by J. L. Berg
This time, I touched her because I wanted to.
“Definitely not hopeless,” I said softly, knowing that instant that I was crossing the line between business and pleasure.
And heading straight to the land of hell.
“So, tell me about technical editing,” she said, shifting topics. “How does one get into something like that?”
I suddenly felt like I’d been hit in the face with a bucket of ice water. Here I was, in a dimly lit room, romancing the hell out of a woman I’d just met, and then reality hit.
I was lying to her.
Flat-out lying.
I needed to remember that.
“There’s not much to tell,” I said, straightening slightly in my chair. “Rather boring really.”
We continued to chat about our lives. She told me more about her work at the college. I rambled off more lies about mine until the check came around.
I was feeling quite good about myself as I led us outside.
My head was clear.
But then I saw the way the moonlight highlighted her golden-blonde hair. I became mesmerized by the sway of her hips and the soft curves of her body.
Katelyn O’Malley was casting a spell on me, and she didn’t even know it.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted her to stop.
“You’re an asshole, Killian.”
I’d been awake for a total of ten minutes.
Ten minutes of peace before the phone rang.
Ten minutes of wondering exactly what I was going to do with Katelyn O’Malley and my unexpected interest in her.
“You’ve been saying that since we were kids, Liam. Come up with a better line,” I said, holding my cell phone to my ear as I yawned.
My younger brother had always been fond of that particular saying. He’d heard our father say it one evening when he was about five, and I guessed it stuck.
Back then, Dad had been the asshole.
He had taken away the toys. He had given the time-outs and the curfews when we got older.
Now that it was just Liam and me left?
Guess who was the asshole now.
“I’m letting you stay in my apartment, rent-free, while I’m away. What more could you want?”
“You mean, I’m babysitting this place, so you don’t get robbed while you’re off doing—what the hell are you doing again?”
“I’m on assignment,” I replied, pacing the floor of my motel room.
After stalking Jane in her five-star hotel had paid off, I’d checked out of the swanky place, giving my credit card some breathing room, and moved down the street to a more affordable option across town.
The towels weren’t as fluffy, the staff was kind of rude, and the bed was hard as a rock. But it was cheap. Dirt cheap.
“On assignment for what? You don’t even have a job. And, last time you did, I don’t recall it requiring travel.”
My fist curled into a ball at my side. I chose not to remind him that, at the moment, neither did he, which was why he was crashing at my place.
“It’s a piece I’m going to cover and then sell. Never mind. What do you need? Is there a reason for this call?”
“I need some money.”
Motherfucker.
I let out a sigh as I tried to gather my composure. “For what?”
“Stuff. Bills and shit.”
Massaging my left temple as I wore a path in the carpet around the room, I tried to think of a rational way to respond. But this wasn’t the first time I’d been asked this very same question.
Hell, it wasn’t even the second…or the tenth.
My brother had been mooching money off me since he was old enough to understand the concept of it. First, it had been allowance money. He’d spend his and always need more for one thing or another. Being the older of the two of us, I’d felt it was my duty to take care of him.
I’d done far too good of a job, and in doing so, I’d created a monster.
He’d grown into a young adult who couldn’t hold down a job and spent money faster than he could make it.
“You know I don’t have a lot of money right now,” I finally replied. “I’m pinching pennies as it is.”
“Really? Is that why you dropped two hundred bucks on dinner last night at a place called Duos?”
And there it was, my never-ending problem when it came to my baby brother.
Liam was smart.
Not like normal smart.
He was Mensa-level smart.
Before my father had died, by the time he was sixteen, the kid had breezed through college, on a full ride, and graduated with a degree in computer science.
He had so much potential but no will to use it, so for the last few years, he’d been freeloading off me. I’d lost count of the number of times I’d loaned him money with no hopes of ever seeing a penny returned.
“It was a lead,” I replied.
“Expensive lead. Was she pretty?” he asked.
I could hear the keys clicking away as he typed on a keyboard—my keyboard most likely.
“Yes—no. That’s not the point. If you are so damn smart and can literally hack into my bank account, why go through all the trouble of calling me? Why not just take what you need? Isn’t that what you want to do?”
The typing stopped.
“I don’t want to steal from you, Killian. I was fucking around.”
I stopped pacing, letting myself fall onto the bed. “I know. I’m sorry. Look, take what you need. I’ll figure it out.”
Silence.
“Thanks, asshole.”
I smiled. “Welcome, moocher. Talk to you later.”
I set the phone on the bed and looked around the room.
Well, I guess it’s the vending machine for breakfast today.
Thanks, little brother.
Thanks a lot.
After giving my little brother free rein of my bank account, I feasted on a bag of potato chips for breakfast and headed over to the college to do a little research.
The fresh air wouldn’t hurt either.
Last night hadn’t gone according to plan.
Hell, this entire experience since the day I’d arrived wasn’t going according to plan.
At this moment, I had enough to reveal Katelyn O’Malley as Laura Stone. I could go to any major paper and present my evidence, and it would be a done deal.
But it wasn’t enough.
I didn’t know the why yet. And wasn’t that the crux of every great story?
Why did Kate feel the need to hide behind an alter ego? Why did she feel the need to hide at all?
If I didn’t discover that, someone else would, and then all this would be meaningless.
There was also a part of me—the side of me that loved flirting with her, that loved touching her and seeing her react—that wasn’t ready to leave.
And wasn’t that the definition of an internal crisis, if I’d ever seen one?
But I also excelled at denial, so I set my sights on the college and decided to take a stroll through the idyllic setting.
It was a beautiful campus. I could understand why someone would end up here—professional or otherwise. There were mature green trees, perfect for study sessions or a long lunch break, and winding pathways to use to discuss philosophy or burn off a few calories. The buildings were modern without overwhelming the landscape.
And, most of all, everyone was friendly.
Almost instantly, I felt a sense of community. Kate had spoken of it at great length last night over dinner—her love for this college and how it felt like a family rather than a job.
It made me wonder what had happened to her own family.
Thinking back to our various dinner topics, it was then that I realized she’d never spoken of a family.
Not once.
On several occasions, she’d mentioned Jane.
And her coworkers.
But no siblings. No parents.
I’d been on plenty of first dates to know t
hat not everyone spilled their life story over dinner and dessert, but Kate didn’t strike me as the type of person to omit something.
Unless it was on purpose.
What else is she hiding?
It wasn’t just the pretty campus I’d come for this morning; although that did help lift my sour mood after the phone call I’d had with my brother. No, today was much more than a friendly stroll through the trees.
I had work to do.
After giving myself a thorough tour of the campus, I made note of where Kate’s office was and selected a building close by. A nondescript gray building looked promising.
My hope was that the proximity would provide useful information without the risk of running into my intended target.
It worked out perfectly.
As I walked through the double doors of the Harrison building that housed Human Resources and a few other departments, I immediately put my seventh grade acting skills to work. Putting on a face of confusion and a bit of charm, I zeroed in on finding someone to assist me.
It didn’t take long.
A long hallway and a turn to the left, and I found myself at Human Resources.
The woman behind the small desk was attractive and young—around the same age as Kate, I assumed. I couldn’t be sure of her title or role, but based on her surroundings, I guessed she must be some sort of administrative assistant.
“Hi, can you help me?” I asked after waiting for what seemed like an eternity for her to glance up at me.
“One second,” she replied without bothering to take her eyes off the report she was invested in.
As I patiently stood there, she finished filing away the few papers left on her desk.
Finally, her gaze wandered upward, and a look of surprise washed over her face.
“Oh! I’m sorry! I thought you were a student. Sometimes, freshmen wander in here and end up lost. Please, how can I help you?” she gushed, motioning to the chair by her desk.
“Thank you,” I said, accentuating my exhaustion. I took a seat, drawing in a deep breath, as my fingers worked through my hair. “I’ve been all over this place, looking for a friend of mine, and I can’t seem to find her. Do you think you could help me?”
Locking in on those milky-blue eyes of hers worked like a charm, as she suddenly leaned forward, completely ensnared by the trap I had set.
“Of course. Anything for you—I mean, what is her name?”
The corner of my mouth curved upward. “Katelyn O’Malley.”
Her eyes flashed with recognition. “Oh, Kate! Sure. She’s great. She’s in the Student Services building. It’s not far. Let me get you a map.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, watching as she flipped through papers and dug around in her desk for the campus map.
“Have you known Kate long?” I asked.
“Oh, um, not that long. Maybe a year. She’s really sweet though. On my first day, she brought over a little welcoming gift for me. It was so thoughtful, made me feel right at home.”
“That sounds like her,” I replied. “Are you close? Maybe she’s mentioned you to me?”
“Oh, no,” she answered. “We’ve never hung out or anything. I get the feeling that she doesn’t do much outside of work.”
I didn’t disagree with her, but I still pressed on. “Oh, why is that?”
“Well, I tried to thank her for the basket on several occasions. But, whenever I tried to invite her to something, she always turned me down.” She shrugged, obviously not that upset over the loss, and finally handed over a slightly tattered map from her desk. “For a while, I thought maybe she had a boyfriend or something because I would see her sneaking off for lunch all the time. But who knows? Everyone has their secrets, right?”
She didn’t know how right she was.
“I’m sure she’s just busy,” I replied in an effort to soothe her nerves. “After all, who wouldn’t want to spend time with you?”
That comment brought out the blush in her cheeks as I thanked her for her help.
“Of course,” she said. “And, if Kate happens to be too busy again, be sure to stop back by here. I’d be happy to entertain you.”
My grin widened. “Duly noted.”
And, just like that, I’d succeeded in learning something new about Kate. I hadn’t really known what I was looking for when I wandered into this office, but I knew I had exactly what I’d come for.
Time for lunch.
I didn’t know why I was so elated to learn this specific piece of information from Kate’s chatty coworker. Honestly, it wasn’t that great of a lead.
So, she snuck off at lunchtime. It wasn’t exactly going to land me an exclusive with the New York Times.
But part of me found it thrilling to possibly catch a glimpse of Kate in her element.
That was, after all, what I had concluded she did during all those stealthy lunch dates away from campus.
Because the thought of a boyfriend?
That didn’t settle right with me at all.
Not at all.
The idea that those hotter-than-hell sex scenes she’d dreamed up could be memories? That her body had been brought to orgasm over and over by some nameless asshat who probably didn’t even understand the tiny slice of heaven he’d been given?
Nope. Not possible.
If only because I couldn’t stand the idea of her in the arms of someone else.
I shook my head as I slowly walked through campus. Taking a deep breath, I tried to get my head back in the game.
I couldn’t think about her in that way. She was a means to an end.
Befriend, seduce, and expose. That was the plan.
Nothing else.
Nothing more.
Period.
As if she’d heard my thoughts being broadcast over a loudspeaker, she appeared. Stepping out of the building just ahead of me, she walked briskly toward a small parking lot. Slung over her shoulder was a black bag that looked remarkably similar to a laptop bag.
Bingo.
Checking my watch, I noted the time. Eleven thirty in the morning.
Seemed like Kate liked to sneak out early.
Ducking into the shadows, I leaned against a tree trunk and observed as she quickly walked up to the familiar gray sedan I remembered from the night before. After searching around for her keys, she disappeared inside.
I expected her to pull out of the parking spot at any moment, but the car remained still. Needing a closer look, I journeyed to the other side of the lot while keeping a safe distance.
Finally, as I reached the edge of the parking lot, I spotted her. From my vantage point, I could just make out the delicate features of her face as she concentrated on the screen in front of her.
She is writing.
My heart raced as my mind went wild with possibilities.
This was what I’d wanted.
This was what I’d hoped to accomplish today.
Adjusting my view, I pulled out my phone and found a bench to sit on. I could still see her, but thanks to the several cars separating us, I was fairly confident she couldn’t see me.
Keeping up pretenses, I’d periodically look down at my phone, punch a couple of keys, and pull up an app, making it appear as if I were any other normal American killing time on his mobile device.
But, secretly, I was watching her, noticing the intensity in her expression as she worked and the way she’d close her eyes, as if she were actually living the words she typed. As her teeth bit down over her bottom lip, I found myself leaning forward in anticipation, wondering what fantasy was being played out in her head.
Was it twisted? Was it dirty?
Maybe a little of both.
Growing up, I was a huge Stephen King fan. I’d sit alone in my room, late at night, with nothing but a book and a flashlight to keep me company. With the covers piled over my head, I would travel into the demented mind of a legend and wonder how he had done it.
How could one person dream up a hundred lifetim
es of stories?
Now that I was witnessing it from someone with such a raw gift, I couldn’t help but be a little fascinated by it.
And a little turned on.
I couldn’t help what I did next.
The moment the car door opened, signaling the end of her thirty-minute break, I bolted, like a magnet was pulling me toward her.
So stupid, I told myself seconds before I called out her name.
“Kate!” I yelled.
Startled, she turned, a firm grip on the black laptop bag. “Killian?” The initial scare melted into a kind of puzzlement across her features as she tried to place me in her surroundings. She was in another suit today, similar to the one she’d been wearing when we first met.
It was boxy and boring and did little to accentuate the curvy body I knew she had.
“Sorry, I know this is weird,” I said before elaborating, “Me showing up at your work.”
She nodded. “Kind of.”
Although her words were curt, I couldn’t help but notice the faint pink glow that colored her cheeks.
She was happy to see me.
Or at least, pleased.
At any rate, I proceeded, “You spoke so highly of this place last night, I had to check it out. It’s been a long time since I roamed a college campus.”
The background story I’d fed to her was that I was a new transplant to the area, having moved here from New York. I’d gone with the less-is-more strategy as far as lies went. The less I told, the more likely I was going to succeed and not get my ass stuck in an awkward situation.
“And what do you think?” she asked, her curious gaze finding mine.
Several girls walked by just then, backpacks on their shoulders, as weekend plans were tossed around. The second I turned, all talking ceased. High-pitched giggling broke out the moment they were out of range.
“It’s…interesting.” I chuckled. “Maybe not the best place to begin my employment search.”
“You’d definitely be a hit with the coeds.” She laughed before continuing, “You’ll have to excuse them though. Most of the men on this campus are either still working on their facial hair or going bald. They don’t often see someone like you.”
“Someone like me?”
Her cheeks reddened. “Someone so handsome.”
