Perfect Fit (28 page)

“Come on,” Dare said, approaching Rex. “The occupants of the house asked you to leave.”

“And I’m not leaving until I get what I came for. I need to know if he’s got something of mine. Something nobody wants to see the light of day,” Rex said, eyeing Cara warily.

She sighed. “I think you need to accept that you’ve worn out your welcome in Serendipity, Mr. Bransom. Whatever happened in the past, you’re the one stirring it up now. If you persist in continuing this, you’re going to implicate yourself in something that was buried a long time ago.”

“You know this man?” Dare asked.

“This is Rex Bransom. He’s Mike’s biological father.”

Dare blinked in surprise. “Does Mike know he’s around?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Dare turned to the judge’s wife. “Mrs. Baine, would you like to press charges?”

She folded her arms across her chest. “My husband has given the police chief all the information he has on the past. What happens is up to him. In the meantime, if Mr. Bransom leaves now, I’ll forget this incident ever happened.”

“Nobody can find out about this!” Judge Baine suddenly yelled, turning on Rex at a full run.

“He’s attacking me!” Rex held his hands up to protect himself, but Dare stepped between the men and as gently as possible subdued the judge.

“Relax,” Cara muttered to Rex. “You’ve shown up and agitated everyone imaginable. Now are you going to leave quietly, or am I going to have to arrest you?”

He scowled. “I’m going. But you tell that son of mine that if he knows what’s good for his
father
, he’ll bury that journal where no one can find it.”

Cara narrowed her gaze. Having not been welcomed, he’d decided to ruin Simon’s reputation instead. “Haven’t you realized? Mike’s not like you. He’ll do the right thing even if someone gets hurt.”

“Even Saint Simon?” Rex spat with disdain, making his point before ambling toward his car like he hadn’t a care in the world.

And he didn’t. As a cop, Rex knew the same thing Cara knew. The statute of limitations on evidence tampering was ten years, and really, unless they were talking murder, the statute would have run out on any number of crimes with which Rex could be charged. Nobody in Serendipity wanted him here, so his reputation couldn’t get any worse. But Simon’s could, and clearly that was Rex’s goal.

Cara’s chest tightened at the thought of the man she respected as her boss and as Mike’s father suffering for bailing Rex out and doing right by Ella. Rex Bransom was a loose cannon for the entire Marsden family and the life they enjoyed here in Serendipity.

Cara watched until he’d climbed into his rental and driven away before refocusing on the scene behind her.

“Can I call an ambulance?” Dare asked Mrs. Baine. “Perhaps they can give him a sedative?”

She shook her head. “I’ll call Dr. Al,” she said of Dr. Alan Collins, Alexa’s father. “He’ll come over and tell me what’s needed.”

Dare nodded. “Okay. Need help getting him back into the house?”

Mrs. Baine shook her head. “Once everyone’s gone, he’ll calm down and go back inside.”

Cara swallowed hard. “If you have any trouble, let us know?” She felt sorry for Mrs. Baine and the difficult life she now shared with the man she loved.

“I will. Thank you.” She wrapped an arm around her husband and whispered calming words.

Cara and Dare headed for the squad car.

“Care to share what’s going on?” he asked her.

She bit the inside of her cheek. “Umm…not really? It’s not my story to tell. It’s up to Sam and Mike,” she said.

“Understood. We Barron brothers have had so many secrets, I’m not going to judge others.”

“Thanks,” she said with a grim smile.

“Think he’ll leave town?”

Cara knew Dare referred to Rex. She thought for a moment and sighed. “I don’t know. He’s not welcome here. I’d say it was sad if he hadn’t caused the hard feelings all on his own—and how he’s behaving now isn’t exactly encouraging anyone to think differently, you know?”

Dare nodded. “When Ethan came back, he wanted to make amends. Nash and I didn’t want anything to do with him, but he dug in his heels—and everything he did showed us he’d changed, even before we were ready to admit or accept it.”

“Not Rex. He showed up at the Marsdens’ claiming it was because he’d heard Simon was sick, but when he wasn’t greeted with open arms, he began issuing subtle threats.”

Dare swore under his breath. “How’s the family taking it?”

Cara stared at the long stretch of dark road in front of them as Dare drove. “They banded together. It was really nice to see.”

Even she’d felt the us-against-the-world vibe that Simon had put up against Rex. He’d enveloped Mike in complete acceptance, and everything inside Cara warmed at the sight. She knew how badly Mike had needed that sign of belonging, and Simon had given it to him.

He could take that knowledge with him when he left and know that he had his family waiting for him when he returned. He deserved that, she thought, knowing how elusive he’d found it to begin with.

When their shift finally ended, Cara headed home and slept for a solid six hours. She woke to her alarm and a message from Daniella, whom Cara immediately called back. She learned that the young woman had moved in with Bev, who’d been like a mom to her, something Daniella needed since her own mom lived out of state. Bev’s only daughter had moved across the country with her husband, so they each fulfilled a mutual need for the other. With Bev’s support and guidance, Daniella had enrolled in online classes and was continuing her work at McDonald’s. And so far, no word from Bob, who it seemed was respecting the restraining order.

Though it was afternoon, Cara needed coffee and breakfast, since the night shift always put her off schedule with the rest of the world. She stopped at Cuppa Café, where she ran into Kelly Barron, Nash’s wife, double stroller and twin boys with her, and Annie Kane, Joe’s fiancée. Cara joined the women for a little while, listening to Annie’s wedding talk with a surprising sense of envy.

Cara wasn’t the jealous type, unless she counted thinking about Mike with other women. She was genuinely happy for Annie, and yet a part of her couldn’t help but yearn for what the other women both had. A man they could count on in their lives. Cara swallowed hard, forcing down the sense of disappointment that Mike couldn’t be that guy for her. Instead she continued to smile at all the appropriate places in the conversation until she could gracefully make an escape.

Then, knowing Mike would want details about the incident with his father, she headed over to the station. The squad room was fairly empty, a few people bent over desks typing up reports, so Cara walked directly back to Mike’s office.

She knocked and waited until he gave her permission to enter. Given their relationship outside work, the formality here always made her smile. She’d really miss knowing he was the one filling up this office with his larger-than-life presence.

“Come on in,” he called out.

She stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

He glanced up and his eyes widened. He was obviously surprised to see her. But not upset because his lips curved upward in a pleased grin.

“I didn’t expect you to be up and around,” he said.

“I slept, but I thought you might want to hear what happened with Rex last night.” And she really believed he deserved to have her tell him things beyond the basics in the report she’d filled out.

His jaw clenched at the mention of his biological father’s name. “I read the paperwork.”

“But I thought you might be curious.”

Mike remained behind his desk, the air around them having chilled with the topic. “I appreciate that you left out any details of what Rex really wanted at the judge’s house.”

She shrugged. “It wasn’t pertinent to the report. He created a nuisance; the Baines declined to press charges. Dare and I agreed that was that.” Cara watched Mike for signs that he was upset, but all she saw right now was his professional demeanor.

“What does Dare know?” Mike asked.

“That Rex brought up a whole host of personal family issues and that’s it. He respects your privacy,” Cara said softly. “Dare knows what it’s like to have the past come back and bite him.”

Mike nodded. “Okay. Did he say where he’s staying?”

She knew Mike meant Rex. “No. Since we didn’t arrest him and he left somewhat peacefully, we didn’t ask.” She drew a deep breath before continuing. “But he knows you have the book with the information. That’s why he came to
the Baines’ house in the first place. I guess he thought he could see if the judge had kept any documentation of his involvement.”

“Who told him I had it?”

“The judge’s wife.”

“Did Rex say why he wanted it?” Mike asked.

Cara bit the inside of her lip. “He said if you know what’s good for your family, you’ll bury the information. I told him that unlike him, you’d do the right thing even if someone gets hurt. And he said…” She trailed off.

“Go on.” His eyes flashed fire.

“He said, ‘Even Saint Simon?’ Mike, he’s looking to hurt him.”

Mike expelled a long breath. “Yeah, I got that impression,” he said through gritted teeth.

Cara’s heart went out to him. “And? What’s your plan?”

“I’ve done nothing but think about what to do. We both know the legalities. That’s not what this is about. Rex came here wanting to pick up where he left off. When he wasn’t accepted, he decided to do the most damage.”

She nodded. “My thoughts exactly. But Simon’s reputation is at stake.”

“I know. If this gets out, people may not look at him the same way.” He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “I hate this,” he muttered.

“So…what will you tell the mayor?” Cara asked, which she knew was the crux of his problem.

“Some version of the truth. I just haven’t decided how to phrase it to do the least amount of damage. And now I’m finished talking about this.” He walked out from behind the desk and headed toward her. “Lock the door,” he said, surprising her.

His voice, deep and full of longing, found an answering pull inside her. “But we’re at work.”

His eyes darkened. “I’m at work. You’re off duty. And I don’t want to be interrupted.”

She locked the door to his windowless office and turned back to find him right beside her. He braced his hands on her shoulders and lowered his head until his mouth captured hers. Cara moaned and leaned into him, needing everything he had to offer because she knew he would soon be gone.

He swept his tongue over her lips and she parted them, letting him inside. Mike wasn’t gentle. He plundered, devouring her with a kiss that stole her breath, buckled her knees, and had her arching her hips into his. He twisted his hand in her ponytail and tugged, shifting her head so he could deepen his possession.

She let him, wanting nothing more than to crawl into him and stay there forever, hating herself for needing him so badly and unable to do anything about it.

He broke the kiss and groaned. “I needed that,” he said as he pulled her close, suddenly connecting them in a more emotional way.

Cara understood how confused he was, not knowing how much to make public about Rex and Simon. “Are you okay?”

His laugh wasn’t all that dark or painful. “Yeah, I am. Yesterday I saw my place in the family for the first time, and I’m grateful,” he admitted.

She smiled at the insight she’d had all along. “You’re the only one who doubted it.”

He separated them, keeping his hand at her waist as he gazed into her eyes. “Anyone ever tell you that you’re brilliant?”

She smiled. “No but I’ll take the compliment.”

“You should.” He walked back around to his desk, gathering papers as he spoke. “I need to leave for a little bit. I want to go talk to my parents.”

“Something I said?” she asked, curious.

“Yeah. It was. But I can’t explain it. Not until I verbalize it to them. I just know I have unfinished business to wrap
up there. Not only discussing what has to happen next with Simon, but laying the past to rest once and for all.”

“I get it,” she murmured. “I really do.”

“You do know that you’ve been instrumental in helping me get through this, and I’m grateful.”

Gratitude wasn’t the emotion she wanted from him, but it was all she’d get. “Well then, my work here is done. I’m going to head home and get some more sleep.”

“You do that.”

He eyed her with that hot, steady gaze, and she wished he could join her. “Say hi to your parents for me.”
And ask when Simon plans to return
, she thought, but didn’t give voice to the words.

“Will do.” He winked and turned back to his desk, obviously needing to finish up a few things before he could leave.

“Oh! Before I forget, I heard from Daniella,” she told him.

He glanced up. “How’s she doing?”

“She sounded…at peace.” Cara nodded, knowing that was the right description. “She has a plan and someone in her corner. She’s good.” She smiled at the thought.

“I know how much she means to you. I’m glad things are working out for her. Erin said her ex was assigned a stupid prick of a public defender as his lawyer. Maybe that won’t work in his favor when he goes to trial.”

“Or maybe he’ll cut a deal and disappear for good,” Cara said, wishing for just that.

“We can hope,” Mike muttered. “I have late-afternoon appointments and a dinner meeting, so I’ll call you later?”

Not see her.

Well, that was for the best, she knew. “Sure. I have dinner plans tomorrow night. Catch you at Joe’s on Wednesday?” she asked casually.

He glanced up from the papers on his desk, hesitating as if he wanted to say something important. “Sure thing,” he said instead.

Disappointed and not wanting to delve deeply into why, Cara smiled and walked out the door.

Mike had an hour to head over to his parents’ and
talk before his crazy afternoon began with regularly scheduled meetings. He also needed to hash out what he planned to say to the mayor. The sooner he made an appointment with her, the sooner he could wash his hands of the whole mess, Rex included.

Or should he say, Rex especially.