Debra Burroughs - Paradise Valley 06 - The Harbor of Lies

by Debra Burroughs

  He brought her hand down to her lap and let it rest there. “Because of the work I did before I met you, my life was in grave danger, and so was yours. I thought I could leave it behind, start over—I tried, but it followed me.”

  He stood and poured her a glass of water from the bottle on the nightstand.

  She took it and had a sip, the fog beginning to clear. “Followed you?”

  “Yes, to Paradise Valley. So I had to disappear, had to fake my death and go into hiding.”

  “Why didn’t you take me with you?”

  “It had to seem real, or we would certainly have both wound up dead. I needed them to see you grieve, Emily. I’m sorry.”

  “But the blood, the funeral, the murder investigation. How could it possibly not be real?”

  He paced in front of her. “Drugs are miraculous little things. When one knows what to use, and in what quantity, they can make one appear dead. Of course, I had help.”

  “Who helped you? Who?” she demanded.

  “Sorry, my love, but I can’t tell you that.”

  “Can’t tell me or won’t?” she snapped.

  Emily felt her lips tightening and her jaw clenching as anger began to rise in her. She glared into his eyes, not sure what else to say, but feeling the need to say something. “And what about the woman sitting in prison for your murder?”

  “Well, she did shoot at me, after all. Fortunately, she only grazed me, but I assure you, it was her intention to kill me.”

  “We put her away for the rest of her life, Evan. That’s not right.”

  “Don’t worry about her.” He sat on the bed beside her again. “I still have friends in high places. She’ll be out in a few years.”

  How far out did this conspiracy go? Who was helping him?

  Emily scrubbed both hands through her hair as she moaned. “No, this can’t be real. I really am just going crazy from stress.”

  “Oh, but it is real, love.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “You have to know, Emily, it was for the best.”

  Her heart was still pounding hard in her chest as she glared at him. Maybe she wasn’t crazy. She could be dreaming. That’s it—maybe this was just another one of her nightmares. She slapped her cheeks a couple of times and shook her head rapidly.

  “What are you doing?” A puzzled expression drifted through his eyes.

  “I’m trying to wake up. If I’m not crazy then this has to be a bad dream.” She pinched his leg and squeezed hard.

  “Ouch!” He shot to his feet. “I’m bloody afraid it’s not, Emily.”

  Then what? What logical explanation could there be? She glared at him, looking into those piercing blue eyes she had missed for so long, and that sexy crooked smile that melted her heart.

  How could he still be alive? She had lived through the murder investigation, she had even been under suspicion herself for a time. Emily tried to fit the pieces together. Recall what she could from that terrible time.

  “What about Detective Tolliver? Did he know?”

  Tolliver had been Colin’s predecessor. He was the Paradise Valley police detective when Evan had been killed. He had been the one to investigate the murder and had come up empty—or so he had said.

  “Yes, he knew. He helped make the murder appear legitimate.”

  “But why?” Emily pleaded, her eyes growing moist.

  “Because I paid him a tidy sum. He gladly took the money and, once the investigation was wrapped up, he retired—to sunny Florida, I believe.”

  The money in the safe deposit box? There must have been more of it than what she had found—the money he had paid to Detective Toliver.

  “I have so many questions, Evan. All the things you left in the safe deposit box, like the cash and the—”

  “Forget about that for now,” he cut in, sitting next to her again. He cupped her face in his hands. “We have plenty of time to talk about those things, love. Come away with me—tonight. We’ll travel the world, like we always said we’d do. I’m still crazy for you.”

  Emily pushed his hands away and bolted from the bed. “I can’t. I’m marrying Colin tomorrow.”

  “But you don’t have to, not anymore.” He rose and took her hand. “Steal away with me, tonight.”

  She recoiled her hand and sucked in a quick breath. “How can you do this to me? Why now, Evan? Why did you come back after all this time?”

  “I’ve been keeping an eye on you since I…since I went away.”

  She crossed her arms over her breasts, protectively. “You’ve been watching me?”

  “You’ve got it all wrong. I’ve been watching over you.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  “I wanted to let you get on with your life, so you would stay safe, but I simply couldn’t. I tried, Emily—you have to believe me—but when I heard you were about to get married to that chap, I had to see you one more time. I hadn’t planned to let you see me, but as the wedding drew closer, I just had to tell you…I still love you, Emily. And, hope against hope, I had to ask you to run away with me. Now. Tonight.”

  Emily shook her head insistently. She couldn’t look at him. “No. I can’t. I won’t. I’m marrying Colin tomorrow.”

  “Please, love.” Evan put his hands on her arms. “I’ll be smarter this time. I know now we can’t blend into a small town, but we could live like royalty in another country.”

  She looked him in the eye and yanked away from his hold. “What are you talking about? Didn’t you hear me? I can’t go with you. Not tonight. Not ever.”

  “Sure you can. I’ve watched how you’ve become a stronger woman—so much more than the sweet young Emily I married. I’d say you’re developing into quite a good investigator. I never dreamed you could do some of the things I’ve seen you do.”

  Seen her do?

  “Don’t you understand, Emily? We could be great together—in every way.”

  “No. That’s just plain crazy.” Her mind filled with the dangerous, and sometimes murderous, work she’d learned he had done. “I could never do the kinds of things you’ve done.”

  “I’m not saying you have to, love,” he countered. “You could come and work at the global security firm I work for—we’d make quite a team—or you can do whatever suits your fancy. Just come away with me.”

  “Listen to me, Evan, it’s too late.”

  “It’s not too late. You’re not married yet. I know you love me, Emily.”

  His pleading carried a profound emotional angst she’d never heard from him before, and it drew Emily to look deeply into Evan’s pale blue eyes, to study the details of his face. This was all so surreal. She could hardly believe he was standing right in front of her, very much alive and well. She couldn’t deny that she still loved him—she always would—but he was dead to her, and she had moved on.

  Memories flooded her mind. Her heart had been ripped to shreds when Evan died. Inconsolable for weeks, she had mourned, painfully, grieving the loss of her husband and their life together. With time, and discovering the truth, she was eventually able to get on with her life, and it had been Colin who had helped her to find love again. Now, she had pledged herself to him, promised to love him ’til death do us part.

  They had been through a lot together, saved each other’s lives—trusted each other like no one else she’d ever known. Evan hadn’t trusted her enough to tell her the truth, to let her into his world.

  A cool draft reminded Emily she had nothing on but a bathrobe. “I’ve got to get dressed.”

  She grabbed some clothes from the closet and headed to the bathroom, hoping to put some distance between them until she could get her head clear.

  “Not on my account, I hope.” Evan had apparently gained control of his emotions and a mischievous look filled his eyes. As she squeezed past him, he clasped a few fingers on the belt to her robe, causing her to pause. “I always loved the beautiful curves of your body, Emily.”

  He would tug it off if she let him—that much sh
e knew. Her body trembled at the thought of him caressing her, making love to her, but she knew that would be a huge mistake—probably the biggest mistake of her life.

  “Do you remember when we—”

  “That’s enough!” Emily cinched the robe tighter as she slapped his hand away. “That was a long time ago, before you died. My body is no longer yours.”

  “But, Emily…”

  “I can’t believe you thought I would just fall back into your arms. I’m not that naïve, doe-eyed young girl you married, Evan.” She stepped into the bathroom and shut the door.

  “I know that,” he snapped back, then his voice became calm again. “What I did, Emily, I did to protect you.”

  From the sound of his voice, Emily could tell he was right on the other side of the door. She pressed her back against it, as if that would somehow shut him out completely.

  “If I hadn’t left,” he continued, “hadn’t made everyone believe I was dead, eventually I would have been—and you—don’t you see? Everything I did, I did for you.”

  And now he wanted her back. Maybe he was the crazy one.

  She gave no reply, her body vibrating with shock and anger, her mind swirling as she tried to comprehend the reality she knew to be true. She pulled her jeans on, zipped them up, and tugged her navy-blue sweater over her head.

  Gazing in the mirror, she ran her fingers through her curls, fluffed her hair in place, wondering what was coming next.

  “I’m not leaving, Emily.”

  She reached for the doorknob, but hesitated, not ready to face Evan again. She leaned her back against the door and let out a long sigh of exasperation.

  Now what?

  Her emotions were a jumble and her head was spinning.

  Oh, God—Colin. What was she going to tell him?

  Chapter 20

  Thinking she was ready, Emily opened the bathroom door. Evan filled the doorway, looking as ruggedly handsome as she remembered him. Her breath caught again at the sight of him. It was so surreal, her brain was still having trouble accepting it.

  Her eyes locked on his. She stood there for a moment, immobilized, unable to look away. Drawn into his magnetic gaze, an uneasy feeling swirled in her chest. She could hardly believe she was actually looking into the face of the husband she thought was dead, the man she had loved, but never thought she would see again.

  How could this be happening?

  Evan was only inches away, the expression in his eyes speaking volumes, loving her and wanting her, every bit as much as he had the day he died—only he hadn’t died. His piercing blue eyes were alive with emotion and seemed to cut through the dreamlike fog to peer deeply into her soul.

  “You can’t tell me you don’t love me anymore.” His penetrating gaze held hers. “I can see it in your eyes.”

  The shock was wearing off, at least a little, and her fiancé’s image flooded her mind. She shook her head to break Evan’s hold on her. “Don’t say that.”

  “But, Emily…”

  Standing so close to him, she caught that familiar trail of his aftershave. That scent. She had smelled it as recently as that morning, when she had awakened from sleep. “Were you in my room before?”

  “Before?” His eyes flared briefly.

  “Yes, before this time, before now?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Your aftershave. I swear I smelled it when I woke up this morning. I thought I was dreaming, but now…”

  He looked away and stepped aside to let her pass, but said nothing in reply.

  Anger rose in her. Rather than walk past, she stood toe to toe with him, searching his face, but his eyes would not meet hers. “You have been in my room, while I was asleep—haven’t you?”

  “Only a few times.”

  “I knew it!”

  “I had to see you—make sure you were okay.” His gaze locked onto hers once more. “You don’t know how hard it was to stand there, watching you sleep. It took every ounce of strength I possess not to crawl in bed with you.” He reached out for her, sliding his hands around her waist. “I ache for you, Emily.”

  At his touch and his nearness, her resolve began to wane. Her body reacted, desiring to know how it would feel to be with him again, but then her mind screamed no. She willed herself to push away from him. “It’s not that easy, Evan.”

  She sat on the edge of the bed, demanding her heart rate to calm down. She pulled on her dark socks, trying to avoid his gaze. “I thought you were dead.”

  He knelt down near her. “But I’m not.”

  She pulled on her low-heeled black boots. “You can’t ask me to undo my life since you left. I’ve moved on. I’m marrying Colin tomorrow. I—”

  She stood, then he stood, finding herself face to face with him again, the very thing she was trying to avoid. Her body vibrated with so many different emotions that she couldn’t even name them all. She drew in a deep breath to calm herself, shook her head to try to clear it. “I love him.”

  He touched her hair and twirled a curl loosely around his finger, leaning in to smell it. “Your hair always reminded me of silky strands of gold, especially when we made love. The way it fell around your face, like a halo.”

  A tingle feathered up her back and she batted his hand away. “Colin loves me as much as you do—only he’s not running from anyone who’s trying to kill him. And he doesn’t lie to me.”

  Evan grabbed her by the shoulders. His voice became intense. “No, Emily, you can’t—”

  A sharp rap at the door cut him off. “Emily? It’s Isabel.”

  She glared at Evan and tugged away from him. “Let’s see what she thinks about this.”

  Rushing to the door, Emily flung it open, shooting Evan a defiant glance over her shoulder. She expected to hear a gasp of surprise out of her friend as she turned back to the door, but all she heard was deafening silence.

  There stood Isabel, speechless, her mouth gaping open, with Colin standing tall behind her, his face twisted in confusion.

  Emily’s heart nearly stopped. How would she explain this to Colin? She didn’t understand it herself.

  “Evan?” Isabel finally gasped the word as she strode across the room toward him.

  “Hello, Isabel,” Evan greeted with a smug grin. He crossed his arms and leaned against the dresser. “You’re looking well.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, lowering her voice, but it did not escape Emily’s hearing.

  “I had to come,” he said. “I had to see Emily and talk to her.”

  What?

  That wasn’t the exchange Emily had expected to hear between them. It sounded like Isabel was only surprised to see him in Emily’s room, not shocked to see that he was alive.

  “Emily?” Colin spoke slowly and deliberately. “What’s going on here?”

  She turned back to Colin, who was still standing, rigid, in the doorway, his attention focused on Evan. Emily had never seen quite that look on Colin’s face before. It was a mixture of surprise, confusion, and disbelief.

  “Did Isabel say Evan? As in Evan Parker…your dead husband?”

  “Why don’t you come in?” Emily tugged on Colin’s arm. “We need to talk.”

  Colin took a few steps into the room. “But how is that possible?”

  “I don’t know,” she moaned. “I was as surprised as you are. All this time I thought he was dead, but here he is. He just showed up in my room a little while ago and…and…oh heck, I don’t even know what.”

  What could she say? She wasn’t about to tell Colin that Evan had asked her to leave him standing at the altar and run away to some foreign country.

  “Well, let’s just find out what.” Colin moved past her, looking as serious as Emily had ever seen him. In a few long strides, he was face to face with Evan, standing several inches taller. He warily stuck out his hand. His voice was cool and even, his expression unwavering. “Colin Andrews.”

  Evan accepted it and shook firmly. “Evan Parker.” His eyes
seemed to assess his competition.

  “This is a rather awkward situation.” Colin paused and glanced at Emily, who was standing almost behind him, wanting to hide from what was sure to come.

  Awkward didn’t even begin to describe the atmosphere in the room. The thick uneasiness was palpable. How on earth could this possibly turn out well?

  “I’m not going to mince words here, Parker. We all thought you were dead. How can you, all of a sudden, be alive again? And at such an inconvenient time?”

  “Colin, is it?” Evan arched a brow, as if he hadn’t heard the name clearly in the introduction. “I had to go dark for a bit, to protect Emily and myself. Things have changed and I’m here to ask Emily to come away with me, travel the world, like we’d always planned. We are still married, you know.”

  Still married? She hadn’t considered that. With the wedding tomorrow…

  Colin spun around to Emily. “Did you know about this?”

  “Well, no, I…”

  Her mind was stuck mulling over the possibility of still being married to Evan. “He just sprang it on me, right before you guys knocked on the door.”

  “And you’re considering it?”

  Emily saw such hurt in his eyes. “I…I…” Why wouldn’t the words come? She wanted to tell Colin she wouldn’t dream of considering it, and that she loved him, but instead she sounded like a blathering idiot.

  “She’s still my wife, old chap,” Evan said, “and I’ve come back to claim her.”

  “Emily is marrying me.” Colin ground out the words through clenched teeth.

  “I beg to differ,” Evan replied. “She’s mine, and that’s the end of it.”

  “Not if I can help it!” Colin turned on Evan, his eyes wide with anger, grabbing him by the collar, landing a punch squarely on his jaw.

  Evan’s head pitched to the right, but his body remained planted. He was every bit a match for Colin and he came back swinging.

  ~*~

  “Stop it! Stop it!” Emily yelled, but neither of the men paid her any mind, appearing intent on doing each other physical harm. “Do something, Isabel.”