This London Love (7 page)

“You excited about later?” Jess asked.

The plan was to meet Lucy and three of her friends in the Data Club, a new bar in Dalston. Kate’s mood could best be described as nonplussed, which even she knew was not what Jess wanted to hear. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was willing this new, apparently perfect, woman to be a florist called Meg.

“Beside myself. Cannot wait. Literally chomping at the bit to meet the woman who resembles a boxing legend.” Kate took a swig of her beer and stared evenly at Jess.

“George Foreman was a very handsome boxer,” Jess replied.

“Is there such a thing? Don’t all boxers look a bit, well, battered?”

“She’s not battered — she’s grilled.” Jess sat back, her features creased with the enormity of her joke.

Kate gave her a minute to recover. “What’s she called anyway?” Kate paused. “And don’t say Georgina.”

“Wouldn’t that be great?” Jess’s sides were, literally, shaking. “But she’s actually called Tanya — I think. Check with Lucy on the details. Kate and Tanya. Tanya and Kate. ‘Where’s Kate? Oh, she’s out with Tanya’.” Jess’s voice was sing-song.

Kate couldn’t help but smile at her friend. “She sounds like a school prefect. Or somebody who owns a horse.”

“Let’s not start Tanya-bashing before you’ve met her. And Clare Balding owns a horse — you like her.”

“I’m not sure I’d want to
date
her, though. Clare’s not really my type.”

“Do you have a type?” Jess asked.

An image of Meg popped into Kate’s mind. “I do when I see it.” Kate shifted on the sofa, grabbed another cushion and leaned back. “And will she be wearing a badge too? What if I hit on the wrong friend and accidentally split up a couple? That would be a bad night.”

Jess smiled. “Lucy told me about this custom — it’s called introductions. Never heard of it myself, but apparently it sorts out any potential problems like that.” Jess took a glug of her beer before continuing. “Look, I know this is another set-up, but if this doesn’t work, I promise I’ll leave you alone. It’s just that Lucy thinks this has potential and I trust her judgment. My girlfriend is a trustworthy woman. Are we agreed?”

Kate grudgingly nodded. “We’re agreed, she is.”

Jess leaned forward and held up her beer bottle for Kate to clink. “So here’s to a Friday of adventure. And if nothing else, we get to have another night in Dalston where we can laugh at all the hipsters and their funny hair.”

***

A little over two hours later, Kate and Jess arrived at the Data Club, a cool Dalston hangout with the requisite low lighting, scuffed chairs and dusty flooring. Outside, the main road was just warming up for the Friday night ahead, with neon lighting coming to life and traffic fumes choking the air. Inside, a tall, skinny man with a concentrated expression was filling tall glasses with ice, ready to shake up the bar’s signature cocktail, the DillyDally.

“Didn’t this used to be an estate agents?” Kate and Jess edged their way through the crowds of people, shoulders bumping.

“Yeah — they’ve still got the sales board up at the back of the bar — Lucy and I were here last week,” Jess replied. “Achingly hip.”

Kate grinned — she had a soft spot for uber-cool bars. She knew they overcharged for sub-standard drinks and yes, she knew the furnishings were sometimes not so comfortable, but look at the ladder on the wall, hung sideways and adorned with plants! Look at the array of bicycle parts hanging from the ceiling! Listen to the DJ pumping out pulsing beats that would never be played if these bars didn’t exist!

Jess made it to the bar and ordered them both beers. She gestured with her hand for Kate to follow her, and they made it through the crowd to the back of the bar. Kate took in Jess’s new grey shirt that she’d been inordinately proud of before coming out, sashaying up and down the hallway of their flat like a catwalk model.

“Told you it was less crowded at the back,” Jess said.

“You did, oh wise one.” Kate was just about to start talking about the weekend’s football matches when she saw the smile on Jess’s face increase, which meant Lucy had to be near — accompanied by her date. Kate straightened up, loosened her hips and turned her head.

She saw Lucy first, her dark hair artfully styled, her leathers exchanged for heels. Lucy was the only person Kate knew who flew around the city on a bike during the week, then traded them in for lady attire at the weekend.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Lucy said, breaking Kate’s thoughts. She brushed Kate’s cheek with her lips, but Kate’s gaze was already dancing over Lucy’s shoulder, looking at the women she had in tow. Lucy spotted her stare and was quick to act.

“So this is Belinda.” Lucy indicated the woman beside her, who Kate would guess to be Chinese.

Kate shook her hand enthusiastically, eyes darting left.

“And this is Belinda’s friend, Tanya. Tanya, Belinda, this is Kate.”

“Hi Kate, nice to meet you,” Tanya said, offering her hand.

The bar noise dimmed as Kate assessed her catch for the evening. Slim and poised, Tanya had an unusually long neck, chiseled cheekbones and an easy confidence that radiated from her smile. It didn’t hurt that she was attractive, too. Kate’s shoulders relaxed. Maybe this date wouldn’t be quite so bad as Kate had imagined — heck, they might even get on. Kate also noted a home counties accent — she’d lay bets Tanya was from Surrey. Perhaps she
did
own a horse.

“So have you been here before?” Tanya asked, getting right into Kate’s personal space.

Kate shook her head, holding her ground even if she was slightly unnerved. “First time, but Jess and Lucy have.”

Tanya nodded her head slowly. “Right. I haven’t, but it seems cool.” She paused. “Lucy tells me you work in magazines?”

Was it Kate’s imagination, or did Tanya have her hand on Kate’s hip? Kate tried to move backwards, but was hemmed in by the crowd.

“Yeah, I’m the art editor. Pays the bills.” Kate smiled with her mouth, even though her mind was frowning. “How about you, what do you do?”

Tanya rubbed Kate’s hip, her fingers firm on Kate’s body.

Kate held her breath. She’d known the woman five minutes and she was already touching her. Tanya was either highly confident, used to getting her own way or a complete loon. Or possibly, a mix of all three.

“I’m a barrister.” Tanya looked terribly pleased about that. She dropped her contact with Kate and winked. “So if you ever get into any trouble, you know who to call.”

Kate was pretty sure Tanya would be the last person she’d call in a bind. She willed Jess to come to her rescue, but Jess was in animated conversation with Belinda. She glanced over to the bar, but Lucy was still waving a £20 note in the air.

“Barrister — quite impressive,” Kate said. She was going to be open-minded about this and give Tanya another chance.

“Yeah, it tends to be. Opens up doors and women seem to like it.” Tanya smiled broadly, before moving back into Kate’s personal space. And there was the wink again.
Did she practise that in the mirror before she left the house?
Kate would not be surprised.

Kate assessed the facts. One socially inept barrister, one bottle of beer she was gulping at a rate of knots. This was going nowhere, but even Kate wasn’t impolite enough to bolt after barely five minutes. She just had to hold on until Lucy or Jess saved her, which would be any minute now.
Surely
.

“What kind of magazine do you work for?”

Tanya’s voice jolted Kate, and she let the words soak into her brain before answering. “Female Health & Fitness — health, wellbeing, that sort of thing.”

“Lucky you.” Tanya nudged Kate with her elbow.

“Lucky me?”

“You know.”
Another wink
. “Looking at all those semi-naked women all day long. That’s every lesbian’s dream job, surely?”

Kate snorted. “I thought every lesbian’s dream job was to be Angelina Jolie’s PA.”

“Good one,” Tanya said, touching Kate’s arm. She was clearly a lover of physical contact.

“Do you work out? You look like you do,” Tanya asked. But before Kate could respond, Tanya was off again. “I do, but I try not to be a gym bore. You know what those people are like. But I do like to keep in shape.” Tanya felt her own biceps and nodded. “A firm body is a firm mind.”

“Right,” Kate said. “I’m not really the gym sort, but I do like riding my bike — beats taking the tube hands-down. Keeps me fit and gives me a real feeling of freedom.”

Tanya screwed up her face. “I think bike-riders have a death-wish. You wouldn’t catch me cycling round this city with its clogged up roads, just waiting to be killed. It’s hardly Amsterdam, is it?”

Kate knew this argument well, she’d heard it many times. “You’ve just got to be determined — give the drivers back the attitude they give you.” She ran a hand over her leg. “Plus, it gives you thighs of steel.”

“Really?” Tanya said, a sly smile taking over her face.

As soon as the words flew out of Kate’s mouth, she knew they were a mistake. She stepped sideways, just too late as Tanya’s hand snaked onto her thigh. Kate jumped as if she’d just sat on a lightning bolt.

“Excuse me a minute, I’m just nipping to the bar.” On the way past Jess, Kate snagged her arm, apologising to Belinda.

Kate didn’t stop till she made it to the bar, then turned to face Jess. “So do tell me,” Kate said. “Where exactly did Lucy find Tanya?”

Jess smiled. “Pretty hot, isn’t she? And that hair — I really want to touch her hair.”

Kate narrowed her eyes.

Jess raised an eyebrow. “Not that hot?”

“Try a bit full of herself. She was stroking my hip within five minutes like we were bosom buddies. And she clearly has her own stash of cheesy one-liners. Can I go home now?”

Jess turned and sneaked a glance back to their group. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure! The woman thinks she’s God’s gift.”

The bartender arrived and Kate ordered two beers, with a spiced rum chaser.

“Shots already?” Jess said.

“Yes. I’m not going back over there without more alcohol in my system.”

Kate grimaced as the bartender set their drinks down in front of them. She handed Jess her shot and held up her own. “And by the way, you owe me big time — and remind me never to come on another set-up with you again, okay?”

The pair downed their shots, then strode back to the group. Kate made Jess stand next to Tanya while she stood in between Lucy and Belinda, which certainly kept any wandering hands at bay. Kate learned that Belinda was in online marketing and had met Lucy at a networking evening.

“And how do you know Tanya?” Kate was intrigued.

“I worked on some stuff for her law courts. She’s an absolute scream!” Belinda said. “I mean, a bit out there and socially free, but she totally blew my concept of what a barrister was out of the water. I mean, she
seriously
is not the norm.” Belinda broke into a wide grin as they both looked over at Tanya.

“Nope, definitely not your average barrister,” Kate agreed, before excusing herself to go to the loo.

A quick wee, finish her beer and she was out of here. Perhaps she could make it home in time for some trashy reality show on Channel 4? That sounded like her kind of Friday night. Besides, she didn’t want to be too late tonight, as tomorrow she had the lure of a flower date with her newly installed favourite florist.

Kate was just washing her hands a few minutes later when the door opened and in walked Tanya. Kate saw her in the mirror and gave Tanya her best fake smile.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding!” Tanya said.

Kate braced herself, almost ready for Tanya to grab her round the waist from behind and nuzzle her neck. Instead, Tanya simply propped herself up against the row of sinks in the toilet and leaned back, extending her long neck and shaking her glossy hair. It was another well-rehearsed move.

“We missed you back in the bar.” She fixed Kate with a steely gaze.

Kate was flummoxed. Tanya did not behave like anybody she’d ever met before. Like Belinda said, she was socially free. And this socially free one-woman tour de force was soon on the move, edging towards Kate. Even though she was a bit shorter, Tanya oozed presence and power, something Kate was all too aware of.

Kate shuffled sideways to the hand-drier and Tanya stopped just short of her.

“I know you might think I’m forward, but I like to get the ball rolling early, leave nothing in doubt. I’d love to go on somewhere later, just the two of us and get to know you better. What do you say?”

Kate could think of nothing to say and was short of breath. She exhaled, her eyes darting round the bathroom like a pinball — anywhere but Tanya. Where had she come from?

“Erm… I don’t think that’s going to work tonight.”

Tanya’s face dropped slightly, but then she recovered, instead fixing Kate with a concerned face. “You’re not going, are you?”

Kate shook her head. “No, it’s just I’m not up for a late one tonight — got things to do tomorrow — family things.”

Tanya moved to within inches of her, face like a trained weapon, her mouth the glinting blade. “That’s a shame — perhaps another time?”