by Jessie Cooke
“Two.”
“Three and part as friends.”
Reece felt the steam rising off of him. He had a feeling the pavement of the Las Vegas strip had nothing on him at the moment, and that was exactly where he would need to be tomorrow. He had enough to deal with and worry about without this little pipsqueak.
“Fine. But nothing more ever again,” Reece said.
“It’s always a pleasure to see you, Reece,” Andrew said as he batted his eyes. “And you remember: if you’re ever willing to try a little pitching and catching, I’m ready and willing to play ball with you. Whatever position you like.”
Reece turned on his heel, stomped to his Boxster, and screeched out of the parking lot and into the street, nearly side-swiping a navy Lexus. It had been one hell of a day, and he was ready for it to end before it got any worse.
63
Luke swerved at the last minute to avoid being side-swiped by a silver Porsche Boxster S series. He knew exactly who it was since there weren’t that many Boxsters in the greater Dallas area. What he didn’t know was specifically why Reece was peeling out of the parking lot at Zippers beyond the fact that he had seen what appeared to be a heated discussion between Reece and Andrew just prior to that. The other part that irked him was the way he felt his mind wander to all the possible ways Andrew and Reece could have known each other unbeknownst to Luke, and he didn’t like where his mind was taking him.
He hit the call button on his steering wheel, and the mechanical female voice greeted him.
“How can I help you?” came the voice through the speakers.
“Call Andrew,” he instructed with precise language.
“Calling Andrew,” the robot said. Then the variety of tones of a keypad chimed through the speakers and gave way to the sound of ringing from the other end. Luke glanced in his rearview mirror to see if he could see Andrew still outside Zippers, but he had crested a hill that wouldn’t allow him the vantage point.
“Hey, good looking,” Andrew answered.
“Hey. I just happened past Zippers. Seemed like someone was giving you a hard time. What’s going on?”
Andrew blew air into the receiver. “It’s funny how you see someone for the first time one weekend, and then poof! He’s in your workplace getting in your boss’s face—and then yours— saying a patron of Zippers dented his car.”
Luke grunted. “Look, we don’t want to mess with Reece. I know him a little better than you do, and he gets pretty touchy about his precious car . . . among other things. He has money and prestige, two things that can get a man anything he wants, and two things that can work against the rest of us. Don’t tangle with him; it’ll get ugly for you before he’ll let it get ugly for him.”
A sarcastic laugh escaped Andrew. “You don’t have anything to worry about. No matter how good looking that guy is, I wouldn’t touch him with my ten-foot pole. There’s just something . . . unsettling and untrustworthy about him. It surprises me that Bella would want anything to do with someone with such negative energy.”
“Guess it’s the bad boy thing,” Luke said. “Why do girls always have to have that phase in their lives?”
“I don’t know. Must speak to the inferiority of their species.” Then he changed the subject. “Still on for tonight? After work?”
“Sure,” Luke replied. Though he didn’t feel quite up to it at the moment, he was hoping the evening would change his attitude for him.
“Great. Later, lover,” Andrew said, and then disconnected their call.
Luke couldn’t stop himself from thinking how he wished someone would just take care of Reece for him—take him out of the picture; how less complicated his life would be without him in it.
But then he never would have fallen for Bella.
Reece pulled in to Northpark Center and parked in the parking lot closest to Macy’s. He had told Nicky that he’d meet her at Janie and Jack on the first floor of the mall to do a little shopping for Hayley Jo. Nicky was adamant about a christening, and with the desire for the christening of course came the “need” for a dress, pictures, and a party afterwards, which meant another dress. But when it came to his daughter, Reece had made it clear that he would spare no expense, but now that he was certain Nicky was stealing from him, he had to figure out a way to deal with Hayley’s mother without it affecting her.
I could sue for sole custody, he thought suddenly. It’d be easy to prove her an unfit mother, and I have plenty of lawyer friends that could do it. But he stopped himself. Would that be what was best for Hayley Jo or simply revenge for himself? It was going to take a little time for him to figure out how best to handle the situation, and as he walked into the store and saw Nicky with the baby nestled against her in the Moby wrap, he felt a flood of mixed emotions wash over him—the least of which was a hardening of his heart towards Nicky, knowing her to be a liar and a thief.
“Look at this!” she greeted Reece, oblivious to the tension in his face. She held up an organza rosette dress, white and embellished with rosettes covering the dress completely. A tulle underlay gave the dress a formal feel, and the satin ribbon that tied in the back also had matching shoes, should purchasers see the need. The matching bloomers were also covered in small rosettes and ruffles, just like the dress, and Reece could already tell Nicky had made up her mind.
“For the christening?” he asked.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” she said.
He flipped the price tag over. One hundred ninety-nine dollars. He nodded. “It’s a special occasion,” he admitted. He glanced down at his baby girl, sleeping soundly in her baby sling, and he felt himself smile for the first time all day. He’d never understand how she could do that to him: make everything in the world simply disappear save her beautiful face.
“Has she had a good day?” he asked, carefully choosing to ask specifically about the baby and not the mother.
“Pretty good. Her appetite is getting more than I can handle,” Nicky said. “I think I’m going to have to stop breast feeding, which actually bums me out. My breasts have never looked so good.” As always, she seemed to turn the attention back to herself.
“Sorry that you may have to sacrifice a little something,” Reece replied bitterly.
“Who peed in your cornflakes?” Nicky asked. “You’ve been a pill lately, Reece. I know you have a lot going on at work, but there’s no reason to take it out on me and Hayley Jo.”
“Oh, I’m not taking it out on her,” he assured Nicky. At that moment, a shock of blonde hair and a flash of bright blue caught his eye, and his mind sent up red flags. All morning, he’d had the feeling of being watched. Even while he was conversing with Andrew on the sidewalk at Zippers, he’d felt like someone was watching. When he’d turned to head to his car, he’d caught sight of a blonde guy in a bright blue jogging suit duck around the corner of the building. Earlier, walking into Macy’s, he’d felt the same sensation, and when he turned to look behind him, saw a blonde-haired man in a blue jacket perusing the suits in the men’s department. Now, he saw the same combination flash by the entrance of Janie and Jack’s, and Reece was beginning to wonder who was following him and why.
Nicky held out a red silk dress with rose applique in the center. “What about this for the party?” she asked. Then she grabbed a short faux fur jacket, removed it from the hanger, and draped it across the shoulders of the hanger of the red silk dress. “Isn’t this adorable?” Nicky asked. “I think Hayley Jo would look so beautiful in this. What do you think?”
“Hayley would look beautiful in a potato sack,” Reece replied. “Why, though, do you feel it necessary to dress her in such high-end merchandise?”
Nicky dropped the clothes to her side in exasperation. “Why do you want to deny your only daughter a chance to have the best in life?”
“Because I’m hoping that she won’t be my only daughter. The rate you’re going, though, you’re going to spend all my money so that I can’t afford any other children.”
; “Don’t be coy with me, Reece Hamilton. You and I both know you have more money than you ever want to let on.”
“Money that is used for my nieces’ and nephews’ futures and Hayley’s and any other children I may have someday.”
“It’s her christening, Reece,” Nicky said through her teeth.
“Amazing how religious you’ve become for this one ceremony and celebration,” he retorted.
She slammed the hangers back on the rack. “Forget it,” she said. “Let’s just go to Baby Gap. Don’t dress your daughter in anything special for her special day.”
He picked the hangers back off the rack and shook his head. “No way. We’re getting everything you think you need for that day. Whatever you want. And then, when I get back from Vegas, you and I are having a nice long chat about what the future holds.”
Hayley Jo began stirring in her sling and before they knew it she had worked herself up in to a good cry.
“Great. Now look at what you’ve done,” Nicky said as she tried to console the baby with a pacifier. Hayley only spat it out and continued to cry.
“Yeah. I did that all by myself,” Reece said. “Let me have her.” He held his hands out towards Nicky, careful to avoid any contact with her torso. Once he had the baby in his arms, she began to settle. He dug out his credit card and handed it to Nicky. “I’ll be outside,” he said. “Get what you want.”
He walked out the storefront and into the open space of the mall. Leather chairs and sofas were arranged in a fashionable seating area, and he sat down with the calming baby.
“Kid, you’re alright, but your mom can be infuriating,” he said in a low voice.
Shortly, Nicky joined them laden with a few bags in her hands. “I got the white dress for the christening. The red silk for the party and the faux fur to use with the portraits. I also got her a little headband with matching red rose applique.” She eyed him cautiously, but Reece was not reacting. “I decided to forgo the shoes. She’s a baby, after all. Some lacy socks or stockings will be just fine.” She reached out to touch his arm. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“She’s welcome,” Reece replied.
“But not me,” Nicky said as she withdrew her hand.
“Somehow I just don’t get the feeling you know exactly how much you’re spending,” Reece said. “I am hemorrhaging money, and yet I have nothing to show for it.”
“It’s called having a baby, Reece. What did you expect?” Nicky took a step back when another realization hit her. “What exactly are you saying, Reece, that I’m spending all your cash?”
Reece looked at her square in the eyes. “Are you?”
“I spend what you give me,” she said evenly.
“And no more?”
Nicky allowed a chortle to spurt from her mouth. “So now you’re accusing me of stealing?”
“Are you?” Reece asked again.
Nicky’s face reddened with anger. “Why would I need to steal from you, Reece?”
“I don’t know. And I’m not accusing you of anything, but I will get to the bottom of it. I always do. Credit card?”
She slid it out of her back pocket and handed it over. “I meant to give that back to you,” she mumbled.
He looked down at the smiling baby and smiled back at her. “I was thinking that when I come back from Vegas, I could take Hayley Jo for a few days. Give you a break and allow me some quality time with her.” He looked up at Nicky. “What do you think?”
“I think I would rather we spent time as a family,” she said. “You know, do some things together for a change? I don’t want Hayley growing up and thinking of her parents as separate entities. I’d rather she see us as a unit. Believe me—you’ll be glad she knows we’re a united front when she’s a teenager and can play us against each other.”
“We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it,” Reece said. “For now, I have to get ready for Vegas.”
“Thanks for meeting me,” Nicky said. “I like it when we do these things together. It makes me feel like we’re a family.”
Reece looked down at his cooing daughter again. “We’re a family, Nicky,” he said. Then he looked at her carefully. “But that’s all we are.”
He watched Nicky swallow. “I’ll take what I can get right now,” she said softly.
Seems to me you already are, is what Reece thought, but bit his tongue to avoid saying it.
He gently kissed Hayley Jo on the nose, and she giggled in response. “I could just sit and look at you all day,” he said to her as he nuzzled his face into her chubby neck. “But Daddy has a plane to catch soon.” He handed the baby over to Nicky, who tucked her into the Moby wrap.
“Call when you get back,” she said to Reece.
“Take good care of her,” Reece responded, and then he walked away, disappearing through the doorway into Macy’s and out towards the parking lot.
As soon as he was out of the picture, a tall blonde-haired man in a bright blue jacket joined Nicky on the leather sofa.
“Not exactly the most subtle of outfits,” she said barely glancing at the man.
“Not going for subtle,” he said. “What’s the story?”
“He knows,” she said as she looked straight ahead.
64
Reece pulled his Porsche out of the parking lot of Northpark Center. He was beginning to feel like his entire world was spinning out of his control . . . and he didn’t like that. A part of him wanted to call Bella, to hear her voice and her warmth, but he was afraid he’d break down and confess everything to her. He almost had Sunday morning after their perfect date followed by a glimpse of what he knew life could be like with her.
But he was too scared to risk it. Wasn’t it amazing how as a business man he was accustomed to taking risks, and he’d taken risks in his personal life—until recently, when he thought the losses outweighed the risk, and he just couldn’t bring himself to reveal everything to Bella for fear of losing her once and for all.
Suddenly, he knew exactly whom to call, and he instructed his phone via the Bluetooth system to dial Christo.
“Well, butter my bread and call me a biscuit,” Christo answered on the second ring. “Reece Hamilton as I live and breathe. Whatever can I do you for?”
Reece couldn’t help but laugh at the extravagance with which Christo lived his moments, even to the answering of his phone. There was nothing Christo did half-way, which is part of what endeared him to Reece.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to you recently,” Reece said. “But I’m sure Bella has been filling you in.”
Christo hummed an affirmative, “Mmmm-hmmm.” Then he followed with, “And it seems like you are playing all your cards just right, mister.”
Reece’s stomach and face fell simultaneously. “Well, that’s just my problem, Christo. I have a few cards that I’ve been holding onto. They aren’t good cards. They are most definitely game-changing cards.”
“Oh dear, I’m not liking the sound of this,” came the voice through the car speakers.
“I don’t have time to go into it all now. I have to catch a plane soon, but I was hoping you and I could have dinner when I get back. Say, Sunday night?”
“Now that’s some interesting timing,” Christo said. “I’m assuming you’re waiting until Bella is good and gone.”
“That’s part of it,” Reece confessed. “I need to talk to someone who knows her well, as well as someone who understands what it means to do anything for love.”
“Well, that is most certainly Christo Drake if I ever heard myself described. Sunday it is.”
“Thanks, Christo. I’m just afraid that I’ve really made a mess of things,” Reece said.
“If it’s one thing I’m good at, it’s taking a mess and making a masterpiece,” Christo remarked. “Just hang on ‘til Sunday.”
“I’ll do my best,” and they hung up.
Reece checked the time on the dashboard. If he hurried, he could get himself packed and have enough time for a qu
ick bike ride before having to head to the airport. He thought about how much he’d like a ride. It would help him clear his mind, help him feel a little freer. He knew just the park he could bike over to, hit an easy trail, and then bike back with plenty of time for a shower. Taking the red-eye sometimes had its advantages.
He began throwing things into his suitcase, already mostly packed from moving out so that Bella could have the apartment. Packing becomes a familiar process for one who is accustomed to traveling. Content with the time, he donned his athletic wear and headed to the office garage for his bike, which hung anxiously on the wall, ready to be ridden before the owner headed out of town for a while.
He rode the elevator down, never trusting the narrow ramps of the parking garage. Too often he’d watched drivers tear around the concrete corners seemingly undaunted by the possibility of other cars or walkers or even bikers anywhere in their pathway. He mounted the bike and eased his way onto the sidewalk. The wind rustling against him and through his dark hair already felt like exactly what he was missing, and the sweet fingertips of Zephyr caressed and tantalized him into a restful state in spite of the muscles working. Just as he was beginning to feel unencumbered by the world, Reece’s phone vibrated against his chest, nestled in the pocket of his windbreaker.
He cursed and eased his bike to a stop on the sidewalk. The caller ID informed him it was the South Padre Police Department.
“What the. . .” Reece began as he put the phone up to his ear. “Reece Hamilton,” he answered in a business-like tone as he tried to cover the fact that he was catching his breath.
“Mr. Hamilton,” a familiar voice greeted him. “It’s Officer Jackson down in South Padre. I haven’t caught you in the saddle now, have I?” A familiar laugh followed.
Reece wiped a trickle of sweat from his brow. “‘You have but not the saddle you’re thinking of. I’m out riding my bike.”
The laugh came again from the officer’s end. “Listen, I just wanted to let you know that there’s been some suspicious activity at your house.”