Shattered Dreams (14 page)

Except for the occasional verbal command, the rest of the sail was made in silence, as was the drive back to Claire’s house.

When Jason pulled into the driveway and pushed the garage door opener, he stopped and waited until the door raised before driving the last few feet. He turned off the motor, and they sat in total silence with neither one making an effort to move.

He wiped his face with his hand before resting it on the back of his neck. Then he turned, saying, “Look Claire—” at the same time she said, “I’m so—”

His gaze flew to hers, and he offered an encouraging nod. “You go first.”

She smiled ruefully and took a big breath before nervously licking her lips. “I was just going to apologize.”

“You don’t need to apologize. We both got a little carried away.”

“I wasn’t acting much like a friend today, and I’m sorry, Jason. You didn’t deserve to be treated that way.” Claire broke off and focused on her hands, studying her fingernails. “So, where do we go from here?”

“I don’t know.” Jason sighed. He smiled and then looked at her, waiting until she met his gaze again. “You need time, and maybe even a quick screw.” Then his smile died and his expression hardened. “But don’t cheapen yourself and become like him. You’ll end up hating yourself if you do. I’m perfectly willing on the time part, but you should know I want more than sex. I’m tired of my life not having meaning.”

He reached for the door handle. “I’ll be in touch. Thanks for the sail.”

In minutes, Jason was in his car driving north, working to rid himself of the memory of Claire’s expression over his parting words. It had taken every bit of his willpower to walk calmly away and climb into his car when everything in his system shouted at him to stay and take her to bed.

But he simply wanted more than one night of passion.

Chapter 17

Jason was lounging in his king-sized bed the next morning, reading the morning paper with a cup of coffee, when Chloe and Amelia rushed in and started jumping on the bed. Seemed these girls never ran out of energy.

“What’re we going to do today, Daddy?” Chloe plopped down and curled into his side.

He chuckled. “Haven’t thought about it.”

He wrapped an arm around her small shoulders and dropped a kiss on her head before ruffling her hair. So much like her mother in looks, but so different in personality, he mused. Chloe’s fair complexion and green eyes came straight from Elise’s genes. Yet, Chloe had a softness Elise never had or had long outgrown.

“We could go sailing,” Amelia suggested as she moved to Jason’s other side, causing him to scoot with Chloe to the middle of the bed. “Please?” she begged, bestowing on him one of her sweet smiles.

“I could be persuaded to take a day off from working on the house,” he murmured as he gave her dark, almost black hair an affectionate tug. These days she only tolerated kisses from Dad at night.

Observing his daughters, one on either side, he marveled at how different they were. Amelia was growing into a beauty despite having his features and coloring, though hers were definitely a feminine version. She also had his outgoing personality. To think he’d been a workaholic for all those years without really getting to know his girls left him thankful every day for the chance at changing that fact. It seemed the only good thing to come out of the divorce.

“Let me finish my coffee and then we’ll make breakfast. And after an errand I have to run, I’m yours all day. Okay?”

Both girls shouted yes, and laughed and jumped some more before they turned on the television in the sitting area of his bedroom to watch cartoons while he read his paper and polished off his coffee.

“Who wants pancakes,” Jason asked twenty minutes later as he exited the bathroom, rubbing his head with a towel.

“I do. I do,” they shrieked at the same time as they rushed for the stairs and he followed.

In the kitchen, Amelia ran to the refrigerator, opened the door, and rooted through it while Chloe gathered items from the cupboard. Once everything was assembled on the counter, both girls began measuring ingredients in a bowl for pancakes, something that had become a breakfast ritual on Saturdays with his girls.

Jason waited while the two mixed the batter. His job was cooking.

“Okay, Daddy. It’s your turn.”

“Be prepared for a feast to whet your appetite.” Jason tweaked Amelia’s nose and took the bowl from her. “Dollar size or regular?”

Chloe giggled. “I like dollars.”

“I prefer the regular size,” Amelia said, using her most adult voice.

The girls observed while Jason cooked. He nodded at the cupboard as he added another pancake to the stack. “Whose turn to set the table?”

Amelia sighed before moving to the silverware drawer.

Jason flipped the last pancake onto the plate and switched off the stove. “Here, take these.”

They were sitting at the kitchen table finishing their breakfast when the doorbell rang.

“That’ll be Agnes.” Jason shoved away from the table and stood.

Agnes Johnson lived two doors down, and acted as babysitter while he worked or had to leave the girls to do errands.

“I expect you two to finish your chores while I’m gone,” he said over his shoulder on his way to the front door. “We’ll go sailing when I get back if you pass inspection.”

He backed out of his driveway and drove the short distance to Crystal’s condominium, one of many well-maintained buildings situated in the high-rent district between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.

In the spacious marble lobby, Jason headed for the intercom security section and pushed the right button.

“Yes?” Crystal’s voice carried a moment later.

“Crystal? It’s me, Jason Roberts.”

A clank sounded, unlatching the lock, and after opening the heavy lobby door, he headed for the bank of elevators.

Crystal stood outside her condo when Jason stepped off the elevator. For a split second, he thought he was seeing Claire, the resemblance was so undeniably strong. Dressed casually in shorts and a halter top, Crystal had a tousled, carefree look aided by sexy bare feet sporting bright pink nail polish.

“Jason. This is a surprise,” she said.

Immediately, the resemblance vanished. Crystal’s tone held more cynicism than Claire’s.

“You may not think so, once you hear what I have to say.”

“Oh? This isn’t a social call?”

Jason ignored her pout as well as the suggestive quality of her voice. “Carl Carter. That’s why I’m here.”

“Ah. I thought Claire fired you?”

“She did. This is personal.”

“I see.” Running a tongue over her lips, she eyed him cautiously. Finally, she nodded to the open door and stood aside. “Well, come in and have a cup of coffee.” She raised her hands in mock surrender. “I promise to behave.”

He offered a genuine smile and shook his head. “I can handle a cup of coffee. And you know I can handle you.”

“Just not in the way I’d like,” she muttered as she followed him inside and closed the door.

“I’ve got to hand it to you,” he said, chuckling. “You don’t give up easily, do you?”

“No.” She laughed and winked as she caught his gaze. “Some things are worth fighting a little harder for.” She sighed and started for her kitchen, saying over her shoulder, “But I know when to back down. Coffee’s fresh. Have a seat.”

Crystal pointed to a stool near an island centered in the room. She opened the cupboard and took out two large coffee mugs, and preceded to fill both with the hot brew. Handing one to Jason, she moved to the fridge and took out a quart of half-and-half. After she added some to her coffee, she held out the container.

“Cream?” she asked as she sat down beside him.

Jason nodded. He stirred in the liquid before taking a small sip, keeping his eyes on her the entire time.

“You have questions, so ask,” she said after a long moment of silence.

“What’s going on with you and Carl Carter? You were seen going into his room at the Ocean View Resort the other day.”

“I see Jimbo’s been talking. Let me guess. He uncovered some interesting facts that make it appear as if I was having an affair with good old Carl, didn’t he?”

Jason stayed silent and waited without releasing her stare.

She snorted. “It doesn’t work on me, Jason. I use the same tactic.”

They continued to eye each other in silence. Ten seconds passed, fifteen, and then twenty.

“We can sit and have a stare-off, if you want, or we can converse.” She brought the mug to her lips and took a sip before setting it back on the counter. With her gaze still on him, she quirked an eyebrow. “And conversing means both of us talk.”

“I’m listening.”

“You first.”

“Okay. You’re right. It does appear as if you’ve had one hell of a good time with good old Carl. Do you deny it?”

“Yes. That was how it was meant to look, for Claire’s benefit.”

“Claire’s benefit?” He shook his head and gave a disbelieving grunt. “Try again.”

“She needed proof of his infidelity, and I was only obliging.” Crystal tossed out a throaty chuckle.

Dumbfounded, he stared at her. “You were only obliging?” Flashing annoyance, he said, “Come on. You can’t expect me to buy that.”

She heaved an exaggerated sigh and her expression took on one of extreme patience, as if dealing with a naughty child. “I already had proof, but in order to use it, I would’ve hurt one of my clients.”

His gaze narrowed as he processed her words. Then it dawned on him what she was alluding to, and he swore under his breath.

“Elise. I should’ve known you knew about that.”

Her eyes rounded. “You know?” she shrieked.

“Jimbo,” he said. The one word explained it all.

“My, he
has
been busy.”

“Yeah. It was in the same report. The one that told me about you and Carter.” He took a sip of coffee and his mind spun. “So, that’s how you got Elise to back down?”

He was amazed at what a small world it was. He hadn’t even known Carter existed two weeks ago, and now he’d discovered a connection with him and Jason’s ex. The guy screwed around. A lot, considering how many women visited him while Jimbo was keeping track. Even Claire’s assistant stopped by that day.

“A little blackmail never hurts,” Claire said with another laugh. “I’m surprised it worked.” She broke off and her gaze turned speculative. When she spoke again, her voice held a touch of awe. “Jimbo found out about Carl and Elise? I’m impressed.”

“Said it took some digging to uncover that little detail,” Jason replied with a nod. “How’d you find out?”

“It’s not like I planned it. I happened to be in the right place at the right time.” Crystal’s face scrunched in distaste. “I hate the man’s guts, and have since the day he married my sister and showed himself to be one true bastard. Claire’s always been blind to that side of him. I swore I’d get even with him then, even if it took me the rest of my life.”

“Then you weren’t lying. Carl came on to you?”

“Claire told you about that?” She laughed. The brittle sound held little humor. “My! You two have had a few conversations of your own.”

“Let’s get back to Carl and Elise, and how you discovered their affair,” Jason said, not wanting to discuss with Crystal his relationship with Claire.

Elise’s transgressions were old news and not worth stewing over. Nothing she did bothered him now, unless it affected his kids. Claire was another matter. Last night was still too raw, and he was vulnerable where the lady was concerned. Jason didn’t trust Crystal, and he certainly wasn’t about to give her anything she could use against him.

“Okay.” She grinned. “I found out purely by accident at a divorce lawyer’s convention I attended seven months ago at the Ocean View Resort. I saw Carl playing kissy-face in the bar with a woman, who from a distance looked like Claire . . . and me. Knowing Carl, I had a pretty good hunch she wasn’t Claire. I hung back and watched, totally unsurprised when they stood and headed for the elevators, allowing me a good look. Of course, I wasn’t prepared to recognize Elise. After a little digging, I learned the room was booked under
C. Carter
with a company credit card in the same name.”

Crystal pulled a long drink of coffee and shook her head. An amused smile settled over her face. “Can you believe Carl’s used the same resort for other affairs? He’s one sneaky bastard, having an affair with Elise while appearing to be with his wife.”

Jason grunted in understanding. Elise did resemble both Claire and Crystal from the back. Elise was of a similar build. She had the same color of hair, only hers wasn’t as long or as thick and wavy. Nor was it natural, meaning it came from a bottle. Standing side by side, the comparison wasn’t as strong. Still, their similarities were enough to throw off anyone looking for signs of an affair.

Jimbo had uncovered the info by accident, much as Crystal had, while keeping the hotel under surveillance. Elise had cleverly covered her tracks—and still was, according to the PI, although why was a mystery. Whenever the two met, she first went into her gym, giving the impression of working out while she slipped out the back door. The spa was adjacent to the hotel.

He nodded. “Go on. This is getting interesting.” He was long past being angry at Elise’s actions. Now they only amused him.

“Well, because Elise was giving you such a hard time, I wanted to help. The caution and extreme measures she took kept Jimbo from discovering the affair at the time. Only Carl should have stayed more cautious because of a little morals clause I sneaked into their contract for Claire’s Collections.”

“Morals clause?” Jason’s eyebrows shot up.

“Yeah. Told you I wanted revenge. Been planning it a long time. Anyway, I spent a few weeks taking pictures and collecting evidence. Then I confronted Elise and threatened her with losing custody and no alimony.” She caught his eye and winked. “You know me; I can be brash and hard when I need to be.”

He only snorted. Brash definitely described her.

“I also called Claire and offered my services free of charge if she ever decided to divorce Carl. I told her about the clause and that I had evidence. I never really expected her to take me up on my offer. I mean, she’s always been in denial about the guy. Imagine my surprise when she calls out of the blue ready to oust him, out for blood, demanding the evidence. Now, that really put me in a bind.”