Something to Prove (29 page)

And she was dodging Colin. For the two days since Keith’s departure, she worked around
his schedule, as if she didn’t want to see him. Now, she’d been holed up in her office
for hours. He couldn’t take it anymore. He wasn’t as good as she was at this game.
He went into her office and closed the door behind him.

At the sound of the click, she looked up from the papers in front of her. “Yes?”

“Where have you been? You didn’t come to my place for the last couple of nights, and
you didn’t answer your phone.”

She cleared her throat. “I’m too busy for distractions right now.”

Distractions? He was a distraction? The words sucker punched his chest and constricted
everything.

“My father will be here soon, and I need to have everything in place so I can go back
to Florida.”

He still couldn’t find words. She was leaving.

She stood and, for the first time, he realized that Elizabeth Brannigan was back—full
suit, high heels, hair pulled back tightly. The stick up her ass completed the image.

“If you’ll excuse me, I have to check on the delivery of the kitchen equipment.”

When she came close, he reached out to stroke her cheek. He wanted a reaction and
he got one. She pulled away.

She’d stopped pulling away from him a long time ago, even while at work. This was
a clear message. He just didn’t understand the reason for it.

“What’s going on? Talk to me.”

She opened her mouth to answer, but someone knocked on the door at his back. Instead
of responding to him, she reached for the doorknob.

He stepped back and Mike said, “Hey, Elizabeth, the delivery truck is here.”

“I’m coming.” She left without so much as a backward glance, but she did stumble on
her heels.

She could tuck Libby away as tightly as she wanted, but he knew where to find her.

Colin had no idea what had happened, but there was no way he’d let his last days with
Elizabeth be like this. He was having a hard enough time coming to terms with the
fact that she was leaving. Maybe that was it. She wanted space to make leaving easier.
He couldn’t tell which of them it was supposed to be easier for.

He went back to the bar to work his shift. At least if she wasn’t talking to him,
keeping her birthday party a surprise would be simple. Bianca had done most of the
planning since her days were slow. Elizabeth didn’t notice because getting the kitchen
together garnered most of her attention. That, and worrying about her dad’s visit.

Colin wanted to ease that worry for her, but Keith was against it. Elizabeth wouldn’t
want to be rescued. Still, Colin was concerned about how the added stress would affect
her stomach.

The night dragged, and although he thought Elizabeth would leave so he wouldn’t confront
her again, she stayed. Sure, she locked herself in her office all night and didn’t
interact with anyone, but she stayed. Colin sent everyone else home and finished cleaning
up alone.

When Elizabeth finally stuck her head out of the office, he smiled. “What have you
been up to all night?” he asked.

“Getting orders together for the kitchen.” She walked through the bar and checked
to make sure everything was clean.

“You can head out. I’ll finish up.”

“I was just going to suggest that to you.” She grabbed a rag and began wiping down
the nearest table.

One he’d already finished.

“I almost always close.”

“I managed without you last night. You should go.” She continued to wipe, looking
completely efficient and out of place in her heels and skirt.

“What the hell is going on?” He rounded the corner of the bar to get closer to her.
Even from a few feet away, he could smell the cinnamon on her skin that made him crave
her.

“Nothing is going on. I’m closing.”

“Talk to me.” Another step.

She glanced at him. Her eyes changed from cold to cautious.

“I want to be here to make sure there are no more problems.” She turned away and walked
to the next table.

“Problems like what?”

“The missing liquor, the break-in . . . I want to be sure everything is the way it’s
supposed to be.” Swipe, swipe, swipe.

He grabbed her elbow and spun her around. Her eyes widened and she clamped her mouth
shut. The pulse at her neck throbbed.

“Are you implying that I’m not doing a good enough job? That it’s my fault that someone
broke in?”

She dropped the rag and took a step out of his reach. “Screw it.” Her stance straightened
even more and she locked her eyes on his. “I heard you talking to Keith. I don’t know
why I thought I could play this game. He’s the master. You win. Congratulations.”

Nothing she said made sense, but his gut told him to be pissed off. “What are you
talking about?”

“Look, it’s over. I overheard you and Keith. I know how he operates. Can you please
just give me some credit? I might be slow on the uptake, but I’m not stupid.” She
crossed her arms over her middle. Although she was obviously accusing him of something,
she wasn’t angry. She was hurt.

If she’d overheard the party plans, why would she be upset? And who could ever mistake
her for someone stupid?

He needed to change his tactic. He leaned a hip on the table. “What exactly did you
overhear?”

She rolled her eyes. “To put it nicely, I know you’re in cahoots with him.”

He snorted a laugh. “Cahoots?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I heard you tell each other to make sure I didn’t find out
or I’d hold Keith responsible. He’s right. I just can’t believe you’d do this to me.
I expect it from him.” Her voice lowered to a near whisper. “Not from you.”

She was serious. She didn’t know it was plans for the party that she’d overheard.

“I need more here, Libby.”

“Don’t call me that.” Her voice was sharp. She’d found her anger.

“What do you think we were conspiring about?”

She closed her eyes and dropped her head. “He’d do anything to make me lose. I thought
that, after last time, he wouldn’t go there again. I was wrong. I hope whatever he’s
giving you is worth it. I’m not going to let him—or you—do anything else to sabotage
this. I’ve worked too hard and come too far for it to be ruined because I trusted
you.”

She raised her head and stared at him.

He couldn’t believe his ears. She believed he was behind all of the sabotage. “I’m
not doing anything to ruin our business. I wouldn’t do that.”

“My business.”

“
Ours.
I’m a partner.”

“Funny way of showing it. Now please leave so I can lock up.”

“Sabotaging this business takes money from my pocket too.”

“I’m sure Keith’s paycheck would balance it out.”

“You’re not making sense. You think I’d come in here and break the TVs and glasses?
For what purpose?” His own anger began to show itself.

“To make me look incompetent. You pretty much accomplished that, didn’t you? Making
sure the break-in came through the bowling alley where I hadn’t thought to change
the locks. Then you were able to swoop in and fix everything because I couldn’t. Hell,
we didn’t even miss a night.” She sidestepped around him, safely keeping her distance.

Heat radiated from her skin, amplifying the cinnamon smell. He grabbed her arm, but
she shook free.

“I’m not going to let you lay this on me. I didn’t do anything. I’ve worked my ass
off to make this place a success every bit as much as you have. It might not mean
anything to you, but this place is everything to me.” Fear swallowed him. Everything
slipped from his grasp. “I couldn’t do that to you.”

“Why would I believe that?”

“Because I love you.” He blurted the words out, and his brain scrambled to keep up.

She froze and a flicker of pain crossed her face. “That’s rich. Nothing else works,
so you prey on my emotions? Go home, Colin. I’ll make sure I fulfill our contractual
agreement, but I don’t want you here anymore.”

She was throwing him out? Fuck that. “No.”

“I wasn’t asking. I’m still the owner and boss. Go back to O’Leary’s. You’re not needed
here.” She walked away, quietly adding, “I don’t need you.”

Her words did more damage than he’d thought possible. His anger boiled, but he clung
to enough control to keep his mouth shut. Anything he said would only make things
worse. “Fine. Have it your way.”

He stormed out, determined not to look at her. So she didn’t need him. Just like everyone
else. He got into his Jeep and sped toward the highway. He put in a call to Keith
and left a message. Whatever crap Keith had going on with Elizabeth was ruining everything
Colin had. He wanted answers, and Elizabeth wouldn’t talk. Without real reason, what
he wanted more than anything was to punch Keith’s face. He didn’t need the whole story
to know that Keith had been the cause of Elizabeth’s pain.

The wind whipped around him as he increased speed on the Kennedy, driving toward downtown.
Air slapped at him, but he struggled to breathe. He hadn’t told any woman he loved
her since his lust-crazed adolescence. He learned quickly the power of those words.
And now, the one time he’d used them, he’d been tossed aside. Part of him wanted to
keep driving until he crossed state lines, to escape. He’d done that plenty.

He turned his car around and headed back to O’Leary’s. Elizabeth might not need him,
but he knew his family at least wanted him.

He was done running.

CHAPTER 16

E
lizabeth released a shuddering breath. Telling Colin to leave was harder than she’d
anticipated. The man was an excellent actor. She’d give him that much. When she’d
confronted Matt all those years ago, he’d immediately looked ashamed. Matt thought
it was a harmless game. He hadn’t been the brightest bulb in the chandelier.

She shook off thoughts of the past. She debated whether she should call Keith and
let him know she was onto him. No, Colin had probably already made that call. Their
dad wasn’t due in until late tomorrow. She could sleep in and then plan how to approach
him.

After finishing the closing routine, she looked over the bar again. She’d done good
work here. Maybe it wasn’t perfect, but it was a complete turnaround. Keith had to
grant her that much. In some ways, she’d accomplished at least as much as Keith did
with most of his projects. Maybe on a smaller scale, but she’d done enough to be proud.

She double-checked the lock on the front door and flipped off the last lights, allowing
the glow from the hallway to guide her. The light glinted off the nearest TV and a
niggle of doubt pricked at her. If he wasn’t guilty, why hadn’t Colin told her about
his conversation with Keith? She stared at the black screen and tried to imagine Colin
swinging a bat to smash it. The picture couldn’t form in her head. The damage done
here struck her as the work of someone who was angry.

Even after her accusations, Colin didn’t seem angry enough to strike out like that.

No, maybe it wasn’t anger. If he’d wanted it to look that way, he could’ve faked it.
She wondered how much of their relationship had been for profit. Her heart sank. Everything
had felt so real with Colin. What had Keith offered him to make him prostitute himself?

She couldn’t think about that. If she held on to the anger, she’d be fine. The minute
she let herself feel anything other than the anger, she might fall apart. And she
no longer had anyone to turn to.

No, that wasn’t true. She had Janie and Lori. When she got back to the hotel, she’d
send them an e-mail to make plans to get together this weekend. After her father’s
visit, she would definitely need comfort. A last trip out with the girls before going
home. A night of dancing and drinking would fit the bill. Well, maybe not the drinking,
but dancing with strangers, people who wanted nothing more than the temporary use
of her body . . . She could get behind that.

Her mind wandered back to the first time she’d wanted Colin to use her body. She wished
she had followed through that night. If they’d slept together then, she never would’ve
allowed it to go further. She would’ve laughed him out of the conference room when
he proposed becoming her partner.

Hindsight and all that. Time to move on.

She locked her office door, just in case, and set the newly installed alarm at the
back door before leaving. She walked to her car with her keys in hand. Exhaustion
swamped her, and her bed called. But it wasn’t really comfortable. Noises would be
heard in the hall. A Friday night meant people would be coming back from a night out.
Doors would slam, people would talk, yell, moan. She longed for the quiet of her little
house.

Or Colin’s apartment. His place was always quiet. Or maybe it was the comfort of sleeping
next to him that gave her the feeling of peace.

Two blocks from the hotel, her cell phone chirped. Who the hell would call so late?
She checked the screen. No one she knew. She hit Ignore. A few seconds later, it rang
again. “Hello?”

“Elizabeth Brannigan?”

“Yes.”

“This is Metro Security. The alarm at your building was triggered. Are you on the
premises?”

“No. Send the police.”

She turned her car around. Nerves gripped her stomach. Colin was upset when he left.
Would he come back now to do something else? But he wouldn’t have tripped the alarm.
Unless that was part of his plan to throw suspicion off him.

Maybe she shouldn’t have called the police. If she went there alone, she would have
all the proof she needed. His actions would be cause to terminate their contract,
and she could prove to her father that she could handle everything.

But what if it’s not Colin?
the voice whispered quietly in her brain.

By the time she returned to the bar, two squad cars were in the parking lot beside
the bowling alley, blue and red lights flashing. She pulled in and approached the
nearest cop. He looked vaguely familiar, and then she realized that he was one who
showed up for the bar fight when she first took over.

He smiled, putting her at ease.

She shrugged. “At least it’s not a bar fight this time. What triggered the alarm?”

Part of her hoped it was a malfunction, that no one had tried to break in.

He pointed toward the door. Sitting on the ground, hands cuffed behind his back, was
Mitch, her old manager.

“He was trying to get in the door when we showed up. He had a key in hand, saying
he didn’t know why the door wouldn’t open. He’s pretty drunk. He got loud and pushy,
so we cuffed him, but we wanted to check with you before hauling him in.”

“Did he by chance admit to breaking in before?”

The cop snickered. “He thinks he has every right to be here. He said he’s the manager
and just forgot something inside.” The cop leaned forward and added, “I get the impression
that you’re new to the business, but allowing employees to drink on the job doesn’t
usually turn out well.”

She bristled at his accusation. “He’s no longer an employee for that very reason.
I’d already fired him when you were here for the bar fight. But thanks for the advice.”

“So you’re pressing charges?”

“Hell, yes.”

He signaled to another uniformed officer who grabbed Mitch’s elbow and hauled him
to his feet. Mitch swayed and started to yell, but then he caught sight of her.

“You,” he shouted, hitching his chin in her direction. “You never shoulda fired me.”

His eyes were filled with hatred and anger.

In that moment, she knew she’d been completely wrong about Colin. Colin hadn’t destroyed
their bar. Mitch had. He was pissed off over getting fired.

She couldn’t force enough air into her lungs. She sucked hard, but they wouldn’t fill.
How could she have been so wrong? And if she was wrong, Colin’s declaration of love
had been real.

She’d completely screwed up everything. She turned to leave, hoping movement would
bring air rushing back. Instead, she plowed right into a hard body. Colin stood with
his hands tucked in his pockets, but when she stumbled back, he quickly caught her
arms to steady her. The warmth of his hands calmed her, and air filled her lungs.

She’d expected a smile and a quick remark about how clumsy she was, but his blue eyes
were ice, his face blank.

“What’s going on? The alarm company called. They said they couldn’t reach you.”

“They got me on the second call, so I came back. Mitch, the old manager, was trying
to break in.” She looked into his eyes. She couldn’t read anything. “With a set of
keys.”

He nodded his understanding. “You have everything handled?”

Now she smelled the faint whiff of alcohol on his breath. He’d been drinking. In all
the weeks they’d been together, he rarely drank.

Her head reeled, juggling notions of love. Before she answered, he turned to leave.
He got as far as his Jeep before she could make her voice work. “Wait,” she called.

He paused with one leg in the car, ready to hoist the rest of himself in and drive
away.

She hurried over to him. “I’m sorry.” The words choked out, and she knew they were
inadequate.

He eased his leg out of the car and leaned against the side. He crossed his arms,
but didn’t say a word.

“I’m sorry I accused you. I know I was wrong. It was Mitch who did everything, I’m
sure of that now. He had a key to the bowling alley and used it to do everything I
accused you of.”

His icy stare chilled her. “I’m glad you have the proof you need. It would’ve been
nice to have that before you started believing the worst.”

“I know. But you don’t understand. I heard you talking with Keith. You don’t know.”

Colin shoved forward so quickly, she stepped back. Anger sparked in his eyes. “You’re
right. I don’t know anything because you won’t talk to me. About anything. But I never
pretended to be anything other than who I am.”

He leaned close enough that she could feel his breath on her face.

“I’ve done some fucked-up things in my life, and I’ve let a lot of people down, but
I’ve never betrayed anyone. Especially you.” He backed away and climbed into his car.
“Good-bye, Elizabeth.”

He started the engine and flicked the radio on, much louder than necessary. Probably
to make sure he couldn’t hear her if she tried to talk.

But she had nothing to say. Colin was right. He never had a chance.

The single shot he’d had in his apartment hadn’t numbed him nearly enough for facing
Elizabeth. He drove away from her for the second time that night, and even with her
apology fresh in his mind, he didn’t feel any better. She’d said from the beginning
that they wouldn’t have anything more than sex. Business and pleasure didn’t mix.

Now he understood why. She couldn’t trust anyone enough to build a relationship. It
had nothing to do with her living in Florida or the amount of travel she did for work.
It was all about her fucked-up family and her inability to trust.

The woman should’ve come with a warning label.

He tossed his keys on the counter and grabbed the bottle of whiskey, not even bothering
with a glass this time. Taking a swig, he plopped onto the couch. The leather couch
Ryan had left behind. The couch where he’d made love to Elizabeth. Another swig, this
one to make him forget.

Shit. Maybe he’d just get a new couch. He stood and walked to the bedroom. She’d been
gone for only two days, and evidence of her lingered. He’d washed the clothes she’d
left and they sat on his dresser. He looked at the stack. Half the clothes he considered
hers were actually his.

He picked up the Blue Balls T-shirt and thought about putting it back in his drawer.
Then he realized that he’d never be able to wear the shirt again without thinking
of her.

A softball team. They should sponsor one. They were a sports bar after all. That would
give them an extra group of regular drinkers.

He put the bottle on the dresser. He had to stop thinking about how to improve business.
Elizabeth had made it clear that he was hands-off from now on.

But she’d apologized. Was that enough for him to want to continue to work with her?

No, she’d made it clear that he worked
for
her, regardless of how he felt. It was time to move on. He’d made money on this venture,
added it to the savings he had. He’d talk to Ryan about adding another business. His
brother was a partner he could count on.

He’d proven it time and again.

And this time, Colin knew he could pull his own weight and wouldn’t have to lean on
Ryan more than as a partner.

He guessed he’d gotten more than just some money out of his dealings with Elizabeth.
He grabbed the bottle again, but put it back. Alcohol wasn’t going to cure anything.
He stripped and crawled into bed.

The phone rang, and Colin sat up in bed. Sun glared through the window, and he scrubbed
a hand over his face. The numbers on the clock were blurry, but he was certain it
was early enough that he couldn’t seriously consider staying awake.

The phone stopped, and he flopped back. Then it started again. What the fuck? He crawled
to the edge of the bed and fumbled for his jeans. As he yanked the phone from the
pocket it stopped.