by JC Szot
“Sit tight, let me get a towel.” Allie ran into the utility room and grabbed a large blue towel off the shelf. “Here you go.” Their hands brushed together, rain water dripping from his fingers.
“Man, this rain’s really something.” Marty ran the towel over his face then across the top of his head. “I’m sorry about your nice floor here.” He looked down, afraid to move from his puddle.
“Not a big deal, really.” Allie tossed the towel on the floor and sopped up the water with her foot. She picked up the weighted towel and tossed it into the slop sink in the laundry room. Marty waited near the door. Allie went back, waving him into the kitchen.
“Would you like coffee?” She turned to him. He looked tired, his eyes rimmed with fatigue. It must have been a late night for him. Allie was dying to ask but restrained herself.
“Ah, no, that’s okay.” He stood at the island, his eyes skirting around the room. “You have a nice place here.”
“Thank you.” Allie gave herself a refill.
“Nice job on the decorating.” Marty examined the stenciled grapevines that traveled across the wall of the kitchen. He then turned and took a glimpse into the dining room. “Where do you get your furniture?” he asked, eyeing her large oak table and chairs.
“North Carolina mostly. Would you like to see the rest?” Allie found herself looking at him more closely today. The draw of her eyes unnerved her.
“Sure, if it’s no trouble.” Marty buried his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
Allie took Marty on a tour of the house, showing him the living room, the cozy sitting area in front of the fieldstone fireplace, and the deck off the back. During their tour Marty mentioned that he had a thing for window seats, of which there were two upstairs in both bedrooms.
“This must be a great place to work.” He stood in front of the bay window in her studio.
“Well, you’ll have to come up on a nicer day so you can get the full effect of the view.” Allie didn’t realize what she’d said until after she had said it.
The backyard was vast, a thick green carpet with three cherry trees. Dan insisted that the land was a good investment. It really didn’t matter to Allie. The house was in Dan’s name. That was another commitment she wasn’t ready to make either. She did reinforce that he’d have to hire someone to cut the grass since he was never home.
“So, how about some shades of green?” Marty smiled.
Now she knew what really prompted his visit.
“Right over here.” Allie pointed to the supply closet, which consisted of every color of paint, pencils, and metallic shades he could want.
“Great, wow, look at this.” He lifted a few bottles, reading the shade titles on the caps. “What d’you think about Forest Green? Or do you think the Moss would be better?” He gave her a sideward glance.
“Either is fine, I think.” Allie couldn’t divert her eyes as Marty shook the bottles, trying to decide. Curved biceps flexed beneath the material of his shirt. Small drops of water leaked from the ends of his hair, bleeding into the collar of his shirt.
“I’ll go with the forest.” He looked at her, tilting his head.
Allie felt a self-conscious heat, but only for a minute. Marty was staring as if he wanted to say something.
“What, what is it?” Allie felt the warmth move over her skin. It spread up the back of her neck, a heat she hadn’t felt in a long time. She’d never had another man in the house. She quickly dismissed her uneasiness. Dan had met Marty. He wasn’t a complete stranger.
“How long have you known her?” Marty tilted his head, gesturing in the direction of Tess’s house.
“I’ve known Tess for two years. That’s how long I’ve been here. Dan and I are originally from Connecticut. His company transferred him here.” Allie released a breath. She knew where this was going. Tess’s hooks were in.
“Oh.” Marty’s eyes left hers. “And you’re friends, right?”
Allie wasn’t sure what he was getting at.
“Yeah, we are,” she found herself admitting, almost regretfully.
“You wouldn’t think, I mean…it’s just that you’re very different.” He sort of smirked at the thought. In a way Allie couldn’t blame him.
“I know, but when you live out here it’s slim pickings.” She laughed. The heat had bled into her cheeks. Does one really need to defend a friendship?
“Yeah, I suppose it is.” He kept shaking the small paint bottle.
“What made you choose Landisville?” Allie asked. Even though Tess had already filled her in on Marty, she wanted to see how much he would tell her.
“I was injured at work, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. My leg is screwed up. I had to sue to get my medical bills paid. I sort of wanted to disappear. You think anyone will find me out here?”
“I doubt it,” Allie laughed. “You picked the right place.”
“How long have you and Dan been together?” Marty rubbed his chin, his eyes probing hers.
“Five years.”
“Not the marrying type, huh?” Marty’s lips eased into a snide smile.
“Yeah, well.” Allie glanced away, needing a break from his inquisitive eyes. “That’s another story for another day. How about you? Have you ever been married?”
“Nah.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Never did it. Can’t tell you why, just never did.”
Allie put all of her paints into a bag before they moved downstairs. She grabbed her rain jacket before they headed over to Marty’s workshop.
Chapter 5
“Is this color good for you?” Marty had taken the lid off of a can of stain, showing her the shade.
“That’ll be perfect. I’m going to put it in my studio near the window.” Allie was brushing the vines on his bench.
“That’s some house Tess has.” Marty started rubbing the stain, going with the grain of the wood in long strokes.
The rain continued to pound on the roof, a loud clattering that had her and Marty raising their voices to converse.
“Tess definitely got a good break, thanks to her lawyer.” Allie shook her head.
“She told me her ex-husband is an attorney.”
“He is, that’s how she retained such a good one.” Allie laughed. “They all know each other.”
“Did she ever work?” He paused, waiting for Allie’s answer. She met his stare from across the workshop. His face hung, his eyes rounded, like a puppy dog. Heaviness came over him that she hadn’t seen when they began this little chat about Tess. Allie could tell that he’d become intrigued with Tess already. Wasn’t that how it always started?
“I recall her saying that she worked in real estate at one time, but once she got married, I think she just stopped working. She’s never really been clear about it,” Allie explained.
“Yeah, she wasn’t too clear with me either.” Marty was rubbing a rag in between the spindles of her new chair.
It was quiet with the exception of the rain, which had slowed to a steady shower. Allie started working on the outlines of the leaves when she heard Marty’s boots shuffle across the floor, his limp more pronounced on the wooden floor. He reached up and turned on an old, dusty portable radio. Patsy Cline was singing about “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Marty stood near her, watching her paint.
“Hey, that’s great work.” He stepped in closer to check her detail. “I’ve always admired people who can draw, paint, or play an instrument. It’s an inborn gift, you know?”
Allie could see his eyes in her periphery. She felt the weight of his stare, and it wasn’t the first time today. She avoided his gaze and continued to focus on the leaves.
“I suppose. I know that’s a compliment, thanks. Maybe I take it for granted.” She turned to him, his face too close. He smelled like fresh-cut grass. “That’s talent, too.” Allie leaned back, waving her hand over all his pieces.
“Eh, yeah, but just like you said, after seeing yourself do the same skill over and over, it doesn’t impress you an
ymore.” He laughed.
Marty caught her off guard when he reached over to wipe a drop of paint off her wrist, his fingers thick and rough from outdoor labor.
They worked until the late afternoon. The rain had stopped, leaving the air heavy and stagnant. Steam rose from the asphalt of their rural county road. Allie was thankful that it had rained for as long as it had. She knew Tess wouldn’t come out. Allie tried not to think of what Tess’s reaction would be if she found her and Marty in his workshop together. That would definitely cause Tess’s afterglow from the previous evening to dry up. Allie certainly didn’t want to be the cause of that.
* * * *
It was after ten. Allie had just gotten off the phone with Dan, listening to all his traveling woes—long security lines, a delayed flight, and a downgraded hotel room. When Allie had gone downstairs for a glass of water, that’s when she saw Marty walking across his yard up to the street. She watched him cross and walk down Tess’s driveway. Her motion detector light lit up, giving visibility of her side yard and garage. Tess was waiting for Marty by her car. They were both dressed up, she more than he.
She had on a gray, silk pantsuit with stiletto heels. Marty was in jeans, a white button-down, and sandals. Allie watched Tess lean into him, giving him a lengthy kiss. From reading the body language, Allie could see that Marty was a bit rattled by Tess, hesitant, only wrapping one arm loosely around her waist, then pulling back from the embrace first.
They got into Tess’s car and drove out of the driveway. Tess was much more conservative behind the wheel this evening. Allie figured Tess didn’t want her witnessing their departure.
Allie was up at 3:00 a.m. for her usual bathroom visit. Tess’s car was still gone. At 5:00 a.m. she was woken up to hysterical laughing echoing across the yard. She sat up and peered out the window. They were standing out in Tess’s driveway. Tess was pawing at Marty’s shirt, pulling it off of his muscular frame.
Allie’s curiosity was gnawing through her like a rodent. She opened up her nightstand and grabbed the binoculars. She knelt in front of the window and spied on them. Tess’s blouse was open, her turquoise lace bra glinting in the early-morning light. She was steering Marty toward the pool. Poor Marty looked wiped out, traumatized. Tess was pouting. It looked to Allie as if Marty had had enough. Marty lightly kissed Tess’s cheek then turned to walk toward his house.
* * * *
Allie didn’t see either of them the next morning. It was gorgeous out. Drier air had moved in with a soothing, summer sun. The landscapers had just finished with the yard when Federal Express barreled down the driveway for Allie’s pickup. She then called Vicky who seemed pleased with what she was sending. Allie decided to take the day and spend it in her greenhouse repotting some geraniums and ferns.
After the gardening was done, Allie took a shower. While reclining on her bed with a magazine, she fell asleep. Allie woke up to Tess’s voice reverberating up the stairwell.
“Allie, where are you? Are you decent? I’m coming up.”
Allie could hear the slap of her bare feet on the stairs. She shoved the magazine, along with the binoculars Tess had forgotten she’d left behind, into the nightstand.
“Hey, what are you up to?” Tess glided across the floor in a pair of white shorts and a gingham halter. She plopped down in Allie’s wicker bucket chair, draping a shapely leg over the arm.
“Not a whole lot. I’m ahead on my sketches so I did some gardening and reading. What’s new?”
“Has Marty been out?” Her chocolate eyes rested on Allie’s.
“I haven’t seen him today. Why?” Allie searched her face, wondering if she would tell her about their date. Allie decided to throw her a curve. “How was your dinner date?”
“Why? Did he say anything to you about it?” Tess’s eyes widened.
Allie noted the expression of alarm on her face. Tess was never anxious about anything.
“He mentioned that he was going, but…”
“When?” She ran her hand up and down her brown, shiny leg.
“He asked me to do some stenciling on one of his pieces, so he just happened to mention it.” Allie shrugged.
“Really. Now isn’t that nice.” Her voice was a bit condescending.
“It’s not a big deal, Tess.” What sounded like sarcasm came out with a hint of cattiness. “Your next male expedition is safe with me.” Allie gave her a snide look. “I guess I get no scoop on the dinner, huh?”
Tess looked out the window. A slight frown twisted her curved and pouty lips. “He’s too reserved. I have to work on him some more. I’ll get him.” Tess turned to her and smiled, her pearly teeth catching her lower lip.
“What do you mean? You couldn’t make the sack on the first night?” Allie felt bold today. Maybe part of her was sticking up for Marty.
“Be careful, Allie.” Tess’s eyes narrowed.
“Oh, come on, cut the guy some slack. Reserved or not, I call it respect.”
“Respect’s no fun.” Tess jumped off the chair. “Let’s go to my place, grab a snack, and take a swim.” She stood in the threshold, her fingers threading through her hair.
“Let me get my suit.”
* * * *
“How about a strawberry daiquiri?” Tess grinded some ice in the blender, which was on the counter of the outdoor bar. Visions of Marty’s slack face tugged at Allie’s thoughts. Her eyes moved to the kidney-shaped pool. She stared at its glimmering surface, wondering if their bodies had been baptized in the pristine water.
“No, thank you, too early for me.” Allie slung her towel over a white lounge chair. She reclined back, settling in to feel the sun’s heat. She popped one eye open and watched Tess fix her drink.
“Ah, come on Allie, it’s four thirty,” Tess whined, strutting over to her lounger in her gold bikini. At least she had her suit on. The last time Allie was here, Tess had indulged in some nude sunbathing. Tess had a bold nature to her. It was even arrogant at times. The comfort of others while they were around her wasn’t usually a concern.
“You go ahead. I’ll take a seltzer if you have it.” Allie soaked up the sun until five o’clock then went home.
Dan had called. He left a message that he would be home for three days, which Allie couldn’t believe. Her elation quickly plummeted when he then said he would have to go to Switzerland for six weeks. A merger had turned into a takeover. Allie’s summer alone now stretched before her like a desolate road with no end.
Chapter 6
“He’s really getting that place into shape.” Dan slid back into bed. They had woken up to Marty’s electric saw. “He starts working early, doesn’t he?”
Dan nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. His morning whiskers scraped over her skin like wire. His lips nibbled, her senses waking up after weeks of being dormant. Heat circulated through her, pooling in her center. Some nights Allie craved him so much, but he was never there. This morning Allie was almost afraid to let herself go, because then he would be gone. That meant she’d have to wean herself all over again. This cycle of him being home and then not was a struggle.
He scaled her body with his soft, white-collar hands gliding over her skin, easing her nightgown away as he looked down at her. He reached into her with his icy-blue eyes. Slept-on waves of hair hung over his brow. Their bodies entangled around one another’s in the warm beam of light that poured through the skylight, spilling onto the patchwork quilt. His lips grazed over her lightly. Dan’s cell phone buzzed from the nightstand. He released an aggravated sigh and leaned over, flipping the cover open.
Allie listened to the one-sided conversation, watching Dan’s face fall. He disconnected the call, burying his face into the pillow, groaning.
“What’s wrong?” Her finger danced down the warm, silky skin of his back.
“My flight’s been moved up,” he mumbled into the pillow. “I have to be at the airport by noon.” He faced her, his brows knitted. “I’m sorry, Al.”
“It’s okay, we
’ll make the most of it.” She saw this as a diversion. Now she wouldn’t have to be tempted by the dangling carrot. She redirected him. “Let’s get up. I’ll cook you a send-off breakfast.”
* * * *
“Hey, Danny boy, I heard you were home. I just had to come over and say hi.” Tess strutted around the kitchen island, pinching Dan’s ass, which had Allie annoyed five minutes after she’d arrived.
“Hey.” Dan’s eyes flashed at her, his brow furrowed.
“So are you kids getting reacquainted?” Tess sat down at the island, giving both of them her provocative look.
“Would you like coffee?” Allie asked, trying to get the conversation back on more civilized ground.
“Sure, then I’ll skedaddle. Let you two do what you should before Danny boy here has to leave again.” Tess waggled her brows, laughing.
* * * *
“I swear she gets more overdone every time I’m home.” Dan shook his head. “I can’t wait until she has to get a job,” he seethed. “Then she’ll be over here whining. I’m not sure which will be worse.”
“Well, she’s sunk her claws into Marty already.” Allie looked across the table at him.
“I’m not surprised. Did you warn him, Al?” Dan opened up the paper, eyeing her over a folded page.
“I’m staying out of it.” Allie waved her hand dismissively.
* * * *
By late morning Dan was gone again. They had enjoyed two meals off the grill, a nice walk, and a surprisingly civilized swim at Tess’s while he was home. Tess had invited Marty, but he had to go pick up a load of lumber, so he’d politely declined.
Later that night Tess and Marty were off again. Where they were going at this hour of the night, Allie couldn’t figure out. Allie had had trouble sleeping since Dan had left.
This time Tess was dressed a bit more formally. Marty appeared to be more of a conservative dresser, his attire similar to their previous date. Allie leaned on the windowsill. Their mysterious outings were turning her into a snoop. Tess walked around the car, her skin shimmering underneath a short, black dress with a plunging neckline. The straps of her shiny, silver heels glittered in the dark.
