Follow Me Darkly Page 16

  I care only about my heart.

  And I may be losing it to Braden Black.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  I coax Baby into her kennel and set her next to my desk. Then I gather the scattered items, including the Cherry Russet lip stain, and refill my purse.

  I’m angry with Addie. Big-time. But I’m more befuddled than anything. Knowing full well it may cost me my job, I walk to her door and knock.

  “What is it?” she yells angrily.

  “I need to talk to you.”

  “I have nothing to say to you.”

  “Maybe not. But I have something to say to you.”

  “Nothing I want to hear.”

  “Please. It’s important.”

  “Fine,” she huffs. “Come in.”

  Addison doesn’t look me in the eye. Instead, she stares at her laptop screen while sitting at her desk. She doesn’t stand, so I take a seat on one of the leather chairs facing her.

  “You need to tell me,” I say, “what happened between you and Braden.”

  “I don’t need to tell you anything.”

  “How else will I know if I’m making a huge mistake?”

  “You can take my word for it.” She still hasn’t looked up from her laptop.

  “I didn’t even know you knew Braden until last week,” I say. “Can’t you just tell me?”

  She closes her laptop and finally looks me in the eye. “He’s bad news. The worst.”

  “You’ve already said that. What you haven’t said is why.”

  “I’ve told you—I don’t talk about it.”

  I raise my eyebrows. Addie is never one to mince words. She says what she thinks and doesn’t usually give a damn about the consequences. “You don’t talk about it? Or you can’t talk about it?”

  She stands. “Doesn’t really matter which, does it? Our car should be here. Let’s get this shoot over with.”

  …

  To my surprise, we get the shoot done in minimal takes. Baby is abnormally subdued after the ride. Maybe Addie gave her a sedative. Betsy gives both Addie and me gift baskets of her dog treats as a thank-you for the shoot. This is new. Normally she only gives one to Addie. Addie regards me expectantly. Does she want me to give her my basket?

  “Thank you so much,” I tell Betsy. “I don’t have a dog, but my friend does. She’ll love this.”

  No, Tessa doesn’t have a dog, but Braden does. This basket is for Sasha, which also gives me an excuse to go over to Braden’s place while he’s in New York. If only to smell his scent again—that perfect mélange of pine, spice, and leather that has grown as necessary to me as air.

  Tessa meets me at the Bark Boutique as planned.

  Addie left, thank God, so I introduce Tessa to Betsy.

  “This is an adorable place,” Tessa says. “Do you do a good business?”

  “Pretty good. The posts from Addison help a lot.” She smiles.

  “It was great meeting you,” Tessa says. “You ready for lunch, Skye?”

  “Yup. All set. Want to join us, Betsy?”

  “I wish I could. But maybe…”

  “What?” Tessa asks.

  “Would you like to have a drink later? After six, when I close?”

  Surprising. I’ve been doing shoots for Betsy since I began working with Addie. She’s never wanted to get together before.

  “I wish, but I can’t,” I say. After all, I’m going to Braden’s to deliver Sasha’s basket.

  “I can,” Tessa says. “I never turn down a chance for a drink after work. I’ll meet you here, okay?”

  Tessa and Betsy just met, but my best friend has a way of putting people at ease.

  Betsy smiles. “That’d be great. I’m looking forward to it.”

  Once Tessa and I hit a café for lunch, I fill her in on Addison’s earlier antics.

  “She did not empty your purse on your desk,” Tessa says.

  “She did. I’m still pissed about it.”

  “You should be.”

  “But I’m more confused. Why does she think Braden is bad news? She won’t tell me. When I asked her if she doesn’t talk about it or she can’t talk about it, she changed the subject.”

  “You think she has an NDA or something?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “It has to be something like that. Otherwise, why wouldn’t she tell you? If she’s concerned that you’ll become competition for her because of your relationship with Braden, surely she’d want to get you away from him.”

  “Good point,” I say, “and one I hadn’t considered. You’re right. She can’t talk about it, for whatever reason.”

  “Or it’s a big fat lie,” Tessa observes.

  “I don’t think so. She and Braden both admit to having a thing years ago. Whatever it was, it didn’t end well.”

  I don’t tell Tessa that I think I’m falling for Braden. I’m hoping it will go away. After all, I’ve known him for all of a week.

  The waiter delivers our lunches, and I take a quick bite of my chicken sandwich.

  “When are you taking the doggie basket over to Sasha?” Tessa asks.

  “Tonight. Betsy’s treats are all organic and best enjoyed within a week.”

  Tessa swallows her bite of pasta. “Betsy seems nice.”

  “She is. Not the kind of person Addie normally—” I stop abruptly, a light flashing in my mind.

  “What?” Tessa asks.

  “Betsy’s a childhood friend of Addie’s. I wonder…”

  “If they went to high school together?”

  “Yeah. She must be some friend. Addie doesn’t usually work for free, and she never charges Betsy for a post. If she’s that good of a friend, she might know something about Addie and Braden.”

  “I’m on it,” Tessa says. “Maybe she’ll talk about Addie when we have our drinks tonight.”

  “Maybe.” I take another bite of my sandwich, starting to feel a little guilty. I don’t want to use Betsy for information. “Don’t force her to talk, though.”

  “How on earth could I possibly force her? Besides, I wouldn’t do that.”

  “I know. I just wish I could get Braden to tell me.”

  “Maybe it’s nothing,” Tessa says. “In fact, it probably is. This sounds like drama of Addie’s making. Classic.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  Between Tessa’s drinks with Betsy and my trip to Braden’s, this evening will be interesting.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  My nerves on edge, I grasp the doggie gift basket, nod to the doorman, and buzz Braden’s penthouse.

  No response for a few seconds. I buzz again.

  “Yes?” says a female voice.

  “Annika, is that you? It’s Skye Manning.”

  “Hello, Ms. Manning. Mr. Black isn’t home.”

  “I know he’s in New York. I wanted to stop by because I have something for Sasha. A doggie gift basket from the Bark Boutique.”

  “How kind of you. I’ll send Christopher down to get it.”

  “No, I—”

  But she clicks off the intercom.

  A few minutes later, Christopher steps out of Braden’s private elevator on the far side of the lobby. “Ms. Manning.”

  “Hi, Christopher.” I hold the basket to him. “Addison did an Instagram post today for Betsy’s Bark Boutique, and Betsy gave us each a basket. Since I don’t have a dog, I thought I’d give this to Sasha.”

  “That’s kind of you. Do you want to take it upstairs with me and say hi to her? Sasha will love it.”

  “Sure. Thanks.”

  A few minutes later, we step out of the elevator into Braden’s lavish penthouse. Christopher whistles, and Sasha comes running.

  “Hey, baby.” I kneel and pet her soft head. “I
brought you all kinds of goodies.” I take the basket from Christopher’s arms. “I’ll just put this in the kitchen.”

  Christopher wrinkles his forehead but doesn’t stop me. I set the basket on the island and untie the ribbon. “Come here, Sasha!”

  She runs into the kitchen.

  “Do you know any commands?”

  “She knows them all.” Christopher has apparently followed me to the kitchen.

  “Great. Sasha, sit.”

  The dog plops down on her hindquarters.

  “Good girl!” I hand her a small peanut butter dog treat. “There’s some rawhide in here. Toys, too, it looks like.”

  After a minute of watching Sasha play, I look up at Christopher. “Could I use the restroom before I go?”

  “Sure.”

  I walk slowly to the powder room, half expecting him to follow me, but he doesn’t.

  I spend a few minutes in the powder room, and then I flush the toilet and wash my hands. Before I open the door to leave, I dart my gaze downward to the magazine rack. It’s filled with mail.

  Strange. Does Braden read his mail in here? This is the first time I’ve actually been inside this room. In the past, I always used the bathroom in Braden’s master suite.

  None of your business, Skye. Walk away. Just walk away.

  But do I walk away? No. I bend down and leaf through the open envelopes. Nothing that catches my eyes until one near the bottom.

  The return address.

  Ames Hotels.

  Without thinking, I grab it and stuff it in my purse. I don’t know why. I honest-to-God don’t know why.

  But I’m out of the powder room and down the hallway toward the kitchen, my flesh tingling, before my brain kicks in. I should put it back, but if I walk back into the powder room, and someone on his staff sees me, I’ll look suspicious. The basket still sits on the island, but Christopher is gone. I walk through the living room to the entryway. Christopher stands by the elevator, holding the end of a leash.

  “Taking her on a walk now?” I ask.

  “Yeah. She needs to go out every time she eats something.”

  “Oh. Sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have given her that treat.”

  “No bother. I enjoy walking her.”

  “I should go, too,” I say.

  The letter is burning a hole in my purse. My nerves skitter across my skin. This was a huge mistake. I’d put it back if I could, but since I can’t, I need to get home and see what it is. Why is Braden doing anything with Ames Hotels? He and Addison appear to hate each other.

  And that bothers me more than a little. A thin line exists between love and hate. I’d much prefer him to be indifferent.

  “That would probably be best, Ms. Manning.”

  I nod and walk into the elevator in front of Christopher and Sasha. I bend down to pet Sasha. She pants and licks my face. Then the elevator door opens, and Christopher waits while I walk out.

  “Thanks, Christopher,” I say.

  “See you soon, Ms. Manning.”

  See you soon? That’s a good sign.

  I wave and walk out of the building, suppressing the shakes that threaten to consume me.

  I just stole a piece of Braden’s mail.

  What the hell was I thinking?

  A half hour later, I’m home, staring at the envelope from Ames Hotels.

  It’s already open. All I need to do is look inside. It’s probably nothing. God, I hope it’s nothing, because if it isn’t, not only will I be heartbroken, but I’ll also have to get it back to Braden’s powder room somehow.

  I can’t do this. I can’t.

  My pulse thrums in my neck.

  This isn’t like me, to be so deceitful. I need to take this envelope back to Braden’s house. Now. I pull one of my wire earrings out of my ear and stuff it inside my purse as well. Then I head back to Braden’s. I can only hope Christopher is still on his walk with Sasha and Annika answers the intercom.

  I’m literally shaking as I walk into Braden’s building. I smile nervously at the doorman. I make my way to the intercom—

  My cell phone rings.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  It’s Tessa. Probably with news about her drinks with Betsy. Now what? I can talk to Tessa later, but if she has news, I need to know it now, before I attempt to put this piece of mail I so foolishly stole back in place.

  I can’t stay here in the lobby of the building. What if Christopher returns with Sasha? “Hold on a minute, Tess.” I walk out of the building and continue walking. “What’s up?”

  “Betsy’s really sweet.”

  I sigh. I already know that. “Oh?”

  “Yeah. Don’t hate me. But I have a dog.”

  “Why would I hate you? You know I love dogs. When did you get a dog, and why am I only now hearing about it?”

  “Because she’s a fake dog.”

  I make a face into the phone. “Huh?”

  “I’m not sure how it happened, but she was talking so much about her business and how much she loves animals, it just kind of popped out.”

  “O…kay.”

  “Anyway, once she found out we have a love of dogs in common—and I do love dogs; you know that—she opened up and we talked about…a lot of things.”

  My heart races. I’m still walking, now a block away from Braden’s building. I dodge inside a small café and sit down at a table. “What did she say?”

  “She and Addison have known each other since grade school. They didn’t go to high school together. Addie went to some private school, but they stayed in touch and always got together over the summer. Betsy was kind of a charity case for Addie and her family. They paid for her to go to all the same programs Addie and Apple went to over the summer, except they didn’t go away for the summer after graduation. Instead, Betsy stayed at Addison’s house.”

  “So she knows about Braden.”

  “She does.”

  “Did she tell you anything?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  I look down at my shaking left hand. I will it to still. “Don’t leave me in suspense. How did they meet?”

  “You’re not going to believe this. One weekend when Mom and Dad were out of town, Addison and Apple threw a party at the mansion, and Braden and his brother, Ben, showed up.”

  “How would they know about a party at the Ames house?”

  “Got me. Betsy didn’t know.”

  “Okay. Wait, hold on a second.” A server approaches. “Black coffee,” I say. Then, to Tessa, “Go ahead.”

  “According to Betsy, Addie was all over Braden, but he didn’t give her the time of day.”

  “What? They both cop to having a thing.”

  “They did, but it didn’t start that night. Addie got obsessed with him. She couldn’t understand how anyone could turn down an Ames heiress, and she was determined to lose her virginity that summer…to Braden Black.”

  “Oh my God…”

  “She found the construction site where he was working and showed up there the next week. He rebuffed her again and again, but she didn’t get the message.”

  “Seriously? She’s a stalker?”

  “She was then, anyway. Braden had a small apartment in South Boston, and Addie found the address.”

  I don’t like where this is going. “And…?”

  “Betsy stopped talking,” Tessa says.

  “Are you kidding me?” I wave thanks to the server when she sets my cup of coffee on the table.

  “Yeah. She even covered her mouth and begged me not to tell anyone what she said, that she wasn’t supposed to talk about it.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I assured her I’d be discreet, of course, but that I tell you everything. She said that was okay but that you couldn’t tell anyone. I assured her you woul
dn’t. I didn’t want to push her any further. She’s so sweet, and it’s really not any of my business.”

  I take a sip of coffee. “Ouch!” The hot liquid scorches the inside of my mouth. I swallow quickly, burning a trail down my esophagus.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. I burned my tongue. Then what happened?”

  “I said good night, we made plans to have drinks again sometime, and I promised I’d visit her boutique to get more treats for Margarita.”

  “Margarita?”

  “My fake dog. Rita for short.”

  “All you could think of was Margarita?”

  “What can I say? I was drinking a strawberry margarita.”

  I roll my eyes. Tessa and her froufrou drinks. “Slick, Tess.”

  “Hey, I was on the spot.”

  I sigh. “Yeah, okay. We still don’t know what happened between them and why Addie is convinced Braden is bad news.”

  “But we do know that Addie is the one who pursued Braden.”

  “Which means she probably felt scorned when whatever they had ended.”

  “Right,” Tessa says. “And hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

  We end our call, and I take another sip of my coffee. It’s still hotter than asphalt on a summer day. I quickly lay several dollar bills on the table and leave the café. Now what? The stolen letter burns hot in my purse. I can almost feel its energy, like a homing signal is beeping from it.

  All in my imagination, I know, but this was a huge mistake. Braden says he can’t have a relationship with me. How can I expect him to change his mind if I paw through his personal mail? I trudge back to his building, half smile at the doorman, and press the intercom once more.

  “Yes?”

  My stomach twists into knots.

  It’s Braden’s voice.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  “You… You’re supposed to be in New York,” I say without thinking.

  Damn. Should have just rung the doorbell and ran. Except I’m not twelve.

  “Skye? What are you doing here?”

  “I dropped off some treats for Sasha, and I think I lost an earring. I just wanted to come up and look for it.” The lie tastes like stomach acid in my throat.