God, what if Livie invited him here? Toni didn’t want him to know before she was ready. She jumped up, grabbing three photos off the shelf of Livie’s entertainment center. One was of her and Livie when they were high school, one more recent, and another of the whole family before Dad died. Hopefully Livie wouldn’t notice they were missing. And if she did, Toni could say she hated the way she looked in them. Toni always had an excuse for everything. And Livie always believed her.
She whirled around at a noise drifting down from Livie’s bedroom. A cry. Or something. She went to the edge of the hallway, stood silent a moment, listening. Another cry, louder this time. Livie was having one of her nightmares.
Good. Toni padded back to the sofa and finished her wine, letting her sister dream the dreams of the damned.
* * * * *
Livie simply needed to get out. Or go completely insane.
She’d had a nightmare Friday night. Saturday morning she’d woken with a massive headache after too much wine. Then there’d been Toni’s incessant moaning and crying all day long and into the evening. Toni could be so needy. Of course there was nothing Livie could do. The final straw had been last night’s bad dreams.
This morning, Toni was afraid of being alone and wanted to go shopping with her. No way. Julia and Toni absolutely hated each other. Livie left feeling halfway between guilty and relieved. As much as she wanted to help her sister, she just couldn’t take one more day of Toni and all those intimate sexual details. God, please, no more.
“Here, have more tea. I’ll do your tea leaves afterward.” Julia poured the Chinese tea into Livie’s cup, the leaves swirling then settling to the bottom along with the rest. This was her third, and Livie felt like she might float away, but she sipped obediently.
Since they were between the lunch rush and the dinner hour, the restaurant was only half full. Crockery chinked as the tables were cleared, and the cooks could be heard hollering at each other from the kitchen. The air was redolent with Chinese spices and jasmine tea.
They’d shopped Hillsdale Mall until Livie’s feet were aching. With only one brief stop in the food court for coffee and a croissant, she was starving by the time they’d headed down to Third Street in San Mateo to the best, according to Julia, hole-in-the-wall Chinese place on the Peninsula. The food was definitely good. Their trunks were packed with bags, at least Julia’s was. Livie had found nothing more exciting than a couple of blouses for work.
Julia twirled chow mien around her fork. “So I’ve changed my mind about your guy.”
Your guy. Livie hadn’t told Julia about Friday night. They were best friends and Julia told her everything, but Livie was more private. There was something about Bern that made her want to keep him to herself for a little while. Julia would have lots of questions and several opinions, and Livie wasn’t ready to think it through on someone else’s terms. So she’d said only that she was sticking to the plan of calling him on Monday.
Julia wasn’t going to leave that alone.
“And what have you changed your mind to?” Livie asked, keeping her voice nonchalant. She’d ordered Szechuan chicken, and her lips were on fire. She wondered if that was a metaphor for something. She gulped her tea, almost emptying the cup.
“You should call him now.”
Livie gasped. “With you here?”
“Exactly. Then I can coach you.”
“Thanks.” She paused. “But no thanks.”
“Killjoy.” Julia reached for Livie’s tea cup. “If you won’t call him, then let’s read your tea leaves, and see what they say about him.” She was already done eating while Livie was still working on the chicken.
Tipping the cup to the side, Julie studied the contents. Almost all the liquid was gone. “Swirl them around a bit, then pour off the remaining tea and let them settle.”
Livie swirled and poured the small amount of tea onto the saucer. Leaves clung to the sides and sat at the bottom. Julia had purchased tea cups in Chinatown. The extent of her knowledge was limited to the instruction booklet that came with the set. But she had fun, and Livie didn’t mind indulging her. Usually the predictions were about a tall, dark stranger who would come her way.
Come to think of it, he actually had.
Julia examined Livie’s leaves. “Hmm.” She frowned dramatically. “See this?” She tipped the cup toward Livie, who didn’t see anything except a bunch of wet tea.
“What exactly am I supposed to be seeing?” she asked.
Julia had explained how it worked the first time she’d done a reading for Livie. The tea leaves settled into shapes, and the shapes represented different things in your life. There was also something about the placement, whether the symbols were on the bottom, sides, or near the top, but Julia hadn’t figured out how that part worked, so she ignored it.
“This little pattern right here”—Julia pointed to a clump partway up the side of the cup—“see how it looks like a mountain?”
No. It was just a clump. “Of course.”
“Well, the mountain symbolizes a journey of hindrance. Something’s going to be standing in your way to getting what you want.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Maybe there’s a reason he hasn’t called you back.”
It was more likely that the hindrance was Livie herself. “I’m sure there’s a reason,” she agreed.
“But see this leaf over here?”
“Sure.” It was another clump, but Livie didn’t argue.
“The leaf shape symbolizes a new life.”
“Ahh.” Livie tried to sound enthused.
“So it’s saying you’re going to take a difficult road, but you should forge ahead because there’s a new life waiting for you.”
“Perfect. I’ll call him tomorrow and get started on my journey right away.”
“Oh, and look at this. Beware of the snake, they indicate falsehood or enmity.”
The little squiggle of leaves might be the shape of a snake. The sight sent a little chill through her. “You know, I’ve been dreaming about snakes.” She hadn’t told Julia about the recent spate of nightmares. It had seemed so...weak. But now it was written in the tea leaves, as ridiculous as that sounded.
“What are they about?”
Livie decided to omit anything about Toni. “Just a snake biting me. Or slithering on me.” She swallowed hard. “I’ve been waking up sweaty and sometimes I think I even scream.” She had a vague recollection of doing so last night.
“How long has this been going on?” Julia stared at her, her gaze searching Livie’s face as if she’d somehow see the ravages of the nightmares in her features.
All her life. “A few weeks.”
Julia almost looked offended, a slight pout to her lips. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’ve been trying not to think about it.”
“The snake is a very powerful image,” Julia said. “There are so many meanings, I don’t even know where to begin.”
Livie shrugged. “Let’s leave it at indicating falsehood or enmity. Now go on.”
“Ooh, and there’s a cat.” Julia pointed, but Livie still couldn’t see it. “A cat symbolizes a deceitful friend or relative.” Julia made a face. “And since we know I’m not deceitful, that must mean Toni.”
Oh yeah, there had definitely been a good reason not to mention Toni’s part in the dreams. Julia and her sister had taken an instant dislike to each other. “I should have known you’d say that,” Livie said wryly.
Julia shot her a narrow-eyed look. “Your sister is the queen of manipulators. Why can’t you see that?”
“I know Toni has issues. But she’s my sister, and it’s my job to take care of her.”
Julia snorted. “It’s not your job. She’s thirty-three years old, and she needs to start taking care of herself.”
It was an old argument, and she was tired of it. “Let’s move on. What else do you see in there?”
Turning the cup round and round, Julia perused the sides, made a couple of dramatic fac
es, then set it down again. “A dagger,” she said ominously.
“Oh God, don’t tell me someone’s going to stab me.”
“It doesn’t mean a literal stabbing. It indicates danger. And it’s right next to a box.”
“What does the box mean?”
Julia widened her eyes. Then finally she laughed, as if she couldn’t keep it in. “I have absolutely no idea. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t on the list of symbols.”
“Maybe it’s an elevator. That’s a small box. And that’s where I met him. In the elevator. So it’s telling me that it’s dangerous to get into elevators, especially with him. In fact, I should probably stay away from this guy altogether because he sounds like way too much work, a long, hard journey fraught with danger, enmity, and falsehood.” She grabbed the cup and poured more tea, sending the leaves swirling.
Julia smirked. “Since when have you been afraid of hard work?”
“When it’s my career, fine, but not with a man. If they’re hard work, they aren’t worth it.” Especially when she had to deal with Toni’s jealousy as well. Toni didn’t like sharing Livie’s time. Which was why she’d rarely dated in the last five years, and when she did have a date, she certainly didn’t tell her sister about it.
“You’re so cynical.” Julia opened the small dessert menu that had been on the side of the table. “Let’s have the fried bananas for dessert.”
Why not?
They could laugh about the tea leaves. It was just harmless fun. Yet it made her think. Toni was huge mountain to climb if Livie wanted a relationship with Burn. Was he worth it?
Chapter Nine
Livie was half afraid Toni would still be there when she returned from the shopping expedition, but the condo was blessedly empty. It was Sunday, she had work tomorrow, and she couldn’t take another night with Toni.
But, dutiful sister that she was—enabler, Julia would say—she hit Toni’s speed dial. The phone rang and rang, Livie’s chest tightening with every second that ticked by. She saw Toni lying in the bathroom in a pool of blood. She couldn’t be that upset about Reese. Could she?
Then Toni was snapping at her across the airwaves. “What?”
“Nothing. I was just—”
“Checking up on me,” Toni cut her off.
Yes. “I wanted to see how you were feeling.”
“I’m fine, and I decided not to stay at your place because you were making me all maudlin by forcing me to talk about him. I can’t take anymore, Liv, so stop.”
She hadn’t forced a thing out of Toni. She’d simply listened. And yes, she knew Julia was right. Toni often twisted things to make it look like Livie was at fault. It was Livie’s guilt that made her keep on taking it. If that was codependency, well, that’s what they were.
“Fine,” she said calmly. “I’m glad you don’t need my help, but you’re always free to call if you want.”
“I won’t be bothering you again tonight.”
Livie resisted the urge to tell Toni that she wasn’t bothered, but that’s what her sister wanted, a little groveling. She wouldn’t get it now. “Give me a call tomorrow then.”
“Sure.” Then there was simply dead air.
She laid the phone next to her purse, staring at the leather bag. She hadn’t had a moment to herself this weekend to even think about calling Burn. If she wanted to see him, she couldn’t tell Toni, especially not now that Toni had been dumped.
Besides, he was a complication. She was a career woman. She didn’t need a relationship interfering with her goals. And he was a man that wouldn’t go half measure with anything. He was intense. If she had to work late and couldn’t see him, he’d probably get all pissy.
Yet even with all those thoughts running through her mind, she opened her bag and pulled out his card. Toni was out of her hair. She wouldn’t call for a day or two, punishment for Livie’s failure to invite her along on the shopping trip. So Livie was safe for tonight. She laid his card on the hall table. The lettering was neat and precise, not flowery, a small company logo, his name, work number, cell number. Bernard R. Daniels. It wasn’t Burn, but Bern, short for Bernard. She had to laugh at herself for the mistake. Though Bernard R. Daniels had certainly set her on fire.
Calling him wasn’t a commitment for the rest of her life. Even if she had sex with him, it wasn’t a relationship. Every girl needed a little TLC once in a while. She could make it clear that’s all she wanted.
Even as she punched in his cell number, she heard a little voice laughing inside, whispering that all her thoughts were just excuses, because, really, honestly, wasn’t she compelled to call him?
Livie didn’t listen because suddenly he was there.
“It’s you, isn’t it,” he said softly.
“Yes.” She knew what he meant, an unfamiliar number, no name associated with it, but it had to be her.
“I’m glad you called. Did you have a good weekend?”
So, he was making small talk. Maybe he sensed her nervousness. “Actually, I’ve just returned from a long, hard day of shopping.”
He gave a soft chuckle. “Perhaps you can model your new clothes for me.”
She could have said that she hadn’t purchased anything worth modeling, but he’d given her the perfect excuse. Seeing him was why she’d called after all. “How about tonight? You could come over for a glass of wine.” She didn’t invite him for dinner, almost as if this were just a business meeting. Or a job interview. “We can talk.”
“Get to know each other,” he continued her thought. “You like white wine.”
“I like white.” Of course, it was fifty-fifty odds that he’d choose correctly.
“Maybe you’d feel more comfortable if you came here, to my place,” he added. So that he wouldn’t know where she lived, she presumed. He was offering her safety. “Or out somewhere.”
“No.” Livie didn’t want safety. She wasn’t afraid of him. From some unknown source deep inside, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. Of course, that famed security expert would say she was crazy, but he’d also said people should to listen to their gut. She was listening to it now. “I’m fine with you coming here.” She was ready to jump off the high dive.
“If you’re sure,” he insisted.
“I’m sure.” She recited her address. “Give me a couple of hours, okay?”
“Seven o’clock?”
“Great.”
“I’ll bring the wine.”
“Thank you.” Then she felt tongue-tied and ridiculous. She’d invited him over yet she didn’t even know what to say to him. “I’ll see you soon then.” She ended the call.
Shivers of anticipation raised the fine hairs on her arms. She hadn’t been on a date in months. Most of her so-called relationships were little more than a few dates. Nothing that would interfere with her career. Nothing Toni would ever find out about.
Livie moved suddenly, coming to life, so many things to do. In the bathroom, she ran the tub water a few moments until it was hot, then set the plug. From beneath the counter, she retrieved a canister of lavender bath salts and poured them into the water. Back in the bedroom, she pulled the curtains, toed off her shoes, and stripped off her jeans.
The last thing she did before climbing into the steaming bath was to reach beneath the counter and retrieve the small box of condoms she kept hidden at the back. She transferred it to the bedside drawer.
If she was going to make this relationship about sex alone, then she needed to set the ground rules right away. Sex. That’s all it was. Lust at first sight. Nothing more.
Once again, she heard that little voice inside laughing away at her.
* * * * *
He didn’t usually think much about what to wear on a date, but Bern had actually given it some consideration. In the end, he chose black jeans and a dark blue button-down. Clothing had never really mattered to him. He wore a decent suit, white shirt, and colored tie to work, something that spoke of dependability. At a job site, he wore jeans and T-shirts th
at could get dusty or dirty.
He didn’t know what to wear to impress Livie. He’d never wanted to impress a woman before. As for the wine, he wasn’t a snob, but he brought his favorite Cakebread chardonnay.
He also wasn’t one to question what a woman meant by her actions. He took her words at face value. But he wondered now. What did it mean that Livie had invited him to her home despite the alternatives he’d offered her?
The apartment complex was decent, flowering shrubs around the entryway, neat carports, and pavement that hadn’t been eroded by potholes. There were no grounds to speak of, no pool that he could see, but he didn’t expect that Livie was the kind of woman who spent a lot of time sunning herself. The lobby door had been locked, and he’d buzzed her apartment. She was waiting for him with the door open.
Simply the sight of her set his heart racing. She smelled subtly of lavender and wore a short, flirty skirt with sandals, her legs bare. Summery. Sweet. Hot. Her pink shirt was tight across her breasts. A matching pale pink lipstick glistened on her lips as she smiled.
He’d planned to make witty, urbane small talk. She stole every thought from his head.
“I promised wine.” He held out the bottle.
She took it, her fingers brushing his with an electric zing. “Come in. I’ll open it.”
“I like your apartment,” he said before she ran off.
“It’s not an apartment, it’s a condo,” she clarified, as if her being a homeowner was important to him.
He didn’t want to assess or judge, but he couldn’t help drinking in every detail. The small front entry was tiled in white, a view of a slice of the kitchen to the left—black granite counters, black and white linoleum, stainless steel appliances—and off to the right lay the living room and a small dining nook. The carpet was a plush pale blue, the sofa, arm chair and ottoman a slightly darker shade that complemented the wall-to-wall. There was an abundance of flowered pillows. He wondered if she’d run around cleaning up for his visit, but he figured that Livie never let things get messy.
Twisted By Love, Reincarnation Tales, Book 1 Page 7