An image of Jaimee’s face, her gray eyes clouded with doubt, flashed through his mind. Sticking around Hawthorne was actually a good thing. He had a feeling if he left now, she’d disappear from his life for good. He’d never know if they’d missed out on something with the potential to be incredible, or if they were simply too different to last.
* * * *
Jaimee left her meeting with the D.A. with a lightness to her step, even if her heart was still heavy. After reviewing the report from O’Leary and taking other factors into consideration, the D.A. had told her she didn’t intend to press charges. Jaimee knew she had Wolf to thank.
Her next stop was the impound where her 4Runner had been towed to claim her car. She paid the hefty fine, searched for the tracker Legrand had put beneath the bumper, and crushed it under her heel. After a quick trip to the grocery store, she parked in front of her cabin, happy to be home.
Even if she did miss Eli.
Which was ridiculous since she’d seen him only a couple of hours earlier. Pulling out her phone, she texted him that there would be no charges filed. He responded immediately with a happy face. Smiling, she picked up the bag of groceries, got out of the car, and unlocked the cabin door. Watson flew out to greet her. After she calmed the excited dog and scratched his ears, she went inside.
An hour later, she’d called all her dog walking clients and apologized for disappearing without notice, assured them her emergency was over, and promised to pick up their dogs the following day on schedule. Only one woman told her not to bother.
Though she would have loved to get a little exercise, intentionally aggravating her broken rib seemed like a stupid idea. Not to mention she was exhausted. For once in her life, she’d simply try to relax. If she could manage not to overthink her relationship with Eli. A big if.
Taking a mystery novel and an old quilt into the backyard, she settled in the shade at the edge of the woods to read while Watson nosed around, familiarizing himself with his surroundings. Stretching out on her good side, she did her best to get interested in the plot, but after a few minutes, the pages began to blur . . .
Jaimee woke with a start and swatted at the bee buzzing above her face. The shadows across the yard had lengthened, and she wondered how long she’d been asleep. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked faintly. She sat up and brushed hair out of her eyes to look around. Watson was nowhere in sight.
“Watson!” Her shout echoed through the forest. She rose to her feet, her muscles stiff from laying on the hard ground, and yelled again, but there was no response from the dog.
“Where the heck did you go?”
Watson was probably out chasing squirrels. Bending carefully, she picked up the quilt and gave it a shake, tucked the book under her arm, and headed inside. She drank a glass of water and ate a handful of pretzels before going back out to the yard. Still no sign of Watson. A frown pinched her brows as she called and whistled.
When a flash of movement through the trees caught her eye, her hand went automatically to her hip before she mentally chastised herself. Legrand was dead, and no one else had any reason to hurt her. Tree branches rustled as Alex Jeffries and his chocolate lab stepped out into the clearing and waved.
“I heard you yelling. Are you looking for one of the dogs you walk?”
Jaimee nodded. “Watson, the one I had with me up at the lake. Have you seen him?”
“A dog was barking a while ago. Rufus went running off in the direction of the noise, but he came back with his tail tucked. I’m not sure what scared him.”
A shiver slid through her. “I hope Watson didn’t chase a coyote or a bear. He’s braver than he is smart.”
“I heard a car out on the road, but I didn’t see it. Do you think someone might have grabbed him?”
“He’s adorable but not show dog quality. Damn.” Jaimee clenched her fist and smacked it against the side of her leg. “My fault for falling asleep and leaving him unsupervised.”
“Wait! Did you hear that?” Alex turned to face the woods. “It sounded like—there!”
Faint barking came from some distance away. Definitely Watson. She raised her voice and yelled, “Watson! Watson! Let’s go, boy!”
The barking sounded closer, high-pitched and filled with excitement.
“Maybe he was just chasing squirrels. Typical.”
“He doesn’t sound like he’s hurt, at least.” When Rufus thumped his tail against the ground and whined, Alex laid a hand on his dog’s head. “Here comes your buddy.”
Jaimee walked around the side of the cabin just as Watson burst out of the woods and ran toward her, tongue hanging and filthy fur flapping. She stopped short and fended off the dog when he tried to jump on her as a horrible stench reached her nose.
“That’s not mud. You rolled in poop!”
“He reeks. Gross.” Alex put out a foot to keep him back. “There are berries stuck in his fur. My guess is he rolled in bear shit.”
“Disgusting. I guess I know what I’ll be doing this evening. Want to help me give him a bath?”
Watson dropped onto his butt to scratch while Rufus sniffed him.
“Uh, I should probably go study for my finals. They’re next week.”
Jaimee grinned. “I don’t blame you for making excuses. I can tie him up and get the job done. Good luck on your tests.”
“Thanks. Come on, Rufus.” Alex strolled away, whistling beneath his breath.
Jaimee turned to face Watson, whose enthusiasm had dimmed perceptibly at the word bath. “Don’t move an inch while I go get the shampoo. We’ll have to use mine, so I hope you don’t mind smelling like honeysuckle.”
A half hour later, she was soaked and cold, but Watson was clean. Except for his collar, which she needed to scrub. After taking it off him, she dried the dog as best she could and turned him loose. He immediately ran over to a patch of grass and loose pine needles to roll vigorously on his back.
“Whatever. At least it isn’t dirt—or poop. Come on, boy. We’re going inside.”
After shaking twice, he came willingly enough. She shut the door behind him, set the shampoo and wet towel on the kitchen counter, and dropped the collar in the sink. After searching for a brush in her cleaning supplies, she poured dish soap on the collar and scrubbed the leather and metal clasp. When her fingers encountered a raised section, she frowned and turned the strap over.
“That’s weird.”
There was a slit in the leather. She slid one finger into it and felt cold metal.
“What the heck?”
Pulling back the edge of the pocket, she gave the collar a shake, and a key clattered into the sink. Jaimee picked it up and studied the long, narrow tooth pattern.
“So that’s where Maureen put it.” She looked down at Watson’s furry face staring up at her. “You had the safe deposit box key all along.”
Chapter Twenty-One
The tires crunched gravel in the quiet evening as Eli drove slowly up Jaimee’s driveway. He parked next to her 4Runner, happy to see she’d gotten her car back. Lights glowed behind the windows of her cabin, shedding warmth he wasn’t certain she’d feel when she saw him. He hadn’t bothered to call before driving straight to her home from the airport, uncertain of his reception. She hadn’t seemed terribly enthusiastic that morning when he’d told her they needed to talk.
He got out and slammed the door. The sharp click echoed like a shot, and he winced. The outside light came on a moment later, and the door opened a crack. Apparently Jaimee was just as jumpy as he was.
“It’s me,” he called out.
The door opened wider. Watson ran out to greet him, barking with enthusiasm. After stopping to pet the dog, he approached Jaimee where she stood in the doorway wearing an old Dartmouth sweatshirt and black leggings. Her feet were bare.
“Did your mom make her flight on time?”
“Actually, it was delayed, so I was later getting back than I expected. Thanks for texting me earlier.” They were carrying
on a polite conversation when all he really wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her.
“Come on in. I have news.” She waited for Watson to follow him inside and then shut the door.
“Something other than the D.A. not pressing charges?”
“Yep.” She walked over to the table and picked up a small object. Turning, she held out a key on her palm. “Look what turned up.”
His eyes widened. “Is that Maureen’s safe deposit box key? Where the hell did you find it?”
“I would assume it’s her key.” Jaimee set it back down on the table. “There was a little pocket in Watson’s collar. The key was in that.”
“Wow. I’m impressed with Maureen’s ingenuity. That’s certainly not a place someone would normally look.”
“I discovered it when I gave Watson a bath. She must have known you’d be the one to take the dog and wanted you to have it.”
“I’m not so sure about that. She left Watson to you in her will.”
“She did?”
Eli nodded. “Maybe she trusted you to make a smart decision more than she trusted her assorted relatives. We can go to the bank tomorrow to find out what someone wanted so badly they were willing to kill a helpless old woman.”
“Do you know the box number?”
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. After searching through it, he held up a small piece of paper. “2280. This note was in my grandpa’s desk with tape across it where the key had been.”
“It looks like we’re in business. Good. I’m sick of all the damn mystery, and I want whoever hired Legrand brought to justice.”
“So do I.” He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “Let’s go sit down and talk. I think we need to clear up a few things.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Okay.”
They sat side-by-side on the couch with Watson at their feet. He released Jaimee’s hand and turned slightly to face her. “You look upset.”
“Mostly disappointed. I’d hoped—” She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “I guess I should have known better.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked quietly.
After a moment, she looked him in the eye. “Tell me you didn’t feel sick and horrified when I shot that man last night.”
His stomach lurched at the memory. “I can’t. But I also felt immense gratitude it was Legrand’s brains on that porch and not my mother’s.”
“Gratitude mixed with disgust. Not the most solid foundation on which to build a relationship.”
“Not if that was all there is between us.” He hesitated. “What did you feel after you pulled the trigger?”
“Relief that I hit my target, even though I was certain I would. Satisfaction that I did what needed to be done. Regret that someone somewhere would grieve for that miserable son of a bitch. A mother or father. Maybe a son or daughter. A person as innocent as your mom was in the whole situation who didn’t deserve the pain that would soon come their way.” Her gray eyes glimmered with anger. “The knowledge that I’d do it again if I had to.”
“Do you intend to go back to Counterstrike?”
She reared back and frowned. “Is that what’s been on your mind? I don’t plan to. My reasons for quitting in the first place still hold. But if one of my teammates needed me, I’d be there in a flash. The same way they came to my aid without hesitation the minute I called.”
Eli didn’t want to think about Jaimee in any kind of danger. Reaching over, he took her hand again and held it tight. “You intend to stay here in Hawthorne?”
“I don’t have anywhere else to go.” She grimaced. “That sounded kind of whiny. I didn’t mean it that way. I like this area a lot.”
“What about us?”
“I sort of figured you’d go back to your normal life. Don’t you have a book tour coming up that your agent planned?”
“A few appearances. Nothing major since I put my foot down during that meeting we had the other morning. I have edits I need to finish before I can get back to work on my current book. Not being able to write has been driving me crazy.”
“I bet. I’m sorry I’ve been instrumental in keeping you away from your computer.”
“Not you. The whole situation.” He pulled her closer. “I want to spend time with you.”
“Are you sure? Or will the reality of what I’ve done start to eat at you.”
He didn’t blame her for doubting him. He’d had a few moments when he’d asked himself the same questions.
“Our actions don’t necessarily define who we are.” He pressed the hand he still held to his chest. “Or what we feel inside where it matters most. When I look at you, I see nothing but strength and goodness and beauty. I’m falling in love with you, despite your past. Maybe because of it since your experiences made you who you are today.”
“I care about you—a lot. I want to believe you mean what you say, but—”
“Why wouldn’t you believe me? Okay, maybe I freaked out on you initially, but I’ve had time to sort through those feelings.”
Shadows darkened her eyes. “I dated someone shortly after I started with Counterstrike. It was getting pretty serious, but when I told him what I did for a living, he backed away. He said he couldn’t imagine a person like me as the mother of his children. I didn’t even try to date for a long time after that.”
He gritted his teeth. “This man sounds like a complete asshole.”
“No, he was a nice guy. He was just being honest.”
Eli stared at her for a moment, wondering if she saw someone similar to her ex-boyfriend when she looked at him. The idea hurt . . . and made him a little angry. “I don’t know what to say except I’m not him. You haven’t dated since then?”
“Only casually. Until Coffee. We had a connection, and he knew exactly who I was. But we were in the early stages of turning our friendship into a romance when he was killed, so I’ll never know if it would have worked.”
“I’m sorry. That must have made losing a teammate doubly hard.”
“I had to step away from Counterstrike. Emotionally, I wasn’t in a good place. After six months, I know I don’t want to go back to the danger and uncertainty of that life, even though I have the utmost respect for what the team does.”
He slid an arm around her and pulled her head down on his shoulder. “Maybe I shouldn’t make promises you probably won’t believe right now, but I’d like a chance to show you how I feel. Sometimes actions do speak louder than words.”
“You’re a good man, Eli. I’m falling in love with you, too, and I’m terrified I’ll get hurt.” She turned her face and pressed her lips to his neck. “I probably don’t deserve your patience and consideration, but I’m willing to risk my heart again.”
“Don’t doubt your worth. I certainly don’t.” He tilted her chin and kissed her, tasting her sweetness. Knowing how vulnerable she was made her surrender even more remarkable.
“I’m not going to hurt you. All I want is to make you smile.”
Her lips curved upward. “You definitely do.”
He kissed her again, taking his time and enjoying the quickening of her breath. “As much as I’d like to take you to bed right now, I’m not sure I have the strength. I didn’t stop for dinner in my rush to get here.”
“We can’t have you fainting, not when I have leftover pasta you can eat. I even bought a bottle of wine. I planned to drown my sorrows if you told me you’d come to your senses and intended to get out of town before I shot someone else.”
He laughed as he stood to follow her into the kitchen. “As long as you don’t get pissed off at me, I won’t judge if you take potshots at my relatives.”
“I can’t.” She pulled a bottle of chardonnay and a covered container out of the refrigerator. “I didn’t get my weapons back yet.” After cracking the lid and putting the dish in the microwave, she turned to face him. “Which one do you think is guilty?”
“I honestly don’t know.” He took the wine from her and waited while she searched through a drawer for a corkscrew. “I actively dislike a couple of them. I actually enjoy hanging out with Reba and Doyle. At least I do when he isn’t in a pissy mood.”
Jaimee handed him the corkscrew before pulling two wine glasses down from a shelf. “I’m sure it isn’t easy knowing someone you’re related to is responsible for Maureen’s death and your mother’s kidnapping.”
“No, it isn’t. Just thinking about it makes my stomach churn. Even if the guilty party turns out to be Stephen, who’s a total jerk.” He poured the wine and set the second glass on the counter before taking a sip from his. “I haven’t tried this before. Not bad.”
“It was on sale. I’m not a millionaire like you who buys fine wines.” She handed him the container of pesto pasta studded with asparagus and pine nuts. “Enjoy.”
“It smells great. Thanks.” He took a bite. “Does that bother you?”
“What?”
“My money.”
“Not in the least. I’ve never had expensive tastes, and I have enough for my personal needs.” She bent down to pet Watson when he wandered over to stare up at the food. “As long as I can afford to feed this boy, I’m happy.”
“No problem there. Maureen left a stipend to cover his expenses. You can buy him gold-plated dog bowls if you want.”
She grinned. “That’s hilarious.”
“My aunt and uncle didn’t seem to think so. They got cut out of the will completely. And now I have that damn mansion to take care of.”
“It’s a beautiful home.”
“Yeah, it is, and the estate has been in the family for over a hundred years. I’d feel kind of guilty selling it, but I don’t want to live there.”
She eyed him steadily as he wolfed down the pasta. “You probably don’t have to make a decision right away.”
“Nope, I don’t. This is excellent.” He dropped a strand of linguini to Watson. “The bank opens at nine. We can bring the key in then and end all the suspense. Depending on what we find, I suppose we’ll need to take any evidence to O’Leary.”
Fatal Encounter (A Counterstrike Novel Book 1) Page 23