Identity Crisis (11 page)

‘Where’s the back door?’ she said.

‘Through the kitchen,’ he replied, his brain still half occupied by her angry reverse striptease that had left him in a bad way. ‘Wait a minute. Where are you going? What are you doing?’ He followed her into the kitchen with her stumbling into her killer heels as she went. ‘Fixing it,’ she huffed. Then she fumbled in her bag for her iPhone. ‘Hi, Dee. You home? Can you come get me? I’m at Garrett’s.’ He was pretty sure Dee got the “don’t ask” warning in her voice. She’d have to be deaf and stupid not to. ‘Come around back. The alley yes. Now.’

Dee lived close. Garrett hadn’t planned it that way, but it was a nice neighborhood. Kendra shoved her phone back into her bag and headed for the door. Then she turned her attention to him. ‘You stay put. Don’t go out until I give you the all-clear. I mean it, or you can find someone else to fix your fuck-ups.’ Then she shoved her way out the back door, pulling it carefully to behind her. He’d expected her to slam it, but then K. Ryde wouldn’t slam a door, would she – er – he?

It was all he could do to keep from storming out after her and dragging her back so they could settle this, but no. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. He absolutely would not give her the satisfaction.

He half stormed, half limped over to the coffee machine, still sporting a hard-on that reached the counter before he did, a hard-on he had no intention of taking care of. He wouldn’t give it up to her even if he exploded.

He missed the cup with the coffee pot and poured steaming coffee onto the granite countertop – what he didn’t manage to scorch his hand with. Damn the woman. She was a scourge to femaledom. What had he done in a past life to deserve her? He gulped coffee, burnt his tongue, and cursed out loud. He couldn’t believe such a comedy of errors existed in the real world. This really was the kind of stuff that came straight from a Tess Delaney novel.

He couldn’t help himself. He made his way into his study, uncomfortable in the shorts, burnt on the tongue, and pissed off as hell. He opened up his laptop and continued with the synopsis he’d started the other night after he’d talked to Kendra, back when things were civil. For a brief second, he felt his chest tighten. He hadn’t wanted her angry. He had wanted her happy and sexy and pleased to be with him. He took a more cautious sip of his coffee, pushed the thought out of his head, and began to write like a madman.

He’d been writing for nearly an hour when he decided to check his email. After all, Don might have been in touch. At least that’s what he told himself. What he really was hoping for was an email from Kay Lake, one he had no intention of answering, of course – unless it was an unconditional apology begging forgiveness with the offer of sexual favors. The only email there, however, got his full attention and raised the hair on the back of his neck. It was from Razor Sharp.

Congratulations, Tess!

Of course, I’m not at all surprised you won. How could you not? You looked stunning last night, by the way. I was gripped. You were like the sun, Tess, like the sun.

Until you fucked Garrett Thorne. Don’t play stupid. Of course I know you fucked him. Everyone watching last night knows you fucked him.

That ruined it for me – ruined
you
for me.

How could you do it, Tess? Don’t you know what he’s like? Don’t you know he’s not for you? You can’t go about whoring with the likes of him if we’re going to be together. I won’t have you being a slut! You’ll have to pay, my darling. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to be punished for what you did to me. Then maybe you’ll understand nobody can satisfy your filthy appetites like I can.

Disappointedly yours,

R.S.

Before he had finished reading the message, Garrett called up Kay Lake’s number on the BlackBerry, which he gripped to his ear almost painfully. ‘Pick up, Kendra,’ he breathed. ‘Please pick up.’

When he only got her voicemail he said, ‘I need you to call me now. It’s urgent.’ He hung up and texted her frantically.

Once he’d sent his text, he called Ellis. He didn’t wait for his brother’s greeting. ‘Are you at Dee’s?’ He barely gave the man time for a yes before he ploughed on. ‘Is Kendra there?’ Another yes left him weak-kneed with relief. When he finally caught his breath, he continued before Ellis could ask. ‘Listen, I need you to tell Dee not to leave her alone. I can’t explain over the phone, but just tell her. And can you come over? Now. I need to see you, bro. It’s urgent. And Ellis, could you park around back and come in the back door? Quietly.’

He hung up, read the email one more time. The level of relief he felt at knowing Kendra was with Dee was nearly overwhelming. He hurried to his room and got dressed.

It had been a helluva 12 hours for Carla Flannery. It had taken all the pull she could manage to get into the Golden Kiss Awards, and even then she’d still had to pay for a ticket. There’d been speculation right up till the end as to whether Tess Delaney would even show at all. Odds were against it. The editor she was working for at the moment had been so sure of it that he wasn’t going to send anyone. She had forced the issue, and wow, she was glad she did!

Yes, she felt cheated that there had been no press conference afterward, but she’d been the first to figure that the couple would head straight for Garrett Thorne’s house afterward. From the moment she saw the two get out of the limo together and realized who Thorne was escorting, she had made it priority one to find out where he lived. She had friends in the real estate business, and she knew the man had only recently moved to Portland. She was a bit embarrassed to admit that she had followed what went on with the two Thorne brothers and Wade Crittenden like a groupie. Who wouldn’t, though? Wade and Ellis were brilliance times two, and then there was Garrett, baddest of bad boys, and hotter than hot. And now, perhaps all that groupie adoration just might pay off.

From the beginning she was pretty sure she wouldn’t get anything at the Golden Kiss Awards that every other reporter there wouldn’t also get, and that would never be enough, even with Tess Delaney making her first ever public appearance.

When the couple left unexpectedly, she was ready for them, and she would have had them all to herself if that damned Mike Pittman hadn’t noticed her leaving and followed. Then, in the neighborhood where Garrett Thorne’s house was tucked away, she got lost in the cul-de-sacs and side streets that curved back onto themselves like a tipped-over bowl of spaghetti. She arrived just in time to see the very amorous couple disappear into the house. And damn if Pittman wasn’t right behind her, followed by half a dozen other reporters.

All through the night the ranks had swollen, with other reporters coming and going, with bathroom breaks and breaks for coffee and snacks. But she had a bladder of steel. That, along with a Snickers bar and a half a roll of cherry LifeSavers, stood her in good stead for the night. She waited stoically, checking out every possible lead she could come up with on her iPad. The first glimmer of dawn was breaking, and she had just returned from a quick pee behind the car, when she got the email.

You’re a stellar journalist, Ms. Flannery. Pity you don’t get the credit you deserve. That’s why I chose to email you with this tip.

Tess Delaney’s quick departure from the Golden Kiss Awards was not what it appeared. I have it on good authority that Tess is being stalked, that her life is being threatened.

Adrenaline surged like a drug through Carla’s veins. This could be the break she was looking for. She read on.

I’m sharing this with you because I think you’re trustworthy. I think you’re a good journalist who believes in protecting her sources.

I’m absolutely certain of this little tip, Ms. Flannery, because I’m the one stalking Tess Delaney. And I have every intention of making her pay for everything she’s done to me, for making me wait, for keeping herself hidden like she has, for being such a tease, for being such a whore. She deserves whatever she gets, Ms. Flannery. Don’t doubt that for a minute.

Carla felt the fine hair on the back of her neck prickle and gooseflesh broke across her arms.

Ask Tess, when she comes out to speak with the press. And she will. She won’t deny you that opportunity. I’ll wager her publicist will force the issue. Ask her about the threat to her life.

Ask the question, Ms. Flannery. See what she says. What a story you’ll have!

The email wasn’t signed.

She felt like someone had just poured ice water down her spine. She’d had anonymous tips before. Lots of them. And several of them had paid off big time. Carla knew better than to ignore them, but damn it, this was a little bit scary. This was more than a little bit scary. In the end, it might be best for her to keep her mouth shut until she could talk to her editor about it. She shifted in the seat and tried to stretch her aching back. Her editor had the news instincts of a damp paper towel. And she was here and now and … She looked around the neighborhood as the dawn light paled around her. Garrett Thorne’s house was completely silent. She imagined the couple were still sleeping it off. It could be hours before there was any movement, before there was any possibility of a story. That gave her time to consider whether or not to talk to her editor about it. And, in truth, she could always just send a text at the last minute.

Thanks to that ass, Pittman, the place was crawling with reporters and the possibility of getting anything unique was almost non-existent – except for this tip, this nasty little tip that made her skin crawl.

She searched for any stories that mentioned threats to Tess Delaney. There were none, because until last night no one had ever even seen Tess Delaney. That in itself would bring all the nutters out of the woodwork. Tess Delaney, out in public for the first time, with a real face and a real personality, would now be subject to all the craziness every other celebrity was. Carla couldn’t keep from wondering why the woman hadn’t just stayed tucked away in her private hideaway and let the loonies find someone else to badger. Of course, she was happy about the chance for a story, but really, this email was just creepy. She considered calling one of her buds down at the police department, but then she knew that would be a wasted call. It was just one more prank among many, they’d say. And they were right. She’d wait and see. That’s all she could do at the moment. Wait and see. God, she’d give her right arm for a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee about now!

Chapter Twelve

Kendra had had a quick shower and now sat in yoga pants and a tank top from the stash of clothing she always left at Dee’s for when she housesat. McAlister, the red tabby, lay curled up in her lap on the sofa, his tail twitching from side to side. Ellis and Dee sat in the two wing-backed leather chairs across from her and listened to the whole sordid story. They offered no judgmental “I told you so”. She really appreciated that, especially since she knew she deserved it.

‘You had sex with Garrett,’ Dee said, holding her gaze. Jesus, was she really going to make her repeat it?

Kendra nodded. ‘It just happened. We … We weren’t ourselves, I guess.’

Ellis was trying hard not to snigger, and she really appreciated that too. She’d certainly have been sniggering if it had happened to someone else.

‘So what are you going to do?’ he asked. ‘The two of you.’

She shifted under the heavy weight of the cat, scratching his thick ruff and eliciting a half-hearted purr. ‘Well, I think we’ll to have to make a statement. I mean, if Garrett wants Tess to keep out of the limelight, I think we’re going to have to give the press at least something. Then after that, I think Garrett’s going to have to be super-protective of his girlfriend.’ She lifted the cat off her lap and stood to pace in front of the sofa. ‘Maybe him being surly like he was this morning and dragging Tess away like he did last night is just the ticket.’ She stroked her chin. ‘Maybe that’s our way out.’ She was talking more to herself now than to Dee and Ellis, who sat with coffee cups in hand and watched her pace. ‘I mean, who wouldn’t believe that he’s protective of his lover’s privacy, if his lover’s the ultra-reclusive Tess Delaney, especially. He just has to keep up the cover until the initial excitement dies down a bit and people get bored with the story. You know how quickly people get bored. It wouldn’t take more than a day or two, especially if we give them an interview to placate them. Then, I’d guess by the middle of the week at the latest, we could leak something to the press, I don’t know, something about the two of us breaking up. We could just say that Tess has gone away someplace private to write and mend her broken heart.’ She ran a hand through her still-damp hair. ‘It means I’d have to stay at Garrett’s for a little while. I don’t see how we can avoid that now, since Tess literally has no place to go, and we can’t risk the press finding her at my place. Plus they already know we were – together last night. We’re now an item, whether we like it or not, and at the moment, I think we need to at least convince the press that we like it.’ She waved a hand as though she was fending off a swarm of mosquitoes. ‘I mean, it can be stormy, of course it can. Most relationships involving celebrities are, and I can’t imagine one with Garrett being anything but stormy.’ She stopped mid-soliloquy and turned her attention to Ellis. ‘Sorry, Ellis, I know he’s your brother and all.’

Ellis only smiled and shrugged as though she wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know.

‘Do you think you two can manage that without killing each other?’ Dee asked.

‘We’ll have to, won’t we? If we want to keep Tess’s identity safe. OK, last night was a mistake, I’ll admit it. Last night was unprofessional and I – K. Ryde – owes Garrett an apology for my unprofessionalism. Nothing like that has ever happened before and there’s no excuse for it. None. I’ll see that Garrett, that Tess, doesn’t have to pay for K. Ryde’s mistake, and I’ll make it right. That’s all, I’ll make it right.’

Just then Ellis’s BlackBerry rang. He picked it up from the coffee table. ‘Garrett? What’s up? What do you … Yes, she’s here.’ He shot Kendra a quick glance. ‘Do you want to talk …?’

Both women stared at Ellis, but the remainder of the conversation consisted of, ‘Yes … All right, I can do that … Now …? OK, I’ll be right there.’

He hung up and blew out a sharp breath. ‘Garrett wants me to come over. He says it’s urgent.’

Kendra refrained from saying that he probably just needed some hand-holding. ‘Please, Ellis, don’t let him go outside, even if you have to tie him to a chair. I don’t want him in the public eye until we have a working plan in place. Can you do that for me?’

Ellis offered a smile that made her stomach do a little somersault as she realized just how much it reminded her of Garrett’s quirky grin. ‘It’ll be a pleasure to keep the twit in line,’ he said.

He glanced down at his watch, then motioned Dee to walk him to the door, Kendra figured for a little private cuddle, and hell, the two had earned it, hadn’t they? She felt another stab of anger at Garrett for what he and Stacie had nearly destroyed.

Ellis offered Kendra a reassuring smile. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him.’

While Dee was saying her goodbyes to Ellis, Kendra checked her email. Just as she’d expected, there was a message from Don for K. Ryde. After his glowing praise for Kay Lake’s portrayal of Tess, the email was a basic repeat of what he had said to Garrett this morning, urging K. Ryde to try and convince Garrett to let Tess do some interviews and some endorsements.

Kendra stared at the message. Was the man an absolute idiot? Was he really so greedy that he couldn’t see every time she made a public appearance, Tess was that much more likely to be outed?

Beneath it was an email from Garrett asking her to call him, saying it was urgent. There was also a text that said nearly the same thing.

She wanted to ignore him. He’d called his brother, for fuck’s sake! The big baby. She wanted to let him suffer. But she couldn’t. It might be business. It might be something else with the press. He did say it was urgent. She texted back.

What do you need?

Then she added,
Is everything all right? Ellis is on his way.

She was just about to call him when Dee returned, so she shoved the iPhone back in her bag.

‘You OK?’ Dee asked.

Kendra flopped down on the sofa and shook her head. ‘It’s a mess, Dee. I’ve made such a complete fuck-up of the situation.’

Dee handed her a Diet Pepsi and settled in next to her with her iced tea. Kendra could never remember being at Dee’s house and not finding her friend with her perpetual glass of tea close at hand, even if she was drinking something else too.

‘When Garrett told me that you were going to be Tess for him, I was shocked that you’d even considered the position after everything that’s happened,’ Dee said. ‘I was worried about you. I couldn’t decide if you were very brave or very stupid.’

Kendra forced a smile. ‘I’m leaning pretty heavily toward the stupid side right now. When I found out that Garrett was Tess Delaney, I should have turned around, walked out the door, and never looked back. I should have run away fast. But no! I was so damn sure I could handle anything he could throw at me. And I could have. I could have if …’

‘If you hadn’t slept with him?’ Dee said.

‘No! I mean well, maybe … But –’

‘Ken.’ Dee stroked her shoulder. ‘I know you. You don’t mix business with pleasure. You’ve never had sex with any of your clients, have you?’

‘Of course not!’ Kendra tried to be offended at even the idea, but then she had broken the number one rule by jumping Garrett before they even got back to his house.

‘Is this situation any more difficult than any other you’ve ever dealt with as K. Ryde?’ Dee asked.

Kendra huffed. ‘It’s a waltz in the park. This barely qualifies as a problem compared to some of what K. Ryde’s had to face.’

‘So what are you so uptight about? You already know what you have to do. OK, it may not be ideal having to spend so much time with Garrett, but I’m sure you’ve had more unpleasant tasks.’ For a second, Kendra thought she was going to offer that wicked smile, but Dee was nothing if not diplomatic. She remained neutral, for which Kendra was thankful. ‘Besides, Garrett’s an all right guy, actually, once you get to know him. Though I guess you have gotten to know him, haven’t you?’

‘Shut up, Dee,’ Kendra growled.

Dee was first and foremost her best friend, and the situation had now transformed itself into girl time. ‘So come on, Kendra, tell me and, be honest, because I’ll know if you’re not. Why did you have sex with Garrett if you dislike him so much?’

God, she hated it when Dee cut to the chase. She slugged back half her soda for courage. ‘He looks like a slightly wilder, taller, darker version of Ellis. I mean, who could not like that about him?’

‘People can look really good and still be such assholes the thought of fucking them is repugnant.’ Dee observed. ‘But Garrett’s not one of those people, Kendra. Admit it. You two just got off on the wrong foot.’

Kendra glared at her. ‘He hurt you.’

‘That wasn’t his intention. In fact, his intention was the opposite.’

‘Yeah, well, good intentions are bullshit, Dee. You know that.’

‘Ken, why did you have sex with him?’

Kendra found her heart suddenly in freefall at the very thought of being naked in Garrett’s arms. She shut that picture out of her head as quickly as she could. ‘He’s fun to work with, and he’s not arrogant, not like I thought he’d be. And really –’ She bit her lip. ‘How could I not be intrigued with a man who looks like he came straight from one of my wet dreams and writes the most amazing romance ever? I mean, what’s that all about? What man writes romance? What man knows the heart of a woman well enough to do that? Clearly he isn’t gay, and I’ll vouch for the fact that he knows what to do with the equipment.’ She fanned herself with her palm. ‘Jesus, does he know what to do with the equipment.’

The smile Dee offered made Kendra think knowing what to do with the equipment must be a shared trait of the Thorne brothers.

‘It was good, Dee, really good.’ Kendra shook her head and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. ‘Don’t you see? That’s the problem. I got involved where I shouldn’t have. I let my libido and my curiosity rule my brain and now look at the mess I’m in.’

Garrett was on his BlackBerry, sitting in front of his laptop when Ellis arrived. He’d felt better after Kendra had texted him, though he was pretty sure it was K. Ryde doing the texting. Still, she had at least answered. He’d polished off the last of the coffee Kendra had made and was trying to find out more about Razor Sharp, but was having no luck.

He hung up and tossed the device onto the table. Before Ellis got the door closed behind him, he asked, ‘How’s Kendra? Is she OK?’

‘She’s fine. I just left her with Dee, and Dee promised she won’t let her out of her sight. Now, you want to tell me what’s going on?’

Garrett pulled up the email and nodded Ellis to the computer. While his brother read, he paced the kitchen floor.

‘I just got it this morning,’ he said. ‘After Kendra stormed out.’

‘Is it the first time?’ Ellis asked.

‘Tess has gotten emails off and on from this guy for several years now. At least, I think it’s the same guy. He changes his name and email address periodically, but his name always has to do with something sharp, something dangerous. Knife Edge, Stiletto … I think he was Blade Bearer once. That sort of thing.’

‘Did you talk to Brewster about it?’ Ellis asked as he read.

‘That was him on the phone. No more helpful than I’d expected.’ Garrett settled in the chair next to Ellis. ‘I talked to the police right from the beginning, and, well, he’s the only one I felt I could trust with Tess details. As much as he can manage it, he has a no-pry policy. But the police couldn’t do anything. I mean, it’s just an email, isn’t it? And mostly they’ve just been irritating. This is the only one that’s ever felt really threatening. Thing is –’ Garrett ran a hand over his stubbled chin. ‘This one is the first I’ve received since the Golden Kiss Awards and …’

‘And the man now has a face to put with the name,’ Ellis finished for him.

Garrett nodded. ‘Kendra’s face, Ellis. It’s Kendra’s face. Damn it! None of this would have ever happened if Romancine hadn’t forced the issue. And then I … Well, I asked her to stay, or she wouldn’t have. I practically begged her, actually, when I found out who she was, and what she did for a living. I was desperate. Jesus, Ellis, I didn’t expect this. I never would have put her at risk.’

‘I know that,’ Ellis said.

‘I thought about just firing her. You know, just telling her I’m terminating our working relationship. But he’s seen her, hasn’t he?’ He nodded to the computer monitor.

‘Garrett, after last night’s award ceremony, millions of people have seen her, and you. For all we know he could be emailing from clear across the country, even across the world.’

‘But he knows she spent the night with me last night.’

‘Anyone watching the way you dragged her out of the awards could have guessed that easily enough,’ Ellis said.

‘I should have sent her home. I should never have taken advantage.’

‘You don’t know what would have happened if you’d sent her home, Garrett.’ Ellis pushed away from the table, found the coffee, and went about making a fresh pot. ‘Chances are if he knew she was here with you, he would have also known if she’d gone on home. And if he does live close, well, then who knows what he might have done. I mean, he saw you at the award ceremony with her. If he’s the jealous type that would have been enough to set him off.’

‘Damn it, Ellis, I don’t want anything to happen to her because of me.’

‘Do you have the other emails?’ Ellis asked.

Garrett nodded. ‘I saved them all in a separate file as they came in. Brewster said that was the thing to do, though I was doing that anyway. Even when the police said they couldn’t do anything, I kept on, just in case.’

‘Well, if the police can’t help, then what do you want to do?’ Ellis asked.

Garrett sat back in the chair and rotated his neck. ‘I want her here with me so I can keep her close.’ He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. ‘Can you give me the number of your security service? I want to hire someone to discreetly keep an eye on the place.’

Ellis nodded his agreement. ‘Of course. That’s a good start.’ He pulled out his BlackBerry and began to type. ‘Martin is the man you want to talk to. I’ll send you his information. He’s discreet, thorough. He’s the best in the business. He’ll take care of it for you.’ He sent the message, stuck his BlackBerry back in his pocket, and looked up at Garrett. ‘You’ve got to tell her, you know? She needs to know what’s going on.’