Susan Mallery - Hot On Her Heels

The phone rang. He reached for it, checking caller ID as he picked up the receiver. It was the front desk downstairs.

“You have a visitor, Mr. Duncan,” George said. There was a pause, then when his voice came again, it was slightly muffled. As if he’d turned away. “It’s Miss Applegate. Shall I send her up?”

Fawn? He glanced at his watch and calculated how much time he would reasonably have before Dana came back. “She can come up, George. Thank you.”

He hung up the phone.

His first feeling was guilt-as if by inviting Fawn into his condo, he was doing something wrong. He reminded himself that Fawn was an ex-fiancée, that before the party he hadn’t seen her in years and talking to her now meant nothing. Which was all true, but truth wasn’t always a defense where women were concerned.

Fawn knocked on his door. He crossed to it and let her in.

She smiled as she entered, all big blue eyes and a slightly lost expression. “I wasn’t sure you’d see me,” she admitted as she set her designer bag on the table by the door.

“There’s no reason not to,” he told her. “Come on in.”

She followed him into the living room, then crossed to the window before turning to face the room. “I like what you’ve done to the place.”

He looked around. “Is it different?”

“Very. When you and I were together, you’d just bought it. Remember? It was all cold grays and blacks. That guy who’d owned it before, he was a lawyer. He sure thought he had something to prove. Like everything had to be modern for anyone to think he was sophisticated.”

Garth shrugged. “Maybe he had a point.”

“This is better,” she said. “Warmer. It has a homey feel.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled. “You look good.”

Not words he wanted to hear. “Fawn,” he began.

She shook her head. “I know, I know. You don’t have to freak out or anything.”

“I don’t make a habit of freaking out.”

“So that hasn’t changed, either?”

She stared at him with an intensity that could have left him shaken, if he hadn’t known that lost-waif look was her trademark. That, her beauty, and a pedigree for the taking. There weren’t any problems, unless you minded the stealing.

Looking at her, Garth wondered if they could have ever made each other happy. The marriage would have been more business deal than relationship, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t have worked. He’d never expected anything beyond what she’d offered. Had never thought about falling in love. His mother had, and look what had happened to her.

“You want to know why I’m here,” she said into the silence.

“That would be nice.”

“I wanted to say I’m sorry about what happened the other night. I came to apologize.”

“You didn’t do anything to me.”

“Then to thank you. That woman who was with you-”

“Dana.”

She nodded. “Dana. She was…intimidating.”

“She has a way about her.”

“Is she a cop?”

“Deputy.”

She tilted her head. “And you’re together?”

“Yes.”

“I wouldn’t have thought she was your type.”

He thought about how Dana made him laugh and frequently threatened him. How she thought she was so damn tough, but she had a heart easily bruised. He thought about all she’d been through as a kid and how it had made her who and what she was today.

“My type has changed,” he said.

“Oh. So there’s no chance you’d want to go out to dinner, for old time’s sake?”

An unexpected question. “I thought you were going back into treatment.”

“I suppose. I’d rather not. I’d rather be with you.” Fawn moved toward him. “It used to be good, Garth. Didn’t it? Don’t you remember?”

He stood his ground. “Not as much as you’d think.”

She licked her lower lip. “I don’t tempt you at all? I used to tempt you.”

There were a lot of things he could say. That her father had offered him a massive sum of money, not to mention a company, to take her off his hands. That she would always look good on his arm and that she was the kind of woman who distracted other men and made doing business easier. But those would only hurt her.

“This isn’t about you, Fawn. I’m with Dana. I want to be with Dana. You should go.”

“But Garth, if you just gave me a chance…”

“Not tonight, honey, but it was really sweet of you to stop by.”

The words came from behind him. Garth held in a groan. Did she always have to be so damned prompt? He turned and saw Dana standing by the door.

He ran the conversation over in his head. He knew he hadn’t said anything wrong, but he was a man so there was every reason to think he was in a boatload of trouble.

“Hi,” he said awkwardly. “Fawn stopped by.”

“I see that.” Dana smiled at the other woman. “Are you staying long?”

Fawn’s expression turned wounded. She looked like a just-kicked puppy. Her wide eyes filled with tears. “I won’t stay where I’m not wanted,” she whispered, her voice thick with suffering. “I guess he’s yours. You won.”

“And here I didn’t know there was a competition,” Dana said, opening the door. “Have fun in rehab.”

Fawn gave a little choked sob, then hurried out of the condo. The door closed, followed by the sound of a lock turning.

Garth wanted nothing more than to duck and cover. He told himself he’d absolutely, positively done nothing wrong. And still there was a sinking sensation in his gut.

Dana shook her head. “That woman needs to get a job at Walmart and learn what it’s like to pay the bills in the real world. Only then will she have the slightest chance of becoming an actual person.”

“She just stopped by.”

“I heard.”

“I didn’t ask her to.”

“I never thought you did.”

He stared at her, not sure it was really going this well. “You can ask George.”

“I don’t have to. I believe you.”

“Yeah?”

“You look hopeful,” she said.

“I’m feeling hopeful. I didn’t think…You’re not mad?”

“No.” She crossed to him. “What, exactly, did you see in her? Aside from the pretty? Okay, and the cultured. Tell me her father offered at least fifty million.”

“It was more.”

“You’re an idiot.”

He could live with the insult. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“And now?”

He touched her face, then kissed her. “I’m much smarter now.”

“I thought so.”

DANA PERCHED ON THE EDGE of the guest-room bed and told herself she would be amazed. Enchanted, even. Delighted. Skye hung the long dress on a hook on the inside of the closet door, then pulled away the protective plastic covering.

“What do you think?” Skye asked anxiously.

The dress, actually it was a gown, glimmered in the afternoon light. It was ivory, silk-a fact Izzy had shared-and lightly beaded. The style was simple, an empire waist, with long sleeves and a full skirt. Dana could see Skye in it. The gown was totally her.

“You’ll be beautiful,” she said honestly. “I’m sorry I didn’t stay to see you try it on.”

“Don’t worry. You can suffer through the fittings I’ll have later this month,” Skye teased. “And I appreciate you were willing to be there for part of the shopping experience. I know it’s not your thing.”

“I still feel bad,” Dana said. “I was distracted and I shouldn’t have been. It was your time.”

Skye finished putting the cover back on the dress. “You can make it up to me.”

“How?” Dana was cautious. More than cautious. She was worried. Wedding details were not her thing.

“I need help addressing the invitations.”

Dana winced. “Why do I know this means more than putting on return address labels or stamps?”

“Calligraphy.”

“That fancy writing?” Dana’s stomach began to hurt. “You know I can’t do that, right?”

Skye grinned, her green eyes dancing with laughter. “Don’t panic. I’m not going to ask you.”

“Good, because I don’t want to learn how.”

“It’s pretty easy.” Skye led the way out of the guest room. “There are special pens that help.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

They walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Dana sniffed the air. Something delicious and spicy simmered on the stove.

“Do I want to know?” she asked.

“Carnitas.”

“Am I invited to stay for dinner?”

“If you want. It would mean being away from Garth for a few hours.”

Dana sighed. “For carnitas, I would suffer through the pain.”

“I’m not sure Garth wants to hear that.” Skye poured them each a cup of coffee.

Dana sat across from her at the kitchen table. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “You’re not glowing with happiness. Shouldn’t you be?”

“I’m glowing on the inside,” Skye said, then sighed. “I’m happy about Mitch. I love him more than I can say. Marrying him and being with him is everything I’ve ever wanted. But…”

“But?” Dana prompted. There was more. She could see it in the shadows behind the smile.

“I hate what’s happening with Jed. He’s our father. He should be here with us. We should be working together. Instead we’re trying to bring him down because he nearly killed his own daughter. Why does it have to be like this?”

“Because Jed wants to win at any cost, although if it helps, I don’t think he was trying to kill Izzy.” She told Skye what Jed had said at the party a few weeks ago.

Skye listened, then sighed. “So he might not have been trying to kill her, but it was okay if she or anyone else got hurt? What a guy.”

She frowned. “And what he did to Garth and Kathy? I still can’t wrap my mind around it.”

“I know.” Dana hesitated. “But maybe there’s more to it than what Garth told us.”

“I’m not sure we’ll ever find out,” Skye said. “Jed confirmed the facts, but won’t give us any details and Kathy can’t.”

“I’m sorry this is all such a mess.”