Tate hadn't seen it happen in a long time, but Sanders could still turn on the frost bite. Jameson's glare could flash with an angry fire that was scorching just to look at it, but Sanders could freeze people where they stood with one look. He spoke civilly and said nothing rude, but his manner and tone were slightly terrifying. Like he could turn you into dust just by saying the right words. Like he was talking to nothing. Tate shivered, then almost laughed as Rich stumbled over himself as he hurried to leave.
“You are a magical, magical creature, Sandy,” she snickered as she hooked her arm though his.
“On the contrary, I am exceedingly normal,” he corrected her. “I heard what you said. It was very nice of you to defend Jameson.”
“Of course! What did you expect, that I'd run off into the sunset with Rich Klimas!?” she exclaimed, staring up at him.
“No. I was worried that you would tease him. Drag out his punishment. Last night was bad enough, I did not want to endure more awkwardness,” he explained.
“Oh, really? And what about last night was so awkward?” she asked, blinking her eyes innocently. He didn't react at first, just adjusted his tie again.
“You know those kind of outbursts of yours make me uncomfortable,” he said in a low voice.
“Outburst? Why, whatever are you talking about?” she continued feigning innocence.
“Please, stop. I would like to enjoy our time together,” he begged.
“We are enjoying ourselves! I'm just trying to remember – would this outburst you speak of have anything to do with a certain tryst amongst the flowers?” she teased, and was finally rewarded with a full on blush. He cleared his throat and wouldn't make eye contact.
“That is putting it delicately.”
“Why, Sandy! Are you saying you watched!?” she gasped in mock horror. His blush went from a delicate pink around his collar to red racing up his neck and onto his cheeks, though he still maintained the same air of aloofness. As if they were talking about the weather.
“Tatum, the entire party, and I'm pretty sure our closest neighbors, could hear you. I was not alone in my observations.”
“Please, I wasn't that loud.”
“Forgive me, but you weren't outside. It was very loud, I assure you.”
“At least it was a good show.”
“That is a matter of opinion.”
Tate shivered again.
“Don't talk like him, it's creepy,” she said, turning to look across the pool.
“What's creepy?”
As if they'd summoned him, the devil himself walked into the backyard.
“Sandy,” she answered as Jameson came to stand on her other side.
“You're being creepy?” he asked, looking over her head at Sanders.
“Apparently. I was unaware of it. I shall go and load my luggage into the car,” he said, and went to pull his arm free from Tate. She turned and held onto him.
“Wait, one more going away present,” she said. His lips twitched down for a second and she could feel the tension in his body. She smiled big at him.
“Please, no, your 'presents' tend to give me anxiety. If I could just -”
She yanked on his arm, pulling him down to her height. Then she kissed him fast and hard, putting a hand on the back of his neck to hold him in place. He stood like a stone for a moment, then she felt him relax. Felt his lips go soft. She smiled against him and let him go.
“See? That was a great present,” she laughed. He frowned and wiped at his mouth, then looked down at his fingertips. She had put on a deep red lipstick that morning.
“Pardon me, but my idea of a good present and yours are two very different things,” he informed her. But just before he turned away, she was positive she saw a smile hiding in the corner of his mouth.
“Why do you torture him?” Jameson sighed, watching while Sanders disappeared into the house.
“Oh, deep down, he likes it,” she informed him.
“It makes him uncomfortable. You're going to tease him so much he won't want to come back,” he warned her.
“Pfffft, not possible. We're joined at the soul.”
“You're both strange, that's the problem,” he snorted. She gasped and turned to face him.
“Did you just call Sanders strange?” she demanded.
“Enough about him. Did you have a fun time last night?” Jameson asked, rolling up his shirt sleeves. He'd left his jacket somewhere in the house, but was still in the rest of his suit.
“Yeah, I actually did. We should do stuff like that more often, only maybe with people we actually like,” she suggested. He shrugged.
“Seemed to work out okay for the people we did invite. I walked in on your little friend with one of my employees in the shower,” he informed her. Her jaw dropped.
“Rusty? Oh god, tell me it was that Steele guy!”
“How did you know?”
She clapped her hands together.
“They were eye fucking each other all last night! This is so awesome! She hasn't been with anyone in forever, and if they were showering together, that definitely means they must have had sex,” she pointed out. He snorted again.
“Tate, they were fucking the shower. She nearly had a heart attack when I came in to get towels.”
“Oh jesus,” she groaned. “She's going to be even more awkward around you than she was before.”
“Probably. I don't think it helped that I stayed and talked with Steele for a couple minutes.”
“You didn't!”
“He's one of our best junior brokers, I wanted to offer him a permanent position.”
“Okay, but did you have to do it while he was inside Rusty?” she demanded. Jameson shrugged.
“I didn't really care. He was there, so I mentioned it. Then I took the towels and left. By the time I went back downstairs, she was moaning his name again. I think it's safe to say I didn't do too much damage.”
Tate was daydreaming, not really paying attention. Rusty and Howard Steele. Wow! She'd been hoping for an end to her friend's dry spell, but now she prayed that it would be more than just a one night stand. Maybe they really had a connection. Maybe they would go on to date, and then who knew what else.
Summer barbecues are magical ...
“Can you imagine if they got married?” she laughed. “Rusty Steele. I would pay to make that happen.”
“Tate, they just met. It's just sex, it doesn't mean anything,” he warned her.
“Pfffft, I had sex with you after we first met,” she pointed out. He rolled his eyes.
“Yes, but you're a slut.”
“Hey!”
“And it was just sex – it didn't mean anything at the time.”
She gasped, then without even thinking about it, she charged at him. He was still looking out over the yard and didn't notice her until it was too late. She'd planted her hands on his side and pushed him, hard. He lost his balance, swung his arms, then tipped over the edge of the pool. She put her hands on her hips as he let out a shout and splashed into the water.
“Didn't mean anything, huh?” she said when he resurfaced. He glared at her and raked his fingers through his wet hair, pushing it back from his face.