River waited, her eyebrows raised, and Marina waved her hand. “Sorry. Go on.”
“I loved being away at college. I loved the new experiences. But here’s the thing, Marina. I’m different. Whether you believe it or not, when you see and feel the things I do, it’s nonstop. At least here, where I was raised, I’m comfortable and used to it. People know me and don’t look at me sideways or whisper behind their hands about me. My shop is my sanctuary. My home is haunted,” she nodded firmly when Marina’s head snapped up from where she was deciding on the next bite, “but they’remyghosts. Well, mostly. There’s a new one I haven’t gotten to know yet, but we’ll get there.” She grinned at Marina’s eye roll. “I like the people. I like my fellow business owners. I’m…comfortable. In a way I haven’t been anywhere else. And to me, that’s home.”
She let the words flow and figured they’d land where they would. They were quiet for a while, and she could feel Marina’s energy shifting, flowing, and then getting…excited?
“Want to tell me what you’re thinking about that has you fired up?” River asked finally.
Marina’s eyes narrowed. “You said you can’t read minds.”
“I can’t. I read energy, and yours is thrumming. So?”
“It’s client-based, so I can’t really say anything yet. But I may be onto something interesting.” Marina slid her hand over River’s. “Thank you for meeting me. We’ve been butting heads, and it sucks that we’re on opposite sides. But the fact is, I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re quirky and kind and stupidly hot, and while I don’t usually care about someone’s personality as long as they’re good in bed, you seem to have gotten under my skin.”
River blinked hard, surprised at Marina’s candor. And her energy suggested what she’d said was genuine. “Wow. For the most part, I feel the same way. I mean, I do care about people’s personalities even if we’re doing the dirty mambo, but you’ve gotten to me too.”
There was a moment of expectation, of awkward awareness that something had shifted, before River thought,fuck it, and slid her hand under Marina’s thick hair to pull her close.
The kiss was so perfect it was almost painful. The feel of Marina’s energy slamming into her own made her moan, and then Marina’s hand slid up her thigh. She tasted of wine and possibility, and River wanted to pull her out of her chair and onto her lap.
The dome door opened and a waiter came in, saw the situation, and looked away. “Sorry. I was checking to see if you needed anything else.”
They broke apart, and Marina put her fingers to her lips, her eyes wide, her gaze searching.
“We’re good, thanks,” River said, glancing at the waiter and then back at Marina. “Did you need anything else?”
Marina shook her head but didn’t say anything.
“We have another booking in twenty minutes, just to let you know.” The waiter grinned, then left.
“Wow.” River spread her hands on the table, not sure where else to put them. Marina still looked a little stunned.
“I…” Marina finally lowered her fingers from her mouth and looked away. “That was different.”
River laughed. “Not really the adjective a butch wants to hear, just so you know.”
Suddenly, Marina stood. She grabbed her purse and coat and hurried to the door. “I have to go. Thank you for this. For…” She touched her lips again. “For that. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
And then she was gone. River sighed and sat back in her seat. What the hell had happened? That kiss had been something else. Not just physical. It had been a connection, the kind you rarely got with someone. It was consuming, like you’d been pulled into some kind of void and all you knew was the person connected to you.
No wonder Marina had run. River should probably do the same before her heart was pierced by a million high-heel punctures. But damn…what a kiss.
CHAPTER 21
“You’re insane.”Rob shook his head repeatedly. “I’ll write the obituary for your career while you’re pitching your idea, and then I’ll have Adriana read it on her segment tonight, before they find your body floating in the lake.”
“Gruesome and a little dramatic.” Marina regretted her decision to tell him what she was thinking, especially given that she’d asked Sheila for a private meeting. Could you kill someone with a fork? Sheila might try once Marina made her suggestions.
“Babe, seriously.” Rob leaned forward. “We’re here to do what they want us to do. We make them happy, we get paid. We move up the ladder, and we buy pretty things.”
“And I’m going to try to fix things so I can keep that train going before this client goes to jail or runs off to a non-extradition country.” The firm had downloaded the documents Adriana had posted, as had Sheila’s company. Montgomery had already been in Marina’s office, his face blotchy with stress. He’d been grateful in that moment not to be tied to any of Sheila’s other projects, which was ironic given that he’d pushed her for more information just the day before.
Marina glanced outside. “I’m going to catch a Lyft over to 18. It’s too cold, and I’m not getting my hair wet after I spent so long on it.”
Cari came in. “And it looks amazing. But you might have been better off letting it get oily and smelly so she’s less likely to maul you.” She set a folder on the desk. “The different options you asked for are tabbed. I wrote down a few buildings that might be useful for each purpose, but honestly, those are shots in the dark because I don’t know the area.” She checked her watch. “I’ll order your Lyft to be here in ten minutes.” She hurried out again.
“Can I have her?” Rob asked, looking impressed. “My assistant barely looks at me. I think she might actually be a robot.”
“What’s her name?” Marina asked as she opened the folder and scanned the contents.
