You are Mine (8 page)

Ida snorted. Brickman hadn’t gotten
Caroline, but not because of anything she’d done. And now here she
was almost two years later with a man who was still obsessed over a
woman he couldn’t have. The only thing different was that instead
of thwarting him, she now helped Brickman in his crazy schemes to
get Caroline. She was resigned to the fact that she couldn’t have
Brian and that her life was with Brickman, who at least was
wealthy. She’d figured she’d take what she could get rather than
have nothing at all. And as long as Brickman got what he wanted,
she didn’t suffer too much.

“So there you have it,” Ida muttered.

“Are you listening to me, Ida?”

Brickman’s voice was impatient and Ida
quickly gave him her attention. “I’m sorry. I was just thinking
about the baby and what a good dad you’ll be.”

Brickman smiled cruelly and Ida almost
sighed in relief.
And…he’s back
.

“You were thinking no such thing, and we
both know it. It’s more likely you were thinking about my money and
what next big expensive thing you can buy with it. But that’s all
right. I’ll let it go this once.”

“Thank you, Alex.”

“Have you begun gathering your things for
our departure?”

Ida nodded. “Yes. Mexico should be beautiful
this time of year.”

“Well, I suppose you would know since you’re
from that part of the world.”

Ida almost smirked. Sometimes Alex was so
predictable it was laughable. He knew she was Puerto Rican and not
Mexican, but he preferred to think of her as a poor immigrant who’d
come to America for better opportunities so he’d have further proof
that he was somehow superior. And he always needed to feel
superior. In his warped mind, immigrant meant Mexican, so she was a
Mexican. She’d never been to Mexico -- or Puerto Rico, for that
matter. She’d been born on the south side of Chicago and until
approximately two years ago hadn’t traveled anywhere except to
Florida to visit her parents. Ida thought about all of this, but in
the end only said, “I’m not, no, but I look forward to going.”

“In any case, we’ll be stopping in Chicago
first, which will be quite different from this tropical
paradise.”

Ida said nothing. She’d already tried to
persuade him to forego a trip to Chicago before Mexico, but he was
determined to try for Caroline again. He was convinced that he knew
enough about her new circumstances to be successful this time. He
knew about the thirty-four-hundred- square-foot, four-bedroom,
Victorian home they’d bought in the federally designated historic
Old Town Triangle District in the tony neighborhood of Old Town;
the bodyguard they’d contracted from Jacques Winthrop’s agency and
that bodyguard’s talents. He suspected the house had a security
system, but didn’t yet know exactly how it was set up, or its
capabilities.

In his arrogance, Brickman believed that
this was enough knowledge to give him a fighting chance. Ida
thought it was a recipe for disaster, but she’d learned to keep her
mouth shut. “I’ll be ready to go when it’s time,” she said after
rising from the chair.

She was at the door when he called, and she
turned to look at him.

“Because of my happiness over the child I
didn’t punish you for your earlier lie, but don’t expect the same
kind of leniency in the future.”

Ida left him, thinking that if he knew the
real truth -- that the child wasn’t his -- leniency wouldn’t even
enter his mind as a possibility.

Chapter Five

“I’ll pick you up after the rehearsal,”
Brian said to Caroline as she drove into the parking lot of a dance
studio. “What time does it end again?”

Caroline began to maneuver the car into a
parking space, saying, “I thought you had a big meeting today. I
don’t believe you’ll be finished in time to pick me up.” She turned
to look at him after she’d parked.

“I’ll make sure I’m finished,” he said.

“Okay, now tell me again why you wanted to
come with me this morning, instead of me driving myself in like
usual?”

Brian frowned. “I’ve got a feeling that
something is going to happen soon, and I just feel better dropping
you off and picking you up.”

“All right,” she conceded with a nod. “I bow
to your Spidey sense, oh great one.”

Brian smiled and watched as she pulled at
the hem of her white trench coat. It was a mini, and barely long
enough to cover the extremely short go-go dress she wore beneath
it. A pair of white knee-length vinyl go-go boots and white fishnet
stockings completed the outfit. He personally didn’t like the
outfit because of its length, but he knew that Caroline had no
problem with it, and was fidgeting for an entirely different
reason. He laughed. “Time to go shake what your mama gave you,
sweetheart.”

Caroline narrowed her eyes at him. “You
wouldn’t be laughing if you were going through this torture.”

He shrugged. “I can’t help it if work kept
me from most of the rehearsals, regrettably resulting in my being
kicked out of the group.”

“Yes, work. How very convenient,” she
muttered.

Feeling absolutely no remorse whatsoever,
Brian said, “Well, I do have to bring home the bacon.”

Caroline snorted out a laugh. “That doesn’t
even deserve a response.”

“Then why’d you give me one?” he teased.

“Oh, shut up,” she said, making him laugh
again. “I just want this whole thing to be over.”

“And it will be in two days.”

“And the day after that, we’re off to
Mackinac Island,” she said wistfully. Leaning across the gearshift,
she kissed his cheek and turned for the door latch. “I’d better get
in there.”

Brian put a halting hand on her arm. “We
have to wait for Jae, remember? He’ll be here in a few minutes. He
had to go into Jack’s office to go over some paperwork.”

Caroline relaxed back against the seat and
looked at him. “I won’t argue, though a few minutes without you or
Jae around probably won’t matter all that much, especially since
there will be lots of other people inside.”

“Good, then we won’t argue, even though we
both know that a lot of things can happen in a few minutes.”

“Yes, they can,” Caroline said as she leaned
back against him and put her head on his shoulder. “Like for
instance, me disabling someone with a kick to the knee or an elbow
to the nose,” she murmured and entwined her fingers with his.

Brian grinned and kissed the top of her
head, his hand automatically going to her knee. “That you could,
warrior princess that you are.”

“And don’t you forget it,” she warned. “All
those self-defense, judo and shooting lessons were not just for
show, you know.”

“Unlike these dance lessons, which are,”
Brian teased. “I can’t wait to see you. It’s going to be sexy as
hell.”

Caroline snorted. “With my barely-there
rhythm? Hardly. You seriously need to manage your
expectations.”

“Oh, it will be sexy all right,” Brian
murmured as he thought about her wriggling her behind in that
short, short dress, “trust me.”

Caroline shrugged. “At any rate, Mom and Dad
will love it. We’re doing some of their favorite songs from the
sixties.”

“Tell me the names of some of the songs
again.”

““This Old Heart of Mine”, “Your Love Keeps
Lifting Me Higher”, “Buttercup”
,
“Ain’t No Mountain High
Enough”
,
etcetera. Lee picked the songs -- all songs where
he’s the lead singer and Tracy, K.K. , Cat and I are the back-ups
doing both singing and dancing.”

“Your brother’s a smart man.”

“I prefer to think of it as just plain
sneaky.”

“You would never have sung lead anyway
because that would have put you too much in the forefront. You’re
worried about the dancing.”

“Of course I am. I mean, I have to do dances
with names like the Watusi, the Hully Gully, and the Swim. God,
with names like those you know right off the bat that you’re going
to look ridiculous doing them.”

Brian snickered loudly as he continued to
absentmindedly stroke her knee with his thumb. “While you’re up on
stage, just keep thinking Mackinac, Mackinac,” he suggested, saying
the vacation spot’s name in a hypnotic tone.

Caroline cocked her head back on his
shoulder to look up at him. “You’re a nut,” she said with a
smile.

He smiled back at her. “That may be, but I
happen to know that you have a particular fondness for the Keenan
nut.”

She chuckled. “Pretty cocky for a guy who
will neither sing nor dance,” she challenged, looking at him from
beneath her lashes.

“‘Course I am,” he murmured, staring at her
mouth. “Because you love me.” He bent his head and met her halfway
when she pursed her lips and stretched towards him.

The kiss was a brief one, and she settled
back against him with a sigh. “Did Jae say when he’d be here? I
have to go in soon. I’m sure the others are already here.”

Brian looked at his watch. “He’ll be here
soon, I think.” He flattened his hand on her stomach. “How are you
and the little wonder doing?” he asked gently.

She began caressing his hand softly with her
fingers. “Oh, we’re fine. We had saltines and warm ginger ale for
breakfast, but we’re planning on a pretty big lunch of soup and
tea, because though we are no longer nauseous, we must be ever
vigilant.”

“Poor babies,” Brian said, feeling genuine
sympathy.

They both sat quietly, content to enjoy the
intimate silence. Brian noticed Jae approaching, and stirred.
“Jae’s here. What time should I come back?”

“We’ll be finished in a couple of
hours.”

“All right. See you then.”

***

BRIAN had been in his office at Inclusion
Integrated for about ten minutes when a knock sounded at his door.
“Enter.”

“Hi, Bri.” Linda Thompson, a junior graphic
artist, poked her head around his door.

“Hey, kid. What’s up?”

Linda came into his office and sat. “I know
I should be talking to your underling about this, but I can’t find
Larissa, so I’ve come to the big Kahuna. My computer’s acting up.
Will you take a look at it when you have a chance?”

Brian stood. She was right, as Chief
Technology Officer and founder, he didn’t have to do what some
might consider the grunt work, but he did occasionally like to keep
his hand in things. “Let’s go.”

“Wow, that was easy,” Linda said as she
hurriedly stood. “It can wait, you know. I mean, I can still work
on the computer; I just wanted someone to be aware that there are
difficulties. Can’t we chat for a minute?”

Brian sat again. “Sure. How are your
parents?” Brian had known Linda since before she’d hit puberty, and
thought of her as a little sister. Her father had been his captain
when he was just a wet behind the ears beat cop. Captain Thompson
had taken him under his wing and Brian had spent many an evening at
the Thompson home stuffing his face with Gloria Thompson’s
delicious cooking.

“They’re fine. They were wondering when you
and Caroline might come for dinner again.”

Brian frowned. “That’s a difficult one.
We’re going away next week, and when we come back, she’ll be all
wrapped up in her work in preparation for her fall show at the
Rutledge Gallery.” He paused and thought for a few moments. “Tell
you what, I’ll call your dad tonight, and we’ll figure out some way
to make our schedules work together.”

“Good. He won’t talk about it with me, but
he’s really intent on finding out where that Brickman character is
hiding. He and Mom are worried about both you and Caroline.”

“I appreciate their concern, and your dad
was really helpful the last time the little bastard showed up.”

Linda leaned forward eagerly, her deep
dimples flashing against her dark skin. “He was? What’d he do?”

Brian smiled and shook his head. He’d never
tell her how her dad had helped get some of his cop buddies out of
the jam they’d gotten themselves into when they’d allowed Brian to
ride with them to try to capture Brickman and had even allowed him
to carry a gun. Captain Thompson had used his pull to keep Brian’s
friends’ records clean. “No way, no how am I telling you a darn
thing.”

Making a sound of disgust, Linda sat back in
her chair. “I don’t know why I even bother. You enjoy tormenting
me,” she accused, sounding like a typical younger sibling.

And like a typical older one, Brian only
offered her a shit-eating grin in response.

Linda laughed, and sounding much younger
than her twenty-four years, said, “God, you’re such a loser, and
just I
hate
you sometimes!”

Another knock sounded at his door, and Brian
bade the person to enter. The door opened and his best friend,
Jacques Winthrop stepped inside.

“Hey, Jack. Come on in. You remember Linda,
right? Captain Thompson’s younger daughter?” Jacques had also been
under the captain’s command.

Jack smiled at Linda, who had risen from her
seat. Brian smirked when she looked like she was suddenly having
difficulty breathing. His friend often had that affect on women.
“Of course I remember Linda,” Jack said. “Our most recent meeting
was at your and Caroline’s wedding.” He held out a hand. “How are
you, Linda?”

Linda’s smile was huge and almost
cartoon-like. “I’m fine, thanks. Well, I’d better go,” she said and
releasing Jack’s hand, fled the office, shutting the door behind
her.

Jack looked embarrassed and Brian scoffed,
“Did it again, didn’t you, pretty boy?” In truth when they were on
the CPD together, he and Jack had often been asked if they were
brothers. Brian knew that it was only because they were of the same
height and builds and had black hair. The similarities ended there.
Jack with his violet-blue eyes and double rows of lashes and
perfectly asymmetrical features was often stared at, and many young
women became flustered around him because of what some described as
his classic beauty.