by Desiree Holt
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dana stopped on her way home from the sheriff’s office and vomited until her stomach was empty. She’d heard two people from Solize discussing the condition of the body. She knew the images in her mind would find their way into her nightmares.
Bastard!
That’s all she could think when she finally stopped heaving. If she had a gun, she might hunt him down and kill him herself. Suddenly, the scene in the barn with Kylie and the man who’d taken them rose in the air and smacked her in the face. The scent of cedar and moldy air surrounded her, and she was afraid she’d heave again.
This killer was taking his victims close together. Years ago, the pedophile had gone days or even weeks between victims. It was barely two days since Leanne’s death. If this was the same man, had he recognized her? She’d felt him the other day, felt his evil presence. He was here and he was the one. It was hard for her to look at anyone in town without staring, wondering if she was looking at him.
Was she the catalyst? Was he trying to divert attention or frighten her off? Was she his ultimate target?
All she wanted was to lock herself in her house and bury her face in a pillow. But when she pulled into her driveway, she was ready to be sick all over again. Someone had liberally used red spray paint on the neat little adobe house she was renting. “Bitch go home” and “You’ll be next” were sprayed in different locations across the front and someone had smashed the big living room window.
Who would do this? Who could be so vicious?
After all the emotional traumas she’d been body slammed with, after the unremitting tension and hostility since her arrival in High Ridge, it was just too much. This was the tipping point, the thing that snapped the control that defined her life.
Her hands were shaking so badly she could hardly get her cell phone out of her purse. Unable to even remember the number of Cole’s office, she just dialed 911, knowing the dispatcher would answer.
“Sheriff’s office. What’s your emergency? Hello? Hello?”
Dana had to swallow twice before she could get the words out.
“Sheriff Landry.”
“You need the sheriff?” The voice was calm and matter of fact. “He’s very busy at the moment.”
“Help. Need help.” Dana could barely get the words out. “This is…Dana.” She dragged in a breath. “Dana…Moretti.”
Shivering, she gave her address and dropped the still-connected phone on the seat, completely undone for the first time in years. She hugged herself, rocking back and forth in the limited space between the back of the seat and the steering wheel. She heard a voice coming from the cell, but she had no idea what it was saying nor could she make herself answer.
She was still rocking when she heard sirens in the background and the squealing of tires as a car—maybe more than one—pulled up behind her. Then her door was yanked open and Cole was crouching beside her, unbuckling her seat belt, putting one arm around her and smoothing back her hair.
“It’s okay.” His voice was calm and reassuring. “It’s okay, Dana. I’ll take care of whatever it is.”
He reached over her to pull the keys from the ignition. She was peripherally aware that he handed them over to someone behind him and was talking to him, swearing under his breath before he turned back to her.
“Dana? Listen to me. I’m here and you’re safe now. I’m going to help you out of this car, okay?”
She felt as if she was walking through water as she uncurled herself from the seat and let Cole help her stand. She leaned into him, drawing on his strength. The last time she’d fallen apart like this she was seven years old. That’s how old she felt right now.
“The house,” she moaned into his chest. “It’s not even mine. Cole, who would do something like this?”
He stroked her hair, his arms still around her. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”
He kept his voice even, but Dana could hear the fine edge of anger running through it.
“I-I have to get someone to fix this.” She sniffled and lifted her head. “Janie Milburn will kill me.”
“Janie Milburn is the last person I’m worrying about right now. And I’ll get this taken care of.”
“Cole?”
She glanced sideways and saw a deputy walking up to them.
“What did you get?” Cole asked.
“We checked the house. Nothing’s touched inside, but we found this rock in the living room.” He held out a rock three times bigger than his gloved hand. A black X was painted on it.
“Shit. Okay, put it in an evidence bag. Can you ask Grace to call someone to come out here and board up the window for tonight? I’ll worry about the rest tomorrow.”
“Sure. Dan’s still checking the back and around the sides of the house.”
“Okay, thanks. Give me a minute here.” He put his hand beneath Dana’s chin and tilted up her faced. “Dana, you can’t stay here tonight. It isn’t safe.”
She was having trouble processing everything and shook her head, as if to clear the fog. Cole must have thought she was disagreeing with him.
“Don’t fight me on this. Please?”
“B-but my things are there. And where would I go? I—I don’t want to go back to the motel.” She shivered at the thought of being alone and exposed there.
He stroked his thumb across her cheekbone. “You’re not. I’m going to take you to my place. Let’s go inside so you can pack what you need. I’ll send someone back for your car.”
“What? I can’t stay at your place.”
“Why not?” His grin was almost real. “It’s a great place and it’s even clean. How many single men can say that?”
She hiccuped a laugh. She ought to go to a motel, but she didn’t seem to have the strength to make a decision for herself. She was falling apart like melting ice cream, and she didn’t seem to be able to do anything about it.
“I’d take you to stay with my aunt and uncle,” he added, “but you don’t know them so you might feel uncomfortable.”
That was certainly true. “I can’t believe I’m such a mess,” she told him in a weak voice. “This isn’t me at all.”
“You’ve been through a lot in a very short time. Stress will do that, you know.”
“But I can usually handle—”
“This isn’t usual.” He released her from his arms and took her hand. “Come on. Let’s go get your stuff.”
In a fog, she let him lead her inside, vaguely aware that one of the deputies came in and talked to him while she gathered some things together and tossed them into her travel bag. She found her laptop, sleepwalked her way out to Cole’s SUV, and let him help her into it.
She could barely concentrate during the drive to his place. He spoke on his cell phone and the radio, but nothing he said penetrated. When he pulled into his driveway, she had only a hazy impression of a neat ranch house with a barn behind it. Somewhere she heard a horse whinny.
Cole unlocked the door and guided her inside, through a large great room and down a short hallway into a bedroom.
“I even have clean sheets on the bed,” he joked.
She turned to him, frowning. “Is this your room?”
“Uh, no, this would be the guest room.” He set her computer and suitcase down and gathered her to him. She wanted to curl up next to him and never move. “If I get you in my bedroom, Dana, I’ll have a lot more on my mind than just keeping you safe.”
She leaned her head against him, trying to draw strength. He held her like that for two or three minutes before she finally drew in a deep breath, let it out, and somehow managed to draw in her frayed edges. “I think if I could have a cup of coffee, even instant, I could pull myself together and not be quite such a mess.”
“One cup of coffee coming right up.”
She sat at the table in the kitchen while Cole heated water and fixed the hot drink for her. But then he opened a cupboard and took down a bottle of whiskey, pouring some into t
he coffee.
“You need something to counteract shock,” he told her. “Drink up.”
Curling her hands around the mug, she took a sip, careful not to burn her tongue. The blend of hot coffee and whiskey flowed into her, and almost at once, she felt her edges smoothing out. After two more sips, she set the mug down and looked at Cole leaning against the counter, arms folded, watching her carefully.
“I’m better,” she assured him. “And completely embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. Like I said, you’ve had more than you share of stress in a very short time.” He studied her with those dark brown eyes. “But that’s not all that’s turned you upside down, is it, Dana? Something else has you by the throat. Something that’s had hold of you for a very long time.”
She lowered her gaze and picked up the coffee again, taking another swallow. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes. You do.” He pulled out the chair next to her and sat. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to beat it out of you. But I have a gut feeling it’s tied up with everything that’s happening. I’d like you to tell me before you turn up as one of the victims.”
She set the mug down again and wet her lips. “Cole, listen. I—”
“No. Not now. After you finish your coffee, I’m going to bundle you into a blanket and wrap you up on the couch. And I think another shot of whiskey would be good. Maybe you can nap a little.”
“I think I’m afraid to close my eyes,” she told him in a shaky voice.
“Hence the whiskey,” he explained. “Come on.”
When he urged her up from the chair, he stared at her for a long time, his eyes darker than melted chocolate. Then his mouth came down on hers.
Dana sighed.
All the coffee and whiskey and anything else couldn’t compare with the effect of that kiss. Something tight inside her uncoiled, and some of the tension seeped from her. She opened her mouth, and his tongue swept inside, dancing over every surface. Licking. Tasting. His hands were warm on her back, up and down her spine. She could have kissed him forever.
When he finally lifted his head, Cole was breathing as unevenly as she was.
“Well,” she said.
“Yes. Well.” He smoothed her hair back from her face. “We have two problems right now. I have to get back to the office, and you’re too vulnerable for me to do what I really want.”
“But—”
He touched a finger to her lips. “Taking care of business is a priority.” His expression turned serious. “Dana, the last thing I want to do is make a move that will frighten you and I think that’s what would happen. So go into the bedroom and put on something comfortable. Roy should be here about now and I need to go speak to him.”
“Roy?”
“One of the rookies. I pulled him off the phones. He’ll be doing guard duty until I get home.”
“No. Stop,” she protested. “You need every person available on these murders.”
“I won’t be able to work knowing you’re unprotected, and I have a bad feeling you aren’t out of danger. Yet.”
“It was probably just some of the people in town who want me to leave.”
“Maybe yes, maybe no. I’m not taking any chances. Now go change clothes.”
Once in the privacy of the guest bedroom, she pulled on jeans and a long-sleeve T-shirt and went into the great room to wait for Cole.
Cole.
He had looked so weary, so defeated, when Marty dropped her back at the head of the road. When he climbed into the chopper, he’d moved like an old man. She’d had to resist the urge to wrap her arms around him and give him a quick hug. She was fiercely battling the unfamiliar sensations of physical desire where he was concerned. And the dreams weren’t helping.
But Cole wasn’t just incredibly sexy. He was strong and dependable, genuinely sensitive, deeply caring. Seeing him today, seeing the anguish on his face after finding Shannon’s body…It had devastated him. She could tell what he felt had nothing to do with his job. He was simply the kind of man who cared, and cared deeply about those he felt responsible for.
And she’d added another brick to his load.
By the time Cole was back in the house, she was curled up on the couch, hugging herself as if to chase away the internal chill.
He took a long look at her and in what seemed like seconds had a quilt folded around her and a tumbler of whiskey in her hands.
“Drink it slowly,” he told her, “but drink it all.”
“I’m s-sorry to be such a basket case.” She hated being like this in front of him. In front of anyone, but especially Cole.
“Dana.” He sat down beside her and cradled her chin in his palm. “Today would be enough to send anyone into shock so quit apologizing.”
She swallowed a little of the whiskey, welcoming its burn. “Thank you.”
“Have you eaten? I haven’t checked my food supply lately, but I know there’s stuff in the freezer you can nuke.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m not the least bit hungry.”
“You have to eat. Feel free to forage in the kitchen.”
“Cole, the last thing you need to worry about is my food. You’ve done enough already.”
He pulled her cell phone from his pocket where he’d stashed it and put it on the coffee table. “Leave this on so I can call and check on you. I don’t know what time I’ll be home.”
“Don’t worry.” She felt as if she’d already said it so many times, but it was important to make him understand she had to be low on his list of priorities right now. “I’m good. Really.” She even sipped some more of the whiskey for him. “Why don’t you tell your deputy to come inside where he can be more comfortable?”
“No. He’ll be on the porch where he can see if anyone approaches the house.”
Her eyes widened. “You think someone would come to your place? No one even knows I’m here. Well, except for your deputies.”
“I’m not taking any chances. You just finish that drink and try to nap. Got it?”
She forced a smile. “Yes, sir.”
He stared at her again with that burning gaze, then bent down, cupped her chin, and kissed her until her head swam. Then he stuck his Stetson back on his head. “I’ll call you.”
His boot heels clicked on the plank flooring as he headed toward the front door, leaving Dana sitting on the couch in a different kind of shock.
She sat, automatically sipping on the whiskey and willing herself to relax. When the glass was empty, she set it on the table and folded herself into a corner of the couch. She leaned back and closed her eyes, and in a moment, despite everything, the dream was there again, curling around her.
“You taste so good,” he murmured, his mouth against her neck, his teeth nipping lightly. His tongue soothing the little bites.
“So do you.”
She was bolder with him than she’d been with any other man. Gripping his cock where it pressed against her body, she ran her thumb over the velvety head, feeling the pearl of fluid sitting there. Lifting her thumb to her mouth, she licked it slowly, turning her head so he could watch her.
“You like to tease, don’t you,” he growled.
“Uh huh. But so do you.”
Wasn’t that exactly what he was doing now? Rubbing his thumb lightly over her swollen clit? Letting just the tips of his fingers trail into her wet slit? He shifted and his mouth closed over one stiff nipple.
“Ohhhhh.” The sound slipped from her mouth like a soft caress. Heat shot through her, burning her from the inside out. Making the pulse in her core accelerate like the beat of a jungle drum.
“You like that?”
“You know I do.” She returned her hand to his swollen erection, feeling his pubic hair against her hand as she gripped the thick root of his shaft. “But you like this, too.”
“How about this?” He slid two fingers into her, finding her hot spot and rubbing it lightly.
She squeezed her thighs, trapping his hand inside
her as she rubbed up and down his cock.
“Oh, yeah. You definitely like that.” He pulled his hand out and slipped his fingers back toward her buttocks, probing gently for the tiny puckered hole there, using her cream on his fingertips to ease the way. His arm pressed against the lips of her pussy. “Like that, sugar?” He rubbed one finger around and around.
Lust shot through her, nearly choking her with its intensity. Her pussy throbbed, and she tried to slide back and forth on his arm. The more he pushed against that opening, the more aroused she became until she wanted nothing more than for him to fuck her. Hard. There. Everywhere.
He took her nipple between his lips again, grating his teeth over the sensitive surface. She was bombarded by so many sensation s at once she wasn’t sure she could stand it.
But he was bent on making this last as long as possible.
Her hand closed convulsively around his cock as the first climax roared through her. Her hips jerked, her body pressing into his touch as tremor after tremor shook her.
And when her breathing evened out and her racing heart slowed, he began all over again.
Stroke, stroke, rub, rub.
Everything was so extra sensitive now. She wanted…
Something startled her awake. Her body jerked and she banged her foot into the coffee table. “Ouch!”
Her cell phone rang, and she realized that was what had woken her.
“You okay?” Cole asked.
She couldn’t miss the stress in his voice and hated the fact she’d added to it.
“Yes. I’m good. Took a little nap.”
“Okay. Just checking. I’ll see you later.”
When she disconnected the call, she hugged the phone to her chest. Just the sound of his voice soothed her. Not to mention making her pulse ramp up and her body throb with an unsatisfied need. An unfamiliar need.
For a woman who had never been able to enjoy sex, she sure as hell was dreaming about it a lot. Despite the awful circumstances of the day, her body still vibrated with unsatisfied need, a strange sensation for her. What was she going to do about this?
Work. That’s what she always did. It would help her blunt the events of the day and the lingering effects of the dream. Gritting her teeth, she made her way to the guest room to get her laptop. Back on the couch, she booted up the computer and opened the document with the spreadsheet she’d created. Maybe there was something else she was missing. Something in addition to the clowns. Something to take her mind off everything that had happened. And…sex.