by Laura Scott
Zack had done plenty of favors for Cole, but he knew that doing a side investigation like this was a much bigger deal than covering a few shifts. “I know, and I really appreciate it.”
“All right, I’ll let you know what happens.”
“Thanks.” Zack disconnected from the call and stuffed the phone in his back pocket. He gathered up what was left of the dishes and carried them inside.
He was in the process of setting the stack on the counter just moments before Merry turned around and plowed into him. She was knocked off balance and he lightly grasped her shoulders to steady her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Sorry, I’m a klutz.” Her free hand was on his chest and for several long moments he gazed into her amber eyes.
There was absolutely no rational reason or viable excuse for what he did next. His vow of remaining emotionally distant from Merry, keeping her at arm’s length, evaporated in a puff of smoke.
Instead, he drew her closer, lowered his head and kissed her.
Chapter Eight
Merry was startled by Zack’s unexpected kiss, but only for a second. He tasted wonderful, and her fingers curled in the fabric of his T-shirt to hold herself steady as she opened for him.
Zack’s kiss was tender yet demanding at the same time. She reveled in the embrace, unable to remember the last time she’d kissed a man. Certainly not since well before she’d moved to Crystal Lake.
But the heated embrace was all too brief. Zack abruptly lifted his head, pulled away and stepped back. She reluctantly released her grip on his shirt and leaned against the counter for support.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” Zack said in a low, gravely tone. His blue eyes clearly reflected his regret. “I’m sorry. You deserve…” He shook his head. “More. I don’t have anything to give you.”
She wanted to protest, but before she could gather her scattered thoughts, Zack turned and left, shutting the patio door behind him.
For several long moments she stood there, trying to gather her scattered thoughts. She’d reveled in Zack’s kiss. Had secretly hoped he’d kiss her ever since the first night she met him. And she hadn’t been disappointed.
But clearly Zack did not feel the same way. Granted, he’d initiated the kiss but considered it a momentary lapse in judgment. Something that he obviously had no intention of allowing to happen again.
She took a deep breath and turned back to the counter full of dirty dishes. Merry didn’t mind washing them. Considering Zack had purchased and made the meal, it was the least she could do. Washing them one handed wasn’t easy, and after a few minutes, she shucked out of the stupid sling and finished the dishes, leaving them in the sink to air dry.
There was no sign of Zack outside, so she let Ace out for one last doggy bathroom break, before calling him back in. She tried not to feel hurt that he was avoiding her.
The truth hurts, Merry. Suck it up.
Thanks to her two naps, she wasn’t the least bit sleepy. She took her Bible and settled in the corner of the sofa to read some of her favorite Psalms to ease her troubled soul.
Somehow, she just knew that if she could help Zack find his way back to his faith, he’d be able to let himself find love and happiness again.
But even with that miracle, there was no guarantee that his future would ever include her.
____________
Merry woke up to Ace whining in her ear. The dog was better than any alarm clock she’d ever owned, she thought wryly as she staggered out of bed.
“Alright, I’m coming.” Why she persisted in talking to the dog she had no idea. The thought of possibly getting a dog was becoming more appealing by the day. She ignored the constant ache in her shoulder as she headed out to the living area to where Ace was already waiting rather impatiently near the patio door.
She unlocked and opened the door. Ace bounded outside, energy radiating from every pore. There was no sign of Zack, not that she was terribly surprised. She didn’t anticipate any offers to cook breakfast, either.
Maybe he hadn’t liked kissing her. After all, she was out of practice. No one had ever said she was good at kissing even when she had been in the dating scene. She gathered cold cereal and yogurt for breakfast and sat at the kitchen table where she could watch Ace outside.
For some odd reason, she felt incredibly lonely. Ridiculous since she’d been eating breakfast alone for years. Why did she suddenly miss Zack’s presence now? A few shared meals did not make a relationship.
She shook her head at her foolishness. By the time she’d finished her breakfast, Ace was back at the door, wagging his tail as if telling her he wanted to come in.
She opened the door, sweeping her gaze over the lake. There was no sign of the fishing boat this morning, which she chose to believe was a positive sign.
“Good dog,” she murmured, scratching him behind the ears. She was tempted to walk over and offer Zack the ability to play with Ace, but then realized that was just an excuse.
She wanted to see Zack. To spend time with him. Pathetic enough to take whatever scraps of companionship he was willing to share.
Enough, she told herself firmly. Zack was right about one thing, she did deserve more than he was willing to give. Hadn’t she dreamed of having a large family of her own? No point in even thinking Zack would be willing to be a part of her future.
She showered and spent far too long trying to brush and dry her hair, hampered by her cracked collarbone. Wielding the blow dryer wasn’t easy, and she gave up after a few minutes. She left her hair down, and then struggled to get dressed.
Her shoulder was incredibly sore by the time she was ready, so she popped some ibuprofen, washing it down with sun tea. Glancing at the clock, she realized she’d need to leave soon if she was going to make it on time for choir practice.
Should she tell Zack where she was going? She was tempted not to disturb him, but then again, she didn’t want him to worry if he happened to discover she was gone.
She decided against carrying a purse, and took Ace with her as she went out the patio door to Zack’s side of the townhouse. She felt a little foolish knocking on the doorframe. “Zack?” she called through the screen door. “I’m heading out to choir practice, so I’m leaving Ace with you.”
Zack crossed over to glare at her. “I don’t think it’s smart for you to go off on your own.”
“Well, good morning to you, too.” She didn’t bother to hide her irritation. “I slept well, thanks for asking.”
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, I’m sorry, but I wasn’t expecting you to announce that you’re leaving. Give me a few minutes to get ready and I’ll give you a lift.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse, but there was a part of her that knew Zack would only argue until he got his way. “Okay, but please hurry. I don’t want to be late.”
“Come inside for a minute.” He opened the door for her and Ace.
True to his word, Zack didn’t make her wait long. He came out of the bathroom, the scent of his aftershave reminding her of their kiss.
She averted her gaze, hoping her blush wasn’t too noticeable. With any luck, singing hymns at church would help put everything in perspective.
Because, clearly, she needed all the help she could get.
____________
Zack tried not to take his foul mood out on Merry. It certainly wasn’t her fault that he’d been unable to sleep.
He’d kissed her, so how could he complain when she kissed him back?
She’d been in his mind before he finally fell asleep and was the first person he’d thought about when he woke up. Man, he had it bad. And as much as he tried to tell himself that he was just worried about Caruthers, he couldn’t bring himself to keep lying to himself.
He liked Merry. He enjoyed being with her, even doing nothing more than sitting together on the patio watching the boaters on the lake. And he’d missed her in the measly twelve hours they’d been apart.
Get a
grip, he told himself firmly. All morning he’d been trying to keep Suzanne and Amelia in the forefront of his mind, but to no avail. He forced himself to concentrate on the road, keeping a keen eye out for a blue van.
“I’m assuming choir practice is at the church?”
“Yes. I’ll be there for an hour and a half, if you want to go home and come back later.”
She hadn’t looked him directly in the eye since snapping at him, and he wondered if she’d thought about that bone-melting kiss as much as he had. Or was that just wishful thinking on his part?
“I’ll stay.” The thought of sitting in the church made him antsy, but what else could he do? He’d promised himself not to leave her alone again. And the fact that she’d be with a bunch of old people singing in a church choir didn’t count as adequate protection, at least not in his book. So he’d sit in the back of the church and wait for her to finish.
Thankfully, he had his smart phone to help keep him busy.
He caught sight of the white church steeple between a break in the trees. The ride from Julie’s place didn’t take long, and soon he was pulling into the church parking lot adjacent to the building that looked achingly familiar.
Well over two years had passed since he’d crossed the threshold, since the day of Suzanne’s funeral. For a moment his hands went damp and droplets of sweat beaded along his temple. He hadn’t anticipated this visceral of a reaction to being here again. It was just a structure. Nothing more. No reason to flip out or anything.
“Thanks,” Merry murmured as she moved to get out of the passenger seat. The sound of her voice helped ground him, and he put his hand out to prevent her from leaving.
“Wait for me.” He quickly pushed open the driver’s side door and climbed out. He rounded the truck, sweeping his gaze over the parking lot to make sure he hadn’t missed the blue van.
He opened Merry’s door for her, and helped her out. He followed behind her as she headed inside.
The interior of the church was nice and cool, a welcome relief from the hot sun outside. He slid into one of the pews in the back, positioning himself where he could keep an eye on the doorway.
“Merry! We weren’t sure you were going to make it,” one of the elderly women greeted her. “How are you feeling, dear?”
“I’m fine, and why wouldn’t I be here? A cracked collarbone wouldn’t keep me from singing.”
Just as he suspected, the choir was made up of mostly older adults, although he frowned when he noticed a younger man, maybe a few years older than him, giving Merry a hug. Who was that guy? Hadn’t she said she wasn’t seeing anyone?
Zack subtly moved up a few pews, straining to hear the guy’s name.
“Hi Daniel, nice to see you,” Merry said, returning the hug. Daniel wasn’t very tall, just a couple inches taller than Merry, but he was clean-cut with sandy brown hair and sporting a well-trimmed goatee.
Zack rubbed his freshly shaved cheek, wondering if Merry liked men with facial hair. His beard always itched, but if that was what she wanted…
He stopped himself, mentally smacking his forehead. Losing it. He was clearly losing it.
He took his phone out and searched his e-mail for any further news from Cole, trying to ignore the group milling about the piano at the front of the church. Daniel was probably exactly what Merry needed. A nice guy who’d give her the family she so clearly wanted. Not that she’d said anything, but the way her eyes had glowed as she talked about growing up next to the Caruthers had clued him in.
When the choir began to sing, he found himself arrested by the sweet merging of voices. He could distinguish Merry’s voice clearly above the others and was secretly surprised at the beautiful sound.
For a moment the music washed over him, bringing back a rush of memories, and not all of them bad. He and his family had gone to church regularly. Suz hadn’t been able to carry a tune, but Amelia had been a part of the children’s choir, dressed as an angel during the annual Christmas pageant, her wings hanging crooked because she’d tripped and fallen on the way up the aisle.
Tears burned behind his eyes, and he held them off with an effort.
He missed them so much. But he couldn’t help thinking about what Merry had said about his family being up in heaven. For the first time since burying them, he lifted his eyes to the top of the church as if seeking the answer to his unspoken question. Was there really a God? Were his wife and daughter in a much better place now? He noticed the cross hanging above the altar and a strange sense of peace washed over him.
Of course Suzanne and Amelia were up in heaven. Why wouldn’t they be? They’d both been good Christians and had believed in God. Had he been selfish to wallow in their passing?
Probably. He’d wanted them to stay here with him.
The choir finished their song, discussed things for a few minutes, and then moved on to the next one. This hymn was an upbeat song meant to lift the spirits of the churchgoers, and he found himself tapping his foot to the beat.
Maybe it wasn’t quite the country western songs he tended to prefer, but for whatever reason, he enjoyed the songs just the same.
He stared at his phone, wishing Cole would come up with something, anything to give him a clue as to where he could find Caruthers. Surely Reynolds would spill something useful.
And then it hit him. They were looking for the blue van that was registered to Caruthers. Maybe they should be looking for the vehicle that Reynolds normally drove? After all, Caruthers had a credit card and an ID belonging to the guy. Why not trade vehicles too?
Heart racing with excitement, he sent a quick text message to Cole. What does Reynolds drive? Need make model and tag# thx.
Maybe now they could get somewhere. Too bad he hadn’t considered this earlier. All this time he’d been chasing after a blue van when in reality he had no clue what Caruthers might be driving.
Ten agonizing minutes later, Cole returned his message. Ten year old black Jeep Cherokee 555-CVB.
A black Jeep fit with the dark vehicle he’d followed last evening and was strong enough to tow a fishing boat. Armed with this new information, he itched to get back into town, to swing past the Crystal Lake Motel and run through the campground again.
Any luck getting Reynolds to talk?
He hasn’t been home yet.
Zack scowled at the message, his fingers flying over the keys. Keep trying.
He realized the music had stopped and glanced up to see what was happening. The members of the choir seemed to be taking a break, all except for Merry and that Daniel guy who were deep in conversation.
Zack shot out of the pew and headed up the aisle before he realized what he was doing. “Merry? Do you have a minute?”
She glanced at him in surprise, and smiled. “Sure, excuse me, Daniel.”
He slowed to a stop, feeling a bit foolish for interrupting them. She walked toward him, her amber eyes quizzical. “What’s up?”
Zack cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I need to ask if you can recall seeing a black Jeep hanging around. Maybe in those few days before you were injured at work?”
“A black Jeep?” She frowned and shook her head. “Sorry, but that doesn’t ring a bell. Why?”
“We’ve been looking for a blue van, but it’s entirely possible Caruthers is driving a black Jeep instead.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay, that’s good to know.”
“So who’s the guy? Daniel?” he asked, striving for a casual tone. “He seems to like you.”
For a moment Merry looked flustered. “Oh, no. He’s just a friend. He’s one of the physical therapists at the hospital.”
“No reason to think he could be the one peeping through your windows, huh?”
She flashed him an exasperated glance. “Don’t be ridiculous, Zack. He’s been a church member here for years. We’re just friends.”
He didn’t miss the emphasis on the last word. “I’m sorry,” he blurted. “I’m sorry for the way I treat
ed you last night. I was out of line.”
Her jaw dropped in surprise. “Um, okay. Apology accepted.”
The choir had gathered around the piano again, clearly waiting for her. “Looks like break time is over,” he murmured.
“Yeah, I better get back.”
“You have a beautiful voice, Merry.” He flashed a smile before turning to head back to his seat.
After he sat down, he suppressed a stab of guilt. He hadn’t needed to talk to Merry right then. But he’d wanted good ole Daniel to understand he was there with her.
Could he be any more obvious? He hoped Merry hadn’t noticed his Neanderthal tactics.
The choir ran through a few more songs, and then suddenly Merry was singing alone, her clear voice pure and true. She sang the verse solo and the rest of the choir joined in with the refrain.
Zack was surprised when practice was over, the time going by faster than he’d anticipated. And not once had he played games on his phone.
“You didn’t have to stay,” Merry said as she approached. “I’m sure you were bored out of your mind.”
“I wasn’t bored at all,” he answered honestly. “I enjoyed listening to you sing.”
“Thanks,” she murmured, ducking her head at the compliment, her fair skin turning pink.
He stayed beside her as they walked outside, and it took a minute for his eyes to adjust to the glare of the sun.
“Are we going back home?” Merry asked.
“I thought we’d take a little drive, first,” Zack admitted. He kept his hand in the small of her back as they walked over to where he’d left his truck.
And then he saw the black Jeep.
Chapter Nine
“Get in,” Zack urged, opening the passenger door. Merry quickly jumped in, wincing when she knocked her arm against the door frame. Zack raced around to the driver’s side.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as he started the truck and peeled out of the parking lot. She clicked her seatbelt into place as the truck banked around a curve.
“We need to follow that black Jeep.” Zack tried to pull his seatbelt on and she reached over to help so he could keep his eyes on the road.