by Karina Bliss
She compounded her error by laughing. “Thirty thousand dollars says otherwise. It’s okay,” she explained to Christian, “we dated for a few years.”
Christian’s caveman instincts stirred. “Really?”
“Were engaged, actually,” added Kezia cheerfully.
“Which is why I need to be scrupulous in assessing your loan application,” interrupted William J. smoothly. “And I doubt Mr. Kelly wants to hear details of our personal relationship.”
Mr. Kelly did, very much. But he kept his mouth shut and struggled fruitlessly to control his imagination.
“I know we can put that aside,” Kezia said in all seriousness. Christian had never heard a more deluded concept in his life—and said so.
The other two bristled. “Our relationship ended amicably two years ago,” said William J. coldly, “and I resent the implication that I would allow it to affect my professional judgment.”
“Who ended it?” Christian asked bluntly.
“I did,” they both chorused, then stared at each other.
“Don’t you remember I gave you back your ring because…” Kezia recalled Christian’s presence and faltered.
“Because I asked for it,” the banker finished.
Christian hid a smile as he watched Kezia open her mouth to argue, notice William J.’s folded arms, and shut it again.
“It doesn’t matter anyway,” she said in a tight voice. “The point is, our relationship remained civil. That’s how mature adults behave.” She threw the verbal barb in Christian’s direction.
Mature? In bed, William J. Rankin the Third would have to be on top. Christian’s smile broadened until he remembered just who this jerk had been on top of. Dismayed, he jammed a lid on his jealousy, an emotion so new, so unwelcome, he refused to acknowledge it. But his fingers itched for a club.
William J. must have scented the surge of testosterone in the air. “Perhaps I’m missing something, but just what’s the purpose of your being present this morning?”
“Moral support,” said Christian easily.
“I didn’t think moral support was your area.” William J. had clearly done his homework. “And Kezia has never needed protection from me.”
Christian imagined himself grabbing William J. by his maroon-and-gray-striped tie and choking the self-satisfied pomposity out of him. “You’re right, of course. She did try to tell me that.” He smiled as he stood up. “I’ll wait outside.”
“Thank you.” Kezia’s grateful expression made it easier for Christian to allow William J. to crush his hand without breaking every one of the jerk’s fingers in return.
“Great handshake you’ve got there, tiger,” he said, and exited to the outer office. Lightweight. Encouraging his opponent to underestimate him was a tactic that had made Christian Kelly wealthy and respected. The metaphorical uppercut, delivered when his adversary least expected it, made him feared.
“Can I get you a coffee while you’re waiting?”
His mind still on William J., Christian looked up and the woman who’d spoken took an involuntary step back.
He gave her his most charming smile—the one, God help him, that always got him what he wanted. “Thank you—” he looked at her name badge “—Suzie. Worked here long?”
“DO YOU MIND TELLING ME what that was about?” Kezia demanded as the door closed behind Christian. “You’re acting like a jerk.”
“Do you mind telling me why you’ve got Mr. Big City Hotshot in tow? I thought he was your grandmother’s protégé, not yours.”
“What are you jealous of, Bill? That Christian’s wildly successful, was Nana’s favorite or might be sleeping with me?” If he could catch her. After yesterday’s kiss, she’d run like a rabbit to Marion’s new rental just outside town. Christian had been forced to celebrate his corporate victory alone when he’d got back from Auckland. Winning this loan was vital—she had to get Christian out of her life.
Bill sighed. “I’m trying to remember you’re vulnerable right now.”
“And I’m trying to remember you’re a decent man. Why did you say you ended our engagement?”
“Because I didn’t want to look like a cuckold. The man’s patronizing enough as it is.”
Kezia stared at him in amazement. “Honestly, Bill, he’s really not like that.” Except of course Christian could be like that—arrogant, dominant, opinionated. Her attitude softened. “Bear with him, please. He’s helped me a lot.”
Bill snorted. “So why not make a donation of his small change instead of poking his supercilious nose into business that doesn’t concern him.”
With a sigh Kezia told him the terms of her grandmother’s will. It helped. Honesty compelled her to tell him of Christian’s input into the business plan. That didn’t go down as well.
“You know, I would have been happy to advise you.” Still, he picked up the plan, unable to resist examining it.
“Conflict of interest,” she reminded him. Despite Christian’s qualms, Bill’s professional ethics were unimpeachable though his tendency to seize control had been one of the reasons she’d broken their engagement. He hadn’t been like that when they’d started dating, mainly, she realized later, because he’d still been subdued over his father’s death. Her sympathy had initially brought them together, but the pensive, gentle man she thought she’d fallen in love with had healed into a control freak.
Much like herself, Kezia thought in her bleaker moments, though at least she recognized when she was being bossy and resolved to stop. Bill never had. He was now engaged to a coworker who worshipped him in a way most people saved for God. He was very pleased with her.
“You know, Bill, I still think Suzie would prefer I didn’t come to your wedding on Saturday.”
With her tousled blond-streaked fringe, Suzie reminded Kezia of a Pekinese. One that was afraid the other dog might want its bone back. None of Kezia’s oblique reassurances had helped and the truth—that Kezia thanked Providence daily for a lucky escape—was unspeakable.
Bill kept his attention on the business plan. “Nonsense. We both want you there.”
For the first time Kezia wondered if Bill had embroidered the facts about their breakup. Gods needed to be infallible, after all. Which meant she had to go to the wedding to prove to Suzie she wasn’t still pining.
“I can’t fault this.” Bill made the concession reluctantly. “There are a few flashy touches—the illustrious Mr. Kelly’s, no doubt—but the numbers are sound. Subject to the usual credit checks, a formality in your case, I’ll approve the transfer.”
At that moment Kezia loved Bill Rankin with all her heart. “Thank you,” she managed to say over the lump in her throat. She hadn’t allowed herself to despair, hadn’t allowed herself to hope, but now she acknowledged how badly she needed the hotel to anchor her life and give her future certainty. She had her heritage back.
“Kezia, you need a glass of water.” Bill guided her solicitously across the room. So good with enfeebled women. “And now you can get rid of Kelly,” he added as he ushered her through the door. She stumbled. “A man like that wouldn’t scruple to take advantage of a vulnerable woman.”
Christian looked up. “Must be some bastard you’re talking about,” he said dryly. “Let’s round up a posse and run him out of town.”
But Bill was frowning at Suzie, thigh-to-thigh with Christian on the two-seater.
“Christian’s been telling me all the celebrity gossip.” Suzie’s face was more animated than Kezia had ever seen it. “And guess what, Bill, Baz Monteith’s left his wife. For a man!” She turned back to Christian. “He’s Bill’s favorite country singer.”
“I believe you mentioned it,” said Christian, and Kezia smothered a smile. His keen eyes searched her face for clues.
“We got it.”
Christian glanced at Bill. “Just as well,” he said quietly, then stood up and opened his arms to her, mouth curving in a slow grin that ignited her own.
With a jubilant whoop,
she launched herself at him.
Not expecting it, he stumbled and they toppled back into the couch. Suzie shrieked. Kezia found herself splayed across two laps, her skirt rucked up to her thighs.
Face blazing, she struggled to her feet and Christian gave her backside an obliging push. “I love it when you’re spontaneous. Reminds me of old times.”
None too gently, Bill pulled her away from Christian’s lingering hands. “For God’s sake, Kezia, what’s got into you?”
“What old times?” Suzie asked. Obviously her love of gossip wasn’t confined to celebrities.
“We went to high school together.” Kezia smoothed her skirt.
“She used to help me with my homework,” added Christian, his tone speculative.
Damn, now he was wondering what she’d told Bill about them. Almost imperceptibly she shook her head and his eyes narrowed with intense enjoyment.
“Kez made me the man I am today,” he said, and no one missed his meaning.
“I doubt that,” said Bill. “She’s led a blameless life.”
Even to Kezia that sounded dull, and Christian, bless him, laughed. “She may have led one with you,” he conceded.
Only Suzie looked satisfied at that one; Bill inflated like an angry bullfrog and Kezia decided exit was the best strategy. She grabbed Christian’s arm to steer him toward the door, felt his biceps tighten in resistance. “I get the feeling there’s something you’d like to say to me, Bill,” he prompted.
“You may have taken advantage of Kezia’s innocent trust once, but her friends won’t allow you to do so again.”
Kezia tried to leaven the threat with humor, “I think I’ve had enough chivalry for one day thanks, Bill. First I’m dull, now I’m simple-minded. Trust me, if the need arises I can fend Christian off by myself.” She pushed but Christian didn’t budge. Was the man made of granite?
“Like you did last time?” Bill said sarcastically.
“When you were teenage lovers?” Suzie had no intention of relinquishing this juicy bone. It seemed Kezia had misjudged her breed. Fox terrier suited her better.
“Once and for all, Christian didn’t take advantage of me. Strictly speaking it was the other way around.” Bill and Suzie looked at her blankly. Obviously she was more boring than she realized. “Nothing, forget it.” Kezia renewed her attempts to manhandle Christian to the exit.
“She means to rescue my reputation,” he said helpfully, “by confessing to stealing my virginity.”
There was a stunned silence while Bill and Suzie struggled to adjust their perception of her. Kezia turned on Christian. “Why the hell did you have to say that?”
“I gave in too easily,” he confided to Suzie. “You can tell she no longer respects me.”
“Christian!”
“Wow,” said Suzie. “The women’s magazines would pay thousands for that. ‘My First Time’ by Christian Kelly.”
Kezia felt sick. “Suzie, promise me that information will stay in this room.”
“Of course.” Suzie gave her the sweetest smile.
Kezia racked her brains to cover all bases. “That means not bringing anyone in here to tell them, either.” The other woman’s face fell and Kezia grew desperate. “Promise me!”
“Give in, Suzie,” suggested Christian. “From personal experience, Kezia doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Kezia turned on him in a fury. “Will you shut up! And, Bill, stop looking at me as if I’ve grown horns. Christian was taking my virginity at the same time.”
“But, Kezia…” Bill looked like a man who needed to cough up a fur ball “…you’ve always been so good.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said Christian.
“Rational, restrained, sensible…”
“Oh, that sort of good.” Christian smiled and Kezia looked around the room for something to bludgeon him with. “I was remembering the old model, not the new improved version.”
Bill stiffened. “It seems I owe you an apology for maligning you.”
“You can buy me a beer at your wedding,” Christian said generously. “Your bride has invited me as Kez’s date.”
“I THINK THAT WENT WELL, don’t you?”
Kezia resisted an impulse to swing for him. Her reputation had been tarnished enough without being arrested for assault.
They had paused on the wide concrete steps outside the bank’s faux Roman edifice, impressive but for the fact that it had been built to Everton’s toy-town scale.
“You always have to have the last word, don’t you, Kelly?”
“Pretty much.”
“I’ve got a good mind to make you go to the wedding.”
“No, you won’t,” he said easily. “You’re too damn grateful I helped you save your inheritance.”
“I guess I am.” Kezia leaned against a concrete pillar, her emotions a tangled mess.
“Come here.” Christian pulled her into an embrace, and she found herself holding him tight.
“We did it, Kelly, we actually did it.”
“Of course.”
Laughing, Kezia pushed him away. “I forgive you for embarrassing me. Hey, I’ll even buy you a coffee to celebrate your imminent departure.”
There was a brief silence, then he said lightly, “My God, you’re right. Forget the coffee, this calls for champagne.”
“At ten in the morning? In Everton?”
“Live dangerously for once. You might enjoy it.”
“Okay, let’s be bad.” Her inheritance was safe and, with Christian leaving, so was she.
Christian looked intrigued. “How bad?”
“We’ll have cake, too.”
He raised his eyes at that, and at the sight of the coffee shop, too—a tiny enterprise with only two types of coffee, black or white.
But he was engaging and funny, complimenting the owner on her chocolate cake. Kezia ordered a second piece and thought, I am not compensating for no sex life.
“I can’t imagine what you saw in William J. Rankin the Third,” Christian told Kezia. “He’s way too straight for you.”
“Bill has got more earnest with age,” she conceded, “but he’s loyal, dependable, reliable…”
“My opposite in fact.”
“That was an attraction.”
“Still, you broke off your engagement.”
“Mmm.”
“Why?” He wasn’t averse to bluntness.
“Do I ask you questions about your love life?”
“Go ahead.”
“I prefer to respect people’s privacy.”
“The first question’s free.”
She was torn, he could see that. “Okay, a scientific one. Are breast implants cold to the touch?”
“You wouldn’t believe how many women ask me that.”
“We want them to be cold,” she admitted.
“Then they are,” he said diplomatically. “My turn. Why did you break off your engagement?”
“Uh-uh. I only agreed to a free question for me, remember?” He grimaced and she relented. “We didn’t have enough in common.”
Christian sat back. “I knew he’d be lousy in bed.”
She got pious, he knew she would. “Sex is not the true barometer of a relationship. Intimacy is far more important.”
“Aren’t they the same thing?”
“No, they are not.”
“Who cares? That the sex was lousy is enough for me.”
“Actually the sex was great.”
He stared at her. “You’re kidding me!”
“For God’s sake, how would you feel if I asked you what sex was like with Miss October?”
“Miss September. She got an A for effort, we had very effort-ful sex.” She tried not to laugh at that. “Go on, Kez, you know you want to, let loose.”
“You’re not going to make me snicker at someone else’s expense.”
“She had more of a whicker, actually,” he commented and she exploded into mirth.
“Damn you,”
she said.
“Did you love him?” He couldn’t stop himself asking.
“I only sleep with men I love.”
“How ironic,” he muttered. “After you, I made a point of sleeping only with women I didn’t.”
“You started this game,” she reminded him softly.
He stood, annoyed with himself. “I’ll go pay.”
Kezia watched him at the counter, so sharp in his city suit, the old lady was clearly flustered. It had taken years to get over him and yet—he was going, so she could admit it—she was still tempted.
“Okay, Madame Publican, let’s go.”
With a sense of reprieve Kezia led the way out, nodding to two acquaintances coming in. From the way the women glanced from her to Christian she knew they’d been withdrawing gossip from the bank. She never had secured that promise from Suzie.
“You want me to apologize for spilling the beans?” Christian offered behind her. So, he’d noticed the stares.
“Only if you’re sorry.”
“I’m not.”
Exasperated, Kezia started walking.
“Want to know why?” Glancing back, she caught her breath at his expression, playful and tender, masculine and intense. “I waited a long time for you because I wanted you to be my first. And I don’t care who knows it.”
She forced her feelings back, couldn’t let him move her. “I’m sure you’ve learned a lot since then.”
He laughed. “Has my technique improved?” His gaze lowered, laser heat all the way down her body. “Only one way to find out.”
“I’ve learned a lot since then, too.”
“I look forward to a full and frank exchange of ideas.”
She frowned to stop the smile. “I mean, about men like you.”
“C’mon, how about a tumble for old times’sake?”
“That’s your best line? No wonder Miss November dumped you.”
“Miss September. And for the record, our parting was mutual—smoothed with the help of a diamond navel ring. You’re the only woman who has ever dumped me.”
“It was your choice to leave,” she reminded him coldly.
Christian’s tone was equally frigid. “And yours to stay.”
They had reached the impasse that had parted them and it looked as wide a gulf as ever.