Authors: Nikki Duvall
“I’m
warning you, J.D. Don’t you go embarrassing me in the tabloids. You want me to
play the part of your devoted fiancé, you hold up your end of the bargain,
too.”
“I’m
not sleeping with Halee McCarthy.”
“You
were just hugging her. I don’t like it.”
“You
don’t have to like it, Cat. Your job is to be at my side in public and look
pretty, nothing more.”
“I
won’t be disrespected.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “It’s humiliating.”
J.D.
smiled and took her hand. “Aw, Cat. I didn’t mean nothin’ by it. This’ll be
fun, you’ll see. The Feds gave us the biggest three bedroom they got
overlooking the pool. High end furnishings. Maid service. You’re gonna love
it.”
“No
more Halee?”
“Like
I said, there ain’t nothin’ between us.”
Cat’s
face brightened. “I’m gonna invite my daddy, straightaway.”
“You
do that, Darlin.”
Late
August in the city meant the high rise buildings and concrete sidewalks had
three months to soak up the heat and humidity of the eastern seaboard and store
them up for a windless afternoon like this one. Halee braced herself against
the stifling heat and stared up at her new home’s white marble façade as she
followed Stephen, Victoria Pryor’s assistant, through the entrance and toward
the gilded elevator.
“Cameron
and I are so excited to have you next door,” said Stephen, adjusting his
designer eyeglasses. “The previous tenants were so vulgar. And their cat
screamed all night. You don’t have a cat, do you?”
“No,”
said Halee.
“
You
don’t scream all night, do you?” Stephen teased.
Halee
laughed. “I don’t think so.”
“How
about you?” he asked, tickling Ty’s toes. Ty screamed.
“I
like his scream better than the cat's.”
The
elevator door opened on the sixth floor and Stephen led them toward the far end
of the hall. “Maria was here earlier to put the finishing touches on the
place.” He fumbled with his keys until he found the right one. Halee stared at
the gilded mirrors and thick red patterned carpet of the hallway and wondered
if she were unknowingly participating in a
House Beautiful
magazine
photo shoot. “Here we go,” said Stephen, pushing the massive door open.
The
apartment began in an enormous living area scattered with white slipcovered
sofas that were piled high in deep red and blue tapestry pillows. Glass tables
held vases of fresh flowers and sculpted glass lamps with fringed shades. The
west wall was covered in thick red brocade curtains hanging low to meet the
same red patterned carpet Halee had admired in the building’s main hallway. On
the north wall, built-in bookcases displayed the classics along with various
pieces of graceful pottery and glass. Framed impressionist paintings in bright
colors adorned twelve foot white walls crowned in dark stained trim.
Halee
gasped.
“You
hate it.”
“No….”
“It’s
the only unit available, except for the one directly across the courtyard.” Stephen
pulled back the massive curtains to reveal a marble balcony that stretched the
length of the great room. “If you really hate the place, I can arrange a
trade.” Stephen turned back to her, his face hopeful. “Cameron made me promise
to do whatever I can to get you to stay in this apartment. We just met that
couple,” he said gesturing across the courtyard. “The man’s a real stud,” he
said with a wiggle of his brows, “and friendly to boot, but the woman is
insufferable.”
The
light pulled Halee from the entryway toward the glass wall. She adjusted Ty on
one hip and stared out across the green gardens and straight at Catrina Hiett.
“He’s
a ballplayer,” Stephen continued. “God knows what she does.”
“Nothing,”
mumbled Halee.
Cat
was motioning toward furniture while a small slim man took notes. She moved
toward the windows, caught sight of Halee, frowned, and pulled the curtains
shut.
Stephen
sighed. “That’s Cameron. He lost the coin toss.”
Halee
giggled, despite herself.
“Oh,
there he is now.” Stephen clutched his chest. “Ooh la la.”
Halee
watched as J.D. slipped through the sliding doors and out onto the balcony. He
had his phone to his ear and kept his gaze down onto the gardens, allowing her
to stare a while unnoticed. He looked troubled, absent-mindedly rubbing his
right shoulder. She watched as he began to pace, gesturing and running his
fingers through his short dark hair. His voice grew louder. He stopped and
turned, catching Halee’s eye. A corner of his lip lifted. He waved.
Halee
raised her free hand in return.
“You
know him?” Stephen gasped. “Oh my word,” he said, smoothing out his perfectly
pressed shirt. “Can you introduce us?”
“I’m
not really allowed near him.”
“I’d
stalk him too if I thought I had a chance.”
“What
about Cameron?” asked Halee with a quick smile.
“This
is a hell of a time to dump him, isn’t it? After that woman’s had her claws in
him all day.”
Halee
took Stephen by the arm. “Don’t worry. I love the apartment and Ty and I would
be glad to be your neighbors. Let’s see the rest of the place.”
***
“I’m
sorry J.D. Hank just won’t come down on his price.”
“It
was five fifty last week, Dan. What happened?”
“I
don’t think the old man wants to sell.”
“You
mean he doesn’t want to sell to me.”
“I’ll
be up front with you, J.D. He knows about your Federals contract and he knows
how much you want the property. I expect his real estate agent is advising him
to hold out for as much as he can take you for. They’re gonna raise the price
every week as long as you act interested. Now, my advice is to back off and lay
low for a while.”
“I
got the cash, Dan. My sign on bonus is in the bank. He ain’t gonna find another
buyer with cash. You gotta make him see the light.”
“I
hear ya, J.D.”
“And
keep an eye on him, will ya, Dan? He’s already run the place halfway into the
ground. I wouldn’t put it past him to burn the place down just to spite me.”
“I
don’t think he’s that crazy, J.D.”
“Oh,
he’s crazy, alright. I wouldn’t mind if the place went up in smoke, except for
Faye’s trailer is on the property.”
“I’ll
do what I can, J.D.”
“That’s
all I can ask. Give my best to Justine.”
“Will
do.”
J.D.
disconnected and blew out a heavy sigh. He ought to go back inside, into the
cool air conditioning. His shirt stuck to his back and two lines of sweat dripped
down the sides of his forehead. Yet somehow the heat felt more comfortable than
Cat’s unending demands. Better to stand out here in the steam bath than watch
poor Cameron get pushed around.
If
Cat’s whining was what it took to keep this contract, he was willing to put up
with it for a few more weeks. Watching his bank balance reach seven digits
this morning had been his greatest life achievement to date. He felt powerful,
the kind of powerful that flabby stock brokers felt on a regular basis. Money
in his pocket, a posh apartment in Manhattan, a driver to deliver him to
practice- this is a life he could get used to.
He
leaned on the balcony’s railing and turned his attention toward his new
neighbors. Halee and Mrs. Pryor’s assistant had disappeared to the back of the
apartment fifteen minutes ago and J.D. was beginning to feel uneasy. A single
woman with a baby living in New York City was easy prey.
Cameron
came out onto the balcony. He looked haggard and weather beaten. “Mr. Shaw,” he
implored, “Miss Hiett would like to speak with you.”
“What
do you know about the guy showing the new tenant around across the way?” asked
J.D.
“That’s
Stephen. He works for Mrs. Pryor.”
“Stephen
on the up and up?”
“Pussycat,”
Cameron assured him.
“No
quirky habits?”
“Well,
none I don’t enjoy,” said Cameron with a wink.
“Let’s
be clear, Cameron,” said J.D. “Halee McCarthy is a friend of mine. Anything
happens to her, you’ll answer to me. Got it?”
Cameron
fanned himself. “Oh, sure.”
J.D.
pushed off the railing and retreated into the apartment. Cat met him in the
kitchen. “These furnishings are not my taste,” she said, hands on hips. “I
don’t do ugly.”
“You
ain’t here that long, Cat. I bet you can suffer through it.”
“You
promised, J.D.”
“I
promised you six weeks in Manhattan. Here you are.”
“I
want my own furniture.”
“Then
buy it yourself. I got plans for my money.”
“Those
plans are counting on me to tell your little white lies, J.D.”
“You
can save your threats, Cat. I know you well enough. You ain’t gonna mess up a big
party at the Waldorf and you ain’t done building your wardrobe. This furniture
is good enough. Live with it.”
Cat
narrowed her cold blue eyes and tapped her foot. “I don’t like the way this is
going, J.D.”
J.D.
grabbed his suitcase and walked toward the back of the apartment. “I’m taking
the small bedroom,” he said. “Order us up some lunch, would ya?”
***
“Oh,
J.D.! I cannot live without my pink faux fur! Take away these classic
furnishings immediately!” Cameron slapped the back of his hand to his forehead
and pretended he was going to faint.
Stephen
giggled and handed him a fresh strawberry daiquiri. “Halee? What’s your
pleasure?”
“Tequila,”
she said, stroking Ty’s back. She couldn’t believe her good fortune- he’d
drifted off peacefully thirty minutes ago on a soft cotton blanket next to her,
leaving her with adult time and two new friends to help her spend it. “Any
marguerite mix?”
“I
am pleased to report,” Stephen announced with a grin, “that the Federals
organization believes in the value of a fully stocked bar.” He dumped a packet
of mix into a blender with some ice and tequila and hit the power switch. Ty
didn’t flinch. “So is the bitch going to stay or go?”
“Don’t
look so hopeful,” said Cameron. “I’m going to wager she’ll be around till the river
of money runs dry.”
“How
much do the Feds pay their prima donnas these days, anyway?”
“More
than you and I can hope to make in a lifetime,” said Cameron.
“Well,
I’m getting tickets to the playoffs this year, just so I can see J.D.’s tight
little ass in a uniform.”
“I
like the southern drawl, myself. He’s even cuter up close. His dark eyes flash
when he’s angry.”
“I
think you should make a play for him,” said Stephen, handing Halee a tall
marguerite. “You’re young, beautiful, earn six figures. You define desirable.”
“I’m
a little busy at the moment,” said Halee, gazing at Ty.
“Don’t
tell me you’ve given up sex!” Stephen gasped. “Good grief, what a waste!”
“Oh,
that reminds me,” said Cameron. “J.D. threatened bodily harm if anything
happens to Halee.”
“Oooh.
Does our man have a little crush on our princess?”
“Personally,
I was totally turned on by the threat.”
Stephen
sat down on the sofa next to Halee and stared her straight in the eyes. “You’re
not telling us everything.”
“What’s
to tell?”
“You
and the stud have a little history, don’t you?”
Halee
sipped her marguerite. “Maybe.”
“I
knew it!” He reached out and clutched her arm. “Tell us every detail.”
“We
dated.”
“Ooooh!”
Stephen exclaimed. “I knew it.”
“And
now we don’t.”
“You
want to fill in those blanks?”
“Not
really.”
“Cameron,”
said Stephen, “bring over more truth serum.”
Cameron
grabbed the rest of the blender contents and filled up Halee’s glass. They both
watched while Halee took another swallow. “Well?”
“Well
what?”
“It
isn’t fair to keep it all to yourself.”
“Two
weeks of passionate sex,” said Halee in a hushed tone. “Hot, exhausting,
orgasmic ecstasy.”
“Ah!”
exclaimed Stephen to the heavens.
“Then
I found another woman in his bed.”
“Philanderer!”
cried Cameron.
“God,
he’s even sexier than I thought.”
Halee
slapped Stephen on the arm.
“Ouch!
Who was this bimbo?”
“Guess,”
said Halee.
“Nooooo.”
“Yeeeesss.”
“I
knew I hated her,” said Cameron.
Stephen
placed one hand on his chest as if bracing himself against the truth. “He chose
that cheap slut over you?”
“She
does have a nice body.”
Stephen
slapped Cameron on the arm.
“He
deserves to suffer. I say we wage all-out war.”
Halee
grinned. “We?”
“Well,
you. With our advice, of course.”
“I
don’t think so.”
“Come
on. It’ll be fun.”
“I
have a few other things on my mind.”
“Like
what?”
“Don’t
be so dull, Stephen. She has a baby.”
“No
sweat. We work from home. We will take care of Ty while you’re at the office.”
Cameron
furrowed his brow. “We will?”
“I
barely know you,” said Halee.
“You
know us better than anyone the agency will send over. And you’re doing us a
favor. Cam and I have talked about adopting for years. Ty will be our little experiment.
Anything else?”
“I
have a new job.”
“Let
me tell you something, Sweetheart. Victoria Pryor is a jewel. She’s got that Nazi
diva thing down pretty well, but underneath that shotgun shell exterior she’s
the fairy godmother. You work your pretty little ass off, she will deliver.”
“There,”
said Cameron, slapping his hands together. “All your worries to the wayside.
Time to plan on how you’re going to bring the stud to his knees.”
“I
don’t know…”
Stephen
took her hand. “Do you want him, or not?”
Halee
smiled into her marguerite. “He’s a lot of trouble.”
Cameron
winked at Stephen. “The good ones always are.”
Stephen
jumped up from the sofa. “Oooh, this is going to be so fun! So, here’s the
plan…”