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  I felt the energy sap out of him, though, and although I had not come, I knew he would not be able to help me, and that was fine. I got off him, and relaxed against the hot tub with one of the jets blasting on me.

  However, I guess I had misjudged the energy of this guy. He slowly rolled up to me and put his hands firmly on my ass. He grasped me, pulling me to him, where he was in the center of the tub, his face almost at the level of the water. I floated up, and my legs extended on either side of his face as he brought his mouth to my center. As I closed my eyes, he began to lick me in a way that was so unbelievably tender, so perfect, so gentle, that I found myself floating.

  I gasped, and I heard him laugh a little. That laugh seemed to be attached to some sort of nerve in my body, because it coursed through me so that I began to literally shake, tremble, and lose some of my control. It was his tongue moving firmly but gently just around my clitoris, and I began to see white, the contours of the world fading slightly. I never actually lost consciousness, but I felt I had lost a lot of my will. And then I knew I was climaxing, even though I hadn’t seen it coming.

  For a few minutes, I listened as I laughed, coming down from that unbelievably effective move he had made and the orgasm that put me into heaven. I pulled him closer to me and hugged him with all my might.

  “You make it so hard not to love you,” I said.

  “Look who’s talking,” he said, laughing.

  The rest of the evening was spent cuddling and getting to know one another. I really loved every moment I spent with him, and, by the end of the night, I knew I had to leave — although I was so tempted to stay over — and got up.

  “I guess I better leave,” I said, and was saddened by the look of disappointment that crept over his face.

  “I guess,” he said. “You are welcome to stay if you like. I don’t hog the covers.”

  I laughed. “I know,” I said. “It’s just that we need to be a bit more careful.”

  “Aw, fuck ‘em!” he said, and this was the first time I saw annoyance on his face. “I mean, we are friends, we like each other, and some stupid rule is preventing this.”

  “I know. But I really need this job.” At that moment, his phone rang.

  “I’ll let it go,” he said.

  “No, get it. I need to leave, anyway. Good night.” And I got up, and kissed him as he reached for his phone.

  “Do you know what time it is?” I heard him say into the phone.

  Chapter 35

  HARRISON

  “YOU REALLY need to hear this, bud,” said Chris Steen, as I watched the beautiful Scarlet leave. It was terrible timing, but she had told me to answer the phone.

  “What do I need to hear?”

  “I’ve verified, according to records from the divorce — which was vigorously contested — that the reason for the divorce being granted was ‘adultery.’”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Your father admitted that not only was he having an affair with Betty Ravenwood, he fathered a child with her.”

  “What divorce?”

  “The divorce from your mother, Oksana Timoshenko.”

  My heart sank. “Really? That bastard!”

  “Yeah, sorry, buddy,” said Chris. I could tell that he was excited to tell me this news, and saw himself as quite the investigative journalist.

  “So, what does this mean?” I said, feeling as though the whole world had just slipped away. I felt as though the ground had been ripped from me like a tablecloth in a magic trick.

  “Well, uh, I think it means that this woman is your half-sister,” he said slowly, and with some hesitation. For all his digging, I knew he was on my side and that he felt bad delivering this bombshell.

  As for me, I was flabbergasted. “Okay. Well, thanks.” I hung up the phone. That was it, I guessed. There was just no way I could possibly continue this romance if she was my half-sister.

  I got up and slipped into the bedroom, feeling like a fool. I got on the bed and picked up my phone.

  Are you home yet? I texted.

  Yes. Just got in. Thank you for an unforgettable evening.

  I need to talk. I mean, can I call?

  Of course.

  I dialed her number, and she picked right up. “Listen, Scarlet, I heard from a reliable source, a journalist friend of mine who is writing about this issue, that my father did in fact have a child with your mother.”

  “What? No. I don’t think that is possible.”

  “I’m afraid it is,” I said. “Listen, can we please take this slower? I don’t know every detail, but there are definitely weird and creepy aspects to it. I had such a great time, but this is poisoning my experience with you. Making me feel like a pervert.”

  “No, I understand. It is freaking me out, too. You sure?” I could hear her breathing heavily into the phone, almost in a panic.

  “I am. I mean, I want to contact my mother to make sure, but I have no idea how to contact her.”

  “Your mother is in the Ukraine?” she asked.

  “I think so. Why?”

  “Well, I went to a conference about two years ago in Germany, Harrison, and there were a lot of people there from Eastern Europe, including the Ukraine. I could do some digging and see if anyone knows Oksana Brett.”

  “I’m pretty sure she would be going by her maiden name at this point.”

  “What is her maiden name?”

  “Timoshenko.”

  “Okay. And how old would she be?”

  “Fifty-two, I think.”

  “Whoa, really? How old is your dad?” she asked.

  “Seventy.”

  “That is kind of creepy, actually.”

  “Oh yeah. I mean, she was a gymnast, and a serious, Olympic level one, but she was basically a mail-order bride.”

  “Right, I remember.”

  “Okay. I’ll write a couple of emails and see what comes up. Please, Harrison, don’t give up. I hope this is not true, because, honestly, I am falling for you in a big way.”

  “And I’m falling for you!” I said, desperately. “Listen, I need some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning for the yoga class.”

  “Sure thing. Good night, Harrison.”

  “Good night, Scarlet.”

  This was awful.

  Chapter 36

  SCARLET

  IN THE MORNING, things looked a lot darker. They were no longer colored by the rosy glow of orgasm, love, and the beauty of a new love. And it was pouring with rain. Pouring in a kind of tropical-rain-like way, so normal for the Midwest. It made me wonder if we were in for a tornado, except there were no greenish clouds.

  I got to work, parked in the lot, got soaked walking thirty feet to the main entrance to the office, and entered my office feeling awful. I was a little late and I was not in the mood, not even slightly, for a yoga class.

  Clay Carter was the first one to arrive for the class, and he had a shit-eating grin on his face. Honestly, it was disconcerting.

  “How was your night last night, Ms. Ravenwood?” he asked me, with a knowing wink.

  “Quiet,” I said. “How was yours?”

  “Illuminating,” he said.

  “How so?”

  “I learned a lot about how this place works. Or doesn’t work.”

  “I see.” I didn’t want to elaborate and had no particular interest in his seeming need for gossip.

  Fortunately, people started trickling in at that moment, and I got caught up in the class. This was a godsend, to be honest, because that guy was making my skin crawl.

  When Harrison arrived, Clay did that same thing to him, and I noticed how annoyed he became, although he kept it all together.

  The class was like walking uphill. I tried hard to focus on the actual practice of yoga, as it was my duty, but I kept thinking about how much I liked Harrison and how increasingly unlikely our relationship could possibly be.

  Chapter 37

  HARRISON

  MY WEEKEND WAS
amazing, other than the annoyance of having to bunk with Clay, and that was minor because the quality of my game made his insults meaningless. I let him have the Sunday win because I was trying really hard and it had strained a little on my arm, but in general, my game was back to its old self.

  I returned to Toledo and called Scarlet, who seemed a little down. Of course, there was that weirdness that I still hadn’t totally corroborated about her mother having a child with my dad. It was far from clear that the child they had was actually Scarlet. I was unclear on a lot of things, and during the conversation we had Sunday night, she revealed a little more.

  “I called my mom, and she admitted it,” she said, disconsolately. “She had a child and the child was me.”

  “So, you are the daughter of my dad?”

  “It would appear so,” she said, her voice breaking.

  “Wow. That is really a lot to take in. I am stunned.”

  “Me too. But I have sent a few emails out to the Russian and Ukrainian people I told you about.”

  “What did they say?”

  “Nothing yet.”

  “Okay.”

  When I saw her at the yoga class, she looked tired, but I figured it was important for us to get to the bottom of the mystery.

  Chapter 38

  SCARLET

  LATER IN THE day, I managed to get an hour free to work on my own paperwork. This job was increasing in the number of hours I was needed, and I was beginning to regret starting that yoga class. However, I managed to write to more physical therapists from Russia and the Ukraine, asking if any of them had any connection to Oksana Timoshenko.

  Meanwhile, in the three weekend games, my boy Harrison started all three and finished two, all winners. One was a no-hitter, and so I was strongly feeling that our work together was getting results.

  And so, it was with a certain amount of happiness that I noted that Buzz Nolan was calling on Monday afternoon.

  “How are you, Miss Ravenwood?” he asked.

  “I’m fine,” I said. “I’m really feeling like the work I’ve been doing is finally paying off. Really nice to see.”

  “I agree. I agree,” he said, slowly. “And that is why it is unfortunate that I have to make this phone call. And please forgive me if it is not appropriate.”

  I was stunned. What the hell was I doing wrong? My mood suddenly turned dark. Harrison had been out of town since Friday, and although I missed him, I was very happy to see him again at the yoga class. He was very upbeat and positive, and didn’t say a word about anything being amiss.

  “I need to ask you a question, in relation to an anonymous accusation about you, and I need you to answer honestly.”

  “Of course,” I said. “Always.”

  “Did you know about our non-fraternization policy at the Spark Plugs?”

  “Yes, of course,” I said, and I felt my world closing in on me.

  “Well, then — and I am so sorry if this is not true — are you having sexual relations with Harrison Brett?”

  I was stunned. I had thought we had been very, very discreet. I never met him at work, except for that sauna, and I was almost positive that it had been a well-kept secret. I didn’t know how to answer.

  “May I ask you a question first? I mean, before I answer that question?” I asked.

  “Sure, Scarlet,” he said.

  “Do you not think his work is good enough for him to be reassigned to the Major League team?”

  “I do. And that is happening. In fact, we are going to announce it tomorrow. Why do you ask?”

  “Because if he is moved, which was my singular goal all along, he would not be working for the organization, and what I do or don’t do with Mr. Brett is irrelevant.”

  “I see. That would be true if he had already been moved, but unfortunately, he has not been moved. And so, I need to ask you once again, did you have sexual relations with Mr. Brett?”

  I swallowed. The only person who knew about our relationship was Harrison. That bastard knew he was being moved and decided to throw me under the bus. I considered lying, but I also knew that I was falling in love with that guy and if I denied it, I would potentially lose him his promotion to the Majors. So, I decided to tell the truth. “Yes, Mr. Nolan, I did,” I said.

  “That is a shame, Ms. Ravenwood.”

  “I am sorry to have contravened that rule. It will not happen again, I can assure you.”

  “Well, thank you for your honesty, Scarlet. I mean it. I am grateful for your honesty. However,” and here he paused, cleared his throat, and — at least it sounded like this — he sniffed a tear away, “I am obliged to tell you that we have decided to terminate your position. I regret this deeply, I want you to know, but I will also need you to vacate your office by five today.”

  This was a blow that came literally out of thin air for me. I had not anticipated that Harrison would stab me in the back. He had just left a few minutes before, and I had no way to find out anything.

  “I understand. I will clear out my things. I am sorry.”

  “I appreciate your understanding,” he said, and he hung up.

  I sat at my desk in shock. I couldn’t believe it. I had such hopes for this place and for my relationship with Harrison. But now, it seemed, he was the one who wanted to sabotage me. I decided to gather my things and leave.

  Chapter 39

  HARRISON

  “HEY SCARLET, how are you?” I answered into the phone.

  “You son of a bitch! How could you do that?”

  “What did I do?”

  “You know exactly what you did.”

  “I do?”

  “Yes. You told management about our relationship. I have no idea why, but I am so angry.”

  “No, Scarlet, I really didn’t. I mean, why would I? How could I?”

  “I don’t know, but there is nobody else who knows about us and I am done with you and Toledo and the fucking Spark Plugs.” And she hung up.

  I was flabbergasted. I was preparing myself for the move back to Detroit, because I was told I was being called up again to the Majors, and I was — or had been — over the moon with excitement. I had tried to call Scarlet to let her know, but she had not been answering.

  And then she called me with the bombshell. I tried calling her back, but she didn’t answer. So, I texted her:

  I said nothing to no one. I don’t know what you are talking about. Please call.

  But she didn’t. First of all, I needed to talk to Chris Steen.

  “Chris, call me back as soon as you can please.”

  I got a call at eight at night. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m not sure. Scarlet sort of flipped when I told her the news about us being related.”

  “That’s jumping the gun a little, isn’t it?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you don’t know for sure that you are related.”

  “What are you talking about? You told me we were!”

  “No, I didn’t. I said she was related to your father,” Chris explained.

  “Doesn’t that make her related to me?”

  “Not necessarily. I just don’t think you should have jumped the gun and told her.”

  “Dude, I was sleeping with her. Are you out of your mind?”

  “I know, but there is a right way and a wrong way to introduce these ideas. You know?”

  “Look, I really don’t have time for this. I did this with Lori, and I’m doing it again. Women just get in the way. I’m done. Seriously.”

  “I thought you said you had serious feelings for this woman.”

  “Well, I spoke too soon.”

  “You mean that?” he asked.

  “Look, Chris, I don’t know what I mean. I mean I like her, she is good to me and for me, and I thought I was falling in love with her, but that was before she was my half-sister, and before she thinks I got her fired!”

  “Whoa! Back up. You got her fired?”

  “No! Of course not. But
she did get fired, and she blames me.”

  “Wow, you don’t do things by halves.”

  I hung up. And I had to go to the announcement the following morning. Which was supposed to be such fucking good news. And at such an incredibly bad time in my life.

  I did my duty. I was a slave to duty. I got in the Tesla and drove to the stadium and stood there in front of the crowd of sports reporters, and smiled. All the while, I was thinking ‘you vultures can go suck on an egg.’ I was steamed. And I was gonna get to the bottom of this.

  The minute the news conference was over and I shook Buzz Nolan’s hand, I pulled him aside.

  “Buzz. Got a minute?”

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “I just found out that Scarlet was let go.”

  “I know. Such a shame. But it’s the company policy.”

  “What is?”

  “Listen, Harrison, you probably don’t want to tread too heavy on this issue. By rights, we should suspend you too.”

  “What? Why was she fired?”

  “For having relations with you.”

  “For what?” To be honest, I heard him wrong, and I thought he said ‘for being related to you’.

  “You heard me. If you hadn’t been called to the Detroit Diamonds, your career would be over too. Look at it this way — you dodged a bullet.”

  There was no talking to him. He was glad-handing with the press, and so I left. I went to the dressing room where some of the players were still sitting around. I saw Leduc. When he saw me, he just shook his head.

  “Leduc, what the hell is going on?”

  “You’re going on, bucko. Looks like you cost that little lady her job. And then you waltz off to the Majors.”

  “Who told? She says I did, and I definitely didn’t.”

  “You really have to ask? It wasn’t any of your so-called friends.”

  “Then who was it?”

  “Clay. Who else? When he heard you were being called up, he called it in to try to stop it. You know how competitive he is.”