She’d killed a few people. The memories of their lifeless stares tormented her some nights and were the reason she’d never have a family life like Martina. She and Martina were different. They’d taken different paths.
She couldn’t change her past.
Looking at Lia, a surprise band of yearning coiled through her and she backed away from the door, unsure what it meant.
A few minutes later, she slipped out into the night.
CHAPTER TEN
Jolene walked along her neighborhood beach with her flip-flops dangling from her left hand. The inky blackness of the sea encroached on the beach with a lapping sound. Above her, the half-moon hung low in the velvet blue sky and provided enough light to see the tracks she left behind. Why was the sight of a single set of footprints so dispiriting?
She sighed and moved forward, putting one foot in front of the other.
Her impulsiveness troubled her. Running out of the house, needing space and going for a walk indicated she wasn’t good mother material. Mothers didn’t leave their children.
She picked up a beach stone and tossed it into the waves.
She had dived into the ocean to save Lia but since bringing her safely ashore a silent battle waged inside her.
She wasn’t a mother, she reasoned; Lia wasn’t her child. None of the children she helped feed, bath and clothe that night were hers. She was only another person in their lives. A secondary character who might be missed a bit when she left, but not for a lifetime.
A gust rolled over the ocean and carried cool air ashore along with the scent of seaweed.
Jolene rubbed the chill from her arms before she unfolded the scarf which hung around her shoulders and draped it over her arms.
Once she had thought about becoming a mother. That seemed a lifetime ago, when in reality it had only been five years. She had loved Stefan enough to want to have his child. However, he’d been a mafia warrior. She’d seen how Gorgon Novokoff, the mafia lord, had trained his son from the age of four to be the heir to Novokoff’s empire. She couldn’t bring a child into the world knowing her and Stefan’s child would be raised a killer.
She doubted it, but maybe she could’ve convinced Stefan to escape with her. If they had, there was no doubt in her mind they would’ve spent their lives running and hiding from the Novokoffs. She hadn’t wanted that kind of life for any child they might have...or for them.
In November, she would turn thirty. Her time for having children was running out. She kicked at the white foam and then let her feet sink into the sandy earth. With her arms wrapped around her waist she stared up at the stars and then let a hand drift over her stomach.
Where were these thoughts coming from? She swore she’d never have kids. She was a loner.
A cough came from behind her. In one fluid motion she let the scarf fall from her shoulders and spun around, planting her right foot into the sand ready to do battle.
Norris had returned and stood about fifty feet away. His hair lifted in the breeze and he raised his hands as if surrendering to her.
Relief expelled from her lungs and she dropped her arms to her sides. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing?”
Jolene reached down, picked up the scarf and shook the sand from it. “I’m taking a walk. You’re lucky my scarf didn’t get wet.” She flipped the scarf over her head and onto her shoulders.
He strolled toward her, keeping above the lapping waves. “That would have been the least of your problems, if I had been someone else. The beach is a dangerous place at night, especially for a lone female lost in thought.”
She wiggled her toes into the cold sand and looked at him shyly. “Are you worried about me, Chief Stiles?”
He flashed her the cocky grin she loved. “I’m more concerned for the guy who might have followed you?”
She leaned to the side to look around him and glanced up the beach and then twisted and scanned the area behind her before she turned back to him. “He must be very good at hiding, because I don’t see him.” She chuckled, on some level pleased Norris was concerned about her.
“How did you find me?”
He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I saw you pulling out of the gas station on my way back into town.”
She cocked a brow. “And you followed me?”
“It looks that way.”
She stepped closer to him. “Why?”
Norris’ tongue moistened his lips before he folded his arms across his broad chest. “I-I wanted to see what you were up to?”
Jolene was thrilled she made him nervous. She chuckled inside at how he tried to cover it up with his caveman puffed-out chest and his you-don’t-frighten-me stare. “Did you think I was headed over to Carter’s room to do some super cool federal shit?”
“Nah. I think you’re tired of the super cool federal shit.”
“You do, huh?”
He nodded once.
Maybe he was right. No one enjoyed dealing with the scum of the earth day in and day out. Still, something inside her and others, Norris included, drove them to put on their shields and strap on the guns and dig out the evil son of bitches. Lately, however, she’d been feeling there had to be a better way to protect the world...
She pushed away her thoughts concerning her future and drew a deep breath. “So, do you want to escort me to the pier and back? Or do you need to go and fight crime?”
“I have time.”
They walked side by side, creating two trails of footprints in the sand.
Aware of Norris’ body’s heat, the hair on Jolene’s arm stood at attention waiting for the instant his arm would brush hers. Thinking about what she would do if he did touch her had her a little jumpy. She didn’t want to do anything hasty that would cause Norris or her any embarrassment so she put a little distance between them. However, a few feet later the distance had narrowed again. We’re two freakin’ magnets with nothing between us to stop us from connecting.
After several long minutes, his coarser hairs grazed hers and sparks of electricity charged up her arm, prompting her heart to skip and stutter. It happened again and her heart raced.
Each time, Norris mumbled half-heartily, “Sorry.”
There was no denying the attraction between them. If she were carefree and stupid and he wasn’t the authority figure in this town, she’d dance seductively before him. Then while he was mesmerized by her she would link her arms around his neck and lift herself up over his chest and bind her legs around his waist and kiss him in a way he’d never been kissed before.
She noted the number of people still hanging out on the pier in front of them. She wasn’t carefree even though she made herself seem so to others. Besides, she wouldn’t jeopardize Norris’ respectability.
Even so, Jolene felt herself grow wet thinking about Norris’ possible reaction to her dance and her kiss and where it might lead.
With her mind on sex, she hadn’t watched where she was stepping and pain cut through the pad of her right foot.
“Ouch!” She stumbled against Norris.
He grabbed her arm and steadied her. “Are you okay?” Under a furrowed brow, his eyes displayed concern.
“Sorry. I stepped on a shell.” She picked up the broken shell and threw it into the sea.
“Maybe you’d better put your sandals on.”
He held her steady while she swiped away the sand with her scarf and examined her foot under the moonlight. “No. I love the feel of the wet sand between my toes. I’ll be more careful and watch where I walk.”
He stood still, not letting go of her arm and stared down at her. “You should put some antiseptic on the cut. It could get infected.”
“I will.” Slowly, she withdrew her arm from his embrace. While she loved talking and teasing Norris, she had to draw the line and stay on her side because crossing it could be bad for both of them. She knew what shaky ground she stood on when it came to relationships. And she had a feeling Norri
s also had something in his past he needed to work through. “I’m okay.” She walked ahead and he quickly fell into step beside her.
Music drifted toward them from the pier and after they’d strolled a little further in silence listening to a classic summer time tune, Jolene said, “I take it you didn’t find anything at my dream beach house?”
“I met the owner, Mark Branka. We’d actually met before, at several town functions.” Norris guided her around a beached jellyfish. “The day I came here for an interview, the mayor gave me a tour of Cape James. He’d mentioned Branka was one of several millionaires who bought up property here years ago. He actually bought up four older homes seven years ago. He had rented them out for several years until he tore them all down and built his home. He’s been living there off and on for nearly three years.”
“You didn’t recognize his name when the realtor gave it to you?”
“Peggy never gave me the owner’s name. She said the owner wanted to remain anonymous.” He scowled and dipped his head to the side. “It seems Peggy might’ve given us the wrong address on the rental house. Branka thought maybe she read the house number wrong. It’s one-hundred ninety-two Crane Lane that’s for rent, not his one-hundred forty-two address.”
A rasping noise caused Jolene to look up and see Norris scratching his beard at his jawline.
“So, he doesn’t rent out his house?”
Norris shook his head. “No.”
“Damn.” She kicked out with her uninjured foot and sent sand flying into the air.
“I’m sure he’d sell it to you for the right price.”
“I’ll check my off-shore accounts in the morning and have the funds available.” She smiled, enjoying his company.
Norris nudged her elbow with his and returned her grin. “Or if you tell him you’re a U.S. Marshal, maybe he’ll let you stay there for a few days. But then again he probably wouldn’t since some bad guys might be looking for you.”
She laughed and let the scarf slip off her shoulders. “I’ve learned to cover my tracks pretty well.”
“I bet.” Norris looked down at her. They both worked in a dangerous world and there was no need to say more. They knew at any given moment their lives could change forever, or end. The thought of everything ending and not having experienced enough of what stood right in front of them made the draw between grow stronger. Their pace slowed and their bodies turned as if they had no control over them. His hands lingered over her arms for a moment before letting his fingers graze her arm.
Jolene longed to kiss him and it seemed he had the same desire because his head dipped, bent toward her lips.
Behind her an explosion occurred. She jumped, feeling the whoosh of warm air across her shoulders. Her ears rang and she swore she heard popping sounds.
Norris grabbed her by the arm and propelled her behind him. His hand tugged at his left ear which probably also buzzed from the bang.
Her right hand automatically reached to her back where she’d normally tucked her gun into her waistband when not wearing a holster, but her palm only felt the soft material of her scarf. Shaking the ringing from her ears, she wound her arm around the material and took an offensive stance behind Norris. If he went down, she’d be an open target. Who the hell was shooting at them?
Jolene looked right, then left while she listened for rounds biting into the sand or flesh. The pier’s vertical columns would be their best protection from gunfire but she calculated them to be at least twenty yards away. In sand, that would be at least four seconds. Four seconds was plenty of time for a crack shot to fire off a few rounds.
She heard muffled laughter and peeked over Norris’ shoulder where sparks drifted downward toward the sea. She scanned the area and exhaled the tension gripping her lungs. Some guy on the pier above them had thrown an M80 firecracker and it exploded midair above the water. Then his buddies followed up with smaller fireworks.
The damn fools had scared the crap out of her. It was a good thing she didn’t have her firearm with her. She’d be tempted to pop off a couple of rounds out to sea to scare the shit out of them.
Norris pressed the heel of his hand against his ear for two seconds before he stepped forward and yelled at the guy, identifying himself as the chief of police. The man showed signs of drunkenness and told Norris to “fuck off.”
The pole light on the pier lit up the area somewhat and Jolene saw Norris’ jaw tense. He took another step closer to the pier and threatened to arrest M80 guy if he and his friends didn’t leave the area immediately. There wasn’t any more Norris could do other than to shout at the guy because there were no stairs nearby leading up to the pier.
Norris slid his two-way radio from his belt and adjusted the volume up, causing a crackling sound. He pushed a button and an officer responded, “Go ahead, Chief.”
“Do I call it in?” Norris shouted.
“Chief, are you there?”
“Stand by,” Norris spoke into the phone.
Apparently hearing the reply from the home-based officer, M80 guy and his gang grumbled curse words and began to move out. When they reached the pier’s exit another smartass found his balls and yelled, “Hey man, the beach is closed. What the hell are you doing on it?”
“I’m special,” Norris answered him.
“And her?”
“She’s special too and she’s with me. Move along before I have one of my deputies escort you to our overnight accommodations. Make sure your designated driver is behind the wheel or call a taxi. I’ll have your asses if you drive drunk.”
“At least you didn’t say, I’m looking for assholes and found a few,” Jolene said so only he could hear her.
“I was tempted.” Norris kept his eyes trained on the group.
It would be stupid of the guy to toss another M80, this time directly over their heads. M80 guy didn’t appear to have a high IQ. But in the end, he surprised her.
Jolene stepped alongside Norris and watched the rowdy six disappear from sight.
When they no longer heard the group’s chatter, Norris requested one of his officers check out the vehicles leaving the pier’s parking area for a possible DUI before he looked at her. “Where were we? Oh, yeah. I’ll check with Peggy in the morning.”
Jolene tugged her scarf up over her shoulders. Norris seemed to have forgotten about the kiss which had almost happened. Or had she wished he’d kiss her and only imagined the moment before the blast. Either way they were back to business. “So now we wait, again.”
“Not much more we can do.” He checked the pier entrance.
She turned away from him, knowing the moment was gone. He was in professional mode.
Silently they strolled leisurely along the beach, letting the sound of the waves wash away the rush of adrenaline that had dumped into their systems.
“You defused the situation nicely.” She nodded over her shoulder toward the pier. “I know they’re here to have fun, but with quarter sticks? Drunken fools.”
“I agree. With West Virginia, South Carolina only hours away, it’s hard to keep fireworks out. We moderate them the best we can.”
It was an endless battle.
“Why am I telling you?” Norris said, looking down at her. “You’re from here, right? You know.”
“Born and raised, and I do know very well. My older cousins drove to South Carolina one year and bought some fireworks, quarter sticks included. Their nine-year-old sister found them and—”
“Don’t say it. She okay?”
“Now she is. One went off in her hand and she lost all her fingers but her thumb.”
“Oh man.” Norris shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
Jolene frowned. “She was lucky.”
“It’s hard to look at it that way but you’re right.” They walked in silence for a minute before Norris asked, “So does your family still live around here? I heard Martina mention your parents earlier.”
Jolene’s back stiffened. She simply nodded.
&nbs
p; He put a hand to his ear. “I’m sorry I didn’t hear you.”
She knew sooner or later her parents would pop up in a conversation. “Yes. They live a few miles south of town. Dad works as a mechanic at Swapfield’s Marina.”
“And your mom, what does she do?”
Jolene almost choked on the word mom. Her mother was never a mom to her or Martina. She pulled her scarf around her. “She’s a lawyer.”
“A mechanic and a lawyer. You don’t hear that combo very often.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I haven’t run into a Martinez at the courthouse yet.”
“She handles divorces mostly.”
“I get the feeling you don’t get along with your parents,” Norris said.
“I get along with my dad fine. But my mother, no.”
“I don’t have much of a relationship with my own mother either.”
She slanted her gaze up at him. “Are you telling me that to make me feel better about my relationship with my mother or do you really not get along with yours?”
“I don’t.” His eyes widened at her questioning brow. “Really. I get along with my dad. He’s a great guy, but he wasn’t good enough for mom.”
“Ah. Then they’re not together any longer.”
“No. They’re not. Mom moved on to greener pastures when I was five. And then when I was nine. And again, after I graduated high school.”
A little astounded, a small chortle rumbled in her throat. “Three husbands?”
His chest expanded with his intake of air. “She’s on number four now.”
“Wow.”
“I take it your parents are still together?”
“They are, but I don’t think either one of them is happy.”
“Why stay together then?” he asked.
“I guess they took their vows seriously.”
“Or they really do love each other.”
She hadn’t been around her parents for years and had no idea what their relationship was like now. Martina said their mother had changed. She wasn’t the controlling bitch she had been all their lives. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“What made you become a Marshal?”
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