Blue Roses (Reunited Series)

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “Yes it is. A few weeks ago Tyler and I had a fight and I left. I haven’t heard from him since.” Dallas stood and stretched. “That’s about it.”

  They talked a few minutes longer before Dallas left the room and went to get ready for work. She wanted Harmony to go to work with her, but her sister didn’t want to be seen in public with her bruises. Harmony assured her she’d be fine at the house.

  Dallas wondered if her sister would ever tell her what happened with Jerome. The only thing she said was that she had left his apartment in a taxi. Dallas was surprised he lived in Chicago. Harmony resided in Milwaukee and she assumed Jerome did too.

  She turned at the sound of a knock at the bedroom door. “Come in.”

  Harmony stuck her head in. “The telephone people are outside.”

  “Thanks. Hopefully they have some good news.” She shuffled down the hall and to the front door.

  “How you doing? Sorry to bother you.” The young man’s gaze traveled approvingly over the length of her body before his eyes made it back up to her face.

  Dallas rolled her eyes. Men. “I hope you were able to fix my house phone.”

  “No. I’m … I’m sorry. I wasn’t.” The young man stuttered. He rocked from one foot to the other. “It’s going to take a little more than expected to fix it. Your phone line was cut.”

  “What do you mean it was cut? How’d you do that?”

  He shook his head. “Wasn’t me. Whoever did it, though, knew what they were doing. It’s a clean cut. I checked with a few of your neighbors, and it looks like your line is the only one that’s been tampered with.”

  ****

  Hours later Dallas moved carefully toward her office building as the wind practically carried her to the entrance. Today Chicago was living up to its Windy City nickname.

  She had gone to her doctor’s appointment before going into work. And despite the fact that it had lasted longer than expected, she had no complaints. She was ecstatic to be rid of the heavy cast, even though it had been exchanged with a hideous air cast. Still needing at least one of the crutches, her walk felt lighter than it had in weeks as she strolled to the bank of elevators.

  “Hold the elevator,” she yelled. Once over the threshold the steel doors closed behind her and she thanked the older gentleman.

  “What floor?” he asked.

  “Thirty-eighth, thanks.” Dallas moved toward the back of the semi-empty elevator and leaned against the wall to catch her breath. She did a mental inventory of the rest of her afternoon. Things had been so busy, that in order to keep up with her new workload, she had to put in as many as twelve to fifteen hours a day. But once she made partner, it would all be worth it.

  She checked her watch, one fifteen. She had to prepare for a two o’clock meeting. The morning had been crazy after finding out her house telephone line had been cut. No way did she want to leave Harmony alone. And after much discussion, Harmony agreed to hang out at a friend’s house. Dallas could only hope the friend in question wasn’t Jerome.

  The metal doors glided open and she stepped out onto the plush beige carpet and walked to her office.

  “Hey Bianca.”

  “Hey there. I was just changing your calendar. Your two o’clock meeting has been cancelled,” she said following Dallas into her office.

  “Wonderful. Now I can stop rushing.”

  “I see you got your cast off. I guess that means you’re almost back to normal.”

  “Almost. I still have to wear this one.” She pointed at the walking cast. It’s much lighter than what I had though.” Dallas put her briefcase near her desk. “Well, since the meeting’s cancelled, I’ll go grab some lunch.”

  “Do you want me to run and get you something?”

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll go downstairs to the café. Do you want anything?”

  Bianca shook her head. “No thanks. Their prices are getting ridiculous. I’m protesting by not eating there anymore.”

  Dallas chuckled. “What, another protest? You keep this up and you’ll only be able to eat at home.”

  Once downstairs, Dallas realized she needed cash, so she stopped by the ATM and stepped into line. A nostalgic moment washed over her as she stared down at the baby girl in the stroller. There was a time in her life that she thought she’d have a couple of kids by now. She moved her purse strap to her other shoulder and tried to redirect her thoughts.

  “Brings back memories doesn’t it?”

  Fear and anger knotted inside her at the sound of the voice that irritated her more than someone scratching their nails across a chalkboard. She turned slowly and came face to face with the man she hated more than anything in the world. Mark.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I have a client in this building. Funny running into you.”

  Dallas didn’t see anything funny about it. Was it a coincidence he had a client in the same building, or was he following her? Not interested in a conversation, she tried to step around him, but he blocked her path.

  “Do you mind?” She hoped her voice sounded steadier than her erratic heartbeat. Okay, Dallas, just calm down. He can’t hurt you anymore. She limped around him and walked a few feet before he grabbed her arm. Despite the lightweight cast on her leg, she turned ready to do battle.

  Mark threw his hands up and took a few steps back. “Come on, Dallas. At least give me a chance to apologize. Maybe I can buy you lunch or something.”

  Dallas stood before him and studied his features. The irrefutable strength in his face hadn’t changed. He still exuded an air of command. Though she had seen him a few weeks ago, today she really looked at him. His ruggedly handsome face, the color of walnut, now sported a thin mustache and a perfectly trimmed beard, whereas back in grad school he was bare faced. His tailored suit hung perfectly on his trim, but fit body, and his shoes were top notch and shiny as usual. No one could ever accuse him of being a slacker when it came to dressing. It wasn’t until her gaze traveled back up to his dark, emotionless eyes that she saw him for who he really was. A coward.

  ****

  Tyler took the elevator to the thirty-eighth floor. On one hand, he was anxious to see Dallas. On the other, he still harbored unresolved feelings about the way she left.

  He glanced at his watch. One forty-five. He should’ve arrived at her office hours ago, but between traffic and the power outage in five of his Chicago condo units, he was way behind schedule. It worked out having Quinn’s guy, Hank, trailing Dallas. He kept Tyler abreast of her whereabouts throughout the morning. Once she arrived at her office Hank called him and Tyler relieved him of his duties since he knew he was only minutes from her.

  It had been months since he’d been in her office building, but nothing had changed. He turned the last corner leading to her office and walked up to her assistant’s desk.

  “Hey, Bianca,” he said and the secretary looked up from her computer screen.

  “Oh my goodness, Tyler! It’s so good to see you.” She rounded the desk to give him a hug.

  He’d once been a regular visitor and had befriended the young assistant. She’d allowed him to surprise Dallas with visits or presents. Bianca would do whatever she could to help him please her supervisor. “Is the boss in?”

  “She’s here, but she went down to the café.” Bianca glanced at the time on her computer screen. “Actually she’s been gone a while. She should be back any minute. Do you want to wait in her office?”

  He hesitated, unsure that he’d even be welcomed there. He also didn’t know how much Bianca knew about their situation.

  Apparently noticing his delay, Bianca said, “I heard what happened. And between you and me, she’s been miserable since she’s been back.” She stood and walked toward the door. “Come on in. I know she’ll be glad to see you.”

  Tyler smiled. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  He walked in and glanced around the spacious office that looked so much like Dallas: browns and beige in the
sitting area, rich mahogany bookshelves, and a smooth mahogany desk near the center of the room. Everything seemed to have a place in her tidy workspace.

  “Can I get you some coffee?”

  “Uh, no, I’m good. I’ll just wait for Dallas. I left her a message this morning. Do you know if she received it?”

  “Probably not. She’s been out all morning and arrived in the office maybe twenty, twenty-five minutes ago.”

  He ran a hand down his face, glad that Dallas was okay, but anxious to see her again. “She isn’t expecting me, so I’m not sure how it’s going to go,” he said with a weak smile.

  Bianca walked to the door, but turned back. “She’s going to be very happy to see you. Funny, you’re her second surprise visitor today. An old friend of hers stopped by less than five minutes ago looking for her. He said they attended grad school together.”

  Tyler’s pulse quickened and he moved closer to Bianca. Anger singed the corners of his control, but as calmly as he could manage, he asked, “Did he give his name?”

  “Yeah. He said his name was Mark.”

  Tyler’s thoughts raced dangerously. Could Mark actually be behind the phone calls? When they had their encounter a couple of weeks ago, Tyler didn’t take him as the type that would stoop to that level. “Where’d you say Dallas went?”

  “Downstairs to the café.”

  “I’ll go down there. If she comes back up before I get here, let her know I’m here and have her call me on my cell.”

  “Is anything wrong?” Bianca asked.

  “I hope not,” Tyler said over his shoulder.

  Chapter Fifteen

  For too long Dallas had allowed Mark to manipulate her and treat her like crap. She had run from her past, never allowed herself to enjoy her present, and a happy and successful future was questionable – all because of him. And he had the nerve to only offer lunch?

  “So what do you say?” He stood before her, his hands in his pants pockets. “Can I buy you lunch?”

  “No thanks. I’m suddenly not very hungry.” Tempted to say something scathing to hurt him the way he had hurt her, she turned and limped toward the main doors. Anything she said could set him off, and she knew the consequences.

  “Face it, Dallas. You can run, but you can’t hide,” he said and followed her. “Sooner or later we’re going to talk. I want you back in my life.”

  “Well, we don’t always get what we want.”

  A few yards from the front entrance, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into the nearest corner.

  “Get your hands off of me.” The venom in her voice matched the wild, crazed look he surely saw in her eyes.

  “You’ve gotten tough over the years. I like that.”

  “I said get your hands off of me.” The Mark she hated was showing his true colors, thinking he could bully her into submission. No longer the scared little girl he once controlled, she stood her ground. Though he held her arm, she maintained a death grip on her purse strap. Her free hand clenched and unclenched as if pulsing with mounting fury.

  “Or what?”

  “Or this.” She brought back her hand and let it rip across his cheek, forcing him to grab the left side of his face. The gratification of knowing she caused him pain pulsed through her veins.

  “Why you little….”

  “Little what? Oh, yeah, this is when you start calling me names and yank me around right? Well, Mark, things have changed.” Her breathing ragged, her heart pounded, but no way would she back down. He wanted a fight, she’d give him one. “If you ever and I mean ever, put your hands on me again I’m going to make two phone calls: One to the police, and the second to a reporter with the Chicago Tribune.” Mark’s reputation meant everything to him. The confident look she’d grown to hate no longer covered his face.

  “So now you’re throwing out useless threats?” His scornful laugh unnerved her, but she stood her ground. “Dallas, baby, I’m not afraid of you.”

  “You should be. I wonder what your boss would think if he knew his top engineer used to abuse his wife. Or what his reaction would be if he knew you had left her alone, in a hospital, after she miscarried your child.” Dallas chest heaved and tears rolled down her cheeks. It was awful enough losing her baby, but the way he’d tossed her to the curb hurt just as much. “Oh, and that’s only a little of what I would share. Who knows, I might also add the part about how you disappeared by the time the hospital released me.”

  Marked grabbed her forearms. “If you ever threaten me again, I’ll—”

  “And I told you what I’d do if you ever came near her again.” Tyler grabbed Mark by the shirt collar, jerked him away from Dallas, and smashed a right hook into his left jaw. Before Mark could react, Tyler lifted him off the ground and slammed him against a wall and punched him in the gut.

  Dallas’s jaw dropped. Where had he come from? It wasn’t until security charged through the small crowd gathered around them that she responded.

  “Tom!” She screamed at the security guard who pulled Tyler off of Mark. “This is just a misunderstanding, please let him go,” she said of Tyler.

  “Are you sure, Ms. Dallas? All I need to do is make a phone call and they’ll both be hauled out of here.”

  “Get your hands off of me.” Mark yelled at the other security guard. “He’s the one you should be roughing up. I ought to call the cops myself. Assault is a felony and he just assaulted me.”

  “Please let him go.” Dallas pointed to Tyler. “As for you...” She walked to Mark, still restrained by the guard. “Go ahead. Call the cops. Then I can show them your handprint on my forearm.”

  When the guard released Mark, he glared at Dallas. “This ain’t over.” He huffed away.

  When Mark left, Dallas turned to Tyler. Bent over, his hands on his knees, he struggled to catch his breath. She took two tentative steps toward him, but then he looked up and their eyes met. Those beautiful eyes. For Tyler to show up in Chicago, meant more to her than she’d ever be able to express.

  He stood to his full height. “Are you okay?” She nodded, walked into his arms, and held on tightly around his waist.

  Moments later Dallas leaned back, without letting go, and looked at him. Tears of joy traveled down her face until Tyler wiped them away. What did she ever do to deserve this wonderful man who continued to come to her rescue? She placed her hand against his cheek.

  “I’m so sorry for the way I left and the horrible things I said to you,” Dallas said. “I love you. I love you so much. I just want—.” Her words were halted in her throat when his mouth came down hungrily over hers. Anything she’d planned to say was lost somewhere in the back of her mind as she enjoyed the tantalizing kiss that was like the soldering heat that binds metals. With one hand on the back of her head, and one at the small of her back, he pulled her closer, deepening their connection. For weeks she had longed to be in his arms and feel his mouth against hers and he didn’t disappoint.

  When he eventually pulled away, she couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes, still reveling in the feel of his lips against hers.

  “Now what were you saying?” He stroked her hair, trailed gentle fingers down the side of her face, and lifted her chin. His gaze stayed on her lips, as if he’d plan to kiss her again.

  “I was saying, uh…please give me another chance to tell you everything.”

  He stared into her upturned face, and kissed her again. “Has it only been three weeks since I’ve seen you? It seems like forever. You look amazing. And I guess you were right. You can take care of yourself.”

  Dallas shook her head. “No, Tyler, I wasn’t right. I do need you. Baby, I need you more than you know. Give me another chance to tell you everything. Please.”

  He placed a light kiss across her lips. “Okay, okay. Calm down. What time do you get off?”

  ****

  An hour later, Dallas and Tyler sat on a park bench overlooking Lake Michigan. The wind had died down and they took advantage of what was probably one
of the last few warm days of summer.

  Dallas intertwined her fingers with his and rested her head on his shoulder. A loud sigh slipped through her lips. So far her day had been like something out of a thriller movie. Running into Mark and finally standing up to him was scary and invigorating all in one.

  Having Tyler come to her rescue yet again, confirmed within her how much she needed and wanted him in her life. Despite the fact she’d treated him like crap, he was still right there. How would she ever be able to make it up to him and convince him to give her another chance?

  “I’m not sure where to begin,” she said staring at the sun’s rippling reflection on the lake.

  “Why don’t you tell me what happened between you and Mark to make you so uncomfortable around him?” He squeezed her hand.

  Dallas took in a cleansing breath and let it out slowly. “From day one, I wasn’t myself with Mark. I can’t explain the power he had over me and how I used to deteriorate whenever I was in his presence. When we parted ways, I went through a year of therapy, but I didn’t walk away with answers.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My therapist began to drop hints that my behavior with Mark had something to do with growing up without a father, and my mother’s ridiculous devotion to every loser who came into her life. I didn’t give the therapist a chance to develop any of those theories. I needed a change in my environment and when the opportunity to work for Weisman and Cohen became available, I left Louisiana. I moved here, vowing to heal myself.”

  She told him about her internship and how she’d met Mark. They had only dated for a short period of time, yet she thought she loved him. So when she ended up pregnant and he asked her to marry him, she didn’t think twice. Then he’d asked her to quit her job and let him support them, and their problems started.

  “What happened to the baby?” Tyler asked.

  Dallas lifted her head from his shoulder, released his hand, and angled her body to face him. “When I was five months pregnant I had a miscarriage.”

  “Aw, baby, I’m sorry.”

  “I almost died. They saved me, but not my baby. And of course I blamed myself. My doctor had warned me about working too much and that I needed to take better care of myself. I cut my work hours and made sure to eat right, but it wasn’t enough. I begged God to save my baby.”