Unbroken

by Donna K. Ford

  Jackie pulled away, her lips hovering only a breath away from Kayla’s mouth.

  “Will you call me?” she whispered.

  The heat of the question was like a flame on Kayla’s lips. Her pulse raced as she fought the urge to claim Jackie’s mouth again. She could feel Jackie’s fingertips like tiny points of promise against the tender skin of her neck. Hazel eyes held her captive, pleading for her to say yes. But Kayla knew better. The night had been fun, but it wasn’t her, and Jackie Phillips was the last thing she needed in her life right now.

  “No,” she breathed huskily, her voice coated with desire. Her body was saying yes, but Kayla knew better than to listen. The spark between them might be hot tonight, but that kind of heat would quickly burn itself out.

  Jackie smiled and nodded. She trailed her fingers along Kayla’s neck, across her shoulder, and down her arm until her fingers molded into Kayla’s hand. “I hope you change your mind.”

  Kayla pulled her hand away. Every second she touched Jackie made it harder to walk away, and she was not an impulsive person. She didn’t give in to reckless desires or fall for women in bars. The more space she put between them, the safer she would be.

  Kayla looked around for Jen. She wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. She didn’t want Jackie to see her true feelings. She didn’t want Jackie to see she was getting to her. It was time to get her feet back on the ground and her head out of the clouds. It was time to go home.

  Chapter Two

  Kayla sauntered into the kitchen, taking in the familiar sign of a hangover. Jen sat at the kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee as if she could will the pain in her head to stop pounding against her skull. She looked like she hadn’t slept well and the coffee didn’t seem to be doing much to help. Jen was wearing a pair of light blue cotton sleep pants and an oversized sweatshirt that had seen better days. Despite her swollen red-rimmed eyes and messed-up hair, she was beautiful. Kayla’s heart warmed. She imagined Jen as the little sister she’d always wanted. Kayla cleared her throat and took a coffee cup from the cupboard. She filled her cup before turning to face her friend.

  “How are you feeling?”

  Jen groaned. “My whole body hurts.”

  Kayla grinned, understanding that after the events of the evening, Jen probably wasn’t exaggerating.

  “Can I get you anything?”

  Jen opened her eyes into slits and surveyed Kayla as she slid her coffee cup across the counter. “How can you sound so cheerful this morning? Aren’t you the least bit hungover?”

  Kayla shrugged and shook her head. She didn’t get hangovers. “Sorry. Want breakfast?”

  Jen grimaced and clasped her hand over her mouth as if she might be sick. “Do you mind if I just sleep it off?”

  “Sure. Like I said, you can stay here as long as you want.”

  Jen sighed. “Thanks, K.” She got up from her chair and added sugar to her cup. Before turning away, she put her arms around Kayla and pulled her into a hug. “Thanks for going out with me last night and for letting me stay with you. You’re the best.”

  Jen’s lips brushed Kayla’s cheek. Hesitantly she put her arms around Jen, and wondered how Mike could be so blind to how wonderful Jen was. She would never understand how Mike could treat Jen the way he did.

  “I had fun too,” she whispered, giving Jen a squeeze before releasing her. She smiled at Jen, hoping she couldn’t see how concerned she was, and her worry had nothing to do with Jen’s hangover.

  Jen smiled at her thoughtfully as if she was about to say more, but the moment passed and she moved away. She picked up her cup and disappeared down the hall.

  Kayla watched Jen go and thought back on their evening. It had been good to see Jen laugh and have a good time, and she hoped that it was only the beginning for Jen. She had been through a lot with Mike in the two years they had been married. The thought of Jen laughing and dancing instantly brought up the image of Jackie, and a tingling sensation danced along her skin. What are you doing, K? You know better than this. She shook herself to rid the memory of Jackie’s lips from her mind. She didn’t need to think any more about Jackie Phillips or the dream she’d had of her last night. At a loss for what else to do with herself, she decided to head out to the gym. A good workout would help clear her mind. She was just overreacting. She didn’t want to be attracted to Jackie—she didn’t need that kind of trouble in her life. Kayla picked up her keys and headed for the door to escape the memory of Jackie’s kiss.

  All through her workout as Kayla pushed her body, she did everything to release the relentless tension evoked by her attraction to Jackie. Soon her mind calmed, but her body still hummed with sexual energy, and she hadn’t been completely successful in ridding her thoughts of Jackie. Kayla sighed and increased the pace on the treadmill. It really had been too long. As the sweat trickled down her chest into the swell of her breasts, a new thought began to penetrate her mind. She licked her lips, recalling the delicate taste of Jackie’s mouth during that last kiss. She allowed her thoughts to play out the memory of each touch. She groaned. No amount of running could make her forget that kiss.

  What would her grandmother say if she were there right now? Kayla cringed. This was just the kind of thing her grandmother always warned her about. She was just feeling lonely lately. That didn’t mean she had to go losing her head. This was the kind of thing that would get her hurt.

  Kayla felt a little more together by the time she returned home. Jen’s car wasn’t in the garage and the house was quiet.

  Kayla groaned when she saw a note lying on the counter. Thanks for everything. I’m going back home. I’ll figure out what I need to do next. See you Monday. Love, Jen.

  Kayla let out an exasperated sigh. Jen had gone back to Mike. She knew this wouldn’t be the last time Jen would need her. As long as Mike was in the picture, Jen couldn’t be happy. She crumpled the note and tossed it in the trash. She didn’t understand why Jen couldn’t break away from such an abusive relationship, and she worried that things would only become more unstable as Mike’s drug use escalated. But for now, all she could do was to be there for her friend and wait.

  *

  Kayla sat at her desk, thumbing through her calendar. Six weeks stood between her and the annual conference on behavioral health and addictive disorders she would be attending. It was the biggest training she’d attend all year, allowing her to meet counselors from all over the United States presenting on the latest research in her field. Although she would spend seemingly endless hours in lectures each day, she looked forward to a break from the usual office routine. She had managed to book an extra week at the beach resort following the conference for a long-overdue vacation. That would at least make her travel free and help out her budget a bit. It was times like these that she really did love her job.

  Of course the first week she would pine for the warm rays of the sun as she listened to the latest studies in brain research, therapy techniques, emerging problems in the world of psychology, and endless talk of the barrage of books touting the latest treatments for all sorts of disorders. But her evenings would be free to explore the beach, eat all the oysters her little heart desired, and maybe even explore the local nightlife.

  Just thinking about the getaway was exciting. She wouldn’t know a soul and could do anything she wanted without worrying about running into a client. It would be nice to get away.

  Kayla’s phone buzzed and Jen’s name flashed across the screen. “Hey, Jen, what’s up?” Kayla said cradling the phone against her shoulder as she flipped through her schedule.

  “Are you busy?”

  “Not at the moment.”

  “Are you going to that conference in Florida in May?”

  Kayla had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Yeah, I’m already registered, why?”

  “Well, the board has decided I should go to represent the coalition. It looks like we’ll be going together. Isn’t that great?”

  “Wow,” K
ayla said trying to sound excited. “That is great.” Kayla imagined a balloon bursting over her head and mentally kissed her worry-free trip good-bye.

  “They also want me to consider taking a transfer to the Nashville office. They need someone who already knows the grants we work under to help restructure the program.”

  Jen paused, and the silence on the line bore into Kayla’s brain as she took in the information. She experienced shock, dismay, and happiness in quick succession. Luckily, she was used to keeping her feelings and reactions to herself until she knew where things were going.

  “What do you think?” Jen added nervously.

  Kayla struggled to think. “Um…what did you tell them?” she asked as her mouth went dry.

  “I said I needed to think about it. I know Mike won’t go for it, but maybe it’s time for me to think about making some real changes for myself.”

  “Okay.” Kayla still wasn’t sure what she should say, so she waited for Jen to continue.

  “I’m not sure what I should do. It’s a great opportunity and it will make me make some decisions about my life.”

  “What are you going to tell Mike?”

  Kayla heard Jen sigh and could imagine her slumped forward, her elbows on her desk, her forehead cradled in the palm of her hand.

  “I’m not sure yet. With his job, he could live anywhere. But he thinks my job is stupid, and I know he won’t want to go to Nashville. If I decide to do this, it’ll mean going alone. Right now he doesn’t have to know anything. I’ve been staying at my mother’s since I left your place.”

  Kayla was surprised by the news. She’d been certain Jen had gone back to Mike. “That’s tough. Want to come over tonight and talk about it over dinner? We can break open a bottle of wine and celebrate.”

  “Thanks, K, but I’m still at the Nashville office. I won’t be heading home until tomorrow morning.”

  “I understand. We’ll do lunch when you get back.” Kayla tried to sound upbeat, but her emotions were in turmoil. Her long-awaited getaway was now going to include Jen, her best friend was thinking of moving three hours away, and she was worried about what Mike would do to Jen if or when he found out about her plans to move, especially if those plans didn’t include him.

  “I’ve got to run, K. I just wanted to share the good news.”

  “Sure. Be safe, and congratulations.”

  Kayla rubbed the bridge of her nose between her thumb and finger and mumbled to herself. “Not good, not good, not good.” She sighed and looked at the clock. Suddenly the thought of going home to her empty house was depressing. She would miss Jen if she moved, but she was happy that Jen was beginning to think of herself and her own future instead of letting Mike hold her back.

  She sighed. She thought of her grandmother. She’d had her quilting club and church groups until she died, and despite her age and limitations she’d led a fulfilling life. Kayla realized she hadn’t done much to build a life of her own outside of work, and now that her grandmother was gone, the emptiness had started to show. She needed to change that, but how? Where did she start?

  Kayla toyed with her phone, scrolling through her contacts. She stopped when a new number grabbed her attention. Jackie Phillips was not the answer she was looking for. She’d done her best to forget the tall, beautiful dark-haired woman, but the memory of that last kiss continued to make her heart race.

  An hour later Kayla still hadn’t moved. She picked up the phone and found the number Jackie had programmed into her cell. She stared at the phone, her finger hovering over the call button. She drew in a deep breath and put the phone down. No. She wouldn’t call Jackie. She liked her orderly, predictable life. Going out with Jackie would be inviting trouble. Her parents had lived the fast and furious lifestyle and she knew there was no room for her in that world. Maybe she should consider getting a cat.

  The sound of a disembodied voice rang out over the intercom. “Kayla, could you come to the front please, code Charley.”

  Kayla froze. She glanced at the code sheet next to her phone. Code Charley was an alert that someone was potentially hostile. Kayla grabbed her keys and locked her office on the way out. As she made her way down the hall, she tried to ready herself for what she was about to face. Her heart raced and she tried to maintain an outward appearance of calm.

  She could see Martha at the front desk through the glass partition that divided the reception office from the waiting area. Martha was pale and her eyes were wide. She looked scared to death. Kayla turned the corner toward the waiting area. A tall gangly man paced the small lobby like a lion in a cage. His head was bowed and he rubbed his hand over his close-cropped hair in an anxious gesture. Kayla’s stomach lurched. Although she had never met Mike in person, she recognized him instantly from the photos in Jen’s office.

  Kayla stepped into the room making sure to keep her distance. She cleared her throat. “Hello, can I help you?”

  Mike turned toward her so fast, Kayla took an involuntary step back. His eyes were wild and there was a noticeable tremor in his hands. The shimmer of sweat on his pale skin and dark circles under his eyes made him look ill.

  “Who are you?” He asked.

  “I’m Kayla McCormick. I’m one of the therapists here.”

  He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her. “You’re Jen’s friend. She talks about you.”

  “Yes, I know Jen.”

  “Where is she? I want to see my wife.”

  Kayla extended her hand. “Then you must be Mike—I’m glad to finally meet you.” Kayla hoped her open and friendly demeanor would help Mike relax.

  Mike stared at her hand a moment before taking it. His palm was clammy and Kayla felt the tremor in his hand. She was certain he was experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and that could be a game changer.

  Kayla released his hand and moved away so that she could see beyond his shoulder to Martha.

  “I’m sorry, Mike, but Jen’s out of town right now. We aren’t expecting her back today.”

  “I don’t believe you. Where is she? I want to see her, now.”

  “Would you like to sit down and talk about it? Maybe I can help.”

  “I don’t need your help. I need my wife.”

  It was apparent Mike was growing desperate and more unpredictable.

  “I’m really sorry. Jen didn’t mention she was expecting you before she left. I really would like to help. Would you like to tell me what has you so upset?”

  For a moment Kayla thought Mike was going to give in. He looked confused and swayed slightly on his feet. Then his eyes widened and he jerked as if he’d been struck.

  “You’re keeping her from me. I’ll get her myself.”

  Mike tried to pass to the hall but Kayla stepped in front of him. She held up her hands with open palms in a gesture to stop his progress while trying to be nonthreatening.

  “I’m sorry, you can’t go back to the offices. I need you to think for just a minute, Mike. Did you see Jen’s car in the parking lot when you came in? I promise you I am not trying to keep you from her, she’s simply not here. I’d love to talk if you like, but otherwise I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

  Kayla glanced over Mike’s shoulder and was relieved to see Martha signal that the police were on the way.

  “Think about it, Mike. No one is keeping you from your wife. She really isn’t here.”

  Mike glared at her. Everything about him seethed distrust and desperation. Mike tried to step by her again, and Kayla took a step to the side blocking his path. This time she put her hand on his arm to change his focus. She knew this was a gamble, but she couldn’t allow him into the back offices where clients might be at risk.

  He stopped and stared at her as if he didn’t know what to do next. The scream of sirens broke through the silence. Mike jerked his head around as if he didn’t know where to run. He slammed his hands into Kayla’s chest and shoved her away from him. Kayla flew backward. She crashed to the ground and slid backward on the slick floors, her
head and shoulders hitting the wall behind her.

  Kayla was more stunned than hurt. She hadn’t really expected Mike to strike her, and everything happened so fast she didn’t have time to defend herself.

  Mike ran out of the building the instant Kayla hit the floor. Martha was by her side an instant later.

  “Oh God, Kayla, are you all right?”

  “I’m okay.” Kayla straightened and took stock of her body. To her surprise there was no pain except maybe some minor bruises, and her neck was a little stiff. She really was okay.

  Once she was standing again, Kayla took Martha’s hand. “Call Jen. We need to warn her.”

  Martha nodded and ran to the phone just as the police came through the door.

  Chapter Three

  The next morning Kayla couldn’t get out of bed. Every time she moved, searing pain streaked down her neck and back like she was being stabbed with an ice pick hooked to a live wire. She managed to shift herself around so she could reach her phone, but it took her a while to decide who she could call. She called work and canceled her appointments for the day and then went through her very short list of options for getting medical attention. She could call an ambulance, but that seemed a bit dramatic and she didn’t want them breaking down her door to get into her house. Now that her grandmother was gone, she didn’t have any family left. Kayla finally called her neighbor. They weren’t close but he had always been nice and always offered to help if she needed anything.

  Three hours later she was home from the doctor and was tucked back in bed with prescriptions for muscle relaxers and pain medication, which she hated. But at least she could sleep awhile, and maybe when she woke up this time, she would be better.

  The next time she opened her eyes the clock said eight o’clock but it was light outside. Kayla frowned. Surely she hadn’t slept an entire day. She checked the date on her phone to be sure and saw that she had missed six calls, and indeed, a day had passed.