Maid for Martin (9 page)

“Why not have both?”

Randi closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip. Though she’d only known him a few days, she would know that voice in an ice storm on a tin roof. Well, not really, but she did recognize it now. Instead of choosing, she closed the door and turned. Her brow shot up instantly. Wow! Was the only thing she could think.

It looked as if he’d just stepped out of the shower. He had on jeans, a white muscle shirt, no shoes and a towel around his neck. He’d shaved just a bit of his scruffy-looking beard. It made it appear darker around the edges, but he still looked good. Very good.

She remembered she hadn’t said anything, but was just staring. That was rude, and a bit obvious, so she stepped back, “Were you going to get something to eat too?”

“Yeah, why don’t you get the pizza out and we’ll split it?”

“I can do that.” Randi did as he said, taking out the box and turning to look at him. “Cold or hot?”

“It’s a little warm. I just took a swim and a shower . . . ” He stopped talking when she turned and gave him a dirty look. “Oh, you meant the pizza. Cold.” He gave a sly smile that let her know he knew exactly what she meant.

She set the pizza on the table. Mike moved dangerously close as he reached into the fridge, pulling out two colas. She inhaled the fresh, clean, man-smell as he moved around her, and then they both pulled out a chair and sat across from each other.

The table in the kitchen might seat six but there were only four chairs. It was a small table and she could easily reach across and take his hand, but she didn’t.

Randi handed Mike a paper towel and he opened the box of pizza. Several slices remained. As she moved her gaze from the box, to the wife beater shirt, to the beard, to those blue eyes, she smiled.

“You guys didn’t eat much.”

“I kind of lost my appetite. I didn’t mean to sound—”

“Let's just leave it there.” Randi looked away and took a slice of pizza out of the box.

“Are you sure? I can apologize again.” He flashed a handsome smile and she nodded.

“I’m sure you could, and I would accept, but it’s not necessary.” She grew quiet, looked down, waited a moment, and then looked back up. “I do have a question. You might not want to answer it.”

He took a bite of his pizza and shrugged. “I can try.”

Randi wasn’t sure she’d be able to ask, but she wanted to know. He’d hinted earlier that he wasn’t free to ask her out, so maybe he’d finally give her the answer she didn’t want to hear. She ate her bite of pizza, took a long drink, and as she set the cola down, looked into those blue eyes again. “Are you dating the lady of the house?”

Mike didn’t glance away this time. He just nodded. “Yes.”

“You’re a brave man. Here they warn me up and down to stay away from Martin because Celia is jealous and you’re . . . uh . . . dating her? Does that mean he’s fair game?”

Mike shrugged. “Well, it should be,” she continued. "Wouldn’t it help you if he was busy chasing after someone else?”

“It might.” Mike paused, took a drink, and then went on, “If I was going to be dating her in the future.”

Randi stopped and would have choked had she been about to swallow. The look on the man's face wasn’t the look of a man interested in Celia. It was the look of a man interested in her. She set the can down and wasn’t sure what to say. “Are you having problems, other than the fact you’re dating a woman that’s cheating on her lover?”

“You don’t pull any punches.” He didn’t like her comment and seemed annoyed. There was no use in not laying her cards on the table, so she did.

“I’m just seeing or hearing something in your tone, and from the way you just looked at me. I have to wonder if I’m next in line, after Celia.” The look didn’t change and it was hard to concentrate with that smile on his lips, so she looked away. “I just want you to know I will not be dating someone who is dating someone else.”

“Point taken.”

Randi found some momentum and went on. “To be honest, I’m not thrilled with the idea of dating someone whom most would consider a cheater.” Still no change, and he said the same thing.

“Point taken.” The smile stayed there as he raised his drink to his lips. She caught him before he took a drink.

“Are you drunk?”

Mike laughed, setting the can down, “No, what makes you ask?”

“I’m all but insulting you and you’re just smiling.”

“I have a thick skin, and I don’t have an issue with your opinion. To be honest, and this may not make perfect sense, but I agree. A person who cheats, or is in a similar situation, might not be worthy of your trust.”

They became quiet as they went on eating, stealing glances at each other. She hoped he had more to say, but was giving him the time to work out his approach, if he indeed had one.

They both ate a slice of pizza and she guessed he was going to just let things remain as they were, not really finishing his thought. He asked her if she liked her job, was she staying until Christmas, and after she closed the box, he rose and placed it back in the fridge. She got up, washed her hands, and when she turned he was close, standing right in front of her.

In his hands he held out a spoon and a cup of pudding. Being this close to this gorgeous man was intimidating to say the least. She couldn’t step back. The sink was behind her. He was close enough that if she leaned in a few inches, she could kiss him, and of course the idea sounded appealing.

Instead, she reached out. He placed the pudding and spoon in the palm of her hand, then wrapped his two hands around hers. She looked up into his eyes and for a second she thought she was going to get that kiss.

“I know this looks bad, and you’re going to get really frustrated with me before this is all over, but will you do one thing?”

“What?” Randi managed with a whisper.

Mike leaned in just an inch and for a second she noticed his gaze drop to her lips, and then back to her eyes. She wasn’t the only one thinking about a kiss. That was obvious, but he didn’t kiss her. Instead he spoke, his tone low but serious.

“It might not be easy. And it may take until after Christmas, for me to sort this out.”

“I understand, but what do you want me to do?”

He moved his hands from hers, and placed them on her shoulders. He leaned in, kissed her lightly on the cheek and then whispered as his lips brushed her hair. “Trust me.”

*****

Monday, as Martin stood in front of the mirror brushing his teeth he couldn’t wipe the smile from his lips. He hadn’t felt this excited about life in a long time. He rinsed, used mouthwash, and then washed his face. Running about the house wouldn’t be easy with Randi on the loose, but he would have to work it out.

He would also have to work out how to tell her the truth in the best way possible, so that she didn’t end up hating him. His plan might not work, but he wanted her to get to know him, the real him, before she found out the truth. Finding her wouldn’t be an issue, but finding her in the house and spending some time with her, without Celia knowing, would be the hard part.

The real Mike was no real help. When Martin explained what was going on he just laughed, and shook his head, adding a few expletives to get his point across. Martin did get Mike to agree not to spill the beans to Randi if he saw her again, and his friend was gone now and wouldn’t be back until the party, so he was pretty sure that base was covered.

Today was Monday and he had a meeting with his agent later that night, so the rest of the day he was free. He did need to do some script-reading later in the day. But for now, he needed to find out what Celia’s schedule was. He pulled on a white T and picked up his cell phone.

Since he was still in the guest room, Celia might be home and he needed to find out for sure before he went gadding about the house in search of Randi. The phone rang three times and Celia picked up. She sounded chipper again, and Martin knew he’d have to begin to distance himself from her so it wouldn’t come as such a shock.

She had to have an idea that things were not perfect, but then again she was so centered on what she wanted it was possible she’d not noticed. “Are you home today?” He began.

“Not yet, I’m working with a friend today on her new apartment. We’re trying to get some furniture ordered.”

“Are you with Sue?” He asked.

“Yes, this is where I spent the night. Are you home or still with Mike?”

“I’m home. I’m going to work on my new script. I’m having dinner with Bill tonight.” Martin paused. Sure enough, she broke in right where he thought she would.

“Oh, I can’t make it. So sorry. I’ll be here most of the day and I will just be too tired. And there are all those Christmas cards to send out. I haven’t gotten to a one of them and if they don’t go out soon, they won’t go.”

Here was his first chance to start the break-up. “Celia, I’ll be honest, I don’t think we need to send them out. I want to be sure things are going in the right direction before we start sending cards out as a couple.” He grimaced as the words came out, ran his fingers through his hair, and began to pace.

“What? Where is this coming from?”

“I just want to be sure. I know what people will think if we send out those cards, and that Christmas picture of the two of us.”

“Did you look at the cards? I don’t understand. A month ago you were fine with this, and you picked the pose from the proofs.”

“I know, but . . . I’m just not sure this is what I want.”

“You’re starting this now, when we’ve got this party coming up?”

“I know. I’m not saying we make any decisions until after the first of the year. Never mind. Forget I mentioned it.” He waited and listened and she finally spoke.

“Okay, I’ll be home tonight.”

“See you then. Bye.” Martin pushed the off button, not giving her time to say anything. They never were ones to say I love you or the like, and he didn’t want to give her time to start now. He also didn’t want to take a call from her today so he turned his phone off and tossed it on the bed. The first thing he needed to do was get rid of those cards.

He slipped into jeans, socks, a casual shirt, and tennis shoes, ran his fingers through his hair, and then opened his door and peeped out. He didn’t want Randi to see him coming out of this part of the house so he looked around. If he had to he could make up some excuse, but this time he got away clean.

There were two maids in the great room cleaning, but no sign of Randi. He went up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and soon was in the bedroom he shared with Celia. He glanced around and there on the desk were the Christmas cards. He knew if didn’t get rid of them today that Celia would get them in the mail when she came home.

He sat down and his desk and looked at the junk she had everywhere. Were all women this messy? He reached for the stack of cards. The front of the card showed a happy couple. Martin stood behind Celia, his arms wrapped around her as they stood in front of a very real-looking fireplace.

He started to pick them up, when the words came into his mind -- "Did you look at the cards?" Martin’s brow furrowed and he took a card from the top and opened it. He read down through the loving Christmas rhyme. It was about jingle bells, and at the bottom, in her own handwriting, Celia had written:

By years end Martin and I

will not only be ringing jingle bells, but wedding bells too.

Chapter 14

One Man’s Trash

Emma was not happy with the progress so far. Ann had been keeping things in line while she was gone to get her contact lenses, but so much more needed to be done. She’d worn the contacts for a few hours, and they were finally adjusting. She sat down at the kitchen table and was ready to start looking over the menu for the first dinner.

Celia’s family, it seemed, would be arriving Wednesday instead of Friday. Her father, Robert Carson, got some extra vacation days he wasn’t expecting so they were coming a few days early.

Emma took in a breath. They hadn’t even started getting the decorations up. The great room was clean, but she wanted to get the tree up next. So many things to do. Would they ever get it all done before Celia’s family arrived Wednesday night?

As she started writing down the things she would need, Randi came in. She looked tired. Emma knew she was working overtime, trying to make up for the second helper that didn’t make it. Thankfully, Ann was also there to help.

“You look like you could use a break,” Emma said as Randi stepped into the room. The young woman nodded, took a bottled water from the refrigerator, and took a long drink before speaking.

“I could, but I don’t have time. I was just coming in to get a drink. I’m about finished filling the linen closets and getting the guest rooms ready.”

“Good. The guests will be here Wednesday.”

“What? Did I hear you right?”

“Yes, you did. Change of plans, it seems.”

Randi put the lid on her water and set the bottle down as she looked at Emma. “I thought Nancy said they were supposed to be here Saturday morning, just in time to get ready for Christmas on Sunday. Are they all still staying all the way through New Year's?”