Falling for Her, page 9
Kim frowned. ‘Together’ couldn’t mean... She flipped back to the front of the book. She found a scene with Simone wrapped in a “sheet that kept falling off her shoulder, revealing a bit more of the agent than Temple had ever expected to see.”
“Her name is Ophelia Wing. She’s spent the last decade as a prisoner in a Russian gulag.”
“Quite the ‘welcome home’ you’re giving her.”
“We were lovers,” Simone said, refusing to look at Temple. “I thought she was dead.”
Temple stuttered, “Lovers?”
Kim said, “My thoughts exactly, Templeton.” Another rewind, flipping further back.
Simone slowly ran her hand over the curve of Ophelia’s hip, drawing her fingertips along the pale skin. Ophelia kissed Simone’s brow and whispered, “I have missed you so much, my love.” Simone closed her eyes and a tear fell from her cheek, falling and tracing a path along the curve of Ophelia’s naked breast.
Kim stared at the book in disbelief. She thought watching the sex scene in the movies was bad. If anyone expected her to watch this... well, she probably would. But she would prefer to see it in the privacy of her own home, not from the sidelines in the shadows of a studio. She closed the book and stared at the deceptively innocent cover.
“Great,” she muttered. “Just the image I needed in my head before spending the evening with Marisa and her boyfriend.” She checked the price of the book, shrugged, and went to the counter to pay for it.
***
Marisa’s house was part of a sprawling development, most of the houses standing at the back of emerald-green manicured lawns fronted by security fences. Japanese lanterns lined Marisa’s driveway, already lit with a dull blue glow despite the fact the sun was still up. Kim had to park in front of the neighbor’s house, hoping they weren’t the kind to call for a tow, and walked up the driveway. She could hear the music as she approached, coming through the open front door and from the back of the house.
She got to the porch and no one appeared to greet her. She knocked on the door frame and Andrew Close peered around the corner. She was irritated to see he was even more handsome in person. His hair was slightly mussed, and he wore a dress shirt open at the collar. She could see why he was always cast as bad guys and military officers; he was built better than the house. “Hi, there. Are you here for the party?”
“Uh, yeah... Kim Greer. Marisa--”
Andrew’s eyes brightened and he smiled. “Oh, yeah, Kim. She mentioned you. Come on in.” He stepped aside and ushered her into the house. The foyer led directly into the kitchen, relying on ambient light from the living room.
Kim fought back the schoolgirl excitement his comment stoked. She mentioned me? She’s talked about me? She took off her jacket and he took it from her, hanging it on a row of hangers next to the door.
“I’m Andrew.”
“She’s mentioned you, too.” She took his hand and squeezed.
“Oh. Quite a grip...”
Kim smiled. “Hazards of the job.”
Andrew moved into the kitchen and motioned for her to follow him. “Yeah, stunt double, right? Keeping her from all that dangerous stuff. I owe you a drink for that alone.”
“Really? Marisa promised a car.”
“Sounds like her,” Andrew said with a laugh.
The wall over the sink was a window looking out onto the backyard, although the view was almost entirely hidden behind potted plants. Recessed lighting gleamed off the appliances and fixtures, close to blinding her. Andrew stopped at the counter and picked up a bowl of chips, twisting to hand it to Kim. “Mind helping me carry? I’m not much of a pack mule.”
“No, happy to help.” She looked past the counter into the living room. She recognized half the partiers from work, the other half from prime time. She had even doubled for a few of the women present. Kim ignored them and focused on the house itself. This is where Marisa goes at the end of the day. This is where she sleeps and eats. Andrew held up a bottle of beer and she accepted it, trying not to stare daggers at him. This is where she makes love.
The fireplace had a façade of stone, flanked on either side by bookshelves. There were actual books on the left side, but the right was filled with DVDs and framed photographs. The furniture was pushed to the extremes of the room, and every seat was occupied. Kim stayed with Andrew, attached at the hip as they weaved through the crowd. She couldn’t help feeling like she was an intruder, like she should be wearing a tuxedo and offering hors d’oeuvres.
“So where is Marisa?”
“Mingling,” Andrew said. “She’s a social butterfly and I’m stuck playing waiter. But that’s no reason to condemn you to the same fate. Go on, I’ll catch up with you later.”
Kim handed the chips to him and looked for an out of the way spot to be a wallflower. Her plan was to say hello to Marisa, make an appearance for appearance sake, and then duck out as early as possible. She didn’t belong in this place, and everywhere she looked reminded her of that fact. Her entire apartment would probably fit in the living room. Hell, it would fit in the pool she could see through the floor-to-ceiling blinds on the sliding back door.
She retreated and found the base of the stairs, stretching up to a loft on the second floor. The refreshment table blocked the stairs and Kim scanned the food available.
“Hey, you made it.”
Kim’s heart jumped, partly in surprise and partly because of the voice’s owner. She turned and saw Marisa coming toward her. She was ravishing. She wore a sleeveless white turtleneck and matching slacks, her hair pulled back in a ponytail.
“Looks like it was your turn to catch me off-guard,” Kim said, trying to sound calm over the fluttering of her heart.
Marisa placed her hand on Kim’s shoulder to hold her still as she looked her over. “Wow. You clean up well, Kim Greer. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“What gave me away?”
“The boots. I love those buckles.”
Kim looked down and said, “Ah, well. I’m a slave to fashion.”
Marisa grinned. “I’m really glad you made it. Have you had a chance to mingle?”
“Um... yeah. Not really my crowd, though. I’m not sure...”
“Oh, come on.” Marisa said. She slipped her arm around Kim’s and pulled her close. “They’re just regular people. I’m sure you’ve probably worked with them all at one point or another.”
“Yeah, well... working with them and partying with them...”
Marisa smiled and Kim had to look away. She hadn’t seen Marisa in two days, but that was enough time to idealize the memory of her. Now, seeing her in person again, the juxtaposition of the fantasy and reality was enough to make her head swim. And, damn, could she be even more beautiful than she remembered? Had her eyes always been so intensely blue? Marisa waved to someone across the room and said, “Hey, I’ve never thought to ask. Are you single?”
Kim was thrown by the question, but Marisa continued before she had a chance to answer.
“Andrew invited Matthew, this guy he used to work with on No World’s Fair. He’s an actor, but don’t hold that against him. He’s actually pretty smart. He learned Russian for a role he had a couple of years ago. I’ll try to find him...” She started to step away.
Kim reached out, resting her hand on Marisa’s wrist. “Marisa... it’s okay. I’m not really looking to get hooked up tonight.” She let her hand linger, feeling the warmth of Marisa’s skin before she finally pulled her hand away.
Marisa said, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” Kim said. “Thank you, though. I appreciate it.”
Marisa smiled and said, “I’m just trying to look out for you. You need someone at home worrying about you like Andrew worries for me.”
I’d worry about you, Kim thought. She took a drink and said, “Well, I have my aunt. She looks out for me.”
“That’s great,” Marisa said. “Family is...” Someone called her name and Marisa turned away. “Ah, hell. Look, I don’t want to abandon you, but...”
“No, please, go,” Kim said. “I’ll be fine here.”
Marisa was already making her way across the room. “I’ll come find you later, I promise. Have fun. Mingle. Look for Matthew!”
Kim gave the thumbs up, but she had no intention of being set up with an actor. Not just because he was the wrong gender, but actors always rubbed her the wrong way. There was something phony about everything they did. A person who spent the day wearing someone else’s clothes, saying words written by someone else, and answering to a different name was not to be trusted with her heart.
So why are you so head over heels for Marisa?
She sighed and swirled the beer in her bottle. “Because I am a very, very stupid woman.”
Chapter Thirteen
The beer Andrew gave her was good, imported, but Kim would still have preferred her store-bought brand. She let the bottle dangle from two fingers as she wandered the party. A few people smiled at her, people she’d worked with nodded and acknowledged her presence, but none of them tried to draw her into their conversations. Not that she wanted them to; she would have been absolutely lost in whatever topics they wanted to discuss. Unless, of course, they happened to talk about capoeira or poker, but she somehow doubted it. She made a few circuits of the living room before she decided to hide out on the deck.
The sun had finally gone down, and the shadows proved inviting hiding places. A few partiers had taken off their shoes and rolled up their pants legs to let their feet dangle in the water. The pool was lit from within, and the water sparkled in the dying light of day like some precious jewel. The back yard beyond the deck looked like a miniature park, with rose bushes that were too perfect not to be the result of a loving gardener. There was even a cozy-looking guest house, dark and curtained against anyone who decided to snoop.
Kim found a chaise lounge on the far side of the pool and sat on the edge, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. She had a clear view of the party through the back door, and Marisa crossed into her field of vision. God, she was radiant. She was speaking to someone on the couch, her right hand clasping her left elbow as she shifted her weight to the opposite foot. She tilted her head as she listened to whoever she was talking to, and then her face broke into a smile. Kim took a sip of beer, aware that she was staring but unable to stop. See this line? The other side of that line is stalker. You’re close enough to make the leap, you know.
Andrew came up next to Marisa and put his hand on the small of her back. Kim’s eyes burned at the sight. He bent down and whispered something to her, Marisa’s hair brushing his face. Kim closed her eyes. He was breathing in her perfume, and his breath was washing over her ear, her neck. Was it making her shiver? She opened her eyes and saw Marisa looking at her. She pointed, waved, and then said something to Andrew.
“Shit,” Kim muttered. She stood, and Andrew came outside. She forced a smile. “Hey, Andrew. Uh, I was just...”
“No, it’s fine,” he said. “The pool area is open. Obviously.” He gestured at the people around them. “I was just trying to figure out where you disappeared to. One of the guys I worked with on No World’s Fair is--”
Kim shook her head. “Marisa told me. I’m not really interested. Sorry.”
“Oh... she did.” He smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. It’s just that Mare told me about you, and how great you were. And Matt’s been single for a really long time. I just thought it might be nice if the two of you could, you know, maybe keep each other company.”
Kim shrugged. “Sorry. I am single, I’m just... not in the market at the moment.” She looked toward the back door and saw Marisa had slipped away again.
Andrew nodded. “I understand. And so will Matty.” He looked at the pool and said, “Look, I’ll leave you alone. No more pestering. This isn’t like a timeshare thing, we invite you to a party and then try to sell you one of our friends.”
Kim laughed. “Well, if that’s the worst thing that happens tonight, I’ll be thrilled.”
“Try and have a good time.” He started for the door, but stopped at the edge of the pool. “And tell Marisa where you bought those boots. She won’t shut up about them.”
Kim said, “That secret dies with me.”
“Now I have to go tell her I failed. Thanks for nothing.” He smiled and went back inside.
Kim watched him go, and her smile faded. She wanted to hate him. More than that, she wanted to steal his girlfriend. It would be so much harder to do either of those things if he insisted on being a good guy.
***
Kim decided a half hour was a perfect showing, and went back into the house to say her goodbyes. She spotted Andrew in the kitchen and made her way over. “Hey. I wanted to thank you for inviting me. I had a great time.”
He frowned. “You’re not going, are you?”
“Yeah, you know what they say. Always leave ‘em wanting more.”
“At least hang out until Marisa reappears. She would literally murder me if I let you go without saying goodbye.”
Kim acquiesced. “Okay, then you’ll have to point me toward the little girls’ room.”
Andrew smiled and said, “Um... the downstairs one had a line wrapping around the outside of the house last time I looked.” He glanced toward the stairs and said, “Come with me.” He went around the counter and put his hand in the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd to the stairs. He walked halfway up with her and pointed. “Go through those double doors, and the bathroom is against the back wall.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Just, if you look in the medicine cabinet, the Rogaine is Marisa’s.” He winked and gestured at the party. “I’ll see if I can track her down for a farewell.”
Kim reluctantly went up the stairs unescorted. The upstairs hallway was unlit, relying on ambient light from the living room. She went through the doors Andrew indicated and found a cozy media room. The back wall was filled with books, and a huge flat screen TV hung on the wall opposite the shelves. The wall straight ahead had a door she assumed led to the bathroom, and a pair of French doors hidden behind curtains. Kim continued on into the bathroom, resisting the urge to peek into the medicine cabinet as she went past.
When she finished, she washed her hands and dried them on an embroidered towel. When she went back into the media room, she noticed the French doors were now open. She moved closer and peered out onto the balcony. Marisa was standing in the shadows, lit from below by the pool, with a bottle of beer in her hands. She was looking out past the stone wall that ringed the property to the lights of the city in the distance.
“Hey,” she said, knocking one knuckle against the open door.
Marisa turned. “Hey. Drew told me you were looking for me.”
“Yeah. I wanted to thank you for inviting me. I had a really nice time.”
“It was my pleasure. Do you have to leave right now? I mean, it would be a shame to say goodbye now that we can actually talk to each other.”
Kim stepped out onto the balcony. “I guess I could stay awhile.” She went to the railing and looked down at the pool. “You guys have a lot of friends.”
“A lot of contacts and coworkers,” Marisa said. “I love them. Most of them. But I’m not sure I’d call them friends.” She smiled. “I’m not much of a party person. I like to pretend I am, all through the planning phase, but when the big day finally shows up?” She shrugged and gestured at the balcony. “I run away and hide until everyone goes home.”
“I’ve been there. Born wallflower.”
Marisa toasted her bottle. “Hear, hear. The need to socialize overwhelms the fear of actually making conversation. But you had a nice time?”
Kim smiled, shrugged, and said, “Eh.”
Marisa laughed. “I’m really glad you came. I was worried you wouldn’t show up, and the whole night would be shot.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m the glue that held this thing together.”
“For me, you are,” Marisa said. “You were the only person I was looking forward to seeing tonight. So, of course, we only got to spend about five minutes together.”
Kim was shocked by the emotions that admission caused for her. She looked down at her hands, focused on the glittering of the water in the pool, tried to eavesdrop on conversations below. “Well, I’m glad I came, then.” She looked at her watch. “You know, if you’re not interested in going back downstairs, I could sneak you out of here.”
Marisa gripped Kim’s arm. “Don’t tease me, woman.”
Kim tried to steady her thoughts. “I haven’t had dinner yet. If you want, we could sneak out and get some food.”
Marisa put her beer down on the balcony. “Let’s do it. I just need to get some things from the bedroom. Stay here, all right?” Kim nodded and Marisa smiled as she went back into the house. Kim watched her go with a smile on her face, and then turned and looked out over the city. Her heart was pounding, her hands were sweaty, and she wasn’t entirely sure why. It was just a dinner. But it was dinner with Marisa. They were leaving the confines of work and home and going out into the world together. That had to be meaningful, right?
“Okay, ready.” Marisa returned with a lightweight coat over her turtleneck, her hair tucked under a baseball cap, and a pair of horn-rimmed eyeglasses in her hand. “My disguise,” she explained. “Come on. Hopefully we can sneak out before anyone spots me.” She reached out and took Kim’s hand, pulling her off the balcony and into the media room.
Kim followed Marisa down the stairs, straight to the kitchen. They managed to get outside to the front walk before Andrew appeared at the door. “Hey, Risa. What’s up?”
They turned, and Marisa said, “Kim had something she wanted to show me in her car. I’ll be right back.”
Andrew glanced at Kim and nodded. “All right. I’ll hold down the fort until you get back.” He waved to them and went back inside.
“He’s cool with you sneaking out?”
“He knows me well enough by now,” Marisa said. “He expects this kind of thing. Come on. We’ve got about an hour.”
