“Buns are in the breadbox, just in front of you on the counter. There’s pickles and mayo in these jars.” He placed his hand on her wrist and tried not to react to her silky flesh as he guided her to the two open jars. “Knife is right here. You start the subs and I’ll set the table.”
“Sure thing. You know what? I’m famished. I haven’t had this much of an appetite in years. I could eat a horse about now.” She grinned as she found the bread box and pulled out the plastic wrapped buns.
And he could eat her again because he was so hungry for her, he mused as he set the table. But he needed to get down to business. No more fucking around.
Chapter Four
Summer polished off two submarine sandwiches and two cups of coffee before saying yes to the ice cream Nick mentioned was in the freezer.
“It’s my specialty. I call it Nick’s banana split and it’s at twelve o’clock,” he said, indicating he’d placed the bowl right in front of her as he re-joined her at the kitchen table. Brushing her finger over the cool metal spoon, she then clutched the handle and dug in.
The cold, sweet treat melted over her tongue and she groaned at the delicious delicacy. He’d poured chocolate syrup onto the vanilla ice cream and she tasted slices of bananas and whipping cream.
“That sound is a compliment if I ever heard one,” Nick chuckled as he sat down beside her. As he did so she heard the unmistakable rustle of a notebook being opened.
“Trying to sweeten me up for something, Nick?” she asked as she shoved another spoonful of the delicious desert into her mouth.
“I need to ask you a bunch of questions, Summer. It’s to help the police narrow down who this guy might be.”
This guy, meaning her attacker.
Summer frowned and suddenly lost her appetite. Drowning in sex with Nick had made her forget about that creep and now Nick wanted to drag him into the cabin with them?
“But you already asked me what happened.”
“This is more personal stuff.”
“Personal like what?”
“Lifestyle questions and work related things.”
Her frown deepened. She didn’t want to give Nick any more info than she already had. She preferred to keep her life private, especially if he wasn’t the least bit interested in a relationship with her.
“It has to be done.”
Great, he was reading her expressions and mind now too? Like a hubby or long-time boyfriend.
Sighing, she tried to scoop another spoonful of the ice cream, but just couldn’t manage to eat it. Dropping the spoon back into the bowl, she shoved it away and stood.
“Fine. Ask me questions. But ask me while I work.” The soothing rhythm of carving would help keep her centered because the thought of talking about that creep was getting her nerves rattled. Not to mention her heart pounding a little bit too fast. The last thing she wanted was for Nick to see how vulnerable she felt whenever she thought about her close call.
“Okay, in your office.” There was a chuckle in his voice and she was glad he hadn’t picked up on her sudden panicky feelings.
Grabbing her cane, she led him past the sofa she knew he’d been in last night and to the table he’d allowed her to use for her carving. Finding her chair, she smiled into the warm sunshine that streamed through the window. Quickly she sat down, found the sculpture and started to work on that carving of their first time together.
Last night. Her standing and him going down on her. She’d been working on this piece this morning before he’d gone down on her again in bed. She inhaled softly as a fluttery excitable feeling zipped through her. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to work here?
She heard Nick breathing. Hard. Saw his shadow sit on the edge of the table, just a few feet down from where she’d taken him into her mouth earlier.
Oh boy. He was probably thinking the same thing she was thinking.
Sex. Sex. Sex.
Her pussy creamed at the idea of him spreading her out on this table and taking her here. Blistering warmth infused her cheeks and melted through her body, awakening nerve endings and making her breaths come faster. Exhaling slowly in an effort to keep herself calm, she located her carving knife and started to work.
“Okay, so what is it you want to know?”
“The police gave me a list of questions so it’s not that I’m prying or anything.”
Not that he wanted to, is what he was saying, right? She shrugged, feeling hurt and vulnerable.
“Okay, Mary mentioned you have a special computer that you use to surf the net? I need to know if you go to any chat rooms?”
“No.”
“None?”
He sounded surprised.
“I don’t do chat rooms or relationship sites or anything of that nature. The only time I use my computer is for work or to answer emails from a few of my girlfriends. My dates are usually blind dates set up by well-meaning friends.” There, she’d said it and now she hoped he didn’t think she was a prude or unable to get her own guys.
Thankfully, he said nothing and continued on with his line of questioning. He asked her about workshops she’d attended or taught. Supply stores or online stores she frequented and stuff like that.
There were so many questions that by the time he was finished her mind was reeling. Despite the warmth in the living room, icy shivers chilled her as she realized she was easy prey to any psycho.
Her gallery website had her pictures plastered all over it. They showed her working on her projects, where the gallery was located, as well as the fact she worked there. Advertising her gallery had almost gotten her killed. All someone with ill will toward her had to do was visit her gallery and do a stakeout. Since she kept to a regular schedule, anyone could follow her home when Mary drove her there.
“Are you okay?”
“I hadn’t realized how much danger I put myself in. I’m going to have to do some major changes to keep myself safe.”
“These days it’s best to keep yourself as protected as possible. But you can’t allow yourself to live in a cocoon because of it. You just need to be diligent about the information you get out on the Net or in articles in newspapers and magazines.”
“These other women this guy attacked. What kind of women were they? I know he’s after red-haired women but what else do we have in common?”
“According to the profilers, this guy targets artists. He’s angry at someone who he can’t strike out at. Maybe a wife or mother. She could be alive or she could be dead. Someone who he feels has neglected him for her art so he channels his anger into women he sees that look similar to that woman in his life. He acts out his hatred for her by torturing, raping and then murdering her.”
Lovely, just fucking lovely.
“He mentioned I was a fallen angel. Did you pass along that info when I told you in the hospital?”
“I did. The profiler I spoke with says the guy had the woman on a pedestal. He worshipped her. Thought of her as an angel. Pure and giving and protecting him.”
“And then like you said earlier, she did something to make her fall in his eyes.”
“That’s right. He’s got an anger problem and is mentally unstable.”
“So these artists. What kind of work did they do? Did they live close to me? Are they blind like I am?”
“So far you’re the only one who is blind. The rest weren’t. Their ages vary from twenty-five to thirty-five. The women are single, independent and live alone. He’s killed a couple of painters, two potters, a sculpturist, one erotic romance author, a stained glass artist and several more. Profilers believe he’s a salesperson because the victims live in different areas of Canada and the States. The police are checking with border customs, records of airlines, buses, trains, to see if someone has travelled that way around the times of these murders.”
“That would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, wouldn’t it?”
“It’s going to take some time, if ever. He could be using aliases to
throw cops off his trail.”
In other words, he thought she would be here with him for a long time. Well, she’d called Mary earlier when she’d let the shower run. Mary had agreed she wouldn’t contact Ryan and let him know Summer was giving Nick the boot. But on one condition—that Mary hire a bodyguard on Summer’s behalf and the bodyguard would come and pick her up as soon as Mary could arrange it.
Summer agreed, knowing the less time she spent with Nick, the better. She’d had sex with the guy twice since leaving the hospital. She could only imagine what would happen if she spent days or months with him, having red-hot sex and knowing all the time that he wasn’t interested in a relationship. She didn’t think her heart could take it.
“Are you up for a little walk outside? Get some fresh air and exercise?” Nick asked and Summer watched his shadow slide off the table.
Was that anticipation in his voice? Did he really want her along for a walk or was he being polite?
“We can go down to the lake. I can take you out in the motorboat. Fresh air has a knack for making one feel better. I can call the cops later with the info you gave me. What do you say?”
Indecision racked her. She could tell him to go alone and she could get some work done. Or she could go with him and loosen up these creepy feelings Nick’s line of questions had created. Besides, she would love to experience the scents and noises of life in this wilderness with Nick by her side.
“Okay. I’ll get my coat.”
“Good. I told Mary to pack you mitts and a scarf and long johns. You’ll need to get them on. It’s still windy out there and chilly.”
“I’ll be just a few minutes,” she called over her shoulder, anticipation flaring through her at the prospect of spending more time with Nick.
Boy, she was setting herself up for another fall, she thought as she angled her way into the bedroom. Shaking her head at her stupidity, she tried to remember which drawer she’d put her long johns in. Pulling the top one open, her hand fell across that mysterious box she’d found in her suitcase.
Curiosity grabbed a hold of her and she opened up the small package. Inside, she felt plastic packets with little circles. Her heart picked up speed as she instantly realized what she’d discovered.
Oh my gosh. Mary had packed condoms.
While Nick bundled himself into his leather jacket and waited for Summer, his cell phone rang. Glancing at the number, he recognized it as Ryan.
Shit! Big brother was checking up on little sister. Wonder how Ryan would react when he found out Nick had fully taken advantage of Summer? Probably kill him and ask questions later.
For a split second, he thought about letting the call go to voice mail but decided against it. It could be important.
“Talk to me, my man,” Nick said into his cell.
“How’s it going? Is she giving you grief for kidnapping her?” Ryan chuckled.
Grief? No, not really. Lots of sizzling sex was more like it. But he couldn’t tell Ryan that now could he.
“She’s handling the situation just fine.”
“Really?” Ryan sounded surprised.
“She is a grown woman, Ryan, not a kid,” Nick snapped.
Silence followed.
“Any news?” Nick asked when the silence got uncomfortable. He could imagine the surprise in Ryan’s face at Nick’s gruff attitude. His friend would definitely know something was up if he didn’t keep it cool.
“The cops are waiting for Summer’s info so they can compare the victims,” Ryan continued.
Shit. The last thing he wanted to do was gab on the phone to the cops and keep her waiting.
“I’ll get it to them later in the day. I still have to ask her,” he lied.
“Sure thing. Are you sure everything is okay? You sound tense.”
“Everything’s fine. Couldn’t be better.” Hell, actually it could be better. He could tell Ryan that he had the hots for Summer and he wanted her in his life forever.
“Can I talk to her?”
“She’s in the bedroom getting dressed.”
“Really? It’s one thirty. She’s usually up by six in the morning. Is she sick?”
“She’s getting her long johns on. I’m taking her outside. Show her around. Take her for a boat ride around the lake. I think she’d really like that. You know with the fresh air and I can explain to her about the beautiful scenery with the leaves turning all gold and red. Looks pretty neat.”
More silence and then he heard Ryan chuckling softly.
Irritation slammed into Nick. “What’s so funny?”
“You. Since when are you such a nature lover?”
“I expanded my horizons. Now I appreciate nature. It’s quiet.” Except for when he was making love to Summer.
More chuckles.
“You hate the quiet. Said so the last time we were up there on that fishing trip. You tell me all the time how you enjoy the sound of bullets whizzing by your ears or slamming into a wall beside you. Not to mention the adrenaline rush you get shooting back at someone who is trying to kill your client.”
Yeah well, he’d trade that sound of bullets whizzing by his ears to the sound of Summer’s aroused moans anytime. Maybe he should just tell that to Ryan and shut him up.
Movement at the side of his eyes made him hold back an irritated retort. Summer stood there and looked quite fashionable. She wore a dark green knitted hat with matching green knitted mitts. She was also dressed in a really cool-looking mid thigh length white winter jacket with big buttons and it really illuminated her gorgeous red hair.
He let out a slow whistle of appreciation and she smiled warmly.
“What? What’s got you whistling like that?” Ryan asked in a rush.
“Gotta go. Talk later.” He disconnected Ryan amidst a protest and turned his attention to Summer.
“You look fantastic, woman.”
“Well, it is a bit warm under all this getup, but you said it’s cold outside.”
Nick smiled. He could think of plenty of things to keep them warm.
“Hold tight to the rim of the boat. It’s pretty choppy out there.”
Nick’s shout had Summer grabbing the edges of the tippy boat and deeply inhaling the cold air. She couldn’t get enough of the crispness of the air as it went into her lungs. Or how light and fresh it felt blasting against her face. She caught whiffs of pine and fish and damp earth and so many other unknown aromas.
On their way down to the dock, he’d outfitted her with a snug life jacket and explained how her surroundings looked. With a steep red metal roof, the cabin was a simple design made out of pine logs with pale red shutters at each window and the cabin was perched on a rocky peninsula with towering pine trees. Across the lake, which was about two miles long and one mile wide, he explained there were brilliant colors of forest lashing the rocky shoreline.
Nick made it sound so breathtaking it sent shivers of delight racing through her.
He hadn’t been kidding when he said it was cold and windy out here either. But the slap of air against her face was just what she needed to break her out of the funk she’d been in after finding those condoms Mary had packed.
How dare Mary do something like that? Especially without telling Summer. Here she was having unprotected sex with Nick and not knowing that within reach was a box of condoms.
Oh hell, she’d been living in a dream world of a nineteen-year-old anyways. Times had changed concerning Nick and she had no right to live in the past and think Nick would feel the same way about her as she did about him, especially after she’d pushed him away from her all those years ago.
The boat moved and tossed some more as Nick stepped in, his shoes pounding on the aluminum floor. A moment later, came a sputter and then a roar of the engine from somewhere behind her and then the boat was moving. Tightening her grip on the cold edges of the boat, she squinted through the shadows as she saw pinpricks of silver sparkles.
Oh my God! Was she actually seeing something?
&nb
sp; She leaned over trying to see more. More silver sparkles and some wavy lines? Waves? She could see waves?
Indescribable exhilaration lashed her.
“Nick!” she cried. She had to tell him what was going on. This was so unbelievable!
Immediately he cut the engine.
“Are you cold?” he shouted above the wind.
“No!”
How could she tell him she was seeing things? Maybe she was just imagining it? Maybe she would jinx it if she told him?
“Nothing. Can you maybe go a little slower?”
“Sure. No problem. You’re okay?”
She nodded but kept her gaze glued to the water. To the gorgeous silver sparkles and the wavy lines. They were hypnotizing her. Making her blink hard as she strained to see more, her eyes were actually getting sore.
Her heart pounded like a battering ram against her chest as happiness spilled through her. The doctor’s voice ambled through her mind reminding her she should be having tests done on her vision, not enjoying herself out here with Nick.
Wind hummed in her ears and a few droplets of spray lashed her face as he started the engine again. He guided the boat slowly over the lake and waves pounded noisily against the aluminum sides and she could actually see something.
Lifting her face to the sky, a brilliant yellow fog hurt her eyes. Yes, her sight was returning. She could scarcely breathe as hope shot through her. Maybe she was going to see Nick again?
Her mind whirled at the prospect and she forced herself to remain calm. Well, as calm as she possibly could, after seeing color for the first time in more than ten years.
She sat that way. First staring into the lake and then up at the sun as they glided over the waves. Suddenly everything felt so unreal. As if she’d slipped into another dimension or an alternate reality or something. Happiness bubbled through her and she simply couldn’t stop smiling.
She didn’t know how long they were on the lake before Nick finally slowed the boat, announcing they had returned to the cabin. Anxiously she waited for him to tie the boat to the dock, and several moments later, he was helping her out onto the steady dock. Her legs were rubbery and she felt off balance as he led her back to the cabin.
Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances Page 52
