by Connie Mann
“Why is that?”
“Nobody reported seeing any strangers in the vicinity at the time of the attack—or any locals, either,” he added.
“It happened at night. How many people did you think were at the marina at that time? Did you interview my family?”
“Now, Sasha, your family has enough to worry about right now. I spoke to Sal, but he didn’t see anything. The young girl was asleep, as was your Mama, from what he said.”
She eyed him. “You’re not even going to try to solve this, are you?”
“Listen, young lady, this is a small department, but we know our jobs and we do our best. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work.”
Sasha huffed out a breath as he walked away. She looked over at the other officer, but he was on the phone.
She stopped at the marina office to see Pop.
“Sasha, my girl, how’s Jesse?” He wrapped her in a big hug, and just like that, some of her anxiety fell away.
“He’s home resting. The chief says he talked to you. You didn’t see anyone out here, did you?”
He raised bushy eyebrows. “Why wouldn’t I have told him, if I had?”
She shrugged and paced the small office. “The whole thing just doesn’t sit right is all. The chief all but said it had to be a stranger, and since nobody saw anything, well, what are you going to do?” She pushed back a strand of hair that had come loose from her ponytail. “It’s making me crazy that he doesn’t seem to be taking this seriously.”
“Taking it seriously and finding answers may be two different things, Sasha.”
She turned and looked at him. “You may be right.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’m going to go make supper, then take some over to Jesse. How’s Mama today?”
He shrugged and wouldn’t meet her eyes. Which meant she was having one of her bad days. They usually happened after a treatment. “I love you, Pop.”
“I love you, too, Sasha, tesora mia.”
She walked up to the house and found Blaze and Mama in the living room, the ceiling fan circling slowly, a talk show on the television. Mama’s eyes were closed as she dozed in her recliner. Sasha slid onto the sofa next to Blaze. “How’s she doing?”
Blaze shrugged and looked away. “How’s Jesse?”
“He just got out of the hospital. I figured I’d cook supper, then take some to him, make sure he’s OK. I saw some chicken in the freezer.”
Blaze made a face.
“What’s wrong with chicken? I can cook chicken.”
“Is that all you can cook?”
Sasha stood. “That and chili, maybe soup. So, sue me. Besides, I figure it’s better than takeout. Or another one of the frozen casseroles the church ladies keep bringing.”
“The church ladies are nice. And we don’t have takeout in this stupid town.”
Sasha grinned over her shoulder. “My point exactly. Chicken it is.”
Blaze cleaned her plate, but Mama barely took a few bites of dinner. Every single day she seemed to be shrinking a little bit more, drifting a tiny bit farther away, and it made Sasha want to scream. Or run and hide. Sasha packed up dinner for Jesse and left Bella with Blaze. Or rather, Bella had sensed Blaze’s pain and wouldn’t leave her side, so Sasha left her home. Which was just as well, or she would’ve had to keep her from eating the overcooked chicken on the way to Jesse’s.
The lights were on inside Jesse’s place when she arrived, giving the pink cottage a fairy-tale look. She knocked once on the screen and poked her head around the door. “OK to come in?”
Jesse sat up in the recliner, looking much better than he had earlier. She stepped inside, plate in hand. “Please tell me that’s food and that it’s for me,” he said.
“Yes, and yes, though Blaze did not give it rave reviews.”
“I’m hungry enough to gnaw a leg off the table, so I’ll take it.”
She took hunger as a good sign. She went to the kitchen for a napkin, water, and silverware, then sat down opposite him on the couch. He turned down the volume on the small television set on a frilly table across the room.
“I’m surprised that old thing even has a remote.”
“I got it for Aunt Clarabelle a couple Christmases ago. It came with a larger TV, but she didn’t want it. Told me to leave the remote and take the TV back.”
Sasha laughed. “That sounds like your aunt Clarabelle.” She eyed him as he dug into the baked chicken and rice. “You look a whole lot better than you did earlier.”
“I slept most of the day.” He chewed, then chewed some more, and finally took a gulp of water and swallowed. “It’s a little—”
“Dry? Overcooked?” Sasha shrugged. “Martha Stewart I am not. Like I told Blaze, this is a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.”
He took another mouthful, chewed, swallowed, and smiled. “I’ll take it. Thanks for going to the trouble to make it.” He looked around. “Is Bella in the Jeep? You can bring her in.”
“She decided to stay with Blaze.” Sasha looked down. “Mama’s having a rough day, and it was hard on Blaze.”
“Hard on all of you, I expect,” he said.
Sasha nodded, the fear wanting to wrap itself around her. She couldn’t lose Mama. Not now. Certainly not before they found out what happened to Tony.
After he finished eating, Jesse moved to the flowered sofa beside her and slowly pulled her into his arms. He eased her head onto his shoulder, and his hands slid slowly up and down her arm. It felt so incredibly good to be held, to feel like someone else was shouldering the burden, that she wasn’t alone. Emotions threatened to overwhelm her, but she pushed them away. She had to be strong. She tried to ease away, but he tightened his hold.
He tucked her head under his chin. “Let me be the strong one for a little while, OK? For right now, you don’t have to be.”
How did he always know what she was thinking? What she needed? She nestled closer, ever mindful of his ribs. Right here, in Jesse’s arms, she always felt a sense of home she’d never experienced elsewhere. It was wonderful. And as always, it scared her to death.
She was ready to pull away when he cupped her chin in his hand and rubbed his thumb over her cheek.
“My beautiful hummingbird,” he whispered, just before his lips closed over hers. The kiss started out as a light brush of lips against lips, but quickly moved to a deeper hunger. Before long, their mouths were saying all the words neither one could say. I care about you. I want you. I need you.
A cell phone rang, startling them both. Sasha realized it wasn’t hers, so she reached for Jesse’s and handed it to him. He frowned at the caller ID before he answered.
“Hi, Tracy. What’s up?”
Sasha went into the kitchen and washed up the dishes, giving him some privacy. She shouldn’t be jealous of some woman named Tracy, but she couldn’t seem to help it. Who was she?
Once the dishes were done, she went back into the living room. Jesse was back in the recliner, feet up, clearly exhausted. His eyes opened as soon as he heard her. “Did you ever look up my past online? Check out the story of my arrest?”
She nodded and sat on the couch. “The other night. Article said the cops found drugs on a boat that belonged to you and your business partner, Ethan. You said the drugs were yours, you were both arrested, and the boat and your boat dealership were confiscated. You both went to jail, but before the trial, Ethan . . . ah, killed himself, but he also left a note saying you knew nothing about the drugs.”
She looked up. Jesse sent her a half smile. “The short and sweet version.”
“Doesn’t sound sweet. Sounds very sad. He was dealing drugs?”
Jesse nodded. “Yeah, but he had a good reason. His little daughter, Adelaide, needs heart surgery.”
“He was trying to pay for it.”
“Right.” He gripped the armrest. “He couldn’t live with the guilt.”
“Were you friends a long time?”
Jesse finally smiled a real smile. �
��Since we finished high school and I refused to join my father’s bank. We started fixing boat motors in his parents’ garage, then did a short stint for Uncle Sam overseas, during which Ethan saved my life, by the way. Afterward, we started our own shop and eventually built up a nice boat dealership and hired other people to do the hard labor.”
Sasha studied his deliberately casual expression and decided she’d ask about the lifesaving part later. “Even after you were released from jail, the cops didn’t give back what they’d confiscated, did they? Like your business? Other assets?”
He grimaced. “Nope. Said since we were partners and they couldn’t prove or disprove whether I had any knowledge of his activities, I was free to start over with a clean slate.”
Sasha leaped from her seat. “That isn’t right! They should have—”
He grabbed her hand as she stormed past. “It’s OK, Sasha. I’ve made my peace with it. I like the idea of a fresh start. And I plan on paying my debts.”
Understanding dawned, and she sat back down. “That’s why you came back.” She realized something else, too. “I’ll drive The Painted Lady in the race. Help you get that fresh start.”
He came up out of the chair fast enough to make him clutch his ribs and suck in a breath. But his voice was firm. He towered over her. “I don’t want you anywhere near that race. Not after what’s happened.”
“You’re in no shape to do it, Jesse. Let me help.”
“Either I’ll do it, or I’ll withdraw. But that’s it. I don’t want you hurt.”
Her chin came up. “I can handle The Painted Lady.”
He pulled her to her feet. “Of course you can. You know that’s not what I mean. You matter to me, Sasha. I need to know you’re safe.”
He yanked her into his arms and winced, then his mouth came down on hers in a possessive kiss unlike any she’d ever experienced. Sensation swamped her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself. Slowly, he gentled the kiss, letting her know without words how much she mattered to him. She could feel it and taste it, and it seared her heart like a physical pain.
“I can’t,” she whispered, and kissed his cheek as she pulled back. “I’m not sure I can ever give you what you want, Jesse. I’m not staying; you know that. I can’t. Even if I did, I’m not a . . .” She waved a hand around the cottage. “I’m not a pink-house, dependable, picket-fence kind of girl.”
He tried to say more, but she covered his mouth with her hand before she stepped away. The silence lengthened as they stared at each other.
“You’re beautiful, you know,” he said.
“I think the meds are making you loopy,” she shot back.
She expected a grin, but he frowned instead.
“Don’t cut yourself down, Sash. You are beautiful. If you don’t believe it for yourself, believe I believe it, OK?”
Something in her heart flipped over at his words, but she couldn’t think about them right now. She swallowed hard and grabbed her car keys. “You’ll be OK by yourself?”
“Absolutely. Besides, we don’t need to give the gossips any more ammunition.”
“You’ll call my cell if you need me during the night?”
He winked at her, his grin wicked. “Oh, I’ll need you all right, but I won’t call.”
She rolled her eyes as he locked the door behind her. Back outside, the humidity wrapped around her like a blanket. Overhead, stars winked down, and she took a steadying breath as she climbed into the Jeep. She had to walk away from Jesse before she broke his heart. And her own. But how could she, when he’d somehow become everything she’d never known she wanted?
Back at the house, everything was quiet. She could hear Mama and Pop talking quietly. She tapped on the door before she poked her head in.
“I’m back. Do you all need anything?”
They were sitting up in the adjustable bed, Pop with his arm around Mama’s bony shoulders.
“We’re fine, honey. Sleep well,” Pop said with a smile.
She blew them a kiss, then listened at Blaze’s door. Bella lifted her head from her spot in front of it, tail wagging. Sasha could hear the music from Blaze’s headphones through the door. She tapped lightly, but Blaze didn’t answer, so she went back down the hall and out to the porch, Bella padding along beside her.
They walked out toward the marina, pausing for Bella to do her thing. Then Sasha sat down on the bench outside the marina store, hoping the waves and the scent of the sea would calm her as they usually did. What was she going to do? About any of it?
She felt like she was spinning her wheels in the search for Tony. She hadn’t found a single clue or bit of information that could help her figure out what really happened that day. Maybe because she hadn’t looked in the right place yet, hadn’t asked the right questions. Or maybe because the original answer was the right one: Tony fell into the water and drowned, his body washed out to sea. For some reason, that answer just didn’t sit right. It never had.
She wrapped her arms around her middle and Bella sidled closer, pressing her head against Sasha’s knee. Sasha leaned down and tangled her fingers in Bella’s thick fur.
“We can’t lose her, Bella. We can’t lose Mama. She’s the glue that holds this family together. But when I look at her . . .” Her voice drifted away, and she swallowed hard. She had to keep trusting, keep praying, keep looking for answers.
Then there was Jesse. She could still taste his kiss, and just thinking about it made her tingle all over. More than that, she knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that he would protect her with his life if need be. Jesse would stand by those he loved no matter what, just like he’d stood by his friend. He’d never let anything keep him from protecting those who mattered to him.
She knew she mattered. And she knew she would break his heart, and her own, when the inevitable wanderlust hit and she moved on. As much as she loved this place, these people, she’d never imagined staying forever. Could she? For Jesse? Could she make promises and keep them?
The thought brought the panic back, and she stood to pace. Bella clambered to her feet, and they walked out past the fuel tanks where the shop blocked their view of the boat slips. Out here, with the gentle waves slapping the pilings, she beat the anxiety back. She didn’t have to decide today. Maybe Jesse wouldn’t stay, either.
Her phone chirped again, and she saw another email about the job offer. Did she have an answer yet? When could she come down for an interview?
She closed the app and plopped down on the dock to watch the light from the moon play across the water while she petted her dog. She wouldn’t think about anything else tonight. Despite all her agonizing, peace lived here by the water.
The moon had ridden higher in the sky when something caught Sasha’s eye. She froze and squinted into the darkness, trying to figure out what she was seeing. It looked like a light, but it wasn’t the usual red and green running lights of a boat, or the white of the stern light. This looked orange.
What out here would have orange lights? She watched as the object disappeared from view below the surface, the orange glow fading and eventually vanishing altogether. What in the world?
She waited, wishing she’d brought her binoculars, trying to find it again. Was someone out diving in the middle of the night? If so, where was their boat?
That familiar tingle that said something wasn’t right raised the hair on the back of her neck, and she stayed put, watching. Waiting.
She checked the time on her cell phone. A little after midnight. She waited and watched for another hour, scanning, always scanning the area, before her efforts were rewarded. The orange glow appeared below the surface again, then the whole thing popped above the water.
Sasha froze. At first it looked like a bubble, but she realized it was a small submarine. The cockpit was the bubble, and the orange glow now mixed with green on the console. Someone sat in the pilot’s chair, but it was too dark for her to make out any features.
Who would be out here in
the middle of the night in a minisub? Why?
The sub, now completely on the surface, moved steadily toward the marina and its boat ramps. From somewhere behind her, a truck started. They were going to take it out of the water.
Beside her, Bella gave a low growl, deep in her throat. Sasha crouched down. “Shh, Bella. No. Hush.”
In response, Bella growled again.
Sasha eased them back around the side of the building, where they could watch the progress without being seen. The sounds of the truck grew louder as the driver backed the trailer into the water. The truck door opened, but the dome light had been turned off, so she couldn’t see the person’s face. But judging by the size and the way they moved, it was a man.
Beside her, Bella grew restless, and Sasha crouched down again, trying to see without Bella giving their location away.
Bella let out one sharp bark before Sasha could stop her. The man’s head snapped up, and he leaned back into the cab. When he slid back out, Sasha’s blood ran cold at what he held in his hand.
Chapter 15
Dear Jesus, was that what she thought it was? Sasha poked her head around the side of the building, one arm tucked around Bella to keep her close and her other hand over Bella’s muzzle so the big Lab couldn’t bark again. “Shh, girl. It’s OK. Shh.”
She squinted in the darkness, trying to get a better look at the man slowly peering around the hood of the truck.
The clouds shifted, letting several shafts of moonlight through.
He had a bow in his hand, and as Sasha watched in growing horror, he reached back and fitted an arrow into the slot, pulling the string tight.
Beside her, Bella whimpered, prancing in place, trying to get Sasha to let her go. “Shh, we need to stay here.”
Bella ignored her, tugging harder, and Sasha knew if she didn’t do something, Bella would knock her over and go charging off after the man. That couldn’t happen.
The man suddenly lowered the bow and lifted a cell phone to his ear. A glow appeared in the bubble of the sub as whoever was in there answered. Moments later, the sub backed away from the dock and vanished.