Killing Lies

by Desiree Holt

  Reno had other things in mind, too, but he’d need to make a few calls to accomplish them. He’d do it while they shopped, when Sarah was tucked out of sight in a dressing room. He had always looked at money as just a means to an end. He’d never had it when he was younger so he’d worked hard to get it. Now that he had more than he knew what to do with, he enjoyed being able to use it in a manner that gave him real satisfaction.

  Sarah’s parents were delighted to babysit as she’d expected and even offered to keep Molly overnight. Soon, Sarah and Reno were headed downtown to the Rivercenter Mall.

  “I feel as if I’ve stepped into a reality television show,” she told him as he moved her along from store to store.

  “Believe me, it’s real enough.” He grinned.

  One thing was certain. The man had unerring taste. He sorted through displays, shooing her into dressing rooms, salesgirls following her with arms loaded. There was no question he was in charge today, but he was relaxed and comfortable, a man showing off his wife. He was having fun and so was she.

  Sarah chuckled in one store at the sight of him lounging in a chair with an ankle resting on the opposite knee, looking magnificent.

  “All the women are drooling over you,” she whispered when she came out to model an outfit for him.

  “If you ask me, I think it’s the men who can’t take their eyes off you.” He touched her hand possessively. “I must be sure to let them know you’re taken.”

  They smiled at each other, a smile full of intimate secrets that shut out everyone else.

  While Sarah tried on clothes, Reno put the rest of his plan into action. He made calls on his cell phone, speaking in a low voice and watching for Sarah to appear. Things were coming together exactly the way he wanted.

  By the time they stopped for coffee late in the afternoon, she was glad to have a minute to catch her breath.

  “You must be out of your mind,” she protested again. “I don’t need all these clothes.”

  “Yes, you do. You need more color, more…everything. Besides, I love buying things for you, so don’t argue with me. I’m a man who knows his own mind. Or so they tell me.” He chuckled.

  “I feel like a kept woman.” She smiled.

  “You are,” he said. “And I’m the one who’s keeping you. For a very long time.”

  “Where did you learn so much about women’s clothes, anyway?”

  “Watching my brother. And don’t ask me for details.” He grinned. “My lips are sealed.”

  Reno had planned for dinner on the Riverwalk, but by the time they finished at the mall, he agreed with Sarah that home looked a lot better. “We can pick up pizza or something on the way,” he said. “That okay with you?”

  “You bet. I’ll be glad to get home.”

  It took both of them to carry the bags to the bedroom. Sarah hung up the things that needed hanging and left the rest for the next day.

  “Right now, all I want is a shower,” she said.

  She was already standing under the streaming hot water, letting it work on her still sore muscles when she felt him beside her, a hand sliding the soap along her spine.

  “I believe this is my bathroom now, too,” Reno said in a low voice. “And my shower.”

  Her fatigue dissipated as he slowly lathered her body. He made her lean forward, bracing her arms against the wall, while he covered her back from her shoulders to her ankles, up the insides of her thighs and into the cleft of her buttocks, his fingers lingering there and moving in a gentle motion. Then he turned her around and did the same with her front, circling the nipples and sliding lathered fingers into her sheath, paying careful attention to the sensitive flesh inside. As she began to shake with desire, he stopped and handed her the soap.

  “Not yet,” he said. “My turn.”

  He stood while Sarah moved the soap over his rock-hard body, covering every inch, rubbing his flat nipples until they were stiff, spreading the lather over his erection, running her finger over the tip, watching his face darken with desire. He turned off the shower, dried them both off, and carried her to the bed. She had thought herself too tired to want this tonight, especially after making love that morning, but his touch inflamed her and gripped her with a violent need.

  He made slow, careful love to her, drawing out each orgasm until she was sure she would lose her mind, bringing her to climax again and again before entering her.

  “Tonight I want nothing from you except to enjoy what I do to you,” he murmured in a husky voice. “You make me feel like a man possessed, Sarah. I can’t get enough of you.”

  He was fierce and wild, at the same time gentle, claiming her with his love.

  At last, he let her rest, tucking her in against him, her head on his shoulder. The last thing she remembered was saying, “We forgot to eat the pizza,” and hearing his laugh rumbling deep in his chest. Then she slept.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I’ve been thinking,” Reno said the next morning. “I want us to have some time alone away from this house. We never had a honeymoon. I guess it wouldn’t have been too appropriate before, but things have changed.”

  “Yes.” She grinned. “They certainly have.”

  “I’m not talking about some big trip here,” he went on. “I just want to hide us away somewhere for a while.” He smiled at her. “A client of ours has a weekend cabin up in the hills about an hour from here. Right now, he’s taking his family to Bermuda for two weeks so he was glad to give me the keys.”

  “How long will we be there?”

  “Just two or three days. I wish it could be more, but Nick said the Colorado contract’s been signed so I need to get back to the office.”

  “But who will watch Molly?” She tried to think what arrangements she could make. “An agency is out, Nicki has school, and I think more than one night would be too much for my folks. She’s getting to be a real handful.”

  “Already taken care of.” He sounded pleased with himself. “She’s going out to the ranch. With Mary and Emilio there, Lindsey can manage nicely.”

  Sarah’s jaw dropped. “You already arranged this?”

  His lips turned up with a self-satisfied smile. “Didn’t think I could do it, did you?”

  “I guess I think you can do anything,” she said, still flabbergasted. “Oh, Reno, what a nice thing for you to do.”

  “Think we can find something to occupy us?” he teased and laughed as heat crept up her cheeks. “You can bring some of your new finery, although I might not give you a chance to wear much of it.” He looked at her with uncharacteristic nervousness. “So, is this okay?”

  “It’s wonderful.” She jumped up and threw her arms around him, kissing him. “When do we leave?”

  “Today, as soon as we pick the baby up from your folks. We should pack now so we can leave right from there.”

  Their arrival in Cibolo created a flurry of activity. Emilio, stolid and implacable as ever, carried in all of Molly’s paraphernalia, and Mary took the little girl off to find Jason. Nick gave Reno the key to the cabin and the directions he’d picked up the night before.

  Then, at last, they were off.

  ****

  If Sarah had wished for heaven on earth, it would have looked like the cabin in the Hill Country. Although cabin couldn’t begin to describe their vacation hideaway. Rising majestically on the crest of a hill, its limestone exterior looked as if it had been quarried out of the very ground on which it sat. Guarded by ancient oaks and sycamores, with crepe myrtles blooming in riotous profusion, it had the appearance of a painting on the cover of a western novel.

  Deer roamed over the hundred acres that surrounded the house, along with wild turkey, rabbits, and hundreds of birds flying in every direction. The air was redolent with the aroma of mountain cedar and Texas sage. A soft breeze rustled the finery of the oak trees and swayed the giant oleander bushes.

  Sarah gasped in wonder at her first sight of it, stunned by the magnificence the entire scene displ
ayed. She wanted to capture it in a painting and hold onto it forever.

  “Like it?” Reno grinned at her, helping her out of the car.

  “You’re kidding, right? What’s not to like? My god, it’s unbelievable.” She drew in a breath, her nostrils filled with the clean scent of outdoors.

  A massive limestone fireplace that soared to the ceiling dominated the center of the house. She could almost see the flames crackling in it.

  “Great for blazing fires at night,” Reno said, coming up behind her and gathering her in his arms. “We seem to do very well in front of fireplaces, don’t we?”

  Sarah blushed at the obvious reference to the night of their reconciliation.

  “I like a bride who can still blush,” he teased. “I can’t wait to see you in the firelight again.”

  Sarah felt her heartbeat accelerate at the anticipation of the evening to come and the rest of the nights in this hideaway at the end of the world. She felt almost giddy with expectation and turned and hugged Reno tightly, pressing her face to his chest.

  “Thank you for this,” she said. “Thank you so very much.” She moved away from him, walking to the front to look at the view again. “This whole place is so beautiful. It’s like God’s country.”

  Reno stood beside her, one arm draped over her shoulders. “I know. I get the same feeling when I’m at the ranch with Nick and Lindsey. It’s like being in another world. No wonder Nick sold his house in the city when they got married and chose to live in Cibolo. I don’t blame him. It’s paradise.”

  They made no plans but just let each day happen, choosing activities as the moment struck them. Sometimes, they hiked the property, which covered a hundred acres. Other times, they roamed the countryside, stopping at out of the way places for lunch or dinner. In the evenings, they hunkered down in cozy comfort with one of the movies from the owner’s collection, munching on hot, buttery popcorn and cuddling on the couch as if they were teenagers.

  And of course, they made love whenever the mood struck them. They were ravenous for each other, feasting in greedy hunger, driven by their newly acknowledged love. She was always ready for him, hot and wet and waiting. He took her everywhere—in bed, on the couch, on the floor, standing up in the shower. He used every bit of expertise he had to give her total satisfaction, driving them both to exquisite peaks of desire.

  Three days seemed to fly past them as if they were only seconds. On their last night, after sharing a bottle of wine, brie and crackers, they stretched out in front of the fireplace one final time.

  “I want this to work out for us, Sarah.” Reno’s voice was serious. “I promised you I’d try with the little girl and I will, but what if I can’t make it work?”

  “Reno, I know in my heart if you try that you can finally open your heart to her. You’ll never lose me. The rest we’ll just figure out as we go along.” She lifted her face to him. “I’m in for the long haul, cowboy.”

  Would they ever get to the point where he’d tell her how he felt? Would he ever say I love you? She just had to hope.

  “Thank god.” He smiled at her lazily.

  “I hate to think of leaving tomorrow,” she told him. “This has been incredible.”

  “You like it here?” he asked.

  “Oh, yes. This whole area is magic.”

  He leaned down and kissed her. “I agree. Let’s enjoy every minute we have left here.”

  Tomorrow, he’d have another surprise for her, and he hoped she’d be as excited as he was.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sarah looked through the car window with mixed regret and excitement as they pulled away from the cabin. She felt sure that these few days had really cemented the marriage and turned a bizarre bargain into a real relationship. Too bad, they couldn’t have stayed longer, maybe have brought Molly out to be with them. She had a distinct feelings that, in someplace other than that house filled with bitter memories, Reno would be able to find his way back to the little girl.

  Closing her eyes and giving herself over to the motion of the car, she jolted upright when she realized they had stopped. She had no idea where they were except they were parked off the road between huge oaks. Nothing looked familiar.

  She looked at Reno, confused. “Where are we?”

  “About two miles from Lindsey and Nick.” He grinned at her. “I told Nick what I wanted and had him scout it out.” Reno went around and opened the car door for her, then urged her forward until she realized they were standing at the top of a hill. “Ten acres, with a creek running through it and plenty of space for a home, a yard, maybe even a couple of horses. You’ve got a horse farm to the right and a small cattle ranch to the left.” He turned to her, anxiety written on his face. “What do you think?”

  She was stunned. “I love it. Didn’t you think I would? But—”

  “I don’t want to remodel the house, Sarah. I want to be out of it. Start fresh, with no memories of any kind.”

  “Any kind?” she teased.

  “Well,” he drawled, “maybe a few. Listen, I had Nick tell the real estate agent someone might be interested. Would you be happy with this?”

  Sarah threw her arms around him. “More than I can tell you.”

  A house of her own, built just for them. She couldn’t have asked for more.

  By the time they reached the ranch, Sarah could hardly contain her excitement. And when she went into the room where Molly sat in a playpen and the child reached out her arms for her, her heart was so full she had to turn away to hide her tears.

  “Was she good?” she asked Mary.

  “As gold,” Mary answered. “I told Lindsey she should order a baby girl just like this one.”

  “She’s been great,” Lindsey said, “but she’s been looking for you every day.”

  Sarah hugged Molly to her and rained kisses on her cheeks. The little girl smelled deliciously of cookies and chocolate and baby powder, a scent that made her heart turn over. Molly patted her with her chubby little hands, then shifted in Sarah’s arms as she spotted Reno walking in behind her. Bouncing up and down, the little girl lifted her arms out to him, cooing.

  When Reno smiled and lifted her in his arms, Sarah’s smile stretched her cheeks. Two months had passed, and she was still getting used to the new relationship between father and daughter. Sometimes she held her breath, wondering if it would suddenly fall apart.

  On the way out to the car, Lindsey pulled Sarah aside. “By the looks of things, I’d say the delayed honeymoon exceeded expectations.”

  “Better than you can imagine. We still have some hurdles to get past, but we’ll get there. Everything between us is so wonderful, Lindsey.”

  “I’m so glad for you both. He’s such a special person.”

  “Yes, he is. I’m very lucky.”

  “No,” Lindsey said softly, “Reno’s the lucky one.”

  “So did you give her the nickel tour?” Nick asked.

  Reno nodded. “Call your agent and set up a meeting. It’s a go.”

  Lindsey clapped her hands. “How wonderful. We’ll be so close together.”

  “Remember,” Reno warned, “we have one house to sell and another to build before this all happens.”

  “But it will.” Lindsey kissed his cheek. “That’s for luck.”

  They drove home in a quiet silence, happy just to be with each other. There was no need for conversation. The time in the cabin had said it all.

  While Reno carried all the suitcases into the house, she took Molly up to her room. Mary had fed the little girl lunch, and her eyes were drooping now. When Sarah put her in her crib, she popped her thumb in her mouth, closed her eyes, and was asleep at once.

  Sarah went into the bedroom to unpack. She had no idea where Reno was. In the doorway of the room, she stopped, frozen. He was lying on the bed, eyes closed, and one arm thrown across his forehead.

  “Are you okay?”

  He opened his eyes. “I kick myself daily for all the times I missed with Molly
because I was such a bitter bastard. What would have happened if she hadn’t been kidnapped? She’s so adorable and a child anyone would be proud of and excited to claim as their own. Holding her in my arms is unbelievable joy. But sometimes…sometimes I remember Maggie’s words and I—”

  Sarah placed her fingers over her lips, then she lay down next to him, nestling her head on his shoulder, touching his face. “When that happens, tell me. I’ll help you all I can. And one of these days it will cease to even cross your mind.”

  “Promise?”

  “I do. I am always here for you. You have to know that.”

  Reno held her to him as if he’d never let her go. She wanted to weep herself, for all the pain one person had caused. Instead, she molded herself to him as tightly as she could and let her hand rest on his muscular chest, trying to infuse his body with her warmth. After a long time, they dozed, clinging to each other.

  Later, Reno went out to pick up Chinese takeout. But both were tired and they were glad to get into bed early. She crawled into bed, excited about the land they were buying. She had barely closed her eyes before she heard Reno come into the room and strip off his clothes. The mattress dipped as he lowered his body next to hers. His warm hand cupped her cheek, turning her face toward him.

  “Everything’s going to be fine,” he promised. “Just hang onto me and don’t let go.”

  As if she would!

  ****

  Obviously tired from her three days of excitement, Molly slept later than usual the next morning and so did Sarah. When she came downstairs with the freshly diapered child, Reno was already at the kitchen table, drinking coffee, and talking on the phone. When Sarah looked at him, he held up one finger signaling to wait, he was almost through.

  “All right,” he said into the receiver. “Tell them that’s the best offer they’re going to get. I’ll be at my office in an hour. Call me back as soon as you get an answer.” Disconnecting the call, he leaned back in his chair with a self-satisfied look on his face.