In the Night (Darkness Falls Book 1)

by Melissa Sinclair

  “No clue,” Kara answered, exasperated.

  “I suspect jealous, Valedictorian...Prom Queen...full scholarship to the school of your choice.”

  “Seems like it would be more than that, don’t you think? I mean, she really hates me.”

  “Who knows, some people just have issues with jealousy,” Ethan said. She could tell the medication was starting to make him drowsy.

  “Sorry about Nurse Abfall being so rude to you,” Caleb said.

  “Bad timing on her part and small fish compared to the other mysterious person in my life that clearly has it out for me. Really not going to let it bother me.”

  “Still seems like an asinine reaction, to treat someone like that, the other party usually has an idea why.”

  “Yet, I have no idea, and I’m too tired to really care about whatever issues that woman has with me. She just better watch herself.” Caleb chuckled loudly this time. The smooth baritone of his laugh warmed her from her toes to the top of her head. “What’s so funny, Montgomery?” she grumbled looking at him.

  “You are adorable when you are pissed off. Remind me never to tangle with you, though. Or maybe, remind me to pick a fight. It might be worth making up.” Now Kara was blushing at the possibility of making up.

  “No offense...love that you are exploring this...but, gross. She’s my little sister…” With those words, he drifted off to a medicated sleep.

  “About this making up...let me know when you want to try that,” Caleb said, smiling from ear to ear.

  “Of course, we have to get to that level first.”

  “We will; listen, about before…”

  “Yeah, sorry about that. I guess I got carried away. I didn’t mean to take advantage of your concern for my brother,” she said, hoping that she sounded casual and not as embarrassed as she felt about her behavior. After all, she had thrown herself at the poor man.

  “I can see those wheels turning in your head,” he said, while he placed his hands on her hips and tugged her close. “But you can rest assured that you were not taking advantage of me, and you can bet your sweet little ass that I didn’t reciprocate out of anything other than complete male interest. In other words, there was no pity in the reason behind my response. It was one hundred percent genuine.”

  Leaning down, he skimmed his lips against her already kiss-swollen mouth and down the length of her neck. She sighed and leaned her body into his open-mouthed caress. With complete certainty, she knew she’d never felt this way before in her life. Danger surrounded her, and she melted into this strong man, thinking only of being in his arms.

  “Now, about that shower and change of clothes?” he whispered. She looked up to see him smiling at her.

  “A shower sounds amazing,” she said with a sigh. And then something occurred to her. “Samsonite! I’ve been here for two days almost. He’s probably about to spring a leak.”

  “He should be okay. I had Officer Black stop and let him out a couple times. He was the only person I could think of that had contact with him and that Samsonite wouldn’t freak out around.”

  “Samsonite was okay? He didn’t hurt Officer Black, did he?”

  “I picked up on a couple of your commands and had one of the K-9 trainers accompany him in full gear, just in case. Officer Black was also in gear. Seemed like it might be best, and I didn’t want to stress you out by asking.”

  Tears filled her eyes, and she looked at him long and hard.

  “God, where have you been all my life?”

  “Around, waiting for you. How about we get you home, just in case. We wouldn’t want your fearless protector to spring a leak,” he said with a smile on his face. He hooked an arm around her waist and led her out of the room. The relief they both felt was so palpable, it felt like a living organism in the room.

  Caleb couldn’t describe how he felt right then. The predominant feeling, other than hard-core lust, was how grateful he was. Grateful that she had picked him to step into the light with. Grateful that he had literally bumped into her and knocked her on her ass. So freaking thankful that Ethan was his partner, which afforded him the opportunity to meet her, and so incredibly thankful someone hadn’t been smart enough to scoop her up before he found her.

  Even though he was feeling so incredibly peaceful, he was also consumed by fear. A debilitating fear that he would screw up, by going too fast and pushing her too soon, or worse, that somehow the bastard out there killing women would get to her. He knew with every fiber in his being that he would do everything in his power to not allow that to happen. He couldn’t lose her, not now, not ever, and especially not after just finding her.

  “You look so serious,” she said quietly.

  A quick glance at her and he realized that his silence was messing with her newfound confidence. He reached out and laced his fingers with hers. He squeezed them gently and then held her hand while he drove, striving to find the right words, words that wouldn’t freak her out. Being honest usually was the best route, so he went with truth.

  “I was just thinking how freaking happy I am that I met you.” He paused and glanced at her as a shy smile curved her lush lips, but the smile didn’t quite make it to her eyes. She knew he was holding back.

  “Why do I feel a ‘but’?” she asked as he pulled his car into her driveway.

  “It’s not like that. But, yes, there is a but,” he continued quickly when he saw her eyes get shiny. “You see, I’m also scared shitless that I will lose you and I just found you. I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t think I could handle losing you.”

  She sucked in air at his admission.

  “I feel the same way. But if we both feel that way, you shouldn’t worry about my leaving. Unless...oh, I see, you’re worried the person killing these women will get to me.” She swallowed audibly. “I’m not going to lie, that scares me as well, but I can’t continue to let what happened control my life. It was far too long, and I just can’t do it anymore. Almost losing Ethan made me realize that life is just so unbelievably fragile, and I don’t want to live my life in fear and alone.”

  “I’m relieved to hear you say that. I need you to know that I will do everything I can to prevent any harm from coming your way. Not only do I owe it to your brother to keep you safe, I need to keep you safe for me. The need to protect you is so strong; it’s like that need has gotten into my veins and spread through my whole body.”

  Running his hand up her arm, he cupped her cheek, and she leaned into his hand. Another small sigh of contentment escaped her lips. He leaned forward—he couldn’t resist those plump lips—and kissed her gently. Before he could blink, she had deepened the kiss, and in a matter of seconds, they were panting like high school kids making out in their parents’ car on prom night. Slowly and grudgingly, he pulled away from her.

  “As much as I would love to sit in my police issued sedan making out with you, I believe we have an audience,” he said and tipped his chin to the window in her living room. Sam was standing with his nose pressed against the window, slobbering all over the place, body shimmying with excitement.

  Kara giggled at the sight and happiness spread through him at the sound escaping her lips. It was the first time he’d heard a genuine and carefree laugh escape her lips. She’d been so sad and angry since he met her; he liked this version of her. He could easily fall in love with this woman. A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he looked at his phone.

  “I had some plans for today that I cancelled this morning. I was wondering if you would be interested?”

  “What plans?” she asked, appearing genuinely interested.

  “Nothing big; I was just invited over for a barbecue at my parents’.”

  “Why did you cancel? You could have left me at the hospital.”

  “I wasn’t about to leave you alone, even at the hospital. Ethan was supposed to stay with you while I went to the barbecue. I didn’t figure you would want to tag along; my family is big and overwhelming. And worse, they are incredib
ly nosey.”

  “I would love to go; that is if you want me to?”

  “I absolutely want you to go.”

  “I just have one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Is it possible that I can bring Samsonite with? He’s a perfect gentleman in a crowd. I can’t leave him here after he’s been alone for so long. It would be cruel.”

  “If he’s good with other dogs, we have a deal, since my parents have a couple of Labradors,” he said without hesitating.

  “What time are you supposed to be there?”

  “There really isn’t a set time, but everyone is probably just getting there now. They live about a ten-minute drive away. I called my mom and dad this morning when I went to get ice chips and updated them about Ethan waking up. He’s spent so many barbecues at their house that I lost count. He’s part of the family. They were devastated when they found out about the accident and wanted to come to the hospital. I told them visitors were limited right now. They understood.”

  “Let me take that shower and get changed and then call the hospital to see how he’s doing. I know it hasn’t been that long, but things can change quickly with someone who’s been in a car crash like he was. I want to know there aren’t any changes so I can feel comfortable not going back right away. If all is well there, we can head over to the barbecue. I really want to meet Ethan’s surrogate parents.”

  That feeling of warmth spread through him again. The idea of letting her meet his parents didn’t scare him at all; it felt right to bring her to meet them. Ethan was already a part of his family, and Lord knew that Kara needed a family that loved her as much as he knew she deserved. Her heart was aching to let someone in. They both climbed out of the car, and when she came around the front of the car, he laced his fingers with hers again.

  It felt so right to hold her hand, to hold her against him. He had never been a believer of love at first sight, but he thought it was possible he was experiencing the phenomenon. Never in a million years had he thought it would happen to him. She looked up at him and smiled a brilliant 100-watt smile, and he knew with certainty that she was his and he wouldn’t let her go.

  She unlocked the door and disarmed the alarm just in time as Samsonite came bounding her way. He skidded to a stop by her and sat down, his whole body wiggling. She crouched down to hug him and ruffle his fur.

  “Looks like he’s happy to see you.”

  “Samsonite and I are pretty tight, aren’t we, boy? He picked me as much as I picked him, we’re nearly soul mates. I bet you are hungry and have to go take a break outside, don’t you?” she said in a soft crooning voice, and in a flash, he could see her with their children.

  21

  Caleb knew there was a big difference between feeling like you were falling in love—much faster than normal—and being ready for a family with that person. Yet he knew he wanted it, wanted it with her, and he wanted it with all his body, mind, and soul.

  “I can take him outside while you shower? Is that okay? Will he be all right with that?”

  “He really can go out by himself. We walked the perimeter, and he knows where our property line is.”

  “Invisible fencing?” he asked

  “Nope. Can’t do that. I mean, I can, but I won’t. What good is a guard dog if something happens and he’s limited to the yard? He won’t be able to leave the yard. I know some dogs can break through the barrier if they are intent enough, and I think if I was in trouble, he would blow right past the fencing. But I don’t want to risk that, and he’s so well trained that he knows exactly where he can and cannot go.”

  Caleb nodded in admiration; she really had trained the humongous dog well. He had to be splitting with the urge to pee and, yet, he hadn’t moved from his perch next to her. Since the door was open, he was clearly waiting for permission to go outside.

  “He is an amazing friend, isn’t he?” Caleb said, rubbing his ears.

  “He is. I wouldn’t mind if you walked him, though, he would get used to you, and if you’re going to be around like I hope you’ll be, I don’t want to have to keep giving him the command to be friendly. I also want him to be more comfortable here before I let him out by himself.” She smiled shyly. “I mean, that is, well...uh...since you are going to be spending time here, I mean, after this case is solved, right?”

  “There’s nothing that could keep me away.”

  With a shy smile, she inclined her head to the door, and Samsonite bolted out the door. Caleb smiled and followed the monstrous animal. After Samsonite emptied his bladder, he smelled every blade of grass. If it were any other dog, Caleb would assume he was just doing his dog thing, finding the right blade of grass to sprinkle some more pee. But this wasn’t an ordinary dog, and Caleb knew he wondered if he was watching the beautiful animal check for odd smells.

  After about ten minutes, Samsonite headed toward the house, clearly indicating to Caleb he was done with what he came out to do. Caleb followed him to the door and let them both inside. He stood at the base of the stairs, and when he couldn’t hear the shower or any other noise, he became concerned. Surely, he should at least be hearing her moving around, and he hadn’t set the alarm when he went outside. Granted, he was right in the yard, but it still set his hackles up that he hadn’t had her arm the system.

  He made his way up the stairs two at a time, briskly walking down the hallway, his hand on the gun at his waist. He knew which room was hers from the other night, so he skipped past the other rooms and listened at the door. When he didn’t hear anything, he slowly opened the door, terrified of what he would find. And when he stepped through, he froze to the floor for the briefest of seconds before two strides had him pulling Kara into his arms.

  Caleb knew what an adrenaline crash looked like, and when he’d opened the bedroom door, he found Kara standing in the center of the room, wrapped in a towel, looking lost, with tears spilling down her cheeks. The enormity of almost losing her brother smacking her up against a figurative wall of emotion. Caleb knew he was crushing her to his chest harder than necessary, but he couldn’t stop himself. Her body shuddered at the contact, and he had to make a conscious effort to ignore the fact that she was clothed in only a towel and pressed, nearly skin to skin, against him.

  “I-I’m sorry. I just, I can’t stop crying. I thought I had gotten a grip on things and then, gah, I thought about how I almost lost him. Then I thought about how I could still lose him. And for what? Because he got involved in my shitty back story.” She shook with a sob that she tried valiantly to hold in.

  “Shhh, come on, Kara, we all know that Ethan is too stubborn to let this stop him. It was touch-and-go, but he woke up. I consider that a win. I know he might have a long road ahead of him, but he made it through the night and then another night. Remember?”

  “Yes. Yeah. Of course. I’m the doctor; I’m supposed to be telling you those things. The doctor in me knows that, but the sister in me is freaking out and struggling to find the logic in your words. You really are an amazing man.” She clung tightly to him as if he were the only thing holding her together.

  “Honey, please don’t take this the wrong way, but if I don’t step back from you, I might do something that will have you thinking I’m not that good of a guy after all.” He pulled away from her and instantly felt stripped bare without her in his arms.

  Sniffling, she shook her head and looked him in the eyes for a long time before speaking.

  “I doubt that is possible, Detective Montgomery. I doubt that, indeed. But I understand why you would want to be careful with me. Just do me a favor?”

  “Anything,” he said without thinking.

  “When the time comes, don’t treat me like I’m spun glass. I’ve been through a lot, and because of that, many people treat me like I’m fragile, when in reality, they should treat me like I’m unbreakable, because I walked through that fire and came out alive.”

  “Fire is needed to make spun glass,” he said quietly.

&n
bsp; “Exactly,” she said.

  Caleb watched as she turned to go to her closet. Every minute he became more impressed and infatuated with this woman. And his traitorous dick knew it. Caleb tried to think of everything but the lines of her back and arms as she reached into her closet.

  “You’re staring,” she said with amusement in her voice.

  Clearing his throat, he somehow managed to tell her he was going to wait in the kitchen for her. He was so screwed. His dick had won the battle and was fighting his pants to stand proudly at attention. It didn’t care that he should take his time, no matter what she said.

  “Hey, buddy, you want some water?” Caleb asked when he walked in the kitchen and found Samsonite staring at his empty water dish. Subtle, he thought. He bent and picked up the dish to fill it with water. Samsonite looked like he was grinning. His mouth was hanging open, and his tongue was hanging out, tail wagging and thumping on the ground. Caleb chuckled. As he set the dish on the floor, he rubbed Sam’s ears and stood up.

  “I love your laugh,” Kara said softly as her arms came around his waist from behind. He turned into her embrace and hugged her back. She had donned a coral sundress, and the color did magic to her skin tone. She was already beautiful, but in that color, she was breathtaking.

  Without thinking, his mouth swooped down, taking her roughly as he devoured her mouth. Sipping, teasing, tasting, and marking her as his. Running kisses down her neck to the top of her dress, he untied the straps at her neck and tugged the dress down. His tongue made its way to her breast; through her bra, he sucked the marbled nipple into his mouth.

  A moan escaped her, and she arched into him. Losing what little control he had, he spun her and backed her up until the counter stopped their progress. Pinning her with his weight, he continued to suck at her nipple until he realized she had tensed. Samsonite made a small whining sound. Abruptly, he stopped. If the dog hadn’t alerted him, he’d still have sensed the subtle change, but that didn’t make him feel any less of an ass, even as her body had already begun to relax. He knew he’d pushed too far, too fast.