A Matter of Trust by Radclyffe Page B

sidewalks; and tourists watched the other passersby, plainly fascinated. Everywhere couples held hands, heads bent close, laughing and talking in that intimately exclusive manner that only lovers shared. Michael was suddenly envious of something she had never before been aware of missing—that unique connection to another human being that defies definition, but is so common to human understanding that poets and writers and composers have tried to capture it for centuries. She ached in some primal place that her rational mind, even with the reminder of all her accomplishments, could not assuage.
    “Are Sarah and Jason dating?” she asked abruptly, searching for something to take her mind from the emptiness she had no inkling how to fill.
    Sloan was silent for a second, recalling Sarah’s excitement when she’d announced that she had asked Jason to go with her to the benefit. Sloan replayed the conversation in her mind, deciding how much to reveal in answer to Michael’s question. Sarah had been standing next to her in the locker room before their workout, barely able to contain her enthusiasm.
    “What did he say when you asked him?” Sloan had asked her.
    “He tried to tell me he couldn’t go with me because Jasmine was performing, but I knew damn well there were two hours during dinner and the speeches before the cabaret routine. And then, there’s the gala afterward. I think he actually squirmed when I pointed that out to him.” Sarah’s eyes twinkled with laughter.
    “That would explain his twitchiness at the office all day,” Sloan remarked. “Every time I spoke to him, he jumped. I think he might even have spilled his coffee once. For Mr. Perfection, that’s unusual.”
    Sarah’s face clouded, and Sloan was instantly sorry she had said anything. “Why is he so nervous, Sloan? We get along so well, and he knows I know about Jasmine.”
    Sloan had tried to ignore the question, hoping Sarah would let it go. She busied herself pulling on her sweats and workout gloves, pretending not to notice the shadow of Sarah’s figure standing motionless beside her. Damn. They were both her friends, and her loyalties were conflicted.
    “I really like him, Sloan,” Sarah whispered softly. “It’s the first time I’ve felt that way in so long.”
    Fuck. Sloan straightened with a sigh and looked her old friend in the eye. “I told you once that he never dated anyone who knew about Jasmine. That’s not exactly true. He dated a clerk in the Justice Department about the time I was...leaving. It was serious. They were even talking marriage. He eventually told her about Jasmine, and she totally decompensated. She actually filed a complaint against him in some kind of weird sexual harassment twist, claiming that he had used his position as her superior to unfairly involve her in an unhealthy relationship.”
    “Jesus,” Sarah uttered in disbelief.
    “Yeah. It was absurd and carried no merit, but even though the allegations were eventually dismissed, it ruined him. I heard about it through the rumor mill, at least the part that wasn’t busy talking about me. After that I looked him up, and we decided it was time for both of us to disappear. We cleared out and six months later we started the business.”
    Sarah nodded. “I always wondered how the two of you ended up here together. So much has happened while I was away.”
    “There isn’t much to tell.” Sloan had not volunteered the details so far, and probably never would.
    Sarah’s expression said she knew that wasn’t true, but she let it go. Sloan had no doubt that the rumors had reached as far away as Thailand, but Sarah didn’t press, and she was grateful to let the subject drop.
    Sloan shook off the memories and looked over at Michael, who was patiently waiting for her to answer. “I’m not sure if they’re dating or not. They’re going out together tonight, and I know Sarah is interested in him. I have a feeling it will all come down to Jason’s