by Jill Sanders
“Because,” he started as she unbuttoned his shirt slowly. He had to take a deep breath when she removed his shirt, her hands running over his shoulders as she went. Then he saw it, the desire in her caramel eyes, the need that matched his own.
Without answering her, he pinned her against her office door, his mouth covering hers in a kiss that seared his entire being.
It was as if his body had taken over. From the moment he’d seen her in the lobby in the pretty flowered dress, he’d wanted her. Now, with his hands on her and her nails digging into his bare shoulders, his control slipped.
Hoisting the skirt up, he found her, wet, waiting for him.
“God,” he groaned as his lips scraped down her neck. Thankfully, the top of the dress was loose enough that a little nudge had one shoulder falling down to where he could expose one of her breasts. “Oh my…” He groaned when he found her bare underneath, then covered her nipple with his mouth.
Her hands moved to the zipper of his slacks and when she wrapped her hand around him, everything else in the world disappeared except for his need.
One moment he was there, in control, the next he was pounding into her soft flesh, enjoying the soft sounds of her moans of pleasure. One of her legs wrapped around his hip, those damn sexy heels digging into his butt as she held onto him.
“Come for me,” he begged her. “Tell me what you want,” he groaned, needing to know what she was feeling. Needing to see if it was close to what he was feeling. “Tell me, Eve,” he said as he reached down and ran a finger over her clit. He felt her jerk and tighten around him.
“Dylan,” she cried out as she convulsed around him. “I love you,” she said as she shook her head, her eyes glued to his.
That was all it took for him to follow her. To lose himself in her eyes, in her heart, hearing those words that he hadn’t known were so important to him, until now.
24
Something new, something old, something borrowed, something dead
It took a moment for Eve to come down from the high of the orgasm. When she did, she tensed. Had she really told Dylan she loved him? Or had those words just been playing in her head? Had he said them back to her? No. Of that she was positive.
“I had no intention of bringing you in here and doing that,” she said, trying for humor.
He chuckled against her skin. “Too bad. It was perfectly executed.” He sighed and looked down at her, taking her face in his hands. “I love you, too,” he said, causing her heart to melt as he leaned in and kissed her. “The timing is… incredibly fast.” He shrugged. Her entire body was still vibrating from the quickie, but she knew in her heart that it didn’t matter how fast it was going. Dylan was what she wanted.
“We’ve got plenty of time to explore this,” she said as she straightened her skirt, hoping the casual tone would lighten the mood. She didn’t have time to go too deep right now. There was still a wedding party in progress.
“We do,” he agreed, but there was a slight furrow between his brows. She wanted to ask him what that was about but knew she was probably needed outside. The party was still in full swing and, at this rate, both the bride’s and the groom’s families would need to be carried upstairs.
She watched Dylan put on the fresh shirt and button it. Already, she wanted him again. How was that possible?
Thoughts of wrapping herself around him, sleeping next to him, being with him consumed her every waking thought. Who was she fooling? They even filled most of her dreams.
“Better?” he asked, looking to her.
She glanced at him and smiled. Walking over, she straightened his hair where her fingers had messed it up earlier. “Perfect,” she said, a little breathless.
“We’ll finish this… later.” He smiled and reached for her hand. “For now, I have champagne to hand out.”
She nodded and followed him out her door, locking it behind them.
They were passing down the hall, heading back out to the main lobby, when she noticed the door to her aunt’s room was standing wide open.
She stilled. “What is it?” Dylan asked, then noticed the door. “I’ll check on her,” he said without a word to her.
“Ramona?” he called out, knocking on the door. Then he glanced back at her and shrugged.
Eve moved closer and stepped past him. “Aunt Ramona?” She stepped into the room and reached for the light switch. The lights flooded the room and she gasped when she noticed her aunt sprawled out on the floor.
“Dylan,” she cried out, rushing to her aunt’s side. She could tell instantly that it was too late. Her aunt’s face was a dark shade of blue and her glassy eyes stared up at Eve. “No,” she cried, holding onto the older woman.
“Eve.” Dylan’s voice broke through her dismay. “Eve, we have to call the police.”
“The police… why?” She shook her head.
“Eve.” Dylan took her hands and pulled her up from the floor. “Look.” He motioned to her aunt, but the tears blocked her vision. “Someone strangled her with an electric cord.”
“No.” Eve buried her face into his shoulder. “No,” she said again. Dylan gently picked her up and carried her back to her office. He set her down in a chair, then pulled out his cell phone.
Genie, Eve thought. “Let Genie know. She can keep the guests away.” She shook her head and laid her forehead on the desk as the image of her aunt’s face surfaced in her mind again. “Oh god.”
While Dylan called the police, talking with the evening dispatch and relaying there had been another murder at the inn, she thought of how this was going to affect her family. Everyone already blamed her for Steve’s death. What would they think now?
“Will you be okay in here?” he started to ask, but then shook his head. “Come on, we’ll go find Genie together.”
She shook her head. “I… can’t go out there looking like this.” She closed her eyes knowing that her makeup had run down her face. She was a mess and she didn’t want any of the guests to see her like this.
“Okay, lock your door behind me. I’ll go find Genie and deal with the police.”
“No.” She took a deep breath. “Let me freshen up. You shut Ramona’s door?” she asked.
He nodded. “I kicked it shut with my foot. Neither of us touched the door handle.”
She hadn’t thought of that. She’d touched her aunt’s body. Held her, cried over her. Swallowing, she sighed. “Go, find Genie. I’ll be ready to meet the police.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, his eyes running over her.
“Yes.” She pulled out her makeup kit from her purse.
“Lock the door behind me,” he said.
She nodded and shivered, knowing what he was thinking. There was still a murderer on the loose.
“Oh god.” The words escaped from her lips. Dylan was there, his arms wrapped around her. “Easy, we’ll figure this out. I promise you.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
She locked the door behind him, then busied herself removing her makeup. She figured it was better than trying to put more on, since she knew she wouldn’t be able to see her aunt again without more tears.
When Dylan knocked on the door again, she opened it and followed him out to the lobby.
“I told Genie to tell anyone if they asked, that your aunt passed away peacefully,” he told her.
“Thank you.” She sighed and leaned against him.
Phil and Barb walked in moments later. Thankfully, they hadn’t turned on the police lights or sirens.
“What’s this about another murder?” Barb asked.
“My… aunt Ramona.” Eve’s voice cracked slightly.
“In here.” Dylan motioned to them to follow them back down the hallway. Eve used her key to open the door, careful not to touch the handle as she pushed open the door with the toe of her heels.
She waited, not wanting to step in.
“You can stay here.” Dylan touched her arm, then looked at Phil. “You too, if you can’t handle…�
�
Phil pushed past Dylan followed by Barb.
Eve needed to see. She hadn’t gotten a good look at the room Steve had been found in and needed to see if she could spot some clue of why her aunt had been targeted.
Her eyes avoided the spot where her aunt’s body lay on the rug Eve had helped her pick out years ago. Looking around the room, she tried to take in every detail, but then she noticed a plate of cookies and her eyes grew damp again. Her aunt always had a fresh plate waiting for guests or just for Eve.
She often joked that because of her aunt’s cookies, she’d had to diet the first years in college.
“You okay?” Dylan wrapped an arm around her.
“Yes.” She wiped her eyes.
“We’re going to get some fresh air,” Dylan told Barb. “There’s a wedding party going on out back. Think you can keep this one quiet too?”
Barb nodded. “We’ll take her out front.” She looked to Eve. “I’m sorry. Ramona was a sweet woman. Like Reggie.”
“Thanks.” Eve held onto Dylan as he walked her outside.
They stopped on the front patio, where they had stopped to talk earlier that day. As with before, she leaned against the railing, only this time, she looked out into the darkness beyond.
“Is it worth it?” she said, closing her eyes. “All of this. Someone obviously wants this place bad enough that they are willing to kill for it.” She glanced over at him.
He was deep in thought, his eyes looking off towards the distance. “Do they? I mean, how have they have gotten closer to that goal by killing Steve and your aunt?”
She hadn’t been thinking clearly. “They wouldn’t,” she admitted. “Then… why?” She shook her head.
“Until we know that, we won’t know who the murderer or murderers are.”
She felt her chest contract. “Oh god, I hadn’t thought…” She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths.
“Hey.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Pack a bag. Come home with me tonight.”
She leaned her head back and thought about spending another sleepless night in her grandfather’s room.
“Okay. Are you sure Palmer won’t mind?”
He chuckled. “She’s been begging me to have you over again,” he admitted.
They stood out there and, when the coroner left, Eve pulled out her phone and called her mother.
“I didn’t think you’d be calling me again,” her mother said in a clipped tone.
“Someone killed Aunt Ramona tonight,” she said, too weary to give a shit what her mother or the rest of her family thought of her.
“What?” Her mother’s voice rose. “You’ve got to be…” Then her mother shocked her by asking, “Are you okay?”
Eve was so stunned, she looked to Dylan and shrugged. “I… I’m fine,” she finally answered.
“Eve, I know we may have our differences, but… that makes two murders in our family in the past week. You’re not safe there. You’re the last family member under the inn’s roof.”
Eve’s eyes closed. Her mother had never really shown concern for her and now she was. It wasn’t adding up. Eve’s brain couldn’t really process what was going on.
“I can tell by your silence you’re wondering why I’m concerned now. Aunt Ramona was the sweetest one of the Candlewoods. She never married because no one was good enough for her. No one could ever be. Whatever problems I may have had with my own father, Aunt Ramona was always there for me.” She heard her mother sniffle, something she hadn’t heard or seen when her grandfather had passed away. “We’ll be over…”
“Don’t bother,” Eve said dryly. “I won’t be here. I’m staying with Dylan until things calm down. They’ve moved Ramona already. She’ll be down at the county like Steve.”
Her mother was quiet. “Steve was cremated earlier today. We were going to have his services tomorrow. After DarCee is released from the hospital.”
Eve swayed slightly. “Thank you for telling me. Where will they be held?” she asked. Her mother was quiet for a moment, then answered.
“At the park in town. DarCee suggested we spread his ashes in the harbor around two.”
Eve closed her eyes. “I’ll be there,” she said and hung up.
“Do you think it was wise to tell your family you won’t be staying at the inn?” he asked.
“Oh god.” She gasped at the thought of putting him and Palmer in danger. “Palmer? I hadn’t thought…”
Dylan shook his head. “No, we’ll be okay, it’s not that. It’s just… I think we need to install a few more security cameras. I mean, if we’re going to catch a killer…” He shrugged. “If they know you’re not around, they may… I don’t know. I’m too tired to think straight.” He glanced down at his watch. “It’s late, let’s go up and pack a bag for you.”
She followed him up the stairs and, like a zombie, packed a bag for the night.
“Are you okay?” Genie asked her when they walked through the lobby.
“Yes. Thank you for taking over tonight.” She hugged the woman. “I…”
“Don’t worry about it. Go, get some rest. By the overnight bag, I’m assuming you’re having a sleepover?” she asked Dylan.
“If you need anything…” he said quickly.
“No, the party is almost over. Patrick is taking over the front desk, and I’m heading home myself.” She stifled a yawn.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Eve added.
“Take your time getting in. I don’t think anyone will be up until after noon,” she said with a smile. “Check out is at one. Everyone in the party is set to leave then,” she reminded Eve.
“We’ll be in late,” Dylan added and took Eve’s hand and pulled her out the door.
“If only I could sleep in.” She sighed.
“You can.” He put her bag in the back seat of his truck. “You’re the boss, remember?”
She chuckled as she climbed into the truck. His place was only a few minutes’ drive from the inn, but by the time he parked in front of his garage, her head was already resting against the window.
“I could sleep for days,” she said.
“Then do,” he said, carrying her bag in and opening the front door for her. “Dad?” he called out softly.
Eve didn’t know what she expected Dylan’s dad to be like, but she was shocked when she saw he was almost a mirror image of Dylan. Dylan had a few inches on his father, and his father had silver streaks in his hair along his temple.
“Eve, this is my father, Dan Steele. Dad, Eve Candlewood.” He set Eve’s bag down.
“Nice to meet you, Eve. I’m sorry to hear about your great-aunt. I met Ramona a couple times in town. She seemed like a lovely woman.”
“Thank you,” Eve replied.
“You two look exhausted. Palmer finished your friend’s painting tonight,” Dan said with a smile. “It’s there.” He nodded to an easel sitting by the back patio.
Eve followed Dylan over and looked at the painting.
“How does she do that?” Eve asked with a sigh. The painting of Genie’s boat was… perfect. The use of color, the beams of light hitting the hull and sail were just like that of the photograph.
“I don’t know,” Dylan answered. “She doesn’t get that talent from me. I can’t even draw stick figures.”
Eve smiled as Dylan wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“I’m heading home. Let me know if you need me to pick Palmer up tomorrow from school.”
“Tomorrow is Saturday.” Dylan turned to his father. His dad looked confused, and Eve could have sworn he blushed. “Don’t you have a hot date tomorrow night anyway?”
“Oh, right.” The man’s smile grew. “Guess I’m tired.” He shook his head as he chuckled and then turned to Eve. “Who would’ve thought that at my age I’d have a woman call me up and ask me out?”
Eve smiled. “Your age? What are you, forty?”
Dan laughed and shook his head. “I think we’re going to get along just
fine, Eve,” he said as he left.
Dylan picked up her bag. “Come on back, let’s try to get some sleep.”
Lying in Dylan’s bed with his arms wrapped around her, she felt safe again. Yet sleep still eluded her.
If it wasn’t for his arm weighing her down, she would have tossed and turned all night. Instead, she tried to focus on his breathing, his heartbeat next to her ear.
When sleep did come, it was filled with dreams and visions of her aunt’s blue face, her empty eyes staring up at Eve.
When she noticed the first rays of sun streak in the room, she gently slipped out of bed and pulled on her sweats and tennis shoes.
Not wanting Dylan to get worried, she wrote him a note saying she was going running to clear her head.
Stepping out into the foggy morning, she took several deep breaths and instantly felt a little steadier. By the end of the first mile, her mind had finally cleared. With the music playing in her headphones, she raced through the foggy morning, the autumn sun already burning off most of the fog.
When she hit the three-mile mark, she turned around and headed back. Racing through the winding roads, up and down the hills, she enjoyed the color of the leaves that had already changed, knowing that in the coming weeks, more would turn as the evening temperatures continued to dip. Summer was ending and her new life was beginning. One where murder was playing a key part.
When she stepped back on Dylan’s front patio, he met her with a fresh mug of hot coffee. It was wonderful to have someone waiting for her.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, wrapping his jacket around her shoulders.
“No.” She looked out at the field beyond his home. The fog had lifted, leaving only blue sky littered with puffy white clouds. “It’s too beautiful of a day,” she said between sips of the hot drink.
“We’d better enjoy it while we can. The weather report just called for our first snow early next week.”
She smiled as he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
“I don’t mind. Winter is my favorite season.” She glanced back at him. “You?”
“Same. Palmer likes summer, but that’s because—”
