Chapter 2
Kara heard the car pull up outside her window at 5:59 and she bit back a grin as her phone rang. Grabbing her phone from the sofa and answering it, she lifted the mobile to her ear.
“We’re waiting outside, you’re not running late, are you? I did give you all afternoon to prepare, and you know how I hate to be kept waiting.” Cat grumbled into the phone as Kara slammed shut the door to her apartment and headed for the stairwell. “So, how long are you going to be, Kiera?”
“I’ll be with you in thirty seconds, Miss Grant!” Kara responded as she made her way hurriedly down the stairs and tried not to trip over her own feet. Rushing towards the complex’s front door, she stepped out and strode towards Cat’s car eagerly before pulling open the door and sliding into the side she knew Cat never used. “Miss Grant, I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
Cat didn’t offer the quick-witted response that Kara was expecting, instead, she simply let her eyes trail over Kara’s well-dressed form and pursed her lips gently. Smugly, Kara waited for Cat to collect herself and slipped her phone into the small handbag she had elected to bring.
“You look…nice,” Cat commented, dragging herself back to reality. “Okay, back to business - we need to set some boundaries. How comfortable are you with PDA?”
“I’m sure I can handle whatever you throw at me, Miss Grant. Let’s just have a nice night and not worry about formalities, shall we?” Kara suggested in the knowledge that Cat would be largely concerned about a sexual harassment suit in the morning. “I’m happy to do this Miss Grant, just try and relax?”
“Certainly, Kara. I’m absolutely fine.”
Kara was certain that she’d never seen her boss this anxious. She’d seen her angry, and upset, and even occasionally worried but she had never seen her so anxious. It was strange to see someone who you relate with confidence and groundedness suddenly so consumed with unease.
The car came to a stop and each woman looked out of her respective window to find they had arrived at Michael’s house. Stepping out of her side of the car, Kara hurried around to open Cat’s door and offer her a hand before tapping on the roof and watching the Mercedes drive away. The older woman’s stature visibly stiffened as her eyes settled on the house and she steeled her expression mindlessly only to feel her young assistant’s arm slip around her waist and stay there as the two of them made their way up the drive.
Knocking on the front door, the two women were there only a matter of seconds before a familiar face pulled it open and grinned almost cruelly at the pair of them.
“Catherine, darling! I didn’t know you were bringing a plus one!“
“I’m sorry, Michael,” Cat responded bitterly, a false grin plastered across her cheeks. “I hope it’s no trouble, only I was told that I was permitted one.”
“Certainly no problem at all, I just didn’t think you were seeing anyone and I know that it’s getting tougher every day for a woman like yourself to find a plus one. Where did you find this pretty little thing anyway, Cat? And what on Earth possessed you, I thought you’d moved on from women after college!” Michael’s tone was sharp and defensive as he chided Cat.
“I’m Kara Danvers, Mr. Willis. Cat and I met through work, and I’d like to think I possessed her. I’m sure my womanly wiles drew her back to the dark side though I can’t take all the credit, Cat is a magnificent entity all on her own.” Even as the words fell out of her mouth, Kara couldn’t help but wonder where they’d come from though she kept her hold on Cat’s waist and smiled casually as they were reluctantly invited inside.
“Lisa baby, Cat’s here! And she’s brought Kara with her, I’ll have to ask Carter to set another place at the table, won’t I!” Michael called as he approached the kitchen with Cat and Kara following him. Walking into the kitchen, they caught sight of the young leggy blonde that Michael was marrying in three weeks time. “How’s dinner coming along?”
“Great, Michael, everything’s right on track.” She answered as she focused on the pots and pans in front of her.
Carter came bounding through and wrapped his arms around Kara enthusiastically, grinning broadly as the woman’s Kryptonian reflexes allowed her to catch him and wrap him in a hug.
“Mom didn’t say you were coming!” The teen pointed out as he drew back and noticed the closeness between Kara and his mother, but he was mature and intuitive and he knew that now wasn’t the time to be asking questions so he went along with it.
“You know Kara then, kid?” Michael asked curiously as he approached Carter and tousled the young boy’s hair awkwardly.
“Yeah, she comes over at least a couple times a week. She’s great!” Carter replied happily as he shifted away from his father and headed back towards the dining room. “I’ll go and add an extra place to the table.”
Kara caught Cat’s eye and saw the worry that was threatening to boil over, and she could sense that Michael felt it too. Without hesitation, she lifted her hand to Cat’s forehead and pressed it there curiously.
“Are you feeling alright, Cat? You’re looking a little peaky and I know you stayed late at work last night. I’ve told you not to overwork yourself!“ Kara’s tone was naturally concerned as she dropped her hand to the tiny woman’s shoulder and caught her gaze reassuringly.
“I didn’t realize you two were, you know, an item. How long’s that been going on for?” Michael interrupted boldly as he crossed to wrap his arms around the back of his fiancee - a show of dominance no doubt - and kissed her shoulder. “I hope you’ll bring her to the wedding, Cat!”
Cat’s hazel eyes met Kara’s blue with alarm in them, unsure of how to respond.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Michael!” Kara replied in a nonchalant tone though there was promise in her eyes. “I’ve managed to tempt Cat out to dinner a few times over the past months, she’s still playing hard to get it would seem.”
As Cat interjected, she latched on to what Kara was doing and smiled gratefully. Carter would understand, she could explain it to him on the way home and he’d agree to keep quiet…of course, he would. The two settled into a routine and by the time dinner was being served, their hands sat on the dinner table, intertwined. The teen caught his mother’s eye once or twice, but he simply smiled at her warmly and went back to his food without thinking. The conversation was dry, almost as dry as the lamb, and Cat found her mind wandering to what had possessed Kara to think this was a good idea.
The night drew to a close at almost nine o’clock, by which time had consumed far more wine than her tiny stature could realistically handle and Kara was prepared to pick her up and carry her out of the door. Guiding her carefully through the kitchen, Kara offered her thanks for a nice evening and ushered the two Grants outside towards the awaiting car. As the got into the car, Carter slipped in beside the driver without a thought leaving Kara to, reluctantly, take the seat beside Cat.
Silently, the driver took them back to Cat’s building as the older of the two women rested her head sleepily against Kara’s shoulder. Carter didn’t seem fazed, not even slightly, and Kara couldn’t help but wonder if Cat had told him earlier and this afternoon was just part of the act. Nevertheless, she thanked Cat’s driver quietly before helping her boss upstairs and into the apartment.
“You okay getting yourself to bed, bud?” Kara asked kindly as Carter crossed the threshold and nodded wordlessly as she pulled off his shoes. “I’m gonna get your mom into bed and then I’ll call a taxi and be out of your hair, okay? Your Mom will talk to you about this whole situation in the morning when she’s feeling a little better.”
“It’s too late to get a taxi now, Kara. It isn’t safe.” Carter replied, ever the voice of reason, as he shrugged off his jacket. “I don’t care if you share Mom’s bed, it doesn’t matter to me, or if you’re really desperate to keep pretending then you can take the couch.”
“Goodnight Carter.” She replied, rolling her eyes as she slipped off her own heels and locked the door, guiding Cat down the hallway to the master bedroom. “Let’s get you ready for bed, Miss Grant.”
Mumbling sleepily, Cat tugged her dress easily over her head and kicked off her shoes. Kara tried to keep her eyes at a respectable level but they seemed to slip downward even though she fought against them, and she had to bite her lip to keep from saying something as her eyes trailed over Cat’s petite curves. Shaking off her sordid thoughts, she tried to corral her boss towards the bed though it proved a difficult task.
“Thank you for tonight, Kara. It was lovely.” Cat uttered warmly, leaning to press a gentle kiss against Kara’s lips before the twenty-something woman pulled back in surprise. Unfazed, Cat climbed under the duvet and drew it up to her chin before patting the opposite side of the bed.
“I’m gonna get a taxi home, I’ll see you in the morning, Miss Grant.”
“Stay.” Cat suggested, seemingly more sober than she had been only moments ago. “Just until I fall asleep.”
Reluctantly, Kara settled herself on top of the comforter and smiled, eyes glancing over Cat’s vulnerable form and reveling in seeing this new and unfamiliar side to her boss.
“Goodnight, Supergirl.” She heard Cat whisper mindlessly as she drifted to sleep.