Brenda Novak - The Perfect Murder

Again, no answer. Did that mean what he thought it might? Or was it just that she hadn’t finished or couldn’t hear him? “Jane?” he called again.

Finally, the little sign that read Occupied disappeared as she turned the lock. But she didn’t come out. She opened the door a few inches and peered through the crack.

“What’d it say?”

Her chest rose as she took a deep breath. “It’s negative.”

“You’re sure?”

She passed him the test strip. He didn’t know what gray meant, but he didn’t question it. He stared at it for a second; then he reached around to put it on the sink. “That’s good, right?”

“I guess so. But despite everything, in a way, I’m disappointed.”

He understood because in a way he was, too. Even with the risks involved. Regardless of what anyone watching from the gas pumps might think if they saw him, Sebastian stepped into the woman’s restroom and closed the door so he could draw her into his arms and kiss her gently. “It’s okay.”

“I know. It’s just…this isn’t only about whether or not we’re having a baby.”

He tilted up her chin. “Then what’s it about?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yes.” Her voice dropped. “I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with you.”

Laughing at the hopelessness in her words, he kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m sorry that upsets you.”

“You live in New York!”

“You’re the one who keeps trying to send me back!”

“I still want you to go, if it’ll keep you safe.”

Feelings he hadn’t experienced since before Colton’s death began to simmer inside Sebastian, chasing all the negative events into the background. He was suddenly stronger, more like himself, so much happier. “I’m not going back. I’m staying here, with you.”

“But it’s important that you go-at least until the police capture Malcolm.”

“Trust me to take care of myself,” he said. “Trust me to take care of you and Kate.”

“It’s him I don’t trust,” she argued.

“We’ll come out of this. We’ll be fine.”

She laid her head on his shoulder. “How would you have reacted if there was a baby?” she asked. “Would it have scared you away?”

What kind of fickle asshole did she think he was? “Not at all. I’m forty-five, Jane, not twenty-five. I know what a baby means. I said I’d be happy, and that hasn’t changed. I would’ve been okay with it, as long as you were.”

“And how does the fact that there is no baby change the situation?” Her head came up. She was expecting him to tell her why he wasn’t ready for a permanent relationship. He could tell. But that wasn’t what he had to say.

Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her again. “It doesn’t. I still want you.”

“You’re serious,” she said, searching his face.

“Completely.”

She smiled. Then she hugged him tighter and it was her turn to kiss him. She didn’t ask any more questions. Apparently she was willing to let it go at that, and he was glad. He had no idea what he’d do about his job in New York, if he’d relocate or she would, if she’d mind that he’d spent all his money chasing Malcolm and would need time to rebuild. It was too soon to discuss any of the practical issues of how they’d be together. But they knew they wanted to be together. And for now, that was enough.

Jane could hardly believe that she’d found another man she cared about. Sometimes she’d look up to find Sebastian watching her with such tenderness that a warm tingle would go through her. This was what she’d been missing. This…contentment. She’d never really had it, certainly not with Oliver. He’d always been too selfish. Sebastian was different, mature, confident, willing to care for others. What she felt for him was so wonderful it frightened her-because she was afraid it wouldn’t last. Good things seldom did. She had a bone-deep conviction that she wasn’t meant to be so happy, didn’t deserve it. And if she ever forgot that, she didn’t have to go far to be reminded. She knew how Wendy would react to the news…

“Mom, you watching?” Kate called.

“You’re doing great, honey!” Jane smiled and waved at her daughter, circling the ice with Sebastian. Although Jane had gone skating quite often in her early teens, it was Kate’s first time. She seemed a bit shaky but she was enjoying herself…and enjoying all the attention Sebastian was lavishing on her.

Jane went to the restroom, which was why she’d gotten off the ice. She was on her way back to the rink when her cell phone rang. It’d been so long since she’d skated that she wasn’t much steadier than Kate was, so she answered before stepping onto the ice.

Caller ID showed it was Skye. “Hello?”

“Jane? Hi!”

Leaning against the railing, Jane searched the crowd for Sebastian and Kate. “How are you?”

“Better. We’ve found the child we were looking for.”

“That’s wonderful news! How’d you do it?”

“A relative of the father, a cousin. They got into an argument, so the cousin finally came forward.”

“What was the argument about?”

“Dishes,” she said with a laugh. “They were living together, and it wasn’t working out too well.”

“Lucky for you. So are you coming home soon?”

“We’re flying out tomorrow. I can’t wait. I’m so homesick for my family I can’t stand it.”

“I know they’ll be glad to see you.”

“How’s everything going?”

Kate took a spill, but it wasn’t a hard fall and Sebastian helped her up. “At the office?” she asked.

“At home, too. It seems like forever since we’ve had a chance to talk.”

Jane considered everything she had to tell. Where did she start? The case? No, she’d save that until Skye got home. She didn’t want to focus on Malcolm; she was more interested in talking about the positive developments in her life. “I’ve met someone,” she said.

“You have? Wow, this is a first. I haven’t even been able to get you to go out on a date. Who is it?” The excitement in Skye’s voice brought a smile to Jane’s face.

“An investment banker from New York.”

“Where’d you meet him?”

“At the office.”

“He’s a client?”

“More of a…volunteer.”

“He sounds interesting.”

“He’s…special.”

“Special is good. It’s better than I ever expected to hear from you. How long have you known him?” she asked.

“Only a week. But we’ve spent nearly every minute together.”

“No kidding? Have you introduced him to Kate?”

Kate was the litmus test, and Skye knew it. “Yes. We’re ice-skating right now.”

“Damn, why does everything happen when I leave?” she complained with a laugh. “I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

“When you’re back.”

“We’ll be there on Monday. I doubt we’ll be in the office much for the first few days, probably just long enough to go through our messages, but at least we’ll get to say hello. I was thinking it might be smart to have a short meeting. Sheridan said she’d bring her baby so we could see him again, and we can get caught up and sort of plan out the week.”

“I’ll be there. What time?”

“How about four o’clock?”

“Four it is. I’ll see you then. Have a safe-”

“Jane?” she cut in.

“Yeah?”

“It’s great to hear you sound so happy.”

“It’s great to feel this happy,” she said and hung up just as Sebastian and Kate came to a stop on the rink in front of her.

“Hey, you getting back on?” he asked.

“Of course.”

They waited for her at the opening, each holding out a hand to help her onto the ice. “Who were you talking to, Mama?” Kate asked.