Page 138 of Noel Secrets

It helped having Clay with her as she entered the dealership and made a beeline for Brent’s office. His receptionist saw her and jumped to her feet.

“Mr. Foster asked not to be disturbed.”

“I couldn’t care less about his wishes.” She barged past the receptionist’s desk and pushed open the office door.

Brent sat behind the desk, head in his hands. He glanced up, his eyes widening. “Darby, what are you doing here?”

“Do you mean what am I doing alive?”

He gave her a harder look then leapt to his feet and hurried to her. “What happened to your head?”

“What happened? I slammed into a tree going sixty miles an hour.”

“You wrecked the car?”

“Someone ran me off the road. They tried to kill me again, and I know you’re behind it.”

He stiffened and headed back to his desk. His expression was unreadable. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Morton and Winters abducted me and tried to kill me. Since you’re their boss, I know you’re the one behind these attacks. You knew David was at camp, so you tried to kill me and get your hands on my grandmother’s inheritance.”

He stopped and turned back to her. “Wait, Morton and Winters did this to you? Darby, you have to believe me. I had no idea.”

She stared into his face. He frowned and his surprise seemed genuine but he’d fooled her before. “I know they work for you, Brent.”

“Sure, they work here, washing cars. Not killing people. Besides, they didn’t even show up for work today.”

“That’s because they’re dead,” Clay said from behind her.

Brent’s face paled. Eyes narrowed, he spun toward Clay. “Who are you?”

“Darby’s friend.”

Brent pulled a hand through his hair. He pointed at Clay but spoke to Darby. “Are you and this guy together? Are you fooling around with him? Does he hang around my house and my son?”

“It’s not your house anymore, and it’s none of your business who I fool around with. You lost the right to know when you started fooling around on me.”

At her sharp reminder, his jaw clenched in anger. Then his face softened. He reached for her hand and held it, his eyes pleading. “I’ve done everything I can think of to make up for the past. I’m in counseling, working toward getting better.”

He stepped closer, gazing down at her. “Honey, all I want in this world is to reconcile with you. You and David are the most important things in my life. I would never do anything to cause you harm.”

He stroked her good cheek and, for a moment, she nearly fell under his spell again. The pleading in his eyes, the promise of a fresh start. How she wanted to believe in him. She’d loved him and given so much of herself to this man.

And he’d let her down with each second chance she’d given him.

She pushed away his hands, determination flaring inside her. “It’s too late for that, Brent.” She moved away from him but he matched her steps.

“Don’t say that, Darby. I’m begging you to give me another chance.”

She stuck out her hand, making sure her voice sounded firm as she told him again. “You had a dozen chances to choose us. You don’t get another chance just because you’ve decided you’re sorry.”

She spun from him and saw Clay standing by the door, his jaw clenched, looking ready to pounce. Thank heavens she had him with her to back her up. As she limped toward the door, Clay stepped between her and Brent, barring her former husband from continuing his approach.

Another moment and Clay would have lost his cool.

He hadn’t brought her here to offer her lowlife ex a second chance at reconciliation. Yet Darby’s defenses had weakened at his touch.

And he didn’t like. Not one bit.