Ryder’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. It was just as he’d feared but he was having none of it. “Why?” he asked, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion.
“Because I love you. I really do.” She was sitting forward on her chair now, perched on the edge, so focused on him that she didn’t seem to realize she was wringing her hands. “I never meant to hurt you, Ryder. Please forgive me. Please, can’t we try again?”
This was the strangest conversation Ryder had ever had. First of all, Karin was behaving in a way so contrary to her usually decisive nature that he couldn’t believe this was the same person he’d known for four years. More than that, she was not only being uncharacteristically emotional but she was being irrational as well. After what she’d done, what woman in her right mind would expect them to pick up where they'd left off?
“And I found out,” she continued, her voice breathless, “that Clive isn’t the man I thought he was.”
“Oh?” Yet another spin to the tale. Ryder couldn’t suppress his curiosity. “How so?”
“He’s…” She stopped then she swallowed. “He’s…an abuser. I had no idea until I moved in with him.”
Ryder frowned. “He hit you?”
“Yes.” It was a soft whisper, almost inaudible, but he’d heard it. She’d given an affirmative answer to his question.
“You reported this to the police?”
“I…didn’t. I just left.” Her shoulders sagged and she lifted a hand to her face. It took a few seconds before she slid her hand from her eyes and sighed. “I had no idea he was like that. I couldn’t believe it.” Then she looked directly into his eyes, the first time she’d done so since she started her story. “You would never do that. You would die first.”
Ryder didn’t respond. Karin knew him, that was for sure, but he didn’t know her. Not anymore.
And it was time to do the right thing, the humane thing. Time to end this before she started building up any false hope. He got up and walked around the desk and held out his hand.
Her brows lifted in surprise and then, as her face softened into a smile, she raised her hand to place it in his.
Ryder helped Karin to her feet and as she stood her body swayed toward him but exactly at that moment he turned away and faced the door. “This has been very emotional for you. I think it’s best if you head for home and get some rest.”
“But…what about us? I thought-” Karin’s stammers fell on deaf ears.
He was sympathetic to her suffering but he could see now what she’d been about. She’d hoped to play on his sympathy and work her way back into his life. He was accommodating where women concerned, but not that accommodating.
He’d started walking, taking Karin along with him, and soon they were at the door. He opened it and held it wide then gave her a curt nod of dismissal.
“I wish you all the best, Karin,” he said as she stared up at him, eyes wide. “Goodbye.”
That last word must have registered because she blinked then she nodded and slowly walked out the door.
When he closed the door and went back to gathering his things Ryder was still shaking his head in disbelief. What was Karin thinking? Right then there was only one woman on his mind and although at this point they were nothing more than friends he could hardly wait to see brutally honest, no-nonsense Blake Beaumont again.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“How you got the place to this state, I’ll never know.” Peggy shook her head as she gave one last flick of her feather duster. She’d spent the past few days whipping Ted’s place into shape and this was the last of it. “Now make sure you keep everything in order or else you’re going to have to answer to me.”
“Yes, ma’am, Peggy, ma’am.” Ted put his hand to his forehead and gave her a smart salute.
She pointed the feather duster at him. “I’m serious. Don’t let me see this place deteriorate like that again.”
He chuckled. “With you keeping me on my toes, how can I?”
“And don’t you get it in that head of yours that I’m going to keep coming over here, straightening up. It’s time you learned that cleanliness is next to-” A knock at the front door cut her short. She glanced over at Ted who still lounged at the kitchen table. “Expecting someone?”
“Nope.” He shook his head.
When he didn’t make a move to get up she swatted him on the arm. “You don’t expect me to get the door, do you? Get up and go see who it is.”
He pushed back his chair then stood up. “All right, little lady. I’m on my way.”
He sauntered off, leaving Peggy to grumble behind his back. “Men. If you’re not careful they’ll work you into the ground. Big babies, that’s what they all are.”
She was still mumbling softly under her breath when she heard Ted heading back toward the kitchen with another set of footsteps sounding behind him. Just in case it was real company she dropped the feather duster out of sight and straightened her blouse which had gone askew in her flurry of activity.
“Look who’s here,” Ted called out.
Peggy looked up with a smile, ready to greet whatever visitor had dropped by. When she saw who it was her smile widened. “Blake. Fancy you stopping by. Since when have you been dropping in at Ted’s place?”
“Since you’ve been so scarce at yours,” was Blake’s cheeky reply. “I went by to see you but when I couldn’t find you at home I knew you had to be here.”
Peggy cocked an eyebrow at her. “Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s so. There’s no need to be coy. Everybody knows you and Ted are an item.” She pulled out a chair and flopped down onto it then she plopped her elbows on top of the table and dropped her chin into her cupped hands, looking so forlorn that Peggy’s smile gave way to a frown.
“What’s wrong, honey? “Did something happen over at Beaumont’s?” As she spoke she pulled out the chair beside Blake and sat down. “Tell me.”
Ted, looking just as concerned as she was, sat down opposite them. He didn’t say anything, though. He just waited for their young friend to speak.
Blake groaned and then she lifted her head and sat back in her chair. She folded her arms across her chest, a grim expression on her face. “There’s a new man in town. His name is Jerome Slater. Have you heard about him?”