by Hope White
“I know you, Krista, probably as well as your mom knows you. This is the real deal.”
“Then it’s the ultimate disaster because he lives in New York and I live here, and I run a tea shop and he hunts criminals and—”
“Criminals?” Julie questioned.
“And now I’ve blown his cover.”
Deanna stopped drawing and joined the ladies in the living room. “Julie, it’s important that you not say anything to anyone about Luke’s real reason for being here.”
“Which is what?”
“He’s working on a case. He’s with the DEA.”
“Drugs? Here in Wentworth?”
“We’re not sure,” Deanna said.
“It’s my fault.” Krista paced back to the window. “It has something to do with my trip to Mexico. They think someone smuggled something into to my things and a drug lord wants to retrieve it.” She glanced at Julie. “That’s our theory, anyway.”
“Oh, Krista, I’m sorry.” Julie went to Krista and gave her a hug. “You must be so scared.”
“Not really. I’ve got Luke as my personal protector.”
“Handyman at the tea shop, staying in your garage. It all makes sense now.”
“Except for the fact I’m falling for him.”
“Speaking of which…” Julie nodded at the window. The chief’s cruiser pulled into the driveway.
“Please don’t tell anyone about what’s really going on,” Deanna said, opening the door. “It could put your family in danger.”
“I won’t,” Julie said.
Deanna went to greet the chief and Luke.
Julie turned back to Krista. “What are you going to do about Luke?”
“There’s nothing to do. There’s no future there.”
“Your faith is your strength, Krista. Don’t give up on it now.”
Krista smiled and hugged her friend. “Thanks.”
“What’s wrong?” Luke said, approaching Krista.
“I was just getting advice from my big sister,” Krista said.
Julie shot Krista a knowing smile.
“You okay?” Luke touched her arm and looked deep into her eyes.
“Yeah, just tired,” her voice caught. He cared about her. A lot. She cleared her throat. “What happened at the hotel?”
“I’ll tell you on the way home,” Luke said.
Home. Her chest tightened. If only that were true, if only she and Luke shared a home.
“Did you three have a nice visit?” the chief said, eyeing them suspiciously. The chief had been married for thirty years. He recognized girl talk when he saw it.
“Very nice,” Julie said.
The twins pounded up the steps and raced through the front door. “Why are the cops here?” Tatum asked.
“I’m here to bust you girls on curfew,” Chief Cunningham said.
“Hey, I’m nineteen,” Tatum said.
“Me, too,” Tori said.
“He’s teasing, sweetheart,” Julie said. “My girls are home. I can go to sleep.”
“Thanks for everything,” Krista said, envious of Julie’s beautiful family.
“Good night, all,” the chief said.
Deanna drove Luke and Krista back to the house and made herself comfortable in the guest bedroom upstairs. Luke went through the house and rechecked all the locks, windows, doors, everything.
It seemed like he was stalling.
“Keep Roscoe inside with you tonight. A barking dog can deter someone from breaking in.”
“You didn’t tell me what happened at the Crocker.” She sat at the kitchen table and stretched out her legs.
“We busted up a card game.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Four guys needing some cave time.”
“Cave time?”
“Guys need to retreat into their caves once in a while to get a break from their women.”
“You make us sound like shrews.”
Luke shrugged. “It’s normal, at least that’s what my partner used to say.”
“You miss him.”
“He was a good man.”
“So are you.”
“Thanks, but…”
“What?”
“Never mind. What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” he asked.
She realized he was keeping her at a distance.
“I have to set up for a reception at the Silver Lake Lighthouse. They’re doing a dessert fundraiser.”
“Man, this little town is a busy place.”
Luke started for the back door, but she jumped up and caught his arm. He stiffened, his eyes growing dark.
“Tonight, when you went to the hotel…I was so worried,” she said. “I paced and I fretted and—”
“It’s part of the job. It’s what I do.” He glanced at the floor, breaking eye contact.
“I know that. But what I realized was—”
He pressed his forefinger to her lips. “Don’t say it.”
She tenderly kissed his finger. He slid his hand down to rest on her shoulder.
“Why not?” she whispered.
“It’s impossible.”
“Not if you have faith.”
He rolled his eyes, and with a hand on his cheek, she made him focus on her. “I have enough for both of us. Trust me, Luke. Trust God.”
She leaned forward and kissed him. The subtle vibration of his moan tickled her lips. It was just as she’d remembered, soft and sweet, with a hint of desperation.
She’d never felt so safe, so at peace, as she did in Luke’s arms.
Suddenly he broke the kiss and stepped back. She searched his eyes, but he wouldn’t look at her.
“We can’t.” He reached for the back door, but she blocked him.
“Look at me.”
He planted his hands to his hips and looked over her shoulder.
“Luke?”
Clenching his jaw, his eyes drifted to meet hers.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I wanted you to kiss me.”
“But I shouldn’t have.”
“Sure you—”
“Do you want to die, Krista? Because getting close to me will get you killed.”
She touched his cheek. He closed his eyes and sighed. A few seconds later, he reached around her to open the door.
“See you tomorrow,” he said and walked out to the garage.
She fretted, paced and worried about him.
Three more reasons to add to the list of why Luke shouldn’t let this thing with Krista go any farther. Forget the top two reasons, the fact he lived in a big city miles away from here and his violent career was his priority.
Krista had experienced her share of violence. He wouldn’t bring more into her life.
He spent part of the day doing legitimate chores upstairs, building bookshelves and organizing supplies. The rest of the time he spent on reviewing suspects and making calls.
Yet he felt no closer to exposing the local contact. He looked over his list: Phillip Barton, Ralph Grimes, Alan and perhaps, yes, he had to accept it, Krista’s friend, Natalie. Luke wondered if Natalie was the target of the car accident all along.
The fact was Natalie’s financials were a mess. She was in debt up to her eyeballs, in part because of the floundering real estate market and having loaned her fiancé money to keep his business solvent.
Folks on the verge of financial disaster were the easiest targets for people like Garcia.
“Luke?” Krista called upstairs. “We’re taking off in twenty minutes.”
“Thanks.”
He e-mailed his supervisor a request for a more extensive background check on Phillip, Ralph, Alan and Natalie. A deeper look into their backgrounds could turn up more clues, maybe even a direct connection to Garcia.
He packed up his folders, glanced at the newly organized office and a sense of pride washed over him. He liked doing things for Krista.
You’ve completely lost it, buddy. Shaking his head, he went downstairs. It was time to load
up his car with food and supplies for the lighthouse event.
“Krista?” he said, walking into the dining room. The chairs were flipped onto tables, and the mop lay on the floor as if someone had been interrupted.
He marched into the back and found Timothy, Natalie’s fiancé, blocking the back door. “Looking for someone?” the guy said.
“Krista.”
“She’s outside with Natalie.”
Luke started for the door.
“Don’t even think about it,” Timothy said. “Natalie’s doing an intervention.”
“Excuse me?”
“To get you out of Krista’s life.”
“I think that’s up to Krista.”
“Yeah, well, she’s a sweet girl,” Timothy said. “Her mom and grandmother protected her most of her life, so she’s lacking the skills needed in this situation.”
“And what skills are those?”
“To be able to discern friend from enemy.”
“I’m not her enemy.”
“You’re using her as bait for your criminal case.”
“How did you—”
“Natalie told me and I confirmed it with the chief.”
“The fewer people who know about this, the better chance I have to find the perp.”
“Yeah, well, I won’t tell anyone.” He paused, looked up and shot Luke a sinister smile. “As long as you leave Krista alone.”
“It’s kind of hard to keep my distance when I’m here to protect her.”
“Correction, you’re here to solve your case. She just happens to be collateral damage.”
“You could be arrested for interfering with a federal investigation.”
Timothy took a step toward him. “Well, you should be arrested for messing with that girl’s head and making her fall in love with you.”
Silence stretched between them. Love? Had Krista said that?
“Natalie is the love of my life and Krista is her best friend,” Timothy said. “She’s like my sister, so leave her alone.”
“I have a job to do.”
“You’re a selfish jerk out for yourself no matter who gets hurt.”
Krista breezed into the back. “Hey, what’s going on?”
Neither man spoke.
“Guys?” She glanced from Timothy to Luke.
“Timothy, Nat’s really tired. You’d better get going.” She gave Timothy a hug and Luke wanted to rip them apart.
Not because Timothy thought of her in a romantic way, but because Luke wanted her depending on Luke, leaning on him, not on this jerk.
She stepped back and patted Timothy’s shoulder. “Thanks for bringing Nat over.”
“Sure thing.” Timothy glanced at Krista. “You take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
Timothy shot one warning glare at Luke and walked away.
She turned to Luke. “Whoa, what was that about?”
“Not important.”
Yet it was very important. Krista’s friends were worried about her. Luke actually agreed with Timothy. Krista falling in love with Luke was a disaster with a capital D.
“You sure you’re okay?” Krista grabbed a box of dishes.
“Yep.” Or he would be as soon as he figured out how to stop her from falling in love with him.
Yeah, and how are you going to do that, McIntyre? Especially because he was feeling the pull himself, the pull toward something he’d never felt before.
Love.
Not good. He would have to distance himself from her in every way possible. He’d let things slip, things about Karl, his parents, things that made her feel sorry for him and caused her to have feelings she confused with love. No more. He’d put up the wall and do his job.
Regardless of how he was feeling about the adorable Krista Yates.
“It’s going to be perfect,” Krista said in a singsong voice.
Luke finished unpacking the last of the teacups and glanced at Krista. The woman was being hunted by drug thugs, yet she still enjoyed the moment and took pleasure in her work. How was that possible?
She eyed him and tipped her head slightly. “You’re awfully quiet.”
“Got nothing to say.”
“Uh, right. Try again. Timothy upset you. What happened?”
“You first. What did you and Natalie talk about?”
“The potluck, her latest real estate sale, the wedding. They’ve rented Michigan Shores for July of next year.”
“She didn’t—” he paused “—say anything about me?”
She shrugged.
“She told Timothy I was a federal agent,” Luke said.
“Yeah, I heard that.” She sprinkled rose petals across the buffet table. “He was freaking out, saying I should stay away from you because you’re not good for me. Natalie explained what was going on and why we’re—” she hesitated “—together all the time.”
“Maybe he’s right.”
Krista focused on her rose petal display. “What do you mean?”
“About me not being good for you.”
She waved him off. “Timothy doesn’t even know you.”
“Neither do you, Krista.”
She straightened. “I disagree.”
“I’m here to protect you. Naturally you’re going to be drawn to me. It happens all the time.”
“Not to me it doesn’t.”
“Whatever you think is happening—”
“I don’t think, I know.”
“Krista—”
“I left something in the car,” she interrupted, and walked to the spiral staircase leading downstairs.
“Stop. I’ll get it.” He didn’t want her going out there alone.
She handed him her car keys, but didn’t make eye contact. “The lighter should be in the front seat. I need it for the candles.” She put on latex gloves and placed tea sandwiches on a china plate.
He didn’t want to hurt her, but the sooner she stopped this fantasy about she and Luke, the better she’d be. He went outside, scanning the property for danger.
He’d been here for days, yet still wasn’t any closer to knowing who hunted Krista and what he wanted. Luke felt like a fool, and wondered if his feelings for Krista were messing with his ability to close this case.
Maybe it was time to bring in someone else to lead the investigation, or at least act as Krista’s bodyguard while Luke flushed out the perp. Another agent would have the distance needed to focus on keeping her safe.
His cell vibrated and he noticed he was low on battery. He’d been so distracted by potlucks and random kisses that he forgot to do the most basic things.
“McIntyre,” he answered.
“It’s Marks. Got prints on the note. You know someone named Alan Jameson?”
Luke’s straightened. Alan was always close to Krista, checking on her, touching her.
“I’ll question him as soon as I can,” Luke said.
“Anything else you need from us?”
“Don’t suppose the suitcase was any help?”
“Haven’t got the labs back. I’ll call as soon as I do.”
“Thanks.”
Luke grabbed the lighter from the car and walked back to the lighthouse, waiting for Alan to pop out of the shadows. Luke had a hard time believing he was involved in an international drug ring.
He made his way up the spiral staircase and handed Krista the lighter.
“Thanks.”
She smiled, as if they hadn’t just argued about their relationship, as if he hadn’t just hurt her feelings. But he knew he had. He’d seen it in her green eyes.
“My boss called with a lead,” he said.
He hesitated. “And?”
“How well do you really know Alan?”
She pinned him with disbelief in her eyes. “You’re kidding me.”
“Afraid not.”
“Alan is always so nice and solicitous. I guess the whole time he was playing me because he wanted to smuggle drugs?”
“I dou
bt it’s that simple.”
She shrugged. He knew she didn’t like Alan romantically, but still, she’d developed a certain amount of trust for the man.
Trust now broken.
“I’ll call the chief and ask him to bring Alan in for questioning. What’s left to do here?”
“I can teach you how to fold napkins,” she offered as she lit a candle on the buffet table.
Luke groaned, then pulled out his cell and called the chief with the news about Alan.
Suddenly the lights went out, plunging them into darkness.
SEVENTEEN
Luke grabbed Krista’s hand and shifted her behind him. He slipped his other hand inside his jacket and pulled out the Glock, careful not to flash it to Krista.
“Someone forget to pay his light bill?” he joked.
“The wiring is pretty outdated.”
They shared a knowing look in the candlelight. This wasn’t about old wiring or light bills.
He should check it out, but for all he knew this could be a diversion to get him to leave her alone, unprotected and vulnerable.
“Has this ever happened before?” he asked.
“Once.”
“What did you do?”
“Called Luther, the maintenance guy.”
“Call him.”
“My purse is under the table.”
Pointing his gun at the stairs, he led her to the buffet table and she got her cell phone from her purse.
“It’s going to voice mail,” she said.
“Leave a message. Then call the chief.”
She made the calls. “What now?”
“We wait.” He didn’t have much choice. Once people started arriving, they’d be relatively safe. A crowd would chase off the stalker, if he’s what caused this blackout. It could just be a power surge, after all, she had hot pots and soup warmers plugged in.
He scanned the room and spotted an ice chest in the corner. “Let’s get behind the ice chest.”
Their position behind the wooden icebox shielded them from a frontal assault. Although if there were more than one guy coming up those stairs and they packed more than a typical handgun, Luke was toast.
“It’s Garcia’s men, isn’t it?” Krista asked.
“Maybe, maybe not.”
She put trembling hands together in prayer and whispered under her breath. Her prayers seeped into his chest and he found himself wanting to whisper along with her.
