Against the Edge (The Raines of Wind Canyon) (26 page)

“I think Mace is right,” his brother Jesse said. “I got a family to think about. I don’t want no more trouble.”

“Finally, someone with a brain. Talk’s over. We leave the boy alone and things cool down, we’ll be able to go back home.”

Troy reached out and took hold of Aggie’s hand. “Maybe Mace is right, sis.”

For once Aggie’s mouth stayed shut.

It was over, Mace figured. In time, things would get back to normal. In time his sister would lose that puckered look on her face and get back to takin’ care of the rest of them like she was supposed to.

Or at least Mace damned well hoped so.

* * *

Claire hadn’t seen Ben since the birthday party. He was back at work and avoiding her, just dropping Sam off a couple of times after she got home from work, not bothering to come into the apartment.

In a way, it was funny. He was the one who had said he cared for her, made it sound as if he really meant it. She never would have said a word.

It didn’t matter. Ben didn’t want a relationship. He just wanted sex and that was nearly impossible with a young boy in the house. Of course he could stop by the apartment for a quickie. He had a babysitter now for Sam, an older lady named Mrs. McKenzie, a friend of Annie’s. He could drop over and take her to bed, if she’d let him, which she wouldn’t.

No matter how much she wanted him to do exactly that.

Michael had stopped by a couple of times. He had talked her into going out for pizza. Once he had taken her to a movie.

“My investigation is really progressing,” he’d said at the Peking Palace, the Chinese restaurant they had gone to after the show. “I’ll be dropping out of sight for a while, doing a little undercover work. I won’t be able to see you.”

“Undercover work? That sounds kind of risky. You’re a reporter, not a cop. Are you sure it’s worth it?”

“It’s what I do, Claire, and hell yes, it’ll be worth it. I promise, once this assignment is over, I’ll take something easier. Something that will give us plenty of time together. We’ll be able to work things out, make plans.”

Once this assignment is over.
Words she’d heard a dozen times. She didn’t argue. The words weren’t important anymore. She wasn’t in love with Michael. She was in love with Ben.

Thank God work was keeping her busy. The social services job she’d taken was a management position. Learning how to teach and supervise her staff was a challenge she was enjoying. She had even begun to make a few friends. If it weren’t for Sam, she wouldn’t have to think of Ben at all. Eventually she would get over him.

At least she told herself she would. So far that hadn’t happened. At night, she dreamed he was making love to her and woke up damp and aroused. She wondered if he thought of her half as much as she thought of him.

It wasn’t likely.

He was the Iceman.

A woman was the last thing he needed.

Twenty-Eight

T
he office was busy, Trace in with Sol, working a case, Alex with Jake on a corporate security detail. Annie watched Ben sitting at his desk, staring out the window instead of making phone calls or working on his computer.

He’d been acting strange all week. She had even caught him reading a
Family Circle
magazine, which he had promptly dumped in the trash can beneath his desk when he’d seen her approach.

Annie came out from behind her desk and walked over to where he sat brooding, propped her hands on her hips. “Okay, what’s going on? I know you’ve got half a dozen messages on your voice mail—I directed the calls myself.”

He glanced up, his pale eyes distant. “You ask me, this new system’s a pain in the ass. I liked it better when you were answering the phone. Who wants to talk to a message machine?”

“I don’t like it, either. Tell your boss about it. The point is, you need to get off your duff and get back to work. You can’t just sit around mooning over Claire.”

“What makes you think it’s Claire? Maybe it’s someone else.”

“Sure, maybe it’s Angelina Jolie. And I’m thinking about my hot date tonight with Brad Pitt. Let’s face it, Ice. You’re gone over that little gal. You’re just too damned stubborn to admit it.”

He just looked back out the window. “I’ve...ah...been thinking about asking her to marry me.”

Stunned, for a moment Annie couldn’t think of a single thing to say. At least that explained the magazine. She gave him a smile as bright as a sparkler on the fourth of July. “Now you’re talking! She’s perfect for you. I have to admit, I’m surprised you actually see that.”

He just nodded. “It seems like a sensible move. We’re compatible, I guess. We care about each other. We’re great together in bed. And both of us love Sam. It seems like a good idea.”

Annie’s smile faded. “On the other hand, maybe you better think this over. You don’t want to rush into anything.”

“I’ve been thinking about it awhile. I’ve got a security project I need to start next week. I figure we could get married at city hall over the weekend. Have a small reception sometime later on.”

“No honeymoon?”

He shrugged. “Same as. We’ll be sleeping together again. Maybe we’ll take a week somewhere down the road. Sam could go with us.”

“Oh, boy.”

“What’s the matter?”

“I forgot how much you don’t know about women.”

Ben’s broad shoulders straightened. “I know plenty.”

“You know plenty about sex—that isn’t the same.”

“Look, I appreciate the advice, but I’ve got to run. Claire should be home from work by now. I want to talk to her before it’s time for Mrs. McKenzie to go home.”

Annie snorted. “Good luck with that.”

“Thanks.”

She was still shaking her head when he walked out the door. Ben was in trouble, big-time. Problem was, he didn’t know it. She almost felt sorry for him. She had a feeling Claire was about to give him a long-overdue lesson on women.

* * *

By the time he got to Claire’s apartment, Ben’s nerves were on edge. It wouldn’t be that hard, he told himself, repeating all the reasons getting married was a good idea. Sexual compatibility, for one thing. Hell, he couldn’t stop thinking about getting her back in bed. But he had to consider Sam. Making it legal just made good sense.

He had to admit, after Laura he’d never thought he would ever take the plunge, but hey, he never thought he’d be a father, either.

The light was on over her kitchen sink as Ben walked up on the porch and knocked on her door. When she opened it, he saw that she hadn’t changed yet from work, still wore her hair clipped back and a conservative dark green business suit. But she’d kicked off her shoes and her feet were bare.

Just looking at those sexy red-painted toenails made him hard. He looked into her face and something tightened in his chest. God, he’d missed her.

He swallowed, his nerves increasing. “Hi, can I come in?”

She searched behind him for Sam. Maybe he should have brought the boy along, just for insurance. “He’s at home. I wanted to talk to you.”

“Come on in.” She stepped back, and he walked past her, caught a hint of her soft perfume and resisted hauling her into his arms and kissing her.

“Nothing’s wrong with Sam?”

“No, it’s nothing like that.” He was starting to sweat. He could feel it running down the middle of his back. “You wouldn’t have a beer, would you?”

She didn’t reply, just walked over to the refrigerator, took out a Bud and handed it over. “What is it, Ben?”

“I need to ask you something. Can we sit down?”

She cast him a wary glance. “All right.” He hadn’t wanted her to stay in Houston. He’d hurt her. She didn’t trust him the way she had before. He’d have to be patient, explain things so she understood.

They walked into the living room and both of them sat down on the sofa. He wanted to reach for her hand, but he didn’t. He should have bought a ring. Why hadn’t he? He tried not to think of Laura and what had happened after they’d gotten engaged.

“I’ve missed you, Claire.”

She sat up straighter. “If you think you can walk in here and charm me back into bed, you’re wrong.”

He shook his head. “That’s not it at all. Well, not exactly. The thing is, I think we should get married.”

Her eyes widened.

“Just hear me out, okay? I know I said I wasn’t good at relationships, but I figure I’m better with you than I am with other women. We’re great in bed and both of us love Sam. You want to spend time with him. If we’re living together, you’ll be able to see him all you want. We could get married by the justice of the peace. You know, just something quick and easy, no fuss, no muss. If you think about it, it’s a logical solution.”

He didn’t expect it. Wasn’t prepared when her pretty eyes narrowed, her hand shot back and she slapped him hard across the face.

She was on her feet, trembling as she pointed toward the door. “Get out of here, Ben. Don’t come back. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

He rubbed his cheek as he stood up from the sofa. The lady packed a wallop. “Claire, I’m sorry. I didn’t say it right. I know if you just—” He caught her wrist before she could nail him again.

“Get out! Get out now!” She started crying, left him standing in the middle of the living room and ran off down the hall.

Ben stared after her. His heart was painfully throbbing. He felt as if he couldn’t breathe. He could hear her in her bedroom crying, but he couldn’t make himself go after her.

He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He’d just wanted... What? Claire in his bed? Things back the way they were? He should have known she’d want more from him than he would be able to give her.

Christ, she deserved more. A helluva lot more.

He looked down the hall, at the door she had closed behind her. She’d meant every word she’d said. She didn’t want to see him again.

Ben walked to the front door and let himself out. It was over. He should be relieved. He was never cut out to be a husband.

He ignored the pressure in his chest. He’d get over it. He had a son to think of. He should have known it would never work.

He should have known better than to fall for another woman.

* * *

Claire threw herself into her job. She went to work early and stayed late. Ben hadn’t called. She hadn’t seen him since he had tried to convince her what a good idea it would be if she married him. After all, it would be so
convenient
for both of them.

She had talked to Sam on the phone a couple of times, but she wasn’t ready to face the boy. She couldn’t manage to act as if nothing had happened between her and his dad.

She hadn’t seen Michael, either. And though she was no longer in love with him, she was worried about him. He was working on a dangerous story. She didn’t want anything to happen to him.

On Wednesday of the following week, she caught a flight from Houston to White Plains to have Thanksgiving dinner with her parents. Her mom and dad were great, showing her the photos of their anniversary cruise through the Mediterranean. She and her mother had cooked a traditional turkey dinner and it had been a fun distraction. All the while, Claire had pretended her move to Houston was a great idea and everything was fine.

The pretense had made those few days among the most stressful of her life. The truth was, as much as she loved her parents, she’d wanted to be back in Houston, sharing the holiday with Ben and Sam. Or having them there with her, meeting her parents and enjoying the traditional meal.

It was never going to happen.

On Sunday morning, she caught an early flight back to Houston and arrived more exhausted than she’d been before she’d left. Monday morning, she went to work early and stayed an hour late just so she wouldn’t have time to think of Ben.

A light rain was falling as she drove back to her apartment. When she got there, she tossed off her navy blue suit jacket, poured herself a glass of white wine and carried it into the living room, too tired even to change.

Sitting down on the sofa, she tucked her legs up under her and took a sip. She was beginning to relax when a knock sounded at the door. With a weary sigh, she set her wineglass down, walked over and pulled it open. Annie Mayberry and Sage Cantrell stood on her porch.

“May we come in?” Sage asked, also wearing a business suit. Annie had come from work, as well.

As tired as she was, Claire was always glad to see the women she considered friends. “I just poured myself a glass of wine. Would you like one? Or maybe a glass of iced tea?”

“Wine would be perfect,” Sage said, following her toward the kitchen.

“I could use a little bracer, myself,” Annie said.

Wondering if there was a reason the women had come, Claire poured the wine, and they all sat down at the dining room table.

“Your place looks nice,” Sage said, glancing around at the pale green sofa and chairs, her glass-topped dining table, taking a sip of the chilled chardonnay.

“Thank you. It’s coming along. I haven’t had much extra time to spend decorating.”

“I guess Sam talked to you,” Annie said. “He told us you went to your parents’ house for Thanksgiving.”

She nodded. “We’d been planning to get together for the holidays.”

“I hope you had a good trip,” Sage said.

“I enjoyed seeing my parents. But I wasn’t particularly good company.”

Sage set her wineglass down on the table. “Because of Ben?”

Claire’s chest tightened at the mention of his name.

“I guess Ben really blew it,” Annie said bluntly, and Claire realized the women knew about Ben’s marriage-of-convenience proposal.

“Ben was just being honest,” Claire finally said. “He wants a mother for his son. I guess he thought I’d make a good one.”

“Ben was just being Ben,” Annie said. “Which means he wasn’t being honest at all. At least not about his feelings. When it comes to his emotions, I don’t think even Ben Slocum knows what’s going on in his head.”

Claire sighed. “Whatever he’s thinking, I can’t do it. I can’t marry a man who doesn’t love me. Not even for Sam’s sake.”

“That’s the irony,” Sage said gently. “I think Ben loves you very much.”

“He’s sick over what happened,” Annie added. “He can’t work. He can’t think. He’s focused his entire attention on Sam just so he won’t have to think about you.”

“That...that can’t be true.”

“Oh, it’s true, all right,” Annie said. “The poor kid doesn’t know quite what to do with all the attention.”

“That’s partly my fault. After what happened, I couldn’t face him. I pretended to be happy the whole time I was with my parents. I wasn’t ready to pretend with Sam.” She looked at Sage. “Maybe you could talk to Ben, tell him I’d like Sam to come over. Maybe he could spend a night this weekend.”

Sage reached over and caught her hand. “None of this is your fault, Claire. Ben’s in love with you. He just doesn’t know how to handle it.”

She started shaking her head but a lump was swelling in her throat. “In a way, I feel sorry for him. He’s built such a wall around his emotions.” She wiped her eyes. Dammit, she was tired of crying over Ben. “I knew what he was like. I knew better than to fall in love with him.”

“Maybe you should just go ahead and marry him,” Annie suggested. “Sooner or later, he’s bound to get his head out of his behind and figure things out.”

She almost smiled. “I’m not sure what Ben feels for me. Whatever it is, I’m not willing to take that kind of chance. It wouldn’t be fair to any of us.”

Annie opened her mouth to argue, but a knock at the door stopped her.
Busy night,
Claire thought as she got up from the table, walked over and pulled the door open. Two men in dark suits stood on the doorstep, a good-looking Hispanic in his late thirties, and a blond man with a pale complexion and slightly ruddy cheeks.

“Claire Chastain?”

“That’s right.”

The men flipped open their badges. “Houston Police. May we come in?”

Her heart started pumping. “Yes, of course.”

“I’m Detective Castillo and this is Detective Richmond. I’m afraid we have some bad news, ma’am.”

Her hand came up to her heart. “What is it?”

“A man was found murdered this morning. We believe his name is Michael Sullivan.”

She sagged. Detective Castillo caught her, guided her over to the sofa. Sage and Annie both rushed into the living room.

“I’ll get her some water,” Annie said, hurrying into the kitchen then returning, pressing a glass into her trembling hand.

“What...what happened?”

“We aren’t sure yet. The investigation is ongoing. We found your business card in his wallet. There was a note on it that said to call you in case of emergency. We need you to come down to the morgue and identify the body. Can you do that?”

A tight sound escaped from her throat. She managed to nod. Michael was dead.
Oh, God.

“While you’re there, we’ll need to ask you some questions. We can drive you or meet you there.”

“I know where it is,” Annie said, taking charge. “Sage and I’ll drive her down.”

Castillo nodded. “All right. We’ll meet you there.” The men left the apartment, and Claire wiped at the wetness on her cheeks.