by Lori Wilde
“I know, I know,” Carl said, taking the bottle and getting his pill.
Dani glanced at Travis, who winked at her. Apparently he found the relationship between Freda and Carl as interesting as she did. They obviously had been friends for many years until the disagreement, and despite their fight, still shared a certain intimacy.
Dani realized that she might have found something she could use in her favor. Carl and Freda had a history, and she might be able to draw on that.
After Carl had taken his pill, Dani repeated her question. “So did you think her suggestions worked or did you think they were bunk?”
Carl ran one hand through his thinning gray hair. “I might have said at first that I didn't believe in them. But she kept saying they worked, so when she cursed me—”
“Stop calling it a curse,” Freda said with a huff. “It was a romantic suggestion, not a curse. I don't try to hurt people. I try to make them happy. You know I'd never hurt a soul, Carl.”
“Felt like a curse,” Carl muttered. “I couldn't believe you'd done it to me.”
“Why? Why couldn't you believe she'd done this to you?” Dani prompted.
Carl looked visibly upset, and Dani couldn't understand why.
“Carl, you don't have to answer the question if you don't want to,” Roger advised his client.
Carl sighed several times, and finally said, “I did believe what she said when she cur—I mean placed the romantic suggestion on me. The way she said it, I knew it was going to come true.”
Hoping to clarify what had happened, Dani asked her grandmother, “So why did you place the romantic suggestion on Mr. Whitley? What did you think would happen?”
Freda smiled at Carl. “I wanted to make him happy. He was getting meaner and meaner over the years. The last time I was there, he ruined my dress—”
“I did not ruin your dress,” Carl said. “It had rips in it when you dropped it off.”
“Why would I bring a ripped dress to the dry cleaners?” She made a scoffing noise. “Pah. No one would do something so foolish.”
“They would if they wanted to blame those rips on the dry cleaner,” Carl said.
“You know I would never do that,” she said. “You just don't like being wrong. You should work on that. I saw a segment on a TV talk show that said people who have trouble admitting when they're wrong often have trouble in general expressing themselves.”
Before this conversation could veer any further off track, Dani returned to the main topic. “So after she made her romantic suggestion, how did your life change?”
Carl cleared his throat. Then he cleared his throat again. It was obvious he was uncomfortable. Finally, he said, “I met a young lady and fell in love.”
When he didn't elaborate, Dani asked, “And then what happened?”
“I was so much in love, I lost focus on my business, and it's now hovering on the brink of bankruptcy,” he said. “Before Freda made that curse, my business was fine.”
“You shouldn't have paid so much attention to that woman. She wasn't what I meant.” Freda leaned back and folded her hands on the table. “Anyone would have known I didn't mean her.”
Dani was amazed at how calm her grandmother was. Maybe it was because she and Carl were old friends. Dani got the distinct impression that Freda didn't truly believe Carl would actually file a lawsuit.
But Dani wasn't counting on their friendship to make it through this. She'd seen too many long-term relationships destroyed over less. When people got angry, they often lost sight of what mattered.
And Carl was good and mad. If his face got any redder, she was going to suggest they dial 9-1-1.
“You know Mrs. Karlinski can't give you the amount of money you're asking for,” Dani said. “She doesn't have it, nor does she have any insurance that would cover such an expense. You also must realize that if you focus on your business and keep regular hours, you should be able to rebuild. So what is it that you want?”
Roger had been watching the whole process silently, but now he opened his notebook. “Mr. Whitley feels actions such as those you've suggested won't be enough. He wants to restart his business and has decided fifty thousand should let him rebuild. I understand Mrs. Karlinski has life insurance from her late husband, and that since she lives with her son, her expenses are minimal. That amount shouldn't cause her any hardship.”
Dani stared at him. Roger had to be kidding. Fifty thousand? For making one romantic suggestion?
Before she could say a word, Freda shook her head. “No. I will not do it. I was trying to make you happy, you old fool.”
Then she stood and looked at Dani. “I'm done here. If he wants to file a lawsuit, then he can file a lawsuit. I'll fight him in court.”
Without waiting for either Dani or Travis, Freda headed out the door. Dani looked at Travis, who had already stood.
“Can you go catch up with Freda? I'll be with you in a second.”
Travis nodded. “Sure.”
After Travis had left, Dani looked at Roger and Carl. “You know she's not going to be able to pay what you're asking. Although my father has money, Freda doesn't. Contrary to what you think, she didn't receive much in life insurance, just enough to bury her husband.”
“But she must have gotten a lot,” Carl said.
“No. She didn’t. And I think you'll need to consider how this case will sound if we do go to court. Do you really think you can convince anyone that Freda has magical powers and was able to make you do something you didn't want to do?” She gave both men a pitying look. “Seriously, who is going to believe that a sweet old lady can make people fall in love by placing spells on them?”
With that, Dani left, more than a little upset with Carl Whitley. He couldn't seriously expect her grandmother to pay such a ridiculous amount. Travis had uncovered a lot of things about Mr. Carl Whitley and how much he had ignored his business. Dani would use that information if she had to.
And one thing she knew for certain, her grandmother wouldn't change her mind. Even though she and Carl used to be friends, they weren't anymore, and Freda wasn't about to give him any money.
No one was more stubborn than Freda Karlinski.
Chapter Ten
Travis followed Dani up the stairs to her apartment, barely resisting the urge to point out how stuffy the place was. Sure, it was elegant, but everything from the lobby with its oh-so-polite security guard to the staircase with its plush carpeting to the hallways with their subdued lighting and classy potted plants screamed Do Not Touch.
When they’d been here earlier, he’d gotten a phone call from Elvin so he’d waited in the car while she’d gone upstairs to change her clothes. He hadn’t had a chance to see her place, but now that he was here, he could only hope her apartment was more relaxed than the common areas. This place was perfect for a stuffed shirt but that was the last thing Dani was.
“How long have you lived here?” Travis asked as they reached the second floor and headed down the hallway.
“Three years. My boss wanted me to rent here. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get accepted,” she told him.
“Ah. Well that explains why I don’t live here,” he said dryly.
Dani laughed. “Okay, it’s...reserved. But at the time I rented here, I thought having this address would help my career.”
“Did it?”
“No,” she sighed. “Or maybe it would have if I’d ever had a chance to have parties here and show it off. But I’m so busy I don’t have time to do things like have clients or people from work over.”
They stopped at an impressive double door. Man, this place was nothing like his old apartment or his new house. Next to the door was a potted plant that was as fancy and elegant as the rest of the furnishings.
“Is this thing real?” He touched the shiny, somewhat spiky leaves.
Dani nudged him. “Yes, of course it’s real. It’s just very—”
“Reserved?”
She touched the pl
ant lovingly. “Hey, I like this plant. We’ve been friends for the whole time I’ve lived here.” After a second, she added, “I know it’s silly, but I’m going to miss it.”
Travis looked at the plant. What he was going to miss was Dani. Watching what had happened between Freda and Carl and their friendship, he realized that whatever sort of relationship he had with Dani would end once she moved. Time and distance didn’t make things better. They’d both move on with their lives and the last few days would fade in their memories.
She quickly unlocked her front door and then led the way inside. Everything was in boxes and ready for the movers.
“Wow, it looks different from when I was here this morning.” She wandered farther into the apartment, looking over the work the packers had done during the day.
Travis felt as though he’d taken a sucker punch to the gut. Seeing the evidence of her upcoming move only reinforced the reality of what was happening. Sadness engulfed him.
He’d never felt this way before, and it caught him off guard. He shouldn’t be this unsettled about her departure. Sure, when some of his relationships had ended in the past, he’d felt a little sad, but nothing like this. Nothing like this empty, hollow feeling that was hitting him full force.
This didn’t make any sense. He was the last guy to want a long-term relationship. Settling down just wasn’t his thing. Still, he’d like to spend more time with Dani. What they’d shared this last week had been terrific.
But what could he do? He couldn’t ask her to stay. This job was something she’d worked toward for years. And he couldn’t leave the ranch. He had made a commitment to Max.
“It’s funny, but this new job is all I’ve thought about for the longest time.” She sighed. “Actually, I’ve been working for this since I was a teen. Even when I was in high school, I’d sit and talk with my father about making partner at a prestigious law firm someday.”
“Did you and your dad talk a lot?” Travis asked, picking up on something in her tone. Strangely, he’d never met Dani’s father, which said a lot about the man. Travis definitely got the feeling the man wasn’t exactly a present, loving paternal figure.
Dani shook her head. “Not really. Mostly just about me making partner. My father was and still is focused on success. He’s constantly working. Always has. I actually think work is his hobby.”
Travis was getting the picture very clearly. “So is this new job about him or about you?”
With an empty-sounding laugh, Dani said, “Don’t try to psychoanalyze me, Travis. Sure, my father shared his interest in success with me, but now it’s my interest, too. I’ve worked many years and lots of long hours to get where I am today. Everything I’ve done in the past few years has been to achieve this goal.”
“Hence the apartment in the reserved building,” he said dryly.
She nodded slowly. “Yes.”
Although it might not be smart, he asked the question he’d been dying to ask for a long time. “Do you ever have fun?”
Dani seemed surprised by his question. “Of course I have fun. This last week has been a lot of fun.”
“But before that? Did you have fun? Ever take time off to relax?”
For several long seconds, she just looked at him. Then she finally shrugged. “Okay, maybe I don’t have fun in the way we’ve had fun this last week. But I’ve enjoyed my life. I’ve enjoyed becoming a success.”
Enjoyed. In Travis’ opinion that wasn’t the same as fun.
He glanced around at the neatly packed boxes. “So, any regrets now that you’re moving?”
The look she gave him tugged at his heart. It was sweet and sad and made him regret not keeping in touch with her over the years. They’d been friends, and they should have remained friends.
“I regret not having more time to spend with you,” she said.
“Yeah, me, too,” he admitted, walking over to stand in front of her. “Watching Freda and Carl fight today made me realize how easy it is to lose a friendship.”
He reached out and touched the side of her face, letting his fingers caress her soft skin. “I hate to think about us losing our friendship.”
She smiled. “Sure it’s not just the benefits you’ll miss?”
“You’d think it would be, wouldn’t you?” He smiled at her. “But that’s not what I’ll miss most. I’m going to miss hanging around with you, talking and laughing and having fun with you,” he admitted.
“It has been a lot of fun,” she said, her gaze locked with his. “I’ve never really felt this way about someone. You and I laugh and argue and talk. We always seem to understand each other even though we might not always agree. Plus, we have amazing sex.”
Yeah, what they had was unusual. Travis had never been as comfortable around a woman as he was around Dani. He slipped one arm around her waist and nodded toward the boxes.
“This is depressing. Why don’t we grab your clothes and head back to my place? You’re not leaving for two more days. I’d like to enjoy that time together.”
He expected her to tease him about wanting more of the benefits, but she didn’t. Apparently, she felt as sad as he did. Instead, she gathered up some clothes and personal items she hadn’t had the movers pack and then joined him in the living room again.
“All set,” she said when she was next to him. “Let’s go have some fun.”
Travis grinned, suddenly realizing what he could do for Dani. He might not be able to turn this relationship into something long-term, but he could make the remaining time they had together something she’d remember for the rest of her life.
He gave her a long, deep kiss, and then with a wink, promised, “Lady, you’ve come to the right guy if you’re looking for fun.”
DANI WANDERED AROUND Travis’ house, unable to help noticing how different it was from her place. Oh, sure, he didn't have everything packed up, which was the obvious difference.
But his house was also a place where someone actually lived. He hadn’t lived there long, but it already has a cozy feeling. The chairs and sofa had been picked for comfort, not to impress. The room's colors were vivid and vibrant and full of life, with lots of blues and greens and not a pale beige in sight.
Funny, but when she'd been here before, she hadn't noticed how much style the place had. Of course, that oversight was probably due to her being so busy. She hadn't had time to notice his decor; she'd been too focused on Travis.
“Did you decorate the house yourself or did it come like this?” Dani asked once Travis had set down the bags of groceries they'd bought on the way over.
Travis looked around, his hands on his hips. “I redid it. It was very cowboy modern when I first moved in, but I repainted and brought in the furniture from my old apartment. I know parts of this place still need work, but I’ll get to it in time. Why? Don’t you like it?”
Dani laughed. “You goof. I'm saying I like it. Actually, I'm impressed. It's very comfortable and cozy. You did a great job.”
With a twinkle in his eyes, he said, “You won't say that once you find out how I managed to decorate it.” He started putting away the groceries in the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a counter. Three stools were on the living room side of the counter, so Dani sat on one and watched him work.
When he finished, she said, “Okay, spill. What deep, dark decorating secret do you have? Do you have a burning desire to be a decorator?”
He laughed. “Not even close.”
Dani pretended to think. “Oh, I know. I bet an old girlfriend did this for you. Or better yet, are you like my mom and saw a show on TV that inspired you?”
Travis shook his head, a smile on his face. “Hey, I'm not completely helpless. You know we guys are good at a lot more than just sports and lifting heavy objects.”
With a dip of her head, Dani recanted. “I stand corrected. So you came up with this decorating scheme all on your own.”
After a second, Travis chuckled. “Okay, I'll fess up. When I set out t
o decorate my apartment, I went into a furniture store and they had all these rooms already designed. They had a living room”—he nodded toward his living room—”dining room, bedroom, and guest bedroom.”
“Oh, so that's how you did it.”
He nodded. “Afraid so. I just walked through the showroom and bought each room. Then I painted the rooms the same way they'd painted them. I think the whole thing lost a little in translation, but it was quick and easy and it worked. When I moved to the house, I recreated what was in my apartment.”
Dani glanced around the living room and the dining room. Now that she considered them, the rooms did have a sort of professional look.
“Did you buy the accessories as well as the furniture?” she asked, noticing the knickknacks scattered around. Travis didn't strike her as a knickknack kind of guy.
Travis leaned across the counter separating them and kissed her. “Why so many questions about my house?”
“Because I'm curious about you,” she admitted. “We haven't spoken in years, and this past week, we've been so busy with the case and...” She waved one hand between them. “With other things, that I haven't had a chance to really catch up with your life.”
Travis grabbed something from the freezer, and then walked around to her side of the counter. Sitting on the stool next to hers, he handed her an ice cream sandwich.
“For energy,” he said with a laugh. “You'll probably need it later.”
Knowing that if she had any say in the matter, she definitely would need that energy before the night was over, Dani took the ice cream.
“So when you moved into your apartment, you went to a store and bought what they had on display,” she said, unwrapping her ice cream and picking up the conversation where they'd left off.
Travis nudged her with his knees. “You know Max and I grew up all over the world. Since Dad was in the Army, we moved constantly. When I rented my apartment, I knew I was staying put, at least for a few years. I wanted it to look nice, but I didn't have a clue how to do it. The way I figured it was that whoever designed those layouts in the store knew more than I did. I liked the way my apartment looked, so when I moved here, I recreated it.”