Roadster (Iron Ladies Book 1)

by Danielle Norman

  About halfway through Loren’s rant, Greg turned a lovely shade of purple, and Adeline hoped that Sunday had enough forethought to snap a picture of it. Maybe they would frame it and hang it in their secured room as a trophy.

  “I’ll file the paperwork for Mrs. Delaney, and let’s hope that you can have more control over your client and convince him of the intelligence of letting this be a non-contested divorce.” Barrett stood and so did Greg and his attorney. Barrett waited for them to leave before turning to Loren. “I’ll get the paperwork filed and have a copy couriered over to you. In the meantime, call if you need anything.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Huxley.” Loren hugged him before Barrett left as well.

  “Loren, you know what this is?” Adeline placed an orchid-colored plastic business card into Loren’s hand. “It is not for you to keep but for you to pass on if you ever meet the right woman who truly needs us.”

  “Too bad you don’t accept men, or I’d pass it to Dan Chatham.” Everyone let out a groan at Loren’s sick sense of humor, because they had no clue whether Dan was even aware of his wife’s antics, and not a single one of them was inclined to tell him.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Loren

  Loren had rented a small home with a beautiful yard in Lake Nona, it wasn’t too far from Riley. The owners had allowed her to move in as a rental while she was making arrangements to buy the place. Noelle had been used to her dad not being around, so the only change for her was a new preschool and a new bedroom.

  As usual, Riley ate most of his meals at his sister’s new home. “Are you going to call her?”

  “Call who?” Riley looked up from the pasta primavera he’d been pushing around his plate.

  “Really? You’re going to treat me like I’m stupid too? Don’t. Greg did that for enough years to last me a lifetime.”

  “I don’t know what you want from me. It’s been three weeks. She hasn’t even bothered to text.”

  “And you’ve reached out to her?”

  “You just don’t get it. We were doing great. I thought that we’d finally crossed some invisible wall she had built, and then she shows up at the restaurant and something in her had changed. She was scared to death. Clearly, she doesn’t trust me enough to talk to me about whatever it is. Hell, I don’t think she even trusts herself to know why she was so scared.” Riley got up and moved to the kitchen and started loading the dishwasher.

  This had become part of their nightly routine, he’d wash while Loren went and gave Noelle her bath and then got her ready for bed. It was weird, but Loren loved this time, it was the first time she actually had help, even if it was from her brother.

  When Loren came out, she turned off the television and sat at the table, waiting for Riley to sit. They needed to talk this out. She hated seeing what he was going through, and after all her brother had done for her, if she could help him then she would.

  “Talk to me, Ri. Just because my marriage didn’t work out, it doesn’t mean I don’t understand love, I do.”

  “I know you do. But don’t. It was sex, that’s all it was.”

  “Riley Christopher Thomas, how dare you. That is probably the most crude thing you’ve ever said to me. How would you feel if someone said they were only using me for sex?”

  Riley threw his hands over his ears, trying to muffle her words.

  “Or what if someone said that about Noelle when she got older?”

  Riley cringed. “I’d kill them.”

  “Then why would you say something like that about Adeline? There are people who love her like you love us.” Loren looked at her brother, letting her disappointment show.

  “No, not me. Her. Adeline was only in it for sex. She wasn’t in it for anything more. I was the one who had fallen. Not her. I should have known, she sees so much heartbreak every day in her career that it was bound to break her.” Riley dried his hands and then started the dishwasher. “Love you, but I’m all talked out. I’m headed home.”

  Loren watched her brother walk out of her house and down the sidewalk toward his own house. She knew she owed it to the two people she believed had helped her more than anyone else. Riley was wrong, Adeline was in love with him, she saw it every time Adeline looked at him. There was just something about a woman who was in love, her eyes sparkled and she radiated with her emotions. That was how she saw Adeline every time Riley was near.

  Reaching for her cell phone, Loren called the only other person she could think of who had a vested interest in seeing Adeline happy . . . Melanie. She’d only called her once before, and that had been the first time she’d called the Iron Orchids asking for help.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Melanie, this is Loren. Don’t let anyone know that you’re talking to me. But do you have time to talk?”

  “Sure. Hold on a second.” Loren listened to the tinkling sound of keys, the open and close of a door, and then the open and slam of what could only be a car door. “Okay, I’m in my car. It’s the only place I know they won’t listen in.”

  Loren let out a laugh. She’d never lived in a dorm or a sorority house, but imagined living with three other women had to be difficult. “Well, the thing is, I know someone who needs your help—or rather, the help of the Iron Ladies.”

  “So soon? Usually our clients don’t pass the card on for months or even years.” Melanie was genuinely surprised. “If you gave them the card, then have them call us and set up an appointment. We really need to speak to them directly. We find it’s best that you distance yourself as much as possible from the situation.”

  Loren let Melanie finish explaining how to handle an obviously common issue they faced before continuing. “It isn’t that easy or that kind of problem. It’s sort of a different type of case. I know that you only work with women but—”

  “Loren, we were all goofing off the other day about Dan, but the truth is, we don’t accept men as clients. We don’t feel trained for the situation, there is so much more involved than just getting the dirt, as you know. We want to make sure you get your confidence back and you are stable and can face the world as the woman you once were, only wiser.”

  “No, it isn’t Dan. It’s my brother, Riley.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Riley needs the help of the Iron Ladies.” Loren was worried about him and Adeline, but it stemmed from the hopelessness of two lovers not being together.

  “Is he hurt? Is Riley married and forgot to mention it?” Melanie’s voice had turned very cold.

  “No, nothing like that. He needs the help of the Iron Ladies—or rather, one Iron Lady in particular. My brother is brokenhearted, and I can’t stand to see him like that. He’s in love with Adeline, but for some reason, he believes that Adeline was only using him. He’s trying to go on because that is what Adeline claims to want, but he’s dying to hear from her, be with her. I can see it. He gets mad whenever I bring her up. Tell me please, do you know anything about the way Adeline feels? I thought she was falling in love with him too.”

  “Oh, she’s in love, all right, she’s just scared shitless. She’s afraid that all men break hearts.”

  “Not Riley, he’s one of the good ones.”

  “I agree.” Melanie was quiet for a second before adding, “Okay, Loren, here’s what we are going to do. ”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Riley

  As normal Riley went to his sister’s for dinner, and like normal, the house was nothing like her old one. Sure, she kept it clean and it was well-decorated, but it wasn’t stuffy. Loren allowed Noelle to leave her toys anywhere she wanted, and there was a pile of mail on the counter and dishes in the sink. In other words, the house looked like a home and not a showplace.

  “I have a favor to ask you.”

  Riley put his fork down, not liking the sound of that. He was used to his sister’s different tones. “Uh-oh, what?”

  “Well, I have a friend from college who wants to visit, she is single. I was wondering if while she i
s in town you could take her out for me. You know, show her a good time, since you aren’t dating anyone.”

  “A blind date? No. Loren, don’t. I’m busy.”

  “Don’t be silly, you don’t even know what day it is.”

  “It doesn’t matter, I’ll still be busy. I don’t want to be set up on dates. I don’t want to go out. I don’t want to see anyone. Don’t you get it? I actually cared about Adeline. I’m not ready.”

  “Then why don’t you call her instead of moping around?”

  “I’m not moping.”

  Loren raised one brow and stared Riley down.

  “I hate that you’ve learned how to do that, you never used to challenge me. Fine. Whatever. Call it moping if you want but the fact still remains that I don’t want to go out with any one. Besides I have something that I want to talk with you about.”

  “Sure, are you okay?”

  “You are Noelle are doing great now and I can’t tell you enough how proud I am of you. But the truth is, you don’t need me. I always felt like you did when you were with Greg maybe it was because I didn’t trust Greg. But whatever the reason, you’re good now, Noelle is like a different kid already.”

  “What’s your point? Because I’ll always need you.”

  “You know that I bought some land in Montana several years ago?”

  Loren nodded.

  “Well, I think its time that I do something with it. I’m going to go up there for a while. I bought the land because it was in an upcoming snow ski area. I’m going to see what I can do with it, who knows.”

  Loren held up her hands in a surrender gesture, then stood to clear away Noelle’s toys, including the teddy bear that held the hidden nanny-cam. Loren turned it off. There was no way in hell she could let Riley leave. He needed to be here, he needed to be with Adeline.

  “Come on, Noelle, we are going to go see if we can find Uncle Riley.” Riley heard Loren talking as she pulled open the door to Keke’s, but he didn’t turn until he heard his niece.

  “Uncle Wiley.” Noelle ran to where he was seated and hopped onto his lap.

  “What are you doing here, squirt?” Riley set Noelle to the side of him and looked up to his sister. “Have a meeting?”

  “Yeah, need to drop some stuff off to the girls, and then Noelle and I are going to get mommy-daughter mani/pedis. So we decided to come in for some juice and a pastry. How about you? This isn’t your side of town.”

  “I like the food here. So I come whenever I can.” Just then a waitress set Riley’s order of black coffee, coffee with cream and sugar, a bagel, a croissant, and a cup of fruit onto the table.

  Loren took in the spread and rose an eyebrow. “Are you meeting someone? Are we harshing your vibe?”

  “Don’t. Don’t go there, and don’t ever say that again. I’m not meeting anyone. I order it just in case . . .”

  “Just in case . . .” Riley really just wanted Loren to put the pieces together herself, so he stayed silent, waiting for the understanding to light her eyes. “Ohhh, is this what Adeline likes? You mean that you order her breakfast just in case she comes here?”

  “Pitiful, I know.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s romantic. You need to call her. Stop torturing yourself.”

  “Loren, you know me. I have no problem sharing my feelings. But at the same time, I’m not a glutton for punishment. I took it slow so she could ease into the thought of a relationship, but she still ended it. I’m not going to throw myself out there again. She doesn’t have to tell me more than once. Besides, actions speak way louder than words. She hasn’t contacted me . . . that right there speaks loud and clear.”

  “What if she’s saying the same thing? You have contacted her, actions speak louder than words?”

  “She has no right, she ended it.”

  “Why are men so ignorant? I expected more from you, after all you’re my brother. You’ve witnessed my life and what it’s like for a woman to be scared and not loved. If there was a possibility of you and Adeline working out in the end wouldn’t it be worth it to swallow your pride and try? Call me stupid but I just don’t think that we have a limitless supply of soulmates. I think that we need to cherish the one that crosses our path.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Adeline

  Adeline woke up at a quarter after seven and was met with complete silence. There was no way the house should be quiet at this time of day, this was when they were all in full-throttle daily preparation mode. Hell, there should be a shower going and blow dryers humming and plates clattering into the sink. But the place was silent.

  Melanie’s door was open, and the bed was made, but there was no Melanie. She found the same in Sunday and Olivia’s rooms as well. On her way to the kitchen, Adeline poked her head into the garage, only to find her car was the only one in the driveway.

  She made coffee, growing more and more annoyed that no one had bothered to get her up, and by the time she was sliding into her Charger, she was well into angry.

  That anger turned irrational when she walked into the office and found Melanie, Sunday, and Olivia in a meeting with Loren and little Noelle. A meeting she wasn’t told about.

  “Well, good morning, everyone. So glad that you were all able to make it in for the appointment. I’m sorry, Loren, but I didn’t get the memo that you were going to be here.” Adeline shot daggers at her friends, disappointed in them and their utter lack of respect for her. They knew she had become friends with Loren, and they were meeting with her on the side, what was up with that shit?

  “Loren is here to finalize a case,” Melanie said.

  “We closed the file for Loren’s case a few weeks ago,” Adeline reminded them, wondering why the hell Melanie had just lied to her.

  “Not her case but another case that involved her. This one we went all-out for.”

  “Wait. You three took on a case without me? I didn’t vote.”

  “The three of us voted, and it was a yes, so it didn’t really matter whether you voted or not. Let’s be frank, though, you haven’t been in any condition to contribute to a case. You’re barely taking care of yourself right now.”

  Melanie’s words were like a slap to Adeline’s face. “My opinion didn’t matter? I’m sorry, did I miss something here?” Adeline thought back over the last few weeks, she hadn’t been that bad, she was taking care of herself. Wasn’t she? “Can you at least tell me about the case? Unless, of course, you three decided to take a vote and fire me.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic. Yes, you are still one-fourth partner,” Melanie assured her.

  “Then I should have been included, or at least had the option,” Adeline countered.

  Olivia shrugged. “We thought it was more important that you used the time to clear your head. You have a lot on your mind right now, and we were worried that you wouldn’t be able to give it your full attention.”

  Olivia’s words only seemed to piss Adeline off even more. What did they think? Did they think she was worthless? Had they written her off as a team member? “I’m a grown woman, if I need space, I will tell you that I need space. I don’t need you making that choice for me, or deciding that I’m incapable of doing my job. Have I ever not given a case my full focus? No, I always do. Have I ever not been a team player? No. But you three can’t say the same. Our team is all four of us, so excluding one person fucks up the team.”

  Melanie sighed and then rolled her hand in the air as a signal to Sunday. Sunday slid a manila envelope across the table. Loren had stayed quiet. Adeline picked it up but didn’t seem to be in a hurry as she glared at the women she considered her family.

  Slowly, she lifted the flap, reached in, and pulled out several photos . . . of Riley.

  “What the hell?”

  Sunday clicked on her fucking computer, which Adeline wanted to hurl out the fucking window, while Melanie turned on the television screen and turned the volume up. When Riley’s voice surrounded Adeline, it was like a pair of arms holding her
. His deep tenor was familiar, but as she listened, she realized that something was off, something was wrong with Riley. At that thought, Adeline’s head began to swim.

  “Stop, Loren, I don’t want to go out with anyone else. Okay. You don’t get it? I was actually falling for Adeline.” He scoffed. “Who am I kidding? I had fallen.”

  The pain in his voice took her breath away and wrapped around her ribs like a vice. The recording stopped, and the next one began.

  “Hello? Riley? Are you okay?” Loren’s groggy voice sounded through the recording.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry, did I wake you?”

  “Just a little, Ri, it’s three in the morning. Is something wrong?”

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize what time it was. Go back to sleep.”

  “Riley, have you been drinking?”

  “Yeah. I couldn’t sleep.” Adeline could hear the slight slur in Riley’s words.

  “Call her. Not tonight, but tomorrow. Call her tomorrow after eight in the morning.”

  The recording ended, and Sunday shut the program down.

  Adeline didn’t know when the recording was made, but Riley hadn’t called her.

  An image popped up on the screen of Riley sitting at a booth, their booth, at Keke’s. Not once but several times. She could tell that this was different visits because every time Riley was there he was wearing a different shirt. And each time, the expression on his face looked a little more crestfallen. He seemed to be on the outskirts, not really taking in his surroundings…just there.

  A tear rolled down Adeline’s cheek. Adeline wasn’t a crier. She hated women who cried, it was weak and she wasn’t weak. But damn it, she was being betrayed by her own stupid tears as another one rolled down her cheek.

  Then another video started to play, this one of Loren and Riley sitting on a couch. “She smelled like vanilla. I never eat vanilla, and now I find myself buying fucking vanilla ice cream every single day. The girl at Baskin Robbins probably thinks I’m hypoglycemic and constantly needing a sugar fix.”