by D L Lane
“Why would we regret whatever it is?”
“Because you are not ready.” Gage pierced her with his silver eyes.
“Ready for what?”
“For me.”
Chapter Sixty-Four
Gage couldn’t believe he was in church. All right, he could since he’d brought Danica. But still, he’d stopped going when he was eighteen, and he’d never been back. Yet here he was, shaking Pastor Kyle’s hand after the Sunday morning worship service, his free hand gripping Aaron’s baby carrier that transformed into a car seat like an Autobot.
“It’s so wonderful to see you here again, Gage,” the man said.
“Thank you.”
“And Danica.” Pastor Kyle extended a hand to her. “You and your family have been in my prayers.”
“Thank you for that. They are needed.”
“My wife and I were thinking of coming to see you next week.”
“Sure. Come at any time. You’re always welcome.”
“I’ll call you before we head your way.”
She nodded.
Placing his hand on her upper back, Gage allowed Danica out the door, he and Aaron taking the rear for a moment, then stepping up next to her. “Do you want me to carry Ari, too?”
“No. I’m fine. But thank you for taking Aaron for me.”
“La, la, la, ba-ba!” Aaron chimed in, making Gage grin.
“Hang on!”
Breckin’s voice had them stopping, both turning as her sister came striding up, Mason right behind her, followed by Ella and Samuel Lorry.
“I’ve got lunch already made. I just need to warm up a few things, so you guys come on over to the B and B,” Breck said.
“All right.” Danny glanced up at him. “I guess I should have asked you first, but is it okay?”
“Of course,” he said, making him wonder if she’d had to ask Marcus for approval before she answered something so trivial.
She smiled, then turned her attention back to her family. “We’ll head that way.”
Mason locked his gaze on him. And Gage knew the man would find the two of them some alone time, so they could finish that talk they’d started on Friday.
~
“Mama, mama,” Ari sang from her car seat in the back of Danica’s Escalade, which Gage was driving, making her whip her head around and stare at her daughter, then glance over at the handsome man behind the wheel.
“Did you hear that?” she asked, her heart beating fast.
“I did.”
“That’s the first time she’s said, ‘mama’.”
“Mama,” Aaron parroted.
Danica put her hands to her mouth, telling herself not to cry.
“Danny?” Gage asked.
“I’m okay.” She glanced over at him, then back at her babies. “That’s right. I’m”—she pointed to her chest—“your mama.”
The two started in on a chorus of mama’s in harmony, making joy bubble to the surface. Danica laughed. Really laughed.
“I love that sound.”
She righted herself in the passenger’s seat. “Huh?”
“You’re laughing. I love it.”
Heat infused her cheeks, and she glanced at Gage askew. “Thanks, I guess.”
The man chuckled. “You’re welcome, I guess.”
~
Gage knew Mason like the back of his hand, and not too soon after an excellent lunch he took him out onto the large sun porch that wrapped around a section of the B and B, where they finally had ‘the talk’.
“Man, why didn’t you tell me all of this back then?”
Gage shook his head. “I don’t know. It was such a disaster, and then the whole Jenny thing rocked my world. I guess I didn’t understand how to deal with it all, let alone talk about it.”
“But, you told me about Jenny.”
“That was the easier thing to discuss.”
“So, I’m assuming Danica knows how you feel about her.”
“She does now, but I confused her back then with all my push and pull, hot and cold, and then, as I said, every single time I was ready to tell her, something or someone happened.”
Mason put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “I’m sorry. I know this is still rough on you. I don’t think I could have gone to watch Breckin marry Daniel.”
Gage shook his head. “It wasn’t one of my better decisions, trust me on that.”
“Does Danica know you were there?”
“No. You are the only one who knows all of it.” He met his friend's gaze. “She’s it for me. Always has been, always will be.”
“Is that why you have stayed single all this time?”
“Yeah, brother. Trying to start a relationship with another woman wouldn’t be fair to them.”
“I totally get that. I do.”
Gage bobbed his head.
“Have you told Danny she’s it? She’s the one?”
“Not yet. It’s way too soon. Marcus hasn’t been gone a month.”
“You’re right.”
The two of them eyed each other as Breck and Danny came in. “What are you guys plotting about out here?” Breckin came over, bent forward, and kissed her husband on the cheek.
“Nope.” He turned to look up at her, pointing to his lips. “Not good enough, babe.”
She laughed, bent again, and placed her lips on his.
Gage glanced up at Danica, who was looking at him. “You doing okay?”
She nodded.
“Are the twins taking a nap?”
“Yes. When they wake, we can go, if that’s okay with you?”
He reached and took her hand. “That’s fine, Danny. You don’t need to check with me. When you’re ready to go, just say so. Okay?”
“All right.”
Chapter Sixty-Five
Tweetle-deet!
The sound drew his attention. His cell phone had a message. Something he would usually ignore when he was busy, but putting the report he’d been reading down, Gage snagged the little device and looked at the screen.
Danny-D: I’m leaving the twins with my sister at Choc-Oh! Cottage and wondering if you have had lunch. If not, I’ll bring you something.
A smile overtook his face as he typed; Actually, I haven’t had lunch. A burger from The Snack Shack would be fantastic. But why are you leaving the babies with Breck?
He quickly read it to make sure he hadn’t fumbled and made a typo and hit SEND.
Like a giddy teenager, he gripped his phone, keeping his gaze trained on it for a response, seeing the little dots dance, an indication she was typing something.
Danny-D: Two slices of cheese, extra ketchup, no onions, right?
She remembered. Still grinning like a crazed loon, Gage typed, Yep. Then as if he were a teenage girl instead of a grown man, he added a smiley face emoticon and hit SEND.
As if he held the holy grail, he watched his phone.
Danny-D: Be there in a few, and then I’ll tell you why I’ve dropped off the twins. You want me to grab you a Doctor Pepper, too?
~
Danica was staring at her phone.
Gawonii: That sounds great. But I hope you’re not texting while driving.
She shook her head, a grin on her face as her fingers started tapping, No, I’m not texting and driving. I might be able to multi-task, but I’m not that talented.
After she sent her response, she saw the dots bounce, knowing Gage was typing something.
Gawonii: Okay. Just checking. Be careful, and I’ll see you soon.
~
“Danny!” The smiling woman with her signature big hair greeted when she walked into the police station. “It’s so good to see you, honey.”
“Hi, Dixie. Good to see you too.” She held up the bag from The Snack Shack. “Bringing Chief Harrison some lunch.”
“Aw…isn't that sweet of you. Give me just a moment, and I’ll make sure he isn’t tied up with something.”
She nodded, listening to Dixie tell Gage she
was there and hearing him say, “Send her my way.”
“Go on, hon.”
Running a straightening hand down the side of her dress, she made her way past several desks, Officer Stanley glancing up at her. “Hello, Mrs. Harding.”
“Good afternoon. Just taking Chief Harrison something,” she said, breezing on by him.
When she arrived at Gage’s office, she didn’t bother to knock, she just went in, the man standing up from his desk as soon as he saw her.
Wow, he sure looks mega-hot in that black uniform. Danica’s heart skipped a beat, reminiscent of when they were teens. What’s wrong with you?
She stopped her crazy inner monolog, and willed her heart to get with the program, because hot or not, she’d only been a widow for a little while. Her attraction to him just wasn’t right. Regardless of what Marcus did to her, she loved him, and ogling another man so soon was disrespectful.
“Hey,” he said.
Tingles danced up her spine due to that low, sexy tone of voice.
Danica needed to ignore the feelings Gage invoked in her, so she swallowed, put on a smile, and placed the bag and his drink on his desk. “Lunch is served.”
Gage chuckled, and yet again, the sound attacked her heart. “Thank you. I appreciate this.” He studied her a moment. “Did you eat?”
“I grabbed a quick bite before I left the house, so I’m fine.”
“Well, at least have a seat for a second.”
Gage took his seat, then started pulling his burger and, “Thanks— You got me fries too!”
“Of course. You can’t have a burger without fries, Chief Harrison.”
Stop flirting with him, Danica.
“Of course,” he said, then popped one in his mouth.
Mesmerized, she watched him chew, the movement of his throat when he swallowed, the way the sun coming in from his one window set the left side of his face into shadow, turning him into a masterpiece of light and dark.
When Gage glanced at her, Danica glanced down.
“So, tell me. Why did you drop the twins off with Breckin? I thought you were going over to your Mom’s today.”
“I did go, but she got one of her migraines and had to lie down. I need to go to Seattle to take care of some banking business.” She shrugged. “I needed a babysitter for a bit, so...”
~
Gage was mid-bite of his burger when he scowled. “You’re going to Seattle by yourself?”
“Well, yes.”
He put his lunch down. “Not happening, Danny.”
“What do you mean, not happening? I have to go. The checking account is overdrawn, as you know, and I need to put the money that was in the safe at home in the bank.”
“I get that, but you are not driving to Seattle by yourself. I already told you, until we figure out who was in your home, I don’t want you alone for long periods.”
“Gage—”
“I’ll go with you.”
A little crinkle formed on her brow. “You can’t do that. You’ve already been at my house for four days, missing several days of work. You—”
“Don’t argue with the Chief of Police,” he said, trying not to grin. Man, when she gets upset, she’s way too cute.
Danica rolled her baby blues at him. “As if that will work with me, Gawonii.”
Aw…there she went, using his given name. “You do realize I get what I want, don’t you?”
“You might think you do.”
“I don’t think, gorgeous. I know.”
Danica pursed her lush lips. “Go ahead and keep living in that delusion.”
She got up, and so did he.
Rounding his desk, Gage stopped her before she waltzed out his office door, hand wrapping around her arm, pulling her back into him.
“Danica,” he whispered by her ear, feeling her tense body give. “Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to put that beautiful backside down in that chair you just jumped up from, let me eat my lunch, then I’ll clear my afternoon, and go with you. End of.”
Chapter Sixty-Six
“Danny?” Berta called, waving at her as she crossed the parking lot, ready to go inside in the fellowship hall for their monthly welcome committee meeting.
“Hi,” she said, tugging the collar of her coat up a little more. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
“Oh, fine. I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know John is stepping down as president of the chamber.”
Danica put a hand to her throat. “He is? Why?”
“He’s moving.”
“To where?”
“Back to Ohio, where his parents are. I guess with their health problems, his youngest son’s anger issues, and the divorce, he just felt it best to relocate.”
“Is he taking Steve with him, or does his wife have custody?”
“Apparently, she gave up her rights. Can you believe any mother would do that?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head.
“Well, she did. So, John’s taking Steve to Ohio with him.”
“Wow.” Danica couldn’t even wrap her mind around all of that.
“Listen. The reason I’m telling you this is, the board has talked, and we would like to offer you the position. Of course, you know it is a big job, but for a little town, I think the position pays well.”
It did, but Danica couldn’t believe her ears. “You want me?”
“Yes. You do so much for us and have filled in for John a few times, so you already know all the ins and outs. Plus, everyone loves you. Think about it for a couple of days and let me know.”
“Al-All right. I will.”
“Okay, sweetie. I’ll let you get to your meeting. Talk soon.”
~
Mind awhirl with the idea of becoming the Chamber of Commerce President, Danica hadn’t been paying much attention, sad to say, during the meeting at church, and she was barely aware that she’d come home and was heading in the door.
“Danica,” Mrs. Beil greeted, her face too serious.
“What’s wrong? Is it the babies?”
“No, no. The kids are fine. I put them down for their nap.”
Relief swept over her. “What is it then?”
“I’m sorry to do this, but I need to leave. My husband had an accident at work, and they’ve taken him to the E.R.”
“Oh, no. What happened?”
“Something fell off or out of one of their shipment containers and hit him. They think he’s broken his leg.”
“Okay. You go on and take off. I’ll pray for him.”
“Thank you. I’ll call you if, for some reason, I can’t come tomorrow.”
“Maybe you should go ahead and plan on staying with your hubby.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Danica shooed her. “Now, go, go.”
Mrs. Beil placed a kiss on her cheek, saying, “All right,” then out the door she went.
Putting her purse on the bar, Danica picked up the mail that had come, Mrs. Beil always leaving it for her. She sorted through sale flyers, the electric bill, the water bill, then went to a larger, what felt like a bubble wrap envelope.
Curious, she tore it open, peeked inside and frowned, tugging out a piece of paper. Just like the labels on the envelope, the note had been typed.
You sank your claws into both of them, but you couldn’t keep them satisfied.
“What in the—” Danica pulled out black and white pictures, the sunlight sending a glossy sheen shooting over the first one, confusing her, not sure what she was looking at. Then, the image clicked in her brain.
Danica gasped, as she sorted through them—a man’s naked torso, head tossed back as if in ecstasy, throat exposed. Feminine hands latched onto masculine hips—a small oval birthmark on the side of his rippled abdomen, by his navel.
She dropped the photographs, letting them scatter, ran to the kitchen sink, and retched.
~
Gage was on the phone, talking to the mayor when Dix
ie came to the door, face ashen. By the expression she wore, he knew something was wrong.
“Phillip,” he said. “Can I call you back? Something has come up.”
“Sure.”
“Thanks. I’ll speak to you soon.”
Placing the handset down on the receiver, he asked, “Dixie, what is it?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Danica called. She said she'd tried your cell phone, but hasn’t been able to get hold of you.”
“What’s happened?” He rose from his seat.
“She was crying about something that arrived in the mail. She said she thinks the police will need to see, but she wants you to make the call on that.”
“All right. I’m heading out.”
“Chief?”
“Yes?”
“She’s all torn up about whatever it is.”
Gage nodded, grabbed his coat, pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, and sure enough, there had been six missed calls. He wanted to beat his head. He’d turned his phone down yesterday while in church with Danica, but never turned the volume back up.
~
Not willing to leave her alone, Gage had pretty much moved in with Danica, fishbowl and all, so he had a set of keys. Not slowing, he let himself in the house, going to the first place he thought to look—the family room. Sure enough, she was seated in that chair, facing the window.
“Danny?”
Her head swiveled to look at him. By the puffiness under her eyes and the redness of her nose, she’d been having a serious cry.
Striding over, Gage knelt by the chair, someplace he’d been far too much for his liking. He’d much rather he was there for happier reasons.
“I got something in the mail,” Danny said, her voice low.
“Okay. Let me see it.”
She produced an envelope and gave it to him.
Gage dumped the contents into his hand, read the note, scowled, then saw the pictures, coming to the last one which was of him, standing beside Jenny’s car, telling her goodbye. That was taken a while ago, since the last he saw Jenny was when she came for a quick visit to tell him about moving to Seattle.
After confirming they got nothing in the way of fingerprints that would help them out with whoever it was who broke into Danica’s home, and now this… well, the day pretty much blew.