She fell silent for a moment, filling the sink with some tepid water then resting the stems of the bouquet inside before she started to cut the ends. “You don’t have to do anything,” she finally said.
Kenric studied her face. She had that odd rushed look again. “Is something wrong?”
“No. Please sit down. Do you want anything to drink?”
“No, I told you, I came early to help.”
“Can you chop?” She put the flowers in the vase and added the plant food that came in the small package.
“Nope.”
“Slice?”
“No.”
“Then how did you expect to help?” she asked with a note of frustration.
He smiled. “I can set a table to military precision.”
She pointed to a cupboard, her tone softening. “The dishes are over there.” She pointed to a drawer. “And the utensils.”
Kenric set to work then after he was finished he stood and watched her. There was a tense energy he couldn’t understand. “So your brother’s name is Glenn,” he said resting against the counter.
“Yes and his wife’s Lina and they’re expecting a boy next month.”
Kenric nodded. “Are you afraid they won’t like me?”
Carissa spun around surprised. “No. It’s just…”
“What?” He pressed when she fell silent again.
“You might find out a lot more about me than you want to know.”
“I want to know everything.”
“You may get your wish,” she said but she didn’t sound happy.
***
She was surviving this, Carissa thought as she watched everyone eat. She’d survived Lina pointing to Carissa’s stockings and comparing her legs to a zebra, and even Glenn’s strange response to Kenric when he first met him. Instead of the jovial handshake, which he usually greeted strangers with, his smile froze on his face and he stared at Kenric for a second longer than normal, before recovering himself. Kenric appeared disturbed by his response, but to her relief let it pass and now they were on the main course and nothing disastrous had happened. There had been some awkward pauses, especially when Kenric admitted that the two of them had met at work, but weren’t telling anyone about their relationship until later, but overall, the conversation flowed smoothly.
“Another masterpiece,” Kenric said setting his fork down. “She keeps me coming back for more.”
Lina giggled. “Be careful. Carissa might try to persuade you to be her third husband.”
Carissa shot her a glance and Glenn nudged her in warning.
Kenric only grinned. “She won’t have to try hard.”
Carissa stood, feeling both flattered and embarrassed at the same time. “Let me check on dessert.”
“I’ll help you,” Glenn said. Once they were alone in the kitchen he said, “Where did you say you met this guy?”
“At work, like he said. He’s my new boss, that’s why we’re keeping our relationship quiet for now.” She took out the lemon meringue pie.
Glenn took out the dessert forks and dishes. “Are you sure you can trust him?”
Carissa looked at her brother surprised by his tense tone. “If you have questions, you should be asking him not me.”
He leaned against the counter. “I just think you’re rebounding too fast after Morris. You should give yourself some time.”
“What don’t you like about him?”
Glenn frowned. “I didn’t say I didn’t like him.”
“He makes me happy and I like being with him.” She paused then said, “What was that look between you two?”
“What look?” he said, suddenly avoiding her gaze.
She lifted his chin, forcing him to face her. “You had an odd expression on your face when you first saw him.”
“He’s just not what I expected for you.”
“I know he looks mean.”
The sound of Lina’s laughter drifted towards them.
“And as you can see, he’s very social,” Carissa finished.
“Hmm.”
“Try to give him a chance.”
Heaven knows I’ve given Lina plenty of them.
“It’s just we got used to Morris—”
“Morris is gone and you weren’t that close anyway.”
“I mean…” He pulled on his ear, looking awkward. “Don’t you think you’re reaching a little out of your depth? Morris was quite a stretch, but this guy is on a whole new level.”
“And you don’t think I deserve him?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t mean that. Just that guys like him are a little savvier than you’re used to. Be careful.”
“I am.” She picked up the pie and headed to the dining room, but something about his warning worried her.
“I don’t like it,” Lina said, returning to their apartment with a scowl. She sat on the couch and folded her arms. “Not one bit.”
“You sounded like you were having a blast,” Glenn said closing the door behind them.
“I was raised to be polite. But I still don’t like it.”
He sat beside her. “What’s not to like?”
“He’s not from here. What if he convinces Carissa to leave? What will happen to us?”
“We’ll be fine.”
“At least Morris has ties here. We don’t know anything about his family.”
“We know that he’s rich, I thought that would make you happy.”
She glared at him. “Are you saying that I only think about money?”
He tenderly brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “I was just teasing, honey.”
She pushed his hand away. “I’m serious.”
“Carissa has a right to her own life. I thought you wanted her to be happy.”
“I do, but something’s not right. Something’s bothering me and I don’t know what. We’re going to have to keep an eye on them.”
“Hmm,” Glenn said trying to sound noncommittal. “I’ve got something I have to do,” he said then left, before she could complain. He went into his study and closed the door then sat behind his desk and swore. He was just as concerned as his wife, but for completely different reasons. Riverton was dangerous. He knew, because he’d met him before. He couldn’t afford Riverton remembering that meeting, however. So far, there hadn’t been any recognition on his part and maybe he never would—fifteen years was a long time—but he didn’t like dealing with maybes. He liked to know for sure. He swore, his sister seemed so happy and he didn’t want to ruin that for her, but he had a lot more on the line than she did. She hadn’t known Riverton for long so maybe it wouldn’t last.
He opened a drawer and took out the second cell phone his wife didn’t know about then made a call. “I need you to look into someone for me.”
***
He had this strange feeling of dread that he couldn’t shake. Kenric stood in the kitchen washing dishes, although he could stack the dishwasher he found the task oddly relaxing. He kept going over the dinner in his mind. There was something familiar about Glenn. Why did he feel as if he’d met him somewhere before? Where could they have met? They certainly didn’t travel in the same circles and Glenn was years younger than him, but something bothered him. Maybe he was confusing him with someone else. That had to be it, but somehow he knew that was wrong. They had a history.
“You didn’t like them,” Carissa said coming into the kitchen.
He focused back on the dishes. “Why do you say that?”
“You have your henchman look.”
“Henchman?”
“Never mind,’ she said with chagrin.
He grabbed her arm. “No, tell me.”
“Ew…you’re getting me all wet.”
He looked down at his wet hands. “Oh sorry,” he said releasing her.
“If you’re determined to keep washing dishes, I’ll have to pick up some plastic gloves for you.”
He lifted a brow. “You’re changing the subject. What do you mean by ‘henchman’?”
“When I first saw you, you reminded me of a henchman. Cold, distant and ready to perform your orders in a swift efficient manner.”
He winced. “Well, that’s not very flattering.”
Carissa wrapped her arms around his waist. “Fortunately, you changed my mind, but sometimes I still see that look, like now. What are you thinking? What didn’t you like?”
“Nothing, I had a good time and the food was wonderful. I’m not sure they warmed to me, but I’m used to that.”
“Is it me?” She let him go and looked at his profile. “Did Lina’s comment bother you?”
He frowned. “What comment?”
“About me wanting a third husband.”
“Oh that.”
“Well…” Carissa pressed when he didn’t continue.
“I meant what I said.” He set the dishes aside to dry. “What are we going to do about work?”
“I’ll ignore the rumors.”
“I think we should put an end to them.”
“And I told you, there’s no need to, you’ll be gone in a few months anyway.”
He turned from the sink and dried his hands. “I wish you’d stop saying that. If I have to commute I will. I plan to stick around.”
“Oh.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am.”
“What part of ‘you don’t have to try hard to make me your third husband,’ don’t you understand?”
“I thought you were just helping me save face.”
“There’s no one else around except us and I’m still saying it. I thought I made it clear that I like being with you. Maybe I haven’t been very convincing.” He pulled her close and kissed her then looked down at her clothes. “Too bad you’re not wearing an apron.”
“Why?”
“Because in my dreams I was always taking it off you.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” He leaned in to kiss her but she held him away. “What?” he asked.
“I just got an idea.”
“But—”
“Go into the living room. I’ll be right there. There was always a fantasy I wanted to play out with my third husband.”
His eyes lit with interest. “Really?”
“Yes, are you willing to help me?”
“Okay, but what do I have to do?”
“Just go into the living room.”
“That’s it?”
“You’ll like this. I promise. When you get there, close your eyes.”
He sighed then did.
“Okay, they’re closed,” he said.
Moments later he heard her heels on the floor then felt her presence in front of him. “Hey stranger do you come here often?” she said.
He opened his eyes and saw Carissa holding a tray of strawberries and chocolate wearing only high heels and an apron.
“Is this your first time here?” she continued.
He stared up at her open-mouthed. “What?”
“You’re supposed to play along. I’m your waitress and—”
He jumped to his feet and removed his shirt and trousers with an efficient speed that shocked her. “I’m not hungry,” he said in a low voice then pulled her into his arms.
“This isn’t part of the fantasy,” Carissa said, her voice breathless as she felt the heat of his skin against hers. “You’re supposed to nibble on the strawberries and—”
His hungry dark gaze slid down the length of her. “Who wants to nibble on a little piece of fruit,” he said, his hands scaling down her bare back to her waist, sending a warm shiver through her. “When they’ve got a big piece of chocolate?” He didn’t expect a reply and he didn’t get one when he captured her mouth with his own in a kiss that was hard, hot and searching. Within seconds he changed her fantasy into something more exciting and definitely wilder. Because she liked watching him eat, and found it subtlety erotic, she’d imagined stripping off his shirt, pressing her body against his while feeding him fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate. His beautiful mouth wet from the sweet juice and stained with a hint of red, which she’d kiss away.
Instead, his mouth devoured hers with an appetite more ravenous than she could have dreamed. His lips covered hers with a passionate fury that made her forget herself and all her insecurities. She’d been a little worried that she may have gone too far. She’d once tried a fantasy with Morris—she’d pretended to be a police officer who’d pulled him over for speeding—but the effort had fallen flat when he found her outfit ridiculous and the dialogue more so, reminding her that ‘people like us’ don’t do ‘things like that’. The incident had left them both embarrassed and she’d never tried to surprise him again.
But not Kenric. He made her feel as if she were as desirous as a Bond Girl and as sultry as a beautiful stage star. She didn’t even realize he’d removed her apron until she lay naked on the couch, his hot flesh covering hers.
He reached for a strawberry and traced the shape of her mouth with its tip. “You’re so beautiful.”
That’s when the tears fell. She didn’t even know she was crying until she saw his face suddenly change.
He started to get up. “Am I hurting you?”
Carissa grabbed his arm, nearly frantic, pulling him back down, scared to ruin the mood. “No, please don’t stop.”
He brushed away a tear. “But—”