“I think I’ll just stick with taking you. I believe I’d have a better chance that way.” He shrugged. “I know Herbert’s a piece of work but he owns the property.”
“Why’s this such a make it or break deal for you? Surely there’s other land.” She had walked a distance into the lot and had now turned to face him.
Rick wanted her to understand. It mattered that she did. “Because this is the perfect piece of property in the right spot. I have the financial backing I need. I won’t just be doing small projects here and there. With this one, I step into the big league.”
“That matters?”
“Sure it does. I want to grow my business. Make a good name for myself in the city.”
“The name is important. Why?” She was watching him closely.
His eyes narrowed. “Why all the questions?”
Cathie shrugged. “I just want to understand you better.”
He studied her for a minute unsure how to respond. Was there an ulterior motive to her questions? Her innocent look told him differently. “My mother ran around on my father for years. Everyone in town knew it. My father became a laughing stock. Mother lied to cover it up but she made our happy family a joke until my father said enough. Because of her, our name was in the papers for months during the court battle. My father lost his business and was never the same again. The least I can do is make the Marshall name mean something again.”
Now Carrie understood. That was why Rick was so cut and dry about lying. He’d seen firsthand the ugliness that lies created. Because of her he would experience it all again. She wanted to know more about him and she got more than she bargained for. “I’m sorry that happened to you and your family.”
Tell him! But if she did it now after that statement so fresh on his mind he would never forgive her. Their relationship might be about sex and a good time but for some reason it mattered greatly that he thought well of her. She wanted to salvage something of their friendship.
“Me too. I’ve been lied to one to many times.”
She winced. Was that a knife going into her side?
“Hey, you okay?” He walked toward her. “Be careful out here. I don’t want you to twist an ankle.”
Here she was going to hurt him and he was concerned about her. It was nice to have someone who was. The fact that it was Rick made it extra nice. It had always been everyone watching after Cathie. Their parents hadn’t meant it, but the attention had never been on her.
“I didn’t know you could sound so bossy,” she said.
He grinned. “I only get that way around people I care about.”
“Even when they don’t need it?”
Her question made Carrie pause. Is that what she’d been doing on a larger scale with Cathie? Bailing her out even when she really didn’t need it? Calling it caring, when it was closer to enabling? But hadn’t she done it because she loved her sister? But Cathie had started taking advantage of her. Now it was a one-way street going in Cathie’s direction.
Like where Rick was concerned. Cathie was only thinking about herself. Not Carrie or Rick. Why hadn’t she realized how selfish Cathie had become? How she’d helped her to become that way?
Rick threw up his hands. “Hey, I think I accidently stepped into something I know nothing about.”
“You might have but I appreciate your concern.” She joined him. Cupping his face, she gave him a passionate kiss trying to convey her feelings.
Carrie only hoped Rick still cared about her when he found out who she really was. She hoped he liked her enough that it wouldn’t matter that she wasn’t Cathie. Every time they had been in bed together it had been only her.
Now she must find the courage to tell him the truth.
He took her hand and led her towards the car. “You keep that up and we won’t make Mike and Melissa’s.”
She gave him a guiltless look. “Won’t they be hurt if we stand them up?”
“I’ll just tell them I was kidnapped by a sex fiend. They’ll understand.” His grin had a boyish flair.
She laughed. It was fun being around Rick. Slapping him lightly on the shoulder, she said, “You wouldn’t! You can’t blame your raging hormones on me.”
Rick looked perplexed for a second. “Who else can I blame them on? You’re the sexist woman I know.”
If he kept the compliments up she might cry. “Thanks for saying that.”
“You don’t think you’re sexy?” His voice held disbelief.
“I’ve been told I’m not exceptionally so.”
“Honey,” he pulled her against him, the desire evident in the hardening length of his anatomy. “You sure rev my motor.”
He almost filled her entire heart with that compliment. With head held higher, she walked around to her side of the car.
Chapter Eight
Carrie watched as Rick maneuvered the car into the heavy evening traffic.
“Mike and Melissa live out in Grayson. Have a house with a few acres. Nice spot. But a devil of a place to get to.” He changed lanes again.
“Tell me about you friends.” He was in such a good mood she hated to ruin it. But if she didn’t say something soon it would only get worse with time. “How did you meet?”
“Mike and I were childhood friends. He’s seen me through a lot of tough times. Especially with my parents. I practically lived at his house as a teenager.” Fondness was evident in his voice. “He married Melissa who he met while in college. I tell her all the time she picked the wrong guy. She’s a wonderful person. They have a son. Best kid ever.
“Now it’s your turn. I was thinking in my cold and lonely bed last night that I don’t know much about you.”
He’d been thinking of her? Now was the time. She’d work into it gradually. “I was born and raised in Marietta. Went to Auburn University where my parents went. Got a job and moved back.”
“Do your parents still live in Marietta?” He passed a slower moving car.
“Nope. They’ve moved to Florida.”
“Retired?”
She nodded. “Yes, last year.”
“And you’ve got a sister.”
Her heart went into her throat. This was her chance. “About her—”
“What does she do?” He glanced at her as he made a right turn.
“She’s had all kinds of jobs.” That was an understatement.
Rick slowed and turned onto a tree lined drive. “We’re here.”
The house at the end of the lane had a small stream of smoke coming out from behind it. “I see Mike’s hard at it.”
“What?” she looked at him and back at the house. She would tell him now, refused to mislead his friends as well. The lie stopped here.
Rick grinned and rolled his eyes. “He thinks he’s a grill master.”
“Oh.” She put her hand on his arm as he started to open the door. “Rick, I really needed to tell you something.”
“Hey, it’s about time you got here,” a man with dark hair tapped on the window. “Burgers burned because of you.”
“Can you tell me later?” Rick said to her before he stepped out of the car. To the man he said, “It’s more like your cooking abilities.”
Carrie came around the car to join them. She’d lost her moment. Why hadn’t she insisted on telling him at her apartment. She pushed her anxiousness away.
Rick took her hand. “This is Mike, the Iron Chef wannabe.”
“And you’re going to be thinking ‘Man I’m hungry’ while the rest of us are eating.” Mike shot back.
Rick laughed that full-bodied sound she adored.
The two males gave each other a clapping-on-the-back hug.
Mike’s attention turned to her. “So this is the Cathie. The one who has swept my cynical buddy off his feet.”
Heat went to her cheeks. Was that true? She looked at Rick. There was a bashful look on his face.
Mike started around the side of the house. She and Rick followed him. “Dinner’s on the patio tonight.”
“Where’s that wonderful wife of yours? The one you don’t deserve?” Rick asked.
They had reached the back of the house where a table was set in a picnic theme.
“She’ll be out in a minute,” Mike said on his way to the grill.
Seconds later the sliding glass doors leading into the house opened and a young boy in a wheelchair rolled out. It couldn’t be!
Carrie almost doubled over in pain. Only with a strength of will did she remain standing. Jones. With the thousands, millions of Joneses in the world and she was at Mikey Jones’s home. Panic seized her. Where could she hide? This couldn’t be happening.