Part 7 (1/2)
Now dressed, Rainey followed Katie back to the kitchen. ”I don't know enough about the cases to draw that conclusion. Why do you ask?”
”I was just wondering if maybe it was a serial case.”
Rainey smiled. Katie wasn't too good at hiding her motives. ”No, I haven't been contacted by the police to help.”
Since resigning from the FBI, Rainey consulted with local law enforcement needing a profile for an UNSUB. She had only done it once since Katie moved in. It was a one-day affair involving a series of rapes. She delivered the profile and was done, before Katie became too nervous. Rainey chasing bail skippers made her crazy enough. The little blond was having difficulty getting used to being a cop's wife.
Rainey sat down beside Katie and surveyed the table. Katie had poured them gla.s.ses of wine and prepared Rainey's favorite, Cheese Ravioli, with fresh baked bread. Her stomach growled at the sight.
Katie touched Rainey's hand. ”I don't care if you want to consult on this. I know you miss the investigative side of your job. I just don't want the nightmares to come back.”
Rainey's vivid night terrors more than once sent Katie scrambling out of bed. Katie made the mistake of putting her hands on Rainey, the first time she experienced one of her blood curdling screams in the middle of the night. Rainey awoke just before she was about to punch Katie's lights out. They agreed afterwards that the best course of action was for Katie to get out of the bed and talk calmly, until she was sure Rainey was fully awake.
”I haven't had a bad dream in months now. I think you cured me,” Rainey said, smiling, and then changed the subject. ”Is this meal a bribe for something?”
Katie's grin lit up the room. ”Maybe.”
Rainey leaned over to kiss Katie on the cheek. ”Whatever it is, the answer is yes.”
”I have something to show you after we eat.” Katie beamed, while serving the ravioli.
Rainey took a sip of wine, and then asked, ”Have you been reading those lesbian romance novels again?”
”Why do you say that?”
Rainey chuckled. ”Cause every time you read one, you have to show me what you've learned.”
Katie took a drink of wine and looked at Rainey seductively. ”I haven't heard you complaining.”
”Oh, far be it for me to discourage your lesbian edification,” Rainey cracked.
”I think you've benefitted from my research, don't you?”
Rainey smiled broadly. ”Oh yeah, I most certainly have.”
Rainey and Katie had learned a lot about each other in their short time together. Katie moving in had gone nearly seamlessly. It was as if they had known each other forever; still there were some adjustments. Rainey was subject to leave things lying around. Katie picked up after her without much complaining. There was a fair amount of teasing, but no fussing. Katie adjusted to Rainey's obsession with NCAA basketball, by reading books while Rainey shouted at the TV. Rainey, who wasn't much for going out, gave in to Katie's need to see a movie in the theatre, when she'd really rather wait for the DVD. Katie learned how to just kick back and not be busy. She could now sit quietly on the dock beside Rainey, listening to the sounds of nature. They compromised and laughed and somehow made it all work.
Rainey winked at Katie. ”What are you reading these days?”
Katie broke the bread and handed Rainey a piece. ”A story about a hot bail bondsman and her new girlfriend.”
Rainey savored the big bite of Ravioli she had in her mouth. Katie was a self-taught gourmet and learned very well. Rainey swallowed and smiled. ”Does she have to run extra miles cause her girlfriend is a fantastic cook?”
”Yes, but she doesn't mind. She's healthier than she's been in a long time and did I mention she's hot?”
Rainey laughed. ”She's probably grateful for the food and the attention.”
”Oh, she is and she shows the girlfriend how much quite frequently.”
”I think I like this book,” Rainey replied, grinning.
Katie winked. ”I thought you might. I'll change the subject, so you can finish eating.” She paused, pouring them each some more wine. ”I went by my old school today.”
Rainey sipped her wine. She knew how difficult it was for Katie to walk away from her job as a first grade teacher, but it had been Katie's decision to do so. She reached out and touched Katie's hand. ”I know that had to be hard for you.”
Katie nodded affirmatively. ”I have to admit my heart did beat a little faster before I walked in, but once I was there the panic went away. I thought I would be hit with so much remorse for resigning. That's not what happened at all.”
Rainey relaxed and picked up her fork. ”So, things went well?” She resumed eating, while she listened to Katie.
”I miss the kids. I miss spending time with them every day, but I don't miss the politics or paperwork. Those teachers looked so tired. I wonder if I looked like that.”
”I saw you when you were a teacher and you did not look tired. You looked like you loved it, from what I could tell.”
Katie continued, ”Oh, I did, but Chelsea is doing a great job with the kids. Do you remember her? She took over for me when I had to take leave.”
”Yes, I remember her from the day we packed your stuff.”
Katie smiled. ”She told me her sister is part owner of Feme Sole, a lesbian night club in Durham. She said we should go.”
”Do you really want to?” Rainey asked, honestly having never thought about going to a lesbian club.
Katie grinned broadly. ”I've been dying to go.”
Rainey stopped eating and looked at Katie's excited face. She laughed at the pretty blonde. ”Why didn't you say anything?”
”I don't know. I guess I didn't want to seem too eager to meet other women.”
Rainey c.o.c.ked her head. She teased Katie, ”Hmm, I hadn't thought about that... Maybe I should go by myself and check it out first. See if it's safe to turn you loose on the unsuspecting lesbians of Durham.”
”No way. They're always all over the hot cop or P.I. in these books I'm reading. You're not going to a lesbian bar without me.”
Rainey continued the tease. ”What? So now you don't trust me.”
”You're the one that said I couldn't go. Who has trust issues?”
Rainey laughed. ”I just had no idea you'd be so interested in going to a gay bar.”
Katie's smile slipped a little. ”Are you worried about being seen with me in a lesbian bar?”
Rainey had guarded their privacy over the last nine months. After the initial stories broke in the paper, she and Katie could go nowhere without someone taking their picture and posting it on the web or in the paper. Maybe Katie had the wrong idea about why she did that. It certainly wasn't because she was embarra.s.sed to be with a woman. Rainey had reasons beyond Katie's knowledge not to want her personal life made public.
Rainey reached out and took Katie's hand. ”No, I am proud to be with you. It's just, I'd rather not have our pictures splashed all over the web, again.” Rainey saw the disappointment in Katie's eyes and added, ”Maybe we're old news by now. It has been nine months. Surely, no one is interested in the two of us anymore.”
”Oh please take me, Rainey. I want to see all those women just having a good time with each other. I want to dance with you.”
”Honey, I hate to break it to you, but I don't dance. I'm a wall flower.”
”Then we'll just watch. I know you can slow dance. We've done that here. Come on, Rainey. Who knows, you might even have a good time?”