*****
Luc slammed down the phone and scrubbed his hands down his face.
“Something wrong, sweetness?”
He dropped his arms to look at Payten. “Nothing I want to talk to you about.”
Lizbeth set Payten’s drink in front of her, giving her a warning glance before turning to Luc. “What about me? That was Rob, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah,” he grumbled, sidestepping the nosey, steel-eyed woman.
“So, spill. What’s got your undies in a twist?”
“Nothing.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Fine.” He kept skirting around her as he wiped at the already-clean counter.
Lizbeth stretched her arm across the narrow walkway as he tried to get by her again. “And just what’s so fine with Rob that has you trying to scrub the finish off the bar top?”
He glared down at her, but she didn’t budge. He was too pissed to talk about it. He knew Robbie had no other choice… Fuck that! She had another choice. She could have stayed at the fucking hotel!
Lizbeth cocked her head to the side. “You know, you get this little tick in your eye when you are really torqued off. Let me guess. The week’s up at the hotel, right?”
“Yeah. So?”
“That means she moved in with Scott.” Lizbeth glanced over at Payten, drawn by the light choking noise she made. “You alright there, blondie?”
Payten dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “Never better.”
Luc shoved Lizbeth’s arm aside. “I don’t want to fucking talk about it.”
Lizbeth turned and followed him the length of the bar. “You know you’ve got nothing to worry about. If there’s one person you can trust, it’s Robbie.”
“I know,” he grumbled. She just couldn’t let it fucking drop, could she?
“And the rates at that hotel were astronomical. Totally ridiculous. Even still, if you had asked her to stay there, she would have. If for no other reason than to put you at ease.”
“I know.”
“She loves you, Luc. God knows why, but she does.” She laughed and punched him in the arm when he shot her a dark look. “Lighten up! Seriously, Luc, if it bothers you that much, just tell her.”
“It doesn’t bother me,” he said, setting down a glass hard enough to chip it.
“Yeah. I can see that.” She tugged the glass from his hand before it shattered under his grip. “You can trust her.”
“I said, I know!”
“Good. So really know it then and quit acting like a moron.” She began to turn away, but stopped. “Did she say anything about Colin?”
“She had lunch with him a couple of times.”
“How did that go?”
“Why don’t you just call her?”
“I will, but I’m asking you. You know her better than anyone—how is she handling it?”
He sighed, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. “She said it was awkward, but nice. Translation: She doesn’t know what to think about it all yet. I can tell she’s on the defensive, but wants to try, wants to make it work.” He shook his head. “She’s waited so long to connect with her family. It damn well better work out.”
“Aw, see? That’s why she loves you.” To his surprise, Lizbeth planted a kiss on his jaw. “You’re a good man, Luc.”
“Shut up,” he muttered, pushing away from the counter. “Hey, Payten. Do you have those papers on Colin?”
“Oh, that’s right. The background check.” She grabbed her briefcase and pulled out a stack of folders. “Crap. I must have left the file at home.”
“Figures.”
“Tell you what, I’ll be out of town for a few days, but I can meet up with you when I get back. Hooligan’s is closed on Mondays, right?”
“Yeah.”
She scribbled on the back of a business card before handing it over. “My address is on the back. Why don’t you stop by Monday night and pick up the file?”
He took the card. “Yeah, all right.”
She took a long swallow of her beer, then gathered her things. “See you then, sweetness.”
*****
Luc had a scowl on his face all the way to Payten’s house. In fact, he’d had a scowl on his face nearly every day since Robbie had left. He just couldn’t get over the fucking fact that she’d left. Robbie was gone. It didn’t matter that he could talk to her whenever he wanted. It didn’t matter that he could email her or text her, day or night, and he’d be assured to get a nearly immediate response.
She was gone.
It actually surprised him to realize how deeply he’d fallen for Robbie. Of course, he knew he loved her, but he didn’t know what that fucking meant until she was gone. It meant pain and depression. It meant trying to figure out a way to be there for Robbie, but to detach himself at the same time. He had to find some way to deal with all the shit. Robbie wasn’t the same kind of person his parents were, but Jesus fucking Christ if he could make that distinction right then. They left. She left. Logically, it shouldn’t be that cut-and-dry, but emotionally it sure as hell felt that way.
“Why the long face, Luc?” Payten said, greeting him at the door. “You know what you need?”
“The papers on Colin so I can be on my fucking way?”
She laughed, and then led him through a marble-floored foyer, down a hall, and into a large office. Sitting on the desk were two snifters of brandy. “You need a stiff drink.”
“Just give me the papers, Payten.”
“I have them right here,” she tapped a nail on a folder, centered on the blotter, as she eased a hip on the desk—quite a feat considering she was wearing a tight-ass skirt. When he went to grab for the papers, she leaned into him. “Oh, no you don’t. I want to talk to you about the contents first.”
He grabbed the glass she offered and took a drink. “So talk.”
While she seemed to continually refill his snifter, Payten went on to explain the process her PI goes through when doing extensive background checks, including commercial, financial, and criminal records.
“He’s a criminal?” Luc asked, lurching off his perch on the desk. He was surprised by the slight swirl in his head. Jesus, how much of that shit had he drank?
“You okay? You look a little…off.”
“Yeah. I’m fucking fine. Answer me.”
“No, he’s not a criminal. Actually, his record is squeaky clean which initially had my PI concerned. No one is that pure.”
“Then he’s got something to hide,” Luc concluded, steadying himself against the wall.
“That’s what the PI decided, but no…the man is actually the most boring person in the world. He gets up before the sun every day, drives to work while obeying all the traffic laws, works his job at a bakery, and then goes home. Period. The man is as safe as a kitten.”
“So what the fuck did you need to explain to me?”
She laughed as she sauntered toward him. “I just wanted it to be clear. I didn’t want you thinking the background check wasn’t thorough enough.”
He nodded absently as he studied her approach. To him, she looked like a predator stalking her prey. There was almost an animalistic glint in her ice-blue eyes as the corner of her mouth twitched up into a mischievous smile. “What’s up with you?”
She shrugged as she ran her palm up his chest to his shoulder, and pressed herself close. “I was thinking that I need a little release, and I think you’re just the right man for the job.”
“Jesus Christ, lady. Back the fuck off. Not interested.”
She lifted his hand and cupped it around her breast. “Are you sure, Luc?”
He couldn’t stop his body’s reaction, especially after she started nipping at his bottom lip. “Shit.”
Apparently Payten took that as a consent and reached down to flip open his fly. “Let’s have a little fun.”
Luc snapped to and grabbed her wrists, twisted her around and slammed her against the wall. “What the fuck do you think
you’re doing, Payten?!”
She practically panted as she arched her body against his. “I want you. Just you.” Rubbing her groin to his, she moaned. “You want me too. You can’t tell me you don’t. I can feel you, right…here.”
His head was still muddled, but clearer than it had been. Now he just had to contend with the lust hazing his brain. He stepped back before releasing her wrists. “Christ. You’re like a fucking dog in heat trying to hump my leg.” Satisfied the insult would bring an end to it, he turned to get the file on Colin.
“Well,” Payten purred as she walked to the desk, “if it’s doggy style you like…”
Luc watched with wide eyes as she stepped out of her skirt and unbuttoned her blouse, revealing a pristine white bra and no panties whatsoever. She smiled coyly as she leaned over the desk, wiggling her firm little ass in the air. “Come and get it.”
It was as if his hand had a mind of its own as it rubbed against her hip, across her ass. His jaw clenched as the mental debate warred.
Payten peered over her shoulder and backed up a step, pressing against him. He grabbed both hips to steady them. His fingers dug into her flesh as she squirmed against his hold. “A year is going to be a long time without a woman, sweetness. You know you want me.” She dipped her ass and thrust up, dragging against his hard length.
Luc’s control snapped as he jerked his pants down. “This doesn’t mean a goddamn thing.” He ran his hands up her back, unsnapping her bra along the way, and reached around to grab at her breasts.
She gasped as she begged, “I don’t care. Do it. Just fucking do it!”
He could tell she was ready for him, and took her with one hard thrust. She cried out as her hand snaked down to stimulate herself. He was relentless in his rhythm, her pleas for more only fueling his stamina. There was nothing now except the sensation, except the pleasure. For the first time in weeks, he felt alive and vital. His heart thundered with his exertion, his blood pumped with his gratification. And when she began to scream his name and buck against him, he couldn’t hold on any longer and raced to his own mind-blowing release.
He lay across her back as she lay across the desk, each gasping to catch their breath.
“That was…” Payten trailed off as her voice broke. Swallowing, she tried again. “I almost feel brutalized.” She reached back, rubbed his hip. “It was everything I’d hoped it’d be.”
“Jesus, Payten.” Other than that, Luc was at a loss for words. He pulled out and yanked up his pants.
She stood to face him, but she didn’t come any closer. A slow smile spread across her face. “How about next time we have dinner first?”
“Who says there’s going to be a next time?”
“Oh, I think there will be.” She bit on the end of a fingernail as she watched, waiting for his response.
“I told you, this doesn’t mean a fucking thing to me. Don’t go thinking this is going anywhere and then come crying that I broke your goddamn heart.”
“The thought would never even occur to me. I want you. It’s as simple as that.” She trailed her fingers down her breast to tweak her nipple. “So, what do you say? Next Monday? Here? Dinner?”
His belly quivered as he reflected on the escape she’d given him only minutes before. Maybe she was just what he needed—a good distraction.
*****
“Morning, Scott,” Robbie called across the lab in a sing-song voice.
He turned, stared, and twisted back around.
Robbie giggled as she put her stuff down on her desk and began shifting through her In box. After only two months on the job, she was already swamped. Glancing at Scott, she tossed the files back on her desk and sauntered over.
She put a hand on each side of the enormous vase sitting on his two-drawer filing cabinet and buried her face in the flowers, breathing deeply. “Hmm. They’re gorgeous. Aren’t you just the lucky guy?” He glowered at her—there really was no other way to describe it—and she broke out into a fit of giggles.
“Shut the hell up. Who told you?”
“Maggie, of course.”
“Damn receptionist. I told her to keep her mouth closed.”
“She said you turned about five shades of red when you saw them.” She grabbed his chin and tipped it side-to-side. “I only see four. You must’ve gotten used to the idea of a woman romancing you, huh?”
“Jesus.” He shook his head. “It’s just not right. It’s kind of psycho…a little predatory, maybe.”
“Because she gave you flowers? Are you for real?”
“It’s weird, Rob.”
“Did you catch her following you home? Looking in your windows? Going through your mail?”
“No,” he grumbled.
“That would be psycho behavior. This”—she fluttered her fingers across the delicate petals—“is how a girl expresses how she feels. She didn’t do it to embarrass you or bruise your delicate male ego.” He shot her an annoyed glance, but she ignored it. “Look, if you’re not interested, you need to tell her. Otherwise, take it for what it is—a compliment.”
He stared at his folded hands a minute before answering. “How come you get it and she doesn’t?”
She smiled. “I’ve had practice figuring out a particularly complicated man. I guess it honed my male-deciphering skills.”
He looked up with a smirk on his face. “And you’re sure you don’t want to use those skills on me in any way, shape or form?”
Robbie grinned at the thought of a romance with Scott. Lord knew the man was fine, and she had to admit to herself that she’d been tempted. Honestly, who wouldn’t? Several times she’d caught herself thinking of what Luc had said to her about going for someone else if it would make her happy. But even though she missed Luc, and was lonely, it didn’t feel right. Scott would’ve just been a warm body, a temporary replacement for Luc, and she couldn’t do that to either one of them.
“I’m afraid I won’t be taking you up on that, Scott.”
He pointed a finger at her as he stood. “I saw that, my Irish lovely. Just now I had you considering it for about half a second.” He nodded, crossing his arms. “I might wear you down yet.”
“Oh, please.”
Scott chuckled as he picked up a clipboard off his desk and began flipping through the pages. “Did you see your landlord on the way in?”
She grunted and toed the corner of the filing cabinet.
“Didn’t go well, huh?”
“Yet another hang up with the apartment. I don’t know, Scott. Maybe I should just find someplace else.”
“You loved that place.”
“Yeah, but by the time he gets his crap together, it’ll be time for me to move back to Vermont!”
“Take it easy. The current arrangements are working fine. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“No problem.” He glanced at his watch. “I have a meeting to get to. See you when I get back? We could do lunch.”
“I’m meeting Colin at Mano’s for lunch.”
“That’s right. It’s Tuesday. All right, see you when you get back.”
“Yup.” She leaned in to sniff the flowers one last time, then trudged reluctantly back to her dreary desk. Now, wouldn’t it have been nice if a certain someone had surprised her with flowers?
*****
“Robbie. So good to see you again.” Colin leaned in for a quick hug.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“No, not at all. I’ve only just arrived myself. Nice choice on the restaurant, by the way. How did you find this charming little establishment?”
“My friend, Maggie, told me about it.”
“Fine, just fine.” He looked over the wine listing and gestured to the waiter. After he ordered their drinks, they fell into the usual pattern. How was work at the museum? How was work at the bakery he owned? Questions and discussion about their daily lives.
Robbie enjoyed their talks togethe
r, laughing and sharing like old friends, but very rarely did the conversation turn to the past. She had finally decided that should change.
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like to know. I didn’t want to cross any lines.” His green eyes clouded with uncertainty.
“My dad’s death was a long time ago. I think I’d enjoy hearing about his childhood, even though your memories might not be particularly happy ones.”
“Be certain, I have plenty of happy memories to share. Your father and I always got along well. It was my mother he couldn’t tolerate.” He placed a hand over hers. “Give me time to gather my thoughts on the matter. I’ll be sure to shed some light on your father’s upbringing during our next luncheon.”
“Thanks, Colin. That would be great.”
“Then it’s done.” He leaned back in his chair, snapping out his linen napkin and laying it across his lap. “Now, do tell, how are things with you and the young man you spoke of? Luc, was it? You haven’t mentioned him as of late.”
Robbie shrugged. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s been real busy, with the bar and everything. I guess he’s putting in a lot of hours. I’ve been trying to catch him on the phone, but lately we haven’t connected.” She took a drink of her wine. “He’s been emailing me though. So, there’s that.”
“I’m sure it’s just as he says—that he’s busy.”
She glanced up at him, surprised he noticed the depth of her trepidation. “Yeah, I know. I did get a hold of Lizbeth yesterday and asked her about him. She said she hadn’t seen much of him either, but would remind him to call when he gets a chance. Of course, I mention it in our emails too, but when he replies, he seems to always gloss over that part.”
“It must be a hard adjustment to have you missing from his life. For so long he’s had you, and now he doesn’t. Give him time. He’ll come back around to you.”
“I hope you’re right. Thanks, Colin.”
“My pleasure, Robbie. Anytime you need an ear, I have two at the ready for you.” He smiled as he refilled her wine glass, the crystal carafe catching the light as he did. “And now, we must toast.”
“To what?”
A Modern Love Story Page 17
