Evening Hours

by Mary Lynn Baxter

  She didn’t know which was louder—his curses or the door slamming behind him.

  Twenty

  Drew was late.

  Kaylee glanced impatiently at her watch and noticed that he wasn’t really late. She was fifteen minutes early. She had agreed to meet him for lunch at this small deli, not because she wanted to but rather because she felt obligated.

  Her conscience pricked. She ought to be ashamed for thinking that. Often Drew had been more of a lifeline for her than her dad, especially when it came to finances. She couldn’t imagine her life without him in it.

  When he’d called and told her it had been too long since he’d seen her, she’d known he wasn’t taking no for an answer. If her godfather made up his mind about something, experience had taught her it would be futile to argue. Besides, having lunch with him might just help settle her nerves.

  Her altercation last evening with Cutler had turned her inside out, and she had not recovered. She couldn’t believe she had come so close to letting him undress her, which might have led to him making love to her.

  Thank goodness she had come to her senses in time. Otherwise, she would have awakened with even more regrets. Regrets from which she wouldn’t recover. At least she still had her pride and could look at herself in the mirror without wanting to curl up and die.

  Kaylee closed her eyes and allowed a wave of despair to wash through her. How many times had she vowed not to let her emotions get involved in anything other than her work? Too many times to count. Yet there was a part of her that held on to the hope she would find the perfect man who wouldn’t care that she was different.

  She’d found a man, all right, only he was far from perfect.

  Suddenly Kaylee fought against hopelessness, an invisible malignancy that threatened to overpower her. She had ached to have his body cover hers, to feel him push inside her.

  She sucked air into her lungs, feeling as though she was suffocating. She decided to concentrate on the busy people around her. The deli was nearly filled to capacity, though she’d managed to get a table in a far corner. She’d ordered a glass of iced tea that she hadn’t touched. Figuring Drew would want a glass of wine, she hadn’t ordered him a beverage.

  Now she wished she’d opted for something stronger. Maybe then she wouldn’t feel so fractured, so vulnerable, so unable to cope with this sudden and unexpected bump in the emotional side of her life.

  She wondered what Cutler was thinking this morning. About her? If so, it was probably not flattering. She couldn’t figure out if his pinched features had been due to anger or agony.

  “My, but you look like you’ve got the weight of the world on those beautiful shoulders.”

  The sound of Drew’s voice drew her head up and around. She plastered a big smile on her face.

  “Ah, now that’s my girl.” He leaned over and pecked her on the cheek. “Hi, sweetheart.”

  “Hi, Uncle Drew.”

  When he took a seat across from her it struck Kaylee, as it had many times before, that her godfather was a good-looking man. His olive skin, few wrinkles and piercing green eyes, made him extremely easy to look at.

  “Been waiting long?” he asked, grinning.

  “Long enough to get my tea. That’s all.”

  “Sorry. I got tied up on the phone.”

  “No problem.”

  She watched as he motioned for the waitress, then refocused on her. “Are you ready to order?”

  “If you are.”

  He nodded. Kaylee chose a salad and he chose a sandwich, along with a glass of Chardonnay. “Sure you don’t want to scrap that tea and join me?”

  “I’m tempted, but I’d better not. I have two meetings this afternoon, and I need all my faculties.”

  “Another time, then.”

  After the waitress scuttled off, he smiled, “My, but you look smashing.”

  “I do?” she asked in surprise.

  “Your face is aglow.”

  Oh Lord, that wasn’t good, especially when she felt more color invade it. “I guess I got too much sun,” she said lamely.

  Drew’s eyebrows rose. “Wouldn’t happen to be caused by a man.”

  Her mouth compressed. “Have you been talking to my dad?”

  “What makes you think that?” he asked in an innocent tone, then took a sip of his wine.

  Kaylee glared at him. He responded with a deep chuckle.

  “Dad is driving me crazy.”

  “Then there’s nothing between you and Cutler McFarland.”

  “Absolutely not,” she snapped, then averted her gaze, not trusting her ability to fool him.

  “I don’t know whether to be sorry or glad.”

  She flung her head back around. “That’s an odd thing to say.”

  “Just chalk it up to jealousy,” he said, shifting his gaze.

  For a moment Kaylee sensed a tenseness in the air. She also thought he had wanted to say something else, but was reluctant. Then deciding it was her own paranoia playing with her psyche, she said with a grin, “Jealousy doesn’t suit you.”

  Drew laughed, in spite of the serious set of his features. “I’d love to see you in love, but only—”

  “Please, Uncle Drew, don’t say anything else.”

  He paid her no heed. “You could do worse than McFarland, you know.”

  “McFarland, as you call him, is not even in the picture.”

  “Methinks you protest too much.”

  “Ah, here’s our food,” she said, feeling as though she’d been handed a life jacket.

  “Okay, sweetheart, I’ll give you a break. So tell me, how’s business?”

  “Great,” she said with relief. “If things keep going like they are, I’ll soon be out of debt to you.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t pay me another dime. As it is, I’ve got more money than I’ll ever spend. When I’m gone, it’ll all be yours, anyway.”

  Kaylee’s eyes widened. “Why, I wouldn’t think of not paying off my debt.”

  “Whatever makes you happy.” Drew shrugged. “I’ll just add it to your inheritance.”

  She grasped his hand and squeezed. “You’re too good to me. I’ll never be able to repay you.”

  “You already have by being the daughter I never had.”

  Kaylee felt her eyes mist. “I do love you.”

  “And I love you.” He took another drink of his wine. “Even if you’re stubborn as a mule.”

  Kaylee grinned, only to have the expression freeze on her face. Cutler stood just inside the door of the deli and was looking straight at her.

  A few minutes ago he had been standing front and center in her mind, playing with her emotions. Now he stood before her in the flesh, his presence teasing her. Remembering how his hands had felt on her flesh, she wanted to get up and touch him.

  She felt the heat of embarrassment flood her cheeks as his gaze probed her features, nearly seducing her on the spot. Then he turned his back and walked in the other direction.

  “What’s wrong, Kaylee?” Drew asked.

  She jerked her head around as if it were on a leash.

  “You look like you just saw a ghost,” Drew said with a frown.

  Kaylee prayed her voice wouldn’t crack. “You’re imagining things.” Making herself smile, she added, “I’m fine.”

  He looked as if he wanted to argue, but he didn’t. He raised his glass. “Before we chow down, let’s drink to success and friendship.”

  Thank God he hadn’t pursued the subject. She couldn’t have taken much more grilling. Kaylee raised her glass, clinked it against his and smiled.

  Cutler shook Ben Andrews’s hand.

  “I appreciate you seeing me, Mr. McFarland. I just wish it hadn’t been under such hideous circumstances.”

  “I’m the one who should thank you,” Cutler responded, accompanying the thin, wiry man to the door.

  “Did I give you enough to arrest the son of a bitch?”

  Cutler sidestepped the question. “My offic
e will keep you posted.”

  “Meanwhile, I’ll let you know if I find out anything else,” Ben said, his voice riddled with enthusiasm. “Judge or no judge, it don’t give the man a right to whip up on a defenseless woman, then rape her.”

  “That goes without saying,” Cutler responded with a foul taste in his mouth.

  “I’ll never forgive him for what he did to my sister. And I’ve told her never to go near that man again, but she don’t always listen to me.”

  Cutler opened the door. “If you see Peggy with him, call the number on the card I gave you. Immediately.”

  Andrews nodded, jammed on his cap and walked out.

  Once the door was shut behind him, Cutler again looked at the pictures spread on the glass. He’d seen abuse, but the beating this woman had taken was over the top.

  If Judge Jenkins was indeed responsible for those injuries, in addition to rape as Andrews had claimed, then castration was too good for the bastard. But without the sister and ironclad proof that Jenkins was indeed responsible, his office couldn’t make a move.

  Shoving his hands through his hair, Cutler turned away from the disturbing evidence with a grimace. It had been a day from hell and he was bushed. Perhaps if he hadn’t seen Kaylee at lunch in the company of none other than Drew Rush, he wouldn’t feel the need to tear somebody’s head off.

  It had taken every ounce of professional willpower he could muster to get through the interview with Andrews.

  He knew that Kaylee’s father worked for Drew, but he wondered what kind of relationship Kaylee had with the man. Were they friends? He didn’t want to think of the possibilities beyond friendship.

  He took a shuddering breath. At the moment, Kaylee and Drew’s relationship wasn’t the issue. Only Drew was. Cutler couldn’t bear the thought that Drew Rush was even related to him, much less his father. It had to be a lie. If not, the entire world as he knew it had truly gone mad.

  No matter what Trevor said, the only way to find out the truth was to speak to his mother. And soon, too. Time was running out.

  Cutler heard the knock on the door, but before he could say anything, Angel opened it and walked in. “How did it go with Andrews?”

  “Interesting, to say the least.”

  “What did he say?”

  “The photos speak for themselves. Take a look.”

  For several seconds silence fell over the room, then Angel glanced up, expletives flying from his lips.

  “My sentiments exactly.”

  “Do you really think Jenkins is capable of this?”

  Cutler scraped a hand across his stubble, his eyes narrowing on Angel, who was perched on one end of his desk. “My gut says he is.”

  “But without tangible evidence, we’ve got zilch.”

  “And Andrews can’t provide that evidence,” Cutler pointed out. “His info is secondhand hearsay.”

  “What’s the sister’s name?”

  “Peggy Trent.”

  “Why didn’t she come to you?” Angel asked.

  “According to her brother, Jenkins threatened her if she opened her mouth.”

  “For starters, can we trust a man who seemed to crawl out of the woodwork to accuse the judge?”

  “Of something I’ve suspected for a long time,” Cutler added, then pushed his chair away from his desk, got up and walked to the window. “Yeah, we can.”

  “But this guy’s no ex-con and this woman apparently isn’t hooker material. The perps Jenkins lets off don’t fit in those categories.”

  Cutler turned. “Who’s to say Jenkins doesn’t tap outside sources?”

  “We can’t. So how do you want me to handle this?”

  Cutler remained by the window. “Let’s put a tail on Jenkins.”

  “I’ll get Snelling on it.”

  Cutler shook his head. “You take care of it.”

  Angel’s dark brows shot up. “As in hire someone?”

  “Whatever. It’s your call.”

  “Consider it done,” Angel said without hesitation.

  “Now, onto something even more important.”

  “Lay it on me,” Angel said.

  “Drew Rush.”

  Angel narrowed his eyes. “What about him?”

  Cutler was tempted to blurt out, The son of a bitch just might be my father. But he didn’t. Now was not the time to share that private thought, especially since he didn’t know if it was the truth. “You know who he is?” he asked.

  “Sure do.”

  “How?” Cutler’s tone was sharp.

  Angel gave him a strange look before answering. “Actually he’s under investigation.”

  Cutler’s jaw went slack. “By this office?”

  “Yep.”

  “What for?”

  “Suspicion of illegal business practices.”

  Un-fucking-believable.

  “What’s with your interest in Rush?”

  Cutler cleared his throat, but when he spoke, his voice still sounded hoarse. “I want to know everything there is to know about that man—good, bad, or ugly.”

  “Not a problem.”

  “Make it top priority.”

  “I should have something in a couple of days.”

  Cutler balled his fists, then said in a terse tone, “Make it this afternoon.”

  Twenty-One

  “Cutler?”

  “Yes.” Caution kept him brief, as he didn’t clearly recognize the voice on the other end of the line. He’d been about to walk out of his office when the phone had rung.

  “It’s Edgar Benton.”

  Dead silence.

  “I hope I’m not bothering you.”

  “What do you want?” Cutler demanded in a frigid tone.

  “Just checking to see if you’ve—”

  Red-hot fury held Cutler speechless for a second before he said through clenched teeth, “Don’t call me again, Benton.”

  “But—”

  Cutler slammed the receiver down with Benton talking. He paused for a moment and took a deep settling breath. That bastard had a lot of nerve calling him. The bastard had a lot of nerve period.

  Cutler felt totally out of control of his life. That grated on his last nerve. The fact that he’d called his mother and told her he was coming over made matters worse.

  Of course, she had no idea she was about to be slam-dunked. But he had no recourse. He was fighting for his sanity, and she was the only one who could fix what was broken.

  Or not.

  It was the “or not” that had him so worried. Normally he was cool and levelheaded under fire, but the bombshell Benton had dropped in his lap had messed him up badly. Whatever it took to straighten this shit out, he’d do it.

  Except marry against his will, dammit.

  He’d be the first to admit that he was attracted to Kaylee. He hadn’t tried to hide anything. She was the one who had been the reluctant participant in their relationship.

  But attraction and marriage were two different things.

  No one was going to blackmail him into doing something he didn’t want to do, even though the prospect of having Kaylee as an everyday part of his life definitely appealed to him. In a lot of ways. Not only was she attractive, but he was certain that underneath her cool facade there was a hot-blooded woman.

  Thirty minutes later Cutler was smiling at his mother, who had just poured them a glass of peach iced tea and was now backed against the kitchen cabinet.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” Mary said, leaning her head to one side.

  “Ah, Mom, come on, give me a break. You act like I don’t ever see you.”

  “Okay, I’ll give the devil his due. Lately you’ve been much better about doing your duty.”

  “Hey, you’re really giving me a hard time.”

  She grinned, then walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “Just teasing you a bit. That’s all.”

  “You know, I could whine, too. You certainly don’t hurt yourself coming to see me.”

 
; “Ouch.” Mary smiled as she pinched his cheek.

  “Just keeping you in line, Mother dear.”

  “Come on, let’s go to my study.” She paused. “Or had you rather sit in the breakfast nook?”

  “The study’s fine.”

  “I hope you’ll stay for dinner. Your dad’s picking up Chinese.”

  “We’ll see. Right now I’m not at all hungry.”

  Cutler felt as if his insides were unraveling. Mary seemed to be feeling so well that he hated to karate chop her from behind.

  But the die had been cast, giving him no alternative.

  “Are you feeling okay?” Mary asked once they were seated in another bright and airy room, thanks to the French doors that opened into a small garden with flowers and a birdbath.

  Now as sunlight danced on a crystal cross standing on her desk, Cutler looked at it as though mesmerized.

  “Son, I asked you a question.”

  Cutler shook his head. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” Mary responded in her direct fashion. “Just answer me.”

  Cutler grinned. “You drive a hard bargain, woman.”

  “I try.”

  “I’m just tired.”

  “I think it’s more than tired, but if you don’t want to share, that’s okay. I’m just glad to see you.”

  Cutler swallowed hard before reaching for his tea and taking a healthy sip. When he set the glass back down, his mother’s eyes were settled on him. “Don’t forget what a good listener I am.”

  “I know that, Mom.”

  “Then talk. Your dad won’t be home for a while yet, so it’s just you and me, kid.”

  Cutler knew she was making an attempt at humor to lighten the tension that hovered over the room. Even though she had no idea what had caused it, her maternal instinct sensed it. She knew something was wrong with her child and wanted to help.

  But he’d rather have his heart ripped out than say what he had to say. His gut told him once the words left his mouth, their relationship would never be the same again, no matter what.

  “Mom—”

  She smiled a sweet smile. “That’s me.”

  When he didn’t smile back, hers faded. “My, but you are uptight. Maybe you need something stronger than tea. How about a beer or glass of wine?”