by Sarah Curtis
“Why do you think that?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been trying to reason it out, but it’s not adding up.”
Bingo. The reason for his silence. “Maybe if you talked it out, it would help.”
He was silent a moment, but it wasn’t the same kind of silence as earlier, more like he was collecting his thoughts. She waited him out.
“I think my biggest question is, why did the guy speed off?”
Victoria shrugged. “Could be a number of reasons. Maybe his license was suspended. Maybe he doesn’t have insurance. Hell, maybe he was just scared because he hit such an expensive car.”
“That’s why I’m questioning it.”
“I don’t understand.” And she didn’t. “Why would you rule those things out?”
“It was a rental.”
“What?” Why was this the first she was hearing of this?
“The car had a Hertz license plate frame. The guy couldn’t have rented it with a suspended license. And even if he didn’t have insurance, the rental company does.”
Victoria had another idea. “What if he was drunk driving?”
Nate shook his head. “With the way that guy maneuvered in and out of traffic as we chased him, there’s no fucking way he was drunk.”
She thought a minute. “Then the only other thing I can think of is maybe the guy was a criminal. Had a warrant out for his arrest or had a gun in the car. Something like that.”
“The odds of that just seem too high for it to be plausible.”
Victoria sighed. “Leading you to think this wasn’t a random accident.”
Nate finished her thought. “And if it wasn’t random, then that means the police have the wrong guy. And Smith is so adamant it’s Chrissy, he couldn’t even be bothered to take the fucking police report of the accident.”
She gave his hand a squeeze. “I’m sure he was just busy and will look into it as soon as he can.”
Nate gave her hand a squeeze back. “Yeah, but I don’t like the fact that by then it may be too late.”
After lunch, Nate disappeared back into his office to take a call. He was still acting distant but figured she’d give him his space. She could imagine the stress she’d be feeling if his life were in danger, and knew he was handling the events of the past few weeks as best he could.
She cleaned up their mess and was putting the last dish in the dishwasher when her phone rang. Wiping her hands dry, she picked up her phone and saw it was Byron. Of course.
“Hello,” she answered sounding slightly perturbed.
“How are you feeling?”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you asking because you want something, or do you really care?”
“That hurts. Of course, I care.”
She barely held in a snort. “I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
She heard him tsk. “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, my dear.”
“I’m as sincere as you are. Why are you really calling?”
“I’d really like to see you before you leave. It’s important, and I don’t want to discuss it over the phone.”
She couldn’t imagine anything he had to say was that important, but she knew from experience it was pointless arguing. “I’m free tomorrow morning, but you need to come here.” Nate would never let her leave the house by herself.
“I can be there at nine.”
Nate would be at his meeting, but she was sure that would be fine. “Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
She hung up, throwing her phone back down on the counter. She sighed suddenly feeling tired. Byron was exhausting. Or maybe she just needed a nap.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
A noise woke Victoria. She looked over. Nate’s side of the bed was empty. She got up on her elbows and spied him coming out of the closet. He emerged dressy-casual in a pair of beige linen slacks and a white button-up dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the top three buttons undone, showing a glimpse of his chest. Very nice.
He strode to her side of the bed still in the process of rolling his last sleeve. “Go back to sleep, sweetheart, it’s still early.”
She glanced at the window. Weak sunlight filtered through the blinds. “What time is it?”
“Six.”
She nodded groggily, knowing she didn’t need to get up for a couple more hours.
He pushed on her shoulders, forcing her head back down to her pillow. He followed, stopping with his face a mere inch from hers when he said, “I set your alarm for eight. Now, go back to sleep.”
His lips landed on hers, and she tangled her fingers in the back of his still damp hair as he deepened the kiss. He pulled away reluctantly, pausing to give her nibbling kisses on her lips, chin, and jaw before fully sitting up. “If I don’t leave now, I never will.”
Smiling, she snuggled her head into the pillow as he grabbed his phone, slipping it into his front pocket and striding from the room. She yawned and closed her eyes, making a mental note to tell him how great his ass looked in those pants.
Victoria was sitting on the living-room couch when the doorbell rang. She glanced at the phone clutched in her hand. Eight fifty-nine. “Punctual as always,” she murmured, setting her phone on the coffee table.
She answered the door, throwing it wide.
Byron stood on the step in his typical attire, no matter the weather—a three-piece suit. Dots of perspiration covered his brow and upper lip. “I brought you a coffee to say thank you.” He held out a cup with a local coffee shop logo she recognized stamped on the side.
“A thank you for what?” She took the cup he offered and waved him inside.
“For agreeing to see me on such short notice when I know you’ve got things to do to get ready to leave.”
He really had a bee in his butt about her going out of town.
His head swiveled around the room. “Nate home?”
“No, he had an early morning meeting.”
She walked them into the living room then sat on the couch, placing her coffee on the table next to her phone before sitting back and getting comfortable. “Okay, so what’s so important, you had to tell it to me in person?”
Byron sat in one of the two overstuffed chairs across from the couch. Leaning back, his suit jacket fell open, revealing his vest, the buttons pulled taut from the expanse of his belly, his white dress shirt showing through the gaps. Victoria waited impatiently while he took a sip of his coffee.
He set his cup down on the little side table before speaking. “Gideon Warren said he would be happy to reschedule your meeting and hopes all is well after the accident. He seems very interested in you for the part.”
She frowned. “And you couldn’t tell me that over the phone?”
His eyes hardened, and for the first time, she realized he was a bit angry. “You have a nasty habit of hanging up on me lately. I wanted the chance to say everything I wanted and not the few scraps here and there you’ve allowed me.”
She had been borderline rude, she admitted to herself, but only because he wouldn’t stop pestering her about new projects, and she’d lost patience. But she also had to admit, as much as it annoyed her, he was just doing his job. She sighed, knowing she should apologize. “Listen, I’m sorry for being short, but I’ve told you, repeatedly, I’m not making any decisions about my career until after the baby’s born.”
He sat forward in the chair, hands clutching the armrests, looking ready to pounce. She flinched a little, and he saw the reaction. Sighing, he sat back in his seat, holding up a hand. “I’d really like to argue with you, but I know it will get us nowhere. Will you at least hear me out?”
She composed herself. “I’m right here and comfortable and willing to listen, but I guarantee, you won’t change my mind.”
“We’ll see.” He waved a hand as if indicating her thoughts on the subject were immaterial. “I’ve had several phone calls the past few weeks and not only from Gideon Warren. Starring alongside Nathan Reed was a big deal, and now that your movie is
wrapped, you’re a hot commodity. People want you.”
He was getting worked up, she could tell by the small vein that protruded from the side of his forehead and the red flush covering his cheeks. She was worried he’d have a heart attack.
He kept on, not even pausing for breath. “The roles will get snatched quickly. Who knows what will be available a few months from now or in a year. Hell, who knows if they’ll even still want you by then. By not striking now, you’ll be committing career suicide. I’ve worked too hard and invested too much time in you to see that happen. You owe me.”
Her back stiffened. That sounded like a threat.
She made a move to stand to throw his ass out, and he quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry. Sorry. That didn’t come out how I wanted. I’m just very passionate about your career and only want the best for you.”
She gave him a squint-eyed stare. “You mean the best for you.”
“Fine,” he conceded. “The best for us. Is there anything wrong with that?”
“Well, at least you’re honest,” she said, relaxing back into the couch.
“I’m always honest.” He picked up his coffee and took a sip then gave her cup, still sitting on the table, a frown.
“What?” she asked, glancing at the cup then looking back to him.
“You’re not drinking your coffee. I got you your favorite, caramel macchiato.”
That was thoughtful even if he had acted like an ass a minute ago. “I’m waiting for it to cool off.”
“It’s not hot.” He took another sip of his to prove his point.
Conceding, she lifted her cup, taking a small sip before taking a larger one.
Byron eyed her, a hopeful expression on his face.
She gave him a weak smile. “It’s good. Thanks, again,” she said, setting it back on the table.
That seemed to appease him, and he sat back, lacing his fingers over his rounded stomach. “Now, back on topic.”
“Were we on a topic?”
He gave her a look. “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times, sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”
“Oh, but it must,” she leaned forward, picking up her drink and saluting him with it, “for I do it so well.” She took a sip, holding on to it this time.
He rolled his eyes, looking exasperated but ignored her comment by continuing, “I’ve thought about this and think I’ve come up with a solution that will satisfy us both.”
She was willing to hear him out and indicated so by tipping her head.
“A few of the roles you were offered won’t start filming for a year. If you sign a contract now, it will guarantee you’ll have work. That gives you plenty of time with the baby after it’s born and before you need to start. I’ll also keep your name in the media in the interim. If you find working’s not for you after that, you don’t need to take on any more roles. But,” and at this point, he held up a finger, “if you find you still want to work, the offers will keep coming. Which would be unlikely if you don’t secure a role now.”
He leaned forward in his seat as if to emphasize his point. “Is it really such a hardship to commit to one more job, a mere few months out of your life, to secure your career?”
She took another sip of her coffee, reflecting on his words. Byron didn’t rush her, just sat back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. Finally, after long minutes, she said, “You state a good case so, in the spirit of compromise, I’ll think about what you’ve said. I can’t promise you I’ll change my mind, but I do promise to rethink my—” she stopped mid-sentence, clutching an arm over her stomach.
“Are you okay?” Byron asked, sitting straighter in his chair.
She set her coffee on the table so she wouldn’t spill it. “Yeah, I just think maybe the coffee’s not settling well.”
Byron frowned and then shrugged. “Okay, so what were you about to say?”
Damn Byron and his one-track mind. “I was just going to say, I—” She grimaced, planting her feet on the floor, leaning forward, hugging her stomach with both arms, and moaned.
“What’s wrong?”
She heard Byron but didn’t respond, too busy trying to catch her breath.
In her periphery she saw Byron stand, skirting the coffee table.
“I think…” She took a couple of panting breaths then continued in a stronger voice, “I think something’s wrong.”
“Sweetheart, I’m home!”
She looked up when Nate called from the entry. She also noticed Byron stop in his tracks, standing at the far end of the coffee table.
“Nate?” she yelled as loud as she could from her prone position.
“Victoria?” She saw Nate enter the living room a worried expression on his face. “What’s going on?” He looked over at Byron before sitting beside her, wrapping an arm around her hips. “Sweetheart, talk to me. What’s the matter?”
She gave Nate her weight, dropping her face to his chest, moaning.
“What’s wrong with her?” Nate spoke over her head, his voice rumbling through his chest and into her ear.
“I don’t know.” She heard Byron answer.
“Tori, please say something,” Nate said, sounding desperate. When she didn’t answer, she heard him shout to Byron, “Call nine-one-one.”
And a second later, Byron said, “Shit, my phone’s dead.”
“God, damn it! Sweetheart, I need to stand up to get my phone from my pocket.”
She groaned as she was jostled, and fell to her side, curling into a fetal position in the spot Nate had vacated. Panting, she desperately hugged her stomach.
Slitting her lids, she saw Nate pacing as he frantically spoke into his phone, getting more frustrated as he shouted questions which Byron didn’t know the answers to.
She moaned loudly, drawing Nate’s attention. He came to her side, and she clutched at his hand, begging him with her eyes and whispering, “The baby. Something’s wrong with the baby.” Then mustering all her strength, she pulled in a deep breath and cried, “Nate, please tell them to hurry!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
20 hours earlier…
Nate was still pissed by the time they got home after the accident, but he tried hiding his feelings from Victoria, not wanting to upset her further. He excused himself, going straight to his office. If Smith wasn’t going to take their current accident seriously, he’d call someone who would.
Sitting at his desk, he pulled up the contacts on his phone, scrolling until he got to the name he was looking for. Jake Carter.
It only rang once when the guy picked up. “Reed. Long time, man.”
“Carter,” Nate said by way of greeting. “You’ve been keeping up with current events?”
“If you mean what’s been going on with your woman, then yeah. Well, at least the hyped-up tabloid version.”
“I’ll set you straight if you’re up to making a few bucks.”
“I’m always willing to take your money, Reed.”
“This needs to be top priority. I want information, yesterday.”
“Give me what you’ve got, and I’ll get right on it.”
After Nate filled him in, lastly giving him the plate number, Carter said, “Give me a few hours, and I should have something for you.”
“Appreciate it.”
“And, hey, before you go, how’s your sister doing?”
“She’s doing real good, thanks to you.”
“Glad to hear it. Nothing I like better than doling out assholes’ comeuppance.”
“Well, I’m just glad you found the money her asshole ex tried to hide.”
“Piece of cake, my man,” and then Carter said in an ominous voice, “if you know where to look.”
“Just glad I’m on your good side.”
“It’s always a pleasure doing business with you. Speaking of which, I’ll get back to you soon.”
“Thanks.”
Stepping out of his office, Nate followed the sounds of cooking
to the kitchen. He leaned, just out of the doorway, watching Victoria as she stirred something on the stove. All grace and beauty, he could watch her for hours, even doing the most mundane of tasks, and never grow tired.
He made himself known when she opened the oven. “Something smells good.” Picking up a hand towel he took the tray of the world’s best smelling garlic bread from her hands and set it on the counter.
“Well it’s not the Four Seasons, but I figured I couldn’t mess up spaghetti too badly.”
He would take eating a quiet meal, just the two of them alone, over the fanciest meal in a restaurant any day.
His phone dinged an incoming call as they finished their meal. Fishing it out of his pocket, he saw it was Carter. Feeling a bit guilty, he said, “Sorry to eat and run, but I need to take this. I shouldn’t be too long.”
Victoria waved him off. “I’m just going to clean up. Come find me when you’re done.”
“I will.” He kissed her forehead, answering the phone on his way out of the kitchen. “What did you find out?”
He found Victoria curled up on their bed. She looked so peaceful, he hated to disturb her. He climbed on behind her, wrapping an arm around her and buried his face in her neck. He breathed in her scent. She smelled faintly of him. He loved that.
“I’m not sleeping.” She snuggled closer, rubbing her ass against his dick. Of course, it responded.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but we need to talk.”
She rolled in his arms, and he gave her room to maneuver, coming to a rest with her forehead against his and her hand on his hip. “I’m listening.”
“I just got off the phone with a PI that I know. Had him run the plate of the car that hit us today. The long and short of it, he got the name of the renter.”
It took her a moment to respond. “Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like the answer.”
“Because you're as smart as you are beautiful.”
“Oh, God. Buttering me up. It must be really bad.”
He rubbed a soothing hand down her back. “It was Byron.”
