A Valentine for Two

by Lia Davis

  He wasn’t going to crush me.

  I’d make sure of it.

  Chapter Two

  Ty Ellington

  His office in the Arts District three years later in Los Angeles, California

  I picked up the stack of mail and separated the pile. One for my business partner, Sandy Jack Tramaine, and one for me, Ty Ellington, while I waited for the early morning weekday ritual to commence.

  “She’s late.”

  I checked the time on the veranda wall clock before turning in the direction of my cell. As usual, when Sandy was out of state on business, I had the phone on speaker option, sitting right next to my steaming cup of black coffee so I could speak with him. “Only by ten minutes. Could be traffic.”

  I heard Sandy grunt and I had to smile. I didn’t give a shit what my buddy said, he was just as intrigued as I was about the redhead in the blue car. Every weekday morning for the past month, when the sun was barely up, our angry angel arrived across the street from our office building. She’d pull her little sports car over onto the shoulder of the road and then she’d get out of the two-seater, which told me she didn’t have any kids, and she’d march onto our property to throw rocks at the 3-D mural we’d had painted on the side of our building. The expensive artwork was really a veiled attempt at an advertising plug for our latest product extraordinaire that everyone on the planet loved, which did beg the question. Why did she hate the image so much?

  “We have enough going on right now. You never should have said you were going to confront her today. That’s why she hasn’t arrived this morning. You know how karma shit like that works.”

  I was thinking much the same, until I saw her pull up.

  There she was.

  I sat forward to peer under the railing and through the crystal-clear Plexiglas partition that edged the balcony. After I enjoyed my initial view, I told him, “She’s here.”

  “What about the boots?”

  She wasn’t even out of the car yet, so I didn’t answer. My guess was yes though, as changing from her spiked heels to flats was the very reason it took her so long to exit her vehicle. She needed the mountain climbers, once she was on our property, to cross the huge swath of multicolored fieldstones we’d used to encircle our building. A convenience for her as our pricey stone landscape treatment was the material she used to pelt against the artwork.

  I stood. “I’m going down.”

  “Don’t bring your coffee.”

  I was just about to reach for my mug when I heard Sandy’s off-the-cuff directive and smiled. “Got it.”

  “What about her skirt?”

  I turned, looking down. “It’s short. Black, I think.”

  “Forget the tie. You can fix it later. How short?”

  I looked down at the unknotted material and shook my head. I’d given up long ago trying to figure out how Sandy knew the things he did. It was as if he had a special window into the world that no one else did.

  That silent acknowledgement prompted me to pull off the Kiton red cashmere-silk from around my neck, and drop it next to the mug, answering, “This skirt’s really short. One hand width maybe, from hip to thigh.”

  I couldn’t know for sure, but why not make it interesting for the guy. Sandy was an ass man after all. Me? I was more a breast hound, probably why we rarely ever argued over a woman. Of course she had to be worth fighting for, and the only way to make that determination was to learn if she had smarts. That was the one notable attribute both Sandy and I agreed on that trumped a run-of-the-mill sexual conquest.

  That thought prompted me to scoop up my cell and get a move on. We’d waited long enough. It was high time to find out what was between the redhead’s ears.

  “That short? You know you’re killing me, right?”

  All I did was grin.

  “Don’t sneak up on her either. Women hate that kind of shit unless they’re blindfolded and tied spread eagle naked to a bed. That’s when the element of surprise has merit.”

  I didn’t need to exit the office as our workspace was the whole top floor. All I needed to do was go to the elevator. Once there, I pressed the button and then changed my phone setting so the speaker option was turned off. Holding the cell up to my ear I said, “Speaking from recent experience?”

  “Yeah. And don’t go out the front doors. Go out the back. Cut around the south side of the building. There aren’t any trees there so she’ll see you coming.”

  I ran a hand through my hair and then straightened my collar. “Anything else?”

  The doors opened. “Yes. Don’t be too nice.”

  That comment made me laugh. “You know I’m going to be. I can’t help it.”

  It was the goddamn truth, so why not admit it. Hell, Sandy had figured out that character flaw in me almost immediately. The instant we’d met junior year at college. I was thankful for it. His timely intervention saved me more than once with the fairer sex.

  “No smiling and don’t compliment her. Not right away. In fact, if she’s smart, don’t praise her at all.” There was a noticeable pause and then his friend sighed. “Maybe you should wait until I get back to meet her.”

  I ignored the left-handed insult and asked, “What time do you land?”

  “Four. Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, sometimes the mystery in the box is better than the reveal when it’s opened.”

  The moment I stepped outside, the rays from the breaking sun nearly blinded me. Shading a hand over my eyes, I turned and headed south. “She’s been at this for thirty-three days. Don’t you think it’s time the mystery was solved?”

  “You have your heart set, eh? Okay. Just don’t get attached, and for fuck’s sake don’t dream up some huge bullshit story to feed me so I have to meet her. That only happens if she’s worth the time. You hear me?”

  I stopped at the corner of the building prior to rounding it, and frowned. “It sounds like you’re questioning my judgment.”

  “Two words. Stun gun.”

  Jesus, he was never going to let me live that one down. “That happened seven years ago.”

  “And to this day your balls would have been fused to your thighs if I hadn’t stepped in.”

  Yeah, he had a point there.

  “That crazy girl. The one you thought was sexually intense? Hell, she would have fried your nads like The Colonel’s crispy chicken. I still have no idea what the hell you were thinking that night.”

  And he’d never would if I could help it. That popular sorority chick had all but convinced me that the little Taser her daddy had bought her for Christmas was like a violet wand when set on low. If Sandy ever found out that I’d been trying to emulate him that night? He’d laugh his kinky ass off.

  “Gotta go.”

  “Hope you’re not disappointed.”

  I was hoping the same thing as I slipped the cell into my pocket and turned the corner. It had been years since Sandy and I were interested in the same woman. The intriguing distraction could not have come at a better time.

  Or, in better packaging.

  Man, she was something. Completely unapologetic about what she was doing as she dinged the colorful wall with stones over and over again. I clasped my hands behind my back and made my way toward her. I even cleared my throat, but if she noticed my approach she didn’t let on.

  With Sandy’s warning playing in my head about not spooking her, I called, “Good morning.”

  She didn’t look at me. “Are you security?”

  “No.” I stopped a few feet from her, letting my gaze rove over her as she continued to throw her missiles. She pitched them like a guy which was kind of a turn-on.

  “Do you work here?”

  I guess I could say yes. It wouldn’t be lying, it just wouldn’t be telling the whole truth. “I do.”

  Finally she paused from throwing the last stone to give me the once over. “Well, I know you’re not The Snake. He has black hair and an even blacker expression. The guy’s a real egomaniac. Most days whe
n he enters the building, he pretends like I’m not even here. When he does deign to give me the side-eye, it’s usually by way of a glare.”

  I knew she was talking about Sandy, but I pretended like I didn’t. “The Snake?”

  “The owner. He drives a black car too. A Mercedes.”

  It was a Jaguar actually. I would have corrected her if I wasn’t so caught up by the gleam in her eyes. Green eyes. Light though, like the color of Granny Smith apples only translucent. “Ah...” I drew out. Was this a case of a woman scorned? “He’s done something to offend you, I take it. And it’s more than ignoring your presence some mornings?” I fished for info.

  She shrugged and then turned to eye the wall again, examining it as if she was trying to find the perfect spot to hit. “Yes and no. F!” she exclaimed, launching the last stone.

  So that’s what she was doing. Spelling out her gripe with the rocks to physically purge her frustrations. “F?”

  “Yep.” She took a deep breath and then spoke the next letters as fast as a child would when reciting their ABC’s. “Keithvegaisathief.” I wasn’t quick enough decoding the message when she did it for me. “Keith. Vega. Is. A. Thief.”

  The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t immediately place it so I moved on to the one thing she did say, that worried me. “That’s not the name of the man who drives the black car.”

  “Oh, I know.” She tugged down her sleeves and smiled. The natural action that brightened her cheeks was pleasing, until I realized it was an underlying fury that pinned that mock-pleasant expression on her face. “But he is the bastard who sent me the cease and desist letter. He took that creep’s word without giving me the chance to defend myself.”

  She looked away and after a few seconds, she looked back. “I’m sorry. I must sound like a witch.” This time when she smiled it was genuine. “I’m Wesley Henderson, and I promise, I’m not quite as crazy as I appear.” She offered her hand.

  After I accepted, and we shook on it, she said, “I’m almost through the death stages. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and this last one,” She curtly nodded toward the mural, “Acceptance.”

  She sounded so blasé, I had to laugh. I shot a look to the wall and then raised a brow at her. “The rock shower is what you call acceptance?”

  “Yes.”

  The way she stared up at me, with a half-smile hovering over her lips and those green eyes dancing with an enigmatic challenge suddenly concerned me. Why? The woman was someone I wanted to get to know much better. Far from the mystery box being spoiled when opened as Sandy had suggested, it was now clear to me her mystic was a force I wanted to embrace. Preferably under a thick blanket on a cool California night.

  “I mean, I’m only throwing stones, but...” She pointed right at me. “If there was a God, that building would be made out of glass. You know what I’m saying?”

  She was smart all right. “I’m familiar with the idiom.”

  “Great.” Her smile was blinding. “Because the idiot that owns that building deserves to be punished.”

  Ironic. Punishments were right up Sandy’s alley. The one qualifier? He favored giving them, and not receiving. Meh. That was his mountain to climb with her. I had my own. “What did this Kevin— or was his name Keith— person, steal from you? If you don’t mind me asking.”

  She looked down and negligently toe-kicked a couple of the rocks while she seemed to be deciding whether or not to trust me. It was a sobering experience and caused me to respect her all the more for her caution.

  “My work.” She looked up and before she could hide it, I saw the worry. It was there in her eyes.

  “What kind of—?”

  “Oh boy. It’s got to be past eight. I’ve got to go. It was nice talking with you.”

  She turned and headed off so fast I didn’t get a chance to catch her arm. To hold her up. To press her to give me her information or to furnish me with the correct name of the creep so I could do my own research into the matter. Damn. I didn’t want to chase her. I’d likely scare the shit out of her if I did.

  Kevin Vargo? Keith was it? Vertago maybe?

  I scowled.

  The name would come to me and when it did I was sure that Sandy and I would be able to piece together who she was and why she had a hate-on for him.

  I kept my eyes on her, while I pulled the cell out of my pocket. Tilting my head, I watched as she held her door open and kicked off her boots, tossing them in the vehicle, before she stepped into her stylish four inch heels.

  Fuck, the shoes looked great on her as she slid into the driver’s seat. That’s when it hit me.

  Wesley Henderson was confident.

  Sexy.

  Feminine.

  Appearing powerful, with just the right amount of vulnerability that made me almost regret not chasing her down.

  After she’d revved the engine a couple of times and then drove off, I let out a low whistle. The moment called for one even though I was alone because one part of the mystery had been solved.

  I didn’t bother calling Sandy, I just sent him a text. One line, actually.

  I want her.

  It wasn’t until I was back inside the building that Sandy texted me back.

  Hang tight. On the line with legal and it’s not good.

  I knew this was coming. Probably why I pushed to come downstairs today.

  Wasted trip? I had to ask. The whole reason Sandy had flown to New York was to get some clarity for our business.

  Yes. We’ll go through the options in person.

  Clearly he wasn’t in the mood to deal with that problem now. I sent back.

  Okay.

  About the redhead. Set the meeting.

  I reread this response and sighed. If only it was going to be that easy. I texted back.

  We’ll need to discuss before I do.

  Do I hear a bullshit story coming my way?

  That made me grin. Yes, and it starts with her calling you a snake.

  WTF?

  Drinks tonight and we’ll discuss both once you slither in?

  Funny. Meet me at 5 at Cameos.

  I pressed the elevator call button and texted back.

  Done. And I was right about the skirt. Short. Tight. Heaven.

  I thought he wasn’t going to answer, but then he did.

  Was I right about her eyes?

  He had called their color. Yes.

  Damn.

  My sentiments exactly. See you tonight.

  A few minutes later I went out to the veranda and collected my cold mug of coffee. One quick glance at the wall clock told me two things. The staff would be arriving in thirty minutes and I had a little less than nine hours to recall that guy’s name. I’d already decided I’d put a call in to our attorney to ask about the cease and desist angle. Hopefully I’d have some answers by the time I met with Sandy tonight.

  Kevin Vertigo?

  Yeah, that didn’t sound right.

  Shit.

  Chapter Three

  Wesley

  “You’re late.”

  I waved my one and only employee off as I walked past the reception desk. “Sue me. On second thought don’t, because we can’t afford it.”

  Predictably she followed right behind me as I headed to my office. Her name was Lisa Bailey and much like the famous lawyer F. Lee with the same surname, Lisa was a master at interrogating. Truly, if she wasn’t a loyal friend and so skilled at all the jobs I needed filled at the moment, I would have let her go instead of my other four staffers.

  “Speaking of being broke, Wesley. Why are you still sending a paycheck to Ms. Mendoza?”

  I kicked open my office door and then stalked in, going straight for my desk. After I plunked my portfolio down, I turned. “Because she has two kids and I’m pretty sure she wasn’t the one stealing my thunder.”

  Lisa folded her arms and gave me a look. One that said, ‘man up, pussy’. “Hey, you have to let the guilt go. It’s not your fault that someone’s rippin
g off your designs.”

  “Not someone. I know it’s Keith. We both know it.”

  Her arms fell out of their cross. “You went to that building again, didn’t you?” She must have read the letters YES written on my face or something, because she scowled. “Geez Wesley. Destroying property that’s not yours won’t endear to you to the owners.”

  “Tell me about it.” I walked around my desk and dramatically fell into the chair, hoping against all hope that she’d see how tired I was and feel sorry for me by leaving me alone.

  “You got caught, didn’t you?”

  Damn it. She was advancing on me, crowding the desk, jutting her chin out and narrowing her eyes.

  Meaning?

  She wasn’t letting this go.

  I shrugged. “Not by The Snake, so you can quit frowning. The guy who came out was more of a Prince Charming type. Thick blond hair, dreamy blue eyes, and a smile that could bring a woman to her knees.”

  Lisa’s brows popped up in an annoying know-it-all way that I hated before she spun around and left. Somehow I didn’t think this was going to be the end of the badgering and I was right. A minute later she returned and threw a magazine on my desk. That annoying expression of hers? Yeah, ten times worse now.

  “Charming like this?” She stabbed a finger on the glossy front page and tapped. Hard enough that the action made the paper click. Not that I paid much attention to the ra-ta-tat sound, I was too busy staring down at the familiar blue eyes in the image.

  Lisa didn’t let up. “Instead of the title, The Dynamic Duo, Ellington and Tramaine, maybe they should have captioned this, The Serpent and the Rainbow. Jesus, woman. Please tell me you mentioned something to him about your designs being stolen during their competition.”

  Would I have brought it up if I’d known that the blond hunk talking to me this morning was one of the owners of Tradelines? Probably not, as it was hard to prove. Hadn’t The Snake’s attack-dog attorneys made that perfectly clear to me when I’d tried to explain after it happened? “I didn’t know there were two owners.”