Chapter One
“She’s the one.”
Meg could barely keep her excitement in check as she gripped the back of a kitchen chair tightly with both hands and bounced on the balls of her feet. She gnawed on the inside of her cheek to keep a smile from busting out.
“Wait a second.” Her best friend Lexi held one hand in the air, effectively halting the conversation. “You’re sure?” She looked skeptically at Meg. “I thought this was something you were mildly considering,” Lexi said, turning her attention to the pot of sauce in front of her and giving it a quick stir. “You sound like your mind’s completely made up.”
“That is because my mind is completely made up.”
“Wow.” Lexi rested the wooden spoon across the edge of her pot. She blew out a long breath that wasn’t in line with the kind of approval Meg was hoping for. Chewing on her lower lip, she looked over at Meg. “Megan McTiernan, this is a big commitment. Are you sure you’re ready?”
“You’re right.” Meg nodded agreement. “But I think it’ll be good.”
“Your whole life is going to change.”
“Hey, don’t sound so disappointed. I’m excited about this. Be happy for me.”
“I am.” Lexi’s shoulders slumped. “I’m not disappointed. Honest. I just want to make sure this is really what you want.”
“Come here.” Meg motioned Lexi over and held up her phone. “Look at her.” She tilted the screen and felt a smile forming again. “Is there really even any question?”
“She is cute.”
“Cute, she’s adorable. I can’t wait to hold her and cuddle her, kiss her sweet little face.” She inched her phone up, forcing another peek on Lexi, and punched her arm playfully when she caught her friend rolling her eyes.
“Fine,” Lexi said through a grin. “You have my blessing.” She walked back to tend her vodka sauce. “When’s the big day? Wait.” She leaned against the granite countertop and folded her arms, nodding with her chin toward Meg’s house across the street. “What did Reina say?”
“About what?” Meg heard the defensiveness in her tone and wondered if Lexi would call her out on it.
“You didn’t tell her, did you?” Lexi asked. She furrowed her brow as she spoke. “You didn’t tell your girlfriend about this major life change. Huh,” she said under her breath continuing her inner analysis.
“You’re being kind of dramatic,” Meg said with a small laugh. “It’s not that big of a deal and I mentioned I was thinking about it,” she said with a wry smile. “She didn’t have an opinion one way or the other.” Meg put her phone down. “It’s not like she’s allergic or anything. And she doesn’t live with me, even if she was.”
“But she stays there a few nights a week. I thought maybe at some point…”
“Yeah, maybe,” she said addressing Lexi’s gentle press as to where things were headed in her love life. Meg walked to the cabinet and helped herself to a wineglass. “We’re light years away from that.” She poured herself a healthy serving of red. “Don’t take that the wrong way. Things with me and Reina are fine. Completely. But a lot of the time she stays over out of convenience. I mean, she lives forty-five minutes away. Her dental office is practically around the block from here. It makes sense.”
“But things are good?”
“They’re fine,” Meg said as she looked at the picture on her phone again. “And they will stay fine when I bring this furry baby home in three weeks.” She enlarged the photo, zooming in on the tiny paws first. Lexi came around her chair to peer over her shoulder.
“She is precious. Did you name her yet?”
“I have a few ideas I’m tossing around.”
The front door opened and Jesse came through, decked out in full attorney mode, complete with suit and briefcase.
“Ideas for what?” she asked, diving right in to the conversation.
“Meg’s getting a kitten.”
“No way. Good for you, kid.”
Lexi looked at her wife. “How was court?”
“Fine. Just opening arguments today. Nothing to report.” She walked over and kissed Lexi, before squeezing Meg’s shoulder. “Tell me about your cat, Meg. Where did you find her?”
“My sister’s neighbor’s cat had kittens.”
“Color?” Jesse asked dropping into the seat next to Meg.
“She’s a white calico mix.” Meg pulled up the picture for the third time. “Are you a cat person?” she said, openly admitting her surprise. “I didn’t even know you liked animals.”
“Who doesn’t like animals?” Jesse took a sip of the wine Lexi gave her. “I grew up with cats—Ginger, Fig Newton, Mr. Snuffles.”
“How did I not know this?” Meg laughed into her drink and watched Jesse-the-lawyer shuck her jacket and transform into her buddy as she inched her chair closer and snatched Meg’s phone to examine the rest of the kittens together. Lexi came up behind them and draped her arms over her wife’s chest as she scrolled.
“Get this, babe, Reina doesn’t get a vote.”
“Why would she?” Jesse bent her head to kiss Lexi’s forearm. “Reina doesn’t live there.”
“Thank you!” Meg held her glass in an appreciative air toast to Jesse’s vocal defense of her decision.
“I guess she’s not here?” Jesse asked, not even bothering to look up. “Since we’re having this conversation and all.”
“She’s working until eight tonight. Maybe she’ll come by later,” she said, but she wasn’t convinced. “Unless she goes home to Queens tonight,” Meg added under her breath. “She’ll text one way or the other.”
“Oh, babe,” Jesse said, twisting her wineglass, “I meant to tell you before. I talked to Betsy earlier—she and Tracy have plans tonight.”
Lexi nodded. “It’s probably better this way. Just us, you know. This way we get Sam all to ourselves.” She bounced back over to the stove. “I’m so excited she’s back.”
“Bummer it’s because of a breakup,” Meg said.
Lexi stirred her sauce. “Yeah, but she didn’t seem too busted up about it.” She shrugged. “You know, she told me it’s been over for a while. Now she’s just happy to be home. Ready to move on and all.”
Meg looked back and forth between her two besties and decided to go for the easy laugh, even though it was completely predictable. “Well, geez, I hope someone warned the locals.”
*****
Sam pulled into the small strip mall parking lot, threw her Tahoe in park, and weighed her slim options as she glanced between the storefronts. It had only occurred to her after she’d driven past at least a half a dozen bakeries and as many liquor stores that she’d completely forgotten to pick up something to bring to Lexi’s. It was only day three at her parents’ house and she was already losing the ability to form rational thought. Less than a quarter mile from Bay West, she’d pulled into the lot, encouraged by the bright entrance of Angelo’s Pizzeria shining a light on the sign of the adjacent store—a florist. But on closer inspection, she was too late. The flower shop had its wrought-iron gate drawn and padlocked.
As far as dessert went, Sam was left with hoping that Angelo’s had something suitable to offer or checking out a new place called Lucy’s Coffee Bar that definitely wasn’t here last winter.
Last winter, when she’d left her friends and the community she loved to follow her girlfriend across country.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time. She’d been in a committed relationship and her job as a graphic designer allowed her to work from anywhere. Just a year later, and it was so obvious that she would have been better off staying put at Bay West. Decisions—she shook her head swallowing a chuckle at the thought—always crystal clear in retrospect. Regardless of the past, she took a step forward, smiling inwardly at the complete faith she had in her choice tonight.
Lucy’s Coffee Bar, it was.
Pulling the door open, she was surprised when a bell jingled to quaintly announce her arrival. The shop was empty except for an androgynous chick deep into her laptop in the corner. Light jazz drifted in from the speakers and the smell of fresh coffee and cookies wafted around her. Score. She rested one elbow against the counter as she waited for service. The space had a charm about it. Antiqued couches and worn-out Persian rugs, plus a few small tables and chairs. The walls were fitted with built-ins giving a homey quality. She studied the Old English style font on the glass storefront but her eyes were drawn to a series of decals bordering the large window—the American flag, an NYPD patch, the Human Rights Campaign logo, a rainbow flag, a Bay West emblem. Plus stick figures of two men, two women, and a man and woman. Finally the words All are welcome. She loved this place already.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No worries,” Sam responded automatically, turning around and giving the woman a discreet once over. Whoa. Petite. Dirty-blond hair pulled up off her face. Flour, or maybe sugar, dusted across the middle of a tight V-neck tee that showcased small perky breasts. Hip-hugging yoga pants stretched over some really nice curves. Lucy? She dragged her eyes back up to the woman’s face.
“Can I get you something?”
“I bet you can,” Sam responded smoothly. She wasn’t subtle, that wasn’t her style. This technique had been her forte since college. At five ten, Sam was taller than most women and while she had feminine features—a tiny nose and high cheekbones—she was completely butch. She sported awesomely wavy hair that was cut into a tight fade on the sides. With no real curves, she looked better in men’s clothes than her brother. She was never, ever mistaken for being straight and she liked it that way. She found it an advantage when she was flirting, and even in situations like this, when she was working a sort of dude-in-distress act, she felt her straightforward appearance complemented her schtick.
She leaned forward onto the countertop and squinted one eye closed. “I have a teensy problem.”
The woman barely bit as she reached for a counter rag and wiped the surface between them clean. “I hope it’s something a coffee can fix.”
Sam furrowed her brow and ducked her head waiting for eye contact as she laid it on thick. “It may be a little more complicated than that.”
“I’m listening.”
“So, tonight’s my first night back in town. I was away for a while.”
“Prison?” the woman deadpanned.
Sam laughed at her fast wit. “Funny. No. I just moved home. And my friend is making me, like, a welcome home dinner. But I forgot to bring something, like wine or dessert. She lives just up the street so I’m almost out of options.”
“So I’m your last resort?”
“Hey”—she let the word dangle between them—“I would never say that about you.”
“Cute.”
“No, seriously, I pulled in here because I realized last minute that there’s nowhere left to go, and I was going to get flowers but they’re closed. So I could jump into Angelo’s pizzeria and maybe get some zeppole, but that’s pretty lame.”
The woman scrunched up her nose in obvious disapproval. “I mean Angelo makes fantastic everything, but zeppole to a dinner party…” Her voice trailed off leaving no question as to what she thought of that plan.
“Lucky for me I spotted this place and I thought maybe…” Sam tapped her finger on the counter before pointing to a plate of cookies near the end of the counter. “If my senses are correct, there’s a fresh batch baking up as we speak.” Sam drew her bottom lip in and raised her eyebrows. “I’m kinda hoping you’re about to tell me I got here just in time.”
“Does this typically work? This”—the woman waved her hand in a circle at Sam—“this, I’m so cute, I can just charm my way into getting whatever I want?”
Sam was about to answer, but the door to the back opened and a girl with jet-black hair peeked her head out. “Lucy, the timer just went off for your cookies. I took them out to cool. I’m gonna head out—” She cut herself off and licked her lips as she overtly checked Sam out. With a look that left very little to the imagination she added, “But I could definitely stay.”
“Good night, Raven.”
“Fine. Keep all the good ones for yourself. Like that’s fair.”
“Go,” Lucy ordered with a playful shake of her head. She turned back to Sam. “Sorry about that.”
“No worries. I think she just said something about fresh cookies, though.” She scratched her chin dramatically. “Did I hear that right?”
Lucy rolled her eyes but Sam gave a slo-mo fist pump anyway.
“Let me guess. This is the type of thing your girlfriend usually takes care of?”
“Ex-girlfriend. But yes. Only now I suspect she’s taking care of it for her new girlfriend.”
Lucy grimaced. “Ooh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s all good.” Sam held eye contact and her voice came out smooth, her confidence intact. She saw Lucy blush.
“Are you in a hurry?” Lucy asked. “Those cookies would do better if they cooled for another minute or two. I could get you a drink while you wait.”
“I’m fine. There’s no rush. I’m only going up the road to Bay West.”
“Great.”
“Are you familiar with it?” Sam already knew the answer was yes, but she was curious to see Lucy’s reaction at the mention of the all-lesbian condo development a quarter mile away.
Lucy’s smoky gray eyes twinkled. “I live there.”
Sweet. Sam had been hoping she and Lucy were on the same team and her residency at Bay West sealed the deal. Bay West was pretty big as far as condominium complexes were concerned, especially in the suburbs of New York. It was located right on the edge of Staten Island, under the bridge, and it boasted some pretty nice views of Lower Manhattan. But that was hardly its selling point. Bay West was all women, all lesbians to be precise, all the time. Sam still wasn’t over the fact that she’d given up her apartment there a year ago.
“I used to live there myself.”
“Really? Whereabouts?”
“On Vista, in the rental section.”
Lucy nodded acknowledgment. “I’m on Vista now. In a one-bedroom, near the office.”
“Excellent. A one-bedroom. Hard to come by, those.”
“I’ve heard that. I was lucky, I guess.”
“How long have you been here? And there?” she added, referencing Bay West as she swallowed a grimace, annoyed that her genuine curiosity got the best of her game.
“About six months, for both.”
“You like it?”
“Mm-hmm. I’m here at the shop most of the time. It’s very convenient.”
Weird answer. Usually people went on about Bay West’s sense of community, the support, the constant lesbian parties. Maybe she was married. But no ring. What was she doing? She’d established her priorities before she came back—no relationships, no hookups, no girls, no exceptions. She’d decided that right off when she’d chosen to come home. The focus was work and finding a place to live. She would only last with her parents for so long before they all drove each other crazy. Less than a week and she was already chomping at the bit.
“When did you leave?”
Sam was so deep in her own head that she lost track of the conversation for a second. “Huh?”
“You said you used to live at Bay West.”
“Right. I moved a year ago.” She saw a question in Lucy’s eyes but got the sense she wouldn’t ask it. She volunteered the info anyway. “My girlfriend got a job in Oregon. I work from home when I’m not traveling. Either way I’m not tied to any one place.” She shrugged. “It seemed like the right move.”
“Tough that you broke up then.”
“Not meant to be.” She looked for hope in Lucy’s face but couldn’t read her expression at all. “The tough part is that I’m back home with my parents while I’m looking for a place, and let’s just say it’s not ideal.”
“I hear you.” Lucy nodded. “Let me get those cookies for you.”
Damn, that killed her chances. If she’d even had any. Note to self: don’t mention living with Mom and Dad. She laughed at herself internally. It didn’t matter anyway. She had her agenda, boring as it might be. Finding an apartment was paramount. The time for dating would come once everything else had fallen into place. But damn if Lucy wasn’t the cutest woman she’d seen in a good long time. And she had a fantastic body. Sam couldn’t help it if she fantasized a little on the spot. Even now as she slipped into the back, Sam watched Lucy’s tight ass bounce with each step and imagined what it would be like to come up behind her. Christ, she needed to get laid. While she had a steady piece of action with a coworker—the only exception to her no-fun rule—it was purely because they had a perfect no-strings deal. Even on that front it had been over a month since their paths crossed and there was no telling when they were slated to be assigned together again. And goddamn, was she ready.
“Here you go.” Lucy interrupted her X-rated thoughts holding a nondescript white box tied with thin red-and-white string. “There’s chocolate chip, oatmeal, and butter horns, which is like a cinnamon-raisin butter cookie. Nothing fancy. Hopefully your date will like them.”
“No date.” Sam’s voice was smooth as she corrected her. “Just hanging with my friends,” she added, not even trying to hide her smile. “I’m sure they’ll love them.” She handed Lucy her credit card and waited while she swiped it through her register. “This is a really nice place, Lucy.”
“It was nice talking to you”—Lucy looked at the front of the credit card—“Samantha Miller.”
“Sam.” Sam held out her hand and watched Lucy smile when she playfully gave her the receipt in lieu of shaking it.
“Have a nice night, Sam Miller. Come back anytime.”
Sam grinned into the thin night air as she opened the door, the bell sounding happily above her. “Count on it,” she called over her shoulder.