Emergency Ex Page 3

  Just then Mona came in with a cart bearing a coffeemaker, a platter with enough bagels to feed ten and all the trimmings. Brenda willed her stomach not to rumble at the sight. Maybe she should have stopped for breakfast.

  Lars thanked Mona, who poured coffee for two before retreating. He helped himself to a bagel, spread cream cheese and, for a space of time, managed to avoid eye contact. Though she kept her guard up, Brenda indulged. She even drank a half cup more of coffee.

  Lars swallowed before speaking. “We have profited together. Don’t lose sight of the fact that our cocoa beans are an essential part of your brand.”

  So he was going to play that card, was he? Brenda replaced her cup with a tad more force than strictly necessary and bared her teeth. “Much as I appreciate the fine quality of your beans and your customer service, you have that wrong.”

  He frowned and, accomplished bluffer that he was, looked momentarily confused before collecting himself. “Wrong?”

  “The word essential. We’ve formulated our recipes so that no one supplier’s ingredient is essential. Saves wear and tear when any supplier gets the wrong impression about his importance for our product.” She swallowed the last of her bagel.

  Lars gazed at her for several beats and blinked. “You have to be aware that expenses have risen.”

  “I’d have to be hiding under a stack of mattresses not to.” The memory of her most recent time on top of a mattress with Keith flashed through her mind. Wrong image, but thank goodness Lars wasn’t a mind reader. She wrenched her mind back to the negotiations. “But raising your prices fifty percent? That’s not an increase I could pass along to my customers.”

  He made a derisive sound. “Come on, Brenda. People queue up to pay through the nose for your product. Do you seriously think anyone would balk at an increase? Fifty percent or more. Get it while the market’s hot.”

  She shot to her feet. “That’s not how I treat my customers. They know what they can expect from me. They get what they pay for—a quality product that doesn’t come cheap. Still, their willingness to pay more for my chocolate than other lesser brands is not a license to steal. I expect the same treatment from my sources. In light of your higher costs, I’ll pay a ten percent increase. Take it or lose me.”

  She almost felt sorry for Lars when she heard his piteous groan. Almost. “You drive a hard bargain.” He extended his hand for their traditional shake, which they’d follow up with the appropriate paperwork.

  She drove a hard bargain all right. With Lars Hinkleschmidt and all her other business contacts. The little internal voice she often tried to ignore was urging her to be equally strong in expressing her needs to Keith.

  After a difficult but successful meeting, Brenda deserved a break before she went back to her office. It had been too long since she’d spent an hour breathing and stretching in her favorite yoga studio. A few downward facing dogs seemed the perfect way to de-stress and prepare for whatever came next.

  She’d just gotten into position when a business idea struck her. Along with raising her prices for her customers, she’d give them a little gift. “‘Love is the emotional chocolate of the universe.’” K.C.’s words came back to her. Books and bonbons—a perfect pairing. She’d create an out of this world confection, feature K.C.’s saying on the package and, if she could negotiate the deal, include a coupon for K.C.’s book! That might just take the sting out of the price increase. Brenda’s creative juices began to flow. She couldn’t wait to run the idea past K.C. and her own promotional people.

  Nothing better than a great new idea. Almost as good as sex. Almost. Her thoughts turned to Keith and how she could feel as good about the two of them as a couple as she did about “‘Love is the emotional chocolate of the universe.’” And quality chocolate.

  * * *

  Considering the previous long, hot night, Keith managed a smile on his face and a spring in his step even before his first life-restoring coffee. Brenda seemed to be back to her usual self. After her recent mood swings, he’d started to worry that maybe she’d want to move things ahead at the speed of light. He already felt as if too much was changing too fast. But, last night was one of their best—just the way they’d always been. That meant more than he could say.

  Also, their good night together reassured him after his strange run-in with his an old girlfriend who’d been especially hard to get rid of. In retrospect, he wished he hadn’t mentioned anything to Brenda. He definitely hadn’t liked rehashing the past. Brenda’s reaction surprised him. Instead of being her usual calm, steady self, she’d seemed spooked. Maybe turning thirty bothered her more than he’d realized. He got that she wanted something special to mark the day. Maybe even to tie it in with plans to step up their relationship.

  He’d never been that hung up on particular dates, so he couldn’t totally relate. His thirtieth birthday had been a bit of a jolt, but he got over it. Still, women and men reacted differently to stuff. He’d had a genius idea to soothe her frazzled nerves. Tonight he’d take her out for dinner at Bistro Bacchanalia, a place she loved. They’d focus totally on making plans for the big day. That should cheer her up. Lucky he’d thought of it.

  Having his Siberian husky, the large and ever friendly Brute, greet him with the enthusiasm due the faithful food provider added to Keith’s good mood. After a quick walk he filled the dog’s dish and gave him an affectionate belly rub. Keith thanked the benevolent karmic forces of the universe for everything good about his life, including Brenda. Especially Brenda. His body twitched in grateful remembrance just as Brute growled. Brute and Chelsey together? One detail he and Brenda needed to work out before they moved in together. They’d probably go to her place… Nothing decided yet. No rush.

  Humming to himself on the short walk to the coffee spot in the lobby of his workplace, he opened the door for a granny type shuffling behind him, then winked when the barista put in his order without his having to say a word. Service with a smile—made his world go ‘round. He switched to whistling as he rode the elevator up to his office, unlocked the door and sat down at his computer for the start of another workday. He’d just about finished typing notes on his last case when a new client arrived.

  To his shock, his sister-in-law Mara Lynn stormed into his office and fell into his client chair. What the hell—

  “Mara Lynn? What’s wrong? Why are you here?” He jumped up and looked around frantically for his brother. “Where’s Ryan?”

  She narrowed her eyes and glared. “That snake in the grass stayed out all night with his bimbo. Says she’s a co-worker, but I know better.”

  He gasped and put his hands on his head in an effort to take in what was going on. “Are you saying what I think you are? That Ryan’s cheating on you? How can that be?”

  No amount of tears could put out the burning resentment that shot from her eyes. “In all the usual ways. You’ve got to help me, Keith.”

  What could he possibly do— He reached into his mini-fridge and pulled out a bottle of water, which he offered her.

  She slapped it away. “I don’t need that. I do need you to get the goods on Ryan. My divorce lawyer is screaming for the evidence.”

  His heart sank. “Divorce lawyer? Mara Lynn, slow down. Make sure you’re not making a huge mistake. Maybe something else is going on.”

  “Nothing else is going on,” she barked. “Ah, hell, give me the water.” She grabbed the bottle from him and just about inhaled the contents. “Your brother is as big a bastard as your father.”

  Keith held out his hands in an effort to keep his world from crumbling to pieces. “What— How—“

  “How do I know. Simple. The bimbo phoned and told me.”

  “Maybe this woman’s lying.”

  “Maybe. On the other hand, why would he need a motel room in the middle of a ‘work day’?”

  “I don’t know. Business meetings?”

  She snorted and looked at him as if he’d turned into an ignorant oaf. “Three times in one week? I
f it’s a business expense, why is he charging the rooms on his personal credit card and not the business card?”

  Keith wished he had a good answer, but even more he wished he knew what was going on with his brother. “I don’t have any answers. Ryan and I don’t touch base that often. Do you want me to get in touch with him?”

  “Why bother.” She pointed an accusing finger. “Get me photos for my lawyer.”

  He closed his eyes and shook his head. “You know I can’t do that.”

  She stuck her chin out and looked at him with even more hatred. “You never liked me. Your whole family was out to get me from the first.”

  He grasped the edge of his desk to keep the world from spinning even further out of control. In the face of Mara Lynn’s hostility, he willed himself to sound rational. “I know you’re upset now and things may not seem clear. But there’s no way I can take you on as a client and track my brother. That’s just wrong.”

  She careened out of her chair. “I’m through wasting my time. I’ll find someone else.” With that, she ran from the office.

  Keith took a deep breath and slumped back in his chair. He’d never seen any of that coming. Impossible. A sense of doom bore down on him. If Ryan was cheating on Mara Lynn, following exactly in their father’s disgusting footsteps, what chance was there that Keith would be any better? His mind skittered back to Ryan on his wedding day, how ecstatic he’d been to be starting his future with Mara Lynn. Just five years and two babies ago. Why and how had all that hopefulness and potential for a good life gone south?

  Maybe Mara Lynn had everything wrong. Hand shaking, he dialed his brother’s cell. Really a shame the two of them weren’t closer…

  To Keith’s amazement, Ryan picked up. “Tarrant.”

  “It’s Keith. Look, man, Mara Lynn just stormed into my office to hire me. She had some fantastic story. She wanted me to track you and some woman she says you’re cheating on her with. What the hell’s going on?”

  “You’re not working for her, are you?”

  “No, but she will hire someone else. Accused you of being with a bimbo—”

  Ryan made an ugly sound. “Look, the marriage was over before I met Janine.”

  Keith exhaled. “You’re getting divorced? Ryan, why didn’t you tell me anything about this before?”

  “You’ve got your life and I’ve got mine. I appreciate the heads’ up about Mara Lynn. Gotta run.”

  “Wait.” Ryan was gone. When Keith redialed his brother’s number, he got a prompt for voice mail.

  Communication for the moment impossible, he paced the length and width of his office. If Ryan had screwed up and thrown away his life—sounded at least as bad as what their father had pulled—would Keith be the next Tarrant to destroy a relationship? How could he possibly be sure he had more and better to offer Brenda than the rest of the men in his family? Maybe cheating was in their DNA.

  Could he even talk about this with Brenda or would the topic freak her out? Hell, it freaked him out.

  He was about to go out for a walk around the block to clear his mind when his next appointment showed up.

  A tall redhead with all her curves in just the right places extended a cool white hand. “Taylor Hammond,” she enunciated, glistening cherry-red lips moving to form the syllables. He wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips, then shook off the thought. He was, after all, a professional. Usually made it a point not to mix business and pleasure. Always. His body took exception. His brain chimed in with the reminder that he should at least find out why she’d come to him before he mentally ravaged her. An image of Brenda flashed before his eyes, diminishing the attraction Taylor exuded. Great. After just hearing how his brother’s cheating was turning that whole branch of the family upside down, he immediately started lusting after a new woman. A client yet. What the hell was wrong with him?

  He took the extended hand in his and cringed at the ensuing electric jolt. Taylor was hot, and she posed a challenge he didn’t want to deal with right now. “Keith Tarrant. Have a seat, Ms. Hammond, and tell me why you’re here.”

  She sat and crossed one perfect leg over the other, hiking up her already short, tight skirt to expose black-mesh-encased flesh. He swallowed hard and tried to pretend he didn’t notice.

  “I understand you specialize in tracking down cheating husbands.” She glanced at him from beneath hooded lids heavy with lashes, blue eyes sparkling like sapphires caught in a glacier. He cringed again as he remembered Mara Lynn’s hate-filled glare.

  That’s one of my specialties. His body tingled in reminder of other talents, but this woman came with a husband. Cheating husband or not, Keith drew the line at getting involved with married women. At least one line he could toe. He once again thought of Brenda and the direction of their relationship, their becoming a solid couple. He’d only stopped seeing other women when they decided together to commit to each other. She, on the other hand, had been true blue since day one. But what if Brenda ever went out with another guy? A surprise surge of heated jealousy nearly knocked him off his chair.

  He needed to focus on business. “Tracking down cheating spouses is one of my specialties. Who recommended you?”

  She raised a meticulously shaped brow. “Delores Del Lobo.”

  “San Francisco’s Dominatrix Queen?”

  “That’s right. Now happily divorced and enjoying the fruits of her ex’s business empire, thanks to your evidence.” A large grin lit up her face.

  “Always happy to hear the client’s happy. So tell me about your case. You suspect your husband is cheating on you?” Right now he needed to lose himself in someone else’s misery. Later, he’d have to deal with his own.

  She rolled her eyes. “As if I’d ever let that happen,” she growled. “I’m single and loving it. The bastard I want you to catch is married to my baby sister.”

  So Taylor Hammond was single. He shouldn’t let that matter. First things first. He got the info about the sister and the cheating husband, then outlined his services. Without blinking an eye, Taylor agreed to pay his hefty fee. Then she said, “Now that you know about my baby sister’s situation, I want to explore more possible ways to engage your services. My business associates and I need a good investigator. Let’s discuss our needs in more congenial surroundings. Dinner tonight, Bistro Bacchanalia?”

  He sure could use the business and she seemed to have money. Something was nagging at the back of his mind, but she needed an answer fast. “Sure. What time?”

  “Seven.” She swept out of the room. At another time in his life, he might have followed her and taken the rest of the day off. Not now. He was happy about his and Brenda’s commitment.

  If only his hand would stop shaking.

  He set up a new file, including online background data for his latest case. From what Taylor told him, it didn’t sound as if the wandering brother-in-law would be too hard to catch in flagrante. Was the same true regarding his brother Ryan?

  The rest of Taylor’s offer intrigued him. With recent hits to his cash flow, he could really use a client with a lot of work and deep pockets.

  Only on his way out the door to grab a quick lunch did he remember his date with Brenda for tonight. He smacked himself upside the head. He’d wanted to give her a special night at Bistro Bacchanalia and felt like a schmuck for disappointing her. An ache gnawed in the vicinity of his heart.

  Somewhere deep in his gut a thread of darkness took hold. He shook his head again. He couldn’t deny his attraction to Taylor. Maybe this latest wrinkle proved what Ryan was acting out—that the Tarrant men were hopeless players who would mess up any relationship an unlucky woman dragged them into. Maybe Brenda had been less cheerful these days because her instincts warned her that he’d mess up. That heart hiccup struck again. He couldn’t bear to risk what he and Brenda had, but he had to figure out the truth about himself before they went any farther.

  Luckily for him, most of the time Brenda was the Rock of Gibraltar, the greatest—nev
er pulled any diva acts. Still, even the most fantastic person had limits. She’d been bummed out that he didn’t remember their three-month anniversary of committing to each other. Then, when he brought up running into that old girlfriend and the time Brenda had role played Emergency Ex, she freaked out. Nearly walked out on him. Probably would have if he hadn’t come up with the plan to go to Bistro Bacchanalia.

  What if changing tonight’s plans would push her over the edge? What if it wasn’t just her birthday turning her weird? In the past she’d given him so many breaks, cut him so much slack. Surely she’d do it again one more time. He’d make it up to her, if he could. First though, he’d call to explain, change the date. She’d understand. Again.

  The call from Keith came just before Brenda, lunching at her desk, held a fork aloft to dig into her Deluxe Veggie Delite salad. She had to scrimp on daytime calories so she could indulge that night at Bistro Bacchanalia. After all, since Keith was treating and he enjoyed seeing her enjoy her food…

  She put down her fork and, despite the internal toll of warning bells, answered cheerfully. “I’m really psyched. What time is our reservation for Bistro Bacchanalia?”

  “Brenda, I hate to tell you this.”

  Chilly little bumps erupted along her arms, spine and the back of her neck. I bet I’m going to hate hearing it also. “You couldn’t get a reservation?” Not a big deal. Not like there weren’t tons of other great restaurants in San Francisco. They could always go to Bistro Bacchanalia some other time.

  He cleared his throat. “Uh, no. I’ve got a business meeting there for tonight that I have to show up for.”

  “There? And you forgot about it?”

  “Wasn’t thinking clearly.”

  A jagged hot coal took residence in Brenda’s gut and sent up streams of discomfort. “Are you thinking clearly now?”

  “Heh, heh.”

  She didn’t find his laugh funny.

  “Bottom line, Keith? I don’t have much time.” Yeah, she did. She had all the time in the world, especially since she wouldn’t be meeting him that night.