April arrived, along with the night of the ball. I was a bundle of nerves. No matter how many times I reminded myself it wasn’t a real date, I couldn’t shake the feeling it was. Nerves aside, I was genuinely looking forward to dancing the night away.
I was also terrified. Sex without emotion was easy. It was a role I could play without breaking a sweat or missing a beat. This dating thing was a whole new world to me. My phone pinged, dragging me out of my reverie. With one hand on my racing heart, I turned to grab it off the bedside table.
Leaving it where it was, I thrust my hands on my hips. “Casper. What do you think you’re doing?” My beautiful white cat was lying across my evening gown. “I can’t turn my back for five minutes.” I shook my finger at her, and she licked her chops.
“Off you get.” When Casper didn’t budge, I pushed her off my dress and hung it on my wardrobe door. I’d enlisted Ruby’s help during the week, and we’d gone shopping together. After trying on more dresses than I could count, I’d settled on an A-line, scoop-neck, asymmetrical satin evening dress with sequins.
Shadow, my equally beautiful cat, appeared in the doorway.
“Hey, buddy.” I scratched him under the chin and retrieved my phone. Deanna’s name brought a smile to my lips. Ignoring the butterflies in my stomach, I perched on the side of the bed and read her message.
We still good for tonight?
My smile grew. We’d already confirmed our date-non-date. It was nice to know I wasn’t alone in feeling anxious.
Wouldn’t miss it for the world. You still picking me up at seven? I added a smiley face and hit send.
Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.
I fired back a quick reply. You’re showing your age.
My uncle had been a huge fan of the Rolling Stones. He’d played that song until my ears bled. If I didn’t want to go hungry, I didn’t complain. If Deanna knew what a fucked-up childhood I’d had, she’d be running for the hills right alongside those wild horses.
My phone pinged again, and I read Deanna’s reply. With age comes wrinkles, and you seem to be the one with all the ‘wise cracks’.
Amused, I typed out a reply. This granny needs to get her saggy boobs in the shower and wash her wise…
Cat!
Laughing, I put down my phone and headed for the bathroom. I paused in the bedroom doorway. Shadow had hopped up on the bed with Casper and was grooming her. My heart melted. I’d only had them for five years, and I couldn’t imagine my life without them.
***
With fifteen minutes to spare, I was ready and waiting for my lift to arrive. I took one last look at myself in the hallway mirror. I barely recognised the woman looking back at me. My burgundy gown fit me like a glove, and my accessories—silver pendant, stud earrings, silver bracelet—completed the look. I put a hand on my hip and turned from side to side, feeling like a million bucks.
It hit me. I hadn’t asked Deanna what she was wearing. Hopefully, our dresses wouldn’t clash. Would she wear a dress? Maybe she was a trousers kind of woman. Most of the time when I saw Dee, she wore nothing more than a long coat and lingerie. And, boy, did she rock the look.
Once again, I questioned what the hell I was doing. I’d made an art out of keeping people at arm’s length, emotionally, yet here was a woman dangerously close to reinventing the wheel and introducing new colours to my world.
A car pulled up and tooted. My heart leapt into my throat. This was it.
I locked up and dropped the key in my clutch purse. A shrill whistle sounded, and I turned. My neighbour, Gladys, was standing on her porch steps. “Hot damn. Aren’t you a sight?”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
The cab door cracked open, and my jaw practically hit the bottom step. Officer Dunn stepped out and pinned a radiant smile on me. She was dressed in uniform. Navy slacks, light-blue shirt, and navy tie. Her red hair was piled on top of her head, and a few strands curled around her face.
“Damn.” Gladys fanned herself. “Whatever you did wrong, it looks like it was worth it.”
Although she made me laugh, I also needed to set the record straight. If not for Gladys, for myself. “I’m helping a friend out. She needed a date for the police ball.”
“Best you behave, then.” Gladys waggled her finger. “I don’t want to bail you out.”
I chuckled. “I’m sure it won’t come to that.”
Once Gladys disappeared back inside, I headed down the driveway, my block heels barely making a sound on the concrete. Deanna mapped my every step, making me feel like I was on a catwalk.
“Wow.” She took me in from head to toe. “You look stunning.”
“Thank you. So do you.”
“I probably should’ve told you we go in uniform,” Deanna said.
“I didn’t think my uniform would be a good look.”
“Probably not.” She held open the cab door. “After you, my lady.”
“Why, how very chivalrous of you.” I settled myself into the back seat, and Deanna climbed in next to me. Without conscious thought, I looped my arm through hers and clutched it to my side.
“Nervous?”
“A little,” I replied honestly. “Are you?”
“A little. But I’ll be okay once we get the nasty stuff out of the way.”
That was a reminder I didn’t need.
“How do you want me to introduce you?” Deanna asked. “Are you my friend or my girlfriend?”
The driver pulled up outside the event centre. With no time to spare, I said the first thing that came to mind. “I’m your lover.”
In a way, we were lovers. Just not in the traditional sense of the word.
“That works.” Deanna exited the cab and held out a hand. I took it, feeling like a star arriving for the Grammy awards.
Who would I be? I searched my brain. Brandi Carlile? Yes, that was it. She came out in school and never got invited to parties. I could relate. Some might even say I look like her. Okay, I was dreaming there.
“What are you smiling at?” Deanna asked.
“You.” I brushed a kiss across her lips. Shocked, we both stared, wide-eyed. “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s fine. It’s just…” She touched her lips. “That’s the first time you’ve kissed me.”
It was a monumental moment, but I couldn’t let it be. “Don’t forget those ships I told you about. I suck at fake relationships as well. Your cover will be blown before we even get inside.”
“From where I’m standing, you’re doing a great job.” Deanna recovered. “Let’s not make something out of nothing.”
My stomach twisted, and that was absurd. She was letting me off the hook, and all I felt was let down.
“Shall we?” She held out an elbow, and I linked my arm with hers. “Soraya?”
“Yes?” I turned to look at her as we ascended the stairs.
“If I’m going to introduce you as my lover, it’s probably best if you don’t look like I’m dragging you to court to stand trial.”
“Am I?”
“What?”
“On trial.” I grinned.
“The jury’s still out on that.”
Her comeback made me laugh. Deanna grabbed the door handle. “Ready?”
I nodded. She pulled it open, and a cacophony of sights and sounds assailed my senses. People talking, music playing, strobe lights pulsing, drinks flowing.
Rather than feel overwhelmed, excitement thrummed through my veins. It reminded me of the heady atmosphere of the last club I’d worked at when I met Victoria, but the best thing was I didn’t have to strip.
I counted thirty or so tables, all seating six, and all with black tablecloths and white place settings. I scanned the room for the last person I wanted to see and the first person I needed to see.
The sooner we got the minor glitch out of the way, the sooner I could relax. That was the plan, anyway. If things didn’t go to plan, my night would be over before it began.
“Have you seen her?” I asked.
“Yep, over there.” Deanna tipped her head sideways.
A ball of nervous energy coiled in my stomach, the same as it had the first time I laid eyes on Caroline. At least I had the upper hand this time. When she came to Libellule’s as an undercover cop, I’d been expecting her. But I’d bet money I was the last person she expected to see tonight.
“Ready?”
“Yep.” Deanna blew out a breath.
I looped my arm through hers. “We’ve got this.”
Her radiant smile lit up the ballroom. It felt like it anyway. I pecked her on the cheek because I could. She gave me a shy smile.
“Don’t go getting bashful now,” I teased.
She pulled her lip between her teeth. “Doesn’t it suit me?”
“It does. When I’m the one wearing the uniform. Now pull out your baton and whip some arse.”
“You do realise Caroline’s a cop?”
“And a homophobe.” I’d learned that last week. I’d also discovered she barely tolerated Deanna, and the bug she had up her arse for same-sex relationships was half of the driving force behind her investigating Libellule’s, even though the tip-off came from an unreliable source.
Deanna inhaled a deep breath. “Showtime.”
I mirrored her actions. “Showtime.”
We waited until the couple Caroline had been talking to moved away, then casually moved in. Caroline spotted us, and her face turned to thunder.
“Caroline!” Deanna said sweetly, which didn’t surprise me, but the air kiss did. Caroline recoiled as if Deanna’s lips had made contact.
Unperturbed, Deanna kept up the friendly façade. “This is Soraya.”
“Hi.” I gave her a finger wave, pouring all the insincerity I could into my smile.
“I think you two have met,” Deanna said.
Caroline glared. “You know perfectly well we’ve met.” She clenched her jaw. “What the hell is she doing here?”
“She’s my date.”
“What!” Her eyes blazed. “She’s a fucking suspect. Have you lost your mind?”
A group of four gave us a cursory look, then went back to talking. I doubted they heard the accusation over the music, or they would’ve paid better attention.
Caroline locked her evil gaze on me. “You think you’re fucking clever, don’t you?”
Deanna clenched her jaw. “Keep your voice down. And the case was dropped, so lose the attitude.”
She turned to me, the picture of innocence. “Forgive my colleague. She can be a little temperamental at times.”
“You don’t say?”
The fury that marched across Caroline’s face could give a marching band a run for its money. It was every bit as entertaining too. I got that she’d only been doing her job, and what we were doing was far from professional, but as soon as Deanna told me about Caroline’s treatment of her at work and her barely disguised hatred for the gay community, I was all in.
“Busted up any Pride parades lately?” I asked sweetly.
“You know what?” Caroline’s face turned beet red. “I didn’t come here to have a pissing match, so you can put your dick away.”
Deanna’s hand came up. I grabbed it before the slap landed.
“Thank you.” She blew out a breath.
“You’re welcome.” I lowered her hand but didn’t let go. “It was nice seeing you again.” I shot Caroline a fuck you smile and walked away.
“I’m fuming,” Deanna said through clenched teeth.
“Don’t let her win.”
“Sorry to put you through that.”
“It was fun.” I poked her in the side, loving it when she smiled. I spotted a door with LADIES plastered across it and dragged Deanna in that direction.
We entered a large bathroom with three stalls, all of them blessedly empty. A wall-mounted air freshener let out a puff of spray, perfuming the air with the aromatic blend of lilacs and daisies.
I leaned against the row of sinks. “Are you okay?”
“I will be.” She paced the room. “That was unpleasant but necessary.”
“Not if you’d picked someone else to come as your date.” She’d taken a huge risk bringing me along.
“Like I said, I normally come alone.”
A smile burst forth before I could stop it.
Deanna shook her head. “And that’s exactly why I invited you. You make me smile.”
“You forgot to mention I’m good-looking.”
Laughing, she held out a hand. “Come on. Let’s go and have some fun.”