Road to Reason (15 page)

Early afternoon Ryan parked his Mercedes in the hotel parking garage.  “It’s a little early yet to check in, but I’ll see if our room is available.”

“So what’s your plan?” Kaitlin asked, shutting the door to Ryan’s car.

“Layla’s shift ends at four. I was hoping to get to the restaurant around three, and fingers crossed, get a table in her station. I want to feel her out, try to get her to talk to me at the end of her shift.”

“Why do you think she doesn’t want to talk to you?”

“I’m not completely sure. My guess is she is afraid of something. I can’t even get her to return my call, but I’m positive she is who I’m looking for. The investigator gave me a picture of her, which I showed to Brittany. She confirmed that Layla is the woman in some pictures Jason had on his computer at one time.”

“I guess all you can do is try,” she said encouragingly.

She was trying to be supportive—she
wanted
to be supportive. But she couldn’t help that her own mind had been wandering on more personal issues during the drive here. 

Ryan had said he would think about her suggestion from days ago. Except, he hadn’t said a word about it since, and she didn’t know what that meant.  Either way, she just wanted things back to the way they were before she’d blurted out what was on her mind.

While Ryan talked to the young lady at the front desk, she looked around the hotel.  She knew it had been short notice but was pleased that he managed to secure them a room in one of the better hotels in Manhattan.  Not to mention they weren’t that far from her old apartment and Sophia, who was going to meet them later tonight.

“Our room is ready,” Ryan announced. “Why don’t you go on up and I’ll get our bags out of the car.” He handed her the key card. “We’ve got some time if you want to sightsee a bit, walk around the city; of course you’ve probably done it plenty already. Still, it’s a beautiful day.”

He paused and looked down at her heels. “Well, maybe walking around isn’t the best thing to do.”  They both had come straight from work, so they still had on their professional attire, Kaitlin wearing a sleeveless sheath dress with a short jacket and Ryan in his customary suit.  He felt they would fit in better dressed as professionals for the restaurant they were visiting, and she agreed.

“I could probably walk further in my shoes than you could in yours,” she joked, looking down at the soft Italian loafers he seemed to favor.

“I don’t know about that,” he said, leaning in for a kiss.  “I’ll see you in the room in a minute.”

***             

A few hours later they made their way to the restaurant where Layla worked. Kaitlin had been astounded to learn that it was a restaurant she had frequented often when she lived here. She hadn’t thought to ask him the name of where they were going beforehand. “I think I might know who you are looking for,” she told him when they stopped in front of the doors.

“You do?”

“I used to come here for lunch a few times a month with friends.  They don’t have a big turnaround in staff so I’m sure I’ve been waited on by her before.  Layla is not a name you hear often either, so it does ring a bell. Of course I ate out a lot when I lived here, so I could be thinking of someone else.”

“I thought you liked to cook?” he said curiously.

“I do, but it’s not always fun to eat alone. And it was always nice to break away from my desk for a bit when I could.”

“I can relate to that. Even better when someone surprises you with food at your desk.”  Ryan opened the front door for her, and they stopped at the hostess counter.

Kaitlin couldn’t prevent the smile that crossed her face when the host greeted her warmly.  “Kaitlin, darling, where have you been? I’ve missed your smiling face here. You haven’t found another restaurant to frequent in place of ours, have you?” Carlos, a suave Italian, leaned in and gave her a kiss on each cheek.

“No, never that. I actually moved back home months ago, but I’m here on business today.  This is my friend Ryan. Ryan, this is Carlos. His uncle is the owner of the restaurant. They serve the best marinara sauce in Manhattan,” she said with a vivacious wink.

“Just in Manhattan?” Carlos asked with a robust laugh.

“Well, I’ve yet to taste better anywhere else, even my own mother’s. But don’t you dare tell anyone I said that.” She laughed gaily, her hand coming to rest on Carlos’s arm before she dropped it and turned to Ryan. “Do you hear me?” she said playfully, her hand now on his chest. “You better not rat me out to my mother.”

She saw a look of shock on Ryan’s face over her behavior but continued on unfazed.

“Carlos.” She smiled brightly with a seductive tilt of her head and watched while he blushed.  “Do you have any tables available in Layla’s section by any chance?”

“For you, darling, anywhere you like,” Carlos said, picking up two menus and leading them to a corner booth in the back.

Once they were seated and Carlos walked back to the front, Ryan addressed her. “What the hell was that?”

She didn’t need to ask what he was talking about. “Sorry. That is pretty much how everyone knows me here. Or how I’ve behaved.  It’s all a show. Everyone acts like that.  It can be tiring,” she said with a sigh.  “Another reason I was glad to move back home. I got sick of the act.  It’s hard enough to find someone for a relationship here—and when you do—they expect that type of personality. It’s just not me.”

He reached his hand across the table and held his palm up for her to place hers in his. “I’m glad it’s not you.  I like you just the way you are.  Though I have to say that was pretty entertaining, and convincing if I didn’t know you better.  Either way, I’m glad, since you got us seated in Layla’s section.”

She didn’t have time to respond, as a short, blonde-haired, blue-eyed waitress made her way over with a shy but warm smile on her face.  “Hello, my name is Layla, and I’ll be serving you today. Can I start you out with a drink?”

“Hi, Layla. I’ll have an iced tea, unsweetened please,” Kaitlin answered.

“The same,” Ryan added.

“I’ll be right back with your order.  It’s good to see you again,” she said to Kaitlin, then quickly made her departure.

“Seems you’ve made some lasting impressions on people here.”

“All part of the act,” she reminded him.

They delayed their leaving as long as possible after their meal to ensure it was the end of Layla’s shift.  When Layla returned to the table with Ryan’s credit card and receipt, he decided it was time to let Layla know why they were there. “Thank you, Layla,” he said, placing his credit card back in his wallet. “I’m Ryan Mathews. I’ve been trying to reach you.” Recognition surfaced in her eyes at the mention of his name. “Could we talk just for a few minutes?”

Layla looked panicked for a moment.  “I’m sorry, I can’t help,” she said, then turned to leave.

Kaitlin reached out and lightly clasped Layla’s hand. “Please, Layla?  It’s important. A woman’s life is on the line here, along with her three children.  Can you please just hear Ryan out?” she said, pleading with the waitress who was now white as a ghost.

Layla looked around nervously.  Ryan spoke first. “It’s only us; no one else is here.  And Jason can’t hurt you. He’s dead.”

“What?” Layla said, her blue eyes widening.

“You didn’t know?” Kaitlin asked.

“No,” Layla said shaking her head.  She looked at Ryan. “Your messages only said you wanted to talk to me about my relationship with Jason, but nothing more.”

“I’m gathering information to present at my client’s grand jury hearing in relation to his death. I need to build her case for self-defense, which is exactly what it was. You were with Jason; you know the power he held and how everyone perceived him on the outside. That no one knew about his secret.  I need your help. My client needs your help,” he corrected.

Layla’s shaky legs were having a hard time supporting her and Kaitlin noticed, so she slid over to make room for Layla to take a seat.

Once Layla was seated she looked at Ryan, her eyes hollowed and defeated. “I don’t know how I can help you.  It was a long time ago, and I would prefer to not bring the past out. It’s best to let it stay locked away.”

“What are you afraid of? He can’t hurt you.”

“No, he can’t. Not physically. But there are things I prefer to keep secret.”

“Is Jason the father of your child?” he asked.

“How do you know about my daughter?” she said, her eyes darting around again.

“I just know. Jason didn’t know, did he?” Ryan said instead.

“No. No, he didn’t.  When I found out I was pregnant, I made a decision to leave.  I had tried before, but he wouldn’t let me go. Getting pregnant gave me the courage to finally end it. I didn’t know what he would have done if he found out I was pregnant.  And I didn’t want to risk losing the baby with another beating, so I picked up and left one day when he was at work. I threw a few clothes in a bag and just took off. I never heard from him again.”

“Does your daughter know who her father is?” Kaitlin asked patiently.

“No. No one knows.  I came here to start a new life. I had an old friend who moved here and she offered me a place to stay until I could get on my feet.  I’ve never told a soul about that part of my life. And frankly, I don’t want to relive it now.” She started to stand, but Kaitlin reached out and lightly placed her hand on top of Layla’s, urging her to remain.  For the moment, Layla sat back down.

“I’m sorry to bring up bad memories. But please hear me out,” Ryan said.  “My client was being abused the same as you.  She has three children, one daughter, who is sixteen.” Kaitlin watched the understanding dawn in Layla’s eyes and glanced briefly at Ryan, saw he realized the same thing. “She came home one day and found Jason had her daughter pinned against the wall while he was groping her under her clothes.  She watched while her daughter cried and pleaded with him to stop. All the while a gun was lying on the counter a foot away.  A gun that Jason used to threaten her with.  To threaten her younger brothers with.”

He paused when the tears came to Layla’s eyes, but then pushed on.  “How would you feel if you came home and saw a man attacking your daughter? What would you do?” he asked.

“I would protect her,” Layla whispered. “Or die trying.”

“And that is what my client did.  But I need your help.”

Kaitlin could see Ryan was getting to Layla, but she didn’t know if Layla would relent or not. Reaching into her purse, Kaitlin pulled out her card.  “Layla, please think about it.  Jason can’t hurt you.  Don’t let this mother go to prison for protecting her child.  Here is my card.” She grabbed a pen from her purse and wrote quickly. “My cell phone number is on the back. Call me at any time if you want to talk. Nothing you say to me can go on record. I’m not an attorney. I’m just a friend of Ryan’s.  But I would like to help you if I can.”

Layla reached for the card and the one that Ryan had slid across to her, too.  “I hope you change your mind,” Ryan said.  “Please think about it.  And Kaitlin is right. Anything you say to her can’t be used in court.  It would be between the two of you only.”

***

In the taxi, Ryan turned to Kaitlin. “Thank you for your offer back there. If she doesn’t change her mind about helping me, maybe it will help her to talk to someone about what happened. I would feel better knowing she was getting some type of help, even if my client can’t benefit from it.”

“Do you mean that?” she asked.

“Mean what?”

“That you want her to get help? Even if she can’t help your case?”

“Of course.  She doesn’t deserve what happened to her. No one deserves what that piece of shit did to them.  Yes, I would love nothing more than her help and I hope she does help my client. But if she chooses not to, I won’t pressure her. She deserves to move on.  I’ll still work on tracking down some of the other exes. I’m sure I could find someone else, but knowing she hid a child from him, that would work in our favor.”

She looked at him curiously. “That tough guy attorney stuff in the court room is all an act isn’t it? Underneath it all you’re really a softie yourself.”

He was too embarrassed to answer her, so instead he just leaned in for a kiss.

They were seated at a half circle booth in an upscale nightclub when a server brought over their drinks. White wine for Kaitlin, one for Sophia, and a beer for Ryan.  “Sophia should be here any minute,” Kaitlin explained.

“So what does Sophia do for a living? You’ve never told me.”

Kaitlin smiled warmly.  “She’s a CPA. Closing in on a partnership soon.”

They didn’t have any more time for small talk before Kaitlin’s face lit up. She stood up and wrapped her arms around the blonde bombshell that made her way to their table.

Kaitlin saw Ryan try to hide his shock. Sophia didn’t look like a CPA.  She was only an inch or so taller than Kaitlin, built the same way with luscious curves. Ironically Kaitlin couldn’t help but suppress a giggle that she and Sophia were as opposite as Jack and Ryan standing together.  One fair-haired, one dark haired.

But their looks weren’t the only thing that made them different.  Kaitlin was shy and naive at times, but not Sophia.  She was sexy, confident, sophisticated and held the world in her hand. Or at least she gave that impression. She was never unsure or indecisive of anything, not that Kaitlin ever saw.

Kaitlin stepped back, slid into the booth next to Ryan and made the introductions.  “Ryan, this is Sophia Mansfield. Sophia, Ryan Mathews.”

Sophia’s eyes glimmered kindly at Ryan. “Nice to meet you,” her sexy voice replied when she offered her hand.  Everything about Sophia gave off the impression of sex.

Then she turned to Kaitlin. “I managed to push my date off an hour so we could meet. I hope you don’t mind that it will be a short night.”

“You should have said something. We could have tried to meet up tomorrow or another time altogether.”

“Nonsense.” Sophia waved an elegant manicured hand at Kaitlin. “It’s only the second date.”

“And not sure if you are going to make it to the third, right?”

“That’s right. I didn’t even think I was going to make it to the second, but you know my rules.” She grinned and picked up the wine in front of her, then took a sip.

Kaitlin turned to address Ryan. “Sophia has a rule to never make a judgment after just one date. No matter how bad it is, she always gives them a second chance.”

“Then if he stuffs up, he’s out the door.” She chuckled; then she sobered instantly. Looking softly at Kaitlin, trying to read her face, Kaitlin knew, and then Sophia glanced over at Ryan, held his stare for a minute also.

Kaitlin waited with baited breath for Sophia’s next words. She never knew what would come out of Sophia’s mouth, but she valued her opinion more than most. “You look radiant, Kaitlin,” she said tenderly, patting her hand, and sent another smile Ryan’s way.

The three of them had been talking and laughing for close to thirty minutes when Ryan’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket to check the caller and apologized to the women. “I’m sorry, I really need to take this.  I’ll only be a minute,” he said, standing up and walking out of the room.

“What do you think of him, Sophia?” Kaitlin asked hurriedly.

“Well, you know me, I did my own research on him.  Why wouldn’t I for my best friend?” She squeezed Kaitlin’s hand. “And as much as I would love to find dirt on him, I really couldn’t. Not any more than what you’ve already told me in terms of him being seen with a lot of women.  He is everything you’ve said he was.  And I think things are more serious than either one of you is letting on,” she said thoughtfully.  Before Kaitlin could dispute it, Sophia clarified. “Or more serious than either one of you is even aware of at the moment.”

Kaitlin frowned and was about to respond when she heard her name called. Then she froze on the spot at the sight of the elegant man in a tailored business suit walking toward her.

“Kaitlin, I thought that was you,” he said, leaning in and kissing her cheek before sliding next to her in the booth. “I’ve been trying to reach you. Why haven’t you returned any of my texts?” he asked curiously.

Kaitlin drew her eyebrows together, unsure of what to say or why he was even asking her that. She hadn’t talked to him for months prior to moving. “I moved months ago and changed my number.”

“That would explain why you haven’t gotten my text messages,” he replied happily.  “I’m glad I spotted you though. Guess it was meant to be.”

“If you were so concerned with contacting her, Stephen, then placing a phone call might have been a better bet. Where you would have been notified her number was no longer in service,” Sophia said, crossing her arms, coming to Kaitlin’s defense.

Stephen brushed her off with a dirty look—he had never cared for Sophia—and addressed Kaitlin again. “I’ve thought about you over the last several months.  I’m really sorry about the way things ended. I panicked; it just caught me off guard.”

“Caught you off guard?” That statement forced her courage to the surface. “Enough so that you just walked out the door without a word?” Kaitlin said dryly.

He ignored her comment, instead gave her a charming smile that had worked on her before—and made her wonder how she’d ever been so gullible. “I’d like to try again. If you’d give me another chance,” he said, reaching over and caressing her arm.

Sophia snorted.  “That ship sailed months ago.”

“Excuse me?” Stephen asked, frowning, and dropping his hand.

“What Sophia means is that Kaitlin is currently spoken for,” Ryan explained as he stood next to the man who was currently in his seat.  Ryan had returned in the opposite direction, where he wasn’t seen by anyone in the booth, shocking them all with his comment.

Stephen looked up at the intimating man standing in front of him, hands relaxed in his pockets, appearing to not have a care in the world by his body language. Only his eyes told another story, Kaitlin knew. 

“I think it’s time you left, Stephen,” Kaitlin said, looking at Ryan’s face, sending him a tentative smile of thanks.

“I’m sure Ryan would like his seat back,” Sophia added sweetly with a bit of venom in her eyes.

Stephen obviously knew when to cut his losses. He stood up to his full height next to Ryan, several inches shorter. Gathered as much nerve as he could before he mumbled, “You’re a better man than me to take that on.” Then hurried away.

Kaitlin saw the hesitation in Ryan, debating his next move, but in the end he slid next to her in the booth, dropping his arm over her shoulder.  “What did you ever see in that ass?” Ryan asked, caressing her shoulder and putting on a fake smile, drawing a laugh out of her.

Instead Sophia responded softly while staring right at Ryan. “Nothing. She always had her eye on the goal in front of her, instead of the prize at the end.” Sophia leaned over to give Kaitlin a brief hug, stood up walked around and gave Ryan a kiss on the cheek.  “It was nice to meet you, but I need to get home and get ready for my date.” She turned to address Kaitlin. “I’ll talk to you later. Enjoy your night.” She winked at both of them, then walked away while several of the patrons watched the sway of her hips on her exit out of the club.

Kaitlin grinned at Ryan, watching his face as he tried to figure out Sophia. Sophia was in turn witty, charming, sarcastic, caring and protective. All in the span of close to an hour. Very few knew the real Sophia, and Sophia liked it that way. She preferred to keep people guessing, and Kaitlin wasn’t about to let anyone know that about her friend.

“Let’s get out of here. I’ve had enough of people for the day,” Ryan said, sliding out of the booth and pulling her up next to him.

She laughed, she couldn’t help it. It was exactly the same thing she had been thinking.  She was ready to get back to the hotel. Only that thought brought back her anxiety, because Ryan still hadn’t said a word about her suggestion from last weekend.

***

By time they arrived in the hotel room, Kaitlin had worked herself up into a bundle of nerves, Ryan saw.  The confrontation with Stephen affected her more than she let on.   “I’m fine,” she explained to him in the cab ride. “We didn’t date long at all. It’s not like there was any lost love,” she said, trying to joke.

“But he hurt you,” Ryan stated.

“Yes, he did.  Or rather his reaction to the situation did.  And to be honest, it’s what drove me to move back home. That was the final straw. So in actuality, I can thank him. Otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting here with you right now, or going back to the hotel with you either,” she said mischievously.

He shut the door to their room minutes later, then pulled her close and kissed her.  Running his hand through her hair, holding her head in place, he devoured her, tasting the sweet wine on her lips and tongue.

Up until today he still hadn’t made a decision on where he stood in regards to her suggestion, but the last few hours solidified it for him.  He wasn’t letting her go anytime soon.  This was more than dating in his eyes.  Deep down he’d known that all along.

He trailed his mouth from her lips to her ear and he whispered, “The moment won’t be ruined tonight.”  He felt her shiver just before she gripped his head and placed her mouth over his. 

Consuming him, she kissed him for long seconds, then let go of his head and pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders, tossed it on the chair, then went to tackle the buttons of his shirt next. 

In quick work she had relieved him of all his clothes and was reaching for the buttons of her own short jacket when he stopped her, brushing her hands aside.  “Let’s see if I can undress you just as fast.”

It was close. But she won even though he had fewer clothes to take off of her. Mainly because he couldn’t stop touching and caressing after each article he removed.  The heels needed to stay though.

Backing her up to the bed, he turned and pulled her on top of him, her thighs straddling his waist while he leaned up and placed his mouth around her pebbled nipple. 

He drew her into his mouth, sucked hard, bit gently and then sucked hard again, putting enough pressure behind it to border on too much.  He heard her whimper and felt her dampness as she ground against him. 

Leaning back for a moment, he looked at her head thrown back in ecstasy, her eyes closed and her breath coming out in short pants. Completely lost in the sensations within her body, the match to his flame, the fuel for his fire, licking and scorching his very soul.

He lifted her slowly on top of him. As fast as he wanted it and as much as he needed it, it had to be slow. This first time, feeling all of her with no barrier had to be drawn out. He had to savor it. 

Once fully inside of her, he spread her thighs apart a bit more while she rested on her knees.  “Reach back and grab your ankles,” he told her.  She easily complied, bending her body back like a bow, her slender fingers wrapping around her ankles just above the leopard print heels she was wearing. 

The sight of her on top of him spread wide in that position was almost more than he could handle.

“Touch me,” she told him, breathlessly.

“Where?” he asked, his voice rough with pleasure.

“Anywhere,” she said on a sob.

His hands went to her breasts, cupping her like he knew she loved.  Pinching her nipples a little harder than normal. She moaned deep in her throat, her body rubbing against him. 

Sensing her dilemma, he moved his hands lower, spread his fingers wide on the top of her thighs and placed his thumbs on the outside of her lips below, teasing her, bringing his thumbs closer to her desire. Not really giving her what he knew she wanted, but teasing her just the same.

“Please, Ryan.”

He couldn’t deny her. Not when he wanted it as much as she did.  He moved his thumbs closer and started to rub light circles around her, barely touching her, just enough for her to know he was there, only not as much as she would have liked.  “More,” she cried out, panting.

He was so lost in the sight of her trying to ride him. Her breasts moving up and down, her hands on her ankles above the ice pick heels she still had on, breath coming out in sobs, and her head thrown back begging him. 

He had no fight left in him.  When he felt her start to convulse around him, feeling every squeeze and every pulse like never before, he dug his heels into the bed, lifting his hips in a frenzied motion to reach the peak with her, his shout overshadowing hers.

Completely spent, he pulled her down on top of him. The bed moved slightly while she toed off her shoes, then stretched her legs out along his, laying her head on his chest. 

She was right—it felt good. Better than good. It felt glorious.  Just holding her like that, not rushing to get up. Not worrying or even caring put a whole new dimension in their relationship.

And that’s what it was.  They were no longer dating, but something much more serious than he had ever felt or expected to feel. Even
wanted
to feel. He was finally to the point he was willing to admit that much.

Sometime in the middle of the night he subconsciously reached for her. Both of them still naked, while he started to glide his hand up and down her back.  She pushed beside him, rubbing her backside against his rising erection. He heard her sigh and turned her on her back.

Half awake he slid inside of her, lacing his fingers through hers above her head, kissing her deep, and made slow sweet love to her.  No rush, no hurry, just completing them as one.