by Boone Brux
Chapter Four
A small group congregated outside the tour office. Most appeared to be tourists, but a few were definitely locals who had been on the tour before. They chattered away, enlightening those around them about what to expect.
The two of them stood apart from the group. The prospect of a relaxed night out with Jamie made revisiting the tour exciting. Their conversation at lunch had banished a lot of the sadness she’d been fighting since their breakup and had given her a new, positive outlook not only about them, but life in general. They could totally be just friends—totally.
“Dani?”
She turned to see a young woman approach. At first Dani didn’t recognize her, the woman’s rounded belly in complete contrast to her familiar face. “Rebecca?”
“I thought that was you.” Rebecca wrapped her in a hug. “How have you been?”
“Great!”
She stepped back, holding her high school friend at arm’s length. “Wow, you’re pregnant.”
“Five months.” The woman turned and indicated a man. He wore glasses and was scholastically handsome. “This is my husband, Thomas.”
Mixed emotions raced through her. It was one thing for Roxy and Kyle to get married. They’d been together for years. It was another to see her high school classmates married and starting families. “Hi, Thomas.” She shook his hand. “Congratulations to both of you. That is just…amazing.”
“Thanks.” Her friend patted her stomach. “We couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Remembering her manners, she said, “This is my friend Jamie. We thought we’d visit the underground. Haven’t been there since high school.”
“Hi, Jamie,” the couple said in unison.
“Are you guys going, too?” A twinge of hope that they weren’t prickled Dani. She was genuinely happy for Rebecca, but staring at the blissful couple was like pouring salt in her open wounds.
“No.” Rebecca locked her arm through Thomas’s. “We were looking at baby furniture and had dinner.” She sighed. “Everybody says pregnant women are supposed to have tons of energy in their second trimester, but I’m exhausted. We’re headed home.”
Lacing her response with disappointment, she said, “Well, that’s too bad. Although I can’t think of a better reason to be tired. I’m so glad we ran into each other. It’s been too long.”
“Maybe we can have lunch sometime.” Rebecca’s strained smile accompanied her pleading gaze. “Thomas is wonderful, but I could use some girl talk. He doesn’t understand the trials of my ever-changing body or the need for more shoes.”
Neither did she—understand about the body part. Shoe buying she totally got. The closest she could come to commiserating about being pregnant was the five pounds she stacked on over the last month. “That would be great.” She dug in her purse for a business card. “Give me a call. My friend is getting married and I’m crazy busy with the wedding, but I should be free soon. And I’d love to see you.”
“Sounds good.” Rebecca pocketed the card and gave her another hug. “Nice to meet you, Jamie.”
“You too,” he said.
As the expectant couple strolled away arm in arm, Dani’s gaze followed them. She’d never been plagued by the ticking of her biological clock, but suddenly it gonged at Big Ben level. After a solid. openhanded mental slap, she shook off the new and sudden urge to produce a miniature version of herself. Yikes, that kind of thinking was not allowed—especially around Jamie.
“They seemed like nice people.”
“What?” She turned toward him. “Oh, yeah, she was a good friend of mine in high school. We kind of lost touch once we went to college.” She paused. “I can’t believe she’s pregnant.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Definitely.” She forced a smile and ignored her biological Big Ben’s thundering chimes. “Great, it’s the tour guide.”
They joined the crowd and listened to the short spiel before heading to the entrance of the underground. Dani pushed away the depressing thoughts about her single life and focused on the tour. Wooden supports stretched overhead, holding up the ceiling, and small spotlights cast bright circles on different sections of the old city. Brick archways lined the walkway, and low pipes ran overhead, making her feel slightly claustrophobic. But the hint of possible disaster was all part of the thrill and ambiance. It might not be a rational reaction, but it sure made things a lot more fun. Unfortunately, that’s exactly why only a small section was accessible to the public—safety issues. She would have really liked to explore some of the off-limit places—especially with Jamie beside her.
“I can’t believe I grew up here and haven’t seen this,” he said.
“You’re welcome.”
A smile quirked the corners of his mouth. “For what?”
“Expanding your horizons. Exposing you to new experiences.”
“You’re a good influence on me.” He pressed his hand to her back and guided her forward. “What else are you going to show me?”
She shrugged, ignoring the flutter of excitement his question sent through her. If she wanted to throw all rationale to the wind, there were a lot of things she could show him. But she wouldn’t, because that would be stupid—like totally illogical—and foolish—and imprudent, and ridiculous. She wouldn’t even consider going there—but if she did, she could show him a few things that would rock his world.
They lagged behind the group. Low wooden-and-brick ceilings hovered a few feet above their heads, and at different points, glass block skylights broke up the dark expanse.
She stepped in front of him as they approached a narrow walkway that had been constructed for tourists. “You know, they say that the hookers used to stand on those glass blocks with the price of their services on the bottoms of their shoes. The men standing here could see the cost and pick which woman they wanted.”
“That’s clever. How many prostitutes were there?”
She stopped and faced him. “About two thousand in a three-block area.”
“Wow, that’s some stiff competition.”
“Ha, ha. I see what you did there.”
“Yeah, funny, huh?”
She rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”
The guide’s voice drew their attention. “Here we have one of Thomas Crapper’s toilets.”
“Now that sounds exciting.” He spun her toward the group and pushed her forward. His hands remained on her shoulders.
“Yeah, this tour is full of exciting facts.” She didn’t complain about being manhandled. No, it wasn’t manhandling, or flirting, or even a PDA. No, she reminded herself, they were just friends, hanging out for the sake of her best friend Roxy. That nagging little voice in her head chanted liar, liar, but she ignored it—and then ignored the fact that she was getting very good at ignoring these warning signs. A snort of laughter slipped from her. As they progressed through an arched, brick doorway, the guide droned on with facts about the city that used to thrive beneath the streets of Seattle. A dark doorway loomed to their left. She stopped. “I wonder what’s in there.”
He squinted. “Darkness, danger, certain death.”
“Let’s have a look.” She dug in her purse and pulled out a flashlight.
“I’m just guessing, but I suspect the board across the door is meant to prevent us from having a look.”
“Scared?”
“Cautious.” He took the flashlight from her. “I’m never scared.”
What a load of crap. That boy was terrified of commitment. They crept forward, and she had to press her lips together from smiling at his bravado. “They say this place is haunted. “And,” she continued, ignoring his scowl, “sometimes ghosts throw things at the tourists.”
He stopped. “That. Is not true.”
She held up her hands. “That’s what I’ve heard.”
“Luckily, I don’t believe in ghosts.” He walked to the dark entrance and switched on the flashlight.
“Just because you don’t
believe doesn’t mean you won’t get a chunk of brick thrown at your head.” Actually, she’d never heard of any ghost sightings, but he didn’t need to know that. “There’s a particularly nasty spirit they talk about, a gold miner. They say he died of the bubonic plague and he doesn’t know he’s dead.” She stopped a few inches from Jamie and leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. “They say he’s covered with blisters and oozing sores.”
“Right.” He lifted the flashlight. The beam illuminated the room’s interior. Broken furniture littered the ground. Everyday items like pots and tin dishes lay strewn about. A picture of a horse and wagon still hung on the wall. “See—” He gave a little harrumph. “Nothing but junk inside.”
“What’s that?” She pointed toward the corner and whispered. “I thought I saw something move.” She grabbed onto his arm and wiggled her finger toward the far wall. “Shine your light over there.”
He slid her a crooked smile, but did as she asked. “Nothing.”
“I’m sure I saw something.” She leaned in closer. “Sweep along the back wall again.” When he swung the beam to the corner, she grabbed his arms and shouted, “Boo!”
Though he only jumped a little, it was good enough for her. She stepped back, grinning at him. “I thought you weren’t scared?”
“There’s a difference between being scared and having somebody scare you.” When she continued to smile at him, he scooped her up and held her over the barrier. She let out a yelp. “Scared?”
“All right! All right.” She clung to his neck. “Put me down.”
“Okay, but I’m warning you.” He released her feet, letting them lower back to the ground, but didn’t completely let go. Her body pressed against his, and he stared at her. Her breath hitched and he said, “Payback is a bitch.”
“Excuse me, please stay with the group.” The guide waved them over. “We wouldn’t want to lose anybody.”
“Sorry.” Keeping hold of her hand, Jamie dragged her back.
She tugged her fingers from his. “Do not scare me again.”
“Oh no, all bets are off now.” His warm breath brushed her ear. “And I’m going to enjoy making you scream.”
A flitter of desire skittered through her. “I’d like to see you try.”
That shut him up. She didn’t dare look at him. Heat infused her cheeks, and she was sure she blushed. A quiet sound she could have sworn was a growl emanated from behind her, sending a ripple of excitement across her skin. Though they seemed to have found their friendship groove, she couldn’t stop the idea of being friends with benefits from running through her mind. Being pressed up against him, even though he was trying to scare her, had done crazy things to her body.
God, the girls would kill her if they knew she was not only still lusting for him, but going one step further and entertaining naughty ideas. Bad Dani, bad! She quashed the possibility. Acting on it would stir up a whole mess of ideas and hopes. She knew that about herself. Tempting fate again wasn’t an option. Stupid, stupid! No healthy relationship ever started with “One night my ex and I hooked up…” But damn, she missed having fun together—missed him. Yeah, she was definitely a glutton for punishment.
At the end of the tour Jamie bought a T-shirt that read I survived the underground and handed it to her.
“I’ll treasure it forever.” She laced her words with a hint of sarcasm, and then folded it and shoved it in her purse. Sadly, she really would treasure it—probably sleep in it every night.
Pathetic.
“What do you want to do now?” He looked at his watch. “It’s still fairly early. Are you hungry?”
“No, but I wouldn’t mind getting a drink.”
He placed his hand against her back. “A girl after my own heart.”
No way, but she might be after something else—a little south of his heart.
Bad idea. Still, he’d be heading back to Florida. And dear God she needed to scratch an itch. No. Just no.
They walked to the nearest tavern and settled at a table near the back. Dark wood encased the room’s interior, and brass adorned the rich decor, giving it a turn-of-the-century feel. After ordering, Jamie pulled out his phone. His brow knit as he scrolled through the messages.
“Problems?” she asked.
He shoved the phone into his back pocket. “No.”
He didn’t offer anything more, and she didn’t pry. “So, that was fun.”
A smile split his face. The white of his teeth glowed in the dim light of the bar. “Yeah, it was. I haven’t done anything so touristy in years.”
“I think it helps me appreciate Seattle more. It’s easy to become immune to what the city has to offer.”
Their drinks arrived, a microbrew for Jamie and a glass of Riesling for her. She took a small sip. The fruity flavor coated her tongue, and she gave a dainty smack of her lips. “That hits the spot.”
“Jamie?”
They both turned at the sound of his name. Dani’s eyes rounded at the sight of the tall, well-endowed blonde sauntering toward them. “Do you know her?”
“Sonja?” He scooted back his chair and stood. “What…”
The Amazon wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a long kiss on his mouth. Before Jamie could object, if that’d actually been his intention, she broke their kiss. “I’ve been here for about a week.” She pointed to a woman sitting at a table. “My sorority sister is getting married.”
A lot of that going around. Dani had about thirteen minutes to settle into their new friendship before getting to meet the—what—girlfriend? The thought that one even existed hadn’t occurred to her. She dug her nails into her palms and struggled to appear detached.
His arms hung limply at his side. “That’s a coincidence.”
“A happy coincidence, I hope.” She rubbed her bright red fingernail across his lip, wiping away her lipstick. “Your dad is glad I’m here. He said you’d need me to go to the wedding.”
Dani shifted in her chair, crossing her legs and resting an elbow on the table. Her hands felt awkward no matter where she placed them. Women like this didn’t exist in real life. She resembled Barbie, except not freakishly proportioned. Blond locks lay in silky waves down her back, and a bronze shimmer cast across her skin, giving her a gorgeous sun-kissed glow. Dani hated her instantly.
“How thoughtful of my father.” His arms lifted, breaking Sonja’s hold, and he stepped back. “But that won’t be necessary, so you can go back to Florida after your friend’s wedding.”
The woman laughed, the sound smooth like an aged brandy. “Don’t be silly. I’m not going anywhere.”
His gaze drifted to Dani. She lifted her eyebrows and gave him a WTF smile. “Sonja, this is my friend Dani.”
The woman’s blue gaze leveled on her and lingered for several disapproving seconds. Never had she felt so utterly inadequate as a member of the female sex. Her only consolation was that some day Sonja would be one of those old Floridian women with leather skin, thin bleached-blond hair, and a bright pink floral housedress. And maybe a yappy little dog. Well, she hoped, anyway.
“Hello,” Dani said.
Sonja gave her a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “She’s cute, Jamie.” Shifting her stare back to her prey, she toyed with the collar of his shirt. “Rather hometown-ish.”
“Well, that’s what I am, a hometown boy.” He stiffened. “How did you even know I was here?”
“Your mother.” She slid her hands down to his biceps. “She called your father today, complaining about you going out tonight.” Her gaze cut to Dani and back. “And then he called me.”
Dani took another sip of her wine, a little of her guilt about being petty toward Jamie’s mother dissipating.
He reclaimed his chair, leaving her standing. “Does my father have you on speed dial?”
Her smile widened, but she was anything but pleased with his dismissal. “Let’s just say we both want the same thing.”
“No doubt.” He folded his hands on
the table. “But as you can see, I’ve already got plans for tonight, and I won’t be needing a date for the wedding, but thank you anyway.”
“We’ll see.” With a dramatic flip of her hair, she pivoted and strode to the table she shared with the other woman.
“I don’t think your friend likes me,” Dani said.
He inhaled, as if mustering his patience. “Sonja doesn’t like anything if she’s not getting her way.”
“What way is that, exactly?” She drained her drink and set the glass down. Her statement sounded too possessive, so she shrugged and smiled. “If you don’t mind me asking?”
He shook his head, his attention riveted a little too intently on his beer. “We did date, but we’re not seeing each other anymore.” His eyes drifted upward to look at her. “We were never serious.” He paused. “Just so you know.”
She nodded. His confession should have given her satisfaction, but all it was was simply another indication that he’d moved on—if only she could do the same thing. “Okay, but like I said, it’s none of my business.”
His stare held hers for a few seconds, as if assessing her reaction, before turning the topic to his microbrew beer. “You want to try this? It’s a blond ale with a hint of lemon.”
She accepted the glass and took a tiny sip. “Yum. I think I should have ordered that.”
After a minute, the awkward tension melted and they fell into compatible conversation. Throughout the evening her gaze wandered to Sonja. The woman’s eyes were always watching her. Jealousy, plain and simple, rampaged through her, which completely pissed her off. Jamie wasn’t hers anymore, and she had no claim on him. They were just friends. But the woman’s glare was a silent challenge.
After an hour, a small yawn escaped her. She fisted her hand over her mouth to cover it. “I guess I should go home. It’s a work night.”