Something Unexpected by Vi Keeland
CHAPTER 3
Beck
“I REALLY HOPEyou didn’t come down here expecting a repeat of last night,” Nora said.
I took the seat at the bar next to her and shook my head. “Time change is screwing with me.”
She nodded and turned her attention to her wine.
“How was your wing dive this afternoon?” I asked.
Nora’s brows knitted. “Louise told you we went?”
I shook my head. “I happened to be looking out the window around three this afternoon and saw you two sneaking out to the car. Two minutes later, Gram called to say she hadn’t napped yet, but was going to probably sleep for a few hours. I put two and two together. Plus, I saw the photo you posted on your blog. By the way, that’s the first picture of yourself you’ve posted. Why is that?”
“I didn’t realize it was. But I suppose because the blog is about Louise’s journey.”
“Well, how was your afternoon?”
Nora grinned. “It was incredible. Though you wouldn’t have liked it. You seem to be fun adverse.”
The bartender came over, so I ordered the same whiskey I had last night.
“You don’t like me very much, do you?” I asked.
“Not really. I think you’re arrogant.”
I waited until my drink arrived and I’d gulped a mouthful. It burned as it went down, but felt good. “I’m not particularly fond of you either. I think you’re righteous and annoying.”
Nora smiled as she brought her wine to her lips. “You seem fond of parts of me. I caught your eyes wandering a few times this morning at breakfast.”
“I also stared at the picture you posted on your blog. But you were wearing a skin-tight, rubber unitard. The fucking birds were staring. Doesn’t mean I like you.”
She shook her head and laughed. “Well, seems like we’re going to have to find a way to tolerate each other, since we both care for your grandmother. Maybe we should shake hands and make peace.”
“Or…” I waited until she looked at me. “We can hate-fuck each other and get it out of our systems.”
“Hate-fucking seems to be a theme with you. Is that your thing?”
“Never has been before. But you piss me off, and it makes me want to rip your clothes off.”
Nora looked down at my crotch and sighed. “Such a shame you’re Louise’s grandson. Because I’m rather fond of part of you, too.”
I smirked. “Maybe you should see that part up close. Right in your face works for me.”
She laughed and finished her wine before turning to me and extending a hand.
“Friends?”
I took her hand, but rather than shake, I lifted it to my lips and nipped her finger.
“Oww!”
I kissed the area and grinned. “If you insist. Though I like my idea better.”
“I bet you do…”
Not wanting to be a complete pig, I refocused on a safer topic. “So…I’ve never seen you around. How long have you lived at Vestry?”
“Vestry?”
“Vestry Towers. My grandmother said you lived in her building.”
“Oh, yeah.” She shook her head. “Right. Not too long. About a year, maybe. I’m moving back to California soon. That’s where I’m from. I moved to New York for college and never went back.”
We were quiet for a minute. “Can I ask you something without you getting pissed?”
She smiled. “Probably not. But go ahead anyway.”
“I asked you earlier why you were taking this trip—”
“Actually,” she interrupted. “You asked me what I was getting out of it, like I was playing some sort of an angle.”
“Right.” I nodded. “Perhaps my delivery wasn’t so pleasant. I’m sure my staff would attest that I have a habit of speaking bluntly, which can occasionally be off-putting.”
“I’m guessing it’s more than occasionally.”
“How about if I ask my question this way: When you found out my grandmother was planning this trip, what made you decide to join her?”
Nora stared into her wine glass. “My mother passed away at a young age, only a few years older than I am now. Thinking about that has made me consider things differently. Instead of asking why should I go, I now ask myself why shouldn’t I go? Life is short.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you mind if I ask how she died?”
Her face went tight, full of pain, and I immediately regretted the question.
“I’m sorry.” I held up a hand. “I shouldn’t have asked that.”
“It’s fine. It’s called rhabdomyosarcoma, a malignant cardiac tumor. It’s rare.”
“It couldn’t be treated?”
“Some can be removed, some can’t. She wasn’t one of the lucky ones.”
I nodded. “Thank you for sharing that.”
She finished off her wine. “Is it my turn now? I don’t have a question, but what I have to say will probably piss you off.”
I smiled. “Shoot.”
“Stop bitching at your grandmother about her choices. They’re hers to make, and she’s enjoying herself.”
“I saw that. Her smile was huge when you two snuck back into the hotel after the jump.”
“It’s scary to know you’re going to lose someone. I get that. But I promise, your grandmother doesn’t have a death wish. She just wants to feel alive, and getting close to death on her own terms gives her that.”
“I’ll work on it.”
“She talks about you all the time, you know?”
“Uh-oh.”
Nora smiled. “Most of it is good. Though she did want to smack you when you told her you forbid her from doing the wingsuit jump. Haven’t you figured out that when you tell a certain type of woman they can’t do something, it only makes them want to do it more?”
I rubbed my lip. “A certain type of woman, huh? I have a feeling my grandmother isn’t the only one who falls into that category on this trip.”
“Maybe not.” She smiled.
I leaned to her. “I forbid you from having sex with me.”
Nora’s head bent back in laughter. It was a pretty damn spectacular sight.
“Your grandmother says you’re a whip,” she said, shaking her head. “I can see why.”
“What else does my grandmother say about me?”
“Lots of things. She says you’re smart, first in your class at Princeton. Successful—you started your own company one year out of college and have invested wisely in Manhattan real estate. You work too much, and apparently that comes from your grandfather. You’re divorced and have an adorable little girl who I think is six?”
I nodded. “Go on…”
“You’re close to your brother—who is ten years younger and pretty much the opposite of you and drives you nuts, yet you hired him to work for you anyway because you’re extremely loyal. Oh, and you once went with your grandmother to pick up your little brother from daycare. You insisted you should hold the infant carrier, instead of her. And neither one of you noticed until you got home that you’d grabbed the wrong baby. When you went back, the police were there because the mother thought someone had stolen her child.”
I hung my head. “Jesus Christ, did she have to tell you that? She was selling me so well with the beginning stuff.”
She grinned. “Another time, when you two were on the subway, a mouse ran through the car. You asked how it got in, and your grandmother told you the skeleton of a mouse allows them to get through small cracks. You slept on your back for a month before she found out you were afraid to turn over for fear one would get into your butt.”
“Seriously? Why would she tell you that?”
Nora shrugged. “We were standing on the subway platform one night waiting for a train, and a mouse ran across the tracks. Louise went hysterical laughing, and then she explained why. She didn’t mention how old you were, so I’m hoping it wasn’t too recently.”
“Wiseass.” I finished my drink and raised a hand for the bartender. “I’m at an unfair disadvantage here. I don’t have any stories about you.”
“And we’ll be keeping it that way.” She laughed.
The bartender came over. He pointed to my drink. “The same?”
“Please.” I looked to Nora. “Another wine?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“Have another. I’m leaving in the morning, and I’m not even pissing you off at the moment.”
“I actually have some work to do, edits for my next book I need to approve. They’re due today.”
I was disappointed. Even with the chance of going back to her room all but gone, Nora was spirited. I enjoyed listening to what came out of those full lips, even if I still wanted to slip something between them.
She pulled out her wallet.
I stopped her. “On me, please. It’s the least I can do for everything you’re doing with my grandmother.”
She smiled sadly. “You still don’t understand. I’m getting as much as I’m giving from Louise. It’s not a favor or a burden. We only do things we both want to do.” Slipping her wallet back into her purse, she stood. “But thank you for the drink anyway. It was nice to meet you, Beck. At least I think it was?”
I chuckled. “I still have your room key, you know. I could let you finish your work and then finish what we almost started last night?”
Nora leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Probably not a good idea now that I know you’re Louise’s grandson. I was going to use you.”
“I’m good with being used…”
She laughed. “Goodnight, Beck. Maybe I’ll see you around someday.”
