by Holly Jaymes
“Mom, I need to pull up the G.P.S. to figure out where I’m going.” The last thing I needed was to get lost in the mountains.
“Yes, of course. I love you, baby. It’s going to be okay. In a few weeks, when Trask Halloway tries to seduce the next model, you’ll be old news.”
She could be right, but my career was already in tatters. That one photo had irrevocably changed my life. Now it was time to look forward and chart a new path. I psyched myself up to be excited about it. I had some money saved, and of course, my mother would always help if needed. I was in a situation that many people didn’t have in terms of time and space to figure out a dream and pursue it. With my eyes on the road ahead, I made my way through town to meet my father and set a new course for my life.
Chapter 2: A New Assignment
Wyatt
I stepped out onto my porch, taking in the cold mountain air. Many of the kids from Eden Lake were eager to get away from the small town, often congested with tourists in summer and winter. Me? I never wanted to leave this place. I loved the fresh, clean smell in the winter with the hint of woodburning from fireplaces and stoves. I loved the summer, with the warmth of the sun heating the lake. And I liked all the seasons in between them. I was as rooted here as trees that made up the forest.
With steaming hot coffee in my travel mug, I headed to my Sheriff’s Deputy S.U.V. noting the small dusting of snow on the ground. Soon the area would be covered with snow, and the winter season would begin. The two heights of the season were always the busiest in Eden Lake. Tourists could sure be boneheads sometimes, not that the locals couldn’t be as well. But percentage-wise, there were more issues with tourists, including car accidents, hiking and lake accidents in summer, and skiing and ice accidents in winter. Often alcohol was involved.
Instead of heading straight to the Sheriff’s station, I headed to Sheriff Maddox’s house. He’d asked me to stop by this morning, which was strange, but he was my boss. We were friendly, although not necessarily friends. I liked him much better than the last Sheriff we’d had, who’d gotten too old for the job. Maddox was an outsider from San Diego appointed as Chief Deputy Sheriff in an effort to push the then-Sheriff into modernizing the department. When the Sheriff retired, Maddox won the position despite being from out of town because in the few months he’d been there, he’d busted his butt to become a part of the town. The people of Eden Lake appreciated the effort, and I have to say they made a good choice in electing him. He was fair, firm, and by the book, which I liked, so he and I got along well.
While I knew his leadership style and that he enjoyed a good game of poker, I didn’t know much about his personal life. He’d been married a long time ago, and rumor was that she was an actress or model or something. He had two adult children, but I’d never seen or met them. To me, that was a shame. I saw my parents regularly. My brother, Josh, and I had dinner with them at least once a week. Now that Josh was married, his wife joined us.
I pulled into the driveway of the Sheriff’s house. I took a sip of my coffee and left my mug there as I got out of the truck and headed up steps to the craftsman style home.
The door opened before I could knock. “Right on time, Deputy Dalton.”
“Yes, sir.”
He opened the door for me. I wiped my boots on the mat and stepped inside. The home was clean and cozy, although a bit tired. I suspected his recliner was as old as I was.
“Coffee?” he asked as he motioned for me to follow him to the kitchen.
“Yes, please.” I never turned down coffee unless I knew it would be bad.
“Have a seat,” he said as he got a mug and poured me a cup of the hot brew.
I sat at the old yellow Formica table that reminded me of the one my grandparents had.
“I appreciate you coming over. I know this is a bit out of the norm.”
“Is everything alright?” I asked, taking the mug he offered.
He pulled out the chair across from me and sat. “Well, it’s not life and death, but I have a favor. And it is a favor. You can say no, and it won’t hurt your job.”
I squinted my eyes, wondering what the hell he was going to ask.
He traced a scratch on the table with his finger. “I’m not sure if you know that I have a daughter.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, she’s gotten herself into a bit of a pickle and is coming here to stay for a while until things die down.”
I wondered what sort of “pickle” he was referring to. Since he was a lawman, it was hard to think she was in legal trouble, but then again, a man would do a lot for his daughter, wouldn’t he?
“Okay.”
“I’ve rented her place out at Pine Rest. She’ll have privacy and space. The Minors and the McLean boys have fixed that place up nice. I think she’ll like it there.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.” How did I fit into all of this?
“She’s a good person, Wyatt, and doesn’t deserve what’s happened, but not everyone agrees. Some people might come looking for her or harass her.”
I sipped my coffee as I tried to figure out what he was talking about. “There are laws for stalking.”
“The paparazzi are an exception apparently,” he said with venom.
“Paparazzi?” Was she famous?
He nodded. “She’s a model, like her mother. What I want to ask of you is a lot, Deputy Dalton. You can say no, and it won’t hurt your standing at the department. You can trust me on that.”
I wasn’t sure I had much choice but to trust him.
The Sheriff looked me square in the eyes. “I need a man I can trust to watch over her.”
I sat back as I realized what he was asking. “You want me to babysit her?”
“She’s a grown woman, Deputy.”
“Bodyguard?” If she was famous, wouldn’t she have that already?
“I need help in keeping any riff-raff and paparazzi away from her.”
I sat back and watched my hand as I turned my mug around on the table. I was good at my job, and being asked to babysit an entitled model who got caught up in some scandal somehow felt beneath me.
“Again, I know what I’m asking is a lot. I shouldn’t be using my position or this agency to protect my daughter. I’m telling myself that if anyone in her situation planned to come here, that we’d protect them too.”
I supposed that was true. I looked out for Emma when she got caught up in a scandal involving hometown hero and Superbowl quarterback, Tucker McLean.
“And maybe it feels demeaning to you, but let me assure you that I’m asking you because you’re the only one I can trust. I can always count on you to follow the law. And despite some old stories about you and your brother’s wild youth, I know you’re not a man to take advantage of a woman.”
I never took advantage of a woman in my wild days either, I thought. Just because I had a time in my life that I enjoyed the bounty of women that would come to Eden Lake for vacation, didn’t mean I was taking advantage. Every woman I was with was equally interested in being with me.
“I know I can trust you to see her as a person and not just a beautiful woman if you get my drift.”
I nodded. “You want someone who will see her only as a job.”
“Right.” He sat back. “I knew you’d understand. So, you’ll do it?”
“How are you envisioning this working, and for how long?”
“Oh right…the details. Well, like I said, I got her the largest cabin out at Pine Rest. It has several bedrooms—”
“Wait, you want me to stay there?”
“The paparazzi don’t have work hours. They’ll fly drones or walk around at all hours of the night. These morons go through trash. I need someone there at all times. I’ll be there when I can to relieve you, but this will be outside your normal schedule. You’ll be paid for the time. I’m not asking you to volunteer here…well, you can turn down the work, but you’ll be paid.”
I wondered how he’d explain that to the budget
people, but since it wasn’t my concern, I didn’t ask.
“For how long?”
He shrugged. “That’s not as settled. A couple of weeks is probably all we’ll need.”
Weeks? “We’re expecting significant snow soon. There’s always a need for more deputies, not less when the winter sportspeople arrive.”
“It will be taken care of.” He leaned forward, putting his forearms on the table. “This is a big ask, I know. And you’re not a father, so you don’t know the fierce protectiveness that comes with that.”
I flinched at his words as they hit a raw nerve in me. No, I wasn’t a father. And I’d likely never be one.
“Let’s face it, what I’m doing could potentially risk my job come the next election. I didn’t get to be there a lot for my children. This is my chance. She needs me.”
“Why don’t you have her stay with you?”
“I thought about it, but if the connection between her and me is made, the photographers will show up here or follow me. I can’t have that. Plus, I’m the Sheriff, and I have duties that only I can attend to.”
We sat for a moment as I thought. I was going to say no because I wasn’t a babysitter or a bodyguard.
But then, I thought about my future. Someday I wanted to move up. Maybe I’d run for Sheriff when he retired. I’d even thought about running for mayor. Having Sheriff Maddox on my side could be helpful in that quest.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll do it.” The words were out of my mouth before I could re-weigh the cons of the decision. But once they were out, I was now bound to stick by them.
“Thank you, Deputy, really. It means a lot to me.”
“Sure. I’m happy to help.”
He let out a long breath that made me wonder if he’d been holding it in the whole time. It told me how important this was to him. I hoped he remembered this if I ever needed his help.
“She arrives later this afternoon. I’m having her go straight out to Pine Rest. Can you meet us there? I’ll introduce you, and we’ll get everyone settled.”
“I’ll be there. Should I be armed?” What did babysitting a model hunted by paparazzi involve?
He gave me a sinister grin. “If you shoot them, I’ll cover for you.”
Okay. That was ominous.
“Is there anything else I need to know?” I asked.
“She’s a good person in a tough place. She just needs space to sort things out until this thing dies away. You don’t need to entertain her. Just keep her safe.”
I could do that. Right?
“I’ve redone the schedule, so you have today off until you meet us. You can pack some things—”
“Do I wear my uniform?”
“You can wear civilian clothes. We don’t want her standing out among the locals either.”
I didn’t ask if he considered that the locals could wonder why I was spending my time out at Pine Rest with a disgraced model. I figured that was for him to figure out.
I stood. “I’ll pack up some things and meet you later, then.”
He rose from his chair and extended his hand. I took it, and he patted my arm with his other hand. “I knew I could trust you with my daughter. Thank you, Deputy.”
“My pleasure, sir.”
“Not too much pleasure,” he said, wagging a finger at me. He smiled like it was a joke, but something in his eyes told me he’d have no trouble shooting me in the nuts if I touched his daughter. Since that wasn’t likely going to happen, I wasn’t worried. Sure, I liked model-pretty women, but I had complete control of my dick. Whether I wanted to fuck her or not, I wouldn’t because I was on the job. I was a professional who followed the law and listened to those in command above me.
The only difficulty I’d have in this job was avoiding boredom or calling out an entitled brat for whatever stupid thing she did that got her run out of Los Angeles.
Chapter 3: Purgatory
Lily
I drove through Eden Lake and then out the other side per the G.P.S. directions for the address my father gave me. I was a little concerned that the directions were wrong, but my father had said the area was a bit remote, so I crossed my fingers that I was on the right track. I finally came to the turn, and that took me near the lake. The dirt road was a bit bumpy, and I wondered if this was the best place to hide. Yes, it was remote, but I’d stand out among any other people around here. I was more of a city girl, which wasn’t to say I couldn’t rough it, but I wasn’t really prepared to live in the woods either.
I came to a cabin in which a Sheriff’s truck sat in front. I got out of the car, eager to stretch my legs. I inhaled the fresh, crisp cool scent of pine or whatever the trees were. It smelled clean. My father once told me he could smell in the air when snow was coming. I wondered if this was what it smelled like.
“There you are, Lily.”
I turned to see my father on the porch of the cabin.
“Hi, dad.”
“Come in, come in.” He waved me over.
I took the few steps up, and he pulled me into a hug. “I’m so glad to see you even though the circumstances aren’t great.”
Yes, I needed my father. I let his strength fill me. “I’m glad to be here.”
“Come in and meet the Minors.” He guided me into the cabin. “Mr. and Mrs. Minor, this is my daughter, Lily. Lily, this is Mary and Harry Minor. They own Pine Rest.”
“Welcome to Pine Rest,” the man sitting in a chair said. He was elderly, with white tufts of hair on his head and bushy caterpillar type eyebrows.
“Thank you so much.”
Mrs. Minor was elderly too. She stood next to her husband, her sharp blue eyes watching me. I got the feeling she kept up on tabloid news the way she studied me.
“I’ve got you a cabin here on the lake. It’s secluded and remote, so no one should be able to find you,” my father said.
“What about from the boats or something. Some of the photographers can take long-distance shots.”
My father put his arm on my shoulder. “That’s a risk we’ll take no matter where we put her. Here it’s harder. There are more trees. Parts of the lake are starting to freeze, so going out on a boat isn’t a great idea. The Minors and one other couple are the only ones out here full time, so you won’t have a lot of people who can recognize you.”
“You look different in person,” Mrs. Minor said.
I looked down at my basic jeans, turtleneck, and a coat that was closed with a tie at my waist. Casual but nice. “I’m usually more made up when I work…worked.” I corrected, remembering my modeling career was pretty much done.
“People will still recognize you,” Mr. Minor said. “Best to keep out of sight.”
A knock on the door made me jump.
Mrs. Minor walked around me, again, her eyes studying me. Was she a Trask Holloway fan? Or maybe his wife’s.
She opened the door. “Emma? Oh, look, you’ve brought your friends.”
“We saw the Sheriff’s truck on the way back from the yoga studio to my place and wanted to check that everything is alright.”
“Come in out of the cold, girls. Come in.” Mrs. Minor ushered them inside the living room.
A woman with wild red hair wearing yoga pants and a giant parka stepped in. Two other women, a blonde and brunette, who seemed familiar, entered behind her.
“Sheriff Maddox. Is everything okay?” the blonde asked.
“Yes, yes, we’re fine,” Mrs. Minor said. “The sheriff’s daughter will be staying out here with us.”
My father started the introductions. “Lily this is Emma McLean, she lives out here full time—”
“She’s married to Superbowl champion Tucker McLean. You don’t know him, do you?”
I understood Mrs. Minor’s use of the word “know” to mean in the Biblical sense. I’d hoped to get away from people who would judge me, but that place probably didn’t exist.
“I know of him.” I extended my hand to Emma. “I’m Lily.”
“Yes, I re
cognize you,” she said, smiling. At least she seemed friendly.
“This is Willa, she’s married to Tucker’s brother, Mason,” my father said.
“I’m aware of him too. My mother once had a training session with him. She said she couldn’t walk for a week.”
Willa laughed. “That sounds like Mason.”
“And this is Allie Dalton—”
“It used to be Sinclair,” Allie said. Immediately I knew who she was. “I’m Vic—”
“You’re Victoria’s sister. Yes, of course. She told me you’d moved to a small town and gotten married.”
Victoria Sinclair was a good friend of mine. Right now, the only friend I really had. She’d called me when the pictures of Trask and me first hit the newsstands. It had meant so much to me that she knew something was fishy about them. She didn’t even ask if it was true if I was having an affair with him. But like my mother, she didn’t have the clout to sway people’s opinions. Her family had money but not influence, at least in the entertainment world.
“Yes.”
“We envied your ability to walk away and do your own thing,” I said before I could stop myself. It seemed like too much information to reveal in a group of people I didn’t know.
“I keep telling her to come spend some time out here. Maybe she will now that you’re here. Although, she’s in New York right now…I think. I have a hard time keeping track of her sometimes.”
I nodded. “She can’t seem to be in one place too long.” Victoria had a restlessness about her. I never understood why. Was it her drive to build her cosmetic empire? Or did she just get bored quickly? “It’s good to see you again,” I said to Allie.
