by Dylann Crush
“You don’t have to do this.” He put a finger under her chin, tipping her head up, forcing her to look at him. Her eyes glistened, shining with the threat of tears. “Oh hell, Sweets. We can stop. Just say the word and we’ll figure out another way.”
She wiped under her eyes, brushing off his concerns. “I have to see this through.”
“It’s not worth it.” He rubbed his palm over her arm. “Your mom’s dress? You need to save that for your real wedding. Don’t waste it on me.”
“Is that what I’m doing?” Her jaw set. “Wasting things on you?”
“No, I just mean—”
“I know what you mean. But I’ve got to finish what I started. Everyone’s depending on me. They need me to do this. My dad, the town.”
“What about you? What do you need?” He hadn’t planned on having this conversation. Not now, maybe not ever. Especially with a reporter and photographer roaming the floor above and a twisted kind of florist on the floor below.
“It doesn’t matter what I need.” Her eyes sparked. “Now, will you get downstairs and play the part of my loving fiancé so we can get this sham over with?” She brushed past him, heading toward the first floor.
He funneled his hands through his hair, wondering how he’d let it get to this. Why hadn’t he refused to go along with this crazy idea when she first brought it up?
Because he’d do anything she asked him. The realization coursed through him like a truth he’d always known and hadn’t been able to admit yet. With Lacey, he was all in. Always had been. He had to help her see this through. After the wedding, once things settled down, maybe then he could broach the topic of exploring the feelings he’d been having. He almost laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of the situation. Once he’d fake-married the woman he loved, maybe he could ask her out on a date.
“Bodie.” Lacey’s voice came from the lower level.
Suzy. Dammit. He hadn’t warned her about Suzy. Scrambling down the stairs, he steeled himself for her reaction. She stood facing the display Suzy had so carefully put together.
Hands on her hips, the toe of her sandal tapping on the refinished floorboards, Lacey turned to face him. “What are we going to do about this?”
He joined her, wrapping an arm around her waist to prevent her from launching herself at the colorful floral display.
“I wanted to incorporate everything we all love about Idont.” Suzy glanced over at them, a shy smile on her face. “I mean, Ido.”
“You’ve certainly done that.” Lacey’s voice came out an octave higher than usual. She moved into the room, fingering the petals on a cross-shaped standing display. “Is that a chipmunk?”
Bodie glanced to the piece Lacey stared at. Some sort of furry creature tucked into the center of a heart-shaped wreath.
“Flying squirrel.” Suzy put her hands on her hips, beaming with pride. “Worked on that one myself.”
“We talked about tulips, Suzy.” Lacey rounded, her cheeks stained pink. “It’s a wedding.”
“A Texas-style wedding.” Suzy leaned over to grab a bouquet of flowers from the table. “Here’s your bridal bouquet.”
Lacey didn’t reach for it. As Bodie waited to see what she would do next, he ran his gaze over the bright bouquet of flowers. Tulips of every color made up the large bouquet. Burlap and jute wrapped around the stems. That didn’t look so bad. Flowers were flowers, as far as he was concerned.
“Is that a spider in my flowers?” Lacey lowered her voice to a whisper. A pissed-off whisper.
“It’s just a tarantula. I put a scorpion over here. Wanted to reflect the area, you know.” Suzy offered the bouquet.
Lacey backed up, moving away from the flowers until she bumped into Bodie. “I can’t deal with this right now.”
Footsteps sounded on the stairs. “I can’t believe what you’ve done with the place. You’re a miracle worker, that’s for sure.” Samantha’s feet appeared on the steps, followed by the photographer.
Bodie wanted to pause time. He glanced back and forth from the horror on Lacey’s face to Suzy’s proud smile to the curious look on Samantha’s face as she came down the stairs.
“Is this your florist?” Samantha asked.
Bodie glanced back to Lacey, whose shock had disappeared.
“Yes, she is. You’ll never find another one like her.” She smiled, took a step toward Suzy, and put an arm around her shoulders, propelling her forward.
He had to hand it to her, Lacey was a pro at masking her feelings. She’d be able to convince anyone of anything she wanted. It was a real skill. As Lacey chatted about how important it was to incorporate symbolism from the town and the region into their wedding, he considered what that might mean. She could have been a professional actress with the way she could turn her feelings on and off. Like a water spout, she could turn on the tears and then, just as fast, she could switch to looking like the happiest woman in the world.
Or the most in love.
Panic clawed at his chest. What if that’s what she’d been doing with him? Two minutes ago he would have sworn on his own life that she had feelings for him. Feelings that went far beyond faking a wedding. Feelings that offered the possibility of a future.
But what if it was all fake? What if she’d been playing him just like she was playing the florist? Playing the reporter? Playing everyone in town?
“I’ve got to go.” He needed air. He needed space. He needed to put some distance between himself and Lacey.
“Everything okay?” Lacey reached out for him, concern evident in the crease between her brows.
“Got a lead on a case I’m working on.” He leaned forward, brushing his lips against her forehead. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
“You sure?” She pressed a palm to his chest.
“Yeah. I’ll talk to you in a bit.” He squeezed her hand, removing it from where it seared his skin, even through his shirt. “I’m sorry to cut out on you. Lacey’s better at answering any questions you have anyway.”
“Duty calls, we get it.” Samantha waved. “I’ll see you on the big day.”
The big day. He nodded. “See you then.”
forty-two
Bodie cut the engine a few blocks away and eased the four-door sedan to the curb. He’d borrowed a car from the impound lot for tonight’s escapade. No need to alert anyone that he was out and about this evening. It wasn’t likely that anyone would come across the vehicle unless they were headed to the Phillips House, but better to be safe than sorry.
He crept along the drive, keeping to the edge where the tall trees and bushes would hide his approach. The small shovel in his backpack clanged against something. He paused to readjust the contents of his bag. That’s all he needed, was to get caught sneaking around the event venue. Of course he’d prepared an alibi just in case but he preferred not to use it. If luck was on his side he’d be in and out of the yard in the space of fifteen minutes. Ten, if he got really lucky.
He scaled the iron fence that separated the backyard from the front and dashed across the grass to press himself against the building. Nothing but the sounds of an early-spring evening greeted him. Crickets chirped. A bullfrog from the nearby pond croaked out a tune. The breeze danced across the yard, eliciting a song from the wind chimes Lacey had hung on the corner of the porch.
His heart slowed. He could do this. He had to. Lacey had been willing to put everything aside to do what she thought was best for the town. Now it was his turn. He couldn’t move on until he’d neutralized the threat Buck Little represented.
Pulling the map out of his bag with one hand, he fumbled for his mini flashlight with the other. The small beam of light played over the hand-drawn map. If the drawing was to scale, two possible stashes sat immediately to his right. He set down the map and grappled for the small shovel. Two steps straight ahead and three to the right. Liftin
g the piece of freshly laid sod, he pressed the blade of the shovel into the dirt underneath. Assuming he could trust the notes on the map, he had to dig down only about eighteen inches before he’d strike gold. Or, in this case, a wad of his grandad’s hoard.
Five minutes later he had yet to hit anything even though he’d dug a wide radius around the site of the supposed treasure. Dammit. He should have known better than to believe anything Buck Little or his dad told him. Sweat beaded along his hairline. He would have whipped the long-sleeve black shirt over his head if he wasn’t worried so much about being discovered. Instead, he wiped a sleeve over his brow and studied the map again. Pops was meticulous. If he made note of a location, it had to be where he marked it. Accuracy was his style.
Bodie turned the map over. If he looked at the drawing from that angle, he was digging two feet away from where he should. He walked off the steps and dropped to his knees. If he didn’t find anything this time, he’d have to give up. Dad could sell his truck or some acreage to get himself out of the tight space he’d wedged himself into.
The shovel scraped against something hard. It had to be what he was looking for. Bodie carefully dug around the metal box until he could make out the edges. He pulled it out of the ground and opened it.
The smell of dirt and earth and cold cash floated to his nose. Yes. He counted two thousand dollars in fives and ones before moving on to the next hidey-hole. As he tucked the bills into the canvas bag he’d brought along, he fought against his conscience. He didn’t have a choice if he wanted to protect Lacey. It’s not like he was stealing, just borrowing his granddad’s cash to pay off the old man’s debt.
By the time he collected the whole fifty grand, sweat soaked through his thin T-shirt. He spread the dirt over the hole he’d dug, careful to replace the sod and pat it down. Eager to get the job done and ready for a nice, warm shower, he packed up his bag and made his way back to the car.
Forty-five minutes later, hair still damp from his recent shower, he sat across the kitchen table from Buck. Bodie didn’t want to have the money in his possession any longer than necessary and he needed to take action before he changed his mind, so he’d picked up his dad and dropped by Buck’s to unload the cash and hopefully his guilt along with it.
“I gotta say, I didn’t think you would do it,” Buck said.
“Didn’t seem like I had much of a choice.” Bodie slid the backpack off his shoulder, letting it fall to the table. Mayor Little didn’t look nearly as intimidating in a pair of plaid pajama bottoms and a plain white T-shirt.
“You’re a smart kid,” Buck said. “You’re going to make a great sheriff.”
“No. I don’t want the two of you fixing any election.”
Dad put a hand on his shoulder. “But, Son—”
Bodie shrugged it off. “This ends here. I’m done trying to save your ass. You and Pops are on your own now. I can’t be a part of anything you’ve got going on.” He’d thought about it as he dug up his grandfather’s stash. Buying off Buck would fix only his immediate problem. If he wanted to make Ido a safe place for Lacey he had no choice but to do the right thing. Besides, after his fake wedding to Lacey, he’d need to get out of town. No sense agreeing to take on a job that would only keep him here, close to her.
“Fair enough.” Buck reached for the bag. “Shall we see what we’ve got here?”
“It’s all there,” Bodie said. “Fifty thousand bucks to clear my dad and granddad’s names. That’s what we agreed to, right?”
Buck eyed him through narrowed lids. “Anything you want to tell me, Son?”
“No, sir. Just want your word that my family’s satisfied their obligation to that little cigar ring you’ve got going.”
Bodie waited for a response. Instead, Buck reached for a piece of paper and a pen. He scratched something across the paper then slid it in front of Bodie.
Are you wearing a wire?
Bodie stared at the black ink, his vision speckled with black dots. Of course Buck would think that. He’d screwed enough people around that he’d naturally be suspicious. Taking in a deep breath, Bodie tried not to wince as the tape he’d used to fashion a makeshift mic stretched across his stomach.
“Of course I’m not wearing a wire. You think I’d risk messing with you? I just want out.” Bodie spread his arms wide, hoping the boost to Buck’s ego would prevent him from initiating a full pat down. “The cash for the out, right?”
Buck nodded, his hand closing around the bag. “Let’s make sure it’s all here first, shall we?”
“Be my guest.” Bodie stood, pacing the large kitchen, his boots clomping on the ceramic tile. He’d hoped that by catching Buck at home he’d throw him off guard. Especially in the middle of the night. As he rounded the table, he cast his gaze over the wall of the office across the hall. Framed photographs hung from floor to ceiling. Bodie wandered over, his attention caught by a photo of Lacey’s dad shaking hands with Buck. Must have been during his tenure as mayor.
Seeing how many people Buck had probably manipulated and blackmailed over the years lit a fire in Bodie’s gut. He couldn’t wait to see the man go down in a bonfire of his own creation, even if it took a piece of him with it.
“Is it all there?” Bodie returned to the kitchen, hands on his hips, ready to put this nastiness behind him.
“All there.” Buck slid the piles of cash he’d counted back into the bag. “Pleasure doing business with you, Son.”
“Don’t call me son,” Bodie said as he took the hand Buck offered. “You have the right to remain silent—”
“What’s this?” Buck’s eyes went wide.
Bodie flipped one hand around Buck’s back and reached for the other wrist. “Anything you say can be used against you in court.”
“What’s going on?” Dad stood, looking older than his fifty-some years. “Bodie?”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I can’t be a part of this anymore.”
“What are you talking about? Family comes first.” His dad slammed his fist against the heavy wood table.
The front door opened. As Sheriff Suarez and the two other deputies moved through the living room, Bodie’s dad cracked open the door leading to the garage then disappeared into the darkness.
Dammit. This was going to be even worse than he thought. Bodie handed Buck over to the sheriff and followed his dad through the door to the garage.
“Dad? Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” The smell of oil hit him as he rounded the front of Buck’s oversized truck.
The door to the backyard hung open on its frame. Bodie passed through and found himself standing on the deck of a giant in-ground pool. His dad was doing his best to put some distance between them but a bad knee and years of limiting his exercise to sitting behind a desk ensured he was no match for Bodie.
“Stop. Let’s end this.” Bodie jogged around the pool.
His dad glanced back over his shoulder. “I’m not going to let you take me down.”
Bodie wouldn’t have to. “Watch out!” He yelled the warning in time but it was too late. Dad didn’t see the hose someone had stretched out to fill the pool. His boot caught on it, sending him tumbling to the ground. He fell on his arm, collapsing onto his chest and rolling right into the deep end of Buck Little’s pool.
Bodie didn’t hesitate. He dove in, headfirst, scrambling to reach the spot where his dad sputtered and splashed. By the time he had an arm around his dad’s shoulders Sheriff Suarez had grabbed the life ring hanging from the fence and flung it toward them.
“Dad, grab on to the ring.” Bodie pushed the ring into his dad’s chest. The stubborn man wouldn’t take it.
“Just let me drown,” his dad wailed.
“You don’t really mean that.” Bodie dragged him to the side of the pool, where the deputies hauled him out of the water.
Bodie climbed out and took the tow
el Sheriff Suarez handed him. “We can take it from here, Deputy Phillips.”
Nodding, Bodie turned toward his dad. “I’m sorry.”
“I hope you’re happy, Son.” Dad huddled on the edge of a lounge chair. “You know Buck was just the front man, don’t you?”
“Doesn’t matter. I did what I needed to do to clear my conscience.”
Dad shook his head. “You turned your back on your family. I thought I’d trained you better than that.”
“No, Dad. You trained me worse. But despite that, I still managed to do the right thing. I wish you luck.” He waited while one of his fellow deputies snapped a set of handcuffs on his dad’s wrists. Then he turned and walked toward the gate, his heart free from the burden of feeling responsible for his family, but heavy at the thought of what this decision had cost him. As he walked down the driveway of Mayor Little’s home—make that the ex-mayor’s home—he breathed in a sigh of relief. Lacey was safe. The threat Buck had issued was null and void. The only person he wanted to see was Lacey. But she was off-limits. He couldn’t unload everything that had just happened on her, not when she’d never been aware of the threats Buck had issued in the first place. So he turned his truck toward home, where at least one warm body waited for him—albeit a four-legged one.
forty-three
Lacey skipped up the steps to Bodie’s place, hardly able to contain her excitement. She hadn’t seen him or heard from him since he walked out on the interview a few days ago. Work must be keeping him extremely busy. She didn’t want to bother him, but with the big day barreling toward them, she had to share her news.
She knocked on the door, too excited to stand still. “Bodie? I know you’re in there, your truck’s outside.”
The door opened a crack. “What do you need?”
“Bodie?” She tried to peer into the darkness. He must have all the shades pulled.
“Yeah?” His voice came out rough, like he hadn’t used it for a while.