A Fare to Remember

by Opal Carew

  The waitress handed him the bill and continued on her way.

  Reid sat down across from her, grim-faced.

  “Hello, Stevie.”

  “Hi.” Tension stretched between them. “I can manage the check.”

  “I have no doubt, but surely you’ll let an old friend treat you to dinner. We are friends, aren’t we?”

  “Reid…”

  “Or maybe I’m wrong about that. Friends don’t make promises they don’t intend to keep. Like meeting to discuss something as important as the rest of their lives.” He frowned. “I mean, I get it. You decided to go back to your ex-fiancé. But you could have done me the courtesy of talking to me about it first. Or even letting me know you weren’t going to show up that day.”

  “I’m sorry, Reid. Something happened that … I just couldn’t get in touch with you.”

  His eyebrow rose. “Why? Was your phone broken?”

  She pursed her lips. “As a matter of fact, it was.”

  He scowled. “And what about the next day? Or the day after that? Or the next week?” He leaned in close, his eyes simmering with anger. But beneath that anger she saw an intense, gut-wrenching pain.

  “I was worried sick about you,” he continued, his voice almost shaking. “I couldn’t believe you’d just walk away without a word. Especially after promising you’d meet me.” His fist clenched, crumpling the bill that was still in his hand. “But, apparently, I was wrong.”

  Oh, God. Seeing firsthand how much she’d hurt him tore at her heart. She should say something, but … there was nothing she could say that wouldn’t make it worse.

  She stared at her hands. “I’m sorry, Reid.”

  He nodded. “You’re sorry. Well, that makes it all better, doesn’t it?”

  He stood up and pulled his wallet from his pocket, then dropped the check on the table with a twenty-dollar bill on top of it.

  “I hope you and Sean are very happy together.”

  Her heart clenched as he strode to the door. Once he was outside, she watched through the window as he got into a town car that had been waiting for him. It drove away.

  Her stomach ached it was clenched so tight. She felt tears swelling in her eyes, but she blinked them back as best she could.

  The waitress came by and collected the check.

  “Can I get you anything else, hon?” she asked. She was an older woman with kind eyes. “Another cup of coffee, maybe?”

  “No, thanks.”

  The woman started to count out change from her apron pocket.

  “No, keep that,” Stevie said.

  “Thanks,” the waitress said then moved on to a table with new arrivals.

  Stevie sat for a few minutes, sipping her water, buoying herself up for the walk home.

  * * *

  Sitting in the back of the town car while it moved through the city traffic, Reid pulled his buzzing cell phone from his pocket, still reeling from the painful interaction with Stevie.

  He’d thought he’d had it all together. That this meeting with her would allow him to find closure. But he hadn’t been prepared for the assault of emotions that had rocked him to the core.

  “How did it go with Stevie?” Dylan asked when Reid answered the call.

  “Fuck, it was bad. I couldn’t have been more of a jerk.”

  “Maybe you should go back and apologize.”

  “No. I’m sure she doesn’t want to see me again. And what would be the point?”

  “You didn’t tell her that Sean told me where she’d be today, did you?” Dylan asked.

  “No. He made you promise we wouldn’t and I honored that.”

  Reid couldn’t quite figure out why Sean would let Dylan know that Stevie would be at the diner this evening. Maybe he’d anticipated that Reid would do just what he did—act like a jerk—and that would ensure Stevie never wanted to see him again. But why would Sean chance it? Unless maybe he was tired of Stevie and was hoping for a way out.

  He shook his head. He’d already thought through all these scenarios, plus a dozen others, and he knew that all the ones that meant Stevie and Sean weren’t happy together were just wishful thinking on his part.

  “Okay,” Dylan said, “we’ll have a drink when you get back and you can tell me all about it. In the meantime, I need the information about that meeting tomorrow with our new client. Something else has come up and I may need to shift some things around.”

  “Yeah, okay. Just a minute.” Reid pulled out his wallet and looked inside.

  Damn it. The piece of paper with the notes he’d jotted down was gone.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Stevie drew in a deep breath. It was time to go. She picked up her bag and set it on the end of the table, then reached for her cane.

  Before she could stand up, the waitress hurried to the table. “The gentleman you were talking to … he left this behind. He must have pulled it out of his wallet along with the twenty.” The waitress handed her a slip of paper. “It looks like a note for a meeting of some kind. There’s an address, phone number, and a time written down. It might be important. Can you give it to him?”

  Stevie shook her head. “I won’t be seeing him again, but I can give you his cell number.”

  Stevie still remembered it. Along with so many other things she wished she could just forget.

  The waitress gave her a pen and Stevie jotted the number down on the back of the slip of paper.

  “Just don’t call him until I’m gone. Okay?”

  “Oh, it looks like it won’t be necessary.” The waitress’s gaze was on the door. “He’s back.”

  Stevie’s chest clenched and she shoved the cane under the table. It rested at an angle against the bench and she hastily pushed her bag in front of it as best she could as Reid strode to the table.

  “Sir, I think this is yours,” the waitress said, as she held out the slip of paper.

  “Yes, thank you.” He took the paper from the woman and watched her walk away.

  Then his gaze fell to Stevie. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to see the cane.

  “Stevie, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t behave very well.”

  “It’s okay. I understand why you’re angry.”

  “That’s no excuse. May I sit down?”

  “I’m … uh … I was just leaving.”

  “It’ll just take a minute.”

  She tried to push the cane sideways under the guise of moving her bag, so his leg wouldn’t bump into it, but she didn’t succeed and the cane fell to the floor.

  “What’s that?” Reid leaned over and picked it up, then drew it from under the table. His gaze darted to hers.

  “Oh, yes, I think someone left that behind. I’m sure they’ll come back for it.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I really doubt someone would leave without their cane. Stevie, is this yours?” he asked point-blank.

  She bit her lip. “Okay, yes, I had a bit of an accident, but I’m fine. It’s really nothing.”

  “Really?” He searched her face for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, well, I’ll walk you out.”

  She froze. “No, it’s okay. I think I’ll have another coffee before I go.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I thought you were ready to leave.”

  “I was but … I changed my mind.”

  “Okay, good. I’ll sit with you until you’re ready to go.”

  She frowned in exasperation. “I’d rather you don’t. I’d like some time to myself.”

  Relief washed through her as he nodded.

  “Okay. But I really feel like a cup of coffee, so I’ll just sit at the counter.”

  She frowned. “Reid, why are you doing this?”

  * * *

  Reid locked gazes with her. “Because I want to know what you’re not telling me.”

  If she just had a sprained ankle or something similar, why would she be trying to hide it?

  She sighed.

  “Fine. I walk with a bit of a limp. I’m sure you figured
that out from the cane, but I just didn’t want you to see, okay? So will you leave now?”

  “Why? What happened?”

  She brushed his question aside with a shake of her head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s none of your concern. Now, will you please let me go?”

  “Of course.” He stood up, then offered his hand to help her up.

  She scowled. She refused his hand and pulled her bag—which was like a mini backpack—over her shoulders, then pushed herself to her feet, keeping her hand on the table for balance. She reached for the cane he was still holding.

  When he gave it to her, he gestured for her to precede him. She hesitated, then seemed to realize there was no way she’d win insisting he go first, so she took a step forward.

  Shock surged through him as she started to move. She had trouble lifting her feet and shuffled more than walked, leaning heavily on her cane. His gut clenched at the realization that she’d actually been hurt quite badly.

  His throat closed as if gripped by a steadily tightening hand. He flashed back to that night. Sirens blaring in the distance. An ambulance with its flashing lights racing past him. Then it dawned on him …

  Fuck, that ambulance had been for her.

  When she approached the door, he rushed ahead to open it. Her face was downcast, but he caught a glimpse of tears glittering in her eyes.

  Once they were outside, she started to move down the sidewalk, but he caught her arm.

  “Now I understand why you didn’t contact me that night. That’s when you had the accident, isn’t it?”

  She stared at him, saying nothing, but her eyes gave her away.

  “How bad was it?” he asked grimly.

  “I told you, it wasn’t bad.”

  “Stevie, you can barely walk after all these months. You must have been in critical condition.”

  She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’m okay now.”

  Damn, he’d been such an idiot. He should have known that only something unavoidable—something tragic—would have kept her away. He’d thought the worst of her while she’d been lying in a hospital room, fighting for her life.

  He squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  She tugged her hand away. “Don’t be sorry. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”

  “Stevie, let me help you.”

  Her jaw twitched. “I don’t need your help. I can manage perfectly well on my own.”

  He rested his hand on her arm. “I know you can, sweetheart. I just…”

  Pain washed through him at the thought that he might lose her again. She was so full of pride and he didn’t know how to convince her it was okay to accept his help.

  “Stevie, please don’t shut me out again. I don’t know why you chose not to contact me after the accident … and we can put that way on the back burner for now … but please talk to me.”

  She clutched tightly to her cane, looking a little wobbly. “I’m sorry, Reid. I really am. I never meant to hurt you.”

  * * *

  Stevie’s heart ached at the sadness in Reid’s eyes. She regretted snapping at him when he’d offered his help. That hadn’t been fair of her. This was a shock for him and he was doing his best.

  “This is my ride,” he said, gesturing to the town car waiting at the curb for him. “Let me give you a lift home.”

  “No, thank you. I’ll walk.”

  “You really won’t take a ride?”

  “No. But please don’t take it the wrong way. This is my first time out on my own. I promised myself I’d walk from my apartment to the diner and back again. With no help. It’s important to me that I do it without anyone to lean on.”

  He squeezed her arm.

  “But, Stevie, you’ll always have me to lean on. Whether you take advantage of that or not. I will always be there for you, anytime you choose to call me.”

  Dampness pooled in her eyes. She knew what he said was true, and it touched her. Especially after what she’d put him through over the past few months.

  “Thank you, Reid, I…” Her throat closed up and she just nodded her head as she drew in a deep breath. “I appreciate that and I don’t mean to offend you. I just really need to do this on my own.”

  “All right. I understand that. But can we talk later? Maybe have a drink together?” He smiled warmly. “After all, it sounds like this is an accomplishment to celebrate.”

  She hesitated. But everything in her heart told her to accept.

  “If you’d like to stop by later,” she said, “you could come up and have a drink.”

  His smile broadened. “You couldn’t keep me away.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  When Stevie arrived at her apartment building, she was disappointed that Reid wasn’t there waiting for her. She’d said later, but she’d been sure in his usual style, he’d push that to the limit. She’d definitely thought he’d be as anxious to see her again as she was to see him.

  And to talk.

  She sighed and opened the glass door, then hobbled to the elevator. She got off on her floor and walked down the hall. As she started to tap in the combination for the lock, the doorknob turned and the door opened.

  Her breath caught.

  “Hello.” Reid stood inside her doorway facing her.

  She laughed, a little giddy at seeing him again. “I’d ask how you got in, but I know you have your ways.”

  She walked in and he closed the door behind her. She rested her cane against the shelving unit by the door and slipped her bag from her shoulders, then put it on one of the shelves. When she turned around, there was Reid, smiling at her.

  He rested his hands on her shoulders and moved closer. When his lips brushed hers, she felt a rush of heat. He deepened the kiss, his tongue gliding inside her mouth and she welcomed it with delicate strokes of her own.

  He stepped her back against the wall, his fingers gliding through her hair. His body was so big and masculine. So welcome.

  Oh, God, she’d missed him.

  His hips pressed tightly to hers, his cock swelling beneath the fabric. At the exciting feel of his thick, hard shaft against her, she groaned softly.

  “Oh, fuck, Stevie. I’m sorry.” Reid pulled back so fast she almost toppled over, but he steadied her in his arms. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No.”

  “But you cried out.”

  She smiled at the concern in his eyes and stroked his cheek.

  “That’s because I was enjoying it.”

  He searched her face, doubt in his eyes, then scooped her up and carried her into the living room. He set her gently on the couch.

  “I’m afraid the place is a little small,” she apologized, “but—”

  His mouth covered hers, stopping her words.

  “I don’t care about that. I just care that I’m with you.” He stroked her hair back over her ear. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could have helped.”

  She shook her head, her stomach tightening into knots.

  “I didn’t want to be a burden.”

  He took her hand, and the gentleness of his touch … the softness in his eyes … tore at her heart.

  “I love you, Stevie. Taking care of you would never be a burden.”

  He drew her hand to his lips and the tender kiss echoed through her soul.

  “What if it had been me that had been hurt?” he asked. “Would you have considered it a burden to be there for me?”

  She gazed into his cobalt-blue eyes, trembling at the thought of something happening to him.

  “Of course not. I would do everything I could for you.”

  “Then let me do that for you. Don’t deny me the chance to be the man you need.”

  She stared at him, a small part of her crying out that she didn’t need anyone. But in these past few months, she had learned that she was strong, even when she was physically weak. That she could push past what seemed like insurmountable odds, like learning to walk again, even when the doctors doubted
she ever would.

  Accepting help wasn’t a weakness. In fact, it took a lot of strength to allow herself to trust that much. And if there was anyone she could trust, in her heart, she knew it was Reid.

  “Reid, I’m so sorry.”

  He frowned. “Does that mean you still won’t let me help you?”

  “No, I mean I’m sorry I pushed you away. I should have contacted you.” She took his hand and he closed his fingers around hers. “That day … when the accident happened … I was on my way to you. To give you my answer.”

  “And that answer was yes.” He said it with such confidence, she wasn’t sure if he actually knew it in his heart, or was just willing it to be true.

  She couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, it was.”

  But then her fragile hold on her emotions crumbled and tears streamed from her eyes.

  “Aw, sweetheart,” he said in a heartbreakingly tender voice.

  He opened his arms and she slid into them. As his arms wrapped around her, he pressed his lips to her temple.

  “Just tell me you’ll let me help you, sweetheart. That’s all I’m asking right now.”

  Her head rested against his chest, the sound of his beating heart soothing her.

  She nodded, blinking back the tears. “Thank you, Reid,” she whispered.

  He tightened his arms and she felt so cherished.

  She drew in a deep breath, the loving warmth quivering through her changing to something else. She drew back and gazed up at him. His blue eyes, filled with tenderness, turned to her.

  She rested her hand on his cheek. “You said you wanted to be the man I need.”

  “Yes.” He said the word with a sweet gentleness that tugged at her heart.

  “I do need you.” She rested her hand on his chest and trailed her fingers down his warm shirt, leaving no doubt as to the kind of need she meant.

  He took her hand, drew it to his mouth, then kissed it.

  “Maybe we should have that drink you promised me.”

  “It can wait until later,” she murmured.

  She stroked his cheek, then hooked her arms around his neck and drew him closer so she could nuzzle his jaw.

  “How much later?” he asked.

  She raised an eyebrow, a gleam in her eyes. “Tomorrow?”

  “Stevie, I don’t know…”