Second Chances

by Leigh Morgan

  “Then I’ll show you how ‘electrifying’ I can be. I promise you haven’t begun to feel the currents I can raise with my joystick.” Ram said, suddenly feeling ten feet tall.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “You’re not angry about the house?” Ram asked, not quite believing his luck.

  “I was angry about the house. But I called the realtor on the way home and I had her suspend the sale indefinitely.”

  There was something in the way Rhia answered him that had Ram’s palms sweating.

  “What did you do?” Ram asked.

  “What makes you think I did anything?”

  “The way you’re squirming around, the fact that you can’t look me in the eye, and the sick feeling I’m getting.”

  Rhia shrugged. “Just experiencing a pang of buyer’s remorse.”

  “What did you buy?”

  “Just something on e-bay.” Rhia shot him a quick glance. “I used your PayPal account. Flossie knows your password.”

  Ram felt himself relax. So she bought something on e-bay. How bad could it be? He had his PayPal account set to take funds out of his largest savings account so there was no danger of her hitting his limit.

  They were sitting at her kitchen table eating breakfast. Rhia had slept the afternoon and the night through. She looked better this morning after sixteen, or so, hours of sleep.

  “You can always return it if it doesn’t fit or it isn’t what you thought from the description. Most sellers are pretty good about accepting things back if it was an honest mistake.” Ram offered, trying to make her feel better.

  “Can you take back a castle?” Rhia asked.

  Ram spit his coffee across the table. His eyes narrowed and he couldn’t hear above the roaring echo of his blood in his ears.

  “Flossie wouldn’t dare.” He hoped he was right.

  “She said something about you cutting off her popcorn supply and then she keyed in the password.” Rhia shrugged again. “It’s a small castle. The gardens looked lovely in the photo.”

  Ram took his plate to the sink and stood looking out the kitchen window at the ‘For Sale’ sign he’d hammered into Rhia’s front yard. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. He had no intention of selling her house, and now he owned a castle.

  “You did say I had full access to your accounts.” She said, not sounding all that contrite to him.

  Ram dropped his head and let out a deep breath. He had given her complete access, he just hadn’t counted on how angry she’d be when she found out he’d misled her. And he had threatened her house.

  Shit.

  Well he’d learned a valuable lesson. His wife was more devious than he was and she’d enlisted the aid of people he’d known and loved his entire life.

  “You’re a dangerous woman, Rhia Macleod.” Ram sighed, resigned to the fact that he was going to take his punishment like a man.

  “So, how much did this castle you haven’t even seen cost me?”

  “Three point five million pounds. But don’t worry, you should get about three-hundred and fifty-thousand dollars for this place.”

  Ram threw his head back and laughed. So that’s why Flossie helped her. Flossie knew he had over seventy-million pounds in that account. Poor Rhia, she had no idea just what he was worth. Given her penchant for revenge he wasn’t sure he wanted to tell her.

  “So, what are you going to name it?”

  The laughter had taken her by surprise. She wasn’t sorry she bought the place, Ram had threatened her home after all, but she hadn’t expected him to find her effort to get to him funny. William had a fit if she spent more than two hundred dollars on any one thing.

  Ram was definitely no William Wainwright.

  Thank. You. God.

  Rhia found herself smiling. “I have to name it?”

  Ram turned around and smiled at her. “Every castle worth owning has a name. So what’s it gonna be? ‘Rhia’s Revenge’?”

  She crossed the room toward him wondering when her irritation with him had evaporated. She was finding it easier to be angry with him when he was a continent away. She couldn’t seem to sustain that emotion when he was smiling at her like that.

  She went up on tip-toe to kiss him. “How about ‘Macleod’s Madness’?”

  Ram looked into her lovely face and said the first thing that popped into his head. “I think ‘Macleod’s Miracle’ is more fitting.”

  “I hope you don’t take too much of a bath selling the castle.” Rhia answered honestly. She wasn’t sorry she bought it, but she didn’t want Ram to lose too much money when he sold it.

  Ram’s arms tightened around her. “I’m not selling it. It’s yours.”

  “What am I going to do with a castle in Scotland?”

  “You should have thought about that before you clicked ‘buy it now’.” Ram laughed. He turned her around and lightly swatted her bottom. “I hope you can afford the taxes Mrs. Macleod.”

  ...

  Ram took down the ‘For Sale’ sign while Rhia ran her errands and stopped by the college where she taught world history to freshman girls. The school administrator had called this morning and asked that she come in as soon as possible.

  Ram was filling the holes in the yard when Ben Stark pulled up in his dark diesel SUV with tinted windows. He shut the driver’s door cutting off a woman’s screech.

  “Have to kidnap your women these days Ben?” Ram asked.

  “As a matter of fact I did kidnap her. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring a gag and I didn’t want to leave her alone long enough to buy one.”

  “Jeeze man, you look like crap. What’s going on?” Ram asked noticing his friend’s three day beard and red-rimed eyes.

  Ben waved Ram’s question off. “Why aren’t you answering your cell?”

  Ram flushed. He hadn’t seen the damn thing since he started cleaning out the garage. “It’s been missing for a couple’a days.” Ram admitted. “It’s probably lost its charge by now.”

  “Well the shit’s about to hit the fan buddy. I’ve been trying to run interference but I’m afraid it’s all about damage control now.”

  Ben rubbed his eyes and moved closer to Ram. “Ah hell here they come.”

  It didn’t take Ram long to figure out why Ben was looking so worried. The vultures had found him and unfortunately he’d led them right to Rhia’s door. She’d forgiven him for threatening to sell her house and it had only cost him one small castle. Odds were against him being able to buy his way out of this one.

  T.V. cameras from the major network entertainment shows kept their vans on the street, knowing they couldn’t be charged with trespassing so long as they stayed on public property.

  Ram plastered a smile on his face and muttered at Ben to do the same. “Who’s in the van, Ben? And how is she going to help.”

  “Becca. I kidnapped her from a photo shoot in Houston. It took twenty-eight hours to get here. I’m not sure what she’ll do if we let her out. She’s pretty pissed at me right now.” Ben answered truthfully.

  “Ram...Ram...over here...” Beautiful men and women with perfect tans, looking like they were born with microphones in their hands, were vying for his attention. He would have smiled, waved and driven away before they had a chance to assault Rhia, but she chose that moment to pull into the driveway.

  Stay in the car...stay in the car...

  She got out and looked around, clearly not understanding what was happening, or why. Camera lights flashed and flared stopping her in her tracks.

  “Ah hell.” Ram muttered, moving toward her and the reporters. How was he supposed to control this? He held up a hand trying to gain their attention.

  “Guys...guys...this isn’t the right place to do this.” The cameras were flashing and strobing as he made his way to Rhia’s side. He put his arm around her, willing her to be calm. “Smile. We’ll never get rid of them if they smell blood.” He whispered in her ear, pulling her close.

  “Is that your wife, Ramsey? How much o
lder than you is she? How did you meet? What about Becca Stonehaven? She was seen just last month looking at wedding dresses...” The questions hit like bullets, not really caring if they were on target, all that mattered was the damage they did.

  “Ram, is she the woman in the photos?...She looks older in person?...” Then some idiot with microphone crossed the street and stood in the entrance to the driveway, less than ten feet away from Rhia.

  “Is it true that you were fired for unethical conduct Mrs. Macleod?” The dweeb asked while his mike man stuck a fuzzy microphone as close to Rhia as he could get.

  Ram’s hands fisted as the color drained from Rhia’s face, but he kept his smile. “Go in the house, sweetheart. I’ll deal with this.”

  Unfortunately Becca stepped from Ben’s SUV before Ram could usher Rhia away. Becca was used to the cameras and had no problem posing. This was just another publicity stunt for her.

  “Ms. Stonehaven, over here. Becca...show us that smile...” Becca was obviously eating up the attention. She was at her best when put on display for the masses.

  “Becca, rumor has it that you leaked the photos of Ram and his wife clubbing. Any response?”

  Becca laughed and casually tossed her jet-black hair over her shoulder. “That wasn’t a leak, Tom. That was just a joke between friends. Ramsey and I are always doing things like that. Just a little fun between old friends. Right Ram?”

  Ram’s tight smile didn’t reach his eyes, but his voice was light when he replied. “Right. Just remember what they say about payback, Becca.” Ram laughed for the cameras, so absorbed in his role of jocular rock-star that he didn’t realize Rhia was no longer standing next to him.

  Hunter Wainwright pulled her P.T. around the camera crews just in time to see her mother punch Becca Stonehaven in the face. Hunter’s brother, Ethan, was shocked speechless at the sight of his mother, who deplored violence of any kind, punching out a supermodel.

  Hunter gave a low whistle. “Go mom.”

  Ethan was less enthusiastic. “Dad’s gonna shit bricks over this.”

  Unfortunately Ethan was right.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “You punched me.” Becca squealed.

  Rhia pulled a bag of petite frozen peas from the freezer, put it in Ben Stark’s hand and nodded toward Becca. “Yea, well, you deserved more than a slap, and you’re too damn tall to spank.” Rhia felt her face flush, but she’d be damned if she’d apologize.

  “Too bad you didn’t break her jaw. At least that would have shut her up.” Ben whispered in Rhia’s ear before he crossed the room just far enough to toss Becca the peas.

  “What am I supposed to do with these?” Becca asked, oblivious to the glares she was receiving.

  Rhia grabbed a towel from the oven handle and approached Becca. She smirked when the larger woman recoiled. Grabbing the peas, Rhia wrapped them in the towel and held the towel to Becca’s jaw. When she saw that it was red and beginning to swell, Rhia felt a pang of remorse. She’d never hit anyone in anger before and it wasn’t half as satisfying as she thought it would be. Rhia’s touch was surprisingly gentle when she placed the improvised cold pack to Becca’s jaw.

  “You really are useless, aren’t you?” Her hands may have been gentle but Rhia never had been able to leash her tongue when someone she loved had been hurt.

  “I made seventeen million dollars last year with this face, that’s hardly useless. How did you do after expenses?” Becca shot back.

  Well, Rhia had to give her credit, the witch didn’t back away from a fight. Even with a kitchen full of angry people shooting daggers at her, blocking every exit, Becca sat like a queen.

  Stark pulled out the chair next to Becca and tried to move the towel so he could see how much damage had really been done to her jaw. Rhia watched as the elegant woman pulled back and growled at Stark, slapping his hand away. Stark settled back in his seat, smiling at Becca. The man had one hell of a smile, Rhia thought, feeling its impact all the way to her toes, and it wasn’t even directed toward her.

  “Ibuprofen will help the swelling.” Stark said to no one in particular.

  Ram opened the cabinet over the microwave and pulled out three small pills. He knew right where the water glasses were too. He’d obviously made himself at home in the days since he broke into her house. Rhia flushed, hoping he hadn’t found her stash of erotica in her closet.

  Hunter pulled out a chair across from Becca and sat down. At nineteen, Hunter thought she knew all there was to know about the world. She was beautiful, smart, and projected an air of jaded-ness that no teenager from suburbia should have been able to conjure. Rhia was incredibly proud of her children, but their fearlessness scared her.

  “So what did you do to piss my mother off like that? She hasn’t even been able to bring herself to spank Ethan or me.” Hunter shrugged. “Not since I was four and started the bathroom on fire anyway. Did you start a fire?” Hunter asked, popping a grape in her mouth from the fruit bowl on the table.

  “Yes, I started a fire all right.” Becca answered, glaring at Ram who was leaning against the sink, one arm around his wife.

  “I was trying to put it out when she decked me.”

  “What did you do?” Hunter asked again.

  “Hunter.” Rhia said in a warning tone. “This really doesn’t concern you or Ethan. Why don’t you go upstairs.”

  Hunter turned and looked at her mother. “Since you’re going to be on national T.V. punching out one of the most recognizable faces in the world in front of our house, I think Ethan and I have a right to be concerned.”

  Rhia didn’t have a ready comeback for that one. Oh God. When are you going to send that lightning?

  Ram pulled her close and demanded, “Pray later. Your daughter seems to be holding her own. Besides, I want to hear what Becca has to say.”

  Rhia flushed realizing she’d just been talking, well praying anyway, out loud, in front of strangers and her children. She really did need to start researching the benefits of anti-psychotic meds. Since she was probably going to jail for battery, she’d have the chance to ask the jail’s psychologist about it.

  “I had some pictures delivered to the tabloids. I wasn’t trying to hurt your mom. I was trying to hurt Ramsey.” Becca glared at Ram from above her water glass as she took her ibuprofen.

  “I should have known that wouldn’t work. The man’s incapable of feeling pain.” Becca focused on Hunter again. “I didn’t know that the private detective I hired to deliver the photos was going to send them to your mom’s college. I found out about that yesterday, when Ben kidnapped me.”

  Rhia watched Ben wink at the obviously irate woman and pop a grape in his mouth. Becca dismissed him with a haughty grace Rhia couldn’t help but admire. She may be a bitch, but Becca Stonehaven had class.

  “We’ve been trying to call Ram’s cell to warn you, but there was no answer. Ben finally tracked down the home phone here, but apparently it’s been temporarily disconnected.”

  Rhia knew there was something she forgot to do before she left. Hopefully paying the phone bill was the only thing she forgot.

  Becca got quiet, and some of the starch went out of her. Rhia didn’t like the way her shoulders slumped. The six-foot two inch model suddenly seemed small.

  “I found out about the photos being sent to the college where your mom works and I fired the detective. That’s when I found out he sent the photos to your father. They’ll be in today’s mail.” Becca said looking at Rhia.

  Rhia felt her heart stop. Becca was looking at her and it was just the two of them at the moment. Rhia could see the contrition in Becca’s luminous brown eyes and she believed her. Becca hadn’t meant to hurt Rhia, she’d meant to get back at Ram. That was why Rhia punched her.

  Rhia pushed away from Ram and walked over to Becca. The woman didn’t recoil this time, she simply set her cold pack down offering herself for Rhia’s best shot. Something in her eyes said she wouldn’t take any more than that without fighting
back and that made Rhia smile. Had circumstances been different, she could have been friends with a woman like this, Rhia thought.

  “I saw those photos this morning when I met with the administrator. I’ll tell you the same thing I told her. That’s me. In every shot, that’s me.” Rhia smiled at Ram before turning back to Becca.

  “I’m not sorry about anything I did that night. If I could do it again, I would have had less vodka.” Rhia blushed knowing her children were committing to memory every word. “And I would have kept my tank on over that leather bra, but I wouldn’t take back anything else. I’ll take the heat for my actions, but they were mine Becca. You should have left Ram out of it.”

  Rhia’s tone changed as she warned. “You tried to hurt my family, that’s why I hit you. I won’t be so nice if you try to hurt Ram again.”

  Becca turned to look at Ben. Rhia didn’t know what was going on between them, but Becca didn’t seem to care what anyone else thought except Ben Stark. “I won’t.” She said simply, making Rhia wonder why she felt so let down by the woman’s response.

  “So what do we do about tonight’s news?” Becca looked at Ram. “We have to do some sort of damage control. This isn’t going to help either one of our careers.”

  Before Ram could say that it may have hurt Becca’s career and it certainly tanked Rhia’s, perversely it would probably help his. He had two women seemingly fighting over him; guys ate that shit up. Ram was sure once this story hit, the twelve to twenty-one year olds would push his CD sales through the roof. The thought, however, didn’t warm him at all.

  “I have an idea.” Hunter said, capturing everyone’s attention.

  ...