He kept seeing her face, feeling her soft skin beneath his lips.
Midnight had come and gone. He parked his truck at a park on the edge of a residential street where he managed to pick up an unsecured wireless signal from somebody’s house. From the cab, he e-mailed to his client the pictures of Caffey that he’d taken while she toasted the bride and groom.
It had been a ton harder to leave the wedding than he’d planned. When he’d arrived, he hadn’t expected to make plans to see Caffey again.
To fall for her.
So he couldn’t slink off unannounced, and disappear like he usually did after finding out what he’d been paid to discover. More than ever, he knew she was in fact Katherine Morton Bradford. All the pieces fit.
Except his gut was asking something loud and clear. Did Caffey Matthews deserve her existence now, deserve to be left alone? She might have been born Katherine Morton, later adding Bradford’s name as wife and widow to a big, bogus mogul, but that was then. Far as he could tell, and he was very good at it, she’d never accessed any of Everett’s unholy gains. These days, she lived like a pauper.
Looking back at the wedding, she’d been beautiful gliding up that aisle in those foolish shoes. Embarrassed, and delighted both, when Nikki tossed the bouquet right at her. Another bizarre reaction flooded him at that moment when a vision blazed in his brain—of Caffey draped in white, hanging on his arm. He’d shut out the image, almost in horror, but hung on to a fringe of it because it was so blasted pretty.
It flickered behind his eyelids right now as he stretched his legs as well as he could while stuffed inside the cab.
And he’d managed a successful evasion of the garter-throw where, of course, all of Zak’s nearest and dearest man pals had to join in. He’d rushed off with a quick excuse that he’d had an emergency business call: someone had tried to hack into a major server he secured. Which wasn’t untrue at all except the server was his own and it had never been hacked.
So he never went back, and didn’t feel bereft at all because he’d be seeing her again in nine hours or less.
A countdown of the heart he’d never counted down before.
Closing his email, he grinned. Facial recognition software of his own design had just proven Caffey’s true identity from the headshots he’d taken with his secret camera. From now on, though, it would be easier to take and send photos from his smartphone. Time had come to enter her inner sanctum and see what he could find. He’d scoped out the route to Caffey’s rented room long ago and now headed the four-block distance on foot.
Luckily, the old lady’s garage was set so far back from the house that Rhee could bring in a marching band and not be heard. Place was dark and quiet but those adjectives suited him. In no time at all, using his own inventions, he picked a substantial lock that would hold out most—some of her caution, he reckoned—and entered Caffey’s room, gloves on, tracking device snug in the pocket of his wedding-crasher clothes. He knew how to use a flashlight to his advantage. Tonight, though, the shadows bugged him. Took longer than usual to get his eyes used to the gloom while his nerves twitched. Like he knew for sure he was doing something wrong.
Wasn’t much more than a college dorm room. A black gingham cover on a single bed with bolsters to make it serve as a sofa during the day. An obviously well-loved, well-worn plush mama cat toy with three babies fastened to her belly lay atop one of the giant pillows. His heart tugged as intuition told him it was one last remnant of her childhood, and he touched the kittens, trying to imagine Caffey as a little girl. Two of them wiggled off, Velcro obviously worn down, and he righted them.
A mini-kitchenette in the corner with an eating table the size of a TV tray. No electronics anywhere unless you counted the coffee maker and microwave. No laptop. No phone, no digi-cam. Clothes made tidy slices in a small closet. Nice things but nothing expensive or special, and he knew how to tell the difference. Seemed more than ever that she’d left New York and its conspicuous consumption behind.
No pictures other than one of her and Nikki dressed like Raggedy Ann and Andy and surrounded by little smiling faces. Nikki’s class no doubt. The sweetness of it touched him deep down. But more than ever proved she was hiding from her past since there weren’t any pictures of it anywhere.
Her scent was everywhere, tumbling across his skin in the dark like warm fingers. His heart thumped, and he almost wished she were in here with him, no holds barred. No secrets. But after this cursory inspection of her lifestyle, all he was really here for was doctoring that necklace—although, a shower and a real bed would have been nice. He’d even had her permission and invitation. His cheeks tightened in a sick grin.
Here he was, violating her again.
There was only one dresser, three long drawers, two tiny narrow ones at the top where he’d likely find jewelry. He did so right away. In a velvet case next to a pile of cheap costume jewelry. He knew well how to identify the good stuff. He’d been sent after such many times. With his smartphone, he took a quick picture just to ensure he placed everything back just the way he found it.
Within the velvet case, he found a pair of pearl earrings and grinned the faux grin again, shaking his head at the irony. But luck chuckled, too. All he had to do was switch earrings. Pearls near the same size.
Next to them lay the cross. He laid his right forefinger on the necklace just as his penlight in his left hand blazed across the diamond chip in the center. It seemed to light up the world. Something, something, Someone stopped him. Almost as if he heard a chiding voice in the air, he jerked away.
After all, her treasured bauble wasn’t a heart or a strand of pearls or a peace sign or a peacock feather or any other thing he could recall seeing circled around female necks of late. It was a cross.
He wasn’t about to defile her things.
Breathing hard even though he hadn’t exerted himself one single bit, he closed the case, slid the drawer shut and tiptoed from her inner sanctum, shamed and shaken.
He had made his choice.
With his usual silence and stealth, he strode back to his truck where he unsent the photographs of Caffey Matthews.
Just as he closed the file, the sprinklers in the park went on. Stripping down to his shorts, and hidden by the dark night, he squirted a little dab’ll-do-ya of soap from his duffel bag and ran through the cold spray. Dried and clean-enough-for-now, he crashed atop the sleeping bag inside the camper shell. Something niggled, fresh as yesterday. What was Ma’s old prayer at bedtime?
Now I lay me down to sleep…I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Where had that come from? Somehow, at peace for once, he slept as soon as he said Amen.
****
Despite Nikki’s jitters, nothing had gone wrong.
The wedding-present mantle clock chimed one time. Cuddled up with Dandy and Darlin’, Caffey relived the wedding from start to finish, then relived Rhee’s tenderness a hundred times.
Delicious shivers claimed her under the covers. A peck on the cheek shouldn’t have that type of effect on her, but it had been the type of thing true romances were made of, and she found herself longing for more. Disappointment that his business call had prevented a proper good-bye almost swamped her, but she’d be meeting him at church in mere hours.
Church! A place Everett hadn’t set foot in once. Had laughed when she’d suggested St. John the Divine for their ceremony.
She started her nightly prayers, but in the midst of the Lord’s peace, something niggled. Something that hadn’t tugged at her all day. Something she didn’t like. Doubt.
Lord, grant me the peace that passes all understanding. But it didn’t come. Instead, doubt smacked her in the gut. She’d never seen Rhee with his good friend Zak any time during the festivities. Although—she relaxed a smidge—they might have caught up while she was in the bathroom or busy somehow with other guests. Of course.
Still. Even though she’d only known Zak fifteen months, they knew each other well. In fact, he was one of two people she trusted with her life. Literally. Was it odd that Rhee Ryland didn’t seem to fit, not with his expensive hat and suit that she knew had cost him four figures starting with a three? Totally out of Zak’s league with his comfy department store specials. And Zak had no computer equal. Could he possibly have ever needed this cowboy’s techs-pertise?
The jitters got her now, and her fingers clenched a handful of puppy fur. Had she messed up this time, or was Rhee truly someone Zak held near and dear? Her restless legs got the other dog whining.
The doubt turned to danger, and the danger to fear. Shivers turned to dread. Despite the past peaceful months in Rancho Lorena, she’d learned to tap dance around strangers, to be careful. So why had she let her guard down with Rhee Ryland? Told him more than the usual version of her life? About teaching art, about getting married…about her disappointed parents? Why? Because he took her breath away? Because he reminded her of the cowboy code back home? She had people after her. Bad people. What if he is one of them?
But he’d promised to worship with her. She calmed herself and let the Lord’s peace settled on her.
That had to mean something, him promising to meet her at church. Didn’t it? He couldn’t be one of them. Could he?
Darlin’ started to snore by her ear, and comforted now, she rested her head against the dog’s. Before long, the ugly sound of an alarm clock clanged in her ear.
No. Not an ugly sound because it meant she’d be with Rhee again soon.
The puppies didn’t move even with the noise until she got up. Then they glared at her with baleful, sleepy eyes as she pointed to the floor.
“OK, babies. Time to get up and do your duty.”
They ran to the pet door and out it. Caffey filled their bowls and took them outside. Like bookends, the dogs stood at each side of a patio pillar that Zak had promised to paint someday soon. “You can stay outside while I’m at church.” Their heads cocked as if they actually understood her. She put down the bowls, and they attacked the kibble as though they hadn’t eaten in months.
“All right now.” She glanced at her watch. “Your mommy and daddy are in the air now. Oh, what a time they’re going to have.” She couldn’t help the blush. It had been a long time since she’d felt a man’s love and sometimes, like now, she wondered if it would ever be possible again. Doubtful. Oh, that awful word again.
It would be hard for a man to take on a woman with a fake name and a past better left unspoken. And she’d be a dishonest prevaricator to lead some guy on otherwise. Rhee Ryland flashed in her mind, but he’d be gone soon for whence he came. He was just Zak’s friend. That’s all, and a minor flirtation for one more day.
The kind of thing that happened at weddings.
Oh well, all these things to think about another day. Still in the sweats and tank top she’d slept in, she stopped by the Brew Basket for a cup of coffee before heading to her place.
“You sure looked pretty yesterday,” the new hire told her as he poured a mocha latte into a paper cup. His folks ran the feed store, but he’d wanted a summer job more sophisticated than loading hay bales. Like any sixteen-year-old in a small town, he longed for more excitement than he got. “Mom and Dad made me go.”
“Thanks, Paul.” Even from a kid, the compliment felt good. She grinned, having at least combed her hair and brushed her teeth. Rancho Lorena was a most casual town, her outfit not out of line at seven a.m. Nobody was on their way to church yet. “I’ve got the afternoon shift today.”
He looked at her and she could almost see thoughts clicking behind his eyeballs. “Hey. You want the day off?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t like this getting up at six a.m. I can handle a double shift. If you take my morning tomorrow.”
Shrugging, she agreed. Frank, the manager, would be in along with the kid. And not only would she avoid working on Sunday, but she could spend the time with Rhee. “Why, sure then. You take care, and I’ll check in for you tomorrow.”
Caffey headed to her place to shower and dress. When she returned later to change into something for the picnic with Rhee, she’d stop by Nikki’s to tend the puppies again. And he’d be with her. Her heart pittered, thinking about what to wear. Thinking about him. Even though he’d be gone soon, she still had today.
In the bright June morning, her doubts released as warm sunshine rolled across her skin on the stroll home. If Rhee Ryland meant her harm, he’d had a whole night to do it in, knowing she’d been all alone all night in an empty house. And he hadn’t done any such thing.
“Howdy, Mama Cat,” she said inanely to the plush family sitting on the couch-by-day/bed-by-night. Hers wasn’t an uncomfy situation, but it been downright nice to spend the night in a real bed. This little place came furnished; she couldn’t complain. She had nothing of her own, nothing at all. “What?”
Something struck her almost like a silent ghost fist. Something was wrong. No, not wrong. Different. The babies. The kittens. They hung funny. Like two had been transposed. Yes, but no.
No big deal. She shook her head. She must have bashed into the little family with her dress bag yesterday on the way to the inn, Stuck them back on without thinking. Of course. Indeed, all was more than OK in her little corner of the world.
Showering quickly, she hustled into her yellow summer dress and killer-but-cheap, black patent heels and dashed on a touch of makeup. Her frequent rides on the horses at Snyder’s Stables had tanned her face in spite of the Western hat she’d splurged on at Leather and Lace, a shop full of Western wear both trendy and practical, so she didn’t need much more than a brush of mascara. And the simple, straight hair was nothing but wash and wear.
Unwilling to make the trek to church in those shoes, she drove to Hearthstone. She hadn’t driven in years, never in New York. No need with Everett’s handmade Maybach sedan and uniformed driver. But it hadn’t taken her long to get her drivers’ legs back once in California. After all, she’d driven the hay tractor at home since she was twelve.
For the first time, she wondered if Rhee would show. Getting stood up, of course, had been her main reason for driving herself. If the latter, God would get her through it; it would not be the first time she’d been left alone. Her heart pounded to a furious beat when she saw him waiting on the narthex steps, chatting up an usher with a hand full of worship folders. Waiting for her.
She knew he was, because he blew her a kiss as she drove to the parking lot.
Joy covered her like warmed skin and last night’s dread melted away. After all, a man going to church couldn’t be all bad.