by Molly Liholm
“But then I had a car accident, halfway home. I got scared because my brakes failed and you had just had them checked out for me a few days earlier. I thought you had tampered with the brakes, that you were trying to kill me.”
“I never wanted to hurt you,” Reid said sincerely. “I loved you very much.”
Gloria took her brother’s arm, bringing his attention back to her. “We needed the insurance. Joshua was just supposed to scare Kelly a little, so that she would know what would happen if she told anyone about our profitable operation.”
“But how did you get back home after the accident?” Meg asked. “Adam said you were really badly hurt.”
“I was, but I didn’t know how much at the time. My only thought was that I had to get home, that Adam could make everything right for me, just like he always does.”
Kelly stepped away from both Adam and Reid, standing alone in the center of the room. She bit her bottom lip, then took a deep breath, looking at her brother. “That was the same thought I had this evening, after Reid told me you had followed my tracks to Arizona and that he was now going use me to get you off his back. I wanted to get home and let my big brother fix my problem. I’m really sorry, Adam, but I was scared of going to jail.”
“You’re not going to jail,” he said firmly.
But Kelly straightened and looked around the room. “No, I’m not going to hurt you anymore. It’s time I learned to take responsibility for my own life.” She smiled at Meg. “You’re right. I’m making the choice. Take all your evidence to the police and I’ll testify in court about everything I know.”
“Good for you,” Meg exclaimed.
“Kelly...” Adam began, but fell silent when he saw the gun Gloria had aimed at his sister.
“You silly girl,” she hissed at Kelly. “I am not going to let you ruin us.”
Adam was sure he saw the finger actually moving on the trigger, and he was preparing to jump and knock his sister out of the way when a voice behind Gloria said, “Freeze. It’s the police. Put down your weapon.” A short stocky man had entered the hallway from the kitchen, holding up a badge and aiming a gun at Gloria.
Gloria looked behind her and seemed to calculate her chances for a minute.
“Put down your gun,” Reid told his sister. “You’re not helping the situation.”
Gloria lowered her gun and the policeman took it out of her hands. “Call my station and ask for backup,” he said to Meg.
“You can’t hold us,” Reid said. “You don’t have proof of anything.”
“I saw with my very own eyes this lovely woman threaten to kill Ms. Smith. And I do believe the pair of you have held Ms. Smith captive for the past twenty-four hours. We call that kidnapping in this town. By the time we’ve processed all the paperwork on you, I’m sure the FBI will have had a chance to review Mr. Smith’s files on you and decide on new charges.” The police officer smiled grimly at his two suspects.
“Who are you?” Adam demanded, not believing what was going on.
“Doug Hatfield. I usually work homicide, but Meg asked for a special favor tonight.”
Caroline Smith rose and went to her daughter. “Yes, dear, the charming police lieutenant was in our kitchen, waiting for a good time to arrest your criminals.”
“What if Kelly hadn’t agreed to cooperate?” Adam demanded.
“Well, that was a bit tricky,” Doug Hatfield acknowledged. “Meg was hoping that she could talk your sister around, so we agreed that I would wait in the kitchen and only come out if your sister agreed to do what was right. She did.” The police officer nodded at Kelly. “You’re a brave young woman.”
Adam felt his legs about to collapse under him so he sat down on a chair and watched the activity around him. Meg was on the phone as Doug Hatfield handcuffed both Gloria and Reid. Caroline Smith pulled her daughter over to the sofa and sat next to her, holding her hands comfortingly. Finally Adam turned to the policeman and asked, “How do you know Meg?”
“She’s my editor,” Doug Hatfield said proudly.
16
“I STILL CANT BELIEVE you did that.”
Adam stepped closer to Meg, clenching and unclenching his fists, and she had to fight to stand her ground. She’d expected Adam to be annoyed about her backup plan, but he was coldly furious, which scared her. She raised her chin, meeting his dark green, angry eyes. “I was doing the only responsible thing. You would have behaved exactly the same if it had been my brother.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” Adam said.
“You’re lying. You wouldn’t have wanted to see me throw away all my principles to protect someone I loved. I couldn’t let you do that, either. I know you, Adam Smith. You would have hated yourself.”
Adam ignored her words and looked around her apartment instead. “Nice,” he said sarcastically, and Meg sighed. Winning Adam over to her point of view wasn’t going to be easy. Meg was certain, though, that deep down Adam knew she was right—he just didn’t like to admit it. Didn’t like to admit that by babying his sister all these years, he hadn’t done her much of a favor at all.
He stalked over to her window with the spectacular view of Central Park. Meg had inherited her apartment from her mother’s side of the family. It was far too big for only one person, but she liked having the space for entertaining. She’d set up one of the rooms as her office, a convenient place to keep the ever-growing pile of manuscripts.
She’d never done as much entertaining as she’d meant to—mostly she’d hosted a couple of book launches—but now she vowed she was going to take the time to entertain. No matter what Adam decided about them, she was going to change her old New York life. She was going to remember the lessons she’d learned in Sedona.
To distract herself, she picked up a pillow, turning it round and round in her hands. “You would have done the same if it was my brother, Jay,” Meg insisted. “I know because I did for years. I always made excuses for him and covered for him—until he met Sarah Tepper. He learned to stand up for himself when he finally fell in love. But until then I was holding him back. Always wanting the best for him, I hurt him.”
“What if Kelly hadn’t agreed to testify? Your police. lieutenant would still have had to arrest her.” Adam kept his back to her, but she heard the anguish in his voice.
Meg longed to go over to him and wrap her arms around him, but she felt a chasm growing larger and larger between them. She hugged herself. “Not necessarily. Doug was doing this as a favor to me. I was hoping that he’d be willing to break the rules and just forget he’d spent an evening in your mother’s kitchen if you had gone along with Reid’s deal.”
“It was a big risk,” Adam grumbled, turning to face her. He looked tired. “You should have told me what you were planning.”
“If it hadn’t worked, you would never have known about it. No one would have except your mother.”
“Humph. You should have told me.”
Meg decided to ignore his grumbles and that bleak expression on his face. She needed to do something, so she walked toward her kitchen. “I’m going to make coffee. I could offer you something stronger, if you like.”
“What? No, coffee is fine.” Adam turned back to the window.
Meg brewed the coffee, pulled out a tray and two of her favorite cups. When she caught herself tapping an overture against the sugar bowl with her coffee spoon, she vowed to see a hypnotist and stop the habit. It had only returned once she’d feared that Adam didn’t want to be with her. When the coffee was ready, she carried the tray into the living room, where a defeated Adam was sitting in one of her white-and-beige-striped wing chairs.
Had she done that to him? He thought loving her would be that terrible? Meg took a deep breath and stepped forward. No matter what, she wasn’t going to make him unhappy. But she also knew she wasn’t the woman he wanted.
She handed him a cup and sat in her favorite chair across from him. Wrapping her hands around her own mug, she enjoyed the heat and aroma of the coffe
e. Finally, when she could stand the suspense no longer, she asked, “What now?”
He sipped his coffee and then looked at her levelly. “It looks like we’ve reached the end of your adventure.”
“I mean about us.”
“Yes, I know.” He stretched his legs in front of him. “I must admit I rather like this new you.”
Meg’s heart sank. “You mean the successful, capable businesswoman.”
“Yes.”
“I’m no longer that old Meg Cooper. I liked my search for adventure. It brought me you.”
“Three kisses and we’ll be lovers.”
Meg blushed. “I’d never said anything like that before. Taken a chance like that. Been so bold or so brave.”
Adam got out of his chair and crossed the room, pulling her to her feet, keeping her hands crushed between his. “Meg, we could have something. I care for you.”
“Do you love me?”
Adam didn’t say anything, and Meg felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. Adam still didn’t trust his feelings for her. She was doomed. “Oh, Adam!” She stroked his face, brushing his hair off his forehead. “I love you, more than I thought possible.” He pulled her tightly against him and kissed her until she was dizzy. The room spun away from her and she realized Adam had swept her up in his arms.
“Which way to the bedroom?” Adam nuzzled her neck, his breath hot against her skin.
“Adam, stop. We need to talk.”
He stopped but didn’t put her down. “Why do women always want to talk just when things are getting interesting?”
“Why do men always insist that sex is the answer to all problems?” Adam loosened his grip on her and let her slide to the floor. Once her feet touched ground, he let go of her completely, and Meg felt beret
“Adam, I want you to be happy. I don’t want to be a burden or an obligation to you.”
“Trust me, I don’t see you as a burden. I find you, however, very, very appealing.” He stepped forward and Meg backed up a step. She raised a hand to his chest to halt him and had to stop herself from clutching the material of his shirt and pulling him close to her.
“Three kisses,” he reminded her.
“Yes, but Adam, you don’t believe in the three kisses. In love.”
“Of course I believe in it. It’s brought me nothing but trouble all my life.”
“That’s what I mean! You see love as something bad. All the time you say you care for me, all the time you love me in bed, you’re thinking about the end. About how we’ll hurt each other.”
“Well, I have to admit I did at first. I thought you fell into the pattern I’ve been repeating all my life. I believed you were like Allison and Kelly. But I’ve learned that you’re not. You’re a successful woman more than able to take care of herself.”
Meg waited for him to say that he loved her spirit of adventure, her desire for change, but when he didn’t she knew she’d lost him. “Oh, Adam. I told you I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
Adam frowned at her. “I see it now.” He took her hand. “Let’s go to bed.”
“No, you only see my old New York self. That’s no longer the real me. The real me is the woman you met in Sedona. The woman who, after taking one look at you, knew you were her life mate. Who said and believed in things like three kisses.” She hung her head. “That’s the woman I am.”
He grabbed her by the arms. “No, you’re not. That was just a—a vacation We could be something together.”
Meg still waited, hoping for him to tell her he loved her. “I love you,” she said again. Adam opened his mouth, but still didn’t say anything. “Oh,” she said weakly, finally accepting that he would never want to love her. “Maybe you should go.”
“Meg, please. We should...”
“Date? I know, Adam. I know you’re the man I want to spend my life with—my whole life. I have no doubt. But you do.”
“I do,” he admitted, looking as if he wanted to say more.
“Goodbye,” she said again, feeling such a sharp pain in her heart that she didn’t know if she could stop herself from calling out to Adam when he left. Instead, she turned her back to him, hoping that when she was strong enough to face him, he would be gone.
He was. The man of her dreams had left her life.
ADAM RETURNED to his old life, the life he’d enjoyed before he’d been ambushed by Megan Elizabeth Cooper. Except it was no good. His job was still interesting; he managed to cover several big stories and his editor nominated one of his pieces for an award.
Kelly received a suspended sentence and a job offer from Abigail Milton to return to Sedona and manage the rebuilt The Gateway. She took the offer, and her letters home were filled with news about Sedona residents—news he looked forward to hearing. Freddie’s name came up more than anyone else’s and Caroline Smith had asked what Adam would think of Freddie as a son-in-law. As much as he hated to admit it, Adam thought Freddie might make an excellent husband for Kelly.
Determinedly, Adam had asked out three very wonderful women, women who were the type he thought should be part of his life: Beverly, a lawyer; Charlene, an investment banker; and Maureen, a children’s librarian. Unfortunately, he’d been bored by the first two. Beverly had spent far too much time talking about her career and the political moves she had to make within her firm to make partnership. Meg had never once talked about her career when they’d been together. Charlene had kept offering him financial advice and encouraging him to diversify his portfolio. She had spoken ominously about how much money they would need for retirement, and how much university education for their children would cost. Her sense of gloom and doom was so different from Meg’s optimism and determination—even when someone was pointing a gun at her.
Maureen, however, was perfect. She was attractive and liked to talk about ideas. She understood and appreciated his passion for writing and discovering the truth. She cared for children, but she wasn’t obsessed by her biological clock. They had had a nice dinner date, followed by an evening at the symphony. It turned out they shared a passion for music.
One Sunday they walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and meandered along the waterfront, passing the vendors. Maureen picked up a hat, red felt with a bright pink rose, and tried it on. “What do you think? Too sully for a children’s librarian?”
Adam looked up at her animated face, and for a second she reminded him so much of Meg that he had to take in a deep breath.
“You don’t like it?” Maureen asked. “I thought it looked rather nice on me.”
“It looks great on you. I was just thinking of something else.” Adam nodded at the vendor. “She’ll take it.” He pulled out his wallet.
Maureen frowned at him, but she waited for him to pay before looping her arm through his. “Let’s walk farther along the river.”
Arm in arm they strolled, stopping to watch the sun set. Adam wondered what the hell was wrong with him. Maureen was the perfect woman for him. Bright, charming, funny, levelheaded. Everything he’d always thought he wanted. And what did he feel for Maureen? Nothing. A big fat zero. He’d met the perfect woman and all he could think about was that she wasn’t Meg. His senses didn’t go on alert when she entered the room. He didn’t keep thinking about her. When something good or bad happened to him he didn’t long to tell Maureen; he longed to tell Meg.
“Adam, we need to talk,” Maureen said, still looking out at the river.
“Most conversations that begin with those words never end very well.”
“I like you an awful lot, Adam. So much so that I didn’t object when you paid for my hat before I’d decided I really wanted it. You do have a habit of deciding what is best for other people.”
“I’ve been told it’s a bad habit of mind. Sorry.”
“Told by the woman you’re dating me to forget?” Maureen turned to him and smiled wistfully. “It’s pretty easy to tell that you’re pining for another woman. You compare everything I do to her.”
“I do not. Well, maybe sometimes.” He took Maureen’s hands between his. “There was someone, but she was all wrong for me. You’re the kind of woman I want—” He felt something solid jab into his back and Maureen gasped.
“Nice and steady, now,” the young kid’s voice behind him said. “Alls I want is your money. And that sharp ring your lady is wearing.”
Adam raised his hands, cursing the fact that he and Maureen had turned a corner along the river so that no one else could see them. Maureen paled, her hands shaking as she pulled the ring off her finger.
“My wallet’s in my right-hand pocket. I’m going to turn around and give it to you.” Adam spoke the words slowly and confidently, and turned around slowly so as not to frighten their young assailant.
The kid didn’t look much more than seventeen, but Adam knew anyone could be dangerous. Adam reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. The young punk grabbed it and then turned to Maureen.
“I want that ring.”
Tears were streaming down Maureen’s face as she held out her ring. “It belonged to my grandmother. She didn’t have a lot to leave behind, but she gave me this on my seventeenth birthday.”
Adam moved in front of Maureen, blocking her from the kid. The boy looked at him with great surprise. He tucked Adam’s wallet into the front of his jacket, looking up and down the street nervously. “Hey, man. Stand still.”
Adam held up his hands again, making eye contact. The way sweat broke out on their assailant’s face gave him hope that the kid was fairly new to his life of crime and Adam would be able to get him and Maureen away without being hurt. “My date wants to keep her ring. You can have all of our money—I even have a really nice watch, a Rolex.” Adam unclasped it from his wrist and held it out.
The kid looked around, confused. “Man, you’re weird.”
“I don’t want any trouble. My date just wants to keep her ring.”
“I say what goes.”
“Of course. You’re absolutely in charge.” Adam waited as the kid shifted his weight from foot to foot, then lowered the gun and held out his hand.