by Beth Andrews
“The only person going to be arrested for that slut’s murder will be your brother.” The mayor’s eyes flashed. “I’m going to make sure of it.”
Kelsey stumbled, catching herself on the doorjamb before she fell. “I know this must be hard for you, accepting that your son might be guilty, but I don’t think this is going to help him.”
“Don’t be stupid,” the mayor snapped. “Ben didn’t kill anyone, he couldn’t. Least of all that slut. Even if she did use him, and hurt him. I warned him to stay away from her. Warned her, too. But she didn’t know what was good for her.”
Obviously there had been no love lost between the two women. Jeez, the mayor sounded like a jealous wife or something.
Or an overprotective mama.
“Oh my God,” Kelsey breathed as the realization dawned. “You killed her.”
“I told her to stay away from Ben, but she wanted to take him away from me. I did what I had to do to protect him.”
“How is hurting me going to help your son?” Kelsey backed into the kitchen. “If you want to help him, you should turn yourself in. Admit what you’ve done—”
“Why should I turn myself in when by tomorrow morning your brother will be arrested for Shannon’s murder?” the mayor said as she advanced, the gun in her hand rock steady. She grinned. “And yours?”
“No one will believe Dillon hurt me.”
“Once they find the gas can with his fingerprints all over it, they will. And when they discover your body in that disgusting bar, killed by your brother’s own hammer, well, even Jack Martin won’t be able to dispute the evidence.”
Fear coated Kelsey’s mouth. “Jack will see through this, and when he does, he’ll come after you with everything he’s got.”
“You’re making yourself more important than you are,” the mayor said, creeping closer until Kelsey was backed against the counter. “I know all about you. You have nothing, no family, no parents or friends. You’re nobody.”
No! Kelsey’s heart screamed even as her stomach sank. That’s not true. She wasn’t alone. She had hope she and Dillon could work out their problems. And she had Jack and Emma.
And she’d be damned if she’d let this murderer take that away from her.
With an effort, Kelsey lifted her chin. “Jack will care.”
The mayor shook her head. When she spoke, her voice was almost pitying. “You’d like to think that, wouldn’t you? You don’t belong here. You’re not a part of this town or Jack’s family. No one cares if you live or die.”
A movement on the front porch caught Kelsey’s attention. “Wanna bet?”
Two seconds later, the door was kicked open. The mayor spun around, aiming her gun at Jack. Kelsey launched herself at the other woman, wrapped her arms around the mayor’s waist and sent them both crashing to the ground.
The mayor shrieked and scrambled to get up, her elbow connecting with the side of Kelsey’s head. Kelsey’s vision swam. By the time she’d focused again, it was to see the mayor pressed face-first against the wall, her hands behind her as Jack cuffed her.
Kelsey licked her dry lips and struggled to remain awake. “Emma,” she said, but her voice was little more than a whisper and she wasn’t sure Jack even heard her. The last thing she remembered was the sight of Jack rushing to her side, and then everything went dark.
“WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU thinking?” Jack demanded twenty minutes later as he paced in front of the porch step where Kelsey had just been attended to by an EMT.
They’d opened all the windows and doors and had hauled out the gasoline-soaked furniture, but the house still reeked with fumes, forcing them outside.Emma tightened her hold on his neck and he automatically patted her back. She’d clung to him like a burr ever since he’d found her tucked away in the corner of his closet. Not that he minded. Hell, it might be a day or two before he was ready to let go of his little girl again.
Mindful of the fact that they weren’t alone, he lowered his voice as he said, “You could’ve been killed.”
She looked up at him, a blanket draped over her shoulders. The bandage the EMT had applied to her head wound was stark-white against the brightness of her hair. Even though she was safe and whole and alive, the sight of an ugly, purple bruise on her face renewed Jack’s rage. He knew she had a larger, worse bruise on her side, thanks to the pointy toes of Christine’s boots.
He’d come so close to losing both Emma and Kelsey.
“I wasn’t thinking,” Kelsey admitted. “I just sort of…reacted. I was afraid she would shoot at you. And, well, to be honest, she was really pissing me off.”
He shook his head. He shifted Emma to his hip, crouched in front of Kelsey and reached for her hand. “You scared the hell out of me,” he admitted quietly.
“Sorry.” She glanced at Emma. Reached out her free hand as if to touch his daughter, only to lower it to her lap. “Are you sure she’s okay?”
He squeezed Kelsey’s fingers. “She seems to be. Knowing you’re all right went a long way toward calming her down.”
Emma raised her head again and told Kelsey, “The bad lady’s going to Daddy’s jail.”
“That’s right,” Jack said, “and she won’t be coming back here. Ever.”
Kelsey smiled and smoothed Emma’s sleep-tousled hair. “You’re a hero.”
“I am?” Emma asked, her eyes wide as she looked from Jack to Kelsey. “Just like Daddy?”
Kelsey nodded. “It was very smart of you to remember to call 911. And very brave.”
“I was real scared.” Emma’s grip on Jack tightened, her lower lip began to quiver.
Kelsey laid her hand on Emma’s shoulder. “But you still called for help. That’s what being brave is. Doing something even though you’re scared.”
Emma slid a sideways glance at Jack. “Like getting your ears pierced even though you know it’s gonna hurt but not crying ’cuz it’s something you really, really want and you’ll be real ’sponsible and clean your ears every day?”
Kelsey burst into laugher.
“What?” Emma wanted to know.
Jack couldn’t contain his own grin. “How about we discuss the whole ear-piercing issue tomorrow?”
Emma’s eyes lit up. “Really, Daddy?”
“I said discuss it,” Jack reminded her. “I didn’t say yes.”
“I know, Daddy.” But Emma grinned and laid her head back on his shoulder as if she knew damn well he was going to give in.
He and Kelsey looked at each other.
“I thought I’d lost both of you,” he said hoarsely.
Kelsey’s eyes watered. “I was so scared Emma was going to get hurt,” she whispered. “I swear to you, Jack, I would’ve done anything to keep her safe.”
“I know.” He raised their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. “Thank you.”
She pulled her hand back to wipe away her tears. “I still can’t believe the mayor killed Shannon and almost killed me.”
Jack grunted. He couldn’t believe it, either. And damn if he didn’t blame himself for not seeing the connection between Christine, Ben and Shannon earlier.
“It’s not your fault,” Kelsey said.
“Are you a mind reader, now?”
“I don’t know about reading minds but I can easily read your face.” She traced her fingertips over his cheek. “You realized it was the mayor.”
“Yeah, but I was almost too late.”
“You weren’t,” she said simply.
Jack nodded, knowing the fact that both Kelsey and Emma were alive and safe was going to have to be enough. For now.
He stood, pulled out his cell phone and pushed a button.
“Who are you calling?” Kelsey asked.
“Allie. As much as I hate to leave Emma—or you—I need to get down to the station. And, no,” he said when Kelsey opened her mouth, “you are not staying here with her. The house is going to need to be professionally cleaned to get rid of the gasoline and you’re going to the hospital.”
“But, Jack I—”
“No arguing.” Allie’s answering machine picked up and he frowned.
“Jack!” Allie shouted as she hurried up his walkway.
Clicking off his phone, he returned the hug she gave him.
“Sweetie, are you okay?” she asked as Emma went into her aunt’s outstretched arms. Allie looked to Jack. “Is everyone all right?”
“Everyone’s fine.” He took hold of Allie’s elbow and led her into the yard. “But how did you find out so quickly? Please don’t tell me it’s already spreading around town.”
“What? No. I didn’t know anything about it until I got here.” Allie smoothed her hand over Emma’s back. “I spoke with Pascale, he’s monitoring traffic at the end of the street. He filled me in.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“Kelsey called and said you needed me to sit with Emma.”
“When?”
Allie frowned at his abrupt tone. “About forty minutes ago, maybe longer. I would’ve been here sooner but I was just getting out of the shower when she called and—”
“Kelsey asked you to stay here? With Emma?”
“Yes and yes.” She looked at him as if he was speaking in tongues. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Fine,” he managed. But he wasn’t fine. Not by a long shot. So much for things working out between him and Kelsey.
He glanced back to the porch to see the EMTs helping Kelsey to her feet. She obviously didn’t want anything to do with the stretcher they’d brought in. She looked over at him, surprise and something else, something like guilt, in her expression.
“Wait,” she said to the EMT holding her arm. “Jack, I can explain—”
“No need,” he told her, keeping his face expressionless. “I’ll have one of my officers contact you for a full statement about what happened here tonight.”
She reached out for him. “Jack, please—”
She broke off when he stepped back. She didn’t want him. Not enough to stay.
He’d told her if she wanted to leave, he wouldn’t stand in her way. So he let her go. “Goodbye, Kelsey.”
JACK KNEW SHE’D BEEN READY to run. Kelsey rolled her eyes and instantly regretted it, overwhelmed by dizziness. Of course he knew, she thought as she regained her equilibrium. He’d spoken to Allie, hadn’t he? He’d found out firsthand she’d called his sister to stay with Emma so she could take off. But what he didn’t know was that she’d changed her mind. She had to find him, to explain that she’d made a mistake.
She wasn’t going anywhere.Well, except out of this hospital room.
If only she could get her damn jeans on. It had taken a good fifteen minutes, but she’d managed to unhook her IV, get out of bed and get her right leg into her pants. The E.R. doctor had cut her shirt off to avoid jarring her side any more than necessary, but she figured she’d just put her jacket over the hospital gown. Once she had both legs in her pants, that is.
Supporting her weight on the bed, she attempted to lift her left foot, only to lower it with a gasp.
“Going somewhere?”
She caught her breath at the sound of Jack’s voice. Turning slowly, carefully, she spotted him in the doorway. His hair was disheveled, his shirt wrinkled and lines of fatigue bracketed his mouth.
But none of that mattered. He was there and, whether he knew it or not, all hers.
“Actually,” she said, “I was going—”
“To take off without being discharged?” He crossed the room and scowled down at her. He looked so exhausted. “Don’t be an idiot.”
“Who are you calling an idiot?”
“You. And it fits if you think you should be going anywhere with a concussion and a cracked rib. Get back into bed.”
“Are you here for anything specific? Or just to let me know how stupid you think I am?”
He crossed his arms and frowned. “I ran into Dillon out in the hallway.”
Her mouth popped open. “What? Dillon was here? Why?”
“He heard what happened and was worried about you.”
“Yeah, right,” she scoffed and sharp pain shot through her chest.
“He asked about you. And he wanted me to tell you he’s glad you’re okay.”
Dillon hadn’t even taken the time to see her himself, but he had come to ask about her. Maybe he had been worried. It was such a little thing, but it gave her hope.
She bent down to pull her pants up and heard Jack curse under his breath. Gritting her teeth she lifted her foot only to have Jack kneel down and gently guide her foot into the leg opening of her jeans. She straightened slowly, her eyes on the top of his head as he pulled the denim up her legs and over her hips.
His large, warm hands settled at her waist. She raised her head to find Jack’s face mere inches from her own. Maybe she didn’t need to tell him how she felt. Maybe she could show him.
But just as she stretched up, he stepped back, his hands falling from her waist.
“The D.A. is charging Christine with first-degree murder.”
She kept her eyes down and fought back tears as she tugged at her zipper. “That was fast.”
“He thinks he can prove that Christine became enraged after seeing her son’s car at Shannon’s—especially since she’d warned Shannon to stay away from him. Christine’s lawyer is already making noises about a plea bargain—”
“So she could get away with it?” Kelsey asked in disbelief.
“Doubtful,” Jack said, his voice even. “We have enough evidence that the D.A. thinks he can prove Christine went to Shannon’s with the intent to kill. And that she did everything in her power to set your brother up to take the fall.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“The story Dora ran in the paper last Sunday? Seems Christine was Dora’s anonymous source. She got her information from Ben and then did her best to convince the community of Ward’s guilt. She must’ve hoped it would pressure me into making an arrest.”
“That bitch,” she murmured vehemently, clenching her fingers. “You just can’t trust a politician, can you?”
“No, ma’am. I guess sometimes you can’t.”
Ma’am? Kelsey’s gaze shot to his face. Oh, this was bad. He was wearing his cop mask—calm, cool and, worst of all, emotionless.
“Is that…” She stopped. “Is…that the only reason you’re here? To tell me about the mayor?”
He studied her intently. “What other reason could there be?” he asked quietly.
She bit her lower lip. “Look, I freaked, okay?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Why don’t you clarify it for me?”
Damn him. He was being stubborn. And a bit mean. Worse, she knew she deserved both. “I called Allie because…because even if what we shared was incredible, and it was, or is, or whatever—”
“Slow down,” he soothed. “Shallow breaths.”
She nodded but that made her head hurt again. “Being with you makes me feel…content and…and whole. Like when I’m not with you, a piece of me is missing.”
“And that bothers you?”
“I don’t want someone to hold that much power over me. I don’t want to give that much of myself away.” She wished she could pace, but even the effort of standing was beginning to take its toll. “I’m…I’m not cut out for it. I’m sure as hell not any good at it and…I’m scared.”
Hurt flashed over his face. “Of me?”
“No. God no. I’m scared of screwing this up. Of hurting you and Emma. I don’t know the first thing about loving someone. I don’t…I don’t think I know how.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “But when I imagine my life without you and Emma, I don’t like what I see.”
“So, instead of trying, you were going to leave?”
“I panicked. I mean…we’ve known each other barely two weeks.” She forced herself to tell him everything. “But I love you, Jack. I’ve ne
ver said that to anyone before,” she added quickly. “Besides Dillon, I don’t think I’ve ever felt it for anyone before. I don’t…I don’t know if that’ll be enough for this to work. But I’m willing to give it a try. I want us to try.”
He stepped closer, his expression serious. “Okay.”
“I—” She blinked and rubbed at the wetness on her cheeks. “Huh? Okay?”
He sifted his fingers through her hair. “I love you, too.”
He moved to kiss her but she pressed a hand to his chest. “Wait a minute. That’s it? Just okay, I love you, too? I thought you were mad.”
“I was.”
She pressed her lips together. “You gave me the go-ahead to leave, remember?”
“I changed my mind.”
“Just like that?”
“Pretty much. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering if I made a mistake by letting you go without a fight.” He shrugged, looking decidedly less tired than he had a few minutes ago. “So I came over here to fight for you.”
“You did?”
He grinned. “I had it all worked out. I was going to tell you how we mean something to each other. How I know you feel it, too. That I find you sexy, funny and intelligent. You survived abuse, neglect and disappointment and it’s only made you stronger, more determined to become a better person.”
“And you thought that would work?”
“If not, I was just going to tell you that I love you. Lucky for me, you came to your senses first.”
“Yeah,” she groused. “Lucky you.”
He chuckled and leaned forward to press a soft kiss against her mouth. “I would’ve fought for you, Kelsey,” he whispered. He pulled back and searched her face. “You belong here with me. Will you stay? Will you be a part of my life, of Emma’s life?”
“I’ll stay,” she told him, thrilled and humbled by the love she saw in his eyes. Love for her. She smiled letting him see how happy he made her. “Besides, I’ve been wanting to check out those handcuffs of yours.”
“You up for a game of cop and troublemaker?”
“You bet.” Kelsey was filled with joy and love. And for the first time in her life, contentment. “But I get to be the sheriff.”