Page 17 of A Little Light

She stepped into the lift, a little uneasy being in here alone, and pressed the button that would take her to the fourteenth floor. Why would someone open a restaurant on top of a high-rise residential building? It made little sense.

Exhaling a breath when the lift reached her floor, Andi stepped out and frowned. It didn’t look like a residential building anymore. No, it looked like the entrance to a restaurant. Okay, maybe this wasn’t a joke. God, she hated the unknown.

Andi approached the heavy wooden-slatted doors, pushing one open to be met with a sight that astounded her. “Oh, my God.” Her eyes widened as she approached the meet and greet server, a podium between them. Thousands of baubles and twinkly lights hung from the ceiling, golds and silvers sparkling all around. “This place is—”

“Spectacular?” the server asked, cocking her head. “I’m going to assume you’ve never dined with us before?”

Andi shook herself from the daze she was in. This place was incredible. “N-no.”

“Do you have a reservation?”

“Um, yes. I’m meeting a friend.” It suddenly dawned on Andi that she couldn’t remember Rachel’s surname. Was Rachel even her first name? She was an escort; it probably wasn’t. I hope it is. Our contract will be void otherwise. “Rachel?”

The server nodded and smiled. “She’s waiting at the bar for you. I believe there is a cocktail chilling with your name on it.”

Andi’s palms grew clammy at those words. Rachel was already here. She hadn’t been joking, and she’d already ordered drinks. Wow! Some friendship this was turning out to be.

“If you’d like to follow me?”

Andi smiled and followed the server. And then she saw her. Rachel in all her glory. Those clammy palms suddenly seemed like the least of her worries. Rachel was something to admire…and then some. “H-hi.”

“Hey! Glad you finally arrived.” Rachel got down from her stool, kissing Andi on the cheek. That same unfamiliar sensation coursed through her again. Just as it had the day Rachel turned up to the loft before work. “You look amazing, by the way.”

“Thank you.” Andi had chosen to go home from work early to prepare for this evening. She hadn’t needed to, but she’d wanted to. She had an inkling that Rachel would be dressed up to the nines, and she wasn’t wrong. Her ‘friend’ wore a sleek black dress that finished a little shorter than mid-thigh, her hair sporting a wave this evening. Andi would do her very best to avoid staring tonight, but it wasn’t going to be an easy task. “You look great, too.”

“I took it upon myself to order you a drink. Strawberry daiquiri?”

Andi tried to fight back the grin she felt working its way to her lips. That was her favourite cocktail. How had Rachel known that? “Yes. I’d love one.”

“The cocktails in this place are pretty good.”

Andi calmed herself, placing her clutch bag on the bar. She lifted onto a stool as smoothly as she could, crossing her legs once she was situated.

“Do you wear this kind of stuff to work all the time?” Rachel arched a brow, then her eyes dropped lower to Andi’s thighs. “I’ve never met an estate agent like you before.”

“No. I have to confess that I went home first to shower and change. My jeans wouldn’t have cut it since I know what you usually wear to a date.”

“A date, huh?”

Andi wanted the floor to open up and swallow her. “Shit. That’s not what I meant. It’s just…you know how to dress. I had a feeling you’d dress very well for dinner tonight. I didn’t want to look like I hadn’t made the effort.”

“Mmhmm.” Rachel smirked as she sipped her drink, averting her eyes to the bar.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply—”

“Oh, no. Imply all you like. I’m not concerned.” Rachel waved a hand between them. “And anyway, I’m used to all that fake dating stuff, remember?”

Andi studied Rachel’s profile, that smile that was still present, how relaxed she appeared to be. Did Rachel think this was a date? Surely not. Andi hadn’t done or said anything to suggest it would be. But then…Andi wouldn’t complain if it was a date. Not at all.

Sensing that Andi was overthinking, Rachel turned back to her. “Relax, Andi. This is just dinner. Getting food together, you know?”

“Sure. Yeah.” Andi cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. It’s been so long since I went out to dinner with anyone. Friend or not.”

“Well, tonight we’re going to enjoy ourselves. We’re going to eat some fine food, enjoy some delicious drinks, and get to know one another better. How does that sound?”

Mesmerised by Rachel’s eyes, Andi simply lifted her cocktail and smiled. “Sounds like a great night to me.”

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