Chapter 1

Blake stood on the small porch of the cabin that would be home for the next month, the air was thick and humid, the wind that blew through the palm trees didn't offer any relief. She found herself smiling as she looked out over the stretch of beach that would be hers, well hers and Addie's, for the next month. She had no idea why the woman hadn't flown in with them. When Donna and Lex, Donna's newest baby butch, had picked her up, they'd been alone, Donna told her that Addie would arrive later that day. So for now she enjoyed the time she had alone. They would have to discuss their sleeping arrangements since there was only one bed, queen-sized, and she wanted to be the one that got to sleep in it. But Blake wasn't against compromising and alternating nights. The couch in their small living room was comfortable enough. She just hoped this Addie woman was as compromising as she was. She'd already unpacked and felt she left the other woman enough space in the cupboard for her clothes, so now she stood outside, wondering what to do next. 

The sky was clear blue, lone white clouds were visible just on the horizon. At one in the afternoon, the heat of the day compelled her to change into her swimsuit and go for a swim in the ocean. Her itinerary left her free for the rest of the day, only having to meet up later for supper with Donna and Lex. So she went back inside and slipped into her bikini, throwing on a T-shirt and sarong. She pulled the door closed behind her and set her sunhat on her head, before making her way down to the beach. 

Addie pulled on Kodi's lead, she'd been held back at the airport, trying to explain that she was a registered support dog and was allowed on the flight, not in a cage, but on the booked seat next to her. Then, when they'd landed she had to deal with the idiots from the taxi service before she gave up and rented a car. Kodi, knowing her owner was irritated, stood quietly while she pulled the cabin door open and lead the way inside. Addie knew she would not run away, and only explore close to the cabin. She'd at least not run into any problems at reception, and they'd told her she was the only booked animal, so for now, she would have more freedom, but they would let her know if that changed. She hoped that when she met Blake and Blake met Kodi, they'd get along, she didn't want any more trouble.  She unclipped Kodi and took her bags to the room, she saw that Blake had already packed her things in the cupboard, but at least left her space for her things. Same in the bathroom. She hoped that when they discussed the bed, Blake would be just as accomodating, she didn't want to be the one that ended up sleeping on the couch for a month. She packed out her bags, feeling a bit more relaxed every minute that passed. Addie then filled bowls with water and food for Kodi and went to look outside. She knew that the first part of their acting, would start at dinner when Blake and her would meet up with Donna and Lex, and Addie had to admit her nerves were working overtime. Would Blake even be likable? She stared out over the sandy beach seeing a woman walking toward her, she had her hat pulled low over her eyes, her shirt dangled from her fingers, a blue bikini top covered her ample breasts and a blue sarong covered her legs. She looked lost in thought as she made her way onto the stones that led to their cabin. She wondered if that was Blake, the woman she'd have to spend a month with? She needed food, she was almost too thin. Kodi let out a bark as the woman got close to the steps of the cabin. She let out a shriek and jerked back a step looking up in shock at the dog and Addie.

"I'm sorry, she gets a bit protective and that was just a warning bark." Addie smiled reassuringly at the woman. "She's really a sweet and not at all a biter." Not unless Addie was threatened, but she didn't add that. 

"Are you Addie?" Blake looked warily at Kodi then her eyes shifted to Addie. "I'm Blake." 

Addie held back her surprise when she recognized the woman. Blake Shite, the fucking writer! She was going to spend a month with the woman who wrote all five her favorite books? Now that was worth the vacation time.  "Yes, I'm Addie, and that's Kodi. You're Blake Shite, the writer Blake Shite?" She asked, a little of her excitement coming through in her voice. 

Great, Blake thought, a fan. It was going to be a long month. "Yes." She said shortly and walked inside. Addie on her heels, and Kodi staring up at her from the bedroom door. 

"Uh, Kodi, we're sharing, friend, she's a friend," Addie told the dog, who seemed to relax, going to settle on her bed thrown in front of the TV stand. "She's a service dog, she has to travel with me," Addie explained. 

"A service dog for?" Blake realized she was being rude and short, so she hung her shirt over the chair at the kitchen counter and turned to look at Addie. "Why do you need a service dog?" 

"I have some anxiety and sometimes I have issues with sight," Addie said but didn't elaborate. "You don't have to worry that I'll die on you," Addie added when Blake kept staring at her. "Thank you for leaving space for my things, that was nice of you."

"We are sharing a condo for a month, so it's better if we work together," Blake said. 

"Yeah, about that. What did Donna tell you about this arrangement?" Addie walked to the fridge pulled out a water bottle and offered Blake one. 

"She said she misread the rules, you really wanted to come and instead of taking a stranger that could get attached, she offered me up. Since I need a holiday in her opinion, it was two birds and one stone." 

"Okay then. Uh, thanks for agreeing." 

"No problem, it's been a good start. You don't seem like the serial killer type. At least I hope you don't kill women and let your dog eat them." 

"No," Addie laughed. "But that could make for a great book." A cloud settled over Blake and Addie wondered what she'd said wrong. 

"Yes. I'm going to go shower, we should head out to dinner soon. I guess we should act all in love and so on, around the staff." 

"Yes, all in love and so on." Addie agreed. "Kodi will be joining us for the most part, I can sometimes go a while without her, but this is a new place, new people, so I hope that won't be a problem." 

Addie looked at the sleeping dog, even asleep she looked alert. "I didn't know Jack Russels were service dogs." 

"She's a special one, yes." Addie grinned. 

"It's not a problem for me, Addie, I like dogs, not cats, but I do love dogs." 

"Good, I'll get hold of Donna, find out where we're dining." She also had a bone to pick with Donna. She told Blake Addie needed a date, meaning she'd used Addie as an excuse to get Blake here. Which also told her Blake didn't want to be here at all. And when she found out that Addie was being paid and Donna lied, Blake was going to blame her too. She watched Blake disappear into the bathroom and turned to Kodi. "Bud, we're going to either have a lot of fun with her or a lot of shit. I'm hoping for the fun, but she seems more like the trouble type." Kodi lifted her head and answered with an ear flick. 

"I'm not sure these are the proper clothes for dinner," Blake said looking at herself in the mirror, then Addie who sat dressed in tight-fitting shorts with a pair of sneakers, a loose white shirt covering her upper body. 

"We're on an island, we're supposed to be relaxed, so yes it is." She'd finally made her way into the bedroom when after an hour Blake had still not come out. She'd found her rummaging through her closet muttering to herself. "You look amazing in that dress." 

"It's so casual." 

"This isn't some fancy book launch dinner, it's dinner with friends." Standing, Addie grabbed her arm. "Come on, we're already late." The truth was Blake did look great, she was dressed in a blue dress, tied with a white sash around her middle, and white sandals. "We want the staff to think we're fooling around, not Donna." Blake stared at her in shock. 

"She won't think that!" 

"She might if we take much longer. And what would she think of me then, taking advantage of you on the first day?" Addie laughed when Blake paled. "I'm kidding, but we are late." 

"Fine, let me grab my phone and bag." 

"No." 

"What?" Blake dug in her heels, a little bit of fear in her eyes now. "Why don't you want me to take that?" 

"Would you relax?" Addie threw her hands up. "We're here to relax, the whole point is to get away from the rest of the world and reconnect. Taking your phone is against the rules." 

"Oh, we have rules? Other than only being allowed as a couple?" 

"Yes, and I'll let Donna explain everything over dinner, now come on!" Addie held out her hand, this time not just grabbing Blake. 

"Fine. Okay." Blake looked over her shoulder at her phone, then with a sigh turned and walked past Addie out the door. Addie shook her head at Kodi with a grin. 

"Come on, I'm starving bud." She clipped Kodi onto her lead and followed Blake out. 

"She's very quiet," Blake said after a while, they decided to walk to the little eatery where Donna and Lex waited. 

"She's trained to stay calm and quiet so she just does that throughout the day, it's become her norm." Addie smiled. "But throw a ball, don't say the 'T' word, throw that ball and she's off like a shot, calm totally forgotten." 

"So she does know how to be a real dog?" Blake asked with a smile. "Would she walk with me?" 

"She would, if I gave her permission, she would even play with you, as long as I'm not too far away. She sees you as a friend now, since I told her you were." 

"That's good to know." Blake thought about their sleeping arrangements since Kodi had more than once gotten on the bed and made herself comfortable. "She's made the sleeping arrangement choice clear." 

"What do you mean?" 

"I'll sleep on the couch, you can have the bed, she seemed to like the bedroom anyway," Blake said. 

"Nope, we'll share the bed, like two fully grown women, or we alternate." 

"Alternate then," Blake said quickly. Addie only nodded and smiled. 

"Where have you two been?" Donna stood as they entered the small restaurant filled with couples. They'd spotted her and Blake had gone ahead, with most of the women stopping Addie to pet Kodi. "We were about to send out the island cops to make sure you didn't kill each other." 

"Really, Don, we just took a walk here, the night is way better than midday heat was. And we're not that late." Blake felt guilty that she'd made them late and Donna and Lex had to wait for them. 

"Sure. So? You two get along okay?" Donna asked and ran her hand up and down Lex's thigh. Lex shifted in her seat and Blake frowned at Donna. 

"Could you behave for ten minutes? We get on fine, yes." Blake looked over her shoulder to where Addie stood with Kodi, a woman looking intently up at Addie as she explained something. "You didn't tell me she had a dog." 

"I didn't know." 

"What?" Blake looked at Donna confused. "But she's your friend?" 

"I mean I didn't know she'd bring her." 

"Kodi is a service dog, of course, she'd bring her." Blake kept her eyes locked on Donna. Something wasn't making sense.

"I don't know how that works. Is the dog a problem?" 

"No, she's a sweet thing," Blake admitted. "And very quiet." She looked up as Addie finally joined them.

Addie rubbed her hand over Blake's shoulder and leaned down to kiss her softly on the lips. "Sorry baby, you know how much she likes the attention." 

Blake almost pulled away but remembered they were in public now and had to act. The kiss was brief and seemed not to affect Addie at all. When it had caught her off guard completely. "Uh, no problem." Their waiter arrived and they spent the next couple of minutes placing their orders.

Addie realized that Blake didn't talk much, their hands were linked on the table, but she was as distant and any woman could be. Addie wondered at that, was she really so used to being a recluse that she had no idea how to hold a conversation with friends? Or was there more to the woman, was Blake Shite really just in her own head, like most artists? Or was there something that caused her to hold back? Addie knew that she was the last one to judge a person for holding themselves back. But she'd thought someone like Blake, a well-known author would be outgoing, and have many friends.  This woman, the Blake she'd met only a few hours ago, she'd rather pack up and run and hide in their cabin. She decided that she'd at least try to get Blake out of the cabin, for at least an hour or two a day. Everybody needed sunlight and fun in their lives. And from the look of Blake, she needed it a lot.