Page 68 of Two Hearts' Ploy

Chapter Forty-Five

“Please, Jeff. I’d like to call her and apologize,” Kate pleaded, sipping coffee as she sat across from him at the kitchen island. She’d been urging Jeff to give her Wren’s number, but Jeff still wasn’t sure if he was ready to trust her, even though he’d finally agreed to see her if she stopped by. Finally, her husband Murph had called, begging Jeff to accept her apology because it was eating her up inside.

“I just don’t know,” he muttered.

“Jeff. I saw that look on her face when the two of you came over to visit Mom. She was miserable. She’s obviously in love with you, and I’m so sorry I made it harder.”

Jeff heaved a sigh. “I really don’t think she’s going to come back, Kate. I don’t want to get my hopes up.”

“Okay. What makes you so sure she won’t? Did she leave you any clues?”

“Clues?” he asked, puzzled.

“If she cares about you as much as I think she does, there will be some signs somewhere in the house that she’s planning on returning. It’s weird, but I kind of feel like I know her now that I’ve seen the two of you together. You both used the master,right? Come show it to me. It’s all been furnished and decorated, right?”

“It has. Alright,” Jeff agreed, motioning her up the staircase.

When Kate reached the master, she appeared to be stunned. “How beautiful. I see you found the mahogany furniture you were looking for. And everything fits, doesn’t it? Not too feminine, with the turquoise comforter and simple dragonfly quilt. I remember when you purchased this rug a few years ago. It looks like a room from a magazine.”

“I guess she did take the lamp that I had made for her,” Jeff muttered. “Wait a minute.”

“What?” Kate asked, looking puzzled as Jeff opened the two top drawers.

“It’s gone,” he said, giving Kate a grin. “The ring I left for her is gone.”

“The vintage one you told me about. So?” she asked, cocking her head.

“I never actually gave it to her. I left it in her drawer, thinking that she’d ask me about it before she left. I didn’t want to make it harder by proposing.”

Kate smiled widely. “That’s definitely a sign. I’ll guarantee that she’s trying it out for size.”

“And there’s something else that’s missing,” he admitted, looking sheepish. “I can’t believe I didn’t even think about it until now. She must have kept my extra set of house keys. I can’t imagine that it wasn’t intentional since she hasn’t brought it up at all when I’ve talked with her. I guess I’d better get another set made so I don’t get locked out. Especially since I’ve always had a hard time keeping track of my keys.”

Kate barked out a laugh.

Chapter Forty-Six

Although having to leave Jeff and Crystal Rock was bittersweet, Wren was enjoying the time she was spending with Robin. She was so sweet. Hopefully, they’d be able to keep her from having to serve any kind of time. After all, she’d ended up saving Wren’s life.

Robin filled her in on a lot more of the things Garrett had done. He’d been the one to trash her beach house, apparently hoping to find cash and additional information about some of her financial accounts. But everything finally made sense when Wren learned what happened at the beach house actually did involve Vin. Garrett had supposedly been paying him off for information about Wren when they were dating.

The five days Wren spent on the road sure went a lot more quickly when she had someone along. And when she drove into L.A., Marc and his wife Abby were waiting for them at the house.

“We stocked up your fridge for you,” Marc said. “So, I see in the tabloids that you and the Lieutenant fell for each other hard while you were in Crystal Rock.”

Wren smiled widely. “It’s Captain Callahan now, but Jeff knew right away when he heard your name that it must have been a very convenient set up.”

“I’ll never forget the night that he rolled into the recreation room at the wounded warrior center in his wheelchair, looking kind of lost after losing his leg. He told us about meeting you in Germany, and stepping all over your toes, and eased the tension in the room right away. I liked him from the moment we met,” Marc admitted. “When the job opportunity to work on your security team strangely came along, I was the first one to apply because of what he'd said about you. It seemed like fate when you promoted me to the head of the team. And then I felt like I was being steered to do a little matchmaking when all the pieces fit into place after I discovered Eve Loughlin’s recording studio in Crystal Rock.”

“I miss him,” Wren admitted, her eyes filled with tears.

“Then I’m not sure what’s stopping you from making the commitment. You’re a strong woman, Wren Matthews, and a little bit of cross-country traveling week to week shouldn’t get in the way of true love.”

Wren blinked, looking down at the ring she’d been wearing on her finger.

“I don’t know what’s stopping me either. But first, I need to get my life back on track and get my schedule ready for the upcoming year.”

Marc smiled, glancing over at his wife as she talked with Robin.

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