by Morris, T M
Lucy sniffed against his muscular chest, “I am so tired of being scared, Devon. I’m tired. I don’t like the uncertainty. I don’t like feeling as if I’m always being watched. I want my life back to normal like it was before all this, when I was in control. I just want to find some peace. When is it going to be over?”
He continued to hold her against him and rock her as if she were a baby. “I’m not sure, honey. I don’t know if it isn’t already over and I don’t know if we will ever be rid of this maniac, whoever it is. But I do know that as long as you are with me, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
“What are we going to do?” She asked raising her face so she could look into his eyes. She saw something in them that stole her breath away, but she couldn’t name the raw emotion she saw. They stared at one another, without a word, for several moments.
He brushed a stray lock of her dark hair out of her eyes. She bit her lip against the urge to kiss him. He drew close enough for her to feel his breath against her lips. She tilted her head ever so slightly to keep their noses from squashing. He sighed. “How does lunch sound?”
Lucy blinked twice. “Okay.” She started to pull away from Devon’s warmth but he stopped her.
His eyes had turned from their usual bright blue to a smoky blue. “Lucy, I...” Whatever it was he had started to say trailed away as his lips met hers. Tremendous longing sprang up within Lucy. A small moan of pleasure escaped her throat. She could not stop her reaction to Devon’s demanding kiss. Her lips parted allowing him to deepen his kiss.
They parted breathless and resumed their seats and buckled their seat belts. Devon put the truck in motion before he broke the silence. “Lunch?”
“Lunch.” Lucy agreed as she looked out the side window. She drew her brows together in a slight frown. She must have imagined what looked like a man in camouflage retreating through the underbrush. “Hmm, that’s odd.”
“What’s odd?”
“I thought I saw someone walking away from us. But now I’m not so sure, I don’t see anyone.”
Devon stomped on the brake. “Where?” He threw the truck into neutral as he pulled a baseball bat from beneath his seat. “Point me in the direction you saw the movement.”
She pointed out the passenger window. “Over there.”
He bounded from the truck saying, “Lock the door.” He slammed the door behind him.
She watched him crash through the tall weeds, brown and dead, and around the clumps of cedars. When he disappeared from sight she remembered to lock the doors.
He was gone for a good fifteen minutes when she finally spotted him coming back by the trail he had blazed. She unlocked the door for him and he climbed in stowing the aluminum bat. He slammed the door, buckled in and put the truck into gear before he spoke. “I guess our imaginations are going wild on us. I couldn’t find anything, not even a track. Of course, I’m not a tracker but I think I could spot a foot print. But what do you expect in a cedar stand where there’s more rock than dirt. ”
“I’m sorry I wasted your time.”
He squeezed her hand. “It wasn’t a waste of time. If someone as out there watching you we need to catch them. Besides, even if someone was out there who was not even interested in us, they were trespassing on private property and we would have to steer them away.”
“But no one was there and I’m seeing things.”
He squeezed her had again. “Maybe it’s just hunger.”
“Maybe.” She didn’t sound convinced.
As the taillights of the truck disappeared around the curve he let out a gusty sigh of relief. Too close. Devon had come close enough to step on him. Thankfully, his ghillie suit was perfect for the area. He looked just like any other patch of scrub and cedar saplings. He would get his Lucy on his own time without tangling with Devon James. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. All he wanted was his Lucy back so he could love her. He turned and made his way silently through the woods to another overgrown seldom used dirt track. He climbed into his vehicle and shed his camouflaged balaclava and dialed a number into his cell phone.
“Hey, it’s me. He kissed her again.”
“What do you mean, he kissed her? You idiot! You’re supposed to be driving them apart, not together.”
“I’ve got it under control—“
“You’ve got nothing under control. Meet me here in an hour. I’ll show you how it’s done.”
Chapter Nineteen
Devon was silent as he drove down the road while Lucy’s thoughts were skittering all around in her head. Doubts about her sanity dominated her ruminations. What was she doing? She was living in the same house with her boss who was attracted to her. Worse, she was in love with him. Even worse, she was carrying his baby due to a moment of unbridled passion. Much worse, Lucy couldn’t seem to keep from reliving that night, the heat for which she hungered.
She must be crazy. Sane people didn’t get themselves into such huge messes. Sane people didn’t see shadows moving either. What was she going to do? How and when was she going to regain control of her life? How was she going to gain control when there was someone out there terrorizing her and everyone close to her?
Her nerves were jangled to the point where she felt she was about to unravel. She hoped the anonymous harassment was over. She knew anymore upsets would push her over the edge. Was that a man in camouflage she saw in the woods?
Lucy stole a quick glance at Devon. His eyes were trained on the road. He looked to be deep in thought himself. She loved his face, his profile, and his well-chiseled features. She loved him.
Her heart warmed a few degrees. Hope welled within her breast. He was attracted to her. He wanted them to be a couple. If this were true, maybe he could grow to love her and their child as well. From a small spark of hope elation leapt into her heart.
The sun was beginning its slide out of the afternoon sky when they emerged from the restaurant. Devon again pulled her body to his with his strong arm around her waist. As he helped her into the truck he said, “We need to hurry and get this cooler to the lab before it closes. Then we will go home."
“You mean your home.” Lucy corrected when he opened the driver’s door and climbed behind the wheel.
“Are you anxious to get back into your condo?” He asked. He switched on the engine and revved it.
“No, I don’t ever want to live there again. But I can’t live in your house for too much longer either before people start thinking things they shouldn’t. I mean, we can’t have Sydney going ballistic on you, or me, because she’s drawn the—the wrong conclusion.” Lucy rattled on averting her eyes. She didn’t want him to see the pain in her eyes. She also missed the pain in his own gaze, which he was quick to mask.
“Is it the wrong conclusion, Lucy?” He murmured.
Lucy looked at him incredulous and asked, “How can it be anything but wrong? I work for you.”
Devon ran his free hand through his short hair making it stand up in spikes. He then pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, “We have been over this too many times to count Lucy. Give it a rest, okay?”
“Fine.” Lucy snapped.
“You know you could look at it from a different perspective. Let’s say you work with me, not for me.” Devon suggested. When Lucy gave him a confused look he added, “It is one way of looking at this whole blasted situation.”
“What do you mean?”
Devon groaned. “Lucy Caldwell, give me ten dollars.”
“Ten dollars?” She was confused.
“Consider it a down payment.” Devon glanced at her.
She knit her brows closer together. “What for?’
“I’m letting you buy into the company.”
“For so little? It must be a very small portion.” She tilted her head to consider what he said.
He shrugged. “Like I said, consider it a down payment.”
“When do you want it, now or some other time?” Lucy asked with a smile. She would play along w
ith the joke.
“Whenever it's convenient for you. If you want you can buy our dinner tonight and we will call it even.” Devon offered her his hand.
She took his large hand in hers for the second time that day. She couldn’t believe what was happening. He wasn’t joking. She was going to have a small share in the company. Or…maybe it was a ruse to stop her from harping on their working relationship. Why couldn’t she take things at face value without trying to read into the motivations behind every one of his actions? Was she being insecure? Was Devon working some devious plan? When did she start being so suspicious? She could trust Devon, couldn’t she? If she couldn’t trust him, who could she trust? Before she released his hand Lucy asked, “How much is the whole share going to cost me?”
Devon’s chuckle was low as he shook his head. “I promise it won’t break your bank account. Give me some time to work out the details, all right?”
“All right.” Lucy agreed releasing his hand.
Devon, however, refused to let go of her hand. Instead he pulled her hand up to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. Then he turned her hand over and kissed her palm.
Lucy’s stomach did flips. No one had ever kissed her palm before. Longing welled up with in her. From behind them, someone honked their horn. She gulped for air as she choked out, “The light... the light’s green.”
Devon chuckled again. He said nothing more as he lifted his foot from the brake and pressed down the accelerator and engaged the clutch. At the same time he released her hand in order to shift the gears and she closed her hand around the kiss.
Devon walked out the laboratory’s front door into the late afternoon sunlight. He could see Lucy sitting in his truck. She looked so beautiful even with her hair restrained in a braid. Devon longed to pull it free and run his fingers through the luxurious dark brown waves. He inhaled deeply as he imagined breathing in the fragrance of her hair; it reminded him of some flower he couldn’t name. Devon gave himself a mental shake. Have patience man. You’re going to need a lot of patience.
Devon fingered the ring in his pocket before he fished out the keys. He opened the driver’s door and climbed in behind the wheel. Devon buckled his seat belt before he spoke, “We’ll know in a couple of days what’s in the soil.”
“Is a couple of days a long time to wait?” Lucy asked.
“Not really. Sometimes it can take even longer.” Devon replied over the roar of the engine starting. “Where are you taking us for dinner?”
“I thought we were supposed to cook and walk together starting this evening.” Lucy stared at him in disbelief.
“We are, aren’t we?” He smiled like a mischievous little boy as he added, “There’s always tomorrow.”
Lucy turned her face from him and said curtly, “You can’t weasel out of it, Mr. James. Besides, we have already eaten at two restaurants today. Do I need to remind you? We agreed to eat better. There was enough grease dripping from your patty melt to sauté two very large onions.”
Devon shrugged as he backed out of the parking space. “I don’t guess you’ll let me go on the walking either?”
“It depends on whether you want to walk before or after dinner.” She answered as she returned her vivid green eyes to his gaze.
“I suppose we should walk while there is still a little light left, don’t you?” He asked as he joined the traffic on the street.
“It is safer.” Lucy nodded. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get run over by a car.”
“Then it is settled. As soon as we get home we will jump out of the truck and head out for a walk.” Devon said, his eyes on traffic.
The sun had just slipped below the horizon leaving the sky streaked with crimson and several shades of purple when Devon and Lucy walked up the walk to the front door of Devon’s house. They were laughing together when they smelled the smoke. The front door was locked but not quite closed. The smoke was billowing out from inside the house. Devon shouldered the door as he handed Lucy his cell phone. “Call the fire department and the police.”
To her disbelief, he disappeared into the house. She rushed to dial the emergency number and spoke into the phone. “We need a fire crew immediately.” She gave the address. “Yes, the house is on fire. Hurry, please. Devon is inside trying to put it out. We also will need a policeman. The house was broken into before the fire started. Yes, that’s what I said. How do I know? Because the door was open and it was closed when we left.”
As the sirens shrilled through the air announcing the arrival of the fire department and rescue squad, Devon stumbled out the front door. Lucy was at his side pounding on his back before he could clear the stoop. She scolded, “Why did you go in there? What a stupid thing to do and dangerous, too. What would I have done if you had succumbed to the smoke?”
Devon coughed. “Honey, it’s okay. I'm fine. The fire is out. Here, I think this is for you.” He handed her a damaged flower box.
“You scared me.” She tossed the box on the ground so she could pummel his chest for emphasis. “Thank God you weren’t overcome by the smoke.” She leaned her forehead against his chest as tears of relief spilled from her eyes. She whispered, “How could I make it without you?”
“What did you say?” He coughed again.
“Nothing.” She tried to smile and failed. “Where’s Slinky?”
“She wasn’t in there. She must have run out with whoever started the fire.”
“Oh, good.” She sighed.
Firemen raced past the couple without taking much notice of them. The captain stopped and asked, “Is there anyone left in the house?”
Devon coughed again to clear his throat then answered, “No sir. There is no one else in the house and I put the fire out.”
“Good. Good.” The captain nodded. “We will look around just to make sure it’s completely out, okay?”
“Fine.” Devon agreed as he coughed again.
“You should let a paramedic have a look at you, son.” The captain said motioning toward one of them as a police officer joined him. They turned and went into the house to make their reports. The fire inspector was called to the scene. A crime had been committed. Arson. While they had been out walking in the neighborhood, someone had broken in and set the kitchen ablaze.
Lucy sat on the edge of the small porch oblivious to the cold. She had refused to go into the house. Her cheeks were chapped from crying. This was all her fault. Devon’s house had been broken into and set ablaze because she didn’t go back to her condo. Hadn’t the blasted letter warned her? She had to go home. She had to leave before Devon was seriously hurt or worse. She loved him too much to risk his safety. If they had decided to walk the extra block before coming home, his house would be nothing but a pile of ashes right now.
Belatedly, Lucy remembered the flower box. It was a little damaged, but still intact. She lifted the lid and gasped.
She had expected the usual twelve long stemmed red roses with the one white one nestled in the middle. Inside the box instead, she found thirteen mutilated roses. She threw the box on the ground in front of the porch and hugged her arms around her chest and began to rock back and forth. More tears fell. “Are you going to be okay, honey?” Devon asked as he sat down beside her. He draped one of his strong arms around her shoulder and pulled her close to him. With the other arm he waved goodbye to the policemen as they pulled away from the curb.
His body heat seeped into her skin making her realize how numb with cold she was. She sniffed. The acrid smell of smoke had replaced Devon’s usual comforting scent. She choked, coughed and sputtered. “I’m sorry. This is my fault—I have to leave.” Unable to speak she pointed to the box. “I can’t stay with you. Next time, you could get seriously hurt.”
He pulled her into his lap. “Lucy, sweet, Lucy. You are not going anywhere. The fire was small, in a pan on the stove. Whoever started the fire wanted it to appear to be an accidental kitchen fire. But they didn’t expect us to be back so soon be
cause the fire was not very big. I was able to put it out with the extinguisher in the kitchen. The damage was minimal and I have been thinking of remodeling the kitchen anyway. As for the flowers…do you think they were meant as a threat or do you think your secret admirer is telling you he’s over you?”
“I think it’s a threat. Thank God we didn’t go another block.” Lucy sniffed.
“Yeah.” Devon sighed. “Luce, you’re freezing. Let’s go into the house. You haven’t even been in since we came back from our walk.”
“I can’t Devon. I have to go back to my condo. You aren’t safe with me here.” Lucy sniffed and tried to extricate herself from Devon’s embrace.
Devon tightened his hold on her. “No, Luce you’re wrong. You can’t go back to your condo now. It’s even more dangerous for you to be alone. Whoever is out there harassing us wants to get you alone. We can’t let them have their way, now can we?”
“No…I guess we can’t. All the same though,” Lucy managed to stand, “I can’t stay with you. I wouldn’t be able to live with—with myself if you got hurt because of me.”
Devon stood and sighed, “I appreciate it but, can we at least talk about it in the morning? You need to come inside and thaw out. You are almost frozen to the bone.”
She started to protest, but Devon took her hand and pulled her into the house as he said, “I guess I’ll order a pizza. I’m afraid you aren’t going to be able to cook in this kitchen anytime soon.”
“Fine.” Lucy said. The smell of smoke was thick inside of the house. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and asked, “Can we open some windows and air out this place? The smoke in here is still quite thick.”
“Go ahead—I’ll order the pizza.” Devon nodded to her as he opened his cell’s contact list.
She walked into the kitchen. Tears stung the back of her eyes once again when she saw the charred remains of the kitchen. Minimal damage? The side of the kitchen where the stove sat was charred. The cabinets above and on either side of the stove were lost. She turned to the sink and opened the window above it.