by KC Michaels
“I didn’t say you weren’t.”
“So cut the crap and tell me what's really going on here.”
“There is nothing going on here.”
“Look contrary to what my sister believes I do care about her. I know when something isn't adding up. I saw you follow after them but keep your distance. You’re not just a good friend of Jaxon's are you?” There was a beat of silence. “Are you going to answer me?”
“I already did,” he said flashing his pearly whites as he perused her appreciatively.
“Does that smile usually work for you?” she asked.
“What are you talking about?”
She put her hand on her hip. “Don’t think I don’t see what you are trying to do.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “What is it I’m trying to do? Please enlighten me.”
“I think you are trying to seduce me to make me forget I want some answers.”
“I believe I answered your question. I was not trying to seduce you but if I were, is it working?” He kept his lips in a straight line and forced back a smile. Kelsey’s reply was more of a huff than an answer.
“You have spunk. I like that,” he added.
“You have no idea how much spunk I have,” she blurted, but her tone was far from as playful. “I wouldn’t be interested in a man like you if you were the last man on earth.”
“A man like me? What sort of man do you think I am? You don’t even know me so I highly doubt you can judge the kind of man I am. Maybe I wouldn’t be interested in you, if you were the last woman on earth.”
They were both glaring at each other when Kate appeared.
“What's going on here?” Kate noticed immediately the way both Royce and Kelsey were looking at each other – like they were ready for war.
“Maybe you could ask your sister about that because I really have no idea. I’m going to find Jaxon.” He left in a huff and Kate eyeballed Kelsey.
“I don’t like that guy,” Kelsey muttered.
“Why, did he turn you down for sex?”
Kelsey took a steadying breath. “I can’t take this any longer. I need to tell you what really happened with between me and Eldon.”
“It’s Eldon and I, and it’s not necessary Kelsey. I know exactly what happened.
“No you don't Kate! You only know what you think you saw.”
“I saw you in my hotel room, in my wedding bed, with my fiancée. What more do I need to know?”
“Kate I never slept with Eldon.”
“Ha, you expect me to believe that?”
“Yes I do. Look, there were rumours going around that Eldon had been propositioning some women in town. I wanted to tell you but I didn't want to hurt you unless I knew it was true. The day of your wedding I followed him up to your hotel room to confront him. He was already three sheets to the wind. He tried to kiss me and I pulled away from him, but he got angry and grabbed me, pulling me down onto the bed. He forced himself on me. I'm sorry Kate, I swear it. I would never do that to you. You are my sister and you mean more to me than anything else in this world.”
“It took you years to come up with that story? You are telling me that Eldon forced you. What kind of fool do you take me for?”
“I know you don’t believe me Kate but I am telling you the truth.”
“Save it Kelsey. After dad's party tomorrow, I am out of here and I’d appreciate it if you would stay out of my way. And… stay away from Jaxon.”
“I have no intentions of going near Jaxon.”
“Good because unlike Eldon, I love him with all my heart and soul. If you as much as smile at him, I will tell mom and dad everything you did to me; the real reason why I left. Got it?”
“Does he love you?”
“What?”
“Jaxon, does he love you?”
“My relationship with Jaxon is none of your business.”
“Kate, I just want to make sure you are happy.”
“If you want to make me happy you will do what I asked and stay out of my way.”
At the sound of a cough Kate and Kelsey both turned around only to see Jaxon was standing in the door way.
“Oh Jaxon I didn't know you were there.” Kate didn’t know what else to say, she could feel the colour of her face change to crimson. He remained expressionless. Maybe he hadn’t heard anything; she hoped he hadn’t.
“I'm just going to go watch some baseball with your dad.”
“Okay sure,” Kate Replied uncomfortably.
It was past midnight and Jaxon still hadn't come to bed. She’d heard her father turn in an hour ago; but Jaxon hadn't come upstairs with him. He was avoiding her again. She closed her eyes when she tasted her salty tears.
The apartment was easy to find. Jaxon banged loudly on the door. He had called Jon Maxwell in the middle of the night to dig up some information on Eldon Riggs. There was something about the way Kelsey looked when she told her sister that Eldon tried to rape her that caused him to believe it was possible she was telling the truth and he couldn’t get it out of his mind. Maxwell had provided him with the address, which happened to be right above ,The Double Scoop, in addition to some other very interesting information. After a few more loud knocks, a half asleep Eldon came to the door in his boxers.
“What the hell do you want man?”
“We need to talk, you and me,” Jaxon said menacingly.
“Yeah I don't think so,” Eldon replied. He tried to slam the door shut but Jaxon was prepared for that and had his foot stuck in the way. He pushed Eldon aside and forced his way in.
“What do you want?” Eldon demanded. “I’m gonna call the police.”
“Good, call them,” Jaxon goaded. “While you’re at it why don’t you tell them how you raped Kelsey?"
Eldon was horrified, not because it wasn’t true, but because it was and he was busted. “That’s a lie. What did that slut tell you? She wanted it, don't think for a minute she didn't."
Jaxon pushed him into a chair at the small two person table that was sitting against the wall of the tiny kitchen.
“You better watch your tongue or I will cut it out."
Eldon seemed to believe Jaxon’s threats were serious. Jaxon looked downright scary at the moment.
“Okay man, what the hell do you want from me?”
“I want you to tell Kate the truth. I want you to tell her that her sister didn’t betray her. That’s what I want from you.”
“So I can go to jail? No way – forget it.”
“I am warning you, if you don't set things straight, you have a lot more to worry about than a few years jail time. By the way, I did some digging on you and it seems you have been a busy boy over the past few years. It looks like Kelsey wasn't your only conquest.” Eldon turned white as a ghost. “I suggest you start talking or I am going hand over all the information I have on you to the sheriff as soon as I leave here.”
“Okay, look. I was drunk; I didn’t really know what I was doing. I might have fallen on her, maybe she misunderstood.”
“And your pants accidentally fell off and your teeny tiny little wiener just happened to hit the right spot.”
Eldon ignored the reference Jaxon made to his penis size. “No, we actually hadn't gotten that far. I swear. I didn’t get it in her her because Kate walked in.”
“Kate walked in just as you were about to force her sister to have sex with you?”
“I wasn't going to—”
Jaxon didn't let him finish his denial. He grabbed Eldon by the balls and squeezed hard. “I suggest, unless you want to lose these, you are going to tell me the truth.”
“Okay,” Eldon exclaimed. “Let me go and I swear I will tell you.”
“No, not until you say it.”
“Okay, okay,” he huffed in pain. “I did it okay. I tried to force her to have sex with me, but she was asking for it, walking around town with her short skirts and tight shirts. You have to understand man, I was starving. Kate wouldn’t give it up and, after I
had a few drinks in me, I got carried away.”
Jaxon let the balls go and closed his hand into a fist. He punched Eldon as hard as he could, in the face. Blood gushed everywhere and Eldon shouted an inaudible curse.
“You are lucky I left your balls intact." Jaxon pulled the recording device from his coat pocket.
“What is that?” Eldon choked out through the blood that was pouring from his nose.
“This is your confession.”
“The sheriff won't believe you. I’ll tell him you forced me to say those things. I’ll deny all of it.”
“This isn't for the sheriff, this is for Kate. You are going to tell the sheriff everything including the stories regarding the other women in the other counties. If you don’t, I promise I will castrate you, got it? You have two hours.” An evil smile then crept across Jaxon’s face. “By the way, be careful when you get up from that chair. The floor is wet.”
Eldon looked to the floor and saw a large puddle at his feet it came from the big wet spot on the front of his boxers. By this time Jaxon was outside but he could hear the man start to cry like a baby. It gave him great satisfaction. Almost as much satisfaction as the confession gave him.
***
CHAPTER 23
Kate was sitting at the breakfast table nursing her coffee when Jaxon walked in. He had two tubs of ice cream in his hand. Her heart went aflutter. When she awoke in the morning and realized he had never came to bed she feared he might have left and gone back to Manhattan.
“You went to the Double Scoop? Don't tell me, you had an ice cream craving?”
“Not quite,” he answered mysteriously as he put both tubs into the refrigerator freezer. The seriousness in his tone was alarming.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
Jaxon pulled the mini recorder out of his pocket. “I think you might want to hear this,” he said.
“Okayyy” She said slowly as she was confused.
Before he had a chance to play Eldon's confession, Kelsey came in through the back door with Royce. They were both smiling about something. Seeing both sets of eyes on her, Kelsey stopped.
“Sorry, I didn't know you two were in here.”
It's okay Kelsey,” Jaxon chimed in. “I think you should stay. I have something for Kate and it concerns you too." Kate gave him a slanted look of confusion.
“Okay,” Kelsey replied with the identical look of confusion.
Jaxon placed the recorder on the table. Both Kate and Kelsey eyed the tiny silver device.
“I don't understand,” Kate said. What is that?”
“It's a voice recorder. I paid a visit to Eldon this morning. Everything Kelsey claimed is true and this is proof he tried to rape her. Straight from his mouth.”
Kate was speechless. She didn’t know what to think.
“I think you two need a minute alone,” he added. “Royce and I will be outside.”
Jaxon pressed play on the recorder before walking away. Royce followed him out. Both women listened to the recording twice, in absolute silence. They heard Eldon’s voice—his confession.
“Kelsey, why didn't you tell me this then?”
Kelsey was in the chair across from Kate, she was quiet at first as if trying to figure out how she was going to answer her sister’s question. “I don't know. Maybe, I was scared. I should have, but I was embarrassed and I didn't want to hurt you any more than you had been hurt already. And then there was mom and dad. Mom would have been so upset and I’m sure dad would have killed him—he would have ended up in jail. It would have destroyed the entire family. The day you left I was so close to telling you but then I realized if I did you never would have left. You would have stayed here with me and you never would have followed your dreams of becoming a doctor. ”
“Jesus Kelsey, you hid this all these years for us. I am so sorry this is my fault I should have known you never would have done something like that to me.”
“No Kate, it wasn't your fault. I was the stupid one who should have told you about Eldon long before that day. I never should have confronted him like that. I was the one who chose to keep this from you all these years.”
Kate finally stood and went to her sister. “Kelsey I am so sorry I doubted you. Please, can you forgive me?”
Kelsey hugged Kate tightly. “God Kate, I never blamed you.”
They stood there for several more minutes crying, laughing and apologizing to one another. There was so much to talk about—a decade worth.
Outside, Jaxon and Royce sat across one another on a shaded picnic table under a large oak tree.
“You can tell me it’s none of my business but what was that about anyway?” Royce finally asked Jaxon as the silence was driving him crazy.
Jaxon looked up at him but didn’t answer.
“Okay, none of my business I get it.”
“It’s not my business to tell,” he finally said. “Let’s just say, it was a misunderstanding between sisters and I helped clear the air.”
“Fair enough,” Royce replied, seeming to accept Jaxon’s answer. “You are in love with Kate aren’t you?”
Rather than answer the question Jaxon picked up the empty ice cream bowls. “We should go back inside.”
Royce nodded, obviously conceding to the fact that not only was Jaxon not willing to talk about other people’s personal lives, but he was going to remain tight lipped about his own as well.
They returned to the kitchen to find both women with puffy eyes and tear stained faces. Jaxon noticed a subtle change in Kate’s stance. It was like the weight of betrayal, that she carried since he met her, was lifted from her shoulders. It was a minute before Kate realized the men were back in the kitchen. The sound of the empty bowls hitting the sink got her attention. She immediately ran to Jaxon and wrapped herself around him.
“Thank you.” She had no idea how he happened upon Eldon and right now she didn’t care. She would forever be grateful.
He nodded. She smiled at him with all the love she could muster. She wanted him to know how much this moment meant to her.
He kissed the top of her head and then stepped back to look at her. There was a slight pause, “You two have some catching up to do."
Kate saw it. She saw something in his eyes for a brief moment. Tenderness, which she could have sworn meant he cared for her more than he ever let on to her. But then it was gone. As fast as it came, it left.
“He loves you,” Kelsey voiced her opinion, once the men were gone again.
Kate sighed and sat back down at the table. “If only that were true.”
“Oh come on Kate you can't be serious. No guy would do what Jaxon just did, if he wasn't in love. He even came to meet your parents for God sakes and he brought his best friend along.”
“It's not like that,” Kate muttered.
“Not like what?"
Kelsey waited for an explanation as her sister took a deep breath.
“I have something to confess. Jaxon is not, technically, my boyfriend and Royce is not his best friend.”
“What do you mean not technically?”
She figured she may as well tell her because like her best friend Jade, Kelsey was another one who wouldn’t rest until she knew the truth.
Kate filled Kelsey in on everything that had happened. She told her about Jade and Kenny and how she met Jaxon. She offered basic details regarding their relationship, but she failed to mention that he is actually the only man she had ever been with in her life. Kelsey would only blame herself for Kate’s inability to have a relationship in the past.
“My God Kate I hope the police catch this Kenny guy soon.”
“Yes me too Kate agreed, she was tired of worrying and always looking over her shoulder plus she really wanted to be able to go back to her own home. It would make this thing between her and Jaxon a hell of a lot less complicated if they didn’t have to live together.
“So Royce isn't the best friend. I had my suspicions about him.”
<
br /> “No, he's security… a body guard.” Kelsey blushed.
“Oh my god, Kelsey!”
“What?” Kelsey asked innocently, acting like she had no idea what her sister was talking about.
“You like him.”
“Who?”
“Royce! Don’t play stupid with me. I can see it all over your face.”
“Don't be crazy, he's not my type,” Kelsey stated, and Kate was less than convinced.
“A super nice sexy guy like Royce isn't your type?”
“Don't forget funny," Kelsey added and she couldn’t keep the smile from her face any longer.
“Funny? I didn’t know that about him,” Kate admitted. He’s always so serious around me. I think you should go for it.”
Kelsey shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“I saw the way he looked at you Kels. He likes you too.”
Her sister’s smile slowly became a frown. “Kate, I need to confess something to you.”
“What is it?"
“I have never had a boyfriend.”
“What?” Kate didn’t try to hide her surprise at her sister’s admission
“I have tried dating but, when it comes to the intimate parts, I get scared and I run.”
“Oh Kelsey, we are so much alike it’s scary.”
“What do you mean Kate?”
Kate shook her head “Another story for another time, we have a lot to catch up on.” She sighed, “Let’s just say this thing with Eldon really did a number on us both.”
“Did you love Eldon Kate?”
Kate thought about that question. Compared to how she felt about Jaxon she knew she didn’t love Eldon.
“To be honest Kelsey it was more the idea of marriage and a family that I was in love with not Eldon. I wanted what mom and dad have.”
“Do you want that with Jaxon?” Kate thought back to that argument she had with him at her hotel in Chicago when he told her something like that was never going to happen between them.
“No I don’t.” She was lying to Kelsey and trying to convince herself.
The phone rang and Kelsey jumped up to answer it.
