Seeking Shelter

by Angel Smits

  When he put the key in her hand, she shivered. “Jace?” She reached out and touched his jaw. “I opened myself up to you last night. I won’t judge you, whatever it is.”

  He laughed, but there wasn’t a drop of humor in it. “I’m not worried about you judging me.” He lifted his gaze. “That’s the key to Mac’s safe deposit box in L.A. It’s full of money. I have no idea how much. It’s yours now. All of it.”

  What? She lifted the key and stared at it. “I don’t understand.”

  “That’s what I’ve been using to buy the stuff for the kitchen. Mac left it to me. I...I have a letter he wrote me, back at Hank’s.” Jace’s voice shook, and once again his sadness hurt her.

  She should be the one grieving for her father, but she barely remembered the man. If she grieved, it was for the fact that she’d never really had him in her life, and that the pain of her loss had healed years ago. “I don’t understand,” she repeated.

  “I’m not sure I do, either.”

  Her heart dropped when Jace didn’t reach for her. But instead of waiting, she moved away. She kept walking, until she reached the edge of the canyon and couldn’t go any farther.

  Yesterday she’d nearly died of fear standing here. Now? She felt nothing. Just confused, and numb, and more confused. She leaned against the metal rail. Looking down, she decided the cliff before her wasn’t as sheer as she’d thought. Today her fear was muted, overshadowed by the dozens of questions racing through her mind.

  “Amy?” Jace’s was right behind her, but his voice didn’t hold its usual certainty. Was he actually scared for her this time? She might have thought it served him right, except she wouldn’t wish that fear on anyone, especially not someone she cared about.

  She’d never felt this way about anyone else. She looked over the canyon rim again and wasn’t sure which scared her more—falling, or turning back to find everything different between them.

  Jace didn’t touch her, but he stood so close that he might as well have. She kept looking down. “How much money?” God, she hated asking that question. It made her sound so...greedy.

  He laughed. “I haven’t a clue. There’s several packets of fifties and hundreds. I’d say plenty.”

  The death grip she had on the rail was the only thing keeping her on her feet. The metal dug into her ribs and she let her head fall forward so her chin rested on her chest. “Then why was he homeless?” This answer was going to hurt, she just knew it.

  “I don’t know that, either.” Jace inched his hand along the railing and slowly laid it over hers. “He kept talking about how he had to take care of you.” Jace’s voice shook and Amy looked up at him. He was staring out across the canyon, the wind ruffling his hair, lifting it away from his face. Yesterday he’d smiled, savoring this view. Today, he frowned.

  She’d taken that joy from him.

  As if reading her thoughts, Jace suddenly turned to look at her. “He loved you, Amy. He wanted to be your father.”

  That did her in. The father she’d always wanted, but didn’t remember. “I wish...” She stopped and, before she could stop herself, leaned against Jace, resting her head on his shoulder.

  “Wish what?” he prompted.

  “Wish I could talk to him. I’ve never wanted to before, but this is so... It doesn’t fit with what Mom told me about him. I’m so confused.” Amy knew she was crying, but didn’t want to admit it by wiping the tears away. “Will you tell me more about him?”

  Jace laughed and slid an arm around her. “I think she finally gets it,” he whispered.

  She laughed, too, and looked up at him. The tenderness in his eyes made her breath catch. “You think he’d approve. Of...of you and me?”

  “I don’t know.” A shadow passed over Jace’s face and she wasn’t sure it if was guilt or grief.

  “I hope he’d be pleased. I wish I could have known him.”

  “Me, too.”

  A clap of thunder broke the quiet of the canyon. Jace looked up at the sky. “We’d better get going.”

  She nodded and followed him back to the bike. This was going to be one of the longest rides of her life. Snuggled up next to the man she’d made love to last night, her mind filled with a jumble of thoughts and desires....

  As Jace revved the engine, she slid her hands around his waist and leaned against him. In three hours she’d be back to reality. Right now, this was all she needed.

  * * *

  THEY WEREN’T ABLE TO outrun the storm. Not for lack of trying. Jace’s bike was like an extension of him, and he wove in and out of the thick traffic with ease. It helped that on this trip Amy was more in tune with his body.... He refused to follow that train of thought.

  By the time they reached Phoenix, it was a downpour. While Jace was used to driving in these conditions, Amy wasn’t. And, he reminded himself, the desert was no place to be in a rainstorm. The hard-baked earth was stubborn, deflecting the much-needed moisture instead of soaking it in and quenching its thirst. His few encounters with runoff in the arroyos told him it was too dangerous, especially on a bike.

  He pulled off the highway and headed for the parking lot of the Denny’s they’d stopped at yesterday. Had it really been just yesterday? He felt like an entirely different person.

  A loud horn blared right behind them, and Amy startled. Her reaction threw off Jace’s balance and the bike swerved, not responding to his commands. He felt the tires slide out from beneath them. This could hurt. He knew how to dump a bike without injuring himself—Lord knew he’d had to do it plenty of times.

  But with Amy on the back, it wasn’t quite so easy. He hoped to God all they did was slide.

  Every muscle in his arms and shoulders screamed as he fought the bike, and finally, barely won. He felt the tires grab, and the instant he regained control, he pulled to a halt.

  Parking the bike, he watched the dumb-ass in the semi roar by, and didn’t have the breath to waste cursing at him.

  Jace watched Amy whip off the helmet as the rain poured over her, plastering her hair to her head. Her clothes were already soaked through.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  Surely he hadn’t heard her right. “That’s my line.”

  “Did you see that jerk?” She pointed in the direction of the disappearing truck. “He pulled across three lanes of traffic. We should call the police and report him.”

  Jace grabbed her arm before she reached into the saddlebag to do just that. He almost laughed. “He’ll be in the next state before they ever catch up to him. But thanks for the thought.”

  “Still—”

  Jace leaned down and kissed her, as much to say thanks as to shut her up.

  “No one, except occasionally Mac, has ever been indignant on my behalf before. Thank you.”

  She stood there smiling at him, her eyes wide, her lips parted, inviting. Jace knew he was a fool. Despite the downpour, there was no way he could pass this up. Just a little taste. Then they’d go inside and have a nice warm...

  All thoughts ceased as Amy’s arms wrapped around him, pulling his head down to hers. Her fingers burrowed through his damp hair, holding him tight. As if he were going to resist? Silly woman.

  * * *

  IT WAS LATE, really late, when they hit the outskirts of Rattlesnake Bend. Oddly enough, the lights were still on in the B and B as they drove past, and Lynne had left the porch lights on at her house. Jace parked at the curb and realized he shouldn’t be surprised by all the lights. By now, the whole town knew they’d been gone overnight.

  He didn’t care what these people thought...not much. But Amy did. Still, as she climbed off the bike, and the cool night air filled the void where she’d leaned against his back for the past two hundred miles, he couldn’t regret a moment. She looked tired, but from a long, sweet night, not from endless hou
rs of working and worrying.

  The evening was quiet once the Harley’s engine shut down. He waited as she headed to the front door. Lynne answered, and in the porch light, he saw her crane her neck to look at him. The two women hugged and went inside. He waited, knowing Amy would need help getting Katie home. It was too late for the girl to be awake.

  Just as he’d expected, she came out with Katie in her arms, the little blond head nestled against her shoulder. Amy walked carefully, but her daughter was heavy. He met them halfway.

  “I’ll take her,” he offered, and he saw Amy hesitate. He tried not to read too much into it. She trusted him. Last night had proved that.

  “Are you sure?” she whispered.

  He nodded and they shuffled Katie from her arms to his. The girl didn’t even wake up. Her eyes remained closed and she snuggled against his shoulder. Jace knew this was a moment he wouldn’t soon forget. He tried to clear his throat, but the lump wouldn’t go away. There wasn’t any getting these two out of his heart, he knew that, but danged if he’d admit it. Instead, he walked to Amy’s back door across the alley before he gave himself away.

  * * *

  “SHE’S STILL ASLEEP.” Amy came out of Katie’s room, pulling the door most of the way closed. Jace stood in the middle of her half-finished kitchen, looking around. He seemed restless, which surprised her.

  She was exhausted. She hadn’t slept much last night and the ride home today had been long and tiring.

  Jace stood with his back to her, his hands in his pockets. She knew somehow that if the toolbox was still down here, he’d be working. But he’d packed up most of the tools before they’d headed to Phoenix. There wasn’t much left to do. The fridge and stove would be here in another couple of days. And then what?

  She knew better than to ask questions she didn’t want to hear the answer to. She knew he’d be leaving soon. There wasn’t anything keeping him here. Not her. Not Katie. Not a job to fix up a crappy kitchen. Not even his promises to Mac. He’d given her the safe deposit key. He’d told her as much as he knew about her father.

  They were done, weren’t they?

  Resisting the urge to slip her arms around him, she stood beside him instead. “It looks great,” she whispered.

  He turned his head and pinned her with his stare. The sadness in his eyes surprised her. What had he been thinking? “Thanks. I hope it works for you.”

  She wanted to ask him to stay. But Lynne knew they were back. Hank had surely heard the roar of the bike. Amy’s eyes burned. She didn’t want to go back to how it had been. But what else could they do?

  Jace headed toward the stairs. The word was out before she could catch it. “Wait.”

  His hand on the rail, he paused. But he didn’t turn around. “Be careful, Amy,” he said softly.

  “I think it’s too late for that.” She walked over to him, leaning against the opposite wall, not touching him, but aching to do so. The idea of him leaving tonight was incomprehensible, but she knew he wasn’t staying.

  He smiled. He released the rail and turned toward her. They were only inches apart. She had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze.

  “You know I have to go.”

  “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  This time he laughed, the sound warming her. “Yeah. I’m surprised Hank isn’t already here with his shotgun.”

  A thought occurred to her. “What...what do you really think my father would think of us together, Jace?” She saw the shadows in his eyes. She reached up, touching his rough jaw. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”

  He shook his head. “No, I don’t want to leave Mac out of this. He would have loved you and Katie. I think maybe he gave me the money and the key hoping I might somehow find you.” Jace leaned closer. “I want to believe he’d approve.” And then his lips were on hers, and there were no more words, no more questions. Just a sense of rightness. She wanted him to be right.

  “Mama?” Katie’s voice shattered the mood. Amy tried to jerk away from Jace, but he wouldn’t let her go.

  “She’s going to have to get used to us,” he whispered, then stepped back and jogged up the stairs without another word.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “MAMA?” KATIE STOOD in the new doorway, rubbing her sleepy eyes. “Where’d Mr. Jace go?”

  Amy worked to gather her kiss-scattered thoughts. “Oh, uh, to the B and B.”

  “Is he coming back?”

  “Not tonight. No.” She turned around, and after flicking off the new light switch, put a hand on Katie’s shoulder to guide her back to bed.

  “Why not?” Her daughter sounded upset.

  Amy stopped and knelt down in front of her. “What’s up, sweetie?”

  “Nothing.” Katie pouted.

  God, Amy hated that answer. “It’s not nothing. Tell me.”

  “Jace said I was getting my wish,” she whined.

  Amy’s heart sank. She really, really hoped this wasn’t about the conversation she’d had with Katie before the trip, but she was afraid it was. “What wish?” The phone conversation he’d had with Lynne came clearly to mind. No. Amy stifled a groan.

  “My wish that you’d get me a daddy.” Katie looked up expectantly.

  She took a breath before she spoke, thankful she’d asked him about that comment. “Jace meant you were getting your wish to stay at Lisa’s house, which apparently I don’t let you do enough.” She hoped that would distract Katie, but knew that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Oh.” The crestfallen look on her daughter’s face twisted Amy’s heart. Katie turned and, dragging her feet, she headed back to bed. “Grown-ups suck,” she whispered.

  “What was that?” Amy didn’t want to fight with her tonight, but couldn’t let her go to bed upset, either.

  Katie turned around and crossed her arms stubbornly over her chest. She didn’t say anything, but the glare she sent Amy was surprising. The disappointment was deep.

  And the worst part? Amy understood. Painfully. At one time, she’d wanted her dad as badly as Katie wanted a father right now.

  Glancing at the stairs, Amy heard Jace’s words echo. Did they really dare get used to him being around?

  Or was he still the leaving kind?

  Footsteps overhead broke into her thoughts. What the heck?

  “Mr. Jace!” Before Amy could stop her, Katie ran for the stairs. Her tiny feet slapped on the bare wood. “He came back.”

  “Katie.” Amy ran after her, heart pounding. The back door was closed, but there was a light on in the front of the store, by the coffee bar. She didn’t remember turning it on.

  Amy caught up with Katie halfway down the aisle and grabbed her arm. “Stop. I don’t think it’s Jace,” she whispered. “Go back downstairs. Now.”

  “Mama?” Katie’s eyes grew wide and she stared at Amy. “Oh...” She headed to the stairs as she was told. “I’ll call Mr. Jace,” she whispered, then ran down to the apartment.

  Amy let her go, palming her cell phone in case she had to dial 9-1-1. Squaring her shoulders, she headed slowly down the aisle to see who was in her store.

  * * *

  JACE GOT AWAY from Amy as quickly as he could. If he didn’t, he would have carried her into the bedroom, and probably shocked the hell out of Katie.

  And given this town more to gossip about. Despite the heat in his blood, he couldn’t do that to Amy.

  But staying there wasn’t an option if he intended to stick to that decision. So he started walking. He’d left his bike over at Lynne’s house. He didn’t want to fire up the engine and wake the whole town all over again. It would be safe there until tomorrow.

  Besides, walking might help burn off some of this ache. At least he hoped it would.

  He crossed the street and headed t
hrough the park. Up ahead, every light in the B and B was still on. Something wasn’t right.

  Jace cautiously approached, walking up the slight hill. Lights flooded the yard and the front door stood wide open. He looked in the windows, but he didn’t see anyone. No guests. No Hank. What the hell?

  “Hank? Hello,” Jace called as he stepped into the kitchen. No answer. There was no one in the hall, the front room or the dining room, either. Jace took a deep breath before hurrying up the stairs.

  Once there, Jace found more lights and empty rooms. Even Hank’s bedroom door stood ajar. Jace walked in, a little curious and a lot confused. Across the room, a window was open, the breeze fluttering the curtains. There was no screen in the frame.

  Cursing, Jace hurried over to it. He breathed a sigh of relief when he looked down at the ground and saw nothing but lawn furniture and the hammock.

  Where was Hank? Jace turned to leave, then stopped. Looking out the window, he could see the park and most of Main Street. Amy’s store was straight across the square. The lights in the front were on. What was she doing in the shop? Was she as keyed up as he was?

  Suddenly, two silhouettes moved in front of the shade. Amy and...what the hell was Hank doing over there this time of night? If he was berating her for their trip—

  Hank’s shadow lifted his cane, then stumbled and fell.

  Jace had never run so fast. He slid down the stairs, pounded through the kitchen and sprinted across the park. He knew the front door of the store was locked, so he didn’t even bother to try it. He headed straight to the back door, but it was locked, too.

  He pounded on the wood. “Amy!” Damned flimsy locks and old doors. He’d never been more thankful. He was poised to slam his booted foot next to the latch when he heard the lock turn. It wasn’t Amy, but Katie who peered around the door.

  “Mr. Jace! I knew you’d come back.”

  “Where’s your mom?”

  Katie pointed toward the store and Jace stepped inside. “Go on back downstairs.” He nudged Katie toward the stairs.

  “But—”

  “Don’t argue.” He regretted the harshness in his voice the minute he saw her pout, but he couldn’t put her at risk. “Go on,” he said more softly.