Flames from Ashes

by Caitlyn Willows

  Sandy rolled her eyes. “For crying out loud.”

  “What do you expect?” Mike replied. “You’re shoving us aside. You’ve been with this man for two months, and never said a word. Never brought him to a single function. And you’ve never had sex with him, and now he’s suddenly the father of your child?”

  She whirled around on the men. “How the hell do you know that?”

  “You told Erica, and she told me.”

  “What the hell is with you couples, telling each other every freaking thing?” she shouted.

  “It’s called communication, Sandy,” he calmly replied. “Something you might want to think about trying, since you never even bothered to tell your boyfriend you’d been raped. Hell, we didn’t find out until a couple of nights ago.”

  She clutched the tote strap in a grip that threatened to tear the canvas. “I’ve explained that a thousand million times. Excuse me for trying to protect you from yourselves. I’m sick and tired of trying to justify my actions to everyone.” She spun on her heel and started to march away.

  “Hold up. Both of you, calm down.” Tim hooked her elbow, drawing her to a stop.

  “I’m sorry.” Mike sighed. “It’s been a rough couple of days for everyone. We’re frustrated because you’re shutting us out. Why didn’t we know about Clint until now?”

  “Because I wasn’t ready for him to meet the family, and that’s what all of you are to me. Because I was trying to reconcile my own feelings, trying to get beyond the rape, and not sure I could. You knowing Clint would have made it worse. Did you really want to get attached to someone when I wasn’t sure it was going to work out?”

  “It’s never going to work out if you don’t communicate with the guy,” Mike said. “I speak from experience. If I had been aboveboard with Erica a year ago, we never would have gone through this hell. And trust me, the last year has been hell.”

  Her heart had ached for them. Both of them so in love you could see it, yet unable to do anything about it. “Call off the dogs. No background investigation. Please be patient. I need time. We need time.”

  “All right,” Mike said. “We’ll be as patient as we can, but you know that only goes so far. Plus, you still have a job to do.”

  “I’ll be doing it.” It was the only thing she had left besides Clint. She depended on both to keep her grounded.

  “We need to be on the same page with the baby,” Mike said. “What story should we be telling?”

  “Clint’s the father. End of story. His idea, not mine. He loves me.”

  “That was pretty clear at the station this morning. Question is… Do you love him back, or is he a convenient way to cover up a horrid situation?”

  “That was a nasty thing to say.” Sandy glared up at Mike, locking her gaze with his. “I do love him.” She had since the first time he showed up after she’d tried to shove him away.

  “Then strap yourself in. It’s a bumpy ride.”

  Her laugh held no humor. “I’d ask how it could get any worse, but I don’t want the universe to take that as a challenge.”

  “I hear you on that one. I should be finished here soon.” Mike held up his clipboard. “I’ll let you know when the scene’s clear.”

  What was the point, when there was nothing left? Sandy muttered thanks anyway, and he returned to his investigation. She hoisted the tote over her shoulder and followed Tim to the truck.

  All of a sudden it felt like she could barely put one foot in front of the other. She blessed her mother’s forward thinking with dinner. It’d be ready with nothing to do but the cleanup. Mom could be exhausting at times, but Sandy had to admit she loved being pampered. Still, she was glad they’d gone home. Hearing she’d been shot at might have been more than her family could take. Despite her promises, Sandy wouldn’t be telling them, and since the incident didn’t appear to be related to her, there wasn’t much chance they’d hear it on the news.

  She sank into the passenger seat. “When does being so tired stop?”

  Tim started the truck. “I’m told after the last one heads off to college. If you think you’re tired now, wait until the baby’s born. You’ll be like zombies for the first couple of months.”

  “Good to know.”

  She closed her eyes and leaned into the headrest. The next thing she heard was light tapping on the window beside her. She peeled her eyes open to Clint’s smile and the truck still running. He opened the door and leaned in, filling the opening with his body.

  “Am I going to have to carry you again?”

  Sandy stretched her arms as high as she could. “I think you just might. How long have I been out?”

  “About twenty minutes.” Tim chuckled. “I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

  “I appreciate everything. I honestly do.” She unlatched her seat belt and reached for the tote bag at her feet. “Please make sure the others—”

  “We’ll give you some time, but Mike’s right. We need you on the job, back on the team, physically present. And not only for work. You said it best. We’re family, and a member of our family is missing. We need her back. It’s a morale issue for all of us.”

  “I know.” What more could she say?

  Sandy understood their stance. If their situations were reversed, she’d feel the same way. When someone you cared about was hurting, instinct screamed at you to make it better. Like her Mom and Dad rushing to Valley View from San Diego, and her brothers on speed dial, waiting to drop everything to be there for her. Family, biological and chosen, was like that. But while Sandy treasured and appreciated it, their care and comfort sometimes made her feel more like a victim. Despite loving the way her mother pampered her, Sandy didn’t want to be perpetually treated with kid gloves. She wanted to be treated like a normal person. There wasn’t anything normal about what had been happening to her of late.

  Mike and Tim both preached communication. How in the world could she find the words to tell them she needed them yet didn’t? How could she explain she wanted to pour her heart out, yet didn’t want to talk about it? She’d have to try at some point. But before she found the words for them, she had to find them for Clint. He’d stood by her for two months, unfailingly. Not once had he pitched a fit over the lack of sex in their relationship. He was her friend, her companion, the one person she couldn’t wait to see again whenever they were apart. The one she’d lied to day in and day out. The man who’d remained by her side when the truth had come out, and offered solutions, not more obstacles. The man who loved her and proved it in everything he did. If she’d had her eyes open and hadn’t been locked up in her own worries, she would have seen that long before now.

  “Having said that…” Tim nailed her with that no-nonsense stare of his. The one she’d prayed would never be leveled her way. “We’re all upset over this business with Keith and his sister. The two need to be locked up, and someone needs to throw away the key. Evidence suggests they’ve killed to collect insurance benefits of not only their parents, but of whomever either of them was married to at the time. We’ll feel better knowing you’re out of their line of sight for the moment. His sister is in the wind. God only knows what her plan is. Keith is in the hospital and expected to be there several days. But while the sheriff’s department has suggestive evidence against them, it isn’t conclusive. You need to push the rape charge and push it hard. You have the evidence to support that.”

  “No,” she and Clint said together.

  “I won’t risk the welfare of this child. If I continue to pursue it, he will demand a paternity test.”

  “Don’t you think he’s going to do that anyway?” Tim asked.

  She jerked forward. “Don’t you think we know that?”

  Clint’s fingers on her shoulder calmed her.

  Tim’s gaze traveled to him. “If the two of you need anything, don’t hesitate to call. We’re a tight bunch.”

  “We will.” Clint took her bag and extended his hand to help her from the truck. “Thanks for
everything. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone soon.”

  “The feeling’s mutual.” Tim waved.

  Sandy crawled out of the truck. Clint shut the door, then draped his arm around her shoulders and led her to the house. They heard Tim drive off. “Are your parents gone or running errands?”

  “They went home. Mom made us dinner.”

  “I know. It smells delicious.” He pushed open the front door and dragged her inside. “So do you.”

  After sitting outside for hours? Sandy started to laugh, but the look in his eyes stopped her. Clint shut the door, cupped her face between his hands, and kissed her breathless.

  “I was scared to death.” He tossed her tote bag to the big chair beside him. “Cursed myself a thousand times over for having the phone off.”

  “You couldn’t have—”

  Another kiss cut her off. Clint thumbed open her jeans button. “Shoes off. I want inside you. Now.”

  His mouth covered hers. Sandy toed her sneakers off. Not an easy task when he hoisted her off her feet and swung her toward the couch. One arm was clamped around her waist while he frantically pulled jeans and panties down her hips. Her back kissed the couch cushions. Clint released her long enough to yank the clothing away.

  “I swear to God, I’ll make this up to you later.” He sliced his zipper down, fished out his erection, and knelt between her thighs. One stab seated him deep. He unleashed a sound that was half cry, half groan.

  Sandy clutched his face and made him look at her. Moisture glistened in his eyes from threatening tears. He tried to jerk away. She held him fast, refusing to let him hide. But she also wouldn’t call him on it or make him talk out his feelings. This was his way of dealing with the fear and of reassuring himself that she was all right. She wouldn’t take that away from him.

  “Do it, baby,” she said. “Long and slow, or fast and quick. Doesn’t matter. It’s all good with you.”

  Clint groaned, pulled free, and hoisted them to their feet. “Turn around. On your knees.”

  Alarm bells clanged in her head. Fear must have shown in her eyes. Clint brushed his thumb over her chin.

  “It’s me, sweetheart. I’m the one who loves you. I’ll never hurt you. Say no, and it’s no. Even if I feel like I might die if I can’t be inside you, feeling you come with me.”

  Sandy kissed his palm. Taking him by the hand, she walked him around to the back of the couch. Then she leaned forward, ass out, legs spread. Clint skimmed his hand over her hip, nestled between her thighs, and slid inside nice, slow, and deep.

  He leaned over her back, dragging his fingers over her belly and right to the source of all pleasure. His breath tickled her ear. Five o’clock shadow rasped along her shoulder. “You feel so damn good.”

  “Show me how much. Don’t hold back. And later”—she wriggled her hips—“I get to have my way with you.”

  “Damn, woman,” he growled and rocked into her with a frenzied motion that underscored his desperation.

  Sandy dug her nails into the couch cushions, pushing into his thrusts, writhing under the relentless touch of his fingers over her clit. Climax happened too fast, leaving her satisfied yet unfulfilled. She wanted to cling to him and never let go. To curl into his arms and tell the world to take a hike.

  He rained kisses down her spine and eased away as he helped her upright. “Man, what did your mom cook? My mouth is watering.” His stomach growled.

  She tried not to snicker or roll her eyes as she retrieved her jeans and panties from the floor. “Smells like her famous chicken, vegetables, and rice. I think I smell brownies too. If we’re lucky, she may have left us soda biscuits as well.”

  He righted his clothing. “Let’s eat. I’m starved.” He landed a swat against her backside and headed for the kitchen.

  Sex and food. All was right in a man’s world. With clothes in hand, Sandy headed for the bathroom for a quick cleanup.

  “Hey, there are soda biscuits,” he called out.

  Now her stomach growled. “Drag out the butter,” she shouted back and hurried up to join him. She arrived in time to see Clint pull two plates from the cabinet and set them on the breakfast bar.

  “I was disappointed and surprised to see your parents had left. Was that your doing?”

  Sandy grabbed some silverware and placed it next to the plates. “I asked them to go home.”

  “You should have gone with them. It’s not safe for you here. I can’t protect you, and the only way to ensure you’re safe is for you to leave.” He faced her, hands on hips, as if daring her to defy him. It pissed her off.

  Sandy mirrored his stance. “It was cute at first, but I think I’ve had enough of the caveman act.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” His eyebrows scrunched together.

  “You know what it means. Needing to fuck my brains out when I walk in the door. Jumping into your clothes and heading for food afterward. Now your male pride’s taken another hit because you couldn’t be the hero.”

  “Excuse me?” His voice rose a few decibels.

  That was fine. She could yell too, and she would. Sandy jerked her hand his way. “I didn’t tell you about the rape to protect you from your subsequent actions. I pulled your ass out of a burning building. Now this—you being upset because you weren’t there and weren’t allowed there. You couldn’t be the hero…again!”

  Long seconds ticked by. Seconds in which Clint’s jaw got tighter and tighter. “You were shot at today, and my mother’s in the hospital.”

  Sandy splayed her hands against her chest. “That had nothing to do with me.”

  “Exactly.” He narrowed his eyes. “It was directed at me, or rather, my family. Someone doesn’t want that property sold, and they proved today they are willing to kill to prevent it. I don’t need to be a fucking hero. I just need you safe.”

  Chapter Nine

  They stood there facing off when she should have been in his arms. Clint watched her eyes widen while she processed the information. It was quite the role reversal from the night before. Then she’d been frantic to save him from the threats in her life. Now it was him frantic to protect her. He didn’t know if she’d listen to him any more than he had wanted to listen to her last night. Somehow he had to find a way. Anything he could come up with sounded cruel and would only drive a wedge between them. But no crueler than the words she’d hurled at him. The hell of it was…she was a little bit right. He was frustrated that every time she’d been in danger, he hadn’t been able to help her.

  A part of him wanted to beat his chest and say I’m the man. Another part was beyond relieved that he’d found a woman who could take care of herself. With Sandy by his side, he wouldn’t have to worry. She was strong and steady. His equal in more ways than he could count. He envisioned years of bliss in their future—if someone didn’t kill her first.

  He’d let his fear take over twice in one day. First when he’d found out she’d left the hospital. Second when he’d learned about the shooting. Each time he’d led with his cock, wanting to fuck her like crazy, because he couldn’t stand the thought of being without her, because he was so damn relieved she was still with him, because his dick could say all the things for him words couldn’t. I love you. I need you. I can’t live without you. I want to lay the world at your feet. I want a life with you forever and ever.

  “Who would be after you?” Sandy asked.

  Her question jolted him from daydreams. Clint debated how much to divulge. But hadn’t they hidden enough from each other already? There were still things he’d yet to share with her. Things that seemed insignificant because they were so far in his past he didn’t want to revisit them. “Martin Hall has threatened me twice. Once when I wanted to declare Marjorie legally dead, and today over the SunSpots deal.”

  She scowled. “Threatened you how?”

  “He threatened to kill me before he’d let me declare Marjorie dead. He threatened to ruin my business today.” No matter how far-fetched Danny though
t it was, Clint took both threats seriously, especially now. “I told Dwight.”

  Sandy looked away, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “Knowing the mayor, I don’t doubt the second threat. He would ruin someone’s business to get his way. The first one was in the heat of anger. This is his daughter, surely you can under—”

  “Someone set your house on fire and destroyed your garden.”

  Her gaze shot his way.

  “Yeah, I was there earlier. Someone was sending a message. Someone knew I was there. Someone was intent on killing us, not just you. Or rather…me.”

  She tucked her arms over her chest and thrust out her hip. “Don’t you think that’s a little paranoid?”

  He shrugged. “And thinking your rapist’s sister would do all that to kill a baby in order to collect insurance isn’t?”

  “Okay, you’ve got me there.” Sandy conceded the point with a tilt of her head.

  Clint stepped closer. “Someone shot at the three of you today.”

  She looked away. That’s when he realized…

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Sandy closed her eyes, released a long breath, then opened them. “Your mother left her keys behind. We looked inside the house. Someone had broken the lock on the back door and has been using the place as a flophouse.”

  “Fuck!” He whipped around, digging his fingers through his hair as he paced. Please don’t let this be about Tommy. He wanted to believe his little brother had stayed clean and sober. Tommy worked hard, never missed a day, and had his back. Or so it seemed. But the minute Dwight knew about this incident, suspicion would land right at Tommy’s doorstep. If it didn’t, Chuck and Annie would waste little time blaming Tommy.

  “So, this isn’t about me or you,” Sandy said. “We’re safe.”

  He snapped his head in her direction. “How can you say that after all that’s happened?”

  She lifted clawlike fingers to the heavens. “Because I’m starving, and I can’t think straight.”

  “I’m sorry.” The fight went out of him. He had her in his arms a second later. “You’re right. Let’s eat. The family’s going to be here soon, and I really don’t want to deal with them on an empty stomach.” He didn’t want to deal with them at all.