Rhodium

by Elise Noble

  Thankfully Imogen steered the conversation, because I had no clue what I was and wasn’t supposed to know from Tuesday. And Jamie had more to say than Landon, so between them, they did most of the talking.

  Before the waitress showed us to our table, the topics cycled from a discussion about another friend who I also didn’t remember from the night we’d met to news of a new bar opening nearby to a recap of last night’s football.

  Landon slipped into the same side of the booth as me, but he maintained a respectful distance and for that I was grateful.

  “So, you work at Java with Imogen?” he asked.

  “That’s right. I started this week.” And so much had happened in that short space of time, I almost couldn’t believe it.

  “Maybe I’ll need to change where I buy my coffee.”

  “I’d be only too happy to serve you. With coffee,” I hastened to add, in case I sounded like some kind of love slave.

  He laughed. “Coffee sounds good to me. What did you do before you worked at Java?”

  “I was a student here, and then I went home for a while.”

  “What did you major in?”

  “Business at VCU, but I haven’t graduated yet.”

  I wanted to get that out there, because letting him think I had a degree when I didn’t would be worse than coming clean in the first place. Luckily, he didn’t seem that bothered.

  “I attended VCU on the business program too, but I graduated two years ago. Did you have classes with Professor Alanson?”

  I smothered a laugh. “Yes, and his toupee still doesn’t match the rest of his hair.”

  “It’s fluffier than a chinchilla. I swear he used to get a blowout every morning. You heard about the time the seniors stole it, right?”

  And so the ice got broken. Despite my initial impressions, I liked Landon, and my worries about feeling uncomfortable over dinner proved unfounded. Imogen seemed to feel the same way about Jamie, given that she had her tongue stuck down his throat before the waitress brought dessert, and when the plates of churros did arrive, he fed her most of his.

  I allowed myself one more glass of wine before we called it a night, and when Landon slid closer and draped his arm over my shoulders, I leaned into him rather than wishing I could get away. This felt good. Safe. Normal.

  “I’ve enjoyed tonight,” he said, clinking his glass against mine. “Can we do it again?”

  I found myself nodding.

  “But maybe without those two.” He jerked his head at our two friends. “They really need to get a room.”

  I coughed, and Imogen looked up.

  “Are you coming home?”

  She took a few seconds to focus, her eyes a little dazed.

  “What? Er…” She whispered into Jamie’s ear, and he nodded. “I’m going home with Jamie. Do you want to catch a cab back with us? We can drop you off.”

  Landon answered for me. “It’s okay. I’ll make sure Stef gets home safely.”

  And he did. The boys insisted on picking up the tab, and then Jamie and Imogen dived for the first taxi, leaving us to wait for another. I didn’t mind. It only surprised me they’d lasted that long. I’d half expected Jamie to toss her over his shoulder, caveman-style.

  When the cab pulled up outside my apartment, Landon didn’t try to invite himself in, and I was relieved about that. I had no idea what I’d have said if he did. For so long, I’d been a sure thing, and now I needed to reclaim some dignity. He gave me the space to do that, but he did lean over and kiss me softly on the lips before I got out.

  And it was…nice. No sparks, no fireworks, but I didn’t want that, right? This was the regular guy I’d been craving for so long. In time, the flutters of excitement would come. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, the saying went, and yet it had lasted for thousands of years.

  “Can I see you tomorrow?” Landon whispered, squeezing my hand.

  “I’d like that.”

  CHAPTER 16

  “ARE YOU GOING out with Jamie tonight?” I asked Imogen on Sunday.

  She made a face. “I have to work. But he’s picking me up afterwards.”

  “I take it I don’t need to wait up?”

  “Nuh-uh.” She gave me a not-so-subtle wink. “It also means you’ll have the place to yourself for your date with Landon.”

  “No way. That’s not happening. Anyway, he’s taking me out.”

  As of yesterday, new, sensible Stefanie had been born. My moves did not include letting men tie me to the bed or kiss me unexpectedly in elevators. Although I was sure if Landon tried the latter, he’d be a gentleman about it rather than walking off afterwards.

  “Ooh, where?”

  “I’m not sure. But he promised we wouldn’t stay late, because I’ve got work tomorrow morning. Do you want me to call you to make sure you get up?”

  “Nah, it’s fine.” Another wink. “Jamie’s an early riser.”

  I tried to block thoughts of Imogen and Jamie and their shenanigans from my mind as I waited for Landon to arrive. Without Imogen there to influence my dress sense, I’d opted for tight jeans and a scoop-neck top with enough sparkle to say “date” but enough coverage that I wouldn’t be fidgeting with the neckline all evening.

  I just had time to spritz perfume on and give my hair a last-minute brush before the door buzzer sounded, right on time. Another point in Landon’s favour.

  I picked up the entry phone. “Coming right away.”

  As the words left my lips, Oliver appeared in my head uninvited, and I grimaced at myself in the hall mirror. No. Oliver would not be joining me on this date tonight. Tonight was about a new man. A gentleman.

  Landon offered me his arm as he led me to his car, a nearly new Ford Focus. I’d learned to drive back in Hartscross, even if the chances of me ever affording a car were lower than a heatwave in the Arctic. But at least I didn’t need to take the bus tonight.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “A friend of mine’s having a party. I thought it would be fun for both of us to go. You might meet some new people.”

  I’d hinted at my loneliness last night over dinner, but not so much that I’d scare him off. How lovely that he’d taken notice. Even though I’d lived in Richmond for years, I’d never made real friends besides Chrissie. At school, I’d kept my head down and studied, and at Rubies? Enough said. Hanging out with people my own age whose sole reason for being there wasn’t to get in my pants would make a pleasant change.

  I did my seat belt up and Landon started the engine, reaching over to give my hand a quick squeeze once he’d put the car in gear. I was pleased to see he concentrated on the road rather than chattering away. It meant we’d get to the party in one piece and gave me time to organise my thoughts.

  Which were way off base. I’d been expecting a frat-boys type affair with beer pong, loud music, and dubious snack choices, but Landon pulled into a visitor space outside a fancy apartment complex.

  “My buddy lives on the fourth floor,” he said after he’d walked to the passenger side to open my door.

  “This place looks really nice. Am I underdressed?”

  I unbelted my coat so he could take a look.

  He slipped an arm around my waist, under the coat. “You look perfect. There’ll be a mix of people there, anyway.”

  A minute later, he knocked on the door of a condo, and a guy swung it wide open, holding out a hand to high-five Landon. “Good to see ya, buddy.”

  A glass of champagne soon found its way into my hand, and I gazed around the large apartment. The furniture was modern, all chrome and red leather, and the white counters in the open-plan kitchen overflowed with food and drink. Not the cheap kind, either. Bottles of wine jostled for space with the beer, and I even spotted smoked-salmon canapés.

  Then I caught sight of the balcony and walked towards it, pulled along by an invisible string. When I stepped outside, the view over the gardens below was stunning, with trees and flowers lit up by artfully placed sp
otlights. A crystal-blue swimming pool twinkled off to one side, although I couldn’t imagine anyone would be brave enough to use it at this time of year, even if it was heated.

  “Great view, isn’t it?”

  Landon stepped up behind, one hand either side as he leaned forwards over the railing with me.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Not just the gardens.”

  I felt myself blush, heat rising in my cheeks. “Stop it.”

  He whispered in my ear, lips brushing softly against it. “It’s true.”

  Why did I never quite believe men when they paid me compliments? Was it because the Rubies’ men used to say things like that all the time, acting out their part as I did mine?

  “I could stay out here for the whole night, watching.”

  He dropped a kiss on my hair. “You mind if I head inside? Catch up with a few people?”

  “No, you go ahead.”

  The clouds cleared a little, enough for me to see the moon and a handful of stars, and I meant it: I could have stayed there all night. But Landon had gone to the effort of bringing me here, so I needed to be social. I found him in the lounge, drinking beer from a bottle as he chatted about baseball with a couple of other guys. Without breaking the conversation, he held his arm out and I slid beneath it, relishing the warmth when he tucked me against his side.

  This was what a date should be like. Fun, good conversation, and enjoyable company. Sex didn’t matter. Sure, it might make you feel good in the short term, but it wouldn’t keep you company in your old age. If I tried that table trick with Oliver at sixty, I’d probably put my back out. Mind you, a few sessions with the chiropractor would be worth it for that sort of pleasure.

  “Why are you smiling?” Landon asked.

  Dammit, he’d caught me. “Just thinking how lucky I am to be here with you tonight.”

  “I’m the lucky one.”

  His buddies had headed over to the drinks table, and Landon moved so he pressed against me, arms wrapped around my waist. When he touched his lips to mine, a tingle spread through me, enough to surpass the mild buzz from the champagne. That was good, right? I mean, better than the last time? This was the kind of man who grew on you, that you learned to like, as opposed to one who stormed into your life and took whatever he wanted.

  And Landon had a grin plastered on his face when he pulled back, so he obviously felt it too. Things were definitely heading in the right direction.

  As I stepped down from my high, Landon took the empty glass from my hand. “Let’s get you a top-up.” He motioned at his own drink. “Don’t worry. I’m stopping at one tonight so I’ll be fine to drive.”

  And he was responsible too. I owed Imogen a huge thank you for organising my love life for me. Well, not love life, but definitely like life. You know what I mean.

  Once I had a fresh drink in my hand, Landon led me deeper into the lounge. “Let me introduce you to some of these people. I think you’ll get along with Mara and Alice.”

  He was right. After chatting with them for ten minutes, I learned stick-thin Mara modelled when she could get the work and waitressed when she couldn’t. Alice was a personal assistant to an accountant at one of the big firms in town.

  “Dead boring, but it pays the bills,” she said.

  “I bet modelling’s exciting. Do you ever travel abroad?” I asked Mara.

  She grinned at me. “Sometimes. I did a shoot on the beach in Cancun last month, and they let me keep some of the outfits.”

  Alice cut in. “We can’t all be lucky enough to have your figure, though.”

  “Oh, I know it won’t last. I’m saving up to go to college when I can’t resist the lure of donuts any longer. So, what do you do, Stef?”

  “I work in a coffee place. Java.”

  “Ooh, that’s my favourite,” Alice squealed. “I go there on my break every afternoon for a cappuccino.”

  “I work the morning shift.”

  “Aww. Maybe I’ll stop in early one day to say hi.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Landon had drifted off again, and when I saw him on the other side of the room, chatting with a group of girls, I couldn’t help the way my body stiffened.

  Mara reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “Don’t worry about Landon. He’s a hopeless flirt, but he only ever goes with one girl at a time.”

  Really? He laughed at something a brunette said, then took her glass to get her another drink. She was prettier than me. Thinner.

  “I sure hope so. I’ve only known him a few days.”

  “You’ve got nothing to fear. I’ve never heard of him cheating, and we’ve moved in the same circles for years.”

  “What do you think of him?”

  “Nice guy. If you’ve got a problem, he’ll always try to help out. He’s come up with the goods loads of times, and he’s well-connected.”

  I smiled inside. “Thanks. I think I needed to hear that.”

  He refreshed the brunette’s drink, then sauntered in my direction. Alice quickly turned the conversation to shopping in case he realised we’d been discussing him behind his back.

  “Everything okay, beautiful?” he asked, offering his arm once again.

  “Couldn’t be better.”

  Tonight when he kissed me outside the apartment, I made more of an effort to respond, and things got a little heated as his tongue swept into my mouth to explore. The cold of the evening receded as he wrapped me up in his arms, and for a second, I rethought my decision not to invite him in.

  But no, I had to stand firm on this. If we were to have any sort of future, there would be plenty of time for that later.

  “Can I see you again this week?” he asked. “Maybe dinner or a movie?”

  “I’m around every evening.” Oh heck, did that sound too desperate? Should I have at least pretended to have a life?

  Landon didn’t seem to care. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow. Sleep tight.”

  He leaned down and kissed me once more, giving me a lovely end to a very strange week.

  CHAPTER 17

  TRUE TO HIS word, Landon texted me on Monday morning just as the before-work rush came to an end. Did I want to go for dinner with him on Wednesday? I was about to reply in the affirmative when Imogen snatched the phone out of my hand.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Replying?”

  “With a yes?”

  My blush gave her the answer she needed, and she tutted at me. “Stef, you have so much left to learn. Landon didn’t message you the second he got in last night, did he?”

  “Well, no.”

  “So you don’t reply to him right away either. Make him sweat a bit. Let him worry you might not be interested.”

  “But I am interested.”

  “I know that, you know that, but Landon doesn’t have to. Give it a couple of hours.”

  “But…”

  She pointed back to the counter. “You have a customer. I’ll hang on to this until you understand the rules of proper texting etiquette.”

  It wasn’t worth the argument, especially with the man waiting for coffee. I recognised him as a good tipper, so I hurried to serve him, and as usual, he didn’t disappoint. A small flurry of tourists came in after that, most likely looking for somewhere to shelter from the rain. Their French accents sounded strange to my ears, and quite why they’d picked Richmond for their vacation as opposed to New York or even Virginia Beach, I had no idea.

  I completely forgot my phone until after eleven when Imogen held it up. “Who’s Oliver?”

  “Huh?”

  “Oliver. He just sent a message asking if you’re free on Wednesday afternoon. Is there something you’re not telling me? What about Landon?”

  Oh. Just what I didn’t need. More questions about the court case with his Royal Assholiness asking them. “It’s nothing.”

  Imogen raised an eyebrow.

  “Okay, it’s to do with the Carter case.”

  “Oh
migosh. Not Oliver Rhodes?”

  I crossed my fingers behind my back and cringed inside because I hated lying. “No, uh, another Oliver. He works at the same law firm.”

  She simmered down a notch but raised the other eyebrow. “Why did he thank you for an enjoyable dinner last week?”

  That bastard. How dare he be so blatant? “He was eating at Rhodium while I was waitressing. I guess he thought I was efficient.”

  Imogen’s grin broke through. “Ah, that explains it. I was worried you might be doing the dirty on Landon, and he doesn’t deserve that.”

  “I never would. I promise.” My encounter with Oliver didn’t count. I hadn’t even remembered meeting Landon at that point. “How are things with you and Jamie?”

  “Good. Really good. He treats me like a lady, apart from when he doesn’t let me sleep.”

  I held up a hand. “I don’t need all those details. Can I text Landon back now?”

  She looked at her watch. “Yeah, you’ve held out long enough. Are you still going if this lawyer wants you on Wednesday?”

  “The lawyer can wait.”

  I fired off two quick messages, one to Landon letting him know I’d love to go on Wednesday, and another to Oliver that wasn’t so friendly.

  Stef: I’m busy Wednesday. And there won’t be a repeat of dinner.

  A message came back almost instantly. Clearly, Oliver didn’t follow Imogen’s rules.

  Oliver: I need to go over the case, so pick another day. Soon. And I’ve upgraded the buzzer system.

  How arrogant could the man get? For that, he could wait longer.

  Stef: Now I’m busy all week. And you can go buzz yourself.

  Oliver: Next Monday, then. 3 p.m. Don’t be late. And in the interests of full disclosure, I find your dirty mouth quite entertaining.

  Stef: Stop texting me.

  Oliver: Why? Is your phone set to vibrate?

  That was it. Entertaining or not, the next time I saw Oliver, he was getting a tongue-lashing. And not in a good way.

  “Everything okay?” Imogen asked.

  “Fine, just lost network coverage for a bit, but it’s working now.”

  “Did you get your court thing rescheduled?”