The Way Back

Confirmation

He chuckled, shaking his head and pulling a face. "Some people don't think ten o'clock in the morning is early. There are people that wake up at 6AM on the dot each and every morning."

"Well, I don't want to know those people," Stevie griped. "Don't roll your eyes at me either."

Lindsey smirked, trailing his fingertip along the pattern of her top. He decided to change the subject before she smacked him upside the head for being condescending. "When are you leaving for Dallas?"

"Thursday," she answered his question reluctantly. "I still don't think you should go. I'll be back home on Saturday." Stevie took a breath, praying the matter wouldn't turn into a fight like it had earlier in the week. She was playing at the International Tribute to Jane Goodall.

He nipped at her cleavage with his teeth to show his annoyance and sat up, staring at her. She narrowed her eyes, glaring as she put her hand over the exposed skin of her breast and sat up. "You bit me!" she shrieked in disbelief.

"Yes, I did! You're being stubborn. What if something happens and I'm not there?"

"Lindsey, you've put your life on hold for weeks. I know you have things to do! You have that meeting with the Reprise executives."

"I can cancel the meeting. Reschedule for another time."

"You are not cancelling it to pack up and go with me to Texas. I will be absolutely, totally fine. If I feel nervous or like I can't handle it, I'll call you," she told him, taking his hands in hers. Stevie lifted his hands to her lacquered lips and placed innocent, soft kisses to each knuckle in an effort to pacify him. "I promise."

"You better," he replied, beginning to pout like a child.

She shook her head, running a hand through his curls. "Don't pout," she warned, tugging roughly at his hair to get her point across. Stevie bowed into his side, hovering close to his ear and whispering, "or you won't get any tonight."

He simpered and squeezed her thigh, eyes flashing playfully. Stevie began shaking her head as she scooted away from him. "Lindsey," she said firmly, shaking her finger at him primly. "Don't you dare."

"I'm not doing anything," he answered, inching closer to her and grinning wickedly.

"Your eyes say otherwise," she noted, swearing as her back hit the headboard of the king-sized bed. Lindsey pounced on her. His fingers tickled at her sides as his mouth made a meal of her neck, nibbling and sucking. Stevie wiggled and bucked against him. Her laughter swiftly filling the air. "Lindsey," she squealed. "Stop! You're going to leave a hickey on my neck!" She pushed at him. "Lindsey!"

Lindsey stopped briefly. "That's the idea, babe," he replied, setting back to work on his love bite. She snickered at his need to mark his territory. Stevie knew she'd feel like a teenager covering it with concealer and foundation until it faded. He pulled away from her neck and kissed her lips hungrily. Stevie curled her legs around him. "Take me now, Lindsey," she murmured, deciding not to wait until the night fell. An afternoon of love making never hurt a soul, and perhaps the sexual release would quiet the gnawing, nagging feeling that had settled into her bones.

In the middle of the night, Stevie woke up after having that dream for the hundredth time and carefully untangled herself from Lindsey without waking him. She padded into the bathroom and momentarily looked at herself in the mirror, turning on the faucet and splashing cold water on her face. She gripped the edges of the sink and drew in a deep breath, wishing the wave of queasiness would pass quickly. Stevie straightened and dabbed her face with a hand towel then crept back into the bedroom. Keeping an eye on Lindsey, she pulled open the drawer of the nightstand and took out her bulky address book. She took her eyeglasses off the table and walked out of the bedroom with the book tucked under her arm.

Downstairs, she dropped onto the chaise lounge and put on her glasses, tipping them to the edge of her nose. She folded her legs to sit Indian style as she flipped through the pages in the book. Her long, red nail skimmed over the names until she tapped on what she was looking for. She leaned over, picking up the phone and nestling the receiver between her ear and shoulder. Stevie dialed the number and waited for an answer on the other end.

Within the hour, she was in the backseat of a Lincoln Town Car and gazing out through the darkly tinted windows of a not yet bustling Los Angeles. She opened a pack of peppermint gum, shoving a piece in her mouth and chewing nervously. Stevie wanted a cigarette badly to relax her nerves, but she had discarded all her packs. She popped the gum and ran her fingers through her hair. After a few moments, she stopped fidgeting, closing her eyes and folding her hands in her lap until the car came to a halt.

"Ms. Nicks, we're here," the driver declared, parking the car in front of an office complex.

She nodded her head and opened the door, glancing at the driver. "I don't know how long I'll be."

"I'll wait," he replied.

She dipped her head in appreciation and stepped out of the car, slipping into her coat and peering up at the building. The early morning wind gave her a chill, and she pulled her long coat around her tighter, pulling her wavy hair out from under the confines of the soft coat. Her mouth felt dry, and she realized a small part of her wanted Lindsey with her. She shook her head, telling herself she needed to find out by herself. Stevie needed to confirm her suspicions, but deep down she knew. Her intuition had never failed her in all her years.