Bit by the Bug (Matthews Sisters 1) (14 page)

‘What do you mean?’ she asked. His question was loaded, even though he didn’t know it. She couldn’t answer it for risk of giving herself and his parents’ plan away. If she just kept her mouth shut and saw where they could go first, then she could tell him after they got there – metaphorically, of course.

‘Well, here? With us? What is going on between us?’

‘Why worry about it?’ She touched his cheek, letting her palm run over his shadowing of stubble.

‘I just don’t want to be –’

‘Don’t worry, you won’t be distracted,’ she assured him. ‘I’m not moving my stuff into your apartment. Don’t think everything needs to be defined and named. Some things just are. Can’t we just let it go where it goes?’

‘But, I’m a scientist. Naming things is what I do. I’m not good at wait and see, at least not without some idea of where I’m heading.’

‘Well, it’s time you learned not everything can be classified.’ She gravitated closer, her mouth within kissing distance of his. ‘And I’m going to take off early to go and get ready for a hot date.’

‘Hot?’ The poor man actually looked shocked. It was all too obvious he didn’t give himself that much consideration. ‘I’m a hot date?’

‘Definitely cool,’ she said, using Ella’s young hipster tone.

‘I don’t know that I’ve ever been hot and cool before.’

‘Oh, you poor man.’ Kat gave him a pitying look. ‘Didn’t you at least date in college?’

‘Oh, well, not much. I was really busy with classes and internships. Besides, I was the youngest student at Cornell. After testing out of high school early, we felt there was no reason to wait to start college. From there, I was always working and there was never really time to date.’

‘We’ll just have to change your luck, won’t we?’ She patted his face. Then, smiling, she said, ‘Well, I’m off.’

‘It’s early yet. It’s not time to leave.’

‘You just worry about picking me up at seven.’ Kat grinned as she walked away, carrying her camera bag. Her heart was beating hard in her chest. Inside she tingled from what they had done. ‘I’ll take care of everything
else, even calling Megan. You just make sure you don’t forget and stand me up.’

‘Oh, I won’t. I promise.’

Kat didn’t turn back, but hoped his eyes were on her as she swayed her hips just a little bit more than usual to get his attention.

Finally, Dr Richmond, we’re getting somewhere.

‘Flora, you are an absolute angel!’ Kat exclaimed, staring in awe at the vintage dress her downstairs cappuccino buddy held up for inspection. Kat’s hair was damp from her shower and she wore a fluffy pink robe over her bra and panties. When she’d told Flora about her date, the woman insisted she had the perfect thing for Kat to wear. Stepping back, Kat let the elderly woman into her apartment. ‘You were so right. It’s perfect.’

‘The last time I wore this more than just sparks were flying. Flora laughed. She had a coarse way about her, from the gravelly tone of her voice to the fact she was often seen with a pipe hanging from her lips. Her face was wrinkled to the extreme and still she dusted her features with make-up as she had in her youth. Even her hair was a pitch-black reminder of what she referred to as her ‘better days’. Though, to Kat, the woman was still young and vibrant at heart. ‘I believe this dress went flying as well. I had to stitch the hem. That’s what took me so long. But, don’t worry, it’s clean.’

‘Flora, you promiscuous woman, you.’ Kat winked.

Flora laughed and shook the black crepe material. ‘Well, try it on, try it on.’

Kat squealed, still smiling from her earlier encounter with Vincent. Sure, the aftermath of sex hadn’t been the ideal cuddling and talking that such an intimate moment would dictate, but at least they’d talked. She took the dress.

Flora’s sharp eyes took her in. ‘This one’s special, isn’t he?’

‘Who?’ Kat tried to feign innocence.

‘Don’t you “who” me!’ Flora demanded, going towards Kat’s kitchen to help herself. ‘Go get dressed and then I want details.’

Kat ran towards her bedroom to slip the dress on. Circa 1960s, the black crepe and silk-lined evening dress was a true thing of beauty – and definitely much better than anything Kat would have in her closet. It was a little loose at the waist, but it didn’t matter. Simple pearl beadwork adorned the bodice, which gathered beneath her breasts and fell in a graceful sweep of elegance down the front. Thick straps and a mid-back plunge finished the simple look.

Since the skirt only fell to her knees, she quickly slipped black pantyhose on underneath. She would’ve gone for tan, but she didn’t have any without runners. Then, going to her closet, she spotted a pair of black and pearl heels. ‘This is so my lucky day!’

Everything was coming together brilliantly.

‘You’re wearing it backwards,’ Flora said as Kat walked into the kitchen to show her.

‘What?’ Kat automatically turned to try and look at the back of the dress, which was impossible since she was wearing it.

‘Got ya,’ Flora chuckled. ‘You look great, doll. Now, about this man. Who is he? And was today the first day you two hooked up, or have you been sleeping with him for a while?’

‘Flora!’ Kat gasped, though in truth she was hardly shocked.

‘Please,’ the woman drawled, waving her hand in dismissal as she carried the only food item she could’ve found in Kat’s kitchen – a half eaten bag of baked potato chips. Munching on them as she went towards Kat’s bedroom, she said, ‘I’m way too old not to know that look on your face. You’re grinning like an idiot and your cheeks have been flushed since you walked in the building.’

‘Have you been spying on the entrance again?’ Kat scolded good-naturedly.

‘You bet I have. I don’t trust Mills down in security.’

‘Mills isn’t security,’ Kat said. ‘He doesn’t even work here.’

‘Well, I think he’s undercover. You know, all that man does is sit down in the lobby all day, staring at the front door like someone’s going to come and visit him. The old fool.’

‘Why don’t you visit him?’ Kat suggested.

‘Ah, I just use him for sex,’ Flora dismissed. ‘Old fool keeps trying to get me to marry him, but he did say he’d settle for living together.’

Kat shook her head. ‘Flora, darling, you are one of a kind and I love ya for it.’

‘Ah, now,’ Flora waved her hands and was at a loss for words. She picked up the brush and instantly changed the subject. ‘Sit down. I’m going to show you a simple trick we used to do back in my day. They’re called pin curls. You know, we didn’t have hairdryers like you girls do now and we often slept in our curlers. Damned uncomfortable stupidity just for the sake of fashion if you ask me.’

‘It’s still your day, Flora.’ Kat took a seat in front of her vanity mirror. Picking up her compact, she dusted powder on her nose.

‘Oh, bless your heart.’ Flora went to work on Kat’s damp hair. Her hands were deftly precise as she moulded the locks into several rows of curls, using clips in her apron to pin them to Kat’s head so they’d stay. ‘So, you never answered. Who is he?’

‘Dr Vincent,’ Kat said. Just saying his name made a smile cross her features. She picked up her lipstick, a darker red shade that would complement the classiness of the dress.

‘
The
Dr Vincent Richmond?’ Flora said. ‘Mr Bug Man? Mr Never Pays Attention?’

Kat nodded, trying to hide her blush behind her hand.

‘Well, do tell. I thought you said he wasn’t interested in you.’ Flora resumed her administrations. ‘I’m going to pin the back of your hair up. It’s too long for this style, but don’t worry, it’ll be the bee’s knees.’

‘Groovy,’ Kat said.

‘Now, get to spilling. This look on your face, doll,’ Flora touched Kat’s cheek, is not the look you had for Jack.’

‘No,’ Kat agreed, but she was unwilling to go into it further.

‘Ah, to be young with so much time to put things off.’ Flora chuckled, as if sensing Kat’s desire not to delve into what she was feeling. ‘Blow dry your hair but don’t take it down. I’m going to go to my place and make you something to eat.’

‘But I’m going to dinner.’ Kat leaned close to the mirror to draw liquid black eyeliner across the top lid. ‘He doesn’t know it, but I made reservations at Zoe’s restaurant. She’s been dying to get a look at him and when I called her, she bumped some people to get us in.’

‘Yes, but you’re going to dinner with a beau. You don’t want him to see you eat more than a dainty salad.’

‘I honestly don’t think he’s the kind of man to notice if I have a healthy appetite.’ Kat stared into the mirror.

‘Trust me, doll. He’ll notice. If you make a pig of yourself, he’ll notice.’

Kat just laughed as the woman went to make the sandwich.

Kat slipped her hand into Vincent’s as she led him into the restaurant. That morning she’d been upset and then, as if by magic, the wall between them was tossed aside in the waves of their passion. No matter how she told herself she was going to hang back and let him make the first moves from now on, she couldn’t seem to stop herself. In the cab ride to Sedurre, she’d slid closer to him in the seat. His body had tensed and when he looked at
her, a soft, wondering smile was on his face. How could she not kiss him? Things would have gotten heated if not for the cab driver whistling as if they actually wanted him to watch their show.

Glancing at Vincent from under her lashes, she couldn’t help but smile. He’d shown up on time, which actually amazed her. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d forgotten their date altogether. But, the fact that her absentminded scientist indeed valued her enough to come said a lot. Didn’t it? Or was it just wishful thinking on her part?

Kat swallowed nervously. She didn’t know why, but part of her was scared – scared he’d find out what his parents wanted her to do, scared he would change his mind, scared he would look at her and wonder why in the world he was with a woman like her. These feelings of self-doubt were a new thing for her. She normally didn’t care what people thought, but with him she found she cared desperately. His actions, small as they were, said that he liked her. But she wanted to hear him say something. Then, whenever it looked like he might compliment her or say something about them, she cut him off for fear it would be something she’d rather not hear, like, ‘I want us to be friends’.

He looked incredible in his dark-blue suit. The classic style of the three button jacket and single pleat trousers complemented her vintage gown. He’d listened to her suggestion and left his hair un-greased. Now it fell in soft waves around his head. Beneath his jacket was a dress shirt in her favourite colour of blue and a subtly striped tie in varying greys. There was just something about being escorted by a man in a suit that made her feel like a princess.

She caught their reflection in the glass door as Vincent reached to open it for her. Her hair was done in perfect, dark waves, just like a movie star from the 1950s. A darker net held the back length up to give it the appropriate
bobbed effect and Flora had let her borrow an old silver and pearl hairpin for adornment. The effect must have worked because when Vincent picked her up, he stared at her and not her apartment, as he nodded several times. It wasn’t a compliment with words, but she took it nonetheless.

As he led her inside the building, he looked around before turning to her, ‘I thought you said your sister was allergic to pasta. This place serves Italian food.’

‘Oh, that.’ Kat glanced around nervously. Seeing Zoe, she quickly waved at her sister to get her to come over. Zoe didn’t come, but pointed towards the back of the room.

Just then, the hostess noticed them and smiled. ‘Great to see you again, Ms Matthews.’ Kat smiled and nodded, knowing the woman had to call her that when she was on duty or she could lose her job. ‘Your sisters have already joined us.’

‘Thank you,’ Kat said. The woman turned to look at Vincent. Her smile widened and she blinked several times until Kat realised the hostess was batting her eyelashes at her date. Her tone hard, she repeated, ‘Thank you, Susan.’

The woman jumped slightly, startled. She gave a forced laugh and motioned for them to follow as she led the way towards the back. Kat tried not to let it bug her. She caught Zoe out of the corner of her eye. Her sister was smoothing out her chef uniform. ‘Vincent, I want you to meet my sister, Zoe. She’s a chef here and one of the most wonderful people you’ll ever come across.’

‘Zoe? Another sister?’ he asked. ‘But I thought you said your other sister was Sasha.’

‘I can’t believe you remembered that,’ she blurted.

Vincent gave a sheepish smile. ‘To tell the truth, neither can I.’

‘There is Sasha and Ella, Megan, me and Zoe. My parents bred like cockroaches.’

‘Well, actually, like in the case of the
gromphadorhina portentosa
, the Madagascar hissing cockroach, they can have up to forty babies after just a few months’ gestation. So to breed like a cockroach would mean you have quite a lot more siblings.’

Kat stopped walking, not caring that they stood in the middle of the main aisle of a crowded restaurant. Part of her wanted the women in the place to see that he was definitely there with her. She was like a conqueror, staking her territory. Grabbing his face, she made sure he was looking at her before saying softly, ‘Vincent, try to pay attention. You are not allowed to talk about bugs or work tonight. You have to relax and have fun. Got it?’

He started to nod.

‘It’s so great to meet you, Dr Richmond. Ella has told us all so much about you. In fact, she raves about how you’re into milking spiders.’

Kat turned, surprised to see Sasha standing there.

‘Am I the only person here who doesn’t think bugs are cool?’ Kat demanded, though it was more of a rhetorical question.

Sasha lifted a brow, even as she grinned, her dark-blue eyes shining playfully. Her chin length brown hair was all one length with the bangs pulled up at the side with barrettes. The colour matched Megan’s, but her eyes were like Zoe and Kat’s.

‘We were discussing the Madagascar hissing cockroach,’ Vincent explained.

‘Fascinating,’ Sasha grinned.

‘You must be Zoe?’