“Hey, girl, what’s happenin’?”
Rayanne blinked at the huge man behind the desk. Andre had been the front desk guard ever since Ryan had started working here. The man had always been professional, but suddenly he was downright friendly. He was also showing an appreciation for her cleavage, but at least he was subtle about it.
“Um, hey.”
“Heard you were sick yesterday. Hope you’re feeling better.” Andre handed her the clipboard to sign in.
“Oh, yes, much better, thanks.”
“We missed you at karaoke last night.”
Rayanne paused, baffled. Karaoke? Last night? And why on earth was Andre acting like he knew her as Rayanne? “Next time.”
“You bet.” Andre tucked the clipboard away. “Hey, don’t forget your ID. The boss’ll have a fit if you’re not wearing it.”
Rayanne nodded before clacking away toward the elevator. With trembling fingers she dug into her purse and came out with an ID badge. Instead of a picture of Ryan, her new female face stared back at her. Beneath the picture was her name: Rayanne Roberts. Just like her driver’s license. Apparently when Branwen gave a girl her fondest wish, she made sure all bases were covered.
Rayanne swallowed. Nerves were starting to take over. She had no idea what would happen once she stepped off that elevator and into the office. Obviously she, Rayanne, worked here now, but what about Ryan? Wouldn’t anyone wonder if he didn’t show up? Or had she taken his place and everyone just remembered Rayanne? In any case Rayanne clearly had a lot more of a social life. Ryan Roberts would never have gone out to karaoke. Not to mention he had all of zero friends at work. How on earth was she going to pretend she knew these people?
The elevator door slid open.
“Ray! You must be feeling better. Too bad you missed karaoke last night. Andre was a hoot.” A dark-haired girl with freckles sprinkled across her nose stepped in front of Rayanne.
Rayanne froze. She did know this person. Probably the one person in the entire company she ever bothered to notice: Lily Prentiss.
From the minute Rayanne had met Lily, back when Rayanne was Ryan, she’d had a god-awful crush on Lily. The kind of crush that had you doing stupid things like writing “Mr. Lily Prentiss” on your math Peechee and scrawling “I love Lily” in red lipstick on your bathroom mirror.
“Really?” With no other choice but to play along, Rayanne fell into step with Lily. It was obvious they were friends of some kind. “What did he sing?”
“We Are Family. He did all the parts. That man can falsetto like nobody’s business.” Lily’s laugh bubbled out, turning heads in her wake. She didn’t even notice.
That was Lily. Spreading sunshine everywhere she went with no idea her effect on other people.
They passed George Tucker, the office golden boy, sitting in his cubicle leering at at them. Rayanne shot George a glare. Everyone knew George had his eye on Lily. Fortunately Lily was oblivious.
George just winked at Rayanne and gave her a slow sexy smile. Rayanne rolled her eyes and kept walking.
Lily stopped at what had been Ryan’s desk and perched on the edge. Apparently it was Rayanne’s desk now so she quickly stowed her purse while Lily chatted about karaoke and who’d sung what and drunk what and flirted with whom.
“By the way, how’s your cousin,” Lily asked.
“My cousin?”
“Yeah, you know, Ryan. It’s too bad he got transferred. Though, of course, I’m super glad you’re here, of course. I mean that was so awesome you were able to replace him.” She grinned at Rayanne.
“Um, he’s...fine. Enjoying his new life.” It wasn’t a lie. Ryan was enjoying life as Rayanne. Rayanne who was obviously besties with Lily Prentiss. The gorgeous, adorable Lily Prentiss. “I didn’t know you two were friends.”
“Oh, we weren’t,” Lily said. “I mean, we never hung out or anything. I wish.” Her smile was a little sad around the edges.
Rayanne’s heart beat a little faster. “What do you mean?”
Lily’s eyes darted around the room as if to make sure no one was listening. She leaned in a little closer and the scent of her plumeria shampoo made Rayanne feel a little breathless.
“I know you’re his cousin and everything, but you have to promise not to say anything, okay?”
Rayanne nodded, eager to hear whatever secret Lily had to tell.
Lily’s smile was nostalgic, her gray eyes dreamy. “I had such a crush on Ryan.”
“You did?” Rayanne didn’t know whether to jump for joy or faint on the spot. For three years Ryan had mooned over his co-worker but had never once had the courage to ask her out. After all, why would a woman like Lily be interested in a man who liked to dress as a woman?
“Oh, yeah.” She frowned. “I thought for awhile he liked me, too, but he never asked me out. I know it’s the twenty-first century and all. I could have asked him, but I’m kind of old-fashioned like that.” She shrugged and hopped off the desk.
“Maybe he did like you. Maybe he just had reasons he couldn’t ask you.”
Lily laughed. “Like wearing women’s underwear?”
Rayanne’s eyes widened in shock. “How did you know?”
“Oh, please. I’m pretty sure everyone in the office knows, or at least suspects, that Ryan’s a cross-dresser. We don’t care. Plus I’ve seen him bending over trying to fix the copy machine enough times to know he doesn’t wear BVDs. Like I said, this is the twenty-first century. I’m not that old-fashioned.” She winked at Rayanne before sauntering off to her own desk.
Rayanne sat there in complete shock. All this time and Lily had known Ryan’s secret. Even more, it hadn’t bothered her one bit that he wore women’s clothes. She would have said ’yes’ if he’d ever grown a pair enough to ask her out.
And now it was too late. Ryan was Rayanne and Lily
