Call It Destiny

knew she would see the gun in his grip.
    „I’m afraid I can’t let you waltz out of here, sweetheart. I’ve got an important meeting of the board this evening and I’d kinda like you to attend. Be a real education for you.“
    „Forget it.“ But she couldn’t forget the gun and they both knew it.
    „Sit down, Heather. Let’s talk about old times.“
    „I don’t think we have anything to say to each other, Rick.“ She tried to face him down. Eleven years ago she had been able to handle him. But eleven years ago he’d been anxious to keep her happy.
    „We’ve got lots to talk about, Heather. I just know you’re dying of curiosity. Want to know how rich I am? I’m worth nearly half a million right at this moment. By the time tonight’s business is finished, I’ll be worth almost three-quarters of a mil. I’ve learned to think big, baby. A lot bigger than I did in the old days.“
    „I don’t want any part of your schemes. Get rich on your own and leave me out of it,“ she hissed.
    He made a show of putting the gun back into his belt. „You’ve made yourself a part of my plans, Heather.“ He rose and moved toward her. „But if you do exactly as you’re told I think we might get along okay, after all. Course things will be different this time around. As I recall you were always a bossy sort of kid. And something tells me you probably turned into a bossy sort of woman. Just remember that I run this show and there’s every possibility we might work out. How about that, Heather? Think you might like finding out what you missed when you told me to get lost eleven years ago?“
    „No.“
    „You aren’t going to have much choice, sweetheart. Not much choice at all.“
    Before she could respond the thunder cracked again overhead. Heather found herself chewing on her lower lip, her fingers thrust into the front pockets of her jeans. She was scared and she didn’t dare show it. Not to this man. He’d take far too much pleasure in the knowledge.
    „Look, Rick. You and I went in two different directions all those years ago. I don’t think either one of us really wants to find out where the other’s been for the past few years. Let’s just forget the reunion. You stay here and do your thing and I’ll go back to Tucson and do mine.“
    He chuckled rudely. „Come on, now Heather. You know it’s not going to be that simple, don’t you?“
    Heather was trying to think of a cool way to handle the menacing question when the sound of another car approaching the cabin was heard. She wasn’t certain at first if it was another vehicle because the heavens chose that moment to send down the first sheets of water.
    A scowl appeared on Rick’s heavy features and he glanced at his watch. „I told him not to come until after dark. He’s hours early, the fool!“ He leaped to his feet, propelling Heather aside with a shove. The angry look on his face intensified as he peered out the broken window. Then Rick swore violently.
    „The damn place is turning into a parking lot! You know that guy?“ He jerked back from the window, reaching out to grab Heather’s arm and yank her forward.
    Somehow Heather knew who she would see getting out of the white Fiat. The car was her mother’s but the man getting ready to make a hurried dash to the poor protection of the small porch was Jake Cavender.
    He had come after her; just as she’d known he would. Because of her he would be walking into Rick’s gun.
    „I’ll get rid of him,“ she rasped pleadingly as she swung her head around to face a nervous and glowering Rick. „Just give me a chance. I’ll make him go away. He’s here because of me.“
    „What the hell’s going on? You two going to shack up here or something?“
    „Just let me have a chance to get rid of him, Rick. Please. If you do I’ll cooperate with you. I swear I won’t give you any trouble.“
    „What are you going to do? Tell him you came up here to meet me instead of him?“ Rick mocked furiously.
    „Why not?“ Her eyes burned into his. Heather tried to summon whatever degree of willpower she had ever possessed and use it on Monroe. „It will be easier for you if he goes away quietly.“
    Rick hesitated, clearly torn. He glanced out the window one more time and his dark gaze narrowed. „Yeah, I like it. I really like it. Okay, babe, let’s see you convince this guy you came all this way to jump in the sack with me. But if it doesn’t work, he’s dead. You got me?“
    Heather