by Jae
Somehow, she wasn’t surprised to find Rae already there, sitting with her back to the wall. Gone was the black shirt and tie she’d worn last night. Instead, she wore a pair of black jeans and a white button-up that strained against her broad shoulders. She appeared more relaxed than she had been at work, but her eyes were alert, constantly scanning her surroundings.
Now, in the light of day, Steph could make out details she hadn’t noticed last night. Rae was a few years older than Steph had thought—probably in her midthirties—and her hair wasn’t actually black, just such a dark shade of brown that it could be mistaken for it. The color reminded Steph of coffee beans. Her short hair emphasized her sculpted cheekbones and her strong jawline. With the permanent near scowl on her face, she was too intimidating to be called beautiful, but she was certainly striking. Only her sensitive mouth and a few unruly strands flopping across her forehead softened her brooding appearance.
As if sensing Steph’s gaze on her, Rae turned her head and looked at her. She didn’t smile or lift her hand for a wave; she just looked back at Steph with that strange intensity that made a shudder go through her.
“Steph?” Penny said. “You still there? Is she hot or not?”
“Um, I guess she is—if you’re into the tall, dark, and brooding type. And you know I’m not. At least not the brooding thing.” Steph switched the phone to the other ear, preparing to open the door with her right hand. “Listen, I have to go, but can I give you as a reference to the landlord?”
“Sure. Call me later, and we’ll set up a schedule for you.”
“Will do. Um, Penny…is there a chance I could have Moose back or at least get to see him? I really missed him while I was gone.”
Penny breathed in and out audibly. “You’re in luck. I’ve walked him for the past month because his walker gave notice. If you want him back, he’s yours starting tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
When they ended the call, Steph tried to rein in her broad grin as she entered the café. She paused to take in the airy room with its white-painted brick walls and minimalistic decor and then walked up to the tiny, round table Rae had claimed and settled on a chair across from her. “Hi. Thanks for meeting me here.”
Rae nodded and shifted a little to the side, as if wanting to keep the front door in her sight.
Steph grinned at her. “Are you waiting for someone else?”
“No,” Rae said but didn’t offer an explanation, so Steph decided to ignore that little bit of weirdness.
She threw a glance at the counter, where an espresso machine let out a gentle hiss that reminded her she hadn’t had her morning coffee yet. “I’m getting a latte. Can I get you anything?”
“Coffee.”
Steph arched her brows and waited, but again, nothing further came from Rae. Oh great. Was this what she had to look forward to if she lived with Rae? Having to drag every single syllable out of her? “Do you want cream or sugar?”
“No. Just black coffee.” After a beat, Rae held out a five-dollar bill and added, “Please.”
Steph shook herself at the thought of black, unsweetened coffee. Well, at least Rae wouldn’t use up all of the cream and leave the empty container for Steph to find, as one of her previous roommates had done.
It didn’t take long for her to return with a creamy latte for herself and a single-origin brew from Guatemala for Rae, which she slid in front of her. “Want half?” She held up the tahini chocolate chip cookie she had splurged on.
“No, thanks.”
“More for me, then. These are really yummy.” Steph took a big bite and studied Rae while she chewed.
A couple of what looked like pockmark scars dotted Rae’s forehead and gave her a hint of vulnerability. Her eyes were a lighter shade of brown than her hair, and the left one didn’t seem to move as much as the other. Rae put her cup down and straightened as if uncomfortable with the close perusal. “What?”
“Nothing.” Steph didn’t want to make Rae uncomfortable by mentioning her lazy eye. “Can’t I just enjoy gazing adoringly at the woman I love?” She fluttered her lashes.
No reaction. Not even a tiny twitch of Rae’s lips. Rae cradled her mug as she observed Steph across the table. Her hands, which were big for a woman, made the cup seem as if it were part of a tea set from a dollhouse. “Why did you want to meet at ten when we’re meeting the landlord at eleven?”
“Well…” Steph gestured, cookie in hand, accidentally getting crumbs everywhere. “I thought we could get to know each other.”
Rae regarded her suspiciously. “You’re not gonna be that kind of roommate, are you? The type who sticks to me like glue and insists that we go grocery shopping together and share all of our meals?”
“God, no. Way too domestic. But I think we should get to know each other a bit if we want to convince the landlord that we’re a couple.”
“Fair enough.” Rae stiffly tilted her head, her body language screaming out how uncomfortable the situation made her. “What do you want to know?”
Steph decided to keep it simple so she wouldn’t spook her any further. “How long have you worked the door at The Fun Zone?”
“About two weeks.”
“And before that? Have you worked for another comedy club?”
“No.”
Steph sighed and took a gulp of her latte, wishing it contained something stronger. This wasn’t getting them anywhere. “Why don’t you tell me what you think I should know about you?”
Rae seemed to think about it for a moment before she nodded. “My full name is Raelynn Joy Coleman, I’m 36, and I have no criminal—”
“Wait! Raelynn Joy?” Steph burst out laughing, then covered her mouth with her hand to control her mirth. That name so didn’t fit the intimidating woman.
Rae shrugged. “My parents believed in letting the universe choose my name on the day of my birth, and it turned out to be a sunny day, so…”
“So Rae like ray of light?”
“Guess so.”
Steph giggled. “Well, considering you could have been a Rainbow or a Cloudy-with-a-chance-of-rain, I think you got off lucky. I actually like Rae.”
Another shrug from Rae, but her stiff stance seemed to loosen a bit. “What about you?”
“No Rainbows in my family. They named me Stephanie Katherine, after my mom’s parents, Stephan and Katherine. That’s the part of the family that was filthy rich.”
“Your family’s rich, and you are looking for a roommate to help with the rent?” Rae moved her head from side to side while she studied Steph. She did that a lot, Steph had noticed, and it made her look a little like a bird of prey peering at a mouse from all angles. Another little quirk Steph hadn’t quite figured out yet.
“It’s my mother’s money, not mine. I’m not saying I never accepted a cent from her. I’ve done that once or twice, but only when I had no other choice. Usually, I find another way to rustle up some money. I can do without the lecture about responsible behavior or the reminder that I shouldn’t have dropped out of college that comes with the money, you know?”
Rae nodded and, to Steph’s surprise, actually looked as if she understood disappointing her parents.
Steph’s phone started to buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen. “It’s Mr. Kleinberg, the landlord. Oh shit. I hope he isn’t calling to tell us he already gave the apartment to someone else.”
“If he is, this was the shortest fake relationship in the history of mankind,” Rae said.
Only one way to find out. With a finger that was slightly damp, Steph swiped the screen and lifted the phone to her ear.
Rae watched Steph as she nodded several times, as if the landlord could actually see her.
“Yes, sure,” Steph said. “No problem at all. We’re in the neighborhood anyway. We’ll be right there.”
&nb
sp; Okay, that didn’t sound as if Mr. Kleinberg had called to tell them he’d rented the apartment to someone else. Rae wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or disappointed. The more time she spent with Steph, the more she doubted that moving in with her and pretending to be her lover was a good idea. Not that there was anything wrong with Steph. Aside from her irreverent nature and smart mouth, she actually seemed nice, but God, they were just so different. Could they really live under the same roof without wanting to kill each other?
Steph put the phone away and looked up. For the first time, Rae noticed that her eyes were a pale gray. Maybe the color should have reminded her of cool stone or unbending metal, but with the twinkle in them and the easy grin on Steph’s face, they appeared warm somehow.
“He asked if we can make it a little before eleven since he has another couple coming to look at the apartment later,” Steph said.
Rae grabbed the leather jacket from the back of her chair and slid her wraparound sunglasses onto her face to protect her eye as they left the café. “So we’ve got competition.”
“Looks like it. Are you ready to impress the hell out of Mr. Kleinberg?”
Rae gave a noncommittal grunt. She couldn’t remember when she had last tried to impress anyone, and it admittedly made her a little nervous.
“Let’s walk.” Steph pointed around the corner, toward Sweetzer Avenue. “It’ll be faster. The apartment is only two blocks from here.”
Rae nodded and tried to inconspicuously circle around Steph to keep her on her right.
Pain flared through her left knee. Suppressing a curse, she turned her head to see what she’d bumped into and found a square stone planter. She glared at the damn thing.
“You okay?” Steph lightly placed her hand on Rae’s arm.
There she goes again with the touching. Rae started walking again so Steph’s hand would fall away. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
“You sure?” Steph asked. “That looked like it hurt.”
“I’ve had worse.” And wasn’t that the truth! In the beginning, her left leg and shoulder had looked as if she was someone’s punching bag because she’d constantly run into things. “So how do we convince him we’re a couple?”
“Just act naturally,” Steph said.
That wasn’t very helpful advice. Rae gestured at where she was walking with a careful distance between her and Steph. “This is my natural.”
Steph chuckled. “Not the touchy-feely type, hmm? I figured. Relax. I don’t think he’s going to expect us to christen the kitchen counters with a hot make-out session. Something simple should be fine.”
“Simple?” Rae sent her a questioning look, not sure what that meant in Steph’s book.
“Yeah. Something like…this.”
For a second, Rae thought Steph might try to kiss her, but all she did was slide her hand into Rae’s.
Somehow, that gesture was even more intimate than a kiss, maybe because Steph didn’t seem to be in a hurry to let go. Rae stared down at their entwined hands. Steph’s slender fingers looked nearly vulnerable in her grasp, yet there was an easy confidence in her secure grip. Her skin was warm and soft against Rae’s rougher palm. It wasn’t unpleasant at all, but she hadn’t held anyone’s hand in so long that it felt surreal.
When Rae continued to stare, Steph gave a gentle squeeze. “This okay?”
Rae wrenched her gaze away and tried for nonchalance. “Yeah. Of course.”
Steph studied her. “I know you said you don’t have a girlfriend, but you’ve had one in the past, right? I mean, you’re into women, aren’t you?”
Clearly, she had sensed Rae’s discomfort and wasn’t sure what to make of it.
Rae gently pulled her hand from Steph’s and stuffed it into her pants pocket. “I’m not into anyone right now. But yeah, I’m a lesbian. So don’t worry; you won’t weird me out or anything.”
Steph grinned. “Good to know.” She strolled alongside Rae, easily keeping up with her despite the three inches Rae had on her, as if she was used to walking a lot.
Since Steph’s attention was on the Spanish-style cottage across the street, Rae could observe her without being caught. Steph’s style was an interesting mix of classy and rebellious. Her charcoal gray skirt had deep pockets, like cargo pants, and a pair of attached suspenders that trailed up her formfitting, purple top. Rae would rather have shot herself than worn something like that, but she had to admit that Steph looked cute. It didn’t hurt that the above-the-knee skirt showed off her killer legs.
“What?” Steph asked.
“Nothing.” Rae directed her gaze back to the street ahead of her. The neighborhood where they might soon live exuded the same relaxed vibe as Steph did. Even though the bustle of Melrose Avenue was only a few blocks away, this area was surprisingly quiet and walkable. Palms and other trees and carefully watered strips of lawn lined the street. A mix of houses from the thirties, newly built single-family homes, and small apartment buildings rose on both sides. “Just wondering… What do we say when he asks how we met?”
“The truth,” Steph answered.
“Oh, you want to tell him we met when you tried to con your way into the club?”
For a moment, Steph’s mouth moved without anything coming out. “I…I wasn’t… Comics really get in free at The Fun Zone. At least it’s always been that way in the past.”
“I know,” Rae said. “But no one told me.”
“Is that an apology?” The amused twinkle was back in Steph’s eyes.
“It’s an explanation.” Rae had never apologized for doing her job, and she wouldn’t start now.
Steph tilted her head in a faux regal nod. “Explanation accepted. Let’s tell him we met at work.” She pointed at a two-story building across the street. “I think this is it.”
Rae assessed the apartment building with an analytical gaze. Four units faced the street, each one with a balcony, and she guessed that at least the same number of apartments lay on the other side. The sliding glass doors might be a possible entry point for burglars, but all in all, the building and the neighborhood seemed very safe.
Flanked by a couple of palm trees, half a dozen stairs led up to a sturdy front door. A bald man in his sixties waited next to two rows of white mailboxes.
Steph slipped her hand back into Rae’s and tugged her across the street.
Rae tried to ignore the feeling of Steph’s fingers entwined with her own and focused on not misjudging the height of the curb or the steps.
“Mr. Kleinberg?” Steph asked as they approached.
“Yes.” He smiled. If he was surprised to be faced with two women instead of a heterosexual couple, he didn’t show it. “You must be Ms. Renshaw and Ms…?”
“Coleman.” Rae slid her hand free of Steph’s hold and stuck it out for him to shake. It was a trick she had learned early on. If she was the one who held out her hand first, she wouldn’t embarrass herself by missing when she tried to grasp someone’s hand.
Mr. Kleinberg took her hand in a firm grip. “Thanks for meeting me a little earlier. Let’s go in, and I’ll show you around.” He led them inside and up the stairs, to one of the units on the second floor, facing the backyard.
Steph reached for Rae’s hand again, and this time, Rae wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince Mr. Kleinberg of their loving relationship or if she needed some encouragement.
Just in case, she kept her hand in Steph’s until Steph pulled free to follow Mr. Kleinberg into the tiny bathroom.
It was the only one in the apartment, Rae realized, so they’d have to share. Well, they were adults. They could manage.
The landlord and Steph kept up a constant stream of chatter about the gated parking spots, the AC, and the laundry in the back.
Rae was happy to let Steph do the talking while she wandered through the apartment and looked around. Her gaze skim
med over the gas range in the kitchen, the dark hardwood floors in the living area, and the carpeted bedrooms with spacious closets.
Finally, Steph joined her in the kitchen. Under the pretense of placing a tender kiss on Rae’s cheek, she leaned close to whisper in her ear. “What do you think?”
“Hmm?” Heat spread through Rae’s face from where Steph had fleetingly placed her lips, distracting her.
“The apartment.”
“Oh. Right. Looks good to me,” Rae answered. “You?”
A low laugh tickled Rae’s ear, making her shiver. “I spent most of the year on the road, so my standards aren’t very high. If there’s no funky smell and no stains on the carpet that make me think someone has been murdered, it’s fine with me.”
“If you come in here, you can see the parking spots from the window,” Mr. Kleinberg called from one of the bedrooms.
When Steph walked away to take a look, Rae stayed behind and lifted her hand to her cheek. Maybe she should establish some house rules from the start. Rule number one: no touching. In her former job, letting someone close enough to touch had meant inviting danger, and even before joining the police department, she’d never been the touchy-feely type.
But before she could start thinking about house rules, they needed to get the apartment first.
Rae crossed the room to check out the small balcony facing the tree-lined backyard. From here, she could see that the building formed an O around a small inner courtyard with two potted trees and other plants, so there were more units than she had initially thought.
Steph hurried over, wrapped one arm around Rae, and tried to tug her away.
“What are you doing?” Rae whispered. Was there something wrong with the balcony? She gave it another skeptical look but couldn’t detect anything out of the ordinary.
Steph tugged again, but Rae didn’t budge. “What are you doing?”
Mr. Kleinberg joined them. A frown carved the lines bracketing his mouth even deeper. “Something wrong?”