by Angi Morgan
“Oh, good grief. You slept with Garrison?” She knew what he meant, but couldn’t help teasing him. He was so serious all the time. “Are you gay? Bisexual?”
* * *
“NO! HELL NO! I meant that I...” Jesse squirmed. “You know what I mean. I swore to Garrison that I’d never sleep with you.”
“Is that all?”
He could tell from her smile that she was ribbing her friend. She knew the answer and had definitely got blood pumping through him again. Life went on. No matter how dire their circumstances, he still enjoyed being with her and wondered if she felt the same.
Then she began laughing. Hard, holding-her-belly kind of laughing. “Oh, Jesse. You’re such a goofball. He forced every guy that spoke to me to make that promise. Why do you think I had so little experience?”
Her laughter was infectious and had him going a bit until he asked, “Garrison chased off all your boyfriends?”
“Um...yeah.” She laughed some more. “High school was horrible. You were there. What did you think he was saying to them while they waited at the door?”
“I never gave it a thought. You were always hanging around with us. I didn’t date that much, so it didn’t seem like a big deal.”
“Maybe not to you.” Avery’s elfin-like face lit up. She feathered her bangs to the side. “You had a beautiful date for your prom.”
He got the reference, remembering the sexy backless dress that she’d worn. He’d been very aware of how beautiful she’d been. And he could repeat the threats from Garrison about laying a hand on her. “Are you saying I wasn’t handsome enough?”
“You wore boots.”
“There was nothing wrong with wearing boots with a tux. Men do it all the time.”
“Maybe you should have cleaned the hunting mire off them first.”
“Hey, I was just a kid. Guarantee it wouldn’t happen again. I’m more sensitive to those kinds of things now.”
She pulled back, looking at him with a serious question in her eyes. Did she want to slap him because of high school? Wait. He hadn’t been sensitive when walking out while she was naked in bed waiting on him to get over his panic attack.
He put his hand over his heart, wanting like a fool to get out of this conversation. “The rest of those guys may not have meant it. But I swore an oath. I don’t go back on those.”
“So what part of sneaking into corners and kissing on me for three months was keeping your promise?”
“I didn’t promise not to kiss you.”
“Aha. Manipulating the meaning of words. So you can’t sleep with me. I guess you didn’t swear not to touch me.” Her eyes followed the direction of his hands, both casually dropped across her knees.
He shook his head and caressed the sensitive skin along the inside of her thigh just above her knee and back.
“I don’t feel guilty.”
Lying through his teeth. He was guilty, just not about touching her. He couldn’t tell her the other half of the truth. The real reason he hadn’t followed through on making love to her was that he didn’t want her to be disgusted after she found out what he’d done.
The truth always had a way of coming to the surface. If he knew anything, he knew that as a fact. Coming clean would make him feel better for the few seconds it took her to utter the words that she never wanted to see him again. If she knew...that was what she’d say.
“Come here.” They shifted and he pulled her close, encouraging her to rest her head on his chest and enveloping her in his hug.
It would break her heart to know the truth. He loved her too much to do that. Better to let her think he was a fool. Or a stand-up guy who couldn’t lie to his best friend. Not one refusing to lie so she could have fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a Texas Ranger.
It was either her or her brother. That was what the choice had been. She’d see it that he chose her brother. And no one could blame her for interpreting the facts that way.
“Let me get you out of here, Avery. Right now before something else happens.”
“What about catching this guy in the act? Isn’t that why we’re here?”
“How do you think that’s going?” Jesse’s heart might just beat out of his chest. All the feelings and thoughts while she’d been unconscious kept hammering at him. He should have done something sooner to save her.
“Probably about as good as you think it’s going. But you have orders to try to catch this murderer alive. The attorneys need him to put away Tenoreno.”
“Shoot, Avery. I can’t follow orders at the cost of your life.”
“And what about yours? Snake Eyes wants you dead as much as he wants me out of the picture. Besides, we’re not even certain he’ll come back.”
Her chest expanded deeply and her warm breath escaped across his arm. It felt comfortable to have her where she was. If circumstances were different... They weren’t. Two armed guards were on the other side of the old wooden walls, patrolling the house because they’d both been caught off guard.
Avery was right. Snake Eyes might not come back. What scared Jesse—yeah, he was scared—was that it was the first time anyone had seen the murderer and walked away. That in itself was bothersome. What if the killer didn’t return? How long would they be forced to look over their shoulders?
“I’m glad you came in here to check on me. Thanks.” She sleepily patted his chest. “Have I mentioned how tired I am? This is exactly what I needed. A friend to help me get rid of the nightmares.”
“Or just plain worry.” He rubbed her arm. The house seemed secure enough. Then again, they’d had a plan before Snake Eyes drugged them. “Will you consider getting someplace safer?”
“I’m safe right here.” She yawned into his chest. “I hope you’re okay sitting up the rest of the night, because I’m so...so comfy.”
Her last words were barely audible mixed with a long yawn. She relaxed against him completely. She wasn’t kidding about getting comfortable.
“I wish you’d let me take you out of here. You could join your mom and aunt.” He spoke over her head. His arms held her tight. “Or you could sleep on my chest while I hold you all night...keeping you safe.”
She was asleep. That last little bit of resistance was gone as she sank both lower and closer. He helped her roll over onto the pillows without waking. She curled one hand under her face, the other under her chin.
The second he backed away, Avery whimpered. He shifted the unused pillows to under his head, turned on his side and draped his arm across her body. She wiggled a little, getting closer, and continued sleeping.
Did she have any idea what she was doing to him?
Concentrating on his breathing, and not waking Avery as he did, distracted him from the arousal of lying next to her. Every memory of her naked in his arms sneaked between the rapid heartbeats, exciting him all over again.
The sure way to temper the desire was simple. When—not if—Avery found out what him sniffing around her last year had cost...he’d never be allowed back in her life.
It seemed like the way to go. Fast, easy, truthful... But not if he wanted her out of here. Safe. Away from the possibility of Snake Eyes returning to kill them...
“The problem is...” he whispered, spreading his hand across her abdomen when she jerked, already dreaming. “I’m not ready to let you go. So there’s gotta be another solution.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Did you hear me, Ranger? I said to knock until you wake them up. No, I don’t want you to break down the door. Use your common sense.”
Sore beyond thought and even more tired, Avery heard Dan’s voice on her porch. The tap on the window would have been enough to scare her out of bed. But the heavy arm and light popping noise of the man sleeping soundly against her back had her checking to make certain
she was still dressed.
“Thank goodness.”
“Is someone knocking on the window?” Jesse asked with a voice full of sleep. He didn’t budge.
Avery moved his arm off her midsection. “Dan’s outside. He might have news.”
Jesse rolled over, falling off the mattress to the floor.
“Avery, darlin’.” Dan interrupted her laughter. “Sorry to disturb you, but I need to talk to you a minute. Then you can get back to whatever.”
“We’re not doing—” She pulled the curtain open, but her boss’s back was to the glass. She started to raise her voice. “Oh, forget it. I’ll be right there.”
It was Jesse’s turn to laugh. He pushed himself up from the floor, extending a hand once on his feet. Let him laugh. She’d straighten Dan out on the circumstances. Of course, it wasn’t anybody’s business, so she didn’t have to bother.
She moved slowly to the couch. Much slower than Jesse, who had opened the door, let Dan inside and already headed to make coffee.
“I’m sorry to wake you up or...” Dan winked.
“Nothing was going on, even if it is my personal life.” She felt her lips flatten, then tried to relax her face to look normal. “Is there news?”
“Want some coffee, Sheriff?” Jesse asked from the kitchen.
“Had my limit hours ago.”
“Holy smokes, is it really four?” No wonder she was stiff. They’d been asleep for thirteen hours and had barely moved. That hadn’t happened...well, ever.
“We figured you were both just sleeping, but I told everybody involved that I’d come by personally and check when you didn’t answer the door.”
Jesse joined her on the small couch after moving the folded linens. Dan raised an eyebrow and she shook her head. Jesse just grinned like an idiot and then frowned. “They must have found the kid who was shooting at us. Right?”
“Ten this morning. A motel over in Clayton, New Mexico. The maid found the body. No Jeep in the parking lot. And all the towels were missing.”
“Knife?” she asked.
“Sliced him all the way to his spine.” Dan shook his head. “People in Clayton didn’t recognize him. They think he might have been part of the harvest crew. Same as the other two at Thompson Grove.”
“I imagine they’re canvassing the other motels,” Jesse said.
Dan nodded.
“I’d like to see the crime scene. Who’s got jurisdiction? Who’s collecting evidence? Do I have time for a shower?”
“Hold on, Deputy. They’re practically done. I’ve been there and back.”
Jesse shrugged when she looked at him for backup.
“Mainly here to see how you’re both doing. And to tell you that Bo will go get anything you need. Including a cot.” Dan gave a fatherly glance in Jesse’s direction.
“I’m good.”
Dan awkwardly cleared his throat. “I bet you are. Think I’ll have him bring by a cot anyway.”
Avery was sufficiently embarrassed admitting to herself that the possibility of sharing a bed hadn’t left her mind. “House arrest, then, huh?”
“Protective custody,” Jesse corrected her. “I’m getting coffee.”
“Before you step out...” Dan paused. “Here are some new phones, courtesy of the state of Texas. There’s a couple of people expecting some calls from you both. Your personal phones and laptops will come back after they’re checked out for tracers or hackers or traces of a hack. You know more about that stuff than I do.”
“Working on the case will be harder without a laptop.”
“Guess you’ll have to do your detecting the old-fashioned way with pen and paper and tape.”
“Maybe a whiteboard,” Jesse said before she could.
“No one comes in or knocks on the door. That’s the way this works. Just making certain you understand that those two rangers, Bo and me...that’s it. If anyone else comes or calls—”
“Something’s wrong,” she finished for him.
“Is it better if we leave, Sheriff? I suggested it last night, but we didn’t really have a chance to talk about it yet.”
“The powers that be agreed for you to come back here. Here’s good.” Dan was matter-of-fact most days, but this wasn’t one of them. “This is important, Avery.”
“I know, sir. I wouldn’t put anyone else at risk. Everyone at the office knows what’s going on? They’ll be careful? Work in twos?”
“We got it covered. We brought in extra help from Amarillo. I better be on my way so you can get on with your...um...breakfast.” He looked toward Jesse. “Make a list. Bo will pick it up.”
“Sounds good. And you’ll copy the Clayton crime scene?” she asked.
“Got my word and the word of your Major Parker.” He nodded at Jesse. “Nice fella.”
“Yes, sir.” Jesse politely excused himself with a motion for coffee.
“Just say the word and I’ll put him up at the jail.” Dan winked.
“Who told? Julie, I bet.”
“Well now, you can’t blame her for being forthcoming with information. This has all been on the exciting side of our lives.” Dan leaned forward and took her hands in his. “You’re very fortunate to be alive. You know that?”
“Yes, sir.” She wouldn’t let herself cry because Dan or the others in the office cared. It was natural, and she needed to do her job.
“You need these days to recover.”
“You could say the same thing for Snake Eyes. They should check all the hospitals and clinics—don’t forget veterinarian offices, but I don’t know if they carry tetanus, which he’d probably want a dose of. That rake was pretty rusty and he might be worried.”
“Make a list, Avery. You aren’t shut out from the case. Speak with Major Parker. He’s waiting on you to feel up to a debriefing.” Dan stood. “I better be going for real this time.” He got to the door and nodded at the shotgun. “That thing loaded?”
“Always.”
“I’ll add that to my list. You’ll need a couple of weapons. Glock okay?”
“Sure. Please stay safe out there, Dan.”
He left, and once the door was locked, he said, “Boys, you take care of my girl in there.”
“Throw me in jail again?” Jesse handed her the coffee with a wicked grin. “If I go, so do you.”
“No privacy, remember?” She sipped. “Are you ready to get started?”
“Not really. We’ve missed breakfast and lunch. I want to begin with those. Where’s the food?” He’d leaned toward the door and spoke louder. “Isn’t the state supposed to provide food?”
“Under house arrest two minutes and already complaining,” one of the rangers said. “Whoever you send, choose something for us, please?”
Jesse affirmed.
“Thin walls,” he mouthed at her.
“I’ll have to remember to keep my voice down.”
Jesse grinned like a man with a secret. “Coffee good?” he asked instead of stating the off-color remark she was certain had passed through his male brain.
“I’m going to shower. Alone,” she said, loud enough for the ranger at the door. “But I’m starving. There’s frozen hash browns and eggs.”
“Guess that’s my cue.”
In spite of the headache, she managed to move quickly through a shower. She imagined all sorts of scenes in a sordid little motel in Clayton. With the spray adjusted to beat on her shoulders, she thought of hundreds of ways to collect evidence and crossed her fingers that it would be done correctly.
Normally, she wasn’t good with anyone doing her work for her. If they were shut out of the case, she would probably go cabin crazy in a matter of hours. Her list of potential items grew. She’d have to give Bo her debit card to pay for everything.
&n
bsp; She was reminded that she was really recuperating when she stepped from the shower and landed on the side of the tub. No thuds or screams or even an “oops.” Jesse didn’t rush to the door, so she didn’t have to be embarrassed. But her hands were shaking until she weaved her fingers together and took a couple of trembling breaths.
No warning. Her legs just seemed to stop holding her for a moment. It seemed the shocks her body had tolerated had left her with a physical problem after all. She got dressed carefully and could only manage finger-combing her hair.
The smell of eggs and pepper hit her nose, and a migraine headache seemed to arrive without any warning. Her legs started shaking again, so she curled up on the couch and pulled Jesse’s blanket over her.
“Still hungry?” Jesse asked, smoothing back her damp hair.
“Not really. Can I have that notebook and pen?”
He’d used it a couple of times, so she didn’t have to use more words to be specific about where or what.
“You could rest instead of making a list.” He handed her the writing tools anyway.
“I’m okay. I want to get a list written while it’s fresh in my mind.”
“I’ll hold off scrambling your eggs, then.”
She propped up the notebook and held the pen, but couldn’t make it move on the page. The letters were there. She could see them. One at a time they danced around just like the numbers from the day before. She shoved the notebook to the floor and tossed the pen.
Of course Jesse looked at her from the small dining table in the corner. If their roles had been reversed, she’d be searching him critically, too. She’d have sympathy for him and the challenges he’d be facing.
“You’re right. I’m too tired and think I need some aspirin.” She pushed at the covers, but he jumped up and lifted a hand, indicating to wait. Water, aspirin, no pity and no “I told you so.”
Jesse Ryder was a good man.
* * *
WYATT MCDONALD AND Kayden Cross were rotating shifts. One catnapped in the truck in the driveway, since they hadn’t got a room yet. Jesse was very aware how often they changed out positions. He’d walked onto the porch only to be confronted and politely—yet firmly—asked to return inside.