“Whatever.” Dane stood and leaned back, cracking filling the air from his back to his knees. The chair might be comfortable, but it sure wasn’t made to sleep in all night.
Making his way to the coffeepot, Dane clipped on his Bluetooth and switched over the call. With hands-free he could make fresh coffee, a necessity if he was going to have a coherent conversation with his friend.
“I’m sorry to call you so early, but Tess is still asleep and I wanted to check in with you and see how things are with Aimee.”
Dane dumped the old coffee filter with used grounds into the trash and grabbed a new one from the cupboard. He poured fresh coffee grounds in, added water, and started the machine.
“Not great, I’m afraid.”
“What happened?”
Ben’s voice had switched from friend to protective brother bear. Dane understood. His whole being switched to protective mode when it came to Aimee. Something he could live with if it didn’t also involve wanting to hold her in his arms and never let go.
“Her car was trashed yesterday while photographing a wedding, and then last night someone threw a brick through the front window of her and Torie’s place.”
“Prank?”
“I don’t think so. Neither does Torie.”
“Wishful thinking…”
“Yeah. I hoped so too, at first. But I have a gut feeling Marcos is behind all of it.”
“This isn’t his typical kind of behavior though.”
The coffeepot hissed. Dane grabbed the same mug from the night before and filled it. Added sugar. He leaned against the counter and crossed his feet at the ankles, his boots still on. He took a sip before answering. “True. But Torie said the body of an associate of Damien Marcos was found yesterday. She believes it’s the guy Aimee saw Marcos with outside the club that night.”
“Then why not just kill her too?”
Dane took another sip of coffee. Ben asked the question as a cop, not a brother-in-law. Dane understood that. Hell, he’d thought about the exact same thing as he drifted off last night.
“I’m betting he didn’t mean to off the other guy and thought he’d cleaned up that mess. Another…mess isn’t something he wants. At least not right now.”
A shiver ran through him at the thought of Aimee hurt. Or worse.
“Sounds like Marcos is creating quite a spiral of issues for himself.”
“Yeah, well. He’s getting sloppy. Something I’m hoping will help us find him before he does any more damage.”
“Agreed. So what’s the plan?”
Dane took a swig of coffee courage before he spoke. He had a plan but was going to run it by Aimee before anyone else. However, having Ben in his corner might help her accept his idea better.
“I’m going to take her to my folks’ place up north.” Saying it out loud made it all the more real, and the coffee sat like lead in his empty stomach.
“Hmph. That’s actually not a bad idea. You sure you’re up for that?”
Ben was the only one in Dane’s world who knew his whole story. Knew what it meant for Dane to go home. He was putting a lot of himself on the line to keep Aimee safe. Funny enough, he didn’t give a damn. She needed to be safe, and his parents’ ranch was where that would be.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.”
“You gonna let them know you’re coming?”
Dane set his mug in the sink and moved back to the living room. Parked in front of the photo of his family, he crossed his arms and answered his friend. “I’m not sure yet.”
“Okay.”
One of the many things Dane loved about his friendship with Ben was he didn’t have to elaborate.
“Did you tell Tess?”
“Yeah. I filled her in on everything. She’ll be glad to hear Aimee is tucked away safe with you. What about Aimee’s parents and Grace?”
“Her parents are on a cruise and unreachable.”
“That’s right. I forgot.”
“You’ve had other things on your mind.”
Ben chuckled. “Yes sir, I have.”
“And I’ll talk to Aimee about what to tell Grace. For her safety, though, I think it’s best she not know where we’re going. The fewer people who know, the better.”
“Agreed. Hey, Tess is waking up. Gotta go. Keep me posted. And Dane?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And watch your back.”
“Got it.”
They ended the call and Dane tossed his Bluetooth on the coffee table. He eyed the photo again and took a deep breath. Home. Would his family be happy to see him or send him on his merry way? It was a risk he had to take. It was the safest place on earth for Aimee to be, even if it might be the most hostile for him. He’d know soon enough.
***
Aimee padded into the kitchen barefoot, her T-shirt rumpled, her shorts twisted off-center, and her hair a rat’s nest. But she smelled coffee, and nothing was going to come between her and a big, steaming mug. Not even a much-needed grooming session. Honestly, she’d give her right arm for an iced tea, but drastic times called for drastic measures. Coffee was the quickest way to a caffeine fix, so who was she to complain?
Gladys stood at the counter, a mug already in hand, and set it on the table. “You sit right here, dear, and drink your coffee.”
Aimee shook her head. God bless this tiny fairy godmother. The two women sat across from one another sipping their drinks in comfortable silence, giving Aimee time to muse. Gladys had snow-white hair that sat in a bob above her shoulders. The same height as Aimee, she wasn’t frail, but had the build of a woman who’d been athletic in her youth. Her eyes were a cornflower blue and twinkled as if she had a secret she was willing to share, only you had to be brave enough to ask.
“Would you like to talk about it?”
Gladys’s question pulled Aimee from her thoughts. “Talk about what?”
“Well, you had quite an exciting day yesterday. I imagine you might want a listening ear. I have two good ones, I’ve been told.” She grinned behind a sip of coffee.
“Exciting is one way to describe it I guess.” Aimee wrapped her hands around her mug, the warmth flowing from her fingers to the rest of her body. “I was more mad than anything about Dottie—that’s my car…”
“Of course it is, dear. I saw it out front when you and Dane were so kind as to bring me some tacos. What a darling automobile. I used to drive around in a zippy little thing like that myself. Anyway, keep going.”
“What was done to my car made me mad, and what was done to my house frightened me for sure. But Torie was with me. She’s my roommate and a cop. And Dane showed up.” She shook her head. “I don’t know, Gladys. I keep moving from afraid to mad. I don’t like being afraid. I’m a huge control freak, and if I let it, fear will control me. So I get mad instead.”
“I think it’s more than that. I think you believe there’s something bigger than the fear…someone bigger than your fears. And you trust in Him.”
Aimee smiled. “That’s true. I do believe God is with me. But I’m not gonna lie, I’d like to be done with this whole situation. I don’t like looking over my shoulder or wondering what will happen next.”
“Well, you have Dane to watch over you. You’ll be just fine.” Gladys winked.
“Now you’re playing matchmaker, Gladys. And I might I add, you’re pretty good at it.”
She nodded. “Thank you, dear.”
Aimee laughed.
“I have years of practice, and I have a good feeling about you and my handsome neighbor.”
Aimee shrugged. “It sounds nice, but he’s not interested.”
“Oh, pooh! Who are you kidding? He’s very interested. He’s just…broken. And I think you are the woman to help him piece things back together again.”
“I can’t fix him, Gladys,”
“No, but you can help him pick up the pieces. Remind him he’s worth fixing.” She winked.
“What broke him?”
“I don’t exactly know the whole story and if I did, it’s not my story to tell, dear. It’s his.”
“Fair enough. Can’t blame me for trying though.”
“I don’t blame you at all. I see so much of myself in you, Aimee. Full of wide-eyed wonder at the world. You are exactly what Dane needs in his life. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Think he’ll figure it out any time soon?”
“Figure out what?”
At the sound of Dane’s deep voice, Aimee squealed and hopped off her seat. Damn it! He made her spill her coffee. Gladys, however, sat still as a statue, a Cheshire cat grin on her sweet, wrinkled face.
Aimee went to the sink and wet a paper towel to wipe up what she’d spilled on the table.
“A little warning next time, Detective Scott. You could’ve given Gladys here a heart attack.”
Dane looked at Gladys, still calm, not a hair out of place.
“I think Gladys is doing fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”
He looked her up and down, causing her entire body to flush with heat. Goodness, a simple look from the man turned her to jelly. If he touched her she might spontaneously combust. But hey, she was open-minded to new experiences.
As she dumped the now dirty towel in the trash she caught site of her reflection in the window. Good Lord! No wonder the man was staring. She looked like she’d been hit by a bus then wrestled with a monkey. Ugh! Would the universe ever cut her a break?
Mustering as much pride as she could at this point, which wasn’t much, she turned and bolted for the guest room, muttering an “I’ll be right back” over her shoulder as she went.
***
Aimee returned to the kitchen fifteen minutes after she’d escaped. Dane had to admit, it was entertaining to watch her squirm. She’d run off, thinking he was horrified at how she’d looked first thing in the morning. He shook his head. If she only knew what he’d really been thinking, she’d have blushed for a whole other reason. Her rumpled and fresh-out-of-bed look was as hot as her in a bathing suit, her in a bridesmaids dress, her in…
She walked past him, and it took all his energy to not have his tongue hang out of his mouth. Gladys eyed him with a grin and a wink. Great! Now he’d never hear the end of it from his matchmaking little neighbor. But how could he not stare?
She wore one of those flowing, long skirts she liked so much, this one with swirls of cream, and green the same color as her eyes. A sleeveless top hung low down her back but higher in the front, showcasing her muscular midriff and tiny diamond-stud belly button ring. He’d noticed that little gem the day they’d surfed together. She’d combed her hair and let the curls flow freely down her back. His favorite. His hand twitched, wanting to touch her, hold her head while he kissed her, the scent of strawberries in his nose.
“Close your mouth, dear.”
Gladys’s voice brought him back to the kitchen. He eyed his neighbor from across the table. Thankfully, she’d said it just loud enough for the two of them to hear, Aimee busy getting a glass from the cupboard and filling it with ice water.
Gladys chuckled and stood to put her mug in the sink.
“What’s so funny?” Aimee took a sip of water and leaned against the counter.
“Oh, nothing. Don’t mind me. I’m going to go finish getting ready for the day. You two sit and chat.” And with a wave of her hand, she was gone.
Aimee looked at Dane and smiled. “Honest to goodness, she really is a fairy godmother.” She took the seat Gladys vacated.
“A what?”
“A fairy godmother. You know? Bibbidy-bobidy-boo?”
He shook his head.
“You’re kidding right?”
The look of disbelief on her face made him smile. Man, she was beautiful.
“You’re telling me you’ve never seen the movie Cinderella?”
“I grew up on a ranch with a brother, Aimee. We didn’t have girly stuff around. But now that you say it, yes, I’ve heard something about it before. I think.”
“You’re hopeless, Dane.” She laughed and his insides squirmed.
“I’ve heard that before. And it’s true, I’m sure.”
Quiet fell between them for a few moments, Dane at odds on how to start the conversation about where he wanted to take her.
“You look like you’ve got something on your mind, officer. Anything you wanna share with the rest of the class?”
“Maybe. I’m just a little concerned the class will turn on me and a riot will start.”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Oh, I think the class is pretty open minded. Go ahead. Shoot.”
Well, she asked for it. “I want to take you to my parents’ ranch up north.”
Chapter 14
Dane could’ve said he had eighteen toes and Aimee still would’ve been able to comprehend that more than what he’d just laid on her.
“I’m sorry. I must have misunderstood you. Did you just say you want to take me to meet your parents? Dane, we haven’t even been on a date yet.”
That made him squirm. Which, quite honestly, was kind of fun to watch.
“That’s not what I meant, Aimee.” He leaned forward, his hands clasped together on the table between them. Her fingers around her water glass were close enough to feel the heat radiating from him. It was almost electric. She pulled back, folding her hands in her lap.
“Look. You and I both know you need to be somewhere safe. Preferably away from here but where you can be protected. My parents’ ranch is secluded. I’m not sure Damien Marcos has connected you to me yet so if we leave soon, maybe I can get us out of here before he sees us together.”
She took a sip of water, her throat parched. Emotions swirled through her. Until now everything with this Damien Marcos character scared her for sure, but with Dane wanting to take her to the other end of the state, the reality of the situation hit her and turned her stomach.
“You okay?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She nodded.
He leaned back in his chair, giving her time to think. God bless him for knowing what she needed and not being too impatient to give it to her. That was something she sure wasn’t used to from the male population.
“Why are you doing this, Dane?” Her voice was hoarse, a mere whisper. She wanted the answer, and she didn’t.
“I want you safe, Aimee.”
She nodded. “I get that part. I just don’t know why.”
“Aimee, we’re…friends. I care about you. Marcos isn’t someone to mess with.”
And there it was. She’d been friend-zoned.
Fair enough. Her heart sank to her stomach but she put on a brave face anyway.
“Okay.”
He sat forward again. “Okay? Really?”
“What did you think I would say?”
He chuckled. “I just thought you’d put up more of a fight.”
She laughed at that. “That sounds like me, but not this time. I believe you and Torie. This guy is dangerous and more than anything, I want him away from my family. If that means I leave for a while, then so be it.”
She meant it. Having this thug focused on her was the way to go. Hopefully Torie could sniff him out before he did any more damage.
She sighed. And maybe spending time with Dane as a friend would do exactly what Gladys said—remind him he was worth fixing. Even if he only wanted friendship, she’d take what she could get.
He stood. “Okay then. I’ll get packed. Do you need to go by your place for anything?”
She shook her head. “What I have with me is fine. I’ve got my art bag and my clothes.”
“Why don’t you call Torie while I pack and get everything in the truck.” “Thank you. I’ll need to call my friend Anna. She’ll cover for me at the rec center with my art classes.”
“Sounds good. Make whatever calls you need. But be vague. Don’t let anyone know exactly where you’ll be.”
She nodded. “
I understand.”
He smiled. A weak one that didn’t reach his eyes. “Everything will be alright, Aimee.”
She craned her neck to look up at him. The kitchen looked small with him in it, his presence large but calming. “I know.” And she did. Above anything else she might feel for Dane Scott, she trusted him. Trusted him with her life.
He left the kitchen and she heard the front door open and close. She took a deep breath and dialed Torie’s number. Her roommate answered after one ring.
“Hey kiddo. How you holdin’ up?”
“Fine.”
“You don’t sound fine.”
“Sorry. Dane and I just talked. He has a plan.”
“Is it one you’re okay with?”
“The plan, yes. Being friend-zoned, no.”
Torie sighed heavily. “That sucks. But I wouldn’t bank on it. He’s into you. He’s just scared.”
“You think so?” Aimee knew better than to ask if she didn’t want to hear the truth. Torie never blew sunshine at her to make her feel better. She said it like it was. One of the many reasons Aimee loved her.
“I do. I can see it in the way he looks at you. And don’t let him feed you the line that you’re friends and he cares about you so he’s protecting you. That’s crap. It’s more than friendship.”
Aimee laughed. “Is there a bug somewhere in this kitchen? Were you listening to our conversation? That was almost word for word what he said.”
“I just know men. Sadly, not entirely in a good way. But Dane has feelings for you. I’m sure of that.”
Aimee knew Torie had a negative past with men, starting with her father and brother and going from there. But she didn’t talk about it much and Aimee didn’t push.
“Wherever Dane wants to take you, I’m sure you’ll be safe. And I’m grateful. I’ve got things covered here. We’ll get this guy, Aimee. Don’t worry.”
“I won’t. You be safe, okay?”
“Always. Have Dane check in with me later.”
“I will.”
“Talk soon.”
“Talk soon.”
Next Aimee called Grace. She didn’t want her to worry, and Grace would easily believe that Aimee was just taking off for a bit. She knew her little sister liked to go on car trips in search of great places to sketch and photograph. And Grace was the only family she needed to check in with at this point, thankfully. Tess would be on her honeymoon another week and her parents were gone for three more. Ben would watch over Tess and her parents were safe. All good.
Get to Me Page 10
