Love Match Read online

  or who was watching but now everything seems to be a problem. I'm sorry if I

  don't think a dark room with the curtains closed is the only appropriate place

  to show you that I love you. Jesus, I haven't seen you in almost a month and

  you're already pulling this shit. Enjoy the sunset, I'm going into town to get

  some groceries for our stay," said Gail. These little outbursts and

  reprimands from Emily were getting tiring, and to avoid another fight Gail got

  up and walked away.

  "You didn't miss me enough that you could forget about stopping at the

  airport bar for a few before you went to get the car. I hope you got insurance

  because I'm doubting they gave you one with a messed up fender."

  Gail stopped walking but didn't turn around. "I'm finding the bottle a

  more passionate and warm lover than you, Emily, and your lectures aren't going

  to change that opinion anytime soon. Think about that while I'm gone, before I

  really am gone," threatened Gail.

  "You mean Sophia wasn't passionate enough for you?"

  "I was an idiot to think there'd be any forgiveness in that heart of

  yours, Emily."

  "Yeah well, you know what they say about learned behavior?"

  Gail clenched her fist but still refused to turn around. It wasn't like Emily

  to bring up a past mistake, at least the only one Emily knew about.

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "Nothing, just go."

  Emily sat on the blanket with her eyes closed for over an hour before getting

  up and going for a swim. The pilot was tired of working only to come home to

  constant fighting with Gail, and the thought of doing it on her vacation made

  her want to pack up and ask for a new flight assignment. It was becoming

  apparent to Emily that she should turn her thoughts to how to end the

  relationship instead of spending any more time trying to fix it, but they were

  there so she would try again.

  The lesson that she couldn't stop Gail's drinking should have been learned a

  long time before this, but Emily felt guilty just leaving. Gail had never been

  abusive, she just knew how much alcohol she could get away with and still be

  functional on the trading floor the next day. Emily shook her head and tried

  not to think about their problems. They would still be waiting for them when

  they got home, it was time to enjoy the house and the sun even if she had to do

  it alone.

  Well into chapter two of her book, Emily looked up to see who the footsteps

  belonged to. She was sure whoever the runner was; it was the same person that

  had interrupted them earlier. The woman ran past her oblivious to her presence,

  and Emily held her breath at the sheer rotten luck she was having today.

  There in all her sweaty glory was Parker King. Wearing only running shorts and

  a sports bra, Parker was giving Emily the opportunity to just stare without

  guilt or fear of being caught. Parker was like some work of art found in

  museums. Muscles stood out in every uncovered area from the weight lifting

  session and her run, and then Emily moved to Parker's face.

  Here in this mostly

  untouched area Parker seemed happy like she was free.

  The young woman who had slowed to a walk past her, held no trace of the

  sarcastic person that had traded barb for barb with her on the flight. Emily thought

  maybe she had misjudged Parker after finishing chapter two of the book she had

  made Gail stop for before driving out of Tampa. Anyone who read 'To Kill a

  Mockingbird' couldn't be all bad, right?

  The notion of announcing her presence died on Emily's lips when Parker stripped

  naked and jumped into the surf in front of the house next to the one she and

  Gail were staying in. Emily hadn't noticed the beach house when she and Gail

  had first come down. The tennis court built on plyings over the water would

  have given her a good clue as to who owned the house had she bothered to look.

  So this is where the Romeo of the circuit lives, thought Emily. Her

  mental musings were instantly confirmed when two other naked women ran out of

  the house to join Parker in the water. Yes she's a pig with a soft spot for

  classical books. Emily walked back to the house carrying only her book and

  her bag, leaving the rest for Gail to worry about. Staying here for a week was

  only going to magnify how out of whack her life had become Emily had a gut

  feeling. What would it be like to go through life without worrying about the

  consequences thought Emily as she took one last look at the three women having

  fun in the surf?

  The next morning Gail walked out to the beach with her own book as Emily headed

  out the front door with the car keys. When Gail had gotten back the night

  before, six hours after she had left, Emily had taken a shower and was already

  sleeping not giving them a chance to talk anymore about what was happening to

  them. That morning wasn't much easier when the pilot had informed Gail that she

  was going into town alone. Emily had been in the area once before and enjoyed

  walking in the small downtown area of Press Cove. With any luck she would find

  gifts for her mom and sister who both had birthdays coming up later in the

  summer.

  Emily relaxed in the coffee shop before starting her shopping, trying to forget

  the growing awkwardness between she and Gail. She was starting to get angry at

  the late nights of not knowing where Gail was, but wasn't ready to take that

  final step. The thought of Gail cheating on her wasn't the issue, but if you

  found peace at the bottom of a glass, how long would that lead to the arms of

  someone else again? If it came to a breakup her mom would take it hard Emily

  figured. Her mother had always thought Gail had been a calming figure in her

  daughter's life, but Emily had never shared the whole truth with her family not

  wanting to worry them. And in reality she wanted more than what she was

  getting. Shouldn't there be passion, and not just for arguing? Emily sat

  with her eyes closed running through a litany of questions in her mind on how

  to fix her life when the familiar voice interrupted and put a frown on her

  face.

  "Sorry it took so long, ma'am, but I'm still recovering from a bumpy

  landing in Miami yesterday." When Emily opened her eyes there was the

  tennis player holding a tray with the cappuccino she had ordered sitting on it.

  The heat in her ears was a combination of a blush and anger over Parker's

  statement. Bad weather and wind shears had made for a less than perfect landing

  and she didn't want to take anyone's shit about it. "I'm sorry, Captain, I

  was only kidding. You looked so lost sitting there I thought I'd cheer you

  up."

  "Why are you harassing me on my vacation, Miss King?"

  asked Emily. Oh

  no, I will not fall for a cute smile and a cute butt. Emily, she sleeps with

  two women at a time, Emily had to remind herself as the dimples Parker was

  displaying made her want to smile in return. Emily continued the lecture in her

  head as a way to get her defenses up. Today they are sky blue. The other

  voice in her head chimed in as Parker leaned down to put the cup on the table

  and Emily got a good look at her eyes.

  "I
was on my way home from the airport, Captain, and I love the hot

  chocolate here. Pardon me for bothering you, it won't happen again. I hope you

  enjoy your stay." The smile disappeared from Parker's face as she thought,

  God this woman was such a bitch. Parker turned to walk back to the counter

  to wait for her order when she heard the more gentle tone come out of Emily.

  "Do you like hanging out in airports? Or is it where you perfect your

  sarcastic comments for airline employees?" The question was Emily's

  effort, against her better judgment, to get Parker to stay after she had

  snapped at her.

  "No, that's your job I would guess, and I'm not sarcastic. I was just

  dropping my sisters off for their flight this morning. They surprised me with a

  visit yesterday before having to fly out for their own tournament today,"

  answered Parker. A teenager with acne walked up and handed Parker a large

  steaming cup before heading back behind the counter.

  "There's more than one of you?" A look of disgust crossed her face as

  the kid came back with a large cinnamon roll for Parker to go with the hot

  chocolate. Jeez she eats like that and still looks like she does. Emily

  looked up at Parker now holding the cinnamon roll and the cup and realized the

  tennis player was waiting for an invitation to sit down. "I'm sorry, would

  you like to join me?" Emily waved to the empty chair facing her own

  suddenly wanting Parker's company.

  "Thanks, and yes there are three of us, but Gray and Kimmie are way

  different from me. First off they are both taller, and they are into sand."

  Parker took a big bite of the gooey roll she had ordered and held it up to

  Emily to take a bite. The blonde head shook no knowing that she had the

  metabolism of a lazy slug.

  "Sand?" She was regretting not taking the bite Parker had offered

  seeing the blue eyes roll back in an expression of how good the pastry was.

  "They play volleyball, as in sand volleyball. A two man team that can make

  you eat the ball if you're not paying attention," explained Parker. Emily

  watched Parker continue to eat the roll and stop every so often to lick icing

  off her fingers. God that looks good. Emily's brain was having a hard

  time distinguishing the comment between the roll and the long fingers holding

  it.

  "Sort of like their sister serving the ball up at over a hundred miles an

  hour," said Emily without thought. The minute the words had left her mouth

  Emily could have kicked herself. All Parker needed was encouragement from her.

  The smile with a slight chocolate moustache told Emily of her folly.

  "Why, Captain, I didn't know you cared" Parker was teasing, and the

  squirming and blushing Emily was doing was making her want to laugh, but she

  stayed quiet.

  "I watched a little of your match at the airport lounge just because there

  was nothing else on. Your talent on a tennis court impressed me, Ms. Parker,

  then I met you and you called me sweetheart and essentially asked me to make

  you coffee and a sandwich," said Emily. This is an equal opportunity

  squirming table, big guy, thought Emily as she watched Parker doing a bit

  of her own.

  "It was hot chocolate, I don't drink coffee."

  "A splitting of semantical hairs, Ms. King. I don't serve either."

  "Ah, but I beg to differ. Yes you do, Captain." Emily narrowed her

  eyes and Parker decided it was time for a change in subject moving away from

  beverages before the conversation landed her at another table. "I never

  did ask where you are staying?"

  "The Pelican Villa house." The question had been the bell that had

  ended the round and now they retreated to their respective corners. Yes the

  house right next to yours, oh naked swimmer, though now I know who the two

  other women were. Might I have misjudged you, Parker?

  "Hey we're neighbors," said Parker sitting up and smiling. It hadn't

  occurred to her yet that the blonde in the bikini was Emily.

  "How about I

  take you out to dinner to make it up to you, or better yet I could cook for

  you?"

  Ok, off beverages and onto flirting. Did she just ask me out?

  Jesus this

  girl moves so fast, I wonder if she slows down the car when she comes to pick you

  up. Time to slow this down a bit. "I'm here with someone, can she

  come?" The coffee encounter if Emily was honest with herself had slid into

  flirtation the minute Parker had sat down, and it was time to pull back some.

  Emily was here to work on her relationship with Gail, not play footsie with

  Parker King.

  The photogenic smile across from her faltered a bit but didn't completely fade

  away. "Sure just come over tonight anytime after six. I have practice and

  workouts until around five thirty. See you then." Parker got up and left

  without waiting for an answer and Emily watched her get into an older model

  Land Cruiser and drive away.

  "Well this ought to be interesting," Emily muttered softly.

  She

  popped the last bit of cinnamon roll that Parker had slid across the table to

  her before she left. Now Emily had two things to feel guilty about.

  Shopping had lost its allure after her bizarre coffee adventure, making Emily

  head back to the beach house after Parker had left taking all the life out of

  the downtown area with her. The chilly interior of the house was devoid of

  sound, so Emily figured Gail was out on the beach. Looking out the back windows

  she could see the sun sparkling off the soft waves and the tops of the sea oats

  were bobbing gently with the slight breeze. Stripping as she walked through the

  house to the bedroom to get her bathing suit on, Emily was relieved not to have

  to go another round with Gail.

  Emily dropped her bag on the blanket that was still in the spot it had been the

  day before and ran out into the surf. The water was shockingly cold at first so

  she just dove in head first getting lost in the thrill of no responsibility.

  When she came up was when she first became aware of the popping noise.

  Next door on the court that seemed to float above the water was Parker and

  another woman seemingly trying to kill each other with a tennis ball. Parker

  was wearing a t-shirt and baggy shorts, but even that couldn't hide the raw

  power that wielded the tennis racket like it was a sword.

  Whoever her opponent

  was, she was holding her own in a volley that was as blistering as the

  unrelenting sun. Emily could hear a man's voice every so often barking out

  corrections. She felt happy all of a sudden in that Parker still looked like

  she had fun playing what was essentially just a game. It seemed to suit the

  young woman's free spirit.

  "Natasha, hit them more toward the forehand please, Boris needs more work

  on that right now since the ball will bounce differently at the Open. Park, pay

  attention and lengthen the shots. We all ready know you're a big girl that can

  hit it hard, let's try finesse now, sweetheart," said Gary. The service

  stance swiveled a bit and the tall man found himself dodging the bullet Parker

  had shot his way. "Funny, Parker, funny."

  Emily found herself laughing at Parker's playful side
. The pilot was only

  twenty-eight but had lost that part of her inner child some time ago. It was

  refreshing to see someone take such gusto even when no one was watching. One of

  the lobs Parker sent up went over the fence and into the water making Emily

  think it was the downfall of the court's location, and also that Parker was

  getting tired to make such a mistake. Parker's order of,

  "Abby, go,"

  told her differently.

  The ball of fur that dove into the water was the biggest conglomeration of dog

  Emily had ever seen. It was just a big black blur that hit the water and swam

  for the yellow floating ball. He met Parker on the beach dropping the ball at

  her feet and shaking the water from his fur.

  "You, big goober," Emily heard Parker's deep voice fuss at the

  surprise shower. So intent on her neighbor, Emily didn't hear Gail swim up

  behind her and jumped a little when the two arms wrapped around her waist.

  "Hi, baby, I missed you." She pushed Emily's hair aside and kissed

  her neck making Emily stiffen momentarily at the move.

  Emily forced herself to

  relax and patted the tops of Gail's hands on her mid section.

  Gail turned her

  around and was about to kiss Emily when the barking from the shore scared them

  both apart. The black mutt was dancing from paw to paw with the wet ball

  sitting in front of him. Emily laughed at the thought that if Parker had been a

  dog, this would be it. He just wanted to play and his master had headed for the

  house.

  "Come on, Abby, time to go, boy," they heard Parker's voice from

  behind the dunes. Abercrombie sat for a second and waved his paw in their

  direction then nosed the ball into the water as a gift before turning and

  running toward home.

  "Get any shopping done?" The look on Gail's face let Emily know what

  she was in the mood for and thought, so much for talking about what happened

  yesterday.

  "No I decided to come back for a swim after running into our neighbor. She

  invited us over for dinner tonight, I hope you don't mind but I accepted."

  With a little force she broke Gail's embrace and headed for the shore and on

  impulse picked up the ball Abby had left behind.

  "Sure, whatever you want. How about a nap?" offered Gail.

  It was

  already four; they had a few hours.

  "Sure."