Page 55 of More Than Nothing
They chatted about the weather, the proposed plans for the new business center, local politics, and neighbors. Elenie deliveredRoman’s tea, setting it gently on the table without saying a word. He didn’t thank her. When she walked away, he watched her go.
Otto laid surprisingly strong fingers on his forearm and squeezed. “Roman. I’m asking as a friend. Please don’t let that girl down. I think she needs you.”
“Sometimes people let themselves down.” He took a long swig of tea and raised his eyes to Otto’s. “I’ll tell you what I told Elenie. As long as she stays on the right side of the law, she’ll have my support.” The old man examined his face. Roman wasn’t sure what he saw, but Otto nodded and the frown lines that had wrinkled his brow smoothed out. It was too tempting to hold back the question. “How long have you known her?”
With a smile in his eyes, Otto leaned forward. He ran a gnarled finger over an old mark on the table. “It’s been about three years now, I guess. I was getting lonely at home and decided to make more of an effort to get out of the house, so I started coming in regularly for breakfast. I lost my wife, Bea, two years before that. Bea was the best friend a man could want in a wife. We used to talk all the time. Not about anything important—just ordinary stuff. I missed the sound of her voice in our home so much.” Roman gave him a sympathetic chin lift. “I’m lucky to have shared my life with her and the memories are happy ones. But it was the right decision to get out more. The exercise is good for me and the company is even better. It’s become a part of my routine. Elenie wasn’t chatty to start with but we always exchanged a few words. The first time I earned one of her smiles was a golden day for me.”
Roman knew exactly what Otto meant. He glanced her way automatically, his eyes following her easy strides across the room.
The old man chuckled. “Don’t tell her I said this, but Elenie reminds me of a stray cat—all wary and distrustful, poised to scratch or hiss. Yet it only takes the smallest iota of kindness to unlock all the sweetness she has to offer.”
Roman was hit by an image of himself gently stroking Elenie’s skin like a cat. Heat bloomed in his chest and he shifted in his chair.
“Probably not the most flattering compliment to pay a lovely young lady and I’ll deny it if you tell her.” Otto’s smile was mischievous. “She’s clever too. I’ve read a lot in my time but she gobbles up books like cinnamon buns. Her capacity to remember facts is amazing—the more obscure the better. I find her so interesting to talk to. Did you know she can speak four languages fluently? And insult you in about fifty!”
Roman grunted. There was too much about Elenie he didn’t know, and he didn’t like it.
Otto’s eyes turned distant. “Bea and I never had children. We worked, we travelled, we were too selfish to share each other or make any compromises. I have no regrets.” He lifted his coffee and drained it. “But if I had a daughter, I’d have been very proud to have one like Elenie.”
Of all the people he might have expected to see on the afternoon of the gala dinner, his ex-fiancée wasn’t one of them. She followed Maggie into Roman’s office just after lunchtime.
“Visitor for you, Chief.”
Glancing up from a case report, he blinked and blinked again. Maggie harnessed her curiosity and left them alone.
“Hello, Roman.” Zena folded herself elegantly into one of the chairs.
“Uh. Hey.” He shook his head to clear it. What the hell was she doing here? “You got business in Pine Springs?”
“Hardly.” She gave a polite little laugh. “We didn’t get anywhere when I called, so I finished up a contract I was working on anddecided to pay you a visit.” She flashed him a confident smile. “I’m here for the weekend. You can show me around.”
Zena ran her eyes over his office with interest and he didn’t doubt for a minute she was registering its small size, minimal technology, and lack of bustle. She was immaculately dressed as always—cropped black pants and a black satin strappy top, pale green tailored blazer and flat shoes, just the right amount of makeup and tiny, tasteful jewelry. Most likely a lot of time and money had gone into the outfit, but Roman only noticed the lack of warmth on her face.
“Did you listen to anything I said on the phone?” He tried to keep his voice mild but heard the edge of irritation when it crept in.
“Yes, I did. I just don’t think you’ve thought it through properly. Maybe we could go out for dinner, chat things over, and you might feel different when we’ve spent a little time together again.” Zena lowered her voice to a persuasive purr. “I’ve given you space, Roman. I’ve given you time. I was hoping you might have laid some ghosts to rest by now.”
He flinched at the phrase. Then cursed himself for the reaction.
“I’m out tonight. There’s a business dinner I have to attend.” Roman opened the top drawer of his desk and rummaged for a pen.
“The one at the Elite Lodge?”
“How the hell do you—” Roman stifled a groan. “That’s where you’re staying, isn’t it?”
“It is. There wasn’t a wide choice.” Zena smiled. “I could be your date.”
He leaned back in his chair and actually considered it. Florence had laughed in his face when he’d asked her to go with him. There wasn’t anyone else he felt comfortable using just to provide him with the cover he needed for one night, now that Elenie would be there with Craig Perry. Zena was a different matter. And she was offering. It would help to cement the impression with Perry thathe had other irons in the fire. That Elenie wasn’t of any importance to him. Some extra camouflage would be a good thing. And yet his skin prickled at the idea of taking Zena anywhere as his date.
“Well?”
Roman didn’t miss the annoyance in her voice when he took his time answering. “OK,” he said finally. “If warm white wine floats your boat, you’re welcome to join us.” Zena smirked. “But it’s a one-off thing, for old times’ sake. Nothing more.” It seemed best to spell it out again. “I meant what I said on the phone.”
She stood up to leave. “Seven o’clock in the lobby?” Roman gave her a brief nod. “Wonderful. I look forward to it.”
It took the rest of the afternoon and two open windows for Zena’s sultry perfume to disappear.
“That’s the dress you brought with you in case we went out for dinner?” Roman raised one eyebrow.
