Transparency

by Jeanne Harrell

  “That sounds illegal…”

  He shook his head. “Unethical maybe, but not quite illegal.”

  “And that’s the kind of business you’ve been doing all this time?”

  “Pretty much…”

  She leaned over to wipe some crumbs from his lips and then kissed him.

  “Oh, honey… You’re losing your soul.”

  “I know it, Beth. The whole house of cards started falling in on me when Sheriff Ibarra found my dad’s logbook.”

  “What?”

  He explained the whole story to her about the sheriff, the logbook and the subsequent reappearance of his conscience.

  “And that’s when I bumped into you or fate brought you…”

  She smiled. “I see. So you think your dad’s reaching out to you, trying to steer you back to the straight and narrow.”

  “Beth, I always thought he was such a poor businessman, but it’s pretty obvious that I’m the one who’s sorely lacking.”

  “So what are you going to do now? With this company?”

  “… Can you stay a while, sweetheart? I need to talk your ear off. Would you please stay and listen to me? I really need to talk this out…”

  “Oh, Bryce. Once again, I would do about anything for you.” She smiled at him. “You always were my Achilles heel.”

  “I’m not going to say I’m sorry for that.”

  “Nope. Don’t bother… It’s my problem anyway.”

  “It’s not a problem. It’s wonderful…”

  They’d finished their eggs and just sat, gazing at each other. Beth pushed some hair out of her face.

  “I always thought you were this Marlon Brando type guy – Larger than life… Maybe Brando in ‘On the Waterfront’.”

  He laughed at that. “Does that make you Eva Marie Saint? You know she co-starred in that movie with him.”

  “Am I co-starring in a movie with you, Bryce?”

  He took her chin to lift up her face to his. “Please do. Using all my powers of persuasion, please do…”

  Bryce’s lips pressed firmly against Beth’s. He brushed hers again and again planting little kisses until she parted her lips. The kiss deepened... He put his arms around her and tightened, pulling her closer. Soon he’d pulled her into his lap and the kissing continued. She ran her fingers through his dark hair and then wrapped her arms around his neck. Long, sweet kisses with no beginnings and no endings… She began moving her lips along his jaw and down his throat. She used her tongue to outline his ear… Opening his shorts, she moved to straddle him as he gasped.

  “Wait, honey…” He shifted to accommodate her and she straddled him more firmly before beginning to move slowly with him. He clung to her hips as she picked up the pace… Faster and faster… higher and higher… His breathing was ragged as the exquisite movement continued and continued… Suddenly, she ground her hips against him – They lost themselves in one another at the same time, while fireworks went off in the kitchen around them.

  Calming down, Beth got off Bryce’s lap and sat back in her chair. He ran a hand through his own messy hair and leaned over to cup her face for a sweet kiss.

  “Thank you for coming back into my life, sweetheart.” He kissed her again. “I’d forgotten how wonderful love could be… with you.”

  He gazed into her shining eyes. Her kisses were sweeter than honey.

  ‘May I ask you something?”

  “Anything…”

  “Did you love Sylvia?”

  “No… And what’s more, she told me that I was fun…”

  “Fun?”

  “Yeah, just fun…” She laughed and then he caressed her face. “May I ask you something?”

  “Sure…”

  “Why didn’t you ever marry?”

  She sat back in her chair and took a sip of her water.

  “… Oh, boy. You had to ask that, didn’t you?”

  “Yes…”

  She looked at him, exhaled a breath and decided on complete honesty.

  “… Bryce, you wrecked me. I didn’t want anyone else if I couldn’t have you.”

  That brought tears to his eyes. “Jesus, Beth. I don’t deserve you. I walked out…”

  “I know… I was there. But I also knew how desperately you felt about losing your father. It’s just a shame you couldn’t talk about it to me.”

  “…Or to anyone else.”

  He smiled at her, got up and held out a hand.

  “Let’s go back to bed, sweetheart. I have to work in the morning and a little sleep would be good.”

  They stood up and walked to the staircase together. Bryce kissed Beth’s hand and they went up to the master bedroom. He lay on the bed and pulled her close to him. Spooning with Beth, he lightly kissed her soft hair and shoulders. She closed her eyes, gave a contented sigh and snuggled deeper in his arms.

  Bryce closed his eyes. Just before Beth fell asleep, he heard her whisper, “Please don’t leave me again…” He choked up and his eyes smarted.

  “Never again, sweetheart…Never again…” He hugged her tighter and then they were asleep.

  * * *

  CHAPTER TEN

  Work the next day was difficult. Bryce knew he was stalling for time…for something… Until he could figure out what he needed to do. He’d even contemplated quitting until Beth talked him out of that idea.

  This morning, after they’d made sweet love again, he’d really opened up to her about the company and the business deal in play. He knew she sensed his hesitancy, yet she told him to come up with a different plan – Do something unusual… unpredicted. His head was totally immersed with Beth… with this company in Gardnerville. Bryce knew he had to have her with him – That this company needed her as much as he did.

  Around five o’clock, Nick stuck in his head in Bryce’s office. He looked excited.

  “Hey, Bryce…”

  “Nick. Come in…”

  “How’s the deal going?”

  “… It’s going…”

  “How about we take off for a drink this evening? Got plans?”

  “No, not really. Where do you want to go?”

  “Let’s head over to that little corner bar at the Bellagio…”

  “Sounds good. I’ll see you there in what? Fifteen minutes?”

  “…See you there.” And Nick left his office.

  Bryce immediately picked up his cell to call Beth. She answered on the first ring.

  “Hi, sweetie. How’s your day?”

  “Pretty good. The Quartet has been brainstorming what to do after our Las Vegas run.”

  “Sounds wonderful… Where are you?”

  “I’m at your place. When are you coming home? Want me to cook something?”

  He laughed. “Can you?”

  “Ha ha… Yes, I can cook, if it’s nothing too fancy. I’m pretty good with spaghetti.”

  “Spaghetti it is then. Listen…”

  “… What?”

  “Nick’s asked me out for a drink just now, so I will probably be home in an hour. That okay?”

  “Of course. I won’t start cooking for a while…”

  There was a catch in his throat. It was all so domestic and so familiar… He’d never had discussions like this with Sylvia. They’d gone out to eat almost all the time – She hated staying home and she hated cooking even more. The differences between her and Beth were too numerous to count, and he was so damn thrilled that it was Beth waiting at home for him…

  “Honey?”

  “… Hmmm?” she purred.

  “I love you, as you’ve probably figured out.”

  She laughed at him. “Yes, it’s become obvious…”

  “You always could see right through me.”

  “Yep, you’re pretty transparent,” she laughed again.

  “… So I’ll see you later.”

  “Bryce?”

  “…Yes?”

  “I love you too…”

  “… I was hoping to God you’d say that.”
/>
  “Bye…”

  “Bye, sweetie…”

  * * *

  Armed with Beth’s love and little else, Bryce met Nick at the Bellagio bar. It was a gorgeous place with plush seats, crystal vases on the bar, deep mahogany tables and low, recessed lighting. It seemed like an interesting place for Bryce to meet his boss for a friendly drink, but he was willing to go with it.

  “Bryce!” Nick waved at him from a low table off to one side. The music was low and sensual, making Bryce uneasy. He waved back at Nick and went over to sit across from him at the small, round table. Nick had already ordered them a couple of drinks.

  “Bourbon, right?” Nick asked as he handed Bryce a drink.

  “Yeah, thanks.” Bryce took a quick sip and set the glass down in front of him.

  “How are you?”

  “Good, Nick. How are you?”

  “I’m good, but I’m beginning to lose some sleep at night.”

  “Sorry to hear that. What’s up?”

  Nick was a tall man with dark, sandy hair. He had penetrating eyes that could look right through a person.

  “I’m worried about you, Bryce.”

  Bryce took another sip of his drink. “Don’t be…I’m fine.”

  “What’s happening with the Gardnerville project? Making any headway?”

  “Sure. It’s about time for me to make a visit there.”

  “Really, Bryce? You’re about to wrap it up?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Well, that’s good news. I was beginning to worry.”

  “What would you be worried about?”

  Nick looked at him long and hard. “About you joining the unemployment lines.”

  Bryce blinked and looked over at him. “Say again…”

  “We’ve been together a while now, but I get the feeling this deal is not going down too well with you.”

  “…Well…”

  “Let me cut to the chase here, Bryce. Finish the deal soon or you’re fired.”

  Bryce’s eyes popped wide. “You’re firing me?”

  “It could happen and remember…”

  “What?”

  “If you don’t work for me, I can make it damn difficult for you to work anywhere else in the financial field.”

  “Jesus, Nick… You’re threatening me too?”

  “Call it what you want. I need this deal, so you need it too.”

  Nick and Bryce stared at each other – Neither speaking. Nick broke the spell by looking at his watch. “Got to go, buddy. I’m sure you’ll make the right decision. Leave the day after tomorrow for Reno and get this deal done.” He smiled at Bryce as he threw some money down on the table. “You’re the best!”

  He thought long and hard on the drive home. Pulling into the garage, Bryce turned off the ignition and just sat there for a few minutes thinking. He looked over at the Harley and slowly smiled. It might be a good night for a ride. His smile became bigger as he got out of the car and went into the condo. Beth was waiting for him. Beth…Thank God…

  “Beth?” he called out.

  “…Kitchen,” came the reply.

  Bryce found her in the kitchen wearing an apron and stirring marinara sauce. The smell was heavenly and faintly reminiscent of his mother’s cooking. He came up from behind, grabbed her around the waist and held on for dear life. She set down the ladle.

  “Hi…”

  “Hi, yourself…”

  Bryce nuzzled her neck as Beth reached up to softly stroke his face. She turned around in his arms and greeted him with a grin.

  “Good day at the office, dear?” she kidded him.

  He smiled at her. “…Later…”

  Bryce didn’t want to talk about what had just happened – Not yet. He wanted to kiss her until they didn’t feel like kissing anymore. Beth was becoming his own personal panacea for making everything better. Instead of feeling hopeless or helpless, with this girl in his arms, Bryce felt… no, he knew he’d be able to figure out what to do with the job… with his life. But right now, kissing was all he had on his mind.

  He pressed his eager lips firmly against hers and kissed her with all he was feeling. Her lips parted and the kiss became more serious. She raised her head for him to kiss up and down her throat, coming back to replenish his batteries with another out-of-this-world kiss. Beth’s knees were getting shaky and little contented sighs escaped her mouth when Bryce finally released her. Inches from her lips, he looked deeply into her eyes. She grinned at him.

  “I guess you missed me…”

  “…Very much. I thought about you most of the day.”

  “Then you didn’t get much work done.”

  “…Enough.”

  She kissed him lightly. “Go on up and change. Everything’s about ready here.”

  Instead, Bryce dipped his hungry lips to hers for another stomach-churning kiss. Beth’s head was spinning when they broke for air.

  “Whew…Go…” She pushed against his chest to make him go. He just dug in and hugged her more tightly to him. She sensed something was up.

  “Are you all right?” she whispered in his ear. Then she felt some tension leave his body.

  “I’m good. Let me go change.” He finally let her go with a grin and went upstairs.

  Beth frowned as she prepared plates of spaghetti for them and set the plates on the kitchen table. Something was definitely the matter – She could feel the stress in his body. There was no way he could hide it from her, but he also didn’t want to talk about it right now. And that was okay… She’d wait until he was ready.

  With the French bread sliced and on the table, Beth was pouring a nice red wine for them when he came back downstairs. She took one look at him and started laughing. Bryce took the wine bottle out of her hands before she spilled it.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “…You…” She finally stopped laughing, but continued to smile broadly at him.

  He looked down at his clothes. “…Don’t like my clothes?”

  “It’s either Marlon Brando or James Dean night.” He was wearing hip-hugging worn jeans and a tight, white tee shirt. “All you need now is the leather jacket…”

  “I have one.”

  “Of course, you do.”

  “… No, it’s the same one from high school.”

  Her eyes widened. “I want to see it after dinner.”

  “It’s a date…”

  Beth took off the apron as they sat down at the table.

  “And what’s with the apron?” He smirked. “…Didn’t know that was standard musician’s costume.”

  “Ha ha, Mr. Barron. I didn’t want sauce on my blouse. I tend to do that when I’m cooking.”

  They raised glasses together, took sips and began eating in companionable silence. It felt good to just sit still, enjoying each other’s company without needing to speak. Finally, Bryce swallowed and wiped his mouth with the napkin.

  “This is good, honey. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He glanced into the dining room. “You know, there’s another room we could eat in instead of the kitchen.”

  Beth scrunched up her nose. “It’s too big and fancy. Isn’t it for entertaining mostly?”

  He shook his head. “I wouldn’t know… Never ate in it.”

  She blinked in surprise. “You’ve never eaten in your own dining room?”

  “Nope. We didn’t cook much or eat in at all.”

  “Wow… What a waste of a good kitchen.”

  He shrugged. Bryce swallowed the bite he was chewing and wiped his mouth again.

  “So what has the Quartet decided to do?” She glanced over at him. “Didn’t you tell me that you all were meeting to discuss your future?”

  “Yes, we did.”

  “Any decisions made?” He ate another bite of spaghetti.

  “…Actually, yes. Tomorrow is our last performance here in Las Vegas and then we’re taking a few months off. Everyone needs a break.”

  “And
after that?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “We’ll have to meet again probably…”

  Bryce thought about that for a minute. The conversation was heading towards the topic of San Francisco and he wasn’t quite ready to talk about that yet.

  “How would you like to go for a ride on the bike tonight?”

  She looked over at him. His face was open, contemplative and she guessed he was tossing something around in his mind. Beth grinned.

  “I’d love to…”

  He beamed. “Good. There’s a place on the Strip I’d like to take you to.”

  Beth almost laughed out loud. “What kind of place?” She passed him the bread.

  “I see that smirk so you’ve probably guessed.”

  “Yes?” He took a slice of bread and started to butter it.

  “It’s a dive basically, but they’ve got local bands that play some fabulous music.”

  “Let me guess… Probably not Mozart.” She smiled as he shook his head.

  “…Rock, mostly.”

  “When was the last time you’ve been there?”

  “…Probably over a year.”

  “Then it’s high time we went. I know how much you love rock.” She remembered something. “When was the last time you played your guitar?”

  Bryce raised his eyebrows and exhaled. “Damn…I haven’t even thought about it for quite some time.”

  She looked smug. “It’s probably high time you did that too. You played a decent bass, as I recall.”

  He reached over for her hand. “I’m on a little journey of self-discovery, aren’t I, sweetie?”

  “Yep… It’s okay.”

  “With you, it’s okay... With you, it’s even possible.” Bryce squeezed her hand and leaned over to kiss her.

  “…Mmm… You taste like marinara sauce.”

  Bryce cleaned up the dinner dishes while Beth went upstairs to change. Luckily, she’d brought her jeans, a casual shirt and light jeans jacket. Finding something familiar in his closet, she went back downstairs and into the kitchen. He saw her and whistled appreciatively.

  “You could pass for Brando’s girlfriend…”

  “I guess I have become Eva Maria Saint, huh?” She giggled. “And look what I found?”