Summer glanced at the deserted building. “The place looks as though it’s still waiting for guests.”
“Let’s see if we can get inside.”
The doors were firmly double locked, dead bolts in place. It seemed the owners had taken greater care in securing the hotel. They prowled the perimeter, searching for a breach in security.
“It doesn’t look like we’re going to get inside,” Summer commented, absently patting Danny, who was kicking his feet, clearly ready to be let down to roam.
“Maybe...” Jack continued searching. “Here it is.”
Summer looked, but all she could see was some metal tubing next to the basement window. “It looks like some kind of vent.”
“Laundry vent,” Jack agreed.
“I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but we can’t fit down that tube.”
“No, but if I can loosen the vent, I can pry open the window.”
Summer watched, amazed as Jack did exactly that. “Was one of your jobs burglarizing?”
“I try to stay on the right side of the law since that’s why I’m on the run.”
She smiled ruefully. “Good point.”
“If you’ll take Danny, I’ll go in through the window and then open the door.”
Summer took Danny from the backpack. “Let’s go around the front, okay, big guy?”
He waved his arms and wriggled his legs, clearly wanting to get down.
“Not yet,” she told him as they walked toward the front of the hotel. “We have to wait while Daddy checks to see if we have a reservation.”
She heard a few thumps and clanks and winced, suspecting that Jack was connecting with more than he’d bargained for in the dark basement.
“Summer!”
She heard the call and increased her pace. “How are the accommodations?”
“Dark for the moment. I’m going to find the generator.”
“Do you think that’s wise?”
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on a light-works display.”
Summer climbed the steps to the porch of the hotel. She peered inside, but utter darkness greeted her. An involuntary shiver gripped her, and she cuddled Danny closer. “Let’s wait for Daddy out here, okay?”
When she heard Jack’s footsteps, she sighed in relief. Then a sudden, unwanted thought struck. What if it wasn’t him? “Jack?” she called tentatively.
A beam of light flicked on, momentarily blinding her. It was lowered immediately. “I found a flashlight in the shed along with some candles.”
Some of the fright lodged in her throat decreased slightly. “And the generator?”
He shook his head. “Not worth the time it took to find if They only left connections to a few rides.”
Summer trailed him inside, noting that with candlelight the interior didn’t seem nearly as frightening. “It’s kind of sad, isn’t it? This place just being left to decay.”
Jack walked around the room, pulling drapes so the light couldn’t be spotted from the road. “I didn’t realize you were so sentimental.”
She was glad the near darkness hid the flush of her cheeks. “Permanence seems like something of yesterday, something no one values anymore.”
“Sometimes life doesn’t let you have permanence,” Jack replied tightly.
No, and it wouldn’t let this make-believe relationship become real, she realized with a pang. Because as he’d just reminded her, Jack couldn’t have anything permanent in his life. She had to remember that their fictitious relationship was just that, despite her desire for it to be more.
Jack continued lighting more candles, then discovered a full candelabra on the sideboard. Once lit, the room seemed warmer, less deserted looking.
“It looks better now.” Summer glanced around. Shrouded furniture begged to be uncovered. “If we can find the dining room, we could eat. I imagine Danny’s hungry.”
“Good idea. You okay in here while I grab the food? I left it on the porch.”
“Sure.” So Jack had noticed her fright. Apparently she wasn’t very good at concealing her feelings. She would have to watch that. She didn’t want him to know of the longing that seized her for things that couldn’t be....
Packing Danny on her hip, Summer located the dining room, uncovering a small table that would fit the three of them perfectly. Following Jack’s example, she drew the drapes. Giving in to a whim, she used the flashlight to locate china plates. Holding her breath, she turned on the faucet in the kitchen, and to her relief water poured out. Admittedly it was brackish looking to begin with, but then it cleared.
Jack appeared behind her. “What’re you doing?”
“Washing plates.”
Jack placed his candles on the counter, then reached out and took Danny. “Is this an occasion?”
“Not really. It’s just that this hotel and park seem like something out of the past, and maybe for the evening we could pretend that we’ve stepped back, as well.”
“Pretend that the real world isn’t out there?” he asked quietly.
“Something like that.”
“That rarely lasts for long,” he reminded her. Then his tone gentled. “But I don’t suppose there’s any harm in it for an evening.”
That sly stroke of warmth crept in again. “I think I can find some glasses, too.”
“We can use them. Cyndi slipped some wine into our food supply.”
Summer’s hands stilled for a moment. “I really liked her.”
“Good.” He shifted Danny. “She couldn’t say enough nice things about you. Thought we made the perfect family.”
Summer’s gaze flew to meet his. But the dim light made it nearly impossible to read what lurked there. “It seems we’ve become masters of illusion.”
Silence thundered between them.
Another beat passed before Jack spoke. “So it does.” He picked up the freshly washed plates and carried them into the dining room.
Summer kicked the base of the cabinets beneath her, wishing she could retract the words. Stalling, she found silverware and glasses. Hunting a little farther afield, she located a linen tablecloth and napkins that were neatly pressed and folded. It was almost as though they’d been left there in anticipation of just such an event.
Taking a deep breath, she reentered the dining room. To her surprise, Jack had filled the room with candles. It seemed he’d lit all the candles he had found. Delighted, Summer smoothed the linen cloth over the table, then carefully arranged the place settings. She noticed that Jack had placed the food on the sideboard. It wasn’t a terribly elegant selection, still he had fashioned it into a buffet of sorts.
She was wondering where Jack had gone when he appeared in the doorway. Holding Danny, he approached. Raising one hand, he offered her a small bouquet of flowers. “For you.”
“Where in the world...?” Touched, she accepted the flowers, bending to sniff their sweet fragrance.
“Just wildflowers,” he explained. “Growing in the uncut grass.”
“They’re better than hothouse roses,” she murmured. “I think I can find something to put them in.” She couldn’t find a vase, but an old-fashioned glass pitcher worked almost as well.
While Summer looked for the container, Jack bad located a high chair. Danny seemed content to sit in it, banging his cup against the wooden tray.
She smiled. “Looks like we’re all set”
Jack watched her as she put the flowers on the table. With the increased light from all the candles, Summer could see more clearly. It seemed that his eyes darkened to nearly black. She wondered if it was a trick of the candlelight or her revved-up imagination. Suddenly nervous, she fiddled with the silverware as they filled their plates.
“This isn’t exactly what I promised you, is it?” Jack asked quietly as they took their seats. “I didn’t expect to keep you away from your home for so long, certainly not for a week.”
Summer shrugged. “I doubt either of us could have anticipated what would happen.”
> “And now that Fisher and Wilcox know about you, I’ve put you in just as much danger.”
Glancing up, she met his eyes, saw the regret etched there. “You didn’t plan it. And you couldn’t prevent it. Besides, it was my choice.”
Jack reached over to gently disengage Danny’s fingers as they curled around Summer’s hair. He allowed his hand to linger for a moment before withdrawing it. “I’m not even certain it’s safe for you to return home until this is resolved.”
A spurt of fear erupted. “My mother—?”
“Shouldn’t be in any danger. I’m not really certain they know your identity. But, if they do and they’re close enough to trail us and you head for Edisto, they might split up and follow you.”
So they were in this for the long haul, Summer realized. But as quickly she remembered that once they found sanctuary, their charade would end. Despite the feelings that she had developed for Jack, he would walk away. And once again, she would be left alone.
Silently chastising herself, Summer wondered how she could have learned so little from her relationship with Tyson. Hadn’t her disastrous ending with him been enough proof that trust no longer existed? That such fantasies were the stuff of fairy tales... that genuine happily-ever-afters didn’t happen?
Jack leaned over, his hand gently bracketing her jaw as he tipped her face upward. “I’m sorry, Summer. You didn’t ask to be part of this, and now I’ve fouled up your life. But I’ll do whatever I can to make it up to you.” A strange emotion darted through his expression, then vanished. “If that means setting things right with anyone who might be in your life, I’ll do it.”
What little appetite Summer had suddenly disappeared. “Let’s just get you guys to safety, okay? Let me worry about my relationships.”
His lips tightened, then relaxed briefly. “Of course.”
A plate clanged as it hit the floor. Danny looked down at the damage he’d just caused, then banged his spoon on the tray.
The emotionally charged moment dissipated as they bent to clean up the mess.
“Okay, mister,” Jack told him. “No more of that.” He retrieved the sticky spoon. “I’ll grab a towel.”
Summer nodded slowly, her gaze focusing on Danny. Seeing he had her attention, the baby smiled winningly, his few teeth winking in the candlelight. “There’s that jacko’ -lantern grin,” she told him, her voice hitching. How was she going to walk away from him, as well?
“I guess he’s bored,” Jack apologized, returning to wipe up the baby food.
“Maybe we could take a walk around the park later,” Summer managed, hoping she sounded normal. “If you think it’s safe.”
“It should be all right Fisher and Wilcox have no reason to believe we took this side road.” He paused. “You know, it’s a good thing Cyndi packed all this food. It looked like the cupboards were bare in the storeroom.”
“Probably to keep bugs and rodents away,” she agreed, not particularly caring if the hotel had any food.
“Right.”
The conversation between them remained strained as they finished dinner. Summer offered to clean up Danny as an excuse to escape the tension. But then, too soon, she ran out of excuses.
Jack held a flashlight as they picked their way across the grounds. “No telling just what’s out here. Looks like this place has been empty for quite a while.”
“It’s old,” Summer agreed.
Jack pointed upward. “You’re right. That’s a wooden roller coaster. Aren’t too many of those left.”
They strolled beside the closed concession stands, then through the alley of games that faded signs proclaimed once contained ring toss, darts and other games of chance.
“You can almost smell the cotton candy,” Jack said, shifting Danny in his arms.
“Now who’s the sentimentalist?” Summer teased. But she took a deep breath of the clean night air. “You forgot to mention the popcorn.”
“I’m more of a caramel-corn kind of guy,” he said with a grin.
“Ah. That explains it.”
Danny chortled as Jack put him up on his shoulders as he swaggered down the sidewalk.
A matching set, Summer thought. They so belonged together. She couldn’t imagine anything happening to either one of them. She guessed that Fisher and Wilcox wouldn’t have any reason to harm Danny, but they could use him to flush out Jack if they ever got their hands on him, which put the toddler in equal peril.
Glancing upward, Summer spotted a moon that dominated the sky much like a Vegas headliner with lesser stars forming a background. The thought made her smile.
They walked past the flying-swings ride. Elaborate carvings graced the scalloped top encircling the ride. Old-style pictures of elaborately coiffed women of the nineteenth century decorated each cotton-candy-colored panel.
A little farther on, they came to the rides for toddlers. Miniature boats still floated in a circular tank. She and Danny both laughed in delight when Jack put him in one of the boats and pushed it by hand.
“The tiniest captain!” she exclaimed when Jack lifted him out of the boat.
Together they strolled along until they reached the carousel. “Look at it!” Summer exclaimed.
The carousel was an anachronism straight out of the Victorian era. Hand-carved horses galloped alongside a delightful assortment of other creatures. A sea dragon, giraffe, lion, zebra, tiger and frog marched in place alongside the horses.
Jack paused to run a hand appreciatively over a unicorn figurine. “These are probably at least a hundred years old. Collectors would pay top price for each one.”
“Really?”
“They’re considered American folk art. That’s why there aren’t too many of these carousels left. People break them up and sell the figurines separately.”
“That’s terrible!”
Jack shrugged. “From an architectural viewpoint, I agree. But they can easily sell for eighty-five thousand dollars each. With over one hundred figurines on a carousel, that’s a considerable chunk of change.”
“Even so, can you put a price on history? On something that can never be recaptured?”
Jack reached out to tuck a strand of wayward hair behind her ear. “I thought you were so practical. You keep surprising me, Summer.”
She wished suddenly that she could always go on surprising him, that it wasn’t completely bizarre to consider a future. “How’s this for a surprise? I wish we could ride on it.”
He grinned. “That’s easily arranged.”
“But—?”
“The generator’s hooked up to some of the rides. If you’ll keep Danny reined in, I’ll turn it on.”
“Is it safe?” Summer questioned, wanting to ride, but worried about attracting attention.
“For now. I don’t know how long we’ll stay here. I wouldn’t risk it again after tonight. Fisher and Wilcox might backtrack when they don’t catch up to us. But we should be okay now.”
She reached for Danny, and Jack disappeared into the darkness. As she watched, lights on the elaborately carved roof flickered on. Bulbs of all different colors glowed against the many shades of turquoise and yellow. Each panel was decorated in a nineteenth-century motif. As the carousel groaned to life, music wheezed from the bellowslike pipes.
Jack appeared, holding out his hand in invitation. Barely hesitating, she accepted it, allowing him to capture her fingers in his strong grasp. With her other hand, she clung to Danny as they climbed aboard the carousel.
“Should we be doing this?” she whispered, her voice a mix of dread and excitement as she considered the consequences. She didn’t need to form any more memories that would haunt her in the lonely days ahead.
“This once—yes.”
Excitement won out as she picked an exotic-looking giraffe to ride on. Jack reached out and easily took Danny in his hands. Then he flicked on the start button before choosing a white stallion across and just slightly behind her. Unexpectedly dazzled, she was immediately reminded o
f a white knight as Jack sat astride the wooden horse. The carousel gained speed as the figurines moved up and down in accompaniment to the music.
Glancing over at Jack and Danny, she was again struck by the sight of the two of them. Jack, so tall and strong. Danny, so tiny and trusting. Fleetingly she thought of Tyson, his rigid principles, his determination to succeed at any cost. Somehow she couldn’t picture him with a child in his arms.
But how could she trust her own judgment and instincts? Experience told her that she’d chosen poorly before. Was this just another illusion? Despite knowing what they shared couldn’t be real, that no future was in store for them, Summer opened her heart. Even the mere possibility made her emotions soar.
Jack stood suddenly, putting Danny in the small Mother Goose side car, strapping him in firmly. Then he walked toward her.
“What are you doing?” she asked with a laugh, watching him maintain his balance despite the motion of the merry-go-round.
“I don’t remember you buying a ticket for this ride.” The corners of his lips edged upward, and his eyes glinted dangerously.
Summer only laughed harder. “The ticket taker was on a break.”
Reaching her, Jack shook his head. “That’s too bad. No ticket, no ride.”
Still giggling, she saw that his eyes were changing, darkening with intent. Summer’s laughter trickled away as a different emotion gripped her. And as she spoke, she discovered she was breathless, as well. “What did you have in mind?”
He swung closer with the motion of the carousel, his body now mere inches from hers. “I think we could come up with an acceptable forfeit.”
“Sort of a token payment?” she questioned, her breath coming even shorter.
His hands closed over hers as she clung to the pole at the top of the giraffe. “More than a token.”
“More?” Summer echoed. Then she watched in fascination as his hands lifted, one to rest at the hollow of her back, the other bracketing her chin.
“More,” he affirmed. Then with painstaking slowness, Jack tilted his head toward hers, his mouth seeking and finding hers.
Light and dark flashed as the sensations kindled. Summer fleetingly wondered if she was seeing the lights of the carousel or the stars...or simply feeling the flare of the fire he ignited.
The Hijacked Wife Page 15
