Killer Love (41 page)

“I’m going to miss Wil, sure. But I don’t need a man to make me happy. I’m fine.”

“Still, it would be fun to go out. How about Friday? Perry and Wil are supposed to play basketball.” She grimaced. “If the two of them keep hanging out, it could get...awkward.”

“Don’t let it. I don’t want what happened with me and Wil to cause problems with you and Perry, or with their friendship.”

Behind her, Abby heard the door open. She turned and her mouth went dry, her heart thumping in her chest.

Wil stood just inside the room. He wore an open-necked black shirt and khaki pants. The light coming through the window caught the strands of gray in his dark, curly hair. He smiled, flashing even white teeth. Laugh lines crinkled at the corners of his hazel eyes. The sight of him stole her breath.

“Abby,” he said, quietly, tentatively.

She didn’t respond as he stood there, silently waiting.

“Hey, Wil. How’s it going?” Diane said, finally breaking the tension.

He flicked a glance at Diane but his gaze was on Abby when he spoke. “Okay. You?”

“Fine. I, uhm, I need to—there’s something outside I...” Diane trailed into a mumble and stepped around Wil to leave the office, giving them some privacy.

“Lindsey told me what happened,” Wil said once they were alone. “I’m sorry and so is she. From now on, she’ll show you respect. She’s going to apologize, too.”

Abby shrugged. “It’s not necessary.”

“Yes, it is. I don’t know exactly what she did, but if it upset you that much, she owes you an apology.”

“It didn’t.”

“But you ended things because of it, right?”

Abby shook her head. “No, that’s not why. Well, not entirely. What happened with Lindsey just made me realize I shouldn’t be in a serious relationship. Especially not with someone who has a child.”

His brow creased. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Abby had never really talked about her past to Wil. She shared some of it now, but only a small part. “My mother remarried when I was about Lindsey’s age. I hated my stepfather and my teen years were hell at best. I was in all kinds of trouble. I wouldn’t wish that on Lindsey.” She smiled. “You know, the crazy thing is, my stepfather was a good guy. I just didn’t like that mom replaced my father so soon after he died, so I never gave him a chance.”

She didn’t tell him that her mother had been seeing Ross
before
her father died. She supposed, as always, she was dealing with Wil on a ‘need to know’ basis. It didn’t say a lot for their relationship, nor her ability to be in a healthy one.

“You’re talking about your mother and
stepdad
. You didn’t think I was going to marry you, did you?” He gave her that lopsided grin that never failed to buckle her knees, and her heart constricted.

Determinedly ignoring his attempt to lighten the conversation, she said, “Lindsey lost her mother and she’s probably afraid she’ll lose you, too. Her attitude is understandable.”

“I told her she wouldn’t. She’s fine with the idea of us being together now.”

“I’m sorry, Wil, I need my life to be simple. I don’t deal well with complications. Even though Lindsey says she’s fine, you didn’t see the hostility.” She met his gaze. “Did she say she wants me in your life?”

He opened his mouth, hesitated, then sighed and didn’t answer.

“That’s what I thought,” Abby said quietly. “No matter what she says now, there would be problems down the road. I’d just rather not deal with that. And I’d rather not screw up her teenage years, or cause you the tension and stress that comes along with it. I need peace.”

Wil narrowed his gaze and asked softly, “What makes you so afraid of life?”

In her mind, Abby saw the blood, heard the gunshot, felt the agony once more. But she only shook her head. She couldn’t tell Wil. Couldn’t talk about it to anyone. She’d buried that part of her past and wanted it to stay buried. “I’m sorry, Wil. It’s over. I need to go. I have a tour in a few minutes.”

Wil’s mouth tightened and a muscle worked in his jaw, but he nodded his acceptance. “Okay. I won’t bother you again.”

Chapter Four

The walls of the club were covered in grass to give the illusion of a tropical hut and palm tree centerpieces sat on the tables. ‘Kokomo’ by the Beach boys played on the jukebox. One thing Wil had soon learned after moving to Blue Harbor was everywhere there was music, you could expect a heavy dose of Jimmy Buffet songs, ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’, and the soundtrack from the movie
Cocktail
. Kenny Chesney, with his plethora of island songs, was quickly earning his place among Blue Harbor’s musical repertoire, as well.

“Assholes want to pass another goddamned smoking ban.” Ralph, the owner, leaned his hands on the bar, his knuckles white with tension. “Fucking government wants to tell me I can’t let people smoke in my own goddamned bar. And the sonsabitches say I have to wear a goddamned seat belt. Who are they to tell me how to live
or
how to die?”

Wil grinned at Perry. They’d heard this same tirade every time they came into ‘Blue Bombay’ and still chose it as their after-game hangout.

Tonight, they’d had to forfeit due to lack of players. City employees made up their team and two of the firemen had been called to an emergency. Perry worked maintenance for the city.

“Maybe it’s because seatbelts are good for you and smoking is bad for you,” Perry suggested.

“Yeah?” Ralph’s voice rose. “Cheeseburgers and candy bars are bad for you, but you don’t see those fat motherfuckers trying to ban those.”

Wil looked at Perry and shrugged. “Guy’s got a point.”

Ralph slapped his meaty hands on top of the bar. “
That’s
what I’m talking about.” He slid another drink over to Wil. “This one’s on me.”

Wil thanked him, then breathed in a lungful of endangered smoke hovering in the air and lifted the Crown and Coke to his lips. He glanced up at the TV behind the bar.

ESPN was showing spring training highlights and predictions for the upcoming baseball season. Wil had wanted to be a major league ballplayer at one time, but, after getting beaned by a ninety mile an hour fastball in college, he’d decided baseball was a spectator sport. He didn’t have the talent, anyway, so it was just as well.

Perry slid off his barstool and walked over to the window, peering outside. Wil knew he was checking to make sure his ‘baby’ was safe. Perry had a 1970 red Firebird he’d restored to mint condition. He obsessed about it, made sure it was locked up like state secrets, and set the high-tech alarm if he planned to be away from it for more than ten minutes.

“Hey, look who’s here,” Perry said.

Wil looked up to see Abby and Diane walk in the front door. His chest tightened as he looked at Abby. She was gorgeous in snug black pants and a shimmery silver-white blouse that showed a little more of her bronze flesh than he would have liked. Her hair, the color of rich caramel, hung loose and silky around her shoulders.

Lust tugged at his groin and jealousy sat like a hot stone in his throat. Every man in the place had to want her.

Wil slid closer to the bar in an attempt to conceal his erection. Not easy to do in cotton athletic shorts.

“Didn’t know they were gonna be here, did you?” Perry asked.

Wil shook his head. He wouldn’t have come if he had. Seeing her and not having her was just too damned hard.

The women took a table toward the front of the club, not looking in Wil and Perry’s direction. Wil swiveled back around to his drink to keep from staring at Abby.

“I’ll go over and say hi in a minute,” Perry said. “Hey, do you know that guy?”

Wil broke away from his morose contemplation of the ice cubes in his glass. “What guy?”

Perry nodded toward the back of the bar. “The dickhead over there in the corner. The one with those gay flowers on his shirt.”

Matt Bingham, the mayor’s brother. Even though Wil and the mayor were good friends, his brother hated Wil’s guts.

Matt had been in love with Tara. He blamed Wil for her death, and for being married to her when Matt wanted to be. Wil didn’t think anything had ever happened between Matt and his wife, but he couldn’t say for sure. Wil had worked long hours during his marriage and Matt’s feelings were pretty intense not to have been reciprocated.

“He’s giving one of us the eye,” Perry said, pushing out his chest. “I think he wants to go. Better not be me he’s looking at, I’ll break him in half.” Perry jerked his head toward Matt and a lock of his hair fell over his forehead in a curly-Q that looked like the tip of a soft serve cone.

Wil laughed at the thought of Perry breaking anyone in half. Perry was more funny-looking than intimidating. He was tall and lanky, with arms about as big around as drinking straws.

“Calm down, Bruiser,” Wil said. “I think he’s glaring at me.”

Just then, Matt shot Wil a smug look and Wil met his stare briefly. Matt smiled as he rose from his seat and worked his way over to the table where Abby and Diane sat. Wil didn’t think Abby knew him, but he wouldn’t put it past Bingham to use being the mayor’s brother as his pick-up line.

Bingham leaned down, resting a hand on the bare skin of Abby’s back. Wil tensed, wanting to punch the guy’s face in. Abby discreetly shook off his touch and Wil released the breath that had jammed in his throat.

“He’s scheming on your chick,” Perry said.

Wil shrugged. “She’s not my chick.” He stood and tossed a ten on the bar. “Gotta run.”

“We should stop and say hi to the girls.”

Wil glanced back at their table. Matt was no longer talking to them. He’d retreated to his cubbyhole, but his eyes still followed Wil.

“Sure.”

As they approached the table, Abby looked up and met his gaze. Her eyes, the same shade as her hair, usually held a glint like sunlight through honey. Tonight they were shadowed by sadness, or maybe that was just wishful thinking.

Her stare seemed to shoot straight to his soul. His gut clenched and a tingle moved up his spine. Hoping his voice didn’t betray his emotion, he said, “Sorry, I didn’t know you’d be here. The game was cancelled.”

She smiled. “It’s okay. We’re bound to run in to each other from time to time. I don’t want it to be weird between us.”

Wil returned her smile, or at least tried to. His body was wound so tight, he wasn’t sure his lips cooperated. “Neither do I.” He nodded at Diane. “You ladies be careful. I gotta run.”

He left Perry talking to the women, walked out into the cool night air, then took in a deep breath and released it.

He wished it were that easy to release Abby from his mind.

Chapter Five

Somewhere nearby, a radio played.

No, not a radio, a television. A sitcom, but one Abby couldn’t identify. She tried to open her eyes, but couldn’t. Her tongue felt too big for her mouth. She swallowed, but all she managed was a dry clicking sound that hurt her throat.

Finally, she forced her eyes open and found herself staring at a water-stained ceiling. When she turned her head to the left, she saw a window covered by thick drapes with a sliver of light showing between the panels. She scowled. Where was she?

“You’re awake.”

She gasped. The voice came from her right. It was coarse, deep and staticy, as if filtered through a speaker. She turned her head toward the voice and knew immediately she was in trouble. If she weren’t in trouble, the man sitting next to the bed probably wouldn’t be wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a
Friday the 13
th
Jason Voorhees hockey mask.

Tears rushed to her eyes and she tried to speak, or maybe scream, but the inside of her mouth was coated with something dry and sour and she couldn’t.

“Here.” He stood and bent over her, placing a wet cloth to her lips. “I’d let you drink water but you might vomit and I don’t want to clean it up.”

She hesitated. What if he was trying to poison her? But if he wanted to kill her, he wouldn’t have to trick her. She was pretty much at his mercy already.

She parted her lips and greedily sucked moisture from the white terry cloth. He pulled it away after a few seconds.

“Who are you?” she asked, her voice sounding almost as raspy as his.

He spoke again, and it was then she realized he had one of those voice-altering boxes. It made him sound like Darth Vader.

“Rule number one, you don’t ask the questions, I tell you what I want you to know and I call the shots. Rule number two...see rule number one.” He laughed, the sound distorted and eerie. “I’ve always wanted to use that line.” He picked something up from the nightstand. “Now that you’re awake, first things first.” A pair of handcuffs dangled from his fingers. He snapped one end to her right wrist and the other to the metal rail of the headboard.

“What are you...?” She struggled, jerking at the restraint. A sharp, burning pain ripped through her lower abdomen. She gasped, reflexively putting her free hand on her stomach. In terror, she looked at her captor. “What have you done? What’s going on?” Her voice rose in hysteria. “What do you want?” She tried to calm herself, but sobs tore at her throat, intensifying the now searing pain in her stomach.

“You need to chill out. You’re not helping matters by getting hysterical. I told you, no questions, but I guess you’re entitled to a few answers. But first, you have to calm down. I’ll give you pain medication shortly, after we’ve talked.”

She took a deep breath, willing away the tears, willing away the terror.

Apparently satisfied, he continued, “You’ve had minor surgery—”

“Surgery?” Confusion filtered in with the fear. Had there been an accident? She looked around the room again. Definitely not a hospital room. And she was wearing the same clothes she’d worn to go out...was it last night? “I don’t understand. You’re a doctor?”

“No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.” Again, the eerie laughter. “Sorry, couldn’t resist. But seriously, no, I’m not a doctor. I didn’t do the surgery myself. I enlisted the help of a man who was once a doctor. A man who had his license stripped a few years back but still practices for a few bucks under the table. Kind of a shady character, but a competent physician.”