Whispered Promises Page 10

  “Yes. He died a few days ago.”

  Lt. Williams came around and sat on the edge of his desk. “What was the cause of death?”

  “He had terminal cancer.”

  The lieutenant’s body relaxed. “Please accept my condolences. This is all very surprising since I just saw Mr. Parker a few weeks ago and he appeared to be in good health.”

  Dex nodded. “It’s my understanding his condition suddenly took a turn for the worse. A lot of people, including his daughter, didn’t know the extent of his illness.” He thought that was putting it mildly since Caitlin hadn’t known about her father’s condition at all.

  “I see. So, I suppose the reason you’re here is because of Mr. Parker’s allegations against Malone Land Developers?”

  “Yes. Halston left a letter for me to read after his death. The letter really didn’t give any specifics, other than claiming someone was trying to buy land from him and had begun using unsavory tactics to coerce him into selling. He was extremely concerned for my wife’s safety. I was hoping you could shed some light on exactly what this is all about.”

  “Did you bring the letter with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you mind if I take a look at it?”

  Dex pulled the letter out of his shirt pocket and handed it to the lieutenant.

  Lt. Williams scanned the letter before giving it back to Dex. He then went to a filing cabinet in the corner of the room and after flipping through various folders, pulled one out. He returned to sit behind his desk.

  “Mr. Parker called my office several times within the last couple of months with complaints of harassment by Malone Land Developers. It’s my understanding they approached him about some land that’s been in his family for a number of years. Each time I checked into Mr. Parker’s allegations, I couldn’t find anything to link Malone to the incidents taking place.”

  Dex sat back. A number of questions were buzzing in his mind. “Exactly what sort of incidents were there?”

  “Besides the harassing phone calls Mr. Parker claimed he was receiving late at night,” Lt. Williams said, going through the folder, “he also reported being followed in his car a few times, his business was vandalized once, and his car was broken into twice. All within a two-week period.”

  Dex tilted his head to the side and looked at Lt. Williams with a curious expression on his face. “Why was my father-in-law so convinced Malone Land Developers was behind any of those things?”

  “He claimed he received threatening phone calls about his land after each incident. That wasn’t much for us to go on, and after talking with Duncan Malone, who denied that he or anyone in his office made such calls, it was Mr. Parker’s word against his. So, frankly, without any proof, there wasn’t anything we could do.”

  Dex nodded in understanding. “I see.”

  “Right now the case is closed. However, if for any reason you feel it should be reopened, let me know.”

  Dex stood. “I’ll do that. And I really appreciate the information. Thanks for taking the time to see me.” He turned and walked out of Lt. Williams’s office.

  “I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you.”

  Even over the phone lines, Caitlin could hear the sadness in her best friend’s voice. The unexpected call had been just what she’d needed. She had awakened that morning feeling slightly depressed.

  “That’s all right, Bev. I know you’d be here if you could.” Caitlin sat down on the sofa. “Under the circumstances, it’s probably for the best that you didn’t make it to Dad’s funeral. Dex is here.”

  “So I’ve heard. Dad told me. What’s going on?”

  The question placed a placid smile on Caitlin’s face. She and Beverly Burke Garrett had been best friends since grade school.

  Caitlin sighed. She then told Beverly about her dad’s confession, the promise Dex had made to her father, him finding out about Jordan and their decision to remain married.

  “Maybe I should catch a plane and come home. Chase will understand.”

  “Whether he does or not isn’t important. You can’t go flying around the country in your condition.”

  “I guess you’re right. That’s the price I have to pay for falling in love with a man whose job takes him all over the world. Although I have to admit, London is beautiful this time of the year.” There was a pause. “So tell me, how’s Dex Madaris? I imagine he’s every bit as sexy as he was the time I met him at the hospital after your dad’s heart attack.”

  Caitlin’s voice cracked somewhat when she answered. “He’s even more so.” As far as she was concerned, Dex’s very presence in her home was causing her to short-circuit. The smell of his cologne, clean and masculine, was a seductive aroma that permeated the entire house.

  “Oh, Bev. What am I going to do? The only reason Dex wants to stay married is because he feels obligated.”

  “Stop it right there, Caitlin Shi’Larie Madaris. Don’t you dare start feeling sorry for yourself. Up to now you’ve accepted what happened between you and Dex and moved on with your life. Don’t you dare start wallowing in ‘what could have been.’”

  “Give me a reason why I shouldn’t. Thanks to me, my daughter didn’t know her father for three years.” Caitlin stood and went to the window. She could see Jordan playing in the backyard with Ms. Logan’s granddaughter, while the older woman worked nearby in her flower garden. Caitlin was all alone in the house. Dex had left right after breakfast saying he was going out and would return in a couple of hours. She couldn’t help wondering where he’d gone.

  “You did write to tell him about your pregnancy.”

  “I doubt he believes me. You ought to see him and Jordan together, Bev. Each day they’re growing closer and closer. I keep thinking things could have been different if I’d joined Dex in Australia like I had promised. Even you thought I should go.”

  “But you didn’t and you can’t change things, so move on. I know you’re probably feeling depressed over losing your dad and you’re still grieving, but the last thing you should do is let Dex take advantage of your vulnerability now. Please, whatever you do, don’t start thinking that you’re lucky he wants a reconciliation. Instead you should feel he’s the one who’s lucky that you agreed to it.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing. Give yourself credit for something. You’ve raised Jordan for the past three years, without any help from Dex Madaris. Being a single parent isn’t easy. Don’t ever take what you’ve done for granted.”

  Caitlin sighed. “But what about a life filled with love and happiness?”

  “You and Dex have another chance at that, Caitlin. What you should do is turn whatever setbacks you’ve encountered into victories. Don’t focus on what you didn’t do, but on what you can do now.”

  Caitlin chuckled softly. “You sound just like a philosopher.”

  Beverly laughed then spoke in a teasing British accent. “It must be the English air I’m breathing. But seriously, stop trying to cast Dex in the role of a perfect man.”

  “I never said he was perfect.”

  “Well, don’t. He has faults just like everyone else. And to be quite honest with you, he thoroughly disappointed me by not taking the first plane out of Australia when you filed for a divorce. I really had expected him to come after you. One of the reasons I had liked him right away was because he was a lot older than you, and he appeared to be a man who wouldn’t hesitate to fight for what was his. I think he gave in to your father too easily.”

  Caitlin frowned. “Aren’t you being a little bit hard on him, Bev?”

  “I’m being no harder on Dex than you’re being on yourself. I’m your friend, remember. Your very best friend. I want things between you and Dex to work out. Not just for Jordan’s sake, but especially for yours and Dex’s. More than anything, I want you to be happy. Just give your relationship with him some time, and don’t expect miracles overnight. The best relationships are those that grow from the knowledge that we’re more than wor
thy of the best that life can offer.”

  “Oh, Bev, I want to believe that.”

  “Then do believe it. I wish you and Dex the very best of luck. Although it was a whirlwind love affair, I believe it’s the quality of time and not the quantity of time that’s important. Call me a romantic if you want to, but I think you and Dex had something very special four years ago. And I truly believe something that special can’t die or isn’t easily destroyed. Just follow your heart, listen to your mind, stand behind your convictions and don’t be afraid to take risks. The only failure lies in not trying.”

  “You make it sound so easy.”

  “No, it’s not easy, but it’s well worth the effort.”

  Caitlin took a deep calming breath. “You could always do this to me.”

  “Do what?”

  “Show me the error of my ways.”

  “No more than you could help me see mine. You were right there cheering Chase on whenever I got a streak of stubbornness. If it hadn’t been for you, love would have passed me by, and I’d still be an unhappy pharmacist working in my dad’s drugstore. Chase and I will be forever grateful to you for prodding me in the right direction. If one of the twins is a girl, I’m going to name her after you.”

  “Twins! What twins?”

  Beverly roared with laughter, unable to keep her secret any longer. “I found out this morning. We’re having twins!”

  Dex walked into the kitchen and found Caitlin bending over while unloading the dishwasher. He paused in the doorway to watch her, enjoying the way the shorts she wore outlined her shapely bottom. His pulse quickened. He would love to fill his hands with her incredible softness, to pull her against him and…

  He shook his head to clear his thoughts. The last thing he needed was to begin seeing Caitlin as only a sex object. She was, afterall, the mother of his child and by law, his wife.

  His wife, Dex thought again. In that case, according to the minister who married them four years ago, she was his—to have and to hold—and at this very moment he ached to do both.

  “Get a grip, Madaris,” he muttered to himself.

  Dex’s muttering caught Caitlin’s attention. She turned around. “Oh, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  Straightening, she closed the dishwasher door. “How long have you been back?”

  “Not long,” he answered. No way he was going to tell her that he had stood in the doorway a good five minutes ogling her body.

  Caitlin’s gaze held Dex’s for a fraction of a second too long before she looked away quickly. “I wasn’t sure if you would be back for lunch so Jordan and I went ahead and ate.”

  “That’s fine,” Dex replied absently. He watched Caitlin move around the kitchen gathering up a few of Jordan’s toys that were scattered about. It was obvious he made her nervous.

  “Where’s Jordan?” he asked, breaking the silence that had descended upon the room.

  “She’s taking a nap.”

  Dex nodded. He knew Caitlin was probably wondering where he’d been. On the return drive back, he had decided not to tell her about his meeting with Lt. Williams. Since there had been no proof to Halston’s allegations, it would be best to let the matter drop.

  “Dex, I almost forgot. You got a call from someone by the name of Trevor Grant. He said it’s important that you call him back. If you need privacy to make the call, I’ll go—”

  “No. Trevor’s my project foreman,” Dex said, picking up the phone.

  Caitlin was aware of her sweaty palms as she rummaged through the refrigerator looking for a carton of orange juice. She didn’t have to guess the cause of her body’s warmth—or more specifically, who was the cause of it. She knew that even now while he talked on the phone, Dex was watching her every movement.

  She found the item she’d been looking for and closed the refrigerator door. In a way she felt awful that she’d completely forgotten Dex had a company to run—a company he was neglecting while being here with her.

  When she heard Dex let out a loud whoop, she swung around quickly, almost dropping the carton of juice out of her hands. Nervously she placed it on the counter. Before she could ask Dex what was going on, he rushed across the room and captured her in his arms, giving her a big bear hug.

  “Dex, what in the world is going on?” she asked, staggering to keep her balance when he released her.

  “We got it!”

  “Got what?”

  Dex laughed exuberantly as he gave Caitlin another crushing hug. “Madaris Explorations has been offered a chance to handle this big project for Remington Oil. I don’t have all the specifics, but according to Trevor, we may be talking megabucks. This is a dream come true. It’s more than I could have ever hoped for.”

  Caitlin smiled, sharing his happiness and excitement. “Congratulations, Dex. I’m really happy for you. You know, it just occurred to me just how little I know about what you do now that you’re in business for yourself. When we first met, you were working for Remington Oil.”

  Dex’s gaze was drawn to Caitlin’s legs when she reached down to pick up an item off the floor. She had beautiful legs, long, smooth and shapely—majorette legs. He didn’t think he would ever tire of seeing her in any outfit that showed them. He forced his mind away from her legs and back to the comment she’d just made.

  “To be quite honest with you, Caitlin, I should thank you for Madaris Explorations.”

  Caitlin’s brow raised as she looked at him. “Thank me? Why?”

  Dex sat on a stool at the counter. His gaze fixed on hers. “While in Australia trying to get over you, I became a workaholic. I took on jobs other geologists weren’t interested in. Sometimes, I worked from daybreak to sundown, weekends and holidays. My work became my life. I learned all sorts of new jobs, and I met a lot of interesting people. They were people who didn’t mind my eagerness to learn, and people who didn’t mind sharing their knowledge with me. By the time I left Australia to return to the States, I was ready to start my own explorations company. It’s something I wanted more than anything.”

  Caitlin glanced down at the floor, unable to meet his gaze any longer. The idea that she had driven him to such a state didn’t make her feel good at all. “I’m glad at least something worthwhile was happening for you then.”

  Dex nodded. “And I also have Clayton and Justin to thank. No man could ask for better brothers. Without as much as blinking an eye, the two of them provided the financial backing I needed to begin my company. They proved just how much they believed in me.”

  Caitlin nodded. She’d known the three Madaris brothers were close but their gesture of love to Dex had proved just how close they actually were. She’d never had any siblings to share such special closeness with.

  She walked across the room to the window. A group of kids were playing a game of kick ball in the street. They seemed to be having so much fun being part of a group. She knew from experience that being an only child could be lonely. She wondered if Jordan would be the only child she and Dex would ever have together.

  She glanced around when she heard Dex move off the stool. He came to stand beside her.

  “Justin and Clayton are really special, Dex,” she said softly. “In fact, I think your entire family is. That’s the main reason I couldn’t contact them when I found out I was pregnant. They were so kind to me when you took me to meet them, especially your parents.”

  Dex smiled warmly. “Yeah, Mom and Dad are super people. My father has always been there not only for his sons, but for practically every fatherless boy who lived in our community when I was growing up. During my teen years Dad was the principal at our high school. He used to always stress the importance of getting a good education. He drilled it into our heads that we couldn’t just give one hundred percent in what we did, we had to give one hundred plus.”

  Caitlin nodded. She could just imagine the older Mr. Madaris trying to prepare his sons for the harsh realities of life. “What about your mom?”

  Dex chuckled. “Mom w
as just Mom. Also being an educator, she was just as tough on us as Dad. Justin, Clayton and I participated in a lot of sports while in school, but Mom’s top priority for us was a good education. And she strongly encouraged us to learn as much about our heritage as possible. During the summer months, all of us were required to read a certain number of books written by black authors. She believed that the more you knew about yourself, the more you would be able to love and appreciate not only yourself, but also those around you.”

  Caitlin’s eyes twinkled. “Your mom’s a smart woman.”

  “No argument from me.” Dex couldn’t help wondering if their discussion about his parents had made Caitlin think of her own. He knew the pain of losing her father was still fresh. When she turned to look back out the window his gaze played over her profile.

  What sort of future were they bound to have together? She had hurt him deeply once, and he knew he would never give her the chance to do so again. That meant he would always be on his guard around her. That also meant that he would never be able to share a really close relationship with her, not even for Jordan’s sake.

  “I’m sure the people at Remington Oil want to meet with you. When will you be leaving?” Caitlin asked suddenly, her dark eyes darting up to him.

  “They want me in Austin by Friday to brief me on the project,” he said hesitantly. “But Trevor can go in my place.”

  “I’m sure they’ll prefer discussing things with you personally, Dex. If you really need to be there, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be.”

  Dex caught Caitlin’s chin in his fingers and tilted her face up to his. He smiled slightly, his eyes falling to her moistened lips and then back to her eyes. “Are you trying to get rid of me, Caitlin?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “No, of course not. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to stay here because of any obligation to me and Jordan. We’ll be fine.”

  He withdrew his hand from her face. “And how will you explain my leaving to Jordan?”

  “I’ll tell her the truth. That you had a job to do and you’ll be coming back.”