Chapter 18 #2
“True.” Brian picked up the half-filled glass of champagne in front of him and raised it in a mock toast before draining it.
It was very difficult to drink with his throat constricted with tension, but he forced it down anyway.
Lindy was not going to take this well. He’d avoided thinking about that confrontation until now and he wished he could avoid thinking about it until tomorrow. Then he’d have to talk to her about it.
Grabbing the open bottle of champagne, he determined he’d give forgetting a hell of a try and poured himself another glass.
“Now can we close the subject?” He looked to his date and raised his glass again.
“Here’s to our enjoying the rest of the evening.
” He smiled and took another long sip of champagne, looking the woman over more closely.
He needed relief tonight and he was hopeful.
“Great game tonight Mr. Dennis.” A passing waiter paused long enough to comment. That was a step exactly in the right direction and Brian took it and held onto that thought.
“Wasn’t it, though?” He grinned without modesty. The women made faces and Dave laughed with pleasure. Inevitably a discussion of that night’s game ensued and the women excused themselves to the powder room.
“Yeah, tonight’s game was just about perfect,” Brian said.
“Yeah. The whole evening would have been perfect if Roxanne Monet hadn’t shown up. What the hell was she doing there tonight? Dragging the police along with her. Was she trying to set you up or what?”
“No. I told her to stop by. To take care of some business.” Brian fingered his empty glass, and then he looked up at his friend. “I promised her some money.” He knew the inevitable conclusion his friend would draw, that Brian had purposely lead him to draw.
“What the hell are you doing? You’re not going to let her soak you, are you?”
Brian had known what Dave would think and what he would say. But when he heard the words, they sounded harsh, as well as untrue. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t believe the insinuations about Roxanne being a gold digger and murderer. As much as he didn’t want to, he had to defend her.
“No. The money’s for the hospital. She’s not soaking me for money.
I’ll send her the check tomorrow.” He paused and watched Dave take this in.
He knew the very lack of insistence in his voice was what convinced Dave.
Then he found himself continuing. “She’s innocent, you know.
” He leaned forward in his chair and this time his voice was insistent.
“And if I can help her, I will.” There was defiance in his voice but he knew the opposition would not come from Dave. It would come from himself.
“And I thought you two were just playing games,” Dave said.
Brian’s eyes zeroed in on Dave’s at the mention of games. But how could he know? It was an innocent comment.
“Yeah. Well you know how I like to win—no matter what the game.” He grinned with more brightness than he felt.
“Lately I’ve noticed you seem to want to win those games a hell of a lot more than basketball games. Until tonight anyway.” Dave shrugged.
“Damned right until tonight. You’re looking at a new man. It felt good tonight. Damned good to play like that. I think I forgot how good it felt.”
“Feel better than her?” Dave asked. Brian felt as if his mind had been read. The thought put him on edge and he had to tell himself to calm down.
He smiled at his friend and slapped him on the back as the two women returned. “You bet.”
“What have you guys been talking about?” Karen Marie asked. Brian answered quickly.
“About what a great game we played tonight, of course. And about how it’s a better feeling than a woman.” He looked at her with purposeful challenge in his stare.
“Oh? Then you’ve been seeing the wrong woman all this time.” Karen Marie curled her lips allowing only one conclusion.
“I suppose you think you’re the woman to change my mind?” Brian hoped to hell she could.
“Ahem. Do you think you could wait to have this conversation later? Like after we leave and you’re alone at last?” Vicki said, leaning into the conversation.
Karen laughed and flashed Brian a promising smile. But it lacked edge. “Okay. As long as we don’t have to wait too long,” she said.
She didn’t. They ended up having only one more drink before leaving. Brian was anxious to get home and took Karen Marie with him. In the car, he turned the key and turned to her. She sat right next to him in the middle of the front seat. A girl hadn’t done that with him since high school.
“Your place or mine?” He didn’t care if he sounded corny. He only wanted the answer.
“Yours,” she said. Then she snuggled up closer and put her hands in his crotch as he pulled the car out into the street.
“Jesus Christ, Karen. I want to get there in one piece,” Brian said.
“Oh, we’ll get there. You seem tense, like you could use some loosening up.” She continued ‘loosening him up,’ a bit more tentatively.
“Guilty as charged.” He attempted a smile, but wasn’t sure how successful he was. In any case, he let Karen Marie work her magic with her hands. What the hell. Before he knew it, before they ever arrived home, he was relieved of a lot of tension.
When they reached his house they went straight to his bedroom and he took her. The first time fast, but it wasn’t enough. The next time was slower and then she fell asleep. He was left awake. He wished he could fall asleep, if only to escape from thinking about Lindy and … about Roxanne.
“Hell, it can’t be fireworks every time,” he thought aloud. Then he remembered the last time with Roxanne.
***
Roxanne paced the kitchen floor with a cup of coffee in her hand debating whether or not to call Al.
She needed that $750,000 and maybe if they settled the wrongful death civil suit by agreeing to split the proceeds from the house she’d be able to get the money.
She didn’t want to have to tell Laura she couldn’t come up with it.
As she paced by the television, she fleetingly thought of turning it on to hear the news, but she thought better of that idea. She’d rather not know. They’d probably had a field day with last night’s police fiasco.
She’d stopped getting the paper since the investigation into Don’s death had reopened.
She had no desire to see her name trashed.
It was tougher to avoid the news every time she looked at a computer or her iPad.
So she’d quit doing that too. Not even her avid curiosity tempted her to read what they were saying.
The gist of it eventually seeped in anyway. Al read everything.
The one thing she tried to avoid thinking about was Brian.
His behavior was insulting and cruel, even considering the situation, even for him.
She knew he was in pain. That’s why he was playing angry when they both knew it was over.
Maybe it was easier for him that way. At least she could be grateful that his behavior left her more angry than sad.
There would be plenty of time to be sad later.
Checking her Timex, she realized it was already after eight a.m. and she had to decide now.
The doorbell rang and Bonnie answered it.
Roxanne paused then continued her pacing, thinking how she could put the question to Al without sounding too desperate.
She didn’t want the money from Brian, yet she didn’t want to have to turn it down.
She looked up to see Brian standing in the kitchen doorway. The dark waves of his hair still glistened from his morning shower. His blue eyes blazed with challenge. She looked back at him with a matching expression. Then she picked up her pacing again.
“What do you want? Aren’t you taking a big risk being seen here after last night?” She emphasized the sarcasm. She didn’t even look at him. Bonnie walked in behind him.
“Roxanne Monet. Is that any way to talk?” Bonnie scolded.
“He deserves it.” Roxanne stopped pacing and faced him boldly. Everything was showing on her face and she knew it. But she’d warned him the game of pretense was over. And this was what was left. Raw emotion.
He stepped toward her and put his hand out to cup her chin. Bonnie left the room.
“Well?” she asked. He dropped his hand. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a check made out to Children’s Mercy Hospital for $750,000, dated yesterday.
“Happy New Year,” he said. Then he folded his arms and stood before her. She looked at him and back at the check. Then she looked back at his unrelenting smirk. She had the urge to rip the check into pieces again as she waved it precariously in the air. Instead she tossed it on the table.
“If I weren’t so desperate for this money for the fund-raising campaign I’d enjoy telling you to go to hell,” she said with her hands on her hips, mustering as much attitude as she had left in her.
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And I thought you were through playing games, Roxy?” He stepped closer.
He was right. Her face heated. Could she go on with the charade of being angry with him when it was herself that she blamed? Could she afford not to? Could she finally face the real pain, the unrelenting sadness?
She had no choice. The tears fell. She took a deep breath. Letting him see her hurt was one thing, but she would not be hysterical. She loved him. She couldn’t have him.
That was that.
Until he took her by the shoulders and pulled her to him.
He kissed her. She let him do it just this one last time.
He held her tight. The hunger, the anger, the caring, the hurt, the need, the desire, she felt it all in the unrelenting press of his mouth to hers.
In herself and in him. She felt gloriously dizzy with emotion.
***
After he kissed her, it was more difficult to keep his game face in place, but he had no choice. He looked at the clock. He had to leave.