by Judy Angelo
It took that threat to make him back away. It looked like he was turning to go but then he stopped. “This isn’t over,” he said, his voice soft and almost menacing. “I’m not leaving town without you.”
It wasn’t until he went through the door that Blake expelled her breath. She was not going to take Jerome’s threat lightly. He was the kind of man who never knew when to give up.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“You’re leaving again?” Elizabeth Grant looked up from her computer screen as Ryder walked into her office. “It feels like you just got back.”
Ryder shrugged. “I’ve been here almost three weeks. Time flies when you’re having fun.” He gave his personal assistant a wry smile.
“Or when you’re busy,” she said, swiveling her chair around to give him her full attention. “Shall I arrange for a car to take you to the airport?”
“No. No need. I’ll be driving.”
She smiled. “Oh, not an international trip this time. I’m glad. Those trips to Asia and Europe can be so tiring. The last time you went to China, when you came back you didn’t look quite yourself.”
That made him laugh. “I may fly a lot but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
She shook her head. “I totally understand. I’m not fond of flying either. I’m just glad I only have to do it every few months to visit the grandkids.”
After he’d given Elizabeth instructions for tasks to handle during his absence Ryder headed back to his office, ready to pack up for the day. It had been a hectic three weeks at the office and, in fact, there was still more to be done. The rest of it he would leave for his chief operating officer and his staff to handle. They were an efficient team and were used to his trips and absences so this would be nothing new.
As he gathered his belongings he was smiling. He was looking forward to seeing Blake again. First thing in the morning he would be hitting the road to Pequoia and this time he planned to take things to the next level. Although it had been little more than a month he felt like he’d known Blake for years. There was just something about her, something that made him want to always have a connection with her. Maybe even more than just a connection. Maybe he wanted her in his life.
Ryder knew his feelings for Blake were premature but he also knew he had no say in the matter. His heart had spoken and it said it wanted him to get to know Blake a whole lot better.
The ringing of his desk phone brought his musings to an abrupt end. He reached out and pressed the button for the speakerphone. “Yes?”
“Ryder. I’m glad I caught you. Miss Ebbinghaus is here to see you. Shall I send her right in?”
Ryder almost used an expletive. What the blazes was Karin doing back at his office? He would gladly tell Elizabeth to get rid of her but as far as his assistant knew he was still in a relationship with Karin, who had dropped by the office many times before. There was nothing to do but see her and then rid himself of her as fast as he could.
“Send her in.”
Ryder hung up the phone and dropped back down into his chair. Whatever it was Karin was here for, he knew it wouldn’t be anything good.
Within minutes there was a rap on his office door and when it opened it was to reveal Karin standing there, looking poised and elegant, as usual. Her auburn hair was longer than he remembered and now it fell in soft waves around her shoulders. Her green eyes, though, were as sharp as ever and the pout of her crimson lips told him she was not pleased.
She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. “Weren’t you told that I was trying to reach you? This is my second trip here.”
“I heard.” He didn’t get up to greet her as he normally would have done. Those days were gone. He sat right where he was, regarding her coolly as she approached.
It was when she’d come close up, only a foot from his desk that a sudden question popped into his mind.
By this time Karin should be three months pregnant. He was no expert but shouldn’t she be showing a baby bump by now? She didn’t even look like she’d gained weight. Eyes narrowed, he subjected her to a scrutiny that must have made her uncomfortable because she blushed, a reaction that was rare for the usually super-confident Karin.
As if seeking refuge, she grabbed the chair closest to her and sank down onto the seat then folded her arms in front of her. Her pout became more pronounced. “Will you stop staring at me like that?” she practically hissed at him.
His eyes never left her. Had Karin lied to him? Had she made up that story about being pregnant to get rid of him? It didn’t make sense. She’d never been afraid to speak her mind. All she’d had to do was tell him it was over. He would have respected her decision. She knew that.
“Stop staring, I said.” She was glowering at him, her green eyes flashing in her flushed face.
He stared at her for several seconds more and when he spoke his voice was deceptively calm because what he was feeling inside was anything but. “Is there something you’d like to say to me?” he asked. “Why are you here?”
She opened her mouth as if to say something but then she dropped her eyes and tilted her face down and away from him. When she finally spoke it was in such a low whisper that Ryder had to strain to hear her.
“I’m not pregnant,” she said, her voice strained, as if she could barely get the words out.
Ryder frowned and sat forward in his chair. “You’re not pregnant?”
She shook her head and she did not look up at him.
So he’d been right. Karin had been lying to him all along. The little witch. “So you cheat on me and lie to me and then you decide you haven’t hurt me enough. You’ve got to come here to rub it in that you played me for a fool.”
At his words she raised her head and her eyes flashed with anger. But, to Ryder’s surprise and chagrin, they were also glistening with tears. “I didn’t lie to you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I was pregnant. Truly pregnant.”
He frowned. “Was?”
She nodded. “I’m not anymore. It was…” she bit her lip then shook her head, “…it was a chemical pregnancy.”
“A what?”
She sniffed. “A chemical pregnancy. I took the pregnancy test too early, only a day after I missed my period. It showed positive. Both times I did the test it was positive. But…a couple of weeks later I had my period again. I wasn’t pregnant anymore.”
To say Ryder was confused was putting it lightly. So Karin was pregnant and then she wasn’t? “I…don’t get it. How-”
“It was a chemical pregnancy, all right? That was what the doctor called it. Just a nicer way of saying I had an early miscarriage.” She gave a snort of disgust. “He said I shouldn’t have bought those kits and done the tests so soon after my missed period and that a pretty high percentage of pregnancies end up like that. He was like, what are you grieving for? It’s not like it had the chance to even become an embryo.”
Ryder drew in a sharp breath. That was a whole lot more information than he’d expected and on top of it all he was stumped. Why had Karin tracked him down to tell him this? Shouldn’t she be discussing this with the new – or maybe not so new – man in her life?
He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Karin.” He really was. Even though she’d cut him to the quick with her betrayal, he could never wish her any ill will. She was obviously grieving her loss and it gave him no joy to see her suffer.
He waited for her to speak again, to explain herself, to say why she was sitting in his office, divulging her most private affairs.
It took a while before she drew in a shaky breath then lifted her face to gaze at him. “I came to see you,” she said quietly, “because we need to talk. I made a mistake. A big one. I know that now.”
Ryder went still then, slowly, he drew away from his desk and sat back in his chair. He didn’t like the sound of that. It almost sounded like Karin was about to make an apology, even suggest that they should reunite. It was a prospect he wasn’t even going to entertain.
>
“I shouldn’t have messed around with Clive. I…he seduced me and I gave in. He was…hard to resist.” She had the grace to drop her eyes at that confession. “I let you down. I’m…so sorry.”
It was the first time Ryder had heard those words from Karin’s lips. When she’d confessed to sleeping with his friend, when she’d told him the child she was expecting was Clive’s, never once had she expressed remorse. Never once had she shown anything but decisiveness and a resolution to move on.
And now this?
“I…know you must be wondering why I’m here…telling you all this.” She sounded hesitant, almost afraid to go on.
Slowly, he nodded. “I am.”
She nodded, too. Then she drew in her breath and tightened her lips, looking like she was trying to figure out the best way to say what she had to say. “Clive and I…we’re not together anymore. I broke up with him. I told him it was all a big mistake. I told him…I wanted to go back to you.”
Ryder’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. It was just as he’d feared but he was having none of it. “Why?” he asked, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion.
“Because I love you. I really do.” She was sitting forward on her chair now, perched on the edge, so focused on him that she didn’t seem to realize she was wringing her hands. “I never meant to hurt you, Ryder. Please forgive me. Please, can’t we try again?”
This was the strangest conversation Ryder had ever had. First of all, Karin was behaving in a way so contrary to her usually decisive nature that he couldn’t believe this was the same person he’d known for four years. More than that, she was not only being uncharacteristically emotional but she was being irrational as well. After what she’d done, what woman in her right mind would expect them to pick up where they'd left off?
“And I found out,” she continued, her voice breathless, “that Clive isn’t the man I thought he was.”
“Oh?” Yet another spin to the tale. Ryder couldn’t suppress his curiosity. “How so?”
“He’s…” She stopped then she swallowed. “He’s…an abuser. I had no idea until I moved in with him.”
Ryder frowned. “He hit you?”
“Yes.” It was a soft whisper, almost inaudible, but he’d heard it. She’d given an affirmative answer to his question.
“You reported this to the police?”
“I…didn’t. I just left.” Her shoulders sagged and she lifted a hand to her face. It took a few seconds before she slid her hand from her eyes and sighed. “I had no idea he was like that. I couldn’t believe it.” Then she looked directly into his eyes, the first time she’d done so since she started her story. “You would never do that. You would die first.”
Ryder didn’t respond. Karin knew him, that was for sure, but he didn’t know her. Not anymore.
And it was time to do the right thing, the humane thing. Time to end this before she started building up any false hope. He got up and walked around the desk and held out his hand.
Her brows lifted in surprise and then, as her face softened into a smile, she raised her hand to place it in his.
Ryder helped Karin to her feet and as she stood her body swayed toward him but exactly at that moment he turned away and faced the door. “This has been very emotional for you. I think it’s best if you head for home and get some rest.”
“But…what about us? I thought-” Karin’s stammers fell on deaf ears.
He was sympathetic to her suffering but he could see now what she’d been about. She’d hoped to play on his sympathy and work her way back into his life. He was accommodating where women concerned, but not that accommodating.
He’d started walking, taking Karin along with him, and soon they were at the door. He opened it and held it wide then gave her a curt nod of dismissal.
“I wish you all the best, Karin,” he said as she stared up at him, eyes wide. “Goodbye.”
That last word must have registered because she blinked then she nodded and slowly walked out the door.
When he closed the door and went back to gathering his things Ryder was still shaking his head in disbelief. What was Karin thinking? Right then there was only one woman on his mind and although at this point they were nothing more than friends he could hardly wait to see brutally honest, no-nonsense Blake Beaumont again.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“How you got the place to this state, I’ll never know.” Peggy shook her head as she gave one last flick of her feather duster. She’d spent the past few days whipping Ted’s place into shape and this was the last of it. “Now make sure you keep everything in order or else you’re going to have to answer to me.”
“Yes, ma’am, Peggy, ma’am.” Ted put his hand to his forehead and gave her a smart salute.
She pointed the feather duster at him. “I’m serious. Don’t let me see this place deteriorate like that again.”
He chuckled. “With you keeping me on my toes, how can I?”
“And don’t you get it in that head of yours that I’m going to keep coming over here, straightening up. It’s time you learned that cleanliness is next to-” A knock at the front door cut her short. She glanced over at Ted who still lounged at the kitchen table. “Expecting someone?”
“Nope.” He shook his head.
When he didn’t make a move to get up she swatted him on the arm. “You don’t expect me to get the door, do you? Get up and go see who it is.”
He pushed back his chair then stood up. “All right, little lady. I’m on my way.”
He sauntered off, leaving Peggy to grumble behind his back. “Men. If you’re not careful they’ll work you into the ground. Big babies, that’s what they all are.”
She was still mumbling softly under her breath when she heard Ted heading back toward the kitchen with another set of footsteps sounding behind him. Just in case it was real company she dropped the feather duster out of sight and straightened her blouse which had gone askew in her flurry of activity.
“Look who’s here,” Ted called out.
Peggy looked up with a smile, ready to greet whatever visitor had dropped by. When she saw who it was her smile widened. “Blake. Fancy you stopping by. Since when have you been dropping in at Ted’s place?”
“Since you’ve been so scarce at yours,” was Blake’s cheeky reply. “I went by to see you but when I couldn’t find you at home I knew you had to be here.”
Peggy cocked an eyebrow at her. “Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s so. There’s no need to be coy. Everybody knows you and Ted are an item.” She pulled out a chair and flopped down onto it then she plopped her elbows on top of the table and dropped her chin into her cupped hands, looking so forlorn that Peggy’s smile gave way to a frown.
“What’s wrong, honey? “Did something happen over at Beaumont’s?” As she spoke she pulled out the chair beside Blake and sat down. “Tell me.”
Ted, looking just as concerned as she was, sat down opposite them. He didn’t say anything, though. He just waited for their young friend to speak.
Blake groaned and then she lifted her head and sat back in her chair. She folded her arms across her chest, a grim expression on her face. “There’s a new man in town. His name is Jerome Slater. Have you heard about him?”
“Sure have.” Peggy nodded. “Sarah told me he’s staying over at her place. Since the phone company sent workers to town she’s turned her place into a sort of bed-and-breakfast. You know that, right? I guess he asked around and people told him he could get lodging there. From what she told me, he’s a real charmer.” Then, curious, she asked, “So what’s he got to do with you?”
Blake’s mouth tightened like she didn’t want to talk about him but then she started and when she did, her eyes flashed with a fire Peggy hadn’t seen before. “He’s a charmer, all right. Charming as a snake.”
“Why, whatever do you mean? Do you know him?”
“That man is the reason I left Dallas and came to Pequoia.”
Ted gave
a grunt and folded his arms over his paunch. “One of them heartbreaker kind of guys, huh?”
Blake heaved a sigh and then she shook her head. “It was more than that. We were business partners. He let me down.” That was as much as she was willing to share just then but there was one thing she had no hesitation in declaring. “I’ve got to get that man out of this town. Either he goes or I go but we’re both not staying in Pequoia.”
“But how are you going to get him to leave?” Peggy gave her a bewildered look. “We can’t exactly tar and feather him and run him out of town.”
Ted gave another grunt, a much more belligerent sound this time. “Want me to go over there and rough him up?”
That got him a glare from Peggy. “Will you be quiet? You’re not as young as you used to be, you know. And anyway, that’s no way to handle this.”
Blake shook her head. “I don’t want Ted to get involved. And Peggy, I’m just telling you this because you’re the mayor. I want you to be prepared if anything goes down between me and that snake.”
Peggy’s eyes widened. “What are you planning to do? I don’t like the sound of that, Blake. I don’t want you to do anything stupid.”
Blake waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll be fine. I won’t do anything illegal, if that’s what you’re worried about. I just plan to be ready in case he tries to get too close.”
Peggy narrowed her gaze. “Meaning?”
“Meaning, it’s time for me to run.” Blake pushed back her chair and got up, obviously eager to avoid interrogation, but Peggy wasn’t about to let her escape so easily.
“You sit right back down, Blake Beaumont. You’re not leaving until you explain yourself.” She gave the tabletop a smart pat.
"Aw, let her go, Peg. She’s got enough on her plate. She doesn’t need you nagging her, too.”
Peggy could have killed Ted. He’d gone and spoiled everything just when Blake looked like she would have sat down again. “You stay out of this, Ted.”
He surprised her when he ignored her command. He simply got up, walked over to where Blake stood then turned to smile down at her. “Be a sweetheart and put the coffee on till I get back,” he said. “I’m going to walk Blake home.”