Wrapped In Shadows (9 page)

I was so engrossed in what was happening on screen that I didn’t notice Livy run back into the room until she had her arms wrapped snugly around my legs. I hoisted her onto the granite counter top that enclosed the kitchen area, her pink tulle ruffling like petals around her tiny legs. An idea sprouted and I tapped a finger against my lips as it ripened to full bloom.

“You know how we’re always talking about giving away some of your toys?”

Livy bobbed her head, clutching Annie tighter to her chest. Her big, brown eyes stared up at me.

“Not Annie, but the other stuffed animals and toys you never play with.”

“My babies?”

I smiled. All her toys were her babies and she was the mommy.

“Yes. Your babies.”

“To kids who don’t have none?”

“Exactly. How about we bundle them up? I know where we can take them so they’ll have great homes and new mommies.”

I smiled when Livy’s face lit up. I hugged her and lifted her off the counter, watching as she scurried to her room to get the collection together.

I took a sip of my cold coffee and eyed the screen. “Let’s see if Ms. Vandercamp graciously accepts our charity.”

*************************

Katie

I hung up the phone with my broker and jotted some notes on the pad on my desk. The one bedroom apartment in the pre-war building turned out to be too small. I didn’t own much furniture, but the few pieces I did have would never fit into the tight space. I had an appointment to see a two bedroom in a remodeled brownstone in a few days and was more optimistic about that prospect. I wasn’t really in a hurry to move, but with the mounting stress I felt under lately, I knew I’d think more clearly if I finally severed some of the constricting tethers to my family. My parents had keys to the penthouse, and though they were rarely in the city, it still never felt like my own place. They had furnished it in their own taste and style, which was impressive in its elegance but again didn’t reflect my uniqueness.

My thoughts strayed to my time with Josh. He’d been on his best behavior. Charming and sweetly obsequious. He’d taken me home and put me to bed after pulling all the shades and making sure it was dark and quiet. He’d made sure I took my medication, and had sat with me, massaging my temples and putting cold compresses on my forehead.

We’d talked quietly without mentioning the wedding, and for that I’d been grateful. The holidays were indeed tough for him. Since he barely spoke to his father or brother, he usually spent it with my family. He’d shared some childhood memories of his mother, and I felt honored that he let me into that special part of his life. Our conversation flowed easily and it reminded me of when we’d first started dating. After I’d fallen asleep, he’d run my errands and then returned to make sure I was okay. I sighed. Still conflicted about Josh. Our time yesterday had reminded me of why I loved him and what a great guy he could be.

Could I have been wrong about him and Carol?

A knock on my office door pulled me from my thoughts and Cindy, one of my employees, poked her head in.

Cindy was a shy nineteen year-old who I’d found on the streets. Literally. When I met her three years ago, she’d been living in a cardboard box on Lexington Avenue. I had tried to convince her to go to a shelter, but Cindy had refused. She’d been willing to brave it on the streets of New York City. I would visit her occasionally and sit and talk with her on the sidewalk. Then one day Cindy had just disappeared. Like so many, it seemed she’d been swallowed up by the vast, unforgiving city. A few months later, I got a call from the police that Cindy had been arrested for shop-lifting from a department store. I had given Cindy a card from the foundation and she’d called.

Just sixteen at the time, she’d been scared out of her mind. I was able to convince the department store to drop the charges, but Cindy was tossed into the city’s social system and unhappily jumped from one foster home to another. We kept in touch, and I hired her a year ago. Cindy had once confessed that she was a runaway, but beyond that, never discussed her past. I respected her privacy like I did all my employees. I had to admit to a soft spot for Cindy. There were many things about this lost girl that reminded me of myself.

“Busy?”

“No. Sit.” I smiled.

I watched the willowy girl perch at the end of a chair and wring her hands.

“I was wondering if I could have some time off for Christmas. Just a few days. I’m sorry, I know it’s short notice…and with the autism event and all…”

I contemplated the request. Cindy never asked for time off around the holidays. In fact, since she was alone, she always worked extra days so others could have off with their families.

“Of course.”

Cindy looked up, her big brown eyes guarded. “I…I’m thinking of going home.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. I smiled slightly. I tried to read Cindy, but couldn’t tell much from her bland expression. I prayed that things would work out for her, but knew there’d been a reason she’d run away in the first place. That had been many years ago, though, and maybe things would be different now and the reunion would be a happy one.

“Wow. I know it’s a big deal.”

Cindy nodded and exhaled a deep breath. “It’s been a long time.”

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do. You can take as much time off as you need,” I said slowly, wanting to make a point. “Always know that there’s a place here for you.”

Cindy came around the desk and hugged me tightly. “Thank you.”

As I pulled away, I realized there were tears in Cindy’s eyes. I myself was trying hard not to sniffle when Alice walked into the office.

“Oh, for God’s sake! What’s with the love fest? Do I need to call Oprah?” she teased with a grin, causing Cindy to smirk playfully before scooting away.

Alice shook her head and rolled her eyes, but I knew she was still teasing. Alice wasn’t much older than my own twenty-five years, but a tough life had sketched at least a decade of trauma on her face. She had a jagged scar on one cheek that had been engraved by an abusive boyfriend. It always amazed me that someone who’d had so much taken away could have anything left in her heart to give.

“The Plaza has donated a free one night stay toward the autism event!” she beamed. “I think that will be a big ticket item.”

“That’s very generous of them.”

“Should we add that prize to the raffle tickets? They’re still at the printers.”

“Great idea. There should still be time.”

Alice gave me a crooked smile and left the office. “I’m sure having your wedding reception there has something to do with their sudden generosity.”

My head shot up and I frowned at her words. I started to chase after Alice. The last thing I wanted was to have a donation contingent on an expectation…one I might not be able to fulfill.

Alice had almost reached her desk when my voice stopped her, causing her to pivot.

“What’s the matter?”

I stood in my doorway, my mouth hanging open with my words dangling from the tip of my tongue. My gaze moved from Alice to alight on the tall, handsome figure looming behind her. Luke Davenport was talking to Vicki, and Vicki was practically swooning, batting her lashes like a pro-hitter.

At that moment, he turned toward me and I felt all the air leave my lungs. The full force of his gaze struck like a bolt of sizzling hot lightning. Trying to assemble some sort of cogent sentence structure, I uttered an embarrassing series of primitive grunts.

Vicki looked from Luke to me, then her head twisted back to Luke and a smile split her face. Alice too, obviously not used to seeing her boss so flabbergasted, grinned widely and cocked her brows.

The corner of Luke’s mouth kicked up and I felt heat fill my cheeks.

Speak! Say something before you make a total ass of yourself! Anything...like…you’re so fucking hot? No! No! No! Not that!

Oddly enough, it was a little girl that saved me. An adorable princess in an explosion of pink tulle with a head full of springy, dark curls. Luke whispered something in the child’s ear and she skipped right over to me. She had big brown eyes rimmed with inky lashes I would kill for, and when she smiled a small dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth. I knew immediately she was Luke’s daughter. She was carrying a white plastic bag with an array of stuffed animals trying to escape from the top.

“Hi, Dada said you’d give us a new mommy!” She beamed excitedly.

I looked up, bewildered. Luke’s lips tilted again in an enigmatic smile.

“New mommies for her stuffed animals,” he clarified with an apologetic smile. “This is my daughter, Livy.”

“Olivia!” the little girl corrected, offering her hand like an adult.

“Yes.
Olivia.
She’d like to donate them.”

I shook the cobwebs from my brain and bent low, shaking her hand. “Of course! That’s very generous of you, Olivia. And, must I say, you are a beautiful princess.”

Livy giggled and looked at me as if I was crazy. “I’m a balenina. A princess has a ti…ti…” She turned to her father. “What is it, Dada?”

“A tiara,” Luke supplied, strolling over to us.

“You are right. My mistake,” I admitted gravely, then shared a smile with Luke over Livy’s head.

My heart was fluttering wildly in my chest, but I found the little girl so delightful that it almost overcame my jitters.
Almost.
I pointed to my office. “I’d love to see what you’ve brought. You can put them out on my desk.”

I watched Livy bounce happily into my office and then turned to Luke, a smile still on my face.

“I’m afraid sometimes she can be five going on sixteen.” He scratched his jaw.

“I hear you, Dada!” Livy yelled from the room.

“You see,” he whispered with a grin.

I grinned back, wondering at the sudden warmth liquefying my insides. I felt tingly all over, like my blood was effervescent in my veins.

“I’d like to make a donation also, to the autism event. I caught your interview this morning. You were very…persuasive.”

There was something about the way he said the word that had my heart racing again and plunged me back to startling reality.
God! I was standing there grinning like the village idiot!

I jerked my gaze around the room to realize all work at the Vandercamp Foundation had come to an abrupt halt. My employees were staring at me with silly grins on their faces. All they needed was popcorn and soda and their entertainment would be complete. I pulled my shoulders back and cleared my throat noisily.

“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Davenport.”

“Luke, please.”

“As you can see,” my stern voice rang loudly, “my staff has plenty of time on their hands. I’ll see if I can find someone to assist you.”

Like boisterous school children, each one of the women raised a hand excitedly, yelling “
Me! Me! Me! Please pick me!
” Luke grinned with amusement, his gaze never leaving my face.

I rolled my eyes at the group. Cindy was in the crowd, smiling wide as she took in the scene. They were obviously mocking my futile attempt at authority. I picked Desiree. Desiree was an older woman from the south and was usually a stickler for manners and decorum. The rest of the group groaned plaintively and I shook my head in disbelief.

But it was when Desiree put on a syrupy southern twang and crooned to Luke, “Why don’t you come on over and show momma what you got to give!” that I threw my hands up in defeat and turned to march into my office. An eruption of laughter followed me and Luke’s soft chuckle reached my ears, causing strange flutters in my belly. Alice’s voice floated through the commotion and froze my footsteps. I turned around, confused.

“The Plaza? Your wedding? The donation? What were you about to say?” Alice reminded, and immediately my gaze flew to Luke and my stomach flip-flopped. He seemed to be busy chatting with Desiree, but I saw his shoulders tense under his jacket and knew he hadn’t missed a thing.

“Umm…let’s hold off on changing the raffle tickets for now,” I said, and hurried into my office.

By the time Luke finished his paperwork and joined us in my office, I had learned the story behind each toy: who had given Livy what, when, and for what occasion. Not surprising, her dad had been a major benefactor. I was impressed by Livy’s friendly disposition and talkativeness. She didn’t seem to possess the shy wariness that five year olds usually had with strangers. She never mentioned a mother in her rambling monologue, and I wondered if Luke was divorced or separated. I also couldn’t help wondering what he was doing there. I wasn’t naive enough to believe he’d just come to make the donations. There was something in his eyes that spoke of another purpose.

Luke entered my office and closed the door behind him. After depositing his and Livy’s coats on one of the two chairs, he plucked Livy from the seat with a dramatic sweep, then sat down and plopped her on his thighs. Livy squirmed and giggled, then settled comfortably onto her father’s lap. I could tell they were very close. There was a bond between them that was almost tangible, a deep connection of warmth and love. For some reason my brain started to shuffle through my childhood memories for a similar scene and I came up lacking. Abandoning the quest, I regarded him across my desk.

“Did you survive all that estrogen? It appears you’ve acquired some fans.”

That magnetic dimple appeared at the corner of his mouth and my eyes immediately zoomed to it. Willfully I tore my gaze away and let it drop to Livy, who was busy twirling a spiral of dark hair.

“Oh, they’re a fun group! Although one very important person seems to be missing from the fan club. I’m wondering what I need to do to impress her.”

Oh, you’ve already done it!

I firmed my lips and looked away, trying not to smile. He made me want to smile all day long. He made me think of us laying idle in the grass on a hot summer day, of rolling down a hill while peals of laughter followed us, and of having hot, sweaty sex under a deep velvet sky. I didn’t know what to feel around him. The scale could tilt in any direction. I could be dismantled by his presence one minute, then the lever would tip and intense arousal would have me wet and achy in the next. Just the memory of him inside me was enough to cause a seismic shift off balance.