Forever Yours

by Francis Ray

  Stopping at another restaurant was out of the question. From the shattered look on her face, he would have had to forcibly take her inside. She was hurt and angry. Unfortunately her anger was directed at herself and the closest man in her life. Kane.

  He opened the door. She turned sharply away from the window. Despite the anger emanating from her, he walked further into the room. “Dinner is ready.”

  She looked back out the window. “Close the door on your way out.”

  “I will, but you’re coming with me. Walking or over my shoulder. Your choice.”

  Her shoulders jerked. For a charged moment he wondered if he had pushed her too far. Giving him a look that would have made a lesser man run, she stalked from the room. Kane followed.

  Two feet inside the kitchen, she halted. Knowing the reason, Kane stepped around her and began opening the seven Styrofoam servers stretched across the blue counter top. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I got a little bit of everything. Catfish, shrimp, crab cakes, flounder, french fries, hush puppies, and several different kinds of salad.”

  As he opened the last container, he glanced up. She had moved closer to the food. Her gaze was fixed on the batter-dipped butterfly shrimp. He snagged two plates from the table, handed her one and began to fill his own. The last thing she needed was him watching her. Finished, he sat his plate on the table and got a pitcher of tea and a diet cola from the refrigerator.

  He joined her at the table, glad to see she had put a decent amount of food on her plate. Without asking her anything, he opened the soft drink and poured it over a glass of ice. Head bowed, he said grace and heard her faint “Amen.”

  Kane ate with an eye on Victoria’s plate. He made sure he kept it full. When he tried to give her the last fried shrimp, she shook her head. “Please, I’m stuffed.”

  “What about some pecan pie for dessert?”

  “I’m too full to lift a fork, let alone have the energy to chew.”

  “Good. You sit there and I’ll clean this up.” Going to the refrigerator, Kane crouched down and began rearranging the food on the shelves. As he moved to get up, he saw Victoria standing with the containers in her hands.

  “Working together, we can finish sooner,” she said simply. She had wanted to hold onto her anger, to nourish it, stoke it against becoming vulnerable again. Kane’s thoughtfulness had snuffed it out. Kane wasn’t Stephen. He wouldn’t hurt or use her.

  “Thanks.” He put the food away and stood up. “How about a walk to make room for the pecan pie?”

  She lifted a brow. “I must be hearing things. You’re actually asking?”

  His mouth quirked. “I admit I’m a bit bossy. If you go with me, I’ll try to mend my ways.”

  “Somehow I doubt you will.”

  “This is my favorite place,” Kane said, spreading a blanket beneath a gnarled oak tree on a high hill overlooking his house. The ranch sat in a valley below, shedding its winter brown for spring green. Two horses played in the corral. Cows grazed a hundred yards away. “When the former owner brought me up here and I looked around and couldn’t see another building, I knew I’d found my home.”

  Victoria carefully sat on the far corner of the blue blanket. “How long ago was that?”

  He looked down at her before answering. “Eight years ago last month.” Her body tensed again. He had bought the place two weeks after her divorce was final.

  “You never looked back?”

  “I made mistakes, if that’s what you mean.”

  “None like mine.” Self-reproach rang in her voice.

  “It’s time you stopped blaming yourself.” He dropped down to his knees. “You’re afraid you’ll make the same mistake in judgment. Afraid you’ll trust the wrong man again.”

  The truth of his words took her by surprise. Intuitive and dangerous.

  “Do you think I’d use you?” he asked softly.

  She had no defense against the need in his beautiful black eyes. “No. You’re not like Stephen. I looked at him, really looked at him today, and couldn’t believe I was ever fooled for a moment by his so-called charm and good looks. He used me, and I was stupid enough to let him.”

  With all his heart Kane wanted to take her into his arms, but if he did, she might stop talking. She needed to be able to put Stephen behind her, to know trusting him hadn’t made her a lesser person. “You were young and impressionable. Blame Stephen, not yourself.”

  Her arms wrapped around her updrawn knees, she rocked back and forth and remembered. Stephen’s attitude changed toward her the moment they boarded the cruise ship for their honeymoon. The gentle, considerate man she had fallen in love with was replaced by an argumentative, abusive stranger. The steward had barely closed the door to their cabin before Stephen pulled her down on the bed. He said he couldn’t wait to make love.

  She quickly learned the rough sexual act that followed had nothing to do with love. Stephen didn’t care that it was her first time or that she was scared and unsure of herself. He wanted her and he had taken what he wanted. Afterward she lay crying as he hurled insults. He said it was her fault he had finished so quickly. He thought he had married a woman, not a cry baby. Without asking, he had taken some money from her purse and slammed out of the door saying, “At least I can have a good time in the casino.”

  Victoria shook her head, sending her black hair dancing around her tense shoulders, trying to stop the memories, but it was useless. Stephen had returned to their cabin hours later and apologized. The captain of the vessel had asked about her and wanted them to sit at his table. Excited about the honor, Stephen had promised not to resume their “lovemaking” until they were home. Once again, he became the old Stephen. At the time, she was naive enough to think he was concerned for her instead of concerned about presenting a picture of a devoted husband and happy wife.

  His changed behavior made her think he might be right about things being her fault. After all, she had failed so many times in the past. Perhaps she just wasn’t a sexual person. Once home, she had tried to make up for her deficiency by giving in to his demands of moving to a high-rise condominium, and letting a design studio do all the decorating.

  A month after they were married, he wanted her to co-sign a loan for a new sports car. Neither one of them had a job and they both already had good cars. She refused. That night she had to endure his sexual demands for the first time since their honeymoon. The next day, she signed the papers. She learned to loathe Stephen, sex, and herself. But she learned the power of money over a greedy man.

  “The things I let him say to me, all the humiliation I suffered at home and in public. The countless times I gladly came home knowing he was being unfaithful and not caring. I only cared that I wouldn’t have to be bothered by a man whose touch sickened me. When there were no other women, I used his greed to keep him away from me.”

  Something clicked in Kane’s mind. “You paid him to keep out of your bed, didn’t you?”

  Chapter 10

  Her eyes widened on realizing what she had unintentionally admitted. No one knew that awful secret, not even Bonnie. With a strangled cry, she tried to get up.

  Kane caught her. Ignoring her fists, he pulled her into his arms and down onto his lap. “It’s all right, Tory. It’s all right. You did the only thing you could think of.”

  Shame swept through her. “Let me go.”

  “No. Maybe this will convince you he was wrong.” His lips sought hers.

  Victoria turned her head and clamped her mouth shut. Kane veered to her throat and kissed the cord of her neck. He nuzzled the curve of her jaw, then ran the tip of his tongue across the seam of her closed mouth. With a delicate shudder, she opened for him.

  Kane rewarded her by cherishing what she offered. He kissed her with all the tenderness and need he had held within him for so long. His tongue dipped and swirled, stroking the smooth inside of her mouth, the delicious heat of her tongue.

  A long time later he lifted his head. He stared down at h
er tangled hair he had lovingly mussed, her dazed eyes, her lips moist and swollen from his kisses. With knives cutting through him, he waited until her gaze cleared and she focused on him.

  “I’m not Stephen. Don’t ever confuse us.” His breathing ragged, Kane rolled away and stood. They both needed the space. “It’s not your fault Stephen’s a bastard.” For a long moment he let the words lay between them.

  “Don’t you understand? There’s not a cold bone in your body. He didn’t know how to appreciate what he had. It wasn’t your fault.” At her continued silence, he reached for his waning control and sat down on the blanket again.

  “You’re a beautiful, sensual woman. He tried to make you less because that was the only way he could control you. Don’t let him win. Put the blame where it belongs and get on with your life. Stop looking for him in other men. In me.”

  Mutely she stared at him, then looked away. “I’d like to go back, please.”

  Her voice was polite and correct and distant. Kane wanted to smash something. Instead he grabbed a fistful of blanket as soon as she stood.

  Victoria looked at Kane’s rigid profile. Misery twisted inside her. She didn’t want to have her emotions probed. She wanted to be left alone. Even as the thought ran through her mind, she knew she lied. That was the reason Kane frightened her as much as his kisses thrilled her—She wanted to open up to him.

  Yet she knew if she forgot the painful lesson Stephen taught her, and yielded to Kane, he would touch her in ways Stephen never had, leaving her exposed and defenseless. This time, if something were to go wrong, she wasn’t sure if she would heal again.

  He grabbed her arm and started down the hill. “Let’s go. But we’re not finished with this.”

  “Why do you keep pushing me to talk about him?”

  Kane stopped and faced her. “Because you’re my wife, and even pretending, I don’t like the idea of your ex-husband having any influence over you.”

  Mixed feelings surged through her. “I don’t want to be vulnerable again.”

  “No one does.” His voice softened. “Just take the first step. I’ll be with you all the way.”

  She bit her lower lip. “I may try your patience.”

  “You already have,” he stated bluntly. “But we’re a team now. We have to work together.” He started walking again. “Can you play dominoes?”

  Victoria thankfully grasped for the change of subject. “Grandfather says I can.”

  “After we get your things unpacked, we’ll find out.”

  Her arms crossed, Victoria watched Kane put the dominoes back into the box. “You cheated,” she said with a pout.

  Kane never looked up. “You’re such a lousy player, I didn’t have to.”

  Victoria leaned over the table and punched Kane on the arm. “I am not. Grandfather and I played all the time and I seldom lost.”

  “Knowing what a poor loser you are, he probably let you win to keep the peace,” Kane said. He rose and put the dominoes back on the bookshelf.

  Victoria pursed her lips. “Maybe. I hate to lose.”

  “That’s what your grandmother was counting on.”

  Her playful mood evaporated. “I guess so.”

  “You’re going to have to stop doing that.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Withdrawing each time the reason we got married comes up.”

  She sighed. “I’m working on it.”

  “Good.” Walking over, he pulled her to her feet. “You better go to bed if you expect to go to work tomorrow.”

  At her door, he gave her a brief, nonthreatening hug. “Good night, Tory.”

  “Good night.” Victoria entered her room, then leaned against the closed door. Today her emotions had ranged from self-pity to rage to passion. Through it all, Kane had been there. He had seen her at her worst, and continued to believe the best. The knowledge warmed her. Perhaps caring for someone wasn’t so bad after all.

  Sunlight filtering through gauzy white curtains woke Victoria. She glanced at her watch. 8:18. If she didn’t hurry she’d be late getting to the shop for the first time in years. Throwing back the covers, she got out of bed and got dressed. The aroma of coffee greeted her the moment she reached the bottom of the stairs.

  Kane glanced up when she entered the kitchen. “Good morning. Your timing is perfect. Grab a seat,” he said, sliding a fluffy omelet onto her plate.

  Victoria looked at the large amount of food on the table. “Do you cook for the hands as well?”

  Kane sat down. “Are you saying I overdid it again?”

  “I’m not saying anything.” She bowed her head for Kane to say the blessing. “Amen.” Picking up her fork, she cut into her cheese and ham omelet and took a small bite. Her lips closed around the food and she groaned in delight. “I might start eating breakfast every day. You’re a good cook.”

  “I’ve been a bachelor for so long, I had to be.” He selected a biscuit from a two-inch stack. “I gassed up your car and washed it. I hope you don’t mind?”

  “When did you have time?”

  “This morning. I told you I’m an early riser.”

  Victoria was touched. “I don’t mind at all. Thank you.”

  He nodded. “We got calls from both your grandmother and my mother this morning. They wanted to speak to you, but I told them you were asleep.”

  Her face heated. Slowly she put down the glass of juice she had picked up. “What did they want?”

  “To get the inside track on having us to dinner first, and to see if we liked our wedding announcement in the newspapers.”

  “What!”

  Calmly, Kane handed her two newspapers. “At least you look good. I can’t believe Mama put my old picture in the hometown paper.”

  Victoria stared at their pictures. Kane looked hard. She looked sullen. “It’s a tossup which one of us looks the worst,” she said, then glanced up quickly at Kane to see if she had made him angry.

  Kane grinned. “I think I take the honors.”

  “I could wring Grandmother’s neck. This is all I need.”

  He studied her closely. “Are you worried some of your friends might have seen you yesterday at the restaurant?”

  “No,” she denied quickly.

  Kane didn’t look convinced. “Maybe I should go to the store with you.”

  She shook her head and stood. “No need. I’ll be fine. What are you plans today?”

  His narrowed gaze told her he was aware she had deliberately changed the subject. “I have a meeting at Cinnamon around ten, then I plan to do some work around the ranch.”

  “Then I’ll see you this evening.” With a forced smile, Victoria left the room.

  “Kane, have you heard a word I’ve said?”

  Slowly Kane turned from staring out the office window on the twelfth floor of the Cinnamon Corporation. A frown marched across his brow as he stared at the rotund man sitting behind a massive teak desk. “I’m sorry, William, did you say something?”

  William Conrad, founder, president and CEO of Cinnamon, clamped his teeth tighter on his imported cigar and studied Kane over the rim of his bifocals. With a controlled motion, he sat upright in his chair. “I said, what do you think of the plans we’ve come up with to expand into men’s skin care?”

  The furrows on Kane’s brow deepened.

  “It’s in the report I gave you.” A manicured finger pointed to Kane’s right hand.

  Kane glanced down at the blue portfolio as if he hadn’t seen it. In truth, he didn’t remember taking it. Just as he didn’t recall the view from the window. The landscaped grounds and surrounding office buildings hadn’t existed for him. His mind was filled with visions of Victoria’s determined but frightened face. She was intent on facing her problems alone.

  Kane’s gaze went back to William. At sixty-six, his once coal-black hair was generously sprinkled with gray and his athletic body of college days had rounded. One thing remained the same: his passion for Cinnamon. Kane didn’t even think
Helen, his wife of thirty odd years, came before the company. While Kane admired William’s keen intelligence, he didn’t agree with his priorities.

  “It makes my ulcer act up just thinking of things that could go wrong with this new venture.” William knocked the ash off his cigar. “Of course, I’d feel a lot better with you back here every day.”

  “One of us with an ulcer is enough,” Kane said flatly. “I’ll always appreciate being a part of the company’s growth, but being a consultant on occasion is enough time spent away from my ranch.”

  William looked from beneath bushy brows. “You make it sound as if I welcomed you with open arms.”

  “You did eventually,” Kane said mildly. He had expected William’s resistance in taking on a partner instead of acquiring investors as he had originally planned. Kane just hadn’t accepted William’s decision.

  “It was you or bankruptcy court, just as it was let you go gracefully two years ago or face the prospect of losing the driving force behind this company’s growth,” William said with a touch of irritation he didn’t try to hide. “Now that you’re married, you’ll never come back full time. I didn’t even know you were serious about anyone.”

  “Sometimes these things happen quickly,” Kane explained. It was just his and Victoria’s luck for her picture to be in the same section of the newspaper where they were running the second excerpt from a tell-all book about the rich and famous in Dallas/Fort Worth.

  “As I told you earlier, she’s beautiful. I probably wouldn’t want to leave a woman like that either,” William confessed.

  “I’m not sure Helen would take that as a compliment,” Kane said.

  “I’m not either, so let’s not tell her.”

  “I wouldn’t think of it,” Kane said, and placed the folder back on the desk, then headed for the door.

  William rose out of his seat. “Where are you going? We’ve got to—”