by Unknown
The phone rang again and irritation consumed him. If it was Olivia again, he would really lay into her this time. Nope. It was Jordan. “I already told Olivia…”
“Shut up and listen to me,” Jordan snapped.
“No, you listen to me, Jordan. You and your well-meaning better-half just need to butt out. This isn’t your concern.”
“Yeah, well, it might not be your concern either,” he retorted.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Rich yelled.
Jordan took a deep breath. “How ‘bout you just meet Clayton downtown for a press conference with the governor?”
“Is Kate there?”
“Rich, I think…”
“Is she there?” Rich demanded.
“Yes,” Jordan whispered.
“Then I am not going to meet Clayton. I am coming to the station.” As if there would be a debate.
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”
“Why?” Silence was his only response. “Why, Jordan, what’s going on? Dammit, you were so eager to talk before. Spit it out. You know what? Never mind. I’m just around the corner.”
“Rich…”
Rich closed the phone, successfully cutting off any further protest. Nothing could keep him away from the station now that he knew Kate was there. The familiar green Jetta was parked near the fence and, as he pulled in, his heart sank to his toes only to jump into his throat. The pounding made it hard to breathe. What was he doing?
Another ring made him jump. “What do you want, Nate?”
He was breathing heavy. “Have you gotten to the station yet?”
“Just pulled in.” Rich eased the car into a space and cut the engine.
“I’m about seven minutes away. Why don’t you wait for me, buddy?”
“Buddy? What the hell is going on, Nate?”
“Um…I just think…”
“You know what, you all need to stop thinking. Stop trying to know what’s best for me. I need to see Kate. Now.” He was excited and nervous as hell.
“Rich, there’s something that Kate needs to tell you,” Nate said quietly.
“And you know this…how?”
“Jordan and Olivia.”
“Of course.” Rich was done playing games, done waiting. This day had been on his mind for the last six months and he was not waiting another minute. “Dammit, Nate, I’m a big boy. Nothing she can say can hurt more than the limbo I’ve been in.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Nate sighed into the phone. “Listen, I’ll be there in five minutes. Wait for me, huh?”
“Drive faster, sunshine, I’m getting out now.” Rich grabbed hold of the handle and jerked the door open, closing it with a slam. He left all his gear in the truck and headed toward the building.
“Rich, please wait…”
Rich hit the power button and let the phone slip into his pocket. Through the plate glass door he could see Kate sitting behind her desk, chatting away with Olivia. Kate threw her head back and laughed, her hand covered her mouth.
Warmth spread from his heart to every cell in his body. To see her happy and well meant everything to him. It was what he’d always wanted for her. Rich searched for the courage to actually wrap his fingers around the handle and put himself that much closer to her.
The gate opened and he saw Nate pull through. Rich would not let his friend talk him out of this. Seeing him was all the encouragement Rich needed. Without another thought, his hand tugged and cool air washed over him.
“Rich,” Nate’s voice called just before the door closed.
Olivia and Kate looked in his direction, and Rich tried to force a natural looking smile. Olivia jumped up and ran over to liberate the donuts from his hands. Her eyes were full of panic—pity, which added to the anxiety that was making his stomach roll. She gave him a supportive smile then hurried off in the direction of the assignment desk. Rich’s eyes were locked on Kate’s. He forced his feet to slowly walk in her direction, careful to watch for any signs that he needed to change direction or stop all together.
“Rich.” His name was only a whisper on her lips. She stood, smiled, and slowly made her way over to him. Going up on her toes, she kissed him on the cheek. “I have missed you so much.”
His mind was swimming. She had changed—drastically. His friends’ phone calls all made sense. They’d been worried and concerned, and their urging him to not see her for the first time in a public place was because of those dramatic, life altering changes.
“I, uh…you look…good, Kate.” His voice cracked as her name glided over his vocal cords.
Something really painful slammed into his chest; a dagger, maybe, he couldn’t be sure. His heart ripped in two. He crossed his arms over his chest to hold it together. His teeth gnawed on the inside of his cheek to keep the tears that stung his eyes from making an appearance.
“Thanks.” She reached out to touch him and Rich jerked away, taking a step back to put more space between them. She frowned and ran her hand over her pregnant belly. “I should have told you.”
“No, this is the perfect way to find out.” Emotion seeped into his voice and Rich hated that. This was not the place to fall apart. “I, um…I have to get to my assignment. It was good to see you.” He turned without letting her say anything more and headed toward the door, nearly plowing into Nate, who followed him outside.
“How could she?” Rich’s fist slammed into the hood of the nearest vehicle. The alarm protested the contact and Rich kicked the tire for good measure before walking further away from the building. “Pregnant, Nate. She’s pregnant and didn’t even bother to tell me!”
Nate shrugged. “So, she’s carrying Jesse’s baby.”
“It could be mine.” Rich hedged a glance back at the building.
“What!?” Nate smiled and hit Rich in the arm with his fist. “You dog! I can’t believe that all this time I’ve been giving you shit about pining for this girl, and you were keeping this from me.”
“It wasn’t just sex, Nate, and it wasn’t a mistake. We are meant to be together. I’m sorry that Jesse died, but I am not sorry about what happened between me and Kate. And now she’s carrying my baby.”
“You don’t know that.” Nate’s hand clamped down on his shoulder. “You need to slow down just a bit. Get your facts straight. Maybe the baby isn’t yours—or Jesse’s.”
Rich’s eyes narrowed at the insinuation.
Nate held up his hands. “I’m not saying that she’s a slut or anything. But Rich, come on, you haven’t seen her for months. She hasn’t even spoken to you in the last thirty days. There’s got to be a reason for that, man. I don’t want to see you devastated when there’s another daddy waiting in the wings.”
Rich didn’t realize that his teeth were grinding together until he placed the obnoxious noise resonating through his head. “Fine. I’ll talk to her. I’ll get my facts straight then I’ll claim my baby.”
Nate’s head moved back and forth on his thick neck. “Dude, be careful, that’s all I’m saying. Be careful.”
“I will.”
Nate stiffened and concentrated on something over Rich’s shoulder. Rich turned to see Kate coming in their direction. “I guess it’s me and you today, Nate,” she said with her eyes focused only on Rich. “Can you give me a minute with Rich first?”
“Sure thing. I’ll be in the truck.” A warning flashed in Nate’s eyes as his head moved in a supportive nod.
And then there was silence. Lots of uncomfortable silence. Rich stared at his shoes, kicking at the rocks that had worked loose from the asphalt, and waited for her to start the conversation. She cleared her throat, and he fought the urge to look into the beautiful green eyes that he’d missed so much. He lost the battle before it had even begun.
She took a step toward him, her head tipped to look at his face. “Rich, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the baby.”
“Why didn’t you?” he asked in a whisper.
“I
wasn’t sure how to…”
“This was the perfect way, Kate.” It pained him to step away from her but, somehow, he managed it. “Dammit, how could you hurt me like this?” His hands balled into fists. Anger was better than the pain right now.
“I came by to talk to you last night. It’s not my fault you were otherwise occupied,” she huffed, her eyes intense.
“What the hell are you talking about?” He met her intensity with irritation.
She sighed and rubbed at her slacks. “I’m glad that you’ve moved on. It’s good, actually. You shouldn’t have to be tied to a baby that isn’t yours.”
A two-by-four to the gut would have forced less air out of his lungs than that statement. “It’s.Not.Mine?” The question came out in breathless puffs.
“Of course not. He’s Jesse’s.” Her answer made him feel like an idiot for even asking.
He’s Jesse’s, his thought taunted. “He?” She nodded, rubbed her round belly and smiled. It pained him that she was so happy, but only because she wouldn’t let him share in her joy. “And you’re sure of that because…”
“Rich, can we do this later?” She looked over her shoulder when Clayton laughed out loud as he was talking to Tommy.
“I’ve waited months. What’s a few more hours?” Rich replied sarcastically.
Her small hand wrapped around his arm. “Rich, please, you still mean a lot to me and I…”
“Whatever, Kate.” His arm burned, in an intoxicatingly delicious way, but he still forced it out of her grasp. “We’ll talk whenever you can find the time.”
She sniffed, and Rich looked up to see her wipe tears from her cheek. “Dinner tonight?” she verified their date.
“Fine.” He kept up the angry façade. It was either that or join her in the blubber-fest. “I’ll meet you here after our shifts. Later, Kate.” With great difficulty, Rich forced his feet to move, each and every step more painful than the last.
“Hey, Spencer, wait up.” Clayton’s obnoxious voice called as he jogged toward Rich. “I need to ride with you today.”
This day just keeps getting better and better. Turning the key, the engine came to life. Rich eased the volume up on the radio, sending an unspoken message to Clayton that he wasn’t up for any kind of communication.
Clayton’s fat, manicured fingers pushed the knob, cutting the music all together. “So,” he said, looking in Nate and Kate’s direction, “do you think they planned it?”
Rich pulled out onto the street as he responded, “Do I think who planned what?”
Clayton’s head jerked in the direction of the parking lot. “Do you think Kate planned on having Jesse’s baby? Before your crazy ex-wife murdered him, I mean. It must be really hard…”
Rich’s foot smashed the brake to the floor and the vehicle screeched to halt. Clayton’s head jerked forward then met the headrest with a satisfying thud. “What the hell?”
“We.Are.Not.Discussing.Kate.Today,” Rich informed him through clenched teeth.
An annoying laugh was followed by an even more obnoxious question. “What’s the matter, Spencer, you got a thing for the MILF?”
Rich ground his teeth, the muscles in his jaw flexed. “You talk about her again, and so help me, you’ll be walking.”
“Fine. Whatever.” Clayton shrugged and turned the radio back on.
This is going to be a long day.
**
Clayton must have taken the threat seriously because he hadn’t brought up Kate’s name again since Rich had promised to make him walk, but that changed as they pulled into the parking lot.
“Mmm, mmm, mmm,” Clayton groaned. “That is one mighty fine piece of ass—even if she has a big ol’ belly. At least that’ll go away.” His tongue ran across his bottom lip as he entertained sexual thoughts about the woman of Rich’s dreams. “How long do you think it’ll take before she’s got that smokin’ hot body back?”
Rich’s teeth ground together. His knuckles turned white around the steering wheel. He pressed his foot down on the gas and the engine roared in protest. Screeching tires caused Kate and Nate to look in their direction.
Clayton grabbed onto the ‘oh, shit’ handle, his face white under a panicked expression. “Rich, what the hell is your problem?”
Adrenaline rushed through his veins as Rich concentrated on keeping his hands on the wheel. If they were given the chance, they might not be able to stop before ripping Clayton’s arms off and using them to beat him until his filthy mouth was closed permanently.
Nate smiled, his shoulders moved with laughter as his head shook back and forth in a knowing motion. Clayton was an ass on a good day, and today was turning out to be one of his best.
Rich circled the parking lot before exiting again and pulling back onto the street. Five blocks and a lot of whining from the imbecile in the next seat later, he pulled into a Circle K, threw the transmission into park and waited.
Clayton’s eyes were the size of dinner plates. “What the…?”
“Get out!” Rich ordered without acknowledging him further.
“You can’t…”
“Get out!” Rich repeated, fighting to keep his voice semi-calm, looking straight ahead.
“I’ll tell Dale…”
“You do that.” Rich popped the locks. “Get out!”
“Why…?”
“I warned you. I always follow through with my promises.” His voice was flat, frighteningly calm. “And now, you get to walk.”
“Is this about Kate?”
“You do not even think her name.” His vision turned red as fury built in his bloodstream, blood hammered in his ears.
“Hey man, she’s just a girl.”
“Maybe. But she’s just a girl who happens to mean a lot to me.” Rich turned to his head to glare at Clayton. “Get.Out!”
Clayton just stared at Rich, pulling the wide-eyed goldfish routine.
“Close your mouth.” He did. “If I have to come over there and drag your ass out of this vehicle, I will.”
Plump fingers frantically grabbed for the handle then Clayton scurried out into the heat. “This isn’t over. You can pull the protective caveman crap while we’re alone, but Dale…” His threats faded as Rich drove away.
“Passenger door ajar,” the mechanical voice informed him. The door gaped open as he turned right around a corner. “Passenger door ajar.”
He pulled into another parking lot, out of Clayton’s line of sight, and forced himself to breathe through his fury. The little prick was right—he had been acting like a caveman, but couldn’t bring himself to act any differently. It was his job to protect Kate. No, it’s not. He groaned, crammed his fingers through his hair and sucked in deep breaths, sending the air through clenched teeth in a whistle.
When his blood pressure had returned to pseudo-normal, he headed back for the station. Nate and Kate still stood in the parking lot when Rich slowly moved through the gate. They approached as he pulled into a space and turned off the car.
Nate found great humor in Rich’s anger. “What’d you do with him? You weren’t gone long enough to bury him.”
“He’s alive. Pissed, but alive,” Rich grumbled as he stomped toward the building.
“What did he do that made you so upset?” Kate asked, completely oblivious. Nate looked at her in disbelief.
“It doesn’t matter,” Rich told her, hurrying toward the door in hopes of avoiding any further interrogation.
Her footsteps stuttered behind him as she hurried to match his pace. “Rich, you’re upset, and that matters to me.”
Rich stopped and whirled around to face her. She bumped into his chest then stumbled backward. “Does it, Kate? You care that I’m upset?” Out of the corner of his eye, Rich noticed that Nate had discretely disappeared behind a car. “You didn’t think for one second that strolling back into my life today might upset me? That the fact that you’re pregnant wouldn’t have any effect on my mood? Come on, Kate, you’re a smart girl. Why do you think
I’m upset with Clayton?”
Her eyes were glassy, filling with tears by the second, as she blinked wildly. “I’m…” She cleared her throat. “I’m so sorry. This isn’t at all how I wanted this to go.”
“How did you expect this to go?” Rich added a tad more sarcasm. “Oh, Kate, honey, I’m so glad you’re home. Thanks for breaking my heart, leaving me an emotional basket case, and keeping the fact that you’re pregnant a secret.”
She reached for him but pulled back before she made contact. “I didn’t want to…”
“Rich Spencer, please come to my office,” Dale’s voice resonated over the loud speaker in the parking lot. It contained a hint of humor which meant that Clayton had made it back.
“I’ve gotta go.” Rich took a step toward the door before stopping. “Oh…one quick question.” She nodded, then he asked, “When’s the baby due?”
“October 5th, why?”
“Never mind. I’ve gotta go.” October 5th. October 5th. That date would forever be ingrained on his heart.
Inside Dale’s office, Clayton paced, livid beneath his sweat-drenched Polo shirt. His pits were soaked and his thinning hair was plastered to his head. His tiny eyes were full of fury under brows that were pulled into a deep V. His fists clenched as Rich walked into the office where a disgusting cross between Obsession for Men and his BO polluted the air.
Dale was the first to speak. “From what I understand there was a situation between you two. Would you like to tell me your side?” He was trying really hard to not express the humor that shone in his eyes.
“I told him that certain topics were off limits, and that if he brought them up, he’d have to walk back.” Rich delivered his explanation with careless flippancy. “I guess he didn’t believe me,” he added with a laugh. “I’ll bet he won’t make that mistake again.”
Dale leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. Clayton didn’t respond, except to pull the drenched shirt from his armpits, shuffle his loafers on the carpeting, and grumble unintelligently under his breath. The clock just ticked away in silence as he ran stubby fingers through sweat-drenched hair, making it stand on end.
“Is that true?” Dale asked, then allowed the uncomfortable silence to continue. His eyes bore holes through Clayton until he finally looked up and nodded guiltily once before glaring at Rich.