On Ice (Contemporary Romantic Thriller)

by J. D. Faver

  The silence that followed Brett’s question seemed to fill all the remaining space in the vehicle. She couldn’t breathe, as though the heater had burned up all the air.

  “How--how did you know?” she finally managed.

  “I just put two and two together. You’re pretty secretive about your past. You seem scared sometimes, but it’s not as bad now as when you first came.”

  Tears closed her throat. “I’m so sorry I lied to you,” she bawled. “I didn’t mean to lead you on. I couldn’t help it. I was--I am so attracted to you and you’re such a good man.” She wept in earnest now. Brett held her as she sobbed out the whole story.

  “That settles it,” Brett said. “You and the children are coming to stay with me until this thing is settled. You can file for divorce. I’ll protect you, Rene. All of you.”

  “No, I can’t. You don’t understand. If I try to divorce Mark, he’ll get to me through the children.”

  “What would he do to his own children?” Brett asked.

  “You just don’t understand,” she repeated. “He’s obsessed with controlling me. He’s vicious. I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

  “His own children? Brett repeated, incredulously.

  “He would kill them to hurt me. He’s pure evil.”

  ~*~

  They danced to slow music. It wasn’t so bad dancing with this behemoth. He was surprisingly light on his feet for such a big man. T.J. smiled to herself as they danced cheek to chest, accompanied by a baby grand with a string ensemble. No one pointed or snickered when they made their way back to the table.

  He held her chair, exhibiting impeccable manners at all times. She knew her mother would love him. Look at the man she had chosen to marry. A big American named McCann with family roots in Scotland. She would think Terrence the perfect man for her only daughter. Oh, no! I mustn’t entertain these thoughts. Her assignment would be over soon and he would return to his homeland.

  Terrence pushed a coin across the table towards her.

  “They look like more than a penny’s worth, these thoughts that have carried you away from me.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” T.J. said. She picked up the penny, still warm from his touch. “I was just thinking that I’ll miss you when you return to your home.”

  “Perhaps you’ll come for a visit.”

  “Perhaps.”

  The warmth in his gaze radiated across the table to stir her insides. “My ma wouldn’t let you return to the U.S. She would be planning your trousseau and naming our children. And my da would say it was high time.”

  T.J. laughed, surprised that his words echoed her thoughts so closely. She envisioned his parents standing outside a quaint little thatched roof house with sheep in the yard. “What do your parents do?” she asked.

  “Oh, my da owns a Mercedes dealership in Glasgow and my ma keeps busy with their luxury car rental agency.

  T.J. tried to keep her face from betraying her surprise. “Luxury cars?”

  “Yes, that’s how I happened to meet the Sanders family. They had rented a car when they first arrived and then Dr. Sanders called to get a larger model with a driver. He said he really needed a bodyguard, too. I drove it up to them and decided to take the job.”

  “And, you hadn’t worked as a bodyguard before?”

  “Oh, sure, for the odd rock band or super-model. You know, keep the crowds away. Not too hard for a big fellow like me.”

  “I’m sure it isn’t, for a big fellow like you.” She smiled across the table and then looked hopefully at the musicians who had returned from their break.

  Terrence smiled in return and rose to escort her to the tiny dance floor.

  She didn’t really care if they were dancing or not, so long as he was holding her.

  ~*~

  Discussing Mark with Brett had precluded all thoughts of lovemaking. Rene lay silently against him, trying not to let Mark intrude on this private moment.

  “Okay, I’ll accept that he’s an evil-hearted creep, but the day will come when he’ll find you if he’s really looking.”

  “That’s my worst fear,” she agreed.

  “At least come stay with me. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to protect you. Surely you know that?”

  “Yes, I think you would try, but Mark isn’t like you. He doesn’t play by the rules.”

  “Maybe, I won’t either.” His voice took on a gruff tone.

  “Yes, you will. You’re that kind of man.”

  “And what kind is that?”

  She blinked as her eyes filled with tears. “Honorable.”

  “I want you to move in, even if I have to burn the cabin down to pry you out of it. I wanted you to like it, but not this much.”

  “You don’t understand. This is the only place that has been truly my own. It’s filled with things I selected, not a decorator. I can leave dishes in the sink if I choose to. I don’t have to please anyone else.”

  “You can do whatever you want to my place.”

  “Yes but it’s your place. Besides, my sister has written me a couple of letters hinting that something is happening down there, something that may help me to get Mark out of our lives permanently. I tried to get in touch with her by e-mail. Maybe I’ll hear something soon.”

  “I don’t see what bearing that has on your living arrangements.”

  “Just be patient with me. It may not be too long.”

  “Two weeks. After that, I’m evicting you from the cabin. I’ll bring all the things you’ve gotten to fix up the cabin. When you see your things at my house, you’ll start thinking it’s your house, too.”

  “Two weeks, then,” she agreed.

  “And next weekend,” he said firmly.

  “What happens next weekend?”

  “Can you get Nadine or Cindy to keep the kids?”

  “Yes. I’m sure I can. What happens next weekend?”

  “This.” He kissed her tenderly. “And lots of this.” He kissed down the side of her neck. “And some of this.”

  “I get the picture.”

  “And?” he asked.

  “And, I’ll be ready on Friday after school, but you’ll have to bring me back here after church on Sunday because I’m going to start teaching the Schraeders to read.”

  “By the time you’re through, you will have educated every person in Alaska and the Yukon Territory.” Brett sat up and started putting back on the layers of his clothing he had thrown to the floor. “I didn’t need to worry about you leaving me. There are plenty of remote tribes when you run out of people to teach right around here. You’ll always have someone to save from illiteracy.”

  “Don’t make fun of me,” she said.

  “Wouldn’t think of it. We make the perfect couple.” He leaned over to lightly kiss her lips. “An honorable man and a crusading woman.”

  Rene laughed and set about trying to locate what remained of her clothing. The thermal undershirt and the flannel gown were slit open from neck to hem. Arranging them as best she could, she buttoned her bulky cardigan over all. She found her house shoes; still wet on the outside from her few steps in the snow. She wrapped the blanket tightly around her as Brett opened the door. He stepped down, his boots crunching in the snow. Holding out his arms to her, he lifted her from the seat and carried her to the cabin.

  Quietly opening the door, they found it pleasantly warm, but the logs had burned to embers. Brett silently added more logs to the fire and set the screen in place.

  “It’s hard to go home to my empty bed,” he whispered.

  “I know. It’ll be hard to climb into this one alone, but we’ll spend next weekend together.”

  “I’ll take you and the kids to church tomorrow.”

  “The Burkes are picking us up.”

  “No, I’ll take you. I want to take you.”

  “I see,” she said.

  ~*~

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  “Do you want to go out to the club tonight, Marky? Candy and Law
rence are going to be there.” Tommy lounged in the stairwell as Mark reached the second floor landing.

  “Sure, why not?”

  “You’re becoming quite a dancer.”

  “I’ve never danced much before.”

  “You’re a natural. We can go out to dinner first or...you could come down to my place. I’m a great cook.”

  Mark looked down at Tommy’s hopeful expression. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I thought we might have a bite and relax a while before we go dancing.”

  “Sure. That would be great.” Mark entered his apartment and locked the door behind him. What started as a means of maintaining a low profile was fast becoming a problem.

  He had planned on parking behind the Sanders house again tonight. The electronic listening devices Wayne had planted on the Sanders phones only worked within a short range. He couldn’t park in the alley in broad daylight. If Rene was still in Europe she might call when it was nighttime in Houston. Mark resented his feeling of desperation. When he got Rene back she would regret putting him through this. She would pay dearly.

  He tore his thoughts to his immediate problem. It was time to make a decision. What would happen if he rejected Tommy’s advances? Would he turn him in for having electronic equipment installed at Maddy’s? Surely he wouldn’t risk getting Wayne in trouble but he couldn’t necessarily count on it. People do crazy things for love.

  ~*~

  Rene latched the door behind Brett and turned off the light. She stood on her bed to watch through the window as the Hummer folded into the darkness of the trees. Listening to the growl of the motor fading away, Rene smiled and wrapped her arms around herself. She sank down on top of the quilts and leaned back against her pillow, recalling the thrill of his touch.

  The next thing she knew, the alarm was nagging her to get ready for church. Chilled, because she hadn’t crawled under the quilts and blankets, and a little stiff from exercising some long unused muscles, she groped for the alarm. She tiptoed to the bathroom and lit the heater before twisting the tap in the shower. The hot water steamed up the small bathroom before Rene could get out of her layers of clothing. Hanging the cardigan on the back of the door, she grinned when she saw the remains of her flannel gown and thermal undershirt. She shed them as well as the rest of her seductive outfit.

  Stepping into the stream of hot water, she gave in to this simple pleasure, letting it rinse away her aches and fatigue. Rene lathered her hair with a fragrant shampoo, imagining all her troubles swirling down the drain.

  “I don’t have ugly hair. I have beautiful hair,” she sang, making curls in the lather.

  By the time Rene and the children were dressed and she’d prepared their breakfast, she heard the rumble of the Hummer’s motor.

  The children ran to get their coats and boots on.

  She pulled Sara’s cap down over her ears and helped her with her mittens before gathering her own outerwear. Hearing Brett’s footsteps, she threw open the door to find him shaking his finger at her.

  “You shouldn’t do that,” he said. “I could have been the bogey-man.” Always look out the window before you open the door.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said meekly.

  “Brett!” Seth and Sara screamed in unison, launching themselves at him. He grabbed the small human missiles, swinging them around.

  “Mom!” Seth said. “Brett’s here!”

  “So he is,” Rene acknowledged, smiling at the man who stood beaming down at her, children attached to each arm.

  “Shall we go to church?” he asked. “I know I have a lot to give thanks for.”

  She breathed out a sigh. “And I to be forgiven.”

  ~*~

  Ted pulled the car into the underground parking garage, parking in a space marked, “Reserved for Dr. Sanders.” Maddy couldn’t help but admire the way her husband looked in his tux. She relished the time alone with him. No children. No Terrence. Just Ted and Maddy alone at last. Two grown-ups out for a night on the town.

  It wasn’t dark yet. Ted insisted they drop by his office before dinner so he could sign papers for Tina Bangs, his office manager.

  “Please hurry, Ted,” she said. “Don’t get tied up.”

  “Don’t think I’m going to leave you down here all alone,” Ted said. “You must come with me so Tina can’t lure me into some tedious project, and I can keep an eye on you.”

  “Oh, must I?” She shook her head. “I can wait quite well all by myself.”

  “Think again, dear one.” Ted swung his long legs out of the vehicle. “There’s no way in hell I’m going to leave you even for a moment. I don’t trust that Mark won’t pop in while my back is turned.” He opened her door and held out his hand. “Now come along quietly and I won’t have to use the handcuffs.”

  “Oh, really?” Maddy burst into a fit of giggles. “What if I want the handcuffs?”

  “Later.” He pulled her from the car and into his arms, smiling down at her for a moment before kissing her tenderly.

  “Why, Dr. Sanders,” Maddy said as she drew away from his lips. “Your love-starved behavior won’t wash. I happen to know you were totally sated, not an hour ago.”

  “True, but it’s sort of like Chinese food.”

  “How so?”

  “You think you’ve had enough and an hour later, you’re hungry again.”

  Maddy laughed, letting the pleasure of their light-hearted banter roll over her, filling the space around them with a safe perimeter that no villain could penetrate. “I wouldn’t want you to starve. We could go to a hotel.”

  “Yes, we could,” Ted agreed. “But, I think I’ll just savor the anticipation and take you to dinner and the theater first.”

  “How very civilized. Let’s get this over with. You sign papers and I’ll listen to Tina tell me about her parakeet.”

  “Fair, enough.” Ted wrapped his arm around her and they walked to the elevator like high-school sweethearts.

  Once inside his office, Tina presented Ted with a stack of letters and official-looking documents to sign.

  “You look lovely, Mrs. Sanders,” she said in her breathy voice.

  “Thank you, Tina.” Maddy looked at the dowdy woman hunched over the computer keyboard. “What’s different about you? Is it your hair?”

  Tina smoothed the chin-length pageboy of some indeterminate shade between blonde and brown. “Why, no, I haven’t done anything to my hair.”

  “Something’s definitely different. You’ve had a facial? Been to a spa?” Tina shook her head to each query, but there was certainly a change in her. The usually drab, slightly sallow complexion was glowing and her eyes were bright behind the cat’s-eye glasses. “It’s a man in your life!”

  “Oh, Mrs. Sanders!” Tina giggled behind her hands. “How did you guess?”

  Maddy tried to think of a tactful way to tell her she didn’t look like such a dead fish.

  “My boyfriend, Ray, is so sweet. You’d just love him, Mrs. Sanders.” Tina stopped, obviously flustered. “No, I mean, you wouldn’t love him like that. I mean, like I do, but he’s so sweet, you just couldn’t help but think he’s cute. Y’know?” Her voice trailed off and Maddy noticed her neck had turned a mottled shade of red.

  “I understand,” Maddy said. “Tell me about him. What does he do?” She glanced down the hall toward Ted’s office.

  “He’s a pharmaceutical sales representative. I met him right here.” Another fit of giggles. “He’s so handsome. I never thought he’d be interested in me, but he was very attentive, right from the start.” Tina’s eyes had taken on a far-away quality behind her glasses. “He’s really tall, dark and handsome. In fact, he’s just about perfect.”

  Maddy wondered what Tina’s idea of handsome was. “You mean to tell me that Mr. Wonderful has a flaw?”

  Tina blushed a deep shade of rose starting from her neck. “He’s just the sweetest man. But he has this ‘ex’ and she won’t let him see his kids. He’s trying to get things s
orted out with her and then,” she stopped abruptly.

  “Do go on,” Maddy urged.

  “He’s hinted that he wants to get serious when the ‘ex’ problem is solved.”

  “Oh, how nice for you, I’m sure,” Maddy said. She knew Tina had long-harbored feelings for Ted, which Ted would never acknowledge. Tina seemed to live in a sort of dream world away from her office duties. She often went on bird-watching expeditions with a group from North Houston and talked to her parakeet, “Sweetie”. “I’m so happy for you, Tina. Where does he take you when you go out?”

  “Oh, he likes to go to quiet movie theaters and watch classic films. We sometimes just go to the park.”

  “Sounds very romantic,” Maddy said, wishing Ted would hurry.

  “Oh, he is. He is.” Tina’s face was glowing.

  “Maddy! Come in here!” Ted called to her.

  She excused herself, gratefully slipped into Ted’s office and closed the door behind her. “Thanks. I’ve heard more than I want to know about Tina’s new boyfriend.”

  “Tina has a boyfriend? Oh, never mind. Look at this.” Ted pointed to the monitor of his computer.

  Rene’s cryptic message brought tears to Maddy’s eyes. “Oh, Ted. She’s all right.”

  ~*~

  Rene stepped down from the Hummer into Brett’s arms. The children scampered out and fairly danced into the church. As Brett and Rene entered the building, heads turned their way. The congregants smiled and nodded to each other, seeming to shout their knowledge of the previous evening’s carnal activities.

  Rene felt self-conscious, but pleased to be in Brett’s company. They slipped into a pew in the back just as Rick Starkey swept in, followed by Father Paul. During the service Rene met the eyes of friends who smiled encouragingly. She realized she hadn’t felt so much a part of a group since she had left her parent’s home for college. Were these people her new family?