Magnetic (17 page)

Stacy picked up the container and stared at the food inside. “I can’t see it clearly yet.”

“So she’s someone you’re conjuring out of your imagination, not someone you know?”

“Did you get pineapple chicken?”

Alana narrowed her eyes and scooted the dish closer to Stacy. “While you were gone, I realized something after talking to David. He told me that Layne was vacationing in Florida at a horse ranch, exactly the same type of place you just returned from. And that got me thinking about the night in Detroit when you disappeared from the party, and so did Layne.” Alana narrowed her eyes. “So I have to ask, are you fucking my boss?”

“No,” Stacy said firmly.

Alana didn’t look convinced. “So you were at a completely different ranch?”

“I went there with Ronnie, remember?”

Alana held up a chopstick. “Yes, but Layne’s very private, and I imagine that if you were seeing her, she wouldn’t want me to know, so you made up the Ronnie ruse.”

Stacy swallowed the fried rice, feeling as though she would choke on it. She took a sip of water and stalled for time while she tried to figure her way out. “Ronnie was no ruse. I was with her the whole time. Eat, Sherlock.”

And sounding much like Sherlock Holmes, Alana replied, “But that doesn’t explain away that you and Layne disappeared from the party at nearly the same time, and that occurred right after I saw you talking to her. I remember because I was going to make my way over, but before I could get to you, you both were gone. The next morning, you admitted you slept with a woman named Chloe with a Calloway pin on her lapel.” Alana rubbed her chin. “And you both vacationed at the same ranch. I’m afraid it’s more than circumstantial, my dear cousin.”

Stacy pushed her food away. “Layne is Ronnie’s best friend, so yes, I did see her at the ranch, but there is nothing going on between us.”

Alana’s nostrils flared as she exhaled. “Guilty, just as I suspected. You’re as good as confessing when you avoid answering about the night in Detroit. The mysterious Chloe is Layne. I suspected as much when you inquired about the woman you spent the night with, but I just refused to believe it was Layne because she’d always been so faithful to Olivia.” Alana grinned. “But few can resist the
Mayeaux
charm.”

“Olivia broke up with her before the party. It wasn’t my charm that got to her.”

Alana began eating, then stopped. “Did you know that Ronnie was her best friend when you started seeing her?”

Stacy sighed and shook her head, knowing what was coming next. “I didn’t know until we all met in the airport that morning.”

Alana set her chopsticks down and took a sip of her wine.

“Go ahead and laugh your ass off.”

“That’s not funny. I’ve been in a pickle a time or two, but, baby, you took the whole jar. What happened?”

Stacy’s secret was out, but what made her tell the whole sordid story was she had no one to talk to. No one to help her work through the bizarre feeling of loss she felt. Alana listened thoughtfully, all play and jokes aside. When Stacy was finished, Alana looked as forlorn as Stacy felt.

“Layne’s a good woman, but she’s straitlaced, all about status, and can be very cool—downright cold at times. I have a hard time seeing you two as a match.”

“You’re not the first person to tell me she’s a material girl, even still I liked her. I wish I could explain what makes me so drawn to her, and more importantly, I wish I could stop it.”

“Have you tried getting in touch with her?”

Stacy shook her head. “It seems too callous. Ronnie and I weren’t headed to the marriage altar, but I hurt her. Layne did tell me that discussing our feelings would feel like a betrayal to Ronnie.”

“She does feel something for you then,” Alana said thoughtfully. “If she didn’t, she would’ve been comfortable enough admitting that without feeling like she was being disloyal.” A smile spread across Alana’s face. “I’m about to spend a week with her. I’ll pick her brain.”

“For obvious reasons, she doesn’t want you to know, so don’t do me any favors, cousin. If it’s meant to be, I’ll get a second chance.”

Alana waved her off. “I can be subtle and discreet.”

*******

David strode into Layne’s office with a grin. “Show me the claws,” he said as he took a seat.

Layne held up both hands. “Don’t get too close. I fantasized about using you as a scratching post while exiled in the wilderness.”

“Tell me you didn’t enjoy being away from the rat race for a while.”

“I hated it.” Layne looked at the stack of files on her desk. “Please don’t do that to me again. Do you have any idea how long it’s going to take me to catch up?”

“Two days because on Wednesday, you leave for Seattle. Slade’s Manufacturing awaits your expertise. I hope you at least got some rest because I did warn you that you’d hit the ground running when you got back.”

“All four paws are ready for action,” Layne said with determination. “I’ve already gone over their procedural manuals. Who has the dossiers on the management staff?”

“Alana ran point while you were gone. I told her to be ready to meet with you at ten this morning to go over her findings, and I warn you, they are colorful.” David droned on about the HR manager they would be facing, and Layne caught bits and pieces as her mind began to wander.

She and Ronnie had gone round and round about Stacy. Ronnie had gone so far as to offer Stacy’s phone number, and Layne had refused. Ronnie was taking the high road, but Layne could easily see how much it hurt her to do so. Then there was Alana. How much did she know? Had Stacy broken her word?

“Hello?”

Layne opened her eyes wide when she realized David was talking to her. “Sorry, I was already formulating my strategy for dealing with this…troll? Is that how Alana put it?”

“Between us, of course. No one on the team knows of her private assessment.” David stood and straightened his tie. “You’ll be on your own for the first week. I have a few things to take care of here.” He grinned. “It seems I got behind, too, since my right arm saw fit to go tramping around in the woods when I needed her most.”

Layne held up her claws again. “Scratching post, remember that.”

*******

Promptly at ten, Alana arrived with her laptop and a cup of coffee. “Is that a tan I see?” she said with a smile.

“Maybe a hint. Do you want more coffee?” Layne asked as she stood.

“Oh, no, I’ve had plenty. David told me you went to a horse ranch in Florida, and I was shocked. I thought for sure you’d take a cruise or maybe travel abroad.”

“It wasn’t my idea.” Layne tried to steer the conversation back to work as she joined Alana at the table in the corner of her office. “Do you need me to plug in your laptop?”

Alana waved her off. “I’ve got a full charge. So you ride?”

“Not really. Tell me about the woman you call a troll.”

Alana took a seat and opened the lid to her laptop. “Give me just a minute or two to boot up.” She frowned at the screen. “I have an update going on here. That’ll give us a few minutes to chat.”

Layne took a seat. “What’s the mood in Seattle?”

“The usual. Higher-ups are eager for us to get started, middle management not so much. So what else was there to do at the ranch?” Alana asked with a sparkle in her eye.

“Did you ever see
The Parent Trap
?”

Alana nodded.

“It was the same thing, only with alcohol and private cabins. I just didn’t find my long-lost twin.”

Alana grinned. “Did you at least find someone interesting to spend your time with?”

“Uh…no.”

“I know you and Olivia broke up.” Alana nodded toward Layne’s desk. “Her picture isn’t up anymore, and you haven’t been wearing your ring since we got back from Detroit.” Alana’s tone was gentle when she said, “I’m very sorry.”

“Thank you.” Alana grew quiet as she looked at her screen. The silence between them felt awkward to Layne.

“How were things in my absence?”

“I think David missed you.” Alana glanced toward the door before saying, “He got steamrolled by the things you normally handle. We took bets on when he’d break and call you back in. Had you been home, I have no doubt he would’ve.”

Layne smiled as she enjoyed the news. She didn’t mind one bit that he was as miserable as she was.

“That new hotel around the corner opened up a day or two ago. I haven’t had a chance to do a recon mission. You should go by there for lunch to see if it’s swank enough to house our clients when they come into town. A friend of mine told me it was nice and the food was delicious.”

“That might be a dinner option,” Layne said with a nod.

“I considered that, too, but you need a reservation. Lunch is easier. David has the Stanton brothers coming in this week, and he wanted me to go by there and have a look, but since I’ve been doing someone else’s work, I haven’t had the time,” Alana said with a wink.

“Lunch it is then.”

“Great,” Alana said with a grin. “Okay, first suspect is Mary
Lennet
, HR manager, code name Troll.”

Chapter 19

The Sapphire Hotel was lovely. Layne walked around the lobby admiring the Grecian décor, thinking David would be pleased. Less than a block from their office, it would be the perfect place to put their clients up. Since it was new, however, the wait for lunch was an hour even for a table for one. The maître d’ suggested the bar where the menu was limited, but he assured her she’d enjoy it. Layne walked into the crowded room and decided to take a seat at the bar itself and came face-to-face with Stacy, who looked as surprised as Layne did.

Stacy set a coaster on the bar in front of Layne and was all business. “Welcome to the Sapphire, what may I get you to drink?”

Taken aback, Layne replied, “Water, please, and a menu. Can I order takeout from here?”

“Yes, you can.” Stacy handed Layne a menu and a glass along with a bottle of water. “I’ll be with you in just a moment.”

Layne watched as Stacy moved to the other end of the bar and took care of another customer. It seemed so odd not to see her in a pair of shorts and a sports bra or T-shirt. Instead, she wore a pair of black slacks and a crisp button-down white shirt with a sapphire blue bow tie. Blood pounded in Layne’s ears as she opened the menu and tried to decide between a sandwich or salad.

“This isn’t the place to talk, but I wanted to apologize for how things went,” Stacy said lowly when she returned. “Is Ronnie doing okay?”

“She’s good. I’m wondering if it’s a coincidence that Alana suggested I come here for lunch,” Layne said as she met Stacy’s eye.

Stacy frowned. “Probably not. Your boss told her where you went on vacation, and she saw us talking that night in Detroit before we left. She had us—everything—figured out before I got home.”

“I see,” Layne said with resignation, and her appetite waned. “I’ll have the Caesar salad with blackened chicken.”

“It’ll be just a moment.” Stacy looked down and punched the order into the computer. “Excuse me again, please.”

Layne watched Stacy as she worked, and she wasn’t the only one. Several of the fellow patrons eyed her appreciatively, and Layne thought that she probably had no problem meeting plenty of interesting people. That notion caused something to stir within her, and Layne didn’t like it. She had made up her mind to try to forget Stacy
Mayeaux
, and now thanks to Alana, she was once again reminded of why she’d slept with Stacy in the first place.