His Every Move (2 page)

But this isn’t about me, she thought, and glanced over at Nicole.

Nicole was staring at the screen with a fixated look, her eyes burning. Kallie had never seen Nicole look that way before, and it shot fear through her belly. “Nicole—“

Kallie started, but Nicole held up her hand.

“Wait,” she said softly.

A shadow fell across the bed and then a man in a dark suit bent over the naked woman and began affixing scarves to her wrists, tying them tightly. At first, only see the back of the man’s head was visible, but then he turned and Kallie glimpsed his profile.

It was Red Jameson.

Kallie put a hand to her mouth. “Oh my God.”

But Nicole didn’t look at all surprised. Her lips were tight, almost white from pressing together so hard.

On screen, Red had tied all four of the woman’s limbs to the bedposts. The beautiful naked woman had light brown hair and a nearly flawless body. She was moaning without even having been touched up to this point, other than when Red had tied her wrists and ankles.

Red disappeared from view for about ten seconds. When he reappeared in frame, he was holding a lit candle.

“You can leave now, Kallie,” Nicole said, her voice thin and cold and terribly strained.

“I don’t want to leave you alone right now,” Kallie said.

“I can’t have you seeing him this way.”

Kallie nodded. “Of course. Should I wait outside?”

Nicole wouldn’t take her eyes off the screen. From the laptop came rousing moans from the woman, as Red began to drip wax onto her bare stomach. “Wait in the kitchen and I’ll be out when it’s done.”

“Okay, I’ll—“

“Just go. Go now.” Nicole’s voice was choking and almost sounded like she was about to sob.

But Kallie knew she shouldn’t be seeing what she was seeing, and so she practically ran out of the room. The moans followed her into the hallway as she shut the door behind her and started for the kitchen.

She felt sick to her stomach. Her mind was racing.

What the hell had she just seen? A sex tape with Red Jameson, cheating on Nicole? After all those nice and beautiful things he’d said about their relationship just hours previously?

Kallie couldn’t believe how disgusting these men were. They thought they could just do anything they wanted—treat women like trash, without any repercussions. And to do it to such a beautiful person as Nicole, who was only good and supportive and kind to him!

Kallie wiped the tears from her eyes as she entered the kitchen, only to find Red was pouring himself a glass of wine.

He looked up at her as she came in. “Hey, have you seen Nicole around?”

She stuttered. “Just a few minutes ago she came by my room. Ummm…”

“Oh.” Red looked at her expectantly. “Where is she now?”

Kallie shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe she went for a walk?”

He frowned. “I hope not. I would have wanted to go with her.” He sloshed the wine around in his glass.

Kallie watched him, trying to reconcile this picture of the doting husband with what she’d just seen on that DVD. Red looked up and saw her expression.

Kallie turned quickly away.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“No. Sorry, I was just thinking about stuff.” She didn’t know what she was even saying.

Red nodded as if he knew what she meant. He came around the island, sipping his wine. “Damn, it’s been a long day.” He took out his phone, punched something in and put it to his ear. “She’s not even answering her cell,” he said. “What did she say when she came by your room?”

“Nothing much,” Kallie lied, feeling sicker by the moment. She wondered if Red could tell she was being dishonest.

“And she didn’t say what she was up to?”

Kallie shook her head. “I’m sure she’s around, somewhere.”

Seeming a little exasperated—as if he sensed something was amiss—Red walked out to the veranda and she breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing Kallie wanted to do was wait in the kitchen with Red standing right next to her, asking all sorts of questions about Nicole’s whereabouts.

She pretended to look for food in the refrigerator, finally took out some cheese and began slicing it. Her stomach was absolutely churning. She didn’t want to be here for what came next, but there was no choice. Nicole needed her.

And then, without warning, Nicole came into the kitchen. Tears were streaming down her face. She wiped them away. She was holding the envelope, but she must have left her laptop back in the guestroom, Kallie thought.

“You have to promise me you won’t breathe a word of what you saw to anyone,”

Nicole said to her. Nicole’s face was a mask of strain and her voice was grave.

“Of course. I’d never tell anyone.”

“I know what you’re thinking. But please believe me,” Nicole said. “That’s not who he is.”

“Nicole?” Red called from the veranda. He came walking inside. “Hey, I was looking everywhere for you.” He stopped and stared at her.

She was clearly an emotional wreck. She held up the envelope. “A little gift from your mother.” She tossed it to him and he caught it against his chest.

Red looked down at the package with a befuddled expression. “What is it?”

Nicole’s voice shook with emotion. “It’s a DVD. One of your home movies.”

He looked up at her with wide, startled eyes. “A home movie?” Realization dawned in his expression.

She nodded. “Do you keep them in the house, in our bedroom?”

Red swallowed and closed his eyes. “I did.”

Kallie wasn’t sure what to do. “Nicole,” she broke in awkwardly, “I think I should probably leave you two alone—“

“You can hear this, Kallie. I’m not having any secrets anymore.”

Red opened his eyes and they were red rimmed now. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Why do you keep those DVDs in our room? Do you watch them?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I haven’t even thought of them since I met you. I honestly forgot they even existed.”

“Well, your mother found your stash when she was here visiting,” Nicole said. “I saw her snooping around and I suspected she was up to something, but I didn’t know for sure.” She sighed and smiled ruefully. “You have to swear to me that those are old—

you don’t make movies anymore, do you?”

“No,” he said, putting the envelope on the kitchen table as if it might carry a disease. “I used to do that stuff--before I met you. And I kept the DVDs in a crawl space in one of the closets. I’m a fool.”

Nicole folded her arms. “Have you ever cheated on me, Red?”

“No.” He stared directly into her eyes. “You can hire a detective if you want.

Have me investigated. Check all of my phone records and email like Danielle does to Kane. I have nothing to hide.”

Kallie was watching all of this, and they were ignoring her presence—it was as if she was invisible.

“I don’t want to do any of that,” Nicole said. Kallie thought she’d never seen anyone so strong in her entire life. Nicole looked like some kind of ancient goddess, completely under control and within herself. There was no pity or self-doubt left. “I’m not going to watch your every move, Red. I’m just going to trust you, because I love you with all my heart.”

“And I love you,” he said. “Those things are in the past for me.”

“Well, not anymore, they’re not,” Nicole smiled with bitterness. “Your mother’s brought it all back to the present. She’s not going to leave it alone, you know.”

He nodded, rubbing his lip with his thumb. “Give me a chance to sort this out.

I’ll have the DVDs disposed of first thing.”

“I want them burned,” Nicole said.

“Absolutely,” he said. His face was ashen, and for the first time, Kallie thought he looked almost old. He was haggard and worn down.

“I’m going for a drive,” Nicole told him. “You can take care of the DVDs while I’m gone. Kallie, you want to come along?” she asked.

“Sure,” Kallie murmured.

***

Nicole didn’t talk at first.

Her eyes were intent on the road, driving a little faster than Kallie would have expected. Nicole put the car through its paces on a long straightaway on the highway, and there was nothing but the humming of the engine and the vibrations as the car sped down the road.

Finally, she seemed to exhaust something inside herself, and Nicole slowed down to a normal speed and looked over at Kallie. “I’m sorry you had to see all of that. It’s embarrassing.”

“It’s okay,” Kallie smiled. “I’ve got embarrassing stuff too, I’ve just been lucky that nobody’s been around for most of it.”

Nicole grinned. “Hunter?”

“Yeah.” Kallie sighed. “Hunter.” She rolled her eyes.

“Tell me about it.”

“Nicole, come on. You don’t want to hear me whine about my silly boy problems right now. You’ve got real stuff going on.”

“Exactly,” Nicole laughed. “It’ll help take my mind off my own issues.”

Kallie looked out the window. “It’s over between us,” she said, finally. “At least, it is for me.”

“I’m sorry,” Nicole told her. “Are you sure? Really sure?”

“Yes,” Kallie replied. She bit her bottom lip. “He’s seeing someone else.”

“Oh, no.” Nicole put her hand on Kallie’s hand momentarily. “That’s too bad.

Seriously, that sucks.”

“He wants to have all the power. He holds all the cards and I’m supposed to keep playing the game. And I don’t even understand the rules. He won’t tell me anything.”

“I know what that’s like.”

“But Red loved you—he still loves you.”

“In the beginning it wasn’t so simple,” Nicole told her. “When we first started out, he was cruel and cold and his walls were up. I thought I could never break through.”

“Now, that sounds familiar.” Kallie smiled.

Nicole glanced at her and smiled back. “It’s not easy, caring about a man who’s got demons.”

“Nope.” Kallie laid her head against the seat. She pictured Hunter’s face, the way he kissed her. “Sometimes, when he looks at me—I swear he…” She shook her head as if to clear the cobwebs. “It doesn’t matter,” Kallie said. “I can’t trust him.”

“Then you’re doing the right thing,” Nicole replied. “Because even with that disgusting DVD his mother sent me, I still trust Red. I don’t believe for a minute that he’s been with another woman since we started seeing one another.”

“And I know Hunter’s been with someone. I saw her in his house today.”

“Today?” Nicole’s eyes were huge. “You saw her today?”

“I did. And he wouldn’t explain himself. He just told me to go home.”

“That’s ridiculous. You deserve better than that, Kallie.” Nicole looked at her for a second, before focusing back to the road. “You’ll find a man who really understands how amazing you are and he’ll treat you with real respect. I promise you.”

A buzzing sound filled the car.

It was Kallie’s phone. She looked down at her purse and it shook with the movement of the cellphone inside. Quickly, she opened her purse and pulled the cell out.

The caller ID was bright and clear: HUNTER.

“He’s calling me.”

Nicole looked at her. “Stay strong.”

“I’m not going to answer,” Kallie said, although she felt a twinge. Had she been alone, would she have been strong enough to resist the urge to answer? Maybe not—but it was better not to think about that. She put the phone back in the purse, dropping it as if she’d tossed it over the side of a boat into the ocean depths. “I’m done with his secrets and games. Done with him.”

“That’s the spirit,” Nicole said. “I mean, if you really feel that way.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“Of course I do. But…after what I went through with Red, I shouldn’t really discourage anyone from following their heart, no matter how crazy it might seem at the time.”

“Well, my heart is telling me that I need to stay far away from Hunter Reardon.”

Nicole glanced at her. “Even though you keep looking down at your purse like you want to check your phone messages.”

Kallie felt her face redden. “I’m curious. Wouldn’t you be?”

“Of course.”

She broke down, opened her purse and took the phone out again. There was no message. A pit opened in her stomach. “No voicemail,” she announced.

“He’ll call back.” Nicole exited the highway and soon got back on, going the opposite way.

“Where are we headed, anyhow?” Kallie asked.

“Home. I just needed a minute to cool off.”

“What do you think Red’s going to do about his mother?”

Nicole shrugged. “I don’t have the faintest idea. But he better do something, or I have a feeling we’re going to have a bigger problem on our hands in the near future.”

When they arrived home, Red was waiting. He grabbed Nicole tightly, hugging her and whispering in her ear.

Kallie couldn’t hear what he was saying, but just the look on his face told her enough. Sure, Red Jameson had demons. Clearly, he had a past, and maybe it wasn’t such a savory past either.

But he was light years ahead of Hunter Reardon.

Kallie let them have their moment, as Red continued to hug Nicole and whisper in her ear, and finally she hugged him back.

Kallie walked past them, down the hall to her bedroom. When she got inside and closed the door, she opened her purse and took the phone out again.

You can call him back, she thought. It would make sense. He called you first, after all.

She placed the phone down on her nightstand and looked at it, trying to judge whether or not she had the strength to resist it.

But it turned out she did.

A few hours later, she went to bed, falling asleep much more quickly than she would have imagined.

And she slept deeply, and her dreams were like flashes of lightning across her mind. The next morning, the storm had long since passed, and she awoke with a new determination.

I will not give into Hunter Reardon, she told herself. And this time she meant it.

***

A couple of days went by. Things seemed to settle back into a normal routine once more.

If there were any tension between Nicole and Red over that DVD, Kallie never saw evidence of it. They seemed as loving and affectionate as ever, and so she assumed they’d worked it all out.

Baby Riley was set to come home in just a couple of days and they were also spending more time with her at the hospital now. She was such an adorable baby and Red and Nicole were such loving parents.