Green-Eyed Monster by Gill McKnight Page A

you I want.”
    “Oh.”
    Flushed, Mickey rested her forehead on Victoria’s. Eye to eye, they gently smiled at each other before Mickey stole another kiss. God, how I want her. This small, hard, mean, soft, vulnerable, totally bewitching woman. This was so out of the box, so unexpected, so unplanned. What the hell was she going to do? Mickey’s mind was racing, screaming at her to tell Victoria everything. To confess her sins. But tonight, her traitorous heart argued, tonight add just one more .
    Mickey cradled her in her arms without breaking the kiss.
    Victoria instinctively wrapped her arms around her as she was carried to the bedroom. Amazed at how warm and protected Mickey’s presence made her feel, despite their short, dramatic history, Victoria realized part of her had always felt secure and cared for around Mickey. Was it this inner security that had finally let her be honest and acknowledge how she really felt? She was thrilled that tonight they would be together again, and this time she would be free to explore Mickey’s body. To finally return the offered passion with whispered words and loving touches.
    Together, wrapped in a hungry kiss, they moved in a daze along the hallway.
    “Oh my God. Isn’t this just the perfect picture?” They both swung around.
    “Ginette?” Victoria spluttered, shocked beyond belief at the sight of her ex-girlfriend silhouetted in the doorway holding a very non-replica handgun.
    Her first jumbled thought was, Oh my God, she’s come to rescue me. How crazy and sweet and…unlike her?
    Then, What crap timing.
    Then, I wonder if she’s got my money?
    Then, Wait! None of this makes sense.
    Slowly she slid out of Mickey’s arms and onto her feet. All the thoughts jostling for attention in her head went pop as Mickey looked at Ginette and said, “You took your goddamn time.”

Chapter Six
    Victoria stood frozen, Mickey’s nonsensical words ringing in her ears, until a large hand roughly grabbed her by the arm and led her into the kitchen.
    “You bastard!” she breathed in utter shock as realization dawned. Struggling in Mickey’s viselike grip, she spat, “You’re in league with her. The two of you are in this together. You two-faced, underhanded, motherfu—mmph!”
    Her angry tirade was cut short as she was roughly gagged.
    She was then cuffed to the stove handle and pushed down on a seat to fume. Mickey patted the top of her head.
    “You’re outta this round of negotiations, my little fat cat. Sit nice and quiet. There’s a good girl. Ginette and I have a deal to close.”
    Mickey moved away to switch on the coffeepot, needing to do anything to keep her trembling hands busy. There’s your intervention from the universe. If Ginette hadn’t appeared, you’d have blown it all, fallen headlong in love with someone who normally wouldn’t even spit at you! Banging mugs and cupboard doors, Mickey couldn’t help but curse the universe and its mysterious ways. But that was the ultimate power of Victoria Gresham. She so nearly took you for a fool. As if a lady like her would touch you if it weren’t in her own interests . You were seconds from giving up your plans, admitting your duplicity, asking her for forgiveness and love, you chump. She was disgusted with herself for her lies, for her hopes, for being who she was.
    Her gaze dropped to the firearm Ginette still sported. “Put the gun down before you blow your foot off.” Ginette delicately placed the weapon on the countertop. She looked glad to be rid of it.
    “I’ve been taking lessons, you know. I joined a shooting club.”
    “What in hell are you doing coming down here with a gun in the first place?” Mickey frowned, still upset with the intrusion on many, many levels.
    “When your e-mails stopped and your cell phone kept going straight to voicemail, I wondered if something had gone wrong.  I see something went a little bit off plan.” She glanced coolly to where Victoria sat with her face scarlet with