Scattered Thoughts (Betrayed by Love Book 1)

by Kelley, HD

  Holding up the file folder in my hand, I moved past Jonathan in the direction of my office. “I have to get this report finished before I fly out.” Redirection deployed.

  Preston wouldn’t be here for another ten minutes so I opened my email to do a quick check before leaving. There were several emails from clients extending their well wishes, but nothing from Alec. He couldn’t still be mad about me driving. Could he?

  My phone rang and I answered it quickly. “Izzy James.”

  “Bella, hey, I’ve been trying to get ahold of you.”

  You have caller ID ya know, my inner voice chimed in. I shook her off. Preston would be here any minute so I didn’t have a lot of time. “Hey, Val. Sorry I haven’t called. I’ve been traveling a lot lately.”

  “I miss you, Izzy. I want to see you.”

  I wanted to see her too. I missed my friend. There was so much for us to catch up on, especially now that Spencer told the kids about the divorce. “We’re doing a photo shoot at the Sandestin tomorrow night for prom, you should come.”

  There was a knock on my door but it opened before I even had time to answer. “I just heard about your arm. Are you okay?” Shit. Tim. Now I’d never get out of here on time. I held up a finger indicating I’d need a minute.

  “Val, I’m so sorry but I’m going to have to call you back.”

  She sighed loudly. “Fine! But you better call me back this time.”

  “The Sandestin Beach Resort. Tomorrow,” I said before I disconnected the call and turned my attention to Tim. “Hey, Tim, what’s up?”

  “Jonathan told me about your arm. What happened?”

  “It was just a bad dream.” I shook my head slowly. “I hit it on the bedside table or something.”

  “Oh Izzy, only you could break an arm in your sleep,” Tim laughed, and I laughed too. He believed me, thank the Lord for that.

  There was another knock. Damn it. I just wanted to hide out in here alone until Preston got back and my office was turning into Grand Central Station. “Excuse me, Izzy, there’s a delivery for you.” Jonathan stood in the doorway holding a vase of tulips, another one of my favorites. My heart started to race as I thought back to the lilies, still unsure who sent them.

  Tim stood to leave. “I’m glad you’re okay, Izzy. Call me Monday to let me know how it went with Payne Enterprises.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Jonathan set the vase on my desk and handed me the card. I opened it quickly. I hope these make you smile. IDCF, it read.

  “Who are they from?”

  “IDCF, IDCF,” I said over and over again in my mind.

  “Earth to Izzy,” Jonathan said bringing me back to the here and now. “Who are they from?”

  A smile crossed my face as I remembered Alec’s email from yesterday. Incredibly Demanding Control Freak.

  “Oh, sorry, they’re from a client.”

  “The same client who sent those gorgeous lilies?” Thankfully Jonathan’s phone rang before I had to answer his question and he rushed out to grab it, leaving me to read the card again. I hope these make you smile. IDCF. I sat back in my chair, an ear-to-ear smile on my face.

  “Your ride’s here,” Jonathan called from his desk.

  “Thanks.” Sighing with relief, I packed up and headed out the door, the smile still on my face.

  Butterflies filled my stomach as we got closer to the airport. While I was excited to see Alec I was nervous at the same time. I hadn’t heard from him since his angry email yesterday afternoon, with the exception of the flowers, and I hoped he wasn’t still mad.

  Preston collected my bags then escorted me up the steps to the waiting jet. “Ms. James, Preston,” Alec said coolly when we boarded.

  Preston nodded then stowed my bags.

  “Hi,” I said enthusiastically but Alec didn’t say anything more. Shit, he was still mad but I pretended not to notice. “Thank you for the flowers. Tulips are another one of my favorites.” I bit my lip. “But I’m sure you already knew that, IDCF and all.”

  Alec’s expression softened. He pulled me onto his lap and kissed me on the lips. I kissed him back, all the excitement to see him exploding in that one kiss that made my sex tingle. I wanted to rip his clothes off and devour him right there.

  He pulled back, No! my inner voice shouted.

  “Sit,” he said, pointing to the seat next to him. Disappointed, I slid over and buckled my seatbelt. Alec flashed his wicked grin and I knew he wanted me too.

  Pointing to my cast, Alec said, “Pink, huh?”

  “Yep,” I laughed, still recovering from that kiss.

  • • • • •

  “Are we in Tampa?” I asked as Alec led me down the jet stairway, confused by why we weren’t in New York.

  “Yes. There was another break-in.” He held the car door open so I could get in then slid in next to me. I couldn’t help but notice he’d said another break-in, yet this was the first time he’d mentioned anything about it.

  “Another one? Where?”

  “Payne Enterprises. This is the second time they’ve gotten past security.”

  “What did they take?”

  He pulled his hand through his hair. “Information.”

  “What kind of information?”

  Alec shook his head. “Okay, that’s enough questions.”

  “But—”

  “No buts about it. This isn’t your problem to solve, Isabella.” Alec kissed my hand softly. “I don’t want you at the office until we figure out how that son-of-a-bitch got in.” He pulled both hands through his hair this time. “You’re used to working from home so plan on doing that for now.”

  Trying to hide my disappointment, I looked away. Spending time with Alec was the best part about this new job.

  “Don’t pout, Isabella. You know how crazy that makes me.” He leaned over and bit my lip before kissing me, neither of which made the new arrangement any easier to take.

  We ate lunch at the Élevage in the newly opened Epicurean Hotel. “You’ll stay here tonight,” Alec said, rubbing his forehead. “I have to go back to New York but Frank will be here to take you anywhere you want to go.”

  “Who’s Frank?”

  “He’ll be your driver until your ribs heal.”

  Wait, did he say until my ribs heal? “Alec I told you, I don’t need a driver.”

  His jaw tightened and he pulled both hands through his hair. “We’re not discussing this again, Isabella.” I decided to let it go, for now anyway. The break-in had him pretty shaken and I didn’t want to be the one who pushed him over the edge.

  Alec stood to leave and I followed. “I have to go now, baby.”

  “Thank you for lunch.”

  “Anything for you, Isabella,” he whispered in my ear. “I’ll see you soon.” Pulling me into his arms he kissed me one final time before heading out of the hotel, leaving me standing in the lobby, disappointed that another night alone with him had been foiled.

  The bellman appeared out of nowhere and carried my luggage to my room. I thought about flying back to Pensacola but Alec had already paid for the room, and it was a great hotel. Not to mention Spencer was supposed to be home.

  Flowers filled the room as I walked inside the spacious suite. Everywhere I looked; vase after vase, tulips, lilies, orchids, all my favorite flowers in all my favorite colors. When I spotted the card with my name on it, I couldn’t wait to read it. I tipped the bellman and as soon as he disappeared I opened the cared. Do I make you smile? IDCF, the card read. And it did.

  I pulled a bottle of water from the mini bar and walked out onto the balcony to get a closer look at the view of the Hillsborough Bay. Thoughts of Alec occupied my mind, the conference room where we’d first met, dinner at Oishi, sunset in Marsh Harbour, snorkeling in Turtle Cay, the night we spent together at his condo, the break-ins that were keeping us apart.

  My phone rang and I ran inside to answer it, hoping it was Alec but when I glanced at the caller ID my heart sank.

&
nbsp; It wasn’t Alec but I answered the call anyway, happy at least for the distraction. “Hey, Val.”

  “I thought you were going to call me back,” she snapped.

  “I planned on calling you after my meeting. So are you coming this weekend?” I asked hoping to redirect the conversation.

  “Oh, Bella, I can’t this weekend. But I do want to see you.”

  “You’re still coming for graduation though, right?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” Valerie said. “Will you be able to do a girl’s weekend then?”

  “I’ll have family in town but I’m sure we can find some time to catch up. What’s going on with you anyway?” Valerie never called just to say hi, there was always another reason.

  “What’s your problem, Izzy? Can’t I just call to tell you I miss you?”

  That certainly would be a first but anything was possible. “I just meant what’s new. We haven’t talked in so long.”

  “And whose fault is that?” Valerie could be so temperamental when she didn’t get her way, like when Spencer proposed without telling her about it first. She freaked out that day and drove her car right through his garage door. Usually I let her tantrums roll off my back but I just wasn’t in the mood for any of that right now. I’d planned on spending the night with Alec, naked, not getting reprimanded for being busy. I seriously started to rethink answering her call. “Val, that’s my boss calling. I need to go.”

  “Again… Geez, Izzy, I remember when you’d make time for your best friend.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll take a few days off after graduation and we’ll hang out, just the two of us.”

  “What about Spencer?” Shit. I still hadn’t told her about the divorce but I wasn’t about to get into that on the phone, not with her pissy attitude that was for sure. I couldn’t bear the wrath of Val for keeping that news from her.

  “Just us, no men allowed. Call me when you book your flight. I’ve gotta go.”

  “Fine,” she snapped before slamming the phone down in my ear. I felt bad for lying to her but I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to deal with her attitude. She was clearly upset about something but she would’ve made me drag it out of her. It was the attention she really wanted. It wouldn’t matter that my life was spinning out of control. I powered off my phone, all hopes of a relaxing evening far out of reach.

  The hotel was less than a mile from the scenic Bayshore Boulevard and a walk sounded pretty good after that call. Dr. Choi suggested I wait a couple weeks before resuming my normal workout routine but luckily walking was on the recommended activities list. I changed into my running shoes and headed down to the lobby.

  A tall man in a black suit and tie that looked remarkably similar to the one Preston wore approached me as soon as I got off the elevator. “Ms. James?” he asked.

  “Yes. I’m Izzy James. Who are you?”

  “I’m Frank, ma’am. I’m your new driver.”

  Great, just what I needed right now. “It’s nice to meet you, Frank.”

  He handed me a business card. “This is my cell phone number. I’m available any time day or night.”

  “Thanks.” I put the card in my pocket. “I’m just going for a walk tonight but I’ll call you in the morning when I’m ready to go.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  I held up my hand. “No thanks. I’d like to be alone.”

  “Mr. Payne insisted I escort you if you left the hotel, ma’am.”

  I rolled my eyes. I was starting to get really annoyed with this overprotective nonsense. I’d agreed to let Frank drive me, not babysit me. “Well, what Mr. Payne doesn’t know won’t kill him, Frank.” I walked past him through the automatic doors. When Frank followed me outside I knew that was one battle I wasn’t going to win.

  Storming back inside the hotel, I headed straight to the bar where I ordered a bottle of wine to take to my room where I could sit on the balcony and watch the sunset, by myself!

  • • • • •

  The flight back to Pensacola seemed longer somehow. Probably because my head had been pounding since I woke up and the noisy plane was only making it worse. Alec called before I left the hotel but I’d been in the shower and missed his call. His message said he’d be tied up until after lunch. I’d been looking forward to hearing from him but all I could do now was wait.

  Yesterday I left my car in the parking garage at my office and I planned to drive it home. I didn’t like the idea of being dependent on someone else. Alec wasn’t going to be thrilled about me driving but it was my car I didn’t like the idea of leaving it at the office all weekend. Besides, my ribs felt fine, as long as I didn’t run, or lift, or twist too fast. “I need to go to my office, Frank,” I said when he pulled away from the airport.

  “Sure thing, Ms. James,” he answered, without question.

  I offered him the address to my office but he already had it. I should’ve known. He probably had the address to my house already too.

  “Pull the car in that open space near the elevator.”

  “That’s a loading zone, Ms. James.”

  “You’re just dropping me off. You can move the car into a space after I get out.”

  He did as I asked. “Call me when you’re ready to go.”

  “Okay.” I looked out the window, unable to look him in the face knowing that what I was about to do would likely get him in hot water with his boss.

  Frank moved the car in search of an open parking space and as soon as he was out of sight I made a mad dash to my car and took off toward home. In no time I merged onto the highway and mashed down on the accelerator.

  On the drive home I called Sara to find out if Spencer was in town. I was relieved to hear he’d left again and wouldn’t be back until the following night. I planned to move to a hotel in the morning but I was thankful to be in my own house for the night. All I wanted to do was crawl into bed, my own bed, and sleep this off.

  Spencer and I would need to work out a schedule for staying at the house the next couple of months but I was still too mad to talk to him. He cheated on me and I was the one taking all the blame, and this blaring pink cast served as a constant reminder of the nightmares I’d been having as a result, the nightmares that resulted in two cracked ribs and a fractured forearm.

  Drew and Anna were in the kitchen when I got home. Drew’s mouth dropped open when he saw the hot pink cast I was sporting. “Mom! What happened?”

  Closing my eyes, I said a silent prayer he’d believe me. “I had a bad dream and must’ve bumped it on the nightstand or something.” Even though I knew that couldn’t be true it was the only explanation I could offer because there was no way I was going to suggest that someone actually did this.

  Anna pulled me into a tight hug. I winced as she squeezed my arm but didn’t say anything. I was just happy she wasn’t still mad at me anymore. “Careful, Anna,” Drew admonished.

  “It’s not a big deal guys. I just have to wear this hideous thing on my arm for a few weeks.” I held the cast up. Distraction deployed.

  Drew kissed me on the cheek. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “Me too,” Anna said, “but hot pink?” She threw her arms in the air making us all laugh, the way we used to laugh before all this craziness started.

  “What time are you leaving for the photo shoot?” I asked, taking the spotlight off of me.

  “The limo isn’t coming until four o’clock. I wanted to leave earlier so I could get ready at the hotel, but Drew won’t drive me.”

  “You really need to get your license, Anna. What are you going to do when you leave for college and I’m not around?”

  “Leave me alone, Drew. You know I don’t like to drive.”

  “Too bad because I’m not taking you.”

  Anna folded her arms across her chest, her bottom lip protruding. “Please, Drew.”

  “I’ll take you, Sweetie.” Drew rolled his eyes but I didn’t care. Anna was talking to me again and that’s what really matt
ered.

  She threw her arms around me again. “Thank you!” she screamed in my ear. “I’m gonna take a shower. Let’s leave at noon, okay?” I nodded my agreement and she ran off upstairs.

  “You know you’re only enabling her.”

  “Maybe,” I laughed, and Drew laughed too.

  “I guess I better get ready, too. I still have to pick up Chelsea’s corsage.” He kissed me on the cheek and disappeared up the stairs.

  It was only ten o’clock so I headed upstairs to lie down for a while, hoping to get rid of this awful headache. Every step I took was just another reminder of how much I drank last night. Sprawling out across my king sized bed, I closed my eyes. Thoughts of Alec raced through my mind. His email from a couple days ago, “PRESTON WILL DRIVE YOU,” he’d written. He was so controlling, too controlling. Mr. Control Freak, IDCF. The flowers, all the flowers, “Do I make you smile?”

  And he does.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Mom, wake up, we’re gonna be late.”

  The sun shone brightly through the window when I opened my eyes. “What time is it?”

  “It’s noon already. Get up!”

  Twelve o’clock. Shit. I sat up in bed, my head still throbbing. “I’m up, Anna. I’m up.”

  “Good, now hurry.” She stormed out of my room.

  I swallowed two Advil then moved slowly out of bed and into the bathroom to wash my face, hoping the cool water might help rid my headache.

  Despite my efforts to hurry it was almost twelve thirty by the time I made into the kitchen where Anna was waiting. She handed me a travel mug. “Here, drink this. It’s the ultimate hangover cure,” she said. She tugged at the elbow of my good arm and I followed her to the car, silently wondering what was in the cup, and more importantly, how she knew it cured hangovers.

  It was a quick drive to the hotel. Chris was so excited to see me, despite me transferring his account to Kari, that he upgraded Anna and her friends to a suite, free of charge. His easy going nature was one of the things I’d really enjoyed about working with him.

  In my haste to get Anna to the hotel on time I’d left without my purse. Fortunately there was plenty of time before the shoot to drive home and get it. If only I could get rid of my screaming headache. Reluctantly I took a long drink from the concoction Anna gave me. I swallowed quickly, not exactly sure what was in the cup. It tasted surprisingly familiar. I took another drink. “Orange juice,” I laughed out loud then drained the mug.