One Secret Night (8 page)

Chapter 8

A
stop at NV Advanced Corporation proved to be a waste of time. Ralston was away on business travel and wouldn’t be in the office until the next day. Back at the hotel, Autumn didn’t feel like ordering room service. Raith didn’t protest, so they’d gone down to the nicest restaurant in the hotel.

With a tealight burning in the middle of the table, it had begun to feel like a date.

“No wine?” Raith asked.

Would he have joined her if she’d have ordered some? Or was he curious for another reason?

“This is romantic enough. Anymore and we might be in trouble.” That should divert his inquiring mind.

He smiled just a bit. His emotions never came into his face much. He kept them under control. He reminded her of a detective on one of those investigative reality shows. Not much animation came into their faces, although she sometimes could tell they made an effort. That’s what happened when a person saw too much death.

“Is that your way of stopping yourself from feeling too much for a rebel like me?” he asked.

“Shouldn’t you be doing the same with a heartbreaker like me?” Two could play that game...

His smile grew but only marginally. “Would you break my heart?”

“Milan is awfully appealing right now.” She smiled back at him.

He chuckled. “Yeah, but what would happen when you got back? Would you stay away? Would you be able to?”

That he’d even asked such a flirtatious question went against her perception of his character. And then she realized he was talking about the chemistry they’d generated in Iceland, hot enough to melt a glacier.

“I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.”

“An adventure to look forward to.”

The waiter arrived and Autumn took longer than she should have needed to order. Raith suffered no awkwardness. In fact, he seemed to enjoy flustering her.

What was he doing? Did he hope to seduce her again? Seduce her and then leave her the way he had in Iceland? That wouldn’t bother her if she wasn’t pregnant.

The rest of dinner passed with idle talk and many long looks. Autumn still hadn’t cooled by the time they left and rode the elevator to the top floor. She dreaded being in the suite alone with him, and then anticipated it at the same time. Raith slept on the sofa bed in the seating area and she slept in the bedroom, but it may as well be one giant king-size bed in a huge, wall-free room.

Just as they entered the suite, Raith’s cell rang.

Glad for the reprieve, Autumn went to stand by the window to gather her wits, looking out at the city lights to wait for Raith to answer the call. He never did.

Turning, she saw him putting his phone on the table beside the pullout bed.

“Your father again?” she asked.

He sent her a brooding look.

A clear enough answer. He was sure dogged about ignoring his father. “He’s calling you a lot.”

Raith picked up the remote and turned on the television. End of discussion.

She walked over to him, ready to do some serious probing. Her own cell rang and she stopped next to a chair. Seeing it was her sister Savanna, she answered.

“Where are you?” Savanna demanded.

“In Houston.”

“No one knows where you are. Why haven’t you answered your phone?”

She’d only answered Savanna’s call because Savanna already knew about Raith. Her mother didn’t, and she didn’t feel like explaining.

“I’ve been busy.” She met Raith’s eyes. He hadn’t turned on the television to watch it, only for something to take his mind off his father, apparently.

“Not that busy. What’s going on with you, Autumn? Is it that guy?”

“What guy?”

Raith leaned back, no longer brooding. She was a better distraction than the television now.

“You know what guy. The one Lincoln doesn’t like.”

Autumn couldn’t respond.

“What are you doing, Autumn?”

“I’ll be home soon.”

“Call Mom. She’s worried to death about you.”

“No. Will you call her? Tell her I’m fine. I’m just on another trip. The media is all over me because of Knox.”

One of Raith’s eyebrows rose higher than the other.

Her sister scoffed. “You’re a terrible liar. Call Mom.”

Autumn sighed. “All right. I’ll call her.” There was no avoiding it.

“Now.”

“All right,” Autumn snapped.

“If you don’t, I’m going to call you back. Over and over again.”

“I’ll call her. Geez.”

After disconnecting that call, Autumn sat on the chair near the sofa. She stared down at her phone for a while.

Relaxed against the sofa, a slight grin formed on his sexy mouth. He was enjoying this. She almost went into the bedroom to do this, when her cell rang again.

Mom.

Savanna had no doubt texted her or something and she couldn’t wait.

Autumn connected the call. “Hi, Mom.”

“Autumn Ivy, I’m so relieved to hear your voice. Why haven’t you answered my calls?”

She looked over at Raith, dreading the inevitable. Her mother had strong family values and never took kindly to her children going into radio silence. “I’m fine, Mom. I’m not twelve anymore.”

“You know I need to hear from all of my babies on a regular basis. Wondering where you are and how you are when you’re not in contact with anyone is terrible. How can you do that to your own mother?”

“Sorry.” Autumn smiled. “I’ve just been busy.” Chasing assassins and conspirators to murder...

“Lincoln told me about that man you met in Iceland. Is that who you’re with?”

They were going to find out eventually, anyway. Having a baby couldn’t be kept secret forever.

“Yes.”

“Then I’m going to worry even more about you. Lincoln said he lied to you about what he did for a living. He’s since done some more checking and discovered he’s a private investigator.”

“He is.”

“Lincoln doesn’t believe that. He said if you’re with him that you shouldn’t be. He’s trouble, Autumn.”

“He’s not bad, Mom.”

A long silence ensued and Autumn didn’t look at Raith to see his reaction to what she’d just said. Finally her mother said, “Bring him to the house so I can meet him.”

What?
“Mother—”

“Bring him here so we can meet him.”

“I can’t. Not now, Mother.”

“Autumn, this is not up for negotiation. If this man is no good for you and you’re saying otherwise, I need to see for myself. We’re having a cocktail party this weekend. Saturday night. You be here for it or I swear I’ll have your father step in and send someone to get you.”

She’d do it, too. “Mother, I’m serious. I can’t get away right now.”

“Why not? What kind of trouble has this man gotten you into that you can’t come to a cocktail party at your mother’s?”

“You want me to bring him to
California?
” This weekend? Impossible. Raith would never go for it. Not only would a cocktail party at the Ivy mansion attract heavy media, he was in the middle of catching whoever hired Leaman.

“Yes.”

When Autumn didn’t respond, her mother said, “I mean it, Autumn, I’ll talk to your father.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt you would. All right. We’ll be there.” Or she’d be there. She couldn’t vouch for Raith.

She disconnected and met his no-longer amused look.

“I have to go to my parents’ this weekend.”

“You can’t go anywhere until it’s safe.”

He had never been to her parents’ mansion. Security there was as tight as the White House’s. “Well, then, you’re going to have to go with me.”

Raith leaned forward, forearms on his knees. “Go
with you?
”

“Yes.”

“To your parents’ house.”

“I-it’s more of a...a mansion, but yes.” Just imagining him there stressed her out. He’d be so out of his element. Then again...maybe that was exactly what he needed. Shake him a little.

He stared at her. “Can’t it wait?”

“I wish it could, but no. There is no such thing as waiting when it comes to my mother. Her dinner parties are very important to her. Her kids are even more important. She needs to see for herself that you’re someone to be trusted with one of her precious daughters.”

“Why? We aren’t really a couple.”

“Then I’ll just go, and I’ll stay there until you find whoever hired the shooter.”

Raith stared at her. “I didn’t mean...”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

“No, you don’t. We aren’t really a couple but we do have something going on.”

Did he think that? Did they have something going on right now? “Then I should feel okay with bringing you home to meet my parents.” And she didn’t. Especially since she was pregnant by said man. “And you should be able to attend dinner parties.”

“Not the ones held at a famous movie producer’s mansion.”

Suddenly the reality of how different his life was from hers weighed on her more than she could bear. As a person, he shared many similarities with her, but his livelihood wrecked all of that. He could never stand by her side with cameras flashing. It didn’t matter if she didn’t like the cameras, they’d always be flashing. And he’d always be hiding.

What would she do when she could no longer hide her pregnancy?

She could say it was Knox’s.

A choking sensation inundated her so strongly that she had to stand and go to the window. Hugging her arms, she began to feel scared. Her life was in a free fall. She had no control anymore. She couldn’t catch a flight to Milan or anywhere, and she couldn’t escape the fact that in less than a year, she’d have a baby to take care of, a baby she would have difficulty explaining. And in the meantime, she’d have to keep everything a secret.

It was the secrecy that bothered her. She’d felt the same in high school. She’d hidden her true self and let perception become reality. But that had cost her happiness. She couldn’t live that way. She’d have to tell the truth about her baby’s father. She’d either do that or live a lie.

Raith’s hand on her arm startled her. Her whole body jolted.

“Something’s bothering you,” he said.

Dropping her arms, she turned. “I have to go see my parents. I can’t put it off. I’ve been out of touch for a long time.” Maybe the break from him would be good. But if she did go, it would be a permanent break. That made her look away.

“Is it really that important to you?”

Getting away from him? No. And yes. Seeing her parents, her mother? Yes, more so if he accompanied her.

After observing her awhile, he sighed and she could feel his tension. “All right, then I’ll have to go with you.”

She felt somewhat hurt that he’d go out of obligation rather than a desire to be with her, and then silly for caring. “Maybe it’s best if I went alone.”

“No. Not alone. I’ll go.”

Great, now she’d have to introduce him to her parents. They’d assume they were a couple. It would be different if he actually
wanted
to go. Dejected, Autumn started to walk away.

“Autumn.”

Stopping, she tipped her head back.

“Something else is bothering you,” he said.

Her heart thudded in earnest against her chest as she faced him. Had he guessed? “It’s just my parents. The timing for the party. That’s all.”

He walked to her and she could tell he wasn’t buying that. Damn, he could be a real P.I.

“It’s nothing,” she said.

He studied her for a while and then seemed to decide not to press her. Maybe because he suspected it had something to do with them. He was avoiding the issue as much as she was, only her avoidance involved more than the way she was beginning to feel for Raith.

* * *

Walking up to the front entrance of NV Advanced, Raith had difficulty staying focused on the unannounced meeting with Nash Ralston. The way Autumn refused to tell him what was on her mind plagued him. This heat between them sizzled, and the sizzle kept getting hotter. Her breasts bounced and her heels clicked on the concrete sidewalk, slender ankles, calves and generous portion of thighs teasing his senses.

Inside the lobby of the corporation, Raith took in all the green-and-black images of soldiers and the equipment they used, silhouettes showcasing the night-vision technology the company designed and developed. The lobby was busy today. People sat in three seating areas, with potted trees making the space less cold and sterile. A large group of military people waited to be checked in with security. A big meeting must be taking place.

Across the lobby and to the left of the front desk, Raith spotted someone he had not expected to see here. Kai Whittaker spoke to another man, both in suits and ties. He recognized the other man as Nash Ralston from the pictures he’d seen in his online search.

Taking Autumn’s hand, he tugged her so that she faced him. He put his arm around her waist and watched the men over her head.

“Kai Whittaker is here,” he told her.

She looked up at him, and he loved that she didn’t try to turn and see the man. “Why do you think he’s here?”

“He came to meet with Ralston.”

“That can’t be a coincidence.”

They’d just been to Kai’s office yesterday. The two seemed to be having an intense conversation. They had probably met in Ralston’s office to discuss whatever had brought Kai here. Had he come to confront Ralston on his own? Why would he do that? In public like this Kai was safe. But why tip his hat, reveal that he suspected Ralston had hired someone to kill him? He was paying Raith to take care of this. It seemed odd that Kai would come here, especially without telling Raith. What other secrets did Kai harbor?

Kai turned from Ralston and walked toward the exit. Ralston watched his retreat, mouth tight and eyes radiating anger.

Raith waited until Kai left the building and then led Autumn toward Ralston, who had turned and approached a secure door.

Raith maneuvered through the crowd of military personnel. “Mr. Ralston.”

Nash Ralston stopped and turned, looking from Raith to Autumn in question.

“We need a word with you.”

“Who are you?”

“Raith De Matteis and Autumn Ivy.” He took out the fake FBI badge he carried with him. He decided a little bit of a lie was best right now. “We followed Kai Whittaker here. We’re investigating him in connection to a case we’re working.”