Luka was in New York City for a fair amount of time, filming the latest and greatest action movie. (And yes, of course she made sure she was the lead. She wasn’t in the business to play the two-bit lover of the action hero. She played the action hero, period.)

While she didn’t miss some parts of Los Angeles, she definitely missed the rather nonchalant paparazzi, so used to seeing stars that they were barely even phased. Apparently New York reporters were a little more overzealous and she was already sick of them. But given that it was technically their fault that she ever met Jayme Barnes, she supposed she couldn’t be too angry.

Really, the bookstore was a tiny little thing, halfway hidden on a street corner and she probably never would have noticed it, let alone entered it if she hadn’t been trying to escape the paparazzi.

Wincing as she noted the woman behind the counter eyeing her, she waited for the inevitable fan freakout as she was recognized. It wouldn’t be the worst thing, especially not compared to the paparazzi outside.

“Welcome to my bookstore. Can I help you with anything?”

Surprised by the utter lack of emotion in the woman’s voice, before she could help herself, Luka blurted out, “I’m Luka Lehane.”

The woman’s only response was a slow blink.

“Okay. Hello. I’m Jayme Barnes. Like I said, welcome to my bookstore. Can I help you with anything?” The only change in her tone was a bit more sarcasm.

“Um, uh...no thanks. I’m good.” she assured the woman, Jayme, before going to look around the shop. It was actually a cute little shop. And held some rather rare things. One wall at the back of the store held a huge collection of first editions on display.

“Little dangerous putting these out in the open like this, isn’t it?” she called to the Jayme, “I mean, what happens if someone steals one and runs off?”

“Then they don’t get far.” Something about the brunette’s voice made her chuckle, even if that same deadpan tone warned her to not touch the books, to not even look at them. 

Continuing to browse, she came across books in different languages, books in

“Hey, couldn’t help but notice that you don’t have Fifty Shades of Gray. What’s the deal?” Luka teased with a grin, sliding a pile of books she hadn’t actually intended to buy over to Jayme. The other woman rolled her eyes.

“Yes, that’s because this is a book shop, not a porn shop. Try Greenwich, there’s the Rainbow Station and I’m sure you’ll find all you need there.” It’s the cheekiest thing she’s said, and Luka can’t help but note that the Rainbow Station doesn’t sound like a place for straight porn. 

Alright, sue her, for all that Jayme seems indifferent and rather cold, she’s also rather gorgeous and Luka would not mind taking a break from the endless string of men that her publicist pushed at her for some reason or another. ‘Dating the man voted People’s most eligible bachelor will be great publicity!’ ‘He’s your costar, people love a good on-set love story!’ ‘New to Hollywood, putting him on your arm will gain you both some attention!’ All her publicist had really done was assure the public that Luka was a relentless playgirl dating all the men of Hollywood.

Hearing Jayme clear her throat, Luka shook her head, giving her charming grin as she took the bag with her books in it and left the store. 

She was pleasantly surprised that Jayme didn’t even ask for an autograph or a photo before she left.

-----

“Should I be concerned with what you’re wearing?” 

Luka laughed, glancing down at herself. She’d just come off set, only a few streets away. She would have changed, but she was filming again in a half hour and the SWAT gear was rather irritating to put on and off. Sure it had gotten her some extra attention on her way. 

“Nah. Just something for the next movie.” Jayme raised an eyebrow, and Luka blinked at her in surprise, “I mean...you do realize that I’m an actress, been in quite a few things over the last few years?” 

“I...ah, don’t watch a lot of movies.” Jayme admitted, tone finally showing a bit of sheepishness. And here Luka thought the woman completely unshakeable. And wow, she really must not pay attention to movies, because Luka had been in the last three box office hits. She was almost offended that Jayme didn’t even recognize her. 

“More of a book person, eh?” she guessed with a grin, causing the other woman to roll her eyes.

“What gave me away?” she responded, deadpan in a way that fans never were with Luka.

Okay, she could appreciate that Jayme had never even heard her name or seen her face. It was rather refreshing, actually.  

----

“Jeez, it’s like you’re the only one who works here.” Luka declared when she visited the book shop again and saw Jayme behind the counter again. 

“I am.”

“Really? That’s insane. I saw your hours, every day, even weekends? What do you do for fun?”

“Read.”

“Okay, should have expected that.” Luka chuckled, “And friends?”

Jayme was silent for a moment, before replying, “...there’s Natalia, the barista from the coffee shop down the street. We used to date, so she knows that I tend to get distracted and forget to eat, so she brings me coffee and biscotti from time to time.” Ignoring the strange hint of jealousy that this random Natalia dated Jayme, who didn’t seem the type to want to date anyone, Luka focused on the fact that the brunette’s only human interaction was with an ex who fed her and customers. 

“You have to hang out with your friends outside of work sometimes, right?” Luka asked, tone on the brink of disbelief. 

“And do what?” Jayme seemed genuinely curious. 

“Oh my god.” Shaking her head, Luka quickly decided, “Okay. You’re going out with me this Friday.” 

“I have work.” was Jayme’s automatic answer, and Luka got a view into what her friends must go through.

“No you don’t.” Luka decided firmly, plowing right on even as Jayme opened her mouth to object, “You can take one night off. And you are. Where do you live? I’ll pick you up.” 

Jayme looked remarkably miserable at the prospect of going out with her as she pointed upstairs. Luka rolled her eyes. It wasn’t like this would be the worst thing to ever happen to her. Jeez, that misery was really misplaced. 

----

Luka would never admit how long she had spent getting ready for tonight. She had bought a new dress and spent what felt like hours doing her makeup and hair. It had taken all her control to not call her stylist to request help. “What are you wearing?”

No denying it, Winter looked amazing. Instead of the usual fluffy sweater and jeans combo she sported (which, really, was pretty nice too,) she was wearing a pretty blouse and dress pants. She looked beautiful, but also like she was going to a job interview.

Realizing that Jayme hadn’t responded, Luka finally took the time to glance to her face. Winter’s mouth was dropped open just a little bit and she could practically see the drool coming. After all, this dress was rather revealing. Adjusting the cut of her dress over her breasts, Luka pointedly cleared her throat, smirk curling on her lips. Jayme’s eyes snapped up to her own and the brunette blushed, quickly speaking up to stop Luka from making a comment. 

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Jayme asked, “I mean, it’s not like you told me what we’re doing. What am I supposed to wear?” 

“I mean...I thought it was implied when I said I was picking you up at eight at night, that we were going clubbing.” Luka should have known better. “I was thinking club wear, like my dress. You like?” she teased, smirk widening as Jayme flushed just a little bit brighter. “Do you need help?” Luka offered, not letting the flustered woman suffer too much.

“I can dress myself.” Jayme snapped, spinning on her heel and stomping back up the stairs, acting rather like a child. Luka blew out a breath, amused despite herself. As she waited, her lips curled up into a grin as she recalled the look on Jayme’s face when she saw her. 

Luka wondered if Jayme would be willing to go on a date or two. 

It took her a remarkably short amount of time, especially given just how changed she looked when she came downstairs. The dress still wasn’t entirely appropriate for a club, but holy shit, it didn’t matter.

The boots. And her legs. 

“You like?” Jayme’s smug voice interrupted her staring, but unlike the brunette, Luka slowly let her eyes drag up her body to her face. 

“I do. You look hot as hell.” Despite her smugness, Jayme still flushed, and before she could help herself Luka reached out to run a finger lightly over the other woman’s cheek. Hearing the hitch in Jayme’s breath, Luka swallowed hard, murmuring, “Starting to see the benefit of staying home...”

Jayme’s eyes darkened and Luka inhaled sharply as the woman took two quick strides across the room, grabbed her by the hips, backed her into the counter and pressed their lips together. A remarkable dominant streak that Luka truly hadn’t expected, but certainly didn’t object to if the way she dug her fingers into the other woman’s hair and pulled her closer. 

Needless to say, they never made it to the club that night. 

----

Luka sat up in bed, yawning and wrapping a sheet around her chest, hair rather a mess. She could see her dress, strewn over the nightstand, and her heels, kicked off in the doorway, but she couldn’t see Jayme. 

Hearing the woman in question clear her throat, Luka glanced over her shoulder, spotting the woman sitting in an armchair in the corner, wearing only a tank top and panties, legs pulled close to her body, a book spread in front of her, and of all things, a large parrot perched on her shoulder. 

Luka’s breath caught as she saw the gorgeous grin on her face, finger running along her bottom lip. “You look hot as hell.” Jayme teased, “Sitting in my bed, wearing nothing but a sheet.” 

“Oh?” Luka smirked, standing and shuffling over to her, teasingly letting the sheet slip a few inches down, showing off her cleavage. Jayme leaned forward, licking her lips. Luka reached forward, running her hands through the brunette’s hair. 

And promptly yelping and rearing back as the bird on Jayme’s shoulder screeched and nipped her hand. 

Needless to say, the morning didn’t turn out quite as well as the night before.

---

Still, after their night together, Luka visited Jayme’s book store every day between shooting. They talked about everything. 

----

“Fortney is a red eclectus parrot.” Jayme declared, almost randomly if not for the photo book of birds Luka had been flipping through.

“Ah yes, Fortney. The angry bird who didn’t like me.” Luka joked. 

“She’s not angry. She was just startled.” Jayme corrected with a roll of her eyes. After their night together, Luka couldn’t help but notice that the woman was a lot more free with her expression, and had a wicked sarcastic sense of humor that she hadn’t expected. She loved it. 

“I still have a booboo!” Luka objected with an exaggerated pout, holding up her cut finger for Jayme’s inspection. Rolling her eyes again, Jayme leaned forward, kissing her finger, pausing before she pulled away, the woman raised an eyebrow at Luka, smirk only partially hidden by Luka’s hand. Tongue peaking out of her mouth, she pressed a firmer kiss against the pad of her finger, eyes dark as they stared into Luka’s. 

After a few seconds, she pulled back and went back to her book, seemingly unaffected by what she had just done. Her tone belied that though, smug and amused and heated. 

“Better?”

“Hmm....not yet. I think I need more kisses.”  

----

“Los Angeles traffic is the worst.”

“You’ve been in New York City for how long and you can still make that claim? I refuse to believe you.”

“I’m dead serious. Did I ever tell you about the time I crashed into a tracker trailer?”

“You crashed?” The genuine concern in Jayme’s face melted Luka’s heart. 

“It’s fine. I have a ‘67 impala. It’s an old enough car that it could probably withstand a nuclear holocaust with nothin’ but a scratch.”

“’67? How’d you come across that one? Did it come with the small-block V8 or did you have to search that engine out too? I got a ‘78 Harley-Davidson, but I don’t know, old motorcycles and their parts tend to be easier to find.”

Luka was pretty sure she fell in love that very moment. 

----

“I’m super jealous. My costar’s twin brought him lunch today, right on set. Wish I had that kind of service.

“I’m part of a set of triplets. I have two sisters.” The expression on Jayme’s face made it look like she wanted to take that back the second she blurted it out, and she continued with, “We’re not close though.” Her expression changed, warning Luka against asking more, but the stubborn woman ignored that. 

“Really? Why not?”

Sighing, Jayme shared, “One’s in the military and always out on duty, the other moved to Russia and hasn’t deigned to speak with either of us since then.” That was rather more candid than Luka had been expecting, and she frowned at the upset she saw in Jayme’s eyes, though her face retained her usual blandness. 

Not really knowing what to say about that, Luka simply squeezed her hand, grinning as Jayme’s eyes softened slightly, something she wouldn’t have even noticed if she wasn’t paying very close attention to her. 

----

A gorgeous redhead was leaving the store as Luka entered. A gorgeous redhead who stopped, looked her over with a critical gaze, caught her eyes and nodded shortly. 

Blinking, Luka narrowed her eyes at the woman as she walked pass, shaking her head. What the hell was that all about? 

Jayme glanced up from where she was at the counter, picking at a salad and smirking at her. Luka raised an eyebrow, leaning on the counter across from her. 

“I think that’s the closest anyone’s gotten to approval from Natalia.” Jayme shared, tone conversational. Luka’s eyes widened and she glanced back through the door, but the redhead was already gone. 

“That was Natalia? Your ex-girlfriend?” Jeez, Luka had to wonder why they’d ever break up. They’d make a beautiful couple.

“Yup.”

“Why was she here?” Her tone came out a little more confrontational than she intended. 

Jayme raised an eyebrow, lifting the salad as an example. Right. Natalia brings her lunch. 

“I can bring you lunch.” Luka grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. She wished that she could control the jealousy she felt brewing. After all, she and Jayme had only slept together once and hadn’t even gone on a date or anything since then. 

There was obvious amusement on Jayme’s face as she registered Luka’s jealousy, but all she did was shrug, and comment, “Sure. If you’re not too busy. Wouldn’t want to distract my girlfriend from her work.” 

Luka preened, jealousy forgotten in the face of Jayme’s declaration. Leaning across the counter, she pulled her girlfriend into a kiss, ignoring Jayme’s chuckle as she pulled her closer. 

---

Really, it was only a matter of time before some member of the paparazzi figured out where Luka snuck off to whenever she eluded them. It was just shocking it hadn’t happened sooner than this. 

“Luka! Luka Lehane! Welcome to New York!” 

Wincing, Luka pulled away from Jayme, schooling her expression into a friendly smile. Turning to the man and his camera, she nodded, “Good to be here.”

The questions were fairly innocuous at first, how was her movie going, had she visited all the tourist spots, and, after noticing just where Luka had taken refuge, what was she reading. Finally, the question she’d been waiting for hit. 

“Find any guys in NYC to date? Your last relationship ended a couple of months ago. Have you moved on since then?” 

Tensing, Luka hummed, buying time for an answer. She couldn’t imagine her publicist taking it well if she suddenly outed herself to the media, but she also didn’t want to outright lie. 

Obviously spotting Luka’s discomfort, Jayme cleared her throat, “I’m sorry, no media in my book shop. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” It was the same detached tone she had used when they first met. Luka hurt to hear it. 

“Oh, whoops, sorry.” Luka laughed, shrugging at the put out look on the reporter’s face, “But hey, what the lady says, goes. I don’t want to make her angry. It’s been, what, four months? Five? I found out fasting when we started dating that though she looks adorable angry, it’s best to keep her happy.” Luka declared, cheeky grin on her face and she pulled an evidently surprised, yet obviously rather pleased Jayme down into a kiss.