Christmas Showdown (2 page)

A frown joined the stiffening of her spine.
“Are you insinuating that I had something to do with this?”

“No. God, no. I was just wondering when you
moved to Arizona.” She would be under investigation, everyone in
the bank would be, but he personally didn’t suspect she was
involved.

“Oh.” Her shoulders relaxed and she eased her
back against the cushion. “I’ve been here less than a month.”

“I’ll need your full name and address. For
the report,” he quickly added. After she supplied the information,
he jotted it down on a small tablet before continuing. “Can you
tell me what happened?”

“My last customer had just walked out the
door and I was cracking the seal on some quarters. When I looked
up, he was standing there. He pulled a gun from the pocket of his
hoodie and pointed it at me.” Licking her lips, she trembled.

Trey wanted to console her, shelter her in
his embrace, but that would be inappropriate, so he clenched his
pen and paper tighter and listened as she gave the color and shape
of his eyes, his height, and what she could about his clothing and
build.

“Did he wear gloves?”

“No.”

“Any defining marks, scars or tattoos?”

Her eyes lit up like glowing emeralds.
“Between his thumb and forefinger, he had a jagged scar. His right
hand, I think. Yes. The hand he held the gun in.” Another tremor
assailed her.

He asked a couple more questions before
giving her a form and instructing her to write down everything she
could remember. While she completed the report, he began to
interview another employee.

The forensic van arrived as he was wrapping
up the interview with the bank manager. She glanced toward Kelly.
“Can I dismiss my staff now? It’s been over two and a half
hours.”

Trey had what he needed. “Yes.”

As she moved away from him, Larry joined him.
“You know the shapely redhead?”

“Yes.” Trey glanced at Kelly once more. When
he had last seen her she had been thinner, willowy. But his partner
was right. She had filled out. Nicely. Her breasts were a little
fuller than he remembered, and her hips more rounded, which made
her that much more attractive. Of course she’d been only twenty-one
when they met.

Larry smirked. “Well?” The true meaning
behind that single word was not lost on Trey.

“Just someone I met at a conference.” Someone
who had rocked his world.

Larry gave him one of his famous
yeah,
right
expressions. “You don’t look at her like a casual
acquaintance.”

“Hell, Anderson. What do you have to talk
about? You’re looking at her like she’s tonight’s dessert.” And
Trey didn’t like his partner’s leer—not one little bit.

“Yeah. Sharing the same hair and eye coloring
with her, I thought we’d make beautiful babies together,” the
officer jested. “Or at least have fun trying.”

Trey balled his hands into fists, barely
restraining himself from coldcocking the jerk. “Let’s wrap things
up. I want to go home.” He had a couple more hours to his shift.
Finishing the paperwork involved with this call would take him
longer than that to take care of. Then maybe he’d swing by Kelly’s
place and see how she was doing.

Just then Trey’s radio erupted. He
listened.

They had the man responsible for the robbery
at gunpoint. A minute later, the arresting officer announced the
suspect was in custody. Score one for the good guys.

Home
.

Kelly released a sigh, happy for the very
first time to see the small, cramped condominium. It wasn’t much,
but it was better than living with her folks, which had been pure
hell. Her father bitched every time he heard a squawk from his
grandson. Her mother hadn’t been any better.

No. They definitely wouldn’t be ideal
candidates for raising her son should something ever happen to
her.

Putting her purse on the kitchen table, she
thought of her brother. Perhaps Stu would consider guardianship?
Currently stationed in Iraq, he had one more year in the Marines.
Of course she had no idea whether he planned to reenlist.

It was either Stu or her best friend, Sally.
Both were single, an instant family would be a hardship on either
of them. As Kelly saw it, she had little choice.

Gazing at her meager surroundings, emotion
swelled in her throat, making it difficult to swallow. A teddy bear
lay on the second-hand couch, a truck beneath the small stand that
held a television set she bought from a yard sale. A five-dollar
Christmas tree was tucked in the corner with strands of popcorn
garlands. A dozen cheap bulbs placed up high so TJ couldn’t reach
them, and a strand of lights with only half of them blinking off
and on, also adorned the branches. Tears bloomed in her eyes at the
five gifts wrapped in the same candy-cane paper. All of them
purchased for less than thirty dollars.

Kelly hated how she felt. She was a fighter—a
survivor—not this wimpy woman who leaned against the table for
support.

But today had mentally kicked her in the
teeth. Then, when all she wanted to do was see her child, hold her
baby in her arms, the babysitter hadn’t been home. Kelly had texted
Lori and discovered she had taken the children she cared for to a
nearby farm to tour and play with the animals. After that they were
grabbing a bit to eat. It would be approximately three hours before
TJ was home.

Which reminded her, Kelly hadn’t eaten
anything since this morning. She strolled into the kitchen and
paused. How long she stood there she didn’t know, but she was
trembling. When her knees threatened to buckle, she moved toward
the table and drifted into a wooden chair.

That’s when the tears began to fall.

Kelly sobbed uncontrollably, convulsive gasps
that made her shake even more. Cradling herself, she rocked back
and forth. By the time her outburst ended, her nose was stuffy and
she could hardly breathe. Her body felt boneless, unable to
move.

Time ticked by before she found the energy to
stir. When she did, a whiff of sour body odor touched her nose and
she cringed. The scent must have rubbed off on her when the man
pressed his body against hers. Thank God they had caught the guy.
But what she needed this moment was a bath.

Pushing away from the table, she stood and
started to undress as she climbed the stairs. When her sweater
covered her face, the offensive stench rose again. She briefly
considered burning her clothes. Only the fact that she didn’t have
the money to replace them stopped her from further wanderings.

As she stepped into the bathroom, she turned
the faucet on, checking the temperature before she poured a small
amount of bubble bath below the flow of water. Yanking the first
bandage off her right knee made her breath catch, the stinging a
painful reminder of the gunman and robbery.

“
Owww. Owww. Owww
.” Kelly was prepared
for the pain as she removed the rest of the coverings. Her knees
were sore and red, palms pitted where pebbles had embedded
themselves.

Carefully she stepped into the tub, easing
down and hissing when the hot water sluiced over her injuries to
awaken another wave of throbbing pain. It smarted for only a moment
before she leaned back and willed herself to relax. Her eyelids
drifted closed and, much to her dismay, Trey’s baby-blue eyes
popped into her mind.

Her body warmed and it wasn’t due to the
water.

There was no denying the man looked hot in
his uniform, but she didn’t know what to do about meeting him
again. Of course their paths may never cross after today, and that
would be for the best. She wouldn’t know how to handle him or the
situation she now found herself in. Forgetting him, as well as the
way he had masterfully touched her, kissed her, and made love to
her, was to her benefit. With the last thought, she sank deeper,
going completely under while holding her breath.

When she broke the surface, sputtering, Kelly
wiped the white foamy bubbles from her face and then reached for
the shampoo. She must have lost all sense of time, because the next
thing she knew the water was cold, her skin pruning. Shivering, she
washed, rinsed and rose, grabbing a towel. Hand-drying her hair,
she wrapped the cloth around her head in a turban style before
reaching for another to pat her skin dry. Halfway to the bedroom,
she heard the doorbell ring. Figuring it was Lori, Kelly ran into
her room and grabbed her silk robe. Cramming her arms into the long
sleeves, she rushed down the stairs. Breathlessly, she swung the
door wide, and her heart skipped a beat.

“Trey?”

His gaze widened before it fell to her
cleavage. Which, much to her dismay, was on display, showing way
more flesh than was appropriate. Her sash must have come loose on
her way down the stairs. Tugging the ends together, she quickly
retightened the belt.

His devilish smile made her pulse race. “Now
why did you go and do that? I was enjoying the view.”

“Hardy-har-har. What are you doing here? More
questions?”

Even as she spoke, Kelly knew that wasn’t the
reason, because he was out of uniform. Instead he wore a basic
black leather jacket and what appeared to be a red t-shirt tucked
into low-riding jeans that hugged muscular thighs and long, strong
legs. A big black Stetson and boots to match told her a little more
about him. He was a cowboy, or a city-slicker wannabe.

“I thought I’d stop by and see how you’re
doing.”

Much to her chagrin, her cell phone started
to ring. Glancing over her shoulder, she looked at her purse and
saw the flash as it rang again. Kelly didn’t want to ask him in,
but she needed to get her telephone in case it was Lori.

When another ring chimed, she said, “Come on
in. I have to get that.” Then she pivoted and retrieved her
phone.

“Hello?” When a guy introduced himself as
being from a local refrigeration company, she told him no thank you
and clicked the phone off, setting it next to her purse. “I hate
salesmen,” she grumbled.

“Me too.”

When she turned to face Trey, he had taken
off his hat. A wavy dark lock fell down his forehead.

“How you been, Kelly?”

“Good. I’m good. And okay.” She moved to the
door, hoping he would get the hint.

Instead he glanced around her inferior
apartment. “I see you’re ready for Christmas.” If he was appalled,
he didn’t say so or react in such a way.

Still, a wave of humiliation spread across
her face, heating her cheeks. “And you?”

Trey harrumphed, the sound somewhat of a
laugh and a choke of disbelief. “Not a thing purchased. I thought
I’d go after work tonight or maybe wait for the last minute and
face the crowds tomorrow, since I’m off for the next four
days.”

Kelly glanced at the wall where a kitty-cat
clock hung, its tail swishing back and forth. How long ago had she
spoken to Lori? Anxiety prickled her skin.

“You look good, Kelly.” He said her name as
if it were a sensual caress.

“Thank you—” She released a short burst of
laughter. Was he kidding? She was an emotional wreck. Her movement
dislodged the towel around her head. As she caught it, strands of
long, wet red hair tumbled down to her elbows. A smile touched her
mouth. “So? Do you prefer the wet dog or the scared victim look
more?”

“Both.” He moved so close that she could
smell soap and aftershave. “Anyone in your place would have been
frightened. You held it together better than a lot of people.”

A sudden knock on the door startled her. She
jumped, her breath rushing out of her lungs.

Oh God. No. She glanced at Trey.

“You going to answer it?” he chuckled.

“Uh. Yes.” The second she pulled the door
open, her son waddled in, throwing his arms around her legs.
Kelly’s heart melted, until her gaze met Trey’s. She didn’t have a
moment to analyze what his startled expression meant before Lori
stood in the doorway, concern darkening her eyes.

“Kelly, are you all right?”

“Momma. Up,” the child at her feet
demanded.

Kelly scooped him up in her arms, kissing a
soft, reddened cheek before she answered, “I’m fine. Thank you for
dropping TJ off.”

“Sure. Is there anything I can do? You know
I’d be happy to keep Trey with me tonight.”

Kelly’s heart dropped to her feet. She didn’t
dare look behind her.

Her reaction must have troubled Lori, because
the young woman gave her another worried glance, and then peered
over her shoulder. “Well, then. I better get back to my husband and
the kids. The rest of the children’s parents will be picking them
up soon. Call me if you need anything.”

Trey couldn’t take his eyes off the boy Kelly
held as she spoke to the thin blonde at the door. At first he had
been shocked that Kelly had a child. Then, as he studied the chubby
little toddler, he was taken aback by how much the little guy
looked like Samuel, his brother’s three-year-old son. Trey would
even swear the boy had the Burstyns’ eyes, an undeniable crystal
blue. But those weren’t the only similarities that made the hackles
on the back of Trey’s neck stir. The toddler had shiny black hair,
and damned if he didn’t have the same tuft of hair sticking up
against his forehead that matched Trey’s.
Poor kid.
He’d
fought that damn cowlick most of his life.

It was about that time Trey felt his knees
grow weak. But what threatened to wipe his legs out from under him
was when the woman called the boy Trey. Like a puzzle, the pieces
fell into place.

Still he refused to accept the obvious.
Instead he did the math to determine approximately when this child
could have been conceived.
Shit
. If he guessed right, that
would make conception right around the time of the Denver
conference. But he had used a condom.