by Karen Cote'
She swallowed and moved to return to the kitchen when twin beams of light scanned the upper wall of the room. A car?
She eagerly crawled to the front entry and saw the unmistakable silhouette of roof-mounted lights. Without thinking, she rushed outside and ran full force in front of the vehicle, dangerously forcing it to a skidding stop to avoid hitting her.
“Damn it, what is it with you and death-wishes?” Jet shouted, jumping out of the blazer.
Ignoring the hostile tone, Lily grabbed at the front of his shirt, her short quick breaths bordering on hysteria.
“There’s someone out there!” she cried throwing a furtive glance behind her.
“What?” Jet grabbed her arms. “Out where?” he asked, his grip tightening.
“The back deck!” She yelled as if he should’ve already known.
“Get in the truck and lock the door!” he ordered.
He didn’t wait for her to obey as he took off racing around the back of the house.
Lily was only too happy to acquiesce and climbed in, locking the door. She took deep gulping breaths.
Who was that man? Not Anthony or anyone else she knew. Remembering the ugly face, she shivered. Why was this happening to her?
As time continued to elapse, concern for Jet started to arise. Where is he? Is he okay? She fought down the panic. Of course he is, she told herself, willing him to appear. He was probably reading the criminal his rights at this very moment.
At still no sign of him, worry played havoc with her imagination.
What if he doesn’t come back? Or what if someone else appears instead? The keys were in the ignition so she could always take off, if necessary. But she couldn’t leave Jet behind.
Maybe I should use the radio to call for backup? On the verge of doing just that, relief weakened her limbs when Jet came around the corner of the house. However, instead of hauling somebody by the scruff of his neck, he was alone. She pushed open the door.
“Where is he?” She looked behind him to see if he might be following, which was ridiculous in the circumstances.
“He’s gone,” Jet responded. “There’s no one there.”
“That’s not possible. He was there! I saw him!” she said, looking anxiously into his face.
When she saw his grim look, she froze. She began nodding her head up and down, giving a harsh shaky laugh.
“Oh, I get it. You don’t believe me.” Then she drew in an angry sob. “Well you can just kiss my ass!” Then to her ignominy, burst into tears.
“Calm down,” Jet said reaching for her.
She fought him off, but his tight hold restrained her and he gave her a gentle shake.
“Lily, I believe you. He was there. I found wet tracks on the patio. He’s gone now, but he left a trail.” When she still struggled, he shook her a little harder. “Did you hear what I said?”
As his words began to sink in she stopped struggling, looking up between wet lashes.
“You saw him?” she asked, but he shook his head.
“I saw his tracks, but there was no sign of him. He must’ve run off. Was it Capriccio?”
She sniffed. “No, but now do you believe I saw someone from my basement the other day?”
“Yes,” he said to her surprise. He released her to grab his keys from the truck. “Let’s go inside and maybe you can provide a description.”
He took her arm and guided her toward the house. Lily stepped into the house, but stopped abruptly. Nearly careening into her, Jet cursed, steadying them both.
“There are too many windows in this house,” she said. “He could be watching us.”
Jet frowned. “I doubt he’s still hanging around, but since I’ve already checked the back, let’s go into the kitchen.”
When she still hesitated, Jet asked in a mocking voice, “Where would you suggest we do this? Your bedroom?” She drew back, but he grabbed her arm again and pulled her forward. “Come on, I told you it’s clear.”
Jet pushed her toward the kitchen and turned on the light. Not waiting for an invitation, he settled on the end of the small chaise lounge and removed a notebook and pen from his pocket.
It was then Lily saw her phone against the far wall.
“How did you know to come here?” she asked, walking over and bending down to retrieve the blasted thing.
“Your call to 911,” he said absently, glancing at his watch and making notes on the paper.
Lily made a face and pulled her robe tighter around her. She glanced down, conscious that the robe was all she was wearing. Then she did a mental shrug. The cotton was relatively thick and reached almost to her ankles. She sat down at the other end of the small couch, tucking one leg beneath her, keeping a cautious eye on the French doors.
Was he still out there somewhere? Was he watching them? She shivered.
“Let’s start from the beginning,” Jet said, drawing her attention back to him. “Did you recognize him?”
“No,” she said.”
“Do you think there’s a connection to Capriccio?”
She pursed her lips, pondered the idea and then shook her head.
“This was too Peeping Tomish for Anthony’s style. More pervy than violent.”
Jet nodded as if in agreement. “Tell me exactly what you heard and saw.”
She drew in a deep breath and filled him in on the details up to his pulling into her driveway. He was writing as she spoke, his dark head bent down again. The light above cast a shadow of thick spikey lashes over his cheeks. A five o’clock beard darkened his jaw and Lily could swear his tan was deeper than the last time she’d seen him.
“What about a description?” he asked.
She thought for a moment. “His hair was a dark blond color.”
Jet dotted down that information.
“Height?” he asked.
“I guess a little taller than I am?” It was more of a question and Jet looked up at that.
“Do you think it could’ve been a kid? Teenager perhaps?”
Her response was negative; her voice steady with conviction. “He was much older. He might’ve been stooped over.”
“What about his face?”
“It was ugly.”
Lily caught the twitch of Jet’s mouth. “What?”
“Ugly isn’t a very helpful description.”
“I didn’t get a clear view,” Lily replied defensively.
“Did he look like one of those guys at the convenience store your first night here?”
She scowled at the memory. “Not even close.”
“Okay. How was he dressed?”
“Kind of strange. He had a long-sleeved checked shirt buttoned all the way to the collar.”
Jet frowned. “It’s gotta be eighty five degrees outside.”
“He was also wearing long khaki pants,” she added.
“What about shoes?” he asked.
“I didn’t notice his feet.”
“Can you think of anything else?”
“No,” she ran a hand through her tangled damp hair. “It all happened so fast.”
He nodded, wrote down a few more things before putting his pen and notebook back in his pocket.
He reclined against the back of the chaise lounge. “Off the top of my head, I can’t think of who you’ve described as being one our locals. I’ll do some checking around tomorrow. Maybe ask some questions about the guests staying in the cabins.”
The realization that he couldn’t do anything tonight sent out a wave of panic.
“Do you think he’ll come back?” she asked anxiously.
Jet rubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know. It’s possible.” He smiled at her reaction. “I can sleep outside in the blazer.”
She frowned before answering in a flat tone. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Why not? Believe me, it won’t be the first time.”
Lily hesitated, knowing she was stepping into dangerous territory.
“The living room sofa is
comfortable.”
The silence was thick and laced with meaning before he finally said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He paused before adding, “Dr. Delaney.”
Her gaze narrowed impatiently and she brushed aside the tension with a wave of annoyance.
“Crikey, call me Lilly, would ya? And if you’re going to protect my person, offering you a sofa is the least I can do.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Yes, ma’am.”
Lily averted her attention. Damn the man is sexy.
“Can I get you a beer?” she asked as a distraction.
“Officially I’m on duty until midnight.” She waited and he openly smiled. “A beer would be great.”
Self-conscious, she rose to retrieve the bottle. And although the robe concealed more than the short skirt she’d worn the first time she’d met him, the room was filled with an unexpected intimacy not experienced before.
As she removed two bottles from the refrigerator, she couldn’t help skipping down memory lane at the last time he’d been in her kitchen.
She took the beer to him and resumed her seat a few feet away, making a face.
“You must be getting tired of my constant drama.”
He lowered the beer bottle and sucked the drops of moisture from his upper lip.
“It’s all part of the job.”
She air toasted his response with the bottle and took a drink. She lowered the bottle and glanced down at the label, pushing at the edge with her thumbnail.
“Well Sheriff Walker, you’ll be happy to know your job just got easier. I was going to wait a day or two to head back to the city, but in light of this most recent development I might as well leave tomorrow.”
When seconds ticked by without a response, she glanced up. His bronze mask revealed nothing.
“Is that wise?” he eventually asked.
She shrugged. “My brother did a lot of good things for the city. His memory doesn’t deserve to be tainted like it is.” Her lips parted in a half smile. “Besides, I went to work at my brother’s facility straight out of college. As a psychologist, I need a recommendation to find another job and since Jerry’s business is the only place I’ve ever worked, I can only benefit from clearing his reputation and the work we achieved there.”
His eyes flickered. “You’re going up against the District Attorney on your own? What about your own safety? Or do you not consider him a threat any longer?”
“He trashed my apartment,” she said wryly. “I think that’s indicative of his mind set.”
Anger replaced his previous catatonic expression. “Do you have proof?” She shook her head and he let out an exclamation. “All the more reason not to confront him on your own.”
“I’m not,” she said and at his questioning look decided to elaborate.
Lily wasn’t crazy about opening up her personal life, but Jet deserved some explanation.
“Since you told me you lived in Kansas City for a while, I’m sure you’ll recognize the name, Bailer?”
His brows rose. “Not within my social circles, but I’ve heard of Patrick and Barbara Bailer.”
“Well, several years ago before I took back my maiden name, that’s what I used to call myself.”
As expected, he looked stunned. “You were married to their son, Fred?”
“Yep,” Lily popped the word. “So, although not exactly friends, they are in high places.”
Jet studied her. “That explains the Lexus and how you can afford to take time off from work.”
“I got some money,” Lily conceded. Compensation in lieu of motherhood.
Jet’s ever hawk-like gaze didn’t miss a thing, but even he couldn’t know the extent of her bitterness.
“Why didn’t I hear about Fred’s marriage?” Jet asked. “It should’ve been in the papers.”
“I was the skeleton in the closet.” Lily couldn’t believe how detached she’d become talking about her past with Fred. “And if you thought you didn’t run in the same circles, my perimeter couldn’t be more square. When things didn’t work out, Fred’s mother couldn’t wait for our divorce so she could pretend I never existed.”
He mulled over the information she’d imparted. “In that case, do you think they’d want to help you with Capriccio?”
Lily noted he hadn’t asked if they could help. Everyone knew the mere mention of the Bailer name could open bank vaults.
“His parents won’t be eager, but Fred will help me.”
A blue spark appeared behind his eyes to jolt Lily out of her stoicism. That wasn’t jealousy. Was it? She hid her confusion behind a sip of beer.
“I always thought Fred was gay.”
Lily sputtered liquid over the front of her robe. Between coughing and laughter, she said, “That is so not true.”
A smile was playing around Jet’s own mouth and then he shook his head. “Why else would he let someone like you go?”
Chapter Six
Her mouth mimicking that of a guppy’s, Lily dipped her head to hide the sudden wave of tears. It’d been an inane remark tossed out on a whim, but it was no less impactful. She hadn’t realized until then just how alone she’d felt or how hungry she’d become for human decency.
Embarrassed and in an attempt to camouflage her emotions, Lily rose from the chaise lounge. With forced nonchalance, she stepped the few feet into the kitchen.
Keeping her face averted, she cleared her throat and made light of the situation.
“You’re only saying that because I told you I was leaving tomorrow.” She pretended to study the small selection of alcohol. “Let’s celebrate my departure with something stronger than beer.”
She hadn’t been aware he’d joined her until strong hands turned her around. He put a hand under her chin and studied her face.
“I would’ve thought you were used to hearing things like that,” he said. “Then again I’m finding there’s nothing typical about you.”
A fresh surge of tears bubbled up.Jet groaned and lowered his head.
* * * *
She tasted like milk and honey. Jet lingered over the soft-pillowed fullness, savoring their texture. Everything sacred to his self-preservation told him to stop and get out of there. He couldn’t. As much as he’d promised himself, he didn’t have the strength.
He increased the pressure and was rewarded by her sweet response. Soft hands slid up his chest and erased what little space was between them. Her fingers journeyed around his neck to twist into the hair above the back of his collar. He pulled her in closer and her own soft moan escaped into his mouth. His head swam and needing some stability for his weakened knees, he backed her in the direction of the chaise lounge.
Who knew what would’ve happened next if his cell phone hadn’t beeped. Still, it took a few more beeps for him to drag his lips away and he drew in deep ragged breaths before answering.
“Sheriff Walker,” he said turning away.
* * * *
In mystified incredulity, Lily raked her shaking hands through her hair. One second she’d been feeling sorry for herself, in the next she’d been luxuriating in his embrace.
Kissing him was no longer a mystery and it paralleled the one and only time she’d Bungee Jumped. This time, however, there hadn’t been a safety rope to catch her. And darn if she didn’t want to repeat it.
“Thanks, Nathan,” Jet was speaking into the phone. “And good job. I’ll follow up with you tomorrow.”
He wrapped up his conversation and Lily’s heartbeat quickened when he turned to face her.
“That was the guy who took your 911 call,” he said quietly.
“Oh.” Awkward seconds beat off the clock and Lily struggled to fill the void. “How many people do you have working for you?”
“We’re a small community so there’s only Nathan, Mark and Denie, my dispatcher. You met her at the office your second day here.”
Another pause followed before he filled in the silence.
“Nathan want
ed to verify he’d sent me to the right place. You didn’t identify yourself when you called in earlier.”
Lily swallowed. “I got spooked and dropped the phone,” she explained.
Jet nodded, which meant he’d seen her pick up the phone earlier. Did the man miss anything?
“Luckily, Nathan recognized your phone number from when you called in before.”
“The basement,” she said flatly and made a face. “I’m sure you’ll all be relieved when I leave tomorrow.” A sharp pain tugged at her and she turned away. “How about that drink?”
He looked as if he was going to say something else and then heaved a heavy sigh.
“Scotch would be great, if you have it. Neat,” he replied and walked toward to the small couch.
Lily poured his drink and then one for herself. She took them over to where he was sitting.
He reached out to take his and glanced up at her with that laser-like intensity.
“Leaving tomorrow is probably best for all of us,” he muttered
“Thanks,” she responded wryly.
“Come on, Lily.” Humor lit the back of his eyes. “You know as well as I do, with the right provocation, this thing between us will escalate if you stay here.”
It sounded like an accusation and in defense, she moved a few feet down to resume her own seat.
“Are you inferring I’d be the one to provoke it?” She asked not without some heat. “You were the one who kissed me.”
“Guilty,” he confessed and wisely switched the subject. “Getting back to your plans for Capriccio, how effective do you think it will be?”
“Anthony hates losing. He won’t go down without a fight.”
“And you think Bailer can protect you?” Jet asked.
Lily moved her shoulders. “I’ll have to take that chance.”
His mouth tightened. “What if he can’t? What then?”
“I don’t get to play with what ifs.”
“What if you moved to a different city?” he pointed out in contradiction. “St. Louis is a great place to start over.”
She huffed out a laugh. “And let a guilty man get away with murder? No way. Besides, I refuse to hide for the rest of my life.”
