Sweet Christmas Kisses (73 page)

Kim shivered at the realization that they knew she and Rock were pretending to be married. Really, well then why hadn’t they announced it and ended this stupid affair?

Zelda took another drag on her cigarette then waved the notion away as she exhaled, creating a billow of white smoke. “There’s plenty of time for that. I’m not due to fly out until Wednesday. Besides, we need to make sure we have a solid case or the whole thing will blow up in our faces.”

“I’ll probably strangle her if I have to put up with her for that long.” Marie threw off her blanket and stood up. “This is ridiculous. We’re freezing out here!” She kicked at a mound of snow next to the table. “I’m going inside to finish my drink in the den and I don’t care who sees me.” She picked up the wine bottle and shoved it under her arm. “I’m not putting up with this any longer, Zelda. If you don’t confront that woman and expose her by tomorrow night,
I will
.”

Zelda grunted. “Not so fast. I’ve got just as much at stake here as you do. We’ll handle this my way.”

“The longer it goes on, the worse it gets! Every time those two start acting all
kissy-face
, I want to scream!”

That’s Diona, Kim thought and wondered why she hadn’t realized it before. All of the facts surrounding her odd presence fit—the obsession with Rock, the jealousy, the refusal to speak.

But, that voice...where had Kim heard it before? The ultra-feminine, high-pitched tone, almost to the point of sounding whiny, nagged at her memory; but for some reason, she couldn’t put a face or name to it.

“Don’t you dare,” Zelda replied firmly. “We must approach this intelligently and that means gathering all the facts. In the morning, before we go shopping, we’ll stop by the front desk to have another friendly chat with that gossipy security guard. He’s full of very useful information.” She rose from the chair, completely unassisted, and took one last drag on her cigarette then tossed it over the balcony. “Come along. Let’s go back to my room and chat while we finish our wine.” She turned toward the patio door. “I have a feeling I’m going to need a few
bevies
before this is all over.”

Hearing that, Kim spun away from the door and sprinted through the living room, not stopping until she stood safely inside Rock’s bedroom. The room was quiet except for the slow, methodical hum of his breathing. A soft glow from his clock radio cast a blue light, providing just enough for her to make out the silhouette of his long, sinewy body burrowed peacefully under the comforter on his side of the bed.

Sasha jumped off her pillow and trotted to the edge of the mattress, whimpering softly.

Kim scooped her up and hurried into the bathroom, shutting the door quickly behind her before snapping on the light. She dropped the dog into the litter box and sat on the edge of the Jacuzzi tub then covered her mouth with both hands as she burst out with an astonished laugh.

“Can you believe that?” she said in a high-pitched whisper to Sasha as the dog squatted in her box and looked into her eyes. “What a couple of con artists! And they called
me
an imposter!”

Sasha simply stared, apparently unmoved by the latest developments as she tinkled on the scented litter.

“Zelda smokes, drinks and gets a free ride everywhere in that rented wheelchair because she’s got Rock convinced that she’s living on borrowed time. What’s her motive for faking?” Kim shook her head, wishing she knew. “And as for that brainless nurse—the
real
Diona,” Kim snapped as she gripped the edge of the tub, “she’d better think twice about exposing me. I don’t know what those two are up to, Sasha, but the game is over. Tomorrow when Rock gets home from work, it’s going to end, and it may not be pretty, but the time for laying all our cards on the table has come.” She let out a deep breath. “You know what? I am
so
glad this charade is almost over. I hate deceiving people. It’s about time the truth came out.”

Sasha finished taking care of business and jumped out of the litter box. She trotted across the white and gray marble floor, the clickety-clack of her nails echoing about the room. Kim picked up the dog, nestling Sasha in the warmth of her lap.

“Zelda said she had a lot at stake,” Kim murmured while she stroked Sasha’s back. “What did she mean by that? Whatever it is, it must be very important to make her go to such an extreme. This charade of hers, though, seems uncharacteristic for someone who has always held the winning hand. She must be absolutely desperate for something.” Kim slipped her hands around Sasha’s tummy and lifted the chubby little canine to eye level. “Like me. I’ll sell out and move before I’ll give you up.”

She kissed the dog’s nose as her thoughts drifted toward the inevitable showdown.

“Ladies, plan your words carefully. Don’t think you’re going to turn the tables and make this deception of yours all about me,” she declared to herself. “I haven’t survived ten years of nursing by being a wimp. No one is going to assassinate my character to prove a point, whatever that may be. I’m ready for your ambush with both barrels loaded and cocked.
Merry Christmas
, ladies. This is one fight I intend to win!”

Monday morning, December 21

Kim awoke the next morning to the heavy beat of a Guns and Roses song blasting from Rock’s clock radio. She groggily opened one eye as a long arm, clothed in a blue, two-toned striped shirt, reached out and shut off the noise.

“Sorry about that,” Rock said sweetly as he straightened and slipped into a dark suit coat. “I meant to turn it off as soon as I woke up.” He gave her a warm smile and adjusted his shirt cuffs. “I always seem to wake up just before my alarm goes off, but I guess I got enough sleep last night because I’ve been up for almost an hour now.”

The good-natured purr of his deep, sexy voice drew her out of her sleepy haze. She opened both eyes to see him standing over her, dressed like the executive he was, readying himself for a busy day at the office.

“Oh, that’s okay,” she murmured before being overtaken with a huge yawn. “I should get up, anyway, and feed the dog.” She checked the pillow next to her head where the plump little Chihuahua usually slept and found it vacant. “Where’s Sasha?”

“Gee, I don’t know.” He glanced around the room. “She’s around here somewhere. I put a small chunk of that canned food you had on the dresser in her dish and she’s been following me around ever since.”

Is that so?
Kim suppressed a small smile.

“Would you like some coffee? I’ve got a fresh pot brewing in the kitchen.”

“Um, sure,” she replied shyly and stretched her arms above her head, “that sounds wonderful.” Thankfully, her stomach problems were gone this morning.

Once Rock left the room, Kim sat up and fluffed the pillows behind her then ran her fingers through her hair to smooth out the cowlick she knew was plastered to the back of her head. She sat back and drew a deep breath, wondering what had gotten into Rock. His sweet, solicitous behavior seemed so different from the Rock of four days ago. She didn’t know what to think. Did he always treat the women in his life like this? Could this be a preview of what it would like to be his wife in the true sense?

If that’s so—mister, I don’t want to give you up.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said aloud to herself. “He’s being nice because you’re doing him a huge favor. There’s nothing between you and him but neighborly friendship and a handshake.”

But when Rock appeared a few minutes later, his actions didn’t come close to the definition of neighborly.

“Here you are, darling.” He spoke tenderly as he handed her a mug of steaming coffee and a saucer containing a lemon bar and a slice of cranberry bread. “I hope you like these. It’s all that’s left of that platter of desserts Mrs. Doyle gave you.” He pulled a folded napkin from his suit pocket and spread it across her lap. “I’m afraid Mother enjoyed it so much she’s eaten most of it already.”

“Thank you,” Kim replied as she took the small plate. “I actually saved you a few frosted brownies because I know you like them. They’re in the freezer.” It was the only place they were safe from Zelda’s ravenous appetite.

Rock caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “Baby, you’re so good to me. I’m going to miss getting so much attention when this is all over.”

Speaking of the situation being all over...

She seriously considered the idea of leveling with him about Zelda, but sounds of someone making a racket in the hallway quickly distracted her.

“That must be Mother. She probably wants some coffee. Excuse me,” Rock said and promptly left the room.

Kim drank her coffee and ate her breakfast in silence, strangely sobered by the realization that tomorrow morning she would most likely wake up in her own bed...alone. For the first time ever, she realized what an isolated existence she lived. Sure, she had a lot of friends and many of her neighbors were as close as family, but that didn’t change the fact that she kept house all by herself, with no one to wake up to, no one to have dinner with or to snuggle with on frigid nights. And for the first time, she understood the reason for the hollow feeling inside her.

Before she could blink them back, tears smarted in her eyes.

****

A few minutes later, Kim washed her face then dressed in her favorite black leggings and a green tunic.

No more borrowed designer clothes for me, she thought rebelliously as she pulled on her suede ankle booties. She’d take her comfortable clothes any day over fancy clothes that fell apart. Besides, those things didn’t match her personality. She’d never be the kind of glamour girl that Rock found irresistible, and now that the truth was almost out, she was through pretending, through trying to be someone she wasn’t.

She slipped on her earrings, tiny red Christmas bells, fluffed her blonde hair then walked into the dining room, ignoring the stares of all three people sitting around the oval table.

“Good morning,” she said to no one in particular and stepped into the kitchen to pour a fresh cup of French roast. She reappeared in a moment with her Santa mug and surveyed the crowd. Rock sat at the head of the table with a tall mug of coffee and the Wall Street Journal spread in front of him. Marie/Diona peered sourly over the rim of her juice glass through her ugly, oversized spectacles, glaring at Kim with her usual evil stare. Zelda sat in her wheelchair across from Marie/Diona, pretending to be oblivious to her so-called nurse’s animosity as she munched on a piece of toast and marmalade.

Now that Kim knew the truth about these two, and their little game was about to be exposed, she couldn’t wait to see Rock’s reaction. She smiled at Zelda, fighting the temptation to spill the beans here and now. “Got plans for today?”

“As soon as I finish my breakfast, Marie and I are leaving straightaway for the Mall of America for a bit of shopping,” Zelda replied, her voice sounding deeper than ever.

It must be from sneaking all those cigarettes on the balcony while strategizing “intelligent” ways to get rid of me, Kim thought cynically.

Zelda gave her a strange look, as though she could read Kim’s thoughts. “And you?”

“Oh, I have personal errands to run and a few other things to catch up on,” she said. Like sleep, for instance. Taking a nap in her own bed sounded like a wonderful idea.

Rock folded the paper and pushed back his chair. “I’d better get going.” He motioned to Kim. “Will you walk with me to the elevator, darling?”

He leaned over and kissed his mother. “I’ll have my assistant make reservations for dinner tonight at Origami. I’m hungry for some good sushi. Have a nice day shopping.”

Zelda spun her chair around. “Marie, fetch my coat and pocketbook. We’ll wait for the cab downstairs.”

Rock slipped his arm around Kim’s waist as they walked along. Dipping his head, he whispered in her ear. “Is something wrong? You seem preoccupied.”

The tenderness in his voice nearly melted her resolve. She’d hardly slept all night, thinking about the situation. “I’m fine, really, but we need to talk.”

He stopped mid-stride. “What’s the matter?”

She couldn’t tell him now, not with Zelda and Marie within earshot. “Rock, I—”

Thankfully, the buzzing of his BlackBerry cut her off. He pulled the device out of his pocket and checked the screen. “It’s my senior data architect. Honey, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to take this call.” He pressed the answer button and pressed the BlackBerry to his ear. “Yeah, Sean, what’s up?” He paused for a couple moments, listening intently. “Yeah...yeah...” He opened the closet and grabbed his coat. “Is that going to cause a problem?” He turned toward the elevator and pressed the call button.

“See you tonight. I’ll call you this afternoon,” he whispered to her and kissed her on the lips as the doors silently swished open. He lingered the slightest moment, though, before pulling away. Slinging the coat over his shoulder, he entered the elevator, engrossed once again in his phone conversation.

“Well, how do you feel about that,” he said in a business tone as the doors closed on him.

I’ll be waiting, she thought somberly, because she missed him already.

****

Stepping into the foyer that evening, Rock loosened his tie and breathed a tired sigh. What a killer of a day he’d endured. One of his best managers had resigned to take a position with a competitor, he’d received notice that a major account had filed bankruptcy and for the first time ever, he’d had words with his assistant when she accidentally hung up on a client during an important conference call. It wasn’t her fault. Everyone had experienced problems trying to adjust to the new phone system. He knew he’d have to make peace with her tomorrow and make things right, but tonight all he wanted to do was relax and have dinner with the people he cared about the most.

He never got the chance to call Kim, either, as he’d promised. She’d wanted to talk to him about something before he left for the office this morning and it seemed important to her.

He crossed the foyer and charged down the hallway, tossing his coat on a bench along the way. He needed to find her and apologize for not making good on his word.