Abrupt Changes: A Second Chance Romance (O-Town Book 3)

by Karen Renee

  The jackass glared at me.

  I tipped my head toward the sidewalk. “I believe you were leaving? Or filing a police report, but whichever it is, you need to damn well do it off this property.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me for a few beats before he half-waddled down the steps and away from the house.

  Shaking my head, I sighed and opened the door to the house. Raegan was just inside the hallway with her cell phone to her ear.

  Whoever she was speaking to, she didn’t even notice me come inside. A bad feeling crept up my spine.

  “Trey, I’m sorry, but the day of Wynnie’s services were a blur. I know I saw an outrageously large floral wreath. I don’t know if it was from you or not. I didn’t check cards and stuff. The—”

  She paused. From the set of her jaw, I had no doubt he’d interrupted her because she clenched her jaw that way anytime I did it.

  Her chest rose and fell with her deep breath. “Trey. You’re an only child, so you won’t get this until one of your parents passes away but losing someone you’re so close to is the hardest thing you’ll ever go through. So, no. I didn’t check every fucking arrangement. If you hadn’t interrupted me, you’d know the funeral home gave us a listing of all the people who sent flowers. I’ve been more than a little busy lately to go through that yet.”

  A skeptical look crossed her face while she listened.

  “Thank you for your condolences, Trey. Now, I need to go.”

  She jabbed at her phone, and it was all I could do not to snatch the thing out of her hand.

  As I stood there with my arms folded on my chest, I struggled to get my temper in check.

  She looked up, surprised to see me.

  “He called about his flowers? Seriously?”

  Her shoulders hunched like she would shrug, but then she shook her head. “He’s... materialistic, Clint. Though I’ve only noticed it recently.”

  “Recently?”

  She looked at me. “Like in the last nine months, maybe? Or maybe when I filed... no that’s not right. I filed for divorce a long damn time ago.”

  I jerked my head toward the bedroom. “Let’s talk about this behind closed doors, babe.”

  The latching of the door sent Raegan into a tizzy. “What’s the big idea, Clint? We have to talk about my ex-husband behind closed doors? Why?”

  “Because your mother doesn’t need to hear this.”

  She rolled her eyes, but I let it slide. “Who cares if he wants to know if I saw the damn flowers he sent?”

  I shook my head. “Anybody else call you just to find out if you got their floral arrangement?”

  The anger seeped out of her face.

  “Yeah. Now, I find it strange that you married well, but the divorce goes down just weeks before shit hits the fan with your sister.”

  She shook her head. “Trey has no connection to that. And clearly, you need to use a dictionary.”

  “Explain.”

  Her brows shot up. “Your definition of married well and my definition of married well are two different things.”

  I couldn’t hide my impatience when I sighed. “One more time, hotshot. Explain.”

  “It’s former-hotshot but marrying well isn’t marrying for money. Marrying well is actually staying married.”

  That was a great answer, but we needed to stay focused. “Still, you made out well in the settlement.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “Not sure if you’ve left Orlando in the past nine years, but in New York, it’s eat or be eaten, whether it’s advertising, divorce, or anything else. Hell if I wasn’t going to get what I deserved, since that asshole cheated on me, not once but multiple times.”

  My eyebrow cocked, and I wanted to kick myself. Signaling I knew about the cheating wasn’t my intention.

  Her eyes narrowed. “But then you knew that. Hell, you probably pulled my financials.”

  I shook my head. “No, but the settlement was public record. Your lawyer should’ve protected you better in that regard.”

  She sighed. “I still don’t think Trey has anything to do with Wynnie.”

  “What about the stuff that’s happened to you?”

  “He’s in New York,” she argued.

  “Raegan, cash buys all sorts of services.”

  She rolled her eyes again. “I know that, Clint, but why—”

  I stepped into her space. “He’s got almost four million good reasons to come after you.”

  Her head reared back. “That’s crazy.”

  My eyes widened. “You know people kill for far less. Do you have a will? Have you updated it since the divorce? My guess is that you were ‘so done’ with lawyers at that point. Am I right?”

  Her lips pressed into a thin line. I fought off gloating because that would infuriate her like nothing else.

  “You’re right.” She sat on the bed. “Should I call him back?”

  “No,” I said, sterner than I intended.

  Her eyes were questioning, so I sat down next to her.

  “Listen, you call him back, then what? You gonna ask him outright if he has something to do with that? First, he’s not gonna tell you the truth, and second, you don’t want to let him know you’re suspicious.”

  “Right, but why kill Wynnie?”

  “That’s the third reason to not call him back. It’s too thin. If you were the target and they got Wynnie for some damn reason, why abduct you at Target only to drop you back here within hours?”

  “So... you don’t think it’s Trey, either?”

  I shook my head. “No, Rae. I don’t know what to think, but I’m not ruling anything out.” Hiking my knee up onto the bed, I shifted to face her. “My question to you before we went back to sleep was ‘did you piss someone off in New York?’ It still stands, Rae. Because, I hate to say it, but you seem to be the only link in this craziness.”

  Chapter 12

  Send Out Christmas Cards

  Raegan

  MY MIND RACED WITH the idea I could be the reason my sister had been killed. Clint ran a hand along my cheek, and I knew my thoughts were written on my face.

  Before either of us could speak, Mom’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Clint, dear. Do you still want your bagel? It’s getting cold.”

  I shook with silent laughter.

  My hands cupped his bristly cheeks. “Thank you, Clint. For everything last night, but definitely for scaring away Mr. Hipps today. He made it his mission to give me a piece of his mind when I first got here. I wish I had you telling him off on video.”

  His eyes went fiery, but this was the fire I saw regularly nine years ago. Then, he leaned forward and kissed me breathless. By the time he pulled away from me, I was straddling him.

  His hands settled on my hips, stilling my progress, but his eyes danced over my face. “Mamita, it’s great knowing our chemistry hasn’t fizzled, but odds are damn good your mother’s on the other side of that door. Hearing aid in place.”

  I rested my forehead on his. “You sure do have a cool head, Ramsey.”

  “Are you making chauvinistic stereotypes about me, Connelly?”

  I exhaled and climbed off him. “Touché.”

  Before he opened the bedroom door, Clint aimed fiery eyes at me. “I can swing it with Brock or maybe Gabe, you’re comin’ home with me tonight.”

  My body froze. “Um. Are you still in that apart—”

  “Fuck, no, Rae. Told you already, I’m not ten minutes from here. I’m in a house, and as long as I got someone to stick around for Penny, you’re gonna be in my bed tonight.”

  BY TEN-THIRTY CLINT had gone to work, but he’d left his gun with me. While he went through the academy, back in our day, he had taken me out to a wooded area and taught me how to shoot. Once I had mastered obliterating empty cans, he took me to the shooting range.

  This morning, he insisted I unload the weapon, reload it, release the safety, and prove I remembered how to handle a gun. The pride in his smile kept me fr
om making a smart-aleck response. He kissed me hard, then told me to put the gun somewhere high. At my questioning look, he pointed out Tanya would likely be by today, and I suddenly wished he’d take his gun with him.

  “It’ll be fine. Keep it out of reach and out of sight, baby. Just not in a cookie jar,” he said, an evil glint in his eye, since he referenced one of my favorite series of books.

  I threw my arms out and up at an angle. “My point exactly! I should not be—”

  “Shh.”

  He took it from me, put it in my purse and tucked the purse into a recessed corner of the counter nobody else would look at twice.

  “Geez. Are you ever sneaky.”

  He winked. “Don’t you forget it.”

  Then he left and I caught Mom rearranging her face. Until she realized I might see her, the smile on her face could light up billboards. Then her schooled features were blander than hospital food.

  I sat on the couch adjacent to her recliner. “You’re just tickled pink, aren’t you?”

  “You remember that sheep they cloned?” she asked.

  I looked at her askance. “Yeah.”

  “If those people cloned your ex-husband five times over, all of them together wouldn’t equal half the man Clint Ramsey is.”

  I swallowed as tears gathered in my eyes. “Okay, Mom.”

  “He told me not to hope.”

  My eyes slid side to side. “Um, who?”

  “Clint. Told me not to hope for a reunion between you two. So, I’ll tell you what I told him. He’s the best thing that ever happened to you, honey.”

  Hearing Mom’s wishes I couldn’t even look her in the eye. “Mom...”

  “Don’t mess this up, Raegan.”

  “No pressure there or anything, Mom.”

  She scoffed. “Don’t think of it as pressure, honey. Think of it as good fortune. You know what you lost when it ended last time. Make sure you give it everything you can this go ‘round.”

  A weight settled on my chest because I was already afraid.

  Mom grabbed my hand. “I know that look, Raegan. Tell me what’s on your mind?”

  I stared at my lap for a long moment before I could look her in the eye. “Mom, what about New York? I had an interview before I came down, and until I got... your call, it had gone really well. I’d finally be moving up, and none of it would be because of Trey or anything possibly tainted from his influence...or lack thereof.”

  Mom frowned. “That job going to keep you warm at night? You get some uppity title that’ll make you feel good for all of two hours before the stress and bullshit that comes with it brings you back down to earth. A good job will ensure you have a 401K and money when you’re my age, but who gives a good Goddamn if there isn’t someone with you to live life.”

  I nodded. “It would take a load off if I relocated.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, take a load off?”

  I sighed. “I mean, I wouldn’t have to interview people to come in and check on you if I lived in town.”

  She sat back. “You’ve been looking for people to check on me?”

  I shook my head. “Not yet. I hadn’t decided if I was going back or staying here. Plus, I needed to talk to you about it anyway. Getting involved with Clint definitely means I have to stay in town, but I’m not sure if I’ll get a decent job and—”

  “You need to stop. For heaven’s sake, you got money. You have time to consider your options.”

  The doorbell interrupted us, and I looked over my shoulder to see Tanya at our front door. She had a humongous smile on her face, which alarmed me.

  I stood up. “Your favorite little boys are here. And Tanya looks like she’s going to split her lips with the big ol’ grin on her face.”

  To my surprise, when I opened the door Tanya’s smile widened further.

  “Okay, whatever’s got you this happy, I need some of it, girlfriend,” I said, opening the door wider.

  Jared scurried past me, calling out “Miss Penny!”

  Tanya came in and shut the door. “While I don’t like gunshots in our neighborhood, it was worth it since I saw Mr. Hipps after Clint finished giving him what for. He left here looking like he sucked on a lemon. Even though I was on the phone with Kyle, I snuck a picture of that. Framing it would be too expensive, but maybe I’ll use a Shutterfly promo code and send out Christmas cards”

  I caught her eyes before we fully entered the living room. “Don’t do it. It’s fabulous and all, but somebody around here is bound to show that to him. Then where will you be?”

  “High on life is where I’ll be,” she deadpanned while she settled the baby carrier on the couch.

  Jared climbed off Mom’s lap and she gave Tanya her big eyes. “What’d you tell Raegan when you came in? Jared stole my attention, but you’re not keeping me in the dark, lady.”

  I went to the kitchen while Tanya recounted her picture-taking capabilities. When I came back in with a glass of water for Tanya, Mom cackled.

  It was contagious, seeing as I hadn’t heard Mom cackle in years. That meant I was chuckling when I answered my cell phone.

  “Hello?”

  “What’s funny, baby?” Clint asked.

  “Oh, just Tanya. She liked how you handled Mr. Hipps. What’s up?”

  His groan edged close to being a growl. “Wanted you to tell Penny she’ll have company tonight. Gabe’s gonna hang with her.”

  “Are you kidding? Clint, why on earth would a young guy like Gabe—”

  “I wanted Brock to do it, but Gabe was there when Brock and I were discussing details. Thinking he feels indebted to me, but after this we’re square, as far as I’m concerned anyway. Besides, his woman’s finishing her MBA and he’s trying to hustle to finish his own degree. Keeping an eye on Penny for a night is good for both of them.”

  I nodded. “Did you forewarn him?”

  “About what?”

  “About the break-in last night, and about how Mom can be a little... forward.”

  Clint laughed. “Honey, Gabe can handle whatever Penny throws his way. As for the other, Gabe has a gun he’ll keep nearby. Forgot to tell you this before I left, but the Sheriff’s Office has put your mom’s house on the list for random drive-bys. Won’t be that frequent, but it should be enough to discourage anybody from breaking in again.”

  “All right.”

  I could feel the heat of his sinister chuckle. “That’s not the only reason I called, Raegan, so don’t say ‘all right’ so soon.”

  A curl of warmth slid through my belly. “It isn’t?”

  “No. You’re staying at my place tonight, so you need to pack a change of clothes and your stuff for the bathroom. But, more than that, I wanted to give you the heads up I’m taking you out and if you felt like wearing that purple dress again, it wouldn’t go unnoticed.”

  I fought an eye-roll, but couldn’t stop myself from sharing, “Clint, that dress is periwinkle, not purple.”

  I heard him exhale. “Is that ludicrous color in the purple family?”

  That forced me to audibly exhale before I admitted, “Yes.”

  “That’s what I thought. Anyway, wear that, or wear another dress. There might be dancing where we’re going.”

  “Dancing?” I whispered.

  “Maybe,” he whispered back.

  A thrill shot through me. Over the three years Clint and I dated before I moved north, he’d taught me how to salsa, mambo, and samba. Clint was sexy as hell any time of day, but he became sex on fire when he was dancing. I had shoved those memories out of my mind, but now they were back in full force.

  “You on the line, Rae?”

  “Yes,” I murmured.

  “Don’t think this is some excuse to go shopping. For all we know, the fuckers who broke in have eyes on the house. Broad daylight and you got people around, you should be good. But you leave the house for something as stupid as a new dress, that’s another story.”

  I didn’t realize I was smiling until
my lips pulled into a frown. “Way to rain on the parade of possible dancing going on in my head, Clint. I wasn’t planning to go shopping, and for what it’s worth, I can dance in jeans too, you know.”

  “Not if you plan to dance with me, mamita.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Not ‘whatever,’ but that’s all I got for now.”

  “What time are you picking me up?”

  “Not sure, but before seven.”

  When I pulled the phone from my ear, I realized Tanya had been listening.

  Her eyes sparkled when she smiled. “You need another dress, don’t you?”

  I couldn’t hold back my smile. “If you’re willing to loan one to me, you betcha. You don’t have anything red, do you?”

  Clint

  EVEN THOUGH I KEPT things light with Rae on the phone, my gut burned with worry.

  She had yet to ask me how the intruder got into her mother’s house. Then again, I hadn’t enlightened her, either. The lock to the front door didn’t show any signs of forced entry, and the faint scrapes along the face of the lock couldn’t be attributed to picks.

  Whoever broke in last night not only knew what they were doing, they were good at doing it. Though, not that good, seeing as they hadn’t clocked my SUV on the street, which allowed me to surprise the asshole who came after Raegan. That wouldn’t happen again, and it was the other reason I was so damn worried: forcing Rae to sleep at my house meant I was putting Penny at risk, though I had confidence Gabe could protect her.

  I was also hoping to figure out how closely Raegan was being watched. For that matter, I didn’t know what the intruder knew about me. With any luck, they’d take me for a guy trying to get laid.

  If another incident happened involving Raegan, I was going to have to take some time off. No matter how little it said of me, I couldn’t split my focus between Otero-Silva cases and the chaos swirling around Raegan.

  I loved her too much to ignore any threat to her.

  Shit.

  After all these years, I still loved her, but hadn’t admitted it to myself.

  Otero had given Brock a different assignment today, and I was watching Slagle alone. The retainer was running out and the wife wasn’t going to add more to it. If nothing happened today, she’d have to make do with what we had. However, Deanne was working her own brand of magic by looking into social media accounts for Skylar Ibanez. People shared the craziest things on the internet, so there was every possibility Deanne would have more success than me today.