Redwood

by Janie Crouch

  He wanted Mac to say the words, was honest enough with himself to know he’d be pursuing her like it was his full-time job if Mac said she was one of his own.

  And he’d damn well be discovering why she’d stolen Gavin’s wallet rather than calling Mac to come help her.

  And why those green eyes, with their deep, dark shadows, were way too sad.

  He wanted Mac to say she was family so that Gavin could let down his guard. Then he could look at her like a man looked at a woman, not like a sheriff looked at a potential suspect.

  God, he wanted that.

  “Tell me she’s family, Mac.” His words were almost a plea.

  Mac was quiet for a long minute. “She’s someone who needs a second chance, and she’s welcome here.”

  Gavin could almost taste the disappointment that pooled in his gut.

  Lexi wasn’t family—blood or otherwise—to Mac.

  Which meant Gavin wasn’t released from his duty to protect the people of this town from potential harm—which she might bring.

  Mac might welcome Lexi Johnson here, and she might need a second chance, but there was one thing Gavin knew for certain.

  She was a woman with secrets, and secrets could be deadly.

  “There is nowhere else for you to go, so you’re not going to run.”

  Lexi stared at her reflection in Mac’s tiny personal bathroom attached to his office in the back of the kitchen. She swallowed the panic threatening to consume her.

  Was it really possible that her luck could be this bad? That the man she’d stolen from in an act of desperation was the actual sheriff—or acting sheriff, whatever that meant—of the town where she’d had no choice but to make her home?

  An unfamiliar face looked back at her from the mirror. Between the broken nose eighteen months ago that hadn’t healed correctly and the makeup caked on that changed the entire appearance of her chin and cheeks, she was looking at a different person.

  That was the point, wasn’t it?

  The only thing she hadn’t been able to change was her eyes, so distinctly green. She’d tried wearing contacts but they’d bothered her eyes so much she’d looked like she was crying, which had drawn more attention than her eye color ever would.

  But the person staring back at her was a stranger in more than just appearance. It was the fear that permeated the air around her and leaked out of her pores that made her seem so unfamiliar, even to herself.

  That fear was such a constant companion now that she should be used to it. But she wasn’t. She’d spent her whole life being strong, and now she was terrified of damned near everything.

  Especially that sheriff sitting out in the bar now, Gavin Zimmerman. She’d remembered his name every day, even when she’d wanted to forget it. Remembered his face. Remembered the warmth of his body as his arms had wrapped around her.

  Everything in her told her to run now. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t afford the time it would take to reestablish herself somewhere else. She had money she owed that would cost her her life if it wasn’t repaid.

  Plus where was she going to go? Mac had given her a job here without any questions, based on his grandnephew’s request. Nobody else was going to do that. And even though her ID was supposed to hold up through an electronic search, she didn’t want to take the chance.

  She couldn’t run.

  She gripped the sink in front of her to stop her hands shaking.

  “You’re tired. You know the crash is coming, but you have to hang on,” she told her reflection.

  She’d been pushing herself too hard, and her body was about to give out. This wasn’t anything new. Her battle with insomnia had started more than a decade ago, and it wasn’t something that had changed when her life had fallen apart a year and a half ago.

  She wouldn’t sleep until eventually her body shut down. But she couldn’t let it happen here. “You’ve made it through worse, and you’ll make it through this. You’re not going to run. You’re going to go out there and find a way to work the problem.”

  That was the full extent of her motivational speech.

  She forced herself out of the kitchen bathroom and back out onto the main floor of the bar.

  She didn’t have any money saved up yet, but maybe she could offer Gavin the tips she’d made today. It might mean she only ate peanut butter sandwiches for the rest of the week, but maybe the peace offering would be enough. Maybe he wouldn’t tell Mac what she’d done, wouldn’t arrest her.

  She was thankful that Amber, the other weekend-shift waitress, had already gotten Gavin and his friends their beers. Lexi went over to the other side of the room to take orders. Distance wouldn’t save her if Gavin decided to get out his kinky sheriff handcuffs, but she could at least stay out of his direct line of sight.

  Until she saw Gavin talking to Mac a few minutes later. Should she go over there and defend herself? Should she run out the door?

  Honestly, she wasn’t sure how much Mac knew about her. He hadn’t studied her face when they’d first met, like he was trying to meld together who she was now with who she had been. Mac didn’t seem like the type of man who watched a lot of entertainment news, so he might not be aware of her entire situation.

  But then again, his grandnephew Markus, the one who’d arranged this job for Lexi, had been part of her life for years as a member of her security team. So even though she looked completely different, Mac had to have an idea of who she was.

  But if he did, he hadn’t said anything to her. And she’d been thankful for it. And honestly, maybe Mac truly thought she was just an old friend of the grandnephew he hadn’t seen in years but had been willing to do a favor for.

  She watched Mac talking to Gavin now, pressing a fist against her stomach, willing her body to calm down. If Mac told Gavin about her tie to Markus, she had no doubt Gavin would dig deeper. And if he put pictures of Alexandra Adams and Lexi Johnson side by side, there was no way he wouldn’t be able to tell she was the same woman.

  No matter how many times she broke her nose, no matter how skillfully she applied contouring makeup, there was no hiding it.

  So much of her life was out of her control. All it would take was one deep breath and this house of cards would collapse everywhere.

  But she was an actress. And she could at least act like she wasn’t about to vomit and run out the door. She made the drink order for a couple who’d just come in and walked it over to their table. She forced herself to put on a smile and act like nothing was wrong.

  She kept that smile on her face for the rest of her shift, staying far away from Gavin and his friends. When they finally left, with not another word from Gavin and no side-eye glances from Mac, she could finally breathe.

  At least for tonight.

  It wasn’t until the end of her shift, as she was gathering glasses to run through the industrial dishwasher, that Mac caught her, helping her stack them in the crate.

  “You’re looking a lot less sickly since the Linear Tactical boys left. I suppose you know they were asking about you. Gavin Zimmerman in particular.”

  Yeah, she knew. But she forced a neutral expression onto her face. “Was he?”

  “He’s afraid you may be taking advantage of me. May be trying to get control of the bar and cut me out of the profits or some such shit. Wanted to know how we knew each other.”

  She closed her eyes for a second before pushing the pan of dishes into the metal box and closing the door. She’d thought she was safe, but maybe she wasn’t.

  “Did you tell them about Markus?”

  Did you tell them your grandnephew used to be my bodyguard when I was a face anyone would recognize? Until I almost got two people killed and ended up in jail myself?

  That would end her stay in Oak Creek pretty quickly.

  Mac leaned back against the counter. “No, I figured I didn’t actually owe them any insight into my personal business, especially since they were insinuating that I couldn’t make my own good decision. People around
here are too damn nosy. And it’s none of their business how I know you. So no, I didn’t mention Markus or how he might have known you in a previous profession.”

  Her shoulders sagged as she slid the other crate of dishes that had just come out of the washer down the counter so they could cool. “That makes my life a lot easier, so I appreciate it.” She shook her head. “You know they’re just looking out for you, right? They’re not trying to be nosy.”

  Mac let out a grumpy sigh. “I don’t need looking out for. It’s not like you’re going to steal all the plates and glasses and run off.”

  “Of course not. That’s crazy talk.” She winked at him. “I’d take the silverware. That’s much easier to carry.”

  He let out a laugh, but then it trailed off. “Look, I don’t know your story, and I don’t need to know it in order for you to work here. Markus is a good man. I don’t see him much, but I know he’s always been honorable and hard working.”

  “Yes he is,” she whispered. Markus had been a good friend to her when she’d least deserved it.

  “I’m not one to keep up on Hollywood gossip, so I’m not exactly sure what happened in your situation. But the way I see it, it’s none of my business. Markus said you needed a job and somewhere to lie low, and I had both of those things to offer, so here we are. You’re helping me by taking some of the workload off, and maybe I’m helping you by giving you what you need.”

  She nodded. “Thank you, Mac. I promise I’ll do a good job. All I want is the chance to rest. Just for a minute. A chance to catch my breath. Then eventually, I’ll be moving on.” She would have to. She wouldn’t be safe here forever.

  “Believe it or not, I said something very similar when I wandered into this town more than fifty years ago. Different time, different set of troubles, but I recognize that look in your eyes because I’ve seen it before when I looked in the mirror. I never planned on staying here, yet here I am. Better be careful that doesn’t happen to you too. Oak Creek has a way of growing on people.”

  She hoisted up the tray of clean dishes and walked toward the door to the dining room. “I’m fairly certain that’s never going to happen. Not that Sheriff Zimmerman would allow it anyway.”

  “Gavin is also a good man. He tends to take things a little too seriously—even his temporary job as sheriff. He’s a protector, will fight tooth and nail against any potential threat to what he cares about, including this town.”

  Lexi walked out to put the dishes away without saying anything. That was exactly what she was afraid of.

  5

  “So that jacket does exist. Gray with cream collar and cuffs. I’d wondered if you’d made that up, too, after I’d spent twenty minutes inside the bar looking for it last week.”

  Two nights later, Lexi wasn’t surprised to hear Gavin’s voice as she came around the corner of the Eagle’s Nest from the back door after her shift. He was waiting for her in the parking lot, leaning against his black SUV, long legs stretched out in front of him.

  The only thing that surprised her was that he’d waited two more days for this showdown rather than having it out with her the first night.

  Which was fortunate, considering her body had well and truly crashed after that night. She’d made it home, vomited everywhere, then fallen into one of her insomnia comas, sleeping for thirteen hours straight.

  Everything about her insomnia was brutal on her body, but the hours right before the crash were the worst. At least she wasn’t at that low place now.

  Maybe tonight she was more equipped to handle him.

  He folded his arms over his impressive chest and stared her down with those deep brown eyes. God, he was so alpha male and sexy.

  Maybe she wasn’t any more equipped to handle him tonight.

  She cleared her throat so she could talk. “Yep, this jacket does, in fact, exist.”

  He didn’t move or say anything, so she studied him. Still as mouthwatering as he’d been in that bar. Strong jaw. Wide shoulders. An aura of confidence so strong it was almost palpable. It had been there in the bar and was here now too.

  But he wasn’t giving off the protective vibes he had been last week. Now he was polite, but guarded. Not going to let her fool him twice.

  “What are you doing here, Lexi Johnson?”

  She’d been expecting that question from the moment she’d seen him two days ago. Had known it would be coming. So she wasn’t flippant—didn’t blow him off with some sarcastic answer. “I’m working. I needed a job.”

  “And Oak Creek, barely on the map, was the only place you could find to do that?”

  She shrugged. “Mac needed someone to help run the place, and I didn’t want to be in a city anymore.”

  She waited for him to press. He was right. There was no logical reason for her to come to Oak Creek for a waitressing job, even if she didn’t want to be in a city. Jobs like these were everywhere in every town.

  But he didn’t press. He just stood there, studying her in that calm, thorough way of his. Steady. She barely resisted the urge to squirm. She needed to see this out, or he was never going to leave her alone.

  “You’re quite the actress, you know.”

  She froze. Everything inside turned brittle, like a flick of a finger would shatter her into pieces. Had he figured out who she was? Did he suspect but wasn’t sure?

  She was careful to keep her face completely neutral. “So I’ve been told.”

  “Told by other people you stole from or folks in general?”

  He didn’t know. Thank God.

  “Look.” She took a step forward, knowing closer wasn’t the safest place to be. She wished she’d driven here so she could get into her car and avoid talking to him altogether, but her apartment was only a few blocks away, so it had seemed pointless. “I’m sorry about last week. I had a flat tire, and I didn’t have enough money to fix it and get gas for the rest of the way here. I’ll pay you back.”

  He shook his head and pushed off from his car. “It’s not about the money. Hell, I would’ve given you the money if you’d let me know you needed it, even though you were a stranger. Why didn’t you call Mac and have him come get you?”

  Because she’d never met Mac, but she couldn’t tell Gavin that. “I don’t have a phone.”

  He cocked his head sideways. “You don’t have a phone?”

  Shit. She was making it worse. Who didn’t have a phone nowadays? Was she supposed to tell him that she’d deliberately run over hers with her car because she’d been convinced that’s how a stalker kept finding her? That he was tracing her phone in some way?

  That was going to lead to more questions.

  She swallowed. “I thought I would wait until I got settled here and get one.”

  “I see.”

  He didn’t see. Not at all. But that was for the best.

  He was still standing there studying her, as if he could will her to tell him all her secrets.

  Sorry, handsome. My secrets are my own.

  “Are you going to arrest me, Sheriff?” she finally asked. “I sort of assumed you would’ve already done that if you were going to. Unless you like prolonging my agony—keeping me on edge.”

  He took another step closer. She should back away, but she didn’t want to. He didn’t scare her—she knew down to her bones Gavin Zimmerman wouldn’t do her any bodily harm.

  But that didn’t mean he wasn’t a danger to her. To her peace of mind.

  She still didn’t back away.

  “Do you intend to steal anything else?” he finally asked in that deep, husky voice that did things to her she didn’t want to acknowledge.

  “No.”

  “Then, no, I’m not going to arrest you.” He didn’t sound entirely thrilled with the statement.

  “Then I’m going to go home.” Now she backed away. She needed some distance from him before she did something stupid, like close the space between them and kiss him.

  “You’re staying on top of the realtor’s office, right?
Mac mentioned it. I can give you a ride.”

  She took another step back. He might not have any intention of arresting her, but she wasn’t a hundred percent sure he wouldn’t drive her out of the state if she got into a vehicle with him.

  “It’s only a couple of blocks. I’ll walk.”

  “I’ll come with you then.”

  “It’s not necessary, Sheriff.” She started walking. “Most of the children are already in bed asleep, so I can’t lure them into my stranger-danger van with promises of candy and puppies.”

  To her surprise, he let out a low chuckle as he fell in step beside her. “I’ll stick around in case you find a bank you’re tempted to rob. Not to mention, even in a town the size of Oak Creek, the buddy system is never a bad idea.”

  She glanced over at him. “Are you sure someone kidnapping me wouldn’t solve some of your problems?”

  “Nah. Too much paperwork.”

  Sexy, a gentleman, plus a sense of humor under all that gruffness? That didn’t seem fair. They walked silently through the parking lot toward the main section of town.

  “Will you tell me where you’re from if I ask?”

  She needed to handle this delicately. If she hid too much—information most people wouldn’t mind sharing—it would just make him more curious. She definitely wanted to avoid that. She needed to tell him something.

  She decided to go with the truth. The fewer lies she told, the fewer she had to remember.

  “I’ve spent most of my life in either California or North Carolina.”

  “East and West Coast. Winter is going to be quite a bit different here than either of those places. I hope you have a heavier coat than that.” He reached over and tugged on her sleeve.

  She didn’t but planned to outfit herself in more Wyoming-appropriate clothes as soon as she had the cash to do so. Getting anywhere financially was slow given the monthly installments she had to pay on the ID she’d purchased. She barely had enough left for food and necessities. Forget any sort of clothing splurge.

  “I’ll get one.”

  “Do it soon. Winter can close in faster than you think around here. We’ve been known to have snowstorms in November.”