by Lexy Timms
“My house is back in Hanneston,” Lillian bit her lip.
“Sell your house and move here. I have an agent who will find you a big apartment.”
“Sounds expensive.”
“Darling Lillian!” Katharina exclaimed. “Money is no longer a problem for you, don’t you understand? I have three people begging for you right now. I only told three of my closest friends about you. That means three out of three people want you. Imagine if I told twenty people?”
“Imagine,” Lillian repeated, not liking this pressure.
“I’ll give you time to think about it, otherwise you really must prepare to fly here more often.” Noting her uncomfortable face, Katharina reached forward and tweaked Lillian’s chin. “I want to put this little pressure on you, you know.”
“I can tell,” Lillian replied, trying to not look stressed out.
“Good. I will order you a car now, then.” As she tapped on her phone, she asked, “What are you doing for lunch?”
“I don’t have plans, actually.”
“Now you do. I will have the car take you to this wonderful place near your hotel. It’s only a few minutes’ walk away. The weather is so gorgeous today, and there’s a lovely sitting area on a patio in the back. You can read there and have a good lunch,” she said, nodding at the novel peeking out of Lillian’s bag.
“It sounds perfect.” Having a quiet afternoon to herself would be ideal.
“Yes, it is. Oh, this morning before you arrived, I made you reservations at the hotel bar tonight. Anything you order is covered.”
Lillian’s mouth gaped. “Katharina, this is too much.”
“No, it’s not,” she said simply. “What you’ve done for me is worth much more, and I fully intend to have you back. I will need to make a mess, first, though.” She winked. “Your car’s almost here. Let’s take a photo.”
Without allowing any time for Lillian to get ready, Katharina ran her fingers through her silky hair and held the phone out, flashing her teeth to the camera. A few snaps later and she scrolled through them, ogling at how good they both looked.
“You have a waiting list, right?”
Lillian smiled sheepishly. “A small one.”
“It’s about to get much bigger after I post this.” Lillian couldn’t tell if Katharina was joking or not, but the thought made her nervous. Balancing the clients she had right now was hard enough—how would she manage more?
“I see the gears turning in your head,” the woman pointed out. “Don’t worry about figuring it out now. Loosen up, darling. Enjoy your afternoon and your night, and I will see you again in the morning.” She pulled Lillian out of the chair and handed her the bags on the floor. “The car is waiting. Thank goodness this one didn’t honk.” A curious look crossed her face. “I do miss Oliver. He was my favorite driver.”
Time to go. “Thank you, Katharina.” One of her bags slid off her shoulder and caught on her elbow.
“Stop thanking me,” she said, waving Lillian out the door. “Relax, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hope your meeting goes okay,” Lillian called, rushing down the front steps toward the car that waited by the gate.
“Don’t worry about it,” Katharina called back, waving one last time and shutting the door on her way back inside. Lillian ran ahead, smiling at the driver and climbing into the back seat. Having a half day without Katharina was definitely much-needed. After last night with Cayden, what she needed most right now was some time by herself to think about it and figure out what to do next.
How am I even supposed to handle it? she wondered, searching for the answer during the car ride. But as the car pulled up to the restaurant Katharina had sent her to, Lillian could already tell she would be spending the afternoon here, and in no rush to leave.
“Thank you,” she told the driver as she got out and looked at the front of the place. It was made of old stone and draped in plants. A water fountain was just inside the doorway, and as she walked in she felt like she was being immersed in a blissfully zen jungle of fragrant jasmine vines mixed with a high-end restaurant. Most of the seats were empty, and she could see out the back onto the patio.
Yeah, she thought as a waiter led her to a table on the patio. I’ll be able to get some good thinking and reading done here. I might even solve a couple of mysteries this afternoon, too.
SHE TAPPED HER FOOT nervously, taking another sip of her gin and tonic. I’ve really gone off the deep end today, she thought, stirring the liquid with her tiny straw and listening to the clinking of the ice against the glass. A glass of wine before lunch and now another drink. Got to take it easy tomorrow.
A couple of months ago, she would have been anxious beyond belief about having a drink. Her new meds were working well, and she had figured out what seemed to be, at this point, most of the foods that triggered a flare-up. Since lunchtime she had made extra sure to eat enough of the right things, so the alcohol wouldn’t irritate her system. The glass of wine at Katharina’s hadn’t upset her, so that was a good sign.
I just can’t go overboard tonight, she told herself firmly, taking another little sip. I’m already a tiny bit tipsy and I don’t want to suffer tomorrow.
Turning her attention to the huge room with its dim, warm lights, she listened to bits and pieces of others’ conversations around the room. The hotel was enormous, so it only made sense that the bar was just as impressive. She almost didn’t come down, but she knew that Katharina would see the bill and know if Lillian came or not.
What she wasn’t expecting, though, was to arrive and give Katharina’s name for the seats, only to be asked if “the other person joining” would be there soon.
Lillian didn’t know who the other person was, but she nodded and smiled. She had been doing a lot of that in Los Angeles, nodding and smiling. Things were so different here than back in her humble home with her usual clients and the two cats.
After she ordered her drink, she decided to accept the fact that Katharina had told Cayden to come. No one had told her that; she just knew it. Damn you, woman’s intuition. She bit her lip and tried not to jerk her head around, looking for a familiar face.
“Hey, you,” came the voice, and she stood up like something had poked her back.
“Hey,” she breathed, not sure why she was nervous.
Cayden sat down, propping his arms on the top of the seat. He looked so at ease. Lillian couldn’t take her eyes off him or keep them from wandering all over his body. I slept with that last night. She tried to stifle a grin. I slept with that gorgeous creature and that ridiculously sexy body last night.
A waiter came over and asked for Cayden’s order, to which he responded, “Long Island iced tea.” The waiter nodded and disappeared. Lillian ogled.
“What?” he laughed. “Is that considered a girly drink? Should I get something else?”
“No, no,” she held up her hands. “Get what you want. I heard a couple earlier say how it’s extra strong.”
“I’m a big guy. What can I say?” He winked. They sat there for a minute in silence, just looking at each other like they were on a first date. While waiting for Cayden’s drink, they made small talk about their day and asked all the typical, boring questions two people could ask each other. The subject of conversation moved to food, and Cayden began a rant about the burrito place for a full two minutes. The only thing that stopped his talking was the waiter bringing his drink.
“Thanks,” Cayden made eye contact with the waiter, who dipped his head and left the two again. Raising his glass, he looked at Lillian. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” she said, feeling her face flush, and they clinked glasses. Cayden took a sip and closed his eyes.
“That’s amazing,” he breathed. “Want some?”
“I don’t know,” she said cautiously.
“Have you ever tried one?”
“No.” She felt like a teenager again.
“Try some. Just a little.” He handed her the glass, and she timidly took a sip from
the straw. He just sipped from this straw, she thought, remembering how, when she was younger, she thought drinking from the same straw or place on the edge of a cup meant she was kissing the other person.
It was really good. She nodded and handed him the glass again. “Good choice,” she smiled. “I might get that next time.”
“Next time?” he raised an eyebrow cheekily. “Does that mean you’re coming back to Los Angeles?”
Her lungs felt tight. “I don’t know. According to Katharina today, I’m moving here soon.”
Cayden’s face lit up. “Yeah?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. This isn’t the kind of place I can see myself living permanently. And the way she’s talking, she has clients out the wazoo for me. She swears I would have enough work for the rest of my life.”
“It doesn’t have to be permanent, though.” He took his straw out of the glass and laid it on a napkin. “You could fly here, maybe. Every so often.”
“But then that leads back to my clients back home, and I just don’t know. I feel obligated to them, since they’ve been with me for a while.” While she spoke, she felt her body loosen up. Shit, that must be the gin kicking in.
“If I may be so bold,” Cayden began, “I think your clients back home would be happy that your business is growing exponentially.”
“You think so?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I do. You have good taste in people.”
I know, she thought. Their eyes locked. I just need to learn how to keep some of them.
Clearing her throat, she asked, “Is your business doing okay here?”
“Too well.” He chuckled. “Word has spread about me and I’m turning people down.”
“You must be really busy with so many clients, then.” The idea of him working with so many people killed her mood.
“Actually, no. It’s still primarily Janine. Katharina a couple of times a week, and one or two other people off and on. Nothing too regular.” His face changed. “I actually just found a trainer to replace me for Janine.”
A clear vision of Cayden working on his yard flooded her mind. “That means you’re moving back, or staying here?” Instantly she realized what she said, and regretted it. “I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business.”
“I have nothing to hide,” he replied. “I was, uh, thinking about moving back.”
The two stared at each other, earnest expressions on their faces. Anyone in the room could have known what they were feeling.
“Are you seeing Katharina?” She put a hand in front of her face. “Another question I shouldn’t have asked.”
“I’m not,” he said quickly, never breaking eye contact.
Her mood lifted a little.
“Are you...” he seemed to get lost for a second. “Are you seeing anyone?”
She shook her head.
“Really?”
“Who would I be seeing, Cayden? I semi-purposely don’t have a large social circle.”
“I just thought that you might be seeing someone. I thought maybe you might be seeing Andrew.” As he mentioned Andrew’s name, a fleeting pained expression darkened his face.
“Andrew?” she exclaimed a little too loudly. A glance from the couple at the next table turned her face cherry-red. “No way would I ever be seeing Andrew. He’s practically my brother!” She laughed into her hand.
A weird smile touched Cayden’s lips. “Is it that funny?”
“It’s pretty funny. No offense. How did you even get that idea?”
“What am I supposed to think when, right after our big argument last weekend, his car is parked in front of my house all night?”
Lillian, not disappointed in the gin’s effect, took another sip and giggled. “His car broke down and I had to let him use mine. He was in town for business.”
Cayden grunted and looked out at the rest of the room.
“Wait...” She tried to figure out the timeline in her head. “How did you know his car was at our houses?”
All at once, Cayden’s eyes grew round. “I, uh, have a camera on my house.”
“You have a camera on your house?” She let out another laugh. “The only reason I’m upset you didn’t tell me is because I’m tipsy on gin right now.”
“Good, because this is getting awkward.”
“I don’t feel awkward,” she sang. “I think I’m a lot more drunk than I wanted to be.”
“You wanted to be drunk?”
“Maybe a little.”
“How come?”
“Because seeing you again makes me really, really nervous.”
“Was last night okay?”
“You shouldn’t have come, to be honest.”
“I’m glad I did. I found you on the floor for crying out loud, Lil.”
She thought about it. “Yeah, I guess it’s good you came.”
“I wish you would have told me you didn’t want me to stay.”
Lillian frowned. “Why would you say that?”
He shrugged. “I mean, we’re still broken up, I think. When I came home you told me that our, you know...that it was a mistake.”
Her blood got hot. “Don’t hold on to those words, Cayden.”
“I’m confused, I guess.”
“There’s—” she started, about to tell him there was nothing to be confused about when she was ten times as baffled as he was. Slouching, she took a breath. “My bad,” she muttered.
“What?”
“I said it was my fault,” she blurted, again a little too loudly. “I shouldn’t have been that mean. It was stupid of me.”
“Why won’t you just let me in, Lil?” He leaned forward.
She could feel the silly glint in her eyes. “I’m choosing to ignore that sexual innuendo.”
Cayden broke into a relieved smile. “There she is. That’s the Lil I know.”
“She just takes a little prodding,” Lillian smiled.
“But for real,” he continued, taking a swig of his drink. “Whew, that’s good.”
“Is it strong?”
“Strong enough to help me not regret what I’m about to say.” He popped an ice cube into his mouth. Lillian watched his mouth work to melt it. “Why do we keep doing this? Of all places, you end up here with my client and I happen to walk in and see you. Last night happened. It happened when I came home to work through this with you. It’s happening now, us together, talking. Why can’t we just...go back?”
I want you, she screamed in her head. “Of course I wish we could.”
“Then why not?”
“You’re here, and I’m there.” It was the only excuse she could come up with.
“You know that’s a load of crap. I just hired a replacement for myself. I want to move back to be with you.”
“I...” She couldn’t speak fast enough.
“If this is about me being better off without you,” he leaned in closer, his face near hers, “you clearly don’t know me, Lil. I’m not better off without you. I can’t get my mind off you anytime we’re apart.”
Her mind drew a blank.
“I can prove it, that I really miss you and care about you.”
“How?” she whispered.
Without a word, Cayden pulled her head closer and planted a firm kiss on her mouth.
All her thoughts dissipated. Time blurred. Her memory faded.
Suddenly they were holding hands, practically running to the elevator.
He pressed her against the wall of the elevator, her face in his hands.
She pinned him against the hallway, then her hotel door.
The door slammed behind them. The lamp barely provided any light, but it was enough for her to see his chiseled body as she unbuttoned his shirt and flung it off.
She looked by the door. Her shoes were there. His were by the bathroom door. Her dress was draped halfway off the bed.
Cayden’s back muscles rippled underneath her hands as he pushed into her. A drop of sweat ran down her temple.
&n
bsp; “Thank goodness the bed doesn’t creak,” she whispered, but she meant to think it. Cayden laughed and kissed her, flipping her on top of his body. Their fingers interlaced; their blood ran hot. The pressure released.
The ocean from her dream surrounded them; the moon and bright stars out the window sent icy blue light onto the floor. Time kept racing past, blurry and passionate.
Cayden’s fingertips traced her collarbone; hers traced his ear.
She lay on her side, feeling his body molded to her shape. He put his arm around her, pulling her so tight and close to him she almost couldn’t breathe.
His breathing evened out and she felt herself sinking into slumber.
Cayden’s breath on her neck sent a warm current down her body.
I hope this isn’t a dream, she thought, feeling distant, like her mind was somehow detached from her physical feelings.
“You’re amazing,” she felt his breath on her neck whisper.
I hope that’s not, either.
“I love you.”
She smiled, letting herself sink the rest of the way.
That, too.
Chapter 09
It wasn’t often that Lillian slept in a comatose state, but this was one of the rare times that she slept so hard she had to wake up to rest. Usually she was brought out of sleep easily. So when her eyes opened, a groan crumbled out from her dry throat and she saw that Cayden wasn’t there. She was more shocked than anything that she’d slept through his getting up.
As she slowly regained consciousness, she heard him in the shower. Phew, he’s not gone. Of course he wasn’t gone; he would never have left without saying goodbye or waking her up or something. He couldn’t just leave; that wasn’t him.
The room was warm on one side from the hot shower and cold on the other from the air conditioning. She coughed, and rubbed her eyes encrusted with sleep. Delirious, she flopped over and weakly reached for her glass of water, draining it all at once. As she set it back down, she heard him step out of the shower. A seriously pleasing image of his body—the whole thing—crept its way before her eyes. She smiled, lowering herself down to sprawl on the bed.
“Good morning, gorgeous.”
