Justin's schedule was so crazy that we rarely had time to talk, and our texts were infrequent. When we did talk, he was all in. The excited sound of his voice on the phone made me smile. "How's Data? Does she miss me?"
"She's fine!" I resisted a snigger. I wanted him to be totally surprised when he got home. "We're getting along great."
"Oh, no. What have you done to my dog?" He sounded way too suspicious. "You haven't put her in a purse. Kay, tell me you haven't put her in a purse!"
I laughed and sidestepped the question. "I've decided to take you up on your offer and add a few personal touches to the penthouse and closet. What's my budget?"
It was weird. But with Jus away, I suddenly had the urge to leave my fingerprints on his life. Call it vanity. Call it wanting to sell the marriage—anyone who knew me would expect me to make changes to Justin's place. You could even call it optimism.
Jus preloaded a credit card for my use. It must be said, as shallow as it sounds, that using that card was thrilling. As I spent, I wondered if Jus would like what I was buying.
I visited Sophia and Vicki. In an attempt to win their favor after stealing Jus away, I brought them matching mother-daughter sundresses and headbands. And asked them to be models in the fashion show I was planning as part of the sample sale. It was my idea to dress up models in outfits comprised of samples as inspiration for the shoppers. And have buyers on hand to help shoppers if they needed help. I even showed them a picture of Data in her carrying purse.
"I want a doggy like that one," Sophia told Vicki. "So I can carry it around in my purse."
The next time I went to see her, I brought her a toy stuffed Pomsky in a purse.
Everywhere I went, it seemed, even the hospital, I bumped into Lazer. It was like a huge cosmic joke—See what you could have had, Kayla. If only you hadn't jumped at ten million. Fate seemed to be shoving us in each other's faces. And laughing at us.
About the tenth time it happened—in the pet store, of all places; I was buying special new doggy treats for Data, Lazer needed more fish food and a new filter for his aquarium—he said, "I must be unintentionally stalking you."
"Unintentionally?"
"Subliminally? Is that a thing?" The sexy look in his eyes would stop the hardest heart.
"Maybe I'm subliminally stalking you?" I couldn't keep the flirt out of my voice and body language.
He laughed. "I'd like to think so." He was so smooth. "We meet too often for mere coincidence."
Lazer was fun to flirt with. Hot to look at. Charming. And out of my reach. We got along so well it was scary. I couldn't get past the feeling that on another lifeline, in an alternate universe, he and I could have been extremely happy together. If only there hadn't been a Jus. But no Jus, no way I would have met Lazer. It was a Catch-22 situation of the highest order. Every time I got myself together and got close to getting myself out of the warring emotions I was in, fate upped the number of bombing runs. And threw me into confusion again by throwing me in Lazer's path.
When Jus left on the twenty-sixth, Seattle was its normal, pleasant, slightly cool, sometimes summery, showery self. On the twenty-seventh, the jet stream changed course, and Seattle began to bake. Record heat stretched day after day as the mercury climbed. Buns became the most popular women's hairstyle in the city. And Costco couldn't keep fans or air conditioners in stock.
The thing people have to understand about Seattle is that it is tied with San Francisco as the least air-conditioned city in the country. Fewer than one in ten people have air conditioning. I had it in the penthouse, of course. But my old apartment? Nope. I would have been sweltering.
Usually Seattle's onshore flow cools it off at night. A persistent high-pressure center had spun our onshore flow out to sea. Tensions flared. And while Seattle baked, I was fiddling like Nero. Enjoying the high life. Enjoying running into Lazer. Or maybe I was simply playing with fire.
After one of my many meetings at Flash, I was supposed to meet Britt downtown for dinner. I'd already arrived at the restaurant when I got Britt's message that she had to cancel. Something about a problem with the paperwork she had to fill out before she could start at Flash. She was running over there to take care of it. But she didn't want to hold me up. Let's reschedule!
I was hungry. I decided to dine alone. Coincidentally, I ran into Lazer again. He was also dining alone. His business client had cancelled on him. Lazer invited me to join him while we laughed about this seeming like another setup. Another us-subliminally-stalking-each-other incident.
Maybe I shouldn't have joined him out in public when Jus was gone. But it seemed rude not to. It was purely innocent, anyway. What could possibly happen in public? We laughed too easily. Drank too much. Put our heads together too closely. And stared too long into each other's eyes.
When I got home, I felt guilty. And lonely. Lazer was fun. But I longed for Jus and his eagerness. And the way he made me laugh.
July second, the day before Jus was due home, I was eager and excited for his return. Magda and I had planned a special meal for him. I'd bought a pair of pasties and a hot little thong number to surprise him with. I wondered, delighted with myself, if he'd fare any better removing the pasties than he had with the chicken cutlets. They wouldn't stick to the mirror, that was for sure. But was there anything more than sex between us? Despite the occasional fun of flirting with Lazer, my feelings for Jus were growing.
But I was a broken vessel. Unwilling to slap my heart out there to be stomped on first again. My disastrous relationship with Eric had really done a number on me. And I still wondered if Jus was my rebound guy. Or were the beginnings of love I was feeling real?
Sometimes I longed for that old crush Jus had had on me in college. But crushes weren't real love. And real love was what I wanted next time around.
Magda had already gone home when I got a text from Lazer. He was in my lobby. This seemed to be a case of intentional stalking. I buzzed him up.
"You must be in a panic," he said as soon as he walked in. He looked so serious I almost laughed.
"Must I?" I frowned and smiled at the same time, totally confused. "Why?"
He pulled a sparkling tennis bracelet out of his pocket. "I was at Flash meeting with Riggins. They said you lost this. I had to bring it right over. I couldn't trust it with anyone else."
The bracelet dangling from his fingers looked very similar to the diamond tennis bracelet Jus had given me. But why did he think it was mine? I held up my wrist for him to see. "That's sweet of you, but I have mine. See?"
He frowned. "Then whose is this?"
I laughed and took it from him, inspecting it. "Hmmm…I don't know. But it's gold plate at best. And I'm guessing these are crystals, not real diamonds. Still, a nice bracelet. Though not hideously expensive. It looks like a sample of something Flash would sell." I grabbed his hand, turned it palm up, and pressed the bracelet back into it.
Our eyes locked. I felt a spark. I was sure he did, too.
"I'll take it back to Flash." He dropped it in his pocket.
"I was just sitting out on the deck, enjoying the evening view. Care to join me?" I probably shouldn't have asked.
"I can stay for a minute or two." He smiled graciously.
"I was thinking of making myself a drink. Can I get you something?" Offering a drink was definitely a no-no. But after the busy day I'd had, I needed something to relax me. And it seemed only polite.
"A beer's fine. Jus always has some good ones around."
"Lager? Ale? Pale? Dark?"
"A dark ale sounds great."
I got him one from the fridge. When I handed it and a glass to him, our fingers brushed. I felt another spark. So did he. I saw it in his eyes. We sat out on the sofa on the balcony, side by side, drinking and looking out at Bellevue and Seattle beyond.
"This heat." Lazer opened the first few buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves.
He'd come straight from work. He was still dressed for business in his tailor
ed, expensive clothes. I was in shorts and a tank top and flip-flops.
Our arms brushed. Our thighs touched as we talked about nothing. He drank his beer. I drank my mixed drink. It was so easy to flirt with a man like Lazer, who was skilled at flirting back. It meant nothing to either of us. It really didn't. We weren't in public. No one was around, so what was the harm?
Our fingers brushed again. Our eyes met. I smiled at him. His arm was over the back of the outdoor sofa in a position that could almost be construed as around me.
I lifted the hair off my neck.
"Hot?"
I rolled my eyes. "When will this heat wave end?" I may have been talking about us. "A few more days and we'll have the record."
His fingers slid down the sofa back and lightly skimmed my neck, raising goosebumps at his touch. My breath caught. Our gazes locked. I released my hair, letting it tumble over my shoulders, down my back, over Lazer's fingers that were still at the nape of my neck. Suddenly, he cupped the back of my head and pulled me toward him.
I closed my eyes. Our lips met. His were warm and insistent. Skilled. Expert at extracting sighs from women. He smelled like expensive cologne. And tasted like Justin's expensive beer—
At the thought of Jus, I came to my senses and started pulling away at the same time he let me go. I wasn't acting my part. And part of me wasn't acting at all.
We spoke at once. "I'm sorry." "I shouldn't have. What was I thinking?"
We laughed awkwardly, embarrassed.
"It's my fault," he said, acting the gentleman. "All that subliminal stalking." His jaw set. "Since I met you I've been wondering what it would be like to kiss you." He stared at me. "Lucky Justin."
"No, it's my fault. Sometimes I barely feel like a married woman. I haven't learned how to turn the flirt off yet."
"Not flirting and acting married is an acquired skill, I'm sure." He set his beer bottle on the table in front of us. "I should go."
I nodded and walked him to the door.
He cupped my chin and tipped my face up. "If only we'd met sooner."
I stared at him until he dropped his hand. "This stays between us." I held his gaze. "I don't want to hurt Jus."
Not that he necessarily would be hurt by me kissing another guy, given what a fake our marriage was. But I'd promised not to embarrass him. Or give us away. And this probably qualified. Worse, there was a big part of me that felt like I had betrayed him. I had no idea where that feeling came from.
Lazer nodded. "Of course."
I watched Lazer walk away, wondering what I'd just done. And how it must look to him. I hoped he kept his word.
Chapter Six
Justin
I was scheduled to fly home late on the third. My meetings got pushed out. I flew home on the fourth. My flight was late. I was supposed to arrive at one, in plenty of time for Riggins' scheduled three o'clock departure. I didn't get home until three thirty. I texted Kay from the plane and told her to go ahead to the party. I didn't want her missing the boat. I would join up with them as soon as I could.
She texted back, How? We'll be out in the middle of the sound.
I responded, Trust me. And grinned. Some people could be so naïve. She still wasn't used to living the billionaire's life.
A speedboat and driver were waiting for me at the marina. I called Riggins for coordinates and put my driver in touch with his. It felt good to be out on the water. I was so damn eager to see Kay again.
A crowd gathered on the back of Riggins' boat as mine approached. I felt like James Bond on a mission as we sped toward it. Riggins should have slowed down the damn boat. But he had his driver gun it as we neared. It was just like Riggins to pull that stunt. There was nothing he enjoyed more than a chase.
I shouted to my driver over the roar of the engine, "Catch that yacht and step on it!"
I already had a beer in my hand. I leaned back, adjusted my sunglasses, and put my feet up on the side of the boat, enjoying the feel of the spray as we glided across the water. It was hotter than hell on land. But cool and pleasant on the water. If Riggins thought he could outrun us in his state-of-the-art yacht, he was full of bat shit.
Riggins leaned against the back rail, waving me, or some would say egging me, on. Pointing. Exaggerated shrugging. Glancing at his watch. Tapping it. Miming, Come on, buddy. What are you waiting for? Catch up and join us.
Riggins' yacht was a real white beauty. He could comfortably sleep eight to ten people in his four staterooms. The body was sleek, curved, and modern. The back deck covered except for the sunbathing porch. Lazer, with his arm around a bikini-clad girl, joined Riggins on the lower back deck, laughing while I gained on them.
Kay had been lounging and sunning on a lounge chair on the main deck. She stood now, too, joining the crowd. She wore a skimpy red, white, and blue bikini tied together at her breasts with a red bow. I didn't have much fashion sense, but I thought the top was retro. High-heeled navy flip-flop-style sandals studded with red beads and rhinestones gave her several inches and made her legs look like they belonged on a runway. Her long blond hair blew in the breeze. She looked just as hot and gorgeous as she had on the beach at college. When I had to eye her from afar. Wait a minute! Wasn't I watching her from a distance now and still chasing her?
I smiled to myself. Different circumstances altogether. I was racing toward my wife. I'd fantasized about a moment like this for years.
She brushed her hair out of her face, waving vigorously to me with one arm. Was that my dog she had in the other? At the sight of Kay, my heart did a furiously happy cartwheel.
I fought to keep my cool exterior, leaning back and taking a swig of beer as we closed the gap and Riggins surrendered. He finally slowed the boat enough so we could pull up to the swimming deck and came down from the middle deck to greet me.
"Permission to come aboard, captain!" I saluted him.
"You mean I can deny you?" Riggins grinned and saluted back.
"Not really. I'll just stage a hostile takeover of your vessel." I stood as my driver kept us even with the yacht.
Riggins offered me a hand over. "Nice of you to finally join us."
I set my beer down, ignored the hand he offered, and swung over from my boat to his. "Nice of you to make it so easy."
He laughed. "Get yourself something fresh to drink."
Data still in her arms, Kay rushed down the steps from the deck above toward me. She looked so damn hot and lovely she made my heart ache. I swelled with pride. We were in public. I could let my true feelings show.
"Jus!" She kissed me as if she'd missed me, maybe a little too enthusiastically, while Data barked excitedly.
Who was Kay trying to impress?
"I've missed you so much!" Her eyes sparkled.
Maybe her words were true, maybe not. In any case, they made me happier than they should have.
I scratched Data behind the ears. She was wearing a red, white, and blue collar that exactly matched the straps of Kay's shoes, and a doggy headband. "What have you done to my dog?"
Data barked again, wagging her tail as she answered for Kay.
Kay shrugged. "Dressed her for the Fourth." Her tone was way too innocent.
"I told you not to girl up my dog." I took Data from her as we climbed the stairs together to the middle deck. When we reached the deck, I took the headband off Data. And caught a glimpse of a red, white, and blue bag sitting beside the chair Kay had been in. "Have you been putting my dog in a purse? Damn it, Kay."
She took Data back from me and set her on the deck. Then she wrapped her arms around me and kissed me. It was hard to stay mad when she was nearly naked in my arms.
Riggins tapped me on the shoulder. "If you want a room, help yourself." He laughed.
I was tempted. The bedrooms on Riggins' boat were large, private, and luxurious.
Everything on the boat was elegant and modern, with clean lines and square cuts. Tan sofas, white pillows, and beech-colored tongue-in-groove wooden floors. Chrome
fixtures. Chrome-edged glass tables.
We sailed farther out into Elliott Bay. It was crowded on the sound. Loud. Hot. The hottest Fourth on record, the weather report said. But it was nice on the water and Riggins had air conditioning inside the ship.
Kay threw on a sexy white cover-up dress for the sit-down salmon dinner prepared by Riggins' personal chef. Riggins' white and stainless steel dining room was my favorite part of his boat. Dark wood tables edged in stainless steel. White chairs. Black lamps. Hard lines. I ate too much. Drank too much. Looked at Kay too much.
Riggins went on again about buying a submarine. Every once in a while he got it in his head that it would be great fun to cruise around the bottom of the sound in a submarine. If he started talking about it, you couldn't shut him up.
"Do they make personal submarines?" Kay asked.
Oh crap. She and Lazer's new girl were the two people at the table who didn't know better than to walk into his trap. And he'd suckered Kay in. He launched into a soliloquy about submarine specs. While she leaned forward and listened intently.
Kay was animated and happy. Bubbly. Charming to everyone throughout the evening. My friends all loved her. Some a little too much. Yes, I knew I was wading in dangerous territory. If I lost Kay, would they take her side?
There was something going on between her and Lazer. They were awkward with each other in a way they never had been before. Shit, they'd hit it off from the start. Now they avoided each other, though they tried not to be obvious about it. Were almost distant. They tried too hard to be pleasant to each other. It was only a veneer. What the hell had happened? Whatever it was, it was good for me.
I smiled to myself. If Kay isn't interested in Lazer anymore, it opens the door for me.
Kay leaned against the front rail on the top deck as we watched the fireworks. I stood behind her with my arms around her, wanting her badly. I was horny as hell. And happy. Happy to be home. Happy to have Kay waiting for me. Happy with the progress I'd made. Thirty days were nearly up. We were nearly that much safer.
For Richer, for Richest Page 7