John Locke - Callie’s Last Dance

“What if tomorrow we decide to be together for the rest of our lives?” Callie says.

“Is there much hope of that happening tomorrow?”

“No. But what if it does?”

“In the unlikely event he suddenly proclaims his undying love for you tomorrow, you’ll have a happy memory of tonight being your last fling as a single woman.”

As she says that, she removes her shirt, scoots onto the center of the bed, lies down, spreads her legs.

She’s still wearing panties, but they’re sopping wet.

As are Callie’s. She grabs her cell phone and presses a button.

Creed answers, “What’s wrong?”

“Plenty,” Callie says. “You and I are going to settle this once and for all.”

“Settle what?”

“This whole flirty bullshit thing we’ve been doing all these years. I’m done with it.”

“What do you mean? You want me to stop flirting with you?”

“I want you to tell me how you feel. About me.”

“Seriously?”

Callie says nothing.

“Well, I mean, you’re gorgeous, Callie. You’re funny. You’re the greatest killing machine who ever lived. Your reflexes are-”

“Wrong answer!” Callie shouts, and clicks the phone off.

To Dani she says, “Thanks for helping me with that.”

“My pleasure.”

Callie takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Then says, “That’s my goal: your complete and utter pleasure.”

CALLIE MOVES QUICKLY to the bed, traces her fingertips along Dani’s thigh.

Dani trembles.

Callie taps Dani’s wet spot lightly and says, “I think this area requires my immediate attention.”

“I think so too,” Dani murmurs.

“But first…”

Callie lies down beside Dani, tilts her chin slightly upward, kisses her softly. Feels her pulse quicken.

Kisses her again.

And again.

Takes in Dani’s sweet breath.

Hears herself make pleasure sounds.

Feels her cell phone vibrate in her pocket.

Ignores it.

Cups Dani’s breast in her hand and slides her body lower until her mouth finds Dani’s taut nipple.

“ Oh ,” Dani murmurs dreamily.

Callie’s phone vibrates again.

She ignores it again, but thinks about it. Earlier tonight she made a mistake that could have ended her life. Not answering her phone could be even riskier.

Callie moves her hand downward until she finds the spot she seeks.

Dani gasps.

Callie’s phone vibrates a third time.

She answers it.

Creed says, “You sound annoyed. And out of breath.”

“Look, I’m-”

Creed says, “I’ll get to it. Don’t laugh, okay? The thing is I love you.”

“What?”

“You asked how I felt and the answer is I love you, Callie. I don’t just want us to work together. I want us to be together.”

Callie jumps to a sitting position.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. Tell me you feel the same way.”

“I do. I love you.”

Dani, voice dripping with sarcasm says, “Well, thanks a lot ! How nice for you !”

Creed says, “Who’s that?”

“The TV. When can I see you?”

“I’ll be there tomorrow at one, to meet with Sal.”

“And after that?”

“Yes.”

“I’M SORRRY, DANI,” Callie says. “I can’t do this.”

“I’m sorry too. And I deserve an explanation.”

“We’re in love.”

“So I hear. You’re about to be a couple. Like Sophie and I were this morning.”

“Yes.”

“Except that this morning when I was in a relationship with Sophie, you saw no problem sharing my bed. But now that you’re in a relationship, it’s a problem for you.”

“What’s your question?”

“My question is what’s the difference?”

“The difference is this morning I would have said or done anything to get in your pants.”

“Which means you’re a lying, scheming bitch.”

“I’ll admit to that, given how things turned out.”

“You didn’t give a damn about my relationship with Sophie. You just wanted a conquest.”

“Not true.”

“No? You claimed Sophie was using me.”

“I honestly believe that.”

“Then tell me this: what makes you any better than her?”

Callie sighs. “Nothing. I’m actually worse than Sophie. But that doesn’t mean she’s good for you. On the other hand, Creed and I were meant to be together.”

“I’d like to be happy for you,” Dani says, “and maybe someday I will. But right now I’m too busy feeling like a complete fool.”

“You’re not a fool,” Callie says. “You’re the sweetest, most wonderful woman I’ve ever met. I feel terrible about this, because…”

Dani waits.

Callie says, “Because you’re everything I ever hoped to find in a woman. If Creed hadn’t called I would have been thrilled to make a life with you.”

“I’ve got a big, fat picture of that. We fall in love, move in together, start a life. Then one day Creed calls and you dump me. Because I’m your consolation prize.”

“No. If we were already together, I would have told him no.”

“I guess we’ll never know, will we?”

“You won’t. But I do.”

Dani says, “Well then, I guess this is goodbye. Thanks for…whatever.”

“Dani.”

“What?”

“I’m a part of Creed, and he’s a part of me. As much as I want you, as perfect as you are, his call changes everything for me. I’m so very sorry.”

“Yes,” Dani says. “You most certainly are.”

Donovan Creed.

Sensory Resources Headquarters.

THE VIRGINIA COMPOUND will become Sensory East, and I’ll build a Sensory West in Las Vegas with my own money. I’m not moving into Lou’s old office. I’m happy with the one I’ve always had. It’s comfortable and well-located. See that door on the left wall? That’s actually an elevator that leads to my underground sleeping quarters.

I’m leaning back in my chair, feet propped on the desktop, sipping bourbon, basking in the warm afterglow of my phone conversation with Callie.

She didn’t laugh.

She actually shares my feelings!

I think about our future together, sip some more bourbon. My cell phone vibrates. Caller ID says it’s Dani Ripper.

When I answer she says, “My opinion? Callie came through with flying colors.”

“Did you really test her limits?”

“I really did. I pushed as hard as I could.”

I take a deep breath before asking, “How far did she go?”

“She was hanging in there really well until the phone call. What in the world did you say to her, anyway?”

I laugh. “I told her she was pretty, said she was a great assassin, told her she had great reflexes…”

Dani laughs. “You’re insane. First you concocted the whole ‘Creed must be gay’ routine, which is pretty narcissistic of you, if I’m being honest. Then she calls to ask how you feel about her and you tell her she’s got great reflexes ? Jesus, Donovan! If your intent was to throw her into my arms, it worked.”

“That was my intent.”

“Risky business,” Dani says.

“Not as risky as marrying a younger, beautiful woman.”

“You’re planning to marry her?”

“Someday, absolutely. But I can’t afford to fall in love with a woman I can’t trust.”

“Which is why you called me last week.”

“Exactly.”

Dani’s a private investigator, but makes most of her money doing decoy work. Wives pay her to learn if their husbands are cheaters. Fiancés pay her to test their prospective husbands’ integrity. Attorneys pay her to test the fidelity of their clients’ spouses. Campaign managers pay her to test their opponents’ characters.