Shattered Dreams (10 page)

Claire reached for a floret, dipped it in the ranch dressing, and nibbled, ravenous all of a sudden, yet irritated because he understood her enough to know that. Carl had never been so solicitous, even during the past few months when he’d worked to get back on her good side. She hated comparing her husband with Jason, but the stark differences that emerged every time she was with him made the task impossible.

“Tell me about your relationship with Crystal.”

Startled out of her thoughts, she looked up. “What about it?”

“We’re friends, remember?” His smile was quick.

Claire shook her head. She should be immune to that engaging grin by now. It had no effect over her.

Yeah, right!

Even Carl’s smile came in a close second, she realized. Still, if
she kept telling herself the lie, she might actually start to believe it. She bit her lip to suppress a smile and mentally added another unwanted comparison to her list.

“Maybe,” she said, ignoring the tiny flutters coming from her stomach his grin set off. “But some things I don’t even tell friends.”

“What’d she do? Have an affair with Carl?”

Claire sucked in a sharp breath and blew it out slowly. Her attention wandered to the west and the passing Palm Beach skyline. His glib comment would not ruin her mood.

“Why do you do that?” She snared his gaze and held it firmly so he could see she expected an honest answer.

“Do what?”

Though he tried to laugh it off as a joke, his demeanor contradicted the effort. She wasn’t fooled for a minute, and had no intention of letting the comment go.

“Say things only to annoy me.”

“Is that what I was doing?”

“You know it was.”

“Must be the defense attorney in me,” he replied evasively with a shrug. His gaze roamed to a point past her on the water.

“Well, stop it. I don’t like being cross-examined. It’s not what I’d call
friendly
behavior.”

He was quiet for too long, clearly mulling over her words. Then he sighed.

“Okay.” His eyes held sincerity as well as a spark of amusement. “How about this. I tell you my relationship with her, and you tell me yours.”

“Why would you care?”

“Friendly curiosity. I like knowing what makes my friends tick.”

Jason really had the best smile, she decided, working hard not to be taken in by it. He was so charming, but totally different from Carl. Jason’s charm was an unconscious effort, not some manipulative ploy, which was all the more attractive and definitely a reason to be wary. Funny how that too had now become a comparison between them.

She’d been such a fool to trust her husband again. Could she trust her instincts here?
Probably not.
Carl’s charm had led to several years of frustration. No telling where Jason’s would lead. She wasn’t about to go there, no matter how attractive she found him.

“Is that part of the defense attorney too?” Claire’s tone came out too harsh, and she softened it. “Looking for hidden motives?”

“I never thought of it that way, but I’d have to say it’s a good assessment. I like solving puzzles.” His look told her she was one, and he meant to appease his curiosity.

“I’m not a puzzle to be solved, Jason.”

“Oh? Then what are you?”

“I’m a mess. And I’d really like another evening where I don’t have to think about anything. It’s the only reason I’m here.”

“Is it?”

“Yes! It is,” she said a little too urgently, uncomfortable with his scrutiny.

Her attention moved to the winch near her hand, and she studied it intently. Wouldn’t do to let him catch a glimpse of what might show in her eyes—the other reason she was here. She liked his company . . . too much.

“Are you going to answer my question?”

“What question?”

“You’re evading,” he teased. “You know damn well I’m asking about your relationship with your sister.”

“I’m not evading anything.” She lifted her chin and met his gaze. “Some things I simply don’t want to discuss, and Crystal is one of them.”

“It might make you feel better.” When Claire flashed her best glacial glare that said
no way
, he only laughed. “Trust me. It will help.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Yes, it will. Now, stop evading and talk.”

“You’re relentless. Do you ever give up?”

“Never. It’s why I make such a good defense attorney. So you might as well tell me.”

“I still don’t get why you’re so interested.”

She watched him closely as he lounged, extending an arm along the top of a cushion. The careless tilt of his hand hanging over the edge gave a misleading impression. She was reminded of a sleek cat, one that seemed relaxed, but could spring into action at a second’s notice.

“I told you. Curiosity. I’ve never known twins before. I always thought they had some kind of unbreakable bond or something. What do they call it?”

“The invisible umbilical cord.”

“So, how come you two don’t share it?”

She knew she shouldn’t succumb to that engaging smile, but somehow she couldn’t help herself. Gazing into intense blue eyes—eyes that missed nothing and seemed so understanding—she felt compelled to tell him about her twin.

“We used to.” Claire remembered a time when she and her sister had been inseparable, much like the twins Jason described. “When Crystal and I were younger, we’d reverse roles, try and confuse people simply because we could.”

She smiled. It had been one of their favorite games. The image inside her mind’s eye was so sharp, it was as if it they’d done it yesterday. Other memories surfaced as well of how close they’d been at one time.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. We just started changing. Drifting apart.” She sighed. “The final thread broke when I caught Crystal and Carl in a passionate embrace on my wedding day, before we left for our honeymoon. I’d gone to change and when I came back into the room, there they were.”

“Ah. Now I see why my curiosity drew fire. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’ve had three years to get over it.”

What she didn’t add and didn’t want Jason to know was that Crystal eventually did sleep with her husband. But the act hadn’t hurt as much as Crystal’s behavior on her wedding day.

“That would be enough to cut any cord.”

“Carl told me he thought Crystal was me,” she said, wondering if the reason she felt she had to explain had something to do with those sympathetic indigo eyes holding hers captive for too long.

She broke the connection and let her gaze wander to the west again. “Of course, Crystal denied this. Said Carl came on to her and pretended he was kissing me. And when she set him straight, he still pursued her. She said she was just about to knee him in the groin when I walked in and found them.”

“But you didn’t believe her.”

“No.” She grimaced. “You’ve met her. She’s always been wild, and believe me, she’s toned it down in the past few years.”

“Hmm. Interesting.”

“What’s interesting?” Claire asked after he’d remained silent for too long.

“What if she were telling the truth?”

“She wasn’t.”

“So she’s always done that?” When Claire’s eyebrows slanted in confusion, he added, “Pretend to be you, then kiss the men you care about?”

“No. That was a first for her.” She shrugged. “But I’m sure it was only because circumstances didn’t allow it. We tended to run in different crowds during high school, and by college, we’d gone our separate ways. She’s always been as bold as brass, and has always gotten attention by being that way.”

“Bold does describe Crystal,” he agreed with a grin. Then his demeanor turned serious. “But I also know she’s not one to hide behind lies.”

“She was lying.”

“Why would she? Where’s her motivation?”

“God only knows why Crystal does anything.”

“I do.”

Her spine stiffened. “You honestly think you’ve known her long enough to figure her out?”

Jason nodded and said in the same heated tone, “Yeah. I do.”

“No one understands her like me.” She shook her head. “I’ve had thirty-two years to learn how she operates.”

“I know this much—Crystal goes for the shock effect. If her actions were meant to hurt you, she’d flaunt the fact by owning up to it.” When Claire’s annoyance flared and she was about to disagree, he added in a louder voice, “It’s my job, Claire. I size people up based on gut instinct, looking for truth in what they say. And I’m damn good at it.”

“Your point?”

“My point is, what if she told the truth?”

“No. I can’t believe that.” Doubts swirled inside Claire’s mind, and she didn’t like them one bit. “Let’s talk about something else!”

“Okay. I’ve never slept with Crystal Grayson.”

Her gaze flew to his. “I see you’re going for a little shock effect of your own.”

A genuine smile crossed her face. She didn’t bother trying to understand why her heart soared at his revelation, or why the news took away the sting of Crystal’s betrayal. She’d think about both later.

“Now I’m the one looking for motivation,” she said. “I thought that was none of my business. So, why’d you tell me?”

“You know why.”

Oh God. She swallowed hard and glanced away to keep from responding to the attraction that flared to life between them.

“No.” She focused on her feet, too embarrassed to look at him again. She prayed the heat stealing up her face wasn’t a blush as she heard first a soft chuckle and then total silence.

“Honesty, Claire. That’s all I ask,” he said, taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting her head so she could see his serious expression. “Do you understand?”

Jason held her gaze for what seemed like hours, when in reality only seconds passed. Her breath caught in her throat, trapped by the connection she felt with him. Something transpired between them in those few seconds, and she knew she’d never be the same again.

Slowly she nodded, and then breathed a sigh of relief when he let go of her chin and released her gaze.

He chuckled and indicated the front of the boat with a nod. “It’s time to come about. Go and work the jib.”

Claire quickly jumped up to do his bidding, happy he was dropping the topic, yet wishing she wasn’t stuck in the middle of the ocean on a beautiful evening with this intriguing man who found her so amusing.

Carl Carter had never held that kind of power. That fact alone was enough to scare the hell out of her.

Chapter 10

“You son of a bitch!”

“What?” Carl stepped back when the woman shoved past him, her face alive with fury, contrasting so sharply with her glorious red hair. “I’m following your orders.”

“No, you’re not. You were supposed to wait before touching anything.”

“Oh, that. I changed the timing.”

“You changed the timing?” She glared at him with her hands hooked on her hips, as her eyes became glacial slits.

“I did. I got tired of waiting, so I came up with my own plan.”

“God. You are one stupid bastard.” She paced the length of the room, stopped, and threw up her hands. “How could you even think of forging Claire’s name?”

He grabbed for her, but she was quicker and stepped out of his reach, shaking her head. “This can’t be solved with sex.”

He laughed. “Everything can be solved with sex,” he murmured as he walked toward her with intent. “You know you want it.”

She chewed on her lip, cautiously eyeing him as he moved closer. Finally, she backed up until the wall effectively halted her withdrawal. She watched through half-lidded eyes as his lips descended over hers.

Their mating was fast and furious. When the passion was spent, she positioned her head on his shoulder. He lay with his eyes closed, feeling as satisfied as a tiger after a kill.

She sighed and drew figure eights through the thick mat of hair on his chest.

“Why did you change plans, Carl?”

“I told you. I got tired of waiting. Besides, I needed money to pay a gambling debt.”

“You had to have done this weeks ago. You couldn’t wait to give my plan a try?”

“I needed to take action sooner.”

“Everything wouldn’t be unraveling if you hadn’t been so careless,” she snapped as she slapped him on the arm.

He laughed and kissed her hard. “I love it when you do that.”

“Be serious. We’ve got problems.”

“I am serious. Here’s the deal, sweetheart. The way I see it, you have no choice but to accept it.”

“Did you know that Hennessey’s loan isn’t going through and needs to be redone?” The smile she offered didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Ah, I see you just figured out there’s a big glitch to your brilliant plan. I’ve often wondered how Claire put up with you for so long.”

“It’s no secret. Same reason you’re lying there.” His heated gaze raked up and down her body, stopping at certain points along the way to emphasize his statement. “Would you care for another demonstration?”

“Stop that.” She pushed his face to the side. “Sex isn’t going to solve this. We need to come up with something else.”

He burst out laughing. “You’re one tenacious bitch. You never let up, do you?”

“I’m not giving this up. We’ll have to figure out a way to use your actions as motivation. Your stupidity will not ruin my chance to have what I’ve always wanted.”

“I don’t need you.” He shook his head and another chuckle escaped his mouth. “I don’t need either one of you.”

“Yes, you do. I’d listen if I were you, because you can’t go back to the way it was. Claire’s on the warpath. She’s bent on destroying you.”

“You’re bluffing. Claire’s always been easy to handle. She buys all my excuses.”

“Not this time. You need me,” she said, stabbing her finger into his chest. “There’s something about a woman scorned once too often you’ll soon learn. You’ve gone too far this time, and given her too much motivation. Claire’s not going to care that she destroys the company if she gets the opportunity to destroy you in the process.” She caught his gaze, her expression serious. “You blew it with the loan, Carl.”

“Oh?” The back of his hand started a slow descent down her arm before slowly moving back up again. “First things first. You can yell at me later.”