On The Dotted Line (10 page)

“I
can sleep either way.” She stretched. Her nipples jutted out from the thin
fabric of her blue nightgown.

A
twinge of jealousy rang through him at her admission, but he had a surefire way
he could make himself tired. In fact, he could downright guarantee he would be
able to exhaust both of them. “I wasn’t talking about sleeping.” He reached
forward and touched the lace piping on her sleeve. Maybe with the right
persuasion and his spouse at his side, he wouldn’t play battle of the bed
anymore.

She
put the lotion bottle down on the nightstand and turned to him. “Forget it. Didn’t
you hear what I said before?”

“Yes,
earlier today you said you were surprised by my passion.” He flashed her a smile
topped with a bit of an eyebrow raise for effect. “I’ve never been told that
before.”

“I
am choosing to file that away as a memory.” She pulled the nightgown over her
legs and got under the covers once more.

“We
can make it the present.”

“I
think we need to leave the passion out of our business partnership.” She
adjusted her pillows. “It’s better this happened or we may be having too much
sex.”

“I
don’t think there’s such a thing as too much.”

“Well,
at least you have the memory as well.” She reached over and turned out the lamp.

The
room darkened, but the small amount of moonlight allowed him to make out her
form. Not one to lose a deal, he needed to travel a different path to the win. “Willow.”

“Yes.”

“I
know I told you before, but last night was truly spectacular, actually amazing.
Maybe I’m only passionate with you.” He lowered his tone to ensure the sexy
came through. While he wanted to remind her of how he felt how hard her climax
hit her, he held back. Maybe rather than sleeping they could try for two. A
real wedding souvenir.

“Randolph.”

He
licked his lips, priming the pump. “Yes.”

“We
are not having sex.” Her voice cut through him.

At
least she didn’t say ever. He ground his teeth together, but got the next words
out. “We’re newlyweds.” Fine, he would beg.

“Newlyweds
don’t have contracts specifying when they will get divorced.” The bed bounced
as she turned over. “This bed is so comfortable.”

The
woman appreciated beds. She mentioned the same thing at the hotel.

The
room became silent. Instinct told him to let the sex go. He stared into the
black nothing wanting to head out, but his own contract demanded he stay or
take her with him. “Willow?” He never had anyone else sleep in his room before.

“Yes.”

“Is
it weird to sleep somewhere else like this?” The tree outside flickered a
bizarre pattern on the wall, a perfect abstract background for a painting.

“No
weirder than marrying you yesterday, wearing a diamond that costs more than
most people’s homes and living in a real mansion.” She yawned, but let out a
chuckle. “Who would have thought?”

Once
more the bed shook with her movements.

Any
other time he shared a bed with a woman it was for the sole purpose of having
sex, and it was never his bed, and he never slept.

He
inhaled. Willow was in here, even a dog was in here.

Dog.

“Willow?”
he whispered.

She
answered with a grunt.

“Is
Jeb going to be all right?”

Rather
than Willow, a jingle answered. The little bells made their way across the bed
until the fur ball came over and sniffed him.

“Jeb
is here,” he informed her.

“You’ll
live.”

Since
no one could see him in the dark, he gave in and patted the animal.

The
dog rewarded him with a lick on his nose.

“Oh
my God.” He tensed.

“Go
to sleep, Randolph.”

“He
licked me.” He tapped her and wiped his nose. “Jeb licked me.”

“That’s
what dogs do. Why don’t you pet him? It will calm you down.” Again, she turned
over and adjusted the blankets.

“You
sure move around a lot.” He thought he should tell her. “I have to go into the
office tomorrow.”

“If
you were asleep you wouldn’t notice.” She huffed. “Maybe you should sleep
instead of telling me twice you have to go to your office.”

He
turned to his back and Jeb climbed up on him. The dog did his turning in a
circle extravaganza and curled up on his chest. “I can’t sleep.”

“Randolph?”
Willow sat up.

He
decided not to respond.

“Have
you ever slept with anyone before?”

“Well,
I guess since we’re married, we can discuss our pasts.” At least with someone
in the bed he had a person to talk with. “You already know mine, how about you.”

“I
meant sleep,” she growled.

“No.”
He sunk his fingers in the dog’s fur.

“Do
you have issues sleeping?” Her tone was most definitely accusatory.

“What
gives you that impression?”

“You
are like a little boy.” For the millionth time that night the bed shimmied and
shook with her various movements.

“You
are not much more mature yourself.” He set his jaw, but softened when she slid
next to him. Maybe she changed her mind about the sleep sex.

“Go
to bed, Jeb.”

The
dog stood, tumbled off him and returned to the foot of the bed.

“He
sure obeys.” Randolph waved to him.

“Better
than you, I’m sure.” She lay down next to him. “Give me your hand.”

He
held his hand out and stayed silent to find out where her actions may lead.

She
took his hand in both of hers and proceeded to treat him to a massage.

“Um,”
he moaned. “That’s nice.”

“Shh.”
She paid attention to each of his fingers and squeezed his palm with perfect
pressure.

A
calm claimed him and he closed his eyes, concentrating only on how she touched
him.

Without
saying a word she laid his arm out and took her spot next to him.

“Willow,
that was exquisite.” He turned and wrapped his other arm around her. If her
massage was her version of foreplay, it was fantastic. “Do you want to make
love?” Though he asked, he could just as easily fall asleep.

“Go
to sleep, Randolph.” She pulled the blankets up over them.

“Why
are you over here? I thought we were only business partners.”

She
grabbed his hand and massaged again. “The energy in here is all off. No wonder
you can’t sleep. We may be business partners, but we are married and married
people shouldn’t sleep at opposite sides of the bed.”

Married
people also made love, but he swallowed his words, choosing instead to focus on
the way Willow’s hair brushed his cheek. “You washed your hair.” He breathed in
more lavender.

“Shh.”
She settled down.

“One
more question.”

“Just
one.”

“May
I kiss you goodnight?” He spoke into her ear. “I would kiss a business
associate on the cheek. It’s for the sake of good energy.”

She
tensed.

“I’m
not making fun. I feel a lot better, please.” Okay, maybe his voice carried a
little whine.

“All
right then.”

He
moved her hair aside and pressed his lips right behind her ear. “Good night.” He
closed his eyes and concentrated on Willow’s breathing. Maybe he would have
asked her out if he hadn’t gotten her all screwed up in his life.

The
bell at the Willow’s Wonders door chimed, indicating a customer. Willow
finished measuring out a canister of her herbal tea blend and leaned back. None
other than Peter Ward decided to grace her with his presence.

“I’ll
be right there.” She tightened the lid down and carefully applied the label.

By
the time she entered the front of the store, Nan had already staked her claim
and she hid a laugh.

“You
are Randolph’s secretary?” Nan crossed her arms.

Peter
glanced at her and then back to Nan. “Personal Assistant.”

Nan
narrowed her eyes. “What’s the difference?”

He
tilted his head. “I work directly for Randolph, I don’t work for the bank.”

Nan
shrugged and trundled over to the tea bar.

She
hadn’t seen much of her husband’s assistant since the day after their wedding. For
almost a week she had been living in marital bliss. Well, not really, but she
did start to have a routine.

Normally
by the time she woke up, Randolph had already left for work. For all the people
living in the mansion it was unusually quiet. To date she never saw anyone
except Nan, Jeb and staff members in the morning. With the variety of maids,
cooks, butler, assistants scurrying around them, she and Nan would have their
breakfast and then the chauffeur would take them to her shop. Actually, she asked
the chauffeur to take them a block away from her shop and they walked to the
shop. Thus far, though she answered questions from Slate and Jade about her
romp with Randolph, she managed to not reveal her secret. The deception ate
away at her, but she had her principles.

Like
an alarm clock, Randolph called twice a day, once to ensure she arrived at work
and once to remind her when he would be home for dinner. Since she didn’t make
dinner she wasn’t quite sure why he told her, but she figured it was his way of
reminding of their deal.

After
work, the chauffeur picked her up a block away, she cleaned up and she and
Randolph had their all-important meal, and then he worked while she studied
with Nan or created crafts or strolled through the grounds until it was time to
sleep by midnight.

Then
they hit repeat, which was why the appearance of Peter seemed a bit unusual.

She
patted his shoulder. “What brings you here?”

With
his eyes wide, he glanced around her shop. “Randolph would like you to come
down to the office, so I came here to pick you up.”

She
wrinkled her nose at the break in the routine for her husband who seemed to
thrive on knowing everything in advance, and without a warning call.

“He
wanted to call, but got stuck in a meeting and just told me to come get you and
help.” As if he sensed her question, he offered her the answer.

“What
will I need help with?”

Peter
reached into his pocket and took out a piece of paper. “We need to see your
check book, both personal and business, business licenses, rental agreement and
insurance documents.”

She
bit the inside of her mouth, staring straight at some of her crystals and
watching them catch the last bit of morning sun, trying to visualize where
these items could be or if she owned them. Maybe she could buy herself some
time. “While I get ready, why don’t you have a cup of tea?” She motioned him
toward the tea bar.

He
shrugged and sat down, strumming his fingers on the counter and nodding to
himself as if he were deep in thought.

“You
okay?” She went over and heated the water.

He
tilted his head.

Before
choosing his tea, she reached out and put her hand over his. The man’s energy
was through the roof, he didn’t want to be inside his own skin. “You seem
confused.” She tried to prod him in a direction to pick his blend.

He
squeezed his eyes shut. “I have a lot going on.”

“Okay.”
She chose a tea and prepared a cup of tea for both of them. Once steeped and
ready, she put one of Nan’s homemade crackers on the saucer and set the cup in
front of him. “Try this.”

He
lifted the cracker, studied it and took a bite. With a tilt of his head he took
a sip of the tea and nodded. “Different.” He gave the tea another taste,
followed by the cracker. “What’s in it?”

“It’s
my Clari-tea.” She grinned at the name.

He
raised his eyebrows at her.

“It
has peppermint, spearmint, ginkgo, rosemary and gotu kola, it should help you
bring things into focus, improve mental function and circulation.” She took a
sip as well, praying her brew would help her remember where she stashed the
documents Randolph requested.

“I
need this.” He gulped it down. “Now if I could just get some direction.”

She
smiled. The man spoke her language. “How about we do a reading?”

“Of
what? I don’t think I have any time to read books.” He polished off the cracker
and glanced at his watch. “We should get going.”

“You
need direction, sometimes the cards can provide it.” She reached over to Nan’s
deck of tarot cards and held up the purple velvet pouch.

“Like
fortune telling?” He wrinkled his nose.

“The
tarot only provides insight, but your future is up to you.” Nan shimmied by and
took Peter’s dishes. “Willow is very skilled. She has been studying the tarot
since she was young.”

“We
can do a simple reading.” She took the cards out of the pouch and offered them
to him. “Give them a shuffle.”

“I
suppose it couldn’t hurt.” He took the cards and shuffled them.

She
took the cards back and placed the deck in front of them. “Now cut the cards.”

He
did as she requested and she divided the cards into three piles.

“We
will do a simple past, present and future reading.” She motioned to the cards,
turning over the first card on the first pile.

Peter
leaned over and studied the image of a man kneeling over a pool of water with a
star in the sky. “The star?”

“Yes,
but reversed.” She concentrated, focusing on the picture she had seen too many
times to count.

“Is
that bad?” Concern took over his voice.

“Nothing
is bad or good, it’s merely a guide.” Everyone’s first time scared them. Hell,
sometimes it still scared her. She shook her head. “The star is opportunity,
renewal.”

He
smiled.

“However,
when it is reversed it represents unfulfilled dreams.” Every bit of his energy
spoke of some sort of disappointment. “Sometimes you need to go after your
dreams even if they are in the past.”

“Yeah.”
He shifted in his seat.

She
appreciated the way he didn’t discount her, but seemed to absorb the words and
flipped over the card from the middle pile. “The four of swords.”

“That’s
a dead guy.” Peter’s color left his face at the picture of the man lying on the
coffin, three swords above him one on him.

“No.”
She held her hand up. “He is resting. This is the card of mediation and
reflection. Have you gone through a lot of arguments?”

“I
quit med school and I’m a personal assistant to a man younger than me.” He
touched the card. “I haven’t heard from my girlfriend in three days.”

He
began to fill in for himself. Her job was to guide him. “Maybe you need to ask
yourself why you made certain decisions.” Without wanting to pry she turned
over the top card on the top pile. “Oh, that’s interesting.”

“The
tower is my future?” He lifted the card depicting a tower with lightening
striking it and two people falling. “Well, at least it’s not like I chose the
death card.”

“The
death card only means transition, an end.” She chuckled. Terror struck every
newbie at the death card.

“Then
why is this interesting?” He returned the card to the pile.

“It
represents extreme, unexpected change.” She softened her voice.

“Bad
change?”

Nan
stepped over.

Willow
took a breath. No matter what the cards said, she couldn’t lie. “Many think it
means a catastrophic change.” Some felt the card was a bad omen.

“Catastrophe?”
He jumped out of the chair and smoothed his suit jacket down. “My future
contains a catastrophe?”

“The
future is yours to change.” She hurried around the bar and took him by the
shoulders. His trembling vibrated through her palms. “I think it is a sign to
change your outlook or your path?”

He
mimicked her actions and grabbed her shoulders. “Do you think so?”

Before
she answered, the bell on the door rang out.

“I
saw a familiar car outside your store.” Jade rushed inside the shop, stopped in
the doorway and pointed at them.

As
if they were caught in the middle of committing a crime, they jumped away from
each other.

“Jade.”
She breathed her friend’s name.

Instead
of one of her artistic costumes, Jade wore a normal pair of black pants and a
matching shirt. She sauntered over and put her arm around her. “I want to know
who you are with.”

Peter
opened his mouth.

Unsure
if he remembered to keep her nuptials under wraps, she stared at Peter trying
to send him any psychic message. She held her left hand up to her face showing
him her empty ring finger. Every day on their way to work she took her ring
off, replacing it on the way back to the mansion.

Peter
gave her a slight nod. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Something
is strange.” Jade glared at them. “I will get to the bottom of it.”

Willow
gave her a huge smile. “No art today?”

“Only
business, girl.” Jade crossed her arms. “We definitely need a girls’ night. Yes,
I think that is exactly what is in our future.”

“I
better go collect those items for my meeting with Randolph.” A strange vibe
went through her at the thought of having to go to her husband’s office. Thus
far she hadn’t gone anywhere as his wife, they only stayed at the mansion.

“Randolph’s
assistant is picking you up to go to Randolph?” Jade made a tsking sound. “Yes
a girls’ night is definitely in order.”

“I’ll
be right back.” She walked to the storeroom trying to remember Randolph’s list.

“Once
the truth is revealed, your friends will not only know why you married
Randolph, but they will be upset with you for hiding it.” Nan shook her head.

“Nan.”
She went to an old dresser they found on a curb. They brought it here,
repurposed it, painting it with stars and moons and planets, and used it to
hold their paperwork. She opened the top drawer to find nothing but labels and recipes.
At least they were printed on paper.

“You
shouldn’t have done anything you needed to hide in the first place.”

“We
all hide things.” She moved to the second drawer. The file folder inside gave
her some hope. She peeked inside to find her astrological chart. Thrilled to
locate anything in the form of a document, she took it. The rest of the drawer
only held wrapping materials, she supposed that was sort of paper. “You told me
sometimes it’s necessary to hide what people don’t understand.”

“The
older I get the more I find it doesn’t work.” Nan came over and handed her a
frame off the wall.

“Our
business license and our first dollar.” She ran her fingers over the glass. Their
first dollar came from Slate when he bought Jade a candle because she said it
smelled like romance.

With
only one last place any documents could hide, she bent down and opened the
bottom drawer. Once more she found paper but in the form of books. “We don’t
keep records of anything.”

“We
have all we need.” Nan reached in the drawer and pulled out a book on candle
making. “Records mean nothing, what matters is in the heart.”

Willow’s
inner voice told her Randolph wouldn’t exactly agree. “I’ll be back in a little
bit.” She headed toward the front of the shop.

“Take
your time, it’s about time you see your husband in his natural habitat.”

She
avoided telling Nan to keep her voice down about her spouse, grabbed her bag
and shoved her few finds in her purse.

“Are
you ready?” Peter asked.

“Did
Jade leave?”

“She
said she had to run, but would call.” He motioned forward. “We better get going.
Randolph hates anyone being late.”

“Does
he hate records and documents?” She clutched her bag to her side.

“He’s
a businessman, and he loves documents, backup and history.” He went to the
door.

“I’ll
be right there.” As she grabbed a canister of tea for Randolph, she glanced
over at the bar with the tarot cards. What she lacked in documentation she
gained in intuition and insight. Too bad she couldn’t distract Peter with more
readings. She quickly went to the bar, shuffled the cards and concentrated on
Randolph as she drew the first card off the deck.