by Jae
"Maggie," Dawn drawled warningly.
"What?" Maggie flashed her a charming, innocent smile.
Dawn sternly shook her head. The time when she couldn't resist Maggie's charms was long over. "We're here to admire the art – not the artist."
"Can't you do both?" Maggie quipped, her gaze never leaving Kade.
Another artist who sidled over for a few questions captured Maggie's attention.
Dawn quickly used the opportunity to direct Kade away from her.
"So," Kade said while she picked up a glass of champagne from a tray, "that was Maggie Forsyth, right?"
Dawn wasn't surprised that Kade had made the connection. Kade knew a lot of people, who knew a lot of people. "That was Maggie Forsyth," she confirmed and chose a glass of sparkling cider from the tray, "and yes, she's my ex, in case you're still wondering what that charming little greeting was all about."
Kade just nodded, but that relative lack of reaction made Dawn even more nervous and made her prattle on, "I know, I know, she's a British version of Bette Porter... with a toned down alpha-female attitude, of course."
That finally got her a bit of a reaction. Kade lowered her champagne glass and raised both eyebrows instead. "Bette Porter?" she asked. "You're not referring to Councilman Porter's wife, are you?" Kade clearly wasn't used to not knowing the important people.
Dawn almost choked on her sparkling cider when she burst into laughter. She finally felt herself relax around Kade. "No, no. Bette Porter isn't someone you would know. She's just a fictional character from a TV show." Just because Kade spent the night with Del doesn't mean she's an educated member of our team now, Dawn reminded herself. They didn't spend the night preparing for a lesbian pop culture exam, after all.
Kade gave her a nod. "I didn't think Councilman Porter's wife would be that smooth in trying to pick up other women," she commented dryly.
Dawn laughed again. Who would have known... Kade Matheson has a great sense of humor, and she's much more comfortable around lesbians than I thought. "Oh, yes, I bet Maggie can be so much smoother than Mrs. Porter."
"How did you meet her?" Kade asked between elegant sips from her glass of champagne. "At an art exhibition?"
Dawn nodded and thought back to that day with a smile. "It was almost five years ago. I stood looking at a painting, and this beautiful woman stepped up behind me and asked my opinion. I told her I didn't like it. It wasn't until later that I found out she was the artist who had created that painting."
Kade laughed, and Dawn realized she had never heard her laugh out loud before. The sound of Kade's laughter also made Maggie look up from her own conversation and smile at Kade.
"I'm afraid you picked up a new not-so-secret admirer," Dawn said and watched with astonishment how the smile vanished from Kade's face. "Are you uncomfortable with it? Do you want me to tell Maggie to back off?"
"No, I can handle it," Kade said confidently. "If it gets to be too much, I'll just tell her I have a boyfriend."
Dawn studied her. She still found it hard to read Kade. She didn't appear uncomfortable being admired by a lesbian, but she had cringed when Dawn had told her she had a new admirer in Maggie. "Do you?" she asked, deciding it was time to take the more direct route.
"Have a boyfriend?" Kade was unperturbed by the question. It probably was something she had to answer quite often, and her answer was a practiced one. "Well, according to the courthouse rumor mill, I'm having a torrid affair with Judge Yates, but at the end of the day, I have neither the time nor the energy for it."
So she's basically telling me her job leaves her no time for a private life. Doesn't tell me much about her interests. "I know the feeling. Aiden wanted to take me out to a nightclub last week, but I was just too exhausted," Dawn said.
Kade nodded her understanding but didn't pick up that topic of conversation.
Dawn had thought that they would talk about Aiden for most of the night because it was the one thing they had in common, but so far, Kade had successfully avoided that topic. Is she uncomfortable thinking about her detective being in a relationship with me? She was sure it wasn't because Kade was uncomfortable talking about lesbian relationships. She had asked her about Maggie without hesitation. "Aiden seems to have so much more energy than I do sometimes," Dawn continued, carefully watching Kade's reactions. "I've been trying to get her to go on a run with Del, but I'm not so sure that was a good idea."
"Why?" Kade asked immediately, obviously much more willing to talk about that subject. "Del is a well-trained runner, and from what I've seen of Aiden when she chases down a perp, they should be evenly matched."
Ah. Dawn started to understand. Kade would discuss Aiden, and she would discuss Dawn's past relationships, but she had obviously decided to stay out of her present relationship. Dawn's respect for Kade grew. "They are, and that's the problem. They're both so competitive, not willing to give an inch. Aiden came home from that run totally drenched and exhausted, and I bet Del didn't look any better."
"Del is not particularly competitive," Kade said. "She didn't even bat an eye when I beat her in our little race."
Dawn hid her surprise at the revelation that Kade and Del had been running together. Obviously, they spent more time together than I was aware of. Dawn realized somewhat guiltily that she had been so busy with her own problems lately that she hadn't kept up with what was going on in Del's life. She promised herself to change that. "She's not competitive with me either," she answered and then added with a laugh, "Not that she would need to be. I'm not a runner, and I couldn't keep up with her or Aiden. I think Del is only competitive with some people. Aiden definitely brings the competitive streak out in her. My dad did sometimes too."
"They were partners on the force, right?" For the first time all night, Kade appeared really interested, not just like someone who was merely engaging in polite small talk.
Dawn thought of her earliest memories of her father and Del playing basketball in the backyard. She smiled wistfully. "They were more than that. They were almost like siblings even though Dad was ten years older than Del. Del spent more time with my dad than his own family. In some ways, losing him was harder on her than it was on us."
"Why?"
Dawn noticed that Kade asked short questions intended to keep her talking. She smiled. Obviously, their jobs had some things in common. "My dad was killed in a traffic stop. Del was right next to him, but neither of them saw it coming in time to prevent it. Del felt guilty for a long, long time. She didn't know how to face us, so she started to avoid us until Mom yelled at her that losing one member of the family was enough."
Kade nodded thoughtfully. It was obvious she had never thought the strong, reliable Del could have once been so vulnerable.
"What about your family? Are you close?" Dawn asked. She was willing to open up and try to build a friendship with Kade but only if Kade was prepared to do the same.
Kade set down her not yet empty glass on the nearest tray. Her steel blue gaze met Dawn's, and they just looked at each other for an endless second. This time, Dawn refused to be intimidated by the cool confidence Kade projected, and for a moment, she could glimpse the woman behind the DDA. "My father died a few years ago, and my mother lives in Ashland, near the Californian border. We don't see each other a lot," Kade answered, her voice calm, giving away none of her feelings.
"Your father... was he a lawyer too?" Dawn asked.
Just a quick clenching of her hands showed Kade's surprise. "How did you guess?" She forced a practiced half smile. "You're not using your psychic abilities, are you, Doctor?"
Dawn returned the smile, but only for a moment. It seemed cops weren't the only ones who used humor to hide their true feelings. "I'm a psychologist, not a psychic, and I think this would be the right time to give you the little speech I give all possible friends. So, just for the record, I'm not here to counsel or treat you. If I talk to you about emotional issues and if I give you advice regarding your private life, I do it as Dawn, no
t as Dr. Kinsley. This is friendship, not psychotherapy."
"Is it?" Kade asked slowly.
"Friendship?" Dawn waited for Kade's nod of confirmation. "As far as I'm concerned, it could be. You're one of very few friends Aiden has and the woman my best friend is dating, so I'd like to get to know you better."
Instead of opening up now, Kade suddenly appeared even more guarded. Dawn could almost hear the steel doors slam shut. "What makes you think I'm dating Del Vasquez?" Kade asked. "Is that what she told you?"
"Del didn't tell me anything about you," Dawn said with a shake of her head. "She's one of those honorable gals who doesn't kiss and tell."
But instead of soothing Kade's ruffled feathers, it seemed to infuriate her even further. "We didn't kiss, so there is nothing to tell!" She managed to hiss and still keep her voice low enough not to carry beyond the two of them. Kade looked left and right, clearly uncomfortable with discussing her private life in public.
Dawn made a quick decision. "You know what? I think I've had enough art for one evening. How about we head back to my place for a cup of coffee or something more substantial to eat?"
For a moment, she thought Kade would reject the offer, but then one corner of Kade's mouth curled into a smile. "Is that a proposition, Dr. Kinsley?"
Dawn blinked and barked out a surprised laugh. Kade's sense of humor and her witty repartee always came a bit unexpected. "Is that a yes, DDA Matheson?" she asked in the same tone of voice Kade had used.
Kade hesitated, then nodded. "All right. One cup of coffee and I'll be on my way."
* * *
"Make yourself at home while I make some coffee," Dawn called, already heading for what Kade assumed was the kitchen.
Kade wandered through the living room, taking in the shelves full of books, photos, stuffed animals, shells, and other small trinkets. The coffee table looked as if it were covered with smallpox scars, and the colors of the easy chair were a little faded. The couch was clearly the only new piece of furniture in the apartment.
Her parents wouldn't have been impressed with this modest little apartment and its motley collection of furniture, but Kade realized that she liked it. It had a cozy, lived-in feeling that her interior decorator had never achieved even with all the designer furniture.
She stopped in front of the bookcase to look at Dawn's photos. The biggest picture showed Dawn with a baby on her hip while Aiden embraced both of them from behind. A little girl was grinning into the camera in front of them. Kade had seen Aiden with kids before, but they had always been traumatized victims or scared witnesses. This was something else. The children in the picture looked happy – and so did Aiden.
A hissing sound made Kade look away from the picture and down into eyes that were as blue as her own. A chocolate- and cream-colored cat stared up at Kade, her long hair standing on end.
Kade respected cats, but she didn't have much experience, so she preferred to simply stare back until Dawn returned to the living room.
"Oh, I see you've already met the mistress of the house," Dawn said when she set a tray down on the coffee table.
Kade and the cat still eyed each other. Kade hadn't known Dawn had a cat. Or do they own it together? Aren't cats supposed to be the golden retrievers of lesbian couples? "I never saw Aiden as someone who would share her life with a cat," she said. Actually, she had never imagined Aiden sharing her life with anyone.
"Oh, she wasn't too cat-crazy at the beginning, but Kia quickly convinced her otherwise," Dawn said with a grin.
Kade looked at the cat. It flicked its tail once and then strode from the room, happily ignoring Kade. I fail to see how an animal with this kind of attitude can win anyone over.
"She's not always this reserved and arrogant. Once you get to know her a bit better, she's a real sweetheart," Dawn said, once again guessing Kade's thoughts.
Is she still talking about the cat, or is this how she really sees me? Kade wondered.
"I'm going to change into something more comfortable," Dawn said. "Do you want a change of clothes too?"
Kade quickly shook her head. She didn't intend to make herself that much at home. "No, I'm fine. Go ahead."
"Your dress is beautiful," Dawn said, giving the dress in question one last admiring glance, "but it has been designed for standing around at dinner parties, not for curling up on a couch. You can't have a decent conversation in a dress like that."
Generations of Matheson women had taught Kade otherwise. Her mother had never owned a pair of jeans or, God forbid, sweatpants. Custom-tailored slacks and a silk blouse were as casual as she got.
"Come on; I'll get you a pair of sweatpants," Dawn offered.
Dawn was as persistent as her adopted aunt, but Kade knew she could easily match her stubbornness. "We're not exactly the same size," she said, pointedly looking down at the smaller woman. Dawn was four or five inches shorter than she was but more rounded in other places. "I doubt anything you have would fit me anyway."
"Oh, no problem," Dawn said, already on her way to the bedroom. "I'll give you one of Aiden's sweat suits. I think you're roughly the same size."
Kade grimaced. Wearing Aiden's clothes was the last thing she wanted. Somehow, it appeared much too intimate. However, not wanting to explain the reasons for her refusal to Dawn, she remained silent.
A few minutes later, Dawn reappeared in a baggy pair of sweatpants that had once been black but now appeared more gray. The sleeves of her sweatshirt were pushed up, and she was barefoot. "I left a change of clothes in the bathroom for you," she said.
Kade rose with a sigh.
The bathroom was as small and cozy as the rest of the apartment. Kade noticed there were two toothbrushes resting in the glass next to the mirror. She slipped out of her dress and into the sweatshirt Dawn had provided. The sweatpants were a little baggy but fit well enough if she pulled the strings tight.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, Dawn handed her a cup of coffee and a plate of what Kade guessed to be homemade cookies. How domestic, Kade thought. It must be nice for Aiden to come home to this. Having a wife has its advantages. She grinned at her own thought as she sipped her coffee. She was glad Aiden had found that safe haven. Over the rim of the mug, she studied Dawn.
Dawn was sitting cross-legged on the couch, both hands curled around her cup of tea. From time to time, she wriggled her bare toes. She appeared so free, so comfortable in her own skin that Kade found it hard to believe she had been raped just six months ago. She seemed so much more content with herself and her life than Kade had ever been. Kade had always wanted to have more, to achieve something higher, to be better than she was now.
Dawn didn't live with that kind of pressure. She was content with what she had and who she was.
"Do you want anything to eat?" Dawn asked. "Other than the cookies, I mean."
Kade shook her head. "No, thank you." She had nibbled on some canapés at the exhibition, and that would tide her over.
"Are you sure? We could make lasagna or something," Dawn said.
Kade stared at her. Is she really suggesting that we go into the kitchen and prepare a meal together? Any of her friends, if you could call them that, would have suggested they go out to dinner or order in, but no one had ever wanted to cook with her. "You don't want me anywhere near your kitchen, believe me," she said with a laugh.
"You can't be worse than Del or Aiden," Dawn answered with confidence.
Kade smiled to herself. Oh, yes, Del's soup was motivation enough to get better quickly before she came back with another pot of the salty broth. She didn't mention Del's culinary adventures, though. "I wouldn't be so sure. My mother thinks hiring a good cook and reading a menu is all a woman has to know about cooking."
"And my mother wouldn't have let me move out of her home before I could cook every single dish in Granny's old cookbook," Dawn countered. She stood and grabbed Kade's hand, pulling her up from the couch. "Come on. It'll be fun."
The unexpected touch startled Kade
, and she allowed herself to be dragged into the small kitchen. "Maybe I should just watch," she said as Dawn pulled out the ingredients for lasagna.
"Oh, come on, Kade!" Dawn set down an ovenproof dish with more emphasis than needed. "You're not a watcher. You're a doer."
Kade couldn't deny that. Standing at the sidelines had never been her thing. "All right. Anything I can do without spoiling the dish?"
"You're not gonna spoil it. I don't expect the perfect masterpiece of haute cuisine. It just has to be edible." Dawn handed her a grater. "Here, you can grate the cheese. But watch your fingers. I don't want to get sued by some overzealous lawyer."
She's teasing me, Kade realized. She's trying to become my friend. It was an unfamiliar experience. Not that making friends was a new thing. Kade had a wide circle of acquaintances. There were always people who tried to get on a friendlier basis with her, but most of them had ulterior motives. Some were aiming to help her spend her trust fund some wanted to make a profit from her family's influence, and some just wanted to have a beautiful woman on their arm or in their bed.