Page 60 of That Time in Venice
Chapter22
Reed loungedon the sofa in the living room, bare feet propped on the ottoman. He stared at the painting he bought during the art stroll. Anika had been radiant that night, with her curly hair and that damn dress with the plunging neckline that fit to all her curves. She’d been a walkingtemptation.
Reed rubbed his jaw. Brielle was fast asleep upstairs, and for the umpteenth time he checked to make sure the landline had a dial tone and his cell phone wasn’t on silent mode. Anika hadn’t called yet, and it was getting late. If her behavior over the past week was any indication, she probably wouldn’t call. He couldn’t put his finger on the exact problem, but he’d noticed a change in her attitude. She’d become withdrawn. Their normal two-hour conversations had whittled down to fifteen minutes, and they conversed more like acquaintances thanlovers.
Brielle missed her, too. This morning over a bowl of Cheerios she’d asked when Miss Anika would be coming to visit. He’d mumbled something vague because he didn’t have a realanswer.
He’d never been more certain of the closeness between Anika and Brielle than when he found them both asleep on the sofa one night. Anika lay in a protective curl around his daughter, near the edge, with Brielle tucked safely on the inside against the back of the chair. He’d lost track of how long he stared at the two of them in thatposition.
Despite what Anika said, he called Ransom and Ryan tonight, asking if they or their wives had said something to upset her. Neither could shed any light on the change he observed. As far as they were concerned, she’d been the perfect guest, and there had been noconflict.
His doorbell rang and Reed’s gaze went to the clock on the fireplace mantle. It was almost eleven o’clock. Shuffling to the door, he peered out and saw Anika standing on the porch. He swung open the door, ridiculously happy to see her. She must have changed her mind, and all the concern he’d haddriftedaway.
She still wore the plum-colored halter dress, the deep hue enhancing her goldenbrownskin.
“Hey beautiful, get in here.” He reached for her, but shesteppedback.
“I should have called first, but I couldn’t. I’ve been looking everywhere for my phone, and then I remembered I gave it to you at the weddingvenue.”
That’s right. She’d asked him to hold her phone because she wanted to leave her purse locked inthecar.
“I completely forgot. It’s still in my jacket pocket. I’ll get it for you.” He stepped aside so she come in, but shedidn’tmove.
“Aren’t you going tocomein?”
“I can’t. I’ve gottorun.”
“Runwhere?”
“Home. Could you just get the phoneforme?”
Whatthehell?
“Sure. Give measec.”
Reed ran up the stairs and found the phone in his jacket, which he’d thrown across the foot ofthebed.
Back downstairs, he handed it over toAnika.
“Thanks. Have a good night.” Sheturnedaway.
“That’sit?”
She paused, her brow wrinkling. “I told you Icouldn’tstay.”
A tight knot of apprehension filled his chest. “What is going on with you? We needtotalk.”
“There’s nothing for us to talk about. I have a lot on my mindrightnow.”
“And you can’t share thatwithme?”
“It’s not something I can share at the moment,” she saidtestily.
“Why the hell not? Isn’t that what couples do? Share the good and the bad? Something is wrong and you won’t tell me whatitis.”
“Reed, please. Don’tdothis.”
“Don’tdowhat?”
