“That’s what he intended to do with my body,” she said. “He was going to strangle me and then take me to the lagoon and leave me floating in the water where Shelly had been found. Thank God you thought about the school.”
She shook her head. “I was stupid. I allowed myself to be vulnerable.”
“I was the stupid one. I let the fire distract me and left you vulnerable. But it’s over now, Claire. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
She looked up at him, her blue eyes filling with tears once again. “But you lost your house because of me.”
“No, I lost my house because of Roger,” he countered. “Besides, I have insurance and it will all get sorted out.”
Trey and several of his men came into the locker room. “Claire, I’m glad to see you’re okay,” he said and looked around. “Where’s Roger?”
“In the shower,” Bo replied.
“Did you kill him?”
Bo stood to face the nemesis who had done everything in his power two years ago to see Bo behind bars for the murder of Shelly. “I had a knife at his neck. I had every opportunity, every reason in the world to kill him, but I didn’t because that’s not who I am. It’s never been who I am. I wasn’t a murderer two years ago and I’m still not a killer.”
Trey motioned his men to the shower enclosure and then he pulled a notepad and pen from his pocket. “I need to get initial statements from both of you.”
Bo gazed at Claire’s face. Exhaustion played on her pale features. He looked back at Trey. “Very brief statements,” he said. “We can come into the station sometime later this afternoon for complete statements, but right now it’s almost dawn and everyone is exhausted.”
True to his word, Trey kept his questions brief and few and then re-pocketed the notepad and pen. “We can finish things up later.”
Bo gave Trey back his cell phone and then together he and Claire walked out of the school, leaving Trey and his men to deal with Roger and sort out the crime scene.
A faint glow of pinks and oranges lit up the eastern sky as they walked toward Claire’s house. Morning birds began their songs as the weight of exhaustion fell on Bo’s shoulders.
“You know you’re welcome to crash at my place for as long as you need to,” Claire said.
“I’ll take you up on that offer at least until I figure things out. Right now I’m so tired I can’t think.”
She grabbed his hand. “I’m glad to be so exhausted. It means I’m still alive. I stared madness in the eyes tonight and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for riding to my rescue.”
He squeezed her hand. “I just couldn’t imagine what would happen if I lost my boss,” he said with forced lightness.
“After tonight you get to be the boss all the time,” she replied.
He laughed. “I have a feeling after a couple of hours of sleep you’ll feel differently about that.”
“You’re probably right,” she agreed.
By that time they had reached Claire’s house, where Eric still sat on the front porch. He stood. “You’re okay?” he asked Claire.
“I’m okay,” she replied.
Eric nodded, handed her the spare key to her house and started to walk down the sidewalk toward Mama Baptiste’s place. Claire called after him and he turned to face them. “Thank you,” she said.
“No problem,” he replied and then turned and continued to walk away.
Claire opened the door and Bo followed her inside, closing and relocking the door behind him. “Do you want anything?” she asked. Her features were drawn and a deep exhaustion showed through the dull shine of her eyes.
“Sleep,” he replied. “We both need some sleep.”
“There’s no reason for you to sleep on the sofa. You can sleep with me in the bedroom.”
He knew it was no invitation for anything but rest and perhaps the need of a woman who had been to hell and back and simply wanted the comfort of somebody sleeping next to her, hopefully keeping nightmares at bay.
In the bedroom she pulled the blinds closed and then collapsed on the mattress. He did the same and cuddled her in his arms. She snuggled against him, a perfect fit against his body.
She released a weary sigh and was asleep almost immediately. With the sweet scent of her hair and the smell of her perfume permeating the room, Bo also fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
*
CLAIRE WOKE FIRST, with Bo spooned around her backside. She didn’t move, not wanting to break the utter peace she felt with his body so close against hers and one of his arms thrown over her.
He had been like an animal protecting his mate last night in the shower stall. He’d fought for her with a ferocity that had awed her.
Love for him swelled up inside her, chasing away any bad memories that might attempt to intrude. She loved his strength of character, his courage in agreeing to remain in town and face the people who had condemned him as a murderer.
She loved his dry sense of humor, the way his lips slowly slid upward into a smile that almost felt like a precious gift. She’d thought herself to be falling in love with Bo, but realized now there was no falling...she was deeply in love with the man. He was everything she wanted for her happily-ever-after and yet she knew deep in her heart it wasn’t meant to be.
He had given her no indication that he felt the same way about her. Sure, he’d saved her life, but he’d promised to be her bodyguard.
Partners with fringe benefits, that’s the way he thought of them, not lifelong lovers sharing a future together.
She wasn’t even sure if he’d stay in town beyond tomorrow. The call to return to his life in Jackson would be stronger now. His home here was gone, the danger to her had been vanquished, and she had a feeling the will to clear his name had been more her idea than his.
A glance at her clock let her know it was just after noon. She should get up but she was reluctant to stir, afraid that she’d awaken Bo. Besides, these moments being held in his arms would someday be precious memories she’d carry with her for the rest of her life. She closed her eyes once again and just existed in the warmth and security of Bo.
“Are you awake?” His warm breath caressed the back of her neck.
“Wide awake,” she replied and opened her eyes. He pulled his arm from around her and she sat up. “I’ve just been thinking about having to go into the station today and relive what happened last night.” It was a little white lie, but she couldn’t very well tell him she’d been thinking about how much she loved him.
He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed at the same time he raked a hand through his hair. “I’ll be right beside you and hopefully it won’t be too rough on you. At least you lived to tell the tale.”
“Thanks to you,” she replied.
“Besides going into the station, I’ve got a ton of things to take care of today, the first being buying some clothes and then getting in touch with my insurance company and figuring out what comes next.”
She wanted to ask him what did come next. Was he staying or going? She almost hoped he decided to go back to Jackson. She’d be left with a heart broken in two, but there would be no more opportunity for her love for him to grow even deeper.
“Let’s get the interviews with Trey over with first,” he said. “Then I can bring you back here and I’ll take care of some of my own business.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she agreed and stood. “I’m going to shower and change clothes and then you can shower. Unfortunately I don’t have anything that will fit you for you to change into.”
He grinned, that sexy smile that only managed to begin the breaking of her heart. “I’d worry a little if you did have clothes that fit me. I’m fairly open, but I draw the line at hanging out with a cross-dresser.”
Claire threw a bed pillow in his direction and then walked to her closet to grab clothes for the day. Bo left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen, where Claire figured he’d have a pot of coffee ready by the time she’d show
ered.
Minutes later she stood beneath a steamy spray of water and tried not to think about Bo McBride. Instead she forced herself to go back to the night before and the time she’d spent with Roger.
She would have never guessed him to be a stalker...her stalker. They’d shared a great relationship as coworkers and friends, but she’d never dreamed he had become obsessed with her.
Had she missed telling cues? Had she not noticed something that she should have realized was off between them? She’d never felt any odd vibes coming from him.
It didn’t matter now. He would be going away for a long time and the danger to her was finally over.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted her as she stepped out of the bathroom. Bo was seated at her table with a cup in front of him.
“The bathroom is all yours,” she said and poured herself a cup of coffee.
“I called Trey and told him we’d be in within a half an hour or so. It’s a good thing you still have a landline because both our cell phones are probably melted into ash mounds.”
“I kept the landline because cell phone reception is a bit spotty in the house,” she replied. She sat at the table as he stood.
“It won’t take me long and then we can head out and get the interviews over with.” He disappeared into the bathroom.
Claire sipped her coffee and tried not to think about Bo naked in her shower. Drat the man anyway and damn her for allowing him to get so deeply into her heart. She certainly hadn’t been looking for love when she’d ignored George and thrown a burger and fries to Bo.
True to his word, he showered and re-dressed in a matter of minutes and then they were on their way to talk to Trey. Claire had thought that emotionally she’d handled the ordeal just fine, but when she had to relive the details of the horrendous night she broke down.
It was only Bo’s presence, his hand on hers, that allowed her to get through it all. She then listened to Bo give his statement and finally they were finished.
They swung by Bo’s house and she was surprised that the outer shell still stood. The windows had been blown or broken out, the paint was dark with soot, but the good news was that his motorcycle, parked in the driveway, appeared to be undamaged.
“Thank God the garage was full of boxes that I was going to give to charity, otherwise I would have parked inside and the bike would be gone,” he said.
“What about a key?” she asked.
He turned off the car and smiled at her. “I’ve got a spare in a combination lockbox I had welded to the inside of the saddlebag just in case of an emergency.” He pulled the keys out of the car ignition and handed them to her. “At least I have wheels to take care of some business. Why don’t I plan on being back at your house between six and seven?”
“Okay,” she agreed. “I’ve got a few errands I need to run, too, so I’ll see you at the house later.”
She got out of the car and got into the driver’s seat he’d vacated. Only when he had his spare key in the ignition of his motorcycle and she heard the throaty roar of the engine did she drive away.
Her first order of business was to get a new cell phone. She also needed to stop by the bank and get a new credit and debit card. She’d also have to go to the motor vehicle bureau and get a copy of her driver’s license.
Her brain spun as she tried to think of everything that had been in her purse...a purse now burned to a crisp in the fire. If she was lucky she could accomplish everything, stop by the grocery store and pick up a few things, then have a good dinner waiting for Bo’s return to the house.
It was five o’clock when she finally got home and unloaded the groceries she’d bought. She’d managed to get everything she needed to do done and had planned a meal of a salad, spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread for dinner.
She got the meat sauce cooking and made the salad, and it was only as she set the table for two that she realized how difficult it was going to be for her if Bo stayed here for an indeterminate period of time.
Two plates on the table looked right. Her house was a perfect size for her, but would be an intimate setting with Bo sharing it.
He hadn’t mentioned a word about leaving town and she could only assume he intended them to pick up where they’d left off before danger had reached out to her. Could she go back to investigating Shelly’s death with him at her side, with him staying in her house?
She suddenly felt vulnerable and far too fragile. She’d never even felt this way when she’d been alone as a child and the darkness of night had been a very scary place.
Bo returned at six thirty, carrying a new duffel bag with new clothes and toiletries and with an energy that filled the house, making it immediately shrink to minuscule size.
“Hmm, something smells good,” he said. He walked across the room and tossed his duffel bag into the bedroom.
“And your timing is perfect,” she replied with a forced lightness. “It’s ready to be served.”
“Great. I’m starving. Is there anything I can do?”
“No thanks, I’ve got it.”
He sat at the table and while they ate he told her about what he’d accomplished during the afternoon. She shared her afternoon activities with him and while she did she was struck by the domestic scene created.
They were like husband and wife, coming together over a meal to share the events of their day. The domesticity continued when they’d finished eating and Bo helped her clear the table and clean the kitchen.
This was the happily-ever-after she’d dreamed about when she’d been young. The filling in of a loneliness she’d suffered for most of her life, the sharing of both simple and complicated things. But this couldn’t be her happily-ever-after. Even though Bo was the right man, she was the wrong woman in the wrong place.
By the time they sat on the sofa Claire’s nerves were completely shot. She turned on the television and stared blankly at the screen. Bo sat next to her, close enough that she could smell the scent of a new sexy cologne, feel the heat of his body radiating toward her.
He would just assume that tonight he’d share her bed and why wouldn’t he assume that? She’d opened her home to him, opened herself to him in a way she hadn’t intended and now knew she couldn’t continue with her emotions in such turmoil.
“Are you okay?” he asked gently after several minutes of silence had passed.
She turned to look at him and to her horror she burst into tears. He instantly reached for her, but she scooted back from him and held up her hands to keep him away.
If he held her right now she wouldn’t do what she knew had to be done. If he touched her in any way she wouldn’t be strong enough.
“I’m sorry, Bo,” she managed to say through her tears. “I thought I could do this... I thought I could have you here with me and it would be no big deal. We’d continue on like we were, investigating and spending all our time together. But it is a big deal because...because I’m totally in love with you.” She held her breath and watched the stunned expression sweep over his handsome features.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen,” he finally replied.
She brushed the tears from her cheeks and drew a deep breath. “I didn’t exactly plan it. All I know is I can’t do this. I can’t spend my days and nights with you as if I’m not in love with you. I can’t play at being partners in crime when I want to be partners in life forever.”
He frowned and scanned the room, as if lost and trying to get his bearings. He finally gazed at her, a wealth of sadness in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Claire. I don’t know what to say.”
What he hadn’t said, said it all. He hadn’t proclaimed his love for her. He certainly didn’t appear happy at her pronouncement of her feelings for him.
“There’s nothing to say,” she replied. “I can’t change the way I feel, and I certainly can’t make you feel something you don’t. You were straight with me from the very beginning. I just didn’t realize that I wasn’t in control of my own emotions.”
>
He stood from the sofa and walked to the bedroom, where he grabbed his duffel bag and then headed for the front door. She watched him covetously, her heart already beginning to splinter.
“I owe you so much, Claire,” he said and opened the front door. “I just want you to know that I’ve appreciated your help and your belief in me.”
“You saved my life last night. I figure we’re even.” She fought back a fresh wave of tears. “Are you planning on sticking around town or heading back to Jackson?” she asked.
“I think it’s time I put Lost Lagoon behind me,” he replied. “Goodbye, Claire.”
He disappeared out the door and it was only when she heard the roar of his motorcycle that her heart completely shattered and she allowed the tears to overwhelm her.
Chapter Thirteen
Bo headed toward Jimmy’s Place, knowing that there was plenty of room in the upstairs apartment for him to bunk there until he decided what he was going to do.
Stay or go?
Claire’s confession of love for him had shocked him. He hadn’t seen it coming, although perhaps he should have. Driving down Main Street he thought of the softness of her gaze when she looked at him and the passion she’d shown him when they’d made love.
The way her hand had so often sought his, how easily she’d smiled at him, he should have realized she was into him, but he’d been completely blind to the depth of her emotions where he was concerned.
The knowledge of her love weighed heavy on his heart. He’d never wanted her to love him. Love had no place in his life. He was a man marked as a murderer, a man who had decided never to allow himself to love again.
Stay or go?
He parked his bike behind Jimmy’s Place. Just inside the back door in the kitchen area was a set of stairs that led up to the apartment on the third floor.
The apartment door was unlocked, as he’d expected it to be, and as he stepped inside the wide-open space of combined living room and kitchen, memories from a different life slammed into him. There were three doors; two led to bedrooms and one to a bath.
This was where he’d lived when his father had been alive and Bo’s Place had been a roaring success. He and Shelly had stolen private time here until his father had passed and he’d made the decision to move back with his mother, who he felt needed him at the time.
Carla Cassidy Page 15