by Emily Duvall
A jealous flutter hit Melanie. “I’m sure you’ll have better days.”
“Here we are.” Kendra pulled the car into a parallel parking spot effortlessly.
They walked across the street to the quaint, corner storefront on a row of pale buildings and sporadic, hanging baskets of pansies. Plastic tables and chairs sat outside, though no one sat in them. Paper menus stuffed in wall-hanging boxes adorned the right side of the door and both Melanie and Kendra took one.
Melanie stepped inside the overly cold restaurant with fans circulating above. The corner table by the front window was free and Melanie sat down. Their sandwiches and sodas arrived and they ate too fast to talk.
Within ten minutes they sat laughing at the wadded up paper and a stray, broken French fry on Melanie’s tray. “I’m stuffed.”
“I could eat another order.” Kendra ran her hand over her belly. “This baby is already taking my nutrients. Now she wants my fries.”
Melanie sipped her soda. “I owe you an apology for bringing up the father. I shouldn’t have pushed the subject.”
“While I agree with you, I also don’t want an apology. I’ll handle my own situation. I don’t need your advice.” She blew out a long breath. “Except for…”
“Except for what?” Melanie could see she wanted to tell her something.
“It’s just…” she looked up at the ceiling. “Nothing; I’m going to order another round of fries. Do you want anything?”
“I’m good.”
Kendra got up from the table with slow movements and she made her way to the counter, ordered another basket of fries, and returned a few moments later. She squeezed a blob of ketchup inside the basket and dipped a fat fry. “I’m surprised Luke asked you to go on a hunt with him.”
“I am too. Unfinished business, I guess.” The straw slurped up the last of the drink and she shook the cup full of ice.
“I don’t know much about your relationship with him. Why did you end things?”
“He ended our relationship,” Melanie cleared up this misconception at once, “because we didn’t share the same opinion about a sensitive family topic.”
“I’ve seen when he loses something he wants. There’s nothing worse than when I know a negotiation is involved and he’s bidding for a stone up against bigger bidders. I get the silent treatment for three days and then he’ll only communicate by e-mail or text. Eventually though, he gets over whatever is upsetting him and everything goes back to normal. Luke and his brothers aren’t used to the imperfections of the rest of us and not one of them has an ounce of forgiveness inside them.”
“He offered me a job. This has to mean some sort of forgiveness.”
“I thought the gesture was unlike him. I’ve never seen Luke apologize or take pity on anyone, especially someone from his past. He’s very hush-hush about his personal life before he began Trace Elements. The information I gathered is from the Internet, so I know he put your brother behind bars. What else does he want from you?”
“More like what I want from him. I need his help to secure my brother’s early release.” Melanie gave her the details and offered only a little bit of her history with Luke.
“I overheard Luke talking to Brent about those tourmalines.”
Melanie lurched forward. “Do you know where they are? How can I get them? I need them, Kendra. I don’t think Luke and I are headed in a good direction and I’m afraid he’ll change his mind about me working with Vivian. If he sends me home, then I’ve failed. The other possibility is he’s trying to get under my brother’s skin by using me.”
The fry in Kendra’s hand dropped. “You think he’s using you?”
“I don’t know, maybe.” A family group of five slow-walked by their window and stopped. The mom of the group wearing a neon visor and tank top with an air-brushed image of a muscled-woman’s body on the shirt peered into the window and shook her head. The family kept walking, apparently deciding to search out other food options.
“Luke’s a businessman. He sticks out his agreements and doesn’t back out because of a personal hitch in the contract. You signed something legal about this agreement between the two of you.”
“You were present.”
“You don’t have to worry. What’s your back-up plan if you don’t have anything to show him or tell him about by the end of the summer?”
“I don’t have a plan. What’s worse is I have no leads. I tried checking out his office, my brother suggested Luke always keeps a vault in his office, at least they did when they were in business together.”
Kendra’s eyes bulged. “You snooped around in his office?”
“He caught me.”
“Well, you still have a job. Consider yourself fortunate.” Kendra wiped her hand on a napkin. “That’s why you asked me where he keeps his gemstones.”
“Yes.” Melanie closed her eyes and breathed a long breath. She was going to be okay. This news gave her brother a fighting chance. The summer would be worth the sacrifices.
“I’ll also tell you that I know more than I was willing to admit a few minutes ago.”
“Are you going to tell me what you know?”
“If I’ve learned anything from Luke, it’s to never give anything away for free. I need to ask you a favor in return.”
“What sort of favor?”
“I need you to arrange a meeting with someone. I’ll tell you his name in a moment. I want this particular person, a man, to meet me one-half mile down from Luke’s beach, heading North, at midnight tonight. I don’t care how you get him there. You’ll have to find a way and you cannot tell him I want to see him. Tell him someone wants to meet with him.”
Melanie leaned in and listened, she didn’t let her emotions betray her facial expression when Kendra slipped her the name. “When will I get my information?”
“After I meet with him, have breakfast with me tomorrow on the patio and I’ll tell you what you want to know over coffee.”
“We have a deal.”
The French fries disappeared a few moments later as Kendra woofed them down. They returned to the car and she drove them back to the house. The sheer exhaustion of the day left Melanie feeling like she’d been hit with a two by four. Achy muscles, too much sun, the nerves of doing a last-minute favor which would bring her closer to getting Mark’s release overwhelmed Melanie when she just wanted to sleep.
The task at hand wouldn’t be easy. The player in question: Damon. Kendra wanted to get Damon alone, on the beach, at midnight. The specifications didn’t seem difficult at first. Then she realized how hard this would actually be to get him to agree. She didn’t know him. She couldn’t very well walk up to him and give the instruction.
The house wasn’t quiet when they walked through the door. Luke, Brent, and Damon occupied the pool with Goldie and Felicity chatting and sipping a drink at one end. An unpleasant gurgle moved through Melanie’s stomach and she wondered how on earth she’d be able to pull off this favor. She couldn’t approach him with Luke, Brent, or Felicity nearby and what would she do if they remained in the pool for the next several hours? Melanie put her hand on her stomach and went to her bedroom until she could figure out what to do.
* * * *
The detached sound of a phone rang. Bleary and weak, Melanie lifted the covers off her head and stared at the nightstand, a heavy-wooded object she could make out in the room. She must have fallen asleep and somewhere in the back of her mind this was a bad thing. The phone continued to ring and she grappled for the thin object on the nightstand. “Hello?” she answered.
“You’re a difficult person to reach,” Mark’s voice bit from the other end. “You aren’t answering your phone much these days.”
“Mark.” Melanie sat up. “You know I would call if anything changed.”
“I’m worried about you.”
“You’re worried about yourself.”
Melanie flipped on the light. The light struck her eyes and she closed her lids to adjust. �
�I’m tired of being in the middle.” She glanced at the clock a second time. Ten-thirty p.m. the numbers read. “Shit.” The phone slipped out of her hand. She needed to find Damon. “Mark, I really want to talk, but I have to go. I have a lead on something that will help your case.”
“What are you saying? Luke’s going to write the letter?”
The desperation in his voice broke Melanie’s heart. “I might have a reliable tip on the whereabouts of those tourmalines.”
“Forget about them. I told you—”
“I have to go!” She hung up on him without feeling remorse and flew out of bed. The bottom of her foot hit the floor too hard and she covered her mouth as she screamed as the stitches ripped open. She dropped to her rear and held her foot until the flash of white-hot pain subsided.
* * * *
Slowly this time, she stood up, and took great care when putting on her shoes. She threw on a thin, long-sleeved shirt and opened the door. The hallway, lit by the moonlight and one night light guided her to the stairs. A creak in the floor sounded like wood breaking and she stopped and held her breath. The other doors on the hallway remained closed, including Luke’s, and she didn’t hear any movement behind them.
The pool party outside didn’t exist anymore. No trace of Felicity and Damon or the others remained outside. The night felt later than the hour and she tried to think of where Damon might be at this point in time. If he went back to Felicity’s hotel then Melanie could forget Kendra’s deal and she’d be left to finding out the information on her own. The task seemed small, compared to what she had to lose. She’d already lost Luke. He would never give in on the subject of her brother. She knew this now and accepted her own stupidity and excitement of being with him.
The possibility of waking up Stevie came to mind. She couldn’t trust Stevie to understand the situation and quickly realized she couldn’t tell her. The sordid details would be all over the breakfast table the next morning. Melanie scratched this idea off her list. Brent came to mind and she knew that would be the dumbest of all choices. They didn’t know each other well enough for her to go asking after the younger brother without raising a few eyebrows.
Melanie started to get up when a movement caught her eye. A body took shape coming down the stairs and she squinted to try to see through the darkness. Luke appeared, shirtless and in his swim shorts. The trail of hair began at his chest and streamlined to the top of his shorts. He caught sight of her at the end of the pool and stopped. His hand tugged on the towel. He waited a moment before coming around to the end of the pool. Melanie slipped back into the house and up the stairs.
Chapter 23
Conflict tormented Luke. He thought himself strong enough to resist her. He’d been too tempted by the sight of her today to stay away, yet he’d triggered more emotion in her than he’d anticipated. She did love him. A fact he could see whether she told him or not. He wanted her to love him and he hadn’t anticipated how quickly she’d hurl her hurt at him. Luke turned over in the pool so he lay with his back on the water, holding his breath in spurts and being still. He stayed like this for a few minutes longer, thinking about what to do. The thought of firing her crossed his mind.
Luke got out of the pool and dried off. They couldn’t talk about the subject any more. It was dead in the ground. Halfway up the stairs he stopped and looked up. Two people spoke fast and low on the third floor and he slowly took a step back and listened.
“You’re insane,” Damon said. “What do I get in return?”
“You get me. All of me,” Melanie said. “I see the way you look at me. I’m dying to find out if you’re a good kisser.”
Luke gritted his teeth at the sound of Melanie’s voice. He kept listening, despite the wrath growing inside. They stood so close, he saw their heads touch. He leaned closer.
“I don’t want to go on the beach,” Damon said.
“Nobody can see us,” Melanie pleaded.
“Alright; I hear you. Give me a second.”
Luke’s fists curled. His veins pumped hot blood up his cheeks. Their footsteps pushed him to run up the stairs and wait in the shadows so he could see the traitorous, lying, woman he’d made love to. The moment of her deceit was his last undoing. Now she’d hurt him beyond repair. He could make out their bodies, two shadows sneaking down the stairs. He saw Melanie leave with Damon with his own eyes.
Chapter 24
Every part of sneaking out with Damon felt wrong. She kept looking over her shoulder, fearful that Luke might be watching from somewhere. He’d left the pool, which brought her more angst.
She did her best to not encourage Damon. She walked best she could and kept her distance slightly in front of him. The signal from Kendra, a flashlight, should be showing any second. Damon actually thought they were going to make love! A revolting thought as Melanie didn’t think he would go for such a plan, given his upcoming marriage. When she roused him out of bed, it took a shorter time than she’d ever imagined and she convinced him without much effort.
“Let’s do this,” Damon said and reached for the back of her shirt.
“Not yet,” Melanie said and tried to keep walking. Lights on houses in the distance blinked in the wind. She kept a vigilant gaze up ahead. They had to be close. The waves pounded to the right of her and she didn’t like the darkness, the water, or the situation one bit.
“There’s no one around.” Damon grabbed her hand and yanked her over to him. “You can have me. I know how you want me.” He leaned into kiss her and Melanie kicked his shin.
“Ouch!” he yelled. “What’s wrong with you?”
A flash of light, then another, and Melanie brought her hands to her chest and shook excitedly. “I’m not going to sleep with you.”
“You’re not? Then why did you bring me out here?”
“Do you see the flashlight up ahead?”
Exasperation sounded in his breath. “Yes.”
“Someone wants to meet with you. I can’t tell you her name. You’ll have to go find out for yourself.”
“I’m not going to meet anyone. I’m going back to the house and telling my brother how you threw yourself at me. He won’t like his little pet making a move on me. I’ll get him to throw you out.”
She could almost see the sneer.
“You won’t get her thrown out,” Kendra said, out of breath.
“I told you I will not talk to you,” Damon exploded.
“Melanie, leave us alone. I’ll see you at breakfast in the morning.”
She didn’t want to leave them alone, or more concerning, leave Kendra alone with Damon. The moment she tried to stay, Kendra barked at her to go back or she wouldn’t hold up her end of the bargain. Melanie left them alone. She could hear their heated conversation as she turned away and went back to the house.
* * * *
Breakfast came and went without a sign from Kendra, Damon, or Luke. Melanie drank her coffee with jitters. She kept looking at the door leading to the family room. Worry, not personal motive, occupied Melanie’s thoughts. She hoped nothing bad had happened on the beach. She also couldn’t suppress the idea that Luke had somehow seen Melanie taking Damon down there.
Melanie had no option other than to start work with Vivian. The evaluation was complete. Another wave of bad feelings coursed through Melanie. She’d have to tell Luke the outcomes. Vivian was deficient in every area: personal-social, adaptive, motor skills, communication, and cognitive ability and in each of the categories, Vivian was behind anywhere from eight to ten months below her peers. A curtain closed around her heart at having to tell him.
Melanie and Vivian sat in the play room, the quietest room in the house, and got started on their session. Today Melanie took out a ball, a cup with a lid, and keys on a key ring. They would work on Vivian making sounds and learning to follow directions. “Watch me.” Melanie put the ball in the cup.
Vivian sat up straight and reached out with both hands to the cup.
“Say, my turn.”
> Vivian babbled and reached for the cup again. Melanie rewarded her with the cup and the ball. “Good.”
She watched Vivian examine the ball first and then the cup. They repeated this and Melanie integrated the cup with the lid and the keys. “Good. Do it again,” she said and made the sign for “again.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Stevie said and stuck her head in the play room. “Luke wants to see you in his office, he said it’s urgent.” She walked over to Vivian. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“I’m glad he wants to see me, I have the results of Vivian’s evaluation. I haven’t seen Kendra today, is she by chance around?”
“Kendra’s at the hotel with Felicity. The bride asked for her to be there by seven o’clock. I know because Vivian was awake and we bumped into each other in the kitchen.”
“Oh good, I’ll catch her later.” Kendra should have at least texted Melanie about heading over to Felicity’s hotel, but Melanie wouldn’t read too much into the situation. She’d gotten Damon over to Kendra and she’d upheld her part of the bargain.
Melanie walked the length of the hall thinking about Luke and their closeness last night out by the pool. Absentmindedly she moved her hand up the banister. Nerves ran through her at the thought of talking to Luke for the first time after their fight.
She knocked on Luke’s door and entered before he responded. “Luke?” she said and stopped at the sight of him, at the sheer disgust on his face. She took a tentative step forward. “Stevie said you wanted to see me. Is this a bad time?”
Luke cocked his head. “With you, the timing’s always bad.”
“I know we can’t figure this out between us…” her voice stalled at Luke’s face, like he loathed her.