Love on Ice (Cannon City Series Book 2) (13 page)

“No, that’s enough for tonight,” she said. He saw her look out at the ice and could detect something that appeared to be longing in her eyes. “I may want to start doing this regular time though. Its good exercise and my lungs could use the workout.”

“Do you sort of miss it, the skating and the attention?” he asked as they sat down at the table. He started to untie his skates.

She sat back in her chair. “Not so much the attention.” She crinkled her nose and looked at him. “I think I just miss the freedom. I can’t explain it, but I get this emotional high when I’m out there and everything feels right.”

Jay nodded. “I think I know what you mean. There’s something about the movement on the ice that grabs at your head and...I don’t know, it’s sort of peaceful.”

“Yeah, I suppose it has to do with a chemical reaction. I can’t remember the word for that hormone that gets released, but when I skate it’s such a good feeling.”

****

As they finished changing back into their shoes, Jay looked at her. “Kate, have you ever thought about teaching?”

“No, not really.”

“I can understand the parent issue better now since meeting your mom, but I think you’d be a great teacher.”

“I’ll think about it.” She put her skates into the box and took off her gloves.

“I’ll go get the CD and we’ll be off.” He stood up and held his skates by the laces.

She watched him turn and move to the stairs. She looked out at the ice again and thought maybe teaching wouldn’t be so bad. She could start with just one or two kids. She refused to teach Shelby if it meant she’d have to deal with Monica. She’d probably be arrested for hitting that woman. Kate felt his warm hand on her shoulder.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Jay?” She stood up and looked up at him. “You do know I’m jealous of you.”

“Jealous? Of what?”

“The relationship you have with your mom and dad.” Kate’s eyes started to fill, but she was determined not to cry and closed her eyes. She hated when she felt sorry for herself. “I never experienced what you have with your folks.”

“What do you mean?”

“The way your mom teased you about the blood sacrifices still makes me laugh. I just am jealous that I don’t know what that type of relationship feels like.”

“I did tell you, my mom has your new cell phone number. On your next day off, I have a feeling you’re going to be busy. She said something about cooking, shopping and lunch out. She thinks we spend too much time together and it would be best to split us up for a couple of hours.”

“She did offer to teach me how to cook.” She leaned up against him. It was the first time in a couple of days she felt calm, but also felt tired and needed some sleep. “Your mom was very nice to me the other morning.”

“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get out of here.”

Chapter Fifteen

Edna Hardy sat on the bed in her dreary hotel room. The TV played, but she’d kept the volume down. A headache pulsed in her temples and she didn’t want to throw up. That asshole sheriff stood in the parking lot of the diner until Ken took off in the SUV. She’d wanted to go back in and finish the argument with her spoiled daughter, but the sheriff stood there and just watched as they drove away.

She took her water glass off the nightstand and sipped. Her cell phone rang and she picked it up. She smirked when she saw the name on the reader box.

“Hi, honey,” she answered and waited to hear her husband’s voice.

“Sweetheart, how did your meeting with Stacy go?” His deep voice made her head vibrate.

“Not well. She has a boyfriend and he thinks he’s a superhero. He’s tall and very full of himself. I guess he once played hockey. He broke Bradley’s nose and I’d like to have him arrested for assault. As far as Stacy goes, I’m at a loss. She isn’t willing to listen.”

“Did you make her realize how much money she could make if she were to appear in one of our films?” Max asked.

“I didn’t get a chance to bring it up. Her attorney and a sheriff showed up. It got a little ugly for a moment and Stacy made some very rude accusations.”

“Edna, why don’t you let it go, for now? Let Stacy know about the deal, come home and give her some time to think about what she’s missing. Surely she doesn’t think there’s much for her there in Podunk, USA?”

“No, Max. She owes me. She could have made a mint with Stars on Ice, but at this point I think the skating is history. She’s gotten too old, but she’s kept her body in very good shape and she’d be fabulous in the bondage film you’ve tossed around. After this evening, I’d love nothing more than to see her chained up and screwed fiercely by Mr. Nine-inch.”

“Do you mean Darren?”

“Is that his name? I have a terrible time with names.” She heard Max let out a heavy breath and felt nervous for just a moment. “She might need a little body upgrade. Her breasts could be bigger,” she said and wanted this conversation to go her way. She would get her way or make his life a living Hell.

“Sweetheart, why don’t you just take her?”

Edna sat up straight on the bed and realized her headache started to get better. Then she thought of Ken and Bradley not wanting to bend the law. “There’s a problem there, Max. I mentioned that possibility to Ken and he insisted on being a law-abiding citizen. I guess since he and Brad have already experienced prison, they don’t want to go there again.”

“Hmm...is that right? I should speak with them about that attitude. They’re in the wrong business to look at things that way.” The line went silent and then she heard her husband sigh. “I may have some other less law friendly men who could get the job done. Let me ask you this, Edna, my darling. Is she worth the price I’d have to pay these two men?”

She bit her lip and grinned. “Definitely, honey. We could clean up with DVDs alone and if I know my daughter, she’d be incredible in some BDSM films, too.”

“Is she a screamer?”

“I don’t know from firsthand experience, but I’m willing to bet she’s very vocal.”

“All right, sweetheart. I’ll let you know after I’ve instructed my two men. It should be tomorrow or the next day at the latest. I want this done and get you back home. My bed is very cold without you.”

“I’ll be waiting on pins and needles, Max. I love you,” she said and clicked her phone off. She held the phone to her lips, grinned and thought
this is going to be fun
.

Chapter Sixteen

Jay lay next to Kate under the comforter on his bed. They’d just woken up and the sun shone through the bedroom window. Their legs were tangled together. They kissed and let their hands wander and then heard the door bell ring.

“Dammit, we’re busy. I say let’s ignore it,” Jay said and put his lips back on hers. He pushed her onto her back and ran his hand down her pelvis.

“You’ll get no complaint from me, babe.” She smiled and kissed his chin. She ran her tongue down his neck and then sucked in a breath as his fingers found her nice, warm spot and slid between her wet folds and into her channel.

Jay put his lips back on hers and their tongues touched. He felt his penis grow harder and then his cell phone rang. He growled deep in his chest. “I may have to kill somebody.” He kissed her nose and brought his hand out from under the covers. He picked up his cell phone and looked at the reader. “It’s Frank.” He pushed a receive button. “Hey, we’re busy.”

“I knew you were here. Get out of bed and answer the door. I have some news.”

Jay hung up and looked down at Kate. “He’s at the door and says he has some news.”

She nodded. “I guess we’d better get up then. I’m going to mark this page in our book, so when we come back we can pick up from where we left off.”

Jay chuckled. “I don’t want to get up, but yeah, hopefully Frank won’t be all long-winded lawyer and then we can come back and I’ll let you devour my body, beautiful woman.” He kissed her again and let her get up.

While she washed her face, Jay put on his jeans and ran down to the front door. Frank walked in and carried a bag of bagels and his briefcase.

“Do you want coffee?” Jay asked and walked into the kitchen.

“Yes, please. I’ve been up all night.” Frank sat at the table and rubbed his eyes. “I didn’t want to go over this on the phone.”

“You could have at least combed your hair and put on a clean shirt. You look like crap, man,” Jay said and put coffee into the maker.

“Thanks, I’ll remember that next time we’re on the ice with our brooms.”

“So, the news, is it good?” Jay turned from the coffee pot and looked at him. Frank glanced up at him and shook his head. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“No.”

They heard Kate’s footsteps come down the stairs. Jay poured water into the coffee maker and tried not to get worried. When he turned back around, Kate entered the kitchen and Frank stood up from his chair and smiled.

“Hi Frank. Please, sit down. It’s too early in the day for formality,” she said and walked to the other side of the table. Jay sat down next to her and took her hand.

“Early? It’s ten o’clock.” Frank eased himself back down. “How are you doing this morning, Kate?”

“I’m fine,” she said. Jay thought he could hear tension in her voice. “Yesterday felt pretty intense, but you’ll be pleased to know Jay took extremely good care of me last night as per your instructions.” She smiled and leaned on Jay’s shoulder.

“Good. I’m glad he listened to me for a change.” Frank sat forward and put his hands on the table. “So, no time like the present, right? I have some good news and some weird news. I’m going to start with the weird. After that little meet over at Harry’s Diner last night, something your mom said bugged me.”

“Long legs,” Jay said. He hoped and prayed it wasn’t what he thought.

Frank looked at him. “You too?” Jay nodded.

“Did I miss something?” Kate looked back and forth between them.

“No, it’s a guy thing. When I got home last night, I got online and searched your new step-dad, Max Hardy.” Frank sat back and crossed his arms over his chest.

Jay saw a frown on Frank’s face and thought he looked in pain. “What did you find out?”

Frank huffed and looked away from them. “I said it yesterday, Kate. Your mother is a piece of work. Max Hardy does make films, but not the reputable kind.”

“Porn?” Jay asked and watched Frank nod. “Son-of-a-bitch.”

Kate sat forward and let go of Jay’s hand. “Frank, are you saying she wants me for porn films?”

“Direct to DVD and it’s a very lucrative business. Max Hardy is one of the biggest names in that business and yes, I believe that’s why they’re after you.”

The room went dead silent, except for the gurgle from the coffee maker. Jay felt a weight land on his shoulders and he wasn’t sure what he should do first. Did he need to hold Kate and comfort her or go find her mother and give her a piece of his mind? He felt torn between worry and anger.

Kate sat back and pinched her nose with fingers. “Unbelievable. You were right, Frank. This is weird.”

“Max Hardy DVD’s can be really brutal. I read there isn’t any form of sex he hasn’t touched on in his little films. Bondage, bestiality, orgies, you name it and he’ll film it. The one thing, Kate, is that your mother never came right out and said that’s what they’re after. She never said she wants you for porn films, but when you hear the good news it will have to make you wonder.”

Jay stood up and pulled the cabinet door open. He took three mugs out and slammed the door shut. He poured three cups of coffee and took them to the table. When he sat back down, he saw Frank watched him. “What?” he asked.

“I know your pissed, Jay. Tone it down, okay. I’ve said it before; I don’t want to have to defend you right now.”

Jay nodded and put his arm around Kate’s shoulders. “So what is the good news?”

Frank looked at Kate. “Your dad is alive. Your mother divorced him three years ago, but he’s alive and well in Portland. I got in touch with him this morning and he wants to talk to you, Kate. I’m supposed to call him later and let him know if you’ll agree to see him. Your dad says he can get a flight and be here by tomorrow. The fact that your mother lied about him being dead makes me wonder about her motivations. I think she wants you for the money that can be made off the films. I doubt she’d come right out and admit it, but that’s what I believe.”

“And that’s all she wants me for is the money. That’s what you’re saying?” Kate said.

“That’s what I truly believe.” Frank nodded.

Jay tried to take her hand, but she pushed him away. She stood up and stared at Frank. She started to say something, but stopped and left the table.

Jay watched her head to the living-room. “Frank, how about I call you later. You can take the coffee with you.”

“I brought bagels,” Frank said and looked at Jay. He nodded. “We still need to discuss which subject to focus on first. Go to her and we’ll enjoy breakfast after a bit.”

Jay got up and followed Kate. He saw the doors to the deck open and she stood at the rail, her hands tightly held onto the wooden post. He could see white spots on her knuckles.

“Babe.” He stood next to her, but didn’t touch her.

“Jay,” she said and her voice cracked. “Remember when we ate lunch a couple of weeks ago? I told you when things get too close, it’s time for me to leave. And sometime later you said if I felt panicked I should let you know and we’d talk about it? ” She looked up at him as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Jay felt scared. Her eyes looked angry and hard, but tears ran from them. He could tell she was hurt and wanted to hold her. As he reached up to touch her cheek, she moved back a step. He dropped his hand. “Fine, we’ll both go. Give me half an hour to pack up some stuff. We’ll take the Jeep and head out.”

“That’s really nice of you, but no. I wanted too much. I felt lonely and thought maybe I could have a normal relationship, but...” She looked away from him at the back yard. “I don’t think it’s in my cards to ever be happy. For some reason the Gods are against me. You can’t leave, Jay. You have family and friends here and you’d only end up hating me for taking you away.”

Jay moved up to her and put one hand behind her neck. The other slid around her waist. She tried to push him away, but he pulled her close and rested his head on her shoulder.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, Kate, I can’t live without you now and if it means we leave together, then so be it.”

Kate stopped trying to push him away and he straightened. He saw her frown and her eyebrows folded together. “Jay, why are you shaking?”

“You’re scaring the crap out of me, sweetheart. I find someone for the first time in my life and for some crazy cosmic reason I love her more than anything and because of outside troubles she’s threatening to disappear from my life. I can understand how people sometimes go completely mad and do terrible things, because if I don’t leave with you that might be me. I seriously want to hurt your mother. Sweetheart, please, let me help you fight her.”

Kate put her hand on his chest. He let go of her neck and put his hand over hers. “Jay, think what this will mean for you. I can’t ask you to do this,” she said.

“Babe, don’t make me strap you down with duct tape and keep you captive.” He moved his hands down her shoulders and held onto her upper arms.

She looked at him and her frown got deeper. “This is not funny, Jay, and you said you weren’t into bondage.” She hit him on the shoulder.

“Are you pissed at me?”

“Yes.”

“Good, hold that feeling and let me help.” He looked into her eyes and knew she was confused.

“Excuse me,” Frank said from the door. “I’m not sure about the duct tape thing, but I want to help, too. Kate, you’ve got to know if Jay’s begging then I think you’re going to have a hard time getting rid of him.”

Jay watched her expression soften and she grabbed onto his shirt.

“I need to think. I’m going to take a shower.” She looked up at him.

“Can I join you?” Jay asked and kept hold of her arms.

“No, I need some space for a little while. Talk to Frank and drink too much coffee.” She let go of his shirt and walked into the house.

****

Kate let the hot water pound onto her neck and shoulders. She wanted to scream, cry, beat up on something and laugh hysterically all at once. She placed her hands on the tiles and put her head down between her arms. The warm water moved down her back and legs and helped with the chill that over took her. A voice kept a litany going in her brain. Over and over it said the time had come to find a bus out of Colorado. It stabbed at her heart to think she might hurt Jay. The thought of him leaving Canon City with her was impossible. He’d been so kind to offer, but she couldn’t ask him to give up his life.

She put her head on her arm on the shower wall. Besides her brain telling her to leave, it screamed at her about her mother’s lies. That woman’s lies affected her life for far too long and she felt angry at herself for being scared. She’d let everything her mother said make her feel small, afraid and vulnerable.

She turned off the water, dried off and got dressed. She used Jay’s hair dryer and brush and looked at herself in the mirror. There she saw a woman who didn’t want to run anymore. She was tired and wanted a life. She wanted to be a part of something and not be on the outside anymore. She felt sick of watching people around her enjoy their lives.

Kate put her socks on and went down the stairs. Jay and Frank still sat at the kitchen table. They’d torn open Franks bag of bagels and prepared them, but neither man had touched the food. She walked over to Jay and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She kissed his neck and sat down next to him.

“Do you want some coffee, babe?” Jay asked.

“No, not right now.” She wove her fingers through his and put their hands on her lap. “I’ve made a decision.” Jay and Frank both looked at her expectantly. “Frank, would you call my dad and tell him I’ve got my hands full with my mother. Tell him when she’s gone, I’ll think more seriously about contacting him.”

“Got it,” Frank said.

“So, other than killing my mother and burying the body up in the mountains, how do I get rid of her?”

“I can have my assistant file the restraining order today. It will keep her at least one thousand feet away from you. I’ve also got papers ready for a harassment suit. We can threaten her with it and ask for an ungodly amount of mental compensation.”

“Frank, the only thing I want from her is to never see her again. I know we’re supposed to forgive, but it’s going to be a really long time, if ever, before that happens. Even if we won against her, I don’t want money. I just want her to agree never to step near me again.” Kate stood up and went to the coffee maker. She found the cups and poured. “Wait a minute, I had a cup of coffee...”

“It got cold, babe. I cleaned the cup and put it away.”

She nodded and carried the new cup to the table.

“Kate, I contacted Harry and let him know, again, you won’t be at work tonight and will probably be out the rest of the week. He said not to worry, your job is safe,” Frank said. “I’m going to set up a meeting with your mother as soon as we can.”

“Frank, is there any way you could have this conference without me? It makes me so uncomfortable to be around her and I’d rather not attend.” The last thing she wanted was to deal with her mother. A plan started to form in her head, but she didn’t have it complete yet. She knew there was only one answer to her problem.

“We need to do this. If we face her head on, you’ll be finished with her forever and can look to the future. If we don’t get the ball rolling, you’ll still be looking over your shoulder and I know you don’t want that, sweetheart,” Frank said.

“Okay then let’s do it. The sooner the better.” She took a sip of coffee and then looked at both of them. Her eyes settled on Jay. “I want to run. I think it’s ingrained into my genes. It’s really hard not to go and pack my bag.” She looked at his eyes and put her hand on his cheek.

“Are you two certain you don’t want to use my cabin for a few days?” Frank asked.

“That’s very nice, but I’ve decided not to run. My head still wants to go to the bus station and get out of Colorado.” She ran her thumb over Jay’s lips and leaned over to kiss him. “I want to fight it as much as possible. I think what Jay and I have is more important than any threats my mother can dish out. It’s time I stopped being scared all the time and fight for what I want. Thank you for the offer, Frank.”

“Jay, you’re awfully quiet over there. Are you okay?”

Kate saw Jay look across the table at Frank and nod. “I’m just watching my woman stake her claim and enjoying every minute of it.” Jay smiled and squeezed her hand.

Frank shook his head. “All right then, I’ve got some work to do and I’ll contact you later with the time of the meeting.” He put his bagel onto a napkin and stood up. “I’ll see you later.”

“Frank, get some rest. You look done in,” Kate said and smiled.

They both said goodbye, but didn’t leave the table and sat quietly for a few minutes. Kate finally turned sideways on her chair and put her feet on the crossbar of his.

“Jay, sweetheart, good-looking man, darling, dear...hmm, what other endearments can I use?” She put her hand on his shoulder.

He leaned on her knees. “How about scorching hot dude or luscious lips?”

“I did say good-looking man.”

“Yeah, but I’m more than just
good
, right?”

Kate laughed and moved her hands around his neck. “Yeah, you are. Thank you for being so incredibly patient today. I still want to run, but the part that wants to fight for you - for us - has gotten a little bigger. Little bigger? I wonder if that’s correct.”

Jay took hold of her leg and started to pull it over his legs. He leaned over and grabbed her rear end. He pulled her onto his lap and kept his hands on her behind. “You were too far away from me. You’re welcome.” He moved his arms around her and gave her a tight hug.

“Babe, I can’t guarantee I won’t ever not want to run, but I can work on it and try to keep the panic under control. I just...I don’t want...”

He let her sit up straight. “What?”

“I don’t want you to get frustrated with me. It’s got to be difficult for you to put up with all this crap. I’m so sorry to drag you into it.”

He put his hands on either side of her face and looked into her eyes. “Kate, you are who you are and I don’t expect you to change for me. The only thing I ask is that you don’t push me away anymore and don’t run. That hurts my heart more than anything. We can get this worked out.”

“That’s two things, Jay.” She put her hand on his cheek and kissed his lips. She felt his hands move back down to her waist and then up under her shirt.