Equity (Balance Sheet #3) (23 page)

Slowly, her body heat left mine. It may have been the tone of my voice that caused the alarm on her face.

I let the back of my finger stroke her cheek. “There is something you should know about my past.”

“Go on.”

My words took me back to a time and place I would rather forget. “When my mother left America and took me to Scotland, I could barely speak the language even though I understood it. It was there but locked away inside. I remember we went to my grandparents’ house. My grandmother fed me while my grandfather raged to my mother about her choices. I was surprised we were eventually sent away the same night. We ended up in a part of town where people did what they had to do to survive. I spoke English with an American accent and was dressed in fine clothes. I didn’t understand this until other’s made it clear that a rich American kid wasn’t accepted there.”

A flood of memories nearly chocked me. I paused, trying to compose myself.

“An older boy, one with a foul mouth and a fist to match it, let me know just how welcome I was.”

Her hand gripped my shoulder as if the memory pained her.

“That’s when I met Griff. Who knows if I would have survived that beating if Griff hadn’t come and gotten the crap beaten out of himself to stop them from kicking me while I lay in the dirt with my blood staining my shirt and pants?”

“Oh my god,” she gasped.

“I survived. And when my mother asked what happened to me, I didn’t tell her. I’m sure she guessed because she ended up trading in all the clothes I’d come with for crap ones.”

“What did you do?”

With a half laugh, I said, “I grew hungry, literally and figuratively. I did whatever I had to do to toughen up so I wouldn’t have to endure the abuse longer than necessary.”

“What was done to you?”

“A lot of things I rather not remember. I think after living with Thomas and having to take blows for my pestering him, I come to expect being hit. Being hit by anyone else including Sandy wasn’t as bad.” Before she could think that I’d been beaten up by a girl, I clarified. “Sandy was the guy who basically ran the streets, at least for us wee ones.”

“Oh,” she said. And I knew she needed that clarification. “What did you do on the streets? Your mom mentioned you’d gone to jail.”

“I did what I had to do to survive and eat to live another day. I won’t apologize for it. I tried to pick my marks as the ones who looked like they could live with a loss.”

I paused trying to think how to explain about jail. “My mother didn’t complain about our lack of money. I tried to man up and do what I could to bring home food when I knew she didn’t eat so I could. One day I came across a notice that said things like our electricity would be shut off due to non payment and another one from the flat manager demanding rent.”

It felt fresh even though it was years ago.

“By that time, my memory of the states was somewhat diminished. But Sandy never let me forget where I came from. Anger that my father who had more than enough hadn’t bother to help us in any way made me feral. I devised a scheme. What better mark was there than my father. He had an office. It was late after hours when I showed up demanding to see the man. I didn’t think he was there. I was just the distraction as Griff went in and hauled out some computer equipment we could resell.”

When her face did turn to disgust, I finished. “The police hauled me from the streets armed with my name because I’d given it to the security guy. Some part of me wanted to be caught I guess, plus it was the excuse why I demanded to see my father. They also had a grainy video of me. When they asked who my accomplice was, I lied and admitted that it was me that had gone in and stolen he stuff. I never told them about Griff. My father must have gotten word and dropped the charges.”

“Is that when he contacted you?”

“No, but it wasn’t so long after.”

She looked more concerned than anything else and I loved her all the more for it.

“Did you stop after that?”

I hadn’t specifically told her all I’d done except for fighting and steal from my father. “I had more fights with Sandy until the day I caught him and his gang about to rape Keely.”

The quick intake of air suggested that even though there wasn’t any love lost between her and Keely, she wasn’t heartless either.

“Keely was always there hanging around and wanting to be like Griff and me. He’d become my best mate. We were inseparable. And she was the annoying little sister I was supposed to watch while my mom and hers tried to feed us both on meager tips and wages.”

I paused in reflection, hating myself over again for what I’d done. “My mom got called into work unexpectedly one of many times. That day she told me to watch Keely because her mom was working that night too. I had other plans. Griff and I were going to meet a couple of lasses from school. Keely being the hardhead she is, didn’t stay at home. She followed us. When she caught up with us, I told her to wait in this abandoned building nearby, not wanting to walk her back all the way home. I told her I’d kiss her if she waited like I asked. She was young and I knew she had this crush on me. So I took advantage.”

It still rankled that Keely overlooked this and was with Sandy. “After we left her, I didn’t get far before I had this bad feeling. I don’t know. Whatever it was, it told me to go back. When I got there, I heard her muffled cries through the door I’d told her to lock. After I broke the door down, Sandy was there with four other guys lined up to take a go at her. I lost it. Between Griff and me, we took them all out on our own.”

“They got what was coming to them,” she said aghast.

I nodded. “Anyway, it looks like Sandy might be behind the embezzlement. And yeah, it’s about the money, but I think it’s more than that. This is personal. I became King of the streets after that day and he’s wanted to get back at me for years. He’s been sleeping with Keely and I’m just not sure what she’s told him. He may know about you and try to get me through you.”

“She betrayed you?” Bailey asked appalled, worried more about my feelings than her own safety.

“I don’t want to think so. I think he used her.” I watched her accept what I said. “I need you to be safe.”

“This is the reason for the two extra guards?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re only telling me now.”

Shit. Her narrowed eyes said that nothing I might say would appease her. I didn’t bother with a yes. I jumped into my explanation. “You needed to hear the story and I wanted to do that in person.”

Her exhalation of breath gave me some hope. “I need to think about. My job is here. I just started. My resume is going to look bad if I keep leaving jobs after a few months.”

I didn’t bother with words like
I’ll take care of you
. I’d learned they wouldn’t work. “Fine, I’ll move to DC.”

“You can’t. Your business is in New York.”

“True. You are more important. Our wee babe is more important.”

She shook her head and rolled on her side with her head propped up on her elbow. “Don’t. Just give me some time to figure it out.”

Something told me I may have persuaded her to my side.

“I still haven’t seen your place yet.”

“Next weekend,” I promised. I could fly her there tomorrow. But that would mean an hour or two in travel time I couldn’t be inside her. I was too greedy for that. “At this moment, I want to feel you wrapped around me.”

She giggled when I made a move to slide inside her again.

If I were to get paid by the number of orgasms I had, I would be rich. Kalen was insatiable. We didn’t leave the hotel the next day. Hell, I’d barely left the bed at all. The room was elegant, draped in crème’s and gold’s. Something I hadn’t noticed until late Sunday. Finally Kalen and I decided we needed to leave the room. He refused to drive me home and instead we stopped at a shop with me in my trench coat with nothing underneath.

The boutique carried all designer clothing. After my protest about spending too much money on me, he managed to persuade me by explaining that there wasn’t another store in walking distance according to the concierge at the hotel. Not wanting to walk around practically naked, I tried on a few dresses. I ended up wearing a leaf green crepe number with cap sleeves and a deep V-neck that ended with a hidden zipper that trailed all the way to the hem a couple inches above the knee. The dress was worth more than my paycheck. I tried not to think about that.

Kalen refused to buy me any undergarments. He liked the idea that the zipper was the only thing from exposing me to the world. I have to say I was thoroughly turned on. I could only hope my arousal wouldn’t stain the dress.

We were sitting in a five star restaurant, eating food that was too good to be dreamed up. After I’d flinched at the prices in the menu, Kalen took over ordering for us. His choices turned out to be divine. Knowing his history, I marveled at how in four years or so under his father’s tutelage he’d come to be an expert at the finer things in life. Maybe it was in the genes.

“Why are you staring at me, Lass?”

Every time he called me lass my pussy clenched. His accent was incredibly sexy and his voice alone could probably get me off.

“The way you’re licking that chocolate ganache off your fork is making me jealous.” It coated the cake his fork sank into.

His emerald eyes sparkled with mischief. “You want me to eat you like this.” The way he put the cake in his mouth had me crossing my legs. “Because this cake has nothing on your pussy.”

“Can we go?” I begged. Suddenly I hated that we’d talked each other out of our room. He would be headed home soon. And I was seriously considering calling out of work and following him to New York. The past two weeks had been torture without seeing him. And it was my own stubborn fault.

“Just one more bite,” he said, teasing me all over again.

Once he paid the bill, he was stopped by a business associate. His company was international, he had contact everywhere. After I’d been introduced I lost interest in their conversation. I drifted towards the window and wood paneled door, hoping to give Kalen the excuse to leave their conversation. I stood in the vestibule because Kalen had my coat. It was too cold to stand outside because of the dress I’d chosen.

When a hand met the small of my back, I jerked and spun around. It wasn’t Kalen’s hand, I knew that by first touch. A blast so far from the past met my eye, I was speechless.

“Hi, Bailey.”

He was still handsome and clean cut, just like the last time I saw him. He smelled of the spicy cologne he liked to wear and I found myself wrinkling my nose. Kalen was a clean scent guy. He wore nothing more than deodorant. It was pleasing, this was overkill.

“Scott,” I muttered.

A few people entered the restaurant from the outer door, bringing with them a blast of cold air. I shivered.

He started to shrug off his jacket. Before I stopped him with a hand raised. “I’m okay.”

“You’re better than okay. You look… stunning.” His eyes roamed my body. “As always. I have to say I miss you.”

Goosebumps erupted on my skin and not in a good way. I felt crawly things as his eyes traveled over me.

“I can’t say the same.”

Ignoring my comment, he said, “I tried to call you several times, but you didn’t return any of my voicemails. And that barmaid of a friend of yours wouldn’t pass on a message to you.”

He hadn’t come for me either. I thought about what Kalen said to Turner. Scott wanted me when I was in his sight, but he didn’t love or need me. Honestly, I didn’t care. Seeing him made me feel nothing.

He slithered forward crowding me in a corner as I retreated from his advance. “We still could be good for each other. I could forgive you for leaving me without a word.”

In disgust, I shook my head. “Never going to happen.”

His hand came up and I prepared myself to strike. “I wouldn’t touch my wife if I were you.”

Kalen showed up in silence. He yanked Scott from touching distance. It all happened so fast, I didn’t bother correcting his use of the term wife. Who cared what Scott thought, as long as he left me alone?

With bugged out eyes Scott nearly danced on his toes with Kalen still holding him by the collar. My ex wasn’t a short guy, but he was dwarfed by my current lover.

“Wife,” Scott spluttered.

“Wife,” Kalen confirmed.

The two men glared at each other. Kalen let him loose and Scott tried to straighten his jacket when a blonde walked in.

“Scott, I thought you said you’d be right back.” I didn’t want to hate the girl on sight even though she had bad taste in guys. Her voice, however, grated on my nerves. She spoke in a whiny nasally tone that added to the brainless expression she gave him.

“Jane,” Scott said. “I’ll meet you back at the table in a minute.”

Her head bobbed in a fashion that said she was used to the motion. When her left hand reached for the door something caught my interest and had me moving to intercept her.

I took her cold hand in mine, not believing what I was seeing. “Wow, that looks just like the ring Scott gave me. I left it when I saw your picture flash on his phone several months ago. He was leaving our apartment to meet you. While I congratulate you for winning this prick, I mean prize, as a woman I have to tell you he re-gifted that engagement ring you’re wearing.”

She looked stunned, but I wasn’t quite sure she’d gotten the message. Pity, I was in no mood to spell it out. Scott looked furious. He lunged. Kalen, who’d moved to stand beside me in the middle of all of this, caught Scott with a hand around his neck.

“I want you to think about your next move. If you hurt my wife or unborn child, I’ll be forced to end you.”

Scott went limp in compliance.

“Good lad,” Kalen said and released him.

Scott scurried away with Jane in tow. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Scott had all but asked me to come back to him when he was engaged to her. Then again, he had been engaged to me when he was screwing her. Once a cheater, always a cheater, I hated to think.

“That’s the prick you were going to marry?”

I felt stupid for that decision, but I could do nothing about that now. I shrugged. “Clearly, the bright lights of the big city messed with my brain,” I joked. Not that Boston was any comparison to New York. But a girl like me from a small community with no outside influences, some small towns would have been a shock for me that first time away.

He tucked me in my coat and we stepped out of the vestibule where he hailed a cab.

On the ride back to the hotel, I said, “Wife, huh?”

Kalen smirked. “It’s only a matter of time.”