Knox appeared. “I called an ambulance.” He knelt beside Evan and helped him apply pressure to his wound. As he did, he read Evan his rights and arrested him for the kidnapping of Jamie Kincaid and kidnapping and attempted murder of Adeline Winters.
Jeremy noticed how Adeline avoided eye contact with him. Now probably wasn’t the best time to apologize. Sirens grew louder. Police would need to question her. But he had to at least say something.
“Adeline, about earlier,” he said.
She held up her hand. “Please, let’s not talk about that now.”
“I just wanted to tell you after you left I realized what a jerk I was.”
She nodded. “Yeah. You were a jerk.”
A fire truck and sheriff’s department vehicles arrived along with an ambulance. Adeline was taken aside for questioning and a paramedic asked if she was all right.
Jeremy stayed out of the way, saw Evan being loaded into the ambulance and watched Adeline, seeing how her adrenaline eased the longer she talked. She had never looked as beautiful as she did right now. Now that he’d faced losing her, he realized what he had. She was someone quite special. And he might have botched things up good for himself. He might not have another chance with her. She might not give him one.
Chapter 18
Two weeks later, Adeline sat in her antique office on the second level of a 1912 redbrick building in the oldest part of downtown Shadow Creek, trying to stop thinking about Jamie. And Jeremy, but she missed Jamie terribly. She ached. She’d rented the office space a year and a half after graduating from college, when she’d landed her first big client. Then she’d slowly decorated, collecting antique furniture and art that caught her eye. She didn’t study art or go to galleries. She didn’t follow any trends or themes. She just enjoyed making a room esthetically appealing and she did it in a cost-effective way.
Abandoning the case file she’d tried to read for the last hour now, she stood and walked to the open double French doors and entered a small reception area with early-century dark brown and beige Italian sofa and chair. Her receptionist was out to lunch and her assistant investigator was following a lead on a new case. There was a half bath off the reception area next to the front door. She sometimes wished she had a shower here, then she could stay the night...well, more than she already did.
Through the reception area, she went into the dark wood–floored kitchen, which she also used as a conference room. She kept the room showroom tidy. Passing the four-seater table, she went into an alcove and took out a water from the stainless steel refrigerator. White glass door cabinets hung above black granite countertops tastefully adorned with a bowl of green apples and glass canisters.
Her new case failed to divert her attention and so had her wandering into thoughts of her office decor. Knox had phoned earlier to let her know Rusty Nicholson had been put on unpaid leave for his role in Jamie’s kidnapping. He had asked about her and Jeremy and told her Jeremy was lost without her. That had not helped her efforts to distract her from him and Jamie.
Hearing the door jingle, signifying someone had entered, she set down the water bottle on the table and stopped short when she saw Jeremy.
Closing the door, he held up his hand. “Before you tell me to get out of here, hear me out.”
“No.” She stepped firmly to him. “You need to leave.”
“You won’t answer my calls and I still haven’t paid you for your work.”
“I can’t believe you think I want to be paid. And I don’t want to talk to you.” Jamie was her son, too. Being paid would feel just wrong.
He sighed and put his hands on his hips, staring at her awhile. “I could have done this over the phone.”
But she hadn’t answered and here he was. The sight of him did things to her she didn’t want to like. She was glad to see him.
“I received your filing for visitation rights,” he said.
She folded her arms. So he’d come here to fight her on that?
“You can come see Jamie whenever you want.”
He’d said as much before, but what would happen if their relationship deteriorated further than it already had? He could deny her visitation on a whim.
“I prefer to have the legal right to see my son, not depend on your word.” He’d proven his word could be dubious. She wouldn’t go up against that without a court order.
She didn’t know if he could sway her. It had been a while since she’d seen him and his presence gave her the same intense heat. She had to force herself to remain distant, lest the romantic side of her relent to desire.
“Come by and see him tonight. Any time after five. That’s all I came here to say.” With that, he turned and left.
Adeline stood there a moment, thrilled and happy with the prospect of seeing Jamie again. Tonight. She missed him terribly.
Would she wait the lengthy amount of time it would take to go through the courts to set up required visitation? She could take Jeremy up on his invitation and use his generosity as long as the offer stood. But she’d have to go to him to see her son. The courts might allow her to take Jamie with her for weekends. She wouldn’t have to fight temptation with Jeremy close.
What to do...?
* * *
Jeremy finished his first investor meeting with Alastair Buchanan. They had a few more to go, but Alastair was excited about the new prospects. He’d be in town awhile longer. Jeremy was glad to have a friend while he adjusted to life without Adeline. Jamie had complained every day. He missed her.
Seeing Adeline this morning had only enflamed his feelings. He hadn’t thought he felt this much for her. His obsession with Tess’s accident could easily be blamed. He wished he hadn’t said what he had. He had never spoken to anyone that way before and could only attribute the behavior to his inability to put Tess’s memory to rest. Deep down, he’d known Livia hadn’t killed Tess. He’d known Adeline proved that. He just couldn’t let go, not until he realized what he’d done, how he’d hurt Adeline. She deserved better. He had treated her unfairly and should have given her more of himself all along. He wanted to now.
Alastair returned from the restroom, shutting the door to Jeremy’s office. He stopped before the desk and eyed Jeremy. “You’ve been moping a lot lately. Are you sure you’re on top of these investment briefings?”
Jeremy could spot a good start-up investment in his sleep. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve been through a lot, that’s all.”
Alastair knew all about Jamie’s kidnapping and the attacks on Adeline.
“Where’s Adeline?”
“Don’t ask.”
Alastair smiled with a brief chuckle. “Women make men stupid sometimes. Find a way to apologize.”
“I said some pretty stupid things. I was so sure Livia was involved with all that went wrong.”
“And when Adeline proved you wrong you didn’t take it well.”
Jeremy leaned back against his chair, dejected. “I asked her what kind of woman could give up her own child.”
Alastair winced.
“I even accused her of working with Livia.”
Alastair winced more. “Ouch.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, you have a lot of kissing up to do. I’d think of something good if I were you.”
“Thanks,” Jeremy said wryly. “Hey, did you go by Bluewood Ranch?”
“Not yet. I had to fly home to attend to pressing business matters. I thought I’d stop by there this week sometime.”
Jeremy nodded. “I think you’ll find the owner interesting. She’s pretty, too.”
“I’d go to try something new. Ranch life is definitely new for me.”
Yes, Jeremy had always known Alastair as a sophisticated businessman. Luxury hotels and fine dining were more his personality, although Jeremy a
lso thought he’d do well with a good dose of country. That’s why he’d suggested a day at Bluewood. And maybe Halle Ford had something to do with the suggestion. She deserved a good man and Alastair needed a woman who interested him.
Why hadn’t he thought the same for himself?
* * *
Adeline still hesitated when she drove up to Jeremy’s big house. The chance to see Jamie had overruled her rationale every time she’d tried to talk herself out of going. She sat with the engine running, staring at the front door.
Jeremy opened the door and waited.
Caught, Adeline turned off the engine and headed for the house. Jeremy didn’t smile. He kept a neutral expression and Adeline sensed his tension. She believed he felt sorry for the things he’d said, but he must have meant them or he wouldn’t have thought to say them. Just because someone kindly didn’t share their uglier thoughts about someone didn’t mean they weren’t genuine. Jeremy thought less of her for giving up Jamie. He might have only been lashing out when he’d basically accused her of joining up with Livia. Did he actually think she’d try to help kill his wife so she could make inroads with her rich husband?
Adeline had given her ex-boyfriend the benefit of the doubt and she’d paid a high price. She’d had glimpses of the man deep inside and had ignored the signs. Had Jeremy given her a sign?
She eyed him as she entered, seeing him observe her with keen insight. He must feel her reticence.
“Mommy!”
Adeline forgot all about Jeremy and what he’d said when she saw Jamie running toward her, his bare feet pattering over the tiled entry. She crouched and took him into a crashing hug.
“Hi, Jamie. Oh, how I’ve missed you.” She kissed the side of his head.
“I missed you, too.” He moved back but stayed in her arms. “When are you coming home?”
“I’m home now, sweetie. And I’ll come see you as much as I can, okay?”
“Mommies are supposed to live in the same house,” he said.
She hadn’t prepared herself for that insightful observation. “That’s probably true most of the time.”
“Why can’t you live here with me and Daddy?”
How could she respond to that? She glanced up at Jeremy but he offered no help. In fact, she felt he waited for her response, as though he’d like to know, as well.
“Your daddy only asked me to stay with you for a short time.” She glanced up at him smugly. He deserved that.
“Not forever?”
Forever was a long time. “No, not forever.”
“But you have to be here so we can make pancakes.”
She ran her finger down his little nose. “It’s not good for you to eat pancakes too much, but I told you I’d come by some mornings to make them with you.”
“Tomorrow?” he asked.
Adeline laughed softly. Only a kid would be so tenacious. “Probably not that soon.”
She glanced up at Jeremy again, who watched with warm eyes and a soft curve to his mouth. He liked what he saw—her with Jamie. Or was it just Jamie?
When Jamie stood away and left the entry, she followed. He landed on his knees in the family room, where a cartoon played on the TV. He’d given up trying to get her to live with him for now, but Adeline suspected she’d hear more on that later.
“I want to apologize for the things I said,” Jeremy said.
Adeline really did not feel up for this talk. “Well, too late—you said them.”
“I didn’t mean them.”
Adeline glanced at Jamie, who had fallen entranced back into his cartoon. She turned and walked into the kitchen. Jamie didn’t need to hear any of this.
Jeremy followed.
In front of the elegant kitchen island, she faced him. “I don’t think you would have said those things if you hadn’t already thought that way.”
Jeremy held a steady face and seemed to consider how to respond, or have some regret that he had to. “I did wonder how you gave up Jamie. I wondered how you felt. After seeing you with him, and talking to you and your mother, I know it was difficult. I didn’t know that before, but I wanted to. I said that to hurt you and I’m so sorry.”
“You thought I had no trouble giving him up and thought poorly of me?”
“I never thought poorly of you. I used that against you in the heat of the moment.”
He’d hurled an accusation but hadn’t meant it in his heart? “Then I suppose I should thank you. Now I know you’re capable of being awful when you’re angry.”
Jeremy bent his head and rubbed his brow. After a bit he looked at her again. “I’ve never behaved that way before. I’ve never lost someone close to me before. I guess it made me go a little crazy. Finding out Livia didn’t kill her, that no one did, was unbearable because I felt like I should have known she’d started drinking again. I could have prevented her accident by helping her stop. Guilt made me say those things. I swear to you I will never talk to you that way again. I feel horrible. I’m sorry. I really am.”
She averted her gaze as she heard his sincerity. She would not let down her guard. He’d shown her how little she actually knew him.
“And the whole, ‘you were working with Livia’ thing. I definitely didn’t mean that.”
“More lashing out?” she asked, unable to keep her sarcasm out of her tone.
“Yes, unfortunately. I’m not proud of myself. I’m ashamed. I fought my feelings for you because I still felt beholden to Tess. When you uncovered proof she died in an accident and no one killed her, I couldn’t accept that. I thought catching her killer would bury her and ease guilt—finally. I never once considered that she died in an accident, because I couldn’t. Facing that would mean I helped kill her by not doing anything about her alcoholism, by not recognizing the signs. But now I can let her go. I have. Because of you. You’ve helped me cope with Tess’s death. Her alcoholism. My guilt. You were right about that.”
Adeline had already figured out he suffered from a severe guilt complex over Tess’s death. “You don’t sound as though you are over her death, Jeremy. You still feel guilty because you did nothing to save her. You aren’t ready for a new relationship. You still aren’t over your last one, one that ended in tragedy. I can’t get involved with a man who still has that kind of baggage.”
“I did feel guilty. I don’t anymore, Adeline. I recognize now that there’s nothing I could have done to save Tess.”
That revelation caused a spark to smoke and light. If he was truly over Tess...
“I should have seen the signs. I could have talked to her, sent her to rehab, sent her to therapy, any number of things. But none of that would have mattered if she didn’t decide to help herself. She didn’t want to stop drinking. She didn’t want to stop when she quit. I can’t be held responsible for her choices. That would be the same as agreeing with Evan Sigurdsson that I deserved to have my son kidnapped and you murdered for firing him.”
While she inwardly cheered his strong epiphany, Adeline held back. She had to be sure about him. Baby steps were in order for her right now.
“Mommy?”
She saw Jamie in the kitchen entry. “Yes, sweetie.”
“Daddy wanted me to ask you something.”
She eyed Jeremy. “He did?” What was he up to?
He held his hands out and shrugged with a mock virtuous look.
Jamie looked beguilingly up at her. The two were a pair, all right.
“My birthday is tomorrow,” Jamie said, leading as though he expected her to deny whatever he was about to ask.
“It’s next Tuesday,” Jeremy corrected.
Adeline already knew that.
“I’m going to be four.”
“Yes, I know.” What was this all about?
“Are you going to come to my p
arty?” Jamie asked. “Daddy wants me to invite you.”
“Oh...” She looked at Jeremy. What had he planned? What would she walk into? Despite the risk to her heart, she couldn’t turn down her cute son. While she sent Jeremy a reproachful look for using his son to lure her, she said to Jamie, “Your daddy put you up to this?”
He looked at Jeremy and then back at Adeline.
“Do you want me to come to your party?”
Jamie beamed a smile. “Yeah.”
“Then I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
Jeremy smiled, a wide grin that showed triumph. Then he sobered and moved closer to her. Taking her hands in his, he said, “Think about everything I said.”
He’d given her just under a week to think about his apology. She was afraid that’s all she’d think about.
* * *
Adeline arrived at Jeremy and Jamie’s house with a giant teddy bear and another wrapped present. Jeremy opened the door, dressed casually in tan pants and a blue sweater that made his dark features stand out. After not seeing him for almost a week, she was starved for the sight of him.
Jeremy took the giant bear and the present. “Hi.”
His warm, rich voice tickled her senses. “Hi.”
“Mommy!” Jamie bounded to the entry.
Adeline crouched just in time to take the onslaught of his hug. She lifted him.
“I’m so glad you’re here! Daddy made a special pot and a cake and he got me a new game.” His young voice went high-pitched with his excitement.
“Well, you are the birthday boy.” Wondering what pot Jeremy had made, she carried Jamie into the spacious family room, where he had a train set up in the middle of the room and construction equipment strewn over the floor.
“Daddy got me a train!”
“The family room has turned into a playroom,” Jeremy said.
“I can see that.” She put down Jamie and he ran to his train.
“See?” He turned the train set on and the train began to move around the track. They must have begun to collect village buildings and other props. She saw there were two more unwrapped presents.
Mission--Colton Justice Page 23