JENNIE

..

In the days that followed, Lisa was hyperattentive. She asked permission before she so much as kissed me, as though I might change my mind and decide I no longer wanted her affection.

On Saturday night Lisa and I were cuddled on the couch. TK was wrapped around the back of her neck like a stole. Lisa was pretending to watch TV while I painted my fingernails sparkly gold.

Activity in the hallway drew Lisa's attention away from the news.

"Is that Jack?" she asked, stupefied.

"Jisoo finally agreed to go on a date with him."

A feminine giggle came from the hall, followed by the muffled sound of a door opening and closing. It must have gone well. I was sure to get details tomorrow.

"For real?"

"Uh-huh. I think he was taking her out for drinks." I widened my eyes in mock conspiracy. "Maybe next time they'll try food."

"I can't believe he didn't tell me." Lisa fiddled with her viper bites. "We should do that again. I liked taking you to the museum."

"That would be nice."

"I don't think I have any clients tomorrow night. Maybe I could take you out for dinner?" She lifted TK from her shoulders; her nails clung to her shirt. She mewed when Lisa disengaged them and set her on the arm of the couch.

"Are you asking me on a date?"

She blinked. "Uh, yeah?"

"I'd love to." Butterflies flitted around in my stomach. While we'd fooled around a little since we talked, it hadn't gone very far. Lisa was extra reserved these days. Maybe the date would change that.

"Cool."

"You know," I said, "if you show me a good time, I might just make out with you in your car afterward."

Her eyes lit up. Covering my body with hers, she kissed a path from my sternum to my mouth. "I'll show you a good time, all right."

..

Lisa left my place midafternoon on Sunday and returned two hours later. Instead of letting herself in, she knocked. I open the door to find her rocking on her heels with her hands behind her back. Her gaze moved from my face down to my toes. She reversed the circuit and slowly brought her eyes back to mine.

"You look fucking hot," she blurted, then grimaced. "Sorry. I got you these." She produced a bouquet of flowers and thrust them at me. Her nervousness was cute.

I put my nose to the delicate blossoms. "Let me put these in water before we go."

I retrieved a vase, and TK sniffed at the flowers. She batted at them while I set to arranging them. Lisa plucked a sprig of baby's breath from the bouquet and twirled it over her head to keep her entertained.

"These are lovely."

"I'm glad you like them." With a secret smile Lisa fingered the fragile white petal of a flower.

I planted a kiss on her cheek. "I like this, too." I circled the buttons on her dark gray shirt. She had on black pants and a black jacket. She looked like danger personified even though her only signs of rebellion were her piercings and her hair.

"Me taking you out or my shirt?" She watched as I traced the circumference of each button from her chest down.

"Both."

"It's just a dress shirt."

"But I know what's under it."

When I reached the waist of her pants, Lisa grabbed my wrist to prevent me from going any lower. "Keep it up and you're going to ruin my plans."

"Sorry." I gave her a swift kiss on the lips. "I'll be a good girl and keep my hands to myself."

"I don't know if you have to take it that far . . ."

I wriggled out of her embrace and bolted for the door. I hightailed it down the stairs to her car, which was standing with the four-ways flashing in the No Parking zone, and jerked on the door handle. Of course it was locked.

"There's nowhere to run," she said, low and menacing, as she advanced on me.

I spun around and squealed as she trapped me against the side of the car, barricading me in. And I thought I would be safe once we were outside.

She pinned me with her hips and I felt her, through the silky fabric of my dress and the heavy layer of my wool coat. I'd missed the playful side of her; she'd been so cautious with me lately.

"I planned to wait until after dinner for this, but right now the hood of my car looks pretty appealing," she growled against my throat.

"It's not very private," I argued, shifting my hips, nervous excitement making my stomach clench.

"Like I give a fuck." One of her hands slid down the outside of my thigh, and she pulled me closer.

A throat cleared to our right. Lisa released me and turned her head. I stared at her jacket, red flooding my cheeks.

"Good afternoon, Officer," she said smoothly. The car chirped and Lisa took a step back, opening the passenger door as she did so.

"Ms. Manoban."

At the sound of Officer Cross's voice I glanced over. He gave me a tight smile. "Are you all right, Miss Kim?"

"Hi, Officer Cross," I replied, mortified. "I'm fine."

"It's Collin, sweetheart." He turned his attention back to Lisa. "This is a No Parking zone."

"We were just on our way out."

Lisa pressed her fingertips against the base of my spine, like she wanted me to get in the car. I wasn't capable of movement, though; I was too caught up in the memory of Lisa's last altercation with Officer Cross.

"That's a sixty-dollar fine." Officer Cross's hand rested on the butt of his gun.

"You can write me a ticket if you want." Lisa placed the keys in my palm, closing my hand around them. "Why don't you start the car, kitten? It's cold, and you're shivering."

Unable to look at Officer Cross, I dropped into the passenger seat. Lisa closed the door with a quiet click. I leaned over and slid the key into the ignition, turning the engine over. It came to life with a guttural rumble. Music blared through the speakers and I fumbled to turn it down. Lisa's hand rested on the hood of the car, her fingers tapping restlessly.

I couldn't hear what either of them was saying, but Officer Cross kept glancing through the windshield at me. After what seemed like forever, he ripped a piece of paper from his pad and Lisa snatched it from him, rounding the front of the car, mouth pressed in a thin line.

Officer Cross rapped on my window. I rolled it down. "You're better than that, Miss Kim. Have a little self-respect," he said, his disapproval blatant.

I blanched, stunned by his audacity. Lisa wrenched open her door and folded into the driver's seat.

Officer Cross plastered on a fake smile. "You kids have a nice afternoon. Drive safe."

Lisa tossed the ticket on the dash and yanked her seat belt across her chest. She threw the car into gear as Officer Cross stepped away. I hastily fastened my own seat belt, grabbing the door handle as she screeched around the corner. She made three more turns and pulled over, slamming the car into park. She was out of her seat and over me before I could blink, eyes fiery with anger and desperation.

"Mine." One hand fisted in my hair and the other slipped under my dress. "Mine, mine, mine," she snarled, kissing me fiercely.

For a heartbeat I remained frozen, overwhelmed by her aggression. And then I melted into the onslaught, legs opening to accommodate her hand, lips parting to accept her tongue.

She sat back heavily in her seat, chest heaving as she gripped the steering wheel. "Fuck. Sorry. That was uncalled for."

"It was certainly unexpected. Are you okay?"

"Yes. No. I don't know." She ran a hand viciously through her hair and tugged. "What the fuck is wrong with me?"

"We don't have to go out. We can go back to my apartment," I said. I didn't know what to do when she was this upset, and the only other time I'd seen her in this state was after the last time she'd seen Officer Cross. Obviously he was the common denominator.

Lisa shook her head. "No. I want to take you out and do something normal."

I put my hand on her forearm. "It's okay if you need a minute."

She nodded and took another deep breath before saying, "Why am I like this with you? Why am I such a territorial prick?"

"You're not a prick."

"I am. I don't own you. Who says that kind of shit to their girlfriend?"

My stomach did a little flip. I pried her fingers from the steering wheel and brought her knuckles to my lips, kissing them tenderly. "You were upset. You associate Officer Cross with painful memories, and he antagonized you. It's understandable you would be defensive and feel possessive."

"What did he say to you?"

"That I should wear my seat belt." I bit her knuckle to distract her from my lie.

Lisa looked skeptical.

"Let's not let him ruin the rest of our day," I pleaded. "Didn't you have somewhere you wanted to take me?"

She hesitated before flashing a salacious grin. "That's right, I promised you a good time in exchange for a make-out session in my car."

"It's too bad you don't have a garage—the hood sounded like it might be fun."

Lisa shifted the car into gear. "That could be arranged."

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