“I love you, too, Nate. I am scared. I won’t deny that. But I love you, more than I thought I could ever love a man. And you damn well better want to spend your life with me because if you think you are doing this stuff with any other woman, you are sadly mistaken.”
Chapter 7
Brianne sat at her design table working on a book cover when she heard Nate’s car pull into the driveway. They had been together three months now, and Brianne could easily say this was the best time of her life. The best time but not an easy time. Nate was strong and opinionated, and she was, too. They were learning what buttons were a bad idea to push on each other and which were a good idea. So far, they had many more good buttons than bad.
Nate rapped on the door before coming in.
“Oh my God, what smells so good in here?”
Nate dropped his briefcase at the door and was pulling her out of her chair to kiss her hello.
“Well, you could be talking about the lasagna in the oven or you could be talking about my perfume.”
“You always smell nice, baby, but I didn’t eat lunch today, so I’m talking about the heavenly smell from the kitchen.”
Nate followed the smell all the way to the oven, peeking inside before Brianne had to shoo him away with a sigh.
“Stop opening the oven. You always open the oven, and that lets the heat out.”
“I’m starving, honey. How long until dinner?”
“Half an hour, give or take. Tide yourself over with a cookie. I made a fresh batch of oatmeal this afternoon.”
Nate grabbed two off the platter, bit into one, and closed his eyes in ecstasy.
“I would love you for your cooking alone, Bri.”
“I don’t know what you did before you dated me, Nate. I’m surprised you didn’t starve.”
“I just ate a lot of fast food or bummed a meal from Lisa and Conor. Since dating you, I’ve gained five pounds.”
Brianne ran her eyes over Nate. It sure didn’t show. His middle was still trim and lean.
“Worried about your girlish figure?”
Nate popped the rest of the cookie in his mouth and gave her ass a smart smack.
“Ouch! Shit, Nate!”
“Don’t tease the mean Dom, Bri.”
Brianne rubbed her bottom and stuck her tongue out.
“You never learn. I’ll show you how much I appreciate that behavior later tonight.”
Nate reached for another cookie, and Brianne was just about to slap his hand away when she heard the doorbell. Finally! Rick was bringing Kade home today after two weeks of their summer vacation. She almost knocked Nate over getting to the door.
“Whoa, baby! Where’s the fire?”
“It’s Kade!”
Before she could get to the door, it opened and her son ran in, practically mowing her down with his little body. She laughed as she knelt down and hugged him close. She had missed him so much. The house wasn’t the same without her little man. She rained kisses all over his face until he wriggled away.
“C’mon, Mom! That’s enough. I’m too old for this. Tell her, Nate!”
Nate chuckled and hugged Kade for himself.
“You’re on your own with Mom, Jet. She really missed you. If I were you, I would let her get those kisses out of her system.”
They both looked up as they heard someone clear their throat. Rick.
He stood in the doorway with a strange look on his face, as if he was lost.
“Come give your old dad a hug, Kade. I won’t see you for a while.”
Kade turned to hug Rick, and Brianne couldn’t help but notice that Rick held on to him until Kade wriggled free from him, too. Maybe Rick was finally figuring out that this time with Kade was precious. She could only hope.
“Well, I need to go. Tami is waiting in the car. I hope you had fun on the boat this week, Kade. Be a good boy and listen to your mom.”
Brianne gaped at Rick. Since when did he tell Kade to listen to her? He was usually rolling his eyes and telling her she was overprotective and old-fashioned. Rick handed Nate Kade’s bags and waved at them before hurrying back to his car.
“That was weird.” Nate stared after Rick with narrowed eyes.
“I’m not going to question it. I spent too many years trying to figure out why Rick did anything. I am done. Kade, let’s get your bags upstairs.”
“I’ll do it, honey.”
“Thanks, Nate. Throw the dirty clothes in the laundry room and I’ll start the washer in a few minutes.”
Brianne shook her head as she thought of Rick’s strange behavior. Maybe he was finally growing up.
* * * *
Brianne pulled the garlic bread out of the oven and threw the pot holders on the counter as she yelled up the stairs.
“Boys! Dinner!”
Nate came halfway down the stairs.
“Honey, I think you need to come up here.”
Geez, what now? Brianne ran up the stairs after Nate.
“Are all his clothes stinky again? I think they spent most of their time on the boat.”
“Well, yeah. But that’s not what I wanted to show you. This is.”
Nate swept his arm toward the bed. Brianne’s eyes widened in amazement. The bed was covered in new toys. There was a tablet computer, a Nintendo DS, video games, an Xbox, LEGOs, action figures, and stuffed animals.
Brianne rubbed her eyes, but the pile of swag didn’t disappear.
“They’re mine, Mom!”
Kade’s little chin, so like her own, was set in a determined line.
“I am not questioning that, sweetheart. But where did you get all this stuff?”
“From Dad. He said he wanted to buy me some stuff. He picked it all out.”
Kade sounded defensive, and she knew he was afraid she was going to take it all away.
“He picked all this out, Kade?”
“Well, most of it. I picked out the LEGOs and toys. He wanted to buy me this stuff! He said he wouldn’t see me for a while and wanted to get me some new toys.”
Brianne rubbed her temples and gave Nate a wry smile. Her ex-husband could give her a headache quicker than anything or anyone.
“Okay, I will take this up with your dad. But in the meantime, I am going to put some of these toys away for later. We can discuss which ones after dinner. Now it is time to eat. I will call your dad afterward.”
Brianne gave Nate a grim look as they headed downstairs. Her hope of Rick growing up appeared to be optimistic.
* * * *
Brianne hung up the phone a little harder than she needed to. She was pissed. Specifically, she was pissed at Rick. Leave it to him to shower expensive gifts on her son and then refuse to pick up his phone when she tried to call him about it. She had been trying him for the last two hours, and he wasn’t answering. She knew it was bullshit. He kept his cell phone on him 24/7 and usually had it sealed to his ear. The fact that he hadn’t answered meant only one thing. He was avoiding her. He was avoiding her and doing a damn good job of it.
“No answer?”
Nate walked downstairs and drew her in his arms. He smelled like heaven, spicy and masculine. She snuggled into his arms and laid her head on his chest where she could hear his heartbeat.
“No, the asshole is screening his calls. I left voice mails, but I don’t think he wants to talk to me about this. Thank you for reading to Kade, by the way.”
“No problem, sweetheart. I know you needed to deal with this issue. Why do you think Rick did this?”
“Who knows why Rick does anything? Guilt, maybe? He seemed to be reluctant to let Kade go earlier. Maybe in his own twisted way he is trying to make it up to Kade. That’s how Rick used to deal with our issues. He would buy me something. He thought that made it okay.”
Nate rolled his eyes. “It would be cheaper to just be a nice guy.”
“That was always Plan B for Rick.”
* * * *
His hands were tangled in her long, dark tresses, using them as
leverage as he rode her hard and fast from behind. He untangled his right hand and gave her ass a sharp smack, leaving a red handprint starkly outlined on her satiny white skin. She moaned and pushed back to meet his thrusts, urging him on, pushing him to fuck her faster and harder. His hand came down again and again, leaving her ass bright red and her begging him to touch her clit. Anything to let her come. His face was a mask of grim determination as he ignored her ragged pleas for release. He continued to spank her, pistoning in and out, finally reaching around—
“Shit! Who could be at the damn door?” Brianne scowled at the sound of the shrill doorbell.
“Just at the good part, too.” Lisa smirked at the other women in the club.
“I dunno. This guy seems like a real asshole. I wouldn’t let him touch me.” Noelle laughed.
Brianne opened the door and smiled as she recognized her neighbor from down the street. “Sam! How great to see you! Please come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee? It’s fresh.”
The handsome man gave a sheepish smile as he entered her living room.
“I am sorry to intrude, ladies. Brianne, I would love a cup of coffee, but you should know that this is not strictly a social call.”
Brianne gave Lisa a quick glance. They both knew what Sam did for a living.
“I’ll make him a cup of coffee, Bri. How do you like your coffee, Sam?” Lisa offered.
“Touch of cream, one sugar. Thank you very much.”
Lisa disappeared into Brianne’s kitchen while she settled Sam on the sofa.
“I hate to disturb you, Bri. But something has come up, and well, I volunteered to come over here to talk to you about it since we’re friends and neighbors.”
Brianne leaned forward. She didn’t like the look on his face at all. Sam looked around searching for something.
“Is Kade here?”
Brianne felt panic rising in her throat.
“Is this something to do with Kade? Has he been hurt?”
“No! No! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to suggest that anything had happened to Kade. I take it he isn’t here?”
Brianne shook her head, concern written on her features.
“He’s over playing at a friend’s house while I have my book club here.”
“Good, I really don’t want to discuss this if Kade is in the house.”
Brianne huffed in exasperation.
“So far, Sam, you haven’t discussed anything.”
“Damn, I’m sorry. I swear I am not usually so inarticulate, but I think this news is going to be something of a surprise, so I am just going to say it straight. Rick has run off to the Cayman Islands. He cleaned out all his business accounts and left his business partner high and dry.”
Brianne’s mouth hung open in shock.
“He and Tami left the country? Oh my God.”
Sam shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“Well, that’s another thing. He didn’t flee the country with his wife. Apparently, he fled with one of the servers from his restaurants—a Mike Taylor. We know they flew from Tampa International to the Caymans, but we have lost their trail from there. They have probably picked up new identities and are traveling under assumed names. Oh, thank you.”
Sam reached up for the coffee from Lisa. Brianne tried to take in Sam’s words, but one word kept getting in the way.
“He ran off with another man?”
“Yes, according to the letter he left his wife, he and this man had been seeing each other for quite a while. They left to start a new life. Unfortunately for Linus Elliott, he took everything with him.”
Brianne knew Linus well. He had been Rick’s business partner for years, and she thought he had always been a nice man. She couldn’t believe that Rick would leave Linus with nothing after all they had been through together.
“Are you sure, Sam? Rick’s an asshole, but he was never a criminal.”
“Yes, I am sure. I’m sorry, Brianne. That’s why I wanted to be the one to tell you.”
Brianne looked around her living room at the grim faces of her friends. Everything was coming clear now. Rick’s behavior made a hell of a lot more sense. He had known he was going to leave, and his spending spree was linked to his departure. How like him to think that possessions could make up to Kade for not having a father. For the millionth time she wondered how she had ever ended up marrying Rick.
“I’m afraid I need another favor, Bri.”
“Of course, Sam. You know I would do anything to help the police find him.”
“I appreciate you feeling that way.” Sam sipped at his coffee as if reluctant to ask his favor.
“Can you come down to the station and answer some questions? You might know something that you don’t even realize that you know. It might lead to recovering the money and bringing Rick back.”
“Is she a suspect?” Lisa jumped to her feet.
“Absolutely not. But she was married to Rick for many years, and she knows a lot about his habits. She might be able to help us.”
Brianne rubbed at her temples again. Rick was becoming a permanent headache.
“Okay, I want to help. Do you want me to come now?”
Sam stood gratefully.
“That would be wonderful, Bri. I can drive you there and bring you home afterward. I appreciate this very much. I really do.”
Lisa picked up her cell phone and frowned.
“I’m calling Conor, Bri. He can meet you there. You shouldn’t talk to them without an attorney. Promise me you won’t.”
Sam had the grace to look a little embarrassed.
“I promise I won’t, Lisa.” Brianne grabbed her purse and keys.
“Sorry, we can’t finish the meeting tonight, ladies. Lisa, can you pick up Kade at 6:00? I don’t know how long I will be.”
“Sure, honey. Are you going to call Nate?”
Brianne shook her head. “Not right now. He said he would be working late, so I don’t want to bother him. I’ll talk to him tonight.”
Lisa looked troubled. “Bri, I think you should call Nate. He would want you to.”
“I’ll call him later. I would only get voice mail right now anyway. C’mon, Sam. Let’s get this over with.”
* * * *
Brianne sipped at her soda and rubbed her aching temples. If she ever saw Rick again, she was going to kick his ass from here to kingdom come. She had been answering questions for over an hour, and she wasn’t sure that anything she said was going to help them find Rick or the stolen money.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to help. She really did. Upon her arrival at the police station, she had seen Linus coming out of the interrogation room, looking pale and grim. He had seen her and given her a big hug. He murmured all the right things when you haven’t seen someone for a long time and probably wouldn’t have ever seen them again if circumstances hadn’t thrown them together again. Still, Linus was a good man and shouldn’t have had to go through this.
Conor had shown up at the station minutes after she did, and he didn’t look much happier than Linus. Conor had never liked Rick much but had kept his mouth shut while she was married. After the divorce, he had taken the gloves off and made his feelings clear. He gave her hand a squeeze now in encouragement. This interview seemed to be taking forever.
“Did any of Rick’s business contacts ever come to your home?” Sam’s partner was going down what looked like a checklist of questions and thankfully appeared to be close to the end.
Brianne shook her head. “Rick didn’t like to mix business with his home time. He was on his cell constantly, but he never brought people to the house. Nor did I ever accompany him when he met with people. I’m so sorry I can’t help you.”
Sam’s smile was forced. “It’s okay, Bri. One of your answers may lead us to him. You never know.”
Conor placed both hands on the table in front of him and leaned forward in an aggressive stance. He hadn’t been in a good mood the entire time.
“Are we done here, Sam? Br
ianne is exhausted and obviously shocked at was has happened. She has to go home and face her six-year-old son and tell him that Daddy has left the country with his lover and is on the run from the law. If you have any more questions, you can contact my office and I will relay them to her.”
Both the officer and Sam nodded in agreement. They looked exhausted, too.
“If we have any more questions, we will contact your office, Mr. Hart. Thank you for coming in, Brianne. We do appreciate your time.”
“I’m just sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.”
“No worries, Bri. We have an interview with Mrs. Templeton right after you, and she may have some information that can help us.”
Brianne looked at Conor in surprise. They hadn’t talked to Tami yet?
“I would have thought the first person you would talk to would be his current wife.”
“We had some trouble getting a hold of Mrs. Templeton to schedule some time with her.”
Brianne blinked in confusion.
“Tami didn’t make the report to the police?”
“No, Linus Elliott did. Mrs. Templeton called him when she received the letter. Mr. Elliott brought the letter to us when he made the report. He said that Mrs. Templeton was extremely upset by the news.”
Brianne couldn’t help but feel sorry for Tami at the moment. Despite how she felt about Tami, she did seem to really love Rick.
Conor helped Brianne out of her chair and led her through the door to the hallway. Tami was sitting in a chair, texting on her cell phone. Brianne’s heart went out to her when she saw Tami’s swollen, red eyes. She had obviously been crying.
Sam addressed Tami. “Mrs. Templeton? We are ready for you now. Can you come with me?”
Tami tucked her cell phone in her Louis Vuitton bag. “You can call me Tami. That’s Tami with an ‘i.’”
Brianne didn’t wait for poor Sam’s reply as she let Conor lead her down the hallway and to his car.
Chapter 8
The minute Brianne opened her front door she knew her long day was about to get even longer. She had to tell Kade about Rick. Thankfully, Nate was playing a video game with Kade, and they were sitting on the floor in front of the TV laughing and talking trash to one another. Nate looked up when she closed the door.
Doctor's Orders [The Martinis and Chocolate Book Club 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 8