“Not much. Everything okay there?”
Van moved his head up and down instinctively, “Yep. We’re good here.”
“Well, we talked to his mother. She claims she invited him to a fundraiser in California and that he’s supposed to arrive there this evening. She even said she got confirmation that he booked the airline ticket. Otherwise, I’ve got folks looking for him at all his usual hangouts. No sign of him yet. How long you guys gonna stay there?”
“I don’t know yet. I hoped if you could pick him up that would give us a little buffer, and we could find her a new place to live and get her settled. I assume even if you arrest him, he’ll make bail pretty quick.”
“Yeah. The charges so far are pretty minor especially for a dude with the kind of assets he’s got.”
“I appreciate you going above and beyond on this.”
“Well, you can thank him. What he did to her apartment certainly helped add some gravity to the situation.”
He snorted. “Yeah, well I’m not feeling much like thanking him at the moment.”
Rick was quiet a few seconds. “You really like her, huh? Haven’t seen you take this much interest in one for a while.”
The smile that curled up Van’s lips was tender and probably a little smitten. He rubbed his fingers across his lips to hide it, afraid he looked like a drunken sot. “Yeah, Rick. I like her a lot.”
Kay had her head in one hand propped on her elbow as she watched Van sleep. The soft glow of early morning sunshine was creeping into the room through the blinds, just barely touching his cheek with its warmth. Her free hand reached out, fingers flicking across his black hair, curled and messy.
“Good morning,” he murmured, grinning at her as he stretched and groaned. “How long have you been awake?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Just enjoying the view.”
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and propped himself on his elbow, mimicking her position. “I think my view is better.”
“Hmmm.” She traced his jaw, scratching at his stubble before putting her fingers to his lips. He kissed the tips, then pushed his cheek into her hand and closed his eyes.
“If you’re not careful, I’ll do something I’ve never done before.”
Her blonde eyebrows rose in question, one side of her mouth lifting in a grin. “I’m the willful one, remember? I don’t do careful.”
He quickly grabbed both of her wrists and pinned her onto her back, his body half covering hers. Her nightshirt had worked its way up to her waist in the night so she could feel his erection against her leg. The only thing separating his hot skin and hers was his boxers.
“I’m pretty sure you’ve done this before,” she taunted, lifting her lips so that they were close to his.
“No,” he said, dropping his head to rain kisses onto her neck. “I’ve never done this—” He thrust his hips against her. “—in my mother’s house. Ever…”
Goosebumps rose up on her arms when the hair on his face prickled the tender skin of her neck and shoulder. Van released one of her hands so that his would be free to slip her shirt up higher, exposing her breast to his mouth. He suckled her hard, nipping and pulling on the nipple until it rose in a hard, sensitive peak.
Kay groaned, and he covered her lips tenderly with his palm. “Shh … you’ve spent an entire day with my mother. Do you really want to face her after screaming my name in passion?”
Her cheeks heated, and she bit her lip to keep from making any more noise. As his hand roamed lower, to the place where liquid fire was making her ache, it was all Kay could do to turn her head into the pillow to muffle her cries.
~oOo~
Ginny Sue decided they should all go to the movies that evening. Kay was more than a little excited when she heard about the newly remodeled Liberty Theater downtown.
“You’ll love it,” Van’s mother insisted at breakfast. “It’s so quaint and cute. There are even box seats, so we’ll have to get there early so that we can get one.”
Now she sat in the front seat of Van’s truck, his mother in the back seat chattering amicably as they took the scenic route through Tyler.
“And this is called Bergfeld Park. Most of these homes were built in the thirties,” she said, motioning with her hand between Kay and Van. “Lots of oil money, you know.”
“They’re absolutely lovely,” Kay breathed, her mouth agape in wonder. “Oooh, look at that one!”
The home was only a little worn down but had tall columns on the front porch and “gingerbread trim” at all of the angles. The rumble of the truck as it rolled along the brick streets was hypnotic. Part of her felt she might be traveling through time backwards into the early twentieth century.
“See those bushes on the front?” Ginny Sue asked.
“Yes. Roses?” It was a natural assumption. Van’s mother had already explained to her that Tyler was the “Rose Capitol of America.”
“No, those are azalea bushes. By mid to late March, they’ll be blooming in shades of pink and red and orange and white. They’re absolutely gorgeous! This is all part of the Tyler Azalea and Spring Flower trail. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
Kay smiled and cut her eyes to Van. His mother was of the impression that she was going to be permanently in their lives. She wondered what he was thinking, whether he considered that their relationship might become forever. In truth, the idea of not having Van in her life was harder and harder to imagine.
“Oh, hurry, son. We need to head back towards downtown. The movie starts in an hour.”
Van chuckled and slid his hand towards Kay’s, tugging her fingers so that her hand was in his lap, safely ensconced in his. “Yes, ma’am,” he told his mother.
Downtown was every bit as charming as the residential tour. Many of the old stores had been renovated as restaurants and shops. The Liberty Theater stood out with its marquee sign announcing the airing of Key Largo.
“This is one of my favorite old movies. I love Bogart,” she told them.
“Isn’t that funny? I love Lauren Bacall.” He winked at her, and she rolled her eyes. He’d told her the night before when they were drifting off to sleep that when he first met her, he’d been reminded of Bacall. She’d brushed off the compliment at the time, but it flattered her to no end.
They found the theater doors locked when they arrived, and Ginny Sue pouted, stomping her foot. “Well, how do you like that? Oh, look. Someone’s inside.” She tapped on the door. “Yoohoo! Hello!”
The teenager frowned when he heard them, then looked appalled as he straightened his red jacket and opened the door for them. “Sorry, ma’am. I thought the manager had opened it.”
“Oh don’t worry, young man. No harm done. Come along, Kay. The right side is the best.” She took her by the elbow to lead her up the stairs to her favorite box seats. One glance across the theater, and Kay could see the other box seats looked pretty much identical. She grinned and took her seat.
“Van, why don’t you get us some snacks?” Ginny Sue said just as Van’s rear end hit his seat.
He had a slightly frustrated look on his face as he stood. “What would you like, Mom? Candy, popcorn?”
“Oh.” She waved her hand, “Just anything you think I might like. I just have to have something to munch on during a movie.”
Kay got up and took Van’s hand. “I’ll come with you.”
They made their way back down the stairs and to the food bar. Kay went all warm inside when Van affectionately combed the hair back off of her shoulder. “What’s your pleasure, darlin’?”
“Uhm, how about a diet Coke and some M&Ms?” She motioned to the young woman behind the counter. “What will Mom like?”
“Another diet Coke, a Sprite and a bag of peanuts. No popcorn, eh?”
The girl smiled, then pushed her glasses back up on her nose. “No, sir. Not tonight.”
“All right, then a second bag of M&Ms.”
They got back to their box, and she cuddled in close t
o Van just in time for the movie to begin. About the time, Claire Trevor began singing “Moanin’ Low,” Kay leaned in close and kissed his cheek. “Have to go to the ladies room. Be right back.”
No sooner had the door to the bathroom closed behind her than the lights went out. She gasped as the room plunged into darkness. She could only see the faintest glint under the door. She fumbled in her pockets for her cell phone, but it was back at her seat with Van and Ginny Sue.
“Never have it when you need it,” she muttered and put out both hands to feel for the exit. Instead of the wall, her hands came into contact with a person. Before she could even think to scream, her arm was pulled behind her back and the man’s hand was at her neck.
“Remember that episode when he had the guy captive in the basement? He kept talking to him and getting to know him, and he finally decided he was good guy and he was gonna let him go. Remember?”
“Thomas, wh-what are you doing here?”
Something cold and sharp was at her throat, and her legs began to go weak. He rubbed his cheek against hers, then licked her face.
“Do you remember it, Kay? You know the one. At the end, he realized the guy was just gonna try to kill him and so he had to do it first. He had to protect himself. Survival of the fittest.”
Her mind was racing with sporadic thoughts of how to get away. She had no idea what he was talking about, but when he pushed the knife closer to her neck and demanded her to remember, she nodded and murmured, “Yes. Yes, I remember that, Thomas.”
“You shouldn’t have done this to me, Kay. You shouldn’t have made me love you and then gone behind my back with that prick. And don’t worry. I’m gonna take care of him, too.”
“How did you find me?”
“You should never accept gifts from men you’re going to fuck over. That phone I gave you. I’ve been tracking you with it. I knew exactly when you started seeing him by your texts. You bitch…”
He started dragging her back further from the door. She prayed someone would come in. She prayed Van would wonder where she was. She prayed Thomas would just realize this was crazy and put the knife down and let her go.
“I tell you what,” he whispered, mouth reaching for her lips. She wanted to pull away, but the blade was so close she was afraid any movement would make him slip. “Kiss me, Kay. Give me a real kiss, like you mean it, and I’ll do it quick. I mean, I can’t let you go now. You can’t ever be trusted, but it doesn’t have to be painful. Just kiss me.”
Her entire body was trembling now, and she could smell the liquor on his breath as he nipped and licked at her, trying to get her mouth to open for his. She swallowed, gritted her teeth and then opened her lips. As his tongue plunged hard and nasty, it was all she could do not to gag. He somehow worked her into a corner, turning her to face him so that he could kiss her more fully.
When she felt his arm soften a little, she made her move, ramming her knee into his groin and shoving to push him away. Thomas dropped to his knees, groaning. Kay scrambled for the door but tripped over him. She landed hard, her cheek slamming into the tile floor.
Her face hit so hard that stars filled her eyes, and her stomach went woozy, but she managed to put her hands down and push herself up. Her palm had barely touched the door when Thomas slapped his hand over her mouth and pulled her back into the bathroom again so hard that her feet went out from under her.
Van shifted in his seat and glanced at the open curtain to their box seat, wondering what was taking Kay so long. He finished off his bag of peanuts, took a drink from his soda and then got up to go check on her. The ladies room was on the other side of the theater from the snack bar, and he found the foyer empty. Concern rippled along his spine.
Just as he was raising his hand to tap on the bathroom door he heard a scuffle within and what sounded like a woman’s whimper. Concern turned immediately to alarm, and he swung the door wide to go inside. The room was dark and just as his hand reached for the switch he heard Kay’s shaky voice.
“Help me!”
When light flooded the room he saw her pinned against the far wall, Thomas struggling to hold her hands as she fought to get away from him. The blood on her cheek was what sent Van into a rage. He growled low as he leaped for them, grabbing the guy at his collar and yanking him away from Kay.
Once free, she staggered on unsteady feet to skirt the two of them. Van gave her a once-over to be sure she was really okay, then he released all restraint and began to pound on the guy with both fits. Thomas was crying now, flinching and using his hands to protect himself just like the coward Van knew he really was.
Van wasn’t sure how far he might have taken things if someone hadn’t pulled him off. He punched air a few times as two men dragged him back, then he sagged in surrender when he saw several uniformed policemen grab Thomas and slap cuffs on him.
“Kay!” He looked around, wrestling free of the hands holding him. “Where’s Kay?”
“She’s fine, dude. She’s out here, and they’re putting some ice on her while we wait for the paramedics.”
He hurried into the foyer, his eyes scanning the crowd for her. She was seated on a bench, doing her best to slap away the hands trying to treat her injury. His mother was beside her, and from what he could tell, Ginny Sue looked to be holding her down with all of her energy.
“I told you, my son can take care of himself. Stop trying to get up, or I’ll slap you on your other cheek.”
“But Ginny Sue, he had a knife. Please let me check … Van!”
He watched Kay’s beautiful blue eyes light up with relief when she saw him, then her expression cracked and tears filled her eyes. He approached them, and when his mom let her go, Kay jumped up from her seat and fell into his arms.
The paramedics arrived, and much to her chagrin, decided Kay needed to go to the hospital for stitches.
“I’m not riding in the ambulance. Van can take me there just as well as they can.”
After some arguing, he finally decided she wasn’t going to give in. If he was ever going to get her to the hospital for treatment, he’d have to do it himself. So with a rag full of ice to her cheek, he helped her into the front seat, fastened her seat belt and did his best not to speed during the short trip to the emergency room.
“Rawley residence.” A woman with an unusual accent said when he dialed the number he found in Kay’s cell phone.
The doctors had taken her back for x-rays and scans, just to be sure the blow to her cheek hadn’t fractured her orbital bone. Even though she hadn’t asked, he felt obligated to let her family know what had happened.
He wondered briefly if it would be best to tell her father directly or someone else. “Yes, is Jeremy there?”
“May I say who is calling, sir?”
“I’m a friend of Kay’s. My name is Audrick Van Buren.”
While he waited, Van saw his mother approached him from down the hallway. She handed him a cup of coffee, then smiled and sat down to wait. She’d always been a trooper under pressure, and this evening had been no different. As he watched her flip through a magazine, he realized how incredibly lucky he was.
“This is Jeremy.”
“Uhm, yes, my name’s Audrick Van Buren.”
He heard some movement on the other end of the phone and a child’s giggle. “Jareth, I told you to go into the game room. I’ll be back in a few moments.” After a pause, Jeremy spoke into the phone again. “I’m sorry, Mr. Van Buren. I know your name. Kay works for you, right?”
“Yes, she works for me. No, actually, it’s more than that. We’re sort of seeing each other…”
Alarm sounded in the other man’s voice, “Is something wrong? Is Kay all right?”
“She’s going to be okay, but she’s been hurt, and I thought you all should know what’s happened.”
It took him a while to finish his story. Jeremy was patient and didn’t interrupt too much. He imagined that was part of the man’s upbringing. According to Kay, her brother had been g
roomed to take over the earldom. He had an air of nobility about him even through the telephone.
“May I talk to her?” he finally asked, his voice soft.
“Of course. I’m just waiting for them to bring her back in.” No sooner had he said the words than Kay came down the hallway in a wheelchair. Her face was bandaged up, but she smiled at him as she approached.
“You two can stop worrying. No broken bones and just fifteen stitches. I’ll be good as new in no time.”
Van stood and slowly walked over to her. When he bent down and kissed her forehead, he knew that he could have lingered that way with his skin to hers for hours. Touching her warmth meant that she would truly be all right. His stomach flip-flopped a little when she reached a hand to cup his cheek.
When he withdrew she had a tender grin on her face. He handed her his cell phone and she answered it with a confused, “Hello?”
Her expression broke and she cried when she heard the voice on the other line. She dropped her forehead into her hand as she talked to her brother, assuring him she was all right. Van looked over at his mom who was watching them. When her eyes met his she winked, smiled and then mouthed, “I love you, son.”
Kay leaned her body against the door frame and then tilted her head to the side and watched in awe. Larra Rawley giggled, smacking her husband’s hand away as a blush crept up her cheeks. She was doing her best to button James’s shirt, but the Earl of Arrington kept nuzzling his face into her chest.
This was a side of her parents that was completely foreign to Kay. At least it had been until several months ago.
When her father left them in Durma so that she could finish her Season, Kay had pretty much convinced herself that her parents would spend the rest of their lives apart. Divorce wasn’t normally done in their family, and Larra seemed to enjoy the old country enough that she might as well have stayed there.
And then the call came from Jeremy telling them that James Rawley had been in an accident and might not survive. They had taken the first plane back to the States and found Kay’s father in critical condition after being thrown from his horse. Now, several surgeries later, her father was on the road to recovery, and her mother had miraculously blossomed into her role of nursemaid.
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