REPRESENTED (9 page)

             
Karin nodded, shook her hand, and checked that Nina was set and ready to go on her own as she casually walked over to Cassie.

             
“Hi, I’m sorry you had to wait so long” she apologized.

             
“No, that’s okay; it was interesting watching you handle your client’s fans.  It’s so personal.  I’m lucky to even sign my name but she actually gets to talk to them” she enthused admiredly.

             
Karin grinned “wanna get out of here?”

             
“Where did you have in mind?” Cassie asked.

             
Karin didn’t even hesitate “I would like to go to Carl’s Jr. if you don’t mind.  I’m craving a Western Bacon Cheeseburger.”

             
Cassie blinked in delighted surprise.  She had worried that Karin would want to go somewhere fancy that she wasn’t exactly dressed for in her jeans attire.  Karin of course was dressed up for the signing in a business suit but to hear she wanted to go to a fast food restaurant relieved Cassie immensely.  Casual was good.  She smiled and said “that sounds great, let’s go.”

             
Karin linked her arm as they strolled out of the Barnes and Noble bookstore and onto the street.  Looking up and down the avenue Karin asked “any idea where one is?”

             
Cassie laughed “I have no idea; I usually catch a taxi or have someone drive me places in this town.”

             
Karin joined her laughter.  “Hang on, I’ll ask” before letting go of Cassie’s arm and popping her head into the store again she asked the manager who had followed them to the door “Where’s the nearest Carl’s Jr.?”  The manager looked at her oddly but smiling told her.  Karin thanked her and turned to Cassie.  “Care to walk a couple of blocks?”

             
Cassie laughed again, just happy to be with her “no, I don’t mind.  It would probably be good for us to work up an appetite” and then blushed at the double innuendo she had unintentionally uttered.

             
Karin pretended to take it at face value as she put her arm through Cassie’s again and began walking down the sidewalk.  “So what are you going to have?” she asked.

             
“I don’t know. I don’t know if I have
ever
eaten at a Carl’s Jr.”

             
“You have
never
eaten at a Carl’s Jr.?” Karin pretended to be aghast.

             
Cassie laughed and shook her head.  Karin was being silly and Cassie was enjoying it.  Not many people dared to just be silly around her unless they knew her well.  It also showed that Karin wasn’t the cold woman that her reputation said she was.

             
“Oh my dear, you are in for a culinary delight” and Karin went on to compare the food from this fast food restaurant to that of Burger King’s, McDonalds, and Wendy’s.  She went on for a while as though comparing the finest restaurants in the world and they were both laughing uproariously as they made their way the couple of blocks to the restaurant.

             
Cassie had a great time at dinner over hamburgers, criss cut fries, and a soda.  They didn’t talk about anything serious and it set the tone for their evening.  Karin ordered a taxi after dinner and had it take them to the Santa Monica Pier where they walked around to see the carnival delights.  Cassie convinced Karin to go on some of the rides and then tried to win her a prize at some of the carnival games.  She didn’t succeed but they had a good laugh over it.  Then Karin surprised her by shooting basketball and winning her a blow up guitar.  She looked really hot in a suit shooting the ball into the hoop three consecutive times in a row making it look easy with the flex of her wrists and her finger tips on the ball.

             
“How in the world did you do that?” Cassie asked in amazement.

             
“Now you have to dedicate your next song to me as you create it on this guitar” Karin told her solemnly as she handed it to her.

             
Cassie grinned; she was having a delightful time with her new found friend.  She hadn’t been silly like this in a long time and was having so much fun.  “I’ll do it!” she promised.

             
Cassie took Karin back to her own hotel in a taxi and walked her upstairs.  “I’ve really had a wonderful time” she told her with a smile as she held her silly blow up guitar under her arm.

             
Karin returned the smile and Cassie found herself slightly breathless for a moment.  “I had a great time too, I hope to see more of you” she said quietly, for the first time that evening serious and not joking.

             
They both wondered if they should end the evening with a kiss but Karin gave her a hug and unlocked her door she gave Cassie one last look as she smiled and closed the door behind her.  Cassie wondered how she would get a hold of Karin again as she reached into her purse to grab her phone she saw a card had been shoved inside.  Pulling it out she found it had Karin’s business numbers and business address in New York listed and a handwritten cell number on the back.  Smiling she felt the raised print thoughtfully before she shoved the card deep in her pants pocket so as not to lose it.  When had she snuck that in?

              Karin had realized early in the evening how attracted she was to Cassie Summers.  It wasn’t just physical although she was a beautiful woman, as she got to know her it was mental, she was intelligent, fun, and Karin enjoyed talking with her all evening.  They both had demanding careers though and while she was certain Cassie was attracted to her as well she wasn’t sure where this relationship could possibly go.  She was hopeful though as she really enjoyed their silly evening together.  It was so spontaneous; she enjoyed surprising Cassie as they impulsively did things all evening.  The look on Cassie’s face as she lost time and again trying to win something at the carnival and then Karin shooting hoops to win her that blow up guitar, it was priceless and very memorable for both of them.  Karin had wanted to kiss her desperately many times throughout the evening but had held off since they didn’t know each other very well yet.  As they rode up in the elevator she had wondered if there would be a good night kiss at her door she had discretely put her card in Cassie’s purse, she figured if they did see each other again it would be up to Cassie as Karin didn’t have her number and didn’t want to be pushy.

             
“Hello?” a very groggy voice answered the phone and Cassie wasn’t certain is was Karin who had answered.

             
“Karin?  Do I have the right number?” Cassie asked looking down at what she had punched in her phone and checking it against the card.

             
“Yes?” Karin didn’t bother opening her eyes.  She had stayed up half the night thinking about Cassie Summers, researching her on her laptop, and dreaming about her until she fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning, with the time difference of different coasts, she was exhausted.  Now she was hearing things or at least a voice that sounded like one Cassie Summers, her mind was playing tricks on her she was convinced.  She tried to read the display, Tennessee?

             
“Karin?  It’s Cassie....Cassie Summers?” saying it as though Karin wouldn’t know who she was.

             
Karin forced herself to wake up as she sat up in her bed.  She strained to read the digital clock on the television across the room but her eyes wouldn’t focus enough for that and she rubbed her right one with her fist.  “Cassie?  Well, Good Morning!” she enthused trying to sound more awake than she felt.

             
“Is it too early to call?” Cassie sounded worried.

             
Karin shook her head and answered “No, not at all.  I just....didn’t get much sleep” she finished lamely.

             
“Why?  Did something happen?” she wondered if a client had needed her.

             
“No, I just couldn’t sleep” Karin frowned into the phone as she began to focus and could read the digital clock 8:04.  She had to assume it was a.m.  She should have set her alarm.  She had two hours to be ready and at the bookstore for her client.

             
Cassie had trouble sleeping last night too but she was a night owl after years of playing bars and honky-tonks and it didn’t affect her as much.  She could sleep for only two hours and feel refreshed and ready to go.  It was a good thing too as last night she had been lucky to get three.  She had spent most of the night kicking herself for not kissing Karin when she had the chance and then thinking about all she knew about her.  She had Googled her and while there was a lot on the PR firm she worked for there was nothing really personal about her.  Most of the stories about her segued into the famous client’s she had over the years, the public relations she had done for them, even a couple of times she had done some management.  Her behind the scenes talents were well known which was why Cassie had heard of her before she had met her.  “I was hoping you and I could meet for breakfast or at least coffee?” she hesitated not sure if she was overstepping some imaginary line or if she had imagined the mutual interest, maybe Karin had just been nice to her last night because she was famous.

             
Karin smiled into the phone, interest, definite interest.  “Yes, that would be great.  There is a Starbucks at the Barnes and Noble we will be at this morning.  I have to be there by 10.  Would you like to meet me there at 9?”

             
Cassie agreed and Karin gave her the address of where the store was located before ringing off and diving into the shower.  She gave herself only half an hour to be washed, made up, and dressed but she left her hotel room looking impeccable and not at all like she had hurried.

             
She was sitting in Starbucks reading the L.A. Times when she
felt
Cassie walk in.  Using her sunglasses to her advantage she pretended to be reading when in all actuality she watched the woman walk across the magazine section to the little coffee area set aside for the bookstores readers.  She didn’t realize she had a slight grin on her lips as she put the paper down to acknowledge Cassie as she rose from her seat.

             
“Why hello!” she smiled, a genuine one.

             
Cassie admired the tan suit she was wearing.  Everything matched beautifully from the suit jacket, matching slacks, to the satin blouse and low heeled shoes.  Her own jeans and blouse made her feel a little dowdy next to the attractive brunette.  “Am I late?” she breathed suddenly feeling as though she had run.

             
Karin shook her head amused; she had been waiting all of three minutes maybe before she spotted the blonde.  “No, not at all, I just got here.  Would you care to order?” her hand indicated the glass display and chalkboard.

             
Cassie walked up to the counter and asked for a ‘mocha latte and a blueberry muffin’ while Karin ordered a ‘strawberry shake and blueberry muffin’ and then proceeded to lay down a $20.

             
“Wait, I’ll pay, I invited you to breakfast and coffee!” Cassie protested.

             
Karin shrugged and said “it’s okay, I’ve got it already.”

             
“You paid for dinner last night.”

             
“And you paid for the rides” she countered.

             
They stood there amused trying to stare each other down but the cashier had already scooped up the $20 and put the change and receipt on the counter as they argued.  They laughed and shrugged it off as each grabbed her tray and headed for the table Karin had vacated.

             
“Do you always pay for everything?” Cassie asked as she sat down.

             
Karin shrugged; she was used to covering things.  It came out of her expense reports and she had discretely pocketed the change and the receipt.  It was part of what she did for a living, it had become natural and she was used to it.  She hadn’t battled anyone for a meal in a long time.  “I’m sorry, did it offend you?” she sounded concerned as she sat down.

             
“I did ask you to breakfast” Cassie smiled as she took a sip of her coffee.

             
Karin smiled, “only because you beat me to it and I didn’t have your number.”

             
“And that’s another thing, when did you sneak your card into my purse?”

             
Karin laughed “sleight of hand, it comes in very handy in my line of work you know?”

             
Cassie laughed with her “yeah I bet, voila and here is our next act” she gestured as though a circus performer.

             
“You never know what a client is going to need for me to pull out of my hat.”

             
Cassie had to concede that was a valid point.  “I suppose you get a lot of demanding clients?”