One Step Closer(73)

When the car pulled forward, Caleb didn’t wait for Jared to get out and open the backdoor, instead doing it himself. He nodded to the car, silently demanding that Veronica get inside.

“I’m not leaving without seeing Wren,” she insisted.

“She doesn’t want to see you. Get out of here!” Caleb was furious, realizing that he had no clue whether Veronica still lived in Denver or if she’d moved. He didn’t care.

“I have a right to see her.”

“She’s an adult. The only right you have is to get the f*ck off my property before I call the police.” Caleb took her arm and moved her toward the open door; the speed at which he moved had Veronica’s high-heel clad feet shuffling and sliding underneath her. “Wren would be the first to say you’re just here sniffing around for what you can get, but trust me; you’re shit out of luck this time.” He forced her inside the backseat, using his free hand to shield her head from the doorframe as momentum carried her backward inside the car. “Jared, get her out of here,” he commanded.

“You can’t stop me from being at the reading of the will, Caleb.” Her voice had risen almost to a screech. “I called Jonathan an hour ago and he admitted Edison included me and Wren.”

Caleb huffed out a laugh. “I’m aware.” She was in for a big surprise. “Wren will be there tomorrow, and if she wants to speak to you, fine, but I swear to God if you so much as say one wrong word to her, I won’t be liable for my actions.”

Veronica gasped and Jared let out a laugh. “What are you laughing at?” she yelled at him. “You have no right!”

“Where should I take her, sir?” Jared ignored her, glancing over his shoulder at Caleb. He was still smirking, clearly unaffected by Veronica’s rant.

“To the nearest street corner, I imagine. Don’t let her berate you or give some sob story about how destitute she is. You work for me, so I expect you to be deaf to her lies. If she lives in town take her there, if not, dump her at the nearest Motel 6.” He took a roll of bills out of his right front pants pocket, unrolled a fifty and flung it into the backseat of the car. “That should cover it.”

“You’ve turned into a major bastard, Caleb,” Veronica spat at him. “I guess the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“You’re wrong, Veronica. I’ve always been a major bastard. Remember what I said. I can’t stop you from showing up, but you will not do one damn thing to hurt Wren tomorrow.” He used his hand to make a snip, snip scissors motion right in front of her face. “Don’t f*ck with either one of us, or you’ll be very, very sorry. Hurt her and I’ll do a lot more than shave your goddamned head.”

He closed the car door in her face before she could say another word and then used the flat of his hand to pound on the roof of the car, signaling Jared to go.

Caleb shoved both hands into the pockets of his slacks as he watched the car pull out of the driveway. He inhaled as deeply as he could, trying to release some of the deep-seated anger boiling inside him. He hated Veronica as much as he ever did. His father’s one hundred dollar bequest would stop any monetary claims on the estate, but that didn’t mean Wren wouldn’t suffer from a lifetime of wheedling from that bitch. He felt sure this was only the beginning.

His mind was working at the speed of light, and Caleb knew exactly what he had to do.





WREN RETREATED TO HER rooms after she was sure Jonesy didn’t need any more help cleaning up.


Most of the mourners were gone, with only a few left in the den still talking with Caleb and Jonathan. She could only assume it had to do with the company. It was a massive undertaking and she was curious what Caleb was going to do. Would he move to Denver to assume control, or be silent partner, letting the suits handle the day-to-day operations?

She wanted to spend some time with Caleb so she could be sure of his plans. He’d been monopolized for the two hours since they’d returned from the wake, and given Macy’s disappearance this evening, she was certain she would demand the small amount of free time Caleb would have the following day.

She hoped the other girl was feeling better, but Wren didn’t feel like going to her room to check on her. Macy had been standoffish at the wake, and Wren could only assume it was because she was still upset that Caleb helped her pick out her shoes rather than the sightseeing expedition that the other woman wanted. One thing was certain; the two would never be good friends.

She sighed as she took off the scarf and kicked off her shoes, leaving them lay where they landed on the area rug near her bed. She didn’t have the energy to be tidy; her eyes were tired from crying and her heart was heavy. She was sad that Edison was gone, but sadder because after the funeral was over, there would be no more reason to stay. Her time with Caleb would be over soon and she wanted every precious second she could manage with him.

She wanted a bath; hoping the hot water would soothe away the tension in her back and shoulders. The sadness she was feeling was only getting worse and nothing would ease it. Distance and time would make it less intrusive, but there would always be that subdued sorrow that never went away. The hole that Caleb’s absence left in her life created emptiness inside her chest that would always stay with her. She’d given up hope that it would ease long ago. It was part of her.

She struggled to unzip the dress by herself, bending her arms unnaturally behind her back to get it done. Finally, it was hanging up in the closet next to the new jacket she would wear with it, and she sat on the edge of the porcelain tub adjusting the water temperature. She plugged the tub and then added some softly scented bath salts that were part of the exclusive Lux line.