by Alexa Verde
She froze.
Stop.
The car.
Why hadn’t she remembered it until now? Julia grabbed her phone and scrolled down to Ivan’s number.
He answered on the third beep. “Julia? What happened?”
“I remembered something. I passed a red SUV on the way to Seth’s place the day he died. The SUV was going the opposite way.”
“What did the driver look like?”
She grimaced. “It had tinted windows, so I couldn’t see the driver.” Just like the black sedan. Coincidence?
“Did you notice the license plate? Even a digit or two, or if it was local? Make and model of the SUV?” Ivan asked.
She cringed. In her hurry to get to Seth, she hadn’t paid much attention to the vehicle, or anything else. “All I remember is it looked rather new but had a dent on the right side. And the color. Apple red. I believe there was a letter J in the license plate. That’s it. Sorry.”
“I’ll do what I can to find it. But frankly, that’s not much information.”
She racked her brain but couldn’t come up with more. “I understand. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. It’s my duty.” Ivan disconnected.
Duty.
For a moment, Julia hid her face in her hands. But she was done crying. She didn’t mean to cause Ivan pain by talking about Seth’s death. And still she did it again and again.
Maybe it would be for the best if she avoided seeing him, both for Ivan and for herself. He reminded her too much of Seth, especially in appearance. No mistaking they were brothers. Both were tall, athletic, handsome. And both Seth and Ivan had been lost to her. She’d never see Seth again, and Ivan obviously didn’t want to see her.
Enough.
She’d never been one for a pity party.
Julia rose to her feet. If Ivan was going to talk to Gallagher’s widow, she could talk to Gallagher’s secretary, Ronda, who also happened to be Julia’s stepsister. Julia’s mother marrying so many times finally came in handy. Taking her stepsister a gift should help, too. One of Ronda’s weaknesses was a certain perfume, and Julia knew exactly where to buy it, an advantage of living in a small town.
Before stepping outside her cottage, Julia checked the street. The street was empty—nothing suspicious, and no sign of the black sedan. Julia heaved a sigh of relief, hurried to her car, and took off.
After about ten miles down the road, she sensed she was being watched. The rearview mirror showed the familiar dark vehicle with tinted windows moving into her lane two cars back. Tense, she turned right at the traffic light. The black sedan turned right, as well.
Breathing fast, she gripped the steering wheel tighter and pressed on the brakes. She glanced at the rearview mirror, intent on getting the license plate number this time before calling 911. With that information, Ivan could find the stalker. And she wanted to prove the stalker existed in the first place. But the sedan turned left, and she lost sight of it.
The air rushed out of her lungs.
Was it a coincidence? Was it even the same vehicle that had chased her the other day? She considered driving after the black car and finding out.
No, it was too late.
Probably too dangerous, too.
Reluctantly, she continued on her way and parked near an old brick building on Main Street. The building housed a café on the first floor and shops on the second floor. Julia climbed upstairs and found the perfume Ronda loved.
A lump formed in her throat as she looked around the store. Just days ago, she’d shopped here for presents for the Danger Girls and Seth. The store had been full of holiday cheer with Christmas decorations and twinkling lights on a large tree, and had smelled of pine needles.
Julia stepped aside to let the shoppers pass and prayed for healing for Ivan and his family and for herself.
Oh, how much she missed Seth!
She touched the cross on her neck, and it gave her strength. After learning about faith from her grandparents, she’d done her best to teach others, especially Ivan and then Seth. She’d reminded them about the true meaning of Christmas. Now she needed to remember herself that Jesus Christ was born to save humankind from sin and give people the gift of salvation.
Julia squared her shoulders and marched on.
Deciding not to wait for a crowded elevator, Julia stepped to the stairs. The sound of the door being open behind her and a gust of air made her skin prickle. The building was a public place. She shouldn’t be surprised that someone was using the stairs. Still, gut instinct made her turn to see who the person was.
Not fast enough.
A strong shove into her back made her lose her balance. Frantically, Julia struggled to grab the railing, but her hands only caught air.
She tried to scream for help, but the air escaped her lungs, and no noise came out.
Her arms flailed as she tumbled down the stairs, falling like a rag doll.
Chapter Four
“Julia Morrison has to be punished for what she did to my son. And you have to help me.” Ivan’s father’s voice over the hands-free phone was coated with anger. “Make her pay for your brother’s death.”
“Dad, I know how horrible this has been for you. But we can’t press charges against her.” The hurt in his father’s words resonated deep inside Ivan.
Patrolling the streets downtown, Ivan knew he shouldn’t be talking to his father, but he couldn’t hang up on his dad. Ivan had done his best to comfort his parents, who’d been devastated by Seth’s death, but it hadn’t been easy.
“There has to be something you can do. Julia is to blame for Seth’s suicide. Have you already forgotten that? For once, your job as a cop should be useful.”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I really am. But please let Julia be. I believe the note might be fake. As for being a cop, I find it very useful.” Ivan’s gut tightened at his father’s disapproval of his career choice. His parents had been against him joining the army and then going to the police academy instead of going to law school, like his dad had wanted him to.
“Son, it was your responsibility to take over my family law practice when I retire. You could be making five times more than what you’re making now.”
Ivan resisted the urge to clench his teeth as he turned a corner. His father had paid for Seth’s MBA without saying a word and given Seth generous funds for an opulent lifestyle, including a huge house, expensive vehicles, and dating half of the town.
Since Ivan had been seventeen, he’d earned every penny he’d spent on himself. His father had withdrawn his financial and emotional support, hating his older son’s choices, be it the military career, friendship with Julia, or with Jake, the guy from the wrong side of the tracks. Ivan’s mother hadn’t seemed to care much, dedicating her time to shopping, going out with friends, and undergoing plastic surgeries. But as his father had provided for all that, she’d sided with him.
Ivan stifled a flash of resentment as he slowed down to make a turn. He’d loved his little brother dearly, and he’d done his best to cultivate love for his parents. “Dad, I’m fine with what I’m making. I save lives.”
“And yet you couldn’t save your own brother’s life.” His father’s voice became bitter.
The statement hurt, but Ivan didn’t argue. His father was right.
Ivan stopped at the red light. He still had difficulty believing Seth was gone. Just several days ago, he’d seen his brother at the Christmas dinner, maybe a little subdued, but smiling at his parents, exchanging gifts, enjoying eggnog. Seth had said grace before dinner, and Ivan had joined him, even though their parents never had.
As the green light winked at him, Ivan moved forward. He’d always loved Christmas. First, because it was one time of the year when his parents would pay attention to both their sons, when their father would take a little break from work and their mother would interrupt her shopping sprees. Even when his father had nearly stopped talking to Ivan after Ivan had announced his career choice and refused to sto
p being friends with Julia and Jake, his dad had made an exception for Christmas.
It had given Ivan hope that maybe his parents did love him a little, after all.
After becoming friends with Julia, Ivan had learned the most important, spiritual part of Christmas. His soul had hungered for that spiritual meaning much more than he’d hungered for abundant family dinners…
“Son, you’ve always had a soft spot for Julia Morrison.” His father’s voice interrupted Ivan’s trip down memory lane. “But you’ve heard about her mother and her many marriages, right? Her mother is a master manipulator. Do you think the daughter is any different? And don’t you know about Julia’s reputation as a heartbreaker?”
Ivan fought to stay calm as he guided the patrol car along the streets. His father’s words created doubt inside him he didn’t want to face. When Ivan and Julia had been fifteen and he’d been falling for her, he’d thought she’d responded in the same way. Until suddenly she’d said she only wanted to be friends.
Had she manipulated him then?
Ivan exhaled sharply, as if the air in his lungs became as polluted as his thoughts. No, he’d known her better than that. “I wish I could make it easier for you, Dad.” He would’ve given up his life for Seth.
“You can.” His father’s voice softened a fraction.
“How?” Growing up, Ivan had often resented that his parents had paid more attention to cheerful, fun-loving Seth than to quiet, reserved Ivan. That resentment added to the heavy burden of guilt Ivan carried on his shoulders now.
“I just told you. Find a way to punish Julia Morrison.” His father disconnected.
A message came in on the radio. According to the dispatcher, a passerby had called about a woman falling from the stairs at fourteen, Main Street. Ivan pressed the gas pedal and reached the location quickly.
After a difficult conversation with his father, he craved to be needed. He parked and leaped out of the patrol car.
Ivan hurried inside and made his way through a small crowd. The nauseatingly strong scent of perfume greeted him before the scene fully registered in his mind.
Julia sat at the bottom of the stairs, and fear for her flooded his veins. The reaction surprised him, considering what his father had just said.
“Thank You, Lord, for saving me,” she whispered.
He rushed to her, assessing damage. “Please don’t move. What hurts?”
“My ankle. But it’s bearable.” She smiled weakly.
Relieved, Ivan exhaled and checked for injuries. No bones seemed to be broken, and the tension eased in his chest. She could’ve broken her neck. Just the thought made the blood freeze in his veins.
The bottle of perfume had fared worse than Julia had. Now she was sitting near a small pile of glass shards and in a cloud of an expensive scent. More people gathered around them. Whispers and curious glances probably made her skin crawl. He knew she’d never liked being the center of attention.
Ivan moved closer to her, shielding her from the crowd. He glimpsed familiar faces, but nobody had come to her rescue, maybe because there were several friends and clients of his father in the crowd. And his father had made his opinion about Julia known loud and clear.
Overwhelming grief or not, this wasn’t fair to Julia. Ivan dismissed his troubled thoughts and shifted back into professional mode. Helping the victim was his priority. “How do you feel? Dizzy? Nauseous?”
“Just bruised. I don’t think anything is broken. I can try to stand up. I want to get out of here.” She stirred.
“No.” He pressed his palm to her shoulder gently to keep her from moving. “I don’t think you’ve broken any bones, either, but the ambulance will be here soon. Let an EMT check you first.”
He felt for her pulse. It was steady but quickened as he leaned closer to her. His own breathing sped up in her proximity, and he didn’t like it. Could it be that he still cared about her, as his father had claimed?
“I always feel safe with you,” she said.
A long-forgotten feeling uncurled inside him. He’d loved protecting Julia, be it from her fears or from her allergic reactions. That desire to help and protect had been among the reasons he’d decided to become a cop. Unlike his parents, Julia had supported that decision. Why had things had to change to the point that everything between them, even friendship, had been crushed into pieces, like this bottle of perfume?
Sirens wailed, and soon EMTs rushed in. They confirmed Ivan’s initial assessment.
“Even though there are no visible injuries, you should go to the hospital to get X-rays and a CT scan,” one of the paramedics, Julia’s stepsister, Ashley, said.
“No, thank you.” Julia’s voice was firm.
Ashley shook her head. “Someone should stay with you for the next twenty-four hours in case there’s a concussion.”
Before Ivan had a chance to offer his help, Julia said quickly, “I’ll call my friends. One of them is a doctor. Dr. Smith.”
“I’d still advise you to go to the hospital.” Ashley’s lips thinned.
The EMTs packed up their equipment and left.
Ivan helped Julia stand up. The scent of her shampoo—sweet pea and violet—somehow filtered through the scent of perfume and reminded him of the days that could never happen again. A sense of nostalgia enveloped him.
“Are you sure you can walk okay?” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, supporting her.
“I should be able to walk on my own.” She made several steps, limping slightly. Time and again, she winced, as if from pain.
Ivan frowned. He wasn’t about to let her suffer, even if some people would read more into his gesture. He swept Julia off her feet.
There were gasps in the crowd. He ignored whispers behind his back as he headed to the patrol car. Juicy town gossip seemed to be in the making. Ivan didn’t care.
Julia froze at first. Then she relaxed against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He did his best to dismiss the wave of awareness that went through him.
“How do you feel?” Of course, his question reflected professional interest and not personal concern.
“A little light-headed. Probably because of the fall.”
He placed her on the passenger seat of his patrol car and lingered for a moment longer than was necessary. He reminded himself that once he’d almost given her his heart, but she hadn’t wanted it.
After closing the door for her, he slid into the driver’s seat and drove off. Everybody knew that Julia Morrison had never risked her heart.
Ever.
She’d matured over the years, gotten her accounting degree, dated more guys than Ivan had cared to count. But one thing hadn’t changed.
Julia Morrison wouldn’t risk her heart.
He’d help her, of course, and would protect her with his life, if necessary, doubts about her involvement in Seth’s suicide notwithstanding. But Ivan would never make the mistake of falling for her again.
After a short drive, he carried her up the porch of her home.
“You don’t have to do this,” she said.
“On the contrary.”
“Thank you.” Julia smiled. “You take your job of helping Rios Azules citizens very seriously.”
True, he’d always liked helping those who needed it. But why had his heart raced while he’d carried her? He tried to shake off the feeling. Due to the suicide note, his family and his boss seemed to think Ivan should hate Julia Morrison. But it was difficult to hate someone like Julia. Especially the Julia he’d known once…
Torn by conflicting emotions, he placed her on the couch. “I’ll bring you ice. Would you like anything else?”
“Thank you. Ice will be more than enough. But do you realize that by carrying me to the car, you made a statement? I know your father blames me for Seth’s death and some other people, too. It takes courage to go against public opinion.”
He was flattered by the admiration that shone in her eyes. But she had a point. His parents and his boss w
eren’t going to be happy with him.
“I was doing what was right.” Ivan walked to the refrigerator in the kitchen, snatched a bag of ice from the freezer, wrapped it inside a towel, and returned to Julia. “Here. This should help. But I agree with the paramedics. You should go to the hospital for a complete checkup.”
Ivan made a mental note to check on her as often as he could. He took the possibility of a concussion seriously, even if Julia didn’t. Of course, seeing her that often would cause turmoil inside him, not to mention drive the rift further between him and his family. As much as the latter pained him, he couldn’t leave someone in need to her own devices.
Not even Julia.
Especially not Julia.
Just like many years ago, she was affecting him strongly. It didn’t matter how far he’d travelled around the world, he could never forget the sweet scent of her shampoo, the fragile look in her eyes, or the melodic sound of her laughter. Or the taste of their first kiss…
Ivan shook off the feeling. It was crazy to want to repeat that kiss again.
Julia pressed the ice against her ankle. “I’ll call Barbara. You can’t argue with the fact that she’s a great doctor. Maybe she can come over and check me to make sure everything is okay. If my ankle feels worse, I’ll get those X-rays.”
“Don’t wait until your ankle gets worse. I can take you to the ER. I’ll carry you to the car.”
An adorable blush colored her cheeks, making her even more endearing to him. “No, thank you.”
He suppressed a smile, probably the first smile since the day Seth had died. “You’ve always been stubborn.”
Julia shook her head, sunlight dancing in her auburn hair, giving him a ridiculous urge to run his fingers through her hair. His memory did him a disservice, reminding him how soft and smooth it had felt.
“Not stubborn,” she said. “Persistent. And that’s one of the things you liked about me. You said so yourself.”
He did. He’d liked her for years, but she’d only seen a friend in him, and even after all this time, the thought still brought the bitter taste of disappointment. Maybe there was a reason Julia had been labeled a heartbreaker in high school.
