Invisibility Cloak (4 page)

“Why do you act like it’s all my fault, Mimi?” Sophia reached across the table to grab her friend’s hand. “I’m sorry, darling, I forgot how emotional this issue is to you.”

“Jeffrey, perhaps Mimi needs another glass of wine?” Roger looked over at Jeffrey pointedly.

Jeffrey scooted out of his chair with the wine bottle. “Of course.”

“There, there, darling,” Roger said soothingly to his wife and patted her other hand on the table.

“Here you go, Mimi.” Jeffrey quickly refilled her glass.

But the attempts to settle her down failed. Flinging her hands out, Mimi barely missed knocking over her wine glass.

“You know nothing.” Mimi scrunched up her forehead. “My mother died going back and forth between the borders. You . . .” Mimi stopped and shook her head. “You people used her up and threw her away.” After looking around at everyone’s startled faces, she took a big gulp from her wine glass.

“Oh, Mimi, why do you always act like they’re
my
people?” Sophia pulled her brows down. “Your mother, what? She came into the states for temporary work?” She grabbed her wine glass and held it up to her lips. “Where did she work?”

“She started off working in the fields. Picking green chilies. She’d harvest anything she could find just to work.” Mimi narrowed her eyes. “Then, she was pushed into more
menial
tasks.”

“Such as?” Sophia took a tiny sip of wine.

“Such as being pushed into taking care of the men who worked in the fields,” Mimi spat out. “Like you are so oblivious.”

“Hmm, sounds reasonable, I suppose. Need to be productive as possible.” Sophia downed the rest of her wine.

Blatant sorrow flashed across Mimi Carlyle’s face, and Ryder even felt sorry for her― until she opened her mouth; again.

“Ah, but Sophia darling, I am surprised you know anything about these issues, after all when do you have time to read the paper or Google these issues? Let me guess, in between your Botox appointments?” Mimi laughed before adding, “Or perhaps between your manicures and hair bleaching?”

Pouring the rest of the red liquid into her glass, Sophia’s mouth pinched together.

“My mother died. No, your economy along with selfish, lazy indulgent attitudes killed my mother.”

Roger Carlyle patted his wife’s hand. “We all know what a good, hard-working woman your mother was, Mimi dear.”

“I watched her die,” Mimi said softly. “When I was ten-years-old. After an American abused her.”

“There, there, dear.” Roger soothed her.

“And all the while you all lived like kings. But me, I was dirt poor. You were probably shopping for new clothes and competing in toddler beauty pageants, Sophia.”

Sophia pursed her lips. “I was never in toddler pageants, Mimi.” Pointing her index finger at Mimi, she added, “I didn’t have the most ideal upbringing either and while we’re clearing the air . . .” She tilted her head. “If you want to open up a can of worms―”

This time Roger butted in. “Ah, Sophia, let’s move on to a more pleasant subject, shall we?”

“You had more money and were certainly more privileged than I was!” Mimi burst out.

“I wasn’t as wealthy as you think, Mimi,” Sophia muttered under her breath.

Roger lowered his brow and drew out her name. “Sophiaaaaaa . . .”

“Of course, Roger, you’re right.” Sophia sipped her wine before turning to Jeffrey. “Do you mind, getting another bottle of red, it appears we’ve finished this one.”

“Anything for you, Sophia,” Jeffrey said and jumped out of his chair.

Mimi narrowed her eyes at Sophia, as if she was daring her to say something.

Tension shot up ten-fold in the elegant dining room and everyone adjusted themselves in their chairs. Ryder’s lettuce caught mid-throat until relief radiated on everyone’s face that Sophia focused on her food. Hell, it was uncomfortable enough already. He washed down his food with a gulp of beer.

Soon the main course of grilled salmon, garlic potatoes and sugar snap peas were served and it was good. He never cooked like this at home that’s for sure. Sophia even announced the food as the servers brought out the cuisine. Was that how they did it at these cultured banquets? He wouldn’t know, since this was his first elegant soiree. The huge party he’d attended here before he started Edgington’s job had a huge buffet line and Sophia hadn’t broadcasted the food back then. Maybe it was all the people and it was such a large party.

Christ, even then, with all the guests, he’d still felt like a loner and out of place. And he knew and talked to quite a few people that night, too. What was it with him? Didn’t he like people?
Nah
,
I just don’t like crowds.

Oh well, he shouldn’t have much longer to endure this evening. Ducking his head, he checked his watch. Hell, he was ready to get out of here now. A man can only handle so many petty jibes being tossed back and forth. All the ridiculing was done in categorically good taste, though. Women could sure get nasty with one another. Sophia seemed ready to chew off Mimi Carlyle’s head for a snide remark she’d made earlier. Ryder had blocked most of the chatter off after the “lush” comment Jeffrey made to Roger. No time like the present to get the ball rolling so he could get out of here.

“Well, Sophia.” He wiped his mouth with the black cloth napkin one last time and looked at his hostess. “This was a great time, but I have a lot on my plate for tomorrow.” Ryder backed his chair out and stood.

“Oh, Ryder, do you have to leave so soon?” Sophia pushed out her lower lip.

He’d almost laughed out-loud, but he’d covered it up with a cough. Man, she had the pout down to a science.

Sophia pushed out of her chair and sauntered over to him. “I was hoping to have some brandy with you later, Ryder. We haven’t even had dessert yet.”

“I am sorry, Sophia. I have a shi―” Ryder stopped right before he said shitload and replaced it with, “I am so loaded down with work. I’ll be up all night as it is.”

“Oh, Ryder.” She tugged his arms, bringing them around her waist. “Are you absolutely sure?”

Ryder chanced a peek at Amanda who was eying him with amusement and skillfully pulled his hands away from Sophia’s waist, saying, “Unfortunately, yes.”

After telling everyone how pleasurable it was meeting them, he’d ended up at Amanda’s chair. Her hands fidgeted on her lap as he approached her.

“I need to get home as well, Sophia.” Amanda stood up before Ryder could tell her the same drivel that he spewed to the others. She looked at everyone around the table and said goodbye in record time.

And he thought he was the only one in pain tonight.

“May I?” Ryder pulled out her chair so she had plenty of room to get out and offered his arm.

“Thank you.” Amanda lightly placed her hand on his arm and they walked out of the dining room.

Once they were in the hallway, the pressure in his neck and shoulders eased and he glanced over at his partner in crime. “I wasn’t sure if I could stand it another minute in there.”

“
Shhh
.” Amanda stuck her index finger up to her mouth and pulled him to the front door. “We aren’t in the clear yet.”

Nodding, Ryder pushed open the front door and stepped out with Amanda on his arm. Only after he’d pulled the door shut, did he talk. “Think we are safe now?”

“Yes, I’m pretty sure we are in the clear now.” Amanda laughed. “We should be ashamed of ourselves, you know.”

“Oh and why is that, Ms. Harris?” Ryder asked as they walked to her car.

“Because, Mr. Stevenson, we were in one of the wealthiest homes in the city. And we didn’t appreciate it as we should have.”

Ryder grumbled. “Yeah, I suppose Sophia is a lucrative client, but I really do hate those upper crust dinner parties.” He opened the top button of his shirt. “Now, I can breathe again.”

After she’d unlocked the car, he reached down to open her door for her. “Thanks,” Amanda said as she was about to get in her car.

“I’m also ready for another cold beer. I gotta get that wine taste out of my mouth. Do you want to go get one with me?” Was he asking her out?
Nooooooo
. Just a sociable beer with a new friend he met.

Uh huh
.

Her dark blond brows drew together. Good, she was thinking about it. His chest puffed up slightly. He better add some more fuel, he could see she was on the fence. “After all, we are conspirators. What good is it to scheme if we can’t have a little fun afterward?”

Chapter 4

A
manda grinned after his last comment. “Oh, how could I possibly turn you down after saying that?” She sat in the driver’s seat and turned to pull her seat belt on. “Where do you want to go for a
scheming
drink, Mr. Stevenson?” Still smiling, she put the emphasis on scheming.

“What’s close to your house?”

“Oh yes, that would be better. How about The Library? It’s about ten miles from my house. Does that work for you?” She nibbled on her lower lip. “Let me call my kiddos real fast, just so they know where I am. They should be home.”

Amanda skimmed her teeth across her plump pink bottom lip and Ryder lowered his lids. A hunger that he hadn’t had in a long while, struck him hard. To steady himself, he looked out at the street across from Edgington’s property and shook his head. Was his reaction to this woman so intense because he hadn’t gotten laid in a while? Soft conversational murmurs drifted over to him just as he noticed an SUV sitting idly beside the curb. Someone was in the driver’s seat― clearly a silhouette―yet the figure in the front seat stood rod still.

Never moved an inch.

Running his hand through his short dark hair, he pulled down his brows. Something wasn’t right; he felt it in his bones. Who would be casing-out Sophia Edgington’s mansion? Squinting again, he tried to make out the car. Looked like a Cadillac Escalade. He rubbed the back of his neck again. Was it her ex-husband having someone watch Sophia’s house or a perpetrator intending to rob it?

Ah hell
. Was she right? Would Parker Edgington stalk her? Shit, and here he blew off that notion because he thought she was using that as an excuse to get him to accompany her to all of her events. Now, he felt like a pathetic, egotistical jerk. When he didn’t hear Amanda’s soft undertones anymore, he turned around just as she clicked her phone off.

“All okay at home?”

“Yep, kids ate already, I left them a casserole since I was out and they are now doing their homework.”

He nodded. “Good.” But now he was having second thoughts. Maybe he should forget going to get a beer with Amanda and stay and see what Mr. Escalade was after. But he didn’t want to, so decided after his date with Amanda he’d swing by Sophia’s house once again and get the license number.

“Do you want to ride with me?” He had no idea why he proposed that, and he knew he sounded just plain stupid by that suggestion.

“No, thank you, I have to get my car home.”

Yep, she looked at him like he was a goof for suggesting that. Clearing his throat he looked back at Sophia’s house and tried another suggestion.

“How about I follow you home, we drop off your car then we head out?”

“Tell you what . . .” She did it again. That biting her bottom lip thing. “Why not come over to my place for that beer?” After watching his face, she quickly added, “The kids will be busy doing their homework upstairs. And I have either Corona or Budweiser, I think.”

“Sounds good, but I don’t want to disrupt anything at your house.”

“I promise you won’t be an interruption at my house. You’ll be a welcome distraction.” Her eyes sparkled. “For me, that is.”

“Only if you say so.” He put his hands on her car door, readying to shut it. “Drive slow. I’ll follow you.”

Amanda nodded and he pushed her door close.

Walking to his car, he mentally noted as many details as he could of the black Caddie parked across the street. He got lucky―he’d made out the numbers after all. License BFTL569.

BravoFrankTangoLima569. Oh hell, what was F? All that came to mind was Frank, so he used that. BFTL569. Brand spanking new black four-door Escalade. He’d call it in before he parked the car at Amanda’s place. His buddies in the police force were life savers when it came to checking out this type of shit.

After driving for a few minutes, he figured no time like the present and dialed Jeremy.

Jeremy picked on the first ring. “Hey, asshole. Where’ve ya been?”

“Busy working, dickhead, where do you think?” Ryder growled into the phone. Jeremy Coolman was one of his best friends. They were in the same Rangers Regiment and had been together through hell and back a few times before they both got out. Jeremy married his sweetheart who waited for him and now they had a small baby.

“How are Emma and Sue?” Both his wife and infant daughter had the six foot Army Ranger both wrapped around their small thumbs. “Still putting you through the paces?”

“You know women!” Jeremy grumbled on the other side of the phone, but Ryder could almost see his grin when he spoke. “Absolutely. I’m a big mass of putty in their hands. But you didn’t call to ask about my women.” Jeremy got serious. “Whatcha need, pal?”

“Have time to run a plate for me?” After hearing Jeremy’s obliging grunt on the other end of the phone he went on. “License BFTL569. That’s BravoFrankTangoLima5-6-9. Copy?”

Jeremy’s laughter almost broke his eardrum at the other end. “Yeah, got it. Let me work on it and I’ll call you back. Oh and just for the record, it’s Foxtrot, not Frank, ass-wipe.”

“It’s been awhile, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Later, dickhead.”

Well, it had been awhile Ryder thought wryly as he pulled up into Amanda’s driveway.

A
manda was grinning like a crazy lady on the inside. She was going to have a hunk at her place. Panic temporarily gripped her. What in the heck was she thinking? Was she nuts?

No.
After willing herself to calm down, she took a few deep breaths.

I can do this.
Giddiness fluttered in her belly. Ryder Stevenson was hands down the hottest guy she had ever talked to. And he was coming over. She wondered how old he was.

Her eyes darted to the rearview mirror. Ryder’s black Jeep Cherokee followed behind her and it looked like he was talking on the phone. Who’d he call? Was it another woman? Her confidence stumbled and she gripped the steering wheel.

Who was she kidding? A man like him could never be attracted to a science geek like her. She shook her head. Oh well, they could maybe get to know each other a little over a drink. She looked around her familiar neighborhood wondering on Ryder Stevenson’s motives for asking her out for a drink. One more block and they would be pulling up to her house. Her thoughts bounced to her place. Oh God! Was it clean? If the kids were home alone . . .

She groaned, who knows what it looked like! Too late now; they were here. Amanda reached up to punch the button to open the garage door, but accidently pulled down her sun visor instead. Finding herself looking at her reflection in the mirror, she noted her ordinary face staring back at her with wide eyes, and frowned. Ryder probably had tons of women after him. Women like Sophia Edgington. She’d certainly pawed him all evening; seemed she couldn’t keep her hands off him tonight. Every time Sophia touched him, Amanda ground her teeth together, not liking it.

As if I have a right to
. She snorted.

Sophia was a stunner, too with her blonde, California good looks. Her eyes flew back to her reflection in the visor mirror. Her own dark blond hair flew out crazily around her face, with frizzy wisps spiraling out. Yep, the twisted up-do bun she tried earlier was done for the evening. Wilting.

I’m not anywhere near the polished Sophia Edgington.

No red, sultry lips or deep garnet nails. Definitely no sleeked back chic hairstyle, that was for sure. She clearly did not come across as a player, for heaven’s sake. Flipping up her visor, she pushed on the garage door remote and waited a few minutes as the garage door swung up.

Slowly.

The door lurched on the side guardrail as it sluggishly opened. Uh oh, was it time for a new garage door? The door looked like an old man, barely being able to open and close. It seemed to always be something to fix around the house. Her mind flitted back to the house and what it might look like. But more importantly―why would a man who looked like Ryder ask
her
out for a drink when a woman like Sophia Edgington was clearly interested?

She eased her “new” used Nissan into the garage. Flinging open her car door, she glanced back again and watched Ryder pull in behind her. She barely had a minute to spare.

And that notion gave her a moment to panic. Standing by her car door, she glanced at her metallic cane lying in the back seat. She knew she shouldn’t leave it lying there, but since she was home, she really didn’t need it. And she was slightly embarrassed at having to use it in the first place.

Waving at Ryder before the garage door closed, she rushed through the door that led into the kitchen.

There was beer at her place right? She had to have some. Amanda enjoyed a beer occasionally and usually kept a six-pack on hand. In the basement, that is. The basement refrigerator housed her beer since the kitchen refrigerator was always packed to the gills with food. Her teenage son, Nick, ate like a horse and she had no idea where he put it all. He was tall and thin, just like his father. Sammie on the other hand was built like her, petite, and she was a nibbler. She barely ate and was the converse of Nick. Sam was talkative and outgoing compared with Nick, who was so quiet and reserved. Both of the kids were so much quieter since Wayne passed away and she knew it was rough on them too, but to what degree?

They were good kids, but they didn’t want to talk about their father much.

Amanda tried being patient, by not pushing them to talk about their feelings. She knew they weren’t close to Wayne. He’d barely paid any attention to them, but then again, he never had. When they were little, Wayne’s excuse to stay away from them was that he was too busy at work. He was petrified of getting anything on his clothes if the kids were eating or playing with markers or paints, so he always avoided them. Amanda didn’t think he ever changed a diaper or helped to feed them.

Stepping into the small mudroom, she draped her shawl on a hook and then rounded the corner in to the kitchen.

She’d really had hoped as the kids grew up, Wayne would grow up too and spend more quality time with them. But according to Nick and Sammie, when they spent the divorce settlement designated weekends with him, Wayne hired a baby sitter to stay and he would leave. When they were old enough, he’d just leave them by themselves at his chic town home. It tore at her, but she’d realized she couldn’t force her ex-husband to want to be around their children. Finally, a few years ago, everything came to a head.

Nick and Sammie had just flat out refused to spend any more time with Wayne. So they hadn’t seen him at all lately. She’d tried picking up the slack and introduced her kids to some sports and activities that she thought a man would―like playing ball, going to baseball games and fishing. Fishing . . . She smiled.

Now that was a complete disaster, but fun. She still cringed just remembering baiting the hooks and taking the pathetically small fish off the hooks. All three of them had a lot of fun at her expense. Nick and Sammie had laughed up a storm over their mother’s feeble attempt at the sport and she’d loved seeing her children grinning and being so playful. She had no problem being the source of their laughter that day, but Amanda had realized she couldn’t emulate the father figure that they both sorely lacked in their life.

“Hey kiddos!” Angling her head up by the staircase assuming Nick and Sammie were studying upstairs, she hollered, “I’m home!”

Quickly taking inventory, she glanced around.

Kitchen didn’t look too bad.
Phew!
All she had to do was grab the glasses scattered here and there on the counter and put them in the sink. Next she strode through the family room, her eyes hitting the couch, loveseat, end tables. Check. All looked halfway decent.

Bless
you children
, she inwardly sighed. She walked to her front door and unlocked the deadbolt. Before walking out to Ryder’s car, she flicked on the porch lights. He opened the car door and stood there waiting beside his Jeep. What was he waiting for?

An invitation, she supposed. Could she do this?

Yes!

“Hi.” Amanda walked up to his tall, lean frame. “Did I drive slow enough for you?”

He smiled. “Yes. I could easily see you, thanks.”

Was that good?
Ah crap
. Maybe she should have driven faster, made him chase her a little bit? She had no idea really how to go about this. She hardly ever dated.

Not wanting to overthink this moment, she blurted out, “Ready for that beer?”

“Yes,” Ryder said as he looked back down the street they came from. Amanda supposed that reflex just came naturally to him since he was in the security business. He turned back to her and held out his hand.

Slipping her arm under his, she was pleasantly surprised at how tuned into her he was. But she did notice he craned his head around one more time, to look behind them.

“Looking for something?” she asked before she could censure herself. Biting her lip, she had to remember to think before saying everything she thought, dang it. And here she’d been so good tonight at the dinner party. God knows, she’d wanted to say a few things, but she’d bit her tongue, considering some of the things that came out of Sophia’s mouth!

Amanda didn’t like the way Sophia and Jeffrey referred to “the little people.” She was confused if they meant dwarfs, children, or the general public. Honestly, they spoke to each other as if everyone else was beneath them; like most people weren’t worthy of scraping the mud off of their shoes. Feeling terribly out of place, she’d never really got into the big party, socializing thing.

When she was married, she and Wayne had often argued about it. He’d always drag her to those stuffy dinner parties for work and she did go a few times. She’d really tried to mingle and enjoy it, but it was no good. She’d never liked it then and she didn’t like it now. That was right around the time their marriage fell apart. But she needed to think about other things. She didn’t want to dwell on Wayne tonight.

Abruptly, she found herself standing still and no longer going up to the house. Ryder had stopped dead in his tracks. Did he already regret coming over? Her confidence plummeted, skydiving off that non-existent precipice. Swallowing, she looked over at him. “What is it?”

“Do any of your neighbors own a black SUV Escalade?” He looked out over her head, surveying the area toward the street.