Susan Mallery - Under Her Skin

He knew it could be different. He knew that there were fathers who loved their children. Manny, his partner, was one. He adored his kids and they adored him. They did things together-like a family. They cuddled up on the sofa to watch TV. They went camping and to baseball games. When the kids were hurt or scared, they ran to him. It didn’t occur to them to think he might hit them. They didn’t know what it was to fear their father.

But Cruz knew. He knew the darkness that lurked, the pain that followed. He knew what it was like to be afraid to breathe for fear of being noticed. He knew what it meant to pretend not to see the bruises on his mother’s face and arms, to know she would conceal them from her employers so they wouldn’t ask questions…or worse, fire her.

He also knew he was just like his old man. Once, when Kendra had been a baby, she wouldn’t stop crying. He’d had her for the afternoon and the shrill noise had gone on and on. He would have done anything to make it stop. He’d wanted to shake her. Instead he’d waited outside until his mom had come back. She’d comforted Kendra the way he never could.

He’d seen then what he could do to his daughter. How he could hurt her. He knew where he came from and knew staying away from Kendra was better for them both.

He remained in his office until it was well after midnight, then quietly went upstairs.

The lights were off in the master bedroom. He opened the door and saw Lexi on her side of the bed. If she wasn’t sleeping, she didn’t acknowledge him, and he moved down the hall.

Kendra’s door was closed. He opened it without knocking.

His daughter lay curled up in the center of the bed. During the day she was smart and confrontational and nearly grown-up, but asleep, she looked small. C.C. snuggled next to her. Both were asleep.

He studied Kendra, wondering if any part of himself was in her and hoping it was more helpful than what his father had given him. Then he pulled up the covers, smoothed the blanket and left.

Tonight he would stand guard. Both Kendra and Lexi would tell him they were fine without him and maybe they were. But he would stay awake, just to be sure.

“YOU HAVE GOT TO be kidding,” Kendra grumbled as she walked into the kitchen. “Are you watching too much Nick at Nite?”

Lexi ignored the sarcasm and set two slices of French toast on a plate, which she pushed toward the teen.

“We don’t have cereal,” she said. “I didn’t know how you liked your eggs. So you’re stuck with this.”

“I don’t eat breakfast,” Kendra told her. “It’s a waste of calories.”

“Not eating in the morning makes a person crabby, which you are aptly demonstrating. The sooner you eat your breakfast, the sooner you can leave.”

Kendra grumbled something under her breath, then dropped her backpack on the floor with a thunk. She took the plate and picked up one of the slices, then ate.

“Milk?” Lexi asked, making sure she didn’t sound pleased she’d managed to win one round.

“Coffee.”

Did teenagers drink coffee? Lexi hadn’t. Still, she poured a cup and handed it to Kendra, who took a sip.

“How do you get to school?” Lexi asked.

“Bus.”

“Your bus comes here?”

“It’s a different bus, but yeah, it works this neighborhood. Even rich kids gotta graduate.”

“You live in the same school district as your dad?”

Kendra raised her eyebrows. “The same high-school district. Our condo is only about three miles from here. He didn’t tell you that, either?”

“Obviously not.”

So Kendra was practically within walking distance and he still didn’t spend time with her?

Kendra glanced at the clock on the wall and yelped. “I’m gonna miss my bus. See ya.”

She set down the plate, grabbed her backpack and ran to the front door. Lexi poured herself a cup of coffee and wondered how she was going to fix this. Not that it was her problem. Still, she couldn’t just ignore what was happening. Kendra and Cruz needed each other-they just didn’t know it yet.

CRUZ WALKED INTO LEXI’S office shortly after two that afternoon. She told herself she wasn’t happy to see him, even as her hormones began their very familiar dance of excitement.

It was all about chemistry, she thought, as she stood and moved around her desk. Something about his pheromones or her nervous system created a nearly uncontrollable need that swelled inside of her every time she was near him.

He looked good as he crossed the room. Tall and determined, in his perfectly fitted suit.

She wondered if he was there to apologize for their fight the previous evening. Maybe he’d figured out the importance of forming a relationship with his daughter, although she had her doubts. Cruz was determined not to care.

“I have to tell you something,” he said, surprising her with his serious tone. “You should probably sit down.”

Panic chased away arousal. “I don’t want to sit down. What is it?”

He took her hand in his and stared into her eyes. Fear chilled her from the inside.

“Cruz, what is it? Has someone been hurt?”

“Nothing like that. Everyone’s fine. I have something to tell you about Garth Duncan.”

“How bad could it be? Does he have some weird grudge against me?”

“Not just you. Maybe the whole family.”

“You’re not making sense.”

Cruz gripped her hand tighter. “Garth is Jed’s illegitimate son.”

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS later Lexi was still reeling. She couldn’t get her mind around the information Cruz had brought her. How could Garth be Jed’s son? Why wouldn’t her father have acknowledged him? These weren’t the eighteen-hundreds. The social stigma of having a child before getting married was long gone.

Which led her to another thought. Why hadn’t Jed married Garth’s mother?

She paced the living room in Cruz’s house, waiting for her sisters. She’d called Skye and Izzy last night and asked them to come by. Fortunately Izzy was on an extended break from her work. One of the advantages of long days on an oil rig. When they finally let you off, you weren’t due back anytime soon.

As she passed the coffee table, she saw the slim folder. There wasn’t much in there. A letter to a lawyer from Jed, setting up a trust fund for his illegitimate son. Lexi wasn’t going to ask how Cruz got ahold of it.

A few minutes later her sisters arrived. Izzy strolled in, looking wild and elegant at the same time in white gauze drawstring pants and a tank top. Her long hair was loose and curly, reminding Lexi of Kendra. A quick glance at the clock reminded her the teen would be home from school shortly.

Skye was her usual put-together self in a casual suit and heels. The sisters looked around the living room. Izzy whistled.

“Some nice place,” she said. “One of these days I have to settle down with a rich guy.”

“As long as he’s not stable,” Skye muttered. “God forbid you should find someone who will be there the next day or be willing to take care of you.”

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me, Skye. I’m not looking for Daddy.”

Lexi stared at them. “Why are you two fighting?”

“I slept with some guy and Skye’s upset.”

“She had sex with a junior associate at the law firm I use and they were discovered in the men’s bathroom.”

Lexi wrinkled her nose. “Tell me you were standing up, because otherwise…eww.”

Izzy grinned. “Of course. I wouldn’t get near that floor.” She glanced at Skye. “You’re the one who took me to lunch with your lawyer and his cute work friends.”

“They’re not work friends, they’re employees, and I took you because you said you might be interested in joining me at the foundation.”

Izzy dropped onto the sofa and stretched out. “I was in the mood to play handsome lawyer and escaped female felon. It was fun.”

“You’re not a felon. You’re spoiled and irresponsible. Not that there’s much of a difference in how you behave.”

Izzy didn’t look the least bit repentant. “Isn’t it amazing how she can speak so clearly with her teeth clenched like that?”

Under normal circumstances Lexi would have joined in the ribbing. Today, it was a little less interesting.

“This isn’t why I asked you two to stop by,” she said. “I have something important to discuss.”

“That sounds official,” Izzy said, straightening. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Skye sank down on the other end of the sofa. “What is it, Lexi? What’s wrong?”

“I have to tell you two something. I’m sorry I kept it from you. I probably shouldn’t have, except I was afraid…” She pressed her lips together. “I knew if Dad found out, everything would be…different.” She meant “at risk” but didn’t want to say that.

She sank onto the ottoman she’d pulled up in front of the sofa, then crossed her arms over her chest. “A couple of years ago my banker approached me with an offer from an investor. The investor wanted to sink a lot of money into my company. He said he believed in me and wanted to see me grow. The terms were easy-no ownership. Just a straight payback on the loan with a very reasonable interest rate. It allowed me to buy the building and expand.”

Izzy leaned toward her. “So you got a loan. It’s okay, Lexi. That’s hardly breaking the law.”

“I know. There was one catch. The loan was callable, at any time. I would have twenty-one days to get the money together. I didn’t worry about it because my banker had worked with the lender before and, to be honest, the rate was too good to turn down. After all, why set me up only to destroy me? Oh, wait. There was a second catch. The investor wanted to remain anonymous.”

Skye looked worried. “He did call the note, didn’t he? Do you need money? How much?”