Shadows and Ash: Pulp Friction 2014 Finale

by Harner, Laura

  “What did happen? Are you saying I'm a suspect?”

  Dark glasses slid down the man’s nose and Cannon met the officer’s piercing dark gaze. “Everyone is a suspect. We're patrolling the area more vigilantly, and taking a close look at anyone associated with the campground. You live up at Mountain Shadows long?”

  “Yes, almost a year.” He bit off the words, glancing anxiously up the road. Mountain Shadows was the only thing down this exit as far as he knew, so… “Can I go yet?”

  “You don't sound like you’re from around these parts.”

  “Atlanta. I moved here recently. Is that a crime now?”

  “No. But, Dr. Malloy, it seems this vandalism began pretty much when you got here, and that could make you a person of interest in this investigation.”

  “Car’s clean.” The second officer ambled up to them, giving Cannon a derisive grimace and sharing a significant moment of communion with his partner.

  “So I can go?” Cannon gave the road another anxious glance. Finn’s message burned in his gut, and Cannon knew something had gone horribly wrong at Mountain Shadows in his absence.

  “Don’t leave the area. The detectives may need to ask you some questions.” The officer handed him the speeding ticket.

  “Presumably we can do that out of the weather,” Cannon mumbled, snatching the ticket and hitting the remote starter on his car.

  “You need to let us pull out ahead of you,” the other officer barked.

  “Sure thing, officer,” Cannon growled, marching off to his car. “Person of interest, my ass,” he grumbled, getting in and fastening his seat belt. His hand twitched. He wanted to grab the phone and call someone, Finn, Mick…Rowe… Everyone else was out of town, but he needed to hear someone’s voice to reassure him. Still, he’d get there faster if he just…

  Finally, the police car pulled away from the shoulder and did an illegal u-ey, heading back toward Flag. Cannon sighed in relief, put his car in gear and drove as fast as he dared to the campground.

  The lodge was lit up like a Christmas tree when he got there, and instead of heading on to Finn’s cabin, Cannon steered into the parking lot. He parked and hurried inside.

  Finn stood by the blazing fire, head bowed. Rob paced furiously nearby. The two spoke in muted, intense voices.

  “Finn?” Cannon called out, throwing his winter wear on the hooks and kicking off his boots on Jilly’s rubber floor mat.

  Finn looked up, and their eyes met. “Cannon.” He excused himself from Rob and crossed the room with long strides, embracing Cannon tightly.

  The tension that had tightened his belly for the past hour loosened, and he took a deep shaking breath, what felt like the first real breath of pure oxygen he’d inhaled since getting Finn’s strange message. For a long moment he just soaked up the warmth and steady strength of Finn’s presence. Finally, he pushed back and looked into Finn’s solemn blue eyes. “What’s happened?”

  Finn drew a deep breath and glanced over Cannon’s shoulder at Rob. “Scott’s been arrested.”

  “Not exactly. They took him in for observation, with the possibility of charging him with obstruction of justice. But what they really want to do,” Rob practically growled, ruddy face turning fierce, “is railroad him on these vandalism and insurance fraud charges.”

  “Can they do that?” Cannon turned to face Rob, without leaving Finn’s comforting embrace.

  “They have seventy-two hours to hold him on the observation, but then they can still decide to charge him, according to the lawyer I spoke to.”

  “Jesus. Can we help?”

  “I’m counting on it.” Rob nodded, eyes glittering in the firelight. “Way I see it, we’ve got seventy-two hours to figure out who’s behind all this shit, since the cops and the insurance investigator aren’t even going to look.”

  “We’ll all help any way we can,” Finn put in. “You know that, right? This is our home; you guys are our family.”

  “I know. You two go on home and get some sleep. Come back in the morning, and I’ll have a plan of action ready.”

  “Should I call Siggy back? How much help do you think we’ll need?”

  A thoughtful frown crossed Rob’s face. “No. I think I’d rather he stayed there, keep Maddie, Jilly, and Damon out of harm’s way. We don’t need the kids around for this.”

  “Right, okay, Rob.” Finn released Cannon and strode to his landlord, placing a hand on the man’s shoulder. “We’re off home, but if you need us, call.”

  “Tomorrow will be soon enough.”

  Rob stared down into the fire, and Cannon hesitated, torn by the urge to stay, to say something, offer comfort. He bit his lip and veered off to the coat hooks to tug on his boots. The similarities to last year’s incident, when Chance and his friends had all banded together to find the man they called brother, were not lost on him. He opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him.

  Finn took his hand. “In the morning, Cannon. Let’s go home and let Rob have some peace.”

  With a last glance at the lonely man by the fire, Cannon nodded and let Finn pull him out the door. He was seated in Finn’s cozy SUV with the heated seat warming his backside before he realized that he’d left his possessions behind. He reached for the door handle with a groan of annoyance.

  “What?” Finn touched his thigh gently.

  “I left my jacket…”

  Finn’s brows waggled comically. “I’ll keep you warm, baby. You can get your stuff in the morning.”

  The promise in his boyfriend’s eyes…the heat of his touch seeping through the fabric of Cannon’s pants and his thermal underwear…it all melded with the ever present, pleasant ache of need he felt in Finn’s presence, creating a heat that warmed him from the inside out. His gaze caught on Finn’s sexy, full lower lip and his mouth parted.

  The kiss eased the tension of the week in the ER, the lingering fear for Scott, and the annoyance of the ticket…which he hadn’t even mentioned to Finn yet. His world was narrowed to that firm mouth, the questing tongue, the slick, smooth surfaces and sheer reviving comfort of the emotion that sustained the lust that rapidly consumed him.

  “Let’s get home and we can finish that.”

  Cannon sagged in his seat, pulse throbbing, head spinning. “Yes,” he murmured, watching Finn’s hands on the wheel of the car. It was less than a five-minute drive to the cabin they now shared…Finn’s old cabin, home.

  If you took all the rooms and laid them out next to each other, the little cabin would have fit easily into the garage of his Atlanta house. You could have stacked three of them into the elegant mansion he’d shared with his wife. Even his apartment in Phoenix where he stayed during the week was bigger than the A-frame.

  Yet, he’d never felt more at home than sitting at Finn’s breakfast bar, watching the man prepare food with his careful, graceful movements. No place had suited him as perfectly as the big bedroom under the skylight, and nothing had ever filled him with the sense of peace and belonging that seeing his clothes hanging beside Finn’s in the oak wardrobe did.

  The only thing that disturbed his newfound tranquility and satisfaction was that the door to the…playroom stayed shut. He’d thought about testing it…seeing if Finn had locked it, but mostly he thought about when he’d be invited into it.

  ****

  Jillian placed her overnight bag by the condo’s front door, her gaze sweeping over the great room looking for any items she might have forgotten to pack in her hurry. The black and beige-themed room was elegant in a sleek, squared-edged fashion that screamed IKEA, but the style didn’t appeal to her. This close to Christmas, and with the Park Valley ski areas already running at full operations, this two-bedroom unit would normally rent for close to two-thousand a night. The four-day stay had been a bonus from one of Siggy’s clients in appreciation for the nights and weekends he’d put in after his regular work, in order to repair a fire-damaged kitchen before the woman’s grandchildren arrived from Australia. It would be
a shame to cut this time short, but in the long run, they’d all be better off.

  Agreeing to come on this trip had been a whim—one Scott had encouraged her to take as a well-deserved break from her work at Mountain Shadows. The deciding factor had been Siggy’s no-strings promise. True to his word, the man had been taking it slow ever since she’d agreed to their first date a couple of months ago. She should have told Siggy everything then—but the sweet man insisted she bring Maddie everywhere they went. Now she’d waited too long—and they’d started to become a little family. Maddie and Siggy would both be hurt when she broke things off.

  Jillian retraced her steps and stopped at the door to the second bedroom. Despite the temptation to grab Maddie and run home, Rob had been adamant—Damon and Maddie needed to be protected from whatever was happening at Mountain Shadows. His own children were in Phoenix with Scott’s mom, and he’d all but ordered her to keep away for the children’s sake. She could accept his reasoning—for the most part—but Scott was in trouble. That was where she needed to be.

  The noise coming from the boy’s room could have rivaled any bear, revealing yet another side of the Nordic god. Everything about Siggy was a surprise, from his gentle good-natured way with all the kids of the campground, to his old-fashioned courting, the man defied all of her experience and expectations. A sharp pain in the vicinity of her chest nearly had her turning back. Heartbreak or guilt? It didn’t matter. She would do what she had to. Her actions would make it easier for Siggy to hate her—as he should.

  Tapping quietly on the door, Jillian smiled when the snoring broke off with a snort and a deep rumble. She knocked again, then stepped back and waited. She tugged at the hem of her sweatshirt and chewed on her lip, mentally rehearsing the words she needed to say.

  The door opened on a whisper of wood against carpet, revealing a tousle-haired bare-chested Siggy. Despite his naturally fair complexion, his skin still held the fading gold of a summer tan. The broad shoulders so often stretching the seams of his work tees were on display and Jillian curled her fingers into fists to keep from petting him. For half a second her gaze dropped to the waistband of his sleep pants—big mistake. Her mouth went dry.

  “Jillian…” Siggy’s voice scraped along her every nerve. “Are you here to admit defeat, surrender, white flag your way into my bed? Oh shit—you’re dressed. What’s wrong?” Siggy stepped into the hallway, but as he closed the door, the snarl of an angry bear rumbled from the bedroom.

  “That snoring is Damon? I thought it was you…”

  Siggy dragged his fingers down her arm, and she shivered under his touch. “You thought I snored, so you’re stealing away in the middle of the night? That seems a bit extreme, even for you, Jilly.”

  Her face heated under his gaze. “No…sorry…uhm…”

  “Honey, what’s wrong? Is Maddie okay? Should I get dressed?”

  Guilt and gratefulness fought for top spot. Siggy was everything she’d ever dreamed of in a man. He didn’t deserve her damaged goods. She would tell him the truth as soon as Scott was safe.

  “I need a favor,” she whispered, not meeting his too-penetrating gaze. Desperate for someplace to look without staring at the tight brown nipples and tiny prickles of gooseflesh covering his chest, Jillian turned and led the way toward the front door.

  Siggy followed and she heard his quick intake of breath when he spotted her suitcase. “Jillian? What’s going on? Did I do something wrong?”

  The pain and confusion in his voice were like a punch in the gut. Spinning to face him, she grabbed his hand and squeezed tight. “Never… You’ve never been anything but a gentleman to me. This isn’t about…us. Something’s wrong at home and Scott and Rob need me for a couple of days. Can Maddie stay with you and Damon?”

  “Slow down. If something’s wrong at Mountain Shadows, then we all go.” Jillian looked up then and recognized the firm set of his jaw and narrowed gaze. She might have woken him from a dead sleep, but his mind was quick, and no hastily concocted tale of half-truths would convince him to stay here with the kids if she returned home.

  “No—I—shit. Okay, here’s the deal. Rob called. There was another fire. Don’t worry—no one was hurt, I promise. Someone torched the old group camping hogan that was back behind Park and Tanner’s place. It hasn’t been used since before Pauline and DJ owned the place, so I’m not sure who would’ve even known it was there. Anyway, I’m going to rent a car and head home because we’ve only got three days to sort this out and…” She paused for a deep breath and Siggy gripped her hand.

  “You sure no one was hurt?”

  Jillian nodded, knowing he would be frantic to hear about his brother. “Finn’s fine. He was keeping an eye on the lodge, but with no guests scheduled and half the regulars out of town, it was real quiet, you know?”

  Siggy nodded, but his fingers tightened around hers. “So how did the fire start? Did they catch anyone?”

  With a sigh that seemed to come from her toes, Jillian nodded. “Yeah…they caught Scott.”

  Siggy’s mouth dropped open and he blinked rapidly as he tried to make sense of what she was saying. “What the hell?”

  “Not caught-caught. It’s stupid, because they obviously don’t have the right guy. Scott would never do something like this. Apparently, he pulled into the campground just as the fire got under control. I don’t know everything, but Scott had one of his flashbacks—I mean who could blame him—and he shoved a cop out of his way. They tried to arrest him, but the EMTs on the scene intervened, and now he’s being held for a seventy-two hour psych eval, but then they’ll press charges as soon as he’s cleared, I guess.”

  “And Rob wants us to keep the kids away for the next three days…” Siggy ventured.

  “Yes…only I can’t. Scott’s like my brother, Siggy. He and Robby, both. Maddie and I could have ended up homeless if he hadn’t taken me in. It’s not just the job, there’s so much…they saved my life.” Her hand drifted to her face where she’d been hit the night Scott and Rob freed her and Maddie from their living hell. “Please, Siggy. It’s something I have to do, and I need to know Maddie is safe while I’m away.”

  Siggy shifted slightly, aligning them so they faced each other directly. With a feather-like touch, he traced his fingers from her wrists to her shoulders, setting loose a swarm of butterflies in her stomach. She shivered again, then met his crystal blue gaze. Threading his fingers into her hair, Siggy tilted her head back and leaned in to capture her mouth. For a moment, Jillian forgot everything except the brush of his lips, the glide of his tongue against hers, the heat that built between them. They leaned into each other, his hard length pressed against her stomach, and her knees went a little weak.

  When he finally released her from the spell he’d been wrapping around them, he gave her hair a little tug. “I want you, Jillian. Things are going to change when we both get back home. Whatever the secret is you’re keeping needs to come out.”

  “Oh—”

  “Shh… No more denials, no more keeping me at arm’s length. I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you. Maddie and I are crazy about each other—I know you trust me or you’d never leave that little girl here. So no more secrets, honey. You go home and get things sorted out for Scott. I’ll bring the kids home Wednesday. Even if everything isn’t wrapped up tidy, Maddie still needs to be home for Christmas Eve so Santa Claus can find her, right? Make sure to tell Charlie, so he doesn’t worry about Damon.”

  Siggy held on to her face and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. “I love you, Jillian Dillon.”

  “I— Oh god…I can’t,” she choked out. She loved Siggy. Loved him. Maddie loved him. He loved them.

  He loves who he thinks you are, reminded her inner voice. She tried again. “I—”

  A broad smile spread across his chiseled features, and he held one thumb over her lips. “You don’t have to say a thing—I know you love me too, even if you can’t quite bring yourself to admit it. Christmas night, when every
thing is finished—when all the food and the presents are put away and Maddie is tucked into her bed—you’re going to tell me then. Both what’s troubling you and how much you love me. I’m pretty sure you’re going to be begging me to make love to you, so Santa better put some condoms in my stocking.”

  Jillian’s laughter broke out, surprising her and earning a grin from Siggy. “Take my truck, I can rent a car later. Drive safely, honey, and—”

  “Mommy?” Maddie’s sleepy voice called from their bedroom down the hall.

  “Go,” Siggy said. “I’ll take care of her. You do what you can to bring Scott home by Christmas.”

  Chapter Four

  After checking to see his hands were still steady, Rob walked to the industrial-sized coffee urn he’d started early this morning and refilled his coffee cup for the seventh or eighth time since he’d awakened. The empty lodge dining room was the perfect place for their meeting. Everyone could spread out, have a table if they wanted to take notes, and grab something to eat or drink. Going to a table at the back of the room, he pulled out the ladder-back chair and tossed his yellow legal pad down before sitting to review his notes one last time.

  Glancing up at the sound of an approaching vehicle, Rob was surprised to see Siggy’s truck bouncing along the drive. Damn Jilly anyway—he should’ve realized she’d take his morning call to stay away as an invitation to hurry home as quickly as possible. Somewhere down the hall he heard the front door open and close as the first of his guests arrived. With his attention divided between his notes and the upcoming meeting, it took him far longer than it should have to realize Jilly had been intercepted where she’d parked near the kitchen entrance.

  Pushing back from the table, Rob stood, his hand going to his hip—just as footsteps echoed in the hallway.

  “Morning, Robby. Got any coffee made or can I help with that?” Finn asked, stepping into the room followed by Cannon.

  “Yeah, it’s ready. Help yourselves. We’re going to meet in here—I’ll be right back.” Rob strode from the room, intent on grabbing Carl before he left the property again. Jillian might not want to reveal her story, but Carl would be another distraction they could throw at the police as someone with opportunity and possibly motive—even if the man was shy a few buns in his bread basket. Before he could make it to the door, Jilly bounded inside and nearly bowled him over with a hug.