by Kristi Gold
A good dose of guilt settled over Ford. “I understand.”
“No, you don’t. Not yet. But if you are lucky, you will. And one more thing.”
“Shoot.”
“I have protected her for many years, and I plan to continue to do so for as long as I am living. I will do anything, anything, to make certain she is not harmed. I suggest you keep that in mind. You certainly don’t want to cross me.” And if you do, you won’t live to tell about it, her expression seemed to say.
One helluva scary woman, Ford decided. And it suddenly dawned on him that maybe this frail-looking lady could be a killer. Maybe she’d been the one to take out his grandfather in order to protect Kerry. A possibility, even if it was remote. Or maybe he just didn’t want to believe that Kerry Roarke had been involved in Spencer’s death. Only time would tell, if they ever got out of there so he could find out. “Do you think maybe Kerry’s ready?”
She glanced at the clock set in the middle of a white marble mantel. “You are several minutes early.” Again she nailed him with another severe glare. “I’ve always admired promptness, but then perhaps you are more eager than you should be.”
Damn. Ford hadn’t gotten this much cross examination since Grant had caught him playing with matches in the barn when he was ten years old. “I promise you I’ll treat Kerry well.”
“I am going to hold you to that promise, young man. That you can count on.” Gripping the chair’s arms, she pushed herself up slowly. “I shall go and see if she has completed her preparations.”
“I’m here, Millie.”
At the sound of Kerry’s feather-soft voice coming from behind him, Ford realized he wasn’t at all ready. He immediately came to his feet, turned and almost dropped where he stood when he caught sight of her standing in the entry wearing second-skin, low-riding jeans and a V-neck burgundy sweater than didn’t quite meet her waistband, providing a glimpse of bare flesh at her belly. Falling to his knees would be a damned bad idea in front of the matriarch of the mansion.
Kerry slipped her purse strap over her slender shoulder. “Are you ready to roll, Ford?”
Oh, yeah, almost spilled out of his mouth before he had the presence of mind to stop it. “Sure. If you are.”
“I am.” After crossing the room, she planted a kiss on Millie’s cheek. “Don’t wait up, okay?”
Millie sent her a sour look. “I don’t intend to do any such thing. You’re a grown woman, Kerry Ann. I trust you.” She stared at Ford, hard. “I trust you will take good care of her, young man?”
Ford had the sudden urge to salute. “Yes, ma’am. You can count on it.”
“And I’m counting on you to do that very thing. Now, both of you, run along. Have a nice time.”
But not too nice a time, Ford thought as he followed Kerry out the front door. Millie might not have said it, but her tone indicated she was thinking it. Sound advice all the way around.
Ford tossed Kerry the car key. “You drive around this maze of a city.”
Kerry tossed him a sexy smile. “I plan to.”
Five minutes in her presence and she was already driving him crazy. He bordered on crossing over into complete madness when they settled into the car and her perfume hit him full force. She smelled like a hint of flowers mixed with fruit, something he might normally consider an odd combination, but not on her. He imagined she tasted as good, too. All over.
Twitching in his seat, he snapped his seat belt closed while Kerry lowered the roof on the car now that the threat of rain had subsided. The sun was on the verge of setting while Ford was on the verge of kissing her. He decided that was the last thing he needed to do and promised himself to refrain for now.
At least this time, Kerry didn’t make a move to kiss him, either. Instead, she started the car, put it in gear and backed out of the steep drive like a pro. “I hope Millie didn’t give you a hard time,” she said as she turned onto the street.
“Not too bad. I’m not sure she likes me.”
“Millie likes everyone. She’s just cautious.”
“I kind of figured that out.”
She sent him a glance as they stopped at a light. “What did she say to you exactly?”
“Just that I needed to be careful with you.”
“She’s very protective of me.”
“I gathered that right away. Hopefully I put her mind at ease.”
She rolled through the light and turned sharply onto a major street. “Don’t worry about Millie. The important thing is that I know you’re not going to hurt me.”
God, he didn’t want to hurt her, but he realized he could. Especially if this whole theory about her being Spencer’s mistress was in error. “So where are you taking me tonight?”
“To one of my favorite restaurants in one of my favorite places. It’s in an area known as The Haight.”
Hippie haven, that’s how Ford had termed Kerry’s old stomping grounds. In many ways that was still true, she realized. But the place had transformed from a flower-child hangout to a trendy hotspot with shops and restaurants, although it still retained a lot of its sixties roots. Kerry knew the back alleys and communal existence very well. She’d spent a lot of days in those places upon her arrival in San Francisco. She’d learned quite a bit about hard living during that time in her life, some of which she still carried with her—on her body and in her soul.
She wanted to tell Ford about that part of her past, minus the really horrible part, but she experienced the burden of being labeled “homeless” and not knowing how people would react to that. Whenever she’d chosen to be honest with her co-workers, some had been accepting and sympathetic, others had been judgmental and treated her as damaged goods. Some saw her as an as easy mark, and that had included Spencer Ashton.
She decided not to contaminate the conversation right now. Dinner had gone so well that she wanted to keep the mood light. Ford had been very pleased that she’d taken him to a place where he could dine on a burger and fries. She had been pleased to have pleased him. But now that dinner was over, she had to decide what would happen next. If she went according to plan, a drive to another special place would be first on the agenda. What happened after that would be up to Ford.
Ford insisted on paying the bill again and that bothered her somewhat. She wasn’t broke even though finances were tight. Real estate courses had drained most of her savings but she planned to eventually get ahead as soon as she’d completed the program in two weeks. Then she could quit her current job after she obtained her license and signed on as an agent, concentrating on her dream—finding families permanent homes, something she hadn’t really had, aside from her home with Millie. But it still hadn’t been the same, because it wasn’t hers. One day, she would have a home of her own, and maybe even someone to share it with.
She glanced at Ford and wished that he could be the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, that wasn’t reality. Soon he would be leaving, but she refused to think about that now. She planned to make the best of their time together and hopefully restore herself into the land of the living under his guidance. If he happened to be willing. She would just have to convince him that’s what she wanted. No strings attached, just memories to make.
Kerry and Ford left the restaurant and strolled up the sidewalk toward the pay-by-the-hour parking lot. Along the way she pointed out the surfer shop with several colorful boards on display in the window. “This might interest you,” she said, followed by a laugh.
He frowned. “Why would you think that? I’ve never even tried surfing. Not many beaches near where I live.”
She paused and faced him. “Because when I first saw you in the bar, I thought you looked like a surfer with that blond hair and tanned body. Or is that just a farmer’s tan you have?”
His grin gave the streetlight some serious competition. “Are you asking me if I’m tanned all over?”
“Yes, I guess that’s what I’m asking.”
“Do you want to see?”
Frank
ly, she did. “It’s a little cool to be taking off your shirt.” But not cool enough to rid Kerry of some serious heat prompted by that thought.
“You’re right, but if you decide you want proof, all you have to do is ask.”
She just might ask before the night was over. “Okay, I will. Now let’s get back to the car. I have another place I want to show you.”
“Okay. You’re the boss.”
Taking Kerry by surprise, Ford leaned over and kissed her cheek. A simple gesture, but one that touched her in complex ways. “What was that for?”
“For being such a great tour guide. I owe you a lot.”
“This whole experience with you has been a pleasure.” More pleasure than she’d expected. Hopefully more pleasure to come. “But it’s not over yet, unless you’re tired and want to go to bed.” She regretted the comment that came out sounding like suggestive innuendo. “I meant to sleep.”
Ford’s provocative smile came into play slowly. “I don’t want to sleep. In fact, I’m not tired at all.”
“Good.” She hooked her arm into the bend of his arm. “Then let’s get on with the second phase of the evening.”
By the time they made the block, they had their arms wrapped securely around each other’s waists, as if they were any other couple out on a date. Kerry felt completely comfortable with this man, totally relaxed, a huge step in the right direction. She couldn’t say the same for Ford when he tensed as they came upon a lanky teenage boy with tattered clothes, listless eyes and his hand out.
“Could you spare a few bucks?” the teen said, his voice tentative and almost apologetic.
Suddenly thrust back in time, Kerry did the only thing she could do. She released her hold on Ford’s arm and dug through her purse for a ten-dollar bill and a card. She held both up before handing them over. “I’ll give you this as long as you promise me no drugs. What’s your name?”
“Joe.” The boy’s gaze faltered. “No drugs. I just want something to eat.”
“I understand, Joe.” Kerry handed over the money and the card. “You’ll find the address for a shelter where you can get a bath and clean clothes. Tell Rosie I sent you. She might even be able to find you a job. How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
Kerry wondered if he was lying about his age because he didn’t look a day over fifteen, if that. “Good luck, Joe. And get some help. The streets are no place to be, even for a guy.”
Finally he smiled. A small one, but a smile all the same. “Thanks. I’ll try.”
Ford had stood by silently during the exchange. He remained quiet all the way back to the car and during the drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and up into the hills that comprised the Marin Headlands. Kerry accepted that silence for now, yet knowing the time would come when she would have to offer an explanation, because she knew he would eventually ask.
After she parked in the pull-off spot that offered a spectacular view of the city, Kerry left the car and Ford followed her lead. She opened the trunk and retrieved two blankets, a thick one to cover the ground, the other to shelter them against the chilly night air. Kerry was definitely chilled, but only in part from the weather. Ford’s continued coolness toward her made her nervous and fearful that once he knew the details of her past, their evening together could come to an abrupt halt. She didn’t want it to end, not yet.
Ford had turned his back on her to stare at the amazing panorama—the outline of the bridge, the water shimmering beneath the three-quarter moon and the city lights twinkling in the distance. Or maybe he was simply avoiding her.
No longer able to stand his silence, she moved to a spot not far away from him on the edge leading to the cliffs. With one hand, she spread the thicker blanket over the grass as best she could and kept the other clutched against her chest. “The view’s breathtaking, isn’t it?” she said as she studied his strong profile and his lips that formed a tight line.
“Yeah, it is.” He still had yet to look at her.
Kerry lowered herself onto the blanketed ground, hoping upon hope he would join her. “It’s a lot more comfortable down here.”
He turned toward her, his thumbs hooked in the pockets of his black leather jacket. Even in the muted light, he was an imposing, beautiful presence silhouetted against the night sky.
Kerry released the breath she’d been holding when he took his place beside her, yet not quite as close as she would have liked. He rested his forearms on his bent knees, his hands laced together. She sensed he wanted to speak, and he confirmed that by saying, “You handled that kid well. I’m not sure I would’ve given him money, though. Especially if he might spend it on drugs.”
“He needed some kind of a break, probably even more than the money. I just hope he finds a safe place to land, at least for the night.”
Ford sent her a brief glance before he turned his attention back to the scenery. “How did you know about the homeless shelter?”
Exactly what she’d been expecting, and dreading. “I’ve volunteered there before.” Only a partial truth. Once upon a terrible time, she’d temporarily resided there.
“I don’t understand why a kid would want to live on the streets.”
Kerry reached down and pulled the other blanket over her as if it might provide some protection from his possible reaction. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to live this way. He’s probably a runaway.”
“Running away isn’t the answer.”
Sometimes it was the only answer. “Try telling that to a teenager who honestly believes he or she doesn’t have a choice.”
Finally he looked at her straight-on. “I have a hard time believing that things would be so bad at home that someone feels escaping is the only option.”
“Believe me, it can be that bad. So bad that you don’t think there is another way. You feel so trapped you can’t see beyond getting out.”
When she saw unease in his expression, Kerry realized she had revealed too much. He confirmed that by saying, “You sound like you know all about it.”
Now was the time to tell him the truth and accept his response, whatever that response might be. “I do know because I ran away. And for one solid year, I was homeless.”
She saw momentary shock in his expression and possibly sympathy. “How old were you?”
“Sixteen.”
“So young and on your own?”
“Yeah. I came to a point where I thought I had no choice but to leave. My stepfather was cruel and verbally abusive. My mother never seemed to notice it when she was alive, or maybe she didn’t want to see it. Then one day I stood up to him and he backhanded me across the face. I honestly thought he might try to kill me. Later that night, I packed a bag, stole a hundred dollars from his wallet and caught a bus for San Francisco.”
“And he never came looking for you?”
Kerry released a mirthless laugh. “I doubt it. Many times he told me he ought to kick me out. I was worthless and a burden. Funny thing, I was a straight-A student, never in trouble, but I couldn’t seem to do anything to please him. I stopped trying.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, and he sounded that way, as well.
“It’s not your fault. Besides, I met Millie a year later, and she was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“How exactly did you meet her?”
That circumstance was getting into territory Kerry wasn’t sure she was ready to cover. She decided to settle on a condensed version. “One night I got into a fight and ended up in the hospital with a few scrapes and bruises. A nurse in the E.R. knew Millie liked to help runaways, so she called her. Millie took me in that night, and I ended up staying. She home-schooled me because we didn’t want the hassle of having to explain guardianship, and then I eventually got my G.E.D. I also went to community college and majored in business. Unfortunately, I only received an associate’s degree so my job options were limited. That’s why I’ve been attending real estate school in the evenings.”
He studied her for a ti
me before saying, “I admire you, Kerry. I don’t know how you survived on your own at that age.”
“That experience made me much tougher,” she said. “Survival is the name of the game, and living alone on the streets taught me that.” It had also taught her caution, and a definite lack of trust, especially in men. Spencer Ashton had only cemented that mistrust. But Ford Matthews was different, that’s what her instincts were telling her. She felt as if she could sincerely trust both them and him.
“At least you did get a decent job,” Ford said after a time.
Some job. “Unfortunately, working for an indecent lecher.”
“Lecher?”
“That sums up Spencer Ashton in a nutshell.”
“What did he do to you?” He looked and sounded angry.
Kerry plucked at a blade of grass and shredded it. “Aside from pawing me, he used to stage these little lunches under the guise of business meetings. Some were even out of the city. When I wouldn’t cooperate, he buried me in work and refused to give me a raise. I honestly think he believed I would finally give in.”
“There are laws against sexual harassment. Why didn’t you report him or at least quit?”
“First of all, I needed the money. Second, Spencer Ashton had a lot of power and connections. Even after his death he’s still revered as a city leader.” She sighed. “And God forgive me for saying this, I understand why someone would want him dead. But I think they might have arrested the wrong person.”
Ford leveled a hard stare on her. “Why do you think that?”
“I just do.” She couldn’t imagine a man as polite as Grant Ashton would be a killer. For months he’d tried to get in to see his father, his anger never directed at her when she’d refused to allow him access, per Spencer’s instructions. But Spencer had been known for his charm, so she could be wrong about his son. After all, he was an Ashton, and that name alone made her cringe.
Ford draped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his side. “After hearing about this bastard, I agree with you. I don’t think anyone would have blamed anyone for getting even.”
