Missed: Rafael & Lisa

by Tess Thompson

  “Thank you. I feel better now,” Stone said, grinning. “Calluses are sexy, right, Pepper?”

  Pepper lifted a haughty chin and shot darts from her eyes aimed right at Stone’s chest. “If you like dead skin, sure.”

  Stone laughed and winked at her. Pepper turned away, focusing her attention on the bowl of seashells on the table.

  Lisa pointed at the cooler. “Are you having a party and didn’t invite us?”

  “Worker bee party,” Stone said.

  “We finished the renovations and got this place decorated. We’re celebrating,” Trey said.

  “Would you ladies like anything? We only have beer,” Rafael asked, remembering his manners.

  Lisa nodded. “We’d love one.”

  “We’re never one to turn down adult beverages,” Pepper said.

  “And we’re celebrating too,” Lisa said. “Pepper’s been offered a movie role.”

  “That’s great,” Trey said.

  Pepper shrugged her narrow shoulders and tossed her black curls. “It’s a horror film. I’m dead by the end of the first act.”

  “Her character just has to look in that closet.” Lisa’s eyes danced as she took a beer from Stone.

  “I’ll get my own,” Pepper said when Stone reached back into the cooler.

  He grabbed a beer and held it out to Pepper with a saucy grin. “No. You’re our guest. I insist.”

  Pepper smirked and took it from him. “Yes, sir.”

  Okay now. He wasn’t sure what was going on there, other than five thousand sexual sparks and a major attitude from Miss Pepper.

  Stone settled back into the couch, returning the smirk.

  “What brings you by, anyway?” Rafael asked.

  “We’ve come about an apartment,” Lisa said. “Is there one available?”

  Rafael almost choked on his beer. Lisa Perry, living in his building? “Just one. It’s a two-bedroom on the second floor.”

  Lisa’s face lit up. “That’s perfect. We want a place to share.”

  “We’ll be in and out because of our work,” Pepper said. “But we want an apartment in Cliffside Bay to be by Maggie.”

  “I hate living alone,” Lisa said. “So Pepper’s agreed to put up with me.”

  Pepper rolled her eyes. “Hardly. Until this movie role I was so broke she took pity on me and offered to pay for a place.”

  “Stop it. That’s not true,” Lisa said, with a shy duck of her chin.

  “Lisa Perry is about to become a huge star,” Pepper said. “Did you hear about Raven yet?”

  “Um, yeah. Sure.” Rafael knew everything about Lisa Perry that was possible to know without having said more than a half dozen words to her. Unlike some, information about Lisa was easy to find. She was an actress with a recent hit series as the main character on a period piece called Indigo Road that aired on HBO. He’d watched every episode. Twice. Next week, her first feature film came out. According to what he read on the internet, she was about to become the next big thing.

  “Pepper’s going to jinx me,” Lisa said. “She tells everyone we meet.”

  “It couldn’t happen to a sweeter girl,” Stone said. “I’m happy for you.”

  “She’s not a girl,” Pepper said. “Why do guys like you always call women girls?”

  Stone raised his eyebrows. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to offend.”

  “Well, you should think before you talk,” Pepper said.

  “Yes ma’am.” Stone saluted her. “A guy like me will take that under advisement.”

  Pepper’s eyes flew open even wider.

  “Why do girls like you always call us guys?” Stone asked. “It’s very offensive. We’re grown men.”

  “Oh my God, you’re such a jackass,” Pepper said.

  “A guy like me or a jackass? Which is it?” Stone asked.

  “You know what—” Pepper said, before Lisa interrupted her.

  “Pepper, give it a rest.” Lisa put her hand on her arm. “Maybe we could see the apartment now?”

  “Sure, yeah,” Rafael said. The thought of Lisa Perry living downstairs from him made him light-headed. Not like it would give him more of a chance with her. Frankly, it was probably the perfect recipe for misery. She’d have men over and he’d see every one of the bastards leave from his building having spent the night with an angel.

  He left the guys with their beers and took the ladies down the stairs to the second floor. The two apartments were mirror images of each other. One had a peekaboo view of the ocean. The other faced east and would have beautiful views of the sunrise over the mountains. Since Lavonne had already chosen the ocean view, he opened the door of the other apartment.

  Lisa squealed and did this cute bouncy thing on her feet. “Rafael, it’s gorgeous. You guys did an amazing job.”

  Pepper was at the window. “We’ll see the sun rise.”

  They’d gone with an open-floor concept in the first- and second-floor apartments, with the kitchen and great room one big room. Trey had assured him that it would be the best use of space and light. He’d agreed, knowing nothing about either.

  The ladies loved the bedrooms and complimented the bathroom for being spacious.

  “Pepper’s a total slob,” Lisa said.

  “I am not.” Pepper smacked her playfully on the shoulder.

  “Who’s living directly above us?” Lisa asked. “Are they noisy?”

  Neither of the other guys had said a word about the other apartment belonging to them. Instinct told him to keep quiet for now.

  “Not that I know of,” he said.

  “When can we move in?” Lisa asked.

  “Don’t you want to know the rent?” he asked.

  Lisa smacked her forehead. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I forgot to ask.”

  He kept his voice steady, embarrassed by the amount. “Two thousand. Includes utilities.”

  “Great,” Lisa said. “We’ll take it.”

  “Come on. I’ll get your set of keys.”

  Chapter Two

  Lisa

  Lisa woke the next morning in the guest room at Maggie’s house and reached for her phone. Using the bank app, she pulled up her savings account. She stared at the beautiful seven-figure sum and grinned. Soon, she would invest most of it, but for now she liked to remember how far she’d come.

  Her manager, Sasha, had negotiated a good deal for a relatively unknown actress. The director had wanted her after seeing Indigo Road. If she was smart and invested conservatively, she could make it stretch over the rest of her life. She might not get another acting job. It was possible. Raven could be a flop. They could change their minds about a second season of Indigo Road. One never knew. For now, she was content knowing she would never have to take another cocktail waitressing job or search for coins in the cushions of the couch.

  In a few days, she would leave for weeks of promotional activities, including the premier of Raven. As part of her contract, she was to appear on a variety of talk shows. Her reward would be to come home to a cute apartment where she would have a few months to relax before heading north to film the new season of Indigo Road.

  After they left Rafael yesterday evening, she’d texted Trey to see if he could decorate the apartment for them while she was away. He’d agreed to have it ready for them when she returned at the end of August.

  She showered and headed downstairs. Maggie and Jackson would have been up for at least an hour. Lily woke early and liked to have her breakfast after a good snuggle with Mommy. Jackson would already be at the office. As the primary doctor of Cliffside Bay, he probably had a slew of patients waiting.

  The house smelled of coffee and cinnamon. A freshly baked breakfast cake was cooling on the counter. Lisa took a big sniff but made a piece of dry toast instead. Standing at the sink, she ate her piece of toast and watched the sparrows play in the birdbath. She loved these beautiful creatures, so delicate and graceful, yet strong enough to soar across the yard.

  Her thoughts turned to Ra
fael Soto. During the weeks she’d been at Maggie’s this summer, he hadn’t appeared at any of the parties or nights out at the brewery. She hadn’t asked anyone about him, not wanting to give herself away. Yesterday, she’d thought about taking him aside and asking him to dinner, but she was too shy. She couldn’t tell if he liked her. He was so reserved it was impossible to make a guess either way. Stupidly, she’d asked Stone Hickman about him. The answer was noncommittal. “He’s fine. We’ve been too busy with the renovation to do much but work.”

  She followed the sound of Maggie’s music into the living room. Maggie was on the couch with her guitar in hand. Music sheets were spread across the coffee table. Lily played on the floor with blocks. Pepper lounged in the chaise in the corner of the room, reading the book she’d bought yesterday. Neither of the grown-ups did much in the way of greeting, other than a grunt from Pepper and a headshake by Maggie. The little one, however, let out a joyful shriek and flung herself into Lisa’s arms.

  “Hello, love.” Lisa sat on the floor with her back against the couch and brought Lily onto her lap. She kissed the top of her head and breathed in the scent of those red curls. She was a beautiful child, with white skin and red hair like her mother. She looked like Maggie, except for her blue eyes. Those were all Jackson.

  “Sasaw,” Lily said as she snuggled into her chest. This was her nickname. Lisa turned to Sasaw.

  Pepper sneezed. “I think I’m getting sick.” She didn’t seem to require a response, as she didn’t even look up from her book.

  The three of them knew one another so well, there was really no need for talking. It could have been their apartment in New York except for the luxurious furnishings, the enormous house, and the most beautiful blue-eyed one-year-old on the planet.

  Although she and Pepper adored staying at the house, it wasn’t fair to Jackson that they were always here. He never said anything, other than how much he loved Lisa’s cooking and appreciated Pepper’s insistence on doing the dishes. However, Lisa knew they needed to be alone in their nest without Pepper and Lisa mooching around. She’d been thrilled when Kara mentioned Rafael’s apartment building. The fact that Rafael owned it had nothing to do with why she wanted to rent the place. Right? Wrong. Fine. He was icing on an otherwise delicious cake. Who was she kidding? Rafael Soto was the best icing on the best cake ever made.

  The plan was to live part-time here and part-time in Los Angeles, as needed. She and Pepper didn’t have a place in LA, but they’d agreed to discuss that after Pepper returned from British Columbia, where she was shooting the horror film.

  She stretched and smiled as she gazed at the copper head against her chest. Morning sun softened the room. Outside the French doors, red flowers climbed a trellis. On the other side of the stone patio, the swimming pool was a deep blue. Life was different here in the land of sea and sunshine. The moment Lisa and Pepper arrived in California, their lives had fallen into place. At long last, it seemed their dues had been paid, and the lives they’d dreamed of were unfolding before them.

  Maggie had reconnected with her childhood sweetheart, and now they had a beautiful home and a precious daughter. After a hit debut folk/rock album, Maggie was going on a short concert tour.

  Life was good and about to get better.

  Pepper sneezed again. “I’m definitely getting sick.”

  “Don’t give it to the baby,” Maggie said.

  “We have the concert tomorrow,” Lisa said. “You can’t get sick.” She and Pepper were heading north to a country music festival before they had to ship off to their destinations.

  She startled when the doorbell rang. Maggie didn’t look up from her guitar, nor Pepper from her book. “Come on, Lily, let’s go see who it is.” With the baby on her hip, she traipsed down the hall to the front door. She tried to open it, but realized the lock was latched. Jackson always locked the door after he left in the morning.

  She unlocked the door and yanked it open.

  Rafael Soto.

  Goodness, the man was hot in a T-shirt. He also wore cargo shorts and those sports sandals that were so popular out here. A manila envelope dangled from his right hand. Her name was written in even handwriting across the top. She was always impressed by how tidy he appeared: closely cropped hair, trimmed and clean fingernails, freshly shaven. A precise man. One who wasted no energy on false moves. She wondered if he’d take those same skills into the bedroom.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  “Hi,” Lily said, loud and clear, then waved. They joked that Lily waved like a pageant girl.

  “Is this Lily?” Rafael asked. “She’s gotten so big.”

  “She just had her first birthday, and she’s walking.”

  “Is that early?” he asked.

  “Um. No, not early. Right on time.”

  “I’m sorry to bother you but I forgot to give you the paperwork to fill out.” He held up the envelope. “It’s a few legal documents to fill out.”

  The morning sun was causing her to squint. “Come in, please.”

  He grimaced and scratched behind his ear. “No, I can just give them to you and be on my way. You can drop them by later, or I can come back out to get them.”

  “Please, come in. Lily and I are just hanging out. I have coffee cake.”

  His dark brown eyes darted to his truck as if he wanted to escape. “I do like coffee cake.”

  She moved aside so he could step past her.

  “It smells good in here,” he said.

  “This house always smells good. It’s because a family lives here.”

  She avoided the living room and went straight into the kitchen. “Sit. Would you care for coffee?”

  “Only if it’s already made.” He placed the envelope on the island and sat on one of the stools.

  “You want cake too, Lily?”

  Lily smiled and nodded her head with more enthusiasm than was necessary. “Yes. Cake.”

  “She likes cake as much as I do,” Rafael said.

  “She has limited experience of the world, but I’d have to say cake is her very favorite thing.”

  “Cake,” Lily said.

  Lisa set Lily in her high chair and latched the seat belt. She put the baby’s tray in place, then turned to get a coffee cup.

  “You must have a lot of experience with babies,” Rafael said.

  “A little. My twin brother has two. My niece is a little older than Lily. My nephew, Oliver, is almost four.” She poured coffee into a mug. “Cream? Sugar?”

  “Just a little cream.”

  She set a small pitcher in front of him.

  “Fancy,” he said.

  “Maggie keeps it in the fridge,” Lisa said. This house was all about the coffee.

  Lily thumped her tray table and yelled cake three times in a row.

  Lisa laughed as she cut a small piece for the baby and set it on the tray. Lily stuffed the entire thing in her mouth.

  “She’ll need a bath later,” Lisa said.

  “Is Maggie out?” he asked.

  “No, she’s in the living room. She’s working on a new song. When she’s like that, I watch the baby so she can work. She gets laser focused.” Lisa cut a large square piece and set it on a plate, then slid it over to him. “Would you like a fork?”

  “Yes, please.” The corners of his eyes crinkled. “If I was alone, I’d just stuff the whole thing in my mouth like my friend Lily.”

  Lisa warmed at the sight of his smile and handed him a fork. “You should smile more. You have a beautiful one.”

  He cut into the cake with his fork. “You’re the second person in two days to say that.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, Honor Shaw pointed it out yesterday when she was threatening me with a sharp pencil.”

  Lisa laughed. “Honor is like Hermia. ‘And though she be but little, she is fierce.’”

  He looked at her blankly. “Hermia?”

  “Shakespeare. Midsummer Night’s Dream. Never mind. Theater geek joke.
”

  “I don’t know much about Shakespeare.”

  She flushed. Why had she said that? It had obviously made him feel bad. So thoughtless. No wonder she could never find a good man.

  “I’m sorry. That was a stupid thing to say,” she said. “Most people wouldn’t recognize that quote. I probably sounded pretentious.”

  He looked up from his cake. As he held his fork in midair, his brown eyes looked straight into hers. “Why are you apologizing? You should never say you’re sorry for knowing something others don’t. Just because I’m an uneducated slob doesn’t mean you should apologize for sharing your expertise. Men love to make women feel shamed when their fragile egos are threatened, so women have learned to pretend they know less than they do. Real men know smart women are sexy.” He went back to his cake.

  She had no idea what to say. For one thing, she’d never heard him say that many words in a row. Secondly, he sounded about as opposite of an “uneducated slob” as one could get.

  “That’s very enlightened of you,” she said, finally.

  He looked up, amusement in his eyes. “If you met my mama, everything about me would be perfectly clear.”

  “Given your experiences, I’d bet money you know a heck of a lot more than most.” She topped off his coffee.

  He touched the napkin to his mouth. “The stuff I know—I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

  “Oh dear.”

  The corners of his mouth lifted in one of his quarter smiles. “It’s okay. I took the gig. The military got me out of poverty. I live with the consequences.”

  “You’re a hero, though. That must mean something to you.”

  “It’s validating when people thank me for my service. But what happens in war is never as black and white as civilians like to think. Whether or not I was heroic is something only God can decide.”

  “I suppose that’s true for all of us.”

  He picked up his plate and mug. “Thank you for the coffee and the cake. You made my day off even better.” He came around the island and set the dishes by the sink. Rafael Soto moved like a stealthy panther, without making a sound and with dexterous ease. When he passed by her, she caught the scent of him—fresh soap and a spicy deodorant. No cologne. He wasn’t the type.