyes making her body respond in totally inappropriate ways that Lisbon was sure Jane was fully aware of as well. Her consultant was playing a dangerous game and Lisbon wasn't sure exactly why. Perhaps he was going deep under their cover and she'd be wise to follow suit as long as she remembered that was all it was. Perhaps it was something more. Lisbon couldn't help feeling by the time she figured out Jane's intent it would be much too late. She'd already be soundly caught in sticky spider webbing.
Turning her attention back to Jane, Lisbon decided she wasn't going to worry about that for the moment. She had more important things on her mind. Like getting where they were going without getting caught.
"What do you say we finish our champagne and go upstairs?" Jane asked in a silky tone sending shivers down her back.
"Sounds like a plan." Lisbon said as she drained her glass and took his hand.
#
"I don't think anyone in that restaurant has any doubt what's going on up here right about now." Jane smirked at Lisbon's crimson stained cheeks.
"Nothing's going on here, Jane. Get over yourself. You've had your fun." Lisbon rooted around in the suitcase for her sleep tank and shorts.
"You get over yourself. You really shouldn't wear that, Lisbon. No one will believe we're on our honeymoon if you do." Jane pointed out. "You should wear this instead." Reaching around her, he pulled out a wisp of black silk Lisbon knew darned well she hadn't bought and wasn't about to wear. Jane must have bought it in a moment of insanity. Surely he hadn't believed she'd lost enough of her mind to wear that bit of nothing revealing more than it concealed in his presence.
"No one's going to see what I'm wearing, Jane, to question what I'm wearing or not wearing so I am so not wearing that thing." Lisbon reminded him.
"A man can hope, Lisbon, even if it comes to naught." Jane said.
"A man can get slapped for impudence." Lisbon said as she straightened their clothes in the suitcase.
"Lisbon, you need to get comfortable with all of this." Jane said as he removed his pajamas from the suitcase. "You're going to be living with me in a sardine tin sized travel trailer and I can assure you the bed is a hell of a lot smaller than this." Jane gestured to the king sized bed. "Carney are astute folks and they're not shy. Not about anything. You can't really be considering we live right up under each other. Added to that, we're a nosy bunch. Everyone's into everyone else's business.
If we slip up and use the wrong names, someone's going to hear it and it'll spread like wild fire. If you flinch when I touch you as I most certainly must or draw away when I kiss you, the jig is up. It might be smart if we start practicing now.
Of course we can't call each other Amber and Jack yet; but, we can start that once we hit the road. In the interim, it might be wise to get used to snuggling and hugging and all the other little intimacies short of sex we haven't engaged in." Jane tossed out. "You're the one worrying about us pulling this off in the end. If you do as I say there won't be a problem. None of the newbies will figure out we aren't who we seem and none of the old timers will betray our secrets. Just play your role and follow my lead. Trust me, Lisbon, that's all you have to do." Jane reminded her.
"I do. It's the rest of the world I have a problem with." Lisbon admitted.
"The rest of the world doesn't matter. Or they won't once we get where we're going." Jane reassured her.
"It might help if I knew what to expect once we get to Oklahoma." Lisbon said as she watched Jane return the suitcase to the closet.
"You'll help take care of Daisy since she likes you. Me, I'll help with setup and operate a ride or two. You'll probably eventually do the same. Other than that, we'll just live our lives behind the scenes as most carnies do." Jane told her.
"Is that wise being out in the open?" Lisbon asked.
"Hiding in plain sight, remember?" Jane responsed. "Go changed while I change out here. We need to get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be another long day. If we get up early enough, we might even be able to slip in a few laps in that nice Olympic sized pool before we leave." Jane said knowing Lisbon would like that.
"I'd like that." Lisbon walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
A few minutes later she emerged face freshly scrubbed wearing a bright blue tank and plaid sleep shorts carrying her clothes in her hands. As expected Jane had changed into his pajamas and put his shirt and pants away. Deliberately ignoring the fact he wasn't wearing the matching pajama top, Lisbon hung her dress in the closet before putting her hose and under clothes away. She felt far more vulnerable being in Jane's presence so scantily clothed, but she ignored the feeling. They'd be getting far more intimate before they were done from the way things sounded considering the close quarters they'd be sharing.
"Come to bed, Lisbon." Jane said as he flipped the covers back and slid onto the mattress.
Closing the closet doors, Lisbon walked across the room to climb onto the king sized bed and lay on her side in a fetal position. She wasn't at all surprised when a strong arm snaked out to pull her into a spooning hold. She'd been expecting to have Jane eventually wrapped around her like an octopus. She'd thought maybe to have a few extra moments she wasn't getting; but, she wasn't surprised to find herself playing Jane's cuddle toy.
The up side was if a maid happened to burst in on them before they awakened, she wouldn't doubt they were together.
The bad news was she doubted she was going to get any sleep with Jane's hand resting so intimately against her lower belly beneath her shirt. She still wasn't sure how he'd managed that or even if he knew he'd done it. All she did know was his fingers were resting much too low for comfort. Not really all that improper; but, still much too low.
However, she wasn't about to risk waking him by moving that hand as it was obvious Jane had already slipped into much needed sleep by the snuffling in her ear.
Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to ignore that hand if she concentrated on the cadence of his breathing. It wasn't as if Jane was conscious of his actions. The man was asleep for goodness sakes. She just needed to stop being foolish. She needed to close her eyes and join him.
Tomorrow was another long day.