by Jamie Hill
“The only time I ‘fear’ is when you say ‘never fear’,” she grumbled.
The door opened as the other two marshals in her office reported to work. Ben Markham and Olivia Newman chatted and laughed as they came through the door.
“Good morning,” she commented, and they all made small talk as her co-workers took their seats at the two desks behind her.
Rhodes had the only private office, next to the conference room and the break room. From his area, he stuck his head out and said, “I’ve requested a number of case files from storage. The clerk is going to dig them out, but we need to run upstairs and get them. May I ask for a volunteer from the audience, please?”
Jordan crossed her legs and rubbed one foot. “Ouch. Broken ankle last year, it’s really acting up today.”
Ben worked an arm up and down. “Gunshot wound to the shoulder. Intermittent pain will probably be with me for the rest of my life.”
Olivia tucked her long blonde hair behind one ear and sighed. Standing, she pointed at Jordan as she walked by. “You were climbing on rocks, for fun, no less.” She shook a finger at Ben. “And you were protecting Doug.”
He grinned. “I was protecting Christine. I landed on Doug. There was blood everywhere. What a mess. I still have nightmares.”
Rolling her eyes, Olivia told their boss, “I’ll go.”
Rhodes smiled. “Clerk says there’s donuts up there. I’ll take a glazed. Don’t bring back anything for our fallen compadres. Wouldn’t want to take a chance on them reinjuring old wounds.”
“Hey!” Jordan and Ben said in unison.
“You got it.” Olivia cast disparaging glances at them as she left.
A couple of hours later, after Jordan had eaten the donut Olivia brought her anyway, she glanced up to see their chief escorting a man into the office. Something familiar about him, she swiveled her chair to get a better look. Tall and slender, with spiky light brown hair, he sported a familiar, sexy little cleft in the middle of his chin.
She panicked. Rhodes wouldn’t have. He couldn’t have. No. He. Did. Not.
Pushing away from her desk, she hurried to the break room before either of them spotted her. With her back against the wall, she fumbled in her pocket for her phone and texted Doug.
He’s here. OMG!
Realizing she was being cryptic, she added: Pierce. Then: Nick Pierce is here.
She waited. And waited. Damn it! Doug always had his phone on him. Unless he was sleeping. Maybe the baby was keeping them up at night. Damn it!
Ben entered the room and refilled his coffee cup.
“Ben! I need you to run interference for me. Go out there and distract Rhodes and that other man. I just need to grab my purse and get out of here.”
He looked at her like she was insane. “What are you talking about? I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes.” With an apologetic shrug, he walked out.
Her phone vibrated and she glanced at the screen. Doug had texted her back.
No way! Wish I was there to run interference for you.
Jordan thought she might cry.
Me too, she typed back. I don’t know what to do.
He replied, I have a few thoughts, but can’t put them in writing. Might be used against me in a trial.
She smiled and typed: No shit. A moment of hesitation, then she added: I’m scared.
His reply was instantaneous. Want me to come in? Go hide somewhere and I’ll be there as soon as I can.
Jordan brushed a tear from her cheek. Love you for saying that, but no thanks. Not going to hide. She inhaled deeply to bolster herself then blew out the breath. Thank you. Go kiss that baby. Talk soon. She pocketed her phone.
A mirror hung on the opposite wall and she moved in front of it to check her makeup. Nothing had smeared, thankfully. Before she could decide what to do next, a voice from the past sounded behind her.
“Beautiful as ever, Jo.”
* * *
He could tell the moment she became aware of him. She froze, her gaze searching the mirror for his reflection.
Nick Pierce smiled. She truly was as beautiful as he remembered. Time hadn’t etched a line into her gorgeous face, nor changed her nicely stacked hourglass figure. Thick brown hair cascaded in waves, well past her shoulders. Stunning. “Long time, no see. Love the new gold highlights.”
She turned to face him. “What the hell happened to you? You’ve aged twenty years and I know it hasn’t been that long. More like, what? Ten or twelve?”
He played along. She knew damn good and well how long it’d been. “It’s been six, Jo. Guess I should cut out the heavy drug use, smoking, and drinking if I look that bad.”
“Maybe you should if it’s only been six years. You could pass for a sixty-five or seventy-year-old man.”
He took a step closer to her. “I’d be thrilled to have this much stamina at age seventy.”
She rolled her eyes. “TMI, you arrogant ass. Too much information.”
He waggled his brows. “Oh, I see where your mind went. I was talking about work stamina, the ability to do my job well.”
A faint pink blush tinted her cheeks. “Whatever. Why are you here, Nick? Just stopping in to say hello, I hope.”
Grinning, he shook his head. “Not getting rid of me that easily. No, Evan invited me back to team up with you while your partner’s on leave. You’ve got me for the whole month, including our trip to sunny Los Angeles.”
“No way.” She appeared less than pleased.
“Yes indeed. Please, you don’t have to thank me. I’m just doing what any dedicated marshal would do.”
For a moment he thought her head might explode. She started to say something but stammered, and then she didn’t look like she knew what to say.
Nick decided to give her a break and cut through the tension. “Seriously, Jo. Evan thought it’d be easier to bring back someone who knew the area and most of the people. I just happened to be available. It wasn’t such a bad idea, was it?”
Her gaze seared into him and for a moment he considered taking a step back.
She frowned and he decided his instincts had probably been correct. Estimating the length of her arm, he moved just out of striking range. “Jo, I—”
“Don’t call me ‘Jo’,” she snapped. “Nobody calls me that. And as for you filling in here? It’s the flipping worst idea I’ve heard since bacon-flavored Twinkies. The chief’s going to get an earful about this. If I were you, I wouldn’t unpack my bags.” She brushed past him, their arms touching.
Spinning around, Nick clutched her bicep. “Have it your way, Jordan. But as far as my being here—”
Her eyes blazed as she jerked away. “If I had it my way, you wouldn’t have gone to St. Louis, you asshole. You’d be someplace a lot warmer.”
He tried not to smile, but seeing the old spark in her come to life made that damn near impossible. “Oh yeah? Where would I be, Dallas?”
“Go to hell, Nick.” Jordan stomped from the room.
Laughing, he called after her, “I didn’t bring the right clothes for that trip!”
She didn’t reply, just marched directly into Evan’s office and slammed the door.
Nick followed her out and sat at the desk he knew to be Doug’s. When he was a marshal here, Doug was partners with another fellow who’d since transferred out. Jordan and Doug had hit it off from the beginning. He wasn’t surprised they partnered up after he left.
He studied the photos on Doug’s desk. Pretty wife, cute enough kids. He’d never been much on children, but other peoples were mostly okay.
Nick glanced at Jordan’s desk and didn’t see any pictures at all.
A pretty, blonde-haired woman with a badge on her belt approached the desk. “Hello.”
“Hey.” He smiled. “Nick Pierce. I’m a marshal from the St. Louis field office, filling in while Doug’s on leave.”
She extended her hand. “Good to meet you, Nick. Olivia Newman. So, do you know Doug?”
“U
sed to. I was here six or so years ago. Know Evan, Doug, and Jordan from those days.”
“Nice. I’m sure they’re glad to have you back. I know Ben and I are. My partner, Ben Markham, is in a meeting right now. You’ll meet him soon.”
“You bet.” He glanced up as Jordan exited the chief’s office. Evan followed her out.
“Olivia, I see you’ve met Nick. He’ll be taking over for Doug this month.”
She nodded. “I was just telling him how glad we are to have him. Jordan hates to fly solo.”
Nick smiled at his old partner. “Jordan has always hated to fly solo.”
Jordan went to her own desk. “There are some things I hate worse than that.”
He didn’t touch the comment, and could tell by the look on her face that Olivia wasn’t going to, either. The shapely blonde said, “So where are you staying, Nick? Do you have family around here?”
“Not anymore. Evan’s given me the keys to one of the safe houses. Should do me just fine.”
She nodded. “There won’t be much in the way of groceries. What do you say we all go to lunch and get acquainted? I could help you shop later.”
“I don’t cook, so I won’t need to shop. But lunch sounds good if everyone agrees.” He looked pointedly at Jordan.
She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I can’t make it, but you all go ahead.”
The chief stepped forward. “I’m sure you can rearrange your schedule for one meal to welcome Nick. I’ll even spring for the tab. It’ll be good for the morale of the team.”
Jordan appeared pained to do so, but nodded assent.
“Great. We’ll go about noon, then.” He returned to his office.
“Great,” Olivia echoed, and smiled at Nick before heading to the break room.
He tilted his head and watched her backside as she went. “Nice….marshal.”
Jordan’s eyes flashed. “She’s twenty-five, Nick. Leave her alone.”
Chuckling, he raised his hands. “What? I just said she was nice.”
“I heard what you said. Jackass.”
“Go ahead. Get it all out of your system now. Once we’re on the road to LA, you’re going to have to be nice to me.”
“I don’t have to do anything, you egotistical boor.”
“Oh, so Evan’s going to find you a new marshal to partner up with?”
She didn’t meet his gaze. “No. I’m stuck with you.”
“Ah, so you do have to do a few things. That’s good, I wouldn’t want you get too full of yourself.” He reached for the framed photos in front of him, stacked them up, and opened a drawer.
“What are you doing?” Jordan’s eyes flashed again.
“Stashing these away for now. I wouldn’t want to break anything. You know I can get rather—zealous—at times.”
Jordan bit her lip.
Nick wondered if she remembered the time they’d made love on these very desktops, all those years ago. It was a night he’d never forget. Judging from the frown lines creasing her forehead, she hadn’t forgotten either. He rubbed a hand across the top of the desk. “Good memories.”
She jumped up. “Good riddance to bad memories is more like it.” Jordan stomped out of the room.
He smiled. She remembered.
Chapter Two
California State Prison, Corcoran
Level IV Housing, General Population
Corcoran, California
The first thing he had to get used to about prison life was the total loss of privacy. The guards who checked him in on his first day at Corcoran searched every body cavity, including his nostrils and ass. What a job. He might not have his freedom anymore, but at least he didn’t finger asses for a living.
The cavity checks were less frequent now, but still occurred randomly. What little personal property he had was also subject to arbitrary searches by the guards.
The other inmates were nearly as bad. His cellmate was a timid man who he’d managed to scare satisfactorily that first day. The idiot wasn’t able to embezzle funds without getting caught, but apparently knew enough to keep hands off other people’s property inside the joint. At least the guy was that smart.
Daily outside time was welcome, as were weekly visiting hours. One of his kids usually made it each Saturday, and his lawyer came every other week. The high priced shyster assured him the state’s case was weak and it was doubtful he’d be found guilty. Once the trial was over, he’d very likely be released with time served. That thought buoyed him through long days and even longer nights.
He missed a fragrant glass of wine with dinner. He missed shrimp cocktails and lobster with melted butter. Mostly, he missed cuddling with Misty, the light of his life. Never judgmental, never reproachful about anything he’d done, she was always there for him. She always made him smile. Thinking about her now warmed his heart.
Misty and his company were the two best things he had going for him. Not including his children, of course. They were already grown and in college when his wife died of pancreatic cancer, leaving him to fend for himself. Granted, he might not have always made the best choices after that. Lenore would not have approved of some of them, but he’d done what he thought was right at the time. Putting two kids through college was expensive. His had both graduated with business degrees and no debt. So he had done something right.
A soft buzzer sounded indicating mail call. Dinner would be served shortly after that. He shuddered at what the prison considered edible, and the very idea that lining up at four-thirty p.m. was considered appropriate meal time.
He’d read an article once that in colonial days, lobster was considered a bottom-feeding scavenger and was served to prisoners and servants because it was so cheap and plentiful. He chuckled as he rose, smoothed the creases in his orange jumpsuit, and headed to mail call.
* * *
Topeka, Kansas
Jordan entered the Olive Garden restaurant ahead of the others, bound and determined to choose a seat away from Nick. “Reservations for Burke,” she told the young, dark-haired host. The kid looked barely old enough to be legal working there, and sported a small metal stud in the side of his nose.
“Sure, just a moment please.” He smiled brightly then gathered some menus and spoke to a waitress.
Jordan turned to see the chief enter with Nick, followed by Ben and Olivia. Somehow, she needed to be seated between Rhodes and one of the others. Anywhere, but next to Nick.
“Right this way,” the perky waitress beckoned and headed into the restaurant.
Jordan motioned for her chief to lead the way.
Nick followed, throwing her a lazy smile as he passed. His arrogance infuriated the hell out of her. It’s going to be a long freaking month. She allowed the other two marshals to go next and walked behind them. When it appeared the last chair at the table would be between Nick and Ben, she grabbed Ben and pointed for him to move.
He gazed at her questioningly but obliged.
She sat between him and Olivia, exhaling a sigh of relief.
Nick continued to smile in her direction, but she buried her face in a menu and tried her hardest to ignore him.
The waitress took their drink orders and returned with the iced teas and waters.
“I’ll have soup and salad,” Olivia started the ordering process.
“Same here,” the chief agreed. “And breadsticks.” He smiled as he handed his menu to the waitress.
“Of course.” She glanced at Ben next.
“Fettuccini Alfredo, please, with salad.” He smiled. “And breadsticks.”
“Finally,” Jordan muttered. “I’m not just eating salad.” She glanced at the waitress. “Lasagna, please.”
Nick handed his menu to the woman. “Same here. Lasagna sounds great.”
“Wonderful. I’ll turn in your orders and be back soon to get you started.” She hurried off.
“So, Nick,” Rhodes turned to him. “How are things in St. Louis? They keeping you busy?”
“Definitely.�
�� He sipped his iced tea. “Maybe it’s the Cardinals, but we seem to be a popular destination for witnesses.”
“Hey, the Royals did all right this year,” Ben protested jovially. “ALCS champs and the World Series.”
Nick and the chief both winced at what Jordan knew had been a tough loss for the Kansas City baseball team, their first trip to the series in nearly twenty years.
Rhodes held his fingers an inch apart. “Missed it by that much.”
“Too bad,” Nick agreed. “I was hoping for another I-70 series, Cards against the Royals. Nearly had it.”
Jordan’s mind wandered as they discussed the season and postseason play. She wasn’t interested, but the conversation was harmless. She really didn’t want to talk about past history with Nick if at all possible.
Olivia didn’t seem to care for the baseball talk either, and once they were all eating salad, she changed the subject. “Nick, you were here a few years ago you said? Were you partners with Doug?”
“Actually,” he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I was partners with Jordan for two years. Doug’s partner was that guy with the Ozzy Osbourne obsession. What was his name?”
Rhodes chuckled. “Newton. Paul Newton. He was a hoot. Good marshal, though. He moved to Phoenix right after you left.”
Olivia pushed the lettuce around on her plate. “Why did you leave, Nick?”
Jordan shot him a look. If he told the truth she might climb across the table and throttle him.
He ignored her and cleared his throat. “My mother was sick at the time. I thought it was the best thing to do.”
“I’m sorry,” Olivia said kindly. “Is she okay?”
He shrugged. “It’s a chronic thing, comes and goes. But she’s doing okay now.”
“Good.”
Jordan dug into her lasagna when it arrived, but suddenly didn’t have much of an appetite. She’d been totally unprepared for the onslaught of memories set off by Nick’s arrival. Doug was the only person who knew their history and who, possibly, hated Nick Pierce as much as she did. She’d feel so much better if Doug was here.
