Illusions of Love (5 page)

Present Day….

I
sat back down at my new desk, and stared at the drawer the ring was in. It
seemed impossible to forget about him even after all this time. After that day
in the diner I ran and didn’t look back. I didn’t even go home to my mother. I
needed a change. Cole had promised me we would run away and I believed him.
When his lie came out I decided to run on my own. I bounced around to different
jobs for a little while and attended college until I was old enough to join the
police academy. Once I became an officer my life stabilized as much as it
could. I saw Uncle Mike from time to time, but I avoided Cole. I waited for
divorce papers. I expected them every single day, but they never came. They
still hadn’t come and I had been gone six years. I saw Cole every now and then
on TV. He was a successful businessman and he was still every girls dream.

“Knock,
knock,” my partner Mandy said as she walked in my office. Mandy and I had gone
to college and the academy together. We were both fast tracked because we
scored high on all the tests. She helped me get over Cole, by being there for
me.

“Hey
Mandy,” I said snapping out of my reverie.

“So,
do you like the new office?” she asked as she sat across from me.

I
grinned. “I love it. Everything is working out exactly as I wanted it to.”

She
nodded. “Did you hear the news?”

I
looked at her confused. “What news?”

She
smiled. “Your husband, Cole Davis is in town.”

I
looked at her in disbelief. I felt my pulse quicken. I hadn’t had that feeling
in years, and I didn’t think I would ever have it again.

Little Lies: Volume 2

“What
do you mean he is in town?” I asked Mandy a little startled.

Her
smile widened at my obvious shock. “I mean he is in town. I saw something on
the news about him opening a club here. He is pretty hot, you should go see
him,” she said grinning as she winked at me.

I
rolled my eyes. “I am over him no matter how hot he is. He is nothing but
trouble,” I muttered.

“I
wouldn’t mind some of that trouble, and if you saw him you wouldn’t either,”
she said giggling.

I
smiled. “He was fun in bed. That was about all he had going for him at the
time, other than the money.”

She
waved her hand like it was no big deal. “Who needs all that money anyway?”

I
smiled and shook my head. “You’re telling me.” I looked at my watch. It was
already after ten in the morning. I had been here since six going over several
cases I had been put on. My phone rang and I smiled. It was the first time my
office phone had rang.

“Detective
Winters,” I answered trying not to sound too giddy.

“Detective?
Now that is quite a shock.” Cole’s amused voice filled my ear, and I felt my
smile falter.

Mandy
gave me a questioning look. I mouthed his name and she gave me a thumbs up. I
just rolled my eyes. “What do you want Cole?” I asked trying to sound as rude
as possible.

“Well
you recognize my voice, that is a good sign I suppose,” he said playfully.

“You’re
name came up on caller ID,” I lied. I didn’t really know why I lied I just
didn’t want him thinking I thought about him.

He
laughed like he didn’t believe me. “I suppose I should get down to business. I want
a divorce. I had the papers drawn up and I was hoping you and your lawyer would
come by my office and review them.”

“Sure
when?” I asked trying to sound like his announcement didn’t bother me. It did
bother me a little, and I didn’t really know why. I had been expecting it for a
while now.

“This
afternoon if possible,” he said softly.

“Wow,
that’s awful quick; what are you inflicting marriage on some other poor love
struck fool? Do you have an inheritance to gain?” I asked amused.

“You
know that was not the only reason I married you,” he said quietly. He sounded
like I had offended him.

“Ya,
sure. What time should I be there?” I asked changing the subject.

“Two,
will be fine,” he said regaining his firm business tone.

“Where
is it?” I asked as I grabbed a note pad.

“It’s
the giant building in the center of the city that says Davis Towers in bold
letters.” He sounded like he was teasing me. He was such an arrogant ass.

“Great
see you at two,” I muttered and hung up. I made a disgusted noise and tossed my
note pad aside.

“You
are going to see him?” Mandy asked sounding both surprised and amused.

I
sighed. “He wants a divorce. I am going to sign the papers.”

“You
should bring a lawyer. You are entitled to some of the money he sold you out
for,” she said smiling.

“I
don’t want his money. I never did. I am just going to sign the papers and move
on with my life. Let’s go talk to some of these witnesses while I have time,” I
said as I stood and grabbed my jacket off the back of my chair.

She
looked a little disappointed. “He must have really pissed you off.”

“I’m
over it,” I said softly. I was really hoping I was, but the truth was I just
found things like work to distract myself. I never actually got over anything.

I
sat in my police issued car looking up at the ridiculous sky scraper that had
Cole’s last name in giant letters written across it. Davis Towers was a
landmark for the downtown area. It was an eye sore for me. I had dropped Mandy
off back at the station after we got nowhere on our case. It was almost two so
I stepped out of the car. I parked on the street in a designated parking spot.
I didn’t want to have to park in the garage of the tower. I really didn’t want
to go in there at all. I slowly walked in the front entrance and flashed my
badge to get through security. I went straight to the elevator and took it to
the top floor where the little map said Cole Davis’s office was located.

The
elevator door opened and I immediately regretted coming. The lounge had leather
couches and chairs, expensive sculptures, marble counter tops, and the
receptionists looked like models that walked off a magazine. The place didn’t
fit the Cole I knew. This place looked like where his father would work, not
him. Then again the last time I saw him was a few years back, so he could have
changed a lot.

The
blond receptionist behind the desk looked me up and down as I approached. Of
course I didn’t fit in here. I was wearing jeans, a tank top, and a leather
coat. Not a pantsuit that cost more than my car. “Can I help you?” she asked in
a tone that suggested I was inconveniencing her.

“Yes,
unfortunately I have an appointment with Mr. Davis at two,” I said matching her
tone.

Her
eyes widened and she blushed a little. “Of course Detective Winters. I will let
him know you are here. Go ahead and take a seat. Can I get you a drink?”

“No
tell him I don’t have all day,” I said before I turned and walked over to one
of the plush leather chairs and took a seat.

She
hurried to the back then after a few minutes she came back out and hurried over
to me. “Detective he is ready for you. Please follow me,” she said quickly.

I
stood and followed her through the hall. I thought she would go to an office,
but she didn’t. She walked to a conference room. She held the door for me, and
I walked in past her. She closed the door behind me, and I looked around the
room. There were more people in the room then just Cole. Cole stood near the
end of the table. He had grown up a lot. His hair was neatly slicked back, not
unruly. His blue eyes seemed darker and more intelligent, but he still had that
amused glint in them. He was dressed to perfection in gray slacks and a blue
button up that went well with his eyes and complexion. A woman in a tailored
suit stood next to him. She looked snooty and stuck up. I was guessing she was
either his girlfriend or lawyer, maybe both. His father and mother was also
present. I was also a little startled to see my birth father Mayor Michaels was
present. There were also a couple other suits that looked like lawyers.

“What’s
with the crowd?” I asked suddenly wishing I had Mandy tag along.

He
smiled as he walked toward me. “Just my lawyers, my parents, and family
friends. We actually have an event to get too after this.”

“Good,
great, I am busy too. Where are these papers?” I asked trying not to show any
emotion. I was good at what Mandy called ‘going cop;’ which was putting my
emotions away when dealing with a difficult situation.

“You
could say hi first,” he said dryly.

“I
said hi on the phone now stop procrastinating,” I countered and held out my
hand. I wanted to get this done and over with.

“This
is a very serious matter, and you shouldn’t take it lightly like it is a game,”
the snooty blond snapped.

I
laughed. “This is an event I am going to celebrate tonight with a good deal of
alcohol.”

Cole
looked calm as he handed me the papers. “Take your time looking over them. You
should have brought a lawyer,” he said in a disapproving tone.

“I
don’t need a lawyer this isn’t rocket science,” I countered. It was a lot more
papers then I expected. I scowled and started flipping through the pages and
reading. He was trying to give me money, a lot of money. He wanted to pay me
alimony and all kinds of crazy stuff. The fact that I could smell his cologne
was making reading the paperwork more difficult. “This is ridiculous, I am not
signing this,” I growled and shoved the papers back at him.

“You
aren’t getting any more money,” the blond hissed striding over to us.

“Who
the hell are you anyway?” I asked matching her tone.

“I
am Mr. Davis’s lawyer, and I am looking out for his interests,” she said
haughtily.

I
scoffed. “I am sure you are looking out for a lot more than that.”

She
blushed and went to speak, but Cole cut in. “Ladies there is no need to fight.
Katelyn; what is it you don’t agree with?” he asked calmly as he watched me
with his dark blue eyes.

“None
of it. I don’t want any of your money. I want it to say we are divorced and
that is it. You keep what’s yours, and I keep what’s mine.” I was trying not to
yell, but the blond bimbo had pissed me off.

Cole
looked a little startled. “Katelyn you are entitled to a lot more. I do not
mind giving you something,” he said softly.

“I
don’t want anything,” I said as my phone started ringing. “Winters,” I snapped
as I answered my phone.

“Robbery
in progress not far from you, has the same MO as our case,” Mandy said a little
hesitantly.

“I’m
on my way,” I said quickly and hung up. I looked at Cole. He was watching me
with his cool gaze. “I have to go, change it and have it sent to my office. I
will sign it as soon as I get it.” I didn’t wait for his reply. I just turned
and walked out. I had a case to get too.

I
arrived on the scene and an officer had beat me. He already had one guy cuffed
on the ground. “Is there anyone else?” I asked as I approached him.

“No
mam, he was the only one,” the officer said smiling. He was obviously happy
with himself. I had seen him a couple times; only because Mandy pointed him out
because he was kind of hot. He was new to the force. I think his name was Officer
Parker.

“Good,
job did you clear the store?” I asked as I approached the loan jewelry store.

He
shook his head. “The owner is still inside along with his daughter.”

I
nodded and walked in with my hand near my gun. A younger woman was pressing a
towel to the older man’s head. Like the other robberies the guy attacked the
clerk or in this case the owner with a crowbar. “There is an ambulance on the
way,” I reassured the girl. She looked terrified, but she nodded. I did a walk
through to make sure there was no one else in the building. When I was sure it
was clear I walked back out to where the Officer Parker was detaining the
suspect.

Mandy
pulled up and climbed out of the car. “Good job Officer Parker,” she said
flirtatiously.

I
could see him blush a little as he smiled. “I want him in my car. I want to
interview him as soon as possible. Have CSI come out and clear the scene.” I
knew I sounded a little bossy, but I was still irritated with my encounter with
Cole. Parker nodded and hurried off.

“Meow,
don’t bite the cutie. He is pretty good as it is,” Mandy said amused.

I
rolled my eyes. “You should just ask him out if you like him that much.”

“Whoa
calm down, just because you are having man problems doesn’t mean you have to
bite my head off. What’s wrong? Was he way hotter than you anticipated and you
just couldn’t sign the papers?” She was teasing me like she always did.

I
smiled. “No, he wanted to give me a bunch of money and I didn’t want it. I told
him to revise it. He had this blond bimbo lawyer and she made it her mission to
piss me off.”

She
looked at me like I had lost my mind. “He offered you money and you declined
it? Are you insane?”

“No
I don’t want to be owned by Cole just because I took his money. I won’t do it.
I am going to take this guy back to the station. Are you coming?” I asked
changing the subject.

She
shook her head. “I am going to assist Officer Cutie,” she said and giggled as
she walked toward the jewelry store.

I
wished it was as easy for me to flirt as it was for her. I always had someone
standing in the way and his name was Cole Davis.