Unbelievable (2 page)

Think fast. You’re a Dreser. Deception is second nature to you.

“Sorry. Low blood sugar. I get this way when I don’t eat sometimes.” I chuckled. It sounded forced. “My bad,” I added, smiling weakly, tapping the black rimmed glasses back up my nose. “Please don’t let this affect my chances of getting this job. I’ve been searching three weeks for work.”

“You do know the job is per diem since we’re not in a position to hire anyone permanently. At least not yet.” Haley closed my portfolio and passed it back to me. “It’s about a month worth of work, spread out over the summer. But since it is per diem, you can take other jobs outside of
Design-Aholics.
You’re amazingly talented, Lilah. Once people see your work, you’ll have more jobs than you can handle.”

“Thank you. So does that mean I have the job?”
Please.
I really needed this. It was the light at the end of a very long tunnel. No more controlled life. No more deception. No more Daddy.

Donna looked at her business partner, who smiled back. “Looks like we have an assistant, Haley,” she said with a nod.

“I’m a good worker. You won’t be sorry, I promise.” A deep breath settled my stomach somewhat.

“If you’re serious about needing work, I just may have a side job for you, if you two don’t mind,” Booker said, stepping forward.

“Not at all,” Donna assured him.

Booker leaned against the desk. His features soft
ened as he scanned my face. If I guessed, I’d say he was concerned. Not going to lie, it seemed strange to see compassion on the face of a supposed killer.

“I’ve a friend
named Dr. Cole Colter who needs an office redo. It shouldn’t take you too long. It’s a small space. What he really needs is some organization. Maybe some cabinets, a more functional desk. Is that something you can do?”

“Is it something she can do? It’s one of her strong suits. Here.” Donna handed him my portfolio before I could stop her. If Booker saw the pictures of Daddy’s office, I was dead. Daddy said that Gatto and his men raided the place three years ago. I stood up and took the photos from him and opened it to the pictures of our home in the Caribbean. It was the only home not seized by the government after my brothers died, although Daddy had since sold it, desperate for cash. I showed him the den and living room I’d decorated.

“You have a gift,” Booker said as he examined the page. When he reached to turn the page, I held my breath.

“Captain Gatto. Ten-two please,” demanded a scratchy voice on the shoulder walkie-talkie Booker wore.

He frowned as he pushed the button. “And why would I return to the station? I’ve been on for twenty-seven hours straight. I’m going home and going to bed.” He handed me back my portfolio as he stood.

“Negative. You forgot to sign your reports.” I could’ve been wrong, but I thought the dispatcher was laughing.

Booker groaned. “Just forge my name,” he grumbled, shaking his head. “I’ll be in in an hour. I’ve an errand to run,” he said into the talkie.

“Ten-four.”

He scrubbed his face with his hand before pulling out a set of keys from his pocket. “Here. These should get you into every room in the building.” He slipped the keys into Donna’s hand. “You still plan on starting tomorrow?”

“Yes, especially now that we have Lilah.” Donna walked over to the desk and put them in the top drawer. “We won’t need you until Monday, Lilah.” I nodded.

“If you’re interested in the job I was telling you about, it’s over at the hospital,” Booker said to me.

“You’re going to hire me without looking over more of my work?”
I asked, somewhat surprised

“If Donna and Haley believe in you, then I do,” he smiled. “I’m warning you, the place is a real disaster. Sure you’re up for it?” With all my heart I wanted to say no. But I couldn’t. First of all, I needed the money,
and second, if this Dr. Cole was a friend of Booker’s, my plan to get close to the cops and earn their trust was about to get a little easier.

“Now, Booker, she needs to be available for this job first,” Haley said sternly.

“Not a problem.” Booker nodded. “We can head over there now and if you decide to take the job, we’ll work around your schedule here. Deal?”

“Yes. Thank you.” I smiled widely.

Booker’s eyes narrowed. “Have we met before? You look kind of familiar.”

“No,” I shook my head. “I have one of those faces. I get that all the time.” I stood
, tucking my portfolio securely under my arm.

“I guess so.” He turned to Haley. “Thanks again. I’ll see you on Monday.” He strode through the arch, looking back over his shoulder. “You coming, Lilah?”

I turned to Donna and Haley. “Go ahead,” Haley insisted. “We can fill out the forms and orient you with the project on Monday. Be here at noon. Sound good?”

“Yes, and thank you again. You have no idea how important this is to me.” I grabbed my purse and jogged after Booker to keep up. He’d parked his patrol car directly behind my orange bug.

“I’ll follow you over,” I said, putting my portfolio in the car as Booker went over to his patrol car. He returned before I got in, carrying a small lunch bag.

“You like pastrami on rye?” He held the sandwich out to me. “I don’t want you to faint.” I looked up at him, unsure of what he meant. “You know, low blood sugar.” He gestured to the office we’d just left.

“Oh, yeah, right. Thanks.” I took the sandwich, baffled by the gesture. Booker Gatto was proving to be a bit more complicated than I anticipated.

The sandwich was amazing, and I hated that I liked it. If I
weren’t starving, I wouldn’t have eaten it in the first place.

I followed Booker across town to Port Fare General Hospital, concentrating on remaining calm. “You need to stay in control, girl.”

The hospital stood six floors high and had two impressive sized wings on either side. Booker and I entered through the main entrance after parking in the visitor’s lot. I kept my portfolio tucked tight under my arm. I didn’t want to bring it in, but Booker insisted. The front doors slid open as we approached.

I stepped back. I’d forgotten about the antiseptic smell that haunted hospitals. The scent pulled memories, some old and some not so old, I’d buried deep down in my soul. A reminder of all I’d lost.
This is going to be harder than I thought
.

“You okay?” Booker took my elbow.

I nodded. “So, this friend of yours, does he have a specific style in mind?” I asked, hoping to stay the memories as we approached the elevators.

Booker pressed the
up
button on the wall, and the steel doors creaked opened. “Cole’s style. Hmm.” Booker seemed to be fighting a grin as we stepped inside. He pressed the third floor button. “Tell me, is utter bedlam a style, really?” He laughed. “In truth, Cole is one of the most generous and unassuming men that I’ve had the luck of knowing. His organizational skills, or lack thereof, are pretty much his only fault.” He shook his head and continued, speaking with just a hint of envy now. “There’s not a bit of guile in the man. He gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, and he never,
ever
crosses the line.” Booker looked at my quizzical expressions and laughed again. “I’m not kidding. Cole’s never even had a ticket, ever. Not for speeding, not for parking on the wrong side of the road, nothing. The guy’s a saint.”

“I see. I’m not too fond of perfect people. They tend to make you feel inferior.” I ran a hand nervously over my hair again, smoothing the fly-aways down.

“I may have painted him a little too perfectly,” Booker admitted as we stopped and the doors opened. He put his hand on the small of my back, guiding me out. It took every ounce of self-control I had not to rip it off. A shiver tore down my spine.

“It’s a little chilly in here, isn’t it?” I said, trying to cover my reaction to him.

“Maybe a little,” he said, looking at me strangely.

Time to redirect. “What were you saying about Cole?”

“Oh, yeah. The guy has zero organizational skills. He’s a brilliant doctor, mind you, but he’s not organized. He was promoted last month and his office is still a shambles.” Booker pointed to the second hall on the right and we headed for the second door. “He’s also a klutz. A serious klutz.”

“Unorganized and a klutz aren’t
such bad traits,” I pointed out as he reached for the door.

“You’re right, they’re not. All kidding aside, Cole’s
the
most pure hearted person I’ve ever met. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear Mother Theresa had given birth to him herself. He makes me want to be a better man, know what I mean?”

“I think he’s lucky to have a devoted friend like you,” I said honestly. The sincere expression in his eyes left no doubt he cared deeply about the klutz doctor.

“Nope. I’m the lucky one,” Booker insisted as he shoved hard on the door. “It gets stuck. Think you can fix that while you’re decorating?” He rammed the door with his shoulder. It flew open and Booker stumbled inside, catching the door before it hit the wall.

A tall man dressed in blue scrubs spun around to face us, hands wrapped tight behind his back, reminding me of a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I opened my mouth to introduce myself when I looked up into the most amazing deep blue eyes I’d ever seen. The words froze in my throat. Booker forgot to mention that Cole was breathtakingly gorgeous.

Chapter 2

Cole

Perfect timing. Of course Booker would show up just now.
Maybe he won’t notice.
I sighed aloud. Who was I kidding? He’d noticed. I pressed the gauze pad tight against the scrape on my elbow behind my back.

“Hey, Doc.” Booker strutted in, his Cheshire grin solidly in place.
Yup, he noticed
. “What’s behind your back? Did you get me a gift?” he teased. “If it’s flowers, I hope they’re lilacs. You know I’m allergic to roses.” The petite girl with the chestnut brown hair standing by his side cocked an eyebrow up at him. Despite her black rimmed glasses, I couldn’t help but notice her soft brown eyes. A pretty little thing, but young. I’d guess her to be sixteen, maybe seventeen.

“What are you doing here, Book? Shoot yourself again?” I grinned as Booker laughed.

“No, not today. I finally decided what to get you as a ‘Congratulations on your promotion’ gift.” He held his hand out to the girl as she stepped into the room.

“Umm, you got me a girl? I don’t think that’s legal. Besides, she’s a little young, don’t you think?” The girl giggled. I liked her laugh.

“Good one, Doc. I do believe my sense of humor is finally rubbing off onto you.” He stepped closer. I moved a half-step back.

“I’d like to hire her to organize this chaos.” He motioned to the stacks of papers and notebooks that were, well, in all the corners
, really. “Her name is Lilah, and she is a per diem designer for Design-Aholics.” I looked at him blankly. “That’s the team I hired to decorate my new office complex. You never listen to me when we talk. I’m starting to think you don’t really care about me.” He sighed dramatically.

That’s right. He did mention he hired Haley. Booker dated her a couple times, and when he realized she felt more for him than he did for her, he broke it off. Then, feeling guilty, he hired her to decorate his office.

“I don’t need someone to organize my chaos. I’ve been busy, that’s all. This new assignment’s been one headache after another, literally. I’ve purchased so much aspirin lately, I’m thinking about acquiring stock in Excedrin to help recoup the money I’ve spent.” I rubbed the ache I felt building in my forehead already today. “Besides, this is a lot of work for one person. I wouldn’t want her to get behind in her school work. No offense,” I added to Lilah.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Doc. You work twenty-four
/seven. Look around. You need help.” Booker parked himself on the corner of my desk.

I shook my head in defeat. “Yeah, okay. I need help. But in my defense, I do plan on cutting back on my schedule soon.”

“It’s in your blood, Doc. You’ll cut back when I cut back,” he pointed out accurately. “Come on. Let me stimulate the economy a little. Give this poor kid a job.”

“Do you think you can finish it before school starts back up? How old are you anyway?” I asked.