“She found me again! That’s five times in a row.” Bill dropped to one knee and threw his arms around the dog’s neck. She licked his face. “Honey is the smartest dog ever.”
Mandy gave Jed a what’s-going-on look.
He shrugged off her stare. “It’s good to keep her nose in practice.”
“But she’s a retriever, not a scent hound,” Mandy pointed out.
“What’s the difference?” Danny asked.
“Honey doesn’t find the birds. Her job is to remember where the ducks fall and bring them back,” Mandy explained.
“Whatever. I have to go.” Jed patted his thigh.
“I’m hungry.” Bill looked hopefully at Jed. “Can we get burgers for lunch again, Jed? Please. Then I could help you train Bear. He’s almost as smart as Honey.”
Jed’s face looked pained, but to Mandy’s surprise, he nodded. “Sure.”
“Yay.” Bill loped out the door. Mandy watched the trio cross the yard. Jed was acting differently lately. More patient, less work-oriented. Had his injury changed him, or was he up to something?
Danny stepped up beside her and looked over her shoulder out the window. “Some dog.”
“Jed’s the best dog trainer around, but Honey was special from day one. Field trial champion two years in a row. Jed was supposed to breed her this spring, but he changed his mind.”
“Because of his injury?”
Looking for unfinished chores, Mandy turned back to the kitchen. A quick scan of the counters and sink showed everything to be neat and tidy. “That’s what he said. But he could use the income with his hunting guide business on hold. He sold four dogs over the winter. He only has a few left.”
Jed hadn’t bred any dogs or taken any retrievers in for training since the stabbing. Was he depressed by his physical limitations or weaker than he’d admit?
The inn was strangely quiet. Behind her, Danny shuffled his feet. Uh-oh. They were alone. No guests, no Mom, no Bill. When was the last time she’d been alone at home? She picked up a sponge and wiped an imaginary spot from the stainless faucet. Now what?
“Now that we’re alone, how about showing me what you found in Ray’s office?”
“I didn’t get much of a chance to look at it.” Mandy unzipped her purse and pulled out the file. Staying on the opposite side of the center island from Danny, she opened the cover. Inside were newspaper clippings and printed Internet articles, all detailing Nathan’s case. She laid a few out on the counter. Maine Mayor Organizes Ritual Murder, Sadistic Killer Disappears, Manhunt Continues in Maine, Killer Vanishes Without a Trace.
Danny thumbed through the pile. “He must have every article printed on the case.”
Mandy scanned the clippings. Everything she wanted to forget was laid out in front of her. A cold ache formed inside her belly, as if she’d swallowed ice water too quickly. The chill rose into her chest and froze her throat, choking off her next breath. Tiny white spots danced in front of her eyes.
“Hey, are you all right?” Danny’s hand on her arm startled her.
She inhaled, a sharp and audible gasp that flooded her brain with oxygen. Her knees weakened. Danny was beside her in an instant. His body pressed against her, supported her, and thawed the mass of frozen panic that threatened to shut down her body.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.” Danny pulled a stool closer and guided her onto it. “Sit down for a minute.”
He filled a glass of water from the dispenser on the refrigerator and handed it to her. She took a sip, but stopped when the first swallow of cold water hit her stomach. Sitting still let her mind roam. Never a good thing. She had to move. She had to do something.
She checked the clock on the microwave. It was barely noon. She had hours before it was time to put out an afternoon snack for her guests. She could start prep for tomorrow’s breakfast or she could throw in a load of wash. Physical labor was the best thing to work off the excess of nervous energy. She slid off the stool. “I have some work to do.”
Danny grabbed her hand. “When was the last time you took an afternoon off?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Well, what do you like to do to relax?”
“I don’t have much time for relaxing.” Sunlight pulled Mandy’s gaze to the window. She imagined the heat of its rays on her skin. Outside, budding trees and greening grass tempted her. When was the last time she’d spent a day outdoors? A crazy idea popped into her head. “Do you like to fish?”
“I’ve never been fishing.”
“Never?”
“Nope.” Danny shrugged. “I grew up in the city.”
“There are plenty of bodies of water in Philadelphia.”
“True, but we spent most of our time keeping the business afloat. There wasn’t much time for leisure activities.”
“I know what you mean.” They had more in common than she would have expected.
“Besides, I don’t think I’d want to eat anything that came out of the Schuylkill River.” He shot her a grin. “You could teach me.”
Memories of his hard body under her hands at the gun range flushed a welcome heat through her veins. Who was she kidding? It wasn’t just the promise of a few quiet hours in the woods that enticed her. Since Danny’s arrival, she’d realized how much male companionship was lacking in her life. Other than Jed, she didn’t have many friends. Her goal of going to school and getting out of Huntsville had consumed her life for the past few years. She’d let her few friendships lapse. “I’ll pack some sandwiches. Then I’ll get the equipment together.”
Danny stopped her. “I’ll pack lunch. You take care of the rods and stuff.”
“OK. There’s a small cooler in the pantry.”
“I’ll dig for what I need. Is anything off limits?”
Was that a loaded question? “No.”
Excitement building, Mandy went out to the garage and entered through the side door. The two-car space was crowded with sporting equipment stored for guest use. Snowshoes, cross-country skis, and croquet sets were stored in tubs along the wall. Fly rods and reels hung above them. Mandy tripped. She righted herself with a hand on a wooden shelf and glanced down. The ugly pot of flowers and odd branch huddled behind a horseshoe set. Goosebumps rose on her biceps. Who had put those in the garage?
Danny. Had to be. She hadn’t told Jed about the flowers.
She rubbed her arms and turned away. One afternoon. That’s all she was asking. One afternoon to recharge. Maybe if she cleared her head for the next few hours, she’d think of other options to deal with the mess her life had become.
And figure out how to identify her blackmailer.
The tall cabinet that held her personal outdoor gear stood in the rear corner. Mandy twirled the combination lock and opened the doors. She selected two rods, grabbed her fly box and a few other odds and ends, and loaded it all into the back of her wagon. By the time she’d finished, Danny came out the back door, cooler in hand. With a wistful glance at his convertible, he climbed into the passenger seat.
Mandy started the engine. “No offense, but your car doesn’t look like it would handle going off-road.”
“I’m sure it wouldn’t. The car is more sentimental than practical. My brother Conor and I rebuilt it together when I was in high school.”
“Sounds like you two are close.”
“We are. He and Pat, he’s the oldest, tried to fill in for my parents as best they could.”
Danny’s life had been filled with hardship, too. No easy road for him or his siblings. But the Sullivans seemed determined to bask in whatever sunlight they could find during the lulls in the darkness. She envied their strength and their bond.
Could Mandy learn to squeeze lemonade out of the rotten fruit life threw at her?
She drove out of town. With all the work that waited and all the happenings, was she crazy to be taking a day off? And spending it with Danny, no less. The one man she should be avoiding. But instead of doing wha
t she should, she was driving off into the woods alone with him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Danny got out of the car. Mandy had parked at the end of a rutted lane of weeds and dirt. The rush of water dominated the soundscape, with a backdrop of chirps, tweets, and rustles. Twenty yards in front of the car, the river swept through the forest. Clumps of boulders ranging in size from basketball to Buick broke up the flow. Water eddied around them in frothy swirls.
He grabbed the picnic basket from the backseat and followed Mandy to the riverbank. She carried the fishing gear to the water’s edge.
“Which waterway is this?” The river turned forty-five degrees and created a dog-legged V in front of them. He spread a blanket on the soft grass where the woods curved around the small clearing.
“The Long River.” She dropped a small box and a net in the tall weeds next to the fly rods.
The trees blocked the breeze, and the sun warmed Danny’s skin. Scanning the trees and river, he peeled off his sweatshirt and pulled his Hard Rock T-shirt back down over his stomach. Something pulled him back to Mandy. She flushed and turned her attention to her gear. Had she been checking out his abs? Nice. “Popular spot?”
“Not here. This is my special fishing hole.” Mandy fiddled around with the rods and reels and line and other things he couldn’t identify.
“What are you doing?”
“Just getting the lines ready.” She tied a fuzzy fake insect to a section of fishing line, then walked to the riverbank. Holding the line in one hand and the rod in the other, she whisked the tip back and forth. The line whipped smoothly through the air and soared across the water. It landed with a light plop on the moving water. She let it sink for a few seconds, tugged it a bit, let it sink some more. Then she reeled it in and repeated the motions. He watched her cast for a while. As she got into the flow and rhythm of her task, her face and posture relaxed. She smiled at him, her eyes lighting up. “Want to give it a try?”
“Sure.” Remembering the shooting lesson and all the touching involved, he sprang to his feet and joined her. The river flowed past with a quiet, peaceful rush. Mandy handed him the rod. His bandaged hand was limited to guiding the line, but his fingers weren’t trembling today. She gave him basic instructions and adjusted his grip, her fingers soft on his bare forearms.
Then she backed away. “Go ahead.”
Bummer. Fishing just got less fun, but he supposed standing next to a beginner flailing around with a sharp object wasn’t smart.
He managed a few weak attempts, but his bandaged hand got in the way. Not wanting a repeat of yesterday’s spasms, Danny lowered the rod. He was going to give this rest thing a fair trial. Maybe he needed to let his stubbornness go as well as his past anger. “Here, you take it back. I’ll try again after my hand is all healed up.” He turned.
Mandy was shrugging out of her bulky sweater. Oh, yeah. The gray T-shirt she wore underneath was snug, showcasing her tight little body. Her handgun was in its holster behind her right hip.
He put the rod down and joined her on the blanket in two strides. “I’m starving. How about we eat?”
“Good idea.” She knelt and opened the cooler. She pulled out a couple of bottles of water. “What did you pack?”
“Ham sandwiches, apples, some cheese.” Danny sat next to her and leaned over her shoulder. The scent of flowers wafting from her hair blended with the outdoor smells of grass and pine. Mandy fit in with the natural scene. She belonged here. They ate in silence. Danny didn’t taste any of his food. All of his attention was focused on the woman next to him.
Mandy gathered her trash and stuffed it back in the cooler. A wistful half smile tugged at her mouth—and Danny’s heart. He wanted to see her relaxed and happy all the time, not just for a single hour. “It’s such a beautiful day. I hate to go back.”
“There’s no rush.” He tugged on her hand, pulling her closer until their faces were only inches apart. Her eyes darkened, and everything inside Danny tightened. Need and longing filled him. She was so perfect. Wholesome and pure as the forest around them. Just being with her refreshed him. Yup. Axl Rose had it all right. Green grass and a pretty girl was all a man really needed.
He dipped his head and took her mouth, firmly this time, pouring his desire for her into the kiss. Instead of pulling away as he expected, she leaned in. Her weight toppled him. He fell backward. Laughing, she tumbled onto his chest.
“Oops. Sorry.” She smiled down at him.
Danny wrapped his arms around her and rolled until she was on her back. Her hair spread out behind her in a dark halo. “God, you’re beautiful.”
Her shy blush was a total turn-on.
He dipped his head and kissed her again. She opened her mouth to him, and his tongue plunged past her lips. The hot sweetness of her mouth made him want to taste other parts of her. And thinking of that threatened to short-circuit his brain.
Danny’s hand was on her breast before he could stop himself. Her soft moan surprised and delighted him. He slid his palm down to her waist and up under her shirt. More soft skin met his touch. He stroked up her back and released the catch on her bra. His hand swept around. Yes. Her breast filled his palm. She was perfect. Everywhere.
The next groan was his. “Let me see you.”
He tugged her shirt over her head and tossed the bra aside. Lying back on green plaid cotton, her nipples peaked for him. Sunlight played over her smooth, creamy skin.
“Don’t stop, please.” Her plea was breathless, excited, urgent.
No worries. Stopping was last thing on his mind. He started his tour of her body with his lips on her neck, paying attention to her soft, sexy moans to find all her most sensitive spots. Her pulse thrummed under his mouth on the delicate column just under her jaw.
Her hands pulled restlessly at his shirt. “I want to see you, too.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Danny peeled off his T-shirt. Her seeing and touching him was a fantastic idea. Her fingers were greedy on his chest. They roamed down his stomach. He sucked wind as she toyed with the waistband of his jeans. His erection practically jumped out of his pants toward her hand.
Need roared through him like a subway train, and his brain promptly shut down the whole thinking section.
He closed his mouth over her nipple. She arched toward him. He moved lower, hand skimming over her skin, mouth following. His tongue on her rib cage elicited a deep groan. Danny made a mental note. He unfastened her jeans. The quick catch of her breath urged him on. His hand delved inside to find her soft and slick and, God help him, totally ready.
A deep groan burst from her lips as he stroked her softest flesh.
Desire consumed him. He needed more. Her jeans slid off her hips. Danny pressed his face to her panties and breathed her in.
Still not enough.
His thumbs hooked her panties and drew them down her legs. He kissed his way back up her leg. Her body writhed as he licked the inside of her thigh to where he really wanted to be.
The taste of her nearly drove him over the edge.
“Danny…”
She didn’t have to say anything else. Danny was out of his pants and yanking a condom from his wallet in two seconds. He rolled onto her. The way she opened for him filled him with solid and steady warmth. Sliding inside her was like nothing he’d ever experienced. It was beyond sex. It was all-encompassing. Nothing existed in the world beyond the woman clinging to his body.
Danny moved back and pushed forward again. Mandy tightened around him. Pleasure pounded at the base of his spine.
This moment—with Mandy’s soft body under him, her passion-dark eyes locked on his, the sun warm on his back, the scents of the woods in his nose—was the closest thing to a religious experience he’d ever had. Everything but the choir of angels. He slowed his movements. He wanted this to last. Hell, he wanted this to last forever.
But nothing lasted forever. As he well knew, the best things in life were especially fleeting.
He made the
attempt anyway. He slowed his thrusts, drawing out the pleasure in long waves that swirled and ebbed like the rushing river. But Mandy’s body was having none of it. She bowed back. Shuddering around him, she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him even deeper. Bliss shimmered like sunlight. And that was it for him. He followed her over, helpless in the wake of her pleasure.
He fell forward, supporting his greater weight on his elbows. Her eyes were closed, her expression contented. A healthy flush colored her skin. Joy coursed through his heart. For the first time since he’d returned from Iraq, he felt healed, whole. No more ruined man.
Mandy’s eyes opened wide and turned horrified in one blink.
“I can’t believe we just did that.” Mandy looked around. The treetops waved at her. They were outside. Naked and outside. Naked and in a more-than-compromising position outside. She thought of the other things Danny had done to her in the great wide open.
“We’re outside.” She squirmed, but he pressed his hips against hers, pinning her down.
“Mmm. I know.” Danny pressed his lips to her collarbone. “It’s beautiful.”
“Someone could see.” She gripped the firm muscles of his shoulders with tense fingers.
He grinned down at her. “Like who?”
“Like anybody.”
“Honey, I doubt there’s another soul for miles. Relax. Enjoy.” Danny brought his mouth to her shoulder. The rasp of his chin brought a fresh round of delicious shivers to her belly. “You just made the great outdoors a whole lot more appealing.”
She craned her head over his shoulder. No one in sight. Probably no one anywhere nearby. Probably. “We have to get up and put clothes on.”
His traced the underside of her jaw with his tongue, bringing to mind other things he’d done with it. “Are you sure? Because I’d rather do it all over again.”
Something fluttered inside her. Not now. She tapped him on the back. “Danny.”
A sigh rolled through his body.
“All right, but I was really getting into this back-to-nature thing.” Danny levered his body off of her. She instantly missed the contact with his warm skin. Without the weight of him anchoring her, she felt adrift.
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