Up Shute Creek: Rose Gardner Investigation #4
Page 36
My eyes widened, and I tightened my grip on his face. “You’re workin’ undercover,” I whispered.
He started to look away.
“That’s why you’ve been pushin’ Jed away. And now me.”
He tried to stand, but I pushed him back down and stood between his legs. “James. Talk to me.”
“I can’t, Rose. I can’t drag you into this any more than I already have.”
“You said everything you’re doin’, you’re doin’ for me. What does that mean?”
He captured my face in both his hands. “I want a life with you so damn much that I’ll risk everything to have it, but I’ve put you in danger. I can’t lose you in the process.” He kissed me hard. “I can’t risk it.”
“What are you doin’, James? Please, tell me.”
“I can’t.”
“You’re not gonna tell me anything?” I asked, backing out of his hold. “Why did you let me look for Sarah when you knew your hired police force had killed her?”
“I didn’t know they’d killed her. I knew they’d questioned Lincoln on my order, but I had no idea she was caught in the crossfire. Or that they’d killed Lincoln and stolen the money. I had no idea there was any money involved until we were by Shute Creek and you said your client had found a large loot. I’d found out that area was an exchange site, so I called Horton and asked him if Lincoln had had any money on him. He claimed it wasn’t so, but I suspected he was lyin’. I was about to question him myself, but then they found you.” He paused. “What happened, Rose?” His voice tightened, and he choked out, “It was Frasier who touched you, wasn’t it?”
I shook my head, trying to swallow past the lump in my throat. “I can’t talk about that.”
He stood and came to me, wrapping his arms around me. “I’m so sorry, Rose. If anything had happened to you…”
“You called Denny Carmichael to save me.” I couldn’t wrap my head around it. “Why?”
“After I found out Carmichael had sent for you, I called him and told him that Horton and Frasier had killed his distributor, and I had no idea what they’d done with his money. After you texted me, I let him know they were tryin’ to kill you, and it would be in all of our best interests if they were eliminated.”
“You told him to kill them.”
A hard look filled his eyes. “If you expect me to apologize for that, you’ll be waitin’ for hell to freeze over. Their lives or yours. There’s absolutely no contest.”
“Carmichael says I owe him a job now.”
His eyes hardened. “That wasn’t part of our deal.”
“Maybe he decided saving me was a deal between the two of us.”
His jaw worked, but he didn’t respond.
“I trusted you, James. I trusted you to always come when I needed you.”
His voice broke. “I know. Which is why this has to end.”
An overwhelming sadness washed over me, too deep for me to even cry.
He took a breath. “You were wrong. I considered us a relationship. I was just scared.”
“I know,” I whispered.
He lifted his hand to my face, gently cupping my cheek as he captured my gaze. “I love you, Rose.”
I started to cry, but he cupped my other cheek, his eyes burning into mine as though he could sear his words into my soul. “I’ve never said those words to anyone before, and I hadn’t intended to tell you before this was all said and done, but after our argument, and me not showing up… I didn’t want you to think it was because you aren’t enough for me.” He took a breath. “You’re my everything, Rose. There’s nothing without you. That’s why I’m riskin’ it all.”
My heart squeezed with fear. “What are you doin’, James?”
He kissed me, his lips soft and gentle. “That’s why we can’t see each other for now. You can’t count on me to protect you, and all I’m doin’ is puttin’ you in the crosshairs.”
“James.”
“If you get into trouble, call Jed. In a way, he’s more loyal to you than he ever was to me. He’ll protect you.” He took a breath. “And I know Simmons is stayin’ with you.” He nodded and sniffed, his eyes glassy. “That’s good. You need him with your sister and her kids there. Your brother-in-law will leave you in peace.”
My mouth dropped open. “What did you do?”
“I did what little I could to make your life easier.”
I couldn’t bring myself to consider the full implications of that. I started to cry.
He kissed me again. “No more Lady. It’s too dangerous right now. I need you and Neely Kate to stay well out of this world.”
Whatever he was up to terrified me. “I want to have a vision. I want to see the end of this.”
He grinned, but his eyes were sad. “I’m not sure I want to know there’s no hope of bein’ with you at the end of this.”
“I’ve had two nearly identical visions that haven’t come to pass yet,” I said. “I told you about part of it. We were in bed together.” I paused. “But there’s a part I haven’t told you because I thought it would scare you away.” I stared up at him. “I was wearin’ an engagement ring.”
His eyes widened in surprise.
“That freaks you out.”
“No. It gives me hope, Rose.”
“So let me have another vision,” I pleaded.
He shook his head. “No. I don’t want to jinx it. We’ll just believe the other ones will come true.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and plastered my chest to his.
He kept his arms at his sides, but when I refused to let go, he wrapped his arms around my back, holding me close.
I soaked in the feel of him, wondering how long I’d have to wait for my vision to come to pass. “I’m sorry for what I said the other night.”
“No,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You were right about most of it.”
“I’m sorry I left. If I hadn’t left…” Then I wouldn’t have gone to the bar. And we might still be together.
“You deserve more than what I was givin’ you.” He tilted my chin up to face him. “And for what it’s worth, I wanted to know about every part of you. Maybe when this is done, I’ll get that chance.” He kissed me again, long and slow as though he had all the time in the world.
When he lifted his head, his gaze swept over my face. “I have to go. I’m gonna be late as it is.”
“To Little Rock?”
“Forget about me for a while, Rose. It’s safer that way.” He grinned, but tears filled his eyes. “I love you.”
My heart tripped, and my eyes flooded with tears. “I love you too.”
Then he got into his car and drove away.
Dirty Money (Neely Kate Mystery #3)
June 11, 2019
Watch for a surprise release next spring!
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Acknowledgments
Note: I added this after this book was copy edited and proofread, so if you find typos, please keep that in mind before you send me an email telling me I’m a terrible author and how disappointed you are in me. (Yes, that actually happens.)
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This year has been incredibly difficult for me. After falling two grade levels behind, my youngest daughter was diagnosed with a learning disability. In an attempt to try to get her caught up to her current grade level, we started homeschooling. It hasn’t been easy. In fact, it’s been the most stressful situation I’ve endured in years. My stress has been through the roof and it has ultimately affected my health.
The good news is that I now have help for my daughter, and I hope to have her back in school next year. The new help has helped ease my stress, and I’m dealing with my health issues head on. No w
orries. I’ve got this.
But the stress has also taken its toll on my writing. It’s hard to be creative when your brain is constricted with anxiety—and apparently health issues too. I missed multiple deadlines this year, to the point of nearly postponing both In High Cotton and Up Shute Creek. (I did end up postponing Of Blood and Monsters.) But thank God for my editing team—Angela Polidoro, Shannon Page, and Carolina Schneider. They were aware of my situation and rather than letting me sink due to my own unprofessionalism, they busted their butts to help make sure those books were published, especially Carolina with In High Cotton. We all owe them a huge thanks for helping me get those books ready in time. And when I start to doubt myself and whether I can still write a decent story, they are my biggest cheerleaders, telling me that yes, I still have it.
They are amazing friends. I couldn’t imagine doing this without them.
Also by Denise Grover Swank
Rose And Neely Kate reading order:
Family Jewels
Trailer Trash
For the Birds
Hell in a Handbasket
In High Cotton
Up Shute Creek
Dirty Money
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Rose Gardner Investigations
Family Jewels
For the Birds
Hell in a Handbasket
Up Shute Creek
* * *
Neely Kate Mystery
Trailer Trash
In High Cotton
Dirty Money (June 11, 2019)
* * *
Magnolia Steele Mystery
Center Stage
Act Two
Call Back
Curtain Call
* * *
Darling Investigations
(Humorous mystery romance)
Deadly Summer
Blazing Summer
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Rose Gardner Mysteries
Novellas are bonus material
TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES
TWENTY-NINE AND A HALF REASONS
THIRTY AND A HALF EXCUSES
FALLING TO PIECES (novella)
THIRTY-ONE AND A HALF REGRETS
THIRTY-TWO AND A HALF COMPLICATIONS
PICKING UP THE PIECES (novella)
THIRTY-THREE AND A HALF SHENANIGANS
ROSE AND HELENA SAVE CHRISTMAS (novella)
RIPPLE OF SECRETS (novella)
THIRTY-FOUR AND A HALF PREDICAMENTS
THIRTY-FIVE AND A HALF CONSPIRACIES
THIRTY-SIX AND A HALF MOTIVES
SINS OF THE FATHER (novella)
The Wedding Pact
(Humorous contemporary romance)
THE SUBSTITUTE
THE PLAYER
THE GAMBLER
THE VALENTINE (short story)
* * *
Bachelor Brotherhood
Spinoff of The Wedding Pact series
ONLY YOU
UNTIL YOU
ALWAYS YOU
* * *
Young adult contemporary romance
ONE PARIS SUMMER
Off the Subject Series
(New adult contemporary romance)
AFTER MATH
REDESIGNED
BUSINESS AS USUAL
Also by D.G. Swank
CURSE KEEPERS WORLD
(Urban fantasy)
Curse Keepers Trilogy
The Curse Keepers
The Curse Breakers
The Curse Defiers
Curse Keepers Collection (box set)
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Of Ash and Spirit Trilogy
Of Ash and Spirit
Of Fire and Storm
Of Blood and Monsters
The Chosen Series
(Adult urban fantasy)
CHOSEN
HUNTED
SACRIFICE
REDEMPTION
On the Otherside Series
(Young adult sci fi romance)
HERE
THERE
About the Author
Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.
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For urban fantasy: dgswank.com
For mystery and romance: denisegroverswank.com