The Revolution (12 page)

“I love hot tubs.” I admonish myself the second the words come from my mouth. “Sorry. That sounds so pervy.” I shrug. “But I do despite the germ reports.”

Smiling, his eyes light with laughter. “No worries. I’ll have it thoroughly cleaned for you. Unless you want to live dangerously and take a dip.”

I should almost feel ashamed for acting this way in front of Lane and Tommy.
Almost
. But I don’t. I’m happy on the inside and that kind of happiness can’t be contained on the outside. “I don’t have a suit with me anyway and I’m not sure if I should be getting naked with a client.” I wink as we open the pocket doors. They stick a bit. “I’ll have someone check on these doors. They should glide smoother.”

“Will they have to be replaced?”

“No, they’re great quality. Just in need of an oil.” I step outside and follow a path that leads to the pool. Just beyond the pool I see a cave-like area hidden by the waterfall feature. “What’s back there?”

“The grotto with the hot tub.”

“You have a grotto?” I ask, insinuating everything. “How very Hugh Hefner of you.”

“The man is ninety and he’s still got game—”

“So you’re thinking the secret to his sexual success is his grotto?”

“Figure it won’t hurt.”

I can’t help but smile, peeking back at him as I walk up the path. “Nope, it can’t hurt. Have you ever been to the Playboy Mansion?”

“I’ve partied there a time or two.”

“I went a few months ago. Apparently some of the Playmates are fans of my ex.”

“I heard he plays pro baseball.” He sits on a large rock near the grotto while I look inside. “How long did you date?”

“Six months or so.”

“Not serious then?”

I’m flattered he’s so interested in getting to know me better. Inside the grotto, I lean back on a short wall made of rock. Reflecting on that state of affairs. “I’m not sure what it was anymore.”

Kaz sits down on the opposite side, the hot tub dividing us. His voice goes quieter when he asks, “Did you love him?”

I finally look up. “I think this conversation is too heavy for a Wednesday.”

He nods, not saying anything else. Slowly he gets up and I watch him go inside. I stay a few minutes longer liking the solitude of the cave. No wonder Hefner always scored. Grottos are the way to go. Beyond the sex appeal of the intimate space, it’s peaceful. I go inside to find Lane talking to Kaz and Tommy. They’re getting along, which is good, but I know I’m going to hear more than an earful once we leave. I’m just wondering if that earful will be good or bad.

I grab my phone out of my bag to check emails and find I’ve missed two calls from Mark.
Ugh!
I really don’t want to deal with him anymore, but I’m going to have to get my things sometime, and sooner is probably better than dragging it out and getting it later.

“Did you get the measurements, Lane?” I ask, joining the group in the kitchen.

“I did. And I got the two other spaces. Kaz said he wants to go ahead and get those done at the same time.”

Kaz adds, “Makes sense to get it all done from the beginning.” With his eyes on me, he leans against the counter, looking relaxed. “When do you think you’ll have the preliminary designs Lane mentioned?”

“I sent you an email this morning with the questions. Once you fill it out, we can meet and go over your answers. The design part will begin after that.”

“I’ll work on it tonight. Unless, of course, I get caught up in something else.”

Not subtle.
To anyone.

I swear my body reacts like a whore to his voice. “Caught up happens sometimes.”

Lane whispers so everyone can hear him, “I think he means you, Lara. I think he means caught up in you.”

My eyes dart to Lane’s, and I scowl. With a bop to his arm, my sarcasm drips with laughter. “Yeah, got it. Thanks.”

Tommy rolls his eyes and heads for the door. “I’m gonna go. Your sexual innuendoes to each other aren’t really innuendoes. I got the hint.”

Kaz follows him. “Yeah, okay. We’ll talk later.”

Talking to me, Kaz asks, “Can you stay?”

Lane answers before I can reply, “Yes, we both can.”

Kaz and I shoot Lane a surprised glare. He huffs. “Fine. I’ll leave so you guys can get it on.”

“Lane! We’re not going to ‘get it on.’ We’re discussing business.” I’m not sure he believes me since my arms are waving around wildly. “And decorating stuff.”

“Stuff?” Lane asks, his face contorting. “You never call it decorating
or stuff
.” When he looks at Kaz, he says, “You’ve done good, Fabian. You’re the first man I’ve ever seen make her go loopy.”

“There’s always a first time. Glad I could be it,” he says all suave and full of himself. He’s hot like that. “Did you need any more measurements?”

Lane looks at Kaz’s crotch and taps his chin. “Maybe your insea—”

“Okay. Okay,” I interrupt before this goes even further south—literally and conversationally. I grab Lane’s arm and start pulling him toward the door. “I’ll see you back at the office later.”

He smacks my hand on his arm. “Hands off my Vincent Vittori shirt. You know how protective I am.”

Rubbing the fabric, I add, “It is very soft.”

He leans in and whispers, “It’s the material and the hand-sewn seams.”

I can’t stop from laughing and hit his backside. “It’s fabulous. Now get your fabu-ass out of here.”

With a hair flip that doesn’t flip because it’s styled to perfection on top of his head, he says, “I have to go out to Malibu. Calliope is having a dinner party and wants my input.”

“With your help, I know it will be amazing.” Just before he walks out the door, I bring him in for a hug. “Thanks for the help out here today.”

“Always a pleasure.”

The door shuts and I turn to face Kaz who’s standing too far away for my liking. I start walking to him, but my phone rings and we both look at my bag, the moment slipping away just a bit. “I should get that. I like to be available to my clients during business hours.”

“It’s okay.” He walks to the back and steps outside.

I reach for my phone, but see it’s Mark, again, and hesitate. He can wait, but I have a feeling he won’t, so I suck it up and take the call. “Mark, I’m with a client.”

“I need to see you.”

“You need to stop this.”

“I can’t.”

With my patience gone, I speak directly and clearly into the phone. “I’m hanging up.”

“Don’t.
Please.
Just hear me out.”

Kaz catches my eye when he walks back inside. Trying to act as professional as I can in front of him, I say, “I’ll call you later.”

“Okay. I love you.”

I hang up and tuck my phone into my pocket. “I have a board in the car I can show you and get your initial thoughts on.”

“I’d like to see it.”

Leaving him, I go to my car and take it from the back of my Rover, wondering again why Mark is so insistent.
Why?

When I’m back in the kitchen, I set the board on the counter and back away to give Kaz space and to watch for his initial reaction.

He leans over the board on the counter, the muscles in his arm flexing as he rests his hands on the countertop, showing the gorgeous definition. I want to trace over them, but I look away instead, resisting the urges he brings out in me.

Because of the lack of furniture, I hop up on the other counter and wait.

Kaz turns, leaning against the cabinet. “I like what you’ve done.”

“I made this from the photos I saw online.”

“What about now, now that you’ve been in the house?”

“I want to bring emotion into play.”

“What does that mean?”

“I want it to feel like you, like how you make me feel, how you want your guests to feel.”

“How do I make you feel, Lara?” His words stroke my heart, coming in purrs when he says my name.

“I’m better with visuals than words.”

“I’m better expressing myself through music.”

“Seems we’re both at a loss for what we want to say.”

He smirks while crossing his arms over his chest. “How about we do what we know best and reconvene? Can I hang on to this for a few days?”

“It’s yours.” I get my bag in the living room and throw the strap over my shoulder. “Fill out the questionnaire when you have time.”

“Okay.”

“We can meet. We can go to dinner and discuss the direction of the project. My treat,” I add with a goofy smile hoping to get the chance to have more time with him.

“I’m gonna hold you to that.”

“I keep my promises.”

“Good to hear,” he says, following me to the door. “I was hoping you’d stay a while, but I know you’re busy.”
If only he knew how much I wish I could stay too.

Turning around, I take him by the front of the shirt and pull him closer. “I want to, but I need to tie up some loose ends.”

Wrapping his arms around me, he rubs my back. “Go take care of whatever it is you need to take care of and give me a call when you’re free.”

“Free is a frivolous notion.”

“Free is what we all should be.”

“How do relationships come into play if we’re all free?”

He runs his index finger over my lips, then kisses me. “That topic feels too heavy for a Wednesday.”

I laugh having my words used against me. “Very true. We should save all this heaviness for a Sunday or a Monday.”

“How about Saturday? Dex is having a party.”

“You want to take me on a date?”

“I do, but if your loose ends are tied up sooner, I’m free on Friday.”

“Good to know.” I lift up and kiss him quickly. “Very good to know.” I twirl in his arms and head out the door. “See you soon.”

“Goodbye, Lara,” he says, admiring me with that look in his eyes that makes me want to stay.
And I want to stay. I want to feel. I want him.

Sadly I can’t. It’s time. Time to tend to those loose ends…

THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH
Mark has got to end once and for all. Not because of Kaz, but for me.

I find a Starbucks needing the energy to be on my toes for this confrontation. I want my things and a final conversation so we can end this once and for all. While waiting on my grande, I step off to the side and check Instagram. I scroll past the landscapes and beach pics, over the celebs puckering for the camera, but stop when I see a photo of Mark from last night.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
He has a girl in a bikini on his lap who’s kissing him on the cheek while he’s taking a selfie of them. Last. Night. The hot tub is his. I recognize it instantly.
The bastard.

Anger takes over. I can’t believe I fell for his lines. He doesn’t care about me. These aren’t the first pics to show up with him like this. It’s the third or fourth in the last few months.
Does he think I’m a blind fool?
He says he loves me, but how can snuggling up—and probably more—with other women indicate love? What’s his game?
I don’t understand the fake tears and begging me to stay. What part of “
We’re so good together. I screwed up and I’m sorry. I promise I’ll be better”
does he believe to be true?

My name is called and I grab my drink and rush out, furious.

While I drive over to his place, I know some could say I’m doing the same thing, but I haven’t been begging him to stay in a relationship with me. This seals the deal… well, the deal was already sealed, but now it’s super-glued.

When I arrive at his house, I punch the code to the gate in, but it doesn’t open. I push it in again and still nothing. I call him on the phone, but there’s no answer. “Damn it.”
What the hell?

“This is ridiculous.” I’m not waiting. I am so done. Frustrated, I drive away, getting angrier each mile.