Cold Heart (23 page)

34

Carter arrived right on time. Lexi felt her breath catch a little in her throat when he got out of the truck. He was wearing jeans as usual but a really dark navy color and a white shirt. The sleeves were rolled up and the first button undone. The contrast of the white against his skin made him look even more tanned than usual. She was thinking of his washboard abs as he walked toward her. When he kissed her, his face was soft from a recent shave and he smelled of cologne. Lexi felt her insides turn to Jello.

“Hi,” he said when he pulled back from the kiss. “How was the rest of the day?”

“It was wonderful to be here, unafraid and thinking of the future,” Lexi said. “I am so grateful just to be alive.”

“I’m grateful you’re alive too,” Carter said.

“Come on in,” she said.

She took his hand and pulled him into the foyer and through to the great room. Tucker pulled himself up from his mat and walked over to greet Carter.

“Hey boy,” he said. “How are you feeling?”

“He’s had a pretty good day, I think. He’s rested a lot,” Lexi said.

Carter led the dog back over to the mat and coaxed him to lie down.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Lexi asked.

“Yes, please but I think I’ll just stick with wine tonight,” he said and smiled. “Let me help.”

He followed her into the kitchen and Lexi passed him a bottle and a corkscrew and he opened the bottle and poured some wine into the glasses she had taken down from the cupboard.

“To us,” he said and raised his glass to ding it against hers. “Is that bread I smell?”

“Might be,” she said with a little smirk. “Let’s go and sit in the other room. Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes.”

“So what are your plans for the next few days?” Carter asked.

“Well, I have to contact the consulting firm that is doing the feasibility study and helping me with my business plan. I have to follow up with the landscaper and the decorator this week, also,” Lexi said, “And I have to find that damn key to the safety deposit box so once and for all I can find out if there is anything important in there.”

“Well that sounds like a lot for just a few days” Carter said. “What are you hoping to find in the safety deposit box?”

“I don’t know and maybe I’m grasping at straws but I keep tossing around the idea that my mom might have already been pregnant when she ran off with my father ... which would mean that Max was really my father.”

“Okay,” Carter said. “That would make some sense. Maybe that’s what he was trying to say when he was dying. Tell Lexi I’m ... her father?”

“Yeah,” Lexi said. “Do you think that could have been it?”

“It’s possible,” Carter said.

The timer buzzed from the kitchen.

“Dinners ready,” Lexi said. “I’ll get it, you sit at the table.”

“Are you sure I can’t help?” he asked.

“Not this time,” Lexi said. “I have a surprise.”

Carter sat and Lexi went into the kitchen and when she returned she was carrying a salad, which she set down on the table. Then she went back into the kitchen and brought out a large casserole dish.

“Is this what I think it is?” Carter asked.

“Yes, I called Mrs. Lorenzo and explained what happened and asked her for the recipe.”

“I can hardly wait to try it,” Carter said.

“Just a sec it needs to rest before we cut into it,” Lexi said. “I just have to get the garlic bread.”

“You made her garlic bread too?” Carter seemed incredulous.

“Well you can’t have one without the other, or so I have heard,” she said.

She brought the wine bottle to the table and poured them more wine. Once Lexi was seated she dished up generous portions of the lasagna and let Carter help himself to salad and garlic bread. Carter ate and there were many appreciative ums and ahs and moans.

“More?” she asked when he had finished.

“Just a little more lasagna,” he said. “It is every bit as good as Mrs. Lorenzo’s if not better and maybe a little more garlic bread.”

Lexi laughed, “Well I’m very glad you like it.”

“This bread is fabulous, did you make this from scratch?” he asked as he stuffed a big piece in his mouth.

“Yes I did,” she said.

Carter leaned back in his chair and rubbed his stomach. Lexi was about half-way through her portion and getting full.

“Best meal I’ve had since the last time I ate here,” he said. “What did we have again? I remember it was good, just not what it was.”

“That must have been because of the scotch,” Lexi said.

“Yes,” he said, sheepishly. “That would be the reason. You know you should put this on your menu when you open.”

“Do you think Mrs. Lorenzo would let me?” Lexi asked.

“I think she might, especially if you called it Mrs. Lorenzo’s Lasagna,” he said.

“Well as a family establishment, I definitely need this type of meal,” Lexi said. “I’m going to ask her. Would you like to be excused?”

“You mean so I can roll on the floor and groan like my foster brothers and I used to do?” he said.

“You didn’t, did you? Lexi said.

“We did. As teens we ate so much I don’t know how my mom kept up. Plus I think there may have been a bit of competition also,” Carter said.

“I have a light dessert but we’ll wait a bit,” she said. “I’ll just clear these dishes and put the food away.”

“I’ll help,” he said.

He picked up a couple of items and followed her into the kitchen. When they were finished Carter walked back out and picked his wine up from the dining room table. He walked over to the large wall of windows and looked out. Lexi followed. He took her glass from her and put it down on the table then put his next to it. He looked at her then and when he looked in her eyes she felt one of those power surges that went right to her toes. She could tell he felt it too.

Carter pulled her to him and kissed her. The kiss, a hungry, demanding one, ignited the fire that had been smoldering in both of them since they’d made love earlier. He clasped both her hands and brought them to his mouth and kissed each of her palms and then put two of her fingers in his mouth, then kissed each one all the while never taking his eyes off hers. Lexi found it extremely erotic. He pressed himself against her then and kissed her with such intensity that when he stopped she was gasping for breath.

Suddenly clothing was coming off, his shirt, her top, her pants. He unclasped her bra taking one breast then the other in his mouth. He pulled her panties down all the way to her ankles and she stepped out of them and then she fumbled with the button on his jeans, finally getting it undone and he shed them.

“Do you want to go upstairs,” she gasped in his ear as he held her so close she could hardly breathe.

“Too late for that now.”

He was ready, she was ready and the bed she had made fresh earlier, in anticipation of his sharing it, was just too far away now. Their hunger for each other was consuming them. He pulled her to the wing chair that was close and moved her so she was standing in front of him. Then grabbing either side of her hips, he lifted her onto him as he sat on the edge of the chair, thrusting himself deep inside her. He held her waist and she wrapped her legs around him and clutched his shoulders and held on as he carried the two of them to the brink and then back and then to the brink again. When she came she cried out his name. She collapsed onto him and they held each other until their breathing became more normal.

“Now do you want to go upstairs?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “Race you.”

They ran, Lexi giggling as she raced up the stairs with Carter in pursuit enjoying the view of her bottom as she clamoured up the stairs. They collapsed, laughing, on her bed. This time their love making was slower and deliberate and Lexi thought that she might never in her life-time experience anything as sensual and satisfying. This man brought out a side of her she had not known existed and nothing in this world existed for her at this moment but him. They fell asleep in each other’s arms.

When they woke, Lexi went for the dessert. She grabbed a robe that was draped over a chair and hurried downstairs. Tucker was sleeping. She went into the kitchen and put spumoni ice cream in two dishes, grabbed two spoons and headed upstairs again. Carter was waiting. He was sitting up in bed with just a sheet covering him to his waist.

“Ice cream?” she asked, smiling. She extended a dish towards him.

“Umm, please,” he said.

“Lexi crawled in bed next to him and they enjoyed their ice cream in silence at first. The cold of the ice cream felt good on her lips, slightly swollen and tender from his unrelenting kisses.

“Carter, that was incredible,” Lexi said finally.

“It was, wasn’t it?” he said. “I love spumoni ice cream, although I think chocolate is my biggest favourite ...”His voice trailed off.

“I meant us and making love, you brat,” she said.

“Ooh,” he said, “Yes we are a good fit.”

“Yes, we are,” she said. “It almost seems too good to be true,” There she had said it out loud.

“Lexi,” he said seriously. “I know you’re afraid. Don’t be afraid.”

“I’m not ... it’s just that ...” she didn’t finish.

“That you’re afraid to trust it, to trust me,” Carter said. “I get that, really, I do. You’re used to people letting you down, taking their love away and shutting you out.”

“Yeah, that’s true. First it was my dad, then my boyfriend in college, then Michael, not to mention my best friend since grade school who was one of the people he cheated with.”

“I know what it is to be hurt to give everything you have, everything you are to someone and then they just turn their back on you,” he said.

“Yes, I guess you do, don’t you?” she said. “I’m sorry. I’ve been thinking about me, about how I’ve been hurt, how I’ve been let down and I wasn’t even thinking about you.”

“If we are just honest with each other, then we’ll be alright,” he said.

“Yes, we will,” she said.

They finished their ice cream.

“I should go. I have to deal with horses early,” he said.

“I’ll walk you out and take Tucker out at the same time,” she said.

“Okay,” Carter said.

They went downstairs and Carter picked up his clothing strewn about the great room and got dressed. Lexi still in her robe walked him out and Tucker followed. It felt good to feel safe outside. He gave her a quick kiss and then he was gone. Lexi took Tucker inside and he returned to his mat. Poor guy he was really not himself. She hoped that with some rest he would be back to normal soon. In the meantime she would give him lots of love and care.

35

The next few days were busy. Lexi was full of energy and enthusiasm for her project. She met with the Landscaper again to discuss a few other ideas and she met with the consulting firm and was waiting for their report and very excited about it. She and Carter had eaten dinner together every night and their desire for each other just seemed to grow. Things were going along great and Lexi was happier than she had ever been. She had just finished breakfast one morning when her phone rang. She hurried to the office to answer it.

“Lexi, its Grace.”

“Hi Grace, how are you?” Lexi asked.

“Hanging in there, it’s been a bit crazy. Lots of questions by the district attorney, so, be forewarned they will want to talk to you,” she said.

“Yes, I am surprised no one has been by as yet,” Lexi said.

“Well the reason I am phoning is, I have a key for you,” Grace said.

“A key,” Lexi replied.

“It’s a key to Max’s safety deposit box. It turned up when they were searching Geoffrey’s office.”

“Oh my goodness, I have been searching high and low for that. It seemed so bizarre that I couldn’t find it when Uncle Max was so organized about everything else,” Lexi said.

“Yes he always was. This has a label and is in his handwriting. There must be something in the box that Geoffrey didn’t want anyone to see, otherwise why steal it?”

“I am really anxious to have a look in there,” Lexi said.

“Come and get it as soon as you like dear,” Grace said.

“Thanks, I’d like to come this morning if I can?” she said.

“Certainly, that would be fine. I’ll expect you shortly,” Grace said.

“Great, see you soon,” Lexi said and hung up.

She went straight for the office and got the envelope that Mr. Beatty had given her and put it by her purse. She was startled when her cell phone rang in the other room. She raced to get it. When she saw the caller ID she hesitated to pick it up.

“Hello,” Lexi said tentatively.

“Lexi, don’t hang up, please,” the woman said.

“Why would I want to listen to anything you have to say?” Lexi said.

“Because even though I messed up in the worst possible way, I’m your best friend and I’m sorry.”

“I’m listening Kara,” Lexi said.

“I was an idiot Lex,” she said. “I was drunk and Michael was there. I was lonely and I knew you didn’t love him but that’s no excuse, I know but I regretted it as soon as it happened. It really was just the one time. He was sleeping with a whole bunch of other girls Lexi. He is such a loser. Please will you forgive me? I miss you so much,”

“All I can say at the moment is I’ll think about it,” Lexi said. “You really hurt me Kara. You were the one person I could always count on and you let me down, big time.”

“I know I did and I’d do anything to undo it but I can’t. All I can do is promise I will never let you down again,” Kara said. “Okay, maybe I can’t promise that, but I will never do anything like that again. I was thinking of driving up this afternoon. We could talk.”

Lexi hesitated.

“Okay, why don’t you come up and stay over,” Lexi said. “We can have dinner and talk and we’ll see.”

She gave Kara directions and hung up the phone and got Tucker up and took him outside to relieve himself. He turned right around and headed inside to his mat. She was a little concerned that he still wasn’t very lively but the Vet had assured her that he was doing just fine when they made his follow-up visit yesterday. Despite some apprehension she found herself looking forward to seeing Kara.

“Tucker, I have to go out for a little while but I will be back soon and then I think we will go for a little walk,” she said.

His ears perked up at the word ‘walk’ and she was encouraged by that. She left and headed for the Montgomery Vineyards and was there in just a few minutes. She knocked on the big front door and the maid answered and immediately showed her in to the living room. Grace was waiting for her and the two women hugged.

“Good to see you Lexi,” Grace said. “You are looking well,”

“I am feeling well,” she said. “I’m excited about what I might find in the box.”

“Well, given how organized Max was, I suspect there will be some interesting paperwork,” Grace said. “You run along because I know you are anxious to see what you may find. I do want to sit down and talk about some things when you have time.”

“Yes, we will, for sure,” Lexi said. ‘Thanks Grace.”

Lexi returned to the car and drove into town. She found a parking spot close by and walked the short distance to the bank. After entering the building she approached the service desk where the same young woman she had spoken with before, was dealing with some paperwork. She looked up as Lexi approached.

“Can I help you?” she said. She didn’t seem to remember Lexi.

“I have a key for my deceased Uncle’s safety deposit box and I’d like to open it and then I would like to transfer it into my name,” Lexi said.

“Of course,” she said. “I will need to see a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the will or power of attorney affidavit with your name on it and some identification from you.”

“Everything you need should be in here and here is my driver’s licence,” Lexi said and she pulled her licence out of her wallet.

The young woman perused all the paperwork and then she went away and then returned in about five minutes.

“Right this way,” she said.

Lexi was led into a vault room that was all steel walls, lined with rows and rows of boxes in various sizes, all numbered. The young woman went directly to one and used Lexi’s key and one she produced herself. She pulled the box out and put it on the table in the centre of the room. There was a chair next to the table.

“I’ll leave you in private,” she said to Lexi.

Lexi sat down at the table. She felt somewhat intimidated in this sterile space. She also felt weird to be opening a box that held the private papers of her uncle, or her father as the case may be. She lifted the lid of the box and flipped it back. There were a lot of things in here. On the very top was a small bulky manila envelope about five inches by eight inches. There was a big lump in the centre of it. She picked it up and turned it over. There was hand writing that she now recognized as Max’s. It said
Grandma Thomas’ wedding rings
. It must be a ring box she thought but she didn’t open the envelope, instead she moved on to the next item or items, there were a bunch of document held together with a gorilla clip. She flipped through them. There were birth and death certificates for people she thought must be parents, grandparents and great grand-parents.

Then there was a copy of Uncle Max’s will. Under that she hit pay dirt; a geological survey. There were maps and documents and a description of an artesian aquifer on the property. Bingo. That confirmed what they had been after. There was one more bundle of letters in the box and Lexi’s stomach heaved when she saw the handwriting. She pulled the bundle out and counted. There was more than a dozen letters; each one addressed to Max and written in her mother’s exquisite handwriting. She had reached the bottom of the box.

Lexi put the envelope with Grandma’s ring back in the box and the birth certificates as well. The other items she took with her. She closed up the box and uncertain what to do next she went to the door of the vault and caught the eye of the young woman.

“I’m ready to go,” she said.

“Okay,” she said and came into the vault. She took the box and put it back in the slot, she took the key that she had returned to Lexi, that Lexi now offered. She used it to lock the box.

“Thanks,” Lexi said. “How do I get the box in my name now?”

“I’ve already started the process I just need you to fill in some paperwork,” she said, “If you’ll just follow me.”

When the paperwork was finished and Lexi was finally on her way out, she couldn’t wait to get home and look at the letters. She walked back to her car and then drove as fast as she could possibly justify to Carter’s. When she arrived she ran from the car and up to the front door and almost right into him as he opened it.

“Whoa someone’s in a hurry,” he said as she stopped short almost bumping into him.

“Look at this,” Lexi said producing the Geological report. “I found this in the Safety Deposit Box.

Carter scanned the pages of the report.

“This is definitely the reason Montgomery was salivating over your land,” Carter said. “Where did you find it?”

“Oh sorry, you don’t know, Grace called me to tell me the safety deposit box key was found in Montgomery’s desk. They must have stolen the key when they killed Max or one of the times they went into Wildwood. I wonder if they will need this as evidence. Also, I wonder if that is why Mr. Beatty forgot about the key for so long because he knew that Montgomery had it.”

“Then thought better of it and decided to tell you about it so he would look innocent in all of this,” Carter said.

“Yes, because he knew I wouldn’t find it because it wasn’t at Wildwood anymore,” Lexi said.

“I definitely think we need to pass this information on to the Sherriff,” Carter said. “I don’t trust that Beatty as far as I could throw him.”

“Oh by the way, I found a whole stack of letters from my mother to Uncle Max,” Lexi said.

“And ...” Carter said.

“Oh, I haven’t read any of them yet,” she said.

“Are you ready for whatever turns up in them?” Carter asked.

“Yes I think I am,” she said. “I just want answers once and for all.”

“Well I can understand that,” he said. “Come and have dinner with me and you can tell me what they say.”

“I would but my friend Kara is coming up,” she said. “She’s the one who slept with Michael. She called today and wants to talk. I told her to come up and have dinner and stay over. I probably won’t get to even look at the letters today.”

“Can you come tomorrow?” he said.

“Yes,” she said smiling.

“Good, now give me a kiss,” he said. She gave him a kiss and went on her way.