Bed of Lies

by Pam Champagne

  Trent reached out to grasp her arm. “Tell me there won’t be another wedding. That you’re through with Anson, and we can go back to the way we were before this madness started?”

  She narrowed her eyes and stared at Trent’s hand gripping her arm. He released her with a mumbled apology.

  Brenna tried to see beyond his words. Somewhere along the way he’d fallen in love with her. Why couldn’t he be content with the friendship they’d shared over the past year? Why did he want more than she was willing to give?

  He’d always been carefree and happy when they’d gone out. Never once had he tried to take the relationship that extra step. Until now. “Why do you care what I do? Whatever happens, you and I will always remain good friends.”

  He caressed her cheek. “I want more than friendship.”

  “Since when? I told you from the beginning that I wasn’t looking for a relationship. Friends only. You’ve known that all along.”

  “But just now. The kiss—”

  “Was a mistake.” She rose and brushed the straw off her clothes.

  “Good morning.” Brenna froze at the chill in Ace’s voice. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”

  The mask of fury on Ace’s face clearly said otherwise. He nodded curtly at Trent then turned his attention to Brenna. “I meant to ask you about Julienne at breakfast this morning.”

  Her hurt softened at the mention of the little girl. “I spoke with the Department of Human Services last night. They agreed to see me tomorrow.”

  Ace pulled a piece of straw from her hair. “So you’re going through with your plans to adopt her?”

  Brenna knew him too well. The innocent look in his eyes didn’t fly.

  “Adopt?” Trent asked, a frown knitting his brow. “That’s not a good idea, Brenna. Taking in foster children rarely works.”

  She wanted to scream at the way Ace’s lips twitched. She stood her ground. “Julienne had a family until a few days ago.”

  “Not a decent one,” Trent argued. “She lived with thieves and drug addicts. God only knows what bad habits she picked up.”

  Brenna prayed for patience. “Julienne’s only three. Hardly old enough to steal your wallet to buy drugs.”

  Trent turned away muttering something she didn’t catch. He faced Ace. “Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”

  Ace’s eyebrows shot up. “Me?” he asked in mock horror. “Brenna and I go way back. She packs a mean left hook. I wouldn’t attempt to try to change her mind about something she’s dead set on doing.”

  Brenna fumed at Ace’s ploy to separate her and Trent. A devious streak reared up and encouraged her to cozy up to Trent, just to show Ace that she owed him no allegiance. No, she chided herself. No man was worth reverting back to high school behavior.

  “That’s true, Trent,” she offered. “So don’t bother trying to change my mind.”

  Ace obviously tired of the game. “Bad weather’s on the way, Brenna. Forecast calls for snow by late tomorrow morning. Call and cancel the appointment. We’ll go the day after.”

  Brenna tightened her lips and bit back a nasty response. She’d learned to choose her battles wisely. Now was not the time to argue. She ignored him and faced Trent. “I’ll go get Maggie. She’s in the paddock. “That’s why Trent stopped by,” Brenna said, walking by Ace. “To look at one of the horses.”

  Once Brenna disappeared from sight, Trent said, “I guess you’re staying at the farm because of what happened on the Desperado?”

  “That’s one reason.” Ace grabbed a pitchfork and fluffed the straw to prepare the mare’s stall. “As I said earlier, Brenna and I go way back.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard the stories about your ill-fated love affair. Brenna was only a child back then.”

  “A child by whose definition?” Ace challenged. “Yours? Society’s? The kind people of Spruce Harbor?”

  Ace dug the fork deep into a bale of straw. Trent’s question irked him. He and Brenna had been young, but as far as he was concerned, the love they’d shared was the long-lasting variety. Not puppy love like Trent had implied.

  “I’m in love with her myself.”

  Ace stilled and controlled his breathing. “Is that a fact? Then you’re in for a broken heart. Brenna and I belong together. We always have.”

  A beet red color spread over Trent’s face. “We’ve been seeing each other for over a year. Up until she got some fool notion to marry Anson Carter. I know the man was forcing her, but she wouldn’t admit it.”

  Before Ace could respond, Brenna returned, leading the mare. “She needs her teeth checked, probably floated, and a worming.”

  “I’ll see you later, sweetheart.” Ace pretended not to see Brenna’s irritation. On the walk to the house, he dragged out his cell and punched in Byron’s number.

  “Give me everything you can find on a Trent Peirce. He’s a veterinarian here in Washington County. Where did he go to school? Any ties with people from Spruce Harbor before he settled here? You know the drill.”

  Ace hung up before Byron could recite his usual complaints.

  Chapter Twelve

  “That’s it for today.”

  The girls groaned as they dismounted. Brenna pushed aside a twinge of guilt watching the fourteen-year-olds count out their money, much of it in quarters and dimes. Katy and Melissa saved most of their allowance money to pay for dressage lessons every other week. For some reason, taking money from the young girls bothered her. She assuaged her conscience by giving longer lessons.

  She hadn’t found an opportunity to talk to Ace since the incident in the barn with Trent that morning. Once the girls were on their way, she planned to hunt him down. He had no reason to behave the way he did. Didn’t he realize she loved him? Still, no way would she be manipulated, by him or anyone else.

  “Thanks, Brenna,” Katy, the more outspoken of the two, bubbled. “I don’t know what I’d do if you ever stop giving lessons. My mother says perhaps I can get a horse next year.”

  Brenna laughed at the girl’s enthusiasm. “Super. As long as you supply the feed and come every day to groom it, you can use one of the stalls here.”

  Katy’s blue eyes grew wide. “Really?” She danced around in a circle before grabbing Melissa, the quiet one, in a bear hug. “Hear that, Lissa? I can’t wait to tell Mom. Let’s go.”

  “Whoa, girls! Forget something? Like the part of our deal that you groom the horses?”

  Katy slapped a hand on her forehead. “Sorry. I got so damn…I mean darn excited, I forgot.”

  “Well I didn’t,” Melissa piped up, already gathering her equipment.

  “Must be your lucky day, ladies. Hope you appreciate Brenna’s offer.”

  Goose bumps prickled over her arms. Ace had entered the barn through the back door. After giving him a quick glance, she hung the bridles on a hook, grabbed a wet sponge and a bar of saddle soap.

  “I’ll say!” Katy chirped, her eyes sparkling. She pushed out her chest and rearranged the hem of her denim jacket, never taking her eyes off Ace.

  “I’ll do your chores,” Ace offered. “That way you can get home and tell your mom the good news.”

  Both girls stared at Ace, their eyes wide. Brenna could only imagine the thoughts flitting through their fourteen-year-old minds. Not only was Ace a hunk, his Cree heritage put him in another league than the male idols they normally ogled. Melissa hid behind Katy, her face almost the same color as her red hair.

  Katy, fourteen going on twenty-something, tossed her blonde curls, her lips curving into a coy smile. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

  “You’re right.” Ace stepped closer. “Name’s Ace Bear.”

  Katy eagerly grasped the hand he held forward.

  “You work for Brenna?” she asked, her face now a rosy pink.

  “Nope.” After a tug of war, he managed to get his hand back. “I’m her boyfriend.”

  “Oh.” Katy’s gaze shifted to Brenna. “That was fast. I mean only a short while ago you
were going to marry…”

  Melissa gave her friend a push. “Katy, we have to go.” She tugged Katy’s arm and cast Brenna an apologetic smile.

  “Oh, all right.” Katy’s mouth turned down in disappointment. Brenna hid a smile. Melissa would get a piece of Katy’s mind on their way home.

  Katy adjusted her jacket one last time and winked at Ace. “Hope to see you around.”

  They hopped on their bikes and pedaled down the dirt driveway. “Out of the mouths of babes,” she murmured. It was nice to see the lack of bigotry, though. Perhaps this new generation would put it all to rest.

  “She’s a babe all right, but not in the way you mean,” Ace said. “A regular Lolita. Did you see the way she looked at me?”

  “Like she wanted you for supper?” Brenna bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing at the horror on his face. “Well, you could have handled the situation with a little more diplomacy.” She rubbed the leather bridles with a bit more force than necessary. “In an hour, the news that we’re an item will be all over town.”

  He moved behind her, his warm breath tickling her bare neck. “So? Worried it’ll get back to Trent Peirce?”

  She stepped to the side, out of his reach. “You offered to do their chores, Ace. The horses are in the last two stalls.”

  “Yes ma’am.” Ace grinned. “Right away.”

  “Wait. About Trent.”

  Ace’s eyebrows rose a fraction. “What about him?”

  “Your behavior this morning was childish and unnecessary.”

  He picked up the curry brush and walked toward the stall. “You think it’s fair to lead him on?”

  “I haven’t done that,” she denied. Hadn’t that same thought crossed her mind more than once?

  “That’s not Trent’s take on the situation. He says you two have been seeing each other going on a year now.”

  Brenna stayed silent. Guilty as charged.

  “Well?” Ace prompted. “True or false?”

  It killed her to admit it.

  “It’s not a trick question. A simple yes or no will do.”

  “We’ve been seeing each other, but there’s never been talk of getting serious. Trent’s a friend, nothing more.”

  Ace curried the mare’s withers and winked at her over the horse’s back. “Might be kinder in the long run to let him know that. Poor guy’s running around with his tongue hanging out, thinking he’s got a chance with you now that Anson’s out of the picture.”

  She had no defense, so she remained silent.

  “Have you arranged to have someone pull your lobster traps?”

  She huffed out a breath, relieved to be done discussing Trent. “Yeah. Handy Norton talked to me at Colin’s funeral. He’ll pull the traps and drop them off.”

  Ace skillfully groomed the horse. He was no stranger to the equine world.

  “Plan on buying another boat?”

  “Are you serious?” She searched his face and found no humor there. “I’ll sell the traps. I’m through with the lobstering business.”

  “Why? I thought you liked being on the water. The mortgage is paid. Take out a loan for another boat. Use the farm as collateral.”

  She shook her head. She’d already watched her father take that route. “Lobstering’s too unstable. Regulations and laws change all the time and very seldom in the lobsterman’s favor. I won’t risk the farm like my father did. I have to find another way to make a living.”

  “Hard to do with the scarce employment opportunities around here.”

  “Scarce? Try damn near nonexistent. That’s why I wonder…” No sense bellyaching to Ace about what she might have done different for Colin.

  “Ever think about relocating?”

  “Now and then. Never get beyond the thinking part. This is my home. Besides, where would I go?”

  Ace finished grooming both horses. He topped off their water pails and walked to the empty stall near Brenna and lowered his body onto a bale of straw.

  Brenna drew a huge amount of air into her lungs as if extra oxygen would make her sound more credible. She’d been building up courage to tell Ace she wanted to be involved with his investigation. She wouldn’t rest until Colin’s murderer was apprehended. “I need to talk to you.”

  “Sure. I’ve been waiting for you to say the word.” He patted the straw next to him. “Come sit.”

  Brenna plunked her butt on the other side of the bale and struggled with how to best broach the subject. She wanted, no needed, to be actively involved in finding the criminals running around in Spruce Harbor.

  Before she asked the question, Ace took the wind out of her sails. “I should have told you about Kayden when I first arrived.”

  Brenna stiffened. “What?” Shit. Ace thought she wanted to talk about his daughter. “No. That’s not what I want to talk about.”

  His brow puckered in confusion. “This is important, Brenna. I don’t want it hanging over our heads. What I have to tell you affects both of our futures.”

  She lifted a leg onto the bale of straw, tucked it under her hips and squared her body to face him. “I know it’s important to clear the air and not have any secrets between us.”

  Ace reached for her hand. “It’s more important than you know.”

  She curled her fingers around his and raised his hand to her cheek. Despite her initial pain of hearing he had a child, her heart was plenty big enough to love Ace’s little girl. It wasn’t like he’d cheated on her. They’d been apart for twelve years. If she’d met someone to love, it could very well be her with a child. “Before we tackle your daughter, I need to find the person who killed Colin.”

  His lips tightened. Ace shifted into his stubborn gear. Oh yeah, she knew the signs.

  “Colin’s responsible for his own death. He chose to commit suicide.”

  She refused to take offense at his words, despite the harshness of his tone. “You’re right. But someone pushed him to that point. That’s the person I want. The one who shoved him over the edge. The one guilty of bringing drugs to Spruce Harbor. Just like you want to find who’s responsible for selling drugs, I do, too.”

  “Trust me. I’ll find them.”

  “I want to help. I insist on it.”

  “Damn it, Brenna.” He rose and shoved his hands in his jean pockets. “Do you know what you’re asking? Someone’s trying to kill you. And now you want to run around town? With me? Word’s out that I’m a drug agent. No better way to make yourself an excellent target for whoever’s out to get you.” Ace muttered something else, but she couldn’t make out his words.

  “What?”

  He dropped to one knee in front of her and held both her hands. “We’ve been given a second chance. Can’t you see that? I don’t want to lose you again.”

  The dark intensity in his eyes seduced and pleaded. Scooting over to the edge of the bale, she curled her arms around his neck and kissed the skin just under his ear. Warmth started below her belly button and spread to all her limbs. He shuddered when her tongue touched his earlobe. “We’ll not lose each other. Not ever again. When we run into problems, we’ll work them out. No more running.”

  He drew away, held her shoulders. “Is that a promise? No more running? Regardless of how bad things get?”

  She pushed aside a tingle of apprehension. What had him so tense? Was he afraid that something would go wrong? “I’m not going anywhere, Ace, I promise. Together we’ll solve any problems that get in our way. We’re partners, remember? Twin souls.”

  He rested his forehead against hers. “I remember. Finding you again seems too good to be true. I’m afraid to think about the future. You pulled away after Colin died.”

  Brenna wrapped her legs around his waist, loving his body’s solid warmth. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll never hurt you.”

  Ace’s lips curved into a smile against her neck. “I know that. Not intentionally, anyway.”

  “Not ever.”

  Hunger for him burned hot between her legs. Hands st
roking her back slid around her ribcage. He laid his hand over her pounding heart. “For me?”

  “Who else?”

  “I love you,” he whispered, his lips inches above hers.

  Brenna took his mouth in a not-so-tender kiss. Her lips, tongue and teeth showed him how much she loved him. She kissed her way across his face and nibbled his neck. “I want you.”

  “Here?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

  “Yes.”

  Twenty fingers fumbled with buttons and zippers in their haste to undress. Even the scratchy straw on her back increased her need to have him. She opened her arms and legs.

  He lay on his side, propped on an elbow and tenderly trailed a finger down the curve of her cheek and neck to her breasts. “You’re beautiful. I used to lie in bed at night and try to imagine how you’d changed over the years. You’re more beautiful than in my mind’s eye.”

  She shrugged aside the waves of sadness lapping at her heart. So much wasted time. Years they could have been together, raised a family.

  I know what we’ve promised each other. But will life let us be happy for the rest of our lives? Brenna sucked back the questions dancing on her tongue. She’d settle for today.

  His head dipped to capture a nipple, flicked it to a turgid point, then drew it into his hot mouth. Tension built at the apex of her legs. Her need for him was too new, too fresh. Perhaps in time she’d have more control.

  She cupped his face and pulled his mouth away from her breast. “No more. We’re both ready.”

  His dark eyes twinkled. “That’s one of the things I love about you. Direct and to the point.”

  Brenna pushed herself up, swung her leg over Ace’s hip and forced him onto his back. “Today, it’s my turn to ride.”

  “You go, cowgirl.” His voice, husky with passion, sent a thrill straight to her toes.

  He threaded his fingers through her hair, pulling her mouth to his. She drank in his taste, his smell. Squirmed with pleasure.

  Without breaking contact, Ace rolled, putting her underneath and slipped inside.

  “No fair,” she gasped.

  “You had your chance. You blew it.”