by Barbara Lohr
Jackson’s eyes twitched. He looked as surprised as she was.
“She’d just gotten out of school.” Slowly, he hefted the bag from one hand to the other, as if he were weighing her sharp comment. “Trying to get established here in town. I was glad to help.”
She swallowed a laugh. A Pomeroy needing help? Not in this town. Her family practically owned Sweetwater Creek. People would trip over each other to help build Victoria’s career.
Right now Emily wasn't feeling sympathetic, picturing Victoria standing at a meeting packed with men, not knowing the time. And she’d just graduated from college. Josie and Bryn had mentioned that Victoria was behind them in school. Way behind.
She was a much younger woman.
Now that didn’t sit right.
Lured by Jackson’s voice, Sasha wandered into the room. She twined herself around Jackson’s legs like liquid smoke.
“Here's my girl.” Stooping, he ran a hand down Sasha’s silky, white fur. “You are the sweetest, softest thing.”
Emily’s skin prickled from her shoulders to her waist.
Sasha arched her back. What female wouldn’t, hearing that low, coaxing tone? Emily was almost purring herself. Grabbing a glass, she poured herself a cold drink of water and glugged it down.
Glancing up, he stood. “She is so sweet. But back to the cookies. I’m thinking the guys at work might like some. But I don’t know if I want to share.”
“Oh. The guys.” Her shoulders loosened. She swiped a drop of water from her chin.
With the toolbox in one hand and her cookies in the other, Jackson turned to leave.
She opened the door that led to the landing and the shabby carpet that trailed down the stairs. “Thanks so much for your help. You’re so sweet to do this.”
“No problem.” He backed down one step, still looking up.
“Are you sure you won't take a check?” She was just being polite.
He shook his head. “Absolutely not. Not from a old friend.”
Old. And friend. Was there a message here?
She felt like she’d been stiff-armed.
Since he had his hands full, Emily scooted around him to yank open the bottom door. His black truck sat out back in the small parking area. He slid his toolbox into the back and shoved the gate closed. Then he opened the driver’s door and tossed the cookies inside. “I’ll be back to fix that intercom,” he said with a grin.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“But I will.” Wearing a secret smile, he slammed the door, started the truck and revved the engine. With a parting wave, he backed out and left.
The hallway felt long and empty when she went back inside. Slowly dragging herself up the stairs, she didn’t know if she wanted Jackson coming around. What was this restless feeling after he left?
Like she was missing something.
Seated at her computer, she couldn’t get back to work. Blinking, the cursor on the blank page taunted her. Good thing she had Josie on speed dial. “I think Jackson might share my cookies with Victoria.”
“Just so that’s all he’s sharing.” Josie chuckled.
“You wicked girl.”
“Relax. That skinny chick is probably always on a diet. Besides, that doesn't prove anything.”
“Josie, I know you mean this as a friend. But really, what am I doing? Maybe I should just take Miss Charlotte’s advice and try an online dating service.” The idea terrified her. But so did these thoughts she was having about her old friend.
“Don't you dare. Just think of other projects for him.”
“Oh, he’s doing that himself. Every time he turns around, Jackson finds something else to fix at my place.”
“This calls for a mission.” Josie’s voice held a familiar conniving note.
Excitement shivered up her spine. “What have you got in mind?” This was the girl who’d helped Emily and Bryn toss toilet paper through the trees of the teachers’ homes the night before their high school graduation.
“Tonight we’ll cruise by his house. Check it out and see if Victoria is there.”
“That's so juvenile. What time?”
Chapter 6
When Josie arrived to pick her up, Emily was clutching a paper with Jackson’s scribbled address. “He lives on one of the country roads,” she said, climbing into the car. “Doesn’t sound familiar.”
Her head swam with giddiness.
Josie glanced at the paper. “Maybe it’s one of those new subdivisions.” She tapped the address into her GPS.
Emily stared at the screen. “My parents mentioned that new areas were being developed on the outskirts.” For her, Sweetwater Creek would always be the square, the marina and the surrounding streets.
“Are they interested in moving out here?” Josie asked, switching on her bright headlights when they reached the edge of town. The night grew very dark around them. Emily would feel totally spooked out if she weren’t with her friend.
“Are you kidding?” Emily snorted. “They’ll never leave that house. I wouldn’t want them to.”
“The house you grew up in,” Josie offered.
“Right. I like going home to that house.” The front porch, the huge back yard with a couple of peach and pecan trees. She grew up dreaming under those trees. “Besides, they probably can’t afford it. From what my dad said, these new developments are really pricey.”
“He’s right. Can you believe folks are snapping up these properties for summer homes? Guess they like the man-made lakes and marinas that are going up.”
“That’s crazy.”
“They call it progress.” Josie sounded uncertain and Emily felt the same. She didn’t like man-made anything.
Emily opened her window. “Spring’s coming. Pretty soon the jasmine will be in bloom.” Tonight the sweet, damp smell of earth and marsh wafted through the car.
Josie inhaled. “I love it.”
“The city air was full of car fumes, deep fried foods...you name it.”
“I’m glad you came back. Didn’t know how much I missed you until you came back, girl.” Josie deepened her southern twang for the last words.
“That’s the next country western hit for sure!” Emily giggled until they both burst into raucous laughs. She’d had missed getting silly with an old friend.
“Are we getting close?” Josie asked, peering over the steering wheel.
Emily checked the screen. “We should be. But I can’t see any road signs. And it’s pitch dark out here. How will we know?”
Josie pointed. “Mailboxes?”
“Right.” They passed a few clusters of mailboxes, all numbered and named. Then they reached a stretch marked by a single mailbox here and there, with long driveways that disappeared into the darkness. Many had stone entry columns with impressive archways. Finally they came to a mailbox with the name Hart, stenciled in white reflector ink. Emily’s breath froze in her chest. Josie cut her speed. The headlights illuminated stone pillars on either side of a lane with a wrought iron arch stretching over a driveway.
“This doesn’t look like Jackson,” Emily murmured.
“Not the Jackson you know,” Josie mused, taking in the entrance. “But we’re not in high school anymore. He may have changed. His mom still lives in town. I see her once in a while at Winn Dixie.”
“He seems the same. Sometimes.” She faltered. What did she really know about Jackson Hart today? He knew how to fix anything. And he made her feel crazy when she was with him.
Emily had expected a little cottage on the outskirts somewhere. That’s what it had sounded like when he tossed that out. “A place outside of town.” She peered through the darkness. Well, this wasn’t near town. That much was a certainty.
Josie pulled over and parked.
Tall pines swayed in the breeze, tossing out a pine cone here and there. Crickets sang in the brush. Basically, they were in a wooded area. Craning her neck, Emily peered through the darkness. “Where’s the house?”
&nbs
p; “No need to whisper, Emily,” Josie said with a laugh. “It’s back there somewhere. Probably on the lake.”
“He lives on a lake?”
Josie pointed to the blue oval on the navigation screen.
Emily stared up at the pillars and archway. “Maybe the address is wrong.”
“His name’s on this mailbox.” Josie flicked on her bright lights. The mailbox clearly said Hart. “I'm killing the lights. This is a covert operation. I don’t want him knowing we’re here.”
Emily’s heart was thumping in her chest. “Won’t that be dangerous? What if someone comes along, doesn't see your car and rams into it?”
“Good point.” Josie started the car again. “I’ll ease onto the edge of his driveway. Looks like there's solid ground on either side.”
Darkness and silence yawned around them. The crunch of tires was the only sound. “Don't get any closer,” Emily squeaked after Josie had edged past the pillars. “I’ll die if he sees us doing this.”
Josie turned the motor off. “Emily, we can't even see the house yet.”
“Maybe he's asleep.” She pressed one hand to her chest.
Josie opened her door. “There’s no turning back. Put on your big girl pants and let’s go.”
She slid out of the car. As they cowered together, a low, mournful sound tunneled through the trees. Emily grabbed Josie’s arm. “What’s that?”
Josie listened. “An owl. Don’t you love it?”
“Not really. Not tonight.” A chill rippled down her spine.
Emily’s feet felt rooted to the road. Then it hit her. “What if she's here? What if Victoria’s red convertible is parked back there?”
Josie snorted. “Isn’t that why we’re here? To find out what’s up? You know, strictly in a friendly way.”
“Right.” Her friend could be so logical.
“Let’s find out if Jackson’s coming over to your place because he has time on his hands. Or if he’s coming over because he’s, well, interested?”
“Oh, Josie. I doubt that. He’s just a friend.” A hot, handsome friend who looked great with his green toolbox. “Have you seen Victoria lately?”
“Looks aren’t everything. Let’s go.” Linking arms, they crept up the road that twisted and turned into total darkness.
“I can’t see a thing,” Emily whispered. At least in the city, there were so many lights that no matter where you were, you had vision.
Josie stopped and turned. “I’m going back for a flashlight. There’s one in the car.”
They definitely needed some light. But being left here alone was not okay with Emily. “I’m going with you.” Together, they scurried back to the car.
The door gave a metallic creak when Josie opened it, shredding the quiet night. “Couldn’t we be more quiet about it?” Emily hissed.
“I don’t think he’ll hear.” Josie pressed a button on her dashboard. A welcome light went on and the glove box fell open. Josie scooped a long slim flashlight from the dark interior. “He’s either asleep and has all the lights off or that house is a ways up the road. We need this light.”
“We need ten lights.” Emily wrapped her jean jacket tighter around her.
They set out again. The bushes rustled around them. Josie swished the light left and right in a slow arc. Either Josie was breathing really loud or that sound was her own labored breathing.
“Think of this as a mission, Emily. The goal is to discover the nature of Jackson’s relationship with Victoria. We’re gathering intelligence.”
“You watch too many spy shows.”
“I like them. They fill my evenings.”
“Try romantic comedy. At least I can get to sleep after those.” This driveway felt endless. “What is he doing out here in the woods? I don’t understand why he's not living in town.”
“You kidding me? A lot of guys would love to have this property. He probably has a shooting range somewhere.”
“Oh, my word.” She froze. “I hope he doesn’t hear us and come blasting out with a rifle.”
Josie hugged her shoulder. “Sorry I mentioned it. Does Jackson seem like the kind of guy who’d shoot into the darkness?”
“No. Never.” Her shoulders loosened. But the farther they got from the car, the more uneasy she felt. Emily grabbed her friend’s hand.
Josie giggled. “Hey, we’re not in Girl Scouts anymore.”
“Yeah, I hated that camping trip we took to Willow Lake.”
“You’re the one who suggested skinny dipping.”
Emily chuckled, remembering that time when anything felt possible. Josie was right and she dropped her friend’s hand. She could handle this. “Why isn’t this driveway straight? We can’t see what’s ahead.”
The road kept taking loopy turns around large pockets of trees. “I suppose it’s really pretty in the daylight.” Josie swung the flash light to either side.
“Hold it. I see a light.” Straining her eyes, Emily saw something up ahead. “Looks like the driveway swerves to the left, goes down into a valley and then up again.”
“Living on the rise is a good idea. Jackson’s a smart man.”
“Because of the view?”
“Could be.” Josie poked her in the back and Emily stumbled ahead. “Being up high would also avoid flooding from that man-made lake.”
The very idea made her shiver.
“You should've worn more than a jean jacket. It isn’t spring yet.”
“My Goodwill coat is so ugly.”
Josie’s giggles echoed in the still night air. “He's never going to see you tonight. At least, I hope not. We’re here to observe not to be observed.”
More logical practicality that did not calm Emily’s fears.
The darn owl hooted again. The deep, lonely sound echoed in Emily’s churning stomach. But up ahead were some lights.
“Your friend’s house is just ahead. Watch the roots in the road.” Josie kicked at one with her tennis shoe.
When they came around a curve in a semi-crouch, the trees thinned. Amazement made her blink. A huge house sprawled before them, resplendent with lights.
Emily sucked in a breath. “I wonder if there are two Jackson Harts in the area.” The size and elegant lines of the home left her breathless. This just didn’t look like the guy she knew.
“Does he drive a black pickup truck?”
“Yes. And that looks like it.” In the distance, lights bounced off what sure resembled Jackson’s truck.
“I don’t see a red convertible.” Josie was whispering. The house grew larger as they drew closer. “Will you look at this? He must have one heck of an electric bill.”
But no red car. Her relief was dimmed by a terrible thought. “What if her car is parked in his garage?”
Josie shot her a worried glance. “Do you think?”
“Maybe he doesn’t want that gorgeous car out in the open.” That would be like Jackson. Very protective. Taking care of people and their belongings.
Not that it mattered to her.
But the thought made her feel sick.
“How sweet.” But Josie’s sarcastic tone said she didn’t find it sweet at all.
They were close to the garage now and lights blasted on, blinding them for a minute.
Emily glanced at Josie, now in a crouch. No doubt she’d seen that in those spy movies. “Maybe he has motion detectors.”
Emily forgot to breathe. What started as fun began to feel dangerous. And potentially very embarrassing.
Josie crept to one of the garage windows.
“What are you doing?” Emily asked in a hoarse whisper.
“Looking for a red convertible.” The window needed cleaning. Josie rubbed a spot in the glass with her elbow. “Nope. Only a Porsche and a...wow. I think that’s an Austin Healy. Vintage.”
“Then this isn’t his house.” Emily joined her at the window. In the dim light thrown by the overhead lamps sat two primo cars. Glancing back at the black truck, she tried to put the t
wo together.
“He’s got good taste.” Her friend’s brows raised. “No red convertible? No Victoria. Looks like it’s open season on Jackson.” Even in the darkness Emily could see Josie’s pleased smile.
“Don’t be silly.” Why did relief course through her veins, followed by jittery excitement? She tugged at Josie’s quilted jacket. “Let’s go back. I’ve seen enough.”
But she didn’t understand it.
What she saw before her was a beautiful home stretched out on the rise. And she was just a little girl with her nose pressed against the window. Jackson had changed, and she didn’t know if she liked that. This house didn’t feel right. And those cars in the garage?
He had some explaining to do.
But she had no business asking.
Somewhere dogs barked. They both froze.
“Cripes!” Josie gave her a shove. “Run!”
They streaked toward the driveway as if their lives depended on it.
“Those dogs better be in a pen,” Josie huffed.
Emily had to save her breath for running. No way did she want to be caught by those dogs. The barking behind them got louder. Sounded closer. She ran faster.
Slippery needles underfoot, she wondered if she was still on the driveway.
As if she could sense Emily’s panic, Josie gasped, “Pretend we’re doing walk-run, like we do in the morning. But stay in run mode.”
“Easy for you to say.” How could she have forgotten Jackson’s dogs? “Their names are Maximillian and Spartacus.”
“No way!” Josie stared at her with disbelief. “Faster!”
Thunder cracked overhead like bowling balls hitting a strike. Rain began to fall in fat drops that blinded her and plastered her hair to her head. Keeping her balance on the slippery pine needles became tricky. When Emily’s foot caught something, she went sprawling. “Josie.”
Behind them, the landscape brightened. Lights on the house had flashed on.
Josie helped her up. “On your feet, girl, unless you want to become dog chow.”
Knees and elbows burning, Emily heaved herself up. This reminded her of when they ran track in high school. Josie had always been ahead of her. Now fear and embarrassment sent a jolt of adrenaline through her body. Her scrunchie had come loose. The long, wet hair didn’t make running any easier. Finally she could see Josie’s car ahead of them. It had never looked so good, even with the bumper that was held on by duct tape. They were both gasping, and Emily’s side was killing her. Behind them the dogs kept coming, their yapping filling the night.
