by Liz Bower
I opened my mouth to speak but then closed it again.
Head reeling from the information overload, I didn’t know what to say.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Okay, time’s up. We’ve got a shift change coming up, and you can’t be here when that happens. No matter who you sweet-talked to get in here.”
That was guard number two. Holding open the door and barking the order at Beck, who looked like he was about to argue. And I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to or not.
He must have thought better of arguing though as he slowly got to his feet. A curt nod in the direction of Mr Muscles, then he turned back to me.
“Think about what I’ve told you, Kimberly. I’ll give you some time to think things through while I take care of some stuff, but then I’ll be back. And we can talk. Okay?”
Staring up at him I nodded. Then watched him stride out of the room.
“You okay?”
My gaze flicked to Mr Muscles to check that he was in fact, speaking to me. His usual glare had been replaced with a look of almost concern. He was human after all then, I thought with a smirk. “Fine. Thanks.”
The door swung closed behind him and I slumped back against the chair. Beck wasn’t married. And that was a lot of information he’d given me in a short space of time. But that was the piece that kept popping back into my head.
Beck wasn’t married.
The relief of knowing that I hadn’t slept with a married man was like a tidal wave. So, maybe he hadn’t been a hundred percent honest with me. But like he’d said, he’d told me as much of the truth as he could.
Glancing at the empty tabletop, the image of his ID flashed through my mind’s eye. If he worked for the government, then what exactly was he doing working at Cooper Garson? The only thing I could think was that he was undercover there, but why? Sitting at the kitchen table trying to make sense of everything Beck had told me, the murmur of voices from my guards grew louder. The door swung open and the woman I never thought I’d see again walked in.
“Mind if I join you?”
I shook my head as words escaped me. Not his wife, I reminded myself. Yet I still squirmed in my seat as she gracefully slipped into the chair Beck had vacated not ten minutes before.
“Sorry about the other night,” she said, as she scrutinised me.
Already uncomfortable in her presence, I wasn’t sure how to reply so I just shrugged. And I didn’t know why she was there. She smiled.
“It must have been quite a shock to think that Beck was married.”
My lips twisted to one side. “Yeah, you could say that.” She laughed and my eyebrows lifted.
“Sorry,” she said, holding a palm out towards me. “It’s just the idea of me being married to Beck. I love the man like a brother, but he drives me bat shit crazy. Is driving me crazy with how many times he’s mentioned you lately.”
I bristled at her words. Was she jealous?
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad he’s found someone…I’d rather not have to hear about it every time I see him, that’s all.”
Beck talked about me? And with that thought, my shoulders dropped and I released the death grip my hands had on each other.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him this happy. He told you what happened…with his wife?”
What?
“I mean his widow. God, sorry that came out wrong. She died. Was killed and I’m sure Beck still blames himself for it.”
Once you’re not at the office, it will be easier. I know our situation is complicated, but I’m trying to make it simple. The words Beck uttered and had me so confused over that morning when he talked about waiting made more sense. “How long ago?” Her gaze shifted to the ceiling.
“Almost six years ago now. It was before he joined us. He was still a copper then. Some nut job wanting payback for Beck putting him away.” Her gaze dropped to my face. “Don’t worry. It’s different now. And he’d never let anything happen to you.”
Because he worked undercover? “What is he undercover to do?” Her head tilted tumbling a strand of her dark fringe over one eye.
“He didn’t tell you?”
I shook my head. “We had…other things to discuss.”
“He’s on the case you nearly blew for us.”
What did I do? I opened my mouth but she didn’t give me a chance to say anything.
“Your supervisor, Tony,” she sneered his name, “is involved in a money-laundering scam. But we’re not after him. We want the boss behind the operation. Tony’s just a small fish. But thanks to your call to Period Pieces you spooked them. Almost blew the whole case. And scared the crap out of Beck.” She glanced around.
I did the same, taking in the beige walls and pine cupboards. God, this place was depressing. Remembering how Beck had reacted when I told him about the phone call I’d made, I took a pained breath and closed my eyes. How was I supposed to know an innocent phone call would cause him so much trouble? Had I blown the case for them? Is that what Beck was off sorting out?
“Why did you think you ended up here?”
Her question brought me back to the dingy kitchen and I opened my eyes.
“We were meeting with them that evening at the restaurant. I thought Beck was going to have a heart attack when you showed up that night. Saved him having to get you out of there when you ran off though. Wasn’t the best night.”
My eyes widened at that understatement. “Yeah. It was a real laugh a minute for me too.”
She gave me a half-hearted shrug. “I guess not. But here we are. And here you’ll stay until the case is closed. And here I’ll stay until the next shift takes over.”
Oh, my God. I could be here for months. “How long will that take?”
She shrugged again. “Hopefully not much longer.”
“Am I going to have to go into witness protection?” She snorted and I was glad one of us could find the situation amusing because I sure as hell didn’t.
“You’ve been watching too many TV dramas. As far as Tony is aware, you know nothing. Just a temp who phoned in sick and won’t be going back. And the guy you spoke to knows even less about you. Doesn’t even know what you look like after your disappearing act at the restaurant. And the guy behind it all—the one we’re after—doesn’t even know you exist. You’ll be fine. This…” She twirled a hand around the room. “This is Beck being overprotective and calling in a few favours. I get it. This is scary for you, but we’re here to look after you. But believe me, if you hurt Beck…”
She didn’t need to finish off her sentence. The glare she aimed at me said it all. But she tapped a finger on the table, staring at me until I nodded. Message received. Loud and clear. Flattening her palms on the table, she pushed herself up from the chair and stalked out of the kitchen.
When the door closed behind her, I slumped in my chair. When had my life become such a fuck up? Leaning forward, I rested my forehead on the cool wood. Elbows by my ears I crossed my arms over my head.
***
As I lay in bed that night, surrounded by the quiet and the dark, that question kept me awake. When had my life gone to shit? After my parents had died? No. It had been bad, but I’d been coping.
The day I found that birth certificate. Everything had changed after I’d found it. I hadn’t even doubted for a second that it might be wrong. Two seconds to read the father’s name and I’d questioned everything Vinnie had ever been to me.
Part of me wondered if I’d so easily believed Vinnie wasn’t my biological dad just so I could find that man…So I would still have one parent alive. Even if I didn’t know him. And how stupid was that?
Had doubted my mum. God…if she’d still been alive when I’d found it. I shuddered at the thought. And Beck. That moment on the plane—when he’d comforted me even though he didn’t know me—I’d trusted him. Yet doubted him as soon as I’d been introduced to him at the office as Kyle. Jumped straight to the conclusion he was “cheating” on me when I saw
him at the restaurant. And when Kath was introduced as Beck’s wife? Okay, that one most people would have questioned when said wife was standing right in front of them not disputing it.
Trust was such an important issue to me yet…I hadn’t trusted my family. Beck. Myself. I didn’t trust myself. Rolling onto my side, I thumped the pillow. “Ugh. God.”
Didn’t trust what was before my own eyes could be true. And I didn’t know why. Had I been that way before I found the birth certificate? No, I didn’t think so. Definitely not before my parents had died. I closed my eyes as they prickled with unshed tears. I’d got myself into this mess, so I refused to cry.
And once I escaped this house, it was about time I got myself out of it.
Chapter Thirty
A week after the detectives had shown up at my door and swept me away from my real life, I was dropped off back home. It was weird being back there. And a little anticlimactic. They didn’t leave me with any instructions—just dropped me back into my life and left me.
Standing in the middle of the living room, surrounded by familiar belongings, I wasn’t sure what to do. A knock on the front door gave me the short-term answer.
As I opened the door my pulse sped up at the thought it might be Beck. But when I saw Jean standing there—lips pressed together and her hands fluttering in front of her stomach—reality crashed back in. “Hey, Jean. How’s Penny?”
She’s fine. Haven’t seen her since I fed her this morning. How are you?”
I gave her the best impression of a smile I could muster. “I’m good. Thanks for looking after her again.” She waved my thanks away.
“She’s easy to look after. Are you…back for a while then?”
Back for good. Kath said the case was closed and they were wrapping up the loose ends. But I hadn’t seen Beck once after his first visit, and I wondered just how much time he was going to give me to think it all over. “Yes. Won’t be going away again for a while.” Her hands fluttered together again and I knew she wanted details. But I didn’t want to—couldn’t—talk about what had happened. “I’m kind of tired with all the travelling so I’m going to have a nap, but thanks for letting me know Penny’s okay.”
“You’re welcome, dear. Maybe we could catch up at the weekend?”
“Sure. I’ll make you a cake.”
“That sounds lovely. Well, I’ll leave you to it then.”
I closed the door and wondered if I could avoid her all weekend. Probably not. But I couldn’t tell her the truth.
Walking back into the living room, I spotted my laptop under the coffee table. I had a connection to the outside world again. After making myself a coffee—in my non-beige kitchen—I settled on the sofa, laptop on my knee.
Christ, I had a lot of junk emails. The agency had sent me one regarding the end of my contract with Cooper Garson. No. Would not be filling out a questionnaire on my time spent with them.
I stopped scrolling through them as I saw one from The Caffeine Cave. Would have thought it was more junk mail except I recognised the name. Laney’s coffee shop next door to Cooper Garson and the subject said Baking Proposal. Did she want me to make her a cake? How did she even get my email address?
As I read it I couldn’t help but smile. Of course. I should have known. Jaz gave her my email. And I needed to contact him anyway, but now I needed to thank him too.
Laney didn’t want to order a cake. She wanted to offer me her kitchen. Premises to work and sell cakes from as well as make some desserts for the cafe after the customers had loved the beignets I’d made for her. My gaze wandering from the screen, I could picture it. A real kitchen to work in. With more than a single small oven. Cakes displayed in the coffee shop. It would be more than just cakes. Muffins, brownies, anything I wanted to make that people would buy with a coffee. The image made me smile. I could do that. I wanted to do that.
Would it matter that the coffee shop was right next door to Cooper Garson? The idea of running into Tony again…my smile wavered and I returned my attention to the email instead. In theory, the idea sounded fantastic. But I’d have to pay rent to Laney. I barely made enough to cover my living expenses at the moment. No way could I afford rent. Brushing my fingers across the heart on my necklace, there had to be a way to make this work.
I carried my laptop into the kitchen and set it on the breakfast bar. Hunted through the cupboards—not even wanting to look in the fridge yet—hoping a solution would be easier to come up with after eating something. A tin of chicken soup lurked at the back of a cupboard and I heated it up. Set the steaming bowl next to my laptop as I skim read the rest of the unread emails. Disappointed that no new orders had arrived in my absence.
There was, however, a notification from the company that hosted my website. “Huh. Never had one of those before.”
I opened the email and it informed me I had a comment awaiting my approval. Placing the spoon back into the bowl I clicked on the link to read the comment.
The picture of the cake I’d made for Beck’s parents caught my attention first. And had me a little confused. But it became clear when I read the message. It was from Beck’s parents. Well, his mum. A glowing review of the cake I had made for them. Nobody had ever left a review for my cakes before. And I couldn’t stop the tears.
They weren’t just because of the review. It hadn’t escaped my notice that the last time I sat in this spot with my website open was with Beck. I missed him. So much. Knew I should text him or something but everything was such a jumbled-up mess I didn’t know where to start.
Why hadn’t he called me? He said he’d be back to talk after my guards told him he had to leave. Was he busy finishing up the case? Or had he changed his mind?
Ugh, I would call him. Right after I’d finished my lunch.
I jumped at the knock on the front door and dashed away the tears with the back of my hand. Jean was bad enough without me giving her any ammunition that there might be something wrong. As the knocking started again I hurried to answer it.
Except it wasn’t Jean that time but Beck. Hands shoved into his jeans pockets. Shoulders hunched up towards his ears beneath his black bomber jacket.
“Hey.”
I smiled because that was going to be my opening line. “Should you be here?” I asked as I glanced around. What I expected to see, I wasn’t sure. Tony lurking in the bushes perhaps? His jaw clenched then his shoulders dropped.
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
And my heart squeezed painfully at the emotion in those few words. “I meant because of work.”
“It’s over. The case. And I don’t care. I had to see you. I came as soon as I could.”
Swinging the door open wider I asked, “Do you want to come in?” He strode through the doorway and my gaze dropped to his arse. Couldn’t help it. Turning away, I closed the door then followed him into the kitchen. Where he was leaning over my laptop.
Turning to look over his shoulder at me he said, “She posted it, then.”
I nodded, not sure I trusted myself to say anything to that.
“Mum emailed it to me first to ask if I thought it was okay. If I thought you’d like it. I told her you’d love it.”
“I do.” I linked my fingers together to hide their shaking and to stop myself from reaching for him. “Do you want a drink?” Shaking his head, he slid onto one of the stools. Awkward. If I knew what he was here to say, that might help. Taking a deep breath to try and calm myself down, I sat next to him.
“You said the case is closed? You’re not undercover anymore?” So many other questions I wanted to ask but work ones seemed safer. Except what happened next? Did Beck even live in Manchester? Or up North? What about the next job that came along?
“Yes, it’s closed as far as my team is concerned. It’s up to the lawyers now. And I’m no longer undercover.” Twisting to face me his gaze met mine. “That’s not why I’m here though. Did you think about everything I told you?”
Hadn’t thought about much
else since. “I did. And I think I owe you an apology.” Sliding his hand across the breakfast bar towards mine he shook his head. When our hands were only an inch apart he stopped and glanced down at them.
“You don’t. Not at all. I wish…it would have been different if you’d never worked there, but I couldn’t tell you everything.” His hand slid away from mine and he ran his thumb over the scar on his wrist. “There’s still some paperwork to sort out and I have a briefing soon. There are some things I should explain to you though. I’m hoping you’ll give me a second chance. Meet me for dinner tonight?”
I wasn’t sure I was ready for the full truth. Wasn’t sure I even needed it anymore. I knew enough. Beck was a good guy caught in a crappy situation. “Why don’t you come here instead? I can cook for us and we can talk. In private.” That smile I’d missed put in an appearance, dimples and all.
“I’d like that.”
Rising gracefully from the stool, he leaned over to brush his lips against my cheek. I wanted to lean into him. Feel his arms around me. Wanted a real kiss. To taste him again. But he was already straightening up and moving towards the door.
“Until tonight. I’ll be here around seven if that’s okay?”
“Sounds perfect.”
As I watched him walk away, I let out a sigh and leaned back against the breakfast bar. Because it did sound perfect. I wasn’t sure it was him that needed the second chance. Either way, I was glad we weren’t over.
Chapter Thirty-One
After Beck left, I spent the rest of the morning trying to figure out a way I could find enough money to take up Laney on her offer. Emailed her to let her know I loved the idea but would need to come up with a plan for the money issue.