The Damaged Heroes Collection [Box Set #1: The Damaged Heroes Collection] (BookStrand Publishing Mainstream)

by James, Sandy

  Figuring Katie should hear the news from a friend before someone else showed her the picture, Sam pushed the truck door open and stepped out, taking the magazine with her.

  “Sam,” Katie called from the aisle where she brushed one of the horses. “Nice to see you.” Katie’s gaze swept Sam from head to toe. “Look at you. You gonna have twins?” She winked at Sam.

  “Quit making fun.” Sam rubbed her well-rounded stomach and laughed.

  “I think you look wonderful.” Katie’s eyes twinkled. Sam was glad to see her happy for once, and she had to squelch her guilt at being the bearer of bad news. But better to hear it from a friend.

  “It’ll be you running around with a belly like this in no time. Just wait another couple of months. By then you can borrow my maternity clothes. Did Jacob and Kevin get away all right?”

  Katie nodded as she continued her work. “Yeah. I’m down to five horses. I didn’t need the help anymore. Besides, I was tired of dealing with Dan Porter anyway. He never pays his bills. All of his horses are all in Perry’s stable now.”

  “Good riddance.” Sam walked closer to where Katie worked.

  “My thoughts exactly. Thanks for taking over Chris’s pay.”

  “I wish you’d have let me do it sooner. How you feeling?” Sam asked.

  “I’m good. Still some nausea, but the doctor said that should stop in the next couple of weeks. He thinks the baby will come the middle of February.” Sam watched as Katie ran the brush over the horse’s back with practiced ease. “He wanted me to have an ultrasound, but I need to save up some money first. Can you believe those prices?”

  Sam frowned. “You know, you should really call Ross and have him file a paternity—”

  “No!” Katie shouted loud enough to startle the horse.

  “Aren’t you going to at least take the bonus?”

  Sam watched Katie’s eyes grow hard. The twinkle had evaporated. “I don’t want a dime of Seth Remington’s money. Ever.”

  “As long as you don’t have any complications with the pregnancy. Right? I mean, you’d ask if—”

  Katie waved a hand. “Of course. If the baby ever needed anything important that I couldn’t give him, I’d swallow my pride. But I really don’t want him involved if I can help it.”

  “If you really feel that way, then I suppose I should show you this,” Sam said, sheepishly producing the magazine from her enormous purse.

  Katie took it from Sam’s hands and glanced at the cover. After a few long moments, Katie flung it toward the trash barrel and went back to brushing her horse.

  “Aren’t you gonna say something?”

  Katie shrugged. “What’s to say? He’s not the man I thought he was.” She sniffled.

  Sam walked over and put her hand on Katie’s shoulder. Katie sighed and laid her hand over Sam’s. “Thanks for letting me know. It helps to not get broadsided every time I go to the grocery store.”

  “I know. At least the publicity has died down.”

  Katie finished brushing the horse before taking him out of the cross-ties and leading him back to his stall. Sam sat down on one of the green trunks.

  “What scheme are you cooking up now?” Katie asked.

  “No scheme. Just thinking... How do you plan to keep Seth from knowing you’re pregnant? I mean, the guy can add. If he sees you, he’s bound to figure it out.”

  Katie nodded. “I know. For now, it’s easy enough to hide. I’m only about seven weeks along. By the end of the season, I’ll just wear loose sweaters and big jackets. Even if he still watches racing, there’s no way he’ll see me after that. The baby will come before Dan Patch opens again.”

  Sam frowned realizing it probably wasn’t that easy. “You don’t think he’ll be back when the five years are up?”

  Katie shook her head.

  “But if he does show up, how do you think he’ll feel when he sees a four-year-old kid running around?”

  “He won’t be back.”

  “How can you say that?”

  “’Cause Seth’s smart enough to realize he’s not welcome anymore. I know him, and I think he knows me. He’d realize I’d consider it an insult,” Katie replied with confidence Sam figured she probably didn’t really feel. “If he chose the money now, he doesn’t get to change in mind in five years.”

  “I don’t know, Katie. Have you thought about what you’d do?”

  “Yeah, a little,” Katie replied, and then she shrugged. “But I haven’t come up with much. Besides, that’s a long way off. I can’t think about it now. Things have a way of taking care of themselves anyway.” Putting her brushes away, Katie turned back to Sam. “I need to go. I’m having lunch with Ross. He’s looking at claiming again.”

  “That’s okay. I need to go get Brian anyway.” Sam stood up and gave Katie a quick hug. “You coming with us on Monday?”

  “Yeah. I could use the distraction.”

  “See ya then.”

  “Yeah, Sam. I’ll see ya.”

  * * * *

  Katie took a seat as Ross handed her the cup of decaffeinated mocha that the barista had prepared for her. “Why do you even drink it when it’s unleaded? Might as well have water,” he joked. She smiled up at him, but she didn’t say anything as she wiggled the mouse on the computer at their table to begin a search for Ross’s next horse.

  Every time he’d been around her since Seth returned to Chicago, Katie seemed to grow more and more withdrawn. She looked pale. And a bit thinner, too. She had dark circles under her eyes. His heart ached to bring back the effervescent Katie he knew hid inside her somewhere.

  She deserved so much better than what had happened to her from the moment Seth Remington was forced into her life. Yet, after the upheaval of his arrival, Katie had treated Seth with kindness and taken a firm, but loving hand with a man who needed some discipline. She had succeeded in transforming the spoiled man into a valuable human being—at least for the time Seth stayed with her.

  Then the fallout from the discovery of Seth’s identity hit her with the force of a category five hurricane. But Katie had borne the press, as well as the devastation to her professional and personal lives, with dignity and an almost regal bearing. She had triumphed. How could he not admire her?

  Ross also hoped he could still make a difference in her life, the same type of difference she’d made in his. He wanted to be Katie’s knight in shining armor, if she would only let him. Unfortunately, she obviously still cared deeply for Seth. Given time, she’d forget. And maybe Katie could learn to love someone new. Like me.

  Ross had fallen in love with her, and he blamed himself for her woes. If he had known the outcome of the whole debacle, he would have advised Katie to pass on the colt and go back to her life. But then, he would never have gotten to know her.

  Such a paradox.

  When Katie had quietly allowed Seth to go back to his fortune, Ross’s respect for her swelled to admiration. He’d never met a woman who could be so strong, so unselfish. It just reconfirmed his opinion that Seth Remington was a fool. Women like Katie were few and way too far between. Ross wondered what he could do to help her now, even knowing that her heart still belonged to Seth. One amazing idea had been spinning in his head, but he needed to summon an incredible amount of courage to bring it to fruition.

  “This one looks good,” she said as she pointed to the race lines on the screen. “I’m still pissed at O’Riley, and I think I can help this horse. It’d serve him right if we claimed it.” She picked up her cup and sipped her brew.

  Ross loosened the knot on his tie with one hand and drummed his fingers on the table with the other. “Get whatever you want.”

  His heart was telling him it was now or never, and Ross wasn’t sure he’d ever have a better opportunity. They were alone. She’d had some time apart from Seth. He took a leap of faith. “How would you like to get married?”

  Katie choked on her drink. She sputtered and coughed for a few moments as Ross thumped her on the back. �
��What... what did you just say?”

  “I want us to get married.” Katie looked at him wide-eyed. He hurried to explain. “Hear me out. I know you don’t love me, but you like me. And I... I love you. Good marriages have been based on less.”

  Katie continued to gawk at him but kept her thoughts to herself.

  “We’re good together, Katie.” He groped to find a way to convince her of his sincerity. “I want to buy you a farm. We can build a training track. I’ll take care of you. I promise. You’ll never want for anything. Maybe we’ll raise some kids and—”

  Katie winced and looked away.

  “Look, if it’s that bad an idea...”

  She kept her silence for a moment then brought her gaze back to lock with his. “No, Ross. It’s actually a good idea.”

  “Really? Will you think about it?” He heard her heave a sigh as she stared at her cup. Why won’t she look me in the eye?

  “I need to tell you something, Ross. You’re not gonna like it, and I won’t tell you if you don’t swear that you’ll listen as a friend and not Seth’s lawyer.”

  “I’m not Seth’s lawyer anymore.”

  Her eyes came back to his, wide with surprise. “You’re not? What happened?”

  Ross picked up his spoon and stirred his coffee. There were some ethical boundaries he knew he shouldn’t cross, and one was the no-contact order. He carefully considered his words to keep them within the spirit of the will. “I couldn’t work with him anymore. Seth has… changed. He’s lost, Katie. He wasn’t listening to any advice I gave him, and... well... frankly, I think the guy is an idiot.”

  “Why’s he an idiot?”

  “Because he left you behind.”

  “I’d have taken the money too.”

  Ross shook his head. “No, you wouldn’t. That’s the point. You love people, not money. That’s why I love you so much.”

  Katie looked like she actually sympathized with Remington’s plight, and that reaction took Ross by surprise. “You don’t know what I’d do if it were me. You can’t blame Seth for wanting to go home. That money belonged to him. He had every right to get it back.”

  Setting his spoon back on the saucer and picking up his cup, Ross considered her comments. It was hard to believe she could be so understanding considering how the whole situation had affected her personally. “What was it you wanted to tell me?”

  “You’re going to think I’m even bigger idiot than Seth, but you deserve the truth.”

  “What?” He sipped his coffee as he watched a firm resolve settle on her face.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Ross dropped the cup. “Shit!” They both jumped up to reach for napkins to mop up the mess on the table.

  When they finally settled back down, Ross spoke his mind. “You know that baby’s the heir to the Remington—”

  Her fist slammed on the table making her cup jostle. “No! This baby’s mine. And you promised you’d listen as a friend and not a lawyer. I don’t want a penny of his money.”

  Ross nodded in quick acceptance. Katie was even stronger in spirit than he’d ever anticipated. She deserved some happiness, and he would see she got it. “You know what? I’m glad. I always wanted kids.”

  Katie looked at him as if in a stupor. “You still want to marry me?”

  “Of course. I love you.”

  “But, Ross, I don’t love you. Is that fair to you?”

  “Let me decide what’s best for me. Okay? You know, I’m happy about the baby,” Ross reassured with a big smile. “I think I’ll make a helluva dad.”

  Katie jumped up. “I’m going to the bathroom.” She practically ran for the restroom door.

  Desperately needing some privacy to consider all the implications of Ross’s proposal, Katie felt like a coward for fleeing the table like a scared rabbit being chased by a hound.

  This wonderful man was handing her a solution to all of her problems. If Seth had the nerve to come to her in five years, there’d be no reason for him to believe that the child belonged to anyone except Ross. Her son would be safe from Seth’s lawyers and the prospect of a nasty custody suit that she would surely lose without the Remington fortune. Would Seth do that to her? Take her child away?

  She liked Ross, loved him—as a friend. But was that enough to commit to a relationship that should last a lifetime? There was no doubt that she believed Ross would make a fantastic father, but it seemed unfair to let him bear the enormous burden of parenthood for a child that wasn’t his.

  God, Seth, I miss you. Why did you leave me? It hurt to think that her son would never know his real father. But, then again, what made a real father? A real father put the needs of his child ahead of his own selfish desires.

  It suddenly crossed her mind that Ross had said “kids.” He would expect a normal marriage, and while Katie knew he would never pressure her for sex, it was obvious that it would have to become a part of their relationship. At least at some point.

  She stared at the reflection in the mirror. “So what do I do?” The reflection didn’t have the courtesy to answer. It looked every bit as confused as she felt. “Thanks a heap.”

  Katie finally went back and sat down. Ross peered at her from across the small table. She took a few moments to work up enough courage to say what she needed to. “Ross, I don’t know if I could... I mean, would you expect...?” It was too humiliating to even bring up. Katie simply stopped talking and shook her head to banish the thought as she felt the heat of a blush spread across her face.

  “I know what you’re worried about. How about we just say we’ll give it time? I grow on people, remember?” Ross said with a shy smile.

  “Yes, you certainly do.” Katie gave him a nervous laugh.

  Seth won’t forgive you, her heart taunted.

  Seth left me, her logic answered.

  In the end, Katie knew she would have to do what was best for all involved, especially her son. And if she was going to marry Ross, she decided that she would do so without waiting long enough to talk herself out of it. “How would you like to go to Las Vegas and get married?”

  “You mean it? You really mean it? Ah, Katie, I’d love it. The sooner, the better. When can you go?” He sounded like a kid on Christmas morning, and Ross’s enthusiasm made Katie as happy as she could be considering the unusual and unsettling circumstances.

  “How about Sunday? I won’t put any horses in for that day. We can fly out in the morning.”

  Ross pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket and flipped it open. “Sheila? I need two first class tickets from Indianapolis to Las Vegas for early Sunday morning. Charge them to my personal account. I need a nice hotel room for... hang on.” Ross looked at Katie. “How long do you want to stay? We could spend a few days out there, make it a real honeymoon. Maybe catch a show or hit the slots?”

  “I can’t leave the horses more than a night,” Katie replied, feeling guilty for what she was about to do to her friend. “Ross, are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Absolutely.”

  The word made Katie recoil in reminder of Seth’s typical cocky reply. The entire weight on the world landed squarely on her small shoulders. She tried to calm the rapid beat of her heart and swallowed the bile rising in the back of her throat.

  Seth will never forgive me.

  Ross finished his phone call by reassuring his obviously skeptical secretary he wasn’t perpetrating some kind of bizarre practical joke. He flipped the phone shut with a loud snap.

  The tears came despite her best efforts to stop them.

  “Katie, what’s wrong? Is it that upsetting to think about marrying me?”

  Ross’s concern helped Katie regain some control. “I’m... I’m... fine.”

  “Are you worried about money? I’ll take care of you. And Arthur told me that you’re going to get your check next week.”

  “You can tell Seth Remington where he can stick his damn money. I don’t want it.”

  “You earned that money, Katie
. I’ve never seen anyone as patient as you were with Seth.” He reached out and took her hand in his. “Take the money. If you don’t want it for you, then I’ll help you put it in a trust for the baby.”

  She had to think about that one. Saving the money for her son would take some of the pressure off Ross because he shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden for another man’s child.

  Katie finally nodded. “For the baby.” She’d save the money for Seth’s child. And she’d marry Ross. Her heart clenched and an overwhelming wave of sadness coursed over her.

  Why, Seth? Why would you throw our love away?

  Tears filled her eyes and she tried to choke back the sob that rose in her throat. “Ross, I can’t... I can’t do this.”

  Ross stood up and reached for her. In one quick motion, Katie let herself be drawn into his embrace. He pulled her close and stroked her hair. “Yes, you can,” he whispered in her ear. “It’s best for everyone, Katie. I’ll take good care of you. And I’ll take care of your baby.”

  Your baby. Not our baby. Kate wondered if that was a bad sign, but she sniffled and nodded. “We’ve always made good partners. Haven’t we?”

  “The best,” Ross replied.

  But when the time came to say, “I do,” could she follow through?

  Chapter 32

  Seth shoved a CD into the Bose stereo. The soft jazzy sound of Michael Bublé’s “Home” filled the room. Seth threw the empty case down on top of the enormous stack of new music he’d acquired since his return to the Remington compound.

  Barry Manilow and Billy Joel mixed with several of the singers Seth had finally decided he enjoyed. It goaded him that Ross had poked fun of his new selection of tunes. So what was the difference if a guy enjoyed a good love song every now and then?

  Screw him.

  The songs brought him comfort in a sorrowful sort of way as images of Katie swirled around his mind each time he listened to them. He could almost hear her voice and feel the touch of her hand with each bittersweet song.

  I miss you, Boss.

  Throwing himself onto the leather sofa, Seth reached for the remote control and turned on the television. He hit the mute button so he could listen to the music as he flipped through the channels to locate any kind of horseracing. There was none to be found, so he quickly turned the plasma screen back off.