THE DARE (G!P Freenbecky)

Chapter 36

The following day, Freen decided that if love was indeed a battlefield, she needed to make a couple of preemptive strikes. She had to stake a claim, make her intentions clear, and show Becky that she had no intentions of going anywhere. Freen was here in London for as long a time as Becky needed to feel comfortable with their relationship.

Thus, first thing in the morning, Freen called a Realtor.

"I want to buy a house," Freen said.

And she wasn't kidding. She called Eddie and had him pet-sit that day, as she drove all over the city with a very competent real estate agent the concierge recommended.

His name was Marty, he was totally bald and built like a linebacker, but he knew his stuff.

"A pig, huh? Can he do stairs?"

"He can. But I'd like to have a large downstairs area with a family room, so that he has the option of never having to go upstairs if he doesn't want to." Freen knew that most people didn't consider a hundred-pound pig a pet, but the city of London allowed potbellied pigs to be kept as pets. And Baco wouldn't cause any trouble. Most likely he'd charm the pants off all their neighbors.

After just three days, Freen found the house she was looking for. And as it usual in house-hunting expeditions, it was nothing at all like what she would have thought she'd buy.

Freen hadn't wanted anything pretentious or huge. She'd wanted something that would feel like a home. So the minute Freen saw the jaunty little Victorian in Pacific Heights, with its bay window, sunshine-yellow paint job, and ornate trim, she knew this was the one. It just felt right, and she knew Becky would like it. She could see Lafitte's perch set up right in front of that bay window and the parrot enjoying the view of pedestrians walking by.

And most importantly, Pacific Heights was just a quick hop, skip, and a jump from Nob Hill and Becky's home. So he'd have a cozy base camp for as long as this "war" lasted.

"I don't even have to step inside," Freen said to Marty as they stood on the small front lawn. This house had just come on the market; there wasn't even a sign out front yet.

"But let's go in, just in case," the Realtor suggested.

Inside, what they found was a flawlessly maintained interior. The owner, an elderly woman who had inherited the house from her mother, had passed away recently.

Both her children lived on the East Coast and were selling the property, complete with all the furniture, immediately.

They wanted the money the sale could bring, not the house itself.

There was even a respectably sized backyard with a deck and a large, sunny lawn. Freen narrowed her eyes, imagining Baco stretched out in the sunshine, his ears twitching.

"Their loss," Marty had muttered as he glanced around the Victorian.

"I'll take it," Freen said, whipping out her checkbook.

"How were you thinking of financing this?" The Realtor asked.

"I thought I'd just write a check."

Freen appreciated the fact that Marty remained calm, but she supposed that, as a real estate agent working in the Bay Area, he'd seen it all.

"How soon can I move in?"

"With no mortgage to negotiate and the kids anxious to sell....and its already passed both home and termite inspections....." Marty stared at the backyard, but Freen knew he wasn't really seeing it.

"I tell you what, Ms. Chankimha, I'll see what I can do to speed things along."
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The second preemptive strike was an actual date. So far, since Lookkaew's wedding, Freen thought, her and Becky hadn't really gone out on a date.

They'd met at a charity event, gone shopping for Christmas presents one afternoon and then out to dinner, spent the holiday together, and talked—naked—in a Jacuzzi and a sauna. This would be the first time she'd ask her out on an official date, and Freen really wanted it to be special.

It couldn't be just any first date. Freen had to do some planning, think up something that would delight her. Freen knew she had to be imaginative, it had to be something fun. Somehow she had to create an evening where Becky didn't feel pressured.

When she found out about the outdoor skating rink at The Embarcadero that was set up each Christmas, she decided that this would fit the bill.

"Ice-skating!" Becky had said over the phone, and Freen had loved hearing the delight in her voice. "I haven't been skating since I was a little girl."

"Think you still know how?" Freen teased her.

"Its just like riding a bike."

They'd arrived at the outdoor rink, and Freen had surprised Becky again with a new pair of ice skates.

"I figured this was the perfect post-Christmas date, and a pretty fun present," Freen said as Becky opened the package, exclaimed in delight, and began to lace up her skates.

Freen had grown up with blustery Illinois winters and had also played her share of ice hockey as a teen, so skating was utterly familiar territory for her. Freen was fast on her feet on ice.

They glided out on to the ice amid all the other skaters and circled the large rink a few times, hand in hand.

"Cocoa afterward?" Becky said as she glanced up at her, and Freen loved seeing the bright color in her cheeks, the sparkle in her chocolate brown eyes. She looked absolutely adorable in a fluffy white sweater and hat and light brown pants.

"Whatever you want," Freen said.

"This is wonderful, Freen," Becky said, squeezing her hand as they skated along. "I don't know what it is about ice-skating, but I've always thought it was so romantic. The only thing missing is the snow. You know, just a really gentle little fall. A few strategic flakes, like in the movies."

"You like snow?"

"I love snow. It's the only thing that I miss living here. And there have even been a few winters when we got some, but they're few and far between. And we always went skiing at least twice every winter, so I certainly got my share of snow."

"Huh." Freen had never thought about the concept of missing snow. In Illinois, it was as relentless as death and taxes. But she smiled to herself, thinking of what was yet to come.

The rink was somewhat crowded, and they had to avoid young children, especially the boys, as they darted in and out among the other skaters. There seemed to be some sort of improvised hockey game going on, and Becky got tremendous amusement out of watching the two teams battle it out while trying not to trip up the people who were skating at a more sedate pace.

She sighed in disappointment when an announcement blared, stating that the rink would be closing earlier than usual because of a private party.

"I wish we could've skated a little longer," Becky admitted as they glided over to the side of the rink. "I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining—"

"Your wish," Freen said, laughing, "Is my command. Is there anything else that the lady wishes?"

"You're so silly." Becky glanced up into the sky, up above the tall city buildings. "Okay, smart girl, while you're at it, how about some snow?"

"You," Freen said, tapping her pink nose, "read minds."

"What are you talking about?" Becky asked as she sat down on a bench close to the rink and started to unlace her skates.

"Not so fast," Freen said. "Aren't you at all curious as to who this private party is?"

She stared at her for a long moment, and Freen knew the exact moment when comprehension dawned in those beautiful eyes.

"You?" She breathed.

"The one and only. And not just me. Us." Freen loved doing things for her, making her smile. The look she was giving her at this exact moment could only be described as incandescent.

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