Ryder drew in a sharp breath. That was a whole lot more information than he’d expected and on top of it all he was stumped. Why had Karin tracked him down to tell him this? Shouldn’t she be discussing this with the new – or maybe not so new – man in her life?
He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Karin.” He really was. Even though she’d cut him to the quick with her betrayal, he could never wish her any ill will. She was obviously grieving her loss and it gave him no joy to see her suffer.
He waited for her to speak again, to explain herself, to say why she was sitting in his office, divulging her most private affairs.
It took a while before she drew in a shaky breath then lifted her face to gaze at him. “I came to see you,” she said quietly, “because we need to talk. I made a mistake. A big one. I know that now.”
Ryder went still then, slowly, he drew away from his desk and sat back in his chair. He didn’t like the sound of that. It almost sounded like Karin was about to make an apology, even suggest that they should reunite. It was a prospect he wasn’t even going to entertain.
“I shouldn’t have messed around with Clive. I…he seduced me and I gave in. He was…hard to resist.” She had the grace to drop her eyes at that confession. “I let you down. I’m…so sorry.”
It was the first time Ryder had heard those words from Karin’s lips. When she’d confessed to sleeping with his friend, when she’d told him the child she was expecting was Clive’s, never once had she expressed remorse. Never once had she shown anything but decisiveness and a resolution to move on.
And now this?
“I…know you must be wondering why I’m here…telling you all this.” She sounded hesitant, almost afraid to go on.
Slowly, he nodded. “I am.”
She nodded, too. Then she drew in her breath and tightened her lips, looking like she was trying to figure out the best way to say what she had to say. “Clive and I…we’re not together anymore. I broke up with him. I told him it was all a big mistake. I told him…I wanted to go back to you.”
Ryder’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. It was just as he’d feared but he was having none of it. “Why?” he asked, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion.
“Because I love you. I really do.” She was sitting forward on her chair now, perched on the edge, so focused on him that she didn’t seem to realize she was wringing her hands. “I never meant to hurt you, Ryder. Please forgive me. Please, can’t we try again?”
This was the strangest conversation Ryder had ever had. First of all, Karin was behaving in a way so contrary to her usually decisive nature that he couldn’t believe this was the same person he’d known for four years. More than that, she was not only being uncharacteristically emotional but she was being irrational as well. After what she’d done, what woman in her right mind would expect them to pick up where they'd left off?
“And I found out,” she continued, her voice breathless, “that Clive isn’t the man I thought he was.”
“Oh?” Yet another spin to the tale. Ryder couldn’t suppress his curiosity. “How so?”
“He’s…” She stopped then she swallowed. “He’s…an abuser. I had no idea until I moved in with him.”
Ryder frowned. “He hit you?”
“Yes.” It was a soft whisper, almost inaudible, but he’d heard it. She’d given an affirmative answer to his question.
“You reported this to the police?”
“I…didn’t. I just left.” Her shoulders sagged and she lifted a hand to her face. It took a few seconds before she slid her hand from her eyes and sighed. “I had no idea he was like that. I couldn’t believe it.” Then she looked directly into his eyes, the first time she’d done so since she started her story. “You would never do that. You would die first.”
Ryder didn’t respond. Karin knew him, that was for sure, but he didn’t know her. Not anymore.
And it was time to do the right thing, the humane thing. Time to end this before she started building up any false hope. He got up and walked around the desk and held out his hand.
Her brows lifted in surprise and then, as her face softened into a smile, she raised her hand to place it in his.
Ryder helped Karin to her feet and as she stood her body swayed toward him but exactly at that moment he turned away and faced the door. “This has been very emotional for you. I think it’s best if you head for home and get some rest.”
“But…what about us? I thought-” Karin’s stammers fell on deaf ears.
He was sympathetic to her suffering but he could see now what she’d been about. She’d hoped to play on his sympathy and work her way back into his life. He was accommodating where women concerned, but not that accommodating.
He’d started walking, taking Karin along with him, and soon they were at the door. He opened it and held it wide then gave her a curt nod of dismissal.
“I wish you all the best, Karin,” he said as she stared up at him, eyes wide. “Goodbye.”
That last word must have registered because she blinked then she nodded and slowly walked out the door.
When he closed the door and went back to gathering his things Ryder was still shaking his head in disbelief. What was Karin thinking? Right then there was only one woman on his mind and although at this point they were nothing more than friends he could hardly wait to see brutally honest, no-nonsense Blake Beaumont again.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“How you got the place to this state, I’ll never know.” Peggy shook her head as she gave one last flick of her feather duster. She’d spent the past few days whipping Ted’s place into shape and this was the last of it. “Now make sure you keep everything in order or else you’re going to have to answer to me.”
“Yes, ma’am, Peggy, ma’am.” Ted put his hand to his forehead and gave her a smart salute.
She pointed the feather duster at him. “I’m serious. Don’t let me see this place deteriorate like that again.”
He chuckled. “With you keeping me on my toes, how can I?”
“And don’t you get it in that head of yours that I’m going to keep coming over here, straightening up. It’s time you learned that cleanliness is next to-” A knock at the front door cut her short. She glanced over at Ted who still lounged at the kitchen table. “Expecting someone?”