America's Bravest (50 page)

“No.”

“No? Just like that?” His tone was
exasperated.

“I can’t trust you. You’re too erratic.”

“Only with you.”

“This has all gotten too confusing. It’s not
good for either of us.”

His gaze narrowed. “Is it because you know
Kessler’s free now?”

Damn him
. “No, it’s not. It’s
because you’ll throw those kinds of remarks in my face. I won’t
live waiting for you to ambush me.”

His jaw hardened and he glanced away. “Maybe
I’m jealous.”

“I don’t care, Max. Leave me alone.”

“I don’t think I want to give up that
easily.”

“
Maybe you’re jealous… You don’t
think?
Listen to yourself. You’re so wishy-washy, even to your
own ears, you have to sound unsure. I don’t need that in my life.
Good-bye, Max.”

She walked into the firehouse wondering how
many times she was going to have to say those words to him? Though
she’d put up a good front, she was sick inside about him and didn’t
want the pain.

“Okay, okay, sweetie. Mommy’s done.” Sydney
dumped the last of the hot water into the baby pool she’d assembled
in her backyard. Though six at night, May had turned so hot, she’d
decided the evening was good for swimming. So she dressed both
herself and Daisy in pink bathing suits, tied their hair in knots
on the tops of their heads and set up the plastic pool in the
backyard. Crossing to Daisy’s bouncy seat, she unsnapped her
daughter and picked her up. The solid baby feel of her child made
her content like nothing else could. This is all she needed.

“Water, water,” Daisy shouted, kicking her
feet.

“I know, we’re going in the water. Mommy,
too.”

Stepping over the plastic side, she plunked
down into the middle of the pool. She sat Daisy between her legs.
“Hmm, feel good?”

Daisy splashed. Sydney picked up a small
bucket, filled it with the warm water and poured it over Daisy’s
head. The little girl squealed with delight. “No sissy, are ya,
babe? We’re not afraid of the water.”

“Looks like you’re not afraid of a lot of
things.”

The deep male voice caused Sydney to stiffen.
Inside the gate to her yard stood Ken. Dressed in a shiny brown
T-shirt and khaki shorts, he looked cool and, unfortunately,
confident. One thing she’d loved about him was how
in
command
he always was. He closed the distance between them and
towered over the pool. She had to shade her eyes to look up at
him.

With her other hand, she gripped Daisy
tighter. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to see you without an audience
like we had the other night.”

Bravado won out. She wouldn’t be cowed by
this man.

“I’m Daisy,” her little girl said.

Ken gazed down at his daughter. “Hello,
sweetheart.”

“Daisy, Mommy’s getting out to talk to this
man. Play by yourself for a minute.” Sydney made quick work of
exiting the pool and putting on a cover up. She moved out of
hearing distance of her child, and he followed.

Rounding on him, she was about to speak but
he said, “And I’ve come to see my daughter.”

She said harshly, “She’s the daughter you
wanted to get rid of.”

His face fell. Really fell, as though he was
genuinely sad. “I can’t tell you how much I regret that hasty
decision.”

“Too late.”

“Obviously not.” He gestured to Daisy. “Why
didn’t you tell me?” he asked, pitching his voice low like he had
when they’d had sex.

“Oh, when? All those times you called to see
how I was?”

“I told you I had to give it one more try
with Diana.”

Sydney didn’t respond.

Ken stared at her. “She looks like me.”

“Unfortunately.”

“I knew she was mine right away.”

“So you can count. Big deal.”

“Sydney, please, can’t we talk about this
civilly?”

Her pulse rate sped up as anger gritted
through her. “There’s nothing to talk about. We went our separate
ways. I’m sorry you couldn’t keep your marriage together, but
having affairs often gums up the works.”

“An
affair. Only with you.”

“I’m honored,” she said sarcastically. “This
is tiresome, Ken. I have no interest in letting you into our
lives.”

“What if I do?”

Now she glared at him. “Why?”

“How can you ask that? I’m her father. Since
I know she’s…here, I want to get to know her.”

“No.”

He gave her his killer grin. “I’d like to see
you again, too.” His perusal of her from head to toe was icky.
“You’ve grown into a lovely woman.”

“Give me a break. I’ve grown up all right. I
won’t fall for your lines again.”

“What we had was real.”

“What we had was two nights a week. While you
were supposedly playing racquetball. Jesus, I can’t believe I
actually helped you wet your clothes down so Diana would think you
were where you said you were. How humiliating.”

“You make it sound so seedy. And trite.”

“It was both. We met in a bar. You said your
wife didn’t understand you and I fell for it.”

“All that was true.”

Daisy slapped the water and said, “Mommy,
come back!”

Crossing to her daughter, Sydney picked her
up, wrapped her in a towel and held her close. Raising her voice
some, because she was upset, she said, “I’d like you to leave.”

Leaning back on his heels he jutted his chin
out. The sun glistened off the highlights in his hair. “I’m not
going anywhere.”

“Yes, you are.” Again, a strong masculine
voice came from the near the gate.

Sydney looked over to see Ryan and Felicia in
the yard, now, too. Must be it was a night for visitors. They
crossed to the pool.

“Who are you?” Ken asked.

“Uncle Ryan.” Daisy held out her arms.

Ryan took Daisy and held her close to his
chest. “Sergeant O’Malley. I’m a police officer. So, if I were you,
I’d do what the lady asked and get out of here. Harassment’s a
crime.”

Ken shook his head. “All right. I’ll go.” He
turned to Sydney. “This isn’t over by a long shot.”

As he passed her new visitors, Felicia
grabbed his arm. She was shorter than Ken, but stood on her toes to
get in his face. Literally. “I’m not a cop, buddy, but I’ll tell
you this. You come here unannounced again and you’ll answer to all
of us.”

“And who is that?”

“The entire Hidden Cove Fire and Police
Departments.”

He rolled his eyes but did indeed leave.

Ryan waited till he was gone. “Who was that,
Syd?”

“Daisy’s f-a-t-h-e-r.” She spelled the word
so Daisy wouldn’t understand.

Both of their jaws dropped. She’d never
shared any details of her circumstances, even with these people she
cared about so much.

“What did he want?” Felicia asked softly. She
could be a tyrant, but Licia was nothing if not loyal.

“It’s a long and very boring story.”

“Which you can tell us over ice cream. We
stopped to see if you guys wanted to go with us.”

“How sweet.”

“Wanna go for ice cream,” Daisy put in.
“Brown!”

Felicia took Daisy from Ryan. “While you
dress, I’ll change Daisy, and we’ll get some treats. Ryan can go
out front to make sure Daddy of the Year is gone.”

Ryan ruffled her hair. “Yes, ma’am.”

Sydney grinned, said, “Yes, ma’am,” and
headed into the house with her friend, feeling marginally
better.

oOo

Max sat with Cal at a table in the bar of the
Lakeside Restaurant, stirring his scotch with a stick. Soft piano
music played from the corner and the place was crowded. They met
for dinner and drinks like this frequently.

Cal studied him. “You look down.”

“I am.” He glanced away. “And I can’t talk to
you about it.”

“Why not? We share everything—the drag of
being alone, problems at work, cheating spouses.”

Now Max did snag his friend’s gaze. “You
know, I always felt bad for what happened with you and Laura.
Annette’s illness changed her. They were like sisters, and your
wife fell apart when Annette got sick.”

“I know that was partly the cause. But it
didn’t affect how I felt about her infidelity. Adultery under any
circumstances is unacceptable.”

Max thought about Daisy’s father cheating on
his wife. “I guess. But Annette and I managed.”

“You know I still think her emotional
involvement with another man was as bad as physical cheating.”

“And I think it was worse. I forgave her only
because I was partly to blame.”

Briefly, Cal stared off into space. “I
suppose I was, too, in mine and Laura’s relationship, by working so
much. And my focus on the job ruined what my son and I had.”

“Have you seen Peter lately?”

“When Sally invites me over or to come to one
of Tommy’s games. I’d give my right arm to spend more time with my
grandson. My son, too. He’s still removed, distant. Now that’s
something I’ll never forgive myself for.”

“Yeah, I don’t know what I’d do without
Amber.”

“Who’s a sweetie.” He took a gulp of liquor.
“Hell, all that’s water under the bridge. Tell me what’s eating you
now.”

“As I said, I don’t feel I can talk to you
about it. You’re, um, indirectly involved.”

He saw the calculations tick through Cal’s
eyes. Few people knew how brilliant the man was. “Does this have
anything to do with Sydney Sands? You two were tight at the party
you threw for us.”

“Yeah.”

“She’s pretty young.”

“There is that.”

“But mature and competent, too. She strikes
me as a woman who knows her own mind. Is she interested in
you?”

He thought of her whimpers when he was inside
her. “She was initially. Now I don’t know. I’ve already made
mistakes with her that I can’t seem to rectify.” Max thought for a
minute. But if he could… “Look, Cal, would this put you in an
awkward position if I was, you know, to date her?”

“I don’t think so. In any case, she might not
even be under my supervision.” He grinned, an unusual expression
for this somber man. “I was just told something that nobody knows
yet. I’m on the short list for deputy chief.”

“Hey, buddy, that’s great. Really great.”

“Yeah, it’s something I’ve always
wanted.”

“Good for you.”

The waitress approached their table. Max
glanced up and realized it wasn’t the one who had gotten them
drinks. A beautiful woman stood before them. She wore a jewel-red
dress and had skeins of dark hair. And she was staring at Cal. “I
thought I recognized you, Chief Erikson.”

Cal’s brows shot up. “Well, if it isn’t
Parker Allen. Our little nemesis.”

Max had never heard Cal speak so
condescendingly. But now that he knew who the woman was, he
understood his friend’s tone.

“Mind if I sit?” She was already pulling out
a chair and dropping into it.

“What do you want?” Cal asked.

“Um, white wine. Thanks for asking.”

Cal angled his head at Max. “Do you
mind?”

“No. Not at all.” He couldn’t imagine what
was about to unfold. “I’m Max Delinsky.”

“Right. You put out
The Heart of Hidden
Cove
. It’s a nice little magazine, though a bit too sappy for
my taste.”

“And I’ve been reading your blog. It’s a bit
too brash for mine.”

Tossing back her hair, Parker Allen laughed.
Around her neck and at her ears were rubies. Her appearance as well
as her reaction was full of sensual appeal and guys at the next
table turned to look at her. “Touché.”

Cal had signaled a waitress and ordered for
the reporter. “Bring us another, too. I think I’m going to need
one.”

“So,” Max said, lazing back casually. “You’ll
be interested to know that my magazine is doing a whole issue on
the Hidden Cove Fire Department.”

Her black brows rose. “I don’t suppose you’ll
be fair.”

“No fairer than you,” Cal put in. “I tried to
call you for a few weeks after this vendetta started and
periodically since then. Why won’t you talk to me?”

She leaned over giving Cal a glimpse of her
cleavage. “Why do you think, Chief?”

“How the hell did you get those pictures of
my crew, anyway? And the information from the training on
bombs?”

“A reporter never reveals her sources, right
Mr. Delinsky?”

Max held up his hands, arrest style. “Leave
me out of this.”

“You have to have a source in the fire
department.”

“I do, huh? How would that make you feel,
Chief, if one of your own is feeding information to the enemy?”

Instead of answering, Cal leaned back, too,
and casually crossed his ankle over his leg. Max knew this was his
pre-attack mode. “You know we have you all figured out.”

“Oh, I’ll bet you do.” Her drink arrived and
she took a hefty sip. “Tell me.”

“Well, for one thing, we know who Nigel
Larson is.”

Max had never seen color drain from someone’s
face so fast. When he glanced at Cal, he saw a flicker of concern
in his friend’s eyes, too.

Allen got her mojo back quickly, though, and
raised her chin. “You bastard. You’re going to regret having me
investigated.”

Instead of basking in his victory—he’d surely
shaken her up—Cal leaned over and braced his arms on the table.
“What did you expect, Parker? After how you’ve attacked my
department.”

“Humanity, maybe.” Her gaze narrowed. “Why
haven’t you done something with the information?”

“Noah Callahan and I decided we didn’t want
to sink to your level and use it. Though we’ve been tempted over
the last several months.” He shook his head. “But you know what?
I’m getting this close”—he made a gesture with his thumb and
forefinger—“to changing my mind.”

Still staring at him, she took another sip of
her drink, slammed the glass down and scraped her chair back. “That
sounds suspiciously like a threat,
Cal
. And I don’t take
to them very well.” Standing, she stormed away.