Page 59 of Exacting Vengeance

“Uh, well…” He felt like he was being interrogated under the hot lights by Elliott Ness. “She’s not the kind of woman to wear expensive jewelry.”

“Are you sure? Every woman loves a pricey bangle.”

That night when he’d escorted her to the New Year’s Eve party, she hadn’t wanted to wear a pair of earrings Yuri had given her. In fact, he doubted she’d want any reminders of him at all. “I’m sure. No jewelry. She’s more of a practical person.” Living on a budget, as he suspected she’d done all these years, she wouldn’t think of lavishing herself with something that wasn’t absolutely necessary.

“Okay then. What does she need?”

A lightbulb went on. “A new briefcase.” To replace that ratty old brown one that was on its last leg. Or strap. Come to think of it, the straps were gone too, and she’d had to tuck it under her arm.

“Perfect! Now we’re getting somewhere. Does she work in an office?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I recommend something chic that can be worn with any outfit. Go to a high-end department store like Nordstrom’s and look for a Gucci or a Liz Claiborne briefcase, preferably in black, because black goes with everything. And don’t bother to look on the regular or sales racks. Go right to the display cases for the latest top-of-the-line designs. It will cost more, but you can afford it.”

He could afford it. With no one to spend his salary on all these years, money wasn’t an issue. “Thanks for the help, Gina.”

“You’re welcome. Be sure to let me know how she likes it.”

“I will. Bye.”

“Wait!” Gina shouted. “Have you heard from Lance? The wedding is only two months away, and Jack said neither he nor Deke have heard a peep from him. We need to know if Jack has to find another groomsman. Kinsey, Margo, and Annabelle are my bridesmaids, and the wedding party can’t be lopsided. Do you know if he even got the wedding invitation?”

“I have no idea.” His youngest brother often went dark for months without a word to any of them or their mother. He never communicated via email, which told Kyle the dangers of working for the FBI paled in comparison to whatever government work Lance did. “If I do, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Thanks, Kyle.”

He could hear the exasperation in her voice. Out of the four Gates brothers, Lance had always been the troublemaker and still was. He set the phone on his desk. Talking with Gina about hers and Jack’s wedding made him think of another wedding. His. And the final conversation he’d had with his wife.

He’d been on a mission in Iraq and could only manage a brief call home. There’d been a time he could remember every word she’d said, every subtle nuance, even the lilt of her voice. For the longest time, he’d clung to those words, refusing to let them go. Those memories had begun to fade. Not gone, just receding. Not because they didn’t matter; they always would.

He also realized it was okay to start making new memories, and he was.

With Victoria.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Last night, while Victoria had been helping Father Sergei organize records in the church office, Kyle’s name had popped up on her phone—twice. She’d been tempted to take his call but needed space and time to think about everything that happened between them and all that she still had to tell him.

For the last hour, she’d tried not to squirm, listening to Father Sergei’s Sunday service. So many places of her body ached sweetly. Places that hadn’t ached that way in years. Another hot bath might be in order when the service was over.

Back in her apartment, she set her keys on the hall table.

There were so many decisions to be made. Questions to be asked. Questions to be answered.

Could she take the risk of getting closer to Kyle?

There’d been a time she would have gone anywhere with him. The sad irony now was that being with him could be her undoing. He’d been so kind to her in a cruel and lonely world. That kind of a man would understand. He had to, but perhaps she should wait.

What if their attraction was a flash in the pan, one that had only been magnified by distance and years apart? If she made the wrong choice now, it could all be for nothing.

She tried not to think about how incredibly good it had felt to be in Kyle’s arms, or how the merest touch of his fingers could make her want all that had been missing in her life. Still, that old familiar fear was there, lurking in the back of her mind like a grim reaper.

One of her African violets on the window sill had a few droopy leaves. She went to the window and pinched off the leaves, repositioning the terra cotta pot in its place on the sill.

What had happened in the past wasn’t her fault, and she was powerless to change anything now. Kyle knew firsthand what she’d gone through, so how could he not understand?

The question was more whether he could forgive her. If he didn’t, there would be other more serious ramifications, too horrible to contemplate.