Deception

by K. A. Robinson

  He was right. I wasn’t happy with that. Warning bells went off in my head. He was moving way too fast.

  “No way, Robert. You’re not letting me borrow one of your cars!”

  “Yes, I am. You can argue all you want, but I’m not giving in. Now that I know what you’re driving, I’ll worry about you constantly. Come on, it looks like it’s going to fall apart!”

  I glared at him. “I’m not agreeing to this. If you try to give me one of yours, I won’t drive it. I’m not kidding.”

  “Claire—”

  “No.”

  He sighed. “Will you at least think about it?”

  “I’ll tell you what. If my car ever breaks down to the point where it’s no longer repairable, you can get me a cheap car. Until then, I’m driving mine.”

  He frowned but finally nodded. “I’m only agreeing because I don’t want to fight with you.”

  “That’s fine with me, but you’re not going to guilt me into taking you up on your offer.”

  I couldn’t believe he’d even suggested something like that. I’d known the man existed for only a week, and I’d been on only one date with him. If we’d been together for months, I might have agreed but definitely not after one date.

  “I should probably head home,” I said finally.

  “Good night, Claire.” He reached across the console and cupped my cheek. “If you won’t let me buy you a car, can I at least kiss you good night?”

  I smiled. “I can handle that.”

  He pulled my face closer to his and gently kissed my lips. I sighed at the contact. It was nice. He continued to kiss me for a few more seconds before releasing me. I frowned when I realized I hadn’t seen stars like the girls did in my romance novels. I shook my head to clear it. That was a stupid thought. My books were fiction. Those things didn’t happen in real life.

  “Good night.” I climbed out of the car and walked to my own.

  Robert waited until I was in my car before he pulled away. I waited a few minutes to make sure he was really gone before climbing back out. I thought about our night as I walked to the gym. It had been nice, like our kiss. Being the perfect gentleman, Robert had been kind to me. I just hoped I wasn’t making a mistake by agreeing to this relationship.

  The next morning, I headed to the library to return the books I’d borrowed a few days before. I dropped my books off in the return bin and walked to the paranormal section. As I searched through the shelves, I sighed. I’d been coming to this library for almost a year, and I’d read pretty much everything they had in paranormal books and over half of their romance collection.

  After finding a book that looked halfway interesting, I walked over to one of the tables and sat down. I didn’t have to be at work until later, and I didn’t have anywhere else I needed to be, so I figured reading in the library would be the best place.

  After two chapters in, I gave up. It wasn’t the book’s fault. I just couldn’t concentrate today. I kept thinking about my date with Robert. I was still kind of ticked over the fact that he’d tried to give me a car. I would need to set boundaries with him before we went any further. I wouldn’t mind if he bought me small things occasionally, but the expensive dress and the car offer was way too much and way too fast.

  Other than the car conversation, last night had been perfect. I smiled as I thought about the way he’d kissed me—sweet and gentle. That was a good sign. If he’d tried to paw me to death in his car, I probably would’ve run and never looked back. I just needed time to process the fact that I was with someone like him.

  I’d never really thought about my future before. I hadn’t had the time. Now though, it was definitely something I thought about. If things went well with Robert and we ended up together permanently, my life would be so much easier. I’d never have to worry about working overtime or how I was going to afford rent. Robert hit me as the type who took care of others, and without a doubt, I knew that he would make sure I was taken care of.

  I didn’t want to be one of those women who needed a man to take care of everything. I was stronger than that, but as I sat in the library and stared at the shelves around me, I let myself have a moment of weakness. I just wanted to be taken care of. I wanted someone else to handle all my problems. I’d taken care of others my entire life. Would it be so horrible if someone took care of me?

  My eyes landed on the row of ancient computers across the room. I bit my lip as I debated on what to do. Besides the fact that Robert had a son and was a lawyer, I knew next to nothing about him. Surely, there would be news articles about him and the cases he’d worked on. I might even find something about his wife.

  I stood and walked over to where the librarian was sitting.

  She glanced up and smiled at me. “What can I do for you, Claire?”

  I almost laughed over the fact that she did know my name. “I was wondering if I could use one of your computers.”

  “Of course. It’s five dollars for an hour of use. If you need to print something, it’s twenty cents a sheet.”

  I dug through my purse until I found a five. I handed it over to her. “Thanks!”

  “You’re welcome. If you need any help, let me know.”

  “I will,” I called over my shoulder as I walked to the row of computers.

  I sat down at the one farthest away from her. I giggled over the note that said users would lose their library cards and have to pay a small fine if they looked at adult sites.

  Once I was logged in, I pulled up the Internet browser and searched for Robert’s name. I’d expected to see a few hits but nothing like what came up. I stared in shock as article after article about him appeared.

  I clicked on the first one, dated almost a year ago, and read through it. Robert had managed to win a high-profile case between his client and the local police department. The amount his client had received wasn’t specified, but the article made it clear that they knew it had been a lot. I closed out of that article and pulled up the next one. It was another high-profile case, but this one was between a city worker and the city. Robert had won that one as well. After reading several more articles, one thing became clear. Robert never lost a case.

  Further down the page, I found an article on his wife’s sudden death. Tears welled up in my eyes as I read it.

  Robert Evans, high-profile defense attorney, lost his wife in a tragic car accident Tuesday night. His wife, Marie Evans, was struck by an oncoming car. She lost control of her vehicle and struck an embankment. Mrs. Evans was pronounced dead on the scene.

  She leaves behind her husband, Robert, and one son, Cooper. Mrs. Evans was on several committees in Morgantown and organized the local children’s shelter. In lieu of flowers, the Evans family is asking that donations be made in her honor to the children’s shelter.

  Mr. Evans issued a statement requesting that the press be respectful as he and his family mourn the loss of their loved one. Authorities are still searching for the other vehicle involved in the collision. If you have any information, please contact the Morgantown Police Department.

  I wiped the tears from my cheeks as I closed out of the article. I knew what it felt like to have someone ripped out of your life like that. Even worse, the person responsible for her death had never been arrested as far as I could tell. That alone must have driven Robert mad. I didn’t know how old Cooper had been, but I imagined he’d suffered greatly over the loss of his mother. I’d been so young when I lost my mother, and I still felt the pain from her death.

  Another thought struck me. If my relationship with Robert became serious, he would want to introduce me to his son. Oh God, Cooper would probably hate me, thinking that I was trying to replace his mother. I vowed to myself that if I ever did meet him, I would let him know that I wasn’t trying to replace her in any way.

  I pulled up a few more articles on Robert, trying to distract myself from Marie’s death. I was shocked when I noticed a photo of Robert with the state governor. I couldn’t believe that my boyfriend
was the man in this photo. I had known he was a lawyer, but I hadn’t realized just how big he was. In my defense, reading the newspaper hadn’t exactly been at the top of my to-do list.

  I closed the search window and logged out of the computer. I could have looked at more articles, but I knew they’d say the same things the others had. Robert was a big deal.

  After checking out my book, I headed toward the diner. It was hot out today, but I didn’t mind. As I walked down the street, I looked in the windows of a few stores, wishing I had enough money to afford some of the clothes hanging up on display. One day, I would be able to, but until then, I just had to keep saving. Even though Robert was in my life now, that didn’t mean that my plans had changed. Right now, my top priority was saving enough money for an apartment. Once I did that, I’d look into the tuition rates at WVU and go from there. I knew it would be a while before I was ready for that.

  Sarah was working when I walked into the diner.

  “Hey! Someone dropped off a package for you early this morning. I put it in front of your locker,” she called as she carried a tray of food past me.

  “Another one?” I asked, surprised.

  “Yep. It’s not as big as the other one though.”

  I frowned as I walked to the back room. When I stopped in front of my locker, I saw a small package on the bottom. I picked it up and studied it. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be another dress. The package was way too small for that. It was around the size of a book. I opened it slowly, almost afraid to know what was inside. As soon as the wrapping paper was gone, I smiled. It was an e-reader. On our date last night, I had mentioned my love of reading, and he’d bought me this. I lifted it out of the box and noticed a gift card and note. My eyes widened as I took in the amount of the gift card. I could buy a ton of books with a hundred dollars. I set the e-reader and gift card aside and grabbed the note.

  CLAIRE,

  I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR GIFT. IF YOU NEED MORE BOOKS ONCE YOU’VE SPENT YOUR GIFT CARD, LET ME KNOW. I HOPE YOU’LL FORGIVE ME FOR LAST NIGHT. IT WASN’T MY PLACE TO OFFER TO LET YOU BORROW ONE OF MY CARS. I HOPE YOU’RE NOT ANGRY WITH ME. PLEASE CALL ME WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE.

  SINCERELY,

  ROBERT

  He left his number on the bottom of the note. I hadn’t even thought about the fact that I hadn’t had his number. I didn’t know what I’d do when he asked me for mine. There was no way I could afford a cell phone, not even one of those cheap ones.

  I smiled as I put everything back in the box. While I wasn’t happy that he was spending money on me, I could accept an e-reader and a gift card. They had definitely cost less than a car.

  Ten minutes later, I was still smiling when I walked back out into the diner.

  Sarah cornered me the minute she saw me. “So? What was it?”

  “An e-reader and a gift card.”

  She grinned. “He’s so sweet, and he obviously has it bad for you if he’s dropping cash on you like that.”

  I shrugged. “We agreed to take it slow. We’ll see where it goes.”

  She snorted. “Buying you presents before and after one date isn’t slow. Mark my words—you’ll be married to him in less than a year.”

  I frowned. “I doubt that. I just don’t understand why he’s so interested in me. I’m nothing special.”

  “Are you kidding me? You’re a bombshell, Claire. Every guy who walks through the door looks at you. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Blonde hair, blue eyes, tiny waist, and nice boobs—you have it all. If I wasn’t straight, I’d so tap that.”

  I burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Sarah. I never know what’s going to come out of your mouth next!”

  She grinned. “Hey, I only speak the truth. Look, I know you haven’t had the easiest life, but you need to accept the fact that you’re attractive. I’m aware that none of your foster parents were nice enough to tell you that, but I will. Get some self-confidence, chick. You need to stop being so hard on yourself.”

  By the end of my shift, I was exhausted. I walked to the back room and grabbed my things before leaving the diner through the employee exit. I stopped short when I saw a man leaning against my car. Fear seized me until I recognized it was Robert.

  I walked toward him. “Robert? What are you doing here?”

  He smiled. “I just left my office, and I thought I’d swing by since I haven’t heard from you. You did get my note, didn’t you?”

  “Oh, yeah. Sorry I didn’t call you. We’ve been busy all night.” I hesitated. “Plus, I don’t have a phone to call you with.”

  I was surprised when I saw anger flash across his face. It was gone a second later, making me wonder if I’d just imagined it.

  “Let me make sure I understand this right. Your car isn’t very reliable, and you have no cell phone, right? So, if your car did break down, you wouldn’t even be able to call anyone?”

  I glanced at my feet, embarrassed. “Yeah, you got it right.”

  He sighed before reaching out and pulling me against him. “What am I going to do with you, Claire? Why don’t you have a cell phone?”

  I relaxed against his chest, and he rested his chin on top of my head.

  “Because I can’t afford one. I’m working on it though, okay? As soon as I have one, I’ll give you the number.”

  “Try to get it soon, or I’m going to drive myself nuts while wondering if you’re all right.”

  “I will, I promise,” I said.

  I listened to his heartbeat. It was strong and even. Being this close to him calmed me. It was nice to have someone who genuinely cared if I was okay or not. Besides Junie and Bob, I couldn’t think of anyone who would worry about me.

  “By the way, thank you for the gift. I love it,” I said.

  “I thought you would. If you run out of money to buy books, let me know, and I’ll get you another card.”

  I nodded even though I would never ask him after spending the gift card. “Okay.”

  We stood together in the parking lot for a few minutes before he finally pulled away. “I need to head home. I have to be in court early tomorrow.”

  I stepped away from him and smiled. “All right, I’ll see you later. Thanks for stopping by to visit me.”

  “I thought about you all day. You’re starting to drive me nuts but in a good way.” He pulled me close again and gently kissed me. “Do you have to work tomorrow night?”

  “No, I’m on the morning shift tomorrow.”

  “Good. I want to take you out for dinner. You choose where you want to go.”

  I was all for that plan. Anywhere I’d want to go wouldn’t have a dress code. “Sounds good to me.”

  He waved and then headed for his car. I watched him pull away. Once his taillights disappeared, I started walking toward the gym. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow night.

  Five Weeks Later

  Robert held my hand as we walked out of the movie theater together. I shifted closer, and he wrapped his arm around me. I rested my head against his chest as we approached his car. Once we were inside, he took my hand and held it as he steered us toward the diner.

  “Tonight was fun,” I said as I looked over at him.

  “Yeah, it was. It’s been a long time since I went to the theater to see a movie. I needed tonight.”

  “Me, too.” I relaxed further into my seat. “I’m so tired. I’ve been working doubles at the diner. I can’t complain though. I’m saving a lot of money.”

  “Good, so you can get a cell phone now.” Robert glanced over at me.

  I sighed. “Yes, I’ll buy one soon. I just hate spending money on one.”

  “I tried to add you to my plan, but you wouldn’t let me,” he grumbled.

  “And I still won’t let you. I’ll buy a cheap throwaway one. It’s not like I’m going to talk to anyone besides you,” I said stubbornly as I looked over at him.

  Over the past few weeks, Robert had tried his hardest to pay for a cell phone for me, but I’d refused. There wa
s no way I’d let him add me to his plan. I’d even talked to him about his other gifts two weeks ago. While Sarah had been delighted every time a package showed up at my work, I hadn’t appreciated them nearly as much. It just felt wrong to me. I understood he had been doing it because he wanted to take care of me, but it made me uncomfortable.

  “I assume I’m taking you back to the diner?” he asked after a moment of silence.

  “Yeah. My car is parked there.” I looked away.

  He’d also tried on several occasions to take me home. Over and over, I’d used the excuse that my car was at the diner. I could tell he was starting to get upset, but I still couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I was living at the gym.

  Other than a few brief arguments over his gifts and where I lived, the past few weeks had been wonderful. Robert was the kind of man who took time to be with and listen to his girlfriend. When I had a bad day, he would let me vent to him. He was always so attentive, like everything I said and did really mattered to him. I’d never been happier. It was nice to have someone who truly cared about me.

  He stayed silent until we pulled up next to my car. “You promise you’ll get a cell phone soon?”

  I nodded.

  “All right then.”

  “I love the fact that you worry about me, but you really don’t have to,” I said.

  “I don’t like not knowing where you are.”

  “I’m either at work or at home. Don’t worry.”

  “That’s another thing. Why won’t you let me take you home, Claire? What are you hiding?”

  Dread filled me. I didn’t want to argue with him over this. “I’m not hiding anything. It’s just easier for you to drop me off here.”

  “Why won’t you even give me an address?” he asked.

  “I’m ashamed of where I live, okay?” I finally said.

  “Oh, Claire. We’ve talked about this. I know our financial situations are different, but you can’t possibly think that I’d care about something like that. I want you to be mine. That’s the truth. Whether you have ten dollars or ten thousand dollars is irrelevant.”