by Vella Day
“I like it in here, too.”
Once the waitress seated them, Amber sank back against the booth and tried to push aside the recent shocks.
It finally occurred to her that since Cade was in the middle of an investigation that he probably should be working right now. “I thought a detective usually spoke with the family after… you know.” She didn’t want to say “murder” in a restaurant.
“My partner is doing the honors.”
Stone never mentioned Cade worked with anyone. “I thought you were a solo guy.”
A small smile appeared then quickly evaporated. “I prefer it that way, but I do make an exception every now and then.” A twinkle shone in his eyes.
Okay. Why did she get the feeling he wasn’t talking about his job anymore? Fortunately, the server came over and took their drink orders before she could figure out the double entendre.
“I’ll have a sweet tea.”
“Ale,” Cade added.
She was pleased he didn’t try to convince her to have a drink. After the day she’d had, she didn’t need any more alcohol.
As long as she had to sit through dinner with a man she hardly knew, she might as well find out more about him. If he and Stone lived together, at some point their paths would cross.
“Why did you decide to become a detective?” Her question sounded corny and a bit stiff as soon as the words left her mouth, but she really wanted the details.
“I was a beat cop first, and then worked my way up to being a detective.”
That didn’t explain why he chose to go into law enforcement. “Were you ever in the military?” His dark hair was cut short, and he seemed to be a big rule follower. Perhaps he was an MP or something, which would make becoming a detective a natural course.
“Four years in the Army. Got out. Went to college and returned. End of story.”
“Wow. Your whole life told in what…twelve words? I don’t think I could do that.”
This time he did smile and wham. She hadn’t expected such an intense reaction. Her heart skipped a beat and tingles raced up her spine. Cade Carter was lethal, but she immediately reminded herself Stone was whom she was attracted to.
Sure, a few of her friends were in ménage relationships and seemed to love it, but she wasn’t the type to engage in something like that. Hell, she couldn’t keep one man happy let alone two. Besides, no woman goes from having slept with a total of four men in her life to doing two at a time.
Nope. Not going to happen.
Besides, Cade didn’t seem the type to share. He was too controlling, too solitary.
Stop thinking about sex.
The server arrived with their drinks and asked if they were ready to order. “I know what I want,” Cade said. “Have you had time to look?” He’d softened his tone when he spoke with her.
She’d only glanced at the menu. “Give me a second.”
The waiter nodded. While she thought about how to open up the close-mouthed man, she scanned the selections. She loved fish and was presented with about ten great options. She looked up at their server. “The salmon in the dill sauce.”
“Excellent choice.”
As soon as Cade gave his order, the waiter disappeared. She leaned on her elbows. “Let me ask you this. What motivated you to go into law enforcement in the first place?”
He sat back and stretched his arms across the top of the padded booth, but he didn’t look comfortable. It was almost as if he wanted her to believe he had nothing to hide. “You won’t stop will you?”
At least he hadn’t bristled, but she wouldn’t go so far as to say he was eager to answer either. “No, so spill, soldier.” She tried to lighten the mood.
He blew out a breath, but there was no hint of humor in his expression. “I imagine Stone will tell you the story sooner or later, so I’ll give you my take.”
She sat up straight, her gaze on him. “I’m listening.”
“My father, Scott Carter, was a very charismatic man. Charming most would say. Good looking, my mother always claimed.”
“Do you look like him?” Crap. That sounded like she thought he was attractive. Okay, he was, but she didn’t want him to believe she was interested in him as a man.
“My mother said I did.”
She waved a hand. “Go on.”
He sat up and wrapped his large hands around his glass. For a second she thought about those hands and what they could do with her body. At that thought, she mentally shook her head. It would serve no one any good for her thoughts to head down that path.
“My mother, Miranda Wentworth, came from high society. Her father was an oilman in Texas. She was spoiled, and although she attended junior college, she really had no interest in furthering her education. When my dad passed through her town one day, he spotted her and immediately knew she was the woman for him.”
The story was very sweet. “Was it love at first sight?”
He cocked a brow and sipped his ale. “You’re a romantic, I see.”
She was, but she wasn’t sure she felt comfortable with him finding out that much about her. “Continue with your story, please.”
“As nice as it sounded, it was not love at first sight, though my dad convinced my mother it was. He was attracted to her because of her family money.”
The bitterness jumped across the table and nearly burned her.
“After my father swept her off her feet, he convinced her to move back to Rock Hard where he lived.”
She couldn’t imagine a wealthy woman giving up her life to move to this harsh climate.
You did.
“Did your father’s family have money?”
“No, but once more he was able to persuade my mother he was a wealthy realtor and that he’d give her everything she wanted so she could live in the same manner as before.”
“He must have been a magician.” Poor men couldn’t just produce wealth.
“If you call robbing banks magic, then yes.”
A gasp escaped. His words had come out painfully hard, and he leveled her with a stare as if he expected her to think less of him. She didn’t. “A bank robber, huh. How did that work out for him?” She was being facetious, but she didn’t know what else to say.
This time when Cade leaned back, the tension in his face diminished. “Quite well for a while. Dad actually was a realtor in between jobs. He’d get a few sales, but that wasn’t enough for Mom to remain happy. She needed money not only for herself but for me, too. When she complained she needed more, he and his partner would rob another bank.”
“Did your mom know what your dad did?”
“No. At least not at first.”
Something else didn’t add up. “How many banks were there in Rock Hard back in the days?”
He actually chuckled, though it held no mirth. “Dad was smart enough not to rob banks around here. He and his partner traveled around to most of the western states. Dad told us he wanted to learn about the real estate in other parts of the country, which was why he was gone for a month at a time. I was too small to understand, but my mom seemed oblivious to it all, enjoying her cushy life.”
It didn’t sound like he had much respect for her, but perhaps the topic of his mother was also a painful one. “I take it he was caught?”
“Actually no, but he was shot in the leg during one of the heists. Somehow, he managed to make it back home. It was then he came clean to my mother. She was horrified at first, then decided as long as he didn’t shoot anyone, it would be okay. After all, the banks were insured.”
Seriously? What kind of mother was she? Cade’s mom sounded as calloused as her own, but she had no right to judge his.
“Problem was, he refused to turn himself in, which meant he couldn’t go to a hospital to have the bullet removed. By the time my mom realized his leg had become infected it was too late. He passed away a short while later.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Me, too.”
She hissed in a breath.
“How did your mom deal with his death?”
“She was devastated. She truly loved him, for richer or poorer, as they say. After the money stopped coming in, she fell ill and couldn’t afford proper care. A few days after I turned eighteen, she passed.”
What could Amber say? The man had suffered terribly. “Why didn’t she move back to Texas?” Her parents were wealthy and might have been willing to provide for her.
“She was too proud to go home. No one likes to admit they’ve been a fool.”
That sounds like me.
“When did you find out about your dad’s past?”
“My dad died when I was ten, but probably because I worshipped him, my mom waited until my fifteenth birthday before revealing what kind of man he truly was.”
She couldn’t imagine what that betrayal did to him. He still hadn’t answered her question about law enforcement, but she could fill in the blanks. “With few choices, I guess it made sense to go into the service.”
“Yes. It’s what gave me my sense of direction, not to mention they paid for my education.” He finished his beer. “What my dad did was wrong.” A twitch caught his bottom lip.
Something else remained hidden behind his words. Then it hit her. “Are you trying to atone for his sins?” If that were true, what a horrible burden to bear.
He worked his mouth. “Maybe.”
Their food arrived and instead of asking more probing questions, she dug into her meal. The salmon was divine. “You’re right. This is a great place to eat.”
Now a grin appeared, one big enough for his dimples to crease his cheeks. Who would have thought Cade Carter would have dimples? Maybe he wasn’t the uber tough man she first believed him to be.
He was almost through with his steak when he set his fork down and waved to the waiter.
When the man trotted over, Cade ordered a coffee. “You want another tea?” He cocked a brow and looked as if he’d like to stay a bit longer.
“Sure.” She was enjoying herself and wouldn’t mind prolonging their “date.”
“So tell me why you became an oncology nurse.” He winced. “I hope it wasn’t because someone in your family died of cancer.”
“No, and I’m very thankful for that.” She told him about her superstar brother who was now a doctor, and her accomplished mom who was a cardiac surgeon.
“It seems as if your whole family is into helping others.”
She wasn’t sure about her mom, but her brother was. “I guess.”
“Stone said you moved here a year ago from Oklahoma City. Why Rock Hard?”
This sounded like a reverse of what she’d asked him about his mom. “I got a job offer that was very good.” Plus, I wanted to get as far away from my site of humiliation as I could.
Chapter Eleven
From the slow way Cade was taking his time finishing the last few bites of his steak, his mind was spinning. He finally looked up. “Why not stay in Oklahoma? I imagine as an oncology nurse, you could have had your choice of locations. It’s harsh here. From what I can tell, it doesn’t look like some man lured you here with the promise of riches.”
Far from it. Amber almost grinned. “I can see you don’t work for the tourist bureau.”
He waved a fork at her. “Touché. But I’m serious. Why come here?”
She didn’t know how she knew, but it was as if the man could see right through her. “To be honest, I didn’t want to be near my ex-husband anymore. Nor did I enjoy being around Mom. She disapproved of everything I did.” Everyone in Amber’s circles back home knew about Rich, but she’d only told Jamie why the marriage really ended. “I guess I should back up.”
“Please.”
“After I received my nursing degree, I met Rich Larson. He was a charming man who paid attention to me. I was quite inexperienced and fell for him. Within three months we were married.”
She hadn’t told Stone about her past. Not only didn’t she want him to think of her as a failure, it was damn embarrassing. She might not have told Jamie had the two of them not tied one on one night. Why she was sharing this with Cade she didn’t know, except that he’d been forthcoming with her. It couldn’t be easy to be a cop and admit his father had been a thief.
Ever since she left home, she’d bottled up her frustrations, anxieties, and insecurities until it had bubbled to the surface and eaten away at her. That was when she had leaked her past to her friend.
“Did he become abusive?” His scowl scared even her.
“Oh, no. Never.”
The server set her glass of tea in front of her. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, thank you,” she said.
Cade just shook his head and then faced her. “I know I’m being nosy, and you certainly don’t have to share, but it seems as if this break-up still bothers you.”
Now she was a bit uneasy. “Do you read minds?”
“No, but many have asked me that question. I’m observant, that’s all. For example, when you mentioned your home, your fingers tightened around your knife.” He tapped the side of his eye. “And you get this cute little tic when you’re thinking of something particularly bad.”
She set her knife down and placed her hands on her lap unable to respond.
He smiled. “It won’t matter if you put your hands on your lap or close your eyes, your body language tells me your thoughts.”
“You’re trying to psych me out, aren’t you, detective?”
“Am I?”
She shifted in her seat then stilled, thinking maybe that action told him something. Damn him for putting such doubt in her brain.
“There’s nothing you can do, sugar. Your eyes, your lips, the way you tilt your head are all tells. You might as well reveal your secrets because I’ll drag the truth out of you eventually.” He winked, but the memory of the interrogation intruded, and her stomach clenched.
Who was this man? He seemed to have a sixth sense. Actually, she had told him the truth when he’d questioned her about Chris’s death. It was just that he hadn’t been ready to believe her answers.
Regardless of his mistake, he seemed deeply sincere now. Something about him instilled confidence, too. Whoa. Where had that thought come from? A few hours ago, she thought Cade Carter was the devil incarnate, but now that she’d seen him in action, she actually…well, liked him.
You more than like him. Maybe it was because he’d shared his family history with her. She doubted he’d told many people about his past.
If he could confess his father was a bank robber, she might as well tell him her tale. After all, she’d have to spill the proverbial beans to Stone at some point.
She’d already finished her fish and pushed the plate to the side. She grasped her glass in both hands and leaned back. If he thought her action meant something, too bad.
“As I’ve said, my relationship with my family isn’t the best. Except for Chris, we were never close.” She inhaled. This was harder than she thought. “I went to college for four years and then applied to med school. I spent the year after college studying for the MCAT—that’s the entrance exam for medical school. It’s all I did. I was consumed with the need to get in.”
“You were living at home, I take it?”
“Yes. I didn’t have time to get a job, so it made financial sense. Mom worked a lot and Thomas was doing his residency by then, so I mostly had the house to myself.” She sipped more of her tea, mostly to give herself time to figure out how to word what came next. “I took the test and didn’t make as high a score as I’d hoped.”
His cheeks caved a bit. “How did that make you feel?”
He sounded like a shrink. “Like what you’d expect. A failure. A real loser. The hardest part was that my mother emotionally pulled away even more.”
He shook his head in apparent sympathy. “What did you do?”
“I went to nursing school. Mom pretended like she was proud, but I could tell she’d wanted a second doctor in the family.”
&nb
sp; “And afterwards?”
With each question, his tone became more urgent. His lack of judgment meant the world to her. “In walked Richard Larson.” A small smile escaped. “Rich was a hedge fund manager who was quite wealthy, although the similarities ended there. He was the total opposite of my mom. I’m not sure whether it was because he was super nice or if I was desperate for someone to love me, but after a very short courtship, we were married.”
“You were happy though.”
Her stomach twisted a bit at the memory. “Yes. For a while.” Her face heated. Telling someone about her inadequacies in bed wasn’t a topic she wanted to bring up, but this would be a good rehearsal for when she approached Stone. “As time passed, I began to suspect my beloved husband wasn’t interested in sex—at least not with me.”
His brows furrowed. “It wasn’t because of you.”
His matter-of-fact statement bolstered her confidence. “Apparently it was. I was in total denial the entire year we were married. Then one day Rich came home and gave me the old, we need to have a talk.”
Cade nodded. “Been there, done that.”
Had he been on the receiving or the giving end? “Anyway, Rich said he was very sorry, but that he was leaving me. He’d only married me so he wouldn’t be found out.”
His mouth opened. “This Rich character was gay?” He jerked his head around, probably realizing his voice had come out rather loud.
“Yup. A month after our divorce was final, I heard he married Paul Wayfair.”
Cade finished his drink. “I bet by then you’d applied for another job and were winging your way to Rock Hard.”
“You got it.”
“What did your mom think about that?”
She tucked her chin. “Are you kidding? She has no idea. At least I don’t think she does. She’s not in those circles.”
“Did you tell Stone?”
She shook her head. “Not yet, but I will. I’ve been a little preoccupied, what with being the main suspect in a string of murders.” She looked up and this time she winked. He had the courtesy to turn the slightest shade of red.