"Brad!" Angry and frustrated, she said loudly, "Get out!" Why had he shown up now? She’d told Bonnie not to come. What had begun so magically now felt sordid.
Sloan was on the bed one moment, then standing threateningly before Brad in the next instant. Jacie blinked uncertainly.
Brad backed up a step, then stopped, his jaw mulish. Jacie felt momentarily paralyzed. The two men stood face to face, both about the same size.
She swung her legs over the side of the rumpled bed. She hated her position in this. The silence was thick, waiting.
"Forget it, Sloan," she whispered, then cleared her throat. "I can take care of this."
He glanced over his shoulder at her, his mouth a white line. She could see the muscles in his back tense. Walking over to him, she touched his shoulder, the skin warm under her fingertips. She curled her fingers against his warm shoulder. Regretfully, huskily, she said, "Please, I'll talk to him."
Without a word he leaned down and grabbed his shirt, pulling it on as he walked from the room.
The screen door swung back into place with a thud.
"What the hell's going on, Jacie?"
She turned from the sight of Sloan walking away, aware of the dull, heavy ache in her chest. She turned to Brad, outrage sharpening her voice, "You don't have the right to ask me that, especially in that way. What do you think you're doing, coming into my place like this?"
He took a deep breath, putting out his hand. Carefully, she turned away and avoided the contact. Right now, she didn’t want anyone touching her.
"Look―" He expelled his breath harshly, waving a hand, "-- I'm sorry, I was out of line. I shouldn't have stuck my nose in. I’ll go after him and apologize."
"You had no right...have no rights where I'm concerned."
"I know," he agreed, throwing himself into the chair on top of his jacket. His mouth turned down. "I just lost it, I guess. I couldn't believe..."
She felt the color rising to her cheeks. She turned to look out the window, trying not to imagine how it looked to Brad walking in on them. How it was. "You had no right to barge in here."
"I know, I know, I wasn't thinking. Truth is, after I talked to you the other day, I was worried about you. You sounded so distant. I admit I didn't handle things well after the accident―"
"Brad, please." She put her fingers to her temples, rubbing the skin soothingly. "Let's not go over this. Right now I can't handle a post mortem on the past." Not after watching Sloan walk away.
"I know, but I have to...I-I feel like I have to make it up to you. I know I let you down."
"Forget it. As you said, it was a shock. People react differently in shock."
"No, I should have seen the whole picture. I was wracked with guilt, fear, a claustrophobic feeling," his voice thinned. It made her uncomfortable to hear it.
"That day at Angel Falls, I should have let you take the time to check your parachute once more. I make no excuse for it. I can't forgive myself, much less expect you to forgive me.
"That time I came to the hospital, Con wanted to kill me, he would have if your father hadn't gotten between us."
"Leave them out of it," she said tersely. If not for her father, her brothers would have had a free-for-all with Brad. "You can't expect my family to feel otherwise about you."
"I regret walking out on you."
"I got over it, it's time you did, too. I want you to leave right now."
"I can't forget it, I feel like it's there between us, this insurmountable wall."
"There is no wall," she said sadly. Then, more strongly, "There is no us."
"Jacie, please, give me another chance." Strangely, she sensed a real desperation in his voice. "I still love you."
His words shocked her, made her hesitate. She walked to the door. "Brad, don't do this."
He came to his feet, his handsome face hard and determined. "You can't say it's over. We had something really great, we clicked, how can you say you won't even consider trying again?"
Irritated now, she spun to face him. "I lied Brad. It did hurt, your rejection. I don't trust you anymore. I feel like I never really knew you. I thought we would get married and at the first sign of trouble, you bolt."
"You can't turn me away. I won't let you. I'll wear down your resistance," he said urgently. "I’ll show you how much I care. I'll never let you down again. Say you'll at least give it a chance."
"Brad, you're going to leave now. I don't want to be pushed, and that's what you're doing."
He put a hand up, immediately backing off. "Fine, fine. I won't push. I've got some time off, I'm. . .er. . .in between jobs, maybe I could stick around for a bit―"
"No!"
"I won't get in the way. This place looks interesting. Hiking, swimming, riding. I haven't ridden since...since I was a kid. The place is big enough, you'll have your space." He paused, then back-pedaled and said, "What's with you and the cowboy?"
"Leave." The hackles rose as he referred to Sloan as "the cowboy."
"I'd just like to know where I stand."
Disbelieving, she stared at him incredulously. "You and I stand in the same place now as that last day I saw you," she told him baldly. "There is no us." Her words sounded hollow, even to her. What was the matter with her?
"Okay, okay. If I can get a room here for a couple days, can we just go easy, part as friends, at least?"
She wanted to finish this part of her life, once and for all. "I don’t care what you do."
"If they don’t have any empty rooms, how about I bunk down here?"
Letting out an exasperated breath, she said, "No!" She walked through the atrium door and stepped out onto the deck.
"One more thing, Jacie." He stopped in the doorway. He was jangling the change in his pocket, something he did when he was tense. Her ears perked up.
"Bonnie, uh...she's out in the car. She didn't come in because she figures you're really mad at her, considering your earlier conversation."
She muttered an imprecation, closing her eyes. Her stay at the ranch was turning into a three-ring circus. "Gee, I can’t imagine why she would think that." He didn’t move from the open doorway, but the change jangled furiously in his pocket. "Bonnie called early this morning and said she was already on the way here, so what took you so long?"
"Oh, you know Bonnie. She had all kinds of stops to make," he said vaguely. "Listen, I'll catch you later, babe, okay?"
She heard the front door close and she leaned against the railing. She had suddenly landed in the vacation from hell.
Walking around to the front of the cabin, she saw Bonnie's dark blue sedan parked out front with the motor idling. As she stepped in front of the headlights, the driver's door opened and Bonnie stepped out.
"Jacie." Bonnie's voice was low, hesitant, quite unlike her usually confident tones, yet she appeared perfectly groomed as always, her blonde hair tied in a knot on her shoulder, a burgundy silk coat hanging from her shoulders.
Bonnie moved forward to envelope her in a hug, but Jacie stepped back. The other woman halted and frowned, her fingers pulling nervously on the chain around her neck.
"Jacie?"
"Bonnie," she said coolly.
"How are you?"
Jacie sighed. "Come inside." She led the way.
In the light of the living room, she surveyed the hectic flush coloring Bonnie's cheekbones. Curiously, she wondered about the nervous energy driving Bonnie.
Bonnie put her hand out, then let it drop to her side. "I'm sorry about this mess." She pulled a packet of cigarettes from her pocketbook and lit one. "I saw the owner, what was his name? Sloan? I saw him come out of the house after Brad went in. He didn't look too happy."
Jacie gritted her teeth and motioned Bonnie to the couch. The other woman perched on the edge of the cushion.
"As I said earlier, I wanted to make sure everything was okay with you. You know I've been worried, especially since I talked you into this whole skydiving job. You sounded so distant on the pho
ne, almost angry. I really did think I was helping by bringing Brad here."
"I told you not to bring him."
Bonnie moved to the kitchen, ran the water and extinguished her partially smoked cigarette. She turned around, her back to the sink. "I’m sorry. You look great," she said quickly. "When you're ready, say the word and I'll come and get you."
Abruptly, Jacie turned and walked back toward the door. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. Who knows, I might stick around here. Where is Brad?" she asked.
Bonnie waved her hand in the air. "He said something about lodging."
Jacie made no attempt to conceal her rising anger. "I can't believe you did this."
"You're mad...but what else could I do? He feels so bad and you said the police needed to speak with him."
Jacie shook her head. "Something else is going on."
Bonnie, in the act of lighting yet another cigarette, paused. "I don't follow."
"You're a nervous wreck."
Bonnie tossed her lighter back into her purse and stood up, her face now looking pinched and tired. "You sound like you need a longer vacation, Jacie. You're getting mad at the wrong person." She walked toward the door, then paused with her back to her. "I'll leave. Sorry I intruded. I never meant to hurt you." Bonnie half turned toward her, the words spilling from her lips. "I admit Brad caught me at a bad moment. Yesterday was crazy and hectic. I let him persuade me to drop him off here. His luck hasn't been the greatest lately, not that he'd tell you. His car is at the bottom of a lake, and his apartment's been burglarized."
"What are you talking about?"
"There are people after him. He didn't say why."
"And you bring him here?" she said incredulously. "I’m trying to get my life straight, not borrow more trouble."
"Bottom line is, he's been haunting my office day and night, he wants to make up with you." Bonnie turned back to her. "He really feels bad about you two splitting up, he says it was the best time of his life."
Mouth tight, she said, "Bonnie, this is none of your business." Taking a deep breath, she said, "In the future, I don't want you patching anything up. He left me, for God’s sakes. Do you think that feeling of inadequacy just goes away?"
Bonnie's eyes widened. "God, I'm so sorry. I thought maybe you were over that by now."
"It goes deep, Bonnie. How would you feel about a man who took off when you were hurt?"
"I'm really sorry."
"I don't like what you've done." She turned away. As far as she was concerned, the conversation was over.
§ Chapter Twelve §
After a sleepless night, Jacie walked into the lodge early in the morning to find Sloan wasn't anywhere around.
The way they had parted last night left her with a sick feeling inside. She needed to speak to him to set things right but she didn’t know what she would say. How do you explain your old boyfriend just happened to turn up at a most inopportune time? Would he believe her if she said their relationships had been over for a year?
She saw Renee when she returned to the stables.
"Renee," she said. "Have you seen Sloan?"
"He left before first light. He and Donny are bringing in the herds that have been pasturing all summer on the other side of the ranch. It's a full three hour ride out."
"Thanks, Renee."
She decided to take a short hike. Maybe some physical exercise would help still her rioting thoughts.
She had called deputy Bryant earlier and told him Brad was at the ranch. She couldn’t help thinking if Brad hadn’t shown up, she would have awakened this morning in Sloan's arms. The thought caused a trembling to begin in her hands. Damn! Nothing ever went smooth. She turned onto a footpath and concentrated as she climbed a steep incline full of roots and stones.
"Jacie! Wait up."
Brad ran up the hill behind her.
"Are you following me?" she demanded.
"I saw you leave the barn."
Brad wore a dark T-shirt, jogging shorts and running shoes on his feet. Apparently, he had packed several items with the intention of staying. She kept walking. He was the last person she wanted to see now.
He kept pace with her. His dark hair was brushed neatly back from his forehead where hers was wild and damp. That was the difference between them and Jacie supposed it always had been. While he remained cool and in control, she was disheveled, her emotions flying off in tangents.
"You know, Brad, I never thought about it before, but how do you always manage to look so...I don't know, never a hair out of place?"
He looked surprised, but then smiled as if she had paid him a compliment. "Habit, I guess."
She shook her head. "Even during the filming on Angel Falls. The wind was blowing, mist swirling through the air, and yet you looked the same. Look at me, I've probably never had a hair in place my entire life." She knew it was a minor difference, but it underlined all the bigger differences that had made their relationship fail. How had she gotten involved with him? Had she been so caught up in the image he presented that she forgot what was important?
"You're always beautiful," he said, his eyes sweeping appreciatively over her. "I've never seen you otherwise."
She shrugged and walked on again. "You'd be better off with someone like Bonnie."
Brad looked startled, then he frowned. "Why would you say that? Bonnie's a dragon. She'd try to rule any man dumb enough to fall for her. Anyway, I don't want her, I want you." He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.
"Don't." She knew her protest wasn't as strong as it could be.
"I thought I’d let you know I’ve got a meeting this afternoon with someone from the sheriff’s department." His voice was low.
She tried to shrug nonchalantly. "Fine." She stepped back, jamming her hands in her back pockets.
"Are they trying to open an investigation again?" he asked curiously.
"It’s just routine questioning. I’ve had a couple accidents and they want to make sure the incidents aren’t related."
Brad narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by accidents?"
Jacie started to explain and then paused. "Actually, I’m probably not supposed to be talking about it. I guess you can ask the deputy to fill you in." She hurried her pace.
"Where are you off to?" he asked. "Maybe we could meet up later and have a picnic for old time's sake."
"Bonnie told me about your car and your apartment," she said bluntly.
Losing his smile, he looked up at the trees sheltering them. "I've had some tough luck."
"She told me about those guys chasing you." He started to deny it, but she shook her head. "Are they after money?"
His shoulders slumped. She noticed the tired lines beside his eyes, the faint touch of gray in his hair.
"Yeah. Oh, Jacie, I'm in a bind―"
"How much?"
"Eighty thousand."
She could hardly believe what he’d just said.
"I was so sure my next movie would be a hit, I just needed a little more backing."
"So you let that loan shark back you again, just like before?" she asked incredulously.
He nodded. "Only the movie was a flop, and now I'm basically in hiding."
"Maybe if you talk to them―"
"I've stalled them as long as I can, it's the end of the road." His voice took on a new note of urgency. "Jacie, come away with me."
"What?" she asked incredulously.
"We could live out of the country, have a good life together. I've got contacts down in South America." He tried to take her hand, but she backed away, shaking her head.
"I’ve been to South America, remember? It wasn’t something I want to repeat. We're totally different, Brad. Maybe that's why things worked out the way they did. You go for the pomp and splendor and don't care if people get hurt along the way."
"The camera loves you, Jacie. We made a winning team. We can work together again."
She shook her head, the specter of too many shadows between them
. "You take too many chances," she said somberly.
"Let's forget the past. Who says we can't? I know I've made some mistakes."
"I have to wonder where this change of heart comes from."
"It was a shock seeing you hurt so bad. I was suffering feelings of guilt over the accident. I‘ve always loved you."
He reached forward and jerked her into his arms. The suddenness of his action knocked the air from her chest. His dark head lowered. Jacie stared at his mouth, so close, the past sucking her in. Brad’s mouth covered hers, and she breathed him in. Like a whirlwind, their past flew through her thoughts. The good times, their fun times. . ..
Jacie stepped back, breaking the contact. "I don’t love you anymore." It was the truth.
"Jacie," he said quickly, his eyes alight, "it could be like it was before. We still care about each other."
"It's so easy to see now what I missed back then," she said, ignoring what he’d said. "I was so busy being angry and bitter, I missed the most important part. Everything you do is for show, it doesn't mean anything. I don't mean anything to you."
There was a mottling of red on his cheeks as he cleared his throat. "You know how we clicked, we were good for one another. Remember those nights before the jump? We talked about marriage―we went out and got a special license?"
"Which we didn’t use. I got hurt before that."
His eyes narrowed. "It was an accident―a terrible accident. You were in full control when your chute opened."
"Was I?" Jacie frowned. "I wake up at night sometimes, thinking I've missed something. There's a blank there where my memory should be. If only I had the chute so I could look at it. Those shroud lines shouldn't have failed the way they did."
"Are you saying someone messed with your parachute pack?" he asked angrily.
"I feel like I missed something."
"We'll never know what happened. In the hurry to airlift you out the parachute was left behind. It was nobody's fault, least of all yours. Stop worrying about the past. We owe it to ourselves to think about us instead."
"Us..." She shook her head. "I'll never forget the look on your face that day in the hospital, the way you didn't come back. I guess I'm not a forgiving person."
Heartstealer (Women of Character) Page 17
