Mistaken Identity

by Jay, Donna

  Nicole took her place on the couch and Kelly slumped into her chair.

  “He’ll find his own way home, or here. He’s a big boy. As you know.” Nicole smirked.

  “Ugh, don’t remind me. I didn’t look, honest.” Even if she had, Kelly had no way of knowing if he measured up to other guys his age.

  Just the thought of getting up close and personal with a dude made Kelly shudder.

  She’d never questioned if she was gay or not. She’d known it from a very young age. It was as much a part of her makeup as her brown hair and blue eyes .

  As astute as ever, Nicole pierced Kelly with a no-nonsense glare. “Spill, girlfriend, and I don’t mean your wine.”

  Like someone flipping a switch, Kelly went from relaxed to anxious. She took a sip of wine then placed her glass on the chairside table.

  “The café is being audited at the mo.”

  Nicole gave her a single nod.

  “Turns out, the auditor is Lucy.” The events of the day crashed into Kelly with an intensity so fierce, she could barely think straight. “I don’t know what to do, Nic. I think she’s the one.”

  “Naw, I’m happy for you. She’s sexy and has a great sense of humour.”

  Irritation prickled under Kelly’s skin. Not with Nicole, but for not being able to articulate herself better.

  Taking a deep breath, Kelly tried again. “No silly, not the one one. But the one .”

  A deep frown creased Nicole’s forehead. “In English, please.”

  Embarrassment washed over Kelly as fresh as the morning after that fateful night. Not trusting her voice, Kelly cleared her throat. “The mystery woman.”

  A large O formed on Nicole’s lips just before the word tumbled out. “Oh, the one from Paula’s party. The woman you stuffed her…”

  “Yes.” Kelly cut Nicole off as if not hearing the words would reduce the severity of what she’d done.

  Which was as stupid as burying her head in the sand. Sooner or later she’d have to come up for air and face facts.

  The sip of wine soured in Kelly’s stomach.

  Compassion shone in Nicole’s eyes. “Back up the bus.” She held up a hand.

  The words transported Kelly back to the morning after, and a cold shiver tingled up her spine.

  “Tell me more. What makes you suspect it was Lucy?”

  Thinking back over the bizarre day, Kelly gave Nicole a quick summary of her interactions with Lucy.

  “She made this random comment about dreams being so vivid they seem real.”

  “What’s random about that? Holy shit.” Nicole’s voice rose in pitch. “The other night I dreamed I banged my boss. He’s hot and all but I’d never want to do the dirty with him.”

  Kelly snickered.

  “I woke up in a panic, my heart was racing and everything. It took me a minute to orientate myself and realize I’d been dreaming.” Nicole’s cheeks turned pink. “The next day, I couldn’t look my boss in the eye.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Shit, don’t tell Steve.”

  Right on cue, there was a single knock on the door and the man himself skulked into the flat.

  “Don’t tell me what?” Steve asked, a huge grin on his handsome face.

  Coming to her friends rescue, Kelly replied, “That she thinks Gary’s girlfriends a tool.”

  Wine snorted out of Nicole’s nose. “I didn’t call her a tool, but I like your analogy. Mm, what kind of tool? A rake or a shovel?”

  Crisis diverted, Steve chuckled. “More like a handbrake. If I’d known she was going to send everyone home by eight, I would’ve caught a ride with you.”

  “Oh, poor baby.” Nicole jutted out her bottom lip.

  Ignoring her sass, Steve turned to Kelly. “Mind if I have a quick shower?”

  Appreciating that he asked first, considering he didn’t pay the rent, Kelly gave him a warm smile. “That’s fine.”

  Once they were alone again, Nicole picked up where they’d left off.

  “The dream reference could’ve been random.”

  The knot in Kelly’s stomach loosened. What Nicole said made sense, and thinking back, Kelly couldn’t deny she’d had more than her share of vivid dreams. Especially when her dad first died. Although, those dreams were more like nightmares when she awoke and the painful reality that he was really gone set in.

  Shaking off her melancholy, Kelly concurred with Nicole’s assessment. “Agreed.”

  “Okay, what else makes you think it was Lucy?”

  Time for the killer. “She made a comment that I think had an underlying message.”

  Lucy’s face swam in Kelly’s vision, the cheeky, daring glint in her eyes.

  “She said she doesn’t make a habit of going into anyone’s drawers without their permission.”

  Apparently thinking nothing of the comment, or perhaps trying to decipher a deeper meaning, Nicole looked at the ceiling, chewed her lip, then shook her head.

  “I’m not seeing the issue. I know she’s there on business, but wouldn’t it be rather unethical for her to go sticking her nose into places it doesn’t belong? To me, it’d be like rifling through a woman’s handbag. It’s just not done.”

  “I get that. It’s not so much the drawers, but the way she said it. Drawers—knickers. Get it? Don’t go into people’s knickers without permission.”

  “Oh, hun.” Nicole chuckled. “I don’t mean to laugh but I think your imagination’s getting away on you.”

  Feeling stupid, Kelly lowered her head. Perhaps it was all in her mind. She stopped short of telling Nicole about walking in on Lucy on her hands and knees.

  The way Lucy had looked at Kelly over her shoulder, a mischievous glint in her eye, was as if she knew exactly who was standing behind her. The fact Lucy had been expecting Kelly at ten, fuelled Kelly’s suspicions. Of course, there was the small chance it had all been pure coincidence.

  The bathroom door opened. Steve strolled out, a stream of steam trailing in his wake.

  Fresh as a daisy, he perched on the arm of Kelly’s chair. “You look troubled. What’s up?”

  Not wanting to rehash their conversation, Kelly downplayed her worries. “I was just telling Nicole Paula’s flatmate is currently doing an audit at work.”

  “And Kelly’s hot for her.” Nicole threw her two cents worth in. “Lucy’s the woman I told you about after we went to Paula’s potluck dinner.”

  Steve chuckled, making the armchair rock. “The one who said her dad was an undertaker?”

  The memory of Lucy’s gallant attempt to diffuse a volatile situation made Kelly feel all warm and fuzzy. Picturing her gorgeous face, jet black hair, and piercing green eyes, had something to do with that as well.

  Steve poked Kelly in the ribs. “You’re just about purring. ”

  Feeling like a smitten teenager, Kelly broke out in a jaw-busting grin. “She’s pretty awesome.” Reality crept in and the knot in her tummy tightened. “But I’m terrified she’s the one from Paula’s party.”

  Unable to look Steve in the eye, Kelly dropped her hands in her lap and fiddled with the hem of her cut-off shorts.

  “The one I had sex with. Lucy’s been dropping little hints that make me think it was her, she knows it was me, and she wants me to know she knows.”

  Until Kelly could prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that was what Lucy was hinting at, she wasn’t going to admit to anything. In an essence, she was caught between a rock and a hard place.

  “Hey.” Steve put a finger under her chin. “Don’t look so glum, mate. She’s talking to you, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “Being nasty?”

  “God, no.” Kelly jumped to her defence. “She’s been nothing but friendly.” A little too friendly if anything, but Kelly kept that information to herself. “She actually asked me to join her and a friend for a drink tonight .

  As if joined at the hip, Nicole and Steve gasped in unison.

  “What the hell are you doing home?” Nicole asked.


  “It’s a long story.” Kelly shot her friend a sad smile.

  “I have a proposal.”

  If Steve’s expression hadn’t been so serious, Kelly would’ve joked he was proposing to the wrong woman.

  Nicole watched intently from the sofa, leaning against the armrest, sipping her wine.

  “Rather than focus on what we don’t know, and perhaps never will, Kel,” He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Let’s focus on what we do know. You like her, she hasn’t accused you of anything or run away screaming.”

  An image of Lucy running for the hills made Kelly chuckle. When Steve wasn’t goofing around he was the rational one of all three.

  “Forget about what happened. You can’t change the past, but you do have a say in your future. Get to know her, see where it goes.”

  Without conscious thought, Kelly straightened in the chair and flung her arms around Steve. He put a hand on the wall, narrowly avoiding being knocked off the armrest. His clean scent wrapped around Kelly like a comfort blanket. At the same time, Nicole joined them for a group hug.

  In that moment, Kelly knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, no matter what happened, these two would always have her back.

  Chapter 14

  After the conversation with Steve and Nicole, Kelly arrived at work feeling optimistic and looking forward to seeing Lucy. She'd do the honourable thing and ask how her night out with Kate went, and not read more into it.

  When eight-thirty, and then nine a.m. rolled around, and Kelly still hadn't seen Lucy, her heart sunk. Perhaps due to the business being so small, Lucy managed to gather the information she needed, within a day, and Kelly had lost her window of opportunity.

  After delivering an order of sausages, eggs, and toast, to a gentleman at a table by the front window, Jacinta slid back behind the counter and sidled up next to Kelly. "Must be serious."

  Glancing at the few customers sipping coffee and looking relaxed, Kelly had no idea what Jacinta was on about. "What? "

  "That woman, the one hanging around here yesterday, looking like a government official."

  "Lucy," Kelly corrected, hating the way Jacinta referred to Lucy as that woman.

  "Yeah, her, the hottie. She was here when I got in at eight. The boss arrived shortly after and they've been holed up in the office ever since. What do you suppose that's about?" Jacinta licked her lips as if she could taste gossip.

  Unfortunately for her, Kelly wasn't buying into it. Jennifer trusted Kelly for a very good reason. "She could be a silent partner, for all we know."

  Covering her mouth, Jacinta coughed the word "bullshit" into her hand.

  The door chimed and Kelly was literally saved by the bell. The next few hours flew by in a flurry of activity as they handled the mid-morning and lunchtime rush.

  At twelve forty-five, during a lull in customers, Kelly finally managed to take a quick break.

  After grabbing a chicken sandwich, she pushed open the backdoor and stepped outside .

  The sun was high in the sky. Kelly revelled in the warmth on her skin. A cool breeze blew through the alleyway bringing with it the faint odour of food scraps from the nearby skip bin.

  Leaning against the brick wall, Kelly slid down until her backside connected with warm concrete. A hunger pang gripped her stomach as Kelly placed her sandwich in her lap and picked up one half.

  Just as she was about to sink her teeth in, the backdoor to the café swung open and banged closed.

  A shapely figure cast a shadow over Kelly’s outstretched legs. When she glanced up, her breath caught in her throat.

  From Kelly’s seated position, Lucy’s legs seemed to go on forever. She wanted to climb them like a tree, wrap her legs around Lucy’s torso, and cling to her like a possum.

  The mouth-watering view was replaced by Lucy’s gorgeous face when she crouched next to Kelly. A flash of mauve caught Kelly’s eye and she resisted the urge to look up Lucy’s skirt.

  The corner of Lucy’s mouth twitched. “Do you hang out in back alleys often?”

  “Only when I’m hungry,” Kelly retorted.

  When Lucy didn’t so much as crack a smile, Kelly felt like an awkward teenager trying to pick up a girl and failing miserably.

  Suddenly all business, Lucy shot a nervous glance toward the door. “I don’t want your boss to see me talking to you. She might think I’m sharing confidential information.”

  “You wouldn’t do that,” Kelly stated as though she was judge, jury, and executioner, even though she knew next to nothing about Lucy.

  Worry lines gave way to a smile. “Thanks for your vote of confidence. Look, we need to talk, Kelly. Are you free tonight? Perhaps we could meet for a drink. Just the two of us?”

  A cocktail of emotions ricocheted through Kelly’s body. Joy over being asked out, even if it wasn’t on an official date. Uncertainty. The troubled look in Lucy’s eyes worried her. And hope. Kelly lost herself in the daydream that, at the very least, they would become good friends .

  When Kelly didn’t reply fast enough, Lucy stood, her knee letting out a crack.

  “Never mind, I shouldn’t have asked. Sorry for making you feel uncomfortable.”

  Adrenaline surged through Kelly as she shot to her feet. Her sandwich flew out of her lap and landed in the gutter. Kelly didn’t give a damn that her lunch had been ruined. No way was she going to pass up the opportunity.

  “It’s a date. I mean I’d love to. Name a time and place and I’ll be there.” Fit to burst with happiness, Kelly added, “With bells and whistles.”

  The charming smile on Lucy’s face spurred her on, and Kelly went all out. “Or boots and leathers.” Kelly waggled her eyebrows, leaving Lucy to decide whether she was referring to her motorcycle attire or something far sexier.

  The backdoor opened and they both froze. When Jacinta’s face appeared, not Jennifer’s, Kelly breathed out a sigh of relief.

  “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” Jacinta smiled at Lucy then turned to Kelly. “It’s almost one, we’ll be flooded with customers again soon.”

  Jennifer hated it if all hands weren’t on deck during peak times, so Kelly was genuinely thankful for the warning.

  “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll be in in a sec.”

  After shooting Kelly a saucy wink, Jacinta’s face disappeared behind the door.

  A piece of paper, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared in Lucy’s hand. “Here, this is my private number.”

  Cursing herself for not bringing her phone outside with her, Kelly took the folded piece of paper and tucked it safely in her bra.

  Lucy cracked a smile. “Don’t forget to take that out before you shower.”

  “I won’t. I’ll add you to my contacts and send you a text as soon as I get inside.”

  A flicker of uncertainty flashed in Lucy’s eyes. “As long as it’s not to cancel.”

  In the blink of an eye, Lucy snapped back to the confident business woman who had marched into the café, two days ago, and turned Kelly’s world upside down.

  Kelly wondered if Lucy was as nervous as she was about getting together, or if it was nothing more than business to Lucy.

  A pang of sadness hit Kelly when she concluded it was probably the latter.

  Chapter 15

  Finally deciding to wear her black dress, Kelly sized herself up in the mirror. The snug fit showed off her curves without overtly flaunting her body. Not that she had much to flaunt in the chest department.

  She turned sideways, and had to admit, what she lacked up top she made up for in the rear. Kelly had a great arse, if she did say so herself.

  Firm and round, perfect for spanking. Shame that wasn’t her thing. Well it was, if she was doing the spanking.

  Her blood pounded when an image of Lucy on her hands and knees sprung to mind.

  In the next heartbeat, Kelly reminded herself tonight was about two women getting together for a drink. Of course, in the back of her mind, Kelly hoped it would lead to more.

 
Nicole had been spending more and more time at Steve’s, and if Kelly made a new friend she’d be happy.

  Focusing on the night ahead, Kelly pulled her long brown hair back and tied it in a loose ponytail, leaving a few strands curling around her face.

  For the first time in weeks, she didn’t cringe when she gazed into her own eyes. The blue irises reflected how she felt. Vibrant.

  In the reflection of her mirror, Kelly’s gaze landed on Nicole leaning against the doorframe.

  “Damn, girl, if I swung your way, I wouldn’t let you out of my sight.” Nicole looked thoughtful. “Perhaps I should tag along and play chaperone.”

  Grateful for the confidence boost, Kelly played along. “That won’t be necessary, Mum. But I’ll take any advice you have to give.”

  The protective fire in Nicole’s eyes made Kelly’s throat thick with emotion. She sent up a prayer to her dad. If not for him she quite possibly never would have met this wonderful woman.

  “Be yourself.” Nicole wandered into the room. “Don’t change for anyone. Text me if things turn to shit. I’ll come to your rescue. ”

  Not wanting to ruin the only makeup she'd put on, mascara, Kelly blinked back tears and launched herself at Nicole.

  “Thank you.” Kelly held her friend close, breathing in her familiar scent; vanilla body wash.

  Nicole stepped back, her eyes full of love and support. “Come on, I’ll drop you off on my way to Steve’s. Heed his words, Kel. Live in the moment, don’t dwell on the past.”

  ***

  Shortly before six-thirty, Kelly climbed out of Nicole’s car and bid her farewell. The down side of owning a motorcycle was having to find alternative transport when she didn’t want to wear jeans.

  Glancing at the sign above the door, Rose and Crown, she smoothed down her dress and took a fortifying breath.

  She’d arranged to meet Lucy out front so neither of them would have to sit inside, alone, and endure curious glances from other patrons, or worse, unwanted advances .

  If Kelly had asked Lucy to pick her up, she probably would’ve, happily. But Kelly didn’t feel right about it, not yet.

  And, if Kelly was to be totally honest, until she knew what was going on, she didn’t think it was a good idea for Lucy to know where she lived.