by C. J. Snyder
She got the tail end of a huge yawn for an answer. “Hi, Maggie. Sorry. I met the cutest guy—“
Megan wrinkled her nose. “Oh, now. There’s news. Where?” “On the bus. He was the trip. Or at least most of it. I met him before we got to Denver and he was coming to Chicago, too. I’m going to show him around the city today because I don’t have to be back at work until tomorrow.”
Megan tuned out Melissa’s chatter and did a quick mental translation. The trip home had been fine. Some really cute guy had taken one look at Melissa’s eyes and fallen in love. He’d listened to her chatter all the way across Colorado and Nebraska and Iowa and Illinois and still liked her enough to spend the day with her seeing the sights in Chicago. “What’s his name?”
“John,” she breathed. Megan could just see her dreamy expression. “John Omaha. Isn’t that funny? That’s where he bought me breakfast, and it’s his last name.”
Megan thought the name sounded fishy, but she didn’t say so. Melissa was twenty-four and going to do what she was going to do. “What does Mr. Omaha do for a living?” “Travels. Well, I’m not exactly sure, really, what he does, but he does a lot of traveling.” “Is that the answer he gave you?” The long silence let her know she’d confused her sister. Either that or she’d fallen asleep. “Did you ask him what he did, Melissa?”
“I think so.” She could hear her sister’s smile over the line. “You know, I really don’t know if I did or not.”
“A guy who travels all the time won’t be much fun for you.”
“I know,” Melissa sighed, her voice laden with heavy sorrow. “Can you believe I’d finally find the right guy—and he doesn’t even live in Chicago?”
Megan stifled a laugh. “Imagine that. I’m glad you’re home safe, sweetie. You be careful with this guy until you know him better, okay?” “Don’t worry, Maggie. Pete and Emily are coming along today.” Emily was Melissa’s best friend. They rode the bus to work together and worked in neighboring departments at the same store. Pete was Emily’s flaky boyfriend. “John said I could invite some of my friends. We’re going out on the lake—it’s just beautiful here today.”
“Well, have a good time. I’ll talk to you next week?” “Same time, same pay phone,” Melissa sing-songed. “I’ve got forty minutes left on this card, plus the new one you gave me, so we’re fine there. How’s Sally? Was her surgery okay? Is she home yet?”
“She’s home. I’m on my way there now. She hurts, but she’ll be okay.” Melissa sighed. “It’s just a terrible thing, you know?”
For Maggie, more terrible than it should have been. “I know.”
“I’d better go—John’s going to be here any minute to pick me up. You’d like him, Maggie. He listens to your music. We’re going to meet Emily and Pete downtown and have breakfast. Ooooh. I see him.” Megan could picture her sister’s enthusiastic wave. “Want to say hi?”
“That’s okay, Melissa. Have fun. I love you.”
“I love you too, Maggie. Thanks again for the great trip.”
Megan heard her greet the nefarious Mr. Omaha before Melissa hung up and she frowned. Hopefully this guy’s business, whatever it was, would take him back to wherever he came from soon. She glanced up at the brilliant blue sky and sighed. No trip to the Canyon today. A quick visit with Sally and a twelve-hour shift would eat the rest of the day.
*** Jack greeted Melissa with a kiss on her cheek. She grinned adoringly. He’d had a shave and a haircut since she’d last seen him and he could tell she approved. “Like my dress?” she wondered, twirling in front of him.
“It’s right pretty, darlin’. Especially on you.” Jack cast a quick glance at the pay phone. “Don’t you have a phone?” “Yeah, but she doesn’t.”
“Oh.” He clamped his lips shut on the next question and smiled at her instead.
“You ready to meet my friends? We’re going downtown—there’s a new breakfast place Emily and I have been dying to try.” Jack kept his smile pasted on and allowed her to take his hand. There was time. Time for all of it. If he rushed her, she might stop talking. She led him to a bus stop, prattling non-stop and he hid a grimace behind a cough. There might come a time when he’d have to rush her. Just to keep from strangling her.
At breakfast, so he wouldn’t have to kill Melissa, he fixed Emily with his most engaging smile. “So tell me about this hush-hush sister of our Melissa’s. Have you met her? Is she a crazed murderer?”
“Maggie? No.” Emily laughed. “I met her when they moved here. She’s not crazed—not even crazy. But she’s not a thing like Melissa.” She shrugged. “Not so friendly. She’s kind of intense, actually, isn’t she, Melissa?”
That was all Jack needed to know. The most important question could wait. There was time.
*** In Jersey City, Kevin Cormack watched his younger brother sleep. Paul slept a lot. Kevin flipped off the opening credits of a cop show. The news was over. Kevin never missed the news, not for anything. He lit a cigarette and lifted the telephone. Eyes still on his brother, he made an airline reservation. First-class. To Chicago.
***
“And he’s stayed the whole week. But he has to leave tomorrow—Oh, Maggie—I really think I’m in love this time.” Megan sighed. Ten minutes were gone off the calling card and she’d heard about nothing but the wonderful Mr. Omaha. Emily thought he was drop-dead gorgeous and on Friday night he’d brought Melissa flowers. “How is he in bed?” The words were out before she could stop them—before her brain reminded her that Melissa had never understood a word of sarcasm in her life.
“I don’t know.”
Good. Megan grinned.
“I don’t even know how he kisses.”
Megan stopped grinning. Melissa didn’t sleep with all the boys she seduced, but she certainly kissed them if she liked them. She definitely liked this one. “Why not?” “He likes to take a relationship slow. Says that’s how they do it in Texas. Did I tell you that’s where he’s from?” Megan heard her grin. “He calls me darlin’. That’s just how he says it, too. Darlin’. It’s the sweetest thing.”
No, not sweet. Megan could feel the blood draining from her cheeks. She gripped the edge of the pay phone so she wouldn’t fall. Her thoughts spun. And her ears rang with a remembered, “Told ya, darlin’.”
John. Or Jack?
“Melissa,” she whispered.
Melissa didn’t hear. “So tonight he’s taking me someplace real special, because it’s his last night here. Aren’t you, honey?”
The phone slipped out of Maggie’s hands. He was right there with her. Had Melissa called her Maggie?
“Maggie? Are you there?” She had now. Maggie caught up the phone with both hands. “I’m here, Melissa.” One at a time, she wiped her cold, sweating palms on her jeans. “What does he look like?” Maggie prayed for blond.
“He’s tall, with dark hair and the bluest eyes.” She was staring into those eyes, Maggie could tell.
Do something! Ger her out of there—away from him. Tell her to run!
She pictured Melissa running. And those long, strong fingers curling around Melissa’s arm. Jail. A broken vow. Death. “Melissa,” she whispered. What could she do?
Only one thing. Keep her sister out of danger.
”C-Can I talk to him, Melissa?”
“She wants to talk to you. Now don’t flirt—she doesn’t like flirting.”
Maggie closed her eyes and tried to suck air into lungs made of concrete. She heard the phone shift hands. Maybe it wasn’t him. Maybe her paranoia was taking over again. Maybe—
“Maggie, darlin’!” Maybe every horrible, awful thing she’d lived through for two years was wasted. “Lieutenant Myles.” Drowning in defeat, she could barely hear her own voice, but it was loud enough to have him chuckling.
“Yes, ma’am. I wondered if you knew.” She could see him as clearly as if she stood in front of an alley with a gun in her hand. Cool and amused, cocky as hell. Only now he had his cool, amused, cocky hands al
l over her sister. Her knuckles showed white around the receiver. “I’m havin’ the best old time with your sweet sister, Maggie. She’s quite a girl.”
Maggie struggled to maintain control of the slippery receiver and pressed one fisted hand hard against her stomach. She had to stop this—stop him. Throwing up wouldn’t help. “She’s not the one you want.” Offered as more of a prayer than a question, she held her breath and waited.
“You’d be right about that, honey.” She could hear his grin, but then she could also see it in her mind. “Will you—do you swear—you’ll leave her alone?”
“Nothin’ I’d like more than that, Maggie.”
“More than what?” Maggie heard Melissa in the background.
“Why than to meet your big sister, Melissa. Whaddya say, Maggie darlin’?” “Promise me. . .”
“Melissa, honey, run get us a nice cold drink from that vendor man there, would ya? Here’s a five. That should cover it.” There was silence for three long seconds. When he spoke again his voice was cold, hard steel without a trace of an accent. “You have my word, Ms. Chambers, which is more than you deserve. When and where? I’ll be bringing Melissa along for insurance, of course.”
Maggie straightened her knees and opened her eyes. You can do this! “Grand Junction, Colorado. You get a flight. I’ll meet it. Don’t bring Melissa. I don’t want her involved.” “Oh Melissa will be there. The depth of her involvement is up to you.” He sounded breathless and excited, not at all like a cop. “I can’t wait, Maggie.”
“I can’t do this.” The whisper was out before she could stop it.
Fortunately, Jack didn’t seem to hear. Texas crawled back into his voice. “Thanks, darlin’. What kind did you get?”
Maggie heard her sister’s happy reply and closed her eyes again. You have to keep her safe! “Call me back with the flight information.”
“Be happy to, Maggie. Melissa’s got the number?” Maggie ignored his question and hung up. She stumbled to her car and sank down on the battered engine hood. Stomach braided in a knot, she fought a rush of tears and slammed her fist down on the hood.
Melissa. He had Melissa. Jail. Death.
You stayed too long.
She ignored the voice. There had to be a way out.
Warn Melissa.
But how?
He’s a cop.
Small consolation, but true, nonetheless. If she could get him alone, away from Melissa—explain— But that would break her word to Nathan Mitchell. Melissa would die. . .
Less than an hour later, back on the phone with Maggie, Melissa was ecstatic. So ecstatic she didn’t seem to notice her sister’s quiet responses. The reservations were made, Jack and Melissa would be in Colorado tonight. “He even said he’d fix it with Ms. Conrad so I can have the time off. That means I’ll be short for rent, though—“
”Don’t worry about the money, Melissa. I’ll take care of it. See you at nine.” Before Melissa could hear the catch in her voice, Maggie hung up and wiped her wet palms on her jeans.
Nine hours. She had nine hours to save her sister.
Chapter 3
Maggie’s palms were still damp at nine. Her heart beat erratically too, but there wasn’t a thing she could do about that. Her nerves were slightly calmer now. She had a plan. And help. She glanced across the airport waiting room outside security and smiled at Derek and Clint.
She’d surprised Derek—scared him a little too, she thought, when she showed up in tears. He’d surprised her, too. He hadn’t asked for details she wouldn’t give. When she’d requested the evening off, he’d offered to help and closed the bar voluntarily. Nosy Clint eavesdropped and immediately insisted on coming. Their responses were all because of Melissa of course, but after so long alone, help felt good.
If everything went as planned—and it would—the whole mess would be wrapped up tight in just over an hour. With any luck at all, Jack Omaha Darlin’ Myles wouldn’t quite know what had happened.
You can’t face him again. . . The voice in her head hadn’t left her alone all through the long afternoon. She’d argued, placated, and now just ignored it. She could—would—face him again in just seconds. Because Melissa’s life depended on it.
This meeting won’t be as hard as what you had to do last time. . . True. But still hard—because of what she’d done last time—because of what he’d done last time. When he’d locked his eyes on hers to stare her down he’d stolen something from deep, deep inside her. She couldn’t name exactly what he’d snatched, but she knew she wanted it back. She needed to meet those eyes again, and look away. To know she’d imagined a connection that still left her breathless.
If she was honest, she’d admit the danger he represented had absolutely nothing to do with her nerves. She’d felt as naked as Jack there on that sidewalk in Connecticut. Only meeting his stare—and looking away—would release her.
*** On the jet, anticipation curled tight in Jack’s gut. He tuned out Melissa’s happy chatter and watched over her shoulder as the lights of Grand Junction twinkled below. Two years—almost to the day. What was she thinking? Would he be able to tell? How far would she go to keep her sister away from him? Had she changed?
He patted the hand Melissa curled around his arm, but his eyes never left the tiny window. Jack spotted her as soon as he entered the terminal. Desire deluged him—overwhelming the anticipation, shocking his feet to a momentary standstill. He’d felt the hunger, even on the plane—lurking behind the excitement and eagerness—but he wasn’t prepared for the magnitude of the electric intensity flowing between them now.
She was slow to meet his eyes and he wasn’t prepared for their effect on him, either. She couldn’t look away. Her eyes hadn’t changed a bit. Every churning emotion was laid out for him to read—the fear, the anxiety, the want—every bit as fierce as his own.
Melissa dropped his arm and wrapped her sister up tight. Even then, Maggie didn’t look away from him. Shecouldn’t look away. Melissa introduced them. Maggie’s reluctance to take his outstretched hand was obvious so he tugged her close, his arms stifling her body’s frantic protest, enjoying the power play. Fantasy. Reality. Triumph. After two years, he deserved a little grandstanding. Jack laughed with sheer exhilaration.
“Didn’t believe me, did you, Maggie? You should have.” He whispered the words directly in her ear, heard the sharp intake of her breath and inhaled sweet victory. Her scent, nothing from a bottle because he’d researched that too, spilled over him. He released her. Too dangerous, this out-of-control desire. Maggie Chambers was dangerous. Her eyes condemned him and his celebration dimmed a bit. If he didn’t get hold of himself, he’d strip her clothes off and take her right here—the ultimate consummation of success.
The odd thing was he had the strangest feeling it wasn’t just him. Hunger roared out of her, electric between them. Even his lips burned where they’d grazed her cheek. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, inadvertently settling her scent deeper inside, sparking off even more ferocious desire. Time to confront his response—right now—and control it. Not the other way around.
He opened his eyes to check on her. Maggie had Melissa against the wall. Her cheeks were flames of color as she spoke to her sister intently. Outlining her plan? Warning Melissa about him?
Didn’t matter. Whatever she said, whatever she planned, she wouldn’t get away from him again. He’d made arrangements of his own. He let his gaze move to the side, where two men hovered next to the women. Their eyes never left Jack and they didn’t return Jack’s smile. Right behind them was the man Jack sought. His head dipped a barely discernable greeting.
Maggie and Melissa rejoined him and he listened and nodded as Melissa introduced the two men. Clint he dismissed as merely a smitten schoolboy. The fierce, protective look in Derek’s eyes was something else entirely. He made careful note of the lumberjack-wannabe’s name. Derek could prove dangerous.
Melissa chattered on. “I guess we’re splitting up for a while. I’m
going with Derek and Clint. Maggie said you two should be alone to get to know each other better.” Jack’s libido wanted nothing more and when a vision of exactly how much better flashed in front of his mind, it was so clear he was sure Maggie could see it too. Maggie moistened her lips, giving more credence to his fantasy. “I want to know your sister real well, Melissa.” Maggie’s cheeks grew pale at that, but as he watched, her gaze dropped to his mouth. He nearly groaned. He really wasn’t imagining things—she felt it too.
“Can we go someplace to talk?” Her throaty request, accompanied by another swipe across her full lips by her pink tongue, had him wanting to resign. To hell with the case—his fantasy was about to come true. Jack gave himself a shake and forced his gaze back to her eyes.
Their deep brown depths told another story. Wary, scared and yet smoldering, they begged and dared all at once. Her plan. Of course she’d have one. And Melissa was in the way, for him as much as for her. He reached for her hand, giving Melissa’s shoulders a squeeze before stepping closer to Maggie.
She squirmed, which didn’t bother him a bit. She’d run from him for two years. The very fact she wanted him at all was no doubt unsettling. Dealing with wanting her had sure as hell kept him up enough nights. He knew his smile stabbed deep into her heart. “We’ve got lots to talk about, Melissa. We’re going to get to know each other really, really well.” Fear flashed Maggie’s amazing eyes at that. Fear and gut-wrenching dread. Good. She recognized a promise when she heard one.
Only vaguely aware of Melissa and her two boyfriends now, he pasted on a smile. “We’ll see y’all later.” Maggie was already moving. Jack went with her. She tensed when his fingers released her hand, slid up her arm and across her shoulders. Melissa and the two men turned to the left. Maggie headed for an escalator on the right. She tried to wriggle free. He pulled her closer.
“Take your hands off me.” she growled. He smiled at her glare, not a bit perturbed. Did she know her body responded to his with little tremors that ran just under her skin? “Not a chance, darlin’. I’ve waited too long to get my hands on you.” He tipped his head and his lips found her ear. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
