Emergency Ex (8 page)

He took her in his arms and buried himself so deeply into her that he could forget his fears. Could forget the whole world outside this room. He thrust in and out, in and out, banishing another demon with each move. With her rising to meet him, surrounding him with her warmth and her acceptance, her love, he had his first moments of peace since he’d found out about Ryan.

In her arms, he could almost allow himself to believe they could come through whatever life threw at them. That he could be there for her the way she was for him.

They made love wordlessly, instinctively, primitively. She invited him to the very deepest, most hidden parts of herself and opened up to him in a big, silent
Yes.

She shattered into pieces with him and then together they grew whole and strong. United in passion, neither would let go of the other. Spent, he kissed away her tears and they fell asleep in each other’s arms. More like collapsed into sleep.

But then, even after all they’d shared that night, in the dark time before sunrise, he sprang awake. Terror once again seized him like a giant shark with razor sharp teeth. He couldn’t talk about it, and he knew she’d want him to. Hardest thing he ever had to do was tear himself away from her at dawn, turn his back and walk out.

Maybe it was the kindest thing he could do for the woman he loved.

Chapter Four

May 25th—Brenda’s thirtieth birthday minus one day

Keith had spent much of the week getting to know his brother. Learning that they had lots in common but were also very different. But the biggest surprise was finding out what had led to the breakdown of his brother’s marriage. “Mara Lynn hooked up with her old boyfriend and wanted a divorce,” Ryan told him. “I tried to talk her out of it. Didn’t want to do to my kids what our folks did to us, you know? But I couldn’t budge her. The boyfriend got nasty. I figured I’d done what I could and gave up.”

“Sounds like you went through a rough patch. Sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

Ryan shrugged. “No way you could have known.”

“Hey, let’s make a pact. Nothing like this will ever go down again without one telling the other. Nothing like this should happen again, but if it does—“

“I hear you. And I agree. So, here I was, getting my mind around a divorce, custody stuff. Then, after Mara Lynn moved out and I met Janine, Mara Lynn’s boyfriend dumped her. That’s when she started making accusations and acting like the injured party.”

“Huh.” So Ryan wasn’t a cheating bastard in the same mold as their father had been. If Keith could believe his brother, and there was no reason not to. Ryan had nothing to gain from lying.

Both brothers agreed to make it a priority to develop the relationship they’d never had before. They even went on a special shopping trip together after Keith told Ryan about Brenda. Good stuff, but it all took time and energy outside work hours. Keith’s case load was starting to pick up, and this was not the time to cut back on any chance to make money. He wasn’t in Brenda’s financial league, something else he’d have to learn to deal with.

She had never been out of his thoughts that week, but he owed it to her to have his head straight before their next contact. He was just about there. This being the night before her thirtieth birthday, he should get in touch. If he didn’t, she’d always remember the disappointment and resent him. One thing he knew about her. She wanted her special times to stand out and sparkle. He could give her that. He’d better.

So, late as it was, they could still come up with a way to celebrate. Should have started earlier and stuck to making plans, but Ryan’s situation sidetracked him. Still, this was San Francisco, a city with tons of great places to eat, to see, to play. Even last minute, he could come up with something worthy.

Best of all, he realized Taylor had nothing real to offer him, and he wanted real. He wanted Brenda. He was finally sure.

So, ready to really commit, he phoned Brenda. Went to voice mail on both her cell and her land line. He left messages. “I’ll meet you or you can come here or I’ll go to your place. It’s not too late to make this birthday special.”
It’s not too late for us.
Maybe she’d call or just come over.

* * *

The eve of her thirtieth birthday—and no word from Keith. After that night when he showed up on her doorstep and they’d fallen into bed together… Could any two people ever get closer?
After we make love and he penetrates to the very essence of my soul, he disappears? What’s with that?
She’d tried to come up with possible scenarios. Maybe his brother had taken a turn for the worse and he couldn’t find a single moment to communicate? How could she know? What was she to think?

Brenda clenched her fists and vowed to celebrate the eve of her birthday—as magnificently as she and K.C. could come up with last minute. “Not a complete surprise, is it?” K.C. muttered when Brenda brought her up to date. She had to agree it wasn’t. Though she still held out a spark of hope for herself and Keith as a couple, that spark grew harder and harder to sustain.

After a marathon yoga morning and an afternoon of retail therapy, she and K.C. continued the festivities with late-afternoon high tea at a downtown hotel.

“You know, I don’t want to talk about him. Not mentioning his name is the best gift you can give me.” Brenda bit into a mini-scone slathered with clotted cream. “To hell with diets.”

K.C. endorsed this idea.

They went from high tea to a French movie then were supposed to have dinner at the ultra-trendy Chez Clay, another place Brenda had dreamed of going with “the one who should remain unnamed”. But just before they got to the restaurant, she admitted to herself she wasn’t in the mood. She just wanted to go home and be alone after all.

“Are you sure?” K.C. asked.

“I’m sorry. I know you’ve been looking forward to going there. Maybe you could find someone else last minute? I hate to give up the reservation, but I need some quiet time.”

“Don’t worry about the reservation. Now that I’m a hotshot author, those are easier to come by. I’m just worried about you.”

“That’s sweet, but I’m okay. Nothing like a bit of contemplation as I start my new year.”

“I hope that works for you.”

Brenda got home and shared a cuddle or two with Chelsey, who seemed to sense her mood. Good dog. Then she listened to her voice mail and heard her first words in a week from Keith.

When she heard his invitation, warmth flooded her heart. He
wanted
to be with her. He hadn’t forgotten her birthday. For some reason he’d stayed away, but now he was back and chose to spend her special time with her.

She decided to go to his place—add a small element of surprise to their reunion.

As she left her condo, a niggling thought took root. What if this would turn out to be less than she hoped for? Another disappointment.

She made herself a solemn vow. If tonight turned out to be less than she wanted, she’d call it quits with Keith. Forever.

* * *

He’d just seen to Brute when his doorbell rang. Brenda already? His heartbeat sped up. He flung open the door to find Taylor carrying a cooler and several tote bags. What—

“Hi. I was in the neighborhood, so figured I’d drop over and treat you to dinner. There’s some stuff I want to talk over, and I’m tired of eating out.”

Keith stared at her in complete shock. What the hell— Never mind that he didn’t expect her, had never told her where he lived or invited her to his home. In his line of work, he made it a point to keep his personal information guarded. Evidently Taylor had no problem getting around that. Something to put on his to-do list to fix.

Much as he’d once enjoyed having beautiful women show up at his place with food, his gut tightened. He wanted Brenda, not Taylor. Her timing could unleash a disaster. What if Brenda decided to come over and didn’t call first? What if she saw Taylor here and assumed the worst?

He had to think fast and get Taylor out, which he hoped he could manage without losing her as a client. “I actually have some plans—” he started to say when the doorbell rang again. Brute jumped up, knocking Taylor down in his rush to the door. Then the dog evidently realized Taylor was carrying something of interest in her bags.

“Brenda. I’m glad you’re here.” Keith spoke calmly but chaos appeared to break out immediately behind him.

“What’s going on here? Why is Brute going crazy? Who’s screaming?”

Keith shook his head. “A client came over, unannounced. She has food in her bag. Must be meat because Brute just attacked her.”

Brenda ran past Keith, who quickly caught up. Together they managed to separate Brute and the shredded remains of a large roast.

The woman, amazingly not looking much the worse for wear, said, “Thanks for the rescue. Keith, you should have warned me about the dog.”

“I didn’t know you were coming, let alone with meat. Looks like one of his favorites.” He managed to corral Brute and coax him and the roast out of the room.

“I’m Taylor. We’re about to have dinner. Well, we were. Lucky I brought a lot.” A wary expression on her face, she extended her hand.

“Brenda.” Mustering all her strength of character, she shook the proffered hand.
Why the heck did I come?
This is the woman from Bistro Bacchanalia.
Obviously they’re tight.
This is way more than business.
When Brenda had heard Keith’s message, she’d convinced herself she could reasonably hope that something had changed. Now she could see nothing had. Keith was a lost cause. She should have cut her losses before. She would do so now. Chin up, she turned to leave when Keith came back to the room and cleared his throat.

“Taylor. I invited Brenda. I told you I had other plans.”

The imperious redhead crossed her arms in front of her chest and tapped her foot. “More important than what’s happening between us? More important than what my firm and I have to offer you? I need to know you’re available twenty-four seven. On call. Or we’ll hire someone else.”

“Those aren’t the terms we discussed,” Keith said. “Now doesn’t work for me. We need to make an appointment.”

“I’m sure your
date
will understand if you see her another time. I’m here. I have dinner. We have important business to discuss…”

Brenda waved off those words as if Taylor were a pesky fruit fly circling over a bunch of grapes. “I’m not his date. We’re a couple.” She paused a moment, then continued. “Actually that second verb should be in the past tense.”

“What?” Keith shook his head. “No, Brenda, don’t say that.”

Taylor, arms on her hips, glared at him. “You said you were single. Well, implied. When you met me at Bistro.”

Brenda turned and unleashed the full force of her disappointment. “Single? Maybe you’d like to help him stay that way, Taylor. Have him tell you about how to be his
Emergency Ex.
That’s always good for some laughs.”

“Emergency Ex?”
Taylor’s face furrowed in confusion. “What the hell is that?”

Keith looked sick. “I’m so sorry, Brenda. I swear I’ll make it up to you. If it takes the rest of my life, I will make it up to you.” He held his arms out. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you. To tell you I’m ready. To make this birthday a real celebration and a real beginning.”

“Right.” She tossed her head. “And you have a bridge to sell me. Put this in your pipe and smoke it, Keith Tarrant. Your chance to help me celebrate is history, along with everything else that has to do with the former us.”