Protecting the Single Mom Read online

  “Yes. Winter,” Cate replied as she realized that ordinarily she’d be thinking about the upcoming cold weather, which meant a slowdown in business. But not this year. All she thought about was this danger zone she occupied. There was no escape. No respite.

  “I could make an exception today. On the to-go thing, I mean,” he said. “What I mean is, would you have lunch with me?”

  “Oh. I’m getting something for Danny. I just finished lunch with my girlfriends.”

  “Ah. I saw Mrs. Beabots on my way in. Must not have been fun. She looked sad, which is unusual for her.”

  “She is sad. Sophie is moving out day after tomorrow. Mrs. Beabots will be alone again.”

  “Really?”

  Olivia came to the counter, took Cate’s money and handed Trent his order. He paid, then walked out with Cate.

  “Cate, I want to thank you for the call last night. I sent you a text—”

  “About that—”

  “Look, Cate,” he said. “I need to talk to you about, uh, your situation.”

  “What about it?” Every tiny nerve ending sparked. She held her breath.

  “Listen,” he said, taking her elbow. “My car is being worked on. Is yours nearby?”

  “Yes. Just down the block. Why?”

  “I want to talk to you where we won’t be overheard.” He glanced up as two patrons walked out of the deli. “Do you mind?”

  “Uh, no.” She reached in her purse for her keys. “C’mon.”

  * * *

  THEY DROVE TO Cove Beach, parked the car and then walked to a bench and sat. There was only a slight breeze, creating ripples across the blue water. Indian Lake was ringed with oak, maple, sweet gum and walnut trees dressed in their blazing autumn finery.

  “I love this lake,” she mused.

  Trent watched her face soften. She was obviously a loving parent, and her relationship with Danny was priority number one. She was an excellent real-estate agent. Most importantly, he admired her courage in telling him the truth about her past.

  He sensed a need in her to love and be loved that had etched a place in his heart already. He wondered if she would ever release the dark ties that kept her bound to Brad Kramer. It wasn’t the fact that they shared a child, Trent thought. He believed it was fear of choosing love again that kept fortress walls around her heart.

  He knew those walls. He’d built some around his own heart.

  “I come out here and run sometimes,” he said. “Of course in the winter, I work out at the YMCA with Luke, and Scott Abbott.”

  “Danny loves Scott’s bookstore—it’s the pop-up books.”

  “Me, I love Scott’s coffee,” he said, staring across the lake at the Lodges.

  “I don’t run,” she said, then cleared her throat. “For exercise, I mean.”

  “I know what you meant.” He quirked a half smile as a breeze blew a lock of her hair across her eyes. He brushed it away. “So, when you’re not sculling, I bet you do yoga.”

  “Uh-huh. In the winter.” She watched his lowering hand. “Was that in my file?”

  “No, but you move so gracefully. It was that or ballet.” He felt like a teenager on a first date, and this was supposed to be all about Le Grande. Trent didn’t feel like going there yet.

  “My parents didn’t have the money for ballet lessons.”

  “Mine, either,” he said straight-faced.

  She laughed and covered her mouth with her hand. “Was it an option? I mean, you’re rather big for ballet...”

  He liked that she kept the joke running. It showed a sense of humor, even when life was dark and frightening. “I never learned rowing, either.”

  “It’s not hard, just takes coordination and practice,” she assured him.

  “I’d be a klutz,” he joked.

  “I doubt that,” she replied firmly. “You remind me of a ship’s captain. Taking charge of the vessel, the crew, the storm and bringing everyone to safety.”

  She looked at him with absolute conviction. This was the confidence he’d hoped to win from her.

  It’s so beautiful.” Cate’s eyes roamed the lake. “I wish I could do this every day. Just sit here. Gaze. Find peace.”

  “I know what you mean,” he replied. He needed her to believe in him. Because he wanted to be the guy who gave her and her son real safety. But the truth was that he wasn’t that guy. He wasn’t her captain or her savior.

  He was the messenger of impending danger.

  “Cate,” he said, easing his voice back to his professional tone. “Today isn’t that day.”

  Her back stiffened as she turned to look at him. “I can see that. What now?”

  “There was an incident last night. I can’t go into all the details, but Le Grande’s gang was involved.”

  She nodded solemnly. “There was no mistaking him that day at Jack Carter’s condo.”

  “I talked to CPD and was told Le Grande was in Chicago. He has an alibi—for part of the day. But what I wanted to talk to you about is the fact that the Chicago cops believe he’s capable of a lot worse than just dealing drugs.”

  Her hands were trembling. He wanted to hold them. It took all his strength to keep his distance.

  “Cate, we have information that Le Grande will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Just as you indicated.”

  “And he wants me.”

  “Yes. You’re an object to him, just like his drugs and money.”

  She held up her shaking palm while placing the other hand over her mouth. Her eyes filled with tears. “When we were married, he told me often that he owned me. I wasn’t a person to him, but a possession.”

  “Le Grande isn’t Brad anymore, Cate. He’s a different animal all together. CPD believes he sees himself as a cartel leader—a kingpin. He’s all about his drug business and making money now.”

  “I see.” She paused, gazed out to the lake. “Trent. I have to ask. Do you think he would kill me?”

  “We have no intel to suggest that he’s crossed that line,” Trent said.

  Her eyes darted from right to left, surveying the beach around them. “Can you help me get out of town? Somewhere where he can’t find me? Ever again?” Her voice cracked, and he could hear the eruption of terror.

  Trent leaned closer, feeling empathy for her, but she almost cowered from him. Almost. Then he put his hand on hers.

  “Cate. That’s the sacrifice I want you to make.”

  “Sacrifice?” She braced.

  He felt her hands turn icy.

  “I need your help. I want to bring Le Grande and his gang down. Now and for good. To do that, I need you to—”

  “Stay. You want me to stay. Help you reel him in,” she said bluntly. She lifted her chin. “Is that right?”

  He hesitated. He had no idea how much more courage she had in her arsenal. It must have taken so much to run from Brad then to sustain her disguise. But Trent needed her. “Yes,” he said finally. “I need you to draw him out.”

  “I told you, Trent, I know Brad better than anyone.”

  “I’m counting on that, and if what you believe is true, that he’s still emotionally invested in you, then so much the better.

  “You are his Achilles’ heel. You and Danny.”

  He paused and studied her face. “Cate, we have a man on the inside. He’s deep undercover, and he’s how we know so much about what Le Grande is thinking. Yes, Le Grande sought you out. But listen to me. Criminals make mistakes, and when he trips up, I’ll move in.”

  “You sound so sure. So confident.”

  “Because I am, Cate. This is what I do. Protect people. You and Danny.” He squeezed her hand.

  Cate swallowed hard. “So, what do we do?”

  “My counterpart in C
hicago is Richard Schmitz. We have a plan to trap Le Grande.”

  “A plan?” Her voice skipped over her words. “You’ve collaborated with the Chicago Police. Sorry. It’s just all so insane, you know? To think that the father of your child is a drug lord. I’m having a hard time getting used to the idea.”

  “I understand. Le Grande is in the process of forming a partnership with a drug lord out of Detroit. They want to create a syndicate that would supply drugs to most of the midwestern United States. Their plans are grandiose, but they have to start somewhere.”

  “And that’s in Indian Lake?”

  “Yes. We’ve fabricated a story about a large buyer who wants to meet here. We’re trying to set a drop date, but it’s not easy. Le Grande wants to call the shots. Everything is a secret with this guy. He doesn’t tell any of his minions his strategy until the day of the deal.”

  “He was always like that. Even with me. For a long time I thought I was stupid or not observant. Then later, I realized that was how Brad worked. It’s part of his cunning nature.”

  “You’re so right,” he said. “We need an edge to smoke him out. That’s why we need your presence.

  “We believe Le Grande will show his face here more than he would in Chicago because of you. He might try to see you at church or the grocery. Danny’s school.” How frightening this must sound to her. “Highly trained officers will watch you and Danny every second. They’ll have the best surveillance equipment. At the same time I want to take precautions to keep you as close to me, er, the police as possible.”

  “That’s a lot to ask.”

  “It is,” he agreed.

  “This is happening so fast.”

  “Cate.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “I know you’re afraid, but listen to me. Just now when we were at the deli, you said that Sophie was moving out of Mrs. Beabots’s house.”

  “Yes. Day after tomorrow.”

  “If I call Jack Carter and make some arrangements, I’d like to see if we can move her out tonight and move you in at the same time.”

  “Tonight? You’re kidding?” She peered at him. “You’re not kidding.”

  “No. I’m serious. Mrs. Beabots’s house is directly across from the rear of the police station parking lot. I see her house every time I get in my car. With Danny’s school nearby, we can keep a very close eye on you. I can go to the school and pick up Danny and take him to the station with me. When you finish work, you come to the station, get him and take him to Mrs. Beabots’s house.”

  Cate wrung her hands in her lap. “I just don’t know. I mean, Trent...can this work?”

  “I believe it can. This afternoon, after I talk to Jack, I’ll get my men to move all of Sophie’s things out after dark tonight.”

  “It’s just that tonight is so soon. My house—you don’t understand. I’ve worked hard, saved and scrimped for every dollar. For Danny and me to have a safe place to live.”

  He let her continue. She was in shock. The words had to sink in and then logic would reign. She was a smart woman. He trusted in that.

  “But even my home isn’t safe anymore.”

  “It isn’t right now. Cate, I want to send a crew to your house with you to pack up what you and Danny need for the time being. Under no circumstances are you to go back there alone today. Do you understand?”

  She nodded. He saw a tear fall onto her cheek. His hand was against her skin before he could stop it. With his thumb he wiped away the tear. “I know this is hard. But I swear I won’t let any harm come to you or Danny.”

  “I believe you.”

  “That’s all I wanted to hear.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek where another tear had fallen.

  “Thank you.” He could feel her sigh of relief. Felt the pulse of her heartbeat beneath her skin as he slid his lips to her temple. Her hair smelled like lavender and lilacs. Like a spring day.

  Trent could rationalize all he wanted about his PTSD, but his emotions begged to be heard. It had been a long time since he shared any part of himself with a woman. Not since Afghanistan, and even then, his relationship with a female officer had come more from the war-torn atmosphere than it did from their hearts. Once he was stateside, Trent had believed he could go forever without meeting someone.

  Until Cate.

  “What about Danny?” she asked. “He gets out of school in an hour.”

  “What do you usually do?”

  “He walks with Annie and Timmy to their house. Miss Milse meets the kids just outside the school yard. Then I pick him up after work. If I’m home early enough, I’ll meet him after school.”

  “What’s the plan for today?”

  “He goes to Sarah’s.”

  “Stick with the routine. We don’t have time to talk to Danny about the move until later. A lot of wheels have to be put in motion.”

  * * *

  CATE WISHED SHE could think of even one way to talk to Danny about his father. First things first, she’d have to tell her little boy that she’d lied to him. The worst blow was that Brad wasn’t a good man. Danny was such a sensitive boy, she could already imagine the questions he’d come up with. Above all, she knew she had to reassure Danny that Brad had made wrong choices in his life. That Danny wouldn’t have inherited his nature.

  Cate felt as if harpies from hell had perched on her shoulders. They pecked at her head. Tormenting her with her one underlying fear: that she was a bad mother to Danny.

  “Hey.” Trent put his hands on her shoulders. “Stop that.”

  “What?”

  “Anguish is scribbled all over your face. It’s going to be all right. I’m here.”

  Lowering her eyes from his, she muttered, “It’s not about that.”

  He whispered in her ear, “I know exactly what you’re thinking. Explaining Le Grande to Danny. That’s going to be rough, but he’s a smart kid. I have faith in him. And in you.”

  “You...do?” Her head jerked up to see sincerity in his eyes. She felt warm where she’d been cold. And not quite so alone anymore.

  “I do,” he said gently, and grazed her cheek with his lips.

  It was the softest fluttering. Not a kiss, really. But she’d reacted as if he’d flung his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers in the most heart-stopping, knee-buckling, earth-quaking kiss ever. Time stopped. The world ended. Then began again. But everything was different, powerful. Had Trent made that happen with the touch of his lips? Was she so desperate for closeness that she would take it—even from the cop who knew far too much about her lie?

  He pressed his palm to her cheek. “I’ll have an unmarked car watch Danny from the time he leaves school until he’s at Sarah’s. That gives us time to make the arrangements for the move.”

  He was giving her logistics. But she could only focus on his hand against her skin. How was it possible to feel so much comfort right now when she should be listening? Thinking about how to wade through this massive undertaking he’d arranged.

  There were so many details. So many ways it could blow up. Would it be the end? Or would they succeed? Cate had taken so many risks in her life she was terrified of taking Danny to the county fair each year. Bumper cars and roller coasters were for people who lived normal lives. Not for Cate Sullivan.

  “Cate. What do you think?” Trent asked. “Have we covered all our bases?”

  What was he talking about? He’d taken his hand away. Why? Didn’t he know that he’d given her strength?

  Of course not. How could he know? Cate Sullivan didn’t tell people the truth. She lived undercover.

  “Trent, you forgot one thing,” Cate said.

  “What’s that?”

  “We haven’t asked Mrs. Beabots.”

  He looked at his watch, stood and held out his hand to her. His hand. What did he want? To t
ouch her again? Did the kiss mean anything to him, or was it a mistake? Maybe he hadn’t meant to skim her cheek like that. Yes. That had to be it. He was acting too normal. Too much like a cop.

  “Do you want to drive? Or should I?” he asked.

  She handed him the keys. She told him the truth. “I’m still a little shaky.”

  “Good thinking.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  MRS. BEABOTS BROUGHT out a sterling silver caddy piled with pastries, scones and miniature muffins. She’d put an English cozy over the Haviland china teapot. She started to pour the tea into three cups. “Goodness. You two look as if you’re about to jump out of your skins,” she said, handing a cup to Cate and filling a second for Trent.

  Her blue eyes tracked from Cate to Trent and back.

  “Frankly, I’m more than worried,” Cate said, trying desperately to tamp down her fears.

  Trent took a sip. “That’s...really good tea. What is it?”

  “Mint, dear. I grow it in my garden. But not the bourbon. I get that down at Indian Lake Fine Liquor Store,” she said with a mischievous smile. “You don’t fool me. Something dangerous is afoot, and you think I can help.”

  Cate clanked her cup against the saucer. “How do you know?”

  “I’m old. I’m supposed to know these things.”

  “That’s not true. I know lots of clueless octogenarians,” Trent said.

  “Fine. Chalk it up to experience.”

  “How would you—”

  Mrs. Beabots waved Cate off. “Trent. Out with it. What can I do?”

  “I need you to rent your apartment upstairs to Cate and Danny.”

  Mrs. Beabots stared wide-eyed at Cate. “But your home is so darling.”

  Cate nodded, tasting acid from her stomach. For days she’d thought about running away, and now she was doing just that, even if she wasn’t going far. Irony spread a large cloak over her life right now. “It’s not about my house. I’ll go back there. Hopefully. And soon. This is...temporary.”

  “My, you are in trouble, aren’t you?” Mrs. Beabots looked at Trent. “With the law?”