by Sandra Kitt
“Ouch,” he murmured.
“Daddy wants you to come over.”
They both turned at the girlish voice, and Chloe found the young redhead looking into Kevin’s face. Close up she could see the girl was younger than she’d first imagined.
Kevin instantly gave his attention to the girl and smiled at her. He put his arm around her shoulder. “Okay, I’m coming. But I want you to meet someone first. This is a friend of mine, Chloe Jackson,” he said to the girl.
“Hi,” the girl said, not much interested. And then she blinked and regarded Chloe closer. “I saw you on TV. Kevin told me to watch. You looked great.”
“Thank you. That’s so sweet of you to say,” Chloe said, completely caught off guard by the guileless comment.
Kevin stared into Chloe’s eyes once more. “And this is Elizabeth, Hans’s daughter. He asked me to escort her to the opening.”
Kevin sat in his car for fifteen minutes with the motor running trying to decide if this was a good idea. Should he just show up on Chloe’s doorstep demanding an explanation, or let it go? He wasn’t even sure why, except for the very cool reception she’d given him at the gallery opening for Hans Dexter.
He’d known she was in charge of the reception for the show and thought to surprise her with his appearance. But that had been before Hans had commanded him to escort his daughter, and only child with his fourth wife, to his opening. If Chloe had been surprised that wasn’t what came across in her dark eyes. It was…frankly, Kevin had no idea what to make of it.
He took a deep breath and gazed out toward Chloe’s house, a lovely contemporary ranch-style house on a half-acre lot, well spaced from the other homes around her. There was a light on under the entrance eave, and one in an upstairs room. Another, not in the front of the house but in a room along the side. He could see no movement inside, and he felt awkward just sitting and waiting, as if expecting Chloe to walk past a window or open the door and find him there. But what if someone, a neighbor, thought he was casing the house, or was a stalker? What if someone called the police, in this exclusive little community, not recognizing his car or with any knowledge of what he was doing outside their neighbor’s house? Silently watching with his motor running.
Kevin wanted answers. But really, he also wanted assurance that he hadn’t done anything to upset Chloe, to hurt her. He’d figured out long ago that there was a vulnerability about her. It was exactly why he’d quickly come to feel so protective toward her. She was fearless in a lot of ways. But she could be hurt.
Impatiently Kevin shifted into drive and then slowly drove away. It was too soon for confrontation and indignation. Too soon to climb mountains made out of molehills. And maybe it was still too soon to know what he was really feeling for Chloe. But it was something.
Chapter 6
“Is it okay if I drop you off here?” Kevin asked, rolling to a stop and double parking.
“It’s fine,” Chloe said, preparing to climb out of his car.
“You sure?”
“I know how to cross the street by myself, and the building’s right there.” Her hand was on the door, but she turned to smile at him. “Thank you for lunch.”
“My pleasure. Again, I’m sorry that we could never pull it off for breakfast a few days ago.”
“Well, business is business. I understand. I’m sure you weren’t expecting to open up so early for the mayor so he could have a private breakfast meeting at What It Is.”
“No, I wasn’t. But I did him the kind of favor that will have a payback down the road. I’m glad you could work it out so you could meet me for lunch.”
He twisted in his seat and leaned to her. Chloe met him halfway, and they exchanged a quick teasing kiss. It reminded Kevin of what was good about being with her. The comfort and ease of being together. The total lack of female histrionics and drama. No pouting or attitude. As he tasted the soft giving of her mouth he also concluded that maybe he’d misunderstood the unexpected aloofness he’d felt with Chloe the week before at the gallery opening.
He stroked her cheek. “Chloe…”
She laughed lightly. “I know. When are you going to see me again.”
He nodded.
“You’re going to get bored with me.”
He arched a brow. “Lots of things could happen, I give you that. Boredom is not on the list. Tonight?”
“I can’t. I’m meeting with the volunteers for homecoming. I have to give everyone assignments and work out schedules and times. Some of the school officials will be there, so this is important.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
She opened the door and put one leg out. “Yes. Get in touch with Micah!”
Kevin cringed, his expression contorting to indicate that he had forgotten his promise.
“I’m on it,” he said.
Chloe smiled as she stepped back and closed the car door. She waved at him as she stepped in front of his Nissan 350Z to cross the street, jaywalking against traffic.
Kevin’s cell phone buzzed and he answered, his attention briefly draw away from Chloe.
“Yeah? Hi, CB. I just dropped Chloe off and I’m on my way back. Yes, I still want to hold a staff meeting—” he looked at the dashboard clock “—set it up for two-thirty. Anything else?”
As he listened Kevin looked over his shoulder to the other side of the street to see if Chloe was still in sight. He expected to find her close to the entrance of her building, or just going through the revolving doors. But when he caught sight of her distinctive tiny polka-dot black-and-white skirt, and the crisp white sleeveless blouse she was wearing, she suddenly stood talking with someone.
“Uh-huh,” he murmured so that CB knew he was listening.
But he was suddenly distracted and frowned at the scene unfolding near a row of potted Ficus benjamina trees that decorated the edge of the atrium. It was the appearance of the woman, her mannerisms and, even more important, Chloe’s body language and expression that said there was more going on here than chitchat. In the upscale business area of downtown Atlanta the woman stood out as someone who had definitely seen hard times. She was very much out of place here.
What were they talking about?
The more Kevin stared, it came to him that he was pretty sure he’d seen this same woman before. Weeks and weeks ago, in that very spot. He didn’t recall if Chloe and the woman had had an exchange, but he had the suspicion that the encounter he was watching was not the first time.
If the woman was just a habitual beggar he could understand if Chloe was moved to help out whenever she saw her, and he wouldn’t have been the least surprised. What Kevin knew of her background showed that, for years, even as an undergraduate, Chloe had a sensitivity and commitment to help people less fortunate than herself, especially women and young girls. But something else was going on here.
“Ah…CB…look, this doesn’t sound urgent. Let me get back to you.”
Kevin put down the cell, his gaze still directed to the scenario across the street. He released his seat belt, having decided to see for himself what was going on, and to make sure that Chloe was all right.
She was shaking her head, holding up her hand as if to ward the woman off, make her stay back. The woman, for her part, didn’t seem threatening, at least not physically. But she certainly appeared in need of help and was pleading a case for herself, given her gestures and expression and the wringing of her bony hands.
Just as Kevin was about to step out of the car Chloe opened her purse, took out money and thrust it into the open palms of the woman. The woman grinned her thanks profusely, as also indicated by her nodding head. Chloe then hurried to the building in a little run and pushed through the revolving door. Behind her the woman was still calling out her thanks. She counted her bounty while slowly walking away.
Kevin sat back and closed his door. And he continued to sit, watching the woman until she’d disappeared a few blocks away into the crowds. He picked up his cell and punched in Chloe’
s office number. But he hung up on the first ring. Suddenly, he didn’t think it was necessarily a good idea to let her know he’d watched her and what had happened. Suddenly, Kevin sensed that it might be far more complicated than he had the information to understand.
“This box is done,” Kevin said, lifting a cardboard file box and moving it to a table with other, similar boxes.
Each was filled with neatly alphabetized registration packets. They consisted of bright neon nine-by-twelve Lucite envelopes, that themselves contained copies of the homecoming schedule, program, instructions like guest house assignment, parking vouchers, tickets and passes. Everything the returning Hollington students needed for a successful reunion weekend at their alma mater.
Kevin put the box down and turned to watch Chloe. She hadn’t even responded to his comment, and he knew she was deeply distracted. But frowning, he was unsure as to whether her concentration was all about the work at hand, or if there was something else on her mind. Usually happy to banter and spar verbally with him, and not giving much quarter, she had been unusually quiet since they’d arrived at the alumni offices, which was agreed to be used as a staging area for stuffing envelopes.
But even the afternoon before, when he’d called her at her office to confirm the meeting, Chloe had not really been present. Even teasing and baiting her had not gotten a rise out of her.
Something was wrong. Something was troubling her.
Is it me? Kevin had asked himself a dozen times. Were the homecoming details and a full-time job becoming overwhelming? Or did Chloe’s pensive withdrawal have anything to do with that woman he’d seen her with outside her office? He was willing to bet it was the latter. If for no other reason than that he’d covertly sat and watched the two women meet and talk two additional times.
By then Kevin was worried and concerned.
Who was this woman, and what was her hold over Chloe?
“I could use something to drink. I think I’ll check out the vending machines downstairs,” he said to Chloe. “Can I get you something?”
She didn’t answer, didn’t even appear to have heard him.
Frowning, Kevin approached and gently touched her shoulder. Chloe started, her gaze wide on his face.
“What?”
“I was asking if you want something to drink. I’m going to the first floor.”
She shook her head, “No, thanks. I’m fine.”
Kevin wanted to argue otherwise but instead left her in the room with her other two volunteers from the committee while he went in search of the machines. But actually, he didn’t do that right away, either. He waited until he reached the first floor and continued out the entrance and began strolling the narrow pathway that wound, in part, around the building. He took out his cell phone and keyed in a number.
“It’s Kevin…I’m fine, CB…I’m still on the campus with Chloe…Yeah, I know I should be at the party tonight, but I wanted to hang around a bit…No, I haven’t asked her, yet. She’s smart, CB,” he said dryly. “She’ll get suspicious and want to know why I’m asking. I have a feeling she doesn’t like asking for help. She’s used to taking care of herself. Let’s face it, she’s done pretty good…I’ll check in with you later tonight. I want to make sure Chloe gets home okay…Yeah, I will.”
Kevin slipped the phone back into his pocket, more frustrated than ever. He was hoping that CB would have some news for him. Maybe it was too soon. It was only three days ago that he’d asked CB to come with him on his second surveillance of Chloe and the stranger. There was no guarantee that they’d actually see anything but, sure enough, the scenario that Kevin had witnessed by accident was being played out again. He and CB watched silently from his Nissan 350Z, parked discreetly a half block away.
He had not told CB anything about the meetings, but had only said that he wanted to show his assistant something. They’d had to wait about twenty minutes before Chloe appeared, wearily to Kevin’s way of thinking, to approach the building and lower her gaze to the ground when she realized the woman was waiting for her, again.
“I want you to just watch,” Kevin had said quietly to his assistant.
The scene was repeated as before. Except this time there was less of an argument from Chloe, more resignation. There was distinct distress in her fine features and the furrowing of her brow. But now Kevin could also detect anger and frustration.
The exchange lasted less than a minute. Chloe hurried into the building, and the woman wandered away.
Kevin sighed deeply and settled back against his seat.
“Well, what do you think?”
“She’s being squeezed,” CB said smoothly. “The lady is being hit up for money.”
“Okay, I think I get that. Any idea why?”
“Blackmail, most likely. Why else? Secrets. Bad news. Information. Lies. Take your pick.”
Kevin tapped his fingers in agitation against his steering wheel, and scowled helplessly out his windshield.
“You don’t like what’s happening to her, do you?”
Kevin was slow in responding. Thoughtful. He shook his head. “No, I don’t think I do.”
“The lady mean something to you?”
Again he took his time answering. He nodded. “Yeah. I think she does.”
CB sat silent for a moment.
“She sure ain’t like the others, don’t mind me saying so.”
Kevin chortled. “You noticed.”
“I get paid to notice things, remember? Want me to check out the other one? Try to find out what she’s up to?”
“If you can, I’ll owe you big time.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’re cool.”
“I don’t want Chloe to know, CB. Maybe I’m way off base.”
“No problem. I’ll be careful.”
Kevin, still deep in thought, reentered the building. He was about to start up the stairs when he remembered his reason for stepping away. He went to the vending machine and perused the choices. He got something for everyone and then headed back. Kevin distributed the drinks to the appreciative thanks of the volunteers. He sat next to Chloe and gently took a pile of papers out of her hands and folders from her lap. He replaced the papers with a bottle of apple juice.
Chloe looked at him blankly, and then her gaze filled with warmth and a look that he’d grown to feel was reserved just for him. Her hair was pulled back in an unglamorous ponytail, and she wore no makeup. And she looked about eighteen years old. The exact way she would have looked, Kevin noted, when they were in school. Incomprehensible to himself, he was very glad he hadn’t met Chloe then.
She smiled. “Thank you. I could use something to drink.”
“Despite your comment to the contrary when I asked you ten minutes ago.”
“Oh,” Chloe murmured wryly. “Was I completely zoned out?”
“Totally. Want to call it a night?”
“No. We don’t have that many nights left. If we can get the registration packets done tonight, I can move on to writing up a list of signs I need and give it to the print shop tomorrow. We need individual ID badges, and special ones for the children with cell phone numbers printed as well, in case they get separated from parents. You know it’s going to happen. Plus…”
“You’re tired,” he interrupted calmly. But had an ulterior motive in hinting at a work stoppage for the night.
“So’s everybody else. And you’ve been really fantastic about helping me, Kevin. This is so way and above what you were asked to do.”
“I did it for you. You can count on me, Chloe. But don’t think I’m not going to spend the capital I’ve earned.”
She almost blushed. “Really? Want to give me a hint?”
“Absolutely not.”
Then Chloe seemed to become completely aware of where they were and that they were not alone. She still gave him one more personal look.
“Thank you,” she mimed again, silently.
Kevin leaned a little closer. “You can show me how much, later.”
Chloe stepped into the stall and under the spray of water. She let it soothe her and cleanse away the cloak of worry that she couldn’t seem to shake and that was becoming more and more oppressive. She braced her hands against the tiled wall, and the water hit her shoulders, massaging the tension and running it off down her spine, and over her buttocks.
She had begun sleeping badly, waking up in the night with images of Billie haunting her, with the fear of discovery making her almost nauseous, and the deep concern that everything she’d worked so hard for would be taken away. But the worst was imagining Kevin’s reaction, his rejection, once he knew who she really was. She had come from the streets, didn’t have a father and had never even known him. The name Jackson was his only legacy to her, but even Billie had admitted she couldn’t remember what man had gotten her pregnant with Chloe when she was seventeen years old. Even her name, Chloe, had been a by-product taken from a pair of designer sunglasses Billie had somehow acquired. Chloe had been stamped in gold on an inside arm.
I’m completely made up. Not real. I don’t belong anywhere, or to anyone.
That was the mantra that she’d been living with for weeks, ever since her mother had miraculously found her and succeeded in insinuating herself back into her life.
“Oh, God.” Chloe moaned, letting the water spray her face.
What am I going to do?
“Chloe? You okay?”
She sighed. Then inhaled. “Yes, I’m fine.”
After another moment the shower curtain slowly pushed back. She instinctively crossed her arms over her chest and glanced over her shoulder. Kevin stepped in stark naked behind her, his long, lean body filling the stall and crowding them together.
“Kevin! What are you doing?”
“Whatever I can to conserve natural resources.”
“There’s not enough room for both of us.”
Moving her aside he got under the spray, turning around completely to get wet. Chloe let Kevin turn her around so that her back was to him.
“Let me,” he said.
