by Heidi McVay
Zarek felt his face flush at the words. He tightened his hand, gripping the glass. Maybe the drink was a good idea. He lifted it and took a sip, relishing the burn as the liquid made its way down his throat. Finally, he leveled his gaze at the older man. The numbness that he’d felt for so long had begun to recede, and now, there was genuine annoyance. He found himself answering Kurt without filter. “Yes. Why?”
Kurt nodded slowly. He drew in a deep breath and then released it slowly. “I can see how a woman like that might mix you up, make you rethink your feelings for my daughter.”
Of all the statements for Kurt to make, that was not what Zarek had been expecting. His guard was up in the space of a single breath. His father-in-law pressed his lips into a thin line, though beyond that, Zarek couldn’t find a single hint of emotion. “I don’t want her around my granddaughter.”
Zarek stared at him in disbelief. “I don’t think I heard you right.” Kurt’s gaze lingered on him as he nursed his drink in silence for long seconds. Neither of them spoke as those seconds dragged into minutes, interminable and unending. Just what game was the old man playing?
“When I wrote Tatiana out of my will, I didn’t make provisions for the baby.” When Zarek lifted his brow in silent question, Kurt’s voice sharpened. “I thought it would be a kindness to let you know that I’m going to be meeting with my attorney tomorrow. I’m going to be making arrangements for Evelyn. She’s our only grandchild, after all. And now, there won’t ever be any others. It only makes sense to leave everything to her.”
Kurt’s voice was as cold as it ever was. “But Evelyn’s inheritance will be administered by a third-party. You’re never getting your hands on my money, McCall.”
Something inside Zarek snapped, and he tossed back the rest of the scotch, sliding forward in his seat to place the empty glass down on the low table between them. He pinned Kurt with a hard stare. “So the truth finally comes out. Took long enough.”
The other man simply stared right back; the hatred laid bare in his eyes. “I know you married Tatiana because you thought she’d get everything. You didn't love my daughter, so don’t sit here and pretend like you did-”
“I didn’t love her. You’re right about that. And she didn’t love me. She hated me. And eventually, I hated her too. But I always treated her with more respect than she ever showed me.” Zarek didn’t even try to temper his tone now. “I don’t want your money, Landais. I’m perfectly capable of earning a living. And you may not like my line of work. I don’t give a shit if you think I’m soft because of what I do. Hell, I don’t give a shit what you think, period.” Zarek knew the instant Kurt registered the heat to his words, heat he’d never dared show the man before.
The older man’s face turned darker as he leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “If you bring that woman near my granddaughter again, you can be damn sure Evelyn never sees a dime of it.” Zarek’s hackles rose as Kurt continued. “If you know what’s good for her, you’ll leave that baby here with us for good, so we can raise her right. But if you bring Scarlett Landry around her again, Evie will get nothing.”
Without stopping to think, Zarek responded on pure gut instinct. “You can take your money and shove it up your ass, Kurt. That’s the woman I’m going to marry if I get my way. If you ever want to see Evie again, you’ll treat her with respect and welcome her with open arms. Because if you don’t, I’ll be damn sure that you never see my baby girl again.” The words were out of his mouth before he realized just how very true they were. He wanted to marry Scarlett. He wanted to build a life with Scarlett. He wanted to be a family with Scarlett.
“I’m her father. I decide who she spends time with. And considering the disaster of a human being that your own daughter was, you better believe I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that my child has a better chance than her mother did.” Zarek’s voice never rose above that same soft note, and he felt zero guilt about how he responded to the imperious manner of the man he’d always tried to like and failed.
Zarek wished to God that he hadn’t drunk the scotch already, because now he really did need a goddamn drink. He drew in a long, slow breath and stared at Kurt. Finally, he gave the man the truth, without preamble, justification, or excuses. “I hated your daughter. I hate you. I like your wife; she’s great. But I see now just why Tatiana was so fucked up, and I’ll be damned if I let you fuck up my kid the way you did your own.”
It was as if he’d slapped the other man right across the face. Landais’s jaw tightened. He cleared his throat and nodded, as if in answer to some internal question. “You’re treading on dangerous ground, McCall. I could just sue you for custody.”
Fuck. Now he wanted the entire damn bottle. This was not a conversation he wanted to have with Kurt. Not now, not ever. Still, he wasn’t going to back down, no matter how horrible this exchange was. It had been a long time coming. “You can try. But we both know you don’t have a leg to stand on. There’s no court in this state or any other that would see it your way. And secrets have a way of coming out, especially in a court case, Kurt. So I’d think long and hard before you threaten me or mine again. Especially given that I know way more about you than you think I do.”
Kurt’s expression broke into something Zarek had never seen on the other man’s face before. “You know, son. I always knew you were a little soft. But here you are, finally showing some fucking spine. Never figured you for the type to play hardball. I can respect that.”
“When it comes to my family, you better fucking believe it.” Zarek spat the words at Kurt and rose to his feet. “Now, if we’re done with the pissing contest, I’ll be on my way.”
As he turned for the door, his former father-in-law snapped his fingers.
“Fine. Evelyn will inherit everything. No strings.”
This was not the way this conversation was supposed to go. Zarek gaped at the other man. “I’m so confused right now. I’m not sure what you… did you just somehow compliment me and insult me in one statement?”
“Yes,” Kurt admitted without hesitation. “Because while I may not like you, I love Evie. She’s the only part I have left of Tatiana.” The man’s voice broke for just a moment. He cleared it and stood up from where he sat. “Can you understand that?”
Cautiously, Zarek folded his arms over his chest, staring at Kurt for a moment, his gaze uncertain. “Level with me, Kurt. What did I ever do to you to make you hate me so damn much?”
“She was my baby, and you took her from me. You took her from me, and then you broke her heart. ” Kurt’s expression was suddenly odd again. This time, the grief he saw in the older man’s eyes tore at his heart.
Zarek huffed out a bitter laugh as he began to understand exactly what had happened. “No. You broke her heart. You cut her off, and she made me her fucking target, Kurt. She got pregnant on purpose, knowing I’d marry her because I wanted to have a family. I think there’s something you need to hear.”
*
Scarlett perched on the sofa beside Miranda Landais as the woman cooed at Evie, who was eating up the attention. Just like Zarek, when he’d been a kid, the little girl didn’t have a shy bone in her body.
“She looks so much like both of them.” Miranda spoke softly as she tickled Evie beneath the chin. Evie gave a gurgling laugh as she wrinkled her nose and grabbed for the string of pearls Miranda wore. Miranda, for her part, drew the baby closer, showing no sign of minding. “I wanted to apologize to you, Scarlett.”
Startled, she lifted her eyes from Evie to Miranda. “I’m sorry. What?” Apologize? What on earth could the woman have to apologize for?
“Tatiana treated you horribly.” Miranda’s voice was still quiet, her eyes on Evie. “I know what she said to you. She hated the idea of you before she actually hated you. She was always so paranoid about Zarek’s friendship with you, and after he told her you’d be in the wedding, Tati just couldn’t cope.”
The woman seemed absorbed in the baby and
never lifted her eyes from Evie’s face, drawing the toddler closer to brush a kiss over her forehead. Her words were murmured as if she weren’t even aware she was speaking them now. “He told her how much you meant to him, and she was always so hard-headed, jumping to conclusions. I almost managed to convince her to let it go, but then that night happened. She called me, and she was just so upset after he left the night they fought. I truly think something inside her broke that night. She knew she could never measure up to you in his eyes.”
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Landais. I never meant to cause any tension between the two of them.” Scarlett tried her best to find the words to soothe the woman, but mostly she wanted this conversation to be over.
“Zarek loved Tatiana. I know he did. He told me the night before the wedding.”
Miranda’s eyes lifted to her face as if she were startled by the words. “Maybe he thought he did. Who knows with men? But, it doesn’t change what he did that night. I’d hoped that it would be enough to show her that they weren’t right for each other. And it did, for a while. But then she found out she was pregnant, and you know the rest, I guess.”
“What did he do?” Scarlett voiced the question softly, unable to hide her confusion behind polite conversation anymore. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“He said your name.” Miranda repeated, tipping her head to the side. “You…you didn’t know?” The woman arched a brow as Evie gave a happy yelp. “Daaaaaa!” She twisted in Miranda’s lap and bounced happily as Zarek and Kurt entered the room once more.
Zarek offered her a half-smile. “I think we’re going to go, Miranda. It’s getting late.”
“But dinner!” Miranda began to rise, settling Evie on her hip. “You can stay here. Go to the lake in the morning.”
“Thank you for the offer, Miranda. I really think we should be going.” Zarek stepped forward, hands rising to take his daughter.
Miranda’s eyes widened, an irrational kind of fear entering her gaze. “Zarek, please. Don’t go. I need…”
“Miranda.” Kurt’s voice was gentle, and as Scarlett looked between him and Zarek, she couldn’t help but notice that something in the air between the two men seemed to have shifted. “If Zarek says they need to go, then they need to go.”
“Evie could spend the night. We haven’t seen her in so long. It would just…” Miranda’s grip on the baby tightened, and Evie gave a soft grunt. The moment was both heart-wrenching and incredibly awkward.
“You can pick her up tomorrow, and we’ll all have lunch. Please? Just for tonight, Zarek?”
Scarlett watched as Zarek hesitated and then nodded slowly. She could see the sympathy in his eyes when he spoke the words. “Sure. I’ll take Scar to the car and send Evie’s bag up with Marco, okay?”
Relief flooded the other woman’s eyes as she surged forward and wrapped Zarek in a one-armed hug. Miranda rose on her toes to brush a kiss over Zarek’s cheek, her hand coming to rest on his face when he straightened. “You’re a good man, Zarek McCall. Thank you.”
Kurt cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Okay, Miranda. You’ve got your way, that’s enough, darling.”
Miranda reached out and squeezed Scarlett’s hand lightly, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek unexpectedly. To her surprise, the woman’s eyes were misting over once more, but this time there was genuine gratitude in her eyes. “Take care of him. God knows, Tatiana never could.”
Scarlett’s confusion was only mounting. Take care of Zarek? Why? He was a grown damn man, and in three days, she would be gone. Back to reality, back to life, back to the quiet normalcy of life where Zarek McCall wasn’t the center of her world anymore. She glanced at Zarek, who had followed Kurt toward the door.
She nodded and gave the woman the words she so obviously wanted, with a warm smile. “I will, Miranda. Enjoy Evie. Goodnight.”
Neither she nor Zarek spoke until he’d handed off Evie’s diaper bag to Marco and started the engine of the SUV. Zarek’s voice was low as he pushed out a breath. “I’m really sorry about that. That was… I don’t even know the word for it. Awkward doesn’t even start to cover it
“Sad.” She supplied and then heaved a sigh. “But it’s done, at least for now.” She fell silent as Zarek backed out of the space and began to maneuver them through the parking garage and back toward the street. She turned her attention to the window, her curiosity on the brink of getting her trouble again. “Zarek, Miranda said something tonight. I want you to explain it to me, okay?”
He glanced at her for a moment as he nodded. “Sure. If I can. She wasn’t exactly herself, but I guess that’s to be expected. What did she say?”
Scarlett wasn’t even sure how to begin to broach the subject. “She said you and Tatiana had a fight and broke up for a while before she found out she was pregnant. I remember that. You never told me what that fight was about. It wasn’t about me, was it?”
The very idea that he’d broken off a relationship with someone he loved over her tore her apart for some reason. It was old news; it was done; it shouldn’t have an impact. Yet, as she sat there in the car, watching the lights of the strip outside the car window, it suddenly mattered very much. “I didn’t ruin your marriage before it started, did I?”
He was suddenly very still. When Zarek spoke, his words came very slowly, as if he were choosing them carefully, too carefully. “The fight wasn’t about you. Not exactly. You didn’t ruin my marriage, Scar. I should never have gotten married. I should have listened…”
“But Miranda told me you said my name. So the fight had to have involved me. I don’t understand. What did she mean?” It niggled at her. Deep in the pit of her stomach, it felt like she should know what the woman had been talking about. But for the life of her, it just didn’t align.
Zarek’s face was stony when she dared to look at him again. His jaw was tight as he turned off the strip and toward the freeway. It wasn’t until they were back on the interstate that she saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. His voice was oddly thick when he spoke. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
For some reason, anger flared within her. She’d been trying, just as he’d asked, to talk, and now he wanted to check out of the conversation when it got uncomfortable. He must have sensed her rising irritation because he glanced at her and then drew in a breath. “Scar, it’s…” He trailed off and then gave one of those growls of irritation. “I’ll tell you when the time is right, but right now, it won’t do any good.”
“You want us to be friends again, right?” She was baiting him now. It was the only weapon Scarlett had left. And at this particular moment, she felt absolutely no guilt about it.
“Yes,” Zarek confirmed softly as he leaned on the console, head cocked in that way that told her he was paying attention, though he kept his eyes on the road. “What are you getting at?”
Scarlett chose that moment to hit him with another dose of reality. “How can that ever happen if you won’t even tell me something that simple? If you won’t even trust me with that?”
His voice was instantly harsher as he straightened. “But it’s not simple, Scar. It’s really not. It’s got nothing to do with trust and everything to do with the fact that some things are just private. This is private, and it’s not open for discussion.”
Well, fuck Zarek and his damn logic. Scarlett didn’t want logic. She wanted blood. The anger was back, and this time there was no outlet for it and no way out of the damn car. “Fine. Keep your secrets. It doesn’t matter. It won’t change anything. When the funeral is over, I’ll be going home anyway, and I won’t have to deal with you again.”
“Oh come on, Scar. Don’t be like that.” There was no wheedling in his tone, only a soft appeal. “We’ve had a decent day, please don’t do this. You can’t expect me to tell you private shit right now. Not after the day, I’ve had. It’s not fair. I’ve told you that I will tell you when I’m ready. Please just respect that, and let’s enjoy our night.”
Fuck him and his damn logic again. Enjoy her night? How was she supposed to enjoy her night? She was going to be stuck with this man alone. All night. How in the hell was she supposed to maintain her distance and keep him at bay when every moment alone with him made her body rebel against her brain? Even now, annoyed and tempted to smack him just for the sake of smacking him, she could still fucking smell him. Clove and sandalwood. An earthy masculine scent that clung to him as if it seeped from his very skin. How could she enjoy her night when she wanted to climb him like a fucking tree and kick him in the balls, both in equal measure, with the same intensity?
She had to choose between her indignation and her innate need to soothe him. It was a need that had never quite gone away, and now it shamed her that she couldn’t seem to shake it now when she needed to most. Scarlett nodded to herself and allowed the need to soothe him to win out, telling her it was for the sake of Zarek’s peace. She reminded herself for the umpteenth time in the last two days that he was going through hell, and she had no right, none, to make it harder on him. Scarlett purposefully didn’t answer him, the illogical moron.
Chapter Seven
It was a rare moment in Zarek’s life that he ever wanted to hit anyone, much less a woman. But as he glared at the taco, he held he wanted nothing more than to get back into the car, drive back to the Desert Pony, and go slap Miranda Landais. He should have known that his mother-in-law knew about that night, knew what he’d done. She’d never brought it up, never given any indication that she knew, but of course, Tatiana had told her. That’s what women did.
Scarlett hadn’t spoken a word since his appeal to her to let them just enjoy the night. He hadn’t been alone with her since the night he’d left her in her apartment, the night when he’d been so tempted to change everything.