Betrayal of Trust

by Tracey V. Bateman

  Raven walked out of the station later than usual that night. The bank robbery story had actually turned out to be a good one, and as much as she hated the idea that a serial bank robber was on the loose, this sort of report, which played on the fears of depositors, kept people tuned in. She’d earned a big thumbs-up from the news director, which was extremely gratifying. But better yet, in the midst of the nightly news report, Kellie had mispronounced the word incumbent with a long u. Of course, off air, she’d been a laughingstock, and though Raven hadn’t joined in with the hecklers, she’d nevertheless felt a broad sense of satisfaction.

  She smiled as she headed for her car. Footsteps on the pavement behind her alerted her senses and she tensed, quickening her own steps. By the time she reached her SUV, her heart was pounding furiously and adrenaline rushed through her veins. Grateful for keyless entry, she pressed the button and reached for her handle.

  A hand gripped her shoulder. “Raven, wait.”

  She sprang into survival mode. Whipping around, she drew on her self-defense training, used her knee, and with the heel of her hand she was about to connect with her assailant’s chin when she recognized her so-called attacker.

  “Matt!” she gasped. “For crying out loud, what are you doing?”

  He scowled from a bent-over position, obviously trying to recover his breath, if not dignity.

  Raven frowned. “Are you okay?”

  He straightened and lifted a bag from the ground where it had fallen. He handed it out. “I brought you supper.”

  “You did?”

  He nodded. “I knew you missed lunch and when I talked to Ken a couple of hours ago, he told me you hadn’t eaten supper either.”

  Ken was really pushing this story. She couldn’t blame him, really. And admittedly, seeing Matt brought her a sense of joy she was nowhere near ready to try to analyze.

  “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

  He shrugged and a sheepish grin showed beneath the glow of the pole lights spaced throughout the parking lot. “I should have called out to let you know it was me, but I was trying to decide what might scare you more. Guess I called it wrong.”

  “Yeah, sneaking up on someone with slightly paranoid tendencies in the first place isn’t necessarily a good idea.”

  “I’ll remember that in the future.”

  Somehow, the way he said future sent a shiver of pleasant possibility down Raven’s spine. She held up the bag. “What’d you get me?”

  “What else?” His grin nearly sent her heart into a tailspin.

  “Egg drop soup, extra crunchy noodles, and two egg rolls?”

  He nodded.

  “I can’t believe you remember.”

  She held her breath as he took a step closer.

  “I remember everything.”

  “Like what?” She knew she was walking into volatile emotional territory, but couldn’t resist the heady feeling his closeness evoked. She leaned back against her door. He reached forward and rested his arm just above her head.

  “I remember that you like hot chocolate in the summer and iced tea in the winter.”

  “I—I guess I’m weird.”

  “Unique,” he soothed.

  How in the world did this man have the power to make her feel as though she was the only woman in the world?

  “That’s not all I remember.”

  “What else?” she whispered.

  His gaze searched hers. His thumb pressed against her lips. “I remember how your mouth quivers when you know I’m about to kiss you.”

  “I-it does?” Paralyzed, she felt herself being pulled into the heady depths of the promise in his eyes.

  He nodded as his head descended. Raven relaxed against him at the first, warm feel of his lips on hers. He deepened their kiss and she clung to him. Headlights pulled into the parking lot, then out again. But the distraction was enough to bring them to their senses. Matthew pulled back, leaving Raven’s head spinning and her breath short, leaving her desperate to press her mouth to his for one more kiss before they said goodbye for the evening.

  “I guess I’m getting ahead of myself,” he said, his husky voice telling her more than words ever could. “It just feels like we’re taking up where we left off.”

  Raven nodded her agreement. “I know what you mean. But it isn’t smart to move too quickly.”

  “I promise to keep my distance.” He grinned. “At least until I see you again.”

  A short laugh escaped Raven. “That’s reassuring.” But it wasn’t reassuring. The thought disturbed her. How would Matt feel when he discovered her reason for seeing him again?

  Any girl who could double over a guy like Matthew Strong had to be able to take care of herself. He’d have to remember that in case he needed the information later on. Under cover of darkness he watched them.

  The kiss was a surprise. First of all, Matthew was religious, so who knew he’d move so fast? And Raven Mahoney had kissed him back without a fight. A surprise for a girl with such an air of aloof inapproachability.

  Then it occurred to him. These two had a history.

  Matthew held the door and Raven got inside her SUV. As he watched Matthew stride across the parking lot to his own car, he digested this new scenario he hadn’t anticipated. Would he have to split them apart? Or could he use the relationship to his advantage?

  Matthew pulled out of the parking lot, his heart light, downright giddy. He glanced at the city lights, wondering what he should do next. One thing was for certain, going home was no option. Too much adrenaline rushed through him to settle in for the night. He’d already tucked Jamie into bed before he left the house, so she’d be down for the count, otherwise he’d see if she was up for a game of night basketball.

  He was a little disappointed that Raven hadn’t invited him to share dinner with her, but he supposed she needed to process what had happened between them. Possibility spurred a sense of hope inside him. What if they had a future together after all? He placed a quick call to let his mother know not to wait up.

  Ten minutes later, he swung the Lexus into the parking lot of Randy’s Gym and killed the motor. He grabbed his workout bag from the back seat and headed into the all-but-deserted gym.

  He changed in the locker room then made a beeline for the treadmill, his legs warming in anticipation of a good run.

  A hint of rain scented the air by the time he left the building. He breathed in deeply, feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready to go home and crawl into bed.

  “Matthew, is that you?”

  He started at the sound of a feminine voice and turned.

  A petite young woman stood before him, smiling brightly.

  Matthew waited for her to speak. When she didn’t, he gave her a tentative smile. “Yes?”

  Her smile turned to a pout. “You mean you don’t recognize me?”

  The pout gave it away. “Kellie? Good grief, when did you grow up?”

  She gave a throaty, not-so-little-girlish laugh. “I’ve been grown up for a while. And if you ever attended my mother’s parties with your mother, you’d have known that.”

  He gave an exaggerated shudder. “Dinner parties. Please. I only attend when I must.”

  “Yes, but look what you’re missing out on.” She gave a flirty little spin and was laughing when she faced him a split second later.

  Amusement filled him and he smiled at the child. No, not really a child anymore. “You’re quite the young lady now. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

  “Oh, that’s all right. My heart can take it.” She stepped closer. “You—uh—know I’m working for Daddy now, right?”

  “At the station?”

  “Yes. I graduated with my degree in broadcast journalism.”

  “So you’re a reporter.” Now, he understood her sudden appearance. “Nice try.” He tweaked her nose as though she were still the fifteen-year-old he remembered. “How’d you really know I was here?”

  A pretty pout found its way to her lips. “I sa
w you talking to Raven Mahoney.”

  He couldn’t quite contain his amusement. “You followed me and waited for two hours for me to come out?”

  “Yes. That’s what good reporters do.”

  “You could have just called the house. I would have turned you down over the phone without you having to wait for nothing.”

  “Come on, Matt. How about throwing me a bone here? It’ll make my career.”

  He gave a conciliatory smile. “You don’t need me. Sounds like you have your dad to make your career for you already.”

  She squared her shoulders and a deep frown formed a V in her forehead, diminishing her pixieish charm. “I’m working as hard as anyone else. I deserve a promotion just as much as…” She gathered a long breath. “Oh, never mind. It doesn’t matter. But don’t think just because Daddy got me the job, that I’m coasting by.”

  Matthew held up his hands in surrender. “I wasn’t implying you don’t work hard. I’m happy that you like your job.”

  “But no quote?”

  “Sorry, you’ll just have to get that promotion on your own.”

  She scowled. “If Raven doesn’t steal it out from under me.”

  “Raven?”

  She scowled. “Yes, Raven.”

  “What’s she got to do with your promotion?”

  She opened her car door and slid under the wheel. “Your sexy little ex-y and I are up for the same anchor job. So don’t be fooled if she acts like she wants to rekindle an old flame. It was nice seeing you again.” She handed him a card. “Take this and call if you change your mind.”

  Unease crept into Matthew’s gut as drove home. Was Raven’s re-entry into his life too convenient to be coincidence?

  Chapter Seven

  Her favorite late-night talk show wasn’t particularly funny this evening.

  “Get some new material,” Raven grouched. She snatched up the remote and flipped from channel to channel trying to find something, anything to keep her thoughts from reliving that world-shattering kiss a thousand more times.

  Why hadn’t she invited him over to help her eat the Chinese takeout? He’d gotten enough for two, as he always had during their college years. Guilt plagued her. That was why. She knew a relationship was the last thing she intended to pursue with her old flame. Knew that in all likelihood he was still in love with her. But, her own feelings notwithstanding, she just had too much baggage to attempt anything resembling commitment. And part of that baggage included her desperate need to get this anchor spot.

  She snatched up the phone and dialed Denni’s number. She knew her sister was barely back from her Hawaiian honeymoon, but she had the rest of her life to snuggle with her hunky cop husband, Reece Corrigan.

  “Aloha! Mrs. Corrigan speaking.” The pure joy in Denni’s voice sent a jolt of warmth through Raven and a smile touched her lips without warning.

  “Aloha yourself, Mrs. Corrigan. Is that the way you answer all your calls now?”

  Denni laughed. “Caller ID. I knew it was you.”

  “Oh, duh. I wonder if there’s anything in the Constitution about privacy that we could bring up to ban caller ID. Talk about your lack of privacy.”

  “Only if you’re a stalker, telemarketer or bill collector. Otherwise you’re going to want the person you’re calling to know who you are anyway.”

  “Oh philosophical one, marriage must be making you think deeply.”

  “Marriage is wonderful.” Denni gave a sigh and Raven’s heart clenched. This time with just a twinge of longing. “Hawaii is definitely paradise.”

  “Reece didn’t run off with a hula girl, I guess.”

  “No way,” a male voice piped in. “I only have eyes for one woman.”

  “Denni! I’m on speaker?”

  “Sorry, I was unpacking.”

  Raven heard a click. “All right. I’m all yours. I’m walking down the hall to my little office and you can tell me why you’re really calling.”

  “Oh, just to see how you’ve been.” Raven cringed. Good thing she hadn’t dreamed of being an actress, because she couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag.

  “What’s wrong, Rave?” Denni’s sympathetic tone forced sudden tears to Raven’s eyes.

  “I’ve been seeing Matt again.”

  “Matthew Strong?”

  “Who else?”

  “Raven, that’s great. I never thought you were over him in the first place.”

  The rush of matrimonial bliss in Denni’s tone grated on Raven. Especially when romantic feelings had nothing to do with anything in this situation.

  “Well, it’s not quite like that.”

  “What do you…?” A gasp shot through the line with all the indignation of a woman in love. “Raven, you are not playing with that poor man’s heart just to get a story!”

  “Don’t be absurd.” Raven winced. There was that bad acting again.

  “You are. Oh, Rave. That’s low even for you.”

  “Even for me?” What an assessment from her own sister.

  “Don’t pretend to be offended by that. You are the one who says the end always justifies the means and usually you don’t cross the line too much, but this is just wrong. You broke Matt’s heart fifteen years ago and now you want to get his hopes up and break it all over again?”

  “Hey, I have feelings too, ya know.”

  Raven pushed up from the couch, grabbed Ginger and padded toward the bedroom.

  “Are your feelings getting involved here, Raven?” Denni’s point-blank question shot through Raven as she flopped onto her stomach across her bed, resting on her elbows.

  “How could they not? You know how much he meant to me.”

  “Yes, I do.” She spoke softly, in true Denni fashion. Now was the time for her to stop and listen to whatever Raven had to say, to help her find her own answer to whatever problem she might be facing. Only, Raven didn’t know what to say.

  “Raven, are you still in love with Matt?”

  A deep sigh welled up within her and she blew it out in a cleansing breath. “I am. Yes. Wow, I can’t believe I just said that.”

  Denni laughed. “You have to tell him.”

  “Oh, Denni. I can’t. I don’t know if I’m ready for a relationship.”

  “What are you afraid of? What happened between the two of you back then that was so awful you couldn’t work it out?”

  “I—I can’t tell you. I wish I could and I probably will some day soon. But not yet. Okay?”

  “All right. But promise me you’ll give up this story about Matt.”

  “I would if I could just find something else to knock out of the park so Mr. Cruise will give me that anchor job and not his perky little daughter.”

  “You will. I’ll pray for just the most awesome story ever.”

  Raven frowned. She had pushed her childhood faith so far into the depths of her being that when her family brought up religion, it always filled her with bittersweetness.

  Memories of church services, singing, clapping, listening with awe as Mama sang “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” Raven wanted to trust. She did, but how could she trust when everything she knew about who she was turned out to be a lie?

  “If you want to wish me luck, I’ll take it,” she blurted into the mouthpiece. “But save your prayers. They mean nothing to me.”

  Denni paused only for a second. “They may not mean anything to you,” she said, with no condemnation in her tone. “But they mean something to God.”

  “Believe that if it makes you feel better, Denni. Believe that there is some great big Daddy Warbucks in the sky just waiting to give me a great news story, but I’m not going to hold my breath.”

  “Fine. Have you heard from Dad, lately?”

  “I’ve had a couple of messages from him, but I haven’t had time to call him back.”

  A frustrated sigh reached her ears. “Raven. What’s it going to hurt for you to call him?”

  “I’ve been busy all week.”

  A
beep indicated another caller. “Hang on a sec. I’m getting another call.”

  “Hello?”

  A pause.

  “Hello?”

  “Where were you today?”

  “Who is this?”

  “Sonny.”

  “What do you mean, where was I? I was at the deli we agreed upon. I waited for twenty-five stinking minutes and missed lunch while you stood me up, so don’t ask where I was. Where were you?”

  He chuckled and she could hear the crackle as he took a drag on a cigarette. “Got quite the temper. I guess you come by that naturally enough.”

  “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”

  “No problem. We must have gotten our delis mixed up. Can we try again this weekend?”

  “I’m sorry, Sonny. I have plans for the weekend.”

  “Plans?” His tone hardened. “What sort of plans?”

  “Private ones.”

  “I see,” came the clipped response. “I suppose we’ll have to make it another time, then.”

  “I suppose. Call me next week and we’ll set something up, okay?”

  “Sure.” He hung up without saying goodbye.

  “Sheesh, talk about a temper,” Raven muttered. She clicked the button to take her back to Denni. “Sorry, Den.”

  “Oh, hi. You’re back.” She giggled and in the background Raven could hear Reece’s muffled voice.

  Raven smiled. Reece wasn’t the type of man to be kept waiting long. Apparently he’d tired of his wife yakking with her sister.

  “I’ll call you in a few days, Denni.”

  “All right. And Raven, give yourself a chance to love again. Seriously. Finding the love of your life is the most wonderful experience in the world.”

  Raven pictured Denni and Reece. She could imagine Denni looking deep into his eyes as she said those words. A lump lodged in Raven’s throat. “Goodbye,” she whispered.

  The problem was that she had already found the love of her life. She had given him up. And now, with his reemergence into her life, she faced a hard decision. If she wanted Matthew, she couldn’t use him to get a story. The question was…which did she want more?