We stepped out of the bathroom, back into the throng of things. A guy at a nearby table waved his arms above his head. “Deanna. Over here.”
“That’s my partner.”
I mock pouted.
Deanna looped her arm through mine. “Not that kind of partner, lover.”
“Say it again,” I teased, getting into the swing of things.
Laughing, she towed me over to the table. “Hi, Mike, this is Soraya. Soraya, Mike. And his lovely wife, Emma.”
“Don’t you mean saint?” Mike kissed Emma’s cheek, and I immediately liked him. It made a pleasant change from the men I grew up around who felt the need to constantly assert their dominance.
“Comes from years of practice,” Emma said, looking at Mike with a gleam in her eye.
Deanna turned to me. “These two lovebirds recently celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.”
“What?” I glanced between them. “You don’t look old enough.”
“That’s very sweet of you to say.” Emma pointed to two empty seats. “Please, join us.”
Deanna pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit. Flattered, I slid into the seat. She pushed me in before taking a seat of her own.
Mike gestured to the other couple at the table. “This is Penny and Roger.”
“Hi. Nice to meet you.”
Once the introductions were out of the way, drinks were poured. Recalling Deanna didn’t like wine, I watched her with amusement as she took a sip.
She screwed up her face as if she’d just sucked a sour grape. “How can you people drink that stuff?”
“Damn. I told the chief to make sure there was bourbon for you,” Roger said. “Let me sort it out.”
“No, no. It’s fine,” Deanna insisted. “It’ll grow on me.”
“I know the feeling.” Mike gave her a pointed look. “Even if it took a while.”
Deanna slogged him in the arm. “Hey, watch it, partner.”
“So, what does Soraya do?” Mike asked.
“I’m a beauty therapist.” The words came without thought.
“Oh, really,” Penny said. “Do you do waxing?” She rubbed the bottom of her chin. “I hate plucking out these little suckers.”
Shit! I was all for new clients, but these women were married to cops, and the police had only just stopped sniffing around. “Actually, laser treatment is far more effective for facial hair. I can give you the name of someone I know. She’s very good and reasonable.”
“That would be great. Oh, and I have this friend who needs…” Penny shook her head. “Never mind. We didn’t come here to talk shop.”
“It’s fine.” I gave her my most disarming smile and mentally turned the tables. “What do you do?”
“I’m a phlebotomist.”
“She’s a bloodsucker,” Roger said. “But she left her fangs at home tonight.”
“To clarify, I take blood samples.”
Deanna squeezed my hand under the table, and I felt like she’d caressed my heart. I glanced sideways, and we exchanged a smile.
“Aw. New love.” Emma looked at us all dreamy-eyed.
Deanna draped an arm across my shoulders. “It’s early days yet, but she’s all right.”
“Just all right?” I feigned outrage. “No nookie for you tonight.”
“Oh my God. I can’t believe you said that. Hello?” She twirled her hand in a circle. “I work with these people.”
Emma cleared her throat. “Just because we’ve been married for twenty-five years doesn’t mean we don’t still know how to steam up the bedroom.”
Mike shot his wife a sexy grin. “Or the living room.”
Deanna shook her head. “Please don’t.” She splayed her fingers across her eyes. “God, how am I supposed to look at you at work?”
“Are you drawing mental images of them doing the dirty?” Roger asked.
Deanna turned to me. “See what you started?”
“And that’s why you love me.” I kissed her full on the lips, elated when her workmates clapped and laughed.
As the night progressed, I lost myself in the atmosphere. Spirits were high, including mine. The meal was amazing—seared scallops, roast chicken roulade with pistachio-and-cranberry stuffing, followed by a fresh fruit platter for dessert.
I sat back while a waitress cleared our table. My gaze landed on Caroline on the far side of the room as she got to her feet.
I rested my arm on the back of Deanna’s chair. “I think someone’s leaving.”
Roger followed my gaze. “Oh, her. She doesn’t dance. Gaps it before the party really gets going.”
A guy who didn’t look old enough to shave, whom I assumed was Caroline’s boyfriend, helped her into her jacket.
I turned to Deanna. “How old is he? Fourteen?”
“Her boyfriend’s twenty-four,” Emma said.
I spun around, surprised she’d been listening. “How old’s Caroline?”
“Thirty-eight. Isn’t she, Rog?”
“Yep, and a ballbuster. The poor kid will probably be on his knees the second they get home.”
“Huh?” I played dumb.
Emma leaned across the table and lowered her voice. “I think she’s one of those dominatrixes.”
“A what?” I kept up the act.
“You know. One of those women who gets off on bossing people around.”
“Oh!” I said as if finally understanding. “You mean like Deanna?”
“Ooh.” Mike rubbed his hands together. “Tell us more.”
“Leave her alone, and so what if he’s younger?” Emma said. “It’s good enough for men to date younger women, so why shouldn’t women date young men…or women?”
Emma had a point, but my mind had fixed on one word. I turned to Deanna and mouthed “Ken” and did a jiggle in my seat. “I’m a Barbie girl. You’re my Barbie boy.”
She tipped her head back and laughed. The insane desire to lick the slope of her neck caught me off guard. I reined it in like a runaway horse.
Deanna held out a hand. “Would you like to dance?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
We joined the crowd on the dancefloor. I put my arms over my head and swayed my hips, letting the music wash over me. My heart rate picked up, and my gaze remained locked on Deanna. She was a great dancer, and I loved the way the strobe lights played off her red hair.
The song ended, and Shania Twain’s ‘You’re the One’ started playing. Half the people on the dancefloor left, and some couples who’d been seated rushed for the floor.
Deanna held out her arms, one hand in the air, the other at waist height. “Is it okay if I lead?”
“Yes.” We looked into each other’s eyes, and something passed between us. I couldn’t say what, and I didn’t want to analyse it.
I slid my right hand into her outstretched palm and rested my left hand on her shoulder. Deanna slipped her arm around my waist, and I basked in the warmth of her palm setting my skin on fire.
“Ready?”
“Ready.” I relaxed my posture, letting her glide me around the dancefloor.
A couple of times, we bumped into people. We smiled at each other, never breaking eye contact. I never wanted the song to end, but it did, and all too soon. Deanna released me, and I immediately missed her touch.
She gave me a small bow. “Thank you, my lady.”
A couple bumped into us, breaking the connection. I turned to see Mike and Emma.
“My turn.” Mike pinned his gaze on me.
I looked to Deanna for guidance. Perhaps this was the norm at these kinds of gatherings.
She grinned. “He’s harmless, and Emma always requests a dance with me.”
“I normally have to sit those out,” Mike said. “But not tonight. Come on. I promise I won’t step on your feet.” He gestured with his arms again.
“Sure.” I took up position, one hand on his shoulder, the other in his outstretched hand. Unlike when I’d danced with Deanna, nothing about it felt intimate…or predatory. I relaxed and followed his lead, breathing in his spicy cologne and enjoying myself more than I would’ve thought.
When the song ended, I thanked him politely and followed Mike off the dancefloor. We reached our table as ‘Footloose’ by Kenny Loggins started playing. Roger and Penny jumped to their feet. “None of that slow shit for us.” He held out a hand. “Come on, Pen.”
“Hang on.” She flicked off a shoe then took off the other. “Let’s go, baby. Let’s go.” Penny fisted her hands in the air, more or less dancing all the way to the dancefloor.
I spotted Deanna and Emma amongst the throng of people gyrating under the strobe lights. I was tempted to jump up and join them, but I was enthralled simply watching Deanna. She was a different person from the woman who came to Libellule’s.
But that shouldn’t have come as any surprise. You never could tell who was submissive based on their gender, race, the clothes they wore, or how they presented themselves to the outside world.
I did my best to come across as a woman who had her shit together, a woman who took no shit, a woman in control of her life and emotions. A woman who was exactly where she wanted to be in life. The problem was I no longer knew where that was. It took a strong woman to bare her soul, and I didn’t know if I had the strength.
“Hey, you.” Deanna plopped down beside me, startling me out of my reverie. She kissed my cheek, shocking me further. “Did you miss me?”
I pressed my fingers where her lips had been, savouring the kiss. She nudged me in the side, and I remembered we were supposed to be a couple. “Of course, babe.”
Deanna picked up her glass, noticed it was empty, and put it down again.
“Do you want me to go and get you another bourbon?” I asked. A tab had opened for those not drinking wine.
“Nah. I’ve had enough.”
I brushed a lock of red hair off her face. “You’re sweaty.”
“Yeah, well, it’s hot under those lights.”
I remembered those days—dancing under spotlights. I also remembered how quickly I dehydrated. “I’ll go grab a carafe of water.” I pushed my chair back, and Deanna put a hand on my leg.
“How about we get out of here?”
That was fine by me. “What time is it?” I hadn’t worn a watch, and I didn’t want to look at my phone. That would bring me back to reality.
“Almost midnight,” Deanna said.
“What?” Where the hell had the time gone? I’d heard the saying ‘Time flies when you’re having fun’, but this took the cake. Five hours, gone. Poof! Just like that.
I glanced around, noticing for the first time that over half the guests had already left. Those who remained were hanging around the bar or on the dancefloor. “I’m ready when you are.”
“We’re out of here,” Deanna said to Mike.
He held up his hand, and they bumped fists. “Take care, partner.” He looked at me. “It was nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” I tucked my clutch purse under my arm. “Thanks for the dance.”
His face lit up, and Deanna beamed. Score to me. Maybe I didn’t suck at this dating thing after all. Whoa, back up.
***
A cab pulled up, and once again, Deanna held open the door.
“Thank you.” I slid in, pleased the cabbie had the heater on. It wasn’t exactly freezing out, but there was a chill in the air.
“Cold?” Deanna’s trouser-covered leg brushed against my nylons.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Where to?” the driver asked.
Deanna recited her address and settled back against the seat. “He can drop you off next, unless you want to come in for a nightcap.”
I glanced out the window watching the streetlights whizz by. What did I want? I had no idea. The only thing I knew was I wasn’t ready for the night to end. I squeezed her hand. “I’d like that.”
The cab driver pulled the nose of his car into the driveway and came to a stop. Deanna exited first, then offered me a hand, helping me climb out. After the driver sped off, we strolled towards the gate. Harley stared at us from the other side.
“How come he didn’t bark?” I asked.
“Because I didn’t command him to.” Deanna let us in and ruffled his fur.
“Oh, right. The dog whisperer,” I deadpanned.
“He’s also been trained not to sit at the gate and bark at everyone who walks past.”
“Good. I hate that. The people who live in the house on the other side of Gladys have a dog that barks all day.”
“The lady who stepped out onto her porch when I picked you up?”
“Yeah. She’s the best.”
A floodlight flickered to life as we neared the corner of the house. Deanna put the key in the lock but didn’t turn it. Harley sat, looking up at her expectantly. “Have you been potty?”
He whined low and long, changing octaves as if he was speaking. I shook my head, marvelling at his intelligence. “Was that a yes or a no?” I asked.
“We’ll see.” Deanna pushed open the door. “After you.”
All three of us seemed to enter at once. Deanna pointed to the corner. “On your blanket.”
Harley did as he was told, doing two circles before lying down.
Deanna checked the water level in the jug. “Tea or coffee?”
“Water if you don’t mind.” I was too wired for caffeine.
“Why would I mind? Hot or cold?”
“Trick question?” I leaned against the doorframe.
“Not at all. I like warm water with a squeeze of lemon.”
“That does sound good.”
“I’ll even sweeten the deal with a drop of manuka honey.”
“Swoon.”
Warm lemon drinks in hand, we wandered into the living room. Deanna sat in a chair with a reading lamp next to it. Disappointed we couldn’t sit together, I took a seat on the sofa.
She set her glass down. “Thank you for coming with me tonight.”
“You’re welcome. I had fun.” It was nice to get a glimpse into her life and the people she worked with. “So, Libellule’s is no longer on the radar?”
“Not as far as I’ve heard. The complaint was weak at best. But if Caroline gets even a hint of something she thinks will elevate her career, she’s all over it like—”
“Syphilis?”
“I was going to say a rash, but I like your analogy better.” Deanna shuddered. “Nasty.”
“Nasty indeed.” I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone, and that was exactly why safe sex was enforced at Libellule’s. I had an inkling some of the girls forwent protection with long-time customers, but until I had proof, there wasn’t much I could do about it.
I cradled my drink, gathering my courage. “So you can come back to Libellule’s now?”
Deanna set her mug on the chairside table. Sensing I wasn’t going to like her answer, I braced myself.
“I’ve decided not to. It’s too risky now that my workmates have met you. If they ever find out I knew you prior to the hit, I could be in big trouble. As it stands, I can play dumb. We had suspects but no pictures, so to speak. I can play it that I knew you worked in beauty therapy, but not where.”
“Oh.” My heart sank like a lead balloon. I’d done her a favour by going to the ball, but the favour had worked against me. “So that’s it?”
“That’s what?”
“No more me and you?”
“I hope we can still be friends.”
“Sure.” I stood, feeling the weight of that lead balloon weighing me down. “I better go.”
“You don’t have to rush off.”
“I know.” I forced myself to smile. “But it’s late, and I have to be up early tomorrow.”
“Okay. I’ll call you a cab.”
My heart twisted into a painful mess. I knew the score. We both did. Neither of us dated. So why did her dismissal hurt so much?