by Julie Cannon
Was Luca speaking about herself? Her own fantasies? Stephanie shook her inner questions away and shuffled through the many folders and papers she had on the tabletop. “Right here.” She handed the file to Luca and stood. She walked to her desk for a highlighter, but also to escape from under Luca’s gaze for a brief moment. Subtle flirting was one thing, but the more time she spent with Luca, the less subtle she felt.
“I don’t see anything recently that looks out of the ordinary,” Luca said from behind her.
“Because he got smarter after he fired his partner. Notice the direct deposits that go into two different accounts every week.” Stephanie marched back to the table and stood behind Luca. She bent over her and pointed to a series of numbers on the page. Luca’s hair grazed her arm and Stephanie prayed Luca wouldn’t notice her goose bumps.
“There’s nothing unusual about that. I have my pay deposited into two accounts, one for spending and one for bills.”
“Very common indeed, but considering the fact that this guy’s being investigated, I dug a little deeper into the details of those accounts.” Stephanie opened another folder and stood back to watch Luca scan the pages. Every once in a while, Luca would take her bottom lip between her teeth as she concentrated—a very distracting move. “What do you see?”
Luca ran the fingertips of her right hand over the print, making Stephanie imagine the way her touch would tickle her skin. Get a grip or get laid because this is getting out of hand, Stephanie thought.
“There are two people on this account,” Luca said quietly, her voice taking on a shy quality. “Every other account we’ve looked at, even his personal accounts, have only had his name on them.”
Stephanie nodded. “His wife is attached to this account, and if we take a look at her other accounts…” Stephanie slid one last folder to Luca with a smile.
“Jackpot?” Luca asked with bright eyes and a slight tilt to her head.
Stephanie pulled her chair closer to Luca and sat. She leaned forward slightly so her next whispered words would be heard loud and clear. “I wouldn’t know. I just had that folder delivered to me before dinner.”
“And you’ve been hiding it,” Luca said in a near squawk.
Stephanie sat back laughing before pushing the folder to Luca again. “I want you to be the first to look through it.”
“Why?”
“Because over the past three weeks you have proven to be one of the most intelligent investigators I’ve ever worked with, and you’ve earned the right to be the name stamped on this case.” Stephanie took a deep breath. “I want this case to go on your record, on your résumé, so when I’m not here anymore and if you start to look elsewhere for employment, you’ll get hired by one of the best.”
Luca’s eyes shone with an odd weakness, a moment of emotion Stephanie had only seen at her grandmother’s funeral. Luca was genuinely touched. But that vulnerability was washed away by a smirk. Luca leaned forward slightly and said, “You think you’re that important, huh? If you go, I go?”
Stephanie set her shoulders, ready for a challenge. “I do, and I know that no one else here is capable of helping you reach your true potential.”
Luca looked at her tequila before downing the rest and looking back at Stephanie. Her eyes were watering slightly. “What is my true potential?” Luca’s voice had turned husky.
Stephanie followed Luca’s lead and swallowed the rest of her drink, but her eyes never strayed from Luca’s. She licked a lingering droplet of alcohol from her lip before shifting into Luca’s space further. This flirtatious, playful element between them sparked a neediness within Stephanie that shocked her. A foot separated them, and Stephanie was unsure that she’d have enough strength in her voice to carry her words to Luca.
“I, uh, I think that with the right training you’d be able to—”
“Top you?” Luca said with unwavering confidence and Stephanie could swear her eyes grew a fraction darker. Stephanie looked at Luca’s lips for a brief second before she pulled back into her chair, needing to feel the solidity of it beneath her.
“You’re capable of topping all the best investigators out there. You could top this whole firm and then some.” Stephanie cringed at her own joke. Luca wore a polite smile as she studied Stephanie for a moment. Instead of bringing any further attention to Stephanie’s discomfort, she opened the file. Stephanie sighed in relief.
“Holy shit.” Luca’s exclamation startled Stephanie.
“What is it?” Stephanie asked from her safe space, pressed against the back of the chair.
“Let’s just say our guy used up all of his smarts early in the game.”
“Smoking gun?”
Luca looked up from the paperwork with a brilliant smile. “The whole armory is smoking.”
“Great.” Stephanie stood and stretched. “Take that home with you and highlight each and every transgression. We’ll write our final reports and call the lawyers on Monday.” Stephanie headed for her desk, picked up her briefcase, and started to pack up for the night.
“Wait. That’s it?”
Stephanie looked up in confusion to stare at Luca, who was now standing on the other side of her desk. “That’s it. Enjoy your weekend, do something fun. You earned it.”
“Let me buy you a drink.” Stephanie’s eyebrow quirked up. “To celebrate closing this case. After all, this may be the only big case you and I get to work on together.” Stephanie thought Luca’s offer over and over. It wasn’t unusual to have a couple drinks after a case, and the night was still early. “Meet me at the Dollhouse tomorrow night around eight. What do you say?”
The Dollhouse? Saturday night? That didn’t sound like a couple of coworkers grabbing a drink after a tedious few weeks. That sounded like a date. What was Stephanie supposed to say?
“I’ll see you tomorrow at eight.”
Chapter Eleven
Luca questioned herself again and again as she drummed her fingers on the bar top. The beautiful, androgynous bartender had offered to get her a drink several times, but Luca insisted she was waiting for someone. She wouldn’t be surprised if Stephanie didn’t show, but it was only a quarter past eight and Luca held on to hope. Hope that Stephanie wouldn’t stand her up, hope that this was more than celebratory drinks, and hope that the uncontrollable flirtations meant more to Stephanie, just as they did for Luca. Working beside Stephanie had opened Luca’s eyes to a world she’d never imagined. There was someone out there, a brilliant woman, who shared in so many of Luca’s interests and who could share in the misery and the joy of her profession at the end of the day.
But Luca wouldn’t allow herself to get lost in those dangerous daydreams. Stephanie was her boss, a devout professional, and was moving to Chicago in the near future. Yes, long distance could work, but Luca was the kind of woman who craved physical attention at the end of the day, nearly every day, when she was in love. In love? Luca signaled for the bartender, her throat suddenly very dry, and asked for vodka cranberry.
“Getting started without me?” Stephanie’s voice came from over Luca’s shoulder. Luca jumped. She turned to find a very casual version of Stephanie standing shyly behind her. She wore a simple black V-neck shirt, the neckline cut distractingly deep, and skinny jeans. She had never looked more beautiful to Luca. Stephanie’s platinum hair fell loosely around her shoulders and caught the light in such a way that caused every tendril to nearly glow. Stephanie shifted and said, “Sorry I’m late, I’ve been a bit sluggish all day. Do you want to stay at the bar or grab a table?”
Luca shook herself into action and nodded. “A table sounds great. What would you like to drink?”
“A Yuengling, please.”
“No tequila?” Luca said, her lips turning up slightly.
“Maybe after my first beer.”
Luca went about ordering and paying for Stephanie’s drink. She led them to a small table off in the corner of the bar, far from the crowds and in just enough of a secluded space to be able to
be heard over the music. On this Saturday, they played hits from the ’80s and ’90s. Luca watched Stephanie take the first sip from her bottle, her bottom lip looking more plump as it sealed around the glass. Stephanie had very few wrinkles across her fair skin, but the lines by her mouth and the creases on her forehead held Luca’s attention. She wanted to know all about the times Stephanie had laughed with wild abandon, and what had caused her to worry so. Who helped Stephanie Austin create her professional outer shell, and how many people were privy to what was beneath?
“You’re staring. Why are you staring?” Stephanie squinted one of her eyes as she looked at Luca with suspicion.
“I want to know more about you,” Luca said, confessing so much in very few words.
Stephanie laughed. “You already know more than most.”
“Is that your favorite beer?”
Stephanie looked at the bottle in her hands. She rolled it between her palms and picked at the label before answering. “No.”
“Then why do you drink it?”
“It was my mom’s favorite beer, so we’d always have it in the house for special occasions.” Stephanie took another sip and her face remained passive. “This beer reminds me of simpler times. Why are you smiling?”
Luca hadn’t realized she was grinning until then. “I’m sorry, I just don’t hear of many moms being beer drinkers. Wine, vodka, rum? Of course.”
“Only the cool moms prefer beer.” Stephanie winked.
“I’ll drink to that, and to our shared success.” Luca tapped the rim of her glass to Stephanie’s bottle.
“Well, well, well. Look who it is,” a faintly familiar voice called out. Lee approached their table with Zoe in tow. Tina followed closely behind as she chatted with a young butch girl. “Hey, guys.”
“Hi.” Stephanie looked at Luca in unspoken apology, but her face had panic written all over it. “Lee, Tina, Zoe, I’m not sure if you remember my assistant, Luca.”
“Hi, Luca.” Zoe reached out to shake Luca’s hand. “It’s very nice to see you again.” Luca shook Zoe’s hand briefly and returned Tina’s halfhearted wave. Luca was sure Tina missed the gesture because her attention was on her conversation partner’s beefy biceps.
Lee reached out next. “I’ve heard so much about you, Luca. Sorry about your grandmother.”
Luca looked at Stephanie curiously, but she couldn’t see around Stephanie’s hands covering her face. She was curious how often Stephanie had spoken about her to her friends. “Thank you. Would you like to join us?” Luca asked. Stephanie peeked between her fingers.
Lee was ready to pull up a chair, but Zoe tugged her arm. “We don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not. We’re just celebrating the end of three grueling weeks at work.” Luca wanted Stephanie all to herself, but maybe Stephanie would prefer to have her friends around as a buffer. For all Luca knew, Stephanie could’ve asked her friends to drop by. Stephanie’s face gave no indication of what she wanted. “Steph?”
“Head up to the bar,” Stephanie said to Lee. “We’ll meet you in a few.” Stephanie watched the short train of her friends leave. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just invited them over like that, but I want you to be comfortable, and I thought having your friends here would help that.”
“Why wouldn’t I be comfortable?”
“Because it’s just you and me.”
Stephanie slid her beer aside and leaned forward. Her features turned soft, the way Luca was used to seeing them toward the end of a long day or when they’d leave the office for lunch. “Luca, I’ve spent more time with just you than I have with anyone recently.” Luca wanted to argue how Stephanie should spend time with her friends if she had been monopolizing her time, but Stephanie reached out and grabbed her hand, effectively shutting down every voice in Luca’s head. “If I thought I’d be uncomfortable tonight, I wouldn’t have come.” Luca sat stunned, her eyes never leaving the pale hand that grasped hers. “And now I’ve made you uncomfortable,” Stephanie said, withdrawing her touch.
“No, you didn’t. Not at all.” Luca placed her hand back on the table top, palm up, but pulled it back immediately. She sat back nervously, unsure of what to say or do next.
“Come on, Luca, you have so much bravado in the office. Where is it now?” Stephanie’s eyes glittered as she teased and her smile was positively wicked.
“Back at the office, undoubtedly.” Luca wasn’t always the brightest when it came to women showing interest in her, but right now she felt completely brain-dead. Stephanie’s touch could’ve been innocent, or she could’ve purposely sparked the fire Luca felt on her skin. She looked over her shoulder to catch Lee and Zoe watching them. “Do you want to step out onto the back patio for a bit? Get some fresh air?”
Stephanie stood and started toward the back of the bar. Luca followed wordlessly into the crowds of people that stood by the exit in preparation for their next cigarette break. The night air was humid, typical of New Jersey summers, but the season was still too early for the heat to suffocate. Lightning bugs danced off in the distance. The Dollhouse had a small wooden deck with a few chairs and an outdoor sofa. Strings of old-fashioned glass bulbs lined the space, making an average night feel magical and romantic. Luca’s breath caught when Stephanie turned back and looked her in the eye.
“Why did you ask me here tonight?” Stephanie’s blunt question took Luca by surprise.
Luca felt like she was being tested. She responded slowly. “To celebrate…”
“But why here and why tonight? We had tequila in the office. We could’ve stopped at any bar last night after we left. Why did you choose this?”
Luca’s heart began to hammer as she registered Stephanie in her personal space. Luca smelled her perfume, even her shampoo, as Stephanie stood with her arms crossed over her chest. Fear drove the next words from her mouth. “I think we both earned a night out.”
Stephanie sighed and her head fell. “I deal with a lot of people every day, but you, Luca Garner, confuse the shit out of me.”
“What?”
“One minute you’re assertive and confident, then the next you look like you’re about to crawl out of your skin. You invite me here, order me a drink and tell me you want to know more about me, then you invite my friends to join us. You’re sending a lot of mixed signals.”
Luca wanted to curse, or at least whine, at her own behavior. She closed her eyes and took a chance on the truth. “Unless we’re talking about a case, you scare me. And, let’s face it, you scare me a little bit then, too.”
Stephanie reached out to hold one of Luca’s hands between her own. “Why do I scare you?”
“A combination of things, really.” Luca laughed awkwardly. Stephanie’s hands were incredibly warm, but dry, highlighting the softness of her palms. “I sort of think you’re perfect.” Luca swallowed thickly. Her lips felt tight with trepidation as she continued to speak. “But what I know is you’re my boss, and way out of my league.”
Stephanie stared at Luca, unblinking. Luca swore she saw a hundred different thoughts swimming behind Stephanie’s vibrant blue eyes, but no words left her lips. She dropped Luca’s hand and put on a plastic smile. “You should think more highly of yourself, Luca. And I’m far from perfect. As a matter of fact, from where I’m standing, you’re way out of my league.” Luca was speechless, but even if she had a comeback prepared, Stephanie wouldn’t allow it. “Let’s go back in to meet up with Zoe and Lee.”
Luca watched as she walked back inside. She felt like she was spinning and the voice in her head was screaming to pull herself together. Stephanie needed to know that Luca wanted her for exactly who she was. Luca rushed through the small crowd of people outside in order to catch Stephanie before she got too far into the bar, before she met up with people who’d extinguish the bravery swelling within. Once she was close enough, Luca reached out and grabbed Stephanie’s wrist. Stephanie turned and eyed Luca curiously, but that confused
look didn’t stop Luca from stepping close and bringing their lips within a whisper of each other.
“I’m scared and shy around beautiful women, but more importantly, brilliant women make me dumb. You do all of these things to me, and I invited you here tonight in hopes of getting over myself and telling you that I really like you and I’m constantly imagining what it’d be like to kiss you.” Luca took a breath and waited for Stephanie to respond. Stephanie’s face split into a radiant grin. “May I kiss you?” Stephanie nodded and Luca pressed forward. Her heart stuttered at the feeling of Stephanie’s lower lip fitting perfectly between hers.
Luca unconsciously grasped Stephanie’s hips and pulled her closer. Now that they had made it to this point, Luca no longer wanted any space between them. She reveled in the suppleness of Stephanie’s mouth, waited to dive in deeper. This shallow introduction was perfect, a perfection she wasn’t ready to break.
Stephanie, on the other hand, didn’t hesitate to weave her fingers into Luca’s hair and hold her in place as she opened her mouth for their first tentative taste. Luca could’ve sworn flames engulfed her on the spot. The tip of Stephanie’s tongue teased hers before traveling along the bow of her upper lip. Luca’s knees started to give, but she pressed on and deepened the kiss, not wanting Stephanie to gain the upper hand. A small moan escaped Stephanie, and Luca froze. They were standing in the middle of a bar. Not exactly where Luca had imagined rounding first base with this woman, and Luca had imagined many different versions of that scenario.
Luca stood in wonder as she noted how sexy Stephanie Austin looked when disheveled. Stephanie was breathing heavily and her face was lit with a pleasant blush. “That was…”
“Unexpected,” Stephanie said.
Luca smirked. “I did ask first.”
“No, not the kiss,” Stephanie said, laughing softly. Luca had never heard that particular laugh before, and she felt herself fall further into Stephanie. “We work very well together, both professionally and, well, not so professionally. A first for me.”