Magnetic (3 page)

“Yes, we do.” Molly shot out of her chair. “I’m gonna go call now and get you an appointment.”

Layne and Jenny watched Molly race into the house and laughed when the screen door slammed behind her. “You do realize that you’re going to have to rent this place.
Mol
will have it no other way. She’s wanted you close for a long time,” Jenny said with a smile.

“Yes,” Layne said, hoping she’d like the house. “I’ll make sure I have my checkbook with me when I look at it.”

Jenny patted her on the arm. “I think moving is a good idea. A fresh start is what you need.” She searched Layne’s eyes for a moment before saying, “You look surprisingly good, despite the circumstances.”

Layne cleared her throat and looked away. “I did something crazy last night, and as bad as it’s going to sound, it helped.”

“You replied to Olivia’s email and said, ‘Fuck you very much, it’s been hell for the last six years’?”

“That was tempting,” Layne admitted with a laugh, “but no, I—”

“You have a ten o’clock appointment with Kerry Brown tomorrow morning,” Molly said as she burst through the door. “He sounded very pleased.”

“Well, thank you,” Layne said with a grin.

“Now after we look at it, we can go shopping for furniture. You’ll know what you need then. It’s three bedrooms, so you’ll have a guest room and an office. There’s a sunroom off the kitchen, so I’ll start potting some plants.” Molly clapped her hands together. “We’re going to make it so cute!”

Jenny laughed and looked at Layne. “Do you hear all
we’re
going to do?”

Molly waved both hands. “I’m not going to take over.”

“Yes, you are,” Layne and Jenny said in unison, then laughed.

“I welcome the help, Molly,” Layne said. “I’m a bit out of sorts, so any direction you can give will be cheerfully accepted.”

“So tell me what you did last night.” Jenny winked at Layne. “Was it naughty?”

Layne nodded. “Off the charts.”

“Did you do something illegal?” Molly asked seriously.

“Maybe in a few states.” Layne glanced at Molly, then looked back at Jenny. “I met a woman at the party last night and—”

Jenny inhaled sharply. “You had angry sex. You had hot, dirty, crazy, monkey sex with a stranger.”

Layne nodded. “I did.”

Jenny slapped her leg and laughed. “It’s about damn time!”

“Please tell me it wasn’t with someone at Calloway,” Molly said.

“I don’t know who she was with,” Layne admitted with a shrug. “I don’t even know her last name.”

Jenny was stomping both feet with her head thrown back in laughter.

Molly ignored her. “Layne, I’m shocked.”

“So am I. She came on to me, and the next thing I knew, we were in my room. But you know…I have no regrets.”

Jenny cuffed Layne on the shoulder. “That’s my girl.”

“Yeah, well, you may have regrets one morning if you wake up and something’s growing on your private parts.” Molly stabbed a finger at Layne. “I don’t know how Ronnie’s avoided that with as much as she sleeps around.”

That notion quelled some of Jenny’s excitement, and Layne blanched.

“You better get your ass tested,” Molly warned.

“I don’t think it was her ass that got busy last night,” Jenny said with a chuckle, then looked at Layne. “Or was it? Did you…?”

“No,” Layne said indignantly, then shrugged. “Well…I did have a lot of champagne.”

“Oh, my God.” Molly put the heel of her hand to her forehead.

Chapter 3

Layne popped a couple of Tylenol into her mouth and swallowed them down with a gulp of water as David Calloway strode into her office and closed the door. She was still sore from adjusting to her new bed, and Molly met her every evening to do something with the house. The night before, they’d weeded flower beds. Molly refilled them with a bright array of colors, and Layne had no clue what the flowers were actually called. Perry…Perry something, Layne thought to herself.
Zinnias, no Perry somebody.

David took a seat in front of her desk and stared at her curiously. “Do you remember the night of the Cline & Barry party when I said we needed to talk?”

“Yes,” Layne said with a nod.

“I’ve put that off for a month because I knew you were moving and probably had a lot on your mind.” David glanced at the empty spot on Layne’s desk that Olivia’s picture used to occupy. “Are things okay at home?”

“My new house is great, but I’m living there alone. Olivia and I broke up.”

David pursed his lips. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s okay,” Layne said with a slight smile. “What’s on your mind?”

David
steepled
his fingers beneath his chin and regarded her a moment before saying, “You’re not my tiger anymore. There have been times that I literally have had to grab you by the nape of your neck to slow you down, and I haven’t seen that in you for a while. Now I can assume that your relationship has been part of the problem. But I think the other side of that is you’re just flat-out exhausted and quickly approaching burnout.”

“I’m fine. I’ll admit that things with Olivia had me distracted for a while, but the tiger’s still here.” Layne pawed the air with her hand. “
Rrrrrr
, hear me roar.”

“You haven’t taken a vacation in three years. Most weekends, you’re here, and if not, you’re on the computer at home. While I appreciate the commitment, I think it’s taken a toll on you.”

“Okay, shoot from the hip. What’re you saying to me, David? Are you planning on replacing me?” Layne asked as her stomach coiled into a knot.

“Indeed not,” he said indignantly. “You and I have been together too long for me to even consider that. You’d have to totally drop the ball for me to even raise a brow, and I know with your work ethic that you would never allow that to happen. I want my tiger back at full strength. I want to see the fire in your eyes again. I want you to take a vacation starting next week.”

“I can’t. We’re starting the
Bettenford
project,” Layne said with a laugh. “I’m on fire. I’m just a little tired from the move. You’ll see the big cat again when we touch down in Sacramento.”

David shook his head. “No, I won’t. I’m firm on this. I want you out of here for three weeks.” He raised his voice when Layne began to object. “Totally out, Layne. If I see you logged into the computer, I’ll have IT lock you out. Take a cruise or go up to the mountains, do whatever, but I want you doing something besides work.” He cleared his throat and returned to his normal soft tone. “When you return, we’ll be going to Seattle for a week, and I need you at full throttle. This isn’t a punishment, so don’t look at me like that. I need you. I need the woman that helped me build this company. I won’t settle for less.”

David stood and adjusted his tie. “When you leave here Friday, don’t plan on coming back until the first of July. Use this time to sharpen your claws.”

“This is such bullshit! I’m not five years old. I know when I need rest,” Layne said as she moved a large palm tree into the corner of her sunroom. I don’t need a vacation.”

Molly gave the palm a push with her foot, moving it more in front of the window. “Yes, you do.” She smiled when Layne regarded her angrily. “We all do, especially Jenny. It wouldn’t hurt Ronnie, either.”

“Jenny isn’t going to take off. She’s too busy, and Ronnie…who the hell knows?”

“Jenny will take off if I ask her to. She has enough staff, and Morgan is more than capable of handling things at the office for a couple of weeks. Ronnie takes off at the drop of a hat. She has people that handle her store.” Molly took Layne’s hands and squeezed them. “You’ve offered us several trips, and we didn’t take them because of Jenny’s pride. I need this, she needs this. Layne, I need you to make this happen for me, for us. If you’ll loan me the money, I’ll pay you back because I’m going to start work again real soon.”

Layne swallowed hard, knowing that Molly’s pride was as strong as Jenny’s. For her to ask for a loan was serious. “Consider it an anniversary present.”

“No.” Molly shook her head and released Layne’s hands. “A loan,” she said as she folded her arms.

Layne mimicked Molly’s pose. “Here’s the deal. I pay for whatever trip you plan or it’s a no-go. You and Jenny are my closest friends, well, Ronnie, too. And you barely allowed me to help when you needed it. I want you to have this gift because it’s obviously important to you. It would mean a lot to me.”

Molly chewed her bottom lip as she rubbed the back of her neck. “Jenny would be livid with me for even asking you for a loan. To accept this would put me in really hot water.”

“She doesn’t have to know.”

“We don’t work that way.” Molly shook her head. “No secrets. Besides, she knows we don’t have the money.”

Layne inhaled deeply. “Okay, a loan to be repaid once a month after you return to work. I’ll expect one penny by the fifteenth. If you’re late, you’re just going to have to cook for me more often.”

Molly laughed and shook her head.

“That’s my offer, take it or leave it. My other stipulation is that you choose the trip and make the arrangements. All I want to do is give you my credit card. This is my protest. It makes me feel better.”

“Liar, you know I love doing stuff like that. You’ll back me up with Jenny?”

“
Eww
,” Layne said, taking a step back. “That’s not going to be pretty.”

*******

On Friday, Layne shut off her computer and stared at the black screen. Her days had been busy as she prepped her staff to work in her stead. Her nights were spent arguing with Jenny, who had finally relented when Layne played her final ace and claimed that the trip would be good for Molly’s health. A getaway would be refreshing for Molly after her yearlong battle. Layne had no idea what Molly was planning and wondered what she’d come up with on such short notice. She hoped it was a resort somewhere exotic that would take her mind off of all she was leaving behind.

Ronnie Blanchard, the fourth member of their family, was on board the minute she’d heard about the trip, and she was bringing her new girlfriend. That would mean Layne would be the odd girl out, something she despised. Hopefully, wherever they were going would have a pool. Layne planned to spend her days beside it with a book and maybe a drink or two.

“All set?” David asked as he stood in her doorway.

“No, but that isn’t going to make any difference to you.” Layne looked at him hopefully. “Is it?”

“Not a chance,” he said with a smile. “Get out of here and bring me pictures to prove that you did something aside from lying on your couch. Have a great time. I look forward to hearing your roar upon your return.”

Chapter 4

“A what?” Layne said after recovering from a choking fit.

“Don’t whine. You told me you wanted me to make all the plans,” Molly said as she refilled Layne’s glass.

“I hate horses…I don’t even know how to ride.” Layne stared down at the brochure in horror.

“Dumbass,” Jenny said over her shoulder as she tended the burgers on the grill.

“You hush.” Molly pointed at her, then turned to Layne. “It’s not just horses. You don’t even have to ride. This place is near the beach. You can sun all day. It’s lesbian-owned, and that’s the clientele. You might even meet someone. It’s all inclusive—activities, meals, and even the drinks.

Layne tried to smile for Molly’s sake. “Where is Crawfordville?”