A Mate for York

by Charlene Hartnady

  “No, stay. Let’s talk.”

  Kerry held her gaze for a second and then nodded, looking down at her lap. She really needed to say what she had come there to say. She needed to apologize in a big way.

  “Can I get you some tea or a coffee?” Vicky asked, brows raised. The look of concern still clouding her features.

  She doubted she would be able to drink much. Not with her busted lip, but at least a hot mug of tea would give her something to do with her hands, which were shaking. “Do you have herbal tea?” She put a hand on her belly. “I have been avoiding caffeine.” This brought on a fresh wave of tears. Her baby was essentially homeless. How had she allowed this to happen? Why had she been so trusting?

  “I’m sure I have chamomile somewhere in my cupboard?”

  Kerry nodded. “That would be nice, thank you.”

  “Give me a few minutes. Sit tight, I’ll be right back.”

  Kerry could hear Vicky in the kitchen. She heard the chink of a mug and cupboards opening. She tried to control her anxiety over the situation. She knew that she might just make a run for it if she didn’t. Within a few minutes, Vicky returned with a tray, placing it on the coffee table in front of them. “Here you are.” She pushed a mug with a teabag hanging out of it towards her.

  “Thank you.” Kerry’s bottom lip quivered. She wished she could control her emotions. “You are kind to let me into your house, after …” Her eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away. “I came to apologize and to thank you for sending me that email.” Best to get it all out as quickly as possible.

  Vicky shook her head. “No need, don’t—”

  “No, I do.” She sat forward in her chair, her words firm. She needed to convey that she meant it. Needed Vicky to understand. “I didn’t know. I swear to you that I didn’t know that he was married, at least, it was my understanding that you guys were separated when we first met. That it was as good as over between you.”

  Vicky sat up a little straighter in her chair. Her eyes narrowed. “We weren’t separated though. We were still very much together. Did Jeff tell you that we were trying for a baby?”

  Flip! Oh flip…flip. This was even worse than she had thought. How could it be worse? “No.” Fresh tears streaked down her cheeks. It couldn’t be helped and Kerry didn’t even try to stop them. She shook her head, feeling betrayed all over again. “He was such a liar and a bastard. He told me that you guys were separated. That the divorce was pending. I wouldn’t let him sleep with me until you guys were officially divorced, only to find out now that the divorce wasn’t finalized until months after we moved in together and now …” Kerry grabbed a couple of Kleenex, using them to dab at her face, wincing at the fresh wave of pain. “He sent you a message online. He told me that you had cheated on him.” She sniffed. “That he couldn’t forgive you, even though he had tried. You’d been to a ton of therapy but he couldn’t move past it.”

  Vicky nodded. “I’m sorry, Kerry. None of it is true and yes, he did send me a message through that online dating site.” She pointed to her computer on the table. “I can show it to you, if you like.”

  Kerry shook her head. “No, I believe you. He’s been acting strangely lately. Working late. Hiding his phone. I was starting to suspect something was up.” She’d already read the message to Vicky. And all the rest. It made her sick to her stomach.

  “Not with me.” Vicky put up her hands. “I completely ignored him.”

  “I know, I think he’s probably messaging other women as well. In fact, I’m sure of it.” Seen it with her own eyes.

  “We were still married when he had the affair with you. I found an email and then messages between the two of you. I always thought you had known he was married. It never occurred to me that he was lying to us both.” She looked away for a moment, looking deep in thought.

  “I would never …” Kerry shook her head vehemently. How did she make Vicky believe her? “I swear. Thank you for warning me.” It was only when she’d confronted Jeff earlier that everything had come out. That she’d found out the truth. The bastard had lied to her from the start.

  “I almost didn’t. My friend, Maggie, talked me into it. So, it’s she who you should probably be thanking.” She could see that Vicky was deciding whether or not to tell Kerry something. Then she sucked in a breath. “Did he hit you?” the other woman finally blurted.

  Kerry nodded. “He got so angry when I said I was leaving. Up until then he’d apologized and asked for forgiveness. He told me it was my fault he was looking elsewhere.” She sniffed. The bastard didn’t deserve any more tears and she wasn’t going to give him any. “He isn’t attracted to me now that I’ve started to show. My libido hasn’t been the same either.” She shrugged. “He said he has needs as a man, needs I wasn’t meeting.”

  “What a dick! You know that isn’t true, right?”

  “Yes,” she nodded, “of course I know. That’s why I stuck to my guns and packed my bag. That’s when he started getting angry. He told me I’d have nothing if I left. That my baby and I would have to live on the street. I gave up my job when I became pregnant. I’m such an idiot for believing all his lies.” Kerry squared her shoulders. “I’ll be alright though. We’ll be just fine without him.” She wasn’t sure how, only that she’d make it happen. Her hand moved to her growing belly.

  “What are you going to do?” Vicky didn’t look convinced.

  “I’ll move in with my sister for a short while,” she lied. Kerry didn’t want to burden Jeff’s ex with her problems. It wasn’t fair. “She has three kids and her husband is out of work, but she’s offered to let me sleep on the couch until I get back on my feet. I will reapply for my old job.” She shrugged. “You never know, maybe I will get lucky. Otherwise, I’ll try to find work. I doubt anyone will employ a pregnant lady though ‒ I’m already four months along. I don’t care. I’ll live on baked beans. I’ll do what it takes.” She’d head to Susan’s place only as a last resort. Besides, Jeff had said he would look for her there and she believed him.

  “He needs to help out.”

  “Jeff told me he doesn’t believe the baby is his.” Another tear streaked down her cheek. “He told me if I walk out the door it’s over…that he wants nothing to do with me…nothing to do with us. It’s definitely his baby. I don’t sleep around. I had one serious boyfriend before Jeff, I…I can’t believe I was so stupid. I’m pissed at myself.” She felt anger course through her. Then again, Jeff was a snake. He’d lied so well. He’d literally charmed the pants off of her. Stupid! She wasn’t falling for that again.

  “You can have the baby tested once he or she is born. Don’t let him get away with it.”

  “I won’t.” Kerry shook her head. Thing was, she didn’t want anything to do with Jeff. She didn’t want his money. She didn’t plan on putting a name for the father on the birth certificate either.

  “You should report him for that.” Vicky pointed at her face. “He should never have put his hands on you.”

  “No.” Kerry’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t want to have to deal with him.” She shook her head.

  “No, you should report it. At the very least, get a restraining order against him. You can decide later if you want to press charges but at least you’ll have something on record. He beat you, Kerry. What if he had hurt the baby? You could have lost your child.”

  Good god but Vicky was right. Fresh emotion rushed through her, along with a good dose of fear. For both herself and her precious baby. Kerry felt her lip quiver and she sucked in a deep breath, trying hard to compose herself. Maybe some tea would help. Anything to settle her nerves. She lifted the mug and took a sip. Her lip stung but thankfully it didn’t re-open. Warm liquid ran down her throat, warming her from the inside but it didn’t help quell the emotional pain. Nothing would. Then again, Vicky was right, maybe one thing would help. “You’re right.” Jeff safely in jail where he couldn’t hurt her or someone else would make her feel infinitely better. “I will. Thank yo
u again for everything.” He couldn’t get away with it.

  “No pr—” Vicky started. There was a knock at the door. Almost immediately, a second louder knock sounded. Vicky looked towards the door, almost longingly. Kerry’s heart raced. What if it was him? Maybe he had followed her there or put two and two together?

  She felt like she couldn’t quite get a breath. That air wouldn’t properly fill her lungs. Suddenly the door didn’t seem like that much of a barrier. Had Vicky even locked it after she came in? Her chest heaved with each deep breath and yet she didn’t feel like she was getting any air.

  Vicky turned to her. “You stay here,” she instructed, her stance softening for a moment. “Don’t worry, he wouldn’t dare come here. I’ll make sure before I open, and I’ll call the cops if it is him.” Her eyes burned with determination.

  Thank the lord. She nodded once. Her heart still beating out of her chest.

  “Who is it?” Vicky asked through the door, her ear bent towards the wood.

  Kerry could hear that it was a deep voice. The voice of a man. She was too far away to hear what he was saying. The man spoke again. She didn’t think it was Jeff, but her mouth felt dry all the same.

  Vicky opened the door just a crack and peaked around the jamb. She seemed to recognize who was there because she let out a pent-up breath and opened it fully.

  Even though Vicky blocked his path, Kerry could see that the man standing in the doorway was big. Like line-backer big. His hair was fairly long and a sandy blond color.

  “Hi, I’m Vicky. I’m kind of in the middle of something.” She sounded hesitant.

  It also meant that Vicky didn’t even know this guy. Why had she opened the door in the first place? Kerry tried to calm herself down because not everyone was a homicidal maniac. Most folks were good. She needed to get a grip. Jeff might be a jerk, he may have hurt her as well, but that didn’t mean everyone was bad.

  “Please, can I come in? Talon asked me to check on you.” His voice was deep and rich and quite beautiful.

  Vicky nodded once.

  Oh shit, she was letting him inside. Do not panic!

  “Come in.” Vicky moved to the side. Not only was he tall, he had muscles too. Big ones. They were easy to see in his form-fitting jeans and T-shirt. Forget line-backer. He looked like one of those cage-fighters. He even had a tattoo peeking out the one sleeve of his shirt. Her heart really went nuts inside her chest, right now she felt like a caged bird.

  The big man nodded, his eyes locking with hers. He looked at her like he knew her. His eyes were a strange golden color. They were also intense and unwavering. Did she know him? No way, there was no way she would forget someone like him. Aside from being bigger than most, he was different somehow.

  “Can I offer you some tea?” Vicky asked the man as he walked inside, eyes still glued to hers. He shook his head. She shivered, almost spilling her tea, and put a hand to her chest as he came closer. Vicky quickly stepped in beside him, looking tiny in comparison. “Cadon, this is Kerry, Kerry meet Cadon. He’s a friend of a friend.”

  “Like I said, Talon asked me to check in on you,” the man said again, using that beautiful, deep voice. She was able to breathe when he finally turned his gaze on Vicky. “Is everything okay here?” Her relief didn’t last long, because that intense stare moved right back to her, seeming to look straight through her. “Are you alright?”

  Shit, he was talking to her. To her. “I’m fine,” Kerry managed to somehow push out. She felt out of sorts and vulnerable.

  “Are you sure you won’t have tea?” Vicky asked the man.

  He shook his head. “Quite sure.”

  Kerry had said what she needed to say and now it was time to get going. She wanted to be somewhere safe for the night before Jeff got off work and found her gone. “I’d better get going.” She put her mug down with a clunk. “I’m going to call a cab and head to the police station.” She’d left the keys to the car, the one Jeff had insisted on buying her, at his house. The thing was still in his name. He probably would have had her arrested for theft if she had taken it. Why, oh why, had she sold her car? It had been old but all hers.

  “Are you doing okay, Vicky?” the man asked, bringing her back to the present. They seemed to both ignore her for a moment. Kerry felt frozen in place. She didn’t want to be rude.

  “Perfectly fine.” Vicky pulled in a breath. “You can tell Talon I don’t need checking in on.” She licked her lips. “How is he doing? Has he gone back…home?” A reflective look took hold of her features.

  “Yes,” the man nodded, “he is well, and yes, he is back home.”

  Kerry stood up. She felt like she was intruding on their conversation “Thank you for the tea and the help…all of it.”

  “It’s a pleasure. Call me if you need anything.” Vicky smiled and something in her eased.

  “I will.” Kerry grabbed the handle of her suitcase and began to pull it towards the door.

  “Allow me,” the man said, picking up the bag.

  What was he doing? “No, it’s fine. I’m fine,” Kerry spluttered. “I can manage.” She kept hold of the bag. Everything she owned was in there.

  “I will help you,” he said in a no-nonsense tone. She held his gaze for a few moments.

  Maybe she should let him carry it down the stairs for her. Her hip was still throbbing, she was stiff all over. “Okay.” Just down the stairs and then she was out of there. She let the bag go and he held onto it easily. “Thank you,” she muttered.

  “Let’s go,” he said, before turning back to Vicky. “I will tell Talon you send your regards.”

  “Is he coming back?” Vicky asked. There was definitely longing in her voice, and again, Kerry felt bad for intruding because it felt like she was.

  The man shook his head. “No. Goodbye, Vicky.”

  Vicky’s eyes clouded. This Talon person obviously meant something to her. Then she sucked it up and locked eyes with her. “All the best, Kerry,” the other woman said.

  She nodded once, noticing that Cadon was already walking out the door with her bag. She waved once and followed him, almost slamming into his back when he stopped abruptly just before the stairs. “Do you need me to carry you?”

  Had she heard right? Kerry was momentarily stunned to silence.

  He turned those golden eyes on her. It was a bit disconcerting. Made her want to take a step back. Then his features softened. “You are hurt. Would you like me to carry you down the stairs? I assure you that I can carry both you and your bag quite easily.”

  Well color her crazy. Kerry shook her head. “No, that’s okay. I’ll manage.”

  “You sure?” He raised his brows.

  “Very. Maybe walk a little slower though, especially down the stairs.”

  “Are you in pain?” He narrowed his eyes.

  What did she say to that? She didn’t want to lie but she didn’t want his misguided concern either. She just wanted to get down the stairs and to get her bag back so that she could be on her merry way. In the end, she had to tell the truth. “Yes,” she nodded.

  His eyes narrowed in anger. “Where does it hurt?”

  Why was he so interested? “My right hip.” She winced as she touched the spot, then held back another wince because doing so pulled her split lip.

  “Anywhere else I can’t see?” His eyes flitted from her swollen eye to her busted-up lip.

  “No.”

  “You sure? What about your ribs?”

  She shook her head.

  “Your…?” His eyes drifted to her belly and she clutched it without thinking.

  She swallowed thickly. “No, I’m fine otherwise. It’s just my hip and my face.”

  “Just…” He shook his head, still looking angry. “You look like you went three rounds with a bear.”

  “It’s not that—” she squealed as he lifted her off the ground and into his arms.

  Chapter 4

  “Put me down.” She squirmed, her voice firm.

&
nbsp; Tiny.

  A mere wisp.

  So light in his arms he may as well have not been carrying anything. Who the fuck had done this to her? A coward for sure. Someone lacking any type of honor. He ground his teeth together as rage coursed through him. If only he could find the swine who…

  She sucked in a ragged breath. “Why do you look so angry?” Her eyes were wide. Her skin suddenly pale.

  “I’m angry at whoever did this to you. Am I hurting you?”

  She squirmed some more. “No.” She paused, glaring up at him. “You’re not pressing on my injured hip, so no, you’re not hurting me. You don’t have to carry me though, you know? I can walk.”

  “Well, I won’t hurt you. I know you can walk but I’m trying to help you.”

  “I’ve never heard that one before.” Her lip did this vibrating thing and her eyes turned hazy. “Look, put me down, I can manage just fine. I don’t need you to carry me. I don’t need your help.”

  “Maybe you can manage on your own and maybe you can’t. Either way, I’m carrying you down these stairs. I’ll put you down when we reach the bottom.”

  “I would rather—” She growled ‒ not doing a great job of it ‒ as he began to descend. There would be no argument. This was happening. That was that. He wanted to ask who had hurt her but bit it back along with several other questions. This female wasn’t going to tell him anything. He could tell by the angle of her chin, by the way her mouth was set. Her lip had to be hurting something fierce. He could tell by her stiff posture that she was afraid and running scared.

  He put her down as they reached the bottom but he held onto her suitcase. “You do need help, Kerry.” He narrowed his eyes on hers. “That is your name, right?”

  “Yes! How many times do I need to tell you that I’m fine?” She used a firm tone. Or tried to. There was nothing hard or harsh about this female.

  “Forgive me, but you don’t look it.”

  “Who are you? Why would you even care?” Frown lines appeared on her forehead.