Bonds of Trust (8 page)

She grabbed Jake’s hand and gave it a pat. “Oh, I haven’t managed that yet. But there’s always today.” She smiled at the two men, her fluff of white hair bouncing around her head in a careless sprig of curls. “Come on, what will it hurt?”

Jake wasn’t sure about Deklan, but he had an inkling it could hurt him a whole hell of a lot. Before he could extend his apologies, Dek nailed him with a smile that left his gut at his feet.

“You know, Edith,” Dek said with a deceptively friendly tone, “I think we’d love to join the party.” Dek gave Jake’s back a harder-than-necessary slap. “Jake here was just saying how fun it looked.”

Jake choked on his retort, the joyous spark in the conniving Mrs. Jennings’ eyes making him bite back what he really wanted to say. Instead, he plastered on his practiced smile and gave a laugh. Two could play at this game. “So right, Dek.” Jake leaned in to Edith and spoke in a conspiratorial fake whisper. “Dek was just confiding how he was feeling lonely here and was too shy to approach his neighbors.”

The look of horror that flashed over Dek’s face before he schooled his features was worth any future repercussions.

Edith’s eyes widened at the juicy piece of gossip. “Well, we’ll just take care of that.” She promptly situated herself between the two men, looping an arm around each of theirs and started to move toward the party. She seemed completely undeterred by the fact that the top of her head was over a foot below theirs. Instead, she lifted her chin and preened like a debutant leading the catch of the season into the ball. Or catches, as the situation warranted.

“Come along, gentlemen. We have a party to attend,” Edith said in a voice that didn’t allow for protest, the strength in her small form an additional surprise.

Over her head, Deklan shot him a glare that guaranteed hideous retribution later. Jake laughed and did his best to shake off the tingle of warning sliding down his spine. There was nothing he could do now.

Against his better judgment, he was going to meet the lovely Ms. Cali Reynolds once again. And this time, she wasn’t slipping away.

Chapter Nine

“A toast,” Evan boomed as he stood and raised his glass. “To Lacey and Paul.”

Everyone immediately followed suit, the couple in the spotlight sporting the open smiles of untarnished love and endless hope.

“May your life be filled with love and your dreams filled with happiness,” Evan said. “Congratulations on your engagement.”

Soft rounds of agreement followed as the small gathering of friends gave heartfelt words of support and encouragement to the couple. Lacey glowed, the rosy blush of dreams coloring her cheeks, the shiny new diamond glittering in the sunlight. Paul, her fiancé, held her close to his side, his strong arm tucked possessively around her shoulders. Pride and devotion stamped on the hard lines of his face.

Cali smiled politely and unclenched her fist, careful to ensure nobody noticed the act. She didn’t want her cynicism to spoil the festivities. Light notes of music drifted over the breeze, filtering through the courtyard. A burst of laughter, deep and robust, snapped over the low murmur of conversation.

“Aren’t they lovely?” The low voice close to her ear jerked Cali from her observations. She sucked in a breath but held her smile as she peered over her shoulder at her neighbor, Allie.

“New love is always lovely,” Cali agreed, fluttering another quick look at the happy couple.

Allie gave a soft snort. “Spoken by the woman who so recently told me love is an illusion easily shattered by reality.” She plopped down in an empty chair and gave a sardonic lift of her sculpted brow. Her wide mouth wrinkled in amusement that matched the spark of her coffee-colored eyes.

“I did.” Cali nodded, pausing to take a sip of her water. “And I believe that. But new love is nice to watch.” She looked over at Lacey and Paul, who still touched each other with that freshness of needed contact. Cali was truly happy for them. “And who knows, maybe their love will meet with a gentle reality.”

“Right.” The sarcasm wasn’t lost as Allie reached across the table for the open bottle of Merlot and refilled her glass. The thirty-seven-year-old lawyer had her own opinions on love and marriage that weren’t that far from Cali’s. She stared at Cali’s water. “You’re not drinking today?”

“No. I have work to do later.”

“On a Sunday?”

“Yeah.” Cali glanced away from her friend’s penetrating stare. “The owner of the book store is going out of town and wants to review some numbers before she leaves.” Cali took care of the bookkeeping for a few of the local stores. What had started off as a favor to a friend ten years ago had grown into a profitable business. She was always mildly surprised at the number of people who could open and run a business but had no idea how to manage their accounts.

Allie shook her head, her curly hair bouncing around her shoulders. “Life of the self-employed is not as glamorous as everyone makes it out to be.”

Cali nodded in agreement, even though she really loved the control self-employment gave her.

“Of course,” Allie continued, the sarcasm still heavy in her voice, “life as a wannabe law partner isn’t all that great, either.”

“They’re still giving you the run around?” Cali asked, referring to the law firm where Allie worked.

Allie gave a dismissive shrug and took a drink of her wine. “Whatever. There’s not much I can do short of leaving and starting my career over. But hey, this is a party and we’re supposed to be enjoying ourselves on this gorgeous day.”

Cali studied the clear blue sky and smiled wistfully. Having a seventy-degree weekend in October was a bonus Minnesotans didn’t take for granted. She smoothed a hand over the tiny wrinkle in the skirt of her fitted dress and wished she’d taken the time to re-iron it before the party started. But she’d been running late and had promised Evan and Edith she’d help set up the courtyard. Evan, of course, took care of most of the planning arrangements, but Cali was the execution person.

And every detail was perfect.

It was relaxed, nice and exactly what she needed to keep her thoughts off her own problems.

Moving into the condo complex was one of the best decisions Cali made after her divorce. Ending her marriage had been difficult. And getting out of the house and the neighborhood filled with families and memories a necessity. No one understood why she’d divorced her husband. But then, no one understood just how lonely and empty she’d been behind the facade of suburban soccer mom extraordinaire.

Being sexually ignored by your husband wasn’t something you shared with your neighbors. As if they’d even believe that her perfect husband hadn’t touched her intimately in over seven years.

It was way less shameful to let them think she was having a mid-life crisis. And maybe she was. However, she preferred to think of it as a mid-life correction.

Cali shifted in her chair then stood. She rubbed a hand over her churning stomach at the thought of the “correction” course she’d taken two nights ago. She hid the telling action by moving around the table to pick up empty plates and cups.

“Do you need some help?” Allie asked without moving from her relaxed slump against the plastic patio chair.

“No, you’re fine.”

“Good. Because I’m almost drunk enough to make another pass at the hunky Mr. Montgomery over there.” Allie tilted her head and stared at the man in discussion.

Cali laughed and followed her friend’s gaze. Yes, Carter Montgomery was a handsome man. Tall, dark and sexy pretty much summed him up. His midnight hair and contrasting crystal blue eyes, paired with a body toned and hardened by diligent gym time, made him a prime piece of eye candy at the pool.

He definitely came across as a man who knew his way around a bedroom. But then, looks didn’t guarantee performance. And a guaranteed performance was what Cali had sought and obtained. She felt her cheeks heat at just the thought of her night at The Den. With Jake.

She glanced at Allie to see if she’d noticed the blush, but the woman appeared to be lost in her own musings. A glaze of pure lust had fallen over the sharp angles of Allie’s features and Cali wondered if she’d looked at Jake like that. Until two nights ago, she’d buried lust beneath responsibility, motherhood, expectations and denial.

“Good luck,” Cali said with a chuckle as Allie got up and made her way over to her target. Cali glided between the tables with her pile of trash, keeping her smile in place. She dropped her items into the garbage then went over to the buffet table to start on the cleanup there.

“Cali, darling,” Evan called as he sashayed over to her side and slid an arm around her shoulders. “Stop your puttering and enjoy yourself for once. Mingle, laugh, have fun with the rest of us.” He tugged her away from the table. Short of digging in her heels and causing a scene, Cali was forced to go with him.

“I’m fine,” she insisted, but gave in and looped an arm around his trim waist. “I was just taking care of some of the mess.”

“And the mess will still be there when the party’s over.”

“True, but there would be less of it if you let me do some cleanup now.”

“No can do, sugar,” Evan emphasized with a back and forth swing of his finger. “Little Miss Details is having fun today instead of hiding away behind the guise of cleaning up or organizing or whatever other detail you always find to stay busy.”

“I do not.”

He halted and shot her a look of sarcastic disbelief. “Darling, I dare you to sit down for one hour and simply enjoy yourself.”

Cali resisted the urge to rub her hand over her stomach as it cramped up once again. She smiled tightly. “I do enjoy myself. I just believe in maintaining the mess instead of compiling the work at the end. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Down, girl,” Evan said, pulling her into a gentle hug. “That was not a criticism.” He leaned back and gave her a tender look. “I just want you to stop playing mom and start being the attractive, single lady that you are.”

Cali found herself blinking back tears. Evan, in his gentle but direct way, had summed up her life in a nutshell. But he didn’t need to know just how close he was to nailing the truth or how lost she was in figuring out how to do as he suggested.

“I think Richard’s searching for you,” she evaded and pointed to Evan’s partner, who was gesturing for Evan to join him. Evan and Richard lived in the corner unit adjacent to hers and had instantly welcomed her when she’d moved in last spring. Both men were in their late thirties, openly gay and completely committed to each other.

Which made them safe and easy for her to befriend.

Evan tossed his head in an unsuccessful attempt to move his blond bangs out of his eyes. The overlong hair always managed to lop back over his brow and dust enticingly across his dark, girl-envy lashes. His blue eyes sparked when he watched Richard and his lips softened into a gentle smile reserved for that someone special. He sent his lover a quick wink then turned his attention back to Cali. “He’ll be fine,” he said. “The question is, will you?”

She wrinkled her brow and scoffed. “Of course I will.” She would be. She was always fine. The real question was, would she ever be better than fine?

“When are you going to start dating again?” he prodded.

Date? Just the thought of it made her mouth dry and her stomach heave. The last person she’d dated was her ex-husband twenty-five years ago. College sweethearts, they’d married right after graduation and dove headfirst into family life.

Dating was something her kids did in college. Not her. Even the thought of it made her sick with that strange sense of been there done that.

“Evan,” she said with a sigh. “I know you mean well, but honestly, dating is the last thing I want to do. I just ended a twenty-two year marriage. If I’d wanted a man in my life, I would have stayed with my ex.” And what would Evan think of her if she told him all she wanted right now was sex? Hot, forbidden sex with Master Jake, to be exact.

But then, that wouldn’t be happening again, anyway.

“Then maybe you need a lady.” Evan’s immediate laugh and tight squeeze let her know he was joking. “Just kidding. But promise me you won’t spend the whole afternoon cleaning up after everyone.”

“Promise,” she said, leaning over to give him a light kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for caring.”

“Are you trying to steal my man?” Richard said, a joking smile on his face as he tugged Evan into his arms and gave him a kiss.

Cali laughed. “Not a chance of that happening. Evan is one hundred percent committed to you. Even if he is the best-looking man here.”

Evan blushed, causing Cali and Richard to laugh even harder. The man really was handsome in an innocent, boy-next-door way. “Stop it,” he admonished, shooting them both daggered glares from under his lashes. He pointed a finger at Cali. “You, go and have some fun. And you—” he grabbed Richard’s hand, “—come with me before you get distracted by those two boy toys Edith is toting to the party.”

Cali laughed as Evan dragged a willing Richard across the courtyard toward their condo.

She checked her watch then turned to see what Evan was talking about. What she saw stopped her heart and froze her breath. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t think.

Could not breathe. Not even a little.

Strolling across the law on the arms of Edith Jennings was not one, but two talk, dark and totally stunning, yet dangerous-looking men. Both dressed in jeans and T-shirts, they towered over Edith, making them appear even broader and almost menacing compared to her tiny form.

And one of them was, unquestionably, Master Jake.

Chapter Ten

Fear froze Cali in place as a ramble of questions raced through her mind. How could he be here? Why was he here? Would he tell everyone what she’d done? With him?

Oh, God
. This couldn’t be happening. Her heart fluttered into panic mode. She’d gone to the club to keep her actions a secret. So she wouldn’t have to deal with the recriminations that would surely come if anyone knew what she’d done. She did
not
pick up and have sex with strangers. No matter how gorgeous they might be.

The proper Ms. Cali Reynolds did not do
that
.

“I agree totally,” Allie purred in her ear. “I can’t stop staring myself.”

Cali jolted out of her state of abject horror mixed with denial, afraid the guilt was displayed all over her face.

She yanked her gaze from the approaching trio and glanced at Allie. She was gawking at the two men with absolute lust and adoration in her eyes. A feeling Cali could totally relate to in that moment, if she overlooked the stark fear curling through her.

“Where did Edith find those two gorgeous hunks of men?” The newest voice was filled with blatant awe. Kendra, another neighbor, draped an arm over Cali’s shoulders and pulled Cali’s attention back to the two strangers. “I sure hope Newman’s up for the challenge,” she added with a laugh. Newman was Edith’s husband of forty-seven years.

“Kendra,” Allie snapped in disgust. “Do
not
spoil such a vision with lewd thoughts like that.”

“Just saying—”

“Stop,” Allie insisted, shooting the other woman a look of pure disgust. She reached behind Cali and smacked Kendra on the back of the head in a move reminiscent of the Three Stooges. “I do
not
need thoughts of Newman and Edith doing the dirty in my head.” Allie gave a shudder and Cali cringed in full agreement.

Kendra shrugged and asked the question they all wanted to know. “So, who are they?”

Cali licked her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest. Was it a defensive or strategic move? With her nipples tightened into aching nubs, she wasn’t really sure. Of course, there was no way in hell she was telling the women she knew one of the men.

Her cheeks flamed just thinking of how she knew him. She would die of mortification if the other women found out. If any of the people there found out.

“Hey, Mom.”

Cali turned in shock at the shout of the familiar voice. Her eyes widened as she saw her daughter step out of her condo and head toward the party.
God, not now
.

“Stephanie,” Cali said with more force than she intended. She walked away from the other women and cut off her daughter’s approach. “What are you doing home? Is something wrong?”

Stephanie gave her a hug. “Nope. I just needed to grab some books for a research project.” She stepped back, her dark ponytail swaying behind her. “Who knew I’d a need to reference my high school books to do it?” Her laughter was light and real.

Cali sighed in relief and smiled. At nineteen and twenty-one, her two children had taken the divorce with a mixture of maturity and confusion. Logan, her son, had covered his angst behind a stiff facade of indifference. But Stephanie, the younger of the two, had been openly angry and hostile when they’d first been told.

Not that Cali blamed her.

The last year had required immense amounts of patience and emotional reassurance to earn back this easy relationship with her daughter.

“You never know, do you?” Cali answered with forced casualness. Every muscle in her body was stiff with anxiety and attuned to Jake’s location. She could hear his deep laughter as they reached the party and Edith began to introduce her guests around.

Her daughter, evidently, was drawn to the rich sound as well. Her mouth gaped open as she ogled the two men. “Who is that?”

Cali cringed internally but glanced in the direction Stephanie was staring. “I don’t know,” she answered dismissively, fully intending to turn her back to the distraction.

But at that moment, Jake lifted his gaze and met hers dead on. An instant shot of heat and adrenalin fired through her body. Recognition flashed across his face and he smiled, a gleam of sexual appreciative dropping into his eyes.

“Oh my God.” Stephanie grabbed Cali’s arm either in shock or awe. “Do you see the way he’s looking at you?”

Cali cleared her throat and turned her back on Jake to smile at her daughter with what she hoped was an expression of cluelessness. “What do you mean?”

“He was practically eating you with his eyes.”

“Oh, he was not.”

Stephanie shot her a look of disbelief. “You are so clueless.”

Grateful her daughter bought her act, Cali didn’t care if Stephanie thought she was so naïve. “You’re just imagining it. I’m too old for him.”

Her daughter’s eyes almost bugged out of her head at that statement. “
Mom
. I wasn’t suggesting you should go after him. God—don’t talk like that. My mind can’t take the thoughts. Ugh.” She gave a fake shiver. “My mother does
not
have sex.”

Cali dropped her head, her gaze landing on the polished toes of her daughter’s feet, the shame once again flushing through her. If only her daughter knew just how close to the truth she was. She licked her lips and relaxed her features. She forced a light laugh and reached up to put an arm around her daughter’s shoulders in an attempt to guide her toward the condo.

“I think the way it goes is my
daughter
does not have sex,” Cali said, turning the conversation around. “Even if she does think she’s old enough to be giving her mother advice on the subject.”

Stephanie fumbled for words, the flustered shock causing her face to turn a deep pink. “I was not giving...I mean...I don’t...” She looked away, her shoulders slumping in defeat as she let herself be led away from the party. “Sorry.” She sighed. “I’m just not used to thinking of you that...way.”

Neither was Cali. On both accounts. Sometimes it was hard to believe her baby was deep into the age of sexual activity. Cali gave a quick glance around to ensure their privacy. “As long as we’re on the subject, I hope you’re using protection.”

Her daughter’s blushed deepened to a bright red. Even though they’d talked openly about sex since her daughter was old enough to start asking questions, the embarrassment of discussing the topic with her mother was obviously still holding strong.

“Yes, Mother. We don’t need to have that conversation, again.” The sulk in her voice was reminiscent of her eight-year-old one.

“Good,” Cali said, letting the subject drop. They were almost to her patio, their escape made without dramatics. Cali was suddenly grateful for the excuse her daughter’s appearance provided. No one would think anything of them leaving the party. “Is there anything else you need for school?”

She felt the relief rush through her daughter’s shoulders. “No, the book was—”

“Cali, dear.” Mrs. Jennings voice rang across the courtyard.

Cali’s gut clenched as she continued forward ignoring the call. But her daughter stopped and turned.

“Cali, you’re not whisking Stephanie away before I can get a hug, are you?”

Withholding a sigh, she turned with a smile on her face to see Edith fluttering over to them. Stephanie laughed, moved toward the woman and stooped to greet her with a warm hug.

“Hi, Edith,” Stephanie said, a bright smile on her face. “How’ve you been?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Edith fluffed off. “The question is, how many men did you have to fight off this week?”

“Edith,” Stephanie implored with an eye roll.

The other woman laughed, having earned the reaction she was seeking. Just as quickly, she shifted her attention to Cali. “Where are you running off to? Come here, I’ve got someone for you to meet.”

Cali blanched. “I need to see—”

“This will only take a minute,” she insisted, grabbing Cali and Stephanie’s arms and ushering them back across the courtyard before further objections could be raised. “I have the most handsome men for you to meet. You never know—one of them might be your next Mr. Right, Cali.”

Stephanie gasped in time with Cali’s deep inhalation of breath. The sudden paling of her daughter’s face matched the hard knot of dread sitting in Cali’s gut. Edith, however, appeared to be oblivious to the tension she was causing.

This had all the makings of her worst nightmare come true. How in the world was she going to pull this off? Before she could dwell on the thought for too long, Cali found herself standing before the one man she thought she’d never see again.

The one man she told herself she never wanted to see again—especially with her daughter present.

The one man whose silver eyes sparked with acknowledgement and something deeper, more sensual than could possibly be considered polite. Would he say something? Would he out her to everyone here? Mortify her in front of her daughter and friends?

Suddenly, with a clarity that almost knocked her flat, Cali realized everything she’d risked for her one night of passion. Her reputation, her respect, her standing among everyone she knew.

Most importantly, her daughter’s love.

And all of it was poised on the needlepoint of this one man’s discretion.

What, dear God, was he going to do?

* * *

Jake kept his gaze locked on her as Edith approached with his prey. Cali. His gentle nudge and inquisition to their social abductor as he’d watched Cali’s attempted escape had worked exactly as he’d hoped. No matter how casual she’d made it appear, Jake knew Cali was attempting to run once again.

This time, he wasn’t inclined to let her go.

“Cali, dear,” Edith chirped. “I’d like you to meet Deklan Winters, who lives over in H-twelve but has been too shy to attend any of our other gatherings.”

Jake stifled a laugh behind a choked cough as he watched the indignation rise over Dek’s face. Deklan, shy? The man was going to kill Jake for this.

“And this is his friend, Jake,” Edith continued, oblivious to the discomfort spreading among the small group. The tension jumped from each member as if screws were being slowly tightened with each word.

Edith leaned into Cali and added with a stage whisper, “Not his
friend
friend, like Evan and Robert. Just a guy friend. So they play for your team, honey.”

Jake burst out laughing, unable to stop the reaction. Deklan shook his head, his lips thinned in an unaccustomed effort to hold back his words. The small grandmother of a woman had managed to both embarrass the two imposing men and lighten the mood in one quick moment.

“And this is Cali’s daughter, Stephanie. She’s a sophomore in college, so she’s off limits to you two.” Having given her admonishment, Edith patted Cali’s arm before she hustled off, leaving the four to flounder in her wake.

The stunned silence that followed hung among the group as everyone apparently tried to figure out where to go after that whirlwind of an introduction. Jake watch Cali’s eyes dart everywhere but to him. Her shoulders were stiff, her hands clasped before her in a pose that could be taken as polite or nervous. Her daughter had taken an extraordinary interest in the blades of grass beneath their feet, her cheeks a deep shade of red.

Jake extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Cali.”

Her gaze shot to meet his. Finally. The green of her eyes appeared pale and stunning in the natural sunlight. Her shoulders relaxed incrementally as she cautiously extended her hand. She was clearly afraid of something. The fire of awareness that zapped through him at the soft touch of her hand made his chest tighten.

What was it with this woman?

“Look, Mom,” Stephanie said, turning her back to the men. “I’ve gotta run. I need to get back to school and work on that project tonight.” She gave her mother a quick hug, forcing Jake to drop Cali’s hand before he was ready to let go.

“Do you need anything else?” Cali gripped her daughter’s arms, halting her quick exit for just a moment longer. She glanced at the men. “If you’ll excuse—”

“It’s okay,” Stephanie injected, darting a quick glance at the men, sending her dark ponytail bobbing behind her. “You stay and have fun.” She added a quick, “It was nice meeting you,” to Jake and Deklan then took off, bolting out of the courtyard as fast as she could politely exit.

“I hope we didn’t run her off,” Jake said as they all watched the younger woman dart across a small patio and slip into Cali’s condo. “I swear, we don’t bite.”

Deklan gave a snort as Cali’s head whipped around, a mixture of shock and distrust on her face. Jake gave a polite smile and held her gaze. Her mouth opened, closed, then opened again as she floundered for a reply.

“Here you go, gentleman.”

Slightly annoyed at the interruption, Jake accepted the offered beer from a slender, curly-haired brunette with dark eyes that openly ate up both men. Edith had introduced them, but he’d forgotten her name when he’d heard it.

“Oh, Allie.” Cali jumped at the intrusion. “You’ve met Jake and Deklan?” Her hands trembled briefly as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before she quickly clasped them once again.

“Can you believe Deklan was too shy to come out and meet us this whole time?” Allie rubbed a hand over the man’s bicep in a gesture that was an apparent attempt at comfort but came across as blatant flirting.

Dek rolled his eyes and stepped away from the touch. Contact was not in the man’s comfort zone.

Allie laughed, evidently not hurt or deterred by Dek’s actions. “So, what do you men do for a living?”

The question was a basic conversational topic under the circumstances, but it was the one Jake always wanted to avoid. Dek raised an eyebrow and shot him a look that clearly said he wasn’t answering.

Cali had stilled instantly at the question. Her lips were clamped between her teeth as she waited. Jake took quick note of the honest fear flashing in her eyes. Did she really think he’d out her? Here?

He took a drink of his beer, not tasting the liquid at all. He processed his newest revelation and buried the anger that rose at the thought that Cali trusted him so little. After the night they’d shared, all the work he’d done to build up her trust in him, she truly feared he’d tell everyone about that night. What the hell?