Lip Service

“We’re the family he never had,” Lexi reminded her. “He’s angry. I just wish I knew what had triggered all this. Why now? Why wait so long to start?”

“He’s certainly moving forward with whatever plan he has. This one is especially good. The D.A. won’t get involved, but the IRS will. His claims put our nonprofit status at risk. Worse, who will want to donate? Being bad is always front-page news, but the retraction comes much later and on the back page. No one remembers that. They just remember the charges.”

Frustration flared inside of her. “I will accept that for some reason Garth hates us. But children will go hungry because of his actions. Doesn’t that matter?”

Lexi shook her head. “Not to him.”

Skye stood and crossed to the window. “This is beyond frustrating. I have worked my butt off here. I wanted to make a difference and I have. When the rest of my life is in the toilet, the foundation reminds me of what is important. That at the end of the day, I can count the meals we served and the lives we made better. I won’t let him take that from me or from those kids.”

Lexi stood and moved toward her. “He’s not going to win. We won’t let him.” She hugged Skye. “We’re the Titan girls. Nobody screws with us.”

“Garth didn’t get the memo.”

“Then we’ll send another one.”

“Okay. Just give me a minute and I’ll be feisty again.”

“We’ll get him. One way or another.”

“I know.”

They returned to the sofas. Lexi sat across from Skye.

“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” she asked. “You don’t usually let things get to you. You’re as much a fighter as any of us.”

Skye leaned back in the cushions. “There’s a lot going on right now. I’m a little distracted. It’ll get better.” She hesitated. “Mitch is back. I’ve seen him.”

Lexi stared at her. “Oh my God! What happened. How is he?”

“I’m not sure. He’s different. I know it’s been years and he’s been through a lot. But I didn’t think…” That he would turn mean, she thought, knowing she couldn’t say that. She loved her sister and trusted her completely, but she wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened.

“He’s someone I used to know, right? Just a guy from my past.”

“You keep saying that,” Lexi said, her voice gentle. “As if you’re trying to convince us he doesn’t matter. But the fact that he has you rattled means that he does matter. At least a little.”

“I don’t want him to.”

“Maybe you don’t get a choice.” Lexi smiled. “Look, he was your first love, your first lover. The relationship didn’t end on its own. It was emotionally violent for both of you. You were wrenched apart.”

“Because of me,” Skye said bitterly. “Mitch sure remembers that.”

“You hurt him.”

“I didn’t have a choice.” She glared at Lexi, daring her to say she did. That there were always choices. But it was easy to be critical from far away. Skye had lost her mother when she was only ten; she would have done anything to keep her father—that included giving up Mitch.

“I know,” Lexi said. “But Mitch could never understand. There was an intensity between the two of you. It’s not surprising you were both hurt.”

“When did you get sensible?” Skye grumbled. “I want to be the sensible one.”

“You will be. Just not about this. I couldn’t be rational about Cruz for a minute.”

Just speaking her fiancé’s name made Lexi glow. Skye did her best not to be envious, but it was hard. Love should be powerful and compelling—like she’d had with Mitch all those years ago. She’d loved her husband, but it had never been the same all-consuming passion. She had adored Ray, but she’d burned for Mitch…long after she should have. Yet another guilty secret, she thought sadly.

“You were young,” Lexi said. “It was a long time ago. Give yourself a break.”

“Because you think I made the wrong choice?” Skye asked. “I don’t. I did what I had to. What was right.”

“I know.”

Lexi said the words, but Skye wasn’t sure she believed them. Skye had given up love to play it safe. Who did that? Didn’t she deserve the consequences of her actions?

“To give up Ray would have meant giving up Erin. She’s my daughter. I can’t imagine life without her.”

“I know,” Lexi said. “She’s amazing. You’re lucky to have her. Isn’t that the most important thing?”

“Yes,” Skye murmured. A few months ago her life had been boring and familiar. Now there was very little she could count on.

“As for Mitch,” Lexi continued. “Why worry about him? It’s not as if you’re going to be seeing that much of him.”

“You’re right. I know he’s back, we spoke, end of story. It’s not as if we’re going to be running into each other very often.”

IT WAS a little after four when Skye heard yelling just outside her office. She stood to investigate, but before she could cross the room, the door burst open and Mitch stalked inside. Elsa ran alongside him, trying to get in front.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I explained you were busy, but he insisted.”

From the angry look on Mitch’s face, he’d done more than insist.

“Don’t worry about it,” Skye told her assistant. “Mitch and I are old friends. I’m happy to see him.”

Elsa didn’t seem convinced, but nodded and backed out of the room.

“Have a seat,” Skye said, pointing to the chair by her desk.

“No, thanks. This won’t take long.”

He looked good, she thought, taking in the jeans and white shirt. Furious but good. His color was better than the last time she’d seen him and the lines of pain around his eyes had eased.

Despite everything that had happened, despite what he’d said, she was happy to see him. She wanted to go to him and hold him. She wanted to do a whole lot more than that, which probably meant she needed some intensive therapy or at the very least a self-help book with a snappy title.

“You’re obviously pissed off,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “Which I find interesting. If anyone has the right to be mad, it’s me.”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” he asked.

“Is that a trick question?”

He ignored her. “I had an interesting visitor at breakfast Saturday morning. Erin.”

Skye opened her mouth, then closed it. She wasn’t sure what to say. Erin had breakfast with Fidela most weekends. If Skye was up, they would ride over together. If not, Arturo came and got the little girl. It was a tradition, one that Erin treasured.