Enough of that! I have a bra dangling on my finger and a blush to incite.
“Should I ask Margaret, or are you the owner of this delightfully lacy black bra?” I raise it up, inspecting it. “I mean, it could be hers. I haven’t really ever checked her out. It might be her size.”
Rebecca’s eyes widen in horror as she grabs it from me and gives Barkley a smoldering look. “Barkley, I am asking you one more time! How are you getting into the guesthouse?!?”
Barkley looks unimpressed as he neatly catches the ball in his mouth.
I try to give Rebecca a stern look. “We have a rule against orgies at this house. Did I not tell you that?”
“Dad, what’s an orgy?” I hear Holly pipe up from the pool.
Rebecca looks at me with great satisfaction. “Just remember, you taught her that word. Not me! Explain yourself out of this one. I’ll watch. Do I need to go get some popcorn?”
I glare at her. “This is your fault.”
“How so? For wearing underwear?” She looks like she is about to break a rib from trying to hold back her laughter. “I believe you were the one who started this.”
She’s right. “An orgy? I don’t even think that’s a real word. You misunderstood me, sweetie. I said corgis. That’s a breed of dog.”
“Nice save,” Rebecca says as she places her sunglasses on the bridge of her nose.
“So we’re getting another dog?” Holly yells from the pool.
I hear Rebecca snicker beside me. “I believe you have a choice. You’re getting another dog, or you have to explain to her what an orgy is. Choose wisely.”
I make my mind up very quickly. “Yep! We’re going to the Humane Society tomorrow.”
Rebecca raises her sunglasses up slightly. “Wise choice.”
“Do they have corgis?” Holly is all excited now.
I give her a grin. “ How about corgi adjacent?” She gives him a perplexed look. “I don’t know, sweetie, but Barkley needs a buddy.”
She comes to the edge of the pool. Barkley, too. “Do you mean it?”
I guess I had better ante up. “You bet!”
“Chicken,” I hear Rebecca taunting me. “Just remember this moment where you folded when another crazy dog comes into the picture.”
I shrug my shoulders. “So what? I like crazy.”
She just settles in against her towel. “You sure do.”
I head off to the house to change. I was just had by a four-year-old!
***
The next day, sure enough, we are at the Humane Society, Barkley in tow. As we walk by all of the available dogs, Barkley runs up to one window, pawing furiously. The occupant is a three-year-old Boston terrier.
“His owner passed away recently,” a volunteer says from behind us. “Her children said they couldn’t take him. He’s been a nervous wreck since entering the shelter. He just keeps shaking. Most people walk on by. They want a puppy.”
Holly looks up at me, her eyes wide. “He needs us, Dad!”
“What’s his name?” I ask the volunteer.
“Elvis,” she says with a laugh.
“Let me guess,” I say. “His owner was a fan.”
“From what they said, she had all of his albums on vinyl and a collection of souvenirs from concerts and movies,” the volunteer tells us. “A small fortune of collectibles, from what I understand. They were planning to sell it all.” She shakes her head in disgust. “Greedy little…”
“Can we see him?” I interrupt her before I have to explain another word to my daughter or get a third dog.
We fill out the forms and wait…, and wait…, and wait. Finally, a volunteer brings Elvis into the visiting room. Barkley, who had been sitting in the corner dejectedly, lights up like a Christmas tree. He immediately runs to Elvis, checking him out. He then begins to dodge back and forth, in an invitation to play.
I feel a tug at my sleeve. “I think they like each other,” Holly says with a smile. The look on her face makes this all worth it. I look at Elvis. He is checking Rebecca out and licking her face, Barkley nipping at his ankles, wanting to play. She seems totally comfortable sitting on the cold floor of the visiting room that might need a dose of Febreeze and bleach. So many of the women I know wouldn’t so much as consider sitting on the floor where a dog had likely gotten too excited, much less let an animal lick her on the face.
I guess it’s a done deal. Shortly afterward, we are loading up both dogs into the car. I secure Holly into her seat.
“Daddy,” she stops me as I am tightening the straps. “Thank you. I love our new family.”
I smile at her, happy that she’s happy. “Yep! It’s you, me, Barkley, and Elvis.”
“You forgot Rebecca!”
I pause at that. What am I supposed to say? That comment haunts me as we drive back to the house.
***
Later that evening, Rebecca and I are enjoying a cocktail out on the terrace. Elvis and Barkley are running back and forth in the yard below. Holly is unsuccessfully trying to act as a referee.
“I hate to say it, but I think this was a good thing,” Rebecca says from beside me. “Barkley really needed a buddy. Maybe he will leave some of my clothes alone, for now.”
“You just like it because you got to watch me squirm when Holly asked me what an orgy was.”
She shrugs with a smile. “It was entertaining.”
“You always did have a sadistic streak,” I tell her.
“Careful, lest you have to explain that word to Holly or get another dog. What breed would that one be? What rhymes with ‘sadistic’? It escapes me. Any thoughts?”
I throw a pillow at her. “I never had this problem before you came along.”
She tosses it back. “What makes me so different?”
I tuck the pillow behind my back. The pillow fight is over. “You’re different.”
She gives me a skeptical look. “Is that good or bad?”
“Good,” I say contemplatively. “I had forgotten that women like you even exist. You’re real.”
She taps her glass of wine with the tips of her fingernails. “I guess it’s the company you keep, being so rich and all. I can see how that might happen.”
I ponder what she just said. “I don’t really know when it all changed. It just did.”
“You never told me. How did all of this happen?” She spreads her arms wide, encompassing everything.
I don’t want to tell her the truth, how my dad left us. She doesn’t want to hear that. She doesn’t want to hear how I scraped by, using everything I had to make a down payment on a small business loan and crossed my fingers. Oh, and worked, and worked, and worked.
“It just happened. I had a lot of luck.” Somehow, I think that was the wrong answer. Her face closes in, and her eyes drift off to a world I do not know.
“I’ve never had much that you could call luck,” she says.
I think it may be time to change the subject. “Barkley looks like he is about to wear Elvis out. I’m not sure Elvis knew what he was getting himself into.”
Rebecca goes to stand by the railing, observing the antics below. “Holly seems happy.”
I move to stand beside her. I can smell the hint of her perfume in the air. “I’ve tried to do my best to make that happen.” I sigh. “One day, though, she is going to realize that we’re not a whole family.’
“She has more than most children, Cameron.” Her face is pensive, the water from the pool reflecting on her face. “Some kids can have both parents only be halfway there. I think that’s worse.”
Somehow, I get the feeling we’re not talking about Holly anymore.
I take her hand in mine. “I guess we just have to do our best and hope it’s enough.” For just a second, she curls her hand into mine. She then pulls it away as if she’s been scorched.
She nervously tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s past Holly’s bedtime. I need to get her
ready.”
I watch as she runs down the stairs, runs away from me.
CHAPTER 10
Rebecca
I can’t get away from him fast enough. This can’t be happening. What I have planned is sex and blackmail, intrigue. There is no room for feelings in my plan!
“Holly, it’s way past your bedtime!”
She looks up from playing with the dogs. “Do I have to?”
“Don’t you want to show Elvis your room? I bet you he’s going to like your big bed.”
That seems to do the trick and she’s off running up the stairs, dogs following.
Once Holly has had her bath, I curl up with her, the puppies at our feet. She tucks her head into my shoulder as I read to her. As I near the end, I feel eyes upon us. Cameron is standing at the door, an enigmatic expression on his face. I finish the story and close the book. He’s gone.
I tuck Holly in, Barkley and Elvis on either side of her. She’s one secure girl with her sentries on duty. Elvis begins to snore. Hmmm, perhaps they’re off duty. I can’t help but smile as I scratch his ears. I glance over at Barkley. He is completely tuckered. At least I know he isn’t sneaking into my lingerie drawer right now.
I make my way downstairs and let myself out, glad not to run into Cameron. Our time on the terrace tonight was unnerving, to say the least. I can’t afford to let myself get distracted, to trust him. If anything, the conversation tonight served as a reminder of everything his family took from mine.
I pick up a sock that is lying outside my door and shake my head. So much for that plan. Barkley strikes again.
I settle into the sofa and turn on the tv. As I flip through the channels, my cell phone rings. It’s my father. I try to sound cheerful as I answer. “Hi, Dad! What’s up?”
“I haven’t heard from you in a while. Is everything okay?” he asks, concern in his voice.
Immediately, I feel guilty. “I’ve just been busy. I just started a new job a couple of weeks ago.”
“Is it the nanny job you were interviewing for?” he asks. “I don’t think you ever told me how it went.”
“I got it. It’s just been hectic. I moved in right afterward, and it’s been non-stop since then. How’s everything going on your end?”
“Actually, that’s why I called.” I can hear his tone change. “The plant I’ve been working for had layoffs. I was one of the ones cut.”
I place my head in my hands. Again? How much bad luck can one person have?
“Do you need me to send you some extra money?” I already know the answer.
“If you can,” he says. “I know it’s a lot for you, though.”
“Actually,” I tell him. “I get my first paycheck tomorrow. I got a big bump in pay, so I can help a little more now.”
“That’s great, sweetie. I’m glad my luck hasn’t rubbed off on you.” I can hear the resignation in his voice.
I think about my plan. “Things may be looking up soon. I’ll mail you a check tomorrow.”
He tells me goodbye, and I am alone with my thoughts. My headaches now. I take a sleeping pill and climb into bed. I’ve had enough for today.
***
Cameron is chasing me, calling my name. We’re running through a field, the fronds of the wheat tickling my legs. Clouds darken the sunlit sky, and rain begins to fall. His voice gets farther and farther away. I reach a clearing and find myself staring at my old house. The paint is peeling along the outside, and several window panes are broken. The railing along the front porch is missing many of its balusters, and the steps are cracked and crumbling.
I push the door open, its hinges groaning in protest. Inside, trash litters the floor, and mold stains the walls. A picture of me and my parents lies on the floor, its glass shattered, much like us.
A bright red balloon reading “Happy Birthday!” floats in the corner, its brightness a stark contrast to the dismal surroundings. I hear the sound of a car outside and run to the door. A bright red jeep is approaching. I recognize it. George Fletcher is driving, Cameron in the passenger seat. I start to yell at them to stay away, tears streaming down my face as I run towards them in fury. The jeep keeps coming and is almost upon me. I scream like a banshee into the wind and rain.
I awaken with a start. My sheets are soaked with sweat and my pillow with tears. My heart is beating out of my chest. I have to remember what Cameron and his family did to me. No matter how much I may love Holly, Cameron was a part of his father’s treachery. He had to have known when his father gave him that jeep where the money came from. The fact that he had the audacity to flaunt it in front of me that day is not lost on me. His family tore mine apart. He doesn’t deserve to have all of this. It was likely built on the ill-gotten gains made from my family’s farm. It is time for payback.
I bunch my pillow up and try to go back to sleep. It’s time to put my plan into action. After tonight, it’s obvious Cameron is interested in me. The rest should be easy enough. I just have to maintain my resolve and not let my feelings creep in. As much as I care for Holly, I need to move forward. It’s the only way.
CHAPTER 11
Cameron
It’s Friday afternoon and I’m spent. The week has been a strange one. Ever since last weekend, Rebecca has been different. It’s as though her walls have started to come down, and she’s letting me in. If I didn’t know any better, I would even say she’s been flirting with me.
I stare out at the afternoon skyline. As on the day, I saw Rebecca’s resume, there is a sunshower. I never can see one without thinking about her. Of course, this last week it seems that she has been all I have been thinking about. Off in the distance, I see the hint of a rainbow. The final sign I need, just like that day at the lake.
An idea begins to form. I buzz Kris.
“Yes, sir,” her voice sounds over the phone. “What can I do?”
“I need you to find out what events are going on around the city tomorrow evening.”
“Is it business or personal?” she asks.
I laugh. I know what she’s really asking.
“Let’s just say I want it to be special.”
“Sure thing.” I hear the trace of a laugh in her voice.
“Oh, and can you arrange for a babysitter tomorrow night, too?”
She seems surprised. “Isn’t that why you hired a nanny?”
“It’s her night off, and I’m not going to ask Margaret. Nannies and PAs have lives, too. Let me know what you find.”
I take in the sight of the rainbow, excitement building within me.
It’s time to chase one last unicorn.
***
I arrive home to the now-familiar sound of barking. I lay my jacket on one of the chairs as I loosen my tie. The rain from earlier has given us a break in the heat. For once, it is not completely sweltering. In Georgia, it doesn’t begin to cool off until October.
Holly is in the pool, as usual. She sees me and immediately climbs out and runs to me, giving me a wet hug.
“You’re a bit overdressed for swimming,” Rebecca says as she emerges from the guesthouse.
I take in a sharp breath at the sight of her. The swimsuit she is wearing is one I haven’t seen before. This one hugs her curves in all the right places and plunges enough in the front to let me definitely know she is all woman.
“New swimsuit?”
She spins around. “Do you like it?”
I feel a heat stirring within me. “What’s not to like?”
The look she gives me tells me she knows exactly what effect she’s having on me.
At that moment, Barkley dashes past me. I shake my head. This house has been in total chaos this last week, a fun kind of chaos. I step forward, only to hear a little yelp as Elvis scrambles to the side. I jump in response and land my foot on the edge of the pool. Waving my arms wildly, I struggle not to lose my balance. I fail. Next thing I know, I’m in the water, the dogs jumping in after me.
I shake the water from my eyes. Rebecca and Holly are giggling at the side of the pool. Rebecca whispers something in her ear. Two seconds later, she is cannonballing into the water right next to me. She comes up laughing. “Rebecca told me to do that!”
I wipe the water from my face. “I saw that.”
Rebecca is holding her sides, she is laughing so hard. I send a large wave in her direction, dousing her.
“Hey! No fair!”
I drag myself out of the pool. “Can you at least toss me a towel?”
She throws me a towel. “Go clean yourself up. I’ll get dinner on.”
I walk by Margaret, wringing wet. She shakes her head at me. I can see her shaking as she tries not to laugh out loud.
After dinner, I tuck Holly into bed and read to her. Watching them the other night made me realize there are some things I shouldn’t hire out, even if I can. These years will be gone in the blink of an eye. I need to be a part of them, not just an observer.
Once Holly is snuggled in with the pups, I return downstairs. I have a question for Rebecca.
She’s pouring two glasses of wine and hands me one. “Holly settled in?”
“Finally. She practically read the story to me.”
She laughs. “I told you so.”
“It didn’t dawn on me until tonight exactly how advanced you meant.” I take a sip of my wine. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve heard of stories like this. I’ve just never been privy to one, let alone it being my own daughter.”
Working For My Arch Enemy: Enemies To Lovers Romance Page 5
