“Who’s Mila?” the question burst from her lips before she had time to register the thought. Where the fuck did that come from?
Grinning triumphantly, Hailey looped her elbow through Gwyn's and lead her out the door and into the bright sunshine. “Mila Stevenson is one stone-cold bitch. She and Brady were an item for about thirty seconds before he finally remembered he has a brain to think with and not just a dick. ” An irrational rush of jealously flushed through Gwyn at the thought of Brady with someone else.
The image of him wrapped around another woman was not one that she welcomed. She wanted to feel his muscular chest crash into her, feel his lips claim hers. Wrap her legs around his waist and…realizing she was staring into space, not saying a word, she blushed and smiled sheepishly.
Seeing the dazed look on Gwyn’s face, Hailey laughed. “Oh honey, you’ve got it bad already. You’re going to be good for him. I can feel it.”
Gwyn rolled her eyes. “I told you, he’s not interested in me. We’re…friends.” She paused, studying Hailey. She really was gorgeous. Her pale blond hair was styled in a chic cut just below her ears, her hazel eyes sharp and perceptive. She was a few inches taller than Gwyn, although her curves filled her out in all the right places. Glancing down at her own B cup breasts, she frowned. “So…did you, um, used to date Brady? Is that how you know him?”
“Oh, Gwynnie sweetie, don’t worry—I’ve never had that fine man between my sheets. I’m happily married to Deputy Sam Ridley. And very soon, I’m going to be the mother of his children,” Hailey explained, her joy evident on her face. “We’ve been trying for a while now, but I know it’s going to happen soon for us.”
The main street was starting to come alive as the town woke up, people rushing down the sidewalk and into the coffee shop she had just left. Smiling, she was pleased that she didn’t seem to be as nervous being in the company of strangers as she had been back in Chicago. The weight from her shoulders lifted, maybe this town could be more than just a layover in her journey to find herself, in her fight to regain who she really was.
“That’s amazing. A family is a wonderful gift,” Gwyn smiled wistfully. “Listen, I have to get over to the diner for some training. Maybe—”
“Great, I’ll walk with you,” Hailey interrupted. “You can tell me more about your encounters with Brady, I’ll fill in some blanks and then we’ll make plans for a girl's only night on Saturday.”
Hailey kept up her steady stream of chatter on the short walk back to Earl’s Diner. Filling her in on her job as an elementary teacher at the local school, she raved about how it was her dream job. With each detail, she snuck in another little piece of insight to Brady and his role as Sheriff. Gwyn listened patiently, it had been a good long while since there had been another female for her to interact with, one that she could call a friend.
Walking up the stone path to the front of Earl’s, she stopped in her tracks. A shiver of fear skittered down her spine, alarms bells ringing in her head. The feeling of someone watching her was so intense; she trembled and rubbed her arms to ward off the sudden chill. Glancing around, she scanned the street, looking for any sign as to what was sending her instincts into overdrive.
Hailey paused in the act of opening the door, looking back at her. “You okay? You’re dead white, honey.”
Absentmindedly, she touched her cheek. “Do you see anyone? I feel as though we’re being watched.” Hailey’s eyes widened, her hand freezing in its path to the handle of the door. Turning back, she peered around. Her body shuddered once, and meeting Gwyn’s questioning gaze, she forced a smile.
“I’m sure it’s nothing. Come on, we better get you inside before Joan tans your hide for being late.” Hailey tugged on her arm to get her moving forward.
Gwyn wrinkled her brow at Hailey’s abrupt answer, but did as she asked. As she stood in the entrance, she slowly looked behind her once more. Shaking off the feeling of unease, she followed Hailey inside the diner, the door shutting behind them with a firm click.
Neither of them noticed the dark figure slip back into the shadows, unseen by anyone passing by on the street.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Reports from his deputies and tip-line phone messages were starting to blur on the pages the longer Brady stared at them. No matter how hard he tried, his concentration was off. He had a sexy, captivating woman on his mind. And her name was Gwyn Woods. Tiny, tantalizing, and tempting, he was utterly intrigued by her. Drawn to her from the second he laid eyes on her at Earl’s, the pull he had felt bordered on magnetic.
While the distraction of a woman wasn’t something he needed, when he saw her again that morning in the coffee shop; he knew he wanted her. More than that, he had an overwhelming urge to protect her from the sadness he saw in those big brown eyes. Gwyn was going to be his, and he wasn’t going to stop until he had her tight little body writhing beneath him.
After he demanded a date from her, he left the coffee shop equal parts turned on by just the scent of her and aggravated by her stubbornness. She was going to be a challenge in a good way and he was looking forward to unlocking each secret she was fighting to hide. A trained observer, he would bet his life she was running from her past. Perhaps they recognized something in each other, as he was keeping secrets about his past from the people in this town. Reliving the horror he left behind in New York wasn’t going to win him any friends at the annual deep fry over at the Clarkson’s.
Sighing, he picked up the folder Sarah had left on his desk and thumbed through it again. The forensics report had finally come in, along with the official cause of Ava Marshall’s death. It was as he suspected, severe blood loss as a result of multiple stab wounds. That news wasn’t surprising as there wasn’t a lot of her left intact once her body was dumped. As much as he would like to fool himself that the damage was done after she was killed, he was wise enough to know that wasn’t the case. This poor girl had endured excruciating pain at the hands of a madman, a madman he was going to catch and lock up if it was the last thing he did.
The forensics report was a bitter disappointment except for one small piece of evidence. Ava’s teeth. She was a girl that had definitely been a fighter. Brady’s heart broke that her struggle had been futile against such an evil man. Ava had however, managed to get one good bite in before she died, and that evidence was imprinted on her teeth. Residual skin left in her mouth had given them one small glimpse into who was responsible for what happened to her.
Unfortunately, the report stated that there was no match in the system, but having the sample meant when Brady did apprehend the suspect, he would have a powerful, damning piece of evidence. Thanks to Ava and her will to fight.
There had been no trace evidence found on her body. Nothing usable as clues, which meant he was back to square one. Frustrated, he threw the file back down on his desk. This guy was a pro, to leave behind not even a small bit of evidence on her body meant only one thing, this wasn’t his first crime. There had been others. Brady’s last hope that they were dealing with a one-time case evaporated at this realization.
Deciding that he needed a fresh look at the dumpsite, he grabbed his hat and headed for the door. “Sarah, I’ll be in the field.” He called his intentions over his shoulder as he made his way through the pen and out of the station. The scorching heat of the June sun hit him full force the second he stepped outside. Sending up a silent prayer of thanks that the town’s budget allowed for vehicles equipped with air conditioning, he started the car and pulled out of the lot.
Ava’s body had been located just on the outskirts of the town. The large marsh area was highly popular, especially in the early mornings. Citizens enjoyed the scenery and were known to take frequent hikes around this particular lake. The sight of the sun rising over the water was one not to be missed. Pulling to a stop a few yards away from the crime scene tape, he slammed the car door and took a few minutes to stand there, surveying the area.
Recalling the details of the discovery, Brady
trudged along the water line. She had been found placed just on the edge of the water. The two teenage boys that had stumbled upon her that morning would never be the same after discovering such a grisly scene. To their credit, they had called for help right away. Brady couldn’t fault the younger boy for tossing his cookies at what they had witnessed.
Ducking under the line, he crouched down and looked over the trampled long grass where Ava had lain. Anger rose in him at the injustice, this was a beautiful place. A serene one. It only added to the horror of a young life being cut short in such a brutal way. Now forever tainted by murder, the air had a thick feeling of evil, as though remnants of the atrocity committed still remained. He closed his eyes, visualizing the scene. Originally, he had thought the body was carried here and dumped, but looking it over now he realized he had missed something.
Studying the grass at eye level, he noticed there was a trail of broken glades leading from the main path. Recalling photos of Ava’s body—she had clumps of hair missing. He assumed it had been due to the trauma she suffered during her captivity, but this new information provided another theory. He knew in his gut what had happened.
“He dragged you by the hair.” He spoke his thought out loud to the wind. This fuck dragged her over to the water’s edge by the hair and flung her down as though she was last week’s trash. The scene played out behind his eyes. The perp’s car would have been parked where his was now, his trek similar to the one he had just made. Following the path, he searched for shoe imprints. He knew he would find nothing just as they did during the first phase of the investigation, however he couldn’t stop himself from walking the same steps as the killer.
“Fuck.” He swore as he reached his car. Heavy rainfall had washed away any potential shoe imprints that would have been found in the marsh—effectively cutting off their investigation at the knees. Looking back out over the marsh, he watched a pelican sail over the water. The light darkened, everything stilled in its place. Death whispered in the air, its message low and threatening. The hair on the back on his neck raised as he looked around, nothing was there, but the energy had forever been changed in that place.
Something was coming, and whatever it was—it wasn’t going to be pretty. He needed to use this new insight into the killer’s mind to outwit him.
Anticipation ran through him, time wasn’t a luxury any of them could afford. He had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before both he and the town were subjected to another taste of just what this psycho was capable of.
Gwyn stood in front of the mirror, staring at the simple black knit dress. It had been so long since she had gotten ready for a date, she was clueless on what to where to a casual dinner. Lawrence had been very specific in his control over her state of dress that she had long forgotten what it was like to have the power to choose items for herself.
She studied the dress with a critical eye. It was sleeveless and ended just before her knee. The bodice had a hint of see-through material, which allowed a peekaboo taste of her cleavage. While she wasn’t super endowed in the cup department, she still had enough to fill out the top portion of the dress. She left her blond hair down in loose waves and added a touch of mascara and light lip gloss.
Nervously fingering the soft material of her dress, she checked the clock for the hundredth time since she started getting ready. 6:50pm. Brady had asked, no demanded that she be ready by 7pm. His domineering attitude should have scared her, but she found herself wildly attracted to it instead.
Gwyn had only known him a few days, but she knew instinctively that she was safe with him. Safe in the sense that he wouldn’t harm her. Her lady parts on the other hand….well, she feared if she wasn’t careful they were about to be reintroduced to a long lost friend. One that would be sinking deep inside her before the night was over. Brady was a man that oozed sex appeal, his eyes had spoken of his intentions that morning when he looked at her. She was on his radar, a fact that sent an enticing thrill skimming down her spine.
Caught up in her musings, the hard knock on the door caused her to jump out of her skin. He’s early, she thought as she took a deep breath and pulled open the door.
Sucking in a breath at the sight of him, she offered a timid smile. He was dressed casually in a dark blue polo shirt and dark dress jeans. His thick brown belt had a large buckle in the center, which she squinted at, trying to make out the image.
“Sugar, if you keep staring at my cock before you even let me in the door—we’re gonna be real late to our dinner reservation.” His remark had her eyes snapping up to his. Blushing at the amusement and lust she saw there, she hurried to explain.
“Your buckle. I was just looking at your buckle. It’s a horse?” Dying of mortification, she pointed to the bouquet in his hands. “Um, are those for me?”
With a chuckle, he passed her the dark pink daisies. “They are. I wasn’t sure if you have a favorite, Jenny at A Rose’s Bud, said these were a safe bet.” She took the bouquet from him and backed away from the door.
“Well, come in. I’ll just see if there’s something to put these in. Thank you, they’re beautiful. Daisies are my favorite by the way. You got lucky.” His eyes lit up at her word choice and she inwardly smacked herself in the face. What was wrong with her?
Scurrying into the small kitchen, she opened the cupboard and peered inside. There were a few china mugs and glasses, some mismatched plates and bowls. On the top shelf, she spied a slim vase. Bingo. Stretching up on her tiptoes, she reached her arms up to grab it, her fingertips just brushing the glass. Reaching farther, she tried again.
Hands encircled her waist from behind, lifting her up slightly. Startled, she nearly sent the vase crashing to the floor.
“Steady. I got you,” his breath was warm by her ear, sending her pulse skidding. Inhaling, she grabbed the vase in a tight grip. He lowered her back to the ground and shifted her in his arms to face him, his nose trailing through her hair.
“You smell amazing, Gwyn, like sunshine and strawberries.” Running his gaze down the length of her, his grin was wolfish. “And you look fucking amazing in this dress, darlin’.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, shyness overtaking her. This man was getting to her, breaking down her walls like he was the goddamn Hulk. Her desire for him was so thick on her tongue she could taste it. She wanted to taste it. She wanted to taste him. To get lost in the passion of the moment, just once.
“We better go, before I decide it’s much more appetizing to see how you look out of that dress,” Brady took her hand and dragged her over to the door. Gwyn paused to slip into simple black flip flops and grab her small purse before following him out the door. Taking the keys from her hand, he turned the lock and checked it. Satisfied it was secure, he placed his hand on the small of her back and led her down the stairs to the street.
Looking at his cruiser parked on the street, Gwyn smirked. “Really? You don’t have a regular car?” He led her over and deposited her inside without answering. Rounding the hood, he was sitting beside her in seconds. She quirked an eyebrow at him, challenging him to answer.
“Why not drive my cruiser? As the saying goes…I’m the law in this town, sugar.” He winked at her eye roll and pulled out into the slight traffic. Shaking her head, Gwyn let it go.
“So, where are you taking me? I haven’t seen much of the town off the main street,” Gwyn was a little surprised that she hadn’t asked about their destination sooner. The man was affecting her in more ways than one.
“To a place just on the other side of town, Piers. It’s one of first places I discovered when I moved here from New York. The seafood is to die for, but if that’s not your thing they have other options on the menu,” He reached his hand out slowly and placed it on her knee. Gently, as though he wanted her to get used to his touch.
“Seafood is great,” she mumbled, thinking about the small amount of cash in her purse. This date was a bad idea. Spending money she didn’t have on an evening out with a man she just met. Wha
t the hell was wrong with her?
“Actually, Brady. Maybe this was a mistake. Would you mind turning around and taking me back?” Her hands fidgeted in her lap.
“No. Whatever it is you’re worrying about, just stop. I invited you out, I want to take advantage of this chance to get to know more about you and enjoy a nice meal. Tonight is on me, so if that’s your concern—it’s an unnecessary one. ” His reply was automatic and left no room for argument, as she was learning was his habit.
She had no choice but to agree, but made a promise to herself that she would pay him back for the meal after her first paycheck. Being in debt to a man was not a place she wanted to be.
The drive to the restaurant was a short one, the silence comfortable as they got used to being in each other’s presence. Brady’s thumb was tracing lazy circles on her knee, a distraction that she was starting to feel all the way down to her toes.
Piers was a beautiful gray stone manor. It spoke of character and charm, and Gwyn was immediately pleased with his choice for them. Heading inside, they approached the host, Brady leading the way. The middle aged man recognized the Sheriff right away, and greeted him warmly. “Good evening, Sheriff James. Nice to see you here again.” They shook hands and the elder man nodded at her in greeting. “Good evening, ma’am. I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of seeing you in here before.” He looked at her quizzically, as if trying to place her.
“No, this is my first time here,” she answered, not offering any more information. The other man nodded and then announced, “Your table is ready, Sheriff. Right this way, please.” As they moved through the restaurant, the man spoke in a low voice to Brady. “Sheriff, any updates on the case? We are all—” the rest of his sentence was cut off as Brady shook his head slightly and tilted it towards Gwyn, a clear warning that he didn’t want her to overhear their conversation.
Taking the cue, the host pulled out a chair at a cozy table in the back corner of the dining room. Elegantly set with white tablecloths and gleaming silverware, it was beautiful. Gwyn smiled as she took her seat, thanking him. When Brady was seated, he handed them both leather bound menus and informed them, “Marcus will be your server tonight, folks. I will send him over.” Exchanging a look with Brady, he left, leaving curiosity hanging in the air.
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