Playing in Shadow (13 page)

“Scarlet.”

Gerri’s face darkened. She narrowed her eyes at Bryce. “I wouldn’t have thought you’d have been out in public so soon after your….”

Bryce was less than amused that Gerri still couldn’t speak of the accident. “It’s been nearly two months, Gerri. Life moves on. Just like you did.” Bryce tried not to cringe as the angry words left her lips. She had no chance of moving on when every time she closed her eyes at night she was back in that car surrounded by the dying.

“You still doing manual labor?”

“Yes, I’m still plastering walls,” Bryce ground out.

Scarlet stepped in, obviously seeing Bryce’s growing discomfort.

“And what do you do, Ms.…?”

“Gerri. I’m one of the managing directors at Gregson, Townsend, and Moore. No doubt you’ve heard of them?”

Scarlet shook her head. “Can’t say that I have, to be honest.” Her put-down was done with a smile. “Must be impressive though.”

Bryce wondered why she’d never noticed until it was too late that all of Gerri’s self-esteem was linked to that damned job of hers.

“I’d like to think I’m going places,” Gerri boasted, her eyes on Bryce.

“Then don’t let us keep you any longer.” Scarlet stood, and Bryce was surprised by just how tall Scarlet appeared. She looked around the table and took in the lethal high heels Scarlet wore. She towered over Gerri and deliberately looked down on her from her vantage point.

Gerri’s eyes swept over Scarlet from head to toe. She looked back at Bryce with poorly disguised annoyance. “You still have the power to draw the beauties to you. How do you manage that looking like you do now?”

The words cut deep into Bryce’s flesh, deeper than the scar ran. Bryce was momentarily left speechless at the cruelty.

“Oh, believe me, it
was
her looks that drew me to her initially.” Scarlet stepped closer to Gerri, staring her down. “But for some women, their beauty goes way beyond skin deep. And then there are others”—Scarlet purposely ran her gaze across Gerri’s face—“whose beauty is as fake as the accent they employ to perfect their rich and successful façade.”

Bryce was surprised that Scarlet had caught that the accent Gerri spoke with was not entirely her own. She had been astonished when Gerri had slipped one time and spoken with more of a Southern drawl than the hard-clipped Boston tone she tried to perfect. It was just another thing she used to further herself in business.

Gerri leveled burning eyes on Bryce. “It looks like you’ve found a woman more on your level than I ever was.”

“No, actually she’s way above me, so subsequently miles above you.” Bryce shook her head at her. “Just leave, Gerri. I see no point in engaging you in conversation if you can’t even be civil in a public place.”

“You were better before the accident,” Gerri said.

“Yeah, well, I was realizing what a bitch you were well before that night too.”

“You seemed happy enough riding on my coattails.”

“That’s because you were hanging off my arm with a death grip. Get back to Amber. I’m sure she’s amply prepared to console you like she was in the hospital room where you made your hateful Beauty and the Beast comment.”

Gerri’s face displayed her discomfort at being found out for her spiteful nature.

“Yes, I was awake. I heard your comments. I read the letter you left me. You walked away before I was even out of my hospital bed. So walk away again now and count your blessings you don’t have to face this every morning over the breakfast table.” Bryce deliberately ran her finger the length of her scar and watched as Gerri winced. “Move on like I’m sure you already have and this
conversation
is just one last twist of the knife in my gut for your petty amusement.”

With a huff, Gerri scurried away from the table and left the restaurant, but Bryce didn’t watch her leave. Her eyes instead were on Scarlet who only sat back down in her seat after making sure Gerri left. There was a palpable fury blazing in her eyes. Bryce found it only made her more striking.

“Man, what an utter bitch!” Scarlet said. “She’s damn lucky the waiter had removed my chopsticks because I would have been tempted to stab her with them.”

Bryce laughed shakily. She could feel her whole body trembling after the scene Gerri had just caused. She slipped her cap back on, her bravado for the evening effectively snuffed out.

“How the hell did you hook up with that woman?”

“A blind date set up through a friend of a friend.”

“Bryce, honey, you need better friends.”

Bryce smiled at Scarlet’s exaggerated drawl. She had mimicked Gerri’s tone with a cutting precision. “She wasn’t so bad before she climbed over a few bodies to get higher up the corporate ladder. After that, she got harder to like. She made me feel like arm candy.” Bryce shrugged. “Whatever attracted her to me got well and truly destroyed in the crash.” She waved a still shaking hand in the direction of her face.

“Then she’s as stupid as she is fake because, scar or no scar, Bryce, you’re still a handsome woman.”

Bryce snorted at her softly.

“I’m not saying that to be kind, Bryce. It’s the truth.”

Bryce looked up at Scarlet’s sincere tone. “Kayleigh said it was a mark like her favorite magic-wielding hero has. I prefer that to being likened as the Beast to Gerri’s Belle.”

“You’re no beast. Take it from me, Gerri was an utter ass for letting you go, but I’m glad she did.”

Bryce looked up again and Scarlet’s smile dazzled her.

“It meant I get to be with you, and I’ve loved tonight.”

Snorting, Bryce shook her head. Scarlet held her hands up.

“No, seriously. Great food, wonderful company, a cabaret to end the evening. It’s been great.” Scarlet leaned across the table. “So much so I’m going to dutifully accompany you to the bus stop now and kiss you good night before you board your ride home.”

“Confident, aren’t we?” Bryce was amazed by the look on Scarlet’s face. It lit up her eyes and made her smile radiant, and it was all directed at Bryce.

“I’m hopeful, very hopeful, where you’re concerned.” Scarlet retrieved her credit card back from the waiter and gestured for Bryce to lead the way out. Scarlet tucked her arm through Bryce’s and crowded close.

“Thank you for tonight.” Bryce couldn’t remember when she’d had such an enjoyable evening. Certainly never with Gerri. She’d always had a rhyme and reason behind every dinner date.

“I enjoy your company,” Scarlet said. “Both in this setting and at work. You’re very easy to be around.” They drew to a halt at the bus stop. Scarlet leaned forward, slid Bryce’s cap up out of the way, and placed a tender kiss on her scar.

Bryce all but leapt out of her skin at the contact.

“The only place I’ll expect you to be a Beast is in the bedroom, Bryce Donovan,” Scarlet said with a very sinful looking grin.

Before Bryce could utter a word, Scarlet kissed her properly. For a moment, Bryce forgot everything except for the feeling of Scarlet’s warm mouth on her own. She tasted of the wine they had just drunk and something that was uniquely Scarlet alone. Bryce released a disgruntled sound when Scarlet pulled back. She hadn’t wanted the kiss to end.

“Your bus is coming,” Scarlet said regretfully and gave Bryce a hug. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

Unable to form coherent thoughts, Bryce just nodded and flagged the bus down. She wasn’t sure how much she overpaid for her ride in her fumbling for change, but she didn’t really care. She took a seat by a window and saw Scarlet still standing there, watching her go. Bryce smiled and mouthed
good night
as the bus pulled away. She caught sight of her reflection in the window and ran a finger along her scar. Lipstick colored her fingertip, left behind by Scarlet’s tender kiss. It had been the first time anyone, other than herself and the doctors, had touched her there.

Gerri’s cruel words weighed heavy on Bryce’s heart. They had tainted some of the pleasure Bryce had felt being back out in public.

The accident had left her emotionally wrecked. Scarlet would come to realize that truth all too soon, Bryce feared. The scars on the outside were nothing compared to the ones she carried inside.

Trent smiled indulgently as Juliet finished fastening up the buttons on Trent’s work shirt and then fussed fixing her tie in place.

“You do know I’m a big girl now and can dress myself?” Trent gently held Juliet’s hips and tugged her a little closer. The baby bump kept them apart.

“Maybe I’m just getting some practice in.” Juliet smoothed Trent’s collar to her satisfaction.

“Sweetheart, I don’t think the baby will be wearing a shirt and tie just yet. You’re awfully cute. This nesting thing is quite something to watch.”

Juliet slapped at Trent’s chest playfully. “Hush now. I’m not that bad.”

“You have placed fluffy pillows on the sofa in my game room. Don’t think I haven’t noticed their intrusion.”

“I happen to sit on it and I need something comfortable in my condition.”

Trent just laughed at her. “Nice try, Jule, but face it. You’re nesting in my game room. I’m surprised I haven’t found something draped over my gamer chair decorated with ducklings or baby sheep.”

“I’m not
that
bad.” Juliet hid her face in Trent’s shoulder. “I can’t help it. It’s like my brief craving for fried okra. I can’t explain it. It just
is
.”

“I’m glad I had the doughnut craving. You can keep the veggies.” Trent kissed the top of Juliet’s head. “Are you going into work today? You were kind of restless all night.”

“I thought I might go get some fresh air.”

“Juliet.” Trent drew out her name in a warning. “Promise me you won’t try to lift, move, or attempt to do too much today. You still have shadows under those beautiful eyes of yours.” Trent smoothed her thumb gently across Juliet’s cheek.

“I don’t have to promise. Monica watches me like a hawk so even if I dared to attempt lifting anything bigger than a flower petal I get yelled at by the Pregnancy Police.”

Juliet’s pout was so adorable Trent had to kiss it. “You know we just want to keep you and the baby safe. There’s no need for someone in your condition to be lifting stuff when you and Monica have non-pregnant people there to do the grunt work. I know I’m hovering, I know I’m probably worrying for nothing, but I also know you can’t help yourself. Hence you being out more by Monica’s side than here in your office crunching the numbers since you started this business together.”

Trent tried to sound exasperated, but she’d been made well aware Juliet wouldn’t slow down until she had to. Juliet had come from a high-powered job that demanded all her time and energy. Trying to get her to not put the same work ethic into the landscaping business she and Monica ran was difficult. Trent just needed her not to take any chances, for her sake and the baby’s.

“I’ll be careful, I promise. I’ll just play in the dirt with the plants like I usually do.” Juliet looked up. “I’ll also try to get details off Scarlet or Bryce about their date last night.”

“They had a date? Together?”

“Scarlet is quite enamored with the resident plasterer.”

“Bryce seems nice,” Trent said. “Kind of quiet for Scarlet who seems….”

“All high heels and loud guitars?”

Trent chuckled at Juliet’s very apt description. In some of her heels, Scarlet could even look Trent in the eye.

“Bryce is very quiet, but I’m sensing that’s more since her accident. I’m hoping Scarlet can bring her out of herself a little.”

“So you’re promising me you won’t do anything strenuous but instead will spend the day gathering gossip?”

“Nothing new there,” Juliet said. “Who knew a landscape firm could be such a hotbed of intrigue?”

“So long as you don’t add to it,” Trent growled in her ear. “You’re both all mine.” Her hand lay possessively on Juliet’s belly.

Juliet snuggled as best she could in Trent’s arms. “Like you ever have to doubt that.” She tugged Trent down by her tie. “I’ll be careful today like I am every day you go through your damnable list of things I can’t do.”

“Thank you.” Trent’s hand moved on top of Juliet’s stomach. “Newt, you look after Mommy today, do you hear me? No making her sick, no running around in there too much, and no making her so sleepy she naps in a wheelbarrow.”

“If I slept in a wheelbarrow Monica would plant me.” Juliet kissed Trent gently then took a bite at her lower lip. “And quit calling the baby Newt!”

Trent bent to lay a loud smacking kiss on Juliet’s belly. “Mama loves you, Newt.” She accepted the smack on her head with a grin. “Newt was a heroic survivor. Well, she was until they screwed all that up in the next film. Assho—” Trent barely stopped in time from owing another dollar. “Stupid writers,” she quickly amended.

“We still need to pick a proper name. We haven’t got that long left to decide.”

“We’ll find something suitable and fitting for whatever we get. You’ve got your baby name book. Read through it again today, and stay away from large pots and heavy lifting.”

Juliet let out a grumble. “I’ll kill Monica for squealing on me that one time I tried to move that bag of compost on my own. I have never lived it down since. Chain me to the sofa, why don’t you?”

“I would, but you’d charm your way out of it. I have no defenses with you anyway, but I like this.” She smoothed Juliet’s belly. “I’m defenseless to your every desire.”

“And here I was thinking the horny hormones were just mine.” Juliet ran her hands over Trent’s shirt, cupping her breasts and squeezing just enough to make Trent groan.

“If I get to share the food cravings then I sure as hell am sharing the fun sex ones.” Trent kissed Juliet lovingly. Reluctantly, she pulled back. “You’re going to make me late for work if you keep squeezing like that.” Juliet’s pout made her all the more reluctant to leave. She kissed her again, harder. Then again because she couldn’t stop. Their breaths grew ragged and their hands began to explore. Trent fumbled in her pocket to pull out her wallet, all without breaking their kiss. She eventually gasped for air and fished out a dollar bill. Juliet graced her with that slow blink that drove Trent wild. She thought it was the sexiest thing she had ever seen. A blink that was just a fraction longer than usual, but when Juliet looked at her again it was either to call her out on whatever shit she had just spouted or it was to deliver a look of pure lust. Trent felt her clit harden at the look Juliet gave her now.