by C. L. Stone
“You rang?” he quipped, his voice deep.
“Very funny,” Ace said, dazzled into staring at the colorful bottles of liquor lining the bar before slowly tugging his gaze away to look at him. “I sent a text to you earlier. Did you get it? Did you manage to find out what happened to the girls? The vloggers?”
Diego held up one finger. “First thing, I need you to know that while I appreciate how you all have helped me remove myself from my old workplace and gave me a leg up here in Charleston, but I can’t keep coming around on short notice all the time like a trained dog.”
Ace bobbed his head. “I understand that.”
“If I had been in the middle of something...”
Ace warded off Diego’s finger by waving his palm. “I get it. But if you don’t want to come out to play, don’t pick up your phone. I’ll call someone else. Just thought you’d appreciate the job is all. Seems like your sort of thing.” It’s what he appreciated about Diego. He was new to them but didn’t mind the oddball situations and he kept info to himself. It was hard to find trustworthy people.
Diego rolled his eyes. “The girls who were harassing you got kicked out of the hotel, but I managed to keep security from calling the police on them.” Diego received his drink, thanked the bartender and waved off the question if he wanted to order anything. When the bartender left, he continued. “I thought it was better for keeping it lowkey. Any video they might have had, it was deleted. We made sure it was cleaned up.” He gave Ace a look. He hadn’t acted alone on this, because he couldn’t have gotten there and back in time here if he’d gone. “If they try to say anything at this point, it’s a you say, they say situation. It’s fifty-fifty they might try that.”
Ace nodded, tracing the condensation against the iced tea glass. He wiped his fingers clean on a napkin. “Anyone catch what happened this morning after I got back home?”
Diego cocked a dark eyebrow, turning his head slightly to address him. “I wasn’t informed about anything. If I don’t know about it, it probably went unnoticed. Another mess?”
“Picked up a hitchhiker.”
Diego sputtered. “You’re joking.”
Ace stared hard at his tea, unwilling to repeat himself. Yeah, it was a mistake. He relayed the situation, and how now there’s a girl at his house getting whatever treatment Soma could provide.
Diego pressed a napkin to his lips, masking his expression. “You’re insane. After what happened this morning? I don’t care what she claimed; you have no idea who she is.”
Guilt seeped in and Ace scrunched his shoulders. Maybe that was true. He’d just brought a stranger into his house. Under the circumstances, he had no idea if this was innocent, or if...his friend...had sent her along for a reason. He liked to rig surprises. He nodded to the black wallet and phone. “I could check, but I don’t want to get accused of anything.”
Diego squinted, sighed and made a give-me motion with his hands. “Leave me to do the dirty work.”
Ace slid the two items over, feeling better about giving this to a licensed professional. “I doubt she’s one of those vloggers, or any reporter. If she was, she wouldn’t have left all this behind. And she was in really bad shape when I last saw her.”
“It could just mean she’s not that great at it.” Diego opened the snap on the wallet, digging out a license, checking the photo and a name. “What do you know? You said her name was Emily?”
“Yeah.”
“She lied about that.” Diego pulled his phone out, connecting to a secure network to do a name search. When the results appeared, he dropped the wallet and slid it back to Ace. “Get rid of her.”
Ace coughed short, eyes widened. “What?”
“Call Soma. Tell him to take her anywhere else.” He pointed to the wallet. “That girl’s wanted for questioning in Atlanta in connection to some sort of drug bust. A pretty exposed one, too. She’s hot. Get rid of her.”
Ace’s jaw dropped, and he glanced at the wallet and phone sitting together, recalling her burned face. She’d been so out of it, she passed out. He also recalled her worrying about his car and ruining it with her sweat. “She doesn’t seem like the type.”
“It’s the guilty who run,” Diego said firmly. He pointed a forefinger at the bar top, stabbing at it to make his point. “Get this to her. Wipe your prints. You never saw her. Soma never met her. If you feel sorry for her, give her cash on her way out, but advise her to go back and answer the police. Don’t connect yourself to her anymore. With what you do, you don’t want the kind of attention she’s attracted.”
Ace sighed in frustration. What idiot jumps states during questioning? “Has he noticed?” Ace asked Diego, but he was very aware of who he was talking about—a clever but sometimes unruly friend. He liked getting Ace into trouble on occasion, usually with some cunning plan he let Ace in on after the fact.
“Not that I’m aware.” Diego pulled out his wallet, filed out a twenty, dropped it on the bar. “So you should do it before he does notice.”
Ace tapped his fingers on the bar, thinking. “Hm,” he said. Not really convinced. Something wasn’t right with it. “How’s business?”
“Starting to get some traction. Helped that I added my mother in on some things.”
“Is she the one you sent to the hotel to handle the girls?”
“Sure did.”
Ace hadn’t been sure he would answer that way, but then he was surprised. “Was it safe? Didn’t you tell me once she was a little...weird?”
Diego smirked and then stood. “The most helpful people sometimes are really weird. Wish I could find a girlfriend like that.”
“...Like your mother?”
“Funny.” He clapped Ace on the shoulder once and headed to the door. “Ciao, amigo.”
Ace drummed his thumbs against the edge of the bar, hesitating. Emily didn’t make sense. She knew a few things, knew clothing, and was familiar with quality. That’s what surprised him picking her up. While her style and ensemble screamed spoiled princess, she spoke softly and clearly was in need of serious help. Yet... she asked to be dropped off instead of asking to phone a friend for help. She didn’t have someone to call?
She was wanted for questioning; there was no warrant for arrest. Sometimes Diego was too careful, doing his job watching Ace’s back and cleaning up the occasional messes.
And he knew Ace had the weakness of being too curious for his own good.
There was always more to a situation, but the longer she stuck around, the sooner his friend would notice and start asking questions. And if he found out about her, he could use that information against him.
But only if she’d done what Diego claimed. What if...
He picked up the black leather wallet and opened it, checking the ID.
Evelyn Lacroix.
It was the eyes that got to him. They were sharp, full of confidence. She’d kept just the smallest smile for her photo, enough to look professional, edging on perfection.
Absolutely stunning. Just like when he first saw her. Red like a tomato, but overall an amazing look that commanded attention.
He picked up his own phone, opened to a secure VPN browser, and did a search. Didn’t hurt to learn what he could about her.
But he knew the truth. Diego knew he wouldn’t just dump her out of his house. He’d find out what was going on.
Bath
(Eva)
Between the first floor and the second, Soma’s intensity seemed to lessen. His dark lashes moved rapidly over his eyes, and he kept his hands to his sides as he moved.
I tried to relax as I followed him. I breathed slowly through my nose to try to feel more confident in being here. Ace had a house I was absolutely jealous of. The second floor was covered in an intricately woven carpet runners similar to downstairs. Soma stepped quietly through the hall, passing closed doors painted white with brass handles on the left, and a wall dotted with windows on the right that looked out onto the garden and street. More old portraits hu
ng between windows and doors, the men and women staring at one another in contempt.
He stopped at a door, the second to last on the left. As he turned the handle, the metal creaked. He entered, then held the door open for me, urging me inside.
It was a bedroom connected to an en suite bath. The walls were papered with fancy, green leaf patterns, and the bedframe was brass. There were cedar furnishings, a dresser and side table with brass hardware and lamps. The area was neat, although the air tasted stale like it was rarely used. The collection gave a country, cozy feel but with posh touches like a glass and brass bedside tray and fine artistic paintings of beaches around the room.
Soma crossed the bedroom and opened the heavier draperies, leaving gauzy curtains down for privacy but still allowing natural light in. He scanned the bedroom and headed across to the bathroom.
He went through cabinets under the vanity sink, creating a collection of bottles on the marble counter.
I edged into the bathroom, watching him and spotting the large marble tile shower, big enough for four of me to fit inside and still have room. The bathroom space was mostly white, with shiplap walls and marble tile and woven bamboo rugs. Their decorator was meticulous. The space echoed the bedroom in touches alone, appearing clean and fashionable, but still had the feel of an antique house.
I spied the tub, and cooed audibly.
The downside to having the apartment I’d had in my prior life was that it came with a standard tub. It reminded me of a spa’s tub. This one was sunken into the floor a little. The wide basin was big enough to let my body submerge into the water up to my neck easily. It had a curving seat to one side, and a dip for a neck and a bath pillow in place, ready for someone to use.
Soma stopped what he was doing, looked at me and then what I was staring at. “Do you prefer a bath?”
Did I dare?
“If it’s no more trouble,” I said, still a bit concerned about the imposition, but he was the one to offer. And why not? Would soaking be better for my skin than sprays of water? After a bath and some rest, I’d be in prime condition to venture out into... “Uhm, where are we, by the way?”
Soma scrunched his brows curiously. “In Charleston. In the South of Broad area.”
That explained the antique homes so close to one another, but I had started out guessing it to be Savannah. Ace hadn’t mentioned he lived in Charleston when I mentioned it, but then I promised not to ask too many questions.
I wondered if I still needed to keep my mouth shut. Did asking Soma general questions count?
It might also be trouble if I meant to settle here. If it became known I was associated with Ace and he was already looking at vloggers chasing him for a scandal, I was risking his reputation if anyone made the connection to who I really was.
Maybe it was better if I used the time to heal, come up with a new plan, and— if advised by Ace or Soma— escape into the night and head to a new town. Maybe one of the neighboring islands. I needed to change my appearance anyway, and get myself together before deciding what to do next.
Or maybe I should stop running and just handle the situation at home...I hadn’t decided yet, but I was too tired to think of what I could do. I’d heard rumors the police in my area liked to convict, whether you were guilty or not, and give you a rough time. Although, I’d never personally dealt with the police in my entire life.
Soma twisted the faucets, fine tuning hot and cold. He tested the flow of water with his fingers a few times, and then let it continue to fill the tub.
At the linen closet, he brought out two plush towels, a thinner, smaller one, and a washcloth, setting the collection on the corner of the tub. He found a white cotton robe, and hung it off of a brass hook near the tub. He looked over the room, checked the tub water again, and then the collection of bath bombs, soaps, shampoos and plenty of lotion and aloe.
“Use what you wish,” he said. “I’ll bring up a tray. Are you allergic to anything? Gluten?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m not allergic, but thank you for asking.”
He nodded curtly. “Anything else?”
His professional demeanor impressed me. After such a rough night and this morning, I was very grateful. “Thank you. I really appreciate this.” My eyes wetted again, for his kindness to a stranger, especially considering the situation.
Soma bowed his head and backed out of the room, closing the door securely behind himself.
I exhaled, feeling every little inch of my skin, the redness and how parched my throat was. I painfully began the process of peeling off the clothes I wore, laying them carefully aside on the counter. I sought out my phone, and then discovered it and my wallet were missing.
Not that I had a charger for it. Didn’t I drop them in the car? I reminded myself to ask about them.
Except Ace had driven off with the car. Was he going to be gone long?
I pressed my lips together tightly. He’d have every opportunity to find out about me, and every reason to do so. Just opening up the wallet, he’d know my real name.
I needed to clean up and take advantage of this while I could. If he did find me out, he could just kick me out. He was being overly kind allowing me in his home.
I scanned the products Soma placed on the counter, finding an aloe bubble bath and a collection of lotions, shampoo bars, soaps and some bath bombs.
I dropped in as much bubble bath as I dared, and for the fun of it, three small bath bombs just to watch them fizzle and color the water shades of blue. I scooped out a generous helping of Epsom salts, sprinkling the grains across the water.
Loading the bath with so much was a bit excessive, but after a crazy couple of days and the rough time I’d have trying to start all over, I could use the small luxury. It was an afterthought that I wondered if the bath bomb contents might hurt my burned skin, but I checked the wrappers and nothing seemed like it would hurt.
I placed a soap near the tub, along with shampoo, and eased myself into the water to feel the bubbles of the bath bombs still fizzling away.
My skin was raw, but the water was just right: lukewarm, edging on cool to soothe my burning skin. The concoction I’d brewed together made it a refreshing dip.
With precision timing, foamy bubbles had just finished flooding the surface of the water when there was a gentle knock at the door.
“Come in,” I said.
Soma appeared. He carried a small wooden tray covered with grapes, crackers and cheese, sliced cucumbers and a carafe of ice water.
He came over with it, lowering it to a corner of the tub to balance near where I was sitting. I was as modest as one could be with bubbles around my chest, but he kept his eyes on the tray and then shut the water off for me without looking my way. “Are you in need of anything else?”
He was so proficient. I admired it. “Thank you, no,” I said, a little giddy to have someone so handsome waiting on me, an indulgence I didn’t get that often. “Please don’t trouble yourself.”
I kept my eyes on him, and for a brief moment, he looked up.
We connected.
His steady, dark gaze curiously looking over me in the tub, questioning me silently as if to assure himself I was honest about not needing anything further.
I found his presence as soothing as the bath water, and I liked it. He made everything feel very tranquil around him.
Soma instantly dropped his eyes after, and turned from me the small collection of clothing I had left on the counter. He lifted each carefully, examining before draping the items across his arm. “I’ll see about cleaning these.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling awkward with a desire to say more but being unsure what to say. If he wasn’t going to look at me, I’d study him, attracted to his features. The dark eyes kept drawing my attention, perhaps because he kept looking away. The clothing he wore was a little snug, and at times I felt I could picture his lean chest and the outline of his butt.
Perhaps because he kept things professional, I felt I und
erstood him, given my previous job.
“Was this all you had with you?”
“For clothing, yes. But I think I left my wallet and phone in the car.”
“I’ll have them returned when he gets back,” he said. He kept the arm loaded with my clothes out away from his body. “Would you like an iPad to watch something while you soak?”
I wanted to say yes, but I didn’t dare take advantage of this too much. I wasn’t totally sure I could focus anyway. “No, thank you.”
He pressed his lips together, nodded and then left the room.
I was giddy, unable to help myself from feeling hopeful about my good fortune. Maybe I was wrong about anyone finding out about me and I wouldn’t have to leave town. Ace was a little strange, but Soma was pleasant. I hoped I could seek Soma’s help to get information about the area and inquire about my prospects of a good position, and possibly risk asking him for a reference of character.
I needed a new resume, after all. Even after I dealt with what was back home, I’d need to start anew.
The water was soothing to my burning skin. One of the bombs also had tea leaves, and I’d heard somewhere that helped with sunburns, too. My head rested on the pillow. I could have slept, but I didn’t want Soma to find me like that.
I ate grapes, the crackers and cheese I feared would be too dry for my throat. I loaded my water glass with the slices of cucumber and poured in the ice water. I let the cucumbers sit for a moment before I drank, and then drained half the carafe of ice water before I felt I’d had enough.
I remained in the tub for as long as I could, but when my fingers and toes were wrinkled beyond the raisin stage, I forced myself out.
My skin felt a little better, although I knew sleeping would be painful. I heaped on generous amounts of aloe lotion, covering as much of my body as I could reach.
This starting over business was a pain in the neck.
Once I got away from Ace, hopefully with his reputation intact and mine still unknown, I’d find the closest luxury mall and apply for anything I could.
I’d have to start at the bottom again, but I knew the brands. I knew every good designer and I knew how to dress people. A few good sales, shaking hands with the right people, and I’d garner a fair reputation among social circles.
