Exposed (15 page)

Kiki would never be so sweetly pleased at any drink he’d brought her, in fact she’d likely complain about something. No straw, no napkin, too hot, and didn’t he remember she drank only organic coffee now. But he pushed those thoughts aside to enjoy a lovely woman’s attention. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been alone with a woman like this that wasn’t his wife.

“You should have told me you were coming over here, Liv. It’s no place for a woman alone.” He kept his tone low and unaccusing.  

“I didn’t know it when I left your store.” Her gaze looked out the window, as she said, “I just couldn’t leave without knowing.”

The hurt in her voice propelled his hand to touch hers sitting on the table. Her hand was cool and he covered it with his larger, warmer hand.

“I couldn’t either.”

It was the best comfort he could give and he realized he wanted to comfort her. Maybe it was their shared hurt that drew him closer, because he so intimately understood it. His gaze followed hers to the red sports car.

“This is the best spot to have eyes on the target,” he said.

Her gaze turned back to him, not moving her hand. “Is that military?”

The question puzzled him for a moment, then he realized what he’d said ... how he’d said it. “Yes, old habit.” He shrugged.

She smiled again and he had to admit he basked in it a bit. “I’m sure your expertise is going to help us.”

“I would have my binoculars in here, and my scope on its tripod, if I thought I could get away with it.” He squeezed her hand and grabbed his mug with the other hand.

Her smile grew. “What about your store?” she asked.

He nodded out the window and she looked across the street. “That’s my marine buddy Jax, pulling in. He’s going to back me up. Look after the store.”

Liv saw a tall, well-built man in khakis and a sleeveless tee shirt get out of a Jeep and walk up to the store. He had long brown hair in a ponytail and he looked partially Asian.

“Did you tell him?” she asked, and she heard the concern in her voice. If they told other people, that would make it real.

“No,” Axel answered quickly, and she sighed in relief. “On a need to know basis. And he won’t ask.”

Axel’s hand moved from the top of hers and she regretted its absence. Then she silently admonished herself. She was a married woman. Whose husband
was
likely cheating.

“It’s such a small town,” she murmured, looking at Axel’s profile as he looked out the window.

He didn’t turn to her as he studied the opposite side of the main street. “I love it here. Kind of unexpected, I wasn’t sure I would again.” His maple colored eyes turned back to her. “My aunt’s here at Vidas Home, it’s what brought us here to live.”

Liv took a sip of her drink, watching him over the rim, then she said, “I know Vidas, my grandmother spent her finally years there and they were wonderful with her.”

He nodded, briefly rubbing his hand over the short, inky black hair on his head, then his hand settled on the table between them. “They’re very good with the dignity thing. I see her several times a week, but sometimes ...” He halted on a sigh. Liv leaned forward with the gesture trying to encourage him to finish. “It’s just ...” His gaze looked hurt for a second. “Kiki. I think she feels trapped to be here. Her thing is the big city, shopping, and social gigs.”

Liv nodded, suddenly feeling commonness with him. “Andrew really loves Houston. He spends days on end there.” Then she realized what she’d said and she stiffened a bit with a blush heating her cheeks. Quickly, she looked out the window trying to hide it as she cleared her throat. “We ought to take turns.” She didn’t look at him, but nodded her head toward the street. “Looking and making sure we don’t miss them.”

“Liv, it’s okay.” His fingers brushed the top of her hand but didn’t linger.

She looked at him, thinking her face must be an open book. “I’ve thought something might be wrong,” she said slowly, seeing understanding in his eyes. “I just kept ignoring it, hoping I was wrong.”

Axel tightened his fingers into a fist on the tabletop. Why did he feel like wringing Kiki’s neck for hurting the attractive woman sitting across from him? Instead, he should want to take her husband out into the woods and deal him some military justice. But Darwin was faceless and practically nameless to him, while Kiki wasn’t. He knew how spiteful Kiki could get. She was great if you were following her agenda, but if not ... watch out. He used to think it gave her spunk, made her seem vibrant, but it had turned more biting as she’d gotten older.

“I hate to admit it,” he said, pinning Liv with his gaze. “I wouldn’t admit it if it wasn’t you. If this wasn’t happening, but I have wondered a few times ...” His eyes turned down to his fist as his voice fell away. He couldn't come out and say it.

“Axel.” Her hand was on his fist, and her voice was compassionate. “I get it. Details don’t matter. Both of us were avoiding ...” She paused as though searching for the right words, and then she said, “Problems in our marriages.”

Her soft hand squeezed his bigger hand and he loosened his fist studying the contrast of her pale skin to his light brown. “Alright, I’ll admit problems. Every marriage goes through them, but it doesn’t make this right.” His head inclined toward the Roadster. “If,” he emphasized the word. “She was that unhappy, she should have left me,
not
cheated.”

After he’d put into words what they’d both been thinking since Liv walked into his shop that morning, they fell silent. Maybe he shouldn't have said the word, “cheat” out loud like he had. It made it real ... as if it could really be happening.

Damn, he should have kept his mouth shut. Liv looked crushed. She took her hand away from his fist, which he regretted. Just such a simple touch, but it held comfort. He wished he could wipe away the creases between her brow and the haunted look in her gray eyes.

Helplessness, which he wasn’t use to feeling, left him feeling edgy and empty as he looked outside, watching that damn Roadster. He was beginning to hate that sports car.

He saw her car first.

Of course he would, it was his wife’s car. With an instinct born of being a husband, he could probably pick it out a mile away. This time he caught it coming down the main highway from the east and it instantly had him wondering what was in that direction. Where could Kiki have been? They lived west ... everything they did was west. Shopping, groceries, and gas ...

He hated saying the words before they were out of his mouth. “It’s coming.”

Liv’s gaze locked on him and her curvy lips pulled tight. It was if they communicated some unspoken resolve between them.

Then they slowly turned their eyes to watch.