Close Up (23 page)

No more excuses. No more cop-outs.

No matter how much it hurt.

The next morning, there was a delivery from overnight express on her doorstep with Sean’s corporate logo on it. Inside the thick envelope was a check for five thousand dollars for Ebbe’s bail. Plus another check for five thousand dollars made out to her personally with a Post-it note that said, “For whatever you need. XO Sean.”

Then there were the divorce papers she’d had served to him.

Signed by him in bold, deeply slanted strokes.

It hit her hard that what she had done this time was irreversible. She really was 100 percent on her own and alone.

Her heart ached for the husband she had never been a good wife to, and she vowed that she wouldn’t waste her life this go-round. If she had to sacrifice Sean, then she was damn well going to become a woman she could be proud of.

* * *

S
EAN STOKED THE
fire in the cabin and padded to the kitchen to refill his coffee. His family wasn’t expected until tomorrow, and he was enjoying the solitude, the quiet peace of the frozen lake and the bare trees. His brothers had thought he was insane when he said he was going to spend the entire winter at the cabin. If the weather turned warm for even a few days, he wouldn’t be able to drive a snowmobile across the softening ice and he could be trapped until spring. But something about the very concept had appealed to him.

He was on a work hiatus, having given over the face-to-face interactions to his office manager and his primary security expert. He was available remotely and could do webcam conference calls. Between his cell and email, he wasn’t having an issue staying on top of things. But the rule was, he worked no more than four hours per day. The rest of his time was spent tramping through the forest, chopping wood, ice fishing and tossing a ball to Bobby, the Labrador he’d rescued from a shelter.

In the spring, he thought he would go back to Minneapolis, but maybe not. He’d play it by ear.

Having Kristine close the door on him a second time had done precisely what Liam had predicted it would. It had been a kick in the teeth so hard he was still seeing stars. But in a way, it had been a positive thing. It had forced him out to the island to regroup, and it was the best thing he’d done in years. He was relaxed, healthy and stress-free.

If he was lonely, well, that wasn’t so different than from before.

He had cut down a pine on his property and had hauled it into the two-story living room to make a nice Christmas presentation for his nieces when they arrived. He had asked his mother to bring some ornaments, and while it looked a little empty right now, it smelled fantastic.

Bobby lifted her head off the couch and listened.

“What do you hear, buddy?” Sean liked having the dog with him. She was a good companion and was determined to sleep at his feet on the bed, despite his repeated attempts to stop her. That kind of loyal determination he could appreciate.

She’d probably heard an animal in the brush.

But then Sean heard it, too. A snowmobile, coming across the lake. Someone was a day early.

Taking his time pulling on his coat, boots and hat, he finally made his way across the snow-covered deck and down the steps he cleared on a daily basis, it seemed. What he saw when he got to the lake made him narrow his eyes. It was his father with a woman who was most definitely not his mother. He could tell by the shape and the clothes. But beyond that, she wore a ski mask, so he had no idea who it was. She was too tall to be Mary, but maybe it was his brother Declan’s wife.

He raised a hand in greeting, then dropped it again when she peeled off the mask and he saw it was Kristine. What the hell?

But there was no time or ability to speak. His father didn’t even dismount or turn off the engine. Kristine just nimbly hopped off the snowmobile and carefully picked her way to the dock. Grabbing a post, she hauled herself off the ice and blew out a breath of relief before stopping in front of him, giving him a big, bright smile. “Hi.”

“Hello.” Because what else was he supposed to say? What was she doing there? Why was she determined to torture him? Did she forget her toothbrush?

His father took off in a spray of snow. Some of it drifted down onto Sean’s head and in front of Kristy’s face, giving her a luminescent, magical quality.

“I hope you don’t mind me coming out here,” she said. “But I have a few things to give you.”

“Okay,” he said tentatively. “Come on up and inside. It’s a little cold out.”

“It is.” She laughed nervously, snow dusting her hair. “That was quite a ride across the lake. Whew.”

Still stymied and completely unsure what to say, Sean held out his hand and helped her climb up the crunchy snow-dusted steps. They had only spoken once in the past two months, and it had been awkward, with many things left unsaid. Kristine had initiated the call, but then hadn’t said much of anything besides swearing repeatedly that she would pay him back, so he had assumed that was her only intention.

When they got inside, kicking off snowy boots and peeling off coats, Bobby ran over and greeted them, sniffing the newcomer.

“Who is this?” Kristine asked, leaning over to rub Bobby’s ears and let his dog lick her face. “Hi, sweetie. Oh, you’re so soft.”

“This is Bobby.”

Kristine shot him a look. Yes, he had named the dog in a moment of remembering her with that bass she had decided to deem Bob. But she didn’t say anything, she just lifted the backpack she had dropped onto the floor and went over to the kitchen table and set it there. “It’s good to see you.”

His heart gave a painful thunk. Kristine looked fantastic. Relaxed. Happy. He was so happy to see her looking and obviously feeling so well. Yet at the same time, it made him feel so...unnecessary. So yesterday in her life.

“It’s good to see you, too.” It was. Shocking, but damn good.

“I brought you a few things.” She smiled and pulled out a tin. “Cookies. Share them with your family.”

That forced him to smile a little. “Sure. Thanks, that was sweet of you.”

With a flourish she pulled a giant blanket out of the pack. “A blanket for the cabin that I knit.”

Now he really was touched. “Wow, Kristy, I’m impressed. Thank you.”

“I’ve opened an online shop on a big craft site that gets a ton of traffic. Knitwear, blankets, pillows, repurposed vintage goods, jewelry. It’s early, but so far, it’s doing respectable. And most importantly, it makes me really happy.”

“That’s fantastic. I’m so proud of you.” He meant it. She deserved happiness and success.

She handed him an envelope. “Ebbe’s first payment on the money for the bail. She got probation because of the assault charge and community service, and I think, maybe, she learned a lesson. But I wouldn’t swear to that.”

“It was a gift, to help out. She doesn’t have to repay me.”

Kristine gave him a long look. “Oh, yes, she does. Every penny, plus 6 percent interest.”

She sounded as if she’d take it out of Ebbe’s hide if she didn’t. Sean couldn’t help but smile at her. “Fair enough. But the money I gave you was a gift. Please don’t hand me a check from you. I’ll be offended.” And hurt.

But she actually grinned. “Oh, I know. I wasn’t planning to pay that back. Nor am I planning to let you live out here on this island all by yourself.”

He raised his eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I couldn’t afford my rent after I lost my job, and living with my mother for the past two months has damn near killed me. Your parents told me you’re here all by yourself in this big house all winter so I figured I could crash your party.”

Was she trying to destroy him? Did she honestly think he could be roommates with her? He was debating disabusing her of the notion they were casual friends with a crushing kiss when she added, “I mean, really, generally speaking husbands and wives live together.”

That was it. He needed answers. He closed the distance between them and looked down at her, studying her smile. “Kristy, what the hell is going on? Why are you really here? Because if you raise my hopes then dash them, I am not going to be a happy man.”

Her expression grew serious and she took a deep breath. “What I’m trying to say is that I never filed those divorce papers. I was so embarrassed and so ashamed of what happened, and I felt like such a tremendous loser. But then I went home and got my stuff together, like I said, and you know what? It was easier than I expected. I just needed to believe in myself and I had to let you go to prove to myself I could do it on my own. I hit rock bottom and I crawled out and I realized that if you loved me then, at my worst, maybe I should trust that you’ll love me now. If it’s not too late. If I haven’t pushed you away for good this time.”

That did it. His anxiety melted away and he pulled her into his arms. “It’s about time you came to your senses. I fell in love with
you,
and success is measured by how happy you are. That’s why I’m here. I want a simpler life. A better life.” He kissed her and it felt so right. So perfect. “I was prepared to do it solo, but I have to tell you, baby, I’ll be a thousand times happier if I can do it with you.”

“Really?” Her face lit up. “You don’t hate my face?”

Sean laughed. “Now how could I hate a face like this?” He kissed her again, softly, letting his hands slide down her backside. “By the way, I like the lack of lipstick. It tastes better.”

“I’ll be wearing it tomorrow when I cook dinner for your family here. I’m sorry, I do like my lipstick.”

“You’re cooking dinner?”

She nodded. “Your parents are bringing over my suitcase, too. I left it at their house because I didn’t want to be presumptuous.”

This was why he loved her. The perfect combination of humble and confident. “Does that mean you’re not going to run out on me? You’re really staying and you’re prepared to use the outhouse and sleep with me every night?”

“One is a sacrifice, one is a pleasure. No more running. Ever. I’m staying put with you as long as you’ll have me.”

He loved her. It was that simple. “Then prepare to learn how to ice fish, because I’m keeping you indefinitely.”

She snuggled against him, but then jerked back. “Oh, I have one more thing!”

It was a picture frame, and when Sean turned it over, his heart almost stopped. It was Kristine, posing pinup-girl style in sexy lingerie. “Wow. Just wow.”

“Since you seemed to enjoy that picture of me in your bed, I thought maybe you would like this.”

He guided her hand down to his erection. “The answer is yes. You look amazing. Stunning. A complete and total bombshell, Kristy.” He resisted the urge to lick the photo.

“Ian Bainbridge took it.”

“Excuse me?” That made him slightly less than happy. “Should I be jealous?”

“No, of course not! I just trusted him. I didn’t want it to be awkward, and he’s the consummate professional. He had two female assistants with him. And trust me, this was a huge step for me. I don’t like people to see me in my underwear.”

“I’m proud of you.” He knew she struggled with her self-esteem, and it made him happy to see she’d taken such a huge step. So many huge steps. “Can I see you in your underwear right now?”

She smiled seductively. “It’s time for my close-up. I hope you’ll like what you see.”

He had never been more sure of anything in his life.

* * * * *

Look for the next book in Erin McCarthy’s series
FROM EVERY ANGLE!
Coming in 2015 from Harlequin Blaze.

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Ten years ago one devastating night changed everything for Austin, Hunter and Alex. Now they must each play their part in the revenge against the one man who ruined it all.

Austin Treffen has the plan… Hunter has the money… Alex has the power!

Read each of their stories in the captivating Fifth Avenue trilogy, only from Harlequin Presents:

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