by Aimee Laine
“I am, but I don’t practice, and it’s unethical to close your own deals. I’ll get copies back for you Monday.”
She patted his arm. “We’ll be gone, so you can mail them. Our address is in the papers.” She coaxed him closer with the crook of a finger. “You take care of her now. She’ll need you.”
“I will.” He grinned as she added a small kiss to his cheek and followed with a double pat to the same spot.
“You’re a good boy, Tripp.”
“I’m ridin’ with the pretty lady.” Ian stood at the passenger side of Emma’s car. “You guys talk too much.”
Emma’s smile bloomed, mimicking Lexi’s. If the color of their hair and eyes weren’t so different, Tripp would have thought them identical. Facial structure, voice, tone—they all matched.
“Fine.” He threw the keys back to Lexi, pointed to his arm.
She rolled her eyes but dropped into the driver’s seat. “How long do you have to keep it in a sling?”
“Another week was the suggestion. The rib is still healing, too.”
“Where are you going to stay until … you renovate or move in? I can recommend a few nice places if you want.”
“Sure. As for moving in? You and your sister could come out and put those feminine touches on the place. It’s clearly in desperate need. You could even … stay if you want.”
“Aren’t you forward?” Lexi’s left eyebrow rose. “No, I’m not staying. The house isn’t mine, no matter what Marge said. It’s yours. Please promise me, though, if you ever decide to sell it, give me first dibs.”
A line of trees fanned the edge of the road as they made their way back to Lexi’s office.
“Is small town life as bad as they say?”
She cocked her head. “Who is they? Our illustrious mini city has been named the number one place to live in America, or in the top ten every year for the last decade. We’re close to a metropolitan area, three of them in fact, two hours from three or four others. We have loads of options.”
Lexi slowed as a squirrel darted across the road.
“Turn one way and you see cows and chickens, shift to the other side and you’ll get high-rise buildings. The close proximity of it all sets the area apart. It’s a great place to raise children, celebrate family, work and enjoy life all at once. Plus—” She tapped the steering wheel. “—the beach and mountains are within a two or three hour drive.”
Tripp waited for the details to settle in his mind. He’d only ever been a city rat, though his time away always left him with the desire for more of the slow and less of the hustle.
“Check out the cow,” he said. “Moo.”
Lexi’s laugh, for the first time since they arrived, reflected a genuine happiness. They passed a farm as they meandered through the last of the drive. The twenty-five mile an hour speed limit left a lot to be desired, though if he thought about it, he never got over that in the city anyway.
“I’m going to help Marge and George move tomorrow.” Lexi drove them into her parking lot. “Do you want to come? Or would you rather get settled here?”
“And miss an opportunity for cookies? To pick their brain and wheedle more details out about them? Hell no, I wouldn’t miss that.”
Her quick laugh coaxed one of his own.
“I could pick you up in the morning then, say at ten?” She unlocked the outer door; together, they stepped in.
Tripp tugged her back against him.
“What?”
He didn’t give her an answer. Instead, he leaned down, keeping his gaze locked on hers until their lips touched. When no lightning broke his concentration, he pressed further. She melted into him, returning his kiss. He twitched when her hand pushed against his chest.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I just—”
Her curls bounced as she answered him without sound. “It’s not you. You bring up all sorts of stuff in me, and until this moment, I seriously thought we were a bad idea. I still do for that matter, so despite the physical attraction and what Marge said, I still have butterflies flying at top speed in here.” She pointed to her stomach.
To Tripp, what Marge and George set in front of him worked like a basketball through a hoop. They either needed to deflate it a little or stretch the threads that kept it from falling through. He hadn’t expected Lexi to still think otherwise.
“Despite what you saw at the beach, I’m not as forward and daring as that usually. I mean, look what I do for a living.” Lexi waved an arm through the space of her office.
The chime signaled Ian and Emma’s entrance.
“Can you give us a minute, Tripp?” Lexi motioned to Emma but didn’t wait for his response.
Ian’s hand hit Tripp’s shoulder as Emma passed them. “So, your combined supernatural abilities have some cool side effects. That light show was better than fireworks.”
“I guess so.”
“I knew you had problems back at the beach, but with this one? It’s serious. Somehow, this seems exactly right.”
“Yeah, but I don’t think she thinks the same.”
“Tripp, man.” Ian mock punched his good shoulder. “You’re the ultimate in wine-and-diner. Use your skill. Make her want you so bad she’ll do anything to stay with you.”
• • •
Emma closed the office door. “Well?”
Lexi looked up from her desk. “Well what?”
“You sold the house. I thought you wanted it for yourself.” Emma flopped into one of the chairs.
She ignored her sister, moved on to other business in need of her attention. “Did you convince the Moores to buy the cottage?”
“Yes. Why did you let him buy the Fergs’ place? And stop avoiding the subject.”
Lexi dropped her pen. “It was the one that came to me for him.”
“But, it’s supposed to be your house, Lex. Yours.”
Lexi aimed the end of the pen toward her sister. “You brought the paperwork.”
“I know, but I didn’t fill in the name until I was on site. I was hoping you’d buy it out from under him. What happened before I got there?”
“Everything.”
“Oh, no, not everything. You guys made sparks fly, literally.” Emma’s shoulders drooped. “You know we never talked about our last night at the beach. I thought, after it all went down, you felt him get shot.”
“Yeah, we figured that out, and it hurts the closer I get to him. It’s weird, though. It’s in the opposite spot on my arm, but we both—”
“It’s reflective pain.” Emma reached out, touched Lexi’s arm.
“Marge said we were like magnets, and we have to figure out how to turn them around, so instead of pushing each other away, we’re drawn to each other.”
“How?”
“Not sure.” Lexi dropped her head. “He’s my biggest worry. I don’t know him. He doesn’t know me. It’s like we’ve been set up in an arranged marriage, and not only do we not get a say, we also have to fight for it.” She stood and paced to the window. “And how many people do you know who’d work for something they don’t understand?”
“You do.” Emma’s voice soothed. “Ever since you were a kid you wanted to get married, raise some kids, live in that farmhouse. We drove by the house a few times a month because of you. Mom and Dad even thought about buying it to get it out of your system, but of course that would have been stupid since you were, like, five at the time.”
Lexi turned back to her sister, a small smile breaking out. “Those were fun days, Em.” She plopped into her chair.
“You’re attracted to him, right? You did plan to go talk to him that night. Probably would have led to a night of passion if someone hadn’t butted in and shot him first.”
Lexi’s grin grew. “I don’t know if it would’ve gone that far, but I’m not sayin’ otherwise.” She steepled her fingers. “What do I do?”
“What do you want to do? Do you want to try again? Start where you left off a week ago?”
“
What if it doesn’t work out?”
Emma sighed. “This is exactly the conversation we had at the beach. You make the ultimate decision, Lex. You. You’ve refused to flip through the images for yourself. I made you look for him at the beach. Why don’t you do it again now? Find out who your perfect partner is really supposed to be and—”
Lexi shook her head.
“Why not?”
She repeated the motion. “I’m afraid of the answer, Em. I mean, what if I find someone else and all this was pointless? What if what I find is worse, not better?”
“But, maybe you’ll find him and a life of fun and excitement.Ian filled me in on some of the conversation from the farmhouse. Sounds to me like George and Marge overcame the same paradox. That means you can, too. After all this time of thinking it was just you out there, there’s more than just you and more than just Tripp. You’re not alone. And you have proof others have made it.” Emma’s tone soothed as her words firmed up Lexi’s confidences. “You wanted to move the business in another direction, right? Something with a little more punch? Maybe you should team up.”
Lexi glared at her sister.
“Hear me out.”
“Phrase of the day. Everyone wants me to let them explain.” Lexi wound her hands around each other.
“You find stuff and leave Tripp to be the go-getter. You could even get into some of those cold cases the cops need help with. Read them. Figure out the whodunit. Then find them.”
“I don’t want to deal with murders and criminal stuff. No people—”
“One bad incident doesn’t mean they’ll all—” Emma’s lips firmed. “It doesn’t need to be that, I mean. Be selective. This could be one killer business. I see it working for insurance companies on jewelry loss, for inside investigations in corporate espionage. Anything that requires you to visualize a problem—crime or otherwise. It would be exciting, invigorating—
“Dangerous.” Lexi shivered.
Emma tilted her head. “I thought you wanted a boost in your work life. I thought real estate wasn’t cutting it for you anymore. I thought that’s what all those finds and returns at the beach were for.”
“He already stole my jewelry, Em. Has twice. Should I really get involved with someone who supports criminal activity?” She fingered the pendant as her sister’s gaze dropped down.
Emma’s eyes grew wide. “You guys would have one of the most exciting and lucrative jobs, and get to do it together.”
“And when it all blows up in our faces and we separate faster than oil and water. What then?”
“According to Ian, Marge and George are you and Tripp, just, what, a gazillion years later?”
Lexi laughed. “Not sure the age is right, but I see a lot of us in them.”
Emma flashed the whites of her eyes. “You know what I mean. Make him fall in love with you so, no matter what you do, he wants you and will do anything to keep you. Anything, Lex.”
• • •
Lexi and Emma emerged from behind closed doors, carrying a yellow envelope. “These are your copies of the purchase agreement—” Lexi held it out to Tripp. “—and everything else your accountant will need. You said he’ll handle the money side on Monday, right?”
Tripp nodded.
Lexi rocked back on her heels. “The attorney next door owes me a favor.” She flattened her feet on the floor and coughed into her fist. “I’ll see if we can close then. Think … you can get your guy to deliver everything by Monday at two?” Her voice fell at the end.
Tripp raised an eyebrow. “If I pay him enough, he’ll jump through hoops of flaming fire.”
“Good then.” She pinched the bridge of her nose.
Nerves all of a sudden?
“The house’ll be yours … by Monday.” She held out a card. “I—I recommend this place to all my clients.”
Ian snatched it from her as Emma walked up to his side. The two of them whisked themselves out the door with a quick ‘see ya’.
“What the hell?” Tripp spun, lifted his arm an inch as if to snap at Ian to return but dropped it back down as pain coursed through.
“Dammit, don’t do that.” Lexi’s voice came out a whimper as she rubbed her own arm.
“Sorry. Where’re they going?”
She tapped her toe on the tile, pursed her lips to the side. “I think we just got set up.”
“You’ve got a car, right?”
“Uh, yeah, well, Emma and I drove in together today. Go figure.” She bobbled her head from one side to the other.
“So, what do we do? Where’s the hotel?” The Jaguar sped out of the parking lot. “Fuck. He has all my clothes and crap.”
Lexi blew out a sigh. “And there goes my ride, too.” Emma’s car passed through the lot. “Worse, all the hotels, motels and B-and-Bs are about five miles out. I actually gave Ian the one closest to your new house. My place is about a mile from here. We can walk. I’ll get my car and take you out to it.”
He moved toward Lexi. “Despite the number of cookies I downed, I’m getting really hungry.”
“I can recommend—”
“Go to dinner with me, Lexi. Something with candlelight and ambiance.”
A reluctant smile formed, but the muscles at her cheek tensed as if she tried to withhold it. “Would this be a—”
“Date?” He grinned. “Yeah. Let’s forget all about this myth surrounding our lives and see where it goes—the two of us.” He reached out, fingered a lock of hair falling from her clip. “Let’s try this the old fashioned way and go on a date. I’ll even pay and everything.”
“Will wine be included with this meal?” Her earlier wariness must have faded as her tone turned sultry.
“Absolutely.”
“Dessert?”
He bit his lips together to prevent a laugh. “Whatever you want.”
“Okay then, since you’ve asked so … nicely.” She mimed crazy hands in the air. “There’s a place about two blocks up and around the corner. It’s a little hole in the wall, but—”
“Those are the best kind.” Tripp tugged again on the lock of her hair. Lexi’s body swayed and brushed his, but she kept her hands behind her. He resisted the physical urge to haul her into his arms. “Shall we then?”
“Let me shut down my computers and lock up the office.” She disappeared into the back.
Tripp sat on one of the red leather couches in the lobby prepared to wait the who-knew-how-long for a woman to get ready.
The outer door opened, sending a chime through the space. The man who stood within the frame leaned down toward Tripp before he walked straight toward the back room. As Tripp started to get up, Lexi returned, her attention on her bag.
“Lexi,” the man said.
Her head whipped up. “Ken. What are you doing here?”
“I needed to see you. I know it’s been a little while—”
“A little while? It’s been—”
“I swear I’ve come to my senses. I should’ve a long time ago.”
Tripp waited for the tender moment—or the slug given the full-on scowl on Lexi’s face.
Her eyes narrowed even more. One hand flew to her hip. “Get out.” She extended a finger toward the door as if Ken needed direction. Even her tone suggested he should pack himself up with expedient efficiency. “Get the hell out, and don’t ever contact me again. You didn’t leave because of you, you son of a bitch. I kicked you out, and I did it for a damn good reason. You cheated on me, and you lied about it. That was a year ago. A year … not ‘a little while’.”
Ken remained in place. As his mouth formed another word, Lexi cut him off.
“What the hell are you thinking? Did you think something changed all of a sudden? Did you really think I didn’t know what you did? That I threw you out on your ass because I was bored?” She tapped her temple. “You slept with the biggest mouth in the state. Twice. Get out of my office and don’t ever, ever step foot in here again.”
“But—”
Her finger pointed at the door while her body vibrated with what Tripp took as absolute fury.
When the chime signaled again, Tripp stood and stepped toward Lexi.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
She growled a breathy, feral sound. “That’s what all guys say.” She spun to face him, her eyes burning with hurt anger and confusion. “I’d never catch you in that same act, now, would I?”
That’s true. “I’d never cheat—”
She cut him off with a hand through the air. “I knew this was a bad idea.”
He closed the gap between them in two strides. “I don’t cheat, Lexi. You can’t compare what you think might happen with me to what did happen with some asshole.”
Back and forth, her head bobbed. “I can’t deal with the idea that you could and I wouldn’t even know, Tripp.” Her hands crossed over her chest. “I’ll never know if you’ve been faithful because you can get away with it. It’s like the ultimate win for you. Think about it. You were with Jill, found me and moved on, and she probably has no idea why, knows nothing about me.”
Tripp grabbed her wrist with his free arm and tugged her closer to him. “You ask Ian about this … Miss Shepherd, and he’ll tell you … if there is one thing I abhor, it’s cheaters. In relationships, I don’t cheat. Not in emotional game play shit or where my dick finds itself.” His own breath came in jags as anger built at the unprecedented accusation which rivaled all others thrown at him.
“Does Jill think you’re still getting married?”
Tripp hesitated and knew she’d catch on. “I hope not. Who was that guy, anyway?”
Lexi pulled her arm free. “A man I thought I’d marry—at one point in time.” She waved in the air as if to disperse bad air.
“And you dumped him when you found out he cheated on you.”
“Of course.” She spit the words at him, curling her arms around herself. “I haven’t spoken to him … since the night I found out.”
“I’m not him, Lexi. I’m someone else. I want you to trust me and, yeah, so far, what you’ve seen probably hasn’t done a great deal of showing why you should, but I promise—”
“Never promise, Tripp. Those are the single most difficult statements to keep.”
