by V. K. Powell
She pulled her cell from her jeans pocket and stopped mid-dial. Was it really necessary to talk to Bennett right now? For the past four days, she’d avoided thinking about their last encounter. Bennett’s attentiveness as Kerstin had explained the plans, her brown eyes wide, reminded Kerstin of the eager teenager engrossed in their senior project. When their shoulders had touched, Kerstin’s body heated, evoking an urge to run. She glanced at the phone in her hand, shivered, and dialed again. This was work, and it was important.
“Hello?” Bennett’s throaty voice turned sexy and sent another shiver through her. “Hello? Is anyone there?”
“Ben—Bennett, it’s Kerstin.”
“Hi. Is everything okay? You sound stressed.”
Why was she so damned nice and considerate? Kerstin heard voices in the background and immediately regretted the call. Maybe Bennett was with a woman, a date, or, more specifically, a lover? She still imagined Bennett as the free-spirited, noncommittal girl of their youth. She placed her hand over her pitching stomach. “I’m sorry. You’re busy.”
“Sunday brunch with the family. They’re like a sports team on steroids. I’ll go into another room.” A door closed, and Kerstin heard a loud exhale before Bennett came back on the line. “Okay, what news?”
“Nothing good. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but my coworker didn’t include enough details in the initial phase of the project.”
“In other words, you don’t have specs from the department.”
“Some, but certainly not enough. I’m so sorry, Bennett.”
“How did that happen? Aren’t you people sticklers for detail?”
“Yes, and I take full responsibility for the oversight. My job is the details, but I gave Gil the benefit of the doubt, unfortunately.” She chastised herself for revealing her distrust of her coworker and for not being more thorough in her examination of the plans initially. “Will you start a list of necessities for the station? We can compare it to the plans when I get back. Maybe Gilbert was working off a list in his head. According to his notes, he and Captain Warren were in daily contact.”
“I’ll work on the list this afternoon. And thank you, Kerstin. You probably hate taking over a project from someone who isn’t as organized and efficient as you, but don’t worry. We’ll make the station a showpiece.”
Bennett’s kindness and sincerity again put Kerstin completely at ease. How could Bennett know exactly how Kerstin felt? She’d anticipated that working with Gil’s drawings would be a nightmare, but she’d dropped the ball on the details.
“Kerstin!” Elizabeth’s voice echoed down the hallway as she headed toward the kitchen.
“Who was that?”
“Sorry, Bennett. I have to go. I’ll return to Greensboro tomorrow, and we’ll set up another meeting.”
“Kerstin, where are you, dear?”
“Good-bye, Bennett.” She ended the call and hurried toward her mother. “Is something wrong?”
“I heard voices. I thought we were alone. Did I hear you say Bennett?”
Kerstin didn’t want to discuss Bennett with her mother again, but the only way around the conversation was a lie. Their relationship had suffered enough. “Yes.”
Elizabeth put her good hand on her hip and leaned against the counter. “Not Bennett Carlyle from North Carolina?”
“Yes.”
“Can you say anything except yes?”
“Yes.” She grasped for a way to soften the blow of her news. In the past, her mother always preferred the truth. “My new project is in Greensboro, and I’m working with Bennett.”
Elizabeth’s face paled. “I see.”
“When she walked into the conference room, I was definitely shocked.”
“I’ll talk to Leonard and have someone else take over.”
“Please don’t, Mother. I appreciate the offer, but I’ll handle my career.”
“Even this situation? Have you forgotten what happened to us in that town?” Her mother’s face twisted in anguish, the pain still so cruel. If only Elizabeth could’ve chosen which memories the stroke erased.
She moved to her mother’s side and placed her arm gently around her waist. “Of course I haven’t forgotten, but you can’t blame Bennett Carlyle. She’s not the reason Dad left.”
“But the whole distasteful mess between the two of you expedited things.”
The whole distasteful mess was the kernel around which Kerstin had constructed her walls, the foundation of her determination to succeed, and the pain she vowed to never feel again, but she wasn’t the reason her parents’ marriage had failed. “You obviously disapprove, but I will see the project through, and not because of Bennett.” Was she being totally honest?
Elizabeth hugged her, and Kerstin relaxed into her mother’s arms. “I only want the best for you, my dear, not bouncing from person to person with no hope of a stable future.”
“And I love you for caring, Mother.” But she’d definitely tested her lesbian wings in college while also appeasing her mother by dating every eligible bachelor she shoved in Kerstin’s path, until she finally admitted her lesbianism. If she’d learned anything from her dating experiences, from Bennett, and her parents’ divorce, it was that love wasn’t worth the trouble. The only thing worth fighting for was her safety and place in the world, and she excelled at self-preservation.
Chapter Seven
On Monday morning, Bennett stood on the front stoop of Fairview Station and watched Kerstin gather her belongings from the yellow cab, her shapely butt sheathed in tight skinny jeans. She hoisted her heavy bag onto squared shoulders, her vivid-blue cashmere V-neck sweater shifting to reveal more cleavage. Bennett caught a full breath and admired the classy casual look she remembered from years past. Her heartbeat trebled as Kerstin walked toward her, her posture rigid, head down. Bennett wanted her to look up, to acknowledge her, to smile, to be happy to see her, but as Kerstin got closer, Bennett noticed dark circles under her eyes and tension around her mouth.
“Good morning,” Bennett said. “We do have such things as rental cars in our small town, if you’re interested.” She tried for a bit of humor.
“I’m not here often enough to justify the expense to the firm. Cabs are fine.” Her dour expression didn’t alter.
“Are you all right?”
“Of course.”
“Did everything go okay in New York this weekend?”
Kerstin stopped on the bottom step and looked up, her tired blue eyes telling much more about her mood than anything she was about to say. “I found the original plans, as I told you, and we have a lot of work to reconcile the police department’s needs with the design. We should get started.” Her boundaries clearly drawn again, she proceeded around the building.
Bennett wanted to ask about the woman she’d heard in the background when Kerstin called, the one who called her dear. What was their connection—family, friend, or lover? But Kerstin wasn’t about to reveal anything personal. Resigned to keep things professional, Bennett said, “Let’s start with the public entrance.” She unlocked the heavy glass door and held it open. “After you.” The space they entered was large and open as far as Bennett could see, no dividing walls or separation.
Kerstin unrolled her drawings and looked back and forth between the physical space and the design, while Bennett remained silent, determined to let Kerstin engage.
“Okay, this is good.”
“What’s good?”
Kerstin pointed to the drawing. “No unnecessary walls to tear down. Great start.”
Bennett suppressed the urge to point out the obvious incompetence of Kerstin’s coworker and Arthur Warren, and Kerstin’s naïveté about safety needs in a police substation. Instead, she produced the small scrap of paper containing her scribbled notes. Getting upset wouldn’t help Kerstin’s already sour mood or their working relationship. “But we definitely have issues to address in the space.”
“Such as?”
The blue of Kerstin’s
eyes deepened and became pinpoints directed at her as she turned her attention from the plans. Bennett’s skin heated and she licked her lips. “I…this area should serve multiple purposes, which will definitely require walls.”
“Explain.” Kerstin maintained eye contact, one hundred percent total focus.
“Here,” she motioned in front of them, “is the public entrance, conference slash training slash meeting room, and a couple of unsecured interview rooms off to the right. But over here,” she waved left, “should be the records and reception area. We’ll need a completely enclosed counter with enough space behind it for desks, computers, and file cabinets for our receptionists and crime-analysis folks.”
“Oh, I—”
“And a secure door should separate the entire front area from the officers’ space in the back.”
Kerstin’s gaze softened, and a smile threatened the corners of her mouth. “You said you didn’t know anything about architecture.” Her tone was almost teasing, and the mood between them became slightly more relaxed.
“I don’t, but I’ve walked through the building several times recently and imagined how it could be configured to accommodate my officers.”
Kerstin moved to the hallway. “Could we place the security door farther down?”
Bennett followed, excited by Kerstin’s apparent acceptance of her suggestions and willingness to negotiate. “I guess. Why?”
She motioned to the left. “If the public has access to the front of the building, these restrooms will have to be accessible.”
“Good point.” Bennett nodded toward what would become the records and reception area. “That means we’ll have to add a secure door to that area as well. We can’t have MOPs going to the restroom and wandering in on our staff.”
“MOPs?”
“Police speak for members of the public, but not to their faces, of course.”
Kerstin smiled for the first time today. Her smile always made everything in Bennett’s world seem right, but everything wasn’t right—not anymore. The sadness she’d sensed in Kerstin earlier still clung to her, weighing her down. Bennett wanted to know what was wrong but hesitated to break the work rhythm they’d established. Kerstin had become focused and visibly energized as they discussed the project in detail. Architecture was obviously her passion. “Shall we continue?”
“Yes, please.” Kerstin preceded her down the hall past the restrooms.
Bennett dropped her gaze to Kerstin’s ass, captured in tight denim and swaying hypnotically. She’d filled out beautifully since high school, and Bennett imagined how those full hips would feel in her hands and wrapped around her—Kerstin stopped suddenly, and Bennett almost plowed into her.
“And right here,” Kerstin formed a box in the air with her hands, “is the perfect spot for the secure door. Would you prefer a keypad entry or card swipe?” She turned toward Bennett, and they were almost toe to toe. “Focus, Carlyle.”
“Totally focused.”
“Not on my ass.”
Bennett fought the warmth sweeping up her neck. “How did you—?”
“Some things don’t change.”
The heat charging through her shifted from arousal to embarrassment. She wanted Kerstin to take her seriously, to forget the immature kid she’d been, but she was behaving exactly like a horny teenager. “But you look absolutely edible in those jeans.”
“Bennett, please.”
“Not what I meant to say, totally unprofessional, but it’s still true.”
“You’re still not good at hiding your feelings. One of the things I liked about you.”
“And you always kept me guessing, Kerstin Anthony.” Bennett inhaled the citrusy fragrance of Kerstin’s perfume and a mixture of coffee and mint on her breath. Which flavor would dominate if she sucked Kerstin’s tongue into her mouth? She licked her lips and swayed forward but stopped seconds before Kerstin stepped back.
“Let’s keep going,” Kerstin said.
Her voice sounded low and raspy, and her pupils dilated. Their closeness had affected her as well, but she didn’t want to acknowledge that fact. “Yes, let’s.”
“Hey, Cap.” A couple of officers headed toward them in the hallway.
Kerstin lightly touched Bennett’s forearm but quickly released, chastising herself for the gesture. “They shouldn’t be in here during construction, liability issues.” And Bennett’s proximity was a control issue.
“I’ll take care of it.” Bennett smiled at Kerstin before turning toward the officers. “Hey, guys. What’s up?”
One of them answered, “We wanted to check out our new digs.”
Bennett guided the two officers back toward the front of the building, chatting and laughing like old friends instead of subordinates. She moved farther away, and Kerstin breathed easier as the air around her cooled. Bennett had been staring, openly admiring her, and their heat pulled them closer and mingled as if they belonged together. Kerstin should’ve been annoyed, immediately stopped the flirtation, but she enjoyed the attention. The admission unsettled her, but her attraction to Bennett was simply chemistry. What warm-blooded lesbian with a pulse wouldn’t be flattered? But Bennett’s concern about her sour mood was perceptive, something Kerstin hadn’t expected.
Her preoccupation with Bennett was a problem for the project and her career. When she added attraction to their tentative truce, the mixture created a recipe for disaster. She conceded her discomfort wasn’t entirely about the past. Forgetting certain things didn’t erase the memory of what she’d left behind or prevent them from resurfacing. One thing was certain: she needed to discourage future one-on-one, potentially flirty sessions with Bennett.
She unrolled the plans and scanned the rest of the details. She had some idea about the officers’ needs in the public area of the substation now and could bring the contractors and builders back. She’d get Bennett’s priority list and conduct another walk-through on her own to nail down other modifications to the design. Maybe she could still keep the project on track and meet the deadline.
“Ready to continue?”
Kerstin jerked. She’d been so focused she hadn’t heard Bennett walk up behind her. “Not necessary. I have enough to start.”
“Don’t you even want to see my list?” Bennett offered a small scrap of paper with writing on both sides.
“That’s your brief?” She tried not to smile but failed. “Looks like a mangled grocery list.” Bennett’s laugh filled the narrow hallway, and Kerstin fought an urge to poke the dimples on either side of her mouth and kiss her until she begged for air.
“Rush job, but I’ll make it pretty for you.”
“A typewritten page I can add to the draft would suffice.” She pressed her back to the wall and inched past Bennett on her way to the exit. “Why don’t I schedule a meeting with the full committee day after tomorrow to fill them in?”
“Don’t you think we should go over the rest of this first, finish the walk-through?”
“We’ll be fine.” She hoped she was right as she hurried through the door and toward the parking lot, where she abruptly stopped. She didn’t have a car.
“Need a ride? The thing about taxis, you actually have to call them before they show up.”
“Very funny. I have the company on speed dial, and they’re usually very prompt.” She hit the button and placed her request, silently hoping Bennett would keep her distance. She hung up, and Bennett stood shifting from foot to foot, her hands stuffed in her pockets. “What’s on your mind, Carlyle?”
“I’m supposed to ask if you’d like to come over for brunch on Sunday, with the family.”
“You’re supposed to?”
“I mean I want you to come, but G-ma and Mama told me to ask, and I’m not brave enough to disobey either of them.”
She didn’t answer immediately, enjoying the slight blush on Bennett’s cheeks.
“Would you? Come?”
Kerstin’s insides quivered as she read another meaning into the
innocent question. “I…I’m sorry. I’ll be back in New York this weekend.”
The expectant expression vanished from Bennett’s face, replaced by a heavy sigh. “Will you go back every weekend?”
Kerstin nodded.
“Because of the woman I heard in the background when you called?”
The question surprised her. Bennett had heard her mother call out but didn’t know their connection. Was she searching for personal information or being kind? “Yes.”
“I see.” Her answer was almost inaudible, and Kerstin started to clarify, but the cab’s arrival interrupted her. “I’ll text you about the next meeting. Can we use your conference room?”
“Of course,” Bennett replied without looking up again.
As the taxi pulled away, Kerstin regretted leaving Bennett with such a wrong assumption, but it was probably best. If she thought Kerstin was unavailable, both their jobs would be much easier. And right now, Kerstin could use a bit of easy in her life.
Chapter Eight
“Police. Open up,” Jazz called from the front of the cottage. A loud banging on the door followed the announcement.
“Go away.” Bennett shoved her head under a pillow and pulled the covers over the top.
“No can do. If you’re not alone, say so now because I’m coming in.”
“Jazz, if you like me even a little, go away.”
“I love you, sis. That’s why I’m here.” The door opened, and heavy footsteps sounded through the small space to Bennett’s bedroom door. “Are you decent?”
“I’m afraid so.” She tugged on a threadbare T-shirt and shorts, her version of pajamas, and sat up as Jazz plopped down on the side of the bed. “To what do I owe the displeasure of your company so early?”