A Deadly Love

by Jannine Gallant

  “What was that for?”

  He smiled. “Just testing the waters.”

  “And?”

  “I have a feeling I could drown if I went in any deeper.”

  She bit her lip. “I wondered why you haven’t remarried. I thought maybe you were still in love with your wife.”

  He frowned. “I got over Gail years ago. Our marriage was in trouble long before she died.”

  “I’m sorry, Dillon. Grandma never mentioned it.”

  “We didn’t advertise our problems.” He shrugged. “Gail was bored here and wanted to move back to Seattle. I didn’t. I’m not sure we could have worked out our differences if she hadn’t died.”

  She touched his arm. “I’m sure you would have tried, for Zack’s sake.”

  “Yes, but don’t imagine I’m one of those brooding heroes from English lit class, pining for my dead love.”

  She laughed. “I can’t picture you reading Wuthering Heights.”

  “I did so with great reluctance.” His grin broadened. “I’m no saint, Brooke. I do occasionally date, but I’m not involved with anyone right now.”

  Warmth crept in around her heart, but she made certain her defenses were firmly in place. “You know my sad story of love and rejection. I don’t think I’m ready for another relationship.”

  He touched her bottom lip with his finger. “Relationships are overrated. We could just have a bit of fun together. Do you see a problem with that?”

  She could see a dozen problems. “Fun is good.”

  Dillon kissed her again, stealing her resistance. This time his mouth was more insistent, his tongue demanding and gaining entry as her lips parted. His teeth nibbled. His tongue stroked. She nearly melted into a pool of lust at his feet. She wanted to jump him on the spot.

  When he finally released her, she grasped his forearms for support. “Wow.”

  His eyes glazed as he stared down at her. “No kidding, wow. I got more than I bargained for. That sort of fun could leave a man disabled.”

  Her body throbbed. She concentrated on getting her breathing back under control. Somewhere, Otis barked, shattering the stillness, and June’s voice carried on the night air.

  “Brooke, are you out there?”

  “Coming, Grandma.”

  He ran his hand through his hair. “We should go inside. I need to make Zack’s dinner.”

  She nodded, and they headed through the yard. Dillon collected his son, thanked June, and left without another word. While her grandmother mashed the potatoes, Brooke tossed the salad and made an amusing tale of her encounter with Jesse, but her mind was on the kiss she’d shared with Dillon. She was still thinking about it when she went to bed, and for the second night in a row, she didn’t get much sleep.

  ****

  Brooke swirled a French fry through a pool of ketchup and popped it into her mouth. Across from her, Stephanie picked at her salad and sighed. “I’d kill for a fry right now.”

  Brooke smiled. “Have some of mine.”

  She shook her head. “Nope. I’m determined to lose ten pounds. I still can’t get into my old jeans.”

  “Give yourself a break. You just had a baby.”

  “Bonnie is six months old. I can’t use her as an excuse forever.” She pointed out the window of the diner. “Look how skinny Marnie is. I swear that woman must starve herself to stay so thin.”

  Brooke looked, and then looked again. Marnie Palmer was standing on the sidewalk deep in conversation with Dillon. Her hand lay on his jacket sleeve. She lifted it and patted his cheek. Brooke scowled. “Isn’t she married?”

  “Divorced, has been for a couple of years. It looks like she’s trying to get her hooks into Dillon again.”

  Brooke paused with a fry halfway to her mouth. “Again?”

  Stephanie nodded. “They dated all last summer, but something must have happened because I haven’t seen them together lately. For a while, Marnie was acting like there was another trip to the altar in her near future.”

  Brooke dropped the fry on her plate, her appetite gone. Dillon and Marnie’s conversation continued. “Strange, he hasn’t mentioned her once since I arrived.”

  “Maybe that means they broke it off. I hope so. Marnie was irritating when we were in school, and she hasn’t changed much over the years. Dillon deserves better.”

  “I thought you two were friends back in the day.”

  She made a face. “We hung with the same crowd and were on the cheerleading squad together, but we never liked each other much. Probably because we both dated Rod and Carter while we were in school.”

  Out on the sidewalk, Dillon frowned at something Marnie said, then threw back his head and laughed. The burger Brooke had eaten felt like a rock in her stomach. “Well, Rod married you.”

  “Yes, he did, and Marnie has been divorced twice.” Stephanie’s tone was smug. “She moved back here after her last husband dumped her, then got her real estate license.”

  Marnie kissed Dillon’s cheek and walked off, her hips swaying in her pencil skirt and high heels. Dillon watched her go before turning toward the diner. His gaze met Brooke’s through the window. She lifted her chin and looked away.

  Stephanie pulled her wallet out of her purse and laid a ten dollar bill on the table. “It was great seeing you, but I have to go. My mom has a hair appointment in a half-hour, so I need to pick up my kids.”

  “We’ll have to plan lunch again soon.”

  “I’d like that. If I don’t get away from my children every now and then and have an adult conversation, I feel like I’ll lose my mind.”

  Brooke smiled. “We can’t have that. I’ll give you a call.”

  ****

  Dillon stepped inside the diner and looked down the row of red vinyl booths to the one Brooke occupied. She dug in her purse and came up with a handful of bills as he slipped onto the seat opposite her.

  She glanced up. “Hey, Dillon.” After tapping the bills into a neat stack, she laid them on the plastic tray. “I was just leaving.”

  He reached out and touched her arm. Even through her long-sleeved shirt, he felt a spark. “Stay and keep me company.”

  The waitress, a middle-aged woman with graying hair, paused by the booth to scoop up the money and gather the dirty dishes. Dillon ordered a bowl of chili and two cups of coffee.

  Brooke’s eyebrow shot up. “Maybe I have somewhere to go.”

  “Do you?”

  Her lips tightened. “No.”

  “Then stick around and tell me what I did to piss you off.” He smiled at the waitress as she delivered their coffee. “Thanks, Irene.”

  “Sure thing, honey. I’ll be right back with your chili.”

  Brooke ripped open a packet of sugar and poured it into her cup. “What makes you think I’m angry?”

  “I don’t know, maybe the fact that you’ve been frowning at me since I walked through the door.”

  She sipped her coffee while the waitress set a bowl of chili smothered in cheese in front of Dillon. Brooke’s eyes narrowed as she studied him. “I’m not mad. There’s no reason for me to be mad.”

  He dug into his chili. “It sounds to me like you have a reason. I’m asking what it is.”

  She pulled a napkin from the dispenser and wiped a spot of ketchup off the table. “I’m a little disappointed you lied to me, but I’m not mad.”

  Dillon set his spoon back in the bowl and stared at her bent head. “What are you talking about?”

  “Marnie. You told me you weren’t involved with anyone.” She shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”

  He waited until she looked at him. Her blue eyes gave nothing away. “I’m not seeing Marnie. I was last summer, but I’m not anymore.”

  “Are you sure she knows?”

  He choked on his coffee. “Of course I’m sure.”

  “She looked pretty friendly to me.”

  “That’s just Marnie’s way. Our breakup was amicable.”

  “I’ll bet.”

&n
bsp; He sighed, wondering why he cared so much that she believe him. “I wouldn’t have kissed you if I was involved with another woman.”

  She leaned against the red vinyl seatback and gave him a rueful smile. “Sorry, I’m in a pissy mood. I spent the morning talking to people about permits and zoning for the B and B. Paperwork gives me a headache.”

  “I’m with you there. I’d rather be out in the woods than sitting at my desk, which is what I’ll be doing this afternoon.” He reached across the table and traced the faint red line on her forehead. “I see you got your stitches out.”

  “I stopped by Carter’s office before I met Stephanie. According to the doc, I’m healing nicely. I’m in terrific shape to go home and scrape paint.”

  “Lucky you.” Dillon finished his chili and paid the bill, and they left the diner together. Outside fog rolled in from the coast. Brooke shivered.

  He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to his side. Her hair brushed his chin, sending a jolt of awareness through him. “Cold?”

  “I was thinking about the night I arrived. Remembering that woman darting out of the fog in front of my car still makes me shake.”

  “I’m not surprised.” He left his arm where it was, enjoying the feel of her curvy body tucked against him. “Can I give you a ride home before I go back to my stack of paperwork?”

  “I drove Grandma’s VW bus.” She nodded toward the mottled green vehicle parked across the street.

  “Does that relic still run? June rarely uses it.”

  “It got me to Crescent City and back. I’ll have to buy a new car eventually, but right now it isn’t in my budget.”

  “I suppose I should go.” Reluctantly he released her. Brooke looked up at him, her eyes a clear, beautiful blue. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, and Dillon swallowed. “Would you like to do something tonight?”

  “What sort of something?”

  Her eyes sparkled, and he stared into them, mesmerized.

  “Are you asking me on a date?”

  He cleared his throat. “Sure. We could catch a late movie after I get Zack settled for the evening. June won’t mind watching him.”

  She smiled. “I’d like that.”

  “Great. I’ll see you this evening.”

  Brooke crossed the street, her figure trim in a pair of tight fitting jeans and a short jacket. Had he made a mistake asking her out? God knew he was attracted to her. Just watching the sway of her hips gave him ideas that definitely weren’t suitable for a public street, but he wasn’t looking for a commitment. Zack and Jesse were all the responsibility he needed or wanted in his life.

  It was the niggling fear that Marnie was beginning to take their summer fling too seriously that sent him running for cover last fall. He didn’t want to make the same mistake with Brooke. Didn’t want to hurt her. After what she’d gone through with her ex-fiancé, the last thing she needed was to have her heart broken again. He should back off and settle for an uncomplicated friendship, but he couldn’t do it. Brooke Wakefield was just too damned tempting.

  Chapter Four

  The aroma of artificial butter and Coca-Cola filled the air, teasing Brooke with memories of past movie dates. On those occasions, had she been so hyperaware of the other guys who sat by her side? She didn’t think so. When it came to igniting her senses, Dillon was in a class all his own.

  She ate salty popcorn and watched Liam Neeson flee from a mysterious assassin on the big screen. When Dillon’s knee pressed against hers, her blood heated. Their fingers touched at the bottom of the popcorn tub, and their gazes locked in the darkness of the theater. Her heart rate accelerated.

  Lowering the tub to the floor, he threaded her fingers through his and rested their clasped hands on the hard muscle of his thigh. His thumb rubbed the back of her hand, sending tingles up her arm. Brooke finished watching the movie without having a clue how it ended. Finally, the credits rolled and the lights came on.

  Still holding her hand, Dillon led her outside, following the crowd of Friday night movie-goers. The full moon was just visible through the shifting mist as they walked to his truck. Out over the ocean, a fog horn sounded, deep and lonely in the night. She shivered in the damp sea air and leaned against the side of the pickup. Dillon crowded in close, his legs twining with hers. He tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear, and his calloused fingers lingered against her cheek.

  “Do you want to go somewhere for coffee?”

  She let out a long, shuddering breath. “What I’d really like to do is get a room.”

  His eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

  She pressed her forehead against his chest. “Yes, but I won’t risk getting hurt again. Not yet.”

  “I respect that, but I can’t imagine a better way to end the evening.” Shifting away from her, he unlocked the truck and helped her in. She slid across the bench seat.

  Brooke studied his strong profile as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. A muscle in his jaw ticked. He headed south out of town past the marina and down the highway toward Woodvale. The road climbed as they left the lights of Crescent City behind.

  “I suppose it’s a little late for coffee.”

  He glanced over at her. “I have something else in mind.” Returning his attention to the road, he pulled into a turnout a few minutes later and cut the engine. The ocean spread before them, waves lapping the shore far below. The water glimmered in the moonlight as the fog receded inland.

  He turned to face her. “Did you ever come out here when you were in high school?”

  She shook her head. “It’s a beautiful spot.”

  He grinned, his teeth a flash of white in the dark. “I never spent much time admiring the view. The kids call this make out point.”

  Brooke laughed. “Dillon Tremayne, what exactly do you have in mind?”

  He unbuckled her seatbelt and tugged her up against his side. “We said we were going to have fun together, right? This is fun.”

  She touched his hair, letting the silky strands slide through her fingers. “Maybe not as much fun as a room, but safer.”

  His lips ran along the side of her neck, sending a jolt of longing straight through her.

  “Definitely safer.”

  His mouth found hers in a drugging kiss that left her hungry for more. His tongue stroked and teased while his hands worked their way under her sweater and spread across the skin of her back.

  She sat halfway across his lap, her breath coming in quick pants. When he cupped her breast, she moaned. “I don’t know how much more I can take. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all.”

  His fingers drifted slowly away, leaving her sensitive flesh chilled. His chin rested on top of her head, and she felt his heart thundering in his chest.

  “I’m about two seconds away from stripping off your clothes and finishing this. I had more self-control when I was eighteen.”

  Her hip pressed against the bulge in his jeans. She closed her eyes as her control slipped out of reach. “Maybe we should go home.”

  He let out a breath. “Yeah, probably.”

  “Where we can have a little privacy.”

  He stroked her cheek, the calluses on his fingers rough against her skin. “I don’t want to rush you. You said—”

  “I know what I said.” She turned her face and gently bit his thumb. “I changed my mind.”

  He kissed her, and desire, hot and burning, pooled deep inside her. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so excited by a man’s touch. When he shifted her off his thighs, she whimpered.

  “If I try to drive with you in my lap, we’ll never make it home.”

  Brooke bit her lip. “Drive fast.”

  His cell phone rang as he reached for the keys hanging in the ignition. Its trilling notes snapped the sexual tension between them. Frowning, he pulled the phone from his jacket pocket and checked the display.

  “It’s Jesse. I have to take this. He wouldn’t call
so late unless something was wrong.”

  She scooted over onto her side of the seat and straightened her sweater. A deep chill settled into her bones as she listened to Dillon’s side of the conversation. Fear slid down her spine.

  “Slow down, Grandpa. I can’t understand you.” Dillon’s hand tightened on the phone until his knuckles gleamed white in the moonlight. “Are you certain she’s dead?” He tucked the phone against his shoulder and started the engine. “Call Harley. I’ll be there as soon as I can. No, you can’t wait for me to get there. Call him now.”

  He snapped the phone shut and pulled out onto the road. His lips were a thin, tight line. “Grandpa found a woman dead in the woods. He was so upset I couldn’t get any details, just something about a tree and blood. Lots of blood.”

  “Oh God,” Brooke whispered. She wrapped her jacket around her and pushed her hands up into the sleeves. He turned up the heat before focusing his attention on the road. The truck flew around the corners, the headlight beams slicing through the darkness. She closed her eyes, feeling sick.

  “Almost there.” He slowed to make the turn onto the road leading to Woodvale.

  Brooke opened her eyes. “Do you think it’s her?”

  He glanced over. “Who?”

  “The woman I saw on the road. She was running from something.” Her voice shook. “Maybe she’s the one I heard scream.”

  “Your accident was nearly two weeks ago. I can’t imagine the incidents are connected.”

  She braced herself as he barreled around a corner. “You’re right. I wish I could get that woman’s face out of my mind.”

  “I’m sure the person Jesse found was involved in some sort of accident or animal attack. There’s no reason to think otherwise.”

  Brooke clasped her shaking hands together in her lap as the few lights in the center of town flashed by. Dillon covered the final mile in under a minute and pulled into his driveway. Harley’s cruiser was parked a few yards away.

  Leaning past her, Dillon grabbed a flashlight out of the glove box. “I’ll let you know what happened when I can.”

  She nodded. “Go take care of Jesse. He needs you.”