Chapter Seven

Pierre's was an restaurant located in the western district. The lavishly decorated eatery gave off an ambience of coziness that the other upscale joints did not offer. Combined with the low lighting, fresh flowers & linen tablecloths, it was surprisingly pleasant.

Jess was ushered towards the only available table in the center of the room. The waiter handed her the menu, then disppeared into the kitchen. Those tv dinners she ate alone on the couch after work could never quite compete with the real deal.

She craved a hefty meal & from where she was seated, she could almost smell the aroma of oven roasted veggies beside scalloped potatoes & a prime piece of steak.

The bell chime at the door signaled Kyoka's arrival. The instant she made eyes with the female, she offered a gentle smile. This felt wrong, this felt almost like a date. For one, she was at least a half hour early & if that wasnt bad enough, she felt completely overdressed in a sheer red dress & Jimmy Choo's.

"You look amazing!" Ky said, joining her at the table.

Jessica's heart fluttered for very the first time in God knows how many years. She usually kept her cool these kind of situations, but being around Ky brought out emotions she thought were long dead & burried.

"You look good too." Jess blurted out, hoping her cheeks werent as red as the dress she was wearing. She struggled internally, having a crush at her age was embarrassing enough.

An awkward silence stretched out between the two women for a period of time. The sudden change in the air didnt go unnoticed by Jess, but she sat there waiting patiently until Kyoka spoke up.

"I'll get straight to the point. It might be my imagination, but I think I'm being followed."

"I was afraid this would happen," Jess bit her lip in frustration. "I'll have you put ilunder police surveillance..."

Ky surprised her with a light touch. Feeling the woman's thumb brush against her skin sent shockwaves down her spine. "I'd feel alot safer if I stayed with you."

This went against protocol, but after the stunt she pulled this morning the Bellagio brothers would surely retaliate against her. That being the case, she couldnt leave Kyoka in the crosshairs of the mafia. If she was indeed being followed, her home address would be compromised or worse they'd be lying in wait for her return.

"That sounds wonderful."

Over the next 2 hours they ordered & finished their delicious meals over a light-hearted conversation.

Jess got behind the wheel of her car before Ky could get in. She drove off leaving the other woman no choice, but to jump into the moving vehicle or be left behind.

"You're...fucking crazy!!" she said, gasping for air.

Jess chuckled, "You were making that face again. Had to lighten to mood somehow."

"What face?" She asked, both brows raised to her forehead.

"The kind of expression that makes me want to reach over & kiss you to make it all better."

"Then why don't you?" Ky teased.

She moved so fast Ky jumped in her seat, pulling off to the side of road with a screech that left strips of rubber on the concrete.

Jess drew the other woman close by her neck tie, then planted her lips to the side of her neck. "You wanna do it right here in the open like wild animals or are you gonna buckle up & wait until we're in private?"

The car was already in gear by the time the intial shock wore off with another car trailing slowly behind. The pursuer carefully followed the pair back to the loft & watched from a safe distance as the two females entered the detective's residence.