by Sam Crescent
There was a wrought-iron bench in the far corner, and they took a seat together.
“It’s relaxing out here,” she said.
He chuckled. “It was supposed to be my oasis, but it’s a work in progress for now.”
She pointed at the flowering bushes and climbing ivy. “It’s beautiful. What more did you want to do?”
“Maybe some vegetables, a couple more trees, and a water fountain.”
“That sounds nice. I love the sound of flowing water. Back in the city I used to use a waterfall app to fall asleep. It beat the traffic outside the building.”
“I have most of the plumbing supplies. I’ll make the fountain my next project.” He tilted her chin up and kissed her lips. “For you.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “You make me feel special.”
“You are, baby,” he said. “I’m thirty-nine, Eva. I gave up hope of finding a woman I’d want to spend my life with. Then you showed up in town, and it only took one look for me to know you were the one.”
“What if you’re wrong?”
He shook his head, determined to drive out all her insecurities. “I’ve only proved myself right. Every day you steal another piece of my heart.”
Dalton didn’t want to admit that he had worries of his own. He didn’t know Eva too well, and he hoped she didn’t lose interest once she started working in the neighboring city. Would she come home after work or decide to move on without him? Normally, he wouldn’t give a shit about not seeing a woman again, but not Eva. He felt like a schoolboy in love, excited to see her every day after work.
“I wanted you to know that my job isn’t my life. It’s just been crazy lately.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself, Dalton. I understand.” She ran her hand up his thigh, her fingers grazing his flaccid cock. He jerked straighter in his seat. “I like having a man full of devotion for his community. When I first came to Hope Springs, everything felt wrong—the town, the people, the peace. But it wasn’t the town, it was me. I was just so used to being mistreated all my life that I was suspicious of any kindness. City life has a way of stealing your soul, and somewhere along the line I forgot who I was.”
“And now?”
She hugged him around the chest, cuddling in close. He loved the feel of her soft curves pressed against him. “I’m remembering who I was before the world defined me. And I want happiness. I want you.”
His cell phone went off in the kitchen, and he cringed. Dalton didn’t want his work schedule to scare her off. He’d just told her his job wasn’t his life.
“It’s okay. You can get it,” she said.
“I’ll be right back.”
He rushed off to the kitchen, the screen door slapping back in place once he entered.
“We’ve made a few connections,” said Luke. “At two of the scenes we have matching shoe prints. And on the day of each fire, the same person rented a car from that place downtown.”
“How the fuck does that help us?”
“The cops checked it out, and the person renting the cars used a fake name and stolen ID. Unfortunately, there was any surveillance, but the person on duty gave a description.”
“This is the cops’ jurisdiction, not ours,” he said.
“I know, but it’s good if the arsonist can’t get his usual ride,” said Luke.
“He’s not going to turn into some angel now. He’ll just find another way. This won’t be over until he’s behind bars.”
Chapter Eight
Eva couldn’t believe that her first shift was over and that she was heading home. Strange, that word—home. Dalton had a way of making her believe in everything he said. For the first time in her life, she actually had hope.
Waking up next to him in the morning, going to sleep in his arms, it all made her happy, and now she had a job, and slowly, she felt part of this small town. She could have her independence and the security of a solid relationship. When she arrived in Hope Springs she’d truly believed she was just passing through, but now she knew this was where she wanted to stay for the rest of her life. Once the culture shock wore off, she never wanted to live in a big city again. This was where her heart was.
Pulling into the driveway, she hummed to herself, wondering if she should just get started on dinner. She planned to make Dalton a chicken pot pie for when he got home. Eva wondered if he’d be late again. With the current investigation with the arsonist, he’d been on the case every chance he could get and didn’t allow anyone to take his extra shifts. She worried about him and wished the case would wrap up soon.
Grabbing her bag and jacket, she made her way into the house. It was such a cute home with a lot of personality. They’d already made plans to visit the nursery on the weekend to pick out some new flowers for the front walkway. Once she closed the front door, she made her way straight to the kitchen. She loved to cook, and now she had a man who appreciated her efforts.
Dumping her bag on the nearest chair, she opened up the fridge and pulled out the chicken she’d been thawing. As soon as she turned back around, a man stood in the doorway, holding a knife. Eva screamed, adrenaline spiking through her veins. She’d never seen this man before, and her heart started to race, her body paralyzed in fear.
In one hand he had a knife, in the other, a lighter. He kept flicking it, over and over.
The arsonist was inside Dalton’s home.
For what seemed like a lifetime neither of them spoke, merely stared at each other. She finally couldn’t take it anymore and took a step.
“I wouldn’t move if I were you.”
“What are you doing here? Who are you?”
“I just wanted to leave behind something to remember me, a legacy. It was going perfectly. Seeing as Dalton likes to be at all of my places of artistic integrity, he got added to my list.”
Whoever this man was, he was clearly sick or something. His hair was greasy, his beard unkempt.
“Artistic integrity?”
“Life is all about making hard decisions, about tearing people apart. Making them dark and bloody, and letting the world see the real life.” His eyes were flat, and she knew he’d have no problem burning her alive. He’d probably enjoy every sick minute of it.
“You nearly killed someone.”
“Life is brutal, and death is all part of the sacrifice in making the world better.”
She didn’t have a clue who this man was or what he was doing. What a fucking lunatic. The way he looked at her terrified her. He wanted to hurt her. Craved it. She had to get out of there.
Throwing the raw chicken toward him, she took off, screaming out for help, charging around the counter, trying to get to freedom. She planned to rush for the back door to the garden, but he knocked her down to the floor, the air rushing from her lungs. She quickly spun around to face him. He held the knife just above her face, so she dared not move. The metallic edge glistened each time he tilted it. “Fire. It’s so elemental. But, if I have to choose, I prefer knives over guns. Don’t you agree?”
Crying out, she grabbed his wrist, but he was too strong. He pursed his lips, spittle spraying down on her face as his eerie calmness morphed into a violent rage. She moved her head fast enough to miss the blade as he struck down, but he pulled it back and came at her again.
This time he sliced the side of her arm and she screamed but refused to give up now. The red-hot pain didn’t distract her from trying to escape. They struggled and wrestled, and she used every ounce of energy to save herself. She didn’t want to die like this. Her life was supposed to be starting over, not ending.
“Get away from me!”
As he attempted to stab her again, about to plunge the blade into her chest, someone grabbed him, hauling him off her body. She instinctively grabbed her arm, trying to stop the blood. The warm liquid was all over the floor and smeared on her clothes from the struggle.
“It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you.” Dalton dropped down to her side and hoisted her off the flo
or. Two cops were on the man, and she didn’t have a clue who the guy was or why he’d done this to her. Resting her head against Dalton’s chest, she started to cry. It came out of nowhere. The stress, the fear, the pain—it all came rushing to the surface once she knew she was safe in Dalton’s arms.
“I thought I was going to die.”
“I’m so sorry. The man’s name is Luther. He’s lived out in a trailer park on the outskirts of town. He was arrested for arson as a child several times, but because he was minor his case files were locked.”
“How? What? You know him?”
“Yes. We got that description of him from the car rental place, and when we went to his trailer we saw all the gas that he had stored as well as the plans he had in place. He intended to set a blaze from here across the fucking state,” Dalton said.
“How did you know to come here?”
“Because my house was next on the list. He was going to hit every one in the fire department for messing with his plans.” He pressed a kiss to her lips as the cops pulled Luther out of the house. She couldn’t believe this was over. Actually over. “I’ve never been so scared as today. When I realized where he planned to strike next and knew you were home, I couldn’t get here fast enough. I deserved a few speeding tickets, I’m sure.”
“You were following the cops?”
“Nah, they were following me, baby. Never want anything to happen to you, ever.”
“I love you, Dalton,” she said. “I was so scared, and I just wanted you. I’ve … this is so hard for me. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and we’ve known each other such a short time. I don’t want this to stop.” She pressed a hand to his chest. Her emotions were all over the place, but she couldn’t hide her feelings about him. She had to take some risks if she wanted to have love in her life.
“Marry me,” he said.
She frowned. “What?”
“You heard me, Eva. I want you to marry me. I know there’s a big world out there that you’re determined to explore, and there’s a lot for you to see and experience. I don’t have much to offer. This house isn’t the greatest, and you know the risks associated with my job, but I have me. I can give you me, and I’ll love you more than anyone else in the world. Sickness and health. Better or worse. There’s no one else I want to spend the rest of my life with.” He cupped her face, tilting her head back. “Marry me.”
She chuckled. “This is crazy.”
“This is us, baby. You, me, and whatever life we can make with each other. I know our town is a little fucked-up at times, but we all mean well. You’ll be taken care of, loved, and you’ll want for anything.”
She smiled up at him, seeing the love shining in those blue eyes. This was what she’d been searching for her whole life. How had she gone so long without realizing she’d found it?
Covering his hands with her own, she felt … amazing.
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
She nodded. “I want to marry you. There’s nowhere else in the world I want to be. Just you and me, and no one else.” She tugged his collar, pulling him close so she could kiss him.
He sank his fingers into her hair, holding her in place.
She moaned, wanting him more than anything else. He was her rock. And nothing else mattered.
Someone cleared their throat, breaking their moment. Both police officers stood there, awkwardly watching.
“Thank you for all of your help on this, Dalton.”
“My pleasure.”
“The paramedic is outside for you to have that looked at, miss. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.”
“You’ll be getting an invite,” Dalton said.
She felt her cheeks go warm as the two men smiled at her.
“That’s good to know.”
Dalton helped her to her feet as the paramedic entered.
He assessed her arm and tutted. “You’ll live,” he said with a smile. “But you’ll need a few stitches.” The paramedic was able to suture the wound in the ambulance so she didn’t have to go to the hospital. Right now, with her nerves shot to hell, the only place she wanted to be was home. Their home.
Dalton was instructed to take care of her overnight and make sure she didn’t have a reaction to the painkillers that she was prescribed.
“I’ll always take care of my fiancée.”
He kissed her lips, and she rested her head against his chest, knowing there was no way she was ever going to get bored of him. She’d never really started driving for adventure. It was to escape the pain and disappointment of her life.
She loved Dalton more than anything else in the world.
“What’s going to happen to Luther?” she asked.
“There’s enough evidence, so I imagine he’ll be doing some hard time,” Dalton said. He pulled her into his arms, holding her just a little tighter. “When you’re feeling up to it you’ll have to give a report at the station, but not today.”
“Good. I just want to be home today. With you.”
“That’s exactly where you’re going to stay.” He kissed her head against. “Can’t lose you. I’ve only just found you.”
****
A couple months later
Dalton stood at the end of the aisle in his rented suit as the rest of the town got into position in the church. His palms were sweaty, and he felt too constricted in the formal wear. Planning for this wedding had been a mixture of a dream and a nightmare. Cake testing had turned into a food fight, and he wasn’t allowed to take his brother along the next time, or any time that something important called his attention.
Then there was a problem with the rings as they got lost three times in the mail. Not to mention the dress ended up with blue dye spilled on the hem.
Anyone would think that their wedding wasn’t meant to go ahead, but he knew without a doubt it was the complete opposite. Shit happened in life. That was the way of the world, but his love for Eva, now that kept on growing, day after day, and wouldn’t be changing.
Glancing down at the time, he gritted his teeth, hoping she hadn’t found a reason to be late. Maybe marriage had been too much too soon, and she’d jumped in her Civic again.
“Are you okay there?” James asked.
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve checked your watch twenty times in the last five minutes.”
“Don’t you think she’s running a little late?” Dalton asked.
“You think your bride is going to ditch you?” His brother was enjoying his discomfort way too much.
“Shut up, James. You’re supposed to be calming me here, not pissing me off.”
James held his hands up in surrender. “I wouldn’t worry.”
“Why?”
“Our mother is there, and if anything was going to go wrong, she’d be all over it, and you know it.” His mother had screamed so loud over the phone when he’d told her he’d be getting married. She was already looking at clothes for her future grandchild.
He took a deep breath and tapped his fingers against his thigh. He was going to get married in a matter of moments. Mrs. Cooper waved from her seat, and he smiled back.
“Do you want to leave?”
“No, I don’t want to leave. Shit.”
“You sure? I could sneak you out,” said James.
“I’m not interested. I want this more than anything. One day, you’ll understand.” Just thinking back to that moment in the trailer when he realized he was the next target and Eva would be home alone was enough to make him sick to his stomach. He’d nearly lost her. Instead, Eva had a permanent scar on her arm from Luther’s attack. It could have been much worse though. In the past couple of months, Luther had been tried and convicted of attempted murder and arson, and he’d be spending a great deal of time in jail where he couldn’t do any more harm. The sentence helped Dalton to sleep a little better at night.
Eva wanted to get a dress to hide her scar, but Dalton insisted she get the strapless number she loved. Her
scar was a part of her, part of their story, and it would be foolish to hide it.
Everyone had finally taken their seats, and he was about to check his watch again when the organ began to play. He heard a few gasps and shuffling as everyone turned to look at the back of the church. A frog formed in his throat, his emotions right at the surface.
“She’s here,” James said with a chuckle. “And you were worried.”
Turning toward the door, he watched as the bridesmaids walked slowly down the aisle, making way for his woman. He watched as she suddenly appeared, and she took his breath away. Her gown was elegant with lace and satin. She was a fucking angel, and all his. She smiled up at him, and he nodded his head.
She looked just as nervous as he was.
With no family of her own, she’d opted to walk down the aisle on her own, and he watched her, taking practiced steps until she was by his side.
“Nervous?”
“A little, but I was more worried I’d fall on my face.”
Standing before the priest, Eva held his hand as the older man started to talk. Dalton didn’t hear much of the words, too focused on his bride. He said his vows, listened to hers, and then it was time for him to kiss her. Pulling her in close, he wrapped his arms around her as the crowd went wild. They smiled at each other, trying not to laugh. Then he kissed her, sealing their fate.
Eva was the woman he’d been waiting for all of his life.
She was his soulmate.
His love.
His reason for everything.
And for the next fifty-plus years, he intended to show her exactly how much she meant to him.
The End
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