Beyond the Shadows

by LaVerne Clark

“Do I make you nervous, Kelly?”

  She paused while rubbing the excess oil into her hands. “Not at all,” she denied, while not quite meeting his eyes. “Why do you say that?” Straight away, she bit her lip as if cursing herself for asking the question.

  “Oh, no reason. Certainly it has nothing to do with the way you back away from me anytime I get too close.” He rose from the couch and stalked her, his mouth lifted at her involuntary step backward. “See what I mean. What do you think I might do to you? I could’ve sworn you enjoyed kissing me earlier.”

  Kelly stopped and stood her ground, planting her hands on her hips. “It sounds like you’re recovered from over exerting yourself. Maybe now, we can get back to discussing what you saw on the beach.”

  As a diversion, she couldn’t have chosen a better topic. Ice ran through his veins, dousing the flames of desire she lit in him so effortlessly.

  “We should have followed her home. Found out who she was and kept an eye on her.”

  She shook her head, the ponytail flicking from side to side. “You’d spooked her enough as it was. How would you explain yourself to the boss if she caught you watching her? What reason could you possibly give? No. You did all you could. Don’t beat yourself up. Anyway,” she added, “we’re not even sure if that’s how this thing of yours works.”

  “I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” he answered grimly. Kelly’s necklace reflected off the ceiling lights and he frowned. “Maybe you should take yours off. Just until we know more about this guy.”

  He watched her reach up and automatically stroke the jewelry. She shook her head. “It belonged to my grandmother. It makes me feel closer to her, like your dragon does for you towards your sister. Besides, I’m one of probably thousands of women who wear something similar.”

  He rolled his lips inwards and pressed them together hard. She was right. He didn’t like it, but was he going to run around telling every woman who wore a cross to remove it? The fact he gave it more than a passing consideration made him realize how precariously he balanced on the sharp edge of crazy.

  “Fine,” he agreed on a heavy exhale. His eyes narrowed on her smile at his capitulation. Annoyed, he turned away from her and wandered into the kitchen. Whether it was silly or not, now the damned thing hanging around her delicate neck made him nervous. It looked so innocent, but there was someone out there targeting those who were far from that state.

  “What are you doing now?”

  With the fridge door open surveying the contents, he glanced back at her. “I’m going to attempt to make dinner.”

  “That’s my job,” she argued and positioned herself next to him, trying to shove him aside. He stood immobile and watched her in amusement. “No fair,” she panted. “You’re getting your strength back. I thought I had a few more days left of being able to boss you around.”

  “And you do it so well, too,” he teased and felt the tightness in his chest ease at her unfettered laugh. For the first time since his sister’s death, he realized he had been allowing himself to feel happy. Letting go of the grief and guilt that had tethered him so long gave him a strange sense of weightlessness. “Seriously though Kelly, I need to make a start on handling the normal things again. Your job is to make sure I don’t fall flat on my face. I’m pretty sure I can manage dinner.” His eyes lit on a bottle of cream and smoked chicken. “How does pasta sound?”

  “Like heaven,” she replied after giving up and pulled out a barstool.

  The words brought into sharp focus the memory of his strange encounter with the afterworld. Nothing could convince him it had been anything else. The vision had been too sharp, too real, to be imagined. And for a man not known for flights of fancy, any other explanation came up short.

  “Are you okay?”

  He inhaled sharply and lifted his head to her concerned gaze. With a start, he realized he’d been standing at the counter motionless, holding the chicken in his hand. “If the shadow is a portent of death,” he started slowly, testing each word as it came, “why am I not seeing it everywhere, over more shoulders? People die every day.”

  Kelly frowned. Doubt flitted in her eyes. “I still have a hard time believing in your vision—” She raised a hand at his grunt of annoyance. “But you know I don’t believe in coincidence, either.” The breath she blew out lifted the hair over her forehead. “What I do believe in, is you.”

  His eyes shot to her clear unwavering gaze and emotion clogged his throat. “Thank you.” He busied himself with dissecting the chicken rather than the source of the emotion. It was safer that way.

  She nodded then continued. “Maybe your near death experience triggered an ability like ESP. Could be the shadow is like a tsunami alert. It precedes the act, lets you know when the killer is targeting an intended victim, giving you time to do something about it.”

  Nate’s hands stilled, and he stared at her in wonder. “I’ve been looking at it like it’s a demon, or curse.” He smiled. “I told you, you were good for me.”

  She answered with a strained smile as she rose from the chair. “I’m suddenly feeling in need of some wine. Want some?”

  “I’ll have a beer, thanks.”

  After setting a pot of water to boil, he accepted the bottle from her and leaned a hip against the counter taking a sip. A terrible thought entered his mind, and he swallowed with great difficulty. “If your theory is correct, I’ve just sentenced that woman from the beach to death.”

  “You are not responsible for who that maniac targets, Nate,” she said sharply. “You tried to warn her the best that you could, and the rest is up to her.”

  He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have acted so crazy. If I’d reasoned it out beforehand instead of jumping the gun, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But jeez, that thing freaked me out.” He shuddered at the memory and wiped his suddenly damp palms on a tea towel. He turned his attention back to his dinner preparations. “Whether you believe me or not, I swear that thing was as real as you and me.”

  ****

  The man pulled into the service station directly behind the van driven by his next victim. The woman got out, filled the tank, and retrieved her son from the back. They walked into the shop together, and he followed at a casual distance. The boy was beautiful, his eyes almost soulful as he gazed around at the candy displayed so temptingly within reach. But not once did he reach for it or plead for some.

  His gaze hardened on the back of the woman’s head. He bet she ruled the boy with an iron fist. Controlling bitch. Just like mother.

  Payment made, she turned, her eyes meeting his. She startled, and he hastily pasted a wide smile on his face. “Great kid you’ve got there. My own would be begging and whining for candy, but yours has the manners of an angel. You’re doing a great job.”

  At the compliment, the woman’s face lit up and she bent to ruffle the boy’s hair. “Thanks. He is pretty wonderful. See you.”

  “You bet,” he replied knowing she had no idea just how prophetic her words actually were. It made his grin all the more genuine as he faced the attendant. Could his day get any better? An afternoon lazing about on the beach followed by an evening indulging in his favorite sport was his idea of perfection. He sighed in satisfaction.

  “Will this be all, sir?”

  “It will, indeed.” He offered the teenager a wide smile. “Today is a good day. God is great is He not?”

  The attendant gave him a funny look. “Uh, yes He is, sir. Here’s your change.”

  He scooped up his purchases and climbed back into his car. When the van pulled out, he followed, being careful to keep a car or two between them. As they threaded their way through suburbia, his mind drifted to the evening ahead and his body thrummed with energy. The boy’s presence would make it tricky. He’d have to wait until bedtime and be quick. Or find an effective way to silence her while he went about his work. As options filed through his brain, one stood out above the others.

  “Yes,” he grinned, his gaze n
arrowing on the vehicle as it turned into a side street. “That sounds just about perfect.”

  He made a mental note of the number on the letterbox where the vehicle parked and drove off to prepare for the night’s activities.

  ****

  “For a man who doesn’t cook, that was amazing,” Kelly praised, pushing her plate away. She leaned back in her chair and picked up her wine glass, smiling at him over the rim. The clean, fruity aroma of Marlborough’s finest white teased her nostrils. “You’ve got great taste in wine too. What will you spring on me next?”

  His eyes darkened dangerously pinning her to her seat and all the air left the room. She swallowed to ease a dry throat. He blinked, breaking the connection and she rose unsteadily to her feet. Collecting his empty plate, she scurried over to the kitchen to clear up.

  “You’re so stupid,” she chided herself under her breath. She hadn’t thought through how it would be to live with Nate 24/7. He wasn’t stupid. He was bound to work out how she felt about him. Had always felt about him. And then what? Where did that leave them as partners? Oh, she could see he desired her, but that’s why she couldn’t let this go any further. If they had sex, that’s all it would be for him—like scratching an itch and she’d be left broken.

  Hot water splashed off the plate she scrubbed and soaked her shirt. “Shit!”

  “Are you okay?”

  She spun around at the voice behind her and her heart leapt into her throat. He leaned against the doorframe with a sardonic grin. Her gaze was drawn to the sexy curve of his mouth before she could stop herself. Her lips felt heated and dry. Drawing her bottom lip into her mouth, she bit it, just enough to distract.

  He gestured at the brush in her hand. “You’re attacking the poor plate to within an inch of its life. I think it might be clean by now.” His gaze lowered and caught on the wet, clinging material and his nostrils flared, his eyes hungry. “Ah, you’re...ah...wet.”

  She glanced down and gasped. The water had turned the white shirt she’d thrown over her bikini top transparent, and her nipples stood proud and erect. She wore more than she had at the beach, but with the unresolved emotions between them, she’d never felt more naked. Belatedly, she crossed her arms over her chest and sidled past him. “I need to get changed. I’m all wet.”

  She raced towards her bedroom, but not before her ears caught his groaned response.

  “God, I hope so.”

  It was with great relief she reached the privacy of her room. She pushed the door firmly shut and stood before the mirror. The image made her groan with embarrassment. He’d gotten a real eyeful. He probably thought she’d done it on purpose hoping he’d continue where he’d left off earlier this morning. The thought made her flush anew. Placing her cool hands to her heated cheeks did nothing to ease her mortification.

  She rummaged through her drawer and pulled out the first respectable shirt that came to hand. A quick tug yanked the offending garment over her head. She put on the new shirt and turned this way and that. Her gaze caught on the obvious outline of her nipples through the fabric. With a huff, she jerked it off and again fished through the drawer until she found a padded bra. The bra lifted and rounded her cleavage, but it was better than having those lethal weapons pointing through the material at him.

  “Kelly,” he knocked lightly on her door, his voice once more calm and controlled. “That documentary is on in five minutes. You’d better hustle if you want to watch your debut on television.”

  Shit. She’d forgotten all about it.

  “Thanks,” she called out and closed her eyes, taking in a couple of deep breaths. If she thought she was embarrassed now, she had no doubt it was about to increase tenfold at what was about to be revealed. She straightened her spine and lifted her chin. There was nothing she could do about it now. Quickly hauling the shirt over her head, she re-tied her ponytail, gave herself one last glimpse in the mirror, and strode out to join him.

  “That’s better,” she remarked in a bright tone and squeezed past him to the other side of the couch.

  A wolfish gaze appraised her as she passed. “I liked the other one better.”

  Curling her feet underneath her bottom, she willed herself not to color up and strove for a nonchalant tone. “A gentleman wouldn’t comment further for fear of prolonging the embarrassment.”

  The green of his eyes burned brightly in the darkened room. “You’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about from what I saw.” His voice rumbled low near her ear and she instinctively pushed herself further back on the couch, away from the danger he emanated. “And I never said I was a gentleman.”

  Against her better judgment, she turned and stared, and suddenly, all she could see was the fullness of his bottom lip as it curved into a sensual smile, his open body posture, and his arm flung over the back of the couch, fingertips almost grazing her shoulder. Her lips parted and she leaned fractionally closer, helpless to his magnetic pull. The cue music of the current affairs show started and she blinked. Unsettled at how easily she’d almost succumbed to him again, she eased back into her seat and forced her attention towards the television. He chuckled softly as he reached for the remote and turned the volume up.

  The first few minutes of the segment weren’t too excruciating. They angled their story on the plight of the New Zealand police and the dangers they faced without the protection of firearms. No wonder they busted a gut to show this footage. It’s great political fodder. She stole a glance at Nate’s profile as he took in the story. He was the picture of relaxation until his face took up the screen. God. She knew what came next. The hope she’d held that the editors would cut straight to the shooting disappeared as Nate’s deep, rich voice filled her ears, sending her right back to the nightmare.

  Someone needs to eradicate these cockroaches from the surface of the earth.

  Coming through speakers, his tone sounded harsher than it had in reality, and she cringed as the camera closed in on his forbidding expression. He looked fierce—clearly the angle they were going for.

  When he leapt out of the car, the camera followed his progress. Kelly’s pulse raced as she relived those awful moments. She drew her knees up to her chin and wrapped an arm around them while the other hand fisted around her necklace, her eyes glued to the screen.

  From inside the car, the gunshot sounded muffled the scream that followed—spine chilling and loud. The picture became a blur as she tore out of the vehicle towards where Nate had slumped to his knees. The camera searched for and focused on the face of the gunman as he trained the gun on Kelly’s vulnerable figure.

  Her veins iced up. She’d had no idea.

  The camera panned back to a wider shot. Oblivious to the danger, she crouched protectively over Nate, and then pulled his head onto her lap, trying to stem the flow of blood with her hands. In the background, the junkie urgently shoved at the gunman, and they both disappeared into the building.

  The images became choppy as the cameraman ran towards them.

  Kelly’s chin lifted and she glared at the man behind the equipment, tears streaking down her cheeks. Blood seeped through her fingers, pooling around them on the ground. “Don’t just stand there! Call the emergency departments. We need an ambulance—now. Tell them an officer is down. MOVE IT!”

  The images went black, but the sound of her voice as the cameraman ran off faded out like the end of a song. “Stay with me Nate. Don’t go anywhere—I love you…”

  Chapter Nine

  Kelly’s eyes burned as she stared without blinking at the screen. Although the words echoed in her head, they weren’t nearly as loud as the silence afterwards. She bit her lip and hoped that if she stayed still long enough and didn’t meet his eyes, he wouldn’t mention them.

  “Did you just say you loved me?”

  She closed her eyes and averted her head. No such luck.

  “Kelly, look at me,” he demanded, his tone breaking no argument.

  With a sigh of inevitability, she lifted her chin to fac
e him and steeled herself.

  “Is it true? Do you love me?” Twin jade eyes focused on her. She wanted to squirm under his piercing gaze but kept her features neutral, her body still. He was too skilled at picking up on the slightest nuance. She didn’t want his pity. No warmth lit his gaze as he waited, no hint of emotion crossed his face, and her stomach twisted into a tight knot.

  “What would you say if I said yes?” Her voice came out softer than she would have liked. She kept her eyes fixed firmly on his face and waited for any sign of his feelings. His grimace confirmed her worst fears.

  “I’d say, don’t waste any of those tender feelings on me. I don’t have it in me to return them.”

  Pain knifed through her. God. That hurt worse than she thought it would. She wanted to curl into a ball. Instead, she crossed her arms across her chest to hold the pain at bay. She swallowed her pride and tried to appeal to the man with the hot eyes of only moments before. “I’ve seen what you’re capable of Nate. No-one kisses the way you do without feeling something in return.”

  His harsh bark of laughter made her flinch. “You’re confusing lust with love, Kelly.”

  She searched his gaze certain there had to be some kind of emotion there and then shivered at the coldness she saw.

  “God knows, I want you,” he continued with a sardonic smile. “That’s obvious. If you want more than a quick tumble, you’d do better to look elsewhere.”

  Although she’d expected a negative response, the sheer cruelty of his words hit her like a punch to the gut and tore the breath from her body. What happened to the man she’d spent the last few days with—the one who’d trusted her enough to share his inner thoughts and fears with? What happened to the Nate she’d finally been allowed to see? Listening to the man beside her tear her feelings apart as if they were of less consequence than a speck of dust on his shirt and just as annoying, made her want to throw up.

  Tears pricked her eyes but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. She pressed her lips together hard enough to draw blood and rose from the couch. Without another glance his way, she strode to her room desperate for escape. It would be nothing short of utter humiliation if she broke down in front of him now.