“What do you mean they’re investigating me?” He runs a hand over his face.
“Someone’s looking into your affairs. After hearing your talk with Paul, I imagine it’s the same person who’s taking your money.”
“Jesus. This is insane. I’m not doing anything illegal. I’m not the bad guy.” He paces.
I grab him by the arms to still him. “I know that.” And as the words come out of my mouth, I realize I whole-heartedly believe it. “I want to help you. After all, you got me this far and to the thing next week.” I can’t bring myself to say séance. "We were pretty good together, er, the working together. Back there. I know I said it would only be a onetime thing. But I think that we should both see this through? I think that your connections will help me, and my friend can help you.”
He’s calmed down and squinting at me. The teasing creeps into his eyebrows before he speaks.
“Are you asking me to go steady with you, Maggie?”
“Shut up.”
“You like me. You want to work with me,” he singsongs.
“Never mind.”
He keeps humming. Two dimples appear that almost knock me off my feet. I’ve seen that smile in movies but feeling the full power of it in person is like stepping into the daylight after being in a theater for hours.
“I’m pushing you over.” I make a futile attempt to push him toward the railing but he’s solid and I’m wispy.
We struggle and wrestle until somehow he has me completely trapped between his body and the rail, I’m facing out toward the water. We stand like Rose and Jack. His entire body presses against mine. I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be held like this. Consciously. And in good-natured teasing. Not against my will. I stop moving.
He lowers his mouth to my ear. “I don’t think.” He presses closer.
I feel him everywhere. My pulse kicks into overdrive. If I turn my head a fraction our lips would collide. His heartbeat thumps against my back. I’m desperate to arch my back into him. What would he do? What would I feel? It’s too much too soon.
I panic. My heart throws itself against my ribcage, instinct telling me to run. I’m frustratingly stuck between arousal and other. I remind myself that we have a goal. I have talents. We’re just a means to each other’s ends. A firework shoots up and pops with a silver cascade of sparkles. It’s enough to clear my head and get me re-focused. I slip out of his grasp and step away.
“We’ll make a plan for next weekend. Something big. I’ll need time to search his office.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Roe shoves his hands deep in his pockets.
Above me the fireworks display erupts to the sound of applause as I run down to my room.
12
Roe
Two dayslater Victor invites me to an early tee time at the Los Angeles Country Club. Funny how my appointments were suddenly cleared for the day. This is one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the country, closed even to the likes of me. No point in questioning how he got us eighteen holes last minute. Starts withZand ends with regret.
It’s a typical California day with enough morning chill to make the bright day bearable. My ball makes a satisfying crack as the club collides with it before it zips through the air.
“Nice, that’ll be a bogey for sure,” Viktor says.
“We’ll see.”
“The views are incredible here.”
We share a sweeping gaze of the fairway. The city is caught in glimpses all around us, peeking through the hills.
“Sure are.” He’s fishing, I give it to him. “I can’t believe you got us in here.”
He predictably jumps right in. “That was Marty. He’s a member here and pulled some strings.”
I give him a “that’s respectable” frown. We hop in the golf cart and head down the path following the fairway, our caddies trailing in the cart behind us. A few paps already caught pictures of us, feeding their children for another night. We wave good-naturedly and go on with our game.
The feeling of being watched can really wear on a person. The irony isn’t lost on me. Sometimes I forget that there’ll never be a time I’m not a circus act to people. And worse than that, if that time comes, I’m in trouble. As we go on, I wait for the other shoe to drop. I’m not naïve enough to think that he wanted to come out here to chat and bond. What he wants remains unclear.
