Tangled Web
By Sarah & Lanie
Chapter 12
Chi Town
Donna and Vicky stood surveying the buzzing crowd at the nightclub. Donna smiled brightly and said, "Will you just look at this? If the crowds keep coming in this way, it will do wonders for the businesses here on the waterfront."
Vicky looked at her mother with cautionary eyes. "I don't know, Mom. From what I hear, Emmanuel Logan isn't exactly on the up and up. You might not like the element this place ends up drawing."
Donna waved a dismissive hand. "Silly rumors, darling. Mr. Logan has never been charged with any crimes. Successful businessmen are often surrounded by whispers of illegal activities." Donna glanced in the direction of Logan and continued, "All I know is that the waterfront revitalization will be nothing but good for the Harbor Club."
Vicky scanned the club looking for Jake. "Where has that husband of mine gotten himself to? It shouldn't take this long to make a phone call."
"Jake mentioned that he was going to talk to some people here about the opening. He was looking for some background color for the coverage in The Herald."
Vicky shook her head and smiled. "That's Jake alright. He's the publisher but he can't seem to stay completely out of the reporting side. I'm going to get another club soda. Do you want anything?"
"No thank you, I'm fine."
Donna watched Vicky wend her way through the crowd toward the bar. A few moments later, Jake walked over to her. "Where's Vicky?" He asked as he glanced around. "I was just with Marley and Tyrone and she wasn't with them either."
Donna smiled and patted his arm. "You don't need to fret. Vicky was just here. She went to get a drink."
Jake gave a relieved nod and said, "I just can't stand having her out of my sight for too long. I keep thinking that something's going to go wrong. Everything's so perfect right now. The family's all together; we've got the twins on the way. It's too good to last."
"Jake! Don't keep looking for gloom and doom around every corner. Just enjoy this happiness instead of waiting for another disaster."
Jake ran a hand across the back of his neck and replied, "I know you're right. But I just can't shake the feeling that something bad is coming."
Donna shook her head and said, "Absolutely not. After everything we've been through this family deserves a little peace. Grant isn't a threat any longer and Marley has come back to us from that dark place she was trapped in. Everything is as it should be." The smile faded from Donna's face as her eye caught on a couple standing next to the dance floor. "Well, almost everything."
Jake turned his eyes in the direction of Donna's baleful glance. He took in the sight of Cindy talking with David and looked back at Donna. "Her? Who cares? She's not worth the energy to worry about. Vicky and I took care of her."
Donna shot him a skeptical look. "For now, Jake. That woman has caused so much misery to all of us and now she's hooked up with that nice young man."
Jake looked at Donna like she'd grown another head. " 'Nice young man'? I think the Corys would beg to differ with that description."
"From what I understand, that was all Jordan Stark's doing. He brainwashed Mr. Halliday or used some sort of mind control on him. I can relate to being victimized by that monster. He turned me into a vacant headed zombie for months if you'll recall."
"Let's put aside whether or not Halliday is 'nice' or not. Why does it make any difference if Cindy snags him or not?"
"He's rich and powerful, Jake. If she can con him into helping her, heaven knows what she'll do."
Jake looked back over at Cindy. She and David were laughing about something and appeared to be enjoying themselves immensely. Jake's brow creased and a light entered his eyes. "Maybe someone should warn Mr. Halliday about exactly what type of mess he's gotten himself into."
"I already tried that. I don't know if he didn't take me seriously or if Cindy wormed her way out of it, but he doesn't seem to have any inclination to put her out of his life. It's amazing how she's been able to pull the wool over his eyes this way. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised considering the fact that Cindy is a compulsive liar, but I would have thought that he'd have seen through her by now. Maybe if he did, we could all be rid of her for good."
That comment caught Jake's attention. "Really? What makes you say that?"
Donna shrugged slightly and replied, "Well, David is the only person in Bay City who's willing to give her the time of day. If he wises up to her and walks, she'd probably leave town."
Jake smiled slightly at the thought of life in Bay City sans Cindy Harrison. Then he shook his head. "Nah, it's too much to hope for. She'd hang around here just to spite us."
"I don't think so, Jake. One of the waiters told me that she was trying to skip town a night or so before Cass and Lila's wedding. He heard her making reservations for a flight to Spain and she asked for a limo to the airport. It was only after David hired her to work for him that she decided to stay."
Jake's brow furrowed with concentration. If Halliday was the key to getting Cindy out of their lives, Jake was determined to find a way to make him see the light. He caught a glimpse of motion out of the corner of his eye and looked over to see Cindy walking toward the bar, leaving David waiting next to the dance floor. A sly smile turned up one side of Jake's mouth. "Donna, if you'll excuse me, I need to see a man about a snake."
As Jake took off in David's direction, Donna said, "Good luck."
Vicky finally made her way to the front of the bar and ordered her club soda. The area surrounding the bar was packed with people. Suddenly, Vicky noticed a slight commotion off to her right. Someone was apparently pushing through the other patrons toward the bar. When she saw who it was, Vicky wasn't surprised by the behavior. When the bartender returned with her drink, Vicky accepted it and worked her way down the bar.
Jake walked up to David and said, "David Halliday, just the man I've been looking for."
David's brow creased for a moment and then he said, "Jake McKinnon, right? Publisher and editor of The Herald."
Jake grinned. "I'm glad that my reputation precedes me, as does yours, Mr. Halliday. You have an amazing story to tell: Man arrives in town, does a bunch of wacko stuff, wakes up in the hospital and can't remember any of it. It's fascinating… in a creepy sort of way."
David had tensed at the mention of "his story". The stiffness was evident in his tone when he replied, "No offense, Mr. McKinnon, but I have no memory of that time and no wish to discuss it, particularly with a member of the press. I don't care for publicity, which is the reason I don't seek it out. Now if you'll excuse me…"
As David turned to walk away, Jake grasped his elbow to stop him. When David looked meaningfully down at Jake's hand, he removed it and held it up in a conciliatory gesture. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable and I'm not after an interview. I'm actually more interested in telling you something than asking questions."
David cocked up an intrigued eyebrow and waited for Jake to explain himself.
Cindy flashed a grin at the bartender. "A martini and a scotch on the rocks, please." Cindy tapped her fingers on the bar in time with the beat of the techno music blaring through the speakers while she waited for her order. As the bartender returned with her drinks, Cindy heard a comment from her left. "I hope you're getting cash for those drinks. I thought you should be warned that this woman is notorious for running up tabs and not paying them."
Cindy glared at Vicky and handed the bartender a bill from her purse. She continued to look directly at Vicky when she said, "Keep the change." Cindy grabbed the drinks and began walking away from Vicky. She was determined to have a good time and that meant keeping her promise not to antagonize anyone. She felt good about doing the right thing… until she realized that she hadn't left Vicky behind as she'd intended.
"So what is it you have to tell me, Mr. McKinnon?" David asked with marked lack of curiosity. "It must be important if you're passing up the chance to grill me for your paper."
Jake smiled slightly. "You don't have any love lost for the members of the press, do you?" Under his breath, Jake muttered, "It's nice to know that some things stay the same."
David was rapidly losing patience with the conversation. "Look, I'm not sure what you and I have to discuss. If you have something to say, just say it."
Jake's expression turned intensely serious. "I realize that you don't know me but I think you deserve a warning."
"A warning? About what?"
"About the widow Harrison. Before she snows you with her 'poor pathetic me' routine, I think you should hear the real story."
Vicky had followed Cindy to the edge of the crowd, not exactly sure why she was doing it but following the impulse anyway. Maybe it was the fact that Cindy seemed far too pleased with herself. Vicky wanted to be sure that Cindy knew that not everyone in Bay City was as warm-hearted and forgiving as Paulina was. "So Cindy, I hear you've managed to snare another rich man to take care of you."
Cindy froze and slowly turned around to pin Vicky with an icy stare. She opened her mouth to make a retort but then snapped her jaws shut. If you can't say something nice… "I have nothing to say to you."
Cindy started to turn away when Vicky gave a shout of mocking laughter. "You? Nothing to say? Well that has got to be a first! But really, I'm fascinated. How do you do it? Grant's been dead less than six months and you've already found another benefactor. It's amazing how you always land on your feet… or is it another part of your anatomy, I keep getting confused."
Keep it together, Cindy. Don't give her the satisfaction. "Not that it's any of your business, but I work for David. I'm taking care of myself."
"Right, I'm sure he hired you based on your years of expertise in business. Maybe it's your years of expertise elsewhere that he's interested in."
Cindy fumed silently. She needed to get away before she completely lost it. "Think what you want. You will anyway."
Vicky looked at Cindy with blatant disbelief. "What is this, the 'new and improved' Cindy? Save the act for David because he's the only one who's buying what you're selling." Vicky caught a glimpse of something over Cindy's shoulder and smiled. "But maybe not for much longer."
Jake was in mid-tirade when David finally held up a hand and said, "You can save your breath, Mr. McKinnon. I've already heard about Cindy's past."
Jake looked at David like he'd lost his mind. "And you're still hanging around? You must not be as smart as you look. That woman is a walking natural disaster. Who in their right mind would willingly stand directly in her path?"
David was amused by Jake's characterization. "Cindy is a force of nature alright, but she isn't necessarily destructive."
Jake scoffed and shook his head. "Now I know you're a few slices shy of a loaf. If you know about everything she's done, why would you risk being the sucker for her next scheme?"
David smiled slightly. "Maybe it's because I believe that this time she can change. All Cindy needs is a chance and someone to believe in her."
Cindy looked over her shoulder and saw David deep in conversation with Jake. Just imagining what Jake was saying filled Cindy with anxiety. How on earth was she supposed to change her life with constant reminders of her past? Cindy pushed the fear down and turned back to Vicky with false bravado in her expression. "There's nothing Jake can tell David that I haven't told him myself. He knows the whole story."
"Correction - He knows your version of the story, told complete with batting eyelashes and tears no doubt. Once David hears the whole truth, he won't waste a minute running as far away from you as he can get."
Cindy's control completely snapped. "You're so big on the truth, aren't you? At least until it's aimed in your direction."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Vicky said with outrage tingeing her voice.
"You're so busy blaming everyone else for your problems. Now that Grant is gone it's my turn. At least I've taken responsibility for the damage I've done."
"Nothing I have ever done can compare to the havoc you've caused!"
"Really!" Cindy replied angrily. "How about your sister?"
Vicky's brow furrowed. "Marley? What…?"
Vicky didn't get a chance to finish as Cindy interrupted. "Right, Marley! You blamed everything she did during her mental shutdown on Grant and me. What a crock! Deep down, you know that Marley went over the edge because of you. Because you married her rapist and she couldn't deal with it!"
Vicky stood in shocked silence, feeling like the breath had been knocked out of her. Cindy leaned forward and maliciously whispered, "There's a little bit of your precious truth. It can really hurt sometimes, can’t it?"
Vicky's shock dissolved into rage. In an instant, her hand came up and cracked hard across Cindy's cheek. Cindy's head snapped to the side with the force of the blow. The white handprint on her face rapidly filled with red as she turned her head back to glare at Vicky with hatred burning in her eyes.
David and Jake had already noticed the heated conversation going on between the two women and had been crossing through the crowd toward them. They arrived just as Cindy said, "You're lucky you're pregnant, honey, or I'd lay you out for that one right here and now!"
Jake grabbed Cindy's wrist just in case she reacted in spite of her words. Jake fiercely glared at Cindy and growled, "What the hell did you do to her!"
Cindy's eyes widened with mock innocence. "I was just having a little chat with your wife. She insisted on it."
David stepped forward and grabbed Jake's arm. "Let her go, Jake. Now."
David's tone brooked no argument. Jake flung Cindy's arm away and said, "Gladly" in a low, dangerous voice.
Cindy turned her head slightly to look up at David. He was still staring at Jake with daggers shooting from his eyes. He must hate me now, Cindy thought despairingly. She felt the pressure of expectations on both sides. She couldn't face David's disappointment, not now. She quickly turned and shoved the drinks she held into his hands. "I need some air," she said in a shaky voice before taking off through the crowd.
David called out, "Cindy, wait!" but she didn't turn around. David discarded the drinks on a nearby table and turned to Vicky and Jake. "Look, I know you two have a history with Cindy. And I don't blame you for being skeptical, but she truly is trying to turn her life around. I don't expect you to support her but could you at least stop undermining her?" David didn't wait for a reply. He walked toward the exit of the club to go in search of Cindy.
Jake and Vicky exchanged a glance. Jake said, "What do you think? Has Cindy decided to turn over a new leaf?"
They looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Nah."
Cindy stood at the edge of the dock staring out at the water. She viciously wiped the tears from her cheeks and tried to calm herself down. She had known all along that this was inevitable, she'd just been hoping it would happen later rather than sooner.
Cindy heard footfalls on the boards behind her. Her hopes that it was a stranger just passing by were dashed when David said, "I was wondering where you'd gotten yourself to. I'm glad you're still here. I was afraid you might have jumped in a cab and gone home."
Cindy took a tissue from her purse and wiped quickly under her eyes, hoping that would remove any remaining signs of her tears. She turned and started walking briskly toward the club entrance. "That's an excellent idea. I think I'll take your suggestion and get the hell out of here."
David caught Cindy's elbow as she tried to speed past him. "Cindy, I think we need to talk-"
David stopped as Cindy violently pulled her arm out of his grasp. "What is there left to say, David?" she cried out in a voice full of frustration and sorrow. "There's no way that the people in this town are ever going to give me a second chance! And I don't have it in me to just stand there and take it while they spout off at me! Maybe it's lack of moral fiber, but it's the truth! So please, do us both a favor and save the lecture. Maybe you can use it for your next experiment, because this one is over!"
Cindy looked at the shocked expression on David's face for a moment, then she smiled wistfully and placed her hand against his cheek. "It was great while it lasted, boss man." Unable to resist, she raised up and kissed David on the mouth, thinking about what could have been under different circumstances. She pulled away and studied his face. She forced a cheeky smile and said "See ya around, handsome."
Before David could stop her or even reply, she rushed over to the club entrance. Cindy heard him calling out to her but she knew that she couldn't keep the brave face on any longer. She jumped quickly into a waiting cab and said, "The Piano Factory, and step on it." As the cab lurched away from the curb, Cindy looked out the back window and saw David near the front entrance. She turned her eyes forward and thought, Don't look back. You can never look back.
When the cab pulled up at the curb, Cindy paid the driver and walked into the building. She wearily opened the door to her apartment, then closed and locked it. Suddenly, the dam broke inside of her. Cindy leaned her head against the door and let the tears come. She didn't even try to stop them. Tonight she was entitled.
God, I feel like hell
tonight
Tears of rage I cannot fight
I'd be the last to help you understand
Are you strong enough to be my man?
Cindy pushed away from the door and began stripping off her cocktail dress. She walked into the bedroom, tossed the dress on a chair and kicked off her high heels, then went into the bathroom. She wet a washcloth and wiped underneath her eyes with it. Grabbing her teal satin robe from the back of the door, she pulled it on and tied the belt. She left the bathroom and shot a glance into her bedroom at the discarded dress. A few hours ago, she'd put that dress on in anticipation of a fun evening out on the town. Now, she hated the sight of it. Everything had changed before she'd even had a chance to catch her breath.
Nothing's true and
nothing's right
So let me be alone tonight
You can't change the way I am
Are you strong enough to be my man?
Cindy went into the kitchen and pulled an open bottle of white wine from the refrigerator. She poured some into a wineglass and walked over to the couch. Curling her legs underneath her, Cindy tried to sort out what to do next. She was going to have to deal with David eventually. After all, she did still work for him. Maybe if he didn't fire her, she could save enough money to get out of town. If he did let her go… well, she had enough trouble without mentally borrowing more. "I guess I'll jump off that bridge when I come to it" she said.
I have a face I cannot
show
I make the rules up as I go
It's "try and love me if you can"
Are you man enough to be my man?
Suddenly, there was a soft rapping on the door. Cindy had no idea whom it could be, then remembered that she'd put in a request for maintenance a few days ago. She put the wineglass down and headed for the door saying, "I'm coming! You guys sure do have weird…" Cindy stopped speaking when she saw who was on the other side of the door. "… hours."
When I've shown you that
I just don't care
When I'm throwing punches in the air
When I'm broken down and cannot stand
Will you be strong enough to be my man?
David was leaning with his shoulder against the doorjamb. His expression was inscrutable as he looked at Cindy. "I know it's late, but we need to talk. Can I come in?"
Lie to me
I promise I'll believe
Lie to me
But please don't leave
Cindy wasn't prepared for this, not yet. "Can it wait until tomorrow? It's been a long night."
"I realize that, but no, this can't wait." Seeing the determined gleam in David's eyes, Cindy bowed to the inevitable. She stood back and allowed him to walk into the apartment past her. She closed the door and turned around. "David…"
"No" David interrupted. "You got to have your say on the docks and then you took off before I could have my turn. I think you owe it to me to listen to my side first."
One corner of Cindy's lips tilted upward. "I was just going to ask if I could get you a drink."
David smiled slightly and said, "No thanks." David paused and his countenance became serious again. "Cindy, I think you've gotten the wrong impression of my intentions. I don't expect you to be perfect or to never lose your temper. I just want you to be yourself, your true self: The one without the artifice and the scheming and the hitting below the belt. What happened tonight at the club was unfortunate, but I don't believe for a second that you are entirely to blame for it."
Cindy's eyes were wide with wonder. She sank slowly down onto the couch and said, "You don't?"
David sat down as well so they were eye to eye again. "No, I don't. It takes two people to make up an argument, Cindy. It didn't look to me like you had Vicky McKinnon tied down so she couldn't get away."
Cindy huffed indignantly. "Not even close. I tried to walk away and she followed me. That woman was worse than a pit bull with a mouth full of postal worker."
"Right there you proved my point. A few months ago, would you have even tried to walk away?"
Cindy perked up slightly at that thought. "No. I wouldn't have."
David smiled. "You see? You're making an effort to change your life."
Cindy looked at him doubtfully. "You mean that… counts?"
"Of course it counts. It's like I said before, I don't expect you to be perfect Cindy. In fact, I don't think I'd like it if you could manage to be perfect."
Cindy grinned. "Oh really? You like some of my imperfections?"
David laughed and said, "Yes. I'm liking them more every day."
Cindy gave him a brilliant smile and then said, "Are you hungry?"
David looked at her speculatively. "That depends. Is cooking one of your 'imperfections'?"
Cindy slapped him playfully on the arm and replied, "Well, I can't make crème broulèt if that's what you're asking, but I do make a killer Western omelet."
David stood up and held out his hand to her. "As long as that's a figure of speech, I'm game."
Cindy placed her hand in his and stood up. She walked into the tiny kitchenette and began pulling ingredients out of the fridge. She cut a pat of butter into a skillet and turned on the burner. She was dicing an onion when David asked, "Can I do anything to help?"
Cindy pulled out another cutting board and tossed him a green pepper. "Sure. Dice that up while I get the onions started."
As Cindy scraped the onions into the pan, David eased past her to stand at the counter. "Do you have another knife?" he asked.
Cindy nodded and reached around him toward the drawer next to his right hip. It became apparent that the close quarters of the kitchen made it difficult for more than one person to work in it at a time. With the table and chairs right behind her, Cindy had to press herself against David to reach the drawer. She felt a shock race through her system at the contact. When she looked up, David was staring down at her with eyes that told her he felt it too.
Cindy pulled her lower lip into her mouth to wet it. She wanted to kiss him so badly that she ached with it. Her thoughts were so scrambled that she didn't know what to do. Cindy stopped trying to think. She just followed her impulse and leaned fully against him with her hands braced against the counter on both sides of David's hips.
She didn't have to wait long for a reaction. David's hands shot out to grasp her hips. At first she thought he was pushing her away, until he lifted her up and sat her on the tabletop. He leaned down over her, meeting her eyes with silent challenge. Again, Cindy reacted on impulse, wrapping her legs around his waist and pulling him toward her as she lay back on the table.
David's eyes flared as he leaned down even closer to her. He took her wrists in his hands and stretched her arms over her head to lay them flat on the table. He then slowly ran his hands down the lengths of her arms and her sides to her waist. He moved his hands to the center of her stomach and up from there in one continuous caress until his hands returned to hers. David's fingers clasped hers as his mouth hovered above her lips. Cindy's breathing was labored as the sensations rocked through her body. This was the sweetest torture she'd ever experienced, this unfulfilled wanting.
David finally brushed her lips with his, soft fleeting kisses that were more a tease than a release. Cindy's breath caught on a sigh of supplication, and David couldn't hold back any longer. His mouth caught hers in a hard, demanding kiss that Cindy responded to with feverish need. David released her hands so he could touch her as he'd been longing to since the last time they'd kissed. The feeling of Cindy's body pressed against his drove away all rational thought. There was only room for this. For the fire.
Cindy ran her freed hands across David's shoulders then moved them down his back to his waist. She groaned and arched against him as his mouth left hers to travel down her neck. The heat was making her crazy. She felt like she would burn up if she couldn't touch him. Then she heard David's voice rasping in her ear. "Burning."
Cindy thought he must have read her mind. "Oh yes. Me too" she replied in a passion-roughened voice.
David pulled away from her and braced himself on his arms. "No, I meant the onions," he said with laughter tinting the frustrated desire in his voice.
Cindy suddenly became aware of the smell as well. David backed up and Cindy slipped past him. She removed the pan from the burner and turned it off. The onions now resembled small black pebbles. Turning back to face David, Cindy shook her head. "So much for impressing you with my prowess in the kitchen."
For a moment, they just stared at each other. Cindy shot a lightening quick glance over at the table. David's brows raised and a slow smile began spreading across his lips. Then they both burst out into peals of laughter.
When the laughter faded away, David said, "Maybe I should go."
Cindy walked over to him and ran her hands up his chest to link them behind his neck. "Do you have to?" she asked in a plaintively suggestive voice.
David hesitated, staring down into her upturned face for a moment. He was sorely tempted to stay, but realized that this was not the time for impulse. Regretfully, he pulled Cindy's hands from around his neck and kissed the backs of each of them. "I think it's best that I do. As you said, it's been a long night."
Cindy heard the undertone of indecisiveness in David's voice. She knew that she could change his mind if she tried. But for the first time in a long time, Cindy was willing to wait for what she wanted. He wasn't walking out on her. For now, that was enough. "Ok" she said on a sigh. "Will I see you tomorrow?"
David smiled and replied, "Count on it. I'll call you."
Cindy escorted David to the door. Before he opened it, he turned back to her. With a gentle smile, he said, "Goodnight, Cindy." Then he leaned down and placed a lingering kiss on her cheek.
"Goodnight" Cindy replied softly as he opened the door and walked out into the hall. Cindy locked the door behind him, then turned around and leaned against it. A smile lingered on her lips. For once in her life, things seemed to be going her way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chi Town
Donna was preparing to leave the club. She had bid goodnight to Nick and Remy and was looking for Marley and Tyrone when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and saw the smiling countenance of Emmanuel Logan. "Hello, Ms. Love. I've wanted to introduce myself to you all evening. I'm Emmanuel Logan."
Donna smiled and took the hand he offered. Instead of shaking her hand as she expected, Logan leaned down and placed a kiss on the back of it. She was surprised but not offended by the gesture. "It's a pleasure to meet you at last, Mr. Logan. It looks like you have quite a success on your hands here."
Logan glanced about and smiled. "Yes, it looks that way. I'm very pleased with the turn out. With the proceeds going to such a worthy cause, it does my heart good. It looks like we're neighbors now, or at least our businesses are."
Donna nodded. "I think it will be beneficial to both of us that we're close by. I hope I'll be seeing you for dinner at the Harbor Club when you can get away."
Logan smiled charmingly and replied, "If you'll agree to be my dining companion, I'd love to. Is there any night this week that would be convenient for you?"
Donna gave him an askance look and asked, "Mr. Logan, are you asking me on a date?"
"Yes I am, unless you’re otherwise engaged. If so, it can simply be a shared meal between business people with a common interest in the renewal of the waterfront."
Donna studied him for a few seconds, then smiled disarmingly. "I'm not otherwise engaged but I don't know you well enough for a date."
"Perhaps we can change that over dinner then. Would Wednesday at seven work for you?"
Donna nodded and said, "Yes. I'll look forward to it."
Logan returned her smile and said, "Good, I'll see you then." As he walked away, Donna gave herself a mental shake. This was the last thing she'd expected when she'd arrived at the nightclub.
Hawk and Scout were across the room and had watched the entire exchange. Ryan said, "What do you make of that?"
Hawk glared at Logan's retreating form and said, "Trouble. Big trouble. And Donna has just landed herself right in the middle of it."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
August 15th,
8:00 AM
Tess's Apartment
"I hope you like red" Tess said as she walked out of the kitchen with two wineglasses in her hands.
Matt reached for the glass and took a sip before setting it on the table. Tess sat next to him on the couch and sampled her wine as well, keeping her eyes locked with Matt's over the rim of the glass. When she pulled the glass away from her lips and swallowed, Matt took it from her and placed it on the table next to his. His gaze was intense when it returned to hers. He hooked his hand behind her neck and pulled her to him for a deep, passionate kiss. When he broke the kiss, he said, "The wine doesn't compare to the taste of you."
Tess's breath caught in her throat. She'd been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever. She lay back on the couch and Matt followed her. When his body pressed hers into the couch, Tess felt the fire re-ignite inside her. She wasn't going to wait any longer for what she wanted. Tess caught Matt's mouth with hers. The passion inside her was like a drug. The more he gave her the more she craved. Tess moaned softly and began unbuttoning Matt's shirt.
Matt sat up on the couch, not knowing at first what had awakened him. He tried to get his bearings as he shook off the vestiges of sleep. Suddenly, he heard a noise coming from down the hall. Recognizing it as the sound that had stirred him from sleep in the first place, Matt walked down the hallway to find out what Tess was doing.
When he peered through the partly open door at the end of the hall, he saw that Tess was still sleeping. She must be dreaming, Matt realized. He knew he should walk away out of respect for her privacy, but the sight of Tess asleep drew him forward.
Matt sat gently on the side of the bed and studied Tess. Her auburn hair was strewn across the pillow. A soft, mysterious smile played across her lips. Her shoulders were exposed above the shimmering cream colored sheet. Tess's skin seemed to glow from within, gilded by the daylight streaming through the window. Matt couldn't resist the urge to reach out and gently run the backs of his fingers down her cheek. Tess's skin was as soft to the touch as it appeared.
Tess turned into Matt's caress. Her eyes remained shut as she captured his hand in hers and kissed each of his fingers. Matt was mesmerized by Tess's unconscious seduction. All the emotions and urges from the previous night returned full force in a split second. Still in the grips of her dream, Tess pulled Matt toward her. Matt braced his forearms on either side of Tess as he moved closer to her.
Although her body language begged him to kiss her, Matt wanted to see her gorgeous turquoise eyes looking at him. He wanted to know for a fact that Tess realized whom she was kissing. "Tess, wake up" Matt said in a husky voice.
Tess's eyes drifted open. She saw Matt leaning over her and a smile slowly spread across her lips. His golden hair was tousled and his eyes shone with harnessed fire. Tess's hand drifted up to run through his hair; then she gripped his shoulders in both hands.
Matt stared at Tess's lips for a second, then returned his eyes to hers. "Good morning, Tess. Should I take this greeting to mean that you want to pick up where we left off last night as badly as I do?"
The word "morning" finally shook Tess out of the remnants of her dream state. Cold, hard reality hit her directly in the face. She wanted more than anything to block out the world and pretend it didn't matter. To have these moments with Matt disregarding all thought of the consequences. But she couldn't. What she wished to do, and with whom, could put her entire reason for being there in jeopardy.
Blocking the wave of disappointment and frustrated desire that threatened to drown her resolve, Tess forced a cold look into her eyes and shoved Matt away. As surprised confusion took possession of Matt's features, Tess sat up abruptly. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Matt gave a disgruntled huff. "What I was doing was waking you up. What I am doing is wondering what has gotten into you."
"Me? You-" Tess stopped suddenly when she realized Matt's eyes had drifted downwards. She followed the direction of his gaze to see that the satin sheet had slipped down to her waist, exposing the slinky black negligée she wore. Tess swiftly grasped a fistful of the sheet and clutched it to the base of her throat. "You come into my bedroom uninvited and make a pass at me when I'm fast asleep. That's not exactly acting on your best behavior now is it, Mr. Cory!"
Matt held onto his patience stubbornly. He could sense that Tess was trying to goad him into a fight, though he had no idea why. "First of all, I didn't make a pass at you while you were sleeping. I came to your bedroom door because I heard you. I came in because I saw you and I wanted to be near you. When you first woke up, I got the impression that that's what you wanted too. Can you explain to me what happened to that?"
Matt's calm honesty blew the wind out of Tess's bluster. She knew that she should keep up the indignant act but it was pointless to do so since Matt apparently wasn't going to buy it. Still, she had to get them both out of this bedroom before she threw caution to the wind and gave in to what they both wanted. She decided to try a different tack. "Before I answer that question, can we please move this conversation out of my bedroom? I'm not exactly comfortable talking to you in here."
Matt studied her face as he considered the request. It wasn't just a delaying tactic. Matt could see that Tess was honestly uncomfortable. "Ok, we can go into the living room if that will make you feel better. But I'll expect an answer, Tess. I expect the truth."
I can't give you the truth, Matt. The truth will make this impossible. Tess waited for Matt to get up, but he continued to sit on the edge of the bed studying her in contemplative silence. "Well?" she asked expectantly.
"Well what?" Matt countered with false ingenuousness.
Tess rolled her eyes. "Will you please wait for me in the other room while I put something on?"
"But I like what you're wearing now, what I've seen of it anyway" Matt said with a mischievous grin.
Tess gave a laughter-tinted growl and whacked him with her pillow. "You are impossible! Now get out of here." Tess held back the laughter bubbling in her throat but couldn't suppress an indulgent grin.
Matt stood and strode to the door. "I'll be waiting," he said meaningfully before walking out and closing the door behind him.
Tess leapt out of the bed and dressed rapidly. As she pulled her clothes on, she tried to determine how to handle the situation with Matt. Pretending she didn't want him was futile. After last night, he knew better. But she had to find a way to get him to back off. No matter how much she wished it didn't have to be this way, she had to keep her distance from Matt. Too many lives were in jeopardy already. Tess wasn't about to let her unanticipated feelings add Matt to that list. She'd never forgive herself if something happened to Matt because of her lack of control.
Tess took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door. She walked down the hall into the living room. Matt was standing next to the window, staring out at the morning sky. He hadn't noticed her entrance yet so Tess took a moment to watch him. The sunlight gleamed on his hair and highlighted the strength of his jaw. Tess felt her heart lurch with painful regret. If only things were different... Tess pushed away the selfish thought. Things were what they were. Wishing reality away wouldn't change what she had to do. Tess closed her eyes briefly. I'm sorry, Matt. More sorry than you can ever know.
Tess cleared her throat and Matt turned to face her. As his eyes bored into hers, Tess smiled companionably and said, "I'll just make some coffee."
Matt's eyes narrowed at her impersonal tone. He wasn't going to let her get away with treating him like a casual acquaintance, not after last night. "The coffee can wait. We need to talk."
Tess kept up her front. She smilingly shook her head and walked toward the kitchen. "No, the coffee can't wait. I can't think clearly until I have my first caffeine boost of the day."
Matt stubbornly followed Tess into the kitchen. She was spooning grounds into a filter when he entered the room. "If thinking clearly makes you act like this then maybe I should insist that we forget the coffee altogether. I want some answers, Tess. I think I'm entitled."
Tess continued her preparations, studiously ignoring the frustration in Matt's voice. She poured water into the top of the coffee maker and turned it on. She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned to face Matt's intense stare. "Entitled?" she said with slight humor. "Well I don't know about that. I know the Cory family is practically royalty in Bay City, but-"
Tess stopped as Matt reached out to grab her arms. His hold was fierce but not painful. Tess felt her blood race in response to his touch and the fire burning in his eyes. She couldn't speak, knowing that if she did all pretense of indifference would fall away.
"Stop acting like I'm someone you used to know and talk to me!" Matt shouted angrily. "I'm in no mood to play games with you, Tess! One minute we're about to make love and the next you freeze over on me. I know you want me as much as I want you so why do you keep denying it?"
Tess realized that Matt wasn't going to settle for evasions, not this time. The best she could do was to give him as much of the truth as she was able. She pulled out of his grip and took one of his hands in hers. "Come on. Let's sit down."
Sensing the change in her demeanor, Matt let Tess lead him to the kitchen table. Once they were seated, Tess began her explanation. "Matt, when you fell asleep last night, I was really disappointed-"
"I'm sorry about that" Matt cut in quickly. "Jasmine is cutting a tooth and she kept me up all night-"
Tess placed her fingers against his lips to stop his outburst. "You don't need to explain. As I started to say, I was disappointed at first, but after I took some time to think about it, I realized that you did us both a favor."
"A favor? I don't understand-"
"Please, let me finish." Tess looked down for a moment before meeting Matt's puzzled gaze again. "I do want you, Matthew. I'm not going to bother denying it anymore, not to you and not to myself. But this… this thing between us, it can't happen."
"Why not? If you're going to use work as an excuse again-"
Tess shook her head, effectively silencing Matt. "No. That's not it. The problem for us is… well, us. We're in two different places in our lives. The way things are makes it impossible for us to be together."
Matt reached out and smoothed a lock of Tess's hair behind her ear. The gentle touch made her heart race and ache simultaneously. "I'm not sure what you mean, but whatever you think the problem is, just tell me. We can work it out together."
Tess pulled Matt's hand away from her head and held it in hers. "What's wrong can't be fixed, Matt. Not by either of us, no matter how much we want it to be." Tess couldn't bear Matt's closeness any longer and stood up. She walked over to the counter and turned to lean against it. "Matt, you have a good life here. You have your family, the business, stability. Stability has never been one of my strong suits. You've seen my résumé. I never stay in one place for very long."
Matt stood and walked over to Tess. "Maybe that's because you never found the right place. Or the right person."
"Don't you see? That's exactly what I'm talking about! I can't change who I am, not for you, not for anyone. I like my life the way it is, without ties or complications. You come with both of those things and that's not something I'm prepared to deal with."
Matt closed his eyes briefly, searching for the right words to say. "I'm not trying to make demands on you, Tess. I just want to be with you."
Tess shook her head sadly. "You can't even see it, can you? If I thought we could just have something for a short time and then walk away, I would throw myself into your arms right now. But it wouldn't be enough. I haven't known you for very long but I do know you well enough to realize that you want more than a casual fling. Can you tell me I'm wrong?" A part of Tess wished that Matt would say yes. At least then, she would have some memories of him to keep with her. But as she'd suspected, Matt couldn't look her in the eyes and claim that he would accept less than everything from her.
A bittersweet smile spread across Tess's lips. A light sheen of tears glittered in her eyes. "You're asking for more than I can give, Matt. And I care about you too much to pretend otherwise just so I can be with you. Please, I'm begging you, stop pressuring me. I don't know if I'll be able to resist if you do. I don't want there to be any regrets between us."
Matt blew out a breath in a disbelieving huff. "No regrets? Trust me on one thing Tess, I'm already piling up the regrets where you're concerned." Matt paused a moment as an anger fueled gleam entered his eyes. "So why not add one more?" he said gruffly. His hands shot out and pulled Tess hard against him. One arm shot around her waist to trap her against him. The opposite hand raised to grip the back of her head as his lips ground into hers.
The kiss was meant as a condemnation, a punishment, but Tess didn't care. The moment Matt's lips touched hers she groaned and opened her mouth to him. His tongue plunged into her mouth, taking full possession of what she offered. Tess accepted the fiery assault gladly and returned the force and passion with her own. As suddenly as the kiss started, Matt ended it. He pushed Tess away and glared at her while he regained a grip on his desire. Tess's breathing was labored as she stared back at him. She felt bereft although she realized that Matt had been making a point rather than trying to persuade her.
He proved her conclusion correct when he finally spoke. "You say you want nothing more than a little fling? You're lying to yourself, Tess. An affair wouldn't be enough for you any more than it would be for me." With that, Matt stalked past Tess out of the kitchen. He had gathered his things and was at the door when she rushed out after him. "Matt, wait!"
Matt stood with his hand on the knob and turned his eyes to hers. Tess knew what he wanted to hear. She swallowed hard and said, "Where are you going?"
Tess cringed inwardly as the light in Matt's eyes turned cold. "I'm going home."
"No! You can't…" Tess gave his clothing a meaningful glance. "What will you tell your family when they ask why you're still wearing that?"
Matt looked down at the rumpled tuxedo. "I'll tell them the truth."
Tess blanched at the thought. Just imagining what his family would think not to mention what Cameron would have to say about it, made the blood drain out of her face. "Matt, please…"
"Don't worry," Matt ground out coldly. "I won't tarnish your sterling reputation. I have a change of clothes at the office. I'll go there first and tell everyone that I had some work to do this morning. Will that make you happy?"
"I don't think that 'happy' is the way I'd describe how I feel right now."
Matt looked at Tess's conflicted expression and relented slightly. "I can see that. I hope that one of these days you'll realize what will make you happy. If that ever happens… you know where to find me." With a last lingering look, Matt opened the door and walked out.
Tess released a pent up breath. That was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do. But it was worth it. Keeping Matt out of harm's way was the only thing that mattered.
Tess wandered over to the sofa and dropped down on it. She was emotionally and mentally drained. She looked over and saw the throw that she'd covered Matt with when he fell asleep. She picked it up and pulled it to her. Holding it up to her face, Tess could make out the faint scent of Matt's cologne clinging to the fibers.
Suddenly, it was all too much to take. Tess gathered the blanket against her and curled up in it. She lay down on her side and cried, using the fabric to muffle the sounds of her pain.
Dark angels follow me
Over a godless sea
Mountains of endless falling
For all my days remaining
What would be true?
Sometimes I see your face
The stars seem to lose their place
Why must I think of you?
Why must I?
Why should I?
Why should I cry for you?
Why would you want me to?
What would it mean to say,
That "I loved you in my fashion"?
What would be true?
Why should I?
Why should I cry…?
Why should I… cry?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
August 15th,
7:00 PM
Woods near the McKinnon Cottage
Marcus Chase crouched in the bushes watching the scene before him through binoculars. The family was playing a game of touch football. They were laughing and seemed to be spending more time playfully wrestling over possession of the ball than actually scoring points in the game. Marcus put the binoculars down and pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. He knew that his employer was anxious for an update.
The call clicked through and Marcus said, "Boss, it's me. I'm at the house."
Grant leaned forward in his chair. "Tell me. Do you see my son?"
"Yeah. He's playing a game with your ex and some others. There's a guy in his twenties with dark hair and some chick along with McKinnon and Steven."
"That would be Nick, Vicky's brother, and his girlfriend. Is anyone else there?"
"Donna Love is here too but she's just watching. So is the sister and that guy that got appointed judge a while back."
Grant sneered. "So Marley and Tyrone are there as well? It's a down-home family reunion. How touching."
Marcus fidgeted a little, knowing that Harrison didn't like to be disappointed. "I'm not sure I can get to the kid tonight. There's way too many people here."
Grant leaned forward and snarled into the phone. "I don't care if the National Guard is camped out on the lawn! I want my son and I want him now! I paid you a great deal of money to make sure that I get him. Just wait until they all leave! Break into the house tonight like we planned. You and your team have what you need, correct?"
Marcus suppressed the desire to tell Harrison that he was around the bend. "Yes. We're prepared for the break in. I just can't guarantee you that we'll be able to pull it off clean. Somebody might get hurt."
"As long as my son is delivered safely to me I don't care what you have to do! Just get it done!"
Marcus heard the dial tone and glared down at the phone. He shook his head at Harrison's arrogance but did what he was told. He quickly called the other members of his team and told them that they had the green light for the operation. It was now just a matter of staying hidden until the time came.
Marcus put the phone back in his pocket and resumed studying his quarry through the binoculars. Without warning, an arm closed around his neck from behind, choking the breath out of him. A dangerous voice whispered in his ear. "What exactly do you think you're doing here?"
Marcus choked out, "A little sight seeing."
The arm around his neck tightened with bruising strength in payment for the obvious lie. "Uh-uh. Try again. The truth this time."
The arm loosened enough for Marcus to take a gasping breath and speak. "All right! I was scoping out the place for a burglary. I didn't realize the broad was so rich that she had her own security team watching the joint."
"Just a garden variety heist? No, I don't think so. You seemed more interested in the people than the house so cut the bull. Who are you working for?"
Marcus was caught between a rock and a hard place. The man threatening to choke the life out of him was strong enough and angry enough to snap his neck if he didn't give up Harrison. But if he did, Marcus knew that his life wasn't worth a plug nickel anyway. Grant Harrison had very dangerous friends in high places. "I don't know who it is! The contact was made through someone else. I just talked to the guy on the phone!"
"A name! Give me a name or I swear I'll kill you right here!"
Marcus knew he had one shot. He grabbed the tazer out of his waistband and shoved it against the arm at his throat. The moment the man's grip released, Marcus jumped up with his bag and fled into the depths of the woods.
Ryan sat on the ground rubbing his arm and mentally cursing his carelessness. His fear for Vicky and Kirkland had made him so angry that he hadn't paid enough attention to what the man had been doing. Ryan saw a movement in the underbrush and sprung up into a crouch in case it was one of the kidnapper's cronies. He relaxed when he saw a member of the surveillance team approaching. "Scout, are you alright? We saw the scuffle and headed over."
Ryan signaled to the man to follow him and moved further away from the edge of the woods. "I'm fine. He got me with a stun gun and ran off. He was planning on taking Kirkland."
"Did he tell you that?"
Ryan shook his head. "He didn't have to. I recognized him from a kidnapping case I worked a few years back. The guys is slippery, a professional. If we hadn't been here, he'd have gotten Kirk."
"How do you know he was after the kid?"
"Gut instinct" Ryan replied. "Grant sent him. I can feel it."
"So what do you want us to do? Should we warn the family?"
"Absolutely not. We can keep them safe without throwing them all into a panic over something they can't handle themselves. Tighten security and I'll try to trace the kidnapper back to Grant."
"Do you think you can get something concrete on your… on him being behind the kidnapping attempt?"
"Probably not, but it's worth a shot. It's more important than ever that we find Grant fast. I'm certain now that he's alive. No one else would have reason to try something like this." Ryan glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the house. "Now that this has failed, Grant will get reckless. He'll do whatever it takes to get Kirk. Take it from me, there's only one thing more dangerous than dealing with Grant when he's in control, and that's dealing with him when he's out of control."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tanquir
"What do you mean the deal is off?… I don't care if things went bad tonight! Try again… I don't want my money back, I want my son!… You listen to me… Hello?"
Enrique cringed as Grant let out a howl of frustration and slammed the phone down on the desk. Grant began pacing like a caged tiger as he ranted. "He hung up on me! Told me the job was too difficult and he was sending the money back! He can't do this to me! I want my son!"
Enrique said nothing as Grant paced. He could see the man slowly getting his fury under control. After several minutes, Grant sat down in a chair. He steepled his fingers and thoughtfully tapped them against his lips. Eventually, he muttered, "It's the only way" and crossed the room toward the desk.
As Grant rifled through some papers in a file, Enrique braved asking a question. "Are you going to hire another kidnapper?"
Grant shook his head. "No. Chase was the best. If he won't do the job then no one else will either. I'm going to have to take a different approach."
"What are you going to do?"
Grant smiled thinly. "Something I didn't even want to consider. But as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures."
Enrique shifted uncomfortably. He didn't like the tone of Grant's voice, nor his choice of words. "What do you mean 'desperate measures'? I hope you're not planning on doing what I think you are."
Grant raised his brows slightly and replied, "Don't worry yourself, Enrique. All I'm going to do is ask for help… from an old friend."
Author's note: The first song quoted in this chapter is "Strong Enough" from Sheryl Crow's CD, Tuesday Night Music Club. The second song is "Why Should I Cry For You", written and recorded by Sting on his CD, The Soul Cages. Click on the hyperlinked title(s) to listen to a Real media clip from the song.