One Night with His Rival Read online

  Veda had half expected him to deny the entire incident, so she got something else off her chest. “I can’t remember you ever really talking to me.”

  “I kept it all in. Blocked everyone out. And this week, I’ve pushed you even further away. I know if I don’t change, and change now, I’ll lose you again, and this time for good.” Holding that book to his chest, he turned more toward her and lowered his chin. “I don’t want that to happen. Veda. It’s hard for me to say, but—” he swallowed deeply “—I need your help.”

  This conversation just kept getting weirder. “You want my help?”

  “I see from your blog, you’re a bit of an expert at that.”

  Veda’s mouth dropped open. She must have heard wrong.

  “You read my blog?”

  “Every post. It’s to the point. Extremely informative.” His eyes shone as he smiled. “I haven’t told you for so many years. I’m proud of you, Veda. I know your mother would be proud of you, too.”

  Those words... The night of that party, she remembered Hux saying them to Lanie.

  The right thing to do was wrap her arms around her father and tell him everything was forgiven...to let go of the uncertainty, the fear and all the frustration. Letting go was a choice, after all. But she needed time to come to terms with this sudden change of heart and accept that her father might actually, well, love her.

  So she held off on gushing. Instead, she returned her father’s smile and nodded as if to say, Let’s see what happens from here. Fingers crossed.

  A speculative gleam appeared in his eye.

  “Now we really do need to speak about Ajax Rawson.”

  She groaned. “Dad, can we not?”

  “I was only going to say that we should have him over for dinner sometime.” He anticipated her reaction. “Yes, it will be a little awkward. The Rawsons and Darnels are far from friends. I’ve done some things I’m ashamed of, particularly this week. I’m not sure Ajax would even accept an invitation. But I can try, Veda. We can try.”

  If the offer had come a week earlier, she would have considered it. But her on-again, off-again relationship with Ajax had been permanently laid to rest. Any notion of extending olive branches between the families was too late.

  So, should she let her father know about the breakup? Would his eyes fill with sympathy—support—or would he simply say I told you so?

  The sound of the knocker hitting the front door echoed through the house. But her father didn’t react. He had more to say.

  “How does a man who has lost what’s most important get it back?” he asked. “That’s the riddle.”

  She didn’t have the whole answer, but said, “He starts by saying I’m sorry and meaning it.”

  Drake hung his head before finding her eyes again. “I’m so sorry, Veda. Sorry for driving your mother away. Sorry for putting up that wall and not appreciating what I had.”

  The knocker sounded again.

  Veda swept away a tear before it fell. “We should probably get that.”

  He tried on a smile. “To be continued, then?”

  Before she could answer, Veda’s ears pricked up to a different sound. “Do you hear that?”

  Drake’s eyes narrowed as he looked out the den’s window, which gave a partial view of the front of the house. “There are vans pulling up.” He headed for the door. “I’ll go see what’s happening.”

  Veda set the photograph down and told him, “I’m going with you.”

  * * *

  Out in front of the Darnel mansion, the Rawson truck skidded to a stop. With Hux riding shotgun—Lanie and Susan had decided to stay in town and leave this showdown to the men—Ajax had arrived here in record time but, unfortunately, not soon enough.

  Reporters were congregated on the lawn, the same pack Jacob had handled so well earlier. Cameras were pointed like cannons at the front door, and questions were being thrown like knives. Facing the onslaught, standing at the center of his extravagant stone porch, Drake Darnel looked completely blindsided.

  Ajax didn’t care about Drake. Only Veda. She was standing beside her father, chin high, loyal to the bitter end.

  Ajax threw open the car door, growling, “I’m going to save my girl.”

  “This all ends now,” Hux replied, growling, too. “All of it.”

  Together, father and son strode up and cut through the media mob. Ajax was ready to tell them all to back the hell off and go home. But then Hux did something downright extraordinary. Something that had Ajax doubting his own eyes and ears.

  Hux trotted up those porch steps. When he came to stand beside his old enemy, Drake’s shocked expression deepened and Veda’s eyes practically popped out of her skull. Then, turning to confront the mob, Hux waved his arms. When the barrage of questions quietened, he took a breath while Drake and Veda gaped on.

  “My family spoke with you people earlier,” Hux said. “You all know the score on those dud test results. As you are all obviously aware, this morning Paul Booshang, a former employee, went on to implicate Drake Darnel in similar illegal activities.”

  “Mr. Darnel!” a reporter called out. “Sir, what is your relationship with Paul Booshang?”

  “Has the State Gaming Commission been in touch regarding this matter?” asked another.

  Drake took a halting step forward. “The Darnel Stables... I have never...would...never...”

  Hux edged closer to Drake’s side and, catching his gaze, tried to share a stalwart smile.

  “Let me be honest here. These stables are among the best and most reputable in the state,” Hux said. “In the country.” His voice took on a solemn tone. “Our families have known each other many years. I would like to go on the record as standing alongside our neighbors against these baseless allegations.”

  Ajax was watching Veda watching Hux. She looked like a child tasting ice cream for the first time—there was a second of surprise quickly followed by delight.

  Hux went on. “Mr. Darnel has returned from the hospital only a short time ago. I’m sure you all agree, we need to walk it back and respect his privacy right now.” He offered a meaningful smile to Drake. “It’s time we all moved on.”

  Talk about taking the high road.

  As the reporters and cameramen drifted off toward their vehicles, Ajax made his way up the porch steps. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say to Hux, let alone Drake; this morning had certainly been one for the books.

  But more importantly, he needed to talk with Veda. The last time they had spoken, she hadn’t pulled any punches. He didn’t have what she needed, and he would move on soon enough.

  Ajax hadn’t agreed then, and he didn’t agree now. He needed one more chance to have her hear why.

  Hux put out his arm to welcome his son as he climbed the steps. “Drake, I don’t know if you’ve had the pleasure of meeting my boy.”

  As the other man’s watery gaze narrowed, Ajax held his breath. Drake knew he had been seeing Veda. Given Drake’s screwy way of looking at the world, he might view that as stealing his daughter, just as Hux had “stolen” the woman Drake had loved so many years ago.

  But now Drake only surrendered a genuine smile and put out his hand.

  “I’m pleased to meet you... Ajax, isn’t it?”

  Ajax’s knees almost buckled. He had to be dreaming.

  But when Drake’s smile not only held but grew, Ajax accepted the fact that miracles did happen. Which was great news, because he sure as hell could use another one right about now.

  There was a brief exchange about this morning’s meeting and Hux’s handling of the media before Drake invited them all inside for a cool drink. Ajax had felt Veda’s eyes on him the entire time. Had this unfolding scene softened her stand against him? Ready or not, time to find out.

  “A cool drink would be nice,” he told Drake before focusing on
Veda. “But I’d like to speak with your daughter first, if that’s all right.”

  After an awkward beat, in which Drake and Veda exchanged looks, Drake headed for the open front door, tossing over his shoulder, “Huxley, shall we?”

  When he and Veda were alone, Ajax tried on a well, here we all are smile while she scooped her hair back behind her ear, searching his eyes, looking more beautiful than ever before.

  “I appreciate you and Hux coming today,” she said. “We were totally unprepared for reporters.”

  “They’d just finished with us when we got word they were on their way here.”

  She titled her head. “So, congratulations on the test results.”

  “Yeah, well, it was an experience, and not without consequences.”

  “Have any more clients bailed?”

  “One. But we’ve had a lot of support, as well.”

  She nodded. “Full steam ahead then.”

  “Which brings me to some other news. You remember how I wanted Hux to consider a partnership? I was saving the discussion until this was all over, but Dad was a step ahead of me. Right after the meeting this morning, he presented me with a document—fifty-fifty.”

  Her eyebrows edged up. “Bet you couldn’t find a pen fast enough.”

  A week ago, that would have been the smart bet. As it turned out, he had handed the contract back, leaving it unsigned. For now.

  When Veda slid a look toward the front door, he anticipated her next words. She would either suggest that they join their fathers or, more likely, that she would leave the men alone to talk. Neither option worked. He wanted more time with her alone. He needed to somehow make this right.

  He spoke again before she could.

  “So your dad got the all clear from the doctor?”

  She nodded an unusually long time as if she wasn’t sure if she should fill him in more.

  “Actually, Dad and I had a discussion this morning,” she finally said. “A real talk like I can’t remember ever happening before.”

  “That’s huge. Seems like it’s a day for progress.”

  “Well, it’s a start.” She surrendered a smile. “I think a good start.”

  There was another loaded silence during which Ajax thought he saw a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes...a spark of Say the right thing now and maybe I’ll agree to see where this goes. He had nothing to lose and pretty much everything to gain.

  He’d get the tricky part out of the way first.

  “Fallon’s gone. She wanted me to pass on that she’s sorry if she caused any trouble between you and me.”

  Other than crossing her arms, Veda gave no response. Not a word.

  He forced the admission out. “I want to tell you that years ago, she and I spent a night together. Just one.”

  “I know.”

  “You...know?”

  “Lanie told me.”

  “How did she—?”

  “Griff.”

  He grunted. “So much for a brother’s confidence.”

  “Oh, Ajax, I’m sure he’s not the only one who knew.”

  He got back to the point. “Now Fallon is a friend,” he said. “That’s it. Friend. Period.”

  When Veda continued with the bland stare, he pushed on. He could feel his time running out. He needed to act, bring her close, show her just how he felt.

  “Veda, I want to see you again.”

  Her jaw tightened before she shook her head.

  No?

  “Our fathers have put aside their differences,” he said. “Can’t we at least try to do the same?”

  “I’m glad everyone’s talking again. Dad and Hux. Me and my father. You and your dad.”

  He stepped forward, close enough to feel her warmth and for her to feel his.

  “I’m way more interested in the two of us,” he said.

  She shook her head again.

  “It’s just... I feel very strongly about this,” he went on. “About us.”

  “I know it’s hard when you’re so used to winning.”

  Every muscle in his body tensed. He had never known a woman like her. She never gave him a pass.

  And then, as if she wanted to prove him wrong, she unfolded her arms and made a concession.

  “I believe you about Fallon Kelly,” she said.

  He sparked up. “You do?”

  When she looked almost disappointed, like she thought he was surprised that he had pulled the wool over her eyes, he took it down a notch.

  “It’s the truth. Veda, I would never do that to you.”

  She seemed to gather her thoughts before moving to the railing. When he joined her, her eyes were narrowed on the horizon like she was trying to see into the future. Or maybe back into the past.

  “I’m not a fan of cowboys,” she said. “Particularly the smooth-talking kind.”

  “You’ve made that pretty clear.”

  “Do you want to know why? The truest, deepest, most terrifying reason?”

  As she faced him, he searched her resigned expression and nodded. “I really do.”

  “You know that my mother died in a car accident,” she began.

  “That was the word at the time.”

  “I was in the back seat.”

  He straightened as his stomach pitched. “God, Veda...were you hurt?”

  “Not a scratch.” Her grin was wry. “Isn’t that something?”

  More than ever, he wanted to reassure her somehow. But the best way to do that now was to sit tight and listen.

  “After Mom left my dad, she hooked up with a man. A cowboy with a silver tongue. Or at least where my mother was concerned. Dad didn’t keep in touch as such, but he sent money. Lots of it. Her cowboy was as sweet as he needed to be to get Mom to pay all the bills, including his gambling debts.”

  Ajax shuddered. He knew about Veda’s problems with her dad and dyslexia. But this story was shaping up to be even worse.

  “There were times when I was alone with him. He was nice until he started drinking. When he found out I couldn’t read that well, he liked to put me down. He’d make out like he was joking, calling me Dumbo, flapping his hands at the sides of his head.”

  Oh, Ajax was mad now. Was this asshole still alive? He wanted to track him down and teach him a lesson about picking on someone his own size.

  “The night of the accident,” Veda went on, “he was drinking from a flask with a pair of bull’s horns etched into the tin. Mom was driving. He wanted to see Vegas, so Vegas it was. He’d never been mean to me in front of her before. Only ever sweet like he was with her, even when she accused him of being with another woman. It’s all in your head, darlin’. I would never do that to you. But he told me once—said it straight-out—Mom was just his latest.”

  Ajax felt as if he were shrinking into the floor. The link was obvious.

  But he wasn’t that cowboy. He wasn’t that kind of man.

  He dug his hands deeper into his pockets. “You didn’t tell your mom how he was with you?”

  “I wanted to, but I didn’t want to take her happiness away. She was so in love with the guy.”

  The absolute wrong guy.

  While Ajax ground his teeth, Veda continued her story.

  “We were in the car that night when he started on about my grades. I needed to try harder, he said. Do better. Then he called me Dumbo, softly at first, but getting louder. Growing meaner.”

  Veda’s hands were laced together so tight, the knuckles were white.

  “I didn’t want to cry,” she said. “I wanted to tell him to shut up. That he wasn’t any better than me. But I was frozen...couldn’t get the words out. Mom was ripping into him, though. Telling him to back off or get out.”

  Ajax felt sick to his stomach. There really were some first-class pricks in the wor
ld. Men who got their kicks from hurting kids and women. Lowlifes who had zero respect for themselves or anyone else.

  “I was sitting in the back seat,” Veda said, “throat closed, only choked sobs getting out. Then...all I remember is the bull horns on that flask and the oncoming headlights getting closer through the rain.”

  Ajax had heard enough. He brought Veda close and held her until she had finished shaking.

  “The thing is,” she went on, “when we lived here, I blamed myself for my mother being unhappy so much of the time. She wanted to keep the family together. I was the reason she stayed so long. And, of course, I blamed myself for the accident. For her death. She’d been distracted, trying to protect the dumb, mute weirdo who had never learned to defend herself.”

  Ajax dredged up a heavy smile. “But, boy, you can stand up for yourself now.”

  She straightened. “I know who I am. Even if it’s hard sometimes, I know what I need to feel good about myself, and I can’t afford to ever go back.” Cupping his cheek, she searched his eyes and told him, “Ajax, not even for you.”

  Fifteen

  Since that afternoon two weeks ago when she and Ajax Rawson had said goodbye for good, Veda had fallen into a slump. She had gotten involved with the wrong man and fallen in love. Now she was paying the price.

  Today, after seeing off a new client at the door of her Jersey condo, Veda pulled up her sleeves and made a decision. She needed to regain a sense of control and, as nervous as she was about it, she thought she knew how. Time to step up, put it out there and reclaim that final piece of her power.

  Veda opened her laptop and pulled up her Best Life Now blog on the screen. Over the years, she had discussed life’s many challenges here: family, health, education and, of course, relationship issues. But this morning’s post would go deeper and hopefully help even more.

  I always try to be honest, Veda wrote under the header “A Life Coach’s Best Advice.” That’s the way to build trust in relationships and get good results. Except I haven’t been completely open here. I have a big secret, you see. One that I’m finally ready to share.

  My brain has trouble with letters and associated sounds. Things can get jumbled and blend together all wrong. In school, I really struggled to read. Then, whenever I got stressed, I would freeze up. Zone out.