ON AIR (15 page)

She stared at me for several seconds before giving me a middle finger, and then she left.

19

“
M
aybe you deserved that, or maybe you didn’t,” Madden said before taking a huge bite of a croissant. Crumbs dropped onto the floor of the conference room and he either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

“Basically that’s the kind of relationship we have—maybe I’m wrong or most likely I’m wrong—and obviously I’m not cut out for it.” I answered him as I bent down to scoop up his mess.

He finished off the last few bites and made himself a cup of coffee. “Meaning… there just is no right with Nat?” he asked.

I pondered that silently. We’d gone from fuck buddies to a relationship that barely had any sex. What the hell was up with that? And I knew I’d been a jerk because Natalie
had
apologized. She’d actually turned it into a fair fight and then I’d been the pussy who found an easy out.

She’d been right. She
did
know me well.

“Mr. and Mrs. Downing are here,” Janessa, one of our interns, said upon popping her head into the room.

I nodded and motioned for her to bring them back.

“Hey,
psst
,” Madden hissed after she left. I looked up at him, basically standing against the wall like he was trying to blend in with the beige paint. He looked like a fucking idiot.

“What the hell are you doing?”

He leaned forward to glance into the hallway, and then took a step off the wall. “Janessa asked me out last week,” he said.

I almost dropped the paper cup of coffee from my hand. “What? Well…that’s great. She’s cute. Seems smart—”

“I think she’s using me to get ahead.”

I’d paused mid-sentence, but the way he’d said that and how serious he looked made me have to choke back a laugh. “Wh-what?”

“Laugh all you want, prick face. But she’s suddenly been
very
interested in me. You know Clive is hiring one more next month. I’d say she’s a good candidate automatically, but I seriously think she’s been honey-potting me.”

That time I did laugh. “Come on, man. We don’t have a say in who Clive hires.”

“Technically, no. But he does ask our opinion.”

I considered that for a second, and yes, Madden was right. “Well, every intern has been told there is no ass kissing here. What would give her the impression you could sway him?”

He glanced away, looking totally guilty. “Ehhh…”

“What the fuck did you tell her?”

“I didn’t say anything
to
her,” he argued, coming across the room. He dropped into a chair. “I was talking to Steve in the kitchen a couple weeks ago. Looking back—based on the timing of all this—we’d been talking about Marcus getting hired last year, and when Steve said Clive had asked him what he thought of Marcus, I admitted that Clive had also asked me the same.”

“Yeah, he asked me as well.”

“Okay, then,” Madden gestured to me, like his point was justified. “But Janessa entered and grabbed something from the fridge.”

I waited for something more. “And?” I asked impatiently.

“Well duh, I think she heard us talking. Two days later, she started talking to me more. Then a couple days after that, she was hinting that she’d like to join us after work when we go out. Then a day after that, she mentioned taking me to some games. Her parents have season tickets to the Blazers.”

“Oh. Wow.” If that wasn’t honey-potting Madden, I wasn’t really sure what was. We both loved sports in general, but Madden was a die-hard basketball fan.

“Yeah, see?” he asked, knowing his point was made.

“Avoid her.”

He blinked at me like he didn’t hear me right.

“You understand me perfectly,” I added firmly. “Avoid her.”

“There aren’t any office dating policies here…”

“Madden, do yourself a favor and don’t let her use you. What happens if she does get hired? She dumps you? How awkward would that be? Or, what, you two fall in love and move yourselves into a shared office like Steve and Marisa?”

“They’re married.”

“So?” I scoffed.

“They were both accountants before they met and—”

“Madden, shut the fuck up. Now you’re trying to justify something you know you shouldn’t do. You brought it up because you know what she’s doing. Either call her out on it or learn the hard way.”

I saw my clients coming down the hall, so I motioned to Madden we’d discuss it later.

“Hey, good morning,” I said as the Downings entered.

“Hi, Dane,” Emily smiled.

“Dane,” Perry nodded at me.

The Downings were this super rich couple—early forties, no kids—who had quite the interesting idea for a home. It was the first home I’d designed that was sixty percent
glass
. Yep, windows galore, glass walls here and there, and a daylight basement with all glass on one side to showcase his car collection.

Well, at least that’s what they were about to realize at this appointment.

I sat them down at the conference table while Janessa offered them coffee or tea. As she served them, I pulled up my design on my laptop and began talking. A 3-D representation of their home appeared on a projection screen on the wall so they could see it better. I explained some of my ideas based on what they’d shared with me and their reactions were pleasing. Then I got to the glass display garage, and Perry may have popped a boner under the table.

“Unbelievable,” he whispered. He turned to his wife and grinned. “See that? You say my collection doesn’t get seen enough. Well how about that?”

“If you want, Perry, I could also do another fifteen feet of glass on the south corner here,” I pointed. “You said you’re planting trees along that section of your home, though. Not sure if that’s something you want to consider or not anyway.”

He set his chin in his hand and stroked his professionally trimmed beard. “Hmm. What do
you
think?” he asked me.

I teetered my head back and forth, but then rotated the design. “Well…kind of makes a cool option if you put a path right here. When people come to see your collection, this might be a nice little option for something extra special. I don’t know,” I shrugged. “It’s up to you.”

He looked at his wife and said, “The Veyron.”

She nodded.

Perry pointed at me and said, “Let’s do it. I like how you think.”

I sat down at the table and made a few changes on my laptop right in the moment. The Downings were discussing car placements, and all I could think about was that I struggled to even get my truck to fit in my garage. Yes, I lived in a nice neighborhood, but if I had the money to design anything I wanted…

I had no idea what I would spend it on.

“Here, how ‘bout that?” I asked, clicking a button to display the new model on the wall a few minutes later. They’d been busy with tea and coffee refills while I rotated the design so they could see the new glass on the south corner. I’d even put in a little path and some trees off to the side, just to give the full effect.

“Brilliant,” Perry grinned. “Let’s do it!”

I spent another thirty minutes with the Downings, and then somehow we ended up discussing Emily’s niece, Sasha.

“She’s thirty-four, an attorney, and lives here in Portland. Obviously she’s smart, but she’s also beautiful, Dane. I think you two would make a stunning couple.”

She looked almost embarrassed to say that but seemed sincere. Perry even nodded, as if to look me over for the final say.

“Yes, I do believe I agree, sweetheart.”

“Smart and pretty aren’t really what I’m looking for,” I countered as kindly as I could.

“What are you looking for?” Emily inquired.

Someone who wasn’t bitch-ass crazy
, I wanted to answer. But what
was
I looking for…? I had no clue. And it was probably because I wasn’t looking for
anything
.

“I’m just not in the dating scene right now,” I answered. “And to be honest, I’m an arrogant prick. I don’t think I could date someone older than me.”

Emily laughed and nudged her husband. “Oh that sounds familiar! Guess who’s twelve years older than who?” she asked me, motioning between them.

Looking between the two of them, I wouldn’t have guessed Perry to be younger. “No way, Mrs. Downing. It’s not possible.”

“Oh, it is,” she chuckled. “I met Perry through mutual friends. We went out one time and he found out I was twelve years older than him. I didn’t hear from him again.”

I looked at him wide-eyed. Emily really was stunning. And no, I would have never guessed her to be older than her husband. “Okay, now I see my stupid pride with my own eyes,” I joked to Perry.

He nodded. “Hey, it’s fine. I agree. I mean she was model material—still is model material,” he corrected. “I thought she was joking when she told me her age. I would have never guessed it. And yes, that completely intimidated me! But we did run into each other a few months later. I guess I wised up.”

I did the math in my head with my earlier thoughts that they were both in their early forties. I leaned forward toward Emily and dramatically whispered, “If you tell me you’re over fifty, I’ll never believe it.”

“Fifty-three,” she answered proudly.

“No way!” I laughed, slapping the table. “I would have never guessed it.”

“Plastic surgery works miracles,” she smiled.

Oh. Then I guess there’s that…

“She’s kidding, Dane,” Perry said upon reading my face. “She’s hasn’t had a lick of plastic surgery.”

I looked at Emily and chuckled. “Well I’d say whatever you
have
done for yourself really worked for you.”

“It runs in the family,” she winked. “If you meet Sasha, I’m sure you’d change your mind about dating.”

I didn’t even know where I stood with dating. Natalie had dumped me a few days ago and I hadn’t heard from her since. I did feel bad about that, but what could I do? It was the very reason why I didn’t want to change things with her. I swear saying you’ll always be friends with someone was a sure-fire way of jinxing your relationship from the start.

“Alright,” I agreed. “I don’t know why I’m doing this, but sure, I’d like to meet your niece.”

“Excellent!” Emily grinned, clasping her jewelry-clad hands together.

If her niece was half the looker she was, I was already winning. But I wasn’t so sure about lifestyle and personality. I loved the Downings as clients, but I didn’t think I could ever mesh with someone of that caliber in a relationship.

“I’ll get this finalized in the next day or two,” I nodded, motioning to their house design. “If you have any questions or concerns, call or email me, otherwise they’ll go to Jim for engineering.”

“Perfect,” Perry nodded. “Thank you, Dane.”

I’d noticed Emily writing on a notepad and she gently peeled the top layer off. She handed it to me and said, “I won’t give out Sasha’s number—I’d like that to be her choice—but we’d be honored if you could join us for Perry’s autism fundraiser next weekend. It’s Saturday night, and yes it’s formal attire but it’s very low-key. And every penny goes to charity,” she added, as if she could sense my hesitation because of the word “formal.”

But I consented. I told them I’d attend. I wasn’t a stranger to charity fundraisers, but truthfully, I was suddenly nervous. I was a beer drinking, loud-mouthed sports fan and I didn’t do hoity toity.

I was going to be out of my element and that kind of made me feel pissy.

20

Dane,

I’m going out on a limb here but… thank you for the flowers you sent me. I’m very moved that you’d be so thoughtful. Please keep in touch.

Sinclair xoxo

I stared at her email while I sat in front of my television. My heart was pounding and I could feel panic
zing
through every corner of my body. The flowers
I
sent her!? No, no, no,
noooooo
! I’d sent them and signed Madden’s name! How would she know they were from
me
!?

Groaning, I clicked ‘reply’ on her message. I was kind of humiliated at this point and couldn’t think of anything intelligent to say. God, she thought they were from me! I mean technically they were, but how would she know that?

A knock sounded at my door, and since I was in a pure state of panic, I popped up from the couch to answer it. Any distraction was a good distraction.

“Howdy ho, neighbor!”

Unless it was Peter. Shit, this day just couldn’t get any better, could it? I’d only gotten home from work a half an hour ago and was looking forward to just relaxing. Natalie called and chewed me out, asking why I didn’t tell her I was having her brother investigated. I explained it’d been my intention to fill her in but it slipped my mind, but that I also didn’t realize anything was being done at that point. She was pissed, told me that was like stabbing her in the back after she confided in me, blah blah blah.

She hung up on me.

Then I got a text from Emily Downing, reminding me about the charity event the next night. I was seriously planning to bail…until she said Sasha was looking forward to meeting me. But that could have been a fib. And then the email from Sinclair, and now fucking
Peter
at my door.

It’d been a rollercoaster end to my day.

I summoned some patience. It wasn’t much, but I at least felt capable of refraining from murder. “What can I do for you, Pete?” I asked drably.

“Well, now, it’s what can I do for
you
,” he chuckled.

I tried not to roll my eyes. I’m not sure if I succeeded or not. “I can’t wait.”

I swear to God he was trying to look inside my house. His eyes were darting over my shoulders, and he tried shifting casually from side to side. But he was using his smile to distract me, and I have to admit, maybe it worked. Because he looked like a fucking tool.

“I realize you’re a busy fella, Dane,” he continued. “Seems like you leave pretty early and get home pretty late.”

Seems
like? Pssh. The guy probably kept a log of my departures and arrivals each day! “I work long hours.”

He nodded like he was being sympathetic. “Yes, you do. And I guess you could have a better job with more sensible hours—”

“A better job?” I scoffed. God, what was this guy’s deal? “I’m an architect. I design houses. Sometimes I work eight-hour days, sometimes it’s twelve. Sometimes I’m at the office, sometimes I work at home. It’s a
job
.”

He stared at me for a moment. I wasn’t sure if he actually knew what I did for a living or not, but the guy wasn’t an idiot. I’d brought blueprints home before. Surely he knew what those were, right?

“Yes, everyone needs a job,” he agreed. “But I’m just saying… Maybe there’s more to life than that? Go out and do some hiking or—”

“I’m just gonna stop you right there,” I sighed. I rubbed my forehead because a headache was beginning to form behind my eyes. I wasn’t even in the mood to mess with him; I was straight up pissed off. “What I do with my time is my business. I’m not even sure what your problem is with me, so I’ll just ask you outright. What’s your problem?”

He shook his head, either surprised or feigning surprise. “I don’t have a problem, Dane. I was only going to offer help if you need it. I know you live alone and might need a hand or two. You helped me out when Charlotte moved in and—”

“How’s that going for you?” I interrupted. “You two married now?”

He paused briefly. “Well…yes, of course. I wouldn’t have allowed her to move in if—”

“If you weren’t legally hitched. Yeah, I got it.”

He slightly nodded but something about his demeanor changed. “And what is it you ‘get’?” he asked in a lower voice.

I heard the oven beep with my pizza and I silently praised God. “Dinner’s done,” I grinned. “Gotta go, Pete—”

He actually prevented me from shutting my door. The fucker put his foot in the way to stop it. “If you need help with your yard, let me know.”

I peered behind him at my front lawn. I mowed it once a week, the grass was green, and I brought my garbage can in and out on time. “Pretty sure my yard looks fine.”

Again, he seemed to glance over my shoulder into the house before he answered. “Well…if you decide you need some help, my wife has friends in the cleaning business.”

It took me a few seconds to respond. “Maid service?”

“Yes. And one of them has a husband who does yard maintenance. I’ll give you a card—”

He’d reached into his pocket, but as soon as he took his body out of my doorway, I shut the door in his face. I seriously stood there for almost a minute, trying to make sense of his creepy activities. He watches my house, notices who comes and goes, insists I need a maid and a landscaping crew?

I finally remembered the pizza, and even though I’d had the oven on a timer and it shut off automatically, my crust was still overcooked. I took it out and dropped it on top of the stove, pissed that my stupid neighbor had ruined my dinner.

But I was absolutely getting creeped out by his behavior lately. It was one thing if he was just a weird guy, but for him to be in my business and know when I came and went was absurd!

I called Emmet again. He’d actually been running some errands and stopped by an hour later. I filled him in on everything I could, and while he listened, he ate the last two pieces of my overcooked pepperoni pizza.

“Sounds like a tool,” he mumbled as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Man, you don’t even know the half of it. Hearing him talk is probably the worst part. His voice, and the stupid ways he says things.”

“He hasn’t physically threatened you?”

“No,” I scoffed. But just the thought of Peter acting that way was kind of amusing. I sort of wanted him to be confrontational so I had a reason to kick his ass.

“I can’t write up a complaint about a ‘
howdy ho, neighbor!
’”

I laughed. He’d said it the same way I had. “I don’t want to file a formal complaint. Can’t you just…?”

“I’ll look into it unofficially, Dane. But Jesus, three people in the past week you’ve asked favors on? Anyone else?”

I pretended to be serious as I nodded. “Yes, there are a couple of women…”

“Ha! Weed out your own psychos like the rest of us have to.”

Smiling, I shrugged. “Was worth a try. But her name is Sasha… Shit, don’t even know her last name.”

“You’d suck as a detective. Glad you didn’t follow your old man’s footsteps.”

“You’re not so keen yourself,” I countered. “Tell me about this birthday party I didn’t actually know about.”

I seriously loved the look of embarrassment on his face, but after he paused for a couple seconds, he shrugged. “So I’m not too smart on the social front. My bad.”

“Meh, no worries.”

I’m sure I could have asked him more details about it, but I figured Chloe was probably throwing the party and she might cry if she knew the surprise was ruined.

“Tell me about David Denman. Natalie called and chewed me out, saying I stabbed her in the back. Did you talk to him or something?”

“Talk to him?” Emmet scoffed with surprise. “No, kid, that whole crew was already under investigation. I didn’t even get a chance to look at him specifically. Some kind of fight broke out and the police were called to Danzig’s place. Few guys were arrested, drugs galore, Zig is in jail again.”

I blinked with confusion. “But what about Davey? Natalie was pissed off that I didn’t tell her someone was going to be in his business.”

Emmet slowly shook his head in thought. “No, David Denman’s name never came up in the police report. It wasn’t my bust, but maybe I can find some more information on it. What exactly did she say happened to him?”

“I don’t recall if she even did, just said she confided in me and felt like I’d stabbed her in the back.”

“Hmm. Far as I know he wasn’t one of the kids arrested.” He stood and turned for the front door. “I’ll check on it. And if there’s something important about that neighbor of yours, I’ll let you know. Other than that, he deserves his privacy just as much as you do.”

I scoffed at the irony, but I understood. I followed Emmet to the door as he opened it for himself. He said goodbye and mentioned Chloe, but something on the porch caught my eye and I might have screamed like a girl.

It was a bouquet of flowers—like the ones I’d had sent to Sinclair—but it was crawling with huge fucking spiders and they were spilling out all over my porch!