“I owe you an apology,” she said. “One I should have made the effort to extend a long time ago, but as each day passed, it got harder and harder.” She took a deep breath. “I blamed you for it all, yet none of it was your fault. An accident that you couldn’t have foreseen, or put in place measures to prevent. And after it happened, you did so much for Charlotte, far more than I did. You owed her nothing yet gave her everything. You took such good care of her, and I never once said thank you. All I did was demand more. You have every right to hate me.”
I waited for Devon’s reaction, ready to follow his lead. This was his fight, his righteous indignation. If he walked out without responding, I’d be right on his heels.
Before he spoke, however, she turned her head in my direction. “And as for the way you found out about Charlotte… I’m ashamed of myself. I never used to be so vindictive, yet I used my pain as a stick to beat others with. That wasn’t right. You could have made things difficult for my sister by yanking away the one person she needed more than anyone. More than me. Yet you didn’t. I appreciate that more than I’ll ever be able to express.”
Caroline and I had had our run-ins, but whether it was all the hormones causing havoc in my body, or impending motherhood bringing out the softer side of me, I found myself reaching for her hand.
“You lost your sister, a twin. That’s an awful thing to go through. Be kind to yourself, Caroline.”
When Devon remained tight-lipped, I pressed my thigh against his in encouragement.
“Thanks,” he said reluctantly. “I hope you find some peace.”
She smiled brightly. “I’m happy, Devon. Contented. I went through a rough time after Charlotte died, but after I pulled my head out of my backside, I realized that by moping around, I was doing her a disservice. If she’d seen me then, at my worst, she’d have kicked my arse.”
Devon laughed, and it sounded genuine. “You’re right. She would.”
Caroline picked up her tray and stood. “I’ll leave you to it. Thanks for listening.”
She wandered off and I lost sight of her in the pre-Christmas crowds.
“That was unexpected,” I said, biting into my burger with gusto. I groaned. “God, that tastes amazing. A heart attack in a bun.”
“I’m glad she’s feeling better, but I still don’t like her. I nearly lost my shit when I saw her sitting opposite you.”
“Aww,” I said, nudging him with my elbow. “Was my white knight gonna swoop in and save me from the wicked witch?”
He chuckled. “Knowing you, Riles, it’d be Caroline who’d need saving.”
I made a “Yeah I’m awesome” face and nodded. “Truth.”
We finished our lunch and, Devon acting as my personal pack horse once more, we headed back to the parking lot. With a full belly and a morning filled with shopping, tiredness overcame me, and I yawned.
“Afternoon nap for you,” Devon said, somehow finding a free arm to wrap around my waist.
“Only if you join me,” I said with a grin.
“Won’t be doing much sleeping if I do.”
“I’ll live with it.”
He chuckled and, with happiness coursing through my veins, we exited the mall and broke out into the bright Australian sunshine. I fished my sunnies out of my purse and slipped them on, giving my eyes a break from the intense sun.
“Want me to fetch the car and you stay here?” Devon asked as we passed a bench that he must have seen me looking at longingly.
“You read my mind,” I said, plunking myself down.
Devon placed the bags on the ground next to my feet and jogged across the street, disappearing between the lanes and lanes of cars. The mall was packed with shoppers desperately flapping about trying to pick up last-minute gifts even though they probably had stacks of presents already purchased. There was something about Christmas that made people panic, fearing they hadn’t quite done enough which resulted in them racking up huge credit card bills on piles of crap just so their family had enough to open on the Big Day.
Gotta love capitalism.
I reached down to rub my feet when I heard someone call my name. Straightening, I squinted into the distance, my gaze finding Caroline about a hundred yards away. She waved. I bit back a groan, hoping she didn’t swing by for another impromptu catchup, and waved back.
I got my wish. Caroline stepped into the road that ran around the edge of the parking lot, proceeding to where I presumed she’d parked her car. I breathed a sigh of relief. Half-turning away, the sound of a car going far too fast brought my head back around. It must have been milliseconds yet seemed to happen in slow motion. Caroline dropped one of her shopping bags and bent down to retrieve it. Both she and the driver of the vehicle saw the danger too late. He slammed on the brakes. Caroline froze.
And then I heard a thud.
A shot of adrenaline had me leaping to my feet. I sprinted across the asphalt, saw the driver reverse, nose the car around Caroline’s prostrate form, and speed away.
Memorizing the license plate, I reached Caroline and crouched, touching two fingers to her neck. Thank God. A pulse, and a strong one at that. I visibly checked her over. I couldn’t see any injuries, which worried me more than if she’d had a broken leg or a gash on her forehead.
“What happened?”
Devon appeared, his phone already to his ear dialing the emergency services.
“A car hit her,” I said. “He drove away.” Disbelief swept through me. “He drove away, Devon.”
“It’s okay,” he said, his voice soothing. “She’ll be alright. Yes, ambulance please. South side of Crown Street Mall. Someone’s been hit by a car.”
A few other shoppers stopped to help, and someone produced a blanket that they draped over Caroline. Another propped up her head with a folded-up jacket. Sirens blared in the distance, growing ever closer.
“Hurry, please hurry,” I murmured to no one in particular, while stroking Caroline’s hair. We weren’t friends, by any stretch of the imagination, but nor did I wish her any harm. “You’re going to be fine.”
The emergency services arrived and, after they assessed her, the paramedics loaded Caroline into the ambulance.
“I’ll go with her,” I said to Devon. “You follow on behind.”
I held Caroline’s hand on the journey to the hospital and, with nothing in common, I talked to her about Charlotte. The paramedic constantly assessed her vital signs which, thankfully, were all positive, her blood pressure in the normal range. That gave me hope she’d be fine. I had no medical knowledge, but even I knew that internal bleeding would cause her blood pressure to plummet.
As we arrived at the hospital, Caroline murmured, her eyes flickering. Relief swept through me, a tidal wave of emotion I didn’t understand.
“Caroline?” I queried, squeezing her hand. “You’re going to be fine.”
She didn’t answer me. The paramedics wheeled her into the hospital and straight through a set of swing doors. Devon arrived a couple of minutes later and I updated him as we made our way to the waiting area.
“He drove away, Devon,” I said, referring to the hit-and-run driver. “He didn’t even stop to see if she was okay.” I shook my head. “What kind of person does that?”
“I don’t know,” Devon replied. “No doubt the police will want to speak to you. I guess it happened so fast you didn’t see very much.”
“I got the license plate,” I said, triumphant. “As soon as we find out how Caroline is, I’ll talk to the police. That man shouldn’t be allowed to simply ride around without a care in the world.”
He pressed a kiss to my temple. “You’re awesome.”
I smiled, despite the seriousness of the situation. “I bet the driver won’t think that when the police knock on his door.” A thought suddenly occurred to me. “Does Caroline have any family?”
Devon shook his head. “No one close. She may have aunts, uncles, cousins, but I wouldn’t have any idea how to get in touch with any of th
em.”
I reached for his hand. “Poor thing. My mom has her faults, but she’d come if I needed her. And I have you, your mom and dad, Di, Joe, the kids. More friends than I can count.” I touched my stomach, staring at a stain on the floor. “This little one soon. I feel incredibly lucky.”
Devon’s fingers tightened around mine. I leaned into him and waited.
Devon
I hated hospitals.
The smell of disinfectant, the sense of despair, the family members crying in hallways after receiving the worst news of their lives. The doctors and nurses dashing about trying to save lives that, in some cases, their valiant efforts would be unsuccessful.
After Charlotte’s accident, I virtually lived in the damned things, and sitting here now, my feet were itching to run.
Reilley yawned, then rested her head on my shoulder. I stroked her hair.
“Why don’t you catch a cab back to the hotel. Get some rest,” I suggested.
She righted herself, shaking her head. “I’m fine. I want to stay.”
I understood where she was coming from. While there was no love lost between either of us and Caroline, I felt a sense of responsibility to stick around in case she needed anything.
Sucker. That’s me.
Still, I’d rather be thought of as a man who cared than a heartless bastard who left a woman alone after a horrific accident when she had no one else to look out for her.
I nudged Reilley as a doctor exited the room where they’d taken Caroline and made a beeline for us. I tried to read his expression, but the man would make a terrific poker player.
“Are you the people who came in with Caroline Fletcher?”
“Yes,” I said, adding tentatively, “How is she?”
He took a seat opposite and leaned forward, pressing the tips of his fingers together as they hung between his parted thighs. “She’s a very lucky woman,” was his opening gambit which caused a flush of relief. “She’s got a nasty concussion and will have a thumping headache for a few days, as well as a few bumps and bruises, but we’re satisfied there’s no lasting damage. We’re going to keep her in overnight, just for observation, but tomorrow, she can go home.”
Reilley’s shoulders relaxed and she blew out a slow breath.
“Can we see her?” she asked.
“Of course. I’ll get someone to take you to her.”
We had to wait another few minutes before a smiley nurse beckoned us to follow her to Caroline’s room. I gestured for Reilley to go in first. Caroline was sitting up in bed with barely a scratch on her. She beamed so widely at us, I felt a bit taken aback.
Who is this woman? And what have you done with Caroline Fletcher?
Her hand reached out to Reilley and she clasped her hand. “Oh, you guys. Thank you so much for sticking around.”
“How are you feeling?” Reilley asked, perching on the end of Caroline’s bed.
I stood back, unable to quite believe the incongruity of the moment. The woman who’d spent four years hating my guts, determined to make my life as difficult as possible now looked at me like I was a long-lost relative she’d spent years searching for.
“A bit sore, and I’ve got a killer headache. I feel very lucky.”
“You are lucky,” Reilley said. “That guy hit you pretty hard. It could have been much, much worse.”
Caroline nodded sagely. “It happened so fast.”
“Accidents usually do,” I cut in, shifting uncomfortably from foot-to-foot. “Is there anyone we can call?”
“No, it’s fine. I texted my fiancé. He’s on his way.”
My eyes widened, and surprise rolled down Reilley’s spine. “Fiancé?”
“Yes. Mike. I met him a few months ago when I visited Charlotte’s grave. He was there visiting his mother.” She laughed. “What a story to tell the grandkids one day.”
I cleared my throat, unsure of the right response. Reilley, as usual, came to my rescue.
“That’s great, Caroline. We’re so pleased for you, aren’t we, Devon?”
Her nudge brought a, “Yeah. Absolutely,” from me, although a dim corner of my mind hoped Mike knew what he was getting into. Caroline might be all sunshine and roses right now, but she had a dark side. I’d experienced it up close and personal. I wasn’t the kind of man who sought retribution, but the scars from dealing with Caroline’s frequent and bitter outbursts had left their mark.
I clasped Reilley’s shoulder, my message clear. Can we go now?
She got the silent memo, rising from the bed. “I’m glad you’re okay. We’ll leave you to it.”
“Oh, no, don’t go yet. You have to meet Mike.”
“Sorry, Caroline, but we’re already late for an appointment,” I lied. “Hope you recover soon.”
Crestfallen, she nodded. “I am glad I saw you again and you graciously accepted my apology, even though I’m not sure I deserved it.”
This was the part where one person usually felt impelled to reassure the other. I simply nodded. “Take care, Caroline.”
I took Reilley’s hand and left the room, breathing a sigh of relief as soon as I was on the other side.
“Can we talk to the police and then get out of here?”
Reilley tipped back her head and looked up at me. “You got it.”
After Reilley gave her statement to law enforcement officers, I drove us back to the hotel, pondering the last couple of hours. Every time I’d returned to Melbourne since Charlotte passed away it had crossed my mind that I could bump into Caroline. Weirdly, I hadn’t expected it to actually happen.
The events of today had firmed up one thing, though; I needed to talk to Reilley about the future. Life was short and I didn’t want to spend months away from my family. Nor did I think it was a good life for a child to be hauled around the world, especially as they grew. Kids needed stability, and a mother and father who were present. Reilley could do her job from anywhere in the world. I needed a new challenge, one that would keep me close to home.
As I mused the future over in my mind, I became even more set on giving up Formula One. I’d spent the last decade and a half traveling around the world in a high-pressure job that, although I loved, wasn’t right for my family.
I slid my gaze sideways, wondering what Reilley’s reaction would be. I couldn’t call it.
Tonight, I’d find out.
Reilley
“Dessert?” Devon asked, perusing the menu after polishing off an enormous steak dinner. It pissed me off the way men could eat whatever the hell they liked and still stay in shape. A woman only had to look at a slice of cake to put on three pounds. That was how I knew whoever created human beings was definitely a man. A woman would have made sure that salad tasted like chocolate.
I shook my head. “You have hollow legs.”
He glanced up and grinned. “Is that jealousy I hear in your tone, Mrs. Gray?”
“No,” I lied, drawing a huff of laughter from my soon-to-be-dead husband.
His smile widened and he gestured to the server. “Two latte’s please,” he said, handing her both menus. After she retreated, he reached across the table and took one of my hands in both of his. “If you’re refraining from dessert, then so am I.”
“You’re the best.”
“I know,” he said.
I balled up my napkin and threw it at him. He batted it aside and laughed.
“I don’t understand why you’re so concerned anyway. For one thing, there’s barely a pick on you, and for another, I’m not sure restricting your calorie intake should be at the top of your agenda in your condition.”
“Because, my dear husband, if I spend the next nine months eating whatever my heart desires, my ass will grow to the size of a small country.”
He hitched one shoulder. “Fine by me.”
“But not by me,” I replied doggedly.
“Women,” he muttered. “Okay, enough fat arse banter. I need to talk to you about something else.”
I detected a
faint hint of nerves in his tone, and I straightened my spine. “Go on.”
He paused, waiting for the server to set down our coffees. Once she’d gone, he steepled his fingers and leaned his hands on the table.
“I’ve been thinking about after the baby comes, and all the time we spend traveling around the globe. I don’t think I want to do it anymore, Riles.”
I automatically leaned in, surprise rolling through my body and causing my skin to blossom with goose bumps. “You’re thinking of quitting?”
He nodded, somber. Devon took his job as Chief Engineer for Nash Racing team very seriously. It was his life.
“Oh, Devon. Please don’t think you have to give up the career you love and that you’ve worked so hard for just because we’re having a baby. Look at Paisley and Jared. They cope just fine. Besides, I can work anywhere, and at any time. I’m not restricted by a timetable.”
He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “I love you so damn much, Riles. You’re my rock, my life raft, my everything. And I know you’d support me whatever I chose to do. But it’s not about that. I don’t want my kid dragged around the world, unable to set down roots, to make friends. I don’t want him or her to have a tutor. I want them to go to school like every other kid. To ride their bike in the street, to climb trees and fall over. To be with children their own age, not a bunch of over-enthusiastic petrol heads.”
I inclined my head. “You’ve been thinking about this for a long time, haven’t you?”
“Yep. For weeks. Ever since we found out we were expecting.”
I gnawed my lip, considering his speech. Devon didn’t make long speeches. He chose his words carefully, and none were ever wasted. He never spoke for the sake of hearing his own voice, so for him to make such an impassioned outburst showed how deeply he’d thought about it, and how diverting him from his decision would be an exercise in futility.
“Have you talked to Jack?”
The Full Velocity Series Box Set Page 66
