Love Me: The Complete Series (16 page)

Four and a half miles. His breathing was labored and sweat ran down his neck then trickled along his spine. It reminded him of Abby’s fingers as they had trailed there.
Dammit.

He hit the Stop button and headed to the shower before going back to his hotel. A little cold water would do him good. There was a twelve-hour difference between home and Bangkok, which meant he had about forty minutes before his scheduled video conference with Roger. He needed to get his head back in the game and focus. This was the biggest project he’d ever managed, and it was going to be kick-ass. His career depended on it.

His phone signaled a chat message from his new friend and pseudo-counselor.

He grinned.

He thumb-typed.

Carter checked the time to make sure he could still respond and delved into the chat screen. He wasn’t really in the mood but he’d give it his best shot.

She Hearts Dogs: He hung up. Mad
.

Man, she’s really grinding over this and she didn’t even
do
the cheating. Noble. He sighed. What to say? He thought for a second then answered.

She Hearts Dogs: OK. Gotta get to work. Bye
.

• • •

“Good morning,” Carter said as Roger joined the conference. Roger had their client, John Gazman, beside him. John waved.

“Good evening to you.” Nine p.m. in Bangkok meant Carter was already half a day ahead of Roger and the rest of his team. Roger looked freshly showered and battery-charged, which was about as far from Carter’s current state as possible. Still, he’d fake his way through.

“Okay, let’s get started.” The men jumped into the project plan and talked about the various orders and deadlines required to meet their needs. An hour and half later, John had excused himself. Carter and Roger went over their internal needs, with Carter giving a list of research items, some small assignments for other members of their team and a status report for the board. “So, what’s this about Abby’s partner?”

Roger stopped tossing a wadded paper and pulled closer to the camera. “Which partner?” He frowned and shook his head, a clear warning to hush.

Carter laughed. “I’m pretty sure there’s only one. You know who I’m talking about. She said—”

Roger rolled his chair to look toward his credenza. “What exactly
did
you say, Abby?”

Carter snapped his mouth shut.
Oops.
He forgot. With the time change, they were on morning time and right in the middle of plant maintenance. Yikes. He waved sheepishly when she leaned over Roger’s shoulder. “Hey, Abby. What d’ya know. There’s the pretty little liar in the flesh.”

Her gloved hands were filled with a water can and a fertilizer/plant food bag. “Watch it. I could douse your friend here if you provoke me.”

Roger crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back. “Spill that and I’ll make
him
pay.”

Abby dropped her brows in a brief glare at the camera before shrugging. “I’m counting on it. I just told him you noticed her. A lot.”

Roger rolled his eyes. The chair screeched as he lunged to a stand. “I’m going down the hall to get the team started on this list. You need anything else, just send an e-mail or text me.” He held up a stack of papers with scribbled notes, waved it then disappeared.

They were alone. Or at least he thought they were—in two separate rooms, on two separate continents. Just the two of them. And a ticking time bomb.

“Not sure, but I don’t think he liked the idea of us talking about him.”

“Ya think?” She shifted from one foot to another and set the bag of plant food down in Roger’s chair. Hopefully no dirt would spill because Carter was pretty sure Roger had light colored pants on. The man was really into khaki.

“You sure you’re not reading it wrong?”

She plopped the water can on the desk, sending a few drops to the floor. “I’m sure.” She paused to glance at the door. “You guys use Skype a lot?”

He nodded. “It’s a good way to hold a meeting without flying around the globe. It keeps things personal. I use it to talk to a lot of people. If I could get my mom to use a computer, I’d Skype her too.”

“She doesn’t have one?”

“Oh, she has one. She just never turns it on. What about you, do you ever use video-chat or Skype to visit with family or friends?”

She nodded. “Sometimes. On my tablet. I have family spread out all over, so once in a while we use it. With my business, it’s not really necessary.”

While she looked fresh and energized, he was anything but. He ran a hand over his head and rubbed his neck. “So, what was it you wanted to tell me? Another one of your big stories? Just curious, is there an organization called Liars Anonymous? ’Cause if there is, you should sign up. You seriously have a problem.”

Abby moved the bag of dirt to the floor, dropped into Roger’s chair and leaned forward. Even angry, the pixilated image was nice, but he would have preferred the real thing. She sighed. “Look … whatever you thought about my leaving the other day, it was wrong. I just had to get to work, okay? Don’t read anything into my actions.”

“Or your words either, right? Got it.”

“Okay, got everything,” Roger’s voice jolted both of them away from the screen.

Abby jumped from the seat, apologized for taking over, and grabbed her things. She tossed an obligatory wave and headed toward the hall.

“Hey, Abs?” Her image had disappeared and Carter wasn’t sure if she was gone or not.

“Yeah?”

“Take it a little easier on the next guy, okay? He might not be as easy to let go of you as I am. Oh, and send me your info and I’ll be happy to plaster it on the bathroom stalls in the bars around town when I get back.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Wait, I think I still have it.” He yanked his wallet open and looked through the pile of receipts and cards. Yeah, it was there. He yanked it out and held up the card, “Got it. Never mind.”

“She’s already gone,” Roger said. “That was fun. You’re a real jerk, you know. Good thing you’re not here, I might have to kick your ass. You know, this isn’t what you think, right? I can explain everything. It’s actually a funny story.”

“Ha. Ha. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Doubt you could explain
or
kick my ass. That woman’s a habitual liar. Besides, from what I hear, you’re all talk and no action. So, tell me what you have.” Carter flipped open the folder in front of him and grabbed a pen to jot notes.

Roger frowned and pursed his lips before he started reading through the information Carter had requested.

They dove back into business mode.

• • •

A few mornings later and back on his own turf, Carter glanced at the time on his phone as he hurried toward work. Damn it. Late. He was never late. Or at least never
used
to be late. The wind slashed his face as he passed the newsstand. He glanced at the front page on each stack, a habit and sometimes his only chance to see what was going on in the world. National news showed nothing. Local news was a family of socialites talking about their family business.
Wait.
He slammed the brakes on. Was that Abby?

Holy shit, it was. Right in the middle of the group. He grabbed a paper and scanned the text underneath. His stomach dropped. Jennifer Jeffries. As in Jennifer
Abigail
Jeffries. As in the hateful woman that had gotten him fired months ago, thanks to Jackson’s outburst. Seriously? They were the same person? Vile rose in the back of his throat. No way. No fricking way. Well, that explained Jackson’s ranting in the meeting—and to think Carter’d been stupid enough to stand up for him.

He strode into the office and slammed the paper on Roger’s desk. “Take a look.”

Roger jolted. “Good morning to you too.”

Carter punched a finger at the picture. “
That
is Jennifer Jeffries.
The
Jennifer Jeffries that killed my project and sent me packing. She is also
Abby
Jeffries, a.k.a. Abigail Jeffries … a.k.a. Satan.”

Roger picked up the paper calmly and shook the page to straighten it. Carter stared at his face which had gone almost as white as the paper. “Um, yeah, that’s definitely her. She looks good, don’t you think?”

“Good?” Carter thought his head would split open. “Good!” He tried to think of words. None would come. He sputtered for a second, then turned on his heels and strode away.

Abby tied her running shoes then slipped the ear buds in. The sun hung low over the trees outside. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten in a few miles and she needed it desperately.

Lifting the screen to choose her playlist, she noticed the flash of a chat message. Should she respond? Another glance out the window answered the question. She grabbed her keys and headed to the park.

She planned for three laps and was nearing the end of the second when she looked up. Shit. Carter. Good. He’s talking to the dog. Maybe he won’t notice. If she just took a long drink of water as she passed, maybe he’d think she hadn’t seen him either? Too late to do a U-turn.

She lifted the bottle and drew on it. Four steps more and she’d be past and could drop the camouflage. She drew another sip and got—air. Rats. Empty. She forced her attention on the pavement and tossed the empty bottle at the trash receptacle as she passed.

Yay. Awkwardness over. She picked up the pace to make a fast retreat.

“Hey! Pick that up!”

Ignoring the sound, she slipped an earbud lose but kept running.

“Get back here and pick up your trash, woman.”

Abby slowed to a stop and turned to see the empty water bottle roll into the grass. She’d missed the can. “What’s your problem?” She dropped a hand to her hip. Sweat trickled down the side of her face and a light breeze cooled the dampness away.

Carter approached. Abby checked the path behind. Should she back up and run? His face deepened to a ruddy shade.

“I don’t have a problem. You do. Do you always toss your trash all over the park and leave it for someone else to trip over? Or maybe for a dog to choke on?” He thrust a forefinger at the empty water bottle that glistened at the edge of the sidewalk. “Pick that up.”

When he loomed over, she stumbled backward. “Good grief. It’s just a water bottle. I missed. I wasn’t
trying
to put it there.”

“Just a water bottle. Right. And if everyone threw them on the ground, the entire park would be covered in trash.” He wrapped his fingers around her forearm and yanked her toward the offending bottle. When he stopped, her toes were against it. “Pick it up.” He repeated.

Seriously? He was going to force her as if she were ten years old? Not happening. Abby yanked her arm free, stuck her nose in the air, and turned. She took three steps and tossed a response back. “Pick it up yourself if you’re gonna get all Godzilla about it.”

Abby slipped the earbud in place and increased her speed to get the last lap in before dark. The sun was barely a sliver behind the trees when she rounded the corner and returned to the spot he’d accosted her. She glanced around, half expecting Carter to be there.

He wasn’t. Neither was the bottle.

She let out a whoosh of air and relaxed.

Bang. Thunk.
Her head stung, then her arms, then—
oh my God
. A rain of debris fell over her shoulders and head. Something wet and sticky trailed down her neck then dripped to her arm. Gross. She kicked a few things as she slowed and they bounced and rattled. The clatter startled a group of people standing nearby and their mouths fell open.

“What the hell?” Abby whirled to see—Carter’s chest. His arms were above his head shaking the contest of the trash receptacle.
All over her.
She growled and yanked the plugs from her ears. “Are you CRAZY?”

Carter dropped the can to the ground with a thud. “No, just sick of people like you who don’t see how every single piece of this adds up. One bottle here. One bottle there. A candy wrapper,” he retrieved a McDonald’s bag from the ground, “a half-eaten meal. If we all throw our crap on the grass like you, this is exactly what it’d look like. Is that what you want? You happy?”

Abby swiped the goo from her arm and threw it his way, then pulled her shirt free from her slimy, plastered skin. The sucking noise it made assured her there were plenty of
un-
empty beverages in that trash pile. “Seems to me this is more about
you
being happy, isn’t it? This isn’t—”

“Everything okay here?”

Abby whirled, ready to give the nosey onlooker a piece of her mind. Uh oh. Her face heated. A bicycle cop.

“Yes, sir.” Carter’s voice held the respect she’d missed earlier. “I mean ma’am. We’re fine. Just was trying to help the lady clean up her mess.”

Abby hitched a brow and threw him a glaring scowl. “My mess?”

• • •

Caroline rolled her eyes while she scraped the box cutter along the cardboard. “So, now you’re picking up trash in the park for a month?”

Abby still smelled the garbage though she’d showered twice since. “It was that or pay the $500 littering charge. It’s only on Sundays so shouldn’t be a problem for work. What else was I supposed to do?”

“And he’s going to be there too?”

Hope not. “I don’t know. We can show up whenever we want to. I doubt he goes at the same time. He hates me.”

“Of course he does. You slept with his best friend.”

“Did not!”

“As far as he knows, you did. Plus you lied to him about that AND about the ex-girlfriend. Kind of makes you sound a tad on the manipulative side.”

“Or just plain crazy.”

Caroline held up her hands and widened her eyes. “Wasn’t going to go that far.”

• • •

Without her nightly run, Abby should have been gaining weight and losing energy. Of course, to do that she’d have to actually eat once in a while, and not just work. Energy was highly overrated in her book; she chose to substitute pigheaded perseverance. Not to mention a few lengthy chat conversations with her unknown chat pal at night, which kept her away from the potato chips. Besides, the conversations were more fun. He seemed incredibly interested in her family and she described each of her siblings in detail. She attempted to pry details as well but was stonewalled.