“Son of a bitch,” Cutler spat out, tossing the paper onto the floor.
Kaylee knew he was about to choke on his rage. “I’m so sorry, darling. I know this couldn’t have come at a worse time.”
“There’s never a good time for this kind of adverse publicity, especially when it’s a setup.”
“Who would deliberately—” She broke off, realizing how incredibly naive she sounded. He was in a political dog fight—the dirtier the better.
“Gilmore and Rush.”
She blinked. “Drew?”
“Yes, Drew.” Cutler’s tone was low and harsh.
“You mean they would team up against you?” She heard the incredulity in her voice.
Cutler laughed a heartless laugh. “In a freakin’ minute.”
“Do you have proof of Drew’s involvement?”
“Yeah.” Cutler placed his hand on his belly. “Right here in my gut.”
Kaylee grappled to accept such an outlandish explanation. She didn’t think for a minute that Drew would stoop that low. Gilmore, yes. After all, he wanted to win the election and backing such an inflammatory article would definitely benefit him.
But Drew? No way.
“I think you’re way off base,” she said.
Cutler’s eyes narrowed on her. “You just don’t get it, do you?”
“I get it, all right,” she responded in a tight voice, taking umbrage at his question and his tone.
He made an impatient gesture with his hand, then looked away.
Both infuriated her. How dare he treat her like an irritating child with whom he had no patience? “I get that where Drew’s concerned, you’ve got your stinger out for him.”
“For good reasons.”
“Which brings me back to my original question—do you have proof?”
Cutler’s gaze leveled on hers. “If I did, would you believe me?”
“I guess I wouldn’t have any choice.”
“You guess.” His features twisted. “That’s not exactly what I wanted to hear.”
“Look, like I’ve said before, I don’t want to fight with you about Drew. I know what a blow it was when you found out he’s your father, but—”
“That has nothing to do with the fact he and his company are dirty or that he’s trying to bury me politically.”
“It has everything to do with it,” she countered hotly. “Even though I don’t know the details or the circumstances surrounding your birth, and don’t want to,” she added hurriedly, “your animosity toward Drew goes too deep for it to be just job related.”
“I need to get to the office,” Cutler said, standing abruptly.
“It’s going to be okay,” she said with feeling.
“I know. Somehow we’ll get through this. Both of us.”
“Ah, both of us.” She forced a smile, desperately trying to put things back on track. “That has such a nice ring to it.”
“This has nothing to do with you, Kaylee.”
“Yet it has everything to do with me,” she reminded him with a slight catch in her voice, knowing they were perilously close to a danger point in their marriage.
As if Cutler sensed that as well, he suddenly looked weary, gaunt and almost defeated. She’d never seen him quite like that.
Her heart turned over and she longed to reach out to him and tell him that everything was going to be just fine. But she couldn’t do that; nothing might ever be the same again. While that thought terrorized her, she knew it to be true.
Sudden frustration darkened his eyes. “I have to go, especially now that I have to deal with the fallout from that trash in the paper.”
“I don’t want you to leave mad.”
His gaze softened on her for a moment. “I’m not mad, certainly not at you.”
Kaylee got up, went to him, looped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. His tongue played tag with hers for the longest time, then he pushed her back, his breathing labored.
“If you aren’t careful,” he said in an unnatural-sounding voice, “you’ll get something started you can’t finish.”
She pulled back and gave him a saucy grin. “Who says I can’t finish it?”
He chuckled as he swatted her playfully on the rear. “Tonight. I’ll collect on that promise tonight.”
Her eyebrows moved up and down. “Maybe I’ll be out of the mood by then.”
“Not to worry,” he said with conviction. “I’ll fix that.”
“Go on, get out of here.” Then Kaylee sobered as she walked him to the door. “I’ve hired a lawyer to get Jessica out on bail.”
“Don’t get your hopes up too high. The judge may not grant it.”
“Are you going to fight it?”
“No.”
Kaylee released a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
He flicked her on the chin. “Don’t thank me yet. I’m hoping to review the evidence today. I’ll let you know how strong our case is.”
“Fair enough.” She kissed him as he walked out the door.
“We picked up the judge.”
“Kicking and screaming, I would imagine.”
Mike and Angel had been waiting for him in his office when he arrived. He’d barely set his briefcase down on his desk before the chief of detectives had given him the news.
“And use of some words I haven’t heard in a long time,” Snelling added.
Cutler smiled, as did Angel.
“I just hope the Reed girl doesn’t get cold feet.”
“She won’t,” Cutler said, sitting. “I was a bit concerned myself at first, but I think she’s made the commitment.”
“Even as we speak, she’s being interviewed,” Snelling said.
“It won’t be long until the good judge is behind bars.” Cutler gave a thumbs-up. “Equal justice couldn’t happen to a more deserving fellow.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Snelling said. “And by the way, McFarland, I owe you an apology.”
Cutler’s eyebrows shot up. Snelling apologize? Not something he thought he’d ever hear. But hey, miracles happen. His marriage to Kaylee bore testimony to that. Forcing his mind back on matters at hand, he asked, “How’s that?”
“Jenkins. I didn’t think you’d get the bastard, but you did.”
“Coming from you, Snelling, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Snelling’s face reddened, but he didn’t respond.
Cutler, however, knew what he was thinking and said as much. “Don’t worry, I’m not about to get the idea that you like me.”
Snelling’s color deepened, but again he refrained from saying anything.
“Look, I’m in a pissy mood this morning,” Cutler said by way of easing the tension in the room. “But then I think I’ve earned the right.”
Mike and Angel looked at each other, then back to him.
“The paper. Apparently you haven’t seen the headlines.” Cutler reached into his case, took out the newspaper, then pitched it to them.
Following moments of silence, Angel muttered an expletive. Mike whistled under his breath. Both looked back at him.
“Gilmore,” Angel said without a question mark.
“I’m thinking he had help.” Cutler’s features were grim. “Drew Rush.”
“Wouldn’t doubt it,” Mike injected. “Talk about pissed off. When Rush handed over his records, I thought he was going to have a coronary.”
“If that pissed him off,” Angel chimed in, “just wait until he finds out we have someone who’s willing to testify against him.”
Cutler’s mouth went slack.
“Who?” Mike asked, narrowing his eyes on the investigator. “Why haven’t I been told?”
“One question at a time,” Angel said, obviously reveling in the attention he was getting.
Cutler glared at him. “Out with it.”
“He’s an ex-employee of Drew’s. And to make a long story short for now, they got crossways somehow and the man saved some recorded messages. He figured
they might come in handy in case he wanted to blackmail Rush.”
“Do you have the tapes?” Cutler asked, feeling a new rush of adrenaline.
“Not yet. Tommy Evans is his name. Said he needed more time. I have no choice but to wait him out.”
Mike Snelling looked at his watch, then rose. “If there’s nothing else, I have a meeting. Keep me informed.”
“You keep me informed on the judge,” Cutler said.
Snelling nodded, then left.
The door had barely clicked behind the chief before Angel turned to Cutler and said, “I think I’m being followed.”
Cutler’s forehead furrowed. “You? By who?”
“I don’t know.”
“That smacks of something Rush would do,” Cutler said. “Not that he’d actually follow you. He’s the type who hires someone to do his dirty work.”
“You think he’s got the balls for that?”
“Sure do.”
Angel scratched his head and at the same time peered closely at Cutler. “What’s with you and Rush? My gut tells me it’s something personal with you.”
Cutler hesitated, but only for a moment. He should’ve told Angel a portion of the truth shortly after the fact. Sooner or later he’d hear it from another source. Cutler didn’t want that. “Your gut’s right. The bastard’s my birth father.”
Angel looked as if he’d just been sucker punched.
“Don’t ask me any of the details, because I’m not going to tell you. Out of respect for my mother.” Cutler paused with a grimace. “But there’s nothing good about it. I will say that.”
Angel shook his head as though to clear it. “Man, I don’t know what I expected you to say, but it sure wasn’t that.”
“Keep it to yourself,” Cutler muttered.
“That goes without saying.”
A short silence ensued, then Cutler asked, “Did you get a look at the person you think is following you?”
“Sort of. Remember the key word here is think.”
“Hell, Angel, your gut remains alive and well. If you think you’re being tailed, you are.”
“If Rush is behind it, then he got wind I talked to Tommy Evans.”
“That would be my guess.”
“What do you think he’ll do?” Angel asked.
Cutler thought for a moment. “Hire the smartest team of lawyers to get his ass out of the crack.”
“We need to pick him up.”
“Not until we have enough to make the charges stick.”
Angel gave Cutler a pointed look. “This could get a whole lot nastier than it is now.”
“Maybe not. If Rush and Gilmore are indeed in cahoots, then perhaps they’ve accomplished their goal. That article may very well sink my ship.”
The room fell silent.
Drew Rush didn’t bother to suppress his fury.
How dare that bastard try to best him? The fact that the newspaper article had the power to sink Cutler’s political career was of little consequence to Drew now.
If the D.A. was bound and determined to bring down his empire, despite the countless warnings, then let the games begin, Drew told himself. He paused in his heated thoughts and peered at his watch. Glen was due back at any moment with his report.
Meanwhile Drew couldn’t settle down, and that in itself irked him. He had two deals that were just about to jell and they needed his undivided attention. But no, that bastard son of his was wreaking havoc with his life’s blood.
Dammit, he’d worked his ass off to get where he was and no one was going to do an end run on him and get away with it. Least of all someone who was of his own blood.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
“It’s open.”
Glen Yates came in and without mincing words said, “You’re right. McFarland’s office has talked to Tommy Evans.”
Drew’s insides coiled.
“Tell me what you want me to do, boss, and I’ll do it.”
“For now, leave me alone.”
Drew wasn’t far behind his exiting assistant. He should’ve gone to plan B from the get-go. The idea that he might be getting soft in his old age made him cringe. Then he brightened. Actually, the timing might be even better, he thought with a sense of relief as he made his way to his vehicle.
Thirty minutes later he turned into the driveway of the home of the head elder in Mary McFarland’s church.
He grinned a huge grin. Then he let the fireworks begin.
Forty
Her body was tingly and hot. So hot, she thrashed on the bed. Trying to pinpoint the cause, Kaylee opened her eyes and realized the origin of that wonderful sensation pelting her.
Cutler had her legs spread and his tongue was working its magic. What a way to wake up and start a day, having the man you love make love to you as if you were a precious piece of china.
Kaylee moaned again, sinking her fingers into his hair.
As though he sensed she was on the cusp of an orgasm, his efforts intensified. Instantly her cries of pleasure filled the air.
“It’s your turn,” Kaylee murmured when she could find her voice. Reaching for his erection, she guided it to the wet, pulsating entrance of her vagina.
Without taking his glazed eyes off her, Cutler drove into her, then rode her long and deep until they both were hurtled into hard orgasms.
A while later she lay nestled against his warm chest, his arm tightly around her. He was the first to rouse enough to speak. “So we’re going to have a baby?”
Kaylee had told him the news earlier that evening following a candlelight dinner. Instead of answering him right away, she let her mind wander back to that heady time.
“What’s with all the trappings?” he’d asked, staring at her from across the beautifully decorated dining-room table. “Are you trying to make us forget what a shitty week we’ve had?”
“Partially.”
He’d smiled and gotten up and come around her chair, where he’d kissed her softly on the lips. “Let’s continue this conversation in the living room.” Moments later they were settled in the comfortable room.
“Well, for whatever reason you fed me so royally, I enjoyed the hell out of it. For the first time in a long while my gut is unkinked.”
“Mine, too.”
He kissed her again, this time on the end of her nose. “You’re more beautiful tonight than I think I’ve ever seen you. In fact, you’re glowing.”
“That’s because I have something to tell you.”
“Oh?”
She smiled. “Something special.”
“Ah, that sounds intriguing.”
“Want to guess?”
“New York’s tapped you for another show.”
She gave him an incredulous look. “After that last fiasco, you’ve got to be kidding.”
“Not in the least. In spite of the tragedy, they were pleased with your efforts. Remember, they told you that you’d done an outstanding job.”
“That’s what Emily Austin said, but I didn’t…don’t believe a word of it.”
“They’ll be knocking again. You just wait and see if I’m not right.”
“I’m not about to hold my breath. You can count on that.”
“So what’s your news?”
Now that she was about to divulge her heretofore closely guarded secret, she felt a rush of panic. What if he…
“Kaylee?”
She pulled away so that she could look him directly in the eye. Not only did she want to hear his reaction, she wanted to see it in his eyes. More often than not, the eyes spoke louder than the mouth.
“I’m pregnant, Cutler.”
He sucked in his breath and stared at her wide-eyed. “Pregnant,” he repeated as though he hadn’t heard her correctly. “Did you say pregnant?”
“That’s exactly what I said.”
“But how? I mean—” He broke off abruptly.
Her lips twitched. “The how should be a no-brainer.”
As if he realized what he’d said, Cutler grinned, but that grin was short-lived. His face turned gravely serious. “I didn’t think you…you could have a baby.”
“Me, either.”
Words failed him.
“How do you feel about a baby, Cutler?” she asked in a soft, uncertain voice.
“I don’t know.” He looked dazed, as if she’d just punched him in the solar plexus. “I mean, I’m so shocked because I never thought it was possible.”
Kaylee got off the sofa and turned her back to him, feeling a squeeze on her heart. You can get through this, she told herself. Consider it just another bump in the hard and wounding path that’s been your life.
Suddenly she felt his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened.
“Hey,” he said, his hot breath caressing her ears, “don’t think for one moment that I’m not delighted about the baby.”
She looked back at him, knowing her heart was in her eyes and not caring. “You’re not sorry?”
“Oh, sweetheart, how could you think that?” His lips touched her forehead, her cheeks, then her mouth. “Surprised, yes. Sorry, no. God, no.”
She wilted against him, and to her dismay began sobbing.
“Shh,” he said over and over. “Don’t cry. This is truly a blessed day.”
He was holding her so close that she had trouble breathing. She didn’t care. The fact that he wanted the baby was all that mattered. The other loose ends in their life would fall into place, or they wouldn’t.
“It’s time to celebrate,” he whispered into the silence.
He’d lifted her into his arms and carted her off to bed and made love to her off and on all night and again this morning.
“Darling, I asked you a question.”
Kaylee jerked her mind back to the moment at hand. “Yes, we’re going to have a baby.”
“I didn’t dream it, then?”
“No, you didn’t dream it,” she responded with a smile.
“So how long have you known?”
“A couple of days.”
His brows furrowed. “And you’re just now telling me?”
“I had to get used to the idea myself. In fact, I couldn’t believe it either. Still can’t.”
Evening Hours Page 27