Saturday (Timeless Series #6) Page 4

  “No, it’s okay.” She shook her head like she realized her mistake. She was being rude when I’d done nothing to deserve it. “What can I help you with?”

  “Like I said, I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by.”

  That wasn’t the answer she was hoping for. “Well, it was nice to see you but I should be getting back to work.” She grabbed her stylist and returned to her iPad like the conversation was over.

  Why did I always like the unattainable women? First, it was Francesca and now Rose.

  I put my hands in my pocket and approached her desk. It was made of white wood with pastel blue organizers on top. The entire room was decorated in bright colors, yellow, pink, and white.

  A smart guy would give up because he knew this was pointless. But I was definitely not smart. In fact, I was as dumb as they come. “I just inherited a large piece of property in the Hamptons and now I need someone to design a home for me. If you’re interested I’d love to talk about it.” Most of that was true. When my father passed, he had a lot of wealth that wasn’t placed within a trust. It went to his lawyers, who kicked it around until it was finally cleared to fall in my hands. It took nearly five years to finally get it.

  “You inherited property?” she asked. “I’m sorry…” She forgot about her iPad and looked up at me, the sincerity shining in her eyes.

  “Thanks. My father passed away seven years ago. It’s taken a very long time for some of his wealth to finally fall into my hands.”

  She nodded in understanding, like she’d been through the same thing. “Take a seat.”

  I sat in the chair facing her desk and realized how close we were to one another. In fact, it was the closest we’d ever been.

  And we were alone.

  I didn’t have any ideas for the property I attained. In fact, I was going to let it sit there for a long time before I figured out what to do with it. I could sell it for a good price as it was. But now I used it as an excuse to talk with Rose.

  “Is there something specific you had in mind?”

  Since I had to come up with ideas on the spot, no. “Not really. It’s going to be my dream home, the place where I retire, and I want an expert to help me along.”

  “I’ve worked on a lot of homes so you’ll be in safe hands.” When she spoke of her profession she was surprisingly calm. It made her feel safe because it was her element. But once she was pulled out of that she was a different person.

  Today she did her hair differently than the other times I’d seen it. It was curled in spirals, and it was pulled over one shoulder. Make up was on her face, more than it was the other night. Her eyelashes were thick and long, and the eyeliner under her eyes made them stand out. The foundation on her skin blended perfectly into her face. With make up was she gorgeous. Without it, she was still gorgeous.

  She pulled out a notebook and a pencil. “Do you have any pictures?”

  “Of what?” The house that I hadn’t even begun to build?

  “Of the land. I need to know where it is, how big it is, and what’s around it.”

  I shook my head in response. “Sorry, I don’t.”

  “That’s okay,” she said. “Do you have any at home?”

  “Actually, no.” I didn’t see the point in taking a picture of the bare land, especially since I never planned on doing anything with it.

  “Well, I need that information before I start.”

  I didn’t realize how genius this idea was until that moment. “Let’s drive out and take a look at it. You can see it first hand and we can take some pictures.” Now I’d be able to spend the whole day with her—maybe even the night.

  She pressed the end of the pencil to her bottom lip while she stared at the blank paper. The expression was thoughtful—and distinctly cute. “How far is the drive?”

  “About three hours.” It was actually two but she didn’t need to know that.

  “Hmm…”

  “It’s far for a day trip,” I said. “But I have another beach house just a few miles from the property. We can crash there then come back.” With a little alone time, I could charm her into a date.

  “You have another beach house?” she asked incredulously.

  “Yeah. But I bought that one.” I didn’t want her to think I was a spoiled jerk that got everything from my parents.

  “It’s always interesting to see how the other side lives…”

  “So, what do you say? We can take a trip out there tomorrow, spend the night, and then head back.”

  Her eyes immediately broke contact and she sat back against her chair, putting invisible space between us. “I’ll stay at a hotel.”

  “A hotel?” I asked. “All the resorts there are expensive.” Like, crazy expensive. I could barely afford to vacation there.

  “Then I’ll stay at a motel.”

  Had she never been to the Hamptons? “There’s no such thing as a motel there. Really, it’s fine. We can just crash at my place. There’s lots of bedrooms and space.”

  “No.” She looked down again and grew flustered. Her breathing became irregular and her skin had a distinct red tint to it. “We’ll drive separately and I’ll come back when the work is finished.”

  That was even worse.

  Did she not trust me? Did she think I was a weirdo? How did I fix this mess I just got into? “How about this? You can stay at my beach place and I’ll crash with my mom. She lives right down the road.”

  The fear slowly drained from her face. “I don’t want to impose on you.”

  “You wouldn’t be imposing,” I said. “I’m never there anyway and my mom loves any excuse to see me. I could just walk into her house and she’d be thrilled.” That was the honest truth. After my sister died she clung to me even harder, afraid I might slip away too.

  “If you’re sure that’s okay, we can do that.”

  Perfect. Now I could spend the whole day with her—and the one after that. “It’s more than okay.”

  Distance

  Rose

  Florence walked inside, and judging the way the skies darkened around her as she moved, she wasn’t happy. “You won’t believe what that asshole did.”

  “What asshole?” I had my suitcase sitting by the door with all my stuff packed inside. Getting a physical view of the place was exactly what I needed before I began building the model. It was the best inspiration I could ever receive.

  “Kyle.”

  In his defense, she thought everyone was an asshole. “What did he do?”

  “When we went out last weekend he walked me to my door then dumped me.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder in an irritated way. “He didn’t even give me an explanation. He just said we were over.”

  At least he didn’t sleep with her and never call her again like most guys. Florence always assumed every guy was out to get her, but she never assumed any responsibility when things went wrong. “You only went out twice. Maybe he just didn’t feel anything.”

  “Whatever. He’s still an ass.”

  I didn’t bother correcting her because she was too stubborn. We would just get into a fight that would blow up in my face. It was better just to let the conversation die. “Sorry, it didn’t work out. I know you liked him.”

  “God, he was hot.” She sighed in longing. “He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in my life.”

  I couldn’t deny he was easy on the eyes. It was the first thought that crossed my mind when I looked at him. “There are other fish in the sea, Florence.”

  “I guess.” Now that her tantrum was over she looked at my suitcase by the door. “Where are you going?”

  I had to tell her the truth—even if she got upset. “Kyle hired me to build his beach house in the Hamptons. We’re going to take a look at it tomorrow.”

  “Hold on.” She held up her hand, her attitude firing up again. “He has a beach house?”

  I shrugged. “Two, apparently.”

  “Ugh.” She stomped her foot and screamed. �
��Now I really hate him. He’s a young, rich lawyer. Will told me he owns his own practice—and he’s thirty. Can you believe that?”

  “Some people are very driven.”

  “And he’s hot as hell. Damn, why didn’t it work out with us?”

  Florence cared too much about social status and looks. She only went after doctors and lawyers, attracted to their wealth as well as their intelligence. I didn’t judge her for it, but it wasn’t my style. “Florence, you’ll find the right guy someday.” When she started looking for the right guy.

  “So, you didn’t like Will?” She came to the couch and sat beside me. Now she became calm and adopted her inside voice.

  “He was nice…” He was smart and polite, but I didn’t see it going anywhere. But then again, I didn’t see it going anywhere with anyone. If Florence didn’t force me to go on these random dates I’d stick to my asexual lifestyle.

  “Come on, there’s nothing wrong with him. Give him a chance.”

  “Florence, I appreciate what you’re trying to do but it’s not working. When I’m ready, it’ll happen. But for right now, I need more time.” Honestly, I didn’t see myself being with another man as long as I lived—and preferred it that way.

  She gave me that look she always gave me—one of disappointment. “I’m not trying to be insensitive but you need to move on with your life.”

  Unless she’d been through what I’d been through, she had no right to push me. “I will—in time. Can we stop doing these blind dates now?”

  “I guess so. Since they’re a waste of time anyway…”

  “I need to get back to packing.” I just wanted an excuse for her to leave. These conversations always left me dead inside.

  “How long will you be gone?”

  “A few days.”

  “Where are you staying?”

  “At Kyle’s place.”

  “Whoa, what?” Her temper flared up out of nowhere.

  “I’m staying at his beach house while he stays with his mom.” Like I’d ever stay in the same house with a guy I barely knew. I’d drive home before I had to resort to that.

  Her anger deflated like a balloon. “You had me worried for a second.”

  “You know me better than that, Florence.”

  ***

  Kyle pulled up in a sleek sports car. It was charcoal gray with a roaring engine to boot. I didn’t know much about cars, and I didn’t have a clue what kind this one was.

  But it was nice.

  He got out of the car wearing aviator sunglasses. A grin stretched his lips as he walked around the back to meet me on the sidewalk. “Ready?”

  “Yeah. I just hope my suitcase will fit.” I could barely carry it down to the sidewalk because it was so heavy. It was eighty inches long so I wasn’t sure if it would fit in the trunk.

  “It will.” He popped the trunk then picked up the suitcase like it weighed nothing. “I’ve put bodies back here before.”

  My blood ran cold.

  He shoved the suitcase inside then closed the back. “Kidding, sweetheart.”

  “Oh…” I tried to laugh it off like I knew it was a joke.

  He opened the passenger door for me. “Don’t worry, I’m not a criminal. And I’m a great driver. You’re in safe hands.” He pulled up his sunglasses and rested them on his head so I could see his face. His blue eyes were bright and vibrant, the pretty kind girls always loved.

  “Good to know.” I ducked then got into the car. Once I was inside I felt the cold leather under my skin. The engine was loud, even from inside. The dashboard was sleek and pristine. It even smelled new.

  Kyle got into the driver’s seat and fastened his seat belt. “You have everything?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay.” He pulled into traffic and made his way out of the city.

  ***

  Once we left the bridge we drove along the coastline. He rolled down his window and let the fresh air into the car. Driving his fancy car gave him obvious satisfaction.

  Boys with their toys.

  “Thanks for coming along.”

  “No problem.” Going to the beach wasn’t the worst way to spend my day. It was nice to be outside rather than cooped up in my office, making blueprints for the engineers. Now I could breathe the fresh air.

  “How long have you been running your office?”

  “A few years,” I answered. “I know it’s small but if I work from home I won’t work at all.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, I get that.”

  I already knew a lot about him from Florence. She gushed about him left and right—before he dumped her. “So, you run a law firm?”

  “Yeah, I’m the senior partner.”

  It was a big accomplishment for a thirty-year-old. “That’s impressive.”

  “It’s not as impressive as it sounds. My dad opened it thirty years ago. When he passed away, I took over.”

  “Oh…I’m sorry.” Running his father’s legacy must make him happy and sad at the same time.

  “I always knew I would take it over someday, but I didn’t expect to do that so soon.” He drove with one hand on the wheel while the other rested on the gearshift. The coastline was in the background, and Kyle spent just as much time looking at me as he did looking at the road. “It’s an honor to work for his firm because we have a lot of great lawyers. I love being a part of it.”

  “Do you like being a lawyer?” It seemed more complicated than regular jobs. When they left the courtroom, did they really clock out? Or did they go home and think about everything that happened that day? Did they think about the clients they let down?

  “There’s nothing else I’d rather do. But there are days when I hate it—like any other job.”

  I didn’t hate my job at all. In fact, I adored it. To me, it was fun.

  “It can be stressful taking on a case. And when you lose a case you really care about, it haunts you.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “I work with criminal cases a lot, like homicide, child abuse, sexual assault, rape, stuff like that…it can be heartbreaking sometimes.”

  I quickly looked away and stared out the passenger window, not wanting him to catch a glimpse of my face. There was a knot in my throat so I swallowed it, but it was painful all the way down.

  “I haven’t lost a case myself, but I know people who have. It really eats them away.” The radio was on in the background so he turned it off altogether. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Just looking at the scenery.”

  “Enough about me,” he said. “When did you know you wanted to be an architect?”

  I remembered the exact moment. “Did you play with Legos as a kid?”

  “Psh. I still play with Legos.” The same beautiful grin was on his face, making him look even more handsome.

  “Well, I used to play with those a lot as a child. I would build towers, castles, and buildings…I knew then that I wanted to do it forever.”

  “That’s cute.”

  I turned back to him, my eyebrow raised.

  “I’m picturing you as a little girl sitting on the floor playing with Legos…I’m sure it was cute.”

  I smiled before I looked away.

  He drummed his fingers gently on the wheel as he cruised down the highway. There were no other cars in sight, and the road seemed to be paved just for us. “So…are you not seeing Will anymore?”

  I suspected this would come up eventually. “I wasn’t planning on it.” They were friends, so hopefully Kyle would pass on the message if Will wanted to ask me out again.

  “On our second date you mentioned you didn’t like the dating scene…any particular reason why?”

  I didn’t want to be interrogated about it, but I couldn’t hold it against him for asking. After all, I did divulge that information to begin with. “I prefer to be alone.” I wasn’t going to tell him the truth. It was one of those secrets you took to the grave.

  His tone darkened, becoming serious. “No one lik
es to be alone…”

  “Well, I do.” Being alone was better than trying to move on with my life. It was just too painful. The times I tried, it just blew up in my face. Remaining detached and isolated was my only solution—and it worked for me.

  Kyle didn’t press me further on the topic. Somehow, he understood the conversation was no longer welcome. “I had a really painful break up about a year ago. It wasn’t pretty.”

  I turned his way, intrigued.

  “We were dating for a few months then she went back to her ex. Then a few months later we started dating again. This time I thought it was the end of the story. I thought we were going to be together forever. Just before I proposed she left me again…for her ex.” He had the strength to chuckle. “Jokes on me, right?”

  “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I was devastated in the beginning but with every passing month it got easier. And then six months later I was over it. She’s married and pregnant, and I’m happy for her.”

  “You’re a good man.” Most people would be bitter about it forever.

  “And you know what they say about the good guys, right? They finish last.”

  ***

  “I know it’s not much to look at, but this is it.” He walked across the sand in his jeans and t-shirt. The wind had picked up slightly and ran through his hair. His vans were getting covered in sand but he didn’t seem to mind. “Beach house number two will go right here.”

  It was a nice piece of land. The great thing about it was the fact it was isolated. There were no other homes around. Privacy was extremely valuable when it came to private homes. “Where is your property line?”

  Kyle pointed in the distance. “Way out there…” Then he turned around and pointed in the other direction. “Way out there…”

  So he owned a mile of the beach. His family must be even wealthier than I imagined.

  “So, we have plenty of room.”

  “So, you don’t want a beach house. You’re looking for a mansion.”