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“Got it. Sarah tries to pawn some of her ‘new finds’ on Sam and me.” He took a gulp, but his eyes never left his friends. “Tell me about it.”
Relating the story as it had happened so far, David told him everything.
“Why would you go to a restaurant for a conversation like that?”
Holding his hand up to ward off any more questions like that, he shook his head. “I honestly don’t know, Gray. It seems so stupid now. But, to have it here or at her condo would either leave the bad mojo in one of our homes or it would lead to something more. I don’t want to screw up. So …”
“I get it. How did you leave it with her?”
He leaned forward, placing his forearms on his knees. “I told her I needed time to think and wrap my head around all of this information. She said she understood, but I could tell she was hurt.”
Gray sat back into the sofa and heaved out a deep breath. “I can tell you what Sam will say. Mark my words. She’ll say, God brought us to Madison at the same time Kiera was in that coffee shop and that we were supposed to meet. Then, we were supposed to bring her back here, and the two of you were supposed to find each other. What happens from here, I suppose only God knows.” Finishing his beer, he set the empty bottle on the table, pointed to it and continued, “Don’t buy any more of that. It’s not horrible, but it isn’t good.”
Chuckling for the first time in what felt like days, he nodded, “Got it.” Holding up his bottle, he continued. “This one isn’t that great, either. Ant Farm.”
Gray crossed his ankle over his knee. “I can recommend a psychologist for you to talk to. I’ve seen him over the years trying to handle Suzanne and all her bullshit. He’s helped me deal. It might be good to get another perspective.”
His head hung down as his eyes studied his knees. “Yeah. Might not hurt.”
11
Nervously waiting in the straight-backed cloth chair in the waiting room, a painting of a Harley in front of Mt. Rushmore on one wall and a painting of a different Harley in front of a lake on another, she smoothed her tan dress pants. Her eyes darted to the clock above the reception desk. Eight-fifty. She had to be downstairs in ten minutes.
Maybe this was the universe telling her it’s not meant to be. She hadn’t heard from David all week. They’d had dinner on Monday evening, and here it was Friday morning. She felt like maybe he was avoiding her. Couldn’t really blame him. She’d entered his orderly world and turned it upside down.
She’d spent the week doing a little snooping and found him on social media sites. Pictures of his two kids were all over them. He’s a proud dad. The thought caused tears to form. She blinked rapidly to dry them away. He had every right to move on from her memory; she’d given him nothing in all the time she was away. It was easier that way. For her. She realized now how selfish she’d been. She could have had her mother get a message to him that she was fine so he didn’t wonder. It would have been a lie, but the not knowing sometimes was worse than the knowing.
The door opened, and a young man sauntered into the office with the swagger of youth. He stopped and looked into her eyes and her breathing stopped. Mattox Haggerty was the spitting image of his father at the same age. She and David had been in college when David was twenty-one.
“Can I help you?” His clear blue eyes sparkled; his smile so vibrant and handsome.
“Ah, I uh, came to see David. Is he in yet? The man who opened the door for me told me to wait here.”
“Sheesh, that’s Luke for ya. Did he at least offer you some coffee or something?” He dipped back and looked into an open door. “Luke, don’t you know how to treat guests?”
The door opened again, and the hairs on her arm stood up. She could sense him before she saw him. She stood slowly, her eyes searching his face for telltale signs of disgust. Hatred. Loathing. Any emotion.
“Kiera. Good morning.” He glanced at his son, then back to her. “To what do I owe this honor?” His words were light; the tone wasn’t.
She swallowed the knot in her throat and instinctively pressed her hand to her belly.
“I, ah … I wondered if I could speak to you a moment?” The smile didn’t reach her eyes. It probably looked like a scowl; she was so nervous.
He cleared his throat. “Matt, did you meet Kiera? She works downstairs for Gray.”
Mattox walked around the reception desk, a broad smile on his face. “Not formally. Mattox - Matt. Nice to meet you.” He firmly shook her hand, searching her eyes–for what, she didn’t know. But she supposed the security business could jade a person.
Soundly returning the handshake, she smiled, “Nice to meet you.”
“Kiera, let’s step into my office, shall we?” His hand at the small of her back, he ushered her past Mattox, who wore a smirk on his face. “Matt, take care of the video footage from the building before you head out on your jobs today.”
“Will do.” He hurried behind the reception desk and pushed the power button on the computer as he addressed her, “Nice meeting you, Kiera.”
She glanced around the office as he led her down the halls. It was much like downstairs, the industrial touches with the warm repurposed wooden barn doors and moldings. Sam must have had something to do with this office decorating, as well. She pulled together the most unusual pieces and made them work.
He turned them into an office at the end of the hall. The room was bright with natural light filtering through the two large windows facing the desk. The tan color on the walls added warmth; the large wooden desk and tall-backed leather chair hinted at the ruggedness of the occupant. She turned to look up at him and saw that he was watching her assess his office. He held his hand out toward the two black leather chairs facing the desk. She sat stiffly in one and watched him step around the desk, swipe a manila folder off the top, lay it in the top drawer of his desk, and sit in his chair, which emitted a creak. He placed his hands on the desktop and cracked his knuckles, which made her smile.
“You still crack your knuckles.”
