Baby: A Linear Tactical Romantic Suspense Standalone

by Janie Crouch

  Of it all, this part had been the hardest to swallow. “Peter said that after all the poor choices I’d been making the past few months, my self-sabotage, he called it, he had no choice but to go to the department with the footage when he’d found it. Ten years of marriage, and he hadn’t had the respect to come and talk to me personally. He’d gone and tattled because he thought it would get him brownie points.”

  That had always been Peter’s end game: moving up the academic ladder. When Quinn hadn’t helped him enough in that goal, he’d decided their marriage was over.

  “Please say this is the point in the story when you tell me you jumped across his desk and beat him into the ground? That you got off a few good shots before security reluctantly came and removed you.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. Given everything, it probably wouldn’t have done any more harm to have taken a couple swings at him. “That’s when I brought up the account. I accused him of being a hypocrite—saying I was stealing when he’d done the exact same, but with a lot more money.”

  She shook her head. “He didn’t show an ounce of remorse. Said his name was still legally on the account, so he hadn’t done anything wrong. He claimed he was saving me from myself and the bad decisions I’d been making. I demanded the money back, of course.”

  “But he’d already spent it.”

  “But he’d already spent it,” she agreed. “He’d bought a ring for Nancy. Not an engagement ring, just a ring to make sure I couldn’t get the money.”

  Baby let out a curse. “Now comes the blood?”

  “I’ll admit, I lost my mind. Never in my whole life have I been that angry or lost my composure so completely. I started screaming. Cursing. Calling him every single name I could think of. I was loud. People came running, security was called. I was escorted from the building and pretty much banned from campus.”

  She sighed. “Looking at it rationally now, I understand the university’s response. Campus shootings often get traced back to some furious person. I’m not surprised I lost my job.”

  “I’m sorry.” He reached over and grabbed her hand. “I’m sorry that the one person you should’ve been able to trust to watch your back was the one who stabbed you in it. And I’m sorry that it all spiraled. Losing everything you’ve worked for due to circumstances outside of your control. I also—” he broke off.

  “You also what?”

  “Nothing. I just also hate it for you.”

  “I didn’t think I would ever have an academic job again, so TSC was a blessing.”

  He nodded. “Can I ask something that probably seems pretty inconsequential in the greater scheme of things?”

  “Sure.”

  “Did it feel good to scream at him? To lose your mind and let him have it? Like I said, it would’ve been a better story if you’d taken a lamp to his head, but the yelling...did it feel good?” He smiled conspiratorially. “It had to have felt good.”

  She threw her head back and laughed. She couldn’t help it. Everyone who’d ever heard about what had happened had admonished her that she should have kept her temper. Not have lost control. If she’d been more reasonable, she’d still have her job.

  But Baby had realized the truth.

  “Oh, hell yes,” she muttered emphatically. “I’m not sure I’ve ever felt more alive in my whole life than when I stood over that desk, slamming my hands down and screaming at my bastard of an ex-husband. Even knowing what it would cost, seeing his face when I let him have it was almost worth it.”

  Baby winked at her. “That’s my girl.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “Mr. Bollinger, I wasn’t expecting you until May, when the college semester was over.”

  Baby shook hands with Clifford Reed, a lawyer in Reddington City.

  “Sorry I had to reschedule my appointment from last week.”

  Clifford gestured toward the chair across from his desk. Baby had been meeting with this man once a year for seven years, since Pop had died and Clifford had contacted Baby to let him know about the will.

  “What can I do for you?”

  Baby tried to find the words but faltered. When Clifford had first read the terms of Pop’s will–that the Oak Creek Garage went to Baby free and clear as long as Baby completed a bachelor’s degree in seven years–Baby had been shocked. Clifford had been exceptionally patient with Baby, explaining the details and helping Baby through his initial questions.

  Baby hadn’t been aware that someone could do something like that in a will, but evidently, people could do whatever they wanted. Especially someone like Pop, who didn’t have any family of his own to contest any crazy provisions in a will. All in all, the will itself had been pretty straightforward. Baby could stay on as manager and acting owner, making all decisions, as long as he was taking classes toward the college degree. Every year, he provided proof to Clifford that he was doing so.

  “I need to know if there’s any way out of this,” Baby finally said. There wasn’t any easy way to say it. “Or get some sort of extension or something.”

  Clifford steepled his fingers under his chin, leaning his elbows on the desk as he studied Baby. The man was in his mid-fifties, friendly enough, and had always been straightforward, which Baby appreciated. “You’re so close. Three classes left.”

  But those were going to be the three that put an end to all this. If he hadn’t been able to pass any of them individually, how would he ever pass all three together in one semester? It wasn’t a question of working hard. If that was the case he’d buckle down and do it.

  But it was way more than that.

  “What if there are extenuating circumstances?” he asked. “Things Pop didn’t understand when he decided to write his will this way.”

  Clifford took his glasses off and wiped them with the cloth on his desk. “You know, I discouraged Albert from doing this. He knew he was dying, knew the cancer was going to take him quickly, but I told him that this was a bad idea. That there were things that could happen which might stop you from being able to finish the degree in seven years. What if you got sick yourself? What if there was a family emergency? What if things happened in the world that changed everything?”

  Baby leaned forward. Maybe there was something in the will he didn’t know about, some way that would give him more time. “And?”

  “Albert—Pop—had complete and utter faith in you. He said he didn’t care if it was World War Three, that you would figure out a way to do whatever it was you set your mind to. He believed in you without fail.”

  Baby rested his head in his hands, leaning his elbows on his knees. Hearing this, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to succeed, made it worse.

  “There were things Pop didn’t know. About me. Challenges. This isn’t a matter of not wanting to do it or not being willing to work hard enough. I can’t finish all three of the classes I have left in one semester.”

  Literature, English 101, and Intro to Composition.

  Clifford put his glasses back on. “Baby, in terms of the will, there’s no way around it. If you don’t finish the degree by May, then Oak Creek Garage goes up for sale. Now, you can buy it when it goes up for sale. Nothing against that. The price will be fair market value.”

  Baby looked up at the older man. “It’s not that I don’t want to spend my money, I have some saved.”

  “But Nation Value Automotive is going to be able to pay more than whatever you can afford. I know. They call here once a month, especially knowing that everything changes in May. They don’t know the particulars of the will, but they know the garage might come up for sale.”

  A weight settled in Baby’s chest.

  “Listen, completely off the record, not talking to you as a lawyer and all but a random person... All I need is a piece of paper in May saying you got your degree. How you finish these last three classes...”

  Cheating. That’s what Clifford meant, even if he wasn’t saying it out loud.

  He wasn’t wrong. Baby wouldn
’t be the first college student to pay someone to write some papers so he could pass a class. Hell, before he dropped out of high school, someone did his homework for him all the time, though he’d never paid anyone. He’d been popular enough that people had offered. He hadn’t really thought of it as cheating then, but definitely didn’t have that luxury now.

  “Look,” Clifford continued. “All I’m saying is that I know Albert wanted you to have that garage. This whole college plan was never meant as some sort of test for you to prove that you were worthy. Albert never had any doubt you could do it. He wanted you to run his garage and spoke highly of you and your love of Oak Creek. So, if you need to do something... untraditional to get those last few credits, then I’m not sure you should lose any sleep over it.”

  Baby stood and shook his hand. “I guess either way, I’ll see you in May.”

  A couple of hours later, Baby was sitting on a bench at Teton State College. He hadn’t gone back to the garage after his appointment with Clifford Reed. He’d driven around, and then found himself here, wanting to catch Quinn as she came out of her afternoon class.

  He could see her from where he sat, although she hadn’t spotted him yet. She had her laptop case slung over one shoulder and was talking to two female students, one on either side of her. He watched as she stopped, got her computer out of her bag, and balanced it on one arm, answering whatever question they had.

  Her hair was down.

  Not natural and curly as he preferred, but at least not pulled back in the severe bun.

  She nodded at the young woman on her left when the girl pointed to something on the computer and understanding lit across her features. Quinn smiled widely, nodding again, obviously delighted that the girl grasped what she was saying.

  And in that moment, Baby knew he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t cheat and finish those classes in some unethical way. It wouldn’t have been what Pop wanted, and it wouldn’t be what Quinn wanted, either.

  Hell, it wasn’t what he wanted.

  He wasn’t kidding himself. The chances of him being able to pull this off himself was pretty much nonexistent. But the thought of telling Quinn or anyone else the secrets he’d kept buried for most of his life was almost as unthinkable.

  Rubbing his neck, he let out a sigh and leaned back against the bench.

  “Are you taking classes?”

  Baby looked over at the guy who had sat down on the bench next to him a few minutes after he’d arrived—early twenties, skinny—the type of guy who looked like a student, more into books than physical activities.

  Baby shook his head. “Not right now. Although it looks like I’ll be taking three classes in the spring. How about you?”

  The guy shrugged. “College wasn’t really for me. I’m here waiting for her.” He gestured over toward one of the young women Quinn was talking to, though Baby couldn’t tell which one. “I’ve got something very special planned for her soon.”

  The guy was obviously excited about it.

  “Yeah?” Baby asked, eyes still glued on Quinn. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to have something special planned for Quinn without feeling like he was keeping a huge secret?

  “Yeah,” the guy said. “Something big right here on campus. I hope she’ll never see it coming. It’s so hard to surprise your someone special.”

  Sounded like he was planning to propose, although he barely looked old enough. But good for him. He was barely out of his teens and already had his life together more than Baby. “I hope it goes well.”

  “It will.”

  “Does your friend like her classes?”

  The younger man shrugged. “This new teacher seems much better than the other guy. She used to work at Harvard or something, so I guess it’s not surprising she’s great.”

  Baby smiled. Yeah, not surprising at all. He nodded. “A good teacher can make all the difference.”

  Baby rubbed his eyes. He needed to tell Quinn the truth. But damn it, doing so would only emphasize the vast differences between them. He was already well aware of those differences. To tell her the truth would be to announce his failures.

  One of the girls with Quinn smiled, waved goodbye, and headed off in the opposite direction. The guy next to Baby mumbled a goodbye and jogged after her.

  Baby stood and Quinn noticed his presence. The smile that lit up her face took his breath away.

  Damn it.

  No, he definitely couldn’t do it. If he told her the truth, he’d never see that smile again. Instead, it would be replaced by something else. What he dreaded most.

  Pity.

  He’d kept this secret from everyone for good reason. He wouldn’t deviate from that now, no matter how beautiful the smile.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It was almost as if her thoughts had conjured Baby here. She said goodbye to the other student, who had been looking for clarification on her final project, then walked over to where Baby was standing by the bench.

  “Hey, good looking. How’s about you let me take you out to dinner? There’s a place just outside of Reddington City I’ve been wanting to try.”

  Her heart actually skipped a beat as he studied her face and trailed his thumb down her cheek. “How about you let me take you out to dinner?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “No. You’ve paid for every single date we’ve been on, and now that my debit card seems to be in working order—knock on wood–it’s my turn to take you out.”

  He wound an arm around her waist and pulled her up against him. Students glanced at them as they walked by. It wasn’t a terribly busy time of day—late afternoon courses weren’t overly popular—but there were a few.

  And Quinn didn’t care. Didn’t care if they realized that she was a dozen years his senior. Didn’t care if public displays of affection were borderline unprofessional. She didn’t care. And it felt good.

  He walked with her to her office so she could grab her things. “Please tell me you were here because you’re registering for classes next semester.”

  “I didn’t do it today, but yes, I’m definitely taking some next semester.”

  That eased something inside her. Something that, despite all the good things that had happened between them, she’d been afraid she had broken before she’d known who he was. She grabbed her stuff, locked in the filing cabinet, then reached over to kiss him. “Good. I’m sure you’re going to do much better next semester since nobody’s trying to kill you in an adventure race.”

  He smiled, but it didn’t reach his green eyes. “Let’s hope so.”

  Note to self, still too early to joke about almost dying.

  They’d left Baby’s truck in the parking lot and taken her car. She’d insisted on driving since this was her date and was glad she had when Baby got a video call as they were on their way.

  He shook his head. “Sorry, I’ve got to get this. Important business.”

  She nodded, knowing she had no reason to be disappointed that he would take a call over talking to her. She could hardly remember a dinner she and Peter ever had that he hadn’t taken calls or messages.

  But she smiled as soon as she heard the voices.

  “Uncle Baby!” Ethan and Jess’s exclamation was full of glee.

  “What’s up, rug rats?”

  “We want to play football in the Thanksgria Bowl,” Ethan said. “Actually, I want to play, and Jess is going to cheer from the sidelines.”

  “Hey!” Jess’s outrage at being sidelined brought a grin to both Baby and Quinn’s faces.

  “We talked about this, Jess,” Ethan said out of the corner of his mouth.

  “This discussion is not over,” Jess replied.

  “Damned if they don’t sound like an old married couple,” Baby muttered, and Quinn laughed.

  “Anyway,” Ethan continued. “Mom said that we had to get permission from the guys. Jess and I talked about it and agreed you were our best bet for convincing everyone else. If we can get you on our side, you could work
your magic.”

  Quinn swallowed another laugh. She had to hand it to the kids, they were smart. Baby could, in fact, work magic.

  Baby tapped his lips with a finger. “How about all rug rats under the age of twelve are eligible for one play every four downs?”

  Baby somehow kept a straight face as Jess and Ethan whispered to themselves.

  “I tell you what,” he finally said, “since I’m on a date, and you two are interrupting that, why don’t you discuss it, and then have your people call my people.”

  “Hi, Quinn!” Jess’s greeting rang out before Baby pointed the phone at Quinn. At least the kids weren’t unsure of who he would be on a date with. “I’m so sad that you painted the walls. But I’m glad I got to see them before you did. I’m still working on my mom and dad to get some of that good wallpaper.”

  Quinn smiled. “If anyone can convince them, I know it’s you.”

  Baby turned the phone back toward him. “Okay, you two go find some poopy diapers to change. Leave me alone.”

  The words seemed harsh, but the love and closeness behind them were evident. The kids threatened to tell Quinn about the last time he’d had to change Thomas’ poopy diaper in their presence.

  “Hanging up now.”

  He turned off the video chat before they could respond. “You’ve got to quit while you’re ahead with those two.”

  “They love you.”

  He grinned and this smile didn’t just reach his eyes, it flooded out of them. “I’m their uncle. It’s my job to be the fun one.”

  “Only uncles are fun, not dads?”

  “Dads can be fun too, but in a different way. Dads also have to be the protector, the provider. I’m the one around telling jokes and giving them candy.”

  But he’d obviously thought about having children of his own. About being a dad. She struggled against the rising sadness. Of course, he would want kids. He was twenty-seven years old. Family was obviously the most important thing to him. Half the stories he told her were about growing up with Finn and Wavy and all the trouble they had gotten into.