The Startling Inaccuracy of the First Impression

by A. E. Radley

  “Go home,” she instructed. “Eat your damn breakfast.”

  Kitty strolled off without a care in the world. Verity closed and locked the door behind her. She turned to see Katie looking at her with a grin.

  “What? I don’t want her to hear us,” Verity explained.

  “I know, and that’s adorable,” Katie replied.

  “You call me adorable and cute a lot.” Verity slowly walked closer, reaching up and undoing a button to her waistcoat as she did.

  “You are,” Katie said, her eyes widening. “You’re also very sexy. Especially in those outfits.”

  “I noticed you seemed to like my attire,” Verity admitted. “Let’s hope you’ll like me out of it.”

  Katie closed the gap between them and took Verity’s face in her hands, backing her up to the wall and pressing an insistent kiss to her lips.

  Verity wrapped Katie up in a hug, pulling her close. She paused and moved a hand around to Katie’s chest and gently pushed her back.

  Katie pulled back with a dissatisfied moan. “Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind now.”

  “No, of course not, but… your injury.” Verity’s eyes drifted down to where she knew the stab wound was still healing.

  “We’ll be careful.” Katie lurched forward again to capture another kiss, but Verity held her at bay.

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Katie regarded her with a soft expression. “I’m sure, more sure than I’ve been about anything. We’ll be careful. I promise.”

  That satisfied Verity. She softly raised her hand to Katie’s cheek and ran her thumb along her lips. “You’re very precious to me, Katie.”

  “I don’t understand why,” Katie whispered.

  “Let me show you.”

  Verity woke up and instantly knew she wasn’t in her own bed. She became aware of the differences—the slightly lumpy pillow, the feel of the sheets, the distant background noise of the traffic outside, and the feel of an arm around her waist.

  In a flash she recalled the morning’s activities and smiled to herself.

  “Are you finally awake?” she heard Katie whisper in her ear.

  Surprisingly, considering what they’d just done, the action caused a heat to burn within her. She’d happily turn over and start right over. When had she ever felt like that? Wasn’t age supposed to slow you down, not make you insatiable?

  “I am,” she replied.

  “Good.” Katie shifted, and Verity was grateful to feel a completely naked body touch her own. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a while, but I didn’t want to wake you.”

  Fingers trailed down Verity’s hip and leg, tracing little patterns.

  “Any regrets?” Verity asked.

  “None, you?”

  “None. Only that I’m hungry and will have to go and make some food shortly.” Verity turned over to lie on her back, not wanting to dislodge Katie but needing to move. It seemed she’d passed out in a fixed position, and now her muscles were complaining about it.

  Katie leant on her elbow, her red hair spilling over her shoulders. “I’ll make lunch.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know, I want to,” Katie said. “As a thank-you.” She winked cheekily.

  “Oh, was that only worth a lunch? I’ll have to try harder next time,” Verity quipped in return.

  “Practice makes perfect,” Katie replied, the cheekiest grin Verity had ever seen on her face. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding!”

  Verity put her hand on Katie’s shoulder and pushed her hard. Katie fell onto her back, and Verity quickly straddled her.

  “You’re such a beast,” Verity told her.

  Katie was laughing now. “Am I? What are you going to do about it?”

  Verity narrowed her eyes. She was too hungry to make love again and too worried that Katie would discover her ticklish spots if she continued her teasing of the young woman. That would come another day.

  She gently dismounted and reached to the floor to pick up her shirt. “I’ll bide my time and get you back when you least expect it.”

  Katie sat up and watched as Verity pulled on a few clothes. “I was going to make you lunch in bed? Like breakfast in bed but after much more debauchery.”

  “I’ll get back into bed shortly. I have to get something,” Verity said.

  “You’re leaving?” Katie asked.

  Verity heard the slight catch in her tone and went over to the bed and kissed her. “For a few moments. I need to go upstairs and get something, but I’ll be right back.”

  Katie looked slightly uncertain, and Verity was intrigued by how the cocky, assured behaviour could melt away so quickly. Proof that uncertainty lurked always just behind the mask. This was something she reminded herself to always be on the lookout for. Katie might pretend she was made of steel and that nothing bothered her, but Verity knew better.

  “Go and make me something to eat,” Verity instructed. “I’ll be back before you are.”

  38

  Bulk Buying

  Katie rummaged through kitchen cabinets in search of something that could be considered lunch. Luckily, she had some fruit and some bagels and could probably throw something together.

  The kettle was boiling for her second attempt to make coffee that day. She didn’t mind that the first attempt had been unsuccessful, especially considering how things had ended up.

  She smiled to herself. The sex had been good. More than good. There hadn’t been any power plays, any awkward moments, or any doubts in her mind. As with so many other things, they just seemed to fit together.

  Katie still had her doubts. She always did. They mainly revolved around the question of whether or not she was good enough for Verity. She was quite sure that she knew the answer was a definitive no, but Verity didn’t seem to think so. Verity often knew what she was talking about, so Katie decided that she’d follow her lead and see where it took them.

  She heard the front door open and felt relief that Verity was back so soon.

  “In the kitchen,” she called out.

  She heard soft footsteps in the hallway and grinned as Verity entered the kitchen.

  “Something amusing, Miss Ross?” Verity asked, a large, brown paper package in her hand.

  Katie ran her eyes over Verity. Her trousers were creased from having laid on the floor; her shirt was in a similar state with her collar up on the left side and down on the right. Her hair was a little wild, and her cheeks were rosy.

  She looked as if she’d been doing exactly what they had been doing. Katie couldn’t take her eyes off her.

  “You look like you’ve just had sex,” Katie said, hoping for a cute blush.

  Verity didn’t disappoint and looked shyly away for a moment.

  “Is that for me?” Katie asked, pointing to the package.

  “It is, but I don’t know if I should give you a gift if you will insist on teasing me,” Verity said, but the smile on her face softened her words.

  “Why did you get me a gift?” Katie asked. “Or do you have a stack of gifts upstairs for your sexual conquests?”

  Verity burst out laughing at the absurdity of the joke. “Yes, I bulk buy for this very occasion.”

  She handed over the package. “I got it because I thought you’d like it. I bought it about a week ago but never got around to giving it to you.”

  Katie took the package. It was large but light, and she wondered if it was clothing. “Should I open it now?”

  “If you like.”

  Katie lowered it to the dining table and made quick work of the string and then the brown paper. Soft, towelling material came into view. She pulled it out of the remains of the paper and held up a beautiful robe.

  “I love it,” she whispered.

  It was no secret that her current robe was desperately in need of replacing, but, as with so many things, Katie just hadn’t gotten around to it.

  Katie quickly took off her robe, chucking it
carelessly over the back of a chair and not caring at all that she was standing stark naked in the middle of the dining room.

  She pulled on the robe and wrapped it around herself with glee. She tied it closed and ran her hand over the soft material before thrusting her hands into the pockets.

  “It’s perfect, thank you so much. You didn’t have to do this for me.”

  “I wanted to.” Verity took a step closer. “I know that you struggle to buy yourself things. Clothes, shoes, trinkets, furniture. I wanted you to have something new, something that you didn’t need but something that you deserved.”

  Katie felt some tears gathering in her eyes. She’d considered Verity’s words, and it was true. She didn’t feel worthy of nice things.

  “There wasn’t much money when I was growing up,” she admitted, surprising herself with her own candour. “Things were in limited supply. I got used to it.”

  “I think, and I may be wrong, that you allowed that cycle to continue.”

  Katie appreciated the way Verity phrased her assumptions, not wishing to be presumptuous but still sharing her insight in a thoughtful way.

  She had allowed the cycle to continue. Even when she started making decent money, she had always put it to one side and saved it rather than treat herself. At first, she had told herself she was frugal with money, but, in her heart, she knew it was more than that.

  “I think you’re right,” Katie agreed softly.

  “I can help you with that, if you like?” Verity offered. “Unless I’m overstepping, in which case—”

  “I’d like your help,” Katie interrupted. “I’d like to change. I think I’ve been this way for a long time, and it’s not healthy.”

  Verity smiled and held out her arms. Katie walked into the hug and held her tight.

  “I warn you,” Katie whispered, “I’m a mess.”

  “We’re all a mess,” Verity whispered back. “It’s about finding someone who understands your mess and can either live with it or help you change it.”

  Katie stared at the empty shelves in the living room. Verity had declared that bagels were not a substantial enough meal considering what they had spent the morning doing and had taken over lunch duties.

  Katie had attempted to help but ended up in the way and was sent away. She’d considered cleaning the bathroom but soon found herself in front of the shelving unit that dominated her living room.

  “What do I put on you?” she asked it.

  It seemed like a daunting task. Each shelf was longer than she was tall. And there were eight of them.

  “Time for lunch,” Verity called.

  Katie narrowed her eyes at the shelves. “I’ll be back,” she promised them.

  In the dining room, Verity had cooked omelettes and even made some fresh bread rolls.

  Katie blinked and picked up a roll. “Doesn’t it take hours to make bread?”

  “A quick rise method I discovered recently,” Verity answered. “Rolls in fifteen minutes, twenty-five with cooking time.”

  Katie sat down. “Have you always enjoyed cooking?”

  Verity sat opposite her. She shook her head. “No, I never had time for it. When I worked, my diet was terrible. I missed meals all the time, and I ate absolute rubbish in between meetings. Quite often I’d have to wine and dine clients and ended up eating ridiculously rich meals late in the evening.”

  Katie took a bite of omelette and sighed in happiness. As with everything Verity cooked, it was delicious.

  “So, you had to learn when you retired?” Katie asked.

  “Yes, it was one of the first things I started to take an interest in. I realised that cooking wasn’t all that different to science and math, both of which I enjoyed.” Verity tore a roll in half. “After that I started trying other hobbies, hoping to recreate the interest I had in cooking.”

  “How did that go?”

  Verity made a face of displeasure. “I read a lot. I enjoy that immensely. But aside from that, I’ve tried painting, knitting, crochet, languages, writing, and music.”

  “And?”

  “I’m either terrible at them, or I just don’t enjoy them. I thought retirement would mean plenty of time to enjoy hobbies, but it turns out that I just don’t enjoy hobbies. Not the ones I’ve found anyway.”

  “Did you enjoy working?” Katie asked.

  Verity’s face lit up. “I did. I was one of those very fortunate people who just happened to fall into a career I loved. I still keep up to date with the markets and financial goings-on.”

  “Maybe you should start working again?” Katie suggested. She didn’t like the idea of Verity having less time to spend with her, but anything that brought that kind of smile to her lover’s face was worth pursuing.

  Verity shook her head. “I could never get my old job back. Wouldn’t want it either. Not after what they did.”

  “Work for yourself?”

  Verity’s eyes widened. “Myself? I… I don’t even know how that would work. I’d need… well, an office. And admin, I don’t know where I’d start with all the admin. Would I need a website?”

  Katie chuckled at Verity’s near panic. “You’re just thinking about obstacles. Do you need an office? Surely some fund managers work from home. If you need admin, you can outsource it. Like people do with me. Same with a website.”

  Verity lowered her knife and fork and seemed to consider Katie’s words. Katie felt a little bit of pride that she might be able to help Verity in the way Verity had helped her.

  Katie had been blindsided by her own quirks, not understanding why she didn’t furnish houses or buy herself clothing. Her confidence issues were buried below the surface.

  Similarly, Verity’s issues with retirement and boredom were bubbling away just below her façade that everything was okay.

  Katie knew that Verity was furious with herself for giving up her career when she did. She’d spent the last eighteen months pretending that she was happy to be the youngest pensioner on the street, claiming that all the time and all the hobbies were keeping her happy and content.

  None of that was true. Katie had known that from the start. It had taken Verity a while to get there herself, but she was realising the same.

  “I do still have connections,” Verity admitted. “I kept in touch with a few clients. After you work with someone for so long, they become friends. I’m sure I could pick up a client or two without too much fuss. I’m still qualified, just need to register myself again.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. You could manage your own time. Split being a lady of leisure with working.”

  Verity nodded excitedly. “Yes, absolutely. That sounds like a wonderful idea. I’m not sure why I hadn’t thought of it before.”

  “Because you’d convinced yourself that you were happy,” Katie told her.

  Verity blushed a little and looked down at her plate. Katie knew she’d hit the nail on the head and was pleased that Verity recognised it, too.

  “Maybe you can be my admin?” Verity suggested.

  “Doubt you could afford me,” Katie joked.

  “Probably true. Besides, I’m sure I can come up with other uses for you.”

  Katie felt desire shoot through her and was relieved that this time she didn’t have to hide it.

  “You think?” she asked. “You’ll have to give me a list of tasks, and you must always remember that you have to rate my performance.”

  Verity’s cheeks heated up, and it wasn’t with embarrassment this time.

  “Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to turn your admin job down,” Katie said. “I’m going to need to get more freelance work soon.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, I’ve decided I don’t want to do the courier work anymore.”

  Verity’s face lit up in a huge smile that she immediately attempted to hide. Badly.

  “No more bike in the garden,” Katie said.

  “I’d happily have a bike in the garden rather than you outside on it,” Verity said
. “I still have nightmares about you not coming back.”

  The breath left Katie’s lungs; she hadn’t known that. If she’d known, she would have told Verity of her decision ages ago.

  “I’m sorry to put you through that,” Katie said.

  “You’re the one who went through it,” Verity reminded her.

  “We both went through it, in different ways, but we won’t have to again. And I might even do something with my side of the front garden.”

  Verity’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

  “Maybe.” Katie grinned.

  “I’ve always thought a nice rock garden with roses would look wonderful, mirroring what I have on my side. And a lick of paint on the wall. Oh, and some climbing ivy, wouldn’t that look lovely?”

  “Was all of this an enormous ruse to get me to give the garden a makeover?” Katie asked.

  “Yes, absolutely. You’re dumped the moment it’s finished.” Verity playfully threw a small piece of bread roll at her.

  Katie picked it up and popped it in her mouth. “I’ll make sure I take it really slowly then.”

  Epilogue

  Verity stood up and walked out from behind her desk to pace the office. She held the phone to her ear and listened to Jonathan Thornhill talk about his plans for retirement.

  Jonathan was very rich and very well connected, so he was a wonderful client to have. Unfortunately, he was also very long-winded and repeated himself a lot.

  She’d written down all the relevant notes and was now letting Jonathan talk himself out.

  She approached the window of the ground-floor apartment and smiled at the sight of Katie and Callum running around the back garden in the snow. Both of them wore thick winter coats, scarves, gloves, and hats. It was only the fact that she’d seen them go out there that meant she knew it was them. Tiny, pink faces were all that was visible.

  Every time Callum attempted to create a snowball, Katie ran through it and destroyed it. Cheating, as usual.

  Callum didn’t seem to care, his laughter presumably loud enough for Jonathan to hear on the other end of the phone. Not that he’d mentioned it.