Relentless

She snorted a laugh and tossed her head. “A little bit? Good grief, an Olympic coach probably wouldn’t have done as good a job preparing Peter for the Pamela games!”

Her brief spurt of humor fled. Her face was again dark and troubled, and Ken regretted the change. She was thinking about her father, and Ken wondered how she’d ever be able to deal with what she viewed as his betrayal.

Jared Bradford loved her. Ken knew that perfectly well. But he couldn’t reassure her of that. He couldn’t ask her to admit that while her father’s actions might have been reprehensible, they weren’t malicious. Admitting he knew her father would mean telling her why he was at the hotel.

“Getting chilly out here. Do you mind?” He pointed toward the whiskey bottles in the pocket of his own jacket, which she still wore. He didn’t really want a drink. But it seemed wise to reduce the supply so Pamela wouldn’t drown her sorrows by drinking every single one of them.

Since the jacket pocket was just about even with one of her curvy hips, he did not reach out to help himself. Touch her and you’re a goner!

“I think I’ve had enough,” she finally said, studying the empty container in her hand.

Considering she’d downed two by herself, he thought she was right.

“But help yourself,” she continued, pulling one of the remaining miniatures out of the pocket and handing it to him.

Ken took it from her fingers, noting the coolness of her smooth, pale skin against the slick glass. He took a quick step back, then busied himself opening the bottle.

“So, Peter pretended to be the perfect guy…but why on earth did you feel the need to show up at his bachelor party and jump out of his cake?” Ken asked, still not completely clear on what had led up to this evening’s performance.

She sighed. “I don’t know. The way it turned out, it would have almost been easier to accept if Peter was gay.”

Ken almost choked on a sip of the whiskey. “You thought your fiancé was gay?”

“No,” she insisted. “I didn’t think so! My friends wondered if he might be, though, when I told them that I’d never…that he’d never…uh…”

“You weren’t lovers,” he stated, still feeling like a slimeball for not admitting that he’d witnessed the entire awful scene in the hotel.

“No,” she replied, a note of defiance in her voice. “He seemed to think that I was destined to be pure as the driven snow on my wedding night, and my father insisted I remain that way. Thank God he did—at least I never slept with the creep!”

Ken nearly echoed the sentiment.

One thing Pamela hadn’t mentioned during all her explanations was her one final, defiant gesture as she’d left the party. Not that he was surprised. He didn’t know many women who’d have had the nerve to do what she’d done—and then talk about it!

“So,” he asked as he put the cap back on the miniature bottle, “you going to give your father a chance to explain?”

“Nope,” she replied succinctly.

“Are you going to at least tell him there’s not going to be any wedding tomorrow?”

She scowled, looking as though she wanted to do just that. Then her shoulders drooped. “Do you have a cell phone?”

“Right-hand pocket.”

He watched her pull his phone from his jacket and dial some numbers. She took a few deep breaths, looking up at the stars overhead while she waited for an answer. Ken watched, knowing the pain this phone call would reveal—and the pain it would inflict. Though he hated what Jared had done to his daughter, Ken knew how much the man loved her. This was gonna be bad.

“Hello, Daddy? No, no, I’m fine. Yes, I know what time it is.” She looked at her wrist, but she wore no watch. Ken held his arm toward her and showed her his.

“No, please listen,” she continued. “I want to tell you I hope you and your five hundred friends have a wonderful time eating the surf and turf tomorrow afternoon at the club. Hope it’ll be worth it. Unfortunately, I won’t be there so I’ll have to count on everyone else to tell me how the reception goes. Be sure to have someone save me a piece of cake.”

She laughed, a desperate sound that held no joy. “Oh, Peter called, did he? So you understand, of course, why there will be no wedding.”

She shook her head. “No. Dad, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear a single word you have to say.” Her voice caught with unshed tears. “You betrayed me—Peter used me, but you betrayed me.”

She cut the connection, turned off the phone, and promptly burst into tears.

3

MOST MEN didn’t know how to react when a woman burst into tears right in front of them. Ken, however, had a little experience. Resorting to basics, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into his arms.

She cried until his shirt became warm and damp with her tears, but she made no move to step away. He ran a consoling palm down her back, cupped her head with his hand and tried to ignore the rush of physical pleasure he got out of holding her in his arms.

She fit very well against him. Since she was nearly as tall as he, her cheek brushed against his neck as she cried. His pants and dress shirt provided a layer of fabric between them, but he felt her curves against his body. The delicate perfume she wore competed with the lingering sweet scent of icing. With her head tucked into his shoulder, Ken found his lips next to her temple and was unable to resist placing a soft, consoling kiss there. His fingers tangled in her hair as he held her and he finally started to feel her relax.

Comfort gradually segued into something else. She drew in a few deep breaths. He felt the pulse in her temple beat faster as she acknowledged the intimacy of their embrace. Anyone watching from the crossover above would have thought them passionate lovers.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered against his shoulder. “I can’t believe I’m sobbing in the arms of a complete stranger.”

“Well, in the absence of a beer to cry into…”

She pulled away from him and took a step back, wiping her cheeks with the backs of her hands. Her makeup was smeared under her eyes and her face was puffy. “I’m usually not a cryer.”

“It’s okay, really. I’m glad I was here.”

“You won’t be when you see the black circles my mascara made on your shirt,” she said glumly. “If you give it to me, I’ll be happy to have it cleaned.”

She looked miserable. Ken wanted to see that smile again, wanted to move past the sudden moment of intense awareness that had flashed between them while she remained in his arms. “You’re just determined to get all my clothes off me, aren’t you?”

She raised an eyebrow, obviously hearing the teasing in his flirtatious remark. Her reply, however, wasn’t quite so teasing.

“Is it working?”

That surprised him. Ken wondered if she heard the blatant suggestiveness in her own voice. He doubted it. Even if she did, he certainly wouldn’t take it seriously. The woman was right smack-dab in rebound territory—and Ken had already had his one experience with a woman fresh from a breakup with someone else. It had ended with a Dear Ken letter. He’d vowed never to put himself in that position again. She needed a friend? Okay. She needed a sounding board? He could be that, too.

She needed a warm and willing pair of arms to make her forget her miserable love life? Been there, done that. Pick another guy, lady.

He gave her a noncommittal smile. “I think I can manage to wash the shirt.”

She shrugged. “That’s about how my love life’s been lately. Can’t get a man to even want to take off his shirt for me.”

Ken almost barked out a laugh. Then he realized that while her tone was light, her expression was very serious. “You can’t honestly still be thinking your fiancé didn’t want you. Not now that you know why he was staying away from you.”

She turned slightly, facing the water and looking down at her hands. “I obviously didn’t offer much temptation.” Apparently seeing his confusion, she hurried on, “Not that I’m not very glad we never went any further! It’s just…”

“Yes?”

“Well, let’s say my track record with men isn’t so great. Not many guys are too hot for a five foot ten former basketball jock who now fights and claws through bureaucratic b.s., dealers, gangs and absentee parents every day in her job.”

“Only men with brains to go with their…libido,” he said.