Breaking Even

by Lily Bishop

  “What are your thoughts on … illegal substances?” Kayla asked.

  “What?” What had felt like the job interview from hell just turned into some kind of weird reality show.

  “You know, pot, meth, coke—you ever take any of that to help you study?”

  “No… Not my scene. I don’t know why you’d think it would be.” Lindsey glanced at Ben. He sat ramrod straight and his leg bounced under the table.

  “Just asking. Our dad wanted to come meet you, but he couldn’t get away.” Kayla smiled her Miss Congeniality smile, which only made the moment more surreal.

  Lindsey got a reprieve when the waitress returned with their drinks. Lindsey squeezed the lemon into her tea and then dumped it in the glass. Brittany’s eyebrows shot up, and she looked at Kayla.

  “You know that lemons are covered in bacteria, right? I saw it on the news.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Lindsey said. “After four years in the dorm, I’m sure I'm immune to most germs.”

  “You lived in a dorm for four years? I never knew that about you,” Kayla said, as if she had just learned Lindsey had hailed from Mars.

  “It was just easier. But I’m excited about the house I’m renting in Clemson. It’s the first floor of a Ranch house close to downtown Clemson. Three bedrooms and a large kitchen.”

  Kayla pounced on the idea of an extra room. “Who’s going to be in the third bedroom?”

  “I might turn it into an office.” She glanced at Ben. They hadn’t talked about that.

  “Hell, Kayla, can you let up on the questions? I feel like I’m watching the damned Spanish Inquisition.”

  The waitress dropped off a basket of rolls and cornbread, and Ben grabbed one, glaring at his sister. Lindsey hadn’t eaten since breakfast. She spread butter on a cornbread muffin and took a big bite.

  “Kayla, Ben says you’ve moved to Miami. Where do you work?”

  “I’m a nanny for a local attorney. Her husband’s a plastic surgeon. I take care of their twins while they work and I travel with them.”

  “Kayla lives on site in their ten thousand square foot mansion,” Brittany explained.

  “I have my own apartment over their three car garage. Just a little perk.” She smiled that fake smile again. “It doesn't feel like work to me. Their parents are old college friends with Dad. For the most part, they treat me like family.”

  Lindsey couldn't imagine Kayla as a nanny, but she withheld judgment. Perhaps Kayla was more fun with children than adults.

  “How old are they?” Lindsey asked, expecting young infants.

  “Three. Two girls. I take them to preschool in the morning, pick them up, and then I take them to different classes. Ballet on Monday, Spanish on Tuesday. Wednesday is a break, and then they go to a jazz/tap combo class on Thursday. I fix them dinner if their parents aren’t home in time." Kayla continued to chat about “her girls” as she called them, and Lindsey zoned out. Those twins sounded busier than she was.

  “When I have babies, I’m staying home,” Brittany proclaimed. “I can’t even imagine having a nanny to raise my kids. Kayla’s great and all, but still. What about you?”

  Lindsey shrugged. “I hadn’t thought about it much, but I’ll keep working. If that point comes. I’m not ready for kids anytime soon.”

  Brittany sighed and stared at Ben. “I can’t wait to have a baby of my own.”

  “Don’t look at me. I told you, I’m not ready to settle down yet. I’m just twenty-two.”

  Brittany held up her hands. “I know, I know. That doesn’t mean I can’t think about it.”

  Ben stayed silent at that comment and took another drink from his beer. Lindsey had never seen a couple act that way. The two of them didn't sit together, and Ben acted like she wasn't there.

  When the food came, most of the conversation dwindled to nothing. For the moment at least, Kayla had run out of questions. When they finished eating, Lindsey made her excuses that she had to go finish packing.

  “You’re not going to stay and hear the band with us? I hear they are great,” Kayla said.

  Lindsey tried to act disappointed. “No, I’m afraid that I need to finish up those last few boxes.”

  “Don’t worry about the check. I’ll pay for your dinner,” Ben offered. “We’re the ones who dragged you out. I’ll walk you to your car and come back.”

  “Kayla, it’s been nice to see you again. Brittany, nice to meet you.”

  “And you too. If you need us, give us a call.”

  “Will do,” Lindsey said. Ben stood up and she gave a half-wave as they left the table.

  When they reached her car, she leaned against the door, unable to resist. “Well, that qualifies as one of the weirdest evenings ever. What on earth was that?”

  “That was just Kayla. Don’t mind her. She thinks she’s in charge of my life.”

  “I get that, but still. When I told my sister Laura that you were my roommate, but she didn’t demand an interview.”

  “I’m lucky like that,” he said, deadpan.

  “So you and Brittany?” she asked, trying to keep a straight face.

  He shrugged. “Mom and Dad expect us to get married. We’ve dated a bit.” His voice was formal, as if he were discussing a job interview.

  Show a little bit more enthusiasm. “But you have an understanding.”

  “Our parents have an understanding. I’ve said all along that we’ll see what happens.”

  Lindsey had no answer to that. She didn’t want to sound like a grandmother, but she wasn’t sure this would work out how Brittany wanted. Ben didn’t seem that into the girl.

  “You’ve got the address for Laura’s?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be there at nine.”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  As she got in her car to go back home, Lindsey realized that she forgot to ask Ben why Kayla had brought up the issue of drugs. She would have to find that one out later.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Making the Move

  Lindsey came home from dinner and found Laura sitting on the stairs crying.

  "Honey, what is it?" Lindsey asked. When Laura didn't respond, she took her hand and helped her up. “Come on—sitting on the stairs isn’t going to help.”

  “I’m not an invalid,” Laura protested, when Lindsey followed her to the bedroom.

  “I know. I’m sure you’re sore from falling. Fox is gone now. You can tell me what happened.” Lindsey straightened Laura’s covers and closed the blinds.

  “I did.”

  “No, I mean what happened tonight.”

  “Nothing. It’s just stress.” Laura grabbed a tissue from the nightstand and blew her nose.

  Lindsey had never seen Laura looking so small and vulnerable. Even when their mother died, she had been a rock. She sat down beside her and slipped her arm around Laura’s shoulders in a half hug. “You’ll be all right. Did you call and cancel that job interview tomorrow? Do you want me to try to get in touch with them?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’m going.”

  Lindsey just stared at her sister. “Wouldn't you be better off rescheduling and letting your wrist heal first? I'm sure they would understand.”

  “No, I have to go.” Laura said and then let another sob loose.

  Lindsey took a deep breath, reminding herself that her sister had been through a lot in the past week. “Then why are you crying?”

  None of this was making any sense. Laura acted like the two of them had an argument. Fox had seemed to care for Laura, so Lindsey didn’t know what could have gone wrong.

  “Fox was here.”

  “I know. I told him it was okay for him to stay, remember? Should I not have left him here with you? You seemed close. I thought it would be fine.”

  Laura looked up, and Lindsey saw the hurt in her eyes. “He asked me to move in with him.”

  “Oh. But you’re still going to Vegas for the job interview?” That made no sense. She thought Fox lived in Atlanta.

&nb
sp; Laura nodded, hiccupping with sobs. “It’s for the best.”

  “What did you want to happen?” Lindsey asked. Maybe if she understood more about what was happening, she could help.

  “I don’t know. When you said he told Ric I was his fiancée, I had hope. But when he asked me to move in with him, practically in the same breath, he said I could move out if things didn’t work out. It just felt so temporary. I would have to move all the way to Atlanta and I can’t go into something like that thinking about when it would end.”

  “Well, maybe it’s for the best. I heard the phone message he left on my voice mail. He has a temper. Have you thought that maybe he’s not the man for you?”

  “Lindsey, I was so mad at him, but his heart was in the right place. He thought he had evidence of a theft. I lied about some things. I can see why he jumped to conclusions. I love him. He makes me feel things I never thought possible. But I just can’t move to Atlanta without more of a guarantee.”

  “Is there ever a guarantee? We’re all human.”

  “There has to be more than what he’s given me.”

  Maybe Laura would be able to find some perspective in Vegas that she couldn’t get in Miami. “A little distance couldn’t hurt. Another trip to Vegas could be good for you, I think.”

  “I hope so. You’re leaving tomorrow, too. What time?”

  Lindsey shrugged. “In the morning. We talked about leaving today, but I’m not finished packing. Ben is staying tonight with his sister in Coral Gables. He will be here at nine.”

  Laura frowned. “Who is Ben?”

  “I told you in the hospital, remember?”

  “Not really,” Laura admitted.

  “He’s a friend of mine from Tallahassee, and we’re going to room together. He’s moving to Clemson to help his uncle open a bar. We’re driving up tomorrow in a caravan.”

  “He’s moving in with you? Why haven’t you mentioned his?”

  “Well, he’s moving in with me, but not like you think. We’re not even dating. He’ll have his own bedroom. He wants to start over in Clemson.”

  Laura frowned. “At least it’s not that man in the Bahamas?”

  “What man?” Lindsey asked, hoping Laura would change the subject.

  “The man I saw you kissing at the airport. You know who I’m talking about.”

  Lindsey shrugged. She didn’t want to talk about Ric. “Things were just crazy down there. I didn’t tell you about Ben because there was nothing to tell. I needed a roommate and he offered.” She tried to shift the focus back to Laura. “Are you sure you want to go to Las Vegas? Maybe you should ask them to postpone the interview, or do a video-call or something.”

  “It will be fine. It’s a sprained wrist, not the end of the world. I was just a little bit out of it from the pain medicine they gave me at the hospital. It would be tough to drive with it, but that won’t matter. I’ll just call a cab to the airport in the morning.”

  “If you want me to, I’ll get up and drive you to the airport—” Lindsey offered.

  “Honey, there’s no need for that. You need your rest. After that horrible man held you captive—”

  “I’ve explained about that,” Lindsey interrupted. “He wasn’t horrible.”

  “I guess it’s a Stockholm Syndrome thing. Otherwise, why would you keep defending him?”

  Lindsey hated that Laura couldn’t see how special Ric was. “Let’s just agree to disagree,” Lindsey said.

  “Did he rape you?” Laura asked, her eyes intent.

  “No! I know you don’t like him, but that’s no reason to assume he would hurt me. Or anyone for that matter.”

  Laura stared at her for a minute. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I won’t say another word. Now, if you will help me twist my hair up, I’ll take a shower.”

  Lindsey twisted Laura’s long blonde curls in a quick bun then left her to her shower. She had promised to call Ric.

  #

  Ric paced outside his office, waiting for Lindsey to call. He missed her so much. He missed her ready smile and the way they carried on back and forth. Most of all, he missed having more time to get to know her better. Each time he saw her, he unpeeled another layer.

  Lindsey had promised she would call later that night. When he didn't hear from her, he worried that something bad had happened to her sister. Frustrated by the delay, he dialed her phone again, only to get her voice mail. So much for that.

  Patience was not his biggest strength, but he was working on it. He went back inside to go over paperwork while he waited. He pulled out the quarterly statements for his different profit centers. He left nothing to chance, and analyzing activities in each report kept him grounded. The casino remained his moneymaker, although the new spa was beginning to bring in money. It should break even by the next season. He tapped his pen in a staccato rhythm, skimming the reports.

  He answered a call from his Human Resources Director, but kept his eye on his cell phone. He had recommended Jacquetta to the board for the promotion, and he felt obligated to give her the support she needed. Finally, in the middle of a discussion about new uniforms for housekeeping, Lindsey called.

  “Jacquetta, I have another call. Go ahead and order those. That’s fine.”

  He ended the call on his office line, but in his hurry to answer his cell phone, his elbow knocked over a cup of coffee. The black liquid covered the reports. He ignored the mess and grabbed his cell phone before it went to voice mail.

  “Ric here,” he answered out of habit.

  “Who else would be answering your phone, silly?” Lindsey’s voice rushed over him, calming the anxiety that he hadn’t even felt building. Something inside of him relaxed. “You sound distracted.”

  “I just poured a full cup of coffee all over my desk. Not a big deal. I can reprint the reports.”

  “Did it get on you?”

  Ric glanced at his elbow, the white long-sleeved shirt now brown. “Yes, all over my arm.”

  “Now that I’d want to see. You’re always so well-dressed.”

  He smiled, just happy to hear her voice.

  “Missed you,” he said, wishing he could think of something that wouldn’t sound ridiculous. Like I love you, or I’ve known you for less than a week but I want to get married.

  “Missed you, too. I feel strange not being on the island. What have you been doing today, other than pouring coffee all over yourself?”

  “Pining for you," he said, laughing. "So I tried to stay busy. At the moment, I was debating whether I should go ahead and get dinner, but I didn’t want to miss your call.”

  “I didn’t mean for you to wait. I went to dinner with some friends and haven’t been back long. It’s been a crazy afternoon.”

  “What’s going on with your sister?” His men had fired a Taser at Lindsey’s sister, and he wanted to make sure that she wasn’t suffering ill effects.

  “There was some kind of scuffle, and she fell and hit her head. The fall knocked her out, and the paramedics had concerns about a possible concussion. She’s fine now, but she has a sprained wrist from the fall. They gave her some powerful pain medication for tonight.”

  “What happened?”

  “I don't know. The FBI raided her office and arrested her boss for some kind of money-laundering scheme. I don’t know what’s going on over there. Laura might be the only honest one in the bunch.”

  “Who did they arrest again?"

  “Let me think. It starts with an L. I’m trying to remember—Lloyd Baker.”

  Ric knew that name, but he couldn’t place it. He would have to ask Xavier, his head of security. “I hate it you were going through that without me. That’s a lot of drama for a Wednesday afternoon.”

  “Tell me about it! And it’s been that way all week!”

  He laughed at her reference to the fact that he had held her under house arrest for most of the week. “Calliope offers a fun-filled vacation…”

  Lindsey snorted at his comment. “That’s the word.
Fun. It’s not every week that a sexy pirate holds me prisoner on his island.”

  Ric lowered his voice to match her teasing tone. “So I’m a sexy pirate now?”

  He went with her fantasy and blinked at the image of her in a full skirt and bodice tied to the mast of his ship. He almost groaned at the speed of his body’s response to the image. Not a good idea. She was way too unspoiled for that kind of play.

  “Hey, if the fantasy works…”

  “You still haven’t seen my lair, remember? I promise to show you the villa next time.”

  “True. Listen, I’m sorry I was so abrupt earlier. I was just worried about Laura. You’re not mad about the roommate thing are you?” She didn’t sound impressed with his jealousy.

  “Would it make a difference if I were?”

  “No. I can’t change it now.”

  Ric hated the idea of her living with some guy. He pulled at his tie until it opened enough so he could breathe. Just thinking about it made his heart beat faster, and he wanted to punch something or someone. Fire rushed through him as if he had bit into a Serrano pepper. He thought through his words before he spoke. “I just want you to be careful.”

  “I’m always careful.”

  He coughed into the phone, not wanting to remind her how many mistakes she had made, just on his island. Traveling with Vaughn Bruce had just been the beginning.

  “So, when can I see you?” he asked. “Labor Day will be here soon. I could send the jet up, and you could fly down for the long weekend.”

  “I think we have classes Labor Day. I’ll have to check.”

  “Well, let me know. I could come up there. I miss you already.”

  “I miss you too.”

  Ric ended the call and paced the wide porch outside his office. In the darkness, the Caribbean Sea looked black. Silver moonlight highlighted the tips of the flat waves. What good was having a piece of paradise if he didn’t have someone to share it with? He would just have to make sure that Lindsey knew all that he could offer.

  Back in his office, Jacquetta was wiping up the coffee and throwing away the soaked reports. Where had she come from? She crossed in front of him, edging a little bit too much into his space. He took a half step back.