Fade-out: Take 2 of the Kanyon and Daylen Series, page 13
“Truly a mystery,” he said then dematerialized.
“Did she also mention how smart and funny I am?” she yelled at the sky. She was still chuckling to herself as she looked down at her watch. “Crap.” Kanyon jumped in her car. It had been over three hours since she left the office.
Back at the office, Daylen shot the clock a glare for the hundredth time. It was nearly three and a half hours since they left the office and Kanyon still wasn’t back yet. She fiddled with her cell phone wanting desperately to call Kanyon. She had already spent the last hour coming up with all kinds of ideas that would cause Kanyon to be late. She had even started to mentally categorize the options by various clothing requirements ranging from full, semi, and none. You are being ridiculous; maybe she just ran out of gas. Yeah right, Princess Kate wouldn’t let that happen. She rolled her eyes and they landed on the phone again. Just a quick call. “Yeah, Kanyon. Hi. I was just checking on you, because I’m a jealous stalker.”
Frustrated with herself, she opened the drawer to her desk and dropped in her phone. Her eyes scanned the room for a distraction but fell back on the digital clock on her desk. Three hours and forty… she moaned, picked up the clock, and gave it one swift yank, pulling the cord from the wall. Jerking her desk drawer open again, she stuffed the clock in with her phone. “Better!”
Restless, her fingers drummed an impatient beat on her desk as her eyes fell on Kanyon’s desk. Miranda had a big desk in her office... “Okay!” She stood quickly. “You really need to get a grip,” she ordered herself as she began to pace the room. “Or you need to get out of here.”
Daylen knocked on the doorframe of Theo’s office. “Hey, Theo.”
Theo looked up. “I’m just finishing up on the Miranda Chase research.”
She took a seat in the chair he had placed in the corner. “Please say she was a band geek, had zits, and wore braces and thick glasses.”
Theo lifted his head to look at her curiously over the top of his laptop. “I still don’t see how that helps?”
“It does, just leave the investigation stuff to me.” Daylen cringed at the harshness in her voice. “Sorry, Theo, I just want to be thorough.” She gave him a regretful smile. “What did you find?”
Theo pulled off the last few pages from his printer and handed them to Daylen. “Well, what I found was that she was a straight A student all through school. She even took college courses while still in high school, which included business classes. She was the head cheerleader and Homecoming Queen. She wasn’t part of the band, but she was part of the traveling choir, and apparently they were really good as they won state competitions all four years she was a member.”
Daylen dropped her head in her hands.
Theo continued, “I reviewed all of her student photos from the sixth grade through her senior year and she was smokin’ hot, no acne, no braces.” He looked up from his report in satisfaction only to see Daylen’s head buried in her hands, shaking back and forth. “Ah, was that not what you wanted? I can do it all over but I thought I got you everything you asked for?” He held out the report in her direction. “You can double check it?”
She took the report blindly. “No, Theo, you have done plenty. Nice job. I was just hoping for at least one little pimple.”
“I included the pictures in my report.” He looked at the pages Daylen now held in her hand. “Umm, the report you just twisted into a tight ball of paper.”
“God, sorry.” Daylen tried to flatten the pages back out by ironing them on her leg with her hand. “I’m sure your report is great.” Daylen stopped her crinkle straightening efforts when she heard the kitchen door open and shut.
“Cool, Kanyon’s back! I can’t wait to tell her about my first field assignment. You’re going to tell her how good I did, right? Remember you said I did good.”
“Yeah, sure. Absolutely,” Daylen replied absently, standing and turning as she heard Kanyon’s two stairs at a time ascent.
Kanyon came to a stop in front of Theo’s door. “Hey.”
“Hey,” was Daylen’s only reply back, despite the questions and accusations that were screaming to get out of her head.
“I tried to call. I was getting a little worried,” Kanyon said giving both of them a quick once over.
Call, really? And when exactly was it that you were worried, between make out sessions with Miranda? “Nope, all good.”
“Come up with anything?” Kanyon asked, stepping in to lean on the doorjamb.
“Oh, can I give her the lowdown?” Theo asked excitedly.
Daylen gave him a feel free indication with her hands.
“Cool, so we arrived at three minutes past the hour. I was walking in on Daylen’s right. She asked to speak to Steele, while I scanned the immediate area for possible clues and threats.”
Kanyon gave Daylen a quick, seriously, you’re going to let this happen? look.
Daylen sent back a “yep” lift to the corner of her mouth.
“His assistant was hesitant at first so I played the silent, but deadly type; like you better let us in or I’ll mess this place up, you know.” He stood quickly so he could repeat the performance for her.
Kanyon gave him an approving nod. “You do have to pull that card sometimes.”
“Yeah, right? And it totally worked too because we were in Steele’s office like two minutes later, right Daylen?”
“Two minutes, tops,” Daylen answered as she fought to keep the Kanyon as James Bond, seduce the villain scenarios out of her mind.
“Then we got into Steele’s office and I gave him the cool steely-eyed glare too.” Theo laughed at his own joke. “I gave the steely-eyed glare to Steele. Steel on Steele. Get it? Anyways, I was like you better not jerk us around or I’ll go all schoolyard bully on your butt.”
Kanyon suppressed a laugh. “Ohhh, nice one. Get him talking, did ya?”
“Totally. He started going on and on, spilling his guts. He was so intimidated that he would hardly even look at me. He was all eyes on Daylen, you know ‘cause she was playing the good cop.”
Kanyon glanced at Daylen. “Wouldn’t take his eyes off you?”
Daylen simply shrugged, liking that Kanyon was getting a taste of her own medicine. “Yeah, asked me out too.”
“Oh, really?” Kanyon asked, already not liking the guy.
“He totally did like a hundred times. He even showed her his penis,” Theo added.
Kanyon came off the doorjamb at that. “Umm, come again?”
“Yeah, it was like boom, right there. And I have to say ahhh, he was rather…” Theo cleared his throat. “Impressive.” Theo held his hands out for a basic measurement. “Not that I was staring or anything, but it was out there for everyone to see so-”
Kanyon had Theo by the collar and was lifting him across his desk, before either of them knew what had happened. “A guy freaking pulled out his... his Oscar Mayer and you just stood there measuring?”
Daylen grabbed one of Kanyon’s arms. “He didn’t let him show me anything. It was just a replica, not his actual… Oscar Mayer.”
“He gave us a tour and it was like in a trophy case,” Theo choked out.
“Kanyon, let him go! Geez,” Daylen ordered as she pulled on her arm.
Kanyon released Theo slowly, letting his feet touch the floor before she dropped him. “What the hell are you talking about? He had his penis in a trophy case?”
“It was like a before and after display case. Model cases for their testing lab or whatever. And Theo did a perfectly good job, he did great actually.”
Kanyon gave Theo an I might be sorry, but I’m not really sure yet wince. “So you guys took a tour of his penis growing factory?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t let him hurt her, touch her, or even get close to her just like you told me,” Theo said quickly, as he straightened his shirt and made his way back to his chair.
Daylen turned on Kanyon. “Like you told him to do? You told him not to let anyone get close to me, but you were up there for nearly four hours with Throw-Myself-at-You Barbie? Nice,” Daylen muttered as she stormed out of Theo’s office.
Kanyon stood there for a second, staring at the empty doorway, sighed, and then turned back to Theo. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go all Mel Gibson on you. Just when it comes to Daylen…”
“I know,” Theo said. “It’s totally cool. I didn’t let him-”
Kanyon waved a hand at him. “I know you didn’t, you did good. I’m sorry, I’ll make it up to you.”
“Will you come over and see my Season Three, Episode Twelve, Battle of Ithacia reenactment? I have it totally set up, just like the battlefield,” Theo asked, his eyes lit with excitement.
Kanyon swallowed hard. “Sure. Yeah, absolutely. We’ll even act out the battle if you want.”
“Sweet!” He high-fived himself before he realized what he was doing. He looked at Kanyon nervously, like his actions had wiped out the offer she’d just made.
“I’ll even pretend I didn’t see that.” Kanyon gave him a half smile. “I’m going to…” She hitched a thumb over her shoulder. “Go see Daylen.”
“Cool. Totally. I’m going to call my mom and see if she’ll bake us some fig tarts, you know for the battle, your favorite.”
“The Dark Savior’s favorite,” Kanyon corrected. “I like plain old chocolate chip cookies, no figs, no nuts.” She winked at him then left to go talk to Daylen.
She didn’t know why she did it, but she knocked before entering their office, opening the door slowly to see Daylen sitting at her desk, writing in her notebook. “I’m not exactly sure what happened in there but…” Kanyon started. “I’ll totally apologize for my part, grabbing Theo and-”
“And?” Daylen dropped her pen and looked up at Kanyon. “And for what else exactly?”
“Being late for one, but I have a good excuse,” Kanyon started to edge toward defensive.
“I’m sure you do. Let me guess.” Daylen pretended to think. “Her zipper got stuck?”
“Hey!” Kanyon stepped in and shut the door. “It’s not like that.”
“Oh, sorry. So her zipper didn’t get stuck, you just took your time.” Daylen knew she was being unreasonable, unfair, and a complete ass, but for some reason she couldn’t stop herself. “Did you even ask her for the diary?”
“Yes, she couldn’t find it,” Kanyon replied.
“What, it wasn’t in her bedside table?”
“Daylen, what the hell?” Though a part of Kanyon was really trying to remember what Ruby had said earlier, the other part, didn’t like being accused of just sleeping with anyone that offered. “You have no right to-”
“You’re right. I have no right to… to anything. You’re a grown woman, you can do anything or anyone you want. I’m completely out of place.” Daylen took in a calming breath, reeling in her emotions. She didn’t have any right, she didn’t have Kanyon, she didn’t have anything. She took another breath and dropped her head in her hands. “I’m sorry.” Then even softer, “God, I’m really sorry.”
Kanyon moved to sit on the edge of Daylen’s desk. She reached in, placing a hand under Daylen’s chin and lifting it, causing Daylen to meet her eyes. She simply stared into them for a long moment. “Nothing happened between Miranda and I. I would hope you would know that I wouldn’t do that.” Kanyon released Daylen’s chin and stood as she took her arm, pulling Daylen to her feet to stand in front of her. She cupped Daylen’s face in both of her hands. “I am not interested in anyone, but-” Daylen’s desk rang. Kanyon lifted her head to the ceiling. “You seriously have got to be freaking kidding me!”
Daylen laid her hands over Kanyon’s, drawing Kanyon’s eyes back to hers. “I believe you. I know you wouldn’t, and I know I don’t have any right to be… I’m sorry.” Her desk rang again. “I should probably get that,” she inserted quickly as she saw Kanyon begin to protest.
Kanyon nodded, dropped her hands, and stepped aside.
Daylen watched her and saw the frustration and… desire in her eyes? Daylen’s heart flipped and she was smiling by the time she reached into her desk drawer to grab her ringing cell phone. Before she answered she noticed she had a missed call and a text from Kanyon. “No diary. Kate is on my nervs. Switchn out cars. Tryd 2 call, u bettr b ok. b ther shortly.” Her smile widened as she hit the button and said hello to the caller.
A few minutes later Daylen found Kanyon in the hallway, staring at the wall between their office and her aunt’s. Daylen examined the wall curiously; nothing seemed out of order. “What are you looking at?” she finally asked.
“Nothing.” Kanyon turned to face Daylen. “What’s up?”
Daylen looked at Kanyon, then with an eye of suspicion, back at the wall. “That was Blue’s mom. She’s worried and asked me to run by and check on her. Care to ride along for a little parental intervention?”
Kanyon pushed off the wall and gave it another glance. “Sure.” She took two steps then leapt, landing directly in front of Theo’s door. “Theo, we’re going out. Protect the fort. Oh, and the diary was stolen from the museum. There’s a book… Hoyt’s Dynasty, Doris’ Dynasty, something like that. It was written in the 1950’s. It supposedly was written by a family member and might contain some dirty family secrets. Will you see if you can turn anything up on that while we’re gone?”
He saluted. “On it.”
“It was stolen?” Daylen asked as she followed Kanyon down the stairs.
Kanyon stopped her descent and turned. “Yeah, but since you brought it up, I didn’t actually check Miranda’s bedside table so maybe I should-”
“Not a chance in hell,” Daylen threatened as she pushed Kanyon forward.
Kanyon’s mouth quirked at the edge and she took a step back up the staircase toward Daylen, making them eye to eye. “We are so going to finish that conversation later.”
“Right,” Daylen managed to say, despite the heat that was shooting through her body.
Kanyon felt and then saw desire add a flash of color to Daylen’s otherwise light skin. She was tempted to take Daylen’s mouth to hers right then and there, but she knew once that happened she wouldn’t be able to stop. Blue may need them, Theo was right there, and well, stairs wouldn’t be all that comfortable for what she had in mind, so she took a slow step away from Daylen. “Later,” she confirmed and possibly threatened at the same time.
Daylen nodded. “Later.”
Outside, Daylen didn’t see Kanyon’s car then she remembered her text. “You really went home to change out your car?”
“Yeah, I texted you,” Kanyon said, walking over to the replacement ride.
“Seriously, just ‘cause you got tired of Princess Kate’s voice?”
“Long story, I’ll tell you later. Come on, get on.” Kanyon said as she picked up her helmet, slid it on her head, then held out another for Daylen.
Daylen stood frozen, her head being the only thing able to move, as it was doing a “no-go” back and forth.
Kanyon flipped up her visor. “Come on, I promise to be careful.”
“We can take my car,” Daylen suggested.
“It’ll be fun.” Kanyon waved the helmet at Daylen. “Commee on, you know you want to.”
Daylen took a tentative step forward and took the helmet. “You couldn’t have switched the Bond car out for a nice big SUV? I mean you have what, ten of them?”
“Eight. But they were too slow, I was running late, and wanted to get back to… the office,” she finished with a smirk. Kanyon swung her leg over the bike then patted the seat behind her. “Get on and you can hold on to me.”
Daylen shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.” She slid the helmet on, then began to fumble with the chinstraps.
Kanyon reached out and grabbed the bottom of Daylen’s jacket, pulling her close. “Here, I’ll do it.” Kanyon laced the helmet’s straps then couldn’t resist running a finger down the side of Daylen’s neck. She felt Daylen’s pulse quicken under her touch. She smiled and gave a short nod toward the back of the bike.
Daylen slid onto the bike behind Kanyon, putting two tentative hands on Kanyon’s hips.
Kanyon fired up the motorcycle and it began to vibrate beneath them. Kanyon looked over her shoulder. “You’re going to want to hold on tighter than that.” She flipped down her visor as she revved the engine and kicked the bike into first gear.
The sudden movement had Daylen grasping Kanyon around the waist and plastered against her back. Much better, Kanyon thought.
Daylen was acutely aware of every single part of her body that was touching Kanyon, being every inch of her sizzled with electricity. She also realized the motorcycle was only partially to blame for what was going on, on the lower half of her body, which turns out to be a miraculous and effective cure for stopping the images of the bloody and painful deaths they’d have if they wrecked. At the moment, the only thing she was aware of was the way Kanyon felt as she and the bike moved as one through the streets.
“Daylen,” Kanyon said softly. “We’re here, you can let go now.”
“Right. Sorry.” Daylen quickly released Kanyon’s waist and peeled herself off her back.
“Like the ride?”
“I liked not dying.” And loved feeling your muscles moving underneath me, she thought.
“Told you I’d be careful.”
They both got off the bike and Daylen began to fumble with the chinstraps again, unable to find how to release them. Her movements stalled mid-fumble and her vision went all slow-mo when Kanyon took off her helmet, shook out her hair, and ran her fingers through it while it fell back in its perfectly relaxed way, resting comfortably around her shoulders.
Kanyon caught Daylen watching. “Sorry, here let me help you.” She released the helmet with two quick movements then lifted it off Daylen’s head.
“I’m sure my hair looks like a flat, nasty mess,” Daylen said self-consciously, as she too ran a hand through her hair.
Kanyon hung the helmets on the locking latches then turned back stepping up to Daylen. She lifted her hand, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Daylen’s ear. “You are beautiful as always.”
