Sky of Dreams BN

by Jenna Jacob

  “I’m flattered, Thomas. Thank you. You’re just a regular knight in shining armor, aren’t you?” she asked, forcing a carefree laugh. Suddenly, Sky tore out of the room. Katie closed her eyes and focused on keeping her tone cold and contained…the way Thomas was used to hearing her. “You have no clue how utterly terrified I’ve been.”

  Her stomach threatened to expel the tiny bit of coffee she’d had, and she was way beyond ready to end the call. After supplying Thomas with directions to the town, he promised to call when he was near. Katie’s skin crawled at the hint of excitement in the man’s voice. Ending the call, she bolted outside to find Sky pacing circles inside the gazebo. Every muscle in his body seemed to be strained as if wanting to burst from beneath his flesh. As she raced toward him, he held out his hand.

  “Don’t,” he barked. “Don’t come any closer. Not right now.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Katie screeched. “What is wrong with you? I’m the one who had to play nice with the twit…why I still don’t know, but I did. I don’t want or need his protection…I don’t even know what the fuck is going on anymore.”

  “I could give a damn if he thinks he’s coming here to protect you or not.”

  “Then why are you so pissed?”

  “Because, if he killed Doug, that means you’ve been working alongside that cocksucker without knowing you were in danger. What the hell would have happened if you hadn’t come back? Would all this shit have gone down in Chicago without me ever having a chance to see you…be with you again?”

  Katie’s shoulders fell as the tension bled from her body. Easing inside the gazebo, she wrapped her arms around his waist. Though he’d stopped pacing, the fury was rushing from his nose like a racehorse after the Kentucky Derby. Sky’s whole body heaved.

  Laying her head on his chest, she closed her eyes and tried to subliminally calm him with a soft caress up and down his back. “Don’t go all crazy on me, chief. I’m here and I’m safe… I always will be with you.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  In each man’s heart there lies a hole. A dark abyss of need, the filling of which takes precedence over all else.

  -Kate Morton

  Sky couldn’t find his voice. Instead, he clutched Katie as if she were his last bastion of sanity. Whatever chain of events had led them to this dubious and surreal place in time, he vowed to secure a future with her. He damn well wasn’t willing to risk putting her in the path of another madman…if, indeed, her creative director was as fucking insane as Doug.

  Sky knew that Tuck—the manipulative son of a bitch—had something on Thomas. Why else would he insist that Katie invite her employee to Connor? Though he didn’t know the reason, Sky aimed to find out…and quick.

  With Katie’s slender arms banded around him, he was able to redirect his rage. The poor thing had run the gambit of emotions over the past few days. She didn’t need him coming unhinged to add to her list. Like a spring rain, Katie was either gentle and soothing or full of lightning and thunder. He’d always preferred thunderstorms but was thankful for the tender shower she now provided.

  Bending, he kissed the top of her head. “Why don’t you go upstairs, take a shower, and get dressed. I’ll throw some breakfast together for all the suits.”

  Katie looked up at him. A mischievous smile spread over her kissable lips. “Don’t lace their scrambled eggs with arsenic.”

  “If it will give us some time alone, like last night, I just might.”

  As she pulled away, Sky didn’t want to let her go. But he had several words to get off his chest for Tuck, and he couldn’t do that in front of her. Once inside, he watched as she climbed the stairs and waited until he heard the shower start before he turned and stormed into the kitchen.

  Without a word, he grabbed Tuck by the neck and lifted him from his seat. Simon drew his weapon and released the safety as Reed spit out the coffee in his mouth.

  “Put your gun away, Simon,” Tuck ordered.

  Surprisingly, Sky knew the agent wasn’t the least bit afraid.

  “Whitefeather.” Sky could tell by the tremor in Reed’s voice, though, he was. “Let him go. This won’t accomplish a damn thing.”

  “Not until we reach an understanding,” Sky hissed, glaring at Tuck.

  Smiling at the lack of fear in the young agent’s eyes, Sky suspected the man had seen too much in his years, or he possessed a pair of brass balls that would put most Marines to shame. Neither mattered to him as he held Tuck off the floor. “Under no circumstances will Katie be used as bait. If you want information or a confession from Thomas…give me ten minutes alone with him, and I’ll get you everything you need.”

  Tuck’s face had turned crimson. “Put me down,” he choked. “Or I won’t negotiate shit with you.”

  Sky released him with a shove. As he watched the white imprint of his fingers and thumb darken slowly, Tuck didn’t even raise a hand to his neck, but his blue eyes bore daggers into Sky’s. The two stared at one another as if at an impasse.

  “If you touch me again, Mr. Whitefeather, I’ll toss your ass in Leavenworth and throw away the key. Assaulting an agent is a federal offense.”

  “I’d gladly go if that’s what it takes to keep Katie alive,” Sky snarled.

  Tuck’s expression slightly softened. “I’ve read your file, Whitefeather. I know who you are and your unique talents. I also know you love Miss Grant more than life itself. I admire that kind of love, but I can’t allow emotions to fuck up the job I have to do.”

  “I can.”

  “Yes, but you seem to be under the impression that I have a different agenda from yours. I don’t. You and I want the same thing: to keep Katie alive and catch whoever killed Doug and Veronica.”

  “I thought Doug killed Veronica,” Sky challenged. He couldn’t help but wonder what other secrets the agent was keeping from him and Katie.

  “We did, too, until we got the DNA report back on her this morning. Doug didn’t touch her. His suitcase was in the backseat of his car. I doubt he even knew she was in his trunk at all.

  “You think Thomas put her there?”

  Tuck shrugged. “That’s what we need to find out. This whole thing reeks of corporate greed, and since Thomas reached out to Katie first, that makes him a person of great interest to me.”

  “His offer to come to protect her”—Sky let the words drip like acid off his tongue—“shocked even her. It tells me this is totally out of character for him…at least in her opinion.”

  “Yes, I read that in her reaction, as well. Either he’s in love with her or using her to get close to the investigation. My bet is it’s a little of both, but we’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Goddammit, I told you…you’re not using her as bait,” he snarled.

  “Look. You can either work with us or I can have you removed from the premises until the killer is in custody.”

  “Those aren’t options, asshole. They’re dictates.” Sky was ready to slam his fist through the prick’s face. “Figure out another way to get your man without using Katie. Do I make myself clear?” Sky glowered.

  Tuck exhaled a heavy sigh before his lips thinned into a tight line. “I can’t make that promise, Sky.”

  “Then you’d better find a way…and fast.”

  Tuck stepped in close, unintimidated by Sky’s size or his anger. “I don’t have time to placate a worried boyfriend. You’ve got skills we could use if you can get your head screwed on straight. We’ll both gladly take a bullet to keep Katie safe. Understood?” Compassion swam in the agent’s blue eyes. He was telling the truth. “I need you to work with me, because frankly your file is impressive.”

  “All right.” Sky nodded begrudgingly. “But if Thomas touches one hair on Katie’s head, he’s a dead man.”

  “Understood.” Tuck smirked. “All I ask is that you keep the witnesses to a minimum.”

  “Deal,” Sky replied, fighting back a grin.

  “Let me just state for the record,” R
eed began as he shook his head, “I was not present for any of the previous conversation, nor any subsequent ones that I might happen to overhear.”

  Sky chuckled and slapped Katie’s lawyer on the back. “Your plausible deniability has been duly noted.”

  He cocked his head and noticed the shower had stopped. “Shit,” he groused. “I told Katie I’d make us breakfast while she washed up.”

  “Is there a restaurant in Connor where we can get something to eat?” Reed asked.

  “There’s Sharp’s Café. But it will be packed, elbows to assholes, with people talking about the murders.” Sky scrubbed a hand through his hair. He’d been too worried about Katie to give thought to the gristmill going apeshit.

  “Then I guess we better make an appearance. Let them have the story straight from the horse’s mouth,” Tuck suggested.

  “Good luck convincing Katie of that,” Sky scoffed.

  “Convince me of what?” she asked, standing in the doorway looking both sexy and pensive.

  Sky advanced before dragging her into his arms. The sweet smell of her soap and her tempting, lilac perfume assaulted his senses. He closed his eyes and rested his chin on her head for a long second. “I got sidetracked talking to Tuck and didn’t get around to starting breakfast. He suggested we all go to Sharp’s instead.”

  He inched back in time to see her blanch and her throat work as she swallowed tightly. Painting on a semi-convincing smile, she nodded. “Sure, why not? I’ll have to show my face in town sometime. It’s probably best to get it over with sooner rather than later.”

  Sky wasn’t sure if Katie was brave or just plain crazy. They both knew she was offering herself up to the town like raw steak in a piranha tank.

  “I know how small towns work,” Tuck assured her. “I’ll answer any questions that are hurdled at you if you’d like.”

  “You’re on.” Katie nodded.

  Relief smoothed the tiny lines of tension around her mouth. Sky wished he could be so easily reassured, not only about the curious stares and whispers of his neighbors but the unknown that could play out when Thomas arrived.

  “Can we ask Gran and your family to join us, too?” she asked. “It might be best to show a united front, don’t you think?”

  “If that’s what you want, sure.” Sky nodded, feeling slightly more comfortable with the idea of Gran joining them. He knew from past experience that when Ione St. Clair was around, the disparaging comments and insults ceased to exist. “I’ll head down and ask if they’ll join us, but give me a couple minutes. I need to try and explain some of this to Nina first.”

  “Of course.” Katie nodded.

  “Why don’t we meet you there,” Tuck suggested. “My Explorer will hold the four of us.”

  Meaning him, Katie, Reed, and the other agent. “All right. But don’t go in until I get there. I want to be the one who walks her in.”

  “I’m not a dog on a leash, you two,” she chastened.

  The barely perceptible quiver in her voice told Sky that Katie would rather streak down the gravel road naked than waltz into Sharp’s today. She was gaining back her gumption, and seeing her fearless side warmed his heart. Even if it was only on the outside, it was a start.

  “Sorry,” Sky replied with a sheepish grin. “I don’t want you having to face the town alone is all.”

  “I appreciate that. I’ll wait for you.” Turning, Katie looked at Tuck. “Can we stop by the bank first? I need to sign some signature cards.”

  “Sure,” the detective replied.

  “That can wait until Gran or I are with you,” Sky groaned.

  She shook her head. “I’ll be all right. If I can survive Hazel’s interrogation, Sharp’s will be a walk in the park.”

  The fact that Katie felt the need to defend herself irked Sky. Dammit. He wanted to be the one to protect her. “All right, but don’t let her—”

  “I’ll try not to give her too much of my mind. Like you’ve already told me, it would only be wasted, anyway.” Katie stroked a hand down his chest.

  His heart sped up and his cock stirred at her touch. He caught her wrist and drew her hand to his lips before placing a kiss on her palm. “If she says one word out of line, tell her to go fuck herself.”

  Katie scoffed. “I’m a big girl, chief. I’ll be fine. That old witch doesn’t scare me.” She rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him softly. “Besides, I’ve got the FBI for bodyguards. Go gather the rest of the reinforcements. We’ll meet you at Sharp’s in a few.”

  Her tone, more forceful and resolute, granted him the encouragement to leave her in Tuck’s care. Still, he wasn’t keen on the idea of Katie facing Hazel alone. The bank president reminded him of the Wicked Witch of the West. Ever since he was a child, Sky had suspected the old bat kept a hoard of flying monkeys in the bank vault, waiting for any excuse to release them and gather up all the people Hazel didn’t like.

  After kissing her once more, he hurried across the road. As Gran and his mom gathered up their purses, he sat next to Nina on the couch. Aiming to minimize the details, he pondered what to say as he tied the pink laces on her tennis shoes.

  “I’m glad you’re home, Daddy. Gramma telled me that a bad man hurted one of Miss Katie’s friends and now there are lots of men like Devin helping her. ’Cept they wear regalar clothes in case the bad man comes back, so he won’t know they’re the po-po.”

  “Know they’re the what?” Sky bit back a laugh.

  “Po-po. That’s what Suzie at playgroup calls Devin,” Nina explained with a grin.

  “We’ll just stick to calling him Devin, all right?”

  “Okay.” Nina bounded off the couch and raced toward the front door.

  Well, that was easy.

  Once they were loaded in the truck, Sky sped toward town. Anxiety to see that Katie was all right had his foot weighing heavily on the accelerator. Parking next to Tuck’s black SUV, Sky smiled in relief when Katie turned and gave him a fluttering wave of her fingers. A triumphant smile spread over her face, and a glimmer of mischief danced in her eyes. She’d been up to no good at the bank. He knew it.

  As they exited their respective vehicles, Sky slid a hand to Katie’s elbow and pulled her in close. “What happened?”

  A wicked little chuckle rolled off the back of her throat. “The first question out of Hazel’s mouth was if you’d killed Doug.”

  “Of course.” Sky chuckled. “I’ve always been a red-skinned savage in her eyes. You know that.”

  “Oh, god, it pissed me off. I slapped my hand on her desk and laid into her. Shamed her for calling herself a Christian yet having such a narrow mind. I got all preachy,” Katie said with a chuckle. “Then I threatened to pull every penny out of the bank and open accounts in Marshalltown. I thought the old biddy was going to stroke out. Hazel turned white and started sputtering, tripping all over herself in apology. She actually had the nerve to tell me she didn’t really believe all the rumors that were flying around town. That’s when I called her a liar.”

  Sky couldn’t help but laugh. “We both know exactly who started those rumors.”

  “Indeed. So I called her on it. I told her that I knew she was the one who’d started the lies and she’d better retract all her slanderous stories or I’d sue her. I introduced her to my lawyer, Mr. Landes, and said that he was bored and would love to spend his time filing a defamation of character suit against her. Hazel was on the phone, calling all her cronies before we’d even left the bank.”

  “Good girl,” Sky praised.

  He kissed her hard before sliding a protective arm around her waist and led her inside the café.

  ~*~

  All eyes turned her way as Katie breached the doorway. The cacophony of conversation came to a screeching halt. She let out a little growl.

  “Oh, lord,” Gran exhaled on a heavy sigh.

  Raising her chin up a notch, she scanned the tables, looking for a place to sit. Suddenly, from the back of the room, Joe Brock stood. His weatherwo
rn face lined in a serious expression while his grey eyes shimmered with concern.

  “Come on, boys, let’s push some empty tables together so our friends have a place to sit,” he instructed the regular group of farmers with him.

  With his gaze pinned on Gran, Joe started toward them as a slow, friendly smile spread across his face. Extending his hand, he introduced himself to Tuck, Reed, and Simon, then nodded toward the available seats his friends had arranged.

  Reaching up, the old man cupped Katie’s cheek. “I still have a peppermint stick in my pocket. It might make you feel better, sweetheart.” He smiled as he patted the pocket of his shirt.

  Tears stung the backs of her eyes. When she was a little girl, she and Gran would go to Sharp’s once a week for ice cream. Joe and his farmer buddies were always there, sitting at the exact same table, drinking coffee. Every time he left, Joe would stop by, say hello to Gran, and pull a peppermint stick out of his shirt pocket for Katie.

  She wrapped her arms around his broad chest and hugged Joe fiercely. “Thank you. You’re a good man,” she whispered in his ear.

  “I’m just an old farmer…you’re the amazing one, Katie-Beth,” he whispered back. “I have to know…how’s Ione holding up, child?”

  A tiny smile tugged Katie’s lips. “Ask her yourself, you old fool.” Joe released her with a wide-eyed look of surprise. “You two aren’t getting any younger. Come on. Get the lead out. You need to make your move.”

  She bit her lips together to keep from laughing at Joe’s stunned reaction. With a nod of understanding, he sucked in a deep breath and puffed out his chest as he made his way to Gran.

  “Can I escort you to your table, Ione?” he asked, extending his elbow to her.

  A blush crawled up Gran’s cheeks as she hastily shifted her pocketbook to her other hand and took Joe’s arm.

  Once she was seated, he bent and whispered something in Gran’s ear. Her eyes grew wide as she turned and looked up at him. Without a word, he simply tipped his hat, then turned. Like a cocksure rooster, he strutted back to his table and joined his friends. Gran stared at the table as if in shock. Her hands trembled, and a tiny smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. Katie was dying to know what he’d said to her, but would hold off her own interrogations until they got back home. Darting a glance at Sky, she could tell he, too, had seen the exchange and was grinning like a cat with a bowl full of cream.