“Serious as running out of bacon in the Leigh household on a Sunday morning,” Sheila responded, holding her left hand up in testimony. They came from a long line of bacon connoisseurs and knew firsthand the repercussions the absence of the tender meat in their childhood home had carried.
“Damn! That’s messed up,” he said, laughing his ass off.
“Tell me about it. Thank God my landlord was there to save me.”
“Your first real panic attack, huh? I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same.” He chuckled.
“Oh, it was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. Everybody and his brother within range started closing in on me. For a minute there I felt like that chick in that Michael Jackson video. You know… the one with the zombies,” she stated, mimicking the dance moves.
Hearty laughter rent from both of them.
“But the people were all only trying to be helpful. Luca later explained that the getup is used to keep their little woolly coats from getting dirty.”
Cocking his head to the side ever so slightly, Calvin raised one inquisitive eyebrow. “So… armed with this newfound information, you hustled on back there to pet them again and apologize for your odd behavior?”
“Fuck no! Are you crazy?” Sheila could see the tears rolling down her brother’s cheeks as she joined in on his belly laugh.
“Girl, you are insane. What am I gonna to do with you?” he chuckled, wiping his eyes.
“You could call your parents and tell them I’m a grown woman, more than capable of making my own decisions,” she answered, all traces of humor gone.
“Hmmm. They still hounding you about Ahmed, huh? Trying to talk you into going back to Atlanta?”
“Yeah. The jerk’s still got them fooled into believing his shit don’t stink. It didn’t help that he called them when I left, once again winning them over with his chocolate–covered bullshit. I’m too ashamed to tell them what really happened, not to mention they’re mad as hell that I put Grandma’s house up for sale. But, hey, she did leave it to me.”
“You don’t have to tell me, I know. Just remember I’ll always be on your side, Shi. Keep in mind that Grandmamma and Granddaddy also left you plenty of money to live off of if you should decide that place is too boring for you. Maybe you should move to California with Mom and Dad.” A clever grin crossed his handsome face.
Sheila rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. Then I’d never be grown in their eyes. But thanks for always sticking up for me, Cal,” she said, struggling to keep the emotion she felt from her brother’s sentiment out of her voice. “As far as the money goes, I don’t touch it for a reason.”
“Now you’re being foolish. There’s no need to be working yourself to death knowing you could be living a life of luxury, even without Momma and Daddy’s help. Your inheritance could last you more than a lifetime if you don’t go hog wild with it. Life is short. You know what I’m saying?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she muttered, peevish from hearing this speech again. “So why are you putting yourself in harm’s way every day when you too could be living the good life?”
“It’s different for me. I’d go stir crazy without my job. You, however, have your art to focus on.”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Seriously, Shi. You should get yourself a nice place, somewhere warm, and start selling your paintings, for real. You’re more than talented enough.”
“Is that your commanding officer calling?” she asked, trying to get him to change the subject. She wasn’t ready to share with her brother that she’d sold three paintings at the Portland Art Festival this past summer because it would only bring more pressure. Painting was the one thing she really wanted to do. Her confidence level just wasn’t quite there yet.
“All right, all right, I got your number, girl. Keep in mind that when I get back to the States, Ahmed is due a thorough ass kicking. That is… unless your landlord gets to him first.”
“What?” she gasped. “What’s Luca got to do with Ahmed?”
“I heard the way you said landlord, like the mere thought of him makes your drawers all wet,” he teased.
“Man! Get off my computer!” she ordered, laughing.
“Sheila and Luca sitting in a tree…”
“Bye!” she cut in sharply, feigning anger.
“F–u–c…”
“I said bye, boy!” His laughter was the last thing she heard before disconnecting.
Shaking her head in amusement from her brother’s joshing, Sheila sat on her couch trying to decide what to do next. Last night she’d had a good shift with Damon. They had joked around good–naturedly and listened to jazz music while putting masks together. That particular part of the job Sheila hated with a passion. But it had been fast work with the two of them tackling it together. Like April, Damon was responsible enough to play music at a normal volume and had no problem handling his duties.
Not having to work tonight, Sheila had rolled out of bed at about one in the afternoon with pep in her step. She had showered and was catching up on some housework while wailing mercilessly to Rufus and Chaka Khan’s “Do You Love What You Feel”, before Calvin so rudely interrupted her. Unable to think of anything better to do, she decided to continue cleaning.
“He’s right, I do live one boring ass life,” she said with a chuckle, finding hilarity in light of her present circumstances.
Truth of the matter, she was fine with her current lifestyle. Working nights sucked, but she felt safer at the lab than being home alone. In Atlanta, her family had strived relentlessly to transform her into the quintessential southern–belle. She’d been forced into the lifestyle of a socialite, living the life of her momma and grandmamma before her. She didn’t miss the stress associated with putting on airs for the various parties, functions, and balls she had to attend, especially during the holidays.
That’s what being a Leigh, working in management at the insurance company, and acting as Ahmed’s eye candy had entailed. That lifestyle had been tiring and had often left her feeling empty and incomplete. Now, Sheila truly felt like a part of something and loved improving the quality of life for others, even though it meant sacrificing the quality of her own. No ball gowns necessary.
She smirked at the fact that her parents would be appalled if they found out she’d dodged them last Thanksgiving to watch the game at Tina’s, dressed in well–worn jeans and a Giants T–shirt. And the language she’d picked up while living in New York wouldn’t go over well with them either. Calvin had choked and stuttered the first time he heard foul language come out of her mouth, and she’d learned quickly to squelch it around Ahmed, who appraised her with stern disapproval whenever a cuss word unwittingly slid past her lips.
But then there was Luca. The rant of foul words seemed to have shocked the hell out of him the first time they had met, but Sheila was starting to think… no… knew it turned him on. Maybe that’s why she liked him so much. For whatever reason, giving into the desire to cuss had come to equate to freedom. Luca made her feel free.
***
As the afternoon transitioned to evening, a knock came at Sheila’s front door. Drying her hands on a dishrag, she padded the short distance from the kitchen to answer it and was slightly surprised to find her neighbor, Janie, standing on her porch.
“Well hello, neighbor. Wasn’t sure you’d be awake, but I figured I’d try my luck anyway. I happen to know that some people bounce back from working nights much more easily than others, but one can never be sure of such things, ya know. But I really do hope I didn’t wake you,” Janie rattled on in her habitual incessant chatter, finally finishing with her usual toothy smile.
“Hi, Janie,” Sheila said with a giggle, returning the greeting with a smile of her own. The older, salt–and–pepper–haired woman always felt like home to Sheila. Perhaps it was the buns on either side of her head, reminiscent of the Princess Leia hairstyle or her carefree demeanor. Even in the summer, she always wore a flannel shirt with jeans over her ultra�
��thin body. Today Janie had traded in her mocs for those famous L.L. Bean boots that everyone around here seemed to like. “Come on in, it’s freezing out there,” she added, stepping aside to grant her impromptu visitor entry.
“Oh, honey, no. I’m fine. Just cooked up too many pumpkin pies and thought you’d be nice enough to take one off my hands.” Janie gestured toward her with a covered dish in hand.
Sheila was touched. “Why, thank you,” she said with sincerity. Stepping forward to receive the gift, the cold wood of the porch floor beneath her bare feet instantly reminded her of the impending season. “Now, if I only had someone to help me eat it. I don’t think I need any more winter padding.”
The two women giggled.
“I wouldn’t mind helping you with that.”
Sheila’s heart sped up at the sound of the familiar deep voice. Both women turned their attention to the single porch step Luca was now climbing. As always, he looked fine as hell in his dark blue jeans, red flannel shirt, and Dingo Harness work boots. He leaned against the porch railing, the bangs hanging to either side of his forehead paying homage to the sexy bad boy Sheila had come to know.
Janie’s face lit up. “Well hello, dear. I considered bringing you a pie too, but you never seem to be home when I drop by. Not that I drop by often, ya see, but I do drop by.”
Sheila watched in amusement as the older woman’s hands went up to smooth already tidy hair and almost died when Janie’s seemingly always–rosy cheeks began to fill with more color. Sheila could identify with the woman’s reaction. Despite the cold weather, Luca was smoking hot, his mere presence bringing warmth to the outdoor space.
“Well, between the horses and my job…” Luca trailed off with a casual shrug of his broad shoulders. Although he appeared the same, something was off about him. Sheila couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
“Hi. Umm… I–I thought you’d taken care of the door already?” Sheila asked him, suddenly a little nervous about his visit. He usually didn’t stop by without a reason, even though they were now supposedly “friends”.
Friends. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
“Oh, yeah. I took care of that while you were sleeping. Actually, I dropped by to see if you wanted to share this bottle of wine my pop sent me for my birthday,” he stated, stepping toward her, holding the bottle up for inspection.
“When’s your birthday?” Janie inquired.
Half listening, Sheila thoroughly inspected the label on the wine bottle. She raised her eyebrows, thoroughly impressed with the quality of the vintage in his hands.
“Today,” Luca confessed.
Sheila’s head shot up. “Today! Luca, you could’ve told me sooner.” She tried to hide her disappointment. “I would’ve done something special for you. Birthdays are important.”
That mischievous smile crossed his face, making that solo dimple appear. “You are gonna do something special for me. You’re going to help me drink this wine.”
Sheila felt herself flush from the sultriness of his eyes. Luca’d been so patient with her, not pushing for a repeat performance of the pond affair. But the way he was looking at her implied the wait was over. They hadn’t really discussed what they were to one another, and that bothered her. Nevertheless, the crazy effect he had on her was too overwhelming, and she knew holding out was no longer an option. Shockingly, she came to realize she no longer wanted to.
“Hmm hmm.” Janie cleared her throat, reminding Sheila they weren’t alone. “I guess that’s my cue to get ghost,” she stated, smoothing her hair down again. Her wild gray eyes darted everywhere but at Sheila and Luca.
Sheila and Luca both laughed.
“Well, thanks again for the pie… the apples… blueberries… oh yeah, and the syrup,” Sheila stated warmly.
“No problem, dear. Anytime.”
The two women hugged. With her homey smile in place, Janie gave her signature nervous wave to Luca and headed toward her rusted turquoise Chevy pickup. Scant snowflakes fell, highlighted by headlights after Janie started the truck. As they waited for her to reverse the vehicle, Sheila silently prayed her kind neighbor would make the two miles home without incident. Roads in Maine were known to get tricky from the first flakes of snow. She watched and waved one last time as Janie turned the vehicle around and headed down the long, unpaved driveway.
“Birthday, huh? I would’ve cooked you up some ham hocks or something,” Sheila teased as she turned and entered the house. Luca followed closely as she made her way to the kitchen and placed the pie on the counter.
“Sorry. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to turning forty–seven. It’s just a tad too close to fifty for my taste. And I don’t eat pork.”
A loud gasp escaped Sheila. She spun on him where he stood in the doorway. “You don’t eat pork! You’re kidding, right?” She’d never met anyone who didn’t like pork. And to think she’d let this man kiss her.
That crooked smile came to his lips. He shrugged before nonchalantly crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe, eyes shimmering with amusement. “I have my reasons.”
Shaking her head, Sheila strolled toward him with her hands on her hips. “I guess since it’s your birthday I’ll forgive such sacrilege in my home,” she said jokingly, crossing her own arms once she reached him. She softened her tone. “Happy birthday, neighbor.”
Encompassing him in a friendly hug, she went on tiptoe to place a chaste kiss on his cheek, seeing how he was significantly taller with his boots on and her without footwear. Luca deepened the embrace, catching her off guard. Her eyes started to bug when he held her much longer than a hug between friends should last. Warmth seeped through her sweater as he rubbed her back with his big hands. The combination of his slight shift in behavior and the long embrace put Sheila on edge. Instead of soothing her like his touch usually did, a sense of foreboding fell over her. Placing a hand on his chest led him to finally relinquish his grasp.
“What is it?” Sheila searched those deep blue orbs of his for a connection to the odd feelings she was getting.
“Nothing,” he whispered, skimming the back of his fingers across her cheek.
That prickly feeling he always conjured shot through her, evoking an uncontrollable shiver. However, it felt different in some strange way. Luca continued to stare at her, the content of his darkened gaze suggesting he’d devour her where she stood. Instead, he released her and leaned against the doorway, re–crossing his arms. The evanescent feeling was gone.
With a quick shake of her head, Sheila snapped out of the trance he’d induced and moved toward the upper cupboard by the sink to retrieve two red wine glasses. Suddenly, the hairs at the nape of her neck began to prickle. Without looking over her shoulder, she realized Luca was standing directly behind her, so close she could feel his vibes seeping through the multiple layers of clothing between them. Even though he wore hard–heeled boots she hadn’t heard his advancement. That odd feeling intensified, causing every muscle in her body to tense when his hands came within an inch of either side of her waist to grab the wine glasses from her.
“Where’s the bottle opener?” His deep voice was like silk to her ears as the question rolled off his tongue. She’d been close to him before when he spoke, but he’d never sounded so sensual.
Without warning, her brother’s little chant popped into her head. Sheila and Luca sitting in a tree, F–u… “It’s–it’s over there… next to the wine rack,” she stuttered, shutting her eyes tightly and pointing to the opener while desperately trying to block Calvin’s words from her brain. Bonehead brother of mine!
Muscles she didn’t know existed loosened when Luca moved from behind her. At that moment, she was grateful the electric wine bottle opener was set up on the opposite side of the sink. The kitchen was small, but any distance was much–needed distance between them. Shaking off his effect, she went to the tiny white fridge and retrieved a fine brie before returning to the counter to cut the creamy cheese into thick slices.
“I kinda figured you wouldn’t be hanging at the pond this evening since it’s already dark out and it’s starting to snow,” Luca mentioned nonchalantly while expertly working to open the bottle of wine and pour it into the glasses. His voice wasn’t as erotic with space between them, allowing Sheila the control she required to respond appropriately.
“Yeah, the winter weather is a little inconvenient for me. I was actually about to start a fire and pop in a—” She turned just as he came up behind her again. They collided, causing some of the red wine to splash on her light pink cashmere sweater. “Movie,” she finished, tugging at the soiled sweater. “Oh no!” she cried.
“Jeez, I’m so sorry.” Quickly placing the wine glasses on the counter, Luca retrieved a dishtowel.
“No! It’s okay,” she said, quickly shooting her hands out to block him. “Just give me a minute. Don’t feel bad. It’s nothing a little club soda won’t take care of.” Holding the offending spot away from her body to avoid further dispersion, Sheila cast him her brightest smile in an attempt to wipe the guilt off his handsome face. With smile in place, she quickly made her way down the short hall to her bathroom, leaving Luca in the kitchen… alone.
Chapter 10
It worked. Now Luca had the opportunity to put his plan into action. With stealth, he moved to the kitchen entryway and looked down the hall to make sure the bathroom door was closed. After visually confirming it was, he returned to the wine glasses, re–filling each with the expensive vintage wine retrieved from his special stash. He liked Sheila… a lot. This only served to make the task before him that much more difficult.
However, he had a job to do and allowing his feelings to get in the way could be detrimental for both of them. If she was supposed to be poisoned by his hand the least he could do was make it via one of the finest wines available.
Cautiously, he removed the small vial of poison from the back pocket of his jeans and held it with a steady hand over one of the wine glasses. The concoction in the vial was more than appropriate for this situation because he was immune to it and could drink along with the victim without raising suspicion. Its effects mimicked the flu, making it virtually impossible to detect this time of year. This only being Sheila’s second winter in New England, it would make her more susceptible to the influenza virus, even if she got a flu shot.
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