As If You Never Left Me Part 16

"What about tonight?" she prodded.

He dragged his attention back. His brain had gotten her naked on the kitchen table in a matter of seconds. Why was she still sitting in front of him with her clothes on? Oh, right, because this was reality. "I thought I might call Virginia and see if she has a room free for tonight. We could have sort of a mini-vacation."

She nodded reflectively. "I've always kind of wanted to stay there."

"Great. I'll make the arrangements."

"What about tomorrow, though? Perry'll need help."

"I'll take care of it." He leaned forward, catching that annoying bit of syrup with his lips. "Just leave it all

up to me."

She smiled. "Okay. I'll do that. See if you can get the Romance Room."

"I will." Although he couldn't help but wonder what exactly Virginia's idea of a Romance Room might

be.

Joely found herself daydreaming on her way to work. It was nice to be romanced, but she knew the

novelty would wear off eventually. She also knew the difference between being courted by Rey and

being married to him. The latter hadn't been such a bad deal, when their marriage had been a priority. And he was ready to make it a priority again. He'd proven that, she thought, by coming all this way to put things right. He'd gone to a great deal of effort and seemed willing to do whatever it took to make things work. The least she could do was give him a chance.

She was ready, she thought as she pulled into a parking s.p.a.ce in front of the boutique. Ready to take the plunge, to see where it took them.

Ready to be his wife again.

The thought brought tears to her eyes. She brushed them away as she walked into the shop. She hadn't realized, when he'd shown up here a week ago, how much she truly wanted him back in her life.

It occurred to her, looking around at the shelves of pottery, jewelry and knick-knacks, that she could give this up. If it came down to it, she, too, would be willing to sacrifice her job to reclaim her marriage.

She would tell him that tonight. She would tell him that, and she would tell him how much she loved him, how much she wanted to be able to wake up in bed next to him every morning for the rest of her life.

Smiling through tears of happiness, she went to the cash register and started preparations for her day.

Rey popped in just before lunch with a smile on his face. He approached Joely and dropped a kiss on

her mouth, casually, as if they'd been married for years. A quick thrill ran through her, the same kind of thrill his touch always evoked in her, even a touch suitable for public consumption.

"Having a good day?" he asked. His fingers trailed down her back as he stepped away.

"So far." Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Perry's grin. "You?"

"I chatted with Virginia on the phone this morning. She asked me to come down and look at rooms so I could pick one out. So I'm headed over there."

"Get something nice," said Perry.

He winked at her. "Don't worry. I will. Can I bring you two back some lunch?"

"Of course," said Perry.

"All right. I'll be back in a bit, then." He kissed Joely again. "I'd take you with me but I want the room to be a surprise."

She watched him go. She never got tired of watching his retreating rear.

"Looking good," said Perry.

Joely c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at her. "You can stop leering at my husband any time now."

Perry laughed. "I didn't mean that. I meant the whole progress of the relations.h.i.+p thing."

"Yes, I'd have to say progress is good."

"And you called him your husband. That's a good sign."

Surprised, Joely realized she had, indeed, referred to Rey as her husband. "You're right."

"And he does look fine in a pair of Levi's." Perry's smile had gone wicked. Joely rolled her eyes, but made no effort to argue.

The afternoon flew by, as Joely found herself thinking far too much about what awaited her this evening. What kind of room would he pick for them? She knew Virginia's lodge had a variety of eccentrically decorated rooms, but she'd never actually seen any of them other than the one where Rey had stayed his first night here. What else did he have planned?

Holding down the fort while Perry took a break, Joely leaned on the counter and settled her chin onto one hand. She pictured herself reclining on a pink-quilted bed in a sumptuously decorated room, pink roses spilling from vases on the chest of drawers, while Rey poured champagne into a gla.s.s and lifted it in a toast.

To us, he would say, and then she would tell him what she'd decided. I don't need a month, she would tell him. I'm ready to take you back now, for better or for worse, forever.

And she would kiss him then, and, champagne forgotten, they would roll back into the pretty pink bed- "I can't believe this. Who do these people think they're fooling?"

The mocking, female voice cut through Joely's dreamy thoughts, and she lifted her head. A pair of women stood next to one of her displays of clay pottery. It was an older set, one she'd designed about eight months ago. Only a few of the pieces were left. The taller of the two women held a candy dish upside down, looking at the marks on the bottom.

"Just as I thought," the woman went on. "Taking complete credit." She set the dish back down with a clunk that made Joely wince. "All these others are just knockoffs, as well."

Joely straightened, resisting the urge to demand what the woman was blathering about. Those pieces most certainly were not knockoffs-she'd designed them herself and created them with her own sweat and tears.

The other woman posed the question, though more tactfully than Joely would have. "What makes you so sure they're knockoffs? They look like nice pieces."

The first woman snorted. "I saw these exact pieces at a boutique in Soho before we left for Vail. These podunk designers think they can get away with stealing designs from more established artists because out here in the middle of nowhere, who's going to know?" She waved dismissively at Joely's heartfelt work. "I wouldn't waste a penny on these."

A boutique in Soho. Joely swallowed, a horrible thought rising in the back of her mind. She didn't have time to work out all the implications, but she knew they were bad. Very bad.

"Excuse me, ma'am," she said.

The more abrasive of the two women jumped, as if only then becoming aware of Joely's presence.

"I'm sorry?" she said.

"You said you saw these pieces in New York. Could you tell me who the manufacturer was?"

The woman looked affronted. "I was having a private conversation with my friend."

If you wanted to have a private conversation, maybe you shouldn't have been shouting, you annoying woman. Out loud, Joely just said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. But you can understand that I'd want to know if one of my artisans was stealing ideas. I could get into some legal trouble, and I certainly don't want that." Her voice, to her surprise, sounded not only level, but civil and accommodating.

The woman seemed placated. "They were at a boutique in Soho. But I'm certain you heard that part." She sniffed and paused. Joely got the feeling she was waiting for another apology. She wasn't going to get one. "I believe," the woman finally went on, "the manufacturer was Cherokee Ceramics."

Joely's stomach went cold. This was worse than she'd thought. "I used to work for Cherokee Ceramics."

The woman raked her with a glare. "Then I would suggest you have a talk with whatever artisan is now blatantly stealing from your former employer."

"I made those pots," Joely said, her voice cold. "And I most certainly did not steal the designs from those misogynistic, arrogant b.a.s.t.a.r.ds at Cherokee."

The woman's eyes widened. Her companion grasped her by the elbow. "I think we should go."

"I don't think so. I want an apology."

But Joely had been pushed past her limit. "If anyone in this store is going to apologize, it's going to be you, to me. Otherwise, I suggest you leave. Now."

Haughtily, the woman gathered herself and stalked out of the store. Her companion followed, mouthing, "Sorry," over her shoulder.

Joely barely registered that they'd left. She stood stiff, shaking, her fists clenched against the counter. How was this possible? She'd parted company with Cherokee long before she'd designed that set of pots. How could they have possibly seen them?

The door to the office opened and closed behind her. Perry breezed back into the front room, then stopped.

"Joely. What's up?"

She turned toward Perry. Her face was cold, her emotions swinging wildly from anger to despair to rage. "I'm not sure yet. Something bad."

"Tell me."

Joely nodded. She told Perry about the woman's accusations, but in the middle of the story, she suddenly stopped. Because suddenly she knew the question. The question that had nagged at her ever since Rey had arrived, but which she'd somehow been unable to put words to.

"What?" said Perry.

"Rey," Joely whispered, barely able to vocalize the thought. "This is too much of a coincidence."

"I don't get it."

Joely's fist clenched on the counter. "It's been bugging me this whole time. Why did he come? What brought him out here in the first place? Did he really ditch his whole life just to come here and declare his love?"

"Joely, no-"

"He has something to do with this. I'm sure. And I'm going to find out what."

She spun, heading toward the door. Perry caught her by the arm. "Joely, wait a minute."

Reflexively, Joely jerked her arm free from Perry's grasp. "What? Wait for what?"

"Whatever this is, and whatever it might have to do with Rey, you might not want to know."

Joely shook her head. "No. This is too important. If he's holding something back from me, I need to find out what it is."

She grabbed her coat and half-ran out of the shop.

She should have known it was all too good to be true.

Her first instinct was to confront Rey directly, but she stopped abruptly on the steps leading to the front door of the lodge. If she found another way to find out what was going on, she could avoid a direct confrontation if Rey turned out not to be hiding anything. For a moment she stood there, one foot on the top step, chewing her lip. Then she turned and went back to the shop.

Perry looked up hopefully as Joely stormed back in.

"Change your mind?"

"Nope," said Joely. She stalked into the office and slammed the door behind her.

Part of her wondered what the h.e.l.l she was doing. Why ruin something that was going along so well?

But, leafing frantically through her old address book, she knew the answer. She had to know the truth.

By the time she found the number she was looking for, she had calmed slightly, but not enough to deter her from her purpose. Closing her eyes, she took a long, slow breath. When she could no longer feel her heartbeat slamming in the back of her throat, she picked up the phone.

"Beckford and Taylor," said the voice on the other end. "Corporate Law. This is Lisette. May I help you?"

Joely took another breath, surprise to discover she was on the verge of hyperventilating. "Is Bill Beckford in?"