Call It Destiny (15 page)

But the car that had parked in front of the old place was not one she recognized. It was a covered jeep, and as the driver slowly emerged all of Heather’s anticipation and excitement disappeared in a flash. There was a gun in the hand of the man who climbed so coolly out of the jeep.

Heather stared in shock, her attention so completely
on the menacing weapon in the man’s hand that she didn’t even glance at his face for several seconds. She stood braced in the doorway and frantically wondered if she could duck, back inside and slam the door shut before the stranger could fire.
 

„Well, hell,“ the intruder muttered softly. „I don’t believe it. It is Heather Strand, isn’t it?“

She jerked her eyes up to meet the laconic, dark-eyed gaze of the stranger. Desperately she struggled to make her voice sound controlled. „Yes, I’m Heather Strand. My family owns this cabin.“
 

„Don’t you think I know that? Small world, isn’t it? How have you been Heather? I’ve often wondered whether or not you made it big in California.“

„Oh, my God. You’re Rick, aren’t you?“ The black hair was thinning rapidly and there was a definite paunch around his waist, but the dark eyes that had once seemed so captivating were the same. „I…1 didn’t recognize you.“

„Are you alone?“

„Yes. Yes, I just came up for a couple of days,“ she explained cautiously.

„A couple of days. Just like old times, hmm? Remember when you and I used to ride that bike of yours up here to spend the afternoon?“
 

„I remember.“ Her eyes went back to the gun. „What are you doing here, Rick?“
 

He followed her gaze down to the weapon in his hand and chuckled. Then he stuck the ugly object into his belt. „Me? I come up here a lot, Heather. Your father hasn’t used this place since you were in high school.“
 

„I know that.“

„Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the old cabin.“ He reached into the jeep and yanked the keys out of the ignition. Dropping them into his pocket he started forward. „Lots of nice memories.
 

What about you, Heather? Do you ever think of the plans we came up here to make?“

„I haven’t thought of those plans since the day you ripped off my motorcycle and left me standing in the middle of the desert.“ She held her ground as long as possible in the doorway, but when he was a step away and showing every sign of pushing past her, Heather stepped back into the cabin. „Why the gun, Rick?“

„You never know who you’re going to run into out here in the middle of nowhere,“ he said lazily, stepping inside the cabin and glancing around. Thunder cracked overhead as the sky continued to darken „Looks like we’re in for a bad one this afternoon. That stream outside is already full. A heavy shower could send it over the banks. Not a good day to pick to relive old memories, Heather.“ He swung around to face her.

Heather looked at the man with whom she’d fled Tucson so many years ago and thanked her lucky stars that he’d left her standing alongside that desert highway. How could she have possibly once considered linking her life with this man? The dark good looks had faded now and there had been nothing of character or strength to replace them. Rick was only in his midthirties but everything about him seemed to have thickened and coarsened. It was not simply that he had put on weight, but it seemed as if the potential for earthy sensuality he once possessed had degenerated into unappealing vulgarity. As if the spirit of rebellion that had first attracted her to him had turned into something ignoble and sly. Uneasily Heather fingered the keys to the Mercedes that were in the pocket of her jeans. She found herself wanting to be well away from Rick Monroe.
 

„I didn’t come up here to relive old memories, Rick. I’m here to spend a few quiet days by myself. Why are you here?“

„Me?“ He finished circling the cabin, having stopped to glance into the small bath, and sat down on an overstuffed arm of the old sofa. „Well, Heather, I’m afraid I’m here on business.“

„Business?“

He grinned unpleasantly. „I’m a businessman now. Bet you never thought I’d be successful without your father’s money, did you? I still remember how you chewed me out that day we left Tucson when you found out I wanted you to call home for money. You were so set on showing everyone you could make it on your own. Personally, I never saw the need to do things the hard way.“
 

„So how have you been doing things?“ she challenged tightly, not liking the tension in the atmosphere.

„Profitably.“ He nodded as if to himself. „Profitably, thank you. Of course, I won’t be playing golf at your father’s club and I don’t take vacations in and around Tucson. I try to stay away from old acquaintances. No sense being asked a lot of stupid questions.“

„Questions like the ones I’m asking?“

His mouth quirked. „Yeah. Questions like those.“

Angrily Heather moved to the window, not taking her eyes off Rick. „If you make it a point not to hang around old acquaintances, why are you hanging around this cabin?“

„I use this place, Heather. I guess you could say it’s my corporate headquarters.“ He eyed his surroundings derisively. „I think it all has a kind of poetic justice.“

„What does?“

„Me using Strand property to found my own personal empire.“

„Rick, you’re not making any sense. And I think you may be right about that stream. It is running higher than usual, even for this time of the year. If we get a lot more rain this afternoon, it could overflow and block the road. I think I’m going to change my mind about staying here.“

Determinedly Heather walked to the door. Her instincts were clamoring, warning her to put as much distance as possible between herself and Rick Monroe. She decided to forget about the suitcase her mother had so carefully packed.

„Enjoy yourself, Rick. I’m going to leave you alone in your ‘corporate headquarters.’“
 

Her hand was on the old glass doorknob when he spoke behind her. Even before she turned around she knew she would see the gun in his grip.

„I’m afraid I can’t let you waltz out of here, sweetheart. I’ve got an important meeting of the board this evening and I’d kinda like you to attend. Be a real education for you.“

„Forget it.“ But she couldn’t forget the gun and they both knew it.

„Sit down, Heather. Let’s talk about old times.“

„I don’t think we have anything to say to each other, Rick.“ She tried to face him down. Eleven years ago she had been able to handle him. But eleven years ago he’d been anxious to keep her happy.

„We’ve got lots to talk about, Heather. I just know you’re dying of curiosity. Want to know how rich I am? I’m worth nearly half a million right at this moment. By the time tonight’s business is finished, I’ll be worth almost three-quarters of a mil. I’ve learned to think big, baby. A lot bigger than I did in the old days.“
 

„I don’t want any part of your schemes. Get rich on your own and leave me out of it,“ she hissed.

He made a show of putting the gun back into his belt. „You’ve made yourself a part of my plans, Heather.“ He rose and moved toward her. „But if you do exactly as you’re told I think we might get along okay, after all. Course things will be different this time around. As I recall you were always a bossy sort of kid. And something tells me you probably turned into a bossy sort of woman. Just remember that I run this show and there’s every possibility we might work out. How about that,
Heather? Think you might like finding out what you missed when you told me to get lost eleven years ago?“
 

„No.“

„You aren’t going to have much choice, sweetheart. Not much choice at all.“

Before she could respond the thunder cracked again overhead. Heather found herself chewing on her lower lip, her fingers thrust into the front pockets of her jeans. She was scared and she didn’t dare show it. Not to this man. He’d take far too much pleasure in the knowledge.

„Look, Rick. You and I went in two different directions all those years ago. I don’t think either one of us really wants to find out where the other’s been for the past few years. Let’s just forget the reunion. You stay here and do your thing and I’ll go back to Tucson and do mine.“

He chuckled rudely. „Come on, now Heather. You know it’s not going to be that simple, don’t you?“

Heather was trying to think of a cool way to handle the menacing question when the sound of another car approaching the cabin was heard. She wasn’t certain at first if it was another vehicle because the heavens chose that moment to send down the first sheets of water.

A scowl appeared on Rick’s heavy features and he glanced at his watch. „I told him not to come until after dark. He’s hours early, the fool!“ He leaped to his feet, propelling Heather aside with a shove. The angry look on his face intensified as he peered out the broken window. Then Rick swore violently.

„The damn place is turning into a parking lot! You know that guy?“ He jerked back from the window, reaching out to grab Heather’s arm and yank her forward.

Somehow Heather knew who she would see getting out of the white Fiat. The car was her mother’s but the man getting ready to make a hurried dash to the poor protection of the small porch was Jake Cavender.

He had come after her; just as she’d known he would. Because of her he would be walking into Rick’s gun.

„I’ll get rid of him,“ she rasped pleadingly as she swung her head around to face a nervous and glowering Rick. „Just give me a chance. I’ll make him go away. He’s here because of me.“

„What the hell’s going on? You two going to shack up here or something?“

„Just let me have a chance to get rid of him, Rick. Please. If you do I’ll cooperate with you. I swear I won’t give you any trouble.“

„What are you going to do? Tell him you came up here to meet me instead of him?“ Rick mocked furiously.
 

„Why not?“ Her eyes burned into his. Heather tried to summon whatever degree of willpower she had ever possessed and use it on Monroe. „It will be easier for you if he goes away quietly.“

Rick hesitated, clearly torn. He glanced out the window one more time and his dark gaze narrowed. „Yeah, I like it. I really like it. Okay, babe, let’s see you convince this guy you came all this way to jump in the sack with me. But if it doesn’t work, he’s dead. You got me?“

Heather swallowed. „I understand.“

7

He looked so good
coming toward her through the rain. Heather’s heart turned over as she took in the sight of Jake dodging quickly around the small rivulets of water that were already beginning to run over the unabsorbent ground. He was still wearing jeans and low-cut desert boots. The shirt was fresh, though; a dark, long-sleeved one with the collar open. His teak-shaded hair was very wet by the time he reached the rickety porch, and Heather watched longingly through the window as he ran a hand through it.
 

She saw him glance at the unfamiliar car in the drive and when he turned to pound on the door his eyes were cool and wary. A month ago Heather knew she would not have been able to interpret that gaze beyond those limits.

But his lifted hand paused and fell back to his side as he caught sight of her staring at him through the broken glass, and Heather was suddenly certain she could read a lot more than remote caution in him. There was determination and concern and a familiar intentness that told her as well as any words that he had come to take her home.

„Heather, for God’s sake, let me in. It’s pouring out here in case you haven’t noticed.“

She turned away from the window, her limbs feeling as though they were weighted with lead. The expression on Rick’s face was chillingly sardonic, but there was an underlying nervous tension in him that made her doubly wary. She saw him stuff the gun under a couch cushion and then fling himself casually down beside it.

„Let the man inside, babe. Let’s see how good an actress you turned out to be. There was always a bit of the dramatic in you, wasn’t there?“ He patted the cushion that shielded the gun. „And just in case you aren’t up to academy level today, I’ll have this little backup waiting.“

Her heart pounding, Heather opened the door, stepping back silently as Jake came into the room. His eyes went fleetingly over her mask of a face and then he focused on Rick Monroe.
 

„What are you doing here, Jake?“ Heather wrapped her arms across her breasts in an unconscious hug similar to the one she often used when under great stress. The last time she had braced herself like this was when Jake had confronted her in the motel room in Tucson.

„I should think the answer to that question is obvious.“ Jake flicked a sidelong glance at her, dark brows forming a near-solid line over his narrowed eyes. „I came to take you back.“

He must never know just how badly she wanted to go with him. Grimly Heather drew a breath and gathered her courage. Jake’s life depended on how well she handled the next few minutes. Above all else she must keep him safe. She might be able to take care of Monroe on her own because of their relationship so many years ago, but Jake wouldn’t have a chance against Rick’s gun.
 

„Then I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time, Jake.“ She flashed a meaningful glance at Monroe. „As you can see, I’ve got company.“

Monroe gave Jake a challenging look. „Why don’t you tell your visitor who I am, babe?“

„Jake, this is Rick Monroe.“ If Jake recognized the name, and she knew he must have, he gave no sign. Desperately Heather sought for the next words. „Rick and I are old friends.“ She tried to stress the word
friends
in a way that would imply a double meaning.
 

„I see.“ Jake stared at the other man, every line in his lean frame hard and poised as if to attack. „You didn’t mention you expected to have old
friends
visiting up here with you, Heather.“
 

Heather’s mouth went dry. Jake was frighteningly angry. She knew it as plainly as if he’d threatened violence. But for some reason she didn’t think Rick Monroe sensed the other man’s fury.