Sticks and Stones (15 page)
Authors: Kerrie Dubrock
“If
you’re interested, meet me at the Beanery in an hour.”
* * *
Happy
to be home, Grace checked her answering machine. Jack left two messages. She
frowned when she checked her cell phone and saw nothing from Rick.
“Just
as well,” she sighed, sadly.
* * *
Rick
took his time answering the phone. He didn’t want to seem too eager, in case it
was Grace. “Hello,” he replied after the fifth ring.
“Rick?”
a female voice purred.
His
eyebrows furrowed. It wasn’t a voice he recognized. “Yeah?”
“You
don’t know me, but we have a friend in common. Grace Ryan.”
“Yeah?”
he replied, growing impatient.
“Well,
I saw the photo of you two and it looks like you’re a couple.”
“Are
you a reporter? And if so, how the hell did you get my number?”
A
soft giggle erupted. “No, my name is Janice and…”
“As
in psycho witch?” he interjected.
Janice’s
eyes narrowed. “That’s harsh, considering I’m willing to help you with Grace.
After all, I was her best friend.”
“
Was
being the operative word. Look, Crazy, whatever you’re sellin’ I’m not
buying,” Rick growled into the phone.
“Really?
Even the chance to win her over?” Janice cooed.
“How
the fuck would you know about our relationship?”
“I’m
a witch, remember?”
Rick
sat on the kitchen stool and raked a hand through his hair.
His
silence urged Janice on. “So…I can help.”
“And
why would you want to do that?” Rick asked, snidely.
She
replied innocently. “So I can get Ben back.” When he didn’t respond she added,
“If you’re interested, meet me at the Beanery in an hour.”
* * *
Janice
loved the scent of the Beanery. Freshly ground coffee mixed with pastries.
What’s not to love? She ordered a vanilla latte and as an afterthought,
purchased a slice of apple pie.
Since
it was after eight in the evening, the place was empty so she chose a booth in
the back corner.
She
began to dig into the pie when she looked up and saw him standing in the
doorway. Lifting a hand, she waved him over.
* * *
His
stomach flipped when he saw her. Full of self-loathing for what he was about to
do, he slid into the seat opposite of her.
“What’s
your plan?” he mumbled.
The
next day, with a plan of action in mind, Rick made a few quick phone calls
before heading out the door. He had a woman to woo and with a little help from
a few people he was determined to light the lamp and win her over.
His
first stop was at the Beanery for Grace’s favorite coffee. He was also told
that she had a fondness for cherry Danish so he bought one of those as well.
When
he walked into Bewitching Designs Zee greeted him with a toothy grin. “Well,
hello,” she purred.
“Hey
Zee! How are you?”
“Better
now! Nothing like some eye candy to make my day brighter!” she cackled.
Rick
blushed. “Is Grace here?”
“She’s
stuck in traffic. Doesn’t sound like she’ll be here very soon, either.”
“Damn!”
he moaned. Then suddenly, his eyes lit up. “Hey, do you have a black marker?”
Zee
handed him one from her desk. She tried to read what he wrote on the foam
coffee cup before he took it and a small brown bag into Grace’s office.
Before
he left he stopped at her desk and asked for a piece of paper. Zee quickly
handed him a memo pad and cocked her head while he scribbled on it before
handing it back to her.
“Can
you text me when she comes in?” he asked.
Zee
lifted her eyebrows and licked her lips. “Oh yeah, I can text you.”
“Does
she have a busy day today?”
“Nope,
just an appointment later in the day with a contractor,” she replied, scanning
Grace’s appointment book.
“Thanks
Zee!” he grinned.
“Anytime,
baby,” she crooned.
* * *
Grace
arrived at the office an hour later. She grumbled good morning to Zee before
entering her office. After pulling out her sketch pad from her canvas bag she
noticed the coffee cup and bag on her desk. “Trying to butter me up, Zee?”
“No,
ma’am. Someone else is,” Zee chortled from her desk.
Grace
picked up the cup and frowned. It was cool to the touch. She peeked into the
bag and her mouth began to water at the sight of the Danish. Grabbing the
coffee cup, she walked past Zee, towards the kitchen to reheat the coffee.
“Well,
what did he write on the cup?” Zee pushed.
“Huh?”
Zee
rolled her eyes. “He wrote something on the cup! What does it say?”
“Who?”
Grace asked, turning the cup in her hands. When she saw the words she asked
again, “Who brought this?”
“Rick,”
Zee replied with a grin.
Grace’s
heart flipped-flopped as she read the words aloud. “For the prettiest woman
I’ll see today.”
* * *
Grace
sat at her desk and stared at the cup. The guy was crazy! And sending mixed
signals. But, oh! How romantic he could be! She shook her head and looked over
the plans for the Wise living room. She hired Michael to create a unique coffee
table and was eager to see the finished product today. He was not only a
wonderful doctor, but a great woodworker, too. Jessica was a lucky girl.
“Hey!
I said you can’t go in there! You don’t have an appointment!” Zee screeched.
Grace
lifted her eyes from the sketch pad and saw Ben in the doorway. Zee stood
behind him, glaring.
“It’s
okay, Zee,” she muttered, standing. “Ben? What’s up?”
He
leaned into her, kissing her lightly on the forehead. “Remember how I used to
refer my clients to you?” When she nodded, he continued. “Well, I’d like to see
how many of my clients have hired you so I can send thank you notes to them.”
Grace
lifted her eyebrows and sat back in the blue upholstered chair. “Why? I’m not
giving you a commission like I used to,” she snorted defiantly, crossing her
arms over her chest.
He
glanced at her, annoyed. “I only want to send notes.”
Zee
buzzed her phone. “Grace, line one.”
Grace
smiled, happy for the interruption. “Grace Ryan,” she murmured into the phone.
“Good
morning! Sorry I missed you earlier,” Rick chimed happily.
She
picked up the coffee cup and grinned. “Thank you for the coffee and Danish.”
“My
pleasure. Hey, are you free for lunch today?”
Ben
grew agitated watching Grace’s demeanor and scowled when she twirled a strand
of hair around her finger.
“Sure!
I can do lunch. What time?”
“I’ll
pick you up around one.”
“See
you then,” she grinned.
When
she hung up, Ben quickly lost the scowl. “Now, then, will you share your client
list?” he asked, sweetly.
Grace
rolled her eyes and pulled a ledger from her drawer.
* * *
“We’re
eating at the John Hancock building?” Grace asked
“Eventually,”
Rick hedged, as he held the door open for her.
He
flashed the girl behind the desk a card and she politely nodded.
“Been
here before, I take it?” Grace laughed.
Rick
pressed the elevator button and shrugged, adjusting the backpack he wore. “A
few times.”
Three
people joined them on the elevator and Rick stood in the corner, with his arm
loosely draped around Grace’s shoulders. He glanced at her attire and grinned
at his slyness. When they stepped off the elevator Grace lifted a thin brow.
“Skating in the Sky?”
“Yep,”
he grinned. “C’mon!”
* * *
Ratman
sat in limbo, he supposed. Surrounded by darkness, where else could he be? It
beat the hell out of the fiery depths he recently occupied.
He
wasn’t always a bad guy. When the stock market crash happened in 1929, his life
took a sudden shit. Lost his job, his money and his wife. Bitch. So much for
richer or poorer.
Later,
his life improved. Money, women, alcohol and a job working as a thug for Al
Capone.
* * *
Grace
giggled, “As you can see, I’m not dressed to ice skate.”
Rick’s
eyes slid over her body slowly. She cleared her throat and he shrugged. “Nope,
you sure aren’t. Not a problem though. C’mon,” he grinned, tugging her hand.
“Be
reasonable! I’m wearing a skirt!”
He
patted the backpack. “I came prepared.”
He
knocked twice on the glass doors and smiled down at her. Shortly the doors
opened. “Thanks Tom! I owe ya!” Rick nodded to the red haired man.
“Glass
seats, right?” Tom bellowed.
“Only
the best!” Rick promised.
Grace
glanced the area. “It’s not very cold in here.”
“Nah.
They use a synthetic substance to create the ice. Isn’t it cool?”
She
couldn’t help but laugh at his boyish demeanor. “Well, now that you have me
here, what now?”
“There’s
a ladies room over there for you to change,” he motioned over her shoulder.
“Change
into what?”
He
held the backpack out to her. “There’s stuff in here and when you’re ready I’ll
meet you over there, at the skate rental’.”
She
peeked into the canvas bag and scowled. “Sweat pants?”
He
nodded, seriously. “And a t-shirt, along with socks.”
Grace
shook her head and stomped away towards the washroom.
* * *
When
Grace returned Rick smiled at her appearance. Even in sweats she looked hot as
hell. Rick felt his jeans growing tight around his groin and urged his mind to
concentrate on lacing up his skates.
“Size
7?” he asked, without looking at her.
“Yep.
Can you guess my weight, too?” she quipped.
He
brought his head up slowly, raking a gaze over her. “One twenty tops.”
Her
brown eyebrow arched. “Close enough.” He didn’t need to know he was twenty
pounds off.
She
sat on the bench and watched him walk with ease to the skate cubbies. She’d
never be able to walk that confidently on skates.
He
knelt in front of her and pushed her pant leg up before sliding the skate onto
her foot. A small twinge filled her insides as she watched him. How could such
a mundane act of putting a skate on turn her into a gooey friggin’ mess?
“Hey,
I can do this myself, ya know,” she barked, a little too loudly.
Rick
lifted his hands. “Okay. Thought I’d give you a hand since you haven’t been on
skates in a while.”
Cross,
she slipped her foot into the left skate. Going to lunch with him was a bad
idea.
* * *
Rick
strode to the DJ booth and flipped a few switches. ‘In the Evening’ by Led
Zeppelin filled the small rink. He lifted his head and noticed a smirk form on
Grace’s lips.
“Do
ya trust me?” he asked as he neared her.
“Do
I have a choice?”
He
bent his arm and she wrapped her arm tightly around it.
“Relax,
Grace. You’re so stiff!”
“Easy
for you to say,” she huffed. Once on the ice, Rick turned to face her, but held
onto her hands.
“Just
move your feet in a gliding fashion,” he urged. “Bend your knees slightly,
too.”
“Um
hum,” she muttered, blowing a strand of hair from her face.
Her
movements felt jerky and so did she. What the hell was she doing on skates
anyway? “Why this song?” she asked, suddenly.
Rick
shrugged, “Thought it’d relax you.”
She
did relax, a little. “Well, thank you,” she said softly. She watched her feet
move against the ice surface and he chuckled when she stumbled.
“Look
at me, instead of your feet,” he coached.
She
lifted her head and wished she hadn’t. A girl could get lost in his hazel eyes.
“Let’s
get your mind on something other than skating,” he offered.
“Like?”
They
moved slowly through the rink and he shrugged. “Tell me what you’re working
on.”
“Well,
I have that crazy old lady who made me walk blocks in the sweltering heat.” She
shook her head. “I need to get back to her, actually. She’s been on the
back-burner since that day.”
He
cocked his head. “Have you ever designed for anyone famous?”
She
snorted. “Nah. The closest I’ve come is Chase.” Grace noticed that his arms
were extended all the way out and there was a large gap between them. “Hey! Do
I smell or something? Why are you so far away?”
Rick
grinned, “Cause you’re damn near skating on your own.” He moved his hands so only
their fingertips were touching.
“Rick…”
“Time
to fly on your own, Grace,” he urged. “You can do it!”
“Okay,
but if I break a hip…” She concentrated on the movement of her feet and
stumbled. Rick caught her from falling. “Told you I’m not ready for you to let
me go!” she said mulishly.
“You’re
concentrating too hard. Tell me more about your clients. Maybe I know of them.”
She
began to prattle off a few names and what they wanted done to their homes. “So,
any names ring a bell?”
“Nah.
But I’m sure Dmitri wants you to do his condo so you can add him to your
celebrity list.”
Her
nose wrinkled. “Not looking to do Chicago celebrity homes. Besides, how do you
know about Dmitri?”
He
shrugged, “He told me. Said I should have you do my place.”
“He
doesn’t even know if I’m any good,” she muttered.
Ricks
frowned. “Doesn’t matter. You’re an attractive lady who showed him some
interest.” He released her hands and skated backwards, quickly. The thought of
Dmitri being interested in Grace set his teeth on edge.
“Show
off!” she jeered.
He
skated large circles around her as she continued a slow gait around the rink.
Resolved, she began to slide her feet faster. She’d never be as fast as he was,
but dammit, she wasn’t giving up, either.
So
focused on not falling on her ass, she didn’t notice that he had stopped
skating and was taking pictures of her with his cell phone. He loved the
determination she showed and in the half hour they spent skating, she had
improved.
She
stopped suddenly and began to fall when Rick came up behind her and wrapped his
arms around her. “I got ya,” he said into her ear.
“Thanks,”
she mumbled, breathless. “I think my ass would’ve been sore for days if I
fell.” Then she noticed the phone in his hands. “What’s with the phone?”
“Just
taking a few pictures,” he grinned, holding the phone up in front of them.
“Come on, let’s do a selfie!”
She
giggled, “No way! I look like crap!”
He
quickly snapped a picture as she was in mid-giggle, causing her to giggle
harder. Her laugh was contagious and he couldn’t help but laugh along with her.