14. Renee
Renee
Luke’s was pretty dead that Wednesday evening, so Renee got her pick of tall wooden booths in the super casual little restaurant.
The place in a small strip mall was known for its burgers, appetizers, and all-day happy hour.
She chose a booth on the opposite end from a family with two rowdy children.
Far enough away where they could have a conversation and actually hear each other over the noisy chatter and occasional squeals.
Renee slid into the booth and checked her phone before placing it face down on the table. She was nervous. She shouldn’t be nervous. This was just a meeting with a client she was now hiring to play music at an event. Nothing more.
She was picking at her napkin-wrapped silverware when she saw Jessica walk through the front door. Her heart rate kicked up simply at the sight of her, and she realized how much she was in trouble here.
This was a mistake.
A mistake part of her was more than happy to make.
Renee waved her over and shifted nervously as Jessica slid in across from her, wearing a curve-hugging Saints T-shirt with a messy high bun and a glossy pink smile. Renee caught herself staring at that pretty mouth for a beat longer than she should have.
“Thanks for meeting me,” Renee said. “They really do have the best fries here.”
“Oh, I know,” Jessica said with a big grin. “Naomi and I come here all the time.”
Renee wanted to know if Naomi was a friend or… something else. But she knew better than to think it was any of her business to ask.
The server arrived to take their order, and they both asked for the loaded cheese fries. When Jessica ordered a soft drink, Renee second-guessed her own selection.
“Do you mind if I order a beer? I don’t want to if it’s going to bother you for any reason.”
“No, that’s totally fine,” Jessica said. “I just don’t drink often, but I’m fine being around others who do.”
Renee ordered her beer, then leaned against the back of the booth. She was surprised by how comfortable she felt sitting there with Jessica. Her energy was positive yet soothing. It was like sitting down with a friend instead of a business associate.
“So,” Jessica said with a sly grin. “How’s the baking going?”
“Done for now,” Renee said. “Feeling much better. Especially now that we’ve got some of the plans in place for my aunt’s celebration. Thanks for agreeing to play. And whatever your fee is, my mother will be glad to pay it.”
Susan Benoit might be stingy with her love and attention, but not with her money.
“I’m glad we can do it. I’ve never done a celebration of life before. What kind of music are you thinking? We typically do standard wedding reception tunes. A lot of classics. Some newer stuff mixed in. All songs you can dance to.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Any special requests?”
Renee thought for a moment. She could only think of one. “‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody.’ It was my aunt’s favorite.”
She smiled at the memory of all those nights they spent singing in their socks with TV remotes as microphones. Those were some of the best moments of Renee’s childhood.
Jessica typed on her phone. “Got it. Anything else?”
“No, that’s all I can think of. I trust you.” She quickly caught herself. “The band. I mean, I trust you and the band to know what you’re doing.”
Smooth, Renee. Real smooth.
“How about for our breaks? We stream a playlist we can customize. This a country crowd? Pop? Rock? Emo? Polka?”
Renee laughed. “Whatever your normal mix is will be fine. Honestly, I don’t feel like catering to most of these people, anyway.”
“Got it,” Jessica said. “Well, if you think of anything else, just text me, and we’ll make it happen.”
“Thanks again. You’re actually a lifesaver with this. If your band couldn’t play, we’d be stuck with the band that played at my cousin’s wedding. They were fine, but I don’t think my aunt would want a bunch of old jazz standards at her celebration.”
“Understood,” Jessica said with a laugh. “That’s not everyone’s taste, no matter how good they are.”
The server arrived with their drinks. A Coke for Jessica and a local pale ale for Renee. When she left, Jessica wasted no time getting to their other order of business.
“So Claire will definitely have Chase on Friday evening. She’ll be done with her longer work days and wants tomorrow to recover, so she’s taking him for the entire weekend.”
A flash of sadness wiped across Jessica’s face, and Renee could only imagine how much being away from that dog for three whole days was going to sting.
“Good. I’ll be there,” Renee said. “And let’s hope I can stay there.”
Jessica’s expression faded. “Why wouldn’t you be able to stay?”
“One of her neighbors got a little too suspicious last time.”
“Oh, no. Did she say something to you?”
“No. She was out walking her dog and was keeping an eye out for me. I’m just kind of worried she might get even more suspicious and call the cops.”
“Can they arrest you for that?”
“No, they wouldn’t once I show them my P.I. license,” she said. “But that would draw too much attention.”
Jessica bit the side of her lip and looked upward, deep in thought. Then she returned her gaze to Renee with a look of pure confidence. “I’ve got a solution.”
“Oh, yeah? You gonna paint my car a different color or something?”
“Or something,” she said. “We’ll take my car.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Renee shook her head. “What’s this ‘we’ business?”
“She’s my ex, and you’re on the job. I think that makes us a team.”
“It most certainly does not,” Renee insisted. “I don’t do teams.”
It was part of what had appealed so much to her about the job. She spent most of her time working alone, and she liked it that way. That and being part of someone else getting justice.
“It’s just for this little part,” Jessica said. “And I won’t be in the way or anything. We can use my car for one evening. I’ll be quiet. You won’t even know I’m there.”
Renee barked a laugh. “Sure, I won’t.”
Jessica was hard to miss. With her soft features and big, hazel eyes, how would Renee be able to concentrate on her job?
“Won’t Claire recognize your car parked outside her apartment?”
“We won’t be right outside it,” Jessica said. “And I drive a silver Corolla. No one will give my car a second glance.”
She wasn’t wrong. But the nosy neighbor had gotten eyes on Renee in a black Nissan SUV. She’d bought that car partly because it was such a common color and easy to blend in with all the other black cars floating around. But sometimes she got made, anyway.
“She won’t notice me,” Jessica continued. “Trust me.”
Renee got the sense they were talking about more than just the car now, but it wasn’t her place to ask.
“I can’t believe I’m even considering this.”
“Oh, come on. It’s the perfect option. And I want to do something besides sitting around and waiting, anyway.” Jessica took a sip of her Coke, then excitement overtook her along with the sugar. “I’ll bring snacks!”
“No snacks. This isn’t a picnic,” Renee snapped. Then she softened her tone a bit. “Besides, I still have some cookies left that I didn’t find a home for.”
“Chips then. Something salty.”
“No chips. The grease gets on my camera,” Renee said. “I really can’t believe we’re even having this conversation.”
“Okay, something non-greasy,” Jessica said, ignoring the last part of Renee’s objection. “I’ll think of something else. What do you like to drink?”
Currently, she was really glad she’d ordered that beer.
“I’ll have my water,” she said. “Don’t drink too much. It isn’t like we can knock on the door asking to use the restroom.”
“Good point.” Jessica chewed on her bottom lip in an adorable display of contemplation.
This was a bad idea. At the very least, she was crossing some sort of ethical line. She wasn’t sure what, but it felt like it. Plus, this woman was too adorable not to be distracting.
Still. Having another car would be helpful.
“So it’s settled then? Friday night, my car?”
The server arrived and placed two mountains of fries covered in cheese, bacon, banana peppers, and sour cream in front of them. Renee stared at her plate, shaking her head. Finally, she looked back up at Jessica.
“Against my better judgment… yes.”