Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Things were starting to get murky.
Maggie had always seemed strong and competent. I couldn’t picture her tangled up with a jealous boyfriend, the kind Grant described. But he had heard it himself at the restaurant. Maybe she didn’t realize what kind of man she was dealing with.
Still… the idea of Maggie Flame, the woman who commanded a room with a single glance, being afraid of anyone—it didn’t add up.
And yet, neither did anything else.
Why did I think I could help her? She had influence, resources. People who mattered. If something truly dangerous were going on, wouldn’t she already have gone to the police?
Dangerous.
That word stuck.
What if Colin were involved somehow? And what did that make me, agreeing to another date with him? Na?ve? Suicidal?
I shook my head to stop the overthinking. If there was a loose thread, I was sure to unravel it all the way into the strangest places in my head, and usually, it was blown way out of proportion. Knowing this, I would usually have talked myself out of pulling at the thread.
The problem was that this time, Grant was right there with me. He’d gone with me to Maggie’s apartment building, searched for her car, broken into her office, and rummaged through her things. He’d entered Kirkman’s house and was going out on a fake date, for goodness’ sake!
There had to be something there if Grant was coming along with me on this crazy ride, right?
No matter how I wanted to twist this around, the familiar flutter in my stomach at the prospect of Saturday showed me only one thing—I was undeniably excited to go on another date with Colin, which meant I was in danger.
I was perilously close to falling for him.
The rest of the week crawled by, thick with anticipation. Grant and I agreed to reconvene on Sunday to discuss our “dates” and, hopefully, put some more pieces of the puzzle together.
I didn’t mention how eager I was for Saturday, especially with the flicker of irritation on Grant’s face when I told him about my date. I figured he would have been happy that I’d be able to dig for more information, but Colin was a sore subject with him.
My mother, however, was a different story. When I told her about this second date, I had to talk her down from planning my multi-million-dollar wedding.
“Mom,” I laughed, mortified. “We’ve been on one date.”
“Well, make the second one count!” she said.
She even involved her friend Lisa in the conversation. Lisa said she would get me the information for the wedding planner her sister’s niece used when she married a millionaire.
I thanked them both profusely, apologized for missing Roni’s birthday party, and promised my mom I’d visit her the following weekend. She told me not to bother until next month because she’d agreed to drive to a bed-and-breakfast in the country with some friends.
When I woke up Saturday morning, there was a nervousness I wasn’t able to shake. I wasn’t used to being duplicitous, and that’s what was going on here.
I must have changed outfits a dozen times. Was this too casual? Too eager? Too… investigative?
I received a reassuring text from Grant saying that he was getting ready for his date.
At least I wasn’t the only one being dishonest. Even though I was the one who’d had the idea for him to go out with Kaitlin, it was also hitting me how wrong it all was. And yet I continued applying my makeup, imagining that we’d find something through all of this “research” that would redeem us.
When my doorbell rang and I opened it to see Colin standing there looking devastatingly handsome, I forgot about everything except him.
He handed me a gorgeous bunch of sunflowers while saying, “The florist said these were the most joyful flowers, and I was reminded of you.”
Words failed me. It was as if the rug had been pulled from underneath my brain and all my thoughts were scattered incoherently on the ground. I’d never had words so lovely from a man.
When finally I recovered my faculties, I asked if he wanted to come in for a second while I put the flowers in water. As soon as he crossed my threshold, I wondered if I’d just invited a vampire into my home. I laughed internally at my silliness and found a vase under the kitchen sink.
He looked around as I arranged the flowers, taking in the photos I’d displayed under the television. After that, he looked at the paintings on the wall.
“That’s some very cool art,” he said.
I blushed. “I did that. Years ago.”
His head turned sharply toward me. “You’re kidding. You’re an artist?
“I guess I was.”
“You’re too modest. You’re still an artist, even if you’re not currently working on something. Why did you stop?”
I looked away, embarrassed. “I, um, I used to paint a lot as a teenager, and my dad really encouraged it. I continued after he passed, kind of as an homage to him. These were the last things I painted, but I had no idea they would be the last. Later, I started working at the company, and I had no time, I guess.”
“You can find the time,” he said, coming up close to me so that I had no choice but to look up at him. His eyes seemed to pierce my soul, and I believed him with every ounce of my being. It was as if what he said must be so.
If he says I can paint, then I can.
I wondered what I looked like to him, if my awe at his striking eyes showed in my face. I tried gathering my thoughts so that I might form a reply.
“It might be worth trying to start up again,” I said, looking away from him and grabbing my purse from the dining table.
We left soon after. It was still a mystery to me where we were going. I was expecting dinner and had planned on wearing heels and a dress, but that morning Colin had texted me to say I should wear shoes that were comfortable for walking.
I pulled out my flat, white sneakers last minute and paired them with a red-orange above the knee sundress. I had a light jacket with me for the inevitable chill that would descend upon the evening. My outfit felt just as casual as his, with his own white sneakers and gray jeans.
When we pulled into the fairgrounds, I was confused. We joined the line of cars waiting for parking, and I looked over at him to see a massive grin on his face.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“What is this?” I looked around but didn’t see any sign anywhere of what event was being held.
“It’s a festival. Food trucks. Music. You don’t want to stay?” His expression shifted from childlike excitement to confusion.
“I do,” I said. “I’m just surprised. I wouldn’t have guessed you’d like this sort of thing.”
“Do you think I’m a snob?” he asked as he inched the car forward.
I shook my head. “Not at all. I just wasn’t sure… I suppose I don’t know much about you yet.”
“Well, then it will be my pleasure to show you,” he said, reaching for my hand.
The warmth of his touch was so unexpected I actually gave a small audible gasp.
His eyes were so optimistic and earnest, and I was so inexplicably drawn to him that when the attendant tapped on my window, I shrieked.
His laugh as he drove in the direction of the attendant’s signaling soon had me laughing too.
When Colin got out of the car, I waited for him to come around and open my door, as I’d learned he liked to do.
His hand reached in to help me out, and I ignored all the feminist ideas that screamed at me to say I was able to get out by myself.
I held on to his hand and savored every millisecond.
When he let go again, my hand was cold and lonely.
I considered previous relationships and couples I’d seen walking around holding hands. I hadn’t understood it before, but now I got it. If I were to hold Colin’s hand again, it would make the whole night worth it.
I was soon in for something even better. We walked through a crowded area at the front where throngs were waiting to get in. I went to search for his hand to make sure we didn’t get separated, but at the very moment it occurred to me, he stood behind me and put both of his hands on my waist.
My sides tingled with the warmth of his fingers grasping me. It’s hard to describe what happened within me at that moment, because I hardly knew myself.
I’d been intimate with previous partners. I’d desired men before.
But this.
This was different. The surrounding chatter faded to muffled noise, and every sensation was focused on those two spots where his hands were placed. If he were to move them higher…
He came closer until his body was against my back. It took every ounce of willpower not to lean back into him. His breathing was near my ear, and my insides were dancing wildly as my mind went to erotic places.
“We’ll be inside soon,” he said.
Then, “I’m so glad you accepted a second date with me.”
And then, “You look stunning tonight.”
I was melting. Soon I’d be a puddle he’d have to mop up off the floor.
We were at the front of the line by that time, and as we passed the turnstiles, the crowd opened and scattered. We walked toward the stage where a band played, and I noted the absence of his touch again.
I didn’t recognize the band or their song. On either side were mazes of food trucks and all sorts of vendors. We sampled local honey, local beers, local jam, and Colin bought me a small 5x7 painting because I admired it.
“Are you hungry yet?” he asked as the sky burned orange behind him.
I nodded.
“Good. Me too,” he said. He laced his fingers through mine and led us through a line of food trucks, studying the menus and asking which one I’d care to try.
It doesn’t matter what I eat. Nothing will have any taste. Your touch is all I crave.
We finally settled on a Mexican food truck, and when we approached the line and stood behind another couple, I stared at the man’s head in front of me.
My eyes shot open, and I went still as I realized whose head it was.
Unfortunately, I also dropped the small bag with my painting inside, and as Colin bent down to retrieve it, the sound had prompted the couple to turn around.
Kaitlin and Grant.
His eyes widened, hers narrowed, and for a heartbeat no one spoke. Thankfully, he snapped out of it quicker than I did.
“Hey! What are you guys doing here?” he asked with an easy smile. Kaitlin’s forced smile was nothing less than I would expect as she looped her arm through Grant’s a little too tightly.
Colin wore the same chillingly stoic expression he presented at work. He extended his hand and shook Grant’s as I squeaked out a, “Hi!”
“We’re enjoying the evening,” Colin said. “Same as you, looks like. Everything alright, Kaitlin?”
“All is great,” she said, sidling up to Grant and fixing her eyes on me. “We’ve been walking around. Such a great festival!”
We ordered our food, and I overheard Kaitlin say to Grant, “I should find us a table.” Her hand moved up and down his arm. He nodded and then looked over to us.
“It’ll probably be hard to find a spot. Why don’t you guys sit with us?” Grant asked.
I gave Grant a hard look, hoping he understood that meant NO.
But Colin quickly answered, “Thanks. That’d be great.”
We grabbed our food and headed over to where Kaitlin had secured a picnic table. She looked reasonably confused about our little seating arrangement.
“We don’t mean to intrude on your date, Kaitlin. I’m sure the last thing you want is to see your boss outside of work,” Colin said.
“Not at all,” she said, her face and voice utterly transformed. “I don’t mind at all. But, um, are you two on a date?” She spoke to him but looked at me and then back to Colin, who gave me a small nod.
“We’re getting to know each other,” I said and took a sip of my water.
Kaitlin’s nostrils flared and her lips held together tightly as she gave a, “Hmmm.”
Colin and I would have to get away from that little reunion. Grant and I both needed our time alone with our dates to get anything useful out of them. Plus, Kaitlin was being Kaitlin, and I didn’t trust how much longer I’d remain neutral toward her.
When Colin spoke again, it was to casually say, “Grant, I wasn’t aware you were interested in dating around the office.”
I stopped chewing. It seemed Colin had no interest in remaining neutral.
“It’s not against the rules. It’s not like I’m Kaitlin’s superior. I empathize with what you guys may go through.”
The two men each had self-assured looks, but Colin suddenly brightened and looked at me.
“That’s what we were saying to each other, wasn’t it, Kate? That we’d go to HR once we got to know each other better. I won’t put you on the spot here, but, for my part, I’d love to have that conversation when you’re done eating.”
I couldn’t help smiling back at him, his eyes practically shining as he waited for my response. “Yeah, we can go have a chat when we’re finished here.”
I was fucked.