The room was filled with too many atoms or something because it was suddenly hard to breathe and even more difficult to keep her eyes averted.
“Well, I thought you might want to get out of the house. Stretch your legs for a while.”
She perked up at the possibility. “You mean I can actually be a part of the world again?”
He clapped and rubbed his hands together, and his dimpled cheeks made an appearance. “I think you deserved it. Fresh air along with my company. You’re lucky girl.”
Josie laughed and got up from the bed. “ Nothing is going to attack us out there, is it?”
William touched the fading scratches on his face. “ Just the occasional tree branch.” He chuckled. “ We are nestled against a national park. Generally, there’s no campers out here this time a year, so the most will run up against our deer.”
“Then I’m game.”
The moment Josie stepped out the front door and into the cool breeze of autumn her spirits lifted to wondrous new heights. The cast of the fading sun and the winds gentle caress welcome her back to the land of the living.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she commented as he gave started around the world blanketed with red and gold leaves.
“Yeah, it’s nice.” He let the way across the long wooden porch, then helped her down the small stairs that deposited them onto a paved cul-de-sac next to the garage.
Despite the light sweater, Josie reacted to Williams touch as if it were pressed against their flesh. It seem the longer they were around each other, the stronger the attraction. She met his azure gaze and was almost certain the same emotions flowed through him.
Once they reach the graveled road, she glanced around, and asked, “ so where are we going?”
“I figure we can cut through here,” he said, pointing to all the walls and trees. “A few feet up, there is a hiking trail. We walked along it for while.” She nodded, but dinner I started in the opposite direction. “ Where does the road lead?” “At the bottom of the hill is state Highway 354.” “And the main interstate?” A memory teased her. William shrugged. “We’re about twenty minutes from I-185. Why?” “What else is near here?” “Well, there’s Callaway Gardens.” “Callaway Gardens?” she perked. “Yes. It’s a…” “Then we’re in Pine Mountain?” “You know the area? “My father played golf at Callaway all the time. He has a little place not too far from it. Maybe we can check it out?” William blinked, then shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”
Josie flashed him a smile and reached for his hand as though it was the most natural thing to do. It felt like sliding on an old dress and marveling at how well it fit. They fit, they always had. “Sorry.” She released his hand. “Don’t be,” he said, reclaiming her hand. “It’s all right.” Her breath hitched in her throat as her heart skipped a beat. The man could still affect her like no other.
For the first few minutes of their walk, the only sound came from the crunching of leaves beneath their feet. After a while she cast long side glances at the man beside her and wondered what he was thinking.
The hiking trail wasn’t so bad; at most, it was a curvy, paved walkway around a mountaintop. Before long, they reached an overlook with a picturesque landscape of the setting sun.
“It’s magnificent,” she whispered. Her gaze danced odd the myriad colors splashed against the sky. “Have you ever seen anything this beautiful?”
“Of course. I’m looking at her.”
Surprised, she turned and met his sincere gaze. In an instant, her emotions tangled into a large mass within her chest. She found herself wishing he would gather her into his arms and kiss her senseless, but such an act would be like opening a can of worms.
He brushed his hand along the side of her face. “It’s good to see you back on your feet again.”
The way he looked at her made it impossible for her to hold on to a string of conscious thought. “I never thought I would ever see you again. I’ve missed you.” The words were out of her mouth before she had the chance to censor them.
William’s hand lowered to his side.
“I’m sorry,” she said, glancing away to stare back at the sunset.
“There’s no need to apologize,” he said softly. “The past is the past. I just want to help you through this, then you can be on your way.”
Tears stung the backs of her eyes, but she kept her gaze focused on the dying sun.
After a long silence, his voice drifted lightly on the wind. “Mind if I ask you a personal question?”
Josie hesitated. “Sure.” She straightened her back and braced herself for the question she feared he would ask. “What ever happened to you and Etienne?”
“Oh, well…”
“Never mind,” he said suddenly. “It’s none of my business.”
“William, I’m not exactly proud of how I ended things between us.” Against her will, her gaze darted to his, and a hollow ache throbbed within her heart. She needed to tell him why she never married Etienne, but where should she draw the line? Should she also tell him how she raced to Georgia to find him only to learn that he had married someone else?”
It wasn’t fair. She hated this man,. He broke her heart; but yet, at this very moment she would give everything to slide into the comfort of his arms and erase the past sixteen years.
Leaves crunched underfoot as William shifted his weight. It was clear that he was uncomfortable with the direction of their conversation.
Until recently, I’ve tried hard to forget about the last time we saw each other…or rather the day I made a complete ass out of myself.”
Josie would had to have been deaf not to hear the pain that haunted his voice.
“It’s always hard for a man to get over his first true love.”
Josie squeezed her eyes closed and struggled like hell not to break down. She had been stunned by how quickly he returned home from Paris and married someone else. It couldn’t have been more than two weeks. Two weeks. Not only that, he’d managed to stay married for fourteen years.
If he was so in love with her, how could he have married someone else? She couldn’t.
“Maybe we should talk about something else,” William said. “I was hoping the walk would relax you.”
“I’m fine,” she said absently, and waved him away. However, holding back her bitterness was damn near impossible. “Seems you weren’t lonely for too long,” she said with a healthy dose of sarcasm. Their gazes clashed in an instant duel. “What difference does it make? You’d made your choice,” he said coolly. “You had your beloved Etienne.” His words stabbed her like daggers, and silenced any angry retort she might have. “Besides, I didn’t marry Sammy because I was in love with her. I married her because she was pregnant.”
Chapter 22 Josie flinched as though he’d struck her. “He wasn’t mine,” he clarified. “Sammy was in trouble and needed help. I guess that clung to the idea that someone needed me. “ Tears glossed Josie’s eyes its worst deserted her.
“Sammy and I broke up just before my trip to Paris–before I met you.” The fading light caught the shimmer in his eyes. “She had gotten involved with someone who had turned out to be a sorely hit and run. A friend of mine. She didn’t want to tell her parents that she had gotten pregnant and might have to drop out of school. I became a shoulder to cry on, then later a solution to a problem.”
You got married to help out a friend?”
“I’ve known people to get married for stranger reasons At least we had a solid friendship going into the marriage. Family and I never had what we had, but it was a decent marriage. For a while. It didn’t work out, but I have a wonderful son and of the deal. His name is Christopher. You’d like him. Of course he lives in Phoenix with his mother right now, but I had him six months of the year.”
Tell him. I didn’t know,” she said finally.
“No. I would suppose you did.”
A gentle breeze swirled around them. The evening suddenly turned cold, while the rustle of leaves
became music.
Tell him. We should head back.” She lifted her chin. “It’s going to be dark soon.”
William’s shoulders slumped disappointedly as a shadow fell across his handsome features.
Josie knew what he was erecting an invisible wall between them, and she immediately started doing the same.
They turned together and walked back toward the house. They were more than halfway home when Josie surroundings suddenly seem familiar. Williams slowed down. “What is it?” Josie glanced around and spotted another trail. “I know where I am.” She headed across the thicket of leaves toward a new trail. “Wait. Where are you going?” “My father’s mountain home is this way. I’m sure of it.” She started down the trail again.
“You want to go now?” he asked.
She didn’t answer him. Instead, her footsteps quickened.
Left with little choice,” he followed.
Darkness descended quickly, and the temperature plummeted. What William thought would be a short stroll soon turned into a laborious hike.
“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder and seeing nothing.
“Well, I’ve only been down this trail a couple of times, but I’m pretty sure it’s just over the hill.”
“A couple of times,” he mumbled under his breath. He warily certain there weren’t any bears in the area, but he wasn’t willing to stake his life on it. “Maybe we should do this in the morning, Josie. At the very least, it should be safer.”
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark.”
“It’s not the dark, but what lurks in it.”
Her light chuckle danced on the cool air and transformed her into a spirited nymph that was well out of his reach. The thought brought on a fresh wave of sadness.
Suddenly, there was a light off in the distance, and he was finally able to see her clearly once again.
“There it is.” Josie stopped and turned to face him.
He glanced up and was blown away by the three-story sprawling mansion. “That’s your father’s little place?” A smile bloomed across her face. “Gosh. I haven’t been here in ages.” She races toward the house. William caught up with her and wrapped his strong arm around her waist. “Something is not right,” he warned. She pried herself out of his grip. “What do you mean?” “The lights, Josie. Why are the lights on?”
“Are you sure no one has been there?” Michelle asked the man on her cell phone. She was pleased that her old running mate and partner in crime, D’Angelo, had loaned her a few of his men to help search for her missing sister. Thus far, no one had been able to find anything. And that worried her.
“The place is empty.”
“Well, check again. She has to be somewhere, and no one is going to rest until we find her.” Michelle sneered, and disconnected the call. “What she say, Chuck?” Chuck, a mammoth of a man, pocketed his cell phone and heaved a long, frustrated breath. “We have to go back.” “Why? We tore the place up. No one’s there.” “Then it won’t hurt for us to double-check.” He started up the black Escalade. “I don’t get paid enough for this crap.” His partner laughed. “You better not let D’Angelo hear you say that.” “Whatever. Let’s just go check this place out again.” “What are we supposed to do if we do find this chick anyway?” “Do you really have to ask?”
With serious trepidation, William and Josie peeked through various windows to her father’s mountain hideaway. It was a shock to see overturned furniture and broken glass everywhere. “We should get out of here,” William said, shaking his head and tugging Josie on the arm. “Everything is destroyed,” she whispered. “Who…?” The question died in her throat. She knew exactly who would do such a thing. Snatching her arm away from William, she bolted from the cabin’s window and headed straight for the front door. “Josie, no.”
She ignored him and entered the house. Tears sprang to her eyes as she saw a few of her father’s treasured items completely ruined. “How did she even know about this place?” she whispered when William reached her side. “I think we should leave just in case whoever did this comes back.” “C’mon.” Her gaze sliced over to him. “We both know who did this.” He exhaled a long breath and took another glance around. “She’s looking for you.”
“That would be my first guess.” She inched farther into the house and picked up small items that had survived. A few shattered picture frames caught her attention, and she gravitated toward them. At the sight of her father’s bright smile, Josie felt as if the sun had finally broken through the dark clouds of her depression. She traced a finger across his handsome face and fought back a new wave of tears. William knelt beside her and studied the picture from over her shoulder. “Your father?” Unable to trust herself to speak, Josie nodded.
However, William’s attention drifted from the distinguished-looking gentleman and over to the cute little girl that sat on the man’s lap. Her blinding smile and twinkling gaze shouted to the world that this was one of the happiest days of her life.
“You two look good together,” he finally commented.
Josie emitted a soft laugh and glanced at him. “He always told me that I was his favorite girl.”
“I can see that.” William’s gaze softened as it roamed over her heart-shaped face. With each flutter of her long lashes, William felt his heart squeeze just a little tighter. “Do you think your father would’ve approved of me?” he asked, before he had the chance to stop himself.
She drew in a long breath as her lips trembled upward. “I think my father would’ve loved you.”
Their eyes locked for an eternal moment. Each fought the urge to lean forward for a kiss, but secretly desired that the other would give into the temptation. Headlight arced through the house as tires crunched on the gravel outside and jarred the former lovers’ private world. “Ohmigod.” Josie scrambled to her feet, but was at a loss to what she should do—where she should go. William jumped to his feet, wrapped an arm around her waist, and practically dragged her toward the back of the house. “Hide.”
Where? Judging by the condition of the cabin, Michelle had left no stone unturned. “In here.” William dashed into a dark cupboard beneath the stairs. “I’m telling you, Chuck,” a man’s voice drifted into the house. “This is just a waste of time. Nobody is here.” “I know, I know, but we were sent to do a job. If you have a problem with that, take it up with D’Angelo.” William and Josie held their breath, as the men’s voices grew louder. “Hey, Chuck. Did you get a box of Cabanas Belvederes from Mitch for attending his bachelor party?” “Nah, man. I can’t stand the taste of cigars. “You know that.” The other man laughed. “What are you, a punk or something?” “Do I look like a punk?”
William felt Josie trembling against him; in an attempt to give some type of comfort, he slid an arm around her waist and held her. Despite the swell of danger, he was still very aware of her full breasts pressed against him.
The voices drew closer. “I’m just saying that you need to give these stogies a try. You’ll be big pimpin’.”
“Whatever.”
William held his breath as the men stopped in front of the cupboard. Weaponless, he didn’t know what he was going to do if the men opened the door. One thing for sue, he was going to try his best to protect Josie.
“You know there’s a lot of nice stuff in this place. Maybe we should help ourselves a little before we head out.”
“I don’t think so. That Josephine chick doesn’t sound like a lady to cross. This is her place. She probably has everything inventoried. I know the type.” “Well, I’m just saying. If she doesn’t mind the place ransacked then surely she wouldn’t…” “No. We’re looking for the sister. We find her, we kill her, then we can go home.” At Josie’s gasp, William’s eyes widened in alarm. “Chuck, did you hear something?” “Shhh.” Everyone fell silent.
Josie was convinced her actions had just sealed their fate. Her head instantly filled with horrifying images of them being
tortured to death. But there was no way out. They were trapped.
“I don’t hear anything,” Chuck finally growled. “But let’s check out the back to make sure. The faster we get this whole thing over, the better.”
The men’s heavy footsteps led away from the door, and still Josie was too afraid to move. After several heartbeats had passed, William leaned in so close his warm breath tickled the shell of her ear.
“We need to get out of here,” he whispered.
“Okay,” she said, shaking her head; but when she heard his hand settle on the doorknob, she stopped him. “Right now?”
“We can’t stay in here. They’ll find us.” If take charge tone it called her; however, she wasn’t convinced that this moment was the time for them to make a break for it. He turned the knob, and once again, she stopped him.
“What if they catch us?” She asked in a frantic whisper. “I mean they probably have guns. We don’t have a weapon and…” William silenced her with a kiss. The shock of such an action blew her away, but she returned the kiss with fever. Her body relaxed and melted against him. When he pulled his lips away, she was calm. I need you to focus, he whispered. We can do this.” She wasn’t so sure. “We’re not going to let Michelle win.
Those words made something click inside of her. Her head filled with the sounds of Michelle’s high, sinister cackle. The world would be a better place without you. All you have to do is just slice. Josie’s wrist ached. “Are you ready?” William asked. She nodded though she knew he couldn’t see her in the dark. “I’m going to the count of three,” he warned.
“Okay.” She mentally prepared herself, but could feel her body begin to tremble again. Dear God, not now. “One…” Josie’s temples throbbed. “Two…” Her stomach tightened and threatened to expel the remaining contents. “Three.” William gently pushed the door open.
It took everything in Josie’s body not to tug him back into the cupboard when he poked out his head. When he took the first tentative step out, he reached for her.
Drawing a deep breath, she slid her hand into his and crept out of their hiding place. The stillness of the cabin unnerved her and heightened her paranoia. Where had the men gone? Were they watching them right now? William pressed a finger against his lips and led her around the staircase, then through the living room. Josie’s vertigo worsened to the point that she was wobbling on unsteady legs. “Will,” she whispered, pitching forward. He caught her, but not without crushing a picture frame underfoot. The cabin’s silence was broken. Doors crashed from someplace within the cabin.
Deadly Double Page 12
