Melting Point: The Andi Drake Infidelity Files: Book Two Page 3

  She shook her head. “The glory is all yours, as well as the legal fees and prison time. I’m done with that bitch.”

  They were now within view of their cars. How lucky is he to find my car out of all the parking lots in Dallas?

  “So,” James began as they stopped at her Jeep, “I started the accounting research on your new case. How far back do you want me to go?”

  “I’d love to see the last five years’ worth. I’m curious to find patterns.”

  “That’s pretty simple. Should have it in a day or two. You think the cheater is looking to bail?”

  “No, I think they are trying to have it all.”

  “No one can, sadly.” James looked Andi in her eyes. It was a weird moment that passed between them.

  “So, still wanna meet and show me your toys?” The dark of the night hid the blush that swept across her face.

  “Thought you wanted me to drop it?”

  “Spare me the details, but give me free shit?”

  James laughed. “I’ve created a monster. Text me tomorrow. You good to drive?” He opened her door for her.

  “Two and a half beers in about three hours–should have had me wasted, but alas, I will have to finish the job at home.”

  He shut her door, waved slightly, and walked away.

  Five

  Waking up alone was an odd sensation for Andi. In the last couple of months, she had gotten quite accustomed to being woken up by Declan’s erection. It did feel nice getting to sleep in and stretch out in her own bed. Even with her plus-size frame, she took up a remarkably small percentage of the bed, especially compared to Declan.

  The joy of sleeping in was short-lived, however. With all the renovations and shitty employees Declan had been dealing with, she felt like she had only been seeing him in brief glimpses and glances.

  She strolled to the bathroom to brush her teeth and then quickly put on workout gear. If Declan wasn’t going to wake her up, she could at least grace him with her presence.

  It was still early, so Andi wanted to enjoy a cup of coffee while she caught up on emails. The new desk still seemed odd in her once bare living room, but today it seemed inviting and adult. She was a sophisticated business woman, after all.

  While the coffee was brewing, she called Dr. Carter’s office.

  “It’s a great day at Dr. Carter’s. This is Harper. How can I help you?”

  “Hey, Harper! It’s Spiky Heels from the club last night. You can call me Sarah.”

  “Oh, hey! I have a cancellation on Monday morning at ten. Can you make it?”

  “Yes! You’re amazing.”

  “Last Name?”

  “Jones.”

  “I have you penciled in. Come in fifteen minutes early for paperwork.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “See you then! Bye.”

  That was easy.

  She enjoyed her coffee while perusing emails and paying bills. When the boredom of adulting took over, she closed the laptop and pulled on her sneakers.

  Andi approached the gym, witnessing the chaos from within spilling outside. With the expansion, equipment and furniture had been moved outside temporarily. One very confused patron attempted to walk on one of the unplugged treadmills on the front sidewalk of the gym. As Andi walked in, a trainer came out to guide them to a machine inside. They nodded to each other, maintaining straight faces and securing their places in heaven.

  Even though he looked exhausted, Declan looked happy with the progress. He had added new trainers and fighters and the place was a circus of construction workers and gym-goers. The new center ring installation looked incredible.

  A short bald man nodded in response to Declan’s sweeping gestures and pointed fingers at the lights. Andi walked up silently from behind and hugged him. He turned and kissed her without pausing his flamboyant pantomime to the construction worker.

  He knows I’m here. I guess I’ll go work out.

  She found herself so happy with Declan that it caught her off guard sometimes. Before, when she was fueled by rage and redemption, workouts would last for hours with some victorious, and often villainous scene, encompassing her goals. Now, she was lucky to get in thirty minutes every other day. As things were, she’d have to go back to spending hours there if she wanted to even see him.

  Despite how content she was with Declan, Andi was noticing a very distinct glint in his eye lately. His ambition and ability to focus and drive forward was admirable, but she felt like he was maybe too determined, and not on her.

  She peddled on a stationary bike as she plundered through his subtle changes. They were both in a busy part of their businesses, but still in that magical phase of a relationship where you feel you can never grow tired of the person.

  It was easy to feel sensitive to change, especially with the way her last relationship ended, but she had no reason to worry about Declan. He wasn’t cheating; he was simply swamped.

  The stern hand of her mind brushed away those concerns. Her feelings were valid, but they were misdirected. There was plenty to keep her busy, but she had slacked off just to be around him since they had started their unlikely romance. If she focused on work the way that he did, she could more than double her monthly revenue.

  My curtains would have curtains.

  Andi got in a great workout and even helped the most hilarious elderly pair of best friends with the weighted bags. Their salacious banter to each other only grew more endearing the worse they got. While struggling to keep a straight face, Andi learned some new swear words that she couldn’t wait to put into practice.

  Her workout concluded, Andi scanned the gym for Declan and caught him at a rare moment behind the desk, typing at the front computer. He now had five employees at Garrity’s Gym, but hadn’t been able to find anyone to actually help him run it.

  She sauntered up to him and he laughed, bending towards her for a kiss.

  “Hey, babe, I’m sorry I’ve been so busy.” He wrapped his arms around her, resting his massive biceps on her shoulders. “The installation went great. It’s finally shaping up to my vision.”

  They looked at the fake walls towards the back of the gym that were barely keeping the elements out. Once the work was done, it would be something special. Being jealous of his time away from her was silly. It would just be a temporary adjustment until he has it running the way he wants.

  “I have a lead on my new case. Apparently, the good dentist likes to operate a quid pro quo establishment.”

  “Oh, is that so?” His face was not amused.

  “I just need to get her on tape propositioning me, and look at her books, and I think we are golden.”

  “That sounds like entrapment.”

  “Um, it sounds like my job.”

  “You’re setting her up. How far do you plan to take it?”

  “Only as far as I need to, dad. It won’t get that far in a dentist’s office.” She laughed at his absurdity. He acts like he doesn’t know what I do for a living.

  “I’m not happy that you’re gonna use yourself as bait. It just seems dishonest and kinda… sketchy.”

  “For you, or for them?”

  “Both, I guess. I don’t want you making out with people, or worse, just for a payday.”

  “I’m flattered that you think I can operate as a one-woman temptation, but few cases rarely need my expert seductress skills.” She reached up to hug him, but he turned away.

  “I’m not kidding, Andi. I don’t like this.”

  “What if I promise to show you the video? It could be kinda hot.”

  “I’m not laughing. Put yourself in my shoes.”

  “It’s my job. Sometimes there is a little gray-area. I will try to be as clean as I can… I can’t think of how else to catch this one. I am the perfect clientele.”

  “It’s not cheating if it’s a job?”

  “It’s not cheating, period. I can’t believe I am even having this conversation with you.”

  “I can’t believe you don’t see how this would upset me. You mean a lot to me and I don’t want you involved with other people.”

  “I’m only involved with you. My work just puts me in unique positions sometimes.”

  “That’s exactly what I am worried about.”

  “For fuck’s sake.” Andi sighed. “Can we get a training session today?”

  “I am booked. Technically, I’m late.” He looked at his watch. “Work out with Max. He’s new. I’d love to get your opinion of him.”

  “I’ll skip it today, thanks.” She bit her lip. And then her tongue. Anxiety nestled into her stomach.

  “Come on. Max is great. You’ll be in excellent hands.”

  “I’m gonna go, actually. I just remembered that I was going to check on some things. Guess I will see you when I see you?”

  “Andi…”

  She gave him a sad wave and practically ran to the locker room to grab her things.

  Six

  Failing to cool off in the Jeep’s declining air conditioner, Andi’s hands itched to call Heather. That was not an option anymore. James wasn’t the shoulder to cry on, either. Declan was the source of her angst and it wasn’t like he was available, anyway.

  I will eat my feelings, then.

  An icy blast of arctic bliss welcomed Andi as she strolled into The Skull and Cones Ice Cream Parlor and stood at the counter. She always read the menu on her visits, but ordered the Soulless Dark Chocolate ice cream that was so dark it left her tongue black every time. That concoction, in a crispy homemade waffle cone, was the best treat in Dallas. She was probably going to have a double scoop, as it was her first meal of the day.

  Andi leaned over the counter to see if she could see in the back and Tessa came out, wiping her hands. The green remnants
of nasty bruises decorated her face and the pale, untattooed flesh on her arms. It nearly matched the color of her hair.

  Tessa met eyes with Andi and pulled her sleeves down while putting on a huge smile. “Hey, you! Haven’t seen you in a while. You want your regular soulless in a waffle cone?”

  “You know it. And make it a double. It’s been a shit day.”

  “I’m sorry to hear it. You okay?”

  “Yeah. I guess. I haven’t been in a relationship since I started my new career. It’s causing issues.”

  Tessa dug deep into the huge drums of ice cream and hooked Andi up with what had to have been a quadruple scoop in a massive waffle cone. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Andi accepted it graciously.

  “I thought you just caught cheaters?”

  “I do. But sometimes I’m the bait.”

  “Yeah, that will do it.” Tessa wore a thinly veiled grimace.

  Andi paid for a double scoop and then stuck a fiver in the tip jar.

  “It sounds bad, I know.” Tessa’s face scrunched up even further. “Okay, I get it! I would hate it if he did a job like mine.”

  “So you’re mad that he’s got a right to be mad?”

  “Not mad, just… It’s my career, you know? I put a lot into this. I never know when a job is going to require me to be crafty… this recent case just kinda landed that way.”

  “Seems like you already know the answer. When you are with someone, you can’t just think about yourself.”

  “I’m not ready to concede any part of myself, either. I am only just now getting shit right.”

  “Guess the real question is whether he is worth conceding for. You can’t have it both ways.”

  “I knew I liked you. Even if you are telling me shit I don’t wanna hear.”

  Tessa smiled at that.

  Not being able to help herself anymore, Andi leaned over the counter close to Tessa like she was grabbing napkins and met her eyes. “This isn’t the first time I’ve seen you beat up.”

  Tessa diverted her eyes away from Andi and grabbed a wet rag to wipe down the already pristine counter.

  “Look, it’s only going to get worse unless you do something about it.”

  Tessa looked back at Andi and shook her head. “Honestly, it’s not what it looks like. You know, our drums are deep–I’m always hitting myself. Bruised up my cheekbone, wrist, arm… Hell, I’ve cracked a rib bending over these things before.”

  “Just be careful. I know your kids work here. I’d hate to see them get the same injuries.” Andi pulled a business card out of her back pocket and slid it across the counter, and took her ice cream to go.

  Andi sat in her Jeep with the air conditioning running, eating and contemplating life. Relationships are a complicated thing, and no two are the same. In her mind, cheating and abuse could never be tolerated. She knew she would never cheat on Declan, but wasn’t the plan technically cheating on him to get the evidence she needed for her case? It isn’t entrapment if it was something offered freely, without coercion, right?

  I’m happy with Declan, but I’m not entirely sure that a relationship is worth the hassle. And the feelings.

  There was certainly no gray-area with abuse. Someone was beating the shit out of Tessa.

  The speakers of the Jeep came to life with a phone call. James.

  “Sup, fuckhead.”

  “You’re in a good mood.”

  “I’m eating a gallon of ice cream. Life is good.”

  “You said you were gonna text about coming over.”

  “Oops. Sorry, it’s been a day.”

  “I am free Friday morning. I promise it will be worth your time.”

  One of Andi’s eyebrows cocked up. Oh really, James.

  “It’s a date. Meet you at yours? Ten-ish?”

  “You bring food, and I’ll make coffee.”

  Seven

  Full of ice cream and anxiety, Andi collapsed on her couch. I just need to chill. Mindless streaming, here I come.

  Few people have the luxury of doing everything they want without affecting someone. Having people in her life would always make her susceptible to their opinions and feelings. She could choose to ignore them and risk the relationship, or she could adapt and concede where it was necessary.

  In her marriage, she conceded too much. Every inch of her being went into Kris’s dreams and happiness, and when he left, he took all that she knew with him.

  Declan’s questioning of her work, no matter how well-intentioned, made her flight responses amp up. It would be quicker to mourn the relationship now, than submit and rebuild later.

  Dealing with the pain of betrayal disguises itself to be the hard part, but the actual struggle is breaking back through the walls that all that “healing” builds up.

  Placing her existential crisis on hold, she nestled further into the couch and watched naked survival experts complain about sunburns and each other’s body odor.

  It was almost seven when Andi heard a knock at her door. With a sigh, she peeled herself from the couch she had vowed to stay on all night, and greeted the visitor.

  It was Declan, armed with food, drinks, and a guilty look on his face.

  “I closed the gym early. I hope you’re hungry.”

  Andi stepped back to allow him in. It had been a few hours since her ice cream feast, and it smelled wonderful. He laid out an elaborate procession of sushi on her coffee table while she sat quietly on the couch. This was an odd impasse. Neither felt they owed an apology, yet somehow, they both did.

  “This was very sweet of you. Are you sure the gym is okay without you?” She hadn’t meant for it to sound sarcastic, but that was just the shape of her mouth.

  “I left the keys with the foreman. I’m insured.” Declan let out an uneasy giggle and handed Andi a plastic plate and chopsticks. “What are we watching?”

  “I’m not even sure. It started playing something random after the last show—we can watch whatever you like.”

  Neither of them touched the remote and ate quietly while watching people survive a harsh Alaskan winter no one saw coming, except everyone who knows anything about Alaska.

  The only other sounds came from Declan’s phone buzzing every few minutes.

  “So,” Declan started, putting his empty plate on the coffee table, “I wanted to continue our conversation from earlier. I’m sorry that I upset you, but I still feel like using your body as bait, or however you want to justify it, is just a little too close to cheating, not to mention, dangerous. I don’t want to share you for any reason.”

  “It’s a thin line for sure, but you don’t trust me to do my job. I have never once slept with a client or target. A kiss or compromising position is as far as it’s ever gotten, and even that is rare. It’s the nature of the job sometimes.”

  “So, you’re going to go make out with the dentist? How much proof do you need?” His face was growing red through his olive complexion.

  “Not every case is going to be straightforward. My business revolves around the fact that I do what it takes. People can hire a licensed private investigator, but I’m not on any side of the law. I follow my own moral compass, and my livelihood depends on that.”

  “Look, I trust you. Honest. I…” He worked his hands through his hair. After picking the right words, he spoke again. “I don’t trust other people. What if you pull back when you have the perfect evidence, but the target doesn’t? You’ve been attacked before, you know that it can happen. It’s not just a jealousy or trust thing, it’s about safety. If someone hurt you, I don’t know what I would do.”

  Not that the idea hadn’t occurred to her before, she simply insisted that everything would be okay. He wasn’t wrong, and her luck would run out one day, but the payday always made the risk worth it.

  Their blossoming relationship was hinging on money. She would not stop taking risks because the pay was too good, and he would not be available for the near future because of his dreams for the gym, but she chose not to fight his argument with another one.

  Andi wanted to word her thoughts as precisely as possible, and she could feel his agitation grow as he waited for her to speak. “This is new territory. I haven’t had to do this job with a partner before and it’s difficult. As much as I respect your feelings, I need you to respect mine. I don’t go into my investigations hoping I have to get physical with the targets. You have to trust that I only do what is necessary to get the job done. I will always be open with you.”