Camilla Van Der Haas, 27, leaving Butter with her new flame, Eric John Markham, 39. Miss Van Der Hass is the daughter of billionaire property magnate, Regis Van Der Haas and Lavinia Fortuna. Mr Markham is the head of MarkoPharm, the pharmaceutical giant.
There was a photograph of Camilla in a stunning, red silk slip dress, her long tawny hair tumbling down her back, her wide smile open and knowing. Her escort was blandly handsome in a forgettable way but it was Camilla Lila couldn’t take her eyes off. That knowing look. I could have any man I wanted and I know it, it seemed to say. Especially your man, Lila…who do you think you are, you jumped up gold-digger from nowhere?
Lila had made a face at the photograph and threw the magazine down. Fucking bitch. And why had Lila let Richard off so easily? He fucking cheated on me, she told herself.
She was in the bar, cleaning up. It was late and the bar was almost empty of patrons. Saturday night…late.
‘I’ve been watching you clean the same spot for the last ten minutes, with a face that says ‘Imma gonna cut ya bitch’.’
Lila looked up and smiled. ‘Hey, you, I didn’t even see you. When did you get here?’
Riley Kinsayle smiled at her. ‘Like I said, ten minutes.’
Lila chuckled. ‘Man, I’m sorry, what can I get you?’
Riley looked around the otherwise empty bar. ‘You sure? I mean it looks like you’re ready to shut up shop for the night.’
Lila hesitated then went to the door, closing it and sliding the bolt across. ‘Lock-in for two?’
Riley grinned delightedly. ‘Hey, I’m always up for that.’
Lila grabbed a couple of beers and they snagged a table in the middle of the room. Tapping the neck of his bottle to Lila’s, Riley took a swig. ‘So, why the face?’
Lila shrugged. ‘Nothing. Not much…god…it’s just one of Richard’s exes.’
‘Been bothering you?’
Lila gazed at him for a long moment. ‘Riley, if I tell you something…will you promise to keep it to yourself, not even tell Charlie?’
He put his hand over his heart. ‘My word is my bond, Lila.’ He studied her closely. ‘What is it, sweetheart?’
She sighed. ‘Richard cheated on me with one of his exes. Camilla. She’s an Upper East-sider, all designer labels and perfect hair.
Riley cussed. ‘Are you kidding me? Is he an idiot?’
Lila tried to smile. ‘Oh, yes. But I give him credit for telling me straight away, the same day.’
‘You do? I don’t,’ Riley was clearly pissed now. ‘What fucking idiot cheats on you?’
Lila flushed, waving off the compliment. ‘No, I mean, he’s an idiot for sure, but I don’t think it was intentional.’
‘So he tripped and his dick fell into her snatch by mistake?’
The image Riley conjured was so comical that Lila burst out laughing and he grinned. After a moment, Lila stopped laughing. ‘Riley, you always manage to cheer me up.’
‘Maybe cos I’m awesome,’ He waggled his eyebrows at her making her grin, but then he fixed her with a stare. ‘Please tell me you’ve kicked him to the curb.’
Lila shrugged and Riley sighed. ‘Lila…don’t you know that he’s lucky to have you? That any guy would kill for a woman like you?’ He looked down at his hands briefly. ‘I would.’
Lila got up and went to him, hugging him tightly. ‘Thank you, Riley…’
He got up from his chair and wrapped his arms around her. ‘Anytime, beautiful, anytime.’
They stayed like that for a beat too long then Lila pulled away – but looked up at him. For a heartbeat, they stared at each other then Riley dipped his head and kissed her. It was a sweet but firm kiss and Lila responded, her lips against his, her hands flat on his chest. When his fingers slid under her t-shirt, for a second, she thought about stopping him.
But she didn’t…he was here and Richard wasn’t…and she needed to be held and loved by someone good and pure, who would never hurt her…
It seemed only a beat before Riley was pulling her t-shirt from her, his eyes fixed on her full breasts, her stomach. ‘Wow. Oh wow,’ he said softly, ‘you don’t know how long…’
‘Ssh,’ she smiled up at him, ‘No words.’
Riley smiled and then they were pulling at their clothes and tumbling to the floor naked, and Riley was hitching her legs around his hips and thrusting into her.
‘Oh god, Lila…Lila…’
The way he said her name made her feel so special, like Richard had in the beginning, so full of love, and wonder. Riley was a skilled lover, all his attention riveted on her and her pleasure and he made her come, a long, drawn out sigh of an orgasm shuddering through her body. Afterward, they held each other and talked and laughed – easy, casual, and friendly.
Lila tucked her t-shirt into her jeans and then grabbed his hand. ‘Hey, Riley…listen, I had a really good time tonight and I…’
Riley stopped her with a kiss. ‘Just between you and me,’ he said, ‘this night belongs to us even if there are no more nights like it.’
Lila smiled at him fondly and touched his face. ‘You are such a good friend, Riley.’
There was something in his eyes that made her chest hurt, a sadness, a disappointment but he smiled at her. ‘Always, Lila. Always.’
And there hadn’t been another night like that. To Lila’s great relief, Riley’s manner towards her hadn’t changed – he was still the warm, goofy friend to her, still flirted outrageously as if they had never been intimate. When Charlie was there, the three of them acted as they always had, Lila and Riley teasing Charlie about his grumpy manner.
It had been a week before Lila and Richard’s wedding when it happened. Lila was celebrating her last night at the bar and all of her friends were there. Champagne was flowing easily but Lila had notice Riley sticking to soda water all night. Eventually she got him on his own.
‘Why aren’t you drinking, Smiley Riley?’ Lila had been drinking and was a little light-headed. She swayed and he steadied her, smiling.
‘Because I’m a lousy drunk,’ he said softly, ‘and tonight of all nights, I didn’t want to be that guy. The guy that tells you he’s crazy about you and has been for years. The drunk guy you look at sadly and shake your head at and wonder why you invited him. The one who gets drunk and begs you not to marry the rich guy because he, the drunk guy, is in love with you. And look, I went and said all that stuff anyways.’
Lila stared at him and Riley looked away from her gaze, giving a little laugh.
‘Oh, Riley…’ Lila felt awful, putting her hands on his face. ‘I’m so sorry.’
He shook his head. ‘Don’t be, it’s not anything you have to be sorry for. I misjudged my ability to stay…distant.’
Lila stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. ‘You know I love you too, right? Just I’m not…’
‘In love with me. That’s okay, shorty, as long as we’re still friends.’
‘Always,’ she said fiercely, ‘always.’
He’d held her for a long minute then gently pushed her away. ‘Go. Go be happy ever after, Lila, go enjoy the rest of your life.’
Four days later, a man with a knife – possibly Riley - tried to end her life and very nearly succeeded.
San Juan Island, Washington State
Noah frowned as he opened the front door to the cottage. Normally, Lila would be waiting on the front porch for him, would throw herself into his arms. Today, nothing.
‘Anyone home?’ He called, his heartbeat quickening before he heard her voice.
‘In here, baby.’
The living room. He dumped his bag and coat and went in – and stopped. Charlie Sherman stood and held out his hand. ‘Hey, doc.’
Noah blinked. ‘Hey yourself.’ He shook Charlie’s hand and bent to kiss Lila’s cheek. She smiled at him, and he saw strain in her expression.
‘Has something happened?’
He sat down next to her and put his arm around her. Charlie watched them and when Lila j
ust nodded, Charlie picked up the story for her. Noah whistled.
‘So this Riley…he’s missing?’
Charlie nodded. ‘Which is why I’m here. I know Lila wanted space and I was happy to leave her be…but things have changed, escalated. And now I know that you two are together, and that there’s a little one on the way…I felt like it was my duty.’
He trailed off but smiled. Noah felt irked. ‘You know, we have got security in place. You may not see it, but it’s very discreet. We have this.’
Lila squeezed his hand. ‘Honey, Charlie came to warn us about Riley, not to tell us what to do about it, right Charlie?’
Charlie held up his hands. ‘Sure, sure, sorry if I caused offense. I’m just used to being Lila’s protector. Forgive me.’
Noah nodded tightly, his eyes narrowing and Lila sighed. ‘Okay then,’ she pulled herself up, ‘if you guys are done pissing around me, then I’ll go make us something to eat.’
Noah got up, his expression apologetic. ‘No, you won’t. We’ll get take out. That okay with you, Charlie?’
‘Of course.’
Later, when they’d eaten and Charlie had gone back into the city to his hotel, Lila and Noah lay in the bathtub together, Lila leaning back against his chest and Noah’s fingers stroking her belly bump. He drew a six on it and she giggled. ‘I know can you believe it? Only three months to go.’
‘Should we discuss names? Have you any ideas?’
Lila smiled around at him. ‘A few…but I’m scared you’ll hate them.’
‘Hmm,’ he considered, ‘well, how’s about you tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine and we’ll see where we’re at.’
‘Okay.’
‘Good. If it’s a boy…William.’
She grinned. ‘I like that. William Noah…or Noah William. Noah Applebaum II.’
‘Oh no,’ he protested, ‘I find dudes who name their kids after them so very, very conceited. What was your boy’s name anyway?’
‘Noah,’ she sulked as he laughed, ‘but I do have some spares. How about Gyjoo – Gee-shooo?’
‘What the hell kind of name is Gee-shooo.’
She grinned wickedly. ‘It’s spelled G. I. J. O. E.’
It took Noah a second then he splashed her. ‘G. I. Joe, very funny.’
‘Sorry but I really only had Noah for my boy choices, but I really do love William.’
Noah cheered. ‘So I get my choice? Victory!’
Lila rubbed her belly smugly. ‘Only if it’s a boy, mister, and as I’m baking this thing, I know for a fact it’s a girl.’
‘Oh you do, huh? Hit me with your choices then.’
‘Okay I’m doing this, top three in reverse order, okay?’
Noah sighed dramatically. ‘Just get on with it, woman.’
Lila chuckled. ‘Okay, in third place…Olivia.’
Noah thought about it. ‘Yep, nice, continue.’
‘Second place… Emeliana.’
‘Hmm, not sure, it’s nice but with Applebaum? That’s a mouthful.’
Lila pouted. ‘Then you’re probably not going to like my first choice.’
‘Go for it.’
‘Matilda.’
‘Hmm. Matilda Applebaum. Matty Applebaum. You have a deal.’
She turned and faced him, the surprise obvious on her face. ‘No way, you agreed that easily?’
‘It’s a gorgeous name for our gorgeous girl, Lila Belle. And by the way, what say we talk about making this all official?’
She stopped and looked at him, her face paling. ‘What?’
Noah grinned. ‘Don’t panic, I’m not proposing…yet. I mean, if we’re having a baby, I’d quite like him or her, Matty or Willy,’ - he grinned at her pained expression – ‘to meet my family so that means I’d like you, my darling one, to meet my family. I warn you – they are crazy.’
‘Good crazy or bad crazy?’
‘It’s a fine line.’
Lila nodded slowly. ‘Okay then, I’m all for crazy. Wow, I get to meet the Applebaum clan.’ She kissed him, her lips curling up in a smile against his mouth. ‘Any family that bred you can’t be all bad.’
Noah chuckled. ‘Thank you, I think. And sorry about earlier with Chuckles. I was oversensitive, the guy just wants you safe same as me.’
Lila sighed happily, resting her head in the crook of his neck. ‘Oh and by the way….there’s no way in hell we’re calling our son ‘Willy’.’
They both laughed and then Noah tickled her until she was screeching with laughter then kissed her until the water got very, very cold.
Seattle
‘I could have come back to the island,’ Charlie said the next morning as they sat in the coffee house, ‘You didn’t need to haul your cookies here, Boo.’
Lila smiled at him. ‘It’s no problem…in fact; I got extra time with Noah coming into the city, so it all worked out. Also, I’m going to stay at his condo here more often now that I’m not ‘in-hiding’ as such.’
Charlie stirred his coffee. ‘Are you sure that’s wise? We still don’t know where Riley is.’
‘I won’t take any unnecessary risks,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘No more wedding fitting rooms for me.’
Charlie winced. ‘Don’t joke about that, Lila. Was the worst day of my life.’
‘Mine too,’ she said, half smiling. ‘Charlie, I want to know what you’ve been doing, or rather who? Any chance you and Tinsley could hook up again?’
She looked so hopeful that he grinned. ‘The honest answer is I don’t know. She was dating Harry for a while.’
Lila’s mouth dropped open. ‘Harry…Carnegie?’
‘The very one. Nice guy, actually, better than – ‘
‘Charlie.’ Lila glared at him over her coffee mug.
‘Sorry, old habits,’ but he smiled. ‘Yep, they were hot and heavy for a while but then he went back to Australia.’
‘Tinsley upset?’
‘I honestly couldn’t tell you. She and I were kind of distracted with this Riley thing. I haven’t spoken to her since I got here.’
‘I should call her.’
‘Yes, I know she misses you. Lila?’
She was staring out of the window and when she turned to face him, there were tears in her eyes. ‘Charlie, I want to talk to the Carnegies, I do, but I have no earthly idea of what to say to them, especially now.’
She looked down at her swollen belly, placing her hand protectively over it. ‘I could wait until after the baby is born but I don’t want it hanging over me. Noah says to rip off the Band-Aid.’
‘Noah’s a smart guy. Look, there’s no easy way to tell them what you gotta tell them, Lila. Just do it.’
Lila suddenly chuckled. ‘Jeez, Charlie, tell me how it is, won’t ya?’
‘That’s the way we do it, Tierney.’
The waitress brought their breakfasts and Charlie fell on his pancakes as if half-starved. Lila looked at him fondly. ‘Dude, you need to get back with Tinsley. Be truthful; did you ever really get over her?’
Charlie shrugged. ‘I’m not someone who gets over things, Lila, you know that. I just go with the flow.’
‘Hmm,’ Lila squinted at him. ‘Is it wrong I want you to be as happy as I am now?’
‘No, kiddo, it’s not wrong, it’s not wrong at all. Just sometimes it doesn’t happen for people and I’m okay with it. As long as I got my girl,’ he tapped his fingertip against her cheek and she bit it, giggling.
‘Of course. Hey, listen, Noah’s asked me to go with him and meet his family.’
‘Scared?’
‘More excited. I can’t wait.’
Dr. Applebaum?’
Noah turned to the woman behind him. Joanne Hammond smiled at him and Noah smiled. They had met a few times when he had been dating Lauren Shannon; they were co-workers and Joanne had none of Lauren’s pretensions. Joanne was the trusted second-in-command of Derek Shannon - Lauren’s father – and the life blood of his PR company. He adored Joanne because she ran
the place like clockwork – and put up with Lauren. Noah had met her at a company barbecue and was instantly drawn to her wit, sarcasm and cynicism. It had always irritated Lauren that Noah and Joanne were friends – which made it even more enjoyable.
‘Joanne! It’s good to see you…I think. You okay?’ He hugged her.
‘I am – but Mackie’s in for his diabetes again.’ Joanne, a small, athletic woman with dark skin and silver eyes smiled but she looked tired. Her husband, Mackie, was a war veteran who’d gotten depressed after he’d left the military and gained enough weight to trigger type two diabetes later in life. A good man, Mackie had been hospitalized a couple of times and Joanne, almost in her seventies now, was exhausted.
‘Come have a coffee with me while the doctor’s in with Mackie,’ Noah said now, seeing his colleague talking to Mackie, ‘then you can catch me up.’
Even the stoic Charlie was impressed when Lila showed him into Noah’s condo. ‘Okay, should have gone to medical school.’
Lila chuckled. ‘I know, right? To think he trusts us, two street kids, here alone? Shall we case the joint?’
Charlie, laughing, shook his head. ‘You know, we were never really street kids, well, not until we were old enough to be thrown out on our own.’
‘We managed.’
‘We did.’
Lila made them both drinks. ‘Let’s go out on the balcony because we’re fancy.’
‘Always a good reason.’
Noah’s balcony had astonishing views over Elliott Bay and they put their feet up as they settled back into the uber-comfortable deck furniture. The day was bright and cold and the Olympic Mountains soared high on the horizon.
Lila looked over at Charlie. ‘Chuckles, can I ask you something?’
‘Anything.’
‘Do you think I get involved with too many rich men? I never intend it that way.’
Charlie laughed. ‘Lila, have you looked in the mirror? You attract every type of man. And it’s only really been Richard and Noah – two entirely different situations. Everyone else you’ve dated has been pretty low rent.’
‘Don’t say that, they were all great guys – one of them especially,’ she grinned at him. ‘You’ll always be my first love, Chuckles.’
Masked Indulgence Page 66