Emergency Ex (7 page)

“Thanks for calling. Work’s been crazy. Hell, my life’s been crazy. So tell me, why’d you want to meet? I’m happy to see you, but things have been so nuts— I was going to call once I got through a few more things.” He took a sip of his drink.

Great. I’m at the bottom of a long to-do list. He’s going to make me spell things out. Well, no time like the present.
“It’s been a week since I’ve had more than a quick text from you. That’s not right.”

He looked sick but didn’t come up with any immediate explanations.

When the silence had grown onerous, she continued, “I’ve got some things to talk about that we’d better deal with face to face.”

He raised a brow. “Sounds ominous. What’s on your mind?”

She exhaled hard. “I’m going to start with my birthday. Tell me what you have planned. Tell me you’ve got
something
planned. At this point, I don’t want to be surprised. I want to know you’re thinking about the day. As you can see, I’ve decided the time has come for total honesty.”

He recoiled slightly, a flash of confusion in his eyes. “You mean you haven’t been totally honest up ‘til now?” He put a hand over his heart. “I’m shocked. I always try to be honest with you.”

Luckily she didn’t have any of her drink in her mouth or she might have spewed. Time to be blunt and get to the bottom of what was going on or she’d lose her nerve. “Really? Always? Like last week? When you were supposed to take me to the Bistro Bacchanalia.”

”I’m sorry how that came down. I saw you there. You disappeared so fast, I didn’t have a chance to talk to you.” His mouth formed a grim line.

“You looked otherwise occupied.” She pursed her lips. “And you’ve had a week to say something. Anything.”

He looked her straight in the eye. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated? Looked simple to me. You weren’t with some ugly, middle-aged guy, which I’d been kind of hoping you’d be. You were with a woman, and both of you looked pretty cozy together. Go ahead and tell me she’s a client and you were there for business, and that’s all. Say it and I’ll believe it.” She needed to tone down her voice, which had gotten too loud.

He held up his hands as if to ward off an assault. “She is a client, it was business, but it’s more complicated than that. I respect you too much to tell you otherwise.”

“You
respect
me?”
Like he respects his Aunt Matilda? This is starting to look hopeless.

“I do. And much more.” He took her hands in his. Just for the moment, she savored the touch and let it continue. “I’m trying to work things out before I really talk with you. New stuff that’s come up. I need more time.” He looked down for a moment, then met her eyes. “Things are tough for me now, and I realize the timing of my going through personal crap right before your birthday sucks. Maybe we’ll have to postpone your birthday. The celebrating part.”

She withdrew her hands from his. “I asked for honesty. I don’t like what you’re saying, but it’s important. Tell me what else is going on.”

“In time. But I have a question for you. You checked up on me at the Bistro. Why?”

She shuddered with distaste over the entire episode
.
“Don’t ask a question to distract me from what I want to know. Who were you there with?”

“A client. The meeting was primarily business-oriented. You know I have to keep business matters confidential.” Though he was still looking directly at her, his voice lacked conviction.

“The old ‘confidential business’ ploy.”

“There’s more to it, like I said. We’ll talk as soon as I’ve sorted it out. I promise.”

Agony clutched at her heart. “You’re not giving me much to hold onto.” She shivered, suddenly so cold she doubted she’d ever be warm again.

He took her hand in his again, amazed at how cold it felt. “I’ve hurt you, and that’s the last thing in the world I want to have happen.”

She scowled and pulled her hand back. “Are you gearing up to an ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ speech? If so, save your breath. I’ll leave now.”

Dammit, that was kind of the gist, but not in the sense of breaking up. He never wanted to break up with her—unless it was the only way to keep from breaking her heart. “Everything I say is going to sound like an excuse or a cliché, but it’s the truth. The timing couldn’t be worse, but I need some space to get my head together.”

“Involving that woman.”

He shook his head. “Don’t get hung up on her. She’s a client. It’s complicated. But there’s so much more going on. I wasn’t going to tell you now, but I’d better. You remember my brother Ryan?”

She furrowed her brow. “He’s older than you, right? I remember you talking about him at school.”

Keith nodded. “To make a long story short, his marriage just exploded into smithereens.”

For the first time since she’d arrived, her expression softened. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah, it’s not good news. I’ve been rattled all week.” He hated even talking about it.

“I didn’t know you and your brother were that close. I wish you’d told me sooner. Maybe I could have done something to help.”

“You couldn’t and you can’t.”

Hurt morphed to anger in her eyes. “If you say so, that makes it true.”

“What do you mean?”

“Keith, you’re shutting me out. We’re supposed to have something solid together, to be building something real. But if you’re determined to exclude me from what’s going on in your life, then how can we possibly make it?”

His cell rang. “I have to take this.” Truth was, he felt relieved to get the call now because it saved him from having to answer Brenda’s question.

He listened for several moments, then jumped up. “Ryan’s in the hospital. Car accident. I’ve got to run.”

She was right there with him. “I’ll come with you.”

He shook his head. “No. Really no.”

“Why not?” Anger sparked in her eyes.

“I have no idea what I’m going to find, or what I might need to do for my brother. If I’m worried about you, I won’t be able to focus on him. I’ll call you later.” And he rushed out.

* * *

“Do you promise?” she asked the empty space where he’d been.

That was helpful.
Stunned at what she’d learned and what was going on in Keith’s life, Brenda left the wine bar and walked home. The cool evening chilled her. She hadn’t thought to take a jacket because usually, when she was with Keith, she felt warm. Hot. Not tonight. With a shiver, she realized they might be over. They might never see each other again, might never again make love. When she shivered again, she admitted to herself it wasn’t from the outside temperature.

Keith was pushing her out of his life with both hands. Should she fight for him or do what any rational person would and give up?

The possibility that his brother might be seriously hurt added a dash of guilt to her swirling emotions. Here she was, selfishly obsessing over her own problems when Ryan might even be dead. She didn’t know which hospital he’d gone to. She’d phone around to see what she could learn. And then what? If she found where he was, she’d go there and wait for Keith? Maybe she really was turning into a stalker…

* * *

As Keith drove to the hospital, he mentally reviewed where he was. For the first time in his life, he didn’t know if he felt angry, sad or just frustrated. Maybe a combination of all three? Not that he ever wanted to spend much time or energy examining his feelings, but damn. A few days ago, he’d finally caught up with Ryan, who’d been a mess already before his accident. They’d never been close and Ryan didn’t seem up to start any brotherly bonding. Keith was sorry about that, both because he’d always regretted not having any close family ties and because he wanted to see if he and Ryan had much in common. Maybe Ryan’s problems were not a warning beacon for his relationships. Maybe they were.

And what about Taylor? If only someone less hot had brought him the business opportunity. Taylor definitely wanted more than a strictly business relationship. In the past he’d have jumped at the chance. Now—
He hated seeing what he was doing to Brenda. He never wanted to hurt her, but what happened this past week seemed to prove he’d been right previously to avoid commitment. Brenda had always been there for him to go back to. No matter how long he stayed away. Those days were over.

No way they could ever go back to the way things had been. If he backed away from their being a couple now, he’d lose her.
I can’t lose her now.

Once in the hospital, he was relieved to find out Ryan awake and lucid, though uncomfortable as heck in a hospital bed. “What happened?” Keith asked his brother.

“That crazy Mara Lynn rear ended my car—on purpose,” Ryan barked. “No seat belt. I banged my head and now the doctor’s checking me for a damn concussion.”

“She slammed into your car on purpose?” Keith sat down in the chair. “Are you sure?”

“I sure know what friggin’ car she drives. Thank God the kids weren’t with me at the time. Said it was an accident. Said she didn’t know it was me.” He muttered some less than polite words.

“Did you tell the police?”

“They came out to the scene and talked to her. Woman’s a lunatic.”

“Ryan, that sounds dangerous. You need to protect yourself.”

“Aah, now that she messed up my car and me, she’s got it out of her system. Besides, there’s a police report. She’s not stupid. She won’t try anything else.”

“I’m sorry, buddy. Anything I can do?”

Ryan looked at him with more kindness and caring than had ever passed between them before. “When I get out of here, let’s catch up. I’m sorry I shut you out when you got in touch.”

“I’d like to catch up. Don’t worry about old stuff.”

Keith left Ryan’s room feeling more optimistic than when he’d arrived. He looked forward to connecting with his brother.

Most of all, though, he wanted to be with Brenda. Needed to be with her.

When he arrived at her door, he hesitated. They hadn’t parted on a good note. Maybe he should have called, to see if it was okay for him to stop by.

He rang the bell. Brenda opened the door and her mouth relaxed into a smile when she saw him. “Is your brother all right?”

He nodded. “He will be. At least physically. The rest will come later. Okay if I come in?”

“Of course.” She stood aside. She was wearing sweats and no makeup. He loved how she looked all dressed up and polished, but he also loved her like this. Barefoot, face scrubbed clean, hair damp from a recent shower.

He kissed her and inhaled the strawberry scent of her shampoo. God, she was delicious.

“What are you doing?” He could see she’d been working.

“Developing a new idea. ‘Love is the emotional chocolate of the universe.’” She told him about K.C.’s saying and the upcoming campaign.

“I like that. It’ll be great. Can I steal you away for a bit?”

She blushed, which he knew she detested. “Sure. Let’s talk.”

“Let’s not.” He swooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

He needed her, more than ever before. More than he could imagine. More than he could contain. More than he could tell her.

All he could do was show her. With his mouth, his teeth, his tongue, his skin, his fingers, his nails, his head, his hands, his feet and his sex. Repeatedly.