Identity Crisis (21 page)

At last he brushed a kiss over the crown of her head and released a tight breath. ‘You all right?’

She nodded against his chest, surprised to find how close to tears she felt. ‘Better now that you’re here.’

He pulled away enough that he could lift her chin with the crook of a finger, forcing her to meet his bright gaze. ‘What’s he done?’

There was no question who the “he”, spoken with such distaste was. She’d have to work on that. She really wanted Harris and Garrett to like each other. Strange how quickly her feelings for the man had come full circle. Dee had told her from the beginning that Garrett was an all right guy. She should have known. Dee rarely misjudged anyone’s character. And neither did Harris, but Harris didn’t know Garrett. He didn’t know the man’s heart like she did.

‘He hasn’t done anything, Harris,’ she replied. ‘It was all just poor timing. Stacie showed up just back from Japan. She had no idea what’s been going on, and now somehow the press is imagining the mad orgy with Garrett and his sex-crazed ex right in front of the poor long-suffering Tess.’ She realized he was staring at her. ‘What?’

His smile was cautious. ‘It’s just that you really do look different. I’ve never read a Tess Delaney novel, but I read the back cover of the one you had in your bag, and you look just like I would have pictured the woman who wrote it.’ He curled a lock of her hair around his finger. ‘I like you better blonde, though.’

She squeezed his hand. ‘Kendra Davis is blonde. Tess Delaney is a fiery redhead.’

His smile went from cautious to stunning. ‘Well, at least she shares the fiery bit with Kendra Davis.’ He looked around the kitchen. ‘Where are they?’ The word “they” sounded like something nasty he needed to spit out of his mouth.

‘They’re both catching up on some work.’ She grabbed a much-needed Diet Pepsi from the refrigerator and offered him one. He seldom drank any kind of soft drink, but he made the exception for her from time to time. He took the offered beverage and followed her into the living room. They both settled on the sofa.

Once again, she could feel him studying her. This time she didn’t have to ask. She knew it was coming.

‘You shouldn’t have slept with him, Ken. What were you thinking?’

She bristled and was about to tell him who she slept with was none of his business, but he didn’t give her the chance.

He cocked his head. ‘Are you falling in love with him?’

She felt as though he had gut-punched her, especially after the little incident in the shower. But she’d made a living bluffing. She squared her shoulders and forced herself to hold his gaze. ‘I don’t fall in love, Harris. You’ve known me long enough to know that.’

‘I’ve known you long enough to know that you haven’t fallen in love yet, but you’re just as vulnerable as the rest of us, Kendra, whether you want to admit it or not, and he –’ he nodded toward the stairs ‘– well, he’s trouble. Surely you can see that by now.’

‘I see a lot of things, Harris. A lot of things that you don’t, so please, don’t lecture me.’

He raised his hands in defeat, which she knew only too well was only feigned. She braced herself for his next assault.

‘Have there been any more emails?’

‘Last night there was one,’ she said, then she hurried on, not wanting to hear his response. ‘They’re nothing, really. They’re not a problem.’

He shifted on the sofa and set his drink on the coffee table. ‘Dee told me what happened when you read the first one, Jesus, woman, you think I don’t remember what it was like for you after you came home from California? Don’t tell me it wasn’t a problem. How could it not be?’

‘All right! All right.’ She puffed out a hard breath and clenched her drink can for courage. ‘I’ll admit, it was a bit of a shock at first, and I didn’t handle it very well. But that was me reacting to my past and not to the situation at hand. Harris, believe me when I say I’ve seen this sort of thing dozens of times. This is just some dip-wad getting his kicks, that’s all. Nothing more. It’s not a problem. But what is a problem at the moment is the press making Garrett the villain in all this. It puts him at risk and it could put Tess at risk too.

He held her gaze. ‘Tess doesn’t exist.’

‘Right now, for those people out there, she does, and Garrett is enemy number one where they’re concerned.’

‘Yeah? So?’

‘Damn it, Harris. I’m sorry you don’t like him, but this is my job right now, and if Tess is at risk, I’m at risk, and I need your help.’

He still held her in a cast iron gaze that made it very difficult for her not to squirm. ‘There was a time, just a couple of days ago, when you didn’t like him either.’

‘Yeah, well, that was a couple of days ago! Harris, are you going to listen to me and help me here or are you just going to be a pain in the ass?’

His gaze softened. He released a deep breath and took her hand in his. ‘Ken, I’ll do whatever I can to help you. You know that. Just tell me what you need.’

And she did. And he wasn’t happy about it.

‘You want us to do what?’ Stacie said, looking first at Kendra then at Harris. ‘You’re kidding, right?’

Harris sat on one end of the sofa with his arms folded defiantly across his chest. ‘Believe me, it’s not my idea of a good time either.’

Kendra had a sneaking suspicion that Garrett wanted to snigger at the two, but he had the good graces to keep his mouth shut, which was just as well because she wasn’t in the mood to put up with any more bullshit and the last thing she needed was for him and Harris to be at each other’s throats.

‘I’m not talking about a good time,’ Kendra said. ‘We’re already way past that here. I’ve told Dan to leak to the press that we’re all about to make a statement. Harris, no one knows you’re here, and since you’re a bit of a hero with the press after your photos and write-up in
Wilderness Vanguard
from your Valderia trip with Ellis, your rapport will make it easier for the rest of us. Stacie, you’ve already said you wanted to feature Harris in your gallery opening. We don’t have to lie to make this one work. All you two have to do is act like you might be able to work together, and act excited. Can you do that?’ She gave Harris’s arm a gentle shake. ‘Harris?’

He squared his shoulder, still locked in a glare-down with Stacie. ‘I can if she can.’

Stacie offered him a smile that could have cut glass. ‘Don’t you worry, Photo Boy, I can. I promise.’

Kendra released a slow, even breath, an effort to cover nerves that were so not characteristic of K. Ryde on the job. ‘Good. Now I’m going to go freshen my make-up. Remember we want Tess to look bright and shining and the ex to look a little jetlagged.’

Stacie offered a pout. ‘That’s really very cruel of you, Kendra, and here I thought we were friends.’ Then she smiled. ‘Of course, it’s going to be a real effort for me to look jetlagged.’ Did she actually wink at Harris? The blush that crawled up his throat suggested that she most definitely had.

‘What about him?’ Harris said, nodding to Garrett, who sat on the other side of Kendra.

‘I get to be Tess’s adoring lover.’ Garrett said with a smile that looked more edible than chocolate. Kendra wondered how the hell he could sit there all sweetness and light after the shower incident. She expected at least a little brooding on his part.

Harris growled. ‘You get rewarded for fucking up.’

‘Harris.’ Kendra elbowed him. ‘Shut up. I told you it wasn’t his fault.’

Garrett returned his growl. ‘I don’t need you to defend me, Kendra,’ he said.

‘Then fuck both of you,’ Kendra stood and headed for the stairs. ‘I’m touching up Tess’s make-up, and if I come down here and either of the two of you are anything but polite and docile, I’ll march right out the back door and leave the lot of you in Don’s tender care. Am I clear?’

They both nodded. Stacie sniggered, and Kendra flipped all three of them off as she headed up the stairs hoping the two men could hold off on a brawl until after their confrontation with the press. And to be honest, she wasn’t entirely sure but what Stacie might be the best brawler of the three.

When she returned in a clingy summer dress that showed plenty of cleavage in its off-the-shoulder sea foam décolletage, the response she got was stunned awe, which was exactly the response she hoped she’d get from the press and the mob as well. And as much as she hated to admit it, in spite of the fact that this was work, Garrett’s look of appreciation made her feel a little giddy.

‘Don just called,’ he said. ‘They’re expecting us.’

‘Then let’s do it,’ she said. Her eyes locked on Harris. ‘You sure you’re OK with this?’

He nodded and came to his feet, taking her in his arms. ‘I’ll do whatever you need me to do, Ken.’ He shot Garrett an acid glance. ‘Whatever it takes to protect you.’

But Garrett rose from his seat too, and pulled her away from Harris. ‘You don’t need to worry about protecting her, Walker.’ He crushed her to him possessively. ‘I promise you that.’

She couldn’t say she didn’t like it, Garrett being so possessive of her, and something about knowing he’d be by her side made her feel better. She reminded herself once again that this was just another job for K. Ryde – and an easy one at that. Whatever happened upstairs in the shower, well, he seemed to be over it, so she needed to let it go too.

Harris, true to his word, offered Stacie his arm and forced a smile. She batted her eyes at him and returned a smile that was all flowers and bunnies as she folded her arm over his. Jesus, what a bunch they were, Kendra thought. As she reached for the door, Garrett brushed her ear with his lips. ‘You’re amazing, you know that?’ He squeezed her hand. ‘Now, let’s do this.’ He opened the door to a chorus of boos from the mob and the reporters. But when they saw their Tess the boos turned to cheers. And the cheers became a mumble of confusion when Stacie came out onto the porch on Harris’s arm. Harris they liked. Even before Ellis guaranteed their goodwill toward him, with the exclusive for
Wilderness Vanguard
magazine from deep in the Valderian forest, Harris had a reputation among the green people in Portland, and that was a good percentage of the population. Harris they respected. Kendra could already see people recalculating in their heads.

Everything was going according to plan, until Garrett stepped forward to a muffled whisper among the reporters and mumbling and shuffling of the mob beyond. Kendra’s stomach knotted. What the hell was he up to?

‘I’m very disappointed,’ he said. And the crowd fell silent. Kendra dug her nails into his palm, but he didn’t even flinch. ‘I’m very disappointed that you all thought I would do anything to hurt the woman who has completely stolen my heart.’ He raised her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles, forcing her nails away from his palm. ‘I’m disappointed for anything I’ve done to make you believe such a thing of me.’ He turned to Stacie. ‘As you all clearly know, Stacie Emerson is my ex-wife. But apparently what most of you don’t know is that not only are Stacie and I still good friends, but Stacie and Tess are friends as well.’

The shuffling and muttering from the crowd increased. Kendra nodded her agreement, and Stacie stepped forward, offering her thousand-watt smile.

‘Garrett’s right. I’ve been away in Japan, deep in negotiations for several exhibitions for the opening of my West Coast gallery. I had no idea what all had gone on with Tess and Garrett when I arrived this morning, jetlagged and exhilarated by my time in Japan. I only stopped by on my way to see this gentleman who you all know very well, I would imagine.’ Kendra was sure she nearly blinded Harris with her smile. Stacie continued, ‘I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, Harris Walker is one of the best wildlife photographers in the Northwest, maybe the world.’

There was an impromptu round of applause from the mob. Harris forced a smile that looked a little bit like a grimace. Stacie pulled him forward. ‘I came to negotiate with Mr. Walker. You see, I love the Northwest. I grew up here, and I’m so excited to be opening a gallery here in my home state in my favorite city on the planet. I hope to counterbalance the exciting Japanese exhibits from the time of the Shoguns with photographic exhibits of the natural beauty of the Northwest. I’d like to feature local photographers, and in particular, I’d like to feature Mr. Walker’s wonderful work. He’s the real reason I’m in town. I’m hoping to make his work the center of New World Gallery West’s grand opening exhibition.’

One of the reporters spoke up. ‘Mr. Walker.’ Of course it was the irritating Mr. Pittman from the front row once again. ‘Is this true? Are you going to be exhibiting your work in Ms. Emerson’s gallery?’

‘That’s what we’re negotiating.’ Harris managed a genuine smile and even managed to sound congenial. Kendra loved her friend even more when he offered Stacie a smile that really could have passed for genuine. Kendra knew he had done it just for her.

‘Ms. Delaney,’ Carla Flannery chimed in from the back. ‘Is it true that you and Ms. Emerson are friends?’

‘Yes, it’s very true.’ Kendra offered a warm smile which Stacie returned in kind. ‘All of this …’ She raised her hand to indicate the reporters and the mob. ‘All of this is very touching, that you all feel so deeply for me. It’s wonderful to feel so loved. But I promise you there’s absolutely nothing to be concerned about. I’m very happy for Stacie’s visit. It was a wonderful surprise to cap off an amazing weekend. And Garrett is more than happy to offer his place for Stacie and Mr. Walker to meet.’ A bald-faced lie if ever there was one, but then not very much about the past two days wasn’t a lie when it came right down to it. ‘I promise you all is well with Garrett and me. Very well, indeed.’ She offered him her best smitten by love smile, and he returned one with equal radiance. Some of the Tess fan club clapped and cheered. ‘I’m hard at work on the next Tess Delaney novel, and Garrett is taking very good care of me while I write. Very good care.’ She kissed his cheek and someone wolf-whistled. ‘Now please, everyone. Please go home. I need to be able to work in peace. Stacie and Mr. Walker just want to get on with their negotiations. If you could do that for me, if you could just go home to your families, I’d be so grateful.’