Katherine sat, clothed in the darkness of her bedroom. She bit her bottom lip so hard she tasted blood. Sunrise was in two hours. She'd tried to confront Paul last night when she got home, but he'd pulled a disappearing act again. After several phone calls to his hotel room, she'd finally reached him at three in the morning and demanded that he fix her car. Ripping him apart was long overdue.
She turned toward the sound of the door opening. “Did you reconnect the battery cable on my car? Will it crank?"
Paul flipped the light switch on and shut the door. “Yes, to both questions.” He narrowed his gray eyes. “I don't know why you insisted that I fix it before your mother and Matt get up."
“I don't want them involved in this mess,” she snapped.
He removed her keys from his pants pocket and tossed them to her. She caught them and laid the envelope she'd taken from Jared in front of Paul.
He glanced down at the envelope then back up at her. “Why were you sitting in the dark?"
She plunged the keys into her jeans pocket. “Trying to figure out what I ever saw in you."
He quirked a black eyebrow at her. “Really? You couldn't keep your eyes off me the first time we met. Lust is a powerful aphrodisiac, especially to a virgin."
Her stomach churned. Again, he didn't call what they had together love. He was right. She knew now that they never loved each other. She remembered staring at his almost naked bronze body. It had glistened in the sun as he dived into the swimming pool. He had looked like a Greek god to her. It was her first taste of the unknown, crossing that threshold of sexual curiosity, and she had mistaken it for love. She had mistaken a predator for someone who really cared about her.
She clenched her jaw, removed the sexually explicit photographs from the envelope and spread them on the table. They revealed a collage of deception. “I want you to leave this house immediately and not come back."
He took his coat off, crossed the room and plopped into a chair opposite her. His eyes glittered with angry amusement as he fingered the pictures. “I have no intention of leaving, other than to see Ann when I get the urge.” He shoved the photos into the envelope and threw them back on the table. “I gambled Jared didn't have any proof."
Her jaw dropped open. “Jared? Did he talk to you about your seeing another woman?"
Paul chuckled. “Jared didn't talk to me. He ordered me to tell you, or he would."
“And you agreed?” Of course he'd agreed, that's what Jared thought Paul had talked to her about. No wonder Jared was so surprised when she didn't recognize Ann Young's name.
Paul shrugged. “I agreed so he'd get off my back. I had no intention of letting him tell me what to do."
Why hadn't Jared defended himself? Why hadn't he told her he'd put pressure on Paul?
She could kick herself across Texas. She accused him of protecting Paul. Once again, she'd been wrong about Jared.
Paul shook his head. “Nothing's changed, Katherine. I still want you back as my wife."
She laughed, allowing all her bitterness and anger to spill from the sound. “Why don't you hold your breath until I agree? You don't love anyone but yourself. Every time I think of what I've put up with since you came to visit this Christmas, I get furious. I gave you every opportunity to prove you'd changed-not for me, but for Matt. He deserves a father, but you aren't a father. You're nothing but a sperm donor. Now that my eyes have been opened, there is no way I would want Matt to emulate you."
“You think Jared is father material?” he snarled. “Haven't you figured it out yet? All that attention he showed Matt was to get you into bed."
Like the colors of a kaleidoscope swirling from one symmetrical pattern into another, the times Matt spent with his pal Jared tumbled in her mind. Because of Jared's past, he understood how Matt felt and showed him more love than Paul ever had. If Jared had befriended her son in order to get her into bed, he wouldn't have hesitated to take what she had offered. He said he had stopped because she might be hurt emotionally. Paul would have taken her and never batted an eye at the consequences of his decision.
She lifted her chin. “Yes, I think Jared is father material because he loves Matt."
Paul bolted out of the chair and snatched papers from his coat pocket. “I didn't want to do it this way, but you've given me no choice.” He threw them on the table, sat across from her again and leaned closer.
She reached for them.
His lips twisted into a sneer. He laced his hands together and rested them like paperweights on the documents. “I'm calling the shots here. Not you."
Hatred flowed from his eyes and washed over her.
She folded her arms and raised her chin a notch. “Then shoot, and stop wasting my time."
He pointed to the calendar hanging on the wall. “Today is December seventeenth. There are seven days left before Christmas. You pick one as our wedding day."
She laughed. “It would take you and an army to make me."
He shook his head. “Oh, you'll do it. Because, you'd do anything to protect Grace and this precious house her family's owned for generations."
Her throat went dry. He'd thrown her a curve ball. Some strange tension started to rise inside her. What was he up to? She thought he would try to hurt her through Matt. Even with Paul's money, she knew he could never win in a custody battle. But she had no reason to suspect he would attack her mother. Except that no form of coercion was beyond him. Katherine had underestimated him.
He placed the papers in front of her. “How about a foreclosure notice and confiscation of every asset your mother owns? You think that might do the trick?"
Katherine tried to hide the trembling of her hands as she analyzed documents. If lightening had struck her, she couldn't have been more stunned. She mentally added the mountain of debt bearing her father's signature.
“Let me save you the trouble.” He leaned back, stretched his legs and laced his hands behind his head. “Including the mortgage on this house and signature loans, the debt's total over three hundred fifty thousand dollars. I bought up your father's loans and I'm calling them in. You got that kind of pocket change to pay me back? If you do, you could file papers with the court, prove it, and stop me,” he goaded.
She clenched her teeth and shook her head. Even if she did have the personal assets, she wouldn't want her mother knowing about the outstanding loans.
He grinned. “I didn't think so."
“You went to a lot of time and money to set this blackmail up.” From the date on the documents, she knew he'd purchased the loans right after her father's death. “Why spring this now? You don't give a rat's behind about Matt or me."
His hard gray eyes mocked her. “Money, power, my father's approval, revenge for you defying me and leaving me. You pick which one you think is more important to me."
She wanted to refuse to play his game, but it didn't take a mental giant for her to figure it out. She hoped he choked on her answer. “You'll never have the same level of respect and approval your father has for your brother William. He's earned it."
Paul chuckled and straightened. “Oh, but I will. You're going to help me beat my saintly brother."
She stared at Paul. “How is marrying me again going to accomplish that?"
“My father's retiring at the end of next year. He hasn't announced it yet. When he does retire, he'll be forced to bring one of us into the company to run it."
Another curve ball zinged her way. She would have bet his father would never retire. He'd always insisted Paul and William make it on their own and prove themselves by working in the private sector. Malcolm Cahill refused to let them ride on his coattails by working for him. The global corporate structure he built and ran himself seemed to be his whole life.
“Like you, Katherine, one area I excel in is business. It's important to my father. I'm in line for the presidency of the biggest financial institution in Houston. My competition for that position is less qualified than I am, but the conservative Board of Directors prefer a family man."
“You need us to secure the promotion?” she said quietly.
He nodded. “I told the Board we're getting remarried and I'm bringing you and Matt back after Christmas. Naturally, my father thinks this proves I've settled down.” He thrust his fingers through his hair. “Dammit, you owe me."
“What the hell for?"
Paul's face grew red, and he snapped the pen he held in his hand. “Because of what you cost me when you left me!” he shouted. He leaning across the table, whispered, “You owe me, Katherine."
I sure do. And I sure as hell will pay you back, in spades.
She glanced at him. Malcolm Cahill wasn't stupid. “Won't your father get suspicious?"
He shook his head. “No way. He doesn't think anyone knows he's retiring. He's ill, Katherine. I paid his doctor dearly for that confidential information."
And Paul expected her to pay dearly to save her mother. “Give me a few days to make my decision."
“No.” A look of triumph flashed in his eyes. “What you're going to do is tell me our wedding date."
She craned her neck and glanced at the calendar, pushing the date forward as far as she dared. “Friday afternoon, December twenty-first."
He reached in his pants pocket, retrieved the emerald pendant she'd rejected earlier and threw it on the table. “Wear it.” The corner of his mouth tilted up as he lifted the receiver. “My father's an early riser. The second thing you'll do is confirm we're getting remarried."
He dialed the number and handed her the phone.
Katherine took a deep calming breath as it rang and her former father-in-law answered.
“Hello,” Malcolm said.
“It's Katherine, Malcolm.” Her voice sounded unsteady, her arm shook.
He laughed. “Katherine, what a pleasant surprise. My son tells me he's come to his senses, you've agreed to become his wife again."
She coughed to clear the lump in her throat. “Yes, sir."
“What day is the ceremony?"
“December twenty-first,” she whispered.
He chuckled. “Congratulations. I can't wait to see you and Matt after Christmas. You make sure that son of mine treats you right this time. If he doesn't, you let me know. Promise?"
Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the phone. “I intend doing just that."
Stunned, she listened to the dial tone after Malcolm Cahill had hung up.
Paul snatched the receiver back. “When do you want us to break the good news to your mother and Matt?"
Us! Her jaw dropped open. Never. “I think it needs to come from me first."
He studied her closely. “Maybe you're right. When?"
She needed to stall Paul until she could figure out how to diffuse his threat. “I-I need time. Mother won't believe it, if I don't break it to her gradually. I'll talk to Matt over the next couple of days."
His chin lifted. “Don't stall, Katherine. It won't do you any good."
“I'm not,” she lied. “You want people to believe we're in love.” The word almost choked her. “That takes time."
He lifted the phone again and grinned. “Let's break the wonderful news to your lover."
Her knees shook. She didn't want to tell Jared. If he suspected anything was wrong, he'd attempt a rescue and his Superman routine would make matters worse.
If her mother found out about the debt her father ran up during his illness, she'd be devastated. Katherine's eyes burned. He must have thought he could take out the loans to pay for his exorbitant medical expenses. When he got well, he would have time to take care of the mess. He would have done that without his wife ever knowing, too, because he wouldn't have wanted to worry her. Her dad had always taken care of her mom in that exasperating, charming, wonderful way. Yes, he'd always taken care of her mom, and at the end, it was the last thing he'd asked of his daughter.
I won't let you down, Dad.
Her eyes stung, but she fought back the tears. “I've told you that Jared and I aren't lovers,” she said, dragging her mind back to the receiver Paul held in front of her face.
“Yet,” he added. “You love that bastard. I saw the way you kissed him at the tree-trimming party. Even the walls can see you want him. It's in your eyes every time you look at him."
Heat flooded her face. Paul's accusations made her feel like she'd been punched in the stomach. Did she love Jared or was it lust? How do you tell the difference? When their lips had met under the mistletoe, desire skyrocketed. Their kiss turned into a hunger so fierce they'd embarrassed themselves in front of everyone.
“You're thinking of that bastard,” Paul snarled.
She gnawed the inside of her mouth. He would touch her again when ice cubes were on the menu in hell.
He handed her the phone to dial. “You better sound convincing,” he warned.
It rang for an eternity.
“Hello,” Jared said.
She swallowed hard. “Hello,” she whispered back.
“Katherine, sweetheart.” He interrupted, plowing into her tear-filled pause, “Don't talk, please listen."
She didn't want him hurt. Tell him now. “I don't want to hear anything you have to say-"
He interrupted her again. “I tried calling and this may be the last time I talk to you, please listen."
The thought of never hearing from him again hurt. She paused.
“I've replayed the night I stopped us from making love a hundred times. It was torture for both of us, but I didn't want you to think I was like Paul. I told you I didn't want to hurt you, sweetheart. You'd have regretted making love with me later. I know you would."
“What the hell's he saying?” Paul asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
She placed her hand over the mouthpiece. “Shhh. He's thanking me for going to the dance,” she whispered.
Jared grew quiet for a second.
“Until I replayed that night in my mind over and over, the timing of what I said never dawned on me. I stopped us after you'd exposed yourself to me emotionally."
Katherine removed her hand from the mouthpiece and glanced down at the table, avoiding Paul's eyes. “It doesn't matter now. I have something to-"
He interrupted her. “It does matter, sweetheart. Your inexperience makes you more precious to me. It makes me more protective of you. I don't understand it, but I know hurting you would hurt me. You know how you'd do anything for Matt and your mother. That's how I feel about you. Did you hear me?"
She coughed. “Yes."
Hurting Jared would hurt her, too. Right to her soul.
“I want us to stay close friends until we can sort out exactly how we feel about each other. I don't want to lose you or Matt's friendship. I'm trying not to do anything to louse that up. Understand?"
“Tell him, dammit.” Paul reached toward her.
She put her hand over the mouthpiece again. “Back off,” she warned, and turned so he couldn't snatch the phone from her.
Please, Lord. Let Jared understand what I'm really saying. Don't let him believe the lies I'm forced to speak right now.
She squeezed her eyes tight, fighting the tears welling up. “Understood. I agree, but I need to tell you some wonderful news. Paul and I have made up. We're getting remarried."
“I don't believe you. Is Paul there in the room?"
She laughed. “It's true, I swear. No, my fiancé isn't in the room."
“How can you do this? Damn! He hasn't changed. You know that. He'll hurt you and Matt again. I'm coming over to talk some sense in your head."
She rubbed her shoulder. What could she say? She glanced at Paul, who stood beside her now. He pulled the phone away from her ear.
“I want to hear what he's saying,” Paul whispered.
The room seemed to close in on her. Suffocate her. Smother her. She gasped for breath.
“No. Don't barge over here like Superman. Remember. Trust me. I know what I'm doing. Now, congratulate us."
Silence reigned on the line for a long moment. “I'll be damned if I'll do that.” The sound of a fist slamming against wood filtered through the phone. “I stepped into it again, didn't I? When will I learn about women?"
The line went dead.
“You want me to go beat the shit out of Paul?” Carl asked.
“No,” Jared muttered.
The second he'd hung up on Katherine, Jared had called his detective friend and he'd come over immediately. Jared grabbed a paper towel and sopped up the coffee trail on the kitchen floor. He had repeated every bit of his conversation with Katherine, including his suspicions that Paul had heard the tail end of it. Jared had to play a role, or risk Paul finding out Jared hadn't believed Katherine. Whatever trouble she was in, he hadn't wanted to compound it by making Paul suspicious.
“What you gonna do?” Carl topped Jared's cup again and sat down beside him.
Jared raised his head, turned and lobbed the dripping paper into the trash basket. “Wait for Katherine."
Carl scratched his beard. “Didn't you tell me she said she's remarrying that son-of-a-bitch? Paul won, you lost."
“No, I haven't, not yet anyway."
Carl shook his head. “Last time you got dumped, you stayed stinking drunk for a week. This time, you've gone plumb wacky. Want me to call you a doctor?"
Jared sipped his coffee and grabbed a napkin. “I don't need one. I need you to find out what scheme Paul's pulled that would force her to marry him.” He folded the napkin in half, and later into quarters as his mind raced. “I don't think it involves Matt. No attorney could get the custody order changed to Paul. That leaves Grace. It's a threat to her mother in some way, probably financial."
“Any more ideas?"
He shredded the napkin into tiny pieces and looked up, feeling the first spark of hope since his call from Katherine. “Paul's all about money, and I know Grace's husband was sick for several years. He wasn't old enough for Medicare. He owned a small business, but it declined and later failed. I bet we'll find he didn't have much insurance, or he maxed the benefits and racked up a lot of medical bills."
Carl sipped the last of his coffee and stood up, shrugging on his coat. “And a lot of debt. I'll get right on it.” He paused at the door and looked back. “You know Christmas is in a few days. You wanna come-"
“And call Sergeant Sinclair off,” Jared snapped, ignoring Carl's hesitant invitation before it was out. Good God, the last thing he needed was to spend Christmas with a gruff private detective and his wife drinking rum-and-sodas and thinking of Katherine. He forced a faint smile past the taut frustration that had been jamming up his blood for hours now. Carl wasn't to blame, and he was a good friend. Perhaps too good. “Okay? No more police escorts. I'm a big boy now."
“You sure?” Carl asked, looking embarrassed, whether by the broken-off invitation or by being found out. “It makes the old man feel important-kind of like playing spy games."
Carl didn't fool him. “I'll be fine. No one's going to hurt me."
“You're gonna go over there and help her, aren't you?"
Jared shook his head. He drank the last of his coffee and tightened the grip on the cup. “I can't. If I took any actions that caused her family harm, I don't think Katherine would forgive me. She wants to solve it herself, remember? No Superman routine."
His eyes narrowed. “That's what she meant?"
Jared nodded. “She was warning me not to try and help."
“What tipped you off she doesn't intend to marry Paul?"
“Her ‘trust me'. I asked her once how I knew she wouldn't go back to Paul. She said ‘trust me'. That's what I'm doing."
Carl chuckled. “Yeah? Why you got me chasing my tail around finding out what her ex is up to?"
Jared frowned. “I trust Katherine to the moon and back, but not that weasel. Paul's dangerous. If she needs me, I want the ammunition to step in fast and help her."
Carl pushed away from the table and stood. “You're placing a lot of faith in a few vague phrases. What if you're wrong? What if Katherine's remarrying her ex?"
Jared slammed the cup down so hard it shattered.