Page 61 of Spindrift

“You’regoing to get hurt either way. You might as well get laid in the process.”

“Thanksfor that bit of wisdom.”

“You’rewelcome.”

Theydrove the rest of the way in silence, listening to the radio. Morgan tried tocalm the urge to beat her fist against the steering wheel.Why.Why didshe have to be so responsible? Why hadn’t she pulled Emilia into the backseatof this truck . . . or maybe someplace with less dog hair, like the bathroom ofthe boathouse, not that that option was much more appealing. She hadn’t beenwith anyone since Kate, and her body screamed at her in thwarted fury. Thememory of Emilia’s hand brushing near her clit as she withdrew from her pants nearlymade her swerve into the shoulder.Fuck.

Womenexpected Morgan to take the lead. Even Kate, who had known her better thananyone, hadn’t managed to unhinge her quite so totally and had left thingsmostly up to Morgan in bed. Morgan had, once, drunkenly confessed how much thisdisappointed her to Stevie.

Emiliahadn’t initially struck her as assertive. That haunted look in her eyes engagedMorgan’s natural protective instincts and lowered her defenses. Today, she’dpaid the price, and if she had any sense she’d run.

Instead,all she could think about was how Emilia would look riding her, head flungback, hair cascading down her shoulders as she came. The image distracted herso much she missed her turn. Stevie didn’t offer any snarky commentary as shecorrected their course and pulled into their next appointment.

She’dbeen honest with Emilia. Probably too honest. She didn’t have the willpowernecessary to resist her, and it felt too damn good to feel wanted.

Steviecleared her throat. Morgan realized she’d been staring at her hands on thewheel with the truck in idle. Killing the engine, she let her head fall backagainst the headrest with a groan.

“Ihate ponies, too, but they won’t vaccinate themselves.”

“Stevie.”

“What?”

“Whatdo I do?”

“Howdid you leave it? Besides blue-balled.”

“Iput the ball in her court.”

“Whyare you such a masochist?”

“Idon’t want to push her.”

“No.You want her to push you,” Stevie muttered. Morgan glared at her. Louder, Steviesaid, “Then I guess all you can do is see what happens and try not to fall toohard. You’re still the only doctor on ambulatory, and Danielle will kill you ifyou break yourself any more than you already have.”

“Goodtalk.”

“Morgan.”

Shepaused with her hand on the door. “What?”

“Becareful. If you can.”

“I’lltry. Ready to wrangle some minis?”

“Never.”

WatchingStevie wrestle miniature horses significantly brightened her mood. Her friendkept a tight smile on her face to soothe the anxious owner of the small herd,who hovered nearby but made no move to help. Morgan was never sure whether tobe frustrated when owners stayed out of the way or relieved. She settled onamused as Stevie held a particularly badly behaved yearling for her to examine.

“Easy,”Morgan murmured to the little horse. It cocked one curved ear at her andsnorted, unconvinced.

You’reright, little dude. Nothing is ever easy.Better to know, better to accept Emilia’s imminentdeparture instead of daring to hope that this time things might be different.

• • •

They swungby the grocery store on the way home. Morgan limped along behind Stevie, whowielded the cart like a weapon as she pulled food off the shelves.

“Whatbrand of pasta does Lil like? I can never remember,” Stevie asked.

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