“Fat chance,” she muttered, sure that she’d rather die first.
In the relative privacy of the little bathroom, Kari took care of her most urgent need, then washed her hands and face. Using what appeared to be a new toothbrush and tube of toothpaste she found in the otherwise empty medicine cabinet, she also cleaned her teeth.
She would have liked to take a long, hot shower, but she was still too unsteady to trust that she wouldn’t end up falling on her fanny. And she wasn’t about to give Alex an excuse to come in after her.
Warily, she eyed her reflection in the mirror. There was nothing she could do about the dark circles under her eyes. Nor could she neaten her short, straight hair without a comb or brush. Not that she thought for a minute her appearance mattered to Alex. Granted, he’d seen her looking much better. But he’d also seen her looking a lot worse.
With a quiet sigh, she turned away from the mirror and glanced around the bathroom, hoping to see her slacks and shirt. All she found was a long, white terry-cloth robe hanging on a hook on the back of the door. Alex’s, she imagined. But it would do for the time being. Especially since it hung down to her ankles.
Feeling slightly better with the robe wrapped around her, Kari opened the door and walked into Alex. Instead of leaving her in peace, he’d chosen to lounge negligently against the doorjamb. She stumbled to a halt, hands clenched at her sides, and gazed at him wordlessly.
The look on her face must have revealed the vile thoughts she was thinking, because he straightened quickly and moved out of her way.
She’d had every intention of searching for her clothes so she could dress. But as she stepped out of the bathroom, all she really felt like doing was hobbling back to bed. Whatever Alex had given her still had her reeling, and probably would for a while longer.
Much as she hated to admit it, she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Even if she found her clothes and managed to dress, she knew she wouldn’t be able to get away from Alex unless he chose to let her go. Considering all he’d done to bring her there, she seriously doubted that was on his agenda.
Knowing there was little she could do until the effects of the drug had worn off completely, Kari crawled back into bed. Doing her best to ignore Alex, she plumped the pillows against the oak headboard and slumped against them.
Apparently satisfied that she wasn’t going to cause any commotion, Alex moved back to the easy chair and perched on one arm. She would have preferred to be left alone, but since he didn’t appear inclined to leave the room, she thought maybe she ought to at least try to find out what he was up to.
He didn’t seem irrational. And his manner toward her wasn’t threatening. Actually, he’d treated her with great solicitude. Yet what he’d done to her—drugging her, then abducting her—was criminal. Had she the chance to press charges against him, he would most certainly end up in jail.
Had she the chance...
Bracing herself for the confrontation she seemed to have no choice but to initiate, Kari lifted her chin and forced herself to meet his gaze. Across the short distance that separated them, he regarded her with such obvious concern that for a moment she could almost believe he cared for her, really cared for her the way she had once thought he did.
Talk about clutching at straws, she chided herself.
“Are you feeling ill?” he asked, his voice sounding a little rough around the edges.
“No,” she replied as she glanced away again.
She wished he would go back to looking at her with the same disinterest he had when they’d been together at her brother’s house. Otherwise she was going to find it hard to remain as dispassionate as she knew she should. Any softening toward him would be disastrous in the long run.
Yet she couldn’t seem to quell the ache in her heart as her gaze rested on the rigid patch of scar tissue slicing across his left kneecap and trailing halfway down his shin.
She’d first seen the scar Sunday morning when she’d come upon him as he and her brother were returning from a jog around the neighborhood. That he could walk, much less run, after such a devastating injury was a testament to his willpower and determination.
Eighteen months ago he’d come close to dying. So close Kari had almost gone to him after Devlin called to tell her Alex was fighting for life in the intensive care unit at a military hospital in Virginia. But pride, coupled with a sense of self-preservation, had kept her from making a fool of herself.
Realizing she had allowed her thoughts to wander in an unavailing way, Kari raised her head again. Alex still sat on the arm of the chair, watching her and waiting with irksome equanimity.
He had to know she was confused and upset by his behavior. Yet he didn’t seem ready to offer any explanations on his own. Well, fine. She’d just badger him mercilessly with one question after another until she managed to pry some information out of him.
“You dressed up like some weirdo and drugged me at the airport, didn’t you?” she asked, her voice surprisingly steady.
“Yes,” he admitted.
“And brought me where?”
“To the house I own in the Hill Country about thirty miles northwest of Fredricksburg.”
To the house he owned in the Hill Country. Of course. Why hadn’t she guessed?
Because her beloved brother had never told her that Alexander Payton had bought a house in her part of the country, she answered herself angrily. But then, why would he? Every time Devlin had mentioned Alex’s name over the past few years, she had cut him off.
Aware her mind was wandering again, Kari gave herself a firm mental shake. She would never find out what kind of game Alex was playing if she kept allowing herself to be so easily distracted.
“So you drugged and abducted me,” she reiterated. Then she demanded disconcertingly, “Why?”
“Because your brother asked me to,” he replied casually.
“My brother?” Kari repeated, unable to hide her bewilderment.
She had been wrong about Alex. He was crazy after all. Devlin would never—
“He’s worried about you. He believes you’re in some kind of trouble. Trouble involving Brandon Selby. He wanted to investigate on his own, but he didn’t want to leave Laura alone with the baby. So he asked me to find out what I could and to look out for you while I did,” Alex explained patiently.
Kari regarded him wordlessly, frowning as she tried, unsuccessfully, to assimilate what he was saying.
“Considering our past history, I didn’t think you would take kindly to an offer of help, and I told him so. Since Devlin had to agree, he suggested I get you here by whatever means I could, then try to get you to talk to me.”
Too stunned to speak, Kari stared at Alex, her mind racing. She should have known Devlin would realize something was wrong. After all, she’d hinted at her unhappiness with her job in general and Brandon in particular to both her brother and sister-in-law all weekend. But only because she’d hoped that in a roundabout way one of them might come up with a solution to her problem that wouldn’t involve returning to the stable.
Now it seemed that all she’d succeeded in doing was worrying them so much that Devlin had gone to Alex and asked him to intercede.
“And you agreed to go along with his plan?” she asked, though his answer was obvious.
“Only because Devlin—and Laura—were so concerned,” he stated simply.
His manner seemed much more distant than it had a few moments ago. More hurt than she would ever admit, Kari looked away.
Only because Devlin — and Laura — were so concerned.
What had she expected him to say? That he cared about her enough to come to her rescue? Not hardly, she thought with unwonted sadness.
She meant nothing to him. Nothing at all. Yet he was willing to saddle himself with her and her problems at Devlin’s behest. But that didn’t mean she had to sit by quietly and accept his charity.
No matter how much she feared going after Brandon on her own, she wasn’t about to l
et Alex get involved. While he could provide her with the kind of protection she might very well need, she couldn’t afford the emotional toll such dependence on him would inevitably take.
Already she’d caught herself hoping that maybe she meant something to him after all. There was no telling what kind of fantasies she’d start entertaining if she was forced to spend several days with him.
Unfortunately, she had a feeling she wasn’t going to find it easy to convince him that her brother’s imagination had been working overtime. Alexander Payton was no fool. No matter how much he felt he owned Devlin, he wouldn’t have drugged her and abducted her unless he honestly believed her brother’s concern was justified.
Well, she would just have to be equally persuasive, Kari decided, plucking nervously at the fabric of the robe she wore. Just make him believe Laura and Devlin had been mistaken and thus relieve him of any responsibility they’d conned him into feeling for her.
Pasting what she could only hope was a puzzled look on her face, Kari forced herself to meet Alex’s gaze again.
“Why would they think I’m in trouble?” she murmured. “I did mention I was considering changing jobs, but only for a short time, and certainly not because of any problems I’m having with Brandon. I just thought it might be a good idea to vary my experience before settling down for good at Selby Stables.”
“Oh, really?” Alex drawled with obvious skepticism.
“Yes, really,” she snapped before she could stop herself.
Mentally cursing the hot flush spreading across her cheeks, Kari acknowledged that she wasn’t any better at lying now than she had been in the past. Still, she couldn’t afford to back off.
Drawing a deep breath, she counted to ten, willing herself to calm down as she added, “Actually, we’re very close. And Brandon has promised that once we’re married, we’ll be equal partners. I want to have as much to offer our business as I can.”
She really hated leading Alex to believe that she and Brandon were lovers. Lying to him about having an affair with a man she despised made her feel cheap and dirty. But what other choice did she have? Alex wouldn’t let her go back to Selby Stables unless she convinced him that Brandon posed no threat to her. And getting away from Alex was absolutely essential to the maintenance of her already shaky emotional stability.
“Ah, I see.”
Eyes narrowed, Alex nodded sagely, seeming to accept what she was saying as the truth. But he didn’t look convinced. And though Kari would never admit that it made a bit of difference to her, he didn’t appear the least bit jealous, either. Instead she caught the faintest hint of amusement edging his otherwise serious expression.
“So, you don’t have to worry about me.” Determined to ignore his irritating attitude and finish what she’d started, she offered him a bright smile. Then, glancing at the clock on the nightstand, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Now, I’d better get dressed and head back to San Antonio. Brandon is probably wondering what’s happened to me.”
“Laura called to tell him you were going to be delayed due to a touch of flu. He’s not expecting you until the end of the week. Unless we need more time. Then Laura will call him again on your behalf,” Alex stated, matter-of-factly.
“Well, we’re not going to need any more time than we’ve already wasted on this nonsense,” Kari retorted. “I’ve told you I’m not in any trouble. And I have a wonderful relationship with Brandon. Surely you must know that if I really needed help, I’d accept all you had to offer. But I don’t. Believe me —”
“I’d like to, but I can’t,” he cut her off neatly.
“Why not?” she demanded, what little composure she had dwindling rapidly.
“Because you’re lying through your teeth.”
“I am not, ” she shrilled.
“Then tell me why you’ve been so scared you can’t sleep?” he asked, his calm demeanor a maddening counterpoint to her own unwarranted outrage.
So scared she couldn’t sleep? How could Alex possibly know...?
With a groan, Kari recalled the last words she had spoken to him before she’d passed out in his arms in the airport parking lot: I want to sleep. But I haven’t been able to. Been too scared.
Unwittingly, she had sealed her fate with her own words. Words that proved Laura and Devlin had good reason to be concerned about her. Words that would have enabled Alex to know whether she was telling the truth, no matter how good a liar she was. And since she was a rank amateur at deception...
She really should have saved her breath.
Feeling utterly defeated, she drew her legs up under her and sat back against the pillows again.
“I’ve said all I’m going to say to you,” she muttered, refusing to look at Alex as she crossed her arms over her chest defensively. “You can believe me or not. I don’t really care. But I’m not subjecting myself to any more of your browbeating. I’m going to find my clothes, get dressed and go back to San Antonio.”
“You’re welcome to dress anytime you feel like it. I hung most of your clothes in the closet. The rest of your things are in the top drawer of the dresser. But you’re not going anywhere until you give me some straight answers.”
He stood, moved to the windows and closed them, shutting out the breeze that had warmed considerably with the growing heat of the day.
“You can’t keep me here against my will,” Kari said, her wavering voice belying her belief in the simple statement.
Pausing at the foot of the bed on his way back across the room, Alex met her gaze. “Oh, yes, I can. And I will. By whatever means I have to,” he warned her. “Until I’m sure you’re not in any danger.”
“But I’ve tried to tell you—” she began all over again.
“And I’ve told you,” he interrupted with seemingly inexhaustible patience, “I want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
He stepped into the hallway and switched on the thermostat that activated the central-air-conditioning unit. A gust of cool air blew out of the vents in the ceiling, sending a shiver down Kari’s spine.
Obviously not quite done with her yet, Alex loomed in the doorway again.
“Do you want to eat breakfast in here or would you rather come to the kitchen and eat at the table?” he asked equably.
“I’m not hungry,” she replied, turning her back on him.
“You’ll feel better if you eat something.”
“I doubt it,” she muttered.
Actually, she was ravenous. But she had no intention of giving Alex the satisfaction of knowing he was right. About anything.
“You can skip breakfast, then. But I’m not going to let you miss any other meals. You’re much too thin already.”
Too thin?
Stung by Alex’s casually delivered criticism, Kari whirled around, ready to tell him exactly what he could do with his unkind assessment of her. But he was no longer standing in the doorway.
Thwarted yet again, she flopped against the pillows and stared at the ceiling. To her dismay, hot tears pooled in her eyes. Tears of anger and frustration and humiliation.
Much as she would like to tell herself otherwise, she wasn’t going anywhere. At least not until she pulled herself together, physically and emotionally. Only then would she be ready to go another round with him.
She hadn’t come close to convincing him that Brandon posed no threat to her. But she hadn’t backed off when Alex accused her of lying, either. She had stuck to her story with a determination born of desperation. Just as she would continue to do.
Once she began to feel stronger, she would broach the subject again. If she repeated her lies often enough, maybe he’d finally begin to believe her. And then maybe he’d be willing to send her on her way.
Since he was only keeping her there at Devlin’s request, he would probably be glad to see her go.
Granted, the likelihood that she’d be able to win Alex over on her own seemed rather slim. But there was no reason she had to. She
could elicit a little help from her brother, as well.
All she had to do was persuade Devlin she wasn’t in any danger. Then surely he’d call off Alex. He had gotten her into this mess, and she had no doubt he could get her out. But only if she could make him believe her.
Luckily, she’d always found lying long-distance to be much easier than lying face-to-face. Not that she’d ever made a habit of doing either one. But a little prevarication was better than allowing yourself to be put at the mercy of someone who had broken your heart once already.
With a renewed sense of determination, Kari glanced around the room, searching for a telephone. As she should have guessed, there wasn’t one to be seen. However, she did spy a jack in the wall a couple of feet from the nightstand.
She’d bet every cent in her meager savings account that there had been a telephone in the room until quite recently. Apparently, Alex didn’t want her making calls on her own. Well, fine. She’d get up, get dressed, then call Devlin under his watchful eye.
And then, she added ruefully as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and frying bacon wafted into the bedroom, making her stomach growl, she would set aside her pride and eat breakfast..
No sense starving herself. Not when she would be heading back to San Antonio by afternoon. She would need the energy for the long drive home as well as for the inevitable encounter with Brandon that would ensue.
Although Laura had called on her behalf, he would also expect an explanation from her for her delay. She wanted to be able to give him one without tripping herself up. Otherwise she might arouse his suspicion, and that certainly wouldn’t be smart.
Having settled on a course of action, Kari slid off the bed again slowly. She stood still for several seconds, afraid that she would feel light-headed anew, but the dizziness she had experienced earlier seemed to have passed.
The sedative Alex had given her must have finally begun to wear off. Still, she wasn’t quite as steady as she’d like to be, she admitted as she made her way to the closet.
Inside she found the white cotton shirt and khaki pants she’d had on yesterday, along with her jeans, denim skirt, two brightly colored T-shirts, a lemon yellow blouse and the sleeveless pink silk dress she’d worn for Andrew’s christening. Lined up neatly on the floor were her loafers, running shoes and the pink pumps that matched her dress.
The Lady And Alex Payton Page 5