She’d expected Dennis to be home. She glanced around the tidy room, silently complimenting him on his good taste. Meticulous in most things, he’d decorated his own apartment. Of course, he’d been dating an interior designer at the time, but he had selected the furnishings. Unusual for men to care about the décor of rooms, but Dennis had a style all his own. She might ask his opinion on her new place, when she and Craig decided where they would live.
She toed off her shoes, then carried them to the guest room, finding a note lying on her pillow.
Craig called. He’s on his way back.
Picking him up at the airport.
D.
She glanced at her watch, wondering when Dennis had left. And here she’d been at dinner with Robert. She dug in her purse for her cell, mentally kicking herself for not checking it sooner. Her only excuse was exhaustion from diverting Robert’s unwanted attention.
Craig hadn’t called her. Maybe he wanted to surprise her. Just like Dennis to let the cat out of the bag.
The doorbell rang, startling her. They were back. Dennis must have dropped Craig off to give them some privacy. She hurried to the living room and flung open the door.
Robert.
“What are you doing here?”
“Kelly. Is that any way to greet me? We just had dinner together. Do you mind if I come inside?” When he moved toward her, without thinking, she instinctively stepped back.
“How did you find me?”
“I admit I followed you. I wanted to make sure you got home safely.”
“I can take care of myself, Robert.”
“I’ve done it for so long. It’s hard to break old habits.” He turned, closing the door behind him.
“Robert, this is Dennis’s apartment. I think you should leave.”
“Is he here? I could say hello.”
“No, he’s not here, but he will be any minute.”
He gave a laugh that sounded nothing like a laugh at all. More like a snort. “Of course he will.” There he went again, suggesting she fibbed. Robert took a step closer, causing her to take another step back.
“We were good together, you and I.”
Oh my God. He isn’t going to let this go. The weight of the situation hit her. “It’s over,” she said, with courage she didn’t feel.
“I’ve never met a woman like you, Kelly. I think perhaps you’re denying your feelings. You still want me.”
“Listen carefully, Robert. I do not want you. You are ignoring the truth.”
“You still love me,” he purred.
“I’m sorry, Robert. I’ve never loved you.”
“How can you say that?” He raised a finger toward her cheek and she moved back. His hand froze in midair. “You were the only woman who meant anything to me.”
He was slick and charming, with a skull as thick as a ten-foot cement wall. “You were married. An important fact you forgot to tell me.”
“I know,” he said softly as he leaned forward. She jerked around and quickly put several feet between them. “Don’t run from me. You loved me once. And soon you will realize you can’t live without me.”
“I’m sorry. You need to accept this. It’s over.”
His entire body language changed. One side of his mouth lifted in a sneer. “How gullible you are,” he said, as he strode to her. “A few kind words, a pout on my lips. I had you eating out of my hands.”
“What?”
“When I put my mind to something, Kelly, I get it.”
The arrogant bastard. He had been playing her. “Not this time.” He stood entirely too close. A shiver of revulsion pulsed in her blood, simmering with anger. “Get out!”
“Can’t do that.”
“Why not?” she heard herself ask.
“Ever hear of payback? It’s a bitch.”
How stupid she’d been. His eyes glazed over, his behavior was beginning to scare her.
“I’m here to collect.” His words, delivered in a cold and hard voice, showed her a side of him she’d never seen. Her mind in chaos, her stomach threatened to hurl. She swallowed back the fear that threatened to buckle her legs. The last thing she needed to show was weakness. She’d always been a fighter. If she had a gun, she would shoot him right now.
She curled her fingers into fists and attempted to sprint to the kitchen. A hand fell on her shoulder and spun her around.
“You rejected me once, but not twice.”
She shook him off. “Rejected you? You conveniently forgot to tell me you were married. A very important detail that closed the door on our relationship.” She fled, putting the counter between them.
“Well, I’m re-opening it.” He followed her like a predator, the stalking movement making her feel like a caged animal. Rage overtook her as his words sank in.
“Like hell.”
“You ruined everything,” he shouted. “My wife threw me out. Cut me off.”
“Good for her.”
“It’s all gone. Because of you. The money, the house, the business—everything was hers. I married into it. She’s a cold fish. And you were hot blooded. You gave me what I craved.”
“You bastard.” She wanted to slap the leering grin off his condescending face.
“When she threw me out, I lost everything. I have nothing left. And you’re going to pay for that.”
“Leave me alone. I’m making a new life now, and I want nothing to do with you.” She looked for a weapon. A cutlery block sat on the counter to her right. Before she could reach for a knife, Robert pinned her in.
“I can promise you that’s not going to happen. The past two months have been hell for me and you’re responsible. You’ve destroyed everything I’ve worked for.”
“Me? It’s not my fault your wife threw you out. You did that yourself. You wanted a divorce.”
His harsh laugh resembled a wounded animal. “Why would I want a divorce? My wife is loaded. I live like a king. At least I did. Until you ruined everything.”
Another lie. How gullible could a girl be?
His mouth turned into a tight line. “You were the one I wanted to warm my bed. When I saw you, I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I couldn’t believe my luck when I found you to be as sweet as you looked. You and me, we’re good together.” His voice lowered to a husky rasp. “Let me remind you.”
“Not so fast.” She braced her hands against his chest and shoved with all her might, but his grip was too strong.
“I’ll take it as slow as you want it.” An evil smile deepened his sullen features, making her want to gag. “I know how you like it.”
“No!” She tried thrusting her knee, but his body pressed against her, limiting her movement. Why had she let down her guard? “I. Do. Not. Want. You,” she cried, pounding her fists on his shoulders.
He caught her wrists and jerked her arms behind her, the counter digging into her back. The cords on his neck stretched taut, and he bared his teeth. “Yes, you do.” One hand cruelly slipped into her hair and forced her to meet him. He kissed her hard, bruising.
She struggled in earnest, but the hold he had on her hair brought tears to her eyes.
“Don’t fight me. I know you want this. Admit it.” His mouth on her neck, she shook with revulsion.
“I don’t have to admit anything,” she forced out between her teeth. “And if you don’t let me go, I swear, I’ll cut off your balls.”
He laughed. “How are you going to do that? You’re trapped. I’m stronger than you.”
“For the moment.”
“If you threaten my manhood, I’ll just have to keep you in my arms.” When he shifted, he allowed enough room for her to lift her knee. She saw her chance and took it.
“You bitch!”
There’d not been enough room to put any real force behind her strike. All she’d accomplished in her attempt was to make him furious. Dread filled her chest as she realized he’d gone over the edge. Robert was enraged, crazy, capable of anything.
He slapped her, hard. The blow stunned her long enough for him to throw her over his shoulder. “Now, let’s see.” He kept a firm grip on her backside as he strode down the hall. “Which bedroom is yours?”
Kelly pounded his back and kicked, terrified of what he might do. “Robert. Don’t do this. Don’t do something you can’t take back.”
“Take back?” With little effort, he stood her in front of him, his strong hands gripping her shoulders. “If I could turn back the clock, you would never have gotten within ten feet of my wife.”
Horrified, Kelly faced the situation. Robert had strength she couldn’t fight. The bulges flexing on his upper arms were being fed pure adrenaline.
“Too late to go back, Kelly. We can only move forward.” His chest heaved as he drew air into his lungs, his breathing frenzied. “Don’t fight me, Kelly. I know you want this. You’ve always been a tiger in bed. More passionate than any woman I’ve ever known. If only you’d kept quiet and not exposed us to my wife.”
“You son-of-a-bitch.”
He jerked her arm and threw her on the bed. “You bitch. You owe me.” He grabbed her flailing legs and dragged her to the end of the bed. “You flaunted our tryst to my wife. I have nothing left but my revenge. You’re going to pay.”
She kicked him in the face, hoping she’d break his jaw.
“God damn it, Kelly!”
She scrambled to the other side of the bed and jumped off, but he caught her before she reached the door. He knocked her to the floor, then fell on top of her. She thrashed and jerked, fighting for her life.
“Hold the fuck still!”
A figure appeared behind Robert, arms raised in the air. Kelly gasped in surprise, causing Robert to spin around.
Dennis’s secretary held a vase in her hands and plummeted it down, but Robert caught it before she could hit him. The vase went hurtling. Kelly had no idea where Donna had come from, but thank God she’d shown up when she had.
“Who the fuck are you?” Robert yelled as he backhanded Donna, knocking her to the floor.
Kelly fumed. She pushed from the floor and with everything in her, she charged, shoving Robert as hard as she could, knocking him away. He stumbled two steps before he caught his balance and whirled on her.
A fist landed against her cheek. For the second time, she saw stars. A loud ringing echoed in her ears. Her head swam with dizziness and she tried to snatch a breath.
The room faded into gray, then black, and then all she saw was darkness.
Chapter 22
“Hey buddy. Thanks for picking me up.” Craig tossed his suitcase in the trunk of Dennis’s car.
“No problem. Glad I was home.”
“Me too. I wanted to surprise Kelly.” He opened the passenger door and crawled inside.
“Uh . . . too late,” Dennis said, as he closed the driver’s door.
“You told her?”
“You didn’t tell me it was a surprise.”
“When you said she wasn’t there, I figured you wouldn’t see her.”
“I left her a note.” Dennis replied, as he cranked the engine.
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll just be glad to see her.” Craig stretched his legs and settled back into the comfort of fine leather. Only the best for Dennis. “Man, those airplane seats are cramped.”
“Are you kidding? You didn’t fly first class?”
“I had a seat. I met this nice older lady. Her family brought her to the airport, she was flying to see her son. Since her daughter couldn’t go to the boarding section, I showed the woman the ropes. Mary was her name. Sweet thing, scared to death of flying. We boarded the plane, I had a chat with the flight attendant, and she promised to take care of the woman.”
“You old softy,” Dennis teased. “I don’t recognize you anymore.”
“You’re one to talk. Your mother taught you manners, too. You would have done the same thing.”
“Give up a seat in first class? No way.”
“Right.” Dennis might tease him, but Craig knew his friend would have done whatever he could to ease the older woman’s mind.
“How did she do?”
“Mary? Fine. The flight attendant said she was a lot of fun after the first ‘Totty’. That’s what she called her drink. Bourbon.” Craig chuckled, remembering the laughing crew regaling Mary’s first flight experience. He didn’t mind sitting in the back so much after that. He was on his way to see Kelly.
“Kelly tell you about her trip home?” he asked Dennis. “Her boss has already found a replacement.”
“Yeah. Things at her job went fine. I figured you talked with her every night.”
“I did. It’s been a long three weeks.” Craig studied Dennis, noticing the way his body had tensed when he answered. “Something up?”
“Did Kelly tell you she ran into Robert? Meaning he found her at her favorite Starbucks right down from her apartment?”
“Some coincidence.”
“I don’t believe in coincidence where that guy is concerned. He’s an asshole.”
“He’s creeping about town, stalking Kelly? Maybe I better have a chat with old Robert.” If the guy thought he had any claims to Kelly, Craig would set him straight.
“The jerkwad didn’t like it at all that she was living in my apartment. When he finds out about you . . .”
“You think he might do something stupid?”
“That guy is off his nut. He still thinks he has a shot with Kelly. The dumbass acts like they just had a little spat. Hell. Kelly found him with his wife. She said Robert was furious. I don’t trust that guy.”
Fear clawed at Craig’s gut. The instant need to protect Kelly surged through his blood like a lightning bolt. “You don’t think he’d harm her, do you?”
“I don’t know. According to Sandi, she lives in the apartment next to Kelly, Robert has a temper.”
Craig’s fists tightened, his blood pounded at his temple. “Has he ever—”
“No. If he had, I’d know. And I would have already torn him apart. You don’t have to worry about Kelly. She’s tough. She would never let a guy take his anger out on her.”
Craig’s mouth tightened with loathing. “If he tries anything— Hell, I’ll take care of him before he gets a chance. Maybe it’s time I meet up with this Robert character and explain a few things.”
“You want my opinion, that guy needs to get the shit stomped out of him for what he did. The guy has balls, approaching Kelly again.”
“If he doesn’t want them cut off, he’d better stay away from her.” Craig’s low growl was filled with contempt. Kelly belonged to him, or soon would. That bastard better not come anywhere near her.
“You’re the man for the job. I’d help, but I’m sure you don’t need any.” Dennis chuckled.
“Doesn’t this car go any faster?”
“Impatient, are you?” Dennis glanced his way with a smirking grin.
“You might be my best friend, but I won’t hesitate to punch you. It’s been entirely too long since I’ve seen her.”
“Hang on, man.” The engine hummed as Dennis stomped the throttle, molding Craig to the leather seat.
Within twenty minutes, Dennis arrived at the parking lot of his apartment building. Craig jumped out of the car before the engine stopped.
“Hey. Don’t you want your bag?”
“Nope, I’m taking her to the Hyatt.”
“Think you can wait that long?”
“I have to,” Craig shot back. “Once I get her alone, she won�
��t be coming up for air.” He heard his friend’s chuckle as he hurried to the elevator.
“Want some time alone? I can wait in the hall.” Dennis leaned against one wall, his shiny shoes crossed at the ankles. His body relaxed as if bored, but his eyes danced with mischief.
“As soon as I see her, I’m throwing her over my shoulder and we’re leaving.”
“Cave man style, huh? She’ll love that.” The tone of his voice said otherwise.
“Can’t this elevator go any faster?” A bell dinged and the light signaled the tenth floor. It took all his willpower not to jump out and run up the remaining flights of stairs. The elevator doors opened to an attractive couple. “We’re going up,” Craig nearly growled. The man’s brows rose in question.
“You’ll have to excuse my friend,” Dennis said. “He’s in a hurry to see his lady love.”
The woman smiled and said, “In that case, don’t let us disturb you. We’ll wait.” Her escort’s frown remained.
When the doors closed, Dennis laughed. Craig turned to see his buddy shaking his head. “I’ve never known you to be rude.”
Hell. He shoved his hand through his hair. He had been rude. That wasn’t like him. He bordered on obsession. His fixation on Kelly had him reduced to agitation and bad manners. His mother would kick his butt. He was a man possessed. In love. If he didn’t see Kelly soon, he’d bust.
Finally, the doors opened to Dennis’s floor. He rushed from the elevator with an urgency he couldn’t explain. He’d missed Kelly, couldn’t’ wait to see her, but for some reason, a thread of anxiety bloomed in his chest. And it wouldn’t go away until he saw Kelly.
He reached for the doorknob and found it unlocked. His love was on the other side of that door. He flung it open, eager to see her.
“Kelly!” Finding the living room empty, he hastened down the hall to her bedroom. “Kelly!” No answer. He’d probably find her in Dennis’s shower. The inkling of shedding his clothes and joining her popped into his head. Just as quickly, he reminded himself this wasn’t his apartment, and Dennis was right behind him. His friend might not be too keen on the idea of him and Kelly getting crazy in the guy’s personal space.
Instant Enticement Page 27