“I hardly think so. You’ve been paying rent for years.” She frowns and I try to lighten the mood. “I can’t begin to imagine how much you’ve spent on eyeliner.”
She bites her lip, but there’s a new twinkle in her eyes. “You shouldn’t.”
“I think I should. We’ll just add it to the list we take to Daphne as one small credit on my side. Okay?”
She exhales shakily, then really smiles. I might get a tan just standing beside her. “Okay. Thank you.”
“If you’re worried about the mechanicals, I could have a look at the trailer tomorrow, if you like.”
“That would be wonderful.” Then she studies me. “Why wouldn’t I want you to do that?”
“As much as I love to fix things, people often prefer to make their own choices. Maybe you don’t want to move out of Una’s place. I don’t know and I know better than to guess.” My voice drops so only she’ll hear what I say. “Just tell me what you want, Sylvia.”
We stare at each other for one of those long moments, then she swallows. I want to trace the line of her throat with my fingertip. No, I want to kiss her. I want to make everything right in her world and I want to make love to her every night for the rest of my life and if I say any of that out loud, I could spook her completely.
She nods, deciding something, then tilts her head to look up at me. “Could you give me some help with the trailer, Mike?”
I’m ready to promise anything. “Of course. I’ll go down there tomorrow to see it.”
“I really appreciate this.”
“You know, if Una was interested in coming along, you could have the day in your studio,” I suggest. “I could spend a bit of time with Sierra, without the risk of being a creepy old man.”
Sylvia laughs. “We’re both ancient, according to Sierra, just so you know.”
“A creepy ancient man, then.”
“I’ll ask Una and let you know.”
“Good.” Everything is settled but I’m reluctant to move away.
“Coming through,” Merrie says suddenly at close proximity. I turn to find her lifting a tray with four snifters of brandy. “Time to mix and mingle. Come on.” She grabs my shirt sleeve with one hand. “You have to introduce me to your friends. Let’s convince them to become regulars. Especially the cute one.”
“But there are only four glasses,” I say, not wanting to leave Sylvia out of it.
“I have to get home,” she says, then reaches out to brush her fingertips across my shoulder. Her smile lights all the fires within me and her fleeting touch makes them rage. “Thank you, Mike. Again.”
Baby steps, I tell myself. All incremental progress is good.
“Today, please, today,” Merrie says to me, marching across the bistro with her tray, her stilettos clicking. Bryan looks up and smiles as he watches her approach, and I’m pretty sure I know how this story ends.
23
SYLVIA
Irresistible. The man is irresistible. My defenses are washing away like beaches before hurricanes – but what happens after that? Is this about winning? Am I a conquest? Does he move on after I surrender?
I don’t know, but Mike’s getting me on his side with record speed.
What if wecouldmake it work?
It’s a seductive idea, and one that’s hard to dismiss.
I get home to find a light on. A shadow moves inside as I’m headed to the door and I realize that Una has waited up for me.
I open the door to find her sitting below that painting, the one I did of her and her sister, Eileen. She glances toward me and touches a finger to her lips, then studies the painting again. Her expression is more awed than it deserves.
I get a cup of herbal tea from the pot – chamomile tonight – and join her.
