Vindicated

by eliza_000

  "Can’t…breathe," she finally managed to gasp.

  He thumped her on the back. She gulped frosty air and sputtered clouds of white steam. After a few uncomfortable seconds, her breathing evened out, and she recovered enough to glare at him.

  “Jesus. You scared the shit out of me,” he said, face accusing.

  “It’s a wonder you didn’t freaking kill me,” she answered, still glaring. “How much do you weigh anyway?”

  “Enough to mash your ass into the ground apparently.” The frown on his face dissolved into a mischievous grin. “I’m not used to playing with pixies.” He extended a hand to help her stand. She gripped it with her right hand, letting him pull her up, and grabbed a handful of snow with the other. Before he could release her, she quickly stuffed the snow down the front of his sweatshirt.

  “Paybacks,” she teased.

  “Man, that’s cold,” he gasped, clutching his shirt. “You little shit. You’re going to pay for that.”

  She took off running with a shriek, bounding through the snow. He could have caught her in a few strides, but instead, he let her stay just out of reach, bobbing and weaving to cut off her escape. The snow was perfect for snowballs, wet and heavy. She managed to scoop up a handful as she ran, packed it into a tight ball, and launched it at him. It caught him in the middle of the chest with a muffled splat.

  “Now you’re really in trouble,” he shouted and leaped at her. He rolled her into a nearby snow bank, this time shielding her fall with his arms. She squirmed beneath him, overcome with laughter as he rubbed snow into her face and shoved it down her shirt.

  “Stop. No fair. I give up,” she said, followed by a loud gasp as the snow hit her breasts. He grabbed her hands by the wrists and stretched them over her head, pinning her arms against the snow and holding them there with one hand. She bucked beneath him, determined to get free, until she caught the look in his eyes. The smile on his face faded as his eyes locked with hers. The playful look was still there but it had intensified into something much more precarious.

  “I like this,” he whispered into her ear. The heat of his breath tickled her neck. “I’ve got you at my mercy.”

  Flat on her back and helpless to move, she felt the raw power in his arms and body. He kneeled over her, straddling her torso, and stared down at her with amusement. The idea that he could do anything he wanted with her made her inner core quiver in excitement.

  “Never,” she replied in challenge and lifted her chin, the spark in her eyes matching his. There was no way she could escape him, but she was too stubborn to admit defeat and curious to see how far he’d go to win.

  “We’ll have to see about that,” he said, eyes glittering. He ran his tongue over the dimple in her left cheek, licking away a bit of snow. Her breath caught. She pressed her thighs together to stave the sharp pang of desire. His gaze locked onto her mouth. Her heart skipped a beat then another. He was going to kiss her. She was certain of it and held her breath in anticipation.

  Thwack! A snowball pelted Randy in the back. Two more followed in quick succession. Ally and Jack appeared over the hill, armed with snowballs in a full-scale attack. Randy released Karly’s arms and rolled away from her. He scrambled to his feet, scooping snow as he ran, leaving her breathless and disappointed in the snow.

  ***

  Afternoon sun glinted over the snow-slickened streets when they returned from the sledding adventure. Jack and Ally remained in the truck. Randy walked Karly to her apartment door. He leaned one shoulder against the wall in the hallway as she rummaged for her key, watching her with interest, hands shoved in his pockets.

  “Thanks for walking me up. You don’t have to wait,” she said for the third time.

  “I know,” he replied.

  The way he watched her, eyes trained on her face, made her hands tremble. What the hell was his deal? She enjoyed his company. At the same time, she wanted to wring his neck. Being with him kept her on edge. It was like balancing on the edge of a precipice, always waiting and wondering when ground might give way beneath her. Not to mention, she was horny as hell after their little movie escapade last week and their almost-kiss in the snow today.

  “You’re not coming in,” she said sternly, still scrambling for the key. He was so close she could feel the heat from his body in the cold corridor. Her nipples tightened into painful nubs. Every one of her instincts urged her to cup his stubbled cheeks in her hands and kiss him, but uncertainty and irritation held her back. Why hadn’t he kissed her earlier? He hadn’t touched her since the movie. Had she done something to turn him off? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Um, okay,” he said but followed her into the apartment anyway.

  “Aren’t Jack and Ally waiting for you downstairs?”

  “No. I drove here. My truck’s parked down the street.” At her irritated scowl, he continued, “Don’t worry. I’m not staying. I just needed to talk to you for a minute.”

  She threw her purse and keys onto a chair near the door, ignoring him. As she crossed the room, doffing coat and hat, he trailed behind her. Finally, she flopped onto the sofa with a frustrated snort. He sat gently beside her while she avoided his gaze. She flinched when one of his hands nudged her elbow.

  “This is for you.” She glanced down at his hand and the folded piece of paper it held. “Mitch’s number?”

  Crap. Just when she’d convinced herself he was a jerk, he went and did something sweet. She took the phone number and turned the paper over in her hands.

  “I’m going to see my attorney tomorrow,” he said. “You’re welcome to come with me if you want. He said you met with him last week, and he’s got some info for you.” He sat beside her and waited for an answer. His hands rested on the tops of his legs, the denim of his jeans straining over the taut thigh muscles.

  “I don’t get you at all,” she mumbled, staring at the paper in her hand, shaking her head slowly. Why would he do that if he didn’t care about her? “If you keep doing things like this, I’m going to think you’re a nice guy.”

  “Well, we can’t have that now, can we?” The adorable smirk on his face made her smile, but the unpredictable swing of his emotions had her struggling between the need to kiss him senseless or slap him. He paused as if weighing whether or not to trust her with some kind of important information. “Pilar is suing me for full custody. No court date yet, but she keeps fucking with me, saying she forgot it was my day or he’s sick or some other bullshit. I haven’t seen him in two weeks. He probably thinks I’ve abandoned him.” The rough voice cracked as if broken by hopelessness.

  The anguish in his words sliced through her heart. He rarely showed emotion beyond amusement or irritation. She gave him a half smile and covered one of the hands on his legs with hers. If only he knew how well she understood his despondency.

  Randy’s hands were large, capable, and strong enough to choke a man, but as she covered his hand in hers, she felt all the grief and unhappiness he tried to keep hidden. She lifted the large hand and rested the back of it against her cheek, the light dusting of hair tickling her skin. They sat in that way until his other hand lifted to brush a lock of hair from her forehead. This time when their eyes met, his gaze was completely unguarded, and she plunged headlong into their infinite depths.

  Chapter 30

  Karly pulled back the kitchen curtain and peered out to the street. The rhythm of her heart stuttered at the sight of Randy's truck idling by the curb. The chrome wheels gleamed in the morning sunlight. She squinted past the glare, her efforts rewarded by the sight of him. He leaned against the truck with his legs crossed at the ankles, hands in his pockets, chatting with a downstairs neighbor. He looked rugged and handsome in faded jeans and a plaid flannel shirt beneath his leather jacket. A light wind ruffled his hair, the strands glinting auburn and copper in the morning light. Sensing her, he looked up and smiled with an expression that sent a tingle straight to her toes.

  Feeling
lighter than she had in months, she shrugged on a jacket, grabbed her purse, and sailed out the door with a smile on her lips. As she crossed the street, his smile broadened, and his eyes lit in appreciation. He opened the driver's door for her and put a hand on her elbow to help her inside. The passenger seat overflowed with boxes and prevented her from sliding across to the window.

  "You have a pickup. Why are you hauling stuff in the front seat?" she teased when he followed her into the cab.

  “So you’ll have to sit next to me.” He shot her a sideways glance of pure mischief. "Isn’t it obvious?"

  On the surface, they had an easy friendship. Beneath their camaraderie, however, lurked a spark of something more. It sizzled every time his arm brushed hers or their eyes met. It reared its head now as he reached across her lap to retrieve his cigarettes from the glove box, his shoulder brushing her breast.

  "What is all this stuff anyway?" she asked to distract her attention from the tightness of her nipples and the clean scent of his hair.

  "It's just some odds and ends for the homeless shelter downtown. Whenever someone has stuff they don't want, I collect it. I thought I'd drop it off later today." He returned to his post behind the steering wheel and shoved his cigarettes into his pocket.

  "That's nice," she said, keeping her tone light and playful. “I’m glad to see you using your powers for good and not evil.”

  An adorable flush of embarrassment stained his cheeks. "You look really pretty today," he said, studying her royal blue sweater and plaid scarf. The light in his eyes reflected his sincerity. His expression made her grateful for the extra time she’d spent curling her hair and applying mascara and lip gloss. "I mean, you always look pretty, but you look especially good in blue. It's my favorite color."

  "Thanks." Her cheeks glowed under his praise. His gaze dipped to her mouth then flicked back to the street.

  “I brought you some breakfast.” He nodded to the fast food sack on the dashboard. The scent of sausage drifted to her nose and brought a growl from her stomach. “In case you’re hungry.”

  “I’m always hungry.”

  "I’ve noticed,” he replied dryly, but his smile showed his pleasure. “And you’re not going to starve to death on my watch.”

  The buttery biscuit melted in her mouth, followed by bursts of sage and garlic from the sausage. Pure heaven. Randy’s steadfast gaze broke her reverie. A smile quirked his mouth. She raised her eyebrows and swallowed before speaking. “What is it?”

  “You’re making sex noises again. I’m going to have a wreck if you don’t stop.”

  “Then quit giving me a reason to make them,” she replied, smiling back.

  His expression darkened as his gaze found her lips. “Oh, I could give you a reason to make them, but it’s not going to be from a sandwich.”

  Blatant desire shone in his eyes. She froze, the sandwich hovering in midair, and tried to regain her breath. Her gaze locked onto his in a desperate search for answers, but the mask of indifference slid over his eyes, shutting her out. Oh, God. Here we go again. I am so over this. With a huge sigh, she turned her face to the window and concentrated on the rare January sunshine spilling over the sidewalks and streets, determined to forget her burgeoning crush. She had bigger problems than Randy Mackenzie.

  Nervous anticipation made her palms sweat over the upcoming meeting and what it might reveal. Her initial conversation with the lawyer had left her cautiously optimistic. He seemed knowledgeable and concerned, a combination that eased her considerable misgivings, but they had yet to discuss money. Her hand tightened its grip on her purse, subconsciously protecting the few dollars and credit card it contained.

  Once they reached the attorney’s office, Randy set the parking brake and sat back in the seat, pausing to let her finish the sandwich. Tension thickened the air inside the truck, made worse by her growing nervousness.

  “You don’t need to wait for me after this,” she said. “I’ll catch the bus home.”

  “I brought you here. I’ll take you back.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Don’t be such a stubborn ass.”

  “Hmmph. Takes one to know one, I guess.” She stuffed the empty sandwich wrapper into the sack, and waited for him to slide out of the truck so she could follow. From outside the truck, he offered his hand to help her step out of the cab. She brushed it away and hopped down, purposely avoiding his gaze and the confusion on his face.

  “Have I missed something here?” He stepped aside to let her pass.

  She hoisted the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder, took two steps, and turned to face him. “You can’t be that stupid. Seriously.”

  One large, long-fingered hand ran through his hair, tousling the ends into anarchy. They stared at each other for a fraction of a second, but it seemed like an eternity. His genuine befuddlement renewed her irritation. The guy seriously had no clue. She threw her hands into the air and shook her head before turning toward the office building. A warm hand caught one of hers and held it.

  “I can be that stupid sometimes.” He squeezed her fingers gently. His grip loosened but didn’t let go. “Seriously.” The pad of his thumb caressed her knuckles. “Whatever I’ve done, I’m sorry. And even though I might not act like it, it matters.”

  It matters. Those two words tripled her pulse. One glance at his face showed a wry smile quirking his lips. She bit the inside of her cheek and frowned. She wanted to be mad at him—needed to be mad at him. Anger was the only thing protecting her from the constant whiplash of his feelings toward her. Drawing herself up to the top of her five feet two inches, she looked him squarely in the eye.

  “Yes, Randy,” she said in her haughtiest tone, “it does matter. So stop fucking with my head.”

  A brilliant smile transformed his face. Genuine smiles were rare for him. The sight of this one stole her breath. Bright morning sunlight revealed the depth in his eyes before he covered them with mirrored aviator shades.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, tone contrite. And holding her hand tight inside his, walked her to their appointment.

  Chapter 31

  The Law Office of Michael Moseley resided in a remodeled Victorian home a few blocks east of campus. The interior boasted the ornate architectural elements of the original home, but the furnishings were sleek and modern. A slender, impeccably dressed woman sat at the reception desk in the foyer and greeted them with a cool smile.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Eriksson. You don’t seem to have an appointment,” the receptionist said.

  “It’s okay, Meagan. She’s with me,” Randy interjected.

  “And there’s a matter of payment. You have yet to pay the required retainer fee.” The smooth voice lowered into a disapproving whisper.

  “I know, but he said the consultation was free,” Karly replied and bit her lip. Everything always came down to money, which she never seemed to have enough of. “I thought—”

  “I spoke with Mike yesterday, and it’s been taken care of,” Randy interrupted again. His authoritative tone set the receptionist back in her leather-tufted chair.

  “But…” Frozen with surprise and confusion, Karly looked up into his face. His features were set into their usual impassive mask. She bit her lower lip, searching for answers in his eyes. The convoluted gray depths gave nothing away, but one corner of his mouth quirked in the slightest of smiles. And then she knew…she knew…without any words spoken between them that he’d done the most incredible thing for her. Her eyes stung with tears. She blinked rapidly to hold them at bay, clenching her hands into fists to resist throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing the life out of him with her gratitude.

  The appearance of tears and unmitigated gratitude in Karly’s eyes was like a five-fingered death punch straight to his heart. Funny how he could kick the asses of two men at once when this petite pixie could slay him with one single expression. Uncomfortable with this unexpected finding, he retreated behind the wall of indifference protecting his heart. Lucky for him, Moseley ca
lled them up before he embarrassed himself.

  “You can go first,” he said, his voice rougher than he intended.

  She swiped a hand over her eyes, regaining composure quickly, face alight with hope. To his surprise, she slipped her hand into his and tugged him toward the office door, where Moseley stood impatiently checking his watch.

  “Come with me. Please?” she asked. “I could use the support.”

  Hell, no. He was already mired up to his balls in the quicksand of her china doll eyes. The less he knew about her situation, the easier it would be to extricate himself from her when the time came. But his heart and lips paid no heed to his brain and said, “Okay,” while his traitorous feet carried him into Moseley’s office.

  There were two chairs in front of Moseley’s desk and one at the back of the office. He meant to sit in the chair at the back, but Karly tugged him forward to sit beside her in front of the desk. Moseley raised an eyebrow in Randy’s direction, an amused smile curling his lips. Randy glared at him, daring him to make one wayward comment. The smirk fell from Moseley’s face as he shuffled papers about the desk and cleared his throat. He’d known Moseley for a long time, on personal and professional levels. A huge gambling addiction, fueled by a successful law practice and the constant rub of shoulders with unsavory characters like himself, kept Moseley indebted to him.

  “Good to see you again, Ms. Eriksson,” Moseley said, composure regained. Despite his penchant for illegal betting, Moseley was a damn fine lawyer. He’d saved Randy’s ass on more than one occasion.

  “Thank you. I appreciate you seeing me today.” Her sidelong glance at Randy made his heart skip a beat. “Randy said you had some information for me.”

  Randy shifted in his chair, uncomfortable with the intimacy of the situation and his inability to escape. To distract himself, he watched two sparrows play on the exterior windowsill behind Moseley’s back, listening to the proceedings with half an ear. His thoughts rambled over Caleb, the approach of spring, college basketball scores, and the loose clutch in his truck.