Confer, Lorelei - Deadly Revenge (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Lorelei Confer

  “Wow, children! You must be so happy. Who did you marry again?” Tory asked, sincerely glad to finally recognize her high school classmate.

  Angie looked behind Tory for any other customers in need of service and seeing none came back to Tory. “You remember Jerry Young, right?”

  Tory nodded.

  “We married right after graduation.” Angie lowered her voice. “Jerry works construction for your ex-fiancé, Matt Wilson. When there’s any work, of course.”

  “Matt’s married and owns a construction company? It’s hard to imagine.” Tory felt a red flush rising on her chest and face and hoped Angie couldn’t see the surprise on her face.

  “You just saw his wife, or soon to be ex-wife, rumor has it anyway. She just left the bank with her panties in a wad. I heard they’re going through a bad time,” Angie said, shaking her head. “I always feel so bad for the children, even though they only have one little girl.”

  “How old is their daughter?” Tory asked, her heart thumping loudly in her ears.

  “She’s about two or three years old and the cutest little thing you ever did see,” Angie answered as she handed Tory back her license.

  Tory ran her fingers through her hair, stood up straighter, and pulled her light jacket down in the back. Anything to busy her hands and mind to keep from panicking. Just to talk about Matt made her uneasy, her palms sweaty. Finding out he had a woman pregnant before he would have married her took her breath away. Her throat constricted, and sweat beaded down her spine.

  “He owns Wilson Construction, and he did real well for himself moneywise until he got some competition. When his parents passed away, they gave him all their land, and he started building houses and developed all the area he could get his hands on. Now he’s hurting to keep business. Yes, he made a ton of money, but between his women, fast cars, electronic toys, and his wife’s elaborate lifestyle they ran out of money. Now he and Braedden Properties, who’s the other developer and his main competition, have a war going on between them. And Matt’s really hurting for money in a bad way.”

  Tory rubbed her arms up and down with her hands as if she had a chill. She ran her hand across the bandage on her forehead, then ran both hands through her short hair, checked her nails. She looked behind her. She saw no one although she felt as if someone was watching her. No one. No one around to get her out of this jam she found herself in.

  Angie surprised her by asking, “But what about you, Tory, married and kids?”

  Startled by her question, Tory stuttered, “I’m single.”

  “Oh, divorced? I’m so sorry.” Angie shook her head.

  “I never married,” Tory clarified. Her palms were really sweating now. Sweat trickled down her back. Beads of perspiration appeared on her upper lip and forehead.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I just assumed someone as attractive as you would have settled down by now.” Angie studied the pen she held in her hands.

  “What about you, Angie? How many kids do you and Jerry have?”

  “Three. Two boys and a girl,” Angie said as Tory handed her a check to open the account.

  Tory hung her head. She opened and closed her wallet, put her checkbook away. She did anything she could think of to keep her hands busy and her eyes down, so she wouldn’t have to face Angie, afraid she would read the anguish on her face.

  Tory signed the signature card Angie passed to her and handed it back.

  “What happened to your head?”

  “I had a little fender bender on my way into town.”

  “Really?” Angie exclaimed as she looked out the window at the retreating black car of Paige Wilson.

  “Well, your account is completely set up. Have you moved back home permanently?”

  “I’m not sure how long I’ll be here. I need to take care of some matters with my mother and see how things go.” Tory was getting a little tired of all the questions. Anxious to leave, she picked up her purse.

  “Maybe we can get together for a girls’ night out. As you can imagine, I need one every now and then for sure, just to get away from the kids.” Angie patted Tory’s arm and winked at her.

  “Sure, that would be great. Give me a call.” She waved good-bye.

  As she turned she ran into what felt like a brick wall dressed in a light-weight dark turtleneck and blue jeans that fit his physique perfectly. When she glanced up, she was relieved to see Dave’s smiling face. He was so handsome. She jumped back quickly. Her heart started beating out of control, her breath quick and fast. Her eyes met his and she was mesmerized, unable to speak. Emotions, fulfilling her every sexual fantasy, spread throughout her body. Her nipples became hard and protruded through her light shirt. She pulled her jacket across her chest.

  “Well, hi there, beautiful. How’s your head?”

  “I’m feeling much better, just a slight headache, thanks for asking. I see we both had the same idea this morning.” Tory played with the handle of her purse, casually looking back at Angie.

  “I guess so. But while we’re here let’s go get a cup of coffee somewhere and work out the rental car pick up arrangements?” Dave smoothed the collar of his jacket down around his neck.

  “It sounds like a great idea, but I have some other errands to run.” She fiddled with her purse, moving it from one shoulder to another.

  “It won’t take long, I promise.” He looked at his watch.

  “Okay, where did you have in mind to go for coffee?”

  “Oh, Tory,” Angie, the bank teller, interjected, “sorry for eavesdropping, but Lana’s Coffee House two doors down brews a good cup of coffee.”

  Dave and Tory both looked at Angie and then at each other.

  “Thank you, Angie.” Tory waved to her as they left the bank.

  “Let’s meet in an hour at Lana’s. That should give us both enough time to take care of business,” Dave said as they walked to her car, his hand on the middle of her back.

  “Sure, sounds perfect.”

  Chapter 6

  Dave was already at the coffee shop when Tory arrived, and he waved her to her seat. The shop was a no-frills place that reminded Dave of the diners of the fifties. “Hi, once again,” Dave said as he helped her off with her jacket and hung it up on the hook at the end of the booth beside his.

  “Thank you, Dave. I need coffee.” Tory sat in the booth across from Dave.

  “I already ordered it. Did you hear anything about your car?”

  “No, I’m using my mom’s car now. I need to call the dealership and get all that information.” She waited for the waitress to set down two steaming cups of java.

  He took a sip of his coffee, raised the cup, and said, “Not too bad, actually, in my opinion. And I’ve had some really bad coffee in the past, too.”

  “With everything happening yesterday, Dave, I don’t remember much about you.” Except how handsome you are and how good you smell. “Where did you say you were from?”

  “I’m from a small town outside Suffolk, Virginia called Stoney Creek. What about you?”

  “Right here, in Hickoryville, born and raised. Left for college and never came back except, well, let’s just say I never came back, until now anyway and, it’s only temporary.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “What do you do for a living?”

  “I come from a long line of Law Enforcement Officers. I followed in my dad’s footsteps and was a cop on the Suffolk Force for a number of years. Then I was promoted to a detective and soon after that I was assigned to the human trafficking task force. I’m taking a break right now and visiting my parents here in Hickoryville. It’s been a rough couple of years for me, and I needed a change of scene.”

  “Wow, I’m impressed. Not sure what that is or what you do specifically, but it sounds important.”

  “What about you, Victoria?”

  “Please call me Tory, everyone else does.”

  “Okay, Tory. What do you do, and where do you do it?”

  “I’m a Property Manage
r for a number of condo complexes in Myrtle Beach. Just here for a visit with my family.”

  “Doesn’t your husband worry about you traveling alone?”

  “I don’t have a husband, never have had one. I take care of myself just fine.” Becoming defensive, she balled her fists, and her hair bristled on the back of her neck.

  “Ouch, I’m sorry, didn’t mean to touch a hot button. You’re lucky, marriage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I was married once, went through a messy, almost unending divorce settlement, and finally ended up losing my shirt anyway. Good thing we never had any kids. They’d be in therapy for life.” He chuckled.

  It’s a good thing Matt and I never got married or had children. We’d all be in therapy for life.

  Tory remembered thinking about what their children would look like. One boy that looked like him and one girl that looked like her—the four of them would have such a happy, perfect life. They would live in a big house with a white picket fence and a dog running around the yard. Have garden parties and sleep together after a hot, sexy romp every night for the rest of their lives.

  Dave asked, “Why hasn’t someone like you ever married?”

  “What?” Tory, stunned back to reality, stared into his dark blue eyes. She thought about looking in those eyes while having sex and watching them change colors as his passion heightened. Her nipples hardened and she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her heart lurched in her chest and pounded in her ears. Her breathing quickened, making her out of breath.

  “Never married?” he asked quietly.

  “I, I never found the right man I guess,” she answered, as she played with a ring on her right hand.

  She settled her hands in her lap to keep them still.

  “I’d think an attractive, sensuous woman like you would be fighting off men.”

  “My heart was broken about two years ago. I delved into my work and it became my life. What about you? Why aren’t you married?”

  “I was married for a couple of years. It didn’t last long, didn’t work out, and as I said we divorced,” he said, taking a slurp of his coffee.

  “Why didn’t it work out?” Tory asked as she fidgeted in her seat, and twisted her napkin in her nervous hands.

  “Well, from the very beginning she knew my job came first. I had to leave sometimes within minutes of a phone call. It was like I went to bed with Dr. Jekyll and woke up with Mr. Hyde. She wasn’t the right person for me, and we drifted apart.

  “And here’s the kicker. She wanted me to give my house to her. The very house my brother and I grew up in.” He spread his fingers over his chest. “My parents gave it to me when they moved to Hickoryville shortly after my brother Dan died in Iraq. To make a long, messy divorce story short, I finally got to keep the house, but only if I took on all her debt too. So for a few years I lived on a tight budget, went without the newest car, drank a few less beers with the guys.” He sat back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest.

  “I agree with you entirely. I would only marry someone I could trust explicitly.” She managed to form the words and get them out, hating to be reminded of Matt’s infidelities. She sat still.

  “Trust is number one in my book, too,” Dave said, putting his hands on the table and moving closer to her for a more intimate conversation. “Sounds like you learned about trust the hard way.” He folded his napkin and his hands together in front of him on the table.

  She sighed deeply, tried to relax, and took a sip of her coffee. “I suppose I’m lucky. I found out my fiancé was a cheater the night before we were supposed to get married.”

  “Ouch,” Dave said as he looked at his watch and sighed. “I’ve got to be somewhere shortly.” He jotted numbers on a small slip of paper. “If you need anything, anything at all, just call me either on my cell or at my parents’ house. Okay?” He handed her the paper.

  “And I’m staying at my mother’s, so let me give you my number as well.” She scribbled two phone numbers on her napkin. “If you need any directions, call me.” She laughed as she slid a piece of paper across the table to him.

  “How about dinner tomorrow night, Tory? Do you have any plans?”

  “Not sure,” she said, drinking the last of the coffee and putting the empty cup down on the table. “I haven’t spent much time with my mother or my sister, and I’m sure they have some things planned for us to do, but I’m not sure of when or what. But I’ll let you know.” He stood to leave. “And, Dave, thanks again for your help yesterday. I appreciate it more than you know.”

  * * * *

  With a smile and a wave he left her sitting in the booth at Lana’s Coffee House alone with time to think. What was it about him she found so appealing? He certainly brought out the best in her because she had the feeling she’d do anything for him. Also, he’s so attractive, so handsome. His sparkling blue eyes seemed to bore right through her, dark hair long enough to touch his shirt collar, and his strong jaw all gave her a sense of safety, especially if she were on his side of the law. If on the wrong side of the law, she felt he would be able to get any answer out of anyone. Having just met him, she was already imagining a long-term relationship with him. Definitely trouble.

  The hair on the back of her neck bristled and she rubbed it with her hand. She thought she felt someone watching her but didn’t recognize any of the other patrons in the shop nor did any one person draw her attention. She quickly gathered up her purse and jacket and left. That was weird!

  Chapter 7

  The following morning Tory called the dealership about the repair on her car and the possibility of getting a rental. They estimated her car would be fixed in about two weeks or so. Most of the passenger side needed either heavy bodywork or replacement. There went the deductible.

  “I’ll take you to Hickory tomorrow to pick up your loaner,” Sue said eagerly. “I’m looking forward to spending girl time, sister to sister.” Sue winked at Tory.

  Tory called Dave to tell him about the loaner car.

  “Too bad,” he said. “There goes my excuse for seeing you today.” He chuckled.

  “How about another time?” she asked him.

  “Sure, I’ll call you in a day or two, and we can set something up. Bye for now.”

  “Bye.”

  After enjoying her mother’s homemade chicken salad sandwiches for lunch, Tory called Trevor Braedden of Braedden Properties to check on the status of her town house rental. Finding out it was finished and ready to move into, the three excited women decided to go get the key so Tory could start to move in her things a little at a time.

  They drove to Braedden Properties and entered a small, quite simple white building with minimal curb appeal. Tory gathered from the outside of the building Mr. Braedden put his money into landscaping at his rental properties and not necessarily around his office. Sue and Anne sat down in two of three black leather and chrome chairs while Tory perused the property listings tacked on the walls.

  A tall, broad-shouldered, handsome man with dark hair and dark blue eyes entered the building.

  “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Mr. Braedden. I’m Sue Mitchell and this is my mother, Anne Richards, and my sister, Tory Richards.” Sue stood and offered her hand to him.

  “Hello,” he shook Sue’s hand. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m Dave Miller.” His gaze settled on Tory. She stood tall for her short stature, a sincere smile on her face.

  Tory felt a jolt shoot through her body as their eyes met and he smiled, reached his hand out to shake her offered one.

  “Are you the man who rescued Tory after her accident?” Anne piped up, offering her hand as well.

  “I suppose I am.” Dave turned his attention to Tory. “How are you?”

  Tory only had time to nod her head at Dave’s question of her physical welfare before her mother interjected herself into the conversation.

  “Dave Miller, I’ve heard that name before. Why, you must be Don and Darlene’s boy. Now I see the resemblance. Y
our parents have been friends of mine since they first moved here years ago. I’m sure they’re just thrilled you’re finally here for a visit and so happy you’ll be staying for a little while. They’re very proud of you and all the good work you’ve done.”

  Dave heard what the older woman said but couldn’t take his eyes away from Tory’s face nor did he release her hand until the door opened again.

  “Hello, everyone. I’m Trevor Braedden. Sorry for sneaking in late. My wife Amber usually comes to work with me, but she’s having a difficult pregnancy and isn’t feeling well today.”

  “My daughter Tory has experience with rental property management. That’s the kind of work she did in South Carolina after college. Maybe she could help out part-time till your wife is back on her feet?” Anne looked back and forth between Trevor and Tory.

  Tory’s eyes widened with surprise and bewilderment. She ran her hand through her short hair and stood up tall. She couldn’t believe what just came out of her mother’s mouth. Always generally friendly to everyone she met, she didn’t expect her mother to open up this much and especially to offer Tory’s services.

  “Well, I sure could use you, Tory, for a couple days a week for a few months anyway, if you’re interested. What do you think?”

  Tory looked back and forth between her mother and Trevor, trying to think fast and find a way to get out of saying yes. She was on vacation after all. She had to remember this was a small town, not what she was accustomed to with thorough interviews and background checks before hiring even kitchen personnel. She couldn’t think of any reason to say no.

  “We can give it a try, but on the condition it would be part-time and short-term. I need to return to South Carolina and my job in the fall. And I’m used to South Carolina lease laws, so I’ll need to be brought up-to-date with the paperwork.”

  “I’m glad that’s settled.” Trevor shook her hand to close the deal.

  “Mr. Braedden, sorry to interrupt, but I’m Dave Miller,” he offered his hand to exchange a healthy handshake. “I came by to schedule a time to take a look at some short-term condo rental properties. When can we do that?”