Layers(70)

As he proceeds, his expression gradually obscures. “Once I actually had the beta version and got some investors to have a look at it, which finally led to the beginning of Stark SW, he began to show more interest. I think it was when the first time a rumor about a potential deal was mentioned in one of the magazines that I got an actual letter from his lawyer. I couldn’t believe my eyes, Hales. I thought it was one of his juvenile pranks. I almost congratulated him for pulling it off.”

He shakes his head, his mouth coiled with bitterness. “When I confronted him,” he resumes, “the bastard actually had the nerve to look me in the eyes and tell me that the venture should be both of ours.”

“Sounds like one hell of a friend,” I murmur.

“That he was,” Daniel counters dryly. “When it got to a court hearing he obviously didn’t have any solid grounds or evidence to prove his BS and so the case was closed just as quickly as it started.”

“Did you ever speak to him again?”

He takes a deep breath. “No, I made sure our paths didn’t cross again.”

“So it all started in college, your company. That’s remarkable,” I say admiringly.

“Yes, I worked my ass off, juggling between courses and developing my program till it became this small operation called Stark Software.” He scratches his upper lip with his thumb, and a glint of mischief appears in his eyes.

“So not a lot of close people,” I conclude quietly.

“I’ve got you now, Hales.” He radiates his sweet boyish smile, the one that’s reserved only for me.

“And what about ladies back then? Was it only work and study?” I ask, thinking about a younger version of him full of hormones in a promiscuous environment such as college. Bet he was some attraction. A naughty smirk forms on his lips as he murmurs, “Oh, there were plenty. I had my share of fun, rest assured, baby.”

I slap his abs playfully and feign a frown. I could line up each and every one of these blank faces in a row next to a gutter and execute their sentence for ever touching him. And I’d be doing it with a song in my heart.

“Hey, it was before you,” he raises his hands up in surrender and chuckles.

“What was it?” I say as though to myself. “Ah,” I grin at him teasingly. “Adultery, Daniel Stark, adultery. Even past events are now considered adultery.” I mirror his words from when Dave called me; he chuckles again and bends to plant a lush kiss on my lips.

“Plenty, Daniel?” I raise an eyebrow.

“What can I say,” he smirks. “I had to release the tension of all the hours I spent working hard.” He shrugs and I let out a grunt.

“So just casual sex, nothing serious?”

“Didn’t have the time or the inclination.”




Though I absently shake my head, I’m surprised at how similar we are after all.

“Well, sweetie, you want to talk about your past in that department?” he questions with a semi-annoyed yet wicked smile. I wince. “Thought so,” he mutters. “Don’t worry, that’s the last thing I want to hear about, especially here, given my punching bag is back at home.”

~~~

When Daniel eventually leaves for the beach I fall asleep under the caressing warmness of the noon sun, surrounded by “Baja Carols” pleasantly playing in the background.

“Hayley,” I am awakened by an unfamiliar voice; turning sleepily to the source, I notice two dark figures standing nearby. Blinking, I lift my hand to block the blinding light and with the shade I can get a better look at Rafael and another guy who seems his age and who actually resembles him. Looking around I realize Daniel hasn’t yet returned.

“Hi Rafael,” I say, confused about why he’s here.

“Hello Hayley, is Daniel around?”

“He went surfing,” I say, bothered by the way Rafael’s friend’s eyes trail slowly over my barely-covered body.

“I came to pick up a couple of textbooks I left here yesterday.”

“You can go ahead and get them, the house is open.” I nod toward the balcony doors.

“Just going to get them,” he mentions to his friend as he makes his way into the house. Feeling uncomfortable with the blunt gaze of Rafael’s friend I turn to sit upright. The thought of lying down under his observant eyes makes me self-conscious.

“Nice view,” he says with a sleazy grin, his eyes somewhat glossy, stare fixed on my breasts. I nod, squirming. Will he stop with the gawking? What is he doing? To my shock he boldly turns to sit next to me on the lounger, his closeness at the verge of intrusion. He’s so close his thigh almost touches mine and I can smell fumes of alcohol on his heavy breath.

“We can communicate from a distance,” I say, disturbed but making an effort to be subtle, given he is Rafael’s friend, perhaps even Daniel’s. Maybe I’m misreading the situation. But I want him far away from me, as far as possible.

“Why?” His eyes flicker wickedly. And then, to my complete alarm, he sends his finger running up my thigh, running up, way too close to the hem of my bikini bottom, inches from sliding under the fabric. He murmurs croakily, “You are so hot.” My heart beats frantically, probably palpable. I couldn’t be more repulsed by his touch.

And just as I am about to slap him and push him the hell away, I hear Daniel seethe, “What the f …?”