Dark Moon Magic

by Jerri Drennen

“Really? What would you call it, then?”

  “Okay, I was trying to sneak out.”

  Trace looked at the woman as if she’d lost her mind. “Why? If Regina hadn’t caught you, I would have.”

  “I didn’t know you were here.”

  “Where were you planning to go?” Trace was totally baffled by this.

  Her cheeks flushed. “For a walk.”

  Trace glanced at his watch, then looked at her questioningly. “At midnight?”

  She shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. I thought a nice jaunt would help.”

  “I don’t suppose that walk would include a trip to our town’s bed and breakfast, would it?” he asked with a grin.

  She sniffed. “Of course not. Why would I do that?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because some certain agent is staying there.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll just go count sheep.” Tiah stalked from the room.

  Trace found the whole thing amusing. He looked at Regina, who smiled.

  “She likes him.”

  “Yeah, but he doesn’t like her.”

  Regina placed her hands on her narrow hips. “He doesn’t know her.”

  “He knows her foot.”

  She frowned. “What?”

  “He knows her foot intimately.”

  “He’d be very lucky to get to know all of her. Tiah is a wonderful person.”

  “A bit too forward, according to Nathan.”

  “You know, men claim to like women who take the lead, but when they do, they can’t handle it.”

  “I don’t know about that. I let you kiss me in the cruiser and didn’t run away.”

  “What? I didn’t kiss you. You kissed me.”

  “No. You kissed me.”

  She snorted. “Well, you kissed me first at the dance.”

  “I did, and I scared you away.”

  “Only because I wanted more, and that terrified me.”

  Trace studied her face closely. “Really? I thought I came on too strong, and you felt violated.”

  She shook her head. “I wanted you then, but I had just come out of an abusive relationship, and I wasn’t looking for anything but trying to get my business off to a good start. You sidetracked my plans.”

  The way she made the confession, Trace was pretty sure Regina never expected what had happened. That told him she hadn’t somehow arranged it, and that what he shared with her had to be real. There was no need to fight the feelings he had for her any longer.

  He reached out, clasped her hand in his, and smiled. “I guess neither one of us wanted this to happen.”

  “I guess not. Do you really blame me for being scared to get involved again? You’ve met my ex.” She shrugged. “He wasn’t always crazy. He was actually pretty normal when we met. It’s scary to trust again.”

  “I know. I have my own baggage, believe me.”

  “Who was your Rod?”

  He laughed. “Her name’s Brianne, and she was my wife.”

  Regina’s eyes widened. “What? You were married?”

  “Yeah. I was for a few years. Until I found out she preferred other men to me in our bed.”

  “You’re kidding.” Her hand tightened in his.

  It was Trace’s turn to shake his head. “Unfortunately true and hard on a man’s ego.”

  “Why? Cheating has nothing to do with the person cheated on. It’s all about the person who cheats—their feelings of inadequacy.”

  “It sure as hell felt like it was my fault at the time. Funny thing was, I never suspected.”

  “How did you find out?”

  “Caught them in the act. If I hadn’t tucked my gun away before I went to bed, I might have shot them both. I just don’t know.”

  “I’m sorry you had to go through something like that. Was that why you decided to come to Groves?”

  Trace nodded.

  “So then we were both running away from something that brought us here.”

  “Seems so.”

  She stared into his eyes, and Trace had an urge to touch her, to kiss her. He inched his way forward. As he did, her gaze turned liquid silver.

  He crushed his mouth down onto hers and pulled her close, wanting to forget everything but the beautiful woman in his arms. Tomorrow, he’d worry about Rayland and finding Keith’s killer. Tonight he was going to love Regina like no man had.

  Trace slanted his lips over hers as he lifted her into his arms to carry her to the couch. It wasn’t the best place for what he had planned, but it’d do in a pinch.

  He lowered her to the cushions and allowed her to draw him down on top of her, the warmth of her body igniting his own. Trace slid to her side, not wanting to crush her, dipping his tongue into her mouth, every nerve inside firing in tandem. He moved his hands over her belly, causing the muscles to jump. He loved how he could evoke such a response in her. It made him want her more. He planned to torture and tease her body until she screamed with fulfillment.

  * * *

  Regina’s hands shook as they fumbled with the buttons at Trace’s collar. She wanted to see every inch of the man—burn the sight of him into her memory forever.

  She sighed with relief when the last button let go, and she spread the shirt away from his taut, tanned skin. At will, she touched his chest and shoulders as she moved her lips over his. Trace could kiss like nobody’s business, to the point he left her breathless.

  She slid her hands down his flat belly to the belt buckle at his waist, where she fought to unhook the clasp. When she finally got it free, he distracted her by sliding both hands under her shirt to squeeze her puckered breasts.

  She arched her back and reveled in his intimate touch. Everything about Trace had her body on fire.

  As he worked at the flesh and her breath caught in her throat, he continued his torturous assault, while she continued to roam his body down to the bulge in his pants, rubbing at him until he groaned next to her ear.

  Regina worked at the button and zipper, impatient to have the velvety shaft in her palm.

  No man had ever made her so eager—so wanting of all of him.

  The moment she encircled him, he bucked in response. She loved that he reacted to her touch as she did his.

  Regina forced him up, kissing him, then licked down his jaw, the smell of his woodsy cologne tickling her nose. She lapped her tongue down the roughness of his neck, then worked lower to his chest as he worked his fingers over the muscles at her shoulders.

  She slid to his belly, the taut, heated skin beneath her fingertips causing her own flesh to warm.

  Regina worked the jeans from his hips, pulled them off his limbs, and tossed them aside. The black boxers were the next to go. She sucked in a breath, admiring the perfection of the man.

  She clamped around his cock and brought her mouth down around the tip of his shaft, receiving a buck for the effort. She drew him in farther, intent on driving him over the edge, then took him in deeper and up to the tip again, over and over, until he pulled away. He flipped her onto her back and took control, his callused touch gliding over her body.

  He drew one of her nipples into his mouth and swirled his hot tongue around the tip.

  Regina moaned, her thoughts spiraling.

  He moved his mouth away from her breast and slid it down her stomach to delve into her belly button, the sensation causing her to tremble. He darted his tongue in and out, then started a slow, torturous decent. With his hands, he pried her thighs apart and ducked his head between them, lapping at her clit, until she thought she’d lose her mind. Then he moved up, and after retrieving a condom from his wallet and rolling it onto his cock, he drove deep inside her, the pleasure tearing a moan from her throat.

  He moved at a steady pace, driving her over the edge of insanity.

  Regina wanted more, needed more.

  She wrapped her legs around his back and met each thrust. He bucked into her hard and quickened his pace until they came together, then he dropped
on top her and rolled them both onto their sides.

  Regina closed her eyes and instantly drifted off to sleep.

  * * *

  Trace cracked open his eyes, the smell of coffee reviving him from his peaceful sleep. Hell, he couldn’t remember ever feeling so relaxed and rested. He’d thank Regina for that. Their night of passion had helped, not to mention her warm body lying next to him all night, feeling so right.

  Another scent had his stomach growling. Bacon. Someone was cooking bacon and eggs.

  He threw his legs over the side of the sofa, searching the floor for his jeans. When he couldn’t find them, he turned to look over the back. Nothing. Where the heck were his pants? Hell, and his shirt? They were both missing.

  “Looking for these?” Tiah stood in the hallway holding a stack of clothes in her arms. She gave him a crooked grin, then came toward the couch and tossed them at him.

  “Funny how you and Reggie were trying to make me feel bad about wanting to go for a walk last night, and yet, I find you naked on the sofa this morning. Hmm.”

  “Reggie?” he asked, pleased with how the nickname rolled off his tongue. He was going to make sure he called her that at least once today.

  “Only her closest friends call her that. I’m not sure you’d necessarily qualify.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “Sex isn’t the same as love.”

  He narrowed his gaze on the woman. “You don’t say?”

  “Do you love her, or are you using her to get your jollies?”

  He smiled. Did Tiah really expect him to tell her how he felt? Hell, he wasn’t even sure about that, yet.

  Regina peeked her head out of the kitchen door. “Breakfast is ready.”

  “I need to get dressed, but Tiah wants to talk.”

  “Tiah.” Regina stepped into the hall and grabbed her friend by the arm. “You need to leave him alone.”

  Tiah scowled at Trace, then allowed Regina to pull her from the room.

  He quickly threw on his clothes and walked to the kitchen, where he found the two having some kind a stare-off with one another.

  Regina turned to him. “I hope you like bacon and eggs.”

  “I love them.”

  “Take a seat and I’ll get you some coffee.”

  Trace sat in front of a plate that looked almost too good to eat, but he planned to devour every bite since he was starving. He picked his fork up and dug in, savoring each and every bite. “You’re a great cook, Reggie,” he said when she set his mug down on the table.

  She did a double take, then gave him a crooked smile. “It’s just eggs.”

  “True. But they’re good.”

  “Thanks.”

  “So, you’re going to let him call you that?” Tiah sneered at him.

  “What?”

  “Only a select few call you Reggie. Why are you allowing him to?”

  “Oh my goodness, Tiah. What is wrong with you?”

  Tiah gave her a look of total innocence. “What do you mean?”

  Regina snorted. “You’re jealous. That’s what it is, isn’t it? You can’t get what you want from Nathan, so you envy what I have with Trace.”

  “What! You’re crazy. Besides, what do you really have with this man? Sex is just sex, Regina. He refused to say if it was anything more to him than that.”

  “Whoa.” Trace pushed away from the table and stood. “What I feel for Regina is none of your business.”

  “It sure as hell is. She’s my best friend and has been for years. You two haven’t known one another for even a month, yet.”

  “I don’t want to argue with you, Tiah. I think I’d better go.” Trace left the kitchen, heading for the door. Let the two women work out their issues. This had nothing to do with him, as far as he was concerned. He had more pressing matters, like finding a killer.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Regina toted a handful of essential oils to the counter. She had to get her Internet orders filled and sent off before the end of the day. They were the only thing keeping Healthy Glow afloat right now. Everyone in town obviously thought she was a murderer and refused to shop in her store.

  As she boxed up the supplies, she glanced at Tiah, who was off in a corner pouting over the ribbing Regina had given her about Trace. She’d never dreamed anything could come between her and her best friend. Especially a man. But he had. She just hoped Trace was worth it.

  The jingling of the door had her looking up from her paperwork. She prayed it wasn’t Carol coming back to rip her in two again. Regina felt bad enough.

  Her heart stopped when Rayland stormed toward her, his eyes filled with fury.

  “Can I help you?” she asked, embarrassed that her voice cracked.

  “I was out walking my dog this morning and found this.” He handed her a wallet. “Imagine my surprise when I opened it to find your driver’s license inside. Can I ask what you were doing out at my place?”

  Regina swallowed hard. She must have dropped it when she’d reached for her phone.

  What was she going to say? If she lied, he’d know, since she was so bad at it.

  “I wanted to find out if Sharon was there. She’s missing, and well …”

  “For the last time, I didn’t do anything to Sharon.”

  Regina studied his face, surprised she actually believed he was telling the truth. So, if Rayland had nothing to do with Sharon’s disappearance, then who did?

  “I want you to stay off my property, or I’ll force that lover of yours to arrest you for trespassing.”

  As quickly as the man had come, he was gone.

  Regina glanced at Tiah, who frowned.

  “What do you think? Do you believe him?”

  “Strangely, I do.”

  “I have to agree. So now what? If he didn’t take her, who could have?”

  Tiah walked over to her. “That’s just what I was wondering.”

  Who knew what was going on? Carol and Trace were the only others who had knowledge of what happened, and no way would the woman’s own mother have had anything to do with her disappearance. Trace couldn’t, either. Now they were back to square one, except they had another missing person. Two best friends. Gone missing fifteen years apart. Could this whole thing be some kind of a coincidence? It’d be pretty farfetched if it were.

  No. Regina sticking her nose into Kelly’s disappearance triggered Sharon’s. But why? What did Sharon have in common with Kelly besides being friends? This was what she needed to find out. But Carol would refuse to talk to them again. She was too angry and upset. So where did she go from here? Kelly’s parents. Did they still live here in Groves, or had they moved away to put the whole thing behind them?

  “What’s going on in that head of yours, Reggie?” Tiah’s question pulled her from her reverie.

  “I’m thinking we need to find Mr. and Mrs. Marley. Maybe they can tell us something. I have this strange feeling there’s more to this than two friends vanishing. We have to find out what.”

  “How do we do that?”

  “Not here. I don’t want to ask anyone from Groves. What do you think about a little road trip? Maybe the police department a town or two over helped out when Kelly went missing and could tell us where we can find her parents. First, though, I need to mail these packages. I’ve been putting it off, since the post office is clear on the edge of town.”

  Tiah helped Regina load the parcels into two canvas bags, then Regina locked up the store and put the CLOSED sign in the window.

  She placed the totes in the trunk and started toward the driver’s door when she heard tires squealing from behind her.

  A black truck barreled her way. Regina had only seconds to sprint for the front bumper and dive for dirt. She hit the ground with a jolt, pain slicing through her as she scraped her elbow on the gravel. The 4x4 sideswiped her sedan before taking off at a breakneck speed, too fast for Regina to catch a license plate number.

  Tiah ran to her side. “Are you okay?”

  R
egina blew out a breath and nodded. “I think so.”

  “Let me help you up.” Tiah clasped her forearm and pulled her off the ground.

  “We need to call the sheriff. Whoever was driving that truck was trying to hit you.”

  Regina shook her head. “It was just another warning. I think we’re getting close to something, and they’re hoping to scare us off. Too bad I’m more determined now to find out what happened to Kelly Marley.”

  “I don’t know, Regina. I seriously think that driver’s intent was to hit you.”

  “I thought you were the one calling me chicken. Someone puts a little scratch on the car, and all of a sudden you want to go home and hide.”

  Regina knew her goading would work, just like Tiah’s had on her.

  “All right.” Tiah started toward the passenger-side door. “Do you still want to go to the post office?”

  Regina sighed, then headed for the driver’s side. “Of course. I still have a business to run. That hasn’t changed.”

  * * *

  Trace pulled in front of station and cut the engine. First thing he intended to do was call his ex-partner in Chicago and find out who the sheriff of Groves had been before Trace. Hopefully he’d be able to tell him something about the man—maybe even where he could find him. This Kelly Marley thing had him wondering if it could somehow be connected to Keith’s murder. The theory was implausible, but stranger things had happened.

  He stepped inside the door and was met by Carol, who looked about ready to drop. “Did you find her?”

  “No, not yet, Carol. But I will. I think you need to go home and get some rest.”

  “I can’t sleep. My daughter could be in danger right now. You have to do something.”

  “I’m doing everything I can, Carol. I have to make some calls. So I need you to go home and wait.”

  Tears filled the woman’s eyes. “You have to find her.”

  “I know, and I will.”

  Garrett walked in the door and looked at Trace.

  “Perfect timing. Garrett, I need you to take Carol home.”

  “Of course. Is everything all right?”

  “Just take her home, then come on back. I’ll need you here.”