The Fountain of Infinite Wishes (Dare River Book 5)

by Ava Miles

  Vander was now in possession of photos of him and J.P. with Me-Mother. Even more wonderful, Me-Mother had accepted their small offering of support, and Shelby and her sisters and brother had all agreed to talk about what more they could do to help their grandmother move out of her squalid living conditions. It looked like they had a relationship with her now, and that was something to be grateful for—even if they didn’t know how to broach the topic with Mama.

  Even Susannah seemed to have come around after meeting Me-Mother. Her elder sister’s compassion had overridden the fear and wariness in her heart. Of course, Shelby’s heart had a dull ache from realizing their daddy had never reached out to them even though he’d been alive this whole time. She still wasn’t sure how to process that.

  When Vander called Shelby a couple of days later and asked if she could swing by his office, she’d been all a-flutter.

  Just the way he’d said, “Hello, Shelby,” had made warmth pool in her belly.

  That night in his hotel room had played like a broken record in her mind. There was no way she was going to forget it, despite what she’d said. Heck, every time she thought about the feeling of his lips on hers, she shivered. And every time she thought about his presumption she had planned on sleeping with him, well, she got more than flustered. The nerve of that man, thinking she was some light skirt.

  But it was also tempting to think of going that far with him.

  Her one and only long-term boyfriend, Nick, whom she’d thought she would likely marry, had worn her down, saying how much he loved her and how he couldn’t wait. She’d met him in college at a Bible mixer at their student Christian forum. It still ticked her off that she’d succumbed to him after five months, especially since the experience had been…disappointing. The flash and bang she’d seen in movies and read about in books had been more like a fizzled firework. The whole process had been awkward, and afterward, his attention had waned. So had hers.

  He’d broken up with her a couple months later with the cliché excuse that they were going in different directions. She still hadn’t completely forgiven herself for giving something so special to him.

  Vander made her feel special. More so than she’d felt with Nick or any of the other guys she’d dated. From the depths of the emotions she experienced in his presence, everything from anger to passion to happiness, it was hard to deny that he would bring the flash and bang to bed. Her biggest problem was sex wasn’t all that to her. She wanted to make love with someone she loved—someone who loved her back.

  But she was going on twenty-eight, and her only experience had been akin to drinking the dreaded warm milk her mama used to insist upon before bedtime. Dammit, she wished she could just hop into bed with Vander and have a good time without analyzing it to death. But she couldn’t. Sometimes, she hated being raised with the values her mama had always hammered home. As an adult, she could no longer blame it on her rearing.

  “Do you want me to organize the rest of the clan?” Shelby finally asked Vander after what must have been a long pause. She needed to control her lustful thoughts.

  “Not unless you want to,” he said. “Charlie and I talked it through, and she agrees with my plan. When I go to Haines, I’m going to keep the cover I used with Lenore. I’m going in as your boyfriend.”

  Simply hearing him talk about being her boyfriend had her fanning herself. She pushed back from her desk and went to turn the air conditioner down. “You already mentioned that,” she said, merely to push his buttons.

  “I’m simply reminding,” he answered back and cleared his throat.

  “Okay,” she said, not completely understanding. “Why are you and I meeting alone?”

  He chuckled softly. “Since you asked me to forget about that kiss and you’re a client, I won’t give you the answer that comes to mind. I need you to swing by so we can take some photos of us together. People tend to be more sympathetic when they think a man is trying to find the father of the woman he loves.”

  That phrase—the woman he loves—made her take deep breaths, but she had to remind herself it was all an act. Vander didn’t feel that way about her.

  But he did feel something. So did she.

  Damn him and his infernal code.

  “I take it you’ve had some success with that sob story in the past?” she made herself say to fill the silence over the line.

  “Yes,” Vander said, a jaded edge in his voice. “People love helping others get their happy ending.”

  Of course, a man who didn’t believe in wishes probably didn’t believe in happy endings either.

  “I also remember you mentioning you wanted your father to see the resemblance between the two of you, and I thought you might like…well, him to see a picture of you along with J.P.’s if and when I track him down.”

  Her heart pretty much stopped working. He’d listened to her. And he was actually doing something about it. She tried to think of a time anyone outside her family had ever been so sweet.

  “I can stop by after work,” she said, and she was probably going to kiss him on the cheek. How could she not help herself?

  “How late do you work?” he asked. “I have this feeling you work as hard as I do.”

  “I like working.”

  “So do I.”

  Were they really shooting the breeze about their likes and dislikes? This ruse of a relationship felt more real than anything Shelby had experienced in months. No, years.

  “I can meet you at your office at seven,” she said, running through the final tasks she had on her daily to-do list.

  “I know it’s an odd request,” he said, “but could you bring a couple changes of clothes? Nothing complicated. Oh, and a jacket too. So it shows we’ve been together for a while now. People internally catalogue time by the kind of clothing people wear.”

  “Should I bring a ball gown?” she asked, just to be contrary.

  “No,” he said, chuckling, “but I’d bet you look good in one. See you at seven, Cinderella.”

  “Vander,” she said smiling at the unexpected endearment. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “You know what.”

  He was silent for a moment, and then said, “Shelby, I’m only doing my job.”

  But he wasn’t, and they both knew it. When he hung up, she ended up closing up shop fifteen minutes early—after making a mistake that had required her to delete an entire row of expenses. Of course, he’d blown her concentration.

  On top of that, he’d all but asked her for a fashion shoot with no warning. Did he know nothing about Southern women?

  At seven o’clock, she wheeled her carry-on across his lobby. Her makeup bag was attached to the top, and her new cream and rhinestone Jimmy Choos clicked on the marble floor. The shoes were a perfect complement to the cream silk dress she’d cinched with a silver belt made of rhinestones. She’d fretted mightily over what to wear for the photos, wanting to show her daddy she was both beautiful and smart—somehow that mattered to her.

  Vander’s assistant wasn’t present, so she headed down the hallway. As she passed the second doorway, someone called out her name. Poking her head in through the open door, she saw Charlie.

  “Where in the world are you going?” the woman asked after closing her mouth. “Prom?”

  Shelby narrowed her eyes. Of course a woman who only wore masculine-looking black pants and a white cotton shirt to work would say that about silk and rhinestones. “Vander wants to do some photos.”

  Charlie bit her lip, and Shelby could tell she was trying not to laugh. “Oh, brother. I wish I could stick around to watch. He’s in his office.”

  Shelby took a step and then stopped. “I…want to thank you for everything you’ve been doing to find our daddy.” She hadn’t said it before, and her mama had raised them to thank the people who deserved it. With it only being the two of them, it felt like a good time.

  “I like you better when you’re snarky,” Charlie said. “I need to keep rememberi
ng you work for Gail. You mustn’t be a total goody two-shoes with her.”

  Considering Gail had bought a “genuine” Civil War cannon today from an antique dealer in Charleston and asked Shelby if she thought she could expense it under historical preservation, she couldn’t deny she knew what Charlie was talking about. “She’s zany sometimes, but she’s also the smartest woman I’ve ever met.”

  Charlie made a gesture with her hands. “I’m not real good with the whole Southern beauty queen thing. Sorry about the prom comment. Those girls used to make fun of me in school.”

  “The girls in my school made fun of me for being a goody-goody and a preacher’s kid. Everyone gets picked on for something.”

  “I suppose,” Charlie said, sticking a pencil behind her ear. “I don’t care now. I’m doing exactly what I want with my life, and a lot of them are probably unhappy. People who take out their frustrations on other people tend to be. I see that all the time in this job.”

  “I imagine so,” Shelby said. “Well, I should get to Vander. I expect he likes things to be on time.”

  Charlie nodded, clearing her throat. “I have to do some undercover work myself tonight.” She went over to a coat hanger dangling from cabinet and unzipped a garment bag hanging from it. “What do you think of my dress?”

  All Shelby saw was a sea of blue sequins. She gaped at the woman. “You’re wearing that?”

  “Yeah,” Charlie said with a feral smile. “The guy I’m pumping for information is a predictable pig. I even have matching shoes,” Charlie added with a twinkle in her eye. “I’ll be sure to let you see me as a Southern beauty queen before I leave. Vander likes to go all King Lear on me. He always says an over-feminine version of me makes him want to gouge his eyes out.”

  “That’s terrible!”

  “That’s our relationship,” she said with an easy smile, making Shelby wonder what it was like to be Vander’s friend like that. Clearly, they had a rapport. One she didn’t understand, perhaps, but she liked that they could work together and horse around like she would with Gail.

  “Every time I dress this way—even if it’s for work—I want to send it to my alumni network as an FU,” Charlie continued, looking down in her lap. “Like I can be pretty too. And petty.”

  Shelby thought she was likely more hurt than petty. “You should do it,” she said, making the woman immediately raise her head and look at her. “They were wrong to make fun of you. I admire your toughness. Do you ever get worried about the men you have to face getting too fresh?”

  “If they do, I knee them in the balls,” she answered, cracking her knuckles. “But I don’t put myself in that position. Vander runs a clean shop. We don’t flirt with danger.”

  Shelby was happy to hear that. “Good luck.”

  “You too,” Charlie said. “I can’t wait to see the pictures of you and Vander.” This time her smile was genuine.

  When Shelby appeared in his doorway, he had his back to her, typing on his laptop.

  “You’re late,” he said. “Did you plan it just to try and rile me up?”

  She wheeled her luggage in and stopped by the set of chairs in front of his desk, wishing he would turn around. “No, I was talking with Charlie.”

  “Were you now?” He swiveled in his chair to face her. “Holy shit! You brought a suitcase?”

  His response elicited her most flirtatious grin. “And makeup and hair accessory bags too.”

  Standing, he said, “I only need a few pictures, Shelby.”

  “And you need to understand, I don’t let this—” she released the suitcase and made an up and down gesture, “—be captured on a mere whim. Besides, I am not going to let my daddy or anyone associated with him see me looking less than fabulous. It’s the principle of the matter.”

  “Oh, for fu— sake, Shelby,” Vander said, putting his hands on his hips.

  “I also expect dinner since I look more beautiful when I’m not starving,” she said, reaching into her purse and handing him the piece of paper she kept there. “This is a list of acceptable places.”

  His mouth dropped open before he snapped it shut. “You’re kidding.”

  “No, honey,” she drawled, wishing she could cross over to him and kiss him right on his gaping mouth. “I’m not.”

  He scanned the list. “Jared’s does take-out?” he asked.

  She gave him a syrupy smile. “They do for me.”

  “Hmm. I’ll bet.” He stared at her, and his aquamarine eyes glinted with pure mischief. “Do they do take-out cocktails too?”

  Her grin widened. “We call them sippy cups in my world.”

  “Of course you do,” he said, and then his gaze shot to the door. “Dammit, Charlie! What did I tell you about prancing around like that in my presence? Do you want me to go blind?”

  Shelby turned to see the P.I. biting her lip to contain her laughter. The woman before her was completely transformed. Her hair was twisted up in a side ponytail, her sequin dress displaying a hint of curve. The addition of lip gloss and mascara had done wonders to soften her face.

  “Yes, Vander, I do. I live for the day you will have to rely on me to find your way. Have fun, you two.”

  “You look beautiful, Charlie,” Shelby found herself saying.

  The woman waved a hand out dismissively. “Nah, but I should be pretty enough for my mark.”

  “Check in with me later, beautiful,” Vander drawled.

  Charlie stuck her tongue out and left with an exaggerated swag of her hips, making Shelby laugh.

  “That was nice of you,” Vander said when they were alone.

  “What?”

  “She has…image issues. Not self-esteem exactly.” He shook his head. “Never mind. I didn’t say anything.”

  But he had, and his regard for his friend and colleague touched her deeply. “I didn’t know if I liked her before,” Shelby said, “but I do now.”

  He pressed his fingers to his forehead like she was giving him a headache. “I’m sure she’ll be overjoyed to hear that. Let’s re-focus.”

  Shelby walked to the phone sitting on the edge of his desk. “Shall we ring for dinner?”

  “Let me get my silver bell,” he quipped. “You really insist on making a production of this?”

  “I do,” she said, picking up the phone.

  He growled low in his throat. “Fine then. But I insist we head somewhere more comfortable.”

  “Where do you live?” she asked, giving him a dramatic look. “And does it have good lighting?”

  His eyes narrowed immediately. “No.”

  “Oh, come on, Vander,” she said, pouring charm into her voice. “We’ve already established I won’t sleep with you, and you won’t sleep with me because I’m your client. Don’t you trust yourself?”

  He stared at her. “Are you trying to piss me off?”

  “Would little ol’ me do something like that?” she asked, fighting a smile. Oh, how she loved teasing him.

  “With interest,” he growled, grabbing her bag. “All right. My house. Will you follow me, or do you plan on having me drive you back here once we’re finished?”

  “Whatever you prefer,” she said, buffing her nails like she didn’t care a whit. “But it seems like a waste of gas to take two cars if you ask me.”

  He muttered something under his breath, then, speaking louder, said, “Let’s go, Shelby.”

  “I’d recommend we order from Jared’s now so we won’t have to wait too much longer,” she said, tapping the phone’s display. “I’m getting peckish.”

  “Peckish,” he uttered, rolling the word around his tongue. “We wouldn’t want that, would we? Do you have a menu? Or is this a magical line where I can ask for anything, and they’ll deliver it?”

  “You can bring up the menu online,” she said. “I personally know it by heart. That is, except for the specials.”

  The look he gave her shot a bolt of fire through her. “Order me a steak, Shelby. Medium rare. Pick any sides you’
d like to share. I’ll close up the office while you’re on the phone.”

  “Your address?” she asked.

  He gave it to her with a wry twist to his gorgeous mouth. She felt an all-body shiver as she watched him walk out. In some ways, she felt freer to flirt with him than she might have if they were dating. He couldn’t push the envelope. Neither could she. It was almost the perfect arrangement.

  By the time he returned, she’d called in their order. He grabbed his briefcase and rolled her carry-on out to the elevator.

  “We’re skirting the line here,” he muttered.

  “You worry too much,” she said, even though she knew he was right.

  Something about him made it impossible to follow the straight and narrow. Out of all her sisters, she’d always been the most daring.

  Being with Vander was like playing in her own personal amusement park.

  “Yet I seem to recall you saying we should forget about the kiss you gave me,” he said as the doors closed to take them to the garage.

  She casually leaned back against the wall and raised her brow. “We’re eating and taking photos. Kissing is not on the menu.”

  While he didn’t take his eyes off her face, they blazed with so much heat, she felt like he’d looked her up and down.

  He didn’t say anything as they walked to his car. She wasn’t surprised to discover he drove a metallic gray Ferrari 360 with black leather seats.

  “It suits you,” she said when he opened her door.

  “I like it,” he said, waiting until she was settled to close it behind her.

  They drove in silence, broken only by the sound of his rap playlist, which was playing at a soft volume. He stuck to the speed limit, which rather surprised her. She wondered whether he was doing that for her benefit.

  Since he’d given her the address, she’d known they were heading to a swanky part of downtown. Vander pulled into the underground garage of a building of luxury loft apartments.

  “I didn’t see you as a house and picket fence kind of guy,” she commented as he let her into his place.

  The two-story loft had brick outer walls and tan interior ones. The staircase was a shiny chrome with black metal exposed steps. The open floor plan on the main level was composed of a large den with chocolate-colored leather furniture, a gourmet kitchen with a built-in eating space, a swanky dining room with a cast-iron chandelier, and what appeared to be an office judging from the desk and file cabinets facing the window that boasted a lovely view of a park.