I hadn’t kept up on East Coast real estate prices while in Guatemala… or ever.
Katy shook her head frustrated. A tear gleamed in her eyes, and for a moment I felt bad for her. She wanted to keep the bed-and-breakfast in the hands of the public. “No, he’s totally overpaying.”
In a flash the sadness in her eyes washed away and she slammed her fist on the desk in anger. “Pierce always gets what he wants and no one can stop him. It has to end.”
I didn’t want to question the argument between her and Pierce that she was obviously having in her own head. It was apparent nothing I said earlier regarding the good parts of Pierce stuck. “Did you find anything on Melissa’s grandma?”
Katy’s nose crinkled. “Who?”
“Melissa’s grandma, the one in the nursing home. The reason we’re in the office.” Had she even been looking for those documents?
Katy stepped away from the desk and backed out into the hallway, giving up the search even though I hadn’t found the receipts. “Oh, sorry. I only agreed because I wanted to get in Pierce’s office. I’ve never had unfettered access. He always keeps the damn thing locked.”
How did Katy know Pierce always locked this one room? He didn’t even lock the house most of the time.
She took another step into the hallway. “If you don’t trust Pierce about Melissa’s grandmother, just call the home. She’s at Roses and Retirement.”
I laughed. “They won’t give that information out. There are HIPPA rules they have to follow.” I didn’t work in the medical industry, but everyone knew the guidelines that made it a law you couldn’t give out medical information on someone who hadn’t given you permission. You signed papers for it every time you saw any doctor.
Katy laughed, taking the first step on the staircase. “Tell them you’re a relative from out of state.”
Surely, she didn’t believe that would actually work.
We both reached the bottom of the staircase of the same time a door further in the home closed. Katy froze and then threw her body behind the couch in the living room still five feet from the front door.
“Hide!” she whisper-yelled in a frantic voice.
I stood my ground. “I’m supposed to be here.” Only one of us we needed to hide to avoid a breaking and entering charge. Although, if Pierce was really upset, I suppose I could get in trouble for aiding the enemy. “I’ll distract him while you sneak out the front.”
She nodded with my plan and put herself in a position to make a run for the front door.
“Pierce!” I called, making my way into the kitchen.
“No,” Oliver said, meeting me at the edge of the breakfast table. He wore a three-piece suit, but the jacket was open revealing a trim waist. “Pierce is still in contract talks, but he sent me home to deal with the protesters. Ridge has someone coming over to collect the girls.”
“The girls?” I asked, spinning Oliver to his side so his back faced Katy’s direction.
“It’s a long story,” he said, rolling his eyes.
A loud click foretold the front door opening and Oliver whipped his head to the side. If he looked, he’d definitely catch Katy as she snuck out, so I leaned over and took his face in my hands planting a hard kiss across his lips.
I meant it to only be a quick peck, something to distract him and give Katy time to get out, but it quickly turned to more as I lost control of myself with the taste of him. Oliver wrapped his hands around my middle and brought me close, flattening me against his chest. My nipples pebbled with his caress against my back.
His tongue pushed through my lips and I allowed him to take control of my mouth. Stars shone in my closed eyes and my heart sped up, wanting to explore more with the man I’d only met because I was engaged to his cousin.
“Shit,” I said as I pulled back, remembering who I was and where we were.
Oliver’s breaths were sharp as he inhaled, taking a step away. “Mari, we can’t.”
20
Mari
“No, I don’t want to speak to a supervisor. Can’t you just tell me?” I pleaded with the associate on the phone, but she didn’t listen and placed me on hold.
I rested my head in my hands on the kitchen table while light jazz music filtered into the speaker, and even the ocean view from Pierce’s kitchen didn’t soothe my aggravation. A new day dawned on Pelican Bay, but I couldn’t get the memory of my kiss with Oliver the afternoon before out of my mind.
The fantasy man in question strolled into the space smiling and dressed impeccably as he was every morning by 7:30. I liked to get a fresh start on the day as well, but I usually did it in a messy bun and yoga pants. At least for the first hour. Jeans shouldn’t be worn before nine. There were a few good parts to losing everything and moving to Guatemala. I never learned the benefits and comfort of yoga pants when I lived in San Francisco.
