by HELEN HARDT
“I’m over it. Though I suffered quite a few black eyes and bruises courtesy of Daddy.”
I paused a moment. Then, “Were there ever any marks on Riley?”
“Are you kidding? Of course not. She was his angel.”
No marks. At least not where he would have seen them. Nausea clawed up my throat. Reid and Roy truly didn’t know what he’d done to our sister. Or perhaps they didn’t want to know. Perhaps they were so clouded with their own envy that they refused to see.
But I saw. The bastard had beat me black and blue many times before I found him sneaking into Riley’s room at night. I hadn’t refused to see. In fact, I’d taken the situation into my own hands.
That had been my downfall.
A fourteen-year-old on the cusp of maturity, testosterone coursing through my veins. I’d let the rage and anger take control, and I’d acted without thinking.
I’d paid dearly for it…and so had my baby sister.
Apparently so had my brothers.
Because of my rash decision in the heat of the moment, all four of us had suffered.
And Derek Wolfe was never going to let me forget that. He made sure of that with his last earthly action—forcing me to take control of his company or my siblings would suffer.
He knew I’d do it, because he knew my actions had already caused them to suffer. I wouldn’t allow it to happen again.
He knew I’d do it because I was a good man at heart.
And that meant…
Holy shit.
That meant Derek Wolfe thought I was a good man. Better than he had ever been.
I’ll be damned.
Lacey had once said that maybe he’d put me in charge because he felt I was the best person for the job. She was still wrong. But my father had been sure of one thing. The choice would be mine. Either I would suffer, or my siblings would. He didn’t care one way or the other, but he was betting on me. He knew what I’d done for my baby sister all those years ago, and what it had cost me. He assumed I’d pay the price again to save my siblings.
My father might be a malicious bastard, but surely he didn’t want his company sold off.
On the other hand, he didn’t seem to really give a crap about any of his children, even his little princess. If he had, he wouldn’t have abused her the way he did.
I rolled my eyes. I was overthinking this. Here I was, trying to make sense of what my father had done and why he’d done it, when the task was impossible. The man had been a weasel. He’d done it because it would fuck us all over.
He’d done it because he could.
How such a sociopathic freak had been an A-plus businessman was beyond me.
But he had been. The best. Big shoes for me to fill.
The thought made me nauseated all over again. I was a week in, and I still had no clue what I was doing. Thank God for Reid.
Reid. He was so misguided. He’d called Riley a spoiled brat, for God’s sake. In his mind she was, just taking off whenever she wanted, everything else be damned. Maybe it was time to tell him the truth. Tell him why I’d really been sent away.
It all sat on the tip of my tongue…
But it was Riley’s story to tell. Not mine.
“Listen,” I finally said to Reid. “We’ll figure this all out. Roy knows something, and we’ll have to get him to tell us. But I’m absolutely sure he had nothing to do with Dad’s death.”
“I’m sure too,” Reid agreed.
“Then tell the detective to go fuck himself. If he wants information from Roy, he can go to Roy. If he wants information from me, he can wait until I get back to town.”
“Good enough,” Reid said. “Sorry to bug you on a Saturday morning, bro. Have a nice time.”
“I’ll try. See you.” I ended the call and returned to the kitchen.
Lacey wasn’t there. Her empty plate was in the sink but her cup was missing. Had she gone to take a shower? No, her hair had been wet when she came in to breakfast. Where was she? This cabin wasn’t that big.
I walked outside in my bare feet. There she was, roaming around the cabin in her jeans and flip flops and sipping her cup of coffee. She looked relaxed. Relaxed and beautiful, as if she belonged here.
But Lacey was a city girl. This was all new to her. Strange, because she looked as at home here as I felt.
If only…
If only we never had to go back. If only we could stay here forever, just the two of us, escape the rat race life of Manhattan.
Why was I thinking in terms of “we”? I was an “I” type of guy. I’d already told Lacey we didn’t have a relationship. Truth was, though, I’d lied to her. Moreover, I’d lied to myself. I wanted to be with her. With Lacey.
She wasn’t as beautiful as Nieves, but Lacey’s allure was inside as well as outside. And she was strong. Strong and brilliant and challenging. All of those virtues added to her simple beauty.
I watched her as she stooped to pick a wildflower. I watched as she brought it to her nose and inhaled. I watched as she tucked it behind her ear.
I watched, mesmerized.
She turned then, and smiled when our gazes met. “I can see why you love it here so much. It’s simply beautiful.”
I nodded and walked to her, taking her hand. “You’re beautiful.”
Rosiness swept over her cheeks.
“You must know how beautiful you are, Lacey.”
“Not like Nieves.”
“Nieves is nothing compared to you.” I knelt down, picked another blue flower, and placed this one behind her other ear. “You look like a garden nymph, with your hair down around your shoulders. You should be wearing a wreath of baby’s breath on your head and a long flowing skirt over those amazing hips.”
“You think I look like a hippie?”
“No, not a hippie.” Hadn’t she heard me? “A garden nymph. Or a goddess of the woods.”
“That’s sweet.” She giggled. “But you don’t look like a god of the woods. You look like a dark god. A god of war or something like that.”
“Do I? You think I look evil?”
“No. Not at all.” She giggled again. “But your tan skin and your nearly black hair, and then those piercing green eyes that stare at me as if they’re dissolving my clothes with some kind of laser ray but could also stare down anything in the universe. You’re so strong, Rock. You look like you could overcome anything in your way.”
“You see all that in me? Because I have dark hair?”
“It’s not just your hair, silly. It’s your looks, yes, but it’s all of you. Your personality, your demeanor, the way you make me want to do anything to please you.” She blushed again. “I shouldn’t have said that last part.”
My heart raced, and my cock hardened. But more than either of those, emotion burst through me like holiday carols.
I felt good.
More than good.
I felt…happy.
Damn.
Even in the face of the shitstorm that had currently overtaken my life, I fucking felt happy.
Not that I hadn’t been content before. I loved my life here. Working outdoors, riding, hunting, sitting by my fire on a chilly evening.
I’d been content since I’d arrived in Montana all those years ago.
But happiness, true happiness, had eluded me.
Until now.
Now, when I had to leave my home and do a job I hated, deal with my family, worry over my little sister…I’d found happiness.
I never thought another person could be the key to happiness.
Indeed, I still didn’t think that. It wasn’t Lacey so much as Lacey and me together. The two of us. That made me happy. I’d been worried about Riley, and I’d hardly touched Lacey since we arrived here, yet still I felt complete in a strange and content way, just because of her presence.
Damn.
I wasn’t sure I had it in me to actually do a relationship. I’d been holding back. I knew that. I wanted her so much, ached for her…
Loved her.
I fucking loved this woman who I’d known for so little time.
I opened my mouth to actually say the words, but before I could, a police car drove up.
42
Lacey
Warmth coursed through me. Rock was staring at me with something new in his eyes. The lust, yes, but something almost…reverent.
I shivered, tensed, and shivered again, until he opened his mouth.
“What the…?” he said.
I turned. A police car drove slowly up Rock’s cobblestone driveway. My heart sank. We’d been about to have a moment. I was sure of it.
I sighed. Probably something to do with his father’s murder. But why here in Montana? The crime had occurred in New York.
“Wait here,” Rock said and walked toward the squad car.
A uniformed deputy stepped out. “Mr. Wolfe? Rock Wolfe?”
“Yes, that’s me. What can I do for you?”
“We’re looking for a Lacey Ward.”
My stomach dropped. What did they want with me?
“Is that her?” the officer asked.
“Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t,” Rock said. “What do you want with her?”
“She’s wanted for questioning in a murder case in New York. We’ve been asked to make sure she returns to New York right away.”
“I’m Lacey Ward,” I said, approaching. “Unless you’re here to arrest me, you can tell the department in New York that I’ll be back on Tuesday.”
“We’re not here to arrest you, ma’am, but apparently you’ve become a person of interest in the murder of Derek Wolfe.”
“That’s my father,” Rock said. “Lacey had nothing to do with anything. You heard her. She’ll be back on Tuesday, and I’m sure she’ll cooperate with the NYPD at that time.”
“Ma’am, they need to talk to you right away.”
“Have they heard of a phone?”
“They’ve asked—”
I held up my hand to stop his words. “I won’t be talking to anyone without an attorney present, and I won’t be able to get counsel until Tuesday anyway, since this is a holiday weekend.”
“Listen,” Rock said. “Lacey here is an attorney herself, and I know a setup when I see it. This has my mother written all over it.”
“Your mother?” I said.
“Yeah. Connie’s trying to pull something here. She got the NYPD to call the county sheriff out here to harass us. I haven’t quite figured out why yet. I already agreed to give her the money she wanted. After all, she was married to the louse.”
“Look,” the deputy said. “All I know is I’m supposed to get you back for questioning.”
“Not without arresting me,” I said adamantly.
“You heard the lady,” Rock said.
“Then I’ll have to arrest you.”
“On what grounds?”
“Accessory to murder.”
My mouth dropped open. “What?”
“You heard me, ma’am.” He pulled out his handcuffs. “You have the right to remain silent—”
“This is bullshit,” Rock said. “Who paid you off? My mother?”
“Are you suggesting I’ve been bribed, sir?”
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. Whatever she paid you, I’ll double it. Lacey had nothing to do with any of this.”
“He’s right. I drew up Derek Wolfe’s will,” I said. “That’s it. Ask anyone. You have no probable cause to arrest me on any grounds.”
“You look like a nice person,” he said. “I’m just doing my job.”
My heart beat like rapid thunderclaps against my sternum. Why was this happening? Numbly, I held out my hands. As the cuffs clicked in place, I held back a heave.
“You have the right to remain silent,” he said again. “Anything you choose to say can and will be held against you. You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. Do you understand these rights as I’ve stated them?”
“Uncuff her.” Rock’s low voice came from behind me.
The deputy’s eyes widened and his eyebrows nearly flew off his forehead.
I turned.
Rock was pointing a pistol right at the deputy. When had he gone in to get it? I’d been so busy freaking out over the potential arrest, I hadn’t noticed.
“Sir, put that gun down.”
“I will not. Uncuff her. She’ll be back in New York on Tuesday. Until then, she’s not going anywhere.”
“I’ll have to arrest both of you, then.”
“You’re funny. Give it your best shot. I’m the one holding the gun here.”
The deputy twitched his hand slightly.
“Don’t even think about going for your own,” Rock said. “I’ll have a bullet in your shoulder before you’re halfway there.”
“Rock,” I said swiftly. “Think about what you’re doing here.”
I said no more. I didn’t want to give the deputy any more ideas. Although there were no grounds for arresting me, Rock had just given them grounds to arrest him.
Pulling a gun on a cop. What was he thinking?
“Lacey is as innocent as a lamb. Now what’s it going to take for you to walk out of here and pretend no one was home?”
“More than you’ve got, living out here.”
“I knew you were dirty.” Rock snickered. “I’ve got way more than my mother, who I’m pretty sure is the brains behind this stupidity.”
“Don’t insinuate—”
“Please. This lady is a lawyer and a damned good one. She’d never get involved in killing my father on any level. How much did my mother pay you?”
The deputy sighed and unlocked my handcuffs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, you don’t.” Once I was free of the cuffs, Rock continued. “Step back, Lacey.”
“Rock, I—”
“Step back,” he said again, this time more commanding.
“You know I’m calling for backup as soon as I get back into my car.”
“Do I look like a moron to you? Of course you will. And whoever comes this way will get an earful about how you were bribed.”
“That’s your word against mine.”
“I think I’ll get them to see my side of things,” Rock said. “Depends on how much of a chance you want to take.”
“Rock—”
“Lacey, I’m not going to say it again. Get in the cabin.”
Anger swirled within me. Who the hell did he think he was? “I’m not going anywhere. This clearly involves me more than it does you.”
“Look,” the deputy said. “Let’s just call it a day, okay? I won’t call for backup. Forget I was ever here.”
Rock chuckled, still holding the gun. “I won’t forget it, Deputy”—he eyed the cop’s name badge—“Gore. I’ll have your badge. Now get the fuck out of here.”
He walked slowly to his car, never taking his gaze from Rock, got in, and drove away.
Rock turned to me. “Are you all right?”
My heart hammered. “Please, Rock. Put down the gun.”
“Sorry.” He laid the pistol on the ground. Do guns scare you?”
“Not as a rule, but you scared me, Rock. You pulled a gun on an officer of the law.”
“He was dirty, Lace. I’ve been around this block more than a few times. I’ve seen dirty cops before, and he had the look. I swear to you.”
“He may have been dirty, but you still just pulled a gun on him. You could be arrested.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll just call Reid and have him take care of all of it. You’d be amazed what money can buy. I didn’t learn much this first week at my new position, but I sure as hell learned that.” He pulled out his cellphone and soon was talking to his brother.
I sat down on one of the redwood Adirondack chairs on his front porch, my heart still thundering. What had just happened here? Someone tried to have me arrested for accessory to Derek Wolfe’s murd
er. I’d been home alone when the crime occurred.
I knew that.
But no one else did.
I lived alone. I had no alibi.
Nausea welled within me. If someone chose to push this…
But he was killed with a gun. I didn’t own a gun. Had never even shot a gun. The sight of Rock wielding a pistol still made me feel sick. He’d been protecting me, and I loved him for it, but he’d probably made things worse for both of us.
He returned in about ten minutes. “Reid is on it. Deputy Gore will be unemployed within the hour.”
I nodded numbly.
“You sure you’re okay, Lace?”
I gulped. “No. I’m not sure of anything at all right now.”
“Hey. We’ll hop on my bike and disappear if you want. All you have to do is say the word.”
I stared at him. “What?”
“I mean it. I’ll make it happen. Neither of us has to deal with any more of this bullshit.”
“But your brothers. Your sister. My law firm.”
“I love my siblings, but I don’t know them. I’ve been away too long. Roy has his art. Reid will bounce back in no time. The man’s a genius businessman. And Riley…well, she doesn’t want to be found right now, according to my brothers. As much as I want to help her, there’s nothing I can do.”
“But the company…”
“Will be sold. I get it. I’ve always gotten it, but…” His eyes softened. “You’re more important than all of that.”
Had I heard him right? “What?” I said again.
“I know. I can’t believe it myself. And I hope you don’t turn around and run away when I tell you this, but I’m in love with you, Lacey. I’m totally and completely in love with you.”
43
Rock
Elation filled me, as if a giant cement block had been lifted off my shoulders. How could professing love to a woman make me feel so light inside? So happy? So completely fulfilled?
All I knew was, when that dirty deputy had cuffed her and she paled with fear, I was ready to do anything—anything—to protect her, to keep her out of harm’s way.
I loved her. I totally loved her.
She hadn’t said it back. She just stared at me, her eyes wide.
