Unbearable (25 page)

Chapter 30

Booker

“Welcome back, Book.” Seth tossed a shovelful of snow at me as I walked up to his house. I scooped up a handful and chucked it at him, which he deflected with his shovel.

“I’m going back to San Diego,” I complained, brushing the snow off my coat.

Seth pushed the cap he wore up his forehead and laughed. His cheeks and nose burned red from the cold. “Tess said the exact same thing this morning when she looked outside.”

“I’ll bet she did.” She pretended all was good when I drove her to Seth’s last night from the airport, but I knew she struggled with being back. Between the snow and her fear of Garen finding her, I don’t think she felt the town had much to offer her.
I only hoped I’d be enough to keep her here.

“She looks better than she did when she left. The trip was a good idea. She actually smiled at breakfast.” Seth planted the shovel in a snow bank and removed his wool gloves, shoving them in the pockets of his coat. I followed him up the steps onto the porch where he brushed away icy crystals from his jeans. He straightened and rubbed his hands together. “Should have waited to take my gloves off.”

I stood on the mat next to the door once we went inside, not wanting to track snow into the kitchen. Seth sat on a bench and removed his boots. “I’ll get Tess,” he said, rubbing his hands together again while walking into the kitchen. Maggie made her way down the stairs, meeting Seth halfway.

“Book’s here,” he said, slipping his arms around her waist.

“Tess is on her way,” Maggie said, leaning in to kiss him, only he had other plans. He slipped his freezing cold hands up the back of her shirt. She squealed, pushed him back, and ran down the stairs to the sink. “You do that again and I’ll use the squirter thingy on you.” She pulled the side spray out and aimed it at him. “Fine, but hot water, please,” Seth insisted. “I’m freezing.”

Tess came down the stairs, interrupting the show. “Sorry, Booker. I’m still on California time, I’m afraid.” She hurried over to the fridge and removed a paper sack, her lunch I assumed, and rushed toward me.

“Garfield, I didn’t see you.” Maggie waved at me from the sink, the side spray still in her hand.

“Mornin’, Prego. How you feeling?” I helped Tess on with her coat as Seth quietly crept toward Magpie.

“Great. No more nausea. And the exhaustion’s pass—”

“Maggie, over your right shoulder,” Tess warned Mags of her encroaching hubby. Maggie, with notoriously poor aim, sprayed toward Seth, missing him completely.

“Hurry. Let’s get out of here before we get wet.” I grabbed Tess’s hand and we darted out the door. Once inside the truck, I cranked up the heater.

“Those two are cute together. They’re so happy,” Tess said wistfully.

“They’re perfect for each other. As are Lilah and Cole.”

“I love Lilah.” Tess laughed softly, no doubt at some crazy memory involving Lilah. It warmed my heart to see her happy.

“I thought the truck was for when we had deep snow. There’s only six inches on the ground. Spent too much time in sunny Cali, Gatto. You’re getting soft,” she teased. I loved it when she called me by my last name.

“The heater’s going out in my car.”

“We can drive mine.” She pointed to the rusty Honda covered in snow as we drove away.

“No thanks. I want to make sure we get to the office in one piece.”

“Rude.” Tess playfully pushed my arm.

“Honestly, I’ve had two people over the past week comment that I must not be a very good lawyer if I have to drive the POC. Enough procrastinating. I’m going to have to get a new car.” I shook my head dramatically adding, “I’m going to miss the old POC mobile.”

“Just breathe. It will be okay,” she assured me. After a few silent moments she asked quietly, “So, any news on . . .”

“No. Not yet.” I took her cold hand in mine. “We’ll get him,” I assured her. She said nothing else about him.

She jogged from the truck into the office building, and we took the elevator to our floor. “It’s freezing in the office, too,” she groaned, making a swooshing sound as she rubbed her hands over her down coat.

I tapped on the thermostat. Fifty-two degrees. I twisted the dial but the furnace didn’t turn on.

“Maybe you should call the owner,” she grumbled. “Tell the cheapskate to fix the elevator, too.”

“Hey,” I said, crossing over to her. I wrapped her up in my arms. “I resemble that remark.” I kissed the tip of her frozen nose. “And what’s wrong with the elevator?” I seldom used it. Like she said, too creaky and slow.

“Are you kidding me? My grandma can walk up the stairs faster than that thing moves, and she’s been dead for ten years.” She snuggled in closer. “It also has more creaks and groans than my grandmother did. It doesn’t sound very safe.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad? Did you not pay attention while we were riding up it just now?”

“Nope. I was lost in those beautiful blue eyes of yours.”

“You are a charmer, Booker Gatto.” She gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

“I’ll call a repairman.” I started for the phone only she wouldn’t release me.

“Warm me up first,” she said, wagging her eyebrows.

“Whatever it takes to keep my renters happy.” I dropped my mouth to hers.

An annoying shoe tapping and a female clearing her throat trashed a perfectly good fantasy. I pulled back and turned to the tapping. Nikkolynn.

“Yes?” I said as Tess went to her desk and turned on her computer, zipping her coat higher.

“I need to talk to you, away from Terese’s ears.” Nik pointed to my office and strutted past me.

“Why does she call you by your full name?” I asked Tess.

“Probably hoping to intimidate me. Don’t worry about it.” She waved her hand in the air.

I scrubbed my jaw and followed the two-timing liar into my office. She started to close the door, but I stopped her. No way was I allowing Tess out of my sight, not until Garen was found.

“This is personal,” Nik pressed.

“Sorry. You’ll have to talk quietly, then.” I folded my arms and sat on the corner of my desk with Tess firmly in view and signaled for Nik to continue.

“Bookie,” she said stepping directly in front of me and walking her hand up my arm. “I know I’ve done some pretty lousy things to you—”

“Ya’ think?”

She continued, undaunted by my sour expression. “I
am
really sorry. I’m here to beg for your forgiveness and to ask that you please give me another chance. We were good together, Bookie. You know that. Besides, I’ll bet I’m more exciting than her.” With a jerk of her chin, she pointed at Tess, who busily typed away.

“Nikkolynn, Tess is not the reason I won’t take you back.” I stood and paced across the room. “I can’t trust you. It’s that simple. And whether I’m dating her, or anyone else for that matter, has nothing to do with it. If Tess were to dump me tomorrow,”
heaven forbid
, “I wouldn’t take you back. If a relationship doesn’t have trust, it has nothing.”

“But—”

“But nothing, Nikkolynn. I will not take you back. I forgive you for cheating on me and for using me, but I’m sorry, we’re through.”

She stood there, tears wetting her makeup covered cheeks. I stepped next to her and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, brotherly like. “Nik, I thought you were going to that fashion school in New York.” I patted her back.

“It doesn’t start until spring. But it doesn’t matter. I can’t afford the tuition since no one will hire me thanks to my record.” She pulled away and reached for a tissue on my desk, which she used to dry her cheeks and blow her nose.

I went to my desk and pulled out my checkbook. “How much is the tuition?” I asked.

“$22,000,” she said with a sniffle. I wrote her a check and handed it to her. She looked at it then at me. “This is for a lot more than tuition.”

“I added money for room and board.” She tried hugging me, but I stepped back. “Start your life over, Nik. Do well at school and put your past behind you.”

“I will, promise. Thank you.” She headed out the door, then stopped and angled back to me. “I’ll always love you.” She said it loud enough that Tess glanced up from her computer.

“Good luck, Nikkolynn,” I said. Her lower lip trembled as she left.

“Tess, will you bring me the building file?” I wheeled around toward my desk. “I need to call the furnace guy before we freeze to death.” I was tackled from behind before I reached my desk.

“You are a real sweetheart, you know that, right?” Tess’s arms were around my shoulders, squeezing me tight, her cheek resting on my shoulder.

“Once again, you’re putting me on a pedestal when I don’t deserve it.” I twisted around in her arms. “I gave her the money so she’d leave town.”

“Whatever,” she said, kissing my neck with her icy cold lips, chasing a shiver up my spine. “I’d like to think that was because of my sensual kisses, but it’s probably from my cold lips.”

“Maybe both,” I said diplomatically.

“I’ll get the file.” She pulled away. I missed her already, cold lips and all.

I called the manager at Port Fare Heating and they sent a repairman out immediately. He went to the furnace room on the main floor and returned to my office ten minutes later.

“Hello,” I glanced at the name tag sewn on his shirt, “Hank, what did you find?”

“Do you want the good news or the bad,” he asked, glancing at Tess and winking.

“Just tell me what’s wrong,” I said,
and keep your eyes off my girl
.

“The entire unit for this floor is bad and will need to be replaced. The good news is it’s under warranty so won’t cost you a thing.” He glanced again at Tess, who kept her eyes glued to her laptop. “The bad news is the unit’s in Buffalo and with this weather it’s going to take me several hours to get it.”

“The snow’s melting.” I pointed out the window. “It’s up to forty-two degrees already.”

“A virtual heat wave,” Tess mumbled under her breath.

“But like I said, the replacement unit is in Buffalo, and it’s still snowing over there,” he pointed out. “I can have it in by tonight so you’ll have heat tomorrow. That’s the best I can do.”

“Fine. Thanks,” I grumbled.

He handed me an invoice. “Do you really own this entire building?”

“Yes. Why?”

“My aunt works at that diner across the road.” He pointed out the window at Shelly’s Café, a diner I’d eaten at a few times. Lousy food. Lousy service. “She’s seen you driving down the road in a beat-up piece of crap car and said you must not be a very good lawyer.” He looked around. “I’m guessing you must have spent all your money on this building.” He left with another sideways glance at Tess.

“See what I mean? That’s three people in one week who’ve dissed my car,” I said incredulously, adding, “Did you see him checking you out?”

Her lips pinched together and she grabbed the new purse Lilah had given her. “Should I take the laptop? I assume we’re going to work at your place.”

“Leave it. I have a better idea.” I took her hand. “We never picked out your Christmas gift. Might as well do it now.”

“My gun?” Her eyes lit up.

“Your gun.” I locked the office. “But please tell me you’re not going to get a pink one.” Nikkolynn had a pink gun. She hadn’t a clue how to use it, but she had one, nonetheless.

Tess pressed the button to the elevator instead of heading to the stairs. “I promise, no pink. Come on. I want to show you how long it takes to get downstairs.” The thing rattled to life as it made its way to us. “See.” She pointed to the doors as they creaked open ever so slowly. She glanced inside the elevator, making sure it was empty—or rather making sure Garen wasn’t inside waiting to pounce. She pressed the main button, giving me an
I told you so
look as we made our creaky descent.

I reached over and pressed the large red emergency break button and we screeched to a stop. Her hands went to her hips. “The owner’s not going to be pleased if you break his elevator. And what if it won’t start back up? You’ll be in big trouble, mister.”

Her arms wrapped around my neck as she lectured. “Some things are worth the risks,” I said before kissing her. Oh yeah, definitely worth it.

***

We drove directly to the gun store across from the mall, slowing as we passed a car dealership. Both Tess and I glanced out at the snow-covered cars. “You should get that.” She pointed to a sporty black convertible. “One of my guilty pleasures is Jags. Jaguars,” she clarified, as if that were necessary.

“Tess, I’m a guy. Every guy knows what a Jag is. It’s embedded in our DNA.”

“My brother had a black Jag Hot Wheel car that he loved. He carried it everywhere. You can blame him for my obsession.” She turned to me. “Do you want to take a peek?”

“You do realize that if I get a Jaguar, as in, big cat, I’ll never hear the end of it from Magpie,” I pointed out. “I was thinking more along the lines of an Avalon.
Or maybe a Lexus. That says Successful Lawyer, don’t you think?”