by Lexi Blake
“Okay, that made me terribly uncomfortable.” Caleb went back to staring at the floor.
“He has a very bent sense of humor,” she acknowledged. She turned to Nate. “Is there any way you can manage to get my son-of-a-bitch ex to come in for questioning?”
“I’m working on it,” Nate replied.
The double doors to the station house opened, and Logan and Cam walked in. Cam had a big grin on his face, but Logan merely stared at Alexei. Scott Lang walked in between them. He wore his thousand-dollar suit with casual grace, and his eyes almost immediately found hers.
“He came in quietly once we told him his son was involved,” Cam explained. “We were lucky. He was at a political rally in Pagosa Springs about thirty minutes away.”
“Son, what happened? Are you safe?” Scott hadn’t changed in years. He still looked every inch the immaculate politician. He was perfectly groomed, perfectly dressed. Not a single hair dared to stray from his chosen style. His features had been built for TV.
Alexei was too dark, too brooding. He was gorgeous, but he’d had a hard life and it showed in his eyes. Caleb’s hair was twelve kinds of out of place. And his T-shirt was never tucked in. It was only a miracle it wasn’t wrinkled.
Scott was perfect, and now she wondered what she’d ever seen in him. Her men were the perfect ones.
“I’m fine, Dad. Not a singe on me, thanks to Mom’s boyfriend.” Micky seemed to take particular delight in pointing to Caleb.
Scott turned to Caleb. “You look incredibly familiar. If you saved my son, I thank you.”
Caleb got up and mumbled as he turned away. “No problem.”
“Logan, Cam, we need to run a 703. This could get messy.” Nate hopped off the desk. “Cam, you know what to do. Logan, behave.”
The deputies walked around the back of the group.
Nate faced off with Scott. “Congressman, I don’t know what my deputies told you, but someone blew up your ex-wife’s car today. And yesterday she nearly died in an accident that seems mighty planned to me.”
Scott’s hands dropped. “Are you serious? I thought this was something Micky had come up with. He’s a devious one. Is this a joke? Did someone actually try to kill Holly?”
If he was acting, he was spectacular.
Micky stood up and faced his father. “Yes, Dad. I was there. Someone blew up Mom’s piece-of-shit car. She needs a new one. I think you should buy it.”
Scott shook his head. “Don’t try my patience, son.” He turned to Holly, his voice going deep. It was the same tone he used to let voters know he felt their pain. “Are you all right?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
And just like that his sympathy evaporated. “What have you gotten yourself into? Who is this boyfriend? What’s he into? If he’s dangerous, I don’t want him near my son. Micky, our deal is off. You can get your ass in the car. You’re coming home. And don’t throw those pictures in my face. You want to ruin my career, go ahead. I won’t save my fucking career in exchange for my son. Holly, you get in the car, too. We’re leaving. You can stay in the guesthouse.”
Both of her men started toward Scott, and Holly finally understood what a 703 was. It was code for “keep the douchebag alive.” Cam put a hand on Alexei, and Logan stood in front of Caleb.
“You are not taking our woman anywhere, dolbo yeb. Zhopa!” Alexei went off in a litany of Russian, most of which sounded like curses.
“You touch her and I will find a horrible way for the Russian to kill you,” Caleb promised. “I took the Hippocratic oath. He didn’t.”
Scott looked between the two men. “I thought the ginger was your boyfriend. Oh, god, Holly. Not you, too. This town is just wrong.”
Holly stood her ground. It was long past time to make a stand. “It isn’t wrong, and I’m not leaving. And yes, they are both my boyfriends. And Micky knows.”
Micky grinned. “Total thumbs-up, Mom. They are hot! Dad’s still doing the political equivalent of the pancake waitress.”
“Micky!” Holly and Scott managed to say it at the same time.
And she realized something.
“You love him.”
Scott’s face went softer than she could remember seeing it in decades. “Of course, I do. He’s my boy.”
“He’s gay, Scott.” There were still people who could have a problem with their son’s sexuality. It could cost him votes.
“Yeah, I figured that out when he was six and asked for Cher to sing at his birthday party. I’ve always known,” Scott admitted. “He thinks I got rid of Tristan because he was a boy. I would have gotten rid of a girl at this age, too. He’s too young. He’s way too young to even think about settling down. Damn it, he’s my son. He can’t know what he wants at this age. He thinks he’s in love, but in the end, he’ll love his career more and he’ll end up wrecking someone’s life. Someone he loved. Just…just not enough. Is it wrong that I wanted to spare him that? To spare Tristan that pain?”
She shook her head. She would never forgive him for what he’d done to her. But she didn’t need to brood over it anymore. “Scott, he’s not you. And he’s not me.”
Scott took a step toward her. “Babe, you know you’re the only woman I ever loved.”
Cam got into a defensive position. Alexei went off in Russian again. Caleb simply stared at Scott.
Holly held out a hand, trying to let her men know that she had this one handled. “Oh, Scott, your love wasn’t worth much, was it?”
He didn’t even look offended. “No. Which is why Connie and I work and you and I didn’t. She doesn’t give a crap as long as I keep her in Prada. But you, oh, you needed more. I hope these assholes are giving it to you. Our son is the best thing I ever did.”
“He blackmailed you.” Holly was a little surprised at the way Scott talked.
Scott smiled, a fierce turn of his lips. “That’s my boy. He’s ruthless. I’ve never been more proud than I was the day he took down the old man. My other two kids are bleating sheep. They’re tax deductions. Nothing more. But our Micky, he can be anything because he won’t accept less. I’m proud to be his dad.”
“Yeah, that’s going to go over so well with your little old lady supporters and the church groups,” Micky pointed out.
Scott sighed. “Well, I wasn’t going public with my support. Son, fuck whoever you want. Just do it in private. And for god’s sake, don’t do it like your mother. She has it all wrong. It’s two girls and one man. Though I will admit, your mother is certainly pretty enough for two men.”
“She’s not going to sleep with you, Dad,” Micky said, groaning a little.
“Ewww! I am not.” Holly wouldn’t touch Scott with a ten-foot pole.
Scott shrugged. “You can’t blame a guy for trying. You look good, Holly.”
“Yob tuvoyiu mat!” Alexei pressed against Cam.
“Uh, Sheriff, he’s really strong.” Cam looked like he was one of those tackle dummies football players used.
“Alexei, down!” Caleb snapped. “Holly made her choice. She chose us. She isn’t going anywhere. He’s doing nothing but making an ass of himself. And, unfortunately, I don’t think he tried to kill her.”
“Kill Holly?” Scott turned to the sheriff. “Sheriff, I’m an asshole. I’ll sign the paperwork proclaiming it, but I would never physically harm Holly. I love her. As much as I’m capable of love, I love her.”
She looked at her men, who appeared ready to do everything they had promised. “He’s not capable of much. But I’m pretty sure he didn’t try to kill me.”
Nate frowned. “He was in Denver yesterday?”
“Yeah. He was in Denver at a rally and then Pagosa Springs today,” Cam replied, eyeing Alexei like a tiger who was about ready to pounce. “But he probably wouldn’t do this himself. I ran his financials on the way out to pick him up. If he paid someone, he did it from a secret account.”
Scott’s foot tapped impatiently against the floor. “I didn’t try to kill my wife. Ex-wife
. I wouldn’t do that.”
Nate’s eyes rolled. “Fine. You can go. I sincerely suggest you get the hell out of my town before the Russian decides to take your head off. I think Doc there will let you get by, but the Russian has gone a while without killing someone. I’m worried about him.”
“Doctor?” Scott looked at Caleb, his mouth dropping. “Holy shit. You’re Caleb Sommerville.”
“Damn it.” Micky frowned at his father. “She didn’t know that.”
Caleb flushed, his skin turning a dark red.
“What?” Holly asked. “You’re wrong. His last name is Burke.”
Jessie put her hands up. “Alexei, you can’t blame me for this one. I didn’t let the cat out of the bag.”
“What are you talking about? Alexei?” She turned to Alexei, who seemed to know something she didn’t.
Alexei’s rage seemed to flee in favor of a deep guilt. It was written in the lines that creased his face. Cam stepped back as though realizing the threat had passed.
“Dushka, everyone in Bliss hide something,” Alexei said. “Caleb does not like his original name. That is all.”
Oh, but it wasn’t. Alexei might be an excellent liar, but he didn’t seem capable when it came to her. There was something else going on, but she let it go. She turned to Caleb. She still wasn’t sure what was such a big deal. Alexei was right. A lot of people came to Bliss because they wanted to forget something. “Sommerville is a little stuffy, babe. I like Burke better.”
“You’re okay with it?” Caleb asked. Every muscle seemed tense.
She shrugged. “Why would I care? Lots of people change their name. Laura changed hers. Rachel did, too. Nell went through a phase where she called herself Moonbeam Laughingstick. I should have changed my name, but I’m way too lazy.”
Micky slapped his hands together. “Good, excellent. Then we’re all happy. Dad, you should ship out. Don’t you have voters to defraud?”
Scott’s eyes narrowed, speculation plain in the blue orbs. “She doesn’t know.”
“Dad.” The word sounded like a warning coming out of Micky’s mouth.
Holly got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Micky knew something, too. Everyone knew except her. She looked at Caleb. “What are they talking about?”
He seemed to find the floor behind her endlessly fascinating. “Nothing that matters. I’m Caleb Burke.”
Scott rubbed his hands together as though something pleased him greatly. “No, you’re Caleb Burke Sommerville of the Chicago Sommervilles. Holly, darling, if you think you couldn’t handle the Langs, you really should meet the Sommervilles. Talk about old money and power. They invented the terms. That family came over on the Mayflower, didn’t they? Well, it didn’t take them long to become one of the premiere families in American politics, and they’ve kept it that way for a couple of hundred years.”
“You’re an asswipe, Dad.” Micky’s fists were clenched.
Holly looked around the room. “Micky, you knew who he was?”
Micky’s eyes turned down. “Yes, Mom. I lived in DC long enough to know who the power players are. I knew who he was the minute I laid eyes on him. And I knew he was different. He wouldn’t be in this town if he wasn’t.”
Scott laughed. “If you think my mother is a monster, you should meet his brother, Eli. He’s in the Senate. There’s talk of a run for the presidency. How is that going to look? The heat’s going to be on, Holly. The great Elijah Sommerville isn’t going to like the fact that his sainted brother is involved with a waitress, and apparently a foreigner. This little ménage of Caleb’s might be exactly what my party needs to bring him down.”
It was happening again.
“Dushka, calm down. Caleb has his reasons.” Alexei’s eyes fairly pleaded with her.
“He managed to tell you.” An icy stubbornness was settling over her.
Alexei shook his head. “No, I discover on my own. I discover what an amazing man he is. Yes, his family is wealthy and powerful, but he choose to be doctor to poor people in Africa. He choose to save peoples. And he choose to come here. He choose you. He might be too stubborn to admit to this, but he loves you.”
Not enough. Never enough. “He didn’t even tell me his real name.”
Caleb’s eyes were flinty stones staring at her. “This is my real name. This is who I am.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
His jaw hardened, and he looked back at the floor. “Because it doesn’t matter.”
“If it doesn’t matter, why didn’t you tell me?”
His eyes came up, and they were cold. So damn cold. “Because I’ve had too many women who were interested in my family and not me.”
She felt her hands shaking. She was right back where she’d begun. She was twenty and in love and under fire. “You thought I was a gold digger. Just like my ex-mother-in-law.”
Scott laughed, a smug, satisfied sound. “If he doesn’t, I assure you his brother will. Caleb Sommerville is worth about fifty million dollars. That’s what your trust is worth, right? And Eli is worth probably a billion. Believe me, Holly, you don’t marry into that family without some heavy vetting. His first wife was a socialite. Caroline Hanover. Good stock. My mother would have approved.”
“Congressman, I think we’ve had about enough of you. Please feel free to go.” Nate gestured toward the door. “My deputies can show you out.”
She’d heard enough. “I think I’ll go, too, Sheriff. We can all agree this is probably not about me. I’ll be at my cabin if you need me.”
Caleb reached out and grabbed her arm. He pulled her close. So close. She could feel the heat of his skin. “I’m not through.”
She wasn’t about to let him manhandle her. “But I am. I’ve played out this scene before. I won’t put myself through it again. I thought the reason you wouldn’t commit was because you hadn’t gotten over your first wife. I can see now that you would never commit to someone like me. Scott told me once that I was excellent mistress material for a man like him. He’s a bastard, but at least he was honest with me.”
Caleb wouldn’t let go. His face tightened. “You pulled me into this. I wanted to stay away. I wanted to be alone, damn it. You made me care about you. Don’t you dare walk away from me now. You sit down and talk this out.”
She pulled away from him. “I think I’ll pass, Dr. Sommerville. You can find some other cheap lay.”
“Dushka, don’t go.” Alexei didn’t touch her, but she could feel his will.
She turned away from him, too. “You knew, and you didn’t bother to tell me. I don’t want to talk to you, either.”
She strode out of the sheriff’s department, Micky hot on her heels.
“Mom,” he called out.
He was the one man she was mad at who she absolutely couldn’t get rid of. “Could you please drive me home, son?”
His face fell. “Sure. But you’re making a huge mistake. He’s not like Dad.”
“I don’t want to talk about this with you. I want to go home. You can’t understand what it’s like. You belonged. You had Lang blood. I can’t do it again. I can’t be the person everyone looks down on. Caleb can talk all he likes, but in the end, he’ll want to be with someone his family will approve of. You heard your father. His wife was a socialite. She fit into that world. When he chose a woman, he chose one who fit into his social network. He’s told me for a year he wasn’t good for me. I should have listened.”
Micky followed her across to Stella’s parking lot where his car was parked.
She was so stupid. Micky was driving a hundred-thousand-dollar sports car, and she’d bought his whole “Dad kicked me out” routine. She also bought Alexei’s sad puppy eyes. He hadn’t even bothered to mention that he had two US marshals tailing him. No one told her anything. That was how much she meant to these men.
Her son she could forgive, but Alexei and Caleb? She wasn’t sure. She’d been an idiot thinking this would work out.
She’d barely open
ed the door to the Benz when Nell came rushing up. She was still in her mime face paint, but her mouth was moving a hundred miles a minute.
“Oh, my god, Holly! I just heard that Sasquatches blew up your car. I mean, I know it was a person. Even Mel knows that now, but are you okay? How did it happen? What went wrong? Do you know who I should protest against?”
Nell’s hands fluttered as she spoke. Holly caught them in her own. Nell immediately calmed.
“I’m fine. Everyone’s fine except my car. My car is now evidence. Don’t worry about it. I think I’m out of the line of fire.” But Alexei wasn’t. Caleb wasn’t. Someone was still trying to hurt one of them. Indecision bit at her. She looked back at the station house. Was she making a mistake?
What the hell was she doing walking away when they were in trouble? But how could she trust them when they’d lied to her?
“Do you need anything?” Nell asked.
Time. She needed some time. “No.”
“She needs a friend with a good head on her shoulders to kick her in the ass,” Micky said, frowning. “She just dumped both of her boyfriends. Can you kick her ass?”
Nell shook her head. “No. I am bad at that. I can hold her hand and pat her back and agree with everything she says. But I think I know just who she needs.”
Before Holly could protest, Nell was in the backseat of the car. She sighed and got in, wondering all the while if Micky wasn’t right.
* * * *
The door to the station slammed shut, and Holly was gone. Alexei wasn’t sure how everything had gone so wrong in such a short period of time. A few hours before, he’d been perfectly happy. Holly had been in his arms. He’d laid her in bed, and she’d immediately fallen asleep. He’d listened to her breathing, and that was when he’d caught sight of Caleb’s closet. It had been left slightly open and there was a pillow and sleeping bag inside. He’d stared at it, a sadness in his heart.
He’d figured out Caleb’s sleeping problem and come up with a plan to fix it. He knew what he wanted to try. He’d crawled back into bed with Holly, utterly content. Everything had been falling into place.
And now it had all blown up as surely as Holly’s car had.
