Part 38 (1/2)
Now he knew he'd been a fool to stay away from her, and he was determined to make sure that whatever time they got together was as peaceful and happy as he could make it. She deserved nothing less. They deserved nothing less, thus the effort to reach some sort of accord with her father.
He landed at T.F. Green airport outside of Providence, Rhode Island, and rented a car for the thirty-minute drive to Newport. Before he left Nashville, he'd looked up Jack's office online and written down the address that he now punched into the car's GPS.
Although the ride over the bridges that led to Newport was scenic, Reid barely noticed as he followed the directions to the offices of Harrington Booth a.s.sociates. Once there, he sat in the parking lot and stared at the building where Kate's father worked. What if Jack wasn't even here after he'd come all this way to see him?
Reid laughed at that thought and shook his head. Wouldn't that be just his luck? He hadn't wanted to call ahead because he'd been certain Jack would refuse to see him. Hopefully, showing up in person would make a difference.
His cell phone rang, and he checked the caller ID to find the number unknown. Because it might be Kate calling from someone else's phone, he took the call.
”Reid.”
c.r.a.p, it wasn't Kate. ”What do you want, Mari?”
”Please... They arrested me.” She spoke so softly he almost couldn't hear her.
”What do you want me to do about it?”
”Tell them it wasn't me! Tell them I couldn't have done this!”
”But you did do it. You trashed my place and shredded pictures of my son.”
”You can't prove that!”
”The police can-and they will.”
”If you tell them it wasn't me, they won't charge me.”
”Why would I do that when you told your cousin that Kate was at Desi's place and he filmed us having s.e.x? Are you the one who posted it on the Internet, or did you let him do that for you, too?”
”No! I'd never do that!”
”Don't make it worse by lying, Mari. I hope you made enough off the video to pay for a lawyer. Sounds like you're going to need one.”
”Reid, please. All you'd have to do is make a call. People respect you here. You know I don't have the money for a lawyer.”
”You should've thought of that before your vindictive streak kicked in. I'm already paying the landlord for the damage you did. I'd say that more than makes us even.”
”What about me? We were happy together until she showed up!”
”She did me a huge favor by showing up when she did. I had no idea you had this kind of nastiness inside you.”
”I didn't mean to hurt anyone, and I'm so sorry about Ashton's picture. That shouldn't have happened.”
”You're d.a.m.ned right it shouldn't have happened.”
”Are you going to marry her?”
”As soon as I can.”
She let out a whimper of distress. ”Did you ever feel anything for me?”
”Yes, but I don't anymore. Please don't call me again, or I'll change my phone number. We have nothing left to say to each other.” He pressed the End b.u.t.ton and gripped the phone tightly as he took a series of deep breaths to calm down. That call was about the last thing he needed right now with the confrontation with Jack looming.
He stashed the phone in his pocket and got out of the car before he lost his nerve. Inside, a receptionist directed him to Jack's office, where his a.s.sistant was on the phone.
”Hi there,” she said a few minutes later, after she ended the call. ”Sorry about that. Crazy busy today. What can I do for you?”
”I'd like to see Jack Harrington, if possible.”
She studied him with shrewd green eyes. ”Is he expecting you?”
”Ah, no,” Reid said with a laugh, ”he is most definitely not expecting me.”
”Your name?”
”Reid Matthews.”
Her eyes widened for an instant before she recovered her professional demeanor. ”Please have a seat, and I'll see if he's available.”
As she scurried into Jack's office and shut the door behind her, Reid took a seat in the reception area to await the verdict.
Lost in his own thoughts, he didn't see Jamie Booth approach Jack's office.
”What the h.e.l.l are you doing here?”
Kate's uncle was tall and blond and clearly furious. ”h.e.l.lo to you, too. Nice to see you, Jamie.”
”Answer the question.”
”I need to speak with Jack.”
”He has nothing to say to you.”
”That's fine, but I have something to say to him.”
”You've got a lot of nerve showing up here after you've ruined Kate's life-again.”
”Kate's life is hardly ruined.”
”You selfish b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
”I'm not here to fight with you. I'd like to speak to Jack, and then I'll be on my way.”
With a last furious look for Reid, Jamie went into Jack's office and slammed the door.
When Quinn came in and shut the door, Jack looked up from the plans he'd been reviewing. It was unlike her to come in without knocking. He'd long ago told her to quit knocking, and she'd refused, which was one of their many ongoing jokes. He was prepared for her to razz him about his perpetually messy desk, but she seemed rattled. ”What's wrong?”
”He's here,” Quinn whispered.