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“URSULA?” Varik frowned, eyeing his ex-wife’s backside as she knelt on the sofa, looking out the window toward Delaney’s townhouse. “I thought you leave already.” He scraped his fingers through his damp hair. Glancing at his watch, he saw it was nearly ten to seven. The last thing he needed was her hanging around, tonight of all nights.
Letting the curtain over the living room window drop and shifting to a seated position, Ursula positioned herself suggestively, as if posing for a magazine spread.
“Why still here? Remember, I tell you, I have dinner guest for seven-thirty.” Stuffing his shirttails into his jeans, he headed for the kitchen. A quick check proved the ribs and russet potatoes in the oven were almost finished cooking. It was important that the pork be cooked just the way Delaney liked it. It was important that everything be just the way Delaney liked it tonight.
The last two weeks had been both wonderful and agonizing. Countless times during the pleasant evenings they shared he’d wanted nothing more than to seize her like a lust-driven Viking who hadn’t seen a woman in months, and wordlessly demonstrate to Delaney exactly what she meant to him.
“Yes, with the new woman in your life,” Ursula oozed. “I remember. Mmm...” she watched him squat at the oven, basting the ribs, “have I told you lately how delicious you look in tight jeans?”
Rising to his feet and facing her, Varik crossed his arms over his chest. “Never mind sweet talk. You must go. Not to make troubles for Varik tonight.” If all went as he’d planned, the night would be perfect, marking a passionate progression for his and Delaney’s relationship. He’d never been a particularly romantic man but he’d strived to be exactly that these last two weeks. Tonight he planned to pull out all stops, treating Delaney to ample doses of romance before capturing her in his arms, carrying her to his bed, and making love to her until the sun came up.
Gud help him...he’d fallen hard for this woman. Fortunately, he suspected she might feel the same for him.
“You don’t need to worry, darling.” Ursula cozied up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and crushing herself against him. He was all too familiar with the way she communicated, using her obvious feminine charms. There was a time when it worked on him but not anymore.
“I always worry when you around,” Varik countered, scraping Ursula off him, distancing himself from her. The woman had been a thorn in his side for too long. Clearly even his move across the ocean hadn’t dissuaded her from hounding him. Varik wished to hell she’d find herself another man to fawn over...another poor sucker whose life she could ruin.
“I have little time, Ursula, and much to do before I go to pick up my date.”
“Picking her up? And when she’s just two doors down? Sweet.” She smiled. “As always, my Varik is the perfect gentleman.”
“Not your Varik. Do as you promise and go now,” he told her. Not one to be easily put off, she embraced him again while Varik stood stiff, with his arms at his sides. “Go,” he repeated, looking down at her devoid of any feeling other than frustration.
When it finally hit him, Varik stilled, his blood running cold as he nailed Ursula with a purposeful glare. “How you know she live two doors down? I not tell you this.”
“I was just about to mention that I met your lady friend,” Ursula informed him, tiptoeing her fingers up his sleeve. “There’s really no need for you to rush. You see, she stopped by while you were in the shower to say—”
“What?!” The icy blood of a moment ago converted to a tsunami of heat, searing through his veins. “Delaney was here? She saw you?” His head throbbed as he imagined what Delaney must have thought when the oversexed actress answered his door. “What you tell her? Did you—”
“Relax, darling. Your gawky, awkward dinner date came by to tell you she had to cancel your little rendezvous this evening.” Her pliant curves undulating against him, Ursula glanced down between them and smiled. “See that? Your body is very happy to see me, even if your brain isn’t.”
“Never mind.” He scowled, fully aware of his traitorous mannlig kjonnsorgan pressing against her. He stepped back. “Cancel?” Varik felt sure she must be mistaken. “Why?” The thought of Delaney not coming was enormously disappointing. “She is ill?”
A bubble of laughter spilled from her throat. “On the contrary, she was all pink-cheeked and glowing. She brought these.” Ursula lifted the bakery box by its string, letting the box swing from her fingers. “As an apology for having to break your dinner date. She said she felt terrible giving you such short notice, but something more important came up.”
More important? Than their long awaited evening together? A crisis perhaps...maybe something happened to her mother.
Perplexed, he muttered, “I don’t understand. Delaney have emergency?”
“Oh, I doubt this would fall into that category, darling.” Offering another blip of laughter, she explained, “Apparently an old boyfriend, the one she was in love with before she was married to her professor ex-husband, is back in town because he heard about their divorce.” Tapping her finger against her cheek, she added, “Hmm...on the other hand, maybe she did consider their reunion an emergency. She looked like she couldn’t wait to—”
“Boyfriend...” Varik could barely wrap his mind around Ursula’s words. “Boyfriend...” he repeated absently. This couldn’t possibly be his Delaney she spoke of...not after what they’d shared together...not after what they’d planned together. No, this was clearly a mistake. But then...how would Ursula know Delaney’s ex-husband was a professor?
“George Clooney’s double was waiting for her in his car when she came to the door,” Ursula went on.
“What? I not believe you.” He couldn’t...he wouldn’t.
Ursula shrugged. “Look for yourself. You can still see his car parked in front of your lady friend’s house.” She got on her knees on the couch again, spreading the curtain for Varik to take a look. “See the sexy dark blue Mustang? That’s his. They must be inside for a quickie before they go to dinner.”
Frowning, Varik joined Ursula on the sofa, looking down the street. He saw the car but was sure there had to be another explanation. The news about Delaney with another man had his blood boiling but he knew the conniving Ursula well enough by now not to trust her.
“I was watching as they got out of the car together,” she claimed. “It gave me the opportunity to check out your competition. Classic tall, dark and handsome. Maybe blonds aren’t her type.” Closing the distance between them, Ursula finger-walked up Varik’s shirt placket. “Of course, no one is as handsome as my delicious Varik.”
“Not your Varik anymore.” His gaze narrowed as he leapt off the couch, away from her persistent reach. It was like battling an octopus.
“Are you making more of your old tricks? Tell lies?”
With an audible gasp of indignation, she assured him, “Of course not. I’m your wife, darling. I would never do anything to—”
“Ex-wife,” Varik corrected, becoming more exasperated by the moment.
“Oh, that little technicality.” Ursula gave a throaty laugh along with a dismissive wave. Stretching her lithe body, making the most of her curves for Varik’s benefit, she yawned. “I’m exhausted from that long overseas flight. And terribly hungry.”
“Ursula...”
“Dinner smells divine, luv. I’ve missed your delicious cooking.” She gazed up at Varik, batting her eyelashes. “Did I mention your neighbor looked downright smitten with her handsome new beau?”
Varik’s jaw clenched. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could maintain his cool.
“Anyway,” Ursula continued, “after Darlene—”
“Delaney.”
“Yes, of course. After she left I thought I may as well stay and share dinner with you before I head back to my hotel. Unless, that is,” she sidled up to him toying with his shirt collar, “you’d like for me to stay the night. It could be just like old times.” Her fingers raked through his hair. “Remember the fun we used to have? Besides, from the lost look on your face I have a feeling you could use some company tonight. I’m very good company.”
“Stop!” Gritting his teeth he fought to retain his composure. “No more touching. No more sexy smile. No more sex. We are over, Ursula. For two year now. You forget already how you bed other men when married to Varik?” He clapped his chest. “You maybe forget. Not me. Now you go.” He pointed to the door.
Ursula pouted. “You’re really going to send me away, out into the cold, without any dinner? Especially when you have a big slab of ribs waiting to be eaten? When did you become so cruel and heartless, Varik?”
“When I learn about witchery of my wife,” he spat.
“You know how truly sorry I am, darling. I don’t know what more I can say or do to convince you.” She sniffed the air. “Mmmm...even with your hearty appetite I doubt you could polish off all that pork by yourself,” she noted. “And I know you hate to waste food.” Her eyelashes fluttered.
Ursula’s behavior swapped from sex kitten to helpless innocent like a light switch being flipped. He couldn’t trust a damn thing she said or did. Cynicism running through his veins, Varik scowled at her.
“Why you even here, Ursula? Why you come see Varik?”
She looked struck, wounded as her fingers quivered at her throat, gazing at him as if he’d just slapped her. “Because we have so much to talk about, dear Varik. You were always so good to me. I...I came here to see you to make amends...to give us proper closure.” Her voice broke and tears filled her eyes. “You deserve at least that much from me.”
His posture stiffened. Damn! He didn’t want to be moved...and he certainly didn’t want her preying on him again. Between his ex and Delaney’s deceit, Varik’s thoughts were chaotic. He no longer knew what to think.
“All I’m asking, Varik,” her tentative fingers reached out to him, imploring, beseeching, “is for us to sit like civilized exes and have one last polite dinner together. Is that really too much to ask?” The inner edges of Ursula’s eyebrows lifted, drawing together, while her bottom lip trembled. “Oh Varik, my sweet golden boy...is it?”
Always the actress, she performed her role to perfection, clearly doing her utmost to appeal to his compassionate side. Much to his chagrin, she was succeeding.
Pushed beyond the point of vexation, Varik’s hands flew into the air. “Fine,” he said on a reconciled sigh. “Eat food, then go. No Visit Varik again, understand?”
So what if she stayed for dinner? What did it matter now with Delaney off with her lover? The bitter idea churned in his gut like acid. Once again he’d been stupid enough to let a beautiful, conniving woman make a fool of him.
Something still nagged at him. There was still that doubt, that irksome concern that Ursula was, once again, making a fool of him. Before he bought his ex-wife’s story, Varik needed to learn the truth for himself. He’d never forgive himself if he believed Ursula only to learn later this was just another one of her lies.
“Before we eat food, I go see Delaney,” Varik said. “Need be sure Ursula not making lie.” He eyed her with a cynical gaze.
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Ursula asked. “You’d be acting like a jealous lover. The Varik I know is a proud man who holds his head high...not a lovesick puppy who chases after a woman who has deceived him.”
He knew Ursula was probably right, that he was in danger of making himself look like an idiot marching over to Delaney’s to confront her. But he had to be sure...he had to see it for himself. What if the car belonged to some guy making a delivery, or asking directions, or maybe it was someone from her office?
“Ja, Ursula, is good idea I go now. To be sure.” No matter what she said, no matter how convincing, he wasn’t about to change his mind.
“Maybe I should come with you.”
Varik was about to tell her to stay and wait, but what difference did it make at this point if she was with him or not? If he learned Ursula had been lying, he could lock the conniving witch out in the cold and let her freeze into a block of ice for all he cared. But if she was telling the truth...
His shoulders sagged under the weight of his woman problems.
“Do what you want, Ursula. I not care.”
Not bothering to put on a jacket, Varik yanked open the front door, tsking in frustration as he turned to wait for Ursula as she called after him, shrugging into her coat. She grabbed onto him to keep from slipping on the icy walk and continued holding his arm as they made their way down the sidewalk.
With each step she whispered to him, stoking the raging fire in his gut, telling him of Delaney and the other man and, worst of all, offering Varik her sympathy.
This was the one time Varik prayed his deceitful ex-wife was lying.
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Operating on automatic, Delaney inserted her key into the lock. Like a walking zombie, she felt dead to the world, and the world dead to her.
After greeting Thursday, who loved her enough to take a few seconds away from his new bone to welcome her, she shrugged out of her coat and plucked her phone from her purse. Thankfully, the sense of calm that had so cruelly eluded her while talking to...Mrs. Jenssen, was fully in place now, which was good because she had a lot to do in a short amount of time.
There was no need to call Paul to give him her two week notice because he’d be arriving soon. The first call she made was to Margaret, the woman who’d taken over Delaney’s former job as receptionist after Delaney was promoted to her executive secretary position. Fully qualified as a secretary, Margaret would be a perfect replacement for Delaney. An added plus, Margaret’s husband was in real estate.
The last call was to her mom, Astrid, who was delighted, though surprised, to hear Delaney would be coming home to stay in her old room for a couple of weeks. Delaney promised to clue her mom in on what had transpired once she arrived.
Following their short conversation, Delaney got busy dismantling the aluminum Christmas tree and boxing up all the ornaments. All the housework and scrubbing she’d completed over the last couple of weeks had paid off. The place looked clean, organized and, thanks to her careful repairs, in far better condition than the handyman special it was when she and Roger had purchased it.
When the doorbell rang, Delaney did a quick mirror check, hoping she didn’t look as bad as she felt. Although she hadn’t yet shed a tear since learning about Varik’s wife, and her eyes weren’t puffy and her nose didn’t rival Rudolph’s, the first words out of her boss’s mouth when he saw her were, “Delaney, you look terrible. What’s wrong?”
She hadn’t planned to cry and she certainly hadn’t planned to tell Paul what had happened with Varik. She and her boss had a good, professional working relationship, one that didn’t involve much personal sharing. The only time he’d been privy to anything major going on in her personal life was the day he happened to see Roger’s “Dear Jill” letter on her desk just over a year ago.
Regrettably, seeing Paul’s concerned face and hearing his kind words were all it took now for Delaney’s waterworks to kick in.
He led her to the sofa in front of the living room window where they sat together. He asked her a series of questions. Was she ill? Had something happened to a loved one?
Breathing a great sigh, Delaney looked up at him. She knew from the personnel files at work that Paul was forty years old. He was a handsome man, strikingly so, but she’d never been interested in him as anything other than a good, fair employer. And Paul, happily married with four kids, had never made any inappropriate advances.
She could tell he was uncomfortable watching her try to control her tears, but he was also patient and considerate. Careful not to go overboard, whining and complaining about her woes, Delaney briefly explained what had happened. To the man’s credit, he didn’t squirm, tsk, roll his eyes, or make any of the impatient gestures Roger had the few times Delaney needed to vent. Paul merely listened, allowing Delaney to talk it out.
The only time he became visibly unnerved was when she gave him her two week notice.
He objected, did his best to talk her out of it, but ultimately accepted her decision and offered his thanks for suggesting Margaret as her replacement. Since Margaret was already familiar with the daily operations of the newspaper, and Paul had always been satisfied with her work, the transition would be smooth.
“You’ve been a great asset to the Northwest Suburban Gazette,” he told her. “It just won’t be the same without you. If there’s anything I can do, Delaney, you just let me know. I’ll give you a glowing reference, letters of recommendation, whatever you need.”
“Thank you, Paul. I really appreciate that.”
“Just make me one promise.”
She looked up from the tissue she was twisting in her lap. “What’s that?”
“Promise you won’t forget us little people when your wonderful “Delaney’s Diary” column goes viral.” He gave her a wink.
He looked as relieved as Delaney felt when his comment made her laugh.
“You going to be okay tonight?” he asked her. “You’re welcome to spend the evening with me, Sylvia and the kids...although,” he chuckled, “I’m not sure how soothing four boys under the age of ten would be on your nerves.”
“You’re the best, Paul.” They pulled each other into a hug which, while outside the norm, felt entirely natural under the circumstances. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine. “I’ll make myself some cocoa, add a shot of brandy, and cry into it.” She laughed.
“Sounds like good medicine to me.” Chuckling, Paul smoothed Delaney’s back. “Okay, you take care of yourself and give me a call if there’s anything you need.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek before they broke their hug.
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“There, you see?” Ursula nudged Varik’s ribs with her elbow. “What did I tell you? There’s your lady friend and her George Clooney making out right there in the window for everyone to see.”
The pain searing through him as he watched Delaney locked in an embrace with another man was like nothing Varik had ever experienced. The sensation of his heart being hacked with a cleaver completely eclipsed any grief he’d suffered from his split with Ursula. Along with crushing pain there was an overwhelming sense of anger, which made the usually non-violent Varik want to punch a hole in a wall...or into the Clooney clone’s jaw.
He started up the walk to Delaney’s townhouse when Ursula grabbed his arm, yanking him hard.
“What are you doing?” She sounded panic-stricken.
“I go see Delaney. Tell her what I think of her.”
“No,” Ursula insisted. “You can’t do that. Varik,” she jiggled his arm, “listen to me. Where is your pride? Your self-respect? You can’t barge in there like a caveman. Don’t give her the satisfaction of seeing you like this. Don’t let her know the power she held over you. You’ll regret it...believe me.” She tried tugging him away again. “Ask yourself, Varik, is she worth it? Worth you humiliating yourself over her?”
She was right. Damn, Ursula was right. A man of Viking stock shouldn’t allow an unscrupulous woman to have such a hold over him. The breath Varik had been holding released with a whoosh. Without another word, he backed up, shoving his hands into his pockets as he headed back to his townhouse.
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Feeling much better and more composed after their talk, Delaney asked Paul to go over the material on the flash drive he’d brought.
“I won’t be taking tomorrow off after all,” she told him after he explained what was needed. “I’ll give the project top priority and have everything completed by the end of the day tomorrow.”
“Delaney, that’s not necessary. Take the day off with pay and do something relaxing for yourself. Go dress shopping, or to the hairdresser, or whatever it is women do to feel better. Sylvia tells me there’s nothing more rejuvenating than spending the day, and my money,” he laughed, “at the mall. Seriously, we’re running the article in Thursday’s edition so I don’t need the material completed until Wednesday. Believe it or not, the office can survive if you take a day off.” He extended his hand. “Deal?”
Delaney considered what her boss said. She could certainly use a full weekday to herself to get the ball rolling on all the major life changes she was about to make.
“You talked me into it.” Smiling, she shook his hand, thanking him once again for his understanding.
Fifteen minutes after Delaney’s boss left, Margaret’s real estate agent husband arrived and did an inspection of her home. Spreading paperwork, brochures and a contract across her coffee table, he gave Delaney the good news that she could expect a quick sale at a good price, and showed her where to sign on the dotted line.
As soon as he left, Delaney got out her suitcases, packing what she’d need for her last two weeks of work here and for the first couple of weeks in her new location. She knew she could count on her mom to manage the sale of her furniture, decor items, household goods, and whatever else wasn’t essential for the move.
The few belongings and keepsakes she wanted to save would be boxed for shipping to her new home, the house Grandma Bekka had left the Malones in Glassfloat Bay, Oregon.