Chapter 14
“We’re going to the bar to hang out for a bit and would like you to come.”
She looked up from the report she was perusing and studied her partner. “I don’t need you to feel sorry for me.”
He came in and closed the door behind him. Sitting on the edge of the desk facing her, he felt his heart turned over at the gaunt look on her face. It had been two months of pure hell, at least on her part.
Two months of sifting through evidence and arresting suspects. And to discover that a rival company had planted some people at Medtech to try and destroy the company from the inside. And had used Jason as a pawn.
The media had reported the entire thing and Medtech as well as the entire Pendergast family have been in the news. On top of that, she had had to face Merrick Pendergast in the courtroom and at the precinct where he and the rest of the family had come in for interviews.
She had done the job, but at tremendous personal sacrifice. He had a feeling she was not sleeping and by the look of her, she was not eating either.
He had also seen the photos on the internet. Pendergast was back with the judge.
“You’re staring.” She pointed out mildly.
“Call him.”
“I did, several times, to apologize and explain and he has not returned any of my messages. I happen to have my pride.” She lifted her shoulders in a shrug and leaned back in the chair. “It is over and should not have started in the first place. I ended up hurting both of us.”
“You were doing your job.”
“Yeah!” She said bitterly. “And was arrogant to think that I had to do whatever it took to get it done.”
“People were dying. And you went out of your way to prove the family were being set up. You spoke to the DA about Jason and he is doing a stint in a fancy rehab clinic instead of serving time. They should be damned grateful.”
“Should they?” A slight smile flitted around her lips. “Merrick called me a soulless bitch and I am beginning to think he is right.
“That’s utter crap, and you know it.” He jumped up and started pacing the small space. “I should find him and beat some sense into him.”
“Thanks.” She laughed shakily. “But it’s for the best. He has moved on and so should I.”
“Can you?”
He came back to sit down on her desk. “You’re wasting away here.”
“I will be fine. Give it another month or two and I will be as right as rain.”
“Margo…?”
She held up a hand. “That is all I’m prepared to say on the topic. Now go away and let me get some work done.”
He hesitated for a moment and then shrugged helplessly. “I am calling you later to make sure you leave. It is after seven.”
“Yes, mother.”
He sent her a fulminating look before leaving the room.
She sat back and closed her eyes, feeling the familiar ache inside her heart. She had seen him with the judge, and it had broken her. Whenever they happened to be in the same room, he looked straight through her as if she no longer existed.
She could not sleep; eating had become something of the past. She loved him, was aching for him – for his arms around her, his rich laughter, the look in his gray eyes when he stared at her.
She had told herself a long time ago that she could survive without love, and she had. Because she had the job. Until he came into her life.
Her eyes flew open at the knock on her door frame and saw Brad standing there.
“Please know when to take no for an answer. I…”
“You have a visitor.” His stare spoke volumes and when he stepped aside and she saw who it was, she rose slowly. “I’ll leave you to it then.”
He looked so much like his uncle that she felt the pain shimmering inside her. His dark hair was brushed back from his face and gray eyes, the exact shade and shape of his uncle’s stared at her.
“I hope I have not come at an inopportune time.” Even his voice was similar, she thought dazedly. How the hell had she not realized that before.
“What are you doing here, Michael?”
He came into the office and looked around. “I wanted to see you, tell you thanks for what you did for Jason.”
“Does your uncle know you’re here?”
“No. May I?” He gestured to the shabby chair in front of the desk.
“At your own risk.”
He sat and folded his hands between his thighs. “I was angry at you, pissed off that you would use him to get your information. But the last two months – throughout the trials and testing the family has been through brought us closer to each other and forced us to see what was happening right in front of our noses.” He gestured with one hand.
“My brother was crying out for help, and we ignored it.” He stared at her and noticed that her lovely face had whittled down some. “I am my uncle’s heir. Not his brother, my dad.
Uncle Merrick is my hero, my inspiration and I have so often wished that he was my dad. I love him completely and heard what he went through. I respect him as a businessman. He cares about his employees, and there are thousands of them.” He shook his head with a smile.
“He gives of himself. A lot of men in his position only care about the bottom line, but not him. If an employee needs a loan, he approves it. If one of their family member is ill and he can help, he does. Just a month ago, while this fiasco was going on, a long-time employee had a crisis, and he stepped out of the fray to lend a hand.
Another employee had his farm burnt to the ground and he was given a place to stay and help to rebuild the farm. That is what makes him so special. He is ruthless when it comes to business, but a stickler for being fair.” He trained his eyes on her. “And for a long time, it was all about work for him.
I saw the way he looked at you and realized that finally he was happy – over the moon happy. I had never seen him looked at a woman like that before. You were good for him. All the others just wanted the prestige of becoming Mrs. Merrick Pendergast, but you were different. You changed him for the better.”
“I used him.” She told him bluntly. “To close my case.”
He continued to look at her. “You love him.”
“That’s neither here nor there.” She hedged.
“He’s suffering, the way you are.”
“I’m fine.”
“I do not know you very much, but I believe that you are always straight. You love him and he is miserable without you. He does not smile anymore and spends all day and all night at the office. I went over to his place one night to hang out with him, and he got drunk.
That is what he has been doing to try and cope. Getting drunk, but it is not working.” He scooted forward, expression pleading. “I love my uncle very much and I am frightened he is going over the edge. Please, I am begging you, do something about it.”
She sat there in silence, staring at the young man who in all the investigation had remained steadfast and unmoving, with not a scratch to his impeccable record. Yes, he reminded her very much of his uncle, a man of integrity who had been shoved into a bitter and exhausting investigation and his name dragged through the mud.
“He has moved on,” she whispered.
“No.” Hope flared in his face. “If you’re talking about the judge, he just takes her to functions he cannot get out of and nothing more.”
“He won’t forgive me.”
“Perhaps not at first. You ripped out his heart.” He nodded when she flinched. “But you are the love of his life and a love like that can never just go away. It stays.” Digging into his cashmere overcoat, he took out a creamy envelope and rose to hand it to her.
“What’s this?”
“An invitation to my wedding.” His smile came. “Julia and I are getting married. Something to celebrate after the horror we have been through.”
“I can’t…”
“I am not taking ‘no’ for an answer.” There was a fierce determination on his handsome face. “You owe me, after what you did to our family.”
“Your family hates me.”
“And I believe that you are strong and do not give a rat’s ass about that. My uncle will be there of course. You do not have to be at the church. The reception is being held at the house, and he will not be able to avoid you. Bring a plus one if you must, I do believe he is taking the judge.
But know that he is not interested in her, in any woman except you. Confront him, make him angry so that he takes you somewhere private and go on from there. He will not be able to resist you when you are alone in a room together. And we have plenty of rooms.”
She looked over at him. “Why are you doing this?”
“For selfish reasons.” He smiled slightly. “I love my uncle and he is all the way in love with you. I want him to be happy. See you at the wedding. Wear something scandalous and knock his eyes out.”
After he was gone, she turned the envelope over in her hands. Picking up the letter opener, she slick it open and took out the fancy embossed card. The last Saturday in January. Christmas had come and gone and had meant nothing to her. She had spent it at her aunt’s place, being plied with food, but had tasted nothing.
She could not go of course. The thought of seeing him in a setting like that was unnerving. She would be crashing the family function, even if she was invited. Putting the envelope down, she sat there staring at her report and just could not settle.
*****
Standing in front of the mirror, he struggled to perform a task he had done too many times to count. Knot the tie at his throat. If it was not for his nephew getting married, he would have declined the invitation. He was certainly not in the mood for celebration.
He had lost weight and the haggard expression on his face was due to his not eating, working too hard and drinking too much. He was an empty shell inside. He knew realistically that he was never getting over her, but had thought the terrible ache and pain would have lessened by now.
It had been two goddamned month. Two months in which the company he had worked so hard to build on had been in the press, speculations surrounding his family and worse - much worse was seeing her in the courtroom - at the precinct – in the room interrogating him and his family.
He had wanted to hate her, strike out at her, but he had been furious that all he wanted to do, even despite what she had done was to just haul her into his arms.
At nights, he had taken to sleeping at the office, because his bedroom smelled of her. The bed reminded him of the passion enjoyed there. He could not settle. Jennifer was hinting at a relationship, but he could not stomach being with another woman. Damn Margo Sullivan to hell and back!
The wedding was a reminder that he had failed twice. Two times he had proposed. One woman had died and the other – well – she was dead to him, wasn’t she? But he could lie to himself. She was not dead – in his heart, she was alive and standing firm. In his soul, where she had woven herself.
It angered him that she had managed to break him into bits, and he still wanted her. She had stamped on his heart, set fire to that piece of him and he still craved her. He still recalled the times they spent together, the passion that had struck him like lightening.
Staring at his image in frustration, he renewed his effort to knot the damn tie. As soon as this was over, he was going to take a break. Go out on his boat, sail far away and be alone with his thoughts and try and recover from this painful period in his life. He was through with women. He would take what they had to offer and be done with it.
*****
“My God!” Brad let out a breath as she opened the door, and he got an eyeful of her.
She looked completely different. She had done something different with her hair, it was not curly, but straight and longer, the glossy strands bouncing past her shoulder, and she was showing skin. The dress was a stunning electric blue that skimmed over her slender curves like a lover’s hand and was high above the knees.
“Close your mouth, Michaelson.” She could smile and be pleased at his reaction.
“Is that really you?”
“Bite me.”
“I recognize the tone and the words, but Christ! You are exquisite and you are wearing makeup.”
“Not much.” She was starting to feel self-conscious. Michael had called to remind her of the date, as if she would forget. And in the end she had asked Brad to accompany her and sprung for a much too expensive dress.
The boots had her thinking long and hard, but she had succumbed and bought them. They came up to just above the knees and had heels. She had also bought a coat. Black cashmere that felt as light as clouds. The entire ensemble had cost the earth.
“Ready?”
Brad was still staring at her.
“Brad.”
He cleared his throat and nodded. “Yeah, let’s go. If Pendergast does not jump all over you, I reserve the right to.” He grinned at her dirty look. “What? Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“Can’t blame a girl for kicking you in the nuts. Let’s go.”
*****
His smile was becoming strained. The ceremony at the chapel had been poignant and lovely. Julia made a beautiful bride, and his nephew looked happy. Jason was there as well. He had been given the time to attend the wedding.
He looked thin and drawn, but at least he was alive and not in prison. It would take time for Merrick to forgive him for almost dragging the company down with his addiction.
Jennifer, looking resplendent in gold satin was holding court with the bride and with several others. He was about to take a sip of the champagne that had somehow been passed to him when he felt the prickle of awareness at the back of his neck. Turning slowly, he saw her and for a minute, he thought he was hallucinating.
Months of wanting her - wishing for her had addled his brain and he was seeing things. Besides, it did not look like her. She was wearing some sort of figure-hugging dress, and her hair was different. But the guy hanging onto her could not be mistaken.
She was here. Who in the hell invited her, and he knew when Michael glanced over at him.
Damn him for interfering. Turning his back, he strode to the makeshift bar and ordered a full glass of brandy. She could bloody well go away.
Even though he had his back turned, he knew exactly when she walked up behind him.
“Uncle Merrick.”
Politeness forced him to turn around and her nearness hit him like a ton of brick. Forcing his expression from revealing the turmoil going on inside him, he nodded curtly. “Detective Sullivan.”
“I invited her…”
“Of course you did.” He cut off his nephew coldly. “Now you can take her as far from me as possible.”
“I…”
“No. I can answer for myself. I never thought you were a coward.”
He stiffened and felt the anger brimming over and clogging his throat.
“You want to say that to me again?”
She felt the frisson of fear at his ominous expression but was determined to stand her ground and do what she came here to do.
“I said you are a coward. Yes, I went about it all wrong and I have been beating myself up over it. I have tried to apologize…”
“Apologize!” His eyes flashed fire as he stared at her. “For almost ruining my company? My family? Well, I suppose I should bow down and kiss your frigging feet, shouldn’t I?”
“Your nephew and the people involved almost ruined your company. I was tasked with the job of trying to close a case where people, young people were dying. I am not going to apologize for that.”
“You used me. Damn you to hell, you used me to get what you want.”
“And I am sorry for it. I never intended for it to get that far.”
“You never intended…” Surging off the stool, he grabbed her hand and not caring that they were the cynosure of every eye, he hauled her out of the room and turned into the library. Slapping on the light, he flung her arm away.
For a few minutes, he did not speak but prowled the room like a caged lion. She stood there watching him as he tried to bring his temper under control. Michael had told her to get him alone, but she was not certain it was such a good idea.
She jumped reflexively when he whirled around and approached her.
“Do you know what you have done?”
She held up a hand as if to ward him off. “I hated myself for what I did to you.” Her voice was unsteady, and she was trembling.
“Not as much as I hate you.”
Her nearness was unnerving, and he was beginning to think this was a bad idea. He was alone with her in a room and her scent, her very essence was seeping into his pores. He inhaled her and felt the familiar mad passion surging inside him. “Get out of my life, out of my family’s home. I never want to see you again.”
He started to turn away when she grabbed his arm. His first instinct was to shove at her, but he turned and saw the tears shimmering in those magnificent eyes and just like that, he felt his resolves crumbling.
He went still for a second before turning and shoving her against the door. “Damn you.” He whispered against her mouth before seizing her lips hungrily. He swallowed her cry and heard someone groaned. His hands were all over her, running over her arms, her back and settling on her butt as he lifted her against him.
His body was hot and heavy with need, his lower body throbbing. He poured two months of anger and pain into the kiss and when she responded in kind, he went mad. Dragging her to the floor, he rolled her as he tried to get to her skin. She fought to get his jacket off and managed to tear at the pearl buttons of his shirt.
His tie almost strangled him, and he had to stop to help her get it out of the way. But she was not satisfied with that. He had torn the sleeve of her dress and was working on getting her panties out of the way, all the while, his mouth was still fused to hers.
“Wait! Jesus! Wait.” He sat on his knees and wrestled with his belt and zipper.
“We should…” A groan escaped him with she reached in and cupped him. He was hard as a rock and burning hot.
With a cry of defeat, he plunged into her with a force that shoved her several inches backward. They were on the heated floor, but that did not matter to them.
Nothing mattered except the two of them and what they were feeling. Hiking up her knees, he drove into her and seized her lips again. She was still wearing her boots and nothing else.
Emotions washed through them like a violent river and the first orgasm stole her breath and had her fingers biting into his skin.
Tearing his mouth from hers, he ravaged her neck, her throat and tolled until she was on top of him. His hands reached up to cup her breast, fevered eyes watching her own go blind with passion. When she arched her back and stiffened, he reared up and tugged a nipple into his mouth.