Dangerous Lover

by Maggie Shayne

  “I bet that’s where they’ll head.”

  “Yeah. But not Erica.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because she would make the same guess we did, that everyone would head that way. If she ever got my note, then she knows she’s the one the killers are after. She’s not going to lead them to the others. She’ll lead them in the opposite direction.” She pointed. “Which is exactly where the hawk seemed to be.”

  He was skeptical. Her logic was flawed. It only held if Erica was selfless enough to put herself at greater risk in order to save countless others. But that defied human nature. She’d run for her car out of a sheer sense of self-preservation.

  And as for the hawk—well, hell, he didn’t know what to make of that. But despite thinking that she was full of it, he followed where she led.

  “I hear sirens,” she said at length.

  “Yeah, I hear them, too. The cavalry has finally arrived.”

  “I hope Bonnie’s still alive.” She trudged fast, through the undergrowth, angling sharply uphill. “And I hope to Goddess that Erica is.”

  Vidalia Brand had been fielding phone calls all evening, trying to get straight on exactly what was happening. When her son-in-law, Jimmy Corona, had phoned to start jabbering on about a siege taking place at some campground in Texas, she hadn’t understood what the hell he was talking about, much less what it had to do with her. Until he’d said the lines she had probably known he was going to, all along.

  “Selene’s there.”

  “What?”

  “One of the women with her that night out by the falls was at this campground for the weekend,” Jimmy said. “Selene and that wounded stranger went down there after her, to warn her. But the killers apparently got there around the same time. The police are on the scene, trying to sort everything out.”

  Gripping the phone tighter, she said, “Is Selene alive?”

  “As far as I know, Vi. I’m on the scene. She’s not among the—uh—that is—”

  “The dead? By God, Jimmy, what’s happened down there?”

  “One wounded, three dead. So far. The police have surrounded the campground, and are closing in from all sides. Most of the campers scattered, many made it to their cars and left. Those still in the woods are being located and brought out to safety.”

  “Who’s the girl?” she asked.

  “Vi, I—”

  “I know about Marcy, because she came forward. I’ve noticed two other good friends of Selene’s seem to have vanished without a trace this week, though I hate to think—just tell me, is it Erica or Helena?

  “Erica.”

  Erica Jackson, the minister’s daughter. Lord have mercy. “I’ll inform her father.”

  “She’s still missing, Vi. And frankly I think the police may have cast their net too small. I think chances are Erica and the men who are after her were already well off the campground property by the time the cops sealed it off.”

  “If they are, Selene and that stranger are likely right on their heels.”

  “I’m doing my best, Vi. I promise, I’ll try everything possible to bring Selene home safe.”

  “I know you will. And I hope you won’t mind that I’m sending some more help.”

  “Help?”

  She sighed. “She’s my daughter. My youngest. My baby, Jim. I’m throwing everything I’ve got at this one.”

  She pressed the cutoff button, then dialed a number she hadn’t dialed in a long time. And when the deep voice answered she knew it well.

  “Hello Garrett. This is your Aunt Vidalia.”

  “Aunt Vi? Well, I’ll be—hey, how are you? How are the girls? It’s been way too long since—”

  “No time for small talk, son. My youngest is in trouble. I need your help.”

  The jovial tone of his voice turned deadly serious. “Selene? Where is she?”

  “Merry Meet Campground. Town called Locklan in Texas.”

  “Selene is there?”

  “You’ve heard what’s happening then?”

  “I’m the law here, Aunt Vi. That town’s only thirty miles from Quinn. Of course I’ve heard. What’s Selene doing there?”

  “Ah, hell, Garrett, it’s a long story. Just you get there, all right?”

  “Don’t worry, Aunt Vi. She’s as good as home.”

  “I’ll be down there just as soon as possible, Garrett. But don’t wait for me. Do whatever needs doing.”

  “You got my word on that, Aunt Vi.”

  She nodded, not doubting it for a minute. There was no reason to doubt. When a Brand was in trouble—any Brand—the rest would get there to help, come hell or high water. It was the unwritten code of their bloodline. And while her end of the clan had grown distant from the Texas branch of the family, she knew they would never let her down. Not when it mattered. Not when one of their own was at risk.

  “We need to stop, Selene. We’ve been tracking them for six hours. They’re just too far ahead.”

  “They’ll get farther if we stop to rest.”

  “I have a feeling they won’t.”

  She frowned, staring hard at him. “What do you mean?”

  Cory licked his lips, not wanting to frighten her, but all too aware of her strong feelings about having a right to know all there was to know and make her own decision. “All these guys wanted was to silence the witnesses. Right?”

  “Right, as far as we know.”

  “So then why haven’t they just shot your friend and left her? Why are they hanging around here, wasting time following her on this wild-goose chase?”

  “They haven’t caught up to her yet.”

  “No, but with those high-powered rifles and scopes, they could have picked her off from a distance. Unless she’s found a way to make herself completely invisible.”

  “I wouldn’t rule it out.”

  He glanced at her, unsure if she were kidding, and then decided he didn’t want to know. Instead, he focused on her uneven gait and the grimace in her face every time she stepped on her right leg.

  “You’re limping.”

  She shrugged. “Twisted my ankle a little a ways back. It’s nothing.”

  “Sit. Rest. They know we’re following them, and that’s what they want. They’ll wait.”

  She went utterly still, staring at him as if she thought he was insane. No, it was more as if she wished she thought that. But she didn’t.

  “That’s what they’re doing, then? Luring us up here after them?”

  He shrugged. “I guess we’ll know when we get there.”

  “But if that’s the case, Cory, it’ll be an ambush! They’ll wait for us in the spot most advantageous to them.”

  “So we’ll wait for the time most advantageous to us,” he said.

  “What time would that be?”

  He smiled at her. “The Witching hour?”

  Rolling her eyes, she punched him in the shoulder. “Dammit, Cory, this is no time for joking.”

  “I’m not joking. We need to wait until after dark. We both know our way around the woods. It’ll leave more time for more help to arrive. And it’ll have them so confused wondering what we’re waiting for, that they’ll be off balance.”

  “And what do you suggest we do until then?” she asked.

  He glanced her way and then got stuck in her eyes. It was tough to drag his away, but he managed it. Not, however, before his stomach had knotted up tight, and his throat closed off to the point where he couldn’t even swallow.

  Damn, she hit him hard. Just a freaking glance. That was all it took.

  “How about we rest a bit? Maybe have a snack and some water.”

  She nodded, found a suitable spot and slid the backpack from her back. She lowered it to the ground, and turned, to end up standing very close, so close her breath fanned his face.

  “Damn,” she muttered.

  He thinned his lips. “I’m…sorry.”

  “Sorry for what?”

  “This.” He pulled her into his arms a
nd kissed her. He didn’t know if he had a wife, and at that moment in time, he didn’t particularly care. He wanted to kiss her just then more than he wanted his heart to beat another time in his chest. And from her reaction, he thought she wanted it just as badly.

  And more.

  He wrapped his arms around her, held her enfolded in them, in him, and cradled her head to his chest where his heart thundered. Fingers threading in her hair, he whispered, “I want you so much, Selene. I don’t know if it’s right or wrong. I don’t know about the future—or the past for that matter. I only know I want you, right here, right now, I want you more than I want to breathe.”

  Her hands slid around his nape, and she tipped her head up to press her lips to his yet again. But when she broke the kiss, there were tears brimming in her beautiful eyes and she whispered, “I want you, too, Cory. But I can’t. Not…not until I know you’re really free.”

  He thought his heart broke when her words made themselves clear in his brain. It was a blow, and it hurt. And yet, grudgingly, he admired her for having the strength to say them, when he knew she was feeling the same burning hunger he felt.

  Nodding, he eased his arms from around her. She sank a little, as if her knees were weak, so he clasped her elbows, hating the few inches of space between his body and hers.

  “One thing,” she said. “No matter what else happens, I need you to know…that…I love you.”

  He closed his eyes.

  “You don’t have to say it back. I know it’s too soon.”

  “Selene, it’s just that I—”

  “I know.” She pressed her fingertips to his mouth, to save him having to answer. “You probably think I’m a complete fool to feel so much so soon. But I’ve never said it to any man before. I love you. And I probably always will.”

  Chapter 13

  She didn’t wait for him to answer, and it was just as well, because he didn’t know what to say. Instead, she stood on tiptoe, and pressed her mouth to his. His entire body reacted, every thought driven from his mind as he kissed her back, twisting his arms around her waist to hold her close to him. Every sense in him was filled with her, and everything in him seemed to sing because of it. It felt good to hold her, to kiss her. He couldn’t think of anything he wanted to do more.

  When he lifted his head, she tugged free of his arms, turned and walked to the big rock, where she sat down again. And he was left standing there, dazed, turned on, confused, with his heart racing and his erection throbbing.

  The sun was finally climbing in the sky, and he felt frustrated, uneasy, jittery. He couldn’t wait to be moving again, despite that they’d barely rested ten minutes. He was nervous with her declarations of undying love, and his inability to respond in kind. His mind was at war with his conscience, his brain telling him to go ahead and lie to her. Not only would it spare her having to know the truth—for now—it would probably get him laid again, and right now that was a pretty high priority for him.

  Maybe he could have gone for it, if she were any other woman. But she wasn’t. She was crazy, irreverent, slightly nutty Selene Brand. And he liked her. He couldn’t lead her on or lie to her, because she was just trusting enough to believe him. It would never occur to her that he would say he loved her if it wasn’t absolutely true. And that meant the hurt would be a hundred times worse later on, when he had to leave her to reclaim whatever remained of his forgotten life.

  Hell.

  She sat on the rock, basking in the rising sun even while remaining as alert as a doe with fawns to protect. Every one of her senses seemed open as he looked at her. And he took a moment to try to attune his own, try to figure out what she was seeing, hearing, feeling. He looked around, letting his gaze slide easily from one thing to another: the sky, red-orange now as the rising sun chased the purple away, painted clouds, like long fingers reaching for each other. The air was growing warmer on his skin as the sun beamed down, and he felt the chill of the night fading beneath the onslaught. Birds twittered and chirped all around them. It seemed the more he listened, the more of them he heard.

  He glanced back at her, saw her close her eyes, tip her face up to the sun, and felt something inside him twist into hard knots. Damn, he was drawn to her. Just looking at her there, he felt things writhing around in his gut. Things he didn’t recognize or recall having felt before. What was this?

  He felt cruel for not returning her feelings. And clearly, he liked her, genuinely liked her. Maybe more than that. Maybe…. He shook that away and focused on her sitting there. He wanted her. Burned for her. There was a voracious need gnawing at his gut, and he didn’t think he could quiet it—maybe not ever.

  So what was that telling him? Could he possibly be feeling more than just fondness for her? More than just sexual desire? Was that even possible, for him? He didn’t think so.

  God, he had to get some distance, give himself some space to think, to figure this out, logically and rationally, something he couldn’t do when he was close to her.

  “I’m going to take a walk,” he said at length.

  She snapped to attention, got to her feet. “I’ll come with—”

  “No, no. Rest here for a few more minutes. I just want to circle out a ways, see if I can pick up any sign of them.”

  Tipping her head to one side, she searched his face. “We don’t need a trail to follow, Cory. Look.” She pointed.

  He looked. There, soaring against the backdrop of the red-orange sky, was a hawk, circling in loops, dipping and rising again, crying now and then.

  “A little morning hunt. Probably thinks she sees a field mouse or—”

  “She’s showing us the way.”

  He made a skeptical face at her. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll go check around for a trail anyway.”

  “Suit yourself.” She slid down the rock, lay on her back and opened her arms. “I’m going to listen to Earth while you’re gone. She may have some advice.”

  “Right. You do that.”

  “I will.” She rolled over, lying face down, her cheek pressed to the earth.

  Cory dragged his gaze away from her, forcibly suppressing the thoughts the sight of her brought to mind, and turned to take his walk and clear his head.

  Selene lay there for awhile, letting the earth sooth her wounded heart. Loving a man who didn’t love you back, she decided, wasn’t healthy for her. She felt a lot of hurt, and that wasn’t a good thing. She spent way too much time being sad, and wishing for something that might never be. When had she become that kind of woman? The kind so desperately needy for affection from a man? The kind of woman she’d always silently pitied.

  When she’d lain there long enough, she began to feel the gentle pulse of her heartbeat, where her chest pressed to the ground. After a time, she imagined she could feel the heartbeat of the Earth, too, pounding in perfect rhythm with her own, but louder, stronger, deeper. Solid and powerful, the Earth promised it would always be there for her, to replenish her, to comfort and sooth her, to heal her.

  And then, suddenly, the sound went silent.

  Something’s wrong.

  She rolled over fast, eyes flashing open, then squinting in the sun. An instant later that sun was blocked out by a dark silhouette.

  “Where is Cory Falconer?”

  She frowned, shielding her eyes with one hand to try to see better. “Who?”

  “Falconer! We know you were with him in the hunting cabin. Where is he?”

  The earth was silent. That told her that she must be silent, as well.

  “You mean that guy you stabbed back in the woods of Big Falls? That was you, wasn’t it?” There was a grunt, but she rushed on. “So that’s his name. He couldn’t remember, you know. Couldn’t even remember what happened to him, who he was, where he was from.”

  “I’d heard as much. Is it true?”

  “You mind if I sit up? The sun is burning my eyes.”

  A hand came down, gripped the front of her shirt in a fist, and jerked her upright, in
to a sitting position. She blinked her vision into focus, and got her first good look at her attacker. Blond-haired, tanned, with crow’s feet around his blue, blue eyes. He looked like an aging surfer.

  “Is it true Falconer has amnesia?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I only helped him when he left the hospital because the police suspected me of trying to kill him that night. Thanks a lot for that, by the way.”

  The man shrugged but didn’t interrupt her.

  “I thought he could tell them what really happened, but he didn’t remember. So then I thought I could help him get his memory back, and he would be able to clear me, but no luck.”

  “So where is he now?” the aging beach boy asked. She stole a look around him, noted no others in the immediate area.

  “How would I know?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Don’t make me hurt you, Selene Brand.”

  “Hey, easy now,” she said, holding up a hand. “Neither of us wants that. I’m just saying, I’m not the guy’s keeper. He was no help to me. I decided to leave town.”

  “To find your friend and warn her,” he said.

  She frowned. “What friend would that be? No, you’re way off. I left town to avoid being arrested. They not only think I stabbed this…Falconer fellow, now they think I murdered my best friend and her husband to boot. I’m heading for Mexico, pal.”

  “We have her, Selene.”

  “Have who?”

  “Erica.”

  “Erica who?”

  He backhanded her, and her head snapped with the impact. She felt every knuckle driving into her jaw and cheekbone, and she was pretty sure the skin of her cheek was cut on the inside, from being mashed into her teeth with so much pressure.

  She brought her head back around, slowly, her head ringing with pain, and lifted a hand to her face to sooth it. “Damn.”

  “Again, where is Falconer?”

  “The last time I saw him, he was in Big Falls, looking for a place to hole up. I haven’t seen him since I left town.”