Divorced, Desperate and Dead

by Christie Craig

  She glanced toward the kitchen and inched forward. “Can I open it now?”

  “Don’t you dare let her open her gift now,” his sister called out again.

  Bella made a face. “I swear she has ESP or super hearing.” The chirping of a phone sounded in the background and his niece ran off.

  Standing up, he made his way into the bright yellow kitchen to his psychic sister. Pooch followed, running figure eights around his steps.

  His sister, cutting vegetables at the counter, looked back. “Put the present on the bar over there.”

  He did it.

  “You’re early. Jeff is outside by the pool getting the grill going and drinking a beer. You should join him. Beth is on her way, too.”

  He sat down at her kitchen table.

  She looked at him suspiciously and placed the carrots on the tray.

  “Has she called?” He held his breath.

  “No.” Then she muttered the word, “Thirteen.”

  “Thirteen, what?”

  “Thirteen times you asked me since you went home yesterday. Twelve calls.”

  He had not called her twelve times. Or had he? Okay, maybe he had, but it had mostly been about what to buy Bella for her birthday. Or maybe he’d just used that as an excuse. “Sorry,” he said.

  She stopped chopping and stared at him. “You love her, don’t you?”

  “It certainly feels like it.”

  “And you’re scared?”

  “No,” he said. “I’m terrified.” He blew out a cloud of air from his lungs. “Do you think she’s going to forgive me?”

  He saw the doubt flicker in her eyes. “Did you bring the rope?”

  “Rope?”

  “To keep her here after she finds out I lied.”

  “So that’s a no, huh?” His chest tightened and frustration bubbled up inside.

  “No, I was teasing . . . sort of.” She came over and hugged him. “You made a mistake and I’m sure that hurt her. But if she’s smart, she’ll realize it was just a mistake and snap you up. And if she doesn’t. . . Well, she doesn’t deserve you.”

  “Thanks,” he said, staring up at his sister and realizing how much he loved her. She’d had to step into the role of being a mother. And she’d rocked at it.

  She moved back to the counter and popped a carrot into her mouth.

  He ran a hand over his face, and listened to her chop vegetables.

  “Oh, no. Stop him.” She pointed to the corner of the kitchen were Pooch stood by his food bowl.

  “Why?” he asked.

  She ran over and snatched the food from the floor and sat it on the counter.

  The dog turned and looked at him, as if begging him to intervene. “Why can’t he eat?”

  She ignored his question and asked one of her own. “You sure you don’t want him?”

  Frowning, not liking the fact that it got harder to say no, he pulled the signed check from his shirt pocket. And when he did, he felt the printed boarding pass to Clearwater. It was part of his argument he planned to make with Chloe.

  “Three hundred, right?” he asked, and stuck the boarding pass back in his pocket

  “I guess.” She took the check from his hand and looked again at her watch. “She’s late.”

  “Who’s late?” he asked.

  “Terri Hall, she’s the owner of Tender Paws Rescue. She’s coming to take him.” She eyed the dog. “And she doesn’t want him to get car sick.”

  Pooch stopped staring at the empty spot where the food was and came over and begged Cary to hold him. Out of pity, he picked him up. The animal did a circle in his lap, and plopped down. His head rested on his paws but he cut those beady, pleading eyes up at him.

  “So, you found him a home?” He tried to ignore the tug on his heartstrings. Because damn it, those damn strings were already stretched so tight over Chloe, he thought they would snap.

  His sister sighed. “Not exactly.” She continued to stare at her watch. “Terri’s never late.” His sister’s phone rang. She looked at the number. “See, I told you. She’s like the punctuality queen.” She took the call. “Hey . . . Yeah, first one story after the large brick house.” She hung up and then reached for Pooch.

  He growled. Cary gently put his hand over the dog’s snout and scolded him. “Be nice.”

  His sister picked up the animal. The dog whimpered and gazed back at him as if he knew this was goodbye.

  “What do you mean not exactly?” Cary looked at his sister because he couldn’t handle goodbyes any more than he could handle having a dog.

  She stared at him then looked back at the door as if to make sure no one was listening. Sighing, she pulled Pooch close to her chest and covered the dog’s other ear with her hand. “He’s going to the farm.”

  “What? No. You find dogs homes. That’s what your organization does.”

  “We’ve had him for six months. He snaps at potential owners. He snapped at Bella.”

  His heartstrings grew tighter. “If I remember the story correctly, I was a biter when I was a kid and mom and dad didn’t send me to the farm.”

  “No,” she said, but then her doorbell rang. She looked at Cary and just stood there as if pondering something.

  “Last chance. Take him or . . . he goes to the farm.”

  “You can’t do this,” he growled.

  She hesitated. The doorbell rang again and she took off, dog in tow. “Coming,” she called out.

  He popped up from his chair and rushed into the living room before she opened the front door. “You can’t do this,” he repeated.

  “He’s run out of chances,” she said, sounding so cold, and not at all like his sister.

  That’s when he figured out what Kelly was doing. “This is just another ploy to try to make me take the dog or give more money. Right?”

  She shook her head. “A ploy? Please. I didn’t even know you’d be here this early.” The doorbell rang again. “Oh, get me his leash? It’s on the hook beside the light switch.”

  In a little state of panic, he did her bidding. He heard her answer the door. Closing his eyes, he stood there for several minutes telling himself it would be crazy to take on a dog—especially a sissy, cross-dressing, half-pint dog.

  A pathetic bark echoed.

  “Shit.” Those strings to his heart snapped. He walked into the living room. “Fine. I’ll keep him.”

  His sister’s smile beamed and she put the dog down. Pooch came hauling ass toward him almost as if he understood. Cary picked up the animal and glared at his sister and the older woman standing in the doorway.

  “You’ll have to fill out the paperwork,” the lady said. “But you can do it online.”

  “Fine.”

  The woman moved in to pet Pooch. He growled. Cary didn’t scold him, he wanted to growl, too.

  “Guess you escaped the farm by the skin of your teeth.” The ease with which the woman said it pissed Cary off.

  “You know, I’ve donated a lot of money to your organization, and I was under the impression that it was a no-kill shelter.”

  She looked confused and then glanced at Kelly. “It is a no-kill shelter.”

  “But you just said . . .”

  “Oh.” She laughed. “The farm isn’t . . . the big farm in the sky. It’s a real farm I own in East Texas. It’s where difficult dogs go to live with my brother and his wife who attempt to train dogs into being more adoptable.” The woman bid her goodbye and walked out.

  Cary stood there and glared at his sister.

  “What?” she asked. “I can’t help it if you misunderstood.”

  “Bullshit!” he muttered, then with Pooch in tow he headed to the back door.

  “You’d better put your car in the garage if you don’t want Chloe driving by and just leaving. He looked at his watch. It was only 11:30. No way would she show up this early. He had time to down one beer and try to forget that his sister had once again conned him. And then he needed to figure out how to con Chloe into belie
ving that he deserved her.

  He wasn’t guilty of what she accused him of, but he wasn’t sure he deserved someone so damn perfect. So talented. So . . . sexy. But it sure as hell wasn’t going to stop him from trying.

  Chapter Forty-three

  After trying on four different outfits, Chloe decided on jeans and a cream colored silk tank top. Applying lipstick, she stood at her bathroom counter. “He might not even be there,” she muttered to the woman staring back at her in the mirror.

  She sighed and took a deep breath. When had she stopped being pissed that he might be there and started hoping he was?

  The answer echoed back. About two minutes after his sister called last night.

  The truth stung, but she didn’t deny it. She had been an idiot.

  Part of her reason for refusing to see Cary was wrapped up in her hurt over Jerry. In being afraid to love again.

  She’d given away the presents, given away the dress. Now it was time for her to stop letting the past cloud her future. She had to face Cary.

  What if she’d been mistaken and he wasn’t there? Then she’d stay for the party, and go find him afterward. Yes, that was what she was going to do. She needed to figure this out. Needed to figure out if what he had to say was going to lead to her forgiving him, or working like the devil to forget him.

  She looked at her clock. Would it be rude to arrive a little early?

  • • •

  Cary had finished his beer, ranted to Kelly’s husband, Jeff, about his wife being a con artist. At which time, Jeff admitted to his wife’s ability to get her way. Then he pointed out that Cary hadn’t put the dog down since he’d come outside and therefore he must actually like the damn yappy mutt.

  Not happy that Jeff’s point hit home, Cary went to pull his car into the garage. He’d just stepped back into the house when the doorbell rang.

  Kelly, now cutting the heads off broccoli, shot him a wide-eyed look. “Could that be her?”

  His gut knotted. His head spun with his planned speech. Shit, he hoped he did better with this than he did phone messages.

  “It’s Ms. Sanders,” Bella yelled out. “I saw her getting out of her car from my bedroom window!”

  “Don’t open that door,” Kelly yelled out.

  Cary’s breath caught. “You answer it, I’m gonna go around and meet her out front in case. . .” In case she asks if I’m here and decides to run.

  • • •

  Chloe rang the doorbell quickly before she decided to turn and run. It was too early. She looked too eager. What if she’d been wrong and Cary wasn’t there? Would she be able to hide her disappointment?

  A voice boomed from behind the door. Then it started to sweep open.

  Breath held, Chloe waited to see the person on the other side.

  “Hi,” Kelly said, smiling and appearing nervous

  Not nearly as nervous as Chloe felt.

  “I’m sorry, I just . . . I’m early. If you want, I can go grab a cup of coffee and come back later.”

  “No.” Kelly’s gaze went to the huge bag Chloe held.

  “I brought some t-shirts for the girls. I wasn’t sure how many would be here, but I brought twelve in various sizes. And a few extra books, in case someone doesn’t have one.”

  “That’s so sweet. Let me help you.” Kelly reached for the bag.

  “It’s fine. I’ve got it.” It suddenly felt odd that Kelly hadn’t invited her in.

  The sound of a neighbor mowing their lawn echoed in the distance. Awkwardness rained down on the front porch.

  She decided to just ask. “Is . . . Cary really not here?”

  Kelly’s brow puckered as if the question put her on the spot.

  “No. Uh . . . He’s not . . . in . . . here.” She made a face. “He’s there.” Her eyes shifted from Chloe’s face to over her shoulder.

  Chloe’s next intake of air came with a hint of masculine aroma that she recognized as an ex-stripper-cop who possibly was a womanizer. “He’s behind me,” she said.

  “Yes, I . . .” Kelly frowned. “He begged me to do it, and I love him, and I couldn’t say no.” She glanced over Chloe’s shoulder again. “I’ll go and let you two . . . talk. But for the record, he’s a good guy.” She reached over and took the bag from Chloe’s hand.

  Chloe stood there, aware of him standing behind her, but unsure what to say.

  “Don’t be mad at her.” His deep voice came from behind. He must’ve been standing close, because she could almost feel his breath stir her hair.

  Clutching her purse and taking one more deep breath, she turned around and faced him.

  • • •

  Cary debated what he would do if she took off and ran for her car. Chase her. Grab her. Fall to his knees and beg.

  She didn’t run. Her beautiful blue eyes lifted and damn but he wanted to reach out and touch her so bad he hurt.

  “Can we please talk?” he asked and gripped his hands to keep them from shaking.

  She nodded.

  “How about we go on the back patio?”

  She nodded.

  He started walking and then waved her forward, almost frightened she’d change her mind and bolt to her car.

  “You look beautiful,” he said in a low voice.

  She nodded.

  Was that all she was planning on doing? Nodding?

  They walked through the side gate. His brother-in-law looked over at them, a beer in one hand, while checking the grill.

  “Do you mind?” Cary said, hoping he’d get what was implied.

  “Mind what?” Okay, he really liked Jeff, but he wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.

  “Can we have a few minutes?” Cary asked.

  “Oh yeah.” He started toward the house. “There’s beer. And water.” He pointed to the big ice chest. “Help yourself.” His gaze shifted to Chloe. “He’s a good guy. Give him a chance.”

  Cary groaned. Jeff disappeared into the house.

  “Sorry.” Cary looked back at Chloe. He motioned for her to sit at the patio table.

  She moved toward the chair.

  Seeing her was heaven. Not being able to touch her was hell. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders and he remembered how it had felt brushing across his chest when they’d made love. Her eyes were wide and her unease could be read in the blue depths.

  She wore a white sleeveless top that looked soft—made everything underneath it look softer.

  The neckline was just low enough to give a hint of cleavage. Her jeans fit her legs perfectly.

  “Beer? Water?” he asked.

  She shook her head and sat down at the glass-topped patio table.

  He sat in the chair closest to her.

  They stared at each other. How to start?

  “Chloe . . . I . . .” He ran a hand over his face. “I want to say I’m sorry, but I’m not guilty of what I think you believe I did. I wasn’t seeing Paula anymore. I never slept with her after we met. Not even after we met in Room Six.”

  She bit down on her lip. “Paula didn’t seem to know that.”

  He swallowed. “And that’s where I really screwed up. I hadn’t told her. Yet. I was going to tell her. And I hadn’t not told her because I planned on seeing her. I was just . . . with you. We were together most of the time. And when I wasn’t with you, I was thinking about you. I didn’t think about her. She was already history.”

  Her eyes looked bright, as if she was a second away from crying.

  She blinked and looked over at the pool. Was this a bad sign? Was she about to tell him to go drown himself in the pool?

  When she glanced back, the brightness had lessened. “You lied to me.”

  It felt as if her voice reached inside him and squeezed the air out of his lungs. “Sort of . . . I mean, what Paula and I had wasn’t a relationship. We didn’t date, like go anywhere. And you asked if there was anyone special in my life and she wasn’t . . . special.”

  “You were having sex with her, right?”
A touch of accusation tightened her tone.

  He nodded. “But—”

  “For how long? Months?”

  He nodded, feeling his chest clutch. “But—”

  She held up her hand. “And when I asked if you were dating anyone, it never occurred to you that . . .?” She looked away.

  He inhaled. “Okay, let’s go with I lied. And you can be mad, be furious. Just don’t. . .” He almost reached for her, but pulled his hand back and let go of a ton of air lodged in his chest. “I lied. But lying was my only sin. I never intended to see Paula again. I never saw her while I was seeing you. ”

  She looked down at her hands resting on the tabletop.

  He suddenly remembered a part of his prepared speech. “I’m not the only one who lied.”

  She looked up at him with questions in her eyes.

  He reached in his pocket and slid the boarding pass over to her.

  She pulled it closer. After reading it, she looked up. “You were shot and I saw how upset you were on the news. I didn’t know what to say and then you said something about my grandmother and . . .”

  “And you lied,” he said.

  She sat up straighter. “I told you not to come.”

  “Yeah, but I was worried. I thought your grandmother was in worse condition than you wanted to admit. I wanted to be there for you if you were hurting.”

  When Chloe didn’t respond he added, “How is she, by the way?”

  “She’s fine,” she said.

  “Good.” In the background, he heard Pooch barking, he searched for the right words, not sure what else needed to be said. Then he just spoke from his heart. “I’ve missed you so much.” He rested his hand beside hers and closed his hand into a tight fist. “I want to touch you so bad right now, it’s killing me.”

  She glanced again at the pool as if searching for the right words. But were the words she wanted to say goodbye?

  Damn it, he had to make her see his side. “So we both lied. I’m guilty. You’re guilty.”

  She faced him again and he suddenly realized he might have gone too far.

  “I’ll be happy to admit that your lie was justified because of what you thought. I can understand you believed I was sleeping with her and you at the same time. But I wasn’t. I hadn’t slept with her or even wanted to since I met you. And while I’ll admit my lie was wrong, your lie cost me over a thousand dollars. And a hell of lot of pain. If you’d just told me, I could have set this whole thing straight right away.”