Chapter Eight: The Monument

"Jealous?" Silver-haired Miranda gave a brittle laugh, delicately dabbing her lips with a linen napkin. "Why should I be jealous?"

"That's just the point," Andy insisted, eating cassoulet and talking with her mouth full. "I mean, you shouldn't be. Jealous, I mean."

The two women were having a late dinner by candlelight. It was both a celebration and a welcome home party for Miranda's young assistant. Yet even as she wolfed down her employer's fancy French chicken and bean stew and drank her expensive red wine, the raven-haired beauty couldn't help feeling slightly shaky, like a suspect hauled in for questioning by the police.

"I wonder if your Evelyn is the woman I remember from school." Miranda's silver-gray eyes were sad and dreamy for a moment. Then she was back in the present, her cool gray eyes glinting. "Tell me about her."

"Well, she's smart . . . and funny . . . " Andy was drawing a blank, partly because of all the wine she'd drunk and partially because she was all too aware of Miranda's hypnotic gaze searching her flushed face and looking deep into her dark brown eyes. "We kissed on stage, Miranda. But it was part of the famous story, about Eliza and the British major during the American Revolution!"

"Yes, I know that story," Miranda said quietly. "And I think I know Evelyn too. Now finish your dinner, Andrea, and then off to bed."

Andy felt lousy the next day. It wasn't just the hangover, which gave her a headache and left her feeling tired and a bit sluggish. It was the feeling that she'd let Miranda down. It was like being back at school and failing a big test, only instead of scolding her the teacher had taken her upstairs and made love to her all night.

"I need the blue silk ribbons, not the green," Miranda said gently.

"Huh?" Andy looked down at the vintage straw hat Miranda had been carefully restoring all morning. They'd found it together at a church rummage sale. Later it would go on sale for lots of money. But Andy had nearly ruined it. "Miranda, I'm very sorry," the girl mumbled, flushing deep red. "My brain is just not working today."

"Not enough sleep?" Miranda gave Andy a cool, knowing look. The two of them had been up all night, making love in Miranda's bed. Yet the crisp older woman appeared energetic and alert, while her long-legged young assistant just couldn't seem to focus.

"It must've been the wine." Andy gave her boss a sheepish grin, knowing that the sweet sparkling wine hadn't put her to sleep or even dulled her passion in bed. Just the opposite in fact.

"Perhaps a walk," Miranda suggested, stroking Andy's cheek and letting her thumb rest very lightly on the girl's plump crimson lips. "To clear your head."

"Yes, Miranda." Andy shook off the childish impulse to take Miranda's thumb into her mouth and suck on it like a baby. Love during working hours was always such a temptation.

"Off you go," Miranda said softly, as if she could read Andy's mind and control all her thoughts and actions. "We'll talk later."

It wasn't until she was out strolling down Main Street, feeling the soft summer breeze on her face, that Andy began to cool down. Funny how little things had changed since she was a little girl. Everyone had time for a wave or a smile. There were no surprises. There was the hardware store, and there was the ice cream parlor, and there was the monument on the town square to the heroes of the American Revolution.

Andy bought herself an ice cream cone and sat down on a bench. Gazing at the tall soldier made of bronze with the proud look in his eyes brought back memories of kissing the British officer in that historical play. Evelyn had the same proud and independent look, but she wasn't cold metal. Her lips had been alive and very warm. But it was more than that. Evelyn played the Redcoat officer to perfection, but when they kissed her eyes sparkled with freedom.

Now that Andy thought about it, meeting the rich big city woman probably had something to do with her feeling of restlessness. She didn't want to leave her sexy, amazing boss. But it would be nice to have a bit of adventure. It would be nice to be independent and see the big city. And it would be fun to see Evelyn again.