Two Hearts Denied by Lyn Cote

Author:Lyn Cote [Cote, Lyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyn Cote
Published: 2019-11-13T00:00:00+00:00

Ryker stood over Claire, wounded by the way she’d folded in on herself as if fractured by this latest blow. “I’m sorry,” he whispered in turn.

As though drowning, she held up one hand to him.

He took it. “What do you want from me?” he murmured, not wanting Melissa and Lou to hear them. “I can’t change any of this.”

“I can’t face it.” She stood and walked into his arms. “It’s too much.”

Knowing he shouldn’t, knowing it was wrong, knowing he was taking advantage of her vulnerable state of mind, he folded his arms around her warmth and softness. He lowered his guard. Just this once. Never again.

He waited for her to pull away, to sever their connection. But she laid her cheek against his shoulder. When he felt her tears wet his shirt, he stroked her sleek hair and murmured consoling sounds. He forgot everything but the yielding form pressed against him.

Abruptly, she pulled away, turning from him. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t know why I did.” She folded her arms around herself as though chilled. “It’s just so hard to see Melissa going through this.”

“I’m the one who should apologize.” Ryker’s voice grated low in his throat. “I was out of line.” To stop himself from reaching for her, he opened the top file drawer and began pawing through the files, looking at their labels. He pulled out one and began rifling through it.

“There must be a reason for Troy doing all this.” Arms still around herself, Claire moved closer to him. “The bills, the accounts, now the truck…”

“Haven’t you figured that out yet?” Ryker looked at her over the folders, the file cabinet drawer between them.

“No, what explains it? What am I missing?”

He shook his head as he found the folder labeled Important Documents.

“Tell me,” she pleaded an urgent whisper. “Please.”

“No. I have no hard proof yet. When I do, I’ll let you in on my reasoning.”

“But why would Troy buy a new truck and then only make two payments?” She gripped the edge of the file cabinet. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“It does if he wanted an expendable asset for almost nothing.” Forcing himself not to look at her, Ryker inspected each of the papers in the file, birth certificates for both the boys, social security cards and finally, the loan agreement for the truck. It had been over thirty thousand dollars new. How much of that value had it retained over the past six months?

“What do you mean?” Claire gripped the file folder, their fingers touching. “If he owed money on it, it would be a liability not an asset and besides, the truck’s been stolen.”

“Yes, but maybe Troy stole it.” He hated himself for voicing his suspicion, but she’d badgered him and now it was out. But Claire’s soft moan struck him hard. Another nail in the coffin of Troy as perfect husband and father. He didn’t relish this process. At all.

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