Читать книгу Husband and Wife Reunion - Linda Style - Страница 9

THOUGHTS OF JULIANNA had kept him awake for a while, but it was the nightmares about the kidnapping that woke him a mere three hours after he’d gone to bed.

He rolled over, sweat pouring from his body, sheets drenched.

As Julianna’s face loomed in his mind, muscles cramped in his chest. The death of their son had created a chasm between them and destroyed their marriage. Seeing Julianna brought it all back in spades.

He had to go. No matter how much he wanted to mend the rift with his father, he didn’t know if he was strong enough to stay in the same house with Julianna. It had taken him too long to get back on track. He couldn’t jeopardize everything he’d accomplished.

For nearly four years, he’d gone through the motions of living. He went to his job, he went home and went to sleep, but not before consuming copious amounts of alcohol to speed up the process. He’d alienated his father, put his friends at a distance and had been within a hair’s breath of losing his job.

Life might not be everything he wanted, but at least he was among the living again. His job and his friends were all he had.

The sharp ring of his cell phone surprised him. He was used to calls at any hour when he was in L.A., but he hadn’t expected to get them here. “Coltrane.”

“I need some information,” Captain Jeff Carlyle’s rough voice blared. The captain had seen him through some tough times. Luke owed him a lot.

“Sure. What’s up?” Luke had been working on two high-profile cases before he left L.A. The missing congressional aide, Michelle Renfield, who they suspected was dead, and the latest Studio Killer case, a serial murderer who specialized in killing porno flick stars near the location where their latest movie had been shot.

“It’s Thorpe.”

“Figures.” Congressman Thorpe was the prime suspect in his aide’s disappearance three years ago. Thorpe was suspected of having an affair with her and though they’d found no conclusive evidence of his involvement in her disapearance, Luke hadn’t let up on his investigation. But Thorpe didn’t like anyone messing with his life and he’d let Luke know it. “What’s his problem now?”

“His attorney’s threatening a lawsuit. Says you have a vendetta, that you’ve prejudiced the public with your investigation and that it’s detrimental to his upcoming election.”

“I thought my taking a vacation was supposed to help, get me out of sight for a while. Besides, Thorpe should’ve thought about that when he seduced a sixteen-year-old and forgot he had a wife.”

“She was twenty.”

“She wasn’t when he met her. He’s a predator.” Luke’s grip on the phone tightened.

“Okay, I know how you feel about it. But the reason I called is to make sure there’s no question on procedure if Thorpe’s attorney goes ahead with the suit.”

“None whatsoever.” He might be aggressive in his investigations and quick to jump on things, but he was thorough.

“I also wanted to tell you I’m putting St. James and Santini on the case.”

Luke’s nerves tensed. He’d worked his guts out on this case and now because some politician threatened to sue, he had to give it up?

“It’s not permanent,” Carlyle said. “And they’ve both got full loads right now.”

That meant the assignment was only for looks. No one was really going to work on it. “I’m on it again when I get back, right?”

After a long pause the captain said, “Sure.” Then he asked, “How’s your father?”

“He looks terrible.”

“Well, you’ve got two weeks, or longer if you need it. I just wanted you to know.” Carlyle clicked off.

Luke felt satisfied. The captain knew Luke would be pissed if he came back and found the Renfield case had been pulled out from under him. It didn’t matter if Jordan and Rico actually worked the case or not.

That Thorpe’s attorney had the gall to file a lawsuit burned Luke’s ass. Thorpe had the kind of connections that might help him if he was ever arrested and brought to trial—only the congressman wasn’t about to let it go that far. He wanted to be vindicated now and a lawsuit would probably guarantee it if no other evidence turned up.

Yeah, well, Luke didn’t give a damn about anyone’s connections. With every fiber of his being he believed Thorpe was responsible for the disappearance of the young aide. If the evidence showed he was right, the congressman was going to jail.

Whether he was reelected or not. As far as his having a vendetta—if seeking justice for murder victims was a vendetta, then yeah, he did have one. And the sooner he got back to L.A., the better.

Only in this case, justice would have to wait. He had to first assess his father’s health and see what he could do to help him while he was here. Maybe find him a hired hand—someone who could stay at the ranch. And when his father discovered that plan, all hell would break loose.

“GOOD MORNING,” Julianna greeted Luke when he came in from outside. “Out doing chores?” She busied herself making coffee, trying not to look at him.

“Funny,” he said, letting the kitchen door slap shut with a bang.

“Well, you know there’s plenty of work to do around here. Too much for your father.” She scooped some coffee into the basket.

“I noticed. Everything seems to have fallen apart since I was here last.”

“He could use some help.”

“He could easily afford to hire someone.”

“You mean if he wasn’t so stubborn and didn’t think he could do everything himself.”

He paused for a moment, as if considering what she’d said. “Yeah. While I’m here, I’m going to see what we can do about getting him help.”

“Good idea.” But she hoped that didn’t mean he intended to stay for long.

Luke sat at the old oak table, wearing only a white T-shirt and faded jeans, his sandy sun-bleached hair still wet from the shower. He smelled of fresh soap and shampoo, and just looking at him made her breath hitch. Still. After all these years.

“Weren’t you cold out there without a jacket?”

“I’m tough,” he said, smiling.

She turned and retrieved a pan from the maple cabinet next to the harvest-gold stove that had one door half hanging from its hinges. Even though she had her back to Luke, she felt his gaze boring into her.

“You never did answer me last night,” he said. “What brings you here?”

She turned, leaned against the counter. “I answered you. I said I was invited and I came.”

He arched his brows without commenting. It was obvious he didn’t believe her and his smug know-it-all attitude annoyed her. “I don’t need a reason to visit someone I care about.”

Luke had been gone most of the time they were married so she doubted he had any idea she’d developed such a close relationship with his father, or that they’d become even closer after the divorce.

“I could ask you the same thing. What’s the real reason you’re here?”

He shrugged. “I don’t need a reason to see my father.”

“And when did that become important?” The second the words left her mouth Julianna regretted them. Abe didn’t get along well with people in general. She also knew the distance in Abe’s relationship with Luke hurt Luke a lot—but just like his father, he was too stubborn to admit it.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” She turned away. “But…can you at least tell me how long you’re staying?”

He shrugged. “It depends.”

She heaved a sigh. If he wasn’t going to leave, then she would have to. Just talking with Luke made her anxious. Made her remember too much. And her only defense seemed to be anger. She wasn’t proud of that, but there it was. “Well, don’t let my presence be a factor in your decision. I’ll be leaving soon.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Abe’s voice boomed as he came in and joined them in the kitchen. “What kind of nonsense is that?”

The scent of hazelnut coffee wafted through the room and she noticed the pot had stopped burbling. She reached for the old chipped mugs, brought them to the table and poured them each a cup. “I’ve been thinking it might be…easier if I go. Besides, I have more investigative work to do on the next series and—”

“Well, you just stop that kind of thinking, young lady.”

Julianna had to smile. She didn’t want to hurt Abe’s feelings, but if Luke stayed, she had no choice.

Luke leaned back in his chair, raised his arms and clasped his fingers behind his head. “You can both stop worrying. I’ve got to get back to L.A. Something has come up.”

She raised her chin. Of course. The job. The job that was more important than just about anything. But she’d swallow her tongue before she’d say it. If it meant he’d leave, she was grateful.

Abe coughed. “I’m going to work on the fence out on the line.”

“What’s wrong with the fence?” Luke asked.

Julianna glanced at Abe.

“Someone keeps tearing it down.”

“Really. Why would anyone do that?”

“Duke Hancock wanted that piece of land for years, but I told him I wasn’t going to sell. Now they want it again.”

“Duke died twenty years ago, Dad. And who are they?”

Ignoring his son’s question, Abe went on. “The fence is destroyed. The cattle can run right through.”

“You haven’t had more than a few head of cattle for years, and that’s not even where they pasture.” Luke gave him a look of exasperation.

Abe scoffed. “It needs to be fixed.”

“Okay. I’ll go out with you to help on the fence,” Luke said, then caught Julianna’s gaze.

For a moment, she couldn’t look away. His eyes were still bluer than Paul Newman’s. Intense. Sexy.

“Okay with you, Jules?” He smiled.

A wide white smile. Her heart stalled…in the same way it had when she’d first met him at that environmental rally where they’d been on opposite sides.

And apparently her recent lack of male companionship was making her hormones shift into overdrive. “I’m scrambling eggs. Anyone else want some?”

Luke looked surprised. “You learned how to cook?”

Dammit. She wasn’t going to acknowledge Luke’s gibes. That’s another way he got to her. He knew it and she knew it.

“No one needs to wait on me,” Abe sputtered. “I can make my own breakfast. Been doin’ it for years.”

“I know you can, Abe. But since I’m making eggs for myself, it’s no big deal to toss in a couple extra. I’d appreciate it though if I could have the kitchen to myself for about fifteen minutes.”

Both men rose. Abe went down the hall toward the bathroom and Luke headed for the living room.

As she watched Luke walk away, an unexpected sadness washed over her. She swallowed back a sudden lump in her throat. After getting the eggs from the fridge, she leaned wearily against the door. What was the matter with her?

Was it being together again with Luke and Abe, like the old days? Was it remembering the love she and Luke once shared? The love. The heartache. The loss.

After three years of grief therapy and finally learning to live in the present, she’d thought she could handle just about anything. But now she felt as if she’d tumbled backward in time as all the memories, all the emotions she’d tried so hard to forget, roared to life once again. She thought she’d resolved all that. Had she only been fooling herself?

Maybe. But she couldn’t slide back into the abyss that had been her life. She’d worked too hard to make herself into a whole person again—even though a piece of her would never mend.

She strengthened her resolve and went to the stove.

Seeing Luke again had thrown her off balance. That was all. She’d get over it. She’d carved out a comfortable niche for herself at the magazine. She had a great loft condo in the heart of San Francisco. Her life was good. She cracked an egg into the bowl with so much force it splattered everywhere. Her life was good, dammit.

Except for the loneliness. And right now, she felt more lonely than ever.

But going back home wasn’t an option.

LUKE FINGERED THROUGH the magazines piled in the corner of the living room. He didn’t remember his father being much of a reader. It was probably why Luke wasn’t. That and the fact that he never had time. When he was off duty the last thing he wanted was to read about more crime and world problems.

Most of Abe’s magazines were about ranching, except for one called The Achilles’ Heel. Recognizing the name of the national magazine, Luke was surprised that Abe even had a copy. Hell, he had a whole stack of them. Luke picked one up and flipped a page. Most of the titles had a liberal slant, taking jabs at anything and everything that might be fair game.

Odd, because Abe was the biggest redneck around. Flipping another page, he saw Julianna listed on the masthead as a regular columnist. Ah, now it made sense.

He’d heard Julianna was doing well, but since she’d moved to San Francisco after the divorce, that’s all he knew. Reading her brief bio, he felt a moment of pride over her success.

And then sadness. He missed what they’d had before everything went haywire. He missed having a family to come home to.

He dropped the magazine back in the pile. What they’d had was long gone. She’d made that crystal-clear the day she walked out on him, saying the only way she could find herself was to start a new life.

Instead of staying to work things out, she’d run away. He’d been willing, but she hadn’t.

It’d stuck in his craw ever since. No, he didn’t need reminders, and as soon as he got his father straightened up, he was outta there.

“Better come and get it if you want to eat,” his father said as he passed Luke on his way to the kitchen.

Luke followed Abe, watching the uneven gait in his step, saw the gray in his thinning hair. When had his father gotten so old, so frail? “When was the last time you saw a doctor, Pops?”

“Don’t need no doctor. I’m not sick.”

They walked into the kitchen together. The aroma of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee made his mouth water. Julianna had set the table and was dishing up the eggs.

“Everyone needs a checkup at least once a year. Especially someone with high blood pressure.”

“I go when I’m sick. And it’s nobody’s business when I go and when I don’t.”

Luke walked over to the counter, refilled his coffee cup, then raised the pot to the others. Julianna said, “Yes, please,” and his father grunted his response. When Luke finished pouring, he put the pot on the table on a trivet and sat.

The tension in the air was so thick you couldn’t cut it with a sharp fillet knife. He felt more uncomfortable sitting here with his father and Julianna than he did scoping out a crime scene.

But his discomfort didn’t keep him from noticing how little Julianna had changed in the last five years. She was still slim and toned, and her flawless skin looked even more perfect framed by long, wavy chestnut hair. Silky hair that always fell in his face when she was on top. “You still jog?”

She nodded. “Abe, Luke’s right. You really should get a checkup. Everyone needs to do that once in a while.”

Luke smiled at his dad with satisfaction, glad that Julianna had supported him.

Ignoring both of them, Abe mumbled around a mouthful of eggs, “If you’re going to fix the fence with me you better eat and quit talking.”

Luke nearly dropped his fork. It sounded almost as if his father was asking for Luke’s help, something he had never done before. Whenever Luke had offered in the past, he got shot down. Maybe there was hope for them yet. “Sure. I’m only going to be here until tomorrow, so we should get as much done today as we can.”

Abe’s head jerked up. “If that’s all the time you got, then we might as well forget it. It’s a two-day job at best.”

Luke fought another smile. His old man sure knew the art of manipulation. “I’ll stay until it’s done. If it’s done today, I’ll leave in the morning. If it takes another day, I’ll go home after that.”

But he was going to do everything he could to finish in one day. Besides needing to get back to L.A., he wanted to focus on the life he had, not the one he’d lost.

“Fine. Getting the fence fixed is all I care about.”

Julianna gently touched Abe’s arm. “Luke will help and it’ll get done,” she said, always the calm one. With her mediating skills, she should’ve been a diplomat.

She turned to Luke. “Got a big case to get back to?”

He chewed some toast and finished with a sip of coffee. “Always.”

“I heard more on the news about congressman Thorpe’s aides, and Thorpe didn’t seem happy about it. Is he a person of interest?”

“He’s more than interesting to me. The guy’s a weasel who thinks he can use his political influence to derail the investigation.”

“That’s why you’re going back?”

“That and a serial killer on the loose.”

Julianna’s face went white.

Oh, man. Insert foot into mouth. Again. Though he’d long ago separated his personal life from his job, Julianna didn’t know how to dissociate. He should’ve remembered that. “What about your career?” he said, changing the subject.

“Uh…it’s good.” She pushed back the hair from her eyes and tucked it behind one ear. “I’m a regular contributor for a magazine. The Achilles’ Heel. I like it and it pays well.”

He knew it was more than that to her. Writing was a part of her, something she had to do. And the liberal magazine was the perfect venue.

“How is Starr?”

She looked surprised that he’d asked. “My mother’s fine. Still the same. Stumping for one cause or another. The environment, PETA, stem-cell research.” She smiled. “All good causes.”

“Still a hippie at heart, huh?”

“That she is. She thinks it’s the seventies, and that she’s still twenty, and actually, she doesn’t look much older.”

“And your sister?”

“Lindsay’s married, has two children and lives in London. As far away from Mother as possible.”

Luke nodded. “I can understand that.” He remembered the strife between Julianna’s sister, the yuppie, and her mother. Julianna on the other hand, had been Starr’s protégée.

Jules’s mother and her ability to suck her daughter into her causes had been another sticking point in Luke and Julianna’s relationship.

“Unfortunately, my sister’s far away from me, as well. I rarely see Ally and Devon, my niece and nephew.”

Julianna would miss that. She’d always loved children. They both did, and he’d been deeply disappointed when she refused to have another child after Michael. He was surprised that she hadn’t married again. He wanted to ask her about it but didn’t want to open old wounds for either of them.

“Kinda the way Luke thinks, too,” Abe said. “Wants to be as far away as possible.”

Luke shoved his plate away and leaned back in the chair. “I moved because I was given an opportunity. You didn’t want Grandpa’s house, remember? That’s why he gave it to me.” Even though the house on one of the much desired canals in Venice Beach was worth double what the ranch was at the time, his father had turned it down, refused to move to California. Luke suspected Abe didn’t want to be beholden to his father-in-law in any way. That and the fact Gramps never thought Abe was good enough for his only child and wasn’t afraid to say so.

“You can come out and stay with me any time you want.”

“And who would take care of things here?”

“Hire someone. You need help anyway. Then you can come and go as you please.”

Abe shoved his chair back and rose to his feet. “I’m not going anywhere and no stranger is going to come in here and take over. Now let’s get to work.”

Julianna stood and began clearing the dishes. “So, get out of here, you two. I’ve got to write.”

That figured. She was just as intense about her work as he was, only she’d never seen it that way. “What kind of a story are you working on?”

Her brown eyes expanded. “Uh, just a series. I do an installment once a month.”

Gazing at her, he barely heard a word. He’d forgotten how pretty her eyes were. Big brandy-colored pools that drew him in, made him want to get closer.

But her evasiveness put things in perspective. In the past, when he’d asked about what she was writing, she’d couldn’t wait to share her ideas. Now, it was obvious she didn’t want him to know.

Why should she? She hadn’t wanted to share anything in her life for five years. Maybe she was sharing those things with someone else now? For all he knew, she could have a live-in lover.

“What’s the series about?”

She looked at Abe.

“We need to get cracking,” Abe said. “We’re wastin’ sunlight. You can chitchat later.”

The lines around Julianna’s mouth softened, apparently relieved that Abe had ended the conversation.

And that made him even more curious. Okay. He’d play along. For a while. “I’m with you, Pops. Just let me grab a shirt and a hat.”

In the hallway on the way to his room, Luke’s cell phone rang. He recognized his partner’s number. “Yeah.”

“Luke, it’s Jordan.”

“Hey, bud. What’s going down?”

“I wondered if you heard from the boss?”

Luke shifted the phone to the other ear while he pulled on a faded denim shirt. “I did.”

“Did he tell you it’s the chief who’s pushing to take you off the Thorpe case? I heard Carlyle told him to stuff it, in so many words, but—”

“I talked to him. It’s no big deal. I can’t leave here yet anyway. My father isn’t well and I’ve got to get him some help.”

“Bring him here. California has some of the best physicians in the world.”

“Great idea, but he’s dug in. He’ll never leave. And…he has a guest.”

“A guest?”

Luke hesitated. “Julianna.”

Jordan let out a long blow of air. “Whoa. That’s a surprise.”

“You telling me.”

“What’s she doing there?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out before I come back.”

“When’s that?”

“Tomorrow or the next day for sure.” Luke started walking back to the kitchen to catch up with his dad.

“Okay. Let me know.” Jordan was one of Luke’s best friends, and also one of the finest detectives in the Robbery Homicide Division. While Luke often operated without a partner, he’d worked with Jordan on several cases recently.

“I’ll call you when I get back.”

“Good.”

“How’s the better half?” Luke asked.

“Laura’s great. Today she hired someone to stay nights at the shelter for her so she and Caitlin can move into my place after the wedding. Don’t forget, you’ve got a job next month.”

Luke smiled. Jordan could’ve picked any one of their friends to be best man, Rico or even Tex. But he’d asked Luke. “Not for a second.”

As he reached the kitchen doorway, Luke said goodbye and clicked off. Julianna stood only inches away and gave him a knowing look. The one that said he couldn’t leave his job for more than five minutes. “That was Jordan. Remember him?”

Julianna’s eyes lit up. “Of course. How is he?”

“He’s getting married next month.”

Mouth open, Jules put a hand to her chest in surprise. “Really! I never thought that would happen.” She smiled, showing an expanse of even, white teeth and very kissable lips.

“I’m the best man.” Jules had always liked Jordan and for a time they’d all been really close.

“I’d be surprised if you weren’t.”

The pleased look in her eyes switched to wistfulness. Was she thinking of their wedding? She’d once said it was the happiest day of her life.

“Please give Jordan my best,” she said, and then hurried away.

She left him standing there, feeling as if one small moment from the past had somehow brought them closer. But then he could just as easily be misreading things. He did that a lot with Jules. Whenever he’d been sure he knew what she thought or wanted, she’d been on another wavelength altogether.

But there was no denying that something had passed between them. He just didn’t know what the hell it was.

He headed out the back door, glanced around for Abe, who was nowhere to be seen. The old reprobate had probably taken off without him. Luke strode to the barn. As he went inside, the familiar scents of hay and manure took him back to a time when he couldn’t have imagined ever leaving the ranch.

The mare was gone, but Balboa stood in his stall and nickered softly at Luke. When Abe had downsized, he’d kept two horses and five head of cattle, just enough to stay busy, but not too much to handle.

Luke talked softly to Balboa before saddling him up. “Hey, big guy. It’s been a while.” The golden palomino nuzzled him, apparently remembering they’d been inseparable once upon a time. He wished other parts of his life were that easy to resurrect.

He mounted the stallion and headed for the line, not having a clue where the fence was broken. He figured it was at Stella Hancock’s property line, otherwise Abe would have no reason to complain about her long-dead husband.

He sat straight in the saddle and took a quick breath of fresh mountain air, a nice change from the smog and gasoline fumes of downtown L.A. Even the salty ocean breezes at his home in Venice were a respite from the pollution that hung like an ochre cloud over the rest of the city.

Out here, he could breathe. The scent of piñon pine teased his senses, reminding him of a time when life was simple and uncomplicated, a time when the only thing he’d cared about was what he was going to do that day.

His mother’s sudden death when he was thirteen changed all that. She’d been the peacemaker, she’d held the family together. Clearly something he and his father had no desire to do once she was gone.

Back then his father always blamed Luke’s bad behavior on adolescence, but it was more than that. Something he’d long since put out of his mind. He’d never approached his father about it, but he’d always thought Abe knew that Luke knew—and neither wanted to open that door.

One thing was certain, his mother’s death had changed his life forever.

He nudged Balboa to a canter. He hadn’t thought about that in years. He preferred physical activity over thinking. But being here, seeing Jules again, had him thinking more than ever. Love complicated everything—and losing everything you loved made life intolerable.

When they’d lost Michael he’d soldiered on for Julianna’s sake. But when she left…there wasn’t any point to anything. He’d hit bottom.

The anger he thought he’d buried a long time ago burned in his veins. Bitterness rose like bile in his throat. Never again would he let himself feel so much. If he didn’t feel, he couldn’t hurt.

JULIANNA WENT INTO the den to do some research for her next story. If she could concentrate. Luke had said he’d be there only a day or two. God, she hoped so. He was too intense. Too probing. She was on tenterhooks every time he entered the room.

One day she could handle. Couldn’t she? All she had to do was maintain her distance, keep her mind in the present and stay focused on the end result. Luke going back to L.A.

She’d made a quick decision not to tell Luke about the story because she knew the subject would upset him. She knew that as well as she knew her deadlines. It would simply make the time he was here even more strained. He already suspected she hadn’t just come simply because Abe asked her to. As intuitive as Luke was, if she told him about the story, he might connect the two. And if he knew she was being threatened, the cop in him wouldn’t let it go. He’d have to take action.

There was no way she could tell Luke. But she had to tell Abe about the phone calls.