by Anna del Mar
Amman made eye contact with me through the rear view mirror. “Where to?”
“The Commons,” I said, undoing my black tie. “Tremont, near the corner with Boylston.”
“Where are we going?” Lily asked.
“I want to make it up to you,” I said, “for the other day, on the stairs. And for a lousy party tonight.”
“It got better toward the end.” She smiled shyly.
I leaned over and kissed her smile, even though it was crooked and her eyes were still glazed with the kind of pain that enraged me. I pulled the monogrammed balls out of my pocket and put them in her hand. They were still warm from her body.
“Here you go.”
“What am I supposed to do with these?”
“Keep them,” I said. “Enjoy them. They’re yours. Okay?”
She put them away in her clutch.
I squeezed her hand just as my phone rang. I looked at the caller I.D. Hell, I’d better take the call or the witch might show up at my door.
I clicked on the call. “What is it?”
“Damn it, Josh, you said you’d come,” the woman on the other end of the line said.
“No, you said I should come. I said I was busy.”
“You said that Friday would be good for you.”
“Not this Friday.”
“Don’t be an ass,” she said. “Be there or be prepared to tangle with me.”
“Ha,” I said. “I’m trembling in my boots.”
“See you Friday.” She hung up the phone.
“Who was that?” Lily asked.
“No one,” I said.
The light in her eyes waned.
“No one important,” I clarified. “Look, we can’t go on with you miserable and paranoid.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You don’t have to,” I said. “I don’t blame you, Lily. Your father, Martin, you’ve got a lot of stuff to sort through, but I’m not them, and I don’t want to be stuck in the mud forever.”
“Don’t you dare try to psychoanalyze me,” she said. “It’s not like you don’t have a history of your own.”
If I was going to achieve all my objectives tonight, I had to tackle this here and now. “Look, Lily, here’s how it goes: I like sex.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“I’ve had plenty of it, safe, fun and, in some cases, very naughty.”
She rolled her eyes. “No kidding.”
“All my affairs were consensual, brief and based on clear expectations. And all of them happened before I met you.”
“Susannah Phelps?”
She wasn’t going to make this easy. “Don’t tell me you want to go down the list?”
She crossed her arms and stared at me. “Susannah Phelps?”
“No!”
“The blond bombshell with the boobs? The rich girl with the fat ass? The heiress and the very skilled jet setter?”
I raked my hands through my hair. “Jesus Christ.”
“He’s not coming to help you.”
“Fine,” I said. “But it all happened before I met you. Remember that.”
“Doctor Stevens?”
I sighed. “We met a very long time ago. We had a tryst, but we quickly became friends. I helped finance her practice and we’ve been friends ever since.”
“That’s why the doctor knew that being with you would be enjoyable.” Lily took a deep breath. “Lisa Artiaga?”
“Ah, hell, Lily. Yes. That was probably a mistake.”
“No kidding,” Lily said. “Your assistant?”
“Alice?” I swore a string of nasty obscenities. “What are you, crazy? Give me some credit, here. I don’t do it with my staff. Ever. Alice is married. She’s got two kids and a husband who’s crazy about her.”
Lily looked out the window. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I say we clear the slate and start again, giving me the benefit of the doubt.”
“I feel better already,” she said wryly.
“Are you jealous, Lily Bee?”
“Of course I’m jealous.” She flashed me an ornery look. “Wouldn’t you be jealous if you knew what I know?”
“Spitting mad jealous,” I said. “But you’ve got nothing to worry about. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted to fuck until you’re senseless and I’m dead. You’re the only one who I can’t stop wanting to fuck. You’re the only one I want to fuck right now.”
“Hush,” she said. “You’re making Amman blush.”
Amman chose the moment to speak. “Tremont and Boylston.”
“Park over there,” I said.
Lily looked out the window. “The AMC Multiplex?” Her surprised gaze shifted to me. “Are we going to the movies?”
“See?” I opened the door. “You’re the only woman I’ve brought to the movies in a million years.”
That put a smile to her face. “We’re going dressed like this?”
“Why not?” I helped her out of the car. “After all, it’s a special occasion, at least for me. Amman, you can go home now.”
“No, I can’t,” Amman said.
“Why not?”
“Miss Lily is wearing heels,” he said.
“So?”
“Her feet will hurt if you make her walk home.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me, Amman,” Lily said. “Go home to your wife. Isn’t today your anniversary?”
Of course it was, and I should have known better, since I’d been the best man at the wedding. “Damn it, Amman, why didn’t you remind me? I would’ve given you the night off.”
“It wasn’t necessary,” Amman said.
“Well, then, get going.”
“I’d rather wait.”
“Really, Amman,” Lily said. “I don’t know why, but these shoes are super comfortable. I’ll be fine.”
“Yes, Amman,” I said, annoyed. “Those shoes are prototypes from a high fashion house, built to state of the art engineering specifications that balance the foot’s angle for optimum comfort.”
Lily stared at her feet. “Wow.”
“You,” I said, landing my hands on Lily’s shoulders and pointing her toward the building. “Go get in line. You,” I said to Amman. “Go home.”
“Somerville is far away,” he said. “I’m not leaving you without protection.”
“Lily is not going to walk to Somerville, okay?” Amman was pissing me off. “I’m not that clueless. I got this.”
“Are you packing?” he said.
“No, I’m not packing.” Ernest Chamberlain should be very grateful for that. “I was at a benefit, remember? My Sig Sauer didn’t match my cufflinks.”
“I’m staying.” Amman fisted a hand around the wheel. “And don’t waste your time trying to talk me out of doing my job. Riker would have my head if I left you behind without protective detail.”
“Fine.” I slammed the door. “Have it your way.”
Sometimes my friends were as stubborn as my enemies.
I caught up with Lily at the window.
“Three movies starting within the next five minutes,” she said.
“Your pick.”
“Really?” she said. “I thought it was all about what you wanted, when you wanted.”
“You’re getting finicky in your old age,” I said. “I’m letting you pick.”
“Lucky me. Um...” She studied the movies listed on the electronic screen. “I say we go for the zombie one.”
“Ouch,” I said.
“Well, there’s a thriller about hunting Osama Bin Laden.”
“Pass.” I’d already seen that movie for real.
“The other movie is about a vam
pire.”
“If the vampire shines like diamonds under the sun, I can’t do it.”
She shrugged. “We’re back to zombies.”
“Is there any fucking in this movie?”
“I sure hope not, ’cause that would be creepy.” She flashed a funny grimace. “This one is about a zombie who falls in love with a girl and gets de-zombified because he loves her.”
“Sounds like a pile of crap.” I bought the tickets anyway. “If I get bored you’re going to have to suck my dick to keep me awake.”
Her eyes widened.
“Just kidding.” I grinned. “You can give me head after the movie.”
She slapped my arm. “You’re impossible.”
It turned out the movie wasn’t half bad and transitioned us out of what could’ve easily been the worst night of my life. Lily enjoyed the picture and I liked that she liked it. The theater was only about half full, but we stood out, because we were the only fools dressed in formal attire. Lily thought it was hilarious.
“Thanks for coming with me.” She planted a quick kiss on my cheek and although sucking my cock would’ve been better, her kiss felt pretty good too.
“Home,” I said to Amman, when we got back in the car.
Amman applied the brake a bit too suddenly. “You mean Miss Lily’s place?”
“No, I mean my place.” I looked over to Lily. “You’re sleeping over.”
“Don’t I get to choose?”
“Sorry,” I said. “It’s twelve-oh-five. Your day off is over.”
“I guess I’m back on the clock.”
“Objections?”
“None noted,” she said. “Why is Amman so shocked?”
“Because he’s a damn fool.”
“No, really,” she said. “I want to know.”
“Because despite all the rumors you might have heard tonight, I don’t bring women to my house.”
“Oh.” I could tell she was confused. “Why not?”
“Security protocol,” I said. “Plus, I like to keep my place private.”
“So where do you go?” Lily asked.
“That’s a badass question.”
She crossed her arms and stared. “Well?”
“Fine,” I said, exasperated, “but you’re not going to like my answer. Sometimes we go to hotels. Sometimes we go to their places. Sometimes we go to other places.”
“Like where?”
“You’re a nosy little witch.”
“Oh, come on. Where?”
“There are places where the naughty can have a good time pushing the edge.”
“But—”
“That’s it, Lily. I’ve indulged your curiosity. In any case, we’re here.” I helped her out of the car and, after dismissing Amman, escorted her up the stairs to the townhouse.
“Let me think,” I said, standing by the front door. “We did the movie thing. I brought you home. Oh, yes, now I get to kiss you.”
I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her very softly on the lips.
She giggled against my mouth.
“What’s so funny?”
“You are,” she said. “Pretending we’re on a date like the one I described to you that night on my porch. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. You were dead set against dating...”
“Is that so?” I said. “Well, if that was the case, I think I’ve changed my mind.”
“How so?”
I kissed her again. “I like dating you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lily
After Josh disarmed three sets of alarms with a card, a swipe of his thumb and an eye scan, walking through the townhouse’s doors was a magical experience, especially knowing that I was the exception to Josh’s “protocols.” The house opened into an expansive foyer. Against the left wall, a grand staircase rose to a landing that bridged the full span of the room before ascending to the next floor. Exquisite polished wood paneled the room.
“Is that an Alberto Carraso?” I stared at the massive painting above the fireplace.
“Affirmative,” he said.
“Are you a fan?”
Josh shrugged. “The decorator said I needed a ‘trophy’ art piece, so there it is.”
“So let me get this straight,” I said. “You spent a fortune for a painting of Paris at night and you don’t really like it?”
“Something like that,” he said. “Ten cent tour?”
“Sure.”
I followed him out of the foyer and into the dining room, where my art history training helped me identify the very expensive French Empire Starbuck table dominating the room. It was surrounded by equally pricey antique chairs featuring carved lion paws for legs and fish for armrests.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“Um, well, it’s a beautiful room,” I said, cautiously. “Any collector would be impressed with the furnishings, the art, the rugs, but...”
“But what?”
“It’s just not you, Josh. It isn’t your style.”
“What’s my style?”
“Not this,” I said. “Is there anything here that you chose for yourself?”
“Him.” He pointed to the bust on the mantle.
I checked out the sculpted bronze face of Julius Caesar. “Veni, vidi, veci?”
“He has not learned the lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear.”
It was just like Josh to admire Caesar’s wisdom instead of his might.
The rest of the main floor was as impressive, furnished expensively and exquisitely, playing up the house’s historical character and its occupant’s wealth. The kitchen was state of the art. The bathrooms were modern and sleek. The house was simply sensational and yet it was also sadly bereft of any sign of the Josh I knew.
“This is for show,” I said when we went into the formal living room. “Where do you live?”
“There’s a rec room downstairs that I like,” he said. “My rooms are on the third floor.”
He tackled the stairs. “Come up, I want to show you something.”
We climbed to the second floor, where several bedrooms opened up to the hall, furnished in the same opulent style.
Josh opened a door and gestured for me to enter. “This is your room.”
“My room?” My heart screeched to a stop. “I didn’t know I had a room in your house.”
“You do now.”
I had a room. In Josh’s house. Where he swore he never brought other women. But I had a room. The joy swelling my heart had no name or comparison.
“Lily?” Josh looked down at his hand, where his fingers had turned white because I clutched them so hard.
“Oh, sorry.” I loosened my grip.
The room still smelled of fresh paint. The walls were silky cream, matching the earthy tones of the plush Persian rug covering the wood floors. The furnishings in the room were not opulent like downstairs. Instead, the chairs, tables and sofa were a modern interpretation of the Federalist style, with clean lines and crisp, polished woods.
Framed by the tall ceilings and the restored moldings, a stunning bed was the room’s centerpiece. It sported a finely embroidered floral canopy and a tailored bed skirt in Williamsburg colors with cobalt details. Sumptuous cream drapes framed the headboard while a white striped coverlet kept the style fresh and updated.
“Do you like it?” Josh said.
“It’s...wonderful, Josh.” I ignored the price tag still attached to the bedside lamp. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you like it.” He put a set of keys in my hand. “And say you’ll stay, here, with me, even on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and regardless of what happens with the prototypes.”
My
eyes shifted between the keys and Josh’s face. My mouth might have been wide open. Not three hours ago, I’d been begging him to let me go. Now I was here, in his house, in the room he’d made for me. My legs failed. I plopped down on the bed because my knees wouldn’t hold me.
“Josh, I... I don’t understand.”
“Don’t make me beg.” He scowled. “I really hate begging.”
His body was strung like a tight cord. His jaw clenched so hard that a muscle flinched on his face. His hands fisted by his side. I didn’t know what to say, what to do. He’d given me the keys to his house?
I took Josh’s fists and kissed his knuckles until his hands relaxed beneath my lips. I patted the mattress. He sat down next to me. He wore the blank face he favored, but his eyebrows knotted above his nose. For only the second time ever, I spotted fear in his eyes.
“I don’t ever want you begging,” I said. “For me, you’ll never have to beg. I just need you to help me understand.”
“Goddamn it, Lily, you know I suck at this talking shit.”
“Just try, please?”
“Okay,” he said, staring at his feet.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“It’s a set of keys and cards to enter the house. Your fingerprints and eye scan are already programmed in.”
Knowing Josh, I decided to ignore the issue of how and when he’d secured those from me and concentrate on the important facts. “But why are you doing this?”
“Because I need to know that you’re with me,” he said. “It’s too hard when you’re not. I don’t like it. I can’t stand it.”
“What about the agreement?”
“It’s no good anymore.”
“Why not?” I tried to wrap my head around all of this. “Is it too expensive? Is WindTech too far gone? Is Martin giving you problems?”
“It’s got nothing to do with money,” he said. “The agreement with Martin stands. I’ll continue to hold my end of the bargain as long as he does. The exemption is only for you, personally.”
An exemption? Is that what I got? “Why...um...exempt me?”
“Because the agreement wasn’t fair to you in the first place,” he said. “And because the sex toy thing isn’t working very well for you.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I knew things had changed, of course I did. I had my instincts—thank God—to guide me through this mess, but I hadn’t expected this, not like this, not now.