Page 28 of Rook

We hadn’t seen each other too often since she moved into the clubhouse.

I caught her coming out of the karate studio once. And for dinner at the clubhouse. But we hadn’t really had any time to sit and talk.

Somehow, though, it felt natural.

My arm slid behind her back on the cushions, and she took the opportunity to scoot closer.

I’d like to say it was the click of Nancy’s heels on the steps that had my arm wrapping around Tessa, pulling her more tightly against my side. But, honestly, it was just an urge that I wasn’t going to fight.

“Ready?” I asked as the steps got closer.

“Sure,” Tessa said, but she was tenser than she’d been a moment before.

I wanted to assure her that it was all going to be alright, but it was right then that I heard Nancy’s signature three raps on the door.

“Come in,” I called.

There was the shortest of pauses before she did just what I suggested.

Then there was Nancy Bird. She was on the short side and had an average build under a gray plaid ancient blazer with a matching skirt, looking more like she was off to an office temp job than to check on her parolees. Her red hair was shorter than it’d been the week before, and it somehow put her icy blue eyes even more on display.

Those eyes lasered in on the two of us on the couch, narrowing as she took in Tessa’s turquoise hair, likely making a dozen snap judgments based on its color.

“You must be Tessa Kay,” Nancy said, voice tight and nasal and positively dripping with condescension.

“I am,” Tessa said, shooting Nancy a smile that no one would call fake, even though I could feel the tension in her body. Until she unfolded from me to stand and offer Nancy her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Bird.”

Nancy sniffed at the air, but manners forced her to take Tessa’s hand, giving it a short, hard shake, then pulling hers back quickly.

“I have some questions for you,” Nancy said.

“Oh, of course,” Tessa said. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?” she asked, reaching for her own cup.

“No. I don’t drink coffee,” Nancy said.

“Would you like to have a seat?” Tessa asked, waving to the empty spot next to me. “I’m going to have to get Rook to get some more seating in here, it seems.”

“No. I’ll stand.”

As Nancy rummaged in her bag for her trusty old notepad, where she kept track of everything I’d ever said to her, Tessa shot me a raised-brow, wide-eyed look that said Nancy was even worse than she’d been expecting.

“Okay. How long have you two been… seeing each other?” Nancy asked as Tessa snuggled up to me again, putting on a show that was making Nancy uncomfortable enough to avert her gaze.

“Oh, well. We met a few months ago in passing, right, honey?” she asked, looking me in the eye.

“At the… karate studio?”

“Yes. I was working remote for a while because it was kind of a haul into town every day. But once I started renting a room in Shady Valley, I began coming into the office again.”

“I see. And the dating?”

“I guess it started slowly. Just passing each other at work or right outside. Then one day, we really got to talking. The rest, as they say, was history. I mean, look at him,” Tessa said, reaching over to squeeze my chin. “Who wouldn’t fall for that face?”

Nancy’s nose wrinkled, but she kept her thoughts to herself for once.

“Are you living here?”

“No. I mean… not yet,” she said, nudging me in the ribs. “Hint hint.”

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