The day that followed was perfect in every way. Not just because of the sexy little car, the beautiful weather, the stunning scenery.
It was the way she felt. The melting warmth all through her body. The company of this man made her tingle and glow and laugh constantly. They had long, winding conversations about everything that popped into their minds. There were no awkward pauses. Even the pauses seemed right and natural, full of their own proper significance.
The sky was cloudy, but there was no rain, just stunning moments when sun burst through the clouds, illuminating the sea. They stopped at every scenic vantage point, strolled barefoot on every beach. When they got hungry, they picked up some fish and chips and cold beers at a boardwalk restaurant and ate on the sand on a beach blanket that Vann had bought at the first tourist shop they came across.
That was followed by double-decker ice-cream cones, and a lively difference of opinion about the relative merits of milk chocolate versus dark chocolate. The dispute was never resolved, but the argument required multiple taste tests, which soon turned into chilled, chocolatey kisses. After a few minutes of that, someone drove past them and yelled, “Get a room!”
Vann pulled away with some difficulty. “We could,” he murmured.
“Get a room, you mean?”
“In a heartbeat,” he said.
“I’d love it,” she said. “But tomorrow is a big day for me, and I don’t want to get back to the city late.”
“I guess we should hit the road, then. As it is, we’ll reach Seattle after dark.”
“I hate to go,” she said. “Hey, watch out. Ice cream is dripping on your shoes.”
They set out again. With the top down, it was too noisy for conversation, but Vann held her hand whenever he didn’t need it on the gearshift or the wheel. The feeling that hummed between them transcended words.
The occasional glance or smile was enough. No barriers.
Vann turned to her when they got close to the city. “I’ll take you home if you want,” he said. “But my house is close. On Lake Washington.”
She hesitated, thinking about tomorrow’s meeting. But being with Vann made her feel brave and fearless, and naturally lovable. She could use every last drop of that feeling. It would give her courage. “I have one last outfit in my bag that would be acceptable in a work setting,” she said.
“Do you need to get any lab documentation from home?” he asked. “Like the test on Ava’s DNA?”
“I have the documents on my computer at home, but I also have them on my tablet, right here in my bag,” she told him. “I’m all set for this meeting.”
“So you’ll stay with me? Can I take you home?”
After a single suspended breath, she smiled at him.
“Yes,” she said softly. “Take me home.”
Seventeen
Vann’s house didn’t seem big from the road that circled the lake, but on the other side, it opened up and revealed itself to be larger than it seemed, with a terrace looking out over the water. The entrance led to the upper floor, and corridors led to bedrooms on either side. Then a wide, shallow staircase in the foyer under a big skylight led down to a huge central space that opened off into a dining room, living room and kitchen, all with spectacular walls of glass to showcase the view.
“What a beautiful place,” Sophie murmured.
“I can’t take credit for it,” he said. “Drew designed it. I told him in broad strokes what I wanted, and he made it happen. Better than my wildest dreams. One of the perks of having a best buddy who’s a world-class architect.”
He hung up her coat and turned the lights on in the kitchen. “I’m too distracted to cook,” he said. “But I’ve got some take-out favorites I can recommend. A Thai place, a Japanese place, a Middle Eastern restaurant, Indian. And some really excellent Italian.”
“I’m fussy about Italian, since it’s my heritage,” she teased. “Excellent?”
“You won’t know until you try,” he said.
“Then I opt for the Italian,” she said.
Vann picked out a menu from the bundle in his drawer. “Want to take a look?”
“You know their dishes,” she said. “You pick this time.”
He grabbed his smartphone and dialed as he uncorked a bottle of red wine. “Hello?...Yes, this is Vann Acosta. I’d like an order delivered to the usual address. Let’s start with the smoked salmon. Fresh artichoke salad, stuffed mushroom, batter-fried spring vegetables, the half-moon smoked cheese ravioli with butter and sage. Fresh greens with orange and fennel. Grilled cacciatore sausage. Panna cotta with blackberry topping for dessert. All of this is for two...Excellent...Yes. Put it on the usual card.”
Sophie gave him a shocked look. “That’s a lot of food. Overdoing it much?”
He poured the wine. His hungry, lingering glance made her nipples tighten. “I’m burning off the calories just looking at you.” He held out the glass. “Come on back to the lake.”
She followed him out into the water-scented air on the terrace, listening in the stillness for the hollow sound of water slapping the pebbles on the beach. City lights gleamed on the dark ripples. Wind ruffled the water’s surface like a stroking hand.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured. “So peaceful.”
“I was actually the first one to buy waterfront property here,” he said. “Then Drew decided he liked the lake, too, and he found another piece of land. So he’s my neighbor, just mile or so up that way.” He pointed.
“How wonderful, to have a friend nearby. Do you guys hang out on weekends?”
He snorted. “What weekends? We see each other mostly at work. At least until he met Jenna, at which point I basically stopped seeing him at all. Not that I begrudge him his happiness.” Vann smiled at her. “Now less than ever.”
Sophie raised her glass. “To Drew and Jenna. May their love endure forever.”
“To Drew and Jenna,” Vann echoed.
They clinked glasses, and drank. He reached out to stroke the side of her cheek with his knuckle. “So soft,” he said. “It’s amazing how soft your skin is.”
“Usually I feel as hard as glass,” she said. “You make me feel soft.”
He reached down to grab her hand. “We have to stay close enough to the house to hear the doorbell,” he told her. “They usually don’t make me wait very long for the food.”
They’d only just finished their first glass of wine when the delivery arrived. Vann brought in the food and set the table, dragging out some candles and candleholders.
They spread the containers out, and feasted by candlelight.
At a certain point, the conversation wound down into long, speaking silences. They gazed at each other, feeling the sweet, delicious anticipation build.
This looked and felt so...well...real. This fantasy of happiness, pleasure and love. It felt like a future. A family. Something she’d never quite been able to envision for herself.
Against all odds, this actually seemed to be real.
Vann stood up and held out his hand. “Are you ready to go upstairs?”
She got up and took his hand. “Lead the way,” she said.
* * *
The night was a feverish erotic fantasy. After the first few wild, frenzied times they made love, they slowed down, dozing from time to time, tightly twined together.
Vann was too happy to sleep. He just stroked Sophie’s hair, his throat too tight to speak, his chest bursting with emotion. He craved more of her. Now and forever.
Dawn was lightening the sky outside. Tendrils of mist rose off the lake, creating an ethereal, otherworldly realm where nothing could intrude on their love. They gazed at each other until gazing wasn’t enough, and it turned to kissing, tasting, stroking. She caressed him boldly, guiding him into her tight, slick warmth. They rocked together in a surging dance of pleasure that cres
ted into yet another explosion of delight.
They lay together afterward, lost in each other’s eyes. Sophie’s hands moving over his chest, fingertips sliding through the hair that arrowed down from his chest to his belly.
“It’s such a strange feeling,” she said.
“Which one?” he asked. “I’m fielding a lot of them.”
“Being so open,” she admitted. “I let my guard down so far, I don’t even know where I left it.”
“Me, too,” he admitted.
“Does it feel good?” she asked hesitantly.
“Great,” he assured her. “Let’s never put our guard back up. Not with each other.”
Sophie put his hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles. “It’s a deal,” she whispered.
He felt like his heart was too big for his chest as the meaning of her whispered words sank in. They were taking a step into something so rare and pure and precious. He was humbled, dazzled to realize it. She trusted him. It was such a gift.
He wanted to be a better man. To fully deserve that trust.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Really early,” he said. “But I’m too jacked up to sleep any longer. It’s a big day. I’ll make you a good breakfast.”
He bounded out of bed, threw on a pair of sweatpants and went down to get to work.
The dining room was a mess from last night’s feast, but the breakfast nook was still pristine, so he set up there. By the time Sophie came down, swathed in his blue terry-cloth bathrobe, her hair a mass of damp waves, he had breakfast sausages, English muffins, OJ and coffee on the table, and was tipping a panful of eggs, two for her, four for him, onto the plates. He hadn’t felt this hungry since he was a teenager.
“Wow,” she said, impressed. “Look at you, pampering me. Don’t tell anyone.”
He poured her coffee. “I don’t care who sees me,” he said. “I’ll do it out in front of God and everyone.”
“Whew.” She sank into her chair and sipped her coffee, smiling. “Scandal.”
“Bring it on,” he said. “I’m so wound up. I’ll try to chill.”
“No, don’t. I like you like this. It excites me.”
Their eyes locked. The air ignited.
Sophie looked away first, laughing. “Not now, for God’s sake! There’s no time!”
“Soon,” he promised. “I’ll pamper you again. Until you can’t even see straight.”
“Mmm, something to look forward to.”
He realized, over halfway through the meal, that having breakfast with a lover was a first for him. He never stayed with anyone all through the night. Never wanted to.
But everything about Sophie was different. New.
After breakfast they got dressed. Sophie was as stunning as ever when she was all put together, in a silver-gray linen tunic over matching wide-legged trousers and gray suede pumps. Her hair was loose, styled in long waves and curls. Her lips were a glossy red, and her whiskey-colored eyes were full of mystery as she looked him over. “Nice suit,” she said. “I think we’re both presentable.”
“Should we take the convertible to go to work?”
“I wish.” She shook her head with a regretful smile. “I’d ruin my hair. Not today.”
“No problem,” he assured her. “We can take my Jag.”
Morning traffic was what it always was in Seattle, but he was too euphoric to be frustrated today. It meant more time with Sophie. And as early as they’d risen, they got there with time to spare.
“Can you let me out at the front entrance?” Sophie asked as they got closer to the downtown office. “I need to take care of some things before the rest of the staff gets in.”
He pulled over in front of the building. “I’ll be at your office at 12:15.”
She had a shadow of lingering doubt on her face. “Shouldn’t we just meet at the restaurant? For now, anyway?”
He shook his head, resolute. “We’re through with that now. Onward.”
She gave him a smile that made his body tingle. “You are just on fire today, Vann.”
“You lit the flame,” he said.
Her laughter sounded happy. “Okay, fine. My office, then. Later.”
“Good luck with the meeting,” he called. “I know it’ll be fine. He’s a lucky man.”
Her smile left him just staring helplessly after her until the cars started beeping impatiently behind him.
Vann floated through the morning in a haze. Then Zack leaned inside his office.
“Hey,” he said. “Do you have a quick debrief for me before I go to Malcolm’s office?”
Vann looked at him blankly. “Debrief about what?”
Zack frowned. “Your info-gathering project? Sophie Valente? The IP theft?”
“Oh, that. I’ll give you the short version. Not her. Look elsewhere.”
Zack’s face froze. Then he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “You’re sure of this?” he said. “You have proof?”
“You need to prove guilt, not innocence,” Vann said. “I know her now.”
“What, in the biblical sense?”
Vann stood up. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Sorry,” Zack said. “I guess that wasn’t appropriate.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Vann said through his teeth. “What I meant was, I know exactly what Sophie Valente is after here at Maddox Hill. And it’s not money.”
“So what is it?”
Vann hesitated. “I’ll leave that for her to reveal. It’s not my place to tell.”
“She’d better hurry up about it,” Zack said. “And she better be prepared to defend herself. From what I heard Bryce say, he’s got her in the bag.”
A chill seized him. “Bryce is full of shit.”
“I won’t say you’re wrong, but if he has the ironclad proof he says he has, Sophie’s in trouble.”
“Bryce can’t have proof,” Vann said. “He’s going down a dead end.”
“Be that as it may, he’s meeting with Malcolm now,” Zack told him. “Explaining his discoveries.”
“But Sophie was supposed to meet with him. In just a few minutes, in fact. We were supposed to talk with Malcolm and Bryce about all this tomorrow.”
“Malcolm got in early,” Zack said. “I heard him complaining about Sylvia scheduling back-to-back meetings this morning. Evidently Bryce couldn’t wait until tomorrow. He looked buzzed. I was just going there, but I wanted to check in with you first.”
“He can’t be showing Malcolm what he discovered,” Vann repeated. “There’s nothing to discover! I’ll go and tell Malcolm myself.”
“Steady, now,” Zack cautioned. “You’re not currently in the best position to come to Sophie Valente’s defense. Keep that in mind.”
“Because I’m in love with her, you mean?” Vann said. “I’m not ashamed of it.”
Zack winced. “This is worse than I thought.”
Vann was already out the door. Zack caught up and kept pace with him as he made his way to Malcolm’s office. Sylvia gave him a disapproving look as he approached.
“I’m going in to see Malcolm,” he said.
“And a pleasant good morning to you, too, Vann. I’m sorry, but you can’t quite go in yet! Tim Bryce is in there with him. Vann...hey! Vann, he’s in a meeting!”
Malcolm’s office door flew open. Malcolm poked his head out. “Sylvia!” he bawled. “Get Zack and Vann in here right—oh, there you are. Get your butts in here this instant.”
Vann and Zack filed past Sylvia. She leaned in the door. “Do you gentlemen need coffee or—”
“They can drink coffee on their own damn time,” Malcolm snarled. “Leave us.”
Sylvia quickly closed the door. Malcolm’s face was splotchy with anger as he rounded on them. “You two have been k
eeping secrets from me, eh?”
“No, we haven’t,” Zack said evenly. “We’ve been taking care of business, just like we always do.”
Malcolm gestured at Vann. “I’ve seen some of his business lately. I’m not impressed.”
“You’ve got it wrong, Malcolm,” Vann said.
“No, he doesn’t,” Bryce said. “On the contrary, I think he’s nailed it. Quite literally.” Bryce chortled at his own joke, but the snickering died out as Vann fixed his icy gaze on him. “It’s her,” he said, his voice triumphant. “What I just showed Malcolm is airtight.”
Vann breathed down the urge to punch that smug, self-satisfied look right off Bryce’s smirking face. “What do you think you’ve got on her?”
“I don’t think it, I know it. Look for yourself. I have a video of Sophie Valente stealing documents out of Malcolm’s laptop.”
“That’s impossible,” Vann said.
“It’s a fact,” Malcolm said heavily. “I saw it. The video is time-stamped. She’s in the dress she wore at the wedding. I recognize my hotel room. There’s no mistaking her. To think I invited a lying thief to my own nephew’s wedding and let her mix with all the people I care most about. And the sensitive information she heard in the Zhang Wei meetings, God help us.”
“I thought Vann’s plan was to get more information before we went any further with our investigation.” Bryce’s voice was oily with insinuation. “Looks like he took the job more literally than we ever dreamed.”
Zack blew out a sharp breath. “I want to see that video, right now.”
They circled the desk and gathered around the monitor. Bryce edged closer but kept the length of the desk between himself and Vann. “I rigged cameras on the walkway leading to your room at Paradise Point,” Bryce began.
“I doubt that’s legal,” Zack said. “Privacy laws—”
“Shut up and watch,” Malcolm said. “Show them the clip from the walkway.”
Bryce tapped the mouse and set the video clip to play. The camera was trained on one of the wooden walkways at Paradise Point, the rhododendron branches swaying gently and casting shadows on the weathered planks.
Corner Office Secrets Page 13