Kiss of Ice (St. James Family) (18 page)

“
Say it,” he whispered.

“
Okay. Dinner tonight,” she said, rolling her eyes, even though she smiled. He kissed her again. She drew her hands up his back, her fingernails sending sparks up his spine. She moved into him, her tongue teasing his. At her touch, his cock hardened painfully. After six months, his body yearned for hers. He wanted her, badly, but he wasn't going to push her. He knew she was still hurting, and he only wanted to make her feel safe with him again. Reluctantly, he broke the kiss, but she still held him.

“
Christy,” she murmured.  “I have to go.”

“
Let me go then,” he said, with a chuckle. After a beat, she dropped her hands. He stepped back into the apartment, never taking his eyes off hers. He pulled the lever right outside the elevator in the front of his apartment. She gave him a bit of a wave, mouthing 'goodbye' as the doors closed. He swore he saw a change in her eyes. She looked almost sad.  He was tempted to wrench the lever and re-open the doors, but he forced himself to let her go. The doors closed finally and he stared at them for awhile. The image of her in the yellow dress waving goodbye was burned into his brain.

Christophe showered and dressed slowly, not quite wanting to leave the loft for work. For her, he gladly would have stayed in bed all day. But now that she was gone, he needed to busy his mind at the office. He could still feel her in the space, as if she were still there, or was going to return shortly. When he was completely dressed and had no reason to left to dawdle, he still returned to the bed. He ran his hand over the sheets, and he could have sworn her warmth was still lingering there. Telling himself he was being an idiot, and that he would see her that night, he pulled the sheet up, hastily making the bed. And that's when he saw the earrings.

He swept the pearl baubles off the table into his palm. They were intricately designed studs, mounted with diamonds and pearls. He ran his finger over one of the diamonds, pressing a sharp edge into the pad of his thumb. He smiled. The devil on his shoulder told him that now he had something to hold over her. Now, she would have to see him again. He dropped the earrings into his pocket. Whistling a cheerful tune, he grabbed his briefcase and headed to work.

Chapter 21

“
I'm sure I don't have to tell you this after all we've seen, but you'll need to use your imagination,” Jenny Chin, Annata's realtor, said as she pushed open the door to the brownstone. The location was within the area Annata could afford, on the upper end of the Upper-West side. The area was sleepy, not as fashionable as other neighborhoods, but it was well-established and close to the stability of Columbia University. She took out her handkerchief and dabbed at her brow. The day was hot, and after stepping out of Jenny's air conditioned BMW, the heat seemed to be amplified. She was glad she'd worn light linen pants and a camisole that day, instead of her heavier suit.

“
It's listed at a lower price than the last one, and in slightly better shape, but it'll be an almost complete rehab,” Jenny went on as they stepped into the foyer. It took a few seconds for Annata's eyes to adjust to the dark interior of the brownstone. Jenny closed the heavy mahogany door behind them. The foyer was old-fashioned, with wood floors that would need to be redone, louvered paneling on the staircase and walls, and the original moldings. Annata almost squealed in delight. Her imagination was suddenly in overdrive. Gone would be the dark peeling wallpaper. In its place—fresh new paint and a fancy chandelier. “Upstairs are four bedrooms and one bathroom.” Jenny stepped forward through french doors into the next room, and Annata followed her.

Sunlight forced its way through the heavy dusty shutters that covered all the windows, and Annata could barely make out the dimensions of the room. Sheeted furniture was placed haphazardly around. “Here we have a formal living room adjoined with a formal dining room,” Jenny said. The room was surprisingly cool for the heat outside, and Annata stepped across the room. She wrenched open a shutter, and light flooded the space. Again, the moldings and the wood floor were original. The windows were big and the panes contained old wavy glass. Annata couldn't contain her smile. She imagined flower boxes in the windows and comfortable new furniture in the space.

“Are the owners desperate to sell? What's the story?” Annata asked.

“
It's an estate sale with a motivated, out-of-state seller. Which is very good for you as a buyer,” Jenny replied. Annata nodded, the house looking better and better in her eyes. She hadn't really had a specific dream home in mind when she started her hunt, but this brownstone was pretty close to what she would consider perfection. It was in decent shape, but she would be able to put her touch on it and truly make it hers.

“
Let's see the kitchen,” Jenny said, moving through a wide doorway into the next room. Annata already envisioned knocking down the wall into the kitchen and opening up the space. She walked through the entrance and immediately made up her mind about the house. She didn't have to see anymore. The kitchen hadn't been updated since the thirties, it looked like. There was a big farmhouse sink and glass paneled cupboards covered in greasy, peeling paint. The linoleum floor was cracked in some places, and bowing in others.  The room was small, but light poured in from a grimy bay window on the right wall. Any one else might have looked at the kitchen and thought it needed to be completely gutted, but not Annata.  The plucky room reminded her of her granny's kitchen. It felt homey and well-loved.

During the house-hunt, she was worried she wouldn't be able to find anything in her price range on her tight schedule. Now that she had found it, she didn't want to hesitate. “Jenny, draw up the paperwork. I want to make an offer,” she said. Jenny's brow furrowed.

“Don't you need to see the upstairs bedrooms? And remember, there's only one bath. You said you wanted two.”

“
I'm sure I can put another bath in.” Annata waved her hand. The excitement was surpassing her normally cautious demeanor.

“
Let's just see the upstairs first and then I'll write up your offer, if you're still interested,” Jenny said, with a smile. The upstairs rooms did little to curb her enthusiasm. The rooms were small but contained details original to the house, including glass transom windows above the doors. Annata didn't waste time signing her name to the offer paperwork Jenny had prepared on her tablet. The brownstone was narrow and needed work, but she had found it. She had found her new home.

Annata watched Jenny's BMW disappear down the street, leaving her alone on the sidewalk in front of what she hoped would be her new home. She stared up at the plucky little brownstone and smiled. Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane seemed like a good name for the house. She took a quick picture of Sarah Jane with her phone and sent it to her sister. Laughing at her own silliness,  she dialed Toni.

“Guess who just made an offer on a house?” she asked, as soon as her sister picked up.

“
Oooh! Where is it? I want all the details,” Toni gushed. Annata knew that Toni wanted to join her in the house hunt, but wasn't able to, due to her continued reliance on crutches after the accident. There was a muffled sound on the other end of the line. “I just got your text,” Toni said. “Oh, it's so cute! I love the stoop.”

“
It's on 97
th
and Riverside drive,” Annata said. “It's a great block, with lots of trees. I'm close to both Riverside and Central Park.” Annata began walking down the street, wanting to check out the rest of the neighborhood.

“
Now, you know you have to have a guest room just for me,” Toni said. “When I'm dancing again, I'm going to need a crash pad closer to Lincoln Center.” A bit of scared uncertainty had crept into Toni's voice. The doctors still weren't sure how she would heal after her accident. But Annata chose to ignore that, and focus on cheering her sister up.

“
Well, maybe when the house is all fixed up, you could leave that shitty apartment and come live with me.”

“
Hey! I like my shitty apartment,” Toni said.

“
You do not. And I can assure you, you'll love living closer to work.”

“
You'd really let me stay with you?” Toni asked, her voice unsure.

“
Of course.”

“
I'm sure we would end up plotting to kill each other,” Toni said. Annata neared the end of the block, and realized a french bakery was on one corner, a coffee shop on the another.

“
A french bakery, Toni! We're going to get fat together.” Annata glanced in the window and marveled at the pastries and cakes beautifully arranged in the cases.

“
Speak for yourself.” Toni said.

“
I'm dragging you down with me.” Annata said with a laugh, as a text came through. Annata pulled the phone away from her ear and the air went out of her lungs.
Dinner tonight. 21
st
st and 7th ave. 8 sharp.
She stared down at the text, an array of feelings hitting her. She heard Toni on the line speaking, but she didn't register the words. “Listen, I'll give you a call back later.” She said. “Alright, Dear?”

“
Roger that,” Toni said. “Bring me some pastries!” Annata laughed and hung up. Her smile died when she remembered Christophe's invitation. She worked her teeth against her lip. Part of her was rearing to go. That was the part that wanted to tear his clothes off and suck his dick and fuck his brains out. The other part of her wanted to stay as far away from him as humanly possible. She was still hurting and angry and sad. And she knew that if they met for dinner, they would meet again when she was back for good from Hong Kong.

And that was what really scared her. Her feelings were so strong for him already. She couldn't imagine what would happen if she actually fell in love with him.  She didn't want to end up like Uncle Richard
—ruined and broken by a love gone bad. Love was hell for a woman like her, a woman that didn't want it and didn't know how to control it. The members of her family fell hard and fast, like Granny said. She thought it was best for her to bow out now, before things got out of hand.

Staring longingly at the french delicacies, she gave in and went inside the shop. At least she could drown her sorrows in a puff pastry.

***

Three hours later, Annata sat in an '80s era lawn chair on Toni's roof, a beer in her hand and a greasy bag that used to contain French pastries at her feet. She stretched her legs out, crossing her ankles on the edge of the railing. Toni sat next to her, licking the cream off of the last pastry, her crutches propped next to her. The fiery sunset rendered both of them silent as they appreciated the view. The summer city stretched before them, restless and ready for anything.

“Oh my God, this is to die for,” Toni said, inhaling the rest of the confection. “I'm going to have to work my ass off to get back in shape.”

“
Don't worry about it,” Annata said. “You're a born dancer. It comes natural to you.”

“
Maybe.” Toni winced as she adjusted her leg. “But I think how hard I work has  something to do with it.”

“
Of course. You're never going to be the best—,” Annata began.

“
Unless you're better than everyone else,” Toni continued, reciting their father's favorite phrase when they were growing up.

“
Thank you, Rodrick St. James.” Annata lifted her bottle and clinked it with Toni's.

“
Did you accept that job yet?” Toni said.

“
Not yet. I'm negotiating the salary,” Annata took a gulp of her beer. Mirabelle cosmetics, the #3 brand of cosmetics in the world, had offered her the CEO position. Buying Sarah Jane hinged on finding a job based in the city and Mirabelle offered that for her. Also the company was female-friendly, and had a good corporate culture. It seemed like a perfect fit. Annata just had to play a little hardball before she accepted the position. And, if she was completely honest with herself, she didn't want to accept the offer too soon. She didn't want Christophe and William to know her every move just yet.

“
I, for one, am over the moon that you're coming back home. I missed my Natty.”

“
I missed you, too,” Annata said. “I like Hong Kong, but it isn't home.”

“
Well of course not, dummy.” Toni took a sip of her beer. “Are there anymore of those pastry thingies?”

“
All gone.” Annata crumpled the empty bag in her hand.

“
You're gonna have, like, more money than God now, right?” Toni asked, with a smile.

“
No.” Annata rolled her eyes. “But we won't be hurting. And Granny's finally going to get those house repairs she's been needing for years.”

“
She won't take your money,” Toni said. “We'll have to find a way to trick her.”

“
Exactly!” Annata laughed. “That's what I was thinking. We need a plan.” In her pocket, Annata felt her phone vibrate. She tried to ignore it, but couldn't.
Where are you?
Christophe's text was simple, but she knew there was so much more behind it. He was most likely furious. And horny. She set her phone facedown on her thigh.

“
Who's that?” Toni asked, being nosy. Annata considered how to answer.

“
What did you think of Christophe, the guy who came to see you in the hospital?”

Toni smiled a bit, then shrugged. “I don't know. I wasn't really in my right mind. But if I had to say something about him, I would say that he was very tall, and very rich-looking.” Toni looked off, toward the city. “He was nice. And I was a mess.”

“You never told me. About the accident,” Annata said.

“
Oh.” Toni waved her hand. “Um...I don't remember much. I was in a cab after practice, going up the West-Side Highway. And then the last thing I remember is him holding me...the guy who pulled me out of the wreck.  He was a firefighter, I guess.” Toni brightened. “And then your Christophe came to the hospital and cheered me up.”

“
He's not 'my Christophe',” Annata said, her brow furrowed. “Who was this firefighter that saved you? We need to send him a gift or something.”

“
He didn't want to be thanked. I think he just wanted to be left alone.” Toni scratched at the label on the beer bottle.

“
Thank God he was there.” Annata took a drink, not wanting to think what would have happened had Toni not been pulled from the wreckage.

“
Yup,” Toni said simply. Annata decided to change the subject immediately.

“
Well. I'll be back in the city in a month. Hopefully all will go smoothly and everything will be amazing.”

“
We're due for some amazingness in our lives.” Toni nodded.

“
Agreed.” They clinked bottles again, for good measure.