Read Wine, Tarts, & Sex Online
Authors: Susan Johnson
Wine, Tarts, & Sex (15 page)
Christ, he’d never been the whistling type before.
He felt like he was in Mayberry.
Although his version was definitely X-rated.
Fifteen
“I so appreciate your understanding,” Janie murmured, lifting her eyes to Roman, hoping she was properly conveying a look of tender regard and gratitude.
Roman smiled at her drama. “Just for the record, my motives aren’t completely altruistic.”
“I didn’t expect they were.” Her lashes fluttered demurely before rising to frame a coquettish gaze. “If there’s anything at all you want from me, just let me know.”
He laughed. “Cut the theatrics, Janie. We’re both way past those games.”
She pouted prettily. “But I truly mean it, Roman. Sincerely. ”
He wasn’t about to say something rude when he wasn’t entirely sure why he was doing what he was doing. Nor how long he’d continue operating outside Leo’s jurisdiction. “I still might take you back to New York,” he warned.
She knew better, even if he didn’t. She had no intention of going back to New York. But rather than argue uselessly, she smiled. “I understand. I have no expectations one way or the other.”
“Just so everything is clear.”
“Perfectly. Although, I know there’s another woman involved with Leo, so I want you to know where
I
stand. I’ll go to the mat before I let some strange woman raise my child. Just so everything is
clear
,” she mimicked.
I
stand. I’ll go to the mat before I let some strange woman raise my child. Just so everything is
clear
,” she mimicked.
He smiled faintly. “Got it.”
“And I’m not stupid like Lisa.”
“No one’s as stupid as Lisa.”
“Anyway, thanks for the reprieve, however long,” she noted. “And while you’re here, I was thinking maybe we’d have time to—” Roman cut her off with a raised hand.
Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he flipped it open. “I’m listening.”
“You’re gonna get a call from Leo. He’s barking orders as usual. Let me know where you are when you get the chance.” His assistant, Vinnie, never minced words.
“Will do.” Roman shut the phone but kept it in his hand. “Leo’s about to call. I’ll take the cell off vibrate and put it on speakerphone for your edification,” he added with a grin.
Janie wrinkled her nose. “Hearing him will ruin my day.”
“Better to hear him than see him,” Roman brusquely declared. When the anticipated ring occurred, Roman answered. “Morning, Leo. How’s it going?”
“Where the fuck are you?” Leo bellowed, his thunderous voice rending the hushed, honeysuckle-scented air.
“Pretty much nowhere at the moment. I’m lost in a corn-field. ”
“What the
fuck
?” Another barrage of invective ravaged the morning calm. “Why in hell did the bitch run to ground in the country?”
fuck
?” Another barrage of invective ravaged the morning calm. “Why in hell did the bitch run to ground in the country?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’m working on it.”
“Well, work harder,
dammit
! I want results! I want my son back! ASAP! Do you fucking
understand
?”
dammit
! I want results! I want my son back! ASAP! Do you fucking
understand
?”
“Tone it down, Leo,” Roman said, soft as silk. “You don’t pay me enough to take crap from you.”
“Sorry. No offense, okay?” A rare sycophantic note briefly colored Leo’s voice before his tone shifted back to its normal blare. “But I want my son back sooner rather than later! The bitch can’t hide forever! Goddamn it! Find her!”
“As soon as I know something, I’ll give you a call.” Unruffled, Roman gave away nothing.
“If you need more money, just say so. My kid is worth any price—you know that. Call me—day or night. And fucking hurry!”
The line went dead.
“He never says good-bye,” Janie muttered. “The prick.”
“If it’s any consolation, he’s not a happy man.” Leaning back against the swing, Roman slipped the phone into his jacket pocket and stretched out his long legs in a lazy sprawl. “The guy’s gonna have a major stroke someday.”
“I didn’t have a clue what he was really like.” Janie grimaced. “I didn’t hear him scream until after Matt was born. Believe me, it was a major shock.”
“He must have been on his best behavior for quite awhile.”
“Almost a year,” she replied. “Until he went ballistic that first time, I’d believed him when he said his previous wives had been bitches from hell. All I’d ever experienced from him was kindness and an interest in pleasing me. But when he went Jekyll and Hyde on me, I knew I’d made a terrible mistake.”
“The three wives before you probably came to the same conclusion.”
She shook her head. “If only I’d known, as they say. I thought at first I might have said or done something to initiate his rage. When the tirades only escalated, I knew it had nothing to do with me. Mazie stepped in at that point and helped run interference.”
“Your housekeeper.”
“She was my absolute savior.”
“I interviewed her, along with the rest of the staff. She told me to go to hell.”
Janie smiled. “I can always depend on Mazie to protect me. And perhaps you as well?” She gazed up at him from under her lashes. “Possibly?”
His brows rose. “Anything’s possible.”
“Seriously, you can’t really consider bringing Matt back to a man like Leo.”
“That’s not my bailiwick. I’m no psychologist.”
“Neither am I, but I know what’s good for my son.”
“I can’t make any promises. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Janie touched his arm lightly. “I’m grateful for any consideration you might give to me.” But before she could elaborate further, a Federal Express truck came roaring up the driveway, and her expression and demeanor instantly changed. “Oh, wonderful! It’s here! I probably should have mentioned that I took my Hockney portrait when I left,” she said in a rush. Leaping from the swing, she raced for the stairs.
“So I can expect another irate call from Leo.” Roman was fast on his feet for a big man. He caught up with Janie before she reached the stairs.
“I don’t think so. Leo doesn’t pay attention to paintings.” She smiled up at him. “And what good would my portrait be to the new Mrs. Rolf?”
Grand theft might be more of a problem than the new Mrs. Rolf,
Roman thought. But then again, he hadn’t really expected a trouble-free assignment. “You’re gonna need some help with that thing,” Roman said. He’d seen the size of the full-length portrait at the apartment.
Roman thought. But then again, he hadn’t really expected a trouble-free assignment. “You’re gonna need some help with that thing,” Roman said. He’d seen the size of the full-length portrait at the apartment.
“Thanks, I do,” Janie cheerfully noted, waving at the FedEx driver as he came to a stop at the edge of the lawn. “I already told Liv about the painting, and she said something about her barn,” Janie added, descending the stairs. “I’m guessing there’s plenty of room for it there.”
“The driver can swing over to the barn.”
“How clever,” she brightly said, offering him a dazzling smile. “You are, you know. And good-looking, too.”
He frowned. “Don’t. Okay?”
“I don’t care. It’s true.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He raised his voice so the driver could hear. “Take it to the barn. Over there.” Roman pointed. “Come on, Janie.” He held out his hand. “And no more bullshit, okay? I’ve heard it all. I’m here just getting the lay of the land. So let’s just talk about the weather or something.”
“Whatever you say,” Janie replied sweetly.
“And how about a normal tone of voice,” he said with a grin.
“Isn’t it a lovely day in the country?” Janie smiled. “How’s that?”
Roman surveyed the green, rolling countryside and exhaled softly. “It
is
a damned lovely day. And you know what else? It’s fucking
peaceful
.”
is
a damned lovely day. And you know what else? It’s fucking
peaceful
.”
For a man who had seen all there was to see of the sordid underbelly of the world, perhaps he, more than most, could appreciate serenity.
Sixteen
Jake had just walked into Liv’s bedroom and quietly shut the door in order not to disturb her when the phone rang.
Coming awake, Liv saw him first and smiled.
He nodded at the phone. “Want me to get it?”
“I’d better. I wouldn’t want to explain to my mom what you were doing here at this hour of the morning.” Reaching for the bedside phone, she picked it up, glanced at the caller ID, said, “False alarm,” and lying back down, hit the Talk button. “It’s way too early, Shelly.”
“Speak for yourself. I’ve been at work for two hours.”
“That’s because you’re driven to succeed. Kindly keep in mind when you have these early morning impulses, I’m semiretired.”
“I haven’t heard from you since you so rudely left us in the lurch at Taglio’s. He must be good.”
After a moment’s hesitation in which Liv debated lying, she said, “He is.”
“Tell me every little detail, or I’ll come out there tonight and see for myself.”
“Don’t waste your time.”
“So he’s not there?”
Silence.
“I knew it,” Shelly crowed. “Whenever you talk like someone’s around, someone’s around.”
“Okay, so you win the prize. I’ll call you later.”
“Is he in bed with you?”
“Good-bye, Shelly.”
“Let me say hi.”
“We’re not in the eighth grade. Otherwise, I would.”
“Selfish.”
“You betcha.” Liv hung up the phone. “It was Shelly,” she said.
“I heard.”
“She’s embarrassing.”
He grinned. “What are friends for?”
“She wants to meet you.”
“Is she as good-looking as you?”
“Why?”
“Just curious.”
“No you’re not. That’s a typical man question.”
He laughed. “Look, I was just teasing. I’m not even remotely curious.”
“I shouldn’t care.”
“And I should be curious.”
“So this is strange.”
“I think we’ve already established that. The question is not over the strangeness, but the resulting consequences. And with that in mind, I’m here to tell you that Janie is busy with the detective her husband sent out from New York. Matt is looking at kittens in the barn with Amy, and we are conveniently alone for at least—”
“Long enough,” Liv interrupted, grinning. “Do I have time to eat that French toast you’re holding?”
“Sure. What I have in mind won’t take long.” His smile was wicked. “Let me rephrase that. The first time won’t take long. The rest depends on whether we’re left alone or not.”
“It’s my house.”
“I didn’t want to say it, but yes, it is.”
“So I may do as I please.”
“Or occasionally as I please.”
“Why don’t we discuss that after I eat.” She held out her hand, suddenly ravenous. Or maybe the sight and smell of apple-cinnamon French toast and bacon had triggered all her taste receptors.
“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled, pushing away from the door.
“If I didn’t know better, I might think you’re actually submissive.”
“I wasn’t under the impression you were looking for that kind of man.”
“Smart-ass.”
“Just checking.” He smiled faintly as he handed her the plate. “Would you like me to feed you?”
“If I wasn’t starving, I’d say yes. It sounds like fun. But since I am, I’ll pass this time.”
It didn’t matter; he wasn’t in a hurry. He figured the kittens would prove entertaining for some time. As for Janie, she’d been working that private eye to the max. He didn’t anticipate Janie needing company anytime soon. Uncorking the syrup, he held the bottle over the plate. “Say when.”
He poured and poured, looked up in query, then poured some more.
“When,” Liv finally said.
“You like French toast with your syrup, I see.”
“It’s syrup from my maple trees. Jeez, how do you get the bacon to stay so flat?” The four pieces framing the French toast were picture perfect.
“The right pan, the right temperature, and years of practice. ”
“You’ll have to show me. My bacon is always a tangled mess.”
“But then you’re not the patient sort.”
She glanced up, a piece of bacon halfway to her mouth. “Is that a slur?”
“Did I imply I was looking for a patient woman?”
She smiled, took a bite of bacon, and said, “Good,” between chews. “Because you’re way too hot. What can I say?”
He smiled. “You’re my aphrodisiac of choice, too, babe.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, he waited while she ate, feeling oddly content. As though he might have made the right choice coming out here to Minnesota. All the tension commensurate with his West Coast life had disappeared into the ether. Not that a ton of orgasms weren’t likely to prove relaxing.
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