Caught up in the moment, the pretend became real.
Chapter 14
Kelly abruptly stepped back. Wide-eyed, she stared at Regina. The breeze caught at her hair and she pulled it away from her face.
Another heartbeat and she spun in the sand, began to run toward the steps up to the house, leaving Regina there without a word.
Not knowing what else to do, forcing all thoughts of what had just happened to the back of her mind, Regina began to pack up their things. She didn’t know what to think or how to feel.
Her lips still felt the press of Kelly’s on hers. The only thing she knew for sure was that she wanted more.
“Kelly?” she called when she reached the house, but there was no answer.
Regina put the dishes away and tossed the empty bottle of wine into the recycle bin. She didn’t know where to put the picnic basket, so she left it on the counter and took the blanket to the laundry room and threw it into the washer.
She heard music playing from Kelly’s part of the house. Knowing she shouldn’t do it, that she should just leave her alone, still she followed the sound to Kelly’s bedroom/studio. The artist was hard at work. She hadn’t changed clothes or fixed her hair since they’d rehearsed – kissed – on the beach.
Regina couldn’t see what she worked on, but Kelly was in a zone of her own with no apparent awareness of her surroundings. After the first couple of times saying her name had no effect, Regina left her to her work.
Unable to bring herself to do more of her own work, Regina tried to read for a while. When that didn’t work, she walked back down to the beach and just wandered aimlessly, collecting shells and polished rocks, sea glass and bits of coral.
She had no idea what she might do with it, but it kept her mind off Kelly and kisses and what might come next, for good or ill.
The sun was well on its way to setting when Regina returned to the house. This time, it was silent, the kind of silence that meant there was no one else in the world but you. Just to confirm, Regina glanced in the garage. Kelly’s car was gone.
A weight settled in the pit of Regina’s stomach as she whispered, “I’ve chased you away, haven’t I?”
Suddenly afraid that she really had chased her away, not just for a little while but for good, Regina ran to Kelly’s studio. If her things were gone, too…
The door was open. Regina flipped on the lights and breathed a sigh of pure relief when she saw the clothes on the end of the bed, the toothbrush and makeup on the counter in the bathroom, the laptop computer in the desk just past the easel. Unable to fight her curiosity, she walked farther into the room. Rounding the easel, she gasped at the portrait resting on the wooden frame.
It was her. Done in watercolor that somehow incorporated all the little disparate sketches Kelly had done the other day into one seamless whole, the colors so layered and intense Regina couldn’t quite believe it was watercolor and not oil.
The icy blue of the sweater that bared one shoulder made her shiver. Her tanned skin glowed, honey and amber. Her hair shone, gold-kissed sable, falling in soft waves down her back. Her brown eyes stared back at her, shining with secrets.
There was nothing overly erotic about the portrait, but Regina felt the heat rise in her face all the same.
Chapter 15
Darkness fell. The moon was so bright the stars faded into insignificance, and still Kelly hadn’t returned. Restless, thinking about her stalker for the first time in days, Regina called Detective Chang. She didn’t know whether to hope for news or for nothing.
After chastising her for using the burner phone for a non-emergency, Chang told her, “Yes, actually, we have had a break in your case, Miss Molinari, but it’s not something I can discuss with you.”
“But I might be able to go home soon?” And that was something else she didn’t know how she should feel. She loved it here, in this villa.
Someday, she’d like to explore the rest of the island as well as its neighbors, and she’d very much like to do that with Kelly Nordstrom, but more and more it looked like that wasn’t going to happen.
“Give us a few more days, Miss Molinari. Chances are good, but I just don’t know yet.”
Following the call, Regina wandered around the house. She wasn’t hungry, but she knew she should eat, so she pulled some of last night’s leftovers from the refrigerator and popped them into the microwave.
Before she turned it on, though, lights on the narrow road that led from the island’s main road to Jack Nordstrom’s villa caught Regina’s attention and she watched as a car made its way through the darkness. It could only be heading to the villa; there wasn’t anything else nearby for miles.
A sickening rush of fear-born adrenaline courses through Regina’s body. Her pulse races. Chang had said she had a good lead, but what if she was wrong? What if this was her stalker?
Telling herself to shut up, Regina watched the car pull into the long driveway, but before she could do anything like run out of the house to hide in the gardens or down on the beach, she realized that it was Kelly’s old red Mustang.
Regina was still afraid, but it was an altogether different kind of fear. She couldn’t move. It felt like she couldn’t breathe, like a metal band had wrapped itself around her chest to prevent her from pulling in enough air.
She waited as the garage door opened, closed, and Kelly came through the door into the kitchen. A moment later, she stood in the doorway, coppery strands escaping from her ponytail, smears of paint on her shirt and her shorts.
Kelly offered Regina a bouquet of flowers, reds and purples, yellows and oranges. She awkwardly held a twelve by twelve box in her other hand.
“I’m sorry I bugged out on you like that, Gina.” She looked and sounded contrite. “After I finished the painting, I just… I needed to think.” Taking a few steps closer, Kelly placed the box on the coffee table and moved closer to Regina. “I don’t know what’s going on that you felt the need to isolate yourself here…” A surge of guilt ran through Regina; she should have told Kelly long since what was going on, since it could have become a danger for her, too. “…but I know you felt you couldn’t leave. Can’t leave.”
Close enough to touch, she held out the flowers to Regina once more. “So instead of asking you to go out on a date with me somewhere, I…” She bit her lower lip and Regina had a very hard time looking away. “I thought maybe, if you’re interested, I’d bring the date to you.”
By way of answer, Regina took the flowers and laid them gently on the coffee table. Smiling, she pulled Kelly into her arms and kissed her, long and slow, until they were both breathless, finally breaking the kiss to whisper, “I thought you’d never ask.”
Unforgettable
by Claire Decker
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Copyright © 2015
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
Also by Claire Decker
Chapter 1
“Well, what do you think?” Jackie asked as they stepped onto the mahogany floors of the hotel bar. She’s always admired the industrial chic decor whenever she was here which was at least twice a week.
“This is where you find clients? I don’t get it,” Emily said, turning to survey the dimly lit rectangular room. Cozy booths lined the wall with comfortable leather seats. Soft jazz music played in the background.
“What�
�s not to get?” Jackie asked, silently wondering why Emily was still in her ultra conservative work clothes. This is why she’s still single.
“How do you know if someone’s planning a wedding?” Emily asked as she followed Jackie to a booth in the corner.
“If you came here as often as I did, you’d get it,” Jackie said, trying to make eye contact with a waiter. “I’m surprised no one from your office comes in here after work. It’s a short walk away.”
Emily shrugged. “We just have our regular spots. No one ever wants to try anything new. You still didn’t answer my question,” she continued as she reached up to take her sunglasses off of her head and dropped them into her bag. “How do you find clients here? You can’t just walk up to someone and ask if they need a wedding photographer.”
“Why not?”
“Please tell me you don’t do that.”
“Okay, I don’t do that,” Jackie said. “Do you see that bartender? The one with the blond hair, just above her shoulders?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s Aimee. She tips me off. She knows everyone that comes through those doors and she knows who’s just gotten engaged,” Jackie explained.
“But why would she just tell you? What’s in it for her?”
“Why does there have to be anything in it for her?”
Emily’s eyes narrowed. “Because that’s the way the world works.”
“That’s a great outlook to have on life,” Jackie said with a laugh.
“So what’s in it for her, other than generous tips?”
“I think you can guess…” Jackie said with a wink.
“Oh God, Jackie! If you weren’t my best friend you would absolutely disgust me. Does sex ever mean anything to you?”
“We can’t all be romantics like you, Em.”
“That doesn’t mean- Never mind. So not only do you find clients here, you also manage to meet women,” Emily said as she flagged down a waiter.
“What can I get you ladies?” the tall, dark haired waiter asked.
“Gin and tonic for me,” Emily said.
“Jack Daniels and Coke.”
“Okay, I’ll be back with those shortly,” he said.
“Why can’t you be like normal people and go to a gay bar?” Emily asked.
“Too much drama and it’s always the same faces.”
“I wish my gaydar was more accurate,” Emily said with a sigh. “What about her? In the blue dress, sitting at the bar?”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“She’s not a lesbian,” Jackie answered.
“Sometimes I really hate you.”
“I know,” Jackie said with a smile.
The waiter returned with their drinks and Emily reached for hers immediately.
“You need to put yourself out there more,” Jackie said. “I don’t know how you can be so confident in the courtroom and so shy when it comes to women.”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“See, she’s not gay,” Jackie said as a man in a navy suit greeted the woman that Emily was eyeing up a few moments ago with a kiss on the lips.
“You’re not helping.”
“What about her? Red hair, pantsuit. She’s pretty.”
Emily shrugged.
“What’s wrong with her?” Jackie asked.
“I don’t really like her hair.”
“You can’t be so picky. You’ll never be in a relationship again.”
Emily took a sip from her glass. “So I should be like you? Sleep with the first woman I see?”
“No. I’m not saying that.”
Jackie’s mocha colored eyes searched the bar again. Sitting on a bar stool was a blond haired woman she’d never seen before in black skinny jeans and a silky blue top.
“Emily, what about her? The blond that’s sitting with her legs crossed at the bar.”
“I can’t see her face,” Emily said, leaning into Jackie to get a better view. A few seconds later the blond turned, looking in the direction of the door, giving them a brief look at her profile.
“She’s hot. You should go up there and talk to her,” Jackie said, gently pushing her out of her personal space.
“What?!”
“You’ve got to start somewhere.”
“She’s probably waiting for someone. She was looking at the door,” Emily said after taking another sip of her drink.
“You’ll never know if you don’t go up there and find out. Look, your drink is nearly empty. Go up to the bar and order yourself a drink. Just make sure that you’re standing next to her while you do it.”
“Why did I come in here in my work clothes?” Emily asked herself, running a hand through her straight black hair.
“I asked myself the exact same thing when we got here.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?” Emily asked, wiping her sweaty palms on her black pants.
“Just go up there. If you fall flat on your face, we’ll just leave.”
Emily took a deep breath. “Okay. Fuck it,” she said as she stood up.
“Good luck,” Jackie called after her.
Jackie watched her friend approach the bar and saw her hesitate as she got close. Come on, Em. Jackie smiled as Emily pulled out the bar stool next to the blond and waited for one of the bartenders to take her order.
Don’t chicken out on me. Jackie watched as Emily ordered but she still hadn’t spoken to the woman beside her. If she doesn’t say anything before her drink arrives, she won’t do it. Come on, Em.
Jackie was leaning forward, her chin resting on her hands, anxiously waiting for Emily to make her move. Finally, Emily turned to her left and it appeared as if she was introducing herself.
Jackie let out the breath that she hadn’t realized she was holding. That’s the hardest part over.
The waiter collected Emily’s empty glass from their table and Jackie ordered another drink for herself. She continued to watch Emily and the blond haired woman. Things appeared to be going well. Emily had gotten her drink but remained sitting on the bar stool talking to the woman and occasionally reaching out to lightly touch her arm.
Jackie watched on like a proud soccer mom. That’s my move. Well played, Emily. She observed Emily pulling her cell phone out of her bag. This is a good sign.
The waiter returned with her Jack Daniels and Coke and she immediately took a drink. Why don’t I play matchmaker more often? This is kinda fun.
Jackie reached for her own phone to try and distract herself. She didn’t want to get caught staring. She checked her emails and flipped through the local news headlines while occasionally glancing up at the bar.
She was nearly finished with her drink by the time Emily came back to their table, a huge grin on her face.
“How did that go?” Jackie asked her.
“I got her number!”
“Fantastic. Sit down and tell me what happened.”
“I can’t,” Emily said. “I’m swamped at work right now. I have to be in the office before seven tomorrow.”
“Meet me for lunch tomorrow?”
“I have a lunch meeting,” Emily said.
“Lunch the next day then. Friday?”
“Friday’s perfect,” Emily said, still on a bit of a high.
“I can’t believe I have to wait that long.”
“There’s not much to tell really. We just hit it off and I somehow found the courage to ask her for her number. That’s it,” Emily said happily.
“I’m proud of you,” Jackie said with a genuine smile on her face.
Emily returned the smile. “I gotta go. See you Friday. The usual spot?”
“Sure. See you then.”
Jackie watched her friend leave as she debated what to do herself. It was a bit too early for her to head home and things were quiet enough here but she didn’t want to move to a new venue either.
Jackie found her eyes gravitating towards the blond at the bar. She finished her whiskey and Coke and walk
ed over to the bar to get a refill.
“Hi,” Jackie said as she leaned against the bar, her right shoulder lightly brushing up against the blond’s. She made eye contact with her, trying to read her piercing blue eyes. “Do I know you?”
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