Magnetic (7 page)

*******

Layne did not unpack. She laid her suitcase on the chest at the foot of her bed, hoping a brilliant excuse for her to leave would miraculously manifest. She’d been lonely with Olivia, often feeling as though she shared a bed with a stranger. But as she sat in a chair and studied the cozy little love nest that surrounded her, she felt embarrassed to be there knowing she was in the middle of two couples who would no doubt make the most of the retreat designed for lovers.

On a table in a corner sat a bottle of wine with two glasses, next to it was a vase with two red roses. There were two large candles on either side of the Jacuzzi tub built for two. “Two, two, two of everything. This place is like an ark. I may as well be in a honeymoon suite in the fucking Poconos,” Layne said to no one, her voice sounding hollow as it reverberated through the room.

She leaned her head against the chair and stared at the ceiling. What she needed the most at this point in her life was work. David’s kindness was ill-timed. Layne needed the distraction of a busy office and wished she were back at Calloway being pummeled with questions and mounds of research ahead of her, not this solitude where all she had was plenty of time to think.

*******

“This is so good,” Molly said with a groan as she relaxed in the water that swirled around her. “I feel so wrong for enjoying myself when everything’s going wrong for Layne. This vacation was supposed to be good for her.”

Jenny swallowed the last of her wine and refilled her glass. “You know…Ronnie might laugh at this, too, and Layne will be off the hook.”

“I don’t know, Jen. She seems to enjoy Stacy. She’s affectionate with her, touches her a lot. Do you remember the time we spent a long weekend in Pensacola, and she brought that girl…what was her name?” Molly snapped her fingers as she thought. “Help me.”

“Jane.”

“No, that wasn’t it.”

Jenny stretched her legs out with a sigh. “It’s generic. They’re all
Janes
, baby.”

Molly rolled her eyes. “Fine, Jane. After the first day, Ronnie acted like she was annoyed that Jane was there. She didn’t hold her hand, barely looked at her. She behaves the same way when she spends more than a few days with any particular woman, but she’s not that way with Stacy.”

Jenny took a sip of her wine. “Yeah, this is awkward and has to be torture for Layne.”

“I don’t know how to act. I feel so rude because I’m nervous about drawing Stacy into our conversations. She must think we’re the rudest people on the planet because we’ve barely spoken to her.”

“She doesn’t talk much, either. She’s probably in shock, too,” Jenny said with a smile. “I imagine she wanted to freak when she saw Layne, but she played it cool.”

“Stacy stares at her a lot. Did you notice at lunch earlier how Stacy kept glancing Layne’s way? And in the van, she kept staring past us at Layne.”

“I noticed,” Jenny nodded, “but,
Mol
, we can’t intervene. The three of them have to work this out in their own way. Don’t get any ideas about talking to Ronnie. Let’s just be supportive of Layne.”

Molly tugged on one of Jenny’s toes. “What do you suppose she’s doing over there right now?”

“Plotting her escape. She’s probably on her cell phone begging David to call her back to the office.”

*******

“Just checking in,” Layne said when David answered his extension.

“Why?”

“I wanted you to know I had cell service here in case you needed anything.”

“That’s kind of you, but I don’t. I sent out an email to everyone this morning stating that you are not to be contacted for any reason. They are to consult with me if whatever arises can’t be handled. Where are you, by the way?”

Layne sighed. “A ranch in Crawfordville, Florida. I’ve only been here a few hours, and I’m ready to pull my hair out. Do you know what poison ivy looks like?”

“It makes a terrible rash, that’s all I know.”

“No, the plant. If I find any, I’m going to launch myself into it headlong, so I’ll have an excuse to leave.”

David laughed softly. “That can be handled with cream, I think. Perhaps you should consider a
woodchipper
.”

“David, I’m miserable, let me come back.”

“Why don’t you look at this from a different perspective? You have the opportunity to relax and have a good time, so do it. Ride a horse, take a stroll.”

“If I were crazy enough to get on a horse, I’d ride it home, and if I stroll, it will be out to the main highway where I will hitchhike back to New Orleans. I’m that desperate!”

“If you show up here on horseback, I’ll lock you out of the building and consider having you committed.”

“This place is the same thing. I’m a few steps shy of cross-stitching my name on a pillowcase. The only difference is I can wear my own clothes and keep my shoelaces.”

“Then get dressed and go outside. I have to go now. I’ll see you in a few weeks and not one day sooner.”

Layne growled and tossed her phone onto the bed when the call ended.

Chapter 7

“Isn’t this marvelous?” Molly looked up at the twinkling stars above. “Dinner under a night sky.”

The evening was cool, and dinner was served outside. Servers moved between the tables, taking dinner and drink orders. When one approached their table, Layne was the first to order. “I’d like my own personal pitcher of margaritas. Don’t bring me a glass. Just a really long straw.”

Jenny smiled up at the server. “That sounds great, but I’d like a glass. You might as well bring a couple of pitchers because it doesn’t sound like she’s going to share with any of us.”

“Layne, why don’t you and I go shopping in Apalachicola tomorrow?” Ronnie said. “Stacy wants to do some sketching, and I thought you and I could pick up a few souvenirs, then maybe sun on St. George.” Ronnie looked at Molly and Jenny. “Y’all are welcome to join us.”

“That sounds fun,” Molly said brightly. “Jen, doesn’t it?”

“Oh, yeah, shopping. Fun, fun, fun,” Jenny said as she perused the dinner menu.

Molly rolled her eyes. “Layne, what do you think?”

“That sounds fine,” Layne said, relieved that she’d have something to do to make the time pass quicker. That Stacy wouldn’t be joining them made the idea all the more appealing.

“Great, and maybe that cute cowgirl will drive us.” Ronnie winked at Layne and looked around. “I’m sure we’ll run into Stick at the dance, and, Layne, you can tell her we want to go first thing in the morning.”

“I’m not going to the dance tonight.” Layne rubbed her brow. “I have a headache that I hope to numb with the margaritas, then I’m going to pass out.”

“Do you need some Tylenol?” Molly looked concerned. “I have some back at the cabin.”

Layne smiled at her. “No, I’ll be fine, but thank you.”

Molly looked at Stacy. “What’re you going to sketch tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.” Stacy set her menu aside. “I’ll walk around until I see something that catches my eye.”

Jenny draped an arm over Molly’s shoulders. “So you paint and draw?”

Stacy nodded. “I prefer to paint, but that’s too much to pack around.”

“Do you sell any of your paintings?” Molly asked.

“No, it’s mainly just a hobby.”

Molly propped her chin in her hand. “What kind of work do you do?”

“I—”

“Ladies, two pitchers of margaritas,” the server said with a smile as she set one directly in front of Layne. “I brought you a glass just in case you decided to share with your friends.” She set it next to Layne’s pitcher along with a straw. “Have you decided on what you’d like to have for dinner?”

Layne watched Stacy out of the corner of her eye as everyone ordered. She laid a hand on the table, and Layne was reminded of how talented her hands could be. She blinked as she recalled how those fingers had brought her to dizzying heights. How they’d soothed and stroked her when she could take no more and felt herself giving into sleep. She remembered the night vividly, but as she regarded Stacy, it seemed like a dream. She didn’t know anything at all about the woman sitting across the table from her, but she did know what she sounded like in the throes of ecstasy, what her kisses tasted and felt like.

“Layne?”

“Yes?”

“Are you going to eat or just drink?” Jenny said with a laugh.

“Oh, I’ll have the margarita chicken, may as well keep with the theme,” Layne said, smiling up at the server.

“There’s Stick,” Ronnie said when she approached the table. “We were just talking about you. Why don’t you join us?” Ronnie nodded at the empty chair next to Layne.

“Oh, I see you’ve begun with the mayhem margaritas,” Stick said as she sat. “They’re very potent.”

Layne filled her glass and inserted the straw. She sucked hard, hoping it would go straight to her head so she could sleep soundly and soon.

Ronnie leaned up on the table. “We’d like to go shopping in Apalachicola tomorrow, then go to St. George.”

“Well, you may want to go light on the margaritas because you’ll have to be here at the main house at eight in the morning.” Stick grinned at Layne. “Be sure to remember your sunscreen. I’ll have you out all day.”

“Tell us about Apalachicola,” Molly said. “What’s there to do?”

“The strip is small. We park on one end and you’ll be able to walk to all the shops and restaurants. It’s a very pretty little town. I grew up there.”

“So you can tell us all the good places to go for souvenirs.” Molly nudged Jenny. “We should bring the girls in your office something.”

“I’ll take you to my favorite place. There’s not much of the kitschy stuff, but you can find some really unique items there. The folks are real friendly, and if you’re lucky, you may find one of their cats napping on a display case or shelf.” Stick waved off a glass when Jenny offered. “I can’t drink the margaritas and expect to function tomorrow.” She looked at Layne and smiled. “I want to be alert so I can show you a good time.”

Stacy watched Stick and noticed how she’d turned sideways in her chair toward Layne, making it clear she was there for more than her work. Layne would glance at Stick occasionally but faced the table, steadily nursing her drink. The night they’d met, Layne had been open and maintained steady eye contact, and when Stacy made innuendos, she could see by Layne’s body language and facial expressions that she was well aware of where Stacy was leading her and was eager to follow.

“How’s that margarita treating you?” Stacy asked with a nod toward Layne’s glass that was almost empty.

“Very well, thank you,” Layne said with a faint smile.

“And your headache?”

Layne glanced at Stacy. “Almost gone.”

“Maybe you’ll feel like dancing now,” Stick said hopefully.

Layne shook her head. “Not tonight.”

“Layne travels a lot with work.” Ronnie jumped into the conversation when Stick looked disappointed. “She has to mingle and entertain clients, so I think she’s ready to let her hair down and relax.” Ronnie tipped her glass toward Layne. “God knows you need it.”

Stick picked up the pitcher and refilled Layne’s glass. “What is it that you do?”

“We restructure customer service and human resources departments for companies that receive less-than-stellar customer satisfaction ratings.” Layne glanced at Stacy nervously for a second. “When corporations begin to grow, they’re inundated with business they struggle to maintain, and they tend to forget that they wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for the people that buy their product. Too much emphasis is put on moving the products, and they let service slip after the initial sale. We evaluate their operations and their staff, then we rewrite policies and help them to move the right people into different positions where their strengths can be better utilized.”