Crossing the Line (Daniels Brothers #3)

by Sherri Hayes

  The amazing thing was Megan didn’t know which one was happier to see the other. They both wore matching smiles, and as soon as they were within touching distance, they were all over each other.

  “Hello, Beautiful,” he whispered against Rebecca’s lips a moment before his tongue disappeared inside her mouth.

  Megan cleared her throat and stood. “I guess that’s my cue to leave.”

  She went to brush past them, but Gage reached out a hand to stop her. “You don’t have to leave. We can control ourselves.”

  “It’s okay, really,” Megan insisted. “I wanted to check out the pool, anyway. I’ll change into my swimsuit and give you two some alone time.”

  As she headed upstairs, she heard Gage stop Rebecca from following. There was no way Megan would begrudge her sister her happiness, or even the great sex Rebecca was obviously having. It was difficult to witness, considering the current condition of Megan’s love life, or lack thereof.

  Megan swiftly changed into her bikini, grabbed a large towel, and slipped through the sliding glass doors out onto the patio. Gage had a decent sized inground pool. When she’d stayed at his house the first time, she hadn’t gotten a chance to take advantage of it. She was determined not to make the same mistake this time around.

  Throwing her towel onto one of the lounge chairs, Megan sat along the edge of the pool, letting her legs dangle in the water. It was warm. Not bathwater warm, but warm enough to confirm that the pool was heated.

  Megan pushed off the side and jumped in. She held her breath as water surged over her head before she popped back to the surface. It had been years since she’d been swimming. Rebecca used to take her to the local YMCA whenever she could scrounge up enough money. They were some of the best memories Megan had from her childhood.

  Leaning back in the water, Megan floated on the surface, letting the Tennessee sun warm her skin. Did Chloe know how to swim? Did Paul? Megan had never thought to ask, but she’d have to find out.

  As typically happened when Megan began thinking about Paul, her thoughts turned to less innocent avenues. Her nipples hardened as she imagined him standing there all wet with nothing but swim trunks on.

  She closed her eyes and groaned. Yes, she’d definitely have to explore that fantasy with Paul if the opportunity ever presented itself. Of course, she’d prefer if it were far away from prying eyes, and certainly from innocent ones like Chloe’s. What Megan had in mind was more along the lines of X-rated.

  Over the next four days, Paul and Janey systematically worked their way through all the leads on their list. They’d gotten several hits tying three of the four victims together, but never all four. It was frustrating, especially when the killer could already be targeting his next victim.

  The one thing they were fairly certain of, however, was that the connection revolved around the campus area. Only two of the women took classes at the college, so it was a given they frequented the area. Casey McMurphy’s husband worked on the campus, which would easily tie her to the area as well. The only unknown was the first victim. There was no record of her ever taking a class at the college, and the only positive ID they’d gotten on her in the area was from the man at the pizza shop.

  The only hitch in this positive progress in their investigation was the vast area of the campus itself. If one included the immediate surrounding area regularly used by students and faculty, it was easily the size of a small town. There was also the consideration that more than ten thousand people passed through the area on any given day of the week. There were students, professors, campus staff, maintenance and lawn care workers . . . not to mention all the owners and employees of the various businesses. While Paul and Janey had narrowed down their search, they were no closer to finding their killer.

  After a long twelve-hour day, Paul dropped Janey back at the station to get her car, and then headed home. He popped a frozen pizza in the oven, too tired to whip up something more elaborate, and downed two glasses of water. Over the last few days, he and his partner had clocked more miles than he cared to count. It wasn’t as if he were out of shape, but he also wasn’t twenty anymore.

  The timer went off, and he took his pizza out of the oven. Slicing it into four large pieces, Paul loaded one onto a paper plate, and ambled over to the table. He quickly devoured what was in front of him, and went to grab another. Halfway through the second slice, Paul realized what he was doing. It was almost seven, which meant Chloe was due to call any minute. It also meant that shortly after that, Megan would most likely be calling as well.

  With both Megan and Chloe gone, the house felt empty. The funny thing was Chloe had been doing these trips to her grandparents since she was a year old. That first year it had been hard to let her go, but being able to chat with her every night had eased his anxiety. The first couple of days were always challenging, but after that, he was fine.

  This time, it was different. While he eagerly awaited his daughter’s phone call every evening, he found that wasn’t the only conversation he was anticipating. Since Megan had been gone, she made it a point to call him every night. She’d tell him all about her adventures in Nashville with Rebecca and Gage, including a trip to a local bar where she’d danced with a couple of Gage’s friends. He was man enough to admit that he was jealous. And that he missed her.

  Paul didn’t know what to do anymore. He still didn’t see a relationship between the two of them working out, but it was becoming harder and harder to brush under the rug. Megan made him feel things he’d thought died with Melissa.

  Before he could think too much about it, Chloe called. He spent roughly ten minutes talking to his daughter before Cindy got on the phone.

  “Sometimes I don’t know how you do it, Paul.”

  He laughed. “Do what?”

  “Keep up with her. It seems the only time I can get her to slow down is to put a book in her hands.”

  “Now you know why she has an entire bookshelf full of books in her room. She’ll sit up there for hours reading.”

  Cindy sighed, and he heard the sadness creep into her voice. “Just like her mother.”

  It was true. Chloe was a lot like Melissa.

  The seconds ticked by with neither of them contributing to the conversation.

  His mother-in-law broke the emotion-filled silence. “Paul, I want to ask you something, but I don’t want you to take it the wrong way. The last thing I want to do is sound critical, but is something going on between you and Megan?”

  He took a deep breath, but didn’t answer.

  “Now, I know when you first told me that she was moving in with the two of you that I expressed my concern, but Chloe has said some things and—”

  “What has she said?” Paul racked his brain trying to think of things Chloe could have seen or heard. Nothing came to mind.

  “It’s not so much what she said, more how she talks of Megan. She thinks Megan is going to be around for the long-term. She’s grown attached.”

  “And you think that’s a bad thing?”

  “I think it’s a cause for concern, yes. Paul, she’s already lost her mother. Now she’s grown attached to another woman—a woman who lives with you—how is she going to react when Megan decides to move on? She’s a young woman, Paul. Eventually, she’s going to want to get on with her life. What’s that going to do to Chloe when she does?”

  “First of all, I don’t think Megan would walk out on Chloe. It’s true, Megan might leave one of these days.” As the words passed through Paul’s lips, he felt cold inside. “If that happens, we’ll deal with it. Second, Megan has no plans to leave anytime soon. Should I deprive my daughter of a loving relationship with another woman because there is a potential for heartbreak in the distant future?”

  Cindy didn’t respond immediately. “I guess you’re right. I just . . . I just don’t want to see her hurt. Losing Melissa . . .”

  “I know. But Cindy, Megan has been good for Chloe.” Paul didn’t mention how good Megan had been for him as well
. “And as much as we both want to shield Chloe from hurt and heartache, there are going to be times when we can’t.”

  Paul heard Cindy release a shaky breath. “I’m sorry I brought it up. It’s none of my business.”

  “Cindy, we’ve always been open and honest with each other. I’m grateful for everything you and George have done for Melissa and me and especially all you’ve done since I’ve been trying to navigate this parent thing on my own. But Megan’s role in our lives is a given, at least for the time being. As for the future . . . who knows?”

  Paul’s conversation with his mother-in-law ended shortly after that. Cindy was distraught and worried. He could understand that, but he also couldn’t give her the concrete reassurances she was looking for.

  Needing to wind down, Paul headed upstairs to take a shower. He brought his cell into the bathroom, just in case. If Megan called, he didn’t want to miss it.

  That in and of itself should have given him his answer, but stubborn as he was, he fought it. As the water pelted him, Paul replayed the original question Cindy had asked him—was Megan going to be a permanent fixture in their lives? Did he want her to be?

  The answer came barreling at him full speed. Yes.

  But what if it didn’t work? What if she realized he was just a lonely middle-aged man with nothing to offer her?

  He knew she wanted more from him than what they currently had. What he didn’t know was exactly how much more she wanted. That brought up the question as to what he wanted. If he gave this thing with them a shot, where did he see it leading?

  The more Paul thought about him and Megan as a couple, the more questions—the more doubts—surfaced. He glanced down the length of his body. Although he was in shape for his age, there was a little more fat around his middle than there had been five years ago. He’d seen most of her and she was taut and soft and . . .

  Releasing a breath, Paul flipped the handle that controlled the temperature of the water all the way around to cold. He jolted as the frigid water hit him like daggers, but it made quick work of his growing arousal.

  As he stood with his eyes closed, trying to calm down, his phone rang, and a split second later his heart was pounding in his chest. Paul swiftly shut the water off and stepped out onto the towel. He wiped off his hands, and reached for the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hey. You sound out of breath. What are you doing?” Megan asked.

  Paul quickly ran the towel over his body, and then wrapped it around his waist. “I just got out of the shower.”

  Megan released a sound that went directly to his groin.

  So much for the cold shower.

  Chapter 16

  Paul didn’t sleep much the remainder of the time Megan was away. He worked as much as he could, but in the end he came home to an empty house—one that felt emptier than he could ever remember it.

  On Saturday, he put in another twelve-hour day, hoping to wear himself out enough so that he’d be able to get some rest. It didn’t work. He tossed and turned the entire night. When he awoke on Sunday morning, he had a desperate need to see Megan. Their phone conversations weren’t enough. He missed her smile, her eyes, the way her hair bounced when she laughed.

  He was in trouble, and he knew it. For the last two days, he’d argued with himself as to whether or not he should take that leap of faith and ask her out. He still wasn’t sure a relationship between the two of them would work. Megan was young and full of life. He . . . well . . . he was . . . not. The last thing he wanted was to bring her down—hold her back. Paul wanted her to be happy.

  There was a part of him that wanted to see if he could be part of that happiness, but fear nearly choked him every time he thought of what could go wrong. What if he messed up again? He didn’t know if he could survive that a second time.

  But as much as he feared the possibilities, did he really have a choice anymore? Sure, he could keep things the way they were—or try to, anyway. Given their track record, he wasn’t hopeful.

  Paul could also ask Megan to leave. It would probably be the most logical option. He knew that. However, the thought of her not being part of their lives anymore turned his stomach.

  He’d also thrown around the idea of dating someone else. Maybe what he was experiencing was a natural progression in the grieving process—his mind and body telling him it was time to move forward. Melissa had been gone for nearly five years. Although that option might discourage Megan, it didn’t sit much better with him than the thought of her leaving.

  The other alternative was for him to swallow his fear, ask her out, and see if it went anywhere. Maybe their connection wouldn’t be as intense once he took the challenge away. Maybe, just maybe, they’d have a horrible time, and she would realize that he wasn’t the man she thought he was.

  As Paul drove toward the airport, he knew how unlikely a scenario that was. Megan had lived in the same house with him for seven months. She knew his habits, his likes and dislikes. She’d even seen him at his worst when he was sick in bed with the flu.

  Five miles from his exit, he saw a sign advertising a twenty-four-hour market. Without giving himself time to overthink it, he took the ramp off the highway, and followed the signs until he found the small store. Inside, they had a variety of food and beverages for travelers, not much past the basics, but he was hoping they would have what he needed.

  It didn’t take him long to find what he was looking for. There sitting next to the front counter were three bouquets of flowers—one made up of a dozen red roses, and two with a variety of colorful flowers. It had been years since he’d asked a woman out. In reality, he hadn’t formally asked a woman out since he was sixteen. He was a little rusty.

  Paul eyed the roses briefly, but swiftly changed his mind. Melissa had loved roses, but they didn’t feel right for Megan.

  Of the two other flower options, one was primarily pink, and the other was mostly yellow. Both were pretty, but for some reason he was drawn to the yellow. They reminded him of sunshine.

  After paying for the flowers, Paul drove the few remaining miles to the airport with the flowers lying beside him on the passenger seat. He parked his car in the parking garage, and headed toward baggage claim. On the way inside, he received a few stares from passersby. An older lady smiled at him, and he held tighter to the bouquet. He hoped he was doing the right thing, and that Megan would like the flowers.

  The first thing he did once he was inside the airport was check to see if Megan’s flight had landed. To his surprise, the board showed her plane had arrived five minutes ago. That did nothing to calm his nerves. Was he really ready for this? If she said yes, it would change things between them. What would happen if it didn’t work?

  Paul was still debating with himself when he saw her come down the escalator. She didn’t see him at first. Her head was tilted down, and he could see her cell phone in her right hand. She furrowed her brow, and he instinctively took a step forward.

  As if sensing him, she glanced up, meeting his gaze. A huge smile lit up her face, and all the worry he’d seen a moment ago vanished. She reached the bottom of the escalator, and rushed toward him. Without any hesitation, Megan dropped her bags at his feet, wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him.

  What he felt in that moment was difficult to describe. A whiff of lilac and cherries filled his nostrils as her warm body pressed solid against his. He circled his arms around her waist and returned her embrace, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. She was home.

  They stood there for several minutes, not moving. People went around them, not seeming to pay much attention to their reunion. Eventually, Megan pulled back a little so that she could see his face. “Hi.”

  Paul chuckled, and put some more space between them. “How was your flight?”

  “Good.”

  Megan reached to pick up her bags, but Paul beat her to it. He hitched her backpack over his shoulder, careful not to crush the flowers. Extending his free arm, he offered them to her. “I got these
for you. A kind of welcome home present.”

  She took them in both her hands and inhaled.

  Paul held his breath, awaiting her reaction. Had he made the wrong choice? Should he have gotten the roses?

  A smile tugged at her lips. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

  “I’m glad you like them.” Before he could say any more, a noise sounded from the baggage carousel, and they went to retrieve the rest of her luggage.

  Twenty minutes later, they were in the car, and on their way home. Paul had made his decision. Buying her flowers had sealed it. He was going to ask her to go out with him on a date. One date, and then they would see how it went from there.

  There was only one problem. He didn’t know how to go about asking her. Should he do it now, or should it be something more romantic? Paul hated feeling so unsure of himself. He’d never felt this way with Melissa. Everything between them had been easy, especially in the beginning.

  Of course, back then things had been simple. They were kids without any real responsibilities. Their first date had been to a school dance. He’d taken her out to dinner beforehand at a moderately priced restaurant, and then to the dance. After that, he’d driven her home. Simple. Uncomplicated. The exact opposite of his current situation.

  “Something on your mind?” Megan asked when they were about halfway home.

  He glanced over at her. She’d turned slightly to face him, and was holding her flowers gingerly in her lap. It was now or never. “I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go out with me Friday night.”

  Megan didn’t respond right away, and he was back to paying attention to the road so he couldn’t see her reaction to his question. “Are you asking me on a date?”

  Paul swallowed hard. “Yes.”