Caught in the Frame (9 page)

The subtext running under the conversation was about as subtle as a tornado in a trailer park.

EV had felt abandoned in her time of need, and so had Lila. Chloe was torn between wanting to give them privacy, and an intense desire to hear every tiny detail. Curiosity won out. She settled on the couch behind them and stayed quiet.

“I wish I’d gone ahead and taken that year off from college right after you lost Alexander. Probably would have saved us both a world of trouble.” EV said wryly, hating to bring Chloe’s late father into the conversation.

EV laid it all out for Lila—how Remy’s carefully constructed facade had developed cracks; how, during the college years, they’d fought bitterly. Finally, EV described the miscarriage, and how, after secretly burying their baby, Remy had walked away without a backward glance.

“This is a lot to take in all at once.” Lila drained the bottle of water; she took a deep breath. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me?” Tears shimmered on her lashes.

“You had your own tragedy to contend with at the time. I didn’t want to add to your grief by sharing mine.”

“All this time,” the tears spilled over. “I thought…I’m not sure what I thought, but it wasn’t nice. You were so distant, and I had this little baby to raise all alone. I was so angry with you for being so detached when I needed you most.”

“That’s part of why you left Ponderosa Pines, isn’t it? I always thought it was just about losing Dad—not being able to face being there without him.” From behind them, Chloe voiced her thoughts.

“Saying it out loud would have made it too real.” EV admitted. “You know we’re two of a kind—always were. Control freaks more stubborn than one of Zellner’s prize mules.”

“But we still look damn good for our age.” EV toasted Lila’s observation with her plastic water bottle.

“I’ve got a confession to make.” Lila said.

“Another one? Should I have broken out the wine?” Chloe moved back into the kitchen section to rest her elbows on the counter. She wasn’t about to miss whatever was coming next.

“I invited Remy because I thought you needed the closure.”

Twin snorts from Chloe and EV put a frown on Lila’s face, until Chloe gave her a short explanation for why Dalton had arrived so precipitously.

“There’s more. We believe Remy was behind the blackmail attempt on Evan Plunkett. Nate has some evidence, but not enough for a conviction, and we can’t figure out his motive. So…”

“So, you’re sending EV in as Mata Hari.”

“That’s the plan.”

* * *

Amid the quiet hum of dinner conversation, and the tinkling of silverware, EV strolled into La Sirene with an air of casualness that didn’t match the flare of ice traveling along her knotted nerves. Perfectly-cooked meats in butter-laden sauces scented the air like caloric sin. None of them held the least appeal to EV at the moment. She’d just found the fatal flaw in their plan.

The broad strokes of the scheme had been to go to the restaurant and talk with Remy. The step that fell in the middle of those two actions was the one giving her trouble. As predicted, Remy had called Lila to announce his arrival in a manner that suggested the success of the entire event had depended upon his being there. He had not, however, brought up the subject of EV at all. That omission had led them to stage this impending fiasco of an impromptu meeting. Arguing that it played right into his hands, EV had been outvoted and summarily dispatched here with the vague instructions to engineer a chance meeting.

Was she supposed to saunter over to where he dined alone and plunk herself down in the opposite chair? Or, maybe she should just stand here in the doorway like a complete idiot until he noticed her.

Looking for a third alternative, EV scoped out the room. Cream-colored linens and stemware polished to a fare-thee-well gleamed under vintage Lalique. Remy’s popularity among the staff was evidenced by his less-than-ideal placement between the swinging kitchen door and the short hallway leading to the restrooms just beyond. If he treated his waiter like he had the unfortunate soul at the front desk, he was likely to get a sneeze burger for dinner.

Watching the ballet of waitstaff moving in and out the door gave EV the ghost of an idea. When the waiter with the sour expression pushed the empty desert cart into the kitchen for a restock, she gave it a full two minutes, then slowly began to make her way toward the restroom area. If she timed it right, she could stage a small scene right near Remy’s table.

As it was, she had to pick up her pace when she heard the unmistakable sound of wheels and something bumping the back of the door. The next few seconds required a delicate performance. Lining herself up in the aisle between tables, she played a game of dessert cart chicken. When the waiter dodged left to go around her, she slid in the same direction. When he changed course, she pivoted right on cue, putting her body in close proximity with the rolling menace. The waiter’s face fell into politely annoyed lines as EV bumped a hip against Remy’s table.

The only blip in her plan was that Remy caught his water glass before it dumped over into his lap. Petty, she admitted, but it would have been fun to douse him. Instead, she had to satisfy herself with watching his expression change as he recognized her.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…Remy?” She let her eyes widen in surprise, then filled them with false warmth.

He struggled to replace his initial snarl with a warm greeting. She could see how the effort to drop into character cost him. The veneer of politeness had thinned over the years. And so had his hair.

The way his appraising gaze ran over her made EV glad Chloe had insisted on a makeover. Whatever it was that she had hoped to see—maybe the ghost of the boy she knew had once loved her, or a flicker of regret over the loss of his child and the way he had treated her—there was nothing in him worthy of redemption.

“EV, I was hoping I’d run into you. As soon as I heard about the wedding, I knew I couldn’t miss getting a glimpse of the man who finally corralled Lila.” He stood. “Are you meeting anyone?” When she shook her head, he snapped impatient fingers at the next passing waiter. “Set another place, the lady will be joining me.”

The lady would have preferred slapping him. Or kicking him in the danglies.

“You look good, EV. Beautiful.”

“Thank you. You look,”
older, paunchier, like a rat bastard with pointy teeth who probably smells like the fetid hole he crawled out of
, “distinguished. Tell me, where have you been keeping yourself all these years?”

“Oh, here and there,” he evaded, “My grandfather passed on last year. Since then, I’ve been handling some of his personal business.” He reached across the table to lay a hand on hers. “What about you? Lila tells me you moved into your parent’s old place.”

“I’m comfortable there.” With an eloquent shrug she deflected the conversation back to him. “Did you ever get married? Have children?”
Please tell me you never procreated.

“Come now, it’s bad form to talk about exes on a date.”

Date? In your dreams, you fungus on the butt of humanity.

He glanced up when a waiter appeared at his side. Keeping his eyes on EV, Remy ordered steak
au poivre
with cognac sauce and fingerling potatoes. “And the lady will have the same.” He flashed her a triumphant smile.

“The lady will have the chicken with garlic,”
Lots and lots of garlic—enough to choke a vampire
. She flashed Remy a pointed look, “and leek soup to start, You’ll bill both to my room.” Alone again, she said, “This is not a date.” The tart comment slid right past him, since it didn’t fit with the fantasy that he could snap his fingers and have her panting to be with him again.

Could he be a bigger jerk? His ego obviously outweighed his mental faculties if he couldn’t read her complete lack of interest in him. EV took a moment to tune him out and think. Part of her thirsted for payback—the part that lived deep in the most primitive recesses of her mind—for the way he had walked away from her grief over their lost child. For the wild mother in her, this was personal. The primal desire to inflict pain had to be tempered with guile and wit if she wanted to learn his motive for going after Ponderosa Pines.

Listening to him now, even with half her brain otherwise occupied, she was coming to realize his reasons for blackmailing Evan might not have been all that complex. Remy reminded her of an attention-seeking child constantly shouting, “Mommy, look at me!”

The leek soup smelled like heaven, but tasted like dust in her mouth. Spoonful followed spoonful while he prattled on about himself. Her bowl lay empty before he seemed to realize she hadn’t spoken since taking that first bite.

“You’re quiet, EV. I guess your days run together out there in the woods, living the quiet life.”

“I manage to fill my time.” Hadn’t Marjorie told him EV normally spent half the month of February criss-crossing the country speaking about Ponderosa Pines and the environmental innovations used there? She made a note to have someone ask Remy’s aunt that very question. “I’m learning to knit.”

“How quaint.” Remy’s sneer lasted only a second before he shoved a huge chunk of steak into his mouth.

I hope you choke.

Forcing her face into a pleasant mask, EV threw out the first morsel of bait. “Well, you know I’ve felt obligated to stay ever since I practically forced the elders to expand.” EV rolled her eyes, let a small sigh of regret slide his way.

“Then get out. They don’t need you now.” He reached across the table to lay his hand over hers. She stopped the involuntary flinch of disgust, but just barely. The prickling feeing originating from the point of contact had nothing to do with desire, and everything to do with the skin of her hand wanting to crawl off her bones and slink under the table like a kicked dog.

“It’s not that easy. I have ties in the Pines.”

“Lila said you were seeing someone.” He let his eyes go dark and hungry. “You know I’m the only one for you, right? We’re meant to be. It’s kismet.”

Kismet? Kiss it. Just pucker up.

EV dipped her head, cast her eyes down toward the table—let him think she was overcome with emotion, and not just hiding the scorn that leapt into them.

“I’d give you anything you want,” he continued. “Besides, Ponderosa Pines won’t be your problem much longer.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing. Dessert?” He changed the subject.

“Thank you, but I have to meet Lila in,” she looked at her watch, “ten minutes.”

“When can I see you again.”

When I can ski in hell.

One elegantly clad shoulder lifted skyward before EV turned and walked away. She felt his eyes on her the whole time. Under his gaze, she forced her feet to take slow, even steps until, without a backward glance, she turned the corner and he could no longer see her. EV slipped off the torturous heels Chloe had made her wear, and lengthened her stride to a fast walk. She welcomed the distance each step put between her and the restaurant.

Replaying the scene back in her head, EV looked for clues she might have missed the first time. A telltale eye twitch, a firming of the lips—anything to build on the next time she had to sit across from him.

Nothing about Remy screamed criminal mastermind, though tonight EV had seen the ego-driven, status-seeking, spoiled brat Dalton had described. Without the filter of infatuation clouding it, her vision of him cleared. She saw her past—their past—through new eyes. He’d craved adoration and she’d given it to him, until the new life in her belly had drawn enough of her attention to leave him feeling left of center. He’d turned then—shown her his true self: a petulant child jealous of anything and anyone in his way. Even his unborn baby.

Forward motion slowed while EV processed the information. Her heart, already closed to him, hardened more. He would not use her again. Ever.

Chapter 10

In the false darkness cast by heavy draperies, EV pulled on her favorite running shoes. There was probably time to get a few miles in before Chloe rose like a specter from the covers EV assumed were currently yanked over her head. Lila’s excuse of wanting them both close by hadn’t fooled EV one bit. She’d been turned into an unwilling chaperone—a pawn in Lila’s game of keep Chloe and Nate apart.

No amount of logic revealed Lila’s reasoning for stashing Nate in a room as far away from Chloe as he could be while still remaining inside the castle. EV had thought Lila approved of the match. Worse, it meant sharing a suite with lousy acoustics. Sounds had a way of amplifying from one bedroom to the other. Odd considering the no-expense-spared construction elsewhere in the castle. Given the way sounds echoed, EV had to be quiet in the morning so Princess Lazybones could sleep in.

On her way out the door, EV snagged a bottle of water from the fridge, and her favorite new jacket made of some lightweight, water-resistant material. It kept her dry and warm without making her overly sweaty. Good thing, since the one quick peek she’d risked outside had reveald a lowering gray sky, and the balcony coated in a fine mist.

Following directions in the brochure on her nightstand, EV spent the next hour jogging along the soggy hiking trails located on the west side of the castle. By the time she made her way back to the rooms, the only dry part of her was under that jacket. Too bad it hadn’t come with matching pants.