Chapter 21
Kelly breathed a sigh of relief as she plopped down on Dennis’s couch and flipped through a magazine. Packing up her office had run a lot smoother than she’d expected. George, her replacement, had done everything necessary to make the transition efficient and quick. In his eagerness, she’d almost expected him to deliver a fork-lift to cart her out of her own office. He’d be perfect for the position.
Sorting the belongings in her apartment had been more difficult. The fear of Robert showing up on her doorstep had kept her on edge. She hadn’t been afraid as much as she just didn’t want to deal with the aggravation. She delegated as much as she could to Sandi, who assured her she’d take care of everything. Kelly would need to send her a really nice gift.
In under three weeks, she’d rushed back to Charlotte. With Dennis at work and Craig in San Francisco, she had very little to do. She’d expected nerves to attack and make her question her actions. None emerged. Confident she’d done the right thing, Kelly was happier than she could ever remember. Craig filled her thoughts, her hopes, her dreams. She just wished he were with her right now.
They spoke two or three times a day, and every evening before she went to bed. She felt like a teenager with her first crush. Only this would last a lifetime. Giddy with excitement, she couldn’t concentrate on the pictures on the pages. She tossed the magazine aside.
When her cell rang, she grabbed it, thinking it might be Craig. A familiar number registered on the screen.
“Hello.”
“Hello, beautiful.”
“What do you want, Robert?”
“I’d like to apologize.”
Avoiding him had been easier than she’d anticipated. He could have approached her at any time while she tidied up her business in Richmond. He’d been reasonable and left her alone. Until now. She supposed she owed him the chance to end things on a calmer note.
“Go on.”
“I wanted to see how you were doing. I'm surprised you answered your cell. I tried contacting you at your office, but the receptionist refused to put me through.”
Tammy may look like a ditzy blond, but she knew how to handle the public, and did her job well. “I was busy, Robert. Trying to catch up on weeks of absence.”
“Yes. You were gone a long time. I’m guessing the move is permanent?” He sounded practical, not judgmental.
“If you’ve talked to Sandi, I’m sure she told you I moved.”
“Yes. I’m sorry I missed you. I’m in Charlotte on business.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Robert was here? “Business?”
“A lead. I thought while I was here, maybe we could talk.”
Business? Coincidence? She didn’t believe it for one minute. She didn’t know what brought Robert to Charlotte, but her gut told her he’d come specifically to see her.
“Robert, I think—”
“You never gave me a chance to explain.”
“Explain you have a wife?”
“We’re getting a divorce. My marriage ended long ago. There’s no pressure, Kelly. I thought, maybe, since we were once close, that you’d be willing to see me. Just talk.”
Close didn’t begin to describe their relationship. She couldn’t believe she had actually once considered marrying him.
“Come on. Join me for dinner. Don’t let things end the way they did, with your last memory of me being betrayal. I messed up, I know that. I’d like to take you to dinner. For old time’s sake.”
Did he really just say ‘for old time’s sake’? He must have taken her silence as weakening.
“Dinner, Kelly. Just dinner. Then you can go on with your new life.”
She chewed the end of her finger. Why had he done it? Why her? Did he care? She probably shouldn’t, but she’d like to know the answers to a lot of questions. Maybe they could talk and end things more amicably.
~ ~ ~
The Blue Restaurant & Bar was a sophisticated Charlotte uptown restaurant. Kelly had agreed to meet Robert, unwilling to reveal the location of Dennis’s apartment. Naturally, Robert would choose an award-winning restaurant with an exceptional executive chef.
Lights sparkled from the chandeliers and reflected off the glass wall circling the center. The maître d escorted her to a table where Robert waited. He quickly stood, his expensive suit displaying his vanity and self-importance.
“Kelly. You look lovely as always.” He reached for her hand but she withheld it. With impeccable manners, he helped her with her chair, then took the one across from her. Tall and well built, Robert filled out a suit quite nicely. Cut perfectly to his physique, he wore charcoal grey, never black. Black was for tuxedos and funerals. His salon cut had every hair in place. He was good looking. His smile was what first caught her attention. Nothing seemed attractive about him now.
“Thank you for coming,” he said.
“I can’t help but remember the last time we were together in a restaurant.” The image of a woman who claimed to be his wife was burned into her memory.
“We weren’t exactly together, if you’re referring to the last time I saw you before you ran to Charlotte.”
“No. You were with your wife.”
The waiter picked that moment to appear at their table. Robert asked if she agreed on his choice of wine, then ordered an appetizer.
“Yes, Kelly. I was with my wife, who was soon to be my ex-wife.” He held her gaze for a moment, then continued. “We were discussing our divorce when you saw us. You never gave me the chance to explain.”
“Really, Robert? What is there to explain about a wife you never told me about?”
“For fear of repeating myself, I was getting a divorce. My marriage had been over a long time before I met you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I know I should have. I didn’t want to lose you. Once I’d settled everything and she signed the papers, I was going to tell you. She can be vindictive. I didn’t want her targeting you with her nastiness. If she knew I was interested in someone, she’d draw out the process just to spite me.”
“Still, you should have been honest. You had months to tell me.” Kelly unfolded her napkin to give her fingers something to do.
“Every week I thought I was closer to an agreement, then she would back-pedal.”
“Still, you should have told me about your marriage. You could have shared your plans for divorce. Can you understand how horrible I felt finding you there with another woman, then finding out she was your wife?”
“I’m sorry,” he said again. Kelly wasn’t sure she believed him.
“I’ll never forget the fury I saw in your eyes.”
“I was as surprised as you were.”
Kelly made an unlady-like snort. “I’m sure.”
The food was delivered. Robert picked up the conversation as though they had not been interrupted.
“I thought you’d ruined everything. Finding out about you only made her fight me more. And I wanted that divorce.” His softly spoken words had a harsh edge to them. “She didn’t want me. She just wanted to pull my strings, have me dancing like a puppet.”
The one good thing that had come out of this whole mess was Craig. While running away from Robert and renouncing all men, Kelly had bolted smack dab into a man she could not live without. She’d fallen hard and fast, and was the happiest she’d ever been.
Considering her good fortune, she supposed she could be civil to Robert.
“If you want forgiveness, Robert, then okay.”
“Okay? That’s it? Darling—”
Before he misinterpreted things, she hurried on. “It doesn’t matter anymore. We’re over.”
His face took on an expression of bewilderment. “How can you say that? What we had—”
“Had, Robert. Had. Gone. Finished.”
“You don’t mean that.” His voice caught, and his face scrunched up in pain.
“Of course I mean it. You’re married.”
“Not for long. Seeing you made her realize I was serious about the divorce. When I told her I’d fallen in love with you, she had to face that she and I were at an end. Now you and I can truly be together.”
Love? He had no clue.
How in the world could he think they could pick up their relationship from where it was before the restaurant scene?
“No, Robert. I’ve moved on. I’ve met someone else.” He studied her for so long, she grew uneasy under his scrutiny.
“I see.”
Isn’t that what everyone said when they really didn’t see at all?
He lifted his wine glass, slowly and methodically, and took a generous sip. He returned the goblet to its precise spot before his gaze met hers. “You care about this man you say you met?”
You say you met? Did he think she was making it up? Talking about Craig with Robert seemed bizarre. Craig was her happy place, and she didn’t want to share such wonderful thoughts with her ex.
“Yes, I care about him.”
“What’s his name?”
“That’s not important—”
“If he’s not important—”
“That’s not what I meant. You have no right to ask. You’re not a part of my life anymore.”
He settled back in his chair while composing himself. “It looks again like I must apologize. I didn’t mean to upset you. I have to say this, Kelly. Perhaps you are on the rebound.”
Kelly clenched her jaw to keep it from dropping. “You can’t be serious.”
The waiter came to their table. With a flick of his wrist, Robert waved him away. “Think about it. You ran from me. Isn’t this infatuation kind of quick?”
She’d forgotten how persuasive Robert could be. He could talk a tourist into buying the Statue of Liberty. Infatuation?
“I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Like you hurt me?” If she were being honest, she had to admit she’d been angry. Furious. But not hurt.
“I deserve that. But you deserve someone who loves you. A man who will be good to you.”
“You think you are that man?”
“You love me too, Kelly. I know you do.”
“No, Robert. I don’t.” What she’d felt for him was never love. Craig had taught her what real love feels like. She’d only known him a short time, but the all-consuming need burning in her soul was deeper than any love she could have dreamed.
“You did,” Robert said. “I think you still do.”
Oh, God. He was in denial.
“Kelly,” he spoke softly as he leaned forward. “Tell me I haven’t lost the best thing that ever happened to me.” He reached out and tucked a stray curl behind her ear, just like he used to do. The gesture seemed too familiar. Had it only been two months ago she’d been deeply involved with this man?
Now, his touch left her cold.
His hand came toward her again. She sat back, out of his reach. Something flickered in his eyes, then was quickly gone.
She didn’t trust him. She did trust her instincts, and her gut was telling her to tread carefully. Robert had been furious when she’d spouted off to him in front of his wife. She’d thought he’d been angered by her making a scene. The flicker of hate she just noticed permeating his gaze sent alarms ringing louder than any fire alarm drill.
She wished Craig was with her now. She’d found the man of her dreams, and she didn’t need Robert complicating things.
~ ~ ~
Kelly flicked a switch and soft lights flooded the corners of the living room, giving her a sense of comfort. Thank goodness, the dinner with Robert was over. It took some careful maneuvering on her part to mollify him, but she thought she’d gotten through. When he insisted on bringing her home, she summoned every skill she had, all of her experience dealing with obnoxious men, insisting they part ways at the restaurant. Maybe now she could finally relax.
She’d expected Dennis to be home. She glanced around the tidy room, silently complimenting him on his good taste. Meticulous in most things, he’d decorated his own apartment. Of course, he’d been dating an interior designer at the time, but he had selected the furnishings. Unusual for men to care about the décor of rooms, but Dennis had a style all his own. She might ask his opinion on her new place, when she and Craig decided where they would live.
She toed off her shoes, then carried them to the guest room, finding a note lying on her pillow.
Craig called. He’s on his way back.
Picking him up at the airport.
D.
She glanced at her watch, wondering when Dennis had left. And here she’d been at dinner with Robert. She dug in her purse for her cell, mentally kicking herself for not checking it sooner. Her only excuse was exhaustion from diverting Robert’s unwanted attention.
Craig hadn’t called her. Maybe he wanted to surprise her. Just like Dennis to let the cat out of the bag.
The doorbell rang, startling her. They were back. Dennis must have dropped Craig off to give them some privacy. She hurried to the living room and flung open the door.
Robert.
“What are you doing here?”
“Kelly. Is that any way to greet me? We just had dinner together. Do you mind if I come inside?” When he moved toward her, without thinking, she instinctively stepped back.
“How did you find me?”
“I admit I followed you. I wanted to make sure you got home safely.”
“I can take care of myself, Robert.”
“I’ve done it for so long. It’s hard to break old habits.” He turned, closing the door behind him.
“Robert, this is Dennis’s apartment. I think you should leave.”
“Is he here? I could say hello.”
“No, he’s not here, but he will be any minute.”
He gave a laugh that sounded nothing like a laugh at all. More like a snort. “Of course he will.” There he went again, suggesting she fibbed. Robert took a step closer, causing her to take another step back.
“We were good together, you and I.”
Oh my God. He isn’t going to let this go. The weight of the situation hit her. “It’s over,” she said, with courage she didn’t feel.
“I’ve never met a woman like you, Kelly. I think perhaps you’re denying your feelings. You still want me.”
“Listen carefully, Robert. I do not want you. You are ignoring the truth.”
“You still love me,” he purred.
“I’m sorry, Robert. I’ve never loved you.”
“How can you say that?” He raised a finger toward her cheek and she moved back. His hand froze in midair. “You were the only woman who meant anything to me.”
He was slick and charming, with a skull as thick as a ten-foot cement wall. “You were married. An important fact you forgot to tell me.”
“I know,” he said softly as he leaned forward. She jerked around and quickly put several feet between them. “Don’t run from me. You loved me once. And soon you will realize you can’t live without me.”
“I’m sorry. You need to accept this. It’s over.”
His entire body language changed. One side of his mouth lifted in a sneer. “How gullible you are,” he said, as he strode to her. “A few kind words, a pout on my lips. I had you eating out of my hands.”
“What?”
“When I put my mind to something, Kelly, I get it.”
The arrogant bastard. He had been playing her. “Not this time.” He stood entirely too close. A shiver of revulsion pulsed in her blood, simmering with anger. “Get out!”
“Can’t do that.”
“Why not?” she heard herself ask.
“Ever hear of payback? It’s a bitch.”
How stupid she’d been. His eyes glazed over, his behavior was beginning to scare her.
“I’m here to collect.” His words, delivered in a cold and hard voice, showed her a side of him she’d never seen. Her mind in chaos, her stomach threatened to hurl. She swallowed back the fear that threatened to buckle her legs. The last thing she needed to show was weakness. She’d always been a fighter. If she had a gun, she would shoot him right now.
She curled her fingers into fists and attempted to sprint to the kitchen. A hand fell on her shoulder and spun her around.
“You rejected me once, but not twice.”
She shook him off. “Rejected you? You conveniently forgot to tell me you were married. A very important detail that closed the door on our relationship.” She fled, putting the counter between them.
“Well, I’m re-opening it.” He followed her like a predator, the stalking movement making her feel like a caged animal. Rage overtook her as his words sank in.
“Like hell.”
“You ruined everything,” he shouted. “My wife threw me out. Cut me off.”
“Good for her.”
“It’s all gone. Because of you. The money, the house, the business—everything was hers. I married into it. She’s a cold fish. And you were hot blooded. You gave me what I craved.”
“You bastard.” She wanted to slap the leering grin off his condescending face.
“When she threw me out, I lost everything. I have nothing left. And you’re going to pay for that.”
“Leave me alone. I’m making a new life now, and I want nothing to do with you.” She looked for a weapon. A cutlery block sat on the counter to her right. Before she could reach for a knife, Robert pinned her in.
“I can promise you that’s not going to happen. The past two months have been hell for me and you’re responsible. You’ve destroyed everything I’ve worked for.”
“Me? It’s not my fault your wife threw you out. You did that yourself. You wanted a divorce.”
His harsh laugh resembled a wounded animal. “Why would I want a divorce? My wife is loaded. I live like a king. At least I did. Until you ruined everything.”
Another lie. How gullible could a girl be?
His mouth turned into a tight line. “You were the one I wanted to warm my bed. When I saw you, I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I couldn’t believe my luck when I found you to be as sweet as you looked. You and me, we’re good together.” His voice lowered to a husky rasp. “Let me remind you.”
“Not so fast.” She braced her hands against his chest and shoved with all her might, but his grip was too strong.
“I’ll take it as slow as you want it.” An evil smile deepened his sullen features, making her want to gag. “I know how you like it.”
“No!” She tried thrusting her knee, but his body pressed against her, limiting her movement. Why had she let down her guard? “I. Do. Not. Want. You,” she cried, pounding her fists on his shoulders.
He caught her wrists and jerked her arms behind her, the counter digging into her back. The cords on his neck stretched taut, and he bared his teeth. “Yes, you do.” One hand cruelly slipped into her hair and forced her to meet him. He kissed her hard, bruising.
She struggled in earnest, but the hold he had on her hair brought tears to her eyes.
“Don’t fight me. I know you want this. Admit it.” His mouth on her neck, she shook with revulsion.
“I don’t have to admit anything,” she forced out between her teeth. “And if you don’t let me go, I swear, I’ll cut off your balls.”
He laughed. “How are you going to do that? You’re trapped. I’m stronger than you.”
“For the moment.”
“If you threaten my manhood, I’ll just have to keep you in my arms.” When he shifted, he allowed enough room for her to lift her knee. She saw her chance and took it.
“You bitch!”
There’d not been enough room to put any real force behind her strike. All she’d accomplished in her attempt was to make him furious. Dread filled her chest as she realized he’d gone over the edge. Robert was enraged, crazy, capable of anything.
He slapped her, hard. The blow stunned her long enough for him to throw her over his shoulder. “Now, let’s see.” He kept a firm grip on her backside as he strode down the hall. “Which bedroom is yours?”
Kelly pounded his back and kicked, terrified of what he might do. “Robert. Don’t do this. Don’t do something you can’t take back.”
“Take back?” With little effort, he stood her in front of him, his strong hands gripping her shoulders. “If I could turn back the clock, you would never have gotten within ten feet of my wife.”
Horrified, Kelly faced the situation. Robert had strength she couldn’t fight. The bulges flexing on his upper arms were being fed pure adrenaline.
“Too late to go back, Kelly. We can only move forward.” His chest heaved as he drew air into his lungs, his breathing frenzied. “Don’t fight me, Kelly. I know you want this. You’ve always been a tiger in bed. More passionate than any woman I’ve ever known. If only you’d kept quiet and not exposed us to my wife.”
“You son-of-a-bitch.”
He jerked her arm and threw her on the bed. “You bitch. You owe me.” He grabbed her flailing legs and dragged her to the end of the bed. “You flaunted our tryst to my wife. I have nothing left but my revenge. You’re going to pay.”
She kicked him in the face, hoping she’d break his jaw.
“God damn it, Kelly!”
She scrambled to the other side of the bed and jumped off, but he caught her before she reached the door. He knocked her to the floor, then fell on top of her. She thrashed and jerked, fighting for her life.
“Hold the fuck still!”
A figure appeared behind Robert, arms raised in the air. Kelly gasped in surprise, causing Robert to spin around.
Dennis’s secretary held a vase in her hands and plummeted it down, but Robert caught it before she could hit him. The vase went hurtling. Kelly had no idea where Donna had come from, but thank God she’d shown up when she had.
“Who the fuck are you?” Robert yelled as he backhanded Donna, knocking her to the floor.
Kelly fumed. She pushed from the floor and with everything in her, she charged, shoving Robert as hard as she could, knocking him away. He stumbled two steps before he caught his balance and whirled on her.
A fist landed against her cheek. For the second time, she saw stars. A loud ringing echoed in her ears. Her head swam with dizziness and she tried to snatch a breath.
The room faded into gray, then black, and then all she saw was darkness.