by Taylor Anne
With narrowed eyes, he watched as she drained the remains of another glass of wine. Four years ago when they had seen each other last, he’d screwed things up. He’d walked away from her and couldn’t blame her for not returning his calls. For shutting him out. He deserved that for the way he treated her. But that was four years ago. If he played his cards right, he may have another chance. What was it about this woman that every time he was around her, he wanted more? Not for himself, but for her. He wanted to give her everything she deserved. And more.
Hooking a finger under her chin, he tilted her head up so he could look down into her eyes. “Guess I just haven’t found the right woman yet,” he whispered. He leaned in a little closer. Close enough to smell her sweet scent and hear her breath hitch behind her lips. She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth then released it.
A shadow of loneliness crossed her face. Would she let him be the one to wipe that desolation away and replace it with joy? He groaned before he pulled away and walked over to the fireplace. He ran a hand over his face. Neither spoke. The air between them sizzled with frustration.
Finally, she broke the silence. “Okay Mason, what’s going on? You’re here one minute and gone the next. Something has you preoccupied.” Hesitantly she asked, “Or is it my company?”
His gaze focused on her hands nervously twirling the wine glass. He looked up to find her staring into her glass, watching the amber liquid swirl about. She would not look up at him.
How could she even think her company could be less than ideal?
“No, it’s not you. You know, I miss how we used to talk about anything and everything when we were in school.” Back then, he wouldn’t have hesitated to confide in her, which he had done on more than one occasion. Sometimes he felt closer to her than to her brother. It was so easy opening his heart to her back then. Or maybe it was the fact that she unknowingly held the key to his heart, even though as teenagers she considered him no more than a best friend.
She must’ve sensed something was not right. She motioned for him to sit beside her. The second he sat, she grabbed his good hand. “Mason, you can talk to me. I know it’s been years since we’ve seen each other, but we’re still friends.”
He sucked in a ragged breath before trying to begin. “Remember that phone call I received outside of Bobby’s the other day?” He waited for her nod before continuing. “It was about my mother.” He paused to take a drink, fully aware of Kendall’s intent gaze on him.
His gut tightened. His emotions were still too raw. The fact that his mother wanted anything to do with him now had his nerves skittering around like jumping beans. It was like a knife had been jabbed in his back and left there for him to bleed out.
“Mason, what is it?”
“She was in a car wreck and is in the hospital in Beaumont.”
“Oh my God. Is she all right? Was she hurt badly?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I talked to the doctor. She’s going to be okay, but I’m not sure how long her recovery will be.”
“Well, you need to go see her. Maybe it’s time to make things right. I hope she gets better soon.”
The genuine concern and comfort in her voice flipped a switch inside his head. All of his emotions boiled into anger. She could never understand the fury that he felt toward his mother.
“I went to see her, but she was totally sedated. Didn’t even know I was there. I haven’t made my mind up to go see her again now that the doctor says she is awake. I don’t think it will make a difference either way.”
“How can you say that? She’s obviously calling out to you. This could open a whole new door in your relationship.”
“You wouldn’t understand.” He stood again, paced back and forth in front of the sofa, and then stopped to stand in front of the window. Darkness was setting outside. “I see you’re still trying to make things right, Kendall. You always see the good in everything and everybody. Sometimes people aren’t good. My mother is not good.”
His voice broke. Admitting that tore him apart. It felt like someone took hold of his guts and twisted. All his life he longed for a mother to be there for him. To hold him and soothe away his childhood hurts. To listen to his teenage dreams, help him make the right choices in life. His friends had mothers at home. Mrs. Reed was always there for her children. Hell, she was even there for him, but it wasn’t the same as having a mother of his own.
It was unfair to lash out at Kendall, but he didn’t know what else to do. His life was turning upside down. His mother, the case against Tom, the feelings he had for Kendall.
In Kendall’s world things were always right side up. When something tilted, she hung on for the ride until it smoothed out again. Just like this incident with her boss. He tried to kill her, yet Ken picked herself up and got on with her life. She knew how to deal with life, no matter the outcome. He, on the other hand, didn’t know where to begin. He handled his life fairly well, but when it came to dealing with his mother, he was at a loss. And to top that off, he wanted Kendall and knew that right now he was not the man for her.
“Mason, of course she is good. She may have made a few mistakes in her life, but she is still your mother.”
His throat suddenly felt tight. He didn’t want to look in her eyes and see pity. That would be his final undoing. “I made a mistake coming here tonight.” He set the wine glass down on the coffee table and turned to leave.
“Wait.” She reached the door before him. “Please, talk to me.”
She blocked his way. He would have to move her to get out of the door. Considering how petite she was, that wasn’t an issue. He placed his hand on her shoulder and nudged. Her strength surprised him. She didn’t budge. Instead, her hands cradled his face. She turned his head until their eyes met. It wasn’t pity he saw there. Her brown eyes lit with caring, compassion, and something else.
With his free hand, he circled the back of her neck and eased her to him. Seconds before his lips locked onto hers, he saw the surprise in her eyes, and heard her soft intake of breath. At first, her body was unresponsive. He gently ran his tongue back and forth until her lips parted. He plundered her soft, sweet mouth. She tasted of Moscato.
He tugged her closer. His body caught on fire when her arms snaked around his back to hold him tighter. His lips left a trail from her mouth to the erratic pulse beating in her neck. Her head tilted sideways to give him full access. Slowly, he kissed his way back to the sweet insides of her mouth. He sipped at her lips. Her soft moan drove him crazy, or had that come from him?
He wanted more. But he knew now was not the time, or the place. Unwillingly, he tore his lips from hers. Her brown eyes popped open the second contact was broken.
“What the hell did you do that for?” Her bewildered expression irritated him. Did she mean the kiss, or the fact that he stopped?
“I think you know why. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?” He took a step away from her, moving closer to the door.
“Wha... I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her hand circled her throat and rubbed. This wasn’t the first time he noticed the gesture. Every time she got nervous or angry, she rubbed at her throat.
“I think you do. You know there could never be anything between us. And why is that, Kendall? Because I never fit into your perfect world?” He placed his hand on her cheek and tilted her head up with his thumb. He needed to look deep into her eyes. Eyes swimming with confusion and irritation. “Do you want me to kiss you again?” he asked softly.
“I, um,” she stammered. Her soft tongue circled her lips. A clear invitation to take her again. “No, I don’t think so.”
He smirked as he turned to leave. Maybe he had been a fool to kiss her.
The ringing of her cell phone interrupted their actions. Kendall backed away to answer the call.
“Hello.” She took a step further into the room, her back to Mason. “Hello, who is this?”
She quickly glanced over her shoulder as if to see if he
were still there. In that brief instant, he saw the faint glimmer of fear in her eyes. Her right hand circled her throat, rubbing.
She didn’t speak, only listened. Whoever was on the other end of the line was making Kendall nervous. After a moment, she flipped the phone closed and tossed it on the end table. Unsteady eyes searched until they made contact with his. “Wrong number.” She mumbled, then averted her gaze. Slowly she walked to where he still stood at the front door.
“Everything okay?” His eyes bore into hers, searching for the truth behind the phone call.
“Yeah, fine. Like I said, must’ve been a wrong number.” She opened the door. Her voice lost its fire. “Goodnight Mason.”
He stepped outside. His gut tightened. Something was wrong. His instincts told him to stay, but his mind told him it was past time he left. He didn’t draw a full breath until the door closed between them.
Old insecurities crept into his thoughts as he made his way to his Tahoe. He wasn’t good enough for her. That thought kept him from dating her in high school; it would do the same now.
Her family was all about commitment and security. Family meant everything to them. Since his mom left when he was just ten years old, he had no real family. Sure, his dad raised him, although he always had a whiskey bottle in his hand. Mason could never offer Kendall the stability a good husband should. And family, well, he could never be the kind of father he had craved growing up. A man like Mr. Reed. The kind of father a child deserved. He glanced back at the closed door before jumping into his Tahoe and driving away.
****
The days flew by in a blur as Kendall devoted her time and attention to getting her accounting business up and running. She acquired several accounts and had a few more potential prospects. Bobby assured her that soon he and Mason would need her services.
That meant she would have to face Mason again. Since he stormed out of her house that night, she hadn’t seen or heard from him. Which was probably a good thing, since, according to her brother, Mason had been in a terrible mood lately. And since that mind-blowing kiss, her own emotions had been in turmoil.
Why had he done that? Why had she enjoyed it so much?
She flipped through several reports, checked her email, and caught up on some filing. All while trying to keep thoughts of a particular dark-haired, blue-eyed hunk out of her mind. When a headache started right behind her eyes from staring at the screen too long, she turned off the computer. Picking up her phone, she dialed her sister’s cell. Mandy’s cheery voice answered on the second ring.
“Hey sis, what’s up?”
“It’s a shame to waste a beautiful Saturday on work. How about we go grab some lunch and a movie?” Kendall treasured the close relationship the two of them shared. It hadn’t always been like this because of their eleven year age difference. Mandy was already married and had a child by the time Kendall reached high school. Over the years they made up for lost time.
Mandy’s husband was killed in the line of duty, leaving her with a small child to raise on her own. Mourning the loss of a husband, and one of NOPD’s finest, Mandy went through several months immersed in a deep depression. Long, lonely nights filled with nightmares. Kendall was a teenager at the time, but she had been there for her sister from the beginning. She helped during the day by babysitting Tori while Mandy went to school to become an interior decorator. Kendall walked with her every step of the way. The sisters bonded for life during that time and now, years later, they remained close.
“Girl, you are on. I’ll be there in an hour.”
Kendall grabbed her favorite red tank top and a pair of jeans and headed to the shower. She’d just finished dressing when a loud thud sounded, making her heart leap to her throat. What the hell? It sounded like something hitting the front door.
She made her way to the front of the house and cautiously opened the door. She looked down, and a gasp escaped her lips. She jumped back, chills skittering across her spine. Nausea swam to her throat. She stared in horror at the dead rat lying on her front porch. Fresh blood oozed from the lifeless rodent, a stain already forming around it. The head dangled from the tiny gray body. The summer heat combined with body fluids to fill the air, irritating Kendall’s nostrils. She covered her nose and stumbled back inside, racing for her cell phone.
She waited on the porch, her eyes avoiding the mess at her feet. Fear gripped her gut. Now she was certain these weren’t pranks. The two dead rats and the phone calls were intentional, meant to scare her. Only she had no idea who would want to frighten her. Or why.
Minutes later, a black and white police unit pulled into her driveway. Detective Marks unfolded his big frame from the passenger side. Kendall released a breath. Thank God Marks was not only a competent detective, but a family friend as well. She felt better already. Marks tipped his hat to her as he made his way toward the porch.
A lanky uniformed cop followed Marks. The deputy looked around the neighborhood, checked the time on his watch, then lazily made his way in her direction. The two men stopped just short of the porch steps.
“Thanks for coming so quickly.”
The deputy lifted his sunglasses and stared at Kendall as if she were the offensive rodent. He spoke around a toothpick sticking out of the side of his mouth. “Ma’am, no offense, but it’s just a dead rat,” he drawled.
Kendall fought the urge to pick up the corpse and throw it at his smug face. Instead, she stood her ground. “Excuse me…” She leaned closer to read his nametag. “…Deputy Foster, but I realize it’s a dead rat. I wouldn’t have called if that’s all it was. But, being as this is the second one to hit my doorstep in the last two weeks, I thought it needed to be reported. Rats don’t just fall from the sky.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Marks fighting to hide his smile before he spoke. “You did the right thing calling us.” Marks stepped in front of the deputy and took Kendall by the arm, turning her away from the repulsive sight. “Foster, take pictures, then bag that nasty thing. I’ll get Kendall’s statement.”
Foster stomped back to the unit like a child that dropped his lollipop. He came back with a camera and an evidence bag, then went to work while Kendall told Marks about the other rat that showed up on her doorstep. She also told him about the prank calls.
“If anything else out of the ordinary happens, call me directly.”
Kendall shifted from one foot to the other. “Well, I don’t know if it’s connected in any way, but there is one thing. The other day I was meeting with a client at Cajun Roy’s. When I went to leave, my car was sitting on two flat tires.”
Marks made a note in his little notebook. “What makes you think they are connected?”
Kendall sighed in frustration. “I don’t know. Just a feeling. Maybe they’re not related at all. But I thought I should mention it to you.”
“Does Bobby or Mason know about any of this?”
At the mention of Mason’s name, her heart did a little jump. Marks’ question should not have surprised her. The three men had been best friends for years. Kendall chewed on her bottom lip. “No, I didn’t call either one of them, and I’d appreciate it if you kept this from them for now.” She had to think before she could deal with her brother, or the man behind the mesmerizing blue eyes.
“This may be nothing to worry about, but it wouldn’t hurt to let them know what’s going on.”
“This is the city’s jurisdiction, not the FBI’s. I don’t want Bobby worrying.” She didn’t want to involve Mason at all. She knew the two of them would find out soon enough. Bobby, Marks, and Mason didn’t keep many secrets from each other. Business or personal.
Marks agreed not to say anything, for the time being.
Foster had gone back to the patrol car while Marks finished with Kendall’s report. As they were wrapping up, a white Altima screeched to a halt in the driveway. Mandy jumped out and hurried over to Kendall, a frown of concern etched on her forehead.
“What’s going on?” she demande
d of Marks as she grabbed Kendall’s hand.
He looked at Kendall with a question in his eye. She nodded her consent, and he told Mandy what happened.
“My gosh, Kendall. Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. But, yeah, it’s time to do something.” She paused. “And no, I haven’t told Bobby yet. Let Detective Marks handle this.”
Mandy shot an apprehensive look at the detective, then opened her mouth to protest. “I think you should tell him. He’s going to be furious when he finds out.”
“Well, hopefully the police can solve this before he gets wind of it. You know how he worries about us.”
“What about Mason?” Mandy asked.
Why did everyone want her to tell Mason about this? “What about him?” She gave Mandy a look that said, more than her words had, that this conversation was over.
Mandy directed her next question to the detective. “You will keep an eye on her, won’t you?”
“Certainly. I’ll patrol around here myself. And if either of you need anything, call.” He handed Mandy one of his cards.
Kendall’s eyebrow rose as she watched her sister flip her hair behind her ear. Mandy looked down at the card, then back up to Marks. Her tiny frame was dwarfed by his height and build. She shielded her eyes from the glaring sun before speaking to the detective. “Please don’t waste any time in finding whoever did this.”
“I assure you, Mandy, we will do everything we can to find the person, or persons, responsible.”
“I know you will.”
“You let me worry about doing my job.” Detective Marks turned his attention from Mandy back to Kendall. “Call anytime. You can always reach me on my cell. In case I’m not at the precinct.” Marks fumbled with his sunglasses and jammed them in his shirt pocket. Kendall’s eyes followed the path of Marks’ focusing on Mandy’s unruly, curly hair.
Mandy stuffed the business card into her jeans pocket. She laid a hand on Marks’ shoulder. “Hurry up and catch this guy, would ya.” It was a statement, not a question.