Perfect Fit (31 page)

Then, last night, while lifting weights at the Y, he’d made the decision to head home after the weekend. He’d called his father and put Simon off, telling him that he couldn’t make the decision about the job immediately. He just wasn’t ready. Simon pretended to understand, but Mike knew from his subdued tone that he really didn’t.

Which was why he needed space from everything and everyone. Once he returned to New York, he’d breathe deep, stand back, and see what it was he really wanted out of life. He couldn’t figure that out with pressure at every turn. And though Cara hadn’t pressured him—hell, if he didn’t call her, she certainly hadn’t called him—he felt the weight of responsibility sitting on his chest.

He cared for her more than he’d ever cared for any woman before. He couldn’t imagine his life without her bright smile and smart mouth, but he couldn’t come to her free and clear of baggage and fear. And she deserved more
than that. She deserved a full commitment and Mike couldn’t manage one. The only thing he could say in his defense was that he’d never led her on or promised her anything more than what they shared.

So why did he feel lower than pond scum now?

Because he’d hurt her and he’d rather shoot himself with his own gun than cause her pain.

And after the wedding, Mike knew he’d be doing just that.

Joe and Annie’s wedding ceremony brought tears to
Cara’s eyes. She sat in an aisle seat, Alexa on her left, giving Cara a prime view of the beautiful bride as she walked by in a spectacular ivory-colored, body-fitting dress. The color had been chosen in respect for the fact that this was her second marriage, and yet Annie’s first husband, Nash, sat with his new wife, Kelly, in the third row. Annie and Kelly had a unique friendship, but both women agreed that making Kelly a bridesmaid would have been a touch awkward. In true Annie form, her blond ringlets hadn’t been tamed—because as she’d told Cara at the coffee shop, Joe loved her wild hair. Her eyes sparkled with happiness, as did the groom’s; he waited impatiently in a dark suit and tie at the end of the aisle.

Everything about the wedding, from Annie’s father walking her down the aisle to the man of her dreams waiting for her at the other end, hit Cara with an emotional pang, reminding her of all she’d never have. Not with Mike, who’d spoiled her for any other man, of that she was certain.

When the couple promised to love and cherish each other, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, in joy and in sorrow, for as long as they both shall live, Cara nearly fell apart. Only Alexa’s strong kick to Cara’s ankle, which gave her something else to focus on, prevented her from hiccupping and bawling out loud.

“Ouch!” Cara hissed.

Alexa smiled. “That’s what friends are for,” she whispered back.

Mike sat two rows behind her, Sam and Erin on either side. She’d caught a glimpse of them as she walked in, forced a smile at her friends, and done her best not to meet Mike’s gaze. They’d talk later, she was sure, but all her concentration had been on getting through the ceremony. Whatever he had to say didn’t matter. She was finished with the kind of relationship he was willing to give.

She loved him. She knew it. Had known it for a while, even if she’d never allowed the word to surface in her brain. But between the visit to her mother and Annie getting a second chance at real happiness, Cara realized that as much as she loved Mike, she had been settling for whatever crumbs he’d been willing to give. Granted, until the last week they’d been spectacular crumbs, but mere morsels nonetheless.

Too soon, the ceremony ended and the crowd dispersed to…where else? Joe’s. Despite her mood, Cara couldn’t help but enjoy the celebration, which consisted of toasts, some roasting of the groom by his best friends, and a lot of dancing. Through it all, Cara felt the heat of Mike’s gaze on her skin. The red dress she’d bought under duress seemed to impress him, if the sizzling look in his eyes was any indication. But he didn’t approach her to dance, and talking would have been impossible anyway. The music was too loud, the people too packed and crushed together.

The bride and groom fed each other cake, Joe seductively pulled off the garter, and soon the single women were gathered for the bouquet toss. If asked, Cara couldn’t say how it had happened, but somehow, Annie tossed the flowers and Tess, who hadn’t yet turned sixteen, ended up in possession of the bouquet.

Ethan, Nash, and Dare looked ready to throttle their bratty sister, but Annie, being Annie, couldn’t stop her good-natured laugh, which calmed the brothers down.

The men gathered next for the garter throw, but Cara couldn’t bring herself to watch. Instead, she tapped Alexa on the shoulder and asked her friend to say good-bye to the couple for her. She’d had enough happiness shoved at her for the day, and her feet ached like crazy. She’d long since pulled off her high heels, and she held the stilettos in her hand as she made her way to the door. She’d put them on at the exit before she had to head outside.

Reaching the door, she leaned against the wall and was in the process of shoving her hurting feet back into their torture chambers when she felt a hand touch her shoulder.

“Can we talk?” Mike asked.

She turned and looked into his somber brown eyes, and her stomach plummeted toward the floor. She might have been preparing herself to end things with him herself, but his bleak expression told her not to bother. He’d have been doing it anyway.

That quickly, whatever hope lingered from the bubble of happiness she’d let herself live in finally popped, leaving her with the painful reality that was her life. And reality, Cara thought, really sucked.

Cara followed Mike to his apartment, promising herself their talk would be quick and she’d be on her way back to her apartment in no time. Alone.

“Let’s sit,” Mike said, gesturing toward the couch.

Cara lowered herself onto the sofa. Her new position gave her a perfect view of the bedroom corner of the apartment, where a suitcase sat open on the bed.

Her stomach cramped but she said nothing. He’d asked to talk, and she’d let him begin. She’d focus on getting through this without falling apart.

He settled in beside her, careful not to touch her. The cool distance between them was reminiscent of the early days when he’d come back to Serendipity, and her heart hurt at the distance between them. For all they’d had and suddenly lost.

She couldn’t help it. She had to ask. “What happened?” Last time she’d seen him, he’d kissed her in his office, told her he needed her after everything that had gone on within his family. Next thing she knew…dead silence.

“Simon’s retiring,” Mike said.

Of everything, she hadn’t expected that.

“And he asked me to take the job. For good.”

She blinked. “That must have thrown you. When did he tell you this?”

He looked away, unable to meet her gaze. “Saturday afternoon.”

With his answer, a yawning, cavernous pit opened inside her. “And that’s why I haven’t heard from you.”

He had the good grace to at least look embarrassed.

Cara sighed. “I take it you turned him down?”

“I told him I’d think about it.” He shrugged out of his suit jacket and laid it over a chair, then undid his tie so it hung loose around his neck. His top button followed, leaving him with an extremely sexy, rumpled look that tugged at her heart.

Hardening herself toward him was hard, but she couldn’t afford to feel bad because he looked so torn. “Why didn’t you just tell him the truth? That you don’t want to stay here? You never wanted to be here in the first place.”

“Because I don’t know if that’s true!” He spun away and walked to the window.

She’d never seen Mike look so torn, so unsure. Unable to help herself, she rose and joined him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You told me yourself, you were here while Simon needed you. He’s in remission. He’s retiring. You can go back to the life you love and leave this small town and all of us behind. Like before.”

Cara was proud that her voice didn’t crack.

“I didn’t count on you,” he said quietly.

“What?”

He placed a hand on hers and turned. “You heard me. I didn’t count on you. And when I tell you I’m not sure what
I want to do, I mean it. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

His hands slipped to her waist, burning her with his touch. “Yes, you can,” Cara told him. “Or that suitcase wouldn’t be packed.” She stepped out of reach, knowing she was close to shattering.

“I just need time,” he said, his voice pleading with her to understand.

“You’ve been nothing but honest with me, so let’s not start sugarcoating things now. Actions speak louder than words, but together? They send a potent message.” Her shoulders shook, but she continued. “You’re leaving just like you always said you would. This was short term and I knew it. Shame on me for falling harder and hoping for more.” She turned away, unable to believe she’d admitted her feelings. “Take care,” she said, almost running for the door.

“Cara, wait.”

She paused without turning to face him.

“I’m suffocating. I just need time and space to sort things out.”

She shook her head. “If you needed time, I’d have given it to you. All you had to do was ask. Instead you did what you always do—you packed up and you ran.”

She wasn’t just referring to his going back to New York, but to his disappearing act this past week. He wasn’t dumb enough not to know what she meant.

“Bye, Mike.” It took everything she had, but Cara walked out the door without looking back.

Seventeen

Cara’s doorbell rang. And rang. And rang. Then the
pounding started. She’d taken the week off from work to pull herself together…and yes, maybe wallow a little. She had the sick time owed to her and figured she deserved to indulge herself, so here it was Thursday, and someone was banging on her door. At eight in the morning.

She grabbed her fuzzy robe, pulled it on over the tank top she slept in, and stormed to her front door. She whipped it open, prepared to give whoever was there a piece of her mind.

She found Sam, who had been calling her twice daily to make sure she was okay. “Can’t a girl take time off without you checking on me constantly?” she snapped at him, leaving her door open for him to follow her inside.

“You’re not sick, you’re depressed, and though you have good reason to be, it’s enough. He may be my brother, but he’s an ass. He doesn’t deserve you, and he sure as hell doesn’t deserve for you to be sitting around sulking over
him, so let’s go. Shower and get dressed. We’re going shopping.”

Cara wrinkled her nose. Neither one of them loved hitting a mall. “For what?”

“It’s my mother’s birthday this weekend and I need to buy her a present.”

“Fine. For Ella, I’ll pull myself together. Besides, I want to buy Daniella a little motivational gift. She’s signed up for paralegal courses online, and she’s interviewing with some firms who are willing to wait until she can work. Belinda’s got some great contacts,” Cara said of Havensbridge’s founder.

Sam smiled. “That’s great. One less person to worry about,” he said. “Has her ex gotten a court date yet?”

Cara shrugged. “I’m not sure. Daniella said he’s been quiet, but sometimes she gets that eerie feeling she’s being followed. I reminded her not to go out alone, and she said she knows.”

“That’s all you can do. Now go. Get ready.” He prodded her on the back.

Cara headed for the stairs. Pausing, she turned to her partner. “Thanks, Sam.”

“That’s what friends are for. Hey, have I told you that you look like hell?”

She frowned at him. “Gee, thanks.”

“Just calling it like I see it.” He tipped his head toward the stairs.

“I’m going.” But she paused. “Sam, have you…” She trailed off, wanting to ask how his brother was doing.

Had Sam spoken to him? Was he suffering like she was? Or had he gone back to his lifestyle, and women like Lauren, as if the interlude in Serendipity and with Cara had never happened?

“I haven’t spoken to him,” Sam said, reading her mind. Because that was what a good partner did. And really, what else would Cara possibly want to know? “He’s not answering when I call. I’m sorry.”

Cara nodded, the lump in her throat that she’d been fighting all week returning as big as ever.

“He spoke to the mayor before he left town,” Sam said, surprising her. “He laid out everything about the cold case and the money in the evidence room.”

Cara stared, stunned. She’d been so wrapped up in her personal drama, she’d completely forgotten about the case. “What did she say?”

“According to my father, because I didn’t hear it from Mike, the mayor uttered a few choice words that her voters wouldn’t be too happy to hear. Especially when she found out the extent of the people involved.”

“Is Simon in trouble?” Cara asked.

“I’ve gotta hand it to my brother. He managed to make it a burden for the mayor if she went public with the information.”

“How?”

“By reminding her that many of those who were mentioned in that black book, who’d visited the Winkler place, and who had been involved in the cover-up, were also her biggest campaign supporters,” Sam said with a grin.

Cara pulled her robe tighter, unable to hold back a smile of her own. “Brilliant.”

Sam nodded. “Added to that, the Winkler place had been shut down for years, so there was no point in bringing that up again. Everyone who was once involved appeared to be clean now, and the only person still in public office was retiring.” Sam spread his hands wide. “So really, what good would it do to air the dirty laundry except to tarnish her loyal supporters?”

Cara leaned on the banister. “Case closed, huh?”

“Appears that way.”

“What about Rex?” Cara hadn’t seen him or heard about him since his near arrest. “Did he go back to Vegas?”

“He checked out of the hotel he was staying in after Mike
made sure he knew his presence wouldn’t be tolerated anywhere in Serendipity.”

Cara exhaled slowly, surprised Mike had a one-on-one confrontation with his father. “At least he had closure,” she said, knowing how much Mike needed that to move forward in his life.