by Candis Terry
“Because I already know how.”
“Oh.”
“Kidding.” Laughing, James grabbed the small shovel from her hands and stuck the point into the ground. “You think I’d really make you dig a hole?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
His hands stilled and he looked up. Sincerity darkened his eyes. “I’ll take care of you, Kelly. I’d always take care of you. Never doubt that.”
Though she didn’t want them to be, his words were like a warm fuzzy blanket. Other than her father and her brother, she’d never had a man say he’d take care of her. And other than knowing James as the young boy who ran wild a mile long and the man she’d had the most intimate relations with—once—she knew zilch about him. Yet when he professed that he’d take care of her, she believed him.
“Thanks,” she said quietly. “That’s nice to know.”
He gave her a smile that melted her heart, then he went about digging the fire pit. Kelly watched him, fascinated by the way he moved. The flex in the muscles beneath his cotton shirt. The confidence with which he knew this forest and his surroundings. He had her help him gather up wood for the fire, and once the flames licked the dry logs, James had her set the table.
While she spread the plaid blanket on the ground she looked up and watched him move about the area. Confident. Content. Looking like he belonged. She, on the other hand, felt like a sardine on land. She could set the plates on the blanket and place the silverware next to each plate, but other than that she was at odds. She could cook a mean steak—on a backyard grill. She could set a table—in a dining room. She had no idea how to play cavewoman, even though the idea was intriguing.
“Did you just assume I’d be up for this?” she asked him. “Or were you hoping I’d recoil at the idea and run home crying?”
He stopped fanning the fire and looked up at her. The firelight danced in his dark eyes and flickered like hot coals.
“Why would I want you to run away?” he asked quietly. “This is what I wanted to show you.” His arms opened wide as if he was welcoming her to a golden palace. “This is what you missed all that time. It’s beautiful, Kelly. Just like you.”
His words washed over her, warmed her heart, and spread through her blood like a fine wine.
“Come sit down and enjoy.” He held out his hand and gave her that smile that said he’d either protect her or devour her. She wasn’t sure which. She wasn’t sure it even mattered.
“Relax.”
Easy for him to say.
Several hours later, with crickets chirping a symphony and the sound of water tumbling down the cascade of rock, James watched Kelly lean back on the big plaid blanket. “Dinner was delicious. I thought you said you couldn’t cook.”
He braced himself with one hand and drank his wine from a red Solo cup with the other. “I’m good with frozen pizza, grilling, or takeout. That’s about it.”
“Well, the steak and potatoes were amazing. I never imagined something so simply cooked could taste so good. Thank you.”
He smiled down at her. “You’re welcome.”
A funny little flutter whispered around her heart as his gaze lowered to her mouth and held for several seconds before it traveled back up to her eyes.
“Look up.” His voice came low and a bit husky.
“What?”
“Look. Up.”
“Oh.” She tilted her gaze up through the tunnel of treetops at the twinkling spray of lights. The sight was breathtaking. When a star shot across the sky, she gasped. “Does that happen all the time?”
“The shooting star?” He shrugged. “You see a lot up here. No city lights to dim the effect.”
“I guess most people never think about things like that. What they might be missing.”
“Most people don’t care. They’re too busy racing through life.”
She laughed. “Is that a dig?”
“It wasn’t intended to be.” He lifted the red cup and drank, watching her over the rim. When he lowered the wine his bottom lip came up and pressed the moisture from his top lip. “It’s just one of the things I’ve realized about life. Most people take it for granted.”
The sincerity in those dark eyes made her realize something deep and profound had happened to him to bring about his insight.
“Big lesson in life?”
“Oh yeah.” He nodded. Sat upright. Grabbed a dried pine needle off the ground and twirled it between his fingers.
“Care to share?”
“It’s no big secret.” He shrugged those big, strong shoulders. “I’m sure you remember that I was pretty wild back in the day. Pretty careless. Pretty pissed off at the world.”
“Why?”
He looked at her like no one had ever asked that question before. “Just selfish, actually. Too young and stupid, and I wanted more than what I had.”
“What? Like toys? TVs?”
“Like a mom who was actually home once in a while and paid attention to me. Like knowing if my father might be the old man who took up residence on the end barstool for twenty years down at the Timber Creek Saloon. Or Marvin Jennings at the Gas and Grub. Or hell, even Roger Cooper the butcher at Gridley’s Market. Stupid shit like that.”
He didn’t know his father?
Her heart fluttered. “That’s not stupid, James. It’s—”
“Sad?”
“Yeah.” She sipped her wine, noting the flashes of uncertainty in his eyes.
“Well, I realize now that my mom might not have been the smartest at choosing men, but I guess she did the best she could,” he said defensively. “Which still didn’t stop me back then from trying to destroy myself at full speed.”
“Cryptic,” she said. “Continue please.”
He chuckled and flicked the pine needle into the fire. “You playing counselor with me?”
“This isn’t a court of law. I just . . . care.”
Those soulful eyes studied her face as if searching for something that said he could trust her. Then he gave her a tentative smile, which on the seemingly confident man spoke volumes.
He lay back on the blanket, locked his fingers beneath his head, and looked up at the velvet sky.
“I was the king of self-destruction. I drank. Smoked. Pot, not cigarettes. I broke almost every sin in the Bible willingly and happily. Then one night I took a challenge that almost killed me.”
Her eyes widened at this surprise revelation. “Seriously almost killed you?”
“Seriously as in my heart stopped beating and they were close to pronouncing me dead.”
“Holy crap. What happened?”
“I was selfish. And pissed off. Needed something to soothe the savage beast. So I stole a motorcycle from behind the Gas and Grub. Two guys challenged me to race against their cranked-up Chevy. I never turned down a challenge.” A huge sigh pushed from his lungs. “Never.”
“And?”
“I raced them. They lost control of their car. Flipped it. Three times. I couldn’t avoid the wreck and went airborne. Came out the other side with every bone in my body broken.” He gave her a small smile. “Except the big toe on my left foot.”
“Every bone?”
“Okay, slight exaggeration. I didn’t break my nose or any of the toes on my right foot.”
Kelly’s hand came up to cover her gasp. “Oh my god.”
“Yeah. I’m thinking He must have been there because there is no reason I should be alive, let alone walking around.”
“And you fully recovered after all that?”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure I’ll pay hell when I get older and the arthritis sets in. But for now, I’m good thanks to all those who refused to let me die. Including Sheriff Washburn, that stubborn, wily old bastard.”
“You say that with a smile on your face.”
He nodded, and the firelight danced across his sandy blond hair. “It took me eight months to get back on my feet. As soon as I did, there were charges to face.”
“I
can only imagine.”
“Sheriff Washburn came to me, told me he’d convince the party from whom I’d stolen the motorcycle not to press charges if I’d clean up my life. Find a purpose. Give back to the community. When I agreed, he took me under his wing like I was his baby chick. He showed me the ropes around the station. Never lost faith in me. He told me if I wanted to be selfish, then I could get my kicks from the self-centered satisfaction of helping others.”
“Sounds like Sheriff Washburn is a very wise man.”
His head came up with a smile. “He’s the best. Funny. At night when I’d lay there thinking about everything, I’d wish that he was my father. I guess in a way, he was.”
“Then why didn’t you run for his position when he retired?”
“Because your brother-in-law is my best friend. Matt Ryan was always meant to be a leader of this community. And I’m meant to back up his ass wherever and whenever he needs me.”
Kelly realized there would be no point in trying to control the amazing sensations dancing around in her heart. Simply because there was nothing more sexy and alluring in a man than such honest, heartfelt loyalty.
James Harley would not only protect what was his, he would also protect what was everyone else’s. Not because he owed them. Because he owed it to himself.
“Probably shouldn’t have run my mouth off. Whenever I do I manage to get myself in trouble.” He turned to his side and propped his gorgeous head up with his hand. “So what made you want to be a prosecutor?” he asked, obviously ready to redirect the conversation.
“I’m sure you’ve heard my nickname. Sister Serious?” She shrugged. Smoothed her fingers over a wrinkle in the blanket. “I think somewhere along the way I stopped fighting the image. Since I can’t carry a tune to save my life, I knew I’d never be the next Madonna. Waiting tables at the Grizzle Claw Tavern didn’t seem like a good career choice. So I started looking at other possibilities. I got hooked on Law and Order. And when I realized that practicing law was for serious people I got the fever pretty bad. So I studied hard. I gave up a lot of play time. And as soon as I earned my degree I began to intern for the state attorney’s office. It took me a while to figure it all out, but I became very good at it. They hired me, and since the day they gave me an office, I’ve only lost one case.”
“That’s quite commendable.”
“Is it?” She took a drink, and suddenly the wine didn’t taste as sweet.
“Hell yes. How many criminals have you put behind bars? You can’t let one take all that away. You should be proud of yourself.”
“It was a murder trial. The Colson case.”
“I read about that.”
“I let everyone involved down.” Her heart gave a hard thump against her ribs.
“How do you figure?”
“I pushed for the prosecution. The state attorney was sure we would never get a conviction, but I’ve never been one to back down when in my heart I knew it was right. This time I was wrong, and the loss devastated me.”
“That’s understandable.”
She sipped the wine then shook her head. “I don’t know how I could have been so wrong. My instincts have never let me down before, not even in high-profile cases. My intentions all along have been to help people. To stand up for someone who may not be able to stand up for themselves.”
“So basically we’re in the same business.” He reached across the blanket and covered her hand with his. “Helping people.”
“Yes. We have that in common.”
He smiled. “Good to know.”
“Only I think you have way more fun at it than I do,” she said.
“I will admit . . .” His gaze searched her face. “There are some pretty cool tools of the trade. Handcuffs for instance.”
Handcuffs?
Amazing how quickly he could move her thoughts away from being Sister Serious.
He stood, brushed off his hands, and held them over the crackling fire to warm them. She took that as a sign that their date had come to an end. She stood and joined him by the fire.
A smile whispered at the corners of his sensuous lips. “Which brings us to you, Counselor.”
“Me?” She pointed to herself. “What have I got to do with anything?” And were they still talking about handcuffs?
“Your challenge.”
“After hearing your story, I think challenges sound pretty dangerous.”
“Not the one I have planned for you. His eyelids lowered to half-mast as he reached for her and drew her close. His palm came up and caressed her cheek as he looked deep into her eyes.
Her heart hit third gear, and all kinds of crazy heat bulleted down between her legs. “What if I don’t want to participate?”
He leaned forward, his lips close and almost brushing against her own. “Are you afraid?”
“Hardly.”
“Suspicious?”
“Very.”
“Curious?”
She sighed. “Just tell me what it is.”
He chuckled low and deep in his throat. “I think there’s more to you than Sister Serious. I think deep down inside you may very well be the next Madonna. No, scratch that. Let’s make it Katy Perry. She’s cute in a flamboyant way. So your challenge is to . . .”
To what? Keep her hands to herself? Not grab him and kiss the pants off him? Not to push him down to the plaid blanket and have her wicked way with him? Yes. All that was a challenge. But judging from all the looks he’d been giving her with no action, James Harley seemed to be the king of tease. And she did not want to be the queen of rejection.
“Be flamboyant?”
He chuckled. “Your challenge is cliché but true. Life is too short.”
“Meaning?”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and trailed his fingers down the side of her throat to her shoulder. A rush of warm tingles raced from her belly and spread across her chest.
“Find your hidden talent.”
“I told you I can’t sing.”
“Not talking about singing. Look deeper. Find something to do that makes you and others smile.”
Doing him would make her smile. “Like what?”
“That’s for you to decide.” His smile was as intoxicating as his warm male scent, and it coaxed the passionate woman inside her out of hiding.
“And if I decide to take on this challenge, Deputy Harley, what do I get?” She folded her arms across herself. “A trophy? A pony?”
One dark brow lifted. “I can think of something much better.”
The problem was, so could she.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The grating whirr of a lawn mower exploded through Kelly’s dream. She jerked upward and looked around the room through bleary eyes.
What in the . . . ?
The racket continued as she dropped back down to the mattress, grabbed the pillow, and jammed it over her head. Even goose feathers wouldn’t stop the obnoxious buzz. She blew out an exasperated sigh. One of the benefits of living in a high-rise condo was you never had to hear yard work.
“How was the date, Cinderella?”
Kelly came up off the mattress again. “Jesus, Kate! You scared the crap out of me.”
Her baby sister grinned. “Awesome.”
“What are you doing here?”
Kate roamed the room, touched an old perfume bottle on the dresser. Resettled a stuffed dog on her old twin bed. Picked up the newest issue of Vogue from the nightstand, flipped it open, then tossed it back on the nightstand. “We promised Dad we’d help him go through Mom’s stuff.”
“Today?” Kelly rubbed her eyes, realizing she’d left her contacts in last night after her date with James. “What about the bakery?”
Kate plopped down on her old bed, drew her legs up, and crossed them. “Closed for the day.”
“Can you do that?”
“Dad can pretty much do whatever he wants, since he owns the place. We cut back to every other Saturday a while ago.”
&n
bsp; “What about the revenue?”
“Oddly enough I don’t think we’re missing that much. Folks just know to come in the day before. We might have a delivery or two, but Dad has gotten it into his head that weekends should be spent with family.”
“Wow. Really? After three decades of working six days a week in that place?”
“Something he feels strongly about.” Kate shrugged. “I’m not going to complain. Because I get to wake up beside my husband and stay there for longer than a quickie.”
“Ugh. TMI.”
“So . . . how was your date?”
Kelly threw back the covers and got out of bed. She shoved her feet into her duck slippers and headed toward the kitchen. Kate followed like the pesky little sister she’d always been.
“Well?”
“I don’t know how it went.” She pulled two mugs from the cupboard while Kate filled the coffeemaker. “He’s . . . odd.”
Kate laughed. “James Harley is not odd. How can he be odd if he’s so popular with the single women around here?”
Yeah. Well. There was that. “Maybe it’s me then.”
“Well, you are pretty serious about stuff.”
“Apparently he thinks so, too.”
“That doesn’t sound promising.”
While the coffee percolated, Kelly leaned back against the counter. “He issued me a challenge.”
“Oooh. This is interesting. What kind of a challenge?”
“He wants me to find my hidden talent. Something to make me smile.”
“Other than him and that hot body of his?”
“Yeah. I don’t think he’s interested in me that way.”
“What? Are you blind? He totally takes your clothes off with his eyes.”
Probably because he didn’t want to take them off with his hands. Last night he’d had every opportunity to make a move. He didn’t.
Kelly shrugged. “Doesn’t matter anyway. I’m only going to be here for a short time. After Dean’s wedding I have to head back.”
“I got the impression you weren’t in a big hurry to go back to the Windy City.”
“I’ve got responsibilities. I can’t just walk away.”