Love, Lies & Mistletoe

by Jennifer Snow

  She unbuckled hers and faced him as she slid her feet back into her boots. “Aren’t you going to stay to help decorate the tree and see the lighting?”

  He hadn’t planned on it.

  And he couldn’t tell if she was asking because she wanted him to stay...or if it was simply a question. Not that it should matter, but it kinda did. “I’m not sure...”

  She didn’t say anything as she zipped her boots.

  He really had nowhere else to be. If he went back to his apartment, Mrs. Kelly would only have more work for him. He’d seen her to-do list on her fridge that morning and had also noticed his name next to certain items. He shook his head. “I guess I could stay for a bit.” Technically, he was on duty, but technically, this was his important assignment today. He shut off the car and reached for his gloves in the backseat, just as she went to grab hers.

  Their heads butted, and she jumped back, holding her forehead. “Ow.”

  He laughed. “Sorry. You stay there. I’ll get the gloves.”

  Instead of handing hers over, he held one open for her.

  She hesitated, sending him a funny look as she slid her hand into the soft cashmere, then she held her other hand up for the second. “I’ll pretend that wasn’t totally awkward,” she said with an odd-sounding laugh, as she opened the door.

  He touched her arm, stopping her.

  She turned back in surprise. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I just want to say thank you...for making the effort.” He wasn’t exactly making it easy for people to get to know him or like him, and she could have continued ignoring him like everyone else.

  “No problem...but I’m going to be gone soon, so you’ll have to step up and start making an effort on your own if you want people around here to accept you,” she said.

  And what if he only wanted acceptance from the one person who was leaving soon? Then what?

  * * *

  “MELODY, BRAD, THIS is Sheriff Matthews—Jake.” Heather did the introductions beside the Christmas tree trailer moments later, her mind still a little rattled by Jake’s gesture with the gloves. What was that? For months, the guy had barely spoken to anyone, and now he was warming up? To her, of all people? And why did it make her feel kind of flushed? She must be coming down with something.

  “Brad and Mel are Nashville’s hottest performing duo right now,” she told Jake, trying to shake off whatever had happened inside the squad car and focus on her friends. But her gaze lingered slightly too long on Jake’s handsome face, the five o’clock shadow at his jawline just a little too tempting.

  Clearly, she’d been single too long. That was all.

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Melody said, shaking Jake’s hand. “Great to finally meet you. Sheriff Bishop is my dad, so I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Brad shook his hand next. “Yeah, we’ve heard you’ve been creating quite a stir around town.”

  Melody shot her partner a look. “Don’t pay attention to him. Everyone creates a stir around here at one time or another.”

  “I don’t mean to. Just doing my job,” Jake said tightly.

  Heather bit her lip as Jake stiffened. “Shall we decorate?” she asked, taking his arm and leading the group toward the large crowd gathered in the town square, watching as the work crews hoisted the tree from the bed of the truck and carefully positioned it in its stand. On the side street, the fire truck was ready to lift the mayor to the top so he could place the star, as was the annual tradition.

  “Not exactly the Rockefeller Center tree, huh?” Jake whispered.

  “Not exactly,” she said, feeling embarrassed by her full disclosure in the car. Maybe she needed to take a page from his book and not say everything that popped into her mind.

  Getting close to an attractive man weeks before she left wasn’t the smartest idea. Especially not when the man in question was so guarded and unwilling to open up about himself. That would be a challenge in the best of circumstances. And not one she was willing to take on.

  She’d let her heart dictate her life choices before, and ultimately things hadn’t worked in her favor. She was determined not to let men or relationships jeopardize her plans anymore. Her career would be her number one priority. If she found someone while she wasn’t looking, then great, but she was thirty-five years old; she had to get serious about her future.

  And the man standing next to her couldn’t be further from what she envisioned. Most of the men she’d dated were more like her—big city, career-minded. She’d never even considered dating any of the men in Brookhollow. One, she hadn’t been ready for another relationship, and two, though they were sweet and nice, they were not her type. Jake was a step closer, but he’d said he was in Brookhollow to stay, and she certainly wasn’t. Plus, long-distance relationships had never worked for her in the past. “Welcome, everyone, to the seventy-eighth annual tree lighting,” Mayor Parsons said from the bucket at the end of the fire truck’s ladder.

  Applause erupted as he placed the star on top, then everyone rushed toward the decoration table.

  Heather and Jake hung back.

  “Every year my sister and nephew and I go to the annual lighting, and then we have hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts from that grumpy vendor who’s always there...”

  Heather turned to him in surprise. “Bah Humbug Frank!”

  Jake’s eyes lit up as he laughed. “Bah Humbug Frank?”

  “My sister and I gave him that nickname when we were kids.” Funny how the grumpy vendor was part of both of their holiday memories.

  He nodded. “It’s fitting.”

  She wasn’t sure why he’d changed his mind and shared a piece of himself with her, but she decided to push for a little more. “Are you planning on spending Christmas with your family...in the city?”

  He hesitated. “Um... I’m not sure yet.” He stared at his feet.

  Well, that offered her no information at all. If anything, it just made her more interested in what could be holding him back.

  She shook off the curiosity that would ultimately land her in a position she didn’t want to be in. At the decoration table, she picked up several oversize baubles and handed one to Jake. “Well, we’re both here now,” she whispered. “Let’s get decorating.”

  * * *

  AS HE DROVE along Main Street later that evening, Jacob couldn’t get his mind off of Heather. He couldn’t believe she was his lawyer’s sister. But come to think of it, she was a lot like Cameron. The two women shared many of the same features: the long dark brown hair, the hazel eyes and the same straight nose and high cheekbones. Both beautiful. Both sharp-tongued and quick-witted, with a no-nonsense, go-getter attitude. Both talkative. That could be a problem.

  He shook off his apprehension. Cameron wouldn’t assume it was him if Heather did mention something about a new sheriff in town...and even if she did, the lawyer knew not to voice any suspicion.

  Cameron Ashley had been appointed the attorney on this case for good reason: the woman had the best track record of anyone working in the DA’s office. She was focused, driven and understood everything that was at stake in this case. The one and only time he’d met her, she’d had an odd way of reassuring him while giving it to him straight: because of his mess-up, his testimony would be flawed in the eyes of the court. They had their work cut out for them. Or at least she did. All he had to do was sit and wait.

  Which wasn’t something he could do. He wasn’t confident that his testimony would put Lorenzo away, but if he could catch the man in action again—on video—there would be enough evidence to convict him.

  Despite discovering the connection between the women that afternoon, he felt comfortable around Heather. There was a sense of familiarity there. Bonding with a fellow New Yorker, that’s all it was, he told himself before his thoughts could wander
off unchaperoned.

  Then why had he pulled that stunt with the gloves?

  He stopped at the only streetlight in town, which blinked yellow as a four-way stop at this hour of night, and lingered far too long, reflecting on the afternoon. She’d opened up about herself, about the job in the city and her family, and he’d experienced a connection with her that he was forced to admit went deeper than their shared hometown. She’d looked so cute, rubbing her forehead after their heads had collided, and he’d allowed himself to let his guard down and share a moment with her.

  But that was all it could be—one moment. His life was far too complicated to draw someone else into it. Not that he thought she wanted to be drawn in. She was leaving Brookhollow the first chance she got; she’d made that obvious enough.

  He wondered if she’d consider staying...at least a little longer?

  “Damn, Jacob, what are you doing?” he mumbled, running a hand through his hair and continuing on down the quiet, deserted Main Street. The woman was leaving Brookhollow, and he had to start putting some distance there, otherwise things could get complicated and messy. His life was already far too complicated and messy. If he got involved with Heather, it could compromise this case and put his family’s lives at risk. Getting involved with him could potentially put her at risk, too. Keeping people at a distance was easy for him; he just needed to get his head on straight and stop letting this time of year get to him.

  As he passed Daisies and Dukes, he noticed that the front window had been replaced and the holiday display was set up again. The broken glass had been cleared from the sidewalk and the police tape removed from the building. He also noticed the interior lights were still on. All of the stores on Main Street closed at six, and it was after eight-thirty.

  Lily could be doing inventory or paperwork, he thought, slowing the vehicle in front of her shop. Or she might have just forgotten to turn off the lights. Leaving the vehicle running, he climbed out of the car. His boots left a trail in the freshly fallen snow as he walked toward the front door.

  Wrapping his hands around his eyes, he leaned against the glass and peered inside. He didn’t see her in there. Maybe she was in the back. He tried the door, but it was locked. Good. Smart. People were finally listening. He knocked on the door and waited.

  The cold wind howled, and a gust of snow blew across his feet. Since the sun had set, the weather had changed. A damp chill in the air now penetrated his jacket and made him shiver. He raised his collar up around his neck and shoved his bare hands into his pockets as he waited.

  And waited.

  A long moment later, he raised a hand to knock again, and this time he saw movement in the back office area. Didn’t look like Lily...too big. A man?

  He’d seen her around town a few times with Ben Walker, but he was taller than the person Jacob glimpsed now. Thirteen years as a cop had trained him to gather details about a possible perpetrator in an instant. His heart beat a little faster as adrenaline began pumping through him.

  It was almost a relief to be feeling this way again. His instincts and reflexes hadn’t been put to the test for months. The last time he’d been in a situation like this, he’d blacked out before he could react.

  He knocked again. “This is Sheriff Matthews. Open up, please!” Maybe overkill if it turned out to be nothing, but better to be prepared. People around here thought he was overzealous anyway.

  The light went off in the back room, but no one came to the front of the store. He narrowed his eyes to peer inside again. What was going on in there? He banged on the door, louder, harder. Nothing. Someone was in there, and they were obviously ignoring him.

  He hit the button on his radio. “Sheriff Bishop, come in.”

  A second later, the sheriff’s reply came through the static. “Yes, Jake?”

  “I’m at 26 Main Street,” he said, checking the number on the outside of the building.

  “Lily’s store, yes. What’s the problem?”

  “The interior lights are on, and I’ve seen movement inside—believed to be male, about six foot three, no more description currently...”

  “Maybe she’s working late.”

  “I haven’t gotten a visual on Lily, just the male suspect.”

  “Suspect?” He sounded slightly annoyed. “Maybe a boyfriend?”

  “Not able to confirm the identity of the male inside,” Jacob said, scanning the store again. The light in the back room was still off, and he couldn’t detect any movement. “I’m going around back. Requesting backup.”

  “Jake, I’m in bed. I’m sure it’s nothing...again,” the older man said with a yawn.

  That was the response to requesting backup? “Sir, I really think we should check this out,” he said as he made his way toward the alley between the buildings.

  It was darker back there, and he wished he’d brought his flashlight from the vehicle.

  The older man sighed. “Fine. Be there in ten. Over.”

  Ten? The man lived a block away. Even in the city, backup would be there in less than that. “Okay. Over.” As he rounded the back of the stores, he counted the unmarked doors. Twenty-four, twenty-five... Lily’s was the third one in. The door was slightly ajar.

  He contemplated waiting for Sheriff Bishop, but ten minutes was too long to just stand out there waiting. Besides, if the woman was in trouble, a lot could take place in that time. A shiver ran through him. He’d seen far too often what could happen in ten minutes. Cautiously moving closer to the door, his hand on the weapon at his hip, he surveyed the area.

  There was no one around. No one. Not even a stray cat. In Brooklyn, even a back alley would be alive at eight-thirty at night—drug deals going down or people Dumpster diving. Never empty, never so eerily quiet. He couldn’t decide which was worse.

  Placing a hand inside the door, he slowly opened it and glanced inside. A long dark hallway led to the office. Several garbage bags sat near the door, and broken-down cardboard boxes were propped up against the wall.

  Maybe Sheriff Bishop was right, and Lily was just working late and hadn’t heard him...and now he was probably going to frighten her. He listened for a second and heard what sounded like crying.

  He couldn’t wait for backup. He entered the building, and keeping his right shoulder to the wall, he walked quietly, slowly toward the office. As he drew closer, he could make out muffled voices. A man and a woman’s...he couldn’t pick out the words, but the man’s were angry...and the woman’s were fearful. His blood ran cold.

  He touched the button on the radio. “Sheriff Bishop, your ETA?” he whispered.

  “Five minutes. What’s happening, Jake?” the other man asked loudly. Jake winced, as the voices in the room quieted.

  They’d heard him.

  Turning down the volume on the radio, he moved to the other side of the door and took a deep breath as he reached for his weapon. Backup was still too far away; this was all on him. “I believe we have a situation. Unidentified male and female inside the office,” he said quietly into the radio. “Going in. Over.”

  As he reached for the door handle, he heard another door opening. The one leading into the front of the store. Then Lily’s scream.

  He turned the handle, but it was locked. He took off in a sprint toward the back door, tripping over the boxes as they slid onto the floor. He righted himself and ran into the alley, heading for the street.

  “Help!” Lily yelled. Her voice echoed, and the sound made him run even faster. Adrenaline soared through him, and for the first time in months, he recognized himself: he had a purpose, he had a real situation, he had to do what he was trained to do.

  As he rounded the corner, he saw the stranger dragging Lily down Main Street.

  “Hey! Stop! Police!” he called, but the guy broke into a run, stopping only long enough to toss a struggling Lily eff
ortlessly over his shoulder.

  A better look revealed the guy had to be closer to six foot five, and he was big...really big.

  Lily kicked and beat her fists against his back, but the man kept moving.

  Jacob struggled to catch up. What was the guy going to do? Carry her out of town? He didn’t see a vehicle parked anywhere. But then he heard the beep-beep of a car unlocking in the next alley, two blocks away, and he quickened his pace. If they made it to the car, his chances of rescuing Lily would be a lot worse. He could lose them by the time he made it back to his squad car. And he couldn’t count on Sheriff Bishop to appear in time.

  Closing the gap by a few feet, Jacob saw Lily’s face—her expression both terrified and relieved to see him. Her right eye was swollen, and her lip was bleeding. “Sheriff Matthews...” Her voice sounded so far away, even though she was almost within arm’s reach.

  The man picked up speed as he neared the last corner.

  Damn. It had to be the ex-husband, the ex-con. A man who’d spent three years in jail for domestic abuse. A man who’d reportedly beaten his wife to an inch of her life before she’d been able to escape and flee to the safety of Brookhollow’s medical clinic.

  Jacob reached for his gun for the first time in almost a year, his heart racing. Lily, wiggling and flailing, blocked a clear shot, one he would normally feel comfortable taking, but if he didn’t fire at the man, this could be a missing person case in a matter of minutes...

  Jacob stopped running and took aim at the guy’s left shoulder. The red dot appeared on the back of the man’s jacket, but Jacob hesitated. If he shot and the guy dropped Lily, she could get knocked out by the ice on the cold ground below. She’d be falling headfirst from about six feet. He lowered his aim to the guy’s left leg instead and fired.

  The man’s leg gave way, but he continued running, though slower now.