“But …” he prompted, his eyes penetrating hers. Her heart picked up a notch when he began lightly rubbing circles over her arm with the tip of his finger. This time, she didn’t pull away. She should’ve pulled away, but it was like he had this magnetic power that compelled her to stay where she was.
“But I don’t know if I truly believe it. It took a lot for me to open myself up to you, and then you turned me down flat—made me feel like a fool.” She halfway expected him to retreat at that, but he leaned in closer. Despite her best effort to remain calm, her traitorous heart started hammering. She couldn’t deny the fierce attraction she felt for him. The flickering fire highlighted his chiseled jaw, and the growing dusk had turned his eyes to fathomless pools of smoky blue. She felt like she could get lost in them.
“You are direct.” He gave her an appraising look.
“I find that it makes life easier.” A small smile escaped her lips.
“I suppose it does.” Hank gave her a crooked smile that shot darts of warmth through her. She had the feeling that they were suspended in time—where it was only the two of them.
When he reached for her hand and linked his fingers through hers, she didn’t pull away.
Suddenly, she wanted him to understand where she was coming from. “I haven’t always been so direct.”
“Really? How so?”
She searched his face and was pleased to note that he seemed interested—really interested—in what she had to say. He patiently waited for her to gather her thoughts. “I knew things weren’t right between Dan and me, but I didn’t have the nerve to confront him about it. I thought if I ignored it, then it would go away.” It was the first time she’d spoken those words aloud. Getting them off her chest was more liberating than she could’ve ever imagined, and she quickly continued before she could change her mind. “Ultimately, I convinced myself that I was only imagining things and that once he came home from Afghanistan, things would be different.” She swallowed hard. “Of course, he didn’t come home. And then I found out that he’d betrayed me.” She didn’t try to hide the bitterness she felt, nor did she attempt to wipe away the single tear that rolled down her cheek.
Hank squeezed her hand. “Dan was a fool.”
“Thank you.” She could tell that he truly meant it. A comfortable silence settled between them until she spoke. “I decided that I would never again remain silent about the things that matter. Had I confronted Dan, I feel sure that he would’ve confessed. I could’ve told him how I felt. I could’ve dealt with it when he was still alive.” Her voice caught. “Now, I’ll never be able to tell him. I have to carry it around with me.”
“Don’t fool yourself. Even if you had been able to confront him, it wouldn’t have hurt any less.”
She turned to face him. “Do you really believe that?”
“I know it,” he said quietly, his eyes meeting hers.
It dawned on her that he was speaking from experience. He’d been hurt too. “What exactly happened to you?”
His eyes took on a faraway look. “Like you, I was in love. Veronica or V was everything I thought I ever wanted and more. In the end, she left me when I needed her the most.”
The jealousy that jabbed her came as a surprise. He’d obviously been madly in love with this V girl. Was he still? She hoped he would expound. Disappointment settled over her when he didn’t. “You mentioned before that you had to go away for some reason. What happened?” Was it her imagination, or did he grow tense? She fleetingly wondered if he were going to flat-out ignore the question, but finally, he answered.
“I did some things that I’m not proud of. Made mistakes.”
“What kind of mistakes?” She could tell that her questions were making him uncomfortable, but she needed to know his past. He was hiding something. A quiver of apprehension ran down her spine.
He released her hand and looked into the fire. This time, she touched his arm. “Hank, whatever it is … you can tell me.”
His jaw started working and then he gave her a sad smile. “I betrayed the trust of a close friend, and I’ll never forgive myself for it.”
He seemed so responsible—committed—the last person who would ever betray a trust. “How?”
He shook his head. “I got in over my head with some business matters. Things didn’t go according to plan … it was a bad situation.”
She frowned. He was being so cryptic. Whatever this thing was—it was obviously forbidden territory. She’d shared her feelings about Dan. Why couldn’t he share his with her? Maybe they were a lost cause. A hard knot settled in her stomach.
He seemed to be reading her thoughts. “Look, I know you have a lot of questions, and I promise I’ll share everything with you …” he gave her a pleading look “ … eventually, but it’s too hard to talk about right now.”
“I told you that whatever it is … I’ll understand.” Her brows knitted together in frustration.
He gave her a tender smile that was tinged with sadness. “Please, can you be patient for a little while? That’s all I’m asking.”
“I just wish you would trust me enough to tell me! If we’re going to have any chance of having a relationship then we’re going to have to trust each other. I’ve been through too much to take things on blind faith. I need to know that you’re being straight with me.”
He swore under his breath. “This has nothing to do with not being straight with you.”
“Then tell me.”
The anguish that washed over his face cut her to the core. “Haven’t you ever had something happen that was so painful that you couldn’t share it with anyone? Not even someone you care about?”
Yes, she did have something that was too painful to share. There was no way she was going to admit that she was seeing Dan’s ghost! Her mind raced through the possibilities, wondering what it was that Hank was not sharing. How could she fault him for holding something back when she was doing the same? Then her eyes went wide as she caught the meaning of his words.
A tiny smile flittered over his lips. “Yes, that’s right. I have feelings for you too. That’s why I couldn’t kiss you earlier. Not until I was sure that you didn’t have any real feelings for Garrett.”
“What?” Heat scorched up her face, followed by a blinding anger. “You were baiting me! How could you?” she sputtered, feeling as though she’d been socked in the stomach.
“I wouldn’t call it baiting … exactly. I just needed to know where you stood.”
“Where I stood?” She let out a harsh laugh. “You nearly caused me to pass out!” Tears pooled in her eyes.
“Chloe, calm down. I didn’t know it was going to affect you so drastically. I had to find out if you had feelings for Garrett. I meant what I said about not wanting to betray my brother.”
“You are an egotistical jerk!” She stood. “Take me home! Now!”
He jumped up and grabbed her arm. “Wait a minute!”
“This is not a game! This is my life we’re talking about, and I refuse to be some pawn that the two of you are fighting over!”
“You’re not a pawn. I care about you, Chloe.” As he searched her eyes, she was torn. There was something mesmerizing about his confidence. Not only was he exceptionally good-looking with those rugged features, but also more important, he was real and down-to-earth—the kind of guy she could build a life with. A part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind and kiss him just to see how it would feel to have his lips on hers. The other part wanted to slap him. Yes, slapping him would definitely be the better option!
Her breath caught as he pulled her into his arms. He leaned in and captured her eyes with his. A thrill ran down her spine, causing her to go weak in the knees. She had the fleeting impression that everything she’d ever hoped to find was right here in front of her, if only she could summon the courage to reach out and grab it.
“I want to believe you,” she whispered, “but—”
The protest got drowned out when his lips cam
e down on hers. She put up a fight for half a second but then let out a groan of submission as her arms went around his neck. He parted her lips with his, causing molten fire to surge through her as his tongue connected with hers, making her feel weightless for a second. She allowed herself to get lost in the wonder of him as he deepened the kiss, turning her blood electric.
“Wow!” he murmured, his eyes dancing. “That was something.” She tried to pull away, but he held her fast. “I meant what I said. I don’t play games. Everything I feel for you is real.” He searched her face. “Do you believe me?”
She nodded and looked away before he could see the tears. Too late.
“Hey, are you okay?” He cupped her cheek.
“Yeah.” How embarrassing! It was just like her to act like a big baby! “I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way.” The words faded into the night, and she hoped he would understand what she was trying to say.
He gave her a tender smile that was filled with such promise that it nearly took her breath away. “Me too.”
He pulled her close, and she rested her head against his chest. For one small moment, she felt like happiness was within her grasp and that everything might turn out okay.
16
Chapter 16
Garrett’s entire plan was contingent on the need for Phyllis to be out cold when he entered her home and took the jewels. As much as the woman drank, there was a good chance she would drink herself into a stupor without any help from him. However, he decided to sway things in his favor by sending her champagne. Something she couldn’t resist—A bottle of Dom Perignon 2003 Rosé. It’d cost him a whopping $385.00, but it would be worth every penny if the jewelry were worth what he estimated. He included a card that read: From a Secret Admirer at the Club.
Phyllis belonged to a private club. He decided to mention it as a red herring in the event Phyllis somehow connected the champagne with the break-in. Of course, it was simply a bottle of champagne, nothing more, and he’d gone to great lengths to ensure that it couldn’t be traced back to him. Most people would drink one glass, perhaps two if they couldn’t resist the robust flavor, but not Phyllis. She’d down the entire bottle in practically two gulps and then go looking for more.
He was wearing all black, including a ski mask and gloves. He had the eerie sense of being an extension of the dark night surrounding him. His senses were on full alert as he noiselessly made his way through the living room and kitchen. It had been a piece of cake to disable the alarm. So far, everything was going according to plan. Even as the thought went through his head, he heard a slight noise. He paused, his heart racing, as he strained to hear. Nothing. His fears rose up with a vengeance becoming hideous things in the night that threatened to vanquish his courage and send him retreating before he accomplished the objective. What if Natalie, the daughter, had decided to spend the night? Or worse, what if Phyllis had found a new boyfriend? Maybe he was here, spending the night? One mistake was all it would take to trip him up. What if Phyllis had not drunk the champagne? He needed her to be in a deep sleep for the plan to work! A trickle of sweat rolled between his shoulder blades, and his backpack of tools suddenly felt too heavy for his shoulders. Thankfully, habit took over from there as he forced himself to snuff out the fears. He busied his mind with concentrating on the details as he walked up the stairs. Phyllis’s bedroom was the last room at the end of a long hall. As he walked, every creak in the floor sounded to him like a shotgun going off. His heart was nearly pounding out of his chest when he stopped in front of Phyllis’s room. Ever so carefully, he turned the handle and pushed open the door. Relief washed over him when he heard her snoring loudly. He strained his eyes to see through the darkness and finally determined that there was only one lump under the covers. She appeared to be alone. He went over to the window and parted the drapes slightly, allowing a sliver of moonlight to shine into the room. He didn’t want to open the drapes too wide in case someone happened to be watching from outside. Nor did he want to use the flashlight anymore than was absolutely necessary. He scoped the room, his eyes pausing on the bedside table. He spotted the empty bottle of Dom Perignon and a half-empty bottle of scotch. Just as he’d planned! The sight gave him the boost of courage he needed to continue. He walked over to the abstract art piece and removed it from the wall. Here’s where it would all come together or go up in smoke! If Phyllis had changed the alarm then all of his planning was for naught. He cupped the flashlight in his hand and flicked it on, trying to focus the light on the keypad rather than around the room. He swallowed hard and punched in the code. Holding his breath, he turned the handle. Exultation flooded him when the door opened! Not taking the time to examine the contents, he reached inside and scooped them into a bag. Then, he closed the safe and replaced the piece of art. With any luck, Phyllis wouldn’t realize for several days that anything had been taken. He was approaching the bedroom door when it all fell apart.
“Stop where you are!”
He froze, his heart in his throat. Where had the person come from?
“Turn around.”
He slowly turned as his mind frantically searched for a solution. He had a tranquilizer gun in his backpack, but how was he going to get to it? Was the person holding a gun? He could still hear Phyllis, snoring like a foghorn. When he was fully turned, the high-pitched voice spoke again.
“What’s your name? Who are you? Come closer.”
Hesitantly, he stepped toward the voice. If he could somehow get the backpack off his shoulders without the person realizing … Then he stopped and did a double-take. A hysterical laugh bubbled up in his throat when he realized what was happening. There, in the corner, tucked in the darkness so that he’d not seen it before was a birdcage. And inside sat a large green parrot, peering back at him. He suspected that he’d awoken it when he shined the flashlight at the safe.
“What’s your name?” the bird demanded.
Garrett began slowly stepping back from the cage.
The bird grew agitated as it flapped its wings. “What’s your name?” it shrieked. “WHAT’S YOUR NAME?”
Phyllis stopped snoring and shifted in the bed.
Panic seized Garrett. The stupid bird was going to wake her up!
He began stepping back further from the cage in an attempt to leave the room, but the bird grew louder. “Come back here! Come back here! What’s your name?”
The bird would continue to squawk and carry on until it awoke Phyllis. Hurriedly, he shoved the bag of jewels into his backpack and zipped it up.
“Who are you?” the parrot said. “WHO ARE YOU?”
Phyllis was snoring again, but he didn’t know how long it would last.
He picked up the cage and carried it to the window. The movement shocked the parrot into silence. Not knowing what else to do, he opened the window. Then he opened the door to the cage and held it to the open window. When the parrot stayed put, he reached in and grabbed it. It let out a blood-curdling shriek as Garrett threw it out the window. He watched as it flapped its wings frantically a few times before finally catching the wind and flying away.
He held his breath for a second, hoping against hope that Phyllis’s snoring would continue. He about jumped out of his skin when she snorted. He waited, everything hanging in the balance, until she finally settled into a regular pattern of snoring. He quietly closed the window, pulled the drapes together, and put the cage back in the corner.
Then, he hurried to the door, not looking back.
* * *
“Thank you so much. I look forward to meeting with you,” Chloe said as she ended the call. She immediately added the appointment into her calendar on her phone. Finally, clients were calling and asking for her specifically. This referral had come from Stephanie Brooks, an existing client of Marsh Interiors. Chloe had helped her pick out fabric for a new sofa and loveseat. Evidently, she’d been so pleased with the result that she recommended Chloe to a friend who wanted help redoing her entire house. A smile s
pread across her face. She couldn’t wait to tell Hank.
Thinking of Hank and their date to the canyon over the weekend caused a spark of warmth to spread over her. When she’d arrived at the office this morning, she was unsure how to act around him. Even though they were beginning a relationship, he was still her boss. She feared that everything would feel forced and awkward, but it was just the opposite. He immediately put her at ease and was as warm and open as he’d been in the canyon. They’d even gone to lunch together. Thankfully, Garrett was still out of town, so she didn’t have to deal with him.
She pulled a tube of lipstick from her purse and applied a fresh coat. Then, she powdered her face and fluffed her hair. As she stood and adjusted her clothes, butterflies began fluttering in her stomach. She chided herself for getting so worked up because she was going to Hank’s office, but the jitters continued, despite her best effort to stop them. She was falling for him—hook, line, and sinker. Hank had consumed her thoughts all weekend, which was a good thing, because it had crowded out all thoughts of Dan. She’d not felt even the slightest hint of his presence, and she’d slept soundly. There was life after Dan, and it felt good! Maybe it was still too early to call it, but if things kept going as they were, she would finally be free of him! It had been a long time since she felt this lighthearted.
As she rounded the corner to Hank’s office, the heated conversation stopped her in her tracks. She heard Hank’s voice first. “Well, detective, I’m disappointed. The news of the theft broke yesterday, and it took you eight hours to get over here to question me. I expected you to come this morning rather than at the end of the day.”
A voice she’d never heard before answered. “Is this some joke to you? This job has your MO all over it. No sign of a forced entry, either in the home or the safe. Either the thief somehow knew the code to the safe or he was exceptionally good at cracking it. I suspect it was the latter.”
When Darkness Falls Page 17
