Page 65 of Old Flames

He agreed to dinner. “Save me a seat at the table.”

“Awesome.”

“Daphne,” Leo said. “I’ve been thinking about this, and I don’t want us to be mere acquaintances.”

She drizzled hot sauce onto her fries. “What are you talking about? We’re cool.”

“I want more.”

Daphne froze. A crinkle appeared between her thin brows. “More than friends?”

Leo reclined in his seat and watched her squirm. “Yes.”

“Friends with benefits?” she asked, incredulous.

“Not that far,” he said. “Dial it back.”

“Just friends?”

“Good friends,” he said.

“Whew! You had me thinking of ways to let you down gently!” she said, laughing. “Sorry to tell you, handsome, but you’re not my type.”

10:00 p.m.

Leo was still thinking about dreams that die when he got back to The Aurora. The night clerk greeted him. “Welcome back, boss! So cool that y’all decided to stick around.”

“Thanks, man. Good night.”

The peaceful atmosphere of the suite was disturbing, considering this was the hangout spot over the weekend. Matty, Vicky, Ayesha, and eventually, July, had flung themselves on the chairs, ottomans, and rugs, laughing and talking over each other well into the night. However, it was the ideal setting for work. He wouldn’t leave Key West without making a dent in the project.

After a quick shower, he set up his word processor and got settled at the desk. Headphones on, he tried out a few narrative styles to see which had legs. He decided on the voice of the arsonist and sharpened it, tapping into his bloodlust. It was past midnight when he got it right.

12:25 a.m.

Leo slipped off his headphones, stood and stretched, moved over to the window and took in the garden view that had held July’s attention two nights earlier. He searched for the bench at the far side of the pergola where he’d often spotted her. It had prompted him to get her a bouquet of fresh cuts, which she pretended not to like. The delightful pergola was a ghostly structure in the night, yet there in its shadow, amid the flower beds, ferns, and droopy palms, like a leaf curled unto itself, lay July.

24

This can’t be real.

If you wanted a thing badly enough, you shaped it in your imagination, breathed life into it, and gave it space to live. July was gone. She’d left with the others. That couldn’t be her down there. It didn’t stop Leo from bolting, rushing down the tower stairs and out of his room, knocking over anything in his way. He had to get to her before she disappeared. He avoided the lobby and the night clerk who called him “boss,” crept down the narrow hall, and slipped out the back door. His breath was shallow by the time he knelt beside her, but there she was, his beauty, asleep, moonlight catching the angles of her diamond-cut face.

He hesitated before reaching out and sweeping her short bangs to the side, the way she liked to wear them. How many times had he seen her come out to this garden to get away from the others, searching for a bit of peace? Yet her brows were tightly knit, and her hands balled into fists. She was combative even at rest. Her warrior heart never relented. Why come out here at all? Honestly, at night, this garden was an inhospitable place. The trees harbored dense shadows, the night blooming flowers gave off a heady perfume, and each blade of grass glistened like the sharp edge of a knife. And no matter the weather, an unnatural chill prevailed.

What was she doing here tonight?

The question could wait. July was shivering in her sleep. Leo collected her in his arms and lifted her off the cold stone bench. He carried her into the house and up the grand stairs to his suite. Finally, she startled awake. Her eyes flew open, and her gaze raked him over.

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“I could ask you the same question.”

Leo nudged open the door to the suite with his shoulder, crossed the room, and gently lowered her onto his bed. She rolled onto her side and drew her knees up, like before on the bench. She looked so small and fragile, his heart ached for her. He slipped off her soft leather sandals and set them at the side of the bed.

“What were you doing out there?” Leo asked.

“Why?” she asked. “What did it look like I was doing?”