by Darcy Burke
He started moving again, pacing across the porch. Why wasn’t she responding to his texts? He’d sent more after finishing with the police. Even though she hadn’t reported Noah’s restraining order violation, which was required to press charges, they were still looking for him in town. And until Luke heard from Kelsey, his insides would continue to feel like they were drowning in acid.
If Noah had somehow found her… Luke would never forgive himself.
The sound of a car pulling onto the street made him pivot. He stepped off the porch onto the stairs. The car slowed and turned. It was Kelsey.
Relief rushed over him, and his body collapsed. He dropped down and sat on the edge of the porch.
She turned the car off and came toward him, moving faster as she got closer. She paused at the bottom of the steps. “Are you all right?”
“No.” His voice creaked with emotion. “Are you? Please tell me—” He snapped his mouth shut and looked away.
“I’m fine.”
He peeked at her, afraid to see…what? He didn’t know.
She moved forward and stood before him. “Why are you sitting there?”
He felt defensive. Raw. “Why didn’t you return my texts?”
“I had to think. I’m sorry.” She shook her head and brought her hand to her chest. “I’m so stupid.”
He stood, frustrated that she would demean herself. “Don’t say that. I’m the stupid one. I’m so sorry about what happened. I scared you, didn’t I?”
She nodded. “You…surprised me.”
Cam had been right. Luke regretted what he’d done. “I wasn’t thinking. I only wanted to protect you. I hope you know that. I would never—”
She rushed forward and kissed him, cutting off his words. It was fast and hard. “I know you wouldn’t. I just needed to think things through, to process everything. Seeing Noah was a shock.”
He curled his arm around her waist and held her close. He never wanted to let go. “I bet.”
She tipped her head down, resting her forehead against his shoulder. “He followed me, and I let him talk to me.” Her voice was low and dark, tainted with a horrid emotion. It was self-loathing, he realized. “He apologized and asked me to forgive him. I explained that I already had.” She lifted her gaze to his. “That was part of my therapy—learning to forgive myself, which included forgiving him. I didn’t want to carry that burden any longer. But I still am, just in a different form. I’ve been so afraid to open myself up, to let myself feel love.”
His throat tightened. “I understand. I’ve been afraid too, just for very different reasons. I’ve held myself back in the fear that I might hurt you.”
“I know. And I’ve kept you at arm’s length—emotionally—in the fear that I might get hurt. But I don’t want to do that anymore, Luke. I’m in love with you. I feel it, I know it, I want it.”
Joy lifted his soul. “I love you too. I didn’t recognize it at first—it sort of snuck up on me. There’s just something about you, about us, that’s…right.”
She nodded, her mouth curving into the brightest smile. “So right. I feel exactly the same. It’s like a song you hear for the first time. You like it, but with each listen you realize you can’t stop, that you’re in love with it.”
“Yes.” He kissed her, their lips sliding over each other for a brief, wondrous moment before he continued. “You’re the song in my heart, and I’ll be damned if I knew there was one in there.”
She laughed softly, then sobered, looking into his eyes. “I hope you don’t get tired of it.”
“I can’t predict the future, but I don’t think I will. Just the thought of that fills me with agony.” He framed her face in his hands and kissed her again. “You’re cold.”
She pressed herself against his chest, hugging him tight. “So are you. We should go inside.”
He swept her into his arms, eliciting a gasp from her followed by a giggle. Then he carried her into the house, where he set her down so he could lock the door.
She tossed her purse on the couch, and he picked her up again, this time bearing her toward the bedroom. She rolled her eyes at him. “I can walk.”
“Doesn’t mean you should.” He kissed her as he lowered her to the floor next to the bed.
He didn’t want to end this moment, but he wanted to know—had to know—where Noah was now. “I have to ask, where’s Noah?”
She blinked up at him. “I don’t know. I drove away and left him in the state park. That’s where he followed me.”
“Did you read my texts about him violating the restraining order and Brooke calling the police?”
“I did.” She sank down on the bed, her shoulders drooping. “It’s all so overwhelming. I just want him to go away. Back to Washington.”
Luke sat beside her and took her hand. “What if he doesn’t? I think you need to file a police report so they can charge him with violating the restraining order.”
She was quiet for a moment and stared straight ahead. Luke knew she loved him, but her silence was freaking him out a little.
At last, she turned her head to look at him. “Okay. Can I do it in the morning? I’m exhausted, and I just want you to hold me.”
That he could do. “With pleasure.” He gathered her into his arms and kissed her forehead. She nuzzled into him, hugging him around the waist and laying her head against his collarbone.
After a minute, she raised her head to kiss him. Softly at first, brief touches of lips and then tongue. She curled her hand around his neck and kissed him long and deep.
She pulled back and locked her gaze with his. “Make love to me, Luke.”
The long-ago echo of hearing those same words from Paige pulled at the back of his mind. With her, he’d felt a moment of panic, but now he only felt peace. And overwhelming desire for this woman who’d captured his heart.
He cupped her head and kissed her again, tugging her onto his lap. She pivoted, straddling him, and immediately began pulling at his clothing, trading garments until they were both nude. Luke began an assault on her body with his hands, lips, and tongue until she was panting and writhing beneath him. After insisting on helping him don a condom, she clasped his cock. Her fingers encircled the base before working up then down, bringing him to the edge of release.
“Kelsey, let me—”
She devoured his request with her mouth and guided him into her wet sheath. When he was buried deep, she wrapped her legs around his waist and begged him to move.
He went slowly at first, stroking her hair and face and looking into the pale blue ecstasy burning in her gaze. The deeper he stroked, the lower she moaned. Her eyelids fluttered, and she surrendered, closing her eyes as her orgasm swept through her.
He held her tight, memorizing the curve of her cheek and the exact pink of her lips. So this was what love felt like. True, searing love that scored into your soul.
Like her, he yielded—not just to his body but to the incandescent emotion flowing through him. He gave her everything he had, and when they were finished, he held her close to his heart.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “I have never felt so safe. So protected.”
As she fell asleep in his arms, he vowed to make sure she felt that way forever.
Chapter Eighteen
The smell of bacon filled the house as Luke plated breakfast. Kelsey would have just enough time to eat before dashing off to the library. They’d slept a bit late and then showered together, which perhaps hadn’t been the most time-saving enterprise.
He smiled to himself, setting breakfast on the table and pouring Kelsey’s coffee into a travel mug. She breezed into the kitchen, looking fresh and beautiful. She’d pulled her hair into a long ponytail and was dressed in a knee-length denim skirt, cute striped sweater, and sexy boots that made him want to steer her right back into the bedroom.
“You look too good to go to work,” Luke said, devouring her with his eyes.
She laughed. “You are a naughty boy, Luke West
cott.”
He was so glad to see her happy this morning. Last night had been tough. And it wasn’t really over. Noah was still out there, maybe even in Ribbon Ridge. What if he showed up at the library this morning?
He hated to pop the joyous bubble that seemed to be surrounding them, but he had to broach the subject. “Are you going to call the police about Noah?”
She sat down and dug into her breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. “I will after I get to work.”
Luke swallowed his frustration along with a piece of bacon. He wanted to say more but also didn’t want to get into an argument. He reached over and touched her arm. “I don’t want to see you get hurt. You get that, right?”
“Of course I do.” She blinked at him before dropping her gaze to her plate.
Luke was getting a weird vibe from her. He tried to focus on eating his breakfast. After a minute, he glanced over at her and noticed that she wasn’t wearing her bracelet. “Hey, where’s your bracelet?”
She turned her left wrist over. “Oh yeah.” She blanched. “I can’t find it. I was hoping you wouldn’t notice. I’m sure it’ll turn up.”
She kept her focus on her plate, which he also found odd. What was going on with her?
She looked up at the clock on the microwave. “Yikes, I need to go.” She pushed her half-eaten breakfast away and stood.
He got up with her. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
She looked away, for some reason unable—or unwilling—to meet his gaze. “Something happened when I saw Noah last night.” She focused on him then, her eyes tormented. “I don’t want you to be upset. It was nothing. He tried to grab my wrist. I drove away. End of story.”
She hadn’t told him the truth last night. She hadn’t wanted him to know that Noah had gotten physical. “Were you afraid I’d go after him if you told me what happened?”
She took a moment to answer. “I don’t know. Maybe?” She laid her palm against his collarbone. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I need to go. Can we continue this later?”
He nodded, feeling as though he were in a fog. She kissed him before grabbing her coffee from the table. She plucked her purse from the couch and waved at him before she left.
Luke tried to finish his breakfast but couldn’t shake the feeling of anxiety rattling his frame. If Noah had clasped her wrist and she was now missing her bracelet, maybe she’d lost it at the park. It was a long shot, but he needed some fresh air to clear his head anyway. He put his boots on and threw on a sweatshirt before snagging his keys from the hook and heading out.
Driving to the state park, he wondered if there was more to Kelsey’s behavior than simply not telling him about Noah grabbing her. Luke hated thinking that she was afraid of his reaction.
He parked in the lot and stepped out of his Jeep. He stood there a moment and contemplated where to start looking. He should’ve asked for more information about where Kelsey had met Noah. He pulled his phone from his pocket and texted her. She didn’t immediately respond.
While he waited, he walked to the edge of the parking lot and looked down toward the river. There was quite a slope unless you went to the left and took the path. Something near the water’s edge drew his attention. A shoe. He tipped his head to the side and squinted, but couldn’t see beyond the black boot.
He turned and strode to the path, walking quickly to the bottom. The path continued to the left, but he veered right through the low shrubbery to get to the shoreline. The terrain was uneven but walkable. As he neared the boot, the appendage it was attached to came into view. The body—a large man—lay on its stomach.
Luke crept up to the man’s side and knelt down.
Holy fuck.
It was Noah.
Luke pushed at Noah’s shoulder. “Noah, wake up.” When he didn’t respond, Luke touched his neck. The flesh was like ice, and Luke’s search for a pulse came up empty.
Shit, shit, shit. Luke’s blood ran cold. He looked at Noah’s face, gray and hard in death, absurdly wishing the man could tell him what had happened. Then he saw the dark red stain on Noah’s head.
Luke glanced around looking for what might’ve caused the wound and instantly saw the jagged rock nearby. Without thinking, he picked it up. When he saw blood, he dropped it as panic surged in his chest.
What the hell had happened? Was this why Kelsey had seemed agitated? Why she’d ignored him last night? He needed to talk to her. Pulling out his phone again, he saw that she still hadn’t responded. Dammit.
He stood up and looked toward the path, where a jogger was running along the water, about to turn uphill toward the parking lot. He nodded in greeting at Luke.
Well, now he had to call the police.
Not that he wouldn’t have, but he’d really hoped to talk to Kelsey first.
Luke dialed 911 and reported what he’d found. What had happened here last night? Suddenly, Kelsey’s odd behavior that morning took on a sinister tone. He didn’t for a moment think she’d killed Noah on purpose. She wasn’t a murderer. If she was involved, Luke knew it had to have been self-defense.
The sound of sirens filled the air as Ribbon Ridge’s police showed up, followed by a county deputy. Luke waved at them from the riverbank, and three officers came down to survey the scene.
Things happened very quickly then as the cops talked on their radios. An officer from Ribbon Ridge spoke to Luke and took notes. “So you knew this guy?” he asked Luke.
Luke nodded. “Yes. I mean, not really. He’s my girlfriend’s ex. He came into The Arch and Vine last night. She has a restraining order against him, and I’m pretty sure his being here violates his parole. He just got out of prison a few weeks ago.”
“I see. This sounds familiar. You called the police last night?”
“Not me. My brother’s fiancé.”
“What happened at the pub last night?”
Shit. They already knew Luke had decked Noah. That wasn’t going to look good. “He got too close to Kelsey—he touched her, actually. I, uh, I hit him.” His knuckles twitched. “He left shortly after.”
“Right. Okay, well, I think we’re good for now. Don’t go too far. I’m sure we’ll have more questions.”
Luke shook his hand. “Sure. I’m just going to head back into town.”
The officer nodded, and Luke walked up to his car. His hands shook as he dug his keys from his pocket. He quickly climbed into his Jeep and drove toward the library, hoping Kelsey’s world wasn’t about to explode.
Stella, the fifty-something owner of one of Ribbon Ridge’s coffee shops, took the book from Kelsey after she’d checked it out. “Thanks for the recommendation.”
Kelsey smiled. “I hope you like it.”
“I’ll let you know if I don’t next time you stop in for a latte.” She winked at Kelsey before turning and leaving.
Kelsey exhaled and glanced around. There were still a few people in the library, but it had been a busy day so far, and Kelsey would gratefully take a lull, even if it was just for a few minutes. After the long day at the vineyard yesterday, Kelsey had given Marci the day off. However, it was becoming clearer that the library needed two people on the weekends. Time to revisit the budget and maybe write a grant proposal.
The sound of the door opening drew Kelsey’s attention. She turned her head and saw Luke coming in. The smile that rose to her lips died almost immediately. His eyes were dark, and his face was creased with worry.
He came right toward her. “We need to talk. Please tell me Marci’s here so we can go upstairs.”
Alarm seared through Kelsey’s chest. “She isn’t. What’s the matter? You’re freaking me out.”
He glanced around, noting the patrons browsing the shelves and the two children sitting in the reading nook. He touched Kelsey’s arm and led her back behind the counter. When he looked into her eyes, she could see the concern running rampant through him, along with something else. Something that made her spine tingle with apprehension.
“I went to the
park to look for your bracelet.” His frigid tone stoked her fear.
“Did you find it?”
He shook his head. “No. But I found Noah.” He paused, scaring her even more with the grim set of his mouth. “Kelsey, he’s dead.”
Her knees buckled, and she sank to the floor. Luke helped her up, practically lifting her, and set her in the chair behind her desk. “You didn’t know.”
Noah was dead? She looked at Luke, processing what he’d said. “You thought I did?”
“I wasn’t sure.” The furrows in his brow carved deeper. “You were acting strange this morning. You said he tried to grab you… I wouldn’t blame you.”
Oh God. He thought she’d killed him. “He was fine when I left the park. I swear.” Panic started to rise in her throat. If her own boyfriend thought she could do that, what would the police say? “Did you call the police?”
“I had to.” He gave his head a shake. “I would have anyway, but a jogger saw me with the body. Kelsey, they’re going to come here and question you. You need to be ready.”
It was as if she was standing outside in subzero temperatures, an icy wind blowing over her suddenly hard and brittle body. She was afraid the slightest movement would make her shatter.
She tried to parse through the emotions and thoughts battering through her. Noah was dead. Luke thought she might’ve done it. The police would be coming to talk to her.
“Excuse me,” a small voice said from beyond her desk. “Can you help me find more Bad Kitty books?”
Right. She was also at work.
Summoning a calm she didn’t remotely feel, she stood and gave the boy—he was maybe eight years old—a weak smile. “Sure. Come on.”
As she walked to the children’s area with the little boy, she felt Luke’s stare boring through her back. Did he believe her when she’d said that Noah had been fine? She began to shake.
With great effort, she focused on locating the books the boy was looking for. He beamed and immediately plucked one from the shelf before plopping down on the floor and reading. Kelsey stood there and let the joy of this boy’s discovery take away the despair curdling inside her, if only for a moment.
