Her life was important.
He didn’t want to think of what could happen if she found out too soon. Would she have a nervous breakdown? What if her ex-husband was out to get her, too, because she divorced him? Maybe that wadded up piece of paper and court date had something to do with this?
“God, Kate, what did you get yourself into?”
For now, he’d have to field her questions as best he could. He knew there’d be more. When he felt she was strong enough, he’d tell her everything. Then she could make her own decisions.
This is her life, not mine.
He had to admit, he liked having her back. He drummed the steering wheel in time to the radio while his mind replayed the scene from the morning for the umpteenth time. He hadn’t expected her to practically devour him in the kitchen. No matter what she’d said, it was obvious she still wanted him, too. He hadn’t even said good morning before she’d looked at him with such mouthwatering passion. She’d acted like she’d done it a thousand times before. He’d come damn close to stripping them both naked right there in the middle of the floor.
Then she’d kissed him. It was soft and tender, like a first kiss, and he’d practically lost his mind. Wise or not, he was just about to demand more of her when she’d pulled away as if she’d seen a ghost. He was scared to think of what had spurred her reaction.
Not ready to explain anything else, he’d rushed out the door. To be totally honest, he couldn’t have been late for his meeting. He’d much rather have been late because he ravaged his “wife” than because he had to explain why the china didn’t match, or some such nonsense.
He sighed, shaking his head. No, things would be fine. He was doing the right thing, for both of them. He was prepared to move heaven and earth to make sure things went as smoothly as possible. Looking to the large shopping bag on the seat, he couldn’t wait to see her face when he gave it to her. He got out of the truck and took the porch steps two at a time.
“Hey, I’m home.” He draped his neck tie on the hook by the door. “Something smells delicious,” he called. She met him at the door, all smiles, and his heart swelled.
“Hope you don’t mind spaghetti. I couldn’t find anything more. We’ve got to make a trip to the market.”
“Spaghetti will be great.” He kissed her cheek. “How did everything go today?”
“Okay, I guess. After I made my tea, I slept the day away on the couch. I feel so guilty. I should have been doing laundry or something.”
“You need to rest and heal. Doctor’s orders, remember?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Oh, wait, I almost forgot. Be right back.” He stepped onto the porch and returned carrying the shopping bag. “Come and sit down.” He sat, tapping the couch cushion.
“What’s this? Groceries, I hope?”
“Nope, it’s something for you.” His heart leaped within his chest over her excitement.
“Me, but why?”
“You had a horrible morning, and I felt terrible for leaving the way I did.” He set the red-handled bag on her lap.
“You didn’t have to do this.” She tried to sneak a peek inside the bag.
“I know, but I wanted to. It’s not much, really. Open it.” He watched as her eyes opened wide and sparkled like a blue crystal. She reached inside and let out a squeal of delight.
“A coffee maker?” She laughed, and he couldn’t help laughing, too. “I must have really scared you this morning.”
“It wasn’t me I was scared for. The way you slammed the cupboards around, I figured if I didn’t get you a coffee maker soon, there wouldn’t be any cupboards left.”
“Was I that bad?” She looked up at him from under thick lashes. He melted in an instant.
“There’s something else in there.”
She reached inside, more like a child at Christmas than a grown woman, and looked up at him with adoration. “Coffee beans?”
“I even got you one of those wretched bean grinder things,” he added while he reached into the bag to pull it out.
“My, my, you really outdid yourself.”
“I’m not done.” He winked.
“You mean there’s more?”
“I got you this.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out the tiny ring box, opening it before her eyes. He was feeling such a high for landing the mall job, he hadn’t thought twice about buying the ring.
“My ring.” She smiled and then leaned closer. “Didn’t it have five diamonds?”
He could feel his pulse drum against his temple as he stretched another truth to accommodate her fragile state. “Well, you see, the hospital kind of lost your ring.”
“They lost it?”
“Of course, no one wanted to give me all the details. I’ll file a claim with the insurance company. But until that comes through, I thought you should have something.” The simple gold band had three channel set diamonds, obviously not what she was used to. “So, do you like it? I mean, if you don’t, that’s okay. When the money comes in from this big job, I’ll be able to get you whatever ring you want.”
“You got the job? Oh my gosh, that’s great! Sam, this is fine. It’s more than fine. I love it. Will you put it on me?” Holding out her hand, she gazed from the ring to his eyes and back at the ring, waiting.
Sam couldn’t believe how nervous he felt as he pulled the tiny gold band from the box. Taking her left hand, he slid the ring onto her finger. “There, now it’s official.”
“I can’t believe you’d make such a fuss over me. What would I ever do without you?” She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his neck.
Sam closed his eyes and held her tight as he thought, let’s hope we never have to find out.
Chapter Four
Cigar smoke lingered in the air like a thick banner at The Black Opal, the private west side club Dante had begun to frequent since his eight month estrangement from his wife. Only the best of Carlo’s crew were allowed access, and Dante felt honored to be in such a place so early in his career. Dante understood Kate’s fear, but she needed to believe in him. Carlo’s inner circle would give them more than what they had in their already prestigious world. Doors of opportunity had been opened wide, and Dante’s ambition refused to let him pass it by.
“Any news?” Carlo puffed the fat cigar between his lips while lining his shot across the table. His red silk tie slipped over the slim pool stick when he drew back, and he flicked the material over the left shoulder of his steel grey suit. With his concentration broken, Carlo furrowed his thick, silver brows and prepared his shot once more.
“My men are close to finding her.” Dante chalked his stick, trying to gauge the old man’s mood. He didn’t know how much information had already gotten back to Carlo, but he wanted to assure him things were under control and that he could handle his woman.
“I have contacts who desire your wife’s personal touch. They want to commission her unique designs as well as what I have to offer.” The old man hit the five ball but missed the corner pocket. “You understand?”
“Of course.” Dante crossed to the other side of the table. “Kate knows the importance of her work. We’ve talked about this.”
“My boys from Florida will be here in the coming weeks with supplies. I have orders to fill, Dante. You have shown great promise. Don’t disappoint me.”
“I won’t, sir. Kate and I had an argument, nothing more. You know how women are, and my wife is no exception. She is making me suffer for it.” Dante hoped Carlo bought into his attempted laugh, although the situation was anything but amusing. Kate’s stubbornness could cost them all dearly if she didn’t come to her senses soon and return to him where she belonged.
When Kate had walked out with Hope, Dante thought for sure she’d been bluffing. The media created their usual frenzy, publicizing their every move, which had not settled well with the Santini family. He thought he could convince her to come home. It had taken Dante months to smooth things
over and assure his new boss that Kate would stay true. Carlo knew nothing of the divorce papers, and Dante would make sure he never did.
“Don’t you think she is taking this game too far? Rein her in, Dante.” The old man studied him from beneath a deep olive complexion and eyes as dark as the bourbon he drank. Dante admired Carlo’s strength and would be damned if he’d show any weakness or fear in front of the man who had become like a father to him.
“I am. She will learn from this foolish mistake. She can never hide from me.” Dante drew his stick back then forward, sending the cue ball toward the side of the table. With sharp precision it skimmed the twelve ball, placing it into the pocket. He’d been in front of a prosecution worse than Carlo Santini. Dante could definitely hold his cool. He wasn’t an internationally renowned attorney for nothing.
“I am counting on you. My contacts in the Dominican are looking to expand their business. They have already displayed an act of faith.” Carlo tossed a black velvet pouch which Dante caught in one hand. He pulled the drawstring and upon Carlo’s signal, spread brilliant diamonds across the green felt.
They were magnificent.
“What do they expect in return?” Dante picked up a twinkling gem, inspecting its flawlessness.
“A long and profitable partnership.” Carlo approached and scooped the diamonds back into the pouch. “A partnership very dependent on your lovely wife. Now go.”
Dante knew he had been dismissed. He felt the urgency more than ever to bring Kate home. Carlo continued to delve deeper and deeper underground with his business associates. Keeping him informed ensured Dante would cover any possible flaws in the contracts, making the deals virtually undetectable by the authorities. Profitable, indeed.
Kate’s body still had not been found, assumed to be swept away by the current. He would continue to play the grieving spouse to the public while easing Carlo’s distress over her trustworthiness. Right now a consultation with his men was in order. They needed to be aware of the latest negotiations and speed their progress.
When he reached his office, Paulie and Joey were waiting outside his door. No Kate. Not that he’d expected them to have her just yet, but while he’d driven through the city streets, he’d thought it would make a pleasant surprise. How hard could it be? He knew his men weren’t idiots, but they obviously weren’t using their heads. His secretary had already left for the day so he kept the office door open as he passed through. Dante swiped both hands through his hair and turned when he reached his desk.
“I can’t believe you two haven’t found her.”
“We’re trying,” Joey answered, jingling the loose change in his pocket. “There are an awful lot of trees out there.”
Paulie smacked Joey on the back of the head. “We’re in the country, moron. Of course there are a lot of trees.” Walking to the corkboard, he placed two more pins on the crinkled map. “We’ll start narrowing the field now, boss. We’re getting close.”
Dante paced before the map, stopping in front of the two men. They seemed to shrink at the scowl on his face. “Close isn’t good enough. Carlo is working on a new project. He needs everything in place soon, including my wife. I want her found.”
He knew the longer she stayed missing, the harder it would be to cover in front of Carlo. The guise that she was dead kept the media focused on that rather than the connections to the Santini family. Carlo wasn’t pleased when Dante and Kate separated. Carlo liked to keep his family close. He needed her clothing business to export his product. If she didn’t come back, there’d be hell to pay for all of them. Dante didn’t want to put himself or his men in that position.
Dante knew how Carlo’s mind worked. Being the man’s attorney made him privy to some pretty sensitive information. He also knew that if Carlo got wind of this, he’d send his own force to look for Kate. For as much as Dante wanted her to learn a lesson, for Hope’s sake he didn’t want her hurt or dead. He needed to handle this himself. This was between him and his wife. He’d get her back under his roof at any cost.
He wondered if the man she’d met had anything to do with her changed behavior. Had she been planning this all along? Could this stranger be the reason she sent the divorce papers? The thought of her with someone else filled him with an anger he’d never known.
“How dare she,” he growled, feeling his face burn with jealousy and rage deep within his gut. “I want her back where she belongs.”
“Sure thing, boss, we’ll find her.” The big man turned, eager to leave.
“Paulie,” Dante called when the two men reached the door.
“Yeah, boss?”
“Keep it discreet.”
***
Sam had always loved to build, and he found great satisfaction in creating something from nothing. For the first time in years, he enjoyed his job. He had Kate to thank for that. She’d always been his muse. With her back in his life, he felt invincible. Now more than ever, he looked forward to that five o’clock whistle. He wasn’t going to work his men into the ground anymore. Unless there was a deadline, he made sure everyone else beat feet as well. There were more important things in life than work.
Over the years, he’d worked hard to earn the respect and business of the surrounding communities. The quality of his work spoke for itself, and he’d begun to develop a good-sized waiting list for proposals and preliminary drawings. There were a few big projects he’d recently bid on which had the potential to propel his company to a whole new level.
While grabbing a bottle of water from the cooler, Sam saw his foreman, Luke, walk by, carrying a two-by-four. The man took a quick look in Sam’s direction then shook his head. A minute later Luke returned.
“Scotty, Pete, you’ve got to see this.” The burly man pointed at Sam.
“Not again,” Pete groaned over the sound of machinery.
“Hey, Luke, you sure he’s the same guy?” Scotty scratched his curly red head from under his hard hat as he poked Sam in the shoulder.
Luke took a wary step toward Sam. A curious look flashed in his grey eyes. “Don’t know.”
Sam hadn’t seen his men this relaxed in a long time. He decided to play along and let them have their fun. “What is it now, guys? I gave you more money last month. I suppose now you want time off?”
Scotty rubbed his whiskered jaw. “Nope.” He looked back at Luke. “I don’t think this is the same Warden.”
“Damn good look-alike. I didn’t know Sam had a twin brother,” Pete piped in, snapping off his yellow hard hat.
“Huh?” Sam crossed his arms, trying to hold back his laughter. “Spill it, what do you want?”
“Well, ya see,” Luke began as he circled around Sam, “we’re trying to figure out who or what has plastered that idiotic smile on your face every time we see you.”
“Gotta be a woman.” Pete eyed Sam up and down.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sam coughed and looked away because the amusement was too hard to hide.
“Yeah, right. Where you hiding her? Is she in the trailer?” Pete stepped away, and Sam grabbed the sleeve of his work coat.
“C’mon, there’s no one in the trailer.” He still couldn’t help the smile, which apparently didn’t help his case.
Scotty slapped his palm on his dusty thigh. “You were right, Pete, it is a woman.”
“How many times you getting it? She’s gotta be damn good to keep you looking like this all the time.” Pete grinned, showing a couple missing teeth.
“Does she have a sister?” Scotty elbowed Pete and snorted.
“I’m not getting anything, and there is no woman,” Sam retorted, attempting to sound stern. He had to keep Kate’s existence a secret. He trusted his crew, but he couldn’t risk her safety, or theirs, if things turned as bad as he thought.
“Yup.” Luke shifted his chew from one cheek to the other. “That would explain all the smiling and that ‘light in the shoes’ walk you’ve had lately.”
Sam smacked his fo
rehead with the palm of his hand. “Give it up, fellas, would you?”
“There’s a reason why we call you Warden. If you don’t bark a few orders or fire someone soon, we’ll have to change that name.” Pete moved to stand by Luke and Scotty.
“Oh really, to what?” Sam cocked a brow at a mock attempt at enlisting a challenge.
“Princess,” the three men said in unison as they performed their best curtsies. They looked ridiculous with tool belts and hard hats as they twirled around. Sam let out a hearty laugh as they skipped away like three overgrown fairies.
“We still want that time off,” they called.
“You get time off when the mall job is done. Now get back to work, you clowns,” Sam yelled between bursts of laughter.
The ring of the trailer phone brought his attention back to the job at hand. He’d given Kate his cell phone number, explaining to her it was the easiest way to reach him when he was out in the field. You couldn’t pay him enough to sit inside all day. He liked to be hands-on with his crew. He’d usually let the machine get it, but since he was by the door, he decided to answer.
“Hackett Construction.”
There was silence.
Sam kicked the trailer door shut to drown out the noise of a passing forklift. He pressed the receiver to his ear. “Hello?”
The line went dead.
Sam clicked the phone a couple times to see if he’d really lost the connection. Whoever it was would call back if they needed something. He took a look at his watch. He had some reinforcements at the north end of the site to look over. The inspector would be here in fifteen minutes. Sam stared oddly at the phone on the desk before heading out the door.
Unless the call had nothing to do with business.
***
Sam missed the camaraderie with his crew like he’d had yesterday. He knew he had a great bunch of guys working for him. They’d witnessed first-hand the hell he’d lived through during his rollercoaster relationship with Robin. He’d been miserable and overbearing to each of them, not treating them fairly at all. After all the crap he’d pulled, he was surprised they’d even stuck around. Hell, he hadn’t meant to be such as ass in the first place. Things kind of escalated on their own once--
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