“What he’s ineptly trying to say…” Dane began after clearing his throat. “You’ve brought a bit of a new light into the season for us.”
“Sounds smarmy…” Jack mumbled.
“I think it sounds sweet,” Hayley laughed, her hand up and one finger clicking at the back of his head playfully. “And the lights tonight…that was special…thank you.”
“She hit me.”
“You deserved it,” Dane laughed and turned the truck off. “Get your cute ass inside. It’s freezing out here.”
“It’s snowing,” Hayley announced as she slid to the ground, the blanket wrapped over her jacket but kept carefully from touching the concrete of the driveway. She’d left the Christmas lights on and they sparkled all the more with translucent flakes floating around them.
She turned on her heels, absently walking backwards with her head tilted back and eyes closed. Snowflakes fell on her face and clung for the softest of seconds before melting. There was no resistance when a strong arm circled her waist and guided her blindly toward the planking stairs leading up to her house.
Her fingers fumbled beneath the blanket for the pocket where she had her keys. She pulled them free and let Jack take them from her. Hayley recited the security code and he tapped that in once they were inside the warmth of the A-frame.
Hayley sighed contentedly, the warmth oozing through the blanket as she walked to the stairs leading to the bedroom. It was her haven. It smelled like sugar and crisp trees and she loved it. Lights twinkled behind her and she knew one of them had flipped the switch to the tree and it made her smile.
The warmth went beyond what she felt in the air. And she knew they were the cause. A quiet, happy smile remained in place as she changed into a soft, worn night shirt and pair of thick socks. Maybe she was getting used to them because she didn’t bother with underwear.
Her feet made no sound as she wandered back down the stairs. Her gaze went straight to the large cushiony chair next to the fireplace.
“Dane?” She asked quietly.
“Hitting the shower.”
“I’m not tired…I was…”
“That’s not uncommon after a long scene,” he told her, patting his lap and watching her face. The smile she gave him was backed up with her feet crossing the room and preparing to sit. Until he turned her slightly and put his knees together. “Face me, Hayley.”
She knew it was partially his tone of voice; but mostly it was the expression on his face and the dark gleam in his eyes.
“I like sitting this way,” she admitted, her hands settling on his shoulders for support as her knees slid along his thighs on either side of him. That’s when he carefully widened his knees. It must have shown on her face because he laughed and took a firm hold of her waist.
“No panties…good…”
“How can you possibly…” she caught herself and sighed before leaning in and kissing the lips he tapped with one finger. “I like kissing you, too. Sometimes…”
“Continue,” he prodded when she hesitated.
“Sometimes there’s not enough before we…well…before things get wild.”
“No…sometimes there isn’t, you’re right. We’ll have to work on that for you,” Jack promised seconds before her mouth settled over his. Soft and warm, his tongue was out and stroking tenderly over her lips, urging her tongue into play. This lasted for several long, hot minutes before he trailed his mouth over her cheek and onto her shoulder.
The shirt she wore stretched under his guidance and he bit down on the soft tissue. Hayley groaned softly against him.
“We have to go into the office in the morning, Hayley,” Jack murmured as he kissed along her throat. “You’ll be safe here.”
“You’re worried about me…” she straightened slowly, meeting the languid dark gaze.
“Someone shot at you, babe. Hell, yes, we’re worried about you. We could take you with us to the office…”
“I have things to do here,” she said quickly. “I haven’t heard from the Lieutenant about the shooting,” she chewed her lip a bit. “Maybe it was just some kind of fluke. There hasn’t been…I mean, no one’s come after me.”
“I’m not buying it and neither is Dane,” Jack said firmly. “Until we hear from the Lieutenant, we’re not taking chances. I’ll give her a call in the morning and see if anything’s turned up. Maybe she tracked down the guy and just hasn’t let us know.”
“And that means we need you to stay here until we get back,” Dane said into the silence, his hands up and rubbing a towel over his head. Fingers gripped the ends when he finished and let the damp towel fall to his shoulders. His chest was bare and he wore a pair of plain, deep gold flannel pants. “Please, Hayley.”
“My turn to shower,” Jack stood up with his hands firmly on her behind, holding her in place. Long legs slipped and she yelped seconds before she was handed off the Dane. “She says we don’t kiss enough.”
“Huh…I guess we need to fix that…” Dane gripped her waist and lifted her until she could stand on the floor. He turned her toward the stairs and sent her stumbling forward with a sharp smack on her behind. “Upstairs.”
Hayley scowled at him over her shoulder, her hand back and rubbing the spot while her feet hustled over the floor to the stairs. She ran lightly to the large, open loft and yawned, the evening catching up with her in a rush. Her knee touched the bottom of the bed and she crawled up and slipped beneath her set of quilts.
She’d arranged the bed for three. Hoping or knowing, she wasn’t sure. Jack liked the window side and Dane, the other. Jack liked hugging her from behind and she liked cuddling against Dane’s arm, so somehow, maybe it was magical, they fit together, even inside the bed.
“Good set up with the blankets,” Dane said as he checked the quilt he’d pulled from the closet several days ago. His was flannel and thick; Jack had pulled two lighter ones free and Hayley slept beneath a sheet and quilt. And no one would have them stolen.
“How long will you guys be working?”
“Probably ‘til two or three. We need to get the final payroll out for the year,” he answered, shifting to lean on his side and gaze down at the thoughtful expression she wore.
“It’ll almost be normal,” she said, quietly, listening to the sounds around the inside of her little house that had become normal to her. All in the space of a week. “I’m going to make big, iced cookies and a rum cake to take to the Christmas brunch. The house will smell delicious. I need to check in with my partner, too. Make sure there’s not something I need to help with…but I have a pretty good staff. We have a payroll program that has a time delay on it…Megan checks it remotely so she can stay with her kids unless we need her.”
“Hayley…” Dane waited until she slowed before speaking. “Are you sure you want us to attend the Christmas brunch with your family?” He wasn’t prepared for the bounce when she bolted upright, gaping at him. “I’m guessing that’s a yes.”
“Why would I hide you? How can you think that? We’re friends…before everything else, we’re friends,” she repeated firmly, the gape turning into a glare.
“Foot in your mouth again, partner?” Jack asked, his head clearing the landing and gaze sweeping the scene before him. “Judging from the look on her face…”
“He thinks I don’t want you to come to the brunch with the family. Gram knows you’re part of my life.”
“And your brother and father?” Dane pressed.
“They’ll adjust or they won’t. I’m not living my life for them,” she informed him, flouncing back on the bed and curling into her blankets. “Good night.”
“Hmmm…I’m thinking the discussion is over,” Jack remarked with a laugh, the shorts he wore to bed riding low as he shook out his quilts and spread them over his section of the very large bed.
“The hell it is.”
“Over. My relatives, my issue. Go to sleep…lots of baking to do tomorrow…oh, god, it’s already tomorrow,” Hayley groaned into the pillow.
“What are your regular hours?” Hayley forced herself to ask. Her heart was thudding. They weren’t talking about things ending. They weren’t talking about going off to their own home without her.
“Early to about six…sometimes five, depending on what’s going on,” Jack answered. He turned toward her, his hand sliding beneath the blankets to curl around her ass with a possessive squeeze.
“Hmm…I don’t usually have to be in until eight…unless there’s emergencies…births…” her voice drifted off and breathing became steady.
“You’re thinking about living together,” Dane said after a few minutes.
“Aren’t you?”
“She likes her little house.”
“I’m banking she likes us more,” Jack inhaled the sweet scent of her shampoo, the faintest bit lingering in the long hair. “This can be a weekend getaway place for us.”
“Huh…”
“What?”
“Just trying to picture the place decked out for Christmas next year.”
Jack smiled as he drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“I will be fine!” Hayley shouted, throwing a pillow from the sofa. A satisfied growl left her lips when it caught Jack at the side of his head. Both arms had been sliding into his jacket so he wasn’t able to catch it as it flew toward him. He snatched it from the floor, but didn’t turn in time before she was standing in the middle of the kitchen.
“Aren’t you glad you instigated that rule about no rough-housing in the kitchen,” Dane clapped him on the shoulder and took the pillow, tossing it lightly to the sofa. “We’ll be back in a few hours, Hayley. Stay out of trouble. And don’t forget to make extra cookies.”
Hayley held up a thumb of agreement while sticking her tongue out at Jack. That earned her a lopsided grin and a pair of eyes that promised he’d get even. There was that erotic zing that shot through her sometimes around them. She was laughing as they left, locking the door behind them.
The deep sound of the truck turning over made her smile a little more as she started collecting what she needed to bake. Two hours later when Eden showed up at the door, she had cookie sheets spread across the counters, waiting to cool for the icing.
“Oh, god, that smells amazing,” Eden breathed out a puff of shivering cold air as she closed the door firmly behind her. “You ready to hit the shops? I told Rafe if he touches the packages, I’ll skin him alive.”
Hayley laughed and zipped her coat before checking her wallet. “I’m sure he took you seriously.”
Eden laughed. “Probably not. I’m not sure he’s scared of me…”
“Did it frighten you?” Hayley asked after she was buckled into the sports car and they headed down the long drive to the highway. “I mean…he’s my cousin and I love him…and seeing him with you…he’s so happy…not that he was always depressed or like that, but…he really loves you.”
“It happened kind of before I could get afraid,” Eden admitted slowly. “It seemed so fast but…not wrong, either. We just kind of…fit…you know? I worry sometimes…that I’ll do something stupid to screw it up…”
“That’s your relatives talking,” Hayley said into the brief lull. “I’ve met them, remember? You need Rafe to keep them at bay.”
“It is kind of nice…I mean that someone else has my back…”
“It’s a little frightening,” Hayley agreed quietly.
“Dell was over at the house last night,” Eden said, wincing at the look on her new friend’s face. “Sorry…but I thought you should know. Rafe told him…well, basically, we both told him you were happy and an adult and it wasn’t our business. He wasn’t happy with that answer.”
“I’m sorry he’s bothering you guys…” Hayley let her head go against the headrest.
“Are you? Happy, I mean…”
Hayley smiled. “I am. I know people don’t understand…and I’m sure they have me condemned to hell for my immoral behavior…”
“We don’t think that at all.”
“I know some do and will…they tried to warn me…for social things, they wanted to just have one of them go along with me…” her head shook slightly. “It feels wrong. Not just to me, but especially to them. And I know there are two of them…believe me, at times I more than know…but then most of the time it’s as if they’re two sides of the same person. And they like me…we’re friends…”
“I saw them watching you, Hayley. I think it’s a bit more than just like,” Eden told her, guiding the car into the huge parking lot of the bustling mall. It was two days before Christmas and the lot was filling up quickly since the stores all opened early for harried shoppers.
“It’s like you said…a little scary…I don’t want to hurt them…and I like them. I like being with them. We talk about all kinds of things…from the ranch to construction and chemistry and…it’s just a lot more than what people think they see from the outside.”
“You know what people see from the outside,” Eden said with a mild snort. “Especially when they find out they’re members of Independence. It’s got a bit of a reputation.”
Hayley laughed. “Yeah…I know…all whispered about in the dark like it’s some kind of hell’s dungeon.”
“I’ve done some reading…especially after Dell was over…the thing is, I’m not sure if it’s the club or the fact that there are two of them that bothers him most.” Eden locked the car and walked with Hayley toward the entrance. “Rafe has a lot of the same traits…we just don’t label it. I don’t think your brother gets that. And I wouldn’t change it for all the world, either. But I’m not sure about the public thing…”
“No…no, Dell doesn’t get it at all,” Hayley agreed. “And the public thing…” she laughed. “It takes some getting used to, believe me,” she admitted, changing the topic to the stores she wanted to find and the gifts she was after. But their conversation had given her a lot to think about. “They’re so different and so alike…it’s hard to explain until you know them better.”
****
Jack finished the final entry and checked the list one last time before closing out the files. “All payroll finished. Everything is shut down and secure until Monday.”
“Then we have two projects on light schedule until Wednesday and another long weekend. Good schedule,” Dane remarked from his desk across the large room. He finished the appraisal he was working on, checked the supplies list for anything missing and signed off on the bottom. Now it would be Jack’s turn for a look over in case anything was missing.
He was absently reaching for his phone when the name jumped out at him. He looked up at Jack.
“The Lieutenant.” He said simply, striking the speaker button and responding. “This is Dane and you’re on speaker, Lieutenant.”
“Good…saves me time. Is Hayley with you?” Came the brisk question.
The men looked at one another and Jack pulled his phone from his pocket.
“No. We left her at the ranch working on holiday baking. Is something wrong?”
“She isn’t responding to her cell,” Natalie Templeton said flatly.
“We’re on our way home now,” Dane told her, hands expertly closing out files and locking drawers. “Is there something we can help with?”
“Any update?” Jack added quickly.
“Yeah…and not a good one. I found Derrick. That’s his last name. Raymond Derrick…he’s now residing on the slab in the morgue. He was found early this morning when a neighbor complained about a howling dog in the backyard. He’d been shot three times at long range.”
“The same as the shooter?”
“Best guess until details come through…yes,” she said grimly. “I’m on my way to the ranch. I want to talk to Hayley.”
“We’ll be there within the half hour,” Dane promised. “What a
bout her friend?”
“I can’t locate her,” Natalie answered tersely.
“We went to see her a day or so ago. She was…Hayley was in shock, let’s put it that way,” Jack recalled the event. “She blamed Hayley for Derrick not letting her back into his life.”
“She was seriously pissed, Lieutenant,” Dane added.
“Interesting. I’ll meet you in a few minutes.”
“All right,” Jack said and tapped the phone to silent. “Why isn’t she answering?”
Jack shook his head and ended the call he began. “I don’t know.”
There was tense silence in the cab of the truck as they made their way to the ranch. Before work, they’d managed to get in some shopping, grateful the stores were open early for the last sprint to Christmas Day.
“She’s fine,” Dane said after a few long minutes, his focus on the road ahead of him. Traffic was light in their direction. A good thing because he wasn’t exactly adhering to the speed limit at the moment. “She probably just went to her office. Do we have that number? Can’t be difficult to find.”
The tires gripped the concrete as they rounded the last curve to the ranch. The gates were wide with traces of snow falling from the heavy looking clouds overhead but neither man noticed the weather.
Jack’s boots hit the concrete at the same time both noticed Rafe headed their way on horseback. He continued into the house, tapping out the security code and slamming the door behind him.
“Rafe…” Dane moved deliberately toward the rider. “A problem?”
Rafe slowed the horse, leaning forward to pat the side of his neck. One brow rose at the tone he heard from Dane.
“Not that I’m aware of. I thought I’d check and see if they were back yet.”
“Hayley is with Eden?” Jack came from inside, ignoring the cold winds whipping around them. He held his hand out. “It was on the floor where she hangs her coat. Must have fallen out of her pocket.”
“What’s wrong?” Rafe swung from the saddle, dropping the reins so they touched the ground.
“Can you call Eden?” Dane asked briskly.
“Yeah…she sent me a text a few hours ago. They were having lunch at the mall…” Rafe reached inside the heavy coat he wore and pulled his phone free before removing his gloves. “What’s wrong?”
Independence: #4 Hayley Page 24