Someone Like You (16 page)

Jill sprang to her feet and shrieked. “You're kidding? That's so great!”

“I know. It's a whole issue about weddings and there's going to be a page featuring my wedding cakes. Do you know what this means?”

“Fame, fortune and more orders than you can handle.”

“Exactly.” Gracie started laughing. “Isn't it the best? The phone is already ringing. I've had to redo my baking schedule and everything.”

Jill knew how hard her friend had worked at her business. “You've earned this.”

“I hope so. There's just this one thing….”

“What?”

“Vivian's engaged.”

Gracie spoke as if her baby sister had just caught the plague.

“Why is that a problem?” Jill sank down onto the chair and groaned. “Oh, God. She's not marrying Riley, is she?”

“What? No. The groom is this guy she met in college. But here's the thing, Jill. Vivian has always wanted a hometown wedding. You know—the country club, white chairs on the lawn, the whole thing.”

“Sounds nice. So what's the problem?”

“If she gets married there, I'll have to come home.”

Jill tried not to laugh, but she couldn't help it.

“You don't sound very sympathetic,” Gracie accused.

“Sorry. I know this is terrible and all…” She cleared her throat. “Honestly, I don't get the problem. It's been years, Gracie. Almost no one remembers what happened.”

“Uh-huh. You said I was a legend.”

“No, I said that fourteen-year-old girl was a legend. You're a different person.”

“I am, but I don't like the idea of spending two weeks being tortured about my past.”

“You won't be. Besides, it's not as if Riley ever came back. If he lived here, I could completely understand your reluctance, but no one's heard from him in years.”

“Good point.”

“And I want to see you.”

“The wedding isn't until next spring. You'll be long gone.”

“You got that right,” Jill said. “But I can come visit.”

“Good. I'll need someone to protect me from my past.”

“Count on it.”

They chatted for a few more minutes, then hung up. Jill moved around to her side of the desk and pulled out an envelope of papers that had arrived that morning. She scanned the property settlement Lyle had proposed and took great satisfaction in drawing a line through every page and writing “no” across them. Then she turned to her computer and started her own settlement schedule…starting with the car.

 

“T
HIS IS ALL
your fault,” Mac said as he leaned against the porch railing.

Jill thought he had to be kidding, but one look at his stern, accusing expression told her he meant it.

She pushed against the porch with her bare foot and relaxed into the swing.

“What did I do?” she asked.

He glanced past her to the screen leading into the living room. Emily was in the family room at the back of the house, watching a Disney movie, but still he lowered his voice.

“They came here because of you,” he told her. “Why don't you send them away?”

“They're not doing anything wrong. Mac, has it occurred to you that you're overreacting about Rudy and Mr. Smith? They just want to be a part of the town.”

“Why?” he asked her. “What's so great about Los Lobos?”

“I thought you liked it here.”

“I do, but I have specific reasons. Why would two guys from Las Vegas find this hick of a town charming? What's going on?”

“I don't know. Rudy says he likes that it's quiet. I know he likes Bev, she likes him. That should be allowed.”

She leaned forward and ignored how sexy Mac looked in jeans and a T-shirt. Like her, he was barefoot. If only he could be naked all over.

“What exactly are they doing that's so bad?” she asked. “Tell me one thing.”

“Rudy gave money to Yardley's reelection campaign.”

She winced. “Okay, a case could be made to question his judgment, but it's not against the law or any thing. So Rudy is helping old ladies with fence painting and he's given a ton of money to the pier restoration? Isn't that good?”

Mac's dark gaze pinned her in place. “People don't change. Rudy is what he has always ever been and eventually it's going to come out. Someone will get hurt.”

Jill wanted to have him sit next to her, hold her hand and tell her how amazing their night together had been. She wanted him to whisper the time and place of a rendezvous so they could be together again. She wanted to talk about the stars or kissing or even politics. Just not this.

“You've changed,” she pointed out. “Look at how you're worried about Emily and making things right with her.”

“I've always loved my daughter,” he said. “I have my priorities back on track, but I'm not any different than I was.” He walked forward and crouched in front of her. “What about you, Jill? Have you changed? Are you thinking that you want to settle in Los Lobos permanently?”

“Not even on a bet,” she said, then realized his point. “But I don't want to change.”

“Does Rudy?”

“I don't know. We haven't talked about it.”

“So you don't know for sure his motives are altruistic?”

“I…” She pressed her lips together. “No. I don't know.”

He stood and returned to the railing. Silence stretched between them. Why on earth were they fighting about Rudy? She searched for a more bonding topic.

“How was your meeting with Hollis?” she asked.

“That little prick. I'm reading this book he gave me
on anger management. That's bad enough, but every time he asks about it, I want to squash him like a bug.”

She couldn't help laughing. “Oh, right. So he doesn't have a point about your temper.”

He crossed to the swing and sat down next to her. “Do I have a temper?”

Interesting question, she thought, as she recalled their time together. “I've never really seen you angry. You were annoyed a few minutes ago about Rudy, but not really mad.”

“Hollis hasn't seen it, either. He assumes, because I'm a cop, that I have a lousy temper. Bastard.”

She slid closer and rested her head on his shoulder. “It's just for the summer,” she reminded him. “Think about why you're doing all this. You can stand him for a few more weeks.”

He took her hand in his and laced their fingers together. “A lot of things are just for the summer. You doing okay?”

She'd been so caught up in the feel of him touching her that she almost missed the question. “Okay about what?”

He smiled a slow, sexy smile that made her tummy clench and her thighs burn.

“Oh, that,” she whispered.

“Yeah.
That.
”

“I'm good with it.”

“Me, too. It's just there was only Lyle, then me.”

“I didn't want Lyle to be the only one,” she said. “I had some bad luck along the way.”

“Yeah, me and the gay guy. You're so smart about everything else, Jill, but I have to tell you, except for me, you have lousy taste in guys.”

She chuckled. “You think?”

“Oh, yeah. I should probably give you some pointers. Only I don't want to share.”

He leaned close and brushed his mouth against hers. Need swept through her like a tornado, leaving her shaky and aroused.

She wrapped one arm around him, pulling him against her, and put her heart and soul into the kiss. In a matter of seconds they were both breathing hard.

Mac drew back first. Fire flared in his dark eyes. Need tightened his jaw. He looked like a man in some serious pain.

“Emily,” she said into the silence.

“Yeah. Just down the hall.”

“But if she was at a friend's house…”

“In a heartbeat.”

She smiled. “Me, too.”

 

T
WO DAYS LATER
Mac went looking for Rudy and found him dining with Mr. Smith at Bill's Mexican Grill. The timing probably sucked because he'd just come off another frustrating meeting with Hollis, but he couldn't help himself.

“How are the fajitas?” Mac asked as he pulled out a chair and settled into it.

Mr. Smith glanced at Rudy, who shook his head.

“It's all right,” Rudy said. “The sheriff is always welcome. What can I do for you, Mac?”

“You really want to know?”

Rudy waved over the waitress. “Mandy, would get the good sheriff here something to drink. Beer? Margarita?” He pointed to his own frosty, salt-rimmed glass. “They do make a great margarita.”

“I'm fine,” Mac told the waitress and she left.

Rudy shook his head. “You're acting as if you don't want to be friends, Mac, and I don't understand why. I'm a successful businessman looking for a getaway place. Los Lobos is very appealing. You should be proud.”

“I'd prefer you settled somewhere else.”

“I know that.”

Rudy sipped his drink. While Mr. Smith wore a suit, Rudy had traded in custom tailoring for upscale resort wear.

“I could be good for this town,” Rudy said. “Bring in a little money, spruce things up.”

“No thanks. We don't need your kind of help, or the strings that go with it.”

“Jill was right,” Rudy said regretfully. “You don't think a man could change.”

Mac felt as if he'd been sucker punched. The blood rushed from his head and the room seemed to tilt.

“What?”

“She was telling me this morning that you didn't believe a man such as myself could change.” Rudy shook his head. “I have to tell you, Mac, I'm wounded to my soul. I thought we could be friends.”

Mac swore silently. Was that the way it was with Jill? She might be his friend and lover, but she was Rudy's
lawyer, and being a lawyer came first with her? Why else would she have shared their private conversation with a scumbag?

“Watch yourself,” he told Rudy. “You don't want to step out of line in my town.”

Rudy took a bite of rice and chewed. When he'd swallowed, he said, “Is it your town, Mac? I'm not so sure. The mayor and I are real tight, and the residents seem to like what I'm doing. It seems to me that you're the one out of step. Don't you have an election coming up in a couple of months? And don't you need this job to keep custody of your daughter? It seems to me you should be worrying more about making nice than trying to throw around your weight.”

Rage poured through Mac. How the hell did Rudy know so much about his life? Had Jill told him? What kind of information would she consider part of her responsibility as Rudy's attorney?

Damn them both.

“If you so much as forget to come to a full stop, I'll haul your ass into jail,” Mac said in a low voice. “Do you hear me?”

Rudy looked at him. “You're not a man who gives up, are you?”

“No. And I'm not letting you win this one.”

“I'm not sure you have a choice, Mac. Just remember, you have no idea what you're getting involved with. I'll win because I was meant to win.”

“Not in my town.”

J
ILL IGNORED THE
cast on Kim's arm for as long as she could, but when the young woman was barely able to sign the papers releasing the money, she found herself unable to stay quiet.

“What happened?” she asked, nodding at Kim's arm.

“What?” Kim stared at the plaster that ran from the base of her fingers up to her elbow as if she'd never seen it before. “Oh. I, um, fell and slammed my wrist against a stair.” As she spoke she nervously tucked blond hair behind her ear, then fumbled with the papers. “Where do I sign?”

“Here.” Jill pointed to the spot.

Kim positioned the pen against the loop of the cast by her thumb and scrawled her name.

“Is the baby all right?” Jill asked.

“What?”

“You said you fell. Is the baby all right?”

“Oh.” Kim placed her left hand on her stomach. “Yes. She's fine.”

“You know you're having a girl?”

For the first time since walking into her office, Kim didn't look afraid. Her whole expression relaxed
as she smiled. “Yes, they told me when I had the ultrasound.”

“Is your husband excited?” Jill glanced at her notes. “Most men want a boy. Does Andy?”

The fear returned, striking Kim like a bolt of lightning. She shrank back in her seat and swallowed hard. “He, um, he doesn't know. He said he wanted it to be a surprise. I wasn't supposed to ask. You're not going to tell him, are you?”

Jill felt her insides turn over in an uncomfortable combination of pity and anger. She stood and walked around her desk, then crouched in front of Kim.

“You don't have to do this,” she said quietly. “Kim, he has no right to hurt you or make you afraid. He's your husband and he's supposed to love you, not terrorize you.”

Jill fingered the paperwork on the desk. “You don't have to put this money in your joint checking account. You can take the cashier's check and walk out of here right to a woman's shelter. It's enough to give you and the baby a fresh start. I could drive you there right now. No one would have to know where you are.”

Kim pulled back as far as the chair would let her. She shook her head and held up her free hand in a sad gesture of protection.

“I don't know what you're talking about. Andy is a wonderful husband. He loves me.”

Jill stood. “He loves you so much he breaks your bones. There's affection to stand by. What happens when the baby is born? He doesn't want a girl, does he? Is he going to blame you? Wonderful husbands
don't beat their wives, Kim. They don't make them afraid.”

Kim looked away. A single tear rolled down her cheek. “You don't understand. Andy needs me.”

Yeah, because where else could he act like a bully? Jill thought grimly.

“What about your needs?” she asked. “What about spending the rest of your life afraid?”

Kim looked at her. “I'm not afraid.”

But the fear was there—a tangible beast between them. Jill knew all the psychological theories as to why women stayed, but she'd never been able to wrap her mind around understanding the dynamics. To her it was just plain sad.

“Please, Kim,” she said softly. “If not for you, then for the baby. What if he starts beating her?”

Kim turned away, one hand cupping her belly. “He loves the baby as much as I do.”

“I see. Will he love the baby the same as he loves you? With his fists?”

Kim stood. “I have to go now. Are we done? When can I get the money?”

Jill didn't know what else to say. Short of kidnapping the woman, she'd run out of options. “It will be transferred the first part of next week. I'll call and let you know when.”

Kim picked up her purse. “So I don't have to come back here again?”

Jill hesitated, wanting to make up an excuse to see Kim again, but she knew there wasn't any point. Until Kim was ready to leave, no one could help her.

“Here's my card,” she said, pulling out a business card from Dixon and Son. She wrote her aunt's home number on the back. “If you change your mind about anything, call me. It doesn't matter what time. I'll come get you, no questions asked.”

She held out the card, but Kim wouldn't take it. Finally Jill tucked it into the other woman's purse. Kim stared at her for a long time.

“He loves me,” she said at last. “I'm his world. Why can't you see that?”

“You're his punching bag, Kim. Why can't
you
see that?”

Kim turned and ran from the room. Jill watched her go and knew she'd blown it big time. Dammit all to hell, she thought and picked up the closest law book and hurled it across the room.

She reached for another one, then sank into the chair Kim had vacated.

Tina stepped into the room. “What happened?”

Jill didn't bother looking at her. “Kim was here with a freshly broken wrist. She's what, eight months' pregnant and the bastard is still using her as a punching bag. I don't get it. I seriously don't get it. I can understand the fear, but I told her I'd take her away. Sure, he could find her in Los Lobos, but not if she were in L.A. or San Francisco or even Dallas. She doesn't have to be with him. The inheritance gave her money, so why did she stay?”

Tina didn't say anything. Jill stood and walked around to her side of the desk. She was about to sit down when Tina spoke.

“You care.”

It was the last straw. She glared at her secretary.

“Of course I care. What did you think?”

With that, she grabbed her purse and left.

Once on the sidewalk, she wished the car were there. At this point she didn't care about scratches—she would happily deface it herself. Maybe that would help her feel better. How could Kim live like that? How could any one? She found herself uncomfortably torn between compassion and anger.

Once on the sidewalk, she didn't know where to go. Home? A bar? A quick glance at her watch told her it was barely after ten in the morning. Okay. Maybe not a bar.

Mac, she thought, and started walking toward the sheriff's station. Maybe he could do something about all this. Surely one of the neighbors had seen something or heard something.

In the distance between her office and his, she made and discarded several plans. Everything from kidnapping Kim until the woman came to her senses to having Andy spend some quality time with the anal-probing aliens.

She pushed open the glass door at the sheriff's office and saw Wilma at the counter. “Hi. Is he in?”

The gray-haired woman shrugged. “He's in, but I wouldn't want to see him if I were you. He's not in a very good mood.”

“That works for me,” Jill said. “I'm pretty pissed off myself.”

She walked to Mac's glassed-in office, knocked on
the open door, then stepped in. He was on the phone, his back to her.

“About ten-thirty,” he said as he turned slowly. When he saw her, he frowned. “I'll make sure he's there. Uh-huh. Thanks.”

When he hung up, he surprised her by not getting up or acting the least bit pleased to see her. They'd seen each other the day before last and things had gone well. Very well.

“Mac?”

“I have a meeting in a couple of minutes. Is there a problem?”

He sounded all business and slightly hostile. She grabbed the door and swung it shut, then moved closer to his desk. “Yes, there's a problem. I want to report a man for beating his wife.”

“Did you see the attack?”

“No, but I saw the results.”

“What does she say?”

“What most victims in spousal abuse say. ‘He loves me.'”

“So you're alleging he beat her.”

Her temper flared to life. “Dammit, Mac. Don't play that game with me. We both know what's happening. Why won't you do something?”

“Take it to Wilma. She'll give it to one of the deputies.” He reached for a folder on his desk.

She slapped her hand down on top of it and leaned toward him. “I'm taking it to you. What's going on? Are you mad at me?”

“Mad? No. Of course not. I'm annoyed at myself, but that's nothing new.”

“I have no idea what we're talking about.”

“Not a problem, because I don't have time for a conversation.” He stood. “If you'll excuse me?”

“No, I won't. What has happened in the past couple of days to make you act like this?” She mentally raced through the possibilities. “Did you have a run-in with Hollis?”

“No.”

He moved around the desk and loomed over her. She told herself he was simply trying to physically intimidate her and while it was working, she wasn't about to let him know.

“But I did have an interesting conversation with your client.”

“Which one?”

His blue eyes darkened with temper. “Rudy Casaccio. You know. The one you're always claiming is misunderstood. I hadn't realized the two of you were so close.”

He sounded furious and she didn't have a clue as to why. “You don't want me talking to Rudy?”

“Not at all. Talk away. I don't give a rat's ass.”

“Okay, look. I'm completely confused. Why are you so angry?”

He narrowed his gaze. “Because I thought I was having a private conversation with my lover and I found out instead I'd been speaking to the defendant's counsel.”

“What?”

“Rudy. You told him I didn't think people could
change. What else do you tell him, Jill? What other little secrets do you share?”

“I don't…we never…” She didn't know what to say. Fury bubbled up inside of her until she wanted to bodily throw Mac through the glass door.

“We spoke,” she said, her teeth grinding together. “You're right. I mentioned you were concerned about the town in the context of trying to find out how long he was staying and what he was going to do while he was here. He reassured me, and that's when I mentioned you would be difficult to convince because you don't believe people change. That's all.”

“Sure. Great. It's all clear now.”

“Don't,” she said, raising her voice. “Don't patronize me. I would never betray a personal confidence. Your feelings about what the world will and won't do didn't feel like a secret. If I was wrong, I'm sorry.”

“Don't be. I get it now. Rudy is your ticket out. How many millions in billing does he bring into a law firm? Two? Three? When you land somewhere, you bring him with you. That's got to be pretty hard for any law firm to resist. In the face of that, how can anyone else matter? My mistake for not seeing that. No wonder you're spending all your time kissing his ass.”

“That is so unfair.” She planted her hands on her hips. “I refuse to apologize for wanting to return to my real law career and handle something serious and important.”

“Important, huh? What? Finding a legal loophole so a corporation doesn't have to pay taxes? There's a profession to be proud of.”

“Now you're insulting what I do for a living?”

“Just clearing the air, babe.”

Her fingers curled into her palms. “Don't you dare call me babe.”

“Hey, why not? We're tight. Aren't I your local source of entertainment? Be sure to stop by before you head out to your next big career move. We can do each other before you go. Because hey, the sex was great.”

All the color drained from Jill's face. She opened her mouth, closed it, then turned on her heel and left.

Mac watched her go. The second the glass door closed behind her, his anger and energy spilled away, leaving him feeling slimy and spent.

What the hell had he been thinking? Why had he wanted to hurt Jill? A voice inside whispered, because he'd been hurt, but that didn't make any sense. He'd known the rules when he'd gotten involved with her. That this was temporary—fun between friends. Nothing about that had changed. So why did he feel like shit inside?

He walked into the main office, then to the front desk.

“Jill say anything about a wife beater?” he asked.

Wilma handed him a piece of paper with two names. “Want to tell me what happened?” she asked. “Nope.”

 

T
HIRTY MINUTES LATER
Mac parked in front of a small bungalow-style house. The place couldn't be more than eight hundred square feet, with a narrow,
cracked cement walk leading from the sidewalk to the front door.

The paint had long since faded to a pale gray and the screens were torn, but every inch looked unnaturally clean. Even the splintering flower boxes by the front window were pristine, if empty.

He walked to the door and knocked. After a minute or two, a young woman answered. He introduced himself and asked if he could come in for a few minutes.

Kim Murphy might be twenty-four, but she looked sixteen and incredibly pregnant. She'd been pretty at one time; now she just looked scared. The kind of scared that came from a lifetime of living in fear of her life. Her eyes were wary, and her mouth quivered at the corner.

“Andy's not here,” she said, her eyes darting between him and the patrol car parked in front, as if expecting to see her husband bolt out of the back and hurtle to ward her. “He doesn't like me letting anyone in.”

“We can talk right here,” Mac said quietly, going for a calm and safe tone.

She bit her lower lip, then held open the door. Apparently her fear of Andy knowing someone had come inside was less than her fear of a neighbor seeing Mac lurking at her front door.

The tiny living room was as spotless as the front of the house. The throw rug had been vacuumed down to the backing. The sofa was covered in plastic, as was the only chair. He figured they could do emergency surgery on the dining table he saw to the left.

“You keep a very tidy house,” he said as he settled
on the plastic-covered sofa. “Your husband must be very proud.”

“Andy likes things clean,” Kim said as she brushed at the plastic on the chair, before perching on the edge. “I like to make him happy.”