Living Lies (29 page)

“You may have all the time you want. I’ll get us some drinks.” Javier winked and stood in line for the bartender.

There was no question, she knew exactly what Carla wanted – or more accurately didn’t want.

“Javier and I went out on Saturday night.” Melanie confessed before Carla could start. “We had a good time. I didn’t want to tell you about him because I knew you wouldn’t approve but Oh My God, Car…” Melanie shook her head.

“What about the chef, what was his name?”

“Adam. And I told you he has a girlfriend now.”

“That’s right, but I thought you were going to try and…”

“He’s got a girlfriend.”

“So, you’re dating this guy?”

“We’re not exactly dating,” Melanie said, devilishly manipulating Carla’s prudish strings.

Her little pixie face hardened with a look of reproach that might as well have been spoken.

“I’m a big girl, Car.”

“I don’t want to know any more.” Carla shook her head.

“Carla, you need to lighten up. You’re becoming judgmental and anal. I understand image is important but you’re taking it to the extreme.”

“I cannot talk to you right now.” Carla turned and left for more suitable company.

Melanie did the same.

“What would you like?” Javier asked.

“Two dirty martinis.”

There were so many different emotions surging through her body. For weeks she’d been experiencing drastic highs and plummeting lows. She wondered if this was how normal people felt – if they struggled with radical emotions on an hourly basis, or if maybe she was suffering from bipolar disorder. She tossed down the first martini, slid her olives off the little yellow sword and left the empty glass on the bar. Both Javier and the bartender gaped at her but she felt better.

“I believe that people in the psychology sector call this self-medicating.” Melanie lifted her second glass.

His eyes scanned her face, a smile curving his full lips as his gaze moved down her cleavage.

“Don’t think you’re getting me drunk so that I’ll sleep with you.”

He leaned in close. “It worked last time.” The pressure from his kiss lingered on her cheek.

“That was different,” she replied, feeling flushed.

Everything about Javier was sexual, and she guessed that more than one deal was closed when he sold a car. Even a talk about the weather held the promise of a bedroom interlude.

“You are beautiful and very sexy in this white dress,” his smile broadened. “You have a fantastic body. I know, remember?”

His flattery was more effective than she cared to admit. Conversational flirting with Javier was turning out to be the highlight of the evening.

“Maybe we should find a cozier spot and get reacquainted.”

Melanie laughed nervously at his relentlessness.

“Have things been crazy at work with Salvador being the big hero and all?”

“More hectic, yes, but very good for business.” He hooked his arm around her shoulder, guiding them to a sheltered corner of the balcony. “Have you thought about me?” He asked, his fingers leaving an icy chill along the smooth skin of her jaw. “I’ve thought about you.”

“I’m sure.”

Javier stopped mid-caress, leaned back on his heels and looked into her eyes.

“What?” She asked, feeling his gaze penetrate beneath her skin.

“Are you not over him?”

He was looking too deeply, she couldn’t pretend – but she could lie – instead she joked. “He was so last week, I can’t even remember his name.”

“Melanie,” he said sadly as if feeling her innermost pain. “If you need, I have a shoulder to cry on, ears to listen with, arms to hold you and…”

“You had better stop there.” She warned when a mysterious sparkle returned to his almond eyes. “Seriously, Javier, as much as I appreciate your offer I’m really fine.”

“Really fine,” he repeated.

Melanie tried to change her expression. She was not going to talk about Adam anymore.

“That woman with Salvador, is that his wife?”

“We’re talking about Sal?” He sighed, and glanced over her head. “Okay then, he’s divorced. That’s his latest girlfriend.”

On cue, the couple strode out the glass doors and over to them.

“Javier, my best employee.” Sal greeted him with a handshake.

“Hello, Sal, Becky, this is Melanie. She’s very interested in your adventure.”

Salvador Luhan began to retell his tale of heroism with zest, giving Melanie the impression he’d told this same story many times in the past few days.

“There I was, turning onto Sports Arena Boulevard, when out of nowhere this car cuts me off. I slammed on the brakes hoping to avoid a collision but my truck hits the Taurus. It was completely unavoidable.”

This is the legal notation at the bottom of a contract, very small and very CYA.

“My head banged on the steering wheel, see, right there.” Salvador pointed to a quarter-inch scratch above his left eyebrow. “Anyway, when I went to check on the other driver, a kid, at first I think he’s knocked out but he pushes open his car door and knocks me down. Then he starts running, tripping over me, stepping on my leg. He takes off. Well, I know trouble when I see it, I’ve been around the block. So, without thinking, I pursue.” Sal smiled and gripped his bicep. “I work out and am in pretty good shape for my age, aren’t I, Mama?” he asked his buxom companion.

“How far did you chase him?”

“Three blocks, easy. When the cops arrived they found the explosives in the trunk. I really don’t see myself as a hero, just an honest guy in the right place at the right time. Anyone would have reacted the same.”

It was the exact story Carla had told and Melanie knew if she asked any more questions someone was going to ask for her press badge.

“You two have a nice evening. Come on, Mama.” The couple pranced off in search of another set of fresh ears.

“Is your curiosity satiated?” Javier asked, staring down at her with an amused expression. “Because I’d like to get back to more pressing matters.”

“Can you get through a whole day without sex?” She laughed when his hands went to her waist.

“Of course. But I like you. Would you rather we talk?”

“No.”
God no!
He was too insightful.

Melanie ignored the expanding party and paid little attention to the enormous orange sun setting the horizon ablaze.

“Why do you taste like vanilla?”

“Sunscreen,” Javier said. “I enjoy sharing it with you.”

“You are a very generous man, Javier Santos.”

“You, more than anyone, ought to know.” Javier’s mischievous smile returned.

Melanie felt the heat rise from the bottoms of her feet, igniting her cheeks.

“I’m fond of that color pink, it goes well with your skin tone,” he said, scrutinizing her. “It’s endearing and innocent yet we both know you’re not so innocent.” His soft whisper tickled her ear.

“Stop, now you’re embarrassing me on purpose,” she pushed at his shoulder.

“There is something intoxicating about you,” he said, taking her face gently in the palms of his hands. “You could be hazardous to my bachelorhood.”

“Not me. Believe me I’m no threat. It is what it is, remember.”

His grin broadened, “Thank God one of us is thinking straight.”

He kissed her cheeks and pulled her into his chest. Holding her close she accepted his kindness and fit her body against his.

“Hmmm, hmmm.”

Melanie looked out over Javier’s arms.

“Trish!? What are you doing here?” Melanie squealed, hugging her friend as if she were long lost.

“I’m here with Jason. The better question is, who are you doing here?”

Trish eyeballed Javier as Jason approached.

“I’d like you to meet Javier.”

“So you’re the infamous Javier.”

Trish stepped back to take a better look.

“Infamous? I like that,” Javier said, eyebrows lifted high on his crumpled forehead as he winked at Melanie.

“This is Trish and her boyfriend Jason Johnson.”

Javier extended his hand and for a moment Melanie feared Jason wouldn’t reciprocate.

“You play a wonderful game.”

Jason shook the man’s hand and the two began a common-ground conversation.

“He’s hot,” Trish said, leaning in close with a hushed voice, “but I think you’re right to end things quickly.” Her eyes were traveling up Javier. “He could be dangerous.” Her smile flashed wickedly.

“I know.” Melanie was watching Javier, too. “He’s attentive, seems genuinely interested and is caring.” She shook her head. “And look at him.”

Trish laughed, “A man–whore with sensitivity.”

“Don’t call him that,” Melanie said defensively.

“You know he’s got another girl around here somewhere.”

“At least one.”

“FYI, Adam’s here.” Trish tried to sound casual.

“What? Is
she
here, too?” Melanie’s eyes shot up at the crowd.

Along with the nerves came a feeling of betrayal. Trish was cavorting with the enemy. Even if it was irrational, Melanie was hurt. “We went to Jason’s game.” Trish said defensively, feeling the condemnation. “What, am I supposed to ignore her? Adam and Jason are friends and she’s his girlfriend.”

“Right, whatever. I really don’t want to hear it.”

“You
cannot
be mad at me,” Trish sounded surprised.

“Can’t I? Because I think I am.”

“You totally dumped him and I am not choosing sides by going out to dinner with them.”

Melanie clamped her jaw shut until her teeth hurt. She had nothing nice to say.

“Hey, Trish,” two voices sounded from opposite directions.

Carla and Gigi merged simultaneously, like the midget and the giant converging at the center ring of a three-ring circus. Melanie swallowed the lump in her throat and gawked up at Gigi, the Amazon, with flowing coarse black hair that draped down to the middle of her enormous back. Everything about her was long – from her seemingly extra-knuckled toes to her extra-high forehead. Though she couldn’t deny a certain attractiveness – dark brown eyes with sweeping eyelashes – Melanie took solace in her evil thoughts. Perhaps Gigi hadn’t yet stopped growing because she seemed much larger than she had the day she had hopped one-footed on the hot beach.

“Hello, I’m Carla Bradley,” said the pixie, when Trish faltered in the introductions.

“Oh, sorry Gigi, these are my friends Carla and Melanie.”

“Gigi Sullivan.” She acknowledged them with a curt nod and scanned, above their heads, at the crowd. “Can you believe the people that are here?” she cooed.

Gigi was as impressed with the guest list as Carla, who at the moment, was still ignoring Melanie.

“Oh my God, I see a couple of judges. I need to go introduce myself,” she enthused to nobody in particular. “A definite boon to get on their good side, if I’m going to be moving here.”

Melanie looked at Trish’s blank expression.

“Moving here?” Melanie asked, her arms folded across her chest.

“Yeah, I’m moving in with my boyfriend.” Her bulging brown eyes flickering down at Melanie then back at the notable crowd. “Adam Chase. Do you know him?”

Melanie nodded. Yes, she knew Adam.

“I thought he was moving to L.A.”

“So did I,” she chuckled. “But after he bought his building he turned around and leased it to a gay couple. Can you believe that? Now I’ve got to relocate to San Diego and I don’t know if it’s the best career decision. But love can make even the most sensible do crazy things.”

Love? Melanie’s heart crumpled. She’d forgotten about Javier until his arm snaked around her waist. It was comforting.

“Javier Santos,” he said, reaching for Gigi’s enormous paw with his free hand.

“Hello, I’m Gigi.” Her smile widened and she actually looked at him.

Javier let Melanie loose and focused his concentration on Gigi. His voice dropped to a purr and he inched closer.

Melanie smiled. A warmth crept beneath her skin as Javier’s magic made giant Gigi flush a deep crimson.

Carla looked alarmed while Trish looked away as if she hadn’t noticed. It was a triangle of silence. Presently, Melanie was angry with everyone except Javier, and he at the moment was doing her a favor.

Melanie scanned the sea of faces and found a sliver of Adam behind a group across the patio. The view of him flowed through the movement of the mass of bodies, like a current drawing him closer. As people parted and swayed, she caught glimpses; his jaw, his eyes, his ear, until he made his way out. Mesmerized by a dark curl on his tanned neck, Melanie stared, not breathing.

“Melanie,” he spoke quietly, his expression shy. He ran his fingers lightly along her bare shoulder, breaking her out of the trance.