Love on the Vine

by Roxanne Smith

  “On Monday afternoon, you’ll be asked to get into a cab. You’ll have instructions to go somewhere specific, but what you won’t know is that the driver is one of us. Sometimes, it’s a dude. Other times, a woman. Her name is Molly, and she knows everything about you. She knows about Finn and about Neve. She’s, uh...well, she’s less than charming, and I have a feeling she’s going to go out of her way to put you on the defensive. Get under your skin, piss you off. Emotional battery.”

  From behind him, Kay made a rude snort. “Sounds like a nightmare.”

  “It will be,” Oliver admitted. “So, I thought you might like some ammo of your own.”

  He waited for what felt like an eternity.

  “And what constitutes ammunition?”

  Oliver glanced over his shoulder to find Kay had done the same. They stared at each other. “Information.”

  * * * *

  Questions piled up on Kay’s tongue, but the one that meant the most to her was also the hardest to voice. Why? Why would Oliver go out of his way, against his own people, to help her? For the first time, she had reservations. “You’re making me nervous.”

  He shredded another strip of wallpaper. “Not as nervous as I am.”

  She was more than nervous now. She was concerned. They worked a while longer, until Kay was satisfied with her quota for the day. Then she jumped down from her stepladder and turned to Oliver. She tugged his dress shirt where it had come untucked from his slacks. “Come on, I need to sit for this.”

  She led him back to the end of the foyer, but not back into the kitchen. Instead, she turned right and opened latched double-doors. They opened into a large parlor. One day, this would be a formal living area. For now, it was mostly used for storing reno supplies. An old plaid sofa was pushed against one wall.

  She sat and beckoned for Oliver to do the same. “No more cookies, no more wallpaper. Talk.” She folded her hands together and leaned forward to listen with her forearms planted on her knees.

  His sigh held an undeniable note of misery as he unleashed it and slumped back on the sofa. “Molly. Right. Well, she and I have a history. A short but evidently powerful one. She’s going to give you hell, Kay, and it’s my fault. I’m sorry. The story isn’t unlike what happened between you and Finn, with the exception of motive, I guess.”

  Kay’s sharp intake of breath rang in her ears. “What the hell do you know about my motives? What kind of thing is that to even say?” Jesus, were they eavesdropping on her conversations with her friends?

  “Only what I can guess.” He raised his eyebrows as if to challenge her. “You sabotaged your engagement. Nothing else makes sense. Everything I’ve learned about you, and I’m not just talking the details of your file, tells me you’re not the type to slip up like that. Besides, you’re ridiculously smart. Clever. You could’ve gotten away with the indiscretion.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond. Just sat back and launched into his own tale. “We weren’t even dating, Molly and me. At least, I didn’t think. We hooked up a few times. Never went on a legitimate date, never discussed the details. She read more into the relationship than I did. When I went out with someone else, it blew up in my face. And I couldn’t just avoid Molly, because we work together. She’s been systematically punishing me for the last year.”

  Kay scratched her head and tried to piece together a coherent picture from the information. “And she’s going to give me hell?”

  “Yeeeeah,” he drawled. “Basically, yes. So, we’ll have even more in common. Cool, right?”

  She tried to swallow the indignation that rose in her throat but failed. “You call being a cheater having common interests?”

  “Not interests. Just history. And I think you had the right idea. Had I realized how deeply Molly committed to the idea of us, who knows? I might’ve still done what I did. Clean break. I mean, I didn’t consider what I did was cheating at the time, because I had no idea she thought we were exclusive, but Molly did.”

  Her pulse skittered. “How did you manage to unearth my motives behind cheating on Finn before I had them figured out myself? Did you bug my friend’s apartment? Tap my phone?”

  “No. God, no. Come on, Kay. I told you what I know about you. Besides, I couldn’t take surveilling you any further at this point. I feel like I owe you better than that. You can see why the department frowns on getting romantically involved with anyone closely tied to a case. The truth is I figured it out as soon as the information came in. Do the math. If you got cozy with the other carpenter, but were deeply in love with Finn and determined to marry him, you’d have never said a word. But you’re Kay Bing. Accidents happen, sure. People screw up. But not people like you. Not in that way. You didn’t ‘accidently’ have a good time behind Finn’s back. Not saying you instigated the dalliance, but I don’t doubt for a second you had the power to stop it and chose not to. Wasn’t a leap and a bound to come to the conclusion I did.”

  Kay peered at him. She didn’t know much about what he did as a detective, but she was now pretty sure he was damn good at his job. “Funny, that doesn’t make me feel any better. And I’m still confused. You’re going to have to do better, Oliver. How does your misunderstanding with Molly have anything, literally anything at all, to do with me?”

  He scratched his cheek and studied the far wall intensely, even though Kay knew there was nothing all that fascinating about the old crumbling marble fireplace. “You might say she’s a smidge jealous.”

  “Uh huh. Jealous. And she’d be jealous of me because of a certain fake kiss?” Kay didn’t get the relieved nod she expected.

  Oliver met her gaze squarely and licked his lips. He was still holding back, still resisting, but Kay wasn’t going to let things go at that. She’d get answers if it was—

  Her thoughts ended abruptly as Oliver’s gaze slid to her mouth and his hand came up to take gentle possession of her chin. His lips were soft as they met hers, smooth and pliant as they teased hers apart. He broke away and almost looked frightened by his own actions. “Of a certain kiss,” he breathed, hardly meeting her eyes. “Nothing fake about it.”

  A sweet rush of heat raced up Kay’s body and through her limbs like fire catching. She didn’t stop and think. She let the desire brushed in broad strokes on Oliver’s face be her guiding light. He watched her with a soft, searching gaze, as if he were looking for something in her own expression. She grasped his shirt collar and pulled him to her.

  His mouth crashed against hers. Like blood in the water with two sharks, it sparked a frenzy. Kay’s hands trembled as she fought the buttons on Oliver’s shirt. Her fingers brushing against the rough cotton of his undershirt seemed seductively intimate. His tongue stroked hers, his hands found pressure points and sensitive skin as they roamed over her. Her body came alive with a few clever touches.

  In the distant corners of her mind, alarms sounded. But they were far, and Oliver was near. It didn’t matter if they worked together, and it didn’t matter if they got caught; nothing mattered as long as he could light her up from the inside out. Maybe what she needed was a fling...

  The word, once thought, echoed in her head until it became a roar. Kay inhaled sharply and broke off the kiss.

  She was on her back. At some point, Oliver’s dress shirt had come off entirely. Kay’s hands were splayed across his chest right along with the taut fabric of his undershirt as his body hovered over hers. She’d managed to wrap one leg around his torso. He had one hand holding himself up, the other tucked neatly along the curve of her ass.

  Her throat was impossibly dry as she forced a swallow. “I can’t.”

  What had she expected? She didn’t know. Maybe for Oliver to seem disappointed, angry even. Call her a miserable tease and bolt. In the name of keeping her constantly guessing, he smiled sweetly, planted one more kiss on her lips, and removed himself from the warm cocoon of their embrace.

  He sat on the other end of the sofa as if to show he had no problem givi
ng her space, then ran his hands over his head and took a deep breath. “I’m shocked you let me kiss you at all. But you’re right. You’re my boss.” He gave her a teasing grin.

  Actually, she wasn’t. Not really. And besides, that hadn’t been enough to stop her. “It’d be really interesting gossip, but I’m not sure Merit or Easton would care. There was no fraternization clause in my hiring contract.”

  “Funny. I actually tried to convince Cappy Don that a relationship between us wouldn’t hurt the investigation. It would give us an excuse to be together all the time, beyond the usual. A little misdirection to keep people’s attention occupied. Anyway, I guess the big brains at Free Leaf expect designers to aim higher than their assistants.”

  Kay raised her eyebrows. “Well, they shouldn’t hire hot assistants,” she murmured. “It’s entrapment.”

  Oliver scooted closer until their thighs touched. “Then you’re not mad?”

  She laughed softly. “No. My body is shaking like it’s filled with gelatin, and I probably won’t be able to sleep until I masturbate, but those aren’t reasons to be upset.”

  “Wow.” Oliver took a deep breath and grinned. “I think I just caught a snippet of what you’re like when you’re not turning yourself inside out with guilt. Or trying to be Neve Harper’s clone.”

  Kay couldn’t help it. She smiled. He was right. For a second there, the filter she’d strapped on to curb her impulses had slipped away. And with it, her ability to not fall in bed with the closest male. She shook her head. Either she had to accept this was a new facet of herself, or accept Neve was right. And if Neve was right, it didn’t mean Kay was a hussy, but genuinely attracted to Oliver.

  “I’m not a ‘fling’ kind of person.” There. She said it, made a definitive statement. “There was the thing with Finn, obviously, but yeah, you’re right. The affair served a purpose. A bullshit purpose, but there you have it.”

  He seemed taken aback. His mouth opened for a few seconds, then closed while he searched for words. “It’s not like that. With you, I mean.”

  “Then what’s it like? As of tomorrow afternoon, we’re going to be working undercover together. And maybe the job with Free Leaf Concepts isn’t real for you, but I still have spa owners expecting me to come through on their dream. This is very real for me. What do we do with this...this thing between us? What do we make of it? What do we call it?”

  Oliver’s eyebrows came together as he considered. “I don’t know. We need to give it a name, like a puppy or something?”

  “I just mean I’m not real sure about myself these days. I think I like you. Quite a lot. But also, I thought I loved Finn. Soon, there will be two layers to our relationship, and that’ll make all this twice as confusing. So, I don’t know, let’s...” What? What did she need? What was she afraid of? Oliver confusing her feelings the way he’d confused Molly’s? “Let’s make a pact. No lies. We’re going to be partners in more ways than one until your investigation is sorted out, and what I need more than anything else is honesty. I need someone I can take at face value.”

  “What makes you think you couldn’t trust me? It may seem like I came all this way for cookies and sex, but—”

  “Yes or no, Oliver. Can you be upfront with me, always?”

  “Yeah, of course.”

  Kay grabbed his hand and waited for his flat gaze to meet hers. “I mean it. Don’t let me think there’s something here when there isn’t. Don’t do me like you did Molly.”

  “Oh.” He pressed his lips together and nodded. “Now, I see. Sure, Kay. You got yourself a deal. But, hey, while we’re doling out requests, don’t do me any favors like the one you did Finn. If you’re out, just tell me you’re out.”

  The truth could bite like a snake. “I guess I deserve that.”

  Oliver squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  “No. No, you’re right. We have a deal.”

  She laughed when Oliver held out his hand to shake on it. They made their pact official, then sat, holding hands, their breathing the only sound in the quiet room. Kay didn’t know what was running through Oliver’s mind, but hers was racing through an obstacle course, knowing she’d eventually pummel into something she’d never see coming.

  Chapter 10

  The set-up wasn’t ideal, but it was better. Much better. If Kay could get Guillermo to quit gawking at Seraphina, they might actually achieve something today. Jasper glowering from his stool in the corner didn’t help, but was at least amusing. All he needed was one of those pointy dunce caps to round out the image.

  Merit had been poised to rain hellfire first thing that morning. But Mr. Arnell stepped in and saved Kay’s ass at the last second, vouching for her assessment of Jasper and even offering a solution guaranteed to make everyone uncomfortable.

  Seraphina was brought in, and Jasper was told to sit in on the ensuing meeting. He was banned from participating creatively in any way. His job was to take notes. Not on their designs, but on how a high-functioning team operated and achieved fantastic results when everyone committed to being a team player. If the lesson didn’t soak in by time the next project hit the drawing board, Jasper could very well be looking at getting the can.

  Kay’s esteem for Easton rose a thousand degrees, even if his solution meant Jasper sat glaring for the next couple of weeks. If he learned something, it’d be worth the awkward discomfort they would all suffer.

  Seraphina hadn’t hesitated to take on the project when Kay called Saturday morning. She’d given her the basic dimensions they were working with, and Seraphina, like the beast she was, arrived with a rough draft. Super rough. Pencil scratches. A sketch of nothing but the bones, but they were damn good bones.

  Kay tapped an odd corner of the floor plan, where a good five inches of wall was recessed from floor to ceiling. “What’s this? Do we have wires we can wall up right here, get rid of the funky space?”

  Guillermo sighed like a lovelorn puppy when Seraphina grinned. Kay had to admit it lit up her serious face prettily. “Actually, that’s intentional. You said we’re going for a woodsy forest vibe, and I had this idea about string lights. A whimsical touch, but also essential lighting. I got the idea from one of the resorts at Waikiki. They have this gorgeous courtyard, with big round kind of old school lightbulbs hanging from the trees. You know the clear ones, where you can see the yellowish filament inside?”

  Amos snapped his finger and gave Seraphina an exaggerated head-to-toe appraisal. “Now that is style, y’all. I got ideas poppin’ left and right. Now, we talking about fairies here? How whimsical is whimsical?”

  “Not fairies,” Kay interjected with a quick headshake and a soft laugh. They really didn’t have time to go down any more wrong roads. “The whimsy will come from the flowers and plants we choose. No tropical stuff, no ferns. No rainforest vibe. Okay, think the setting of Bambi. Or, uh, Snow White. It’s a tightrope between invoking a sincere woodland feel, keeping the elements in tune with the theme, and at the same time not taking them to extremes.”

  Seraphina tapped the plans and looked at each of them in turn. “Kay’s right. This is a touchy theme. It could go from magical to tacky with one wrong detail.”

  “Yeah, like a school play production, with paper leaves and cut-out butterflies.”

  Guillermo nodded. “I did the butterfly once. The wings, the...uh...come se dice papel mache?”

  “Paper...mâché?” Kay ventured.

  “Ah, sí. Paper mâché.” He flapped his arms like chicken wings. “I almost die from embarrassing.”

  Jasper snorted in the corner. Kay took her time swiveling her head to face him. He had the good grace to look away, any trace of amusement wiped clean from his face.

  Amos stroked his chin thoughtfully, smoothing down the wiry black curls of the goatee he was growing. “Yeah, okay. I have some stuff, but see there?” He pointed to the blank white board behind Kay. “Wiped the color board clean. I need a starting
point. I can give you a mess of color, but you gonna be wanting to rule some out. Save me time knowing what we’re working with going in.”

  “You’re right.” Kay bit back a long, tired sigh. A color. She needed a simple color. Choose the wrong one, they’d be set back weeks if she changed her mind later. New color board, new flower choices. Damn near back to square one.

  “Purple.”

  Kay turned around. Oliver stood in the doorway of her office, relaxed and smiling. How could he be so calm when the sight of him sent her heart thundering in her chest? Her cheeks flamed. Everybody at the drafting table would probably take one look at her face and know...something. That she liked Oliver. That she’d fed him stale cookies and they’d fooled around on her old couch.

  Oliver took in her face with a slight smile and shrugged as if telling her to relax.

  She took a deep breath and tried to sound like her usual brisk self. “What?”

  “Purple,” he repeated, striding closer to the drafting table in his slow careless way, bringing unseemly thoughts to her mind that had no place here at work. “Not soft like lavender. Deep, rich purple. Like the sky just before total dark.”

  The words did something funny to Kay’s stomach. She couldn’t name the sensation, but she knew she’d spoken true Friday night—she’d never be able to handle a fling with Oliver. Not when he had the power to make her skin tingle just by remembering her favorite color. And bringing to mind images of naked bodies and sweat, just by the way he walked toward her with slow purpose. She’d leap in headfirst or hightail it from the bank, but there would never be any in-between or gray area with him. Now all she had to do was pray he didn’t ask how she really felt about him, because she was determined to keep her word on their pact to tell no lies. And she’d stumbled onto a truth she didn’t know what to do with, let alone how to voice.

  Guillermo made an appreciative hum in his throat. “This guy, he knows. Tha’s good idea, no? Come, that’s good idea! Anything sounds like a poem, must be good idea. I think we go with t’at.”