Her toes brushed against his. “Do you think you’ll ever forgive Chelsea?”
He inhaled the vanilla scent coming off her skin. “I’m not sure there is anything to forgive. Back then, I was too angry to see anything but what she’d done to me. Time and distance change one’s perspective.”
Her toes ran up the front of his foot to his calf. “When’s the last time you saw her?”
The house was silent around them, not a whistle of the breeze outside, nothing. Silence like this used to drive Boone mad. Now, with Peyton there, he felt relaxed, regardless of the topic. “The last time I saw Chelsea was at the courthouse when she was sentenced.”
Peyton’s brows rose. “Did she go to jail?”
“She was in jail before her court hearing. She couldn’t afford bail. But she had no previous convictions. Hell, she didn’t even have a speeding ticket. So the judge gave her a year of community service.”
Peyton went quiet, obviously thinking all this over. “I take it you weren’t at the hearing to support her?”
Boone snorted a laugh. “No, I wasn’t at the hearing. Hell, I was the one who left her in jail, knowing her parents didn’t have the money to bail her out.” The moment he said the words, he regretted them, hearing how cold he sounded. He exhaled a long breath before addressing her again. “And in case you’re wondering, no, that does not make me proud.”
A softness washed across her face, drawing him in. She slid her fingers into his, holding him like she never planned to let go. “I imagine anyone in your position would feel the same way when someone they loved backstabbed them like that. I know I would be furious.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” he said with a soft laugh, brushing his thumb across her palm. “You don’t have that in you.”
She watched him again. “How do you know that?”
“Because you are too sweet to feel that level of hatred.” He leaned in and gave her a tender kiss on her nose.
When he backed away, she smiled. “Not always, believe me. I get mad sometimes.”
“And I bet you’d still look cute…and still be nice.”
She laughed softly, then shifted a little, and the blanket fell farther down her side, revealing more of her gorgeous body in the moonlight. “I take it that you haven’t reached out to Chelsea since?”
He shook his head, surprised his chest didn’t tighten like it usually did when he thought about his ex-wife. “She’s never called. I’ve never called her.”
“But she used to live here, though, didn’t she? Doesn’t she have family to come home to see?”
“Her brother left for New York City right after college, and her parents moved to New York City around the time Chelsea and I did. She had one uncle here, but he passed away about a year ago.”
Peyton went quiet again, watching him.
He finally chuckled at her pinched expression. “Got a lot on your mind now?”
She inhaled a big long breath through her nose and lifted her shoulder. “Just thinking that life is crazy. You have an ex-wife who you can talk to but don’t want to. I had a husband I want to talk to but can’t. Just funny how life goes, isn’t it?”
“Believe me,” Boone said in all seriousness, “not being able to talk to the people you want to is so much harder than forgetting the people you’d rather not know.”
“I suppose that’s true.” Her gaze held his, strong and steady, her voice all tenderness. “I’m sorry she did that to you. You deserve so much better than that.”
He smiled. “Don’t be sorry. I’m not. It happened. It’s in the past.”
Before she could say anything more, she yawned. He chuckled, gathering her in his arms until he was spooning her, holding her tight. “And that’s a sign you’ve learned enough about me for one night.”
“I think my eyes agree with you.” She laughed.
Boone smiled against her shoulder, his lips resting there. Christ, she smelled good. She fit so perfectly against him. More importantly, she broke him wide open; it was those damn sweet eyes and warm affection drawing him in.
He closed his eyes, and his mind was blissfully quiet.
“Boone?” Peyton whispered a few minutes later.
“Mmm,” he barely managed.
“I’m really happy you came back to Stoney Creek.”
Warmth hit his chest so hard, his breath caught in his throat. He locked his arms around her and kissed her shoulder again. “I’m really happy you came to Stoney Creek.”
Chapter 12
“I’m really happy you came to Stoney Creek.”
Something that Boone had said to Peyton before she had drifted off to sleep last night repeated in her mind the next morning. In her bed, she lay on her side, with her hands pressed beneath her cheek. The sun shone outside the window, the blue sky held her focus without a cloud in sight. Last night, after Boone had chased away the nightmare with his warmth, he gathered her in his arms until a peaceful darkness settled in.
Her heart reached for him after she’d learned what his ex-wife had done to him. And for the first time since she met him, she finally felt like she was giving something back to him in the same way he was giving back to her. This all started as fun and games, but if she looked back, and she was honest with herself, Peyton knew her connection to Boone had been immediate. A connection that far exceeded lust…and certainly didn’t feel casual.
Outside the window, birds circled each other in the sky before swooping down and out of sight. Peyton knew she’d come to Stoney Creek in search of a new life. And damn did she get it, though none of her plans involved falling for a sexy detective or having a target on her back for reasons that she didn’t know.
Her mind then took a hard right in another direction, the only direction it could go. Could her life in Seattle be linked to the murder in her shop? Now that she thought about it, it did seem unbelievable all these terrible things could happen to one person, but crazy coincidences happened all the time. And that’s what this had to be, just a big coincidence. She stared off in the distance and sighed, feeling like she had no answers for anything.
“Trouble on the mind?”
Peyton screamed, jerking upright, her hands flying to her—thankfully nightgown-covered—chest.
Kinsley laughed softly, resting on the edge of the bed, wearing a plain white T-shirt and jeans. “Hi.” Kinsley smiled.
“I told her not to bother you,” Remy said, standing at the doorway.
“It’s okay,” Peyton said, fluffing up her pillows behind her, then leaning against them, reminded of something else. “Congrats on your engagement.”
Remy smiled. “Thanks, but I’m more worried about you.” She strode into the room, set down a small ceramic bowl, then dumped some red and black stone-looking items into the bowl and lit them on fire with a lighter.
Smoke immediately infused the air. “I can’t decide if that’s aftershave or a cherry air freshener,” Peyton said, eyeing the smoke.
“It’s dragon’s blood,” Remy said, then leaned against Peyton’s dresser.
“Dragon’s blood?” Peyton repeated, side-eying Kinsley, who slowly shook her head.
“I know, it’s a weird name.” Remy laughed softly. “It’s a really expensive tree resin and it gives fiery energy that works wonders for protection.”
“Well, thank you, I’ll take what protection I can get,” Peyton said.
Remy smiled.
“Boone asked us to come and stay with you while he went to work,” Kinsley said. “I was going to let you sleep but then heard you sighing. Everything okay?”
“Oh yeah, everything’s great,” Peyton said dryly. “I could have died in a car accident yesterday and now Boone thinks someone might actually want to kill me.”
Kinsley frowned before she took Peyton into one of her warm hugs. It helped chase away the cold of Peyton’s reality…a little.
“I can’t believe this is all happening to you,” Kinsley said, leaning away. Peyton had talked to Kinsley on the p
hone in her bedroom last night while Boone called Asher and Rhett telling them her most personal life story. Kinsley paused, then shrugged. “I mean, we have crime here, but nothing like this.”
Peyton shook her head. “I can’t make any sense out of it.”
Remy waved at the smoke, moving it toward Peyton. “I get why Boone’s concerned, because he’s worried about you, but still, who in the hell would be trying to hurt you?”
“I have no idea,” Peyton said. “Boone thinks it has to do with my past, but I’m telling you, my life in Seattle was so normal. It’s gotta have to do with someone here.”
“Like some sicko serial killer or something?” Remy asked.
Peyton shrugged again. “That seems more plausible, even if it’s still totally mind-blowing, than it being about something to do with my past.”
Remy waved the smoke faster in Peyton’s direction.
Peyton chuckled. “Thanks.”
“You need it,” Remy said seriously.
Kinsley dropped back down on the mattress. “God, maybe we’ve met this guy.”
“I don’t even want to think about it,” Peyton said, scrunching her nose against the overwhelming aroma. “I hope they find out who did this quick. I hate that I had to keep the shop closed today.” Which had been a decision that she’d come to after her talk with Boone last night. Her safety had to be more important than her new business, as much as that frustrated her.
“It sucks hard,” Kinsley said with sympathy. “But it’s the right thing to do, especially if Boone is feeling uneasy about it all. His instincts usually aren’t wrong.”
Peyton sighed. She moved to Stoney Creek to get away from dark times, not find even darker ones. “It just feels so weird because I have no control over any of this. All I can do is sit here and hope that either Boone’s wrong or he catches the person before anything else bad happens.” She hesitated, trying not to let panic take her away. “It’s not very settling.”
“Don’t you worry, babe,” Kinsley said with a smile, and patted Peyton’s arm. “I haven’t seen Boone in full protective and determination mode in a long time. This morning he was very serious. He’ll get this solved fast.”
Peyton smiled. That’s what made Boone, Boone.
Suddenly, Kinsley’s expression began to change, filling with an emotion Peyton did not recognize from her. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Kinsley glanced at Remy. “Can you give us a couple minutes alone?”
“Sure,” Remy said with a nod, then turned to Peyton. “I’m going to go make you a bergamot tea. I can read your tea leaves after and see what comes of that.”
“Thanks.” Peyton smiled, pretty damn sure no tea would help her. When Remy left, Peyton took in Kinsley’s concerned eyes. “Now will you tell me what’s wrong?”
Kinsley drew in a long, deep breath. She looked at her hands and when she looked up again, guilt hardened her face. “I did something that I hope isn’t going to make you mad, because I want you to know that’s the very last thing I would have ever wanted to do.”
Peyton went still. “Okay, what did you do?”
A beat. “I slept with Justin.”
“My Justin?” Peyton gasped.
Kinsley winced. “I freakin’ hope he’s not your Justin, or this is going to become way more complicated.”
Peyton flicked her hand, shaking her head. “God, no, he’s not my Justin. But I mean, Justin from Seattle?” With all that happened yesterday, she completely forgot that she was supposed to meet him for a drink.
Kinsley shifted against the bed, pulling up her legs under her and nodded tightly. “Yeah, that Justin.” Her guarded eyes finally settled on Peyton. “Do you hate me?”
Peyton stared at Kinsley, her amazing new friend, for what felt like a full minute, until she finally shook her head. “No, of course I don’t hate you. I guess you saw him at the bar last night?”
Kinsley gave a tight nod. “Yeah, he came in last night. He was planning on taking the red-eye.” A pause. Then Kinsley nibbled her lip, her shoulders curling. “He kinda, well, sorta missed his flight last night because he was in my bed.”
Peyton couldn’t help herself; she burst out laughing.
Kinsley’s eyes went huge, cheeks flushed pink. “Well, that certainly wasn’t the reaction I was expecting, but I guess it’s better than a punch to the nose.”
Peyton laughed a little longer, then forced herself to stop. “Honestly, Kinsley”—she took Kinsley’s hand and squeezed, seeing the obvious guilt in Kinsley’s expression—“I’m sleeping with your brother. Why would you think I’d be upset about Justin?”
“Well…” Kinsley nibbled her lip harder, leaving indents.
Peyton didn’t need Kinsley to reply. “You heard about Justin being my late husband’s best friend?” She hadn’t told either Kinsley or Remy about Adam. The plan was to never tell anyone. To start a new life. Until that plan had been stolen away by a danger she couldn’t have even imagined.
“Yeah, I heard about Adam,” Kinsley said softly. “And I’m so sorry, Peyton. That’s really awful.”
Another loaded moment passed.
“I’m sorry I never told you. I should have,” Peyton said, knowing that now by the hard lump in her throat. Hell, she felt closer to Remy and Kinsley than she felt to anyone.
“You should have told me too,” Remy said, coming back into the room with the tea mug in her hand. “But I already knew, so don’t worry about it.”
“You knew?” Peyton asked her.
She nodded. “The first time I read your tea leaves I saw a husband. I just didn’t know the details.”
Peyton accepted the mug Remy offered and glanced between these two new amazing friends. “It’s been really hard for me to talk about Adam and my life in Seattle, but I should have shared all of this with you guys. I’m actually glad you know now.” And that surprised Peyton.
Kinsley smiled. “I’m just glad you’re here and safe.”
“Me too.” Peyton smiled, somehow feeling like that was the exact response she’d needed to hear. She sipped the tea, then shrugged. “Not bad.”
“All good stuff, I promise.” Remy smiled.
Kinsley finally let out a long breath, and sat cross-legged in front of Peyton. “So, you’re really not mad about Justin?”
“I’m really not mad.” Peyton smiled, then suddenly a thought occurred to her. If Kinsley knew about Adam, then…“Did you tell Justin about the car accident?”
Kinsley nodded. “Yeah, he was really worried because he said you were supposed to meet him there for a drink.”
“Oh, my God, help.” Peyton spilled the tea on her hand. “Ow.”
Remy scooped the mug up from her hands. “What is it?”
“My phone, where is it?”
Kinsley reached for it on the end table and handed it to Peyton. “Why?”
“I want to call Justin before he calls my mother.”
Remy burst out laughing. “She might have a crazy madman after her, but she’s worried about her mother.”
Peyton found Justin’s contact information saved on her phone and called. “You haven’t met my mother. She loves too much sometimes, and she’ll show up and treat me like a five-year-old.”
Laughter filled the room as the phone began ringing. Peyton laughed too, knowing that she had wanted to meet a person who understood her and didn’t pity her. She realized she had found that, in not only Boone, but in Kinsley and Remy too. And most importantly, she finally wasn’t fearing a piece of her past; she was laughing about it.
“Damn am I glad to hear from you,” Justin answered the phone.
Peyton jumped out of bed and moved to the window, staring out at the ducks swimming out on the lake. “I’m so sorry I worried you, but I’m fine.”
“You scared the hell out of me,” he said softly. “Do you need me to do anything?”
“No, I’m okay,” she said. “Kinsley and Remy are here with me. And I hear that you missed your fligh
t last night?”
“Totally worth it,” he said with an obvious smile. “But I’m at the airport now. You called at a good time. I’m just about to board.”
“I’m glad I caught you,” she said, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “You didn’t happen to talk to my mom, did you?”
“No, I wasn’t sure if you’d want me to,” he said. “Do you want me to call her?”
“God, no,” Peyton exclaimed, causing Justin to laugh. “Please keep the accident to yourself. I don’t want her to worry.”
“My lips are sealed.” He paused. Then he said, “That’s the call for boarding. Listen, don’t be a stranger. Keep in touch. All right?”
“I will.” She smiled. “Promise.” A sudden unexpected sense of closure drifted through her. They were both going to be okay. Maybe that’s why Justin had come to see her—to get closure for himself too.
“Tell Kinsley to call, will you?”
Peyton turned around, finding both Kinsley and Remy watching her while sitting on the bed. “I’ll tell her for sure. Bye.”
“Bye.”
The line went dead, and she returned her phone to the end table. “Justin says to call him.”
“Please,” Kinsley said. “He can call me if he wants to talk.”
Peyton laughed, thinking Kinsley would probably be the perfect girl for Justin. She’d keep him on his toes. “So, we’re stuck here at the house all day; what’s the plan?”
Kinsley raised her hand. “I got it all figured out.” She jumped off the bed and grabbed her bikini out of a plastic bag along with a big bottle of wine. “The sun and your dock is calling our name.”
Remy frowned. “Damon and I have some wedding plans to get to, but I’ll be back just as soon as I can.” She took the mug off the end table. “Drink up. I’ll read the leaves before I go.”
The tea was warm to the touch now, and Peyton drank it back quickly. She handed the mug to Remy again.
“Ah, yeah, okay.” Remy set the mug down on the table, then smiled at Peyton. “Yup, you’ll be fine. I’ll be back soon. Promise.”
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