Flash Point

by Diane Benefiel

  She turned to trudge back up the hill toward her cabin, but stopped when she spied a figure heading in her direction. A sigh escaped her. She really, really didn’t want to talk to Frank Singleton.

  As usual, his florid face was flushed from exertion, but at least today he’d had the sense to put on a straw hat. He bobbed his head. “Ms. Kincaid.”

  Emma eyed him balefully. “Singleton.”

  “Heard about what happened yesterday. That Marla Banks sure had the lot of us fooled, didn’t she?” He bent his head as if to share a confidence. “I couldn’t believe when I heard she shot Chief Gallagher. Imagine her doing that.”

  “I don’t have to imagine it, I was there. I have things to do. Good day, Mr. Singleton.”

  When she made to pass him, Singleton held up a hand. Emma caught the flash of anger in his expression and she raised her brows. “Something wrong, Frank?”

  “You could say that.” He glanced around. “Why don’t we go up to your cabin, maybe sit at your kitchen table and talk like civilized folks?”

  “I’m not interested in having a talk with you, civilized or otherwise.” When Emma walked past him, Singleton turned to follow her, wheezing as he tried to keep pace.

  “We need to talk about Great Mountain’s new offer. There’s more that you should know that might help you make up your mind.” When Emma turned to study his face, he continued, breathing heavily. “Did you know your boyfriend and Marla Banks had a thing going?” He looked at her slyly. “That was before he met you, of course.”

  Tiredly, Emma rubbed a hand to her forehead. “Oh really? And she shot him because he dumped her?” They had reached her cabin and Emma wasn’t about to invite him in, so she motioned for Singleton to sit on one of the porch chairs. She leaned against the rail where aspen leaves filtered the afternoon sun.

  “Well, no, I expect she shot him because he could end up in possession of this property instead of her.” Singleton shifted his bulk more comfortably into his seat.

  Emma stared at him. “That’s crazy. I own this property, and I’ve made it pretty damn clear I’m not selling it. To anyone,” she added pointedly. “Brad’s never offered to buy it or acted remotely concerned.”

  Singleton gave her a shrewd look. “Maybe he had another plan. Seems like he developed an interest in you real quick.”

  It gave her an uncomfortable feeling to talk about Brad; it made her feel disloyal. “That’s none of your business.”

  “Probably not. But you should give it some consideration. He ask you to marry him?”

  At Emma’s stony expression he spread his hands wide in front of him. “By marrying you, Police Chief Gallagher would have a lot of influence over what happens to this property.”

  “That’s absurd. He doesn’t want this property.” Emma wanted to get up and run into the cabin so she could slam the door in Singleton’s face.

  “Maybe it is. But did you know the Gallagher family owns quite a bit of land around this lake? The chief’s daddy was a real mover and shaker in his day. In fact, he served as mayor for a number of years. They are the second largest landowners behind only the now disgraced Mayor Banks.” Singleton dug out his handkerchief and lifted his hat to dry his forehead. “In fact,” he went on, “only a few months back Gallagher bought the piece of land between your property and his house.”

  Emma straightened, anger clenching her fists. “You don’t know Brad. The man has integrity that is unshakable. Maybe that’s something you can’t understand. Now that Marla has been arrested all you want is to swoop in and make the deal for the developer and get yourself a big fat commission.”

  Singleton shook his head as if disappointed in his prize pupil. “You need to take off the blinders,” he told her. “Nobody is that honorable. He dumped Banks the minute you came on the scene.” The smarmy expression on his face made her skin crawl. “Seems like he decided you were a better bet than the mayor. He’s likely to ask you to marry him, and if you do, he’ll be in a position to pressure you into selling it to a developer.”

  The seed of doubt had been planted. Brad had appeared to be attracted to her from the very start. And he had asked her to marry him. She shook her head in denial. He’d been bleeding from a gunshot wound and without a doubt wouldn’t even remember asking her. Yet, logic couldn’t keep misery and self-doubt from swamping her.

  Singleton stood, pushing himself up with his hands against his knees. “You think about what I’ve said. Great Mountain isn’t going anywhere. We stand behind our latest offer.” He descended the steps, where he paused. “Makes me wonder if Gallagher would be interested in marriage if this place weren’t here to sweeten the deal.”

  She sat on the porch steps, forehead resting on her upraised knees, the sound of Singleton’s car fading down the highway. After several long minutes, she lifted her head to stare with unseeing eyes, her mind running over everything Singleton had said. She knew he was playing on her insecurities, but dammit, Brad had put moves on her almost immediately. No guy had ever acted as though she were somehow irresistible, like his life wouldn’t be complete without her. The idea that Brad, outrageously handsome and the backbone of his community, could fall so hard and so fast for someone like her seemed unreal. Standing back from it, Emma realized that maybe it was too fantastic.

  Another niggling worry burrowed its way to the surface. Had Brad had an affair with Marla? The idea made her stomach knot because she sensed it was true. There was something about the familiarity in Marla’s behavior around Brad that suggested a shared intimacy.

  God, she couldn’t stand it. She was doubting herself and doubting Brad and all because that bastard Singleton had spread his poisonous ideas around like dirt in a grave. Emma crossed the porch to go into the cabin, then stopped when another vehicle turned onto her road. Maddy’s little Subaru pulled into the parking area, Brad in the passenger seat. She walked slowly out to meet them.

  Maddy opened her door while Brad was still dealing with his seat belt. When he finally pushed open his door, Emma saw the contraption he wore. A sling supported his arm with a strap around his neck, and another around his waist immobilized his shoulder.

  “What are you doing out of the hospital?” she exclaimed as she approached the vehicle.

  “Maybe you can do something with my stubborn brother, Emma,” Maddy griped, glaring at Brad. “He checked himself out of the hospital against doctor’s orders and refuses to take pain meds.”

  Emma turned to Brad, brows raised in question.

  “They make me sleepy. I’ll take one tonight.” His eyes searched hers and Emma could sense his concern.

  “I need to get to the café, so I’m dumping him here,” Maddy stated.

  Brad leaned down to kiss his sister’s cheek. “Thanks, Madeline. I’ll see you later.”

  Maddy gave her brother a half hug, careful not to jar his shoulder. “I love you, you jerk.”

  After she drove off, Emma gave Brad a quizzical look. He shook his head. “She’s mad at me. I got shot and worried her. Those are two things not allowed in the Madeline Book of Rules.” He studied Emma, expression thoughtful. “Will you let me come in? I wouldn’t mind sitting down.”

  Emma led the way to her cabin. He sat at the table while she paced around the kitchen. “You should take your pain meds. Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat? Some coffee or tea?” She’d start to babble in a minute but couldn’t make herself shut up.

  “I don’t want anything right now. What’s going on, Emmaline?”

  She grabbed a dishtowel and twisted it in her hands. At his expectant look, she blurted out, “You nearly died because of me.”

  “Because of you?”

  A giant weight pressed down on her shoulders. “You nearly died because you were trying to keep me safe. How can you be so calm about it?”

  He shook his head. “I was shot because Marla Banks pulled the trigger when I tried to disarm her.”

  “Yeah, but that would never have happened if I’d sold
to Marla or the developer.”

  “Emmaline, you’re not making sense. I would have ended up arresting Marla at some point, regardless of your role in the whole thing. She’d likely have gone nuts when I did and tried to shoot me.”

  “How can you be so cavalier about it?” Emma felt she had to speak carefully so he would understand.

  “I’m not cavalier. In fact, I take my safety seriously.” He paused. “Emmaline, sit down.”

  She tossed the towel onto the counter and took the seat opposite him.

  “Sweetheart, my job will occasionally put me in danger.” He gave her a crooked grin. “I’ll admit that since you’ve been on the scene it’s been a bit more exciting than usual. But you were only the catalyst. Marla’s schemes would have caught up to her regardless.”

  She guessed he was right. Marla Banks had been involved in illegal activities that would have come to light eventually. Emma eyed the man sitting across from her. “You’re looking pale again. You should go to bed.”

  He quirked a brow. “I will if you promise to lie down with me. I could get used to that.”

  Suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, Emma closed her eyes, then lowered her forehead against her folded arms on the table. Her voice muffled, she asked, “Did you have an affair with Marla?”

  There was a long pause, then Brad spoke, his voice gruff. “Emmaline, look at me.”

  When she lifted her head, Brad’s expression was grim. “Marla and I had a thing for a while. It’s over. It’s been over.”

  “A thing?”

  “Yeah, a thing.” He rubbed a hand tiredly along his chin.

  “What’s that mean, a thing?”

  “It means that we had sex. It was a relationship of sorts, but I never wanted it to be more than that. I didn’t think Marla wanted more, either. When I realized she was using me, and some things about her started to feel wrong, I broke it off. That’s when I started my investigation.”

  “Marla is not a nice person. I’m surprised.” Emma didn’t like the anxious feeling in her stomach. She told herself she didn’t need to feel jealous of a woman who would be spending a good long time in prison. She sighed. “You don’t have to explain. It’s really not my business.”

  “It’s absolutely your business. Since you and I are together you have a right to know.” He shifted in his seat and Emma knew his shoulder had to be bothering him. “I’ve known Marla all of my life. She came from a poor family and all through school she always seemed to need to prove herself. She might have appeared mean to some people, but I think she felt she had to be hard to get ahead.”

  Emma looked at him, considering. “She came to your house Sunday night, after you’d left to deal with Rodrigo. I’m not so sure she believes it’s over between you. She wanted to hook up.”

  Brad kept his gaze steady. “If I’d been home, even if you hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have let her in.” Brad reached across the table to lay a hand on hers. “Emma, we stopped seeing each other months ago. My guess is that Marla came by to try to derail my relationship with you and to sidetrack the investigation.”

  Emma tried to study him dispassionately. He was telling the truth. The integrity that was such an intrinsic part of Brad’s character couldn’t be denied.

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” He gave her a half grin. “That’s it? I’m forgiven for having a relationship with Marla?”

  Emma nodded solemnly. “We’ll chalk it up to poor judgment on your part. Who knew she’d shoot you?” She thought for a minute. “Was Marla behind Van Horn hiring Randall to set fire to my garage? Did she break into my cabin?”

  “Yeah. She had Van Horn acting as a go-between. Burning the garage was an effort to scare you away. She broke in to hassle you and to try to find papers Walt had signed at one point agreeing to sell the property to her.”

  “Why was she so desperate to build the resort? I wouldn’t think it would be worth the risk of getting caught.”

  “That’s just it. She never believed she’d get caught.” Brad pushed back his chair to stretch his legs. “Marla had aspirations of higher political office. She wanted to run for Congress and figured if she could make Hangman’s Loss into an upscale, luxury ski resort it would give her the clout and connections to make that wish a reality.”

  “And I got in her way.”

  He squeezed her hand. “We both got in her way. She knew I was looking at some of her business deals and was close to tying her to the arson and break-in. She panicked.” Wincing, he released her hand to adjust the sling.

  She rose to get a bottle from the cabinet. “Here. At least take some ibuprofen for the pain.” She shook out three tablets and handed them to him before filling a glass with water. He swallowed the pills, eyes focused on her with such intensity it cut off Emma’s train of thought.

  “You know you never answered my question.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  She knew she must look like a deer in the headlights. “Question?” She busied herself putting away dishes she had washed and set to drain. She turned when she heard the scrape of the chair.

  Brad rose and crossed the kitchen to stand in front of her, his movements predatory. Despite his pain, his expression was focused and direct. Her pulse scrambled when, in a deliberate move, he took the dishtowel from her hand. Emma backed up a step, bumping against the counter. He stepped closer, crowding her, and then used his free hand to reach out and grasp hers. Bringing her knuckles to his lips, he nibbled them lightly, eyes gleaming with intent. “The question, Emma. The question I asked you after I was shot. Before I blacked out.”

  Emma felt her heart thumping in double time. “You were suffering from blood loss. I didn’t think you remembered.” She tried to pull her hand away but he simply turned it to press a kiss into her palm. “Frank Singleton was here earlier,” she blurted out.

  He paused, lips against her hand. “So?”

  “He said you’d moved on me so fast because you wanted my property.” She said it rapidly, to get it all out before she lost her nerve. “He said you bought the land between my place and yours and that your family owns a lot of land around the lake. That you all would make a fortune if the development that Great Mountain wants to build gets done.” At the flash in his eyes Emma took a deep breath, determined to finish what she had started. “He said the reason you put the moves on me so quickly was because you wanted possession of my cabins before he or Marla could work out a deal with me.” There, she’d said it.

  She had definitely gotten his attention. “And you believed him?” His tone was incredulous.

  “Not entirely.” At his arched brows, she blundered on. “Maybe I did believe him, at least some of it.”

  “Jesus Christ, Emmaline.” He looked away from her for a moment, then back, banked-down hurt in his expression.

  Her stomach clenched in knots, and she tried to explain. “Brad, no one has ever fallen for me like you seemed to. It happened so fast it doesn’t seem real.”

  “It is real, Emmaline, and it wasn’t all that fast. Walt used to talk about you. And then there was that picture of the two of you together. I got hung up on you before I’d even met you.”

  “But don’t you see? Nobody has ever gotten hung up on me. I look in the mirror so I know I’m no supermodel, but you acted like somehow I was irresistible.”

  He cupped a warm hand at the back of her neck, fingers threading through her hair. “Supermodels are a fantasy. I want something real.”

  “Why did you buy the land between our properties?” She was trying hard to keep her emotions in check, but his constant attentiveness elicited a response from her she had trouble fighting.

  “I bought that property three months ago. Think about it. I didn’t know if you’d ever show up or that you wouldn’t sell the property once you’d inherited it. I wanted a buffer between my land and this place if it was going to get turned into a five-star hotel.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, really.” He tippe
d her chin up so he could kiss her, his lips seductive. “Emmaline?” He eased back, and Emma looked into eyes of fathomless green.

  “Yes?”

  “I love you.”

  Emma felt the knots in her stomach unravel. Emotion bloomed, the lightness and beauty of sheer delight. A smile spread across her face and he trailed his hand along her jaw, thumb stroking gently. When he moved to dip his head again, she put a restraining hand against his chest. “Wait.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want to tell you.” Emma sucked in a deep breath, and then released it in a whoosh. Looking him in the eye, she said, “Bradley Gallagher, I love you. You make me happier than I have ever been in my life.”

  A flash of intense emotion crossed his face and he lowered his head to kiss her. Her lips parted and he slid his tongue over hers, warm and sensuous. She wrapped her arms around his waist, mindful of the sling, and worked a hand under his shirt to feel the warm skin of his back.

  After several long minutes, he shifted to bury his face into her neck, holding her close despite the awkwardness of his immobilized arm. “I need you.”

  His voice was muffled, but Emma could hear the intensity in his voice. When she pulled back to look at his face, his expression was serious. “I’ve always been the one people needed, I’ve always been there for my family, my friends. But I need you.”

  Emotions exploded. Emma didn’t know how she could contain the sensations and felt they must be radiating out from her, like the warmth of the sun. She poured herself into another kiss as his mouth devoured hers.

  Easing back, Brad ran his hand down her arm to lace his fingers through hers. “Answer my question, Emmaline. Say yes. Say you’ll marry me.” She lost herself in the intensity of his gaze. “Say you’ll be my wife, that we’ll have children together. I want you to make a life with me here in Hangman’s Loss.”