“Who?” She whipped her head around at his words as he held her clasped to his chest.
“Don’t look; gramps and Lucille.” He gave the two old meddlers something to peep at by laying one on her but he overplayed his hand. He forgot how easy it was for him to get her going. So before they both ended up getting hauled off for indecent exposure, he pulled her into the house behind him.
“Make yourself comfortable baby-I’ll be right back.” He had something to take care of before they headed back out. Hopefully, after he set this shit in motion there would be no more phone calls. He hadn’t been idol the last two weeks. Even as they were spending all their time together he was collecting information on their enemies. He knew their ins and outs pretty much by now, and was sure he had a handle on how to take care of them once and for all.
For whatever reason, he didn’t want to take her to his bed before everything was settled once and for all, and since he was no longer willing to put off that happy event, he figured he should get the ball rolling.
Her little performance on his lap earlier had sealed her fate. There was no way in hell he could give her more time.
Chapter 13
***
Kerry knew when he said they were going to dinner they were gonna end up here. All the day’s joy waned a little as they made their way to the door of the town’s most frequented restaurant. She knew there was a good chance of running into Paul and Jen here, and as much as she’d told herself in the last few days that she was over it already, now that she was faced with the reality, she wasn’t so sure.
Maybe she should’ve listened to those messages after all. That way she would know what kind of mood he was in and could prepare herself. She knew her ex could be a bit childish when he didn’t get his way, and her tummy started to hurt just a little at the thought of what might lay ahead beyond those doors.
She wasn’t sure how Kyle would handle any kind of confrontation, though she was sure he could handle himself. Still, she’d seen Paul in action once things didn’t go his way and she wasn’t looking forward to any of it.
Kyle didn’t seem worried one way or the other, but then again, why would he be? He had no idea that this was everyone’s favorite eating hole. And he could have no reason to know that Paul and Jen and their friends could usually be found here on this particular night.
She looked down at herself and wished she’d dressed more appropriately, but the Jeans and new silk top that Kyle had surprised her with weren’t bad. She’d been surprised when he’d come back out from getting dressed with the boxes in his hands. She may not have ever held any of them, but as the former wife of a doctor she’d seen the magazines with the orange boxes a time or two. People tended to think that once you were in that money bracket, you could afford those things.
She was no longer dumb enough to believe all those lies Paul had fed her about the reasons their money was still so tight even after he’d finally started doing well with his practice, but she was pretty sure he would never have bought her a two thousand dollar blouse no matter what kind of money he made.
She’d tried refusing the gifts from Kyle, even though her heart had been very happy that he’d even thought of her. But true to form he’d growled something at her and ordered her to wear one of the tops to dinner. She’d spent some time running her hands over the million or so silk scarves and tops he’d brought her and tried not to add up the cost in her head. Hermes was not cheap, so she knew she held a good few thousand dollars in her hands.
She’d barely got her stomach settled after that, now here they were just a few short hours later. “Stop pulling at yourself, you look fine.” She hadn’t even been aware that she was doing that, but caught herself with her hand at her neckline. The top was some sort of wraparound that tied at her waist and enhanced the fullness of her breasts without showing anything.
It was classy and bright and she didn’t remember ever owning anything like it. The man was an expert at everything. He even knew, after just a short few weeks, how to dress her. Something her ex had never even tried to do, except for the times he told her something didn’t look good on her. Dammit, there she goes again. Kyle was right. She did spend way too much time thinking about Paul and her past.
She squared her shoulders as a different hostess came forward to seat them and was glad when he took her hand. The restaurant transformed itself at night. Instead of just a restaurant, the back was opened up and there was a little dance floor with a full bar running the length of one wall. In yet another room off to the side there were billiard tables and dart- boards. One of the reasons the place was so popular with everyone, other than the food, which was top notch.
Kyle seemed a little preoccupied. Even though he was his usual attentive self where she was concerned, she could sense there was something else on his mind tonight. She figured it must be whatever business he’d left back in Chicago and left it alone. Besides, if his mind was on that he wouldn’t notice how nervous she was. Knowing him he wouldn’t understand that her nerves weren’t because she was still pining for her ex, but because no matter when, the first run-in was going to be hard.
She’d come to terms with her past sometime in the last few days. She’d also come to accept that she was willing to take whatever Kyle had to give her in the relationship stakes. She just wasn’t going to
get her heart involved. That way when he left, as he inevitably would, she would be able to move on. With her mind somewhat settled she took a peek around the room and breathed a sigh of relief.
Kyle was deceptively laid back as he perused the room while they waited for their orders. He’d timed it well, as well as he could anyway. The town went to sleep relatively early, so he knew that his prey would be here in a little while. He wanted her to have some food in her before they showed up, because he was sure they wouldn’t be here much longer after he did what he had to do.
He’d collected as much info as he could, so he had a pretty good handle on their movements. “When we’re done here how about some pool?” He gestured towards the back with his head as he picked up his wine glass.
She looked back at the room a bit skeptically. “I’ve never played before.”
“There’s always a first time sweetheart.”
“You’d teach me?”
“Of course, who else?”
She didn’t say anything. Pool was another one of those things that Paul loved to do and excelled at, but had never had the time to teach her. It was one of the reasons he liked this place so much, because it allowed him to play the game he’d learned in college. The thought gave her another moment’s pause but she squelched it quickly, not willing to let anything spoil the night. After the day they’d had she didn’t want anything tarnishing it.
Kyle kept her busy talking about any and everything to keep her mind off of where she was. He knew that her angst was because of her ex, but accepted it this time. Because he knew that after tonight he wouldn’t have that fucking problem again.
He couldn’t let his mind go to the night and where it was gonna end, not yet. His semi hard dick was already hard enough to control, if he let his thoughts run wild, who knows what the fuck would happen. And there was a lot to be done before they got there.
If she thought their dinner was brought out rather fast, while others who’d been waiting there before them were still yet to be served she didn’t mention it. She’d have no way of knowing that he’d set it up that way. He’d played everything down to the letter, except for the night’s ending. He knew she was gonna end up beneath him before the night was done yes, but he’d left everything else up to whatever. And knowing his wild child, he was sure it was going to be one for the books.
After dinner was over he took her to the other room where a few people were already racking up. She wasn’t as conscious of the looks and stares as they made their way to a little booth in the corner. “I’ll be right back.” He walked over to the bar before walking back with two bottles of beer. She swallowed hard wh
en he placed one in front of her. She wasn’t a big beer drinker. She’d tried one in high school, but hadn’t quite acquired the taste for the bitter brew.
“It’s not gonna bite you baby.” He grinned before tipping his bottle to his head. “Come on champ. Let’s go show you how the game is played.”
“Okay, but be patient with me, remember I’ve never played before.” He was pretty sure her reticence stemmed from some past deal with the asshole, but he let it slide. Tonight couldn’t end soon enough.
He knew the minute his prey entered the room. His princess has a way of turning into a statue whenever one of her nemesis were anywhere in the vicinity. They’d just finished another game where she was trying to cheat amidst gales of laughter and returned to their booth. He didn’t turn to look, just excused himself to go to the bathroom, which was clear on the other side of the room.
***
Kerry all but begged him to stay as her heart raced away in her chest. She tried to fold into herself in the booth and stay hidden, but it was no use. She watched, as Jenny was the first to catch sight of her and looked towards where Kyle was heading in the opposite direction.
At least she was spared the indignity of having to face her ex husband and his new wife together in such a public setting when Jen headed for the lady’s room. It never entered her mind that the other woman could be going after Kyle, why would she? As far as Kerry was concerned, Paul was the one her ex best friend had always wanted.
Instead she focused all her attention on the rising bile in her stomach as Paul approached her table. She had a fleeting thought to Kyle’s reaction if he should return to find Paul there. If the mere mention of the man’s name sends him into a tizzy, she couldn’t imagine what this would unleash.
“Kerry, I’ve been trying to reach you, why haven’t you been returning my calls?” At his boyish whine something inside her eased. The cold clammy feeling in the pit of her gut softened a little and she removed her nails from where she’d been digging them into her palms.
“Hi Paul, sorry I’ve been busy.” She cleared her throat and patted herself on the back for even getting those few words out. She’d played this scene in her head over and over again so many times, but it all went out the window now. “Busy doing what? Running around with the biker?” He continued at her raised brow. “Yes I’ve heard all about your little indiscretion and I think it’s disgusting. People are talking and none of it’s good. Do you have any idea how this reflects on me? I have a reputation to uphold in this town…”
“What?” what the hell was he talking about? “I don’t see why what anything I do should matter to you one way or another. You divorced me remember? You told me to go on with my life and get out of yours.” The anger at his audacity threatened to choke her. How dare he stand there and judge her after what he’d done? She was seconds away from losing her cool and the snide way he was sneering at her wasn’t helping much.
“Yes, but I didn’t mean for you to start carrying on with a stranger for the whole town to see. It’s despicable. I have a young child that will grow up here you know.” He’d totally and completely lost her there. Nothing he said was making any sense. She just sat there and listened as he stood over her going on and on about her behavior and how it was making ‘him’ look bad.
Amidst feelings of inadequacy yet once again, she fought rising disdain at the fact that this was the man she’d given up so much of her life for. Kyle would get a kick out of this, or maybe not. But this time she was comparing Paul with him and the former was coming up lacking in every way. She drummed him out as he droned on and on, while she sat there calling herself ten kinds of fool. Had she really thought he was the best she could do?
Had she really pinned all her hopes and dreams on this pompous windbag? “Are you listening to me Kerryanne? I want you to stop seeing him immediately. You’re only making a fool of yourself, fawning all over him. What kind of man is he anyway with his tattoos and bike riding? Is that what you’re into now?”
“What I am or aren’t into is no business of yours. How dare you tell me who I can or cannot see?” Not quite the ‘fuck you’ she wanted to fling at his head, but it was better than she would’ve hoped for if a certain someone hadn’t walked into her life. The trapped feeling had her getting up from the table and moving away to get away from him. But of course he followed.
“Don’t you raise your voice to me Kerryanne. I’ve been talking to the lawyer about maybe giving you some kind of alimony until you get back on your feet but if you keep this up, I will have to rethink that.” She thought of how much those words would’ve meant to her just a few short weeks ago, and how hollow they sounded now.
She could see he thought he had her cornered with that one, and for the first time since he’d tried to destroy her, she actively hated him. She still wasn’t ready to face him down completely more’s the pity, but at least she no longer felt like running and hiding. She looked back over her shoulder to see what was keeping Kyle and her heart dropped when she saw him talking to Jen and how close the other woman was standing.
***
Kyle was playing a hunch, but he was pretty sure he had read the situation right. He’d listened to all the little snippets in the last few weeks and learned something his girl hadn’t picked up on. Maybe she was too close to the situation to see what was right in front of her face, but others hadn’t missed it.
He made his way slowly to the restroom, giving her time to make her excuses and make her way towards him. The place was set up just right for such a scenario, and he knew he was right on the money when he felt the hand on his arm.
It took all his upbringing not to turn on her with a snarl. He couldn’t come up swinging, not if he wanted the results he was after.
The other day on the sidewalk he hadn’t really had time to study the woman who had in all essence cleared the way for him to find what he was beginning to think was the best thing that had ever happened to him. But now here under the glaring lights of the hallway with people paying way too much attention to them, he really saw her for the first time.
He guessed he could see why the asshole had fallen for her wiles, but she didn’t hold a candle to the princess, not even close. “Hi, I’m Jen, we saw each other the other day. You’re Clancy’s grandson aren’t you?” Her smile was a mile wide and if her tits were any more exposed she’d be indecent. He glanced at the outstretched hand and back up to her eyes.
“Kyle.” There wasn’t even a hint of a smile for her, but that didn’t stop her from making her play. “I’ve heard so much about you already, why is it that you haven’t been around?”
“I’ve been where I wanted to be.” That answer threw her for a sec but didn’t stop her from forging on.
“Oh well, I just wondered if you knew there was more to our little town than what you’ve seen so far. You know I’m a great tour guide, anytime you needed someone to show you the sights.” The fact that she was offering more than a tour of the city was clear in the eyes that tried to read him.
“Oh yeah, and how does your husband feel about that?” If he wasn’t mistaken she’d just remembered that attachment. So much for true love.
“Who, Paul? Oh he wouldn’t mind at all. We’re part of the in set you know, it’s kind of our job to welcome new upstanding citizens like yourself to the community.”
“How would you know what kind of citizen I am?”
“Oh well, after our little run-in I asked around. I was surprised to learn you were the Clancy’s grandson, they never said...”
“Why would they?” He wasn’t giving her anything, just playing her along to see how far she would go. If he was right in his assumptions then she was a real piece of work. She had everyone thinking she was something she wasn’t, but it had only taken him a few days to figure her out.
It wasn’t he that needed convincing however, but the woman she’d wounded so deeply, the one he had come to love beyond reason. He wouldn’t do this shit for anyone else, and hoped to fu
ck he never had to do anything like it again. But for her he’d stomach this beast if only for a little while. If all went as he planned this would be the last time he or Kerryanne would have to deal with her and her husband. That alone was worth this little dance.
Thinking of her he wondered how she was doing on her end. He hated that she had to spend even a second in the other man’s presence, but after listening to those phone messages, he was pretty sure the blinders should be coming off her eyes right about now. The new wife was prattling on about herself and other bullshit that he had no interest in while he killed time before he figured it was time to head back.
Then she showed her hand and he knew he had her. Somehow he hadn’t expected the small town housewife to be so brazen, but he guessed he shouldn’t be surprised. “Why don’t I give you my number? Maybe we can get together sometime. I mean if you find Kerryanne’s company pleasing I’m sure I can…”
Jen was more than a little fascinated by his tattoos and those muscles, wow. If he was wasting time with Kerryanne then she was sure he would find her company more appealing, after all, she was the prettiest woman in town. She couldn’t for the life of her imagine what he saw in her old friend, unless of course it was just a case of a friendly face in a new town. She hated that it was all anyone could talk about these days, Kerryanne and her new man. As if!
“Not interested.” He turned to head back to the table.
“Aren’t you going to use the restroom?” She tried to stop him with a hand on his arm as he turned and headed back. He brushed her hand off, showing her the distaste he felt for the first time. She didn’t exactly recoil but she got the message. “Nope, I got what I came for.”
Jen wasn’t one to be so easily deterred however. She had no doubt his behavior was due to whatever sob stories Kerry had been filling his head with. It would be a cold day in hell before she let that bitch get the upper hand. No way was she going to let it end there. She followed in his wake, as he seemed suddenly in a rush to get back to Kerryanne.
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