Sleep No More

by Susan Crandall

  Abby cringed. “He sure looked like he’d kissed the concrete. I hope he has a quick recovery; the fundraiser is right around the corner.”

  “Well, with cracked ribs, he sure won’t be golfing. But he should be recovered enough to attend.”

  “What about preparations?” Abby asked. “He always does all of that stuff himself.”

  “Not this year.” Jason looked over at her. “This year he has a committee… me.”

  “Really?” She shouldn’t be surprised, not with the way Jason had jumped right in and helped her during her crisis. “I had no idea you were involved with COC.”

  “Just the golf outing, as a participant—at least until this year. It looked like Father Kevin could use an extra set of hands.”

  “You’ve noticed, too, then… that he seems ill?”

  Jason glanced at her. “Yeah, even though he insists he’s fine. Has Maggie said anything to you?”

  “No. Well, other than she thinks he’s planning on sending her to Tidewater Manor when he can no longer take care of her.”

  “Seriously?”

  “I think Maggie misunderstood a telephone conversation she’d been eavesdropping on. There’s no way—even if he is dealing with a serious illness—that he’d send Maggie to Tidewater.” She paused. “Didn’t they ask him medical questions in the Emergency room?”

  “Not while I was present.”

  “You’re a doctor,” Abby said. “What do you think?”

  “I’m a doctor, Abby, not a psychic. I can’t diagnose people by reading their auras.”

  She laughed. “Isn’t that sort of what psychiatry is all about?”

  The look he gave her could have withered a lesser woman. “Very funny.”

  He turned the corner at the Sunrise Bakery. The lights were on and workers were milling around behind the counter.

  “I think we should try to get a few hours’ sleep before we talk to Sergeant Kitterman,” he said.

  “Really, you’ve done enough. I don’t expect you to hold my hand every step of the way.” She didn’t relish the idea of going to talk to Kitterman alone, but how long did she think Jason could ignore his own responsibilities? “Don’t you have a practice to run?”

  “Monday is my day off. I just have a couple of patients to check up on. So I’d like to go with you, if you don’t mind. I’d like to hear what evidence they have; maybe we can piece together how all of these things are linked.”

  Abby tried not to think of someone out there stalking her, making threats. Were they willing to do more? Or was it at an end? If only she’d been able to remember more under hypnosis.

  “I’d appreciate you coming along. I’ll call you after I’ve talked to Kitterman and set up a time. You’ll have to come and pick me up though, since the Explorer is on four flats at the moment.”

  “Abby, you’re not sleeping at your house. It’s too dangerous.”

  “It’s almost daylight.”

  “Big deal. We don’t know what time the guy broke in; daylight doesn’t mean much when the house is as isolated as yours.”

  “Jason, I agreed to one night. And I proved I couldn’t make it through without sleepwalking. Let’s not tempt fate. I have the alarms at home. I’ll even pile furniture in front of the doors if it’ll make you feel better.”

  “Well, you don’t have the alarms. One of them is on Brenna’s door. By the time we mess around with re-installing it at your house, we’ll burn valuable time when we could have been sleeping. Besides,” he said, as if matching her argument for argument, “until we have our chat with Kitterman and have a better idea what’s going on, I’m not leaving you alone.”

  “I have work to do. You have work to do.”

  “One step at a time, and in this order: Sleep. Talk to Kitterman. Come up with a plan to keep you safe.” As if she’d consented, he made the turn toward his house.

  It would just be for a few hours. And she had the alarm on the bedroom door. “All right. But this is the last time.”

  He gave her that half-crooked grin and winked.

  She socked him in the arm. “Listen buster, don’t push your luck.” She didn’t admit that she did feel much safer staying with him. But she couldn’t trade his safety for hers.

  It wasn’t yet dawn, but it was no longer nighttime dark when they climbed the stairs at Jason’s house. They both stopped in the hallway where they would part ways, lingering as if they were daters on a front porch.

  “I’m afraid Bren’s room doesn’t have room-darkening shades,” he said.

  “No problem. I actually prefer sleeping in the light.”

  The way he looked at her was so laced with pity that she wished she hadn’t admitted it. It made her feel weak. She’d worked too hard to temper herself against weakness to succumb to it now.

  “Stop looking at me like that,” she snapped.

  “Like what?” His tone was just as prickly as hers had been. “Like I care about you?”

  “Like you feel sorry for me. I’m living my life the way I choose. Save your pity for someone who needs it.”

  “Pity? Man, I need to work on my relationship skills if that’s what you think I feel for you.” He stepped closer, so close to her that she felt his body heat, and yet he didn’t touch her. “You stir up all kinds of feelings in me, woman—and not a one of them resembles pity.”

  She had to tip her head back to look him in the eye. The emotion she saw there was intense, profound… and blazing hot. The heat in his gaze shot straight to her soul, igniting all of the longing he’d stirred last night. Only now they weren’t sitting in a car in a public place.

  Her breathing was so shallow that she began to get lightheaded. Or maybe it was just that all of her blood was rushing to places far from her head. And she wanted Jason to touch those places.

  Still he kept his hands to his sides.

  She reached for his hand and noticed a fluttering ripple pass through him. When she placed that hand under her sweater on the bare skin of her waist, he drew in a sharp breath.

  It felt as if she’d waited a lifetime to have him touch her like this.

  His fingers inched around her waist until they reached the small of her back. Then he pulled her to him, laying claim to her mouth with his own.

  Abby’s hands slid beneath his black sweater, touching his firm midsection and gliding upward until they rested on his chest.

  He responded with a demanding kiss, his tongue probing deeply, his teeth then nipping at her lower lip. He unfastened her bra and pressed her hips into his with his other hand.

  She teased his nipples and he groaned softly. She felt empowered as she led him along a sensual path that could lead to only one destination. She broke off the kiss and pulled his sweater over his head. Then she began kissing a trail from his neck to his navel. As she swirled her tongue around his belly button, her name left his lips on a hushed breath.

  She looked up at his face. “Who needs pity now?”

  “Good God, Abby. I surrender and beg for mercy.” He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her again.

  Her sweater joined his on the floor. And he began exploring her body as she’d done his. His mouth discovered every inch of sensitive skin and she closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensuous journey. By the time he reached her navel, she was shaking with need and he was on his knees in front of her.

  Suddenly she felt a cold place where his mouth had just been. She opened her eyes and looked down at him. His eyes were shining, his mouth curled in a seductive smile. “Say it,” he urged.

  She could barely hold together a thought. Her confusion must have been evident.

  He said, “Surrender to me.”

  She hesitated.

  He traced her navel with his fingertip that then dipped just below the button on her jeans.

  Could she? Could she surrender completely to him and then let him go?

  His lips teased her skin from her ribs to her waistband, while his hand slid between her legs and cupped her th
rough her jeans.

  Then he began to move his hand.

  “I surrender,” she said breathlessly. “I surrender and beg for mercy.”

  His smile was wicked as he slowly unzipped her jeans.

  CHAPTER 21

  At some point during the exquisite tour of sensual torture, Jason had carried Abby into his bedroom. They’d come together in an explosive climax that had nearly sent Abby’s world off its axis. Now they lay sated, limbs intertwined.

  Her head on his shoulder, she listened to the rhythm of his slow and steady breathing, loving the fact that the air she inhaled had just been inside his body. There was something about it that was every bit as intimate as their erotic lovemaking.

  He’d been asleep for a few minutes now, and Abby was struggling to stay awake. She just couldn’t leave him, not yet.

  When she caught herself dozing off, she forced herself to get up.

  Jason surprised her by grabbing her hand and pulling her back into the bed.

  She rolled to his side and kissed him. “We need to get some sleep.”

  “I wasn’t suggesting anything else,” he said with an innocence that mocked the past hour.

  She resisted the urge to kiss him again. “I can’t sleep here.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. “Yes you can. I’ll wake if you get up… I just proved it.”

  “Jason.”

  “Don’t talk. Sleep.”

  She sighed and relaxed against him. He was warm and molded perfectly against her. She would allow herself a few minutes more. Once he drifted off again, she would lock herself safely in the other room.

  It was already ten o’clock; time to face the day. Jason was anxious to talk to Kitterman, and yet reluctant to wake Abby, who was sleeping softly in his arms.

  For a long moment, he watched her sleep, the dark sweep of her lashes relaxed against the curve of her cheek. He’d never seen her unwound like this, never seen her so peaceful. He wished he could help her find this kind of calm in her waking hours, too.

  He’d have to step carefully, lest she misinterpret his actions as pity…. He smiled; that misinterpretation had led to some mighty fine clarification a few hours ago.

  For a woman so strong and so guarded, Abby had given herself passionately and unreservedly. And he valued it for the rare treasure it was.

  When she’d agreed to stay in his bed, he’d known what she was up to. So he’d out-waited her, allowing himself to fall asleep only after he was certain she was deep in slumber.

  Now he hated to wake her—and not just because she was exhausted. He loved the places where her utterly relaxed body touched his. He loved the feel of her sleep-warm hair as he stroked her head. He loved the innocent vulnerability of her relaxed mouth. And although it was far too soon to make such a statement, he felt he could fall in love with her. Deeply. Eternally.

  That he would keep to himself, however. He’d already taken her one step beyond her self-imposed boundaries. He wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her before he pushed her further.

  First they had to catch whoever was making these threats against her; he had to make her safe. He worried that once that happened, she would lock her heart away from him. She would once again become that belle that rang solo.

  One step at a time.

  He kissed her cheek lightly.

  She stirred slightly and snuggled closer to him.

  “Abby,” he whispered, his lips against the top of her head. “Abby, wake up.”

  Her movement was so swift and unexpected that she was out of the bed and on her feet before he could react. Her panicked eyes went from the bright window to the clock. With her hands in her hair, she said, “Oh God! I fell asleep.”

  She looked incredible, naked in the streaming morning sunshine, her dark hair spilling over her bare shoulders and brushing her breasts. He had to fist his hands to keep from grabbing her and dragging her back to bed.

  “Yes, you did. And everything is fine,” he assured her.

  She drew in a sharp breath and glared at him. “But it might not have been.”

  “I told you I’m a light sleeper. I can tell you what time it was every time you shifted positions if it’d make you feel better.”

  She was already snatching up stray articles of her clothing, following the trail from the bed out his bedroom door. “This was a mistake.”

  “Abby,” he called. “Wait.”

  The bathroom door slammed.

  Jason flopped back onto his pillow, the heels of his hands over his eyes. “Dammit.”

  After a moment, he got up himself. This was not the time to try and change her mind.

  Jason had taken a big step back after Abby had fled the bedroom. She appreciated the space he gave her, but it wouldn’t change her mind. She was too big a threat to him; and she obviously couldn’t count on her own willpower to prevent disaster.

  By tacit agreement, they both let the subject of their relationship lie and went about getting the day in order.

  While she called Kitterman to set up a meeting time, Jason went into his home office to make some calls concerning his patients. When he returned to the kitchen, she said, “We’re to meet Kitterman at the Sheriff’s office at twelve-thirty. I need to stop by home to shower and change.”

  Jason checked his watch. “Let’s go, then.”

  Once they were in the car, Abby focused on watching the town pass by. It was easier than trying to make small talk.

  Jason swung the car into the parking lot of the Sunshine Bakery, his gaze fixed on his rearview mirror.

  “What?” Abby asked, turning in her seat to look out the back window.

  He looked, too. “Nothing. I’m just edgy. I thought I saw that gray Impala a couple of cars back.”

  “He didn’t pass by.”

  “I know. Like I said, just erring on the side of caution.”

  “Maybe there’s reason to be cautious. That car kept circling the block when I was at the hardware store buying my door alarms. And then when I passed out in front of your house, I’m pretty sure I saw it go by.”

  “Under the circumstances, I’d say we need to be vigilant, not just cautious. Next time, we’ll try to get a license plate number to give to Kitterman. It needs to be checked out.”

  She nodded, wondering how many times that car had been around and she hadn’t noticed it. Her body gave an involuntary shudder.

  He reached for her hand and gave a reassuring squeeze. He lightened his tone. “As long as we’re here, I’ll run in and get some bagels and coffee to go. Preferences?”

  “Cranberry with butter.”

  He frowned and looked at her as if she was crazy, but didn’t say anything disparaging about her choice.

  While he was in the bakery Abby watched the traffic flow on the street behind her. What if the Impala had turned the corner a half-block back when the driver saw Jason pull into this lot?

  Her scalp tightened with apprehension.

  The Impala didn’t reappear in the traffic going either direction.

  Jason returned with a cup carrier and a bag. He handed both to her when he got in. She took out the cups and put them in the cup holders.

  “You want your bagel now?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I’ll eat it on the way to the Sheriff’s office.”

  She nodded and folded the top of the bag more tightly before she set it in the back seat.

  They fell back into silence as they sipped their coffee and drove out of town. Abby tried to organize her thoughts for their meeting with Kitterman. How accepting would he be about her sleep-driving? At least she had Jason with her to make it sound more credible.

  They were on the road out of town when Jason suddenly put on the brakes.

  “What’s wrong?” she said.

  Jason let off the brakes and drove on, glancing in his side-view mirror. “Bryce just drove past, going the other way.”

  Abby looked behind them and saw the back of Bryce’s
dark blue Honda Civic. “Isn’t he supposed to be in school?”

  Jason was pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. “Yes, he is.”

  He dialed and waited, long enough that Abby knew Bryce wasn’t answering.

  “Maybe it was just a car like his,” she suggested.

  He shook his head. “It was him.” Jason dialed another number. “Lucy, is there a reason why Bryce isn’t in school right now?”

  Abby couldn’t help the little spark of jealousy that flared when she realized Jason was speaking to his ex—it didn’t matter that it had to do with their son. Logic and emotion just didn’t mix. She wondered how Lucy would feel if she knew that Abby and Jason had just slept together.

  It doesn’t matter how I feel or how she feels, because it’s not going to happen again.

  Jason’s face hardened, the muscle in his jaw tightened as he listened. “Because I just passed him on the road… Yes, I’m sure… All right, let me know what you find out.” He disconnected the call.

  “I can call and move our meeting with Kitterman back,” she suggested. “If you need to stay here until you figure out what’s going on with Bryce.”

  “Bryce is seventeen, not ten. He doesn’t need to be chased down. He just needs to know he’s been caught.”

  “Okay then.” She looked out the window.

  “Sorry. I don’t mean to take it out on you. It’s just… there’s something going on with him and I can’t figure it out.”

  She gave him a reassuring smile. “Like you said—he’s seventeen.”

  Jason didn’t look like he thought it was normal teenage stuff, but he didn’t move to discuss it further with her.

  She supposed she shouldn’t feel badly, but it stung just a little that he didn’t want her to help talk through his problems the way he helped talk through hers.

  The tension in the car made the ride to her house seem longer than it was. Finally, Jason turned onto her lane.

  “Let’s hope you haven’t had a visitor again while you were gone.”

  She sat there looking at the front door of her beloved cottage and felt violated all over again. “Let’s hope.” She opened the car door and got out.