Page 163 of Confessions

“Not too much, I hope.”

She ran a finger along the truck’s fender. “You’re the best thing that’s happened to Randy...and to me...in a long, long while.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh, yes. He lights up like a Christmas tree around you, Ben, and I know why.” Before he knew what she was doing, she placed her hands on his shoulders, stood on her tiptoes and brushed his lips seductively with her own. Ben tried to step away just as her tongue pressed against his teeth.

“Tracy, don’t—” His fingers curled over her waist but not before she traced the edge of his lips with her tongue.

“Why not, Ben?” she asked petulantly, her smile taking on a feline curve. “We could be good together, you and I.”

“I can’t.”

“Sure you can.”

“I’m already involved with someone,” he said, firmly shoving her away from him.

She looked stunned, but just for a second. She would have had to have been blind at the engagement party not to have seen him with Carlie. Besides, Carlie had been with him at Randy’s Little League tryouts. Surely she understood.

“I...I...guess I made a fool of myself.”

“No—”

“It’s just that I’ve been so lonely,” she said suddenly as if a dam of emotions had cracked and burst. She blinked against a rush of tears. “I’ve dated a lot of men, but they... Well, they never seemed to measure up to Kevin and then you come back to Gold Creek and you’re so... Oh, damn, look, I’m sorry.” She sniffed loudly. “But, please, don’t blame Randy for this. He really does like you, and just because his mother had the uncanny ability to make an ass of herself...”

“You didn’t,” Ben said and reluctantly folded her into his arms. “It was a mistake. I should have told you.”

“No, it’s all right. Really. Just...just don’t stop seeing Randy.” She took in a deep breath and her gaze shifted away from his for just a second. “I’ve seen you with Carlie and I, um, hope that you don’t end up getting hurt.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

“But I do. I care about you, Ben,” she said blinking rapidly as if she were going to break down and cry. “You see, I, uh, know some things about Carlie that you might not.”

“I’m not interested in gossip,” he said defensively, but he felt more than a little worry. The look on Tracy’s face convinced him that whatever her little secret about Carlie was, it was ugly.

“It’s not gossip.”

“Really. I’m not interested.” Tracy was staring at him and measuring his reaction. Ben felt as if a thick hemp rope had been cinched around his neck. She was smiling, but it wasn’t a kind smile. He stepped away from her and turned toward the truck. Fast. Before he heard something he didn’t want to know.

“It’s kind of private,” she said but added quickly, “but I thought you should know since it involves you.”

The noose tightened another notch. He grabbed the handle of the door.

“Did you know that when Kevin died she was pregnant?”

Ben froze. He could barely breathe.

“That’s impossible,” he heard himself saying, remembering Carlie’s desperate eyes when she’d told him she’d been a virgin when they’d first made love.

“I saw her medical chart. At the Coleville Women’s Clinic,” Tracy said as he turned and saw a glimmer of a smile flit through her eyes. She was enjoying this! “Yep. Carlie was definitely with child.”

Ben whirled, grabbed her by the arms and gave her a quick little shake. His fingers dug into her flesh. “You’re lying. I don’t know why, but—”

“It’s not a lie, Ben. Think about it! What would I have to gain by lying to you? I’m not a nurse or a doctor, but I can read a medical chart if it’s spelled out to me, and she was pregnant.”

“What happened?” he demanded, not releasing her.

“She lost the baby. Miscarried, I guess. Maybe had an abortion. As I said, I didn’t have a lot of time and—”