He hadn’t heard Billy walk up. She had watched him pummel the fence post, thankful it wasn’t her. When he stood, his hands on the fence again, his head down as he calmed his breathing, she moved up behind him. She slid her hands around him, feeling the cool sweat on his chest. She rested her cheek against his back. His muscles tensed and relaxed, and then tensed again.
“Skyler,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
Skyler didn’t reply.
“I know,” Billy said. “Whether I meant to or not, I did. Please come back to the house, babe.” She kissed his back, again feeling the chill from his sweat. “It’s too damn cold out here for either of us.”
“Especially the old man,” Skyler said quietly.
“I didn’t say that, Skyler.” Billy reached up to turn him around. “I don’t think less of you now. I was just surprised, that’s all.”
Skyler nodded, not looking convinced.
“God, you’re impossible,” Billy said angrily as she turned to walk away. Skyler grabbed her hand and swung her back around to face him. He pulled her back to him and kissed her, pulling her body flush against his. Her hands were on his chest, half pushing him away, half grasping at him. She wanted to push him off, not liking the way he was acting, knowing that he was trying to prove something to her, but her body responded to his kiss anyway.
He ended up making love to her in the field, and then he carried her back to the house and made love to her again in his bedroom. She went to take a shower afterward, and when she got out, she found him still awake and watching her.
She sat on the bed next to him. “You win. You are the most virile, sexy man I’ve ever known, and I want your body every minute of the day. Okay?” she said, grinning.
“Prove it.”
“I think we just did, didn’t we? Twice, I believe.”
“That was me proving something,” Skyler said lightly, though his eyes were serious.
“And you did it so well,” Billy said appreciatively. “But frankly, honey, I’m tired this time.”
“I see,” he said, reaching out to pull her to him. His lips possessed hers again, and Billy was shocked to feel her body responding. It was absolutely incredible to her; she was exhausted after the concert, and then making love with him even once was tiring—twice was draining. And now, when she was sure she couldn’t even think about it again, here she was responding like an ardent teenager. Maybe it was Skyler making her feel younger, not the other way around.
♪ Six ♪
The morning after the concert, Billy was surprised when she woke up to find that Skyler wasn’t in bed next to her. She looked at the clock and realized it was almost noon. An hour later, she was sitting on his couch when he walked in. He was dressed in workout clothes, and Billy knew that what Chelsea had said about him running just about every day was true. Billy hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Chelsea so far. She knew the girl was upset by what her father had said to her, and Billy had hoped she would come out of her room so she could at least try to make her feel better.
“You’re up, I see,” Skyler said, standing in the doorway and looking over at her.
“Hi,” she said, standing and walking over to him. She reached up and kissed him, oblivious to his sweat. He returned the kiss quickly. Then he headed off to his bedroom to shower.
A few minutes after she heard the shower start, Billy heard the door to Chelsea’s room open. The girl came out looking unhappy. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, and Billy felt sorry for her. Chelsea went into the kitchen and sat at the table as if she were waiting for something. Billy looked hesitantly at the girl.
“Chelsea,” she said softly. “Don’t take what your father said seriously. He was mad.”
“I know,” Chelsea said miserably. “At me.”
“No, he was mad at a lot of things, but you were just something tangible to take it out on.”
“He hates me.” Chelsea shrugged, trying to act like she didn’t care, but it was obvious from the devastated look in her eyes that she did.
“Jesus, Chelsea, he doesn’t hate you,” Billy said, realizing how dramatic life was for teenagers. Everything was end all and be all with them. “He was mad, and you got yelled at. If you two sit down and talk, I’m sure you can work it out. Your dad’s going through a rough time right now—you know that. He needs his family around him.”
“He needs you,” Chelsea said, almost accusingly.
“I’m hardly the cure-all for anything,” Billy said wryly. “Hell, I’m probably just one more problem for your dad right now.” She felt a sharp stab of guilt as she realized that what she had said was probably true.
“Why?” Chelsea asked, unable to imagine someone like Billy as anyone’s problem.
“Because I have a lot of things going on right now, things that your dad handles all the time at work. He doesn’t need that here too,” Billy said, her tone becoming more serious as the impact of her own words weighed on her.
Chelsea furrowed her brow. “Drugs? You’re not…” she started to say, but trailed off when Billy nodded. “Whoa.”
“Yeah, I know.” Billy had noticed that her hands had been shaking the last few days, and it worried her. She’d known she was close to addiction, but had figured she could handle it. But since her arrest, she’d become concerned that she really was an addict. She hadn’t felt the strong craving for the substance since she’d been with Skyler. She’d felt the pull at the concert the night before, when she’d seen some of the roadies snorting. She’d made a point of walking out of the room and back to Skyler. She hadn’t told him anything, because she didn’t want him thinking she couldn’t handle herself. Billy wondered if she could, though. Things had started to seem bigger, and more difficult. Like her dependence on Skyler now; she was becoming afraid that that would take a toll on his health. Last night’s revelation had been almost too devastating for her to handle.
Without saying anything, Billy stood up and walked to the bedroom. When Skyler got out of the shower she was sitting on the bed, waiting for him. She looked drawn and serious.
“What?” Skyler said as he dried his hair, another towel around his waist.
“I think I’m gonna go back to the hotel today,” she said, trying to sound light but not succeeding.
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why?”
“I need to check in with Jerith and see what’s happening with him. I’m kinda curious about this Nicolette. He seemed awfully serious about her last night.” She shrugged. “I just want to get the scoop.”
“Uh-huh,” he said, nodding. “Well, you tell him that he’d better watch his step with that particular woman.”
Billy looked confused. “Why?”
“Because the way I hear it, if he hurts her, he’ll have half the Sacramento PD down his neck in a heartbeat.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, she’s very well liked in her unit. Plus she’s been on the force for a long time, and from what I’ve heard, she was married to a cop for a long time, too.”
Billy shrugged. “I’ll tell him. But I know Jerith—he won’t listen.”
“So why are you really leaving?” Skyler asked, surprising her with the question.
“I told you—”
“Yeah.” Skyler nodded as he looked away from her. Then he walked over to his closet and proceeded to get dressed. Billy watched him from the bed. A few minutes later, he opened the door to the bedroom and walked out without looking back at her. She sat staring at the open door. She didn’t move.
Skyler walked into the kitchen and saw Chelsea sitting there. She looked depressed. He knelt down in front of her, his eyes searching her face until she looked up at him.
“I’m sorry about what I said last night, Chels,” he said sincerely. “It wasn’t your fault that I hadn’t told Billy. It was mine.”
Chelsea nodded miserably, starting to cry. Skyler reached out and took her in his arms. Chelsea wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, cry
ing against his shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m sorry about the things I said yesterday, and then telling Billy, but I’m worried about you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Okay, baby,” Skyler said, smoothing her hair back. “I know. It’s alright.”
After a while Chelsea sat back. “You really do look great lately. I guess I just didn’t realize it till last night. Seeing you with Billy, I guess it made me realize that you still have it.”
Skyler gave her a quizzical look. “Have it?”
“Yeah.” Chelsea shrugged. “I mean, if you can grab someone like Billy, then you gotta be doing something right.”
“Pure luck,” Skyler said, grinning.
“Daddy?” Chelsea had remembered her conversation with Billy the night before. “Billy said you two knew each other ten years ago. Did you really know her then?”
Skyler looked surprised and didn’t respond immediately, but after a moment he nodded. “Yes, I knew her ten years ago, before she was in the band.”
“Wow, really? How’d you meet her?” Chelsea was unaware of the can of worms she was in the process of opening.
“I met her in a bar, in Riverside,” Skyler said, trying to sound as casual as possible.
“In a bar?”
Skyler could see her mind working. “Yeah, me and some of the other agents used to go there after work in the old days,” he said, trying to head off any other questions. He stood up and walked over to the refrigerator, opening it and looking in.
“When you and Mom were still together?” There was suspicion in Chelsea’s voice this time, and Skyler realized there was another investigator in the family.
“Yeah,” he said, not supplying any more information.
“Daddy,” Chelsea said cautiously, “were you and Billy together then too?”
Skyler looked at his youngest child for a long moment, not wanting her to think Billy was the only reason he and Theresa had broken up. Hell, he’d broken it off with Billy to try and make his marriage to Theresa work. Billy certainly wasn’t the cause. “What is it you want to know exactly, Chels?” he said calmly. “Are you asking me if I was cheating on your mother with Billy?”
Chelsea looked taken aback by his directness. “I guess I am, yes.”
Skyler nodded. “Billy among other women.”
“So Billy wasn’t the only one?” Chelsea was obviously trying to understand.
“No,” Skyler replied, his tone softer now, as if he were trying to lessen the impact of what he was saying.
“Does Mom know about Billy though?” Chelsea was starting to look worried.
“About her, yes. Why?”
“Did she ever meet Billy?”
“No. What’s goin’ on, Chelsea?” Skyler said, beginning to suspect.
Chelsea looked chagrined. “I called Mom this morning—she’s coming to get me.”
“When?” Skyler asked mildly.
“Soon. I’m sorry, Daddy. I just thought you were really mad at me, and I didn’t want to stay here—I’m sorry.”
Skyler grinned, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about it, we’re all adults. Besides, your mom’s moved on just fine. Didn’t you tell me she has a new boyfriend?”
“She did, yeah…”
“Oh.” Skyler looked dismayed. Theresa had a problem with keeping men—he was sure it had to do with his cheating, and that she just didn’t trust men anymore.
Half an hour later, Skyler was leaning against the kitchen counter, drinking his first cup of coffee of the day, when the doorbell rang. He heard Chelsea answer it, and then Theresa’s familiar voice talking to her. He was still leaning against the counter when Theresa entered the kitchen.
“What the hell is going on in this house?” she asked angrily. Then she saw her ex-husband and stopped, surprised by the change in him. She hadn’t seen much of him in the last three years, and mostly in quick exchanges from his car. She was stunned by how strong and healthy he looked. He was wearing faded jeans and a blue-and-white-striped shirt that he hadn’t bothered to button; it hung open, exposing his now well-muscled chest. He looked better now than he had when she was married to him. She had to fight to put aside her surprise.
Skyler raised his eyes to hers, their light green color more intense against the black hair that fell across his forehead. Theresa had to consciously keep herself from drawing in a sharp breath. She couldn’t believe she’d actually forgotten how handsome her ex-husband really was.
“What are you talking about?” Skyler said calmly.
“I’m talking about our daughter calling me this morning, crying because you were really mad at her. I’ve come all the way over here, and now she tells me you and her made up and she wants to stay. What’re you trying to pull, Skyler?”
Skyler looked back at her, a wry grin on his face, as if he was humoring her by even listening to her tirade. “What would I be trying to pull, Theresa?”
“I’m just not sure about you lately, Skyler.”
“Versus previously?”
“Funny,” Theresa said, her eyes flashing angrily. The old Skyler James Kristiani had indeed emerged, sarcasm and all. “You know I have better things to do than to drive way the hell out here just because you had a temper tantrum.”
“I’m sure you do,” he said mildly. “Perhaps next time you should talk to me before you react to the erratic emotions of a fifteen-year-old.”
Theresa stared back at him, trying to think of a scathing retort. That was when Billy walked into the kitchen. She was dressed in white jeans and a skin-tight black tank top, with a red bandana in a triangle around her small waist. Theresa stared at her as she went over to stand next to Skyler. She reached up and took the coffee mug from his hands, took a drink, and then handed it back to him. Then Billy looked back at Theresa. She, unlike Theresa, knew who she was facing.
“Theresa,” Skyler said, nodding toward Billy, “this is Billy Montague. Billy, this is Theresa.”
“Yes, I know,” Billy said, smiling lightly.
Theresa started to nod, as if just understanding something. “So this is why you’re so highly strung, I take it?”
Billy looked at Theresa, her eyes challenging. “No, I’ve taken care of that.”
“Yes,” Theresa said, looking at her with disgust, “I’ll just bet you have.” She looked as if she could chew nails as she glanced back at her ex-husband. “Dating ’em a little young, aren’t you? Where’d you find her, the local high school?”
“No,” Skyler said calmly as he grinned at Billy then looked back at Theresa. “The local record store.”
“Excuse me?”
“Mom!” Chelsea said, trying to help. “She’s from Billy and the Kid, the band—you know, I listen to them all the time.”
“Musicians now, Skyler. Isn’t that a switch from the barmaids of the world?”
“No,” Billy interjected, her expression calculated. “Same barmaid, just a new career.”
Theresa stared at Billy openmouthed. It had just occurred to her where and when she’d heard that name before. Skyler had told her about a Billy when they tried to reconcile ten years ago. “You?”
Billy nodded triumphantly. “Me.”
Theresa looked at Skyler, her anger almost tangible. “You bastard,” she said, her voice full of venom. She turned on her heel and walked out of the room. Skyler just watched calmly, thinking she’d taken it better than he’d expected.
Later, Skyler took Billy back to the hotel, as she wanted. When he dropped her off, she leaned over and kissed him deeply, as if trying to make him feel better. Skyler watched her walk into the hotel, and drove off. He made the hour-long drive home, feeling depressed. He was sure Billy was running away—not that it would bother him normally, but the idea that she had an image of him as frail now chewed at him.
Skyler had come from a long line of Greek fishermen with pride as wide as the ocean they fished. The mere hint of weakness was detestable to him. His parents had raised hi
m to be strong, independent, and forthright. They’d believed as he did, that a man was only as good as what he could produce. He had been brought up with a strong work ethic and the belief that hard work would bring untold riches. His father had been a laborer on a mining rig in Riverside; Nikitas Kristiani had worked a very difficult, back-breaking job to provide for his family. Skyler’s mother had never had a job outside the home, but no one could say she didn’t work. She had seven children, Skyler being the oldest. She had taken care of Skyler, his three brothers, and three sisters. She’d relied heavily on him to take his father’s place when Nikitas worked long hours to bring home more money. Skyler had always known hard work, long hours, and hardship.
At the age of eighteen he’d joined the Army and gone off to war. When he’d returned, every extra penny he had went to support his family. Two years later, when his father was killed in an accident, Skyler assumed responsibility for his family, even though he then had a new family of his own. His daughter Cassandra was one year old by that time, as was his marriage.
Skyler had gone on, undaunted, taking any extra work he could find while getting his pilot’s license and working two jobs. When he had his license, he kept the two jobs and instructed for extra money. Eventually he joined the police force in Riverside, but continued to gain flight hours by teaching. At this point in his life, he had worked for the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement for twelve years and had over fifteen thousand hours of fixed-wing flight, as well as over nine thousand hours in helicopters. It was a considerable sum for someone his age, since in his business he still had the potential for another ten to fifteen years till retirement. He had never known weakness or frailty, and the thought that his heart couldn’t keep up with him made him madder than hell. He took his anger out on the gas pedal of his Mustang.
He pulled into his driveway and saw that Theresa’s Mazda was there. “Shit,” he muttered. He considered pulling back out, but Chelsea came out of the house, waving to him. “Damn,” he said under his breath as he got out of the car.
“Daddy, Mom’s car won’t start,” Chelsea said. “And before you say anything, we tried to call a mechanic but it’s Sunday.”
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