Chapter Forty-five
“His name is Kyle Manchester,” Patricia said. This was her second time saying these words. The first had been to Brian who had finally asked who his father was.
Brian had given her a terse nod before saying, “Glad you know his name.”
Though Patricia knew why he said it, it stung. Sexual addiction was a real illness, but it had a nasty stigma attached to it. That’s why she never told anyone she had it.
Now she stood squaring off with Ryan, who had waylaid her in her office.
“Please tell me I heard you wrong,” he said. “Are you saying Brian is Kyle Manchester’s son?”
Patricia nodded.
She wrinkled her nose. “I think he’s some big-time attorney.”
“Will my humiliation know no end?” Ryan shoved divorce documents into her hands. “Kyle Manchester was the leading attorney in the case against me. The one with Jackson Higgins.”
Patricia eyes widened. “I didn’t know.”
“That’s because you were too busy squirming under Tim and tripping over some twins to care about me or anyone else.”
Patricia felt chilled to the core. “Anna and Alyssa were fighting for their lives. That’s important.”
“Did they survive?” he asked.
Patricia shook her head. “No. Anna didn’t make it. She had a seizure from which she didn’t recover. Alyssa hung on, but she passed a few days later.”
“I’m sorry, Patricia. I didn’t know.”
She gave him a sad smile. “I spent weeks with a counselor, and I’ve learned to accept what was in God’s will. Anna and Alyssa are reunited. I’m sure God’s got them. I’m sad this is the story of our lives, now, where we don’t know what’s going on with one another. There was a time when we were each other’s breaths.”
Ryan pinned her with a gaze. For a moment, time stood still as each revisited pages of their past. Maybe . . .
Patricia took a tentative step toward him, but Ryan moved back. “Too much has happened. You’ve done too much. I’ve done . . .” He shook his head. “We both have to live with what we’ve done.” Ryan pointed to the papers, which had now fallen forgotten to the floor. “Sign them. Let’s be done with it.”
Ryan left, leaving Patricia to pick up the pieces of the past.
With each step away from Patricia’s office, he said good-bye to the woman he had sworn to love always. By the time, he entered his Navigator, Ryan had managed to push Patricia completely from his mind.
He had another stop to make before flying to New Hampshire for his quickie divorce.
Ryan started up the Navigator and drove a short distance until he pulled in front of the Higgins residence. He straightened his spine.
He exited the vehicle clutching the cashier’s check he had for Megan Higgins, Jackson’s wife. She had been the one who had discovered Jackson hanging in their bedroom closet.
Jackson’s death had made the news. Kyle Manchester had seen to that. Kyle had called Ryan with the news, intimating Ryan was behind Jackson’s murder. Kyle had vowed to bring him to justice.
Ryan had denied, denied, denied. After all, Frank had been careful. There was nothing or no one to link Ryan to the murder. If it had been one. The coroner had said Jackson committed suicide, and Ryan wasn’t about to argue with that.
But if it was suicide, why couldn’t Ryan let the matter rest? Guilt rode him. He questioned the wisdom of settling his conscience by offering Megan Higgins money.
Seven million dollars was nothing to sneeze at. He had the certified check to give to Jackson’s widow. Since Megan Higgins was on the mend, the money would see her far. Ryan ran up the steps and pressed the doorbell.
He saw the door crack open and looked down at Megan, who was barely five feet tall. She was dark-skinned with jet-black, shoulder-length hair. She lifted warm brown eyes to his face.
Ryan’s heart tripped at the sight of her. His mouth went dry. Oh no. This can’t be happening. Not now. Not with her.
“Megan Higgins?” he croaked. Please, don’t let this be her.
She scratched her button of a nose before nodding. “I’m Megan.” She covered her pink lips with her finger. “The baby’s sleeping.”
Then Megan smiled. It was a bright, big smile that revealed the prettiest set of teeth he had ever seen. Ryan’s breath caught. Sensations rocked him. Ryan had only felt this once before in his life. He had fallen in love with Patricia at first sight. Many doubted it, but Ryan knew from personal experience that instant love like that was possible. He resisted the urge to drop to his knees and ask for Megan’s hand in marriage.
“I’m Ryan Oakes,” he said.
“I know who you are,” she replied, appraising him from head to toe. “You’re better looking on TV than in person.”
He stuck out his hand because he needed to make physical contact.
She placed her small hand in his, and then raised trusting eyes to look at him.
He almost jumped out of his skin. Ryan snatched his hand away. “I’m surprised you’re talking to me.”
She blessed him with a knowing grin. “I’m willing to bet everything I have that you came here with a check for me.”
Ryan realized that underneath those long lashes was a cunning, sharp, savvy woman. “How do you know that?”
Her laugh was a melody to his ears. Ryan could listen to her laugh all day. “Jackson said you would. He said if he died, you’d come with money. Blood money to ease your guilt.”
Ryan’s eyes widened. “Well, you and Jackson were wrong. I came to—”
“Please leave,” she said. “I don’t want your money. Keep your millions and wallow in it. It won’t bring Jackson back.”
“How about my heart? Can I give you that?”
Ryan could have slit his tongue at his corny words. Who said that to a virtual stranger? Apparently buffoons like I do.
Megan’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Leave now, Mr. Oakes, before I change my mind and call the cops.”
Ryan’s heart spoke. He held his hand out to her. “Marry me.”
“You’re insane,” Megan said, before slipping behind the door and slamming it in Ryan’s face.
Ryan walked away moaning. God had gotten him good. There was no way Megan would want the man she believed responsible for killing her husband. He tapped his chin. Or could she? Megan had said he was good looking. Granted it was a backhanded compliment, but it was a start.
Ryan hadn’t gotten where he was without being a risk taker. He made up his mind. He would marry Megan Higgins. Two weeks should be enough time for her to see things his way.
Ryan whistled all the way to the Lincoln. Once inside, he tore the check into small pieces. Megan didn’t need his money. She needed him. He would use all the resources at his disposal to make sure that happened.
He smiled.
Megan Higgins would be his.
His bride.
By any means necessary.