Naughty and Nice Read online

  “If you don’t want to be married or have children, why is having a cozy family for two weeks something that has you interested?”

  “That’s a fair question,” I nodded. “I guess I just wanted to be surrounded by people I care about and who care about me…and to leave bullshit behind. Sort of a mental vacation for me. Is that so selfish? Is it wrong?”

  She studied my face and sipped her wine. I thought she wasn’t going to answer and just about the time I was going to reiterate my point, she spoke up. “Okay, I’ll go.”

  It took my breath away. She’d made a conscious decision to do it without my having to talk her into it. She was simply awesome. I thought it only appropriate that I be equally respectful.

  “Thank you,” I said simply. “I’ll make the arrangements as I promised.”

  She covered a yawn and I realized she must be exhausted. She’d been packing all day. There were two bedrooms to the suite. I caught her eyeing one of the doors.

  “Listen, let me stay here with you tonight. I want to make sure you’re okay and I’ll drive you back to the house and see to it that everything goes as planned in the morning. I’ll sleep in the other room if it makes you more comfortable.”

  She studied me and then shrugged. “It’s your room,” she said in a rather cocky tone and then got up and headed into the bedroom, closing the door symbolically behind her. Although I didn’t like it, I had to respect her privacy and keep my promise. I checked the doors, turned off the lights and used the bathroom for a quick shower. I turned down the bed and crawled into it, my mind working over the various tasks I’d have to put into motion the next morning. I was almost asleep when I heard my door creak and felt a light weight on the bed at my back. A slender arm went over my waist and a pair of soft, rounded breasts pressed into my back. She wiggled her hips, settling in and then there were a few moments of silence before I heard her even breathing. I could sleep then; she was safe.

  Chapter 9

  Lillie

  “Hello?” I was sitting on a foldable lawn chair in my parents living room, watching the movers as they catalogued my belongings. My cell phone rang.

  “Hello, is this Lillie?”

  “Yes…”

  “We’ve never met, but my name is Daphne and Chris gave me your phone number. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Is that Daphne, as in his sister-in-law?”

  “That’s me.”

  “Well, we sort of met at Chris’s apartment, but I left without saying anything. I know that was rude of me. I just wasn’t sure how I felt about things, mainly the trip, at that point. I hope you’ll forgive me?”

  “Nothing to forgive. Listen, I know the three of you are leaving tonight and Chris tells me you’re in the middle of a move, but I wondered if I might pop over to your house with a couple cups of coffee and some hot applesauce muffins I just took out of the oven?”

  I wondered what was up. “Sure, if you don’t mind the mess, that sounds perfect. Can you come right away? I need to get my bags finished and in the car, so I can get to the airport in plenty of time. You know how busy things are this time of year.”

  “I’m on my way,” she said and I have her the address.

  Daphne was the tall, willowy blonde I would have expected from Chris. I felt like a dwarf next to her and I felt the shy side of me emerge. I was always like that when I felt out-classed. She was dressed in skinny jeans and boots, a plaid blouse with a lamb’s wool vest layered over it and made the entire outfit come together as if she was on a runway. To make things worse, she was nice.

  “Oh,” she hugged me, “you’re just cute as a button. I’d give anything for hair like that!”

  How could you not like someone like that? “Come in, I’ve set up another folding chair for you.” I showed her through the valley between the boxes into the living room and for once, wasn’t worried whether the carpet needed vacuuming. Moving was supposed to look like this.

  “I just can’t imagine how you’re managing this move and leaving for Europe in a few hours. I’d be a wreck,” she confided.

  “I passed ‘wreck’ last night. Today, I’m just numb.”

  “Have you ever been over there before?” she asked, handing me one of her muffins on a fancy paper plate covered with a paper doily and a green plastic fork nesting to the side. Everything she did was classy.

  I shook my head. “No, the only time I’ve been out of the country was the night my friends and I got rowdy and drove north all night. We ended up in Canada. Lucky for us, one of the girls’ dad was the brother of some big wig in Washington and he bailed us out, so we could get back into the country.” Why had I just blabbed all that? I sound like I’m fourteen.

  I know this is last minute, but I thought it would make me feel better to meet the lady who will have my daughter for the next couple of weeks. She’s never been anywhere at all. I hope you don’t mind?”

  I shook my head. “No, I totally respect that and would think less of you if you didn’t. So, is there anything special I need to know? Food allergies? Medications?”

  She bit into her muffin with perfectly-spaced white teeth. The woman had grown up comfortable with herself and probably money. I could tell. “No, nothing. She’s a good girl, even if I am her mom. I won’t say she’s not a little scared—it’s a big trip for someone so young, but she loves and trusts her Uncle Chris.”

  I nodded, sipping the coffee as I thought of what to ask next. One of the movers asked a question about a box and that bought me another minute to compose myself. “So, do you have any questions for me?”

  She laughed suddenly, almost shooting her sip of coffee right back out. “You can tell?”

  I nodded, and a feeling of dread grabbed my stomach. “Go ahead, ask away.”

  She set her cup down and waited until the movers were outside. Leaning forward she asked, “It’s really none of my business, but then it sort of is… but how long have you and Chris known each other?”

  I knew that was coming. “Only a few days.”

  She nodded, absorbing the idea. “Marga… well, I guess it’s probably no secret that her dad and I aren’t getting along too well recently, and Chris seems to think that Marga needs some space and time away. I’m not sure how to put this, but I hope you won’t take offense if I say that I’m a little concerned that she might feel left out…you know? I mean, new romances are so…well, all-inclusive?”

  I shook my head. “Don’t worry. I know exactly what you’re getting at. You’re concerned she’ll feel like a third wheel and maybe get homesick or sad. Don’t worry. Chris and I are just getting to know one another. We’re not tight, not in that way, yet. In fact, the reason I left the other night was because I wasn’t sure if he was hiring me or inviting me, if you get my drift.”

  The look on her face was priceless.

  “Oh, no! No, no, not what you’re thinking!” I laughed. “Chris and I met when he hired me from a temp agency to play an elf to his Santa for a charity appearance. It’s all above board.”

  “Oh!” Daphne’s hand went to her chest. “I’m so relieved. I know this is embarrassing, but with Chris, you just never know…him being so opposed to marriage and all.”

  I looked at her blankly, not inviting anything that could be construed as offensive.

  “Oh, my god, he has told you that, right? You know he’s not looking to get married?”

  “I know,” I confirmed. “Although I confess I don’t know why. He’s so caring and sensitive to others’ needs…”

  She looked at me oddly. “We are talking about Chris here, right?”

  “Uh, huh? Why?”

  “Well, then you’ve got a different Chris than the one I’ve seen.”

  “Why? What have you seen?”

  “Oh, nothing to be upset about,” she said, laying her hand on my knee to pat it. “It’s just that Chris and Corey had a lousy family life growing up and Chris really took the brunt of it for his brother. He’s considerate, well, yes, I suppose. To
some people, but to others he’s pretty blasé. You’re one of the lucky ones, it would seem.”

  I would save that observation to re-examine later when I had the opportunity to think about it more.

  “Anyway,” she patted my knee with resolution as she stood up. “I know you have your hands full. Is there anything I can do?”

  It was the sort of offer most people made out of courtesy, but somehow, I felt she meant it genuinely. “No, uh, uh… I’m fine. As soon as they finish up here with the cataloguing, Chris has someone coming by to supervise the loading and follow-up. And me…I’m just off to the airport.”

  “Well, if you say so, but know that you can always text me if you need anything while you’re out of the country. I’d only be too glad to help.”

  “I appreciate that, Daphne. And I’m glad you came by,” I added, and meant it.

  I watched her back out of the driveway and slowly pull down the street. I was surprised she had time to come and visit. I would have thought she had her hands full packing her daughter’s things. Maybe she has someone to do that for her, I wondered as I followed the movers out the door for the last time and went back in for one more look before I left for the airport.

  Chapter 10

  Christopher

  “Everything ready as I requested?”

  The pilot nodded and tipped the corner of his cap. “Ready to go whenever you are.”

  “My guests aren’t here yet. Can you send a message through the concourse PA system? Page Lillie Flemming and Marga Tollier to our gate?”

  “No problem sir, although I’ll send in the attendant to meet them. That gate is private.”

  “See to it, then, please?”

  I settled back onto the cream leather of the main cabin seats, tapping my phone once again to search for messages. Nothing from either of them, but there was an email from Steve.

  “Happy holidays while you’re gone. We need to talk business. Can you call when you land and have privacy?”

  What’s that all about? I hated enigmatic messages, particularly when they came from him. I looked out the window again, but didn’t see the girls. I tapped Steve’s number. “What’s up?”

  “Are you in the air?”

  “No, but just about to leave. Why?”

  “I heard back on the Flemmings Bakery property. Their daughter returned my call. Said they weren’t interested in selling just now. Want me to put some pressure on her?”

  I felt the blood drain from my head. “Did you use my name?”

  “Of course not, you think I’m an amateur?” He sounded insulted, but I knew he would use whatever tools he had at his disposal to get what he wanted. I knew if I told him to back off, he’d push Lillie and buy the property himself, holding it over my head. I couldn’t let on anything was wrong.

  “Okay, well, leave my name out of it or she’ll drive up the price. Just buy it quietly and get it over with. No pressure, though. It will make her suspicious.”

  “Something’s odd about it.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, property taxes have gone unpaid for three years and the county is about to take it over. We can pick it up on the courthouse steps for the back taxes. Why wouldn’t she cash out while she was ahead?”

  “Don’t know, don’t care,” I said as nonchalantly as I could. “She’s probably buying time to see if the price will go up. Let her sweat it.”

  “Okay, if you say so. But once it goes to auction, there’s no guarantees, you know what I mean?”

  “There never are.” I wanted the conversation over.

  “Huh, that’s what you think,” he shot back, and I felt cold blood rushing through me. I had to lead him on.

  “You got connections to make it happen?”

  He must have been drinking because he was in a bragging mood. “Hell, I got connections for everything. Don’t you know that by now?”

  “Including fire?”

  “Hell, yes. I can burn down the White House if you tell me that’s what you want.”

  I was ready to tear his head off. My entire future lay in the hands of a madman. He had burned down the Flemming’s Bakery—not maybe personally, but he had it done. They could have died, I realized with horror. The son-of-a-bitch lied right to my face!”

  Keeping my voice as non-committal as possible, I even managed a chuckle. “I knew it was you all along, you sly dog. Listen, my regards to Marjorie and I’ll expect you’re taking off the next couple of weeks, too, huh?” I wanted him out of my building until I got back to deal with him personally.

  “Hey, might just do that. Yeah, Marjorie wants to go to the islands and work on her tan. Might just pop her in a plane and head down—get out of the snow.”

  “Sounds like a great idea. Happy holidays, my friend,” I wished him before disconnecting. I was shaking inside with anger. I tapped my phone contact for the attorney.

  “You remember the matter we discussed?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Take care of it, and alert the county prosecutor that I have some information he’ll be interested in when I get back.”

  “Will do. May I know what it’s in reference to?”

  “Not yet. You’ll find out when I get back. Happy holidays.”

  “You, too.”

  The door to the jet opened and a shining little face popped through the opening. “Uncle Chris!! Is this really our own plane?” Marga stepped into the room, followed by a flushed Lillie.

  I addressed Marga first. “It sure is. Why don’t you go with Luke up front to visit the captain and have him show you the controls?” I nodded to Luke who shepherded her forward.

  Standing up, I held out my arms to Lillie. She fell against me and I could tell she was shaking. “What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned. “Are you sick?”

  “Not yet, but I don’t like heights.”

  I laughed. “And you just remembered that?”

  “Sort of. Chris, I’ve never flown before and I guess I didn’t stop to think that you might have a private plane.”

  “Jet.”

  “What?”

  “It’s a jet, sweetheart. A Boeing 747-8 VIP private jet.”

  “I don’t care if it’s a 2017 canary in the back yard, it goes higher than I want to.”

  “Oh, c’mon now. You know there’s a chance, just a chance, mind you, that you’ll enjoy it! Since you’ve never flown on a public airline, you won’t know what you’re missing, and I say that in a good way because the public flies rather uncomfortably.”

  She staggered, and her knees bent. “Can I sit down somewhere?”

  “Sure, come over here and sit on the sofa. If you feel like you want to lie down, you can do that, too. I’ll be right here next to you. You want Marga to hold your hand?”

  “I wouldn’t care,” she offered up weakly.

  “Lillie, I had no idea. I’m sorry. I can’t make it any easier unless I hire Barbara Eden to blink you over.”

  “You think she’s available?”

  “Nope, I think that ship sailed, sorry.”

  “Speaking of a ship…”

  I laughed aloud. “Don’t be such a ninny. Luke is an excellent chef and he has quite a meal planned. You can relax on the sofa and I’ll turn on the television. Luke will give you something for air sickness if you need it, but I think once we’re underway, you’ll love it. I’ll probably have to drag you off at the other end.”

  “I wish it was the other end now.”

  “C’mon,” I led her to the sofa and settled her there, kissing her and after checking, ran my hand along her inside leg and pressed a finger against her pussy. “You’ll be just fine and if you want, we can go to sleep in the master stateroom.”

  “There’s a bedroom?”

  “Oh, yes. Can you imagine me flying in something that didn’t have one?”

  “No, no I suppose not. How about Marga?”

  “Well, she can sleep in the bed with you if you like, but I thought we’d make up this sofa for her. It f
olds out and is really very comfortable. Luke will keep an eye on her.”

  “Just let me sit here a while and get my bearings?”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  Just then, Luke and Marga entered the room and Marga excitedly bounced on the sofa at Lillie’s feet. “Aren’t you just so excited?” she shrilled.

  “Oh, yes, sweetheart,” Lillie answered, doing her best to sound normal. “Sit down now and let them fasten you in. Maybe we’ll play a game of cards once we’re in the air.”

  Marga turned so she could look out the window. “I want to watch us go up. Don’t you want to watch with me, Lillie?”

  “Oh, darling, you watch and tell me about it later, why don’t you. That will be your special job.”

  “Oh, goodie!” she giggled.

  “Sit down now, Marga. You can look out once your seat belt is buckled,” I told her, taking charge.

  Marga instantly sat down. She was a very well-behaved child and I knew Daphne was responsible for that. The engines fired up and Marga giggled with a shrill of delight. Lillie, on the other hand, was not as thrilled.

  We taxied, turned onto a smaller runway and lifted off. Marga was pealed to the porthole while Lillie's face was snow white. I reached over and held her hand, using my index finger to smooth her palm. I reached into the drawer of the table next to me and pulled out a vial of Valium, giving her a low dose. "Here, this will calm you down."

  As soon as we were leveled out, Luke stood up and began to open out the table to serve dinner. Lillie waved him away. "No, nothing for me."