“Ouch.”
Karyn pulled Meredith into a hug. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but those are the facts. You were a mess. I was worried to death about you for that entire first year after Jack dumped you for that college kid. I’d never seen you in such a state of hopeless despair. Have you forgotten about all of that?”
“Of course not. How could I? And I’ll never forget how hard you worked to pull me through that awful time.” Meredith gave Karyn a squeeze. She knew without a doubt that if it hadn’t been for the loving, dogged persistence of her childhood friend, she may not have even been around to see her fortieth birthday—the depression had been that acute.
Karyn gave a watery smile and sniffed. “It’s no more than you did for me after my rat-bastard husband skipped out on me with his teeny-bopper.” Meredith suddenly erupted in laughter and Karyn blinked in surprise. “Oddly enough I really fail to see the humor in that.”
“Sorry. I was just thinking that you and I probably hold the world’s record for really shitty choices when it comes to men.” Karyn rolled her eyes in agreement and laughed along with Meredith. “Honestly, you can stop worrying about me. Jack no longer has any hold over me. I’m completely immune to the man’s charms.” Meredith rearranged another errant wisp of hair as she tried to convince herself she was speaking the truth. She’d worked hard over the past months to steel herself against the scintillating charisma of her first and only real love. She just hoped that she’d come far enough to succeed in her vital mission tonight. She drew in a deep breath and released it. “I know it’s taken me a long time and a lot of heartache to learn my lesson, but believe me, I’m nobody’s dopey little doormat anymore.”
“I don’t know about that.” Karyn hiked an eyebrow. “First you spend a small fortune on insanely expensive sexy undies and then—”
“And I’ll have you know that nothing is bigger than a size eighteen-twenty,” Meredith interrupted. “I haven’t been this small in years!”
Karyn nodded. “Yes, you’ve only mentioned that about fifty times this past week—and I’ve already told you how stunning you look, fifty-one times.” She laughed. “Now stop interrupting me when I’m on a roll, okay?” Meredith saluted her compliance and Karyn continued. “Then, you primp and fluff for over an hour. And,” she turned and pointed to the stack of clothes on Meredith’s rumpled bed, “you’ve changed outfits at least a dozen times. Jesus, I’d hate to see what you’d be doing if you weren’t over Jack.”
Trilling a sigh, Meredith shook her head and laughed. “You don’t understand, Karyn, this is the first time I’ve seen Jack in nearly three years and—”
“Yeah, since he dumped you and married that anemic-looking prepubescent floozy, Becky. The one who pretended she was pregnant so she could get her greedy little claws on your husband’s fame, his name and his money. The money he earned only because you broke your ass working two jobs to put him though school while you guys were still engaged to be married. And then he had the audacity to go fucking around with God knows how many of his classmates behind your back.” Karyn’s shoulders slumped as she heaved a sigh. “And now that Becky’s smartened up, left him and moved on, he’s come skulking back to you so you can lick his wounds.” She narrowed her eyes. “And his cock,” she added under her breath.
“I heard that little aside,” Meredith said, pointing a reproachful finger and smirking. “Jack’s cock, as enticing as it may be, is definitely not going to save his sorry ass this time.” She took a deep breath, doing her damnedest to blot the image of her ex’s anatomy from her thoughts. Damned if the man didn’t have the innate ability to charm the pants off her—literally. “Believe it or not, I’m not stupid, Karyn. And I haven’t forgotten any of what Jack put me through. By now I’m more than familiar with his pattern. I’m fully aware that all I am to him is a warm, familiar place to store his overeager dick between bimbos.”
“I don’t get it.” Karyn shrugged. “So why all the pains to look so ravishing tonight? Why torture yourself by agreeing to see him again after all he’s done to you? For chrissakes, Meredith, this is the third time he’s walked out on you and then come back begging your forgiveness.”
“Fourth time, actually. Two broken engagements and two divorces.” Meredith’s eyes brightened as she studied her reflection. “Gee, you really think I look ravishing?” She smoothed her hands over her black dress and smiled.
“Too damned good for that bastard, that’s for damned sure,” Karyn said, shaking her head and hiding a grin. “If those big tits of yours were plumped up any higher they’d fall right out of your dress.”
“Good. I want to make him drool.” Meredith pirouetted as she gave herself another mirror check. “I want Jack to be so fucking hot for me that he’ll need a fire extinguisher to put out his blazing libido.” She giggled. “When he catches his first glimpse of me tonight I want him to look like one of those cartoon wolf characters with their tongues rolling out onto the floor and their eyes bugging out of their heads as a big ah-oooogah horn goes off in the background.” Meredith gestured dramatically, illustrating the scenario. By working Jack into a lathered state of sexual need she’d definitely have the upper hand tonight.
Clearly, Karyn couldn’t help but laugh. “And just what do you intend to accomplish by turning him on, hmm? I mean, you already know that Jack is intent on getting you into bed and screwing your brains out until you agree to take him back again, anyway. He knows how damned easy you are when it comes to him.” Meredith turned sharply toward Karyn and gasped. “Oh don’t give me that righteous indignation crap. One clit-quivering touch from Jack and you’re spreading your thighs—you told me so yourself, many times. So why knock yourself out trying to drive him even crazier with lust?”
“It’s absolutely crucial.” A deep throaty laugh erupted from Meredith’s lips. “Trust me, I didn’t spend months in grieving celibacy, medicating myself with gargantuan doses of chocolate while I contemplated encasing my feet in cement and hurdling myself off Portland’s highest bridge, just so I could let that philandering sonuvabitch stomp on my heart again. Quite the opposite, my dear friend.” Meredith’s lips curled into a deliciously wicked smile. “I have a plan.”
“Oooh.” Karyn’s eyes widened in delight as she broke into a grin. “I like the sound of that—and that devious look in your eye.” She rubbed her hands together briskly. “Come on, Meredith, spill your guts. What kind of fabulous comeuppance have you planned for that bastard?”
“Mmm, a deliciously wicked little payback scheme.” Meredith sauntered to her nightstand, where she selected a chocolate hazelnut truffle from the box of candy, holding it aloft and eyeing it as if studying the facets of a fine diamond. “This former goody-two-shoes is going to give Jack McKenna a night that he will never forget.” Closing her eyes in anticipation, she popped the creamy morsel into her mouth and moaned her pleasure.
Chapter Three
Just as Jack promised when he’d called Meredith the week before begging her to have dinner with him, the stretch limo he had sent arrived promptly at eight. The upscale mode of transportation was a far cry from the barely functional used cars they’d owned when they were married. And that’s when they could even afford a car. Giving herself a final once-over in the full-length mirror, Meredith smoothed her sleek black dress, double checked the contents of her beaded envelope purse for the umpteenth time and, sucking in a deep breath, left the apartment.
She sank into the limo’s plush leather interior and noticed the elaborately ribboned long white box that held an envelope with her name. She opened the envelope and read the enclosed card. Pity this one perfect rose that can never hope to equal your beauty. Love, Jack.
Meredith smiled, remembering the wonderful way Jack had with words. Now an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, his skill was clearly evident in anything he penned. She still had every one of those I’ll-love-you-until-the-day-I-die poems and letters he’d written her, opening the box to re-read them and have a good cry ev
ery few months or so. Oh yeah, Jack had known exactly how to manipulate her. A poem here, a love letter there, a two-pound box of Belgian chocolates when she had PMS… But that was in the past. The new, more judicious Meredith breathed a sigh of relief. Now that he was world renowned, maybe she’d put Jack’s love letters up for sale on one of those online auction sites. He’d positively hate that. And she’d start the opening bid at just a penny. The devilish idea tickled her.
As her gaze fell on the single long-stemmed red rose in the box, Meredith’s brain blithely conjured up happier times, especially those first blissful years together when they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Even when all they could afford was a few cans of pork and beans and a box of crackers, they didn’t care because they were so very much in love. When Jack got home from his university classes and Meredith was still at work, he’d meticulously set the scene for seduction. When she got home to their little apartment she’d often find it aglow with shimmering candlelight and perfumed with the mouthwatering scent of dinner cooking on the stove. And more often than not, there was a hot, scented, candlelit bubble bath waiting for her to slip into and relax for awhile as Jack finished his homework. Those were such incredibly happy times…
“Stop it!” Meredith chastised herself, hoping her voice hadn’t been loud enough to reach the chauffeur’s ears. “This is most definitely not the time to be thinking positive thoughts about Jack,” she whispered. “He’s not the same man anymore.” If she didn’t stop summoning pleasant memories, she’d never make it through the evening with her far too appealing ex-husband.
Meredith forced herself to snap out of it, to purge all blissful thoughts of him from her mind and to focus on the task at hand. She needed closure. And Jack was in serious need of payback. She forced herself to remember the way he’d taken advantage of her over the years as one frolicsome young plaything after another caught his eye. And each time, after the interlude had ended and he’d begged Meredith’s forgiveness while pledging undying love, she had swallowed her pride and forgiven him. All but the last time, three years ago.
The first time he’d done this to her was after they’d been married just a few years. Jack failed Monogamy 101 miserably when faced with the temptation of a juicy little sprite employed at one of the coffee shops he frequented—Lisa the barista.
That was divorce number one.
Barely ten months later, Meredith’s firm resolve to excise Jack from her life finally cracked amidst a plethora of pledges, promises and innumerous acts of contrition. After his divorce from the cappuccino goddess became final, Meredith and Jack remarried and remained entrenched in connubial bliss. Or so Meredith thought. And then Becky, the impossibly thin, unbearably young, pseudo-pregnant bimbo entered the picture. The final mortal blow to their relationship came when the immensely charming, handsome hunk Meredith had been making a fool of herself over since she was eighteen years old had unceremoniously dumped her to marry Becky.
That was divorce number two.
Groaning at the necessary but painful recollections, Meredith dropped her head into her hands and massaged her temples. As distressing as those memories were, she needed to keep them at the forefront of her thoughts, reminding her flighty brain of the importance of focusing on the task of the moment—payback…payback…PAYBACK!
By the time the driver opened her door in front of the swanky five-star Northwest Passage Hotel and Meredith placed one shapely high-heeled leg on the curb, her mind was calm and her thoughts entirely on her plans for the evening ahead.
She headed for the hotel’s Lewis and Clark room where Jack was booked for a speaking engagement. She spotted him immediately after opening the huge gilded doors, surrounded, not surprisingly, by a gaggle of fans. Some were shoving their programs at him for his autograph, some were purchasing sets of his tapes, books and CDs and others were apparently just hoping for a chance to talk to the mesmerizing Dr. Jack. He was an amazing orator all right, she’d give him that. Jack had brought auditoriums full of people to sniffles and tears with his heart-wrenching stories and their impossibly upbeat endings.
God knows he’d used those same skills and tactics on her often enough in the past, wheedling his way back into her shattered heart after she’d promised herself to turn a deaf ear to his persuasive pleadings. Meredith felt her lip curl into a sneer, disgusted with her former naiveté.
She stood quietly at the back of the room, tucking herself into the shadows and studying Jack as he charmed his fans. Tall and still undeniably handsome, with the same thick, espresso-brown hair and winning smile, he hadn’t changed much since she’d last seen him. Damn it, he hadn’t even changed much at all since they were first married, except to get even better looking. She was hoping that maybe he’d developed a paunch, or that he’d gone bald, or that perhaps he’d developed jowls or had to wear reading glasses with bottle-thick lenses that made his eyes look small and beady. No such luck. The man was still more enticing than a hot fudge sundae—and that was saying a lot coming from a chocoholic. She sighed, feeling half-defeated already.
When Jack finally spotted her, gifting Meredith with that brilliant smile of his, she felt her traitorous heart skip a beat. No! You will not get all stupid and let him get to you again! She sucked in a deep breath and steeled herself against the palpable charms of the man she once believed was her soulmate. Her one and only.
Within a few minutes his publicity people had shooed the last of the hangers-on from the room. And then Jack walked toward Meredith—and her double-crossing heart beat a rapid tattoo with each step he took. The moment he was near enough, Meredith inhaled, breathing in the scent of him. God, he smelled so good. He smelled like…Jack.
“Aw, Meredith. My Meredith.” He took both of her hands, stood back and appraised her from head to toe. His heated gaze lingered on the cleavage she’d made sure to frame with the perfect neckline and he smiled. “You’re an absolute vision. Even lovelier than you were the last time I saw you, if that’s possible.” He reached up to finger her hair, twisting his finger through the locks as he gazed at her eyes. “God, how I’ve missed looking into those hypnotic lavender-blue eyes of yours. Happy birthday, baby.” Leaning close, Jack drew Meredith into his arms and brushed his lips against hers. The light kiss and firm embrace were possessive…commanding. It felt comfortable, familiar…and entirely too inviting. “I’ve got a very special dinner planned for your birthday.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Meredith responded as she gazed up into his eyes. They were hazel. She’d always been intrigued by the mesmerizing combination of green, brown and gray that changed with the light and with his mood. “I’ve missed you too, Jack. It’s good to see you again.” She’d expected to be more nervous and was glad she felt moderately calm and in control. The last thing she wanted was to come across like a skittish, love-starved ex-wife. That would spoil everything.
Curving his hand against the small of her back, Jack guided Meredith from the room, explaining that he’d made dinner reservations at Columbia, the hotel’s famous skytop restaurant that overlooked the city.
Once they’d been shown to their table, Meredith was suitably impressed with the expansive views of Portland’s city lights. After she and Karyn had moved from Chicago to Oregon—to get as far away from their respective ex-spouses as possible—Meredith had read about the breathtaking views here, though she’d never been to the restaurant before. Since the menu offered nothing, not even soup or appetizer, under twenty dollars, Columbia hadn’t been among her first choices for dining out.
“Do you know why I chose this particular restaurant?” Jack asked, capturing her fingertips with his in a gentle grasp.
“Because they serve a mean cheeseburger?” Meredith laughed.
“Not quite.” Jack’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I selected it specifically because it’s on the fortieth floor with a view of the city skyline. Just like our wedding night, forty floors up in that fancy Chicago hotel suite twenty years ago…remember, Me
redith?” His fingers slid up to cover her hand and he gave it a squeeze while gazing into her eyes.
Remember?! Of course she remembered. It was the most beautiful, romantic, perfect night of her entire life for chrissakes. How could she possibly forget? And how dare he have the audacity to bring it up now of all times. As Jack brought her hand to his lips, Meredith slid free of his grasp.
“That was a lifetime ago, Jack. We were children then. Babies.”
“Ah…we had such lofty hopes and dreams back then, Meredith. If only—”
“Oh look,” she said with a bit too much enthusiasm, immensely happy to see their waiter approaching. “Here come the hors d’oeuvres.”
Over appetizers and flutes of pricey vintage champagne they talked about the prosperous speaking circuit, Jack’s bestselling self-help books and sets of audio-visual programs, as well as the lucrative offer he’d just accepted to host his own TV talk show, On the Right Track with Dr. Jack. They also touched on Meredith and Karyn’s thriving resale shop, Abundant Finds, which offered upscale clothing for plus-sized women.
They fell so easily into comfortable conversation that it was almost as if they’d never been separated. Half-listening as he regaled her about winding up his current speaking tour so that he could start on the production of his television show, she studied Jack’s handsome face and the dark shadow along his strong jaw line. She silently admired the classic tailoring of his clearly expensive charcoal gray three-piece suit and the way it hugged his broad shoulders, concealing the muscles she knew were there. He’d always been a stickler for working out at the gym and had the mouthwatering results to show for his efforts. The sensual image of Jack naked and poised above her as he prepared to ram his big cock into her flitted across her mind, causing a slight tremble. Startled by the lusty thoughts, Meredith shook her head, reminding herself to reset her train of thought.
Wicked Payback Page 4