Her limbs trembled with barely suppressed rage as she jogged up the stairs. She was lost in such a thick haze of red that she didn’t see Luis until they almost collided.
“Whoa!” Luis stumbled back, hands raised in surrender. “Sorry.”
Willing her nerves to calm down before she punched a wall, Julie sucked in several deep breaths before being able to speak. “No, I’m sorry.”
Luis searched her face, concern darkening his. “You okay?”
She started to nod, only it ended in a shake. “I just don’t understand him.”
“Shaun?” Luis guessed. “Yeah, he’s a hard one to figure out.” His expression became sympathetic. He rested a hand on Julie’s arm. “Don’t let him get to you. He means well ... I think.”
Snorting a chuckle, Julie pivoted around him towards her room. “I’m going to go pack. Are you done?”
Luis shrugged. “I don’t have very much.”
She remembered his room, the sparse, tidiness of it.
“Jewels?” She started at Mason’s nickname for her coming from Luis’s mouth. He seemed to realize his error as well, because he flushed. “Sorry.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay.”
He dropped his gaze to his feet, clad in clean tennis shoes. “I just ... I wanted to apologize again for what happened yesterday. I don’t want you to think I ... because I don’t. I mean, I would if you and Mason weren’t ... but Mason’s like a brother to me. I wouldn’t...” He broke off with a shaky laugh. “I’m making no sense am I?”
Julie offered him a kind smile. “It’s fine, Luis. I’m not angry.”
He blew out a breath. His shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank you. So...” He gave her a lopsided grin and rubbed his hands together. “Do you need help packing?”
Chuckling, Julie shook her head. “No, thank you. But I would love help with supper later.”
“Deal!” he said almost immediately, making her laugh again.
With a light pat on his arm, she left him and stepped into her room. She left the door ajar as she pulled out her duffle and began putting her things into it. She had most of the drawers emptied when a shadow in the doorway made her jump.
She whipped around.
“Mason!” She put a hand over her thumping heart. “God, don’t do that.”
“Sorry.” He stepped deeper into the room, stopping when he reached the footboard. “I finished and thought I’d come see if you needed a hand.” He rested a forearm against the frame and leaned into it. “I really hate seeing you leave. I had hoped we would have the month together, get to know each other better, and see what we should do next.”
“Me too, but I can’t stay,” she said, stuffing a t-shirt hastily into the bag. “I honestly hate this place so much.”
Mason nodded. “Yeah, me too.” He moved around the bed to her side and lightly touched her arm. “But I don’t want this to be the end, Jewels.” He ceased her packing by pulling her to him. “I just got you back.” He kissed her lightly. “I need to see you again.”
While his words sang through her like the soft chimes of a bell, it was Shaun’s taunting words that made her flinch.
“You don’t need to feel obligated to—”
“Obligated?” He jerked back like she’d struck him. “This isn’t obligation, Julie. This is me finally grabbing on to what I’ve wanted for years with both hands.” He ran a tongue slowly over his bottom lip. “I told you, I made a promise to myself that the next time we crossed paths, I would keep you.”
A warmth spread through her, chasing away the chill. “And what if we never saw each other?”
He shook his head, eyes never leaving hers. “I never believed that. I knew the day would come and it has.”
“Even if we live miles apart?”
He captured her chin gently between his fingers. “Doesn’t matter. I’m a very determined man.”
She chuckled. “Okay, how about we get out of this mess first and if you’re still interested ... call me.”
He kissed her again.
“Count on it.
Chapter Nineteen
It was after eleven the next night when the phone rang, jarring Julie from her slumber. Groggy and a tad disorientated, she rolled out from under Mason’s suffocating embrace and reached for the receiver on the nightstand. Her hand hit her cellphone, sending it cluttering to the ground. She cursed and pushed herself up higher on the bed. The sheets began to slip down her naked chest and she caught it quickly before snatching the phone up.
“Hello?”
With a knuckle, she rubbed at the sleep in her eyes. She squinted with one eye open at the clock. She and Mason had only gone to bed an hour earlier, but it felt like she only just shut her eyes.
“Ms. Brewer?”
It took her a second to recognize the gruff voice on the other end. “Sheriff Reynolds?”
Next to her, Mason stirred. He raised his head and squinted up at her through the darkness.
“Okay?” he mumbled groggily.
She put her finger to her lips, quieting him as she tried to focus on the man on the other end.
“Pardon the late call,” Sheriff Reynolds was saying. “But I thought you would want to hear this as quickly as possible.”
Julie pushed up higher in bed, fully alert now. “Is everything okay? Did you—”
“No,” Reynolds cut her off. “But I can confirm that Dr. Nixon’s story pans out.” While he said it, he didn’t sound very happy about it. “This ... Jimmy fellow may in fact be responsible for the death of Bethany Row as well as everything else you’ve experienced up there.”
Julie swallowed hard to remove the lump in her throat. “You ... you said may be. You’re not sure?”
“I’m more or less confident,” Reynolds mumbled. “I made some calls to the other towns and cities he’s been in and ... it certainly sounds like this is our guy.”
“So, what now?” she wondered.
“Well,” Reynolds grunted. Something creaked in the background and Julie had an image of him leaning back in his office chair. “You’re free to pick up your cars from the lot in the morning.”
“Wait, what do you mean pick up? We can’t pick up anything. You took our cars. We have no way of getting into town—”
“There’s nothing I can do about that, Ms. Brewer. But I do recommend you leave town immediately once you have retrieved your vehicle.”
“Trust me,” she muttered tightly. “That is exactly what I’m going to be doing.” She hung up without saying goodbye and turned to Mason. “I think we just got cleared of murder.” Something in that statement made her laugh hollowly. “I should feel relieved, except I’m terrified of surviving the next nine hours.”
Mason pushed upright. The sheets slid down his beautiful torso to pool in his lap like a puddle of moonlight. He leaned over and pushed a coil of hair behind her ear.
“I checked the locks,” he murmured. “And the windows and even double checked the alarms. We’re safe.”
He said it with such confidence that it was nearly impossible not to believe him.
“Get some rest,” he advised. “The sooner you sleep, the sooner we can get out of here.”
With a nod, she slid beneath the covers once more. He followed suit and drew her into his chest. With a sigh, she let herself relax. She closed her eyes and let the steady patter of his heart beat against the side of her face. But no matter how hard she tried, sleep refused to come. When it finally did, it didn’t feel like enough when she opened her eyes to the sharp spikes of light piercing through the curtains.
Groaning, she rolled over, away from the penetrating fingers of reality and frowned when she found the bed empty. Her fingers strained across the expense and her confusion built when she found it cool to the touch.
Pushing upright, she held the sheets to her chest and blinked around her room, already knowing she would find it empty of Mason.
Baffled, cranky and exhausted, she rolled out of bed and hurried i
nto the washroom. She showered, and it was in the middle of rinsing conditioner from her hair when she remembered why there was a strange tension building like a bomb between her ribcage. It was akin to fear, but more powerful, more potent. It made her heart rate climb and her stomach muscles clench.
It was excitement.
She was excited. She was going home. She was getting away from that place.
Fired up with a new surge of strength, stronger than caffeine, she hurriedly toweled off, dressed, and sprinted downstairs, eager to find Mason and retrieve their cars.
But the house was empty. The doors were locked and the alarm was set. She called out, but no one answered. Tense for a whole new reason, she jogged back upstairs. She threw open Mason’s bedroom door, surprised that she was surprised that it was empty. It was only the sight of his duffle bag on the bed that helped uncoil the cold fingers fisted around her gut. Then, just as quickly, she rolled her eyes and mentally kicked herself for being so paranoid. Of course, Mason wouldn’t leave her there alone. Yet that faith was dim when she still couldn’t find him, or Shaun, or Luis.
Scratching her head, she moved into the kitchen and reached for the phone. No sooner had her fingers closed around the cool plastic when the locks on the front door clicked and the threatening beep of the alarm being triggered rose through the corridor.
Abandoning her idea of calling Mason, she hurried to the doorway and peered out at the bright stain of sunlight spilling over polished wood and the trio standing in the harsh glow. Shaun and Luis were saying something about asshole lot attendants when she stepped out to greet them.
“Where did everyone go?” she asked.
Mason shut the doors, deactivated the alarm before it could start shrieking and then turned his attention on her. With the blinding light extinguished, she could only see blurry silhouettes. Mason tossed something into the air. They jingled as he caught them again. She saw his form draw closer. Then he was in front of her. He held up a hand and her car keys dangled from his fingers.
“Your chariot awaits, my lady.”
Julie blinked in surprise as she lifted a hand to accept the ring. “You got my car from the lot?”
“Yup.” He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. “Didn’t you get my note?”
She frowned. “Your ... note?”
He nodded. “The one I left on your nightstand.”
Julie couldn’t recall if she had even glanced in the direction of her nightstand when she’d gotten up. It wasn’t as though anyone had ever left her a note before. But now that he mentioned it, she figured she should have checked for one before freaking out.
“I guess I missed it,” she replied.
He hummed and led her into the kitchen. “How about some coffee before we hit the road? I haven’t had my cup this morning and I’m pretty sure I’m dying slowly inside.”
It was brewing inside her to decline, to insist they leave immediately and stop along the way. But he looked so tired and pleading. Plus she couldn’t see the harm of waiting one more hour. Her bags were packed and as soon as they finished, she would do a quick run through of the house to make sure nothing important was left behind. Then they would leave.
“Julie.” Luis jogged up to join them.
Mason relinquished his hold on Julie and headed to the coffee pot.
Julie turned to face Luis with a smile. “Hey! Thank you for getting my car back.”
Luis flushed happily. “No problem. But it was Mason’s idea. I just tagged along.”
“Even then.” She gave him a quick hug before moving away to claim a stool at the island.
Maybe it was her imagination, but she could have sworn the machine took an extra-long time to brew. She fidgeted with the mug Mason set before her, as if the harder she gripped the handle, the more threatened the machine would feel into brewing faster. It didn’t.
“Oh my God!” she groaned loudly, dropping her head down into the folds of her arms. “It’s like the slowest torture ever!”
On the other side of the island, Mason laughed. “Take it easy,” he said. “It’s coming.”
She wanted to believe him. She would have, if the bitter nectar of life wasn’t dripping one drip every ten minutes into the pot. At this rate, she thought miserably, I’ll be gray and old before I get a cup.
It was probably to fend off her lunging at him and gnawing his arm off, but Mason poured her the first cup and pushed it carefully in front of her. It took all her willpower not to fall on the drink like a rabid dog on a bone. But she did clutch it to her chest, still black and inhaled the rich, dark roast as if she could someone suck it into her system by smell alone. She was vaguely aware of Mason snickering at her. She ignored it as she cuddled her first love to her chest.
“Huh,” Mason mumbled as he opened one cupboard after another. “I guess we’re out of sugar.”
Julie craned her neck around him to peer into the pantry. “There should be a full bag in there.”
He shut the pantry door and turned. “Doesn’t seem to be there anymore. We must have used it.”
She couldn’t see how, but it wasn’t like the stuff just walked away. So maybe they had.
Shaun stalked into the room then. He had his duffle in one hand and a sour expression on his face. The bag made a loud clunk when he dropped it next to the door and faced the others.
“When are we blowing this popsicle stand?”
“Coffee first,” Mason said.
Shaun grunted unhappily, but moved to take a stool one stool over from Julie. She considered that progress.
“I’m going to double check I have everything,” Luis decided as he slide out of his seat and headed for the door. “Does anyone else want me to bring their things down while I’m at it?”
Mason and Julie shook their heads.
“But thank you!” Julie called after him.
With a wave of his hand, he disappeared from sight.
The kitchen fell silent as Julie, Mason, and Shaun sipped their drinks and stared uncomfortably at anything but each other. Julie wondered if hell had frozen over. It must have if Shaun was actually sitting quietly without hurling insults at her.
Then he opened his mouth.
“So have you told Mason your big plans of running off together?”
Julie simply exhaled, having reached the limits of her patience with the guy.
“What’s that now?” Mason asked.
Shaun jabbed a thumb in Julie’s direction. “Little Miss Muffet here thinks you’re going to run off and play house with her when we get back.”
“I never said that!” Julie snapped.
Shaun brought the mug to his lips. “Didn’t you? Certainly sounded like it.”
“What are you getting at, Shaun?” Mason sighed.
“That she’s crazy,” he replied evenly. “I warned you about clingy girls, didn’t I? You screw them once and suddenly they’re thinking of baby names and china patterns.” He shook his head as he took a gulp of coffee. It must have been too hot, because he grimaced when he swallowed. But he kept on talking. “It’s ridiculous to think you would give everything up for a walking vagina.”
It was only then that Julie realized she would never see that word the same way again. That it would forever make her cringe and grow hot with exasperation. Shaun had forever ruined vaginas for her.
Mason set down his cup, planted his palms on the table on either side, and leaned forward. He peered into his friend’s face with a grave expression.
“She’s not a walking vagina, Shaun,” he murmured quietly. “Or a walking anything else.”
Shaun gave a sound between a snort and a scoff. “She’s still just another bitch.”
“Shaun!” Mason’s voice was a snarl of impatience. “I’m getting tired of this game.”
“What game?” Shaun’s mug struck the counter with a crack that should have shattered it. Instead, coffee sloshed over the rim and splattered across the marble. “Don’t tell me it’s t
rue.”
Mason’s mouth pinched together tightly, the muscle in his check coiled, and while he never said a word, Shaun had gotten his answer.
“For her?” he roared, leaping out of his seat. The stool teetered and crashed to the ground with enough force to make Julie jump. “You’ve known her for a week—”
“No,” Mason cut in. “You know that’s not true. I never once kept my feelings for Julie a secret. Not in all the years we’ve known each other, you knew!” He stabbed the counter with his finger. “You know what she means to me. She isn’t just some girl. Not to me.”
Shaun simply shook his head back and forth like no matter what Mason said, he refused to believe it.
“You can’t possibly see it that way,” Shaun argued finally. “You’re infatuated by the girl you used to know. She’s not that girl anymore. Jesus, Mas. You’re letting your dick think for you.”
Mason shook his head, his stance unwavering. “I don’t expect her to be the same girl she was at fifteen. I’m not the same guy I was at eighteen. I know she has changed and that only makes me want to know her all the more.”
Shaun’s lips curled back over his clenched teeth. He reminded Julie of a Rottweiler about to lunge.
“You’re seriously going to pick her over me?”
“No!” Mason shot back instantly. “I’m not picking anyone over anyone else. You yourself wanted to move back home only last month. You knew Julie lived there. You had to know we would eventually cross paths. For god sakes, Shaun! Did you honestly think we would be bachelors for the rest of our lives?”
“No,” Shaun mumbled. “But I did think we would be friends.”
“And what the hell is stopping us from being friend, except for you?” Mason exclaimed, throwing his arms open wide. “You’re the one pushing me away.”
“It’s her!” Shaun jabbed a finger towards Julie. “For years, I’ve known she would be the reason we would fall apart.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Mason shot back. “Julie hasn’t done anything.”
Shaun snorted in disgust. “Now, but what will happen if you want to come over and have a few beers. Nope. Can’t. She’ll want you home with her. How about heading out to play pool? Sorry man. Julie wants me to braid her hair tonight. This is why I don’t have serious relationships. Women are soul suckers. She will brainwash you into doing everything she wants until she’s dressing you and picking out your friends. She’s playing you.”
Kissing Trouble Page 28