The gorgeous redhead glared at Harden. “And who the hell is this, your new little whore?”

“Hey now,” Kerri interrupted. “Take it easy. You don’t know me.”

The redhead looked her up and down. “I know your type, and that’s all I need to know.”

Kerri turned to Harden. “Harden?”

“Kerri Abernathy, this is Sandra Blake. Sandra, this is Kerri.”

Sandra said, “Don’t you dare introduce me to this little slut!”

“Look, I know you’re upset,” Kerri said to Sandra, “But you don't have any right to talk about me that way.”

“I’ve got every right, you bitch!” Sandra snapped.

Harden interjected, “Ladies, please.”

“What’s your story, Blondie? Actress on the make, or just a straight-up prostitute?—” Sandra looked Kerri over. “You probably bring in a few thousand a night. That’s nice work if you can get it.”

Kerri was tempted to tell this bottled redhead exactly how much she did make, but she didn’t feel that it would do anything to contradict the woman’s point. So Kerri merely said, “I was here as Harden’s guest, anything else is none of your business.”

“Don’t you presume to tell me about my business, I’ll scratch your fucking eyes out!”

“Bring it on, you ginger witch!”

Harden said, “Ladies, really, stop!”

Sandra glared at Kerri and went on, “You’ve got a lot of nerve coming here! Didn’t you get enough the first few times?—” She turned to Harden. “How long has this been going on?”

Harden spoke up, “Sandra, take it easy. You know how I feel about all this, I’ve tried to explain.”

Sandra snarled, “Well, there’s no need for any further explanations.” She looked Kerri up and down, eyes crawling over Kerri’s body. “It’s all perfectly goddamned clear!”

A lump rose in Kerri’s throat, different and conflicting emotions ripping her apart. She was heartbroken, but she couldn’t allow herself to be surprised. She was just as mad at herself as at anyone else, for going against her better judgement, for allowing herself to fall for a man like Harden to begin with. And whoever this Sandra Blake was, and whoever she was to Harden, Kerri knew she was right; she shouldn’t have come, and it would be best for everyone if she left, and as soon as possible.

Without another word, Kerri turned and climbed back into her car. She heard Harden call her name before she slammed the door closed and turned the engine over. The tires screeched as her car lurched backward. She spun the car around, shifted gears, and tore through the still-open gate and onto PCH. A Mazda Miata came roaring past just as she pulled out and had to swerve into the next lane to avoid a collision. Its horn honked in the distance, fading quickly as the car sped off and left Kerri alone on PCH to make the long, sad drive home alone.

Sniffling back the tears, Kerri soon moved past self-recrimination. Control, self-control, she thought, yeah, like I’d know anything about either one of those! I haven’t learned a goddamned thing!

No, I can’t keep hating myself like that. Okay, this didn’t work out, but I’m probably better off anyway. I have learned, and I’ve learned a lot. So now I can go out and use that knowledge, spread it around a bit. There are lots of guys who could benefit, and I could benefit from their benefit.

‘Pay it forward,’ isn’t that what Harden said?

Her tires clung to the asphalt as her car pushed east on the 10.

Why would I even want a man like that full-time? Sure, he’s generous enough with his money, with the things his money can buy, but he doesn’t share of himself, of his soul. He’s got no generosity of spirit.

Kerri also knew that she’d only scratched the surface of Harden Steele, that there was a lot he hadn’t revealed to her or perhaps to anyone. There was tenderness there, and a sadness he dared not show. There was still a streak of the romantic in him, a core of softness beneath all that hardened Steel and Kerri couldn’t shake the certainty that she of all people would have been the one to draw those truths out for the first and only time.

Get it out of your head, Kerri Abernathy; he’s gone forever, and that’s that.

Kerri pulled off the freeway and took the streets up toward her house.

In the mean time I’ve got a clean bill of health and a bright future, plenty of money in the bank and a whole new chapter of my career to look forward to. There’s no reason I should look on this weekend as anything other than an unqualified success, one I chose and one I made happen. I’ve taken control of my life, turned everything around in one fell swoop. And that took courage, that took risk and the risk paid off.

That’s control.

Kerri pulled up her driveway and turned off the engine. She looked at the big Tudor home she’d come so close to losing. Home at last, she thought. Maybe it’s time to do a bit more traveling, spend a little less time here or at the spa.

Maybe it’s time to call Fresno, talk to the folks again, and reconnect with Mom. Maybe there are a few things I have to say to her, things she needs to hear, about how young and stupid I was, about how sorry I am, about how much I love her.

Yeah, it’s a whole new era and a whole new Kerri Abernathy. Mark McCall’s widow is dead and gone. It’s time to stop looking behind me and start looking ahead. Thank you, Mr. Harden Steele, I’ll always appreciate what I’ve learned, and I’ll never forget you.

No matter how hard I try.

Kerri stepped out of the car and walked toward the front door. She slipped the key into the lock, turned it, and pushed the door open in front of her. The house was quiet, grandfather clock ticking in the corner of the living room. Kerri stepped into the house, reaching back to close the front door and step deeper into the foyer.

She made it about five feet before aggressive hands reached out from behind her. They grabbed her shoulders and spun her around in a flash. Kerri’s heart jumped when he shoved her against the wall, hard and flat behind her.

At first she thought, Harden?

But when her eyes refocused and that cold, hard gun shoved into her mouth, she knew how wrong she was.

“Good day to yous, Miss Thing.—” Kerri’s eyes were fixed on Chaz, standing in front of her in that black leather duster. His partner, Dino, stepped out from the living room. Chaz went on, “Bet choo’s didn’t expect to see us, didja? Well, life’s full of little surprises, ain’t it?”