“Ah, poor AV club guy.” She started to laugh, but a feeling came over her and she added, “He’ll need this for his college resume. Be sure to give him an excellent letter of recommendation for his file.”
“I didn’t think to offer that. Good idea. Thanks,” he said. “Now, if I can’t get you to watch me get my Proust on, I will try to tempt you with the beginner’s algebra class tomorrow.”
“Oh, algebra.” She pretended to shiver. “You sure do know how to show a girl a good time.”
“Then an introductory segment for beginning psychology, some troubleshooting tutorials on using the new system, and a lesson on beach geography for an Earth science chapter.”
“And here I thought I lived on the wild side.” She ran her finger along the edge of her mug before tapping her finger on the coffee’s surface to watch it ripple. “I thought you professors usually stuck to one department.”
“Normally, yes, but I’m special.”
“Ah, I see. Of course.”
“What about you? Any crazy plans for the day?”
“I need to head out of town for work,” she answered. “It will be incredibly boring.”
“What do you do? I don’t think you ever said. I would have asked about that out on the first date, but we skipped ahead.”
“I don’t do much,” she said.
He set his mug down. “Are you really not going to tell me?”
“I own a few fast food restaurants in the area,” she said.
“What’s a few?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“You own twenty-seven restaurants?” he repeated in disbelief.
“And some commercial properties,” she admitted. This wasn’t something she typically talked about. It was no one’s business how she made her money. Some people in town had an inkling she owned a few franchises or managed them for a group of investors. Others assumed she lived off Rex’s alimony payments. “I have a gift for sensing if a location will be profitable or not. I also have a knack for hiring the right people to manage them.”
“Wait, so the taco truck that you showed me? Is that you?”
“Oh, I wish.” She put her mug down on the counter next to his. “I have been trying to convince Maria to franchise. She won’t come off her secrets.”
“I had absolutely no idea I was living next door to a restaurateur.” He let his finger dance along her arm in light caresses.
“I’m glad you’re impressed by my quarter pound hamburgers and chicken nuggets.” She placed her hand on his chest. “I should get going.”
“Will I see you later?” he asked. “I’d really like to.”
“Maybe. Have a pen? I’ll leave you my cell, and you can text me after you’re done with your filming. I’m not sure where I’ll be or how long it will take.” Her hand dropped from him as he moved to a drawer. He placed a pen and paper on the counter for her. As she scrolled down her number, she said, “And don’t play coy and wait forty-eight hours or whatever time allotment is considered cool to call me. I hate that.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been accused of being cool before.” He cupped her cheek. “But I promise. No games. There is something about you, Vivien Stone. I want this to work between us.”
“I know.” She nodded. That fact was one of the few things she’d picked up from him the first time they’d met. He was a man of commitment.
“You know?”
“I’m psychic, remember.” She leaned forward to kiss him. “Thank you for the coffee.”
“Thank you for the…” He grinned as if stopping himself from saying something inappropriate.
“You’re welcome.” She winked at him, gave him another quick kiss, and then turned to go. She leaned over to pick up her shoes from the living room floor and glanced at the empty couch before leaving.
Chapter Twelve
Vivien didn’t technically have to spend the day visiting properties, but she wanted to get away from Freewild Cove and could think of nothing better than being alone in her car. Music played, muted by the sound of wind whipping through her windows. Heather had wanted to come with her. Vivien had refused the company but promised to stay in contact. She needed to contemplate her current feelings, and she couldn’t do that when she kept absorbing her friends’ emotions each time they bumped into each other.
Besides, Lorna was starting back at work. Vivien preferred Heather to be near Lorna if anything happened. Not that she thought anything would happen. The feeling of dread she’d picked up in the theater before the smudging had disappeared. Lorna would be safe. The best thing was for life to get back to normal for all three of them. Magic was fun, but they still had jobs to do. For Vivien, that meant a lot of employees who depended on her.
Her cell phone rang, and Vivien pushed the button on the steering wheel to answer it without bothering to look to see who it was.
“Hello, you got Vivien.”
“Vivien?” Rex’s voice was the last one she expected to hear, though she realized she shouldn’t have been surprised. When she didn’t bother to call him after that day in his office, he would have started to panic. In truth, she barely thought about it. Her mind had been focused elsewhere.
She frowned. “Hello, Rex.”
“How are you?” His words were cheery, too cheery.
“I’m busy,” she answered between clenched teeth. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to apologize for Harry’s behavior the other day,” he said. “I understand why you were upset. He didn’t present himself very well.”
Harry’s behavior?
Yeah, right. Harry. It was all Harry.
“All right,” she said. The green countryside rolled past her, but she kept her eyes on the road. Rex made her tired. Ever since their divorce, he was like talking to a psychic vampire. He always wanted something and acted like she should want to give it to him.
“He thought he was doing what I wanted, but I never wanted him to insult you. I don’t think he explained himself well though.” Rex tried to keep his tone light. “Next time, it will be just you and me talking.”
“Will it? I don’t know. Harry made it sound like I needed to get my lawyer involved. I don’t feel comfortable renegotiating legally binding contracts without my council. I’m sure you understand.” She toyed with the idea of just hanging up on him. Knowing Rex, he’d just keep calling back. She might as well let him get to whatever point he was moving toward.
“That’s why I called. I don’t think there is any reason to get the courts involved. We’re both reasonable adults. I think we can work this out between us.”
If she had been physically able to punch a voice, she would have pounded the shit out of his placating tone.
“I’m not sure what there is to work out, Rex,” she mimicked his overly fake manner. “We have a contract. You offered me that contract. I took it. I want to honor it, and you want to take me to court.”
“I don’t want to take you to court,” he said.