The Girl Most Likely To... (24 page)

Kat did what he said, not that she was capable of much else. Her head was swimming. She was shivering, but sweat was forming at her hairline.

Was what she saw in her mind real, or was she making it up? And if it was real, how could she have forgotten so much of it for so long? What else had she forgotten?

She closed her eyes and concentrated. Maybe if she thought hard enough she could force all of it out of hidingevery one of the little ghost memories that she knew lurked inside her brain, just waiting to be named.

Hey, Kat? Riley returned to the couch and stood over her, looking sheepish as he reached down to gently touch her cheek. I don't have a clue how you take your coffee.

Two creams and a sugar, right?

Madeline lifted the silver coffeepot and poured, keeping an eye on Matt during the whole maneuver. She'd made something she knew he lovedbanana-walnut muffinsbut he hadn't even taken a bite. The muffin just sat there on his plate, perfectly plump and golden, just waiting for the touch of his lips. He hadn't even noticed.

Madeline sighed. The women Matt dated had great boobs and/or flat abs.

Her best assets were her baked goods. If Matt couldn't even muster up excitement for her muffins, then she knew with certainty that he hadn't dropped by to ask her out again.

Madeline placed the coffee cup in front of him and plopped down in the opposite chair, unintentionally letting out a heavy sigh. Suddenly, she was exhausted at every levelphysically, emotionally, and practically.

Listen, Maddie. I'm here to tell you to stay out of Kat and Riley's business.

Madeline tried to sit as straight as possible, but all she wanted to do was slump over the table and rest her head in her arms, the way they used to do in kindergarten after they'd had their crackers and milk. She needed a rest time. She needed crackers and milk. Instead, she reached across the table, grabbed Matt's muffin, and immediately bit into its fluffy, sugary, oversized cap.

This was all because of Carrie. Riding shotgun on Carrie's ego trip had turned out to be a giant mistake.

Bits of banana-walnut muffin dribbled onto her shirt, but Madeline didn't brush them off. Who cared? It's not like she had to worry about looking nice for Chief Matt Bohland ever again. Besides, what was she thinking? Did she really believe that a young hunk like Matt would be interested in a divorcйe with kids? She'd always known better.

I like you, Maddie. We've known each other forever, Matt said.

Uh-huh. Madeline took another large bite. Honestly, these were the best damn banana-walnut muffins she'd whipped up in her life.

I've got to be honest with youwhat you did was way out of line.

She shook her head in agreement as she crammed the rest of the muffin through her lips. She realized she was going to choke unless she got some liquid into her as well. She reached for Matt's untouched coffee and slurped it down. You weren't going to drink that, were you?

Matt looked amused. Nope.

Good. Madeline drained the rest and put the empty coffee cup back on its saucer, right in front of Matt.

Matt sighed. So, you had no right lying to Kat like that, telling her that Riley was getting married when you knew he wasn't.

With one hand, Madeline wiped her face with the cloth napkin. With the other, she held up the flat of her palm to stop him from continuing. Let me make this easy for you, OK?

Matt frowned, sinking into his chair. That's all I needed to say, Maddie. There's nothing you have to make easy.

Aren't you going to tell me why you never asked me out again after those three dates? That I'm boring? That I'm a weak, self-serving small-town gossip? That I have so little self-esteem that I have to go around playing Carrie's brown-nosing errand boy?

Matt blinked at her in silence.

Carrie said if I got rid of Kat, she'd book rooms for a spring conference here in Persuasion, so I lied to Kat and told her Riley was engaged. Then I called Carrie's assistant to confirm, and found out there is no conference.

She bribed you.

And I fell for it.

Well, Maddie, you brought all this on yourself when you decided to tell Carrie that Kat was in town. You got her all stirred up.

Madeline laughed. Hey, let's be real. Carrie was a little?stirred up' /way/ before Kat got here, and believe me when I tell you that you don't even have a clue just how stir-crazy that chick has gotten.

Matt crossed his arms over his chest and looked interested. Really? How so?

Madeline was about to give him the lowdown when she felt the weariness wash over her in waves. She had ten guests this morning. Two couples were going to be checking out any minute and the other six people would be here for dinner. She'd planned on making coq au vin with new red potatoes and needed to get back in the kitchen to start preparation. It was already 10:30. Plus, she had no idea where her next sex would be coming from. She could be looking at a dry spell lasting years, if not de cades. At least the sex was good with us, right?

It was hard to believe, but Madeline had just embarrassed Matt Bohland.

He was actually blushing, which she found charming.

Yes, it was. You're a lot of fun.

Good then. No regrets. Madeline got up and refilled Matt's coffee cup, then drank it down. Anyway, she said, returning to the table, Carrie's completely off her nut. She really is planning to marry Rileyas in, she's arranging an elaborate Christmas Eve ceremony and she really believes that Riley will be the groom.

Matt's mouth fell open. Huh?

That's right. She's got the centerpieces ordered. She's hired a disc jockey and picked out bridesmaid dresseswhich sound really pretty, by the wayand she's currently arguing with the caterer over the vegetable selection.

Matt's mouth opened wider, then snapped shut in anger. Vegetables? What the fuck?

Madeline laughed. Yeah. She came over here to model her wedding dress for me. Seriously, Matt, she's one bad-ass Bridezilla. It's all totally sick if you ask me.

Matt knit his brows together, suddenly serious. Where's this event supposed to take place?

I think I heard her mention something about a museum.

I gotta go.

As she watched Matt stand up, grab his ball cap, and pull it down over his dark curls, Madeline felt wistful. It was hard to believe that she'd once had the plea sure of rolling around in bed with that gorgeous man.

He really was something. Generous, enthusiastic, and blessed with the stamina usually found only in battery-operated devices. If Riley Bohland was half the sex god Matt was, then it was no wonder Kat had to come back, even after twenty years. Madeline couldn't blame her.

Hey, Maddie? You mind if I take a few of those muffins to go? I never even got a chance to taste them.

Madeline scurried to place five muffins in a white paper sack, a little embarrassed now that she'd eaten off his plate but truly flattered he was still interested.

Thanks. He kissed her on the cheek. You're all right, Madeline.

She followed Matt to the door, beaming from that kiss. Just before he walked down the steps, she said, Hey, wait a second. How are you? I'm so tacky I didn't even ask you how you've been lately.

Matt turned slowly, holding open the heavy oak door as he twisted to face her. I, uh, I'm good. Real good.

Madeline nodded, understanding immediately all that he'd left unsaid.

So, what's her name?

She's not from around here.

Elkins?

Uh, no. Baltimore. I've only been out with her once, but she's really special.

Madeline saw the gone-fishin' look in Matt's eyes. She managed to plant a cheery smile on her face, but her body began to vibrate, raging inside with the unfairness of it all. She swore to God that if Matt Bohland stood there and opened his mouth to say he was dating Kat's friend Nola Something-or-Other, she would have to scream. That's all there was to it.

Have I met the lucky girl?

Uh… Matt glanced toward the parking lot as if to ensure that his cruiser was available for a quick getaway. It's Kat's friend, Nola D'Agostino.

How nice. Give me back my fuckin' muffins. She snatched the bag out of his hand.

At one point in his life, Riley had made the drive to Charleston to see Carrie at least twice a month, two hours down and two back up, half interstate and half winding, mountainous roads. He always enjoyed the solitude those weekend drives afforded him. It gave him time to let his thoughts wander outside the confines of work and the static of everyone who wanted something from him. Often, during those long, quiet drives, Kat would materialize in his mind.

Riley would concentrate on her memory intensely enough that he could taste her kisses, feel the softness of her hand in his, hear her husky laughter. He would sometimes imagine that she sat right there next to him in the truck. She would be all grown-up, smiling and laughing with the wind blowing her blond curls all around her head like a halo. She'd be telling him story after story about her adventures through the years and how wonderful her life had turned out, despite the rocky start.

He wasn't always optimistic enough to scrape up a happy ending for her.

Sometimes, especially if he was driving at night, her absence would feel like a wound in the pit of his soul, and his mind would torture him with all the horrifying possibilitiesshe'd been raped and butchered before she even got out of Randolph County; she'd become a teenage prostitute and overdosed in a sleazy hotel room in some faraway city; she'd ended up with some beer-swilling asshole of a guy whose way with the ladies reminded her of dear old Dad. Why hadn't she ever called him just to let him know she was OK? It had to be because she wasn't.

Riley turned the windshield wipers up a notch and cranked the defogger.

It was a cold and rainy afternoon, and he was missing a clinic board meeting, where there'd be nothing but more bad news. But he was on a mission that couldn't wait. Matt had practically begged to come along, just for the sport of it, but Riley stood firm. Putting an end to Carrie Mathis' fairy tale was no joke, and it was a job for him to do alonealong with the Jefferson County sheriff's deputies delivering the restraining order.

Matt had already done his part, anyway. Based on what he'd learned from Madeline, Matt did some investigating and painted Riley a full-color picture of just how /kee-razy/ his former fiancйe had become. The ceremony was to begin at 8:00 P.M. on Christmas Eve at the Juliet Museum of Art, reception immediately following. Calvin Klein tuxedos had been rented for himself and Matt and, by the way, the formal-wear shop needed their final measurements. A white stretch limousine would take the happy couple to a three-day retreat at The Greenbrier.

Riley shook his head at his own blindness. Yes, Carrie had always been a driven woman, and he'd liked that in her, as long as her obsession had been medicine. In fact, Riley had always been relieved that she was as consumed with her career as he was with his, that he didn't have to explain the demands of being a doctor. Only recently had Riley understood that that relief had been rooted in the fact that he didn't love Carrie and didn't particularly want to spend time with her.

Riley pulled into the parking garage at the state government office complex, jogged across Capitol Street, and took the elevator to the sixth floor. He walked right into Carrie's suite of offices inside the Department of Health amp; Human Resources.

Hey, Alice. Nice to see you.

Carrie's assistant was an older woman with a sweet, round face. She stared at him for a second, obviously drawing a blank. Then she put a hand to her mouth. Dr. Bohland? Oh my gosh! I haven't seen you in years!

How /are/ you? She hopped to her feet.

Is Carrie in?

Yes, but Thanks. He turned and headed down the carpeted hallway to the double doors of her office.

Wait. Please! Alice scurried up behind him. I hate to be rude, she whispered, but I just wanted to warn you that Dr. Mathis has been very distracted lately and she hasn't been herself. The strangest things have been going on…

You got that right, Riley said.

Alice frowned in concern. Is Carrie in some kind of trouble? Is it the stress of the wedding?

Just then two uniformed deputies arrived. Riley greeted them, and asked that they give him about five minutes before they served the order.

Alice was beside herself. What's going on? Someone tell me!

Riley touched her shoulder. There is no wedding. The deputies are going to serve Carrie with a restraining order.

Alice looked lost. There's no wedding?

Never was one. Excuse me. Riley headed toward Carrie's door.

But… Alice's voice faded into a whisper. Your everyday china pattern was so lovely.

Carrie's eyes shot up from her computer when he opened her door. She let out a startled gasp, but the surprise on her face quickly mellowed to comprehension. She rose from her chair and smoothed her skirt. Hello, Riley, she said.

He made himself comfortable in one of the armchairs near her desk. Hate to tell you this, but The Greenbrier is a little stuffy for my tastes.

Her eyes darted around the room.

I'd like a few minutes of your time to go over the wedding plans, if you don't mind.

Carrie may have been a slight woman, but the size of her vanity could fill an empty airplane hangar, so Riley was fascinated to watch as she curled in on herself at his words, like she wanted to disappear. Riley figured he was witnessing her ego beginning to deflate. She sat down without a peep.

Game over, Carrie.

She stared at him for a long moment. Eventually, she nodded. She made no attempt to argue or put any kind of spin on any of it. She just sat there, the woman he'd once thought he loved, dark-haired, perfectly groomed, and fiercely intelligentwith no fight left in her.