Road to Reason (The Road Series Book 4)

by Ann, Natalie

  He chuckled and resumed his torture of her, moving his fingers slow and then fast, finding the right rhythm. He brought her right to the point of ecstasy and then stopped, making her scream in frustration. Until finally he slid his thumb up and over her pulsating bud, gave her a few rubs while his fingers pumped in and out.

  She finally cried out her release, her body shaking uncontrollably at the speed and depth of what just happened.

  Once her panting gave way to more controlled breathing, he picked her up and carried her to his room where he gave her what she had originally asked for.

  He walked out of his bathroom just as she was climbing out of bed reaching for his shirt on the floor. “What’s the rush?” he asked and climbed back in bed, pulling her partially on top of him.

  She loved to snuggle up with him afterward and hated that he got up so fast to dispose of the condom. But understood the need to do it.

  Unfortunately once he returned, the urge to hold him was gone. The moment had passed. And she hated that, too. Without thought she blurted out, “I’m on the pill.”

  “That’s good,” he replied back.

  She let out of huff. Why couldn’t he ever seem to understand what she was saying unless she spelled it out? She thought he was smart when it came to all this stuff. “How about not using condoms?” she said instead.

  He froze for a second. “Are you having a problem with the condoms? A reaction of some type?”

  “No.”

  He frowned. “Then why don’t you want to use them?”

  “Never mind, it’s not important,” she said in a rush.

  He put his hand under her chin, lifted her head up and forced her to look him in the eye. “It is important or you wouldn’t have brought it up. So tell me why.”

  She looked around the room, trying to figure out what to say, or hoping he would let it go, but he only continued to stare at her face, finally giving her chin a firmer squeeze. “It just ruins it, you know?” she blurted out.

  “Ruins what? I don’t know. Don’t you enjoy sex? That isn’t the impression I got a few minutes ago,” he said with a laugh, trying to tease her.

  “Of course I enjoy it. I think half the lake heard me a few minutes ago.” She grinned sweetly at him. “But that isn’t what I meant. Again, no worries. Just forget it,” she said pulling her chin out of his grasp and laying her head back on his chest.

  “No, I’m not going to forget it. Just tell me, Kaitlin. What does it ruin then?”

  “The moment. And I feel like an idiot. Just ignore me. Forget I even brought it up.” Now she was even more embarrassed. He probably thought she was some child who needed to be coddled afterwards. Who knows, maybe she was. It was all still so new to her.

  She saw the light dawn on his face, that it was all starting to make sense to him. Every time they had finished having sex she wanted to stay close to him, hold him. Cuddle, for lack of better word. He always seemed fine with it, but once he returned from the bathroom she was ready to move on, and half the time was already dressed. He even made a funny remark about it one day.

  “Kaitlin, I’ve been with quite a few people,” he said slowly.

  She knew that and was trying to think past it. “I know, I understand.”

  “I’ve always used protection. I’ve even been tested a few times, just in case.” He frowned. “I’ve never been careless, but you just don’t know the rules. It’s the way it is. Most people, or at least intelligent people, protect themselves when having sex.”

  She knew he could tell she was feeling anxious at the moment, fidgeting and trying to pull away from him, so he finally said, “Let me think about it, OK? It’s a big step.”

  “I’m sorry. Again, just forget it. It’s fine. I don’t want to put pressure on you. I wasn’t trying to make you take any steps you didn’t feel comfortable with.”

  “Let me think about it,” he repeated.

  ***

  So here she was four days later. They talked each night; she knew he was busy, between cases and planning the final details of Jack and Cori’s wedding. She hadn’t seen him since that awkward conversation and was worried that she’d pushed him away. That maybe she ended up smothering him after all.

  Well, if he was going to end things, she guessed it was better now than later, when she got even more attached to him. Because she was becoming addicted to him lately. Or maybe it was just the sex. No, it was him. And the sex.

  The knock at her door brought her out of her thoughts. Turning, she saw her father standing there looking at her.

  “Everything OK, Kaitlin? You’ve been pretty distracted this week?” William asked.

  “I’m fine, just losing focus in these reports.”

  “I know work is a lot slower paced here than it was when you were in Manhattan. Are you regretting moving back home?”

  “No, not at all. I got the experience I needed. I like this pace just fine. I like being able to come and go and not work sixty-plus hours a week trying to get ahead of the next person. I have no regrets, Dad,” she said gently. “Don’t ever worry about that.”

  “That’s good. How are things with Ryan?” he asked.

  “Good. He’s been busy this week between court, his cases and Jack’s wedding. I was there this weekend, but we haven’t had much time together this week.”

  He looked at her more seriously. “Just be careful.”

  “I don’t need everyone to keep warning me about him. I know what I’m doing,” she said with a frown. At least she thought she did.

  “I know you do. But I still worry. Worry for both of you. Ryan isn’t what everyone says he is.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means he isn’t as laid back about women as he wants everyone to believe. I think he hasn’t found what he’s been looking for yet.”

  “I don’t know about that,” she said, laughing. “But I’m pretty sure I’m not his type in the long run. Either way, we are just enjoying each other right now. One day at a time. Don’t worry about us.”

  Her cell phone rang before he could say another word. She reached into her purse and saw Ryan’s name flash across the screen. “Speak of the devil.”

  “I’ll let you go then.” He walked to the door mumbling to himself. “Damn it, I didn’t get much more than Thomas did.”

  Kaitlin frowned, was going to ask him to repeat that, then waved him away and answered the call. “Hi,” she said happily into the phone.

  “Are you busy?”

  “No, I was just talking to my father, but he went back to his office. He was mumbling about something on the way out, not sure what though,” she said, shaking her head. “What’s up?”

  “I know this is short notice, but can you take tomorrow off? I heard back from the private investigator and he located one of the ex-girlfriends on the Fremont case. It seems she’s a waitress at a restaurant in Manhattan. I thought maybe you wouldn’t mind taking a little trip with me. We could leave late tomorrow morning. She works the day shift, so I thought we could stop in after the lunch crowd and see if I can get her to talk to me since she won’t return my calls. Maybe we could get a hotel room, spend the night, come home Saturday afternoon? How’s that sound—part work, part pleasure?”

  “That sounds great. Maybe, if you don’t mind, we can meet up with Sophia? I can introduce you to my best friend since I’ve met some of your friends?”

  “That sounds wonderful. I’ll pick you up at work tomorrow around eleven and we will leave from there. I’ve got to run now and rearrange a few things before we leave. I’ll call you later tonight.”

  “Bye.” Kaitlin hung up the phone feeling giddy. Before she could call Sophia, her father walked by her office again and stopped in. “Is it okay if I leave early tomorrow?” she asked him.

  “Of course it is. You don’t have to ask. Kaitlin, this firm is as much yours as it is mine,” he explained.

  She was shocked to hear him say that. “I work for you.”

  “In
a way. I always expected that you would take over someday. When you’re ready,” he rushed out. “I’m not trying to put any pressure on you.”

  “Oh. You know I would love that, but I didn’t expect that you were going anywhere anytime soon.”

  “I’m not. My point is, you can come and go as you please.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I’m going to Manhattan with Ryan tomorrow. Something he needs to do for a case and he asked if I wanted to go with him. I’m going to try to meet up with Sophia if we can.”

  “That sounds fun. I’m curious to see what Sophia thinks of Ryan,” he said with a grin.

  “She won’t have any problem with him. Matter of fact, Ryan is exactly her type. Though you know she would love it if you and Mom visited, too. She always loves spending time with you and Alec, Ben and Phil.”

  “Well, tell her we said hello and that she needs to come visit us, since we don’t have any reason to go to Manhattan with you home now.”

  “I’ll tell her. And I need to finish up everything I can, then go home to pack.”

  “I’ll let you get back to work.” He looked at his watch. “I’ve got a phone call to make,” he said with a chuckle.

  Act

  Early afternoon Ryan parked his Mercedes in the hotel parking garage. “It’s a little early yet to check in, but I’ll see if our room is available.”

  “So what’s your plan?” Kaitlin asked, shutting the door to Ryan’s car.

  “Layla’s shift ends at four. I was hoping to get to the restaurant around three, and fingers crossed, get a table in her station. I want to feel her out, try to get her to talk to me at the end of her shift.”

  “Why do you think she doesn’t want to talk to you?”

  “I’m not completely sure. My guess is she is afraid of something. I can’t even get her to return my call, but I’m positive she is who I’m looking for. The investigator gave me a picture of her, which I showed to Brittany. She confirmed that Layla is the woman in some pictures Jason had on his computer at one time.”

  “I guess all you can do is try,” she said encouragingly.

  She was trying to be supportive—she wanted to be supportive. But she couldn’t help that her own mind had been wandering on more personal issues during the drive here.

  Ryan had said he would think about her suggestion from days ago. Except, he hadn’t said a word about it since, and she didn’t know what that meant. Either way, she just wanted things back to the way they were before she’d blurted out what was on her mind.

  While Ryan talked to the young lady at the front desk, she looked around the hotel. She knew it had been short notice but was pleased that he managed to secure them a room in one of the better hotels in Manhattan. Not to mention they weren’t that far from her old apartment and Sophia, who was going to meet them later tonight.

  “Our room is ready,” Ryan announced. “Why don’t you go on up and I’ll get our bags out of the car.” He handed her the key card. “We’ve got some time if you want to sightsee a bit, walk around the city; of course you’ve probably done it plenty already. Still, it’s a beautiful day.”

  He paused and looked down at her heels. “Well, maybe walking around isn’t the best thing to do.” They both had come straight from work, so they still had on their professional attire, Kaitlin wearing a sleeveless sheath dress with a short jacket and Ryan in his customary suit. He felt they would fit in better dressed as professionals for the restaurant they were visiting, and she agreed.

  “I could probably walk further in my shoes than you could in yours,” she joked, looking down at the soft Italian loafers he seemed to favor.

  “I don’t know about that,” he said, leaning in for a kiss. “I’ll see you in the room in a minute.”

  ***

  A few hours later they made their way to the restaurant where Layla worked. Kaitlin had been astounded to learn that it was a restaurant she had frequented often when she lived here. She hadn’t thought to ask him the name of where they were going beforehand. “I think I might know who you are looking for,” she told him when they stopped in front of the doors.

  “You do?”

  “I used to come here for lunch a few times a month with friends. They don’t have a big turnaround in staff so I’m sure I’ve been waited on by her before. Layla is not a name you hear often either, so it does ring a bell. Of course I ate out a lot when I lived here, so I could be thinking of someone else.”

  “I thought you liked to cook?” he said curiously.

  “I do, but it’s not always fun to eat alone. And it was always nice to break away from my desk for a bit when I could.”

  “I can relate to that. Even better when someone surprises you with food at your desk.” Ryan opened the front door for her, and they stopped at the hostess counter.

  Kaitlin couldn’t prevent the smile that crossed her face when the host greeted her warmly. “Kaitlin, darling, where have you been? I’ve missed your smiling face here. You haven’t found another restaurant to frequent in place of ours, have you?” Carlos, a suave Italian, leaned in and gave her a kiss on each cheek.

  “No, never that. I actually moved back home months ago, but I’m here on business today. This is my friend Ryan. Ryan, this is Carlos. His uncle is the owner of the restaurant. They serve the best marinara sauce in Manhattan,” she said with a vivacious wink.

  “Just in Manhattan?” Carlos asked with a robust laugh.

  “Well, I’ve yet to taste better anywhere else, even my own mother’s. But don’t you dare tell anyone I said that.” She laughed gaily, her hand coming to rest on Carlos’s arm before she dropped it and turned to Ryan. “Do you hear me?” she said playfully, her hand now on his chest. “You better not rat me out to my mother.”

  She saw a look of shock on Ryan’s face over her behavior but continued on unfazed.

  “Carlos.” She smiled brightly with a seductive tilt of her head and watched while he blushed. “Do you have any tables available in Layla’s section by any chance?”

  “For you, darling, anywhere you like,” Carlos said, picking up two menus and leading them to a corner booth in the back.

  Once they were seated and Carlos walked back to the front, Ryan addressed her. “What the hell was that?”

  She didn’t need to ask what he was talking about. “Sorry. That is pretty much how everyone knows me here. Or how I’ve behaved. It’s all a show. Everyone acts like that. It can be tiring,” she said with a sigh. “Another reason I was glad to move back home. I got sick of the act. It’s hard enough to find someone for a relationship here—and when you do—they expect that type of personality. It’s just not me.”

  He reached his hand across the table and held his palm up for her to place hers in his. “I’m glad it’s not you. I like you just the way you are. Though I have to say that was pretty entertaining, and convincing if I didn’t know you better. Either way, I’m glad, since you got us seated in Layla’s section.”

  She didn’t have time to respond, as a short, blonde-haired, blue-eyed waitress made her way over with a shy but warm smile on her face. “Hello, my name is Layla, and I’ll be serving you today. Can I start you out with a drink?”

  “Hi, Layla. I’ll have an iced tea, unsweetened please,” Kaitlin answered.

  “The same,” Ryan added.

  “I’ll be right back with your order. It’s good to see you again,” she said to Kaitlin, then quickly made her departure.

  “Seems you’ve made some lasting impressions on people here.”

  “All part of the act,” she reminded him.

  They delayed their leaving as long as possible after their meal to ensure it was the end of Layla’s shift. When Layla returned to the table with Ryan’s credit card and receipt, he decided it was time to let Layla know why they were there. “Thank you, Layla,” he said, placing his credit card back in his wallet. “I’m Ryan Mathews. I’ve been trying to reach you.” Recognition surfaced in her eyes at the mention of his name. “Could we talk just
for a few minutes?”

  Layla looked panicked for a moment. “I’m sorry, I can’t help,” she said, then turned to leave.

  Kaitlin reached out and lightly clasped Layla’s hand. “Please, Layla? It’s important. A woman’s life is on the line here, along with her three children. Can you please just hear Ryan out?” she said, pleading with the waitress who was now white as a ghost.

  Layla looked around nervously. Ryan spoke first. “It’s only us; no one else is here. And Jason can’t hurt you. He’s dead.”

  “What?” Layla said, her blue eyes widening.

  “You didn’t know?” Kaitlin asked.

  “No,” Layla said shaking her head. She looked at Ryan. “Your messages only said you wanted to talk to me about my relationship with Jason, but nothing more.”

  “I’m gathering information to present at my client’s grand jury hearing in relation to his death. I need to build her case for self-defense, which is exactly what it was. You were with Jason; you know the power he held and how everyone perceived him on the outside. That no one knew about his secret. I need your help. My client needs your help,” he corrected.

  Layla’s shaky legs were having a hard time supporting her and Kaitlin noticed, so she slid over to make room for Layla to take a seat.

  Once Layla was seated she looked at Ryan, her eyes hollowed and defeated. “I don’t know how I can help you. It was a long time ago, and I would prefer to not bring the past out. It’s best to let it stay locked away.”

  “What are you afraid of? He can’t hurt you.”

  “No, he can’t. Not physically. But there are things I prefer to keep secret.”

  “Is Jason the father of your child?” he asked.

  “How do you know about my daughter?” she said, her eyes darting around again.

  “I just know. Jason didn’t know, did he?” Ryan said instead.

  “No. No, he didn’t. When I found out I was pregnant, I made a decision to leave. I had tried before, but he wouldn’t let me go. Getting pregnant gave me the courage to finally end it. I didn’t know what he would have done if he found out I was pregnant. And I didn’t want to risk losing the baby with another beating, so I picked up and left one day when he was at work. I threw a few clothes in a bag and just took off. I never heard from him again.”