N. Walters - Past Promises

Why did she leave?

Was she hurt? Angry? He had no idea.

Tonight would map his future. He and Linda had to talk. He might not know where she was now, but he knew where she’d be later today. He hailed a cab and headed for the airport. The quicker he got home, the better.

Home. Somewhere along the line, Jamesville had become home. It wasn’t so much the place as the people who lived there. Linda was home to him. Being with her had given him a sense of place he’d never had in his entire life. He’d fought in hellholes around the world for lesser causes. He wasn’t willing to lose Linda without giving it everything he had. He only hoped that after they talked tonight, he still had a place to call home.

Linda was exhausted by the time she climbed the stairs to her apartment later that evening. The appointment with her lawyer had taken longer than she’d anticipated and she’d missed her original flight.

She’d called Amanda, who promised to cover for the rest of the day and close the store. It was just after seven now and Linda had been on the go for about fourteen emotional, gut-wrenching hours straight.

Her thoughts were still reeling from the events of the day. She couldn’t believe Levi had gone to her family without even discussing it with her. She vacillated between being angry with him and amazed that he’d even bother.

It had been cowardly of her not to wait for him earlier today, but she’d needed time to think. And she couldn’t think clearly with Levi beside her. Her feelings and thoughts got all muddled whenever he was around, and logic went straight out the window.

She was looking forward to a hot bath. Although she was bone-tired, she was strangely elated too. She’d severed all ties with her family. That should make her sad, but it didn’t. Linda felt free for the first time in her life.

Harvey Spokes had assured her that her grandmother’s estate would proceed through the probate courts with little or no problem in spite of her father’s objections. Antoinette Lafayette had been of sound mind and had an ironclad will. Once the will was through probate, all her belongings would be disposed of and distributed as her grandmother had stipulated. When that was done, everything else would belong to Linda.

She hadn’t mentioned the possible restraining orders against her family. She was hoping it wouldn’t come to that. But she’d do it if pushed. Maybe she’d talk to Cyndi’s lawyer, Alicia Flint. She would need a local lawyer to handle her business affairs. Perhaps Alicia could also handle the restraining orders against her family if they became necessary.

Linda unlocked the front door and pushed it open. The wonderful aroma of baked chicken tickled her nose. Soft classical music played in the background. Levi stood just beyond the doorway, his eyes hooded, his expression blank.

She didn’t ask him how he’d gotten into her apartment without a key. She wasn’t even surprised to find him there. She’d known that Levi would want to talk about what had happened today. She also suspected the man had more skills than she could even imagine. Getting into her apartment would be child’s play for him.

She shut the door and set her purse on the hallway table. Levi looked much different than he had earlier today. He was back in his usual jeans and T-shirt. She’d never seen him in a suit until today. Strangely enough, he seemed totally comfortable in both attires. But this one suited him best.

“Hi.” She wasn’t sure quite what to say to him. Her thoughts and emotions were still tumbling around in her tired brain.

“Why don’t you go get changed? Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Everything is already cooked, I just need to reheat it.”

Grateful for the reprieve, she nodded and hurried down the short hallway to her bedroom. It didn’t take her long to kick off her shoes and get out of her business clothing. She loved the designer suit, but hoped she didn’t have to wear it again for a long time. She zipped it back into the protective garment bag and shoved it to the back of the closet. Then she sat on the edge of the bed and rolled off her stockings, tossing them aside and wiggling her toes.

She chose cotton socks, jeans and a blue knit top. Comfort was what she wanted after the long day she’d put in. She padded down the hallway in her stocking feet and found Levi standing in front of her stove, stirring something.

“Why don’t you sit down and relax while I serve dinner?” He hadn’t even glanced behind him, but he’d known she was there.

Linda pulled out a chair and sat, admiring the table. He’d set it with china from her cupboard, accessorizing with linen placemats and napkins and silver cutlery. He’d obviously dug around the drawers in her kitchen to find everything. Crystal candleholders with pristine white candles completed the look.

Levi carried two plates to the table and set one down in front of her. “Baked chicken, mashed potatoes and carrots. I wasn’t sure how your stomach would be after the stress of today, but I assumed you hadn’t eaten much.”

“Oh, Levi.” His thoughtfulness overwhelmed her. “Why in God’s name did you go to Vermont to confront my father? What did you hope to gain?”

He stared at her, his golden-eyed gaze unblinking. “You sure you want to do this before we eat?”

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. She had to know.

Levi sat in the chair beside hers and rested his hands on his stomach. His shirt was pulled tight across his abs, drawing her attention. “I wanted the threats to stop. I wanted them out of your life for good.”

She leaned forward, placing her hand on his thigh. The muscle jumped beneath her palm before becoming rock solid. “I appreciate that, but what did you think you could do to stop them?”

His expression changed then, becoming harder, sharper. For the first time, Linda could see the barely banked fury in his eyes. But she wasn’t afraid of him. Quite the contrary. She knew without a doubt that Levi would use his strength to protect her, never to hurt her.

“I’m sorry for what my father said,” she blurted out. That had been bothering her all day. “You were a soldier…”

Levi sighed, but otherwise didn’t move. His expression changed, becoming more remote with each passing second. “He was right. I was in a special unit and we were called in to do the dirty jobs. I’ve killed men.”

Although not a hint of expression showed on his face, she knew how much those deaths still weighed on him. She’d come to know him well these past months. She’d seen the man beneath the façade. Levi was one of the most loyal, loving and caring men she’d ever met. Look at how he’d stepped in to try and help her with her situation.

His inability to settle down made sense to her now. Levi was searching for a way to deal with what he’d been through.

She stood and moved between Levi’s thighs, cupping his face in her hands. “You did what your country asked you to do. But you pay for it every single day. Don’t think I don’t see it.”

He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Opening his eyes, he gave a short nod. She realized that was as much as he was going to say about what had happened to him.

She sighed and swallowed her disappointment. Maybe someday he’d open up to her and share some of his feelings about it. Maybe not.

“About your father.” Levi obviously wanted to change the subject.

Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to his forehead and turned to take her seat again. His strong arm came around her waist and he pulled her down onto his lap. She sensed he needed her there as much as she needed to be there.

She settled herself against his solid chest and waited for an explanation. When Levi didn’t speak, she prompted him. “What about him?”

His lips twitched. “You need to learn patience.”

She groaned. “Tell me about it. My impatience is what got me into this mess.”

He pressed his forefinger to her lips. “No. It was your family and Dyson’s greed and malice that got you into this situation. They won’t be bothering you again.”

The finality with which he made that statement unsettled her. “How can you know that?” For the first time ever, Levi looked slightly uncomfortable. Alarm filled her. “What did you do?”

He shrugged. “I did what I do best.”

Honestly, it was like trying to get a monk who’d taken a vow of silence to break it. “And that would be…?”

“Research.”

Of all the things she’d expected him to say, that hadn’t been among them. “Research?” She wanted to make sure she hadn’t misunderstood him.

Levi shook his head. “What did you expect?”

Now it was her turn to be slightly uncomfortable. “I’m not sure.”

He shifted slightly and she wrapped her arms around his neck to keep her balance—not that he’d let her fall. His arms were tight around her hips, holding her close.

“Men like your father, brother and Dyson have secrets. The trick is to find out what they are and how best to use them.”

Linda could hardly believe what she was hearing. “You’re blackmailing them?”

He shook his head. “I prefer to think of it as negotiating. They leave you alone and all their secrets stay hidden. If they don’t…” He shrugged again.

“That’s incredible and dangerous.” She gripped his hair in her hands and tugged him closer. “What have you done? My father will try to hurt you.”

Her mind scrambled to find a way out of the situation. “I’ll give him the money to leave you alone. I’ll sign it all over to him.” Anything to protect Levi from her father’s wrath. He had no idea the lengths her father would go to in order to protect his reputation. “How could you do something that crazy?”