The Newcomer (Thunder Point #2)(78)

“And yet you would leave that family and home?” he asked.

“It doesn’t make sense, I realize that now. But I wanted things. We had a family and a house, but I was still scared all the time. Afraid of being abandoned, of turning into my mother—a young woman with a passel of kids and no money and no husband and no way to take care of them or myself. In hindsight...” She gave a wave of her hand.

Actually, it did make sense if it was true, Mac thought. Abused children often grew up to abuse their own children, so this history could explain a lot. But that didn’t make it right. “Well, it appears you have what you needed. Money. Security. And don’t worry, you’re pretty and know how to flirt. You’ll find another husband.”

“Well, except that I’ve had a little setback recently. Nothing serious, but it kind of showed me how much I’d left behind when I left you and the kids and I hoped we could start to know each other again. You know—see if it was as big a mistake for you as it was for me. I knew the odds were not in my favor, but I had to try.”

He just shook his head. “I told you, I have someone now. It’s serious. Besides, you’ll do all right.”

“I have some debt to clear,” she said.

“Cee Jay, I know about the house, the cars, the alimony, which incidentally was acquired fraudulently. You’ve gone through a fortune.”

“Well, a person with my upbringing doesn’t really know how to manage all that and it didn’t take long before I mismanaged it. And lost it.” She shrugged and looked away. “Bad investments, being taken advantage of by con artists, lots of things I just wasn’t prepared to handle....”

“No, Cee Jay, you gambled it away. The house was free and clear and you borrowed against it. Millions. So, cash in a couple of rings and sell the car....”

She scowled at him. “The car isn’t mine and the rings are fake.”

He looked at them with lifted brows. He’d never have known the difference. “Good fakes. And where’s the car? It’s not here.”

“It went away,” she said sourly.

“And Madeline? Aka Antoinette?”

“Upstairs,” she said.

“You must have a very unique relationship,” he muttered. Partners in crime, he thought.

“We have similar backgrounds,” she said. “We can trust each other.”

He immediately thought he knew how to learn more about that. He could spend a lot of time investigating. He might look into Cee Jay’s childhood if only to know if she was lying or telling the truth, but he couldn’t care less about her girlfriend. And if what Cee Jay told him was meant to explain her adult behavior, his kids were safe from that kind of legacy. They hadn’t been treated that way.

“Where did you grow up, Cee Jay? You always said it was Oregon.”

She nodded. “I didn’t know what I was walking away from, but I was unstable. Damaged. I haven’t had a real happy day since.”

“Poor Mr. Raines will be heartbroken to hear that.”

She laughed. “Poor Mr. Raines is a penny-pinching, mean-hearted old man! I wouldn’t have gotten anything in the divorce except for the prenup! I got exactly what was outlined—a house, car and limited alimony. He blows more than that in a weekend.”

Mac leaned toward her. He lowered his voice. “Cee Jay, you weren’t legally married. You didn’t deserve anything at all, except maybe jail.”

“I didn’t think you’d ever look for me. I signed those divorce and custody papers because of Raines. I was trapped. I know, I know—I did it to myself. But still... I meant what I said, Mac. I missed the kids. I missed you. Missed us. If you weren’t involved with someone, we might be trying again....”

“No, that would never happen. I’m no good to you. I’d probably never buy you a fancy ring or new car. The most you’ll ever get from me is a cup of coffee. And there’s no way I can help clear your debt, so you should keep looking.”

She lifted one brow. “You have a house,” she pointed out to him. “I bet you even have a retirement fund and some college savings. You probably have money you don’t even realize you have.”

Mac didn’t react, but inside he felt shattered. And when he thought about this later it might make him cry. She’d do that? Take the equity in his house? The roof over his kids’ heads or their college savings? What little security he had? He thought he knew what she’d do with it, and she wasn’t going to pay down her Visa bill.

“How much is your debt?” he asked.

“It’s not very much. Just a few thousand.”

“How many thousands?”

“I don’t know,” she said, smoothing her hair. “Eight or ten. Maybe eleven. But even five would help. And I’d pay you back, of course. Right away.”

“And how could you do that? Pay me back right away?”

“I’m going to work,” she said. “I have several modeling and acting opportunities that I just haven’t been able to pursue, but they pay very well.”

“Which begs the question, why not work to pay off your debt?”

She sat back in her chair. “It’s complicated.”

He gave her a slight smile. “I have to admit, I’m dying of curiosity. I know you didn’t get in this spot on quarter slots at little casinos. Vegas? Monte Carlo? High stakes poker? Ponies? What the hell have you done to yourself, Cee Jay?”