Page 88 of Reckless Desire

I stand up, reveling in my height as he steps back so he doesn’t have to crane his neck so much.

“I came to take care of my monthly payment.”

His phony smile spreads wider. “As much as I’d love to have you as my client, Mrs. Lowe, your debt has been paid in full.”

“What? I-I-that must be a mistake.” Is he trying to trick me?

“Mr. Stuart paid off your debt. But I hope we can do business again soon.” He laughs and strolls toward his office where I sat crying and desperate six years ago before I signed my freedom over to the devil.

The gust of wind chills me to the core as I stumble outside. I lean against the wall and breathe, trying to collect my thoughts. But they roam freely around my head, laughing at me. This can’t be right.

Somehow I make it back downtown. Without thinking, I go to the club, hoping to find Hunter there.

He went behind my back.

A small part of me keeps arguing it’s an amazing gesture. I should be happy to be rid of McFadden, it’s a needed financial reprieve.

But the woman who once loved and trusted, and then lost it all, the Sydney I thought was finally buried with Jeremy, is as strong as ever.

“Sydney,” Caro calls and runs to me as soon as I enter. They are here. He’s here.

“Hey, darling.” I caress her head, trying to focus on the space around me but failing. As much as I fought the tears until now, they are winning.

The music echoes loudly in my head. Feet thump on cardio machines, the air conditioning hisses above all the hushed conversations, beeping and metallic clacks and clangs. My heart thuds inside my temples, deafening the cacophony of the place.

The city blinks with cheerful lights behind the steamed wall of windows. The world continues to turn as my own tumbles slowly.

“I finished my homework.” Caro tugs at my arm. “Are you excited about the skating?”

“Hunter is in his office, Syd.” Lea studies me with narrowed eyes. I guess my internal turmoil is visible.

I exhale, surprised how painful breathing is. “Caro, I need to talk to your dad.”

“Come and help me make the smoothies,” Lea calls out, reading the situation.

I walk around the mirrored wall, afraid to look at myself because I’m worried the woman I’d see is just a shadow of the widow from six years ago.

I knock and open the door. Hunter looks up from his computer and his entire face, his entire being, lights up as if his life improved just by my entrance. Almost immediately he frowns.

“What’s going on, Sydney?” He leaps to his feet and pulls me in, closing the door behind me. I step back when he leans closer to kiss me. Stupid tears play their get-out-jail-free card and stream out.

“I asked you to never keep things from me.” The words struggle around the lump growing in my throat.

Hunter squints, trying to decipher my state. “Sydney?”

“I went to the McFadden office and learned I’m no longer a client.” I don’t recognize my voice.

Hunter sighs and smiles. “I was going to tell you tonight. I wanted to surprise you…” He steps closer.

“You went behind my back and you kept it from me. It’s humiliating enough to go to that office once a month to relive my mistake and its consequences, and today McFadden enjoyed my little surprise.”

“Forget about him. You never have to see him again. I took care of it for you. And for me as well. I looked into him after our dinner at Casa Cassi and the man has a reputation. He’s out of your life now. Out of our life. What if he threatened Caro?”

His words punch me in the stomach as confusion swirls through me. Of course, I don’t want people like McFadden hanging over my head, especially now when people I care about are involved. He is right about that.

“You didn’t tell me. You decided to make a significant financial transaction behind my back. How can I trust you?”

“No, no, no, Sydney, I helped you out. To protect you. Are you suggesting I lost your trust by helping you out? If I told you I would pay your—Jeremy’s—debt, you’d have never agreed.”

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