Szot, JC - The South Window (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (4 page)

“Would you like coffee?” She turned to him. He looked tired, his eyes rimmed with fatigue. It must have been a late night for him. Allie was dying to ask but restrained herself.

“Ah, no, that’s okay.” He stood at the island, his eyes skirting around the room. “You have a nice place here.”

“Thank you.” Allie gave herself a refill.

“Nice job on the decorating.” Marty examined the stenciled grapevines that traveled across the wall of the kitchen. He then turned and took a glimpse into the dining room. “Where do you get your furniture?” he asked, eyeing her large oak table and chairs.

“North Carolina mostly. Would you like to see the rest?” Allie found herself looking at him more closely today. The draw of her eyes unnerved her.

“Sure, if it’s no trouble.” Marty buried his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

Allie took Marty on a tour of the house, showing him the living room, the cozy sitting area in front of the fieldstone fireplace, and the deck off the back. During their tour Marty mentioned that he had a thing for window seats, of which there were two upstairs in both bedrooms.

“This must be a great place to work.” He stood in front of the bay window in her studio.

“Well, you’ll have to come up on a nicer day so you can get the full effect of the view.” Allie didn’t realize what she’d said until after she had said it.

The backyard was vast, a thick green carpet with three cherry trees. Dan insisted that the land was a good investment. It really didn’t matter to Allie. The house was in Dan’s name. That was another commitment she wasn’t ready to make either. She did reinforce that he’d have to hire someone to cut the grass since he was never home.

“So, how about some shades of green?” Marty smiled.

Now she knew what really prompted his visit.

“Right over here.” Allie pointed to the supply closet, which consisted of every color of paint, pencils, and metallic shades he could want.

“Great, wow, look at this.” He lifted a few bottles, reading the shade titles on the caps. “What d’you think about
Forest Green
? Or do you think the
Moss
would be better?” He gave her a sideward glance.

“Either is fine, I think.” Allie couldn’t divert her eyes as Marty shook the bottles, trying to decide. Curved biceps flexed beneath the material of his shirt. Small drops of water leaked from the ends of his hair, bleeding into the collar of his shirt.

“I’ll go with the forest.” He looked at her, tilting his head.

Allie felt a self-conscious heat, but only for a minute. Marty was staring as if he wanted to say something.

“What, what is it?” Allie felt the warmth move over her skin. It spread up the back of her neck, a heat she hadn’t felt in a long time. She’d never had another man in the house. She quickly dismissed her uneasiness. Dan had met Marty. He wasn’t a complete stranger.

“How long have you known her?” Marty tilted his head, gesturing in the direction of Tess’s house.

“I’ve known Tess for two years. That’s how long I’ve been here. Dan and I are originally from Connecticut. His company transferred him here.” Allie released a breath. She knew where this was going. Tess’s hooks were in.

“Oh.” Marty’s eyes left hers. “And you’re friends, right?”

Allie wasn’t sure what he was getting at.

“Yeah, we are,” she found herself admitting, almost regretfully.

“You wouldn’t think, I mean…it’s just that you’re very different.” He sort of smirked at the thought. In a way Allie couldn’t blame him.

“I know, but when you live out here it’s slim pickings.” She laughed. The heat had bled into her cheeks.
Does one really need to defend a friendship?

“Yeah, I suppose it is.” He kept shaking the small paint bottle.

“What made you choose Landisville?” Allie asked. Even though Tess had already filled her in on Marty, she wanted to see how much he would tell her.

“I was injured at work, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. My leg is screwed up. I had to sue to get my medical bills paid. I sort of wanted to disappear. You think anyone will find me out here?”

“I doubt it,” Allie laughed. “You picked the right place.”

“How long have you and Dan been together?” Marty rubbed his chin, his eyes probing hers.

“Five years.”

“Not the marrying type, huh?” Marty’s lips eased into a snide smile.

“Yeah, well.” Allie glanced away, needing a break from his inquisitive eyes. “That’s another story for another day. How about you? Have you ever been married?”

“Nah.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Never did it. Can’t tell you why, just never did.”

Allie put all of her paints into a bag before they moved downstairs. She grabbed her rain jacket before they headed over to Marty’s workshop.

Chapter 5

“Is this color good for you?” Marty had taken the lid off of a can of stain, showing her the shade.

“That’ll be perfect. I’m going to put it in my studio near the window.” Allie was brushing the vines on his bench.

“That’s some house Tess has.” Marty started rubbing the stain, going with the grain of the wood in long strokes.

The rain continued to pound on the roof, a loud clattering that had her and Marty raising their voices to converse.

“Tess definitely got a good break, thanks to her lawyer.” Allie shook her head.

“She told me her ex-husband is an attorney.”

“He is, that’s how she retained such a good one.” Allie laughed. “They all know each other.”

“Did she ever work?” He paused, waiting for Allie’s answer. She met his stare from across the workshop. His face hung, his eyes rounded, like a puppy dog. Heaviness came over him that she hadn’t seen when they began this little chat about Tess. Allie could tell that he’d become intrigued with Tess already. Wasn’t that how it always started?

“I recall her saying that she worked in real estate at one time, but once she got married, I think she just stopped working. She’s never really been clear about it,” Allie explained.

“Yeah, she wasn’t too clear with me either.” Marty was rubbing a rag in between the spindles of her new chair.

It was quiet with the exception of the rain, which had slowed to a steady shower. Allie started working on the outlines of the leaves when she heard Marty’s boots shuffle across the floor, his limp more pronounced on the wooden floor. He reached up and turned on an old, dusty portable radio. Patsy Cline was singing about “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Marty stood near her, watching her paint.

“Hey, that’s great work.” He stepped in closer to check her detail. “I’ve always admired people who can draw, paint, or play an instrument. It’s an inborn gift, you know?”

Allie could see his eyes in her periphery. She felt the weight of his stare, and it wasn’t the first time today. She avoided his gaze and continued to focus on the leaves.

“I suppose. I know that’s a compliment, thanks. Maybe I take it for granted.” She turned to him, his face too close. He smelled like fresh-cut grass. “That’s talent, too.” Allie leaned back, waving her hand over all his pieces.

“Eh, yeah, but just like you said, after seeing yourself do the same skill over and over, it doesn’t impress you anymore.” He laughed.

Marty caught her off guard when he reached over to wipe a drop of paint off her wrist, his fingers thick and rough from outdoor labor.

They worked until the late afternoon. The rain had stopped, leaving the air heavy and stagnant. Steam rose from the asphalt of their rural county road. Allie was thankful that it had rained for as long as it had. She knew Tess wouldn’t come out. Allie tried not to think of what Tess’s reaction would be if she found her and Marty in his workshop together. That would definitely cause Tess’s afterglow from the previous evening to dry up. Allie certainly didn’t want to be the cause of that.

* * * *

It was after ten. Allie had just gotten off the phone with Dan, listening to all his traveling woes—long security lines, a delayed flight, and a downgraded hotel room. When Allie had gone downstairs for a glass of water, that’s when she saw Marty walking across his yard up to the street. She watched him cross and walk down Tess’s driveway. Her motion detector light lit up, giving visibility of her side yard and garage. Tess was waiting for Marty by her car. They were both dressed up, she more than he.

She had on a gray, silk pantsuit with stiletto heels. Marty was in jeans, a white button-down, and sandals. Allie watched Tess lean into him, giving him a lengthy kiss. From reading the body language, Allie could see that Marty was a bit rattled by Tess, hesitant, only wrapping one arm loosely around her waist, then pulling back from the embrace first.

They got into Tess’s car and drove out of the driveway. Tess was much more conservative behind the wheel this evening. Allie figured Tess didn’t want her witnessing their departure.

Allie was up at 3:00 a.m. for her usual bathroom visit. Tess’s car was still gone. At 5:00 a.m. she was woken up to hysterical laughing echoing across the yard. She sat up and peered out the window. They were standing out in Tess’s driveway. Tess was pawing at Marty’s shirt, pulling it off of his muscular frame.

Allie’s curiosity was gnawing through her like a rodent. She opened up her nightstand and grabbed the binoculars. She knelt in front of the window and spied on them. Tess’s blouse was open, her turquoise lace bra glinting in the early-morning light. She was steering Marty toward the pool. Poor Marty looked wiped out, traumatized. Tess was pouting. It looked to Allie as if Marty had had enough. Marty lightly kissed Tess’s cheek then turned to walk toward his house.

* * * *

Allie didn’t see either of them the next morning. It was gorgeous out. Drier air had moved in with a soothing, summer sun. The landscapers had just finished with the yard when Federal Express barreled down the driveway for Allie’s pickup. She then called Vicky who seemed pleased with what she was sending. Allie decided to take the day and spend it in her greenhouse repotting some geraniums and ferns.

After the gardening was done, Allie took a shower. While reclining on her bed with a magazine, she fell asleep. Allie woke up to Tess’s voice reverberating up the stairwell.

“Allie, where are you? Are you decent? I’m coming up.”

Allie could hear the slap of her bare feet on the stairs. She shoved the magazine, along with the binoculars Tess had forgotten she’d left behind, into the nightstand.

“Hey, what are you up to?” Tess glided across the floor in a pair of white shorts and a gingham halter. She plopped down in Allie’s wicker bucket chair, draping a shapely leg over the arm.

“Not a whole lot. I’m ahead on my sketches so I did some gardening and reading. What’s new?”

“Has Marty been out?” Her chocolate eyes rested on Allie’s.

“I haven’t seen him today. Why?” Allie searched her face, wondering if she would tell her about their date. Allie decided to throw her a curve. “How was your dinner date?”

“Why? Did he say anything to you about it?” Tess’s eyes widened.

Allie noted the expression of alarm on her face. Tess was never anxious about anything.

“He mentioned that he was going, but…”

“When?” She ran her hand up and down her brown, shiny leg.

“He asked me to do some stenciling on one of his pieces, so he just happened to mention it.” Allie shrugged.

“Really. Now isn’t that nice.” Her voice was a bit condescending.

“It’s not a big deal, Tess.” What sounded like sarcasm came out with a hint of cattiness. “Your next male expedition is safe with me.” Allie gave her a snide look. “I guess I get no scoop on the dinner, huh?”