Mistaken Identity

by Jay, Donna

  The negative thought vanished on a puff of exhaust fumes. Kelly’s heart pounded when a white four-wheel drive pulled into an angle park.

  She recognized the car instantly as Lucy’s, she’d seen it often enough parked at Paula’s.

  Shit, Paula.

  Kelly crossed her fingers they wouldn’t walk into the pub and come face to face with her ex. Although, that was doubtful. The establishment wasn’t ritzy enough for Paula.

  The autumn night was mild enough that they could sit outside, but Kelly loved the ambience of the fireplace that glowed year-round in the corner of the pub.

  Nerves, excitement, and a pinch of arousal, okay, a healthy dose of arousal pulsed through Kelly’s veins as Lucy strolled toward her.

  While Lucy had an eye out for traffic, Kelly took the opportunity to give her the once over.

  The beige top Lucy wore showcased ample breasts and contrasted deliciously with her dark, tanned skin. White jeans caressed her curves with each step she took. Kelly envied those jeans.

  “Hey.” Lucy extended a hand and pulled Kelly into a one-armed hug.

  She smelled like cocoa butter and Kelly wanted to lick her. Perhaps she already had. That thought extinguished her libido as fast as having a bucket of cold water thrown in her face.

  Had Lucy asked her out to confront her?

  Get out of your head, Kelly.

  “Do you come here often?” Lucy quirked an eyebrow and they both chuckled.

  “Only when a sexy lady asks me out.” The words flew out of Kelly’s mouth before she could stop them. “Ugh, sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” Lucy smiled. “Come on, let’s get a drink and find a table. ”

  Drinks in hand, seated in a corner booth, Kelly waited Lucy out. She was the one that said they needed to talk and Kelly was happy to listen.

  “How was the rest of your day?” Lucy took a sip of her wine and soda.

  Just imagining the tart taste trickling down Lucy’s throat made Kelly grimace, but she respected the fact Lucy was taking it easy since she had to drive.

  As for Kelly’s day, once Lucy left and she returned inside, Jennifer had stormed around the café with an angry scowl on her face, opening and closing doors with a bang.

  “That bad, huh?” Lucy asked, apparently taking Kelly’s grimace as a reflection of her day.

  “Not quite. It was rough though. The boss is really upset. Her mum’s unwell so I guess the stress of that has flowed over to work.”

  What Kelly didn’t add was that Jennifer had called her into her office and stated whatever the auditor thought she’d uncovered had been an innocent mistake and would be rectified.

  Taken by surprise, Kelly startled when Lucy reached across the table and gripped her hand.

  “Kelly, you have to know it was me.”

  Even though it sounded like a statement, Kelly replied, “I know.”

  Surprise flashed in Lucy’s eyes. She released Kelly’s hand as if she’d been burned. “You knew. Yet, you didn’t say a word?”

  “You were only doing your job,” Kelly stated, hating the defensive tone of Lucy’s voice.

  With her eyes locked on Kelly, Lucy took a long, slow, sip of her drink then sat back and crossed her arms. “What are you talking about, Kelly?”

  A nauseating sense of Déjà vu washed over Kelly. Only, this time, she didn’t think she was wrong. Fight or flight instinct kicked in. Kelly wanted to bolt, she didn’t want to fight. Opting to do neither, she sat tight.

  Mirroring Lucy’s actions, Kelly took a swig of her beer, but rather than lean back she braced her elbows on the table, and dared to throw the question back at Lucy.

  “What are you talking about?” Even though the words were barely above a whisper, there was no mistaking the nervous tremor in Kelly’s voice .

  After shooting a glance around the pub, Lucy leaned forward, so close Kelly could smell the wine on her breath.

  The few seconds it took for Lucy to speak felt like a lifetime. Anticipating what Lucy might say made Kelly’s pulse race. She darted a look around, pleased no one was within earshot.

  Being a Thursday night, the pub was far from empty, however, most patrons were standing around the bar.

  As if she could see right through her, Lucy’s gaze drilled into Kelly. “Paula’s party.”

  Shit. And there it was. No more dancing around each other.

  Kelly hung her head as shame washed over her. Somehow, she resisted the urge to pull the tie out of her hair and hide behind the long locks.

  Bracing herself to face Lucy’s wrath, Kelly forced herself to meet her gaze.

  Uncertainty shimmered in Lucy’s eyes. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

  Not wanting to spell it out, Kelly waggled a finger between them. “If you’re talking about what I think you are.”

  Lucy bit her lip, and nodded.

  Mortified, Kelly fought the urge to look away. The least she could do was look Lucy in the eye when she apologized.

  “I’m so, so sorry.”

  And totally fucking confused. Why wasn’t Lucy ripping her a new one?

  “Me too.” Lucy’s voice was so soft, Kelly wasn’t sure she’d heard her right. “It took me a long time to get over that night. In fact, I doubt I ever will.”

  Ouch, embarrassment made Kelly want to lash out. She leaned over and snatched a steak knife off a nearby table.

  “Here, give it another twist. I said I’m sorry.”

  On a heavy exhale, the fight went out of Kelly. What the hell did she think? That one little word, sorry, would magically make everything alright? She almost laughed like a deranged woman.

  Even though on some level Kelly knew she was being dramatic, she couldn’t stop. In a move that surprised herself, she spun the knife in her hand and offered the handle to Lucy. “Here, do us both a favour and put me out of my misery. Then, maybe you, too, can move on.”

  The ghost of a smile flittered across Lucy’s lips. She sat back and took a sip of her wine.

  The way Lucy dismissed her theatrics rendered Kelly speechless, and a little pissed off. Rather than ask what was so damn funny, she clenched her jaw.

  In a lightning fast move, the knife Kelly had been wielding like a sacrificial offering was ripped from her hand.

  Adrenaline surged through Kelly. Her pulse raced, her breath caught in her throat.

  Surely Lucy wasn’t about to take her up on the crazy offer and stab Kelly right there, in the corner of the pub.

  Before panic could take hold, Lucy tossed the knife on the table and slid into the seat beside Kelly.

  The heat radiating off her body was hotter than the fireplace. It was also a hell of a lot more dangerous. The woman was impossible to resist at a distance, sitting so close, all bets were off.

  Needing to put some distance between them, Kelly tried to scoot sideways. Lucy grabbed her hand, stopping her mid-slide. Her grip was firm, her fingers soft, and strangely soothing.

  “Kelly, as crazy as this might sound, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since that night. I was hoping we could spend more time together.” The hint of a blush coloured Lucy’s cheeks. “As a couple. I want to get to know you, Kelly. All of you.”

  As much as Kelly wanted to believe what Lucy said, she didn’t plan on being taken for a fool.

  “I thought you were straight?”

  “I never said that.”

  Maybe not those exact words but Lucy had definitely implied it.

  “You said you haven’t met the right guy.” Kelly resisted the urge to pull her hand out of Lucy’s grasp.

  “True, and I meant that. The thing is, when Paula was looking for a roommate, she asked me if I date men or women. If I’d been applying for a job I would’ve called her out for discrimination. But I was looking for a place to live while I save for a deposit to buy my own home. I wondered if it was a trick question. I didn’t want to live with a man-hater, so replied men.

  “I expected Paula to show me the door, but sh
e replied, ‘The room’s yours. The last thing I need in my home is more dyke drama.’”

  Although it shouldn’t have surprised Kelly, her mouth fell open.

  “Paula’s words.” Lucy quickly reassured her.

  A thought suddenly hit Kelly, and she didn’t know whether to feel sorry for Lucy or pissed off. “And then you kept up the charade?”

  “Yes and no. You see, what I said wasn’t a total lie. I have dated men, I’ve had sex with a man.”

  Trying very hard not to pass judgment, Kelly held her tongue.

  “But that’s all it was. Sex. The experience was a disaster for more reasons than I care to explain right now. I’ve dated women too.”

  Understanding dawned. “That’s why you get Kate?”

  “I hate to sound cryptic,” Lucy said. “But once again, the answer is yes and no. Kate’s bisexual. She loves cock and pussy in equal measure.”

  Trust Lucy to be so frank just as Kelly took a sip of her drink. A chuckle burst forth and beer fizzed up the back of Kelly’s nose, making her eyes water.

  Half laughing, half serious, Lucy handed Kelly a napkin. “Sorry to be so crass. What I’m trying to say is, I’m attracted to the person, the entire package, not just what’s between their legs.”

  What Lucy said computed on one level but was also hard for Kelly to get her head around. Steve was her best friend, he was the nicest guy anyone could hope to meet, but she’d never, ever, considered sleeping with him. Because, duh, he was a guy.

  “I can almost see the cogs turning, Kel. Talk to me, tell me what’s going on in there.” Lucy tapped Kelly’s temple.

  “Firstly, I’m glad you’re not a man-hater, my best friend’s a dude. But…”

  A mischievous glint shimmered in Lucy’s eyes. “But he doesn’t have the equipment you like?”

  Oh my God. How did Lucy do that? The woman was astute, incredibly sexy, and had a wicked sense of humour.

  Biting back a grin, Kelly continued. “Right, and he burps and farts and smells like man.”

  Lucy grinned. “And you’re innocent of all three?”

  Right on cue, wind bubbled up Kelly’s windpipe. Damn beer. She put her hand over her mouth and suppressed a burp. “Point taken. And for the record, I don’t fart, I whisper in my panties.”

  “Me too,” Lucy replied. “Especially when they’re stuffed in my mouth.”

  Blushing furiously, Kelly steered the conversation back toward safer waters.

  “Wind aside, believe me when I say, I’m trying to understand where you’re coming from.”

  “What about your friend, the one I met for all of five minutes at Paula’s potluck dinner?”

  “Nicole, we’ve been best friends for more than a decade. She and Steve are an item.”

  “She’s cute,” Lucy said.

  “She’s fucking gorgeous.” Kelly narrowed her eyes. “And taken.”

  Without missing a beat, Lucy drilled her point home. “Would you do her?”

  “Hell no, she’s like a sister to me. And even though she’s stunning, to tell the truth, I’ve never been sexually attracted to her.”

  “But she has the bits you like? So what’s the issue?” Lucy cocked her head to the side.

  “It’s about more than that. Sex is great, but I have to be attracted to the person.”

  Kelly had never been into casual sex. She had to connect on more than a physical level, even if it turned out to be a one-time thing.

  In a show that eclipsed Kelly’s theatrics, Lucy gasped and covered her mouth. “Goodness me, Kelly. Surely, you’re not suggesting attraction goes deeper than anatomy?”

  Kelly chuckled. “Okay, okay.” She held up a hand in surrender. “Point taken.”

  They still had a lot to discuss. First and foremost, what the hell had Lucy been doing in Paula’s bed and why wasn’t she running for the hills? Something Kelly was determined to find out. The sooner the better.

  A couple breezed by and sat at the neighbouring table. Great. So much for talking openly.

  Now that she was sure Lucy didn’t want to stab her with a pitchfork, or steak knife, Kelly felt more relaxed about the offer she wanted to make all along.

  “I have the flat to myself tonight, how about we finish this conversation there? Then you can have a real wine instead of that half and half stuff you’re sipping on.”

  “And how am I going to get home if I have a few wines at your house?”

  That goddamn alluring smile, the one that set Kelly’s insides on fire, slid onto Lucy’s face. “Are you asking me to sleepover?”

  The thought hadn’t occurred to Kelly, until that moment. Rather than assume anything she gave an open-ended answer.

  “If you drink too much you might have to. I guess that’s up to you.” Kelly ran her thumb over the back of Lucy’s hand, trying not to imagine tying her wrists to the headboard.

  When Lucy didn’t move, just stared right into Kelly’s eyes, guilt gnawed at Kelly’s conscience.

  “Look, Lucy.” Kelly pushed a stray lock of Lucy’s raven black hair off her face. “I promise I won’t do anything without your consent. If we only end up talking, I’m okay with that. If you want more, I’m absolutely onboard with that.”

  A jolt of white hot desire pulsed between Kelly’s legs when Lucy put her hand on Kelly’s bare thigh. The heat of her palm reflected the fire in Lucy’s eyes.

  “I didn’t stop you that night, Kelly. And I don’t intend to start now. What we did was wrong, but we can’t turn back time.”

  Kelly hated that Lucy felt responsible for something she had no part in. Well she had a big part in it but not by choice. “What I did,” Kelly said, taking responsibility for her actions.

  “Don’t play coy, Kelly.” There was a smile in Lucy’s voice.

  Suddenly, a thought slammed into Kelly like a runaway cattle truck. Lucy didn’t stop her despite slipping her wrists free. Not only that, she’d also made a joke about having her panties stuffed in her mouth.

  At long last, the weight Kelly had been carrying lifted off her shoulders.

  She reached across the table and snagged the stem of Lucy’s wine glass “Here.” She handed the glass to Lucy. “Finish your milk.”

  Like an obedient child, Lucy drank the last of her wine and soda.

  Feeling like a giddy teenager, Kelly drained the dregs of her beer, rubbed her tummy, and burped.

  The woman at the next table smirked. Her male companion scowled. The look on his face as good as said, “That wasn’t very lady like.”

  Kelly couldn’t help but wonder if he would’ve given her the thumbs up if she’d been wearing her motorcycle boots, black jeans, and leather jacket.

  His eyes almost bugged out of his head when Lucy entwined her fingers with Kelly’s and whispered none too quietly, “Let’s get out of here. You look better out of that dress than in it.”

  Light glimmered off the woman’s wedding band as she handed her husband a napkin. “Wipe your chin, darling, you’re drooling.” She winked at Kelly and Lucy. “Have a nice night, ladies.”

  “Thank you, you too,” Kelly said, pleased to know the woman was secure enough in her marriage not to feel threatened by her husband ogling two attractive women, and quite likely harbouring lesbian fantasies.

  Anticipation tingled up Kelly’s spine as she strode toward the exit, hand in hand with Lucy.

  Chapter 16

  On the ride home to her flat, Kelly posed the question that had been plaguing her since earlier in the evening. “You’ve slept with both men and women, right?”

  The corner of Lucy’s mouth kicked up, but she kept her eyes on the road. “One man, two women. But who’s counting?”

  Holy shit, only three people. Kelly could triple that, and she was younger than Lucy, which begged another question. “How old are you?”

  Another smirk. “You’re not shy in coming forward when you don’t have to look someone in the eye, are you?”

  “Guilty as charged.” Kelly smi
led, enjoying the friendly banter.

  The sign to Knowles Street loomed up ahead. “Take the next right, my flat’s halfway down on your left, number twenty-nine.”

  Lucy flicked on the indicator and waited for a car heading in the opposite direction before turning right. “Twenty-nine, closer to thirty.”

  “Huh? Oh, never mind.” Kelly cursed herself for being slow on the uptake. She’d just asked how old Lucy was for goodness sake. With any luck, the uncanny coincidence was a good omen.

  While Kelly had successfully ascertained Lucy was indeed in her late twenties, she’d also successfully side-tracked herself from the point of her first question.

  “I guess you identify as bisexual, right?”

  “Not exactly.” Lucy pulled up outside the row of flats. She’d done a better job of keeping an eye on the road than Kelly, that was for sure.

  After shutting off the engine, Lucy turned to Kelly. Her eyes warm, her expression serious. “I identify as me, Lucy Tanner. While I respect some people find peace in being able to shout out hey, I’m gay, I’m queer, I’m pan, or whatever makes them feel accepted, I don’t like to be labelled. If someone enjoys bondage, but isn’t into pain, does that mean they’re any less into BDSM than a sadist who has an aversion to being restrained?”

  Clearly, it was a rhetorical question and a topic Lucy was passionate about. She barely paused long enough to draw her next breath. Kelly didn’t care, she was totally enraptured. She could listen to the melodic tone of Lucy’s voice until the cows came home.

  “What about a woman who enjoys strap-on sex, does that mean she secretly wants to be with a man? I don’t think so, but others would beg to differ. If Kate marries a man will that make her straight? Or if she marries a woman will it mean she’s gay, not bisexual, end of story?”

  Suddenly, Kelly felt like she’d hit a raw nerve. “Sorry, I meant no offense.”

  A mischievous glint twinkled in Lucy’s eyes. It was a sassy look Kelly had come to recognize.

  Anticipating Lucy’s next words, Kelly flung open the door and bolted out of the car.

  “Don’t play c…”

  The thud of the car door drowned out the last word along with Lucy’s raucous laughter. Kelly stood on the sidewalk grinning so broadly her cheeks hurt.