A Modern Love Story (28 page)

“Jesus, Payten.” Other than that, Luc was at a loss for words. He pulled out and yanked up his pants.

She stood to face him, but she didn’t come any closer. A slow smile spread across her face. “How about next time we have dinner first?”

“Who says there’s going to be a next time?”

“Oh, I think there will be.” She bit on the end of a fingernail as she watched, waiting for his response.

“I told you, this doesn’t mean a fucking thing to me. Don’t go thinking this is going anywhere and then come crying that I broke your goddamn heart.”

“The thought would never even occur to me. I want you. It’s as simple as that.” She trailed her fingers down her breast to tweak her nipple. “So, what do you say? Next Monday? Here? Dinner?”

His belly quivered as he reflected on the escape she’d given him only minutes before. Maybe she was just what he needed—a good distraction.

*****

 
“Morning, Scott,” Robbie called across the lab in a sing-song voice.

He turned, stared, and twisted back around.

Robbie giggled as she put her stuff down on her desk and began shifting through her
In
box. After only two months on the job, she was already swamped. Glancing at Scott, she tossed the files back on her desk and sauntered over.

She put a hand on each side of the enormous vase sitting on his two-drawer filing cabinet and buried her face in the flowers, breathing deeply. “Hmm. They’re gorgeous. Aren’t you just the lucky guy?” He glowered at her—there really was no other way to describe it—and she broke out into a fit of giggles.

“Shut the hell up. Who told you?”

“Maggie, of course.”

“Damn receptionist. I told her to keep her mouth closed.”

“She said you turned about five shades of red when you saw them.” She grabbed his chin and tipped it side-to-side. “
I
only see four. You must’ve gotten used to the idea of a woman romancing you, huh?”

“Jesus.” He shook his head. “It’s just not right. It’s kind of psycho…a little predatory, maybe.”

“Because she gave you
flowers
? Are you for real?”

“It’s weird, Rob.”

“Did you catch her following you home? Looking in your windows? Going through your mail?”

“No,” he grumbled.

“
That
would be psycho behavior. This”—she fluttered her fingers across the delicate petals—“is how a girl expresses how she feels. She didn’t do it to embarrass you or bruise your delicate male ego.” He shot her an annoyed glance, but she ignored it. “Look, if you’re not interested, you need to tell her. Otherwise, take it for what it is—a compliment.”

He stared at his folded hands a minute before answering. “How come you get it and she doesn’t?”

She smiled. “I’ve had practice figuring out a particularly complicated man. I guess it honed my male-deciphering skills.”

He looked up with a smirk on his face. “And you’re sure you don’t want to use those skills on me in any way, shape or form?”

Robbie grinned at the thought of a romance with Scott. Lord knew the man was fine, and she had to admit to herself that she’d been tempted. Honestly, who wouldn’t? Several times she’d caught herself thinking of what Luc had said to her about going for someone else if it would make her happy. But even though she missed Luc, and was lonely, it didn’t feel right. Scott would’ve just been a warm body, a temporary replacement for Luc, and she couldn’t do that to either one of them.

“I’m afraid I won’t be taking you up on that, Scott.”

He pointed a finger at her as he stood. “I saw that, my Irish lovely. Just now I had you considering it for
about
half a second.” He nodded, crossing his arms. “I might wear you down yet.”

“Oh, please.”

Scott chuckled as he picked up a clipboard off his desk and began flipping through the pages. “Did you see your landlord on the way in?”

She grunted and toed the corner of the filing cabinet.

“Didn’t go well, huh?”

“Yet
another
hang up with the apartment. I don’t know, Scott. Maybe I should just find someplace else.”

“You loved that place.”

“Yeah, but by the time he gets his crap together, it’ll be time for me to move back to Vermont!”

“Take it easy. The current arrangements are working fine. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“No problem.” He glanced at his watch. “I have a meeting to get to. See you when I get back? We could do lunch.”

“I’m meeting Colin at
Mano’s
for lunch.”

“That’s right. It’s Tuesday. All right, see you when you get back.”

“Yup.” She leaned in to sniff the flowers one last time, then trudged reluctantly back to her dreary desk. Now, wouldn’t it have been nice if a certain someone had surprised her with flowers?

*****

 
“Robbie. So good to see you again.” Colin leaned in for a quick hug.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, not at all. I’ve only just arrived myself. Nice choice on the restaurant, by the way. How did you find this charming little establishment?”

“My friend, Maggie, told me about it.”

“Fine, just fine.” He looked over the wine listing and gestured to the waiter. After he ordered their drinks, they fell into the usual pattern. How was work at the museum? How was work at the bakery he owned? Questions and discussion about their daily lives.

Robbie enjoyed their talks together, laughing and sharing like old friends, but very rarely did the conversation turn to the past. She had finally decided that should change.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like to know. I didn’t want to cross any lines.” His green eyes clouded with uncertainty.

“My dad’s death was a long time ago. I think I’d enjoy hearing about his childhood, even though your memories might not be particularly happy ones.”

“Be certain, I have plenty of happy memories to share. Your father and I always got along well. It was my mother he couldn’t tolerate.” He placed a hand over hers. “Give me time to gather my thoughts on the matter. I’ll be sure to shed some light on your father’s upbringing during our next luncheon.”

“Thanks, Colin. That would be great.”

“Then it’s done.” He leaned back in his chair, snapping out his linen napkin and laying it across his lap. “Now, do tell, how are things with you and the young man you spoke of? Luc, was it? You haven’t mentioned him as of late.”

Robbie shrugged. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s been real busy, with the bar and everything. I guess he’s putting in a lot of hours. I’ve been trying to catch him on the phone, but lately we haven’t connected.” She took a drink of her wine. “He’s been emailing me though. So, there’s that.”

“I’m sure it’s just as he says—that he’s busy.”

She glanced up at him, surprised he noticed the depth of her trepidation. “Yeah, I know. I did get a hold of Lizbeth yesterday and asked her about him. She said she hadn’t seen much of him either, but would remind him to call when he gets a chance. Of course, I mention it in our emails too, but when he replies, he seems to always gloss over that part.”

“It must be a hard adjustment to have you missing from his life. For so long he’s had you, and now he doesn’t. Give him time. He’ll come back around to you.”

“I hope you’re right. Thanks, Colin.”

“My pleasure, Robbie. Anytime you need an ear, I have two at the ready for you.” He smiled as he refilled her wine glass, the crystal carafe catching the light as he did. “And now, we must toast.”

“To what?”

“To good fortune. Yours for finding the job and experience needed to reach your dreams, and mine for finding you to fill the void in my life.”

“That would be a part of my good fortune, too, Colin.”

“You are too kind, Robbie.”

She held up her glass. “To family.”

He clinked his softly against hers. “To family.”

*****

 
“So you have a date tonight, huh?” Robbie teased, knocking into Scott’s shoulder as they strolled through the African exhibit area.

He threw his hands up. “Now, how did you know that?”

“Maggie.”

“Is there anything she
doesn’t
know?”

“Your date’s name. We’ve been calling her Flower Girl.”

“It’s Tamara.”

They stopped short as a kid suddenly stepped in their path, looking up at Robbie with wide, amorous eyes. “What’s your name?”

“Rob.”

“That’s
pwitty
. I’m gonna name my dog
Wob
.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a snapshot of a beagle.

“Aww, that’s so sweet. Thank you.” She smiled, handing the picture back.

He flashed a grin of missing teeth before darting off to the side.

“You think you’re pretty special now, don’t you?” Scott said.

“You bet your ass. I just got named for a fancy beagle.”

They turned when they heard the boy talking to another woman. “That’s
pwitty
. I’m gonna name my dog
Babwa
.”

“Looks like you’re not so special after all. Barbara’s cutting in on your gig there.”

“I’m crushed.” She let her shoulders drop in mock disappointment.

“Hey. Look at those two.” Scott gestured to a couple of kids, dumping their popcorn on the floor and grinding it into the carpet.

Glancing around, Robbie saw who she thought was their mother sitting on a bench nearby. “Excuse me, ma’am?”

The woman looked at her with tired eyes.

“Your kids are making a mess over there.” Robbie gestured in their direction.

The woman turned towards the children and sighed. “Those aren’t my kids.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“They’re Satan’s,” she growled, pushing to her feet and stalking towards the hapless victims.

Robbie held in her giggle as she watched the scene. Then Luc’s words from the airport rang through her head:
Spawn of Satan
.

Her heart cinched as her breath caught.

“Whoa. Now there’s a lady at the end of her rope,” Scott snickered, stepping up beside her.

Robbie turned with a blank stare as the pieces suddenly came together. “I have to go home,” she mumbled, shoving her clipboard into his chest. “I have to find the director.”

“Wait. What?”

“I have to go home. That’s where my family is. Luc’s my real family.”

Scott palmed her shoulders. “Calm down, Robbie. What’s happening?”

She laughed, throwing her arms around his neck. “Nothing. Everything. I just…I know where I should be now.” Planting a loud kiss on his jaw, she squeezed him hard, then darted through the exhibit hall in search of her boss.