Seven-Night Stand

by Nicole Helm

  But her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own. I’ll send a bottle of my shampoo.

  She waited, chewed her bottom lip, and gripped the phone as she waited for a response.

  Send yourself.

  Okay, this really had to stop. After she was done swooning and clutching the phone to her chest, anyway.

  Her phone buzzed again. Naked pictures OK.

  A laugh bubbled out of her, mixed with a strange pang of…something. Longing? Was that this weird want inside of her? A want to go back to last night or even the night before, sharing a bed with Nate, knowing she’d wake up with him?

  That was a terrible want to have.

  So, she’d keep it light. She used the camera on her phone to take a picture of her elbow and sent it along without text comment.

  A few moments later, her phone buzzed again, and she laughed loud enough for the sound to echo in the tiny apartment.

  Hot. Good for my elbow fetish.

  Naked pics go both ways.

  Phone doesn’t send pictures. Trust me. My knee=damn sexy.

  You need a new phone.

  Promise to send naked pic of more than elbow & maybe I’ll buy one.

  Vivvy lost track of time, only realizing after they’d texted their good-byes that they’d spent an hour exchanging silly jokes, what they’d done that day, sexual innuendo. And made a “casual” plan to do the same thing tomorrow.

  She flopped onto her bed, squeezing her eyes shut. She was being such an idiot. She pulled the sleeve of her shirt to her nose and sniffed.

  Yup, she missed him all right, and that want to be with him wasn’t going away any time soon.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Nate shaded his eyes against the sun and watched Bob take off into the chilly autumn morning. Though Nate had stayed up later than he’d anticipated last night, he’d somehow had no problem getting out of bed at five and finishing up his work on the Cessna.

  Funny how that worked.

  Shoving his hands into his coat pockets, Nate headed inside. He had some errands to run. Like go get a new phone. If Vivvy was going to keep up the texting stuff, he was going to need a better plan, too.

  And what would be the harm in researching some small private airports in the LA area? It wasn’t like he didn’t deserve a day of vacation somewhere he’d never been before.

  “You’re an idiot.”

  For a second Nate thought he’d uttered the words himself. When he looked up, Ryan stood there scowling. Considering it was Sunday and Ry had a job in Kansas City, Nate couldn’t even begin to imagine why he was back so soon. “Okay. Why am I an idiot?”

  “Because I said so.”

  His brother’s antagonistic attitude wasn’t unusual, but Nate knew something was off. “What are you doing here?”

  Ryan let out a long sigh and looked over Nate’s shoulder. For a lawyer, he was crappy at hiding his emotions. Or that was just a twin thing, a genetic bullshit detector.

  “Vivvy gone?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. I’m crashing at your place then.”

  “Don’t you have work in the morning?”

  Ryan grumbled something and turned back to his car. When Nate followed he saw the backseat was packed full of stuff.

  “Ry?”

  “I quit my job,” he said, a little more intelligibly this time.

  “You…”

  “Look, it’s no big deal.” Ryan rubbed a palm to his forehead, and began to pace the space in front of his car. “I mean, better than getting fired, right?”

  Nate took a step toward his brother, his eyes drawn back to the stuff in the car. Just when he’d finally gotten half of his crazy family squared away, Ryan had to step up and fill the void. “Were you going to get fired?”

  “Well, you tell your boss to fuck off…” Ryan leaned back against his car. “I’m screwed.”

  “You told your boss…” Nate rocked back on his heels. Ryan had always had the worst temper of the two of them, but he’d kept it in check when it mattered. Like with the job he’d spent eight years of school working toward. “Then you quit.”

  Ryan shrugged and stared at the office building of Harrington, the scowl never leaving his face. “Like I said, it’s no big deal.”

  “No. Not at all.”

  Ryan squinted over at Nate. “Maybe you were right and I was miserable all along.”

  “Well, yeah, but what are you going to do?”

  “I’ve got a lot of money saved up. I can work for you while we wait and see if the TV show thing works out. If it doesn’t, well, maybe I’ll get the hell out of Kansas.”

  “So, you’re just going to bum a place to stay and work at the airport and give up…everything?”

  “You can take part of my pay as rent. Long as I don’t have to stay in a house both Mom and Dad are inhabiting, I’ll be one happy camper.

  “Ry, you don’t have to pay re—”

  “Look, you were right. I wasn’t happy. Things were bad and going back was worse, and I don’t want to be there any more. I just want to be here. Until I can figure it all out, okay? Now, you going to come help me unload this stuff, or what?”

  “Heading into town actually. Unload your own junk.”

  Ryan followed him toward the truck. “What are you going into town for? Groceries? I’ll come with. You eat nothing but crap.”

  Nate knew he should lie, agree, and then just forget the phone thing. The truth was never a good thing to give as ammunition, but it popped out anyway. “No, I’m just heading to the phone place.”

  “The phone place?”

  “Yeah, my plan is up and I was thinking about getting a new phone. This one doesn’t work so well.”

  Ryan moved in front of Nate, studied him suspiciously. “So, let me get this straight: you’re going to buy a new phone. For no reason. Just because.”

  Nate shrugged, pushing past his brother. “Yup.” He hopped into the truck, tried to close the door behind him but Ryan stood in the way.

  “What would you need a new phone for unless…”

  “Unless what?” Nate shoved the key into the engine.

  “Unless you’re using it a little more than usual. Like, for instance, to talk to a certain woman who resides halfway across the country.”

  Nate decided the best course of action would be to ignore any and all insinuations. “You coming or not?”

  Ryan grinned. “Oh, I’m coming. The day Nate Harrington joins the twenty-first century is a historic moment.”

  “Then get in the damn car.” Nate jerked the door shut and scowled at the road in front of him. Vivvy better appreciate this.

  …

  Vivvy sat in her cubicle and stared at the clock. It was eleven, which meant still four hours before her meeting with Lee and Gerry. Never in her life had she been this nervous for a meeting. But this would determine if her idea was a go.

  It burned a little. That she had to wait for their approval knowing it was such a great idea, knowing how much work she’d put into it. She envied Nate the ability to do what needed to be done without answering to someone else.

  Someone cleared their throat and Vivvy looked back to see Ellen at the entrance of her cubicle. She was grinning like a madwoman.

  “Hey,” Vivvy greeted, trying to make out the reason for Ellen’s barely restrained excitement. “What’s up?”

  “You have a visitor.”

  “A visitor?” Vivvy went through her mental file of possible people and came up empty.

  “A really hot visitor at that.”

  “Oh?” Vivvy swiveled in her chair. “I don’t have an appointment with anyone. Why didn’t you just buzz me?”

  “He says his name is Nate.”

  Vivvy’s confusion faded into the hard beating of her heart against her ribs and the inability to take a full breath. “Nate?” Nate. Nate was...here.

  Ellen nodded emphatically, then ducked into the cubicle completely. “It wouldn’t be Nate Harrington, would it?” sh
e asked in a low, excited voice.

  She tried to find some semblance of control and unaffectedness. “Ellen.” It didn’t come out sounding like scolding, though. She sounded breathless and nervous. Probably because, damn it, she was breathless and nervous. Why was Nate here? What could this possibly be about?

  “I know it’s none of my business, but,” Ellen lowered her voice to a whisper, “please tell me you did really, really dirty things with him.”

  Vivvy choked out a laugh, too shocked to refute it even if it was so very true.

  “Just so you know, I’m not taking no for an answer this time: the next night you’re free, we are going out for drinks and you are telling me all about him.”

  She opened her mouth to argue or put Ellen off, but, hell, wouldn’t it be nice to tell someone all about Nate? “Okay.”

  Ellen grinned. “I’ll let him know you’re on your way.” She started to step out of the cubicle but Vivvy touched her elbow.

  “Hey, um, do I look all right?”

  Ellen studied her very seriously. “Add some lipstick and you’re perfect.”

  Vivvy let out a breath. “Thanks.” As fast as she could with shaking hands, she got her lipstick out of her purse and applied it.

  Nate was here. Nate. What did that mean? What did he want? Why hadn’t he called or warned her or...

  “Get a grip,” she muttered to herself. Shoulders back, Vivvy exited the cubicle and walked to the receptionist desk.

  Nate sat in one of the chairs staring at a row of posters for Tyson shows. Then his green eyes met hers and even though she wanted to remain cool and businesslike, she couldn’t fight off the grin.

  “Hi,” he offered, unfolding himself from the chair. “I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”

  Vivvy shook her head and had to swallow down the nerves in her throat before she could speak. “No. Not too bad.” She touched his wrist, because she just had to touch him somehow and make sure he was real. “What are you doing here?”

  “I thought I’d take you to lunch.”

  “Lunch?” It didn’t compute.

  He nodded, smiling. His hand grazed down her arm, leaving a trail of warmth and an emotion she didn’t understand. Maybe it was as simple as happiness. “If you’re free.”

  She swallowed. “I’m free. Until three. I have a meeting at three.”

  “Perfect. I have to fly back at four anyway.”

  “You...” She looked back at the bustling office around her. “You’re only here for the afternoon?”

  “About all I could spare. But, nice thing about having your own plane and airport is you can fly somewhere for the afternoon.”

  He’d flown to LA. For the afternoon. To see her. She didn’t know what to say to that. Not even a little bit.

  “I’ll let anyone who asks know you’re out to lunch,” Ellen offered from her desk.

  Vivvy managed to break her gaze from Nate momentarily. “Th-thanks. Thank you. Um. I’ll be back by two-thirty if anyone asks.”

  “No problem.” Ellen winked.

  Vivvy turned back to Nate, still in some weird haze of shock. “Well...I guess I have a few hours to have lunch.”

  He grinned and turned with her toward the elevator. “Great.” He glanced back at Ellen. “She a friend?”

  She looked back, too, finding Ellen grinning after her. Would it be the end of the world if she let that happen? She looked up at Nate. In LA. Next to her. Somehow this had happened and it hadn’t broken her yet, so why the hell not add a friend to the mix too? “Yes. Yes, she is.”

  “She seems nice. All right. Where to?”

  “Well, what are you in the mood for?” They stepped into the elevator and rode down to the main floor.

  “Just show me a day in the life of Vivvy.” His hand entwined with hers as they stepped out of Tyson’s building.

  Vivvy studied the city around her. A day in the life of Vivvy did not involve holding hands with a really hot guy. It didn’t involve feeling like she had a friend or a significant other or any four-letter “L” words floating around in her head.

  But maybe it should.

  She took him to an Indian restaurant where he tried and failed not to look uncomfortable. He put on a good game face, but she didn’t think he actually ate more than a few bites.

  When they stepped back out into the busy street, she tucked her arm into his and leaned in. He was here and, even if it was only for a little while, she was his. “You know, if you’re still hungry I have food at my place. I have about an hour before I have to be back.”

  His arm wound around her waist as they walked to her car. “Your place. Yes. That sounds good.”

  As they continued to walk Vivvy noticed there was a tension in his shoulders, and when she glanced up at his profile she realized he was a lot tenser and more uncomfortable than his easygoing demeanor let on.

  “Not liking the big city?”

  He shrugged, and though he smiled it was forced. “A little loud. Chaotic. Not two of my favorite things.”

  “You’ve never been here before?”

  “Never been much of anywhere before. If I go somewhere I usually stick to airports or airplane-related things.”

  They reached her car and it took him a second to let her go. “You really like it here, huh?”

  Not as much as she thought, but she didn’t know how to explain that. “You know, I’ve lived a lot of places. I’m used to fitting in wherever I am.” She’d never thought of it that way, but it was true. Early on she’d learned the fine art of blending into a place. Some places meant more than others, but she always found a way to be.

  But did that sound too much like she could fit in Demo? She didn’t want to lead him on thinking she could go there. Give up her life here. Her work. It was impossible.

  Right? “Let’s go get you something to eat.” She didn’t want to dwell on uncomfortable feelings. Not when he was right here in front of her. She wanted to enjoy him for this short, strange time she had him.

  “Yeah. Something to eat. That’s what I’m interested in.”

  At his wicked grin she rolled her eyes, but excitement curled in her belly as she drove them the few short blocks to her apartment.

  She led him to the elevator, goose bumps dotting her skin as his hand rested very, very low on the small of her back. When she let him into her apartment, to her surprise, he dropped his hand, looked around, and frowned.

  “What?” She looked around the apartment. It was clean, minimalist. Not overly fancy. Nothing that would cause someone to frown or be uncomfortable.

  “It’s not what I expected, I guess.”

  “What did you expect?” She wasn’t really sure how to take that. Was an apartment supposed to reflect her personality? Her computers were in her office, and she did have a nice painting in her bedroom. She wasn’t the snapshot sort, not having anyone to take snapshots of.

  He pointed at the large expanse of unadorned wall. “It’s so...empty.”

  “Yours isn’t exactly decorated.”

  “No, but...” He trailed off and shook his head. “I don’t know. Doesn’t seem like a home, I guess.”

  A home. No. She didn’t suppose it felt much like a home. But then, she’d never wanted it to. Homes were inevitably left behind, and it was much easier if you didn’t care about them.

  “I have no idea why I’m even pointing that out. You were going to feed me, right?” He stepped close enough to touch her hair, and he ran his fingers over the fringe of her sideswept bangs.

  Commentary on her apartment was forgotten when his other hand cupped her neck and pulled her closer, so they were stomach to stomach.

  “I’ve been dying to get my hands on you since you walked out of that fancy office of yours.”

  Yes. Much better. Touching and flirting, which hopefully led to kissing and sex and no more...feelings. “The feeling is mutual.”

  He kissed under her ear, down her neck. She sighed, ignored the fact it sounded like a love-c
razed teen. “You, um, sure you can’t stay? I’ll go to my meeting, then cut out early.” She’d never offered to cut out early for anything, but this seemed a hell of a reason to start.

  “I wish I could. Grandpa’s not doing very well and I promised I’d be back.”

  She leaned her head into his chest, sorry for Millard and sorry for Nate and sorry he couldn’t stay.

  She should say something. Something big and grand and important and emotional, but she didn’t know how to put what she was feeling into words.

  “I don’t want this to end, Vivvy.” He wrapped his arms around her, kissed her temple. “Not even a little bit. We should be together.”

  She swallowed and closed her eyes and held onto him, but she still couldn’t work out the right response. Couldn’t work through how this was supposed to go.

  “Just say something. Something. Let me know where you stand.”

  But she didn’t know what or how, so she kissed him and led him to bed.

  …

  “I hate this fucking thing.” Nate punched the touch screen of his new phone. How he’d let the saleslady talk him into some sleek smartphone was beyond him. These things had to be made for women’s hands because every time he tried to type something on the screen’s keyboard, two letters popped up at the same time.

  “That’s what love does to you, bro. Makes you do stupid shit like buy a phone you can’t figure out how to use or go to California for an afternoon.”

  “Love?” Nate snorted, ignored the clutching feeling in his chest. “Who said anything about love?”

  “You didn’t have to say anything. A man acting like a moron is a clear indication of love.”

  “Ha.” Nate jabbed his finger onto the phone’s screen again. Love? That was just stupid and one hundred percent scary as shit. But hard to argue with when he’d flown halfway across the country just for a couple hours of Vivvy’s company.

  When his phone began beeping, he frowned down at it.

  “That means someone is calling you, jackass.” Ryan stood in disgust. “And since no one ever calls you on your cell, I’m going to give you some space to talk to your beloved.”

  “Screw off.” Nate tried to figure out how to answer the phone. He went through the steps the saleslady had explained to him, held up the phone to his ear tentatively. “Hello?”