by Janet Eaves
Suzie took her knife and scraped all her chopped vegetables to the side of the large chopping board and pulled a colander filled with a variety of peppers closer. She pulled out several shriveled, long orangish-red peppers and began chopping. “So, I’m thinking you need to shop.”
The change of subject had her frowning. “What?”
Suzie’s hands moved with the speed and precision of a machine as pepper after pepper was processed. “Shopping. There is this great little boutique that opened up on Main Street called Gertie’s Garters. The stuff in there is hot.” She flashed Polly a wicked grin. “So hot, the windows are mirrored so you can’t see inside from the sidewalk.”
“Porno-hot?” Polly asked, startled. In Legend?
“Heavens, no.” Suzie laughed. “The ladies of Legend would never allow that. A newcomer tried to open one of those adult stores last year called Popping Cherries, of all things. Well, it only took one town meeting and she was moving on. This one is about as naughty as Legend will allow. It’s more like Victoria’s Secret meets Fredrick’s of Hollywood hot. But the woman designs and makes the clothes herself.”
“Okay… and why do you think I need to shop there?”
Suzie rolled her eyes. “Because I’ve done your laundry and I can assure you, government issue white cotton drawers aren’t going to do the first thing to entice a man. Those mammies are huge.”
Polly chuckled in spite of her embarrassment. She’d only started wearing panties again since working out with Catcher because the man insisted she wear the skimpiest of shorts. Government issued skivvies was all she had with her. It was what her boss ordered packed for her when they moved her from the hospital, flew her to Tennessee, then delivered her to the doors of the B&B all those months ago. She hadn’t given a thought to her underclothes before now, but Suzie was right. They weren’t her style.
Suzie stopped chopping and pointed the business end of the knife at her. “And your bras? Girlfriend, please! My grandmother wore sexier bras than yours.”
Polly sighed. “I used to have pretty under-things. I guess they are still at my apartment.” If I still have an apartment. Wow. She hadn’t even thought about her home or her things since the attack. How had she lost so much of herself?
Though Suzie looked at her curiously, she didn’t ask questions. She knew Polly worked for the Feds, though she’d never question in what capacity. She merely stood up straight, placed her fists on her hips, and looked Polly over from head to toe. “Well then, we have a new job for you. We’ll call our mission Catching Catcher.”
Chapter Eight
As they traipsed through the heavier treed areas of the B&B’s grounds, Catcher held Polly’s hand, enjoying the woman at his side as well as the ambiance of the area. It was great that they could now get outside to conduct most of her workouts. Since he’d started working with her the month before, everything about her had changed. She was physically stronger, certainly, but it was more than that.
He’d watched her from the beginning to not only establish her physical condition, but her emotional condition as well. As injured as her body had been, it was her mind that really worried him, and those who sent him.
She was doing great. Healthier, certainly. Happier, definitely. She now interacted with the other women who came into the house and around town as if they were her best friends. She laughed a lot, kidded, joked, and in general was the picture of a completely ‘together’ human being. Which should have been enough.
It wasn’t.
The Agency was pushing. Wanting him to activate the mission he’d proposed weeks before when he still believed she needed a push. He no longer felt that way, but his opinion didn’t matter. Neither did his desires.
And that was the rub. He was attracted to Polly. Not like he’d been at first. Then it was more hero worship. She had been his rock star, his Hollywood star, his American Idol. Now she was a woman to him. A woman who had done her duty to her country, yes, but more importantly, just a woman. A beautiful, desirable, admirable woman.
They stepped over fallen branches, crunched old leaves, and worked their way to the cleared area that changed dramatically from virtually untouched forest to the sandy soil leading to the B&B’s private beach on Legend Lake.
“This is incredible,” Polly commented, releasing his hand and moving past him to approach the water.
Yes, he agreed silently. It was. And so was she. He liked her. He had admired her and still did. But now he genuinely liked her. And if he’d read her right, those few times she forgot to put a wall between them, she liked him back.
He approached her, wishing life was simple enough that he could just take her into his arms and kiss the hell out of her and see if she reacted the way he believed she would. That was out of the question. Within the next few days, things were going to start happening. And those things would make a kiss now a betrayal.
He’d argued his point in an attempt to stop them. He really had. Had even resorted to begging the night before. But he knew that to do anything other than follow orders was not only grounds for dismissal, it could cost him more than a job. He’d known that coming in. Just as every agent did.
Catcher blew out a breath, certain he heard rumbling off in the distance. How appropriate. A storm was headed their way. Both literally and figuratively. It was really all The Agency had been waiting for. The opportunity.
Well the opportunity was on them with the weather forecasters predicting a gully-washer. Everything depended on timing now. The stage was set. The actors’ arrival imminent, and then the play would begin.
Damn! He hated himself for starting all this. More than likely, when it was all over, she’d hate him, too.
“I used to water-ski on this lake when I was in my teens.”
Catcher looked out over the calm, sun-sparkling surface of the lake, trying to hide his surprise. From his research into the town of Legend, he’d learned that the lake was motor-free. Only open to sailing and rowing for those who wished to fish or simply enjoy the water. “Really?”
Polly nodded, a slight smile on her lips. “It was something we all did, until a friend of mine got killed.” Her smile faltered. “We were having a party on an unusually warm winter Saturday. Typical teenage stuff. Football team won another championship the night before. Half-naked teens enjoying the freakishly warm weather. Beer and whiskey stolen from parent’s refrigerators and liquor cabinets. Couples having sex in the back seats of souped-up cars.” She glanced at him and the smile returned. “Not me, of course. I was a good girl.”
Catcher found himself smiling back at her. “You were, were you?”
“Matter of fact,” she said, mimicking a phase he used often.
He laughed. “So you didn’t give it up to the football team in honor of their victory?” Polly punched him, making him flinch. Yes, she was definitely getting her strength back.
“No, I didn’t. But Candy Clark did. I think she got, or gave, half the team the clap.”
Polly laughed so hard at her own comment, Catcher couldn’t help but laugh with her.
“Coach would have benched the entire team if the season hadn’t already ended.” Polly sobered. “In the midst of the whole town deeply mourning Cameron’s death, there were a lot of grounded kids, me included, stuck at home. A month or so later a lot of the boys from the football team ended up at the local clinic, then went home with sore butts. I overheard my mother and a friend of hers weeks later talking about all the penicillin that was dispensed at the clinic where the woman worked.”
She shivered. “That was one time I was so glad to not have a boyfriend. Two of my friends ended up with the STD, too. That’s how they found out their boyfriends had cheated on them with Candy. It was quite the scandal when it all came out.”
Catcher shook his head. “Wow. And here I thought I’d stepped into a remake of Mayberry RFD.”
Looking back over the lake, Polly sighed. “The surface is like a shiny new penny. And a great many of those who live he
re do reflect old-fashioned values, even now. But like everywhere else on the planet, Legend has its dirty little secrets.” She glanced back, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I’m one of them.”
Catcher took her hand, then gave in, and took her into his arms. He closed his eyes, wishing he could do so many things for her and to her and knew than his hands were as tied as his heart felt. “You are nobody’s dirty little secret,” he said softly against her ear.
Polly leaned back and looked into his eyes. “You want to be mine?”
Chapter Nine
Polly played with the toggle switch of her electric wheelchair as she stared out the mesh covered windows of the patio. Back and forth, back and forth, finally she slapped the control in frustration. She didn’t need the wheelchair anymore. Never even sat in it any longer. But she’d felt so agitated after returning to the B&B following Catcher’s oh-so-polite rejection, that sitting in it and controlling its movements was supposed to have satisfied her need to control something in her life. It didn’t.
She knew he liked her. He had to. It couldn’t just be the job or he wouldn’t have spent so much time with her when they weren’t doing her physical therapy. She wasn’t naïve. She knew when a man was attracted. And in spite of her looks, Catcher was attracted. She’d stake her life on it.
So why was he keeping her at arm’s length?
“I have a penis.”
Startled, she swung her chair around. Even sitting, she had to look down at the child standing before her. He had the cutest bowl-cut straight brown hair, large blue eyes, and his hand was down his pants where he was clearly playing with himself. Scarring pulled when she pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.
“You have a penis?” he asked, completely serious.
Shaking her head, she glanced at the door, wondering where his parents might be. Clearly this was the new guests’, youngest family member. “No. I don’t. Where’s your mommy?”
“She told me to go watch TV. Daddy wants to play with her. He has a penis. But Mommy don’t. Micky says it fell off. I don’t like the TV. I want to play, too.”
Okay…
“I’m Caleb. I have a dog. His name is Jack. I get to start school. Can you walk? Mommy says you ride in that chair ‘cause you can’t walk. My friend’s name is Micky. He stayed at home. I get to spend the night at his house. Jack can’t go. He poops on the carpet. Micky has a cat. It poops in a box.”
“Caleb!”
At the sound of his mother’s voice, he glanced at the doorway, then grinned devilishly at Polly. “Bye!” He raced from the room without a backwards glance.
“I have a penis!” Caleb shouted from inside the house. “Let me go! I don’t wanna watch TV! No!”
Polly blew a long breath between her lips, a little dazed. The kid was a chatterbox and clearly a handful, but cute. Fortunately, his parents seemed to have snagged him. She smiled, wondering what it would be like to have a bad little boy of her own.
“Looks like you made a new friend.”
The smile melted as she faced Catcher. As usual, he came in looking like he was fresh off a surfboard and high on life. Damn him. “Yes. He has a penis and is quite delighted about it. Looks like you guys get obsessed with them from the get-go.”
Catcher nodded, thoughtfully. “True enough. They accommodate several of our favorite activities.” Taking on a very businesslike demeanor, he continued. “And now that we have that discussion taken care of, we need to get started on this afternoon’s therapy. I want to focus on your legs.”
“How about you focus on your own legs and have them take you elsewhere.”
Surprise lit Catcher’s eyes. “Ahhh… So we’re feeling feisty. What are you mad about?”
“You’re an ass.”
He held up his hands, palms out, looking innocent at hell.
“I didn’t do anything!”
“Yes, you did.”
“I did not. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That makes you an even bigger ass!”
He studied her for a moment. “What’s going on, Polly?”
Polly looked away. Then back. “Nothing. Forget about it. Let’s get started.”
Half an hour later, Polly was regretting her decision to work with him. The pain was relentless. That’s all there was to it. And Catcher Stevens was one sadistic son of a bitch. “Let go of me, you bastard!”
He stepped back from the weight bench to study her. “We’ve barely begun.”
Polly nodded as sweat poured from every pore and each breath ached. “I know. I can’t do it. It’s too much.” It was a bitter pill to swallow to realize the pain could defeat her. She’d been doing so well, but Catcher was upping her workout and she was spent. She’d had pain before, had in fact endured torture, but this was different. Her body just couldn’t take it anymore. “I need to get up. The strain in my back is killing me.”
Catcher stayed where he was. “Then get up.”
She threw him a glare. “I thought you were supposed to help me.”
He looked as mad as she felt. “I am helping you. Get up.”
“Your mother wears combat boots.”
Surprise and a throaty laugh lightened Catcher’s features. “Wow. For someone with a garbage mouth, you sure can be silly.”
Tears filled her eyes instantly, infuriating her. “I haven’t been called silly since grade school. And I was trying to be polite. You and your mother seem to have a very close relationship… Are you inbred?”
Catcher approached her, his grin still in place, his aqua eyes shining with humor. “Now there’s my girl.”
“Kiss my ass.”
“Bare it.”
Polly couldn’t prevent a grin of her own. “Help me up,” she cooed, batting her eyes.
“I help you up—I’m seeing that ass.”
“You see it, you kiss it.”
Nervous feminine laughter filled the room, causing Catcher to turn and Polly to struggle to see around him.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I thought maybe Caleb snuck out here.”
Polly forced herself to sit, swearing silently as shards of pain pierced every inch of her torso. She grasped Catcher’s arm, drawing his attention back to her. He leaned down and helped her to her feet. Breathlessly, leaning into his strength, she considered the young mother. “How long has he been missing?”
Looking a little ashamed, she shrugged. “I’m not sure. I sat him in front of the TV an hour ago so my husband and I could have some alone time.”
Catcher squeezed her slightly, preventing the reprimand she was about to give about leaving such a small child unattended for that length of time. She glanced at him and saw the warning in his eyes. Surprised at his gall, she ignored him. “Have you checked every room in the house?”
The woman nodded.
“All the closets?”
Again, a nod.
She turned to Catcher. “Find Suzie. We need to have her check her rooms. Since I’ve been here she hasn’t locked off her private suites.” She turned back to face the young mother, who only now seemed to realize how serious the situation could be. “Your name, please.”
“Oh, sorry, Leigh. Leigh Graves. My husband’s Jack, John really, but the family calls him Jack. Oh, dear. I’ve really messed up.” She wrung her hands as tears filled her eyes.
Polly nodded. “Leigh, get busy looking anywhere you can think of—your car, the yard, there are woods behind us that lead to the lake. If you don’t find him within the next ten minutes, report back.” She turned to Catcher. “Have Suzie call the sheriff’s office to make them aware we may need to have them deploy. Call the high school and have someone get a hold of Jim Hood. School’s out, but he spends summers on the field building his next season’s teams. Chances are he’s got a lot of healthy young boys we can use.”
She turned back to Leigh Graves. “Go, Ma’am, now!”
Mrs. Graves fled from the room. Polly turned to Catcher. “The kid’s a handful
and was probably bored out of his mind. After making the calls, get outside and start sweeping the woods. I’m going to cleanup, change, and will meet you out there in ten minutes.”
Catcher nodded slowly, one brow raised slightly. “Yes, ma’am.” He grinned. “At your service.” He started to walk away then turned back. “Buy the way, nice ass.”
Polly smiled to herself as she struggled with her feelings where he was concerned. He’d gotten to her, again. It was irritating to find she couldn’t hold a mad where he was concerned. She hurried as fast as her now aching body allowed, feeling justifiably irritated at Catch for making her so sore right before she was needed to help find the child.
Though the chances were great that he was just hiding to get them all spinning in circles, the danger of the little boy drowning in the lake or getting lost in the woods was too great a risk for them not to react swiftly.
She made her way to her room and debated a shower as lightning flashed at the window. She counted silently until thunder followed, gauging the storm to be fairly close. She reconsidered showering as it would take extra time and at best, she was slow. But drenched in sweat and probably smelling to high heaven wasn’t going to arouse the authoritative persona she always preferred to present.
Something inside of her had kicked into gear when Caleb’s mother had announced his disappearance. The need to be needed, to save the world from that which was bad, had fed her most of her adult life—had in fact justified her life. To have that need back now, for the first time in months, made her almost feel like herself again.
It was good to be back, though she knew her body would never function as well as it once had. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t orchestrate a search party. Or that she couldn’t pay Catcher Stevens back for the pain he was making her endure.
She snagged a clean pair of sweats and headed to the richly appointed bathroom that had been enhanced dramatically since her arrival. Besides a large, deep tub with jets there was a huge all-glass walk-in shower with bench and handrails Suzie had installed for her use months earlier. Heat lamps, and a handicap accessible toilet had also been added, and though she no longer wheeled herself into the bathroom, she still appreciated the heat lamps when the warmth penetrated her skin and soothed her joints.