by Candis Terry
“Oh, my god.” She dropped her head back and sighed. “You are impossible.”
“I can be. But you caught me on a good day.” He leaned across the seat and opened the passenger door.
Kelly allowed her gaze to travel over him and the Stallions ball cap he wore backward. Some men looked ridiculous in summer clothes. They were either too milky white or flabby. But dressed in a blue tank, black workout shorts, perfect tan, and a really outstanding tribal tattoo banding his bicep, James Harley defined the word sizzling.
His widening grin verified that he knew she was checking him out. And he didn’t mind. “Hop in.”
“In case you haven’t noticed,” she said, “I’m out for a jog.”
“Oh, I noticed.” His eyes cruised what he could see of her body from his angle. “But aren’t you a little tired of sucking in exhaust fumes?”
She glanced at their surroundings. “Um, in case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of nowhere. I haven’t even seen another car since I left Main Street.”
“I know a better place,” he said, bracing his long, muscular arm across the back of the seat like he had all the time in the world to sit there and gab.
“I’ll bet you do.”
One dark brow lifted. “You don’t trust me?”
She shook her head, and her ponytail swung across the back of her tank top. “Not even a little.”
He leaned back like she’d just insulted him. “You trusted me the night of Kate’s wedding.”
“I was drunk the night of Kate’s wedding. And I’m pretty sure trust had nothing to do with it. So how about we just try to forget that ever happened?”
“Forget it?” His head moved slowly back and forth. “And ruin all those nightly fantasies I have of you? I don’t think so.”
He had fantasies of her? Nightly? She doubted it.
“You’d do me a big favor if you’d just let that thought trickle from your mind,” she said. “I’m ashamed to admit that in those few-and-far-between, inebriated moments I’ve been known to completely surrender to a severe case of the crazies.”
A slow smile curved his sensuous mouth. “I like your crazy side.”
“I’ve also been known to not repeat a mistake twice.”
“Now that’s just a darned shame.” He patted the seat beside him. “But I still plan on winning that fifty bucks. So why don’t you get in, and we can talk about it. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Of course she would.
“There’s a big pay-off at the end,” he teased.
Well, didn’t that just sending her mind screeching back to the erotic dream she’d been having when she’d woken up that morning. “What kind of pay-off?”
“Wet.” A grin broke across his handsome face again.
Did this man never stop smiling?
“A little wild.” His long fingers curled around the steering wheel. “And definitely satisfying.”
“Deputy Harley, if you think you can just stop on the side of the road and talk a girl out of her running shorts, you’d better think again.”
He leaned back. “I honestly don’t know where your head is at, Counselor. All I’m talking about is a nice little hiking trail.”
Her head tilted. “That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
“Are you serious?”
“As a hungry squirrel opening a nut.”
“If you say Aw Shucks, Ma’am, I’m out of here.”
“Hop in, Counselor. What have you got to lose?”
Everything?
She drew in a lungful of air and expelled it slowly, all the while studying his face. It was a great face even with a little morning stubble, but there was nothing trustworthy in those dark eyes. And the smile tilting the corners of that really sensuous mouth looked like it could tell lies all day long. Before her thoughts took her any deeper into the paranoia zone, she found herself walking around the truck and getting in.
“Buckle up, Angelface.”
Angelface?
“This is going to be a bumpy ride.”
Kelly sighed. Unfortunately she’d heard that one before.
James pulled the truck into the trailhead parking lot and cut the engine. He glanced over at his new running partner who looked great in the little pink tank top and black running shorts. Better than great. Almost as great as she looked without them. The worry lines crinkled between eyes as green as the forest had him baffled. It wasn’t like he was a scary kind of guy about to take her into the woods and make her disappear.
His gaze dropped to her lips.
Damn. Kelly Silverthorne had the most amazing mouth. Soft. Full. Perfectly bowed. And she could kiss like nobody’s business. When the woman put her mind to it, she could fill him with enough inspiration to keep him stocked up on fantasies for a while. Then again, he had a short memory. Frequent reminders were much preferred.
He gave her a smile and reached into the backseat for a couple bottles of water. “You ready?”
She glanced through the windshield at the surrounding forest. “Sure.”
He laughed at her hesitation. “Don’t be such a Tinker Bell. I’m not Marvin the Masher.” He opened the door and stepped out. “I like my women willing.”
After a second or two she got out and stood across the hood from him. “I guess I don’t have to ask if there are more than just your Kim Kardashian look-alike waiting in the wings.”
“More women?” He shrugged, walked around the front bumper, and handed her the bottles of water. “A man doesn’t share that kind of information.”
“Since when?”
He started his warm-up. Bent to stretch. Anything to keep his eyes off the front of Kelly’s tank top and to keep his mind from straying beneath. “Since we realized that if we talk and get caught, we don’t get invited back.”
Since her muscles were already warmed up and ready to go, she leaned her weight on one enticing hip and watched him. “Ah. So you’re a man of conviction and command performances.”
He grinned, grabbed a bottle of water from her hand, and took off at a jog. He could feel her eyes on him as he started the gradual incline of his favorite trail. Here, in the summer, the trees provided enough shelter from the sun to make it a cool run. In the winter, those same trees made an awe-inspiring tunnel to pass beneath on a snowmobile. He loved observing the outdoors almost as much as he loved looking at the woman bringing up the rear.
Several seconds later she caught up. “What?” she asked in a slightly breathy voice. “No cocky caveman response?”
He turned his head to look at her, watched the way her blond ponytail swung behind her back, the way her breasts moved and her toned muscles flexed with each step.
“Why are you so interested in my sex life?”
Her chin came up. “I’m not.”
“Sounds like you are.” He picked up the pace. “Maybe you’re interested in a repeat performance after all.”
She made a cute little snorting noise. “In your dreams.”
“Don’t you know just dreaming about something is no fun? You’ve got to roll up your sleeves. Get your hands dirty.” His gaze strayed to the moisture glistening on her chest. “Get a little sweaty.”
“Right.”
He laughed. Her frown failed to conceal how hard she was thinking of that night and wondering just how sweaty they got.
“Very,” he said.
Her head came up. “What?”
“Just answering your question.”
“I didn’t say anything,” she said, looking confused.
“You didn’t have to.” He laughed again. Something he seemed to do a lot when he was around her. “For a professional prosecutor I have to say your poker face lacks depth.”
A chunky chipmunk suddenly flew across their path, paws stretched out like he was diving for the end zone. James dodged. Kelly squeaked and jumped into his arms. Not that he minded.
He held her warm body against him and smiled. “You really aren’t an outdoorsy kind
of girl, are you?”
“Far from it.”
“Have you even ever been on this trail? Or any trail in the area for that matter?”
“Mmmmm.” To his dismay she extricated herself from his embrace and glanced at their surroundings as if they hadn’t just had a close encounter. “Probably not.”
“Probably not? Or definitely not?”
“The latter.” She took off again at an easy pace.
How could she not know these mountains? These rivers and lakes? They were the sole reason hoards of people had moved into the area during the real-estate boom. He glanced up as she jogged by a small yet remarkable waterfall without even looking. Jesus, he had his work cut out for him. He put on the skids. “Stop.”
She ran ahead a few steps then whipped her head around. “What?”
“I said stop.” He walked the few feet toward her where she now stood motionless. “This is a mistake.”
Her eyes darkened and narrowed. “You’re the one who dragged me up here so I’m not sure I understand.”
Of course she didn’t. Because even he was having a hell of a time figuring it out. “Close your eyes and give me your hand.” He reached out his hand, waiting for her to take it.
“Why?”
“Because you’re missing the point of being here.”
“But—”
“Take my hand, Kelly. I’m not going to bite you, or molest you—unless you ask. I just want to show you a different side of the place you grew up in. And missed.”
She glanced at his hand and like any good lawyer, calculated the risks. He exhaled when she finally closed her eyes.
She did not trust easily.
He planned to change that.
Even if it killed him.
Kelly inhaled a breath, and for a moment she stood there feeling foolish. Ready to change her mind, turn around, and run back home. But then her hand became engulfed in his. His grip was strong and warm, yet amazingly gentle as he gave her a little squeeze. For a moment he held her palm in his without saying a word. She began to feel squirmy and was tempted to open her eyes.
“Relax, Counselor.” His deep, calm voice came amid a rush of quiet. “Take a few deep breaths and just relax. There are no jurors here to judge you. No dream defense team. It’s just you, me, and a couple of rodents.”
“Rodents?”
“Squirrels. The cute furry kind like you see in cartoons. I promise.”
After several minutes of silence she asked, “What are we doing?”
“Just giving you a few minutes to clear out all the garbage crowding your mind so you can see better.”
“How can I see if my eyes are closed?”
He sighed. “Is that the lawyer side of you asking all the questions? Or are you just being a pain in the ass?”
“It’s the lawyer.”
“Then tell her to shut the hell up and listen.”
“There’s no need to—”
“Ah, come on.”
“Okay. Okay.” She did as he asked. Once she got past the idea that she was standing in the middle of the forest, next to a man she’d had sex with but barely knew and didn’t exactly trust, she decided to just go with it. Open herself up to the whole Grizzly Adams experience.
Several breaths later, as if on cue, she heard the sound of a gentle breeze pushing through the pines. The screeching call of a hawk circling high overhead. The chirping of birds. The chatter of chipmunks. She even heard a pinecone drop to the ground and roll. It was the most peaceful sound she’d ever heard.
“Wow.” She opened her eyes and found him watching her. “That’s amazing.”
He nodded. “Mind if we venture off the trail for a minute? I’d like to show you something.”
“Sure.”
He took her hand and held it as they dug their heels into the pine needles blanketing the ground and started up the incline across the rocky terrain. It was a peculiar sensation to hold a man’s hand while walking through nature. Even this man whom she knew intimately. Though the details were a little sketchy.
At the top of the ridge, James stopped. “Okay, close your eyes again.”
“You must have been a huge fan of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey when you were a kid.”
“No. I developed a proclivity for handcuffs instead.” He gave her hand a little tug. “Follow me.”
She did. Up a cascade of rock where the sound of rushing water grew as loud as a bass drum. When they reached a plateau he said, “Keep your eyes closed, Counselor.”
She blew out an exaggerated sigh. “Yes, Deputy.” Kelly realized she was being far more compliant on the top of this mountain than she’d ever been in the courtroom. She wasn’t sure what that said about her. Or him.
“Okay.” His warm palms cupped her shoulders as he turned her around and led her upward a few more steps. “Now open them.”
She did. And gasped. They were at the top of the world—literally standing at the mouth of an enormous waterfall. The rock beneath her feet rumbled, and the soles of her tennis shoes vibrated. From their position she could see tree tops and wildflowers, puffy white clouds, and the sparkling waters of the lake below. “Oh, it’s—”
“Gorgeous.”
She turned to find him looking at her instead of the view. Her heart picked up a little speed. Not the first time today that had happened. Although she was pretty sure it had nothing to do with hiking. “Yes, it is.”
“And you swear you’ve never been up here before?”
She shook her head. “Never.”
“Well, that’s an inspiration,” he said, giving her that grin that was beginning to become all-too-familiar.
“Why’s that?”
“Because I like knowing I’m the one who showed it to you first. I have all kinds of amazing things up my sleeves to show you, Angelface. Like my favorite swimming hole.”
Again with the Angelface? Still, his tone didn’t sound condescending the way defense lawyer Marshall Goodrow’s did when he called her “little girl.” Maybe James Harley was just the kind of guy who picked up pet names for people. She studied his strong chin and assessing eyes. Nope. He definitely had other motives.
“Maybe I don’t want you to show me things.”
“You sure about that?” He spread open his arms. “Because I’m all yours for the taking.”
Kelly turned her attention safely out over the incredible scenery. Thirty-two years of experience identified that the tingles moving from her chest downward had nothing to do with the mountains and trees and lake and everything to do with the man offering himself up like a pupu platter on a tropical vacation.
CHAPTER SIX
Monday morning Kelly found herself strapped into the Buick and on her way to the Sugar Shack. Once again, she’d tried to sleep in. Once again, the moment she heard her father in the kitchen, guilt prodded her from bed. She’d ended up offering to help bake three hundred cupcakes for the celebration during the Founder’s Day parade. Her mother had started the ritual over thirty years ago when the bakery first opened. Kate had every intention of keeping the tradition alive, and Kelly could hardly refuse.
As a kid, she’d always been able to gauge the time of year by the treats going out the bakery door. Pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. Fruit cake and sugar cookies for Christmas. Heart-shaped cookies and pink cupcakes for Valentine’s Day. The Sugar Shack desserts were a staple in Deer Lick, and their designs had always followed their mother’s traditional style—butter cream roses and white icing. Then along came Kate, who upended the party cruise by adding her more creative flair. However some of those designs tended to be a little on the racy side and had to be kept out of the display case. There were no guarantees that Kate wouldn’t roll up her wicked little sleeves and come up with a design that would mortify her newly elected sheriff husband. Then again, he was probably used to that by now. Kate was nothing if not unconventional—a trait Kelly admired even if it often made her cringe.
Looking for some tunes to wake her up, she
reached forward and turned on the radio. An old Smokey Robinson and the Miracles song segued into Tom Jones’s “It’s Not Unusual.” Even with the warm summer air rolling through the open windows, the interior of the car turned icy cold.
Uh-oh.
The hair beneath Kelly’s ponytail sprang up and crackled with electricity.
“You’ve been expecting me.”
Kelly jumped at the voice coming from the back seat. She glanced up into the rearview mirror. “Mom?”
“Yep. It’s still me.”
“Why can’t I see you?”
“Well, it is daylight. And I am dead, so . . .”
Right. “Sorry.”
“Not your fault. Gotta blame that little situation on too many cream puffs and only armchair workouts.”
Kelly glanced up into the mirror again and almost took out the light pole at the corner of Reindeer and White Tail.
“Honey? How about you pull over? I’m really not in any hurry for company up here.”
Kelly edged the big car to the curb and turned in her seat. “Mom?”
“Still here.”
“But the question is why, don’t you think?”
“Gosh, you’re so much like Kate. She questioned everything. What? Why? How? Now, Dean? He was just happy to see me.”
“Kate and Dean know about you?”
“Do they ever.”
“Why didn’t they tell me?”
“What would you have thought if either of them had told you about me?”
“That they’d lost a screw.”
“Exactly.”
“Then why am I the last to know?” Just more proof she’d never really mattered. “Why didn’t you appear to me when I drove all the way to the airport to pick up Kate the day after you died?”
“Certainly not because you’re any less important, if that’s what you’re thinking. And I’m guessing you are.” The straps of her transparent overalls lifted in a shrug. “You’ve always been the brightest, honey. I kept hoping you were going to work things out on your own.”
“Like what?”
“The panoramic version of the big picture.”
“I’ve been a prosecutor in Chicago for a long time. I think I’ve seen the big picture.”